Open Thread–2/17/2012

 Posted by at 12:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 172012
 

Although I was still quite tired, yesterday was a busy one.  I had to walk to the mailbox to mail a letter in support of a prisoner, whit whom I do volunteer work, seeking parole.  From there, I walked to the drug store to get the collection of items I’ll need to prepare for next week’s test.  All in all I walked about two miles, so I’m pretty wiped out.  I’m current with replies.  Today is a rest and paperwork day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:48 (average 4:43).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: The #1 Lie About Keystone That The GOP Is Pushing Right Now

17keystone-full

That estimate is generous.  Republicans are great at creating jobs, everywhere but in the US.

From Reuters: The new U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a proposal to regulate about 200 debt collectors and companies that produce credit reports as part of an effort to extend its oversight beyond the banking industry.

The agency is charged by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial oversight law with overseeing consumer financial products, such as credit cards and mortgages offered by banks, as well as some products offered outside the industry, including residential mortgages and student loans.

It also has the authority to extend its oversight to companies that are "larger participants" in consumer financial markets.

Debt collectors and credit reporting agencies are the first industries to be targeted for supervision under this power.

Since both are rife with consumer abuse, I consider this a good idea.

From Slate: Oklahoma has become the latest state to mobilize behind so-called "personhood" legislation, which would define the beginning of human life as at the moment of conception. The state Senate passed such a bill, 34-8, on Wednesday and it looks likely to sail through the House as well, the Oklahoman reports.

Virginia House legislators also passed a pair of anti-abortion bills this week, including its own personhood measure. The other bill would require women to have an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion. A version of the ultrasound legislation has already passed the state Senate and Republican Governor Bob McDonnell is expected to sign the bill into law, CBS News reports.

With Republicans, the right to life begins at conception and ends at birth.

Cartoon:

17Cartoon

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  6 Responses to “Open Thread–2/17/2012”

  1. Patty says:
    February 17, 2012 at 9:18 am

    3:28

    Yeah right! The Keystone Pipeline is all about the jobs! It’s all about how much money will go into their coffers.

    This is a good first step for the new U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

    All of these states who are passing such draconian laws regarding women’s reproductive rights are going to have a lot of lawsuits on their hand because they violate the Constitution.

    Excellent cartoon!

  2. Jerry Critter says:
    February 17, 2012 at 10:20 am

    3:35  Looks like Patty does it again.

  3. Lynn Squance says:
    February 17, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    Keystone XL — So Lugar says “…hundreds of thousands of jobs…”, Jabber Jowls McConnell said tens of thousands, Boehner said 120,000 jobs, and TransCanada said 54,000 I believe before admitting that they lied in order to get the project going in a jobs needed economy.  These guys are all over the place and none of them right.  I read that there would be about 600 jobs, 90% in Canada which would leave 60 for the US.  Admitting that this is an estimate, I’d say that the Cornell Global Labour Group is very close.  If the Republicans are so concerned about American jobs, why are they not supporting the President’s jobs bill?

    1. The jobs bill was proposed by a president that they don’t want to succeed (a purely political and racist reason).
    2. His jobs bill will not support the big oil companies that the Republican stormtroopers are ‘lobbying for’.
    3. The Republicans have too much invested personally in companies that will work and benefit from the Keystone XL.
    4. Greed — they support jobs in other countries where costs are much, much lower and therefore profits are MUCH, MUCH higher.
    5. The Republicans are really, really stupid and so openly partisan that they don’t give a rat’s ass about the American worker.
    6. And did I mention they want to make the current President a one term President?

    The Republican is a party of fraud and knows nothing else but greed, lies, deceit, misinformation and fraud.

    U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — A few years ago in Canada (actually quite a few truth be told), collection agencies were in the practice of harassing people.  Calls at all times of day and night.  Calls at work.  Letting information slip to employers etc.  Now there are laws and you can make complaints against agencies that abuse those laws.  This is a good place to start because it should be (note I didn’t say’will be’) a relatively easy fix.  Now if this has to go to Congress, the process will not be quick.

    Personhood and Abortion — I sometimes have to wonder if this is really more about men and their sperm!  How many times have you heard of men not being willing to neuter their male dogs who get randy around bitches?  I’ve heard it many times.

    Agree with you TC  — With Republicans, the right to life begins at conception and ends at birth.

    Cartoon — . . . and keeping all those jobs in the US!  What a putz!!!  Great cartoon!

  4. TomCat says:
    February 17, 2012 at 11:39 pm

    Fully agree!  Excellent job!

    It does not.  The CFPB has the authority.  That’s why Republicans are trying so desperately to kill it.

    Thanks

    Thanks!

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