~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

what’s up Wednesday &some News …


Hump day is definitely a day to be still then stretch up to the sky and… breathe in slowly through your nose, slowly breathe out… be calm, stretch and repeat …

FYI, a new report released yesterday, states the Congressional Budget Office found that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has “increased the number of people employed by between 1.2 million and 2.8 million” since it was signed into law. The report also found that the stimulus “lowered the unemployment rate by between 0.7 percentage points and 1.5 percentage points.”source/TP/

As we all count down the hours until the TOPKILL procedure from BP gets started. It’s not lost on me how unenthusiastic the group of three stooges seem to be about this whole thing being on any video let alone that it was schedule for today; got the feeling it may get pushed to another day.  There might be some hesitation because the worse case scenario is on their minds and you can see that on the face of at least Tony.   i could be wrong … definitely hoping this part of the overall situation will be over so the floating plumes can be siphoned off and the Marshes/Wetlands get the attention they need .

It is important that the EPA re-schedule the fundraiser, maybe any and all parts of the Obama PR group should work together more to make our President look exactly as he feels; though people are beating up on him when possible, this is the moment when the group needs to tighten up ranks, all hands on deck and better communication is essential.

It’s middle of the week and a whole lot of wacky behavior from the right, the left, political figures and some others  who are definitely doing some wacky things in pop culture … example below…while i crack up this guy is so out of touch …

The President has a lot of responsibilities;he has to be places that are not connected to the Gulf Coast gusher and though folks on the right are jumping on anything that makes him look bad, which seems status quo but Progressives and liberals have had an emotional reaction to this,  maybe a melt down but not much is being said about the history of  de-regulation in the Oil industry and what happens when people are left to self-regulate… MMS needs to be regulated and maybe some folks need to go …this  group is another problem child of many left over from the Bush Administration.

The fact that the MMS  was under the house of Bush Administration is not being covered as much at the nasty comments by folks having a fit over how the President should act instead of how he is actually acting. President Obama has to clean up a helluva lot of crap left by the other guy; who knew it was going to be so much and that it is this bad . The emotion is understandable when the livelihood of the people in the Gulf Coast are now in question and the wildlife endangered. It just seems like the President has been handed a bad stack of cards;  more issues, problems and corruption than any other in a time and more unprecedented events continue to happen; let’s get off the crazy train and back the President up and or find solutions…

The President is  campaigning in San Francisco for a candidate, will be checking on the Gulf Coast damage on Friday, went to a Democratic fundraiser and heckled by an LGBT leader; yelling you need to move faster on DADT.  As a minority I understand the need, the urgency for change regarding discrimination  but do the LGBT people  understand that the President does not make, create or pass laws? Congress is in control and he might have wanted to end DADT as soon as he was sworn in but DADT is one of many things Republicans and some Democrats  have stalled or  blocked and while high ranking Military Personnel have said they have served with gay soldiers as well as  knowing  that it is time to end a policy that is so outdated …there is the Gates effect; who has been the one man able to push ending DADT but has done nothing until now; Gates was put on the spot…it’s election season yes but who is making this a big deal …Gates.  When the announcement is made that DADT has ended; a document that states that any and all Military Personnel who engage in such behavior should be discharged; such as drinking while on duty, or sex among the soldiers of any gender. It just makes sense that everyone should be subjected to the same rules policies and political procedures of the Military and War; simple and to the point and then move on. It seems simple … just say it’s ended and move on.  Though reports from Think Progress found that House Republicans are poised to “mount a vigorous defense” of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” ready to “vote en masse against the defense authorization bill if it includes an amendment to repeal the law.” Meanwhile, Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said yesterday that he “strongly opposes efforts to change the policy now,” suggesting he would against repeal.

The wacky behavior keeps on going …  the hits keep coming from Republicans in Arizona what with a birther law, legal racial profiling, ending Ethnic Studies, anchor babies, teacher’s with accent rules and so much more.  It makes you wonder what the first inhabitants would feel about how the Republican stewards are behaving and if it could get any wackier … Think Progress gives us more information; yesterday i remarked at the comments made by Mitch McConnell and his smirk regarding the request for bipartisanship from President Obama … which you could tell they smiled shook hands with him and then waited to get on camera and a mic to say negative things… again, this is not what we want working for We the People because they aren’t … this group of Republicans are too old too outdated and need to move into the 21st Century need to admit that in order for things to get fixed everyone must participate but clearly as Think Progress reports: Following a meeting with the President yesterday, Senate Republicans snidely dumped on Obama to the press. “He needs to take a Valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans,” said Sen. Pat Roberts (KS). “He’s pretty thin-skinned.” It was “pretty audacious that he would be here today as we move into election season using Republican senators as a prop to talk about bipartisanship,” said Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN).

Other News …

**Mayor of Mex,Cancun was arrested for possible drug allegations


C-SPAN …

watch Pres. Obama Remarks on Small Business

watch Rep. Frank on Financial Regulations

watch Sen. McConnell watch Sen. Reid

watch State Dept. Briefing

watch Senate Hearing: From Earlier read Statement by Henry Kissinger, et al on Treaty

Regulators Probed on Oil Spill Response, Ties to Industry

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the director of the agency tasked with drilling oversight testify today at a hearing on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill response. Questions are also expected regarding an Interior Dept. report alleging misconduct and improper industry relations by federal drilling regulators. Meanwhile, BP engineers are attempting to stop the flow of oil using a “top kill” maneuver, which pumps heavy mud into head of the well at the sea floor.

watch House Natural Resources Cmte: 10am C-SPAN3

read WP: BP engineers prepare ‘top kill’

Congressional Oversight Panel Examines AIG “Bail Out” Funds

AIG President & CEO Robert Benmosche testifies today before the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Congressional Oversight Panel on the more than $133 billion provided to his company through TARP and other government financial stability programs since September 2008. The panel, chaired by Harvard University Law Professor Elizabeth Warren, will also hear from Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Bank officials, as well as executives from investment and insurance ratings groups.  The Congressional Oversight Panel on the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) heard today from AIG President & CEO Robert Benmosche. “AIG is now on a clear path to repaying taxpayers,” he said. “At the end of the day, the U.S. government will make an appropriate profit.” His company received more than $133 billion since September 2008 through TARP and other government financial stability programs. The panel also heard from Federal Reserve & Treasury Department officials who have oversight over AIG. Federal Reserve General Counsel Scott Alvarez said he has no expectations that AIG would need additional funds from the Federal Reserve and that AIG is on a “path of sustainability.” Panel Chair Elizabeth Warren called AIG a “corporate Frankenstein” and the “costs of their mistakes should have been borne by AIG and its partners” and not the American taxpayers.

watch AIG Hearing: Morning Session watch AIG Hearing: Afternoon Session
visit Testimony of Panelists
visit Congressional Oversight Panel

In Second Meeting, Commission Assesses Fiscal Outlook

The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, created by President Obama in February, today holds its second meeting to discuss the rising national debt and global fiscal outlook. The commission is co-chaired by former Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) and former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. Its non-binding recommendations are due in December.   Current forecasts project a U.S. federal budget deficit of $1.5 trillion this year, which White House economic adviser Lawrence Summers said this week can’t be addressed until economic growth gets back on a sustainable track.   Washington Post Business Columnist Steven Pearlstein shares his blueprint for combating the rising budget deficit on this morning’s Washington Journal.

watch Commission Meeting: From Earlier