Imagine something so small you can't see it with the world's most powerful microscope. Imagine the phenomenal mind that gave the world incredible power based only on theory, only an idea. Today, scarcely a century later, we take atomic power for granted, and not one of us has seen an atom.

The brilliant Danish physicist Niels Bohr, gave us the model for an atom. Only 30 years later, based on theory alone, this man and other scientists, gave the world unimaginable power. How wonderful that what is unimaginable for most of us is within the imagination of others.

Yet, today there is a serious movement to crush imagination, to crush science, to crush progress, to crush original thinking. Now, imagine if the people behind this movement had been in power when the Manhattan Project was first proposed; the project that gave us the atomic bomb, which arguably ended World War II.

Today, we have harnessed that awesome atomic power for the betterment of mankind. It takes very little imagination to realize that the very people, who would have opposed such forward thinking in the 40's, are the same people who unquestioningly defend atomic power now. Pure irony.

These are modern-day Luddites. Education is evil. Progress is evil. Science is evil. The imagination is Satan's playground. Fear it. Hate it. Bludgeon it. Kill it.

These are the people who will kill the American dream. They are that horrifying miasma brewed in the right wing caldron of seething fear and hatred. They call themselves Republicans and conservatives. They are neither. They mock what they do not understand. They are devoid of imagination. They are devoid of hope. They are terrified by change.

As we move into the future, we will make many missteps. We will invest in failure time and again. We will make horrible mistakes. We cannot be afraid of failure, it is inevitable. Just as we fell as we learned to walk, so will we stumble as we move forward. Fear will thwart those who have no imagination.

However, government - you and I - with our approval and support, can and will take those gambles. We must. We delude ourselves if we think we can continue our reliance on fossil fuels. As certainly as there must have been failures in the Manhattan Project, so too will there be the Solyndra's in our search for new forms of energy that will not threaten future generations.

Either we move into the future with President Obama, or we drown in the past with this caricature of the Republican Party. I choose hope and change.

Good Morning All,

IR.....good question. Looking at what is happening in Oakland and Atlanta, one has to ask the question of why attack peaceful demonstrators ( some in wheelchairs) from exercising their right to assemble. I thought we settled that a issue a couple of hundred years ago. The right is very quick to shout about their rights, especially the 1st and 2nd, yet now that some of their fellow citizens are being attacked, crickets, or is that the sound of paper money changing hands I hear...again.

Is this guy for real?

At a million-dollar San Francisco fundraiser today, President Obama warned his recession-battered supporters that if he loses the 2012 election it could herald a new, painful era of self-reliance in America.

abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/obama-if-we-lose-in-2012-government-will-tell-people-youre-on-your-own/

He really does believe the government is the answer to everything.

Whereas in California reality begins to set in

latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2011/10/jerry-brown-pension-changes.html

Great posts. We're reaching a potential point of inflection in the OWS movement. Upcoming winter weather is going to make the "occupy" part harder to implement, but there's no question they've turned the conversation from debt and austerity to jobs. Wasn't that what Conservative Republicans promised to bring if we elected them a year ago?

It's an economic head fake. Most investors realize this, and are playing chicken right now with timing on the bail from the rally.

Greek deal? Well, a lot of the details are murky, and no one thinks Greece can handle its reduced debt load, either. Austerity measures have tanked the Greek economy worse than projected. There's no growth there in the foreseeable future, and no ability to generate public revenue to meet even its reduced obligations.

Our GDP? Remember, since 2008 the initial estimates have had huge margins of error. One, from the height of the recession, was off by an amazing 5 points (initially we thought we had a 1.5 percent contraction and by the third revision it was 6.5 percent). That's unprecedented - and people still are trying to figure out why initial estimates were so off. So, it is good that we're showing 2.5 percent now, but take it with a grain of salt.

Speaking of growth, we're primarily a consumer nation, and many retailers need strong Christmas shopping to get into the black for the year. Heard anyone predicting a strong Christmas retail season?

Then there's the deficit reduction committee debacle. If they don't produce an agreement that both sides can live with, and good reason to think they won't, especially as damage control operations have already started on both sides, then we'll get another sovereign credit downgrade and by law trigger mandatory cuts across the board. This may be what we need, but remember the Greek experience with austerity...

By the way, there are other "Greeces" across the pond, with bigger economies than Greece, thus likely requiring even bigger bailouts. And when its our turn, there is no one on the globe big enough to bail us out from our own debt, which is still growing at alarming rates.

JAS1: shouldn't you give attribution to Charles Krauthammer for that nonsense? Or do you prefer to make people believe that you came up with that on your own?

Nov 2. 2010, elections were held throughout the country. The republicans campaigned on the slogan “Where are the jobs” and ‘smaller government’. They won a sizable majority in the House and closed the gap for majority in the Senate, mostly with Tea Party support. Since then, the 112^th Congress has accomplished nothing to create or even help create a better jobs market. In fact, it would appear by obstruction to have even made the situation worse, and they are happy about it.

They took their oath:’ I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.’

Does any fair minded voter think that they have faithfully discharged their duty as they swore to? It would not appear so from their actions?

Before this Congress took office, almost all of the republican/Tea Party, had signed Grover Norquist’s pledge not to raise taxes. Plans were also drawn up, that no one would deviate from the party platform or proposed legislation, the goal being at all costs, make Barack Obama a one term president. It was determined to work two weeks in DC and one week ostensibly in their respective districts. That plan, effectively shortens their work schedule, no matter how it is presented, so more time to stall the process in Congress or waste time would be a better way to look at it. For example, this month Nov. the House works a whole 11 days and in Dec a grand total of 6 days.

When they are in session, what is the first piece of business they take up? Social issues. Women’s Reproductive Rights, Abortion defunding, and other flaming necessities such as defunding of Planned Parenthood, NPR etc. This how they waste time and slow the process, so little if anything of importance, is ever accomplished.

In the States with Republican Governors, the concerns of the party for jobs (!) are cutting jobs and or benefits of government workers, including cutting funding to pay for teachers, firefighter, police officers, and union busting of those who would object to the loss of benefits and jobs. So working hand in hand with republicans in DC and in States, this Party, is systematically destroying jobs and doing nothing to create or foster an atmosphere to help create jobs.

Some people may not realize, that the GOP/TP party has their legislative agenda (federal and state) written for them by an organization, American Legislative Exchange Council, commonly known as ALEC. so when you send a GOP/TP representative to Washington or your respective State Legislature, their agenda is already set, they will follow the party line down to dotted i’s and crossed t’s.

I wonder how any reasonable, fair minded individual, would ever vote for a Republican/ Tea Party candidate, considering what little they are capable of doing. We have to endure another year of this inaction and we are paying these clowns…handsomely, and on the weeks off, any number of them fly all over the world, again on our dime, supposedly fact finding, if they find any facts, when would they use them, they are rarely working. Both sides of the aisle indulge in these practices, but by far the GOP/TP are the worst offenders, especially in this session. They do not deserve to be re-elected. Wake up people, we are being snookered by a bunch of elected ‘ insurgents’ who have the destruction of our country as their number one goal. This, all because they want one man to lose a re-election to the highest office in the land. Hate has a huge price tag.

The average American is disgusted as to how they have been betrayed by these politicians, evidence of that is all around us every day as the Occupy Movement continues to grow. There is a sense of abandonment, that Congress no longer gives a damn about the average American, that it is all about the corporations and the richest amongst us, so rich most of us could never envision what that would be like. The sense of unfairness in the system is palpable, this is why the people are out demonstrating every day of the week and being tear gassed in some states. Americans understand what fairness means, it has always been a hallmark of the American Spirit, those politicians who ignore the lack of fairness due so at their peril.

@IR

The voices of Occupy movement are not filtered through mainstream media. They are using other means to speak,connect with other young people throughout the US and the world.

OWS has already produced three editions of "Occupy Wall Street Journal".

see: occupywallst.org

The conversation begins with the fact that the 1% control is not absolute. The 99% can speak without the talking points given by lobbyist and their paid politicians.

They have taken over public space in many cities to keep the conversation going. The park can be cleared out by police, but they cannot stop the voices that return the next day to speak truth to power.

Conservatives can't seem to make up their minds whether the student loan proposal is a massive tax payer giveaway or a pretend giveaway that won't help anyone. As usual they want it both ways.

Santa Obama is busy "giving" students a break on their student loans. A break that will net them anywhere between $4 and $7 a month on their payments.

Where's your source for these numbers?

Bob, Bob, Bob:

Do you even read what you wrote? You posted President Clinton's words:

“I want to target new (housing) markets, underserved populations, tear down the barriers to discrimination wherever they are found. We have to do a better job of reaching the underserved; of eradicating discriminatory practices that prevent minorities from finding, financing or buying the home of their choice.”

“We can widen the circle of homeownership beyond anything we have ever seen.”

Read that ten-thousand times, read it a million times. Show me where it says banks were forced to make bad loans. That is, and has been, the contention of the G.O.P.

CRA applied ONLY to banks that had some form of federal involvement, i.e. FDIC. It was about redlining. Period. At the time of its implementation those banks were originating fewer than one in four mortgages. The problems occurred when bankers and other mortgage originators, realized that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were essentially their backstops. Make a bad loan? Who cares? Fannie and Freddie will buy it.

If you have a beef, it is not with CRA, but with Fannie and Freddie. You'll have to look somewhere else if you are looking for someone who is going to defend Fannie and Freddie's irresponsible actions.

However, you might explain to some of us lesser lights how a bill that was introduced in a Republican- controlled Congress was stopped in committee, when that bill had majority approval. You might also explain why it was the Republican-controlled Congress, with President Bush's approval, that forbade local policing authorities from investigating bank activities.

What makes your post utterly ridiculous is that my original post noted five - count 'em, 5 - individual lies promoted and promulgated by the right wing. You take issue with only one of them, and even then you are wrong.

At what point, do you people admit that Republicans are every bit as much of a problem, if not more, than Democrats? Is it really that hard to be honest?

NDDR:AS1: shouldn't you give attribution to Charles Krauthammer for that nonsense? O

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/10/obamas-student-loan-action-wont-have-much-impact/247411/

Read and learn sweetie. Take the blinders off your eyes and put them on that nag of yours.

I'm waiting to hear how Scott Walker plans to spin the positive third quarter growth numbers in the national economy against three straight months of negative job growth in Wisconsin, which he has repeatedly tried to blame on the national economy.

Is it the national economy, Governor, or something YOU did?

September

http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/2011/unemployment/111020_september_state.pdf

The latest preliminary seasonally adjusted estimates show private sector employment was essentially flat from August to September with a net loss of 900 jobs out of 2,347,400 total private sector jobs.

August

http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/2011/unemployment/110915_august_state.pdf

The total number of jobs decreased by 2,300 from July to August, including 800 in the private sector.

...

"With a national economic slowdown that is creating challenges for Wisconsin, we remain keenly focused on advancing job-creation strategies that will grow the economy," Secretary Baumbach said.

July

http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/2011/unemployment/110818_july_state.pdf

"Wisconsin is not immune to the national economic slowdown this summer, and we are seeing the effects of the national economy in our July numbers," Secretary Baumbach said.

...

The latest preliminary seasonally adjusted estimates show a decrease in employment from June to July, including 8,200 overall and 12,500 in the private sector.

Does any one see the irony in the OWS movement where some are holding signs "Kill the Pigs" and "The Police Only Protect the Rich," and the president is talking about his jobs plan that will hire more policemen? Are these the same policemen? Would these be the same ones that would be clashing with the OWS?

OWS is a rag tag group that has no leaders -- oops maybe not -- the thug ACORN group is back.

How about the OWS kicking the homeless out of the parks and telling them not to eat their food? Any one want to comment on that?

Poor Joanna: it is tough to get caught out like that, isn't it? Trust you to take it out on an innocent animal. Jealousy does not become you.

Notice the dysfunctional so-called Super Committee is busy at work. Their original charter was to find ways to cut the federal budget. Obama even challenged to cut more than they had originally planned to cut. Late in the game, with only days to go, the Democrats have somehow managed to reverse direction and they have cooked up a plan to actually spend more money.

Yeah, weird.

The Democrats want Obama's Stimulus II to be part of what they come up with, so instead of spending less, the plan for the Democrats is to spend more.

Talk about being unclear on the concept.

So it's only a matter of time before the Democrats sink this committee, and Obama of course will blame the Republicans.

Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/189845-supercommittee-head-hopeful-deadline-can-be-met?tmpl=component&print=1&page

Then there's the debt reduction committee debacle. If they don't produce an agreement that both sides can live with, and good reason to think they won't, especially as damage control operations have already started on both sides, then we'll get another sovereign credit downgrade and by law trigger mandatory cuts across the board.

The latest on the Deficit Committee:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/cbo-agency-budgets-at-lowest-levels-since-2002/2011/10/26/gIQAk8ZyIM_story.html

Paul, you may be correct nothing will get passed. The Republicans are refusing any tax increases. They would rather it default it seems and then work on reversing any cuts in defense. So in the end we will wind up back to where we are now. Outrageous! And yes a downgrade will follow.

Oh, the AVERAGE...what the article actually SAYS when you read farther down than the headline is that most graduates won't be affected, so the AVERAGE is very low. That doesn't mean the provision won't be very welcome for those who need it.

Government guaranties SBA loans JAS1, how many go bankrupt? Student loans are not forgiven ever and cannot be wiped away through bankruptcy.

In the simplest terms, outside of student loans, most any loan issued by the government is subject to discharge.

IR: your post is important. It is a good reminder to all of us that citizens gathering together can make a difference. I, therefore, add this:

Constitution: The First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

It is not hard to imagine that the British and the right wing of the day considered those who wanted to form a new country as ragtag, bums, the like. After all, they did dress up like Indians to attack a ship bringing in tea from a company that was a HUGE monopoly, that was causing great financial distress to the citizens.

Much like now.

It is important to remember that citizen activism matters. Not in the corporate owned teabagger way, but in the true gathering of patriots determined to effect change.

The Founders struggled against a corporate monopoly. So does Occupy Wall Street. And right now, an Iraq war veteran is lying in hospital after having been attacked for his participation in that right that the Founders guaranteed each of us.

The nations attention has turned to the real problem. All of us should celebrate that.

About the OWS kids, college education and Obama student loans:

If the OWS guys complaining about their student loans, who don't understand who is responsible for political cronyism are stupid enough to blame Wall Street instead of 1600 Pennsylvania and DC - maybe they should get a full refund for their "education" from the colleges and universities.... they are still obviously clueless.

And btw, why do people complain about having to repay or how to pay for college, but nobody complains about the cost of college ..... the cost which increased 8% the past year alone ..... in this economy?

And if things are so tight with the universities, how does UC Berkeley have the money to give $1.5 million to Obama, Harvard $.9 million to Obama, Stanford ..... ah nevermind.

Any one want to discuss the upcoming legislation that will be introduced to entice the more than $2 trillion dollars companies are holding on to outside of this country? To bring that money back into the country, it would be taxed at 35%. Well, companies are not going to do that. How about a $500 billion stimulus? The companies will be allowed to bring the money back to the U.S. tax-free in exchange that 25% of the money will be used to hire and create new jobs. Sounds like one good idea to start.

CRA applied ONLY to banks that had some form of federal involvement, i.e. FDIC. It was about redlining. Period. At the time of its implementation those banks were originating fewer than one in four mortgages. The problems occurred when bankers and other mortgage originators, realized that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were essentially their backstops. Make a bad loan? Who cares? Fannie and Freddie will buy it.

....

At what point, do you people admit that Republicans are every bit as much of a problem, if not more, than Democrats? Is it really that hard to be honest?

I'll be an equal opportunity blamer in that Bush/Rove were pushing their ownership society and home ownership was a big part of that but when Bush tried to reign in their excesses who "obstructed" his administration under heavy lobbying from these two semi-public institutions?

www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2008-07-17-fannie-freddie-lobbying_N.htm

John Kerry, John McCain and Barack Obama are just some of the names mentioned.

Officials and lobbyists for Fannie and Freddie played on this political soft spot in making their case before Congress, establishing a record of fiercely protecting their domain and resisting efforts to bring tougher regulation.

And there goes poor JoAnna again. Endlessly amusing, she can't argue on point, so must try to deflect to an attempt at a personal attack. Sorry, JoAnna, not effective.

How are all those regulations Obama was going cut going? Yeah, I know, nowhere.

Another promise. Another failure.

And the Student Loan deal Obama cooked up is political genius! Give the college students enough to buy a couple of beers every month, and get their vote! Of course the back end of that is that some new department of federal bureaucrats has to keep track of all these loans, figure out each person "discresionary" income, and make sure that student pays no more than 10% of that amount. Of course the taxpayer will pay for those bureaucrats too.

So whose vote is Obama trying to buy today?

Bob -- What everybody should be aware of is that states have decreased their tax dollars to fund higher education by close to 30% over the past decade. Thus shifting more and more of the costs unto families (taxpayers). Everyone likes to cite China as an example when comparing test scores etc. In China students/families pay almost nothing toward higher education.

Ben -- Have at it, what's your beef?

@ Ben,

Care to show me the link about the poster that said "kill the Pigs". It might be an old poster from the 60"s LOL

OccupyAtlanta protests were removed from their park late Tuesday night.It was on global livestream web site.

A protester interviewed said that the homeless were part of the park population. The homeless shelters near by were full each night. So the park was occupied by both folks each night.

Ben, go to the primary sites for your information before you give your interpretation of these events.

How about discussing another story: Governor Jerry Brown (D-CA) says he will seek drastic rollbacks in public employee pensions and raising retirement age to 67. OMG he's a Republican LOL!!!

bob: And btw, why do people complain about having to repay or how to pay for college, but nobody complains about the cost of college ..... the cost which increased 8% the past year alone ..... in this economy.

Interesting thought bob. You don't see Obama railing against the colleges for their cost growth. Did you ever wonder why the cost of college is rising so fast? In essence, college is a commodity like any other. And as Obama pumps more federal money into the system making the commodity more available to more people, there are still a finite number of seats in those college class rooms. Less availability means those colleges can demand, and get, a higher price.

bob: And if things are so tight with the universities, how does UC Berkeley have the money to give $1.5 million to Obama, Harvard $.9 million to Obama, Stanford ..... ah nevermind.

Now you've just detected yet another Democratic/Obama campaign fencing operation.

JoAnna:

Give the college students enough to buy a couple of beers every month, and get their vote!

You mean the ones who can't get jobs because of the Wall Street debacle? We can always count on your cheerful, warm-hearted callousness, JoAnna.

When you're impoverished and without prospects, every little bit counts.

Try it sometime, and see how YOU like it.

another dem:

JoAnna just put it in easy to comprehend language. It is refreshing to have someone put words in easy to read comments,

I'm frustrated with the President, too, but I would NEVER go so far as to call JoAnna's comments "refreshing."

if only it would sink in with some on here.

So sorry. Some of us are apparently not bright enough for you.

Again JAS1- States have drastically cut funding to colleges. That's our tax dollars they have diverted to other things. Education not such a big deal. Dumbing down America that's your goal right.

Today, we have harnessed that awesome atomic power for the betterment of mankind. It takes very little imagination to realize that the very people, who would have opposed such forward thinking in the 40's, are the same people who unquestioningly defend atomic power now. Pure irony.

These are modern-day Luddites. Education is evil. Progress is evil. Science is evil. The imagination is Satan's playground. Fear it. Hate it. Bludgeon it. Kill it.

So David I presume you include in this group the environmentalists who refuse to allow nuclear power stations to be built even though they are environmentally cleaner (from a CO2 point of view), than any fossil fuel/ethanol and are the only economically feasible solution to the energy crisis if we are to believe climate change proponents?

DCIA: Yep, that has always been what the Republicans are after. They figure that a uneducated electorate will vote for them!

In the States with Republican Governors, the concerns of the party for jobs (!) are cutting jobs and or benefits of government workers, including cutting funding to pay for teachers, firefighter, police officers, and union busting of those who would object to the loss of benefits and jobs. So working hand in hand with republicans in DC and in States, this Party, is systematically destroying jobs and doing nothing to create or foster an atmosphere to help create jobs.

Let's not forget the efforts of the Republicans in the state legislatures to pass various "voter fraud" laws to make it harder for the poor and the young to vote. IN principle I can agree with a photo ID, but in practice, it ensures that the poor who do not have cars will have to pay to get another form of state-issued ID. ANd let's not forget the college students who may only be part-year residents of those states, and in several of those states, they can't even use their college ID to vote anymore, nor can they use their home state ID along with some type or proof that they are a resident of the state where their college is.

Here's one:

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/10594829-homeless-kicked-out-of-park-for-utahs-wall-street-protest

In order for the demonstrators to have a base camp, the indigent are removed, hassled and arrested. The police have provided security to the demonstrators, but continually harass those who need the security the most. Irony at its best.

@Bob numbers - where do you dream up your university contribution numbers from? I can't find a single reference to UC Berkely donating 1.5M to Obama.

RDPS:Bob numbers - where do you dream up your university contribution numbers from? I

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cid=N00009638

I find myself asking why the police were turned out on the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators?

To date the demonstrations have been largely peaceful, right? Messy, but peaceful. So why the heavy hand?

Winter is coming. The inclement weather will clear the protesters out of the parks and open areas and the cities can reclaim those areas without all the drama?

I don't have an answer to this question. Maybe some of you with the great big giant brains could tell me.

Obama/Biden 2012

Funny, but the President is the only one even talking about real issues real Americans face. Such as student loan debt and mortgages that are underwater. He used executive orders to offer some relief to a small group of people and that has really rankled some on the hard right. Yet nary a word is ever spoken on the Republican side of the aisle on these issues. What gives....no jobs, jobs, jobs or even an effort to relate to the average American, can we conclude they are simply out of touch with the real world in which the majority of us live? Obviously.

Skip: I find myself asking why the police were turned out on the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators?

To date the demonstrations have been largely peaceful, right?

Apparently you have been misinformed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LYtJ3m9PSEM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ygN6ycg9Zxs

Thanks for the link JS1 - and just as I thought, Bob is lying. UC Berkely did not donate 1.5M to Obama. The University of California PAC donated 1.6M to Obama for the 2008 election cycle.

As clearly stated on the site:

"organizations themselves did not donate , rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families."

The Republicans always seem to find fault in every profession of the middle -class, they want them to take what they believe they are worth and be happy with their declining way of life. Then they defend the 1 percent scum that floats on top. How did it ever get this way? These filthy jerks have never had to get down and dirty to just stay afloat. They wonder why people are taking to the streets. Today on the news they said the rich increased almost 300 percent in 30 years, while the rest of the people only grew to 18 percent I think it`s worse than that though when you consider the price or everything now and people losing health care benefits I am fed up.

On a different topic, perhaps it bears repeating since true history is no longer taught in our schools and "alternative" history is being taught in Texas.

The last quarter of the 19th century saw the rise of the so-called "robber barons" in this country. Men so wealthy and powerful that they were truly a law unto themselves.

They abused their employees, from factory workers, to child labor, to mine workers. Unsafe conditions predominated. Long hours, low wages and dehumanizing conditions led to the birth of the labor movement. The powerless banded together to tell the rich and powerful they were mad as hell and they weren't going to take it anymore.

Violence, accusations of Communism and Socialism followed. People died. But the labor movement saved the American dream and made the work place safer and spread the wealth to the people who actually made the products that made the robber barons so wealthy.

Sadly, the labor movement was co-opted by Organized Crime in the early part of the 20th Century and it has paid the price for that association ever since. But it remains as the only guarantee of a decent wage and decent lifestyle for millions of Americans, both union and non-union.

Once again we are witnessing an assault on the American worker and the American dream. This time the assault BEGINS with the labor unions and is trying walk us back to those thrilling days of yesteryear of no safety regulations, no minimum wage, no 40 hour week, no health benefits and no hope.

That's what we are witnessing now, an attempted retrogression to the 19th century.

Are we going to let this happen? Ohio, the first battleground in the fight to retake our country before it's too late.

Let's not forget:

There once was a Union maid,

Who never was afraid,

Of the goons and the ginks

And the company finks

Or the Deputy Sheriff's who made the raids.

She went to the Union Hall

When the meetings they were called

And when those company boys come around

She always stood her ground.

Oh you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the Union,

I'm sticking to the Union, I'm sticking to the Union.

Oh you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the Union.

I'm sticking to the Union, 'till the day I die." Woody Guthrie

Don't let the American Dream die of neglect. The 1% don't need any more money or any more power. They've got plenty. Don't let them take the little that we the people have left.

Stand up and fight. Fight for Ohio and Wisconsin and Oklahoma and all the other states where we the people are under attack.

Obama/Biden 2012

The American people have awakened to the fact, that republicans, have put politics over fair and honest debate and legislation that reflects compromise between ideologies, to solve the very real problems the vast majority of the nation faces. I don't know what took so long, they stated their intentions from the outset, stated them loud and clear. Obama has now, turned their entire 3 year Waterloo strategy against them, and every time they dismiss his ideas, or a bill out of hand, his numbers go up. The republicans are quickly running out of time to produce something that the majority of Americans want, and yet they will not even consider any compromise, stick to your guns republicans, don't give an inch, go down in a blaze of glory, remember the Alamo, never compromise, stick together unanimously, because you are making it easy for people to re-elect Obama and vote straight democratic while your at it. How foolish to continue a scorched earth policy after you take majority control of the house where all budgets, and legislation takes place, republicans are in a responsible position, that crap is wrong to begin with and every body knows it. Nobody could operate that way at their job for too long without being fired. Now as they continue this scorched earth strategy the only thing getting scorched is their reputation to effectively govern and legislate. The tide has turned, and rightfully so, it was never fair or in the best interests of the nation to behave that way, and now they are going to pay the price and they won't even get the thing they wanted most, because it is looking more likely now that Obama will be re-elected. They tried to generate as much animosity for the President as they could and now all that animosity has turned on them. Ha Ha welcome to Waterloo Mitch, Jim, John, and Eric, you foolish vindictive bastards, your making a hero out of the guy you tried to destroy, and proving to the electorate you don't have the ability or good sense to work well and play well with others, something most people learn in kindergarten.

Dav, Dav, Dav,

Show me where it says banks were forced to make bad loans. That is, and has been, the contention of the G.O.P.

Where they making those loans before Clinton turned the regulatory heat on them? Sheez ...Dav you are not this naive and stupid.

The problems occurred when bankers and other mortgage originators, realized that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were essentially their backstops.

Yep, and who made Fannie and Freddie the backstop, who packed Fannie and Freddie with his cronies?

Make a bad loan? Who cares? Fannie and Freddie will buy it.

Beats fighting justice department discrimination threats, hassles from ever reg agency, huh.

If you have a beef, it is not with CRA, but with Fannie and Freddie.

I thought I made that pretty apparent in my comment. It was Clinton and how he used Fannie and Freddie - how Bush tried to overhaul Fannie and Freddie.

You'll have to look somewhere else if you are looking for someone who is going to defend Fannie and Freddie's irresponsible actions.

See ..... I told you you weren't stupid.

However, you might explain to some of us lesser lights how a bill that was introduced in a Republican- controlled Congress was stopped in committee, when that bill had majority approval.

Now you are trying to play stupid again, you know that works. Regardless ....

"These two entities - Fannie and Freddie - are not facing any kind of crisis" said Barney Frank, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. "The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."

Off course the race card was played ... repubs hate the poor .... blah, blah and somehow they failed to get a dem to make a sane decision.

Again 55 repubs for - 45 dems filibustered and ....... and oh my god ..... OBSTRUCTED the legislation that might may have lessened or prevented the economic collapse.

You might also explain why it was the Republican-controlled Congress, with President Bush's approval, that forbade local policing authorities from investigating bank activities.

You not familiar with the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000? It literally legalized this type of crap as not being able to be construed by local authorities as GAMBLING. Amazing.

At what point, do you people admit that Republicans are every bit as much of a problem, if not more, than Democrats? Is it really that hard to be honest?

Btw- I seem to recall the CFMA of 2000 having republican support and perhaps was even introduced by a repub. Yep, big government bad guys are big government bad guys - repub or dem.

Alan NJ mentioned Fannie and Freddie money.

Number 1 recipient was Dodd. Number 2 was Obama, Number 3 was Kerry.

McCain was down the list, about where Rahm Emanuel was.

Yep there are bad guys on both sides, but what does the above tell you? It is mostly dems and the big ones are dems.

About your lies from yesterday, are you around over the weekend - maybe tommorrow?

JoAnna:

Get back to ignoring people that you don't agree with girl (What are you u to, about 60 now?) .

Actually, it's only 5. Consider yourself at the top of a VERY exclusive list.

Don't want your blood pressure to burst a major artery.

Just had a physical. Life's good since I put you on ignore.

In related news the Leftist environmento-nutz have blown up a clean hydroelectric dam providing virtually free energy in Washington State for over 100 years to over 7,000 hard working citizens and businesses. The progressive democrats are determined to continue their destruction of US manufacturing infrastructure aided and abetted by their co conspirators in the White House and EPA until all jobs are driven to lower energy cost China.

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/26/8500522-hole-blasted-in-condit-dam-to-restore-endangered-fish-habitat?commentId=59365867#c59365867

The Obama administration once again is clueless on how to fix a problem. Obama is like the doctor that treats the symptoms instead of the disease. Instead of giving medications to cover up the symptoms, Obama gives money.

His student loan proposals are like his healthcare reform...completely ignorant of the root of the problem....the cost.

Instead of looking into the university system and finding ways to decrease the cost that they charge, the administration is more concerned with funding these ridiculous prices. Instead of trying to cap the costs of healthcare, Obama attacked those that finance those unreasonably priced bills.

Instead of looking at the cause of our unemployment predicament (outsourcing, illegals, unions), Obama's cure is to spend MORE money toward it.

It's obvious that he doesn't get it...that he isn't willing to treat the disease rather than the symptoms. So the only way to get control of his actions and maybe force him to look hard at what's causing these issues is to take away the means that he covers up the problems...in other words, starve the beast.

I think Perry is making a big mistake about not attending most of the debates. This is where you get more skilled at debating and learn to hold your on. If he wins the nomination will he skip the debates with President Obama??

They should realize that these kids are actually well behaved considering they have been playing violent video games all their lives.

Ginger Bread Momma; your point about the oath of office is right, one thing, many statements were made be for the tea Publicans took that office, If they look for them it might be they will find where they planed to go against that oath even be for taking it, I'm thinking about the health care reform that was law when they took the office, it seems they were to defend that law, it is hard to defend it when your working against it its one thing to look for ways to make it better, or to find things wrong, and try to change them but there were some bitter statements made way be for they took control of the congress, I don't agree with everything, but to work against a law outside of changing it through the congress, be for it is changed to me is walking a fine line! when one takes an oath they should honor that oath not saying they have not but wondering if they did.

@Joe-755363

I would vote for your comments multiple times if I could.

Madison from NY, as usual, has no clue. Stay out of the water Madison, you muddy the truth.

We owe much to Floyd Dominy, who headed the Bureau of Reclamation during its salad days. He was an imposing figure in the creation of our infrastructure, particularly in dam construction. However, while he led the way to incredible prosperity, he did not understand that rivers serve more functions than to simply fill dams for irrigation and consumption. Mr. Dominy believed that every drop of water that made it to the ocean was wasted water.

Today, we know considerably more about the role of rivers in our ecology. We cannot mindlessly block water flows without serious consequences. Many more dams are going to have to disappear. There truly is no such thing as a clean hydroelectric dam.

That is yet another reason we MUST continue our search for alternate sources of power.

AM: Life's good since I put you on ignore.

You might want to call Tech Support. Apparently it's not working.

@Ben, thanks for the link about Occupy Utah.

The link is to a article by a poster on this site. Please read all the comments to her post.

Seems that the park curfew allowed the police to kick out homeless each night before it was occupied by protester. Now many homeless have a place to stay at night with the protesters.

thanks for your concern Ben.

joe-755363:

The Obama administration once again is clueless on how to fix a problem. Obama is like the doctor that treats the symptoms instead of the disease. Instead of giving medications to cover up the symptoms, Obama gives money.

Don't conservatives always insist that government can't do anything to solve the problems of the private economy?

Ergo, the logical conclusion is that until the private economy sees fit to fix itself, we either put bandaids on it, or it bleeds to death.

So, tell me again, what is President Obama doing wrong?

It's obvious that he doesn't get it...that he isn't willing to treat the disease rather than the symptoms.

Okay, then you DO have some idea that there is something else he should be doing, right? And if that's the case, then what is it, and why aren't Republicans in Congress helping him do it?

You're not saying they're unpatriotic, are you? Heaven forbid.

Come to think of it, what, if anything, are you actually saying?

So the only way to get control of his actions and maybe force him to look hard at what's causing these issues is to take away the means that he covers up the problems...in other words, starve the beast.

Ah. Take away the bandaids and just let the victim bleed. Brilliant.

Alan, NJ (to Joe):

I would vote for your comments multiple times if I could.

Why am I not surprised?

enjoyed watching Lawrence "Hollywood" O'Donnell's show last night. He had some ratty little waif on there "live" from the Oakland Fleabagger rally and she admitted on TV!!! ...that the the Fleabaggers STARTED the violence the night before and had provoked the police. It was priceless. Bet O'Donnell never bargained for that! LOL

Bob lotsanumbers:

I'm not going to get into a back-and-forth on this. You STILL have not shown any regulatory pressure to make loans. NONE. Allegations without proof are only allegations.

Race card? What race card? Got proof?

Fannie and Freddie did their primary damage on the Bush watch. That's an indisputable fact. It is utterly ridiculous to try to lay the blame at the feet of the Democrats, when Republicans controlled the federal government from top to bottom. You have to stop this nonsense. On one hand, you tell us legislation was stopped by a committee - BY A FREAKING MINORITY. Are you telling us that the Senate was voting as a Committee of the Whole? Further, the bill was NOT a revenue bill and could have been passed by a simple majority in the Senate. Don't even try to pretend that Republicans didn't use reconciliation.

All you have done is come here with innuendo, red herrings, and straw men. I said yesterday, I say today, and until you can show me wrong, I will say tomorrow that CRA NEVER forced anyone to make bad loans. Your "they made me do it" argument has no foundation whatsoever.

AM

Irony at it's finest, no? Here the party of righteous indignation to voter FRAUD, admits he would commit said fraud, "if he could".

LMFAO at YOU, joe.

@AM

Don't conservatives always insist that government can't do anything to solve the problems of the private economy?

Maybe, but I don't. Just as I don't think the government is always the answer, that does not preclude the fact that government is sometimes the only answer. For example, during the healthcare debate the individual mandate was introduced because healthy people have to buy into the system or it will go broke. However, mandating that they buy a private product I believe is unconstitutional. A government solution of taxes was the constitutional way to go.

I mean seriously what do you disagree with what Joe says? The President is trying to find taxpayers money (or borrowed money) to pay for services that cost too much at source. The fact that taxpayers money is being diverted to these services means that they will not try and remove inefficiencies to lower their costs and make their services more affordable.

I sympathize with your social arguments AM, but the well is running dry, and that includes taxing the 1% more. We are very close to 100% debt vs GDP. We are borrowing 11%+ of GDP a year to cover current government services. The Greeks are about to offer 50% return to their lenders, which means that no one will lend to them for years until they get their house in order, and their current debt well be service by the EU. Who is going to service our debt? We are going to be at Greek levels of debt in about 5 years. You see what is happening in the majority of states right now over public pensions, irrespective of the political party in power. The spending is over and austerity is here and there's nothing anybody can do to prevent it (even printing 2 to 3 trillion new dollars).

Alan and Joe -- Why can't those battles be confronted by all of the above. These problems are complex and require a myriad of fixes and your simplistic approach will not solve either of these issues. I agree confront costs but that in and of itself does not fix the problems. Look at Cali, they enacted tort reforms for healthcare and it did nothing to lower costs overall. Texas claims it helped but shadows lurk in that claim.

Fannie and Freddie did their primary damage on the Bush watch. That's an indisputable fact. It is utterly ridiculous to try to lay the blame at the feet of the Democrats, when Republicans controlled the federal government from top to bottom. You have to stop this nonsense. On one hand, you tell us legislation was stopped by a committee - BY A FREAKING MINORITY. Are you telling us that the Senate was voting as a Committee of the Whole? Further, the bill was NOT a revenue bill and could have been passed by a simple majority in the Senate. Don't even try to pretend that Republicans didn't use reconciliation.

Too funny David. Haven't you been complaining about the GOP/TP party of obstructionism for 3 years now. I believe the self-same party has been in the minority for this period, sometimes 60 - 40, mostly 57(2) - 41. but somehow have thwarted the majority and the Administration.

In January 2005, several Republicans led by Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) introduced legislation to create a new, independent regulatory agency to oversee the companies. They had trouble getting supporters. Sixteen months later, after a regulator questioned Fannie Mae accounting, McCain signed on to the legislation as a co-sponsor and made a 359-word speech in the Senate. The legislation failed to win approval.

Obama said little if anything publicly about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before the crisis started. Other Democratic lawmakers, however, long protected the interests of the companies and pushed them to expand their support for low-income housing.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/08/AR2008100803531.html

Plenty of blame to go round.

D. Walker, good luck in trying to get a conservative to change their view that the CRW forced banks to make bad loans. It is like their other mantra, "Unions sent jobs overseas". I for one, have never been able to find an example of a Union management overstepping Corporate mangement, and making the decision to outsource a job. In every instance, it was Corporate management making that decision. For some reason, conservatives cannot find fault with the Corporate decision makers, rather, they are willing to place blame anyone else. Accountability is not a conservative strong point.

Gingerbread Mamma

Nov 2. 2010, elections were held throughout the country. The republicans campaigned on the slogan “Where are the jobs” and ‘smaller government’. They won a sizable majority in the House and closed the gap for majority in the Senate, mostly with Tea Party support. Since then, the 112^th Congress has accomplished nothing to create or even help create a better jobs market. In fact, it would appear by obstruction to have even made the situation worse, and they are happy about it.

They took their oath:’ I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.’

Does any fair minded voter think that they have faithfully discharged their duty as they swore to? It would not appear so from their actions?

I do think they have been faithfully discharging their duty. Who hasn't been living up to his oath has been Harry Reid. Those republicans that you chastise as being "do nothing" have promoted multiple bills that would help both the economy and jobs situation. Those bills haven't even been sent to the Senate floor for debate. Others did pass the House and were killed in the Senate.

Gingerbread...please go read the Constitution. I've read it many times. I have yet to see the sections of the Constitution that give the authority to the federal government to control private enterprise, to protect the rights of unions, to provide employment, to use tax dollars toward bailing out private companies or individuals, to use tax dollars to rebuild and support other countries, etc, etc.

The federal government has gone way beyond it's authority in almost every aspect. In almost every instance, it has proven to be very wasteful, uncontrolled and ineffective. The constitution provides that everyone should have an opportunity to be successful. It doesn't place limits on that success, nor does it give the government the right to penalize that. In that respect, it does not give the government the authority to support those that fail.

Alan, NJ

Is this guy for real?

At a million-dollar San Francisco fundraiser today, President Obama warned his recession-battered supporters that if he loses the 2012 election it could herald a new, painful era of self-reliance in America.

I missed this story and thank you for pointing it out Alan...it says a lot about the agenda of this administration....that they consider self-reliance painful. Self-reliance is the path to success and should not be criticized or penalized. Self-reliance is what this country was founded on. Self-reliance is akin to freedom, dependancy on the government gives the government the power to take those freedoms away.

Alan and Joe -- Why can't those battles be confronted by all of the above

Simply because the money is running out very quickly. What is happening in Rhode Island and San Francisco are going to be repeated around the country again and again. I am not pushing a left or right agenda. I am just pointing out that our current level of government services are unsustainable, even with large tax increases for the uber-rich, and even with large tax increases on the middle class at Federal and State levels.

There are going to be tax increases for all (even the 47%) and there are going to be painful cuts in government services, including entitlements. Prepare yourselves.

Oh this radical Right that post here daily, always give me a good laugh.

Alan, my eyes are open, lol. Deflation is a real threat as well. Severe austerity will compound any problems we are currently facing. Reasonable long term solutions are the right way to approach this mess. Look to Europe and ask yourself if your willing to have another bailout for banks. If the answer is yes continue on to the path of severe austerity. I'll sit that one out and I'm betting many others will as well. The retraction will be so severe business will beg Washington to halt and take an easier path. ; )

JoAnna.

Interesting thought bob. You don't see Obama railing against the colleges for their cost growth. Did you ever wonder why the cost of college is rising so fast? In essence, college is a commodity like any other. And as Obama pumps more federal money into the system making the commodity more available to more people, there are still a finite number of seats in those college class rooms. Less availability means those colleges can demand, and get, a higher price.

You don't research or think anything though, huh?

LOL!!! Obviously.

The reason college has gotten more expensive is in a large part because funding from the government has decreased.

But go ahead with your conspiracies. I realize they make it much easier to preserve your spoon fed delusion.

AM...for one thing, you labeled me as a conservative, which, I agree I am on a lot of points, but I'm also a liberal on others.

Okay, then you DO have some idea that there is something else he should be doing, right?

Yes, uphold the laws and the constitution. Private industry will correct and monitor itself in a competitive atmosphere, but in certain industries that isn't the case. Collusion, price fixing and monopolies are against the law, yet these are being supported by both democrats and republicans. Let's say all the gas stations got together and came to an agreement that $10/gallon was the minimum price...that is illegal. Yet, look at the healthcare industry and the University systems, that is what they are doing.

Before the government can really step in and determine whether the business practices are unfair, they do have to look at the costs associated with providing that service/product, and possibly examine doing something to lower that. Is a hefty part of the cost regulations? Can those be eliminated? Is a part of that cost benefits/fees/taxes? Is there a way to lower these?

When it comes to those that provide necessities, yes, I do believe the government should have some say in what they charge for them or the profit they make. I will put education into that catagory.

You asked what the republicans in congress are helping with. Well, I can tell you I don't see much, but some of what they want will help industries lower their costs.

I can tell you that this democratic base, in my opinion, is taking it in the exact wrong direction. By continually funding these costs, it is giving the industries tacit approval to continue charging them. This President is outright ignoring the causes and doing nothing to correct them, therefore I see him as ineffective and detrimental.

JoAnna.

Yeah, weird.

The Democrats want Obama's Stimulus II to be part of what they come up with, so instead of spending less, the plan for the Democrats is to spend more.

Talk about being unclear on the concept.

Some additional demand in the economy would be good right now.

And spending on things we need to do anyway, education, infustructure, etc, can help create that demand.

Seriously. It is basic economics.

Oh...that's right. I completely forgot. Your collective delusion forbids using basic ecoomics, for they contradict the ideological plight of said delusion. You are told to ignore economics and economic history and history in general and...well....anything actually that does fit neatly into that false reality you were sold.

LOL!!! But please. Keep it up. The ignorance is amusing, and fun to mock.

@ David Walker

Many more dams are going to have to disappear.

If Obama had a clue he would dam up the Grand Canyon and launch a "free energy" program in the tri-state area to re-invigorate US manufacturing and create millions of jobs instead of handing out cash to democrat special interest groups like unions and Wall Street. But wait, the Left NEVER would go for that because IT WOULD GIVE HARD WORKING CITIZENS THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED ON THEIR OWN and that is NOT part of the progressive playbook.

Oh this radical Right that post here daily, always give me a good laugh.

Of course, the most amusing part is they actually believe all the crap they were fed, and regurgitate...

Fun to mock though...

Madison.

If Obama had a clue he would dam up the Grand Canyon and launch a "free energy" program in the tri-state area to re-invigorate US manufacturing and create millions of jobs instead of handing out cash to democrat special interest groups like unions and Wall Street. But wait, the Left NEVER would go for that because IT WOULD GIVE HARD WORKING CITIZENS THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED ON THEIR OWN and that is NOT part of the progressive playbook.

LOL!!!!

I don't even have to say anything to mock this rambling rant.

LOL!!!

Dismal growth projections. And during this time period, has inflation or government spending off-set this miniscule growth gain?

There are going to be tax increases for all (even the 47%) and there are going to be painful cuts in government services, including entitlements. Prepare yourselves.

This should be a resounding call across our country. Change is hard.

Oh my Madison...let's take your approach and give away all Federal lands for nothing. Go ruin those awful National Parks what do we need them for anyway, right? Go take a hike it might clear your silly mind.

@DCIA

And you may be right. I just can't believe we can carry on down this path of attempting to spend our way out of a recession (or a @!$%#ty recovery). One difference in Europe is that the lenders are taking a haircut, unlike the deal offered over here. Do I think the banks should get bailed out again? Don't see it as they are claiming they have too much cash. But the current pensions and entitlements here are just not sustainable. You don't have to believe me but just look at what every state is currently doing.

Bottom lines on the banks are not looking so good anymore Alan. Some things are worth spending money on in hard times....infrastructure and a really good purse, lol. Women know a bargain when they see one! Low interest rates and great sale. ; )

We all know where the voter fraud is coming from the Republican. They have doing this for thirty years ever trick they can come up with.

Madison:

Stunning ignorance. This is what makes you people so damned scary. The river that runs through the Grand Canyon is.......the Colorado River. Hoover Dam is on the Colorado and has already lost incredible capacity due to siltation/sedimentation. Upriver, Glen Canyon is also losing capacity for the same reason. The fact that there is siltation might give you a hint as to how the Grand Canyon has been formed over time.

You and your incredibly ignorant brethren are all the reason anyone needs to understand why this nation cannot be put into the hands of today's G.O.P. Wipe out the Grand Canyon. Clear cut the redwoods. Eliminate anadromous fish runs. Kill our lakes. Deadly air, deadly water, and deadly soil; that is exactly what we will get if Republicans gut regulation.

Keep up the good work Madison. I couldn't possibly make a better case for voting AGAINST all things Republican.

Bottom lines on the banks are not looking so good anymore Alan. Some things are worth spending money on in hard times....infrastructure and a really good purse, lol. Women know a bargain when they see one! Low interest rates and great sale. ; )

Couldn't agree more. So I disagree with the bail-out to the states, the teachers, fire and police proposal, but I do agree with a national infrastructure bank. It won't make a quick difference to unemployment but it will help the country in the long-run. And it can be financed by private money, or by a tax on repatriated profits, or something.

Alan, while I understand your position I do not agree -- Education is the most important and precious commodity we have. We should support it as well. In fact that it should be a first priority in todays competitive world. I support the vast majority of AJA, but I am willing to see it funded through repatriating.

Economy improving? Tell that to the 228 we laid off last month in the US. We serve many economic sectors in the US and we are bearish on 2012. Our sales projects are off in most of our sectors. For the Liberal Attack Dogs, we provide major components for green energy, residential and commercial building, high tech applications and many others globally and we are not some little start up suckling at the government teat (been around for many decades, about 18 of 'em.)

We have round two planned for the next layoff should it be needed.

By the 1920s, hydroelectric power accounted for more than 40 percent of the Nation's supply of electricity. In the West and Pacific Northwest, hydropower provided about 75 percent of all the electricity consumed in the 1940's.

Then came the New Deal and Federal Government overregulation.

Now hydoelectric accounts for LESS THAN 10 percent of the Nation's supply of electircity. Even CANADA is 80 percent hydroelectric.

Why?

Hydro has no fuel cost and the lowest maintanence cost of all major energy sources. Therfore Unions, Wall Street and other democrat special interest groups HATE hydroelectric since there is very little cash lying around to skim and kick back to democrat politicans THAT is why hydroelectric is DYING in the US and progressive leftists in rubber fish costumes dance around anc celebrate the destruction of our manufacturing infrastructure.

What caused the OWS in Oakland to escalate was the move to evict them from the park. You may recall New York decided against doing this for the very reason of avoiding escalation. Then it was over-kill in both Oakland and Atlanta with cops out-numbering protesters in full riot gear along with helicopters and what basically can be described as militarization of law enforcement against unarmed citizens. All it did was add fuel to the fire with spontaneous marches afterwards--a very large one in New York even late at night.

So when this heavy-handed measure appeared on the scene in Oakland, some protesters admit to throwing bottles and rocks. Keep in mind police were in full riot gear so this still didn't warrant shooting protesters with bean bags or tear gas canisters or what ever police will admit too. What's ironic is the protesters are supporting first responders rights, but police aren't supporting protesters rights. As more cops start to lose their jobs because Teapublicans wouldn't pass the part of the Jobs Act that would save the jobs of teachers and first responders, we will see how long police will obey orders to attack fellow unarmed Americans.

In regard to OWS, those who actually occupy parks (Atlanta has outright blocked this similar to Ohio blocking protesters from entering the capital after watching what happened in Wisconsin) this requires primitive camping and free time, so this group consists of unemployed youth and college students. However, it by no means represents OWS overall or the many Americans who support their cause and message.

Even with winter approaching, or police evictions, the movement will continue nation-wide via regular marches, a convention, and other events. As already stated by a poster above, the important thing is changing the discussion of deficits to the bigger root problems that are really destroying our country, including what is really causing deficits. Those who try to ignore the movement, marginalize it, or worse disparage it, will be the losers in the end. And that goes most of all for Teapublicans in congress and the Super Committee. The GOP/TP members of the Super Committee just turned down another offer of the Big Deal that includes cuts in Medicare because they continue to stand against fairer taxation of the rich.

Moving on...

bob-1805084 -- David Walker is a "tool?" Hahaha, man look in the mirror, and keep in mind forum rules.

The economy -- GDP is an important measure, but the real indicator is unemployment. Until there are jobs, there won't be enough demand.

Speaking of JOBS, did you hear what's really going on in Wisconsin's so-called "jobs session?" Yesterday they debated things like abortion (of course), the definition of bicycles, and a bunch of other crap, but nothing about jobs. Yesterday was like the day before, and will be like today and the day after--nothing about jobs. Teapublicans in Wisconsin think they can slap the label of "jobs session" on what is really a friggin' waste of tax payer dollars and that will get them reelected. Let's hope the people of Wisconsin are smarter then that. And skip, the people in Ohio are smarter too.

So far Teapublicans are sticking to their MO still hoping to hold out until the 2012 election under the radar. Ever since the debt ceiling debate, they have been exposed for their diabolical plan to suppress economic recovery and job creation so they can blame it on the president. The American people are becoming more and more aware (in part due to OWS) of GOP/TP obstruction, gimmicks, and outright anti-democracy tactics like voter suppression. Even Teapublicans are now openly admitting they only care about ousting President Obama--period. Wow, well let's see how far that gets 'em.

Obama/Biden - 2012!

Obama/Biden looking for work in 2012.

Have a great day fellow American Citizens!

Feisty, Don't understand why your posts got collapsed?

lisa s -- The right-wing trolls who come in this forum can vote to collapse a post. What I don't understand--or maybe I do because progressives are notorious for lack of a united front--is why progressives don't make sure to vote for the progressive posts they like,and likewise collapse the right-wing posts that have No Value or are Inflammatory. The trolls need to be sent packing back to FAUX Noise and The Blaze or what ever version of lies they prefer most. Come on people, occupy FR!

Excuse me TP but to claim that right wing trolls collapse the Liberal posts on the vine is ridiculous. As a conservative American citizen I get collapsed quite often even if just citing a link to a counter point. Seems most Liberals have no tolerance for views other than their own.

Madison from NY

Hydro has no fuel cost and the lowest(SIC) maintanence cost of all major energy sources. (SIC)Therfore Unions, Wall Street and other democrat special interest groups HATE hydroelectric since there is very little cash lying around to skim and kick back to democrat (SIC)politicans THAT is why hydroelectric is DYING in the US and progressive leftists in rubber fish costumes dance around anc celebrate the destruction of our manufacturing infrastructure.

While I appreciate your concern for Green Power and our diminished Industrial base I believe that the fact that the company that owned the 100 year old dam decided that they didn't want to invest in the needed upgrades. Therefore it is not Obama ,Liberals, the DNC, the left wing media, the democratic party, Unions, or pod people from the planet Venus that are "celebrating the destruction of our manufacturing infrastructure."

Your stated concern over Wall Street could be justified as the company that abandoned the dam in question probably took the funds the upgrade required and invested them there.

Straighten out your tin foil cap, read a few more articles, and I'm sure you'll find something else to misinterpret and blame on Obama ,Unions, and progressives in general. Cheer up! With any luck maybe Tearful old Glenn Beck will cover this for you in the insane stream press.

David Walker says:

If you have a beef, it is not with CRA, but with Fannie and Freddie. You'll have to look somewhere else if you are looking for someone who is going to defend Fannie and Freddie's irresponsible actions.

The Clinton Administration perhaps?

From the New York Times in 1999:

"Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people"

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/30/business/fannie-mae-eases-credit-to-aid-mortgage-lending.html?src=pm

Even more interesting is the same article contains predictions of the future bailouts due to Clinton's mandate which obviously were ignored.

Fannie and Freddie only guaranteed 20% of the subprime market. In any case the crash didn't even start there, it started in unregulated Derivatives.

xo

x

 xo

Your move

xoxoxoxo hugs and kisses

BTW Check mate!

Damn, I was only playing tic-tac-toe

Too bad, I won. ; )

xoxoxoxoxo

John B:

Republican tax reform is to tax reform what a Hydrogen bomb is to architecture.

@ David Walker,

Best analogy of the week!!!

Great link John. Tax Reform yes. A regressive tax plan NO. Funny thing is is that they know it's not going anywhere it's just recycled BS that was on a shelf somewhere. But at least everyone is now talking about reforms if we could only get Congress to listen and Republicans serious about real tax reforms. It's all a gimmick it seems. Too bad.

Great Post Da Noid!!!

The average total of debt per student in the class of 2011 will be $22,900, according to Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of student-aid websites Fastweb.com and FinAid.org. This figure includes the loans parents took on to pay for their kids' education.

news.consumerreports.org/money/2011/05/2011-college-grads-have-highest-average-debt-to-date.html

So if the average debt is $22.9K I think it is reasonable to ask the kid who racked up $100K how he did it. Having a kid about to go to college I know that the top line figures you are quoting are not the amount charged.

Also, being one of the 53% I don't expect to get much help as I earn too much but I'm well below the 250K that you would consider rich.

Easy Alan, the kid did not have supportive parents willing to go into debt. Many had no help in applying for aid and you must understand what a nightmare that can be or you will find out soon. Good luck. And when you finish helping your kids through that process you will understand how kids can get swindled by the predator for profits or how many wind up with $100,000 in debt. Parents play a key role in their kids success in wading through the mess.

DCIA

Not saying it's not possible to rack up 100K+ in college debt. Just saying it's reasonable to ask how this kid got there when the average is 23K.

Also, agree with Joe above. Instead of looking for other ways to find taxpayers money to pay the cost why are we not looking at the root causes of why it costs so much to begin with and why it's costs are always increasing by a greater amount than inflation.

Alan, I have no problem looking at costs. BTW Your EFC will be 100%. Just to help you prepare, lol

Don't I know it :(

Privates are more generous Alan.

Recently much of the criticism of the American Jobs Act has centered around things that are intended to give the economy a short term jump start. Moving beyond the fact that it's legitimate Economics to do so I'd like to point out one little fact;

People don't eat in the long run...they need to eat now.

John B,

AMEN, and bridges do not fix themselves...

Nashville: It is fairly clear from the republican "debate crowds" that they support letting the uninsured die. The folks who lose homes and are straddled with mountains of debt, well let them live in the streets. The extreme right GOP/TP folks are clear on their message. No socialism unless it benefits me. These folks want the rest of us to pay for their participation in public schools, us to pay for the roads they use, us to pay for their earned income credits. Yet when the tables are turned they vehemently protest even a dime of their money to be used to fund things such as unemployment benefits or universal insurance policies.

Northstar: Didn't little Timmy Pawlenty give a graphic demonstration of bridges not fixing themselves in Minneapolis? How many died?

I hope your right. an economic rebound is the last thing the republicans want. LOL. We can clean their clocks in 2012 people - let's get to the polls!

newday yes their was 13 deaths on the 35 bridge. TPaw is responsible for this.

Thanks Palmquist.

I agree John, it's not he Government that needs to get out of the way, it's the tea people GOP republicans that need to get out of the way.

I also predicted the economy was improving, and the tea people GOP republicans would go ballistic not knowin how to deal with an improving economy after three years of trying to stall it.

John B,

Not sure if you saw Bill Maher Friday night (or since in reruns); but he made the most OBVIOUS statement that should click with ALL who are paying attention.

In matters of International Security and Foreign Affairs he is pretty much winning the hearts and minds of a world; but in matters of Domestic Policy where he is obstructed at every turn and things that Have managed to get passed are watered down,...it makes you wonder if he were allowed to actually pass his agenda and appointments just HOW successful would he have been by now?

Of course we'll never know, as Mitch and John have their eyes turned toward their Corporate Masters and the will of the People continues to be ignored by them. Does make you go, "hmmm!".

Great post, well said. And if we were to fall into a double dip recession it would be for the same reasons as the 1937 recession, when Republicans and Classical Economists demanded an end to economic stimulus before the growing economy had stabilized.

Exactly. Got in trouble the other day from the right for saying that about 1937. Goodness. I am married to a retired Navy man, and I never heard some of the stuff that I heard from them!

phinephancy. Short, and straight to the point. Great job.

Thanks. :)

I see OWS dialing up the violence in Oakland. Iraq war vet in the hospital with a fractured skull.

Gotta love progressives way to bring the violence!

You're aware, of course, that he was injured by the police, yes?

Rob.....once again you have the wrong take on the news, that veteran was struck by a police launched tear gas container....none of which should have been used on unarmed peaceful protestors. Do you know the difference????

As of yet we have not lost the right to freely assemble.

Rob didn't have the wrong take on the news Gingerbread Mamma, he intentionally lied, that's what the tea people GOP republicans do.

He did have the wrong take on Ryan's speech though. Ryan made a fool of himself. But this is normal for tea people GOP republicans like Rob.

"have been used on unarmed peaceful protestors..."

By all means lets forget about the fact that protesters were throwing rocks and bottles at the cops.

No respect for law and order. It's ALWAYS been the way for LEFTIST COWARDS.

Just ask the President's buddy Bill Ayers. Not that the President is guilt free in this. He's the one that ginned up the movement with his hate the rich class warfare bul%$t.

How could Ryan, with a straight face, make the comments he did, when the CBO report has come out showing the greatest disparity of wealth since 1928? I thought I couldn't be shocked anymore, but these guys still continue to amaze with their love of the wealthy.

My friends, Rob falls into the Liars and Lunatics class. He's multi-tasking today. I'm telling you, we have to ignore them.

By all means ignore me, collapse me, silence me.

It only proves the point that the left only believes in free speech for themselves. Disagree with the left and prepare to be maligned as racist or crazy or threatened.

Go check out some of the leftie sites and see for yourself what is coming down the road from the left.

I agree David, he is not worth the effort. And yet, I feel some of these Liars and Lunatics have others of a similar bent following them so need to make sure the truth is out there too. It can be a bit of a conundrum at times. For now he is on ignore along with a few other Liars and Lunatics. Peace.

Maybe Rob just need a colon cleanser to feel better.

Agreed D. Walker. Rob was spouting lies yesterday when he re-wrote history claiming Nixon was impeached. Just like Nixon's impeachment was revised, we now see the poster give revisionist spins on the Paul Ryan speech.

Rob in Ma,

You really are living in the past decade of 60's The reference to Bill Ayers is so out of date.LOL

OccupyWS movement is not your fathers protest movement...

It is a new day and new world....

Rob, I check out the occupywallst.org for my regular update. I learn a lot.

Rob: Paul Ryan made a fool of Obama yesterday. Actually, Obama didn't need any help in that regard Ryan simply crystalized the fact.

Paul Ryan did not make a fool of President Obama; rather, he made a fool of himself. Particularly telling is this comment made by Rep. Ryan:“Instead of appealing to the hope and optimism that were the hallmarks of his first campaign, he has launched his second campaign by preying on the emotions of fear, envy, and resentment."

The emotions of fear, envy, and resentment are common among people in a counrty with an income disparity as large as ours, and this large income disparity has grown since President Reagan was in office. OWS will escalate until we address this income disparity issue, something which the Republicans don't want to address. The failure to address this issue; in fact, the desire to increase income disparity by Republicans, is the true class warfare.

OccupyWS movement is not your fathers protest movement...

sure looks like it to me.

And from the way there polls are sinking I'm not alone.

And I did jump the gun yesterday in a response. Nixon was not impeached - just the two democrat presidents were.

By all means ignore me, collapse me, silence me.

It only proves the point that the left only believes in free speech for themselves. Disagree with the left and prepare to be maligned as racist or crazy or threatened.

No, sir, I'll not do you the favor...I prefer to let your posts here shine as a bright beacon of your ignorance. Everybody stand back and marvel!

Rob: By all means lets forget about the fact that protesters were throwing rocks and bottles at the cops.

Interesting, isn't it? The media was so concerned about the "diversity" of the tea party rallies, but the OWS seems to be mostly white 20-somethings, and the media has no mention of that. The media also actively looked for disparaging signs at tea party rallies and highlighted them on the news. The anti-Semetic signs at the OWS protests now ignored by the same media. Violence was never a part of any tea party rally, but the media again looked for stories and fabricated a tea partier who they said spit at Congressman John Lewis. Video and audio showed no such thing. Now we have the violence escalating with the OWS crowd, and the Left blames the police for restoring the peace. The tea party rallies had a beginning, an end, and a point. The OWS crowd lives in filthy conditions, have new "demands" everyday, and they wander around aimlessly.

Quite a contrast with how the media covers both events.

The anti-Semetic signs at the OWS protests now ignored by the same media

Leave it to Sniffy - to create another non-troversy!

The Anti-Defamation League said while there were a small number of anti-Semitic protesters and signs at the Occupy Wall Street protests, they found "no evidence" that such views were representative of the movement as a whole or were "gaining traction." The group asked the Occupy Wall Street movement to condemn "manifestations of anti-Semitism and racism" at their rallies, the same request it made to the Tea Party movement.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/newt-gingrich-occupy-wall-street_n_1032731.html

Tell us Snuffy - do you ever grow tired of making an ass out of yourself?

Ha, nice try but the joke is on Rob in MA. Paul Ryan made a fool of HIMSELF yesterday--fear does that to conservatives like Ryan. The fact that ordinary working folks, those looking for work are rising up to protest the failed GOP policies that finally collapsed has Ryan and his party scared spitless. His answer: blame it on President Obama. The conservatives have been pitching class warfare for 30 years--demonize teachers as leeches off taxpayers, demonize unions because unions mean power to the ordinary people, demonize government and thus government workers as unimportant. How do you spell Ryan? F-E-A-R.

Paul Ryan's budget cut programs for the middle class, cut food programs for the poor, etc. in order to keep tax loopholes and corporate welfare in place for oil and coal companies and not raise taxes by about 4% on the rich. Paul Ryan knows what class warfare is, he wages it against the 99% and especially the elderly and the poor every day. Class warfare at its finest produced by Paul Ryan.

Joanna,

Your little contrast between the Tea party and OWS and the mainstream media coverage is not working.

You cannot contrast a rock and flowing water in any meaningful way.

Yup, the Occupy movement does come up with new ideas everyday. It is all about a sustained conversation where everyone gets to express a view.

This is what Democracy looks like.

Northstar: "You cannot contrast a rock and flowing water in any meaningful way."

CONTRAST THIS...............

The Tea Party is NON violent. The OWS has had police conflicts from the beginning.

The Tea Party are citizens who want to decrease govt. debt. The OWS are a multitude of groups, ideas, socialists and anarchists.

There are many among the OWS protesters who are ANTI the bail outs. So I ask....WHY AREN'T THEY protesting the WHITE HOUSE?????? That's where all the bail outs came from !!!!!!!!!

Feisty: "Tell us Snuffy - do you ever grow tired of making an ass out of yourself?"

Ummmm, How many times do we need to remind you, Feisty, NO NAME CALLING!! LOL

Obama wouldn't like it !! He's calling for "civility!" I may have to email the WH all the examples of your name calling. LOL

wow, spin is pervasive today, eh?

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-highlighting-head-stomper-argues-violence-is-a-right-wing-problem/

Who got their head stomped at a Rand Paul 'rally'? hmm? Right,...Revisionist history only works on the un-educated; which is why you'll see Leona and JAS1 posting 24/7. They won't bother to attribute their rhetoric to THEIR master, Limbaugh, but you'll quickly recognize his 'branding'.

And they'll do it in SUCH a civilized manner, angels will WEEP.

Leona, the reason the OWS has not been protesting the White or Congress is that many of them see that all politicians are bought and paid for by the money interests of the 1%. So they are speaking out to the source of power in this country.

In this respect, they are giving voice to the sentiment of the 99% that the "game is fixed".

It is yet to be determined if this passion and energy will be funneled into votes for any politician. But the political institutions are beginning to pay attention. Either they are trying to co opt the movement or discredit it.

As to the Tea Party movement they have made their bed with the Republicans and now they have to lay in it.

Good luck Leona with your primaries...

The biggest threat to the OWS movement is rabble rousers, hangers on, and trouble makers...some of which are there SPECIFICALLY to make them look bad. The critical thing for them is to stick very tightly to the nonviolent principles of Ghandi and King. In that they've done very well to date.

Will they be able to take this anywhere? So far it's too early to tell. What isn't too early to tell is that we as a country are now talking about the greedy, careless banksters who took our society to the brink of a second Great Depression. We're talking about how that culture is destructive to the average American. That's a discussion we need to have.

Sadly, it is the GOP first. So much for their oath to the country.

Progressive: "(McConnell) Openly admitted to a public audience that he is politically willing to destroy an American President, and in turn, taking down the nation.

You have it backwards....We are trying to save the country from the Socialistic destructive policies of Obama. The middle class, the working poor NEED JOBS !!!!!

Obama = 9.1% UNEMPLOYMENT.

GOP for JOBS JOBS JOBS.

GOP for JOBS JOBS JOBS.

Leona,

If that were true we'd see less regulation of women's reproductive rights and more legislation aimed at creating jobs. Sadly, we do not.

Additionally, Mickey Mouse McConnell did publicly say it was the goal of the GOP to make President Obama a one term President. That you cannot argue. It is not the job of Congress to undermine the executive branch, rather support and cooperate with it to promote the general welfare. That you cannot argue either.

Last time I looked, it was the GOP approval that was in the tank. President Obama was at 46%.

Your bragging about 46%????

That tells me deep down you truly know he deserves to be below 30%

Do you want to brag that unemployment is only at 9.1%

Excuse me sir. No bragging was involved. I just pointed out the flaw in your original post. Personally, with all the obstrutionism of the right, I feel his numbers should be higher. As for the unemployment numbers, I place that squarely on the policies of both parties for the last 30 years. Pick up a history book and learn something. Stop relying on talk radio and Fox news for your information.

You having trouble excepting the fact that only 9% of Americans approve of the tea people GOP republicans Steven B? The Presidents poll numbers are rising, the economy is improving and the tea people GOP republicans are lost in the dark.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 19% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -23 (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_history http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_history http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_cont" target="_blank">see trends).

Meanwhile perceptions of President Obama’s handling of the economy – the most important issue on voters’ minds – have fallen to a new low.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney continues to run neck-and-neck with President Barack Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.

Just sixteen percent (16%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Obama is horrible as POTUS, yet the lemmings will not see.

They tout Obama's 'jobs bill' that only funds jobs for one year. That's a joke.

They tout Obama's popularity, when they know he's losing ground every day, just as the American People continue to lose ground.

Obama is not the man for the job.

The Dems are better off running Hillary.

Steven B: I don't recall President Obama "mocking" the wealthy. Rather, he is addressing the income disparity issue in this country. That is not "mocking."

Additionally, don't just use one poll as evidence to support your statements. Use the Real Clear Politics poll averages to glean a better picture of approval/disapproval of elected officials and candidates.

Obama's M.O. is to mock and belittle anyone who doesn't agree with him:

Obama mocks GOP jobs IQ: ‘Maybe they couldn’t understand'

By Sam Youngman - 10/17/11 08:24 PM ET

President Obama mocked the intelligence of Republicans on Monday while making the first stop of his three-day bus tour, implying GOP lawmakers didn’t pass his $447 billion jobs bill because they weren’t smart enough to understand it.

“Maybe they just couldn’t understand the whole thing all at once,” Obama said during an address in Asheville, N.C., that had all the trappings of a 2012 campaign event, including a crowd chanting, “Four more years.”

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/188079-obama-mocks-gop-jobs-iq-maybe-they-couldnt-understand-the-whole-thing-

Steven B: “Maybe they just couldn’t understand the whole thing all at once,” Obama said during an address in Asheville, N.C., that had all the trappings of a 2012 campaign event, including a crowd chanting, “Four more years.”

The operative word is "they." He was referring to Congress, not just Republicans. While he calls out Republicans for their obstruction, his comments about breaking up the bill so they could understand was directed to Congress.

The thing is Steven B, you and Rasmussen cherry pick. Total approve of President Obama is 43% total disapprove is 55% so that makes his approval index -8. You make it to easy to point out your lie. You and Rasmussen use only the strongly approve and strongly disapprove numbers. I do see why Rasmussen is distorting the poll though. Reading farther down the article they want you to subscribe to the Rasmussen report for $34.95 a year and they know the tea people GOP republicans are the most vulnerable to poll distortions. Facts Steven facts, I know that's a foreign word to you.

Steven: Calling people you disagree with politically lemmings just makes you...well....another lemming. According to the same poll, (read the WSJ today) President Obama trounces all Republican candidates handily..."He’s up 47%-39% against former pizza company executive Herman Cain, now the preferred candidate of Republican voters in Ohio. He leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 45% to 41%. And he’s 11 percentage points ahead of Texas Gov. Rick Perry." if you want to live and die by poll numbers, you're going to have to keep up.

Steven B: "Obama is mocking the 'wealthy', but he rubs elbows with them at $40k a plate dinners.And MSNBC is along for the ride"

Steven, you are right.

Don't forget the "M" in Msnbc stands for MISLEADING. LOL

Actually, Leona, MSNBC was born of a partnership between NBC and MicroSoft. Gosh, facts really are not the conservative strong suit.

Per Wikipedia:

...Its name is derived from those of "Microsoft" and "NBC".^[6]

MSNBC and msnbc.com were founded in 1996 as partnerships between Microsoft and General Electric's NBC unit, which is now NBCUniversal.

I worry we are coming to a "Kent State" moment. And the odd part of the police attack? The OWS says that the police deserve to be paid better. Irony.

I meant the irony that the OWS is on the side of the police.

The OWS are breaking the laws, and forcing the police to act. They're undisciplined rabble.

No they are not. They are just tired of a system that does not work. They feel, rightly so - I believe, that their voices are not being heard both in Washington and on Wall Street. They feel, as do I, that the system is rigged against them. That this country is for the wealthy, of the weathly and by the wealthy.

Demonstrations and movements, such as OWS, occur in countries with a large income disparity. Moving forward, I hope that the Republicans will keep this in mind while making policy.

Alas, Mary, I seriously doubt that. The Republican party has been remarkably tone deaf to the American people.

No they are not.

Really?

Steven B

The OWS are breaking the laws, and forcing the police to act. They're undisciplined rabble.

That's what the Syrian dictator calls the protesters there, too. And it's interesting how easily you include an Iraq war veteran gravely injured by the police in the "undisciplined rabble" category. I'll bet you one of those warmongers who worships "the troops' but doesn't give a damn about actual soldiers.

Really.

BTW: The civil rights protesters of the 1960s were"breaking the law" too. Maybe Steve is still bitter about how well nonviolent civil disobedience worked then.

My first ammendment is not only valid between 6am - 10pm.

I hope it turns into a Kent State issue. Except there are a lot of Kent States this time, and a lot of former servicemen who still remember how to shoot straight, out in those rallies.

@Houston,

The main stream media only shows up when they hear that the police will be clearing out the parks. During the day at each of these sites the information is being spread by the protesters themselves. Most have said that the corporate media is not to be trusted because they only are looking for a sound bite or a great video shot to fit their daily cable time schedule...

Thank you. Been a long time since I took a poly sci class. Forgot about that.

anotherdem: The Chicago Tribune had a good article regarding the "progress" of the super committee. It states Congress will unlikely scuttle the automatic cuts (trigger), even without a deal. So, the trigger is basically an idle threat. It also states that Senator Kyl said that he would walk away from his position on the supercommitee if defense cuts were part of its recommendation. Republicans on the committee also refuse new taxes, while the Democrats are open to some cuts to programs if taxes are on the table.

So, in a nutshell, no progress.

Sepaking of "hand picked participants", i heard Eric Cantor refused to meet a commitment to speak because there were 300 seats open to the public. Guess it's politically inconvenient when you don't control the narrative and have to actually answer questions off the cuff.

I have much disdain for Rep. Cantor.

I wish they would go back to the old fillibuster, you know the "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" kind. This 60 vote thing for every vote (and I am blaming both parties here) does not seem very American. What happened to majority rule?

Yes, MSNBC reported on the new numbers just to upset you.

With the candidates you have to choose from Bob, yes every week is a disaster for the tea people GOP republicans. The reason you're so upset is because you know it's true.

Bob, All that good news is just SO DAMN depressing huh?

Perry has less than 6% support from his own party. Do the math. 6% of about 20% of all voters is an unimpressive 1.2% OF ALL VOTERS. You can't get elected DOG CATCHER with those numbers!

And now everytime Romney opens his mouth every last word gets vetted by the Media and his OWN PARTY. Why? Because he has flip flopped so many times both the media and HIS OWN PARTY want to know if he is doing it again!

Its getting too late to find a real candidate for president, I guess you should be panicking.

Economy improving!

Does this mean that the GOP strategy of wanting to make America fail, is now a failure itself?

RUSH: I got a request here from a major American print publication. "Dear Rush: For the Obama [Immaculate] Inauguration we are asking a handful of very prominent politicians, statesmen, scholars, businessmen, commentators, and economists to write 400 words on their hope for the Obama presidency. We would love to include you. If you could send us 400 words on your hope for the Obama presidency, we need it by Monday night, that would be ideal."

"Okay, I'll send you a response, but I don't need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails." (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here's the point. Everybody thinks it's outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, "Oh, you can't do that."

Political Wire caught Mitch McConnell saying:

"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."

Shouldn't Mitch be worried about how people are going to deal with the fraudulent foreclosure mess and getting people back to work? Now that the economy is improving, maybe we don't need Mitch McConnell and the GOP to stand in the way anymore?

Are you suggesting that we should stay in Iraq forever? Colonize them? Make them a state? It is time to come home and let them sink or swim.

So, just let Iran roll in and take over, huh?

Um, the Iraqi people do not want us there anymore. It is there country. As for Iran taking over, I have a feeling the some of the other countries in the region would have something to say about that. Most of the other Arab countries are not all that thrilled with the Iranian government.

Ah oh - here we go. Birth-ers, School-ers, and now Iranian-ers.

Gary--Who cares?? We can't afford to be there playing soldier. Its over and thank God, Allah, and Budda for that!

They say Perry rarely debated in Texas. That his strength is in retail politics.

Perry's like the rest of the tea people GOP republicans, when he's in a situation he has to tell the truth he's lost. He's better in what they call "retail politics" which is really just being in the company of his fellow tea people GOP republicans where he can get away with his lies about him and his record and isn't questioned.

Dale, Bob never tells all the story, just the parts that fit the tea people GOP republicans ideology.

They did accomplish a lot...two wars their own little brats wouldn't fight in...near free viagra for grandad but nothing for his grandkid...trickle down my pant leg to you voodo economics...interfering in the terri schiavo case...imposing new rules concerning choice...the republicans accomplished a lot...to take us back to the 19th century that is...

Dale

Filibuster right back at you.

LEONA you're just out right lying about Rep. Cummings. He specifically said he didn't think the tea people GOP republicans were racists. I watched the interview with Rep. Cummings you're lying. You tea people GOP republicans make it to easy to call out your lies.

Mo, Put down the kool aid and stop seeing only what you want to see. I don't lie. I wish these things were NOT true. The Dems are destroying this country and dividing it. I know that without calling Republicans racists, the Dems will have very little to offer Black Americans besides HAND OUTS.

Like Herman Cain said, try getting off the "Democrat Plantation."

You might like it.

Leona,

Rigid fixated thinking characterizes conservative thought and their resultant policies. They live in nearly constant fear of change, they manufacture imaginary enemies out of their paranoia, and they cling like little children to their antiquated so called traditional ways. They can't imagine a world different than the one they cling to even in the face of over whelming evidence that it is long gone. Its in their nature.

A frog and a scorpian are standing on the edge of a lake.

The scorpian says to the frog: "Since you are such a good swimmer would you let me ride on your back to the other side?"

Frog replies: " No way you will sting me and I will die and drown!"

Scorpian says; " I would never do that because then I would drown too"

Frog: "I guess that's true, OK, get on board"

And then frog starts swimming across the lake with the scorpian riding on his back. When they reach the middle of the lake the scorpian stings the frog and kills him.

Why?

Because it is in the nature of the Scorpian to sting a frog if he can, and the reality of the situation be damned, even if it means the scorpian's own Death.

The fable above illustrates Scorpian and Conservative thinking in the 21st Century!

James,

Nice fairy tale. Did you get that from Disney? lol

That's what it is. A fairy tale.

Wow, the kool aid is strong today.

In the old days, before most people could read, the monks used " Bookmarks" to teach their people life's lessons. A "Bookmark" was a small illustration accompanied by a very short tale that the monk would read to the people. It was a very effective way of bringing moral concepts and wisdom to the people.

I thought it might be worth a try but apparently the idea has failed!

James,

hahaha. No one is buying it.

I thought it was very illustrative, I actually first heard that little tale from my divorce attorney, it was his way of explaing the inexplicable and irrational behavoir of my ex! You might want to print it off and refer to it from time to time!