Glenn Beck losing advertisers

From Raw Story:

An online campaign against Fox News editorialist Glenn Beck is working.

Web site ColorofChange.org, reacting to a long line of racial comments about President Barack Obama, has managed thus far to knock loose from Beck's fold Lawyers.com, Procter & Gamble, Progressive, S.C. Johnson, GEICO, Men's Wearhouse and, just Wednesday morning, Sargento.

**UPDATE: On Thursday, ConAgra, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis and RadioShack all backed out of sponsoring Glenn Beck's programs, according to a media advisory.

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Cute pigeons

Oxymoron? Read More......

Begala calls Palin "half a whack job"

You can read about it instead of viewing, if you're into the dead tree thing (which is kind of funny, that a Web page is the dead tree version of online video).

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Largest bank failure of the year on Friday

Plus four others. Sure, the banking problems are behind us now so let's pretend as though everything is OK. MarketWatch:

Colonial BancGroup Inc. became the largest bank failure this year after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation seized the struggling Alabama-based lender Friday and sold it to BB&T; Corp.

Late Friday, the FDIC announced four other banks had been closed: Community Bank of Las Vegas and its Arizona subsidiary, Community Bank of Arizona; Union Bank, Gilbert, Ariz; and Dwelling House Savings and Loan, Pittsburgh.

The Colonial BancGroup deal will knock roughly $2.8 billion off a pool of money, known as the Deposit Insurance Fund, which the FDIC maintains to guarantee bank customer deposits.

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I've got a new Facebook page if folks are interested

Facebook now has "Pages" where people like me can set up a page for readers of our blog - I've set one up here.

Up until now, I've had folks coming to my personal page on Facebook, but as I approach 2,000 "friends," it's starting to get a bit overwhelming (and I'm starting to look like one of those weirdos who collects Facebook "friends" like spoons) :-) Facebook promises more functionality on its "Pages" format - it's what Obama used for the election, and lots of others are using - and I would no longer have to "accept" people, you can just choose yourself to become a "fan" of the page.

Also, while I am streaming the blog feed via the Notes section of the new page (actually I'm streaming the gay and regular Ablog feeds together - you can also find a new combined RSS feed option under our RSS section to the right), I want to use the Facebook page to write about things I wouldn't normally put on the blog because they're not very political. More photography, funny stories about my travels, chat about food, and everything else that isn't politics.

So, if the spirit moves you, you can visit my Facebook Page here. And in the future, please consider "fan"-ing the page rather than friending me, it will make life much easier :-) Thanks, JOHN Read More......

More update from Netroots Nation

Yesterday was a pretty busy day at Netroots Nation. There were quite a few elected officials at the conference doing panels and spending time just talking to us.

I caught up with Rep. Patrick Murphy, the sponsor HR 1283, the bill to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We did a live chat with him a couple weeks ago. He's really optimistic about the chances for his legislation this year -- and is expecting a vote in the House.

I also got a chance to talk to Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY). I've written many times that in some ways, he's the best LGBT member of Congress (even though he's straight.) In September, he's going to offer the legislation to repeal DOMA. As we get closer to that, Nadler promised to keep in touch and let us know his strategy -- and how we can help. He really gets that repealing DOMA is what most of us really want. I have to say, I was quite impressed by Nadler. He's also been integrally involved with the health care debate working very hard to make sure the progressives stick together for the best possible bill, which includes a public option. Read More......

What happens when you're diagnosed with colon cancer in Canada

Alex Arnet, a reader of ours in Salt Spring Island, Canada, wrote me yesterday about his recent diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer. He wanted Americans to know first-hand how the Canadian health care system actually works (and it does work). This is Alex's story. (Particularly interesting is his observation that the only time he's seen rationing in Canada is when conservative politicians cut the health care budget.)

I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer less than two weeks ago. I had been suffering some strange symptoms for over half a year, mostly constipation, cramps, and weight loss. It ended up with a day of such extreme abdominal pain that I got my partner to drive me into emerg at the local Hospital. This was late at night and the MD on call said it was likely serious and I needed to be sent to the Hospital in the nearest large city, Victoria, BC. Both helicopters were in use so, since I live on an Island, I was sent over by water taxi, accompanied by two paramedics and my GF.

When I arrived in Victoria, I was given a cat-scan within hours and in surgery immediately after the surgeon had examined the scans. The surgeon cleaned me out of tumours and I was on the mend, or so we thought. Since I had lost about 2/3 of my blood before surgery through slow leaks in my stool, I developed blood clots in my left leg and developed a pulmonary embolism. This required a further week stay in the Hospital. The Doctors and Nurses involved were all incredibly caring, personable and so professional.

I had further setbacks that were drug-related, but finally my last day came. One of my Doctors asked me if I would be willing to inject myself with blood thinner for the next 4-5 days. If so I could go home. He then asked me if I could afford it. I was using a single-use needle-induced blood thinner that my Hospital used as a matter of a budgetary choice (they choose to use a more expensive option than the regular needle or pill). When I asked him what the price of my freedom would be, he said "$15-$25 day." In the meantime I am switching to pill form.

So, after 11 days I am home, and I will be receiving two visits a week from Home Care, in addition to any further treatment needed, such as chemo and radiation. And all of this cost me nothing, beyond the meds that I am now buying. There was no waiting and no "lottery." Don't believe the lies being spewed by the lobbyists.

The basic system here is Canada is that the Federal government collects our taxes and returns a certain amount back to the Provinces to be used for Health Care. The amount is not mandated on the Federal level, but decide on the Provincial level. This is where the potential exists for problems. In my province, for example, the current governing party is the BC Liberal Party who are liberal in name only. They are really conservatives, and in their obsession with not running deficits, they have just made massive cuts to Health Care budgets throughout the Province. The various Health Authorities have had to cut some elective surgeries, such as hip, shoulder and cataract operations until next year.

So you can see from my example that the problem is not with the system, but rests with it's implementation. I am eternally grateful that I live under the umbrella of my health care system. I am alive, healthy again, and I don't have to worry about paying a big bill. Isn't this the way it should be? Isn't this what everyone deserves?

Sincerely,

Alex Arnet
Salt Spring Island, Canada

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Valerie Jarrett answers questions at Netroots Nation

At Netroots Nation this morning, Valerie Jarrett, Obama's "most trusted adviser" is answering questions. Baratunde Thurston from Jack and Jill Politics is the moderator. Questions were submitted in advance via blogs, twitter and Facebook (and even email.) In the White House, Jarrett "is Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement."

This session is being broadcast live on C-SPAN. I'll treat this as a liveblog and add new info. below.

The first few questions were basically about her role in the White House. She did tell us there will be no cage match between herself and Rahm Emanuel -- and that the "No Drama Obama" policy still holds.

You can follow the tweets here.

I'll keep writing below the fold.

Of the tea parties and, especially the protests at town hall meetings, she said, "I'm particularly ticked that they're trying to scare elderly people." We (the blogs) can help by getting accurate information out.

Jarrett was asked about the policy on the lobbyist restrictions, she said it hasn't been a disadvantage to exclude lobbyists -- with a few exceptions. "We can't let the special interests who have a stranglehold on Washington dictate policy.' She also goes directly to the executives -- and works around lobbyists, which makes her not so popular with lobbyists.

On health care, she was asked if Obama will call the Blue Dogs into his office and let them have it (short hand). She's convince the President has it right. He is going to count on the American people to put the pressure on their elected representatives. People have to call and visit their members.

On GOP's animosity to governing, can't you get a good bill done with Democrats alone? Jarrett acknowledged the problem with "bipartisanship." She clarified that by bipartisan, she doesn't think it's limited to elected officials in DC. It means working with Democrats, Republicans and Independents outside of DC -- the people in the real world.

Is the President prepared to veto a bill that doesn't have a public option? She talked to Obama yesterday and wants to make it clear: The president wants the public option..because there needs to be some competition. She won't fast forward to what happens at the end of the line...

One issue she keeps coming back to is the misinformation on health care and the need to educate people about what's really in the bill. Seniors have been getting misinformation to scare them, which is "outrageous."

A question we were among many to suggest got asked: How will the Obama administration become a "fierce advocate" again by working to repeal DADT and DOMA? She feels very strongly about this issue. President will work with Congress to repeal DADT. President also feels very strongly that DOMA needs to be repealed. She knows people were upset by the DOMA brief. DOJ has been in untenable position to defend law it considers wrong. Obama is going to work to repeal DOMA, too. (She was quite forceful on this issue...I have to say.)

On not enough change yet, including issues on detention and the torture photos (and Blackwater contracts --which was shouted from the audience,) we're getting rid of no-bid contracts. Some things are going to take a little time and it's only been six months.

On immigration reform, is Obama going to work on real comprehensive immigration reform? She explained all the work being done so far, but the real solution is comprehensive immigration reform. The process is underway. May not happen this year, but will happen early next year.

How will this President respond to pressure from the Left? He responds well to pressure, meaning he responds to ideas. He wants constructive ideas and they are open to suggestions.

Does Obama have a plan to pass paycheck fairness? Yes. It's very important. We're working on it.

Jarrett spent a good amount of time talking about the economy and how they've pulled back from the precipice, where we were when they took office. They're working to fix it. Regulatory reform is something they'll need our help on.

Asked about discrimination in health care. Many of those without access to insurance are minorities. The overall philosophy so that people of limited means can afford to buy insurance.

On green jobs. "We love green jobs." Those are the jobs of the future.

Does the President read progressive blogs? If so, which ones? And MAC or PC. Yes, he does read progressive blogs. And, he reads letters from real people. She can't tell us what kind of computer.

NY Times reports today Obama is having a hard time activating his ground troops. Thoughts? We're just getting started -- and we do need to energize our base. We want to get health care reform this year -- and it's an uphill battle.

What do you want from this audience? We depend upon you and your outreach. He asked me to come her today to convey how important you are. Push us. Offer us constructive ideas. Read More......

Saturday Morning Open Thread

Good morning, still from Pittsburgh. And, I have to say, I like this city. One of the best things: Pierogies. Really good pierogies.

Again this week, KarenMrsLloydRichards captured the week's events via her ongoing series "Haiku for the Obama administration." For example:

Secret backroom deal---
Tauzin's driver smokes and waits,
Boss in the West Wing . . .

On the death panels:

Grandma is plugged in,
Some bureaucrat will decide. . .
Gramps clicks: match.com.

And,this one made me laugh out loud every time I read it:

Santorum Happens!
He knows a come-from-behind
Win can smell so sweet.

(If that one confuses you a bit, google "santorum." But be forewarned, it's NSFW.)

Let's get started... Read More......

More on Switzerland

As I mentioned the other day, Joelle and I stayed with friends who do a house exchange every summer. The cost of everything in Switzerland usually makes visiting a non-issue but thanks for this invite we had a wonderful opportunity to see a bit of the Alps. Our friends have been going since 1984 so they know the bus/cog rail/train/boat system as well as Joelle knows the Paris Metro. Our hosts are in the 70s but still love doing stunning walks and peaceful picnics. Terry has been having knee and hip problems but she still fought through the pain to get to a few of the special walks.

The trails are so well maintained and most walkers are tidy, doing their best to leave it as they found it. I was also impressed with the drive to reduce garbage. Almost every house in the village had a compost pile and they were big on recycling. Garbage bags at the store come with an extra tax so the more you stuff them and throw them into the public system the more taxes you pay. (Anywhere else do this? It was new to me.) On the down side, our friends have noticed the drastic change with the glaciers since their first visits.

I was walking with the fancy hat crew. Joelle was sporting the ever-popular "tie a sweater on your head" look and our host Bob had his regular orange fedora. The great thing about the orange hat is that I could always find Bob even when there were crowds.

Then again, they could always find me with my fluorescent yellow biking jacket. As it's summer, the cows are mostly up in the hills eating wild grass. During the spring and autumn there are festivals for the migration up or down the mountain to celebrate that time of the year. The products that come from wild grass eating cows is definitely superior to corn fed. In France we had a special cheese (Salers) that is similar to another cheese (which I believe is "Comte") but is exclusively from the wild grass eating cows.


Typical flowers along the walking path.


There's nothing quite like an authentic rösti. It's simple but any time you mix potatoes and cheese it's going to be tasty.

And finally, the local meringue with cream. We *really* needed to do some walking after the cheese and cream though we both fell asleep on the next train that brought us around the mountain to the boat. We opted for a vegetable soup that night back at the house.
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There is something wrong with the tax code here

How does the CEO of a company that is down 40% still profit so enormously? (Answer: Because the current tax code was written to encourage such nonsense.) As many have (finally) been saying recently, the US should not be rewarding failures. That is not the capitalism that made the US a great country and the longer Obama avoids addressing this critical issue, the longer it will take to return to greatness. This is not the America I used to know.

The thoughts of restricting the pay packages of the CEOs of public companies may be in the air, but new data on chief executive compensation show that boards of directors are not taking any of it seriously.

Stephen Schwarzman, head of financial firm Blackstone (BX), made over $702 million in 2008 based on data from The Corporate Library.

Schwarzman made almost all of the money on the vesting of shares in Blackstone which he received when the company went public. Blackstone stock is down over 40% during the last two years, but the CEO does not appear to be paying for that.

The most stunning name on the top ten compensation list of 2008 is Michael Jeffries of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF). Its sales have been falling in double digits for month. Jeffries made $72 million, 86% of that from the exercising of options and vesting of restricted stock. ANF shares are down 55% over the last two years.

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Policy changes coming in Myanmar?

That's what it looks like. The existing model obviously was not having any impact though forcing change looks impossible there and moderating sounds extremely difficult. The Guardian:

The first visit to Burma by a senior US official for more than a decade has triggered speculation that the Obama administration will attempt to steer the regime towards a new era of engagement.

Jim Webb, a Democratic senator from Virginia, arrived in Burma this afternoon, days after the country's junta sentenced the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to 18 months' house arrest.

Webb, who served in the Reagan administration but is now considered a close ally of Barack Obama, is expected to meet the country's leader, Senior General Than Shwe, in the country's remote capital Naypyidaw, tomorrow.

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UK considers legislation to combat bank bonus excess

It's not a bad idea but after the initial big talk and little action, I'll believe it when I see it. On the upside, at least they're talking about it. The friends-of-Robert-Rubin who dominate the Obama economic team continue to be way behind on this issue. Perhaps they are still convince of the brilliance of Wall Street or the hype that Wall Street is untouchable or else they will get mad. Reuters:

British government ministers are so unhappy with watered-down plans by the financial regulator to curb bankers pay and bonuses, that they are considering new laws to keep them in check, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

he business newspaper said Business Secretary Peter Mandelson and other senior ministers are worried that a bankers' pay code published by the Financial Services Authority this week fails to address fears that banks are returning to "business as usual," paying huge salaries and bonuses after being bailed out by taxpayers.

"Excessive risk-taking had the results we saw. Ordinary businesses are paying the price," the FT quoted Mandelson as saying."We have not heard the last word on this subject."

True, though it's not only "ordinary businesses" it is everyone. Read More......

Commercial real estate hit hard in first half

In addition to the continuing problems in housing, this can't be good for anyone.

U.S. commercial real estate market values fell by more than 17 percent in the first half of the year, outstripping their decline for all of 2008, according to the Investment Property Databank (IPD).

Last year, values fell 12.2 percent, according to the report released Friday.

U.S. commercial real estate values in the first half of 2009 fell more steeply than UK values, said IPD, which analyzes commercial real estate data in global major markets.

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