Politics Plus

Last night the Senate voted on whether or not to bring the American Jobs Act to the floor and begin debate on it, a necessary step to move the bill ahead.  Republicans filibustered, requiring 60 votes to pass, to prevent a majority vote.  Democrats had a majority, but the debate failed, because Republicans goose stepped in lock step against it, joined by two despicable DINOs.

President Obama’s $447 billion jobs plan foundered in the Senate Tuesday night, as a unified Republican caucus and a pair of Democrats joined to deny the proposal the 60 votes necessary to allow it to proceed to full consideration.

Obama will now use Republican opposition as part of a campaign to paint the GOP as obstructionists blocking his efforts to improve the economy while offering no alternative to create jobs.

Although a number of Democrats who will face tough reelection efforts next year had wavered in support, only two voted not to allow the measure to advance, a symbolic victory for Obama and Senate Democratic leaders, who knew that strong Democratic opposition would be an embarrassment for the White House.

“The president’s plan contains many ideas Republicans have consistently supported over the years, especially when their party controlled Congress, the White House or both,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) “Republicans oppose those ideas now. . . . I guess Republicans think if the economy improves, it might help President Obama.”

Senior White House officials said the vote was the first step to spur action on job creation. Next, they said, Obama will work with Senate leaders to break the jobs bill down into its parts — which polls show are very popular with voters — and challenge Republicans to reject each individually… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Washington Post>

The two Democrats who goose stepped with the Republicans are Ben Nelson (DINO-NE) and Jon Tester (DINO-MT).  They should be stripped of their committee roles, challenged in the primary, and denied party support when they next face reelection.  The voters of Nebraska and Montana deserve an opportunity to choose a real Democrat.

Rachel Maddow discusses the jobs issue and the vote with reporter John Slanton.

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Stanton was incorrect about Webb. It was Tester, and Rachel aired a correction later in the show.

Lawrence O’Donnell explains how the vote shows the difference between the parties with Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

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They are right.  There is a difference between the parties.  Republicans represent millionaires.  They do NOT represent YOU!

One might think that so-called populists would favor regulations designed to protect people from industrial poisons released into their neighborhoods, but that is not so.  Tea Baggers oppose government regulation of all kinds, as do their Republican owners, because the Tea Party is not populist, like the 99%.  They are astro-turfed, told what to think, say and do by the Koch Brothers and other Republican financiers.  The Koch brothers oppose any regulation that might prevent them from squeezing a little extra profit from poisoning people.

Residents of a small Arkansas community say that the toxic pollutants being dumped for years by a Koch Industries plant is killing them.

Only 15 families reside around Penn Road and already 11 people have died of cancer. Even more are sick.

In a new documentary by Brave New Foundation, several of them explain that the problem can be traced to a series of canals where Koch-owned Georgia-Pacific has been dumping chemicals for years.

USA Today recently found that schools in the city of Crossett ranked the highest in the nation for exposure to cancer-causing toxins.

“They have cut this huge channel and it is like an open sewer line,” activist Cheryl Slavant told Brave New Foundation. “If you could follow it in a straight line, you would be right at Georgia-Pacific’s plant, owned by Koch Industries… Once I saw this, I knew that Koch Industries were the culprits. They know that these people are sick.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Raw Story>

This is who and what the Republican party represents.  They do NOT represent you!

Nope!  Not those runs.  We’re not talking about Montezuma’s Revenge, Republicitis or some other foul disease.  What happens when the marathon and the 99% need the same space at the same time?  In many cities, the conflict could be unpleasant, but not in Portland, OR.  The demonstrators, runners and police cooperated to share the space.

A compromise struck between the Portland Marathon and Occupy Portland, which had set up camp in park near the race’s finish line, ultimately brought the protest group its biggest public demonstration since Thursday’s debut march.

Hundreds of demonstrators met in the Rose Quarter and followed the route of the marathon across the Broadway Bridge and into downtown, where they returned to their camp in Lownsdale and Chapman squares.

Portland Marathon officials, too, declared the day a success. Event director Les Smith said the protests drew a great deal of attention to the race.

"The Occupy Portland people have been a godsend for us," he said.

Smith said the demonstrators had been very supportive, and about 40 had volunteered to help clean up near the finish line after the marathon.

Portland police initially told demonstrators they would have to leave the two squares to make room for the marathon, but city and race officials met with demonstrators to reach a comprise that allowed them to stay in Chapman Square. Access to the square was cut off during the race, so protesters couldn’t enter or exit except in emergencies… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Oregonian>

After the race, many of the runners joined the demonstration.   Kudos to Portland!!

Rachel Maddow discusses the spread of the Occupy movement and how it has Republicans running scared.

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I love the way this has spread all over the nation, but Portland does it best. 😉

All over the nation, where Republicans control state legislatures, they are doing everything humanly possible to making it more difficult for Democrats to vote.  Republicans analyzed how Barack Obama won in 2008, and are targeting the populations responsible for his election.  In my research today I saw two video clips that highlight this abuse of power.

In the first, Lawrence O’Donnell interviews writer Ari Berman.

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In the second, Rachel Maddow expounds on the issue in depth and interviews Gilbert Ortiz, Pueblo (CO) County Clerk.

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Republicans are stacking the deck, because they know they can’t win fairly.  We need to keep fighting back!