Add These Traitorous Dems to the List of Shame

According to this new article on AlterNet, ten Democrats came together to support the wrong side on this issue -- 'Ten Conservative 'Democrats' Vote for Bill that Protects the Children of Multimillionaires". Please read this, note the names, and write to them to protest their total disregard of Democratic ideals, and also write to President Obama to protest this and urge him to veto this bill. It's a horrifying slap in the face of most Americans. With the economy tumbling into hell in the U.S., all these Senators could think of to fight for was the further aggrandizement of the ultra-rich.

Shocking. Disgusting.

Here are the links to the Senators' websites. Don't forget about the two from my previous post.

Senator Max Baucus, Montana

Senator Evan Bayh, Indiana

Senator Maria Cantwell, Washington

Senator Mary Landrieu, Louisiana

Senator Patty Murray, Washington -- what is it about Washington state? Two turncoat Dem women? Ugh!

Senator Bill Nelson, Florida -- and his website is plastered with photos of him and Obama!

Senator Ben Nelson, Nebraska

Senator Mark Pryor, Arkansas -- the article yesterday had his Arkansas colleague fingered, too.

Senator Jon Tester, Montana -- what's with Montana, also?

And here is where you write to President Obama.

BooHoo for the Rich -- Two Senators Trying to Ban Estate Tax for Billionaires

Please take a look at this editorial from yesterday's New York Times -- The Forgotten Rich. It details the ridiculous and unpardonable efforts by two senators -- including a Democrat, shame on her -- to eliminate the Estate Tax for the wealthiest of Americans. It's a disgrace.

Bush's revision of the tax code to benefit the highest income Americans didn't end with basic tax rates, he wanted to eliminate any taxes on the transfer of huge inheritances from one dynasty to the next generation. Read this article from earlier this year to understand the history of this pernicious movement, a favorite of Bush Republicans. Championed by an estate planning advisor under marching orders from the forward-looking and gruesomely greedy Gallo wine family, the Mars Candy Company heirs, and the next generation of Campbell Soup kids, the "Death Tax" -- as Bush renamed it, per his pollsters advice that this would make it seem distateful to everyone -- was one way that Americans with tremendous fortunes could be fairly taxed after a lifetime of avoiding levies through all sorts of financial advantages available only to the very very rich.

Gallo? Campbell's? Mars Candy? I think it's time to give up that canned soup, your glass of cheap wine, and that handful of M&Ms, don't you? I'd say these folks don't deserve your support -- they certainly have shown their true colors.

While it appears that Obama merely wants to freeze the tax at current levels, it should rightfully be pushed back to previous levels, such as during the Clinton years and before. Unless you're a shockingly greedy multi-multi-millionaire without a shred of ethics, decency, fairplay, or sense of realistic payback, and with a pack of trust fund kiddies clawing for their unearned inheritances, you should be in favor of the Estate Tax without question.

It's simply obscene that these two Senators would choose billionaires to be their holy cause.

In fact, here's the link to Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln's website and here's Republican Senator John Kyl's site, where you should drop them a line to tell her how her concern is woefully misplaced. You should also write to your own Senators to tell them that you completely support Barack Obama's Estate Tax reinstatement.

This is a huge issue and don't let the bullshit rhetoric coming from the (mostly) Republicans backers for the elimination of the Estate Tax change your mind. This is all about giving another break to the already-wealthy...just like almost everything else these days. Fight it!

Robert Reich on LinkTV!

Please make a point of catching progressive TV network Link TV's broadcast of Robert Reich's speech from January of this year, entitled Robert Reich: 2009 Economic Forecast. Reich is a brilliant mind and a terrifically entertaining and engaging speaker, and this presentation is a must for anyone in contemplation about the present state of the economy. Of course, this speech was given in January to the Commonwealth Club of California, and current events have changed things, but listening to this wise man is always an education and we will come out of it smarter.

Visit the Link TV website to find out all the upcoming broadcast times, and there are several this weekend! Don't miss this chance to hear one of the most thoughtful and decent Americans out there, sharing his impeccable and compassionate vision. Neither a Pollyanna nor a Chicken Little, as he terms the two extremes of how people are viewing today's economic outlook, Reich is refreshing, enlightened, ultimately (sort of) upbeat, and also bracing. He will make you think.

"Hey Paul Krugman" Music Video by Jonathan Mann

You can find out more about singer/songwriter Jonathan Mann here at his YouTube channel!

Popular Opinion Starting to Stack Up Against Obama's Plan

As much as many of us voted for Obama and are inclined to back him up, this whole Wall Street/AIG Bonus/Failing Economy situation is starting to turn to shit. Writers, politicians, economists and just plain folks are starting to despair about the President's plan to deal with the current crisis.

For an excellent overview of the dire straits the country is in, and what Obama is going to face if this whole mess goes completely south, read this excellent article by Don Hazen from AlterNet entitled "The Voters' Uprising: President Obama What Are You Thinking?". You won't feel good after reading it, I guarantee you.

Be sure to also read William Greider's article from The Washington Post, and this from Frank Rich of The New York Times. These are gentlemen who want Obama to succeed, and they're not liking what's transpiring these days. And I hope you're also keeping up with Paul Krugman's always astute commentary on his blog for The New York Times. He's not very happy, either.

These are tough times, and Obama must step up to be the kind of President we voted for.

The Entire "Tonight" Show Appearance by President Obama

Part One of President Obama's appearance on the Tonight show, Thursday March 20, 2009:



Part Two:



Part Three:

Our Charismatic President, on the "Tonight" Show!

Just a few of the humorous moments from last night's appearance:

First Lady Michelle Obama Tells It Straight!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Just Need to Direct You To Something Delightful...

Please take a look at television producer/writer Chuck Lorre's website -- he's the guy behind the charming sitcom The Big Bang Theory and also Two and a Half Men (which I don't like so much, but that's not important now...) -- where he posts the text of the ever-changing vanity cards that he's famous for putting at the end of his shows.

This is one that you will like, if you like Obama like I think you do!

See? It's great, isn't it?

Tax Rates for the Rich -- The Whole Story

Finally, a succinct repudiation of all the Republican nonsense complaining about Obama's slight raising of the tax rates of the richest Americans. As we all remember, our parents paid a LOT more income taxes than anybody does these days, as you can see with this excellent chart from The Washington Monthly which has just been widely distributed by MoveOn.Org.

Move.On challenges the critics calling Obama's plan "socialist" for moving even a bit towards righting the enormous con job the wealthiest citizens foisted on the rest of the country when they got their rates slashed almost in half. Move.On cites the following sources for recent articles about this issue, and all are worth a read. And then look at that chart. History doesn't lie...Republicans do.

1. "A socialist? Obama calls back to insist no," The International Herald Tribune, March 8, 2009 http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/08/america/barack.php

2. "Tax Cuts," The New York Times, February 26, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-tax.html

3. "Soaking the Rich (Redux)," The Washington Monthly, March 8, 2009 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51234&id=15734-4814933-hsbhqhx&t=2

Pass this information along to your friends who don't get it. They're just plain wrong about this issue.

Obama Teams with McCain & Others to Reform Government Contracts

Take a look at this video from President Obama's announcement this morning of much-needed reforms to the process of awarding government contracts. You should also read this article by AP's Phillip Elliott which further explains Obama's move.



Congratulations to President Obama and his team for starting this important initiative!

May I Recommend Robert Reich's Views on the Budget?

Please take a look at this terrific post from Robert Reich's blog of Last Thursday. "Finally a Progressive Budget" explains the full impact of Obama's history-making move to restore the economic health of America.

As the brilliant Reich succinctly declares: "It's about time a presidential budget uneqivocally redistributed income from the very rich to the middle class and poor."

The end.

And that's the truth.

L.A. Times Article about Obama's Much-Needed Tax Reform Plan

The L.A. Times has a great article this morning about President Obama's tax plan and the resultant freak-out from Republicans who are apoplectic that their rich people's gravy train is being scuttled. As author Michael Hiltzik explains in detail, Obama's plans merely start to set right the affluent-skewed tax policies put into effect by Ronald Reagan. It wasn't always like this, where the rich get all the breaks and everybody else just takes it.

Republicans love to call Obama's ideas a "Class War". How come it's only a class war when the beleagured middle-class seeks some redress from the special treatment the Republicans lavished on the highest wage earners? The real "Class War" was the upper class turning the country into their private bank, extending special privileges to themselves and damn the rest of the country, individuals and infrastructure alike.

I'm sure you all are familiar with the Republican motto "I've Got Mine, Fuck You!" -- have you ever known it not to be true? Surely you remember that footage of George Bush at a dinner of fat cat money bags, standing up at the podium and loving referring to them as "my base". These guys didn't even TRY to hide their bias. These "Pocketbook Republicans" turn my stomach and surely need, at this desperate time, to be reminded that it's time to pay their fair share.

So President Obama is trying to make things right again. Please read Hiltzin's article and send it around to people who just might not get it, just might not remember a time when people paid their fair share and it wasn't only about the rich getting richer.

I am so proud of President Obama for taking this step. He's getting a lot of flack for trying to change things, but we must support him in this!

President Obama Visits Canada!

Well, he came, he saw, and Canada fell in love with him!

Please take a look at this great photo gallery with images from President Obama's visit to Ottawa this past Wednesday!

Obama was a HUGE hit, getting a warm and enthusiastic welcome from people gathered on Parliament Hill and those who were lucky enough to be in town when he stopped on the way back to Air Force One to do a little shopping. He even made Stephen Harper look good, and he's pretty charmless. Great press conference, too!

Here's some neat video of his walk down a corridor and saying hello to some staffers waiting for him!



Here's another really nice video illustrated with stills from his visit, set to Springsteen music!



And here's another wonderful video of his arrival, set to Canadian hip hop!



Wow! As an American living in Canada, boy, does this make me proud and happy!

Abraham Lincoln -- His Bicentennial

Take this day to ponder the 200th anniversary of the birth of the amazing Abraham Lincoln. Now that we have another man from Illinois in the White House, the life of Lincoln resonates perhaps even more strongly for us today.

I love Lincoln and find everything about him incredibly fascinating. He is worth our continued respect, admiration, interest and thanks for setting an example that will never be equalled.

Sign the MoveOn.org Petition on Wal Street Salary Caps

Here's a cause we should all get behind -- click here to go to MoveOn.org's petition which will be sent to Congress, urging support of Obama's pay caps for Wall Street execs, and encouraging them to to apply the limits retroactively to those multi-billions of dollars in bonus payments that the initial recipients of bailout money already gave themselves.

Congress must be told that the American people will not stand for the boundless arrogance of Wall Street in accepting taxpayer money and then rewarding themselves through huge unearned bonus payments.

Please go to MoveOn.org now and sign this important petition, and let your friends know about this important opportunity we have to give Wall Street what it really deserves.

Complete and Utter Bastards on Wall Street

Pursuant to my previous post, here's an excellent follow-up article in today's Los Angeles Times surmising how the greedy scum on Wall Street will be scheming to get around President Obama's new rules concerning executive pay for bailed-out financial institutions.

As if anybody still harbored any illusions that these money folks worked for anybody's good but their own, their recent behaviour and outraged reaction to Obama's more-than-sensible edict certainly illuminates the character of those folks who inhabit the offices of Wall Street.

Is there any hope, really, to change things? The psychology of people who chose to work with the manipulation of money as a way to make a living has to be different from the rest of us. What else could it be but greed? And if it is more benign, complicated, or less obvious than that, you wouldn't know it from what's happening these past few days.

Finally, Execs at (Some) Financial Companies Will Have Pay Capped

Although it certainly doesn't go far enough in reining in the irresponsible, unethical and immoral money grabs perpetrated so far by many of the firms who received Bailout funds, the announcement that Obama will make this morning at least is a start. The execs will be capped at $500,000, plus they will be prohibited from receiving bonuses except for stock dividends.


After Pres. Obama rightfully deemed "shameful" the previous dispensing of multi-million dollar bonuses to execs in firms helped by the earlier taxpayer-funded Bailout, it's clear that these fellas are not capable of self-policing their greed or of simply even being able to read the nation's mood towards their misdeeds and their unconscionable insistence on rewards they are clearly not due.


Expect plenty of boo-hooing from these pampered pigs on Wall Street. (Update: It's already happening. Read this.) You'd think by now they'd have socked away enough to last them a lifetime or two or three, but when you're talking about greed, it's obvious that there is never enough for some people.


Thanks to AlterNet's coverage, let's also not overlook the similarly shameful blowing of bucks on Super Bowl parties, especially by mega-Bailout fund recipient Bank of America, plus major sports franchise sponsorships paid for in taxpayer money.


Good for President Obama for trying to stop some of this horrible looting of the American taxpayer! Go for it, don't stop, and why don't we start looking at nationalizing these bumbling banks? It's clearly called for and would certainly not be out of line. Let's hope it's in the discussion mix.

President Obama Relaxes White House Dress Code

On a lighter note, a recent article from the New York Times tells the story of some changes that are being wrought in the White House. "White House Unbuttons Formal Dress Code" by Sheryl Gay Stolberg tells of refreshing revisions in the Oval Office reflecting President Obama's less stuffy style, and also what he specifically likes about living and working in the same historic building. I think you'll enjoy it!

President Obama Creates Middle Class Task Force

Watch our President and Vice-President's announcement this morning of the creation of a new Middle Class Task Force. It almost makes up for the previous Rudy Giulani abomination.

Part One:



Part Two:

Oh, Puh-leaze! Giuliani Defends Bonuses for Wall Street Bail-out Recipients

The nerve! The complete callousness! The clueless elite Republican bullshit spewing out of his mouth! Look at this clip of Rudy Giuliani on CNN this morning, defending the enormous bonus sums going to Wall Streeters whose firms were bailed out with taxpayer money -- it will turn your stomach.

Obama on Air Force One!

Footage from last night's National Geographic Channel's special on Air Force One, the President's plane. Unfortunately, the special was mostly about Bush, but we did get to see this glimpse of Obama being presidential and yet accessible. And now we know he likes his hamburgers medium well, too!

President Obama's First Weekly Address -- Jan. 24, 2009

The Presidential Limo with the New President in It!

The Presidential Walk with Barack and Michelle Obama

The President and the First Lady thrill the crowd as they disembark the Presidential limo early and do a little stroll in front of enthusiastic onlookers.

Our Best Thoughts to Sen. Edward Kennedy

-- who was evidently taken ill during the Presidential luncheon at Statuary Hall after the Inauguration. He looked marvelous at the event, snappy in a stylish fedora, and got a rousing reception from his colleagues and the crowd.

Our wishes for his quick recovery, even as we know that he is suffering from a grave illness. He is an amazing Senator, one of the hardest-working members of Congress, and a great credit to the United States.

Congratulations to President Barack Obama!!!

Inauguration Day!

What a day! We've been waiting for it and it's finally here! The feeling of hope, history and inspiration is palpable, even through the TV. The millions who are gathered in Washington D.C. who watch this extraordinary man be sworn in as President are filled with a sense of true patriotism and genuine goodwill that extends far beyond America to include the entire world.

Whether you are watching on MSNBC, CNN or even Fox, take this opportunity to reflect on the transformative effect of Barack Obama, and what his election means to the country and to our planet.

Obama's official Inauguration website is here, and we'll post many follow-up links to footage and material from what will undoubtedly be a very moving day.

Congratulations to our new President (almost!) and his family, and to America for doing the right thing last November!

Another Exciting Obama Train Video!

The Train going through Claremont, Delaware, taken by YouTube user
T0E0D0productions!

Inaugural Day Doughnuts from Krispy Kreme!

We're not endorsing any particular doughnut chain around here, but we're thrilled to see Krispy Kreme's offer of a free doughnut of your choice to all customers on Inauguration Day, tomorrow.

Now, you wouldn't think a nice little stunt like this would become a political hot potato, but somehow to certain anti-abortion factions, Krispy Kreme's P.R. release wording "Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day" refers not to the choosing of a President but to the abortion issue. Silly, right?

Well, Krispy Kreme had amend their press release and explain their offer thusly: "Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ Inauguration Day promotion on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, is offering one, free doughnut of a customer’s choice at participating Krispy Kreme locations nationwide. No purchase is necessary. The promotion allows customers to commemorate Inauguration Day by selecting one free doughnut of any variety at local participating stores. On Election Day, November 4, 2008, Krispy Kreme ran a promotion that provided customers with one free star-shaped doughnut at stores nationwide. The Inauguration Day promotion is not about any social or political issue." Here's a link to a good article on the situation from AlterNet.

It's beyond ridiculous, the whole doughnut controversy, but anti-choice orgs are taking any opportunity these days to mobilize their supporters to protest what will no doubt be a more rational approach to the abortion issue in the Obama White House. Lest you think this issue was settled a long time ago, well...it's obviously not.

Anyway, congrats to Krispy Kreme for getting into the spirit of the most marvelous Inauguration Day in a long time! Go Doughnuts!!

Obama's Speech in Downington, PA!

Video "Ride This Train" by Le Sheppard

A sweet and inspirational original song commemorating Obama's ride to the White House:

Barack Obama's Train Trip to Washington!

Here's a delightful and inspirational video taken by YouTube user arm31089 of the Obama train passing through on its way to Washington!

Obama Gets the Marvel Treatment

Holy Electoral Process, Batman!

President-Elect Obama gets a part in a special Inauguration Day Edition of Marvel's Spider-Man comic! Here's the story straight from the Marvel site!

Obama Meets with All Living Presidents

Great photo op, in any case, and you really wish that Bush had been as smart as he seems to be gracious as he greets the new incoming President.

Be Sure to Read Paul Krugman on Tax Cut Philosophy

As a follow-up to my previous post, I hope you're regularly reading Paul Krugman's excellent and always informative blog in the New York Times. At the beginning of this week, he had a good post "Is Obama relying too much on tax cuts?" which lays out the economic as well as philosphical problems with continuing a tax cut-reliant economic plan.

Not Happy About Obama Continuing Bush Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

I have to agree completely with this article by Marie Cocco, reprinted on Salon.com, entitled "Obama to Continue Bush's Tax-Cutting Orgy". I have to say that I think this word coming out --that he isn't going to repeal Bush's outrageous benefits to the wealthiest Americans -- is a huge disappointment and somewhat of a betrayal of a principal reason many of us embraced Obama. We were hoping for a return to fairness.

I still am thrilled that he will be the new President in a little less than two weeks, but with the economy foremost in many people's minds, the signal it sends to NOT clearly reject Bush's morally-corrupt and obviously ineffective tax break, is not a heartening one.

I hope that he will reconsider this move, after public opinion and that of economic experts weigh in on this very telling change in philosophy. Come on, man, don't disappoint us!