* Be on the lookout for Keith Olbermann's announcement about his plans for the future.
Examiner has some hints.
* Looks like the Republican lawmakers in the Ohio legislature are looking at ways to increase calamity days.
10TV.com:
....State lawmakers were expected to begin debating a bill on Tuesday that would increase the number of calamity days for Ohio school districts.
Expanding the number of calamity days would provide relief for many districts -- including many in central Ohio -- that have already exhausted their three-day allotment, 10TV's Shayla Reaves reported.
Prior to this year, districts were allowed five calamity days, but that number was reduced to three under former Gov. Ted Strickland....
Gov. Strickland's plan was to increase instructional days. Kasich, who seems more influenced by the demands of his daughters, doesn't understand how the use of calamity days disrupts learning.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Monday, February 07, 2011
Interview Interruptus
Bill O'Reilly is an *ss. I know you already knew that. O'Reilly interrupted President Obama
43 times during his interview with the President. Shame on Bill O'Reilly.
43 times during his interview with the President. Shame on Bill O'Reilly.
Friday, February 04, 2011
What about the cost of Kasich's security?
* I'm disappointed that WCMH Channel 4 in Columbus, did an "investigation" into the the amount of money spent on security for Mayor Michael Coleman, mayor of Columbus. It is amazing that they wasted their time on such a silly investigation when Gov. John Kasich, refused to live in the Governor's Mansion and now requires extra support from the Ohio Highway Patrol, a massive increase to the Patrol's budget to provide security personnel and protection for his private residence. Why was Channel 4 reluctant to investigate Kasich's security costs?
* George Will, conservative columnist, has a piece in the Washington Post today about Kasich. According to Will, Kasich is looking for a fight with teachers, unions, and nursing homes.
WashingtonPost:
.....With Republicans controlling all statewide elected offices (except one Supreme Court seat) and both houses of the General Assembly, Kasich is spoiling for some fights. One will be with the nursing home industry, which will resist state attempts to save money by helping the elderly stay at home. And there will be a brawl with the teachers union over school voucher programs, charter schools and narrowing the topics - e.g., class sizes - that can be subjects of collective bargaining. He is prepared to threaten a state takeover of failing school systems and is proud that Michelle Rhee, who was constructively confrontational when running the District of Columbia's schools, is from Toledo....
Will failed to mention anything about Kasich lack of diversity in his administration. I guess conservatives don't put any importance on things like diversity, being inclusive, and hearing the opinions of everyone.
* George Will, conservative columnist, has a piece in the Washington Post today about Kasich. According to Will, Kasich is looking for a fight with teachers, unions, and nursing homes.
WashingtonPost:
.....With Republicans controlling all statewide elected offices (except one Supreme Court seat) and both houses of the General Assembly, Kasich is spoiling for some fights. One will be with the nursing home industry, which will resist state attempts to save money by helping the elderly stay at home. And there will be a brawl with the teachers union over school voucher programs, charter schools and narrowing the topics - e.g., class sizes - that can be subjects of collective bargaining. He is prepared to threaten a state takeover of failing school systems and is proud that Michelle Rhee, who was constructively confrontational when running the District of Columbia's schools, is from Toledo....
Will failed to mention anything about Kasich lack of diversity in his administration. I guess conservatives don't put any importance on things like diversity, being inclusive, and hearing the opinions of everyone.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Republican Shutdown Would Hurt Vets
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.
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.
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/
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