Sen. Ted Cruz: 'The Senate needs to act'
to avoid government shutdown

At the NBC web site, Cruz is discusser in charge of this...That headline is a "breaking news" This news broadcasting company gives legitimacy to this idiot/asshole by giving him an exclusive interview, as if he is the true answer. He really deserves an exclusive room
in a jail forever, for caring so little for the people in his state who have no insurance and will die from that..It pissies me off, that a major network after the obscene scene that Cruz presented to this country, is actually given prime time legitimacy on Meet the Press...To hell with Meet the Press, to hell with NBC News........and Cruz will rot in hell...

Source: NBC News

Michael Strong, The Detroit Bureau,


Nine Japan-based firms and two executives have agreed to plead guilty and pay fines totaling more than $740 million for their roles in an international price-fixing scheme that provided parts to U.S. automakers, according to the Department of Justice.

“These international price-fixing conspiracies affected more than $5 billion in automobile parts sold to U.S. car manufacturers, and more than 25 million cars purchased by American consumers were affected by the illegal conduct,” Attorney General Eric Holder in a statement Thursday. “The Department of Justice will continue to crack down on cartel behavior that causes American consumers and businesses to pay higher prices for the products and services they rely upon in their everyday lives.”

The pleadings and fines are the result of a long-running investigation that focused on price-fixing on a variety of components including instrument panels, air bags and steering wheels. The probe has expanded over time as implicated auto-parts companies have presented evidence of price fixing in other previously undiscovered schemes.

The first charges were filed in 2011. With Thursday’s agreements, 20 companies have agreed to pay more than $1.6 billion in criminal fines. Seventeen of the 21 charged executives have been sentenced to U.S. prisons or entered into plea agreements calling for significant prison sentences.


Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/nine-car-part-makers-plead-guilty-price-fixing-scheme-8C11268194

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Surprise, Surprise...really now

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/in-jpmorgan-case-a-missed-opportunity-to-charge-its-executives/?_r=0

Both the Securities and Exchange Commission and JPMorgan Chase won great public relations victories last week. But the public lost — and in ways that go far beyond this one spat.

By cracking down on the bank for its faulty internal controls in the $6 billion London Whale trading loss, the S.E.C. can claim to be the ferocious regulator we have all been waiting for. JPMorgan and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon, got the best coverage they could have hoped for under the circumstances: the sense that the bank is beleaguered, surrounded by regulators, but at least it could put the trading loss behind it.

Yes, the S.E.C. wrung an admission of wrongdoing out of the bank, and the regulators scored a large settlement. It’s an improvement for a regulator to display the ferocity of a mealworm, rather than a banana slug, but let’s hold the celebrations until it reaches at least the level of a garter snake.

After all, Mr. Dimon had already made a great display of admitting that he and the bank’s senior ranks had messed up — well, at least as soon as it was clear that bluster wasn’t getting them anywhere.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/25/don-lemon-republicans-lied-obamacare_n_3987747.html

Don Lemon tore into Republicans on Monday for what he called their "lies" about Obamacare.

Speaking on his regular slot on the Tom Joyner Morning show, the CNN host said that "some" Republicans had "lied themselves into a corner and threatened to shut down the government unless Obamacare is no longer funded."

"Talk about selfish," he added.

Lemon proceeded to debunk what he called the three biggest "whoppers" Republicans were telling about Obamacare, ending with another shot at the leaders of the push to defund the law and shut down the government.

"If they were really, if they really wanted to do the right thing they would tell the American people the truth," he said. "They would tell the American people that it's not a job stealer, but it's easier for them to give rhetoric and try to save their own hide than to tell the American people the truth."
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This was said Monday by this commentator. He uses the L word about Republicans, and that is all they do. People understand the L word. If this gets out, and most understand this , the Republicans will have major trouble, because they are still doing this L about the Affordable Care Act as you read these words...People who need the Affordable Care Act, and do not sign up, could die, Many might die because they believe these Lies...The Republicans do not care, will not care, have never cared about people who might need this. All they care about is the big drug companies and insurance companies that give them money...

Today , maybe, the head of Iran, may..I said , may, shake Obama's hand or something like that. He is a moderate and there might be a change in policy there. Good News.. We will see. If there is a change in policy there, it will be a step towards peace. Some sort of reconciliation with Iran. it would be great in my opinion. I once posted at another board, a story about a peace treaty between the two factions in Northern Ireland. It lasted a few years, and reduced the violence considerably. No one responded. No one. If Iran changes policy, and steers away from nuclear weapons towards peace, will we grateful? A small step forward. Or maybe a large step forward.

Perhaps we should celebrate and discuss these moves toward peace and toning down the words as much as we discuss the awful hatred and violent words that so many nations and people spout out.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/school-bus-driver-suspended-cellphone-video-shows-her-133738455--abc-news-topstories.html?vp=1

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It is what it is...Seems to me..about 10 percent of all drivers are doing this. What can be done???? I don't even know how to use a cell phone to text..Although I did see someone in a car with some sort of small video screen and he was watching a movie while he was stopped at a lite...

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/20/20595316-gone-is-the-age-of-blood-feuds-irans-rouhani-follows-in-putins-footsteps-with-op-ed?lite


Rouhani, who was elected three months ago on a more moderate platform than predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, called for a "constructive approach to democracy."

During Ann Curry's exclusive interview with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, he said he would not rule out a meeting with President Obama, and described the tone of the letters that they exchanged.

"Gone is the age of blood feuds," he wrote. "World leaders are expected to lead in turning threats into opportunities."

He said that a "Cold War mentality" benefits no one.
Rouhani added: "We must work together to end the unhealthy rivalries and interferences that fuel violence and drive us apart ... In a world where global politics is no longer a zero-sum game, it is — or should be — counterintuitive to pursue one’s interests without considering the interests of others."

Source: USA Today

The parent of Olive Garden and Red Lobster is replacing its president after reporting a sharp drop in profits over its summer quarter.

Darden Restaurants said it earned $70.2 million, or 53 cents per share, for the three months ended Aug. 25. That's compared with $110.8 million, or 85 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Analysts expected a profit of 70 cents per share.

Sales rose to $2.16 billion, helped by the opening of new locations. That was short of the $2.19 billion Wall Street expected, according to FactSet.

The company said Drew Madsen, 57, will retire and be succeeded by the president of its specialty restaurant group, Gene Lee. The appointment is effective immediately.


Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/20/olive-garden-darden-restaurants/2841815/

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Isn't this the company that publicly said it was against ..Obamacare...and would reduce its staff hours so it doesn't have to comply?
..something like that?...

Do you think people have decided not to go there?..I don't, won't...

Here is a link from last December that discusses this towards the end of the story.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/20/darden-restaurants-profit_n_2337250.html


Darden seems to say, that couldn't hurt our sales..

Another link from last December...from the Washington Post is more specific on this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/06/red-lobsters-obamacare-fail-why-ditching-health-benefits-is-really-hard/

A small number, maybe 20, vote with the Democrats in the House.. to move along and forget this confrontation that seems to be here. Yep, 20 or whatever the number of House Republicans, have to go along with the Democratic minority to prevent a close down of government....
Those that do, can say they are trying to save the country from a crises. I don't know if there are that many or is it 17, that care enough to break the backs of the idiots, but maybe there are. Maybe. But I doubt it.. It is very sad...

photo at link below:


Glen James, of Boston, right, holds a special citation while facing reporters with Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis, left, during a news conference at police headquarters, in Boston, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. James, who is homeless, turned in a backpack containing $2,400 in U.S. currency, almost $40,000 in traveler's checks, as well as Chinese passports and other personal papers to police after finding the items in a Boston mall Sept. 14.
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http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Boston-homeless-man-glad-to-turn-in-lost-money-4817752.php

BOSTON (AP) — A homeless Boston man who police said turned in a backpack containing tens of thousands of dollars in cash and traveler's checks said even if he were desperate he wouldn't have kept "even a penny."

Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis honored Glen James on Monday, giving him a special citation and thanking him for an "extraordinary show of character and honesty."

James said in a handwritten statement he gave out at a news conference that he was glad to make sure the bag and its contents were returned to the owner.

"Even if I were desperate for money, I would not have kept even a penny," he said.