When Republicans talk about extending the Bush tax cuts, they fail to explain that will create even more debt. They also fail to let you know that they want the wealthy to get bigger tax cuts than the average worker. Trickle down economics is a failure----just ask any economist.
Here is an interesting video on Republican Steve Stivers, former bank lobbyist and current Republican congressional candidate.
Truveo:
These Republicans care more for the rich than they do for anyone else.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
"Give me money and I'll talk with you!"
Republican leader John Boehner has a new scheme plan to try to become Speaker of the House-------
Checkbook Access. The more money a special interest group contributes, the more access they'll have to Boehner and his staff.
Politico:
....John Boehner of Ohio is putting his own face on the GOP’s drive to take back the House by quietly launching a “Boehner for Speaker” committee that aims to boost the party’s lagging fundraising, in part by introducing him as a “regular guy” from Ohio.
But while the effort plays up Boehner’s modest roots, the going rate to participate is pricey: According to materials distributed by Boehner’s camp and obtained by POLITICO, lobbyists and other major donors across the country who give the maximum or help raise $100,000 will get meetings with Boehner, calls from senior aides with updates on the campaign and “VIP access to all events, including roundtables, briefings, breakout discussions and interactive panel discussions.”
Checkbook Access. The more money a special interest group contributes, the more access they'll have to Boehner and his staff.
Politico:
....John Boehner of Ohio is putting his own face on the GOP’s drive to take back the House by quietly launching a “Boehner for Speaker” committee that aims to boost the party’s lagging fundraising, in part by introducing him as a “regular guy” from Ohio.
But while the effort plays up Boehner’s modest roots, the going rate to participate is pricey: According to materials distributed by Boehner’s camp and obtained by POLITICO, lobbyists and other major donors across the country who give the maximum or help raise $100,000 will get meetings with Boehner, calls from senior aides with updates on the campaign and “VIP access to all events, including roundtables, briefings, breakout discussions and interactive panel discussions.”
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Too Busy to Talk?
* We haven't seen much of Steve Stivers recently. Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, is a Republican congressional candidate again. To most voters, Stivers really messed up early in the campaign. There was that doctored photo suggesting that Stivers had been endorsed by the tea party group. Then, through a 912 group questionnaire, Stivers revealed that he wanted to repeal/eliminate the following:
1. Repeal the health care reform bill
2. Repeal the 16th Amendment to the Constitution
3. Repeal the 17th Amendment to the Constitution
4. Eliminate the Department of Agriculture
5. Eliminate the Department of Education
6. Eliminate the Department of the Interior
7. Eliminate the Department of Housing of and Urban Development
8. Eliminate the Department of Transportation
9. Eliminate the Department of Energy
More recently, Stivers has been attending cocktail parties in DC and Ohio, thrown in his honor by bank PACs, insurance PACs, and other related financial services PACs. As a matter of fact, Stivers has been so busy schmoozing with these well-funded PACs that he has yet to answer questions about the BP oil spill in the gulf. (Stivers is a BP stockholder.) Stivers, who once cared about the environment, no longer believes in global warming or has interest in protecting the environment. Why the sudden change? It all goes with his right wing, pro-banker, pro-corporation profits thinking. Stivers has learned that if you protect bankers and their greed, you'll be rewarded with campaign contributions.
John Boehner personally recruited Stivers to run for Congress. Need I say more?
1. Repeal the health care reform bill
2. Repeal the 16th Amendment to the Constitution
3. Repeal the 17th Amendment to the Constitution
4. Eliminate the Department of Agriculture
5. Eliminate the Department of Education
6. Eliminate the Department of the Interior
7. Eliminate the Department of Housing of and Urban Development
8. Eliminate the Department of Transportation
9. Eliminate the Department of Energy
More recently, Stivers has been attending cocktail parties in DC and Ohio, thrown in his honor by bank PACs, insurance PACs, and other related financial services PACs. As a matter of fact, Stivers has been so busy schmoozing with these well-funded PACs that he has yet to answer questions about the BP oil spill in the gulf. (Stivers is a BP stockholder.) Stivers, who once cared about the environment, no longer believes in global warming or has interest in protecting the environment. Why the sudden change? It all goes with his right wing, pro-banker, pro-corporation profits thinking. Stivers has learned that if you protect bankers and their greed, you'll be rewarded with campaign contributions.
John Boehner personally recruited Stivers to run for Congress. Need I say more?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Would you vote for Newt Gingrich knowing that he refused to pay his alimony and child support? (Salon)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Why does Mary Taylor hate Ohio???
John Kasich's running mate, Mary Taylor, bragged about how she counseled her former clients to move out of state. Seriously, is she for real?
(Found at Plunderbund)
* There is a brand new Apple Store at the Polaris Mall. It is absolutely awesome! The grand opening was on Saturday and it was packed with people anxious to get inside.
* Republican Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, is bragging about his endorsement from a group that always endorses Republicans.
* Doctors offices are now dealing with an Ohio health insurance company that has their call center in Argentina. When doctors offices try to find out why this particular health insurance company hasn't paid the bill, they are connected to poorly trained representatives who cannot be understood.
(Found at Plunderbund)
* There is a brand new Apple Store at the Polaris Mall. It is absolutely awesome! The grand opening was on Saturday and it was packed with people anxious to get inside.
* Republican Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, is bragging about his endorsement from a group that always endorses Republicans.
* Doctors offices are now dealing with an Ohio health insurance company that has their call center in Argentina. When doctors offices try to find out why this particular health insurance company hasn't paid the bill, they are connected to poorly trained representatives who cannot be understood.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Hiding Something?
Now that we know that Republican candidate for governor, John Kasich, was wrong about the taxes and unemployment in Texas, Florida, and Nevada, he has another incorrect statistic to add to his list. Kasich has been wrong about the successes of Republican Mitch Daniels in Indiana.
Dispatch:
...An examination of statistics, however, reveals that Indiana might not be the jobs mecca that Kasich trumpets on the campaign trail....
....But a closer look at data reveals that Indiana has not fared much better than its Midwestern neighbors during the recession. Indiana lost 174,400 jobs since 2007, the year Strickland took office in Ohio, federal labor data show. That's a 5.8 percent decline, which ranks 39th nationwide - just ahead of Ohio, which ranks 42nd after a job loss of 7 percent, or 379,900 jobs.
And Indiana has endured one of the nation's highest employment declines since the recession began, according to the Brookings Institution's Hamilton Project. The share of Indiana's population that was employed dropped from 63.5percent in November 2007 to 57.2 percent in May 2010, a steeper decline than in all but five states, none of them in the Midwest. Put another way, Indiana's employment growth trails Ohio's and even Michigan's....
On top of Indiana's job losses, the state also sold off their turnpike to a foreign entity. Even Daniels states that Indiana's problems can be traced to "...national and global economics..."
I'm surprised that Kasich is willing to campaign with someone else, considering his large ego. It just might be that Kasich thinks that Ohioans are so stupid that we are impressed with his buddies like Jeb Bush, Newt Gingrich, and Mitch Daniels. Frankly, I don't care about Kasich's right wing buddies. Jeb Bush screwed up Florida and their entire education system. Gingrich and his scandals, three marriages, and affairs, don't make him a role model. Mitch Daniels? Give me a break.
Kasich still hasn't released an agenda or list of plans he has if elected. We have not seen his income tax returns. What is Kasich hiding?
Speaking of hiding.....
Every week we get another release of another pension fund that lost money because of Kasich and Lehman Brothers. How many people have been hurt because of Kasich's introductions?
Dispatch:
...An examination of statistics, however, reveals that Indiana might not be the jobs mecca that Kasich trumpets on the campaign trail....
....But a closer look at data reveals that Indiana has not fared much better than its Midwestern neighbors during the recession. Indiana lost 174,400 jobs since 2007, the year Strickland took office in Ohio, federal labor data show. That's a 5.8 percent decline, which ranks 39th nationwide - just ahead of Ohio, which ranks 42nd after a job loss of 7 percent, or 379,900 jobs.
And Indiana has endured one of the nation's highest employment declines since the recession began, according to the Brookings Institution's Hamilton Project. The share of Indiana's population that was employed dropped from 63.5percent in November 2007 to 57.2 percent in May 2010, a steeper decline than in all but five states, none of them in the Midwest. Put another way, Indiana's employment growth trails Ohio's and even Michigan's....
On top of Indiana's job losses, the state also sold off their turnpike to a foreign entity. Even Daniels states that Indiana's problems can be traced to "...national and global economics..."
I'm surprised that Kasich is willing to campaign with someone else, considering his large ego. It just might be that Kasich thinks that Ohioans are so stupid that we are impressed with his buddies like Jeb Bush, Newt Gingrich, and Mitch Daniels. Frankly, I don't care about Kasich's right wing buddies. Jeb Bush screwed up Florida and their entire education system. Gingrich and his scandals, three marriages, and affairs, don't make him a role model. Mitch Daniels? Give me a break.
Kasich still hasn't released an agenda or list of plans he has if elected. We have not seen his income tax returns. What is Kasich hiding?
Speaking of hiding.....
Every week we get another release of another pension fund that lost money because of Kasich and Lehman Brothers. How many people have been hurt because of Kasich's introductions?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Kasich's Toxic Personality is Now Public Information
The Other Paper has a revealing article about John Kasich's personality. I like the title of the article, "Does Ohio Need an SOB As Governor?"
Here are a few excerpts from The Other Paper:
“I wasn’t old enough to vote, but I vowed that when I was, he’d never have my vote,” Cody said....
And this-----
Some of us already knew it, but were waiting for someone else to say it. Kasich has been known to be an @**%#!e. I knew he was an obnoxious individual because he belonged to the same athletic club in Westerville as my family, in the '90's. Kasich was one of those people that wanted and needed to be noticed wherever he was. When I saw him walking through an area, I would take my young daughters by the hand, and lead them out of his way. I did not want them to be bothered by such an awful man.
Here are a few excerpts from The Other Paper:
“I wasn’t old enough to vote, but I vowed that when I was, he’d never have my vote,” Cody said....
And this-----
“I would like to redirect your attention back to my ‘experience’ with the unpleasantly arrogant Mr. Kasich,” Schrim wrote in the e-mail, obtained by The Other Paper.
“His body language was one of sloth and arrogance. His words and the way he carried himself made it clear that he believed he was doing us a favor by attending our function.”
Some of us already knew it, but were waiting for someone else to say it. Kasich has been known to be an @**%#!e. I knew he was an obnoxious individual because he belonged to the same athletic club in Westerville as my family, in the '90's. Kasich was one of those people that wanted and needed to be noticed wherever he was. When I saw him walking through an area, I would take my young daughters by the hand, and lead them out of his way. I did not want them to be bothered by such an awful man.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Attention, Please!
* Republican candidate, Steve Stivers, will be have a big fundraising party with bank lobbyists today. "Birds of a feather stick together." If Stivers makes it to Congress, bankers in the country will be happy. I dislike happy, greedy bankers.
* Is it possible that some people/organizations/bloggers on the right might be trying to target the NAACP like they went after ACORN? Do these attacks on the NAACP involve the usual suspects?????? Why do right wingers hate NAACP?
* Do you know why the Ohio Republicans are against the building of the new Ohio rail system? There are two reasons: (1) the Republicans are trying to create a depression and blame President Obama, (2) they do not want 8,000+ jobs to be created during the administration of Democrat Ted Strickland.
* Republican candidate for Ohio governor, John Kasich, has often targeted college students by trying to have them pay more interest rates on college loans, eliminating college grant programs, and cutting work-study programs (see NYTimes). President Bill Clinton stopped Kasich from destroying college aid programs. Heaven forbid if Kasich wins election in Ohio! Kasich has already expressed interest in restructuring the programs at state universities.
* Is it possible that some people/organizations/bloggers on the right might be trying to target the NAACP like they went after ACORN? Do these attacks on the NAACP involve the usual suspects?????? Why do right wingers hate NAACP?
* Do you know why the Ohio Republicans are against the building of the new Ohio rail system? There are two reasons: (1) the Republicans are trying to create a depression and blame President Obama, (2) they do not want 8,000+ jobs to be created during the administration of Democrat Ted Strickland.
* Republican candidate for Ohio governor, John Kasich, has often targeted college students by trying to have them pay more interest rates on college loans, eliminating college grant programs, and cutting work-study programs (see NYTimes). President Bill Clinton stopped Kasich from destroying college aid programs. Heaven forbid if Kasich wins election in Ohio! Kasich has already expressed interest in restructuring the programs at state universities.
Monday, July 19, 2010
GOP: No room for the unemployed
The Republicans have continued to block an extension of unemployment benefits. Sen. McConnell and the Republicans have asked for tax cuts. The Republicans say they'll pass the unemployment benefits if there are cuts somewhere else. Shame on the Republicans. As I recall they gave Bush every single penny he wanted.
Donna Brazile explains it all in the Daily Democrat Online:
....Meanwhile, these fiscally responsible Republicans undertook two wars they refused to finance. Additionally, small-government advocates (like McConnell and Kyl) put a Medicare drug-payment plan in place that drains the treasury of billions -- and they didn't pay for it.
But Mitch McConnell told reporters this week that there is "no evidence whatsoever that the Bush tax cuts (for the wealthy) actually diminished revenue."
....The Congressional Budget Office says the Bush-era tax cuts increased the National Deficit by $539 Billion just in 2005. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that between 2011 and 2018, these tax cuts will cost the government $3.28 trillion in lost revenues....
The Republican Party remains the party of, for, and about being rich. Apparently, the unemployed need not apply.
Donna Brazile explains it all in the Daily Democrat Online:
....Meanwhile, these fiscally responsible Republicans undertook two wars they refused to finance. Additionally, small-government advocates (like McConnell and Kyl) put a Medicare drug-payment plan in place that drains the treasury of billions -- and they didn't pay for it.
But Mitch McConnell told reporters this week that there is "no evidence whatsoever that the Bush tax cuts (for the wealthy) actually diminished revenue."
....The Congressional Budget Office says the Bush-era tax cuts increased the National Deficit by $539 Billion just in 2005. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that between 2011 and 2018, these tax cuts will cost the government $3.28 trillion in lost revenues....
The Republican Party remains the party of, for, and about being rich. Apparently, the unemployed need not apply.
A Few Facts
Republican Rep. Mike Pence was just on MSNBC talking about what the Republicans would do if they took control of Congress. They want to repeal health care and the bank reform bill. Why would Pence say something like that?
According to Open Secrets, Pence has received the following total of contributions from these industries during his career:
Securities & Investment $261,311
Insurance ................. $179,000
Misc Finance............. $105,800
I guess if youpay contribute enough to someone, they'll do your bidding.
> Here is what Open Secrets has on Republican Rep. Eric Cantor and the career contributions he has received from various financial/banking/insurance industries:
Misc Finance....................$406,490
Commercial Banks...........$365,550
Oil & Gas..........................$257,700
No wonder Pence and Cantor are so willing to work for these corporations instead of their constituents---- money talks.
According to Open Secrets, Pence has received the following total of contributions from these industries during his career:
Securities & Investment $261,311
| Oil & Gas.................. | $196,350 | |||||||||||||
| Commercial Banks.... | $180,639 |
Misc Finance............. $105,800
I guess if you
> Here is what Open Secrets has on Republican Rep. Eric Cantor and the career contributions he has received from various financial/banking/insurance industries:
| Securities & Investment.. | $994,050 |
| Insurance....................... | $819,274 |
Commercial Banks...........$365,550
Oil & Gas..........................$257,700
No wonder Pence and Cantor are so willing to work for these corporations instead of their constituents---- money talks.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Against Civil Rights and Women's Equity???
In 1991, according to Common Cause Magazine, a Civil Rights bill was offered in the House of Representatives:
On June 5 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 273-158 for passage of a key civil rights bill. The legislation was designed to restore the scope and effectiveness of civil rights protections against employment discrimination undermined by six recent Supreme Court decisions.
The House bill was a substitute measure introduced by Democratic leaders in hopes of garnering a two-thirds majority, or enough votes to override the promised presidential veto. While passing by a margin of more than 100 votes, the bill fell 15 votes short of that goal....
....The "Civil Rights and Women's Equity in Employment Act of 1991" is designed to guard against discrimination in the workplace. It would allow victims of intentional employment discrimination to receive monetary awards, reduce the burden of proof on workers who believe they've been discriminated against, clarify rules for determining when job practices are discriminatory, outlaw job quotas and establish a cap for punitive damages....
President George H.W. Bush had planned to veto the bill if it reached his desk. However, according to Thomas (The Library of Congress): ...Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent...
Why would I bring up this legislative action from 1991? John Kasich voted against HR 1, Civil Rights and Women's Equity in Employment Act of 1991 (see Roll Call 131). Kasich voted against legislation that would have helped end discrimination in the workplace. I'd like to know what was Kasich's reasoning. Was he and is he still against equal rights for women? Is Kasich able to explain why he voted against the expansion of rights and equality in the workplace?
(FYI---- Boehner also voted against the Civil Rights and Women's Equity in Employment Act of 1991.)
**** Why did then Congressman Joe Scarborough call Kasich's tax cut plan "a loser idea" in 1999? You'll have to read the Time article from May 8, 1999. Here is a hint--- if you are wealthy, tax cuts help return lots of money. If you are not in the high income bracket, tax cuts won't mean much to you.
On June 5 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 273-158 for passage of a key civil rights bill. The legislation was designed to restore the scope and effectiveness of civil rights protections against employment discrimination undermined by six recent Supreme Court decisions.
The House bill was a substitute measure introduced by Democratic leaders in hopes of garnering a two-thirds majority, or enough votes to override the promised presidential veto. While passing by a margin of more than 100 votes, the bill fell 15 votes short of that goal....
....The "Civil Rights and Women's Equity in Employment Act of 1991" is designed to guard against discrimination in the workplace. It would allow victims of intentional employment discrimination to receive monetary awards, reduce the burden of proof on workers who believe they've been discriminated against, clarify rules for determining when job practices are discriminatory, outlaw job quotas and establish a cap for punitive damages....
President George H.W. Bush had planned to veto the bill if it reached his desk. However, according to Thomas (The Library of Congress): ...Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent...
Why would I bring up this legislative action from 1991? John Kasich voted against HR 1, Civil Rights and Women's Equity in Employment Act of 1991 (see Roll Call 131). Kasich voted against legislation that would have helped end discrimination in the workplace. I'd like to know what was Kasich's reasoning. Was he and is he still against equal rights for women? Is Kasich able to explain why he voted against the expansion of rights and equality in the workplace?
(FYI---- Boehner also voted against the Civil Rights and Women's Equity in Employment Act of 1991.)
**** Why did then Congressman Joe Scarborough call Kasich's tax cut plan "a loser idea" in 1999? You'll have to read the Time article from May 8, 1999. Here is a hint--- if you are wealthy, tax cuts help return lots of money. If you are not in the high income bracket, tax cuts won't mean much to you.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Kasich Lacking Again
* A trip to the bookstore today helped confirm my beliefs. On the clearance table were the Presidential biographies of George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, and Richard Nixon. These biographies, written for children, just are not selling well.
* Do you ever wonder if people go into Whole Foods just to sample all the food? Saturdays seem that way.
* There has been some new job growth in Columbus. Nationwide Insurance will move 1400 jobs from Dublin to downtown Columbus, according to an article in the Dispatch:
.....In recent times, the city and its partners have announced:
• The expansion of Nationwide Children's Hospital, creating 2,000 good-paying jobs.
• The expansion of JPMorgan Chase, bringing 1,000 new jobs to Columbus.
• The Hilton Columbus Downtown convention hotel, which will create 550 jobs.
• The creation of 500 jobs with Huntington Bank, which also pledged to keep its headquarters Downtown for the next 20 years.
• A partnership with the Ohio State Medical Center, resulting in 6,000 new jobs.
• A manufacturing facility for electric-car battery maker CODA Automotive, which could create 1,325 jobs.
• The relocation of Canadian clothing company La Senza to Columbus, which will bring in 80 jobs....
We owe all this job creation to Gov. Strickland and Mayor Coleman.
* Do you remember this New York Times (8/2/96) article about John Kasich's response to criticism of the new welfare plan? New York Times:
Representative John R. Kasich, chairman of the House Budget Committee, today admonished governors who have complained about parts of the Republican-sponsored welfare plan ''to stop bellyaching.''
Mr. Kasich, an Ohio Republican, said states like New York, whose Constitution requires the government to care for the needy, should consider changing their laws.....
....But in a breakfast meeting with reporters today, Mr. Kasich noted that the New York Constitution's provision mandating ''aid, care and support of the needy'' was about as old as the Federal welfare guarantee that Republicans were now dismantling.....
How interesting. Kasich seems very cold with regard to the poor. He didn't care about those people who were struggling then, and he doesn't care about them now. Kasich, and his conveniently published book about his prayer group, seems to be the antithesis of his lack of compassion for the "aid, care and support of the needy" he expressed in 1996. Does Kasich think that those passages to care for the poor that are included in the Bible (see Link) are too old to follow too?
* Do you ever wonder if people go into Whole Foods just to sample all the food? Saturdays seem that way.
* There has been some new job growth in Columbus. Nationwide Insurance will move 1400 jobs from Dublin to downtown Columbus, according to an article in the Dispatch:
.....In recent times, the city and its partners have announced:
• The expansion of Nationwide Children's Hospital, creating 2,000 good-paying jobs.
• The expansion of JPMorgan Chase, bringing 1,000 new jobs to Columbus.
• The Hilton Columbus Downtown convention hotel, which will create 550 jobs.
• The creation of 500 jobs with Huntington Bank, which also pledged to keep its headquarters Downtown for the next 20 years.
• A partnership with the Ohio State Medical Center, resulting in 6,000 new jobs.
• A manufacturing facility for electric-car battery maker CODA Automotive, which could create 1,325 jobs.
• The relocation of Canadian clothing company La Senza to Columbus, which will bring in 80 jobs....
We owe all this job creation to Gov. Strickland and Mayor Coleman.
* Do you remember this New York Times (8/2/96) article about John Kasich's response to criticism of the new welfare plan? New York Times:
Representative John R. Kasich, chairman of the House Budget Committee, today admonished governors who have complained about parts of the Republican-sponsored welfare plan ''to stop bellyaching.''
Mr. Kasich, an Ohio Republican, said states like New York, whose Constitution requires the government to care for the needy, should consider changing their laws.....
....But in a breakfast meeting with reporters today, Mr. Kasich noted that the New York Constitution's provision mandating ''aid, care and support of the needy'' was about as old as the Federal welfare guarantee that Republicans were now dismantling.....
How interesting. Kasich seems very cold with regard to the poor. He didn't care about those people who were struggling then, and he doesn't care about them now. Kasich, and his conveniently published book about his prayer group, seems to be the antithesis of his lack of compassion for the "aid, care and support of the needy" he expressed in 1996. Does Kasich think that those passages to care for the poor that are included in the Bible (see Link) are too old to follow too?
Obama on vacation?
As shocking as it seems to Republicans, the President has taken a few days off to spend with his family.
CNN.com:
...The Republican National Committee launched a website blasting what it considers Obama's "leisure activities or missteps" during the oil disaster, like playing golf, attending concerts and vacationing in Asheville, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; and now Maine....
I never recall the Republicans complain when Bush was on vacation for almost 1,000 days (1/3 of his Presidency)! If you remember, Bush remained on vacation in August of 2001 even when he got a PDB (President's Daily Briefing) that indicated that Bin Laden was determined to strike the United States (see GWU for National Security Archive). I think it if fine for the President to take a few days to get a different perspective on things. He has been working hard since the minute he took over the Presidency with the problems left by the previous administration: 2 wars, economic meltdown, collapse of John Kasich's Lehman Brothers, unemployment, problems with the auto industry, North Korea, Iran, etc., etc., etc.....
While Republicans complain about President Obama's weekend, they are hoping to take attention away from the fact that they have no agenda to run on in November. They've advised their candidates not to talk about issues. That should go over big. What will they talk about------ gardening? fishing? golfing with lobbyists? their 401ks? their BP stock (Steve Stivers)???????
CNN.com:
...The Republican National Committee launched a website blasting what it considers Obama's "leisure activities or missteps" during the oil disaster, like playing golf, attending concerts and vacationing in Asheville, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; and now Maine....
I never recall the Republicans complain when Bush was on vacation for almost 1,000 days (1/3 of his Presidency)! If you remember, Bush remained on vacation in August of 2001 even when he got a PDB (President's Daily Briefing) that indicated that Bin Laden was determined to strike the United States (see GWU for National Security Archive). I think it if fine for the President to take a few days to get a different perspective on things. He has been working hard since the minute he took over the Presidency with the problems left by the previous administration: 2 wars, economic meltdown, collapse of John Kasich's Lehman Brothers, unemployment, problems with the auto industry, North Korea, Iran, etc., etc., etc.....
While Republicans complain about President Obama's weekend, they are hoping to take attention away from the fact that they have no agenda to run on in November. They've advised their candidates not to talk about issues. That should go over big. What will they talk about------ gardening? fishing? golfing with lobbyists? their 401ks? their BP stock (Steve Stivers)???????
Friday, July 16, 2010
Portman was "divorced from reality"
The New York Times had this little nugget on March 18, 2005:
President Bush announced on Thursday that he had selected Representative Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican who is one of his closest friends in Congress, to be the next United States trade representative....
....In making his announcement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Mr. Bush referred to Mr. Portman as a "good friend, a decent man and a skilled negotiator."
How can anyone have any confidence in Portman after that endorsement by Bush?
*** Then there is the New York Times article from February 8, 2007 in which Rob Portman who was the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, came under fire because he continued to push the Bush economic plan for more tax cuts even when it became evident that there was damage being done:
“The question I keep putting to you is, ‘Is your side prepared to really compromise?’ ” Mr. Conrad asked Mr. Portman.
He said that Democrats had agreed to cut spending in popular retirement programs but that they needed Republicans to agree to tax increases to make possible a deal on saving them. Mr. Conrad said Mr. Portman was “divorced from reality” by not being willing to accept responsibility for tax increases.....
Let me repeat that phrase---- "Mr. Conrad said Mr. Portman was “divorced from reality” by not being willing to accept responsibility for tax increases..."
>> MarioPiperni.com found this little gem about Portman that he found in a National Journal article:
Rob Portman, a Republican Senate candidate in Ohio, has now admitted in an interview that the GOP doesn’t have a position on health care. Worse, he says he came to that conclusion after multiple discussions with GOP Congressional leaders about the issue.
Check out this nugget buried in a National Journal article (subscription only) about Portman:
Thank you, MarioPiperni, for providing us with more facts about Portman and the Republicans.
President Bush announced on Thursday that he had selected Representative Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican who is one of his closest friends in Congress, to be the next United States trade representative....
....In making his announcement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Mr. Bush referred to Mr. Portman as a "good friend, a decent man and a skilled negotiator."
How can anyone have any confidence in Portman after that endorsement by Bush?
*** Then there is the New York Times article from February 8, 2007 in which Rob Portman who was the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, came under fire because he continued to push the Bush economic plan for more tax cuts even when it became evident that there was damage being done:
“The question I keep putting to you is, ‘Is your side prepared to really compromise?’ ” Mr. Conrad asked Mr. Portman.
He said that Democrats had agreed to cut spending in popular retirement programs but that they needed Republicans to agree to tax increases to make possible a deal on saving them. Mr. Conrad said Mr. Portman was “divorced from reality” by not being willing to accept responsibility for tax increases.....
Let me repeat that phrase---- "Mr. Conrad said Mr. Portman was “divorced from reality” by not being willing to accept responsibility for tax increases..."
.....Portman was "divorced from reality"....
>> MarioPiperni.com found this little gem about Portman that he found in a National Journal article:
Rob Portman, a Republican Senate candidate in Ohio, has now admitted in an interview that the GOP doesn’t have a position on health care. Worse, he says he came to that conclusion after multiple discussions with GOP Congressional leaders about the issue.
Check out this nugget buried in a National Journal article (subscription only) about Portman:
Republicans have also taken some heat nationally for not focusing on health care in their campaigns in recent years, but Portman already has been speaking on the issue frequently.
“We have to have an alternative. … I will tell you, I don’t think there is a Republican alternative at this point,” he said. He said he reached that conclusion after talking to Senate leaders and lawmakers about the GOP’s position. “There isn’t one,” he said. “There’s a task force, and I applaud them for that.
Thank you, MarioPiperni, for providing us with more facts about Portman and the Republicans.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Chabot
Republican Steve Chabot, who lost his last election to represent Ohio's 1st district, must really not like being unemployed. Chabot's strong loyalty to President George W. Bush, was even rewarded with a special visit by Bush in 2007 for voting not to override Bush's veto on SCHIP.
Chabot has been wrong on many things including his support for the Bush tax cuts.
Here is a quote by Steve Chabot (BrainyQuote):
Even with not having a balanced budget at this time, I support tax cuts. That will help limit spending.
We know that Chabot was very wrong about those tax cuts----they didn't help limit spending.
Theoffthechartsblog had this:
....key policies enacted in the Bush Administration will continue to harm the budget outlook throughout the next decade. For instance, the Bush tax cuts and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will account for nearly $7 trillion in deficits in 2009-2019.
Rep. Boehner and others are wrong to let the Bush Administration off the hook. If we hadn’t enacted unaffordable tax cuts, fought two wars on borrowed money, and created an expensive new drug benefit as part of Medicare without paying for it, we’d be in much better shape.
Chabot was needs to be asked why he continued to support Bush's policies when, in reality, those policies hurt a lot of people and caused economic problems.
Chabot has been wrong on many things including his support for the Bush tax cuts.
Here is a quote by Steve Chabot (BrainyQuote):
Even with not having a balanced budget at this time, I support tax cuts. That will help limit spending.
We know that Chabot was very wrong about those tax cuts----they didn't help limit spending.
Theoffthechartsblog had this:
....key policies enacted in the Bush Administration will continue to harm the budget outlook throughout the next decade. For instance, the Bush tax cuts and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will account for nearly $7 trillion in deficits in 2009-2019.
Rep. Boehner and others are wrong to let the Bush Administration off the hook. If we hadn’t enacted unaffordable tax cuts, fought two wars on borrowed money, and created an expensive new drug benefit as part of Medicare without paying for it, we’d be in much better shape.
Chabot was needs to be asked why he continued to support Bush's policies when, in reality, those policies hurt a lot of people and caused economic problems.
What is that again?
* Raw Story has an interesting story: Sharron Angle thinks she is on a mission from God. Really? Angle is a nut case. She won't go on regular news channels because she fears real questions from real journalists (not the Fox blowhards). From everything I've read, there is only one word to describe Sharron Angle: "Loon!"
*I don't think I'll be going to North Korea for any surgery.
USA Today:
North Korea's health care system is in shambles with doctors sometimes performing amputations without anesthesia and working by candlelight in hospitals lacking essential medicine, heat and power, a human rights watchdog said Thursday.
*I don't think I'll be going to North Korea for any surgery.
USA Today:
North Korea's health care system is in shambles with doctors sometimes performing amputations without anesthesia and working by candlelight in hospitals lacking essential medicine, heat and power, a human rights watchdog said Thursday.
North Korea's state health care system has been deteriorating for years amid the country's economic difficulties. Many of its 24 million people reportedly face health problems related to chronic malnutrition, such as tuberculosis and anemia, Amnesty International said in a report on the state of the health care system.
A 24-year-old defector from northeastern Hamkyong province told Amnesty that a doctor amputated his left leg from the calf down without anesthesia after his ankle was crushed by a moving train when he fell from one of the cars.....
It is no wonder that people try to escape to South Korea for better living conditions.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Kasich Was a Change Agent---for the Ohio Pension Funds
When John Kasich starts bragging, he doesn't tell you about his failures. We should all rejoice that many of Congressman Kasich's planned cuts were stopped by President Clinton, Democrats, and other Republicans because they were viewed as radical and hurtful to veterans, college students, working families, the elderly, and the poor.
Now, Kasich thinks that if he wins the election, he'll make big changes to hospitals and universities. If you know anything about the politics of medicine in Ohio, you'll clearly understand why Kasich's boast will be viewed as threatening by medical programs, physicians, and hospital administrators.
Cleveland.com:
...Kasich's point: He can bring Ohio colleges and universities together to share resources, entice major institutions to collaborate and force Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly to tackle tough issues.
"Do I think I can get University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic to work together?" he asked. "I have no doubt I can."
Kasich described his style by saying, "I'm not a technocrat. I'm a change agent. And I'm a big change agent. I think about doing things differently."
Kasich thinks he can get colleges to drop programs, and then steer money and resources to other colleges. Some of these colleges have programs because they have special funding, grants, and fellowships that allow these courses of study to exist. Yet Kasich thinks he can push college presidents, and professors to give up their resources/money/facilities to bring a particular field of study to only one or two schools within the state. That particular idea will not go over very well. If I am a contributor to Ohio State, I don't want my money to go to another college or university. Since state funding has been reduced to a pittance to state universities, as governor, Kasich would have very little authority in this area.
Secondly, Mr. "Change Agent" thinks he can get the Ohio State University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic "to work together." Once again, Kasich is letting his overblown ego do the talking. Kasich doesn't understand the funding of medicine, the locations of certain specialties in one location over another, and the control that physicians/hospital administrators/donors, and others have on what gets done. For example, what if Kasich, if elected, decided that Ohio State would no longer do cancer treatment and that it would be located at the Cleveland Clinic or that the Cleveland Clinic would not longer do cardiac treatment? There would be a lot of anger and frustration because of the financial and emotional investment that communities and physicians have in a particular hospital. If a program has good results, they often get special funding that enables them to use special medications, additional staff, and even better facilities. If elected, Kasich, as governor, would have no authority to venture into the medical facility/funding game.
Even though Kasich brags that "...he's been working on a plan for a couple of years and has "run a couple of simulations. So we know we can get this done...," his simulations are a figment of his imagination---- just as his stories about how "he" balanced the federal budget.
By the way, Kasich was a change agent in one way. His meeting and introductions between the Ohio pension funds and the now bankrupt Lehman Brothers caused the funds to lose over $480 million in their investments. That is change that Kasich won't brag about.
Now, Kasich thinks that if he wins the election, he'll make big changes to hospitals and universities. If you know anything about the politics of medicine in Ohio, you'll clearly understand why Kasich's boast will be viewed as threatening by medical programs, physicians, and hospital administrators.
Cleveland.com:
...Kasich's point: He can bring Ohio colleges and universities together to share resources, entice major institutions to collaborate and force Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly to tackle tough issues.
"Do I think I can get University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic to work together?" he asked. "I have no doubt I can."
Kasich described his style by saying, "I'm not a technocrat. I'm a change agent. And I'm a big change agent. I think about doing things differently."
Kasich thinks he can get colleges to drop programs, and then steer money and resources to other colleges. Some of these colleges have programs because they have special funding, grants, and fellowships that allow these courses of study to exist. Yet Kasich thinks he can push college presidents, and professors to give up their resources/money/facilities to bring a particular field of study to only one or two schools within the state. That particular idea will not go over very well. If I am a contributor to Ohio State, I don't want my money to go to another college or university. Since state funding has been reduced to a pittance to state universities, as governor, Kasich would have very little authority in this area.
Secondly, Mr. "Change Agent" thinks he can get the Ohio State University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic "to work together." Once again, Kasich is letting his overblown ego do the talking. Kasich doesn't understand the funding of medicine, the locations of certain specialties in one location over another, and the control that physicians/hospital administrators/donors, and others have on what gets done. For example, what if Kasich, if elected, decided that Ohio State would no longer do cancer treatment and that it would be located at the Cleveland Clinic or that the Cleveland Clinic would not longer do cardiac treatment? There would be a lot of anger and frustration because of the financial and emotional investment that communities and physicians have in a particular hospital. If a program has good results, they often get special funding that enables them to use special medications, additional staff, and even better facilities. If elected, Kasich, as governor, would have no authority to venture into the medical facility/funding game.
Even though Kasich brags that "...he's been working on a plan for a couple of years and has "run a couple of simulations. So we know we can get this done...," his simulations are a figment of his imagination---- just as his stories about how "he" balanced the federal budget.
By the way, Kasich was a change agent in one way. His meeting and introductions between the Ohio pension funds and the now bankrupt Lehman Brothers caused the funds to lose over $480 million in their investments. That is change that Kasich won't brag about.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Being Held Accountable
Update:
Sinclair Community College students must be very underwhelmed with the announcement in the Dayton Daily News that Kasich and Gingrich will have a private discussion with some of their specially picked sheeple. If you go, bring a pillow because both Kasich and Gingrich will talk on, and on, and on, and on,......
and on.
Kasich is doing his part on the campaign trail to stay away from unfriendly counties and any location that might be in the public eye. Heaven forbid if some angry state employee would ask how his pension fund lost millions of dollars. Kasich would melt into a blubbering mess like he did when he was on Hardball (see Plunderbund's account).
> Some Ohio Republicans are surprised about some recent endorsements.
Cincinnati.com:
...After winning the National Rifle Association (NRA) endorsement last month, the incumbent Democratic governor, Ted Strickland, picked up another one Saturday - the Buckeye Firearms Association, an influential group that lobbies for pro-gun legislation in the Ohio Statehouse.
The antipathy of pro-gun organizations like the NRA and the Buckeye Firearms Association toward John Kasich, the Republican candidate for governor, dates back 16 years to the vote then-congressman Kasich cast for President Bill Clinton's crime bill, which included a ban on assault rifles....
"Like many Ohioans, hunting and fishing has always been a way of life for me and my family," Strickland said. "From my childhood in Scioto County hunting with my brothers and sisters and through my life in public service, I have always supported sportsmen in my actions, my lifestyle and my policies."
Each politician needs to be held accountable for his/her votes/proposals, and speeches from his/her past. If a politician claims to be a "family values" person, the public needs to know if they've shown love and respect to their spouse/partner. We need to know if they have supported their children financially and emotionally. If an elected official worked in the business world, we have the right to know if his/her dealings were fair, honest, and legitimate.
As another example, John Kasich, Republican candidate for governor, should be held accountable for his votes and actions in the past.
(Dispatch 7/7/10)
• Proposed cutting $7 billion from veterans programs, quadrupling veterans' prescription costs, and "cutting benefits for veterans who suffered head wounds and mental traumas and could no longer care for themselves independently."
I believe that Kasich should be asked why he wanted to cut these vital programs for our military veterans. He should also be questioned about exactly how and why he got the Ohio pensions to invest in Lehman Brothers. Those investments with Lehman had the pensions funds lose hundreds of millions of dollars. How does Kasich feel about that today? Does he have any remorse for getting the pension fund managers to invest with Lehman?
> Speaking of family values...... Former member of Congress and a person who has been married three times, Newt Gingrich is considering a run for the White House. Even though Gingrich was having an affair while he was attacking former President Clinton, Gingrich didn't think of himself as a hypcrite (see Fox News).
How many traffic tickets have you had? If a Republican candidate for Congress, has continued to get traffic tickets for exceeding the speed limit, should the public be concerned? What do you think?
Sinclair Community College students must be very underwhelmed with the announcement in the Dayton Daily News that Kasich and Gingrich will have a private discussion with some of their specially picked sheeple. If you go, bring a pillow because both Kasich and Gingrich will talk on, and on, and on, and on,......
and on.
Kasich is doing his part on the campaign trail to stay away from unfriendly counties and any location that might be in the public eye. Heaven forbid if some angry state employee would ask how his pension fund lost millions of dollars. Kasich would melt into a blubbering mess like he did when he was on Hardball (see Plunderbund's account).
> Some Ohio Republicans are surprised about some recent endorsements.
Cincinnati.com:
...After winning the National Rifle Association (NRA) endorsement last month, the incumbent Democratic governor, Ted Strickland, picked up another one Saturday - the Buckeye Firearms Association, an influential group that lobbies for pro-gun legislation in the Ohio Statehouse.
The antipathy of pro-gun organizations like the NRA and the Buckeye Firearms Association toward John Kasich, the Republican candidate for governor, dates back 16 years to the vote then-congressman Kasich cast for President Bill Clinton's crime bill, which included a ban on assault rifles....
"Like many Ohioans, hunting and fishing has always been a way of life for me and my family," Strickland said. "From my childhood in Scioto County hunting with my brothers and sisters and through my life in public service, I have always supported sportsmen in my actions, my lifestyle and my policies."
Each politician needs to be held accountable for his/her votes/proposals, and speeches from his/her past. If a politician claims to be a "family values" person, the public needs to know if they've shown love and respect to their spouse/partner. We need to know if they have supported their children financially and emotionally. If an elected official worked in the business world, we have the right to know if his/her dealings were fair, honest, and legitimate.
As another example, John Kasich, Republican candidate for governor, should be held accountable for his votes and actions in the past.
(Dispatch 7/7/10)
• Proposed cutting $7 billion from veterans programs, quadrupling veterans' prescription costs, and "cutting benefits for veterans who suffered head wounds and mental traumas and could no longer care for themselves independently."
I believe that Kasich should be asked why he wanted to cut these vital programs for our military veterans. He should also be questioned about exactly how and why he got the Ohio pensions to invest in Lehman Brothers. Those investments with Lehman had the pensions funds lose hundreds of millions of dollars. How does Kasich feel about that today? Does he have any remorse for getting the pension fund managers to invest with Lehman?
> Speaking of family values...... Former member of Congress and a person who has been married three times, Newt Gingrich is considering a run for the White House. Even though Gingrich was having an affair while he was attacking former President Clinton, Gingrich didn't think of himself as a hypcrite (see Fox News).
How many traffic tickets have you had? If a Republican candidate for Congress, has continued to get traffic tickets for exceeding the speed limit, should the public be concerned? What do you think?
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Tax Cuts???????
Do you ever get that feeling that Republicans just don't get it? Read about Sen. John Kyl as posted at Raw Story:
Sen. Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, believes that any extension to unemployment benefits "ought to be paid for." But when it comes to the $678-billion cost of extending the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy, the senator says no offsetting is necessary.
In an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace Sunday, Kyl argued that Congress and the Obama administration should extend the tax cuts enacted by President George W. Bush during his first term.
Extending the entire package of tax cuts would cost the US $2.2 trillion over the next 10 years. The Obama administration has argued in favor of allowing to expire at least the part of the tax cuts that applies to people earning over $250,000 a year. That portion is estimated to cost $678 billion over 10 years....
John Kyl is a fool. Bush's tax cuts were the beginning of the financial disaster we are still experiencing. With two wars going on, a deficit out of control, and Bush's inattention on the Wall Street shenanigans, the last thing we need is a suggestion for more tax cuts for the rich.
* I found a comment about John Kasich at WhoRunsgov:
....The current Republican candidate for Governor in Ohio, John Kasich, told people that Judge Greer “sold out” Terri Schiavo....
* Rob Portman, master of the Bush budget has been running TV ads bragging about his job plan to get Ohioans back to work. I visited his website and it is nothing more than the usual Republican mantra. According to OpenSecrets.org, Portman's net worth is from $6,460,065 to $17,882,000.
Whorunsgov.com has some lovely little tidbits about Bush family friend, Rob Portman:
...Immediately after college, Portman became an advance man for George H.W. Bush, then the Republican vice presidential candidate. When Bush ran for president in 1988, Portman, having by then completed law school, worked on the campaign....
....Portman was an early supporter of then-Gov. George W. Bush of Texas. When Bush first ran for president in 2000, Portman helped both Bush and vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney practice for the debates by playing the roles of Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore and running mate Joe Lieberman in debate practice. Four years later, Portman again played the Democrat in debate practice with Cheney.....
...Portman was close to both President George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. He found an ally in Vice President Dick Cheney while working at the White House, as well, though Portman has not asked either Bush or Cheney to campaign for him....
Wow. Let me list some of the major negatives for Portman:
(1) Portman worked in both Bush administrations (George H.W. and George W. Bush).
(2) Portman was the U.S. Trade Representative in President George W. Bush's administration. (Now we know why Ohio lost so many jobs to overseas firms.)
(3) Later, Portman was Bush's budget director. (I guess Portman wants to bring some of his same ideas he used to wreck the economy to the Senate.)
(4) Portman is very friendly with the entire Bush family.
(5) Here is the kicker from Whorunsgov about Portman:
....He found an ally in Vice President Dick Cheney while working at the White House...
(Pic from Enquirer)
OMG!!!!!! That is reason enough NOT to vote for Portman! Portman is Cheney's friend??????
Sen. Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, believes that any extension to unemployment benefits "ought to be paid for." But when it comes to the $678-billion cost of extending the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy, the senator says no offsetting is necessary.
In an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace Sunday, Kyl argued that Congress and the Obama administration should extend the tax cuts enacted by President George W. Bush during his first term.
Extending the entire package of tax cuts would cost the US $2.2 trillion over the next 10 years. The Obama administration has argued in favor of allowing to expire at least the part of the tax cuts that applies to people earning over $250,000 a year. That portion is estimated to cost $678 billion over 10 years....
John Kyl is a fool. Bush's tax cuts were the beginning of the financial disaster we are still experiencing. With two wars going on, a deficit out of control, and Bush's inattention on the Wall Street shenanigans, the last thing we need is a suggestion for more tax cuts for the rich.
* I found a comment about John Kasich at WhoRunsgov:
....The current Republican candidate for Governor in Ohio, John Kasich, told people that Judge Greer “sold out” Terri Schiavo....
* Rob Portman, master of the Bush budget has been running TV ads bragging about his job plan to get Ohioans back to work. I visited his website and it is nothing more than the usual Republican mantra. According to OpenSecrets.org, Portman's net worth is from $6,460,065 to $17,882,000.
Whorunsgov.com has some lovely little tidbits about Bush family friend, Rob Portman:
...Immediately after college, Portman became an advance man for George H.W. Bush, then the Republican vice presidential candidate. When Bush ran for president in 1988, Portman, having by then completed law school, worked on the campaign....
....Portman was an early supporter of then-Gov. George W. Bush of Texas. When Bush first ran for president in 2000, Portman helped both Bush and vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney practice for the debates by playing the roles of Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore and running mate Joe Lieberman in debate practice. Four years later, Portman again played the Democrat in debate practice with Cheney.....
...Portman was close to both President George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. He found an ally in Vice President Dick Cheney while working at the White House, as well, though Portman has not asked either Bush or Cheney to campaign for him....
Wow. Let me list some of the major negatives for Portman:
(1) Portman worked in both Bush administrations (George H.W. and George W. Bush).
(2) Portman was the U.S. Trade Representative in President George W. Bush's administration. (Now we know why Ohio lost so many jobs to overseas firms.)
(3) Later, Portman was Bush's budget director. (I guess Portman wants to bring some of his same ideas he used to wreck the economy to the Senate.)
(4) Portman is very friendly with the entire Bush family.
(5) Here is the kicker from Whorunsgov about Portman:
....He found an ally in Vice President Dick Cheney while working at the White House...
(Pic from Enquirer)
OMG!!!!!! That is reason enough NOT to vote for Portman! Portman is Cheney's friend??????
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Wait A Minute!
Do you remember this incident?
Ohio Citizen Action: (2005)
COLUMBUS -- "When incoming House Speaker Jon Husted needed a way to get to San Antonio on Dec. 29 to represent Ohio at the Alamo Bowl, he asked Tim Day of Dayton-based NCR Corp., if he could help. Day, vice president for NCR government affairs, based in Washington, did. He arranged for Husted, R-Kettering, to travel on the company's Lear 55C, seven-seat corporate jet, to watch Ohio State play Oklahoma State, and to reimburse NCR...Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog group, said the arrangement should have raised this question for Husted: 'Would they be doing this for me if I were not speaker of the House?'...This is the second time in less than a week that Husted's relationship with lobbyists he also regards as friends has drawn attention," William Hershey, Dayton Daily News.
If Husted regarded the NCR people as friends, why didn't he know about their move out of state? Did it have something to do with the fact that Husted wasn't hanging out in Kettering as much as he once did? With Husted living the good life in Upper Arlington, his attention has turned away from Kettering and the employers of his constituents.
Ohio Citizen Action: (2005)
COLUMBUS -- "When incoming House Speaker Jon Husted needed a way to get to San Antonio on Dec. 29 to represent Ohio at the Alamo Bowl, he asked Tim Day of Dayton-based NCR Corp., if he could help. Day, vice president for NCR government affairs, based in Washington, did. He arranged for Husted, R-Kettering, to travel on the company's Lear 55C, seven-seat corporate jet, to watch Ohio State play Oklahoma State, and to reimburse NCR...Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog group, said the arrangement should have raised this question for Husted: 'Would they be doing this for me if I were not speaker of the House?'...This is the second time in less than a week that Husted's relationship with lobbyists he also regards as friends has drawn attention," William Hershey, Dayton Daily News.
If Husted regarded the NCR people as friends, why didn't he know about their move out of state? Did it have something to do with the fact that Husted wasn't hanging out in Kettering as much as he once did? With Husted living the good life in Upper Arlington, his attention has turned away from Kettering and the employers of his constituents.
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Ohio Politics
In his various roles in the administration of President George W. Bush, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Rob Portman, gave us many assurances that the economy and trade were going well. HA!
What kind of a job did Rob Portman do as President George W. Bush's Budget Director (2006-2007)?
Bush: Portman “is the person in charge of meeting our goal to cutting the budget deficit in half by 2009.”
In Portman to be Budget Director, President Bush said, “He is the person in charge of meeting our goal to cutting the budget deficit in half by 2009. And he is responsible for managing Federal programs efficiently. The American people deserve results for every hard-earned dollar they send to Washington.” [President Bush’s Remarks on the Nomination of Rob Portman to be Director of the OMB, 4/18/06]
The White House Predicted a Record $482 Billion Deficit in Fiscal Year 2009
[The White House] predicted Monday that the deficit would more than double in the current 2008 fiscal year — to $389 billion, from $162 billion in 2007 — before shooting up to $482 billion in the 2009 fiscal year, which begins in about two months.” [New York Times, 7/29/08]
The National Debt Soared to $500 Billion in Portman’s Year as Bush’s Budget Director
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the total public debt outstanding when Portman assumed control of the Office of Management and Budget was $8,343,987,357,176.86 and $8,817,082,504,084.05 when he left [AP, 6/19/07; U.S. Treasury Department, accessed 7/30/08; Roll Call, 5/30/06]
Wow!
That is amazing.
Rob Portman's record on jobs is even worse.
More than 17,000 Ohioans’ Jobs Shipped Overseas:
....During Portman’s time as USTR (2005-2006). [Ohio Policy Matters, 2007]
...Ohio and U.S. Manufacturing Weakened:
...Because of the escalating trade deficit, accounting for the loss of between one-fifth and one-third of U.S. manufacturing sector jobs since 2000. Between 1998-2007, Ohio lost more than 220,000 manufacturing jobs[Ohio Policy Matters, 2007].
Job-Killing Trade Agreements Strong-Armed through Congress:
“Quarterback” of CAFTA Portman argued: “We’ll have a trade surplus as a result of this…estimates are…up to a $700 million trade surplus in the first year,” but the trade deficit increased 4% from 2005 -2008. [PBS, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 6/23/05] [US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, Retrieved 5/13/09 <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c0004.html#2008> ] . [CNN, Inside Politics, 7/28/05]
As a Washington insider and friend to the entire Bush family, Portman did little to help average people.
****** Are the people of Ohio ready to blame Republican Jon Husted for the loss of major employer, NCR? While Jon Husted was living, sleeping, shopping, and using all the utilities in his home in Upper Arlington, the people of the district he was elected to represent found out that NCR was moving out of town. Husted was blindsided. I even wrote about Husted's lack of knowledge on NCR's move.
WHIO-TV:
Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, called on NCR to begin supplying more information about the planned move to Georgia and how the move will impact local employees.
The company’s decision to leave Ohio caught local authorities off guard. Efforts to discuss the move with company leaders have not been successful....
Husted needs to look for employers that will fill the void in the Dayton area instead of wasting his time and energy with NCR. NCR's move is a done deal. Move on already!
Husted has taken his life, interests, and family and abandoned Kettering. His empty house is a monument to his broken promises to help his constituents. The Ohio Supreme Court, filled with Republicans, supported Husted's claim that he was a "resident" of that cob-web filled house in Kettering, even though his utility bills proved his lack of actually residing there. (For information on the actual utility bills of Husted's Kettering house, visit Progress Ohio's Facebook page here.)
It is hard to believe that Husted could actually become Ohio Secretary of State and question your residency.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Scary Thoughts
* Here is a scary thought: If candidates win who have been endorsed and funded by Mitt Romney, they will then have an obligation to fill. Those same candidates will be obligated to support Mitt Romney in his campaign to run as the Republican nominee for President. Did you get that Steve Stivers? When Republican Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, took that campaign money from Romney (the same Romney that tied the family dog to the roof of the car), it cemented his support for Romney.
* I've come to the conclusion that Rush Limbaugh is a very jealous person. All the boasting and attacks on people who are smarter than himself, show that Limbaugh is jealous of everyone else's success in politics, educational accomplishments, and business. His daily attacks on President Obama show Limbaugh's racism, hatred, and disrespect of Blacks, minorities, working women, and anyone who has succeeded through academics. Face it. Limbaugh failed miserably on his dream job as sportscaster when his racism got in the way. Limbaugh was not successful in college and dropped out. Limbaugh might be the rich darling of the right, but he is a racist, sexist, twit. I cannot understand why anyone listens to him.
* I've come to the conclusion that Rush Limbaugh is a very jealous person. All the boasting and attacks on people who are smarter than himself, show that Limbaugh is jealous of everyone else's success in politics, educational accomplishments, and business. His daily attacks on President Obama show Limbaugh's racism, hatred, and disrespect of Blacks, minorities, working women, and anyone who has succeeded through academics. Face it. Limbaugh failed miserably on his dream job as sportscaster when his racism got in the way. Limbaugh was not successful in college and dropped out. Limbaugh might be the rich darling of the right, but he is a racist, sexist, twit. I cannot understand why anyone listens to him.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Back Home
*** We had another adventure in the airport again. Because of delays with our chosen airline, we arrived at our destination four hours late. Luckily, through the skilled driving of a taxicab driver, we arrived in time for the wedding ceremony-----just before the wedding party walked down the aisle.
On our return flight, we actually arrived on time! However, our luggage was lost and finally returned today.
Why did they de-regulate the airlines again?
*** How can Glenn Beck start his own university since he never even attended college? How can a man who has no factual basis for anything he says think he can lead, promote, or begin an institute based on knowledge? Obviously, "Beck University" would be founded on the ideas of complete baloney, b.s., and lies.
Philly.com has an opinion piece, written by Will Bunch, which provides more of the ugly details about Beck University.
On our return flight, we actually arrived on time! However, our luggage was lost and finally returned today.
Why did they de-regulate the airlines again?
*** How can Glenn Beck start his own university since he never even attended college? How can a man who has no factual basis for anything he says think he can lead, promote, or begin an institute based on knowledge? Obviously, "Beck University" would be founded on the ideas of complete baloney, b.s., and lies.
Philly.com has an opinion piece, written by Will Bunch, which provides more of the ugly details about Beck University.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
We Already Knew It!!!!
WBEN Radio reports a ranking of Presidents by the Siena Research Institute:
Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The Siena Research Institute's newest survey on US presidents finds Franklin D. Roosevelt is the Greatest American President ever. Among the worst presidents, the survey finds the most recent former president in the bottom five.
View the rankings HERE.
The survey asked 238 presidential scholars to rank America's 44 presidents. At the top of the list, the only man to serve more than two terms, Franklin D. Roosevelt. "He got America out of a depression and a war," says Dr. Douglass Lonnstrom, who conducts these surveys one year after a new administration starts. The presidents you see on Mount Rushmore, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson round out the top five. "They stand high above number six," says Lonnstrom.
The bottom five has not changed much from the last survey in 2002. Andrew Johnson was ranked the worst president ever, followed by James Buchanan, Warren Harding and Franklin Pierce. Lonnstrom says Buchanan and Pierce had a chance to get the nation out of the Civil War and did not do so. Also on the list's bottom five is George W. Bush, who experts ranked 39th. Bush ranked poorly in handling the economy, foreign policy accomplishments and intelligence according to the poll....
(Note: President Obama was ranked #15.)
Let me repeat that last part of the Siena report---
"......on the list's bottom five is George W. Bush, who experts ranked 39th. Bush ranked poorly in handling the economy, foreign policy accomplishments and intelligence according to the poll....."
So, what else in new? We lived through the administration of George W. Bush, and we are aware of the mess he made. I wonder how that phrase "...Bush ranked poorly in handling the economy..." will help Rob Portman, former Bush budget director and current Republican candidate for U.S. Senate for Ohio.
Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The Siena Research Institute's newest survey on US presidents finds Franklin D. Roosevelt is the Greatest American President ever. Among the worst presidents, the survey finds the most recent former president in the bottom five.
View the rankings HERE.
The survey asked 238 presidential scholars to rank America's 44 presidents. At the top of the list, the only man to serve more than two terms, Franklin D. Roosevelt. "He got America out of a depression and a war," says Dr. Douglass Lonnstrom, who conducts these surveys one year after a new administration starts. The presidents you see on Mount Rushmore, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson round out the top five. "They stand high above number six," says Lonnstrom.
The bottom five has not changed much from the last survey in 2002. Andrew Johnson was ranked the worst president ever, followed by James Buchanan, Warren Harding and Franklin Pierce. Lonnstrom says Buchanan and Pierce had a chance to get the nation out of the Civil War and did not do so. Also on the list's bottom five is George W. Bush, who experts ranked 39th. Bush ranked poorly in handling the economy, foreign policy accomplishments and intelligence according to the poll....
(Note: President Obama was ranked #15.)
Let me repeat that last part of the Siena report---
"......on the list's bottom five is George W. Bush, who experts ranked 39th. Bush ranked poorly in handling the economy, foreign policy accomplishments and intelligence according to the poll....."
So, what else in new? We lived through the administration of George W. Bush, and we are aware of the mess he made. I wonder how that phrase "...Bush ranked poorly in handling the economy..." will help Rob Portman, former Bush budget director and current Republican candidate for U.S. Senate for Ohio.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)