December 2012 – Page 5 – Politics Plus

Open Thread–12/6/2012

Posted by TomCat at 10:05 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 062012

My COPD is still pretty severe, but I’m in the saddle and current with replies. Tonight is a special holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, because my Broncos take on the Raiders in a Thursday night meditation. Tomorrow I hope to get articles up before leaving for a volunteer day in prison. I normally never go on a Friday, but the prison is closing the activities section during the latter half of the month for the holidays, so we’re on an unusual schedule. Next Tuesday will be my last volunteer day this month.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:32 (average 4:17). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: One Chart Gives You 20 Reasons To Support Unions

6unions

Almost every one is sufficient reason in itself.

From Politico: Voters support higher taxes on the wealthy by a margin of better than 2 to 1, according to a new poll Thursday.

Sixty-five percent of voters back increased taxes for Americans making more than $250,000 a year, while 31 percent oppose, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released. Democrats support that measure 84-14 percent, and independents are in favor of the tax hikes 66-31 percent. Republicans, on the other hand, oppose such tax increases 53-41 percent, the poll found.

Popular support guarantees Republican opposition.

From NY Times: Obama went too far by demanding $1.6 trillion in revenue, that he should have stayed with Simpson-Bowles — which calls for $2.2 trillion in revenue.

Obama is being far more reasonable than Republicans deserve.

Cartoon:

6Cartoon

A day of mourning for Teabaggers.

The Republican War on the Disabled

Posted by TomCat at 7:46 am Politics

Dec 052012

In the late 1980s, in response to protests by disabled Americans, who demanded access to public places and services that the rest of us enjoy routinely, moderate Republicans had a great idea that came to fruition as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It worked so well, that the UN sought to make it the standard for the entire world. Sadly, moderate Republicans have no influence in the party today.

Republican lawmakers on Tuesday blocked a treaty to protect people with disabilities from discrimination despite a passionate plea from former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who was severely wounded in World War Two.

The Senate voted 61-38 to pass the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, falling short of the 66 votes needed to ratify the treaty.

The former Republican presidential nominee and Senate majority leader from Kansas tried to persuade Republicans to ratify the treaty and sat in a wheelchair on the sidelines of the Senate floor as lawmakers voted.

Only eight Republicans, including Vietnam War veteran Senator John McCain of Arizona, voted with the Democratic majority in the Senate.

"It is a sad day when we cannot pass a treaty that simply brings the world up to the American standard for protecting people with disabilities because the Republican Party is in thrall to extremists and ideologues," said top Democratic Senator Harry Reid of Nevada… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Reuters>

Both Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow covered this shameful Republican extremism. Ed discussed it with Ilyse Hogue and Howard Fineman.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

John Kerry is spot-on. In the absence of any rational reason to oppose this treaty, Republicans have resorted to dishonest Teabuggery.

Rachel covered the issue’s history discussed this InsaniTEA with Steve Clemons.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Once again, today’s Republicans have rejected a non-controversial measure that began as a Republican idea. I don’t believe for a minute that the Republican leadership believes Rick "Google My Name" Santorum’s wacko conspiracy theory. I suspect that that their real opposition stems from wanting to help multinational corporations increase their profit margins by refusing assess to disabled people.

Good News to Celebrate!

Posted by TomCat at 7:46 am Politics

Dec 052012

Long before she gained prominence, as a progressive super star, I was a big fan of Elizabeth Warren and was bringing you reports on and video clips of her opposition to Banksters’ illegal and unethical practices. As a result the TBTF banks, which should still be broken up, have been moving heaven and earth trying to keep her off the Senate Banking Committee. Apparently, they have failed!

Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has reportedly been selected by Democratic leadership to serve on the Senate Banking Committee, despite massive opposition mounted by banking lobbyists and Republicans against appointing the former Harvard law professor, bankruptcy law expert and architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Warren, who bested Rep. Sen. Scott Brown to represent Massachusetts, will be the most junior member of the banking committee, Dashiell Bennett of The Atlantic Wire reports, so won’t have final say on its agenda.

"Still, there isn’t another place in Congress more suited to her interests or to her campaign strategy, which was built largely on a fight against Wall Street influence," Bennett writes.

But Warren’s experience — including serving as Congress’ lead watchdog overseeing the $700 billion bank bailout from 2008 to 2010 — left banks leery of her philosophy… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Common Dreams>

Although Warren will be the junior member of that committee, she will lead the committee in expertise, so she should have a profound influence on it. That is bad news for Banksters, but it’s great news for Main Street Americans, like us!

Polls Can Be Most Entertaining!

Posted by TomCat at 7:45 am Politics

Dec 052012

I spent several years working in the opinion research field, so I usually dig below the surface into the methodology used. That can often be hard work, but every once in a while I get to see a a poll that’s just plain fun, because it gives me a good excuse to laugh.

PPP's first post election national poll finds that Republicans are taking the results pretty hard…and also declining in numbers.

49% of GOP voters nationally say they think that ACORN stole the election for President Obama. We found that 52% of Republicans thought that ACORN stole the 2008 election for Obama, so this is a modest decline, but perhaps smaller than might have been expected given that ACORN doesn't exist anymore.

Some GOP voters are so unhappy with the outcome that they no longer care to be a part of the United States. 25% of Republicans say they would like their state to secede from the union compared to 56% who want to stay and 19% who aren't sure.

One reason that such a high percentage of Republicans are holding what could be seen as extreme views is that their numbers are declining. Our final poll before the election, which hit the final outcome almost on the head, found 39% of voters identifying themselves as Democrats and 37% as Republicans. Since the election we've seen a 5 point increase in Democratic identification to 44%, and a 5 point decrease in Republican identification to 32%… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Public Policy Polling>

First, major kudos to ACORN! Stealing an election over two and a half years after they ceased to exist is a world record for political achievement, especially considering that the Republican Party, the acknowledged grand masters at election theft, failed to do so.

As an alternative to the second result, let’s keep the states and let the traitors self-deport instead.

Finally, that 5% decrease means that the Republican Party has lost 13.5% of their numbers. How fortunate! May that trend continue!

Open Thread–12/5/2012

Posted by TomCat at 7:45 am Politics

Dec 052012

Yesterday my COPD remained severe. I didn’t get as much sleep as I needed, but did get enough to get by. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:00 (average 4:38). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Michael J. Fox Has One Simple, Simple Request

I agree. I have not yet come down on one side or the other regarding GMOs, because there’s too much about them that I don’t know. However, people who choose not to eat foods that contain them are denied that right without labeling. Republicans oppose labeling, because without it, giant corporations make more profits feeding them to people who don’t want them.

From NY Times: The Obama administration is arguing that the sluggish economy requires a shot in the arm, and it included tens of billions of dollars of little-noticed stimulus measures in its much-noticed proposal to Congressional leaders last week. But Republicans have countered that the country cannot afford to widen the deficit further, and have balked at including the measures in any eventual deal.

Every penny Democrats spend on the need of all Americans is a penny Republicans can’t spend on the greed of billionaires.

From MSNBC: Rachel Maddow broke down the Republican debt ceiling plan, and exposed the dishonesty of conservative complaints about it.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

There is no way that the Republican proposal could be more skewed to their own wants, so all that whining is as phony as virtually everything else they do.

Cartoon:

5Cartoon

Open Thread–12/4/2012

Posted by TomCat at 7:35 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 042012

Yesterday, my router gave up the ghost, so I had to rush out and buy another. After I returned, my COPD flared up for the rest of the day and night, keeping me from sleeping, so this is today’s only article. I’m current with replies, albeit excessively briefly so. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:51 (average 5:24). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football Report:

Here’s the latest from our fantasy football league, Lefty Blog Friends.

Scores:

TomCat Teabag Trashers	hugos renegades
156.18	88.04
Playing without a helmet	MittsMagicJock
101.54	88.10
Progressive Underdogs	Texans Will Rise Again
105.72	60.72

Standings:

Points

Rank

Team Name

W-L-T

Pct

Streak

Waiver

For

Against

1 (1)

TomCat Teabag Trashers

11-2-0

.846

W2

6

1550.44

1293.58

2 (2)

hugos renegades

8-5-0

.615

L2

5

1435.88

1313.24

3 (3)

Progressive Underdogs

6-7-0

.462

W3

4

1350.10

1312.16

4 (4)

Playing without a helmet

5-8-0

.385

W1

3

1230.06

1381.94

5 (5)

MittsMagicJock

5-8-0

.385

L1

2

1280.64

1332.42

6 (6)

Texans Will Rise Again

4-9-0

.308

L2

1

1240.78

1454.56

This week will be the last of our regular season, and we move into our playoffs next week. Jerry and I have already clinched the top two seeds and will have first round byes.

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: A Big Box Store Proves You Can Take Care Of Your Staff And Still Make A Profit

There is, however, one area in which Wal-fart beats Costco hands down: greed.

From NY Times: “What we are putting forth is a credible plan that deserves serious consideration from the White House,” Mr. Boehner said.

The White House was critical of the proposal. “The Republican letter released today does not meet the test of balance,” said Dan Pfeiffer, the communications director. “In fact, it actually promises to lower rates for the wealthy and sticks the middle class with the bill. Their plan includes nothing new and provides no details on which deductions they would eliminate, which loopholes they will close or which Medicare savings they would achieve.”

Republicans did produce proposals that could create a political backlash. Of the plan’s savings, $200 billion over 10 years would come from changing the way the government calculates inflation, which would slow benefit increases in programs from Medicare to Social Security and raise taxes by slowing the annual rise in tax brackets. Republican aides said that it would be unpopular, but that it was the right response to deficits still topping $1 trillion.

The Republican plan also called for $600 billion in cuts to federal health care programs, including an increase in the eligibility age for Medicare and increased means testing to shrink health benefits for more affluent elderly Americans… [emphasis added]

Did I predict this, or did I predict this? Also, see this.

From Think Progress: A constant conservative charge against President Obama is that he is inherently anti-business. However, businesses keep defying the storyline by making larger and larger profits, rebounding nicely out of the Great Recession.

In the third quarter of this year, “corporate earnings were $1.75 trillion, up 18.6% from a year ago.” Corporations are currently making more as a percentage of the economy than they ever have since such records were kept. But at the same time, wages as a percentage of the economy are at an all-time low, as this chart shows. (The red line is corporate profits; the blue line is private sector wages.):

4corporateprofitsvswages

Corporate Criminals hate Obama, not because the business climate under his administration is bad, but because they want full latitude to prey on consumers, and that’s what Republicans are offering.

Cartoon:

4Cartoon

Boehner Desperate

Posted by TomCat at 6:32 am Politics

Dec 032012

John Boehner (R-OH), aka Agent Orange, is showing frustration, because the dirty tricks, blackmail, and economic terrorism that worked do well for him after the 2010 elections, have failed to make headway against a far more resolute Obama. so Agent Orange doing what he does so well: trying to lie his way out of the corner.

House Speaker John Boehner told Fox News Sunday that it "doesn’t matter" where the money comes from in the deficit deal. No, it’s perfectly okay to stiff the working class and the vulnerable elderly, as long as the Republicans can still play Santa to their corporate funders…

…I wish, instead of these Very Serious Sunday Shows(c), we could have a game show called "Bullsh*t!" Politicians would talk, and viewers would have a B.S. meter at home that would allow them to register their votes. I think our chattering classes would be surprised at how little credibility they have with the country at large…

Inserted from <Crooks and Liars>

Here’s the video:

Agent Orange is using the same old tired argument, that increasing tax rates for the super rich will hurt the economy, and that has already been been proven to be a lie. What he is not telling you is that Republicans have not been specific about where the revenue is coming from, but based on their past attempts at a budget, revenue will come from raising taxes on the working poor, and eliminating deductions from which most of the benefits go to the middle class. such as the mortgage interest deduction.

In the same interview, Boehner objected to Obama’s debt ceiling proposal and promised more economic terrorism every time a debt ceiling is reached.

Think Progress has an excellent articles on three myths about the debt ceiling that Republicans want you to believe, in order to buy their BS.

The thing we need to remember most is to reject Republican fear mongering. Adjourning with no deal and taking it up again in January is better that accepting a bad deal.

Birther Queen Shut Down

Posted by TomCat at 6:31 am Politics

Dec 032012

Barack Obama is a source of ultimate frustration for Republicans. They don’t have anything on him, so they have to make up things. At least Bill Clinton had the courtesy to get a BJ, so they could overreact as though he lied us into a war or something. But Obama has a clean slate. So they call him a Communist, a Socialist, a Nazi, a traitor, and most of all, a Kenyan. On that subject, here’s some good news.

Orly Taitz, the California dentist and attorney who has gained notoriety for her relentless efforts to prove that President Obama is inelegible for office, suffered another blow last week when an Orange County judge rejected her attempt to retrieve Obama’s college records.

As first reported by the school’s student paper, the Occidental Weekly, Taitz had filed a legal motion to compel Occidental College to release transcripts and other records from when Obama was an undergraduate there in the late ’70s and early ’80s, alleging that Obama was not born in the United States and is currently using a fake social security number. The private college’s counsel, Carl Botterud, pointing to privacy concerns, deemed Taitz’s case "frivolous" and "without merit." The self-proclaimed "queen of the birthers" then argued that the matter of Obama’s alleged foreign birth was important enough to overrule privacy laws…

…Orange County Superior Court Judge Charles Margines rejected Taitz’ argument, citing procedural errors and questioning the quality of her evidence….

“You should know that evidence is not stuff printed from the Internet,” Margines told Taitz, according to the Occidental Weekly.

Margines also ordered Taitz to pay the college $4,000 to cover the resources spent defending itself…

Inserted from <Huffington Post>

Photo credit: Reality Check Radio Blog

That defeat may well be the last straw needed to end Orly’s Birther rampage, but she still has career opportunities left. She can go to work for Rupert and become one of the most credible goose-steppers on Faux Noise. Or she could teabag a fellow Republican in a safely gerrymandered district in 2014, get elected, and take on Michele Bachman for the title Batshit Queen of the House.

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