Recent comments

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    I listened to President Obama's speech today on his $3 trillion debt-reduction plan, the "Buffett Rule", and took it with a grain of salt due to the past 2 1/2-years of betrayal to the people that voted him into the White House in 2008, not to mention their $$$$. While Obama has done some good things for the people, he has done far, far more for the Big Banks, Wall Street, Corporations and the Millionaires and Billionaires, with the Peoples' tax-dollars. He said "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"! Excuse me, who's math? So far the math has favored the rich, NOT the MAJORITY of the "People"! "We" can only HOPE (seems I heard that word a lot in 2008) that the President does as he speaks, and this is not just in the spirit of the 2012-campaign.

    Dan Williams
    Founder - www.TheBridgeToNowhere.org

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    In response to your question today, NO they have no intention of trying to do anything that might be seen as helping Obama, even if it means laying waste to America and the people that have to work for a living here.

    As for Class Warfare, you don't have to be a supporter of unions, a Marxist, a socialist, a leftist, a liberal, a progressive or any other name the conservatives/Republicans want to label rational thinking people with to understand that there has been an on going coldwar between business owners and managers versus people that have to earn a living, ever since the truly violent labor battles that existed here prior to the enactment of the "Wagner Act" signed into law by FDR in 1935, which limited what employers could do to stop workers from forming Unions. Yet ever since then the conservatives/Republicans having been doing everything they have been able to get away with when it comes taking away the rights of workers. The conservatives really stepped up their assertiveness in this struggle, when they began purging liberal and moderates from their ranks, and then joined forces with the religious right for pursuing the dumbing down of the American electorate, which helped bring into power Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, as American workers were actually able to be duped into voting in people that would work against their own best interests, as they heeded the call of patriotism and religious dogma (concerning social issues) without even realizing they were actually aiding the people of wealth and power that were tearing away the middleclass in America. It wasn't American workers that wanted jobs shipped out of the US so that American and gobal business interests could make even greater profits; it's not American workers that want to deny working people health care, because it cuts into profits; it's not American workers that want to strip away rules that protect workers and the public from injury and death because those laws cut into profits for investors and business managers; it's not the American workers that want to overturn environmental laws that are intended to not only protect the environment, but to keep people from breathing polluted air and drinking polluted water.

    And yet because of the dumbing down of the American electorate, which includes not teaching our children in school how to think rationally and critically when it comes to making decisions for themselves and their future, we have the best propaganda machines that money can buy in America spinning their BS to keep the working people in America from realizing that the rich our destroying us in this coldwar. And I keep using the working people as being the duped ones, because the poor in America have known this to be the truth already, as the rich have successfully played off the middle class from the lower class so they don't join forces against them.

    And now it comes down to whether the so-called centralized independant voters will shoot themselves in the feet and vote back in, or at least be dumb enough to stay away from the polls as they did in 2010, and allow the Republicans (who are now even more conservative and dumber than ever) wreak even more damage on the American economy, while stripping away even more rights and protections for working and non-working poor in America.

    As Pogo (Walt Kelly) said, "We have met the enemy and he is us!"

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Republicans practice "class warfare" but not rich against poor, their version is old against young. By saying they will leave medicare and social security alone if you are 55 or older they are pitting children against parents/grandparents. Where is our outrage?

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    I would like to why the Scrigna Brothers, who claim to be "the legal heirs" of Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Productions also have a family company whose assumed named is Berkshire Hathaway, according to the Illinois Secretary of State:

    HOLLYWOOD MODELS, INC. File Number 67488865 Status NOT GOOD STANDING Entity Type CORPORATION Type of Corp DOMESTIC BCA Incorporation Date (Domestic) 05/18/2010 State ILLINOIS Agent Name INCORP SERVICE, INC. Agent Change Date 05/18/2010 Agent Street Address 2501 CHATHAM RD STE 110 President Name & Address Agent City SPRINGFIELD Secretary Name & Address Agent Zip 62704 Duration Date PERPETUAL Annual Report Filing Date 00/00/0000 For Year 2011 Assumed Name ACTIVE - BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC. ACTIVE - MASTER MACHINE, INC. ACTIVE - MASTER MACHINE TOOL AND DIE COMPANY, INC. Old Corp Name 11/29/2010 - DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    DRichards, yes, it most certainly matters, because today's Republican party is "not your grandfather's Buick" kind of Republican party. The choice isn't between a Blue Dog Dem and a George Bush or even a Ronald Reagan. It's whatever you think Pres. Obama is vs. an "applaud executions, let the uninsured die" party. And is that the party that you want appointing the next Supreme Court Justice(s)? It's bad enough the Roberts court ruled that corporations are people. Imagine what a Rick Perry Supreme Court could do. Shudder.

  • Will the “Buffett Rule” get passed?   13 years 48 weeks ago

    I think our president is doing all he possibly can to not just get this country on track, but to eliminate even the disparities that exist even when we are on track. He is trying desparately to make this country what it has fasley claimed for decades; "One nation under god with liberty and justice for all", which has to this date been nothing but a lie. The republicans want to assure that he does not show them up with that kind of success, and the oligarcs will probably do what they usually do if it looks like he will succeed, remember Abraham Lincoln, remember John Kennedy? Get my point?

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Agreed And Ralph Reed One of the younger GOP hacks just stated ' God will ask how we voted in this election ' Amazing Now they know what God plans to do ! Phony Self righteous NON Christians ! Jesus said' Heal the sick Feed the Hungry ' Must have been a Liberal

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Blah Blah Blah -job creators, yeah, heard it and I don't buy it. When tax rates were higher -much higher- the wealthy did not go hide in a hole and cease investing. In fact America hummed along quite nicely (though it is true that income gap between CEO and worker was not as great. Bummer -only one Bently this year, dear.)

    I do know this: the grand experiment you propose has already been tried. It was called Trickle Down and it failed miserably. We were told to work harder and be more productive. We were told that if we allowed the rich to keep more money that we'd see our fair chunk of the prosperity. Instead, the wealthy sopped up our increased productivity and greedy bastards gambled everyone's future away, evaporated our home equity, crippled ourt schools cities and states -and we bailed them out -and they want even more. It amazes me that that's not as clear as day -<i>we just lived through it!</i>

    The GOPs cure for the disease it brought on America is more of the same. And because we're broke now, they still want us to pay to keep the big guys swimming in cash. They talk about no new taxes, but they're fine with any taxes that hit the middle class - as we see with the opposition to any payroll tax cut and, here in MN, their elimination of the home mortgage deduction.

    Class Warfare. That is exactly what it is. I have no problem calling it that.

    http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/ffa63ca4-c191-4342-9f29-318e8c6...

  • Will the “Buffett Rule” get passed?   13 years 48 weeks ago

    I voted yes but thats based on high hopes of Obama taking our case to the people. If enough folks demand this GOP Baggers Boehner Cantor will have to listen or lose big. I have no doubt Baggers will lose seats They have over stepped & are way out of line with morals and decency. NO more corp tax Cuts- loopholes & OIL subsides Extreme avarice & Greed have taken over the GOP

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Actually, republican Paul Ryan is right: this IS class warfare. The rich have declared war on humanity. They have declared war on the entire middle class and the entire poor class in America. They have declared war on the middle class republicans who helped elect the republicans to congress. They intend to destroy all of our lives, and they'll do it. If we let them.

    Every time a republican says, "Taxing the rich is class warfare," a democrat should say, "You're damn right it's class warfare- it's the rich thieves against the middle class and the poor, and they have declared war on us because they want to steal the rest of our money."

    And every time Michael Medved says in that whiney sarcastic voice of his, "Oh, the rich are so awful, they're just terrible," a democrat should say, "Why, you're right: they are so awful and terrible- how perceptive of you, and how courageous of you- a republican- to tell the truth about the people who are paying you millions of dollars to lie to us."

    And every time a republican says, "You're alienating the job creaters," a democrat should say, "Yes, you're right, we are alienating the job-outsourcers."

    And if the republican says, "No, I said the job-creaters," a democrat should say, "That's what I said: the job outsourcers, you know- the tax dodgers, the America-haters, the freedom-haters, the people who want ot destroy America by selling it to China."

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Yes, it does. The tragectory of Tax Policy, Military Policy and the composition of the Supreme Court are vastly different depending on which of the parties is in power, whether you can differentiate between them or not.

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    No, it won't pass. UNLESS, Obama caves in to the seduction of his inner-compromise gland. The Republicans prefer a fight. It's good for their fundraising and for raising the blood pressure of their unwitting foot soldiers.

    If Obama won't cave, again,....then that'll be a fight the country is dying to have.

    Send a million lobbyists in to fetch a million tax breaks for the wealthy and priveleged...and no body says a word publically. Tax the wealthy and priveleged one time and the entire United States is electrified!

    Nothing uneven about class warfare, right?

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    i did not hear the level of fervor i would have liked. makes me think he's just smoke screenin'. trying to apease the masses of working stiffs that are getting shafted everyday and while i have not lost hope it boggles the mind that the collective of inteligence in washington in a word is stupider then a lot of the kids somnig out of high school!lol think about it.3 freekin years! and its nothing more the a teenage high school pissing match and we, the working stiffs are the hostages. its lunacy at its best!! I sure hope the man makes some heads roll. I think it would behoove our elected official to quit watching stupid TV...you know like the Kardashians! lolol

  • Hell no you can’t!?   13 years 48 weeks ago

    We will never make it to the next election.

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    hey Ursel - your RW postings are a bit long - can you read them? I remember when Reagan said he was not responsible for anything that happened on his watch --- that the legislation, the agencies, the S&L scandal, the embassies attacked, and more had nothing to do with him. Republicans cheered! So Useless, you are saying that Democrats don't get the same immunity to responsibility that Republicans get? Does it matter that half of the things you listed are BUSH leftovers? Are you actually posting due to interest or just trolling? Inquiring minds would like to know! :D

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Republican Fear Empowers a Corrupt Obama

    By Floyd and Mary Beth Brown September 19, 2011 11:46 am

    Corruption inside the Obama administration runs rampant. The list of scandals grows longer by the moment, with a new one popping up at an ever increasing rate. However, the Republican leadership empowers the corruption by refusing to fight. They fear Obama and are resigned to waiting for the buzzer instead of stopping the madness.

    This week we learned of three more corpses resulting from Obama's operation Fast and Furious. This is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms program that encouraged the smuggling of illegal guns to the drug lords and gangs of Mexico. The resulting bloodshed has been goolish.

    Next we saw emails from the White House in the Solyndra scandal, and the extemporaneous record shows corruptipon. Rep Cliff Stearns of Florida declared at a hearing this week, "The review process took a back seat to the need to set up a photo-op for the vice president and other administration officials."

    Solyndra is a politically connected solar energy firm that received more than half a billion dollars in federal loan guarantees. Now the firm is bankrupt. It is one of a string of firms that Obama touted as an engine of "green jobs."

    The White House emails show that the Obama administration rushed to get money to the firm based on politics, not job creation. No wonder the stimulus plan didn't stimulate job growth; the money was diverted to the pockets of Obama's political cronies.

    Now he's at it again with his new stimulus plan he's trying to push down Congress' throat. This new scheme takes more money from working citizens who could help get the economy moving again with the freedom to create jobs or spend it, thus spurring job creation. But no, Obama is only looking out for those who solidly vote for him and will then have more money to pour into his re-election coffers.

    Now the Daily Beast is reporting, "The four-star Air Force general who oversees Air Force Space Command walked into a highly secured room on Capitol Hill a week ago to give a classified briefing to lawmakers and staff, and dropped a surprise. Pressed by members, Gen. William Shelton said the White House tried to pressure him to change his testimony to make it more favorable to a company tied to a large Democratic donor."

    The donor is Philip Falcone and the company is his new wireless satellite broadband company, LightSquared. The Democratic donor was sure to profit from the altered testimony to Congress.

    Any of these scandals would have taken down Republican administrations. But Obama shoulders on without being touched by investigations. This is the direct result of a strategy poorly concocted by the leadership of the Republicans in Congress because they fear Obama. It results in bad policy that is prolonging the weak economy as the Republicans compromise on policy and fail to provide adequate Congressional oversight of the Federal Government.

    The strategy, which is only voiced behind closed doors, goes something like this: "Our polling shows that the American people want us working with the President. If we are too aggressive in our investigations of the administration, then people might get the idea we aren't team players."

    Their strategy is akin to the four corners strategy in basketball. Before the days of shot clocks, teams were known to just keep passing the ball from corner to corner in the hopes that they wouldn't make a mistake and time would run out.

    The Republicans see that Obama is wounded, and they fear that if they do anything, then they might make a mistake and give his administration a shot at re-election. Why? The Republicans lack confidence in their ideas and are afraid to engage.

    But the strategy has the potential to backfire. Voters who are frustrated by what they see in Washington could declare a pox on both their houses. Today Americans feel our leaders are fiddling like Emperor Nero while the country literally burns.

    Photos of the Republican leader John Boehner enjoying a game of golf with the president while the average citizens fears losing his job and his house leaves middleclass voters with resentful attitudes.

    Another year of Boehner hugging Biden on TV and then empowering the President to raise the debt ceiling at his whim and the Tea Party could turn into a full scale revolt against not just the Democrats, but all the so called leaders in Washington.

    ---

    ©2011 Floyd and Mary Beth Brown. The Browns are bestselling authors and speakers. Together they write a national weekly column distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Floyd is also president of the Western Center for Journalism.

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Obamas recipe for tax disaster? LOL! Saying that refusing to maintain the AMT -- which was the problem -- means that the tax was wrong! Talk about spinning! Also, we shouldn't tax because of those that are hiding their funds? I think we need to increase the penalties for bad bahavior. I also think that any business that is not headquartered in the USA should not benefit from US tax writeoffs, exemptions, etc, etc.

    I don't believe that states should be allowed to give away the income for communities to business either. Which is what corporations are trying to force the US government into giving up taxing money to come back into the USA -- they are hiding profits made in China or elsewhere from being collected. the same scam on a larger scale. repatriot money? sure -- pay the taxes! put in a reverse vat or that inspect imports to be paid by the exporter!

  • Daily Topics - Monday September 19th, 2011   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Allow me to borrow Speaker Boehner's own rhetorical tactic: I shouldn't call the Republican's a bunch of callous idiots, but ... the Republicans are a bunch of callous idiots.

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Whenever I talk to Republican family members - all they can say is that people are crooks and government will never work! You can't talk sense to them! Which is a shame. I believe that some people are crooks - but the majority are trying to do something good. We just need to remember NEVER to vote for someone who thinks that government will never work - because they won't try! Maybe we need to keep a list going to remind us who thinks that way - and to pass on to our family members!

    One question to ask when Republicans are saying - look at that ! it's broken! It's no good! -- ask what Republicans did to break it!

    Sadly, Democrats are not looking for the scams that Republicans put into legislation. They need to set up a team to do that -- to review the final legislation - the add on's, etc. So they can fight back before it gets voted on!

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Lyoung, When both parties are simply two branches of the same party, and we are left with voting for a Blue Dog Democrat, does it really matter?

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    More on Illinois eavesdropping laws:

    ACLU v Alvarez, http://www.aclu-il.org/aclu-v-alvarez22/

    Judge Conlon determined that there was no First Amendment right to audio record. I suppose she would also agree that the citizenry has no right to look at public officials, or hear what they say, or write anything down.

  • Will the “Buffett Rule” get passed?   13 years 48 weeks ago

    I'm putting in a vote of confidence in Obama - I believe he's a good man and hope his political advisors are coming up with tactics vs. the conservatives that will help him show us working folks he's fighting for us. His press folks should publish more what he's doing.

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Ted,

    I share your frustration, truly I do, but to give up on government is exactly what the GOP wants you to do. (You've heard of Paul Weyrich, right?. The GOP knows that when people vote, Democrats win. By engendering dissatisfaction of and distrust in the government, the GOP knows they will keep voters away from the polls. All you have to do is look to Wisconsin to see the consequences of giving up.

    Similarly, to believe that BOTH sides suck, that both Repubs and Dems are the same, is to fall again into the tricks of the GOP. Take a step back, breathe, look at the big picture, and you'll see that it's the Republican/Conservative/Tea Party side that has prevented and continues to prevent, deliberately and maliciously (and systematically through the 38 new laws aimed at voter suppression), every bill that would prove beneficial to us un-millionaires.

    Under the circumstances, Ted, surrendering to frustration is only self-defeating. What you, and the rest of us who believe in equality in all aspects of life in America, need to do is show up. If we disappear, we lose.

  • President Obama, "It's not Class Warfare - It's Math!"   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Republican Fear Empowers a Corrupt Obama

    By Floyd and Mary Beth Brown September 19, 2011 11:46 am

    Corruption inside the Obama administration runs rampant. The list of scandals grows longer by the moment, with a new one popping up at an ever increasing rate. However, the Republican leadership empowers the corruption by refusing to fight. They fear Obama and are resigned to waiting for the buzzer instead of stopping the madness.

    This week we learned of three more corpses resulting from Obama's operation Fast and Furious. This is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms program that encouraged the smuggling of illegal guns to the drug lords and gangs of Mexico. The resulting bloodshed has been goolish.

    Next we saw emails from the White House in the Solyndra scandal, and the extemporaneous record shows corruptipon. Rep Cliff Stearns of Florida declared at a hearing this week, "The review process took a back seat to the need to set up a photo-op for the vice president and other administration officials."

    Solyndra is a politically connected solar energy firm that received more than half a billion dollars in federal loan guarantees. Now the firm is bankrupt. It is one of a string of firms that Obama touted as an engine of "green jobs."

    The White House emails show that the Obama administration rushed to get money to the firm based on politics, not job creation. No wonder the stimulus plan didn't stimulate job growth; the money was diverted to the pockets of Obama's political cronies.

    Now he's at it again with his new stimulus plan he's trying to push down Congress' throat. This new scheme takes more money from working citizens who could help get the economy moving again with the freedom to create jobs or spend it, thus spurring job creation. But no, Obama is only looking out for those who solidly vote for him and will then have more money to pour into his re-election coffers.

    Now the Daily Beast is reporting, "The four-star Air Force general who oversees Air Force Space Command walked into a highly secured room on Capitol Hill a week ago to give a classified briefing to lawmakers and staff, and dropped a surprise. Pressed by members, Gen. William Shelton said the White House tried to pressure him to change his testimony to make it more favorable to a company tied to a large Democratic donor."

    The donor is Philip Falcone and the company is his new wireless satellite broadband company, LightSquared. The Democratic donor was sure to profit from the altered testimony to Congress.

    Any of these scandals would have taken down Republican administrations. But Obama shoulders on without being touched by investigations. This is the direct result of a strategy poorly concocted by the leadership of the Republicans in Congress because they fear Obama. It results in bad policy that is prolonging the weak economy as the Republicans compromise on policy and fail to provide adequate Congressional oversight of the Federal Government.

    The strategy, which is only voiced behind closed doors, goes something like this: "Our polling shows that the American people want us working with the President. If we are too aggressive in our investigations of the administration, then people might get the idea we aren't team players."

    Their strategy is akin to the four corners strategy in basketball. Before the days of shot clocks, teams were known to just keep passing the ball from corner to corner in the hopes that they wouldn't make a mistake and time would run out.

    The Republicans see that Obama is wounded, and they fear that if they do anything, then they might make a mistake and give his administration a shot at re-election. Why? The Republicans lack confidence in their ideas and are afraid to engage.

    But the strategy has the potential to backfire. Voters who are frustrated by what they see in Washington could declare a pox on both their houses. Today Americans feel our leaders are fiddling like Emperor Nero while the country literally burns.

    Photos of the Republican leader John Boehner enjoying a game of golf with the president while the average citizens fears losing his job and his house leaves middleclass voters with resentful attitudes.

    Another year of Boehner hugging Biden on TV and then empowering the President to raise the debt ceiling at his whim and the Tea Party could turn into a full scale revolt against not just the Democrats, but all the so called leaders in Washington.

    ---

    ©2011 Floyd and Mary Beth Brown. The Browns are bestselling authors and speakers. Together they write a national weekly column distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Floyd is also president of the Western Center for Journalism.

  • Daily Topics - Monday September 19th, 2011   13 years 48 weeks ago

    Correction: Pres. Obama mentioned in his speech before the joint session that his proposals had been endorsed by "both Republicans and Democrats in the past." So he has used the word "Republican" in speeches before today.

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