Monday has arrived and with it, a busy week. Today I have a ton of volunteer writing to do. Tomorrow I have to be here to order groceries in the morning. I have a community meeting after lunch, and after that, I’m meeting my friend with cancer for coffee. Wednesday is grocery delivery day, and I also have an O2 delivery coming. Depending on my X-Ray, I hope to reschedule my MRI for Friday. I’ll know tomorrow. For now, lets not even talk about a few back burner items. Our Poll host has fixed the broken comment section on our poll.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:14 (average 5:26). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: And here are the 18 CEOs Sanders labeled job destroyers in his report. The list below only touches on each company. The Top Corporate Dodgers report, Sanders penned, goes into further detail.
1. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan
Amount of federal income taxes paid in 2010? Zero. $1.9 billion tax refund.
2. Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein
Amount of federal income taxes paid in 2008? Zero. $278 million tax refund.
3. JP Morgan Chase CEO James Dimon
Taxpayer Bailout from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department? $416 billion.
I included three, Click through for the other 0.1% beneficiaries of welfare payments from you and me,
From NY Times: President Obama’s most aggressive and sustained legislative push since the Affordable Care Act faces a crucial first test this week when a divided Senate considers a bill that would grant him accelerated power to complete a massive trade accord with 11 nations across the Pacific Rim.
But after lobbying members of Congress in a campaign that has included rides on Air Force One, meetings in the West Wing, private vows of political support and public attacks on critics in his own party, Mr. Obama’s top legislative priority remains at risk.
A vote scheduled for Tuesday on legislation that would grant him trade promotion authority, also known as “fast track,” has become mired in a procedural thicket, with Democrats — many of them loyal to labor unions bent on killing the bill — vowing to oppose it.
Once Congress grants a president trade promotion authority, lawmakers have the ability to vote up or down on a final trade agreement, but they forfeit the right to amend the deal or filibuster it. The bill before the Senate adds a new twist: If lawmakers decide a final trade accord falls short of their standards, Congress can vote to revoke the president’s authority and then try to amend the deal.
Call your Senators. Tell them to oppose this measure.
From NY Times: Last year the vampires of finance bought themselves a Congress. I know it’s not nice to call them that, but I have my reasons, which I’ll explain in a bit. For now, however, let’s just note that these days Wall Street, which used to split its support between the parties, overwhelmingly favors the G.O.P. And the Republicans who came to power this year are returning the favor by trying to kill Dodd-Frank, the financial reform enacted in 2010.
And why must Dodd-Frank die? Because it’s working.
This statement may surprise progressives who believe that nothing significant has been done to rein in runaway bankers. And it’s true both that reform fell well short of what we really should have done and that it hasn’t yielded obvious, measurable triumphs like the gains in insurance thanks to Obamacare.
But Wall Street hates reform for a reason, and a closer look shows why.
For one thing, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the brainchild of Senator Elizabeth Warren — is, by all accounts, having a major chilling effect on abusive lending practices. And early indications are that enhanced regulation of financial derivatives — which played a major role in the 2008 crisis — is having similar effects, increasing transparency and reducing the profits of middlemen.
Click through so Paul Krugman can explain how Republicans want to vamp you!
Cartoon:
19 Responses to “Open Thread–5/11/2015”
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4:19 average (still) 5:26. Not a big fan of chows myself – having had to watch one kill a lost kitten I was looking for and not being able to do anything because there was a fence in the way does have an effect.
Daily Kos – Good document to have; although it's from 2012, not much has changed except to get worse. I was surprised not to see Monsanto, Dow, or Bayer on the list. Guess they have been so busy killing people, animals, and plants they haven't perfected their tax-dodging skills as yet.
NY Times – I have been signing a lot to oppose Fast Track.I think we could kill fast track for sure if we only used the right strategy – everything but one letter I have signed has been sending the same arguments to all three of my legislators, and I think that's a poor decision. To my Democratic Senator, DINO though he is, I want to be sending the message the TPP, based on leaked documents, is a job-killer and a public health killer and a few-other-important-things killer. To my Tea Party Senator and Representative, I want to be sending the message, why would you want to be giving Obama ANYTHING he wants, even if it is something you might like? You will lose your credit with the Tea Party. Don't do it. You'll only be hurting yourself.
NY Times too – Krugman is always right on, and this is no exception. I wish we could have him as Secretary of the Treasury. (And Reich back as Secretary of Labor again.) Vampire is throwing roses at them, although I see why he picked that monster – it's the bloodsucking, stupid. But no movie monster ot literary monster does justice to the evil of these evil beings.
Cartoon – Thank God, too! I wish some of our current whistleblowing heroes could have their cases dismissed.
Good job on the puzzle…you beat me, anyway!
Agree.
3:21 This dog might look friendly but I would advise you not to try taking a bite out of him. He has very big teeth.
4:20 I am the old slow dog with this puzzle.
3:16 Puddy Tat, I know you`re hungry but this doggie will make you the main course if you try to "chow" down on him!
Of course I can eat it!! I'm the one that named that dawg chow!!
Burp!! It was delicious!!
Don't spread yourself too thin this week!
Daily Kos ~ I posted it to FB. Kind of makes you sick, doesn't it?
NY Times ~ I had to have signed at least 20 different petitions opposing the trade agreement, and called too. I was surprised that the President came out against Elizabeth Warren about this saying she doesn't know what it is. Of course she doesn't. It's being done in secret. Let us all know what is included.
NY Times ~ As usual, Paul Krugmann is correct.
Cartoon ~ A real American hero!
This week, that's like saying don't breathe.
Daily Kos: I clicked through and it makes me angry. I have posted this before, my 85 year old mother has to pay federal taxes every year on her Social Security and pension, yet these corporations and billionaires pay no taxes and get millions back in refunds. Outrageous.
NY Times: I oppose the TPP and the Fasttrack the Prez is trying to get. I have all ready written to both senators ad representatives expressing my opposition. I have seen this called Nafta on steroids. Nafta was a disastrous trade deal for us, and from what I have read, the TPP will be worse.
Thank goodness we have Krugman, Sanders, and Borowitz who are all unafraid of the big bad wolves on Wall Street. I shared this on Facebook and hope that some will actually read it. Too big to fail and to big to prosecute are two of the biggest problems we have now. I am glad to know that part of Dodd-Frank is working. Warren is working hard to get us more protection. I hope she succeeds.
Cartoon: So glad the charges were dismissed. Now if we could get some relief for Snowden!
You have a right to be angry!!
Most Social Security retirement benefits are not subject to Federal Income Tax. I report mine faithfully and they are never determined to be taxable. Employer pensions, yes; mine is always determined taxable, as are any distributions I take from my IRA. I don't know about the taxability of disability and/or survivors benefits. I might add Medicare Part B premiums do come out of Social Security benefit checks. I don't know about Part D – I get my prescription coverage another way. Part A is free, no strings..
Puzzle — 3:16 Puddy Tat, I know you`re hungry but this doggie will make you the main course if you try to "chow" down on him!
Daily Kos — #19 Me Inc, CEO Lynn Squance — federal and provincial taxes paid 2014 zero, tax refund $75. And how many more are there like me whose basic income is lower than dirt yet the 1% cry like babies if they don`t get it all refunded!
NY Times — Has Obama switched sides? This sounds like a Republicanus/Teabaggerum tactic. Will this be the only time that the Republicanus/Teabaggerum play ball with Obama?
NY Times — If it is something worthwhile, nay a MUST, then of course the Republicanus/Teabaggerum will break it! Krugman is so right on.
Cartoon — The courage of conviction!
Obama is on the wrng side of this issue.
How the Pentagon Papers Came to be Published By the Beacon Press Told by Daniel Ellsberg & Others
http://www.democracynow.org –
Forty-one years ago, Beacon Press lost a Supreme Court case brought against it by the U.S. government for publishing the first full edition of the Pentagon Papers. It is now well known how The New York Times first published excerpts of the top-secret documents in June 1971,
Interview with Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8AV06kFhO0
Thanks Jim!
Excellent article in NYT by Paul Krugman (as ever) – and Joanne D is right about fast track TPP. Sorry – have to go, v poorly again.
Feel better, Pat!
Why Obama is siding with the TPP and Fasttrack. He has done so much good while he has been in office and to go to this extreme is ludicrous! What is he thinking?!?!