Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

wild weather Wednesday News …&C-SPAN


Okay, what time of the year is it?  Wind Hail and Rain are hitting the Emerald city in a big way and it’s April not December; more snow storm in the NE… ugh. Relax Breathe in slowly then slowly release your breath …be still then repeat the process.

News that is irritating … since when did Lindsey Graham have control over the governing party because he certainly was acting like it on cable tv last night; this is a man who only a month ago stated that we need to move forward on immigration, now he says no? It makes a voter wonder, can’t Republicans stop flip-flopping for just a minute so Congress can get the Peoples work done.   The mystery of Sen Ben Nelson’s NO vote on financial reform is no surprise either … money and its intent … buying Warren Buffett time/a special deal- again? so the tantrums continue …  okay take a deep breath.  That didn’t help me out because for the 3rd time Republicans and Sen Ben Nelson have blocked the move forward to debate and get Financial Reform started on the Floor of the Senate

breathe in breathe out and relax …

In great news …President Obama will be in Missouri and Quincy, Illinois today to talk wind, green energy, jobs, Wall Street, maybe more and while our President is doing the work of the people… ALL of the people.

In what could be considered a knock on the head of at least one Republican… who decided to stop obstructing Wall Street/financial reform without a vote on the floor and will start not only the  debates but maybe some amendments and new Reform Laws that will protect Americans from financial abuse voted on soon. Before the change of attitude in Republicans, this morning Democrats in the Senate tried yet again to move the debate on Wall Street/Financial Reform forward but failed 56-42 which isn’t a surprise but these games are getting old right about now.  The time for talk is or should be over … the backlog of legislation in the Senate that has been stalled, ignored and or blocked by Republicans is offensive

…right now The Democratic Party seems the best choice going into the 2010/2012 elections what with a lot of Republicans who joined in the effort to speak in code engaging in, supporting bad behavior, exclusion and now –Arizona among other things has decided to pass 2 crazy laws:  birther and legal racial profiling. The law or SB1070 in itself is strange enough but the press conference Gov Jan Brewer held showed just how reckless the law truly is and will unfortunately come back to haunt the great state of Arizona.  A call for action made by several States … a Revenue Boycott seems to be in play.

Immigration … the solutions of immigration should be comprehensive; putting the biggest responsibility on corporations…  fine them or enforce the 2007 law that companies who hire will in fact be shut down … illegals are not just brown people; and again, what does reasonable suspicion mean and how stupid is it to say you can tell an illegal from the shoes they wear? not to mention the response to that question by Gov. Jan Brewer… uh no i cannot tell what an illegal looks like and there are some people in Arizona who do know- WHAT?  clearly the workforce of undocumented workers is huge and some deserve a path to become a citizen as the ex- maverick has said in the past; it needs to be done in a common sense way not out of hysteria


Other News …

**Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland asked a stupid question of a potential  draft pick: is your mom or has she ever been a prostitute? then takes it back and says it was poor judgment … makes you wonder what credentials you really need to be a GM

**Seattle, WA –Waste Management/Garbage strike is not only over the contract talks are over and an agreement made

**Huge March on Wall Street at 4PM/ET in the NYC

**Shakira will meet with the mayor of Phoenix later this week to help campaign against a new Arizona law cracking down on illegal immigration a spokesman for the mayor’s office confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

**The Fed Reserve is keeping  interest rates at their lowest

*Are birthers paranoid as well as sick and stupid

**Recall alert for the Sequoia 2003 SUV with problems with acceleration

**Seattle …Tax hikes are coming to fund public safety

**Alabama Gov Candidate and apparently anti-immigrant Tim James is pushing the envelope by stating he would like to implement English only drivers examine and is  currently doing so in various advertisements-

**Flight 3006, operated by regional carrier ExpressJet for Continental Airlines Inc., was headed for Dulles International Airport in Virginia when it was directed to land at Piedmont Triad International Airport near Greensboro “out of an abundance of caution,” the TSA said.

**Coast Guard will start a burn process to get rid of oil …hoping to stop the oil run off possibly hurting wet lands and more

**Senate Democrats are gearing up to keep Republicans on the Floor until the debate on Financial Reform can move forward …

**The Obama administration is “supporting legislation to provide mandatory paid sick leave for more than 30 million additional workers who are some of nation’s lowest-paid employees.” The legislation, called the Healthy Families Act, has been introduced by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

C-SPAN

listen Sens. Reid & Dodd

watch Hearing on Antibiotics

watch Senate Approps. Hearing: From Earlier visit SEC visit CFTC

watch Pres. Obama on Financial Reform

watch Pres. Obama Remarks on Economy

Peterson Foundation looks to provide answers to fiscal crisis

Pres. Clinton, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) and the co-chairmen of the National Debt Commission are keynote speakers at the first-ever National Fiscal Summit, an event meant to kick start a “bipartisan dialogue on America’s fiscal challenges.” Sponsored by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation (PGPF), the summit brings together top policy-makers, senior government officials, elected leaders and economic experts to share their views on the fiscal problems facing America.

Goldman have their guard up at Senate Hearing

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein told a Senate panel that there was no conflict of interest in their dealings involving mortgage-securities and that they had no obligation to tell clients about their business practices. Yesterday, the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee asked current and former executives about their duty to clients and the ethics of betting against the housing market, despite also selling mortgage-linked securities.

Budget Increases Slated for Financial Oversight Agencies

Today, CFTC Chair Gary Gensler and SEC Chair Mary Schapiro will testify before a Senate Appropriations Subcmte. on their respective budgets. The SEC request is up 13 percent to $1.2 billion, while the CFTC budget request is 54 percent higher than last year at $261 million. Twenty-four million and $45 million of the proposed SEC and CFTC budgets, respectively, are contingent on the enactment of financial regulatory reform legislation.

watch Senate Approps. Hearing: C-SPAN3, 2:30pm ET
visit SEC visit CFTC
read WSJ: ‘Watchdog’ – The SEC’s Porn Problem

Tuesday … some News &c-span live stream


Today, The President is in Iowa talking wind, energy jobs and  change we can all believe in.

Game on …  the response is Bring it …at least that’s the impression given by some Democrats … specifically Nancy Pelosi and chessman Senate Majority leader Harry Reid.

Reports are that leader Reid and Senator Nelson both voted no but for extremely different reasons and as a democrat the moves Harry Reid is making definitely is refreshing; we need someone who is shrewd, smart and clearly a  Reid strategy is either in place or coming into focus with lessons learned from what happened with health care reform; Senator Reid stated he will not tolerate slowing down the process, any progress or watering down of financial reform, which, is great because the time for talk is over …the other side keeps saying we need time,we need a substantive bill one that puts the screws to Wall Street; well it’s just talk and the action they really want is keeping the status quo.   Senator Ben Nelson and his reasons for voting no on Financial Refrom twice remains a mystery.

Daily Gallup Poll numbers– President Obama job approval by Party Affiliation:

82% Democrats

48% Independents

13% Republicans

Americans want Congress to get more than one thing done at a time and stop playing the political games keeping us from moving forward but Republicans seem to feel being the Political Party of No will bring voters out for them in 2010 or 2012 are betting, risking a big rally against them in the up coming elections.

Immigration … effects all parts of our economy our way of life and needs a comprehensive reform not raids, arrests or paper checks.  We need to STOP legal racial profiling and is it just me or is this new law along with the birther law a legal way to control brown people and possibly the  2010/2012 elections; if so; we will not be held down and while the games are beginning we will overcome this foul play. While immigration is definitely an issue that will continue to hit the hot buttons of everyone it’s time to get organized, get informed in Arizona and get out the vote GOTV for DEMOCRATS to fix what is currently going on there and what might jump to other states.   This morning on the BillPress show a Democrat and Progressive Candidate has announced his bid for the Democratic nomination to run against McCain and JD hayworth named Randy Parraz, who is a Civil Rights Attorney… we need to get behind a candidate for the Senate that is there for everyone not just for a select few http://www.parrazforchange.com

Other News …

**Both Chambers of Congress have elected to opt out of pay raises for this election year

**The 3rd financial reform test vote should happen on Wednesday and even R. Senator Gregg believes it will move forward.

**The President’s debt commission is meeting today consisting of 18Senators from both Political Parties

**WellPoint states they will stop dropping patients after May 1st; health insurers have until September to start implementing reform;some have already implemented coverage under parents insurance for children under 26


C-span …

Saturday at 8pm (ET) on C-SPAN
White House Correspondents’ Association Annual Dinner: Remarks by President Obama & NBC “Tonight Show” Host Jay Leno

watch Pres. Obama Remarks on Economy

watch Pres. Obama Remarks on Jobs

watch Announcement on Health Care Settlement

watch White House Press Briefing 4/26
watch Hearing with DHS Sec. Napolitano 4/27

watch Chamber of Commerce Meeting read U.S. Chamber of Commerce( on health care bill) 4/26

watch Community Bankers Conference

Lawmakers call for “updated and effective” wall street regulation

Testifying before a Senate committee, six current and former Goldman Sachs executives are appearing on the role Goldman and other investment banks played in triggering the 2008 financial collapse. Panel one includes Goldman’s Exec. Dir. Fabrice Tourre and in a later panel Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein will deny that the firm profited by betting against the U.S. housing market. Yesterday the Senate rejected to act on financial regulatory reforms.

Commission Chairs: All Options Have To Be On The Table To Lower Deficit

The Presidential Commission charged with finding bipartisan solutions to lowering the nation’s trillion-dollar budget deficit is meeting for the first time today. In remarks before the meeting, Pres. Obama told the commissioners that “everything is on the table,” and that “we are serious in getting our budget under control”. The Commission is supposed to submit its recommendations to the President by December 1.

watch Debt Cmsn. Meeting: From Earlier

read AP: Obama urges bipartisan effort

Lawmakers investigate mine safety, legislative solutions

After the recent West Virginia Upper Big Branch Mine blast, a series of investigations have been launched to look into mine safety. Today, federal labor and mining officials appear before the Senate HELP Committee to discuss ways to strengthen regulation enforcement. Due to pending investigations, the hearing is not expected to focus on the West Virginia accident in particular, but rather on overall safety efforts.

watch Mine Safety Hearing: LIVE on c-span.org

Election 2010


The article below by Gallup Poll should be a warning of a need for millions of Obama supporters to help keep and or vote Democrat in both Chambers of Congress… if you believe in a positive change ..believe in We the People not … some or just a select few … then come be  one of millions to help the effort and process of the change we can all believe in … Young, Old, Caucasian, First time Voter, African-American Latino, Women, 1st Nation Peoples and those in between … YES WE CAN we have to.

By Frank Newport: Younger Voters Less Enthusiastic About Voting This Year

April 26, 2010 Gallup Poll

Younger American voters are less enthusiastic about voting in this year’s midterm elections than those who are older. At the same time, 18- to 29-year-old voters currently favor the Democratic candidate in their districts by a 12-point margin over the Republican candidate.  More …

Immigration law or something else …


UNDER THE RADAR

ThinkProgress.org

IMMIGRATION — THOUSANDS PROTEST DRACONIAN ARIZONA LAW: On Friday, Arizona governor Jan Brewer (R) signed into law a draconian immigration bill that aims to “identify, prosecute and deport” undocumented immigrants. The law gives local police officers the power to detain anyone suspected of being in the U.S. illegally — a measure that many have concluded will “exacerbate racial profiling” and violate Americans’ civil rights. Before Brewer signed the legislation into law, President Obama said it “threatens basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.” Around 2,500 protesters marched to the Arizona state Capitol yesterday in opposition to the new measure. Speaking at the rally, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) “urged the Obama administration not to cooperate when illegal immigrants are picked up by local police if a tough new state immigration law survives legal challenges.” “We’re going to overturn this unjust and racist law, and then we’re going to overturn the power structure that created this unjust, racist law,” Grijalva said. Sunday was the third day of peaceful protests against the bill. While the new immigration law has rallying advocates for immigrant rights, it has split conservatives across the nation. On Fox News Sunday yesterday, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol celebrated the new law, saying he doesn’t “think it violates anyone’s civil rights.” While many conservatives like Kristol have offered support, a number have also denounced it. “There’s no such thing” as “American-looking,” Mike Huckabee said. Charles Krauthammer noted that it “could lead to a lot of civil rights abuses” and Fox News’ Judge Andrew Napolitano said that by signing the bill, Brewer is bankrupting the state because of “all the lawsuits that will happen — for all the people that are wrongfully stopped.”

SB1070 and jan brewer


Immigration …people act like this is a new problem that only erupted under President Obama’s administration; undocumented people have come to US with the quiet understanding for years and did the work that many US citizens refused to do.  Where were all these people 10,20 30,40 or more years ago to stop the status quo? undocumented workers have kept America’s economy going at some level and now are paying the price for something started by big companies needing  labor workers at very low wage if at all.

The decision of Arizona Gov Brewer, which, was announced today is truly a sad and misguided action by the very people we vote into public office to represent all of the people; except the Arizona Gov’t. It’s a law that will be subjective and  negatively impact all of We the People… this could jump from state to state … get involved call Gov.Jan Brewer 602 542-4331. People in Public Office should not be in charge of promoting racial profiling and or violating civil rights.  The White House comment line # 202-456-1111 let them know this law violates our civil rights; we need good strong immigration reform not paper or accent checks; anything remotely associated with racial profiling is just unacceptable. The new law would begin in 90 days. Arizona’s Hispanic population is 30% this does not include other people of colour;

It’s Friday, TGIF  again… in a need to be still and feel calm …breathe in slowly deeply with me then slowly release your breath and inner anger slowly … we might need to do this a few times today … because the big issue…

The big worry on my mind today is the possibility that a State that definitely lives up to its label of being one of the Seven Wonders of the World is now a place that has people in authority practicing exclusion and gotta say it, it’s craziness… what do you call people who are supposedly put into public service to work for all of the people who clearly are not.  The Arizona government has shown they are willing to not only express their bigotry but practice it as well by passing…quietly … a birther law and now this state is on its way to legalizing racial profiling to search find raid and arrest the undocumented by any means necessary and does not solve undocumented immigration

The issue of  immigration and whether Gov. Jan Brewer’s comment of doing what’s right for Arizona means she will do what is best in the interest of not only her State but for everyone which she obviously missed and failed as an elected official.  The decision she made will not only have a heavy impact on undocumented people but for those who look reasonably suspicious … which, is definitely racial profiling and it’s just wrong and hopefully will be challenged not only by the people in Arizona but from all of us who feel the rights of the many could possibly at risk or lost who are natural citizens but might look other