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:

Just Enough Politics

> With the Republicans still recovering from one of the largest election losses in modern times, you might think that they'd start to rethink their leadership. Perhaps, they'd even try to have a more inclusive group of people in charge to get the attention and support of more voters. Well, you were wrong.

According to a posting at MyDD, Kenneth Blackwell is considering running for RNC chair. That is terrific news for Democrats. Blackwell, who is politically to the right of Attila the Hun, is the former Ohio Secretary of State who "delivered" Ohio for George W. Bush.

> Does President Bush have a bit of "senior-itis"? "Senior-itis" is that malady when high school seniors abandon any interest in school. President Bush seems to have lost interest in governing. He just wants to end his term in office and return to clearing the brush in Texas. His interests now just center on granting pardons and issuing executive orders (which I hope a President Obama will overturn.).

> It looks like many Americans and world leaders are looking forward to the inauguration of President Obama. Even right-leaning U.S. News and World Report has positive things to says about Obama's economic agenda:

President-elect Barack Obama is getting largely positive media coverage on the issue of the economy, as did his new economic team, which is being cast as a group of highly capable, centrist economists. The Washington Post says Obama "is assembling a deeply experienced team of top economic advisers whose key members firmly believe limited government spending combined with free markets can create lasting prosperity." CNN's The Situation Room reported "Obama's pick of Timothy Geithner to be Treasury Secretary is highly celebrated." All three networks led their broadcasts with Obama's announcement. ABC World News reported Obama "may not yet be officially on the job, but he's on the case. And so is his brand new team...."


I think that President Obama will do a lot to help this country.

Important Matters

> The Ohio State Buckeyes beat Michigan yesterday. In case you didn't know, Ohio State has beat Michigan for 5 straight years. OH-IO!!!!! We'll certainly miss those seniors who played their last game.

> I don't know if you can feel the great anticipation for the Obama administration, but I can. People are very excited about the inauguration. With so many people planning to go to Washington, DC in January, hotel rooms are scarce. Residents of the area are offering rooms and whole houses for rent, according to a story in the Frederick News-Post Online.

> We are still waiting for that re-count in the Franken-Coleman race. Hopefully, we'll hear some good news soon.

> Here is a story about one gutsy teacher in Philadelphia (Philly.com):
A 12-year-old Philadelphia student has been suspended and charged with attempted rape after a 24-year-old teacher at the Beeber Middle School said she was attacked, authorities said.
The teacher - recognized by officials for her professionalism and poise during a stressful and highly unusual situation - was back in the classroom teaching yesterday....
...The teacher, who has not been identified, gained control and took the seventh grader to the principal's office, where administrators called police, Jordan said....

She is one amazing teacher.

Bush and the Ohio GOP

>Have you noticed that some cable news channels have nothing to talk about recently? Don't you think they should be talking about how Bush's "free market economy" has ruined this country? With so many people out of work, the stock market reaching new lows, and companies shutting down, Bush's administration will be right on par with Herbert Hoover's.

>I fully agree with Nancy Pelosi---- until the American automakers show lawmakers a plan, Congress will not provide any bailout money. The CEO's show up at the hearings in Washington, DC after flying in their own private jets. How can they ask for money to save their companies when they continue to live the high rolling lifestyle?

>The Other Paper has a very interesting article about the Ohio GOP and its future:

For the last decade, the Republicans in Ohio have traded an economic and fiscal message for a social one. The trumpeting of abortion and same-sex marriage rhetoric has turned off young voters, middle-class voters and Independent voters, and the party has suffered as a result. Or at least, that’s what incoming Ohio GOP chairman Kevin Dewine said two days after the state of Ohio handed his party a landslide loss.

Blame it on a moment of weakness. It was just one time and everybody experiments. And anyway, just because you say something socially moderate doesn’t make you a social moderate.....

“We have lost an entire generation of young voters,” Dewine told reporters. The party has wandered away from its roots of fiscal conservatism and has been fixated on “distracting social issues,” he said. In order to become attractive again, the party needs to build beyond its traditional base.....

Wow. DeWine admits that the Ohio GOP has "...lost an entire generation of voters..." and it makes me feel so good. The Ohio Republican Party reminds me of people just so out of step with the way real Americans live their lives. If the young Obama campaign volunteers are an indication of the future of the Democratic Party, the Ohio GOP may end up going the way of the Shakers.

Want to Know What I Think?

---I would have kicked Sen. Joe Lieberman out of the Democratic caucus. I'm not a member of the Democratic caucus and, therefore, no one asked my opinion.

---If I were a big shot at MSNBC, I'd send Chris Matthews to charm school. Matthews is the rudest interviewer on MSNBC-TV. Recently, with talk that Hillary Clinton being nominated as U.S. Secretary of State, Matthews has been even more ridiculous.

---I think that Sen. Chuck Hagel should declare himself a Democrat or at least vote with the Dems in the Senate.

--- Do you know why Republicans are against any loans for the Big Three automakers? Republicans intensely dislike the unions that are part of the auto industry. The unions, historically, have always supported the Democrats and now the GOP have decided to pay back the unions for their lack of support. Personally, I think that the auto industry should be provided with some loans, with certain restrictions:
1. Reduce and reorganize the various car companies. Cut out duplicate models.
2. Find a way to get rid of the SUV's and encourage smaller, more gas efficient autos.
3. Reward auto employees with ideas that reduce waste, improve productivity, and costs.
4. Eliminate all bonuses for executives until loans are repaid and a profit is made.
5. Eliminate all executive travel and all perks.
6. Provide complete transparency and government oversight so that we can view what and how the automakers have spent their money in the past.

---I heard Sarah Palin has been offered millions of dollars to write a book. Give me a break! Palin has already worn out the welcome mat for many people. I wouldn't offer her ten cents to write a book. You'll see her book reduced for quick sale tables at books stores.

Horses Saved --- For Now

The heartless people over at the Bureau of Land Management were fully prepared to start killing thousands of wild horses because they were too expensive to feed. (Of course, those $500 bottles of wine President Bush served at his economic summit certainly would have fed many horses.) The wild horses have been saved from slaughter. Washington Post:

....Madeleine Pickens, wife of billionaire T. Boone Pickens, made known her intentions to adopt not just the doomed wild horses but most or all of the 30,000 horses and burros kept in federal holding pens. Lifelong animal lovers, the Pickenses just a few years ago led the fight to close the last horse slaughterhouse in the United States.

Madeleine Pickens is looking for land in the West that would be an appropriate home for the horses....

...About 33,000 horses still roam wild on federal lands in 10 Western states. About half of those are in Nevada. The federal agency believes the range can accommodate only about 27,000 horses, and each year government-hired cowboys round up 7,000 to 13,000 horses and take them to holding pens in several states...

Thank you Madeleine Pickens!

You Betcha!

* Last night Barack and Michelle Obama appeared on 60 Minutes on CBS. I watched the entire interview and afterwards I felt good that such smart, nice people moving in the White House in 64 days.

* Jennifer Brunner, Ohio Secretary of State, should be applauded for her hard work during this election year. Despite the non-stop attacks by the Ohio GOP, Brunner protected voters and ballots from those who tried to deny many their rights.

* Republican Sen. John Kyl plans to filibuster any Supreme Court nominee that he deems "too liberal" (Bizjourals). Here we go with more Republican obstructionists.

* On Stephanie Miller's radio show this morning, there was a sound bite in which Newt Gingrich said that Gays go against traditional family values. Gingrich is definitely an expert in "family values" given his two divorces and three marriages. I guess he has forgotten about that check cashing scandal and those ethics problems he had while he was serving in the House of Representatives. If you are really interested in Newt Gingrich's "family values," you absolutely must read the Salon article that has it all.

* I think that before we give billions of dollars to the U.S. automakers, we need to ask them to cut back on their executive bonus packages.

* OMG! OMG! Run for cover. Sarah Palin might get a multi-million dollar book deal. I definitely do not plan to read it or buy it.

Republicans Trying to Throw Out Ballots in Ohio's 15th

Looks like Republicans are up to their dirty tricks again in Ohio.

Dispatch:

A new lawsuit has been filed against Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner arguing that she is telling the Franklin County Board of Elections to count provisional ballots that state law says should be rejected.....
.....The lawsuit was filed by two Franklin County voters on behalf of the campaign of Republican Steve Stivers, who leads Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy in the 15th District race by less than 400 votes with thousands of provisional ballots outstanding....

Isn't it amazing? Stivers, who was way behind in the polls before the election, is trying to use a lawsuit to win his way to Congress. Stivers, his supporters, and the Republican party will do anything they can to win, even if it means stealing the election by throwing out ballots.

Call Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy's office and ask how you can help her.

Update: ProgressOhio has even more on the lawsuit as well as links to the filings.

Seriously

* I'm tired of hearing about Sarah Palin. Matt Lauer's interview with Palin has forced me to change the channel every single time Palin talks.

* Last night on David Letterman, Don Rickles tried (unsuccessfully, I might add) to make a joke about Barack Obama. There were a lot of groans in the audience. I had to change the channel. Rickles and his humor are out of date.

* No one has asked me what to do with Sen. Joe Lieberman and if he can caucus with the Dems. I think Lieberman was blatantly disloyal to the caucus. He spoke openly and disparaged their reputations and that of candidate Obama. If I had a vote, he'd be out the door of the caucus.

* I sincerely hope that Obama will be able to get our troops out of Iraq. By the way, did you know that Saxby Chambliss voted against funding for body armour for our troops? Vote Vets has the details.

* Let the Obama family decide on their own about the proper school for their daughters. Given their abilities and security matters, this is their family's decision. The dog? They need to choose their own puppy. They are the ones that will live with it.

In Honor of Veterans' Day

I thank you for your service. I hope that one day soon, all our troops will be home.

Monday's Notes

>>> If you want to keep an eye on the Al Franken vote count in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's site here. At this point, slimy Coleman is only ahead by 200 votes.

> President-elect Barack Obama will visit the White House today.

> Change is happening in the U.S. Senate. Honolulu Star Bulletin:

HAVING native son Barack Obama on the doorstep of the White House has already raised Hawaii's profile on the nation's political stage. Now, with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye taking the helm of the powerful Appropriations Committee, the state farthest from the U.S. capital -- and arguably the minds of most Americans -- stands to gain a lot more influence than before.

Moreover, if Hawaii's other senator, Daniel Akaka, becomes the new chairman of the Homeland Security panel the islands could hold bigger sway in Washington.

Inouye assumes the chairmanship long held by West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd, who at age 90 voluntarily relinquished the post in advance of a reorganization of the Senate later this month.....

> Now that the Republicans have lost the White House, some GOP politicians are already getting their sights on 2012. Mike Huckabee (fried squirrel gourmand) and Bobb Jindal (creationist education advocate), are planning to spend some of their future time in Iowa.

John Boehner is Wrong!!!!

Republican Rep. John Boehner has been spouting off at the mouth again. Boehner apparently doesn't realize that his party lost, and lost big.

Detroit News:
....House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, issued a statement arguing that any stimulus plan should be built around tax cuts, rather than new spending, and calling on Obama to "govern from the center."
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
...America is still a center-right country. This election was neither a referendum in favor of the left’s approach to key issues nor a mandate for big government....

Barack Obama won by a landslide. Boehner has it all wrong. The American voter has rejected the Republicans, the Boehners, their big government with massive deficits, and two wars. Mr. Boehner needs to realize that America is now center or center-left now. We've had enough Republican obstructionists, Republican scandals (Do you need a list?), and the Republican failures. It is time to move on for change. America has spoken.