http://truth-out.org/news/item/28608-democrats-take-on-wall-street-with-financial-transactions-tax
"The House Democratic Party leadership made a remarkable step forward last week in putting out a proposal for a financial transactions tax (FTT). The proposal is part of a larger package which includes a substantial tax credit for workers, and also a limit on the tax deductibility of high CEO pay, but the FTT portion is the most remarkable."
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Researchers Call New Obamacare Results ‘Remarkable’
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/15/researchers-call-new-obamacare-results-remarkable/
"The newest data, just a year after the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, should make even the staunchest capitalists feel warm and fuzzy toward the controversial piece of legislation. The data shows that people are paying their bills.
Healthcare bills have long been the number one source of bankruptcy in the U.S. That fact is bad for everyone. Medical providers get pennies on the dollar. Taxpayers get stuck with higher medical bills and with the cost of the bankruptcies.
While it’s too soon to reverse the bankruptcy trend, since courts typically see bills that are much older than just one year, the research from the Commonwealth Fund indicates that tides are turning.
The facts that they found are that as more people have insurance, more people are going to the doctor and more people are paying their bills."
"The newest data, just a year after the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, should make even the staunchest capitalists feel warm and fuzzy toward the controversial piece of legislation. The data shows that people are paying their bills.
Healthcare bills have long been the number one source of bankruptcy in the U.S. That fact is bad for everyone. Medical providers get pennies on the dollar. Taxpayers get stuck with higher medical bills and with the cost of the bankruptcies.
While it’s too soon to reverse the bankruptcy trend, since courts typically see bills that are much older than just one year, the research from the Commonwealth Fund indicates that tides are turning.
The facts that they found are that as more people have insurance, more people are going to the doctor and more people are paying their bills."
Obama's approval rating spikes before State of the Union
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/19/1358795/-Obama-s-approval-rating-spikes-before-State-of-the-Union
"Not surprisingly, Democrats give Obama the most love, with 85 percent approving of his job performance compared to just 14 percent of Republicans. But independents are far closer to Democrats in their viewpoint, with 46 percent favoring the president's performance."
"Not surprisingly, Democrats give Obama the most love, with 85 percent approving of his job performance compared to just 14 percent of Republicans. But independents are far closer to Democrats in their viewpoint, with 46 percent favoring the president's performance."
Obama Soars As President’s Job Approval Rating Leaps 9 Points In A Month
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/19/obama-soars-president-approval-rating-jumps-9-points-month.html
"The president’s approval ratings are up 19 points with people age 18-29, 13 points with non-whites, including 22 points with Hispanics, 12 points with people earning less than $50,000 a year, 10 points with Democrats, 13 points with non-college educated white men, 11 points with men and 11 points with conservatives."
"The president’s approval ratings are up 19 points with people age 18-29, 13 points with non-whites, including 22 points with Hispanics, 12 points with people earning less than $50,000 a year, 10 points with Democrats, 13 points with non-college educated white men, 11 points with men and 11 points with conservatives."
Obama’s Tax Plan Forces Republicans To Choose Main Street Or Wall Street
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/19/obamas-tax-plan-forces-republicans-choose-main-street-wall-street.html
"Republicans in Congress quickly pledged their allegiance to the wealthy"
"Republicans in Congress quickly pledged their allegiance to the wealthy"
Pres. Obama Is Loved By Almost All, According To Soaring Approval Ratings From Across The Board
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/19/obama-rocks-polls/
"Little fact for our conservative readers (if we have any): at this point in his presidency, Ronald Reagan’s approval rating was 50 percent, identical to President Obama’s."
"Little fact for our conservative readers (if we have any): at this point in his presidency, Ronald Reagan’s approval rating was 50 percent, identical to President Obama’s."
How America's Wealthy Stole the American Dream and Cashed It at an Offshore Bank | Alternet
How America's Wealthy Stole the American Dream and Cashed It at an Offshore Bank | Alternet
"Runaway inequality and declining taxes are linked together through a set of economic policies called the "Better Business Climate" model which came to America around 1980."
"Runaway inequality and declining taxes are linked together through a set of economic policies called the "Better Business Climate" model which came to America around 1980."
Obama’s State Of The Union Will Be Great For America, And Disastrous For Republicans
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/18/obamas-state-of-the-union-will-be-great-for-america-and-disastrous-for-republicans/
"This will place Republicans in the unenviable position of needing to explain why they would rather use public money to support billionaires than blue collar Americans."
"This will place Republicans in the unenviable position of needing to explain why they would rather use public money to support billionaires than blue collar Americans."
Bernie’s On Board: Sen. Sanders Stands With President Obama On Tax Cut Plan
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/18/bernies-board-sen-sanders-stands-president-obama-tax-cut-plan.html
"Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that he is supporting the president’s plan to cut taxes for the middle class while closing loopholes that the wealthiest Americans use"
"Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that he is supporting the president’s plan to cut taxes for the middle class while closing loopholes that the wealthiest Americans use"
Paul Ryan Responds To Obama Tax Cut With Lies And Calls For Tax Hikes On The Middle Class
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/18/paul-ryan-responds-obama-tax-cut-lies-calls-tax-hikes-middle-class.html
"Obama’s tax plan closes loopholes that the super-rich and corporations use to avoid paying their share of taxes while giving millions of middle-class families a tax cut."
"Obama’s tax plan closes loopholes that the super-rich and corporations use to avoid paying their share of taxes while giving millions of middle-class families a tax cut."
President Obama’s New Plan: Tax Hikes On The Wealthiest, Relief For The Middle Class
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/18/obama-offers-amazing-tax-plan/
"To make matters even better, President Obama has taken a cue from Elizabeth Warren, his plan will also create a brand new tax which will be placed on the biggest financial institutions who partake in risky borrowing. The new tax will hopefully discourage such borrowing and will only be applied to roughly 100 banks that currently have assets of $50 billion or more (the same banks whose high risk borrowing led to the near collapse of our world economy)."
"To make matters even better, President Obama has taken a cue from Elizabeth Warren, his plan will also create a brand new tax which will be placed on the biggest financial institutions who partake in risky borrowing. The new tax will hopefully discourage such borrowing and will only be applied to roughly 100 banks that currently have assets of $50 billion or more (the same banks whose high risk borrowing led to the near collapse of our world economy)."
Arguing for Faster Internet, Obama Goes to Bat for Municipal Broadband
Arguing for Faster Internet, Obama Goes to Bat for Municipal Broadband
"Alongside his announcement, the White House presented a fact sheet outlining the municipal broadband initiative and a new report (pdf) authored by the National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisers which examines the success stories of "community-based broadband" projects."
"Alongside his announcement, the White House presented a fact sheet outlining the municipal broadband initiative and a new report (pdf) authored by the National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisers which examines the success stories of "community-based broadband" projects."
Five Years After Citizens United, Media Coverage Of Its Sequels Is Lacking
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/18/five-years-after-citizens-united-media-coverage/202154
"Williams-Yulee gives the court yet another opportunity to deregulate big money in politics by equating it with constitutionally protected speech -- this time by allowing members of the judiciary to directly solicit money from wealthy donors."
"Williams-Yulee gives the court yet another opportunity to deregulate big money in politics by equating it with constitutionally protected speech -- this time by allowing members of the judiciary to directly solicit money from wealthy donors."
Still No Tax Returns? What’s GOP Still-Hopeful Mitt Romney Hiding? (Video)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/15/mitt-romney-tax-returns-whats-he-hiding/
"For starters, it’s quite disturbing that — out of all the vile, rapacious corporate raiders on Wall Street, Romney has been targeted with a lawsuit for racketeering. That really says something. The bar for getting courts to hear a lawsuit on racketeering — the kind of criminal and systemic money laundering, gambling, price fixing, and market manipulations associated with powerful mobs and drug lords — is so high that even fictitious district attorneys on shows like The Wire and The Sopranos have trouble with taking these cases to court."
"For starters, it’s quite disturbing that — out of all the vile, rapacious corporate raiders on Wall Street, Romney has been targeted with a lawsuit for racketeering. That really says something. The bar for getting courts to hear a lawsuit on racketeering — the kind of criminal and systemic money laundering, gambling, price fixing, and market manipulations associated with powerful mobs and drug lords — is so high that even fictitious district attorneys on shows like The Wire and The Sopranos have trouble with taking these cases to court."
JP Morgan ‘Under Assault’ By Unpatriotic Regulators, CEO Says
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/01/15/3611830/ceo-whose-bank-epitomizes-need-for-tighter-regulation-wonders-if-tighter-regulation-is-un-american/
"In Dimon’s tenure, regulators have exposed JP Morgan’s involvement in numerous scandals. Three of those scandals are particularly instructive.
The bank joined other financial firms in an elaborate scheme to rig interest rates, an affair commonly known as the LIBOR Scandal, which had negative effects on a huge range of consumer credit products and hurt the financial outlook of many cities who had made bond deals tied to the rates JP Morgan helped manipulate. A rogue JP Morgan trader known colloquially as the London Whale was able to gamble the bank into a multi-billion-dollar loss on complex derivatives trades without any of his managers noticing and putting a stop to the highly risky behavior, which could have triggered a chain reaction within the global financial system. And Dimon’s firm has paid tens of billions of dollars in legal settlements over the bank’s role in mortgage-related financial market activity that helped exacerbate the financial crisis and ensuing recession.
None of these are dead matters. Each of the three illustrates a live question for how society will regulate the financial sector’s activity and its relationship to the real economy of goods and services and middle-class jobs."
"In Dimon’s tenure, regulators have exposed JP Morgan’s involvement in numerous scandals. Three of those scandals are particularly instructive.
The bank joined other financial firms in an elaborate scheme to rig interest rates, an affair commonly known as the LIBOR Scandal, which had negative effects on a huge range of consumer credit products and hurt the financial outlook of many cities who had made bond deals tied to the rates JP Morgan helped manipulate. A rogue JP Morgan trader known colloquially as the London Whale was able to gamble the bank into a multi-billion-dollar loss on complex derivatives trades without any of his managers noticing and putting a stop to the highly risky behavior, which could have triggered a chain reaction within the global financial system. And Dimon’s firm has paid tens of billions of dollars in legal settlements over the bank’s role in mortgage-related financial market activity that helped exacerbate the financial crisis and ensuing recession.
None of these are dead matters. Each of the three illustrates a live question for how society will regulate the financial sector’s activity and its relationship to the real economy of goods and services and middle-class jobs."
Catholic Church to Dave Agema: You’re Just a Bigoted Jerk
http://quietmike.org/2015/01/15/catholic-church-dave-agema-youre-just-bigoted-jerk/
"The church has had enough of the racist ramblings coming from the Michigan RNC Committeeman"
"The church has had enough of the racist ramblings coming from the Michigan RNC Committeeman"
“I was never a white supremacist”: The chilling return of David Duke
“I was never a white supremacist”: The chilling return of David Duke
"Duke also emphasized to both Smerconish and O’Reilly that he now possessed a Ph.D., and had written a doctoral dissertation-cum-book exposing Communism (copies of which he made sure viewers of both programs saw). In reality, Duke’s degree came from a Ukrainian “diploma mill,” and was not in fact a doctoral degree. Moreover, his thesis is a blatant rip-off of the dubious academic work of Kevin McDonald, a well-known anti-Semitic psychology professor."
"Duke also emphasized to both Smerconish and O’Reilly that he now possessed a Ph.D., and had written a doctoral dissertation-cum-book exposing Communism (copies of which he made sure viewers of both programs saw). In reality, Duke’s degree came from a Ukrainian “diploma mill,” and was not in fact a doctoral degree. Moreover, his thesis is a blatant rip-off of the dubious academic work of Kevin McDonald, a well-known anti-Semitic psychology professor."
Ron Paul Institute Publishes 'False Flag' Conspiracy About Paris Attacks
Ron Paul Institute Publishes 'False Flag' Conspiracy About Paris Attacks
"If you read the whole thing you'll be sickened by it and it has caused quite a stir today from some of his libertarian allies like Matt Welsh at Reason Magazine. The Weekly Standard was equally horrified by this screed too.
It shouldn't surprise anyone who has covered Ron Paul in the past, but most of the media only focused on Paul's popularity rise during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries and never bothered to ask why he was able to raise so much money with his "money bombs.' Being a right wing extremist or a conspiracy theory nut pays good dollars and Ron Paul capitalized on it big time."
"If you read the whole thing you'll be sickened by it and it has caused quite a stir today from some of his libertarian allies like Matt Welsh at Reason Magazine. The Weekly Standard was equally horrified by this screed too.
It shouldn't surprise anyone who has covered Ron Paul in the past, but most of the media only focused on Paul's popularity rise during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries and never bothered to ask why he was able to raise so much money with his "money bombs.' Being a right wing extremist or a conspiracy theory nut pays good dollars and Ron Paul capitalized on it big time."
The Color Of Money: GOP Congress Rushes To Pamper Wall Street
The Color Of Money: GOP Congress Rushes To Pamper Wall Street
"But why the urgency? Why the rush to let the banks run amok, even before Republicans turn their attention to authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline, repealing Obamacare and reversing the president’s executive orders on immigration? Those are all causes, however, that Republicans want to highlight, for which their base is clamoring. Deregulating Wall Street, by contrast, isn’t high on the tea party’s to-do list, if it’s on it at all. By scurrying to give the banks what they want, Republicans can get it out of the way and hope that any public memory of this unseemly spectacle is eclipsed by the epic, more popular battles to come.
By pushing mega-bank welfare to the head of the line, Republicans also sent a clear signal to Wall Street that they’ll do whatever it takes to further feather the bankers’ nests."
"But why the urgency? Why the rush to let the banks run amok, even before Republicans turn their attention to authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline, repealing Obamacare and reversing the president’s executive orders on immigration? Those are all causes, however, that Republicans want to highlight, for which their base is clamoring. Deregulating Wall Street, by contrast, isn’t high on the tea party’s to-do list, if it’s on it at all. By scurrying to give the banks what they want, Republicans can get it out of the way and hope that any public memory of this unseemly spectacle is eclipsed by the epic, more popular battles to come.
By pushing mega-bank welfare to the head of the line, Republicans also sent a clear signal to Wall Street that they’ll do whatever it takes to further feather the bankers’ nests."
Republicans use ‘death by a thousand cuts’ strategy to deregulate Wall Street
Republicans use ‘death by a thousand cuts’ strategy to deregulate Wall Street
"For the second time in two weeks, House Republicans brought up a package of 11 bills designed to deregulate Wall Street and water down Dodd-Frank financial reforms. This time, they had the votes to pass it.
Today’s bill easily cleared the hurdle of majority support, gaining final passage by a count of 271-154 largely along party lines."
"For the second time in two weeks, House Republicans brought up a package of 11 bills designed to deregulate Wall Street and water down Dodd-Frank financial reforms. This time, they had the votes to pass it.
Today’s bill easily cleared the hurdle of majority support, gaining final passage by a count of 271-154 largely along party lines."
Obamacare Has Reversed A Negative Trend. Researchers Call It ‘Remarkable.’
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/15/3611905/obamacare-medical-bills-commonwealth/
"Commonwealth’s findings, which also documented a drop in the number of Americans going without insurance, track closely with other surveys that have reported declines in the uninsured rate under Obamacare. The number of Americans without health care was reduced by about 25 percent last year, which means that between eight million and eleven million people have gained coverage."
"Commonwealth’s findings, which also documented a drop in the number of Americans going without insurance, track closely with other surveys that have reported declines in the uninsured rate under Obamacare. The number of Americans without health care was reduced by about 25 percent last year, which means that between eight million and eleven million people have gained coverage."
Monday, January 19, 2015
Bobby Jindal Embarrasses Himself In Europe With Retracted Fox News Story
Bobby Jindal Embarrasses Himself In Europe With Retracted Fox News Story
"What the hell is Bobby Jindal doing giving speeches in London on claims that have been retracted by Steven Emerson after being mocked with the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts, and even Fox News issued a very rare retraction and apology? Isn’t he supposed to be home finding ways to balance the budget which is about to implode due to falling oil prices and massive layoffs in the oil industry? Bobby Jindal claims that he’s over there to promote economic development, but honestly, who wants to move to or invest in a state with awful infrastructure (try getting from Lafayette to Baton Rouge when there’s been an accident on I-10), unhealthy residents, and an education system that ranks near the bottom of the pile?"
"What the hell is Bobby Jindal doing giving speeches in London on claims that have been retracted by Steven Emerson after being mocked with the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts, and even Fox News issued a very rare retraction and apology? Isn’t he supposed to be home finding ways to balance the budget which is about to implode due to falling oil prices and massive layoffs in the oil industry? Bobby Jindal claims that he’s over there to promote economic development, but honestly, who wants to move to or invest in a state with awful infrastructure (try getting from Lafayette to Baton Rouge when there’s been an accident on I-10), unhealthy residents, and an education system that ranks near the bottom of the pile?"
Friday, January 16, 2015
No conflict of interest here: PepsiCo lobbyist to help rewrite nutrition policy for children
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/13/1357512/-Top-PepsiCo-lobbyist-will-be-Senate-Agricultural-Committee-s-new-GOP-chief-of-staff
"And this is perfectly normal because anyone who objects to such a system is not a team player, will not get paid lots of money by those companies, and will be stuck working for the government from then on in, and working for the government long-term is one of those icky things that senators sneer at because then you are just a moocher and a petty functionary and the exact sort of government bureaucrat that your senator and the good people of PepsiCo have come to Washington to do battle against, because you are bad and money freedom is good and the Women, Infants and Children of this great nation will eat whatever the food companies of America damn well tell them to eat, you freedom-hating government nobody."
"And this is perfectly normal because anyone who objects to such a system is not a team player, will not get paid lots of money by those companies, and will be stuck working for the government from then on in, and working for the government long-term is one of those icky things that senators sneer at because then you are just a moocher and a petty functionary and the exact sort of government bureaucrat that your senator and the good people of PepsiCo have come to Washington to do battle against, because you are bad and money freedom is good and the Women, Infants and Children of this great nation will eat whatever the food companies of America damn well tell them to eat, you freedom-hating government nobody."
Fox News Viewers And Conservatives Were Asked A Question, Their Answer Made Me Sad For America (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/15/fox-news-viewers-and-conservatives-were-asked-a-question-their-answer-made-me-sad-for-america-video/
"Fox and Conservatives in particular want to treat every matter like it’s open to opinion, when it simply is not. We are all welcome to our own opinions, but there are also black and white issues of fact and fiction where opinion is irrelevant."
"Fox and Conservatives in particular want to treat every matter like it’s open to opinion, when it simply is not. We are all welcome to our own opinions, but there are also black and white issues of fact and fiction where opinion is irrelevant."
Kansas GOP Governor Says He Needs To Slash School Funding After His Tax Cuts Bankrupts Treasury
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/13/kansas-gop-governor-says-he-needs-to-slash-school-funding-after-his-tax-cuts-bankrupts-treasury/
"Just a few years ago, Kansas Republican Gov. Sam Brownback wanted to show the world how great trickle-down economics could be, and now that his experiment blew up in his face, he admits he may need to start slashing funding for education to make up for it. But don’t worry, education wasn’t his first choice, he already plundered pensions and infrastructure."
"Just a few years ago, Kansas Republican Gov. Sam Brownback wanted to show the world how great trickle-down economics could be, and now that his experiment blew up in his face, he admits he may need to start slashing funding for education to make up for it. But don’t worry, education wasn’t his first choice, he already plundered pensions and infrastructure."
GOP House Budget Chair Tom Price Is Itching To Cut Social Security
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/13/gop-house-budget-chair-tom-price-itching-cut-social-security.html
"They are going after social security, and if you voted for them, your future suffering was self-inflicted."
"They are going after social security, and if you voted for them, your future suffering was self-inflicted."
Thursday, January 15, 2015
You call these “moderates”?! How the far right hopes to fool America (again)
You call these “moderates”?! How the far right hopes to fool America (again)
"The Beltway conventional wisdom now says the GOP is moving to the center and proving they can govern. Come again?"
"The Beltway conventional wisdom now says the GOP is moving to the center and proving they can govern. Come again?"
The 114th Congress’ First Week on the Job
http://quietmike.org/2015/01/10/114th-congress-first-week-job/
"Lastly, Mitch McConnell tried to take credit for the economic recovery and low unemployment rate. He tried to say that it was because Republicans won both the House and the Senate. What he actually did was praise President Obama without realizing it. Cursory research reveals blatant hypocrisy on the part of The Man Called Turtle.
It seems that the House of Representatives is throwing everything they can at the President as fast as they can. They’re taking a quick recess, and then they’re going to come back at all of us. Hard.
This is going to be a wild ride. Hang on to your hat."
"Lastly, Mitch McConnell tried to take credit for the economic recovery and low unemployment rate. He tried to say that it was because Republicans won both the House and the Senate. What he actually did was praise President Obama without realizing it. Cursory research reveals blatant hypocrisy on the part of The Man Called Turtle.
It seems that the House of Representatives is throwing everything they can at the President as fast as they can. They’re taking a quick recess, and then they’re going to come back at all of us. Hard.
This is going to be a wild ride. Hang on to your hat."
Romney Wants To Fight Poverty. Here’s How His 2012 Agenda Would Have Devastated The Poor.
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/01/13/3610933/mitt-romney-third-campaign-poverty/
"For Romney, the new focus is jarring. After all, he ran his 2012 campaign on policies that would have disproportionately benefited the wealthiest Americans and regularly argued that poor people didn’t need his help."
"For Romney, the new focus is jarring. After all, he ran his 2012 campaign on policies that would have disproportionately benefited the wealthiest Americans and regularly argued that poor people didn’t need his help."
Comparing Obama To Hitler, GOP Congressman Follows Conservative Media Lead
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/13/comparing-obama-to-hitler-gop-congressman-follo/202113
"For years, the Anti-Defamation League has been grappling with the mainstreaming of Hitler rhetoric by American conservatives. Last year the ADL again tried to raise a red flag, declaring, "The six million Jewish victims and millions of other victims of Hitler deserve better. Their deaths should not be used for political points or sloganeering. This type of comparison diminishes and trivializes the Holocaust."
The conservative media and the Republican Party aren't listening."
"For years, the Anti-Defamation League has been grappling with the mainstreaming of Hitler rhetoric by American conservatives. Last year the ADL again tried to raise a red flag, declaring, "The six million Jewish victims and millions of other victims of Hitler deserve better. Their deaths should not be used for political points or sloganeering. This type of comparison diminishes and trivializes the Holocaust."
The conservative media and the Republican Party aren't listening."
‘No Gays Allowed’ Law Set To Pass In Virginia
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/13/no-gays-allowed-law-set-to-pass-in-virginia/
"This would make it lawful for LGBT people to be barred from hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and any other premise where a good or service is exchanged by someone who dislikes their sexual orientation"
"This would make it lawful for LGBT people to be barred from hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and any other premise where a good or service is exchanged by someone who dislikes their sexual orientation"
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