It seems Michelle Bachmann's idea for repubs to not fill out their census form is backfiring bigtime.
"In Texas, some of the counties with the lowest census return rates are among the state’s most Republican"
So, let me get this correct. GOP big mouths preach about big government in your life. They then advocate for the illegal act of NOT filling out the census form and are then screwed by its affects. Now that there is such a low showing, the possibility of losing house members in GOP areas increases.
The other coin to this is the GOP is supposed to be fiscal conservative. The problem is that since there is such a low number of census forms coming back that the government then has to PAY people to go door to door to get the numbers.
"It costs taxpayers $25 per person to send a census taker door-to-door to collect the same information if they didn’t mail it back."
25$ bucks per person per house. Do the math on that one GOP. Their insane talking points are costing them seats and money. The GOP is a joke.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Quote Of The Day
Got this over at politicalwire. I nearly cried I lauged so hard. Emphasis mine.
"Democrats tend to have more problems with harassment, staffers and underage girls while Republicans tend to have more problems with prostitutes, hypocrisy and underage boys. "
For the party that legislates against homosexuality, I do find ironic that their problems lie with their own desires. Makes you wonder if they were able to express their feelings, would the repubs have the problems they do? This kind of goes along with the catholic church's own problems with their priests. If priests were able to marry, would the church be having all of these problems?
"Democrats tend to have more problems with harassment, staffers and underage girls while Republicans tend to have more problems with prostitutes, hypocrisy and underage boys. "
For the party that legislates against homosexuality, I do find ironic that their problems lie with their own desires. Makes you wonder if they were able to express their feelings, would the repubs have the problems they do? This kind of goes along with the catholic church's own problems with their priests. If priests were able to marry, would the church be having all of these problems?
Obama Revamps Student Loan Industry
This should come as great news to any future college student.
"The new law will eliminate fees paid to private banks to act as intermediaries in providing loans to college students and use much of the nearly $68 billion in savings over 11 years to expand Pell Grants and make it easier for students to repay outstanding loans after graduating. The law also invests $2 billion in community colleges over the next four years to provide education and career training programs to workers eligible for Trade Adjustment aid."
So, no more going to the local bank for a student loan. You can get it directly from the government. Which is better because of lower fees/APR.
"The new law will eliminate fees paid to private banks to act as intermediaries in providing loans to college students and use much of the nearly $68 billion in savings over 11 years to expand Pell Grants and make it easier for students to repay outstanding loans after graduating. The law also invests $2 billion in community colleges over the next four years to provide education and career training programs to workers eligible for Trade Adjustment aid."
So, no more going to the local bank for a student loan. You can get it directly from the government. Which is better because of lower fees/APR.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Obama Side Steps Senate And Appoints 15
With Obama's new confidence, he decided to stop waiting on the GOP to vote yes on his nominations and he appointed 15 nominees that were held up by the party of "NO".
Recess appointments are allowed to keep the government running. But over the past several years, they have been used as a way to circumvent the senate. When Bush did it, he tried to avoid the senate scrutinizing his nominees. When Obama does it, he's is basically tired of his nominees being in a holding pattern as the party of "NO" cries and whines in being out of power.
It is a good thing Obama is throwing his weight around. I would do it a lot more to see what he can and cannot accomplish. I would prefer he try as much as he can and fail at some things versus try to and pass only things he knows he can pass. Again, swing for the fences.
Recess appointments are allowed to keep the government running. But over the past several years, they have been used as a way to circumvent the senate. When Bush did it, he tried to avoid the senate scrutinizing his nominees. When Obama does it, he's is basically tired of his nominees being in a holding pattern as the party of "NO" cries and whines in being out of power.
It is a good thing Obama is throwing his weight around. I would do it a lot more to see what he can and cannot accomplish. I would prefer he try as much as he can and fail at some things versus try to and pass only things he knows he can pass. Again, swing for the fences.
Obama Has Wind At His Back
Good article in Politico (which is hard these days. The site definitely seems a little hell bent on tripping Obama up.)
What I have been touting for a while now is the lack of leadership coming out of the white house. It seems he must have read my blog b/c now we can see, since January, an Obama most willing to lead the pack.
"Democrats believe the Obama of the past week is what Americans want. They particularly think it could convince skeptical independents that Democrats can govern and that Obama is steadfast leader they hoped for. They’re also confident moving into the debate on regulating Wall Street because they believe it unites them and divides Republicans."
It is true. People want a leader. The good thing about Obama is that he's smart too. He just needs to show his passion for this country and people will follow.
There was one quote that burns me a little and it comes from a former Bush speech writer.
"He (Obama) had a powerful and effective week in rallying his base, which is useful, but he still faces the fundamental problems that his first year decline led to, which is he’s polarizing, he failed to get any Republican support and he’s lost independents.”
I find it hilarious to hear that Obama is polarizing. While the guy quoted above has an agenda, this viewpoint is not uncommon.
To the contrary, Obama has been willing to work with repubs. The fundemental problem is that repubs want their bill (and only their bill) to be passed and anything short of that causes them to vote no. (They also made a calculation long ago to oppose health care. No matter what came out of committe, they were hell bent on voting no.) So when I see a quote like the one above I really have to ask whether this guy is in touch with reality.
With the political winds at Obama's back, he should swing for the fences. Anything less would be a waste.
What I have been touting for a while now is the lack of leadership coming out of the white house. It seems he must have read my blog b/c now we can see, since January, an Obama most willing to lead the pack.
"Democrats believe the Obama of the past week is what Americans want. They particularly think it could convince skeptical independents that Democrats can govern and that Obama is steadfast leader they hoped for. They’re also confident moving into the debate on regulating Wall Street because they believe it unites them and divides Republicans."
It is true. People want a leader. The good thing about Obama is that he's smart too. He just needs to show his passion for this country and people will follow.
There was one quote that burns me a little and it comes from a former Bush speech writer.
"He (Obama) had a powerful and effective week in rallying his base, which is useful, but he still faces the fundamental problems that his first year decline led to, which is he’s polarizing, he failed to get any Republican support and he’s lost independents.”
I find it hilarious to hear that Obama is polarizing. While the guy quoted above has an agenda, this viewpoint is not uncommon.
To the contrary, Obama has been willing to work with repubs. The fundemental problem is that repubs want their bill (and only their bill) to be passed and anything short of that causes them to vote no. (They also made a calculation long ago to oppose health care. No matter what came out of committe, they were hell bent on voting no.) So when I see a quote like the one above I really have to ask whether this guy is in touch with reality.
With the political winds at Obama's back, he should swing for the fences. Anything less would be a waste.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Like For Real Done
Nancy Pelosi and the house voted on the reconciliation bill a second time after the senate passed a slightly altered version of it yesterday. The slight alterations caused it to be sent back to the house for a revote.
"They're done. For good, this time. Tonight, the House took Congress' final health care vote, when it passed a reconciliation bill fixing problems with the reforms that President Obama signed into law on Tuesday. The final tally was 220-207. The changes will take effect as soon as Obama signs this sidecar package into law, which could come as early as tomorrow."
Woo Hoo!
Dems Hit Their Stride, GOP Totally Lost Theirs
Dems are quickly shifting their attention to the Wall Street Reform. A bill dems now totally own because again, the GOP did not participate in making the bill. But it is going to be much harder for GOP to filibuster a bill that most everyone wants. After passage, the dems will then move onto immigration. The dems have definitely hit their stride when they needed to.
GOP, however, is totally flailing around not knowing what to do. Now that they have lost out on taking partial ownership of a popular bill, Wall Street reform, they are totally screwing unemployed people over with this:
"Coburn is blocking unanimous consent on extension of unemployment benefits, just as Bunning did a few weeks ago. Only this time, Coburn's not alone -- the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other members of the Republican caucus have joined with Coburn, promising to block billions in unemployment benefits just as the Senate is set to leave on a two-week recess."
Who is giving the GOP advice right now? They are trying to stand up for financial responsibility on the backs of unemployed, under insured, down on their luck Americans. What are they thinking? Its almost as if when they didn't get their way on Health Care they are going to burn the place down. I remember a six year old at the school playground. When playing basketball and he was losing he would start pouting and eventually say "I am taking my ball and going home." Sometimes, I feel the GOP never matured out of this stage.
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