October 31, 2015

Bernie Calls for Fed. Probe on Exxon, 10-DAYS later, Hillary Parrots Bernie & Makes a Big Splash????

This just floors me, how Hillary gets away with making a big show of mimicking Bernie's positions on issues,
right down the line, like clockwork .. while claiming she's 'leading the way for America".

° Holding Wall St. accountable? check. (telling them to "cut it out!", while happily taking their donations)
° Favors Overturning Citizens United? check. (yet she has Super-PAC $$$ coming out her ears & brags about it)
° Opposes Keystone? check. (she favored it, before she opposed it.)
° Opposes TPP? check. (she favored it as a "gold standard" before she opposed it)
° Opposes private prison industry? check. (yet she has private prison lobbyists running her super-Pac?)
° (did I miss anything ^ here?)

So fast-forward to October 20thh,
Bernie calls for a Federal criminal investigation of ExxonMobil:
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/10/20/bernie-sanders-takes-big-oil-calling-criminal-investigation-exxonmobil.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/20/1436133/-Senator-Bernie-Sanders-calls-for-DOJ-task-force-on-what-ExxonKnew

Then 10 short days later, on October 30th, there's breathless BREAKING NEWS! that Hillary says the same damn thing, with nary a mention that Bernie had called for this just 10-days ago (unless it's pointed out by reporters):
BREAKING: Hillary Clinton Endorses Federal Investigation Of Exxon
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/10/29/3717602/clinton-investigate-exxon/

Fortunately, i am not the only one to notice this, and was gratified to see that Andy Borowitz also took note:
Hillary Expected to Adopt All of Sanders’s Positions by Noon
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/hillary-expected-to-adopt-all-of-sanderss-positions-by-noon

It's also worth noting, that ExxonMobil, just over one month ago, cut off it's sizable pipeline of cash to
the Clinton Foundation. Surely just a coincidence, but note-worthy nevertheless.
Election 2016: Hillary Clinton Demands Probe of Exxon After Oil Giant Stops Funding Clinton Foundation
http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/election-2016-hillary-clinton-demands-probe-exxon-after-oil-giant-stops-funding



At the next debate, I fully expect Hillary to wear a T-shirt, saying:

October 31, 2015

Bernie Calls for Fed. Probe on Exxon, 10-DAYS later, Hillary Parrots Bernie & Makes a Big Splash????

This just floors me, how Hillary gets away with making a big show of mimicking Bernie's positions on issues,
right down the line, like clockwork .. while claiming she's 'leading the way for America".

° Holding Wall St. accountable? check. (telling them to "cut it out!", while happily taking their donations)
° Favors Overturning Citizens United? check. (yet she has Super-PAC $$$ coming out her ears & brags about it)
° Opposes Keystone? check. (she favored it, before she opposed it.)
° Opposes TPP? check. (she favored it as a "gold standard" before she opposed it)
° Opposes private prison industry? check. (yet she has private prison lobbyists running her super-Pac?)
° (did I miss anything ^ here?)

So fast-forward to October 20thh,
Bernie calls for a Federal criminal investigation of ExxonMobil:
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/10/20/bernie-sanders-takes-big-oil-calling-criminal-investigation-exxonmobil.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/20/1436133/-Senator-Bernie-Sanders-calls-for-DOJ-task-force-on-what-ExxonKnew

Then 10 short days later, on October 30th, there's breathless BREAKING NEWS! that Hillary says the same damn thing, with nary a mention that Bernie had called for this just 10-days ago (unless it's pointed out by reporters):
BREAKING: Hillary Clinton Endorses Federal Investigation Of Exxon
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/10/29/3717602/clinton-investigate-exxon/

Fortunately, i am not the only one to notice this, and was gratified to see that Andy Borowitz also took note:
Hillary Expected to Adopt All of Sanders’s Positions by Noon
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/hillary-expected-to-adopt-all-of-sanderss-positions-by-noon

It's also worth noting, that ExxonMobil, just over one month ago, cut off it's sizable pipeline of cash to
the Clinton Foundation. Surely just a coincidence, but note-worthy nevertheless.
Election 2016: Hillary Clinton Demands Probe of Exxon After Oil Giant Stops Funding Clinton Foundation
http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/election-2016-hillary-clinton-demands-probe-exxon-after-oil-giant-stops-funding



At the next debate, I fully expect Hillary to wear a T-shirt, saying:

October 30, 2015

Kos: Forget Bernie & Elizabeth Warren, 3rd Way has figured out how to get you REALLY pumped!

Forget Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren, 3rd Way has figured out how to get you REALLY pumped!
by Kos * Oct. 30, 2015 * Daily Kos

We checked in with the corporatist Third Way yesterday, and found out that yes, they are still dicks. But there was a reason they were in the news, and it was this report ( http://www.thirdway.org/report/ready-for-the-new-economy ) claiming to show what ails the Democratic Party, and how to fix those alleged ailments.
So it starts out with this, er, assertion:



First of all, "fairness" isn't an argument wholly focused on the middle class, we're a much bigger party than that.
Furthermore, they're hinging the assertion that we've lost the middle class from exit polls showing Republicans winning the $50-100K income bracket. (For example, Romney won those 52-48.) However, an income of $100,000 puts you at the 96 percentile in income (or top four percent). The median income is $41,000, and among those earning less than $50,000, Obama and the Democrats win handily (60-38 percent in 2012).

So aside from tossing out lower-income people as irrelevant, Third Way's definition of "middle class" seems to look, well, like their friends. And sure, those guys may not be motivated by the Black Lives Matter or Occupy or broader fairness movement, but the American majority is. And when the voter pool is expanded, Democrats win. This is so objectively obvious and true that it requires a certain degree of bullshit to pretend otherwise.

But hey, the stuff that excites you and motivates you to vote? Nope, not exciting. Third Way decided. But you know what Third Way thinks will get you pumped?

Head below the fold, and prepare to get your mind bloooown!

First of all, let's recap what has gotten Third Way all hot and bothered.



Fuck you. Too late. It's a good litmus test. And a popular one.

MUCH much more good stuff here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/30/1442659/-Forget-Bernie-Sanders-and-Elizabeth-Warren-Third-Way-has-figured-out-how-to-get-you-REALLY-pumped

October 30, 2015

Bye-bye to America's Middle Class: Unions Are Basically Dead

Hey, even the IMF now admits that A STRONGER USA UNION MOVEMENT is a good idea !?!?!?!

How bad does this need to get before US voters elect a POTUS who KNOWS DAMN WELL where
their walking shoes are? HINT: they are still warm from the Verizon picket line.

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Farewell to America's Middle Class: Unions Are Basically Dead
The U.S. is one of the only rich countries that has reached the (incorrect) conclusion that organizing workers is counterproductive
by TERESA GHILARDUCCI * OCT 28, 2015 * The Arlantic

For a group of presidential candidates who claim to be interested in the plight of the American worker, it was surprising that the five Democrats onstage for their first debate two weeks ago didn’t once say the word “union.” Well, technically, that’s not correct—Bernie Sanders did mention the watchdog group Citizens Union—but the point remains.

A raft of research—some new, some old—suggests that it’s a shame that unions were absent in Democrats’ most publicized recent conversation. Some of that research is coming from unlikely places; the International Monetary Fund, for instance, recommended reviving unions as a way for democracies to grow their economies and boost productivity.

In the U.S., where less than 9 percent of private-sector workers are organized, they could use a revival. The U.S. has one of the lowest unionization rates in the world, far behind Germany and Canada, and closer to Mexico and South Korea.

The U.S.’s low unionization rates come with consequences for its workers. US leads rich nations in low-wage jobs—more than 20 percent of jobs pay less than two-thirds of the median wage. And the U.S. ranks in the bottom third of countries in terms of its work-life balance. Americans work about 1,790 hours per year on average, but workers in most wealthier nations work less than 1,600. 11.8 percent of American adults work long hours; less than 1 percent of Dutch workers put in more than 50 hours a week.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/unions-are-basically-dead/412831/?utm_source=SFFB

October 29, 2015

Iceland jails crooked Banksters, Sells-off Banks, doles out kr 30,000 to each citizen w/ proceeds.

THIS^ is how to deal with crooked Banksters, not with kid-gloves, deregulation and bail-outs.

First They Jailed the Bankers, Now Every Icelander to Get Paid in Bank Sale
Oct. 29, 2015 * The AntiMedia * by Claire Bernish

(ANTIMEDIA) Iceland — First, Iceland jailed its crooked bankers for their direct involvement in the financial crisis of 2008. Now, every Icelander will receive a payout for the sale of one of its three largest banks, Íslandsbanki.

If Finance Minister Bjarni Benediktsson has his way — and he likely will — Icelanders will be paid kr 30,000 after the government takes over ownership of the bank. Íslandsbanki would be second of the three largest banks under State proprietorship.

“I am saying that the government take some decided portion, 5%, and simply hand it over to the people of this country,” he stated.

Because Icelanders took control of their government, they effectively own the banks. Benediktsson believes this will bring foreign capital into the country and ultimately fuel the economy — which, incidentally, remains the only European nation to recover fully from the 2008 crisis. Iceland even managed to pay its outstanding debt to the IMF in full — in advance of the due date.

http://theantimedia.org/first-they-jailed-the-bankers-now-every-icelander-to-get-paid-in-bank-sale/

October 29, 2015

"If the environment were a bank ...

OMFG! I love my candidate for President of the United States of America

October 28, 2015

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

The film about climate change that most "environmental groups don't want you to see", that
exposes factory farming (think beef, pigs, dairy) as a bigger cause of destructive global climate
changes than fossil fuels; yet no one seems to even know about this, much less doing
anything about it.

http://www.cowspiracy.com

My gf and I watched this watched this recently on Netflix, and we were both pleasantly surprised
at the high quality of the production (Leonardo DiCaprio) and unpleasantly shocked at some of
it's contents, and how poorly it reflected on some environmental groups.

Has anyone else seen this? What did you think of it? I can't stop thinking about it, so would
like to converse a little with others who have seen it, and have an impression as to the accuracy
of some of it's shocking claims.

October 28, 2015

Bernie Marches W/ Verizon Workers, As Its Exec$ And Lobbyist$ Give Big To Hillary

The stark contrast between Bernie & Clinton could hardly be more clear than with Verizon labor dispute.
Workers need Bernie in the WH, Hillary .. not so much.

~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ *

Bernie Marches With Verizon Workers As Its Execs And Lobbyists Give Big To Hillary
The case of Verizon demonstrates the contrasts between the candidates.
By Zaid Jilani * AlterNet * October 26, 2015

On Monday, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders marched alongside Verizon workers in New York City. Around 40,000 Verizon employees represented by both the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are in a contract dispute with the company, with CWA accusing the notoriously anti-union Verizon of retaliating against employees who do labor activism.

As he joined the workers' picket, Sanders also sent along a formal statement of support, saying, “I am hopeful you will reach a fair contract. But if you run into roadblocks, as in years past, know that I will be there with you until a fair contract is negotiated.”

Sanders' approach to Verizon—standing with workers who are in tough negotiations—is in contrast to Hillary Clinton's, who has not made any statements about the current dispute. Verizon executives and lobbyists seem to appreciate that. Over the course of her campaign, Verizon executives and lobbyists have given tens of thousands of dollars to her operation. Verizon vice-presidents Lydia Pulley, Kathleen Grillo, and Donna Epps each gave $2,700 to Hillary for America. Verizon senior vice-president Thomas Edwards and vice-president Chris Debosier pitched in $1,000. Leecia Eve, a former Hillary staffer who today is a lobbyist for Verizon gave $2,700. Another Verizon lobbyist, David Lamendola, gave Hillary $1,000.

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-marches-verizon-workers-its-execs-and-lobbyists-give-big-hillary?akid=13606.1930956.00Yh6A&rd=1&src=newsletter1044760&t=6

October 27, 2015

Incoming

Reports of msnbc peddling the 'Sanders' supporters are so sexist' meme, to the delight of Hillary Group
http://www.democraticunderground.com/110723726

October 27, 2015

AARP "Strongly Supports" New Obama/GOP Budget Deal

I keep hearing different things: "there ARE cuts to SS & Medicare in this deal" yet this says those cuts would be averted, and what the GOP gets is tougher SS qualification requirements and a new Fraud Squad" to investigate Medicare fraud. And HERE AARP is giving a "strong" endorsement of the deal. Anyone know if these cuts are really in the deal or not?

~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ * ~~~~ *


AARP 'strongly supports' budget deal
By Sarah Ferris * 10/27/15 * The Hill

The powerful seniors lobby AARP announced Tuesday it will back a two-year budget deal that will go up for a vote as early as Wednesday.

AARP praised the plan, which was largely negotiated between the White House and GOP leadership, for averting major cuts in Social Security disability payments and a premium spike for Medicare Part B premiums.

“Your efforts to reach across the aisle and together find sensible solutions to significant problems are appreciated and commended,” Jo Ann C. Jenkins, the group’s chief executive, wrote in a letter to Congress that was obtained by The Hill.
House and Senate Republicans have said entitlement reforms are a major piece of the deal, though Democrats have maintained that there are no cuts to beneficiaries.

A key piece of the budget agreement — and one of its costliest provisions — staves off a 52 percent premium hike that would have hit 8 million Medicare Part B enrollees next year. The hike is the result of a glitch in federal benefits law, and the fix is estimated to cost nearly $8 billion.

The deal would also prevent a 20 percent, across-the-board cut in Social Security disability benefits for 11 million people next year, the result of a quickly drying-up trust fund.

But in addition to averting those increases, the measure would make some GOP-led changes to both the disability and Medicare programs. For example, it creates a new investigative unit to go after fraud and increases penalties on those who commit fraud in the system.

It also makes it tougher for new Social Security recipients to enroll, requiring two doctors, instead of one, to confirm that an individual has a disability.

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/258223-aarp-strongly-supports-budget-deal