The NY Times notes that Speaker Boehner has (for now) gained the respect of his caucus.
House staffers? You might have to change those Christmas plans.
Same-sex couples in Washington state get their marriage licenses for the first time.
The number of undocumented immigrants has dropped.
New Jersey's first medical marijuana dispensary opens today.
A battle for the heart and soul of the Virginia GOP?
Rep. Louie Gohmert, sole defender of the word "lunatic."
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Video: House GOP follows states, prioritizes war on women
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Video: On tonight's show
Video: Anti-gay base alienates national GOP from American public
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I think I need to check on my retirement bungalow in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. While I'm there I'll fix the cam. I should be back before the Alice Cooper/Johnny Depp concert.
I just finished watching the clip of the 3 on the curvy couch, complaining bout the 5 of y'all going to the White House and Steve Doocy insulting the Rev. Then Gretchen Carlson saying that station is delivering the message for the administration. Carrying the message for the administration is, better than spewing lies and hate to the viewers!!!
Actually it's called "projection".
The truth is Rachel and company are not the ones "carrying the message".
Projection indeed:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/12/05/laura-ingrahams-newsletter-doesnt-remember-when/191698
John Boehner and the GOP caucus continue to bow to the false idol Grover Norquist and promise more and more tax cuts for the rich, all while saddling the middle class and working people with higher bills and an end to the American Dream. How any of this is supposed to fix the deficit and reduce our national debt is impossible to decipher. but maybe that's the point? We had an election, and elections have consequences. This is something conservatives in the GOP have yet to grasp since the President won a second term. Republicans remain quagmired in the status quo of the Tea Party and kitchen-sink campaigning. - pp
We really shouldn't be surprised that, after losing the election, Republicans are acting like nothing happened and it's just Business As Usual. After all, their denial all through the campaign was nearly a winning strategy for Romney/Ryan. ("We won't let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers.") It's working. Why would they change now?
I mean, I'm totally with you in your disappointment. In my universe, the loser should say, "I was voted down and now it's time to roll up our sleeves and work together." Clearly, that's not going to happen, so it's on to Plan B.
I think the President's idea of taking his argument outside of the beltway (including his gathering of corporate CEOs to get them on his side) is going to erode the irrational support that the GOP and Tea Party has enjoyed for the last couple of years. At least, I hope so.
Now that New Jersey's medical marijuana law has come to fruition ( or begun to), everyone will see that civilization as we know it won't crumble, addicts won't riot in the streets or produce crime waves, and Montclair N.J. will continue to be a culturally rich and diverse suburban community.
Prohibition's origins (whether it be alcohol or other intoxicants) are moralistic and sanctimonious. Instead of arising as an objective attempt to deal with a social problem, it arises as a moralistic crusade against evil. The result is that change is next to impossible. Commentators have been pointing out the utter failure and high cost of the so-called "war on drugs" for decades, but our so-called political leaders were afraid to do what was obviously needed for fear of being labeled as pro-evil, degenerate, or the like. Drug addiction is a social problem, just like alcoholism is a social problem, but social problems can't be addressed rationally when they're framed as a crusade against evil.
It's almost 9:00, and I haven't gotten my daily dose of Benen yet. Are you all right, Steve?
Rachels' missing from the scene too, They're out there fishing. This time they are gonna catch the Big one.
Corruption in the financial industry continues, HSBC in trouble for international money laundering.
European, Mexican, and other authorities press criminal charges, US authorities say "pay a fine and your good."
I'm putting this comment here because there's no place else on the site to talk about the show's segments. I'm often amused at the clever puns and sight-gags used in the banner on the screen labeling each subject.
But if you didn't see last night's show, the one on Sheldon Adelson is HILARIOUS!! "Cirque du Shel A." with a photo of his face on some contortionist's body nearly made me pee my pants. Whoever is responsible for these flashes of brilliance, thanks a
millionbillion!I loved reading about the repub infighting. Part of me hopes the 'Kook' will get nominated so that VA will become a blue state that much sooner.
It will be interesting to see if moderate Republicans launch more independent campaigns in states like Virginia.
It's simple really...WE'RE GOING OVER THE CLIFF...it's the best possible outcome because it gives Democrats what they want. The GOP is over the barrel on this and they know it (and have pretty much resigned to that fact), but they have to play the "HELL NO YOU CAN'T" dance until January so that they have cover for the Norquist pledge. They can't look like they're complying or Norquist will hold it over them in the mid-terms and 2016 (as to whether or not he could actually damage their chances for re-election really remains to be seen, but they clearly think he can).
Then in January the GOP will bang out a tax cut for the middle class and lower income families...giving more cover for the Norquist pledge and giving the false impression that they're successfully working in the spirit of bi-partisanship and possibly saving their skins in 2014.
So we're going over the cliff...it's not a big deal...everyone needs to chill out about going over the cliff.
Yep, it looks like we are headed to a January resolution of the current mess.
But, we are not going over a cliff. It is more like an intervention. The Congress, having failed to get itself in order (clean and sober), is being sent to fiscal boot camp (rehab) on 1 January.
Let's hope 'the cure' takes hold.
I don't get all of the fuss over the Fiscal Cliff. If deficit reduction is the problem, then going over the cliff is a step in the right direction. If the cliff is too abrupt, then maybe we should stop talking about deficit reduction until the economy recovers.
The fuss is that fiscal boot camp is not the type of spa the GOP wants or is used to.
Congress has been overtaxing the poor and middle class via the payroll tax for decades, and using the proceeds to reduce income taxes on primarily the rich and upper middle class. The GOP is good with that.
Now we have to address the structural deficit that is no longer covered by payroll taxes. This means a combination of increased income taxes and cuts to discretionary spending, primarily the military, because that is where the money is.
The GOP would rather cut benefits for social security and medicare so they can continue using payroll taxes to cover expenses outside social security and medicare. This is what they mean when they talk about the Social Security Trust Fund being 'empty' or 'spent'. These trust funds are full of US Treasuries. Does the GOP plan on defaulting on our debt?
Now we have to address the structural deficit that is no longer covered by payroll taxes.
Well, knocking down the payroll tax by 2% for a couple of years didn't really help either. I never understood that move. Various studies on the state of SS say that it will go under in the near future, yet the government decided to reduce the revenues into the fund. And to be fair, it is not just the GOP using payroll taxes to pay for other things. It is ALL the Congress for all the past and current years. There is no fiscal management or responsibility in either the federal or most state governments.
Oh, and I really don't think we have to worry about the GOP defaulting on our debt. I think the weight of all the current debt along with the continuous Trillion dollar deficits - which by the way will go on even after the fiscal cliff or any other budget compromise with the exception of a couple hundred Billion less (whoopee).
Cutting taxes on people living paycheck to paycheck is one of the most effective ways for the feds to stimulate consumer spending, which is 70% of our economy.
Note my post said that Congress has been overtaxing the poor and the middle class...and that the GOP is good with that. The underlying fight is whether we will cut social security and medicare benefits to continue doing this (the GOP preference) or we will stop doing this by increasing income taxes and cutting discretionary spending to address the structural deficit (the Democratic preference). And,yes, military/intelligence/homeland security spending is part of discretionary spending.
Cutting taxes on people living paycheck to paycheck is one of the most effective ways for the feds to stimulate consumer spending, which is 70% of our economy.
John,
That may be true, but in the case of the SS tax holiday to give the people that live paycheck to paycheck an extra thousand dollars or so a year from those same people's primary retirement fund (at least in most cases) is "penny wise and pound foolish". Sure they may be able to make ends meet a little better now, but will have a diminished or non-existent retirement benefit in the future. As for the "regular" tax cuts - the "Bush era tax cuts" - I get a little perplexed at the double standard being used to justify them now. When they were introduced during Bush's term they were slammed as beind unfunded and adding to the deficits and debt. Now....they are still unfunded and the Democrats want to keep them for everyone but the upper 2%. I do not have the exact figures but it still has to be in the hundreds of Billions even without the breaks going to the wealthy. I guess it just depends on who is President.
There is a lot of focus on increasing the taxes on the wealthy, which I am for, but that will only bring in around $160 Billion a year ($ 1.6 Trillion over ten years per the President). It will help, but not very much. We have been digging this hole since President Bush and has continued under Obama with $ 1 Trillon plus deficits annually.
One more thing John. I laugh when I see the term "discretionary spending". There really is nothing discretionary about it. They will spend everything they have and then some on everything that comes up - especially if it helps their specific district or state or constituents. They truly do buy votes in this modern world.
Where's Steve?
Steve's on a mini-vacation. We're in more than competent hands with Tricia and Laura. :)
Saw a couple blogs by Kent and Will, too. Awesome assemblage of talent here.
For years now, I've accepted as a general matter the notion that people should have the right to determine for themselves how they might prefer to be referred to, regardless of how awkward the construction might at first seem to others, e.g. African American, LGBT, etc.
So, if Gohmert prefers to be called a lunatic, fine with me, I guess.
The trouble with ignorance is that it picks up confidence as it goes along.
- Arnold H. Glasow
;-)
CNBC posts a story containing the real reason employers can't find "qualified workers"
So let's review: You won't train new people, and you won't pay competative salaries... but it's not your fault you can't find qualified employees?
Just saw this it really funny Merry Xmass All
http://www.markfiore.com/
Just read that Dr. Maddow has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album (along with Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama and Ellen Degeneres). Uh . . . awesome . . .
Congratulations to all those who are getting Marriage Licences in WA!
It's nice that those elders got their license first in Seattle.
I know I never thought so, either. I am married in CA during the window before Prop 8 STOPPED people from getting licenses. Waiting to hear from SCOTUS on that, but very happy for all those getting licenses. I hope they can tie the knot ASAP.