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ECONOMY — NELSON AND LINCOLN VOTE TO PERMANENTLY EXTEND BUSH TAX CUTS, MASSIVELY INCREASE DEFICIT: Last month, as the Senate was gridlocked by a Republican filibuster of a bill to extend much-needed unemployment benefits to millions of out-of-work Americans, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) stood with the GOP against the extension. Nelson claimed that his concerns about the deficit overrode his support for the extension; he voted against the bill that finally passed 60-40. Later that week, Nelson came out in support of an extension — “for now” — of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, which adds many billions more to the deficit than the unemployment insurance extension. In fact, extending the Bush tax cuts for one year alone would add $115 billion to the deficit, compared to the “relatively tiny budgetary cost of $33 billion” for the extension of unemployment extension benefits. Yesterday, Nelson provided further evidence that he is a deficit peacock — someone who claims to be concerned about the deficit but isn’t actually interested in taking serious steps toward a balanced budget. Before the final vote on the states’ aid bill that passed yesterday, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) offered two amendments that would “massively add to the deficit” by “freezing in place” the current tax rates on individuals and businesses, which, in effect, would permanently extend the Bush tax cuts. On both votes, only Nelson and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) “crossed the aisle to vote with all Republicans,” with the exception of “noted deficit hawk” Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH). Nelson and Lincoln (who also claims to be concerned about deficits) apparently don’t mind spending $3.1 trillion over the next 10 years to pursue ineffective tax cuts for the wealthy. DeMint, “one of the most fiscally conservative members of Congress,” is not so concerned when it comes to paying for his extraordinarily expensive amendments. Both came “with instructions to offset as necessary through spending reduction,” Senate-speak for “we’ll worry about the cost later.”
The war on marijuana is a complete failure.
Billions of dollars are wasted every year. Police officers’ lives put at risk daily. Out-of-control Mexican drug cartels have ravaged our borders, killing thousands of people every year. It’s so bad, even Mexico’s President called for a debate on legalizing marijuana this week
Our government needs a reality check – it’s time to end the war on marijuana.
So we’re launching a massive campaign to fight for legalizing marijuana that we’re calling “Just Say Now.” With the support of the grassroots group Students for Sensible Drug Policy, we’ll organize thousands of people to support legalization at the ballot box.
To kick off our campaign, we’re bringing attention to the unjust, unpopular, and racist reality that is the war on marijuana. It’s a war that must end now.
Ask President Obama to help end the war on marijuana. Click here to sign our petition.
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/endthewaronmarijuana
We’re organizing our Just Say Now campaign to put a stop to the federal government’s war on marijuana. To do that, we’ll organize activists to identify and turn out supporters in states to vote for marijuana in the 2010 and 2012 elections.
This campaign will be a game-changer. Our partners at Students for Sensible Drug Policy have already organized 150 campuses and thousands of student activists. We’re poised to make a huge impact to legalize marijuana.
This November, California will vote to legalize marijuana, and 3 other states will vote on medical marijuana regulations. Thirteen states and DC have already legalized medical marijuana. Poll after poll shows huge majorities in states and the country support legalizing marijuana.
Despite this popular support, the federal government’s war on marijuana continues. Just last month, federal agents raided several completely legal medical marijuana farms and dispensaries.
Join us in calling on President Obama to help end this war. He should join the debate to legalize marijuana.
Click here to add your name to our petition to President Obama to end the war on marijuana:
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/endthewaronmarijuana
We’re excited to Just Say Now to legalizing marijuana. Thanks for all you do.
Best,
Jane Hamsher Aaron Houston
Founder, Firedoglake Director, Students for Sensible Drug Policy
P.S. We have an online store with great items using our Just Say Now logo – t-shirts, stickers, buttons, and more. All proceeds will go towards our campaign to legalize marijuana. Check out our store!
http://firedoglake.com/justsaynow/store/
The Elena Kagan confirmation did not get the airplay I thought it would, certainly not even half of what Sonia Sotomeyer received and that is somewhat puzzling because the big thing was how we now have 3 women on the Supreme Court. It is not lost on me and is extremely important that all women interested in going in to the field of law consider moving toward Judgeship work and then the Supreme Court …Yes We Can
The BP disaster will not be forgotten though the Media is saying we the people will like all things out of sight out of mind but the BP disaster made an impact on the entire Gulf Coast economy and even though the well might be plugged up we still know nothing about the fish, shrimp or oyster beds and the Wetlands. The Wildlife will continue to be important and in the News as long as we have organizations like Greenpeace watching the Gulf Coast. It’s obvious this disaster has also made more people actually consider our future ,consider solutions that do not include fossil fuels but about moving toward Solar, Wind Biofuel, smart grid, batteries and more likely to create green jobs.
The fight for the rights of people who look “reasonably suspicious” or “illegal” will continue on …Immigration is getting more airplay and thankfully, We the People are starting to hear what the true intent of SB1070 really is. The racist comments and loud noise and the nonsense coming out of the mouths of people on the right has gotten my familial blood boiling more than ever as Republicans turn up the stupid on a daily basis. It was not apparent back when Brewer held her press conference after meeting with the President that SB1070 had much more in it than “reasonable suspicion” and how she wanted to use it as a weapon to make the undocumented leave Arizona… legally? It was obvious or she appeared as if she was nervous and uncomfortable but tried to seem like she got the best of the President. Maybe she thinks that the written word will stop police officers who now have the additional duty of acting like ICE agents from negative behavior; that the written word will keep their emotions in check but it won’t; racial profiling is used on a daily basis by the police and while against the law, it’s accepted behavior … It is a side of human nature most of us know is bad but it’s there and this Governor just doesn’t get it … the video of a Seattle Police Officer was definitely an example of how some police officers can and do act … not all police officers will cross that line but it’s 2010 and this guy yelled shouted and called the so-called perp a racial slur… he must have felt safe that he would not be caught on tape …21st Century technology kept him in check…the written word of a law is only as good as the officer who takes the words written into law seriously. Just ask people of colour who drive great cars and get pulled over; who visit parks and get questioned because they looked reasonably suspicious but there was no probable cause …this law seems unconstitutional, will alienate minorities and drive undocumented people back into the shadows which is bad for the overall good of the state of Arizona. It is not that surprising that SB1070 was written with small bombs attached much like the Bush’s WMD. It now seems as if Gov Brewer conveniently avoided talking about certain aspects of SB1070 that they were trying to push to become law that would tear apart families. The notion that Gov Brewer, Sheriff Arpaio, and now more and more Republicans want to repeal the 14th Amendment they want to use it to crush families that do not meet their standards or what they call purity test and that in itself is truly offensive. It is now clear that the 14th Amendment is being used as another tool to crush families by taking away citizenship away from children of immigrant families.
This is not only ridiculous it goes against what America was built on and those folks that have the idea that we need to go back in time when women and people of colour were treated poorly should be chastised and told to shut up that is not happening we will move into the 21st Century thank you very much.
Other News …
**Macy’s in Tacoma want to change the way workers earn money make less and work harder while they profit from those changes;don’t shop there until they start fair hiring practices
**The Blue Angels are in Seattle for seafair
C-SPAN …
By a vote of 63-37 the Senate approved U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan as the 112th Justice of the Supreme Court on Thursday. With the confirmation process complete,
Kagan is expected to go to the Supreme Court tomorrow to take the Constitutional Oath and the Judicial Oath, both administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. This afternoon, the President will host a reception for Kagan at the White House.
Kagan will replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens and become the fourth female Justice in the Supreme Court’s history. For the first time in its history, he nine-member court will now have three sitting female justices.
This morning, C‑SPAN’s Washington Journal wraps up its week-long series on the new health care law with two state Attorneys General who share their views on how the law affects their state.
Also, panelists at the American Enterprise Institute are reacting to yesterday’s report on Medicare and Social Security released by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The report, an annual update on the fiscal condition of the two programs, cited an improved outlook for Medicare and a slightly less positive picture for Social Security.
Today, President Obama is in Chicago talking about our progress and fundraising for Democrats running for office and the November elections.
Republicans and Tea party members keep saying they think Obama has it out for and against the constitution, even Palin, Boehner, Bachmann and most Republicans talk about the state of our constitution and try to use it against the Obama Admin. They say that they have to get their country back because the constitution is being misused, now all of suddenly the 14th Amendment is not good enough, right for Americans now and needs to be adjusted, changed, or taken out completely. Is seems to me that what these people are afraid of is what our world of Americans looks like and what it will look like in the future and it will be more brown than these people want to accept.
In my continued effort to convince people politics and pop culture whether it is good, bad and the really ugly collision like ronald reagan happen constantly I offer up more proof. The very obvious one being Kevin Costner who has spent millions probably billions on machines that help with oil spills and apparently he not only is committed to our environment but put money where his words and efforts were and came through for his fellow man. Then there is the show Jeopardy. It has updated their quiz show with an array of questions about the current Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Republicans like Mitch McConnell and more though i wonder what kind of questions any Republican is worthy of having on national tv. The last bit of News would be Wyclef, though he has stated he will run for President of Haiti he is getting a lot of opposition from the likes of sean penn, which is odd because it begs the question of how long has sean penn been helping Haiti and yes anyone running for such a high office should be looked at with cautious eyes sean penn wants to know what happened to the 400thousand that Wyclef was suppose to donate to Haiti. It is a question among others that should be answered but to just slam the man without much other than a statement is not right. It has been well known that wyclef jean has always been involved in helping the Haiti people with charities and comments here in the US about what the people of Haiti’s need. I believe if you have a tie to Haiti know the politics have a plan to help get the financial system, political system back on track he should have to surround himself with the best the most honest group of people. Haiti and the people deserve the best should be ruled by its own people and that is important to me …Haiti is filled with riches whether it be a great place to visit, vacation people from the US and France have done things in the past that are worrisome and though Haiti is independent it is also the poorest of the poor of countries …think about that and tell me why with all that it has to offer its people are not able to enjoy the obvious riches Haiti has …and that problem needs to be solved. Wyclef jean, born in Haiti has strong ties to the Country and must like people do here in the US prove why he would be a good President. My hope would be that Haiti remains independent and that any corrupt if there was or is any is crushed and the people can start small business for themselves and not have foreigners going into Haiti to pay low or minimum wages to use another country people for sweat shops or cheap labor. People go to the Caribbean to vacation and Haiti though used by foreigners it doesn’t seem to reap the benefits and again has to be top priority to Wyclef jean if he is to be successful in his bid for President ..the economy and jobs because something is foul when millions of Haiti Natives have nothing but foreigners are visiting the prime parts of Haiti and parting…Haiti was Best Destination of 2010…great but there are millions still living in tents after the earthquake because not only has the government been out of the picture some of the donations have not been paid yet. That is shameful -so, if Wyclef can ease all the tensions get people housing that is earthquake ready, a political system that works for everyone, financial system that works so everyone reaps the glorious Haiti riches not just some and get the corrupt foreigners out of there holding onto the best parts of Haiti and keeping Haitians from being apart of it. All you have to do is see the photos for yourself and know something isn’t right. Haiti may be the Best Destination of 2010 but at the expense of all of the People of Haiti , my question is who is at fault and responsible for this, hopefully more will be done to help Haiti and its People because they deserve the help to stay independent, all Haitians deserve an opportunity for education, financial upward mobility and more of the revenue to solidify the future of Haitians needs to be dealt with differently…Wyclef knows and this will be more important as Haiti tries to solve a whole lot of issues.
Talk about more, what a month, only 5 days into August and there has been a lot of movement from legislation and judges with more good news day after day which is turning into great news … First we hear that not only did Judge Susan Bolton overturned parts, essential parts of SB1070 that would give the local police a legal right to engage in racial profiling and even her appeal was delayed until September. This action should and will set a precedent how laws like SB1070 actually try to override the federal law and cannot. It also shows just what folks like Gov Jan Brewer and Sheriff Arpaio were up to and while we all first thought the intent was solely to legalize racial profiling. It actually was an attempt to challenge the 14th Amendment and or change the language to keep children from being deemed legal citizens of the USA. This has been or should be a revelation for all Americans because we are a nation of immigrants.
The prop8 ruling has people on the right scared and saying things that are outrageous, unkind and really just nasty. The prop8 ruling is about equality and in this 21st Century people should have the right to love and marry who they want, it will not damage the fabric of our lives or families it just brings all of us into the new family and it is complicated for some and not so much for others. If a person or couple are not hurting you or your family why do you care? family values should apply to us all but it doesn’t say what makes a perfect family because by definition family or that whole village it often takes to raise children is made up of so many folks and what right do i have to say uh your this is that so your family cannot be together? people like Palin talk about family values and gotta say hers are questionable for me as a parent but that is my opinion but i don’t expect a law to say she was and is an unfit mom because she her child engaged in and had a child while still a minor? it’s food for thought thought when people try to push their ideology on you even though they don’t seem to be practicing it themselves.
The fact is The United States was built by immigrants at various points of our history and we cannot forget what Ellis Island means to so many people and impacts all our lives whether people want to admit it or not. If it were up to me my 1st Native people would take back their land which…ok it is just a thought not reality but it should give people food for thought about the people shoving and acting like we should go back in time not move forward, it’s upsetting offensive and very stupid. The jobs bill and the UI benefits that have been filibustered repeatedly had a break through yesterday when two Senators, Snowe, and Collins vote yes to cloture to move the bill forward with a 61-38.
The next report out there was that Speaker of the House has called her members back into Session from vacay to finish the deal. It is obvious people are not getting the full list of the incredible things being done by the Obama Admin and the Democratic Party in both Chamber of Congress to get America and Americans back on track people need to take note that the changes happening are good for all of us but getting informed before deciding where you stand. It is important that people get the facts and make an informed decision to up and for President Obama or not getting all the information to make, an intelligent decision is the most important thing. My take on why people are not supporting the President as much is that folks are listening to the wacky noise on the right. The so-called News on various stations blowing out news you can use but should definitely be cautious of because you can get fooled … we all did and folks got hurt, jobs lost and businesses derailed to list just a few ACORN, Vann Jones, Shirley Sherrod and more for all we know. The thing that most of us need to ask ourselves is what is the common
denominator of all the people who have recently been affected by a so-called writer and news station that cater to folks on the right. Just saying.
The BP disaster on the Gulf Coast has all but taken care of. The reports are that the static kill is in its final stage and while most folks are hoping for the best the clean up of the beaches, marshes and wetlands slowly begins its next phase because know one truly knows what impact the oil will have to the oyster beds, turtles, shrimp and bottom fish. However, there have not been enough reports to say whether the impact will take weeks, month’s maybe years to figure out the real damage to the fishing industry. Its my contention that oil spills in the past have on occasion showed up in our food and in two headed this or that and lack of certain fish runs and so on and so forth. The BP disaster will take years to document and hopefully a group or organization will keep track of the Gulf Coast on a monthly basis because as reported by many at the beginning of this thing back in April eggs were being laid, spawning interrupted and all of which may have been affected short but long term yet determined.
There are reports that an event will be held in memory of the Katrina disaster on August 31 and on September 1. The disaster was one I hope never happens again but begs the question …did the Government learn anything that has made them update emergency plans efforts that should have been put in place five years ago. I would also like to say that those levees and other barriers need stimulus money to take care of what they obviously did not do sufficiently after being warned by those that knew and told the State of LA what could happen. If memory serves there was a report a mock up and test of what would happen to the levees if they failed, which they did and need repairing on so many levels its not even a joke.
Other News …
Yesterday during a speech at the Center for American Progress, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner criticized the GOP talking point that allowing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to expire will hurt small businesses. The Republican claim is “a political argument masquerading as substance,” he said. Geithner also noted that letting the cuts expire would affect fewer than 3 percent of small businesses
While participating in talks with the FCC on net neutrality, Verizon Communications Inc. and Google Inc. “have struck their own accord on handling Internet traffic.” The prior adversaries reached a compromise restricting Verizon from “selectively slowing Internet content” over the wires but “wouldn’t apply such limits” on mobile phones.
When the Senate returns from recess next month, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to take up debate on the question of whether to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich. “We’re surveying members to see what could be in a package that wins 60 votes and protects the middle class,” said a Democratic source.
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) “has blocked the nomination of James Clapper to be director of national intelligence,” just days after Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) lifted his own hold on the retired Air Force lieutenant general. Coburn’s office would not explain the hold, but it may involve the administration’s plan to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba
Contrary to several media reports, Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul (R) “never received a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University.” Paul left Baylor “early when Duke accepted him in its School of Medicine.” The Paul campaign said it never corrected the record because it was “not aware of the erroneous claim.”
After a federal judge struck down California’s ban on same-sex- marriage yesterday, the White House issued a statement explaining that President Obama “has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory” and “will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans.” But gay marriage advocates note that Obama “has not been clear is how he squares his position for equality with his refusal to embrace actual equality in marriage.”
C-SPAN …
Senate Hearing on For-Profit Schools
At least 60 Senators intend to support the confirmation of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, C‑SPAN has confirmed. With 60 votes potentially needed to bring debate to a close, and only 50 required for final approval, Kagan’s confirmation appears assured. The Senate is expected to vote on Thursday. Through two days of floor debate, Democrats have largely touted Kagan for “fair-mindedness” and a “non-ideological agenda.” Republicans have criticized her lack of judicial experience and characterized her as more driven by politics than rule of law. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) defended Kagan yesterday, saying she “will do her best to consider every case impartially, modestly, with commitment to principle and in accordance with law.” Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL) called Kagan an activist who would “advance her own causes” under the pretext of being a judge.
However, Republicans have argued that the cuts will undermine the system and question if the changes will be permanent. Critics also claim that any savings made from the spending cuts would actually be negated by extending coverage for more than 30 million uninsured Americans.
The largest cuts in Medicare spending include reductions to projected payment increases to hospitals and other healthcare providers over the next 10 years. The Medicare cuts are expected to begin immediately for private insurance plans, while being gradually phased for health providers.
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