July 2012 – Page 5 – Politics Plus

Republicans Obstruct Disclose Act

Posted by TomCat at 10:09 am Politics

Jul 172012

The Disclose Act has broad support among Democrats, Independents, and even rank and file Republicans. Simply put its foundation is the belief that, if someone is trying to buy an election, the American people have a right to know who they are. But the small handful of billionaires, who want to plot in secret, have the support of the Republican Party.

Senate Democrats on Monday lost another attempt to pass legislation forcing donors of groups that bankroll most election ads to be revealed. But Democrats, led by New York Sen. Charles Schumer, pledged to hold the Senate floor hostage and continue the debate well into the night.

The DISLCOSE Act, which was dealt the same fate in the Senate in 2010, failed to overcome a key procedural vote on entirely partisan lines, 51-44. Democrats will push for another vote as early as Tuesday after holding a “midnight vigil” to protest the GOP filibuster of the measure.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was the only Democrat to vote “no” — a procedural move allowing him to bring it up again. Four Republicans and one Democrat did not vote on the bill, which would require unions, nonprofits and corporate interest groups that spend $10,000 or more during an election cycle to disclose donors who give $10,000 or more… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Politico>

Graphic credit: Nancy/C2NN

Regulatory legislation like this is so needed, because Republicans will do anything to win, as the following crime illustrates.

In early 2010, a new organization called the Commission on Hope, Growth and Opportunity filed for nonprofit, tax-exempt status, telling the Internal Revenue Service it was not going to spend any money on campaigns.

Weeks later, tax-exempt status in hand as well as a single $4 million donation from an anonymous benefactor, the group kicked off a multimillion-dollar campaign against 11 Democratic candidates, declining to report any of its political spending to the Federal Election Commission, maintaining to the I.R.S. that it did not do any political spending at all, and failing to register as a political committee required to disclose the names of its donors. Then, faced with multiple election commission and I.R.S. complaints, the group went out of business.

To Democrats and some campaign finance watchdogs eager to force more transparency in spending by independent groups, Hope, Growth and Opportunity stands out as the kind of “pop-up” organization that operates in virtual secrecy, with legal impunity…

Inserted from <NY Times>

Graphic credit: The Examiner

Of course, Republicans are wasting no time taking advantage.

One Republican group has reserved $6 million in television advertising time for the fall election season to help more than a dozen House GOP candidates, and about half the money will come from the nonprofit side of the organization that is not required to disclose its donors.

The Congressional Leadership Fund and its nonprofit affiliate, the American Action Network, reserved the ad time in seven key media markets — which will also be likely battlegrounds for the presidential campaign — as a down payment on a fall campaign to promote House Republicans.

The move comes as congressional Democrats are stepping up their criticism of nonprofit organizations that shield their donors and that are playing an increasingly prominent role in House and Senate races…

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Graphic credit: Salon

Rachel Maddow covered this story in two segments. In the first, she provided background on 1% mega-donors.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In the second, she interviewed John Tester (DINO-MT).

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I don’t buy Tester’s point. Democrats are doing this for show, with good reason, and should come clean about it. We must make Republicans unanimous support for a few billionaires over everyone else an albatross to hang on Republican necks at every opportunity. Keep the votes coming!

While Willard Whines About Bain

Posted by TomCat at 10:08 am Politics

Jul 172012

Poor Willard. As always, he has a problem. The more he tries to hide the truth about his business record, the more that big, mean Barack Obama keeps calling him out on it, making it most difficult for widdle Willard to etch his sketch! Willard has been sniveling in overdrive, calling Obama’s tactics hateful and despicable. Willard needs to change his panties. That’s just hardball, and the pitch is right over the plate. To see despicable, look to Willard’s Republican minions, like Michele Bachmann.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has been known to promote paranoid conspiracy theories and in recent weeks, she bought into one promoted by Islamophobic chieftain Frank Gaffney that the U.S. government has been infiltrated by the Muslim Brotherhood.

In letters to several government agencies demanding an investigation, Bachmann and several of her GOP colleagues targeted specific names and individuals in the government. The letter to the State Department Inspector General singles out Huma Abedin, deputy chief of staff for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and asserts that Abedin is the perfect example of the Muslim Brotherhood’s “deep penetration” in the administration. Bachmann’s letter claims that three of Abedin’s family members are connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and implies that Abedin’s proximity to Clinton is no coincidence as the department has “taken actions recently that have been enormously favorable to the Muslim Brotherhood and its interests.”

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) called out Bachmann for her fear campaign…

Inserted from <Think Progress>

Graphic credit: London Muslims

Chris Matthews explored this story with Brian Levin and Ron Reagan.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This is just one more example of the Republican bigotry and hatred that, if anything, serve only to help the small extremist minority within Islam to recruit.

Poll Results–7/17/2012

Posted by TomCat at 10:08 am Blog News

Jul 172012

Here are the results of the Better Health Plan Poll.

Poll0717

And here are your comments.

Posted by Lynn Squance on July 10, 2012 at 2:06 am.

Who the hell likes the Republican plan of "Don’t get sick, but if you do, die quickly"?

Personally, I like my Canadian universal healthcare, but if I were American, I would definitely go with Obamacare. And it will only get better as time goes by, assuming the lame assed Republican/Teabaggers don’t screw it up.

Posted by Angelica on July 8, 2012 at 12:46 pm.

Who in the world are the masochistic 10% who said otherwise? I notice none of them left a comment.

Posted by Fred Lemon on July 7, 2012 at 3:55 am.

This is like an Ed Schultz question where you know what the results will be.

Posted by Rixar13 on July 2, 2012 at 7:11 pm.

Obamacare –

Posted by Jerry Critter on July 2, 2012 at 12:25 pm.

Is this a serious question? Of course ObamaCare is better than the "Don’t get sick. If you do, die quickly" republicare plan.

Posted by Marva on July 1, 2012 at 5:21 pm.

Duh. That’s hardly even a question.

Posted by Rixar13 on July 1, 2012 at 2:12 pm.

Which of these two is better for the US?

Obamacare

I voted Obamacare. No brainer.

Enjoy the new poll!

Open Thread–7/17/2012

Posted by TomCat at 10:07 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 172012

Yesterday mother nature pulled a cruel trick on me. It was supposed to stay cloudy and cool, but the sun came out right after I left home and stayed there, super-heating the air in the enclosed breezeway outside my windows. I had both fans set to blow what I thought would be cool air in from the breezeway. When I returned home, it was 112° at my desk. I have a full slate today, because my physical therapy was rescheduled. My therapist was pregnant (I didn’t do it.) and went into labor. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow is up in the air because my physical therapy is then.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:53 (average 4:42). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Out Of All The Reasons African-Americans Don’t Trust Mitt Romney, Here’s The Very Best One

It’s a damn good reason for the rest of us too!

From LA Times: It’s a long way from becoming policy, but President Obama’s proposal to raise taxes on households making at least $250,000 a year seems to be a winning political position for now, at least.

A new survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that 44% said the tax increase would help the economy, 22% said it would be harmful, and 24% said the tax hike would not make a difference.

Nothing else makes sense.

From NY Daily News: Rush Limbaugh’s attacks on President Obama may have peaked (or bottomed out) Monday when the talk show host claimed the U.S. president "hates this country."

Limbaugh worked up to this dubious charge after slamming Obama and Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren for suggesting that government investments in education, infrastructure and law enforcement help contribute to corporate profits.

If Limbarf says do, it’s Republican dogma.

Cartoon:

17Cartoon

Open Thread–7/16/2012

Posted by TomCat at 7:18 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 162012

Yesterday the weather was cool enough that I slept most of the day. The building finally bled off enough heat that, in the wee hours last night, my apartment reached the 70°s again for the first time in ten days. I have a routine appointment with my doctor to follow up on the bad shoulder, and on the way back, I have to stop at the supermarket for staples, so this article is all for today. I’m still not current with replies, but will catch up ASAP. Tomorrow I have physical therapy, so we’ll see what the day brings.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:09 (average 4:57). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: BREAKING: Obama Doubles Down, Releases Scathing New Ad On Romney’s Record

His policies are even more off key than he is.

From NY Times: Five years after he started “crime suppression” sweeps that terrorized Latino neighborhoods across Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio is finally having to explain himself. Not to TV crews in Phoenix or to fawning hosts on Fox News, but before a federal judge.

The trial in Melendres v. Arpaio, a class-action civil-rights lawsuit, is scheduled to begin Thursday in Federal District Court in Phoenix. The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, accuse the sheriff of waging an all-out, unlawful campaign of discrimination and harassment against Latinos and those who look like them.

That should be a slam dunk. Crazy Joe was obeying the Brewerstan Death Angel, Jan Brewer.

From Capital Column: Texas Congressman Ron Paul has failed to win a majority of delegates in Nebraska, ending his chance of being considered eligible for nomination at the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August.

According to Republican National Committee rules, the libertarian GOP presidential candidate needed a plurality of delegates in five states to ensure himself an official presence and speaking slot at the convention. He already had four – in Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, and Minnesota – and Nebraska was his last opportunity to get the fifth.

On one hand, good riddance to bad rubbish, as that racist misanthrope bites the dust. On the other hand, seeing him interfere with the Bankster’s pig party may have been most entertaining.

Cartoon:

16Cartoon

Open Thread–7/15/2012

Posted by TomCat at 8:49 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 152012

Yesterday the heat was severe and set of my COPD. I got almost no sleep last night and feel far too wiped out to do the research needed for a slate of articles. Therefore, this will be today’s only article. I’m not current with replies, but will catch up ASAP, hopefully after getting some sleep. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the doctor way across town, and Tuesday I have physical therapy, so my posting will be intermittent at best until Wednesday.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s tool me 4:02 (average 5:12). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: HILARIOUS! Bill Maher On Why Republicans Act Exactly Like 14-Year-Old Boys

Note: Jonathan Krohn, featured in the second clip in this video, actually renounced conservatism 4 years later! Source.

Maher said it all: If a 14 year old can deliver your message, you’re a child.

From TPM: A Republican state Senate candidate in Iowa has decided to bow out of the race and become a U.S. senator of an alternative form of government.

In a letter released Friday, Randi Shannon informs supporters of her new position as “U.S. Senator in the Republic of the United States of America.” You see, according to Shannon, the U.S. government has been acting unlawfully as the “‘official government,’ which clearly it is not!”

Now where did I store that tin-foil hat graphic? 🙄

From YouTube (Hat-Tip Phyllis): You’re So Bain!

Classic!

Cartoon:

15Cartoon

Republicans Reject One Million New Jobs

Posted by TomCat at 10:49 am Personal

Jul 142012

Long before It became a national talking point, I have written frequently that Republicans were sabotaging America to prevent further recovery from the Republican recession, hoping to blame Democrats and to take power. In fact, I predicted that would be their strategy in 2008, well before Obama was elected. However, I must admit that the extent to which they have done so surprised me too. Now we have unequivocal evidence that is exactly what Republicans are doing, because they just blocked one million new jobs.

Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic proposal for a small business tax cut.

Voting 53-44, the Senate rejected a package of tax credits for small businesses designed to incentivize investments and the hiring of new employees. Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia broke ranks with his party to oppose the bill, while Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts did the same by voting for it.

"Unfortunately, Republicans played their usual games of obstruction and opposition. There was simply no reason to oppose this bill on the merits, so Republicans manufactured reasons to kill it out of thin air," Reid said. "Republicans claimed they wanted amendment votes, but refused to take ‘yes’ for an answer when I offered them votes on those very amendments."…

…The $28 billion Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act would have established a 10 percent tax credit for businesses who hire new employees or provide raises to current employees, as well as providing more credits for business that invest in capital equipment. Democrats said the bill would have benefited 2 million businesses and created a million new jobs. The plan was first proposed by Obama last year.

Inserted from <RTT News>

Ed Schultz and Richard Wolfe concluded that that this proves that Republicans are sabotaging the economy.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The bill that Republicans filibustered could not have been more compliant to traditional Republican policy. It’s a tax cut and it’s 100% pro-business. What else could they want? I’ll tell you. They want to prevent any improvement in the economy, as long as they are not in power.

Even if Republicans held the Senate, I would prefer to have it much more difficult to filibuster. Government by obstruction, as Republicans have adopted as the norm, hurts us all.

Oppose the Poll Tax!

Posted by TomCat at 10:48 am Politics

Jul 142012

A few years back, I lost my wallet and had to replace my Social Security card and Oregon ID card. Obtaining the documents needed to replace them cost me over $100 and took over six months. If I had been unable to afford them, I still would have been able to vote here in Oregon, because I am registered and have voted in previous elections. But if I lived in one of the states where Republicans are trying to disenfranchise qualified voters, because they are poor, seniors, students, or minorities, and if I could not pay, I would not be allowed to vote.

In 1964, the American people enacted the 24th Amendment, to prevent the exclusion of the poor from the ballot box. In his speech last week at the NAACP convention, U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. wasn’t indulging in election-year rhetoric when he condemned Texas’ 2011 voter photo identification law as a poll tax that could do just that. He was speaking the hard legal truth.

The Justice Department would be right to challenge this new law as an unconstitutional poll tax. The department has temporarily blocked the Texas law under special provisions of the Voting Rights Act that prevent states with a history of discrimination from disadvantaging minority groups. But the attorney general should go further and raise a 24th Amendment challenge against Texas and other states that are joining the effort to bar the poor from the polls. This exclusionary campaign should not be allowed to destroy a great constitutional achievement of the civil rights revolution.

The 24th Amendment forbids the imposition of "any poll tax or other tax" in federal elections. Texas’ law flatly violates this provision in dealing with would-be voters who don’t have a state-issued photo ID. To obtain an acceptable substitute, they must travel to a driver’s license office and submit appropriate documents, along with their fingerprints, to establish their qualifications. If they don’t have the required papers, they must pay $22 for a copy of their birth certificate.

If they can’t come up with the money for the qualifying documents, they can’t vote. But the 24th Amendment denies states the power to create such a financial barrier to the ballot box…

Inserted from <LA Times>

I have little to add. The manner in which Republican oppressed states are implementing voter ID laws, such as closing offices in poor areas while extending hours of operations in rich areas, make it clear that these Voter ID laws have nothing to do with voter fraud. To the contrary, they are election fraud by the Republican Party.

Holder certainly should mount a 24th Amendment challenge to all such laws, not just in states that also violate the Voting Rights Act.

Older Entries Newer Entries