Bob McDonnell’s comeuppance: Former GOP rising star sentenced to two years in prison
"U.S. District Judge James Spencer on Tuesday sentenced former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to two years in prison for political corruption, the latest chapter in the spectacular fall of one of the Republican Party’s former rising stars."
January 12, 2015
January 11, 2015
Democrats saved the economy. Republicans tried to kill it.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/11/1356534/-Democrats-saved-the-economy-Republicans-tried-to-kill-it
"the Republican Party deserves zero credit for the improving American economy. Make that less than zero. After all, from their opposition to the stimulus, the auto industry rescue, and the fed's "quantitative easing," to their debt-ceiling hostage-taking and draconian austerity policies in Washington and the states, Republicans have been undermining the economic recovery from the moment Barack Obama first took the oath of office."
"the Republican Party deserves zero credit for the improving American economy. Make that less than zero. After all, from their opposition to the stimulus, the auto industry rescue, and the fed's "quantitative easing," to their debt-ceiling hostage-taking and draconian austerity policies in Washington and the states, Republicans have been undermining the economic recovery from the moment Barack Obama first took the oath of office."
January 10, 2015
House GOP Bans EPA From Seeking Expert Scientific Advice
House GOP Bans EPA From Seeking Expert Scientific Advice
"While it forbids biologists from talking about biology, oceanographers from talking about oceans, and climatologists from talking about the climate, it does allow corporate CEOs and thier hired scientists to advise on any of those things."
"While it forbids biologists from talking about biology, oceanographers from talking about oceans, and climatologists from talking about the climate, it does allow corporate CEOs and thier hired scientists to advise on any of those things."
Republicans are the real wealth redistributors
Republicans are the real wealth redistributors
"Kansas and other state governments are seizing money from middle-class workers to finance tax cuts for the wealthy"
"Kansas and other state governments are seizing money from middle-class workers to finance tax cuts for the wealthy"
House Democrats swiftly kill a quiet Republican plot to protect Wall Street
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jan/08/house-democrats-swiftly-kill-a-quiet-republican-plot-to-protect-wall-street
"On Wednesday, congressional Republicans tried to pull a fast one.
Just hours after being sworn in for the 114th Congress, House Republicans introduced a bill with an Orwellian title – The Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act – complete with its own social media campaign under the (as it turns out, ironic) hashtag “#FreeMainSt”.
The legislation was a mélange of 11 bills – all meant to weaken regulation of banks and the financial industry – that were written in the last session of Congress and never went anywhere. The new Frankenbill of loose ends was wrapped into a neat package and presented to a new Congress without debate."
"On Wednesday, congressional Republicans tried to pull a fast one.
Just hours after being sworn in for the 114th Congress, House Republicans introduced a bill with an Orwellian title – The Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act – complete with its own social media campaign under the (as it turns out, ironic) hashtag “#FreeMainSt”.
The legislation was a mélange of 11 bills – all meant to weaken regulation of banks and the financial industry – that were written in the last session of Congress and never went anywhere. The new Frankenbill of loose ends was wrapped into a neat package and presented to a new Congress without debate."
Obama Ends 2014 By Not Killing Jobs As Unemployment Falls To 5.6%
Obama Ends 2014 By Not Killing Jobs As Unemployment Falls To 5.6%
"December marks 58 consecutive months of job growth, including 11 straight months in which 200,000 or more jobs were created, and that 5.6% unemployment rate is the lowest since June of 2008. Obamacare continued to not kill jobs in December, as 32,000 health care jobs were added, and for the year, the economy added 2,952,000 jobs."
"December marks 58 consecutive months of job growth, including 11 straight months in which 200,000 or more jobs were created, and that 5.6% unemployment rate is the lowest since June of 2008. Obamacare continued to not kill jobs in December, as 32,000 health care jobs were added, and for the year, the economy added 2,952,000 jobs."
January 9, 2015
The Right Tries (and Fails) To Justify Its Assault On Social Security
The Right Tries (and Fails) To Justify Its Assault On Social Security
"Republicans moved to cut Social Security disability benefits by blocking a routine reallocation of funds. That’s bad enough, but their end game is even worse: broad Social Security cuts and the privatization of the entire program.
That would be bad for most Americans, but great for the people who finance the Republican Party – and think tanks like Heritage. There would be less pressure to increase taxes on billionaires. Wall Street would have more money under its control. And the far right’s antigovernment ideology would have claimed another scalp."
"Republicans moved to cut Social Security disability benefits by blocking a routine reallocation of funds. That’s bad enough, but their end game is even worse: broad Social Security cuts and the privatization of the entire program.
That would be bad for most Americans, but great for the people who finance the Republican Party – and think tanks like Heritage. There would be less pressure to increase taxes on billionaires. Wall Street would have more money under its control. And the far right’s antigovernment ideology would have claimed another scalp."
Mitch McConnell and the GOP Trying to Take Credit for the Economic Recovery
Mitch McConnell and the GOP Trying to Take Credit for the Economic Recovery
"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stated quite clearly at the outset of the administration that his primary goal wasn’t to pitch in on the economy, but instead to make Obama a one-term president.
But now that the economy has improved in spite of those efforts, guess who’s revising history and demanding credit?"
"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stated quite clearly at the outset of the administration that his primary goal wasn’t to pitch in on the economy, but instead to make Obama a one-term president.
But now that the economy has improved in spite of those efforts, guess who’s revising history and demanding credit?"
President Obama Proposes Free Community College For Students Maintaining 2.5 GPA
President Obama Proposes Free Community College For Students Maintaining 2.5 GPA
"Under President Obama's new proposal, students would be able to earn the first half of a bachelor's degree, or earn the technical skills needed in the workforce -- all at no cost to them."
"Under President Obama's new proposal, students would be able to earn the first half of a bachelor's degree, or earn the technical skills needed in the workforce -- all at no cost to them."
Mitch McConnell Embarrassed After Fact-Checking Site Debunks His Economic Growth Lie
Mitch McConnell Embarrassed After Fact-Checking Site Debunks His Economic Growth Lie
"Seriously? After all of the fear-mongering, misinformation, lies, deceit and propaganda Republicans have dished out against the Obama administration, the president himself, the Affordable Care Act and practically anything even remotely related to him – these jackasses are really going to sit there and try to claim that they’re responsible for our economic growth? Wow. Just when you think Republicans can’t be anymore ridiculous, you really do just need to give them a little more time. Because they definitely can."
"Seriously? After all of the fear-mongering, misinformation, lies, deceit and propaganda Republicans have dished out against the Obama administration, the president himself, the Affordable Care Act and practically anything even remotely related to him – these jackasses are really going to sit there and try to claim that they’re responsible for our economic growth? Wow. Just when you think Republicans can’t be anymore ridiculous, you really do just need to give them a little more time. Because they definitely can."
January 8, 2015
Kansas Is Totally Screwed
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/sam-brownback-kansas-tax-cuts-failing
"In 2012, when Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback first pitched his plan to drastically slash the state's income taxes, he promised "a shot of adrenaline into the heart of the Kansas economy." Brownback brought in Arthur Laffer, Ronald Reagan's trickle-down economics guru, to help sell the idea that the cuts—which zeroed out taxes for 200,000 businesses and slashed rates for top earners—were guaranteed to boost the state's fortunes, prop up the economy, and bring in countless new jobs as businesses and individuals flocked to Kansas to escape the tyrannies of higher-tax states.
Two years later, those rosy predictions have turned to doom and gloom." (Reposted)
"In 2012, when Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback first pitched his plan to drastically slash the state's income taxes, he promised "a shot of adrenaline into the heart of the Kansas economy." Brownback brought in Arthur Laffer, Ronald Reagan's trickle-down economics guru, to help sell the idea that the cuts—which zeroed out taxes for 200,000 businesses and slashed rates for top earners—were guaranteed to boost the state's fortunes, prop up the economy, and bring in countless new jobs as businesses and individuals flocked to Kansas to escape the tyrannies of higher-tax states.
Two years later, those rosy predictions have turned to doom and gloom." (Reposted)
California revenue soars, even as tax-cutting states feel the pinch
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/08/1356177/-California-revenue-soars-even-as-tax-cutting-states-feel-the-pinch
"Remember how Republicans used to mock California as a failed state? Greece on the Pacific? Well, a few years ago, voters kicked Republicans out of power and changed the absurd supermajority budget requirements that had given minority conservatives veto power over state government. The result? With voter approval, the state raised taxes on the highest income earners to fund education. It started to reinvest in water and transportation infrastructure and rebuild the social safety net. It completed the implementation of a robust cap-and-trade program to restrict carbon emissions and fund sustainability projects. And the result? A rapidly growing economy and surging tax revenue.
The results are in: one way of governing works. The other doesn't."
"Remember how Republicans used to mock California as a failed state? Greece on the Pacific? Well, a few years ago, voters kicked Republicans out of power and changed the absurd supermajority budget requirements that had given minority conservatives veto power over state government. The result? With voter approval, the state raised taxes on the highest income earners to fund education. It started to reinvest in water and transportation infrastructure and rebuild the social safety net. It completed the implementation of a robust cap-and-trade program to restrict carbon emissions and fund sustainability projects. And the result? A rapidly growing economy and surging tax revenue.
The results are in: one way of governing works. The other doesn't."
Senator Credits Day-Old Republican Congress With Last Year’s Economic Growth
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/01/07/3609140/mcconnell-gdp-republicans/
"There have been positive signs in the economy lately. The most recent GDP report showed 5 percent growth in the third quarter of last year and 4.6 percent growth in the second. That 5 percent growth rate was the fastest the economy had experienced since 2003. But it measured growth in July, August, and September, before the midterm elections in November that flipped the Senate to Republican control.
Meanwhile, GDP was boosted by something that may not be high on McConnell’s list of economic stimulus ideas: increased government spending. Federal spending rose 9.9 percent in the third quarter, one of the primary contributions to the increase in economic growth."
"There have been positive signs in the economy lately. The most recent GDP report showed 5 percent growth in the third quarter of last year and 4.6 percent growth in the second. That 5 percent growth rate was the fastest the economy had experienced since 2003. But it measured growth in July, August, and September, before the midterm elections in November that flipped the Senate to Republican control.
Meanwhile, GDP was boosted by something that may not be high on McConnell’s list of economic stimulus ideas: increased government spending. Federal spending rose 9.9 percent in the third quarter, one of the primary contributions to the increase in economic growth."
DNC’s Official Response To GOP Trying To Take Credit For Economy: ‘Hahahahahahahahahahaha’
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/07/dncs-official-response-to-gop-trying-to-take-credit-for-economy-hahahahahahahahahahaha/
"For six years Republicans have been doom-and-gloom about the American economy under Obama. Abstaining from making any efforts to help, they instead took potshots at Obama’s performance and criticized the White House for killing jobs with liberal policies — and then the economy got a whole lot better and their talking points were blown out of the water.
Now, a parade of Republicans are trying to hijack the narrative and take credit for the strengthening economy even though they have zero legitimate reasons to do so. We already reported on Michele Bachmann’s hilarious attempt to claim she was responsible for pushing gas prices down to $2 a gallon, even posing next to a gas station sign with a “V” for victory."
"For six years Republicans have been doom-and-gloom about the American economy under Obama. Abstaining from making any efforts to help, they instead took potshots at Obama’s performance and criticized the White House for killing jobs with liberal policies — and then the economy got a whole lot better and their talking points were blown out of the water.
Now, a parade of Republicans are trying to hijack the narrative and take credit for the strengthening economy even though they have zero legitimate reasons to do so. We already reported on Michele Bachmann’s hilarious attempt to claim she was responsible for pushing gas prices down to $2 a gallon, even posing next to a gas station sign with a “V” for victory."
Obama’s #MadeInAmerica Speech Proves The Recovery And Beyond (TWEETS, GRAPHS)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/07/obamas-madeinamerica-speech-proves-the-recovery-and-beyond-tweets-graphs/
"Naysayers have tried and tried again to get people to believe that the nation hasn’t comeback from the brink of another depression to a full-fledged recovery, but it has… it really, truly has. Can things get better? Of course, things can always get better, but let’s not look past what’s already happened, and let’s most definitely no go backwards with fiscal policy that dragged us to near collapse in the first place.
Everyone, in all legitimacy, should be saying, #ThanksObama."
"Naysayers have tried and tried again to get people to believe that the nation hasn’t comeback from the brink of another depression to a full-fledged recovery, but it has… it really, truly has. Can things get better? Of course, things can always get better, but let’s not look past what’s already happened, and let’s most definitely no go backwards with fiscal policy that dragged us to near collapse in the first place.
Everyone, in all legitimacy, should be saying, #ThanksObama."
Mitch McConnell Tries To Take Credit For The 11 Million Jobs That President Obama Created
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/07/mitch-mcconnell-credit-11-million-jobs-president-obama-created.html
"Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tried to rewrite his history of obstruction and failure by taking credit for the economic growth that has occurred under President Obama."
"Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tried to rewrite his history of obstruction and failure by taking credit for the economic growth that has occurred under President Obama."
Republican Congress Launches With Back-Door Attack On Social Security Benefits
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/01/07/3608887/social-security-disability-reallocation/
"Republicans are starting the new Congress by attacking Social Security funding through a subtle, obscure policy measure buried in the gigantic bill that establishes parliamentary rules for the new session."
"Republicans are starting the new Congress by attacking Social Security funding through a subtle, obscure policy measure buried in the gigantic bill that establishes parliamentary rules for the new session."
GOP’s new attack on Social Security: Yet another result of government for the 1 percent
GOP’s new attack on Social Security: Yet another result of government for the 1 percent
"So if you’re scratching your head over why Republicans are so eager to attack a program as beloved by voters as Social Security, don’t. Just keep in mind that so long as American politics is dominated by the hyper-wealthy, the hopes and fears of regular voters only matter until the final ballot is cast."
"So if you’re scratching your head over why Republicans are so eager to attack a program as beloved by voters as Social Security, don’t. Just keep in mind that so long as American politics is dominated by the hyper-wealthy, the hopes and fears of regular voters only matter until the final ballot is cast."
Corrupt John Boehner Conspires With Foreigners Against America’s Best Interests
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/07/corrupt-john-boehner-conspires-foreigners-americas-interests.html
"House Speaker John A. Boehner is a corrupt and unethical pathological liar and now he has a cabal of foreigners doing his and the Koch brothers bidding to the detriment of Americans health, the nation’s largest aquifer, private landowners, farmers and trucking industry, and the world’s climate. It is long past time to hold Boehner accountable for his preponderance of unethical behavior. He has already been referred to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for his KeystoneXL lies about jobs to manipulate tar sand stock prices, and MoveOn started a (still active) petition demanding the corrupt Republican resign and face House Ethics Committee charges. There is nothing anyone can do to the lying Canadians, although their recent campaign on behalf of the Kochs and John A. Boehner certainly are despicable."
"House Speaker John A. Boehner is a corrupt and unethical pathological liar and now he has a cabal of foreigners doing his and the Koch brothers bidding to the detriment of Americans health, the nation’s largest aquifer, private landowners, farmers and trucking industry, and the world’s climate. It is long past time to hold Boehner accountable for his preponderance of unethical behavior. He has already been referred to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for his KeystoneXL lies about jobs to manipulate tar sand stock prices, and MoveOn started a (still active) petition demanding the corrupt Republican resign and face House Ethics Committee charges. There is nothing anyone can do to the lying Canadians, although their recent campaign on behalf of the Kochs and John A. Boehner certainly are despicable."
Sen. Portman Lies About Keystone Economic Benefits On America's Newsroom
Sen. Portman Lies About Keystone Economic Benefits On America's Newsroom
"Martha MacCallum interviewed the one of the GOP's less-goofy Senators, Ohio's Rob Portman, who spewed the filthy, vile lies of his oil'igarch corporate masters. When you have a new class of crazy Senators like Joni Ernst and Ben Sasse, who are joining the Ted Cruz Dominionist caucus, Fox News, sometimes likes to balance out the crazy with a more mainstream Republican. Yet somehow, Portman touts the same lies about the oil industry as the far-right-crazy caucus.
The KXL Pipeline will not create 40,000 jobs and the end result is far more disastrous than these selfish, greedy bastards let on. Mercifully, this nightmare will likely be vetoed by President Obama and Portman is naturally displeased. His Koch overlords have commanded their bought and paid for Senators to fight as hard as they can to help them destroy the earth."
"Martha MacCallum interviewed the one of the GOP's less-goofy Senators, Ohio's Rob Portman, who spewed the filthy, vile lies of his oil'igarch corporate masters. When you have a new class of crazy Senators like Joni Ernst and Ben Sasse, who are joining the Ted Cruz Dominionist caucus, Fox News, sometimes likes to balance out the crazy with a more mainstream Republican. Yet somehow, Portman touts the same lies about the oil industry as the far-right-crazy caucus.
The KXL Pipeline will not create 40,000 jobs and the end result is far more disastrous than these selfish, greedy bastards let on. Mercifully, this nightmare will likely be vetoed by President Obama and Portman is naturally displeased. His Koch overlords have commanded their bought and paid for Senators to fight as hard as they can to help them destroy the earth."
Republicans On Defense Over Defunding Homeland Security After Paris Terrorist Attack
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/07/awkward-moment-republicans-defund-homeland-security-obama.html
"Just hours after Republicans filed their first action to defund parts of homeland security in order to stop President Obama’s executive action on immigration reform, a terrorist attack in Paris has them running away from themselves again."
"Just hours after Republicans filed their first action to defund parts of homeland security in order to stop President Obama’s executive action on immigration reform, a terrorist attack in Paris has them running away from themselves again."
The Right-Wing Terror Plot You Didn't Hear About This Week | Alternet
The Right-Wing Terror Plot You Didn't Hear About This Week | Alternet
"In other words, the men plotted to launch large-scale explosive attacks against local government and police that, if successfully carried out, would have been the largest terror attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11.
Only two news outlets, the Rome News-Tribune and Northwest Georgia News, have reported the charges."
"In other words, the men plotted to launch large-scale explosive attacks against local government and police that, if successfully carried out, would have been the largest terror attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11.
Only two news outlets, the Rome News-Tribune and Northwest Georgia News, have reported the charges."
Republicans Begin New Congress By Standing With Racist Sympathizer Steve Scalise
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/06/republicans-protect-scalise-neo-nazi-gathering-worry-trouble-fund-raising.html
"Being a white supremacist neo-Nazi sympathizer makes it hard to raise money, and this is where the Republican Party draws the line in the values sand."
"Being a white supremacist neo-Nazi sympathizer makes it hard to raise money, and this is where the Republican Party draws the line in the values sand."
Rush Limbaugh Says Fans Are Tired Of Him Being Called A Racist
Rush Limbaugh Says Fans Are Tired Of Him Being Called A Racist
"There's almost nothing that drives conservatives crazy like being called out for their racism and Rush is no different. Unfortunately for him, he has a long and lengthy record of racism that he proudly trumpets on his show almost daily and usually at the expense of the underprivileged.
If Rush wants people and the media to stop calling him a racist, he should stop being one. It's really that simple."
"There's almost nothing that drives conservatives crazy like being called out for their racism and Rush is no different. Unfortunately for him, he has a long and lengthy record of racism that he proudly trumpets on his show almost daily and usually at the expense of the underprivileged.
If Rush wants people and the media to stop calling him a racist, he should stop being one. It's really that simple."
Scalise must go, already: Seriously, why does he still have a GOP leadership job?
Scalise must go, already: Seriously, why does he still have a GOP leadership job?
"Last summer, RNC chair Reince Priebus told the National Committee of Black Journalists he had a dream.
“If we work like dogs day in, day out — instead of getting 6% of black votes across the country … we can do a lot better,” Priebus told the group. “That’s our goal.”
It turns out he actually used that odd term – “work like dogs” – more than once in pitching his plan to expand black support for the GOP. “If we work like dogs…instead of 5% in the black community, can we get to 9 percent?” he asked NBC’s Chuck Todd. On the whole issue of the GOP’s demographic problems – with young, Latino, Black, gay and single women voters — Priebus pledged last year: “We’ll work like dogs to try to figure it out.”
Ironically, Republican leaders worked like dogs over the holiday season, but not to win black support. Instead they’re trying to hold on to a leadership role for Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, after it came out that he addressed former KKK grand wizard David Duke’s European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO), a white nationalist organization"
"Last summer, RNC chair Reince Priebus told the National Committee of Black Journalists he had a dream.
“If we work like dogs day in, day out — instead of getting 6% of black votes across the country … we can do a lot better,” Priebus told the group. “That’s our goal.”
It turns out he actually used that odd term – “work like dogs” – more than once in pitching his plan to expand black support for the GOP. “If we work like dogs…instead of 5% in the black community, can we get to 9 percent?” he asked NBC’s Chuck Todd. On the whole issue of the GOP’s demographic problems – with young, Latino, Black, gay and single women voters — Priebus pledged last year: “We’ll work like dogs to try to figure it out.”
Ironically, Republican leaders worked like dogs over the holiday season, but not to win black support. Instead they’re trying to hold on to a leadership role for Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, after it came out that he addressed former KKK grand wizard David Duke’s European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO), a white nationalist organization"
Religious Freedom = Discrimination
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/06/1355906/-Religious-Freedom-Discrimination
"Discrimination never goes down without a fight. Now social conservatives and Republican lawmakers are steeling to protect the right to discriminate under the guise of passing "religious liberty" or "religious freedom" bills and they're admitting it.
A whole new crop of these "religious liberty" bills (similar Arizona's fateful SB 1062) are on the horizon now with the pervasive GOP majorities in state legislature across the nation."
"Discrimination never goes down without a fight. Now social conservatives and Republican lawmakers are steeling to protect the right to discriminate under the guise of passing "religious liberty" or "religious freedom" bills and they're admitting it.
A whole new crop of these "religious liberty" bills (similar Arizona's fateful SB 1062) are on the horizon now with the pervasive GOP majorities in state legislature across the nation."
January 7, 2015
The right’s new war on truth: Math, reality, and the real reason Fox News economics can’t be trusted
The right’s new war on truth: Math, reality, and the real reason Fox News economics can’t be trusted
"So now that the GOP has got control of both houses of Congress, what can we expect in the way of economic thinking? Hear’s a hint: You know how they just love to say, “I’m not a scientist?” as a way to explain ignoring climate science? Well, they aren’t economists, either. And the consequences won’t just be seen in the form of ludicrous economic proposals—that would be too easy. Besides, they’ve already been doing that for years—decades, actually. Instead, they’re looking to use their ideological fairytale to skew all the official government calculations that Congress uses to guide its deliberations. So it’s not just the content of their economic proposals that are headed even more deeply into cloud cukooland, it’s the entire context in which Congress thinks about economics that’s about to exit, stage right, from reality-land."
"So now that the GOP has got control of both houses of Congress, what can we expect in the way of economic thinking? Hear’s a hint: You know how they just love to say, “I’m not a scientist?” as a way to explain ignoring climate science? Well, they aren’t economists, either. And the consequences won’t just be seen in the form of ludicrous economic proposals—that would be too easy. Besides, they’ve already been doing that for years—decades, actually. Instead, they’re looking to use their ideological fairytale to skew all the official government calculations that Congress uses to guide its deliberations. So it’s not just the content of their economic proposals that are headed even more deeply into cloud cukooland, it’s the entire context in which Congress thinks about economics that’s about to exit, stage right, from reality-land."
'Hostage-Takers': Republicans Go After Social Security on Very First Day
'Hostage-Takers': Republicans Go After Social Security on Very First Day
"Advocacy groups like AARP and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare expressed outrage."
"Advocacy groups like AARP and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare expressed outrage."
Warren: Trickle-down 'cut the legs out from under America's middle class'
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/07/1356123/-Warren-Trickle-down-cut-the-legs-out-from-under-America-s-middle-class
"This isn't an accident, and Warren pointed a finger at the economic theory and policies that have rigged the game against 90 percent of Americans:
Trickle-down was popular with big corporations and their lobbyists, but it never really made much sense. George Bush Sr. called it voodoo economics. He was right, and let’s call it out for what it is: Trickle-down was nothing more than the politics of helping the rich-and-powerful get richer and more powerful, and it cut the legs out from under America’s middle class"."
"This isn't an accident, and Warren pointed a finger at the economic theory and policies that have rigged the game against 90 percent of Americans:
Trickle-down was popular with big corporations and their lobbyists, but it never really made much sense. George Bush Sr. called it voodoo economics. He was right, and let’s call it out for what it is: Trickle-down was nothing more than the politics of helping the rich-and-powerful get richer and more powerful, and it cut the legs out from under America’s middle class"."
GOP Rule Change in Congress Signals New Dawn for 'Voodoo Economics'
GOP Rule Change in Congress Signals New Dawn for 'Voodoo Economics'
"They call it ‘dynamic scoring.’ In fact, it’s a gimmick to help justify more tax cuts for the wealthy and profitable corporations."
"They call it ‘dynamic scoring.’ In fact, it’s a gimmick to help justify more tax cuts for the wealthy and profitable corporations."
Elizabeth Warren: "America's Middle Class Is In Deep Trouble."
Elizabeth Warren: "America's Middle Class Is In Deep Trouble."
"The spirit of trickle-down politics is to blame, according to Warren. It's just "magical accounting scams that pretend to cut taxes and raise revenue." In the 1980s, President Reagan and his economic swami Arthur Laffer pushed the concept that slashing taxes on the rich will actually benefit the poor; the top 1 percent would have more money to spend and would end up revving the entire economy. "Trickle-down was popular with big corporations and their lobbyists," Warren said, "but it never really made much sense." This theory has generally been debunked by economists but is still loved by Republicans. The new House majority has already changed the way Congress does math in order to align with trickle-down theories, and Republican governors have tanked state budgets by lowering taxes on the rich—all while promising those tax cuts will help state economies.
Add in Wall Street deregulation, and you've built a powder keg to keep the middle class down. "Pretty much the whole Republican Party—and, if we're going to be honest, too many Democrats—talked about the evils of 'big government' and called for deregulation," Warren said. "It sounded good, but it was really about tying the hands of regulators and turning loose big banks and giant international corporations to do whatever they wanted to do"."
"The spirit of trickle-down politics is to blame, according to Warren. It's just "magical accounting scams that pretend to cut taxes and raise revenue." In the 1980s, President Reagan and his economic swami Arthur Laffer pushed the concept that slashing taxes on the rich will actually benefit the poor; the top 1 percent would have more money to spend and would end up revving the entire economy. "Trickle-down was popular with big corporations and their lobbyists," Warren said, "but it never really made much sense." This theory has generally been debunked by economists but is still loved by Republicans. The new House majority has already changed the way Congress does math in order to align with trickle-down theories, and Republican governors have tanked state budgets by lowering taxes on the rich—all while promising those tax cuts will help state economies.
Add in Wall Street deregulation, and you've built a powder keg to keep the middle class down. "Pretty much the whole Republican Party—and, if we're going to be honest, too many Democrats—talked about the evils of 'big government' and called for deregulation," Warren said. "It sounded good, but it was really about tying the hands of regulators and turning loose big banks and giant international corporations to do whatever they wanted to do"."
New GOP Congress Launches First Missile At Social Security
New GOP Congress Launches First Missile At Social Security
"Here we go, folks! First stop, gutting Social Security. You knew it was coming, and Republicans just set out the carving knives."
"Here we go, folks! First stop, gutting Social Security. You knew it was coming, and Republicans just set out the carving knives."
GOP's New House Rules Set Stage For Social Security Cuts | Alternet
GOP's New House Rules Set Stage For Social Security Cuts | Alternet
"Republican opponents of Social Security have not wasted even a single day in their plan to dismantle Social Security brick by brick. What should be a dry, mundane exercise -- the adoption of new rules by the newly convening House of Representatives -- has turned into a stealth attack on America's working families."
"Republican opponents of Social Security have not wasted even a single day in their plan to dismantle Social Security brick by brick. What should be a dry, mundane exercise -- the adoption of new rules by the newly convening House of Representatives -- has turned into a stealth attack on America's working families."
Republicans Work To Ensure Affordable Gas Prices Are Short-Lived
Republicans Work To Ensure Affordable Gas Prices Are Short-Lived
"Gas prices are at their lowest point since the Clinton administration, and Republicans are wasting no time thinking up new ways to increase the burden on consumers."
"Gas prices are at their lowest point since the Clinton administration, and Republicans are wasting no time thinking up new ways to increase the burden on consumers."
Kansas Is Totally Screwed
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/sam-brownback-kansas-tax-cuts-failing
"In 2012, when Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback first pitched his plan to drastically slash the state's income taxes, he promised "a shot of adrenaline into the heart of the Kansas economy." Brownback brought in Arthur Laffer, Ronald Reagan's trickle-down economics guru, to help sell the idea that the cuts—which zeroed out taxes for 200,000 businesses and slashed rates for top earners—were guaranteed to boost the state's fortunes, prop up the economy, and bring in countless new jobs as businesses and individuals flocked to Kansas to escape the tyrannies of higher-tax states.
Two years later, those rosy predictions have turned to doom and gloom."
"In 2012, when Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback first pitched his plan to drastically slash the state's income taxes, he promised "a shot of adrenaline into the heart of the Kansas economy." Brownback brought in Arthur Laffer, Ronald Reagan's trickle-down economics guru, to help sell the idea that the cuts—which zeroed out taxes for 200,000 businesses and slashed rates for top earners—were guaranteed to boost the state's fortunes, prop up the economy, and bring in countless new jobs as businesses and individuals flocked to Kansas to escape the tyrannies of higher-tax states.
Two years later, those rosy predictions have turned to doom and gloom."
Senator Bernie Sanders To Introduce Roads And Jobs Bill
Senator Bernie Sanders To Introduce Roads And Jobs Bill
"While Republicans have dragged their feet and stalled any attempts to do anything to help our economy over the last 6 years, they don’t have any excuses now that they control both the House and the Senate. The legislation that Sen. Bernie Sanders will be putting before Congress would be a welcome stimulation to our economy for a couple of reasons, and here’s why.
First, it would tilt the job market back in favor of workers. As I said previously, employers aren’t willing to pay anything more than the absolute minimum they have to in order to retain employees. Wall Street is doing great, corporations are making big profits, but the promised “trickledown” has yet to happen. Corporations will only pay people more if they have to do so to keep workers from going elsewhere, and the possibility of hundreds of thousands of well-paying construction jobs would certainly create some competition and incentive for employers to raise wages. Second, these jobs wouldn’t be a short-term boost to the economy. Fixing over 100,000 bridges and hundreds of thousands of miles of roads isn’t something done in a short amount of time. The money paid to these workers won’t be sat on like corporations are doing with their profits either."
"While Republicans have dragged their feet and stalled any attempts to do anything to help our economy over the last 6 years, they don’t have any excuses now that they control both the House and the Senate. The legislation that Sen. Bernie Sanders will be putting before Congress would be a welcome stimulation to our economy for a couple of reasons, and here’s why.
First, it would tilt the job market back in favor of workers. As I said previously, employers aren’t willing to pay anything more than the absolute minimum they have to in order to retain employees. Wall Street is doing great, corporations are making big profits, but the promised “trickledown” has yet to happen. Corporations will only pay people more if they have to do so to keep workers from going elsewhere, and the possibility of hundreds of thousands of well-paying construction jobs would certainly create some competition and incentive for employers to raise wages. Second, these jobs wouldn’t be a short-term boost to the economy. Fixing over 100,000 bridges and hundreds of thousands of miles of roads isn’t something done in a short amount of time. The money paid to these workers won’t be sat on like corporations are doing with their profits either."
Obama Just Made An Incredible Decision, And Bankers Really Aren’t Going To Like It
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/06/obama-just-made-an-incredible-decision-and-bankers-really-arent-going-to-like-it/
"President Obama has made a surprise selection to fill a vacancy on the Federal Reserve Board. Instead of picking a Wall Street favorite, he picked the former head of a community bank in Hawaii.
The President will nominate Allan R. Landon, the former chief executive of the Bank of Hawaii, to fill one of two vacancies on the seven-member board. It will then be up to the Senate to confirm his choice.
The decision is a major success for community bankers, who have for a long time been out-gunned by their colleagues in the more mercenary sections of the Banking sector. The likes of Goldman Sachs and friends often end up staffing the Fed and the Treasury, which inevitably pulls the focus of legislation towards their casino banking interests.
But in a determined campaign, the community banks argued that the central bank, which regulates banks, should have at least one community banker on its board. They succeeded."
"President Obama has made a surprise selection to fill a vacancy on the Federal Reserve Board. Instead of picking a Wall Street favorite, he picked the former head of a community bank in Hawaii.
The President will nominate Allan R. Landon, the former chief executive of the Bank of Hawaii, to fill one of two vacancies on the seven-member board. It will then be up to the Senate to confirm his choice.
The decision is a major success for community bankers, who have for a long time been out-gunned by their colleagues in the more mercenary sections of the Banking sector. The likes of Goldman Sachs and friends often end up staffing the Fed and the Treasury, which inevitably pulls the focus of legislation towards their casino banking interests.
But in a determined campaign, the community banks argued that the central bank, which regulates banks, should have at least one community banker on its board. They succeeded."
10 Things Republicans Should Stop Doing In 2015
10 Things Republicans Should Stop Doing In 2015
"10) Present another Paul Ryan budget
Sure, it’s an annual tradition. But the running gag that is the Paul Ryan budget has gotten really stale at this point. We get it, Republicans. You want to slash taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. You want to repeal Obamacare and replace it with the equally effective Shake-It-Off-Care, while boosting defense spending so the U.S. can finally muster a challenge to Al Qaeda’s nonexistent air force and navy. Every year it’s virtually the same budget, with its outrageous projections for employment and reality in general. If this is the “path to prosperity,” I can only hope a few of the bridges are out along the way."
"10) Present another Paul Ryan budget
Sure, it’s an annual tradition. But the running gag that is the Paul Ryan budget has gotten really stale at this point. We get it, Republicans. You want to slash taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. You want to repeal Obamacare and replace it with the equally effective Shake-It-Off-Care, while boosting defense spending so the U.S. can finally muster a challenge to Al Qaeda’s nonexistent air force and navy. Every year it’s virtually the same budget, with its outrageous projections for employment and reality in general. If this is the “path to prosperity,” I can only hope a few of the bridges are out along the way."
PERRspectives: State and Local Governments Finally End Years of Anti-Stimulus
PERRspectives: State and Local Governments Finally End Years of Anti-Stimulus
"As 2015 opens, the American economy seems poised for robust economic expansion. Strong GDP growth and job creation, falling first-time jobless claims, surging stocks and (finally) rising wages show the Obama recovery from the Bush recession which began in late 2007 is starting to hit on all cylinders.
And to be sure, it is the Obama recovery. After all, as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the overwhelming consensus of economists agree, it was the $800 billion stimulus program along with action by the Fed that fueled the economic rebound which prevented "Great Depression 2.0." But America's bounce-back could have bigger and happened much faster but for the draconian austerity programs embraced by state and local governments. Their steep spending cuts and painful lay-offs constituted an "anti-stimulus" that has significantly slowed America's recovery since 2008."
"As 2015 opens, the American economy seems poised for robust economic expansion. Strong GDP growth and job creation, falling first-time jobless claims, surging stocks and (finally) rising wages show the Obama recovery from the Bush recession which began in late 2007 is starting to hit on all cylinders.
And to be sure, it is the Obama recovery. After all, as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the overwhelming consensus of economists agree, it was the $800 billion stimulus program along with action by the Fed that fueled the economic rebound which prevented "Great Depression 2.0." But America's bounce-back could have bigger and happened much faster but for the draconian austerity programs embraced by state and local governments. Their steep spending cuts and painful lay-offs constituted an "anti-stimulus" that has significantly slowed America's recovery since 2008."
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