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toxic Tuesday &some News


Toxic Tuesday?

Today seems like a day when we all need to breathe in slowly in deeply  -breath out, repeat as needed.

The Elena Kagan confirmation hearings gave me that eerie  feeling of how it must have felt back in the day when folks of colour and women were treated so poorly

A whole lot of folks are engaging in toxic talk that seems embattled and begs us to ask ourselves where Republicans are regarding race. And do they know the public is now seeing on national TV -it effects how immigration as well. America is of diverse backgrounds and if you listen to the vitriol being put out there, on the airwaves you would have to wonder if racism is coming from folks we vote into office and how can we stop that before they get there.

Is there a voice of reason on that strange panel of Republicans for the Elena Kagan confirmation hearing asking questions on national TV that should have people of colour deciding just who they will be voting for in the up coming elections and it is not for Republicans, as the rhetoric seem very racist and disrespectful. The man Elena Kagan clerked for Thurgood Marshall just so happens to have a lot of respect from a hell of many people so the comments will not be forgiven or forgotten.

The latest news reports are that 10 Russian spies were picked up recently because as our President was telling their President they were friends and while the airwaves were wondering if our President knew about it all, I had to laugh at the question itself. The President is Commander in Chief not an actor who is just pretending on camera. The office of President should be given more respect. It would be nice to find out what exactly did President Obama say to Medevei after the information crossed his desk. Though we probably will never find out the total sum of the conversation but one can always hope. If there was a conversation, someone will ask the press secretary and the gist will be watered down and life will go on. In other news that was sad, made me laugh and has to have folks become more aware of Republican hypocrisy to such a degree anyone listening should have cringed.

Yesterday, Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearings started; she has been labeled as an elitist and while she worked hard in school did well and moved on to a prestigious college she is from a modest background as her dad is an attorney, a tenant lawyer and her mom a teacher. I personally do not find her anything but middle class, a great work ethic, and the capacity to excel.

Then we hear Senator Jeff Sessions begin the Republican talk, which by all accounts is not just negative it is offensive. In my opinion, Senator Sessions epitomizes the ridiculous stance most Republicans have but are smart enough to keep it to themselves. The question was it Racism in all its glory on national TV and will it continue? Mr. Sessions has stated in the past, that if he had his choice he wouldn’t have tried any Civil Rights cases and has also known to call Black men “boy” which not only provides evidence that he is out of touch with today’s society another question for him and the other Republicans would be is were they against the decision of Brown vs The Board of Education or not?

It seems like it would be in their best interest not to beat up on Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court who Kagan clerked for, respected, and has repeated some of his thoughts out of respect and admiration. Senator Sessions and his Republican associates verbally beat up on Marshall as an activist Supreme Judge as if this was a bad thing, so far only a few people have responded with oh please just remember “Citizens United.” It was uncomfortable for me hearing this vitriol coming from human beings let alone coming from people voted into office. In my opinion Senator Sessions was too comfortable making demeaning comments about the President, Thurgood Marshall, and the Democratic Party on national TV, which was a strategy that needs to be challenged. The Supreme Court voted 5-4 to make Corporations equal to individuals without taking into account that Judge John Roberts has cinched the “activist judge” title in my eyes with his ruling for Corporations.

The question is will Judge Roberts and the other four obviously conservative Justices continue trying to be a policy destructor and is his behavior because of some grudge he had during his confirmation hearings and has the power and decided to use it.

and last, can i just say that someone should figure out by now that after being in Afghanistan for 6 to 9 years it seems obvious that the people there are not all in to what it will take to become more self sufficient because if they were the locals would have more control.

Other News …

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) said that he will vote against Congress’s financial regulatory reform bill, arguing that it doesn’t go far enough to prevent future catastrophes. “As I have indicated for some time now, my test for the financial regulatory reform bill is whether it will prevent another crisis,” he said. “The conference committee’s proposal fails that test and for that reason I will not vote to advance it.”TP

Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle “has steadfastly refused to talk to reporters” in the state. “I can’t remember a time that we’ve ever had trouble with interviews,” said Mary Beth Farrell, the news director at KRNV. KRNV finally got an interview with Angle “after weeks of private rejections” by taking the “unprecedented step” of publicly asking her “to explain her positions to Nevada voters.”TP

**Macy’s has become toxic and reports are they might be abusing their employees, UFCW has asked people to boycott Macy’s until they start to respect employees

**Reports are that China and Taiwan signed a landmark deal

C-SPAN …

watch Admiral Allen Daily Oil Spill Update

watch Kenneth Feinberg on Executive Pay

watch U.S. Senate: Byrd Tributes watch Senate Tribute (11/09) watch Sen. Byrd on Memoir (6/05)
watch Booknotes Interview (4/89) watch More C-SPAN Programs read Sen. Byrd official website
read Politico: WV Law Murky on Byrd Succession read Charleston WV Gazette

watch Defense Dept. Briefing

Questioning begins in Kagan confirmation

“One thing I do know is that my politics would be, must be, have to be completely separate from my judging,” said Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan at the second day of her confirmation hearing. Questioning by members of the committee on issues related to the judiciary began on Tuesday and will continue into Wednesday. Outside witnesses are expected to testify on Thursday.

If confirmed, Elena Kagan will replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens on the Court.

Gen. Petraeus faces congress to discuss war in Afghanistan

General David Petraeus is now appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in his confirmation hearing to replace General Stanley McChrystal as lead commander of troops in Afghanistan.

Gen. McChrystal resigned last week in the wake of a recently released Rolling Stone article. In the story, Gen. McChrystal and members of his staff are quoted as criticizing the Vice President and other members of the Administration.

Vice President Biden to Visit New Orleans and Pensacola

Vice Pres. Biden will visit the Gulf today to assess clean-up efforts and tour affected areas. He will stop in New Orleans and Pensacola, visiting the Unified Area Command, the Naval Air Station Pensacola and Pomes Seafood to meet with Gulf residents impacted by the spill. Other government officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and presidential environmental advisor Carol Browner also visited the region.

Tropical Storm Alex, which has already sent heavy rains to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, appears likely to miss Gulf areas affected by the oil spill. However, while current paths predict Alex will pass to the west of the spill site, there is a possibility that strong waves will delay BP’s plan to increase the rate of containment, Adm. Thad Allen said in a briefing yesterday.