Robert Scheer: Obama Hires a Hustler
22 seconds ago
Friday, September 24, 2010
Bailed out banks piling on new bank fees
As always, they get away with it because they're allowed to get away with it. Until Washington decides to get tough with the bankers, we should expect nothing else. The problem is that if the Democrats would (heaven forbid) criticize these fees, the GOP would be there to defend the bank fees. Then they would again accuse the Democrats of being anti-business. At that point the Democrats would then choose to ignore consumers and reach out to someone more business friendly in the hopes that this time, the Republicans might start to play nice. Welcome to Groundhog Day, the Washington edition. CNNMoney:
In August, the Card Act banned a variety of fees -- including certain overdraft and excessive late charges. But one month later, banks are increasing existing fees and finding creative new ways to charge customers more for credit cards, so-called "free" checking accounts and banking services.Read More......
Already this year cash-advance fees and balance transfer fees have risen to 4%, up from 3% in July last year, according to a study conducted by the Pew Health Group's Safe Credit Cards Project.
"It's like you've got a sinking boat, where you plug one hole and another one springs up," said Curtis Arnold, founder of CreditRatings.com. "You can shut down one egregious fee, but that doesn't mean other fees aren't just going to start popping up elsewhere."
Gay donations are down this election year
I can't say I'm surprised. When you're out of power, you can get away with running simply on how bad the other guy is. But when you're in power, you need to show how good you are too.
A lot of gay people aren't feeling very good about this President or this Congress. They'd both been warned a year and a half ago that the relationship was heading south, and the White House in particular didn't do much about it - and what they did do was pretty fairly botched (coming up with a weak-tea DADT compromise and then even not fighting for its passage). To be fair, the Senate hasn't exactly been a badge of courage either (at least the House passed the DADT compromise, though it would be nice to see ENDA this year too).
It may be selfish. But when it's your civil rights on the line - your right marry, to have a job, to have children, and to spend the rest of your life with the person you love - you have the right to be a little selfish. Read More......
A lot of gay people aren't feeling very good about this President or this Congress. They'd both been warned a year and a half ago that the relationship was heading south, and the White House in particular didn't do much about it - and what they did do was pretty fairly botched (coming up with a weak-tea DADT compromise and then even not fighting for its passage). To be fair, the Senate hasn't exactly been a badge of courage either (at least the House passed the DADT compromise, though it would be nice to see ENDA this year too).
It may be selfish. But when it's your civil rights on the line - your right marry, to have a job, to have children, and to spend the rest of your life with the person you love - you have the right to be a little selfish. Read More......
John Boehner: I've 'never been in a tanning bed or used a tanning product'
If a Democrat spent this much time on his tan, the Republicans would be gay-baiting him left and right.
Read More......
At least 24 Republicans lobbied Dept of Energy for stimulus cash
Oh, so the Republicans do like the stimulus. Do I have that right? WSJ:
Reps. Jo Bonner of Alabama, Dan Lungren of California, Doug Lamborn and Mike Coffman of Colorado, Lynn Westmoreland, Jack Kingston and Nathan Deal of Georgia, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Fred Upton, Vernon Ehlers, Thaddeus McCotter, Candice Miller and Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, Jim Jordan and Michael Turner of Ohio, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Phil Roe and Zach Wamp of Tennessee and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington along with Sens. Mike Crapo of Idaho, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker of Tennessee and Bob Bennett of Utah wrote to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and top Energy Department officials asking them to consider particular recipients for stimulus dollars in 2009.Read More......
The Wall Street Journal requested the letters through the Freedom of Information Act last fall, but only received a response from the department this week.
The Energy Department is distributing around $48 billion in stimulus money, for projects such as modernizing the electric grid, advanced energy research, renewable energy and advanced battery manufacturing.
GOP plans to use reconciliation to turn back health care
It seemed like only yesterday they were completely against using reconciliation. Oh, but that was yesterday. TPM:
Recall back in 2009, when Democrats gingerly toyed with the idea of using the 51-vote budget reconciliation process to pass health care reform in the Senate on a majority-rules basis? Republicans howled. The GOP's two top budget guys, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) in particular blasted Democrats. Gregg compared it to "running over the minority, putting them in cement and throwing them in the Chicago River."This also shows how wrong the Democrats were not to use it earlier. The GOP will make an issue out of anything and everything and each time, the Democrats fall for the scam. Maybe it's time for some new leadership that has enough backbone to fight back. Voting for more of the same is a waste of time. Read More......
With Republicans poised for big gains in November, though, the two of them have had a change of heart. Appearing on CNBC yesterday, the two were asked "Can you use reconciliation to chip away and gradually roll back some of the unpopular Obama policies?"
Sure!
"Yes, you can," Ryan said. "Reconciliation is the fastest best path to get there. We do want to use reconciliation, you ultimately have to use reconciliation to get there."
Vote on middle class tax cuts delayed until after election
This doesn't sound very encouraging. Krugman believes the Democrats will give in and extend the Bush tax cut plan for everyone, including the top 2%. If that happens, expect even less enthusiasm from the left, not that that matters to the White House. The Democrats certainly have a way of caving to their foes and ignoring their supporters. As John often says, "because the Republicans are worse" is hardly a strategy for success. It definitely doesn't inspire me.
Democrats abandoned plans to vote before Election Day on extending Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class while eliminating them for better-off Americans, spooked by protests from vulnerable incumbents and bleak prospects for passage.Read More......
With time running out to plan for 2011, the delay raises uncertainty for small businesses and individual taxpayers over their future liabilities. It also sets up a titanic battle over taxes after the election.
If returning lawmakers don't pass legislation by Dec. 31, the expiration date of the cuts, tax rates would rise not only on income, but also on estates, capital gains and dividends. Important corporate tax credits and relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax also are up for renewal.
Friday Morning Open Thread
Good morning.
Today, the President is still in New York. He'll be meeting one-on-one with the leaders of Colombia, Azerbaijan and Krygyzstan. He's also attending a conference on Sudan.
Stephen Colbert will be testifying before the House Judiciary Committee's
Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law today. Yes, that Stephen Colbert. The hearing is on protecting America's Harvest. He's been focusing on the issues of migrant farm workers and the United Farm Workers' "Take Our Jobs" campaign -- and he's been doing the job himself.
Read More......
Today, the President is still in New York. He'll be meeting one-on-one with the leaders of Colombia, Azerbaijan and Krygyzstan. He's also attending a conference on Sudan.
Stephen Colbert will be testifying before the House Judiciary Committee's
Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law today. Yes, that Stephen Colbert. The hearing is on protecting America's Harvest. He's been focusing on the issues of migrant farm workers and the United Farm Workers' "Take Our Jobs" campaign -- and he's been doing the job himself.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Fallback Position - Migrant Worker Pt. 2 | ||||
| ||||
Largest wind farm in world opens in UK
It's a good thing this was started during the Labour government or else it may never have happened. Much like the Republicans, there are more and more flat-earth types in the Conservative party who would prefer staying with an oil based economy. The Guardian:
The official opening of the Thanet windfarm off the coast of Kent – the biggest offshore project in the world – means that Britain generates more power from offshore wind than the rest of the world put together.Read More......
Launching the project on P&O;'s Pride of Burgandy ferry, the energy and climate change minister Lib Dem Chris Huhne promised that Britain would shed its traditional "dunce" status on renewable energy.
"We have enough energy to power all the homes in Scotland, but we need a lot more than that," he told reporters as the ferry drifted close to the slowly rotating blades, "British consumers should be able to rely on a secure, low-cost source of energy in the future, and I'm sure offshore wind will be part of that." Behind him though the enormous grey turbines threatened to merge with the grey cloudy backdrop and grey seas.
French march against retirement age reform
The issue for the strike yesterday and the strike earlier this month has been over the decision to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. As an outsider, the increase sounds quite small as many other countries only allow official retirement at 65 or 67. Where is does sound unfair is the rapid transition from the current age requirement. As I've mentioned before, there are countless marches in Paris and even though yesterday's march was large, it's doubtful that it was large enough to have any impact on the Senate confirmation.
French unions have reported turnout of nearly three million people at rallies against pension reform but police figures are much lower.Read More......
The CFDT federation said 2.9 million had joined events across France, exceeding the turnout of 2.5 million on 7 September.
Police put turnout in Paris at less than a quarter of the unions' figure.
Marches and rallies were held as strikes closed down much of the country's public transport.
The pension reform bill, which raises the retirement age from 60 to 62, has already been passed by France's lower house of parliament.
It will be debated from 5 October by the upper house, the Senate, where it is expected to pass comfortably.
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