Get Down to Business

The Obama administration's stimulus package is meeting strong opposition from the Republicans. However, many of us on the left side believe that President Obama should just get on with pushing the legislation through the Senate.

Here are the facts, as I see them:

(1) The Republicans lost the right to set an agenda when their candidate for President lost.
(2) Overwhelmingly, American voters elected Democrats to the House and the Senate.
(3) The Bush administration left a mess, both domestically and internationally.
(4) People want jobs, a change of approach for solving our nations problems, and real leadership.

I've said it before and I'll say it again------ Ignore the Republicans! The GOP's failure to respond to the needs of their country just shows their self-absorbed, country club, pro-right wing philosophical differences. They don't give a damn. If we don't need the GOP to get things accomplished, forget about their assistance.

My neighbor lost her job last week. She had worked with the company for over two decades and was part of a second round of layoffs. It is just very sad to see her and others put in this situation.

Here is my advice for President Obama and the Democrats---

Pass the legislation and get people working again.

Ignore the Republicans

While President Obama and his team continue to push the stimulus package, the Republicans in Congress refused to support it. Do the Republicans don't see the need? Are the Republicans so stuck in the mud, so backward-thinking that they are unable to think in a direction other than their usual "tax cuts" for the rich?

Democratic Rep. Barney Frank had a response to the Republican naysayers.
Raw Story:
.....Rep. Frank placed blame once more with deregulation for creating the worsening economic conditions that led to banks receiving hundreds of billions of dollars in government aid. "The complete absence of regulation in the financial area has, I think, been a disaster," he said. "And I think we're back to where we were when Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson stepped in or Franklin Roosevelt...No tax cut builds a road. No tax cut puts a cop on the street. No tax cut educates a child in the way that it ought to be done."

When DeMint cited the proposed package the "largest spending bill in history," Frank indicted the occupation of Iraq on its costly consequences to the treasury. "The largest spending bill in history is going to turn out to be the war in Iraq," he charged of the effort, which was widely supported by Republicans throughout the George W. Bush years, which also fostered three major tax cuts and the addition of $4.9 trillion to the national debt. "And one of the things, if we're going to talk about spending, I don't -- I have a problem when we leave out that extraordinarily expensive, damaging war in Iraq, which has caused much more harm than good, in my judgment....."

I'm glad he said it. Bush's war in Iraq is currently costing us TEN BILLION DOLLARS PER MONTH! The Republicans would rather continue the war and the spending of American lives and money in Iraq because they don't want to make it seem that their beloved George W. Bush was wrong. The Republicans just want to give more tax breaks. That is their solution for everything. Tax breaks won't work because it won't put money in your pocket like having a job will.

Barney Frank is right. If we can't get some of our people back to work, we will continue to remain in our present condition, with the chance that things will get worse.

Yesterday on Meet The Press, Sen. John Kerry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison were guests. Sen. Kerry clearly supported the stimulus package. However, Sen. Hutchison continued to push for tax cuts, a cut in the capital gains tax, and refuted the claim that the Bush administration had not spent enough money on infrastructure. Is Hutchison unable to see that those tax cuts didn't work?

Hutchison also appeared to be against expanding high speed internet access throughout the country. (This is all part of the pre-historic thinking of the Republican Party.) Opening the internet to all communities in the U.S. could benefit everyone. It encourages people to set up web based businesses, education, commerce, communication, etc.

Sitting around letting the Republicans lead the conversation won't get anything accomplished. We've had an election and we voted for change. We must let our elected officials in Congress hear our voices in support for the stimulus package. We cannot delay because we must make progress as soon as possible.

Friday

* This morning President Obama and Vice President Biden had an announcement about labor and the middle class.
NY Times:

On yet another morning of grim economic news, President Obama on Friday sought to further distance himself from his predecessor as he announced steps that he said would strengthen organized labor and improve the lot of middle-class Americans.

At a White House ceremony, the president signed three executive orders that he said would “reverse many of the policies towards organized labor that we’ve seen these last eight years, policies with which I’ve sharply disagreed.”

-I saw something the other day that made me physically ill. It was a Palin-Jindal bumper sticker on a car in Columbus, Ohio. Yuck.

* Huh? Does George W. Bush believe he still has presidential powers?
Raw Story:
...Fielding's letter reflects President George W. Bush's decision to continue to argue that "[t]he President and his immediate advisors are absolutely immune from testimonial compulsion by a congressional committee," even after leaving office, citing a 2007 memorandum the Justice Department prepared. Ironically, the memo was prepared by the very department that Congress is trying to garner information about.

Rove's immunity, Fielding says, thus "arises from the President's position as head of the executive branch and from Mr. Rove's position as a senior advisor to the President."

A similar letter was sent to the attorney for former White House Counsel Harriet Miers telling her not to appear at a scheduled deposition with the House Judiciary Committee. Miers, the Bush White House argues, also has "absolute immunity" as a presidential advisor...

Do these Bushies just make up laws as they go along? Has anyone told him that Bush that he is no longer the President? If Karl Rove continues to refuse to obey his subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee, I'd love to see him brought to the committee in handcuffs and chains.

* Do the Republicans think that they'll just ignore the President for the next four years? I think it was a major mistake for the GOPers to vote against the stimulus package. We know that their 'tax break' philosophy has not worked. We know they've done nothing to encourage the economy and hiring. How do Republicans think things will get fixed? I think that so many of the Republicans are so removed from real jobs, shopping, and normal life that they have no idea about what is going on in the country.

Voter Fraud?

Do you remember the charges that Republicans made about voter fraud in Ohio? Here is the result of an investigation as described at Cincinnati.com:

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said he had allegations last fall of widespread voter fraud – allegations a special prosecutor reported Tuesday were wrong, noting the only voter fraud found was from a Connecticut man who told on himself.

“Ultimately,” Special Prosecutor Michael O’Neill wrote in a report, “the investigators discovered ‘get-out-the-vote’ practices, sponsored by community organizations, which took full advantage of this unique absentee-voting period, but no evidence these practices violated Ohio law.”

....Deters claimed his office had concrete allegations that people were offered booze and cigarettes to vote specific ways, suggesting they were voting for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama....

Deters must have a very low opinion of the people who voted for Barack Obama. Deters, a Republican, must think that people had to be bribed to vote for Obama. What Deters doesn't understand is that the large numbers of people that showed up to vote in Ohio was due to the fact that people wanted change---not the same old crap from the Greedy Old Party.

Joe Deters served as John McCain's regional chairman. Really.

*** Last night, David Letterman had some kind words for President Obama. Letterman said something like, "....God love President Obama because he really is trying to get things done...."

>>>> Do you know the best part about Super Bowl weekend? The Puppy Bowl will be on Animal Planet!!!!! The Puppy Bowl will run from 3pm-5pm EST and repeat until 5am. If you have young children, it is a great alternative to the sports hype. Check out the Animal Planet website for activities to keep your youngsters busy.

Are Republicans like Nero?

Don't you wonder if the Republicans even care about what is going on in this country? Are the Republicans like Emperor Nero who fiddled while Rome burned? Will Republicans in Congress continue to do nothing while our nation tries to respond to the disaster left by the Bush administration?

It doesn't seem to matter to the Republicans that over two million people lost their jobs in 2008. They just want to keep talking about their worthless, ineffective tax breaks. The GOP is clueless. Clueless. The Republicans couldn't find their way out of a paper bag.

While the Republicans stall and complain about President Obama's recovery plan and stimulus package, things continue to get worse. More people lose their jobs and the future bad without something to get us working again:

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): (Note: This is just a sampling from the ASCE website.)

Roads D-

Americans spend 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic at a cost to the economy of $78.2 billion, or $710 per motorist. Poor road conditions cost motorists $67 billion a year in repairs and operating costs, and cost 14,000 Americans their lives. One-third of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 36% of major urban highways are congested. The current spending level of $70.3 billion per year for highway capital improvements is well below the estimated $186 billion needed annually to substantially improve the nation's highways.

Schools D

Spending on the nation's schools grew from $17 billion in 1998 to a peak of $29 billion in 2004. However, by 2007 spending fell to $20.28 billion. No comprehensive, authoritative nationwide data on the condition of America's school buildings has been collected in a decade. The National Education Association's best estimate to bring the nation's schools into good repair is $322 billion....

We have unsafe bridges in Ohio. On Campus:

...There are hundreds of bridges in Ohio that are considerably structurally deficient. An example of an unsafe bridge is the Orange Road bridge near where I live. A steel-truss bridge designed in 1898, it has not been maintained properly for over a century....

We Voted for Hope and Change

Last night on MSNBC's the Rachel Maddow Show, Rachel Maddow had this to say about the Republican reluctance to support President Obama's stimulus package:

"......the election was a de facto referendum on the economy...."

Correct! The American voters rejected the do-nothing, tax cuts for the rich, sit on your hands, deregulating, policies of Republican Party. Because of the ultra-loyalty of the Republican Party, George W. Bush and the Republicans created this financial mess we are in now. We don't want to go down the same road again with Mitch McConnell and John Boehner leading the way. Americans voted for hope and change. If the Republicans don't want to support the country's recovery, then let them be viewed as obstructionists.

It is time to stand up and let McConnell, Boehner, and the rest of the GOPers know that we are pushing for change and jobs, with or without them.

Monday's Notes

> On the Today Show this morning, there were knock-offs of Mrs. Michelle Obama's dresses from the Inauguration. They were very impressive.

> The Obama White House has been working quickly to take care of overturning some of Bush's EPA standings. Thank goodness!

> It appears that the tech-savvy staff have had problems with the draconian computers found in the White House. Washington Post:

..."It is kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said of his new digs.....
....One member of the White House new-media team came to work on Tuesday, right after the swearing-in ceremony, only to discover that it was impossible to know which programs could be updated, or even which computers could be used for which purposes. The team members, accustomed to working on Macintoshes, found computers outfitted with six-year-old versions of Microsoft software. Laptops were scarce, assigned to only a few people in the West Wing. The team was left struggling to put closed captions on online videos....

Wouldn't that be frustrating?

> Is anyone else concerned about the Republicans obstructionist behavior? Haven't they read the papers? We have a Democrat in the White House with Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate. Let us keep pressure on the GOPers to help support change in this country.

Seriously

* These recent stories about bank CEO's spending millions and millions of dollars re-decorating their offices and mansions with their company checkbooks and our taxpayer bailout dollars, has just gotten me sick. Corporations and companies need to set up things called "budgets" on re-decorating CEO's offices and other business holdings. I realize that some big shots in big industries may not have ever heard of the word "budget" but most Americans deal with it every single day of our lives. Besides, there is no reason why a CEO should spend $87,000 on a rug. That is just obscene. Stockholders should rise up and try to institute some fiscal restraint in the area of corporate spending.

* I read a few articles that said that the Bush loyalists thought that the press and the new administration had been too critical of former President George W. Bush. Seriously? George W. Bush has left us with the largest financial disaster since the Great Depression. We have two wars, an attack on our country that occurred on his watch (9/11), massive unemployment, American auto industries on the brink of failure, over 4,000 Americans killed in Bush's unnecessary war in Iraq, New Orleans still recovering from the "handling" of Hurricane Katrina, our military stretched to the limit, states finding it difficult to maintain services, the public schools tied to a worthless and underfunded "No Child Left Behind", our diplomatic relations with foreign countries almost nonexistent, etc., etc., etc, and these Bushies think we should be praising Bush's catastrophic conditions he left for President Obama? Enough already!!!!

The Republicans--- Ain't What They Used to Be

This update from MSNBC may even show more evidence of the young voters fleeing from the Neanderthal-thinking GOP, as reported in a new survey of college students:

• The proportion of incoming students calling themselves liberal rose to 31 percent, the highest in 35 years. Another 21 percent called themselves conservative, down from 23 percent in 2007.
• Just under two-thirds (66 percent) support the right to same-sex marriage.
• The proportion of freshmen calling it "essential" or "very important" to help clean up the environment jumped from 22 percent in 2006 to about 30 percent last year. Nearly three-quarters said addressing global warming should be a federal priority....

If you look over the entire survey, you'll see that young voters tend to disagree with a majority of the
GOP platform and agenda.

> With the entire Republican Party seemingly lost in the wilderness, you almost wonder if they'll ever be a majority party again. On MSNBC this afternoon, Norah O'Donnell interviewed Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty. O'Donnell pointed out some recent statistics. While the GOP attracts mostly white, older individuals, the country as a whole is becoming more ethnically diverse. Those ethnically diverse American voters tend to be Democratic voters. The Democratic Party had a majority of the younger voters. Will these enthusiastic younger voters continue to support Democratic candidates? Probably.

Over at BoingBoing there is a posting of Thomas Fuchs and Felix Sockwell's 'Deconstructing Dumbo':
....illustrator Thomas Fuchs and designer Felix Sockwell have put together 100 iconic mini-tales of a GOP in disarray for their 'Deconstructing Dumbo' book, self-published and available via Fuch's site.....

The GOP's behavior in blocking legislation and in delaying approval of President Obama's cabinet members, shows their desperation and pathetic response to the voters' desire for change. The Republicans could go the way of the Studebaker and the Edsel if they are unable to go along with the change that Americans are demanding.

Down to Business

President Obama was very busy last night. Yes, it is true that President and Mrs. Obama danced through the night at 10 inaugural balls, but something more happened.

CNN:
In one of his first acts in office President Obama has ordered the U.S. government to suspend prosecutions of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay for 120 days, military officials said Tuesday.

Papers filed at the U.S. prison camp said the request is made "in the interest of justice and at the direction of the president of the United States." It seeks a delay in proceedings until May 20....

Philly.com:
In one of his first acts in office, President Obama yesterday ordered federal agencies to halt all pending regulations until further review. The action comes after George W. Bush's final weeks raised heated debate over rushing new rules into effect on the way out the door.....
....Obama was summoning his holdover defense secretary, Robert M. Gates, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, to the White House today, along with other members of his National Security Council, to discuss a way ahead in the war, according to two senior military officers who spoke on condition of anonymity because the White House had not publicly announced the meeting....

President Obama has been left a pile of problems. He won't have the luxury of taking naps or exercising twice per day or riding a mountain bike, as some of our previous Presidents have done. (I won't mention any names!) President Obama is ready to work and he'll need our help and support.

Update: It appears as though Republican Rep. John Boehner and his Republican friends are going to do all they can to stop President Obama's agenda for change.

A New Day

The excitement is building in Washington, DC and in my home. We are all very excited about the beginning of the Obama administration. I'm awed by the crowds in Washington, DC. It will be a busy and historic day for Barack Obama. Let us offer our new President our prayers and best wishes.

Missing Liberal Talk Radio

Here in Columbus, Ohio, we lost liberal talk radio a few weeks ago. WVKO has become an affiliate of Catholic radio. Their gain is our loss. Now, those of us in central Ohio, are forced to listen to Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz on the internet. We also lost our sense of community. Events, meetings, and special announcements kept us aware of what was going on here. However, it is gone.

I find it very sad. At a time when we could be celebrating the inauguration of the President that many of us worked for, we find ourselves unable to share our joy with each other on the radio dial. Hopefully, liberal talk radio will return to Columbus in the near future.

Friday's Notes

* Great information on Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot of the U.S. Airways that landed in the Hudson River: Huffington Post. He is the type of pilot that you'd like to have driving your plane.

A posting at DailyKos reminds everyone that the people who were responsible for saving lives and the rescue (including the pilot), are all members of unions:

....Sullenberger is a former national committee member and the former safety chairman for the Airline Pilots Association and now represented by US Airline Pilots Association. He--and his union--have fought to ensure pilots get the kind of safety training to pull off what he did yesterday.....

...The ferry captains and crews are .....represented by the Seafarers International Union. They provide safety training to their members so they're prepared for events like yesterday's accident....

The pilots, flight attendants, air traffic controllers, fire fighters, and the police officers are all members of unions. Their training and professionalism resulted in an amazing day of survival for the people on that flight.

* According to what I've read at the Star Tribune, the court fight over the senate election in Minnesota could go on for several more months. Al Franken won, but Norm Coleman wants to drag lawsuits through the courts until the tulips bloom. Give it up, Norm. Be a man and take the defeat!

* We've had quite a bit of snow here in central Ohio and now we are suffering through some serious wind chill temperatures. Many school districts have had to cancel classes for Friday.

* The tcNEWSnet indicates that Republican Ohio Sen. Jon Husted finally testified before the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Husted's residency has been called into question because he lives in Upper Arlington, Ohio with his wife and kids but calls Kettering his residence. Apparently, the investigation continues.

* I confess----- I did not watch President Bush give his "farewell" address to the nation. I've had enough of his presidency, his wars, and his failed economy.

* President-elect Obama visited a factory in Bedford Heights, Ohio today. We need to get more people back to work.

Really, Really Like Him

It appears that a majority of Americans approve of President-elect Barack Obama, according to a WSJ/NBC News Poll. WSJ:

A strong majority of Americans approve of how President-elect Barack Obama is handling the transition and preparing for the Oval Office, according to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

Some 71% said they approve of the incoming administration’s efforts, while just 14% disapprove. Those ratings have held steady since the previous WSJ/NBC News poll in December, when slightly more (73%) approved and slightly less (13%) disapproved.....

Americans are desperately needing change. This change will come with intelligent leadership and thoughtful, and purposeful steps to get America working again.

While we had hoped that President Obama would be able to get the financial situation moving quickly in the right direction, Republican Sen. Jon Kyl pulled out some procedural shenanigans to delay the hearing and approval of President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Treasury, Timothy Geithner. Sen. Kyl and a few other Republicans should stop putting up roadblocks to our country's financial recovery. If you'd like to let Kyl know how you feel about his obstruction, you may contact him:

>>>WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE, 730 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4521 Fax: (202) 224-2207

>>>PHOENIX OFFICE, 2200 East Camelback, Suite 120, Phoenix, Arizona 85016-3455Phone: (602) 840-1891 Fax: (602) 957-6838

>>>TUCSON OFFICE, 6840 North Oracle Road, Suite 150, Tucson, Arizona 85704
Phone: (520) 575-8633 Fax: (520) 797-3232

>>>>United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224- 3121

President Obama had hoped to sign legislation on inauguration day to get things moving. Republicans had other ideas. Call Kyl and let him know that he must not stand in the way of our nation's recovery.

Take Note

> Do you have UnitedHealth insurance? You need to read this story from MSNBC.com:

One of the nation’s largest health insurers has agreed to pay $50 million dollars in a settlement announced today after being accused of overcharging millions of Americans for health care.

The New York attorney general’s office launched an investigation after receiving hundreds of complaints about Oxford Insurance and its parent company, UnitedHealth Group, which claims to rely on “independent research from across the health care industry” to determine reimbursement rates. In actuality though, it relies on Ingenix, a research firm owned by UnitedHealth Group.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says Ingenix has been manipulating the numbers so insurance companies pay less. In a just-released report, he contends that Americans have been “under-reimbursed to the tune of at least hundreds of millions of dollars.” Although UnitedHealth Group and Oxford Insurance were the only entities investigated, other major insurers use Ingenix, including Aetna, CIGNA and WellPoint/Empire BlueCross BlueShield.....

The New York Times has another article about this case. Included in the article is information about class-action lawsuits:

...No criminal charges have been sought in the case. Nor was UnitedHealth required to pay restitution to consumers, although the disputed reimbursements are the subject of class-action lawsuits around the country....

You may need to review this with your lawyer if you have UnitedHealth and you have a lot of problems with reimbursements.

Ohio's Republicans in U.S. House

Do you remember how a majority of Americans voted for change? Apparently, certain Ohio Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives haven't gotten the message. Once again, the Ohio Republicans are playing the old game of obstructionism and promoting their anti-worker agenda.

CantonRep:

..Members voted, 247-171, to give plaintiffs more standing to file pay-bias suits. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 11) allowing claims to be filed within 180 days of the last infraction, thus voiding a Supreme Court ruling that suits must be filed within 180 days of the first infraction.

Voting yes: Steve Driehaus, D-1, Charlie Wilson, D-6, Marcy Kaptur, D-9, Dennis Kucinich, D-10, Marcia Fudge, D-11, Betty Sutton, D-13, Mary Jo Kilroy, D-15, John Boccieri, D-16, Tim Ryan, D-17, Zack Space, R-18.
Voting no: Jean Schmidt, R-2, Mike Turner, R-3, Jim Jordan, R-4, Robert Latta, R-5, Steve Austria, R-7, John Boehner, R-8, Pat Tiberi, R-12, Steve LaTourette, R-14.....

...Wage discrimination
Members voted, 256-163, to strengthen the federal law that bans pay discrimination based on gender. The bill empowers women alleging bias to sue for recovery of back pay and to receive punitive and compensatory damages. A yes vote was to pass HR 12.

Voting yes: Driehaus, Wilson, Kaptur, Kucinich, Fudge, Sutton, Kilroy, Boccieri, Ryan, Space.
Voting no: Schmidt, Turner, Jordan, Latta, Austria, Boehner, Tiberi, LaTourette....

*******

In conclusion, we can summarize and state that Ohio's Republican Members of the

House of Representatives are

1. against allowing people to file pay-bias suits

2. for wage discrimination.

The Republicans are once again clueless.

Exactly!

Joe Conason is exactly right when he says that those accusing Al Franken of stealing the election need to show proof or shut up.

SALON:
If Al Franken were not a longtime public figure -- and thus severely handicapped by American jurisprudence -- he could file a powerful complaint for libel or slander against several of the most prominent wingnuts in the United States. From Rush Limbaugh to Bill O'Reilly to Richard Mellon Scaife, a chorus of familiar voices is loudly defaming the Democrat whose razor-thin win in the Minnesota Senate race will now be tested in that state's courts. Ever since Election Day, on radio and television, on the Internet and in print, they've screamed that Franken is stealing, rigging, pilfering, scamming, thieving and cheating his way to victory.

These media figures, some of whom occasionally pretend to be journalists, have spewed such accusations repeatedly, without offering any proof whatsoever -- in plain contradiction of the available facts. Not only is there no evidence that Franken or his campaign "cheated" in any way during the election or the recount, but there is ample reason to believe that the entire process was fair, balanced and free from partisan taint.....

....Here's a challenge to all those lying liars. In essence, they have accused my friend Franken of a felony under Minnesota law. If they know of any evidence that would show he has stolen votes or violated any election statute, let them report it to the state law enforcement authorities. And if they don't, perhaps they will at last have the decency to shut up.

These right wing nut jobs (as mentioned by Conason) need to shut their mouths. They know nothing about the details of the recount process and they continue to yell, scream, and lie about what happened. Coleman was a special friend of President George W. Bush. Coleman even went to visit the Bush "ranch" in Texas. Many Republicans just don't want to admit that the Bush and Coleman days are gone. It is time to move on and get to work cleaning up the mess they left.

Don't You Wonder.....

* How is it that Bernie Madoff can send "gifts" worth millions of dollars to friends and relatives while he remains on house arrest because of the "ponzi" scheme? Seriously, this guy took money from his clients and used it for his personal gain. Now, according to the NY Times, Madoff ".....is under 24-hour house arrest in his $7 million Manhattan apartment....." $7 million dollars? How can he mail diamonds and watches to relatives as gifts while he remains under investigation? Besides, who sends gifts worth millions of dollars to friends and family? I think the government should take those items to pay back his victims.

* Former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman (his term has expired) is doing his part to tie up the courts in order to overturn the vote in the senatorial race in his state. Why, Norm? Why do you bother? Give it up, Norm!

* What was that chainsaw carrying man thinking when he attacked his neighbor's door?
Philly.com: An eastern Pennsylvania man may face up to 37 years in prison for tearing open a neighbor's door with a chain saw. Police say 34-year-old Robert Kane began sawing through the front door of Jamie Zaleski's apartment in Scranton while Zaleski and several friends ran out the back.

Kane was angry because a friend of Zaleski's parked in front of his house across the street. Police said when Zaleski asked who was at the door, Kane said it was his worst nightmare, told him, "Open the door or I'll cut it down," and started sawing.....

Why did he need a chainsaw to communicate with his neighbor?

* Don't you wonder what your family and friends would say if you bought a replica of the White House? The New York Times is reporting that a house that is a downsized duplicate of the White House is for sale. This might be your lucky day if you have $9.88 million.

Tuesday's Topics

* On C-SPAN right now, Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House for the 111th Congress. Yipeeee! Speaker Pelosi is giving her acceptance speech and she has noted that in two weeks a new President will take the oath of office. :)

* Despite a hard fought game, the Ohio State Buckeyes lost to Texas last night. Win or lose, I'll always love the Buckeyes. Thanks for great season!

* If you lived in Columbus for any period of time during the 1950's until the early 1990's, you probably remember a TV sportscaster with the loud print sports jackets. The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Jimmy Crum has passed away.

* Have you seen "Whale Wars" on Discovery? The program shows how environmental groups attempt to stop large Japanese ships from whale hunting in protected waters. According to an article posted at the Star Tribune, Japan calls these whale protector ships "like pirates." Star Tribune:

Japan said Tuesday it plans to ask Australia and possibly New Zealand and Chile to ban an anti-whaling protest ship from using their ports to refuel, heightening a cat-and-mouse game in Antarctic waters between Japan's whaling fleet and the conservationists.

The Sea Shepherd group has said its anti-whaling ship, the Steve Irwin, has left pursuit of Japan's whaling fleet after chasing it for 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) and is now headed to port to refuel. It suggested on its Web site it will seek a port call in Australia, but has not provided further details.....

.....Last year an Australian customs ship tracked the Japanese fleet in the Antarctic Ocean, gathering evidence for a possible legal battle against whaling.

Check out Whale Wars at Discovery Channel.

Monday's Notes

Earthtimes:
French President Nicolas Sarkozy left Paris on Monday on a two-day visit to the Middle East in a unilateral attempt to negotiate a ceasefire in the fighting in Gaza. Traveling in his capacity as co-president, with Egypt, of the Union for the Mediterranean, Sarkozy is scheduled first to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the resort of Sharm el-Sheik. He will then travel on to West Bank city of Ramallah to hold talks with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert late Monday in Jerusalem......

Where is Bush while the world falls apart?

*** Are you looking for inauguration gear? Buy your stuff at the official inauguration store. There are plenty of choices.

Never! Never! Never!

From UPI:

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush said Sunday he would like to see another of his sons, Jeb, become president.

Jeb Bush, a former governor of Florida, is contemplating a run for U.S. Senate, but the elder Bush said during an interview from his Texas home aired on Fox News Sunday he'd like to see a third Bush in the White House, even as another son, George W., is about to leave the presidency with record-low approval ratings.

"I'd like to see him run," Bush said of Jeb. "I'd like to see him be president some day......"

Haven't the Bushes done enough damage to the country? There is no reason why we should have Jeb Bush or any other Bush family member in the White House. I think you'll agree with me when I say we've overdosed on the entire Bush family and the disasters they've left behind. No more Bushes. No Jeb in the White House. Never. Never. Never!

Reason and Intelligence

With the incoming Obama administration, I'm hoping that we see somethings that we haven't seen in a very long time: Reason and Intelligence. I'm sure that the Obama administration will use both to solve the myriad of problems left behind by Bush.

I've written before about the laundry list of problems that the new administration will face, but I'd like to state a few things I'd like to see taken care of in the near future. Here are my suggestions:

* Please adhere to the Kyoto Treaty/Protocol which was largely dismissed by the Bushies.

* We need to have a more open conversation with the people of Cuba. If Americans are able to visit and communicate with average Cubans, a move away from the Castro brothers would certainly happen.

* Push for greener cars, transportation, and manufacturing. We would save money and help the environment.

* We need a team of constitutional lawyers to go over the "signing statements" that President Bush created. There will be lots of things to undo.

* Take care of our men and women in the military. They've gone through so much and they deserve our thanks, respect, and care. We can no longer let the mismanagement of veterans' affairs and medical facilities continue. Clean it up and fix it.

* Throw away the abstinence education program. It is totally worthless, and unfortunately, billions of dollars have been wasted. Sex education based on science should be taught in our schools.

* End the war in Iraq ASAP!

* Start conversations with those countries and regions that have been neglected by the Bush administration. Encourage those countries to work with us instead of against us.

* Rebuild America. Get people back to work fixing roads, bridges, and schools. Make community participation cool again.

I'm certain that hundreds of more items could be added to this list, but I don't have the time or energy to name them all. It is without question, that those reading this could add even more. I think it is important that we watch the Senate and the House of Representatives and make sure that legislation gets passed to get America working again. We need to take time to make our elected officials work for us.

I may only be a wife/mother/grandmother/retired teacher/dog owner, but I wish that some of my hopes and dreams are shared by you and the new administration. We must make sure that things are accomplished to help our people and the world.

The Road Ahead

This holiday season, our family shopping was guided by cost and practicality. Even though our children are older and are not into toys, we stayed away from going overboard on spending. Although we did shop at Target, Macy's, and Best Buy, we stayed with gift cards. We all understood that it was inappropriate, given the country's economic situation and high unemployment, to spend lots of money and go into debt.

Once again we did not spend a penny at Wal-mart. My philosophy about Wal-mart is that until they treat their employees fairly with pay and benefits, we will not give them any money. Millions of Americans may think I'm crazy, but I do not want to award Wal-mart's less than stellar record of fairness in dealing with their employees.

With less than three weeks to go until Inauguration Day, I'm trying to stay calm and hopeful. Like many Obama supporters, I am very excited about Barack Obama becoming President. However, given the mess left behind by the current administration, Obama will have to deal with a boatload of problems almost immediately. You almost wonder if any other modern President has had to face such a massive laundry list of problems, wars, and financial disasters. The friends of supporters of President George W. Bush are trying to re-write his legacy at this very moment. Given the state of affairs and the lingering financial crises, W will long be remembered as the Herbert Hoover of the 21st century.

The only obstacles that could possibly stop or derail the Obama administration are those Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate who are against progress. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Rep. John Boehner, and others will do their part to delay or block legislation designed to get people working again. We must respond immediately with phone calls, and e-mails to thwart their obstruction. We've been saddled with the Republican "trick down economics" that has brought us disasters. It is time to get things done.

Looking Ahead

I am sure that we all hope that 2009 will bring better days. With Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20th, the nation will certainly breathe a sigh of relief. Although we know that things won't get better quickly, at least we are headed in the right direction.

Peace
Love
Good Health
Happy New Year!

Duh!

A federal study has revealed the truth: Abstinence education DOES NOT WORK!

CBS3:

Abstinence education doesn't work, according to a new federal survey on teens and sex that was released today. This is a sweeping new study. It says most teens have sex before marriage, even if they pledge not to. It also found a dangerous trend, the abstinence group was more likely to have unsafe sex.

Teenagers who pledge to remain virgins until marriage are just as likely to have pre-marital sex as those who don't promise abstinence, according to the new report that included 11-thousand students in in middle and high school. Researchers say 82-percent of teens end up breaking their virginity pledge......

Let me repeat that statistic:

....82-percent of teens end up breaking their virginity pledge......

Even though the Bush administration spent billions and billions of dollars promoting abstinence education, kids are still participating in pre-marital sex. These kids are involved in unsafe sex----- no condoms, no birth control, etc. The Bushies pushed this abstinence propaganda and let the real facts fall by the wayside. As a result, many young adults today got their sex education through friends, gossip, and myths. Consequently, they are unprepared on how to sexually protect themselves and they are grossly uneducated in the area of personal health and science.

Meanwhile, right wing publishers and proponents of abstinence education got rich. I sincerely hope that President Obama will dump this program.

Notes and Updates

* ABC News has a story about the Bush scandals. Bush certainly has left a mess for Obama. It seems that Bush has 'zoned out' completely from the duties of President.

* Laura Bush is defending her husband. As a matter of fact, the entire Bush administration and their supporters are heaping praise upon the work of George W. Bush. Those of us who live in the real world know that they are telling tall tales. Here is a little tidbit from the Press Association:

"....in another interview US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said claims that the Bush administration had been one of the worst ever were "ridiculous"."I think generations pretty soon are going to start to thank this president for what he's done. This generation will..."

How can we thank this President for what he has done? We've had an unnecessary war in Iraq and have lost over 4219 Americans in Iraq. Our country has seen the largest financial meltdown since the Great Depression. Millions of people are out of work, have lost their homes, and companies have failed. Rice says we should thank Bush? Is she serious???

* I've been told by my daughters that Marley and Me is a great movie, but a huge tearjerker. I will wait until it comes to cable so that I can cry my eyes out in the privacy of my own home.

* My dear husband's team, the Cleveland Browns, have had another dismal season. I wish that they'd do well at least for his sake. (At least they are not as bad as the Detroit Lions.) They need to get rid of those players who continue to drop passes.

* The continuing soap opera in the Minnesota Senate race continues. Democrat Al Franken is ahead by 48 votes. Norm Coleman supposedly has plans to take everything to court. He probably doesn't want to give up the phenomenal apartment he has in DC that he pays way under the market value.

Happy Holidays!

I wish you peace and joy this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Singing, Biking, and Claus

* Don't forget to watch David Letterman tonight. Darlene Love will give her annual Christmas performance!

* Ryan Bowen is biking across the country. We might say that is not unusual. However, Ryan's purpose in his ride, as noted on Biking for Obama, is to "......to impose a strong presence of Hope and Change into the spirits of Americans as did the Campaign of President-Elect Barack Obama. The Highway of Hope signifies the call for Americans, as a collective, to unite and participate in the spread of this message along the way. The idea derived from a genuine internal desire and passion within Ryan Bowen to take on the challenge Obama’s Campaign created; and that is are we ready, as Americans, to do whatever is necessary to create a better America....."
Check in daily at Biking for Obama, to follow his progress as he bikes his way to Washington, DC for the inauguration.

* I'm not sure if I'll see the movie, Valkyrie, primarily because of Tom Cruise. I've read a lot about the July 20, 1944 plot to kill Hitler. I have visited the Plotzensee and the Resistance Museum that housed von Stauffenberg's office and his execution location. I'm just not sure that I want to see Tom Cruise's face associated with that of Claus von Stauffenberg.

Note This!

* This has been a rough time for a lot of people. We can blame the Bush administration for putting our families and friends into the greatest financial meltdown since the Great Depression. It has been a tough 8 years with Bush and Cheney making decisions that have cost American lives and our security. I'm ready for a new day filled with hope and change.

* It appears that many people in central Ohio waited until this week to shop for gifts. People must have waited for prices to drop even more. Macy's at Polaris actually had lines at registers!

* Bauer Griffin took some pictures of President-elect Obama at the beach in Hawaii. A picture is posted at Huffington Post. I must warn you that Obama is definitely in good shape.

* If you have the chance to see a movie this week, I'd suggest you see 'Slumdog Millionaire.' It is a brilliant movie and one that will have you talking for weeks later. Everything I've seen has provided stellar reviews. Don't miss it.

Hold the Lye

* Do you wonder if they have food labels in China?
Dispatch:
Industrial dyes, insecticides and drain cleaners were included on a list of illegal food additives that China released yesterday as part of a months long government crackdown aimed at improving the country's shoddy food-safety record.

Among the 17 banned substances is boric acid, commonly used as an insecticide. It is mixed with noodles and meatballs to increase elasticity, a statement posted on the Ministry of Health's Web site said.

Also forbidden are industrial formaldehyde and lye. Normally used in making soap and drain cleaners, they also have been used to make some types of dried seafood appear fresher and bigger.....

The article goes on to note that these stricter regulations are the result of the scandal resulting from the melamine in the baby formula. With so many products being imported these days, it is more important to take the time to read the labels.

So Sad

Get out your tissues. According to an article at Huffington Post, First Lady Laura Bush mad a sad revelation---- she hasn't cooked in 14 years:
First lady Laura Bush said Thursday that her husband, President George W. Bush, teases her about her cooking because she hasn't banged pots around for more than a decade.

"I haven't cooked in 14 years," she said in an interview with Fox News Channel's "On the Record." "He can't even remember what it was like and neither can I. This will be interesting."

You and I both know that she probably won't have to cook. Heaven forbid!!!!! She will hire a cook/chef, housekeeper, some maids, and others to assist her. This just shows how out of touch the Bush family is. They did not have to fill up their gas tank when the price of gasoline was high. They didn't have to deal with the increasing prices of chicken, cereal, meat, fruit, and other household items. They have indeed lived in a "bubble" and have been totally removed from the workings of everyday life.

No Sushi for Me!

> It has been reported that Jeremy Piven has "....extreme mercury toxicity...", as noted at Huffington Post. It is mentioned that Piven is an "...avid sushi eater for many years...." Those who listen to the Stephanie Miller radio program are aware that Stephanie has also suffered from mercury poisoning because of her over-consumption of sushi.

Call me old fashioned but there is something weird about eating raw fish.

> I'm not happy about President-elect Obama asking Rev. Rick Warren to participate at the inauguration. However, I do understand that Obama will be President of all of the United States. I think this is just part of the way that Obama is trying to be inclusive. Remember that we have a lot of work to do in this country and Obama will need the support of all kinds of people to get things done (even the Rick Warrens of the nation). This might be Obama's way of trying to soften Warren's heart on some issues.

Talk, Talk, Talk

- On Rachel Maddow's show this evening, Sen. Carl Levin said that he was "astounded" when he heard Vice President Dick Cheney say that he approved the water boarding of some prisoners. It appears that there will be investigations, according to what Levin hinted about tonight.

This admission by Cheney just makes me sick because he looks like he is bragging about his role in torture.

- Dr. Rick Warren will give the invocation at the Inauguration and it is causing lots of consternation. Warren is against everything that liberals support.

- Have you watched Parking Wars on A & E? It is a very interesting show about parking enforcement in Philadelphia. I've lived in Philly and I am well aware of the special ways that Philadelphians park their cars.

- President Bush's "legacy tour" seems to be made up of exaggerations, fables, and just plain lies.

Person of the Year: Obama

Time Magazine has just announced that Barack Obama has been chosen as their "Person of the Year" by declaring the following:
For having the confidence to sketch an ambitious future in a gloomy hour, and for showing the competence that makes Americans hopeful he might pull it off, the President-elect is TIME's Person of the Year.

Yes! I agree. President-elect Obama has transformed the campaign process by having the most elaborate grass roots organization in American election history. He has inspired millions of people to vote, volunteer, and participate in the election process. He has given us a reason to hope. Obama's plans will change the face of our country forever.

News

- A few months ago, we became grandparents. This has been a very happy time. My husband shows pictures of our grandson to nearly every person he meets. I find it necessary to explain to store clerks that my toy purchases are for my grandson. I think we've become those obnoxious grandparents who pull out fresh pictures of their grandchild every single day. My daughter and son-in-law are in a mixed marriage. She is a Democrat. He is a Republican. Even though the baby is just under three months old, I'm trying to enhance his vocabulary. I'm teaching him words like "Mama" and "Obama" and "Go Bucks." You can never start too soon.

- It does feel good to know that Democrats will be the majority party in the House and the Senate. I'm glad to know that Barack Obama will be our next President.


- In President-elect Obama's news conference yesterday, he mentioned that there were "shovel ready" projects that could help put people back to work. That is very encouraging to all of us.

- I was very impressed with Obama's "Green Team" that he introduced yesterday. He has really brought forward some of the best and brightest in our country to tackle difficult problems.

Romney: Wrong, Wrong, Wrong

I caught part of NBC's Meet the Press today. Unfortunately, I saw the part where Mitt Romney said that American auto workers were making $73/hour. Mitt Romney is a liar. He said that when all the retirement and legacy pay outs were added together that the typical auto worker makes $73/hr. Romney is an arrogant fool. There he is sitting on TV with his expensive suit and while he disrespects hundreds of thousands of workers. Romney wants the auto workers and the retirees to give up their pensions and health care. These people earned their pensions.

Who made Romney an expert in the car industry? Romney has already started his presidential campaign and he is doing his part to cut down the American worker. I guess that is his way to make friends and win votes.

Romney must not have read the papers after election day. The American public rejected the Republican Party, John McCain, and Mitt Romney. Right now, the GOP is the minority party. Romney's campaign to destroy the auto industry and the auto workers will not help our country get back on the right track again.

It is clear that Romney, Senators Corker, Shelby, and McConnell and other anti-worker GOPers, are still involved in the politics of division. They need to wake up and try to solve problems, not create new ones.

TGIF

* Someone over at PolitickerOH.com seems to think that Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy got really lucky in her win in Ohio's 15th congressional district. Never underestimate Kilroy. Her hard work and loyal following produced results. Also, the 15th district is getting more Democratic with each election. No one can predict what will happen by 2010.

* Sen. Bob Corker (TN-R), Sen. Richard Shelby (AL-R), Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY-R) and Sen. Jim DeMint (SC-R) certainly hate working people. These four Republican U.S. Senators showed such disdain for autoworkers, that is was sad. This country was built on the backs of those automakers, steelworkers, carpenters, bricklayers, and many, many others. Corker, Shelby, McConnell, and DeMint have no appreciation for regular working "Joes" and "Josies" and their contributions to our society. Corker, Shelby, McConnell, and DeMint are doing their best to destroy unions and workers' rights.

* Is it possible that President George W. Bush's family and friends are more important than President-elect Barack Obama and his family? The Bush administration must think so.

NY TIMES:
The White House has turned down a request from the family of President-elect Barack Obama to move into Blair House in early January so that his daughters can start school on January 5.
The Obamas were told that Blair House, where incoming presidents usually stay in the five days before Inauguration Day, is booked in early January, a spokesperson to the Obama transition said. “We explored the idea so that the girls could start school on schedule,’ the spokesperson said. “But, there were previously scheduled events and guests that couldn’t be displaced.”
It remained unclear who on Bushes guest list outranked the incoming President....

* The Governor of Illinois has an approval rating of under 10%, doesn't get along with Illinois lawmakers, and has been arrested because of a federal probe. Why does he want to prolong the misery by remaining in office?

* I usually watch David Letterman but last night I skipped the show. John McCain was a guest and I thought I had seen and heard enough of him to last me a lifetime.

* If you are planning a summer vacation (if you still have a job by the summer), it might be wise to stay away from those states like Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama because their representatives and senators are so anti-worker. They are also red states. Skip that trip to a red state, and vacation in a blue one!

Are You Kidding?

Some strange stuff is going on in the Minnesota vote count. Large numbers of absentee votes were rejected, for no apparent reason. Check out this YouTube video called "My Vote" that details some of the voters' problems:



> Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann voted against the auto bailout yesterday, according to the news. SCTimes:
Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann voted against a $14 billion rescue for automakers Wednesday as Democrats vowed to move ahead with the plan while key Senate Republicans raised objections.
he 237-170 vote came on the same day that St. Cloud’s Grede Foundries, which supplies auto parts to Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp., announced it is laying off more than 60 of its 300 workers because it has suffered a drop in orders.....

Do you wonder if any of those laid off workers at Grede Foundries voted for Bachmann?

> Some silly people at NASA apparently didn't hear that George W. Bush's term is over in a few weeks and that there will be a new President. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting about some Bush good old boys at NASA that aren't interested in leaving office.

Orlando Sentinel:
NASA administrator Mike Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is “not qualified” to judge his rocket program, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.

In a heated 40-minute conversation last week with Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator who heads the space transition team, a red-faced Griffin demanded to speak directly to Obama, according to witnesses.

In addition, Griffin is scripting NASA employees and civilian contractors on what they can tell the transition team and has warned aerospace executives not to criticize the agency’s moon program, sources said......

Sounds to me Mr. Griffin needs to resign asap.

>>>> Oh, my. The Bush administration seems to be contributing even more to our country's economic problems.

MSNBC: ....The Labor Department reported Thursday that initial applications for jobless benefits in the week ending Dec. 6 rose to a seasonally adjusted 573,000 from an upwardly revised figure of 515,000 in the previous week. That was far more than the 525,000 claims Wall Street economists expected.....

This is just sad. So many people and families are paying the price for the inability of the Bush administration's willingness to deal with reality. President George W. Bush may end up being this generation's President Hoover.

Facts and Figures

> Alaska's Rep. Don Young will no longer serve on the House Committee on Natural Resources, according to the Miami Herald. Good.

> A news story from WXYZ-TV in Detroit lets viewers know exactly which Republican Senators are against helping out Detroit's automakers: Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada. (Note: There are others, but they are not mentioned in story.) It might be a good idea for auto employees to send e-mails to these Republican Senators.

> Sad Fact: We once owned a Dodge Aires K Car. Really. That Dodge was a real lemon. With the air conditioning on, the car could go 50mph on the highway without my foot on the gas pedal.

> Star Tribune notes some interesting things about Illinois Gov. Blagoievich:
....Rod Blagojevich makes Tony Soprano look like a Jonas Brother. ¶ Blackmailing a newspaper. Seeking kickbacks for funding a children's hospital. Selling a Senate seat as he were a one-man eBay. ¶ Say what you will about the Illinois governor -- the guy has moxie....
....Josh Marshall (6), noting that Blagojevich had an approval rating of 4 percent and had still harbored hopes of running for president in 2016...

The Wall Street Journal has the results of a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. Here are some snippets from the poll as published in the WSJ:

...Overall, a majority of Americans are confident in Mr. Obama's ability to govern and unify the country, with many who didn't vote for him now seeing him in a positive light. The poll found that 73% of adults approve of the way he is handling the transition and his preparations for becoming president....
...Polling indicates that the nation is more unified around Mr. Obama than it was for either Bill Clinton in 1992 or George W. Bush in 2000. Americans say the challenges, too, are greater, with 77% of those surveyed predicting Mr. Obama will face bigger problems than most recent presidents have.....
...The survey also offers a final report card on Mr. Bush, who leaves office with near-record-low popularity. Just 18% say they are going to miss him when he is gone...

Don't you want to know about those people who make up that 18% that will miss George W. Bush???

Ohio Republicans Aim to Restrict Voting

Ohio Republicans are at it again!
Dispatch:
A bill that eliminates "Golden Week" by shortening the time in which Ohioans can cast absentee ballots passed the Senate yesterday over objections from Democrats, including Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Moments after the bill passed the Senate 19-11, Brunner's office blasted the measure as "another example of hastily written legislation that will create administrative problems for county elections boards and invite litigation."

The debate is one of many as the legislature scrambles through the last two weeks of the 127th General Assembly...

> PolitickerOH.com has this about the latest Republican ploy:

Ohio College Democrats are taking issue with election reform legislation introduced recently by state Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Republican leadership in the Ohio Senate.....

....The bill seeks to end the so-called "Golden Week" when Ohioans can register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day.....

....College Democrats are saying that the legislation would "make it almost impossible for students to vote absentee in Ohio."

These Republicans continue to make it difficult for Ohioans to vote. If they wonder why more and more Democrats are being elected in the state, and young people are staying away from the GOP, they only need to look at their own behavior.

I've Never Been Paid A Bonus

In my lifetime of work, I've never received a bonus. I've just read over at the Huffington Post that some CEO's are still expecting and fighting to receive millions of dollars in bonuses. Exactly what did these CEO's do to deserve a bonus? Did their companies earn money? Did they solve problems? In my humble opinion, if their company lost one dime, no one should get a bonus.

I taught school for 18 years. I was never paid a bonus.

Times are tough. People are losing their homes, cutting back on food and medicine, and reducing their spending. CEO's should do the same. Instead of taking that bonus, these big shots should instead focus their time and energy into fixing their companies to make them profitable again.

Here is my final advice to those CEO's: Act like a mensch and refuse the bonus.

Another Democrat for the House!

Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy has been declared the winner of the election for Ohio's 15th congressional district.

NY Times:

Mary Jo Kilroy, a Democrat, won the 15th District, which encompasses Columbus, the state’s capital and largest city, by a little more than 2,000 votes over Steve Stivers, a Republican.....
....County officials released unofficial results Sunday that showed Ms. Kilroy with a margin of victory of 2,311 votes out of roughly 300,000 cast, enough to avoid an automatic recount....
...Mr. Stivers conceded victory shortly after the results were released....

Kilroy overcame lots of roadblocks that had been provided by Stivers and the Ohio GOP. In the end, this is a sweet victory for Kilroy, her staff, and supporters. Hurray!!!

A Reminder

Here is one of my posts from the past:

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Cause of U.S. Recession?

With a slowdown in business, the fall of the U.S. dollar, massive layoffs, and foreclosures reaching epidemic proportions, the real cause of the recession is known by many outside of the U.S..

The Australian:
IRAQ WAR 'CAUSED SLOWDOWN IN THE US'

THE Iraq war has cost the US 50-60 times more than the Bush administration predicted and was a central cause of the sub-prime banking crisis threatening the world economy, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

The former World Bank vice-president yesterday said the war had, so far, cost the US something like $US3trillion ($3.3 trillion) compared with the $US50-$US60-billion predicted in 2003......

....The war was now the second-most expensive in US history after World War II and the second-longest after Vietnam, he said.

The spending on Iraq was a hidden cause of the current credit crunch because the US central bank responded to the massive financial drain of the war by flooding the American economy with cheap credit....

Just like the Bush administration tried to stop a recent story from airing on 60 Minutes, the White House has worked to keep the truth about the war and so many other things from the American public.....

* Most of us are aware that the rise of gasoline prices, food, and other goods certainly helped push the nation toward recession. People don't buy cars, if they've lost jobs and their health insurance coverage. While Wall Street and the oil companies went hog wild, the Bush administration looked the other way.

Here is an excerpt from Bret Thompson's Blog at ProgressOhio, that shows some prominent members of the Ohio GOP still don't understand economics:

...Not to be missed, is outgoing Speaker Jon Husted's (R-Columbus) willfully ignorant, self-serving take on the matter:

"The financial crisis America is in is because its government, its businesses and its people lived beyond their means by borrowing and running up their credit cards," Husted said.

Seemingly all of America's financial systems are a wreck and Husted pins the blame on the one huge financial instrument that played no direct role, credit cards....

Credit cards? Husted doesn't understand that the economists were talking about the credit crisis not credit cards.

>>>Here is still more on the horrible economic disaster brought to us by the Bush administration.
CNN:
...Employers cut 533,000 jobs from their payrolls in November, the biggest monthly decline since 1974, and far more than the 325,000 cuts that Wall Street economists were expecting. Meanwhile, September's and October's job losses were revised up, bringing the three-month decline to 1.3 million, the largest three-month job loss total since World War II....
...The unemployment rate, generated by a separate survey, rose to 6.7% in November from 6.5% in the previous month. It was short of the 6.8% economists were expecting, but still brought the unemployment rate to the highest level in 15 years.
The report is maybe one of the worst the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever produced in its 124-year history, Commissioner Keith Hall told lawmakers Friday at a Joint Economic Committee hearing.....

Does the Bush administration take any blame for this? Hell, no. In an interview with some TV news anchor, Bush blamed his predecessors. Inauguration Day can't come fast enough.

Money in Politics

* According to recent news stories, the Republican National Committee spent over one hundred thousand dollars for Sarah Palin's wardrobe. Now, there is additional information (posted at Huffington Post) that indicates the RNC spent $55,000 for stylists for Palin in the closing weeks of the campaign. Are you kidding? This might be an indication of what went wrong with the McCain-Palin ticket. I wonder if any other campaign had similar expenses for make up, hair, and clothing.

* The State of Ohio has had to provide security details for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. In the weeks preceding the election, the Ohio GOP was busy ratcheting up false charges against Brunner. Because of this unfair smear campaign by the Ohio GOP, threats were called in and delivered to Brunner. Tens of thousands of dollars had to be spent to protect her. The Ohio GOP may continue to attack Brunner so that one of their own can take over the Secretary of State's office again. Brunner's leadership and goals of protecting the vote should go a long way to guarantee her re-election.

Ohio: Center of Attention

* Looks like there is more bad news. Triangle Business Journal:

Central Ohio’s two largest apparel retailers got off to a rough start for the holiday shopping season, both posting double-digit percentage declines in revenue and a key sales measure last month.

New Albany-based Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) reported that sales at stores open at least a year in November fell 28 percent from a year ago. Columbus-based Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE:LTD) said same-store sales in November fell 12 percent....

*PolitickerOH has more about the recent attacks on Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner:
....The GOP is saying that Brunner has changed positions on the so-called "Golden Week" - a weeklong period of overlap of voter registration and early voting that allows just-registered voters to vote the same day as registering.....
Brunner's office responded Wednesday by pointing to a Dayton Daily News editorial, and saying that Brunner is seeking "a well reasoned approach to election improvements versus the legislature's plan to rush through a measure during the lame-duck session."

These attacks are all the groundwork for the Republicans to try to reclaim the office of the Ohio Secretary of State.

* We still have no work on the decision of the Ohio Supreme Court about the counting of provisional ballots that has held up the election result for Ohio's 15th congressional district.

Downsizing

In these tough economic times (which President George W. Bush refuses to take responsibility for), people are looking to cut down or downsize on travel, gifts, and expenses. The American auto companies have seen dramatic drops in the sales of their oversize SUV cars. With job losses, layoffs, and Wall Street disasters, people have started to look at alternative ways of living and saving money.

My husband and I own Honda Civic Hybrid and a Smart Car. The Honda Hybrid gets excellent mileage and is perfect transportation for those of us with grown children. While some people might say that the Honda Hybrid is not fancy enough for them, my response is that we save money everyday with it.

My Smart Car has gotten a lot of attention. With so many people asking me questions, I have a prepared description of facts about the car. It is fun to drive and it also saves money.

I've been exploring the internet for small cars. Other countries have made dramatic changes in their personal transportation. Cars in Europe are small and much more efficient than the ones we drive here. Here are some of the cars I've discovered from various places on the internet----

CuriousPhotosblogspot has several pictures of small cars. Here are the ones I found most interesting:




Virtual Tourist found the car below in Amsterdam:



Noticiastech.com has a picture of the Nissan Pivo 2 (I did not even know there was a Pivo 1!!!!):




If these small cars exist in other countries, why haven't American car manufacturers made their own small, fuel efficient automobiles for the American car market? The last thing we'll be buying is a large SUV. Our next car will be something small with great gas mileage. Is there an American car maker that will step up to the plate and deliver a car that we'd be interested in buying?

By the way, smaller houses will probably become a part of the future. Cusato Cottages has a full line of small houses that can make nice, cute homes. The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company has houses from 65 to 837 sq. ft. These houses are adorable and very practical.

Not Interested

* I got a real scare this morning when I saw Karl Rove on the Today Show. I'm trying to erase his image from my brain even now.

* Jeb Bush, brother of President George W. Bush, thinks there should be a "shadow government" when Barack Obama becomes President. Newsmax:

...Bush’s other advice on where the GOP should go from here:
The party should establish a loyal opposition and “organize ourselves in the form of a shadow government” that would address key issues, providing the public with “a loftier debate about policy” rather than mere partisanship...

...Bush also offered Obama advice on one of his favorite issues, education: “Obama should defy his core constituency. He should take on the teachers’ union and be on the side of disadvantaged families who send their kids to schools that almost assure that their children will not have the same opportunities that were afforded them. That is an un-American situation, and there’s much that can be done to narrow the achievement gap....

Jeb Bush was the governor of Florida and now is offering advice? Really? The last person on earth that I'd take advice from is Jeb Bush or any other Bush family member. Jeb Bush is offering his expertise in the area of education. Are you serious? Florida has some of the worst performing schools in the country. Their teachers are among the lowest paid. If Jeb is offering his brand of education (overcrowded schools, students performing at lower levels, overworked teachers, poor state funding, etc., etc.), a majority of Americans would say that they are not interested in it.

Monday, Monday

* Now there is a special way thank our troops. A special website helps you send a thank you to our troops. Visit Let's Say Thanks to send your greeting.

* Are you looking for some online gift deals? NBC4i has a list of suggested website that might offer some special deals:
http://www.cybermonday.com
http://www.dealio.com/cyber-monday.html
http://www.bestcybermondaysales.com
http://www.cyber-monday.org
http://dealnews.com/
http://www.shopzilla.com

I plan to check out a few of the sites myself.

Did you know......

> My heart go out to the people of India who have gone through horrific terrorist attacks over the last few days. The Indian soldiers, firefighters, special forces, police, and regular people worked hard to reduce the disaster. I will remember their nation in my prayers.

> I've learned that the homeless population has greatly increased in Columbus, Ohio. According to an article in the Columbus Dispatch, more and more homeless have taken to living in small communties along the banks of the Olentangy River.

> We went shopping yesterday, but we were very, very cautious about what were purchased and how much we spent.

> I really enjoy watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is a tradition in our household.

> Doesn't it seem like President Bush has already left the White House? If you haven't seen Rachel Maddow's Lame Duck Watch, you've missed a great segment.

> President Bush will be granting pardons to many people on his way out of office. Don't you wonder how many of his good old boys will get away with breaking the law?

> In case anyone cares, I really like the Rosie special. It was fun watching and a nice change from the regular TV programs.

> Rick Astley was a surprise performer in the Macy's parade.

> I'm sick of cleaning, cooking, serving, and eating turkey---at least for a year.

Does the Bush Administration Care?

Here is some frightening news about baby formula (Washington Post):
....Melamine Found in U.S. Infant Formula» The FDA said Tuesday that it had discovered the toxic chemical melamine in infant formula made by an American manufacturer... meanwhile, former FDA officials, members of Congress, watchdog groups and various government reports say the FDA desperately needs an infusion of strong leadership, money, technology and personnel -- and perhaps a major restructuring....

Did you notice there is no mention of a manufacturer? Is the administration more interested in protecting business instead of babies?

Breibart has an article from the AP that names the baby formula---

...According to FDA data for tests of 77 infant formula samples, a trace concentration of melamine was detected in one product—Mead Johnson's Infant Formula Powder, Enfamil LIPIL with Iron. An FDA spreadsheet shows two tests were conducted on the Enfamil, with readings of 0.137 and 0.14 parts per million.

Three tests of Nestle's Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron detected an average of 0.247 parts per million of cyanuric acid, a melamine byproduct....

So far, there have been no recalls. The Bush administration has cut back on the FDA. It would rather protect businesses instead of babies.

Sad Facts About Chambliss

The runoff election in Georgia will have Republican Saxby Chambliss facing Democrat James "Jim" Martin.

Chambliss has a shameful record on veterans' issues. Even though Chambliss says he supports the troops, he has voted repeatedly against our troops and vets. Do you need examples?

Mainstream Populist Democrats:

....Chambliss Voted Against the New GI Bill for Veterans of the Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. According to the IAVA, Saxby Chambliss voted against the new GI Bill for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. (The Post-9/11 GI Bill: Fair Education Benefits for Veterans second vote.) The emergency supplemental funding for the Iraq War, to which the GI Bill was attached, bounced from the House to the Senate twice while legislators ironed out differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation. In the second round of emergency supplemental voting on the Senate side, a new “transferability” provision had been added to the GI Bill at the behest of the Bush Administration. The new provision offers current service members who agree to remain in the military for ten years the opportunity to transfer their GI Bill benefit to their spouse or children. In a procedural vote to waive a Senate budgetary rule and bring the supplemental with the GI Bill to the floor, the GI Bill advanced by a margin of 77-21. For more information about this legislation, please see House votes 330 and 432 in the House Vote Descriptions, and Senate votes 137 and 162 in this section. [ http://www.iava.org; Senate Vote #161, 6/26/08; http://www.veteranreportcard.org/reportcard.pdf]....

....Chambliss Has Opposed Vets’ Program Funding At Least 23 Times in the Senate Alone. Since joining the Senate in 2003, Chambliss has voted against increased funding for veterans’ health care programs at least 23 times. [Vote 161, 6/26/08; Vote 114, 3/23/07 ; Vote 172, 5/17/07; Vote 222, 8/2/06; Vote 67, 3/16/06; Vote 63, 3/16/06; Vote 41, 3/14/06; Vote 15, 2/13/06; Vote 7, 2/2/06; Vote 343, 11/17/05; Vote 251, 10/5/05; Vote 114, 4/28/05; Vote 89, 4/12/05; Vote 90, 4/12/05; Vote 55, 3/16/05; Vote 145, 6/23/04; Vote 48, 3/11/04; Vote 40, 3/10/04; Vote 34, 3/9/04; Vote 379, 10/14/03; Vote 83, 3/25/03; Vote 81, 3/25/03; Vote 74, 3/21/03]
Chambliss Voted Against Additional Funding to Research Traumatic Brain Injury—thee “Signature Wound” of the Iraq War.....

Jim Martin's Facebook page has more details on the Chambliss record.

VoteVets has this You Tube video on the Chambliss vote against body armor for our troops: