Tag Archives: republicans

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cutting our deficit in half


Cutting our deficit in halfLast week a new report had some big economic news you probably missed: Since 2009, we’ve cut our deficit in half — and it’s falling at its fastest rate since World War II.

Here’s what a milestone like that looks like (in animated form):

Find out more about our falling deficit

In addition to improving our nation’s long-term fiscal security by reducing the deficit, President Obama’s working hard to help strengthen the middle class. And in the past three and a half years, businesses have created more than 7.6 million new jobs.

Take a look and pass it on:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/cutting-our-deficit-half
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

$#!^@#%!


GOP Takes Obamacare Meltdown To A Whole New Level

A mere seven days remain for Congress to pass a spending bill in order to avoid a government shutdown. But Republicans are farther away than ever from agreeing to a reasonable plan that would keep the government open.

On Friday, the House GOP continued its march toward shutdown by passing a bill that ties keeping the government open to–surprise!–fully defunding Obamacare. Once again, Republicans refuse to do the hard work of actual governing in favor of playing political games that threaten to sabotage the economy. But while the vote only solidified the GOP’s ideological and dangerous strategy, it opened the floodgates for more infighting among its owns members. Here is what a number of key GOP players and establishment thinkers have to say about the “defund at all costs” plan:

  • GOP Sen. John McCain (AZ): “I can tell you that in the U.S. Senate, we will not repeal or defund Obamacare. We will not. And to think we can is not rational.”
  • GOP Strategist Karl Rove: The GOP defunding strategy is “self-defeating…It is an ill-conceived tactic, and Republicans should reject it.”
  • Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly: Defunding Obamacare is “fanaticism on the right,” O’Reilly says. “There’s no way Obamacare is going to be defunded. It’s not gonna happen.”
  • GOP Sen. Tom Coburn (OK): “Tactics and strategies ought to be based on what the real world is, and we do not have the political power to do this.”
  • GOP Sen. Rand Paul (KY): “I’m acknowledging we can’t probably defeat or get rid of Obamacare.”
  • GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte (NH): “I don’t believe they should shut down the government to [defund Obamacare], and I don’t think that is a strategy that is good for America.”
  • GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson (GA): “It’s total atrophy. We’re earning our 11 percent popularity. It’s easier to talk about Obamacare than the major sources of our problems.”
  • Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: “Kamikaze missions rarely turn out well, least of all for the pilots… The kamikazes could end up ensuring the return of all-Democratic rule.”

Now, they all may just be trying to protect their party’s interests. But they seem to know what most Americans already do: the extreme demands by the GOP to push a narrow ideological agenda are out of touch. A new bipartisan CNBC poll released today proves that point. Almost six in ten Americans oppose defunding the health care law if it means a government shutdown, while just 19 percent support. A poll released last week found that only 23 percent of Americans want to make the health care law fail.

BOTTOM LINE: Republicans’ political games are threatening our nation’s economic recovery. Americans don’t want to shut down the government and want an end to the hostage-taking political tactics that place ideology over practical solutions for stability and growth.

Black History

the Senate S.1392,Energy Savings&Industrial Competitiveness Act ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House HR2775,ACA stipulations


capitol21Bipartisan Legislation Would Strengthen Background Checks

At a press conference on Thursday, April 11, 2013, Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) unveiled bipartisan legislation to strengthen and enhance background checks for new purchasers of firearms.  “Failed”

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am Tuesday, September 17, 2013.  Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until noon with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the next 30 minutes.

 Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1392, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

At 10:00am there will be a moment of silence to pay tribute to the victims of the tragic mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.

At 11:00am today the Senate will turn to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

–          Executive Calendar #175, the nomination of Patricia E. Campbell-Smith, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims and;

–          Executive Calendar #176, the nomination of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.

There will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. We expect a voice vote on the Campbell-Smith nomination and a roll call vote on the Kaplan nomination.

Following the vote on the Kaplan nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

When the Senate reconvenes at 2:15pm we will resume consideration of the S.1392, the Energy Efficiency bill. We are trying to reach an agreement on a finite list of amendments to move forward on that legislation. Senator Vitter has an amendment dealing with the Affordable Care Act and certain congressional and administration staff. We would have a side by side or second degree amendment to his amendment. In order to reach an agreement to vote on Vitter’s amendment we would need a finite list of amendments to complete action on the bill.

12:02pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims;

Confirmed: 64-35

The Senate stands in recess until 2:15pm. Following recess, the there will be a period of morning business to allow Senators Udall (CO) and Bennet to talk about the flooding in Colorado.

At 2:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1392, Energy Efficiency.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #176, the nomination of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims; Confirmed: 64-35

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.2775, the No Subsidies without Verification Act.

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.2009, the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1513, the High Technology Jobs Preservation Act of 2013. (Wyden/Murkowski)

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1514, the Saving Coal Jobs Act of 2013. (McConnell)

 

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed the following:

Executive Calendar #175, the nomination of Patricia E. Campbell-Smith, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims by voice vote.

Executive Calendar #335 Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. – to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana for the term of four years.

Executive Calendar #336, Jon T. Rymer, of Tennessee, to be Inspector General, Department of Defense.

Executive Calendar #337, Steve A. Linick, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of State.

**************************************************************

Last Floor Action: 9/17
7:30:51 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES –
The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded
to Special Order speeches.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on September 17, 2013

Last Floor Action: 9/17 12:03:08 P.M

. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

Last Floor Action: 9/16
2:02:47 P.M. – The Speaker announced that
the House do now adjourn.

——————————————————————————————–

~ Culture & History

World’s Oldest Shoe Discovered, Dates Back 5,500 Years


world's oldest shoe brown sheep dung lace-up stuffedYou won’t find this style on Zappos! The world’s oldest shoe dates back 5,500 years. Photo: AP Photo/Department of Archaeology University College Cork
Looks like our ancestors had a little trouble watching their step.

Researchers excavating an Armenian cave have discovered the world’s oldest shoe — a cowhide lace-up encased in a pile of sheep dung, The New York Times reports.

(Ew. We suspect even Imelda Marcos might give this one a pass.)

Tanned in oils from a plant or vegetable and bearing leather eyelets for its laces, the right shoe reportedly pre-dates Stonehenge, the Egyptian pyramids and Joan Rivers.

“These were probably quite expensive shoes, made of leather, very high quality,” Gregory Areshian of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, a lead scientist on the project, told the paper.

The shoe is estimated to date back to the Copper Age, around 3653 to 3627 B.C., and would fit a woman (or petite man) with a size 7 foot, according to The New York Times.

Scientists told the source that the shoe appears to have been deliberately preserved, with grass stuffing and yellow clay lining keeping its shape intact. (Nice to know ancient gals were as shoe-obsessed as we are.)

“You can see the imprints of the big toe,” another team leader, Ron Pinhasi of Ireland’s University College Cork, told the paper.

“As the person was wearing and lacing it, some of the eyelets had been torn and repaired.”

The discovery was reportedly made after the National Geographic Society-funded researchers found other artifacts, including horns, pottery, and something doctoral student Diana Zardaryan thought felt like “an ear of a cow.”

“But when I took it out, I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s a shoe,'” she told the paper. “To find a shoe has always been my dream.”

Ah — a woman after our own hearts!

So who was this Copper Age Carrie Bradshaw? We may never know… but it makes for one heck of a good, old-school Cinderella story.

In other shoe news, read about this government-funded “Sexy Heels in the City” college course.

by Erin Donnelly