tomorrow

Low voter turnout delivers high viewer tune-out

"but the relatively low news numbers across the board reflected widespread apathy over an election in which three out of four eligible voters stayed home."

This is surely Rahm's fault.

"this machine kills fascists"

(via Twitter) joshtpm: Republicans to run on slashing Social Security and Abolishing Medicare as 2010 platform

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/02/game_on_3.php

Amid media blackout
Congressional hearing reveals US intelligence agencies shielded Flight 253 bomber
By Alex Lantier
3 February 2010
A January 27 hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security established that US intelligence agencies stopped the State Department from revoking the US visa of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The Nigerian student, whom US officials suspected of being affiliated with the Yemeni terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, attempted to set off a bomb on Northwest Flight 253 into Detroit on Christmas Day. Revocation of Abdulmutallab’s visa would have prevented him from boarding the airplane.

The hearing was reported in a brief article posted January 27 on the web site of the Detroit News, headlined, “Terror Suspect Kept Visa to Avoid Tipping Off Larger Investigation.”

The revelation that US intelligence agencies made a deliberate decision to allow Abdulmutallab to board the commercial flight, without any special airport screening, has been buried in the media. As of this writing, nearly a week after the hearing, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times have published no articles on the subject. Nor have the broadcast or cable media reported on it.

This is despite—or perhaps more accurately, because of—the fact that this information exposes the official government story of the near-disaster to be a lie. President Obama, who has joined with top US intelligence, FBI and Homeland Security officials to insist that Abdulmutallab was inadvertently allowed to board the plane carrying explosives because of a failure to “connect the dots,” has from the start been deceiving the American people.

The official line strained credulity from the outset, given reports of multiple advance warnings that the Nigerian student was linked to terrorists in Yemen who were planning attacks on the US.
-more-
http://wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/f253-f03.shtml

http://detnews.com/article/20100127/NATION/1270405/Terror-suspect-kept-v...

http://homeland.house.gov/Hearings/index.asp?ID=234

Senate Committee (Sen. Mary Landrieu, committee member) hearings--
http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hea...

http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hea...

now some off topic stuff for ya

(i should have posted on the got nothing thread with a heading "got something" but sam went on and started a new thread)

here's to sam and the yt, can't wait to hear ya!

in this part of the world (like bush used to say)

this merits a repost

(via Twitter) joshtpm: Republicans to run on slashing Social Security and Abolishing Medicare as 2010 platform

...who could have seen that coming? ;)

With the election wins in NJ, VA and MA, they are getting cocky and this may just take them down for good. At least that is my hope for these thugs; but I never underestimate the support of the media for the thugs' endeavors and the willingness of Americans' to go against their own best interests.

and i'm outta here

I posted it on Twitter and even worked in a #demonsheep! ;)

"this machine kills fascists"

with people hurting thanks to the republican induced recession / depression the secret to their success will lie in convincing people that undeserving non white people are getting benefits from the government and that its time for responsible hard working teabaggers to stop supporting lazy shiftless people.

we have a school district that is imploding because it has been unable to pass a levy 4 times to get money to keep its doors open. if these idiots can be convinced not to pay for their kids education, it should be a slam dunk to convince them not to pay for healthcare or living expenses for somebody in the next county.

Good Morning Sederville! It's a cloudy 32F.

-----

Submitted by SEDER on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 9:09am.

Max Blumenthal:

O’Keefe Contradicts Breitbart, A Source Details O’Keefe’s Role In White Supremacist Confab

Previously I reported that right-wing prankster James O’Keefe attended a white nationalist gathering in 2006 that featured speakers known for the racist ideology they have proudly espoused: Jared Taylor and John Derbyshire. I called O’Keefe’s lawyer for a comment but neither he nor O’Keefe would respond. O’Keefe has subsequently admitted that he participated in the event. According to an otherwise fact-challenged post on Breitbart, the website that has paid O’Keefe, O’Keefe said that he “attended the event with many of his Leadership Institute co-workers since it was right across the street from their building in Arlington, Va., and it was organized by other LI associates.”

In fact, a photographer who covered the event told me O’Keefe was helping its chief organizer, Marcus Epstein, and was not an innocent bystander, as he has claimed. But more on that later. First, O’Keefe vs. Breitbart…

Andrew Breitbart, who has paid O’Keefe and attempted to defend him by calling my reporting “FALSE,” has been undermined by O’Keefe himself. O’Keefe concedes my report was true — he was at the event. Breitbart has therefore been contradicted by O’Keefe.

Meanwhile, the apologia Breitbart has commissioned Larry O’Connor to write in defense of O’Keefe is riddled with falsehoods, including that I never called O’Keefe for a comment. In fact, I left a message for his lawyer, Mike Madigan, and heard nothing back — I reported this fact but O’Connor chose to overlook it.

con't

http://maxblumenthal.com/2010/02/okeefe-contradicts-breitbart-a-source

"America's justice system, the establishment, the war on terror, the fraud of the war on terror, all of those things have shown their own ugly faces."

US verdict sparks Pakistan protests

Thousands of Pakistanis have staged rallies against the conviction of a Pakistani scientist found guilty of trying to kill American servicemen in Afghanistan.

Protests were held on Thursday in several cities in Pakistan, where many believe that Aafia Siddiqui is innocent.

The neuroscientist, branded "Lady Qaeda" by some in the US press, disappeared for five years before her arrest in Afghanistan in 2008.

She was convicted in a New York court on Wednesday.

Siddiqui, who was arrested in 2008, was accused of grabbing a US serviceman's rifle and opening fire on her American interrogators, who returned fire.

While none of the US agents or personnel were injured, Siddiqui was shot in the incident.

Siddiqui's relatives condemned the verdict, with Fauzia Siddiqui, her sister, saying the verdict had "rejuvenated" the family.

"And we're proud to be related to her," she said, speaking from the Pakistani city of Karachi.

"America's justice system, the establishment, the war on terror, the fraud of the war on terror, all of those things have shown their own ugly faces."

The AFP news agency quoted Ismat Siddiqui, Aafia's mother, who lives in Karachi, as saying the family had been braced for the verdict but would continue to work for her release.

"I did not expect anything better from an American court. We were ready for the shock and will continue our struggle to get her released," she was quoted as saying.

Government 'dismayed'

Pakistan's government has expressed "dismay" over the verdict, vowing to consult her family and lawyers on how to get Siddiqui released.

Trial 'flawed'

Cageprisoners, a UK-based rights group, rejected the verdict, citing the fact that evidence about Siddiqui's whereabouts prior to her arrest had been disallowed from the trial.

"The case of Aafia Siddiqui carries great significance in terms of the ability of the Obama administration to administer justice," Asim Qureshi, a spokesman for the group, said, referring to the administration of Barack Obama, the US president.

"Already we have seen a blanket refusal to look at the facts of her detention prior to 2008, this verdict will only confirm what many already believe, that it is impossible for Muslim terrorism suspects to receive a fair trial in the US."

At the time of her arrest Siddiqui was allegedly carrying containers of chemicals and notes referring to mass-casualty attacks and New York landmarks.

But she was not charged in connection with those materials and the charges she was convicted of made no mention of terrorism.

During the trial, Linda Moreno, Siddiqui's defence lawyer, argued that there was no evidence the rifle Siddiqui was accused of taking had ever been fired, since no bullets, shell casings or bullet debris were recovered and no bullet holes detected.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/02/201024102050255189.ht...

Wake in Fright (1971)

the title does have that unique aironish quality, doesn't it

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067541/

i'll give it a try, looks good!

Yet another first-class film made in Australia by foreigners (a Canadian director working for a British studio), during the long period from World War II to the early 1970s when Australian cinema lay fallow. Like many other good ones - "The Overlanders" (1946), "They're a Weird Mob" (1966), "Age of Consent" (1969), "Walkabout" (1971) - although "Walkabout" is more seriously flawed than the others I've named - it doesn't feel like a foreign film; it feels as if the director made an honest attempt to be Australian, and succeeded. It's interesting that all
these films are British. American films shot in Australia during the same period are, without qualification, American films; one scarcely even notices that "On the Beach" was shot in Melbourne rather than, say, Capetown or Tierra del Fuego, however many trams and banksias there may be.

The central character is clearly English; just as clearly, he doesn't like Australia. But I suspect that even in 1971 a greater proportion of Australians would have felt themselves to have been trapped in Hell if they'd been in his circumstances, than English. A greater proportion of Australians, then as now, live in cities, and the outback is further away from over 90% of Australians than anything is from anyone in England.

...we can't give up, can't stop voting, can't stop letting our representatives know what we need and want, and can't let fascists go unobstructed.

I refuse to be collateral damage.

maybe not, but one thing is for sure, his strategy as Blue Dog in Chief ain't making it any better....neither is his boss's bipartisan approach...

Did you catch your guy at The Family's annual christian fundamentalist picnic and jamboree this morning praying for bipartisanship...? Try not to be too bitter.....

Thomas defends Supreme Court's campaign ruling

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas told Florida law students that corporations and unions have a First Amendment right to spend money on political candidates.

Thomas spoke Tuesday at Stetson University and defended the Supreme Court's recent decision that corporations and unions can spend freely from their treasuries to run political ads for or against specific candidates.

"I found it fascinating that the people who were editorializing against it were The New York Times Company and The Washington Post Company," Thomas said, according to a report in The New York Times. "These are corporations."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8930823

(Friday) I see.
Watching TYT from work now.
wednesdays show.

At least I now know my employer isn't
blocking the TYT site

.
.
.
_ _ _
brr

brl vod | wtf

I may be a Progressive, but I don't get my panties in a twist over stupid shit like that. This country is hopelessly over-religious, including many of my closest friends and family.

"Blue dog in chief"...yeah yeah, cry me a river...everyone still smooches and high fives whenever a conservative Democrat beats a Republican in a conservative district, regardless of their leanings...they did it when Owens beat Hoffman in NY23 and he ended up voting for HCR in the House...Before that the blogs were beating him up for being too Blue Doggy...they changed their tune instantly when he won and coughed up a yea for the cause.

When a Progressive can successfully primary a conservative Democrat on the issues in a conservative district, then, maybe I'll raise an eyebrow. Until then, well, everyone's gotta do what they gotta do.

Obama attending a prayer breakfast that every President since Ike has attended? Do you really think he's gonna skip it in protest? Really?

At least, he spoke up about equal rights for homosexuals, condemned Uganda to their reps' faces and gave the birthers a good crack on the head. That alone was worth the breakfast, IMO.

"this machine kills fascists"

I'm waiting for him to start painting Bible verses on his face.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is co-hosting the American Prayer Hour -- 8 a.m. at locations scattered around the country or wherever you'd like to pray for "inclusive value and celebrate diversity."

And this was before they knew about Tebow's NPB invite. They've been spending the last few weeks in uproar over Tebow's up-coming anti-abortion at the Super Bowl, an ad sponsored by Focus on the Family which opposes gay rights as well as reproductive rights.

Word from the White House: Obama will talk about:

The need for civility in the public square, and how Americans can work together in a spirit of good will. He will also stress the importance of an openness to compromise and differing perspectives, to disagree without being disagreeable and to step out of our comfort zones to bridge divides."
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/02/obama-nati...

on da blog?

B. of A. to pay $150 million to settle SEC's Merrill charges

By Alistair Barr, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Bank of America Corp. will pay $150 million to settle charges that it failed to disclose huge losses and big bonuses at Merrill Lynch before shareholders voted on its acquisition of the troubled investment bank in 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) said it also entered into an agreement with the North Carolina attorney general to resolve an investigation related to the Merrill deal. The bank's headquarters is in Charlotte, N.C.

"Bank of America is pleased to have come to these agreements with its regulators," the company said in a statement.

"After conducting a full investigation in connection with the actions settled today, the SEC staff has determined that no one acted with any intent to mislead and that charges against individuals for their roles in connection with proxy disclosure are not appropriate," the bank added.

The SEC said it filed a motion seeking court approval for its proposed settlement with Bank of America.

The company will pay $150 million and strengthen its corporate governance and disclosure practices to settle SEC charges that the bank failed to properly disclose employee bonuses and financial losses at Merrill before shareholders approved the acquisition in December 2008, the regulator said.

Bank of America shares fell 3.4% to $15.01 in midday action on Thursday.

The $150 million payment is a civil penalty that will be distributed to shareholders as part of the SEC's Fair Fund program according to a court order, the bank noted.

It also agreed to pay $1 in "disgorgement" and $1 million to the North Carolina attorney general for "consumer protection purposes."

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/story/print?guid=72DF4859-E615-4033-B96...

toniD's Ya Think?

In the build up to the Super Bowl, CBS is playing defense, under pressure from liberal groups accusing the network of bias in its advertising selections.

...The Daily Beast is reporting that CBS worked on the ad with Focus on the Family for months.

Women's groups protested CBS's decision to run the ad. In a letter to the network, The Women's Media Center said that with the decision to run the ad from an "anti-equality, anti-choice, homophobic organization, CBS is aligning itself with a political stance."

In the statement, CBS pointed out the Mancrunch.com ad's "entirely commercial" nature (the network, like U.S. law, treats political speech differently than commercial speech), but many, including the Women's Media Center, are looking past Mancrunch, questioning CBS's previous rejections of advocacy ads by The United Church of Christ (UCC), MoveON.org, and PETA.

In 2004, the UCC produced an ad called 'Bouncer' for a television ad campaign. The ad featured night-club bouncers standing in front of a church, turning away various people, including a same-sex couple. CBS, along with NBC, rejected the ad, citing the Bush administration's stance on same-sex marriage. Fox and a number of cable networks aired the ad.

"CBS said at the time that they would not air advocacy ads,..
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/02/04-1

Had I been president, I would have gone to the breakfast also. Just to push it in their faces. He can always use it later, saying he did try for bipartisanship but the opposition was having none of it.

Could be wrong and I'm not siding with Obama, but I would set them up.

toniD's Ya Think?

Corporations shouldn't criticize corporatism.
Submitted by ghettodefender on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 12:25pm.
----------
How in the fuck do you draw the conclusion noted above from the Guardian (AP) article you linked?

It ain't my job to defend Clarence Thomas. My interest is in shooting down bullshit propaganda regardless of its source.

So, ghettodefender, please explain in detail why you conclude that Thomas was stating that corporations should not criticize the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

Here is the salient portion from the article:

[["I found it fascinating that the people who were editorializing against it were The New York Times Company and The Washington Post Company," Thomas said, according to a report in The New York Times. "These are corporations."]]

My interpretation is this: Thomas was pointing out that two editorials expressing disagreement with the Supreme Court decision emanated from corporations. Thomas described it as "fascinating." I infer irony.

It is possible (if you want to place words in Thomas's mouth) to assume that Thomas implied this: "If the Court's decision is good news for corporations, then why are these two corporations opposed to the decision?"

Even then, no reasonable person would infer that Thomas has stated that corporations do not have a right to speak about the Court's decision.

You credibility stinks with me because you twist shit around in the manner of Karl Rove and other spinmeisters. Congratulations: You have become what you hate.

the triple A sovereign credit rating of the US would come under pressure unless economic growth was more robust than expected or tougher actions were taken to tackle the country’s budget deficit. - FT

The banks want more blood.

Why did Republicans side with AIG bonuses instead of everyone else?
by Chris in Paris on 2/04/2010 12:16:00 PM
The Democrats - especially Timothy Geithner - may have their share of blame in the AIG bonus fiasco but the Republicans don't even try to hide their support. Whose side are they on? Why does the GOP prefer supporting AIG instead of average Americans?

“Representative Terry voted to protect bonuses paid to AIG executives with American tax dollars," DCCC national press secretary Ryan Rudominer said in a template hit on Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.), whom Democrats are hoping to target with a better candidate this fall than they had in 2008.

The release also seeks to tie the GOP lawmakers to "outrageous Wall Street bonuses paid for by President Bush's bailout," though a number of Democrats including the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate had worked vigorously to craft and pass the legislation behind the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

The House passed the clawback bill in a 328-93 vote last March, though the bill did not advance from there. Of the 93 members to vote against the bill, 87 were Republicans.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/79577-dems-seek-to-tie-...

toniD's Ya Think?

White House Prepares for Possibility of 2 Supreme Court Vacancies
SCOTUS Watchers Believe Justices Stevens and Ginsburg Could Decide to Step Aside

by Ariane de Vogue

WASHINGTON - Lawyers for President Obama have been working behind the scenes to prepare for the possibility of one, and maybe two Supreme Court vacancies this spring.

......Top Candidates for Supreme Court

Top candidates went through extensive vetting before Obama settled on Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The short list then included Judge Diane Wood, Elena Kagan, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/02/04-5

Nearly $300,000 worth of clothing ready for sale if Texas had won the BCS championship over Alabama will be sent to Haiti as earthquake relief. - Dallas News

http://joybehar.blogs.cnn.com/

she's having sarah silverman tonight but i don't see any mention of seder anywhere, not in the future not in the past

hammerhead?

he has broken out into full tilt screaming yellow zonkers populism. his current meme is throw all the bums out. imagine the possibilities:

schulz / dobbs 2012

just lookign at that work makes me cringe...they have no intention of working for the good of the country, only obstruction. When will they get it? Losers.

You might enjoy the "Male Inequality" segment from last night's The Daily Show. Samantha Bee is at her best.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

How to Get Our Democracy Back
If You Want Change, You Have to Change Congress
By Lawrence Lessig

This article appeared in the February 22, 2010 edition of The Nation.
February 3, 2010
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100222/lessig

Thank you for signing up. Now spread the word!

Passing an amendment will not be easy. To get there, we must all do our part to get Americans to act if we're truly going to restore integrity to Congress. Take a moment to spread the word our efforts to pass the Fair Elections Now Act and bring about change through an amendment to the Constitution. Use the tools we've provided here to get your friends and family to read Lawrence Lessig's response to the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and urge them to take action.
http://action.change-congress.org/page/invite/amendment

absolving him of responsibility for the Blue Dog problem doesn't fly here...the gridlock and gamesmanship the Blue Dogs cause is not defensible or counteract-able by Obama's blasting of the Rethugs for obstruction, as they are "Democrats"... They have not produced bi-partisanship and have instead made it harder for the Dems to take decisive action on health care legislation in the house...as a result, failures of the Dems by bluedog footdragging and obstruction is being blamed on the Dems as a whole as ineptitude instead of the Republicans that would otherwise be in office, assuming a Liberal would have lost in the 1st place (we will never know)...Rahms strategy was actually working against Obama's from the start, and now that the bipartisan strategy is apparently temporarily on the shelf, the bluedogs function as nothing more than republicans in democrats clothing...

The '06 and '08 electorate did not vote for Democrats, they voted against Republicans... Now the Dems appear like a party that can't agree on a platform...Obama has his work cut out for him trying to unite them too, because every time he concedes to the right on a policy decision, they get stronger...

...the BlueDog/Centrist/Bi-Partisan strategy was a mistake, IMO...we are not gaining much ground, and the window is closing...

...better to take a stand on the platform, let your base know who they voted for, roll the dice and take your chances on the issues than slowly ride the fence into oblivion...

you would think a devout christian would know better...

"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. " - Rev. 3.16

...condemning Uganda and calling for LGBT civil and human rights...will post when I see it...

National Prayer Breakfast: Hillary Clinton Name Drops Uganda. Obama Highlights 'Odious Laws'

"Reports are coming in from the National Prayer Breakfast, where Sec. of State Hillary Clinton is addressing The Family's large crowd of conservative political power players. And it's there, citing Scripture, she's telling the audience the Obama administration stands for human rights everywhere, specifically mentioning Uganda. She's followed by President Obama, who also mentions Uganda, and says that while Americans may disagree about gay marriage, 'odious laws that are being proposed, most recently in Uganda' should be condemned by everyone.

And it also follows a call from the Episcopal Rev. V. Gene Robinson for Obama to use today's prayer event to highlight Uganda's plight.

Using the Family's "Prayer Breakfast" as a global forum for denouncing oppression of homosexuality, this is exactly the right thing to do and looking like a full court press for 2010....also exactly the right thing to do...hopefully Congress will do it too and force Republicans to filibuster it.

"this machine kills fascists"

Submitted by 60th Street on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 1:49pm.
...This follows the move by a gay Ugandan man, calling himself Moses, who showed up at National Prayer Hour press conference Tuesday wearing a paper bag over his head...
----------------------------

Soaring cost of healthcare sets a record

Source: LA Times

Reporting from Washington - In a stark reminder of growing costs, the government has released a new estimate that healthcare spending grew to a record 17.3% of the U.S. economy last year, marking the largest one-year jump in its share of the economy since the government started keeping such records half a century ago.

The almost $2.5 trillion spent in 2009 was $134 billion more than the previous year, when healthcare consumed 16.2% of the gross domestic product, according to an annual report by independent actuaries at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, scheduled for release Thursday.

The nonpartisan accounting agency also projected that as early as next year, the country could mark another milestone as government picks up more than half of the nation's total healthcare tab for the first time.

The rise in current costs, driven in part by surging spending in Medicare and Medicaid, and the bleak projections for the future do not take into account changes that may come if Democrats revive their healthcare overhaul legislation.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-healthcare4-2010feb04...

toniD's Ya Think?

That shit goes back to at least Will Roger's time.

As does the nihilist sentiment that a Republican in a conservative district seat is preferable to a Conservative Democrat.

As does Progressives' utter inability to come even close to filling seats in conservative districts.

And, I don't see Progressives in congress making much of a difference when it comes to sticking to their guns. they all fell right over like bowling pins for the Stupak/Pitts Amendment and they're about to trust the Senate all over again to be able to fix the bill in reconciliation.

This is politics, nothing is ideal. Do I wish Emanuel weren't such an incompetent prick, sure, but that shit swings both ways...from where I'm sitting Progressives look pretty incompetent, too. And, they're doing a fine job of oblivionizing themselves by caving, time and again.

The only Progressives sticking to their guns are people who don't hold an office. What the fuck does that say about everyone? The same thing it's always said.

The Dems need the same thing they've always needed: a five star PR strategy designed around their "big tent".

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"

i think rahm is there to deflect bluedoggery blame away from obama, so he can still wear the "liberal" mantle for a while longer, to fool whom i am not sure at this point, as we've been fooled more than once by this president already

cent did you watch the vids mb linked on the previous thread (Jeff Cohen)? He lays it all out beautifully and devastatingly clear

thats close enough to the old english word buggery as to actually be meaningful.

By Eric Zimmermann - 02/03/10 03:29 PM ET

Over a hundred House Democrats are urging the Senate to use reconciliation to pass heatlhcare reform that includes a public option.

Progressives launched a campaign to revive the public option after Democrats lost their supermajority last month. Now that Democrats lack 60 votes to break a filibuster, it's likely they will have to use reconciliation anyway in order to change parts of their bill that House Democrats object to.

In a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today, 120 House Democrats say the Senate should seize that opportunity and include a public option.

"This letter states loud and clear that the public option is gaining momentum and is alive and well in the eyes of the American public,” said Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who organized the show of support along with Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). "Our job now is to convince Washington what the American people already know—that a public option is essential to challenging the insurance companies and ensuring the choice and competition we need to drive prices down."

Read the full letter here.

http://thehill.com/images/stories/whitepapers/pdf/publicoption.pdf

Democrats have been trying to figure out a way to finish healthcare legislation without dealing with another 60-vote barrier in the Senate. The most talked-about option so far would be for the House to pass the Senate bill without changing it, thus foregoing another regular Senate vote. The Senate could then use budget reconciliation to fix parts of the bill that deal only with expenditures and taxes.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/79573-120-house-democra...

toniD's Ya Think?

It is standing for a platform instead of licking your finger to check the wind and then backing a candidate that fits the bill...

...Rahm didn't stick by the Dem platform, he backed candidates he thought would win...now the Dems have a "majority" that can't get anything done because it is full of Centrists. I know it is not ideal, but when your entire presidency will be riding on a single issue, it would be a good idea for the one making the financing decisions for electing those that will be voting on that policy to make sure they at least agree on that one issue, ya know?

...at least the Progressives put up a fight, instead of admitting defeat before the opening bell.

This started with your tongue in cheek remark about an apathetic Democratic electorate being "Rahm's fault"...all I am saying is, yes, maybe only partially, but definitely directly, it is...

Illinois Supreme Court throws out med mal limits on noneconomic damages

The supreme Court of Illinois just ruled that the Best (our previous foray into tort reform limits on recovery) arguments continue to stand.

In Lebron, an infant suffered from cerebral palsy as a result of bad birthing practices at Gottleib.
When we had GOP governors, our mixed legislature passed tort reform, cutting recoveries, limiting med mal damages for noneconomic damages, and more. Most of the tort reform had been tossed years ago, but the noneconomic cap had not been ruled on. Until now. The Court said that this is an unconstitutional effort by the legislature to use law as an automatic remittitur, limiting the recovery in all cases, without regard to the actual loss suffered by a plaintiff.

http://www.iltla.com/pdf/LeBronOpinion.pdf

GREAT NEWS HERE!.

Now, if those tort reformers in congress would suffer the same fate, that would be even better.
I just heard that the GAO estimated that tort reform in medical cases would save 50 Billion. Why don't they attack the root of the problem, and fix medical mistakes, instead of hurting those who already were hurt by their doctor or hospital?

toniD's Ya Think?

really, sam! anyway, thanks for the email!

Hightower: GOP Is the Party That Thinks Helping the Poor and Hungry Is Like Feeding 'Stray Animals'
Where else can raw ignorance rise to such high places -- and then flaunt itself shamelessly for all to see?

February 4, 2010 |

American politics is a hoot! Where else can raw ignorance rise to such high places — and then flaunt itself shamelessly for all to see?

For example, who needs Jay Leno or Conan O'Brien for comic relief, when we've got Andre Bauer? He's the Lieutenant governor of South Carolina (a state, by the way, that really is a comer on the political comedy circuit — especially after Gov. Mark Sanford's madcap schtick last year involving his disappearance, the Appalachian Trail and an Argentine mistress.

But Sanford is leaving office, and Bauer, who is now a Republican contender for governor, is the state's new star joker. He had 'em rolling in the aisles recently when he did a wild, slapstick routine on food stamps at a town hall meeting. Andre proclaimed that much of his political thinking was shaped by his grandmother and that he had learned a valuable lesson from her.

"She told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why?" he asked, pausing for comedic effect. "Because they breed! You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce."

I tell you, Andre Bauer is an absolute scream! ..............(more)

http://www.alternet.org/news/145538/hightower%3A_gop_is_the_party_that_t...

toniD's Ya Think?

with those putrid dogs in congress on tort reform?

damn! this was getting good too.

later.

John Boehner Complained To J.P. Morgan CEO About Donations

The Wall Street Journal reports today that "Republicans are stepping up their campaign to win donations from Wall Street, trying to capitalize on an increasing sense of regret among executives at big financial institutions for backing Democrats in 2008."

Despite a more favorable political environment than in 2008 and 2006, Republican congressional campaign committees are actually trailing their Democratic counterparts in fundraising totals heading into the 2010 campaign season.

As a result, GOP leaders are becoming increasingly aggressive about wooing major donations from the financial industry. The Journal reports:

Last week, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio made a pitch to Democratic contributor James Dimon, the chairman and chief executive of J.P. Morgan, over drinks at a Capitol Hill restaurant, according to people familiar with the matter.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/04/john-boehner-complained-t_n_449...

toniD's Ya Think?

Exactly, that's the operative word partially, but that's not how Progressives are handling it, is it? Rahm's their go-to scapegoat for a dysfunction in which they are utterly complicit...at least so far.

But, that's to be expected. In politics, who doesn't pass the buck?

Q: You know what Progressives and Democrats are good for in terms of decisive change?

A: Sternly worded letters. Besides that? Incrementalism.

You can always count on them for that. Right now, there's another letter circulating that is sure to lead to more incrementalism. But, here's to it bearing more fruit; I'm always for that, but progress is progress in my eyes. It's never without its caveats, which is why I fight. But when I fight, I don't get bogged down in sentiment. I get angry sometimes, sure, but hopping up and down on the panic button, I leave that to others and, from time to time I'll have a laugh at their expense. Why not? They have one at mine. All in good fun.

"this machine kills fascists"

that'll be so much fun, i so miss that! i guess he'll be using his old outfit in the basement, provided he doesn't encounter technical difficulties!

Fire Departments Charge for Service, Asking Accident(and Fire) Victims to Pay Up

Source: ABC News

It came in the mail less than a month after Darline Fairchild watched her family's home go up in flames -- a bill for the nearly $28,000 it cost the fire department to extinguish the blaze.

"I felt my body turn cold and I just broke out into a sweat," Fairchild told ABCNews.com. "It was awful. I said, 'It's got to be a mistake.'"

But it wasn't a mistake. The Fairchilds, of New Castle, Ind., were just one of a growing number of fire and accident victims across the country who are being billed for fire department services once funded solely through taxpayer money.

Already banned in several states, the practice of charging to respond to house fires and car accidents -- dubbed a "crash tax" or an "accident tax" -- has horrified victims and earned the ire of insurance lobbyists who say their member companies are being targeted to make up for budget shortfalls.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/fire-department-bills-basic-services-horr...

You lose your home to fire, charged by the Fire Department to put it out, and still owe a mortgage on the burnt out house. Welcome to the United Corporate States of America!

State Farm Insurance is pulling out of Florida

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2009/01/27/97324.htm

toniD's Ya Think?

Young Turks @ Noon Eastern, 3 Pacific. Super!

suppose 2 b on the YT ... and correct me - isn't it truly at 9am PST & HOPEFULLY tomorrow? I HOPE. I HOPE. I HOPE!
:):( ... ;)

{i put EST & i was even "thinkng" 9am PST, at same time - eye-roll 2 me ;}

Barry Lynn: What's Wrong With 'The Family' And The National Prayer Breakfast

toniD's Ya Think?

Boxer, Webb target Wall Street bonuses
By J. Taylor Rushing - 02/04/10 12:18 PM ET

Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.) unveiled a bill Thursday to tax extravagant bonuses paid out by financial firms that have benefited from taxpayer assistance.

The Taxpayer Fairness Act would apply only to Wall Street firms and banks that received at least $5 billion from the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Specifically, it would impose a 50 percent excise tax on any 2009 bonuses paid to employees at those firms that received a salary greater than $400,000. The tax would apply to the portion of the bonus that exceeds that figure — which Boxer and Webb picked because it matches President Barack Obama’s salary. Employees’ base pay would be unaffected.

“There is an outcry out there,” said Boxer. “People are hurting from the residual effects of Wall Street … This bill is symbolic, but it’s real.”

Boxer estimated that up to $10 billion could be generated from the bill, which would be dedicated to reducing the federal deficit. She emphasized that TARP assistance was only a portion of the assistance that the major financial firms received, along with asset guarantees and low-interest loans.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/79751-boxer-webb-take-aim-at-wall-str...

toniD's Ya Think?

Who Coulda Seen That Coming

Senate Republicans to filibuster jobs bill?

--Josh Marshal

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/all-aboard-dems-press-republi...

toniD's Ya Think?

that no one was kind enough to post on.

But I'm off to work so get it yourself!!!!

toniD's Ya Think?