Yesterday and today researching and writing the blog are just about the only things I have done. I really am current on replies today. Tomorrow I have bills to pay, paperwork to do, and an overdue stack of mail.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:51 (average 4:35). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: In a stinging rebuke, Citigroup shareholders rebuffed on Tuesday the bank’s $15 million pay package for its chief executive, Vikram S. Pandit, marking the first time that stock owners have united in opposition to outsized compensation at a financial giant.
The shareholder vote, which comes amid a rising national debate over income inequality, suggests that anger over pay for chief executives has spread from Occupy Wall Street to wealthy institutional investors like pension fund and mutual fund managers. About 55 percent of the shareholders voting were against the plan, which laid out compensation for the bank’s five top executives, including Mr. Pandit.
Dang! Here we have an economic battle between the 1% and the .1%!
From MoveOn: WINNING: The 10 Best Achievements Of Obama’s Presidency So Far.
Considering that no President in history has ever faces opposition so intent on wrecking the country to pin their damage on him, Obama’s achievements have been remarkable.
From Philadelphia Inquirer: Republicans controlling the House are eyeing big cuts to food stamps as they piece together legislation to trim $261 billion from the federal budget over the next decade, hoping to forestall major Pentagon cutbacks.
The cuts to food stamps would reduce the monthly benefit for a family of four by almost $60, repealing increases enacted three years ago as part of President Obama’s economic stimulus. The changes would also force up to three million people out of the program by tightening eligibility rules, the administration estimates.
Every penny spent feeding hungry people is a penny Republicans can’t give to a billionaire.
Cartoon:
10 Responses to “Open Thread–4/18/2012”
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Puzzle — 4:10
Cartoon — The only thing it is missing is that swirly action as the contents go down the sewer pipe! Love Al Eisner’s blueing for a cleaner toilet. Good cartoon!
New York Times — Well I never thought I’d see the day! I guess the shareholders saw a drop in their Citigroup shares and didn’t like it. I’m not so naive as to think that the shareholders are being altruistic and thinking of the 99% — own self interest!
MoveOn — Excellent list especially considering the obstruction and down right nastiness inflicted by the Republican/Teabaggers. A while back there was a Care2 article about Mr Obama’s achievements. The first link below is the Care2 story while the 2nd is a site produced by volunteers who are tired of the MSM, both right and left, who seem to concentrate only on the negative.
http://www.care2.com/news/member/451276626/3095770 and http://www.obamaachievements.org/list
Philadelphia Inquirer — Sounds like a typical Republican/Teabagger tactic. Keep the war machine well oiled so that there are resources to attack whomever (foreign or domestic) when things get dicey.
The Republican/Teabaggers will try to lay the budget across the backs of seniors, the poor, and the middle class. That can’t happen. I hope the Democrats can “kick” some sense into the Repulican/Teabaggers. Nancy Pelosi ” . . . But you just can’t say, ‘Let seniors pay more for Medicare, let’s not invest in education and the rest while we give tax breaks to the wealthiest people in our country.’ ”
I find it interesting when I hear people talk about the US having been a once great nation, and lamenting the fall from grace. But do they even know what made the US great? Do they know why the fall from grace?
Years ago, as a manager, I was told that I needed to delegate more. I was a little choked by this because I had alays prided myself for being in the trenches with my staff. As I thought more about it, I realised that by delegating and coaching, I was investing in my staff. I was getting a higher return on my investment than if I had just jumped in when needed. And the employee benefitted from more opportunities to advance if that is what they wanted. If the US does not start investing in its citizens — in schools, job training, and yes medicaid and medicare, and other things (you list what you will — then the investment return will be zero. Lord knows the corporations and 1% are only “investing” in other countries to maximise their greedy monetary profits without concern for the home front. They are only showing their greed with the regulation they decry. Motto of the 1% and corporations —- Profits before People!
Good one!
That’s my thinking too.
Thanks for the links. I’ll be doing some balance sheets of my own later on .
We agree.
We were great when we practiced freedom, privacy, and demand-side economics.
Amen to that!
3:39
The shareholders have just woken up to the fact that the scumbags running Citigroup are not worth all the money they’re being paid.
Remarkable achievements, Pres. Obama. You have overcome the obstacle we call the RepublicanT Party.
Well, they probably want to cut my Food Stamps from $18. a month down to $12.
Down the toilet with you Mittens!
Beat me again.
Amen X3. 🙂
Nameless, if you remember, Republican Teabaggers even celebrated that event with two armed demonstrations.
Progressives may have to vote for Obama but they don’t have to like it. Here’s my top ten for Obama:
1) Failed to prosecute anyone for massive fraud and bring a trillion dollars and more of fraudulent profits back to the people, forcing states and communities into large spending cuts.
2) Watched and promoted the watering-down of Financial Reform that at this point, everyone agrees addresses none of the structural problems.
3) Pushing an Education Reform developed by Bill Gates and Wall Street designed to privitize public education.
4) Breaking international law and domestic civil liberties with the development of the largest security agency in history.
5) Failed to let Bush Tax Cuts expire and then went from ‘making them pay their fair share’ to the Buffett Rule that makes them pay almost the same as the rest of us…..this maintains income inequality. Buffett won’t pass Congress…..Bush Tax Cuts automatic.
6) Failed to act on net neutrality…the most important issue for middle/lower-class Americans as rates go higher and access goes down. Landline legislation is nothing as that is ending….mobile is where it is needed.
7) He is an environmental disaster! We are watching our environment killed by fracking, drilling, and no enforcement.
8) Killing the Rule of Law by failing to appoint judges, failing to prosecute any white collar crime, failing to fund white collar criminal agencies while giving hundreds of billions to Homeland Security.
9) Working to institute lower wages by supporting two-tiered wages and loss of benefits and promoting free market/free trade that causes the unemployment numbers we have today.
10) He has given about $3 trillion in corporate tax cuts/credits in three years as social and entitlements are cut.
Welcome Cindy. 🙂
I’m not going to argue any of your points, and if you have been here regularly, you know that I never shy away from criticizing Obama when I think it’s needed. The way I see it, Obama has done a lot right and a lot wrong, compared with the Republican party that is 150% wrong.
3:51 We tie again, and Patty beats us both again…quite soundly! Congrats, Patty! Mumble mumble mumble!
Grrrr! 😉
I’ll be last today.