Yesterday I did some volunteer paperwork and watched the Pro Bowl. I’m current with replies. Today I am writing a letter to the Parole Board on behalf of one of my guys and doing more paperwork.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today it took me 3:47 (average 4:29). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From MoveOn: Why Elizabeth Warren Is Our #1 Choice For Anything She Decides To Run For
She has my support!
From Daily Kos: And now, presenting the most certifiably ridiculous opinion column ever produced. Credit for the feat goes to Fox News personality and psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow, who as a Fox News psychiatrist probably has his work cut out for him on a daily basis. But this? No, this takes the cake. The ten-tiered, banana-tapioca-infused cake [Faux Noise delinked]: Newt Gingrich’s three marriages mean he might make a strong president – really
Incredible! No wonder Faux Noise viewers are the least informed people in the nation.
From USA Today: A procedural vote Monday would allow the Senate later this week to pass a bill prohibiting members of Congress from using nonpublic information for their own personal benefit or "tipping" others to inside information that they could trade on.
Insider trading laws apply to all Americans, but CBS’ "60 Minutes" in November said members of Congress get a pass, citing investment transactions by party leaders and a committee chairman in businesses about to be affected by pending legislation.
It’s a small step in the right direction, but much more is needed.
Cartoon:
12 Responses to “Open Thread–1/30/2011”
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Thanks Nameless. They never had XXX. 🙁
3:34
I urge everyone to click on the Daily Kos link to read the whole article. If you don’t have the time, here’s part of it. It almost had me rolling on the floor laughing and barfing at the same time. Read on kiddies:
“1) Three women have met Mr. Gingrich and been so moved by his emotional energy and intellect that they decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with him.
2) Two of these women felt this way even though Mr. Gingrich was already married.
3 ) One of them felt this way even though Mr. Gingrich was already married for the second time, was not exactly her equal in the looks department and had a wife (Marianne) who wanted to make his life without her as painful as possible.
Conclusion: When three women want to sign on for life with a man who is now running for president, I worry more about whether we’ll be clamoring for a third Gingrich term, not whether we’ll want to let him go after one.
4) Two women—Mr. Gingrich’s first two wives—have sat down with him while he delivered to them incredibly painful truths: that he no longer loved them as he did before, that he had fallen in love with other women and that he needed to follow his heart, despite the great price he would pay financially and the risk he would be taking with his reputation.
Conclusion: I can only hope Mr. Gingrich will be as direct and unsparing with the Congress, the American people and our allies. If this nation must now move with conviction in the direction of its heart, Newt Gingrich is obviously no stranger to that journey.
The Author’s Translation: Newt Gingrich will have no qualms about screwing you, America. But he might have the after-the-face conviction to tell you that he’s done it, which I swear to God counts as integrity if you look cockeyed at it long enough.
No more insider trading allowed by congress!
Love the carttons.
Beat me!
Of course. He’s a Republican,
Kudos.
Thank you!
4:11 Looks like today belongs to Patty with me bringing up the rear.
Hey Jerry, I saw a picture of you standing with Fidel Castro! You were really scowling so I take it you don.t care for him much.
Actually Fidel was very nice. It was his bodyguards thaI I was not so thrilled about.
I’m easier pickings tomorrow.
Elizabeth Warren — I was just thinking the other say that we hadn’t heard much of Warren lately, and lo and behold! Jon Stewart made a remark that I thought was interesting, and one that I made several months ago — he remarked that when he looked in the eyes of other candidates, all he saw were teleprompters. When he looked in her eyes, he saw a person of passion for the middle class and honesty (not a direct quote). Interesting in the previous segment of his show, Jon Stewart was commenting on Rmoney’s tax returns etc — $43 million in income; $6.2 million in taxes for 2 years; $7 million in charitable donations; effective tax rate of 13.9% and Rmoney is shown commenting that he pays the taxes he is required to pay by law “. . . and not a penny more.” Rmoney also made a comment that he worked to defeat a bill back in 2007 I believe that would have raised the tax rate for hedge funds people like him to 35%. Rmoney will do squat for the American people while Warren will put of, by, and for the people back into government.
Newt — I hear there is a new book out called “The Merry Wives of Newty”.
“Trying to turn a lifetime of personal moral failings into reasons why a person would make a stronger leader—in spite of an actual political record that can be studied, . . . is utter and complete bullshit . . . .”
This so called psychiatrist (if he is working for Faux Noise, I question whether he is a psychiatrist at all, but probably received his ‘degree’ from a Cracker Jacks box) has desparate need of a real psychiatrist who is grounded in reality.
Insider Trading —
Members of Congress, even the President, should be subject to the same rules as the general population. A further penalty should be the automatic loss of their Congressional seat if convicted. In Canada, many jobs require a criminal records check and a criminal conviction can, but not necessarily depending on the nature of the conviction, bar someone from a job. This should, if it isn’t already the case, be part of the vetting process for any Senator or Representative.
This is also why blind trusts should be used. They remove knowledge of ones specific investment and business affairs from exerting undue influence over legislation, and vice versa. In Canada, former Prime Minister Paul Martin (whom I admired and as the Finance Minister previously, brought in a number of years of budget surpluses) headed up the Canada Steamship Lines, a business held in the family I believe for quite some time. When he became Prime Minister, if not before, the business was put into a blind trust so that he could not make decisions based on insider knowledge. I saw a piece earlier today that Rmoney uncategorically decried blind trusts.
I find it interesting that Scott Brown, who will be going up against Elizabeth Warren (more than likely) for his Massachsetts Senate seat, is a co-sponsor of the bill. Is he afraid Warren’s pro people image is finding his butt? Additionally, Cantor wants stricter provisions? This says that the Republican/Teabagger dominated Congress is in damage control mode. With an approval rating so low that they have to look up to see a snake’s belly, and a “. . . recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll of registered voters found 56% of them favor replacing the entire 535-member Congress.”, I think that the Republican/Teabaggers are trying to buy time and respect.
TC, you’re right, it is a step in the right direction, but it is only a start.
Cartoon — Yep, bought and paid for, lock, stock and barrel! I like Elizabeth Warren’s slogan “The best candidate money can’t buy.”
Agree.
Newter him.
I would go even further, and require them to keep all investments in a blind trust with investments limited to government bonds.
Me too!