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Taylor Marsh has been writing on line since 1996, with the archives provided here a representation of that work.

Archive | December, 2011

Romney ‘Baggage’ Attack on Newt Resonates, as Paul Takes Lead

By on 19 December 2011

Newt Gingrich’s campaign is rapidly imploding, and Ron Paul has now taken the lead in Iowa. He’s at 23% to 20% for Mitt Romney, 14% for Gingrich, 10% each for Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, and Rick Perry, 4% for Jon Huntsman, and 2% for Gary Johnson. – PPP



“He’s got too much baggage,” said Jan Hendrickson, according to a Huffington Post report.

“Too much baggage,” said Jerry Hanpert, continuing, “I’d like to see Newt debate Obama, but I don’t want him as president. I want Romney as president.”

But Cliff Tufty cited former Pres. Bill Clinton saying, “Clinton had a little bit of baggage too… It would be nice if we didn’t have that problem with him.”

Newt’s problem is that he has none of the Big Dog’s likability, which went a very long way in the ’90s and is remembered very fondly by the majority today.

Mitt’s team, now unleashed, is finally revealing its inner teeth, just as what many people have been predicting manifests.

Ron Paul takes the lead in Iowa, with a second place finish for Romney the stuff of Christmas dreams.

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North Korea’s ‘Dear Leader’ is Dead

By on 19 December 2011

The North kept news of the death of its leader secret for roughly two days, perhaps a sign that the leadership was struggling to position itself for what many believe could be a particularly perilous transition. Kim Jong-il’s death came after a long illness, dating to 2008, that American intelligence agencies believed involved some form of a stroke. The North has indicated he was 69 years old, but scholars have said he could have been a year older. – Choe Sang Hun and David Sanger

The tyrant with a fetish for cigars, cognac and extravagant foods is dead. But during his reign he was able to touch off nuclear weapons that put the Korean Peninsula on alert and rattle the cages of the free world.

South Korea put its military on alert.

More from Sang-Hun and Sanger’s report:

Mr. Kim’s death poses a moment of peril for both Washington, the North’s nemesis, and Beijing, its last protector. “We’re entering a period that is especially dangerous,” said Jim Walsh, a professor at M.I.T.’s security studies programs who has met in recent months with several North Korean delegations as part of the behind-the-scenes, unofficial contacts from which the United States has gleaned some understanding of the power plays in Pyongyang. “Here is a young leader who may be distrusted by the military, and he has to prove himself,” he said of Kim Jong-un. “And that can lead to miscalculation and inadvertent war.”

[...] “There are a whole range of scenarios for when Kim dies,” one former American military commander in South Korea said recently, insisting on anonymity because he was discussing classified American response plans. “Anyone who tells you they understand what is going to happen is either lying or deceiving himself.”

The Atlantic’s J.J. Gould posted a link to B.R. Myers’ post on “After Kim Jong Il” that you might find instructive, especially if North Korea isn’t on your reading list, which it isn’t for most Americans.

His son Kim Jong Un is in his late twenties, with the tradition of passing leadership to him not seen by experts as certain. So, what kind of relationships he has or more likely doesn’t have with the military will play a part in whether he rises.

There are also reports that his uncle, Chang Sung-Task, could be the one to take over power, because he’s reportedly stepped into this position after Kim Jong Il’s stroke and further health demise.

But no one really knows what’s next.

Blogs of War has an interesting and sometimes unintentionally amusing Twitter feed section on North and South Korea.

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Obama ‘Detached’, Emperor Newt Collapses, and Fun with Fallon

By on 18 December 2011

SNL was at its best last night, under the helm of host Jimmy Fallon. I’m a big fan, but last night was a primetime worthy performance. Michael Bublé has some chops, what a chirp. The Today Show skit above is now one of my faves. It was a stitch!

In the news, Vaclav Havel passes. The Times report puts “writer” first, which as a writer myself, reminds me of the power a select few people of the written word possess. That the best writers have at their soul something that drives all of us to impact our corner of the world. What Mr. Hamel was above to do is the stuff of true historic greatness.

Vaclav Havel, the writer and dissident whose eloquent dissections of Communist rule helped to destroy it in revolutions that brought down the Berlin Wall and swept Havel himself into power, died on Sunday. He was 75.

It says something about America that Mr. Havel is not being celebrated as Christopher Hitchens was upon his death.

On the payroll tax cut extension:

The White House would not discuss the “sausage-making” of the payroll tax deal. But a former Obama administration official who has knowledge of how negotiations with the Hill work, said, “We’d use Reid as a primary negotiator in the end game.” …

“The White House gives him a lot of latitude on what the end game should look like,” the official said.

[...] A GOP Senate aide familiar with the payroll tax extension talks said the president “could not have been more separated from the talks.” “He was the most detached person from this process of any of the major players,” the aide said.

“Detached” is reminiscent of George H. W. Bush, with Barack Obama having the same removed relationship with the American people as Bush 41.

Oh, and what would Christmas be without another Republican sex scandal?

But the most noteworthy political report is compliments of Newt Gingrich, who channeled is inner un-American dictator yesterday with reporters.

Newt Gingrich says as president he would ignore Supreme Court decisions that conflicted with his powers as commander in chief, and he would press for impeaching judges or even abolishing certain courts if he disagreed with their rulings.

“I’m fed up with elitist judges” who seek to impose their “radically un-American” views, Gingrich said Saturday in a conference call with reporters.

It was never whether Gingrich would say something incendiary or stupid, encapsulating his unpresidential persona, it was about when.

Now you know why I never bought into his presidential contest, even as some progressives, including big new media sites, started believing in the notion. This terrific graphic from TPM says it all.

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Des Moines Register Endorses Romney

By on 18 December 2011

In a bid to save the status of the Iowa caucuses, as well as the sanity of that state’s Republicans, the Des Moines Register is trying to rescue the right wing from itself. Because as the possibility of a Ron Paul win became real, Establishment Republicans and many others started whispering, this is our chance to kill the prowess of the Iowa caucuses for good.

From the Register:

Sobriety, wisdom and judgment.

Those are qualities Mitt Romney said he looks for in a leader. Those are qualities Romney himself has demonstrated in his career in business, public service and government. Those qualities help the former Massachusetts governor stand out as the most qualified Republican candidate competing in the Iowa caucuses.

The Register goes on to defend Iowa’s position in the primary process. They back up their choice of Mitt Romney by making a positive case, while stating they know what they’re talking about, because their decision was not only informed, but based on serious research and knowledge of all the candidates.

Iowans take seriously their role as the first-in-the-nation caucus, Green said. So, too, does the Register. “We’re part of a unique conversation that dominates our state every four years but stretches well beyond Iowa. We embrace that responsibility thoughtfully, seriously and with due diligence.”

With Newt Gingrich finally going in the direction he deserves, downward, candidates who could not win the general election in a million years are once again rising. The Des Moines Register hopes to stop Iowa Republicans from picking a winner who will not only lose the nomination battle, but also make the Iowa caucuses irrelevant.

That’s why Mitt’s their man.

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Crooks, Congress, Scalawags, and Spending

By on 17 December 2011

But after the vote, Casey and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) dismissed the Keystone project as “inside baseball,” arguing that middle-class families are more interested in getting a tax cut than an oil pipeline. [...] “I was responsible for putting it in this bill,” Reid said flatly. “That’s how legislation works. … Along with Manchin, Vermont Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, both members of the Democratic caucus, voted against the payroll package. – Politico

(Click on the picture for scathing Wall Street Journal article on Newt.)

In the complaint against the former Freddie Mac executives, the SEC alleged that they and Freddie Mac led investors to believe that the firm used a broad definition of subprime loans and was disclosing all of its Single-Family subprime loan exposure. Syron and Cook reinforced the misleading perception when they each publicly proclaimed that the Single Family business had “basically no subprime exposure.” Unbeknown to investors, as of December 31, 2006, Freddie Mac’s Single Family business was exposed to approximately $141 billion of loans internally referred to as “subprime” or “subprime like,” accounting for 10 percent of the portfolio, and grew to approximately $244 billion, or 14 percent of the portfolio, as of June 30, 2008. – SEC CHARGES FORMER FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC EXECUTIVES WITH SECURITIES FRAUD

 

The latest AP-GfK Poll shows the American electorate has very complicated feelings about Pres. Obama, as well as his challengers. It’s another poll that supports what I’ve been writing for months and months, as well as in my book. Yes, Pres. Obama is beatable, deserving challenges, with a majority of people believing he doesn’t deserve reelection. However, the alternative isn’t inspiring at all.

Although the public would prefer Obama be voted out of office, he fares relatively well in potential matchups with Republicans Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Another bit of good news for the Democrat: For the first time since spring, more adults said the economy got better in the past month than said it got worse.
The president’s approval rating on unemployment shifted upward — from 40 percent in October to 45 percent in the latest poll — as the jobless rate fell to 8.6 percent last month, its lowest level since March 2009.

But Obama’s approval rating on his handling of the economy overall remains stagnant: 39 percent approve and 60 percent disapprove.

The contest for who is more pro-Israel is now on. As Ben Smith noted in a piece this week, Ronald Reagan would have failed today’s GOP litmus test by a mile.

In Pres. Obama’s speech before the 71st General Assembly of the Union for Reform Judaism, a critical element to Israeli security was mostly left un-mined. From the New York Times:

Less than a year before the presidential election, a pattern is emerging. The Republicans will outdo themselves to say the most provocative things they can to demonstrate they love Israel more than anyone else. And President Obama will counter by saying as little as he can about the Palestinians.

Obama on the peace process:

“As president, I have never wavered in pursuit of a just and lasting peace — two states for two peoples; an independent Palestine alongside a secure Jewish State of Israel. I have not wavered and will not waver.”

That’s the bare minimum a U.S. president should ever say. However, anyone attempting to make the case that Pres. Obama is anti-Israel is standing in ideological quick sand.

Now over to the spending bill, which Politico characterizes as a “turning point,” with a report from Huffington Post saying Democrats are declaring victory:

The Democrats provided an extensive list of what they see as bragging points, saying the bill:

  • Prevents policy riders that would have restricted funding for Planned Parenthood and eliminated funding for Title X family planning programs, severely limiting women’s access to health care.
  • Prevents restrictions that would have reversed President Obama’s policy allowing family travel and money remittances to Cuba.
  • Saves 60,000 New Head Start slots created by the stimulus act and spends more than $550 million for the Race to the Top program.
  • Boosts the Student Aid Administration with nearly $50 million in new funding for loan servicing and collections.
  • Preserves the AmeriCorps program by stopping a GOP provision that would have cut the program.

They also pointed to a string of riders that were cut from the bill, including items that would have:

  • Barred use of funds for the CPSC’s public product safety database, SaferProducts.gov.
  • Cut federal funding of National Public Radio
  • Stopped a new military chaplain training curriculum written after the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
  • Ended the Home Affordable Modification Program, which aims to help homewoners avoid foreclosure
  • Prohibited use federal funds to develop and finalize EPA rules naming coal ash as a hazardous waste
  • Stopped the FCC from implementing new neutrality rules
  • Stopped federal spending to run and implement the heath reform law until 90 days after any legal challenges are complete.
  • Republicans also declared wins in adding many other restrictions, including blocking a phaseout of 100-watt incandescent lightbulbs, stopping express funding for a number of President Obama’s “czars,” cutting the budget overall, and placing restrictions on funding for the United Nations.

Yet it was some of the things that made it into the bill that attracted scathing denunciations from Republicans concerned about waste, especially in the defense budget.

[...] “There’s $3.5 billion of unrequested, unauthorized [spending] … projects like for Guam. You thought the Bridge to Nowhere was bad?” McCain said. “This is 53 civilian school buses and 53 repair kits for $10.7 million; $12.7 million for a cultural artifacts repository. That’s in the name of defense.

“I have amendments to save the taxpayers billions of dollars as associated with this bill,” McCain said. “But never mind because we’re going to go home for Christmas.”

Oh, and the latest attack against Pres. Obama surrounds the cost of the First Family’s Christmas vacation.

Bah! Humbug!

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Progressive Notes: Keystone Action, Merkley on NDAA, MA Holds Hearings on Single Payer, The Justice Party, Progressive Caucus’ 99pct Bill and Other Doings

By on 17 December 2011

Art offers his perspective as a movement progressive activist.

Our government is hated because it does not give an iota for those in need. NOT ONE. Case in point- this latest budget deal slashes 25pct of funds for those needing heating oil this winter. And yes, this is an improvement sadly because WH wanted 45 pc cut. Occupy DC.

In this budget deal the GOP got in it a mandate for POTUS to rule on the Keystone XL Pipeline in 60 days. Of course SoS Clinton already said it is NOW under a extended review and it won’t be finished in time for this new demand. Thus many say Obama has no choice but to reject the pipeline because there is no other recourse. Jane Kleeb’s awesome Bold Nebraska sent this out with action for us to take:

While local groups including Bold Nebraska want the President to sign the bill helping middle-class families, we also want to be clear he must deny the pipeline permit.

“Republicans have bullied their way to get a reckless rider attached to a bill that was supposed to be about helping middle-class families,” stated Jane Kleeb, Bold Nebraska Director. “Fine, you won that unnecessary fight. Now, President Obama must do the right thing for our land, water and families’ health by denying the pipeline permit.”

The pipeline in Nebraska has no established route, landowners are under threats of eminent domain, there are outstanding questions on how tar sands affects our water supply, Nebraska still has no oil spill liability law in place and, worst of all, there continues to be no guarantee from TransCanada that this oil will stay in the United States.

“The pipeline is an export pipeline, giving us no energy security or job security,” said Amy Schaffer, who’s family raises cattle in the Sandhills. “They suggest over and over that rushing this project through is about job generation. Are 2,000 or 5,000 or 20,000 temporary jobs–or whatever number they are throwing around really worth risking our families’ small farms and ranches? We hope the President, or any member of Congress for that matter, would walk a day in our boots before making a decision.”

Both the Obama Administration and the State Department have signaled that the pushing of the Republicans to attach this rider will result in a denial of the pipeline permit.

Action: Call the White House, 202-456-1111, ask President Obama to come to Nebraska and work a day in our boots. Continue to stand with our families and deny the pipeline. Or you can tweet @barackobama work a day in our boots, come to NE and deny risky pipeline, http://boldnebraska.org/signbill_denypipe #noKXL.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Or) has become one of the best liberals in the Senate, voting against indefinate detention in the NDAA passed this week. He talks about his courageous vote and what this bill means here:

Progressives introduce legislation for the rest of us:

The Progressive Caucus is introducing legislation called the Restore the American Dream for the 99% Act . There has been communication with some Occupy protestors who clearly helped shape this major bill. And it is one for the 99 percent. Some items in it of note:

Direct job spending to hire 2.2 million public safety, education, maintenance and construction workers. There’s also an infrastructure bank to leverage private capital on more construction projects, with a $50 billion up-front investment in infrastructure.
• A Buy America provision for all government-contracted materials.
• The Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would expire, saving $800 billion.
• Ending “unnecessary” weapons programs and other defense spending for $280 billion, and accelerating withdrawals from foreign wars to save $1.2 trillion.
• Canceling fossil fuel subsidies for the oil and gas industry.
• A financial speculation tax to capture $350 billion with a tiny 0.03% tax on all trades.
• Changing the payroll tax extension to a Making Work Pay refundable tax credit, similar to what was in the original Obama stimulus, and extending it for two years.
• Instituting a robust public option to compete in the exchanges with private insurance.
• Allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies on the price of prescription drugs.
• Scrapping the Social Security payroll tax cap (with a donut hole between $106,800 and $250,000) to fully fund Social Security over the long term.

Read the whole overview here . This is like a progressive Contract with America. And all items are those strongly supported by the American public for some time now.

Atty General Harris in CA has the WH in a tizzy. She won’t tow the line on the big bank foreclosure deal, and now is fighting the WH on closing marijuana dispensaries:

Harris also found herself at odds with the Obama administration in a very public way when U.S. attorneys signaled in early October that they were about to crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries. The feds indicated that they were prepared to shut down clinics, seize assets and seek criminal prosecutions against what they regarded as criminal enterprises masquerading as suppliers of medicine.

Harris nodded affirmatively when asked if she was caught off guard by the sudden change of heart by an administration that once suggested it would take a hands-off approach to medical marijuana operations that were in compliance with state law.

“We didn’t receive any notice that it was coming,” she said.

Her office eventually issued a statement that questioned the federal government’s priorities with limited law-enforcement resources.

“For the feds to come in, who don’t agree with the very premise (that marijuana can be medicine), and then tell us which dispensaries can be open or not doesn’t make sense to me,” she said.

She said her office was working with key lawmakers, most notably Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, on legislation that would clear up the “confusion and ambiguities” about medical marijuana regulation. “I don’t see a role for the feds on this issue once it is addressed by the California Legislature,” she said.

In MA we got state lawmakers having hearings on establishing a public option and or consideration of single payer:

The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing has scheduled a public hearing Thursday on the bill that would create a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurance plans.

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. James Eldridge, said the so-called “public option” would give consumers more choice while increasing competition and reducing insurance costs.

A second bill also filed by the Acton Democrat would create a so-called single-payer health care system for Massachusetts, guaranteeing health care coverage for every resident.

Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, a firebrand progressive, has launched a 3rd party and is organizing in many states. Called the Justice Party it hits on themes OWS has been hammering. Here is an interview with him on Democracy Now this week:

And here is the transcript.
Progressive Caucus Chair Keith Ellison went on hunger strike this week with DC residents begging for real representation in the congress. More here.

Even the Pope is channeling Occupy it seems. He gave a speech backing taxing the rich this week. More here.

In Right wing laughs we got a cool one: turns out Governor Rick “I’m Tebow” Perry has “retired.” Ah but retired to get an early 8k a month pension and a 150 k a year governor’s salary.You read right- double dipping while blasting “entitlements”. No kidding.

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Queer Talk: The lifestyle choices of the Salvation Army, Southern Baptist Convention and Newt

By on 17 December 2011

Joyce L. Arnold, Liberally Independent, Queer Talk, equality activist, writer.

To one degree or another, the Salvation Army, the Southern Baptist Convention and Newt Gingrich all believe that individuals choose to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Or, if you really don’t have a choice about being non-heterosexual, then you do still have a choice: just be celibate. Of course, that basically reduces orientation to sexual acts, but since that seems to be what many anti-LGBTs primarily if not exclusively focus on, no surprise there.

Heterosexuals, of course, are just born that way.

Salvation Army

Almost certainly we’ve all heard the ringing bells of the Salvation Army. And that means another round of choosing: what to do about an organization that does good work but is also strongly anti-LGBT? Which also means the return of the protest voucher. Added to this year’s version of this annual event is gay friendly Glee’s Salvation Army friendly segment, which I learned about through John Aravosis at Gay American Blog:

In their Christmas episode which aired this week, the popular TV show ‘Glee’ concluded by having several cast members ring Salvation Army Christmas bells on a city sidewalk as a symbol of the true meaning of Christmas: caring about and for your fellow man.
Except that the Salvation Army doesn’t care at all about your fellow man or woman if they happen to be gay.

The Salvation Army sees itself as a conservative evangelical Christian church. It is extremely anti-gay, and even lobbies around the world for anti-gay legislation. …

‘Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.’ – Salvation Army USA Web site, Dec. 2003. …

In past years, a number of people created ‘vouchers’ that you could print out and drop in the Salvation Army baskets instead of money. This way you could let the Salvation Army know that their prejudice isn’t acceptable.

The SA makes a choice about how they see “primarily or exclusively same-sex” people, and couples. It’s theirs to make, though, of course, I disagree.

Pink Bibles

From Timothy Kincaid at BoxTurtle Bulletin:

… So as to prepare a more readable Bible, but one which could be trusted to be scripturally inerrant, the Southern Baptist Convention funded a new translation, the Holman Christian Standard Bible. The goal of the inter-denomination team was ‘to convey a sense of the original text with as much clarity as possible’. …

As part of a promotion, LifeWay Christian Resources … marketed a copy of the Holman Christian Standard Bible bound in pink. And for every pink Bible sold, Lifeway contributed a dollar to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to be used for breast cancer screening and awareness. …

But the SBC and LifeWay soon discovered a problem with the pink Bible and Komen link. You guessed it – those bad lifestyle choosing homosexuals. So SBC made a choice.

* The Southern Baptist Convention owns Lifeway Christian Resources
* Lifeway gave a dollar of each pink Bible sold to the Susan G. Komen Foundation
* Komen used the funds to screen women for breast cancer
* The screening was facilitated through local chapters
* Some of the local chapters contribute funds to Planned Parenthood specifically to be used for breast screening
* Planned Parenthood also performs abortions

Not only did LifeWay cancel the program, they’re “recalling” those now offensive pink Bibles. Wonder what they’ll choose to do with them? Maybe remove the pink covers and add a solemn black. Or white, for straight purity. Pastels for Easter? Red, white and blue for November? Green, in support of Wall Street? Their choice to make, of course.

Newt

Oh the choices Newt makes. Those regarding LGBTs aren’t new information, but in a recent interview he reminds us, as The Advocate puts it: “Just How Antigay Is Newt Gingrich? Alarmingly So”

… Gingrich … today unloaded a detailed explanation of why he believes same-sex marriage is eroding American families and why ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ would be his policy as president, and he even floated a theory that U.S. military commanders are lying about whether they support its repeal. On top of all that, Gingrich says people choose to be gay, like priests choose to be celibate. …

… Gingrich also announced this week that he agreed to antigay pledges from the Iowa Family Leader and the National Organization for Marriage, which both commit him to a backing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. In the NOM pledge, Gingrich also promises to use his power as president to investigate those who support marriage equality for alleged harassment of groups like NOM. …

In the interview, Gingrich says race is “inescapable,” and is asked if he believes “people choose to be gay?” He responds,

I believe it’s a combination of genetics and environment. I think that both are involved. I think people have many ranges of choices. Part of the question is, do you want a society which has a bias in one direction or another?

… Interviewer: So people then can choose one way or another?

I think people have a significant range of choice within a genetic pattern. I don’t believe in genetic determinism … . There are propensities. …

… Interviewer: So a person can then choose to be straight?
Look, people choose to be celibate, people choose many things in life. …

Basically, I think Newt chose to play word games, while being certain everyone knows he doesn’t support “the gays.”

I have a fair amount of faith the majority of the electorate won’t choose him to sit in the White House. As for the choices of the Salvation Army and LifeWay, I’m considering finding one of those pink Bibles and dropping it in the kettle.

(Photo via GayAmericaBlog)

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DONE DEAL: Payroll Tax Cut Extension Comes with Keystone XL

By on 16 December 2011

This is why people don’t trust Congress. It’s also why people want another option besides Democrats and Republicans, with an independent force desperately needed in Congress.

Governing in two-month increments, while Democrats cave on principle after principle. It just never ends.

From Politico:

Senate leaders struck a tentative deal Friday night to extend the payroll tax rate and jobless benefits through the end of February, electing to punt tough economic decisions into the new year.

[...] In the frenzy of deal-making Friday evening, Republicans won a major concession: The package includes a provision prodding Obama to make a decision on the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, which has divided labor groups from environmental activists in the Democratic ranks.

Do you notice lately that all we keep reading about is Democrats make a “major concession”? The translation of that is Republicans win again.

Now it’s over to Pres. Obama to finally stand on a line on Keystone XL. Or maybe he’ll find a way around it, though that would take some political gamesmanship, which Democrats don’t seem to do anymore.

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“Wake up”: Occupy at three months

By on 16 December 2011

Joyce L. Arnold, Liberally Independent, Queer Talk, equality activist, writer.

I mentioned this yesterday, but want to highlight it again: tomorrow is OWS’ three month anniversary, and the “wake up” that provided continues to evolve. Via OWS:

On Saturday, December 17th Occupy Wall Street — with support from more than 1400 faith leaders, elders of the civil rights movement, prominent artists and community members — will gather at noon in Duarte Square, downtown Manhattan, for an all day performance event. This event is part of a call to re-occupy in the wake of the coordinated attacks and subsequent evictions of occupations across the nation and around the world. …

Canal and 6th Ave is the site of a vacant lot owned by Trinity Real Estate, the corporate arm of Trinity on Wall Street. Over the past month, since the eviction of Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park) on November 14th , members of the Occupy Wall Street movement with interfaith leaders, elders of the civil rights movement and artists have asked Trinity on Wall Street to do the right thing, and offer sanctuary to the movement in this vacant lot.

Related to that, from OWS:

A Message Of Solidarity From Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Sisters and Brothers, I greet you in the Name of Our Lord and in the bonds of common friendship and struggle from my homeland of South Africa. I know of your own challenges and of this appeal to Trinity Church for the shelter of a new home and I am with you! …

Yours is a voice for the world not just the neighborhood of Duarte Park. Injustice, unfairness, and the strangle hold of greed which has beset humanity in our times must be answered with a resounding, ‘No!’ You are that answer. … You see, the heartbeat of what you are asking for – that those who have too much must wake up to the cries of their brothers and sisters who have so little – beats in me and all South Africans who believe in justice.

Some of the actions being taken toward providing that “wake up”:

From OWS:

CHARAS served the low-income, activist, and artist communities of lower east side for over 20 years, providing artist’s space, performance and gallery space, after school programs, workshops, English classes and meeting space for countless neighborhood organizations. In 1999, despite a community use restriction & widespread opposition, the building that housed CHARAS was auctioned off to private developer Gregg Singer, who immediately moved to evict them. After a hard fought battle, CHARAS was evicted on December 27, 2001. The building, still zoned for community use, has sat vacant and derelict ever since. This Sunday, it’s time CHARAS gets their community center back!

Something in the early stages of developing, Occupy Educated:

Simply put, if you’re going to be Occupying anything, be Educated while doing so. Having a working knowledge of the issues and their root causes is essential to effectively communicating the need for change and formulating practical solutions. …

OccupyEducated provides a place for visitors to identify, share and discuss the systemic causes of the problems our society faces today, and then move on to implementing solutions. It is not our goal to tell anyone what to think, our goal is simply to give them access to information that makes them think.

… This is a place for people of all backgrounds, all political persuasions, and all demographics to come explore and discuss thought-provoking information and unite behind practical solutions. …

This is a very appealing idea to me, and I’ll definitely continue checking it out.

Another way people are sharing ideas, from The People’s Library:

Occupy Theory has been manifested as a new theory publication tidal. … The first issue even includes an essay by Judith Butler. And they’re looking for work for future issues so sit down and start theorizing!

You can access the first issue at the People’s Library link.

Also from The People’s Library, OWS Poetry Anthology Week 9 Update:

Week 9? has officially been added to the OWS Poetry Anthology. And I have exciting news! This December 17th, we’re launching a website for the OWS Poetry Anthology so it’s more easily accessible and ever more beautiful and free. The anthology will remain at the People’s Library WordPress page as a PDF but will also be at owspoetry.org as a more navigable version.

Projects continue to be created by which people can learn more not just about the Occupy movement itself, but about what’s motivating people to become involved. At Occupennial:

OWS via Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Turn on your TV for the latest Occupy News…

On the Community Channel:
TWC = 34
RCN = 82
FIOS = 33

There’s also a link to watch online.

Two other things from Occupennial – first Occupy Cinema at Anthology Film Archives:

Occupy Cinema is pleased to announce its co-organizing OCCUPY WALL STREET AT AFA with Anthology Film Archives. January 7 and 8 Anthology’s screens will feature a number of films related to the International Occupy movement … .”

Also from Occupennial:

Occupy!: Scenes from Occupied America

In the fall of 2011, a small protest camp in downtown Manhattan exploded into a global uprising, sparked in part by the violent overreactions of the police. An unofficial record of this movement, Occupy! combines adrenalin-fueled first-hand accounts of the early days and weeks of Occupy Wall Street with contentious debates and thoughtful reflections, featuring the editors and writers of the celebrated n+1, as well as some of the world’s leading radical thinkers, such as Slavoj Zizek, Angela Davis, and Rebecca Solnit.

Finally, there’s Occupy Records who are

creating a platform to facilitate the connection between artists and fans who are involved with or inspired by the global Occupy movement.

Many ways to hear, or refuse to hear, the “wake up” of and from the 99%.

(Occupy D17 poster via OWS.
Wake UP poster via Occupy Posters. )

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Boehner & McConnell: Keystone XL or No Payroll Tax Extension

By on 16 December 2011

The next time you hear anyone on the right say Democrats don’t compromise I hope you will laugh in his or her face, then buy the person a drink.

You’ve really got to hand it to Republicans.

It’s déjà vu all over again, bringing back memories of this time last year when Pres. Obama allowed Republicans to squeeze him on extending the Bush tax cuts, which added to the deficit and became an unbelievable pain for progressives.

Just this week, Democratic lawmakers caved on the millionaire surtax as well and now Speaker Boehner has laid down the gauntlet on the payroll tax extension package that includes an unemployment benefit extension.

From Politico:

Republicans say they’re not budging on the pipeline. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told POLITICO on Friday: “The House will not pass a product without Keystone.”

Sen. Mitch McConnell has joined him. From Brian Beutler:

Regarding that legislation, Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell emails me with the following statement: “The Leader will not support any bill without the Keystone XL language as part of the agreement.”

As I’ve written before, Pres. Obama likely postponed a decision on the Keystone Pipeline out of his own political interests. It’s likely, in my opinion, that if he gets reelected he’ll give the go ahead on it.

This is something McConnell may or may not be betting on, but the Republican Leader does know that for his side it’s a good talking point to say that Democrats would rather the middle class face a tax increase than okay a project that will not only make us less dependent on foreign oil, but also create jobs. To McConnell, Pres. Obama is denying a tax cut for the middle class, new energy sources and the creation of jobs, all because of extremist environmental wackos, as Rush Limbaugh call people opposed to Keystone.

It doesn’t matter that Sen. McConnell’s portrayal is pure cynical politics. He’s betting it’s a sound bite that sings, at least with the right, which is all that matters.

The one thing you rarely will hear from Senate Democrats, especially on economics, where they always get behind, is “we’re not going to budge.” However, giving in on the Keystone Pipeline would be a monumental embarrassment and tectonic setback for the environmental movement.

Senate Democrats didn’t outright reject the Keystone idea on Friday morning. [...] Senate leaders hoped to get a deal on a year-long proposal, but weren’t ruling out a two-month deal as a fall-back plan. (Politico)

Pres. Obama and the Democrats are once again being beaten on the politics. They’ve simply shown no game at all. If Republicans win on their Keystone demands, it will be a very sour note on which to end the year.

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Gov. Nikki Haley Endorses Mitt Romney

By on 16 December 2011

Nikki Haley as veep would ignite "baby Palins."

Make his day.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley gave Mitt Romney the nod on Fox & Friends.

“Today is the day that I’m throwing all of my support behind Mitt Romney for president,”Haley said on FOX & Friends. “What I want was someone who is not part of the chaos that is Washington. What I wanted was someone who knew what it was like to turn broken companies around.”

Haley also argued that Romney was the only candidate that could defeat President Barack Obama next fall.

Gov. Haley would be a smashing choice for vice president if Mitt Romney gets the nomination and put some real fire under the “baby Palin” conservatives.

We’re playing futuristic games now, but a ticket with Nikki Haley on it would also give Mitt Romney a makeover and a marketing pitch that would launch the GOP ticket as the hottest ticket in U.S. towns.

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“Surrendering to plutocracy is not an option”

By on 16 December 2011

Joyce L. Arnold, Liberally Independent, Queer Talk, equality activist, writer.

Two Corporate Parties. Corporate Nation. Duopoly. Plutocracy. 1% and 99%. Wall Street. The Two Party Front for the Oligarchy. All point to the same general challenge: how to keep those at the very top – financially, and so in terms of political elections and governance – from using our nation as their private playground. It’s not a new battle, but a long-running, ongoing one. I see no reason to think the need to keep fighting will disappear, nor do I see the fight to be any easier, but also no less winnable, today than in the past. “Winnable,” of course, in the sense of the current round, not the final score. Lots of people are thinking and talking and writing about this general topic. Below are some of those thoughts. I’d love to read yours in the Comments.

John R. MacArthur, publisher of Harper’s Magazine, offers President Obama Richly Deserves To Be Dumped:

As evidence of a failed Obama presidency accumulates, criticism of his administration is mounting from liberal Democrats who have too much moral authority to be ignored.

Most prominent among these critics is veteran journalist Bill Moyers, whose October address to a Public Citizen gathering puts the lie to our barely Democratic president’s populist pantomime, acted out last week in a Kansas speech decrying the plight of ‘innocent, hardworking Americans.’ In his talk, Moyers quoted an authentic Kansas populist, Mary Elizabeth Lease, who in 1890 declared, ‘Wall Street owns the country…. Money rules…. The [political] parties lie to us and the political speakers mislead us.’

Not a new situation, or new fight – “Wall Street” and its relationship with our political parties, and the Electeds of the same, didn’t just emerge as a threat to “innocent, hardworking Americans.” And what MacArthur goes on to write about Obama certainly isn’t a new description of various occupants of the WH.

By now it should be obvious that the system, and the Democratic Party, run Obama, not the other way around. Under this arrangement, the president carries out his duties as pre-eminent party functionary—fundraising being at the top of his list of responsibilities—and defers on legislation … .

In a foreward to Jeffrey Clements’ Corporations Are Not People, Bill Moyers writes Why ‘We The People’ Must Triumph Over Corporate Power:

Rarely have so few imposed such damage on so many. When five conservative members of the Supreme Court handed for-profit corporations the right to secretly flood political campaigns with tidal waves of cash on the eve of an election, they moved America closer to outright plutocracy, where political power derived from wealth is devoted to the protection of wealth. …

Citizens United is but the latest battle in the class war waged for thirty years from the top down by the corporate and political right. Instead of creating a fair and level playing field for all, government would become the agent of the powerful and privileged. …

America has a long record of conflict with corporations. Wealth acquired under capitalism is in and of itself no enemy to democracy, but wealth armed with political power … is a proven danger to the ‘general welfare’ … .

I do question the focus on the “political right,” without acknowledgement of the complicity of the “political left.” Whatever, it’s not a new battle, Moyers writes, and if the “class war” isn’t confronted, we can say

‘farewell to … fair play …, to representative government …
Unless ‘We, the People’ – flesh-and-blood humans, outraged at the selling off of our government – fight back.

It’s been done before.

Moyers provides some examples of what “we the people” have done.

… if the generations before us had given up, slaves would be waiting on our tables and picking our crops, women would be turned back at the voting booths, and it would be a crime for workers to organize. Like our forebears, we will not fix the broken promise of America … if we throw in the proverbial towel. Surrendering to plutocracy is not an option.

Perhaps that all sounds a bit, I don’t know, corny? Obvious? Old news? It also sounds very current, with millions of people experiencing the concrete, real life consequences that come with the “selling off of our government.” Two parties, swapping out “majorities” and White House appearances, both answering to the same handful at the top, aren’t sufficient to meet the needs of “we the people.” At least that’s my perspective.

( Photo via ThinkProgress )

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Newt Gingrich Pummeled, but did Romney Surprise Some Iowans?

By on 16 December 2011

The polling data I’ve seen over the past two or three days suggests that Newt Gingrich’s momentum has stopped — and has probably reversed itself. The most troubling numbers for Mr. Gingrich are in Iowa, where three recent polls show that his lead — which had been in double-digits just a week ago — has all but evaporated. – Nate Silver


Last night’s Iowa debate will not help Mr. Gingrich reverse his slide. But that’s not the only thing that developed over the evening. TIME magazine’s “person of the year,” the protester, even showed up.

Bret Baier showed his bias by grilling Ron Paul on Iran over and over again, then turning it over to Rick Santorum to continue, because Iran is one of his stronger issues. Paul didn’t flinch, though he won’t win any friends from this crowd, however, he did get a nod from Charles Krauthammer who said he was “wacky and occasionally very impressive.”

Chris Wallace took out after Mitt Romney, his antipathy obvious for Romney, doing his best to ruffle him, to no avail.

But it’s hard to come to any conclusion other than Newt Gingrich took what could be fatal blows at last night’s Fox News Channel debate, even considering he had some rousing applause lines, one of which was on judges. Problem is, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey and Alberto Gonzales slammed him on those views, which he released in a position paper.

Mukasey and Alberto Gonzales, in exclusive interviews with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly, said they are particularly alarmed by provisions such as allowing Congress to subpoena judges after controversial rulings to “explain their constitutional reasoning” to the politicians who passed the laws. – EXCLUSIVE: Former Bush Attorneys General Call Gingrich Position on Courts ‘Dangerous’

After Mr. Gingrich’s devastating debate start, much of it delivered by Michele Bachmann, she came back at the end and lowered the boom on Mr. Newt’s patronizing condescension, as he questioned her on her facts. “I am a serious candidate for president,” was a freezing moment for Gingrich that reminded anyone watching about his juggling wives and horrific history with females. But her Freddie Mac attack was brutal. From CBS News:

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann blasted the former House speaker, reminding the debate audience in Sioux City, Iowa that “the speaker had his hand out” and “cashed paychecks” from Freddie Mac to the tune of at least $1.6 million.

“That’s absolutely wrong,” she said, “we can’t have as our nominee… someone who continues to stand for Freddie Mac,” which guarantees mortgages made by banks.

Bachmann clearly got under Gingrich’s skin. The former speaker said Bachmann’s claims were “factually not true,” adding that he “never lobbied in any circumstance” for the firm.

Bachmann responded that “you don’t need to be within the technical definition of being a lobbyist to be influence peddling… to get [lawmakers] to do your bidding.”

Somewhere in smoke-filled rooms, the GOP Establishment is holding their breath and waiting for the polling after this brawl.

Rick Perry actually came to life, using the line “I hope I’m the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses,” but also delivering cogent thought. Maybe there’s a sympathy vote there or perhaps a Christian conservative hunk vote.

Rick Santorum was strong, with Mike Murphy tweeting that if he had the money he’d be in different shape in Iowa. But he doesn’t, so he isn’t.

As for Jon Huntsman, he’s reasonable and obviously smart, but his delivery doesn’t match the moment in Iowa, because he can’t deliver red meat applause lines often enough. Perhaps it will work for New Hampshire.

It depends on whether Mitt Romney rises in the eyes of Iowans, with this debate also helping him in New Hampshire. That’s not to say he’ll win Iowa, which would be a true upset. But Romney was as solid as he’s been at any time, while also delivering some red meat anti-Obama lines. His colleagues on the stage with him also let him skate, as Newt was in the bull’s eye. It was a gift for him that could help.

Conclusion is that it doesn’t seem to me that Ron Paul will rise after the debate, because he will not be able to convert enough new supporters. It will be a generous Christmas gift if Newt Gingrich doesn’t take a hit and continue to sink. The big question is will Romney’s very strong performance bolster his position in Iowa, but also in New Hampshire, maybe even make him rise a bit in the eyes of primary voters? It just might. It depends on whether his answer on gay marriage, with Santorum playing clean up, which Chris Wallace obviously served up to hurt Romney, is more important than Newt’s bad night and serial hypocrisy, or Ron Paul’s “wacky” words on Iran.

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Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011

By on 16 December 2011

“Cancer victimhood contains a permanent temptation to be self-centered and even solipsistic”… – Christopher Hitchens

To people who didn’t know him personally, who watched him render political judgments on people, Mr. Hitchens came off as an irascible, sometimes irrational, always self-important, occasionally brilliant, disagreeable, whiskey loving SOB.

For that he’d likely nod, then hoist an insult to what he would consider my reprehensible Clintonite past. Mr. Hitchens detested the Clintons and was one of the charter members of the Clinton Derangement Club, for which he earned one line in my book.

Henry Kissinger is likely toasting his demise.

His writing was something else, always worthy of your time.

But, oh, his “living dyingly” this year was stunningly courageous for its uninhibited, naked exhibitionism, which turned defiantly exultant as it was doomed to fail.

Christopher Hitchens was 62.

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On Debate Day, Newt Lands $20 Million from Vegas Mogul

By on 15 December 2011

graphic via Huffington Post

Republican nomination for $20 million, please.

Who’s getting creamed in the ad wars in Iowa and seeing his polls numbers slide? Answer, of course is Newt Gingrich, who is about to get some much needed financial assistance.

Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson is planning to direct $20 million to an outside group backing Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign, multiple sources told POLITICO — the first answer to urgent pleas from allies to the former speaker’s longtime billionaire supporters. – Politico

The debate tonight comes with a lot of noise. Sean Hannity was hawking it like it was the last round-up. It is big night, with Newt bleeding support after a barrage of incoming and he’ll likely be the target tonight, too. Could also be the night that Republicans finally acknowledge that Ron Paul actually matters in Iowa.

It’s the last debate before the Iowa caucuses, which could mean a lot if Newt can pull off a win, which I still don’t think he can do. Or if you’re listening to Rush Limbaugh, Hannity and Chris Wallace, will mean nothing if Ron Paul wins in Iowa.

The GOP Establishment is freaked over Newt, but no one is excited about Ron Paul getting momentum either. Today on right-wing radio Karl Rove called Paul an “isolationist.”

Why is it that anyone who doesn’t like going to war where we don’t absolutely have to is considered an “isolationist” by Republicans and their neoconservative wing?

On a day when everyone is hailing an “end” to the Iraq war, while we have a compound that is over 104 acres, not to mention plenty of support staff and contractors still involved in that country, I’d say our political leaders, especially Republicans, could use a large dose of whatever makes Ron Paul’s foreign policy come out on the sane side of things (though the same cannot be said for other parts of his political philosophy).

Jon Huntsman talks the perfect language on foreign policy, but he’s not on the radar in Iowa, while hoping for an upset in New Hampshire.[This sentence has been updated, because I mistakenly wrote that Mr. Huntsman wouldn’t be in Iowa.}

From my side of the political fence we call it realism.

Let the last rumble of 2011 begin.

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The Hillary Effect Hits Amazon

By on 15 December 2011

Now available on Amazon for your Kindle!

Now Available on Amazon!

I received the hard copy yesterday and it was great to see, hold and read.

Our PR team will be sending it out far and wide in the coming weeks, so media outlets can request a copy through that link.

If you feel so compelled, I’d appreciate a “like” click on the page. Thanks.

It looks just great under the Christmas tree!

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Occupy Bill of Rights Day

By on 15 December 2011

Joyce L. Arnold, Liberally Independent, Queer Talk, equality activist, writer.

At the 12-12 Port Shutdown, in Oakland, this sign appeared: “When injustice becomes law, protest becomes duty.”

That sign message seemed a good way to begin, since today is Bill of Rights Day, and since The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 has passed with the “indefinite detention” language intact.

Via OWS:

The Bill of rights was ratified 220 years ago, on December 15, 1791. It is shameful that today, in the United States, we are forced to come together in defense of the Bill of Rights and our civil liberties, as the representatives of the 1% who rule this country continue to take our rights away.

Congress is attempting to bury the Bill of Rights. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (NDAA) includes language proposed by Democratic Sen. Carl Levin and Republican Sen. John McCain that allows for the arrest and indefinite detention of U.S. citizens by the military, on U.S. soil and without the right of trial. This … comes at a time when we are witnessing unprecedented attacks on our civil liberties.

Some of these attacks include:

Massive spying on the Muslim community … ; …

The recent raids on homes of antiwar activists by federal agents, who have carted away personal computers, cell phones, books, and other possessions and handed the activists subpoenas to appear before federal grand juries;

The recent, often violent evictions of anti-Wall Street occupations around the country;

The refusal of the Chicago city government and the federal government to allow for peaceful protests when NATO and the G8 countries come to Chicago in May, 2012 to hold summit meetings. …

More from Occupy Together:

Civil rights groups, counterterrorism experts and former military leaders have expressed serious concerns with sections of the NDAA which would effectively allow for the indefinite military detention of United States citizens and lawful immigrants in America … . A group of Lawmakers submitted a letter to House and Senate leaders stating their concerns of the possibility of these provisions undermining the rights of US citizens.

While adjustments have been made in backdoor meetings due to President Obama’s threat of veto, none of these primary concerns were directly addressed. The NDAA in its present form could still allow for an indefinite military detention of a US citizen on American soil without trial.

From Chris Bliss, Executive director, MyBillofRights.org, via Huffington, about the “remarkable story” of the Bill of Rights:

All the more remarkable when you consider that … the provisions of the Bill of Rights only applied to roughly 5% of the human beings living within the United States when it was ratified in 1791. They didn’t apply to slaves. They didn’t apply to Native Americans. They didn’t apply in large part to women, and only in full to white males of a certain amount of property and position.

And yet there is no exclusionary language within the Bill of Rights itself. So as our concept of individual liberty evolved through the experience of it … we had the blueprint already in hand to build on … .

The sad fact is that at this key crossroads in the life our nation, the Bill of Rights is … nowhere to be found in our public square. …

Meanwhile, our politics is mired in a Never Never Land where the word ‘compromise’ is only uttered as an expletive by those bent on enforcing their will (and extending their incumbency) at the expense of meaningful dialogue and any serious attempt to craft comprehensive and inclusive solutions.

Attempts to occupy Never Never Land, and provide some Bill of Rights sanity continue, in multiple ways. Today’s Occupy schedule, via OWS, includes:

Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 was the first labor union to come out in support of Occupy Wall Street. Now, Occupy Wall Street Labor Outreach Committee is mobilizing #OWS to stand in solidarity with TWU as they begin their campaign to demand a fair contract.

Coming up on Saturday, from OWS:

Re-Occupy #D17

On Saturday, December 17th Occupy Wall Street — with support from more than 1400 faith leaders, elders of the civil rights movement, prominent artists and community members — will gather at noon in Duarte Square, downtown Manhattan, for an all day performance event. This event is part of a call to re-occupy in the wake of the coordinated attacks and subsequent evictions of occupations across the nation and around the world.

In a related article at OWS:

Occupy 2.0 #D17 …

Freedom of expression and the right to assemble are sacred human freedoms. …

On Saturday, December 17th – the 3 month anniversary of the birth of this movement, we will gather to celebrate Occupy Wall Street and to occupy space together.

Finally, some examples of freedom of expression, via the OWS Twitter feed:

This is why we support #OWS: Census shows 1 in 2 people are poor or low-income apne.ws/uMBPZO #AFLCIO

oneillpaintings RT @TheNewDeal: #Retweet to Tell @BarackObama If He Signs #NDAA and/or #SOPA, He Loses Your Vote in 2012. #BillofRightsDay #OWS #p2 #Obama2012

#OccupyAustin joins #Austin Taxi Cab Driver Protest at City Hall! Bring signs, voices, friends. #Solidarity and support

nathanc RT @OccupyPics: The Chinese village that fought back, Wukan, is now Occupied telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews.

(Re-Occupy Sign via OWS)

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Obama White House ‘Concerned’ About Wyden-Ryan Medicare Plan

By on 15 December 2011

Ryan and Wyden acknowledged that their plan might not bring in more savings than under the current law. But they said that by forcing private insurers to bid to provide Medicare coverage and encouraging beneficiaries to choose the plan with the lowest costs, the measure could drive costs down lower than the price controls that the current law would impose on the private sector. If costs continued to rise nonetheless, beneficiaries would not have to bear the burden, the lawmakers said; Congress would be required to take further action. – Washington Post

I’m so impressed. The White House is “concerned” about the Wyden-Paul Medicare concoction now being floated. It’s called “Guaranteed Choices to Strengthen Medicare and Health Security For All” (full pdf outline at the link).

It’s a sentiment that perfectly fits Pres. Obama. He’s always on the cusp of action, while never actually taking a risk or standing on a line himself. It’s how ideological straddlers skip through careers giving people nothing to vote for, while depending on their rivals to provide the reason to vote against a worse option.

It belongs next to Pres. Obama’s veto “threat,” which resulted in the decision to continue changing America into the image of Bush-Cheneyism.

From Sam Stein:

“We are concerned that Wyden-Ryan, like Congressman Ryan’s earlier proposal, would undermine, rather than strengthen, Medicare,” said White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer. “The Wyden-Ryan scheme could, over time, cause the traditional Medicare program to “wither on the vine” because it would raise premiums, forcing many seniors to leave traditional Medicare and join private plans. And it would shift costs from the government to seniors. At the end of the day, this plan would end Medicare as we know it for millions of seniors. Wyden-Ryan is the wrong way to reform Medicare.”

Thank goodness Pres. Obama has Harry Reid to do his dirty work for him. No doubt the White House “concern” message has been received by “give ‘em hell” Harry.

Until better Democrats are found, someone should put the Democratic Party out of its misery. Watching the slow demise under these gutless wonders as they collapse into policy irrelevancy has got to be excruciating for movement progressives. The people that Obama reelect are depending on to get him 4 more years in the White House.

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Newt Sliding, Limbaugh & Wallace Attack Ron Paul

By on 15 December 2011

I’m juggling reindeer reins, while trying to keep my sled from careening down the hill. Very busy day with THE book items to address, with the added pain that my desk top and back-up computer both failed me. But onward we trudge!

Keeping with my precedent of not quoting Rasmussen polls that applies doubly when Democrats are in the mix. I will instead quote from a piece by Byron York.

In mostly private conversations, well-connected Iowa Republicans say they have sensed a drop-off in support for Gingrich in the last few days. (See Signs of Gingrich slipping in Iowa?) “People are saying OK, let’s reassess this,” one insider says of voter opinion on Gingrich. “Is this really a decision we want to make? What I’m hearing is thinking about the general election and the unpredictable nature of him as our nominee. I don’t have any empirical data to back it up, but it’s just a feeling I’ve gotten in the last 24 hours.”

How could Iowans not “reassess”? Newt’s a nightmare on the best of days, which he’s hoping to have this evening, when the last debate of the year blasts off.

Meanwhile, Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace blasts the notion of a Ron Paul win in Iowa.

“Well, and the Ron Paul people aren’t going to like me saying this, but, to a certain degree, it will discredit the Iowa caucuses because, rightly or wrongly, I think most of the Republican establishment thinks he is not going to end up as the nominee. So, therefore, Iowa won’t count and it will go on.”

The ire is switching from Newt to Paul, or at least they’re now sharing it, so who knows where the pendulum could swing next?

Rush Limbaugh began his show today saying basically the same thing as Wallace. If Ron Paul wins the Iowa caucus it renders their influence moot.

The Iowa caucus at this stage brings a whole new meaning to volatile.

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No Millionaire Surtax, but Indefinite Detention is a Go

By on 15 December 2011

photo by Pete Souza
Of course. Why not? Absolutely.

From CNN:

In what would be a major concession, President Obama and Senate Democrats will drop their insistence that a surtax on millionaires pay for extending the payroll tax cut, a Democratic source tells CNN. This would be part of a new Democratic offer.

With the track record of Pres. Obama and the Democrats, why in the world wouldn’t Republicans filibuster? They knew Obama and the Democrats would cave in the end.

But Republicans talking about paying for a tax cut is ludicrous. They didn’t do it once in the Bush-Cheney era, so they’re not kidding anyone. This is more about 2012 and gumming up the works for Obama and Democrats, who are helping them do it.

I presume you’ve already read that Pres. Obama has rescinded his veto threat over the Defense Authorization bill. Indefinite detention follows other aspects of Obama’s Executive Branch muscle. From Jay Carney:

“While we remain concerned about the uncertainty that this law will create for our counterterrorism professionals, the most recent changes give the President additional discretion in determining how the law will be implemented, consistent with our values and the rule of law, which are at the heart of our country’s strength,” it said.

“We have concluded that the language does not challenge or constrain the president’s ability to collect intelligence, incapacitate dangerous terrorists, and protect the American people,” the statement said, although it added that if the uncertainty raised by the legislation does impede investigations, the White House expects lawmakers to write a fix.

The rationale is also that it already exists in current law, so this latest bill won’t change anything. A section also states: “The requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States.” Ah, but it doesn’t say they cannot be detained, with that idea failing Senate passage.

[Rep. Jerry Nadler] also took issue with Smith’s assertion that the bill just spells out what is already law.

“It doesn’t codify existing law. It codifies claims of power by the last two administrations that have not been confirmed by [the Supreme Court] — rather terrifying claims of power, claims of the right to put Americans in jail indefinitely without a trial, even in the United States,” Nadler said.

When are people going to get tired of listening to these incompetent individuals who call themselves Democrats and just quit supporting them?

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