Poll: Americans Agree That Debt Ceiling Debate A Problem, But Disagree On Solution

In a poll by YouGov, taken earlier this month, both Republican and Democratic Americans agreed that the possibility of the government defaulting on their bills is a problem.  They disagree, however, on how to solve it.  The poll of 1000 registered voters shows just how partisan politics have become of late.

As you can see 77% of respondents admit that the federal government defaulting on their debt would become either a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem:

When it comes to actually raising the debt ceiling, though, Americans are clearly divided.  48% of Democrats say "Yes", while 74% of Republicans say "No".  And that's just the beginning.  When it comes to what measures should be included in legislation if the ceiling were raised, the two sides seem to be on different planets.  60% of Democrats would be willing to raise taxes, while only 19% of Republicans were willing to.  Instead, 48% of Republicans want entitlement cuts (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid), while less than a quarter of Democrats felt the same.

If taxes were to increase, 72% of Dems said to just raise them on the wealthiest Americans.  53% of Republicans said to raise them for everyone.  63% of Democrats want the Bush tax cuts (the taxes on the richest 1%) to end, while 67% of those who vote Red do not.

Most disturbing of all is how Republicans and Democrats in this country differ in their beliefs as to how this issue should be handled.  68% of Democrats would like to see their representative in Congress compromise with their GOP counterparts to garner a deal to avoid a government shutdown.  Republicans?  Stick to your beliefs no matter what.

We're all going to die...

Quote Of The Day

 "Republicans are no longer allowed to say that people are “rich.” (They) have to refer to them as “job creators.” You can’t even use the word “rich” — you have to say “This chocolate cake is so moist and job creator.” My favorite comic book is Job Creator-ie Job Creator.””

- 'The Daily Show's' Jon Stewart referring to the GOP's favorite new euphemism.

The Pope's Tweets

As some of you may know, Pope Benedict XVI sent his first tweet last week from his official Twitter account.  The Vatican is trying to get the pontiff involved in social media to make him appear up-to-date to Catholics in the 21st century.  How 140 characters can make an 84 year old celibate priest come across as "modern" I'll never know.  But I digress...

Paul Rudnick has an article in next week's New Yorker magazine detailing some of the more amusing tweets from God's "Right Hand Man":

"During a papal audience, I put folks at ease by asking, “Are you gay?” Then I say, “Kidding!” Then I go, “No, seriously, are you gay?” 

"It’s hard to tell all the cardinals apart, so sometimes I put different dinosaur stickers on their backs."

  

"Certain Christians think that they have to attend church only on Christmas and Easter, and I have a word for those people: lucky."

"Whenever people doubt that angels are real, I ask them, “Excuse me, but have you seen the Jonas Brothers in concert?”

"Every day I offer up a special prayer for the entire Kardashian family, but the next morning they’re always still alive."

And my personal favorite...

"Nancy Grace: perfect name for a gay Pope?"

Tweet Of The Day

Borders Announces Liquidation

At 4:10PM, Borders announced that it plans to liquidate it's remaining 399 stores effective immediately.  Stores will start final liquidation sales as early as this Friday.

The move will put more than 11,000 out of work, 10,700 store employees and approximately 400 at their Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters.

The rise in e-reader sales, which Borders was a late adapter, coupled with rising competition from online retailers such as Amazon, are directly responsible for the slide in sales at the retailer.  It's a sad day when the nation's second largest bookstore goes out of business.  A very sad day.

Breaking: Murdoch's UK Sun Newspaper Site Hacked

LulzSec has taken over The Sun's online site.  All hits to the site go directly to LulzSec's Twitter feed.  It is, effectively, being held hostage by hackers.

LulzSec is also claiming that they are redirecting all viewers going to Murdoch's News International site, as well.

These hacks are redirects only.  By clicking onto these links, it will take you to a Twitter page, which is safe and will not damage your computer.  I would be willing to say that LulzSec is planning on releasing a statement via their Twitter feed soon, and is using this to get attention.

It's definitely worth a peek.

Update:  Apparently, LulzSec had originally placed a story on The Sun's website claiming that News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch was dead.  It was as a result of a suicide from a palladium overdose.  When the IT department at The Sun kept removing the story, LulzSec had no other choice but to take the site offline altogether.

My New Favorite Website

Courtesy of Dumb Shit The Bible Says.  That's right, www.dumbshitthebiblesays.com.

"Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry."

"Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!' Immediately the tree withered."

— Matthew 21:18-19

YOU ARE THE FUCKING SON OF GOD. WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING WITH A FIG TREE.

Breaking: Husband Of 'News Of The World' Chief Caught Dumping Computer

The UK's Guardian newspaper is reporting that Charlie Brooks, husband of News International CEO Rebekah Brooks, was caught trying to reclaim a computer, cell phone and documents that were discarded in a shopping mall parking lot near their London home.  This was moments after a passerby discovered the lot and alerted area security.  Brooks was unable to prove that the bag containing the items belonged to him, and was refused to take it back.

He's claiming that the "trash" is his property and is not his wife's, who was arrested and questioned yesterday on corruption charges in connection with the News of the World hacking scandal.

Brooks' spokesman, David Wilson, says that he left the bag with a friend who was returning it, but dropped it in the wrong part of the underground garage, and that "a cleaning lady" must have put it in the trash.  Forensics experts with Scotland Yard currently have possession of the bag, and are reviewing CCTV feeds to determine who left it.

Point of advice:  If you're going to ditch evidence of a laundry list of crimes that your wife is guilty of, on the day that she is arrested on corruption charges, and the day before she's scheduled to meet with Parliament to discuss her role in the scandal, go to a trash can that isn't across the street from your house.  Reports say that the bag was found yards away from their house.  Really?!  He couldn't drive to the other side of town and drop it in a dumpster somewhere? 

Draw A Circle Around The Most Offensive Thing On This Page

Thank God this wasn't a question on my SATs.  Totally would have blown my chances for a scholarship at The Drive-By Christian Broadcasting Network School of Law for Fundamentalist Government Infiltration.  I thought all dogs go to heaven.  Evidently, I'm wrong.

Courtesy Jesus Needs New PR.

Video: Official "Teaser" Trailer For 'The Dark Knight Rises'

Commissioner Gordon on his deathbed?  Our first glimpse of Tom Hardy as Bane.  I cannot wait until July 20, 2012.

Quote Of The Day

 "If you're involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it's bondage.  It is personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement.  And that's why this is so dangerous.  It's a very sad life.  It's part of Satan, I think, to say that it is gay.  It's anything but gay."

- Fuckwit and Republican presidential candidate, Michele Bachmann, speaking at Edwatch National Education Conference, November 6, 2004.

Breaking News: News Corp Whistle-Blower Found Dead

Sean Hoare, former News of the World entertainment reporter, who was the first employee to personally implicate former editor Andy Coulson in the scandal, has been found dead in his home.

Hoare was found dead moments ago in his home in Watford, Hertfordshire, after concerns were raised about his whereabouts.  He was the first News of the World employee to accuse Coulson of "actively encouraging" the "pinging" of subjects for the tabloid.  "Pinging" is a method of locating a person using his or her cell phone number -- something that only law enforcement and security officials are allowed to do.  Each instance of "pinging" cost the paper approximately $500.

According to Hertfordshire police, the death is being treated as "unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious".  

Suicide?

Can We All Just Stop "Planking" Now?

Honestly, I don't get it.  For the sake of the ovens, those poor ovens, please stop.



Courtesy Tosh.0.

Graph: Contradictions In The Bible

The Reason Project released a fascinating graph a couple of months ago documenting the contradictions found in the Bible.  With each contradiction, an arch is placed on the graph connecting the two scriptures.  There are a lot of red lines.  439 instances, many with multiple contradictions.  Of course, this isn't news to some people.

Video: New "Red Band" 'Friends With Benefits Trailer

Woody Harrelson as Timberlake's gay best friend?  Classic.