Posted by Len on Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 at 6:21 pm CT in Politics,Republicans
In the previous post you will find video of President Obama’s remarks to the press following his meeting with congressional leaders today. He continues to stress the need for bipartisanship and appears to still believe that the Republicans have a desire to work with his administration in governing this country. Obviously he spoke before he saw Rep. Joe Barton’s (R-Texas) slide presentation that he prepared as part of his campaign to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee…
Does that look like something that came from somebody who is the least bit interested in bipartisanship?
President Barack Obama told GOP leaders behind closed doors Tuesday that he had failed to reach across party lines enough during his first two years in office, a senior administration official told CNN.
He promised to do a better job of bipartisan outreach in the days ahead, the official added.
“The president said he had to do better, and the president is ready to do his part,” the official said.
Wow.
Just out of curiosity, has anybody seen any indication from the Republicans that they were ready to do their part? I sure haven’t.
President Obama met with congressional leaders from both parties today. He continues to cling to the belief that the Republicans have a desire to work with him in governing the United States.
A transcript of the President’s remarks follows the break.
Posted by Len on Saturday, November 27th, 2010 at 10:04 pm CT in Politics,Republicans
Saturday is usually Weekly Address day, but this week’s address was released on Thursday. Instead, we’ll give you Bob Herbert’s most recent column. He expounds upon the reasons I smile every time I hear someone complaining that the Affordable Care Act (or, as the Republicans call it, “Obamacare”) is the cause of the rise in their share of the cost of the health care being so generously provided by their corporate masters.
The class war that no one wants to talk about continues unabated.
Even as millions of out-of-work and otherwise struggling Americans are tightening their belts for the holidays, the nation’s elite are lacing up their dancing shoes and partying like royalty as the millions and billions keep rolling in.
Recessions are for the little people, not for the corporate chiefs and the titans of Wall Street who are at the heart of the American aristocracy. They have waged economic warfare against everybody else and are winning big time.
The ranks of the poor may be swelling and families forced out of their foreclosed homes may be enduring a nightmarish holiday season, but American companies have just experienced their most profitable quarter ever. As The Times reported this week, U.S. firms earned profits at an annual rate of $1.659 trillion in the third quarter — the highest total since the government began keeping track more than six decades ago.
The corporate fat cats are becoming alarmingly rotund. Their profits have surged over the past seven quarters at a pace that is among the fastest ever seen, and they can barely contain their glee. On the same day that The Times ran its article about the third-quarter surge in profits, it ran a piece on the front page that carried the headline: “With a Swagger, Wallets Out, Wall Street Dares to Celebrate.”
Posted by Len on Thursday, November 25th, 2010 at 11:22 am CT in Politics
“Giving Thanks for Those Who Serve”
From the White House weblog:
The President expresses gratitude to America’s military men and women and their families, and discusses the steps his administration is taking to help create jobs so that next Thanksgiving, Americans can give thanks for a stronger economy.
Click below to listen to the audio only:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The transcript of the president’s weekly address, as prepared for delivery, is available after the break.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay – once one of the most powerful and feared Republicans in Congress – was convicted Wednesday on charges he illegally funneled corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002.
Jurors deliberated for 19 hours before returning guilty verdicts against DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces up to life in prison on the money laundering charge…
Prosecutors said DeLay, who once held the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives and whose heavy-handed style earned him the nickname “the Hammer,” used his political action committee to illegally channel $190,000 in corporate donations into 2002 Texas legislative races through a money swap…
The verdict came after a three-week trial in which prosecutors presented more than 30 witnesses and volumes of e-mails and other documents. DeLay’s attorneys presented five witnesses.
“This case is a message from the citizens of the state of Texas that the public officials they elect to represent them must do so honestly and ethically, and if not, they’ll be held accountable,” Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said after the verdict.
Prosecutors said DeLay conspired with two associates, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, to use his Texas-based PAC to send $190,000 in corporate money to an arm of the Washington-based Republican National Committee, or RNC. The RNC then sent the same amount to seven Texas House candidates. Under Texas law, corporate money can’t go directly to political campaigns.
Prosecutors claim the money helped Republicans take control of the Texas House. That enabled the GOP majority to push through a Delay-engineered congressional redistricting plan that sent more Texas Republicans to Congress in 2004 – and strengthened DeLay’s political power.
The sentencing phase of the trial is tentatively scheduled to begin on December 20. One report I heard stated that our convicted felon friend Tom faces a minimum of seven years in prison. Another report says he could get anything from probation to life in prison. We shall see. You know which one I’m pulling for.
Posted by Len on Sunday, November 21st, 2010 at 7:28 pm CT in General
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal both took to the airwaves today to announce that they are not interested in running for president in 2012.
On a related note, I would like to take this opportunity to advise the New England Patriots that I am not interested in the quarterback position.
Posted by Len on Saturday, November 20th, 2010 at 7:31 am CT in Politics
“New START Treaty “Fundamental” to Security”
From the White House weblog:
The President says ratifying the New START, a pivotal treaty with Russia on nuclear weapons, must happen this year. He explains that failure to ratify the treaty this year would not only mean losing our nuclear inspectors in Russia, but also undermine the international coalition pressuring Iran, put at risk the transit routes used to equip our troops in Afghanistan, and undo decades American leadership and bipartisanship on nuclear security.
Click below to listen to the audio only:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The transcript of the president’s weekly address, as prepared for delivery, is available after the break.
Posted by Len on Friday, November 19th, 2010 at 5:00 pm CT in Humor,Politics
I haven’t had much of a chance to post anything this week, but I have been trying to keep up. Let’s see… Sarah Palin told Barbara Walters that she thinks she could defeat Barack Obama in 2012. I sure hope she gets the chance to put her money where her mouth is.
Also, the Republicans have been blocking votes on a lot of stuff this week. For some reason (can you guess what it is?), they don’t want a vote on the new nuclear arms treaty with Russia. They don’t want a vote on extending unemployment benefits, nor do they want to vote on equal pay for equal work for women. What else? I’m sure there’s more. Oh, yeah… there’s the tax cuts for their rich friends and benefactors. If the richest 2% of the people in the country can’t have tax cuts, they don’t want anybody to have tax cuts. All in all, the Republicans have really been showing their colors this past week. Bless their hearts.
You also now have to pick between having some stranger play with your junk or having your naked picture taken whenever you fly commercially in the United States. Lots of fun. (Whatever happened to the Fourth Amendment? “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”) The terrorists have already won.
Oh, well… on with the business at hand. Here’s this week’s compilation of the best editorial and political cartoons published during the week just ending. Click and enjoy.
As always, our thanks go to the talented and observant cartoonists who, each week, help us smile through the pain.
Bonus video (may not be viewable outside of the United States):
