Saturday, December 25, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Merry Christmas from the President & First Lady

From the White House blog:

President Obama and the First Lady wish families across the country a “Merry Christmas” and encourage everyone to support the troops and their families this holiday season. Visit www.serve.gov to find ideas for what you can do to help our servicemen and women and their families.



I would like to add my wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season, no matter whom or what you worship, I wish you peace and happiness.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: National Security Over Politics on START

From the White House blog:

President Obama urges the Senate to heed the calls from Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, every living Republican Secretary of State, our NATO allies, and the leadership of the military: ratify the New START Treaty with Russia.


Saturday, December 4, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Tax Cuts & Unemployment Insurance

This week we have a treat. VP Joe Biden is giving the address because the President is on his way back from Afghanistan.

From the White House blog:

With President Obama visiting troops in Afghanistan, Vice President Biden says Congress must extend both the middle class tax cuts and unemployment insurance for the sake of those families and the broader economy.



With the majority of Americans in favor of letting the upper income tax cuts expire, we have to wonder where the GOPers are who said they were going to listen to the people.

The votes are in and the majority of Democrats voted for the middle class cuts, while the GOPers voted against it. There were some Dems who voted with the GOPers... including that champion of progressives Russ Feingold. Why? Why are some of these Dems helping the GOPers block the tax cuts for middle class people?

If this doesn't show people who the GOPers are for and who they are against, there is no hope for the people in this country. We can't have a strong economy without a strong middle class.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Giving Thanks for Those Who Serve

From the White House blog:

The President expresses gratitude to America’s military men and women and their families, and discusses the steps his administration is taking to help create jobs so that next Thanksgiving, Americans can give thanks for a stronger economy.



I hope everyone has a wonderful Day and enjoy it with those you love. I am thankful for all of you. My friends, family and loved ones who read this meager effort of mine and for all of you just for being you!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Senators Opposing New START "Want to Trust But Not Verify"

From the White House blog:

In this week’s address, President Obama called ratifying New START this year “fundamental” to America’s national security. Failure to ratify the treaty this year not only would mean losing our nuclear inspectors in Russia, but also it would undermine the international coalition pressuring Iran, put to risk the transit routes used to equip our troops in Afghanistan, and undo decades of American leadership and bipartisanship on nuclear security. After six months, 18 hearings, and nearly one thousand questions answered and with the support of several Republicans including Colin Powell, George Schultz, Jim Baker, and Henry Kissinger, it is time for the Senate to act.



This is just another example of the Rethugs blocking anything this President wants done. There is no reason for anything but a straight vote on this.

Don't we have a lot to look forward to for the next 2 years?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: President Obama Calls for Compromise and Explains his Priorities on Taxes

From the White House blog:

As Congress prepares to focus on taxes when it returns to work later this month, President Obama called on both parties to work together and focus on the areas where all sides agree. First, the President underscored that middle-class families need permanent tax relief, so Congress should permanently extend tax cuts for all families making less than $250,000 a year – 98 percent of the American people. And second, he noted that, with the nation’s challenging fiscal situation, the country simply cannot afford to borrow another $700 billion on permanent tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.



I know, I know, no one wants the President to compromise with the Republicans. They all want him to yell and scream and stomp his feet in frustration over the obstruction that has happened the last 2 years and will probably continue.

However, you have to understand this President does not operate that way. He has laid out what he wants and he expects the grownups in the Congress to respond in kind.

He makes the valid point that if the Repubs really want to reduce the deficit the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy have to be allowed to expire. You don't add to the deficit if you want it reduced. Math just doesn't work that way.

Now maybe if we had a responsible media who would do their jobs and let the American People know the truth, instead of just letting the propaganda of the other party be the narrative, everyone would understand that.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Great Video From the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

This is great. A bunch of regular people reminding all of us, why it is so important to vote this Tuesday. Watch:



Do you Remember?

h/t Show Me Progress

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: President Obama Calls on GOP Leadership to Put Aside Partisan Politics and Focus on Strengthening the Economy

From the White House blog:

In his weekly address, President Obama called the recent comments by the GOP leadership, which put scoring political points over solving the problems facing the country, “troubling,” and asked Democrats and Republicans to work together to move the country forward. Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s elections, leaders on both sides of the aisle owe it to the American people to put aside politics and work together on a number of issues that have traditionally had bipartisan support, like tax breaks for middle-class families and investing in infrastructure.



The President:

That’s why I found the recent comments by the top two Republican in Congress so troubling. The Republican leader of the House actually said that “this is not the time for compromise.” And the Republican leader of the Senate said his main goal after this election is simply to win the next one.

I know that we’re in the final days of a campaign. So it’s not surprising that we’re seeing this heated rhetoric. That’s politics. But when the ballots are cast and the voting is done, we need to put this kind of partisanship aside – win, lose, or draw.

I only hope more people realize what the GOPers are promising. Endless investigations, constant filibusters, and the possibility of a complete shutdown of the Government.

Remind your friends and neighbors, especially if they are thinking of putting the GOPers back in power, what a shutdown would mean. No checks, no help for anything, If you live on disability or Social Security, no money coming in. All services from the VA, USDA, and every other department will stop.

Is this what they want? It's what we could potentially get, and with the idiots who are running, who knows how bad it will be.

Friday, October 29, 2010

I Am A Teapartier

This comes from Broadway Carl's Blog-O-Mania, check him out and give him some love. He is another great blogger.

The only problem I have with this is I think the Tea Partier is too calm....lol But it is wonderful and describes them to a fault. Watch...enjoy and share with everyone you know.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Osborne Ink Hits Another One Out of the Park

My friend Matt @ OsborneInk has a new video he has done and it is great. Now I don't always agree with Matt's choice of music, but it does get the point across.

Watch here and then let Matt know what you think. He says share it so I am sharing it with you.


Linchpin of Progress
Uploaded by rumisouth. - News videos from around the world.

The song is "Lynchpin" by Fear Factor and here are the lyrics.
Can’t take me apart…Can’t take me apart…
See the light a new day has arrived for us Genesis of our evolution A linchpin holds within a means to an end Can’t you see that we are one?
Can’t take me apart (x3)No you can’t
We see no end to the dream
We will never see the end We will never be the end All my life I felt discarded Never feeling a part of it
No you can’t
Without me you will fade, you will not remain We are one, and though the same, future machine A linchpin holds within a mean to an end Can’t you see that we are one?
Can’t take me apart
No you can’t
We see no end to the dream
We will never see the end We will never be the end All of my life I felt discarded Never feeling a part of it
No you…No you can’t take…
No you can’t take me apart
We will never see the end We will never be the end All my life I felt discarded Never feeling a part of it
You can’t change me
You can’t change me now

I hope you enjoy it and as Matt says, steal it, share it and post it on your blog if you want.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Letting Wall Street Run Wild Again

From the White House blog:

Pointing to the foreclosure crisis and the economy, the President cites passage of Wall Street Reform over the ferocious lobbying of Wall Street banks as a pivotal achievement -- and condemns Republicans in Congress for vowing to repeal it.



The President is correct, if the GOPers take control, this is what we can expect. They will work for repeal and overturning the laws we have all worked so hard to pass. Financial Reform, Health Care Reform. All of them.

This is just another reason we have to GOTV and keep the Dems in charge. No they are not perfect, but they are most certainly better than the alternative.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: GOP Rewarding Corporations that Create Jobs Overseas

From the White House blog:

The President lays out his agenda to foster investment here at home. He vows to close the tax loopholes for sending jobs and profits overseas that Congressional Republicans have tried to protect.



If you wish to read the remarks the transcript is HERE.

I want to highlight something that is in the talk, plus on the transcript page... This is what we are voting to stop on Nov. 2.

In this week’s address, President Obama laid out a policy agenda that would strengthen our economy and create jobs right here in America by offering tax incentives to businesses that hire new employees, making the research and experimentation tax credit permanent and providing a tax cut for clean energy manufacturing. The President also wants to close tax loopholes worth billions of dollars that encourage companies to invest in overseas, while Republicans in the House have voted 11 times in just the last four years to keep those loopholes open.

We have to defeat the GOPers or we will never move forward with jobs, clean energy or anything else in the next 2 or 6 years.

Sorry this is late, I have been out of town and was very tired last night.. Hope you can forgive me.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Mormon Prophecy Behind Glenn Beck's Message

This comes from an article by Dana Milbank of the Washington Post, however he posted this piece at Huffington.

But before I post it, I want to share with you what I learned years ago. At the church I attended we did a study of cults and other religions. One of the ones we talked about in depth was the Mormons.

We did this because there is a strong presence and history of the Mormons here. Mostly we have the RLDS now, and the Restoration Branch of the LDS, however we (the state) did play a huge role in sending them off to Utah.

One of the things we talked about was the huge presence of Mormon's in businesses and in government and how it is growing. People do not realize how huge the "Corporation of Mormonism" is. They own most of at least 4 states, between government representatives and just land and business.

So, when I read this piece by Milbank it brought back what I had learned and what scares the Evangelical Christians when it comes to Mormonism. There is a belief they will take over the entire process of the Federal Government in time. This ties into what Milbank wrote.

From the Huffington Post, please go read the entire piece it is worth your time:

I
n one of his first appearances on Fox News, Glenn Beck sent a coded message to the nation's six million Mormons -- or at least those Mormons who believe in what the Latter-day Saints call "the White Horse Prophecy."

"We are at the place where the Constitution hangs in the balance," Beck told Bill O'Reilly on November 14, 2008, just after President Obama's election. "I feel the Constitution is hanging in the balance right now, hanging by a thread unless the good Americans wake up."

Some of the emphasis is mine... but I wanted to make sure you saw this line:

The Constitution is hanging by a thread.

According to Milbank, this is the Call to Arms, so to speak. He goes on to say:

The phrase is often attributed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church. Smith is believed to have said in 1840 that when the Constitution hangs by a thread, elders of the Mormon Church will step in -- on the proverbial white horse -- to save the country.

"When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it," Brigham Young, Smith's successor as head of the church, wrote in 1855.

He goes on to show how other members of the Mormon Church have backed Beck up when talking.

Was it just a coincidence in wording, or was Beck, a 1999 Mormon convert, speaking in coded language about the need to fulfill the Mormon prophecy? A conversation on Beck's radio show ten days earlier would seem to rule out coincidence. Beck was interviewing Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, also a Mormon, when he said: "I heard Barack Obama talk about the Constitution and I thought, we are at the point or we are very near the point where our Constitution is hanging by a thread."

"Well, let me tell you something," Hatch responded. "I believe the Constitution is hanging by a thread."

Days after Beck's Fox show started in January 2009, he had Hatch on, and again prompted him: "I believe our Constitution hangs by a thread."

I thought this part was very interesting, however since I don't listen to Beck I had never thought much of it.

In addition to the coded allusions to the White Horse Prophecy, he often brings Mormon theology into his broadcasts (he touts the thinking of late church president Ezra Taft Benson and he frequently promotes the work Mormon conspiracy theorist Cleon Skousen) but without identifying them with the LDS church.

Then he uses history to teach us more...

Before the Mormons went west, Smith traveled to Washington seeking help for his oppressed followers and received nothing but frustration. Rather than turning on the government, however, "They considered themselves the last Real Americans, the legitimate heirs of the pilgrims and Founding Fathers," Pat Bagley wrote in the Salt Lake Tribune. "And, they believed, the very survival of the Constitution depended on the Saints. From Smith on, LDS leaders prophesied the Constitution would one day hang by a thread, only to be saved by Mormons."

A compilation of church leaders' statements over the years by the journal BYU Studies shows this strain of thinking. Though there are doubts about whether Smith actually wrote the phrase "hang by a thread," his successors left no doubt about the theology behind it. Orson Hyde, a Smith contemporary, wrote that Smith believed that "the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and said [Smith]: 'If the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the elders of this Church.'"

As you can see, this should be worrying. It is one thing for the Christian right to try to take over, at least they are out in the open about it... But the Mormons are trying to do it while not bringing public attention to what they plan.

Milbank finishes this piece by saying this:

But there is a Beckian twist in his version of the prophecy. Unlike the church leaders' versions, Beck's vision carries the possibility of a bloody end. On the night of Feb. 24, 2009, Beck outlined this prospect for his viewers. People who "don't trust the government," he said, would "see the government as violating the Constitution, and they will see themselves as defenders of the Constitution. Not a good mix. Then they take matters into their own hands."

It was Glenn Beck in a nutshell: White Horse Prophecy meets horsemen of the apocalypse.

I firmly believe the words of Beck carry with them a danger and a chilling reach to violence. Note the other TeaBaggers who have also called for violence. Angle, asking for 2nd amendment remedies, taking out Harry Reid... all those are attributed to her. Then there is the candidate who says he confused his names the other day, calling for the assassination of Obama, not once but several times, then later saying he meant Osama... Yeah right.

We know the likes of SP, she who will not be named on this blog, who is also advocating violence and wishes for End Times to happen soon. Matter of fact, all the so called Religious Right have done the same. They all want the world to end so they can be lifted up to Heaven with their Jesus.

I must say, their Jesus and my Jesus are two very different people.

So what do you think.. Does Dana Milbank have a point. He has just published a book about Beck, called
Tears of a Clown: Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagging of America, a fitting title don't you think? I am going to have to get this book. Then I will let you know what I think.

Let me know how you feel about this, and again, just another thing to worry about from the Right WingNuts of America.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Strengthening Education, Not Cutting It

From the White House blog:

The President explains that even as we focus on creating jobs immediately, we must also ensure the economy is better for our children by investing in education – not cutting it by 20% as Congressional Republicans propose.



If you would like to read the transcript you can do so by going HERE.

When I hear people say "this President just doesn't get it" I have to wonder if they really listen to him or if they really see him as you and I do.

It is a proven fact, GOPers hate education. I think this is because they feel if they keep the electorate uneducated, they will always have voters. I firmly believe this to be true. Why else is it that Children's issues and education are the first things they cut?

Just look around, the Tea Baggers and their spelling errors in the signs... Even an ad the other day targeting the wrong person. Granted it was his brother, but how do you confuse Ken with John? One has never been a Congressman, and is the Secretary of the Interior, the other is the Congressman they were supposed to be targeting. Yet they used Ken's name 5 times in a spot, with no later retraction, apology or even an explanation.

All part of the "dumbing down of America" which has been talked about since Reagan.. Yeah good old St Ronnie was the one who started this mess, and it continues to this day.

This is just another reason we have to get out and vote Democratic on Nov. 2nd. Please encourage others and don't forget to vote.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Solar Power & a Clean Energy Economy

From the White House blog:

The President points to a revolutionary new solar plant that will employ 1,000 people and power 140,000 homes. The plant is possible because of the President’s investments in the clean energy economy, which Congressional Republicans want to eliminate.



I really believe in the steps we have taken towards a green energy and alternative energy path. We need to push this and make it go forward in a huge way. Just another reason to keep the Democrats in power... because as the President said, the GOPers and teabaggers will just end all the projects that are in the works and that are helping our economy.

I think this is the future of our economy. We can bring back manufacturing and more jobs by building these power plants and by building the parts they need. We have several of these plants already working in this country, but we need more.

This is the time for us to make the point and push toward a new way forward. Let's make this our "mission to space" moment as JFK did. If we can each push and contact our reps and get our voices out that we want this. We can do it.

The President said it best in the last paragraph of his message:

We can go back to the failed energy policies that profited the oil companies but weakened our country. We can go back to the days when promising industries got set up overseas. Or we can go after new jobs in growing industries. And we can spur innovation and help make our economy more competitive. We know the choice that’s right for America. We need to do what we’ve always done – put our ingenuity and can do spirit to work to fight for a brighter future.

Let's do this.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Crossroads on the Economy

From the White House blog:

The President lays out the choice between his plan to keep our economy moving forward, and the agenda put out by Republicans in Congress taking us backward to the special interest economy that created this mess.



No one highlighted this better this week than Jon Stewart. He took the "Pledge" from the GOPers and compared it to what they said in the past. Almost word for word, everything in this so called new pledge is exactly what they have said before.

John Boehner himself said, "We are not going to be any different than before". Now that is telling isn't it.

If people would just see this and realize how little new the GOPers have... surely they won't vote for them. How anyone could look at it and see they are wanting to take us back and act like everything didn't happen the way it did. Mostly due to their incompetence, spending and tax cuts.

I usually don't add anything to this, but as I said Jon did it so well, I think it bears watching.. So I am adding his take on the Pledge to the President's Address. Watch and behold why he has been voted the most trusted man in the news.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Postcards From the Pledge
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorTea Party

Like I commented at Sue's blog, New GOPers, just like the Old GOPers... no new ideas, not listening to the people and nothing to offer at all.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Why the DSCC Loves Sarah Palin




This is from Shannyn Moore and AKM (Mudflats) They are asking us all to share this and if we can to donate to Scott McAdams. Please do what you can.. This is a Senate seat we can win... and we need all the seats we can get.

It’s mind-boggling how the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee hasn’t shown up for Scott McAdams, Alaska’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.

They’ve had weeks to help secure a now open seat they didn’t think they had a prayer to take. Why aren’t they fighting for Alaska? Lisa Murkowski asked McAdams where his DSCC support was. When it didn’t show, she threw back in as a write-in candidate.

The front page of their website features a picture of Sarah Palin. Fear of her brand of crazy has been an ATM for the DSCC. They’ve raised millions off of Palin word salads with guano dressing. The DSCC website also has a link to Palin’s anointed Alaskan proxy for US Senate, Joe Miller, but they haven’t supported his opponent.

Alaska is the cheapest place in the country to run a campaign. One hundred dollars of campaign money in such a small market is equivalent to $2,000 for a race in Texas. With Palin’s negative numbers over 50%, her candidate, Joe Miller, is vulnerable. The Tea Party is recruiting people with “Lisa M” type names to run a write-in, and every Murkowski vote will be challenged by their attorneys. It will make the Franken/Coleman recount look like play-dough hour in kindergarten.

52% of Alaska’s voters are registered independent or undeclared. Nate Silver thinks Murkowski could win a write-in campaign? He’s wrong about Alaska – again. Ask NOT-Congressman Ethan Berkowitz. Silver projected Ethan would best incumbent Don Young in 2008. He didn’t.

Nationally, both Democrats and Republicans are underestimating Sarah Palin. The DSCC and others do this at their own peril. There is a chance to drive a political stake through the heart of the Palin king-maker meme. I realize Palin is a money maker, but neutering her politically by electing a Democratic Senator in Alaska is priceless.

Please help Alaska take our state forward. Save yourselves. Support Scott McAdams for U. S. Senate. Contribute to Scott McAdams campaign.

Call the DSCC and ask them to FINANCIALLY support Alaska’s democratic candidate. 202-224-2447 Email them at info@dscc.org.

Please take a minute and show your support for a good Democratic candidate. So far the DSCC is NOT giving him any financial support. We can win this seat if we can help him. Even if you can't donate, at least send an email or make a phone call to the DSCC... They send us emails all the time asking for money. But are not using it in markets where it can make a huge difference.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: The Republican Corporate Power Grab

From the White House blog:

The President explains how the most dire warnings about the Citizens United case have been proven valid as Republicans in Congress have blocked legislation to fix it.



The last paragraph says why this is so important.

But more than that, you can make sure that the tens of millions of dollars spent on misleading ads do not drown out your voice. Because no matter how many ads they run – no matter how many elections they try to buy – the power to determine the fate of this country doesn’t lie in their hands. It lies in yours. It’s up to all of us to defend that most basic American principle of a government of, by, and for the people. What’s at stake is not just an election. It’s our democracy itself.

Again... What's at stake is not just an election. It's our democracy itself. I think this is the most important line. If we don't stand up and get out the vote, we are going to be letting these corporations run our country. Is that what you want.

I don't, I don't want some CEO telling me what I can and can't do, what I can and can't buy. Where I can go. Believe me this isn't paranoia speaking, this is what will happen more than it has ever happened before, if we allow this election and subsequent ones to be stolen by these no name no face big money ad buyers. They are setting the tone for this election.

I am sure you have seen some of them, I know I have. The names sound wonderful in some cases, Americans for American Values for one.. Doesn't that sound good... but if you look they are nothing but a front group for some big corporation, such as Koch Industries.

So please, no matter how you feel about the candidate in your state, get out and vote. Don't let these shadow corporations and unknown entities buy this election, or any other. You still have the power to stop it by your vote.

Monday, September 13, 2010

A Message From the Republican Party.

I got this from a friend on FaceBook and thought it was so good I just had to share it with everyone.

Please listen carefully and to the end... I swear you will enjoy it.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: A Day That Tested Our Country

From the White House blog:

The President marks the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks as a National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor those who lost their lives.

* Volunteer in your community through Serve.gov.



Please take a minute to remember in your own way, what today is. Then do something for someone else.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Four Deformations of the Apocalypse, Reagan was Wrong.

A friend pointed me to this Op-Ed from the Aug 1st issue of the New York Times. It is written by David Stockman, a director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Ronald Reagan. This was one of the so called architects of "Trickle Down" economics. Now he has seen the error of his ways.

From the Op-Ed:

IF there were such a thing as Chapter 11 for politicians, the Republican push to extend the unaffordable Bush tax cuts would amount to a bankruptcy filing. The nation’s public debt — if honestly reckoned to include municipal bonds and the $7 trillion of new deficits baked into the cake through 2015 — will soon reach $18 trillion. That’s a Greece-scale 120 percent of gross domestic product, and fairly screams out for austerity and sacrifice. It is therefore unseemly for the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, to insist that the nation’s wealthiest taxpayers be spared even a three-percentage-point rate increase.

More fundamentally, Mr. McConnell’s stand puts the lie to the Republican pretense that its new monetarist and supply-side doctrines are rooted in its traditional financial philosophy. Republicans used to believe that prosperity depended upon the regular balancing of accounts — in government, in international trade, on the ledgers of central banks and in the financial affairs of private households and businesses, too. But the new catechism, as practiced by Republican policymakers for decades now, has amounted to little more than money printing and deficit finance — vulgar Keynesianism robed in the ideological vestments of the prosperous classes.

This approach has not simply made a mockery of traditional party ideals. It has also led to the serial financial bubbles and Wall Street depredations that have crippled our economy. More specifically, the new policy doctrines have caused four great deformations of the national economy, and modern Republicans have turned a blind eye to each one.

The bolding is mine because I thought that was a great point. We have all seen this happen since deregulation started. After the Glass-Stegal was enacted by FDR, our economy was stabilized and we didn't have the huge bubble and bust recessions we have seen lately. But let Mr. Stockman tell you in his words.

The first of these started when the Nixon administration defaulted on American obligations under the 1944 Bretton Woods agreement to balance our accounts with the world. Now, since we have lived beyond our means as a nation for nearly 40 years, our cumulative current-account deficit — the combined shortfall on our trade in goods, services and income — has reached nearly $8 trillion. That’s borrowed prosperity on an epic scale.

It is also an outcome that Milton Friedman said could never happen when, in 1971, he persuaded President Nixon to unleash on the world paper dollars no longer redeemable in gold or other fixed monetary reserves. Just let the free market set currency exchange rates, he said, and trade deficits will self-correct.

It may be true that governments, because they intervene in foreign exchange markets, have never completely allowed their currencies to float freely. But that does not absolve Friedman’s $8 trillion error. Once relieved of the discipline of defending a fixed value for their currencies, politicians the world over were free to cheapen their money and disregard their neighbors.

Oh, SNAP... did he just tell them they were wrong? Let's continue, shall we?
The second unhappy change in the American economy has been the extraordinary growth of our public debt. In 1970 it was just 40 percent of gross domestic product, or about $425 billion. When it reaches $18 trillion, it will be 40 times greater than in 1970. This debt explosion has resulted not from big spending by the Democrats, but instead the Republican Party’s embrace, about three decades ago, of the insidious doctrine that deficits don’t matter if they result from tax cuts.

In 1981, traditional Republicans supported tax cuts, matched by spending cuts, to offset the way inflation was pushing many taxpayers into higher brackets and to spur investment. The Reagan administration’s hastily prepared fiscal blueprint, however, was no match for the primordial forces — the welfare state and the warfare state — that drive the federal spending machine.

Soon, the neocons were pushing the military budget skyward. And the Republicans on Capitol Hill who were supposed to cut spending exempted from the knife most of the domestic budget — entitlements, farm subsidies, education, water projects. But in the end it was a new cadre of ideological tax-cutters who killed the Republicans’ fiscal religion

Through the 1984 election, the old guard earnestly tried to control the deficit, rolling back about 40 percent of the original Reagan tax cuts. But when, in the following years, the Federal Reserve chairman, Paul Volcker, finally crushed inflation, enabling a solid economic rebound, the new tax-cutters not only claimed victory for their supply-side strategy but hooked Republicans for good on the delusion that the economy will outgrow the deficit if plied with enough tax cuts.

By fiscal year 2009, the tax-cutters had reduced federal revenues to 15 percent of gross domestic product, lower than they had been since the 1940s. Then, after rarely vetoing a budget bill and engaging in two unfinanced foreign military adventures, George W. Bush surrendered on domestic spending cuts, too — signing into law $420 billion in non-defense appropriations, a 65 percent gain from the $260 billion he had inherited eight years earlier.
.

Once again, the emphasis is mine... but I think he meant them to be this way. I only wish this had gotten more news when it was written.. However now, I want to make sure we see this.

The third ominous change in the American economy has been the vast, unproductive expansion of our financial sector. Here, Republicans have been oblivious to the grave danger of flooding financial markets with freely printed money and, at the same time, removing traditional restrictions on leverage and speculation. As a result, the combined assets of conventional banks and the so-called shadow banking system (including investment banks and finance companies) grew from a mere $500 billion in 1970 to $30 trillion by September 2008.

But the trillion-dollar conglomerates that inhabit this new financial world are not free enterprises. They are rather wards of the state, extracting billions from the economy with a lot of pointless speculation in stocks, bonds, commodities and derivatives. They could never have survived, much less thrived, if their deposits had not been government-guaranteed and if they hadn’t been able to obtain virtually free money from the Fed’s discount window to cover their bad bets
.

Deregulation anyone?
The fourth destructive change has been the hollowing out of the larger American economy. Having lived beyond our means for decades by borrowing heavily from abroad, we have steadily sent jobs and production offshore. In the past decade, the number of high-value jobs in goods production and in service categories like trade, transportation, information technology and the professions has shrunk by 12 percent, to 68 million from 77 million. The only reason we have not experienced a severe reduction in nonfarm payrolls since 2000 is that there has been a gain in low-paying, often part-time positions in places like bars, hotels and nursing homes.

It is not surprising, then, that during the last bubble (from 2002 to 2006) the top 1 percent of Americans — paid mainly from the Wall Street casino — received two-thirds of the gain in national income, while the bottom 90 percent — mainly dependent on Main Street’s shrinking economy — got only 12 percent. This growing wealth gap is not the market’s fault. It’s the decaying fruit of bad economic policy.

This was very interesting to me... one of the creators is now crying about it's creation. Seems like Dr. Frankenstein is hating his monster isn't he?

Of course it is pretty obvious why this didn't get more notice.. It goes against the grain of all the financial talk the GOPers are pushing, even the so called "librul" New York Times didn't push it further.. Why not? Why are not all the financial wonder kids talking about this... the fact the designer is hating his fashion..

I know we all knew this... but maybe someone who didn't will read it and think a little about the oft pushed tax cuts solve everything.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Honoring the American Worker

From the White House blog:

The President talks about his fight to make America work for the middle class and make sure hard work is rewarded -- rather than greed and recklessness .



I think this is great, the President is laying out everything that has been done for the Middle Class and adding some things he wants to get done. I wish more of the people who are claiming he has done nothing would look at this.

Get this to everyone so they learn what the Democrats have done for everyone. I say Democrats because they have had very little if any help from the Republicans. If they can't view the video, here is a LINK to the transcript.

I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend. Enjoy the holiday, but take a minute to thank the ones who are working to see you have a great time and another minute to all who have gone before, making this the greatest country on Earth.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: The End of Combat Operations in Iraq

From the White House blog:

With the end of combat operations in Iraq days ahead, the President salutes our troops for their service and pledges to fulfill America’s commitment to them as veterans. 90,000 troops have left Iraq since the President came into office, and by the end of next year even the troops taking part in the non-combat mission will be home. The administration is upholding the sacred trust with our veterans by building a 21st century VA, making it easier for veterans with PTSD to receive the benefits they need, funding and implementing a Post-9/11 GI Bill, and devoting new resources to job training and placement to help those veterans looking for work in a tough economy.

Join the President, Dr. Jill Biden, and even Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints in saluting our troops for their service.



Since I deal with the VA system quite a bit through my dad, my uncle and others, I can attest to the fact things are going smoother than they were. Payments are being made faster, and it seems the care is getting better.

We see more and more, caring doctors and nurses, rather than someone who is just putting in their time until they go home... and trust me it used to be just that way.

We owe these veterans everything. No matter how we feel about the wars, no matter that we supported it or not, we OWE our veterans. They are doing the job most of us couldn't and wouldn't do. They and their families deserve must more than we could ever repay.

This is one of those times, when it is difficult, I know to separate the warriors from the war... it is always hard to do that... but we must. We must remember our military every day. As I said they are doing a job a lot of us wouldn't or couldn't do. And they are doing it for each of us.

Please take a moment and thank a veteran, a military person, or the family of them, for their sacrifice, their service and their unselfish giving of their lives, or a portion of it for each of us. Because of them, we can criticize the wars, we can do lots of things people in other countries can't... because of our freedoms and the veterans who have fought, bled and died to preserve.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: No Corporate Takeover of Our Democracy

From the White House blog:

The President calls out Republicans for blocking campaign finance reforms that would address the Supreme Court decision opening the floodgates of corporate money into elections.



This is something we should all be concerned about. This corporate takeover of the elections and our Democracy. With the Citizen's United case it has opened the floodgates of money to elections and to special interest groups and allows them to donate without disclosing names or individuals who have given.

We have had enough problems with elections in this country. Now we have to worry that the one with the biggest pocket, not necessarily the best person for the job, will be winning.

It reminds me of the old days, when people bought votes, dead people were voting and the like. We can't allow this to happen. We shouldn't allow this to happen.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Honoring Social Security, Not Privatizing It

From the White House blog:

On the 75th anniversary of Social Security, President Obama promises to protect it from Republican leaders in Congress who have made privatization a key part of their agenda. He makes clear that, especially in light of the financial crisis, gambling Social Security on Wall Street makes no sense.



As I am sure we all do, I have many friends and family who lost a bundle of money when the market crashed in September 2008. It is still not stable enough to plan on keeping anything in it as far as I am concerned.

Just a few weeks back, it fell again and this week has been down a lot. Can you imagine what that would do to our Social Security. Most people don't have enough to live on in the first place.... To have lost 50% or more would be enough to send the majority of people to the bread lines we still fear we are going to see.

I hope this Congress doesn't even think seriously about this. I believe they would sorely test the President and we would see him angry and adamant in a veto.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Report by CBO Shows The Recovery Act Reduced the Deficit

I found the link to this report on BobCesca.com and had to share the report and some of the information with you.

This report was written by Economists Alan Blinder and Mark Zandi and published by the CBO. This chart shows what the deficit would be without the Recovery Act and how it is WITH the Recovery Act.


From the Wonk Room at Think Progress comes this:

Their conclusion is that had the combined financial and fiscal policies not been enacted, “GDP in 2010 would be about 6.5 percent lower, payroll employment would be less by some 8.5 million jobs, and the nation would be experiencing deflation.”

Blinder and Zandi break out their estimates separately for the financial policies and the fiscal policies. They estimate that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other fiscal policies have saved or created 2.7 million jobs and without them, unemployment would stand at 11 percent and job losses would have totaled 10 million. On top of this, they estimate that if nothing had been done to address the financial crisis — no Troubled Asset Relief Program, no bailout of American International Group Inc, and no investment in the auto industry — our economy would have 5 million fewer jobs than we do today and unemployment would be sharply higher, at 12.5 percent.

However, one tidbit in the report that has received little notice is that by acting, Congress actually reduced our potential deficit problem. Given the policy steps taken, Blinder and Zandi estimate that by the end of the 2010 fiscal year, the federal budget deficit will be $1.4 trillion and it will fall to $1.15 trillion in fiscal year 2011 and $900 billion in fiscal year 2012.

The bolding is mine... because I wanted to make sure you saw it. For some reason all these so called Deficit Hawks are ignoring this in their reports and talking. Here is more:

However, had Congress done nothing, the deficit would have ballooned even higher, hitting over $2 trillion by the end of the 2010 fiscal year, $2.6 trillion in fiscal year 2011, and $2.25 trillion in fiscal year 2012. That’s right, doing nothing would have meant that the 2012 federal budget deficit would likely be over 2.5 times as large as taking the steps we took.

Once again bolding is mine. This is something we should be shouting from the rooftops and lording over the GOPers who are claiming now to want to reduce the deficit. A deficit that is largely due to their policies and the spending that went on during the years of 2001 and 2006 especially and to a smaller extent from 2006 to 2008.

Here is a nifty little chart that shows all the spending and how it is divided by category


As is shown by this chart the Bush Tax Cuts and the downturn of the economy added much more to the deficit than anything President Obama and the current Congress has done.

If you want to read the entire article from the Wonk Room, just give it a click.

We need to get this out and let people know the TRUTH about what is going on with the Finances of our Country. I have not seen this on any media outlet and I know it will never get much play if any on Faux Noise, because it tells the truth.

I hope you read the report and post these charts so everyone can see them... Please feel free to take anything you want... Linky love if you can, but is not necessary. I just want everyone, including some of the RWNJ's out there to see these and try to explain how the GOPers are going to fix this.
.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Medicare Officially Safer After Health Reform

From the White House blog:

The President discusses a new Medicare Trustees report showing Medicare to be on much stronger footing as a result of the reforms in the Affordable Care Act. In addition, seniors are also already getting help with prescription drug costs when they fall into the infamous “donut hole.”



The President lays out the reforms in Medicare and shows how much the new Health Care Reform has helped already.

For me personally, this is all good news. Helping us with the Donut Hole is wonderful. This is a terrible problem for seniors who are on high cost meds. I have one I take that costs almost $2,000 a month. Yes it is crazy, but that's what we all face. Anyone who takes medicine on a daily basis faces these costs.

The saving grace in all this is our prescription drug coverage, however when Medicare D was enacted instead of trying to get lower priced drugs, the provision put in this Donut Hole. Once an individual reaches $2700 in prescription costs, until they pay out of their pocket $6,154 they are responsible for the entire cost of their meds. As you can see it doesn't take long to get there.

After the $6,154 the Medicare D coverage starts again and pays 95% of the costs. Now some supplemental plans or Medicare Advantage plans do help out with this. But even with that, I reach the Hole every year and have to pay more for my meds for several months.

I am glad this is one of the steps that was taken in the Health Care Reform. These are the little things some people think was not needed, but trust me, if you are on Medicare and you hit that hole, this is huge.

Just the fact that so far the reforms has helped Medicare's solvency is wonderful. Wonder how the GOBP will spin this.... Since according to them it was going to harm the plan so much. Of course if they do what they usually do, they will just ignore it. They never talk about the things they predict which never happen. Those are ignored and hopefully forgotten.

We should point this out over and over again, how wrong they were and if given the chance, ask them about it. If we don't start challenging some of their outlandish claims and reminding them of the lies they told, they are going to get away with it again and again, but if we start holding them accountable, maybe someone will take notice.

Those are my thoughts anyway... What are yours?

Saturday, July 31, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Good News on Autos, Obstruction on Small Business

From the White House blog:

President Obama praises the successes of the auto industry restructuring as good news for our economy, and calls on Republican leaders in the Senate to “stop holding America’s small businesses hostage to politics” by blocking a vote to help them create jobs.



Once again, the President explains his actions and calls out the "Party of NO". I had mixed feelings on the loans for the Auto Companies. I supported it, yet was afraid we would lose money.

Again, as I said the President calls out the Rethugs on their obstructionism. The Small Business Act is the latest.

I am loving the President calling them out and letting everyone who will listen where he stands and where they stand. This is something that is very needed. If people will just open their eyes and ears and see and listen....lol I know, asking for a lot, aren't I?

Maybe, just maybe if enough of us do this... and people can see it, they will realize how much the Rethugs are hurting this country. One can only hope.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Moving Forward on the Economy vs. Moving Backward

From the White House blog:

Following the signing of historic Wall Street Reform legislation, the President lays out his plans to strengthen the middle class, give tax breaks to small businesses that create jobs here, invest in homegrown, clean energy, and cut taxes for working families. The President also contrasts that plan with the agenda outlined by the Republican House Leader that would return America to the policies that created this economic crisis, drastically increase the deficit, and make permanent massive tax breaks for the very wealthiest Americans.



We can't talk about this enough. People have a choice to make this election and we have to remind them where we came from. Some still doubt that we were about to go into a financial collapse. Yes, it was of the banks own making but still it is hard to prove that something was stopped from happening.

No one, least of all the President wanted to rescue the banks, but it was believed at the time BUSH did the first bailout of them, it was absolutely necessary. We also have to remind people it was BUSH who started it... I saw a poll the other day which stated over 50% of the people think it was Pres. Obama who did Tarp.

It is a pretty simple choice.. the same policies that got us here, or the policies that are getting us out. No it isn't happening as quickly as everyone really wants, but it is happening.

I hope you can get the vote out this fall so we don't go back. Another thing for consideration, if the Rethugs come back into power, it will be endless investigations and even impeachment for the President.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Filibustering Recovery & Obstructing Progress

From the White House blog:

The President blasts Republicans in the Senate who are blocking unemployment insurance and small business tax breaks to create jobs -- even as they push for permanent, massive tax cuts for the richest Americans.



Once again the President is calling out the "Party of NO" on their obstruction of everything, but especially the Unemployment Benefits that are so very needed right now. Never before has one party in Congress ever stopped UI benefits... but with the "Party of NO" they don't care..... all they are concerned in is trying to win.

Will they win in November... I hope not... but they might gain a few... If so NOTHING will get done next year or the year after...

I can only hope this will backfire on them and they will lose again. That's what I am thinking, with all their obstructing they will actually lose seats. Get out the vote... and hope this will work.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Help for Vets with PTSD

From the White House blog:

President Obama announces that the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by Secretary Shinseki, will begin making it easier for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to receive the benefits and treatment they need.



This is a wonderful step.. I am glad the President and Sec. Shinseki have decided to do this and make it easier for our veterans to get the help they need.

I have helped several veterans try to get their benefits due to PTSD and it is so difficult and finding proof sometimes just isn't possible. Especially for the older vets...

Once again, this president has shown how much he supports our veterans and our military... Wonder who is going to attack him on this now?

Saturday, July 3, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: A Solar Recovery

From the White House blog:

As part of the explosion of Recovery Act projects this summer and as a move towards a clean energy future, the President announces nearly $2 billion in conditional commitments to key solar companies. Learn more from the White House fact sheet.



This address has everything....lol He calls out the GOPers, he talks about new jobs in the Solar and Wind Energy field. Then at the last he reminds us of our greatness as a country and he mentions the troops around the world.

I love how he is taking on the GOPers... all I can say to that is MORE...lol People need to realize how much they are blocking and what they are blocking. The benefits to veterans, the unemployment extensions and a new jobs bill to help this economy continue to recover.

All this deficit talk is nonsense. Don't people realize once the jobs start coming back and revenues go up the deficit will go down? How can they not see that? I am not talking about the GOPers... they have decided if they can obstruct and keep this recovery from happening they will regain power... That's all this is, an attempt at a power grab.

I have to wonder how many people who are struggling and out of work are worrying about the deficit in this country. I don't think it is that many.... but the GOPers with the media helping as always is trying to push this. Please help educate people about this. If you find someone who is expressing concern... explain it to them. But remember you may have to use small words...........LOL

Thursday, July 1, 2010

The Video BP Doesn't Want You to See!

This video first came to my attention from Matt @ OsborneInk... One of the very best blogs out there.

Then last night Olbermann showed parts of it on his show... I was wanting to get this up yesterday morning but ran out of time.. So here it is.

This is sickening and disgusting and it tells the story as to why BP has kept most reporters out and why they won't allow flyovers. This was done unauthorized by BP or anyone... but it is a must see. This is what they are denying is happening, when BP says there are no plumes of oil on the water.

The man who shot it was also on with Keith and told about it.. His name is John L. Wathen and he blogs @ www.bpoilslick.blogspot.com I know how hard it is to watch these... but this one really needs to be seen by everyone. Post it.. blog about it.. get the word out there... This is what we need to see to help us realize what is going on and to realize how vital it is we get off this oil addiction we suffer from.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

The President's Weekly Address: Finishing the Job on Wall Street Reform

From the White House blog:

With Congress having finalized a strong Wall Street reform bill, the President urges Congress to finish the job and send the bill to his desk. The legislation reflects 90% of what the President originally proposed, including the strongest consumer financial protections in history with an independent agency to enforce them. It ensures that the trading of derivatives, which helped trigger this crisis, will be brought into the light of day, and enacts the “Volcker Rule,” which will make sure banks protected by safety nets like the FDIC cannot engage in risky trades. It also creates a resolution authority to wind down firms whose collapse would threaten the entire financial system. Wall Street reform will end taxpayer funded bailouts and make sure Main Street is never again held responsible for Wall Street’s mistakes.



Hopefully this will get passed very soon. If the GOPers just don't filibuster this as well. We need this to be done. Does it address everything... NO... but it is a good bill all in all.

We have to stop this no regulation and no rules era we have been living in. It has caused more problems in this country than anything else we have in place.

Please, take a minute to write, call or somehow get in touch with your Congressperson and express your support for this.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Governor's of the Gulf Coast Not Using Nat. Guard

I just found this link from a commenter at BobCesca.com. This is just stupidity in action.

From the article at CBS.com:

Gov. Bobby Jindal's message has been loud and clear, using language such as "We will only be winning this war when we're actually deploying every resource," "They (the federal government) can provide more resources" and "It's clear the resources needed to protect our coast are still not here."

But nearly two months after the governor requested - and the Department of Defense approved the use of 6,000 Louisiana National Guard troops - only a fraction - 1,053 - have actually been deployed by Jindal to fight the spill.

-snip-

As of today, the federal government has authorized a total of 17,500 National Guard troops across four Gulf states, all to be paid for by BP.

But CBS News has learned that in addition to Louisiana's 1,053 troops of 6,000, Alabama has deployed 432 troops of 3,000 available. Even fewer have been deployed in Florida - 97 troops out of 2,500 - and Mississippi - 58 troops out of 6,000.

What is going on? These GOPer Governors are all saying the Federal Government needs to do more, yet the resources the President has given them are not being used.
It's believed officials in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi and are reluctant to use more troops because their presence could hurt tourism. In hardest-hit Louisiana, however, Jindal is pointing fingers.

"Actually we asked the White House to approve the initial 6,000," Jindal said. "What they came back and said is the Coast Guard and BP had to authorize individual tasks."

But Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander in charge of the government's response to the spill, said Jindal is just flat wrong.

"There is nothing standing in the governor's way from utilizing more National Guard troops," Allen said.

In fact, the Coast Guard says every request to use the National Guard has been approved, usually within a day. Now Jindal's office acknowledged to CBS News the governor has not specifically asked for more Guard troops to be deployed.

Whether it's simple confusion or the infusion of politics into the spill, the fact remains thousands of helping hands remain waiting to be used.

Why are they lying about the Guard when the Governor's are the ones responsible for utilizing them, after they have been approved by the Administration.

To me this is just another attempt to paint the President as not doing his job, at the expense of Gulf Coast residents... and politics. The GOPers want to point fingers at the President, yet here they are standing in the way of progress in cleaning up the oil.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Just politics as usual? Or something else keeping them from allowing the Guard to help.