Tag Archives: news

Gallup -1 of 4Bills they say the public agrees with

09/14/2010 Nativegrl77

Among Recent Bills, Financial Reform a Lone Plus for Congress

Most Americans oppose four other prominent legislative acts

by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ — The financial reform bill President Obama signed into law in July is the most popular of five major pieces of legislation Congress has passed in the past two years — in fact, it is the only one tested in a recent USA Today/Gallup poll that a majority of Americans support.

Six in 10 Americans approve of the legislation to strengthen government regulation of the financial industry. By contrast, a majority disapprove of the 2009 economic stimulus package, the auto industry bailout, healthcare reform, and — most of all — the 2008 banking industry bailout.

Financial reform does best due to a relatively high level of support from Republicans — 42% approve of it — as well as majority support from independents. Independents join Republicans in mostly opposing the other four legislative initiatives tested. Democrats, on the other hand, approve of all five, although to varying degrees.

Of the five legislative acts, healthcare reform and the economic stimulus package are the most politically divisive. By contrast, financial regulatory reform, as well as aid to automakers and banks, sparks more similar reactions from Republicans and Democrats.

Bottom Line

Congress’ approval rating has been stalled at or below 20% for most of this year, down from 39% in March 2009 — and recent Gallup polling finds Americans no happier with the Republicans than with the Democrats in Congress. While some of this may be due to unavoidable fallout from the prolonged economic downturn, it may also represent an accumulation of public discontent with the more prominent spending and policy programs Congress has made law. Wall Street regulatory reform stands alone as a major legislative accomplishment that congressional incumbents would be wise to tout as they campaign for re-election this fall.

Survey MethodsResults for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 27-30, 2010, with a random sample of 1,021 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.

For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones (for respondents with a landline telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell phone-only). Each sample includes a minimum quota of 150 cell phone-only respondents and 850 landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.

Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, education, region, and phone lines. Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2009 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in continental U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

View methodology, full question results, and trend data.

For more details on Gallup’s polling methodology, visit http://www.gallup.com/.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ Recent Post

totally Tuesday &some News

09/14/2010 Nativegrl77

Yesterday, we heard reports that Boehner said that if he had to vote only for giving the Middle Class the tax cuts he would and then maybe a few hours later Cantor and Mitch McConnell both stated No way; they would filibuster the tax cuts unless the Bush tax cuts were extended. Will someone please tell what do folks need to hear to understand that Republicans are not acting in the best interest of their own constituents let alone the Democratic Party!

Today, the President will give a stay in school speech that still has some school districts avoiding the speech and or parents who are just not willing to accept Obama as our President of the United States and for me it comes as a surprise and is definitely offensive. It clearly is wrong how this man …President Obama helped Teachers keep their jobs …he pressed folks to vote for HR1586. I remember the days when such speeches from the President were definitely mandatory…no question no whispers and certainly no group of people linked to school districts put up walls -is this element of discrimination acceptable?

I do not know if the reports that he would not filibuster are true, if he meant he wanted the bush tax cuts temporarily as reported or that he was willing to give up the millionaire tax cuts to help the middle class. I do know just hearing them whine about big government, how the upper 3% creates the jobs and letting the bush tax cuts would be a job killer is almost embarrassing. It is obvious to most Americans …I hope, that Bush gave 2huge tax cuts to the wealthy a long with waging 2Wars and neither one was paid for but the expect the Democratic Party to stick with paygo when it comes to their fellow Americans… Uh what is that about because they want special treatment when it comes to the Bush tax cuts for them? The facts are that everyone will get a tax cut… the rich will get a tax cut on their first 250thousand people. It is beyond offensive that Americans still want a group in office willing to vote against the People they represent? It is not sane behavior. Primaries matter because the change 53% of us voted for will be determined by who gains control. Those more left of center need to vote like this is a national event. The media has already written off the Democratic Party the question is why? My take is that most if not all reporters, host and commentators are getting paid by major corporate players and their futures may change once folks get it…The changes we need means getting more seats in Congress in November.

How often do we all hear how the GOP will be picking up a significant amount of seats in Congress? The Democratic Party needs to get out in front of any primary election, plan for transportation and do whatever helps to GOTV, which goes without saying but then it was sort of disappointing to hear that money shared by Democrats is not always available for every State and is just the way it is but folks on the local level probably need to get more involved on a year around basis. The reports are that Democrats get involved in major elections but it’s a new day, now everyone should get involved at every level to keep Democrats in office and back on track to getting our broken down system back on track. We all know what happened and who shoved us toward an enormous ditch; they bet and spent, spent, spent money without enforcing regulations. While it’s possible a lot of people saw the problem no one did a thing until it was too late and passed it on to the next Administration.

So, what’s my point to Primaries matter? This is not the time to move away from Democratic ideology, move away from getting things done unlike Republicans; it’s not the time to give up. We have to demand action from Congress. We need to move into the 21st Century; while Republicans fight to keep us from progressing into a country that has health care for all, climate change because we care about our earth, our children. We need to demand regulations and financial reform for a failed financial system that they took advantage of. Congress needs to make a good faith effort to reform the way people come into the US … immigration is not going away and the Arizona laws definitely are a catalyst for change.

Other News …

**President Obama will again offer a do well in school speech today as schools all over the US begin…while many will not show the speech

**The Middle east talks :core issues are being talked about -settlements and no agreements as of yet

**Hurricanes Igor/Julia are churning and are Cat4 but far from land

**The French passes ban on full Muslim veil

**BP resumes the relief oil drilling

**100 tons of diesel oil was spilled into

**Cuba to lay off over 500 thousand of its workers

**The female hiker of 3hikers was let go w/a 500thousand bond

**There are Primaries in 7 States …be sure to vote today

CSPAN …

Senate Impeachment Proceedings for Judge Thomas Porteous – Day 1

Pres. Obama Back Yard Town Hall on the Economy

Fmr. Pres. Bill Clinton Presents 2010 Liberty Medal to Fmr. British P.M. Tony Blair

Discussion on Islamic Community Center and Mosque Controversy with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

State Department Press Briefing

NPC Luncheon with Rev. David Beckmann, Pres. of Bread for the World

~ Recent Post

Congress:the Senate/House debates & votes today!

09/14/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 10:00amET September 14, 2010

Resume consideration of H.R.5297, the Small Business Jobs bill with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees.

At 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on Johanns amendment #4596 (1099 reporting). If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the Nelson (FL) amendment #4595 (1099 reporting). If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate. If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the substitute amendment #4594 to HR5297, Small Business Jobs.

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm – 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

By unanimous consent, the filing deadline for second degree amendments to the substitute amendment #4594 and HR5297 is 12:00 noon today, Tuesday. September 14.

Votes:
231: Cloture on Johanns #4596 (1099 reporting);
Not Invoked: 46-52

232: Cloture on Nelson (FL) #4595 (1099 reporting);
Not Invoked: 56-42

233: Cloture on Substitute amendment #4594: to H.R.5297, Small Business Jobs bill;
Invoked: 61-37 <<- this means that HR5297 will now move forward to a final vote this week; Reid tweets dadt may get a vote as well this week

There will be no further roll call votes.

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.597, a resolution designating September 2010 as “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month”

Adopted S.Res.603, a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Council for International Visitors, and designating February 16, 2011, as “Citizen Diplomacy Day”

Adopted S.Res.607, a resolution recognizing the month of October 2011 as “National Principals Month”

Adopted S.Res.620, a resolution to designate September 12, 2010, as “National Day of Encouragement”

##########################################################

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 2:00pmET September 14, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

7:00 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

6:59 P.M. –

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 21: Mr. Jones for 5 min.

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 16: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, and Mr. Bishop of UT for 5 min.

6:57 P.M. –

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 15: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, Mr. Gohmert for 5 min, Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min.

6:45 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House continued with further one minute speeches.

H. Res. 1571:

acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of the State of Florida

6:43 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 – 0 (Roll no. 520).

6:32 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1052:

honoring the members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001

6:31 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 – 0 (Roll no. 519).

6:01 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

6:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 14.

3:50 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. today.

H. Res. 1611:

expressing support for designation of the week beginning September 19, 2010, as “National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week”

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

3:40 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1611.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1480:

commending the University of Southern California Trojan men’s tennis team for its victory in the 2010 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Tennis Championship

3:39 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

3:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1480.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1564:

commending and congratulating Michigan Technological University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

3:18 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1564.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1571:

acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of the State of Florida

3:17 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

3:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1571.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H.R. 6102:

to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Navy to enter into multiyear contracts for F/A-18E, F/A-18F, and EA-18G aircraft

3:03 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

2:53 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6102.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1251:

recognizing and honoring the United States troops who gave their lives on D-Day at the Battle of Normandy

2:52 P.M. –

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

2:45 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1251.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1052:

honoring the members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001

2:38 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1052.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Boren moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1610:

expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001

2:37 P.M. –

2:13 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1610.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Connolly (VA) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

2:12 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:00 p.m. today.

2:04 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

2:03 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 14, 2010 at 9:21 a.m.: That the Senate agreed to H.Con.Res. 292, without amendment.

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 12, 2010 at 12:04 p.m.: That the Senate agreed to S.Res. 617.

2:02 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 12, 2010 at 10:37 p.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 6080, without amendment.

2:01 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Poe of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

2:00 P.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Laura Richardson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ Recent Post

New Hampshire Primaries …Vote for Ann M Kuster

09/13/2010 Nativegrl77

Win or lose, I want to say:

THANK YOU.

Ann McLane Kuster

People-powered candidate for Congress

Tomorrow is my congressional primary in New Hampshire against Katrina Swett, and our campaign has great momentum.

But win or lose, I want to say thank you to PCCC members for adding to the “people power” of my grassroots campaign.

Our campaign has over a thousand local volunteers working tirelessly — and the phone calls from PCCC members to voters were a tremendous help (and they continue through tomorrow).

I’m also proud that my campaign has raised more money from New Hampshire citizens than anyone ever to run for U.S. House of Representatives in our state history. Many PCCC members donated $3, $4, or $10 as well, allowing us to continually expand our grassroots effort.

What’s great about running a people-powered campaign is that it allows candidates to be accountable to the people — not the special interests.

The PCCC has been a great partner and has helped progressive candidates like me run effective, people-powered campaigns. It’s been an honor to know that thousands of people in New Hampshire and beyond are watching this race and helping us run a strong campaign.

So again, thank you for being part of the “people power” that is changing this country. Your efforts are noticed and greatly appreciated — and with your help we’ll enjoy a big victory together on Tuesday.

Sincerely,

Ann McLane Kuster

P.S. You can still sign up to make “get out the vote” phone calls to voters on Tuesday — or donate to help us fund our “get out the vote” online ads in the final 24 hours. Both are appreciated.

~ Recent Post

RADICAL RIGHT Rallies of Misinformation

09/13/2010 Nativegrl77

In the months leading up to the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, conservatives, right-wing media, and Republican lawmakers have led a campaign of misinformation, paranoia, fear, and anger toward Muslims, sparked by the recent hysteria over a hate pastor’s plan to burn the Quran (which he thankfully never carried out) and outrage over an organization’s plan to build a mosque and Islamic community center near Ground Zero in Manhattan. A recent Washington Post poll found that a plurality of Americans now have an unfavorable view of Islam, “the most negative split on the question” since Oct. 2001. Commemorating the 9/11 attacks, President Obama urged tolerance toward Muslims. “As Americans we are not — and never will be — at war with Islam,” he said. “It was not a religion that attacked us that September day — it was al Qaida, a sorry band of men which perverts religion.” Yet rhetoric from conservatives who gathered this weekend in New York City to protest the Park51 community center, and in Washington, D.C. for the Tea Party “9/12” rally was steeped in Islamophobia and general misinformation about the President, leading Democrats, and their policies.

‘NO MOSQUE HERE’: The Stop Islamization of America-sponsored rally near Ground Zero in Manhattan against the Park51 Islamic cultural center drummed up fears of Sharia law in America with regular “no mosque here” chants from the Tea Party-esque crowd. As the Wonk Room’s Matt Duss noted, the event stirred “together half-truths with outright falsehoods into a stew of anti-Muslim paranoia.” Speaking at the event, GOP House candidate Ilario Pantano attempted to instill fears that Park51 project leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, along with Iran, was responsible for the Gaza aid flotilla this summer that resulted in the killing of nine Turks — including one Turkish American — by Israeli commandos. And the event’s headline speaker, right-wing Dutch politician Geert Welders — who once called Islam “the ideology of a retarded culture” — falsely claimed that the Park51 center would be “a house of Sharia” and that Rauf “refuses to condemn terrorists.” In dozens of interviews with The Progress Report, attendees at the protest espoused similar views. “It’s going to be a Sharia law mosque. They believe in the jihad,” one woman from Long Island said. Another woman associated with the American Congress for Truth said Rauf is “building sharia on Ground Zero.” Echoing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, one man — not seeming to recognize the freedoms bestowed on the U.S. as opposed to other countries — said, “When they build a church in Saudi Arabia then they can build a mosque” near Ground Zero. Many attendees said that Rauf and his organization wanted to build a mosque near Ground Zero because that’s what Muslims do after a victory in battle — a notion propagated recently by Fox News, and by hate radio hosts Micheal Savage and Rush Limbaugh. “History shows us that they do build where they have conquered,” one woman said. When asked how she knew this, she replied, “On many different shows. … We have historians in our family and they said if you were to research that, that that would right. I don’t know personally myself, I haven’t seen them but they say in history, that’s what they have done.”

THE TEA PARTY IN D.C.: Tea Party members from all over the country gathered on the Mall in Washington, D.C. for their second annual FreedomWorks-sponsored “9/12” rally to protest against President Obama and his purported “socialist cronies.” Many attendees at the 9/12 rally appeared to represent the nearly 20 percent of Americans who believe that Obama is a Muslim. “None of the crowd members I talked to would say that Obama was either Christian or a U.S. citizen (the best I got was ‘only God knows what’s in his heart,’ from a nice woman from Ohio),” reported TPM’s Evan McMorris-Santoro. The rest of the rally — which was considerably smaller in size when compared to last year’s event — consisted of ridiculing taxes and spending and heralding the Constitution with “God repeatedly placed firmly on the conservative side of the political spectrum by speakers and audience members alike.”

SIGNS OF INTOLERANCE: Apart from the divisive and misinformed rhetoric that took place at these rallies, attendees often displayed signs, banners, and other placards displaying symbols and inscriptions of hatred and intolerance. At the 9/12 rally, one attendee held a sign that said “Obama wants to ban pork!” presumably a reference to the false claim that he is a Muslim. Another sign depicted Obama as both a Nazi and a communist while another associated members of Congress with rodents. One man carried a sign that said “Obama, the terrorist from within.” One banner at the New York rally read that the Park51 center is “the monument to terrorism,” while another sign read “no Muslim integration.” Many protesters carried small pieces of cardboard that read “No Obama’s Mosque.” One placard portrayed a cartoonish image of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and read: “‘Sharia’ Pelosi. Implant A Tongue Depressor — Wire Her Jaw.” Others wore t-shirts with an image of an airplane flying into the World Trade Center with the words, “They will teach” imprinted on them. Indeed, one observer at the anti-mosque rally in New York noticed the signs and rhetoric of hatred and intolerance, telling The Progress Report, “It’s so emotional here. It’s really aggressive…it’s all fear and it’s all anger, and it just makes me cry. … What is wrong with a mosque? It’s just the same, it’s a great religion just as all the others.”