Forget the election year hype, the truth is in the data, and it shows U.S. housing is still in decline and no real turnaround is projected until 2015. This unfortunate situation will favor Republicans who stay on message (Romney). The only way out is to revive the economy (i.e., increase private sector employment)--see last sentence in excerpt below. Issue #1 come November, 2012, voters will ask: "Who will do a better job reviving the economy in the next 4 years, Obama or Romney?"
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Home prices continue to drop - turnaround in 2015?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Is Newt Gingrich Clueless?
Although Paul Krugman has already said Newt Gingrich is "a stupid person's idea of what a smart person sounds like," it's obvious Newt is clueless on some things--
Female Support Slips for Gingrich - WSJ.com: ". . . Mr. Gingrich trailed Mr. Romney by 19 percentage points among Republican women, contributing to Mr. Romney's 11% lead overall in that survey. Asked by reporters on Sunday why a gender gap had appeared in recent Florida polls, Mr. Gingrich said: "I have no idea.'' Mr. Gingrich has tried to head off voter resistance that might arise from his two divorces and admission that he had an extramarital affair while pressing the impeachment of then-President Bill Clinton. . . ."
Female Support Slips for Gingrich - WSJ.com: ". . . Mr. Gingrich trailed Mr. Romney by 19 percentage points among Republican women, contributing to Mr. Romney's 11% lead overall in that survey. Asked by reporters on Sunday why a gender gap had appeared in recent Florida polls, Mr. Gingrich said: "I have no idea.'' Mr. Gingrich has tried to head off voter resistance that might arise from his two divorces and admission that he had an extramarital affair while pressing the impeachment of then-President Bill Clinton. . . ."
You'd think a guy running for President with the track record and baggage Newt Gingrich has, could do better than "I have no idea."
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Only Romney beats Obama in Swing States
DRUDGE REPORT 2012®: "GALLUPUSATODAY POLL OF SWING STATES:
Obama 47% Romney 48%
Obama 50% Paul 43%
Obama 51% Santorum 44%
Obama 54% Gingrich 40%
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Obama 47% Romney 48%
Obama 50% Paul 43%
Obama 51% Santorum 44%
Obama 54% Gingrich 40%
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
Abolish all Public Pensions and Lower College Tuition
Here's one more reason to abolish all public pensions (except for those already retired or near retirement), bring everyone into Social Security, introduce means testing as proposed by Simpson Bowles, and allow everyone to have an additional tax sheltered, self-funded retirement account as I proposed here--
Increased Illinois higher education funding goes to pensions | FOX 55/27 Illinois | Illinois: "SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ 12 percent increase in higher education spending this year isn’t going to benefit students. Instead, the additional funding for fiscal 2012 is going into the State Universities Retirement System, or SURS, to address its underfunded pension program. . . . Illinois has a total stated unfunded pension liability of $85 billion, but a 2009 study by theNorthwestern University Kellogg School of Management puts the figure at as high as $219.1 billion. . . ."
So when you hear Obama talk about controlling college costs, remember his home state (controlled and mismanaged by Democrats for years). In Illinois, they are putting public pensions first, above everything, because Democrats, at least Illinois Democrats, don't care about the people, they only care about those who work for the government.
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Increased Illinois higher education funding goes to pensions | FOX 55/27 Illinois | Illinois: "SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ 12 percent increase in higher education spending this year isn’t going to benefit students. Instead, the additional funding for fiscal 2012 is going into the State Universities Retirement System, or SURS, to address its underfunded pension program. . . . Illinois has a total stated unfunded pension liability of $85 billion, but a 2009 study by theNorthwestern University Kellogg School of Management puts the figure at as high as $219.1 billion. . . ."
So when you hear Obama talk about controlling college costs, remember his home state (controlled and mismanaged by Democrats for years). In Illinois, they are putting public pensions first, above everything, because Democrats, at least Illinois Democrats, don't care about the people, they only care about those who work for the government.
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Saturday, January 28, 2012
Joe Scarborough on Newt Gingrich
The Newt I know - POLITICO.com: by Joe Scarborough
". . . Gingrich’s precipitous fall from power was the result of arrogance, self-satisfaction and a fatal tendency to flit from issue to issue — and even from core conviction to core conviction — in the seeming belief that if he spoke well enough (and used as many adverbs as possible), no one would notice that he was doing something he had equally eloquently (and equally adverbially) opposed before. . . . Regardless of what happens in Florida and beyond, he will be remembered as the man who brought the Reagan Revolution to Congress. Yet it will also be recorded that Newt compared the Great Reagan with Neville Chamberlain, dismissed Reaganomics as flawed and called Reagan’s approach to the Soviet Union an utter failure a few years before the U.S.S.R. was relegated to the dustbin of history. These unpleasant facts do not stop Newt from trying to embrace the same policies he once denounced (one wonders if he even remembers the contradictions at this point), but that’s what makes my former colleague so fascinating. And so troubling. . . . But after his listless march through the Sunshine State, even I wonder how many more performances remain."
Joe Scarborough hosts “Morning Joe” on MSNBC and represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001.
". . . Gingrich’s precipitous fall from power was the result of arrogance, self-satisfaction and a fatal tendency to flit from issue to issue — and even from core conviction to core conviction — in the seeming belief that if he spoke well enough (and used as many adverbs as possible), no one would notice that he was doing something he had equally eloquently (and equally adverbially) opposed before. . . . Regardless of what happens in Florida and beyond, he will be remembered as the man who brought the Reagan Revolution to Congress. Yet it will also be recorded that Newt compared the Great Reagan with Neville Chamberlain, dismissed Reaganomics as flawed and called Reagan’s approach to the Soviet Union an utter failure a few years before the U.S.S.R. was relegated to the dustbin of history. These unpleasant facts do not stop Newt from trying to embrace the same policies he once denounced (one wonders if he even remembers the contradictions at this point), but that’s what makes my former colleague so fascinating. And so troubling. . . . But after his listless march through the Sunshine State, even I wonder how many more performances remain."
Joe Scarborough hosts “Morning Joe” on MSNBC and represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001.
Friday, January 27, 2012
A question Mitt Romney would never ask nor need to
As the Republicans, slowly but surely, get closer to either nominating Mitt Romney or ensuring the re-election of Barack Obama by nominating someone else, it is important to recognize there are fundamental differences between the candidates. There is only one candidate, Republican or Democrat, who truly understands the free enterprise economy we have, and how it works, and that candidate is Mitt Romney.
To illustrate this, I will pick up on a story that has been featured recently in the New York Times and Forbes magazine:
When Barack Obama joined Silicon Valley’s top luminaries for dinner in California last February, each guest was asked to come with a question for the president. But as Steven P. Jobs of Apple spoke, President Obama interrupted with an inquiry of his own: what would it take to make iPhones in the United States? Why can’t that work come home? Mr. Obama asked. Mr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. “Those jobs aren’t coming back,” he said.
In other words, Obama interrupted Steve Jobs to ask why iPhones were not made in the U.S. It's a dumb question if you understand the global economy and the free market system. Although Obama probably did not realize it, Jobs was being both kind and condescending by giving the President the simple, short answer: "those jobs aren't coming back." If Jobs had taken the time to explain all the aspects of the economy that today mandate that iPhones be manufactured in China, he would have taken the rest of the evening to basically explain global economics101 to Barack Obama and bored everybody else present at the dinner.
I think Mitt Romney is probably right that Barack Obama is a nice guy who is trying to do the right thing, but he's way over his head and doesn't understand the economy and how private enterprise creates jobs. As to the other GOP candidates, Santorum and Gingrich are as dumb as Obama when it comes to the economy--they have no experience in the private sector creating jobs and the way they talk evidences that fact. Ron Paul has an imperfect understanding of the economy (Austrian School) but I will grant that he would not have asked Jobs such a question because Paul's basic philosophy is that Apple will create jobs where it is advantageous for them to do so, and otherwise "it is none of your business."
That said, Romney would not have asked such a question, because he doesn't need to. He understands WHY Apple is manufacturing in China. He understands that those are not the jobs ($2.00 an hour wages) we want in the U.S., etc. He understands the economy and how it works and what the government can do to encourage private enterprise to create the kind of jobs we so desperately need.
You can read the Forbes magazine article yourself for a fuller understanding of why Obama's questions to Steve Jobs were dumb, but here's an excerpt:
We do not want iPhones to be made in America. We are fortunate that China is willing to work really hard to assemble them for us. I would rather my children designed iPhones than made them. For our young generation, 400,000 workers in rows and rows assembling iPhones is a scene that they could comprehend only in a Charles Dickens’ novel. The day that America starts to assemble iPhones will be the day that China is designing those cool products. That will be a day when our smartest and brightest young people are flocking to China.
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To illustrate this, I will pick up on a story that has been featured recently in the New York Times and Forbes magazine:
When Barack Obama joined Silicon Valley’s top luminaries for dinner in California last February, each guest was asked to come with a question for the president. But as Steven P. Jobs of Apple spoke, President Obama interrupted with an inquiry of his own: what would it take to make iPhones in the United States? Why can’t that work come home? Mr. Obama asked. Mr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. “Those jobs aren’t coming back,” he said.
In other words, Obama interrupted Steve Jobs to ask why iPhones were not made in the U.S. It's a dumb question if you understand the global economy and the free market system. Although Obama probably did not realize it, Jobs was being both kind and condescending by giving the President the simple, short answer: "those jobs aren't coming back." If Jobs had taken the time to explain all the aspects of the economy that today mandate that iPhones be manufactured in China, he would have taken the rest of the evening to basically explain global economics101 to Barack Obama and bored everybody else present at the dinner.
I think Mitt Romney is probably right that Barack Obama is a nice guy who is trying to do the right thing, but he's way over his head and doesn't understand the economy and how private enterprise creates jobs. As to the other GOP candidates, Santorum and Gingrich are as dumb as Obama when it comes to the economy--they have no experience in the private sector creating jobs and the way they talk evidences that fact. Ron Paul has an imperfect understanding of the economy (Austrian School) but I will grant that he would not have asked Jobs such a question because Paul's basic philosophy is that Apple will create jobs where it is advantageous for them to do so, and otherwise "it is none of your business."
That said, Romney would not have asked such a question, because he doesn't need to. He understands WHY Apple is manufacturing in China. He understands that those are not the jobs ($2.00 an hour wages) we want in the U.S., etc. He understands the economy and how it works and what the government can do to encourage private enterprise to create the kind of jobs we so desperately need.
You can read the Forbes magazine article yourself for a fuller understanding of why Obama's questions to Steve Jobs were dumb, but here's an excerpt:
We do not want iPhones to be made in America. We are fortunate that China is willing to work really hard to assemble them for us. I would rather my children designed iPhones than made them. For our young generation, 400,000 workers in rows and rows assembling iPhones is a scene that they could comprehend only in a Charles Dickens’ novel. The day that America starts to assemble iPhones will be the day that China is designing those cool products. That will be a day when our smartest and brightest young people are flocking to China.
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Eurozone's problem in one sentence
Davos 2012: George Soros warns 'debt crisis could destroy European political union' - Telegraph: "The trouble is that the austerity that Germany wants to impose will push Europe into a deflationary debt spiral" - George Soros at Davos 2012
(Soros also explained: "The measures introduced by the European Central Bank ... have relieved the liquidity problems of European banks but they did not cure the financing disadvantage from which the highly indebted member states suffer. Half a solution is not enough. It leaves the weaker members of the eurozone relegated to the status of third world countries that become highly indebted in a foreign currency.")
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(Soros also explained: "The measures introduced by the European Central Bank ... have relieved the liquidity problems of European banks but they did not cure the financing disadvantage from which the highly indebted member states suffer. Half a solution is not enough. It leaves the weaker members of the eurozone relegated to the status of third world countries that become highly indebted in a foreign currency.")
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State of the Union and entitlement reform
Most people probably missed it because it went by so quickly, but this is what the President said on entitlement reform last night in his State of the Union speech:
"The American people know what the right choice is. So do I. As I told the Speaker this summer, I'm prepared to make more reforms that rein in the long term costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and strengthen Social Security, so long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors. But in return, we need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of Members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes. Tax reform should follow the Buffett rule: If you make more than $1million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires. In fact, if you're earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn't get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn't go up. You're the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You're the ones who need relief."
"The American people know what the right choice is. So do I. As I told the Speaker this summer, I'm prepared to make more reforms that rein in the long term costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and strengthen Social Security, so long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors. But in return, we need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of Members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes. Tax reform should follow the Buffett rule: If you make more than $1million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires. In fact, if you're earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn't get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn't go up. You're the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You're the ones who need relief."
I can't argue with that and in fact it matches up with my proposal for comprehensive tax and entitlement reform. If the Republicans are serious, they ought to send Obama a comprehensive tax and entitlement reform bill that does exactly what he says and make him sign it BEFORE election day, or otherwise call his (or the Democrats) bluff.
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Like All Demagogues, Gingrich needs the zeal of a mob
Newt Gingrich needs the zeal of a mob, all demagogues do. That's what he got and played to in South Carolina and what he is basing his whole campaign on, hoping that few voters will look at all his shortcomings.
Gingrich: ‘Wrong’ for NBC to Prohibit Audience Clapping at Debate - By Katrina Trinko - The Corner - National Review Online: "UPDATE: I called up the Commission on Presidential Debates, which handles the general election debates, and they confirmed that audience participation has not been allowed in the past in debates, and will not be allowed this cycle either. So, if Gingrich is the GOP nominee, he’ll have to face a silent audience during his debates with the President unless the rules are changed."
Nothing like a sober, silent, rational and reasoning audience, to put the chill in a demagogue's words.
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Gingrich: ‘Wrong’ for NBC to Prohibit Audience Clapping at Debate - By Katrina Trinko - The Corner - National Review Online: "UPDATE: I called up the Commission on Presidential Debates, which handles the general election debates, and they confirmed that audience participation has not been allowed in the past in debates, and will not be allowed this cycle either. So, if Gingrich is the GOP nominee, he’ll have to face a silent audience during his debates with the President unless the rules are changed."
Nothing like a sober, silent, rational and reasoning audience, to put the chill in a demagogue's words.
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Newt Gingrich Tax Cheat - Forbes
While the media is entranced by Mitt Romney's returns and the fact that he fully paid all taxes on his income in accordance with current law, most of the media is ignoring the real tax story--
Newt Gingrich --Tax Cheat? - Forbes: "While candidate Gingrich has been busy focusing on the tax return failings of his opponent, Governor Mitt Romney, a report by Forbes’ Janet Novack suggests that, once again, Newt may be using a good offense to keep from having to play some serious defense when it comes to his own failure to pay up on his tax obligations. According to Novack, “Newt Gingrich avoided tens of thousands of dollars in Medicare payroll taxes in 2010 by using a technique the Internal Revenue Service has consistently and successfully attacked. . . .”"
Newt Gingrich --Tax Cheat? - Forbes: "While candidate Gingrich has been busy focusing on the tax return failings of his opponent, Governor Mitt Romney, a report by Forbes’ Janet Novack suggests that, once again, Newt may be using a good offense to keep from having to play some serious defense when it comes to his own failure to pay up on his tax obligations. According to Novack, “Newt Gingrich avoided tens of thousands of dollars in Medicare payroll taxes in 2010 by using a technique the Internal Revenue Service has consistently and successfully attacked. . . .”"
In other words, the media is giving Newt Gingrich, who according to Forbes cheated on his taxes in the amount of "tens of thousands of dollars," a "pass." Why?
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Monday, January 23, 2012
Jobs: We don't talk enough about solutions
Apple, America and a Squeezed Middle Class - NYTimes.com: " “I’m not worried about the country’s long-term future,” Mr. Jobs told Mr. Obama, according to one observer. “This country is insanely great. What I’m worried about is that we don’t talk enough about solutions.”
At dinner, for instance, the executives had suggested that the government should reform visa programs to help companies hire foreign engineers. Some had urged the president to give companies a “tax holiday” so they could bring back overseas profits which, they argued, would be used to create work. Mr. Jobs even suggested it might be possible, someday, to locate some of Apple’s skilled manufacturing in the United States if the government helped train more American engineers."
We don't talk enough about solutions. Not sure with this administration (Obama) it would make any difference if we did. Obama has done nothing to specifically reform visa programs to help companies hire foreign engineers. Instead he waits and blames others.
At dinner, for instance, the executives had suggested that the government should reform visa programs to help companies hire foreign engineers. Some had urged the president to give companies a “tax holiday” so they could bring back overseas profits which, they argued, would be used to create work. Mr. Jobs even suggested it might be possible, someday, to locate some of Apple’s skilled manufacturing in the United States if the government helped train more American engineers."
We don't talk enough about solutions. Not sure with this administration (Obama) it would make any difference if we did. Obama has done nothing to specifically reform visa programs to help companies hire foreign engineers. Instead he waits and blames others.
Jobs told Mr. Isaacson: "The president is very smart, but he kept explaining to us reasons why things can't get done." He does do that a lot. Nothing is ever shovel-ready with him. But leaders tell us how things will get done, how we can move forward. They can tease a small element out of a large bill, and get it passed. (source: Peggy Noonan - Wall Street Journal)
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Ann Coulter: ‘With Newt Gingrich you throw out the baby and keep the bath water’ [VIDEO]
Ann Coulter: ‘With Newt Gingrich you throw out the baby and keep the bath water’ [VIDEO]
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Sunday, January 22, 2012
Obama Team Dream: GOP Nominee Newt Gingrich
I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating and I'll use another's words to do so:
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GOP: It's starting to look like 1964
I wonder who was happier with the South Carolina results--Newt or David Axelrod? I guess there's nothing like the zeal of a mob and it appears that is what Gingrich was able to pull off in the Palmetto State Republican primary. Of course I remember the zeal of the mob in the Republican Party in 1964--"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice"--and the end result was a landslide for Democrat LBJ. Only 6 states went Republican:
source: Wikipedia
In any event, Florida is next up and it is a different state altogether from South Carolina. We have had 3 small state contests. Each of those states have very parochial and peculiar traits that distinguish them from the nation as a whole. Florida is big (29 electoral college votes, same as New York), with lots of cities, lots of people who moved from elsewhere in the US and the rest of the world. It will be interesting.
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source: Wikipedia
In any event, Florida is next up and it is a different state altogether from South Carolina. We have had 3 small state contests. Each of those states have very parochial and peculiar traits that distinguish them from the nation as a whole. Florida is big (29 electoral college votes, same as New York), with lots of cities, lots of people who moved from elsewhere in the US and the rest of the world. It will be interesting.
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Saturday, January 21, 2012
European Banks: Caveat Emptor
Central Bank Becomes an Unlikely Hero in Euro Crisis (NYTimes)
". . . the European Central Bank, which in late December under its new president, Mario Draghi, quietly began providing emergency loans to European banks — hundreds of billions of dollars of almost interest-free capital that the banks have used to come to the rescue of their national governments. . . . The central bank is preparing another infusion in February, and many banking experts expect it to be even bigger. The unspoken quid pro quo — that banks need to buy government debt in exchange for the central bank’s largess — seems to be working. The strategy is not without risks, warned Thomas Mayer, chief economist at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. “It may please some of the purists as it looks purer, but the banks may become addicted,” Mr. Mayer said. There is a limit to how much of this debt the banks can buy, he said. “Near-term relief of government bond deals may come at the cost of making the banks’ balance sheets more toxic. . . .”"
". . . the European Central Bank, which in late December under its new president, Mario Draghi, quietly began providing emergency loans to European banks — hundreds of billions of dollars of almost interest-free capital that the banks have used to come to the rescue of their national governments. . . . The central bank is preparing another infusion in February, and many banking experts expect it to be even bigger. The unspoken quid pro quo — that banks need to buy government debt in exchange for the central bank’s largess — seems to be working. The strategy is not without risks, warned Thomas Mayer, chief economist at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. “It may please some of the purists as it looks purer, but the banks may become addicted,” Mr. Mayer said. There is a limit to how much of this debt the banks can buy, he said. “Near-term relief of government bond deals may come at the cost of making the banks’ balance sheets more toxic. . . .”"
In other words, we have an already toxic situation in Europe becoming more toxic through official central bank policy. Many of the European banks were already in trouble due to their Eurozone bond holdings, so now they have nothing to lose in taking on more toxic assets? We may be headed for an even bigger bust down the road and have the ECB to thank for it.
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Friday, January 20, 2012
Housing in the US: still on taxpayer life support
You want to know the true state of housing in the U.S.? Then look at the infrastructure supporting the housing industry--still on taxpayer "life-support."--
Financial Crisis Narrative Flunks Reality Check: Jonathan Weil - Bloomberg: "No doubt, it’s an outrage that Fannie and Freddie still exist, more than three years after they collapsed into government conservatorship. Last February, President Barack Obama’s administration released a report to Congress in which it proposed winding down the two companies. Yet there’s been little action on this front since then. The Treasury Department’s gross investments in Fannie and Freddie totaled $176 billion as of Sept. 30, according to the department’s fiscal 2011 annual report, released in November. More important, if the Treasury suddenly stopped supporting the companies, the housing markets in many parts of the country probably would crash. Although Fannie and Freddie weren’t the only causes of the 2008 crisis, letting them fail now could cause a new one, as might the collapse of any systemically important financial institution. For now, we’re stuck with them. Let’s just stipulate that Fannie and Freddie were a cause of the crisis, even a big one, and leave it at that. The crucial discussion our leaders need to be having now is how to end them. . ."
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Financial Crisis Narrative Flunks Reality Check: Jonathan Weil - Bloomberg: "No doubt, it’s an outrage that Fannie and Freddie still exist, more than three years after they collapsed into government conservatorship. Last February, President Barack Obama’s administration released a report to Congress in which it proposed winding down the two companies. Yet there’s been little action on this front since then. The Treasury Department’s gross investments in Fannie and Freddie totaled $176 billion as of Sept. 30, according to the department’s fiscal 2011 annual report, released in November. More important, if the Treasury suddenly stopped supporting the companies, the housing markets in many parts of the country probably would crash. Although Fannie and Freddie weren’t the only causes of the 2008 crisis, letting them fail now could cause a new one, as might the collapse of any systemically important financial institution. For now, we’re stuck with them. Let’s just stipulate that Fannie and Freddie were a cause of the crisis, even a big one, and leave it at that. The crucial discussion our leaders need to be having now is how to end them. . ."
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
Going from Bad to Worse: Rick Perry Dropping Out; Will Endorse Gingrich
Perry Dropping Out; Will Endorse Gingrich - Alex Roarty - NationalJournal.com: "Rick Perry plans to drop out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination on Thursday and will endorse Newt Gingrich, sources tell National Journal. Perry will make the announcement in North Charleston at 11 a.m."
I always said Rick Perry was a loser but I had no idea he was this stupid! If nothing else, he'll get the "going from bad to worse" award for 2012. After ABC's interview with Gingrich's ex airs, I'd say Perry's endorsement will be worth -0- at best.
On Gingrich--no surprise about his ex and those revelations. I've already said Gingrich has more baggage than the Lost&Found at O'Hare International!
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I always said Rick Perry was a loser but I had no idea he was this stupid! If nothing else, he'll get the "going from bad to worse" award for 2012. After ABC's interview with Gingrich's ex airs, I'd say Perry's endorsement will be worth -0- at best.
On Gingrich--no surprise about his ex and those revelations. I've already said Gingrich has more baggage than the Lost&Found at O'Hare International!
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Random Notes for a January Wednesday
Tell Congress: Don’t censor the web!
English Wikipedia anti-SOPA blackout - Wikimedia Foundation: "Today, the Wikipedia community announced its decision to black out the English-language Wikipedia for 24 hours, worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 18 (you can read the statement from the Wikimedia Foundation here). The blackout is a protest against proposed legislation in the United States — the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate — that, if passed, would seriously damage the free and open Internet, including Wikipedia. . . . "
Three myths about the detention bill (NDAA) - Salon.com: "In sum, there is simply no question that this bill codifies indefinite detention without trial . . . There is no question that it significantly expands the statutory definitions of the War on Terror and those who can be targeted as part of it . . . The issue of application to U.S. citizens . . . is purposely muddled — that’s why Feinstein’s amendments were rejected — and there is consequently no doubt this bill can and will be used by the U.S. Government (under this President or a future one) to bolster its argument that it is empowered to indefinitely detain even U.S. citizens without a trial . . . "
Why I’m Suing Barack Obama | Common Dreams: "The supine and gutless Democratic Party, which would have feigned outrage if George W. Bush had put this (NDAA) into law, appears willing, once again, to grant Obama a pass. But I won’t. What he has done is unforgivable, unconstitutional and exceedingly dangerous."
A Caveman Won't Beat a Salesman - WSJ.com: "You might say the rise of Barack Obama was the triumph of a certain sort of salesman. He didn't know the product, but he was good at selling an image of the product, at least for a while. In time even his salesmanship came to seem hollow. One of the most penetrating criticisms of Mr. Obama came again from Jobs, who supported him but was frustrated by him. He met with the president last year and urged him to move forward on visas for foreign students who earned an engineering degree in the U.S. Mr. Obama blandly replied that this was covered in his comprehensive immigration bill, which Republicans were holding up. Jobs told Mr. Isaacson: "The president is very smart, but he kept explaining to us reasons why things can't get done." He does do that a lot. Nothing is ever shovel-ready with him. But leaders tell us how things will get done, how we can move forward. They can tease a small element out of a large bill, and get it passed."
White House Looks to Shrunken Legislative Agenda - WSJ.com: "President Barack Obama heads into 2012 with a legislative agenda that essentially consists of just a single item—a long-term extension of a payroll tax holiday—deferring a fight over deficit reduction and the Bush-era tax cuts and all but giving up on the remaining components of his jobs bill as he pivots to an election-year strategy of attacking Congress."
Poll: Florida voters prefer Mitt Romney over President Obama - Political Currents - MiamiHerald.com: "Florida voters disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance, say he doesn’t deserve to be reelected and narrowly prefer Republican Mitt Romney in a theoretical matchup, according to a new poll."
Ann Coulter - January 11, 2012 - WHO WOULDN'T ENJOY FIRING THESE PEOPLE?: "Wherever there is government, there is malfeasance and criminality -- and government employees who can never be fired."
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English Wikipedia anti-SOPA blackout - Wikimedia Foundation: "Today, the Wikipedia community announced its decision to black out the English-language Wikipedia for 24 hours, worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 18 (you can read the statement from the Wikimedia Foundation here). The blackout is a protest against proposed legislation in the United States — the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate — that, if passed, would seriously damage the free and open Internet, including Wikipedia. . . . "
Three myths about the detention bill (NDAA) - Salon.com: "In sum, there is simply no question that this bill codifies indefinite detention without trial . . . There is no question that it significantly expands the statutory definitions of the War on Terror and those who can be targeted as part of it . . . The issue of application to U.S. citizens . . . is purposely muddled — that’s why Feinstein’s amendments were rejected — and there is consequently no doubt this bill can and will be used by the U.S. Government (under this President or a future one) to bolster its argument that it is empowered to indefinitely detain even U.S. citizens without a trial . . . "
Why I’m Suing Barack Obama | Common Dreams: "The supine and gutless Democratic Party, which would have feigned outrage if George W. Bush had put this (NDAA) into law, appears willing, once again, to grant Obama a pass. But I won’t. What he has done is unforgivable, unconstitutional and exceedingly dangerous."
A Caveman Won't Beat a Salesman - WSJ.com: "You might say the rise of Barack Obama was the triumph of a certain sort of salesman. He didn't know the product, but he was good at selling an image of the product, at least for a while. In time even his salesmanship came to seem hollow. One of the most penetrating criticisms of Mr. Obama came again from Jobs, who supported him but was frustrated by him. He met with the president last year and urged him to move forward on visas for foreign students who earned an engineering degree in the U.S. Mr. Obama blandly replied that this was covered in his comprehensive immigration bill, which Republicans were holding up. Jobs told Mr. Isaacson: "The president is very smart, but he kept explaining to us reasons why things can't get done." He does do that a lot. Nothing is ever shovel-ready with him. But leaders tell us how things will get done, how we can move forward. They can tease a small element out of a large bill, and get it passed."
White House Looks to Shrunken Legislative Agenda - WSJ.com: "President Barack Obama heads into 2012 with a legislative agenda that essentially consists of just a single item—a long-term extension of a payroll tax holiday—deferring a fight over deficit reduction and the Bush-era tax cuts and all but giving up on the remaining components of his jobs bill as he pivots to an election-year strategy of attacking Congress."
Poll: Florida voters prefer Mitt Romney over President Obama - Political Currents - MiamiHerald.com: "Florida voters disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance, say he doesn’t deserve to be reelected and narrowly prefer Republican Mitt Romney in a theoretical matchup, according to a new poll."
Ann Coulter - January 11, 2012 - WHO WOULDN'T ENJOY FIRING THESE PEOPLE?: "Wherever there is government, there is malfeasance and criminality -- and government employees who can never be fired."
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You think we have a progressive income tax system?
One picture says it all: (Source)
“We need to reform our tax system which is truly awful”—Alice Rivlin on Bloomberg TV 1/17/2012
I've already written about my idea for comprehensive tax reform here.
All of the current GOP candidates favor tax reform and have submitted various proposals.
Obama: nothing done or proposed on comprehensive tax reform.
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“We need to reform our tax system which is truly awful”—Alice Rivlin on Bloomberg TV 1/17/2012
I've already written about my idea for comprehensive tax reform here.
All of the current GOP candidates favor tax reform and have submitted various proposals.
Obama: nothing done or proposed on comprehensive tax reform.
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Romney at Bain Capital: Impressive
Romney at Bain Capital: Big Gains, Some Busts - WSJ.com:
"The numbers, however, also reflect Bain's investing style, which, particularly during the firm's early years, was focused on smaller and sometimes troubled companies that Bain hoped to fix or build. Bain was investing in "riskier deals," said Steven N. Kaplan, a finance professor at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. "For every one that went bankrupt, they had one that was a screaming success. The overall effect was terrific performance" for the firm's investors. The Journal analysis shows that in total, Bain produced about $2.5 billion in gains for its investors in the 77 deals, on about $1.1 billion invested. Overall, Bain recorded roughly 50% to 80% annual gains in this period, which experts said was among the best track records for buyout firms in that era. Some of the companies that ran into trouble did so after Bain was no longer involved and new owners had taken charge."
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"The numbers, however, also reflect Bain's investing style, which, particularly during the firm's early years, was focused on smaller and sometimes troubled companies that Bain hoped to fix or build. Bain was investing in "riskier deals," said Steven N. Kaplan, a finance professor at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. "For every one that went bankrupt, they had one that was a screaming success. The overall effect was terrific performance" for the firm's investors. The Journal analysis shows that in total, Bain produced about $2.5 billion in gains for its investors in the 77 deals, on about $1.1 billion invested. Overall, Bain recorded roughly 50% to 80% annual gains in this period, which experts said was among the best track records for buyout firms in that era. Some of the companies that ran into trouble did so after Bain was no longer involved and new owners had taken charge."
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Monday, January 16, 2012
Eurozone: Portugal's borrowing costs soar
Portugal's borrowing costs soar as France passes first bond auction test - Telegraph: "Yields on benchmark 10-year government bonds rose nearly 2.3pc, or 228 basis points, to 14.198pc in afternoon trade. The difference between Germany and Portugal's borrowing costs also widened to record highs of 1,243 basis points, following S&P's downgrade of Portugal to below investment grade. . . .The Bank of Portugal has forecast GDP growth to shrink by 3.1pc in 2012, compared with previous estimates of a 2.2pc contraction."
So we have escalating borrowing costs, austerity policy, and economic contraction. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
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So we have escalating borrowing costs, austerity policy, and economic contraction. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
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Sunday, January 15, 2012
Eurozone: austerity equals contraction
After the downgrades, now what for the Eurozone? Obviously, Merkel is still "out to lunch:"
Merkel says eurozone must act fast - FT.com: "German chancellor Angela Merkel has called on eurozone governments speedily to implement tough new fiscal rules after Standard & Poor’s downgraded the credit ratings of France and Austria and seven other second-tier sovereigns."
In other words, more "punishment" for the non-German Europeans (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, et al). How much more they can take only time will tell. But the inescapable truth is that the policy of austerity is a disaster. Austerity = Contraction. And Europe will continue spiraling down . . .
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Merkel says eurozone must act fast - FT.com: "German chancellor Angela Merkel has called on eurozone governments speedily to implement tough new fiscal rules after Standard & Poor’s downgraded the credit ratings of France and Austria and seven other second-tier sovereigns."
In other words, more "punishment" for the non-German Europeans (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, et al). How much more they can take only time will tell. But the inescapable truth is that the policy of austerity is a disaster. Austerity = Contraction. And Europe will continue spiraling down . . .
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Friday, January 13, 2012
The Fed: Clueless
The Folly of the High and Mighty has now been revealed in the release of FOMC minutes of 2006 after a standard five-year delay:
Friday, January 13 - The Scan Article - American Banker: "Clueless: For all their power, pedigrees and Wall Street connections, senior Federal Reserve officials were as out to lunch about the state of the economy and housing market in 2006 as a roomful of polyester-clad Miami Beach condo flippers. That's the takeaway from Thursday's release, five years after the fact, of meeting transcripts from the Federal Open Market Committee. . . . "
New York Times:
. . . The transcripts of the 2006 meetings, released after a standard five-year delay, clearly show some of the nation’s pre-eminent economic minds did not fully understand the basic mechanics of the economy that they were charged with shepherding. The problem was not a lack of information; it was a lack of comprehension, born in part of their deep confidence in economic forecasting models that turned out to be broken. . . .
Doesn't give one much confidence that any of the so-called experts have any real understanding of the economy--or as the American Banker said: "and John C. Bogle, Vanguard Group's founder. . . for one, would give them an earful about what a fool's mission they're on trying to out-guess the economy and markets and how the truly enlightened focus instead on preparing to ride out their inevitably unknowable gyrations."
Read more here: American Banker, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal
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Friday, January 13 - The Scan Article - American Banker: "Clueless: For all their power, pedigrees and Wall Street connections, senior Federal Reserve officials were as out to lunch about the state of the economy and housing market in 2006 as a roomful of polyester-clad Miami Beach condo flippers. That's the takeaway from Thursday's release, five years after the fact, of meeting transcripts from the Federal Open Market Committee. . . . "
New York Times:
. . . The transcripts of the 2006 meetings, released after a standard five-year delay, clearly show some of the nation’s pre-eminent economic minds did not fully understand the basic mechanics of the economy that they were charged with shepherding. The problem was not a lack of information; it was a lack of comprehension, born in part of their deep confidence in economic forecasting models that turned out to be broken. . . .
Doesn't give one much confidence that any of the so-called experts have any real understanding of the economy--or as the American Banker said: "and John C. Bogle, Vanguard Group's founder. . . for one, would give them an earful about what a fool's mission they're on trying to out-guess the economy and markets and how the truly enlightened focus instead on preparing to ride out their inevitably unknowable gyrations."
Read more here: American Banker, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal
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Aon: US tax system causing move from Chicago
One of the biggest failings of the Obama administration, particularly when you realize that Obama's party controlled both houses of Congress his first two years as President, was doing nothing in the area of comprehensive tax reform. Now we are reaping the consequences:
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SOPA and PIPA: take action now
Here’s how you can really oppose SOPA: Stop “raising awareness” and do something | VentureBeat: ". . . We’ve all been concerned lately over SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act) and its sister bill, PIPA (Protect IP Act). But all those petitions we’re signing and websites we’re blacking out might have the effect of preaching to the choir.
U.S. citizens 18 and older should be exercising their privileges by writing letters (or emails) and placing phone calls to Congress. And of course, you can do that free of charge right from the comfort of your couch, thanks to a few online services.
PopVox is one service that will help you contact Congress free of charge. From PopVox’s SOPA and PIPA pages, you can see lists of organizations supporting and opposing the bills, you can read the full text of the bills, and you can tell Congress what you think about both bills. PopVox asks you to include your name and address, then it sends your message of opposition along to the appropriate members of Congress.
If you’d like to take an even more direct route to getting in touch with a member of Congress (or if you want to send a stronger message than just a form letter), you can use the House of Representatives Write Your Representative page (you’ll need to know your ZIP+4, which you can find here). To get in touch with a senator, find his or her name in the Senate directory (don’t worry, there’s a drop-down list of states and just two Senators per state), then contact that member directly from his or her listing. If you’re not shy about getting on the phone, you can call your representatives in Congress directly. The Senate switchboard number is (202) 224-3121, and the House switchboard is (202) 224-3121.
When writing or speaking to a House member, remember to reference SOPA, H.R. 3261. If you’re speaking or writing to a Senator, reference PIPA, Bill S.968.
To learn more about why the Internet is fighting the passage of SOPA and PIPA, read this open letter from Internet founders to Congress. To learn more about why this is our responsibility, too, read this article about Silicon Valley’s role in SOPA."
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U.S. citizens 18 and older should be exercising their privileges by writing letters (or emails) and placing phone calls to Congress. And of course, you can do that free of charge right from the comfort of your couch, thanks to a few online services.
PopVox is one service that will help you contact Congress free of charge. From PopVox’s SOPA and PIPA pages, you can see lists of organizations supporting and opposing the bills, you can read the full text of the bills, and you can tell Congress what you think about both bills. PopVox asks you to include your name and address, then it sends your message of opposition along to the appropriate members of Congress.
If you’d like to take an even more direct route to getting in touch with a member of Congress (or if you want to send a stronger message than just a form letter), you can use the House of Representatives Write Your Representative page (you’ll need to know your ZIP+4, which you can find here). To get in touch with a senator, find his or her name in the Senate directory (don’t worry, there’s a drop-down list of states and just two Senators per state), then contact that member directly from his or her listing. If you’re not shy about getting on the phone, you can call your representatives in Congress directly. The Senate switchboard number is (202) 224-3121, and the House switchboard is (202) 224-3121.
When writing or speaking to a House member, remember to reference SOPA, H.R. 3261. If you’re speaking or writing to a Senator, reference PIPA, Bill S.968.
To learn more about why the Internet is fighting the passage of SOPA and PIPA, read this open letter from Internet founders to Congress. To learn more about why this is our responsibility, too, read this article about Silicon Valley’s role in SOPA."
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Daley - no major role in Obama Campaign
As a follow-up to my previous 2 posts, here and here, a local Chicago radio station reports Rahm Emanuel noted that he lasted longer than Bill Daley as White House Chief of Staff and also predicted that Bill Daley will head to the private sector, so apparently Daley will not have a major role in Obama's re-election campaign. http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2369607&spid=
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Reason Enough To Not Vote for Obama
As a follow-up to my post yesterday about Bill Daley's resignation, I note the following from the New Yorker--
Letter from China: Daley’s Ominous Departure : The New Yorker: " . . . So when a Daley concludes that the political atmosphere is poisoned, that’s saying something. As a predictor of bipartisan coöperation, Bill Daley’s resignation as White House chief of staff is as auspicious as watching the canary quit and tiptoe out of the coal mine. . . . But the appetite for negotiation is now nil. The President is “not giving up on moderation,” John Podesta, former White House chief of staff under Clinton tells USA Today. “He’s just giving up on the Republican leadership in the House and Senate. . . ”
The problem is, even if Obama wins re-election, he has to work with Republicans to get ANYTHING done. With the approach Obama is now taking (according to the New Yorker article), we will be assured of 4 more years of failed leadership. That is reason enough to not vote for Obama.
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Letter from China: Daley’s Ominous Departure : The New Yorker: " . . . So when a Daley concludes that the political atmosphere is poisoned, that’s saying something. As a predictor of bipartisan coöperation, Bill Daley’s resignation as White House chief of staff is as auspicious as watching the canary quit and tiptoe out of the coal mine. . . . But the appetite for negotiation is now nil. The President is “not giving up on moderation,” John Podesta, former White House chief of staff under Clinton tells USA Today. “He’s just giving up on the Republican leadership in the House and Senate. . . ”
The problem is, even if Obama wins re-election, he has to work with Republicans to get ANYTHING done. With the approach Obama is now taking (according to the New Yorker article), we will be assured of 4 more years of failed leadership. That is reason enough to not vote for Obama.
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Here's the real election story of the day
Ignore the media's hype of tomorrow's New Hampshire primary--here's the real election story of the day:
White House Chief of Staff Daley Resigns - WSJ.com: ". . . Mr. Daley offered his resignation to the president in an Oval Office meeting last Tuesday, and Mr. Obama asked him to take some time to think about it. Mr. Daley informed the president of his final decision to leave the following day, officials said, despite his promise in recent months to stay through the 2012 election. A senior administration official said Mr. Obama "was surprised by Daley's decision." In his resignation letter, Mr. Daley, who recommended Mr. Lew as his successor, praised the president's leadership on a number of issues and said he was honored to be part of the administration. Mr. Daley, of Chicago, didn't detail his reasons for leaving, other than to say, "It is time for me to go back to the city I love." Mr. Daley didn't reply to emails seeking elaboration. . . ."
We know Obama never fires anyone (it's just not his style--no matter how inept, corrupt, incompetent, or lousy a job they are doing), so this decision was Daley's alone--he wanted OUT and NOW. WHY is the unanswered question. Best guess--the Obama White House is a really dysfunctional place and Daley knows it is only going to get worse as the campaign gears up. Rather than stick around and stain his own reputation, he wanted to get off the sinking ship now.
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White House Chief of Staff Daley Resigns - WSJ.com: ". . . Mr. Daley offered his resignation to the president in an Oval Office meeting last Tuesday, and Mr. Obama asked him to take some time to think about it. Mr. Daley informed the president of his final decision to leave the following day, officials said, despite his promise in recent months to stay through the 2012 election. A senior administration official said Mr. Obama "was surprised by Daley's decision." In his resignation letter, Mr. Daley, who recommended Mr. Lew as his successor, praised the president's leadership on a number of issues and said he was honored to be part of the administration. Mr. Daley, of Chicago, didn't detail his reasons for leaving, other than to say, "It is time for me to go back to the city I love." Mr. Daley didn't reply to emails seeking elaboration. . . ."
We know Obama never fires anyone (it's just not his style--no matter how inept, corrupt, incompetent, or lousy a job they are doing), so this decision was Daley's alone--he wanted OUT and NOW. WHY is the unanswered question. Best guess--the Obama White House is a really dysfunctional place and Daley knows it is only going to get worse as the campaign gears up. Rather than stick around and stain his own reputation, he wanted to get off the sinking ship now.
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Saturday, January 7, 2012
You think the December jobs report is good news?
Some might not like his liberal politics, but Paul Krugman knows his economics--his take on today's job report:
The Soft Bigotry of Low Employment Expectations - NYTimes.com: ". . . Let me give two back-of-the-envelope ways to think about how inadequate 200,000 jobs a month is. First, note that there are still about 6 million fewer jobs than there were at the end of 2007 — and that we would normally have expected to have added around 5 million jobs over a four-year period. So we’re 11 million jobs down — and we need at least 100,000 jobs a month just to keep up with working-age population growth. Do the math, and you’ll see that it would take 9 or 10 years of growth at this rate to restore full employment. . . "
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The Soft Bigotry of Low Employment Expectations - NYTimes.com: ". . . Let me give two back-of-the-envelope ways to think about how inadequate 200,000 jobs a month is. First, note that there are still about 6 million fewer jobs than there were at the end of 2007 — and that we would normally have expected to have added around 5 million jobs over a four-year period. So we’re 11 million jobs down — and we need at least 100,000 jobs a month just to keep up with working-age population growth. Do the math, and you’ll see that it would take 9 or 10 years of growth at this rate to restore full employment. . . "
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Friday, January 6, 2012
Rick Santorum: serial hypocrite and record of betrayal [Ron Paul VIDEO]
New Paul S.C. ad hits Santorum on 'betrayal' - POLITICO.com: "Ron Paul's campaign is out with this new ad in South Carolina, which hits Rick Santorum on his "record of betrayal." "One serial hypocrite exposed," the ad says, showing clips of Newt Gingrich. "Now another has emerged: Rick Santorum, a corporate lobbyist and Washington politician. A record of betrayal.""
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Everything you need to know about Washington in one sentence--
"Politicians votes will follow the money unless it will cost them an election." --Steve Blank
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NDAA 2012--one more reason to NOT vote for Obama
“All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution, are null and void.” --Chief Justice Marshall, Marbury v. Madison 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803).
So much for Obama's law degree from Harvard--obviously a Harvard education isn't what it once was--
National Defense Authorization Act Outrage Continues To Grow Online: "This is day three of living in post-NDAA America. In case you've been living under a particularly large and comfy rock, the NDAA is a radical and dangerous bill -- which Barack Hussein Obama quietly signed into law on New Year's Eve, while almost every American was preoccupied with New Year's binge drinking. (His administration had previously vowed to veto the NDAA, before strangely reversing course and signing it into law. He issued a signing statement saying his administration would not use the controversial indefinite detention provisions. This promise, however, is not legally binding -- and it also does not prevent future Presidents from detaining and torturing American citizens without the right to a trial or attorney, and without bringing formal charges against them. The signing statement is the legal equivalent of a Post-it note affixed to a manuscript.) How bad is this law, really? Here are some experts:
Presidential candidate Ron Paul on NDAA: "...bold and dangerous attempt to establish martial law in America."
Rep. Justin Amash: NDAA was "carefully crafted to mislead the public."
Amnesty International: "Provisions that were snuck into the bill with little notice from mainstream media could spell indefinite detention without a hearing, keep Guantanamo open, and hinder fair trials."
And Americans, despite some pro-Obama spin to the contrary, are definitely targeted by NDAA's indefinite detention provisions. As Salon columnist and constitutional lawyer Glenn Greenwald explained: "Myth #3: U.S. citizens are exempted from this new bill: This is simply false, at least when expressed so definitively and without caveats. The bill is purposely muddled on this issue which is what is enabling the falsehood."
The American broadcast media has been eerily silent on NDAA's passage into law, despite the fact that foreign newspapers and broadcast networks have been covering this as one of their top international stories." . . Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ndaa-outrage-continues-to-grow-online-2012-1#ixzz1idhHyYdJ
Occupy Wall Street - Call To Action Against the NDAA: During the Grand Central Station rally to show the disgust of Obama signing into law the NDAA bill. #OWS medic was carried out without reason or explanation from rally. He was arrested for seemingly doing nothing. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-726056?hpt=hp_bn1
ACLU: "We are extremely disappointed that President Obama signed this bill even though his administration is already claiming overly-broad detention authority in court. Any hope that the Obama administration would roll back those claims dimmed today. Thankfully we have three branches of government, and the final word on the scope of detention authority belongs to the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the scope of detention authority. But Congress and the president also have a role to play in cleaning up the mess they have created because no American citizen or anyone else should live in fear of this or any future president misusing the NDAA’s detention authority.
The ACLU will fight worldwide detention authority wherever we can, be it in court, in Congress, or internationally."
"Recall All Who Voted for NDAA 2012"
Presidential candidate Ron Paul on NDAA: "...bold and dangerous attempt to establish martial law in America."
Rep. Justin Amash: NDAA was "carefully crafted to mislead the public."
Amnesty International: "Provisions that were snuck into the bill with little notice from mainstream media could spell indefinite detention without a hearing, keep Guantanamo open, and hinder fair trials."
And Americans, despite some pro-Obama spin to the contrary, are definitely targeted by NDAA's indefinite detention provisions. As Salon columnist and constitutional lawyer Glenn Greenwald explained: "Myth #3: U.S. citizens are exempted from this new bill: This is simply false, at least when expressed so definitively and without caveats. The bill is purposely muddled on this issue which is what is enabling the falsehood."
The American broadcast media has been eerily silent on NDAA's passage into law, despite the fact that foreign newspapers and broadcast networks have been covering this as one of their top international stories." . . Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ndaa-outrage-continues-to-grow-online-2012-1#ixzz1idhHyYdJ
Occupy Wall Street - Call To Action Against the NDAA: During the Grand Central Station rally to show the disgust of Obama signing into law the NDAA bill. #OWS medic was carried out without reason or explanation from rally. He was arrested for seemingly doing nothing. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-726056?hpt=hp_bn1
ACLU: "We are extremely disappointed that President Obama signed this bill even though his administration is already claiming overly-broad detention authority in court. Any hope that the Obama administration would roll back those claims dimmed today. Thankfully we have three branches of government, and the final word on the scope of detention authority belongs to the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the scope of detention authority. But Congress and the president also have a role to play in cleaning up the mess they have created because no American citizen or anyone else should live in fear of this or any future president misusing the NDAA’s detention authority.
The ACLU will fight worldwide detention authority wherever we can, be it in court, in Congress, or internationally."
"Recall All Who Voted for NDAA 2012"
United States Senate --voting for NDAA 2012:
Sen. Daniel Akaka [D, HI]
Sen. Lamar Alexander [R, TN]
Sen. Kelly Ayotte [R, NH]
Sen. John Barrasso [R, WY]
Sen. Max Baucus [D, MT]
Sen. Mark Begich [D, AK]
Sen. Michael Bennet [D, CO]
Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D, NM]
Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D, CT]
Sen. Roy Blunt [R, MO]
Sen. John Boozman [R, AR]
Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA]
Sen. Scott Brown [R, MA]
Sen. Sherrod Brown [D, OH]
Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC]
Sen. Maria Cantwell [D, WA]
Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D, MD]
Sen. Thomas Carper [D, DE]
Sen. Robert Casey [D, PA]
Sen. Saxby Chambliss [R, GA]
Sen. Daniel Coats [R, IN]
Sen. Thad Cochran [R, MS]
Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME]
Sen. Kent Conrad [D, ND]
Sen. Chris Coons [D, DE]
Sen. Bob Corker [R, TN]
Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX]
Sen. Michael Crapo [R, ID]
Sen. Jim DeMint [R, SC]
Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL]
Sen. Michael Enzi [R, WY]
Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
Sen. Al Franken [D, MN]
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY]
Sen. Lindsey Graham [R, SC]
Sen. Charles Grassley [R, IA]
Sen. Kay Hagan [D, NC]
Sen. Orrin Hatch [R, UT]
Sen. Dean Heller [R, NV]
Sen. John Hoeven [R, ND]
Sen. Kay Hutchison [R, TX]
Sen. James Inhofe [R, OK]
Sen. Daniel Inouye [D, HI]
Sen. John Isakson [R, GA]
Sen. Mike Johanns [R, NE]
Sen. Ron Johnson [R, WI]
Sen. Tim Johnson [D, SD]
Sen. John Kerry [D, MA]
Sen. Mark Kirk [R, IL]
Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D, MN]
Sen. Herbert Kohl [D, WI]
Sen. Jon Kyl [R, AZ]
Sen. Mary Landrieu [D, LA]
Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D, NJ]
Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT]
Sen. Carl Levin [D, MI]
Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I, CT]
Sen. Richard Lugar [R, IN]
Sen. Joe Manchin [D, WV]
Sen. John McCain [R, AZ]
Sen. Claire McCaskill [D, MO]
Sen. Mitch McConnell [R, KY]
Sen. Robert Menéndez [D, NJ]
Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D, MD]
Sen. Jerry Moran [R, KS]
Sen. Lisa Murkowski [R, AK]
Sen. Patty Murray [D, WA]
Sen. Ben Nelson [D, NE]
Sen. Bill Nelson [D, FL]
Sen. Robert Portman [R, OH]
Sen. Mark Pryor [D, AR]
Sen. John Reed [D, RI]
Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV]
Sen. James Risch [R, ID]
Sen. Pat Roberts [R, KS]
Sen. John Rockefeller [D, WV]
Sen. Marco Rubio [R, FL]
Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY]
Sen. Jefferson Sessions [R, AL]
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D, NH]
Sen. Richard Shelby [R, AL]
Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME]
Sen. Debbie Ann Stabenow [D, MI]
Sen. Jon Tester [D, MT]
Sen. John Thune [R, SD]
Sen. Patrick Toomey [R, PA]
Sen. Tom Udall [D, NM]
Sen. Mark Udall [D, CO]
Sen. David Vitter [R, LA]
Sen. Mark Warner [D, VA]
Sen. Jim Webb [D, VA]
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D, RI]
Sen. Roger Wicker [R, MS]
Voted No:
Sen. Rand Paul [R, KY]
Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR]
Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR]
Sen. Mike Lee [R, UT]
Sen. Thomas Harkin [D, IA]
Sen. Thomas Coburn [R, OK]
Sen. Bernard Sanders [I, VT]
Sen. Lamar Alexander [R, TN]
Sen. Kelly Ayotte [R, NH]
Sen. John Barrasso [R, WY]
Sen. Max Baucus [D, MT]
Sen. Mark Begich [D, AK]
Sen. Michael Bennet [D, CO]
Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D, NM]
Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D, CT]
Sen. Roy Blunt [R, MO]
Sen. John Boozman [R, AR]
Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA]
Sen. Scott Brown [R, MA]
Sen. Sherrod Brown [D, OH]
Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC]
Sen. Maria Cantwell [D, WA]
Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D, MD]
Sen. Thomas Carper [D, DE]
Sen. Robert Casey [D, PA]
Sen. Saxby Chambliss [R, GA]
Sen. Daniel Coats [R, IN]
Sen. Thad Cochran [R, MS]
Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME]
Sen. Kent Conrad [D, ND]
Sen. Chris Coons [D, DE]
Sen. Bob Corker [R, TN]
Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX]
Sen. Michael Crapo [R, ID]
Sen. Jim DeMint [R, SC]
Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL]
Sen. Michael Enzi [R, WY]
Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
Sen. Al Franken [D, MN]
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY]
Sen. Lindsey Graham [R, SC]
Sen. Charles Grassley [R, IA]
Sen. Kay Hagan [D, NC]
Sen. Orrin Hatch [R, UT]
Sen. Dean Heller [R, NV]
Sen. John Hoeven [R, ND]
Sen. Kay Hutchison [R, TX]
Sen. James Inhofe [R, OK]
Sen. Daniel Inouye [D, HI]
Sen. John Isakson [R, GA]
Sen. Mike Johanns [R, NE]
Sen. Ron Johnson [R, WI]
Sen. Tim Johnson [D, SD]
Sen. John Kerry [D, MA]
Sen. Mark Kirk [R, IL]
Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D, MN]
Sen. Herbert Kohl [D, WI]
Sen. Jon Kyl [R, AZ]
Sen. Mary Landrieu [D, LA]
Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D, NJ]
Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT]
Sen. Carl Levin [D, MI]
Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I, CT]
Sen. Richard Lugar [R, IN]
Sen. Joe Manchin [D, WV]
Sen. John McCain [R, AZ]
Sen. Claire McCaskill [D, MO]
Sen. Mitch McConnell [R, KY]
Sen. Robert Menéndez [D, NJ]
Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D, MD]
Sen. Jerry Moran [R, KS]
Sen. Lisa Murkowski [R, AK]
Sen. Patty Murray [D, WA]
Sen. Ben Nelson [D, NE]
Sen. Bill Nelson [D, FL]
Sen. Robert Portman [R, OH]
Sen. Mark Pryor [D, AR]
Sen. John Reed [D, RI]
Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV]
Sen. James Risch [R, ID]
Sen. Pat Roberts [R, KS]
Sen. John Rockefeller [D, WV]
Sen. Marco Rubio [R, FL]
Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY]
Sen. Jefferson Sessions [R, AL]
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D, NH]
Sen. Richard Shelby [R, AL]
Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME]
Sen. Debbie Ann Stabenow [D, MI]
Sen. Jon Tester [D, MT]
Sen. John Thune [R, SD]
Sen. Patrick Toomey [R, PA]
Sen. Tom Udall [D, NM]
Sen. Mark Udall [D, CO]
Sen. David Vitter [R, LA]
Sen. Mark Warner [D, VA]
Sen. Jim Webb [D, VA]
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D, RI]
Sen. Roger Wicker [R, MS]
Voted No:
Sen. Rand Paul [R, KY]
Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR]
Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR]
Sen. Mike Lee [R, UT]
Sen. Thomas Harkin [D, IA]
Sen. Thomas Coburn [R, OK]
Sen. Bernard Sanders [I, VT]
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