Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

mashup Monday &some News


The featured picture is of the I-5 Peace Arch.

  I needed some feeling of peace today. Actually, we probably will all feel the need for some peaceful thoughts as we watch members of Congress play politics with American lives. Congress might have until August to raise the debt ceiling but the evidence is becoming quite clear that Republicans have absolutely no intention of helping their Fellow Americans and or the Economy move toward that path of progress let alone the 21st Century, so the picture on the left is of our I-5 Peace Arch on the Canadian Border.

 In 2010, right around this time a vote was taken and while the Democratic Party was trying to get Americans back to work by introducing legislation to be passed Republicans acted and continue to act as if Corporate America is the only people, they trust and the following was what happened.  Last night, June/2010 the following comments were made after the jobs/tax extenders bill failed in the Senate again 56-40 -”Tonight, every single Republican voted to deny states critical aid that would keep firefighters, police offices and teachers employed,” said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). “And tonight, every single Republican voted to tell the one in ten Americans who have lost their jobs that they are on their own.” Please call your representative in Congress.  The American people are about tired of the BS offered up by both sides of the aisle but after watching  listening to TV and or radio the sad sad reality is that people are willing to vote against their best interest.

Apparently, folks have forgotten that it has been a Republican mission to vote against their fellow Americans calling it unnecessary spending though if anyone recalls that these are the same folks who voted against stimulus money while  taking the stimulus money, shoot every state was going to get it whether they said no because it was an emergency. It was slightly amusing though shortly lived and definitely offensive now that the number of Politicians with negative comments about the stimulus funds even though they held elaborate ceremonies with ribbon cutting, offering huge checks, took responsibility for the effort and some even asked for more money.  I am not sure how anyone else feels but knowing that the number of Governors that took the stimulus money to balance their budgets was disturbing enough. It was not just disturbing but hearing how Republican Governors made a choice of Profits over the People in their states by giving money  to private sector who turned out to be friends like the Koch brothers is felonious at best . It is also quite possible some of those very Republican Governors have businesses that received direct or non- direct advantages sort of like those drug testing clinics that belong to the governor who has decided that all state employees be tested for drug use. I may be wrong but reports are he is the only one with those clinics and this past weekend there were reports that rep. Paul Ryan stands to make a lot of money if his plan is implemented. If all that we have heard about our so-called Public Servants is correct, the stimulus money was obviously misused and some folks in office abused their positions.  We have Governors saying their states are broke though some had surpluses while the private sector being a Republicans best friend is still unwilling to open up the purse strings or stop sending jobs offshore until Americans accept lower wages and or compete for  what used to be Public Service jobs turned private and fee based . The current attitudes coming from Republicans will only drive unemployment up.  The obvious choice would be to place a Public Jobs Works bill on the table that would create jobs that will take care of our crumbling infrastructure, accept that at this moment in time we need everyone to participate. The idea that people are actually against fair share is beyond me but that Republican view currently being forced upon our fellow Americans in some states right this very moment is a reality.  It’s the 21st Century people. We need members of Congress to walk through a feature like our Arch to bring peace over them and maybe they will all come to the same conclusion two and a half years later. That all members of Congress need to participate in fair share as well as vote yes to Jobs bills that include county, state, or federal workers. Since when do we have  to tell companies like BP or other big Corporations that they should be held completely accountable for their errors; let us hope all Americans heard the Barton, Bachmann; cable heads and Boehner comments about a year ago because those- Corporatist-Republicans are still at it. The escrow was for We the People and was not a Chicago style take down as suggested. Republican Congressmen like Barton came out in support and the protection of a company that has ruined not only the Gulf Coast, the livelihoods, the environment the Marshes, Estuaries and now the beaches in Louisiana are suffering, which may affect every aspect of their economy for decades. Barton pulled those comments back but as I have said, those comments cannot be put back into any bottle and hopefully Americans will not forget or forgive.

If you just cannot enjoy our I-5 Peace Arch on the Canadian Border try breathing deeply in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth … repeat as needed

Other News ….

Your tributes to the Big Man, Clarence Clemons

Casey Anthony Trial Update: Defense case continues after dramatic beginning

Protesters take to streets in Syria after Assad speech

Euro, Stocks Recover as Debt Concern Eases

Tunisia’s Ousted President Says He Was Tricked Into Leaving

Is Rick Perry Going to Run for President?

Inappropriate Jokes

CSPAN

Governors Discuss Job Creation

Study released on states and job growth

A Look at “Mystery Phone Fees”

Huntsman announcement, Panetta Vote, Clinton on Capitol Hill

Senate to vote Tuesday on Panetta as SecDef
Issue for Jon Huntsman: His family’s Iran Business

Wednesday &some News


Today,President Obama and The First Lady host a Congressional Picnic at the White House at 7pm ET.

My rant today … Two and a half years ago the democratic party controlled both chambers in Congress and both leaders of the House and Senate were on their way to establishing a new path toward the 21st Century with several bills that included among others a jobs bill, dream act, dadt, start treaty, UI and health-care reform. The legislation our representatives brought to the floor of Congress were supposed to address American issues. However, great legislation has been difficult to pass due to Republican filibusters and more recent the lies that won them control of the House of Representatives. While we now know what the true Republican mission is, the Democratic Party has stated they will not give up trying to help the middle class.

Then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressing the status of the middle class stated that in the near future people would be paying 1dollar out of every 5dollars for health-care. Nancy Pelosi also stated that the problem of health-care costs will not go away and we can solve the issue by repealing the anti-trust exemptions, increase, and lower cost and improves choices for all Americans. Though the new health care law allows children under 26 to be covered under their parents insurance, has eliminated discrimination that includes pre-existing conditions, more coverage for our elders and maintaining the health care rights for women. The Republican Tea Party continues to berate the achievement call it Obamacare in order to demean it. Thankfully, the new Affordable Health Care Law passed though the new Congress has made cutting, slashing, and burning it their main mission along with so many other social programs without giving Americans any idea how they will replace hcr or social security, Medicare/Medicaid. The new effort to attack a woman’s right to choose has become more important than creating jobs and as Republicans offer up bills, amendments and comments, it is obvious it should embarrass Americans at how narrow this new party has become since the last guy was in office. The party of no has become the party of let us cut spending, decrease the deficit but they are and or will do so in on the backs of the middle class, poor and we all know minorities by giving them less. The obvious culture wars have become an issue and while candidates running for Congress not only engaged in race baiting, exclusion and outright discrimination. Most if not all were defeated at the polls thankfully but some did get through and are sitting either in the Senate or House. Honestly, I want Republican constituents to ask themselves if these people are true public servant and how upset were you when your own party voted against helping firefighters, teachers, and police while stripping away worker rights. The idea to help maintain these jobs, helping those who lost jobs by voting yes to unemployment and or create them until the lame duck session happened because the RTP wanted something, not that they wanted to help their fellow American. The Republican Tea Party, as we all know managed to hold the middle class hostage and traded the bush bonus dollars for helping Americans even though the house of bush set a date for the bush bonus dollars to expire. Is it just me or does it seem less than American to hold or use money as a tool to insure those Bush bonus tax cuts …That top 2% of our population got those tax cuts but have failed to significantly improve the job numbers even though speaker Boehner stated they were the job creators.

Two and a half years ago, in a series of votes that dramatized the conflicting pressures Democrats face to spur job growth and control the deficit. The House voted 217-212 to raise the government is borrowing authority to a record level, with 37 Democrats joining Republicans opposing the measure. The then Speaker Pelosi reminded people that among other things that the Democratic Party, focused on jobs, concerned and working toward equal rights for the people, proud that the lily Ledbetter law  passed as well. Well, that was two years ago. After gaining control of the House of Representatives, the Republican Tea Party decided that taking apart any legislation that has President Obama’s stamp of approval is the only thing the people elected them for last November. This is not just offensive it is one of several issues that has divided Americans and will continue to until the Republican Tea Party stops playing games with the lives of all Americans and gets to work for the citizens of the United States instead of what seems like only for Corporate America.

Two and a half years ago, in an effort to make it hard to fill the Obama Administrations cabinet, like appointee Martha Johnson. Now, with half of President Obama’s term over, the Republican Tea Party has managed to hold up over 20% of his appointments and some have withdrawn completely, the result is a less than complete cabinet for the governing party.

This behavior by the Republican Tea Party is just not acceptable and be considered un-American. In a moment of emotion, Senator Dorgan voiced my feelings at the time,” that for over 8months Republicans have blocked her nomination and now almost unanimously vote to put her in, which raises doubts in the integrity of Republicans.”

Yes, some good things came out of the hard work that the House and Senate Democrats performed but it is obvious they need to do more while the Republican Tea Party has put the future of America at risk and will continue to do so unless Americans begin to push back.

Other News …

Life expectancy of US women slips in some regions

Washington Day Ahead: Fed Officials Discuss Inflation Target

 Why Michele Bachmann is no Sarah Palin

Latest union proposal exempts Wis. transit workers

Pakistan’s arrest of CIA informants exposes Bin Laden raid frustrations

Police Fire Tear Gas, Stun Grenades Amid Fresh Athens Clashes

Despite Crackdown, Syria Calls for Refugees to Return Home

‘US says it won’t support UN Palestinian statehood bid’

CSPAN …

House Panel Continues Look into “Fast and Furious”

Defense Secretary & Joint Chiefs Chairman Testify on Pentagon Spending

Lawmakers Review Islamic Radicalization in Prisons

AP sources: Pakistan arrests 5 CIA informants from bin Laden raid in latest US-Pakistan rift – The Washington Post

F.D.A. Unveils New Rules About Sunscreen Claims – NYTimes.com

wicked Wednesday &some News


Today, as the progress of our Nation seems to be slowing down given our Congress is unable to work in a bipartisan way to get our economy growing and Republicans, though in the minority have managed to do their best to stop any effort to create and pass laws that will. Instead, they work, debate and will finally vote on delaying the debit card usage fee caps or the 10% tax on tanning salons; don’t get me wrong those two pieces of legislation definitely are important but it would it would be nice if Leader Reid would introduce Jobs bills whenever possible. If you are like me it seems like every time a Republican speaks now days i flinch, cringe, or say I told you so. I know that in my resentment for the lack of knowledge in the issues, reality and or trust by my fellow Americans, or from those angry voters, even some Democratic members of Congress in President Obama I am not alone. I have to say that it is important that we remind ourselves why and what some of our so-called allies said about the November Midterm elections and not let this happen again. Yes, we are all suffering on some level because they decided to sit out, vote right of center … whatever. Yep, I was worried and now we are all living with a daily barrage of crap on any given platform confirming the worry with good reason. The week before the midterms, I stated … What worries me, is the possibility that people who have no experience, common sense or clarity may get on the floor of Congress and really ruin what use to be a great country. The fact is this group of Republicans is not our parent’s right of center Political Party. This Political Party of No have not only  proved themselves to be more concerned about those top 2% by repeatedly holding legislation hostage in the name of those job creators and financial backers since the midterms elections. It is more than obvious they do not care about reducing the deficit, climate change, Jobs, fair share or the middle or lower classes whatsoever they have used the race card though hidden or undetected by most. The conversation from pundits, cable heads and others who engage in coded racial talk have an agenda that will hurt us all in the long term. Though Republicans have not introduced one Jobs bill but have btw voted against all the Jobs bills offered up by the Democratic Party because it will give our President a win. They continue to state that giving them control of the House of Representative is what Americans wanted but they have failed to listen and accept the buyer’s remorse screamed at them at town halls, meet-ups, and or calls from their own constituents. We the People on both sides of the aisle want Congress to put people back to work not to touch Medicare, Planned Parenthood, NPR, or anything else related to a social program that is government run. . I have not heard that slogan as much but the Republican Tea Party has acted as if they will “take back their country,” on all levels of government. In October 2010 I said, I guess you can plug in whatever that means for you though it sounded like an awful way to live if you are a minority on any level. Now, it is obvious that it means a vote against all your best interests. If you live on the Gulf Coast or a State with a Republican Mayor or Governor, it is likely you have been asking yourself not only why you were so easily conned but what have Republicans really done for you lately. If you have family, friends and or co-workers who are Teachers, Cops, Emts, Firefighters or any type of Rescue worker you probably are feeling as if your vote to take back your country was one of the last nails that will or could ruin this country as you know it. Yes, that is my opinion but come on, if you have been paying attention or living under a rock, Republican members of Congress, and some so-called dems started working and voting against their fellow Americans since President Obama Admin took office. The main mission as stated by the likes of a Bachmann is making this President Obama’s only term by voting against all of his policies which will invariably takes us all down.

The midterm elections have affected children, friends, families and our own lives, and if we give them our country, they will ruin our futures.

 

Other News …

International Community Turns Up Pressure on Syria

David Cameron: UK will ‘not stand silent’ over Syria

Hundreds in Syria flee to Turkey

Gorgeous, smart Huma Abedin is not hanging around town while disgraced hubby …

OIL FUTURES: Crude Oil Gains As OPEC Leaves Output Unchanged

NATO Defense Chiefs to Discuss Libya Campaign

Salmonella cases rise in United States, federal report shows

US OIL INVENTORIES: Crude Inventories Fall More Than Expected

Michelle Obama To Appear On Nickelodeon’s iCarly

Pawlenty says 5 percent growth is “aspirational”

 CSPAN …

States Go to Court Over Obama Health Care Legislation

Lawmakers Consider Extending the Service of FBI Director Mueller

Nominee to be U.S. Amb. to Afghanistan Discusses Success in Region

BBC News – Libya crisis: Pro-Gaddafi forces attack Misrata
OPEC oil talks collapse, no output deal | Reuters
President Obama Remarks on U.S. Manufacturing

mashup Monday &some News


The Movie Trailer below i guess is brought to you by a Pro-lifer GOP candidate for New Jersey State Senate. This thing is not only offensive  it also seems that the best way to handle “these women” is to hold them hostage. Is this what we are in for if the Republican Tea Party gains control of all 3 branches of our governments, a complete adjustment to what the word Freedom means and for whom does it apply to or omit.

The Life Zone features an all-star cast, including Robert Loggia (Academy Award and Emmy nominee; Scarface, Big, Independence Day), Lindsey Haun (Broken Bridges, Shrooms, “True Blood”), Angela Little (American Pie Bandcamp; My Boss’s Daughter), Blanche Baker (Emmy Winner; Sixteen Candles), Charles Durning (2-time Academy Award/4-time Golden Globe/9-time Emmy winner & nominee), Martin Kove (Karate Kid; Rambo)
Eric Etebari (“Witchblade”, The Lincoln Lawyer), Tara Buck (“True Blood”)
Tom Waites (And Justice For All; The Thing), Eileen Fulton (Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award; “As the World Turns”).

The Life Zone is written and produced by Kenneth Del Vecchio and is directed by Rod Weber. Nace Naumoski is the co-producer and Tatijana Naumoska is associate producer.

Other News

US court system confounds French as Dominique Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty

Syria Says Forces Ambushed

Wash. governor signs bill to raise college tuition

Levee breaches bring new worry

Dems blast Republicans for blocking Fed nomination

Disney to Lay Off Nearly 250 Employees

 

UN head airs ‘deep concern’ over Naksa Day clashes

New York Daily News

CSPAN

Commission Focuses on New Report on Waste in Wartime Contracts

 

Santorum Announces His Candidacy

A Look at Afghanistan and Libya

 

bad weather Wednesday &some News


a few weeks ago i posted an essay by Ron Paul called Rethinking Birthright Citizenship and a few days ago received a response on my blog, which is great but a bit concerning given the person agreed with his views that i feel are beyond extreme anyway here is the last of it i guess …

Comment: I know all about race and the illegal situation first hand.

I don’t think I’ve called Obama anything other than an American.  I may joke about him being a Muslim or whatever but he can thank Heloise and blogcritics articles for boosting him in the polls and helping him get over the racial hump.  Yes, I will take a little victory lap here.  Read ALL of my hundreds of Obama and political articles at blogcritics.org then come back and tell me I don’t know what I am talking about politically.  I think you will see I single-handedly set the standard for a lot of stuff that comes out of the mouth of mainstream media.  Yes, I did.

Heloise

ME: Actually, I went to your site and read your comments or what you call critiques and like i said we live in America and thank goodness freedom of speech is just one great reason to live here. However, I read your comments in a much diff way and will stand firm. I think it’s fun and amusing that anyone would give themselves props for anything the mainstream media says because in my opinion it’s lame offensive and full of lies. If that is what you want props for then sobeit but FYI most people are not happy with the right of center biased comments from “the media” and my President , President Barack H. Obama is not only underesitmated people boost his polls because they are actually comparing and contrasting his comments against what the Republican Tea Party and the folks who control cable news as well as mainstream media thank you very much. I know a lot of folks would love to take the victory lap but he is his own force moving toward that change 53% of Americans voted for – I give any and or all props to this President -full credit for all that he does. – Well, welcome to America and thank you for responding to the rethinking birthrights cititzenship essay that RonPaul wrote though if i read your blog correctly you support his point of view which was why i responded originally. I still am offended by his views in that essay as well as anything else he says when he is on the airwaves about Race, birthright including the 14thAmendment.

Other News …

Next Stop, Atlantis: NASA Readying for
Final Space Shuttle Flight

At White House, Obama presses

Middle East In Transition Yemeni Forces

Crews raise levees to protect South
Dakota town

NJ Gov. Chris Christie uses state
helicopter to catch son’s baseball game

CSPAN

Obama Hosts Budget Talks with GOP Lawmakers

Debt limit, budget plans on agenda

Homeland Security Intelligence Gathering Analyzed

Hearing Examines Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository Program