French and Greeks vote against austerity.
May 7th, 2012
The majority of the French and Greek voters have decided that they have suffered enough pain, and that all their sacrifices only have caused more misery.It is also hard to digest, that the people who caused the economic depression, seem to be doing better than ever before, while the poor and the middle class are paying a high price.
If the government cuts spending during a depression, it is stimulating the depression, not stimulating a recovery. And that is exactly what France and Germany have been advocating over the last two years.
Something has to be done about the budget deficits and the national debts, but in the short run the only cure for an ailing economy is stimulating growth. The euro zone (at least countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands that can afford it) has to implement an anti-cyclical policy, which means more government spending, not less.
If a moderate inflation is the price that has to be paid to end the high unemployment in Europe and the USA then so be it. Inflation may be bad for the rentiers who have been lending money, but it will also help to bring down the debt.
How nice it would be to go back in time, and watch the European leaders listening to all those European and American economists who tried to convince them NOT to introduce one European currency: the Euro.
And have them decide to wait with introducing the Euro until Europe has become one country with one language: English.... oh sorry, French, or German... or.... Italian or Spanish? Maybe Dutch or Polish?
Today the stock markets are going to take a hit.
Milwaukee Mayor Barrett runs against Walker in Wisconsin recall election
March 31, 2012.
It took some time, but Walkers opponent in the last election for Governor of Wisconsin, Tom Barrett will be running against Scott Walker. This time he probably has a better chance. Last time Barrett lost the election (47%-52%). Walker will be able to finance his campaign with shiploads of money from outside the state, but Barrett probably has the support of the Unions, if he wins the primary.
LINK: barrettformilwaukee.com
Is the Affordable Care Act doomed?
March 28, 2012
After what I've heard and read about the justices' questions I thought: "yes, maybe." But on the other hand: these are just questions, not opinions or judgments. One question stood out. That was a question from Justice Kennedy.
JUSTICE KENNEDY: Could you help -- help me with this. Assume for the moment -- you may disagree. Assume for the moment that this is unprecedented, this is a step beyond what our cases have allowed, the affirmative duty to act to go into commerce. If that is so, do you not have a heavy burden of justification? I understand that we must presume laws are constitutional, but, even so, when you are changing the relation of the individual to the government in this, what we can stipulate is, I think, a unique way, do you not have a heavy burden of justification to show authorization under the Constitution?
It was a sharp question about the constutionality of the individual mandate. But again: it is a question, not an opinion.
After the Bush versus Gore ruling and the Citizens United ruling, everything is possible. The conservative justices (Scalia, Alito and Thomas) will vote against the individual mandate, that's for sure. Roberts? Hmmm.
Justice Kennedy is the person here who might vote for the individual mandate.
Still... even if the Affordable Care Act would survive here, then there is the possibility of the Republicans repealing the law.
If the Supreme Court upholds the law, the law will be an important topic in the presidential election this year. In itself that would be a good thing.
March 25, 2012
Lousiana primary results: Rick Santorum wins
Politico.com
3-23-2012
Romney responds to Santorums "etch a sketch" attack
New York Times
U.S. The Caucus: In Attack Mode, Santorum Leaves Himself Open
By RICHARD A. OPPEL JR.
Published: March 22, 2012
The Romney campaign seized on Rick Santorum's suggestion that the United States would do just as well with four more years of President Obama as it would by electing Mitt Romney in November.
March 21, 2012.
Illinois primary: Romney wins GOP contest
Washington Post.
Billionaire floods super-Pacs with funds
Financial Times.
Ryan touts GOP budget as 'alternative path' for nation
Milwaukee Journal
A Florida Law Gets Scrutiny After a Teenager’s Killing
New York Times
Today the Illinois primary
March 20, 2012.
| Romney | 521 | |
| Santorum | 253 | |
| Gingrich | 136 | |
| Paul | 50 | |
| Huntsman | 2 |
Wisconsin lost more jobs than any other state in 2011
Change in number of government and private sector jobs in 2011 in Wisconsin
3-18-2012
Numbers x 1,000
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Ann. | |
| Gov + Private change 2011 | 4 | 5.4 | 4.3 | -1.1 | -1.9 | -9 | -3.7 | -9.8 | 5 | -2.8 | -11.8 | 0.4 | -21 |
| Gov change over 2011 | -1.1 | 2.9 | -0.1 | -0.6 | -2.4 | -9 | 8.6 | -8 | 4.7 | -2.5 | -4.5 | 0.7 | -11.3 |
| Private jobs change 2011 | 5 | 2.5 | 4.4 | -0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | -12.3 | -1.8 | 0.3 | -0.3 | -7.3 | -0.3 | -9.7 |
Last updated: 3/18/2012 In 2011 Wisconsin lost 11,300 government jobs.
In 2011 Wisconsin lost 9,700 private sector jobs
In 2011 the total job loss in Wisconsin was 11,300 + 9,700 = 21,000 jobs
The Milwaukee Journal HERE states that over the last 13(!) months (January 2012 included)the public (government) jobs loss is 14,500.
This number is pretty much final because it is the GOP itself that has been cutting those jobs. The newspaper also states that the private sector added 6,000 jobs over the last 13(!) months.
So the total nonfarm job loss over the last 13 months is "only" 8,500.
(The January 2012 numbers were the best so far for Walker; private-sector jobs rose by 15,700).
That looks a lot better but the Bureau of Labor Statistics is very clear about the January 2012 numbers . They are preliminary. And we know from last year what that could mean.
But okay, let's give Walker the benefit of the doubt here.
Governor Walker said not that long ago that he already did better in his first term than Doyle did in his second term. He did not mention the great recession that started at the end of 2007.
In the year 2008, a meltdown of the financial sector took place that led to a free fall of the U.S economy.
Did he really want to blame Doyle for the enormous job losses in that period? That would be ridiculous.
On the other hand, this also means that we cannot blame Walker for the job growth in January 2012 because that is probably caused by a national economic recovery that is gaining steam.
Maybe we can give the governor some praise for his efforts if Wisconsin performs as good as or better, on average, than the other states.
If we compare Doyles last year in office with Walkers first year we might get a better picture of the truth. According to the Milwaukee journal Doyle added 30,000 private sector jobs during his last year in office! Let us extrapolate that growth in a conservative way and assume that Doyle would have added another 30,000 private sector jobs, if he had been governor in 2011. Then we would have had 40,000 private sector jobs more in 2011! Actually Walker should be grateful to Doyle, because in his first year, before his own policy started to kick in, there was still some jobs gain caused by governor Doyle.
Now what is the moral of this story. The moral is that cutting government spending with the objective to balance the budget is the worst thing you can do when the economy is still only slowly recovering from a severe recession.
And that is exactly what Walker did.
Republicans do not want to hear about it, but Keynes was right.
March 16, 2012.
Delegate count primaries
To become the Republican nominee, Romney has to win 1144 delegates (half of the total number of delegates).
Tomorrow (Saturday) Missouri (52 delegates), Sunday Puerto Rico (23 delegates - winner takes all) and Tuesday a big one: Illinois (69 delegates).
| Romney | 495 | |
| Santorum | 252 | |
| Gingrich | 131 | |
| Paul | 48 | |
| Huntsman | 2 |
March 14, 2012
Bad day for Romney
Santorum wins Alabama, Mississippi primaries - Washington Post
Rick Santorum scores big in two Southern primaries = LA Times
March 12, 2012.
Walker sets up legal-defense fund - Milwaukee JS
The governor of Wisconsin already faces a recall election. But now there is also legal trouble coming up. Several of his aides faced charges, because of corruption in the period that Walker was county executive of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Oops!
See also: Walkergate
Santorum wins Kansas caucus.
March 11, 2012.
| Romney | 454 | |
| Santorum | 217 | |
| Gingrich | 107 | |
| Paul | 47 | |
| Huntsman | 2 |
In the last couple of days Romney racked up delegates in Guam (9), the Northern Marianas (9), the Virgin Islands (7) and in Wyoming (7). Santorum probably will pick up three delegates in Wyoming.
Though Santorum remains an important factor in the Republican race, it is very unlikely that he will win the nomination.
With Gingrich staying in the race, the conservative vote is split between the two candidates in almost every state.
Gingrich should have stepped out a long time ago.
Nobody knows why he didn't. Maybe he wants Romney to win?
March 10, 2012
Plaintiff challenging healthcare law went bankrupt – with unpaid medical bills - LA Times
March 9, 2012
Oregon Emphasizes Choices At The End Of Life - National Public Radio
March 7, 2012
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell signs pre-abortion ultrasound bill - LA Times
March 7, 2012
With No Knockout Punch, a Bruising Battle Plods On - NYT
Rep. Dennis Kucinich suffers primary defeat in Ohio - Washington Post
Super Tuesday
March 6, 2012.
Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia.
Today is one of those days. Maybe the day that will tell us who will be the Republican nominee for the general presidential election in November.
Will Gingrich win in Georgia? Probably. But will he win in other states? Maybe in Tennessee or Oklahoma? Not very likely.
What will happen if he doesn't? Will he step out of the race?
Gingrich has opted for his strategy in the south. But if his strategy doesn't work, he might bow out. That would lead to a game change. The votes for Gingrich would probably for a big part go to Rick Santorum.
Up to now the divided conservative vote has been a big advantage for Mitt Romney, and of course it still is on Super Tuesday.
Romney is now leading in Ohio. Santorum lost a lot of female votes because of his stance on the birth control issue.
But Santorum is still a major factor. He could win Oklahoma and Tennessee.
In the end Romney will pick up most delegates. He has been able to campaign in all ten states. He has the best organization and a lot of money.
February 29, 2012
Romney Claims Victory in Michigan and Arizona - NYT
February 27th, 2012.
Santorums' ludicrous statements about Euthanasia in the Netherlands.
A couple of weeks ago Santorum made some statements about euthanasia in the Netherlands.
He said that 10% of deaths in the Netherlands are caused by euthanasia and that half of all those patients are euthanized invuluntarily because they are older and sick.
Seniors in the Netherlands wear bracelets with the text: "do not euthanize me" he told his Republican supporters, who were shocked. Well, who would NOT be shocked, when hearing these stories?
In The Netherlands the public was shocked too. But the reason for that was a different one.
Though most Dutch who read the papers, watch TV and follow the news on the web, already were convinced that the majority of the candidates for the Republican nomination consists of idiots who are giving the USA extremely bad publicity abroad, they did not expect this.
The procedures and regulations for euthanasia in the Netherlands are very strict. The patient has to ask his doctor for euthanasia more than once, and he or she has to be in full control of his mental faculties. Another doctor has to give his written consent.
After the patients death a commission reviews the process to see to it that the proper procedures have been followed.
The story about the bracelets is bogus, and the rest of Santorums statistics too.
As a Dutch immigrant, I was quite shocked to find out that in this country (except for Oregon), you might have to suffer excruciating pains for weeks, or months, before you die of an incurable disease, knowing that all the suffering is completely unnecessary. Thanks to our "Christian" friends who impose their opinions and values onto others.
Now THAT is shocking.
Links: Euthanasia in the Netherlands: Rick Santorum’s bogus statistics - Washington Post
Rick Santorum and James Dobson Push 'Death Panels' Myth, Nostalgic for Time When Abortion was a Crime - Right Wing Watch
Majority of Massachusetts residents is happy with Romneycare.
February 16, 2012.
Most residents like Romneycare, and that is not a big surprise. They know what Romneycare is. A majority of 62% supports the 2006 law. This, according to a WBUR.org poll. WBUR is Boston's NPR news station.
Romneycare is very much like the Affordable Care Act (Most Republicans call it "Obamacare"). That is why most right-wing conservatives do not like Romney.
Link: WBUR Poll: Most Mass. Residents Support State Health Care Law
ALEC: a secretive conservative organization shaping state laws.
February 14, 2012.
ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) makes it possible for big corporations to sit at the policy table, and write many bills that state legislators introduce in state congress.
The first time I heard about ALEC was while I was listening to a Fresh Air story (National Public Radio) on July 21, 2011. Who's Really Writing States' Legislation?
The organization counts about 2000 legislative members, almost all Republican, who represent all 50 states, and about 300 corporate members.
Links:
Alec exposed - The Nation
The big money behind state laws
Secretive Corporate-Legislative Group ALEC Holds Annual Meeting to Rewrite State Laws
ALEC exposed
Uh oh! Rick Santorum wins three races: Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado.
February 8, 2012.
Mitt Romney must be getting worried.
Maybe not about the Republican nomination, but more about his chances to win the general elections.
Rick Santorums victories are quite damaging to him. And to Gingrich.
The economy is getting better too. Oh boy!
LINK: Another Twist for G.O.P. as Santorum Fares Well - NYT
Best scenario for the Republicans.
February 5, 2012
The non-farm payroll employment rose with 234,000 jobs in January, while the unemployment rate went down to 8.3 %, the lowest rate in three years.
What is the best scenario for the Republicans?
First reaction: just say that Obama is responsible for the unemployment rate rising above 8% in the last three years. Do not mention the fact that a Republican president left the stage in January 2009 with the American economy in a free fall (job losses of more than 650,000 per month). Especially do not mention that Obama managed to reverse this trend, and that his stimulus plan played an important role in this trend reversal.Now..., if the February employment numbers are not as good as the January numbers, you are good. Just keep saying that Obama owns this economy, and that he is the cause of the bad economy. Again: do not say anything about the Bush presidency. Blame everything on Freddy and Fanny and Big Government. Do not talk about the banks that were too big to fail, the almost total lack of regulation and lack of enforcement of rules by the SEC, the leverage of 33 to 1, and the big majority of bad subprime mortgages closed by the big private banks like Countrywide.
If you get the chance, put part of the blame on Democratic president Jimmy Carter and his Community Reinvestment Act.
Even though his presidency ended more than 30 years ago, this tactic still pays off.
Please, do not mention George W. Bushes ownership society and the American Dream for every American: home ownership.
Keep using the government deficit and the government debt as a smoke curtain, to hide the fact that you are blocking the presidents agenda. You certainly do not want the unemployment problem to be solved under HIS presidency!
Keep saying that you are against Big Government, and that the government is nothing but a big bureaucracy pushing papers.
Though we do know better of course (no not you Michele Bachmann, and Herman Cain) also keep saying that the government does not create jobs.
Do not use the word capitalism please! Just say "Free Enterprise". That makes people smile.
I will soon come up with more advice that might be useful in case the unemployment rate decreases to less than 8%. Let's hope that this does not happen, because then you might get into real trouble.
Romney wins in Nevada
February 4, 2012.
Romney won in Nevada, but that is no surprise. A lot of the voters in the Republican primaries are Mormons (about 25%). And the other contenders didn't really campaign that much in the "Silver State".
The voter turnout was very low, which also tells a lot. Coming up: the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses, next Tuesday, February 7th. The Colorado results will probably be very much the same as the Nevada results. Gingrich hopes for a better score on Super Tuesday (March 6), and who knows? This race has not ended yet. After Super Tuesday we will know a lot more.
Demolishing Democracy
February 2, 2012
Schumer is criticizing the SuperPACs.
Schumer outraged by Rove's donation collections - Politico
Here we are again :)) Karl Rove.
February 2, 2012
Do you want to know where all the money for the SuperPACs is coming from?
Here is a very good start: Who’s Financing the ‘Super PACs’ - NYT
See also: Wesleyan Media Project
Romney wins Florida thanks to super PAC
Januari 31, 2012.
The Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court is shaping the elections this year, just like the conservative judges, and the Republican Party wanted.
Because "corporations are persons" and "money is speech", big corporations can buy elections and politicians.
Legalized bribery and corruption, already a common phenomenon in American politics, are now definitely leading to the end of democracy in the USA.
The winner in Florida, Romney, won because his GOP SUPER PAC, spent about FIVE TIMES more than number two, Gingrich. Actually, it is amazing that Gingrich still got almost 32% of the votes, while Romney won 46.4%.
Links:
- Citizens United - Wikipedia
- Mitt Romney super PAC rakes in $23.6 million - Politico
Florida primary
January 31, 2012
Romney, the guy who introduced "Obama care" (that's what the Republicans like to call the new health care law) in Massachusetts, and is now against it, is going to win Florida today with a big margin.
Gingrich who was for stem cell research and the use of embryonic stem cells, and supported Obama's health care law, but has changed his mind and is now against all this, is hoping for a new comeback in March when there will be some important primaries in the southern states (Oklahoma, (3-6), Virginia (3-6), Tennessee (3-6), Georgia (3-6), Missouri, Alabama (both 3-13) and Louisiana (3-24).
For the latest Florida polls, go here
Dutch text here
Taxes
January 25, 2012
Many Americans think that their federal tax rate is too high and that they pay way too much for medicare, social security and public education. So the government should cut down on these expenditures. But... could it be... maybe, maybe.... that they might be wrong?
Why Taxes Aren’t as High as They Seem - By DAVID LEONHARDT - NYT
Romney second in South Carolina.
Mitt Romney took two blows in one week.
Earlier this week Rick Santorum was the declared winner in Iowa. Today Romney lost the South Carolina primary to Newt Gingrich, after being the favorite in the polls for a long time.
Of the first three states, he won only one.
And all this happened despite an abundance of financial resources.
The main reason is the important role that the debates play. And Gingrich is simply the better debater.
It should also be said that Romney is rather boring compared to the street fighter Gingrich.
Gingrich also clearly appeals to the feelings of right-wing conservatives.
He is against "the media", like the tea party supporters, who do not like those elitist journalists, who write difficult articles in newspapers and magazines which they never read.
He is also against "political correctness." They like that. He calls Obama "the best food stamp president ever." They like that too.
Probably the Obama team will be happy to welcome Gingrich as the Republican nominee. It is unlikely that he will be very popular with the independent voters. In that respect, Romney is definitely a more dangerous opponent.
Dutch text here
The Newt Comeback Kid.
January 21, 2012.
Thanks to his debate performance Gingrich might win the South Carolina primary.
It is a huge surprise. Newt Gingrich is now number one in the polls.According to Public Policy Polling, Gingrich is leading with 37%, Romney 28%.
If Gingrich wins South Carolina, his chance of winning the Republican nomination will improve drastically.
Link:Newt expands South Carolina lead - Public Policy Polling
How to win the vote of social conservatives.
January 18, 2012
Rick Santorum: "I don't want to make black people's lives better by giving them somebody else's money. I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money."
(Speaking to Republican voters during the Iowa caucuses campaign - 2012)
Newt Gingrich: "I will go to the NAACP convention and tell the African American community why they should demand paychecks instead of food stamps."
Gingrich campaigning in January 2012
This is one of Newts so-called "creative ideas".
During the Republican primary debate on Monday there was a discussion between Juan Williams and Gingrich:
WILLIAMS: "Speaker Gingrich, you recently said black Americans should demand jobs, not food stamps. You also said poor kids lack a strong work ethic and proposed having them work as janitors in their schools. Can't you see that this is viewed, at a minimum, as insulting to all Americans, but particularly to black Americans?"
GINGRICH: "No. I don't see that."
Gingrich and Santorum are suggesting that poor people are poor because they are lazy, and that all food stamps go to black people and people who are too lazy to find a job.
The reality is different. To give an example: almost half of the food stamps go to working households with children.
Tonight, Thursday at 8 PM, there will be a second Republican primary debate in South Carolina hosted by CNN.
Link: Gingrich’s food-stamp barbs whiz past the truth - Boston Globe
Huntsman out of the race
January 16, 2012 The New York Times reports that Huntsman steps out of the race om Monday. Mitt Romney must be happy. A good start of the week for him.
Huntsman Says He’s Quitting G.O.P. Race - NYT
The lies about Carter, Fannie and Freddy.
January 14, 2012.
Many Republicans blame the housing crisis (and the economic crisis) on Jimmy Carter.
He was president from 1977 to 1981, more than 30 years ago.
I guess that they never heard of George W. Bush talking about "the ownership society". Or is it that they do not want to hear about it? Remember? The American Dream: "owning your own house"?
Every American should be able to own his own house and for that reason Bush promoted sub-prime mortgages. (They were also promoted in those days by, yes, him again, Grover Norquist.)
"We're creating...an ownership society in this country, where more Americans than ever will be able to open up their door where they live and say, welcome to my house, welcome to my piece of property," George W. Bush, October 2004.
Most Republicans also blame the financial crisis on the mortgage companies Fannie and Freddy. It's not the lack of regulation in the financial sector, noooooo, Fannie and Freddy did it!
Ever heard of Countrywide?
I advise these people to read this article, though I am afraid it will not help: The Big Lie - NYT
Iowa Caucuses
January 4, 2012
1 and 2. Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney tied
To be precise: Romney won by eight votes, but does that really matter?
It looks more like a victory for Rick Santorum.
3. Ron Paul
4. Newt Gingrich
5. Rick Perry
6. Michele Bachmann
I think that the victory of Rick Santorum tells more about Iowa (The majority of the Republican voters is Evangelical and born-again Christian) than about his chances to become the Republican Nominee. But it definitely will give him some momentum. And…, we can finally say goodbye to Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry.
Didn’t I say that early in the race about Newt Gingrich? Oh well!
Link: Romney Wins Iowa Caucus by 8 Votes
What are the Iowa caucuses?
January 3, 2011.
During the Iowa caucuses party members come together in schools, community centers etc. At those meetings delegates will be chosen for the "county convention." At the county convention delegates will be elected for the statewide conventions.
At the statewide convention delegates are ultimately selected for the National Convention.
At the meetings in the neighborhoods (Iowa counts almost 1800 precincts) there will be discussions and speeches.
The participating residents will try to persuade others to vote for their favorite candidate. "Grass roots politics" it is called in the USA, though this is not entirely true.
This year, for example, Romney has a much better organization than other candidates like Newt Gingrich. This means that in almost every precinct someone will hold a pro-Romney speech.
The campaigning and the discussions will be followed by a vote. The vote could for instance result in six delegates to the county convention for Mitt Romney, three for Rick Santorum and two for Ron Paul.
A caucus therefore requires a pretty intensive participation of the voters. Yet there are still some 100,000 people participating in the Iowa caucuses.
Link: Iowa Has Hogged First Place in Our Political Line Too Long - The Atlantic
Republicans change their mind after heavy political pressure.
December 23, 2011
At last House Republican leaders gave in to the heavy political pressure from Democrats and leaders in their own party, and accepted a short-term pay roll tax cut. One of the leaders who pushed for a compromise was Republican senator Mitch McConnell. And rightly so. The rejection of the tax cut, thanks to the Tea Party representatives in the House, was the most stupid political move in years.
See: House G.O.P. Leaders Agree to Extension of Payroll Tax Cut - NYT
GOP shoots itself in the foot
December 21, 2011
Tea Party House members do not like the pay roll tax cut at all, so they say they want an extension for a year, not just for two months.
Yes we know, it sounds weird.
More than two million Americans are going to lose their unemployment benefits, and 160 million Americans their payroll tax cut. And then there is also a problem with Medicare. Even the Wall Street Journal is embarrassed, about the latest Republican move.
Everybody went home for christmas. And Obama is rising in the polls. Holy crap! What now?
WSJ online
Obama Gets a Lift From Tax Battle With Republicans - NYT
December 20, 2011
Republicans in House Reject Deal Extending Payroll Tax Cut - NYT
Christopher Hitchens.
December 17, 2011 This week Crhristopher Hitchens died. An article about Hitchens from Vanity Fair was published on the YAHOO web site. A lot of the comments from readers give a pretty good idea of existing religious intolerance in the USA.
See: Christopher Hitchens, writer and Vanity Fair contributor, dies at 62
December 16, 2011
Fact check republican debate 12-15-NYT
The Caucus: Iowa Debate Fact Check
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: December 16, 2011 New York Times reporters examined candidates' statements on Iran, immigration, the national debt and more, during the Republican presidential debate in Sioux City, Iowa.
December 15, 2011
Tonight last republican debate before the Iowa primary. Live stream at foxnews.com
And it will be all about Romney, Gingrich and Paul.
December 11, 2011
Watch the video of the IOWA republican debate here
December 6, 2011
In Iowa, Gingrich Is Gaining Favor, New Poll Shows - NYT
November 27, 2011.
Norquist: Democrats are lying
picture: Gage Skidmore
According to Norquist the Democrats should not blame him for the budget gridlock in congress. And if they do they are lying. Norquist is a political lobbyist who wants to destroy the government. An infamous quote from him is: "My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub."
He is forcing republican politicians to promise that they will not raise taxes. Those who do not want to sign "the pledge" not to raise taxes, or "break" the pledge, will be confronted in the primary elections with very strong "well-funded" opponents. Guess where all that money for these opponents is coming from.
He has never been elected by the people into a public office. He cannot be held accountable for what he is doing. He is a lobbyist. The existence of people like him is symptomatic for what is wrong with America.
LINKS: Norquist - CNN
No deal in sight, says super committee co-chair - CNN
November 25, 2011
Mitt Romney in his own words and by his own standards
November 22, 2011
Republican debate fact checks see: elections - New York Times
November 18, 2011
Herman Cain: Taliban in Libya
These Republican candidates are scary!
November 17, 2011
Millionaires want congress to raise their taxes - CNN Money
November 16, 2011
Oops! Now it is Herman Cain
Libya was front page news for almost a year, but Herman Cain knows less about the subject than a 5th grader.
He also seems to have missed the whole discussion about collective bargaining.
Palin, Bachmann, Perry, Cain.... The GOP has a huge problem. The only serious Republican candidate seems to be Mitt Romney.
See: Cain stumbles on Libya question - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
November 9, 2011.
Republican Debate: Cain keeps denying accusations, Perry suffers a memory lapse.
Andy Rooney (January 14, 1919 – November 4, 2011)
November 6, 2011
Andy Rooney quotes:
“Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?", here's an update for you. Nowadays 80%of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!” ― Andy Rooney
“I’m always on the lookout for something good about people; sometimes months go by.” - Andy Rooney
Accolades for Rooney, a Doubter of Accolades - NYT
Andy Rooney - Wikipedia
November 4, 2011.
Mitch McConnell; The pot calling the kettle black.
According to TIME and AP Mitch McConnel, the republican minority leader in the U.S. Senate said:"The truth is, Democrats are more interested in building a campaign message than in rebuilding roads and bridges," ... "And frankly, the American people deserve a lot better than that."
He said this after the republicans blocked Obama's "Construction Bill" because of its tax surcharge on the wealthy and the spending totals that were too high, according to this report.
What did McConnell himself say last year?
"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."
Psychologists call this phenomenon "projection" - a defense mechanism by which your own traits and emotions are attributed to someone else.
Income inequality
November 3, 2011.
I have presented this table before on this site. But because a lot of people in the USA are flatly denying the enormous income inequality in the USA, we do it again!
The number on the right is the Gini index.
Oh, and the inequality in wealth is even bigger.
Source: CIA World Fact Book
Go there if you want to see the complete list.
| 33 Uruguay | 47.10 | |
| 34 Ecuador | 46.90 | |
| 35 Rwanda | 46.80 | |
| 36 Philippines 45.8 | 45.80 | |
| 37 Uganda | 45.70 | |
| 38 Jamaica | 45.50 | |
| 39 United States 45.0 | 45.00 | |
| 40 Cameroon 44.6 | 44.60 | |
| 41 Cote d'Ivoire 44.6 | 44.60 | |
| 42 Iran | 44.50 | |
| 43 Malaysia 44.1 | 44.10 | |
| 44 Nigeria | 43.70 |
Top Earners Doubled Share of Nation’s Income, Study Finds - NYT
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: October 25, 2011
A new report from the Congressional Budget Office is likely to figure prominently in the escalating political fight over the economy.
Republican debate 10-18-2011 highlights CNN
If you can sleep after reading this article, you are a very calm person (or very wealthy).
October 19, 2011
GOP: ‘Deregulate Wall Street!’ - Washington Post
9-9-9 a disaster for the middle class and the poor - WP
Irresponsible people.
10-12-2011
I watched the republican debate on TV. What I saw was a bunch of self-satisfied politicians without any plan for the economy. They have tried to block every effort to improve the economic situation of the unemployed and the people who are afraid to lose their job.
These are the politicians who only want to talk about spending cuts, tax cuts and the national debt, not about practical solutions for the unemployment problem. This is the political party that has been stalling unemployment benefit extensions, whenever possible.
They are blaming the bad economic situation on Obama, while he is actually the one who has been doing something about it. The Obama administration saved capitalism, after the republican party had been running the economy into the ground.
The only plan they have is 'deregulation of the financial system', while it was excessive deregulation that brought the system down.
A week ago Romney said that the occupy Wall Street movement was dangerous and that it was "class warfare". This week he told us that he does not worry about the 1% rich but that he worries about the other 99%.
Mr Cain said last week: "If you are not rich, blame yourself."
This is what he said about his statement during the debate:
MS. GOLDMAN: Mr. Cain -- (applause) -- you recently said, quoting you: Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks; if you don't have a job and you're not rich, blame yourself.
So are you telling the 14 million unemployed Americans that it's their fault that they don't have a job?
MR. CAIN: No, the question was -- that response was directed at the people that are protesting on Wall Street, not that 14 million people who are out of work for no reason of their own other than that the economy is not growing, not the millions of people that are underemployed.
That statement was not directed at them. It was specifically directed at the people who were protesting on Wall Street. And I also said that they have basically targeted the wrong target. It should be against the failed policies of this administration, not Wall Street, is where they should be protesting.
During the same debate Mr. Cain was touting his ridiculous 9-9-9 plan. 9% income tax, 9% sales tax and 9% corporate tax. Translated correctly it means: abandon the progressivity of the U.S. tax system. Have the poor pay more taxes, and let the rich pay even less than they already do. Yes it will also raise the deficit, but who cares? Not Mr Cain.
Republicans vote down Obama's stimulus plan.
see: President’s Jobs Measure Is Turned Back in Key Senate Test - NYT
By ROBERT PEAR Published: October 11, 2011 The White House and Congressional Democrats are developing plans to revive elements of what had been portrayed as the centerpiece of Mr. Obama’s push to revive a listless economy.
A majority of the American people support Obama's stimulus plan
But a majority of the American people support the plan
Americans, unlike the Senate, approve of Obama’s jobs bill, poll says By Rachel Rose Hartman - Yahoo - The Ticket
Republican presidential debates: transcripts.
October 11, 2011
seventh debate 1-11-2011 - Washington Post
Watch the full debate video HERE.
Think Again: The Era of the 'One Percent'
This material [article] was published by the Center for American Progress
By Eric Alterman | October 6, 2011
Whether one agrees or disagrees with the tactics of the Occupy Wall Street movement, it’s easy to understand the inspiration for its anger as well as its impatience.
“Historical movements,” the historian Mary Jo Buhle rightly notes, “are rarely judged solely in the light they cast themselves.” In that sense it is a decidedly risky business to try to draw too many hard and fast conclusions about the present moment in history. Even so, I think the Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz was as accurate as anyone is likely to be when he pronounced our age—and our government—to be one “of the one percent, by the one percent, for the one percent.”
Think about it: In 1974 the top 0.1 percent of American families enjoyed 2.7 percent of all income in the country. By 2007 this same tiny slice of the population had increased its holdings to fully 12.3 percent—roughly five times as great a piece of the pie as it had enjoyed just three decades earlier. Half the U.S. population owns barely 2 percent of its wealth, putting the United States near Rwanda and Uganda and below such nations as pre-Arab Spring Tunisia and Egypt when measured by degrees of income inequality.
READ MORE
It is not the voters; the Republican Voter ID policy is a fraud.
October 4, 2011
The Republicans are against government regulation, except where it concerns creating hurdles for Democratic voters.
Gerrymandering alone doesn't seem to be enough. To win the elections, honest democratic voters must be discouraged to vote whenever possible.
New State Rules Raising Hurdles at Voting Booth - NYT
Republican crowd: "Let uninsured die."
Just a reminder. This is what happened three weeks ago during a republican debate.
I wonder what the crowd's reaction would have been if this would have been about a family that lost its insurance because the provider lost his job. After watching this... I really do not know ... Though Ron Paul denies it, it is also what his message implies.
This should be broadcasted again the day before the 2012 election.
Republican echo chamber keeps repeating the same false statement that one stimulus job costs $280,000. (2)
Sept 20, 2011
Here is George Will's contribution:
"For two years, there has been one constant: As events have refuted the Obama administration's certitudes, it has retained its insufferable knowingness. It knew that the stimulus would hold unemployment below 8%. Oops. Unemployment has been at least 9% in 26 of the 30 months since the stimulus was passed. Michael Boskin of Stanford says that even if one charitably accepts the administration's self-serving estimate of jobs "created or saved" by the stimulus, each job cost $280,000 - five times America's median pay."
See: Our floundering ‘federal family’ - Washington Post
George Will belongs to the Republican family. Michael Boskin is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.
"The Hoover Institution is influential in the American conservative and libertarian movements. The Institution has long been a place of scholarship for high-profile conservatives with government experience." - See: Wikipedia
See also: Politifact - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Obama presents Debt-reduction plan
Sept 19, 2011
Clinton blames Koch and blue-collar pain for NY9 loss - Politico
More bad special election news for Obama
Sep 15, 2011 Nevada election bodes ill for Democrats - Politico
Carville: Obama should panic.
Sep 15, 2011 Carville to Obama: Fire your staff - Washington Post
Democrats lose in NYC congressional race
Sep 14, 2011
Republican candidate Turner beats Democrat Weprin. This certainly is not good for the Democrats and Obama. But on the other hand: maybe it is not such a big deal.
This analysis puts everything in perspective.
FiveThirtyEight: A Guide to Cutting Through Special-Election Spin
No Future.
Sep 11, 2011.
"Economic growth in the G7 economies excluding Japan will remain at an annualised rate of less than 1% in the second half of 2011. The debate over fiscal policy in the United States, the sovereign debt crisis in some countries of the euro area and the fact that governments have fewer options to boost growth are driving both business and consumer confidence downward. The extent of bank deleveraging, due to the impact of regulatory changes, may also have been underestimated. Earlier improvements in the labour market are now fading, hiring intentions are softening and there are greater risks that high unemployment could become entrenched.
On the upside, a number of OECD countries are taking serious fiscal and structural reform measures, which should boost confidence. President Obama's announcement later today is expected to provide a boost to job recovery in the United States.
Japanese growth is expected to be buoyed by the ongoing reconstruction efforts following the earthquake and tsunami. Inflation may have peaked in emerging markets, which will allow for some policy easing. Investment levels in many OECD countries remain well below historical averages, offering the possibility for renewed corporate spending in the coming months if uncertainty abates."
OECD press conference Sep 9, 2011.
See: HERE
This OECD-graph speaks for itself.
This is what we got after stimulus policies that were not big enough, and the recent policy in the major industrialized countries of cuts in public spending.
And more fiscal austerity is to be expected...
