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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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

BP wants to pull Video feed while performing the Top Kill


After Releasing Public Video Feed, BP Blackout for Well Termination Attempt

May 25, 2010 – After pushing BP into providing a live feed of the spill at the bottom of the ocean, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today learned that BP will terminate the live feed during BP’s pivotal attempt to seal the well this week. BP informed Rep. Markey’s office that the live feed would be terminated some time early Wednesday morning, and would continue to be offline until after the attempt at the so-called “top kill” is completed.

“It is outrageous that BP would kill the video feed for the top kill. This BP blackout will obscure a vital moment in this disaster,” said Rep. Markey, who chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and the Energy and Environment Subcommittee in the Energy and Commerce Committee. “After more than a month of spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, BP is essentially saying to the American people the solution will not be televised.”

Last week, after Rep. Markey’s request, BP agreed to provide live footage of the subsea spill operations. Rep. Markey first provided a live link to the accident site a few minutes before 1:30 PM EST on Thursday, May 20. Demand for the video from the public and the news media was overwhelming. Hundreds of thousands of people visited the Select Committee Web site in the first 24 hours. The Energy and Commerce Committee was also able to provide access to the feeds due to Rep. Markey’s request.

According to a BP technical video released yesterday, many of the preparations for the top kill attempt have already been completed. Therefore, Rep. Markey questioned today why the actual attempt to plug the leaking well could not be shown to the American public.

“No one wants to interfere with the operations during the top kill. With those preparations mostly done, now the world should see whether or not this strategy works, and we should see it in real time,” said Rep. Markey.

Rep. Markey yesterday had also asked BP to provide all 12 available feeds from the accident site, and yesterday released a YouTube video showing the differences between the one feed the public has been allowed to see and the 12 possible feeds available to BP. To view this video, click HERE.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

How big is the Spill …


It’s now been over a month since the Deepwater Oil Disaster began — and not only has BP failed to stop the flow of oil so far, but we still don’t even know how big the spill is — because BP won’t allow anyone else to investigate the extent of the problem.

The secrecy must stop.

BP is refusing to share information — data it’s already tracking — that would assist in the response and public understanding of the scope and severity of the Deepwater Oil Disaster. And they have every incentive in the world to keep doing so — news reports say that the smaller the official estimates of the spill, the lower BP’s liability could be in court.1

We don’t let criminals investigate their own crimes, and this shouldn’t be any different. It’s time for BP to get out of the way and allow access for independent scientists and engineers to determine the real size of this catastrophe.

Sign the petition today calling on BP to provide full access to all their data to the government and independent scientists.

Independent reviews by scientists across the country are suggesting that the oil leak may be as much as 19 times worse than the original estimates — but BP refuses to provide them with the data required to make their estimates more precise. All we know for sure is that the oil just keeps on gushing.

BP is extremely sensitive right now to public pressure — so let’s tell them that we won’t stand for them hiding the truth. We’ll deliver copies of the petitions and any comments you submit to the CEO of BP, as well as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Demand full access to BP’s data and real answers about the Deepwater disaster.

Thanks for joining this fight,

Maggie L. Fox
Chief Executive Officer
Climate Protection Action Fund

P.S. This disaster is a painful reminder of how dangerous our addiction to oil really is – and how critical it is that our elected officials in Washington pass strong climate and clean energy legislation that weans us off of dirty fossil fuels as soon as possible. We must make sure that Americans and our leaders understand the true cost of oil. We simply can’t afford a BP coverup. Sign the petition now demanding full transparency.

___________
1. Marisa Taylor, Renee Schoof and Erika Bolstad, “Low oil spill estimate could save BP millions in court,” McClatchy Newspapers, May 20, 2010. http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100521/pl_mcclatchy/3511770

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell EPA: Take away BP’s billions in federal contracts EPA can make BP pay Clicking here will add your name to this petition: EPA must immediately take steps to impose discretionary debarment and ban BP from all future federal contracts. Take action now!


Tell EPA: Take away BP’s billions in federal contracts

EPA can make BP pay
Clicking here will add your name to this petition:

EPA must immediately take steps to impose discretionary debarment and ban BP from all future federal contracts.

Take action now!

BP continues to stonewall the American people about the growing Deep Horizon disaster in the Gulf, even while the company reaps millions of dollars in profits each day from its other federal leases.

The White House, the Department of Interior, and Congress are all crying foul, but they are not taking action to hold BP accountable. If the Obama administration is serious about making BP pay, there is a very simple and powerful tool at its disposal: the EPA can take away BP’s billions in federal contracts.

Ask EPA Administration Lisa Jackson to impose “discretionary debarment” and strip BP of all federal contracts. Click here to automatically sign our petition.

The Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to bar BP from receiving U.S. government contracts. Suspension of BP contracts would mean the loss of billions of dollars and effectively stop the company from drilling in federally controlled oil fields both on and offshore.

This is the strongest possible action that could be taken against BP.

Discretionary debarment is among the most serious actions EPA can take. EPA’s own regulations allow the agency to ban BP from future contracts after considering “the frequency and pattern of the incidents, corporate attitude both before and after the incidents, changes in policies, procedures, and practices.”

Prior to the current Gulf spill, EPA had linked BP to at least four instances of criminal misconduct and BP has paid tens of millions in fines for environmental crimes. According to the public interest investigative journalists at Pro Publica, the EPA is considering re-evaluating BP and determining whether the company’s actions leading up to and following the Deep Horizon spill are evidence of an institutional problem inside BP that would qualify for debarment action.

Tell the EPA to take action to strip BP of all existing and future government contracts. Click here to automatically sign our petition.

If BP is hit with discretionary debarment, the company would lose valuable contracts for selling fuel to the military and would be prohibited from obtaining or renewing drilling leases on federal land. It could also cancel BP’s current federal leases. The impact on BP’s bottom line could be in the billions of dollars.

Neither Congress, nor President Obama, nor Interior Secretary Salazar have taken steps to truly hold BP accountable. It’s up to EPA to use the regulatory tools at its disposal to make BP pay.

The American people are outraged by the politicians’ inaction in the face of an exponentially growing economic and environmental disaster in the Gulf. It’s time for EPA to take immediate and decisive action.

Your pressure works. Sign the petition to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today.

Becky Bond, Political Director
~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tuesday topics &some News …


It’s a day to Breathe in slowly through the nose then breathe slowly out and …sit be still and stay calm …

The agent of change is Americans and some 53% voted for it … now things are changing even though Republicans are the Political Party of No and clearly Obstructionists should be voted out of office not into Public Office when they clearly stand for Wall Street, Big Banks and AIG types

FYI.. there are reports that Obama is very upset that this BP oil gusher has not been plugged; question is …who has the know how, equipment and skills … point is not even the 3stooges have the skills; though they are profiting from the gamble or risk to the people or environment is clear. This current event or incident is not the President’s fault and it does surprise me to see people on the left freak out before or without finding out what can the government do or can’t do before lashing out and it is not his Katrina and how offensive that people on both sides of the aisle have gone there… Progressives and Liberals are far too willing to throw our leaders overboard and need to help find solutions instead of what being heard on the air waves …stop it! Support the President and think about where we would be with the Palin/McCain ticket or any Republican in Office at this time of unprecedented errors, blunders and corrupt behavior by people that he is trying to fix to get Americans back on track

As we move into full special and mid-term Election Campaign mode; the Hawaii special election was by all accounts a mistake in judgment, the Republican winner is only a temporary winner and it’s obvious that the Democratic Party will win in November when people of both Democrats combine votes and Win.

There have been many candidates out there saying crazy things on national television; mostly Republicans … then pull back, some are going off the campaign trail; like Rand Paul …some are making positive comments about the tea party movement then reversing their support within the same sentence; others have been caught with on-the-spot torture by talkingheads; while the written word has made a lot of people gasp at what a candidate did or said and last there was the john king interview or 3rd degree he tried to do on Joe Sestak has not gone away …he made me stop and wonder just what is he up to and as he quickly put the brakes on the uncomfortable interview by John King who had a big smirk on his face. Any and all Democratic candidates need to be ready for on-the-spot accusatory  questions … don’t go there!

The light of day on everything that BP didn’t do while saying they had it under control or was willing to gamble is coming out more and more. The count down is on for the Top-Kill to be implemented on Wednesday. The anger toward the government is palatable but it just seems misdirected by people who may just be misinformed about what may be a protocol conflict.  The facts from some in charge is that if the government did take charge what would they do to stop the flow when they don’t have the equipment. The other fact among many others; is …who ultimately would be responsible if something bad happens… til now the industry has regulated themselves, which, was instituted about 20years ago; the BP,Halliburton, TransOcean group maybe others have gotten away with too much.

The time for Reform and Regulation is now and if anyone has watched the video’s; it’s clear that this  is no longer a leak anymore but a gusher. We all might be mad but offering up solutions about how to siphon up the oil headed toward the beaches,Wetland,Marches and Estuaries; BP needs to admit they need help to keep the oil from other parts of the Wetlands and Marshes and that should be the focus of our government.

In other attempts to be bipartisan; The President met with Republicans and Mitch McConnell on national tv was very negative maybe aloof at what lays ahead of trying to get Americans back on track he stated that the President has been too left of center and if the President truly wanted bipartisan he would have to come back to the center …and as a voter this truly means that Mitch McConnell and his Republican associates will continue to be the Party of No and act as obstructionist in our move toward progress into the 21st Century; they continue to be on the Side of Big Money and Wall Street who do not want Financial Reform or to fix the problems that shoved us into the ditch created by mostly Republicans and a Republican President who did not pay for his legislation actions 2wars, major tax cuts for the rich … is this what Americans want?

Other News …

**The President is sending 1200 National Guard Troops to the Border of AZ

**President Obama will be going to the Gulf Coast to see the current damage

**The 2014 NFL Super Bowl will be played in New York City in New Jersey

**Reports of our President met with Republicans

**The violence in Kingston is out of control/travel alert is still in effect

**DADT compromise is on the table/Senate cmte Vote possibly on Thursday & implemented in 12/2010

**A memorial will be held in Jackson, MS for the 11 oil rig workers who died at 2pm

C-SPAN…

watch Pres. Obama Remarks on Small Business

watch Rep. Frank on Financial Regulations

Anti- fraud bill seeks to protect senior citizens

Elderly advocate organizations testify on the growing fraud trends targeting seniors at a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Representatives from AARP, Elder Abuse Victims Advocates, and the Elder Justice Coalition give their opinions on the Senior Financial Empowerment Act. The bill seeks to increase public awareness of fraud schemes and equip the public to identify and combat fraudulent activity.

President Obama Urges GOP support on immigration and energy legislation

In a rare Capitol Hill appearance, President Obama today met behind closed doors with Senate Republican leaders urging them for their cooperation in finishing work on measures to help create jobs and improve our economy. “The president told the conference that the Gulf oil disaster should heighten our sense of urgency to hasten the development of new, clean energy sources that will promote energy independence and good-paying American jobs,” the White House said in a statement after Obama’s luncheon.

watch GOP Leaders: From Earlier

watch White House Briefing 5/24

watch Gulf Oil Spill Press Conference  5/24

watch Lawrence Summers: From Earlier  5/24

Hearing Probes Oil Spill Liability

While oil giant BP attempts a new technique – called the “kill method” – to stop the flow of oil and gas from the month-old Deepwater Horizon leak in the Gulf of Mexico, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today reviews financial responsibility issues stemming from the spill. Last week, BP announced that it intends to cover economic damages in excess of the present $75 million liability cap.  This morning on the Washington Journal, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) discusses the federal government and BP response to the spill.

watch Sen. Cardin on WJ: LIVE on C-SPAN
watch Oil Spill Hearing: c-span.org at 10am ET

Fmr. Sec. of State Kissinger Urges Nuclear Treaty Ratification

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger provides his historical perspective on nuclear disarmament and U.S.-Russia relations in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today. The committee is reviewing the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed last month by President Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.
Kissinger served as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser at the height of the Cold War, during the Nixon and Ford administrations, and has publicy supported the treaty. The new accord builds upon nonproliferation and arms reduction measures in the 1991 START and 2002 Moscow treaties and, after approval by this committee, requires ratification by the full Senate.

Queen Presents Agenda for Coalition Government

Following tradition, Queen Elizabeth II presented the government’s agenda for the year at the State Opening of the British Parliament. The speech was drawn up by British Prime Minister David Cameron, in agreement with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, after the May 6th general election led to a coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

watch Queen’s Address: Ceremony & Speech
visit UK Parliament Website