Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Republican Voter Supression
In recent days I have seen a commercial on TV with a black man speaking about the right to unabridged speech. The commercial turned out to be about the danger of a stroke. As a black man msyself, I can appreciate this warning since strokes seem to strike us at a more alarming rate than any other demographic in the country. But there is another problem facing not only black men but many other demograhic groups regarding our right to unimpaired speech; voter suppression! Somehow republicans wnat to take away the rights of as many of these groups as possible because they tend not to see things the way repubs do. And in republican controlled states they are succeeding somewhat. Judges and circuit courts that have been majority republican appointed have ruled in favor of taking away the rights of citizens to vote. Even the SCOTUS may become involved and make political rulings in such cases, as they probably will also in the case of the individual insurance mandate. In both cases the court will rule against the interests of the country and it's citizens, putting our democracy in jeopardy. By voting to mandate insurance and deny people a chance to cast their votes, the court will most certainly be acting on behalf of the corporations who are trying to gain control of this country. In large measure they seem to be succeeding, but there is a power that is even above all of their scheming. They trhink they are on the verge of victory, but I think not. The King of Heaven is still on His throne and HE is not going to allow it, for the sake of His people. So scheme away republicans. All your scheming will come to nothing.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Private Equity (BAIN), Vulture Capitalism
Republicans are saying that President Obama's on Mitt Romney is an attack on the whole capitalist system. If that is true, then they were the ones who began the attack. It wasn't President Obama, it was one of their own, Newt Gingrich who coined the phrase "vulture capitalism", and Rick Perry, former governor of Texas wholeheartedly agreed with his assessment of just what it was that Mr. Romney did for a living.That is to move into companies, strip them of their capital within a few years and leave them bankrupt, their workers unemployed and without insurance and all the while taking tens of $ millions in profits.
It's true that our country was built on capitalism, but unrestrained capitalism is cause for great concern. When you look at what happened on Wall Street just a few years short years ago, you understand what I'm talking about. Unregulated banks and many other corporations brought us right to the very edge of the abyss of economic destruction and ruined the ecology of many places in this country (BP oil spill, earthquakes caused by fracking). Now you have a good idea of what vulture capitalism is. They were unconcerned with the economic wellbeing of the citizens or the condition of the ecology. Their only motivation was short term profit.
So, yes capitalism may be the best system in the world right now. But if it is allowed to run amok, as in the case of the Supreme's Court's Citizens United ruling, we can already see it's effects. The corporations are spending unlimited amounts of money in an attempt to buy our government. Their campaign contributions already control the way the majotity of our senators and representatives vote even now. If this ruling is not reversed, it will surely mean the downfall of this country as a democracy
It's true that our country was built on capitalism, but unrestrained capitalism is cause for great concern. When you look at what happened on Wall Street just a few years short years ago, you understand what I'm talking about. Unregulated banks and many other corporations brought us right to the very edge of the abyss of economic destruction and ruined the ecology of many places in this country (BP oil spill, earthquakes caused by fracking). Now you have a good idea of what vulture capitalism is. They were unconcerned with the economic wellbeing of the citizens or the condition of the ecology. Their only motivation was short term profit.
So, yes capitalism may be the best system in the world right now. But if it is allowed to run amok, as in the case of the Supreme's Court's Citizens United ruling, we can already see it's effects. The corporations are spending unlimited amounts of money in an attempt to buy our government. Their campaign contributions already control the way the majotity of our senators and representatives vote even now. If this ruling is not reversed, it will surely mean the downfall of this country as a democracy
Thursday, May 24, 2012
New Study Confirms (Again): Keystone XL Would RAISE Gas Prices | NationofChange
The Truth About The Keystone Pipeline
U.S. Neo-Conservatives Assail Possible Compromise on Iran Talks | NationofChange
They Want Control Over Iranian Oil
Voter Purge Coming To Louisiana Soon
EXCLUSIVE: Florida Congressman Demands Gov. Rick Scott ‘Immediately Suspend’ Voter Purge: pFlorida Congressman Ted Deutch (D) told ThinkProgress today that Gov. Rick Scott was engaging in a “blatant attempt to supress voter turnout.” Scott is currently involved in a massive effort to purge up to 180,000 from the voting rolls. The list, purportedly of non-citizens, has proven unreliable. Earlier this week, Seminole County Supervisor of Elections [...]/p
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Conservative Taxdodger and Benedict Arnold
Sensing a political opportunity, Democrats are working to back Republicans into a corner on legislation designed to punish Americans who renounce their citizenship to avoid paying taxes, as Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin did.
The legislation, unveiled last Thursday by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bob Casey (D-PA), provoked over-the-top conservative pushback, with Grover Norquist and the Wall Street Journal editorial board comparing it to the actions of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), conscious of not being portrayed as defending jet-setting elites who seek to avoid their legal obligations, said Sunday that Saverin’s actions were “outrageous.” He told ABC’s “This Week” he may support the Schumer-Casey bill, but hedged that he wasn’t sure it’s necessary.
Now, with an apparent rift emerging, Democrats are twisting the knife.
Casey wrote Boehner a letter Monday saying he was “encouraged” by the speaker’s remarks Sunday and called for a speedy vote on the legislation. It would slap a 30 percent tax on all future U.S. investments of former citizens deemed to have renounced for tax purposes, and bar them from ever setting foot in the country again.
“We must take action against those who capitalize on the advantages of United States Citizenship, but abuse the system to avoid paying their fair share,” Casey wrote. “At this time, Washington needs to work together in a bipartisan manner. I request that you introduce the Ex-PATRIOT Act in the United States House of Representatives and call for an immediate vote on this important legislation.”
Brian Fallon, a spokesman for Schumer, also prodded the nation’s highest-ranked Republican.
“When even Speaker Boehner feels free to openly disagree with Grover Norquist, it is official that literally no one cares what Norquist thinks on this issue,” Fallon told TPM in an email.
The Democrats’ moves put Boehner in an all too familiar bind. If he comes out against the legislation he’ll put Republicans on the wrong side of an issue that’s easily exploitable by Democrats in an election year. But if he champions the bill he risks alienating the conservative base, which would loosen his already tenuous grasp on the speaker’s gavel.
A spokesman for Boehner did not immediately respond to a request for comment. So far most Republican lawmakers have avoided discussing the legislation, but Democrats apparently intend to keep pushing until they take a firm stance.
“Honestly the speaker’s words came to everyone as a surprise,” said a Senate Democratic aide. “Everything from the other side of the aisle has been negative until Sunday. Perhaps his endorsement will bring more [Republicans] over.”
The legislation, unveiled last Thursday by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bob Casey (D-PA), provoked over-the-top conservative pushback, with Grover Norquist and the Wall Street Journal editorial board comparing it to the actions of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), conscious of not being portrayed as defending jet-setting elites who seek to avoid their legal obligations, said Sunday that Saverin’s actions were “outrageous.” He told ABC’s “This Week” he may support the Schumer-Casey bill, but hedged that he wasn’t sure it’s necessary.
Now, with an apparent rift emerging, Democrats are twisting the knife.
Casey wrote Boehner a letter Monday saying he was “encouraged” by the speaker’s remarks Sunday and called for a speedy vote on the legislation. It would slap a 30 percent tax on all future U.S. investments of former citizens deemed to have renounced for tax purposes, and bar them from ever setting foot in the country again.
“We must take action against those who capitalize on the advantages of United States Citizenship, but abuse the system to avoid paying their fair share,” Casey wrote. “At this time, Washington needs to work together in a bipartisan manner. I request that you introduce the Ex-PATRIOT Act in the United States House of Representatives and call for an immediate vote on this important legislation.”
Brian Fallon, a spokesman for Schumer, also prodded the nation’s highest-ranked Republican.
“When even Speaker Boehner feels free to openly disagree with Grover Norquist, it is official that literally no one cares what Norquist thinks on this issue,” Fallon told TPM in an email.
The Democrats’ moves put Boehner in an all too familiar bind. If he comes out against the legislation he’ll put Republicans on the wrong side of an issue that’s easily exploitable by Democrats in an election year. But if he champions the bill he risks alienating the conservative base, which would loosen his already tenuous grasp on the speaker’s gavel.
A spokesman for Boehner did not immediately respond to a request for comment. So far most Republican lawmakers have avoided discussing the legislation, but Democrats apparently intend to keep pushing until they take a firm stance.
“Honestly the speaker’s words came to everyone as a surprise,” said a Senate Democratic aide. “Everything from the other side of the aisle has been negative until Sunday. Perhaps his endorsement will bring more [Republicans] over.”
Monday, May 21, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
BAIN, Corporate Raider!
In the 1980's and 90's there were groups of companies called "corporate raiders". They would buy out supposedly troubled companies, chop them up into divisions and then sell off each division like scrap, for as much as they could, destroying the company and firing the workers with only a small severance package. They would take the employees retirement and insurance funds as huge profits, leaving the former employees out in the cold. Doesn't that sound like something we've been hearing in the news media quite a bit lately? To me it sounds like a dead on description on Bain Capital, the company run by republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who calls himself a job creator. Job killer is more like it!.
While republicans try to make Mr. Romney into a hero, I can't help but wonder how they would feel if it was their job that was lost in this manner and they were left without work and nowhere to turn. They, like Romney, haven't got a clue what it's like to live in the real world, to depend on a job for a living. That is why I'm so flabbergasted when I hear so many working class people voting for reublicans, believing all the garbage these guys keep spewing out. They keep telling us that Mr. Romney would make such a great president. Maybe he would, for them! But if you have to work for a living you had better beware, or you'll wind up with buyer's remorse... after it's too late.
While republicans try to make Mr. Romney into a hero, I can't help but wonder how they would feel if it was their job that was lost in this manner and they were left without work and nowhere to turn. They, like Romney, haven't got a clue what it's like to live in the real world, to depend on a job for a living. That is why I'm so flabbergasted when I hear so many working class people voting for reublicans, believing all the garbage these guys keep spewing out. They keep telling us that Mr. Romney would make such a great president. Maybe he would, for them! But if you have to work for a living you had better beware, or you'll wind up with buyer's remorse... after it's too late.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Republican War On The Public
The right wing "war on women" as being denied by repubs is really part of a larger war. The war is really part of the war on the public. Repubs constantly say that the government doesn't create jobs and vote down any jobs bill that comes out of the senate. While this country desperately infrastructure improvements and repairs, the repubs in the house of representatives keeps killing infrastructure bills. If the government doesn't do this important work, who will? It most certainly won't be the corporations! The last "works bill" the repubs killed would have provided tens of thousands of jobs for each state (upwards of thirty thousand for some states) which would have provided revenue for the government to pay it's debts from those who are once again paying taxes instead of having to rely on the government for assistance.
And what about the spinoff jobs that would be provided to the business community. Considerable materials and equipment would be needed for such a monumental undertaking. Private companies would, out of necessity, begin hiring again. And also there are the "green jobs" infrastructure which the repubs have refused to allow. They house repubs killed these bills so that they could repay the oil corporations by tossing the public a few measley oil industry jobs. And they have managed to convince many that the oil industry would provide more good paying jobs than these other industries. Anybody who believes that needs to have their head examined.
And let's not forget all of the corporate welfare that is going on. Corporations that are raking in record profits every year are continueing to be subsidized with no end in sight because the repubs filibuster every attempt to get rid of these humongous, unneeded tax breaks. And look at the out of control pentagon spending. At a time when the repubs are so loudly decrying the cost of needed social programs, the pentegon spends ten times in one year what the social programs cost for ten years. Yet they refuse to cut one penney from the pentagon budget. Let's not forget also that the repubs are passing laws to take the voting rights of anybody who doesn't agree their policies. Their is to give full control to the corporations. Heaven forbid that I should forget to mention the Bush tax cuts for the super rich which has the richest among us paying less percentage than the poorest among us. Can you say REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER!? So no, I wouldn't call it just a "war on women". It is a war on all of the "working class people" of this country and every other country in the world in favor of the wealthy and corporations. Beware America!
And what about the spinoff jobs that would be provided to the business community. Considerable materials and equipment would be needed for such a monumental undertaking. Private companies would, out of necessity, begin hiring again. And also there are the "green jobs" infrastructure which the repubs have refused to allow. They house repubs killed these bills so that they could repay the oil corporations by tossing the public a few measley oil industry jobs. And they have managed to convince many that the oil industry would provide more good paying jobs than these other industries. Anybody who believes that needs to have their head examined.
And let's not forget all of the corporate welfare that is going on. Corporations that are raking in record profits every year are continueing to be subsidized with no end in sight because the repubs filibuster every attempt to get rid of these humongous, unneeded tax breaks. And look at the out of control pentagon spending. At a time when the repubs are so loudly decrying the cost of needed social programs, the pentegon spends ten times in one year what the social programs cost for ten years. Yet they refuse to cut one penney from the pentagon budget. Let's not forget also that the repubs are passing laws to take the voting rights of anybody who doesn't agree their policies. Their is to give full control to the corporations. Heaven forbid that I should forget to mention the Bush tax cuts for the super rich which has the richest among us paying less percentage than the poorest among us. Can you say REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER!? So no, I wouldn't call it just a "war on women". It is a war on all of the "working class people" of this country and every other country in the world in favor of the wealthy and corporations. Beware America!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Conservative Wisconsin Justices Remove Ethics Offical After He Charges Three Of Them With Ethics Violations
Conservative Wisconsin Justices Remove Ethics Offical After He Charges Three Of Them With Ethics Violations: In recent years, three of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s four conservatives were charged with ethics violations by the Wisconsin Judicial Commission — Justice Annette Ziegler for presiding over cases involving a bank where her husband was a director, Justice Michael Gableman for running a misleading campaign ad, and Justice David Prosser for allegedly grabbing a [...]/p
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