It should be entertaining to watch the Senate Dem’s “BIG OIL” dog and pony show today. They will call these CEO’s in today for their annual ritual verbal beatings to show the American people that Dem’s are really taking charge of gas prices. There will be leftuous indignation oozing from every Dem orifice for the cameras, but, in the end all they will produce is a lot of Washington, DC hot air (increasing global warming, I might add - LOL!!!).

The oil company CEO’s will take their beatings and defend their positions, and then go back to their offices to review which other countries in the global economy would be more welcoming of their capital investments and the accompanying new jobs.

BTW, there is a way to win in this game. Whenever I see oil and gas prices look like they are going to spike big time, I shift money in my 401 k and IRA out of other investments and into several energy sector mutual funds. Since the first of the year they have had average weekly returns about 25 times the extra amount that goes into my gas tank. And since the 401 k and IRA get tax subsidies, I don’t have to pay any taxes on the profits until I withdraw the money down the road. Now, THAT’S what I call a win-win situation.

Can some of you econ majors help me and my family today?

See, my wife and I noticed the old family budget getting tight. We stat at the kitchen table, and found some cuts in spending we could make. Some were pretty easy, some were a little more painful, but we though we had a good, solid, workable plan. Then, then the next day, we both went to our respective HR departments at work, and asked that our pay be cut. They complied. Now, for some reason, the budget is still a mess.

Can anyone tell us where we went wrong?

Good morning Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

The puzzle is almost complete!

Just as we had suspected:

Definitely, however, there is one part missing. Americans are waking up and do not want a plutocracy.

,

What do these comments have to do with the article? I believe it was about Romney's position on healthcare. It looks to me like you just paste in whatever you want to talk about regardless of the topic....

Obama approval rockets to 60% as majority says he deserves reelection

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/11/obama-approval-rockets-to-60-as-majority-say-he-deserves-reelection/

RELATED: Obama leading all likely Republican challengers by double-digits, poll finds

But, I thought the GOP was all Big and Bad…now, they’re crying to the President about Medicare? G-T H-O-H

But, But, But, But, But, But, But, But, But,

http://reidreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/crying-baby.png

The freshman complaints have created a field day for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is sending around advertisements run by rookie Republicans during the 2010 campaign that took on Democrats for their own Medicare cuts under the health reform law

Read more i.e. the whole story

Joe in Albany I know you love politico enjoy

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54797.html#ixzz1M9663ghO

Of course, it was so much fun to watch slant headed Hannity’s head exploded as he whipped up the FOX NATION into racial bigotry and hatred with the boogey men, President Obama’s radical friends i.e. Rev Wright and Common

It’s so unfair and unbalanced that a highly spiritual, gifted rapper and poet takes precedence over who will lead our nation.

Compare the two videos of Gingrich to the four about the rapper "Common" going to the White House, as seen on the Hannity video page.

Hey FOX numbskulls how’bout "Winning the Future" (the right way!)

Get off that a hater posse Fox News, Drudge Report, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity and other extreme numbskull right winger

It's patheic you are so un- American. You people are at par with Joe McCarthy and Father Coughlin.

"It looks to me like you just paste in whatever you want to talk about regardless of the topic...."

Yes. No Jo and JAS1 taught us well.

It looks to me like you just paste in whatever you want to talk about regardless of the topic....

Care to share with us, who's forcing you to come here?

Last time I checked it's still a free country - that is, until the baggers accomplish their mission!

Obama approval rockets to 60% as majority says he deserves reelection

SHHH Bev! We're not supposed to mention that!

I got a nice big bowl of antacids for the baggers & birthers this morning! lol

Mommy, No Jo and JAS1 just jumped off a cliff. I want too!!!!

JC in G:

Welcome to the brave new world where folks talk about what they think is important, not what is assigned to them by the corporations running the media.

What really is there to say about Mitt Romney anywho? He is a good looking guy with a lot of money who changes his positions everytime the wind blows in a useless attempt to make folks like him.

Here's the thing Mitt . . . you are "likeable enough" . . . but we just can't trust you at this point . . . you are wishy washy . . . you were "for it before you were against it" . . . game over.

I came here to see what people thought about Romney's position on government sponsored healthcare. I'm going to have to vote for one of the bozo's when the elections roll around. So I want to know where they stand and I respect other people's opinions.

OK Nashville fan. I get it. The topic has nothing to do with the comments. I sure hope the NFL has a season this year.

JC in G:

Me too . . . but if not . . . Roll Tide! :o)

Sorry JC in G but Romney is boring.

Sorry JC in G but Romney is boring.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

You betcha!

There is one more mission they need to complete.

On May 8, 1945, World War Two ended in Europe. President Obama later this month is taking a trip to Poland & London.

There are now 1,000 WWII veterans dying each day.

April 27, 2011:

Some of the veterans walked with a cane, some with two. Others used wheelchairs. Still others stood ramrod straight, reflecting their military years. One veteran, Lynn Oxendale of Decatur, who served in the Naval Armed Guard, displayed his original ditty bag, issued in 1943. Another, C.F. Marley of Nokomis, displayed five miniature medals across his chest, including three battle stars issued for his service in the Navy in the South Pacific.

The day was to begin with a visit to the World War II Memorial. Their itinerary also included Arlington National Cemetery, the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and other Washington memorials.

Laura Paruleski of Shumway, treasurer of the honor flight group, said veterans' reactions to the memorial and flights vary. Participating in her 13th honor flight, she added, "It has made me cry. Some are smiling all day. Some shed tears. Or some are just sitting quietly."

http://uk.quote.com/news/story.action?id=KRO119e2861

_____________________________________________________________________

This story is incredible. Send this touching two-minute video about World War II veterans to FIVE friends and family to remind them that every day alive in this great, free country is truly a bonus. Let’s get 50,000 views for the video by Memorial Day (May 30th) to show these living heroes, one last time, just how grateful we are for their unbelievable sacrifice. The video is a trailer to a documentary that will come out in November. The more we can show interest in the trailer (i.e. views), the more Americans will get to see the film. Time is running out: 1,000 WWII vets die every day. We are free today because of these men and women. The least we can do is watch a web video and send it to five people. Let’s get this mission done.

http://media.causes.com/1060527?p_id=175378540

USN, great comments, thanks for highlighting the latest attempts of the Right to further their war on the middle class. The debt ceiling fight is particularly transparent and phony as Republicans have ALREADY voted in favor of raising the debt ceiling. They did this when they approved a budget that increases the debt by $6.5T over the next 10 years and doesn't bring the budget into balance until the 2060's.

DBO, funny as always and it plays perfectly on the debt ceiling discussion. You're but into perfect focus the game Conservatives are playing--lie to us by claiming the budget will balance by cutting services to 98% of Americans while simultaneously giving huge tax breaks to the wealthy in order to set up the next round of lies.

Bev,

So true, FOX is pulling out all of their dirty tricks. They seem to not remember their praise of Common. Also, FOX has short term memory on the fact that the Bush White House had a so called questionable rappers come to the White House for a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by then-President George H. W. Bush.

Oh, such fake outrage by the right.

JC in G, if you don't know what Romneys position on anything is by now, you won't know after today. It's not like he just hit the scene last week. BTW, his position is that he is trying to be the Republican candidate for President. Just google him, read his comments from the past few years and compare them to his comments today and like most Republicans, you will find that he his preaching just the opposite of what he said and did then.

And really, Romney was not the only subject of this article.

Drive By Observer:

See, my wife and I noticed the old family budget getting tight. We stat at the kitchen table, and found some cuts in spending we could make. Some were pretty easy, some were a little more painful, but we though we had a good, solid, workable plan. Then, then the next day, we both went to our respective HR departments at work, and asked that our pay be cut. They complied. Now, for some reason, the budget is still a mess.

Can anyone tell us where we went wrong?

Sure, I can help! Write a letter to all your credit card companies and inform them that you won't be making any more payments on bills that are due until your pay cuts start bringing in the expected extra money. If defaulting on debts is good enough for America like the Republicans claim, it's good enough for you!

USN, dumb comments as usual, thanks for highlighting the left's lack of even common sense.

....... % they will destroy the credit and economic stability of this country.

You didn't hear about S&P's comments on our credit? Economic Stability? The only thing that is stable is unemployment at around 9% for 2 years.

Not to mention the repercussions felt around the world by our defaults.

You haven't heard what the world has been saying about Obama's policies for over a year? What they think about Obama's QE2 dump of $600 billion and the dollar drop?

What do they offer, a lousy 4 Billion per year (about 53 Billion total) in savings by MAYBE rolling back the oil subsidies.

Yep, another ignorant idea by the dim Dems. Accomplishes nothing but a passed through increase in gas prices and making the cost of everything higher.

This is peanuts when you compare it to the 69 Billion in Income Tax Cuts to the 2% coupled with another 89 Billion in the form of capital gains/dividends and Estate tax cuts for a total of 150 Billion each and every year until he!! freezes over.

Taxing discourages or punishes an activity. Look at the tax on cigs for example. Why do you want to punish and discourage investment in new jobs? Ignorant. Obama and the rich don't make their money by wages that you can have HR deduct. They simply move, or do something else with their money to avoid taxes. It doesn't work - never has. Grow up and deal with reality.

That is 1.5 Trillion over the next decade. 53 Billion Versus 1.5 Trillion does not sound like a compromise to me.

1.5 Trillon over the next decade doesn't even cover Obama's deficit for this year!

Bottom line is tax reform needs to be part of the negotiations, period.

The blind squirrel found one. Problem is Dems would never honesty do it - how would they manipulate activity with out the ability to control the activities through taxes?

The Dream Act is back and I hope it passes this time

Of course it is amnesty and what is worse, how does it not incintivise and encourage more illegal activity? We have a hole in the boat. Instead of bottling the water pouring in and storing it on the deck - we need to PLUG THE HOLE! Sheez. 15% of the border is secure! What is wrong with you guys?

Oh well that's enough .... (didn't read the rest of your comments.)

JC in G. You want to know about Romney--whatever he claims to be for or against today, he had the opposite view prior to 2008 and when he was Governor of Massachusetts. He is, however, one of the nicer candidates; has a lovely family. While he is a long-time politician, he lacks the mean and nasty gene that Gingrich has; he tries but it usually falls flat.

Beverly - they polled using this political mix 46% Democrat, 29% Repblican and 34% independent. The national mis ix 36% Democrat, 34% Republican, and 30% Independent/other.

Do you think the 60% approval is really real now?

They must be really hard up to show improvement by Obama, they previously were using 39% Democrat 30% Republican, 30% Independents.

In conversation with MA residents, they were very unhappy with Romney in so many ways.

I don't think there's much question that the President's Approval rating has seen an uptick...however, I think the 60% shown in the AP poll is a bit of an outlier. Here are the 7 most recent polls on Presidential Job Approval according to Real Clear Politics:

Gallup 51%

Rasmussen 48%

Reuters/Ipsos 49%

AP 60%

Pew Research 50%

NBC News 52%

Quinnipiac 52%

These are all increases over the Presidential Approval ratings before, but the AP poll clearly stands out from the rest.

DB Akron

Beverly - they polled using this political mix 46% Democrat, 29% Repblican and 34% independent. The national mis ix 36% Democrat, 34% Republican, and 30% Independent/other.

After the clownish antics of Donald Trump and newly-elected Repub Governors like Walker in Wisconsin, maybe more people are too ashamed to identify themselves as Republicans than was the case in the past. The Republicans have been doing a good job of eroding their voting base. They're left moslty with people who staple tea bags to their hats.

BTW: The total Democrats in the poll was really only 35%. They counted Democratic-leaning independents to get the 46% figure.

US Navy are you a democratic plant? You hit all the nonsense democratic talking points and not one had to do with the article itself.

For one thing, not one republican is asking for tax cuts for the rich. What you are asking for is a tax increase. The 47% of the total taxes they pay isn't enough for you? I see you don't believe in the idea that someone can be a success in the United States...that if someone is, they should pay for everyone else because they have enough to do so. There is a word for that...communism.

As usual, you think it's a matter of revenue, which it isn't. It is a matter of spending.

The DREAM Act? You mean reward criminals? That's a great plan. What's the next democratic bill...to move terrorists from GITMO to resorts with spa's? Why would anyone advocate rewarding lawbreakers?

So what is wrong with having to show a photo ID to vote in Wisconsin? Who wouldn't be able to do this? To say it targets any specific group (other than those voting fraudulently) is an outright lie. Oh, but then again....this is the same party that thinks that violations of federal law deserve rewards so let's keep up the fraud.

Where are you getting that the GOP's main focus is abortion? Planned Parenthood should NOT receive a dime of federal funding. There is no reason taxpayers should be paying for others personal decisions. I am pro-choice, (and wish the pro-lifers would just go away), but abortion, sex reorientation, and std's should not be something that taxpayers should be shouldering the burden on.

Seeing that your only sources of news are Think Progress, Moveon.org and First Read, it isn't much of a surprise that you may actually believe this line of thinking.

OK folks, one more time with feeling.

Mitt Romney is a devout member of one of the largest, powerful and secretive religious cults in the world.

For over a YEAR now the Church of Latter Day Saints has been running ads on the theme "I'm just a regular guy like you..and, I'm a Mormon."

These ads are clearly trying to change our attitudes about Mormonism and to help their man Mitt in his Presidential bid.

They are also a clear violation of the separation of Church and State.

So where is the NEWS MEDIA?

Why aren't they investigating this blantant violation of Federal Election Law?

C'mon MSNBC.

Mitt Romney is a POLITICIAN. He will say anything and do anything to get elected. He is driven by the NEEEED for power and prestige. Type A personality in overdrive. You can't pin him down on the issues because he changes his position every time the wind changes direction.

C'mon folks, this isn't hard.

So, MSNBC, how about that investigation in the Church of Latter Day Saints and their long-running "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign? I'll bet it's running into the tens of millions of dollars by now. I saw one just yesterday on TV and I've been seeing them for like the last 15 months.

DO YOUR JOBS.

Houston's advice to me on the credit cards- priceless! Good one, Houston. Too bad so many fail to see the folly involved, huh?

Re: The DREAM act.

So if my parents rob a bank I should be allowed to keep the money?

No, they should go to jail and you have to give the money back.

But...if your parents move to Mexico seeking a better life they have to take you with them and the Mexicans have to keep you.

Now that's my definition of a DREAM ACT.

You're right b-1805, your statement isignorant! The Tobacco Industry bilked the American Public for years receiving government subsidies just like Big Oil is doing today. Both the tobacco and oil industry make huge profits and the taxes on their products are paid by us!

The government should limit subsidies to the oil companies and corporate farmers when they are in need of financial assistance.

So if my parents rob a bank I should be allowed to keep the money?

____________________________________________________

Only if you plan to donate some of it to Dem candidates and vote a straight Dem ticket.

@Skip

But...if your parents move to Mexico seeking a better life they have to take you with them and the Mexicans have to keep you.

Now that's my definition of a DREAM ACT.

LOL.....but only if its Cabo

How about they rob a bank and I get to keep the money to pay for college?

Frank:

however, I think the 60% shown in the AP poll is a bit of an outlier

I don't think it's really an outlier. The AP poll consistently has higher approval ratings for Obama than others, just as Rasmussen has consistently lower ratings. Almost all of the polls showed a significant margin of approve vs. disapprove since the raid on Bin Laden. Rasmussen seems to be one of the exceptions. My guess is it has something to do with how they figure "likely" voters, which I think is an absurd way to select a sample a year and a half from the next election. As far as the changes in approve/disapprove differences, Rasmussen seems to be an outlier.

As usual the GOP/TP has NO new ideas and the ones that they do have have been failures. Same thing with their candidates. No new Ideas and they are recycled failures looking for a second bite of the apple.

The GOP/TP has absolutely nothing for America unless you are Wall Street, Big Business or a Millionaire/Billionaire. NOTHING.

Still not one job plan, still not one idea on how to stimulate the economy. Just more and more lies based on their BS.

The GOP/TP stands for the repeal of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. They support sexism, racism, despotism and religious intolerance. The support the disenfranchisement of voters from being able to vote.

Every single one of these points are true and have been proven either by legislation the GOP/TP has passed to date or is proposing. It has been proven by their very own rhetoric and actions.

The GOP/TP has become impotent. lost and morally corrupt. President Obama will win re-election in 2012.

Drive By:

Houston's advice to me on the credit cards- priceless! Good one, Houston. Too bad so many fail to see the folly involved, huh?

The truly alarming thing is that most people do NOT understand the folly. A recent poll showed that a solid majority opposed raising the debt ceiling. Apparently, thanks to the lousy job the media does at keeping the public informed, most people think the debt ceiling has to do with increasing the amount of future debt, not the ability to pay off past debt. Low-information voters are as much to blame for the current economic mess as the Republicans under Bush are. But the Bush disaster might pale in comparison to what could happen if the debt ceiling isn't raised, if the experts are to be believed.

Hey Navy

Why don't you come up with some new items to cut and paste?

The GOP/TP has absolutely nothing for America unless you are Wall Street, Big Business or a Millionaire/Billionaire. NOTHING.

...and if you're one of citizens in the 53% that pay federal tax and not in the top 2%, i.e. 51% of the country, who likely had health insurance that you liked then the Democratic party has absolutely nothing to offer you but higher taxes, higher SS taxes and worse health insurance that costs more. And don't look for any help to pay any of your bills...like your kids college because you earn too much.

Apparently, thanks to the lousy job the media does at keeping the public informed, most people think the debt ceiling has to do with increasing the amount of future debt, not the ability to pay off past debt.

______________________________________

HUH?????????

Are you really saying that raising the debt ceiling does NOT have to do with increasing the amount of new borrowing on the national Chinese credit card?? AND that increasing the debt ceiling does have something to do with "the ability to pay off past debt"?? If you are saying that, then you are the low information voter.

Alan, NJ

@Skip

But...if your parents move to Mexico seeking a better life they have to take you with them and the Mexicans have to keep you.

Now that's my definition of a DREAM ACT.

LOL.....but only if its Cabo

How about they rob a bank and I get to keep the money to pay for college?

Uhmmm...isn't college covered by welfare now?

Alan, notice USN's name....government worker, government pension, taxpayer paid healthcare, etc, etc.

Of course he's going to fight hard to not pay his share as long as we do it for him

bob you have proved once again....nothing funnier than a Republitard calling someone "dumb" ha ha thanks for laugh!!! You keep twisting the facts, even though I doubt you are capable of it alone, truly distorting them. For example, top 4% pay the same % on average as person who makes 28,500 per year. The dollar amount is high, it should be since they are banking more now than EVER. Profits for top are at all time high, while many americans can't pay their light bill.

Next...it is a tax cut in that it is extention of the cuts put in place by W...Get it back to 1990's rate!

Last, Dream Act is not amnesty...only provides opportunity for those entering military and those in college. Repubs aren't gonna join and they damn sure do not care for education, so why not?

Joe-755363

Are you really saying that raising the debt ceiling does NOT have to do with increasing the amount of new borrowing on the national Chinese credit card??

Talk about low-info voters and good ol' Joe shows up on cue. No, that's not what I'm saying. It's what the debt ceiling is. If the US doesn't raise it, it will not be able to pay the money it ALREADY owes. That's why not raising it will result in the United States being in default on its current debts, possibly resulting in the second Great Depression.

Joe-755363

Regardless of viewpoint, I would say that your comment on USN's service:
"Of course he's going to fight hard to not pay his share as long as we do it for him" is pretty demeaning.

I say he has already paid his "fair share".

Thanks for your time

If the US doesn't raise it, it will not be able to pay the money it ALREADY owes. That's why not raising it will result in the United States being in default on its current debts, possibly resulting in the second Great Depression.

__________________________________________

Wrong. The only thing that will happen if the debt ceiling is not raised is that Barry's massive deficit spending will be forced to stop. Here's how: if the budget was balanced, maturing debt would be paid off with the proceeds of new debt in the exact same amount, ALL under the existing debt ceiling. That process could go on forever. The ONLY reason not raising the debt ceiling might end up in a default is if Barry makes the conscious choice to SPEND the newly issued debt instead of using it to refinance the old debt.

What you are advocating is the same thing as the "cash-out" refinancing of home mortgages that resulted in the last couple of years of pain in the housing market and massive forclosures when the merry-go-round stopped.

REPOST - I GUESS THE GOT/TP CANNOT HANDLE THE TRUTH

The GOP/TP is still trying to hold this Country Hostage on the Debt Ceiling and are demanding that unless we pay a ransom in the form of tax cuts to the richest 2% they will destroy the credit and economic stability of this country. Not to mention the repercussions felt around the world by our defaults. What do they offer, a lousy 4 Billion per year (about 53 Billion total) in savings by MAYBE rolling back the oil subsidies. This is peanuts when you compare it to the 69 Billion in Income Tax Cuts to the 2% coupled with another 89 Billion in the form of capital gains/dividends and Estate tax cuts for a total of 150 Billion each and every year until he!! freezes over. That is 1.5 Trillion over the next decade. 53 Billion Versus 1.5 Trillion does not sound like a compromise to me. Bottom line is tax reform needs to be part of the negotiations, period.

The Dream Act is back and I hope it passes this time. While, like all Bills, this is not perfect but it is a start to put together a path for those here illegally to get legal. It is not an amnesty bill. We have an immigration problem and we have been kicking it down the road since 2001 when President Bush wanted to do something. Many of us thought this would be acted upon during December when many Republicans claimed support for the Dream Act only to filibuster it at the end even though it did have a majority vote in the Senate. This again is another example of rule by the minority. Do not forget the 400 Bills that the GOP either blocked outright or filibustered to block them from becoming Law. This agenda has not changed.

When this comes up for vote it should be interesting to see who is really for immigration reform and who is not. We will know where each Senator sits on this and they can try and defend their vote come 2012.

WI has fast tracked its new Voter Registration Law which will disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin citizens namely the elderly, disabled, low income/poor, college students and legal immigrants from voting come this July? Why – 2 reasons. The first is that these people traditionally vote Democrat and the second is that in July 2011 6 Republican Senators face recall elections. WI only needs to win 3 of the 6 to take back the State Senate. Come January Walker will be facing his own recall.

The GOP/TP has claimed this week that abortion is the number one priority of the American People, not JOBS or the Economy. What rock do these people live under? First, this question has been decided by the US Supreme Court in the Row versus Wade decision and as far as HCR goes the Hyde Amendment forbids any use of Federal Funds for abortions except for rape, incest or the health of the mother. They are attacking Planned Parenthood making the false claims that they are all nothing more than abortion clinics and the false claim that federal money is being used there as well. IT IS NOT and only 3% of the activity of Planned Parenthood involves abortions and those that do the money comes from private sources, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

The Donald after having his head handed to him by President Obama now is on the Water Boarding express. First there is still no proof that water boarding provided any real actionable intelligence. In fact it stopped being used shortly after KSM in 2003. Ok – strike two for the Donald.

There are two new reports from ThinkProgess that make this extremely unlikely. The time frames just do not fit nor can they find any legimate interrogator that really thinks torture is a major fact finding technique. At the best some say it works in very limited circumstances, most say it just provides false leads that drag out the intelligence process, and does not shorten it at all. This whole thing about trying to give Bush credit (of which he deserves none now see below) is nothing more than the Give Bush and Cheney cover by trying to declare water boarding legal. It is not, it is torture and that is illegal, period. Another Bait and Switch.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/03/bush-did-not-catch-bin-laden/

http://thinkprogress.org/bin-laden-timeline

These two articles above are must reading if you really want the whole story on how President Bush was an absolute failure in Afghan and washed his hands of OBL very early in the war and changed his priority to Iraq. It is all there and documented with a bevy of sources to boot.

Houston!

Joe-755363

Are you really saying that raising the debt ceiling does NOT have to do with increasing the amount of new borrowing on the national Chinese credit card??

Talk about low-info voters and good ol' Joe shows up on cue. No, that's not what I'm saying. It's what the debt ceiling is. If the US doesn't raise it, it will not be able to pay the money it ALREADY owes. That's why not raising it will result in the United States being in default on its current debts, possibly resulting in the second Great Depression.

Uhmm...speaking of low-info, why are you quoting me on something I never wrote?

As far as not being able to pay the money we already owe...why can't we? Simple answer, because this congress and administration insists on spending what they don't take in. Cut spending and you can pay your bills....almost everyone that runs a household knows this.

Hopefully they do NOT raise the debt ceiling....that will force congress, and this administration, to live on what they take in rather than continuing to spend borrowed money.

Joe-755363

Uhmm...speaking of low-info, why are you quoting me on something I never wrote?

OK, it was Joe in Albany (of Hahahaha fame). Joe numbers, Joe Albany, what's the difference? No offense to everyone named Joe, but the ones on this forum are all interchangeable in their level of stupidity.

As far as not being able to pay the money we already owe...why can't we? Simple answer, because this congress and administration insists on spending what they don't take in.

No, YOU are simple. Just like the other Joe. The debt ceiling has to be raised. There are some temprorary workarounds, but if we even get to the point where a workaround is necessary, it's going to throw the financial markets into a panic.

Even Bonier isn't stupid enough to push the US into default...but he's sure got the right wing foaming at the mouth to do it.

Mitt can run from his record, but he can't hide. Romney Care.

Job1:

True, simple and straight to the point. Mitt cannot beat President Obama, Newt cannot beat President Obama, Next.

Not only does the GOP/TP not have any new ideas just ones that have already been failures, they also have only recycled candidates that failed before as well. Is there a pattern here?

Who makes up their game plan anyway??

All true. Republicans have yet to answer how Affordable Care ended up looking in some respects like Romneycare when supposedly they had no input.

Yet another Conservative lie.

Hi Navy,

So true. Watching these GOP folks is like watching a circus.

Watching these GOP folks is like watching a circus.

And a p!ss poor one at THAT!

US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired

Good morning Navy

I don't think the REPUBLI/CLOWNS/ T-Baggers could be suicidal enough to collapse the world economy, but then again you never know they will do anything to cause this country and the president to fail. They salivate getting their greedy, manipulative tookas in the White House.

These two articles above are must reading if you really want the whole story on how President Bush was an absolute failure in Afghan and washed his hands of OBL very early in the war and changed his priority to Iraq. It is all there and documented with a bevy of sources to boot.

I have a good one too.

Al-Qaeda Attacks on U.S. Oil Facilities Predicted “Michael Scheuer, who served the CIA for 11 years and was head of the agency’s Osama Bin Laden unit,” predicts “that in the next phase of the terrorist group’s war on the US economy, the number of attacks on oil infrastructure targets will increase,” reports the Pakistan Daily Times. “… He said [that] Al Qaeda” intends to “‘stir the troubled pot of oil-related international worries’ and thereby increase pessimism about the price of oil and the dependability of oil supplies.… Scheuer saidBin Laden’s intention is to bankrupt the US economy, and is ‘entirely likely’ to lead to attacks on infrastructure targets inside the US.” The US should take oil out of the equation.

http://healthandenergy.com/osama_bin_laden.htm

So what can Bush say about giving away the store? In GW first year in office, over 2 million Americans lost their jobs and that trend continues every month until President Obama.

http://www.netscientia.com/george-w-bush.html

Republicans are so spooked because people are tired of being misled by them.

Since GM President Obama's problems are not as burdensome.

http://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dirt-e1304703496840.jpg?w=525

Job1;

Good analogy, was that a "flea" circus??

REPOST - I GUESS THE GOT/TP CANNOT HANDLE THE TRUTH

The GOP/TP is still trying to hold this Country Hostage on the Debt Ceiling and are demanding that unless we pay a ransom in the form of tax cuts to the richest 2% they will destroy the credit and economic stability of this country. Not to mention the repercussions felt around the world by our defaults. What do they offer, a lousy 4 Billion per year (about 53 Billion total) in savings by MAYBE rolling back the oil subsidies. This is peanuts when you compare it to the 69 Billion in Income Tax Cuts to the 2% coupled with another 89 Billion in the form of capital gains/dividends and Estate tax cuts for a total of 150 Billion each and every year until he!! freezes over. That is 1.5 Trillion over the next decade. 53 Billion Versus 1.5 Trillion does not sound like a compromise to me. Bottom line is tax reform needs to be part of the negotiations, period.

The Dream Act is back and I hope it passes this time. While, like all Bills, this is not perfect but it is a start to put together a path for those here illegally to get legal. It is not an amnesty bill. We have an immigration problem and we have been kicking it down the road since 2001 when President Bush wanted to do something. Many of us thought this would be acted upon during December when many Republicans claimed support for the Dream Act only to filibuster it at the end even though it did have a majority vote in the Senate. This again is another example of rule by the minority. Do not forget the 400 Bills that the GOP either blocked outright or filibustered to block them from becoming Law. This agenda has not changed.

When this comes up for vote it should be interesting to see who is really for immigration reform and who is not. We will know where each Senator sits on this and they can try and defend their vote come 2012.

WI has fast tracked its new Voter Registration Law which will disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin citizens namely the elderly, disabled, low income/poor, college students and legal immigrants from voting come this July? Why – 2 reasons. The first is that these people traditionally vote Democrat and the second is that in July 2011 6 Republican Senators face recall elections. WI only needs to win 3 of the 6 to take back the State Senate. Come January Walker will be facing his own recall.

The GOP/TP has claimed this week that abortion is the number one priority of the American People, not JOBS or the Economy. What rock do these people live under? First, this question has been decided by the US Supreme Court in the Row versus Wade decision and as far as HCR goes the Hyde Amendment forbids any use of Federal Funds for abortions except for rape, incest or the health of the mother. They are attacking Planned Parenthood making the false claims that they are all nothing more than abortion clinics and the false claim that federal money is being used there as well. IT IS NOT and only 3% of the activity of Planned Parenthood involves abortions and those that do the money comes from private sources, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

The Donald after having his head handed to him by President Obama now is on the Water Boarding express. First there is still no proof that water boarding provided any real actionable intelligence. In fact it stopped being used shortly after KSM in 2003. Ok – strike two for the Donald.

There are two new reports from ThinkProgess that make this extremely unlikely. The time frames just do not fit nor can they find any legimate interrogator that really thinks torture is a major fact finding technique. At the best some say it works in very limited circumstances, most say it just provides false leads that drag out the intelligence process, and does not shorten it at all. This whole thing about trying to give Bush credit (of which he deserves none now see below) is nothing more than the Give Bush and Cheney cover by trying to declare water boarding legal. It is not, it is torture and that is illegal, period. Another Bait and Switch.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/03/bush-did-not-catch-bin-laden/

http://thinkprogress.org/bin-laden-timeline

These two articles above are must reading if you really want the whole story on how President Bush was an absolute failure in Afghan and washed his hands of OBL very early in the war and changed his priority to Iraq. It is all there and documented with a bevy of sources to boot.

But Nash----if President Obama espoused a program, it must be wrong---that is how the Republicans seem to think these days. That is how they have put the country first--by devoting themselves to being against anything he is for (even if they were previously for it themselves).

Steeler Fan:

Good morning! The thing that gets me is how shameless they are about it all . . . these folks really do think that most Americans are stupid.

Here's hoping they aren't right.

Agree, thanks to FR for posting the facts not the fiction. Yes, I do think the GOP thinks Americans are really that stupid--why else would 235 of them vote to follow Paul Ryan over the cliff?

You got to hand it to Speaker Boehner, congress will be off for another week. All these crises and Congress leaves town again. They just got back last week. What a job, two weeks working at making a lot of noise, one week off.

Shameless? Stupid?

That would be Obama

http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/2011/05/if-you-want-federal-contract-better-be-nice-obama

So, even Steny Hoyer sees this for what it is- a blatant extortion scheme.

I guess when some of your major contributors head off to jail, you need some way to coerce people into supporting you.

I wonder if Comcast is going to insist that things like this get covered in the future? You know, so people know what democratic politicians are up to- full reporting, and all that.

You guys might want to take a brush up course in Journalism 101.

I wonder if Comcast is going to insist that things like this get covered in the future?

Awww now NJNB - and here you've said repeatedly, you had me on ignore!

Why is it every day is a LIAR LIAR PANTS on FIRE day for you?

njnb,

I can't believe this guy still manages to shock me.

Thanks for the link..... (and higher temporary blood pressure.)

no joe:

God forbid folks reveal who they are contributing money to in an attempt to influence government for their benefit.

Nope, we can't have that.

Of course, we can require our President to "prove" he is a citizen.

And we can declare corporations to have the same rights as people.

And we can authorize corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money from anonymous donors to influence political campaigns with lie-filled ads.

And we can hold the entire nation hostage until we get a special project built in our district or until a program that we don't like is cut.

We can threaten to make the U.S. default on its debts and we can tell lies that get thousands of Americans killed on the wrong battlefield.

But, no, the "shameless" thing is for the President to ask the companies who are sucking on the government teat to reveal whose wheels they are greasing in the government in an effort to get "special" treatment.

I am outraged.

Seriously.

I get it, Nash.

It is perfectly okay for a democratic president to insist that contracts only go to those who support him and his party.

It is only an OUTRAGE if a republican president had proposed it.

I guess you have plenty of company. . .

It would have LED this blog if a republican president had proposed it.

Obama? Nah. Not worth reporting.

Once again proving that Jody was right. Any reporter who even thought he or she was a "professional journalist" would not be able to ignore such blatant extortion.

These guys? All they have are their "Team Obama" tee shirts. And their decoder pins.

@Nash

And we can declare corporations to have the same rights as people.

You know Nash I always had a problem with this as well. But, how do you differentiate legally between a corporation and a union? Are they both organizations that allow the right to assembly? Why is a corporation, or for that matter a non-profit organization, different in substance to other organizations that lobby the federal government?

BTW I agree with you on the disclosure but I've come to the conclusion that trying to keep contributions out of the political system is futile. And in most elections I don't think it matters as I keep using the example of Meg Whitman last year.

Alan,

No group should have the same rights that people were given in the U.S. Constitution.

No Joe,

The proposal was for the contributions to be disclosed. Nobody said anything about using that as a basis for awarding contracts. More attempts to distract from what actually is with what you fear may be.

No group should have the same rights that people were given in the U.S. Constitution.

So are you saying that a group of citizens cannot assemble with the purpose of lobbying their government to respond to a grievance? If not, how do you differentiate what rights are conferred on groups as opposed to individuals?

Good lord, Nash, you are not that naive.

Steny Hoyer is fighting this for a reason, you know.

He knows the deal. So do you.

The difference between you and me is that I would be outraged by this if it were proposed by a republican.

You refuse to be outraged by anything Obama, or any other democrat, does.

Which leaves you a lot more partisan than I.

No joe:

The difference between you and me is that I live in the real world and you live in your own world.

If you are naive enough to believe that corporations should have the right of free speech, and if you think that the power to give unlimited amounts of money without disclosing who the money came from is not worse, oh well, enjoy the sunrise on planet nojoe.

Alan:

A group of people should be able to assemble to lobby their government. And a group of people should be able to collectively bargain for fair wages and benefits. But a group of people should not be able to completely skew the political process with unlimited amounts of anonymously donated money given for the sole purpose to spread proven lies to win political contests.

A group of people should be able to assemble to lobby their government. And a group of people should be able to collectively bargain for fair wages and benefits. But a group of people should not be able to completely skew the political process with unlimited amounts of anonymously donated money given for the sole purpose to spread proven lies to win political contests.

You mean like President's Obama's campaign spending that completely dwarfed John Mccains' who accepted the federal match? Who get to decide which group people gets to spend the money? Maybe I would believe this more if unions didn't have political funds. After all, why should they skew the political process when all they're interested in is wages and benefits?

If all you're arguing is whether a donation should be anonymous or not then I'm with you, but in reality how do you weed out all those contributions from M. Mouse.

Alan,

Why the obsession with unions?

Corporate spending dwarfs union spending. Union membership has shrunk to basically nothing, right along with wages and benefits.

So you are comparing apples to the corporations who own the rights to every apple in the world.

Not a valid comparison. Not at all.

How can corporations have the same rights as me? Do corporations go to jail when they break the law? Do corporations vote? Do corporations have a stake in the survival of the country, or just their own survival?

Why the obsession with unions?

I just think they are a good example of a non-corporate assembly of citizens that wish to lobby their government. I could use the Sierra Club or the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) as examples if you want. They are both groups that lobby the government and spend money to influence elections. My question is who gets to decide which group gets to spend money?

Corporate spending dwarfs union spending

Of course you knew about AFSCME spending in the last election

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303339504575566481761790288.html

Similar to Meg Whitman all that money didn't really help.

How can corporations have the same rights as me? Do corporations go to jail when they break the law? Do corporations vote? Do corporations have a stake in the survival of the country, or just their own survival?

Hey I find it weird as well but the other organizations like the ones I mentioned above get the same rights. All I can say is it's because of the right to assembly. How do you stop people from forming groups? If you try and exclude exclusively commercial groups, and that would be an interesting legal definition, then just like money in politics they'll find a way round it....astroturf organizations for instance.

Alan,

The corporate people are counting on you to throw up your hands and pretend like there is nothing we can do.

If our country can deal with great problems like National Public Radio and Sharia law, we can deal with this too.

It is just a matter of our "lawmakers" wanting to get it done, and they don't because they like things just the way they are: under the table and unfair as hell.

P.S. When the Sierra Club buys the Supreme Court and Congress, I'll start speaking out against them.

For all I know Elmo is in a civil union with a Sequoia...and if he/she is I want my congressman to investigate.

Another important difference is that corporations are the ultimate sociopaths. They have one goal--maximizing profits for themselves--and nothing else is of importance. If they do something for the community it's a PR move designed to--maximize profits. If the move doesn't maximize profits management may very well be replaced for not doing the only thing that the ultimate sociopath requires. If wage policies for the corporation create an entire class of people who work but require public assistance for basics like food or medical care it doesn't matter--profits have been maximized.

Sociopaths don't care for it much when others try to put limits on their activities, their selfishness is unlimited. The rights of others and the good of society demands that we limit them anyway.

Conservatives will object to this characterization of corporations and insist that unions are just the same, but it's a hollow premise. First, only a small portion of the nation is unionized. The money they have is minimal by comparison to corporations.

Another important difference is the way these organizations function. Union members are stakeholders in the community as well as workers. Their children go to school where union members work. They drive on the same roads they fix. They purchase the products they build. They live in the homes they protect. They are just like the rest of us. They ARE us.

REPOST - I GUESS THE GOT/TP CANNOT HANDLE THE TRUTH

The GOP/TP is still trying to hold this Country Hostage on the Debt Ceiling and are demanding that unless we pay a ransom in the form of tax cuts to the richest 2% they will destroy the credit and economic stability of this country. Not to mention the repercussions felt around the world by our defaults. What do they offer, a lousy 4 Billion per year (about 53 Billion total) in savings by MAYBE rolling back the oil subsidies. This is peanuts when you compare it to the 69 Billion in Income Tax Cuts to the 2% coupled with another 89 Billion in the form of capital gains/dividends and Estate tax cuts for a total of 150 Billion each and every year until he!! freezes over. That is 1.5 Trillion over the next decade. 53 Billion Versus 1.5 Trillion does not sound like a compromise to me. Bottom line is tax reform needs to be part of the negotiations, period.

The Dream Act is back and I hope it passes this time. While, like all Bills, this is not perfect but it is a start to put together a path for those here illegally to get legal. It is not an amnesty bill. We have an immigration problem and we have been kicking it down the road since 2001 when President Bush wanted to do something. Many of us thought this would be acted upon during December when many Republicans claimed support for the Dream Act only to filibuster it at the end even though it did have a majority vote in the Senate. This again is another example of rule by the minority. Do not forget the 400 Bills that the GOP either blocked outright or filibustered to block them from becoming Law. This agenda has not changed.

When this comes up for vote it should be interesting to see who is really for immigration reform and who is not. We will know where each Senator sits on this and they can try and defend their vote come 2012.

WI has fast tracked its new Voter Registration Law which will disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin citizens namely the elderly, disabled, low income/poor, college students and legal immigrants from voting come this July? Why – 2 reasons. The first is that these people traditionally vote Democrat and the second is that in July 2011 6 Republican Senators face recall elections. WI only needs to win 3 of the 6 to take back the State Senate. Come January Walker will be facing his own recall.

The GOP/TP has claimed this week that abortion is the number one priority of the American People, not JOBS or the Economy. What rock do these people live under? First, this question has been decided by the US Supreme Court in the Row versus Wade decision and as far as HCR goes the Hyde Amendment forbids any use of Federal Funds for abortions except for rape, incest or the health of the mother. They are attacking Planned Parenthood making the false claims that they are all nothing more than abortion clinics and the false claim that federal money is being used there as well. IT IS NOT and only 3% of the activity of Planned Parenthood involves abortions and those that do the money comes from private sources, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

The Donald after having his head handed to him by President Obama now is on the Water Boarding express. First there is still no proof that water boarding provided any real actionable intelligence. In fact it stopped being used shortly after KSM in 2003. Ok – strike two for the Donald.

There are two new reports from ThinkProgess that make this extremely unlikely. The time frames just do not fit nor can they find any legimate interrogator that really thinks torture is a major fact finding technique. At the best some say it works in very limited circumstances, most say it just provides false leads that drag out the intelligence process, and does not shorten it at all. This whole thing about trying to give Bush credit (of which he deserves none now see below) is nothing more than the Give Bush and Cheney cover by trying to declare water boarding legal. It is not, it is torture and that is illegal, period. Another Bait and Switch.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/03/bush-did-not-catch-bin-laden/

http://thinkprogress.org/bin-laden-timeline

These two articles above are must reading if you really want the whole story on how President Bush was an absolute failure in Afghan and washed his hands of OBL very early in the war and changed his priority to Iraq. It is all there and documented with a bevy of sources to boot.

The saddest thing about the TP is that they have no clue that they are "owned and operated" by the Koch Brothers.

No doubt about it, lexiwords. More than that they are the failed and crazy extremist John Birch Society form of Conservatism that Fred Koch helped found, sold in a PR campaign that's cost millions from the pockets of his sons.

Great post, Jody. I think it is fear of the Tea PartyRepublicans that is driving these people who might otherwise have been able to raise the debt ceiling. They are simply pandering to their base without regard for the consequences to the nation's economy.

Jody:

Outstanding, thank you.

Our Maine legislature is debating healthcare insurance reform as we speak. The Republicans are advocating taxing everyone (except themselves and other public employees) $4 a month to pay the premiums of the sickest people. They are also advocating removing regulations that prevent insurers from raising premiums on older people and those who don't live within 30 minutes of a doctor's office and 1 hour to a hospital. Democrats oppose this.

I am so confused.

The rural areas and older population in Maine send Republicans to office, and the "urban" (no place is trully urban in Maine) areas and younger people support Democrats. But here we have Democrats fighting for the rural elders and the Republicans suggesting taxing folks to pay for the uninsured. Furthermore, Democrats are accusing Republicans of rushing this legislation through and not working with Democrats in a bi-partisan fashion. Oh, and Republicans are accusing Democrats of frightening the elderly. It's all so topsy turvy these days.

Fantastic post, Jody. Any honest look at the situation will show that Conservatism only has two tenets;

1--be against anything to which Democrats will agree.

2--be for anything that benefits the rich at the expense of everyone else.

Thanks SF, definitely fear of the Tea Party. They only have themselves to blame--they encouraged, embraced and allowed the hateful rhetoric to flourish and now they are facing the piper.

US Navy, we were on a similar page this morning.

Amy, the $4 a month tax would only be fair and only make sense if it is for every worker in the State, public and private, legislators and citizens. $4 seems a bit high though. It makes sense IF the end result would be that premiums are reduced for everyone because everyone would then be insured instead of those with insurance paying the ER costs of those without it. The rest of that legislation makes absolutely no sense--allowing premiums to rise for seniors, who can least absorb increased premiums, is the GOP Death Panel Brigade. Republicans always accuse democrats of scaring the elderly--it's part of the GOPTP's standard operating procedure book. Of course, they ignore they jumped on the scaring seniors about medicare bandwagon because of HCR.

John: that's the definition of a conservative: someone who believes nothing should be done for the first time.

The Tea Party is looking for doctrine, but the electorate will be looking for intellectual honesty.

If the Republicans want a serious candidate--regardless of the details--Romney must keep his integrity, tell it straight, and then explain what he has to say. That is his only niche, not blur. Also, if Romney tells the truth, he won't need a good memory.

It may cost him the nomination, but in the long run it's his only chance. After Trump, the electorate has a very short fuse for baloney, and is now able to spot a phony or a false move a mile off. Independents don't want games or The Shuffle.

So true, Grand Moff Joseph.

The GOPTP claims they want government out of their lives, yet nearly every vote they've taken this year has been about putting big, intrusive government in bedrooms and doctors' offices. Once again, they preach to the faithful by saying one thing while doing the opposite.

Oh don't give up Patrick, the media will manufacture another controversy, it's what they do.

well you know that darn fourth estate...always trying to stir trouble with that information thing...

REPOST - I GUESS THE GOT/TP CANNOT HANDLE THE TRUTH

The GOP/TP is still trying to hold this Country Hostage on the Debt Ceiling and are demanding that unless we pay a ransom in the form of tax cuts to the richest 2% they will destroy the credit and economic stability of this country. Not to mention the repercussions felt around the world by our defaults. What do they offer, a lousy 4 Billion per year (about 53 Billion total) in savings by MAYBE rolling back the oil subsidies. This is peanuts when you compare it to the 69 Billion in Income Tax Cuts to the 2% coupled with another 89 Billion in the form of capital gains/dividends and Estate tax cuts for a total of 150 Billion each and every year until he!! freezes over. That is 1.5 Trillion over the next decade. 53 Billion Versus 1.5 Trillion does not sound like a compromise to me. Bottom line is tax reform needs to be part of the negotiations, period.

The Dream Act is back and I hope it passes this time. While, like all Bills, this is not perfect but it is a start to put together a path for those here illegally to get legal. It is not an amnesty bill. We have an immigration problem and we have been kicking it down the road since 2001 when President Bush wanted to do something. Many of us thought this would be acted upon during December when many Republicans claimed support for the Dream Act only to filibuster it at the end even though it did have a majority vote in the Senate. This again is another example of rule by the minority. Do not forget the 400 Bills that the GOP either blocked outright or filibustered to block them from becoming Law. This agenda has not changed.

When this comes up for vote it should be interesting to see who is really for immigration reform and who is not. We will know where each Senator sits on this and they can try and defend their vote come 2012.

WI has fast tracked its new Voter Registration Law which will disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin citizens namely the elderly, disabled, low income/poor, college students and legal immigrants from voting come this July? Why – 2 reasons. The first is that these people traditionally vote Democrat and the second is that in July 2011 6 Republican Senators face recall elections. WI only needs to win 3 of the 6 to take back the State Senate. Come January Walker will be facing his own recall.

The GOP/TP has claimed this week that abortion is the number one priority of the American People, not JOBS or the Economy. What rock do these people live under? First, this question has been decided by the US Supreme Court in the Row versus Wade decision and as far as HCR goes the Hyde Amendment forbids any use of Federal Funds for abortions except for rape, incest or the health of the mother. They are attacking Planned Parenthood making the false claims that they are all nothing more than abortion clinics and the false claim that federal money is being used there as well. IT IS NOT and only 3% of the activity of Planned Parenthood involves abortions and those that do the money comes from private sources, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

The Donald after having his head handed to him by President Obama now is on the Water Boarding express. First there is still no proof that water boarding provided any real actionable intelligence. In fact it stopped being used shortly after KSM in 2003. Ok – strike two for the Donald.

There are two new reports from ThinkProgess that make this extremely unlikely. The time frames just do not fit nor can they find any legimate interrogator that really thinks torture is a major fact finding technique. At the best some say it works in very limited circumstances, most say it just provides false leads that drag out the intelligence process, and does not shorten it at all. This whole thing about trying to give Bush credit (of which he deserves none now see below) is nothing more than the Give Bush and Cheney cover by trying to declare water boarding legal. It is not, it is torture and that is illegal, period. Another Bait and Switch.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/03/bush-did-not-catch-bin-laden/

http://thinkprogress.org/bin-laden-timeline

These two articles above are must reading if you really want the whole story on how President Bush was an absolute failure in Afghan and washed his hands of OBL very early in the war and changed his priority to Iraq. It is all there and documented with a bevy of sources to boot.

Contrast the Obama family----only marriage for each of them, two adorable children, mother-in-law living with them with the candidates from the party which espouses family values.

Grimey, I used to agree with you about one's personal history having no bearing on ability to serve. But I have come to see so much of politics as hyper-orchestrated sound bites and stage-management that I now think voters have to examine the evidence that is NOT stage-managed, which includes the candidates' history. Shouldn't be the only factor but it does paint a picture of the person and what values they seem to live by.

Surely, Frank, you are not suggesting that the personal, marriage related issues of Daniels' spouse will be fodder used by caring, compassionate liberals, are you?

Of course, I see the innuendo in the First Read article, so perhaps you are right.

Odd, though, that they ignore a major donor to the Obama campaign getting convicted of insider trading

http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/raj-rajaratnam

That $87,000 contribution to Obama in 2008 must mean he had one heck of a lucrative paper route.

First read also managed to miss Common as a featured "artist" at last night's White House soirée. I guess glorifying Joanne Chesimard, assassin of a State Trooper, makes one a "poet". I further surmise that the cachet of such a person offsets infuriating police unions.

Ah, well, what can yup expect for professional journalists? Certainly not unbiased reporting.

I've heard of kids breaking out with measles...pop stars breaking out with a snazzy CD...ingenues breaking out on film....

but do countries ever "break out" into prosperity? I think they call that an economic bubble...and bubbles do break.

Sorry Grimey - I gotta side with Steeler Fan on this one!

If you're going to run on a 'family values' platform, at the very least, they should practice what they preach.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, it's never been a 'deal breaker' for them in the past with the 'good' Christians! ;o)

Wow, Amy. Congratulations. You actually know a little more about things than Obama.

First Read ignored it- talk about skirting the issues!- but Obama was, once again, out there whining about businesses "stepping up" hiring.

He seems to misunderstand the reason firms hire. See, it is because they are losing money by not hiring. They do not just go out and hire people because it will help somebody's election chances.

No matter how much he whines.

First read also managed to miss Common as a featured "artist" at last night's White House soirée. I guess glorifying Joanne Chesimard, assassin of a State Trooper, makes one a "poet". I further surmise that the cachet of such a person offsets infuriating police unions.

Yeah, next thing you know we'll have the President honoring some guy who sings about doing cocaine and shooting people! Disgraceful!

...oh, wait...that last part already happened when President Bush awarded the National Medal of Arts to Johnny Cash. My bad.

Also from the Washington Post article:

They divorced in 1994, and Cheri Daniels moved to California, where she remarried. The future governor, then a senior executive at the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, raised the couple’s four daughters, who at the time spanned the ages of 8 to 14. Cheri Daniels later returned, and the couple remarried in 1997.

So, they divorced, she left and remarried. He stayed behind and raised four daughters. She came back and they got remarried and have been together for 13 years since. How does that reflect poorly on him? Raising four girls aged 8 to 14...guy oughta receive a medal for that one!! ;-)

Sorry No Joe but you kinda got it wrong. It isn't the Liberals that are using Daniels break up as political fodder it's the other GOP/TP candidates that are using it. Get your facts straight before you post no joe, oh I forgot facts send you into a tizzy.

Frank, Steeler Fan already has her justifications ready. The rest will, undoubtedly, follow suit.

Anything to keep Obama in office, right, kids?

He stayed behind and raised four daughters

What kind of Mother abandons her daughters?

Speaking as a mother - I would of fought to the death before, ANYONE could of taken my daughter from me!

Then again, I don't preach family values!

PS: Daniels does deserve credit for raising his girls! ;o)

Feisty...I agree with you. Someone would need a crowbar to pry me from my kids. I'm talking about Gov. Daniels though. I don't see how this would reflect negatively upon him. Negative upon her...sure.

Hey, Grimey -

I guess I initially misread the article above and thought the quote you asked about had come from his "official announcement" that FR showed yesterday, so I went back and listened to that to see if I could find the line you mentioned (hey, it's a slow day here!). Of course (as I now know) it didn't come from there, but in listening to the actual announcement a couple more times, there were a few things that struck me - from his beginning with a call for "America to return to hope" to a line near the end about how we must "INSIST (his emphasis, not mine) on imposing those solutions on those who don't want to change". Can you imagine the uproar and cries of "dictator" if President Obama had ever used "hope" and "change" in that kind of context?

Oh, and speaking of the President, Gingrich also says in his announcement (after rattling off all the things he's going to accomplish) that "No one person in the Oval Office can get this done". A minute later he even repeats that: "No one person can accomplish this. It can't de done from the Oval Office. We have to work together".

Which I guess is what distinguishes him from the rest of the GOP candidate field, and in fact, the majority of the Republican party - all of whom seem to expect our President to work miracles all on his own.

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad we've got Newt around to set them straight!

PS to Amy B - I had pretty much the same thought about "breakout" - Clearasil, anyone?

No Jo and Frank Grimes - I guess now we know who you guys support in 2012. There are worse choices on the GOP side to support out there.

I don't care about his religion or personal life. The only thing a politician should have to explain about his life is criminal behavior, which does show greater faults in their character. Anyway I understand Daniels has been more of a fiscal conservative vs. a social/moral conservative type. It is unfortunate that the public's need to know every personal thing is turning elections into an episode of TMZ.

While I don't care about his personal life, I do care about his being the political director to Ronald Reagan and budget director to George W. Bush. I do not want to see the "Blade" anywhere near the Whitehouse. As governor he has tried to balance Indiana's budget with the normal GOP ideas, tax cuts, budget cuts and privitization plans against state agencies and employees.

NoJoe: First read also managed to miss Common as a featured "artist" at last night's White House soirée. I guess glorifying Joanne Chesimard, assassin of a State Trooper, makes one a "poet". I further surmise that the cachet of such a person offsets infuriating police unions.

You might not want to press this one too far.

Watch a clip of Jon Stewart's show from last night. President Bush recognizing Johnny Cash, a clip of Cash singing about using cocaine and wife-shooting, Fox News' Hannity aghast at Common's lyrics but praising Ted Nugent, an onstage clip of Nugent in a violent, obscenity laced tirade against both President AND Mrs. Obama...

I do not have to press this at all, fielden.

The police unions are doing that just fine without me.

Are these the same unions that conservatives speak out against and are attempting to eradicate?

Ira Lapin, you get the common sense award of the day.

Romney's religion shouldn't be an issue.

The Massachusetts health care initiative is a positive contribution to the conversation. Too bad Republicans had to be against it as soon as Democrats accepted it.

There are plenty of other reasons why Romney is the wrong choice for President.

Beverly in Chicago

Good morning Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

The puzzle is almost complete!

Just as we had suspected:

..................................................................

What makes you think that because she is a republican and a Bush appointee she will slant the news? Huge assumption on your part. Secty of Defense Gates is a Bush appointee snd seems he's doing a hell of a job.

when has religion ever been a 'non-issue' in this country, in Presidential poliics or otherwise? Just because we haven't heard the "Obama is a secret Muslim' yell lately, doesn't mean it's gone away. When this country elects it's first atheist, I'll believe religion is a non-issue in politics.

What makes you think that because she is a republican and a Bush appointee she will slant the news? Huge assumption on your part. Secty of Defense Gates is a Bush appointee snd seems he's doing a hell of a job.

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Ira, will you PLEASE get with the FR lefty liberal program:

DEM = good

REP = bad

It's really not that complicated, just accept it.

You do? Then I've got some swamp land I'd like to sell you! Seriously, isn't this man talking outta both sides of his mouth on health care? He did what he needed to do in Massachussetts, now he needs to reverse himself to get a sniff at the nomination! Sounds like b@llsh$t to me!!

AP-1414066..

Great comment. I never thought about athiests...but that's not a religion...you have no religion...so does it count?

We have a a Jewish person. Liebermann run for Vice Presidemt and a (tongue in cheek) Muslim in Obama.

Seemed to me like a non issue.

Again, great comment.

What makes you think that because she is a republican and a Bush appointee she will slant the news?

The news is ALREADY slanted & has been for decades - or haven't you figured that out by now?

The MSM drives the narrative in the country daily whether it be left OR right!

MSNBC was the LAST network I considered to be reputable (even if it leans left).

The Comcast take over has been very indicative in which direction they've chosen to pursue.

So, if you don't mind, I'll assume what I want to - like I said above, it's still a free country, at least for now.

Actually, Ira, I doubt her political leanings will have much, if anything, to do with the changes that are bound to come.

Those will be driven by the need to make a profit. Obama's personal network is about to undergo some pretty significant changes. I really do not think that he, or his worshippers, are going to like them much.

Heck, they may even make the writers of this site put din the pom poms, and do some actual reporting.

Should be interesting. . .

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

The news is ALREADY slanted & has been for decades - or haven't you figured that out by now?

MSNBC was the LAST network I considered to be reputable (even if it leans left).

So, if you don't mind, I'll assume what I want to - like I said above, it's still a free country, at least for now.

....................................................

First, let me say, that you are more than entitled to your opinion. as long as you realize it is an opinion and not fact.

Second, I consider NBC, CBS and ABC NEWS programs fair and objective as I do CNN news shows and not CNN panel shows. These are Peabody and Pulitzer Prize winning programs and most assureably are reputable.

MSNBC is no diiferent than FOX....except it leans left..which makes it slanted which is what you are complaining about. Their marketing goals are the same and they are competing for the same audience. Most of their programs are NOT news and neither are Fox. They are OPINION shows.

I am so sick of this GOP sux thread and Dems suck thread. As soon as a lot of people here read GOP they pile on no matter what the idea or concept. As you wrote earlier, they are also entiltled to their opinion. Listening, rather than screaming, may actually benefit both sides.

Remember...liberals don' tmind if you have an opinion as long as it is the same as theirs...

Ira Bravo, well stated. The first common sense post I have seen on this blog in a long time.

MSNBC is no diiferent than FOX....except it leans left..which makes it slanted which is what you are complaining about. Their marketing goals are the same and they are competing for the same audience. Most of their programs are NOT news and neither are Fox. They are OPINION shows.

Really?

I SURE am glad you cleared that up for me!

Thanks a Bunch!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

I SURE am glad you cleared that up for me..

----------------------------------------

Love the way you ignored the rest of the post.

If you read it, you might have reconsidered your comment.

Wait...i forgot...she's a republican....must be bad.

BTW,,you are very welcome.

You know folks, if you want to bash the media, there are plenty of easy ways to do it...but to claim the organization is defined by its commentators isn't one of them. Setting aside FOX and MSNBC which are virtually nothing but right and left opinion/talking heads and very little original reporting...look to some of the other sources.

The WSJ still has some of the finest independent reporting going (I don't know how long Murdoch will allow that)...THe Washington Post does as well (fine, don't read the editorial pages if you don't want to read right and left opinion)...and only one network has any real foreign bureaus anymore (anyone getting tired of hearing British accents tell us about how we're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan?) and that's CNN. Yet CNN(and to a alesser degree NPR) struggles precisely because it has NOT taken the tact of FOX and MSNBC, and still does straight news (very little audience for that these days.) You yell against one extreme or the other, insisting the one YOU watch is the only one that's got it "right", but you don't seem to even recognize what reporting is anymore...commentary and opinion are NOT all there is to journalism.

I love watching bass fishing on TV...I grew up in Henderson Harbor NY, on Lake Ontario!

...ha ha, but you are right.

I'm just curious as to why people are so contented as to sit back say nothing, and do nothing when gasoline prices are almost $5.00 a gallon in some parts of the country. One person who responded to my post the other day actually said that higher prices were good for us, because it will teach us to use less, and that if Obama does something about gas prices he would be "sacrificing our future."

My god, have people really become that stupid? The price of gasoline is breaking the backs of working people here in this country and NOBODY is doing anything about it.

J merle Stanley - I have noticed that as well. I find it interesting that viable alternatives to fossil fuels are not explored or even thought about.

Meanwhile, we just take it, and continue to pay through the nose. I bet that public transport, high-speed rail and alternative energy are looking a little more attactive right now. Too bad we didn't have the foresight to INVEST in those things when gasoline prices were lower.

We never seem to think long term in this country.

On a personal note, I have cut back my driving to save money. I will only drive when it is absolutely necessary, and I will only spend what I have in the past to get me where I need to be. Gone are the days when I just 'fill up'.

Congress has the oil big shots on the hill today, with a lot of questions being asked about price. Also, the Justice Dept. is investigating the price increases.

Hopefully, with the heat on these people, prices will be going way down.

True;

That is why Vermont is going to a single payor plan. We took President Obama up on his pledge that if we could do it as good or better than his he would support us. The House and Senate in Vermont has done just that and we are waiting for our Governor to sign it, which he said he would since he supported this from the beginning.

Yes, THAT burning issue ( just taking a wild guess here, but I'm betting you never heard of Common before tuning into Fox News this week.)

He is controversial, despite what others will post about one or two of his songs for the most part he has been a clean artist.

In addition Common did have something to say about the rise of gangsta rap, the rising violence in the east/west rap fueding and the sensless violence of black on black crime in some of his earlier work. Many artists have singled him out because of that in lyrical "fueds". As an entertainer and performer he has used his voice to critique and present his views. Sounds like freedom of speech to me.

Also, remembered him in the movie "Terminator, Salvation". Ok, I didn't know it was him until I saw the credits.

However, as usual this is a very important issue and his invite to the Whitehouse proves that Obama is a bad president - snark off.

Watch clips from Jon Stewart's Daily Show last night for some interesting perspective on the whole Common controversy...

YellowDog - I remember seeing COMMON in a few movies. Terminator:Salvation is one, Just Wright (a VERY good movie, by the way) is another. He was also in an Angelina Jolie movie (where they were all assassins) where the principal player was able to curve a bullet he fired from a gun (the name of this movie escapes me).

All of this faux outrage is a non-troversy that is contrived to distract people from what is REALLY going on in this country.

With all of the energy poured into dealing with COMMON, how about some of that energy being poured into legislation that provides JOBS for those who don't have them?

Hello Pietro - Agree, false controversy.

I think the movie you are thinking about is "Wanted". The Bullet curving looked cool in the trailer, but I remember "Myth Busters" debunked that myth.

Talking about "Myth Busters", I wish they would focus on debunking the GOP myth that spending cuts and shrinking revenue creates surpluses. :}

You still have no idea how statistics work, do you?

They are called "outliers" for a reason- means there is something wrong with the weighting, the pools, or something else.

In the AP poll, it was the pools.

Have a look at the ipsos poll

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/2011/Reuters_Ipsos_National_0511.pdf

Then, look at all the polls listed on the real clear politics page.

Like the old sing says, " one of these things is not like the others. . ."

OK NoJoe, we see your point

Democratic polls - Bad

Polls which show Obama in a positive light - Suspect

Republican poills - Good

Polls which show Obama in a negative light - Legitimate

We see your point. We do not agree with you.

nojonobo:

You still have no idea how statistics work, do you?

I did fine in the statistics courses I had in college. You apparently don't understand statistics well enough to realize that differences in methodology explains most of the differences between different polls.

But most of the polls show similar increases in the difference between the approve and disapprove numbers since the Bin Laden raid, including the AP poll, which almost ALWAYS has a higher job approval for the president than others. They all have different sampling methods, and you can take your pick about which is most accurate. But the deltas are consistent from one poll to the next, with a few exceptions. The lack of any change at all in delta according to the Rasmussen poll makes it an outlier.

Things will no doubt settle down again and Obama will be in the mid 40s or low 50s again in a few days or weeks, so don't get your knickers in a twist. I'd be a lot more worried about how poorly all the potential Republican candidates are polling against Obama if I were you than about these job approval numbers.

To answer your question noworryhere, yes the teabaggers would vote for the devil if he had a R next to his name.