Spintested: 06/14/11

John Boehner Warns Obama On Violating War Powers Act With Libya Mission

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Veterans for Peace White House Civil Disobedience to End War

Daniel Ellsberg, Chris Hedges, Ray McGovern:CIVIL RESISTANCE-ANTIWAR

"Anti-War Rally at the White House" - March 19, 2011

Chris Hedges: Powerful Speech At Antiwar Protest
About John Boehner
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

U.S. Housing Crisis Now Officially Worse Than Great Depression

The banks aren't lending.
About Housing Crisis
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

U.S. Housing Crisis Now Officially Worse Than Great Depression

And where is Obama today?

Puerto Rico.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Obama's Relationship With Gay Rights Advocates Thaws In Time For 2012

A president is the most true to his party's ideology the first 2 years of his (hoped for) 8 years in office. Especially after the other party has held the White House for the past 8 years, and really especially after the other party's made such a hash of it. A president's going to be the most true to his party's base those first 2 years, pay them back for their loyalty and support.

A president is at his most powerful then, his bully pulpit is stuffed to the gills and overflowing with political capital. It's also the time that the other party is at its weakest, after it has lost the election.

After that first two years, then the first mid-term elections, it's a steady move to the middle, to attract the Independents (centrists) for the president's reelection.

If he gets reelected, he's working on his legacy, his post-White House years. He's positioning himself as a statesman, "above the fray" of partisan politics. He's looking for his place on the world stage.

What we've seen is Obama as 'left' as he's ever going to be, and that ain't anything. With his readiness to cut Social Security at this stage in his presidency, what he'll be doing after another win should be bone-chilling to Democratic voters. Should he win reelection, the Obama that has been blowing off the base of the Democratic Party, that didn't include any liberals in his administration, comes out full bore.
About Don't Ask Don't Tell
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Obama's Relationship With Gay Rights Advocates Thaws In Time For 2012

Obama's Relationship With Gay Rights Advocates Thaws in Time For 2012

=====================================================

Ever notice how HP's headlines make statements of fact where no fact exists?

How does that work exactly?

The White House dictates it to Richard Wolffe, Richard Wolffe then reports it to Sam Stein, and then voila! A meme is launched.

It's not true, but hopefully it'll spread and gays will be influenced ("We're not angry and not shopping for a real champion of our issues?").

Another day in the twisted public relations firm that is the United States of America.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Chris Coons Calls For A Change Of Strategy In Afghanistan

Kind of makes you wonder just what kind of democracy this is if the majority of Americans are against the policies of being carried out by our government.
About Afghanistan
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Chris Coons Calls For A Change Of Strategy In Afghanistan

Nothing major is going to happen after the election either.

Let's not forget that BEFORE the 2010 midterm elections, Obama broadcast that he would be doing more of the same, even if Democrats remained the majority and in control of both Houses of Congress. More caving by Obama & Democrats, to Republicans:

Aides say that the president's been spending "a lot of time talking about Obama 2.0," brainstorming with administration officials about the best way to revamp the strategies & goals of the White House.

And despite the predictions that Democrats may relinquish a large degree of legislating power, including perhaps control of the House & even Senate, Obama isn't thinking of the next two years as a period that'll be marked with the same obstructive nature from the GOP.

"It may be that regardless of what happens after this election, [Republicans] feel more responsible, either because they didn't do as well as they anticipated, & so the strategy of just saying no to everything & sitting on the sidelines & throwing bombs didn't work for them," Obama says. "Or they did reasonably well, in which case the American people are going to be looking to them to offer serious proposals & work with me in a serious way."

Dick Durbin says Obama's post-election agenda "will have to be limited & focused on the things that are achievable and high priorities for the American people." Tom Daschle says Obama has to reach out more: "The keyword is inclusion. He's got to find ways to be inclusive."

Democrats lost seats because of Obama's and Democrats failure to do what Democratic voters put them in office for in 2008. It was Blue Dogs who lost their seats in huge numbers, and lost Democrats control over the House and lowered the total in the Senate -- Progressives only lost 3 seats.

Primary Obama.
About Afghanistan
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

all this to prove
1. you know nothing about Robert's Rule of Order
2. filibuster reform laws are in order to be reformed to return to simple majority to pass laws in our country again.
3. WOW you have a lot of time on your hands. I hope you're getting paid for this.

===============================================

1. and 2. - You read this and then we can have a discussion about what you think I know nothing about and Senate rule 22 and the changes that are not going to be made to it.

3. - Since you're here reading and responding to it, same to you.
About The Watchdog
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Arkansas Legislature Leads Nation In Percentage Of State Lawmakers Without A College Education

To you, perhaps, but not to me.

You're charmed by a quaint notion of "country wisdom" when in fact what it is is someone with limited information going with a gut feeling, to trust others to make decisions on their behalf, without having a firm educational foundation to test that gut feeling and whether that other person they're trusting knows what he's talking about.

'Country wisdom'-people put Bush in the White House because "he's someone they'd like to have a beer with."
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Obama: One Term As President Would 'Be Fine' With My Family

How Obama has handled the massive problems is EXACTLY how Republicans would've handled them (and how BushCheney was handling them). Obama's not governing as he had promised or as a real Democrat would have.

The real shame is that Obama could have been a transcendent president, good for both business AND the People. Had he delivered on the campaign promises that he implied, theCHANGE with strong progressive policies, he could have solved just about all of the problems Obama found himself facing, left to him by BushCheney.

Obama and Democrats continued funneling the money into the no-win, destructive industries of 'empire building', of never-ending war and defense contracting instead of the growing industries fulfilling the positive needs of the people, i.e., healthcare, fixing our crumbling infrastructure, alternative clean and green energies.

Just on the healthcare, the massive job creation possibilities were lost when the real reform proposed by single payer universal healthcare advocates was eliminated from even getting a seat at the table, and Obama chose to preserve an anachronistic and failed insurance industry and employer-provided system for medical care (which is actually government-sanctioned racketeering).

The 'job creation'-reform that survived in the healthcare legislation was billions spent on the Patriot Act-like invasion of citizens' privacy and the outsourcing of jobs that's involved with putting medical records on the internet -- All for a system that doesn't control costs and doesn't deliver medical treatment to everyone (not even those who think they're going to get it).

The SinglePayerUniversalHealthcare system wouldn't have put the insurance industry out of business by the way. It would've been a two-tiered system: Basic coverage for everyone and boutique coverage for those willing to pay for it. So nobody had to worry about poor Big Insurance and Pharma -- There would have been work for all. Big Insurance and Pharma would just had to have made smarter gambles, with no taxpayer bailouts.

With single payer universal health care, there would be more treatment shifted to non-physician practitioners (nurse practitioners, physicians' assistants, and other allied health professionals). Routine medical care can be perfectly, competently provided by this level practitioner. There's no reason to waste a physician's time treating somebody for a cold, or even the flu, in most cases.

If universal health coverage were to become an official reality, we'd need to expand training programs for both MDs and non-MD providers (more jobs created in education) which, in the long run, would mean cheaper and more effective service, along with more jobs created.

It would be a good thing. But Obama chooses the dark side. The CORPORATE side. Every time.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Arkansas Legislature Leads Nation In Percentage Of State Lawmakers Without A College Education

But one guy from rural Missouri called in and said, "if a candidate gets in front of us and says he never did anything wrong in his life, that's the guy I don't trust."

===============================================

I'd wager he voted for Bush. Twice.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anthony Weiner Leave Of Absence Granted By Congress

It's up to the voters to send someone to represent them to Congress, but once there, it's up to that representative to behave in a manner befitting an office of public trust. Congress is like a cross between high school and a private club, and operates on a colloquial basis -- You work to bring people to your point of view, to support your legislation, to work with you on getting the legislation which benefits the people who sent you to represent them passed. It's very important to be liked by your colleagues -- Charm goes a long way to bringing votes to your bills.

Another way to look at voters not having the only or last word in whether Weiner stays is to think of the US Congress as an ivy league school. You may get in, your town may chip in to send you on scholarship, but if you don't follow the rules, if you behave in a disgraceful manner, the school's administration can and will boot you out. Because your behavior reflects on the institution.

Breaking the law is not the only criteria for remaining in the US Congress.

Public office is a public trust -- That has long been a guiding principle of government. To uphold this trust, Congress has bound itself to abide by certain standards of conduct, expressed in the Code of Official Conduct (House Rule 23) and the Code of Ethics for Government Service. These codes provide that Members, officers, and employees are to conduct themselves in a manner that will reflect creditably on the House, work earnestly and thoughtfully for their salary.

Taking photographs of your privates and emailing it to strangers is not behavior becoming a US congressman. Coaching one of these strangers on how to Iie to the public, to the media about it does not foster that public trust.

Behavior like Weiner's wouldn't be tolerated in any sector of public service. If he was a teacher or a police officer caught doing the same thing he'd be fired.

In so far as your belief that Weiner was "all but tried and convicted in the media", he's admitted doing it.
Weiner is no longer an effective advocate for our causes. If you care about the causes Weiner has championed, I would think you'd realize he can only hurt us by remaining in Congress, as the face for liberal issues.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anthony Weiner Leave Of Absence Granted By Congress

I'm always torn when writing comments where I include links between including just a small portion of what's at the link, kind of an amuse bouche to entice the reader to go to the link and watch the entire clip or leave it out and assume that the reader will go to the link because he wants to inform himself about the entirety of the subject at hand, the context, etc.

I suggest you check out links before commenting.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

Republicans haven't been filibustering anything; they've only been threatening to filibuster.

Harry Reid could've actually forced Republicans and turncoat Democratic senators to filibuster. He didn't and doesn't.

Harry Reid has had no problem forcing the GOP to actually filibuster when it's something that the DLC wants and perceives it needs. For example, when Democrats needed unemployment benefits to continue because the masses were becoming 'critical', Reid had no problem calling Republican Jim Bunning's bluff to filibuster. Reid said, "Bring in the cots, do it" and Bunning and the GOP caved. Benefits for unemployed workers continued.

Democrats could even have changed the supermajority rule (it does NOT have to be done at the beginning of a new Congress, as some argued). It can be done at any time (see page 6 - http://fpc .state.gov/documents/organization/45448. pdf ].

But Democrats put off their critics for not forcing the Republicans to actually filibuster and changing Senate Rule 22 during the session by assuring fed-up Democratic voters, "We'll change the rule come the beginning of the next Congress".

They didn't.

There's not just one way (or even two) for Democrats to get bills passed without Republican votes.

http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid='0E%2C*P%2C%3B%3F %22%20%20%20%0A

http://yglesias.thinkprogress. org/2009/08/hertzberg-on-the-constitutionality-of- the-filibuster/

But Obama and the DLC-controlled DemocraticParty didn't and aren't doing that. Because it might actually work to get Democratic voters' legislative agenda made into the law of the land and do good for the People. And that's not what Obama and Company are there for. They're there to do the work of the transnational corporations. Along with the Republicans, as was clearly evidenced the time that Harry Reid kept the Senate open (pro forma) so that Obama couldn't make recess appointments, collaborating with Republicans to keep progressives and liberals out of government. It was another tag-teaming by Democrats with their partners across the aisle to scr3w over the American people on behalf of the corporations.

Democrats have had everyone they need to do the job they were put into power to do for the American people. They don't want to do it.
About The Watchdog
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

And about Republicans' filibustering -- Obama and the DLC-controlled Democrats would love for their supporters to believe it's all the Republicans' fault.

Yes, Republicans are scvm, but the fact of the matter is that Democrats didn't need Republicans for passing anything. Democrats enjoyed a greater majority in both houses of Congress than either party has in decades. Even without 60 (but the Democratic Caucus in the Senate had 60). But one example is that Obama didn't need 60 to pass real healthcare reform. All Democrats needed was 50 plus Biden (reconciliation), which is what they did in the end anyway, but for a corporate-pork-laden bill with no cost constraints that doesn't provide affordable quality medical treatment for everyone.

But Democrats didn't do that.

Democrats also have refused to exercise the discretion that Rule 22 allows: Making Republicans actually filibuster, instead of just threatening to do it.

Rule 22 gives the SenateMajorityLeader the discretion to actually make the call. Filibustering is hard on those soft, pampered bodies. HarryReid has refused to make them do it, letting them merely threaten. He should. Americans love reality TV. 'Survivor-Washington, DC'. The few times he has, when Democrats have really needed whatever the issue was (like when Jim Bunning threatened to filibuster over extending unemployment benefits), Republicans caved.

The DLC-controlled Democrats aren't forcing filibusters, and Obama isn't taking to the bully pulpit because it might actually work to get Democratic voters' legislative agenda made into the law of the land and do good for the People. And that's not what Obama and DLC-controlled Democrats are there for. They are there to do the work of the transnational corporations, and preventing that are the liberals.

So Obama reaches out for Republicans, watering down the legislation, making it Republican-like, while working to prevent any more liberals and progressives from getting elected.
About The Watchdog
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

This has nothing to do with Republicans filibustering; the bill has already PASSED.

It's about the CTC enacting the rules and regulations in the legislation.
About The Watchdog
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anthony Weiner Sexting Scandal Keeps Dems Off Message

Dems lose message momentum in Weiner scandal

Bob Herbert, distinguished senior fellow at Demos, talks with Rachel Maddow about the pressure on Congressman Anthony Weiner to resign and the amount of media oxygen the scandal is consuming.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/vp/43388218#43388218

This is one of the rare times that I disagree with Rachel Maddow and agree with Bob Herbert.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anthony Weiner Sexting Scandal Keeps Dems Off Message

What is cyber-sex addiction?

In the wake of the Weiner scandal, sex addiction therapist Dr. Joe Kort joins Lawrence O'Donnell on The Last Word to shed some light on America’s newest disorder: cyber sex addiction.

O'DONNELL: Some of us have said this is a sex scandal with no sex, but is this kind of activity actually what these people regard as sex? Is it sex for someone in Anthony Weiner's position who's actually doing all the texting?

KORT: The thing about sexual addiction is it's about the chase, it's about the hunt. It's not about the catch...it is definitely sexual, absolutely.

FWIW:

Anthony Weiner Sponsored Internet Sexual Predators Legislation - The KIDS (Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators) Act of 2007:

"Sadly, the Internet is the predator's venue of choice today. We need to update our strategies and our laws to stop these offenders who are a mere click away from our children."

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

If you can't openly stop the move for reform, then put up as many roadblocks as possible, stall as long as you can to keep the status of no regulations going. Until your replacement, either through a new administration or the usual 2nd term shuffling of players, can "study it all again before implementing", i.e., never. Ever try to put mittens on a kid who doesn't want to wear them? Think OJ and the glove.

Gary Gensler spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs, making partner when he was 30. Gensler was Undersecretary of the Treasury (1999-2001) and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (1997-1999) in the United States. Barack Obama selected him to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which has jurisdiction over $5 trillion in trades. Gensler was sworn in on May 26, 2009. Gensler was also a senior adviser to the Hillary Clinton campaign and, after the Democratic Primary, the Obama campaign.

Questions as to whether there are conflicts of interests relating to Gensler's former employment have been raised, as has been the case in any number of former Goldman employees that go on to hold pivotal positions in the US Treasury, Federal Reserve, or as regulators. Gensler has the reputation in the market though as a politically ambitious man who is more likely to squash than accommodate speculation.

As the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for domestic finance in the last two years of the Clinton administration, Gensler found himself in the position of overseeing policies in the areas of U.S. financial markets, debt management, financial services, and community development. Gensler advocated the passage of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, which exempted credit default swaps and other derivatives from regulation. The Senate was expected to examine his views on derivatives regulation during the Senate confirmation hearings.

In March 2009, Senator Bernie Sanders attempted to block his nomination to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. A statement from Sanders’ office said that Gensler “had worked with Sen. Phil Gramm and Alan Greenspan to exempt credit default swaps from regulation, which led to the collapse of AIG and has resulted in the largest taxpayer bailout in US history.” He also accused Gensler of working to deregulate electronic energy trading, which led to the downfall of Enron, and supporting the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which allowed American banks to become “too big to fail.”

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

Here's Amy Goodman interviewing Bernie Sanders about why he tried to block Gensler's nomination.

There's a great quote by Slocum of Public Citizen (he and other consumer advocates were said to be "adjusting their expectations" about the appointment of Gensler):

“I don’t think he’s going to be a Ralph Nader, but I don’t think Obama was going to nominate a Ralph Nader type. … When he said ‘CHANGE,’ he was not saying, ‘change from corporate control of government.’”

The buck stops at Obama; primary him.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anthony Weiner Leave Of Absence Granted By Congress

O'DONNELL: Some of us have said this is a sex scandal with no sex, but is this kind of activity actually what these people regard as sex? Is it sex for someone in Anthony Weiner's position who's actually doing all the texting?

KORT: The thing about sexual addiction is it's about the chase, it's about the hunt. It's not about the catch...it is definitely sexual, absolutely.

FWIW:

Anthony Weiner Sponsored Internet Sexual Predators Legislation - The KIDS (Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators) Act of 2007:

"Sadly, the Internet is the predator's venue of choice today. We need to update our strategies and our laws to stop these offenders who are a mere click away from our children."

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anthony Weiner Leave Of Absence Granted By Congress

Dems lose message momentum in Weiner scandal

Bob Herbert, distinguished senior fellow at Demos, talks with Rachel Maddow about the pressure on Congressman Anthony Weiner to resign and the amount of media oxygen the scandal is consuming.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/vp/43388218#43388218

This is one of the rare times that I disagree with Rachel Maddow and agree with Bob Herbert.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Bank Of America 'Significantly Hindered' Federal Investigation, U.S. Official Says

Whatever happened to what Wikileaks was going to dump about B of A?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

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John Boehner Warns Obama On Violating War Powers Act With Libya Mission

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

U.S. Housing Crisis Now Officially Worse Than Great Depression

U.S. Housing Crisis Now Officially Worse Than Great Depression

Obama's Relationship With Gay Rights Advocates Thaws In Time For 2012

Obama's Relationship With Gay Rights Advocates Thaws In Time For 2012

Chris Coons Calls For A Change Of Strategy In Afghanistan

Chris Coons Calls For A Change Of Strategy In Afghanistan

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

Arkansas Legislature Leads Nation In Percentage Of State Lawmakers Without A College Education

Obama: One Term As President Would 'Be Fine' With My Family

Arkansas Legislature Leads Nation In Percentage Of State Lawmakers Without A College Education

Anthony Weiner Leave Of Absence Granted By Congress

Anthony Weiner Leave Of Absence Granted By Congress

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

Anthony Weiner Sexting Scandal Keeps Dems Off Message

Anthony Weiner Sexting Scandal Keeps Dems Off Message

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

One Year After Dodd-Frank, More Rules Get Delayed Or Weakened

Anthony Weiner Leave Of Absence Granted By Congress

Anthony Weiner Leave Of Absence Granted By Congress

Bank Of America 'Significantly Hindered' Federal Investigation, U.S. Official Says

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