Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

~ my 2cents ...

TGIF … and some News – BP&econ collapse


Among other things happening and being reported, the news of today could be that the Senate got a lot done yesterday and seems to be buying into having some courage; maybe we can get some real Financial Reform that Wall Street, Big Banks and AIG types will respect, feel and be punished for not adhering to if they create another system that bets against the people.  Republicans are against Reform …

Is it just me or does anyone else find it awfully strange that people on the right and or Republicans appear to be mad about too much gov’t spending and or big government, but Politicians from the right are holding meetings with big Oil Corporations, big Banks and AIG type agencies and then there’s Sarah Palin campaigning for anti-abortion? they want the government and entitlements out of all our lives until it comes to issues like abortion which they want to completely control…  unreal.  Republicans, maybe some conserva-dems too are clearly on the wrong side of Financial Reform … asking for money and support?

What i feel is lost in the Media coverage and obviously the Public is missing …  is what side Republicans are actually on and it’s not on the side of We the People… sure folks are voting in more conservatives …but it doesn’t seem like they are watching closely… Republicans are on the side of the very people who led us into the financial ditch; Wall Street, Big Banks and AIG types.   Republicans are against Financial Regulations, Republicans want to Repeal Health Care so that the many who might have a chance will continue suffer and be discriminated against.

In the case of BP; Congress needs to find the courage, face the reality and vote to at least a moratorium on oil drilling… though jobs will be lost and that aspect of the oil dump will be a major concern of our President…  it’s obvious that drilling needs to be completely re-evaluated…  we are finding out that these 3 Big Corporations BP, Halliburton, TransOcean; BP being the focus and maybe many others like them have bet on risk…  the average amount of accidents against being ready for one was not only a disaster, betting on averages obviously proved to be the wrong move. Now, we find out that not only did their equipment fail the emergency protocol or plan b,c,d also failed. The idea that they bet or took a risk on not having a big accident and even so the cost of the fine and clean up  …probably a lot less than the profits from drilling and or an insurance claim itself.

In other news …SB1070 or the new Arizona law making racial profiling legal,  has prompted Los Angeles into boycotting the State, a school superintendent deciding the winning girls BB team will not play the championship in Arizona, the RNC cancelling their convention in Arizona and at least 22 other conventions have been canceled,  yet Baseball Commissioner Bob Selig seems to be ignoring calls to move the Phoenix All-Star game out of Arizona.  I am not sure what it will take for Gov Brewer and others to get the gist … SB1070  is a horrible law, the new birther law is horrible and now shutting down any and all Ethnic Study classes in a State and or Federally funded run schools should be considered a problem and addressed asap.

Other News …

**Washington and Oregon State politicians/lawmakers are looking to ban offshore drilling;any drilling spill/disaster would affect over half a million people on the west coast

**Thousands mourn Lena Horne in the NYC

C-SPAN

Financial Overhaul Bill enters final weeks in Senate

Lawmakers devoted a full week to work on the financial reform bill with Senators voting on a range of amendments from revamping underwriting standards to proposing limits on credit card fees. On C SPAN’s Newsmakers, Budget Committee Ranking Member Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) clarified that Republicans were not interested in stopping the passage of financial reform but wanted to offer amendments to “improve” the bill. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) says he expects to complete work on the bill next week.

watch Senate Floor: NOW on C-SPAN2

Chamber CEO Focuses on Job Creation

In a speech at the National Press Club, the CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Thomas J. Donohue will unveil an economic impact study entitled “Opening Markets, Creating Jobs.” His speech will highlight the number of American jobs created by free trade agreements and assess challenges from overseas and at home.

Sarah Palin delivers address on Pro Life Agenda

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) is the keynote speaker at the Susan B. Anthony List’s Celebration of Life Breakfast. The President of the pro-life organization, Marjorie Dannenfelser, praised her, saying, “Susan B. Anthony would be proud of Governor Palin’s consistent, passionate witness for women and the unborn, and especially her commitment to the families of children with special needs.”

watch Palin Address: LIVE on C-SPAN3

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

wacky Wednesday and some News …


I will go on a limb and state that the WSJ picture being discussed with Kagan up to bat is suggestive …maybe a switch hitter?  putting the question out there …  just so everyone wonders feeding the rumor which feeds more questions …  the intent is clear, the question is will people get pulled in;  maybe i’m naïve but who really cares what people do in their private life as long as the candidate is qualified for the job,  truthful about who you are and not hurting anyone or themselves.

It’s wacky Wednesday and some News …and what is more wacky than the news that Arizona Gov has signed a bill that will impact ethnic studies classes everywhere … what is going on in Arizona ?  The measure signed Tuesday prohibits classes that advocate ethnic solidarity, designed primarily for students of a particular race or that promote resentment toward a certain ethnic group.        Other wacky news …The SEC and the news about how it functioned while we needed them to do their jobs is kinda wacky … isn’t this a no brainer … put in good financial regulations, a protocol for all, enforce the rules regulations and policies when evidence comes in … say maybe a whistle-blower … uh investigate it …and possible enforce the law…but hey now days that seems like a novel idea…even wacky; pretty sure there are more stories to come … like watching/listening to in my opinion were the three stooges point the finger at the other instead of taking a group responsibility for the oil dump which has yet to be completely stopped.

The issues on the Congressional table continue to bring conflict.  Today S3217 and Climate Change will get some attention as Senators Kerry/Lieberman face it head on. At this time Immigration  Reform seems to be on hold and apparently some issues bring back  Health-Care as insurers and the chamber of commerce have posed issues and challenges to parents having their grown children covered until 26; believe me, it will be obvious when you find out and or compare what it would be if your male child had to get insurance on his own vs a female and then add any or all health issues … the new deal is great for We the People. Apparently, health care is definitely back in the news as Senator Anthony Weiner wants to do a meet up Click here to let me know what you think on Facebook. join in and make sure we all move into the 21st Century.

Other news …

**Los Angeles votes to boycott Arizona until it repeals it’s new law promoting legal racial profiling

**The House of Reps Voted and passed coverage Vet Benefits bill 417-0 /14 not voting and support for Women’s health care week passed as well

** 1090am/ Thom hartmann give Bay Buchanan the what for about Kagan and her qualifications comments

** A flash mob “infiltrates” the Westin St. Francis hotel in San Francisco, CA, performing an adaptation of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” to show support for “a boycott called by the workers of the hotel who are fighting to win a fair contract and affordable healthcare.” Watch it here.TP

**what could be more wacky then the AZ gov signing a bill targeting ethnic studies

**correction to the Kagan vs the Military; the rules,policies and regulations were in place before Kagan was hired

**The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced that it will hold its 2012 convention in Tampa, FL, citing the fact that it has been “a key targeted state in the past several elections, and it’ll continue to be in future elections.” One of the finalists the RNC notably passed over was Phoenix, AZ, which some conservatives were hoping the GOP would choose to show support for the state’s news anti-immigration law.TP



C-SPAN …

watch Meeting with Sen. Reid watch Meeting with Sen. McConnell  5/12

watch White House Press Briefing

watch Childhood Obesity Task Force Event

watch Senate Hearing on Immigration

watch Spkr. Pelosi Briefing on Middle East Delegation

watch Panel 1 watch Panel 2 Senate Energy Cmte/oil drilling

Sen. Kerry: “We want to make this the Senate where we finish the job.”

Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) released their climate and clean-energy legislation today. Sen. Kerry said the bill is essential for the United States to remain globally competitive and in control of its energy situation. “If we want to claim our share, we need to lead,” he said. The bill is expected to include provisions that create clean-energy jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift away from imported oil following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

visit Kerry Lieberman Bill

Afghan President in Washington to Discuss War Effort

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai will meet with Pres. Obama to deliberate on matters of the war effort in Afghanistan. Both are expected to discuss ways to resolve disputes over corruption and a possible timeline for withdrawing American forces. Yesterday, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton met with Pres. Karzai for closed-door talks.

watch Joint News Conference: c-span.org, 11:15am ET
read REUTERS: U.S. Courts Karzai read AP: Clinton Reassures Afghans

Lawmakers Investigate Oil Spill Prevention Measures

Appearing for a second day on Capitol Hill, BP America Inc. Pres. Lamar McKay and Transocean Ltd. Pres. Steve Newman give their accounts on what caused the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Chairman Bart Stupack (D-MI) holds this House Oversight Subcmte. hearing to discuss how to prevent future incidents and the direction of U.S. national energy policy.

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

Tuesday tantrums & some News …


Ok… today is a day to close your eyes breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply and release your breathe slowly … be still stay calm

Yesterday, the President announced his nominee pick for the Supreme Court, which was followed by a whole lot of whining , false reports and more rumors.  It is a side of Politics some in the News say is obvious yet it just seems like the President should get his pick and then follow the process without all the nonsense that seems to come with it.  We the People voted for Barack Obama and the vote the 53% the right to appoint and get who you want in place should come with all the power that any other President has had.

Though last night was both sad and disturbing; maybe it should enlighten people as well, AC360 had a birther who happened to have been a Military Officer, a well-known Doctor; who showed up with his lawyer who seemed more nutty than the doctor.  Is it just me or have we gone into to some twilight zone where people who have titles feel they are much more likely to know the truth to where our President is from? it was clearly an example of a guy who cracked who definitely was on the far right and is mad; maybe into making decisions that will affect him for the rest of his life … a Court Marshall… Cooper called him a once honorable man … corrected by Rolland Martin…thank goodness and just because you have a title does not mean you have a valid, legal or power challenge; specifically when the Hawaii Vital Stats has proved it beyond a reasonable doubt …and more important how many Presidents prior had to show their birth certificates eh? and tell me this is not a racist … maybe much more …that hair cut tipped me off … just sayin

For all those people who want our President to govern more left of center have to understand that Presidents have to at least work to get Congress and other lawmakers to come together … which, is center not left of center … that is how it works.

My take is that the job for We the People is to vote for people who are not extremists on either side, don’t practice exclusion and who believe in equal rights for all and from where i sit it looks like this is one of just a few problem points for Elena Kagan … that she doesn’t practice exclusion(Discrimination)… listen up people;  how middle America can you be with one parent being a Teacher the other a Tenant lawyer …

The BP oil spill is not just a spill anymore … what do we call it? an oil dump?  well, the oil dump on the Gulf Coast is almost 1 month now and what has not been talked about much …  what is going on on the Gulf floor … the blanket of oil on the floor of the water ways is very troubling and as we all think about whether BP and associates have made a good faith effort to deal with these kinds of accidents, they all seem content on pointing the finger at each other.  The group of  Three didn’t  seem to have had any emergency plan whatsoever and that is both disturbing and evidence that drilling cannot continue until companies have emergency plans, emergency equipment, boats in place ready to move in… not a month from the incident. It is also a sad thing to know that eleven people lost their lives and not much coverage in the News about that or what BP intends to do for those families.

Other News ..

The lettuce recall expands … Moore Ok, Yuma AZ, NY,Ohio and Michigan… Ohio based FreshWay Foods reported the 23State recall but the FDA is recalling more romaine lettuce from other States …

**UK’s PM Gordon Brown stepped down from office today;david cameron taking his position as Uk’s new PM today

**Reports of a new Climate Bill for consideration for Wednesday from Senators Kerry/Lieberman

**A Chilean judge ordered a Pakistani man to be held under an anti-terrorism law Tuesday after he was arrested in the U.S. embassy in Chile with traces of explosive on him.

**Flights to/from Morocco,Italy and Spain have effected ..check your flights asap

**The Obama Admin is working on new Drug controls

**A benefit/concert for the people on the Gulf Coast will include Lenny Kravitz



C-SPAN …

Nominee Kagan begins to lobby Senators

Supreme Court Justice Nominee Elena Kagan and the White House have begun their lobbying efforts with phone calls to Senators. She is expected to begin Hill visits tomorrow with an initial meeting with Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Confirmation hearings are expected to begin in early summer.

Oil leak Under CONGRESSIONAL Investigation

Executives from BP, Halliburton and Transocean appear at two Senate hearings today on the effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil leak to the local economies, tourism, as well as wildlife and natural resources. The Senate Energy Cmte. is reviewing offshore oil and gas development and later the Senate Environment Cmte. will investigate the environmental impact.

Congress Looks at Safeguarding Wall Street

Last week, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped almost 1000 points from its previous closing number. Yesterday, Federal regulators agreed in principle to a system that would slow trading during periods of market volatility. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairwoman Mary Schapiro will explain the terms of the agreement and respond to lawmaker’s calls to implement a “one size fits all” system before a House Financial Services subcmte. hearing.
~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

manic Monday News …


Today, our President is going to announce his newest pick; definitely a perk of being President …adding a new and possibly more left of center Supreme Court Justice. This is a very busy President and though it seems like folks aren’t recognizing it … the job numbers are up the economy is getting better but those things are just not as controversial enough to get press time … the Media is by far more likely to say okay the reports are a candidate is ok on the airwaves but then questions the what happens ifs …What ? give credit to the President and acknowledge what this man was given by the last guy and stop trying to make Americans look so bad … the likes of limbaugh,beck, bachmann and the others make us look vulnerable and maybe less safe with their comments maybe by people who are on the edge are more likely to do awful things

Though there are rumors out there about Ms Kagan,  Solicitor General, teacher and public servant:FYI as stated by the President, ” Elena is widely regarded as one of the nation’s foremost legal minds.  She’s an acclaimed legal scholar with a rich understanding of constitutional law.  She is a former White House aide with a lifelong commitment to public service and a firm grasp of the nexus and boundaries between our three branches of government.  She is a trailblazing leader — the first woman to serve as Dean of Harvard Law School — and one of the most successful and beloved deans in its history.  And she is a superb Solicitor General, our nation’s chief lawyer representing the American people’s interests before the Supreme Court, the first woman in that position as well.  And she has won accolades from observers across the ideological spectrum for her well-reasoned arguments and commanding presence.”

Apparently, Orrin Hatch has either forgotten his comments of the past or figures We the People have no true interest in what is going on that we don’t remember is beyond me; Mr. Hatch comes out against her but many progressive radio personalities have played his opposite comments …the guy seems to talk before thinking … isn’t that bad politics.  The Hatch comments from a year ago are below …

You have to admit, Elena Kagan is a brilliant woman,” Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said during a radio interview a year ago when Kagan was being vetted for a high court seat. “She is a brilliant lawyer. If [Obama] picks her, it is a real dilemma for people,” especially conservatives.  “And she will undoubtedly say that she will abide by the rule of law.”

And as we all hear the President announce his Supreme Court pick let the nonsense begin … fauxnews is coming out fast and quick to report what could be considered fauxnews about financial reform, racism and as Media Matters reports most if not all the questions about the BP spill being Obama’s Katrina; started by mainstream talking heads has been picked up by people on the right who also continue to repeat the Republican talking points then move on to embellish the story in a way only people on the right can.

The BP spill is getting worse the news is getting really ugly as profits from the spill itself were reported by some talkingheads this morning … which is very disturbing for the people on the Gulf Coast and the many industries associated …but hey that’s a part of having a huge insurance claim available. Congress will take time to investigate and  question the people of  BP for those who can do nothing but wait out this horrendous environmental tragedy.

Other News ..

**BP has spent 350mil on the oil spill so far and received an insurance claim of 256mil

**UK Gordon Brown PM will resign later on this year

**Lena Horne died at 92…great person;went to a concert with my mom

**Airports in Europe are closed as ash clouds keep planes down

**Richard Wolf will be on the Stephanie miller show 5/12

**Earthquakes in Indonesia get bigger and bigger 7.9

C-SPAN …

watch Pres. Obama’s Commencement Address read Washington Post: “Education can fortify nation”

Elena Kagan, New Supreme Court Nominee

Solicitor General Elena Kagan has been nominated by Pres. Obama to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. If confirmed, she would be the 112th Supreme Court Justice and the third woman on the current Court. Ms. Kagan may begin meeting with Senators this week. Confirmation hearings are expected to begin in late June.

watch Formal Announcement: Available Soon    watch Sen. Leahy Briefing: C-SPAN at 10:30am ET
read Wash. Post: Obama’s Supreme Court pick

Afghan President Visits U.S.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is visiting Washington D.C. this week to request U.S. support for peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban forces in the region. Later today, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs will hold a press conference with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of the international security forces in Afghanistan, and Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry.
watch Joint Press Conf.: C-SPAN3 at 1:30pm ET
read AP: Taliban vow new Afghan offensive

Forum Asks: On Key Issues, Can U.S. and China Work Together?

Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg headlines a Brookings Institution forum on how China and the United States can cooperate to address global economic challenges, climate change issues and the potential threat of new nuclear states such as Iran and North Korea. He and three panels are expected to review the history of U.S.-China relations on these key issues and discuss recent outreach efforts. China holds a majority of U.S. national debt, and the two economies have become increasingly intertwined as China expands its global presence.

watch Brookings: LIVE on c-span.org at 10:30am ET