CONGRESS MEMBERS INDIFFERENT TO THE PUBLIC VOTED FOR THE BAILOUT; SENATE RACES TO VOTE AHEAD OF PUBLIC OUTRAGE
AS OF THIS WRITING, THERE
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Tuesday, September 30
CONGRESS MEMBERS INDIFFERENT TO THE PUBLIC VOTED FOR THE BAILOUT; SENATE RACES TO VOTE AHEAD OF PUBLIC OUTRAGE
by
margieburns
on Tue 30 Sep 2008 10:57 PM EDT
THEY ARE TRYING TO WATER THE DOLLAR WHILE PRETENDING THE SKY IS FALLING
by
margieburns
on Tue 30 Sep 2008 10:10 AM EDT
THEY ARE TRYING TO WATER THE DOLLAR WHILE PRETENDING THE SKY IS FALLING
--One by-product of the bailout bill, as independent journalist Dave Lindorff has pointed out, is the enormous effect it would have on the U.S. dollar. As traditional and iconoclastic economists both know, a net effect of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy all at once, when that money has to be borrowed from abroad, is inflation. Not the kind of 'inflation' hawked as a bogeyman in connection with wages--CNBC just aired an interesting stat that the median salary of white men in their thirties ... more »
CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS ALMOST GOT SNOOKERED
by
margieburns
on Tue 30 Sep 2008 07:56 AM EDT
CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS ALMOST GOT SNOOKERED. –It is deeply, intensely fortunate for the Democrats that 95 Dems in Congress rejected the fiscal and political unwisdom of its leadership in Congress.
Good thing. Had the bailout passed—with mainly Democrat support (see below)—Democratic candidates across the country would face a daunting prospect between now and the election: In this scenario, personnel chosen by the administration would even now be picking which financial entities—banks, savings and loans companies, even insurance companies—in which states to help, and which to close or to leave floundering.
more »
Monday, September 29
BAILOUT BILL GOES DOWN TO DEFEAT: HALLELUJAH!
by
margieburns
on Mon 29 Sep 2008 03:13 PM EDT
HOT NEWS!
BAILOUT BILL GOES DOWN TO DEFEAT: HALLELUJAH! SAVING THE SENATE THE NECESSITY TO DESTROY THIS BILL BY FILIBUSTER, THE U.S. HOUSE CAME TO ENOUGH OF ITS SENSES TO DEFEAT THE BAILOUT BILL. Next steps: 1) To find out where the pressure came from to pass this abomination. 2) To step in to protect mortgage holders, mortgages, small debtors and 401Ks from the rapacity and lust for vengeance that will surely target them. more »
"EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE": BAILOUT LOOPHOLE #4
by
margieburns
on Mon 29 Sep 2008 03:07 PM EDT
"EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE": BAILOUT LOOPHOLE #4 --This loophole, or flabbiness, in the bailout bill has also been written about elsewhere, incl the Sirota column cited in the previous post (see below).
In spite of a lot of stern public statements about excessive rewards for crummy CEOs, there is virtually nothing in the bill to prevent the worst abuses from continuing: (page 31): " . . . the Secretary shall require that the financial institution [acquired] meet appropriate standards for executive compensation and corporate governmance." WHAT ARE 'APPROPRIATE STANDARDS'? WHY CAN'T WE HAVE SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNTS HERE? "(2) ... more »
"FORECLOSURE MITIGATION EFFFORTS": BAILOUT LOOPHOLE # 3
by
margieburns
on Mon 29 Sep 2008 02:52 PM EDT
"FORECLOSURE MITIGATION EFFFORTS": BAILOUT LOOPHOLE # 3 --This one has already been pointed out by David Sirota.
After all the ballyhoo about how Dems in Congress compelled the powers that be to protect homeowners from foreclosure, nothing in this bailout bill actually does that. The Secretary of the Treasury "shall implement a plan that seeks to maximize assistance for homeowners," etc etc (page 25). And "the Secretary [of Treasury] may use loan guarantees and credit enhancements to facilitate loan modifications to prevent avoidable foreclosures." As always, every form of financial assistance goes to the lender, not to the ... more »
"REPORTS": BAILOUT LOOPHOLE #2
by
margieburns
on Mon 29 Sep 2008 02:36 PM EDT
2nd in quick series of what appear to be glaring loopholes in oversight etc, as provided for in the bailout bill. Apparent loophole, as before, highlighted:
From page 20, under Sec. 105, "REPORTS" (by the Secretary of the Treasury to Congress): "(2) TIMING.--The report required by this subsection shall be submitted not later than 7 days after the date on which commitments to purchase troubled assets under the authorities provided in this Act first reach an aggregate of $50,000,000,000 and not later than 7 days after each $50,000,000,000 interval of such commitments is reached thereafter." So, no report required ... more »
“PREVENTING UNJUST ENRICHMENT”: BAILOUT LOOPHOLE #1
by
margieburns
on Mon 29 Sep 2008 02:22 PM EDT
BAILOUT LOOPHOLE 1: Re “PREVENTING UNJUST ENRICHMENT” This post is the first in a series--a quick index of some exceptions, or loopholes,
found in the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.” The loopholes are color-highlighted and italicized. Comment kept to a minimum: · “PREVENTING UNJUST ENRICHMENT. . . the Secretary shall take such steps as may ... more »
SO MUCH FOR SMALL BUSINESS
by
margieburns
on Mon 29 Sep 2008 02:01 PM EDT
Among provisions of the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008," better characterized as the bailout bill, is Sec.105. REPORTS, stating that the Secretary [of Treasury] will report periodically about his big stabilization moves "to the appropriate committees of Congress." (p. 18)
Some future question may well arise about the adequacy of the reports. For now, it is interesting that the legislation specifically defines that term "appropriate committees"--limiting it to four committtees in the Senate and four in the House, NOT INCLUDING EITHER THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (http://sbc.senate.gov) OR THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS (http://www.house.gov/smbiz). Doesn't ... more »
WHY DIDN'T THE GOVERNMENT JUST INTERVENE TO PAY OFF VULNERABLE MORTGAGES?
by
margieburns
on Mon 29 Sep 2008 09:30 AM EDT
FUNNY HOW THIS SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURRED TO NO ONE IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION--
but the waves of foreclosures that are said to have begun the current financial crisis, if it is one, could have been held back from the get-go. How? Simple: Through government intervention. If Uncle Sam was going to jump into the housing market with fistfuls of billions, he could have paid off selected mortgages. Here is what A. Maslow wd call the hierarchy of needs in the current situation, as broad-brushed by this morning's Washington Post: "In a practical sense, the government is trying to ... more » Sunday, September 28
GOOD LUCK, CITIZENS, READING THAT BILL, POSTED ONLINE 'FOR EVERYONE'
by
margieburns
on Sun 28 Sep 2008 06:54 PM EDT
THE TEXT OF THE MASSIVE BAILOUT, ALL 100+ PAGES, IS NOW POSTED ONLINE. IT WENT UP APPROXIMATELY WHEN SPEAKER PELOSI COULD ANNOUNCE ON TELEVISION THAT IT WAS POSTED, AND NOT A MINUTE SOONER.
THEY DID NOT GO SO FAR AS TO ALLOW IT TO BE POSTED BEFORE THE NEWS CONFERENCE, ON AIR, FEATURING THE TOP MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE AND THE HOUSE BANKING COMMITTEE. IT IS NOW POSTED. GOOD LUCK GETTING TO IT. IT IS LINKED AT https://financialservices.house.gov/ AND ON SPEAKER PELOSI'S WEB SITE. SO FAR, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS THE BILL, SAID BY PELOSI TO ... more »
DISCUSSION DRAFT OF THE BAILOUT BILL--DOWNLOAD pdf
by
margieburns
on Sun 28 Sep 2008 04:08 PM EDT
Here is the pdf draft discussion version of the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008":
http://wesawthat.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/bail_out_bill_house_firstdraft.pdf President Richard Nixon signed a previous Economic Stabilization Act in 1971. That was about the time the U.S. economy, which had been steadily and strongly expanding since World War II, began its gradual and steady decline. more »
SO MUCH FOR 'OVERSIGHT'
by
margieburns
on Sun 28 Sep 2008 04:03 PM EDT
FIRST WORD OUT ABOUT THE BAILOUT BILL, NAMED THE "EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT OF 2008," IS THAT ITS OVERSIGHT BOARD IS LESS THAN BIPARTISAN OR INCLUSIVE:
"The oversight board will consist of the Federal Reserve Chairman, the Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox, the Federal Home Finance Agency director and the Housing and Urban Development secretary." BE IT NOTED, THESE PERSONNEL ARE NOT EXACTLY DETACHED FROM THE PROCESSES THAT RAMRODDED THIS PROPOSAL THROUGH IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE BILL REPORTEDLY RUNS 106 PAGES. CONTRARY TO REP. PELOSI'S EXPRESSED WISHES, IT IS NOT POSTED ONLINE AT THIS TIME. more »
DENNIS KUCINICH: THIS IS A DEBT CRISIS, NOT A CREDIT CRISIS
by
margieburns
on Sun 28 Sep 2008 11:58 AM EDT
The U.S. government has been turned into an engine that accelerates the wealth upwards into the hands of a few. The Wall Street bailout, the Iraq War, military spending, tax cuts to the rich, and a for-profit health care system are all about the acceleration of wealth upwards. And now, the American people are about to pay the price of the collapse of the $513 trillion Ponzi scheme of derivatives. Yes, that’s half a ... more »
WHY ARE THEY LISTENING TO WARREN BUFFETT?
by
margieburns
on Sun 28 Sep 2008 11:46 AM EDT
WHY ARE THEY LISTENING TO WARREN BUFFETT? Why is Congress inviting in a major investor--who stands to recoup more billions of $ in the wake of the bailout proposal, if enacted--to weigh in on legislation?
Buffett has made billions through--if I read his own words correctly--buying when other people are selling, and selling when other people are buying. Admittedly this simple principle, following the so-called law of supply & demand to its logical application, has not occurred to everyone else, especially everyone else on Wall Street--people who have instead fomented and pursued one Ponzi scheme after another. But it hardly ... more »
DEMS AND DUMBER
by
margieburns
on Sun 28 Sep 2008 08:50 AM EDT
DEMS AND DUMBER The news is all bad this morning. Today’s Washington Post, paralleling or copying
the New York Times, reports that
legislators in Congress have reached some kind of tentative 'compromise' on some
kind of bailout bill. The WP is spinning this bailout legislation as having the Democrats’ footprint all over it, in an article subheaded “Vote is Imminent on $700 Billion Bailout Plan”: “Yesterday's talks, ... more » Saturday, September 27
Waxman, Oversight Committee to investigate failures of Lehman, AIG
by
margieburns
on Sat 27 Sep 2008 09:10 AM EDT
For those who have not seen this message elsewhere, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is scheduling two days of hearing--adjournment or no adjournment--"to examine the regulatory mistakes and financial
excesses that led to the bankruptcy filing by Lehman Brothers and the
government bailout of AIG," according to the Committee's public statement.
Chairman Henry A. Waxman announced the hearings Sept. 17: “Lax oversight and reckless investments on Wall Street are causing massive disruption throughout our economy,” said Chairman Waxman. “Our hearings will examine what went wrong and who should be held to account.” The hearing with Richard Fuld, ... more »
Waxman, Oversight Committee request missing Lehman documents
by
margieburns
on Sat 27 Sep 2008 09:03 AM EDT
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) to Lehman Brothers: "It is difficult to understand how Lehman Brothers is unable to produce a single internal document that went to or from the CEO’s office over the past six months. It is also difficult to understand why there is no log, file, or other record documenting where these internal documents went." Shades of Enron, the Office of the Vice President, and those White House emails. No wonder the administration has thrust three of its most august officials into an unwanted limelight to rush a trillion-dollar bailout through an adjourning Congress! Yesterday, Henry ... more » Friday, September 26
Bush Domestic Policy, Bush Foreign Policy: Laissez Faire at home, Empire abroad
by
margieburns
on Fri 26 Sep 2008 01:30 PM EDT
The history of human civilization since at least the Golden Age of Greece--Athenian dominance at its apex represented by names like Pericles--has taught us one key lesson in geopolitics: Empire does not work.
This luminously simple message has been conveyed by every practitioner of empire that we remember from our history books--the Greeks, the Romans, the "Holy Roman Empire." The Mongol hordes moving on Europe from the East, the Ottoman Turks from the Middle East, the Spanish and the Portuguese moving in on the New World--all learned the limits of empire. And when their bloodthirsty drive for conquest for its ... more » Wednesday, September 24
What is the big rush? Why 'within days'?--In other words, how fast is the FBI investigation moving?
by
margieburns
on Wed 24 Sep 2008 10:01 PM EDT
Somehow, John McCain's abruptly canceling out of the first presidential debate, scheduled for this Friday, and 'suspending' his campaign to return to Washington reminds me of then-Sen. Phil Gramm's abruptly announcing that he wd be retiring from the Senate, back in 2001. Nobody had thought of Gramm as anything but one of the top GOP movers & shakers in the Senate--well, people thought him plenty of other things, but none that cd affect his party standing--and the news came as something of a jolt inside the Beltway. Seeing signs that Gramm's wife, Wendy, had been crying, someone even speculated that she had health issues, perhaps breast cancer. more »
Bailout Extortion
by
margieburns
on Wed 24 Sep 2008 03:04 PM EDT
Bailout Extortion Treasury Secretary Paulson and Federal Reserve Director Bernanke issued only generalized warnings, if dire, in testifying at the Senate Banking Committee hearing yesterday. One question left unanswered was a big one--‘What exactly is the harm in not authorizing the smashing sum of $700 billion+ to bail out some entities in the financial industry?’ (Another big question not ... more »
The administration Nigerian letter
by
margieburns
on Wed 24 Sep 2008 01:46 PM EDT
Generally I do not read the comment posts up (allowed up) at MSM web sites. But this particular letter is priceless, one reading of the administration bailout proposal in a format familiar to everyone who has email.
Credit to www.abc.com: "Dear American:I am need to ask you to supporting an urgent secret legal businessrelationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.I am Ministery of the Treasury of the Republic of America. Mycountry has had crisis that has caused the need for large transferof funds of 700 billion dollars US. If you would assisting me in thistransfer, it would ... more »
100,000 letters already, opposing the metasticizing bailout proposal
by
margieburns
on Wed 24 Sep 2008 12:30 PM EDT
From the good people at ImpeachBush.org and the Vote No Bailout web site: More than 100,000 letters opposing the gargantuan, open-ended 'bailout' legislation have already been sent: "** Please forward as widely as possible: to friends, co-workers, classmates and neighbors** A country held hostage - Resistance Grows to Banker's Coup D'etat
Tuesday, September 23
They’re nuts if they pass this ‘bailout’ bill.
by
margieburns
on Tue 23 Sep 2008 06:44 PM EDT
They’re nuts if they pass this ‘bailout’ bill. A few relatively quick points, here, about the gigantic
minimum-$700 billion ‘bailout’ bill now being debated in Congress and analyzed
everywhere: 1) I attended the Senate Banking Committee hearing today, and the audience for this was the biggest audience that I personally have ever seen at any hearing. The large room (Dirksen G50) was filled with ordinary citizens—not just staffers, lobbyists, and ... more » Monday, September 22
We Know Capping Exec Compensation Is a Good Idea--Look Who Opposes It
by
margieburns
on Mon 22 Sep 2008 04:03 PM EDT
President Bush today hit the podium again, probably not to the unmixed relief and joy of Republicans nationally, to stump for passing a $700 billion bailout bill WITHOUT any provisions restricting executive compensation.
The White House and its spokesmen hit the airwaves today with an insistence on not in any way reducing bloated executive compensation. Given the size of the bailout bill--by any accounting there is no guarantee that it will actually be limited, if that's the word, to a mere $700 billion--this mini-campaign should do away with GOP claims that Obama wants to raise taxes. Even the White House ... more »
From Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Serious reservations about the bailout proposal
by
margieburns
on Mon 22 Sep 2008 02:47 PM EDT
Here is the statement publicly released by the office of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee:
"Monday, September 22, 2008 Administration Oversight, Corporate Accountability
Chairman Waxman Expresses Serious Reservations About Bailout PlanChairman Waxman released the following statement about the Administration’s $700 billion proposal to rescue financial institutions: I have serious reservations about the Administration’s bailout proposal. The structure of the plan appears designed to maximize returns for Wall Street and minimize protections for the taxpayer.
The Administration’s plan completely eviscerates the concept of moral hazard. It would enrich the Wall ... more »
IMPORTANT NEW WEB SITE: VOTE NO BAILOUT
by
margieburns
on Mon 22 Sep 2008 01:27 PM EDT
Linked here, a new web site whose causes are obvious: Vote No Bailout!
Go to www.votenobailout.org. Click on the link provided to send your letter to Congress. Part of the statement: "Congress is poised to vote to give the Executive Branch of government, and specifically the White House’s political appointees in the Treasury Department, the absolute right to take our money and give it to domestic and foreign banks and corporations without any oversight of elected officials, from the courts, or from the people. The new legislation states: “Decisions by the Secretary [of the Treasury] pursuant to the authority ... more »
CALL CONGRESS TO STOP THE GWBUSH BAILOUT OF BUSH CRONIES
by
margieburns
on Mon 22 Sep 2008 01:20 PM EDT
From the non-profit organization Democracy for America:
I assume you have already heard that President Bush wants Congress to give his administration $700 billion dollars to bailout Wall Street. That's right; Bush wants American taxpayers to give the administration that brought us the Katrina response and the War in Iraq a blank check to fix a financial mess Republican deregulation got us into. Barack Obama calls the Bush Bailout bill a price tag without a plan. Today, the price tag just got worse as Republicans and Democrats talk about increasing the bailout dollar amount to 1.8 TRILLION -- more ... more »
What an 'Institution' really is, from those bruisers at the OED
by
margieburns
on Mon 22 Sep 2008 01:02 PM EDT
Straight from the (old English) horse's mouth, an actual dictionary definition by scholars at the Oxford English Dictionary, of the word institution: This is the definition both customary and understood in Anglo-American usage through the 20th and 21st centuries to date:
"An establishment, organization, or association, instituted for the promotion of some object, esp. one of public or general utility, religious, charitable, educational, etc., e.g. a church, school, college, hospital, asylum, reformatory, mission, or the like; as a literary and philosophical institution, a deaf and dumb institution, the Royal National Life-boat Institution, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (instituted 1798), ... more »
McCain advisor received big $$$ from Fannie, Freddie: No wonder they tried to blame it on Obama
by
margieburns
on Mon 22 Sep 2008 12:15 PM EDT
From the New York Times, another in the category of we-really-should-not-be-surprised:
"Senator John McCain’s campaign manager was paid more than $30,000 a month for five years as president of an advocacy group set up by the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to defend them against stricter regulations, current and former officials say." The McCain campaign, of course, has put out an ad claiming that Franklin Raines, formerly of Fannie Mae, is an "advisor" to Obama. Raines is not an advisor to the Obama campaign. He is African-American and well off--factors I took to be the real ... more »
Bait & Switch: They're changing the wording of the bailout bill as we sleep (or breathe)
by
margieburns
on Mon 22 Sep 2008 09:10 AM EDT
The bailout bill proposed as of Friday (Sept. 19) at least limited the Treasury Secretary's authorization to U.S. companies:
"Sec. 2. Purchases of Mortgage-Related Assets. (a) Authority to Purchase.–The Secretary is authorized to purchase, and to make and fund commitments to purchase, on such terms and conditions as determined by the Secretary, mortgage-related assets from any financial institution having its headquarters in the United States."* The New York Times reports this morning (Sept. 22), however, that "There were signs of the industry’s fingerprints on drafts of the legislation released over the weekend. While an earlier draft said that only firms ... more » Sunday, September 21
Sen. Bernie Sanders: "If a company is too big to fail, it is too big to exist."
by
margieburns
on Sun 21 Sep 2008 05:03 PM EDT
AMEN, Amen, amen.
Here is part of Sen. Bernie Sanders' excellent counterproposal to the administration bailout-for-the-burnt-top-crust plan: " (1) The people who can best afford to pay and the people who have benefited most from Bush's economic policies are the people who should provide the funds for the bailout. It would be immoral to ask the middle class, the people whose standard of living has declined under Bush, to pay for this bailout while the rich, once again, avoid their responsibilities. Further, if the government is going to save companies from bankruptcy, the taxpayers of this country should be rewarded ... more »
Sen. Jim Webb: Cap Exec Compensation
by
margieburns
on Sun 21 Sep 2008 12:41 PM EDT
No way to tell yet whether some kind of giant bailout bill should even pass Congress, but one thing is certain: A bailout should pass only with safeguards for householders, taxpayers, and citizens. From the office of Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), this statement:
"Webb Urges Stronger Regulatory Structure & Cap on Executive Compensation in Government Bailout Plan WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) on Saturday evening urged that any legislation granting the federal government the authority to purchase $700 billion in bad assets include a strengthened regulatory structure to prevent future market instability and a cap on executive ... more »Saturday, September 20
WHERE THOSE GOLDEN PARACHUTES SHOULD GO
by
margieburns
on Sat 20 Sep 2008 12:42 PM EDT
THE WHERE THOSE GOLDEN PARACHUTES SHOULD GO Here is how it would work. When you have a financial award like the $11 million coming to the recently recruited chief executive of Merrill ... more » Friday, September 19
Colorful, illuminating personality history of John McCain from Phoenix New Times
by
margieburns
on Fri 19 Sep 2008 04:27 PM EDT
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/content/printVersion/848709
8/8/08 6:34 PM Postmodern
John McCain: the presidential candidate some Arizonans know —
and loathe By Amy
Silverman August 07, 2008 I once stood in John McCain's kitchen and watched Cindy cook eggs for their kids. It was still dark outside when I arrived at the McCains' north-central Phoenix house on a winter day in early 1994. I ... more »
Hannity 'interviews' Palin, who shines the spotlight on her son's Iraq unit again--no mention of Joe Biden's son, though
by
margieburns
on Fri 19 Sep 2008 01:28 PM EDT
To start with, the way Gov. Sarah Palin calls attention to her son's deployment at every public opportunity, with as much fanfare as possible, should make every American cringe inwardly. If she is trying to contravene every commonsense principle of discretion about troop movements during a conflict, she's doing a good job of it.
This is the main point that should be noted inwardly--obviously an opposing candidate cannot mention it--by any hearer concerned about the safety of the young man and the other young people with him. Even on its own terms, however, the boasting and ticket-boosting by Palin in ... more » Thursday, September 18
Squeaky the Pig
by
margieburns
on Thu 18 Sep 2008 04:32 PM EDT
Via a friend of mine in Texas, where they know livestock, a snappily excellent video from chron.com (Houston Chronicle).
Truly inspirational viewing--the best pig narrative, no joke, since Charlotte's Web (by E. B. White, the man who also authored a great short definition of democracy). more »
"Usable nukes," 100 years in Iraq, BombBombBombIran--video on Bush, McCain and war
by
margieburns
on Thu 18 Sep 2008 04:17 PM EDT
Linked here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tihd3W-YaSc Rather effective summary of the dreadful prospect of continuing GWBush policies via John McCain . . . more » Wednesday, September 17
Good speech by Joe Biden
by
margieburns
on Wed 17 Sep 2008 04:16 PM EDT
Tuesday, September 16
Another voice from home on the Alaska Governor Palin
by
margieburns
on Tue 16 Sep 2008 04:17 PM EDT
Passed along from 'Jackson Thoreau' (nom de plume), this take on Sarah Palin from a fellow local official, an Alaska school principal who has occasion to observe her in office over the past few years:
http://silent3.blogspot.com/
Alaska school principal Pete Hauschka assessed Palin recently:
"Personally, I'd never vote for her. She has an extremely simple view of the world. I don't even think she has ever been abroad. (She did go on-base to Iraq to visit our homesick AK National Guard troops which was a nice gesture, but I do not believe she has experienced ... more »
'Pro-family' vs Pro-your-own-family and screw everyone else: 'Troopergate' continues to roll out records of Gov. Palin's cronyism, family revenge
by
margieburns
on Tue 16 Sep 2008 08:11 AM EDT
As Gene Johnson (at RealClearPolitics) among others reports, the McCain-Palin team has partially released a limited number of emails in connection with the ongoing investigation into allegations that the governor used her public office on behalf of her own family.
Palin fired her state's Commissioner of Public Safety, Walt Monegan, only to replace him with someone less qualified and less experienced--who also had to resolve a sexual harrassment complaint in his track record. The central allegation in this 'Troopergate' matter, of course, is that Palin fired Monegan after he declined to go along with repeated attempts to pressure him ... more »
YouTube, the public, and some news media: Requesting release of John McCain's medical records
by
margieburns
on Tue 16 Sep 2008 07:49 AM EDT
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is running for president. That means that his medical records should be released publicly. As one of the physicians in the video linked below points out, aside from his age, McCain "has had every kind of skin cancer you can get."
Here is the video, working-titled "John McCain's Medical Records Must Be Released." The limitations the McCain team was able to place on (select) news media allowed to view a selection of the medical records are, in context of a national election, fairly shocking. Three hours to view (skim) hundreds of pages of documents, most ... more » Monday, September 15
Court of Appeals to Hear Arguments on Stay Request in White House Subpoena Case
by
margieburns
on Mon 15 Sep 2008 09:33 PM EDT
The House Judiciary Committee, Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chairman, gets its day in (Appeals) court tomorrow.
From the committee: "Tomorrow, September 16, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear oral argument on the Administration’s request for a stay of a recent decision by United States District Judge John Bates in Committee on the Judiciary v. Miers, et al. Judge Bates ruled on July 31, 2008, that Harriet Miers was not immune from Congressional subpoena and was obligated to appear before the Judiciary Committee pursuant to the subpoena issued by Committee ... more »
Some suggestions for campaign ads
by
margieburns
on Mon 15 Sep 2008 03:30 PM EDT
Every well-meaning organization with a foot in the political sphere seems to be emailing its 'supporters' or 'members'--i.e. people whose names manifest on its mailing list--for new ideas for political ads.
Nowadays it is difficult not to think of political advertisements or slogans, or ideas, to which the general public could conceivably be exposed. Simple example: [STILL PHOTOS OR FOOTAGE OF DICK CHENEY, SARAH PALIN] VOICE-OVER: "Our Vice Presidents used to attend funerals. Now, they cause them." Somewhat more complex: In case anyone has not noticed, our national GOP has spent more than 30 years trashing "government"--as in, Don't ... more »
More than 1 in 3 Alaska Native American women victims of sexual assault
by
margieburns
on Mon 15 Sep 2008 02:19 PM EDT
It has already been widely reported, in the face of Gov. Sarah Palin's forcing victims of sexual assault to pay for their own rape-kit processing, that the state of Alaska has and had the highest rate of rape and incest in the nation.
From an Amnesty Internation report in April, 2007, further corroboration: "United States of America: Maze of injustice: The failure to protect Indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA: End injustice - better policing United States of America: Maze of injustice: The failure to protect Indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA: End injustice - better ... more »
Survey of Clinton supporters: Palin pick backfires
by
margieburns
on Mon 15 Sep 2008 08:24 AM EDT
From Dem operative William Arnone, former Clinton advisor: [btw, I am relieved & pleased to have my PC back home in working order]
Last week, I conducted a nationwide e-mail survey of supporters of Hillary Clinton's Presidential candidacy. As an informal adviser to the Clinton campaign focusing on older voter strategy and issues, I developed a nationwide network of her supporters, many of whom are older women. Two questions were asked:
A ... more »
Hurricane Ike--Disaster Accountability hotline now set up
by
margieburns
on Mon 15 Sep 2008 08:06 AM EDT
[from the Disaster Accountability Project] For Immediate Release: HURRICANE IKE DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY HOTLINE ACCEPTING CALLS: 866-9-TIP-DAP (866-984-7327) PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TOLL FREE HOTLINE IN AFFECTED AREAS: 866-9-TIP-DAP (866-984-7327) The
Disaster Accountability Project's toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) is
accepting Hurricane Ike-related calls from Gulf Coast residents and
relief workers. Should there be gaps in Disaster Relief services before
or after landfall, individuals should use the toll-free hotline
(866-9-TIP-DAP) to report the specific location and nature of the
service gaps. Please distribute in affected areas and locations that
receive evacuees. "The
sooner gaps in services are realized, the faster they'll be addressed,"
said Ben Smilowitz, Executive ... more »
IKE survivors need phone numbers for help, not web sites (power outage--remember?)
by
margieburns
on Mon 15 Sep 2008 08:03 AM EDT
[from the Disaster Accountability Project] For Immediate Release: IKE SURVIVORS WANT PHONE NUMBERS, NOT ONLY WEBSITES FOR DISASTER RELIEF MANY WAITING FOR INFORMATION ON ICE DELIVERY, GENERATORS, SHELTER COOLING WATCHDOG
TO FEMA: Reverse Ice Policy Now, Deliver Ice. Medical Emergencies
Will Happen If Individuals Do Not Have Access To Ice Heat
Relief Shelters and Cooling Centers in Houston needed ASAP: There are
reports of no air-conditioned shelters in Houston. Temperatures may be
as high as 100 F on Sunday. Numerous
calls have arrived on the Disaster Accountability Project's Hotline
today from Texans frustrated that many relief groups are encouraging
individuals ... more »
Friday, September 12
Escaping Hurricane Ike; no escaping gridlock
by
margieburns
on Fri 12 Sep 2008 02:47 PM EDT
Evacuating--ahead of Ike--behind other car bumpers—and railroads
behind highways-- Via cell phone I am tracking the movements of an old friend from the neighborhood (Houston), leaving her home--boarded up for the time being--to visit relatives in Austin. For her it’s not officially an evacuation—since she lives in the far north part of Brazoria County, more in Houston than in the ... more » Wednesday, September 10
What exactly is Microsoft's problem?
by
margieburns
on Wed 10 Sep 2008 04:23 PM EDT
When you start springing computer problems both at home and at the office, on two totally different PCs, it starts looking as though Microsoft has a Poltergeist.
At home, about three to four weeks ago, almost every occasion I started putting significant time in online--but not just online, but using Word--my monitor started blacking out. Process of elimination--first I got a new power surge protector. Then I got a new grounded outlet for the PC (which I needed anyway). Then I got a new monitor, got a loaner from the local repair shop I know best, w/ of course consequently ... more »
New York Post calls Sarah Palin a pig, with photograph (of Palin, not of a pig)
by
margieburns
on Wed 10 Sep 2008 03:02 PM EDT
He did not, of course. Tempting though the options must be, especially at some moments, Obama has done no name-calling in this campaign. In particular, he has not called Palin any names, of any sort. This all-out lie by the news outlets belonging to the diminutive Rupert Murdoch (that phrase is an homage to WP pundit Dana ... more » Monday, September 8
CNN, NBC (Brokaw), USA Today boosting McCain bigtime; and Palin tall tales, from someone who knows her
by
margieburns
on Mon 08 Sep 2008 01:57 PM EDT
Today’s flurry of opinion polls reflects one key item, as these things go: The Republicans, mainly John McCain, stepped on Obama’s ‘bounce.’ The Democrats did not step on the GOP ‘bounce.’ I heard Barack Obama’s speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president, and it was easily one of the greatest speeches I have heard in my lifetime. When ... more » Friday, September 5
The Palin affidavit
by
margieburns
on Fri 05 Sep 2008 03:14 PM EDT
Comes now Gov. Sarah Palin, who has submitted an affidavit to the
Attorney General of Alaska, requesting that any investigation of ‘troopergate’
be done by the state
personnel board. [Note: Questions in to
the McCain campaign about the Palin affidavit have to be submitted via email. I
have placed a question; no response yet.] Wednesday, September 3
Republican convention mob slavering with hatred again; no mention of Bush
by
margieburns
on Wed 03 Sep 2008 11:40 PM EDT
Minneapolis, Minnesota--and a night filled up with the prime-time speakers for the GOP, its marquee line-up before tomorrow night's acceptance speech by John Mccain: first Mike Huckabee, then Rudy Giuliani, last Gov. Sarah Palin.
All three hit the required talking points--"elite media" and a mild joke using the name "Madonna" from Huckabee; "leftwing media" and "Hollywood celebrities" from Giuliani (of all people--the biggest individual recipient of large donations from NY's silk-stocking Republicans aside from GWBush, who spent years Hoovering resources and support from Fifth, Park, Madison); and the "entrenched special interests" and the "political establishment" from Palin--who gave the best ... more » Tuesday, September 2
Stephen Hayes fills in chronology on Palin vetting. Did McCain choose Gov. Sarah Palin out of pique?
by
margieburns
on Tue 02 Sep 2008 02:22 PM EDT
Minutes ago: On MSNBC, interviewed by MSNBC political numbers analyst Chuck Todd--the one who usually comes out to run down poll results and tally election probabilities--Weekly Standard author Stephen Hayes provided some further detail on the chronology of the Palin 'vetting' by the McCain campaign.
Speaking of small numbers--narrowing down the timeline abruptly, Hayes said definitively that exactly one week ago Sunday, Sen. John McCain had basically made his own personal choice for Vice President--and it was Sen. Joe Lieberman. Lieberman was the man, according to this narrative which has already been corroborated from other sources. But, according ... more » Monday, September 1
Breaking news for the Palin family; family admits pregnancy
by
margieburns
on Mon 01 Sep 2008 01:37 PM EDT
Following up on this morning's post, which included blogs that contained this information--Gov. Sarah Palin's campaign has now announced that the Palins' oldest daughter, seventeen, is pregnant. The rumors of the pregnancy had been rampant among locals back home in Alaska and may have led indirectly to the internet rumors that Gov.Palin's fifth baby was actually her daughter's.
The McCain campaign is apparently insisting that McCain knew about the daughter's pregnancy when he chose Palin. All of which leads to some serious questions about why this small item was not gracefully included when the announcement was made, when Gov. ... more »
Which is lower, Bush-Cheney approval ratings or the LA flood plain?
by
margieburns
on Mon 01 Sep 2008 10:23 AM EDT
A short note from Jackson Thoreau [nom de plume], quickly summarizing what has hit the Republican convention:
"While Republicans blame Hurricane Gustav four pushing Bush and Cheney out of the Republican convention spotlight for the first night, that act probably has as much to do with Bush's latest job approval ratings in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll: a dismal 29 percent . If you compare that to other presidents since the 1960s, only Nixon's is lower towards the end of the presidency. But then, who's counting, especially not Republicans..... End-of Presidency Job Approval Ratings Bill Clinton (2001) 65% Ronald Reagan (1989) ... more »
Bob Barr compares Gov. Sarah Palin to Eagleton
by
margieburns
on Mon 01 Sep 2008 10:12 AM EDT
Well, John McCain has found his very own Alan Keyes, and a gender-bent Alan Keyes at that. Do these people know how to throw in the towel, or what? When a major-party politician picks a self-described “hockey mom” as his last-minute hail-Mary pass, you can tell that something is rotten in the state of party apparatus. Whoever the graymen are in this election cycle, they seem to be taking a rather ... more » |
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