You Won't Believe These Suez Canal Conspiracies
3 years ago
Friday, November 30, 2012
social security call in day
The National Committee is joining advocates across the nation in a Congressional Call-In day on Wednesday, December 5th. Our goal is to flood Congress with calls reminding them that Americans of all ages and political parties do not support cutting middle-class benefits to pay for deficit reduction. Let’s shutdown the Capitol switchboard with thousands of calls delivering one simple message!
NO CUTS to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
The threat to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid during this Lame Duck Congress is as serious as any time in these programs’ long and successful histories. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid do not belong in this deficit debate and we must urge Congress to take these programs off the table.
Making your call couldn’t be easier. Just dial NCPSSM’s Legislative Hotline and you’ll be directed to your Congressional leaders from one toll-free number:
NCPSSM CONGRESSIONAL CALL IN DAY
(800) 998-0180
Send this email to 5 of your friends and tell them One Minute, One Call can make the difference in the fight to preserve America’s vital retirement and health security programs.
puttisng pressure on fearless leaders--r maddow--11-29
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wal-Mart, Disney, Sears used Bangladesh factory in fire
Wal-Mart, Disney, Sears used Bangladesh factory in fire:
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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A hooded Mickey Mouse sweatshirt from Disney. Piles of children's shorts with Wal-Mart's Faded Glory label. Clothes with hip-hop star Sean Combs' ENYCE tag.
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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A hooded Mickey Mouse sweatshirt from Disney. Piles of children's shorts with Wal-Mart's Faded Glory label. Clothes with hip-hop star Sean Combs' ENYCE tag.
The garment factory in Bangladesh where 112 people were killed in a fire over the weekend was used by a host of major U.S. and European retailers, an Associated Press reporter discovered Wednesday from clothes and account books left behind amid the blackened tables and melted sewing machines at Tazreen Fashions Ltd.
Wal-Mart had been aware of safety problems at the factory and said it had decided well before the blaze to stop doing business with it. But it said a supplier had continued to use Tazreen without authorization.
Sears, likewise, said its merchandise was being produced there without its approval through a vendor, which has since been fired. The Walt Disney Co. said its records indicate that none of its licensees have been permitted to make Disney-brand products at the factory for at least a year.
Alliance for Retired Americans--social security, medicare
Alliance for Retired Americans
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Please send a message to Congress asking to protect the guarantees of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid!
Time is short. Politicians and special interests are demanding that the deficit be reduced dramatically – paid for by deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – to guarantee more big tax breaks for the wealthy and Wall Street. We need to protect what we've earned.
Take action now and send a message to your U.S. Representative and Senators.
click link
Please send a message to Congress asking to protect the guarantees of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid!
Time is short. Politicians and special interests are demanding that the deficit be reduced dramatically – paid for by deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – to guarantee more big tax breaks for the wealthy and Wall Street. We need to protect what we've earned.
Take action now and send a message to your U.S. Representative and Senators.
gop mistruths economy--ed show
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Garment factory fire kills scores in Bangladesh - BANGLADESH - FRANCE 24
Garment factory fire kills scores in Bangladesh - BANGLADESH - FRANCE 24:
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The Tuba Group is a major Bangladeshi garment exporter whose clients also include Carrefour and IKEA, according to its website. Its factories export garments to the U.S., Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, among other countries. The Tazreen factory, which opened in 2009 and employed about 1,700 people, made polo shirts, fleece jackets and T-shirts.
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The Tuba Group is a major Bangladeshi garment exporter whose clients also include Carrefour and IKEA, according to its website. Its factories export garments to the U.S., Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, among other countries. The Tazreen factory, which opened in 2009 and employed about 1,700 people, made polo shirts, fleece jackets and T-shirts.
Bangladesh has some 4,000 garment factories, many without proper safety measures. The country annually earns about $20 billion from exports of garment products, mainly to the U.S. and Europe.
In its 2012 Global Responsibility report, Wal-Mart said that “fire safety continues to be a key focus for brands and retailers sourcing from Bangladesh.” Wal-Mart said it ceased working with 49 factories in Bangladesh in 2011 because of fire safety issues, and was working with its supplier factories to phase out production from buildings deemed high risk.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Fiscal cliff villains are just the usual suspects - krugman
Fiscal cliff villains are just the usual suspects - IV Drip - Voices - The Independent:
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Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, writes probably the most influential economics column and blog in America - and therefore the world. His Monday scribble is usually a reliable and thumping diatribe against Republicans such as Grover Norquist who, ahead of negotiations over the fiscal cliff, produce familiar and familiarly wrong arguments about how to take America's economy forward. In today's column, Krugman slaps the "phantom menace" of America's deficit. Here's a flavour:
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Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, writes probably the most influential economics column and blog in America - and therefore the world. His Monday scribble is usually a reliable and thumping diatribe against Republicans such as Grover Norquist who, ahead of negotiations over the fiscal cliff, produce familiar and familiarly wrong arguments about how to take America's economy forward. In today's column, Krugman slaps the "phantom menace" of America's deficit. Here's a flavour:
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Papes: For employees, Hostess’ deal is far from sweet | BlueRidgeNow.com
Papes: For employees, Hostess’ deal is far from sweet | BlueRidgeNow.com:
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As many have heard, Hostess Brands, the producer of such products as Twinkies and Wonder Bread, indicated recently that it’s asking a federal bankruptcy court for permission to close its operations, blaming a strike by bakers protesting a new contract imposed on them.
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As many have heard, Hostess Brands, the producer of such products as Twinkies and Wonder Bread, indicated recently that it’s asking a federal bankruptcy court for permission to close its operations, blaming a strike by bakers protesting a new contract imposed on them.
According to CNN, Hostess’ nearly 18,500 workers will lose their jobs as the company shutters 33 bakeries and 565 distribution centers nationwide, as well as 570 outlet stores. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union represent about 5,000 Hostess employees. The union had gone on strike to protest the company’s proposed pay cuts and other concessions, which were opposed by the union’s membership.
The CEO of Hostess Brands said, “We deeply regret the necessity of the decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike.” Hostess plans to sell its assets to the highest bidder. That could mean new life for some of its most popular products, which could be bought at auction.
A letter that Hostess sent to its network of stores said it expects “there will be great interest in our brands.” The letter said it could not give a time frame for when the sales would take place and when its products would be available again. But even if those brands are bought and restarted, the sad news is that Hostess workers probably won’t get their jobs back.
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judge on bankrupt court--make sure ceo gets his golden parachute with the millions while taxpayers pay for looted pension funds and employee benefits
Wal-Mart's Black Friday 2012 | Occupy America
Wal-Mart's Black Friday 2012 | Occupy America:
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several vids. fights, madness and more
here is one:
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several vids. fights, madness and more
here is one:
Friday, November 23, 2012
Why Black Friday strikes against Walmart matter
Why Black Friday strikes against Walmart matter:
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With Walmart executives on edge because of the planned walkouts on Black Friday, company spokesman David Tovar told CBS News Monday night that there “could be consequences” for workers who stay off the job on Black Friday.
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With Walmart executives on edge because of the planned walkouts on Black Friday, company spokesman David Tovar told CBS News Monday night that there “could be consequences” for workers who stay off the job on Black Friday.
That’s why it’s so important for all of us to show Walmart that we have these workers’ backs. And the outpouring of support so far has been huge.
Scattered Walmart strikes don't dent Black Friday bottom line | Nation/world Business | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Scattered Walmart strikes don't dent Black Friday bottom line | Nation/world Business | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
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Scattered strikes and protests by Walmart workers and their supporters in at least nine states may have scored symbolic points Friday by taking on the retail giant head-on, but apparently they did little to keep shoppers away as the company quickly claimed its best Black Friday ever.
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Scattered strikes and protests by Walmart workers and their supporters in at least nine states may have scored symbolic points Friday by taking on the retail giant head-on, but apparently they did little to keep shoppers away as the company quickly claimed its best Black Friday ever.
The company said in a statement Friday morning that its stores rang up almost 10 million transactions from the time doors opened for Black Friday shoppers at 8 p.m. Thursday until midnight, or about 5,000 items per second.
CEO
Bill Simon said in a statement that there were only 26 protests at stores Thursday night, "and many of them did not include any Walmart associates."
Bill Simon said in a statement that there were only 26 protests at stores Thursday night, "and many of them did not include any Walmart associates."-------
several thousand supporters of the strike did not black friday shop at walmarts
Walmart's Black Friday: Striking Workers, Massive Lines, Mobile 'Showroomers'
Walmart's Black Friday: Striking Workers, Massive Lines, Mobile 'Showroomers':
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The retailer released a time-lapse video, above, showing customers shopping last night in a "free-for-all" at stores in Homosassa, Fla., New Smryna, Fla., and Lake City, S.C. between 6pm-Midnight, EST, on Thanksgiving Day. According to reports, across the US some striking workers refused to go on duty on Thanksgiving evening as the company released guidelines for how to avoid any ugliness and keep the peace. Walmart.com president and CEO Joel Anderson alsotells Wired he welcomes "showrooming" this Black Friday — customers taking out their smartphones to compare prices.
working overtime to stick it to the strikers. sounds familar
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The retailer released a time-lapse video, above, showing customers shopping last night in a "free-for-all" at stores in Homosassa, Fla., New Smryna, Fla., and Lake City, S.C. between 6pm-Midnight, EST, on Thanksgiving Day. According to reports, across the US some striking workers refused to go on duty on Thanksgiving evening as the company released guidelines for how to avoid any ugliness and keep the peace. Walmart.com president and CEO Joel Anderson alsotells Wired he welcomes "showrooming" this Black Friday — customers taking out their smartphones to compare prices.
Overseas, meanwhile, the company's not concerned about retail crush but the renewed specter of bribery allegations, which slammed its Mexico business in April — this time Walmart's India joint venture with Bharti, which has just suspended its CFO and others over bribery allegations.
----working overtime to stick it to the strikers. sounds familar
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Red Nightmare - 1962 - Communist takeover of America
with elections over, some fear we are at socialist state
from site I borrowed this.
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This film was produced by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1962. Host Jack Webb warns Americans what it would be like under communism and that their responsibility to see that it doesn't slide in that direction is a privilege.
In the film, an ordinary American family is featured, and then it is contrasted with what that family would be like if America were living under communism.
Take a look at many of the recent changes that have been happening in the United States government in recent years -- especially the many programs of the Department of Homeland Security. Could America morphing into the very thing about which Jack Webb was warning folks in the early 1950's?
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Walmart Workers Promise Strike on Black Friday
alas, I do no shopping at this store nor does most of the folks at soar 11-3
Friday, November 16, 2012
China's new leaders paint a picture of totalitarian banality | Jonathan Jones | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
China's new leaders paint a picture of totalitarian banality | Jonathan Jones | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk:
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The newly chosen leader Xi Jinping, in the centre of the row of sombre men, is introducing his government team in a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. As well as identical suits, they all wear red tiesexcept Wang Qishan, at the far right, who sports an individualistically blue tie. I'm worried about him. But as he is taking on the job of "discipline", he will probably be all right.
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The newly chosen leader Xi Jinping, in the centre of the row of sombre men, is introducing his government team in a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. As well as identical suits, they all wear red tiesexcept Wang Qishan, at the far right, who sports an individualistically blue tie. I'm worried about him. But as he is taking on the job of "discipline", he will probably be all right.
Politically incorrect? Anti-China? Come on. This picture is funny. It is bizarre because it so casually refuses to play any game of western-style PR or political spin. You have to hand it to the Communist party of China – it is honest. This photograph reveals a regime with no interest in pretending to be any more democratic than it is. The message it sends out is, don't even think about democracy in China: we are so remote from that path, we don't even contemplate pretending to consider faking it.
Presumably this is political wisdom. The moment Mikhail Gorbachev started to make noises about reform in the USSR people demanded real change, real rights, and the entire Soviet system was finished. One lesson of Russian history is that no reformist path actually exists for a Communist party that has brutally controlled a society for a long time. To soften is to invite revolution. Behind that wan painting of misty mountains, millions of lives long for self-expression. Give them a millimetre and they would take revenge.
Paul Krugman: Life, death and deficits - San Jose Mercury News
Paul Krugman: Life, death and deficits - San Jose Mercury News:
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America's political landscape is infested with many zombie ideas -- beliefs about policy that have been repeatedly refuted with evidence and analysis but refuse to die. The most prominent zombie is the insistence that low taxes on rich people are the key to prosperity. But there are others.
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America's political landscape is infested with many zombie ideas -- beliefs about policy that have been repeatedly refuted with evidence and analysis but refuse to die. The most prominent zombie is the insistence that low taxes on rich people are the key to prosperity. But there are others.
And right now the most dangerous zombie is probably the claim that rising life expectancy justifies a rise in both the Social Security retirement age and the age of eligibility for Medicare. Even some Democrats -- including, according to reports, the president -- have seemed susceptible to this argument. But it's a cruel, foolish idea -- cruel in the case of Social Security, foolish in the case of Medicare -- and we shouldn't let it eat our brains.
First of all, you need to understand that while life expectancy at birth has gone up a lot, that's not relevant to this issue; what matters is life expectancy for those at or near retirement age. When, to take one example, Alan Simpson -- the co-chairman of President Barack Obama's deficit commission -- declared that Social Security was "never intended as a retirement program" because life expectancy when it was founded was only 63, he was displaying his ignorance. Even in 1940, Americans who made it to age 65 generally had many years left.
Now, life expectancy at age 65 has ris
Romney Supporter Murray Energy Lays Off 100+ Workers "Because of Obama"
this guy is not the only one
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Tell Congress: No Benefit Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
note: I already both called and e-mailed the politicos
both senators gave vague remarks (staffers)
take note: cut these programs and face some serious wrath next election time. folks in Missouri have long memories
perhaps our votes and couple bucks make no difference
BP faces arrests, $5B fine in oil spill settlement
BP faces arrests, $5B fine in oil spill settlement:
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10:01AM EST November 15. 2012 -
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10:01AM EST November 15. 2012 -
The British oil company BP faces fines up to $5 billion and the arrest of some staff members on criminal charges under a deal with U.S. agencies over the Gulf of Mexico well blowout two years ago, according to a source familiar with the case.
A formal announcement of a deal was expected later Thursday.
There have been various media reports on the terms of the settlement. The Associated Press, quoting a person familiar with the deal, as saying two BP staff members would face manslaughter charges over the 2010 blowout that killed 11 people and poured oil into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days.
The BBC reported that up to four BP employees couldface arrest as part of an agreement that would settle criminal and other claims with the U.S. government.
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I think far too few going to jail. after all, they did kill several workers as well as create disaster.
yes, killing workers should be criminal homicide
Labor leaders reaffirm tax position with Obama
Labor leaders reaffirm tax position with Obama:
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"We are very, very committed so that the middle class and workers don't end up paying the tab for a party we didn't get to go to, and the president is committed to that as well," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Participants in the meeting also voiced their fierce opposition to raising the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security, he said.
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"We are very, very committed so that the middle class and workers don't end up paying the tab for a party we didn't get to go to, and the president is committed to that as well," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Participants in the meeting also voiced their fierce opposition to raising the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security, he said.
The hour-long meeting included officials from the activist group MoveOn.org, the union AFSCME, the woman's group AAUW and the liberal think-tank Center for American Progress. All were active in Obama's re-election effort, and Obama could call on them for help as he makes his case to the American people for his "balanced" approach to cutting the country's yawning deficit problem.
"We won the election, but we're going into another campaign now," AFSCME President Lee Saunders said after the meeting.
Obama is scheduled to meet with 12 business executives Wednesday and is likely to meet with congressional leaders from both parties Friday to discuss the looming fiscal crisis.
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yes, some of are ready for new campaign. cut medicare, soocial security; democrats lose much of their base. that I can gurantee
Fiscal Cliff: Richard Trumka, Head Of AFL-CIO, Calls Out 'Manufactured Crisis'
Fiscal Cliff: Richard Trumka, Head Of AFL-CIO, Calls Out 'Manufactured Crisis':
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WASHINGTON -- Digging in for the looming battle over deficit-reduction, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will make organized labor's case Thursday against cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, declaring the doomsday debt talk in Washington a "manufactured crisis."
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WASHINGTON -- Digging in for the looming battle over deficit-reduction, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will make organized labor's case Thursday against cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, declaring the doomsday debt talk in Washington a "manufactured crisis."
"There is no fiscal cliff," Trumka says in prepared remarks to the National Mediation Board Conference in Washington on Thursday. "What we’re facing is an obstacle course within a manufactured crisis that was hastily thrown together in response to inflated rhetoric about our federal deficit."
Democrats and Republicans are headed to the bargaining table to address the so-called fiscal cliff that Trumka alludes to -- the point after the New Year when painful automatic cuts hit the federal budget, unless legislators can find other ways to reduce the $16 trillion debt. Negotiations last year indicated that Democrats are open to cutting social programs that liberals have long considered sacrosanct, as well as trimming programs that aid the poor and elderly.
President Barack Obama met with labor leaders, including Trumka, on Tuesday, assuring them he was committed to letting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire. But organized labor is just as concerned about social insurance programs. The failed "grand bargain" nearly struck by Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) last year reportedly included cuts to Medicare and Social Security.
Trumka told HuffPost last week that the AFL-CIO, a federation of unions representing 11 million workers, will not support any deal including such cuts. "The voters yesterday rejected that notion soundly," he said the morning after the election. "The answer is, if it includes benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, we'll oppose it."
Mitt: Obama bribed voters
Mitt: Obama bribed voters
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In a call with his disappointed donors Mitt Romney attributed his election loss to “gifts” President Barack Obama gave to important constituencies like young and African American voters. The Los Angeles Times reported:
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In a call with his disappointed donors Mitt Romney attributed his election loss to “gifts” President Barack Obama gave to important constituencies like young and African American voters. The Los Angeles Times reported:
Obama, Romney argued, had been “very generous” to blacks, Hispanics and young voters. He cited as motivating factors to young voters the administration’s plan for partial forgiveness of college loan interest and the extension of health coverage for students on their parents’ insurance plans well into their 20s. Free contraception coverage under Obama’s healthcare plan, he added, gave an extra incentive to college-aged women to back the president.
Romney argued that the Obama’s health care plan’s promise of coverage “in perpetuity” was “highly motivational” to those voters making $25,000 to $35,000 who might not have been covered, as well as to African American and Hispanic voters. Pivoting to immigration, Romney said the Obama campaign’s efforts to paint him as “anti-immigrant” had been effective and that the administration’s promise to offer what he called “amnesty” to the children of illegal immigrants had helped turn out Hispanic voters in record numbers.
The sore losers club
The sore losers club
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Sometimes, losing national candidates actually manage to enhance their reputations in defeat. The most famous example of this is probably Bob Dole, who growled his way through the 1996 campaign but then turned in a winning performance on David Letterman’s “Late Show” a few days after the election, giving rise to something of a post-political career as a humorist. Al Gore knows something about this too; his concession of the 2000 election earned him respect that had eluded him throughout that campaign.
Based on their conduct since last week’s election, though, it’s safe to say that the two most recent national losers won’t be joining this company anytime soon.
Mitt Romney has been publicly quiet since his brief remarks on Election Night, but he told his top donors on a conference call yesterday that Barack Obama had won by giving “very generous” freebies to key constituencies, including blacks, Hispanics and young people.
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Sometimes, losing national candidates actually manage to enhance their reputations in defeat. The most famous example of this is probably Bob Dole, who growled his way through the 1996 campaign but then turned in a winning performance on David Letterman’s “Late Show” a few days after the election, giving rise to something of a post-political career as a humorist. Al Gore knows something about this too; his concession of the 2000 election earned him respect that had eluded him throughout that campaign.
Based on their conduct since last week’s election, though, it’s safe to say that the two most recent national losers won’t be joining this company anytime soon.
Mitt Romney has been publicly quiet since his brief remarks on Election Night, but he told his top donors on a conference call yesterday that Barack Obama had won by giving “very generous” freebies to key constituencies, including blacks, Hispanics and young people.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
leo gerard on ed show economy 11-12
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Monday, November 12, 2012
How Bill Kristol could split the GOP in two
How Bill Kristol could split the GOP in two
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The biggest news on Sunday was Bill Kristol’s declaration on “Fox News Sunday” that Republicans should give in on President Obama’s demand that tax rates go up on income over $250,000 as part of any fiscal “cliff” deal.
“It won’t kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires,” he said. “It really won’t, I don’t think. I don’t really understand why Republicans don’t take Obama’s offer.”
As Alex Seitz-Wald explained yesterday, this is a potentially huge development. For more than two decades now, the Republican Party has been absolutely, unanimously opposed to income tax hikes. This might just be Kristol speaking for Kristol and no one else, but if his words signal – or trigger – an actual shift within the party, the policy consequences will be serious. It could also set off an intraparty civil war.
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The biggest news on Sunday was Bill Kristol’s declaration on “Fox News Sunday” that Republicans should give in on President Obama’s demand that tax rates go up on income over $250,000 as part of any fiscal “cliff” deal.
“It won’t kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires,” he said. “It really won’t, I don’t think. I don’t really understand why Republicans don’t take Obama’s offer.”
As Alex Seitz-Wald explained yesterday, this is a potentially huge development. For more than two decades now, the Republican Party has been absolutely, unanimously opposed to income tax hikes. This might just be Kristol speaking for Kristol and no one else, but if his words signal – or trigger – an actual shift within the party, the policy consequences will be serious. It could also set off an intraparty civil war.
Wall Street CEO Gets $6.7 Million Payout After Crashing His Company | NationofChange
Wall Street CEO Gets $6.7 Million Payout After Crashing His Company | NationofChange:
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Citigroup said Friday that the former CEO, who resigned last month in a management shakeup, will receive an “incentive award” of $6.7 million for his work at the bank this year.Former president and chief operating officer John Havens, who stepped down along with Pandit, is getting $6.8 million, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Citigroup said Friday that the former CEO, who resigned last month in a management shakeup, will receive an “incentive award” of $6.7 million for his work at the bank this year.Former president and chief operating officer John Havens, who stepped down along with Pandit, is getting $6.8 million, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The two men will also continue collecting deferred cash and stock compensation from last year, awards valued at $8.8 million for Pandit and $8.7 million for Havens.
Education Matters | Fired Up! Missouri
Education Matters | Fired Up! Missouri:
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compare to election results:
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compare to election results:
Happy Place: "Apparently this election was not only divided along racial and financial lines, but on intelligence lines as well. Our favorite thing about this graphic is that the data Kenny used came from Fox Business, so if you're a Romney voter, this is basically Neil Cavuto accidentally calling you an idiot. Of course, Nevada voted for Obama despite being one of the least educated states, but we can probably chalk that up to the fact that he was the safest bet."
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Paul Krugman: Let's not make a deal - San Jose Mercury News
Paul Krugman: Let's not make a deal - San Jose Mercury News:
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Obama essentially surrendered in the face of similar tactics at the end of 2010, extending low taxes on the rich for two more years. He made significant concessions again in 2011, when Republicans threatened to create financial chaos by refusing to raise the debt ceiling. And the current potential crisis is the legacy of those past concessions.
Well, this has to stop -- unless we want hostage-taking, the threat of making the nation ungovernable, to become a standard part of our political process.
So what should he do? Just say no and go over the cliff if necessary.
It's worth pointing out that the fiscal cliff isn't really a cliff. It's not like the debt-ceiling confrontation, where terrible things might well have happened right away if the deadline had been missed. This time, nothing very bad will happen to the economy if agreement isn't reached until a few weeks or even a few months into 2013. So there's time to bargain.
More important, however, is the point that a stalemate would hurt Republican backers, corporate donors in particular, every bit as much as it hurt the rest of the country. As the risk of severe economic damage grew, Republicans would face intense pressure to cut a deal after all.
Meanwhile, the president is in a far stronger position than in previous confrontations. I don't place much stock in talk of "mandates," but Obama did win re-election with a populist campaign, so he can plausibly claim that Republicans are defying the will of the American people. And he just won his big election and is, therefore, far better placed than before to weather any political blowback from economic troubles -- especially when it would be so obvious that these troubles were being deliberately inflicted by the GOP in a last-ditch attempt to defend the privileges of the 1 percent.
Most of all, standing up to hostage-taking is the right thing to do for the health of America's political system.
So stand your ground, Mr. President, and don't give in to threats. No deal is better than a bad deal.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
A Look at Capitalism (1955)
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alas, most Americans do not know what capitalism really means, nor socialism, communism of even the constitution.
shocking lack of knowledge of civics in almost every area of the land
How to get ready for 2016
How to get ready for 2016
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So, if change within the parties is relatively easy, what can you do? Here are six suggestions:
1. Pick a presidential candidate soon, and start supporting her or him right away. OK, this is probably the weakest one, but I still have to include it. If your candidate of choice is not running yet, make a draft-the-candidate Web page, and spread the word using whatever tools you have. No, it’s not too early. Many candidates have already started running or are deciding soon what to do; it’s hard to be sure, but there’s a fair chance that Mitt Romney probably sewed up his nomination by the 2010 midterms. Party actors get involved now, not in 2016.
2. Begin planning to push the 2016 candidates to commit on an issue you care about. Have an issue that you believe your party was wrong about, or one where your party just didn’t take a visible stand? Start planning – now – to change that. Find out who else cares about the issue — there’s probably already an organized group around it; if not, get one started yourself. There’s a long history of ordinary citizens forming their own groups to promote an issue and succeeding brilliantly.
3. Don’t wait for 2016: Congress matters, and the next round of House and Senate primary elections begins in about 16 months. -----------
note: save lots of money in case the need to relocate--not on list
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So, if change within the parties is relatively easy, what can you do? Here are six suggestions:
1. Pick a presidential candidate soon, and start supporting her or him right away. OK, this is probably the weakest one, but I still have to include it. If your candidate of choice is not running yet, make a draft-the-candidate Web page, and spread the word using whatever tools you have. No, it’s not too early. Many candidates have already started running or are deciding soon what to do; it’s hard to be sure, but there’s a fair chance that Mitt Romney probably sewed up his nomination by the 2010 midterms. Party actors get involved now, not in 2016.
2. Begin planning to push the 2016 candidates to commit on an issue you care about. Have an issue that you believe your party was wrong about, or one where your party just didn’t take a visible stand? Start planning – now – to change that. Find out who else cares about the issue — there’s probably already an organized group around it; if not, get one started yourself. There’s a long history of ordinary citizens forming their own groups to promote an issue and succeeding brilliantly.
3. Don’t wait for 2016: Congress matters, and the next round of House and Senate primary elections begins in about 16 months. -----------
note: save lots of money in case the need to relocate--not on list
Friday, November 9, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Obama, GOP leaders lay down markers on budget deal : Stltoday
Obama, GOP leaders lay down markers on budget deal : Stltoday
click link
snip
Taking little time to celebrate, President Barack Obama is setting out to leverage his re-election into legislative success in an upcoming showdown with congressional Republicans over taxes, deficits and the impending "fiscal cliff." House Speaker John Boehner says Republicans are willing to consider some form of higher tax revenue as part of the solution _ but only "under the right conditions."
All sides are setting out opening arguments for the negotiations to come.
Even before returning to Washington from his hometown of Chicago, Obama was on the phone Wednesday with the four top leaders of the House and Senate _ Boehner included _ to talk about the lame-duck Congress that convenes just one week after Election Day.
Without a budget deal to head off the fiscal showdown, the nation faces a combination of expiring Bush-era tax cuts and steep across-the-board spending cuts that could total $800 billion next year. Economists have warned that could tip the nation back into recession
========
make a deal cutting social security. medicare, medicaid and watch impending war with old folks and a few other groups in the land
click link
snip
Taking little time to celebrate, President Barack Obama is setting out to leverage his re-election into legislative success in an upcoming showdown with congressional Republicans over taxes, deficits and the impending "fiscal cliff." House Speaker John Boehner says Republicans are willing to consider some form of higher tax revenue as part of the solution _ but only "under the right conditions."
All sides are setting out opening arguments for the negotiations to come.
Even before returning to Washington from his hometown of Chicago, Obama was on the phone Wednesday with the four top leaders of the House and Senate _ Boehner included _ to talk about the lame-duck Congress that convenes just one week after Election Day.
Without a budget deal to head off the fiscal showdown, the nation faces a combination of expiring Bush-era tax cuts and steep across-the-board spending cuts that could total $800 billion next year. Economists have warned that could tip the nation back into recession
========
make a deal cutting social security. medicare, medicaid and watch impending war with old folks and a few other groups in the land
Dana Milbank: The defeat of the 1 percent : Stltoday
Dana Milbank: The defeat of the 1 percent : Stltoday
click link
snip
"Romney would have to draw to an inside straight" at this point, pronounced Brit Hume, who predicted "an awful lot of recriminations."
Some attendees headed to the coat check. "I have a son who has a test tomorrow," one woman explained. "It literally hurts my soul," one man said as he walked toward the exit. Others lamented their wasted labors ("We did so much for him") and fretted about a second Obama term ("I don't want him to feel like he has a (expletive) mandate").
Romney had spent nearly two years, and hundreds of millions of dollars, trying to convince Americans that he wasn't an out-of-touch millionaire unconcerned about the little people — that he was more than a caricature who liked to fire people, who didn't care about the very poor or the 47 percent who pay no federal income tax, who has friends who own NASCAR teams.
He very nearly achieved it: Polls showed him neck-and-neck with Obama in the campaign's closing days. But his final day in the race showed why he couldn't persuade enough working-class Americans that he spoke for them.
On the final flight of his campaign Tuesday afternoon, Romney ventured to the back of his plane for a chat with reporters and discovered that — horrors! — the poor wretches were seated in coach.
"I thought you had bigger seats back here," he told the
---------
opinion: little early to discount the top dogs of the nation
click link
snip
"Romney would have to draw to an inside straight" at this point, pronounced Brit Hume, who predicted "an awful lot of recriminations."
Some attendees headed to the coat check. "I have a son who has a test tomorrow," one woman explained. "It literally hurts my soul," one man said as he walked toward the exit. Others lamented their wasted labors ("We did so much for him") and fretted about a second Obama term ("I don't want him to feel like he has a (expletive) mandate").
Romney had spent nearly two years, and hundreds of millions of dollars, trying to convince Americans that he wasn't an out-of-touch millionaire unconcerned about the little people — that he was more than a caricature who liked to fire people, who didn't care about the very poor or the 47 percent who pay no federal income tax, who has friends who own NASCAR teams.
He very nearly achieved it: Polls showed him neck-and-neck with Obama in the campaign's closing days. But his final day in the race showed why he couldn't persuade enough working-class Americans that he spoke for them.
On the final flight of his campaign Tuesday afternoon, Romney ventured to the back of his plane for a chat with reporters and discovered that — horrors! — the poor wretches were seated in coach.
"I thought you had bigger seats back here," he told the
---------
opinion: little early to discount the top dogs of the nation
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
ed show post election leo gerard of usw comments
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
st louis voting--ward six
voting, st. louis--ward 6, was fast and painless. less than 20 minutes including doing an exit poll
suggest all folks fill out exit poll
my thanks to workers doing bang up job.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Monday update: Nate Silver improves Obama’s odds again
Monday update: Nate Silver improves Obama’s odds again
click link
snip
President Obama’s supporters can feel 1 percent better this morning.
Influential numbers-cruncher Nate Silver pushed Obama’s chances of being re-elected up to 86.3 percent this morning on his New York Times blog fivethirtyeight. That’s up from 85.1 percent on Sunday.
It’s also the best number Obama has scored in Silver’s model — which weighs state and national polls in a complex formula that also takes into account accuracy and historical performance — since he climbed to 87 percent prior to his sleepy performance in the first debate in Denver.
Silver also added to Obama’s likely number of electoral votes on Monday. He now sees the president winning 307.2 to 230.8 for Mitt Romney, a tiny tick higher than he saw the race on Sunday.
He also sees Obama capturing the popular vote, taking 50.6 percent to Romney’s 48.5.
But where Silver gives, he also takes away. The Monday update slightly lowered the odds of Democrats retaining control of the Senate, to 91.5 percent. That’s down 1 percentage point from Sunday. Nevertheless, Silver still sees the Democrats holding at least 52 seats in the Senate.
click link
snip
President Obama’s supporters can feel 1 percent better this morning.
Influential numbers-cruncher Nate Silver pushed Obama’s chances of being re-elected up to 86.3 percent this morning on his New York Times blog fivethirtyeight. That’s up from 85.1 percent on Sunday.
It’s also the best number Obama has scored in Silver’s model — which weighs state and national polls in a complex formula that also takes into account accuracy and historical performance — since he climbed to 87 percent prior to his sleepy performance in the first debate in Denver.
Silver also added to Obama’s likely number of electoral votes on Monday. He now sees the president winning 307.2 to 230.8 for Mitt Romney, a tiny tick higher than he saw the race on Sunday.
He also sees Obama capturing the popular vote, taking 50.6 percent to Romney’s 48.5.
But where Silver gives, he also takes away. The Monday update slightly lowered the odds of Democrats retaining control of the Senate, to 91.5 percent. That’s down 1 percentage point from Sunday. Nevertheless, Silver still sees the Democrats holding at least 52 seats in the Senate.
The Obama landslide scenario
The Obama landslide scenario
click link
snip
It’s definitely possible that Mitt Romney will be elected president on Tuesday. And there’s also a chance that Romney will fall short in the Electoral College but still receive more popular votes than Barack Obama, an officially meaningless achievement that would nonetheless let Republicans claim that Obama had been rejected by the majority of voters and had gained a second term only through a constitutional quirk.
But another possibility has come into focus in the race’s closing days: a clean Obama victory, more thorough and sweeping than just about anyone expected.
Romney’s path to 270, as I wrote last week, can be split into two phases. The first requires him to sweep five traditionally Republican states that Obama won in 2008: Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Colorado. Do this (and hold onto all of the other states that John McCain took in ’08) and Romney will have 257 electoral votes. From there, he could win the election by taking Ohio, or Pennsylvania, or some combination of Wisconsin and New Hampshire, Iowa, or Nevada.
click link
snip
It’s definitely possible that Mitt Romney will be elected president on Tuesday. And there’s also a chance that Romney will fall short in the Electoral College but still receive more popular votes than Barack Obama, an officially meaningless achievement that would nonetheless let Republicans claim that Obama had been rejected by the majority of voters and had gained a second term only through a constitutional quirk.
But another possibility has come into focus in the race’s closing days: a clean Obama victory, more thorough and sweeping than just about anyone expected.
Romney’s path to 270, as I wrote last week, can be split into two phases. The first requires him to sweep five traditionally Republican states that Obama won in 2008: Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Colorado. Do this (and hold onto all of the other states that John McCain took in ’08) and Romney will have 257 electoral votes. From there, he could win the election by taking Ohio, or Pennsylvania, or some combination of Wisconsin and New Hampshire, Iowa, or Nevada.
McMahon throwing Romney under the bus? | Connecticut | onPolitix
McMahon throwing Romney under the bus? | Connecticut | onPolitix
click link for story and short vid
snip
The series of Connecticut rallies comes as the McMahon campaign is launching a new TV ad aimed at Obama voters.
The McMahon tv ad says, "I'm supporting President Obama and Linda McMahon," "I'll be voting for Barack Obama and Linda McMahon," "I'm voting for President Obama and Linda McMahon on the independent line."
In reaction State GOP chairman Jerry Labriola said "I support our Republican ticket and I'm working hard to elect Governor Romney in Connecticut. Other than that I have no comment."
News 8's Chief Political Correspondent Mark Davis asked voters, "Don't you think she's throwing Mitt Romney under the bus?"
"No, no, not at all because that isn't her intention. She's just asking people that already have their mind set for Obama that, hey, it doesn't mean you can't vote for me," Marie Krzeminski of New Haven said.
click link for story and short vid
snip
The series of Connecticut rallies comes as the McMahon campaign is launching a new TV ad aimed at Obama voters.
The McMahon tv ad says, "I'm supporting President Obama and Linda McMahon," "I'll be voting for Barack Obama and Linda McMahon," "I'm voting for President Obama and Linda McMahon on the independent line."
In reaction State GOP chairman Jerry Labriola said "I support our Republican ticket and I'm working hard to elect Governor Romney in Connecticut. Other than that I have no comment."
News 8's Chief Political Correspondent Mark Davis asked voters, "Don't you think she's throwing Mitt Romney under the bus?"
"No, no, not at all because that isn't her intention. She's just asking people that already have their mind set for Obama that, hey, it doesn't mean you can't vote for me," Marie Krzeminski of New Haven said.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Romnopoly ad in Ohio - video & transcript
Romnopoly ad in Ohio - video & transcript
click
snip
To Mitt Romney your job and our economy are just a game Romnopoly.
You don't have to wait to find out what a Romney presidency would mean.
'Let Detroit Go Bankrupt' - if your mad get rich from a little help from government. Then you can tell everyone else they are on their own, like he did these guys:
ROMNOPOLY
If Mitt Romney wins, the middle class loses.
Voice of Mitt Romney "It's fun isn't it?
click
snip
To Mitt Romney your job and our economy are just a game Romnopoly.
You don't have to wait to find out what a Romney presidency would mean.
'Let Detroit Go Bankrupt' - if your mad get rich from a little help from government. Then you can tell everyone else they are on their own, like he did these guys:
They promised us Healthcare packages, they promised to maintain our retirement program and those were the first two things that disappeared.
These people told us that the plant is now closed and all of you are fired.Mitt Romney acts like there are two sets of rules, one set for us and one set for millionaires and billionaires . Come tax day he just plays the loophole card. Can't afford the tax breaks for millionaires, guess we will just have to mortgage our children's future. It's not a game worth playing
ROMNOPOLY
If Mitt Romney wins, the middle class loses.
Voice of Mitt Romney "It's fun isn't it?
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