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SummerSnow
SummerSnow's Journal
SummerSnow's Journal
May 15, 2015
By Keith Laing - 02/12/13 09:48 PM EST
Former House Transportation Committee Chairman Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) is aiming at of his favorite targets when he led the panel, Amtrak, with legislation to end its "monopoly" on rail service. The legislation mirrors a 2011 House Republican effort to privatize Amtrak service in the Northeast that was unsuccessful when moderate suburban Republicans joined Democrats on the transportation panel in opposition to eliminating the rail company's federal funding.
Mica vowed Tuesday to press ahead with his rail privatization plan anyway, however.“Since 1971, Amtrak has run a costly monopoly with Soviet style operations,” Mica said in a statement.
"The debate in Congress over the last 40 years since Amtrak was created…a lot of Republicans say 'it's a disaster, sell it off, let the private sector do it'," Shuster continued in his post-2012 elections comments.
“Four years ago President Obama promised to provide access to most of the nation to high speed rail in 25 years," Mica said. "Since then, his costly proposals have been rejected by at least three states; his California boondoggle is over budget and focused on a route with few passengers; his Midwestern route is a slow-speed excuse for high speed rail; and his all-government Northeast corridor project has soared to $151 billion and a 30-year timetable.”
During his tenure as Transportation Committee Chairman, Mica repeatedly held hearings about Amtrak's financial operations. He memorably went to a Capitol Hill area McDonald's to order a $1 burger and $1 fries to argue that Amtrak was spending too much on its onboard concession sales.
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/282593-mica-revives-gop-amtrak-privatization-effort
--------------------------
GOP: Amtrak really needs to get out of the commuter rail business
POSTED AT 8:01 PM ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 BY ERIKA JOHNSEN
Heartily seconded, Chairman Mica. Via The Hill:
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released a report Tuesday arguing that Amtrak should privatize more of its rail service, which has been a longtime Republican goal.
“We already know that Amtrak’s losses in food and beverage service are a staggering $833 million over the last decade,” Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said in a statement.
“Now we know that Amtrak wastes the taxpayers’ money bidding on commuter rail contracts that it cannot win, and that hundreds of millions of dollars in savings can be realized if the private sector is given a chance to compete with Amtrak in commuter rail and passenger rail service,” he continued. …
Mica has frequently referred to Amtrak as a “Soviet-style operation.” Amtrak, which was founded by Congress in 1971 to replace a network of private railways, receives an approximately $1 billion subsidy from the federal government every year.
http://hotair.com/archives/2012/09/11/gop-amtrak-really-needs-to-get-out-of-the-commuter-rail-business/
Rethugs wanted to get rid of Amtrak some time ago..
Mica revives Amtrak privatization effortBy Keith Laing - 02/12/13 09:48 PM EST
Former House Transportation Committee Chairman Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) is aiming at of his favorite targets when he led the panel, Amtrak, with legislation to end its "monopoly" on rail service. The legislation mirrors a 2011 House Republican effort to privatize Amtrak service in the Northeast that was unsuccessful when moderate suburban Republicans joined Democrats on the transportation panel in opposition to eliminating the rail company's federal funding.
Mica vowed Tuesday to press ahead with his rail privatization plan anyway, however.“Since 1971, Amtrak has run a costly monopoly with Soviet style operations,” Mica said in a statement.
"The debate in Congress over the last 40 years since Amtrak was created…a lot of Republicans say 'it's a disaster, sell it off, let the private sector do it'," Shuster continued in his post-2012 elections comments.
“Four years ago President Obama promised to provide access to most of the nation to high speed rail in 25 years," Mica said. "Since then, his costly proposals have been rejected by at least three states; his California boondoggle is over budget and focused on a route with few passengers; his Midwestern route is a slow-speed excuse for high speed rail; and his all-government Northeast corridor project has soared to $151 billion and a 30-year timetable.”
During his tenure as Transportation Committee Chairman, Mica repeatedly held hearings about Amtrak's financial operations. He memorably went to a Capitol Hill area McDonald's to order a $1 burger and $1 fries to argue that Amtrak was spending too much on its onboard concession sales.
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/282593-mica-revives-gop-amtrak-privatization-effort
--------------------------
GOP: Amtrak really needs to get out of the commuter rail business
POSTED AT 8:01 PM ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 BY ERIKA JOHNSEN
Heartily seconded, Chairman Mica. Via The Hill:
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released a report Tuesday arguing that Amtrak should privatize more of its rail service, which has been a longtime Republican goal.
“We already know that Amtrak’s losses in food and beverage service are a staggering $833 million over the last decade,” Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said in a statement.
“Now we know that Amtrak wastes the taxpayers’ money bidding on commuter rail contracts that it cannot win, and that hundreds of millions of dollars in savings can be realized if the private sector is given a chance to compete with Amtrak in commuter rail and passenger rail service,” he continued. …
Mica has frequently referred to Amtrak as a “Soviet-style operation.” Amtrak, which was founded by Congress in 1971 to replace a network of private railways, receives an approximately $1 billion subsidy from the federal government every year.
http://hotair.com/archives/2012/09/11/gop-amtrak-really-needs-to-get-out-of-the-commuter-rail-business/
May 13, 2015
By Benjy Sarlin
The deadly derailment of an Amtrak train Tuesday hovered over an ongoing infrastructure debate the next day on Capitol Hill, where a bill to slash rail subsidies came under fire from Democrats who cited the disaster in opposing the cuts, while Republicans bristled at efforts to link the incident to Amtrak spending. The measure passed along partisan lines after the House committee repeatedly voted down Democratic amendments aimed at boosting funding for Amtrak.
At a previously scheduled House Appropriations markup of a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, Democratic members demanded more spending for capital investments in rail service and for agencies that oversee safety. The bill, which covers a variety of infrastructure and housing agencies and programs, would cut Amtrak funding to $1.13 billion from $1.4 billion.
After Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) told the committee that Congress had “failed to invest in their safety,” an irate Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) accused him of exploiting the incident.
“You tied it directly to an accident and a tragedy and suggested because we hadn’t funded it that caused that accident and you have no idea what caused it – and that’s a shame,” Simpson said.
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY), who noted that he’s ridden Amtrak exclusively to his Bronx district over his 25 years in the House, said that Congress should be open to the possibility that inadequate funding had contributed to the crash.
“We cut their budgets, we reduced their spending,” he said. “Maybe last night, while not mixing one tragedy with our local or in-House politics, maybe last night is something we should look at to see what if any of that is caused by infrastructure deficiencies.”
*This is going to get really really ugly
House Republicans vote to cut Amtrak funding one day after crash
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/democrats-and-republicans-debate-amtrak-cuts-day-after-crashBy Benjy Sarlin
The deadly derailment of an Amtrak train Tuesday hovered over an ongoing infrastructure debate the next day on Capitol Hill, where a bill to slash rail subsidies came under fire from Democrats who cited the disaster in opposing the cuts, while Republicans bristled at efforts to link the incident to Amtrak spending. The measure passed along partisan lines after the House committee repeatedly voted down Democratic amendments aimed at boosting funding for Amtrak.
At a previously scheduled House Appropriations markup of a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, Democratic members demanded more spending for capital investments in rail service and for agencies that oversee safety. The bill, which covers a variety of infrastructure and housing agencies and programs, would cut Amtrak funding to $1.13 billion from $1.4 billion.
After Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) told the committee that Congress had “failed to invest in their safety,” an irate Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) accused him of exploiting the incident.
“You tied it directly to an accident and a tragedy and suggested because we hadn’t funded it that caused that accident and you have no idea what caused it – and that’s a shame,” Simpson said.
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY), who noted that he’s ridden Amtrak exclusively to his Bronx district over his 25 years in the House, said that Congress should be open to the possibility that inadequate funding had contributed to the crash.
“We cut their budgets, we reduced their spending,” he said. “Maybe last night, while not mixing one tragedy with our local or in-House politics, maybe last night is something we should look at to see what if any of that is caused by infrastructure deficiencies.”
*This is going to get really really ugly
May 12, 2015
Citizens United head’s mother-in-law calls immigrants ‘rats and roaches’ during GOP event
ARTURO GARCIA
11 MAY 2015 AT 21:24 ET
A woman identified as the mother-in-law of Citizens United Foundation head Dave Bossie was cheered for disparaging remarks about immigrants during the South Carolina Freedom Summit on Saturday, the Huffington Post reported.
The woman was asked to speak during a focus group conducted by Republican pollster Frank Luntz. Footage of the event shows Luntz joking that Bossie told him he would “kick [his] butt” if he ended the session without asking her what advice she would give GOP presidential candidates in the 2016 election.
“One man, one vote. People are comin’ in this country across the borders like rats and roaches in the wood pile,” she says, drawing applause. “We’ve got a state like Minnesota that says it’s not our business to check ’em out, we just register ’em. We’ve got to get control. That’s what they need to know.”
“Years ago, I might have been a Democrat,” she says. “But I saw the problem and I went to the Republican Party. I didn’t wait for them to come looking for me. Why do these young people have to be solicited? We are all intelligent people. We need to be voting our convictions and choose a party.”
The audience cheers again when Luntz asks, “How many of you would vote for her for president?”
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/citizens-united-heads-mother-in-law-calls-immigrants-rats-and-roaches-during-gop-event/
"When people show you who they are, believe them"--Maya Angelou
May 6, 2015
With the latest Chlamydia outbreak among teens in Texas, Mn. Pat Robertson has alot to say about it.
May 4, 2015
This morning I heard the funniest thing...
Ben Carson is officially running for POTUS. It was really difficult to type this.
April 29, 2015
Carl Stokes did not agree with CNN’s Erin Burnett that the “bad actors” in the Baltimore protests should be called thugs.
Baltimore City Councilman Carl Stokes clashed with CNN’s Erin Burnett Tuesday evening after Burnett asked if “thugs” was not the appropriate word to use when describing the “bad actors” of the Baltimore protests.
Burnett pointed out that Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and President Barack Obama also used the word to describe the individuals involved in the disorder.
Stokes vehemently disagreed. “No, of course it’s not the right word to call our children thugs. These are children who have been set aside, marginalized, who have not been engaged by us. No, we don’t have to call them thugs.”
“But how does that justify what they did?” Burnett countered. “I mean, that’s a sense of right and wrong. They know it’s wrong to steal and burn down a CVS and an old person’s home. I mean, come on.”
“‘Come on’?” Stokes retorted. “So calling them thugs—just call them n--gers. Just call them n--gers.
“No. We don’t have to call them by names such as that. We don’t have to do that,” the councilman continued. “When you say ‘come on,’ come on what? You wouldn’t call your child a thug if they did something which was not what you’d expect them to do.”
Burnett, for her part, said that she “would hope” that she would call her son a thug “if he ever did such a thing.”
--BY: BREANNA EDWARDS
Posted: April 29 2015 12:06 PM
*who voted for this asshole*
Baltimore Councilman to CNN Host: ‘Just Call Them N--gers’
http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/04/baltimore_councilman_to_cnn_host_just_call_them_ni_ers.html?wpisrc=topstoriesCarl Stokes did not agree with CNN’s Erin Burnett that the “bad actors” in the Baltimore protests should be called thugs.
Baltimore City Councilman Carl Stokes clashed with CNN’s Erin Burnett Tuesday evening after Burnett asked if “thugs” was not the appropriate word to use when describing the “bad actors” of the Baltimore protests.
Burnett pointed out that Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and President Barack Obama also used the word to describe the individuals involved in the disorder.
Stokes vehemently disagreed. “No, of course it’s not the right word to call our children thugs. These are children who have been set aside, marginalized, who have not been engaged by us. No, we don’t have to call them thugs.”
“But how does that justify what they did?” Burnett countered. “I mean, that’s a sense of right and wrong. They know it’s wrong to steal and burn down a CVS and an old person’s home. I mean, come on.”
“‘Come on’?” Stokes retorted. “So calling them thugs—just call them n--gers. Just call them n--gers.
“No. We don’t have to call them by names such as that. We don’t have to do that,” the councilman continued. “When you say ‘come on,’ come on what? You wouldn’t call your child a thug if they did something which was not what you’d expect them to do.”
Burnett, for her part, said that she “would hope” that she would call her son a thug “if he ever did such a thing.”
--BY: BREANNA EDWARDS
Posted: April 29 2015 12:06 PM
*who voted for this asshole*
April 29, 2015
http://rt.com/usa/201931-baltimore-body-camera-police/#.VT9Q0uMq3Nw.twitter
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has said she would veto a city council bill that would require police officers in the city to wear body cameras while on duty.
* Hmm, interesting and strange*
FLASHBACK: Baltimore mayor vetoed body camera bill in December 2014
http://twitchy.com/2015/04/28/flashback-baltimore-mayor-vetoed-body-camera-bill-in-december-2014/http://rt.com/usa/201931-baltimore-body-camera-police/#.VT9Q0uMq3Nw.twitter
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has said she would veto a city council bill that would require police officers in the city to wear body cameras while on duty.
* Hmm, interesting and strange*
April 29, 2015
BY: DIANA OZEMEBHOYA EROMOSELE
Veronica Bolina—a 25-year-old transgender woman in Brazil who was arrested for allegedly attacking her 73-year-old neighbor—was beaten beyond recognition while in jail, the Daily Mail reports. In photos that have circulated online, Bolina’s eyes are swollen shut, her face is puffed out and deformed, and her lips are swollen. There are also several lacerations on her face. Many in Brazil are outraged and suspect that it’s a hate crime.
According to the Daily Mail, there are different accounts of what happened. Police say that Bolina was attacked by other inmates when they saw her performing a sexual act on herself. Bolina, despite her gender identity, was placed in a male jail. The police statement notes that once Bolina was attacked by inmates, she allegedlly bit one of the officers who tried to break up the attack. Police claim that Bolina endured injuries from an officer who retaliated in self-defense.Meanwhile, there are also reports that it was the police who attacked Bolina on three different occasions while she was in custody. It is also alleged that the police forcefully shaved Bolina’s hair.
According to the Daily Mail, LGBT-advocacy groups in Brazil have also put together a campaign to bring attention to Bolina’s beating and the injustices that transgender and gay people endure in Brazil. In one photo, Bolina can be seen lying partially naked and facedown on the floor with an armed police officer standing guard next to her. In another, more disturbing photo, viewers get a full glimpse of her severely deformed face and her bare breasts. Bolina is sitting down, with her arms handcuffed behind her.
Sao Paulo authorities say they are investigating the incident. In the meantime, Bolina has been moved to a detention camp and has been placed in an isolated cell.
http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/04/brazilian_transgender_woman_veronica_bolina_s_face_is_severely_beaten_and.html?wpisrc=topstories
Brazilian Transgender Woman’s Face Is Severely Beaten and Mutilated While She’s in Police Custody
No one knows whether jail authorities or inmates beat Veronica Bolina, but the photos of her face circulating online have evoked the ire of groups that want to bring attention to the hate crimes committed against transgender people.BY: DIANA OZEMEBHOYA EROMOSELE
Veronica Bolina—a 25-year-old transgender woman in Brazil who was arrested for allegedly attacking her 73-year-old neighbor—was beaten beyond recognition while in jail, the Daily Mail reports. In photos that have circulated online, Bolina’s eyes are swollen shut, her face is puffed out and deformed, and her lips are swollen. There are also several lacerations on her face. Many in Brazil are outraged and suspect that it’s a hate crime.
According to the Daily Mail, there are different accounts of what happened. Police say that Bolina was attacked by other inmates when they saw her performing a sexual act on herself. Bolina, despite her gender identity, was placed in a male jail. The police statement notes that once Bolina was attacked by inmates, she allegedlly bit one of the officers who tried to break up the attack. Police claim that Bolina endured injuries from an officer who retaliated in self-defense.Meanwhile, there are also reports that it was the police who attacked Bolina on three different occasions while she was in custody. It is also alleged that the police forcefully shaved Bolina’s hair.
According to the Daily Mail, LGBT-advocacy groups in Brazil have also put together a campaign to bring attention to Bolina’s beating and the injustices that transgender and gay people endure in Brazil. In one photo, Bolina can be seen lying partially naked and facedown on the floor with an armed police officer standing guard next to her. In another, more disturbing photo, viewers get a full glimpse of her severely deformed face and her bare breasts. Bolina is sitting down, with her arms handcuffed behind her.
Sao Paulo authorities say they are investigating the incident. In the meantime, Bolina has been moved to a detention camp and has been placed in an isolated cell.
http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/04/brazilian_transgender_woman_veronica_bolina_s_face_is_severely_beaten_and.html?wpisrc=topstories
April 26, 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/26/george-w-bush-saying-voters-do-not-like-dynasties-plans-to-stay-off-campaign-trail/?postshare=9661430072693846
By Matea Gold April 26 at 2:09 PM
LAS VEGAS — Former president George W. Bush plans to stay off the 2016 campaign trail as his younger brother prepares to mount a presidential bid, telling a group of Republican Jewish donors here that he does not want to fuel an anti-dynastic backlash.
“He said that one of the challenges his brother is going to have is that the country doesn’t like dynasties,” recalled David Volosov, a RJC member from Silver Spring, Md. “People are going to say, ‘Oh, here comes another Bush.’ His response is that he is going to stay as far as way as he can. He is going to stay away from the whole process.”
“He basically said that his brother is going to have some issues with the name 'Bush' to contend with,” said Lisa Karlovsky of Scottsdale, Ariz.
** Rofl, good move George, no one will know you're brothers if you stay hidden*
George W. Bush plans to stay off campaign trail....lol
George W. Bush, saying voters do not like dynasties, plans to stay off campaign trailhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/26/george-w-bush-saying-voters-do-not-like-dynasties-plans-to-stay-off-campaign-trail/?postshare=9661430072693846
By Matea Gold April 26 at 2:09 PM
LAS VEGAS — Former president George W. Bush plans to stay off the 2016 campaign trail as his younger brother prepares to mount a presidential bid, telling a group of Republican Jewish donors here that he does not want to fuel an anti-dynastic backlash.
“He said that one of the challenges his brother is going to have is that the country doesn’t like dynasties,” recalled David Volosov, a RJC member from Silver Spring, Md. “People are going to say, ‘Oh, here comes another Bush.’ His response is that he is going to stay as far as way as he can. He is going to stay away from the whole process.”
“He basically said that his brother is going to have some issues with the name 'Bush' to contend with,” said Lisa Karlovsky of Scottsdale, Ariz.
** Rofl, good move George, no one will know you're brothers if you stay hidden*
April 24, 2015
First he had the Koch endorsement. Then he didn't. Why? A Glenn Beck interview where Walker moved wackier than Cruz
HEATHER DIGBY PARTON WEDNESDAY, APR 22, 2015 05:15 PM EDT
http://www.salon.com/2015/04/22/scott_walker_is_now_toast_the_crazy_move_right_that_cost_him_the_koch_brothers_and_probably_the_nomination/
They are now reportedly going to hold an “audition” of sorts during the summer for the Kochs’ primary Prom King. (Apparently their earlier “Koch Summit” was just a casual mixer.)
So what, exactly, did Scott Walker say that appears to have made the Kochs do such an about-face in record time? Well, it’s a doozy. Walker, you see, was once a “pro-immigration reform” Republican, which is likely one of the reasons the Koch brothers back him. Like most of the more libertarian-minded Big Business Republicans, they tend toward a more moderate stance on immigration. It’s good for business in a number of ways (for both good and bad reasons). Walker, being a proven anti-union, pro-immigration governor, was naturally at the top of their list of nominees. He had recently “moderated” his stance on illegal immigration but it was widely assumed to be a mild feint to the right for the purposes of winning the nomination. It brought him into line with all the other candidates like Rubio and Bush who had once also been pro-reform, so it was no harm-no foul as far as the primary was concerned.
But yesterday he went a step further. He appeared on Glenn Beck’s radio show and he said this:
“In terms of legal immigration, how we need to approach that going forward is saying — the next president and the next Congress need to make decisions about a legal immigration system that’s based on, first and foremost, on protecting American workers and American wages. Because the more I’ve talked to folks, I’ve talked to [Alabama Sen. Jeff] Sessions and others out there — but it is a fundamentally lost issue by many in elected positions today — is what is this doing for American workers looking for jobs, what is this doing to wages. And we need to have that be at the forefront of our discussion going forward.”
*The whole article is hilarious*
Headline: Scott Walker is now toast..
Scott Walker is now toast: The crazy move right that cost him the Koch brothers — and probably the nominationFirst he had the Koch endorsement. Then he didn't. Why? A Glenn Beck interview where Walker moved wackier than Cruz
HEATHER DIGBY PARTON WEDNESDAY, APR 22, 2015 05:15 PM EDT
http://www.salon.com/2015/04/22/scott_walker_is_now_toast_the_crazy_move_right_that_cost_him_the_koch_brothers_and_probably_the_nomination/
They are now reportedly going to hold an “audition” of sorts during the summer for the Kochs’ primary Prom King. (Apparently their earlier “Koch Summit” was just a casual mixer.)
So what, exactly, did Scott Walker say that appears to have made the Kochs do such an about-face in record time? Well, it’s a doozy. Walker, you see, was once a “pro-immigration reform” Republican, which is likely one of the reasons the Koch brothers back him. Like most of the more libertarian-minded Big Business Republicans, they tend toward a more moderate stance on immigration. It’s good for business in a number of ways (for both good and bad reasons). Walker, being a proven anti-union, pro-immigration governor, was naturally at the top of their list of nominees. He had recently “moderated” his stance on illegal immigration but it was widely assumed to be a mild feint to the right for the purposes of winning the nomination. It brought him into line with all the other candidates like Rubio and Bush who had once also been pro-reform, so it was no harm-no foul as far as the primary was concerned.
But yesterday he went a step further. He appeared on Glenn Beck’s radio show and he said this:
“In terms of legal immigration, how we need to approach that going forward is saying — the next president and the next Congress need to make decisions about a legal immigration system that’s based on, first and foremost, on protecting American workers and American wages. Because the more I’ve talked to folks, I’ve talked to [Alabama Sen. Jeff] Sessions and others out there — but it is a fundamentally lost issue by many in elected positions today — is what is this doing for American workers looking for jobs, what is this doing to wages. And we need to have that be at the forefront of our discussion going forward.”
*The whole article is hilarious*
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