Friday, April 29, 2011

My Favorite Senator: Bernie Sanders


It was during the health care fight 2 years ago, that I became a big fan of Senator Sanders.  Bernie was an articulate and forceful spokesperson for the Public Option.  He challenged  Republicons  lies about death panels, costs and eligibility.    The senator has been a frequent and vociferous critic of the war in Iraq.  The senator voted against the use of force in Iraq when he was a congressman.  Bernie has railed endlessly about tax policies that benefit the few and the growing wealth disparity in this country.  He describes himself as a Democratic Socialist.  I have often seen him advocate the benefits of European Social Democracy over our system with its fast fading middle class.  Senator Sanders as an independent is more Democratic than half of the so called democrats in the Senate.  Bernie has published his 8 and 1/2 hour real filibuster on extending the Bush tax cuts as a book.   Bernie's Book  In the Senators on words:

Shared Sacrifice

“The rich are getting richer. The middle class and poor are getting poorer.  Meanwhile, we have a $1.5 trillion dollar deficit and a $14 trillion dollar national debt.  What is the Republican solution to the deficit crisis? More tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.  Savage cuts in programs that are desperately needed by working families.”

 Bernie Sanders official website

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tell Congress: End oil subsidies

Exxon posts 10.7 billion first quarter profits.  That's 4.9 million dollars and hour, 24/7.   They really must need the 4 billion dollar oil and gas subsidy that every Republican voted to keep in place last month.
Sign the petition urging congress to end big oil subsidies

Petition to stop Paul Ryans Budget

Like the idea of abolishing medicare and giving the savings to the rich in reduced taxes?  Especially, since the rich have the lowest tax rate since 1930?  But, hey, they want to give seniors a 6000 dollar voucher.  Think a 6,000 dollar voucher will buy health insurance for a 66 year old with a history of heart problems?  Think you could get a health insurance policy if you need hip replacement?
There is a petition telling Paul Ryan: Hands Off My Grandma.
http://handsoffmygrandma.com/  The web site is paid for by Rob Zerban who happens to be running for congress. Can you guess where and who he is running against?  

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Why Obama shouldn't have had to show his papers

I saw this on the Rachel Maddow show, puts the Obama birth certificate issue in historical context.  Nice Job Goldie!!  Click the link for the article.

Excellent piece by Goldie Taylor

Coping with the Unseen


In the wake of the tsunami and the continuing problems with the disabled reactors there are lingering questions about the radiation.  Many are skeptical of the governments statements.  A group has stepped up and given the population an effective means of gauging how much radiation they have been exposed to over time.  RDTN.org is building radiation detectors and dispersing them to individuals and groups around the Fukishima power plant.  From the website:

Safecast.org (formerly RDTN.org) is a website whose purpose is to provide an aggregate feed of nuclear radiation data from governmental, non-governmental and citizen-scientist sources. That data will be made available to everyone, including scientists and nuclear experts who can provide context for lay people. In the weeks following launch, it has become evident that there is a need for additional radiation reporting from the ground in Japan. This Kickstarter project will help us purchase up to 600 Geiger Counter devices that will be deployed to Japan. (The project minimum will fund about 100 devices). The data captured from these devices will feed into our website and will also be made available for others to use via Pachube, an open-source platform for monitoring sensor data globally. Our field members will be trained by ouradvisors to properly use these devices. The field members will be required to report to the website 8-10 times per day.

you can view the data here:http://safecast.org/
You can donate to the project here

Bernie Sanders top 10 list of corporate freeloaders

Maybe we only have a revenue problem.  This is outrageous, we need to go back to the "golden age" of the 1950's when everyone paid taxes and the highest rate was at 90%.   Moveon.org is sponsoring a drive to get people to share this poster on Facebook.  Since I don't do facebook this is my contribution.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

This man is NO patriot

 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

For 5 Years the defense department has been trying to kill a program that builds a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  The jet comes with an engine produced by Pratt and Whitney.  There has been considerable lobbying by congress to develop a second engine by GE and Rolls Royce.  The Pentagon has already spent 3 billion dollars  developing the second engine by GE and Rolls Royce.  Would you order a second engine for your Ford pickup with 10,000 miles on it?  This is just a 100 billion dollar giveaway to corporate giant GE.  One of the plants for developing the engine is in John Bohner's home district.  Perhaps that is one of the reasons that they have been unable to kill this wasteful spending program?  Today, the pentagon finally succeeded in deleting the unwanted engine from the budget.  But the head of Obama's job commission Jeffrey Immelt, who is the CEO of GE, wrote a letter to employees saying: "I can assure you we are not going to give up."  No one wants your bloody engine, give it up.  Instead, they'll send off armies of corporate lobbyists with duffel bags full of cash trying to bribe congressman to buy an engine no one in the Defense Department wants.  We're cutting nutrition programs for low income pregnant mothers and Mr. Immelt wants his 100 billion dollar worthless engine contract.  I hope he outsources himself to China.

Countdown with Keith Obermann is coming back

 
If you have missed Keith Obermann's outstanding diatribes, his sharp tongue commentaries and quick wit you'll be happy to know Countdown is coming to Current TV on June 20, 5pm pacific reruns at 8 and 11 pm.
The worst person's in the world are quaking in their boots.
Keith Obermann's announcement about his new show.

Monday, April 25, 2011

What if you don't like Paul Ryan's budget or Obama's budget?



Finally, starting to see some coverage of the best budget available.  The people's budget cuts defense, invests in education and infrastructure, raises revenues, protects social security and medicare.  In addition this budget shows a surplus in 10 years without tricks like 2.8% unemployment that showed up in sleazy Paul Ryan's budget.    You can find the whole budget here:
http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=70
Nobel prize winner Paul Krugman likes this budget.
If you like it be sure and add your e-mail address to join the team that invests in people and the environment.

The Lying Senator

Senator John Kyle said on the floor of the U.S. Senate:  "If you want an abortion you go to Planned Parenthood and that's well over 90% of what Planned Parenthood does."  Not even close senator, abortions account for about 3% of Planned Parenthood services.  When his staff was contacted about his statements they replied: "his remark was not intended to be a factual statement."  His staff recently removed his lie from the congressional record fortunately there is video.http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/08/jon-kyl-90-percent-planned-parenthood-abortion/

Senator Kyle represents the state of Arizona, he is a devout Muslim with 2 wives and 14 children, 11 of them out of wedlock. He is currently undergoing treatment for substance abuse at a D.C. hospital.  The previous was not intended as a factual statement. 

Jeffrey Immelt heads Obama's Jobs Commission?

President Obama appoints the CEO of GE to head his Jobs Commission.  In 2010 on 14.2 billion dollars of PROFIT, not gross, paid ZERO dollars in taxes.  But wait, it gets better; they also received a 3 billion dollar check from the US government.  Thats right they got a 3 billion dollar refund and paid 0 dollars in taxes. 
Scott Paul, the executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said: “I mean, Immelt has outsourced a ton of jobs. They've closed -- GE has closed 29 factories in the last two years alone. And if you're trying to send a signal to those white, working-class voters that left the Democratic Party in droves in November, naming one of the country’s leading outsourcers as your chief strategy guy on jobs -- I don't think was the smartest move.”

Naming Jeffrey Immelt to head a jobs commission is like naming Pat Robertson to head Planned Parenthood.

Sign the petition to fully fund Americorps 
 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Paul Ryan's Epic Fail

Please don't make us listen to the people who kept two wars off the books to make spending look lower than it was lecture us about fiscal responsibility. Kirsten Powers http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-04-19/paul-ryan-house-republican-study-committee-budget-backfires-on-gop/#

Paul Ryan voted with George Bush 94% of the time.  Voted YES on authorizing the use of force in Iraq.  Voted YES on the budget busting Medicare Par D of 2003; the big pharma giveaway.  Voted YES on the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.  None, zero, nothing of those acts were paid for.  For 8 years George Bush with the bobblehead consent of Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan  and John Boehner went on a charge card binge.  Two wars, huge tax cuts for the wealthy and Medicare Part D is the reason we have a deficit to begin with.  
They took a budget surplus and turned us into a debtor nation and now they want us to believe they care about deficits?  Hypocrisy is way to mild to describe their cynical  self-serving onanistic behavior.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Congratulations Debbie Wasserman Shultz

The congresswoman from Florida has been selected to be the next chairperson of the Democratic National Committee.  She is an articulate, bright and enthusiastic politician.  I can't think of anyone who would do a better job of espousing the liberal Democratic agenda.  

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Tell Congress: Fully Fund AmeriCorps and Service in 2012

Yes,  you can make a difference.  118,000 people signed the petition to restore funding to AmeriCorps in the 2011 budget.  Last week the petitions were handed to Eric Cantor and Americorps funding was reinstated!!
What is AmeriCorps?  AmeriCorps is like the Peacecorps but they serve in the United States.   AmeriCorps volunteers receive minimal wages while performing valuable services in their communities.  They recieve on the job training and qualify for a 4,000 dollar scholarship for every year they serve.  In these tough economic times Americorps helps both communities and individuals. 
If you would like to make sure this outstanding service organization is funded in 2012 please click the link and sign the petition.
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-congress-fully-fund-americorps-and-service-in-2012

Saturday, April 16, 2011

GOP pulling the plug on grandma by eliminating Medicare

Remember Chuck Grassley R-Iowa saying this in the midst of the healthcare fight?
“In the House bill, there is counseling for end of life,” Grassley said. “You have every right to fear. You shouldn’t have counseling at the end of life, you should have done that 20 years before. Should not have a government run plan to decide when to pull the plug on grandma”

Yesterday the house Repukes voted overwhelmingly to adopt Paul Ryan's budget which "pulls the plug on grandma".   Highlights of Ryan's plan: eliminate medicare and cut taxes on the wealthy. Too bad about grandma losing her life support.   We just can't afford healthcare for the elderly when we allow corporations like GE to avoid paying taxes.  Taxes on the wealthy are at their lowest level since 1931.   However, that's not low enough for Paul Ryan and Chuck Grassley even if it means "pulling the plug on grandma" and taking food out of the mouths of underprivileged children.

Friday, April 15, 2011

New blog

My first visit today with  an oral surgeon entailed the removal of two molars.  So I started this blog in a drug induced haze.  Comparing my personal experience of extractions from a dentist and an oral surgeon; the oral surgeon if by far preferable.  So if you think the author of this blog is taking drugs: your right.