In my country...
This evening the House passed a bill to raise the debt ceiling voting 218 to 210. No Democratic Representatives voted "yes". 22 Republicans voted "no". One of the "no" votes was Michelle Bachmann. As you may be aware, Michelle Bachmann is a GOP candidate for President. She said she voted "no" because she is not in favor of any attempt to raise in the debt ceiling. When the House and the Senate finally do get a bill passed, it will not have a "yes" vote from Michelle Bachmann. She wants the US to default rather then meet it current debt obligation.
Now, just think if she were to be the President. A bill becomes a law only by passing both houses of Congress and being signed by the President. I suppose that as President she would veto a debt ceiling bill if it were put on her desk. Being just one voice in 435 as she is in the House is one thing, but as President, being able to turn back legislation through the veto, she would have great power - even if it were used foolishly to drive the US economy into the ditch.
Isn't that scary!
Friday, July 29, 2011
How did I miss these
In my life...
Wikipedia tells me that Truck Nuts have been around since 1998. How is it that this is the first I have heard of them?
Wikipedia tells me that Truck Nuts have been around since 1998. How is it that this is the first I have heard of them?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Holy crap! Has it really come to this?
As our country struggles to fully come out of the biggest recession since the Great Depression, companies and the stock market are doing pretty well, but for middle class Americans, the deep loss in jobs has not recovered yet. When I read this article in the NYT today, I just had to shake me head. Why would anyone think this was a smart move for a business, or our country? Why would any sane person accept this kind of treatment of our fellow citizens?
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wish I could write like this
In my country...
Hullabaloo is a blog written by Heather Parton under the pseudonym Digby. Her ability to understand what's going on and post her thoughts so clearly as to why it is right or wrong, is what I aspire to in my writing. Very rarely do I read something she has written and don't agree with it 100%. A recent blog post about the current "negotiations" over the debt limit was so spot on that I post the link here. It is really hard for me to understand why all middle-class, middle income Americans don't see the current events like this and feel the same way too.
Hullabaloo is a blog written by Heather Parton under the pseudonym Digby. Her ability to understand what's going on and post her thoughts so clearly as to why it is right or wrong, is what I aspire to in my writing. Very rarely do I read something she has written and don't agree with it 100%. A recent blog post about the current "negotiations" over the debt limit was so spot on that I post the link here. It is really hard for me to understand why all middle-class, middle income Americans don't see the current events like this and feel the same way too.
Friday, July 22, 2011
The weakest Speaker Ever?
In my country...
Now we know just how weak a Speaker of the House John Boehner is as he walks away from negotiating table with President Obama and pushes the work to the Senate. It is obvious that Speaker Boehner is unable to lead the GOP House Cacus. You know the old saying, "lead, follow, or get out of the way". Speaker Boehner was unable to lead, and so by pushing work on a debt ceiling extension (which must, and will, happen) to the Senate, he has chosen to just get out of the way.
Now we know just how weak a Speaker of the House John Boehner is as he walks away from negotiating table with President Obama and pushes the work to the Senate. It is obvious that Speaker Boehner is unable to lead the GOP House Cacus. You know the old saying, "lead, follow, or get out of the way". Speaker Boehner was unable to lead, and so by pushing work on a debt ceiling extension (which must, and will, happen) to the Senate, he has chosen to just get out of the way.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
At the Elvis Rock
In my life...
This week, I posted on Facebook a picture of myself at the Elvis rock. This rock was named by my friend, Tim Fay, many years ago during our annual fall golf trip. The first thing to know is that Tim was actually an elementary and high school friend of my older brother Joe. But, Tim was my friend too. Joe, Tim, and their friend Chris went on an initial golf trip to Hueston Woods about 25 years ago. They came home with some good stories including one about having to walk and carry their bags over a bazillion holes in 100 degree heat with no water. They described it as the Bataan Death March. I'm not sure it was that brutal, but parts of the story may be true. Of course, golf is best with a foursome and so in the following year, I was asked to go too. This was the first of two decades-plus of golf trips with Tim, Joe, and Chris, as a core, and as many as 12 other guys too. We played at courses inKentucky and Indiana Lake Cumberland
This week, I posted on Facebook a picture of myself at the Elvis rock. This rock was named by my friend, Tim Fay, many years ago during our annual fall golf trip. The first thing to know is that Tim was actually an elementary and high school friend of my older brother Joe. But, Tim was my friend too. Joe, Tim, and their friend Chris went on an initial golf trip to Hueston Woods about 25 years ago. They came home with some good stories including one about having to walk and carry their bags over a bazillion holes in 100 degree heat with no water. They described it as the Bataan Death March. I'm not sure it was that brutal, but parts of the story may be true. Of course, golf is best with a foursome and so in the following year, I was asked to go too. This was the first of two decades-plus of golf trips with Tim, Joe, and Chris, as a core, and as many as 12 other guys too. We played at courses in
A rock that looks like Elvis’ profile is not memorable in itself. What makes it special to me is that on April 20th, 2008, Tim lost a years-long fight against cancer. Up to this time, I have had people in my life pass away, but Tim’s passing affected me quite deeply. I guess this is because he‘s the first friend I had who has died. I guess it is also because he was so young, just 56 years old.
I think about Tim pretty often. When at Mass and asked to add my own intentions in silence, I always ask that Tim be at peace in heaven. Whenever, I hear news of Elder High School
Tim is no longer here to play golf or coach, but his Elvis rock lives on. If you look at the size of the rock on my Facebook page, you will see that it will be around hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of years from now. I miss his humor, laughter, and friendship. When playing golf this week at Woodson Bend Resort, I made it a point to stop at the rock and think about Tim for a few minutes. On one of the holes, I hit my 3 iron once particularly well, and I hope he saw it and knew that, as good as it was, it couldn’t match the way he smacked his 3 iron which was amazing when he connected with it.
Mid Summer thoughts...
In my life…
I just returned from a short family vacation to Woodson Bend Resort on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. While it was only 4 days away, it was time enough to swim, read a book, watch some movies, play some board games, and play 36 holes of golf. There were some things that stand out for me on this trip. The first is that there was nothing that HAD to be done. I watched my daughters enjoy time with each other. This was good because Ellie will be leaving for college at Ohio Wesleyan in less than a month. Rebecca got to drive a golf cart which is always fun to do, especially if you don’t drive a car. Jackie got some quiet time to read, relax, and swim. Oh, and she still managed to get in an hour long workout each day. I got to visit the Elvis Rock on hole #15, more about that later.
If any agreement in the current debt ceiling fight does not contain new tax revenue now, then the Democrats and Obama will have lost. Our country will have lost. And my faith that at least one of the two major political parties have the middle class’s back will be lost. Let’s see what happens.
I just returned from a short family vacation to Woodson Bend Resort on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. While it was only 4 days away, it was time enough to swim, read a book, watch some movies, play some board games, and play 36 holes of golf. There were some things that stand out for me on this trip. The first is that there was nothing that HAD to be done. I watched my daughters enjoy time with each other. This was good because Ellie will be leaving for college at Ohio Wesleyan in less than a month. Rebecca got to drive a golf cart which is always fun to do, especially if you don’t drive a car. Jackie got some quiet time to read, relax, and swim. Oh, and she still managed to get in an hour long workout each day. I got to visit the Elvis Rock on hole #15, more about that later.
In my country…
The next several days are going to show me a lot about President Obama and the Democratic Leadership in Congress. The fact that they have even allowed to GOP to play the “Debt Ceiling Card” this far is depressing. All you need to consider is that the debt ceiling was raised 17 times under President Reagan – yes, that right, 17 times! Under President George W. Bush the debt ceiling was raised 7 times. Do you remember this kind of fight? No, because there wasn’t one. Do we need to look at and negotiate over the nation’s finances, yes, but should it be done at the brink of default, no. The most astonishing item to me over the last few days has been the House GOP’s idea of “cut, cap, and balance”. Now consider if the GOP really believed in this. Think back to the 2001 and 2004 Bush tax cuts. They could not have occurred, if the cuts in revenue (tax receipts) needed to be paired with spending cuts to ensure a balanced budget. Think about President Bush’s ability to go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Both of these operations cost hundreds of billions of dollars. What would have had to occur to avoid the cap on spending and also balance the budget? The answer is that either many other programs would have had to be cut, or taxes raised. A law to cap and balance is a bad idea.If any agreement in the current debt ceiling fight does not contain new tax revenue now, then the Democrats and Obama will have lost. Our country will have lost. And my faith that at least one of the two major political parties have the middle class’s back will be lost. Let’s see what happens.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Negotiating against oneself
It’s hard to negotiate any agreement when you are only negotiating against yourself. In the fight to raise the debt ceiling, something that was done 7 times under the previous President with no real fighting, the GOP will not compromise one single little bit. The Democratic leader s in Congress and President Obama should offer nothing more than a deal that raises the debt ceiling to the level needed to fund the current already agreed expenditures through the end of 2012. When the GOP refuses to agree to an amount needed to pay the bills already incurred, they will be seen as the cause of any problems that result when required payments are not made. It’s as if the GOP has eaten the restaurant meal, but when the bill comes they baulk at the cost.
The Democrats should keep this same attitude about ending the current tax cuts that went into effect in 2000 and 2001 and were extended (stupidly in my opinion) at the end of 2010. They should not agree to any plan that extends them again for Americans making over $250K a year. With taxes as a percent of GDP at their lowest point in 60 years, move revenue is needed, not less. This will set them up well for the next election in 2012 because the American people will see the GOP for what they really are – a political party that can not lead our country as a whole because they are cornered by a political base that prevents them from compromising on anything – even for the good of the country as a whole.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Square this!
How do you square these two NewYork Time Online addition front page stories?
Let talk about a "grand bargain" to cut benefits and the social safety net in the wake of the worst economic down turn since the Gret Depression.
AND
Cutting benefits will hurt the economy, not help it.
Let talk about a "grand bargain" to cut benefits and the social safety net in the wake of the worst economic down turn since the Gret Depression.
AND
Cutting benefits will hurt the economy, not help it.
Exactly what I would have said.....
From DailyKos
The only crisis here is the one the Republicans are making
There is no fiscal crisis. Everyone should be clear on that.
The United States is not bankrupt. Social Security is not about to founder. Wall Street is not on a precipice, the IMF is not standing by demanding massive shifts in our government, and U.S. bonds are not trading 1:1 with Charmin. There is nothing wrong.
Nothing except that the Republican Party is prepared to slice the nation's throat to get its way.
Real crises do exist. There are moments in a nation's history where the government must take abrupt action, either military or fiscal, to prevent disaster. In the collapse of 2008, some might disagree with the exact nature of the action the Bush administration took in bailing out banks that had recklessly overextended themselves, but there's little doubt that there was a real problem and without action there was a chance that it could grow from disaster to catastrophe.
That's not the case this time. Not only does solving the issue at hand not require the launching of a single ship, it doesn't require the expenditure of a single dime. Raising the debt limit does not commit the United States to any debt it has not already incurred. Refusing to raise that limit is no more an act of fiscal prudence than refusing to pay the restaurant for a meal already eaten.
Not only is the money already spent, the Republicans are the ones who spent it. It's not Social Security that drove up the debt over the last decade. Social Security is responsible for 0% of the deficit. Make that 0.00%, to be exact. The deficit that the Republicans are railing against is driven by the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and by the cost of the recently extended Bush tax cuts. You know what'll happen if we cut Social Security? We'll get less Social Security, not less deficit.
It's funny that politicians on both sides of the aisle keep demanding that "everything be on the table," when what they really mean is that "everything not responsible for the problem be on the table." Not that it matters. The truth is that Republicans aren't interested in solving the problem. They're making the problem. They invented it from thin, hot air and they're entirely invested in seeing that the problem gets worse.
Don't think the Republicans would put the nation at risk on purpose? Consider this: the only thing they won't even think about, the only option so odious they'll walk out of the room rather than talk about it, is precisely the only thing that would actually help. If we allow the Bush tax cuts to expire as scheduled—all of the cuts—the deficit will dry up and the nation will return to sound fiscal standing in short order. If we don't allow those unsustainable rates to expire ... then we will. If we go down after making cuts in Social Security and health care, then we'll we'll only succeed in making a lot of people miserable to no purpose. Only returning taxes to viable levels will help.
If Republicans were actually concerned about the fiscal health of the nation, they would sign onto raising the debt ceiling without hesitation or condition. Because there's nothing wrong, and because raising the limit would cost nothing. Instead they've created a completely artificial problem as nothing more than an excuse to extend the damage they've already caused. It's really a wonderful little game they've created: drive the nation so far into debt that there's no choice but to raise the limit, then use raising the limit as an excuse to create more debt. No wonder they call it red ink.
The only crisis we're facing is that one of our nation's political parties has decided to hold its breath until the nation turns red. And the media, the public, and the opposing party are treating this massive tantrum with far more respect than it deserves.
The only crisis here is the one the Republicans are making
There is no fiscal crisis. Everyone should be clear on that.
The United States is not bankrupt. Social Security is not about to founder. Wall Street is not on a precipice, the IMF is not standing by demanding massive shifts in our government, and U.S. bonds are not trading 1:1 with Charmin. There is nothing wrong.
Nothing except that the Republican Party is prepared to slice the nation's throat to get its way.
Real crises do exist. There are moments in a nation's history where the government must take abrupt action, either military or fiscal, to prevent disaster. In the collapse of 2008, some might disagree with the exact nature of the action the Bush administration took in bailing out banks that had recklessly overextended themselves, but there's little doubt that there was a real problem and without action there was a chance that it could grow from disaster to catastrophe.
That's not the case this time. Not only does solving the issue at hand not require the launching of a single ship, it doesn't require the expenditure of a single dime. Raising the debt limit does not commit the United States to any debt it has not already incurred. Refusing to raise that limit is no more an act of fiscal prudence than refusing to pay the restaurant for a meal already eaten.
Not only is the money already spent, the Republicans are the ones who spent it. It's not Social Security that drove up the debt over the last decade. Social Security is responsible for 0% of the deficit. Make that 0.00%, to be exact. The deficit that the Republicans are railing against is driven by the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and by the cost of the recently extended Bush tax cuts. You know what'll happen if we cut Social Security? We'll get less Social Security, not less deficit.
It's funny that politicians on both sides of the aisle keep demanding that "everything be on the table," when what they really mean is that "everything not responsible for the problem be on the table." Not that it matters. The truth is that Republicans aren't interested in solving the problem. They're making the problem. They invented it from thin, hot air and they're entirely invested in seeing that the problem gets worse.
Don't think the Republicans would put the nation at risk on purpose? Consider this: the only thing they won't even think about, the only option so odious they'll walk out of the room rather than talk about it, is precisely the only thing that would actually help. If we allow the Bush tax cuts to expire as scheduled—all of the cuts—the deficit will dry up and the nation will return to sound fiscal standing in short order. If we don't allow those unsustainable rates to expire ... then we will. If we go down after making cuts in Social Security and health care, then we'll we'll only succeed in making a lot of people miserable to no purpose. Only returning taxes to viable levels will help.
If Republicans were actually concerned about the fiscal health of the nation, they would sign onto raising the debt ceiling without hesitation or condition. Because there's nothing wrong, and because raising the limit would cost nothing. Instead they've created a completely artificial problem as nothing more than an excuse to extend the damage they've already caused. It's really a wonderful little game they've created: drive the nation so far into debt that there's no choice but to raise the limit, then use raising the limit as an excuse to create more debt. No wonder they call it red ink.
The only crisis we're facing is that one of our nation's political parties has decided to hold its breath until the nation turns red. And the media, the public, and the opposing party are treating this massive tantrum with far more respect than it deserves.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
7 times is all she wrote
Imagine if the monkey business being led by the GOP (including the Tea Party branch of it) had to occur 7 times. Why the lucky number 7, well thats how many times the debt ceiling was raised during the presidential term of George W. Bush - nearly once every year he was in office. Now, consider all of the energy and time the White House and Congress are being forced to spend on this one topic, rather than focusing on things to move our country forward. Imagine if the Democrats had caused this 7 times in Bush's 8 year. If only the GOP had held themselves to this same standard.
Where are the actions to create the jobs Americans need, and the GOP promised in November, 2010. I think shielding the income of hedge fund managers is much higher on the GOP's priority list than jobs for middle class Americans, or affordable health care for seniors and the poor, or clean energy legislation, or any of a hundred things that could once again allow America to do exceptional things. The GOP is found of saying the Democrats are pushing class warfare, but when chaeffeurs and personal trainers pay higher taxe rates than Wall Street tycoons, I believe the GOP needs to get real - and you need to quit being fooled.
Wake up America. Remember this in 2012.
Where are the actions to create the jobs Americans need, and the GOP promised in November, 2010. I think shielding the income of hedge fund managers is much higher on the GOP's priority list than jobs for middle class Americans, or affordable health care for seniors and the poor, or clean energy legislation, or any of a hundred things that could once again allow America to do exceptional things. The GOP is found of saying the Democrats are pushing class warfare, but when chaeffeurs and personal trainers pay higher taxe rates than Wall Street tycoons, I believe the GOP needs to get real - and you need to quit being fooled.
Wake up America. Remember this in 2012.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
About Schmidt
Yes, it is probably a surprise, but I am on the mailing list for GOP Rep Jean Schmidt. She sends out propaganda every so often and I like to keep informed on her spin of current events. I received the Pledge of Allegiance article shown below from her on July 3rd. Very patriotic of her to write about the Pledge of Allegiance to help celebrate our nation's birthday.
What struck me about her writing is that of the 433 words she wrote (not counting the underlined title), she devoted just 123 of them to talk about the meaning of the 22 words of the original Pledge, and then took 310 words to write about just the two words "under God"; these words which were added in 1954 as an after thought, and in reaction to the rise of communism. The reason the pledge is recited in schools and organization around our country is because of the meaning found in the original 22 words, not in the 2 words add in 1954. I think Rep Schmidt missed the big picture and a good thing to celebrate on the 4th of July as she went down a rabbit hole to make some person point about religion.
On September 8, 1892, 22 words that were destined to become part of the American fabric were published in The Youth’s Companion, a well-known magazine for boys and girls. Those 22 words, encapsulated as the Pledge to the Flag, would soon earn a well-deserved spot in the hearts of all Americans.
We recite the Pledge of Allegiance not just to honor the flag, but to reaffirm the principles upon which our nation was founded. As Justice Harlan wrote in 1907, “The flag is a symbol of the nation’s power,- the emblem of freedom in its truest, best sense.” It represents “government resting on the consent of the governed; liberty regulated by law; the protection of the weak against the strong . . .” In 1954, another reflection of our nation’s founding principles was added to the Pledge when legislation adding the words “under God” was enacted.
Over the years, some have objected to those two words, arguing that their inclusion in the pledge is contrary to the constitutional doctrine that government can’t interfere with religion. A few years ago a man in California complained that his daughter should not be exposed to hearing the words “under God” when they were recited by the kids in her classroom. Most recently, NBC began coverage of the U.S. Open Golf Tournament with a patriotic opening where the words “under God” were purposely omitted from a recitation of the Pledge performed by children. The courts have ultimately decided that the words “under God” are not unconstitutional and NBC, after being flooded by complaints about its omission, was forced to apologize.
It cannot be denied that our great country was founded on the principles of freedom, liberty and democracy by men and women whose faith in God sustained them through a war that saw them throw off the yoke of British oppression and provided them with the courage to found a nation dedicated to the rule of law and not the dictates of man. In signing the law adding “under God” to the pledge, President Eisenhower said, “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war.”
As you celebrate the 235th anniversary of our independence, I urge you to reflect upon the principles our flag represents. Acknowledge the wisdom of our Founding Fathers who laid the foundation for the greatest nation the world has ever known. And, give thanks to the One who has blessed us so much.
What struck me about her writing is that of the 433 words she wrote (not counting the underlined title), she devoted just 123 of them to talk about the meaning of the 22 words of the original Pledge, and then took 310 words to write about just the two words "under God"; these words which were added in 1954 as an after thought, and in reaction to the rise of communism. The reason the pledge is recited in schools and organization around our country is because of the meaning found in the original 22 words, not in the 2 words add in 1954. I think Rep Schmidt missed the big picture and a good thing to celebrate on the 4th of July as she went down a rabbit hole to make some person point about religion.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
On September 8, 1892, 22 words that were destined to become part of the American fabric were published in The Youth’s Companion, a well-known magazine for boys and girls. Those 22 words, encapsulated as the Pledge to the Flag, would soon earn a well-deserved spot in the hearts of all Americans.
We recite the Pledge of Allegiance not just to honor the flag, but to reaffirm the principles upon which our nation was founded. As Justice Harlan wrote in 1907, “The flag is a symbol of the nation’s power,- the emblem of freedom in its truest, best sense.” It represents “government resting on the consent of the governed; liberty regulated by law; the protection of the weak against the strong . . .” In 1954, another reflection of our nation’s founding principles was added to the Pledge when legislation adding the words “under God” was enacted.
Over the years, some have objected to those two words, arguing that their inclusion in the pledge is contrary to the constitutional doctrine that government can’t interfere with religion. A few years ago a man in California complained that his daughter should not be exposed to hearing the words “under God” when they were recited by the kids in her classroom. Most recently, NBC began coverage of the U.S. Open Golf Tournament with a patriotic opening where the words “under God” were purposely omitted from a recitation of the Pledge performed by children. The courts have ultimately decided that the words “under God” are not unconstitutional and NBC, after being flooded by complaints about its omission, was forced to apologize.
It cannot be denied that our great country was founded on the principles of freedom, liberty and democracy by men and women whose faith in God sustained them through a war that saw them throw off the yoke of British oppression and provided them with the courage to found a nation dedicated to the rule of law and not the dictates of man. In signing the law adding “under God” to the pledge, President Eisenhower said, “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war.”
As you celebrate the 235th anniversary of our independence, I urge you to reflect upon the principles our flag represents. Acknowledge the wisdom of our Founding Fathers who laid the foundation for the greatest nation the world has ever known. And, give thanks to the One who has blessed us so much.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
You ask for that, and you get this.
Lower Federal taxes, lower State taxes, lower Local taxes, lower Real Estate taxes. Yeah, give us more of that and we can get more of this. Perfect news for a country that is already failing to adequately educate its citizens. Where will our greatness continue to come from? A race to the bottom, i'm afraid.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Cutting our way to what?
In the current fight over raising the debt ceiling, the Democrats seem to be willing to accept cuts to spending but want additional tax revenue as part of a deal, The GOP steadfastly says “no”. If there is a true concern about the federal deficit, then I can’t understand how the GOP can be taken seriously when they won’t consider the need for additional tax revenue. If a household can’t pay their bills, they cut expenses, but also pick up additional hours of work, or a part-time job to bring in more money. With taxes as a percentage of GDP at a 50 year low, the federal government also needs more revenue. The ability to fight 2 wars and provide a huge prescription drug benefit for seniors doesn’t come for free. The GOP never made a move to pay for the guns or the butter that occurred under their watch.
Now all the GOP wants are cuts, cuts, cuts. At the same time, the US US
The easiest and quickest way to a balanced budget is for a stalemate to occur in the budget wars. If that were to come about, tax rates would revert back to where they were in 2000 and within 10 years the annual budget deficit would be eliminated. The GOP is found of saying our country should be run like a business, but at present it doesn’t want to pay the bills they had a huge responsibility in accumulating. Good businesses need sufficient income and good cash flow to pay its bills and invest in the operations. A mantra of cut, cut, cut leads to neither.
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