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Thom's blog
Is the stage set for Citizens United Round Two?
Last December – the Montana State Supreme Court ignored the Citizens United ruling – and continued its ban on corporate election spending – upholding a 1912 law known as the Montana Corrupt Practices Act. According to the Act - "a corporation may not make ... an expenditure in connection with a candidate or a political party that supports or opposes a candidate or a political party." But those corporate interests – in this case known as the American Tradition Partnership – that were upset by this law are now petitioning the Supreme Court to have it reversed.
The lead attorney for the American Tradition Partnership – James Bopp, Jr. – who assisted with the Citizens United legal argument – filed a stay with Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy on Wednesday calling for the Montana’s law to be overturned. As Bopp said, "[i]mmediate relief is needed to prevent irreparable harm to the Corporations' First Amendment free-speech right." It’s likely the court will strike down the Montana ruling – thus for a second time ruling that corporations are people and money is speech, without looking at the real world consequences of such a ruling.
As Montana Supreme Court Justice James Nelson – who even dissented in the case in January – wrote, "In the real world of politics, the 'quid pro quo' of both direct contributions to candidates and independent expenditures on their behalf is loyalty…And, in practical effect, experience teaches that money corrupts, and enough of it corrupts absolutely." He’s right – and as long as Citizens United stands – then our democracy is corrupted. Time to go to MoveToAmend.org to fight for a constitutional amendment to kick corporations out of our democracy.
-Thom
(What do you think the Supreme Court will do? Tell us here.) |
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 9pm and 11pm... Citizens United showdown in MT (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Need to Know: Citizens United showdown in MT- Jeff Milchen, American Independent Business Alliance  - Ian Millhiser, Center for American Progress 
Screwed: Uprising...from Madison to Wall Street- John Nichols, The Nation Magazine
Oil prices skyrocket...the speculators are back- Richard Eskow, Campaign for America's Future
The Best of the Rest of the News...
Federal Employee pensions ransacked again- Gerry Swanke, AFGE
The Affordable Care Act is...rape?- Sam Bennett, Women's Campaign Fund
Daily Take: The Wealthy 1% behind voter ID laws
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Take Back the American Dream
Please join us Tuesday evening February 21st as we present a very special edition of The Big Picture - " Teach-In to Take Back the American Dream" sponsored by the Campaign for America's Future and Free Speech TV. Guests include: Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, Robert Borosage w/Campaign for America's Future, "Patriotic Millionaire" Leo Hindery of Intermedia Partners, Heather McGhee of Demos, and Natalie Foster from Rebuild the Dream. Check your local listings...9pm ET and 11pm ET on FSTV and RT. |
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The Daily Stack 
Hour One: Thom rants on the news of the day that you need to know!
Quote: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin.
Hour Two: "Uprising: How Wisconsin Renewed the Politics of Protest"- John Nichols, The Nation Magazine
Geeky Science rocks! - Scientists discover new antibiotic...honey
Hour Three: Pennsylvania Legislature Colludes with Fracking Industry to Preempt Local Government Regulation- Thomas Linzey, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
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Coming up Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program
Hour One: If it's Friday, it's "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will be here with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too...
Plus, It's Anything Goes on Townhall Friday...you choose the topics and we'll talk...
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...TAG, YOU'RE IT!!!!!!!!! (OCCUPY SOMETHING!!!!!)
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Thom's Poll
Will the Keystone XL pipeline get removed from the transportation-funding bill ?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
The Banksters plan to re-make Europe
Lone Liberal Rumble - Has the Tea Party lost political mojo?
Is Minnesota the new front in the fight for gay marriage?
The secret plot to teach kids "climate change is a hoax"
Crazy Alert! Move over Twitter...It's Pigeon Time!
The Good, the Bad and the Very, Very Chimopelagiceously Ugly
Is Fox News Moving Left?
Full Show 2/15/12: AUSTERITY DOESN'T WORK!
Thom Hartmann on the News - February 16, 2012
John Nichols - Uprising in Wisconsin
Pennsylvania Legislature Colludes with Fracking Industry
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Show Info
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 Would you like to help give a child with a very troubled background this feeling of peace? Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook. |
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