What are we focused upon: U.S. Democrats vs. Republicans

Three current examples (of 'what's the focus'?), available via linked, published articles. (New windows open.)

1.) (Re jobs:) National Democrats: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/17/obama-jobs-plan-no-division-delay_n_967404.html 

vs.

The Party of 'No': http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-defeats-obamas-jobs-bill/2011/10/12/gIQAl3ZDeL_video.html


2.) (Re 'Occupy Wall Street' economic/social justice protests:) National Democrats: http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-06/politics/politics_occupy-wall-street_1_protests-tea-party-financial-crisis?_s=PM:POLITICS

vs.

The Party of 'No': http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-11/cantor-drops-mobs-description-of-wall-street-protesters.html


3.) (Re focus upon perceived realities of our present world:) National Democrats: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2011/oct/12/hillary-clinton-iran-plot-video

vs.

The Party of 'No' (clue): http://www.theonion.com/articles/us-back-on-top-as-gas-prices-drop-slightly,26335/ 



"Exalted reality"; Republican-style:

An indecorous Republican shill

Link to news article from the NY Daily News (opens new window):http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/09/2011-09-09_president_obamas_jobs_speech_gop_rep_jeff_landry_of_louisiana_holds_sign_drillin.html?

Jeff Landry: There's no 'gray' area here... His pathetic little sign was indecorous...and disrespectful. (Check out unscientific poll results in the above-ref. story.)  

Republicans would be yelling for someone's head if the other party pulled this 'crap' on them.

Favor the resourceful individualism of America's days of yore? Consider making a personal commitment to greater energy independence - both yours and the country's. Blunt the oil barons' grip upon today's largely bought-and sold Congress -- at the same time : Drive a fuel efficient vehicle. Encourage others to do so as well. Overall, you are helping yourself and your country. (And the world. Except OPEC.).

Drilling is not a panacea (eh, Mr. Landry?)..... We know that oil is a fungible, worldwide commodity, subject to market vicissitudes no matter where it is extracted from. (Also, two words: Deepwater Horizon.)

Link to one of ex-CIA director James Woolsey's cogent statements re U.S. energy security (new window): http://articles.cnn.com/2011-05-06/politics/al.qaeda.energy_1_foreign-oil-bin-attack-oil-installations?_s=PM:POLITICS 

(Oil drilling platform, by Andrew Schmidt. This image is in the public domain.)

"Spill Baby, Spill" (That right, Sarah?)

From NOAA, Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico, update 4/25/10. (That thing above is called a "map", Sarah. Of the Gulf of Mexico. In the United States. Of America.)

 
Updated map, 4/27/10, source: NOAA

4/27/10 news story update. No "gray" area (or oily brown): This appears to be a disaster in the making (link): http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36800673 .  
CONFIRMED, 4/28/10 (link to AP story): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100429/ap_on_bi_ge/us_louisiana_oil_rig_explosion
(The "leak" (blowout?) is five times worse than initially categorized....)

She famously "corrected" Joe Biden in a 2008 debate about it: Where are Sarah Palin and the Republican/Tea Bagger "Drill Baby Drill " (link) drones on THIS One?  The silence is deafening.

A guess: After appropriately mourning the cost in human life....probably fabricating a way to conspiratorially link Greenpeace (or some other political opponent - perhaps Ted Kennedy) -- to this LATEST oil spill disaster....

Having a giant laugh (or another paranoia attack)... about this newest environmental desecration to the "rock" the rest of us have to exist upon?? (That includes your children, etc.)

-- Enjoy your chief clown (link): 

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/videos/?uri=channels/338017/877248

"Spill Baby, Spill" - Link to (serious, non-clown) editorial and editorial cartoon: http://www.pnj.com/article/20100425/OPINION/4250306/1020/Editorial--Safe-offshore-drilling? 

Unfortunately, it's not just Sarah and her backward "crowd" who do not "get it" about offshore oil drilling/exploration. Please see the following post here....

Obama talks sense; Republicans obstruct

All of the sudden, national Republicans are the very model of fiscal restraint.  The years 2000-2008 (of GOP rule) just didn't happen:

"What profligate Republican administration?
Who charged in the wrong direction re global terrorism (Iraq)?
George Bush....Who's he?
What (unregulated) financial meltdown? "

"Our memories ceased functioning on election night, 2008..."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100129/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_gop

A reminder, if one is needed (video link): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSE_saVX_2A 

“No president has ever been treated like that. Ever."

The "United" States had a national election in 2008. President Obama prevailed, with over 50% of the popular vote. No ideologically-bound Supreme Court (justice) had to break a tie to appoint this president.

Last night's outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress was inexcusable. It is reprehensible behavior. I also hold other members of that "august" body to account who boorishly held up signs during the speech. To me, these actions during a presidential speech bordered upon treason. (OK, not quite...) A formal reprimand should be considered, particularly for the heckler. (Joe Wilson of South Carolina, "Party of No".) From the look upon Speaker Nancy Pelosi's face, I'm hopeful that one will be forthcoming. (UPDATE: Apparently not: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090910/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_heckling_17 )

(Old photo from Google/LIFE archives)

Link to news story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090910/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_heckling

Where were the congressional shouters and sign holders during speeches where George W. Bush fabricated about WMD hidden in Iraq, arms-related shipments to Iraq (a lie), the cost of the Iraq war (cynically underestimated/hidden), attempting to tie Iraq to 9/11 terrorism, and so on? http://www.bushlies.net/

The quotation that heads this blog entry came from Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff. Disrespectful behavior like this should not be excused or overlooked. The subsequent "apology" from the offender is not sufficient. Tepid condemnations from Republican leadership are also not sufficient. (UPDATE: And the mouth of S. Carolina is already weaseling out from his "apology": http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/wilson-calls-his-outburst-spontaneous/?partner=rss&emc=rss )

9/11/09 update: This loose cannon is actually becoming more combative, now: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32797625/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

And he may manage to get himself formally reprimanded after all. Per the following, 72% in this poll totally disapprove of his action:
http://www.newsvine.com/_question/2009/09/09/3244332-what-do-you-think-of-rep-joe-wilsons-decision-to-shout-out-you-lie-during-the-presidents-speech

Allow yelling at the president in Congress, and whacko shouting at local town hall meetings will only be the beginning.....

Connecticut: "Penny-wise(?), pound-foolish"

8/2/09 update re Wall Street excessive payouts: Article by Zeke Miller And Eric Gershon, The Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/business/hc-wall-street-bonuses-connecti.artaug02,0,6464390.story

(Original post follows:)

Link to today's (7/31) story in the New York Times, about huge bonuses being paid to thousands of Wall Street bankers and traders in 2008: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/business/31pay.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

And here's another link to an 7/30/09 AP article about states cutting important health care programs for budget reasons. (Connecticut is prominently featured.) http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5isFa8Z14ZU7_1FdxV0gzofRplSOgD99OAHFO6

It so happens that my recalcitrant Republican Connecticut state representative wrote to constituents yesterday. Our area's compassionate-less conservative, in part wrote subjects the following:

(Your Party of No state rep.) "....today voted against the largest proposed tax hike in state history, contending that another Democratic spending spree will only further cripple any economic recovery." (BTW: No one anywhere expected the budget versions voted upon on Thursday would become law. So this would pretty much (again) be my "Party of No New Revenue Ideas" state rep. posturing on the issue, for those willing and able to swallow it.)

CT's "Party of No" current plan: Tax "Joe Six-pack"'s sins to death, cut his health care options at the time he'll be needing it most, cut state economic development agencies, let greedy, Fairfield County-residing Wall Street "masters of the universe" 'walk' on state taxes (on top of Bush fed. tax cuts) - in some cases after they/their firms helped manufacture a worldwide credit/financial crisis (and then got shored up/bailed out by taxpayers); and be sure to look the other way as state businesses continue to exploit tax loopholes, slash employee benefits, lay off resident workers, ship in foreign "consultants", and re-locate key operations overseas.



"Earth to Recalcitrant CT Republicans": If they want to continue to work in Manhattan (or Stamford), where are these "Wall Street wizards" going to "run away" to live? A modest increase in high-earner taxes here still leaves us below nearby New York and New Jersey in this respect, from what I've read. So, the "geniuses" will (instead) make their principal residence in Florida....and "commute"? Good luck with sustaining that family arrangement over time.....(Quality of life: It's (even more) hot and rainy down in Florida. Plus the mansions there are more likely to get blown away by the annual hurricanes. Try looking at Sun Belt crime statistics some time, too.)

Please wake up. Get real. And have the courage to seriously consider the following:

Revenue for state roads and bridges (beyond federal help and beyond the gas tax): Reinstitute highway tolls at state borders. Give every driver/trucking firm you can find an electronic toll transponder (i.e., mass-distribute at low cost).

Make numerous out-of-staters pay something back for use, just as Mass., N.Y., N.J., and 30 other states do now.

Fuel efficient vehicles are coming. Already-raided gas tax revenue can't do it all.

Also, why wouldn't a sales tax rate reduction/coverage expansion proposed by these two individuals be worth considering? Link to Courant 7/12/09 opinion article:

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-commentaryjepsen0712.artjul12,0,5849137.story

CT: Now that we've postured and had our tantrums...

Sorry for another 'rant' here lately, but significant topics just keep presenting themselves:

Re the following news update today involving Connecticut's governor and the state's budget impasse: Please grow up. Get real. Whatever.


Link to AP story: http://www.wfsb.com/money/20215571/detail.html


Only three states still haven't found a way to deal with the worst fiscal crisis in years. Yep, the Connecticut brigade of "The Party of No" has dug in to (mainly) hold up progress here....for months. (I.e., Yes, it's been mostly Republicans, despite the use of (the ass) image below...) Their beleaguered base of still-wealthy-but-penny-pinching, employee-jettisoning businesses, and super-rich Fairfield County moguls.... just can't possibly stand any type of small tax increase. You know, to do a tiny (relative) bit of their share in real-world society, and work it out with the rest of us "losers". It's all too much for the Greenwich and Stamford upper-crust to bear. And why the heck should these "masters of the universe's"....anyway? After they've clawed and scratched their way to the top, so much better than the rest of us "wimps"? Don't mind that some of the same helped engineer/drive the recent worldwide financial meltdown. (But seem to still somehow retain that mansion, 2nd mansion in the Hamptons, etc, etc.)

Like others, I understand that any final resolution will not be perfectly fair to every single Connecticut resident. Like others, I also understand (and remember) that taxes needed to be instilled/increased as part of the overall solution, during the last two economic recessions (in CT). And like others, I responded to my state rep. and asked that he and his colleagues try to put fairness (to as many residents/taxpayers as possible) first, and to compromise.

Instead, constituents got ideological posturing. Then more posturing. Then protracted posturing.

No state budget. No meaningful compromise. Just services and programs cut and then cut again.

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=ef68cf1eaccd59b0&q=mule%20source:life&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmule%2Bsource:life%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20

At this ridiculously late date, it's unprincipled. It's immoral. It's garbage.

So we'll see what they all try to pull next. ("They": Read... recalcitrant Republican leadership.)

Thanks to those brave ones for reading this far. I certainly don't want to write anymore (or any more) about this garbage....

P.S. As previously suggested, what about reinstituting highway tolls at state borders? Low- or no-cost electronic toll transponders could be mass-distributed, which may alleviate traffic backups. And many out-of-staters ripping through CT would (then) be paying for the privilege....I thought that (ideas such as this) constituted "smart revenue source management" nowadays.....

Guzzling SUV-ers: The trend isn't your friend

Volatile oil prices are here to stay. Oh, but you're still doing your part to help weaken U.S. national security...?? Etc, etc....?

McCain/Palin drilling won't "save you" any time soon, either (if ever). (And: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/opinion/12friedman.html)

Maybe this program might help a few of you....(But "The Party of No" keeps trying to kill it.)


A link to 6/17/o9 article with Fritz Henderson, GM CEO follows. That company may now be bankrupt (thanks in part to years of questionable decisions re types of vehicles to make/sell), but that also forces them to (at last) move toward the forefront of "what's next", at least in the U.S. Even Fritz knows about energy prices...
.http://www.wfsb.com/automotive/19779645/detail.html

(Photos used are considered to be in the public domain.)