Inspire Political Discourse

President Obama to the Lobbyists: Bring it On!

Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the special interests are gearing up to prevent the Obama administration from achieving his agenda. By "special interests", I mean the oil companies, the insurance companies, large agribusiness, and all those other entities who have an interest in retaining the status quo in Washington.

Industries from health care to agribusiness to mining that stand to lose under President Barack Obama's policy agenda are ramping up lobbying campaigns to derail or modify his plans.

... Opinion polls indicate that Mr. Obama's broad goals enjoy popular support. But crucial details of the president's agenda will be decided in coming months by close-in legislative fighting, where big industries and the members of Congress that support them have plenty of clout.

Today, President Obama had a special message just for the special interests in his weekly video address. An excerpt from the address:

President Obama:
"I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy.  Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington.  I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families.  I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable.  I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries.   I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak. 

My message to them is this:
"So am I."

          Mr. President, we are behind you 100%.

TRANSCRIPT and video address from the pres after the jump.

Official Portrait of Michelle Obama

Taken in the Blue Room by White House photographer, Pete Souza. You can view President Obama's official portrait here.
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Mitch McConnell: "Republicans are more fun and interesting people."

:: While the GOP has definitely become the party of clowns, I don't think too many people would describe them as "fun" and "interesting".
From HUFFPOST:

In his CPAC speech, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell insisted that conservatives are more "interesting" and "fun" than liberals. Here's his proof: "who wants to hang out with guys like Paul Krugman and Robert Reich when you can be with Rush Limbaugh?"
And you can taste the difference, too! After all, Paul Krugman is an economist who worries that Obama might fail to restore the economy. Whereas Limbaugh is a radio talk show host who hopes Obama might fail to restore the economy. Which one sounds more "fun" to you?

And honestly, is a nuke directed at Chicago really very funny?.

Here's a prime example from the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.:

This morning, former U.N. ambassador John Bolton spoke to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). He tried to up the fear quotient in the room by raising the prospect of an Iranian-sent nuclear attack on an American city. "It's [a] tiny [threat] compared to the Soviet Union," Bolton said, "but is the loss of one American city -- pick one at random: Chicago -- is that a tiny threat?" The audience erupted in cheers and laughter at the idea of Obama's home city being obliterated.

That's truly hilarious, isn't it--the nearly three million Americans who live in the third largest city in the U.S. wiped out in a nuclear holocaust? Definitely worth laughing at and, yes, cheering for.

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US Abandons UN Conference on Racism

:: The US is boycotting the conference over language in the documents that is very hostile to Israel. From POLITICO:

White House aides told Jewish leaders on a conference call today that the United States will boycott the United Nations' World Conference on Racism over hostility to Israel in draft documents prepared for the April conference.

The aides, including an advisor to U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Jennifer Simon, and longtime Obama advisor Samantha Power, said the administration will not participate in further negotiations on the current text or participate in a conference based on the text, sources on the call said.

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Rush Limbaugh: the Real Leader of the GOP

Another Attack on Roe V. Wade

:: This one is in the form of H.R. 35 in Alaska, a bill which seeks to require parental consent for anyone under 17 to receive an abortion. And as you might have presumed, the bill is supported by Sarah Palin. From the Anchorage Daily News:

 

Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday threw her support behind a controversial bill that would generally require parental consent before girls under age 17 could get an abortion.

"Wherever you fall on the abortion issue, right or left, this legislation is about family, and it's about parents' rights and protecting our children, and it's supported by legislators on both sides of the aisle."

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At C-PAC, Day 2: Cornyn Pleads for Moderation, Even as the Wingnuts Seek Revolution

:: It is a true pity that moderation, and the GOP, have long since parted ways. Nice try, Cornyn. Your brethren are not smart enough to listen.

From HUFFPOST:

"I would rather have a Republican who votes with me 80 percent of the time than a liberal Democrat who would vote with me 0 percent of the time," said the Texas Republican. "I understand that occasionally we get frustrated by the way that some of my colleagues vote, I do too. But a circular firing squad is no solution to the problems our party faces right now."

It was one of the few times that the audience had been asked to put aside their ideological orthodoxy in exchange for electoral leverage. Indeed, the vast majority of speakers at the Conservative Political Action Conference had enthusiastically rejected the notion that the Republican Party needed a re-thinking of its philosophical pillars. What was needed, they offered, was firmer, more passionate and aggressive opposition to the Democratic powers that be. As if on cue, the very next speaker to address the crowd, Sen. Jim DeMint, laced into congressional leadership -- accusing it of a lack of willingness to say the word "freedom" -- and the president himself, calling Barack Obama "the world's best salesman of socialism."

Personally, I find it very amusing, as well as disgusting how the GOP consistently attacks spending when out of power; when back in power, the GOP spends like a 16-year-old girl with her daddy's credit card. And,  the GOP only spends the $ on the very wealthy. The GOP is the party that epitomizes pure GREED.
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Full Text and Video of President Obama's Speech Ending the War in Iraq

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

Remarks of President Barack Obama - As Prepared for Delivery

Responsibly Ending the War in Iraq

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Friday, February 27, 2009

Good morning Marines. Good morning Camp Lejeune. Good morning Jacksonville. Thank you for that outstanding welcome. I want to thank Lieutenant General Hejlik for hosting me here today.

Anger of Unemployed at Governors Talking About Rejecting Stimulus

:: Most of these governors are in the southern states, all are Republicans except Bredesen of Tennessee, and Palin, Sanford, and Jindal, are ringleaders. From the New York Times:

As governors in nine states, mostly in the South, consider rejecting millions of dollars in federal stimulus money for increased unemployment insurance, there is growing anger among the ranks of the jobless in those states that they could be left out of a significant government benefit.

Related posts on IPD:
| Governor Sanford Offers His Unemployed Constituent Prayers Rather Than Stimulus Money
| Bobby Jindal, the Republican Governor of Louisiana, Deprives Citizens of Louisiana of $90+ Million in Additional Unemployment Benefits
| GOP Governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina and Idaho Consider Rejecting Stimulus Money
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Gregg Conflict of Interest With Commerce

:: The AP reports that Gregg may have had a conflict of interest which caused his resignation from the commerce post.
Too bad that he wasn't honest with the American people.
From HUFFPOST:

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's former nominee to become commerce secretary, Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, steered taxpayer money to his home state's redevelopment of a former Air Force base even as he and his brother engaged in real estate deals there, an Associated Press investigation found.

Gregg, R-N.H., has personally invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Cyrus Gregg's office projects at the Pease International Tradeport, a Portsmouth business park built at the defunct Pease Air Force Base, once home to nuclear bombers. Judd Gregg has collected at least $240,017 to $651,801 from his investments there, Senate records show, while helping to arrange at least $66 million in federal aid for the former base.

Image courtesy of Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images. .
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Citigroup and the Gov Reach a Deal

:: Citigroup agreed to exchange up to $25 billion in emergency bailout money that the government provided Citigroup Inc. for as much as a 36 percent equity stake in the bank. The reasoning behing it:

The administration decided to restructure the bailout package for Citigroup again in the hopes that converting $25 billion of preferred shares into common stock would give investors more confidence the bank has sufficient capital reserves to withstand mounting losses on its holdings of mortgages and other loans. While the conversion to common stock will dilute current shareholders' investments, a wider equity base could calm investors since there would be more reserves in place to guard against further losses as the economy sours.

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February 27, 2009 on Media Matters

 

• Dobbs falsely claimed Holder had "no empirical basis" for suggesting Mexican cartels are using weapons from America

• Media Matters: Asymmetrical class warfare

• Down for the count: The real fight for 2012

• Politico falsely suggested that a secret-ballot election is currently required to form a union
• ABC's Tapper joins media advancing small business falsehood

• Matthews did not challenge Ehrlich's false suggestion about small business taxes

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Read the Obama Administration's Budget Plan Here - Full Text

Obama's FY2010 Budget - Free Legal Forms

Progressives to Challenge Incumbent Democrats in Primaries

:: A new organization, Accountability Now PAC, will hold Democrats accountable by targeting those viewed as not acting in the best interests of their constituents. From HUFFPOST:

Accountability Now PAC will officially be based in Washington D.C., though its influence is designed to be felt in congressional districts across the country. The group will adopt an aggressive approach to pushing the Democratic Party in a progressive direction; it will actively target, raise funds, poll and campaign for primary challengers to members who are either ethically or politically out-of-touch with their voters. The goal, officials with the organization say, is to start with 25 potential races and dwindle it down to eight or 10; ultimately spending hundreds of thousands on elections that usually wouldn't be touched.

"Most of the time, regardless of your record in Washington, an incumbent does not have to worry about being challenged in a primary," explained Jeff Hauser, an online Democratic operative who will serve as the group's executive director. "This only increases the power of the Washington echo chamber and the influence of lobbyists. We are trying to change that... We think there are potentially talented challengers out there who think the process of mounting a primary challenge is simply too daunting. When you bring to bear the resources of national organizations and the influence of the netroots, you can help these potential candidates."

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Holder to End Raids on State-Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Clubs

:: During the Bush administration, the Feds raided even the clubs legalized by the state. Fulfilling a promise made by Obama during his campaign, Holder will now move to end these raids. From HUFFPOST:

Attorney General Eric Holder said at a press conference Wednesday that the Justice Department will no longer raid medical marijuana clubs that are established legally under state law. His declaration is a fulfillment of a campaign promise by President Barack Obama, and marks a major shift from the previous administration.

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Burris' Son Hired by Blagojevich to Work for State

:: The good news for Burris just never ends. Currently the subject of a Senate ethics probe, and a perjury investigation by the top prosecutor in Sangamon County, this is the icing on the proverbial cake.
Burris'  son, a federal tax deadbeat, was hired to provide counsel for the state's housing authority on Sept. 10. If nothing else, this just looks bad. And, in spite of repeated calls from both Democrats and Republicans for Burris to resign, the man simply won't.

From the Chicago Sun Times:

Blagojevich's administration hired Roland W. Burris II as a senior counsel for the state's housing authority Sept. 10 -- about six weeks after the Internal Revenue Service slapped a $34,163 tax lien on Burris II and three weeks after a mortgage company filed a foreclosure suit on his South Side house.

Burris II's hiring, however, raises more questions about Sen. Burris' interactions with Blagojevich and his inner circle at a time when the governor was soliciting Sen. Burris for campaign contributions and Burris was angling to have Blagojevich appoint him to the Senate seat once held by President Obama.

Image source AP. 
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Thursday, February 26, 2009 on Media Matters

• USA Today falsely suggested that current system requires secret ballot election to form union

• Lashing out at critics, George Will spreads more falsehoods in new global warming column

• Fox News' Beck still attacking stimulus bill over things he doesn't understand

• AP ignored Democrats' response to earmark criticism: 40% are from Republicans

• McCaffrey again discusses Afghan security forces without disclosing ties to company training them

• Scarborough baselessly claimed nations "are testing" Obama "in a way ... they wouldn't have tested Dick Cheney"

• On Today, Matalin baselessly claimed Jindal's "education reform" made Louisiana "one of the top states in the country"

• CNBC's Bartiromo falsely suggested Obama proposed taxing small businesses' revenue

• Wash. Post forwards LA-Las Vegas rail line falsehood

• Santelli now agrees White House's purported "veiled threat" wasn't a threat

• Wash. Post, NY Times let Boehner revive small business tax falsehood

• O'Reilly, Miller falsely suggested Obama supported Prop 8

Gary Locke Latest Nominee for Commerce Secretary

:: Former Washington governor, Gary Locke, announced as the nominee for commerce secretary. From HUFFPOST:

President Obama and Vice President Biden introduced former Washington Gov. Gary Locke as Commerce Secretary nominee Wednesday.

"I'm sure it's not lost on anyone that we've tried this a couple of times. But I'm a big believer in keeping at something until you get it right," Obama said. Locke is Obama's third nominee for the post. His previous two choices for the post dropped out well before the Senate had a chance to confirm them.

Image source whitehouse.gov. 
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GOP Forces 10% increase in Congressional Budget to Retain Their Own Staffing Levels

:: These people truly, truly need to BE GONE, before Webster changes the definition of hypocrisy to include the term "Republican". The Republicans insisted on maintaining their staffing levels in spite of the fact that they lost 20% of their congressional seats in 2008. Aside from the utter hypocrisy/absurdity evidenced in this, we should ask ourselves why they require that additional staff. Perhaps campaign activities on the taxpayer dime?  From Think Progress:

We had a situation — you should direct that question to Senator McConnell because we had trouble organizing this year. He wanted to maintain a lot of their staffing even though they had lost huge numbers. And the only way we could get it done is to do what we did.

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Another Bailed-Out Bank and a Warped Sense of Priorities

:: The bank is Northern Trust, based in Chicago, a bank that received $1.6 million in bail-out funds.
In December, Northern Trust announced that they would eliminate 450 jobs. Last week, they celebrated in Las Vegas.

From TMZ:

Northern Trust, a Chicago-based bank, sponsored the Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club in L.A. We’re told Northern Trust paid millions to sponsor the PGA event which ended Sunday, but what happened off the golf course is even more shocking.

Northern Trust flew hundreds of clients and employees to L.A. and put many of them up at some of the fanciest and priciest hotels in the city. We’re told more than a hundred people were put up at the Beverly Wilshire in Bev Hills, and another hundred stayed at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Still more stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey and others at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.

Additionally, Northern Trust hosted a series of lavish parties, entertained by famous singers. What a bunch of complete losers. From CBS:

The private party was lavish; the entertainment, top notch. Grammy winner, Sheryl Crow entertained while hundreds of bankers and clients dined on steak and salmon at The House of Blues on Los Angeles's glitzy Sunset Strip. The Saturday soiree capped a week of partying.
There was dinner at the Ritz while the band "Chicago" played and cocktails in Santa Monica. All were captured by celebrity Web site TMZ. And it was all paid for by Chicago-based Northern Trust bank - three months after Northern Trust got $1.6 billion in taxpayer's bailout money and laid off hundreds of workers.

Image courtesy of TMZ.
H/T Think Progress.
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