Six employees at King's County Hospital in Brooklyn have been fired after surveillance revealed a woman who was completely ignored and left to die on the hospital floor. Esmin Green had been waiting in the emergency room for more than 24 hours before she toppled from her chair and fell on ground. Although the waiting room was occupied by other patients, a security guard, and a staff member, no one cared to help Green until more than an hour after her fall.
The surveillance shows the staff member and the security guard noticed Green on the ground at least three times, but they made no attempt to assist her. The security guard didn't even leave his chair. Instead he rolled over to briefly look at Green's body and then rolled back into place.
The AP reports that someone else in the waiting room had to get the attention of another medical staff member before Green received any assistance. By that time, she had already died.
Green was unwillingly admitted in King's County Hospital's psychiatric ward the night before she collapsed. The psychiatric unit received several complaints in the past, and the surveillance of the hospital's negligence is said to have begun new reforms at the center, such as shorter wait time in the emergency room.
While the Senate was ready to vote on the FISA Amendments Act today, Senators Russell Feingold and Christopher Dodd fought to keep them from casting a final vote and jamming the bill through Congress.
In a statement released by Feingold, he says:
"I am pleased we were able to delay the vote on FISA until after the July 4th holiday instead of having it jammed through. I hope that over the July 4th Holiday, Senators will take a closer look at the deeply flawed legislation and understand how it threatens the civil liberties of the American People. It is possibly to protect this country against the terrorists while also protecting the rights and freedoms that define our nation."
For those who haven't read up on the new FISA bill, it would basically give the government the right to peek into the private overseas phone conversations, emails, and even text messages of all Americans. Part of the bill would give retroactive immunity to telephone companies that gave the government private information of Americans.
Feingold says the FISA bill would also allow the government to take all international communications and put it in a giant database. The most outrageous part of the bill states that there does not have to be any court review or evidence that anyone is doing anything wrong before the government intrudes on the person's privacy. The government will simply have complete access to the personal overseas communications of every single American.
Feingold continues to say, "It's a vast power that has no limits. There's no regulation of it."
Obviously, the new FISA bill was created to help the government "track down terrorists"....just like the Iraq War was orchestrated to find weapons of mass destruction. It all makes perfect sense.
It's angering that the government has instilled so much fear in the minds of Americans, that many are ready to hand over precious civil liberties in the name of "protection." In fact, it's sickening. All the Republicans who are avid gun owners and want to protect their constitutional right to bear arms have NO RIGHT to say an American's right to privacy is not as important. This proposed FISA bill simply violates the right to privacy. Fear tactics should not trick Americans into giving up their freedoms. The Senate needs to wake up.
The more the Bush Administration remains in power, the more the United States mirrors the image George Orwell illustrated in his book 1984. Big brother really is watching, and members of our own Senate are allowing it to happen.
Feingold admits that many of the Senators have not completely read the bill and do not know the logistics of it. By holding off on the bill until after July 4th, hopefully the Senate will have the opportunity to think things over and not just hand the Bush Administration exactly what they want.
If you want to watch TYT's interview with Senator Feingold, please check out the video below:
John Constantine of Jacksonville Florida finds saggy pants extremely offensive. In fact, he believes pulling out a gun and shooting an 18-year-old who refuses to lift up his pants is completely warranted.
The altercation began when Constantine followed David Mitchell to the courtyard of his apartment building and asked him to lift up his pants. Mitchell refused, and the situation soon turned to a scuffle.
That's when Constantine took out a small caliber handgun and shot Mitchell in the stomach. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Mitchell laying on the floor while being comforted by neighbors. Of course, police were also able to find a small bottle of crack cocaine in Constantine's pocket.
There are two points I would like to make about this story. Let's begin with the least important:
Why did Constantine care that the young man was sagging his pants? I understand the man is 54 years old and baggy pants don't tickle his fancy, but who cares? There is quite a strong possibility that Constantine was also on drugs. But I digress to a more important point:
It really is too easy for people to obtain guns. While some may argue that every American has the right to bear arms, I think stricter gun laws should definitely be in place. Guns are too accessible for nut jobs like Constantine, and if anyone tries to justify his use of the weapon, they are downright wrong.
Interestingly enough, there has just been a survey done by Rasmussen Reports, which indicates that Americans are evenly split on whether or not the U.S needs stricter gun control laws. Forty four percent believe we do need tough gun laws, while another 44 percent disagree and believe we do not. The other 12 percent are not sure.
The issue is, guns are rarely used as a defense mechanism by standard Americans. I'm not saying guns aren't sometimes used for justified defense. But in reality, and in most cases guns are often utilized for violence.
While seventeen teenage girls in the same Massachusetts high school are awaiting the birth of their babies, everyone wants to know whether or not they made a "pregnancy pact" to conceive within the same year. There were allegations indicating that the girls planned on having, and raising their children together. Even the Mayor of Gloucester got involved with the investigation to put an end to the rumors.
During a press conference today, Mayor Carolyn Kirk stated she is "not able to confirm the existence of the pact." She continues to say, " Any planned oath to become pregnant - there is no evidence."
Who cares whether or not there was a pact? That is the most unimportant element of the story. Those girls are all under 16 years of age, and are already expecting children. There is a significant issue here that has received very little attention.
Gloucester High School reportedly had to cut back on health education spending to meet federally mandated standards such as No Child Left Behind. With little emphasis on sex education, and no contraceptives readily available, it's no surprise that the school, located in a conservative fishing town, has had trouble controlling teen pregnancies for years.
In addition, the nature of the high school simply caters to the needs of pregnant teens. For instance, there is a childcare center provided in Gloucester High for young mothers who wish to complete their high school education. This can be seen as good or bad depending on ones perspective. On one side, it's great that young mothers are given the opportunity to finish school. On the other side, it sends out a message that conceiving a child while in high school is acceptable, and will be supported by the school itself.
It would be foolish to completely blame the high school for the teen pregnancies, although Gloucester High still has some fault. Hollywood definitely could have played a role in this case. For instance, actress Jamie Lynn Spears mentioned she was pregnant at the age of 16, and just delivered her daughter Maddie Brian. News of Spears' pregnancy led to a little criticism, but mostly a lot of positive attention.
"Juno" was entertaining and well written movie about a teenage girl who got pregnant by a first-time sexual encounter. In fact, I will be the first to admit it was my favorite movie of the year. However, I hate to say that it did send out a bad message to young girls who are easily influenced by the media. While some people are able to differentiate reality from a fictional movie, some young people simply are not. It's a sad fact that movies like Juno have to receive flack because of those who can't think straight. But that's just the world we live in.
Hollywood romanticizes pregnancy. Ashley Simpson is back in the media after she announced that she's pregnant, and Paris Hilton keeps talking about how she can't wait to have babies with her boyfriend Benji Madden. But if schools have actual programs to sit young girls down and tell them the truth about how difficult it is to raise children, and how easy it is to prevent unexpected pregnancies, I think it can counter Hollywood pregnancy romanticism. Education is power in every single aspect of life. These girls just need to be aware and educated, and Gloucester High somehow missed the memo.
Authorities in the Czech Republic have discovered two beaten and abused boys, who have been victims of their own family's cannibalism. The boys were locked in the dark basement of their home by their own mother, Klara Mauerova, who fed off their raw flesh.
Seven-year-old Onjreh, and his brother Jakub were discovered chained-up in cages after a neighbor purchased a baby monitor to keep track of his own child. The monitor turned out to pick up signals from the Mauerova household, because Klara had purchased the same monitor to keep an eye on her sons.
Authorities arrived at the home to find the two boys partially skinned, sexually abused, and severely beaten. In court, Onjreh testified that he had been locked in the basement by his mother for months. His mother admitted to all charges, and wept in court as her son testified against her.
Klara Mauerova is said to be part of a cult known as The Grail Movement, and she would refer to a "doctor," who was really a leader of the cult, to receive instructions on how to abuse her sons. The worst part of the story is that her 34-year-old sister participated in the activities, and helped to abuse and literally consume the boys' flesh.
The Young Turks had a brief discussion on the topic, which can be viewed in the video below:
R&B artist Robert Kelly is currently on trial for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with an under-aged girl. A video released by the Chicago Sun-Times in February of 2002 displays a man who resembles R. Kelly taking part in vile sex acts with a 13 year old. Prosecutors finally played the tape for the jury, and reports claim the identity of the man on the tape is questionable. Watch the following video for more details on the R. Kelly tape scandal. Watch TYT!
Republican presidential candidate John McCain suspects the war in Iraq will be over by 2013.
"By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq War has been won," said McCain.
Despite the fact that he predicts the war will "be won" in five years, McCain denies any claims that he has drawn up a timetable for full-scale troop withdrawal.
"It's not a timetable; it's victory. It's victory, which I have always predicted. I didn't know when we were going to win World War II; I just knew we were going to win," said McCain during his speech in Columbus, Ohio.
There you have it: John McCain JUST KNOWS the U.S is going to win the war in Iraq. He might not know how, but he just knows. One of the journalists who attended McCain's speech suggested he took listeners on a "magic carpet ride" to the future.
With the number of U.S casualties increasing, and the faltering economy in mind, occupying Iraq for an additional five years is a scary thought. But there are other underlying issues in McCain's statements.
First off, John McCain's response to reporters makes no sense at all. If he has not at least created a game plan for the Iraq War, what is the premise for him saying the war will end by 2013? Does he just assume things in the Middle East will smooth over by the end of his presidential term (if he gets elected)? Surely, he must have some sort of "timetable" set if he has the ability to announce a year as to when Americans can expect their sons and daughters to return from the war.
Denying that he has a game plan probably hurts him more than helps him. It's understandable that McCain likes to stick to his guns. In fact, he would be accused of hypocrisy if he didn't stand by his word. In his campaign during the primaries, McCain criticized former Republican rival Mitt Romney for hinting at a timetable for troop withdrawal. But since when is it a bad thing to have a timetable? Is the electorate keen on staying in Iraq for years to come?
The Republicans claim they are tough on national security, and that is precisely why they have kept U.S troops in Iraq. However, keeping troops in the Middle East has not secured the U.S at all. McCain's Democratic rival Barack Obama said the war has failed to secure America since it has made the U.S military weak and vulnerable to any potential attack made by other Middle Eastern countries such as Iran.
Cenk makes a good point about McCain's current comments in the following clip:
Nonetheless, it's comforting to know one of the candidates for presidency makes predictions with no real premise or plan.
President George Bush has given up golf in honor of U.S troops in Iraq. During an interview with Politico and Yahoo News, Bush said his decision to give up his favorite sport came after the August 2003 Bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. The bombing killed Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was the top U.N. official in Iraq.
Bush continued to say, "I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."
Good job Bush. We're proud of you.
Did the preseident think that revealing his "sacrifice" would result in the American people increasing their respect for him? Thousands of troops have given up their lives for the war in Iraq , and thousands more continue to risk their lives in the Middle East. Instead of thinking of ways to END the war, Bush decides giving up golf makes him a respectable and honorable president.
One in three women in America admits to having an extramarital affair. A new survey done by Cookie Magazine and AOL Body titled "Sex and the American Mom" questioned 30 thousand women about their marriage and sex life. The results of the survey revealed that 34 percent of married women with children have either had, or are currently having an affair. In addition, the study found that 77 percent of the women polled wish they had more sex.
Men have always been stereotyped to be the ones who stray in search of a little action on the side. But now there are actual studies done to prove that women are just as accountable for having affairs. Is cheating inevitable when sex is lacking in a marriage? Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty outright announced to the world that he and his wife don't have sex. Does that make him more inclined to give into extramarital temptations? The Young Turks weigh in on relationships and cheating in the following clip.
Marche Taylor was convinced her custom-made dress would not only turn heads, but also serve as a big hit at her senior prom. However, school officials were not amused when she showed up to the dance wearing a little more than a swimsuit with heels. After Taylor was confronted and asked to leave due to her scandalous dress code violation, she reluctantly did so...wearing handcuffs. Should she have been kicked out of prom? Watch the video and tell us what you think.
Steve Wilder of Omaha Nebraska woke up suffocating due to complications from throat cancer. The radiation treatments he received years ago resulted in scar tissue, which Wilder says left him with a "shrunken throat." But he decided to take matters into his own hands when he grabbed a steak knife and made a quarter-inch incision that saved his life. Watch the video for more details!
Get ready for AWESOME coverage of the Indiana and North Carolina Primaries today beginning at 7:00pm ET. The Young Turks will be joined by Ben Mankiewicz and Michael Shure to provide election results and interview great guests.
Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama continue to battle for the Democratic ticket, and today they will duke it out in Pennsylvania. The Young Turks will definitely provide special coverage of the event. Coverage will begin at 7:30pm ET at Rebel Headquarters. Ben Mackiewicz and Michael Shure will guest host with Cenk Uygur.
The guest line-up will include:
Representative Chaka Fattah
Matt Stoller from Open Left
Ari Melber from The Nation
Bloomsburg University Professor and Journalist Walter Brasch
Jonathan Alter from Newsweek
You won't want to miss it. So tune in to www.TheYoungTurks.com for your election information fix!
While sitting in my Political Behavior class for graduate school, my classmates and I found ourselves in a somewhat heated debate about the presidential elections. My professor pointed at a chart indicating that the independents vote will determine whether John McCain or Barak Obama will make it as president. This clearly illustrated that the best strategy for both candidates is to campaign with political ideologies that are as moderate as possible to get the large number of independents to vote for them.
The debatable question arose:
"Who is more likely to gain support from the independents? John McCain or Barak Obama?"
Some of the students argued that John McCain would be more likely to get the independents vote because he is a "moderate conservative," while Barak Obama is on the far left with liberal ideals. But what the students failed to understand is that McCain is a full-blown left wing conservative, and there's nothing "moderate" about him. Although some media outlets might make him out to be a moderate conservative, the proof is really in the pudding. Don't believe me?
The front page of Huffington Post featured an article today that perfectly summarizes just how conservative John McCain really is. When it comes to every partisan issue, John McCain takes the right-wing stance indefinitely. Not only does he support the war in Iraq, but he also has served as a key ally in George Bush's efforts to increase U.S soldiers occupying the country. Other topics like abortion, gun control, and gay rights also illustrate that "moderate," is really not a descriptive word pertaining to the Republican candidate.
When it comes to abortion, McCain is a self-proclaimed pro-life advocate. He has vowed to appoint Supreme Court Justices that will limit the impact of the Roe v. Wade ruling, which basically legalized abortion. His views on gay marriage are just as conservative since he completely opposes it. In fact, he worked to ban gay marriage in Arizona and fully supports the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. He even opposed legislation that would protect homosexuals from hate crimes and job discrimination. To top things off, he is an avid supporter of the National Riffle Association and has voted AGAINST a ban for assault-style weapons. But people consider him a moderate conservative?
Where is the logic in that?
Polls have indicated that most people do in fact see McCain as a centrist while Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton are perceived as far left candidates. Studies done by political scientists such as Philip Converse show that independents are typically less politically aware than strong Democrats or Republicans. This presidential election would perfectly illustrate that finding if the independents are naive enough to fall for McCain's "moderate conservative" tactics.
In the late 1990s, Jennifer Lopez made entertainment headlines just by the incredibly perfect roundness of her derriere. At that very moment in time, Americans saw a massive shift toward men's desire for what Sir Mix A-lot dubbed "honeys who got big butts." Full-figured women have been praised ever since...and rightfully so.
The latest Hollywood hottie with more backside jiggle than the usual celebrity is undoubtedly Kim Kardashian. Between her notorious sex tape and naked photos in Playboy, the evidence is all too blunt:
"Baby Got Back."
But there's a fine line between being a full-figured woman and being just plain chunky. Recent bikini photos of Karsdashian may be questionable. Is she still full-figured and sexy, or do the masses think she should lay low with the dinner rolls? Watch the clip and you decide.