The Republicans are playing with people's lives. With threats of a government shutdown, especially being promoted by some of the newly elected Tea Party Republicans, veterans and veterans groups worry about the results if the Republicans follow through with their threat.
An article in the ArmyTimes explains what happened the last time Republicans shut down the government. Sen. Patty Murray gave the details:
....The last time the government was shut down as a result of a political standoff was in 1995, and Murray said veterans felt the impact.
“More than 400,000 veterans saw their disability benefits and pension claims delayed,” she said. “Money that they were counting on didn’t come to them. Payment of GI Bill education checks were delayed for hundreds of thousands of our veterans. Telephone calls from our veterans to veterans’ benefits offices went unanswered. Mail from veterans to our VA offices wasn’t opened. It wasn’t answered.”
.....But a shutdown would close veterans’ benefits offices, including claims processing and people answering questions, and could lead to delays in non-emergency medical appointments....
While the Republicans discuss ways to cut federal spending so they can give more tax cuts to their corporate millionaire friends, veterans and their families pray that the Republicans are not successful in shutting down the government.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Undoing Progress
If you examine the first session of the 111th Congress, you'll see that great progress was made in improving the lives of Americans. According to the clerk.house.gov website for the 111th Congress, 1st session (January 2009), the following important legislative bills were passed during the first month:
Paycheck Fairness Act HR 12: vote taken on January 9, 2009
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act HR 11: vote taken January 9, 2009
Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 HR 2: vote taken January 14, 2009
TARP Reform and Accountability Act HR 384: vote taken January 21, 2009
Making Supplemental Appropriations for fiscal year ending 2009 HR 1: vote taken January 28, 2009
The Republicans now control the U.S. House. During the 112th Congress, 1st Session (January 2011), under the leadership of John Boehner, the following bills were passed during the first month:
Stop the Over Printing (STOP) Act HR 292: vote taken January 18, 2011
Repealing the ......... Health Care Law Act HR 2: vote taken January 19, 2011
...Terminating Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns.... HR 359: vote taken January 26, 2011
When you compare what the Democrats accomplished in their first month with what the Republicans did in their first month, you can clearly see that Americans benefited from the legislation passed by the Democrats.
The Republicans and their leadership have done nothing in their first month to make our lives better.
Paycheck Fairness Act HR 12: vote taken on January 9, 2009
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act HR 11: vote taken January 9, 2009
Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 HR 2: vote taken January 14, 2009
TARP Reform and Accountability Act HR 384: vote taken January 21, 2009
Making Supplemental Appropriations for fiscal year ending 2009 HR 1: vote taken January 28, 2009
The Republicans now control the U.S. House. During the 112th Congress, 1st Session (January 2011), under the leadership of John Boehner, the following bills were passed during the first month:
Stop the Over Printing (STOP) Act HR 292: vote taken January 18, 2011
Repealing the ......... Health Care Law Act HR 2: vote taken January 19, 2011
...Terminating Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns.... HR 359: vote taken January 26, 2011
When you compare what the Democrats accomplished in their first month with what the Republicans did in their first month, you can clearly see that Americans benefited from the legislation passed by the Democrats.
The Republicans and their leadership have done nothing in their first month to make our lives better.
Has Kasich gotten the hint?
A local radio station, WNCI, ran a song parody based on John Kasich's all white choices for his administration's department heads.
"Keep it White": John Kasich song from WNCI
Plunderbund has more about the song and reaction. Think Progress has more information about Kasich's first minority appointment. Did the song have something to do with it?
"Keep it White": John Kasich song from WNCI
Plunderbund has more about the song and reaction. Think Progress has more information about Kasich's first minority appointment. Did the song have something to do with it?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Pay China First??????
Why do the Republicans hate Social Security recipients so much?
I first saw this information over at a posting by Electablog on Dailykos. Apparently, Republicans would prefer paying off our debt to China before letting the elderly get their Social Security checks.
The AuburnJournal:
Some people like to think Tom McClintock doesn't care about the the elderly or anyone else who has to rely on public assistance of one sort or another. But I'll bet they didn't know how much. Enough to introduce a bill that prioritizes paying off our debt to China over their monthly checks.
HR 421, introduced by Tom McClintock and backed by House and Senate Republicans, would require the U.S. Treasury to pay China and other foreign creditors before anyone else - including Social Security recipients.
Under the McClintock plan, foreign debt holders will go to the front of the line while needy Americans would be forced to the back. The McClintock theory is that this would avoid a debt default....
OMG!
Would Republican Congressman Tom McClintock seriously try to stop paying Social Security with this legislation? Which members have signed on as cosponsors? You might recognize a few names.
Govtrack:
I first saw this information over at a posting by Electablog on Dailykos. Apparently, Republicans would prefer paying off our debt to China before letting the elderly get their Social Security checks.
The AuburnJournal:
Some people like to think Tom McClintock doesn't care about the the elderly or anyone else who has to rely on public assistance of one sort or another. But I'll bet they didn't know how much. Enough to introduce a bill that prioritizes paying off our debt to China over their monthly checks.
HR 421, introduced by Tom McClintock and backed by House and Senate Republicans, would require the U.S. Treasury to pay China and other foreign creditors before anyone else - including Social Security recipients.
Under the McClintock plan, foreign debt holders will go to the front of the line while needy Americans would be forced to the back. The McClintock theory is that this would avoid a debt default....
OMG!
Would Republican Congressman Tom McClintock seriously try to stop paying Social Security with this legislation? Which members have signed on as cosponsors? You might recognize a few names.
Govtrack:
Cosponsors:
Worth A Look
A little satire goes a long way. A video posted at the ModerateVoice and WritesLikeSheTalks, lampoons Gov. John Kasich's recent response to the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus: "I don't need your people."
In case you are unaware, Republican Gov. John Kasich has a personal staff and a cabinet made up of all whites. (YouTube)
Here are part of the lyrics as posted at WritesLikeSheTalks:
“Never Known A Non-White Man”
(To the Tune of “Never Been to Spain” by Three-Dog Night)
Well I never knew a black man.
But I kinda like their music.
They say that Asians with computers–
Would know just how to use it.
I won’t appoint them.
I won’t anoint them.
I just refuse it.
Well I never knew a gay one.
But I liked ole Liberace.
Well, I headed for the State House
Wanting folks who look just like me.
Can you feel it?
Can you deal with it?
Feels so good.
Oh, feels so good!
Well I’ve got an all-white cabinet.
But my janitors are so diverse.
Well they say that they work hard there.
But I pay them no attention.
Leave me alone, yeah, throw them a bone, no.
What does it matter?
What does it matter?!.............
It certainly makes you think that John Kasich doesn't know and just doesn't care about diversity and getting input from all Ohioans - - - not just his white country club types.
In case you are unaware, Republican Gov. John Kasich has a personal staff and a cabinet made up of all whites. (YouTube)
Here are part of the lyrics as posted at WritesLikeSheTalks:
“Never Known A Non-White Man”
(To the Tune of “Never Been to Spain” by Three-Dog Night)
Well I never knew a black man.
But I kinda like their music.
They say that Asians with computers–
Would know just how to use it.
I won’t appoint them.
I won’t anoint them.
I just refuse it.
Well I never knew a gay one.
But I liked ole Liberace.
Well, I headed for the State House
Wanting folks who look just like me.
Can you feel it?
Can you deal with it?
Feels so good.
Oh, feels so good!
Well I’ve got an all-white cabinet.
But my janitors are so diverse.
Well they say that they work hard there.
But I pay them no attention.
Leave me alone, yeah, throw them a bone, no.
What does it matter?
What does it matter?!.............
It certainly makes you think that John Kasich doesn't know and just doesn't care about diversity and getting input from all Ohioans - - - not just his white country club types.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Helping Our Veterans
I wish that more elected members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives worked as hard as Sen. Al Franken does in recognizing and supporting our military and veterans. Before he was elected, Al Franken visited our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan several times to meet, greet, and entertain our troops. He has continued to work to help our active military and vets in many ways.
WebWire:
Under a new bill proposed by Senator Al Franken (D-Minn), some veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (known as PTSD) will get service dogs as part of a pilot program run by the government.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychological disorder affecting individuals after exposure to profoundly traumatic events. Nearly a third of the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan report symptoms of severe PTSD, according to a new study by the Rand Corp.....
"Service or therapy dogs are specially trained animals who can ease PTSD symptoms by providing psychological support and comfort" says Joe Dwyer, dog trainer, motivational speaker and author of the new book "Shelby’s Grace" "These dogs help suffering veterans leave the war behind and come back to real life."
Thank you, Sen. Franken, for continuing to help our troops and veterans!
Unfortunately, Rep. Michele Bachmann, doesn't feel the same way. Bachmann has proposed drastic cuts to veterans benefits, especially veterans health care. You really have to wonder if Bachmann knows that we are involved in two wars, with a massive amount of returning veterans suffering with war wounds and PTSD. Just when they need the services of the Veterans Administration the most, Bachmann wants to pull the rug out from under them.
NewYorkTimes:
For years, federal spending on the military and veterans affairs seemed nearly as sacrosanct as Social Security. But with some House Republicans now talking about cutting the Pentagon budget, veterans groups have grown nervous that the Department of Veterans Affairs will be next. And so today, a number of groups took preemptive action, vigorously blasting a proposal for V.A. budget cuts that came from a Tea Party leader, Representative Michele Bachmann, Republican of Minnesota.
The veterans groups were responding to a plan recently posted on Representative Bachmann’s congressional Web site to cut federal spending by $400 billion. The plan calls for deep cuts to just about every federal agency, and veterans affairs is not spared: She proposed lopping $4.5 billion from its annual $125 billion budget, including by capping increases to health care spending for veterans and reducing some disability compensation.
The first group to respond was Veterans for Common Sense. In a message to its membership this week, the group called the proposal “outrageous” because 10,000 new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are flowing into the veterans health system each month....
I still do not understand how Bachmann was re-elected. This latest proposal by Bachmann is morally wrong and heartless.
WebWire:
Under a new bill proposed by Senator Al Franken (D-Minn), some veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (known as PTSD) will get service dogs as part of a pilot program run by the government.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychological disorder affecting individuals after exposure to profoundly traumatic events. Nearly a third of the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan report symptoms of severe PTSD, according to a new study by the Rand Corp.....
"Service or therapy dogs are specially trained animals who can ease PTSD symptoms by providing psychological support and comfort" says Joe Dwyer, dog trainer, motivational speaker and author of the new book "Shelby’s Grace" "These dogs help suffering veterans leave the war behind and come back to real life."
Thank you, Sen. Franken, for continuing to help our troops and veterans!
Unfortunately, Rep. Michele Bachmann, doesn't feel the same way. Bachmann has proposed drastic cuts to veterans benefits, especially veterans health care. You really have to wonder if Bachmann knows that we are involved in two wars, with a massive amount of returning veterans suffering with war wounds and PTSD. Just when they need the services of the Veterans Administration the most, Bachmann wants to pull the rug out from under them.
NewYorkTimes:
For years, federal spending on the military and veterans affairs seemed nearly as sacrosanct as Social Security. But with some House Republicans now talking about cutting the Pentagon budget, veterans groups have grown nervous that the Department of Veterans Affairs will be next. And so today, a number of groups took preemptive action, vigorously blasting a proposal for V.A. budget cuts that came from a Tea Party leader, Representative Michele Bachmann, Republican of Minnesota.
The veterans groups were responding to a plan recently posted on Representative Bachmann’s congressional Web site to cut federal spending by $400 billion. The plan calls for deep cuts to just about every federal agency, and veterans affairs is not spared: She proposed lopping $4.5 billion from its annual $125 billion budget, including by capping increases to health care spending for veterans and reducing some disability compensation.
The first group to respond was Veterans for Common Sense. In a message to its membership this week, the group called the proposal “outrageous” because 10,000 new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are flowing into the veterans health system each month....
I still do not understand how Bachmann was re-elected. This latest proposal by Bachmann is morally wrong and heartless.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Missing Charitable Donations from Glenn Beck
* People are wondering why Glenn Beck hasn't delivered on his planned help for Wilmington, Ohio?
MediaMatters:
As Media Matters noted over the weekend, the Wilmington Journal in Ohio recently reported that Glenn Beck has yet to make good on his pledges to make big donations to the struggling Ohio town. Did Beck, who earns $32 million annually, misplace his checkbook, or has he had second thoughts about honoring his pledge?
You'll recall in December, Beck made a big media push by traveling to Wilmington and broadcasting his syndicated radio show and his Fox News television show from the middle-class town in hopes of raising awareness about his unemployment struggle....
....Even more upsetting now is the news that, to date, Beck has stiffed Wilmington in terms of the charitable donations he and his producers claimed the host would make following his widely publicized visit. Incredibly, last week when the Wilmington Journal tried to get answers about the no-show donations, the paper was ignored by Beck's producers.....
Shame on Beck. Then again, what do you expect from Glenn Beck?
MediaMatters:
As Media Matters noted over the weekend, the Wilmington Journal in Ohio recently reported that Glenn Beck has yet to make good on his pledges to make big donations to the struggling Ohio town. Did Beck, who earns $32 million annually, misplace his checkbook, or has he had second thoughts about honoring his pledge?
You'll recall in December, Beck made a big media push by traveling to Wilmington and broadcasting his syndicated radio show and his Fox News television show from the middle-class town in hopes of raising awareness about his unemployment struggle....
....Even more upsetting now is the news that, to date, Beck has stiffed Wilmington in terms of the charitable donations he and his producers claimed the host would make following his widely publicized visit. Incredibly, last week when the Wilmington Journal tried to get answers about the no-show donations, the paper was ignored by Beck's producers.....
Shame on Beck. Then again, what do you expect from Glenn Beck?
Forced Brainwashing at ODOT
Shocking news!!!!!!
Plunderbund:
....Plunderbund has just learned that the Ohio Department of Transportation’s cafeteria, which used to show CNN during the day, has recently been ordered by ODOT’s HR department to ONLY show Fox News (Kasich’s former employer).....
I think it is time for some creative ways for ODOT employees to show their disdain for being forced to watch and listen to right wing Republican propaganda. Stop the insanity!!!!
I wonder if this is happening in other departments across the state. State employees might want to find ways to email or communicate with Plunderbund, on Twitter, national news, Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, or some newspaper other than the Dispatch. We are all interested.
Plunderbund:
....Plunderbund has just learned that the Ohio Department of Transportation’s cafeteria, which used to show CNN during the day, has recently been ordered by ODOT’s HR department to ONLY show Fox News (Kasich’s former employer).....
I think it is time for some creative ways for ODOT employees to show their disdain for being forced to watch and listen to right wing Republican propaganda. Stop the insanity!!!!
I wonder if this is happening in other departments across the state. State employees might want to find ways to email or communicate with Plunderbund, on Twitter, national news, Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, or some newspaper other than the Dispatch. We are all interested.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
"We do big things."
Pleading for unity in a newly divided government, President Barack Obama implored Democratic and Republican lawmakers to rally behind his vision of economic revival, declaring in his State of the Union address Tuesday night: "We will move forward together or not at all."
When you contrast the speaking skills of President Obama with Gov. Kasich you realize that Kasich must have skipped the speech classes in high school and college.
* Interesting tweet from http://twitter.com/tarabonistall:
Is it just me, or does Kasich seem incapable of speaking proper English? I haven't heard so many gonnas and oks since junior high.
....As for other economic development, the Republican governor insists that at least two of the Big Three automakers told him in private meetings in Detroit earlier this month that doing business in Ohio is prohibitive due to unions, taxes and energy costs.
Kasich was saying little on this trip, though, about his biggest economic plan: transferring control of economic development initiatives from the state Department of Development to a private board of executives. A bill to set up the new board was introduced in the Ohio House yesterday (Tuesday). It would exempt the board and its employees from public records and open meetings laws....
Many Ohioans are expressing concern about Gov. John Kasich's move to privatize the Ohio Department of Development. The whole secrecy thing bothers me and just sets up the possibility of corruption.
Why does Kasich keep bringing up the unions? The auto companies have been working with the unions for decades. Did the automakers bring up the subject or did Kasich? Is this another example of how Kasich is trying to blame the state's problems on unions? Besides, considering how Kasich twisted the truth about the "Race to the Top" funds, I sometimes doubt when Kasich "quotes" what others have said.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Sen. Rob Portman has once again demonstrated his allegiance to business.
Dispatch:
Republican Rob Portman's first U.S. Senate bill seeks a big tax cut for employers but relies on a repeal of part of the new health-care overhual to keep the tax cut from sending the federal deficit shooting upward.
The heart of the Ohioan's bill is a proposed one-year, 2 percentage-point reduction in the payroll taxes paid by employers. Portman said he backs the similar payroll-tax reduction already in place for employees, but he contends that giving employers the same break is a matter of fairness and would be a job-creation device, to the tune of 1.4 million jobs nationally.
The cost to federal coffers: $110 billion....
Portman and the Republicans just don't get it. People want President Obama's health care reform. The public wants and needs help for the middle class. However, the Republicans want only to help the rich, the powerful, and their big time contributors.
Sen. Portman just doesn't seem to understand that he represents human beings, not business moguls.
Dispatch:
Republican Rob Portman's first U.S. Senate bill seeks a big tax cut for employers but relies on a repeal of part of the new health-care overhual to keep the tax cut from sending the federal deficit shooting upward.
The heart of the Ohioan's bill is a proposed one-year, 2 percentage-point reduction in the payroll taxes paid by employers. Portman said he backs the similar payroll-tax reduction already in place for employees, but he contends that giving employers the same break is a matter of fairness and would be a job-creation device, to the tune of 1.4 million jobs nationally.
The cost to federal coffers: $110 billion....
Portman and the Republicans just don't get it. People want President Obama's health care reform. The public wants and needs help for the middle class. However, the Republicans want only to help the rich, the powerful, and their big time contributors.
Sen. Portman just doesn't seem to understand that he represents human beings, not business moguls.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Republican Roadmap to Disaster
* We certainly will miss Keith Olbermann on MSNBC. Some see it as a political move by Comcast.
* Raw Story is reporting that Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor is supporting big cuts to Social Security and Medicare, based on Rep. Paul Ryan's Roadmap (really a "roadmap to disaster):
.....The roadmap would partially privatize Social Security benefits and turn Medicare into a voucher program, effectively ending two monumental safety net programs for seniors in the United States.....
Will we see elderly homeless people, living on the street, or in the basements/living rooms of family members? The Republicans have been against Social Security since it was first proposed, and they continue to try to destroy it. If you want to know what life was like for the elderly before Social Security started, go ask an elderly person how their family supported grandparents in the old days.
* Personally, I'm happy to see Sen. Joe Lieberman retire. His antics and campaigning with grumpy John McCain really made me sick.
* Rick Santorum wants to run for President. Really. If you want to know what Santorum has been up to recently, check the Delaware Liberal for a complete rundown of Santorum's conversation with Mike Stark and the topic of a "fertility clinic."
* Raw Story is reporting that Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor is supporting big cuts to Social Security and Medicare, based on Rep. Paul Ryan's Roadmap (really a "roadmap to disaster):
.....The roadmap would partially privatize Social Security benefits and turn Medicare into a voucher program, effectively ending two monumental safety net programs for seniors in the United States.....
Will we see elderly homeless people, living on the street, or in the basements/living rooms of family members? The Republicans have been against Social Security since it was first proposed, and they continue to try to destroy it. If you want to know what life was like for the elderly before Social Security started, go ask an elderly person how their family supported grandparents in the old days.
* Personally, I'm happy to see Sen. Joe Lieberman retire. His antics and campaigning with grumpy John McCain really made me sick.
* Rick Santorum wants to run for President. Really. If you want to know what Santorum has been up to recently, check the Delaware Liberal for a complete rundown of Santorum's conversation with Mike Stark and the topic of a "fertility clinic."
Friday, January 21, 2011
Kasich Picks Former Lobbyist
* John Kasich must have a very small circle of friends and acquaintances because they all seem to be the same type of people.
Dispatch:
....W. Craig Zimpher, who was a top official with Nationwide Insurance until his retirement in December, has been appointed chairman of the State Employment Relations Board.
Zimpher, of Columbus, was picked by Kasich to fill a term ending Dec. 31, 2014. He was also named chairman. He was vice president for government relations at the Columbus-based insurance giant.
The state board handles matters related to public employee union disputes and issues at the state and local level. It was established in connection with the state's collective bargaining law of 1984....
Zimpher was a lobbyist for Nationwide, according to information posted at Open Secrets:
In 2010 - the lobbyists working for Nationwide Mutual Insurance and their expeditures:
Kasich could only find a former lobbyist to fill his opening?
According to IMPLU.com, Zimpher lobbied for Nationwide in Washington, DC on many issues, including workplace, retirement, and labor issues:
(FYI: other reporting years besides 2009 include 2007 and 2008).
Dispatch:
....W. Craig Zimpher, who was a top official with Nationwide Insurance until his retirement in December, has been appointed chairman of the State Employment Relations Board.
Zimpher, of Columbus, was picked by Kasich to fill a term ending Dec. 31, 2014. He was also named chairman. He was vice president for government relations at the Columbus-based insurance giant.
The state board handles matters related to public employee union disputes and issues at the state and local level. It was established in connection with the state's collective bargaining law of 1984....
Zimpher was a lobbyist for Nationwide, according to information posted at Open Secrets:
In 2010 - the lobbyists working for Nationwide Mutual Insurance and their expeditures:
| Nationwide Mutual Insurance | $2,750,730 | Nationwide Mutual Insurance | English, Steven M Golden, Gerard M Hagan, Bridget F Mull, Meredith Rouch, Jeffrey D Wymer, Nathan P Zimpher, W Craig |
Kasich could only find a former lobbyist to fill his opening?
According to IMPLU.com, Zimpher lobbied for Nationwide in Washington, DC on many issues, including workplace, retirement, and labor issues:
(FYI: other reporting years besides 2009 include 2007 and 2008).
W. CRAIG ZIMPHER
Choose a year: 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009At Firm: NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY for 2009
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Trust? Not so much.
MGX has the latest on a Public Policy Polling on the level of trust people have for their various news sources:
Public Policy Polling has found that Fox News credibility has sunk by 16 points from last year. Demographically, younger viewers, 18to 29, have the highest level of distrust for Fox 52% compared to 48% of viewers over 65 who do trust the network.
...Only NBC still retains viewer confidence for factual reporting.
Fox has to worry because the people they want to attract, the 18 to 29 year olds, just aren't interested in their right wing propaganda.
* Buzzflash has a link to this frightening story about John Bolton at TalkingPointsMemo:
Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, rumored to be considering a presidential run in 2012, thinks he could win the Republican nomination if he ran: "Well, I think I could win the Republican nomination if I chose to run, because I do think I'm in the mainstream of the Republican Party."
Talking to RT America, Bolton added that "I think Barack Obama is beatable in 2012."
Then he backtracked a little....
Bolton is the person that said, "There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is only the international community, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is the United States." He also stated that "The Secretariat Building in New York has 38 stories. If you lost ten stories today, it wouldn't make a bit of difference." (see Wikipedia article).
* Has anyone else noticed that since the Republicans have taken control of the U.S. House of Representatives that the website has been slow to load?
Public Policy Polling has found that Fox News credibility has sunk by 16 points from last year. Demographically, younger viewers, 18to 29, have the highest level of distrust for Fox 52% compared to 48% of viewers over 65 who do trust the network.
...Only NBC still retains viewer confidence for factual reporting.
-Democrats trust everything but Fox. Republicans don’t trust anything but Fox. And independents don’t trust much of anything. For Democrats 73% trust PBS, 64% NBC, 61% CBS, 60% CNN, 56% ABC, and 22% Fox. For Republicans 67% trust Fox, 29% PBS, 22% CNN, 21% NBC, 17% ABC, and 15% CBS. For independents 44% trust PBS, 36% Fox, 34% CNN, 33% NBC, 27% CBS, and 26% ABC.
Fox has to worry because the people they want to attract, the 18 to 29 year olds, just aren't interested in their right wing propaganda.
* Buzzflash has a link to this frightening story about John Bolton at TalkingPointsMemo:
Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, rumored to be considering a presidential run in 2012, thinks he could win the Republican nomination if he ran: "Well, I think I could win the Republican nomination if I chose to run, because I do think I'm in the mainstream of the Republican Party."
Talking to RT America, Bolton added that "I think Barack Obama is beatable in 2012."
Then he backtracked a little....
Bolton is the person that said, "There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is only the international community, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is the United States." He also stated that "The Secretariat Building in New York has 38 stories. If you lost ten stories today, it wouldn't make a bit of difference." (see Wikipedia article).
* Has anyone else noticed that since the Republicans have taken control of the U.S. House of Representatives that the website has been slow to load?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Did you know......
* A story about Republican Gov. John Kasich made it to the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC-TV. Maddow showed Gov. Kasich's big mistake in declaring March 17th as Dr. Martin Luther King Day.
* Today we mourn the passing of Sargent Shriver, former vice presidential candidate and the first Director of the Peace Corps. I was privileged to attend a rally at the Ohio State Student Union in 1972 to support the McGovern-Shriver Democratic ticket. (Right now on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, former Sen. George McGovern is being interviewed.)
* Republicans who claim that the Health Care Reform Law will destroy jobs must have studied the book, How to Lie With Statistics, by Darrell Huff.
Washington Post:
....A recent report by House GOP leaders says "independent analyses have determined that the health care law will cause significant job losses for the U.S. economy."
It cites the 650,000 lost jobs as Exhibit A, and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office as the source of the original analysis behind that estimate. But the budget office, which referees the costs and consequences of legislation, never produced the number....
The Republicans are clearly lying in order to stop progress. They have no alternatives. They have no ideas to help those of us with pre-existing conditions.
* The Buckeye State Blog has the list of major goofs by Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the first 10 days of his term:
With only about 1,450 days left in his term, I'm sure that this list of mistakes will get longer.
* Today we mourn the passing of Sargent Shriver, former vice presidential candidate and the first Director of the Peace Corps. I was privileged to attend a rally at the Ohio State Student Union in 1972 to support the McGovern-Shriver Democratic ticket. (Right now on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, former Sen. George McGovern is being interviewed.)
* Republicans who claim that the Health Care Reform Law will destroy jobs must have studied the book, How to Lie With Statistics, by Darrell Huff.
Washington Post:
....A recent report by House GOP leaders says "independent analyses have determined that the health care law will cause significant job losses for the U.S. economy."
It cites the 650,000 lost jobs as Exhibit A, and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office as the source of the original analysis behind that estimate. But the budget office, which referees the costs and consequences of legislation, never produced the number....
The Republicans are clearly lying in order to stop progress. They have no alternatives. They have no ideas to help those of us with pre-existing conditions.
* The Buckeye State Blog has the list of major goofs by Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the first 10 days of his term:
- Accidentally proclaimed St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, as Martin Luther King day.
- Assembled the first all-white Ohio cabinet since the Civil Rights Act passed.
- Got caught lying through his goddamned teeth by none other than the Dispatch (R-Columbus) who has spent the last few months delivering sloppy wet kisses to his posterior.
- Pissed away $400 Million in Race to the Top funding for no other purpose than to undo Gov. Strickland’s signature legislative accomplishment.
- Proposed opening up Ohio’s state parks to drilling for natural gas using the dangerous “fracking” technology that has been banned in other states due to its contaminating groundwater.
- Proposed privatizing the state’s Department of Liquor Control, ignoring the obvious conflict of interest in that it could reap a huge windfall for his campaign donors.
With only about 1,450 days left in his term, I'm sure that this list of mistakes will get longer.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Dr. King's Legacy
The following was written by Coretta Scott King on the meaning of this holiday that celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The King Center:
...The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example -- the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.
We commemorate Dr. King’s inspiring words, because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn’t enough just to talk the talk, that he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day, the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans....
....On this day we commemorate Dr. King’s great dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation; a nation that has a place at the table for children of every race and room at the inn for every needy child. We are called on this holiday, not merely to honor, but to celebrate the values of equality, tolerance and interracial sister and brotherhood he so compellingly expressed in his great dream for America....
We're still working on fulfilling Dr. King's dream.
The King Center:
...The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example -- the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.
We commemorate Dr. King’s inspiring words, because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn’t enough just to talk the talk, that he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day, the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans....
....On this day we commemorate Dr. King’s great dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation; a nation that has a place at the table for children of every race and room at the inn for every needy child. We are called on this holiday, not merely to honor, but to celebrate the values of equality, tolerance and interracial sister and brotherhood he so compellingly expressed in his great dream for America....
We're still working on fulfilling Dr. King's dream.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
People Can't Stop Talking.....
* An article in the Washington Monthly asks how hard John Kasich looked for his picks for his administration since they are all white.
Washington Monthly:
.....Kasich, a former congressman, Wall Street executive, and Fox News personality, has hired 20 full-time agency directors to make up his cabinet. Of the 20, 16 are white men, four are white women. No African Americans, no Hispanics, no Asians.
Keep in mind, in the last half-century, Ohio has had 10 governors, most of whom have been Republicans. All of them had at least some racial diversity in their cabinet -- until Kasich, who's the first Ohio governor since 1962 to have so far picked an all-white cabinet.
It's always best to be cautious before throwing around casual accusations of racism. That said, Kasich's move is hard to understand, especially given the size and diversity of a state like Ohio.....
People are talking about Kasich's lack of diversity. Did he interview any other candidates?
Did he even think about diversity?
* Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Republican, has his pay priorities all wrong, according to an article by Connie Schultz in the Plain Dealer:
....One administrative assistant's pay, for example, is dropping from $35,000 to $30,000; another's will decrease from $33,000 to $32,000. In one of the more dramatic instances, an administrative assistant's salary plummets from $35,000 to $23,000....
.....David Rothstein is a researcher for Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recasting economic policies to benefit everyone, including workers and their families. It took him all of 30 seconds to explain what these pay cuts could mean for someone already barely getting by.
"If these women were sole providers with one child, they'd qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit," he said, referring to a federal refund for low-wage earners...
As Ms. Schultz said in words from Kasich's own book, "If you're a boss, the people who work for you are watching you at every turn. They're looking at how you treat your employees, how you accommodate their family emergencies and financial hardships, how you reward their loyalty."
Kasich continues to shrug off the criticism because he just doesn't care what anyone says. As long as he has his arrogant, rich white guy attitude, his "staff" that are unwilling to offer suggestions, and his Republican "tax cut" sheeple who are willing to destroy education, medicaid, libraries, working people, and the state's natural resources so they don't have to pay any taxes, we will all be left digging out of the mess he created.
Washington Monthly:
.....Kasich, a former congressman, Wall Street executive, and Fox News personality, has hired 20 full-time agency directors to make up his cabinet. Of the 20, 16 are white men, four are white women. No African Americans, no Hispanics, no Asians.
Keep in mind, in the last half-century, Ohio has had 10 governors, most of whom have been Republicans. All of them had at least some racial diversity in their cabinet -- until Kasich, who's the first Ohio governor since 1962 to have so far picked an all-white cabinet.
It's always best to be cautious before throwing around casual accusations of racism. That said, Kasich's move is hard to understand, especially given the size and diversity of a state like Ohio.....
People are talking about Kasich's lack of diversity. Did he interview any other candidates?
Did he even think about diversity?
* Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Republican, has his pay priorities all wrong, according to an article by Connie Schultz in the Plain Dealer:
....One administrative assistant's pay, for example, is dropping from $35,000 to $30,000; another's will decrease from $33,000 to $32,000. In one of the more dramatic instances, an administrative assistant's salary plummets from $35,000 to $23,000....
.....David Rothstein is a researcher for Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recasting economic policies to benefit everyone, including workers and their families. It took him all of 30 seconds to explain what these pay cuts could mean for someone already barely getting by.
"If these women were sole providers with one child, they'd qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit," he said, referring to a federal refund for low-wage earners...
As Ms. Schultz said in words from Kasich's own book, "If you're a boss, the people who work for you are watching you at every turn. They're looking at how you treat your employees, how you accommodate their family emergencies and financial hardships, how you reward their loyalty."
Kasich continues to shrug off the criticism because he just doesn't care what anyone says. As long as he has his arrogant, rich white guy attitude, his "staff" that are unwilling to offer suggestions, and his Republican "tax cut" sheeple who are willing to destroy education, medicaid, libraries, working people, and the state's natural resources so they don't have to pay any taxes, we will all be left digging out of the mess he created.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Opposition is Growing
The opposition to the Kasich administration is growing. With Kasich's plans to reorganize the entire state government, "modernize" Medicaid, privatize some state services, sell off state assets, "break the back of organized labor in the schools" (Dispatch), hire practically every white former employee of the Voinovich and/or Taft administration, end collective bargaining, eliminate the state income tax (which provides more than 45% to the state treasury), end the estate tax (which would only benefit estates over $300,000), it is no wonder that people are organizing and speaking out again the Kasich administration.
The Other Paper:
One Ohio Now, Defend Ohio Campaign, Save Ohio Action Network, Advocates for Ohio’s Future—if you’re a coalition or initiative with a valiant-sounding name, apparently this is the appropriate time to introduce yourself to the community.....
.....Popular sentiment against government workers is the result of scapegoat tactics used by Republican leaders and not based on reality, said Auerbach, pointing to a handful of recent studies that suggest public-sector employees receive no more compensation, or even slightly less, on average than their private-sector counterparts.....
.....“The Kasich administration is using a divide-and-conquer approach, Auerbach said. He added that his group hopes to unite working people against the threat of “fighting over budget scraps.”
Join in because it is going to be a loooooooooong four years:
Defend Ohio Now: http://defendohiocampaign.com/
http://www.facebook.com/defendohio
Advocates for Ohio's Future: http://www.advocatesforohio.org/
The Kasich Accountability Project: http://www.thekasichproject.com/
The Other Paper:
One Ohio Now, Defend Ohio Campaign, Save Ohio Action Network, Advocates for Ohio’s Future—if you’re a coalition or initiative with a valiant-sounding name, apparently this is the appropriate time to introduce yourself to the community.....
.....Popular sentiment against government workers is the result of scapegoat tactics used by Republican leaders and not based on reality, said Auerbach, pointing to a handful of recent studies that suggest public-sector employees receive no more compensation, or even slightly less, on average than their private-sector counterparts.....
.....“The Kasich administration is using a divide-and-conquer approach, Auerbach said. He added that his group hopes to unite working people against the threat of “fighting over budget scraps.”
Join in because it is going to be a loooooooooong four years:
Defend Ohio Now: http://defendohiocampaign.com/
http://www.facebook.com/defendohio
Advocates for Ohio's Future: http://www.advocatesforohio.org/
The Kasich Accountability Project: http://www.thekasichproject.com/
A must see
Those of us who remember President Kennedy will find some incredible information at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum (JFKlibray.org). According to a report by Brian Williams this evening on NBC Nightly News, there is now a digital archive available online.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
President Obama
President Obama gave a brilliant speech at the memorial service in Arizona this evening.
WashingtonPost:
Obama dwelled on the memory of each of the six victims, memorializing their lives and the heroic ways in which several of them died as they tried to save one another in the parking lot of the Tucson Safeway where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) had gathered to meet constituents. He paid special tribute to Christina Taylor Green, the 9-year-old girl, born on Sept. 11, 2001, who had come to meet Giffords out of a sense of civic duty.
"She saw all this through the eyes of a child, undimmed by the cynicism or vitriol that we adults all too often just take for granted," Obama said. "I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it....If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christina is jumping in them today. And here on Earth, we place our hands over our hearts, and commit ourselves as Americans to forging a country that is forever worthy of her gentle, happy spirit."
Obama drew a standing ovation as he announced that Giffords had opened her eyes for the first time shortly after he left her hospital room, where he had stopped beforce he came to the service. The crowd leaped to its feet.....
Thank you, President Obama, for those moving and comfortable words.
Daniel Hernandez, the staff intern who saved Rep. Giffords life, rejected the term "hero" in a short speech he delivered at the memorial. The cool, calm, and quick-thinking Hernandez, is definitely responsible for saving the life of Rep. Giffords by moving into action and providing trauma care at the scene. Daniel Hernandez will inspire many people to help when tragedy strikes. He is an inspiration.
WashingtonPost:
Obama dwelled on the memory of each of the six victims, memorializing their lives and the heroic ways in which several of them died as they tried to save one another in the parking lot of the Tucson Safeway where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) had gathered to meet constituents. He paid special tribute to Christina Taylor Green, the 9-year-old girl, born on Sept. 11, 2001, who had come to meet Giffords out of a sense of civic duty.
"She saw all this through the eyes of a child, undimmed by the cynicism or vitriol that we adults all too often just take for granted," Obama said. "I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it....If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christina is jumping in them today. And here on Earth, we place our hands over our hearts, and commit ourselves as Americans to forging a country that is forever worthy of her gentle, happy spirit."
Obama drew a standing ovation as he announced that Giffords had opened her eyes for the first time shortly after he left her hospital room, where he had stopped beforce he came to the service. The crowd leaped to its feet.....
Thank you, President Obama, for those moving and comfortable words.
Daniel Hernandez, the staff intern who saved Rep. Giffords life, rejected the term "hero" in a short speech he delivered at the memorial. The cool, calm, and quick-thinking Hernandez, is definitely responsible for saving the life of Rep. Giffords by moving into action and providing trauma care at the scene. Daniel Hernandez will inspire many people to help when tragedy strikes. He is an inspiration.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sheriff Dupnik
My new hero is Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Tucson, Arizona. He has seen the hatred and racism, and heard the rhetoric in Arizona against Latinos, immigrants, and others. He now sees the results of the hate speech that spews from the mouths of radio and TV pundits. Sheriff Dupnik is correct in his assessment of the causes of the shooting.
ABC News:
The Arizona sheriff investigating the Tucson shooting that left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords critically wounded had harsh words today for those engaging in political rhetoric, calling conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh "irresponsible" for continuing the vitriol.
"The kind of rhetoric that flows from people like Rush Limbaugh, in my judgment he is irresponsible, uses partial information, sometimes wrong information," Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said today. "[Limbaugh] attacks people, angers them against government, angers them against elected officials and that kind of behavior in my opinion is not without consequences."
Sheriff Dupnik is right.
**** Things that make you you go "Huh?" - - - -
Talking Points Memo has the latest from a Republican lawmaker:
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) says political rhetoric doesn't really incite violent behavior at all -- but not before describing Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner as a "communist" and "the liberal of liberals."
"This guy appears to be a communist," Foxx told the Winston-Salem Journal. "His beliefs are the liberal of the liberals [sic]. There is no evidence whatsoever that this man was influenced by Sarah Palin or anybody in the Republican Party. This man is not a conservative; he's a fan of communism - that's the opposite of conservatism."
Is it possible that Virginia Foxx has been able to find out information that law enforcement officers, and the FBI have been unable to document? It might be that she is just making up her own facts, as usual.
> No matter what Sarah Palin or her organizers say, those targets drawn on Democratic congressional districts were shooting targets. She can call it whatever she likes, but we all know those were targets.
ABC News:
The Arizona sheriff investigating the Tucson shooting that left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords critically wounded had harsh words today for those engaging in political rhetoric, calling conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh "irresponsible" for continuing the vitriol.
"The kind of rhetoric that flows from people like Rush Limbaugh, in my judgment he is irresponsible, uses partial information, sometimes wrong information," Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said today. "[Limbaugh] attacks people, angers them against government, angers them against elected officials and that kind of behavior in my opinion is not without consequences."
Sheriff Dupnik is right.
_____________________
**** Things that make you you go "Huh?" - - - -
Talking Points Memo has the latest from a Republican lawmaker:
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) says political rhetoric doesn't really incite violent behavior at all -- but not before describing Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner as a "communist" and "the liberal of liberals."
"This guy appears to be a communist," Foxx told the Winston-Salem Journal. "His beliefs are the liberal of the liberals [sic]. There is no evidence whatsoever that this man was influenced by Sarah Palin or anybody in the Republican Party. This man is not a conservative; he's a fan of communism - that's the opposite of conservatism."
Is it possible that Virginia Foxx has been able to find out information that law enforcement officers, and the FBI have been unable to document? It might be that she is just making up her own facts, as usual.
_____________
> No matter what Sarah Palin or her organizers say, those targets drawn on Democratic congressional districts were shooting targets. She can call it whatever she likes, but we all know those were targets.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Tom DeLay, Republican
Tom DeLay finally gets his sentence.
CNN:
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay will serve three years in prison on his November conviction on money laundering and conspiracy charges, a Texas judge ruled Monday.
Judge Pat Priest sentenced DeLay to three years on the conspiracy charge and five years on the money-laundering charge.But the judge will allow DeLay to serve 10 years probation with community service on the laundering charge in lieu of the prison sentence, and the two sentences will be served concurrently.
Priest remanded DeLay into custody and set a $10,000 bond pending appeal.....
It certainly took a long time, but it was worth the wait.
CNN:
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay will serve three years in prison on his November conviction on money laundering and conspiracy charges, a Texas judge ruled Monday.
Judge Pat Priest sentenced DeLay to three years on the conspiracy charge and five years on the money-laundering charge.But the judge will allow DeLay to serve 10 years probation with community service on the laundering charge in lieu of the prison sentence, and the two sentences will be served concurrently.
Priest remanded DeLay into custody and set a $10,000 bond pending appeal.....
It certainly took a long time, but it was worth the wait.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Ohio for Sale!
* Here is a tweet from twitter.com/rosebud:
Stivers was tagged by his Dem. opponent during the campaign as "bank lobbyist Steve Stivers,"
Duh! Stivers was a "top" bank lobbyist for Bank One (now Chase) for seven years.
*** Mediamatters has some facts related to Kasich:
.....After leaving Congress in 2001, Kasich openly considered running for higher public office and joined Fox News to keep himself in public view. A former Kasich pollster told the Columbus Dispatch in 2002 that Kasich was "leaving himself in a position so that if something happens, he is as well-situated as somebody else."
On March 27, 2008, the Dispatch reported that Kasich announced "he is paving the way now for a gubernatorial bid" and quoted Kasich stating: "I'm going to go forward even more aggressively, and we're going to continue to ramp it up (for a gubernatorial run)." But Fox News didn't take him off the air -- presumably because he still hadn't "officially" announced his candidacy -- and by the time he formally announced his bid on June 1, 2009, Kasich had logged more than 100 Fox News segments as a guest host or contributor.....
Think of all that money he saved by not having to pay for political ads for those 100 appearances.
* Parts of Ohio government might be up for sale when Kasich becomes governor. Plain Dealer:
...And the incoming governor again on Friday talked about leasing the Ohio Turnpike, making it sound like a done deal -- if he can get the right price.
"If we look at the turnpike and find out we're in a bad market and we're not going to get the number we want -- and I have a number in my head as to what will work -- if we don't get the number," Kasich said, "then we're not going to do it."
Why does Kasich himself have to set a price? What does he know about property value? (Did he learn about it at Lehman Brothers?) Shouldn't objective outsiders be able to come up with a fair price instead of Kasich? The Turnpike does not belong to him. Our tax money paid for it.
Stivers was tagged by his Dem. opponent during the campaign as "bank lobbyist Steve Stivers,"
Duh! Stivers was a "top" bank lobbyist for Bank One (now Chase) for seven years.
*** Mediamatters has some facts related to Kasich:
.....After leaving Congress in 2001, Kasich openly considered running for higher public office and joined Fox News to keep himself in public view. A former Kasich pollster told the Columbus Dispatch in 2002 that Kasich was "leaving himself in a position so that if something happens, he is as well-situated as somebody else."
On March 27, 2008, the Dispatch reported that Kasich announced "he is paving the way now for a gubernatorial bid" and quoted Kasich stating: "I'm going to go forward even more aggressively, and we're going to continue to ramp it up (for a gubernatorial run)." But Fox News didn't take him off the air -- presumably because he still hadn't "officially" announced his candidacy -- and by the time he formally announced his bid on June 1, 2009, Kasich had logged more than 100 Fox News segments as a guest host or contributor.....
Think of all that money he saved by not having to pay for political ads for those 100 appearances.
* Parts of Ohio government might be up for sale when Kasich becomes governor. Plain Dealer:
...And the incoming governor again on Friday talked about leasing the Ohio Turnpike, making it sound like a done deal -- if he can get the right price.
"If we look at the turnpike and find out we're in a bad market and we're not going to get the number we want -- and I have a number in my head as to what will work -- if we don't get the number," Kasich said, "then we're not going to do it."
Why does Kasich himself have to set a price? What does he know about property value? (Did he learn about it at Lehman Brothers?) Shouldn't objective outsiders be able to come up with a fair price instead of Kasich? The Turnpike does not belong to him. Our tax money paid for it.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Hey Big Spender!!!!
Plunderbund has uncovered some interesting information on the huge salaries being paid to Kasich staff (much higher than Strickland's staff):
...Strickland’s Communications Director Keith Dailey, for example, currently makes $89,003. While Kasich’s Scott Milburn is getting a bump to $120,000.
Press Secretary Amanda Wurst currently makes $69,992. Rob Nichols will get $90,000.00......
.....Strickland’s Chief of Staff John Haseley makes $122,990/year but Kasich’s incoming Chief of Staff Beth Hansen is going to receive $170,000. This is more money than every cabinet member but 3, more than the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, more than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, Speaker and Senate President!.......
Does Kasich still think he is on Wall Street?????
>>>>>>This just in from Fox 59 Indianapolis:
....Gov.-elect John Kasich (KAY'-sik) defended the higher salaries for his chief of staff, communications director, press secretary and others on Thursday after they were made public on the political blog Plunderbund. The figures were released later Thursday to The Associated Press through a public records request.
Kasich plans to pay chief of staff Beth Hansen just over $170,000 a year. That's about $47,000 more a year than Strickland chief of staff John Haseley (HAYZ-lee) has made and about what President Barack Obama plans to pay the new White House chief of staff he named Thursday.
Once again we have an example of the Kasich philosophy, "Do as I say, not as I do." Kasich is willing to funding to counties and cities, eliminate state services, fire state employees, take away collective bargaining for firefighters, police officers & teachers, sell off state assets, raise college tuition, but he'll reward his sheeple staff with our money.
...Strickland’s Communications Director Keith Dailey, for example, currently makes $89,003. While Kasich’s Scott Milburn is getting a bump to $120,000.
Press Secretary Amanda Wurst currently makes $69,992. Rob Nichols will get $90,000.00......
.....Strickland’s Chief of Staff John Haseley makes $122,990/year but Kasich’s incoming Chief of Staff Beth Hansen is going to receive $170,000. This is more money than every cabinet member but 3, more than the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, more than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, Speaker and Senate President!.......
Does Kasich still think he is on Wall Street?????
>>>>>>This just in from Fox 59 Indianapolis:
....Gov.-elect John Kasich (KAY'-sik) defended the higher salaries for his chief of staff, communications director, press secretary and others on Thursday after they were made public on the political blog Plunderbund. The figures were released later Thursday to The Associated Press through a public records request.
Kasich plans to pay chief of staff Beth Hansen just over $170,000 a year. That's about $47,000 more a year than Strickland chief of staff John Haseley (HAYZ-lee) has made and about what President Barack Obama plans to pay the new White House chief of staff he named Thursday.
Once again we have an example of the Kasich philosophy, "Do as I say, not as I do." Kasich is willing to funding to counties and cities, eliminate state services, fire state employees, take away collective bargaining for firefighters, police officers & teachers, sell off state assets, raise college tuition, but he'll reward his sheeple staff with our money.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
I've been visiting....
* A family member has recently been moved to a nursing home. It has been an eye-opening experience. To see a former vibrant, strong-willed, woman unable to walk and experiencing confusing has been heartbreaking. I carry on because my family member did so much for me and my family. Although I am unable to provide the nursing, physical, psychological, and support care, my daily visits are my way of paying back.
Although I visit every single day, there are many other residents who did not receive one visitor in the last several weeks or months. They've been forgotten. If you have a grandparent, parent, relative, neighbor, or friend in a nursing home, visit them. They might not remember your name or your visit, but you will never forget it.
Although I visit every single day, there are many other residents who did not receive one visitor in the last several weeks or months. They've been forgotten. If you have a grandparent, parent, relative, neighbor, or friend in a nursing home, visit them. They might not remember your name or your visit, but you will never forget it.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Jon Husted
Republican Jon Husted, Ohio Secretary of State-elect, is already being Jon Husted.
WHIOtv:
Ohio's next elections chief is raising the possibility of a later date for the state's presidential primary in 2012, now scheduled for March 6.
Incoming Secretary of State Jon Husted said county elections boards worry it might take too long for state lawmakers to redraw Ohio's congressional districts. The Republican told The Columbus Dispatch the local officials are concerned about having enough time to prepare for the 2012 primary.
Husted said it might have to be moved if the drawing of new district lines isn't completed by Dec. 7 of this year -- the deadline for primary hopefuls to file candidacy petitions.....
If elected Ohio Republicans would actually work more that three days per week, they might get something done.
> A story in the Dispatch indicates that Jon Husted, incoming Ohio Secretary of State, has recruited Matthew Damschroder to serve within his department. Anyone who has followed elections in Ohio knows Matthew Damschroder's name. Let me refresh your memory....
Toledo Blade (7/19/05):
The Franklin County Board of Elections yesterday docked its executive director a month's pay for accepting a $10,000 check in his office last year from a Diebold Inc. consultant seeking county business.
Matt Damschroder accepted the check on behalf of the county Republican Party.....
That Matt Damschroder!
WHIOtv:
Ohio's next elections chief is raising the possibility of a later date for the state's presidential primary in 2012, now scheduled for March 6.
Incoming Secretary of State Jon Husted said county elections boards worry it might take too long for state lawmakers to redraw Ohio's congressional districts. The Republican told The Columbus Dispatch the local officials are concerned about having enough time to prepare for the 2012 primary.
Husted said it might have to be moved if the drawing of new district lines isn't completed by Dec. 7 of this year -- the deadline for primary hopefuls to file candidacy petitions.....
If elected Ohio Republicans would actually work more that three days per week, they might get something done.
> A story in the Dispatch indicates that Jon Husted, incoming Ohio Secretary of State, has recruited Matthew Damschroder to serve within his department. Anyone who has followed elections in Ohio knows Matthew Damschroder's name. Let me refresh your memory....
Toledo Blade (7/19/05):
The Franklin County Board of Elections yesterday docked its executive director a month's pay for accepting a $10,000 check in his office last year from a Diebold Inc. consultant seeking county business.
Matt Damschroder accepted the check on behalf of the county Republican Party.....
That Matt Damschroder!
Monday, January 03, 2011
Time to Get the Truth
Ohio's Gov.-elect, John "Lehman Brothers" Kasich, has used our tax dollars for his personal benefit, and won't disclose information.
Newsnet5:
Officials aren't commenting on the cost of securing Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich's private home....
....The State Highway Patrol -- which protects the governor -- won't comment on the costs. A Kasich spokesman also refused to discuss the security arrangements.
A patrol spokesman tells the newspaper that money for the upgrades will come from a $6.4 million fund used for the governor's patrol guards and other security....
Once again Kasich thinks he is above the law.
Newsnet5:
Officials aren't commenting on the cost of securing Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich's private home....
....The State Highway Patrol -- which protects the governor -- won't comment on the costs. A Kasich spokesman also refused to discuss the security arrangements.
A patrol spokesman tells the newspaper that money for the upgrades will come from a $6.4 million fund used for the governor's patrol guards and other security....
Once again Kasich thinks he is above the law.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Parks Open for Drilling????
Looks like the for sale/lease signs will be going up at one or more of the seventy state parks in Ohio. Governor-elect John Kasich appears willing to use state property to drill for oil and gas.
WSJ:
Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich (KAY'-sik) says the natural gas formation known as the Marcellus Shale could give a needed economic boost to the state.
The gas riches of the vast Marcellus Shale — which underlies Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and part of Ohio — have attracted a rush of drillers to the region in the last two years....
.....Kasich says Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp., a leading U.S. producer of natural gas, has big plans in Ohio. A message was left with Chesapeake seeking comment....
Did Kasich make these plans himself before he took office? Were these projects set up by the Strickland administration? What kind of influence is Kasich using to get the job for Chesapeake Energy? Does it have anything to do with the $2,500 campaign contribution made by Scott Rotruck, of Chesapeake Energy in West Virginia on 9/27/10 to the Kasich Taylor for Ohio Committee? For documentation, see Ohio Secretary of State website. I'm just asking.
If you are interested in the damage to the air, water, and environment done by the shale drilling, check out Bob's Blog for details, including this picture:
WSJ:
Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich (KAY'-sik) says the natural gas formation known as the Marcellus Shale could give a needed economic boost to the state.
The gas riches of the vast Marcellus Shale — which underlies Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and part of Ohio — have attracted a rush of drillers to the region in the last two years....
.....Kasich says Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp., a leading U.S. producer of natural gas, has big plans in Ohio. A message was left with Chesapeake seeking comment....
Did Kasich make these plans himself before he took office? Were these projects set up by the Strickland administration? What kind of influence is Kasich using to get the job for Chesapeake Energy? Does it have anything to do with the $2,500 campaign contribution made by Scott Rotruck, of Chesapeake Energy in West Virginia on 9/27/10 to the Kasich Taylor for Ohio Committee? For documentation, see Ohio Secretary of State website. I'm just asking.
If you are interested in the damage to the air, water, and environment done by the shale drilling, check out Bob's Blog for details, including this picture:
 |
| Drill Baby, Drill! Gas drilling rig near Hickory spewing rock dust everywhere.. a layer of dust covered the entire farm, inside and out! This is what we have to look forward to during the Kasich administration. |
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Climate Change
To those idiots who are still trying to dispute "climate change":
Here is a great explanation of "climate change" from the State of Washington website-
Climate includes patterns of temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind and seasons. "Climate change" affects more than just a change in the weather, it refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time. These climate patterns play a fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems, and the human economies and cultures that depend on them....
Just because it snowed doesn't mean that climate change is not occurring. People on the right who are supported by right wing, pro-polluters, are trying their best to discount the dramatic changes we are seeing. Those on the right want you to be stupid so that you'll believe anything and everything they say.
Here is a report from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company):
Here is a great explanation of "climate change" from the State of Washington website-
Climate includes patterns of temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind and seasons. "Climate change" affects more than just a change in the weather, it refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time. These climate patterns play a fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems, and the human economies and cultures that depend on them....
Just because it snowed doesn't mean that climate change is not occurring. People on the right who are supported by right wing, pro-polluters, are trying their best to discount the dramatic changes we are seeing. Those on the right want you to be stupid so that you'll believe anything and everything they say.
Here is a report from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company):
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Looking for Answers
* A letter to the editor of the Dayton Daily News suggests Ohioans impeach John Kasich so that Ohioans can get back money for jobs and development that he refuses.
Are those Kasich inauguration tickets still available? They were supposed to go fast, since only 2,000 people could attend.
* Plunderbund has a caption contest.
* NYMagazine has a list of triggers for John Boehner's tears:
...LOEM = Level of Eye Moistness
Trigger: The Children
Cries during a 2004 visit to a Washington, D.C., Catholic school he helps raise money for; cries during a speech to Dayton businessmen about education in their city that same year; cries during 2001 congressional debate of the No Child Left Behind bill, which he co-sponsored.
LOEM =
Trigger: The American Dream
Sobs on Election Night when Republicans take control of the House of Representatives. “I’ve spent my whole life chasing the American Dream,” he says tearfully.
LOEM =
Read the entire article. Even though Boehner says he has a soft spot for children, his lack of support for children's health initiatives has not always demonstrated it. Personally, I think some other thing is the cause of these emotional highs and lows.
Are those Kasich inauguration tickets still available? They were supposed to go fast, since only 2,000 people could attend.
* Plunderbund has a caption contest.
* NYMagazine has a list of triggers for John Boehner's tears:
...LOEM = Level of Eye Moistness
Trigger: The Children
Cries during a 2004 visit to a Washington, D.C., Catholic school he helps raise money for; cries during a speech to Dayton businessmen about education in their city that same year; cries during 2001 congressional debate of the No Child Left Behind bill, which he co-sponsored.
LOEM =
Trigger: The American Dream
Sobs on Election Night when Republicans take control of the House of Representatives. “I’ve spent my whole life chasing the American Dream,” he says tearfully.
LOEM =
Read the entire article. Even though Boehner says he has a soft spot for children, his lack of support for children's health initiatives has not always demonstrated it. Personally, I think some other thing is the cause of these emotional highs and lows.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Ohio Prepares for Kasich
* John Kasich and his good old white boy network are positioning themselves to take over the state government. We've already seen hints of what is to come. Kasich will refuse federal funding for rail, and we've already lost 16,000 jobs and an untold number of businesses. Don't worry. Kasich thinks he knows everything. What will Ohio miss?
A news story at NPR about rail service shows that rail has more pluses than minuses:
It's hard to find a city in America that isn't planning, proposing, studying or actually building a light rail system. Cities as diverse as Dallas, Seattle and Washington, D.C., all see light rail as part of their future — a way to reshape their development.
There are 35 light rail systems operating in the U.S. today. At least 13 metro areas are currently building others. Many more are being planned.....
......"Light rail stops create nodes and create opportunities for denser development," says Frampton. "So you don't end up using up roads and using up sewers, and building new police stations and water lines and so on."
Kasich doesn't want redevelopment in Ohio. He just wants to do things his way by slashing education, medicaid, libraries, and anything most Ohioans think is important. While Kasich slashes and eliminates parts of Ohio government, he'll move to privatize areas of government and sell off everything else.
* People have noticed that "death panels" do exist in Arizona with Republican Governor Jan Brewer in power.
Pressconnects:
.....In a recent round of budget cuts, the Republican-controlled Legislature cut all funding for organ transplants, leaving at least 98 low-income patients to die because now they cannot receive life-saving treatments. Republican Gov. Jan Brewer has refused to reinstate $10 million in funds that could help save these individuals....
What does Sarah Palin think of Brewer's death panels?
A news story at NPR about rail service shows that rail has more pluses than minuses:
It's hard to find a city in America that isn't planning, proposing, studying or actually building a light rail system. Cities as diverse as Dallas, Seattle and Washington, D.C., all see light rail as part of their future — a way to reshape their development.
There are 35 light rail systems operating in the U.S. today. At least 13 metro areas are currently building others. Many more are being planned.....
......"Light rail stops create nodes and create opportunities for denser development," says Frampton. "So you don't end up using up roads and using up sewers, and building new police stations and water lines and so on."
Kasich doesn't want redevelopment in Ohio. He just wants to do things his way by slashing education, medicaid, libraries, and anything most Ohioans think is important. While Kasich slashes and eliminates parts of Ohio government, he'll move to privatize areas of government and sell off everything else.
* People have noticed that "death panels" do exist in Arizona with Republican Governor Jan Brewer in power.
Pressconnects:
.....In a recent round of budget cuts, the Republican-controlled Legislature cut all funding for organ transplants, leaving at least 98 low-income patients to die because now they cannot receive life-saving treatments. Republican Gov. Jan Brewer has refused to reinstate $10 million in funds that could help save these individuals....
What does Sarah Palin think of Brewer's death panels?
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Things I Know
* I know that:
* John Boehner cries too, too much for a grown man. What could possibly cause these emotional problems?
* President Obama and Democrats delivered on DADT. Thank goodness!!!
* We should thank God every single day that John McCain is not President. McCain continues to show he is a cranky, bitter, out of touch, old man, who cares about no one but himself.
(See more at the DailyBeast.)
* Our first responders deserve our respect. It is outrageous that the 9/11 first responders were denied additional health coverage by some mean, disgusting, Republicans. Thank goodness a final push for passage was successful.
* As the newly elected Governor of Ohio, John Kasich will do all he can to completely destroy public education, the state, and the lives of every teacher, firefighter, and police officer in the state. While he is at it, he'll sell off state buildings, state parks, state prisons, and state assets he'll deem unnecessary and wasteful. Could Kent State University be sold to Chase Bank? Will prisons be sold to private companies and endanger the lives of our citizens?
At this point, before even being sworn into office, Kasich has no plans other than repealing the state income tax. Kasich doesn't care about the damage he'll cause to people's lives by removing 75% of the state's funding. He just doesn't care.
* John Boehner cries too, too much for a grown man. What could possibly cause these emotional problems?
* President Obama and Democrats delivered on DADT. Thank goodness!!!
* We should thank God every single day that John McCain is not President. McCain continues to show he is a cranky, bitter, out of touch, old man, who cares about no one but himself.
(See more at the DailyBeast.)
* Our first responders deserve our respect. It is outrageous that the 9/11 first responders were denied additional health coverage by some mean, disgusting, Republicans. Thank goodness a final push for passage was successful.
* As the newly elected Governor of Ohio, John Kasich will do all he can to completely destroy public education, the state, and the lives of every teacher, firefighter, and police officer in the state. While he is at it, he'll sell off state buildings, state parks, state prisons, and state assets he'll deem unnecessary and wasteful. Could Kent State University be sold to Chase Bank? Will prisons be sold to private companies and endanger the lives of our citizens?
At this point, before even being sworn into office, Kasich has no plans other than repealing the state income tax. Kasich doesn't care about the damage he'll cause to people's lives by removing 75% of the state's funding. He just doesn't care.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
What is the hold up?
Why are Sen. Coburn and so many Republicans against the health bill for the first responders of 9/11?
NPR has the story:
There's word now that "Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn will not allow a proposal that would cover health-care costs for ground zero workers to go through the Senate before Christmas" (via The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire blog).
Politico says ilt's been told by Coburn that "he wouldn't allow the bill to move quickly, saying he has problems with parts of the bill and the process Democrats are employing."
Shame on Coburn! Time and time again, Coburn has done everything he could to slow down the progress of this legislation to help those who helped out on 9/11 and the days and months that followed.
Let Coburn know that his opposition and purposeful blocking of this legislation is disgusting.
NPR has the story:
There's word now that "Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn will not allow a proposal that would cover health-care costs for ground zero workers to go through the Senate before Christmas" (via The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire blog).
Politico says ilt's been told by Coburn that "he wouldn't allow the bill to move quickly, saying he has problems with parts of the bill and the process Democrats are employing."
Shame on Coburn! Time and time again, Coburn has done everything he could to slow down the progress of this legislation to help those who helped out on 9/11 and the days and months that followed.
Let Coburn know that his opposition and purposeful blocking of this legislation is disgusting.
Washington D.C.:
172 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-5754
Fax: 202-224-6008
Tulsa:
1800 South Baltimore
Suite 800
Tulsa, OK 74119
Main: 918-581-7651
Fax: 918-581-7195
Oklahoma City:
100 North Broadway
Suite 1820
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Main: 405-231-4941
Fax: 405-231-5051
172 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-5754
Fax: 202-224-6008
Tulsa:
1800 South Baltimore
Suite 800
Tulsa, OK 74119
Main: 918-581-7651
Fax: 918-581-7195
Oklahoma City:
100 North Broadway
Suite 1820
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Main: 405-231-4941
Fax: 405-231-5051
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thank goodness!
I'm so happy that the U.S. Senate voted to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. All those member of the military who were forced to resign should return to service, if they desire. Those translators who were fired by the Bush administration need to be rehired immediately!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Ohio GOP Battles Each Other
Huffington Post has some polling for Ohio for 2012:
Public Policy Polling (D)
12/10-12/10; 510 likely voters, 4.3% margin of error
Mode: Automated phone
PPP release
2012 Senate
43% Brown (D), 43% DeWine (R)
43% Brown (D), 38% Husted (R)
43% Brown (D), 35% Jordan (R)
40% Brown (D), 38% Taylor (R)...
Favorable / Unfavorable
John Kasich: 36 / 40
Rob Portman: 35 / 62
Mike DeWine: 30 / 43
Jon Husted: 17 / 21
Jim Jordan: 11 / 16
Mary Taylor: 19 / 16
Ohio voters are probably wondering if Husted, Taylor, and even Mike DeWine will jump into the fray of running for U.S. Senate against Senator Sherrod Brown. Husted seems to hate being in any political job for any length of time. His ambition is obvious. Taylor hasn't even been sworn in as Lt. Governor and rumors are flying over the state that she would love to move up the power ladder. Old Mike DeWine, former lapdog of President George W. Bush, will probably get bored staying in Ohio and hunger to get back into the U.S. Senate.
*** Tim Grendell is wincing under criticism from Ohio Republicans.
Dispatch:
Sen. Tim Grendell and his state party's top leader traded caustic jabs this week after the Republican State Central and Executive Committee condemned Grendell's decision to remain in the Ohio Senate rather than take the House seat to which he was elected....
....Democrats pounced on a portion of Grendell's letter related to his committee hearings this year looking into a canceled drug sting at the Governor's Residence.
"I worked hard to facilitate John Kasich's election," Grendell wrote.
"My diligent pursuit of the Ohio Senate's investigation of the Strickland administration's politically motivated mishandling of the drug drop at the Governor's mansion had a detrimental impact on Gov. Strickland's re-election effort. I do not recall receiving any affirmative recognition from you or the Central Committee for my hard work."
Grendell's political witch hunt wasted time, money, and smeared Gov. Ted Strickland and his staff. Consequently, Ohioans should regard anything that comes out of Grendell's mouth with great suspicion. Grendell can aptly be called a pompous, self-serving, a**hole.
By the way, the good people at Plunderbund had published the Grendell story on December 14th. What took so long for the Dispatch to get to the story?
Public Policy Polling (D)
12/10-12/10; 510 likely voters, 4.3% margin of error
Mode: Automated phone
PPP release
2012 Senate
43% Brown (D), 43% DeWine (R)
43% Brown (D), 38% Husted (R)
43% Brown (D), 35% Jordan (R)
40% Brown (D), 38% Taylor (R)...
Favorable / Unfavorable
John Kasich: 36 / 40
Rob Portman: 35 / 62
Mike DeWine: 30 / 43
Jon Husted: 17 / 21
Jim Jordan: 11 / 16
Mary Taylor: 19 / 16
Ohio voters are probably wondering if Husted, Taylor, and even Mike DeWine will jump into the fray of running for U.S. Senate against Senator Sherrod Brown. Husted seems to hate being in any political job for any length of time. His ambition is obvious. Taylor hasn't even been sworn in as Lt. Governor and rumors are flying over the state that she would love to move up the power ladder. Old Mike DeWine, former lapdog of President George W. Bush, will probably get bored staying in Ohio and hunger to get back into the U.S. Senate.
*** Tim Grendell is wincing under criticism from Ohio Republicans.
Dispatch:
Sen. Tim Grendell and his state party's top leader traded caustic jabs this week after the Republican State Central and Executive Committee condemned Grendell's decision to remain in the Ohio Senate rather than take the House seat to which he was elected....
....Democrats pounced on a portion of Grendell's letter related to his committee hearings this year looking into a canceled drug sting at the Governor's Residence.
"I worked hard to facilitate John Kasich's election," Grendell wrote.
"My diligent pursuit of the Ohio Senate's investigation of the Strickland administration's politically motivated mishandling of the drug drop at the Governor's mansion had a detrimental impact on Gov. Strickland's re-election effort. I do not recall receiving any affirmative recognition from you or the Central Committee for my hard work."
Grendell's political witch hunt wasted time, money, and smeared Gov. Ted Strickland and his staff. Consequently, Ohioans should regard anything that comes out of Grendell's mouth with great suspicion. Grendell can aptly be called a pompous, self-serving, a**hole.
By the way, the good people at Plunderbund had published the Grendell story on December 14th. What took so long for the Dispatch to get to the story?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Not Over Yet
For those rightwingers who think that the recent court ruling against the health care law spells doom, it is not over yet.
Volokh Conspiracy:
I’ve had a chance to read Judge Hudson’s opinion, and it seems to me it has a fairly obvious and quite significant error. Judge Hudson assumes that the power granted to Congress by the Necessary and Proper Clause — “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers” — does not expand Congress’s power beyond the Commerce Clause itself. The key line is on page 18:
And ----
WashingtonExaminer:
Volokh Conspiracy:
I’ve had a chance to read Judge Hudson’s opinion, and it seems to me it has a fairly obvious and quite significant error. Judge Hudson assumes that the power granted to Congress by the Necessary and Proper Clause — “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers” — does not expand Congress’s power beyond the Commerce Clause itself. The key line is on page 18:
If a person’s decision not to purchase health insurance at a particular point in time does not constitute the type of economic activity subject to regulation under the Commerce Clause, then logically an attempt to enforce such provision under the Necessary and Proper Clause is equally offensive to the Constitution.Judge Hudson does not cite any authority for this conclusion: He seems to believe it is required by logic. But it is incorrect. The point of the Necessary and Proper clause is that it grants Congress the power to use means outside the enumerated list of of Article I powers to achieve the ends listed in Article I. If you say, as a matter of “logic” or otherwise, that the Necessary and Proper Clause only permits Congress to regulate using means that are themselves covered by the Commerce Clause, then the Necessary and Proper Clause is rendered a nullity. But that’s not how the Supreme Court has interpreted the Clause, from Chief Justice Marshall onwards. Indeed, as far as I know, not even the most vociferous critics of the mandate have suggested that the Necessary and Proper Clause can be read this way.....
And ----
WashingtonExaminer:
Monday, December 13, 2010
Lots of News
* Oh, my. Looks like a Tea Party sweetheart has been getting some big money.
Boston.com:
Campaign contributions to Senator Scott Brown from the financial industry spiked sharply during a critical three-week period last summer as the fate of the Wall Street regulatory overhaul hung in the balance and Brown used the leverage of his swing vote to win key concessions sought by firms.
From mid-June until the Fourth of July, according to a Globe analysis of his campaign finance reports, the Massachusetts senator took in $140,000 from banks and investment firms and their executives, including companies based in the state, such as MassMutual and State Street Corp. That is 400 percent more than the $28,000 received on average by all Republican senators during the same three weeks.
Boston.com:
Campaign contributions to Senator Scott Brown from the financial industry spiked sharply during a critical three-week period last summer as the fate of the Wall Street regulatory overhaul hung in the balance and Brown used the leverage of his swing vote to win key concessions sought by firms.
From mid-June until the Fourth of July, according to a Globe analysis of his campaign finance reports, the Massachusetts senator took in $140,000 from banks and investment firms and their executives, including companies based in the state, such as MassMutual and State Street Corp. That is 400 percent more than the $28,000 received on average by all Republican senators during the same three weeks.
As the money poured in, Brown and his Senate staff were working both publicly and behind the scenes to scuttle $19 billion in fees on the financial industry that would have paid for part of the regulatory overhaul, and to weaken a provision intended to curb certain types of investment activities by banks and insurance companies....
Looks like those bank contributions helped bankers get what they wanted - courtesy of Sen. Scott Brown.
* The judge who ruled against health care has some very interesting ties.
TPMMuckraker:
Federal judge Henry E. Hudson's ownership of a stake worth between $15,000 and $50,000 in a GOP political consulting firm that worked against health care reform -- the very law against which he ruled today -- raises some ethics questions for some of the nation's top judicial ethics experts. It isn't that Hudson's decision would have necessarily been influenced by his ownership in the company, given his established track record as a judicial conservative. But his ownership stake does create, at the very least, a perception problem for Hudson that could affect the case.
"Is Judge Hudson's status as a shareholder coincidence or causation? Probably the former, but the optics aren't good," James J. Sample, an associate professor at Hofstra Law School, told TPM. "Federal judges are required by statute to disqualify themselves from hearing a case whenever their impartiality might reasonably be questioned. It's a hyper-protective rule and for good reason. At the very least, his continued financial interest in Campaign Solutions undermines the perceived legitimacy of his decision."
The rules are pretty straightforward: if a judge is invested in a company that is a litigant in a case, he or she can't be involved. But in cases where a company owned by a judge has an interest in the outcome of a case but is not a direct litigant, the lines get much more murky....
Isn't that interesting?
CNN:
Richard C. Holbrooke, the high-octane diplomat who spearheaded the end of the Bosnian war and most recently served as the Obama administration's point man in the volatile Afghan-Pakistani war zone, has died, officials said.
The 69-year-old diplomat died Monday at George Washington University Hospital in Washington. He was admitted last Friday after feeling ill. Doctors performed surgery Saturday to repair a tear in his aorta.
One of the world's most recognizable diplomats, Holbrooke's career spanned from the Vietnam War-era to the war against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, coinciding with presidencies of the past five decades, from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama.....
Holbrooke will be missed.
Joseph at Plunderbund has a possible conflict of interest if Mary Taylor leads Commerce:
...who would have thought John Kasich would have the balls to appoint Mary Taylor to head the agency responsible for approving plans, verifying compliance and issuing licenses for the construction industry – knowing full-well that her husband is the CEO of a large Ohio-based construction company.
Even worse, Mary Taylor faced two scandals back in 2006 when she was still a State Rep., both based on her association with her husband’s company Welty Building Co.....
Visit Plunderbund for the details of the scandals.
Looks like those bank contributions helped bankers get what they wanted - courtesy of Sen. Scott Brown.
_________________
TPMMuckraker:
Federal judge Henry E. Hudson's ownership of a stake worth between $15,000 and $50,000 in a GOP political consulting firm that worked against health care reform -- the very law against which he ruled today -- raises some ethics questions for some of the nation's top judicial ethics experts. It isn't that Hudson's decision would have necessarily been influenced by his ownership in the company, given his established track record as a judicial conservative. But his ownership stake does create, at the very least, a perception problem for Hudson that could affect the case.
"Is Judge Hudson's status as a shareholder coincidence or causation? Probably the former, but the optics aren't good," James J. Sample, an associate professor at Hofstra Law School, told TPM. "Federal judges are required by statute to disqualify themselves from hearing a case whenever their impartiality might reasonably be questioned. It's a hyper-protective rule and for good reason. At the very least, his continued financial interest in Campaign Solutions undermines the perceived legitimacy of his decision."
The rules are pretty straightforward: if a judge is invested in a company that is a litigant in a case, he or she can't be involved. But in cases where a company owned by a judge has an interest in the outcome of a case but is not a direct litigant, the lines get much more murky....
Isn't that interesting?
- - - - - - -
* This just in-----CNN:
Richard C. Holbrooke, the high-octane diplomat who spearheaded the end of the Bosnian war and most recently served as the Obama administration's point man in the volatile Afghan-Pakistani war zone, has died, officials said.
The 69-year-old diplomat died Monday at George Washington University Hospital in Washington. He was admitted last Friday after feeling ill. Doctors performed surgery Saturday to repair a tear in his aorta.
One of the world's most recognizable diplomats, Holbrooke's career spanned from the Vietnam War-era to the war against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, coinciding with presidencies of the past five decades, from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama.....
Holbrooke will be missed.
-----------------
>>>> Lt. Gov.-elect Mary Taylor might become the Director of Ohio's Department of Commerce, according to the Plain Dealer. Seems as Kasich has been thinking about the appointment. If she becomes the Director of Commerce, and even if she just remains the Lieutenant Governor, will she spend more time in Columbus instead her "satellite" office near her home?Joseph at Plunderbund has a possible conflict of interest if Mary Taylor leads Commerce:
...who would have thought John Kasich would have the balls to appoint Mary Taylor to head the agency responsible for approving plans, verifying compliance and issuing licenses for the construction industry – knowing full-well that her husband is the CEO of a large Ohio-based construction company.
Even worse, Mary Taylor faced two scandals back in 2006 when she was still a State Rep., both based on her association with her husband’s company Welty Building Co.....
Visit Plunderbund for the details of the scandals.
Just a few things.....
* Carroll County Ohio wants more funding for agricultural education, even though they've had voters reject tax levies to support the programs, according to Cantonrep.com. Instead of looking for citizens to raise their taxes, it might be time to see if a local business, volunteers, a charity, or a wealthy individual is willing to sponsor the 4-H programs and OSU extension services. Since the program serves a small group, those who want it should find a way to provide it.
* Central Ohio was visited by a snowstorm yesterday. We have a few inches on the ground and some wind. My dogs were very confused by the arrival of the snow but now enjoy playing in it.
* WFIN:
Senator Sherrod Brown is seeking funding through U-S Department of Agriculture for restoration of the Seneca County courthouse. The request had previously been approved, but the funds for the Courthouse, and about twenty other Ohio projects were reallocated....
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown has worked diligently to help citizens in Ohio.
The Washington Post has a few things about Boehner this morning.
*** What is the fascination with Sarah Palin's hunting show on TLC? I've only seen a minute of it before I realized she was shooting at a poor animal, and rapidly changed the channel. Yuk!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Watching Sen. Bernie Sanders
I've been watching Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont (on C-SPAN2) as he continues his filibuster against the extension of the Bush tax cuts. Go, Bernie!!!!
Sen. Sanders has been talking about people who are struggling in our nation while others are suggesting that tax cuts are needed for millionaires and billionaires. I agree with Sen. Sanders. Millionaires and billionaires don't need more tax cuts.
Sen. Sanders has been talking about people who are struggling in our nation while others are suggesting that tax cuts are needed for millionaires and billionaires. I agree with Sen. Sanders. Millionaires and billionaires don't need more tax cuts.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Monday, December 06, 2010
Waiting and Watching
Some people are worrying about what happens with the Republicans controlling the House of Representatives. According to the Toledo Blade, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat, has provided earmarks to help the 180th Fighter Wing get some renovations. Colonel Mark Bartman said the following about Kaptur in the Toledo Blade:
...He said of Miss Kaptur, "She has been very pro-180th, very pro-Air National Guard, and very pro-the military."
It seems that others, like Bob Latta and Jim Jordan, have not been as supportive. ( Perhaps Bob Latta should spend more time drafting legislation than playing on his Twitter accounts.) Bob Latta has only had some of his resolutions passed in this Congress. None of his actual bills have passed. Here are some of Latta's resolutions (Library of Congress):
8. H.RES.734 : A resolution expressing support for the goals and ideals of "Constitution Day".
Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 9/10/2009) Cosponsors (61)
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2009 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
9. H.RES.940 : Recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 373rd anniversary.
Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 12/1/2009) Cosponsors (85)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 401 - 0 (Roll no. 934).
These are nice, but it certainly won't create a job. Latta seems to waste a lot of time doing nothing.
...He said of Miss Kaptur, "She has been very pro-180th, very pro-Air National Guard, and very pro-the military."
It seems that others, like Bob Latta and Jim Jordan, have not been as supportive. ( Perhaps Bob Latta should spend more time drafting legislation than playing on his Twitter accounts.) Bob Latta has only had some of his resolutions passed in this Congress. None of his actual bills have passed. Here are some of Latta's resolutions (Library of Congress):
8. H.RES.734 : A resolution expressing support for the goals and ideals of "Constitution Day".
Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 9/10/2009) Cosponsors (61)
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2009 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
9. H.RES.940 : Recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 373rd anniversary.
Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 12/1/2009) Cosponsors (85)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 401 - 0 (Roll no. 934).
These are nice, but it certainly won't create a job. Latta seems to waste a lot of time doing nothing.
Friday, December 03, 2010
What a week!
* I have had a week from hell. First, my elderly mother fell and required surgery. Then, I was in a car accident. I'm fine, but my car will need major reconstruction. I'm thinking of blaming it all on the Republicans.
* The Republicans who are against helping the unemployed really have their priorities screwed up. What do they expect people to do that have no money coming in?
Here is something posted at the Economic Policy Institute that compares tax cuts for the rich vs. unemployment compensation:
.....Increasing the take-home pay of low- and moderate-income families will lead to more spending and a boost in demand for goods and services and, thus, more jobs. By contrast, tax cuts for the wealthy are more likely to be saved, providing a relatively ineffective response.
Economist Mark Zandi of Moody's Analytics estimates that every dollar spent making the Bush income tax cuts permanent generates only 32 cents of economic activity. Comparatively, every dollar spent on unemployment assistance generates $1.61 worth of economic activity, a dollar of spending on infrastructure yields $1.57 and a dollar in assistance to states to prevent layoffs of teachers or first responders yields $1.41. Tax cuts for the wealthy are simply not a good way to stimulate the economy.
A much more economically sound approach to supporting the economy would be to let the tax cuts expire for those at the top of the income scale and to use the revenue to fund more cost-effective job creation policies....
It might be a good idea to send a copy of the article to every single member of Congress. Then again, some of them don't even read legislation.
* Doesn't it just make you absolutely sick that Republicans are concerned about keeping tax rates low for millionaires and billionaires?
Rachel Maddow just explained that the deficit expanded by 186% under Reaganomics (aka "Trickle Down Economics" aka "Voodoo Economics").
* The headline in today's Dispatch shows how incredibly out of touch Sen. John McCain is:
Someone should wake up McCain and explain to him that gays have served and are serving right now in our military.
* The Republicans who are against helping the unemployed really have their priorities screwed up. What do they expect people to do that have no money coming in?
Here is something posted at the Economic Policy Institute that compares tax cuts for the rich vs. unemployment compensation:
.....Increasing the take-home pay of low- and moderate-income families will lead to more spending and a boost in demand for goods and services and, thus, more jobs. By contrast, tax cuts for the wealthy are more likely to be saved, providing a relatively ineffective response.
Economist Mark Zandi of Moody's Analytics estimates that every dollar spent making the Bush income tax cuts permanent generates only 32 cents of economic activity. Comparatively, every dollar spent on unemployment assistance generates $1.61 worth of economic activity, a dollar of spending on infrastructure yields $1.57 and a dollar in assistance to states to prevent layoffs of teachers or first responders yields $1.41. Tax cuts for the wealthy are simply not a good way to stimulate the economy.
A much more economically sound approach to supporting the economy would be to let the tax cuts expire for those at the top of the income scale and to use the revenue to fund more cost-effective job creation policies....
It might be a good idea to send a copy of the article to every single member of Congress. Then again, some of them don't even read legislation.
* Doesn't it just make you absolutely sick that Republicans are concerned about keeping tax rates low for millionaires and billionaires?
Rachel Maddow just explained that the deficit expanded by 186% under Reaganomics (aka "Trickle Down Economics" aka "Voodoo Economics").
* The headline in today's Dispatch shows how incredibly out of touch Sen. John McCain is:
"McCain: Keep gays out"
Someone should wake up McCain and explain to him that gays have served and are serving right now in our military.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
McCain - Old, Crabby, Wrong
How is it that Republican Sen. John McCain seems to be wrong about nearly everything? McCain has found yet another reason to stop the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). McCain has a habit of voicing an objection at ever hearing when DADT has been discussed. Here is another example of McCain's latest from the SunHerald:
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
The More We Fund Oil......
Rep. Bob Latta (OH-5th) continues to post to his Twitter accounts and other social network sites. Does this guy have time to talk to the thousands of unemployed in his district? Where are the jobs, Mr. Latta?
Latta is part of the "Stone Age 5" because of his views on climate change:
The Stone Agers:
The more we fund oil and dirty energy, the more we fund terrorist organizations and groups that would do us harm. For more info, see EnvironmentOhio.
Latta is part of the "Stone Age 5" because of his views on climate change:
The Stone Agers:
The more we fund oil and dirty energy, the more we fund terrorist organizations and groups that would do us harm. For more info, see EnvironmentOhio.
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