Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Mr.Big Head Spews
Bloomberg Claims NYPD "7th Biggest Army in World" ... Um, That's Totally Wrong - New York News - Runnin' Scared: 'In the annals of political rhetoric, there are lies, damn lies and exaggeration. Well, according to Politicker NY, Mayor Bloomberg dropped himself into the third category during a speech at MIT last night, when he claimed, "I have my own army in the NYPD, which is the seventh biggest army in the world..."'
Comment Of The Day: Bad O Edition
Wednesday: Collateral damage « The Confluence:
"That is perfect! Obama is lauded for his achievments and in the next breath they whine that he wasn’t able to do anything because of the times and the GOP. So typical of Obama and his fools who supported him. I can not tolerate that fool or tool of a President and the horse he rode in on and the people who pretended the emperor had clothes on. And worse yet are the ones who don’t have the courage to see reality and extoll the virtue of optimism and giving “him” a chance and then try to excuse what they did by saying they had no choice. Kristoff is a pompous ass. I really believe the NYT, the WAPO are totally run by CIA moles. Judith Miller was just one of many. Who would pay these toads for their opinions unless they were part of a larger plot? Friedman, a world class toad. I could go on but why."
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
O Faces Clinton Voters Irk
Obama Faces Hurdles in ‘Hillary Country’ - NYTimes.com:
“...I’m heavily Democratic,” Mr. Harrity said. “But if the right Republican came along, I would be open to voting for him.”
This is a common refrain here in what is still called “Hillary Country,” where Mrs. Clinton’s family roots run deep and 75 percent of Democratic primary voters backed her failed bid for the Democratic nomination in 2008..."
“...I’m heavily Democratic,” Mr. Harrity said. “But if the right Republican came along, I would be open to voting for him.”
This is a common refrain here in what is still called “Hillary Country,” where Mrs. Clinton’s family roots run deep and 75 percent of Democratic primary voters backed her failed bid for the Democratic nomination in 2008..."
The Daily Uh-Oh: Hacking Edition
British Hacking Scandal Widens to Government Secrets - NYTimes.com: " Britain’s hacking scandal was reported on Tuesday to have broadened significantly into areas of national security, with the police investigating whether private detectives working for the Murdoch media empire hacked into the computer of a cabinet minister responsible for Northern Ireland..."
Monday, November 28, 2011
An Outrageous Affront To Liberty
Senators Demand the Military Lock Up American Citizens in a “Battlefield” They Define as Being Right Outside Your Window » Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union: "...The Senate is going to vote on whether Congress will give this president—and every future president — the power to order the military to pick up and imprison without charge or trial civilians anywhere in the world. Even Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) raised his concerns about the NDAA detention provisions during last night’s Republican debate. The power is so broad that even U.S. citizens could be swept up by the military and the military could be used far from any battlefield, even within the United States itself..."
An OWS Profile
Excellent writing--a wonderfully drawn portrait. Ray Kachel’s Journey from Seattle to Zuccotti Park : The New Yorker: "All The Angry People."
Writer Writes About UCD Incident
Warning: you might find this funny (I did). Joseph Wambaugh solves the great UC Davis pepper-spraying incident - latimes.com:
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
More Calls To Murder Protesters
The Alien Skank resurfaces to spew some bile. Discussing Occupy Wall Street, Coulter Says: "It Just Took A Few Shootings At Kent State To Shut That Down" | Media Matters for America:
The One-Tenthers
We Are the 99.9% - NYTimes.com: "...The recent Congressional Budget Office report on inequality didn’t look inside the top 1 percent, but an earlier report, which only went up to 2005, did. According to that report, between 1979 and 2005 the inflation-adjusted, after-tax income of Americans in the middle of the income distribution rose 21 percent. The equivalent number for the richest 0.1 percent rose 400 percent..."
Friday, November 25, 2011
GOPer Policy Delusion
Where the Republicans are wrong on national security | Washington Times Communities: "...Every single candidate showed judgment, instinct, and insight superior to Barack Obama on matters of foreign policy and national security. (And Ron Paul got plenty of time, to boot)...."
Well, one or two, but certainly not all. Rick Perry nuanced? Bachmann knowledgeable? Com'on. Gravity is real; this hubris is not.
Well, one or two, but certainly not all. Rick Perry nuanced? Bachmann knowledgeable? Com'on. Gravity is real; this hubris is not.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Short Term Thinking Killing US
Clayton Christensen: How Pursuit of Profits Kills Innovation and the U.S. Economy - Forbes:
'...Christensen recalls an interesting talk he had with the Morris Chang the chairman and founder of one of the firms, TSMC [TSM], who said:
“You Americans measure profitability by a ratio. There’s a problem with that. No banks accept deposits denominated in ratios. The way we measure profitability is in ‘tons of money’. You use the return on assets ratio if cash is scarce. But if there is actually a lot of cash, then that is causing you to economize on something that is abundant.”
Christensen agrees. He believes that the pursuit of profit, as calculated by the ratios like IRR and ROA, is killing innovation and our economy. It is the fundamental thinking drives that decisions that he believes are “just plain wrong...'”
'...Christensen recalls an interesting talk he had with the Morris Chang the chairman and founder of one of the firms, TSMC [TSM], who said:
“You Americans measure profitability by a ratio. There’s a problem with that. No banks accept deposits denominated in ratios. The way we measure profitability is in ‘tons of money’. You use the return on assets ratio if cash is scarce. But if there is actually a lot of cash, then that is causing you to economize on something that is abundant.”
Christensen agrees. He believes that the pursuit of profit, as calculated by the ratios like IRR and ROA, is killing innovation and our economy. It is the fundamental thinking drives that decisions that he believes are “just plain wrong...'”
O Economic Leadership
Go Big, Mr. Obama - NYTimes.com:
"...What would it look like if the president was offering such leadership? First, he’d be proposing a deficit-cutting plan that matches the scale of our problem — one with substantial tax reform and revenue increases, a gasoline tax, deep defense cuts and cutbacks to both Social Security and Medicare. That is the Simpson-Bowles plan, and it should be Obama’s new starting point for negotiations. The deficit plan Obama put out last September is nowhere near as serious. “It is watered-down Simpson-Bowles,” said MacGuineas. “Most people don’t even know it exists.”
Second, he’d offer a plan in which the wealthy have to pay their fair share and more, because they’ve had a great two decades. But everyone, including the middle class, has to contribute something. This has to be a national effort. Third, he would offer a plan that is aspirational. It would not just be a roadmap to balancing the budget but to making America great again through reignited economic growth..."
"...What would it look like if the president was offering such leadership? First, he’d be proposing a deficit-cutting plan that matches the scale of our problem — one with substantial tax reform and revenue increases, a gasoline tax, deep defense cuts and cutbacks to both Social Security and Medicare. That is the Simpson-Bowles plan, and it should be Obama’s new starting point for negotiations. The deficit plan Obama put out last September is nowhere near as serious. “It is watered-down Simpson-Bowles,” said MacGuineas. “Most people don’t even know it exists.”
Second, he’d offer a plan in which the wealthy have to pay their fair share and more, because they’ve had a great two decades. But everyone, including the middle class, has to contribute something. This has to be a national effort. Third, he would offer a plan that is aspirational. It would not just be a roadmap to balancing the budget but to making America great again through reignited economic growth..."
Huntsman, Paul Winners
Very thorough and sensible analysis. EgbertoWillies | CNN GOP Foreign Policy Debate: Will the Competent Candidates Please Stand Up? | Coffee Party: -
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Money Are People? (sic)
(44) Join the Coffee Party Movement: ' "The first amendment is being stood on its head. According to the Supreme Court, money is now speech. And corporations are now people. As a result our democracy is being engulfed in big money. But when REAL people — without money — assemble to express their dissatisfaction with the political consequences of this, they're treated as public nuisances and evicted."— Robert Reich'
Bachmann Gets What Clinton Never Could
Jimmy Fallon apologizes to Michele Bachmann for Root's song choice | Inside TV | EW.com: '... Bachmann has not responded, but earlier Tuesday, Democratic Congresswoman Nita Lowey issued a statement criticizing the show: “The choice of song to introduce Michele Bachmann on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night was insulting and inappropriate. I do not share Michele Bachmann’s politics, but she deserves to be treated with respect. No female politician — and no woman — should be subjected to sexist and offensive innuendo like she was last night. The Roots, Jimmy Fallon, and NBC should apologize...”'
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Dumber Than Ignorant
Fox News Viewers Know Less Than People Who Don't Watch Any News: Study: "Fox News viewers are less informed than people who don't watch any news, according to a new poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University..."
Pepper Spray And Pain
How Painful Is Pepper Spray? – TIME Healthland:
'...MORE: When Should Police Use Pepper Spray?
Classified as a riot-control agent and banned for use in war by Article I.5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, pepper spray is meant to be used against violent attackers who are resisting arrest and threatening physical harm to others. That doesn't apply to the passive protesters at U.C. Davis.
"Pepper spray should only be used when there's a clear threat to officers or severe-enough resistance — essentially, when the only alternative is more extreme force," John MacDonald, professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, told our colleague Nick Carbone over at NewsFeed. "But if the only threat is time, then the best weapon to exercise is patience..."'
'...MORE: When Should Police Use Pepper Spray?
Classified as a riot-control agent and banned for use in war by Article I.5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, pepper spray is meant to be used against violent attackers who are resisting arrest and threatening physical harm to others. That doesn't apply to the passive protesters at U.C. Davis.
"Pepper spray should only be used when there's a clear threat to officers or severe-enough resistance — essentially, when the only alternative is more extreme force," John MacDonald, professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, told our colleague Nick Carbone over at NewsFeed. "But if the only threat is time, then the best weapon to exercise is patience..."'
Ballet In The Mountains
Banks Cleaning Up
The 1%er are surviving these tough times quite well, thank you very much. Superior genes and hard work will naturally reward you with other people's money. Bank earnings hit highest level in 4 years – USATODAY.com:
OWS & Defining Success
Happy Birthday OWS Bat Signal « The Confluence: "...Occupy Wall Street was started by people who didn’t like the way things are going. Those of us who weren’t in the planning stages but don’t like the way things are going either don’t necessarily have to share the same socio political philosophy. When movements catch on, maybe it doesn’t matter how each unit of that movement does its business as long as they share a common morality. And that is Occupy Wall Street’s strength. It is at its core a moral movement. It is not a political one. That moral movement is about the vast majority wanting to correct the vast disperity of wealth that has developed in this country, to correct economic and social injustice,to uphold the dignity of working people, to re-establish a social safety net and economic system that works for everyone and to redefine the meaning of success. That last one is very important. The morality of success matters. Does success mean making money at all costs or does it mean achieving goals of a more personal nature? Right now, our morality is dictated by the marketplace and the people who run it. And this movement is about changing that morality. The way we go about changing that morality and withdrawing our support from a system that fails us is what Occupy Wall Street has yet to decide. So, calls for it to make demands are premature..."
Monday, November 21, 2011
Protesters Suing
This might be the most effective push-back against the political-police establishment. Protesters Arrested at Bank-Account Closing Will Sue N.Y.C. - NYTimes.com:
Draft Hillary
Pollsters call on Obama to step aside, make way for Clinton - latimes.com:
'Reviving an idea they floated last year with an op-ed urging President Obama not to seek a second term, pollsters Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen are out Monday with a new op-ed drafting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be the Democrats' 2012 nominee.
Obama should “abandon his candidacy for reelection in favor of a clear alternative,” Caddell and Schoen wrote in Monday’s Wall Street Journal, because “the kind of campaign required for the president’s political survival would make it almost impossible for him to govern – not only during the campaign, but throughout a second term...”'
'Reviving an idea they floated last year with an op-ed urging President Obama not to seek a second term, pollsters Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen are out Monday with a new op-ed drafting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be the Democrats' 2012 nominee.
Obama should “abandon his candidacy for reelection in favor of a clear alternative,” Caddell and Schoen wrote in Monday’s Wall Street Journal, because “the kind of campaign required for the president’s political survival would make it almost impossible for him to govern – not only during the campaign, but throughout a second term...”'
Sunday, November 20, 2011
More UCD Backlash
Militarization Of Campus Police - The Huffington Post:
"...Could Chancellor Katehi please explain what "serious health and safety concerns" were posed at Davis that were absent at Columbia? The only thing that involved a "serious health and safety concern" at Davis yesterday was the pepper spray. I just spoke with a doctor who works for the California Department of Corrections, who participated in a recent review of the medical literature on pepper spray for the CDC. They concluded that the medical consequences of pepper spray are poorly understood but involve serious health risk. As with chili peppers, some people tolerate pepper spray well, while others have extreme reactions. It is not known why this is the case. As a result, if a doctor sees pepper spray used in a prison, he or she is required to file a written report. And regulations prohibit the use of pepper spray on inmates in all circumstances other than the immediate threat of violence. If a prisoner is seated, by definition the use of pepper spray is prohibited. Any prison guard who used pepper spray on a seated prisoner would face immediate disciplinary review for the use of excessive force. Even in the case of a prison riot in which inmates use extreme violence, once a prisoner sits down he or she is not considered to be an imminent threat. And if prison guards go into a situation where the use of pepper spray is considered likely, they are required to have medical personnel nearby to treat the victims of the chemical agent.
Apparently, in the state of California felons incarcerated for violent crimes have rights that students at public universities do not..."
"...Could Chancellor Katehi please explain what "serious health and safety concerns" were posed at Davis that were absent at Columbia? The only thing that involved a "serious health and safety concern" at Davis yesterday was the pepper spray. I just spoke with a doctor who works for the California Department of Corrections, who participated in a recent review of the medical literature on pepper spray for the CDC. They concluded that the medical consequences of pepper spray are poorly understood but involve serious health risk. As with chili peppers, some people tolerate pepper spray well, while others have extreme reactions. It is not known why this is the case. As a result, if a doctor sees pepper spray used in a prison, he or she is required to file a written report. And regulations prohibit the use of pepper spray on inmates in all circumstances other than the immediate threat of violence. If a prisoner is seated, by definition the use of pepper spray is prohibited. Any prison guard who used pepper spray on a seated prisoner would face immediate disciplinary review for the use of excessive force. Even in the case of a prison riot in which inmates use extreme violence, once a prisoner sits down he or she is not considered to be an imminent threat. And if prison guards go into a situation where the use of pepper spray is considered likely, they are required to have medical personnel nearby to treat the victims of the chemical agent.
Apparently, in the state of California felons incarcerated for violent crimes have rights that students at public universities do not..."
Fake Terror
Fake terror plots, paid informants: the tactics of FBI 'entrapment' questioned | World news | guardian.co.uk: "... Even more shocking was that the organisation, money, weapons and motivation for this plot did not come from real Islamic terrorists. It came from the FBI, and an informant paid to pose as a terrorist mastermind paying big bucks for help in carrying out an attack. For McWilliams, her own government had actually cajoled and paid her beloved nephew into being a terrorist, created a fake plot and then jailed him for it. "I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone," she told the Guardian..."
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Flip Sides
Occupy Wall Street: What should be done with the protesters? | Washington Times Communities:
"As irritating or disruptive as some may find the Occupiers, they are the conscience of America, like it or not. Their very physical presence is a reminder that the decline of America happened not because they didn’t believe in the American dream, but because the greed of Wall Street and the banks stole that dream...
The protesters are the scourge of humanity. Not only should the police remove the protesters, but they should do so with as much force as humanly possible. The OWS protesters are not a political movement. They are a lynch mob, and threaten the very fabric of American society..."
"As irritating or disruptive as some may find the Occupiers, they are the conscience of America, like it or not. Their very physical presence is a reminder that the decline of America happened not because they didn’t believe in the American dream, but because the greed of Wall Street and the banks stole that dream...
The protesters are the scourge of humanity. Not only should the police remove the protesters, but they should do so with as much force as humanly possible. The OWS protesters are not a political movement. They are a lynch mob, and threaten the very fabric of American society..."
Friday, November 18, 2011
Missing All The Points
The Left may be brain dead but it got the Right to rupture a vein writing about it. The Brain-Dead Left - WSJ.com:
TVA Screwing Us, US, Them
Remember these people work for us,the people. Despite freeze, TVA CEO compensation up $352K – USATODAY.com: "One day after the Tennessee Valley Authority board extended a pay freeze for a second year, a report shows TVA President and CEO Tom Kilgore's compensation increased by $352,000 in fiscal 2011, to $3.95 million...."
Comment Of The Day: OWS Medicare Edition
This is OWS in a microcosm.
Thank you Occupy Wall Street « The Confluence:
"Partition Functions, on November 18, 2011 at 2:37 am said:
RD,
Thanks too for being there. Would have been there myself, but I injured my ankle. I was at my local pharmacy a few days ago
and I overheard one of the pharmacists speaking loudly to a customer
over the telephone and this is what I heard (close to verbatim):
I said to the pharmacist that I could not help but overhear the conversation and asked what that all about. She said that due to a change in Medicare, customers were finding out that some of their medication was no longer covered.
I have also noticed that a number of local stores have OWS flyers posted by or near their front entrance."
Thank you Occupy Wall Street « The Confluence:
"Partition Functions, on November 18, 2011 at 2:37 am said:
RD,
Thanks too for being there. Would have been there myself, but I injured my ankle. I was at my local pharmacy a few days ago
and I overheard one of the pharmacists speaking loudly to a customer
over the telephone and this is what I heard (close to verbatim):
Pharmacist: Yes, it will now cost you $1500 a month. Your insurance will no longer cover it. (repeated several times).
Pharmacist: Please do not yell at me, I work my ass off here.
Pharmacist: This country is no longer rich, all the money went to Wall Street.
Pharmacist: You are not happy ? Then go to Occupy Wall Street.
Pharmacist: You have not heard of Occupy Wall Street ? Then turn on your TV.
I said to the pharmacist that I could not help but overhear the conversation and asked what that all about. She said that due to a change in Medicare, customers were finding out that some of their medication was no longer covered.
I have also noticed that a number of local stores have OWS flyers posted by or near their front entrance."
Why OWS Is Succeeding
Actor212 nails why the power of OWS is so potent: you.
Simply Left BehindThe Non-Rapturist's Guide To The Galaxy: Nobody Asked Me, But...:
"1) To understand why America is great, at least 35,000 people-- some reports put the number as high as 50,000-- gathered on a cold, damp autumn night in New York to march three miles. There was no daily radio or television show blaring invitations, no guest speakers, no bands.
Contrast that with the Glenn Beck rally a few summers ago: a warm August Sunday afternoon, guest speakers galore, including then-flirty candidate Sarah Palin, with subsidized buses bringing church groups from all across the nation in to stand in a beautiful field and listen to speeches and music.
He drew 70,000 people.
Good work, OWS!..."
Simply Left BehindThe Non-Rapturist's Guide To The Galaxy: Nobody Asked Me, But...:
"1) To understand why America is great, at least 35,000 people-- some reports put the number as high as 50,000-- gathered on a cold, damp autumn night in New York to march three miles. There was no daily radio or television show blaring invitations, no guest speakers, no bands.
Contrast that with the Glenn Beck rally a few summers ago: a warm August Sunday afternoon, guest speakers galore, including then-flirty candidate Sarah Palin, with subsidized buses bringing church groups from all across the nation in to stand in a beautiful field and listen to speeches and music.
He drew 70,000 people.
Good work, OWS!..."
BoA Thieving The Unemployed
Bank Of America Makes Millions Charging Fees To Withdraw Unemployment Benefits | ThinkProgress:
Millions of jobless Americans like Busby have little choice but to rely on the bank’s prepaid debit cards to collect their monthly benefits..."
"... In short, the same banks whose speculation delivered a financial crisis that has destroyed millions of jobs have figured out how to turn widespread unemployment into a profit center: The larger the number of people who are out of work and dependent upon the state for sustenance, the greater the potential gains through administering their benefits.
Millions of jobless Americans like Busby have little choice but to rely on the bank’s prepaid debit cards to collect their monthly benefits..."
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Call To Murder OWS
Gee I wonder what would happen if a media personality called for the murder of Teabaggers? WorldNetDaily Columnist: Turn "Flame-Throwers" On Occupy Protesters, Prepare To "Beat [Them] With Truncheons" | Media Matters for America: 'WorldNetDaily's Phil Elmore used his November 16 column to call for the violent removal of the Occupy Wall Street protesters from their encampments. Elmore wrote that law enforcement should "[b]ring flame-throwers" and be "prepared to beat with truncheons and shoot with rubber bullets every last filthy hippie." He also called the Occupy movement a "cancer" and warned that it "will infect us all if we do not sterilize it now..."'
Hope For America: Tax Edition
'Patriotic Millionaires' Beg Supercommittee for Higher Taxes - Yahoo! News:
"...Fink, who lives in Washington, D.C., said if the Bush tax cuts do not expire, the country "is digging itself a big hole by foregoing revenue."
"Without revenue, we will never solve the problem by giving tax cuts to the wealthy while supporting two foreign wars," Fink, a former AOL executive, said..."
"...Fink, who lives in Washington, D.C., said if the Bush tax cuts do not expire, the country "is digging itself a big hole by foregoing revenue."
"Without revenue, we will never solve the problem by giving tax cuts to the wealthy while supporting two foreign wars," Fink, a former AOL executive, said..."
The Eyes Have It
Saudi women may be forced to cover up 'tempting' eyes: "Saudi women with sexy or "tempting" eyes may be forced to cover them up, according to a spokesperson for the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the news site Bikyamasr reports..."
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Jesus And The Silenced Majority
Belief in America | What should define Christian values? The Bible, or the TV? — Annie Park inspired by an op-ed by Rev. Richard Cizik | Coffee Party: "Many years ago I lamented to a friend that there were so many well-publicized and well-heeled Christians who supported conservative public policies antithetical to Christian values. My friend asserted that the majority of Christians were in the political middle and left, what Annabel Park would call the "silenced majority." I was skeptical then, but since renewing my faith, I have grown to understand that this is true..."
The Hypocrisy Of The Newt: Part 1
Why Is Newt So Glum? | Swampland | TIME.com:
"...You must understand: to Republican stalwarts, a relationship with Freddie Mac is the moral equivalent of satanism. Gingrich was a paid helper–and, believe me, he didn’t get paid $1.6 million to lecture the organization on the failures of government intervention in the market–in a “socialist” effort to make home-buying easier for people who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to afford houses, an effort that famously went off the rails when the government began supporting sub-prime and other highly questionable mortgages.
In other words, Gingrich was supporting–the best guess was that Gingrich was hired to win some Republican support for Freddie– the very sort of program that he routinely excoriates. This sort of hypocrisy is astounding but, sadly, not unknown to Newt. After all, this was the guy who led the Republican Impeachment of Bill Clinton while having an extra-marital affair of his own..."
"...You must understand: to Republican stalwarts, a relationship with Freddie Mac is the moral equivalent of satanism. Gingrich was a paid helper–and, believe me, he didn’t get paid $1.6 million to lecture the organization on the failures of government intervention in the market–in a “socialist” effort to make home-buying easier for people who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to afford houses, an effort that famously went off the rails when the government began supporting sub-prime and other highly questionable mortgages.
In other words, Gingrich was supporting–the best guess was that Gingrich was hired to win some Republican support for Freddie– the very sort of program that he routinely excoriates. This sort of hypocrisy is astounding but, sadly, not unknown to Newt. After all, this was the guy who led the Republican Impeachment of Bill Clinton while having an extra-marital affair of his own..."
Something Else Smelly In PA
 |
| I Know Nothing! |
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
More Sandusky Sleaze Surfaces
Penn State Scandal: Jerry Sandusky Rumored To Have 'Pimped' Boys To Donors: REPORT "...Shockingly, there are reports that even more depraved details about the sexual crimes allegedly committed by Sandusky will be revealed in the coming days. As the quasi-riots shook the Penn State campus late Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning, SportsByBrooks began tweeting ominous messages about allegations that have yet to become public..."
Banks Fear Paul
Ron Paul calls for banks to take haircut for their European exposure - National Finance Examiner | Examiner.com: "...This assertion that the banks take their medicine, rather than have the taxpayers fund any potential bailouts, is one of the primary reasons the establishment Republicans are fearful of the Congressman winning the nomination for President. In 2008, it was a Republican White House, and a Goldman Sachs Treasury Secretary who called for, and signed a multi-trillion dollar bailout plan, that even provided trillions to European banks at taxpayer expense. Three years later, the debt crisis is far worse, and as the American people have seen in Europe recently, their inability to restructure sovereign debts has led to the ouster of two state leaders in Italy and Greece..."
Monday, November 14, 2011
1% Thievery
Tom Coburn: $30 Billion In Millionaires Aid Is 'Sheer Washington Stupidity':
"..."From tax write-offs for gambling losses, vacation homes, and luxury yachts to subsidies for their ranches and estates, the government is subsidizing the lifestyles of the rich and famous," wrote Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, in an accompanying letter. "Multimillionaires are even receiving government checks for not working. This welfare for the well-off -- costing billions of dollars a year -- is being paid for with the taxes of the less fortunate."
"..."From tax write-offs for gambling losses, vacation homes, and luxury yachts to subsidies for their ranches and estates, the government is subsidizing the lifestyles of the rich and famous," wrote Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, in an accompanying letter. "Multimillionaires are even receiving government checks for not working. This welfare for the well-off -- costing billions of dollars a year -- is being paid for with the taxes of the less fortunate."
Calling the giveaways "sheer Washington stupidity," Coburn detailed in the study more than $30 billion a year that comes out of the U.S. Treasury to aid people who make more than a million a year...
The Good Old Sane GOP
How the GOP Became the Party of the Rich | Politics News | Rolling Stone:
'... Today's Republican Party may revere Reagan as the patron saint of low taxation. But the party of Reagan – which understood that higher taxes on the rich are sometimes required to cure ruinous deficits – is dead and gone. Instead, the modern GOP has undergone a radical transformation, reorganizing itself around a grotesque proposition: that the wealthy should grow wealthier still, whatever the consequences for the rest of us.
Modern-day Republicans have become, quite simply, the Party of the One Percent – the Party of the Rich.
"The Republican Party has totally abdicated its job in our democracy, which is to act as the guardian of fiscal discipline and responsibility," says David Stockman, who served as budget director under Reagan. "They're on an anti-tax jihad – one that benefits the prosperous classes..."'
'... Today's Republican Party may revere Reagan as the patron saint of low taxation. But the party of Reagan – which understood that higher taxes on the rich are sometimes required to cure ruinous deficits – is dead and gone. Instead, the modern GOP has undergone a radical transformation, reorganizing itself around a grotesque proposition: that the wealthy should grow wealthier still, whatever the consequences for the rest of us.
Modern-day Republicans have become, quite simply, the Party of the One Percent – the Party of the Rich.
"The Republican Party has totally abdicated its job in our democracy, which is to act as the guardian of fiscal discipline and responsibility," says David Stockman, who served as budget director under Reagan. "They're on an anti-tax jihad – one that benefits the prosperous classes..."'
Clinton As GOP Nominee?
Daily PUMA (bookmark here): Republican Nomination Syndrome about to hit again?:
"... The republican party is rife with contradictions at this point. The 44% republican evangelical base condemned Mit Romney for being a mormon, yet according to David Letterman, Romney was the only male republican candidate who has only been married one time, and to one woman.
In my opinion the Republicans should beg Hillary Clinton to run as a Republican, her moderate, well thought out, inclusive style of politics is exactly what this country needs right now."
"... The republican party is rife with contradictions at this point. The 44% republican evangelical base condemned Mit Romney for being a mormon, yet according to David Letterman, Romney was the only male republican candidate who has only been married one time, and to one woman.
In my opinion the Republicans should beg Hillary Clinton to run as a Republican, her moderate, well thought out, inclusive style of politics is exactly what this country needs right now."
Congressional Insider Trading
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The OWS Platform
The New Progressive Movement - NYTimes.com: "...The new movement also needs to build a public policy platform. The American people have it absolutely right on the three main points of a new agenda. To put it simply: tax the rich, end the wars and restore honest and effective government for all..."
Spitfire Still Does
BBC News - Spitfire redux: The WWII guns firing after 70 years buried in peat: "An excavation at the site of a 1941 Spitfire crash in a bog in the Irish Republic uncovered huge, remarkably preserved chunks of plane and six Browning machine guns. After 70 years buried in peat could they be made to fire? They certainly could, writes Dan Snow..."
Saturday, November 12, 2011
No Muslims In Military?
On Veterans Day, State Rep. Rick Womick (R-TN) Calls For Purging Muslims From The Military | ThinkProgress: "State representative Rick Womick (R-TN) has made no secret of his anti-Muslim views. A New York Times article from July described Womick on the statehouse floor, warning his constuents that Islamic law was the most urgent threat to their way of life. But in an interview on the sidelines of the “Preserving Freedom Conference” at the Cornerstone Church in Madison, TN, Womick went to new extremes to paint Muslim Americans as dangerous and seditious..."
Veterans' Day
Friday, November 11, 2011
Social Darwinism Redux
The 1% are the very best destroyers of wealth the world has ever seen | George Monbiot | Comment is free | The Guardian: "If wealth was the inevitable result of hard work and enterprise, every woman in Africa would be a millionaire. The claims that the ultra-rich 1% make for themselves – that they are possessed of unique intelligence or creativity or drive – are examples of the self-attribution fallacy. This means crediting yourself with outcomes for which you weren't responsible. Many of those who are rich today got there because they were able to capture certain jobs. This capture owes less to talent and intelligence than to a combination of the ruthless exploitation of others and accidents of birth, as such jobs are taken disproportionately by people born in certain places and into certain classes..."
The Wealthy Welfare State?
Friday: No Coffee « The Confluence: "... Funny how you don’t hear about Denmark, Norway and Sweden in the news. They seem to be able to keep their fiscal houses in order despite their high level of social spending. Soooo, there goes another set of beautiful theories destroyed by ugly facts. Hmmm, is that what the right wingers are counting on? That most Americans can’t think their way out of a paper bag, that graphs and statistics make their heads hurt and that after a couple of decades of Fox News, they’ll believe any stupid theory?..."
Thursday, November 10, 2011
This Week In Rebuking
The right took a beating on Election Day 2011 - The Washington Post: "This week’s elections around the country were brought to you by the word “overreach,” specifically conservative overreach. Given an opportunity in 2010 to build a long-term majority, Republicans instead pursued extreme and partisan measures. On Tuesday, they reaped angry voter rebellions..."
Biker Special
The Tail of the Dragon is fairly close to me and is typical of roads in the area. So if you like curves, com'om-- if you don't, pull over.
Lying Liars Propaganda
What caused the financial crisis? The Big Lie goes viral - The Washington Post: "...Wall Street has its own version: Its Big Lie is that banks and investment houses are merely victims of the crash. You see, the entire boom and bust was caused by misguided government policies. It was not irresponsible lending or derivative or excess leverage or misguided compensation packages, but rather long-standing housing policies that were at fault..."
Fox News Mafia
James Murdoch like 'Mafia boss,' says MP - CNN.com:
"News International chief James Murdoch rejected allegations his company behaved like a Mafia organization as he faced questions from lawmakers about what he knew about the phone-hacking scandal.
Questioning Murdoch about why so little information was shared, MP Tom Watson suggested the company operated an "omerta" code of silence. He said the "omerta" was "a group of people who are bound together by secrecy, who together pursue their group's business objectives with no regard for the law, using intimidation, corruption and general criminality."
"Would you agree with me that this is an accurate description of News International in the UK?" Watson asked..."
"News International chief James Murdoch rejected allegations his company behaved like a Mafia organization as he faced questions from lawmakers about what he knew about the phone-hacking scandal.
Questioning Murdoch about why so little information was shared, MP Tom Watson suggested the company operated an "omerta" code of silence. He said the "omerta" was "a group of people who are bound together by secrecy, who together pursue their group's business objectives with no regard for the law, using intimidation, corruption and general criminality."
"Would you agree with me that this is an accurate description of News International in the UK?" Watson asked..."
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
The Media Does Matter
EricByler | Eric Byler 2011 election day diary plus: Republican overreach, or both parties reaching for the wrong thing? | Coffee Party:
"... Republicans and Democrats are mesmerized by the media, and they need to wake up to the America that exists outside the television box. Politics and entertainment have been deliberately fused into a never-ending reality TV show that has more to do with professional wrestling than it does with good government. During the past 3 years, political leaders have been staking out policy positions based on how consumers of these warped and ugly media products express themselves, often as cast members in the very same shows that they consume.
For shorthand, I'll call it "1% media" because the political content and the resulting disengagement and alienation that these media products produce directly serve the interests of the 1% as defined by the Occupy Wall Street movement.
The bubble had to break some time. And, in fact, I think that #OWS had something to do with it. They proved that there is another compelling narrative, and given a choice, more people began thinking for themselves. If there are two choices, that means there is more than one. That means we can have some agency in forming our own opinions. That means a lot."
"... Republicans and Democrats are mesmerized by the media, and they need to wake up to the America that exists outside the television box. Politics and entertainment have been deliberately fused into a never-ending reality TV show that has more to do with professional wrestling than it does with good government. During the past 3 years, political leaders have been staking out policy positions based on how consumers of these warped and ugly media products express themselves, often as cast members in the very same shows that they consume.
For shorthand, I'll call it "1% media" because the political content and the resulting disengagement and alienation that these media products produce directly serve the interests of the 1% as defined by the Occupy Wall Street movement.
The bubble had to break some time. And, in fact, I think that #OWS had something to do with it. They proved that there is another compelling narrative, and given a choice, more people began thinking for themselves. If there are two choices, that means there is more than one. That means we can have some agency in forming our own opinions. That means a lot."
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Working People Win One
Ohio Voters Reject Republican-Backed Union Limits | Fox News:
" The state's new collective bargaining law was defeated Tuesday after an expensive union-backed campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers and teachers against the Republican establishment.
In a political blow to GOP Gov. John Kasich, voters handily rejected the law, which limits the bargaining abilities of 350,000 unionized public workers.
Labor and business interests poured more than $30 million into the nationally watched campaign, and turnout was high..."
" The state's new collective bargaining law was defeated Tuesday after an expensive union-backed campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers and teachers against the Republican establishment.
In a political blow to GOP Gov. John Kasich, voters handily rejected the law, which limits the bargaining abilities of 350,000 unionized public workers.
Labor and business interests poured more than $30 million into the nationally watched campaign, and turnout was high..."
KY Dem Gov Back In
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear wins reelection easily - The Washington Post: "Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) won reelection easily on Tuesday, overcoming a tough economy in a conservative state to sail to a second term in office..."
Huntsman Rising?
He's the only GOPer I might support. Please don't make me skip this election, GOP. If Herman Cain flames out, will Jon Huntsman rise? | Naked Politics:
Monday, November 07, 2011
Old-Young Income Gap Greatest Ever
US wealth gap between young and old is widest ever - Boston.com: "The wealth gap between younger and older Americans has stretched to the widest on record, worsened by a prolonged economic downturn that has wiped out job opportunities for young adults and saddled them with housing and college debt..."
Jobs & Gaming
Steve Jobs and Apple's Influence on Gaming Massively Overstated - Forbes:
"... I didn’t think all the hero worship of Steve Jobs over the past few weeks would end up invading my little video gaming corner of the world here, but I can’t let this go without a comment..."
Steve Jobs influence over everything but Apple has been wildly overstated, as the above post makes perfectly for the video game realm.
"... I didn’t think all the hero worship of Steve Jobs over the past few weeks would end up invading my little video gaming corner of the world here, but I can’t let this go without a comment..."
Steve Jobs influence over everything but Apple has been wildly overstated, as the above post makes perfectly for the video game realm.
MS Proposal Would Outlaw Birth Control
Mississippi gov. supports amendment to declare fertilized egg a person - CNN.com: "Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour offered his support Friday for an amendment to the state constitution that would define life as beginning at the moment of conception, saying he cast his absentee ballot for the measure despite struggling with its implications..."
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Comment Of The Day: Libertarian Edition
(40) Facebook: " Jim Aikin Ah, but they don't care about anyone else's children -- only their own. The essence of the Libertarian philosophy can be summed up as, "I got mine, and I got a rifle too!"
O's Challenge
Obama's Biggest Opponent: Voters - Ronald Brownstein - Politics - The Atlantic: "... Regardless of the Republican nominee, those on the Obama team recognize that their biggest obstacle is voter disappointment with his performance, particularly on the economy. They believe one of their biggest opportunities is that voters generally prefer the president's ideas for dealing with jobs and the deficit over Republican alternatives. They understand that their biggest challenge is to improve the retrospective judgment about his performance while simultaneously encouraging voters to focus more on the prospective comparison with the GOP..."
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Mitt To Shaft Seniors
Mitt Romney Has Announced That He Will Privatize Medicare:
"...Romney’s plan still takes out taxes from your paychecks to fund the vouchers. But instead of the majority of those tax dollars going to care for seniors, like Medicare does today, millions will go into the pockets of executives and lobbyists along with paying for advertisements. It is essentially a huge way for the for-profit insurance companies to raid the treasury.
Again, if Republicans didn’t create this fiscal crisis by cutting taxes and increasing spending on the military, Medicare would be fully funded, Social Security wouldn’t have had to be raided to cover on going, operational expenses of the FBI, DEA and other departments.
This is all just part of a generations old plan to cut out the social safety net the Republicans have loathed since its inception."
"...Romney’s plan still takes out taxes from your paychecks to fund the vouchers. But instead of the majority of those tax dollars going to care for seniors, like Medicare does today, millions will go into the pockets of executives and lobbyists along with paying for advertisements. It is essentially a huge way for the for-profit insurance companies to raid the treasury.
Again, if Republicans didn’t create this fiscal crisis by cutting taxes and increasing spending on the military, Medicare would be fully funded, Social Security wouldn’t have had to be raided to cover on going, operational expenses of the FBI, DEA and other departments.
This is all just part of a generations old plan to cut out the social safety net the Republicans have loathed since its inception."
Friday, November 04, 2011
Credit Unions Gain
Well, who could've seen this coming? Credit union business grows as consumers sour on banks | Reuters:
It's The Movie, Stupid
Guy Fawkes mask inspires Occupy protests around the world - CNN.com: "... The march will recreate one of the final scenes of "V for Vendetta," a film based on the comic books by Alan Moore about a mysterious masked revolutionary who brings down a totalitarian regime, succeeding where Fawkes failed by blowing up parliament..."
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Sensible Evangelical Family Planning
The Birth Control Solution - NYTimes.com:
"...Finally, a ray of hope: A group of evangelical Christians, led by Richard Cizik of The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, is drafting a broad statement of support for family planning. It emphasizes that family planning reduces abortion and lives lost in childbirth.
“Family planning is morally laudable in Christian terms because of its contribution to family well-being, women’s health, and the prevention of abortion,” the draft says.
Amen! Contraceptives no more cause sex than umbrellas cause rain.
So as we greet the seven-billionth human, let’s try to delay the arrival of the eight billionth. We should all be able to agree on voluntary family planning as a cost-effective strategy to reduce poverty, conflict and environmental damage. If you think family planning is expensive, you haven’t priced babies."
Did Obama Out Cain?
Like he did with John Edwards? Well, we can exercise our imagination, if not our hopes.
Cain: Sexual harassment claims "will not deter me" - CNN.com:
"Cain also repeated his accusation that Gov. Rick Perry, a conservative rival for the GOP nomination, was behind the allegations emerging as Cain rose to the top of polls in the race.
In particular, he noted that a former aide, Curt Anderson, signed on with the Perry campaign shortly before the allegations surfaced in a report Sunday by Politico..."
Cain: Sexual harassment claims "will not deter me" - CNN.com:
"Cain also repeated his accusation that Gov. Rick Perry, a conservative rival for the GOP nomination, was behind the allegations emerging as Cain rose to the top of polls in the race.
In particular, he noted that a former aide, Curt Anderson, signed on with the Perry campaign shortly before the allegations surfaced in a report Sunday by Politico..."
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Cain Agonistes: Sex Edition, Part 2
Herman Cain dodges harassment questions as third accuser surfaces - Political Hotsheet - CBS News: "Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain spent the day deflecting questions about the 1990s era sexual harassment charges against him, but details continued to emerge -- and a third, unidentified woman said she considered filing a workplace complaint against Cain, the Associated Press reports..."
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Google Does Good
Google Refused Law Enforcement Request To Pull Police Brutality Video:
"A U.S. law enforcement agency petitioned Google to take down a YouTube video showing police brutality, the web giant revealed in a new report.
Google said it refused the request, placed sometime between January and June of this year, though it did not specify why..."
Semi-Local Nuts Caught
Militia members plotted to kill federal officials, prosecutors say - CNN.com: " Federal agents charged four Georgia men they say are part of a fringe militia group with plotting to attack government officials with explosives and the biotoxin ricin, prosecutors in Atlanta announced Tuesda..."
I, Prophet
You just had to know it was coming.
Herman Cain supporters claim 'high-tech lynching' is behind sexual harrassment accusations - The Daily Record:
'LEADING US conservatives rushed to support Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain today as he became engulfed in sexual harassment claims.
Backers said he was the victim of "high-tech lynching"...'
Herman Cain supporters claim 'high-tech lynching' is behind sexual harrassment accusations - The Daily Record:
'LEADING US conservatives rushed to support Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain today as he became engulfed in sexual harassment claims.
Backers said he was the victim of "high-tech lynching"...'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)