“The best of my ability. . .”

Any time I hear a politician say “I have to lead first by example…” I quickly prepare myself for the smelly load that is heading down the chute. The latest load of feces oozing down that chute comes from Mitch McConnell when speaking about spending earmarks.

A senator, when asked to defend his use of earmarks after admitting they are outrageous, says he doesn’t have to.

These guys have become so emboldened by the public’s lack of willingness to do anything about their actions that they can actually speak publicly about how earmark spending is an outrage and then walk into chambers and load up any available bill with millions in earmarks.

They have become quite proficient in the use of political double-speak in order to avoid answering embarrassing questions. This is all the proof necessary to show how little respect politicians have for the voting public.

That same senator when repeatedly asked by another reporter if he was wrong for asking for millions in earmarks states that he has tried to answer to the best of his ability.

The way I see it, if truth is not a part of the ‘best of his ability’ then he should not be an elected representative.

Net Neutrality – Another Tool for Republicans Lies

Interesting insight into how Republicans see reality. A Republican spokesperson has come out against the net neutrality proposal claiming that the FCC decision is insulting and nothing more than a government takeover because it restricts unfair business practices that deprive consumers and providers equal and unfettered access to the Internet.

FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski’s recently released draft proposal on net neutrality states the proposal is intended to keep the Internet free of control and manipulation by any public or private group. In short, it will put regulations in place to protect consumers and innovators so the Internet remains a free and open means of communication. Genachowski says that, “The proposed framework will bar unreasonable discrimination of lawful Internet traffic.”

Here we have the GOP claiming the consumer will lose if the proposal passes and the FCC chairman saying it’s passage is in the best interest of the consumer.

These guys are all, regardless of party affiliation, suppose to be looking out for the best interest of all consumers so how can these two opposing views both be accurate?

Simply put, the draft proposes that consumers and innovators have a right to send and receive lawful Internet traffic, and it prohibits blocking of connections, content or devices by any public or private entity. And that no central authority should have the right to pick which ideas or companies win or lose on the Internet, and it should be the role of the marketplace and free market to dictate consumer’s and innovators choices.

To me this sounds like a full on protection of internet access for all consumers.

Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sees it differently. She claims this proposal is insulting and claims that net neutrality is nothing more than government takeover of the Internet.

Excuse me Ms. Blackburn of Tennessee, but if my access to the internet will be protected from control by any group, please explain to me how this is insulting? Please lay out your views on how this proposal is a government takeover of the internet.

Also, how is it in your warped sense of reality that the Federal Communications Commission has no right to regulate communications?

Your claim that “tepid support of the FCC proposal by Internet Service Providers is in fact proof that no one wants Obama to control the Internet”, is flawed by simple common sense. Allow me to enlighten you madame R-TN, Internet Service Providers make money off of their control of Internet access, namely through the gluttonous concept of tiered pricing. This unabashed scheme to bilk as much money as possible from the very consumers who keep them in business is shameful, and I am trying to be as kind here as I possible can.

No other nation in the world so strangles the innovation and consumer access to the Internet by adhering to this Machiavellian means of control of Freedom of Speech. Internet access should be guaranteed for all people, much the same way in which libraries and news media is.

ISP’s dictate the speed at which the Internet can reach consumers by following the same business model as that used for cable television. The Internet is not cable television. To decide that only the rich can have the greatest access to information, news, entertainment and a forum to voice our opinion is to draw the same hard line of division that King Louis IV maintained which lead to the French Revolution.

This is representative of a growing Republican mantra, when a government agency tasked with protecting consumers makes and enforces regulations; Republicans scream ‘government takeover’ or another Obama power grab. Even though the attempt by government is to enforce protection of free speech, unfettered access and to prevent control and manipulation by any public or private group.

Witnessing their continued blatant corporate protectionist tactics at the cost of consumer protection, I think it’s obvious who Republicans are really looking out for.

Net Neutrality is not government takeover. Nor is it in any way near socialism. It is as much about equal rights for everyone as was the Womens Suffrage Act of 1920, Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The bottom line here is that Republicans hate any regulations that do not favor the wealthy, banks, or corporations, and their deregulation mantra is predictable. It has been Democrats who advocate for consumers and put in place regulations that protect every American, including Republicans.

Blackburn’s lies that Genachowski’s proposals hinder access to the Internet are meant to garner support from voters who have no idea what the proposals mean for consumers.

Education is what is needed for the ultimate in consumer protection.

It is clear that Republicans will go so far as to prevent access to education if it will aid in furthering their lies about regulation as a means to frighten voters.

Please get the word out that Net Neutrality is a step towards better Internet access not an attempt to take it away from us.

Republicans Whining Because Obama Is Working Around Thie Obstructions

Republicans are howling about the proposal to expand health coverage and tax greenhouse gas emissions without their input, warning that it could irrevocably damage relations with the new president.

"Warning that it could irrevocably damage relations with the new president." Right, those would be the relations where Obama bent over backwards, even offered the GOP 3 cabinet posts, and in return 3 of them - a whopping 3 - voted for the stimulus package. What "relations" are the Republicans talking about?

clipped from www.americablog.com The Republican whining about Obama and bipartisanship is getting tiresome. To work, bipartisanship has to be a two-way street. But, the Republicans have a roadblock on their side of the street -- and they bitch every time Obama tries to get around their obstructions: Obama went to the White House with a vow to change the way things are done. The Republicans are playing the same games. Obama vowed accomplishments for the American people. The Republicans on Capitol Hill are doing every thing they can to stop him. So, when Obama basically, says "Fine, I'll do it without you," the Republicans whine and run to the media. It's pathetic and it's gotten really old already. Rush Limbaugh, the leader of the GOP, has said repeatedly he wants Obama to fail. Most of the GOPers on the Hill are lemmings who follow (and fear) Rush That's what Obama is up against. Republicans want to kill Obama's agenda. It's good that the White House has figured that out

Rush Limbaugh: the Great Divider

I must be masochistic to even bother with the ole windbag but I guess it’s a morbid curiosity akin to slowing down to see a car accident.

He talks about ‘taking back’ the nation. Does he not realize he is, ‘cough’, ‘choke’, a part of this nation?

He obviously has a lot of followers since he has been on the air as long as he has. It’s scary to know there are that many like-minded people who tune him in. Personally I have a difficult time reading what he says, there ‘s no way I would listen to his radio broadcasts.

I have a suggestion, Mr. Limbaugh, how about working with the president, everyone’s leader, to work on a recovery plan that will bring this nation back to prosperity. That is if you can keep your colossal ego in check.

It will probably require an intervention, but if you can admit that Team Bush did a lousy job of running this country and is responsible for the mess we are in, then we can drop this bravado of yours that prevents you from being a part of the solution. If in one those rare moments when you allow the overwhelming truth to seep in past your defenses, even you will have to finally see that we got rid of Bush a little too late.

You claim that conservatives have not done a good enough job letting people know who you are. Au contraire, Mr. Limbaugh, for eight long years we witnessed all too well who you guys are. Say, isn’t this an admission by the ‘infallible’ Rush that Bush did not do a good job? Honestly, the Bush crew paved the path to dismantling the republican party leadership by turning a surplus at the beginning of his first term into the deepest deficit this nation has ever known. And the result has put you in front of the Conservative Political Action Committee pleading for someone to please take the lead of your parry. Can’t you recognize the fruitlessness in trying to find someone to follow those same policies that has derailed this nation? Obviously, no one wants to take the lead of a party that has failed so miserably.

It seems you guys are well versed in how to make corporate leaders richer and you certainly know how to go about protecting their wealth. But, if your grand plan of giving all of the money to those in the ‘upper’ income brackets really would have provided more money to be spread around to everyone else, would we be in the economic mess we are in today? The current state of the economy speaks for itself.

And what is this self-described "first national address" business? One would think you consider yourself president of this nation. I know it plays well with your ego to see yourself in this position, but you did not get elected as my president. The “fear, angst and crisis” charge you put at Obama’s doorstep was GW’s modus operandi and wouldn’t it be great to allow American’s back into a productive position by having your conservative bank buddies loosen their grip on the bailout money and allow it to fulfill its intended purpose?

It has been “historically shown and demonstrated” that republicans can dig us into a deep recession and then complain about how democrats don’t know how to correct it. Mr. Limbaugh, instead of preaching about how President Obama wants us to fear the worst so he and his pals can come in and save the day, how about you recognize that this is exactly what you want to do. Put that nonsense behind us and get on with providing some helpful solutions?

Rep. Nick Thompson v. Rush Limbaugh

When Henrietta Hughes, homeless after losing her home to foreclosure in 2003, pleaded for help from Barack Obama during his town hall meeting in Fort Myers, Florida, she not only received a sympathetic kiss from the president but a helping hand from state Rep. Nick Thompson, R-Fort Myers, and his wife Chene. Mrs. Thompson, a former prosecutor, on the spot offered Hughes, 61, and her son use of a second home they have been unable to sell or rent. Call it a random act of kindness.

But before long, Rush Limbaugh was on the air casting Hughes as an "embarrassing" poster child for Americans expecting free hand-outs from the president ("I mean, as an American, this is embarrassing, and it's sad, but there's a reason why -- there's a reason why this woman takes her one chance to talk to the president of the United States and ask and beg for a car and a kitchen," said Limbaugh). And Rep. Thompson started receiving calls from people across the country bashing him as a disgrace to Republican principles of self-responsibility. Thompson makes no apologies, noting after losing her home to foreclosure in 2003 that Hughes has been paying credit card debt, car insurance, even tithing to her ministry, while living off Social Security and food stamps.

"There is nothing more American or Christian or freedom-loving than someone of their own volition using the resources they have to help someone, and not going through some government program or using tax dollars,’’ Thompson said.

These people, Nick Thompson and his wife, out of the goodness of their hearts, allowed this stranger to live in an unused home while she tries to get on her feet. Kudos to them both.

Rush Limbaugh, giant ass that he is, has the nerve to rant against the Thompsons’ as an embarrassment to Americans. For this comment and many, many others, Rush Limbaugh is an embarrassment to humanity. He views this type of charity only through the eyes of “what is in it for me”. And then his ‘ditto-head flock of sheep’ start bashing Thompson as a disgrace to Republican principles of self-responsibility.

Self responsibility through helping your neighbor in time of need is the greatest show of respect we can offer each other. This is the kind of respectability that far too many Americans have forgotten.

As Mr. Thompson said "Whether Republican or Democrat, the more people do small things like just helping your neighbor the better off we’d be."

Bailout? What Bailout?

Does acting quickly have the desired effect of appearing to know what you are doing? In the case of the $700B Wall Street bailout, the answer is apparently, No.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson panicked and cajoled Congress into passing a bailout that was identified as needed immediately in order to avert a looming economic crash that would have rivaled the stock market crash of 1929. In hindsight, his plan failed to have any effect and the stock market is still fluctuating wildly. Now, after being given complete control over how that money is to be used, he has changed course. This action has angered many who voted for the measure and has raised the question of his credibility and competence.

The plan was to buy troubled assets. Then the money was used to buy shares in banks. Now it’s going to be used to support financial institutions offering consumer credit. Democrats in Congress want some of the money to go to the auto industry.

The money was to be used to “stabilize” the economy. It didn’t stabilize anything.

The money was supposed to buy “troubled assets”, but it will not buy troubled assets.

The money was supposed to “rescue” Wall Street, but has only rescued some big banks and corporations. (The conspiracy theorist in me wants to think that those who were rescued had some ties to the Bush administration. Another theory has the federal government socializing the banking system. But these are fodder for other posts at another time).

The fact is Henry Paulson doesn’t have a clue how to best use this money and the program that was originally passed has changed. (Sounds an awful lot like a scam, doesn’t it).

The majority of House Republicans didn’t want any part of the original plan without more details and therefore did not vote for it. The plan was voted for by House GOP Leadership defying the wishes of the majority of members of their own House caucus. Now, some members of Congress, republicans and democrats alike, are supporting Bloomberg News in its legal demand that the Federal Reserve provide details of the bailout process.

It is down right scary to know that Congress will vote for a plan without details of that plan and place unprecedented power in the hands of a man who has now clearly shown does not know what to do with the money.

So, what we have is an extremely large pool of money (many say is not large enough), a man in charge of that fund who admittedly does not know what to do with it, and a faltering economy that desperately needs to be stabilized. Would demanding Paulson’s resignation improve things? I doubt it.

People are still loosing their homes and jobs, and our faith in our future is being badly shaken. CEO’s and big oil are walking away with record profits. Politicians grasp at any glimmer of hope to keep things working and no one is truly in control of anything.

Sarah Palin: Political Farce

This shouldn’t be worthy of my time, but Sarah Palin had the unmitigated audacity to counter-attack McCain campaign aides’ remarks about her with such hypocrisy and irony that it screams to be addressed.

Claims were made that Palin did not know Africa was a continent instead of a country, or which countries are part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, despite touting her familiarity with neighboring Canada.

"Those were taken out of context and that's cruel," Palin said. "It's mean-spirited. It's immature. It's unprofessional and those guys are jerks if they came away with it, taking things out of context, and then tried to spread something on national news."

She makes this statement after she used the exact same tactics against Barack Obama during the campaign.

This all amounts to nothing more than the pitiful and childish finger-pointing that takes place by a losing team that does not have the class and foresight to learn from their mistakes and build on them in order to come back stronger in the next contest.

Anyone listening to Palin’s unscripted comments could see that she was in over her head. The voters saw through the façade the GOP was painting. You can dress her up in new clothes and prep her for debates but she still lacks any real substance.

The whole Sarah Palin show was window dressing and the GOP should be ashamed for their transparent attempt to pass her off as anything worthy of national attention. It amounted to nothing more than a farce on the level of a National Lampoon movie script about the presidential campaign process.

She says there was no tension among McCain staffers concerning her. Her denial is evident of her view of herself as “flawless” and worthy to be the center of attention, convinced that no one can possibly have any ill will towards her. She reminds me of that stereo-typical spoiled brat whose parents lavish praise on her, boosting her ego beyond her abilities, while everyone around her sees she is nothing special. It is really very pitiful.

This woman lacks the self-awareness needed to realistically view herself through other peoples eyes, which, as a politician, is extremely dangerous when trying to convince people to place their future in her hands.

The fact that she prepared a concession speech, and fully expected to give it before John McCain’s speech, coupled with the fact that vice-presidential nominees traditionally don’t give concession speeches on election night, bowing to the presidential candidate to give the speech, just proves how much more importance she placed in herself over John McCain.

As some McCain aides say, and many others saw, Palin had become more interested in her own future than in McCain's election. And, for future reference, this proves she places herself above this countries needs. She can deny it all she wants but her actions show it and her history bears it out to be true.

Her best option is to back away from the media and go about her role in Alaska for which she was elected. Put this business behind her and stay away from the national spotlight. We Americans have already witnessed her many failed attempts at trying to sound knowledgeable. We see these attempts for what they are, whitewash.

Sarah Palin, It’s Time to Quit

Sarah Palin isn’t in this election to change anything in Washington, she is in this race to win. This is nothing more than a contest to her. Her competitive spirit is dictating that she not back down (an unthinkable act contrary to her very nature) and do whatever it takes to win. To her, the end justifies the means. This is a selfish and dangerous gamble when the very welfare of Americans hang in the balance.

Irrespective of the fact that this nation will not benefit from having her in any leadership role, she simply lies and abuses the power of her office to get what she wants. We have been witness to this type of behavior from both George W Bush and Dick Cheney. We don’t want any more of it.

How can we as a nation, suffering from the immorality of an illegal and unjust war and crippled as the result of policies of an unethical leadership, hope to regain the respect that comes from being a world leader?

How can we expect to reverse this administrations overt (and covert) attempts to weaken our basic constitutional freedoms if we don’t exercise our right to speak out against these injustices?

How can we ever have any hope of reclaiming our dignity under ‘new’ leadership that will only give us more of the same?

When will we again be able to hold our heads up and be proud to be American after our leaders have authorized torture, condoned kidnapping, instituted secret prisons, authorized warrantless surveillance on fellow Americans, and shielded high ranking government officials from investigation into suspected crimes?

We can start by demanding that McCain/Palin be banished into obscurity for the divisive, unashamed, crass and cynical actions they have taken against the American people.

The current state of the republican party has degenerated into an unethical, immoral, propaganda generating, smear machine designed more for character assassination than solidifying itself as a viable platform of positive change. Change this country desperately needs.

Sarah Palins choice as vice presidential candidate has accelerated the decline of the republican party platform.

John McCain, who I believe is a decent person, has made a grave error in judgment in allowing his campaign to take this disastrous and hateful course. Perhaps blinded by the prize, he has done himself and his country a grave disservice. As a result of his choice the world now sees him as selling out his principles for his party.

Sarah Palin, the time has come to put the country first and bow out in an attempt to restore some dignity to the once proud institution of voting for political office.

Whose Money Is It?

The Republicans rode in on their white horses, at the last minute, and saved the day. Everybody cheer! Pats on the back to everyone for a job well done! Hip, hip, hooray!

The party atmosphere in the White House is almost palpable. Champagne corks are flying, party favors are passed out at the door. While that address on Pennsylvania Avenue celebrates its heroic victory of snatching Wall Street investors from the jaws of almost certain doom, taxpayers are footing the bill, again. Ex-homeowners are setting up new residences in tent cities across the country adding to the already shameful number of homeless right here in the richest and most affluent country in the world.

Sure, bailing out these large financial institutions was the most expedient method to prevent an even deeper recession, which, by the way, was created by these very same people, but how about sending some help to those people whose dreams of owning their own home were preyed upon by unethical money lenders whose own personal goals were to sell as many loans as possible.

By extending credit to questionable, borderline, at-risk individuals whose qualifications were based on some pretty creative credit score criteria, these short-sighted, greedy mortgage lenders knew these loans would probably never be able to be repaid and therefore they became one of the instruments that brought this economy to its knees. They were paid their salaries so they didn’t care if the loans would be paid or not. After all, to their irresponsible way of thinking, it wasn’t their money.

The result of the devastating wave of foreclosures will be felt for years to come in neighborhoods across this country, with the potential to affect entire cities. But, hey, it wasn’t their money so why should mortgage lenders care. They think their responsibility began and ended on the dotted line.

Lenders and servicers who hold those loans need to now step up and restructure high-risk loans, that they were responsible for, into lower-rate mortgages to help people stay in their homes in order to continue to be productive in this economy instead of a drain on it. It is their moral responsibility.

Here’s a message for anyone who deals with money: any government bailout comes out of our taxes and takes money away from other necessary projects. Projects we all benefit from, so, yes it is your money too. These narrow-minded mortgage lenders who wrought such havoc on our society will pay for their bad decisions, right along with the rest of us.

They share the blame for this faltering economy with those heroic rescuing Republicans on their white horses who saw to it that the wealthy don’t pay as much tax as the rest of us. In pushing corporate welfare they have upset a very basic tenet of a capitalist economy: there has to exist a buyer and a producer. When the buyer is drained of all financial ability to buy then the system falls apart. Very simple explanation, true, but this is what is happening. This republican government, in its zeal to do everything in its power to shift as much financial wealth as possible to the wealthiest among us, has, without going into an actual depression, created the largest welfare-dependent group of people in U.S. history.

The very backbone of this economy is being bled dry. America cannot afford to go deeper into debt. Americans cannot afford to support the fiscal irresponsible republican sacred cow of throwing money at a problem until it goes away. Corporate America has unashamedly raided pension plans to cover their leaders bad financial decisions, the federal government has tapped the Social Security system to cover short falls from a vast array of financial mis-management. An illegal war has drained billions of dollars away from needed infrastructure projects, healthcare, education, etc that still need to be paid for. The health and welfare of the American populace is being pushed aside to protect the rich from the after effects of their own lack of financial responsibility.

While the CEO’s and politicians responsible for this economic misery walk away, counting their financial spoils, millions of American taxpayers will be saddled with this bailout for years to come.

While politicians are enriched by corporate America’s lobbyists and CEO’s savor their sweetheart golden parachute deals the American taxpayer struggles to pay the ever increasing costs for the very basic needs of survival that these same politicians and CEO’s will never have to struggle for.

As long as our political leaders are more concerned with ensuring a profit for corporate America than for the public welfare of the working class whose hard work and purchasing power are instrumental in creating that profit, taxpayers will never get a break.

So, in the end, the venerable and steadfast hard working American taxpayer once again has his pockets ripped open by the unethically greedy and immorally bloodied hands of this administration in order to scrape out the last remaining nickel to cover their mistakes and feed the insatiable greed of corporate America.

Once again I ask, Whose money is it?