Morning Open Thread
Chat away...
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Good morning, all.
Do you notice any retail prices coming down except at the pump?
12/17/2008
The Federal Reserve did receive a little bit of good economic news on Tuesday.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that inflation — what consumers feel at the cash register — fell in November.
The consumer price index fell 1.7 percent, the second straight month of a record decline in inflation, or the rise in prices across the economy, the Bureau announced Tuesday.
On a year-over-year basis, consumer inflation rose 1.1 percent from November 2007 to last month.
Naroff Economic Advisors told the Wall Street journal that it is "good news for the consumer who now can pocket the difference. While households may not go out and party with the money, they do seem to be using it to clean up the mess on their balance sheets."
Plunging oil and gasoline prices were behind the month's steep drop in inflation. That benefited energy-intensive companies such as airlines and trucking. Falling prices are akin to a tax cut because consumers gain purchasing power.
Not all the news was good on the inflation front, however. The monthly drop was the largest since the government began compiling inflation records in 1947, and that underscores the magnitude of the current downturn.
It also highlights the possibility of deflation, a broad decline in prices that erodes value, although prices for food rose 0.2 percent in November.
As the recession spreads around the globe, commodity prices have collapsed, spurring decreases in consumer prices. Five straight months of declines in U.S. retail sales also has prompted stores to use discounts to draw in reluctant buyers.
Consumer prices were forecast to fall 1.3 percent, according to the median forecast of 71 economists in a Bloomberg survey. Costs excluding food and energy were forecast to rise 0.1 percent, the survey showed. Compared with November 2007, prices increased 1.1 percent.
Energy costs dropped 17 percent from October, the most since 1957, the CPI report said. Gasoline prices plunged 29.5 percent, and fuel oil costs fell 14.6 percent. Natural gas prices declined 5.2 percent.
Good economic news? Good news as in people are not having to selling off family jewelry to pay for gasoline to get to their underemployment jobs? Wait til OPEC cuts production.
Retailers have been discounting around Xmas for the past few years. I don't see any relief at the grocery store, with utilities, or in medical insurance costs. Would people buy more junk from China even if the prices did come down?
Gotta run. later.
1
SandyH on December 17, 2008 at 09:32 AM
There are more sales and discounts this year. Retail sales are down around town, more people are doing more Christmas looking than Christmas shopping.
Dropping gas prices have sure helped, even though it seems like they wait for me to fill up before they drop the prices. ;-p
There may be a drop in fuel oil prices, but that doesn't help anyone in and around Butte. We use mainly natural gas in town, and propane out of town, supplimented by electricity, and wood. There are still too many kids who are sleeping in their overcoats this winter.
BTW it's supposed to get up to 11 today. After almost a week of subzero temperatures, it's a blooming heat wave!
Sandy, OPEC announced earlier today that they are cutting production by about 200 million bbls a day.
Butte, I was in a mall last Saturday (ick) and although the place was packed the few people I saw walking out to their cars with purchases were only carrying 1 small bag. Most of the people weren't buying a thing.
geesh, I would hate to have my hard earned contributions used like this. What happens when he is thrown in the slammer??
Coleman to use campaign funds for defense
Donors to Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman's reelection campaign may be surprised to learn that the St. Paul Republican is planning to use their contributions to pay blue-chip criminal defense lawyers to defend him against a reported FBI probe into his dealings with a wealthy businessman.
I am so glad that Caroline Kennedy is seeking the New York Senate Seat. In all the Obama cabinet, I really do not see anything of JFK, other that when Obama speaks, in what he promises he will do. But his actions are mostly Progressive Conservatism with little interest to restore the Constitution that President Bush redefined.
I think that those that have no voice in the Democratic Party rally with Caroline and sing her song for America's future. For if Obama does not perform for "We the people" the JFK, RFK, and even the MLK supporters will support another. That is why we must support Caroline for she has a destiny to fulfill that was inspired by her father.
President Obama America needs you but remember it is so much more than you, but the hand in hands of "We the people" Made in America needs that must toil the soil for our children's future.
In playing a devil advocate, I still support him but must also have the Free Speech without the Patriot Act.
funny, we have a Republican Governor in our state, and have the higest taxes in the nation on gas, sin items like cigarettes, alcohol. We have a large sales tax, and nobody can figure out WHy we have all of these, because our Casinos must contribute a goodly portion of their slot machine winnings to the state, plus we have the highest income in the nation!
Could it just be that Republicans are hypocrits when it comes to taxes????????
PamB on December 17, 2008 at 10:49 AM
The Democrats in Idaho have tried for years to remove the tax on food so that people could more afford to feed their families. Who blocked it? Yep, the republicans. Most times they don't let the bill out of committee so the public doesn't get to hear about it.
Oh yes, those republicans. Hypocrites all of them.
(CNN) -- British troops will begin leaving Iraq in May, more than six years after joining the U.S.-led invasion that ousted former dictator Saddam Hussein, Britain and Iraq announced Wednesday.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/17/iraq.brown/index.html
Oh what do they know, they're just scientists! Let's turn to people like Rush for our science facts!
(CNN) -- Between 1.5 trillion and 2 trillion tons of ice in Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska have melted at an accelerating rate since 2003, according to NASA scientists, in the latest signs of what they say is global warming.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/12/16/melting.ice/index.html
Republican party poster children:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/how-twisted-naming-your-child-after-
I'll give you three guesses who they voted for in the presidential election....
"I was aware of the [torture interrogation methods used by the CIA], certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared". -- Dick Cheney, December 15, 2008.
Put this man in prison.
The Boise Chamber of Commerce worships the feet of Larry Craig:
Retiring U.S. Sen. Larry Craig came before a friendly audience Tuesday at the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce and received two standing ovations for his 28 years of work in Congress.
Maybe they'll erect a statue of Craig. Wonder where they'll put it? Suggestions?
Remember how hard it was to watch TV after 9/11? Okay for a while as we were all sort of stunned and in shock. Then it began to sink in how things were being skewed by the media. Some of these people are still considered credible today.
Remarks made after September 11, 2001, by our "media experts" at the time.
Here's one of the worst:
"Bill O'Reilly: "If the Taliban government of Afghanistan does not cooperate, then we will damage that government with air power, probably. All right? We will blast them, because..."
Sam Husseini, Institute for Public Accuracy: "Who will you kill in the process?"
O'Reilly: "Doesn't make any difference."
--(The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, 9/13/01)"
Just a quick question, ole Danny boy.
Clinton raised taxes when he took over from Reagan and Bush Sr disaster ! Not only did the modest increase get us out of the Economic mess we were in, he turned a deficit into a surplus. He created millions of new jobs. He made Home buying a possibility for millions. The Stock market went to unbelievable highs and our financial portfolios soured !
Polls show, that Americans would GLADLY go back to the Clinton tax rates, if it would turn this country back to the sucess it was at that time!
Now what part of that did you miss? Were you in a coma during that time? Always that greasy, filthy little wallet of your's, isn't it? No brains, and no gains!
Madfloridian, they're still making nonsense comments:
"It is regrettable that [Americans] had to die, but I believe they did have to die. The danger was inaction could have resulted in the death of a great many more Americans than 4,000. And that's the reason I'm still delighted that we did what we did." -- Frank Gaffney, columnist.
I'm glad he's delighted, aren't you?
gee, LPD, You got me curious.
Just how much was it you donated to Blago?
Well, I'm back from exercise class. Everyone seemed exhausted and it's not even Xmas week yet. Nothing like aerobics to pick up the energy level.
I've got a free day to work on wrapping presents and starting on my Xmas cards.
It guess it's the cold, snowy weather and the economy which is dragging everyone down. Nobody knows what's going on up there in the White House. All they do is ask for money and then don't tell us where any of it went. It's like we're all waiting for the bottom to drop out with all these layoff announcements and bad earnings reports.
Butte/DPD,
I've notice the same thing. People are just buying what they need...splurging on a few things for the kids/grandchildren if they can. The electronics stores seem to be in the worst shape. You don't see many computers or big screen TVs being loaded in the back of pickups any longer.
I actually saw someone taking back a unopened TV at a discount store the other day. I guess his wife made him return it. That must really hurt.
YoungPoet on December 17, 2008 at 10:47 AM
poet,
I saw the most amazing photo on the front page of our newspaper today. Joe Biden is reaching out and holding his arm on Barack's shoulder as they sat with those school kids yesterday. It's such a protective and naturally affectionate gesture. You often see fathers do that with their grown sons.
I like what I'm seeing here. There will be a strong liberal voice and advocate in this White House. Joe Biden has the ear and the back of Barack Obama.
BlueinIdaho on December 17, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Blue,
They can put it in the public bathroom and let people throw tap dancing shoes at it?
CactusBarrack on December 17, 2008 at 10:42 AM
One doesn't pay taxes on things they've already cut way back on in their budgets like soda, music downloads, beer, cable TV, taxi rides...etc. Only those who are too rich or too stupid are still spending big money on cigars, spa treatments, or high-priced concerts and sporting events.
You betcha. We'll find all kinds of ways to make the idle rich pay for this economic meltdown and unnecessary Iraqi occupation. This is only the beginning.
So you finally get the drift? Gov Rod and Senator Coleman are both corrupt? Maybe that's why they need to screw over their contributors one more time? At least we admit when our side is corrupt.
I'm hoping a plane that is carrying Cheney drifts out of our air space at sometime in the future and has to land in a foreign country...a nation which will hold him till the World Court can prosecute him for torture....just like we did to the Japanese after WW II for torturing our troops.
Happy days are here again, Cactus? You seem to be a little perplexed of late. The GOP losers you have been backing are disappointing you in their weak attempts to look respectable?
bbl.
Liberal DOES NOT mean Democrat.
Conservative Does not mean Republian.
23CactusBarrack on December 17, 2008 at 12:23 PM
maybe you could explain it to us all! So you are a conservative, but you are NOT Republican? hmmmmmm, you bitch about taxes and welfare programs. You bitch about global warming. You bitch how you are in the 20% that still wants us occupying Iraq, and want us to bomb Iran. You bitch about taxes----ooops, I forgot I said that one. Yet you are not a Republican! Did you vote for Obama, or one of the 3rd party candidates?
Now suppose you just clarify this up for me!
Will someone please once again explain the difference between CLIMATE and WEATHER...
Sheesh.
what on earth makes you think, old AZ troll, that most of the people here do not pay income tax??
Any income received during the year, including pension plans, dividends, capital gains, are taxed as income! That in turn makes the amount of SS one receives come into play as to how much is taxable !
Just because YOU are in the bottom of the chain, does not mean the rest of us are. You see, we were smart and invested our money, and were in high paying jobs, instead of being meter maids for the AZ cops!
why did you vote for macain cactus they are both againts everything that democrats believe
hahahahahahaha, you are no more a Democrat than the man in the moon. Oh, you may have gone in and registered as a Dem in order to vote in the Primary, but your constant bitching about Welfare and taxes from day one here, tells exactly what you are ! I know Democrats, and you old man, are no democrat !!! so save it for someone of your own IQ!
Liberals only make up 22% of the voters, but they make such a mess, like milk spilled on the floor, it seems like there is more than there really is.
what the point cactass because the conservative made such mess for last 8 years we have to clean there mess
what bush done is worse then what anybody you pull out your but
Here is a really clear kid site that explains how the Greenhouse effect works, and how too much warming within that greenhouse can spell big trouble.
Now I post this for Sally who does not pay attention to it, it is geared to kids older than his mentality, but maybe, just maybe, you can catch the drift of why and how this all works. Squeeze your brain real hard, and try !
The greenhouse effect is important. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would not be warm enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual. Even a little extra warming may cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.
See an animation of how enhancing the greenhouse effect likely contributes to global warming. (Macromedia Flash Version 5 or higher plug-in required)
It may seem hard to believe that people can actually change the Earth’s climate. But scientists think that the things people do that send greenhouse gases into the air are making our planet warmer.
cactus dan your are Conservative Republican in what you say and dont say you idiot
Yes, Danny...keep throwing out that 22% number like it means something. Porblem is, when you ask Americans about their actual views on issues, the answers you get are...hold onto your hat...progressive. Not conservative. People want corporations held responsible for the rape of the environment and the polluting of our air, water and land. People want high quality, affordable health CARE, not insurance policies that from companies that make obscene profits from denying care. People want transparency in GOVERNMENT, not in their private lives. People want social safety nets to catch us when we fall, and to give us a hand back up onto our feet. They want public education that prepares children to become a productive member of society in whatever area they wish. They want government to protect them from things like food borne illnesses, dangerous toys, atomic bombs being brought in through our ports. They want to be happy and fulfilled. More than that, they want others to have happiness and fulfillment, too. You know, like that feeling you get when you see a little kid open his Christmas gifts? We're built to feel what others feel. Unless of course we've been emotionally stunted in some way. But I don't know ANYONE here like that.
As far as my prior work or wealth, you don't know who are talking to, Nat Brain.
Oh YES, AZ Danny, I do ! One does not have to read much of your illiterate, small IQ, dopey rants to understand EXACTLY who and what you have done with your life. NADA.
You see, REAL men do not come into here as trolls. REAL sucess stories of men do not want to nor need to come in here. In the measure of a man, you are and always have been a very small man. I remember when you first started with your posts here----unless there was another troll here for courage, you did not have the guts to post with REAL people. So go back to the gutter where you came from old man. Just because your kids and wife do not want you, does not mean we do !
no cactus i read that republican company paid republican to block tougher rules when the republican controlled congress
"Gone swimming this Morning Pammy, it must be "tostie" in CT, with the global warming"
yeah, it is comments like this one, Danny, that let's us all know just how swift you are, and what your life was like! Your past work and Wealth??? Now that is just too funny. You are a very very dumb man!
Bush has damned the GOP for many years to come!!!
Bush's Legacy: Conservative Failure
"History will treat me well," Winston Churchill, at the nadir of his public reputation, is said to have once confidently proclaimed. "How do you know?" his interlocutor came back. "Because," Churchill concluded, "I intend to write it."
Now, our president surely could not write his way out of a sopping wet paper bag, but that's not to say he doesn't grasp the Churchillian impulse. Rewriting history has been the substance of his presidency in recent weeks—and, with a major American Enterprise Institute address planned for Thursday on "Building a Foundation for the Future, with a specific focus on domestic policy initiatives," we can expect to hear more.
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2008125116/bushs-legacy-conservative-failure-1
Oh, we are very very happy !!
Obama won.
We picked up 6 more Senate seats.
We picked up over 53 House seats over last 2 elections, with 2010 coming up for more.
CT. got rid of the last Republican in New england in the House of Reps.
Obama on right track to take this country back.
The day Bush is shoved out that White House door, will make us all smile and smile and smile. I sure hope they show a lot of Bush carrying his mean little dog on his way out! I want to really 'quack' up at the lame Duck!!! heehee
bbl, Dems.
The Logic of Keynes in Today's World
Monday 15 December 2008
by: Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog
Not long ago I was talking to someone who once had been a deficit hawk but the current recession had turned into a full-blooded Keynesian. He wanted a stimulus package in the range of $500 to $700 billion. "Consumers are dead in the water," he said, fervently, "so government has to step in." I agreed. But I didn't tell him his traditional Keynesianism is based on two highly-questionable assumptions in today's world, and the underlying logic of Keynes leads us toward something bigger and more permanent than he has in mind.
The first assumption is that American consumers will eventually regain the purchasing power needed to keep the economy going full tilt. That seems doubtful. Median incomes dropped during the last recovery, adjusted for inflation, and even at the start weren't much higher than they were in the 1970s. Middle-class families continued to spend at a healthy clip over the last thirty years despite this because women went into paid work, everyone started working longer hours, and then, when these tactics gave out, went deeper and deeper into debt. This indebtedness, in turn, depended on rising home values, which generated hundreds of billions of dollars in home equity loans and refinanced mortgages. But now that the housing bubble has burst, the spending has ended. Families cannot work more hours than they did before, and won't be able to borrow as much, either.
The second assumption is that, even if Americans had the money to keep spending as before, they could do so forever. Yet only the most myopic adherent of free-market capitalism could believe this to be true. The social and environmental costs would soon overwhelm us. Even if climate change were not an imminent threat to the planet, the rest of the world will not allow American consumers to continue to use up a quarter of the planet's natural resources and generate an even larger share of its toxic wastes and pollutants.
This would be a problem if most of what we consumed during our big-spending years were bare necessities. But much was just stuff. And surely there are limits to how many furnishings and appliances can be crammed into a home, how many hours can be filled manipulating digital devices, and how much happiness can be wrung out of commercial entertainment.
The current recession is a nightmare for people who have lost their jobs, homes, and savings; and it's part of a continuing nightmare for the poor. That's why we have to do all we can to get the economy back on track. But most other Americans are now discovering they can exist surprisingly well buying fewer of the things they never really needed to begin with.
What we most lack, or are in danger of losing, are the things we use in common - clean air, clean water, public parks, good schools, and public transportation, as well as social safety nets to catch those of us who fall. Common goods like these don't necessarily use up scarce resources; often, they conserve and protect them.
Yet they have been declining for many years. Some have been broken up and sold as more expensive private goods, especially for the well-to do - bottled water, private schools, security guards, and health clubs, for example. Others, like clean air, have fallen prey to deregulation. Others have been wacked by budget axes; the current recession is forcing states and locales to axe even more. Still others, such as universal health care and pre-schools, never fully emerged to begin with.
Where does this logic lead? Given the implausibility of consumers being able to return to the same level of personal spending as before, along with the undesirability of our doing so even if we could, and the growing scarcity of common goods, there would seem only one sensible way to restore and maintain aggregate demand. That would be through government expenditure on the commons. Rather than a temporary stimulus, government would permanently fill the gap left by consumers who cannot and should not be expected to resume their old spending ways. This wouldn't require permanent deficits as long as, once economic growth returns, revenues from a progressive income tax refill the coffers.
My friend the born-again Keynesian might not like where the logic of Keynesianism leads in today's world, but the rest of us might take heart.
Merry Christmas Dumb A$$ Cactus.
You say that you are a Democrat; however, you never say which - if any - democratic candidates that you have supported over the last 50 or so years. Which Democratic Candidates/Officials have you supported? Have you ever actually campaigned for any of them? Which of the Democratic Ideals do you believe in and how do you express that belief - actions speak louder than words. Speaking of words, Have you ever had a kind word for anyone, anywhere, anytime about anything, ever in your life?
You call the DNC blog a 'bitch fest' but you are usually the head BITCH! While we may have complaints that we offer here, you constantly complaign, call people the stupidest names and spew venomus hate speech, mostly toward the people here who have done absolutely nothing to you. How miserable are you and why so miserable that you feel the need to come 'somewhere' that you are clearly despised and spew your filth? I pity you and I wish I had an 'ignore' button for you but I wish you safe and happy Christmas, somewhere other than here.
but most democrats are liberal you goofy troll and most republican are conserative
marymac_memphis on December 17, 2008 at 01:26 PM
The troll voted for Palin. That simple fact standing alone says more about the troll's intelligence and morals then anything else he posts.
Isn't it strange how the word "conservative" has become so perverted by Republicanspeak and the noise media?
Used to be "conservative" meant saving, caring for something, like the Nature Conservancy, it meant preserving something like conserving one's resources. It meant someone dependable, if somewhat boring, but reliable, honest, and ethical.
Used to mean that. Maybe three or four decades ago.
Now it means hatred of others, and destruction, of foreign countries, of labor unions, of hopes and dreams of the working people, of the unity of our nation. It has come to mean hatred and division. It has come to mean corruption and perversion. It means allowing our infrastructure to crumble, it means allowing the rich and greedy to have free rein, and it means the destruction of our Constitution.
The Republicans in adopting the word for their own exclusive use have perverted it, tarnished it, covered it with offal.
Yet, these "conservatives" continue to claim some nebulous moral high road even while their very actions speak the opposite.
"Conservative" has now also come to mean hypocrite.
It also means puppet, because even in the face of facts, the Republicans and their Big Business Bosses not only continue to insist on tying this word to their policies of hate, corruption, and unChristian(though they loudly proclaim that they are) behavior, they determinedly embrace the very lowest of those actions and resist any attempt by responsible people to reclaim both the work and the party.
They would rather spew insults and lies, than discuss issues, or admit anything the Big Business doesn't want them to admit.
They claim to think for themselves, but they are the puppets who dance the dance of hate and greed. Preferring to do the knee-jerk puppet dance to thinking for themselves and admitting that our damaged country needs to be "conserved" and restored.
BlueinIdaho on December 17, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Boy, is that ever the truth! Merry Christmas, Blue! I hope that you and yours are safe and happy during the entire holiday season!
bbl!
Pam, when you come back in,
Merry Christmas and don't spoil the g'baby too much!
i trough you were a ass monkey for voting for bush i vote for what good for our country not my pockect book like you cactass
Actually Danny, they are ALL liberal ideas. Conservatives are only concerned for their own wants and needs, not for the concerns of others. They think people are born bad and they have to be punished into doing what's right and that no one else should be concerned with caring for them. Hence, opposition to social programs of any kind, including public education. Regulation of industry and protection of the people and the land from destructive corporate practices is LIBERAL. National parks are a LIBERAL idea, regardless of the party to which Teddy Roosevelt belonged. (Remember, Republican doesn't always mean conservative, right?) Equality of opportunity, responsibility for oneself and others, protection and empowerment of citizens to make a better life for themselves are PROGRESSIVE ideals. The only problem liberals have had for the past forty years is that they think they can achieve their goals by serving disadvantaged groups separately. This is why conservatives are so fucking scared of Obama. He transcends that type of neo-liberal crap and his ideas are aimed at improving life for ALL people. Together we can go farther than we've ever dreamed separately. People are wired for cooperation, not competition. It's time for conservatives to grow up and poke their heads out of their shells and see that the world is NOT a scary place full of monsters, just different people with different views...and a lot of them are scared and stuck inside their shells too.
looks like you are the one with the belly full of hate is CACTass he always belly acing everynight about things he get
And the answer to this question is YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!
Is GOP Risking the Economy to Win the PR War Against Unions?
Tuesday 16 December 2008
by: Art Levine, The Huffington Post
Even as the auto industry teeters on collapse, union-bashing continues as the mainstay of a GOP propaganda war against organized labor. With three million jobs at stake, potentially costing taxpayers $150 billion in unemployment insurance, Medicaid, other aid and lost tax revenues, unions remain the primary targets of the GOP blame game for the troubled auto industry and the failed bailout deal. The Bush Administration, while dithering over the scope of any bailout with federal funds, has faced mounting pressure from Republicans to impose the same sort of union-wrecking conditions that scuttled a deal in the Senate last week.
The hostile response to a bailout, even though some form of rescue package is still likely this week, is doubtless fueled by recent polls confirming that a majority of the public is opposed to an auto industry bailout and doesn't believe that its collapse would significantly hurt the economy.
So far, it's right-wing demagoguery 1, progressives zero in the battle over the bailout. Public support was further harmed, of course, by the plutocratic PR blunders of the auto industry executives' initial jet-setting appeal to Congress. In fact, the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll reveals, the conservative propaganda campaign against an auto bailout has even hoodwinked some union members: "Union households are no more apt than those without a union member to favor the plan, 44 percent compared with 42 percent. However, the union householders who support the plan are more likely to be strongly behind the bailout, " the Washington Post reports.
All this should serve as a wake-up call for all unions, the broader progressive movement and allied media outlets: Will they be able to launch a truly effective counterattack against the propaganda blitz, ads and misinformation spread by conservatives, corporate-funded front groups and the mainstream media? Meanwhile, right-wingers are using the bailout mess to lay the groundwork to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) needed to secure organizing rights and allow the American middle class to grow.
As Harley Shaiken and David Madland of the Center for American Progress observe, "Labor's decline squeezes the middle class, raises inequality, and undermines democratic values."
And that's apparently just fine with most Republicans and business leaders, who are gearing up for a large-scale, $120 million lobbying and PR war against union organizing. The centerpiece of their attack is the false claim that the bill would take away the secret ballot for workers, when it just offers them another option as well: majority sign-up through a "card check" procedure.
Indeed, the attacks against the UAW are not only a "dress rehearsal" for the fight against EFCA's organizing rights, as economist Mark Brenner of Labor Notes calls it, but part of a broader, longstanding pattern of weakened unions, three decades of stagnant real wages and corporate "wage theft" of owed money to workers that costs Americans billions each year.
As Kim Bobo, the executive director of Interfaith Worker Justice and author of Wage Theft in America, denounced the Republican attacks on the Web radio show I co-host: "It's despicable that they would use what's indeed a crisis in the industry to bash unions. Unions are both one of the best ways to get a middle-class job and one of the best vehicles for stopping and deterring wage theft," which robs millions of workers of owed salaries and overtime. "We need more unions in the society, not fewer," she declared.
sally so who do listen a bunch of conservatives who don't know shit over scientist over the enviroment does that make sense
yeap and sally you know for fact who right and who wrong about global warming
Good afternoon, all.
This is getting pretty serious...
ATHENS, Greece – Protesters hung two giant banners off the Acropolis on Wednesday, with slogans calling for mass demonstrations across Europe and "resistance," after days of violent protests sparked by the fatal police shooting of a teenager in Athens.
About a dozen protesters held the pink banners over the walls of the ancient citadel, Greece's most famous monument, one bearing the word "Resistance" written in large black letters in four languages: Greek, English, Spanish and German. The other called for mass demonstrations across Europe on Thursday.
The banners were taken down after two hours....
The riots that followed the teenager's death are the worst Greece has seen in decades, feeding off widespread dissatisfaction with the unpopular conservative government and anger over social inequality and economic hardship...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_re_eu/eu_greece_protests
Rioting and looting are totally unacceptable.
But protesting social inequality and economic hardship seems to be spreading around the world. First it was China and France last year. Now it's Greece...the foundation of democratic principles ans our modern Republics. Even our own election seems to be a protest vote against Far Right excesses.
You have to ask why are these young people so emphatic about asking the rest of the world to join them? Somehow I think the Greeks of old would be alarmed and yet curious about the trends we see developing.
One lone man stand in front of a tank and another throw shoes at the leader of the last great superpower? The top 2% better get the message. When the young start using muscle, the Old Conservative Boys network is not nearly as secure as they would like to think.
im not robert sally and your the retard global warming is real dumb ass your in mode of retardation when we dont agree with you im very smart person
You see, REAL men do not come into here as trolls.
See Pam - I have always thought that - these trolls are on the bottom end of the gene pool. You know the type - short - fat and wishing they could stand tall like the other men do but just can't as the ladies in the room giggle about them because they're so geeky looking.
For me they remind me of the snot faced kid on the play ground who no body wanted to play with because they always stunk like piss.
If you know what I'm saying......
when ice melts the sea level go up and when ice freaze the level go down that common sences
Valerie Jarrett as Senator from Illinois, some reason that is not the best position for her. I think maybe a position closer to the White House. Plus there has to be a division between the Senate and the White House because of Checks and Balances.
considering how stupid you are sally every things you post is flapdoodle ll legitimit sight say global warming is real hurting a world
Actually my man Sally - that line especially pertains to you. I'm sure that you know exactly what I mean by the smelly kid who stunk like piss on the play ground. You're so used to insults that coming in here remind you of your youth and a time when you were made fun of as a stinky kid. Bad habits are hard to break aren't they Sally. Once a slug - always a slug... a stinky kid slug.
Oh and by the way - did you hear Sally - we bet your ass in the elections..big time... McCain/Palin - dopy loosers just like you..hahaha
We sure did beat your ass....
Dancing in my jammies
WE WON
WE WON
WE WON!!
Hahah Sally is a looser we beat your ass clean and SWEET!
All right. I'm done. YOu fucking bunch of children can have this blog. Call me when you fucking grow up.
so greg l so you can post shit to the troll but we cnat ? why dont you grow
ahhh, yes. David Deming. quite the Oddball.
brought up on Sexual harassment charges. Against Affirmative action, global warming, etc.
and then this:
The Political Climate" editor at ICECAP reported:[76]
"For ten years or more, professor David Deming has taught a course in environmental geology at the University of Oklahoma. In October 2008, he was informed that the “general education” certification for his course was being revoked. Under the University of Oklahoma system, this means that student enrollment in the course is likely to drop by two-thirds."
HIS VIEWS ON AMERICANS:
Views on Social Responsibility
In "Americans: fat, lazy and stupid
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The parents of American-born Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh are asking President George W. Bush to set their son free before Bush leaves office next month.Lindh was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2002 to serving in the Taliban army, which violated U.S. economic sanctions against Afghanistan at that time.
At a news conference in San Francisco Wednesday, Lindh's mother, Marilyn Walker, asked the president to show mercy during the Christmas season by commuting her son's sentence.
Lindh initially asked for a commutation in 2004 and his lawyers have renewed the request each year.
The U.S. Department of Justice has never acted on the petition and a spokeswoman didn't immediately return a telephone call.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
Not no but, hell no! Perhaps at the end of President Obama's second term but not now. These dumbarse kids need to learn a lesson.
dream on sally wake up and smell the shit the coleman senate seat is going to the courts so nobody won yet
does sally road go from his bathroom to his bed room the only the he ploys is bullshit
Doesn't this seem a little too convenient? I wouldn't be surprised if ChimpCo was behind it in order to ratchet up the fear mongering again.
Russia gave Lebanon an early Christmas gift of 10 MiG fighter jets today in a deal to boost defence co-operation.
The MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters would be provided for free to Lebanon under an agreement on military-technical assistance, the head of Russia’s defence co-operation service said. Mikhail Dmitryev said that the jets would be taken from Russia’s existing stock.He said that Moscow was also in talks to supply Beirut with heavy armour, adding that supplies of such weaponry were “now possible after the situation in this nation has stabilised”. He said: “We view the Lebanese army as the main guarantor of this nation’s stability, therefore the armed forces of this country must be strengthened.” The deal followed a meeting in Moscow between Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Lebanese counterpart Elias Murr. Mr Serdyukov said that Russia had received a detailed list of armaments sought by Lebanon.
When details of the deal first emerged on Tuesday, it was suggested that the aircraft would be sold at a hefty discount. But Mr. Dmitryev confirmed today that they would be free, with delivery paid by the Russian Defence Ministry, saying: “Military-technical assistance, this means assistance in budgetary funds.” The MiG-29s, one of Russia’s best fighter jets, will provide considerable additional firepower for the Lebanese air force, which currently has only five outdated Hawker Hunter jets and 16 helicopters...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5360865.ece
So the Russians are playing Santa Claus to the Lebanese. They'll make excellent target practice for the Israelis.
On a serious note, it would appear that the Russians are, once again, attempting to excert influence in the Middle East. This is troubling. They can't be up to any good. Remember that every time you pull up to the gas pump.
Bob,
In order for something to expand, there must be a vacuum or an area of low resistance for it to expand into.
The Russians are increasing their influence in the middle east means that they have an opening to do so. We gave them that opening by our military-action-is-the-only-answer-to-everything policy in the middle east.
Bob: If you are still here, please see my post at 2:08 PM. There is an article that I think you would be very interested in reading.
bbl
P.S. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
when the scientist prove their dopey points neocon try to destroy the scientists
Pam,
That's the problem. Conservatives like to complain that college professors are liberal, but when you find one that's conservative a lot of the time they are also a bit fruity.
The truth is, nobody forces anyone to work at a college, or choose a career path in education. In fact, most people with advanced degrees could probably do much better financially if they took a job in the private sector. So those people who stay in education are likely as not motivated by idealism or a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people.
Now, I'm not knocking people who, after years of studying, want to do something different but I've always wondered why conservatives, who after all champion the 'free market' and 'career choice,' suddenly turn around and complain when certain jobs are dominated by liberals for the very ordinary reason that not very many conservatives CHOOSE that career path. Besides education, a couple of other examples include acting and journalism.
Yet I've never heard conservatives say there need to be more liberal preachers, CEO's or ranchers.
How are you? Say hi to Rose for me.
marymac_memphis on December 17, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Hi, mary.
The GOP seems to be completely absorbed with public relations stunts. They forget that you have to be publicizing something of substance. All they are doing is shining a light on their arrogance.
Jack Cafferty on CNN is asking viewers today what they think the Congressional Republicans can do to help President-Elect Obama solve the problems they ignored for eight years.
Now that cuts to the quick, doesn't it?
The blinders are off and hatchets are coming out against those Republicans who continue to play games instead of take care of the peoples' business. There will be no more hiding behind fake family values and wedge issues.
Yup. I do post some on NBF, I have my own blog and I've been invited to post on ColdHeartedTruth, a mixed blog (started by a conservative but he welcomes posters with a variety of viewpoints.) My blog link on there is here.
How are you folks doing?
105
Eli_B on December 17, 2008 at 03:56 PM
We won the Cold War by non aggression, by waiting for the other guy to make the first move.
The only place we lost was Viet Nam, because we went in in support of a corrupt government that had been put in place by their French Colonial masters before they pulled out and handed us the bag.
We went in with a lot of "We're doing the right thing and saving democracy" hoopla, without understanding the circumstances, the people, or the terrain. Sound familiar?
Now we've re-started the Cold War, lost in Iraq, and are consolidating the Muslim countries against us, and Russia is laughing and waving their middle finger at us.
Heckuva nice job Bush/Cheney!
Obama is left holding the bag, and needing to calm down the Russians, the Muslims, and re-establish our credibility with the world community.
While Bush retires to his snob KKKommunity in Tex-ass and re-writes history.
Where's an indictment when you need one!
Motorola just announced that they are canning their pension fund, and will stop matching employee contributions into their 401k accounts. Also the 2 co-CEOs will take a 25% cut in pay. (But I'll bet the bonuses will remain intact, and the CEOs will actually make more money due to the employee money they will save.)
Sally-* on December 17, 2008 at 03:46 PM
If you call pointing out that the handful of scientists opposed to global warming are probably on the payroll of the GOP or one of their affiliates is character assassination, then so be it.
BobVADemocratHawk on December 17, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Bob,
It's not as if anyone has been trying to work with the Russians in the last eight years.
How many times did Putin (of all people) try to get Bush to compromise on the missile defense shield? He even offered to let us share their listening posts on the edge of the Middle East.
But Bush ignored the attempt to find a common ground. Chances missed are littered all over the landscape of failed policies.
Bob, most of his global warming denier claptrap comes from people who either aren't climatologists or from some guy in New Zealand with a blog.
Bob,
Actually two years ago an article in Time magazine very carefully chronicled how many 'scientists' who question global warming either receive research grants or have other financial ties to Exxon-Mobil.
Of course, there are still people who have a scientific degree and question evolution too.
There was also an article last year in the Arizona Republic about a guy at ASU who is often mentioned as a 'global warming denier,' when in fact, having gone over all the data he no longer questions the reality of global warming, only to what degree it is caused by human activity. So even the few they do have on their side, they exaggerate or intentionally refer to stuff that is a few years old.
But Sandy, Condi is an expert on the Soviet Union (which hasn't existed for years).
Chances missed are littered all over the landscape of failed policies.
You can say that again.
And now that the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, we should make it clear that THE BIGGEST missed opportunity is one we missed in the spring and summer of 2002 when the Bush administration made the transition between focusing on Afghanistan until we'd won, and instead started a useless and unnecessary war in Iraq.
The political situation in and around Afghanistan has changed so much that it is now an open question whether we even can win there, much less whether we can do it without taking massive casualties that we'd have not suffered if Bush had finished taking care of business in 2002.
The Union of Concerned Scientists note that the warming of air has changed the dynamics of hydrology- as warmer air can hold more moisture, thus more snow, more rain...in certain regions. If this winter is any indication - it looks like last winter, maybe worse. The spring....may very well be like last year's Midwest flooding. Meanwhile - other areas (California - the southwest) become more arid - and burn more easily. You can speak to the contrary - but for those of us in the middle of floods and fires...actions speak louder than words...
Doo-Bee.
Good one.
And it fits right in, since it seems like most of the GOP political trust are experts on the Confederacy.
IG report says Blackwater may lose license in Iraq
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_blackwater
Just think if state by state Blackwater loses its license to operate there. Why Obama may say have to say all Contractors are accountable, to the laws of the Constitution and the laws of decency in the world. That there Carpetbagger actions must meet the Checks and Balances of the Trilogy of equal rule on scales that can never be tipped.
Does the Federal rule of Contractor legality supersede any states right to the Scale of Justice? Can the Federal Government give blanket immunity "At Will" to do anything they want to do with "We the people?"
SandyH on December 17, 2008 at 04:27 PM
And to top it all off, Sec. Rice is supposed to be an expert on the Soviet Union yet she allegedly had a rather large role in the Georgia\Russia incident a couple of months ago. And we saw how well that turned out.
Eli_B on December 17, 2008 at 04:29 PM
That's a rather astute observation, Eli. And if the conservatives would take time to look at the proposed legislation, they would find that a significant porion of it goes toward making the environment a cleaner, better place to live and work. I'll be quite interested in seeing how the EPA Administrator designate, Lisa Jackson of NJ, approaches her new position after her confirmation.
Compare and contrast. Chimpy, the "sole" man v.s. Gordon Brown, who showed up in Iraq yesterday and said Great Britain will pull out by July; and left with just as many shoes as he brought.
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 17, 2008 at 04:31 PM
You betcha! One time Sarah was looking out her window and *poof* the USSR just disappeared and was replaced by the Ruskies, dontchaknow.
(But I'll bet the bonuses will remain intact...
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 17, 2008 at 04:22 PM
DPD,
The day these corporate crooks came up with stock options as their chief form of income, we should have known they were going to destroy the very companies they were supposed to be building for future growth. Common sense was trumped by conservative calls for more productivity and embracing the future of globalization (now in ashes).
It started out with the GOP deregulating the way for corporate raiders to use junk bonds. Then the CEOs joined in with the swindlers by selling off all their assets in leveraged buyouts and hostile takeovers. The aim was to make a huge fortune and get out fast before the collapse. It was nothing more than Republican voodoo economics. The Mafia couldn't have run a sweeter deal.
Why doesn't the MSM call it what it was...the Bush Crime Family funneling all the wealth in this country out of the system to the top 2% or to foreign interests? They created monopolies. That's supposed to be capitalism?
Greed is real good for the ganders but not for the rest of us geese? That’s still the crooked bill of goods that those Southern Republicans are trying to sell the nation...embrace underemployment while you pay off our gambling debts.
I don't think so. Change is on the way.
"They're our next-door neighbours and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska." -- Palin.
BTW, you can't see Russia from Alaska and they are not "next-door".
Sheesh.
bbl.
Doo bee.
Of course Brown does have an advantage there. Iraq was a Bush/Blair war, so Brown (though he was a cabinet minister at the time) doesn't have his name on it.
In contrast, Iraq is one of the four defining facts of the Bush Presidency (along with 9/11, Katrina and the economic failure.)
For 9/11, see what I wrote a moment ago about the Afghan war.
For Katrina, Brownie didn't do a 'heckuva job.'
For the economic collapse, well, all I can say is that maybe his dad, George Herbert Walker Bush should have gone for the full junior, instead of the abbreviated one.
"You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska"
September 11, 2008.
And she can see her butt in a mirror, so that makes her ass backwards.
Hi, Eli.
I read your articles sometimes on NBF. Sounds like ColdHeartedTruth may be a good look see.
From Vietnam to Iraq, Mark Twain's observation as far back as the Civil War resound "War is a racket." Seymour Melman covered the winners of Vietnam in his book entitled "Pentagon Capitalism." Ralph McGeeHee (former CIA agent) explained how they worked to get that war going. The Bush administration ala think tanks like The Heritage Foundation took a cue from the corporate heads that runs it and outsourced the work of starting war to terrorists - thus the dictum - "In order to have a large military industrial complex you need an enemy; if you don't have an enemy, you create one. This is what Eisenhower was concerned about at the end of WW II, namely, that the military industrial complex would take on a life of its own.
Okay - I think I may have figured it out. The dub is a sci-fi fan because he sure has the 'alternate reality' concept down! What an A$$!
"Bush says 'no debate' about his keeping US safe"
By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer – 17 mins ago
But Sandy, Condi is an expert on the Soviet Union (which hasn't existed for years).
123
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 17, 2008 at 04:31 PM
DPD,
The only thing she is an expert at is being a home health care worker leading Spunky around the world...when he isn't dodging the tough foreign challenges he should have been working on.
Perhaps Bush hadn't noticed that the Soviet Union dissolved about 30 years ago? He doesn't notice much.
Update, Brown is now saying MAY is the pull out date.
Sally-* on December 17, 2008 at 04:31 PM
That is what the GOP has attempted to turn it into because, in the end, it will cost their big business friends more money to keep from polluting the biosphere to the brink of being uninhabitable. That is why the comedians, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, have been railing against efforts to curb pollution and global warming. They way they do this is to attempt to impune the scientific community because they know their average listener is not intelligent enough to understand what is really going on. So if there is any "politicizing" of this issue, it is coming from the right, as usual, not the left.
Sandy,
I like CHT because it is a fairly well trafficked site and I get to debate some actual thinking conservatives there (though there are also a few I don't get into arguments here because they are knee-jerk jerks, sort of like your troll here who I see is still active.)
Sally-* on December 17, 2008 at 05:08 PM
I do believe the Beverly Hillbillies asked folks to, "Y'all come back now, y'hear?" Palin isn't extending any hospitality these days to her neighbors?
Afternoon Sandy and Bob! I hope that you are both well. Bob, did you see the post that I left you above?
To Eli_B: others seem to recognize you but I haven't seen you here before. In any case, welcome and from your posts, I think you should change your screen name to:
Eli_B_Kewl
;-)
46,000 UAW workers were just told that they are laid off until who knows when. Chrysler is closing ALL 30 of its plants.
Eli_B on December 17, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Eli,
It's hard for the GOP to find good help.
I need to get back to wrapping presents. Catch you all later.
Sally-* on December 17, 2008 at 05:10 PM
When it comes to Gov. Palin (R-AK), I'll concede this much to you Republicans. This is the first time I've ever considered "doinking" a Vice-Presidential candidate.
I was nineteen when Rep. Ferraro (D-NY) ran in 1984. She was more brains than beauty as opposed to Gov. Palin who is nothing more than a store bought beauty queen with the intellectual depth of a paper bag.
Bob,
I'd just like to point out a bit of history here.
Back in the 1970's and early 1980's, the big concern was acid rain. Untreated or inadequately treated coal soot from coal including nitrates and sulfates fired electric plants got into the atmoshere where it mixed with rainwater to create nitric and sulfuric acid. The acid rain was responsible for destroying whole forests and ecosystems, not to mention damage to buildings, sewers and other infrastructure.
So there was a movement afoot to make the electric utilities install scrubbers to clean the emissions.
And so conservatives screamed. They screamed that it would bankrupt the electric utilities. They screamed that electric prices would go so high that it would be rationed, and only the wealthy would be able to afford more than a couple of hours a day of electricity. They screamed that it would put American industry at a commercial disadvantage because they would have to pass on their high electric bill to consumers.
You know what? Liberals won that debate. The scrubbers were installed. And you know what else? The electric utilities didn't go bankrupt. Most people hardly even noticed any changes in their electric bill. And today the forests in North America (and Scandinavia, because the same debate was going on in Europe at the same time) are much healthier than they were then.
So every time I hear conservatives say the sky will be falling if we make industry fix something, I just remember what happened twenty or twenty-five years ago. We won and made industry fix something, and the sky didn't fall.
not all democrats are liberal.
59CactusBarrack on December 17, 2008 at 01:30 PM
This would be the only thing, that you have spoke of truthfullness, in years.
So every time I hear conservatives say the sky will be falling if we make industry fix something, I just remember what happened twenty or twenty-five years ago. We won and made industry fix something, and the sky didn't fall.
155
Eli_B on December 17, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Similar to the auto emissions issues and catalyic (?? spelling) converters, because they contain gold, would bankrupt the auto industry. Somehow, I don't think that's why the auto industry is in trouble at this moment, do you?
mary_mac:
I used to blog here back about 2003-2005. By 2006, I'd started my own blog and as I mentioned have gotten invited to blog on a nationally read blog. But it's still nice to drop in on the 'home folks' now and then.
Bush-Era Abortion Rules Face Possible Reversal
Wednesday 17 December 2008
by: Laura Meckler, The Wall Street Journal
Obama team looks at regulation set to be finalized this week letting medical staff refuse to take part in practices they oppose.
Washington - The outgoing Bush administration this week will finalize a regulation establishing a "right of conscience" allowing medical staff to refuse to participate in any practice they object to on moral grounds, including abortion but possibly birth control and other health care as well.
In transition offices across town, officials in the incoming Obama administration have begun considering how and when to undo it.
The regulation is one of a swath of abortion and other reproductive-health issues under review by the Obama team, which is preparing to reverse a variety of Bush measures, according to officials close to the transition. The review is part of a sweeping scrutiny of Bush-era legislation and regulation on issues across the federal government, from environmental and labor rules to defense spending.
On abortion and related matters, action is expected early on executive, regulatory, budgetary and legislative fronts.
Decisions that the new administration will weigh include: whether to cut funding for sexual abstinence programs; whether to increase funding for comprehensive sex education programs that include discussion of birth control; whether to allow federal health plans to pay for abortions; and whether to overturn regulations such as one that makes fetuses eligible for health-care coverage under the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Women's health advocates are also pushing for a change in rules that would lower the cost of birth control at college health clinics.
Obama aides will have to settle many of these questions in issuing their first budget in February.
"We have a lot of work to do to fix the damage the Bush administration has done," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
As one of his first actions, Mr. Obama is likely to issue an executive order lifting President George W. Bush's restrictions on funding for research using embryonic stem cells, a move with bipartisan support.
Women's health advocates also expect early action on the "global gag rule," which bars foreign organizations from using their own money for abortion services or advocacy if they accept U.S. aid for family planning. This policy was instituted by President Ronald Reagan, immediately overturned by President Bill Clinton and then reinstated by Mr. Bush.
Mr. Obama is also expected to restore federal funding for family planning to the United Nations Population Fund soon after taking office. This policy also has gone back and forth with control of the White House, with Republicans arguing that the U.N. agency supports coercive abortions because of its work in China with its one-child policy, and Democrats saying that the agency doesn't.
Messrs. Clinton and Bush took action on those two issues in the opening days of their administrations. It isn't clear whether Mr. Obama will follow suit. He has suggested that he wants to find middle ground on abortion-related issues, and some Democrats worry about the politics of making abortion policy one of his opening moves.
As they face Democrat-controlled Washington, antiabortion activists are gearing up to fight the Freedom of Choice Act, or FOCA, which would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. Mr. Obama said last year that he would sign the bill. Depending on how it is interpreted, the bill could overturn state laws regulating abortion, such as parental notification and mandatory waiting periods.
"Our No. 1 concern would be the FOCA bill," said Connie Mackey, senior vice president of Family Research Council Action, a conservative group that focuses on social issues. "We have to appeal directly to the American public."
The opponents of this legislation appear more eager for a debate over it than the proponents do, perhaps knowing it is a strong way to rally their supporters early in the administration.
While many abortion-rights supporters would like to see Congress pass FOCA, their advocates in Washington have concluded that there aren't enough votes in Congress and that it isn't politically smart to push such a divisive measure. A coalition of nearly 60 liberal and women's groups submitted a list of 15 requests for action in the Obama administration's first 100 days, and FOCA isn't on the list. [Obama to Reverse Bush-Era Abortion Rules]
"We're going to be smart and strategic about our policy agenda to bring people together to make progress for women's health," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "The Freedom of Choice Act is very important...but we have a long list of things to get done that I think can address problems immediately that women are facing, that are really immediate concerns."
Among them is the "right of conscience" regulation that is expected to be published this week. It will take effect 30 days after being issued. That means that if the Bush administration issues the regulation this week, it will become final before Mr. Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20, and his administration won't be able to undo it easily.
For decades, federal law has said that doctors and nurses can't be compelled to perform abortions. The new regulation broadens that to make clear that all health-care workers may refuse to provide information, such as a referral, to patients looking for an abortion. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates the regulation would affect 584,000 hospitals, doctor's offices, pharmacies and other entities.
Advocates on both sides of the issue have interpreted the rule as also protecting workers who refuse to participate in providing birth control or other care they don't support. The rule could be blocked by Congress, or Health and Human Services could begin the laborious process of issuing a new regulation reversing course. Officials close to the transition have signaled that they intend to begin the regulatory process anew.
No, and I also don't think the reason the auto industry is in trouble has to do with union contracts either.
Part of it has to do with skyrocketing health care costs (I blogged on that here) and part of it has to do with the simple fact that GM executives were making some really bad decisions, planning and making bigger and bigger SUV's even when the market was turning away from that (keep in mind that only a year ago GM's stock price was still in the mid $30 range.)
Ironically, one of the best arguments that this is the case is Ford. A year ago, it looked like Ford was the Big three automaker most likely to go bankrupt. While I'm not saying Ford is exactly healthy today, they had the benefit that they were hit in the face earlier and had to retool their car line earlier. So now they are clearly in the best financial shape of any of the 'Big 3' (for example, while Ford executives support the bailout they've made it clear that they have the financial resources to survive this year even if they don't get any of it.)
Sally-* on December 17, 2008 at 05:13 PM
And you've hit the nail on the head there, Sally. As a Democrat, I believe that the government, elected by, of, and for the people, should control industry in the form of legislation. The current economic crisis we're in is a direct result of deregulation started under the Reagan Administration. The Ayn Rand, caveat emptor, Laissez-Faire approach is what got us into this mess and it is exactly why the GOP finds itself in the minority.
Now before someone starts hollering socialism, allow me to explain. Elected officials are just that, elected. Anyone of legal age and status can vote and thus, have a say in how the affairs of the nation are conducted. In the business world, the only time you have a say is when you own stock in a publicly traded company or own the business outright thus, the people who do the actual work are left out of the decision making process.
And while you're correct to point out that CO2, carbon dioxide, is necessary to sustain life in carbon based plantlife, too much CO2 will literally cause the atmosphere to retain too much heat which will, in the end, cause the plantlife to die off after a few decades or a century of turning the whole planet into a rain forest.
In the end, if your handful of scientists are correct, and I cannot discount that possibility at this time as scientific history indicates with such discoveries as the world is round, the planet's position in the universe, gravity, evolution, etc..., then the end result will be we would've retarded industrial growth for a while. If you're wrong, then you've killed more than six and a half billion people. Worse, it'll be a slow lingering death as we all slowly suffocate from CO2 poisoning, heat related diseases, and\or malnutrition.
good to see you again eli.
got our power back today, six days without electricity wasn't too bad but i am glad i'll be able to watch the giants carolina game sunday.
i see bush is doing his best to leave as big a mess a possible. i could have sworn he said he would help the auto industry but i guess he was just joking....so here go the first few hundred thousand workers out into the street as christmas comes:
"SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Chrysler said Wednesday that it will idle all of its manufacturing operations starting this Friday through at least January 19 in an effort to keep inventories more aligned with plunging U.S. demand for new cars and trucks. Due to customers' inability to obtain financing, Chrysler dealers said that their sales volumes have fallen as much as 25% from a year ago."
and of course the genius he put in charge of the sec is trying to figure out why none of his team investigated the 50 billion dollar ponzi scheme even though they had been warned about it over and over....
The Obama administration will decide
whether to cut funding for sexual abstinence programs??
If we are talking about so-called 'abstinence only' then they would be wiser to not just cut it, but eliminate it. "Abstinence-only" has been an abysmal failure, with the teen pregnancy rate reversing a years long decline over the past few years and starting back up again.
Programs that aren't doing much, you cut. Programs that aren't doing anything, you eliminate.
Sally,Obama is going green, for the next 8 years whether you like it or not, and it will produce 10,000 of thousands of jobs, so why argue about it, your wasting your life arguing about it.
Have you ever heard of doing as the Roman's do, if you haven't check it out.
In this case the Roman's are going green, and you will lose, you should be putting your money into green tech.
Eli_B on December 17, 2008 at 05:26 PM
And here is a chart the troll will ignore. Let's face it, e are energy hogs, and just pigs in general. We toss that crap into the sky and hope it floats away.
Hey, Gregg. Long time, no see.
With this latest Wall Street scandal, I doubt if anyone will want to invest in anything for a long, long time.
Well, I did my part to help the economy. Last month I bought a new Chevrolet.
good for you eli. it is weird that the auto workers get blamed for negotiating pensions for themselves years ago but the companies get a pass for not salting away the money that would be necessary to actually pay for the pensions...in fact i don't understand why there weren't laws that mandated companies to set aside money to pay for contractual commitments...i guess the miracle of capitalism is never having to account for accounting....
Chassie,
Some businesses are being really smart about global warming.
I like to mention OMNITrax, a Canadian shipping company. They have improved the port facilities at Churchill, Manitoba (a sleepy fishing village on Hudson's bay) and built rail lines there.
The reason is that they expect that with the retreat of the Arctic ice sheet thanks to global warming the so-called 'northwest passage' (the stuff of legend, the fruitless search for which led to the death of many a mariner in the golden age of exploration) will become reality, at least during part of the year-- thereby creating a much faster shipping route between Asia and eastern North America.
Far from questioning global warming, OMNITrax has invested heavily so they can profit from it.
here is a fun game to play for those of you who are not bush fans...
Well, I have to go.
It's been nice seeing that some of you are still around.
Even s* is still around, but he's become less funny and more angry than he was four years ago.
141
marymac_memphis on December 17, 2008 at 05:02 PM
As far as I can see there is no debate about dubya's "keeping the US safe".
He failed pure and simple, and there is no debating the obvious.
The only thing that is anywhere near debate is the right-wingnuts' babble because their fragile egos can't handle reality.
Sarah got to where she is by herself. No Chicago machine put her there...
I thought she was part of the Stevens Mob and was groomed by Newt's propaganda college. Todd certainly used the same "friends" to build their house down the road from that recreation center as Stevens used to rehab his home.
Alaska may be a wide open place, but Stevens has been in power way too long not to have granted permission for someone new to come occupy and share HIS Republican sphere of influence. She had been toying with that Alaska Seapartist Party before he took her under his wing.
You are so gullible. But then that’s what Rove counts on, doesn't he?
House Arrest for Madoff in $7 Million ApartmentSEC Chairman Says No Staff Wrongdoing Found Yet, But Internal Inquiry Will Investigate
By RICHARD ESPOSITO and BRIAN ROSS
Dec. 17, 2008Bernard Madoff, accused of the largest fraud in U.S. history, will be allowed to remain in his $7 million Park Avenue apartment instead of being sent to jail, under terms of an agreement announced today by federal prosecutors.
Madoff was unable to meet the bond conditions set last week by a federal magistrate which required him to get four people to sign his personal recognizance bond.
According to the U.S. Attorney's office, only Madoff's wife and brothers were willing to sign the document. But instead of ordering him held in jail, prosecutors agreed to home detention with electronic monitoring.
In related news, the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman said today the agency has found "no evidence of wrongdoing by any SEC personnel" in connection with Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme and that the SEC intends to get to the bottom of where it may have gone wrong."I was very concerned to learn this week that credible allegations about Mr. Madoff had been made over nearly a decade and yet never referred to the commission for action," Commissioner Christopher Cox said at a press conference.
Yesterday, Cox acknowledged what amounted to a generational failure on the part of the SEC to discover any hint of Madoff's scheme, despite allegations dating back to 1999. In his statement, Cox said that he had turned the investigation into what might be an institutional lack of rigor over to the Inspector General for the SEC...
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WallStreet/story?id=6480363&page=1
Had this been one of us, we'd be in jail right now. The American Judicial System is the best that money can buy.
ah yes a nasty, stupid, incoherent cretin right to the end:
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday a decision on bailing out the teetering U.S. auto industry needs to be made "relatively soon" and that he was looking at all options.
"I'm thinking through, you know," Bush told Fox News Channel..."
"thinking through" indeed....thinking through the fog of alcoholism, thinking through his ass because his head is way up it...thinking through how to screw the american worker and the national economy as much as possible and thinking through how to funnel as much of our tax dollars to his rich friends as possible....what a schmuck!
Oh, and one other number I have to post before I go:
34
Not bad, seeing as how on election day 2004 I had to post '1540.'
I like 34. Thirty-four is a good number.
159
marymac_memphis on December 17, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Actually catalytic converters contain traces of platinum, which is more expensive than gold. However what the doom prophets failed to say is that the amount of platinum in a converter in extremely small and lasts almost forever.
Acid rain was also destroying monuments, buildings, anything made out of marble. It might also have been responsible for damage to brick structures. I know that the pollution from the smelters in Butte eroded a lot of brick buildings.
Conservatives are continually prophesying doom and gloom whenever something is proposed that will help the majority of the people.
We need a new word for "conservative" because they actually conserve nothing, and destroy much more than they save.
Chrysler to Temporarily Shut Down Plants December 17, 2008 5:32 PM
ABC News' Charles Herman reports: Chrysler has announced that at the end of this Friday's shift, all manufacturing facilities will be closed until January 19, 2009.Chrysler has 30 facilities in North America. All will close temporarily.
The plant in Windsor, Ontario -- which makes minivans -- and the Detroit/Connor Assembly -- which builds engines and Vipers -- will close through the month of January. The two plants in Toledo will be shut down until January 26.
This will impact 46,000 UAW workers, according to Chrysler. Chrysler says these employees will receive state unemployment benefits as well as supplemental payments from Chrysler during the layoff according to a union negotiated formula.
These workers will not be receiving their regular income. There will be an unknown number of white collar workers who will not be working as well, but the expectation is that they will continue to receive their regular salaries during this time...
http://blogs.abcnews.com/moneybeat/2008/12/chrysler-to-tem.html
And so it begins; the destruction of the American auto industry brought on by the GOP "free market" trade policy. The Toyota execs must be laughing their arses off right now because they got the "southern bubbas" to fall for low wages and next to nothing in benefits.
It should also be noted that the salaried employees get to keep drawing a check for doing what they're so good at doing; nothing. If the blue collar people have to take a cut in pay then so should the execs.
182
BobVADemocratHawk on December 17, 2008 at 06:09 PM
And don't forget, Toyota had a head start with the Prius because the Japanese government kicked in a subsidy.
Bob, Butte: The Repugs are "union busting" again and this time they are determined to put 25% of the population out of work just to bust the union! I am ashamed that Corker from Tennessee (I did NOT vote for him and did a little campaigning for his opponent!) is leading the pack. He is slimy!
they actually conserve nothing, and destroy much more than they save.
181
Butte on December 17, 2008 at 06:08 PM
That is the truth!!! I propose 'destructionists!'
they got the "southern bubbas" to fall for low wages and next to nothing in benefits.
Bob: They were smart in that they got Southern Governors to basically build for them at State Expense plants in rural areas where there was little to no opportunity for employment since the vast majority of manufacturing in those areas was shipped (at taxpayer expense) to third world countries. To this day they receive huge tax breaks from the states for keeping the plants open here and huge tax breaks from the Federal Government. They actually pay less in state and federal taxes than do the plants owned by the big three.
The "southern bubbas' didn't have a lot of choices for jobs since their mostly Republican Governors and State legislatures sold them and their jobs down the river. Further, most of the states are like Tennessee in that they are 'right to work' states where unions can't get a 'foothold.' What makes them idiot 'bubbas' is that they continued and still continue to vote for the same people who sold them out!
marymac_memphis on December 17, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Of course they are, Mary. They're trying to get everyone down to their poor, white trash level of wages like the majority of their constituency.
BobVADemocratHawk on December 17, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Bob,
CNN just made the announcement about Chrysler and then broke in with a Breaking News story which I read about yesterday about the White House and transition teams working together....on the national security hand off.
All we get from these incompetent Republicans are diversions when there is bad news. Why isn't Bush making a statement in front of the cameras about what just happened?
The White House doesn't seem to realize that the national security risk now is internal. When are they going to realize just how desperate this situation has become? Do they think they can hold off disaster till they leave office?
I don't give a damn that Bush is going to have a luncheon with the former presidents on January 7 for a photo opp on foreign policy. I want to know what the hell they can do about the economy.
I'm surprised that Carter agreed to this sham meeting. Clinton obviously would show up for a free lunch or a free trade talk at the drop of a hat. Just promise him a few million dollars for his pet project from rich Americans or any foreign dictator.
Am I showing my distain for globalization? You betcha. This sellout of the American middle class has gone way too far. If Carter is going to attend this farce, he better speak up...or throw some shoes at Bush.
I wouldn't sit down at the same table with Cheney unless they were going to us it to waterboard him.
We need a new word for "conservative" because they actually conserve nothing, and destroy much more than they save.
Butte on December 17, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Butte,
That's a classic. Write it down in the history books.
Ill. high court rejects attempt to remove governor
AP – Ed Genson, an attorney for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich argues during a House Impeachment Committee …
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday denied an effort to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich, rejecting what could have been the quickest way to force the Democrat from office.
187
marymac_memphis on December 17, 2008 at 06:38 PM
In other words, the "right to starve states" had to subsidize the foreign automakers to get them to build plants in their states? Kind of like tying a pork chop around a kid's neck to get the dogs to play with him.
Think that might, just might, have something to do with the fact that those states have the least educated populations? With the poorest schools? With the least healthy populations?
Things that make you say "hmmmm?!"
SandyH on December 17, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Your disdain for the current form of globalization matches my own, Sandy.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The government will make permanent its changes to a visa program that brings foreign workers to the U.S. for temporary nonagricultural work. The aim is to streamline and simplify the application process and increase worker protections, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said in an interview Wednesday.The H2-B visa program allows such foreign workers into the United States for specific seasonal jobs, provided the employer cannot find Americans for the work and that the foreigners return home within 10 months. Workers in the program must pass a background check and there are provisions to ensure they return home.
The visa program is capped at 66,000 workers per year, and places workers mostly in landscaping, hospitality and other industries...
...Chao, the only original member of Bush's Cabinet to stay on through both terms, would not say what she will do after leaving government. "I hope that I will continue to make a contribution to our country, and increasing the competitiveness of America's work force," she said.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D954PBEO0&show_article=1&catnum=-1
First, how about cutting out all together those 66K permits and let Americans have those jobs at a respectable wage. Second, Secretary Chao is a hack. How does throwing open the doors to American jobs for foreigners make the U.S. more competitive. The only way for the U.S. to become more competitive is to lower wages to that of second world nations, which makes the GOP absolutely giddy, or to slap tariffs on any and everything coming across our border.
marymac_memphis on December 17, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I thought the IL AG's arguement on this sounded a little thin. In America, a person is still innocent until proven guilty no matter how much the evidence is against them. We'll have to leave it up to IL legislature for impeachment and U.S. Atty. Fitzgerald for crimnal prosecution.
Good night fellow Democrats. Keep the Faith and keep the faith. Yes we can, yes we will, and yes we did!
The mismanagement of auto design is the cause for the current demise of the big 3 auto makers, certainly not the union workers, nor their pay, nor benefits.
Fact: John Deere had to bring its skid loader back to Dubuque,IA (Union plant) because its southern non-union plant was building junk. John Deere also had to bring one of its gators back to the Horicon works union plant because another one of its southern non-union plants was building junk, in fact lost a military contract because of it.
One thing unions ought to bargain for is a say in the means of production. The higher-ups have a tendency to undercut quality/safety again and again. Lousy outsourced replacement parts are a great example, which accounts for re-work and cost over runs. Harley Davidson is worth looking at for a more progressive model.
evening Dems.
ELI-----sorry I missed you my friend. I will tell RoseZ you said Hi. I email with her.
Here is one I have to post before I log out for the night. It just made me smile and smile, even more than when I heard that al Gore is consulting on Global Warming for us.
Bush-Era Abortion Rules Face Possible Reversal
(bye bye, nut case religious crapola)
The regulation is one of a swath of abortion and other reproductive-health issues under review by the Obama team, which is preparing to reverse a variety of Bush measures, according to officials close to the transition. The review is part of a sweeping scrutiny of Bush-era legislation and regulation on issues across the federal government, from environmental and labor rules to defense spending.
On abortion and related matters, action is expected early on executive, regulatory, budgetary and legislative fronts.
Decisions that the new administration will weigh include: whether to cut funding for sexual abstinence programs; whether to increase funding for comprehensive sex education programs that include discussion of birth control; whether to allow federal health plans to pay for abortions; and whether to overturn regulations such as one that makes fetuses eligible for health-care coverage under the Children's Health Insurance Program.
http://www.truthout.org/121708C
Big grin..............
night Dems.
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