Inspire Political Discourse

Patrick Kennedy Calls Out the National Press

During a debate today on ending the war in Afghanistan, Rep. Patrick Kennedy aimed a fierce diatribe at the press, which he feels has been irresponsible in reporting on the topics that really matter.

“There's one, two press people in this gallery. We're talking about Eric Massa 24/7 on the TV. We're talking about war and peace; $3 billion; 1,000 lives and no press! No press!

You want to know why the American public is fit? They're fit because they're not seeing their Congress do the work that they're sent to do! It's because the press, the press of the United States, is not covering the most significant issue of national importance and that's the laying of lives down in the nation for the service of our country. It's despicable, the national press corps right now.” [....]

It's about damn time that someone said it. You GO, Patrick.

Want More Control as a Voter? Read This.

:: Introducing IPD Legislation Tracking

Inspire Political Discourse is going to take on the task of tracking some of the bills that I consider important.

In doing this, I hope to make it easy for you to make your voices heard, because you will be able to easily stay on top of legislation, and thus contact your rep and/or senator to express your views in a timely manner. Please do let me know what you think about this, and feel free to volunteer to contribute some time to this project.

You may find this post, and future posts tracking legislation under the category Legislation-Tracking, with a link in the nav bar at the top of the page. Feel free to suggest bills that you feel that I should be tracking, as well. And, if you need help in finding out how your elected officials voted, or in contacting them, please do leave a comment, and I'll be happy to help. At some point in the future, IPD will likely publish a tutorial of sorts.

In the Process: 2 Resolutions Dealing With Equal Pay/Job Discrimination

On Friday, the House passed two bills.One of the bills would give workers more time to file discrimination lawsuits, overturning a 2007 Supreme Court decision which strictly enforced a 180-day deadline. The bill passed 247-171, and only 3 of the "yes" votes were cast by Republicans. [House Resolution No.: H.R.11]

The second bill will make it easier for women to prove employer violations of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which requires equal pay for equal work. This one passed with the support of 10 whole Republicans, 256 to 163. [House Resolution No.: H.R.12]

Regarding both of these bills, it would be a good idea to follow up by finding out how your representative voted, and then contacting him/her if they voted against either of these measures.  Be sure to be polite, but do ask them why they voted against these bills, and express your displeasure. We can no longer afford to let the GOP machine rule this country, and this is one way of reasserting some voter control.

Additionally, neither of these bills has yet gone to the senate. Call, email, or write your senators to express your views. Be active, make your voice heard!

Other legislation IPD is currently watching

The Obama Cabinet

FOREIGN POLICY	JUSTICE	EDUCATION
Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton	Attorney General - Eric Holder	Secretary of Education - Arne Duncan

TRANSPORTATION	LABOR	VETERANS AFFAIRS
Secretary of Transportation- Ray LaHood	Secretary of Labor - Hilda Solis	Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Eric Shinseki

COMMERCE	HEALTH	AGRICULTURE
Secretary of Commerce - Bill Richardson	Secretary of Health & Human Services - Tom Daschle	Secretary of Agriculture - Tom Vilsack

ENERGY	HOMELAND SECURITY	DEFENSE
Secretary of Energy - Steven Chu	Secretary of Homeland Security - Janet Napolitano	Secretary of Defense - Robert Gates

TREASURY	HUD	TRADE
Secretary of the Treasury - Timothy Geithner	Secretary of Housing & Urban Development - Shaun Donovan	United States Trade Representative - Ron Kirk

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Ambassador to the United Nations - Dr. Susan Rice

This is the full cabinet, as nominated. They must all be confirmed by the senate, but with the exception of Eric Holder, they are expected to be confirmed without major incident.

You may notice that I included the Ambassador to the United Nations (Dr. Susan RIce) in the cabinet. Although this position has not previously enjoyed cabinet rank, Obama has said that he intends to confer cabinet rank on this very important position.

As far as presidential succession goes, the only two positions that really matter are that of the secretary of state, and the secretary of the treasury. While technically, the entire cabinet is in the line of succession, in reality, it simply wouldn't work that way. The line of succession is as follows (incomplete because it is pointless):

1. Vice President - Joe Biden
2. Speaker of the House of Representatives - Nancy Pelosi
3. President pro tempore of the Senate - currently Robert Byrd
4. Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton
5. Secretary of the Treasury - Timothy Geithner

In the unlikely event that the president, the vice-president, the speaker, and the president pro tempore all died or became incapacitated, Hillary Clinton would be unlikely to assume the presidency, as a new speaker and president pro tempo would be elected by congress. The chances of the other cabinet members assuming the presidency are very much slimmer.

For a full (those that have been announced) list of the White House staff, cabinet level positions, and administrative positions, check out my earlier/updated post.

 

All images were cropped from wikimedia commons images.

A Panel of Top GOP House Leaders Appoints the Ethically Challenged Doc Hastings to Chair Committee

Oh, my. How differently the GOP treats their "ethically challenged" pols as opposed to how we Dems treat ours.

A group of ranking GOP congressman have appointed Doc Hastings (R_WA) to chair the Natural Resources Committee. Hastings has a tarnished history, as reported today by Think Progress. There is much more to this story, so do be sure to check it out at TP. Bolding is mine.

Recall, Jack Abramoff once boasted of having an “excellent relationship” with Hastings, who received $14,000 from Abramoff’s firm, Preston Gates — including $1,000 from Abramoff himself. After taking control of the Ethics Committee, Hastings reportedly fired two staff lawyers involved in unanimous decisions to admonish Tom DeLay for improper fundraising. Hastings also contacted fired U.S. Attorney John McKay and attempted to pressure him in an ongoing investigation.

Op-Ed: Stop Crucifying the Auto Industry

Author Note: I have no ties to the auto industry whatsoever, and no family members or friends who are employed by the auto industry.

I'll just be real up front about this. I am freaking tired of watching Congress lambaste the automakers, and here's why.

The government threw taxpayer dollars at the financial services industry as if they were on fire. $700 freaking billion dollars at an industry which begged and lobbied for deregulation all the while it was rewarding it's managers for poor performance.

Today we learned that Merrill Lynch's CEO has asked for a $10 million bonus. For what you ask? After all, the idiot completely took down his own company. Well, the jackass today said that he deserves a bonus for brokering the merger of ML with Bank of America because the losses would have been greater if he had not. Can he spell CORPORATE F*CKING GREED??

Full Transcript and Video of President-elect Obama's Weekly Video Address to the Nation, November 22, 2008

Verbatim transcript of President-elect Obama's weekly video address, November 22, 2008. Annotation and bolding is mine. View the video here.

On the state of the economy this week:

“Good morning.

The news this week has only reinforced the fact that we are facing an economic crisis of historic proportions. THe financial markets faced more turmoil. New home purchases were the lowest in a half a century. 540,000 more jobless claims were filed last week, the highest in eighteen years, and we now risk falling in to a deflationary spiral that could increase our massive debt even further.”

On job loss this month and year:

“While I'm pleased that Congress passed a long overdue extension of unemployment benefits this week, we must do more to put people back to work and get our economy moving again. We have now lost 1.2 million jobs this year and if we don't act swiftly and boldly, most experts now believe that we could lose millions of jobs next year.”

On his economic recovery plan:

“There are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, which has been many years in the making, and it's likely to get worse before it gets better. But January 20th is our chance to begin anew with a new direction, new ideas, and new reforms that will create jobs and fuel long-term economic growth.

I have already directed my economic team to come up with an economic recovery plan that will mean 2.5 million more jobs by January of 2011. A plan big enough to meet the challenges we face, that I intend to sign soon after taking office. We'll be working out the details in the weeks ahead, but it will be a two year, nationwide effort to jumpstart job creation in America, and lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy.

We'll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, modernizing schools that are failing our children, and building wind farms and solar panels, fuel-efficient cars and the alternative energy technologies that can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and to keep our economy competitive in the years ahead.”

On long-term goals and what he expects from Congress:

“These aren't just steps to pull ourselves out of the immediate crisis, these are the long-term investments in our economic future, that have been ignored for far too long, and they represent an early down payment on the type of reform my administration will bring to Washington. Government that spends wisely, focuses on what works, and puts the public interest ahead of the same special interests that have come to dominate our politics.

I know that passing this plan won't be easy, that I will need, and seek support from Republicans and Democrats. And I'll be welcome to ideas and suggestions from both sides of the aisle, but what is not negotiable is the need for immediate action.”

Empathy for Americans who face job loss, declining incomes, loss of college and retirement funds:

“Right now there are millions of mothers and fathers who are lying awake at night wondering if next week's paycheck will cover next month's bills. There are Americans showing up to work in the morning only to have cleared out their desks by the afternoon. Retirees are watching their life savings disappear, and students are seeing their college dreams deferred. These Americans need help, and they need it now.”

The enduring power of the American dream:

“The survival of the American dream for over two centuries is not only a testament to it's enduring power, but to the great effort, sacrifice and courage of the American people. It has thrived because in our darkest hours, we have risen above the smallness of our divisions to forge a path toward a new and brighter day. We've acted boldly, bravely, and above all, together.That is the chance our new beginning now offers us, and that is the challenge we must rise to in the days to come. It is time to act. As the next president of the United States, I will.”

RELATED - RECENT POST

>Full Transcript and Video of President-elect Obama's Weekly Video Address to the Nation, November 22, 2008
>Video of President-elect Obama's Weekly Address to the Nation as He Promises to Take Action on the Economy Immediately Upon Taking Office
>Jon Stewart and the Somali Pirates
>Sarah Palin and the Turkeys
>Daily Political News Round-Up - Friday, November 21, 2008
>The Obama Administration: a Listing of the Obama Cabinet, White House Staff, and Cabinet - Level Positions
>Are All of the Republicans NUTS or Just the Evangelicals?

Video of President-elect Obama's Weekly Address to the Nation as He Promises to Take Action on the Economy Immediately Upon Taking Office

From change.gov, in President-elect Obama's weekly radio address to the American people. Closed captioned.

It's about the economy, natch.

You can view the annotated transcript here.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

RELATED - RECENT POST

>Full Transcript and Video of President-elect Obama's Weekly Video Address to the Nation, November 22, 2008
>Video of President-elect Obama's Weekly Address to the Nation as He Promises to Take Action on the Economy Immediately Upon Taking Office
>Jon Stewart and the Somali Pirates
>Sarah Palin and the Turkeys
>Daily Political News Round-Up - Friday, November 21, 2008
>The Obama Administration: a Listing of the Obama Cabinet, White House Staff, and Cabinet - Level Positions
>Are All of the Republicans NUTS or Just the Evangelicals?

AIG Throws $440k Party After Bailout at Taxpayer Expense

►AIG throws $440,000 party after bailout

WASHINGTON – Days after it got a federal bailout, American International Group Inc. (AIG) spent $440,000 on a posh California retreat for its executives, complete with spa treatments, banquets and golf outings, according to lawmakers investigating the company’s meltdown.

AIG sent its executives to the coastal St. Regis resort south of Los Angeles even as the company tapped into an $85-billion loan from the government it needed to stave off bankruptcy. The resort tab included $23,380 worth of spa treatments for AIG employees, according to invoices the resort turned over to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The retreat didn’t include anyone from the financial products division that nearly drove AIG under, but lawmakers still were enraged over thousands of dollars spent on outing for executives of AIG’s main US life insurance subsidiary.

Continue reading here.

RELATED ARTICLES:

McCain Mortgage Proposal Already Covered in Bailout Bill

►Long History for Proposal on Mortgages by McCain - The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Scrambling to repair his image on economic issues, Senator John McCain proposed during Tuesday night’s debate a $300 billion plan authorizing the treasury secretary to buy the mortgages of homeowners in financial trouble and replace them with more affordable loans.

The campaign of Senator Barack Obama quickly countered by saying that the financial rescue plan that President Bush signed into law last week already gave the treasury secretary such power. And, his advisers noted, Mr. Obama recommended such a step in a news conference nearly two weeks ago.

Continue reading here.

RELATED ARTICLES:

McCain Campaign at Dead End

►Analysis: With bailout, McCain reaches dead end - Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Republican John McCain has maneuvered himself into a political dead end and has five weeks to find his way out.

Last Wednesday, McCain suspended his presidential campaign to insert himself into a $700 billion effort to rescue America's crumbling financial structure. In so doing, he tied himself far more tightly to the bill than did his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama.

Then, as the bailout plan appeared ready for passage Monday in the House, McCain bragged that he was an action-oriented Teddy Roosevelt Republican who did not sit on the sidelines at a moment of crisis. Continue reading here.

Inspire Note: See Intrade Electoral Vote Predictor.

RELATED ARTICLES:

McCain Can Never Resist the Blame Game

►With Deal’s Collapse, the McCain Camp Attacks - New York TImes

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Besides stockholders whose portfolios were ravaged Monday afternoon, the one person with the most riding on the bailout bill that collapsed in Congress may have been Senator John McCain.

Mr. McCain had announced last week that he was suspending his presidential campaign to work to ensure the legislation’s passage, even at the risk of skipping the first presidential debate unless a deal was locked down. (He later relented, debating without a deal.) He had called for the high-level White House meeting that some participants later called unhelpful. And after some initial hesitation, he had allowed himself to be identified with a bill that he thought necessary even if unpopular.

So when the deal fell apart on the House floor Monday, in no small measure because most of the chamber’s Republicans balked at voting for it, the McCain campaign worked to contain the potential for damage. The first defense was to go on offense. Continue reading here.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• The Financial Crisis, McCain's Hypocrisy, and Random Thoughts

• On the Brink: Dow Plunges on Fears House will Not Pass Bailout - ABC News

• House Rejects Bailout Package, 228-205; Stocks Plunge  - New York Times

• House Opens Debate on Bailout Legislation

• Bush: Congress Must Pass Bailout Bill

• Fed Pumps Cash Into System as World Financial Markets Fall

• Government Launches Fannie and Freddie Probe

• ANALYSIS: Dr. Paulson's Tough Medicine, In a Pill the Public Can Swallow

• Lawmakers Urge Action on Bailout

• Text of President Bush's statement

• A Gut-Wrenching Ride

• Full Coverage: Turmoil on Wall Street

• Breakdown of the Final Bailout Bill

Breaking News: The Republicans Have Defeated the Bailout Plan

►On the Brink: Dow Plunges on Fears House will Not Pass Bailout - ABC News

House Republicans shocked the White House -- and the stock market -- by refusing to approve the Bush administration's gargantuan Wall Street bailout today.

The House vote was expected to be close for the $700 billion rescue plan, but the chance of it passing was put in peril when 132 Republican members of the House voted against it. Only 66 Republicans voted for it.

The impact of the vote was felt even before the voting was concluded. The DOW plunged as the votes were being counted and it was apparent that passage was unlikely. As the voting continued the Dow plummeted to 700 points, then recovered. Continue reading here.

►House Rejects Bailout Package, 228-205; Stocks Plunge  - New York Times

WASHINGTON — In a moment of historic import in the Capitol and on Wall Street, the House of Representatives voted on Monday to reject a $700 billion rescue of the financial industry. The vote came in stunning defiance of President Bush and Congressional leaders of both parties, who said the bailout was needed to prevent a widespread financial collapse. Continue reading here.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• House Opens Debate on Bailout Legislation

• Bush: Congress Must Pass Bailout Bill

• Fed Pumps Cash Into System as World Financial Markets Fall

• Government Launches Fannie and Freddie Probe

• ANALYSIS: Dr. Paulson's Tough Medicine, In a Pill the Public Can Swallow

• Lawmakers Urge Action on Bailout

• Text of President Bush's statement

• A Gut-Wrenching Ride

• Full Coverage: Turmoil on Wall Street

• Breakdown of the Final Bailout Bill

Congress Under Pressure to Approve Bailout

►Congress is pressed for bailout with dire warnings - Reuters

Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:13pm ED

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Congress must approve a $700 billion banking bailout or see the lifeblood squeezed from the world's richest country, America's central bank chief warned on Wednesday as the U.S. economy showed more signs of stalling.

As Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke toiled to convince Congress to approve the hugely expensive plan allowing the government to buy up toxic mortgages which have dried up global credit, markets showed extreme strain.

Investors stampeded into cash, briefly pushing one-month interest rates to below zero on fears that lawmakers might delay or change the nature of the bailout. Scarce credit forced overnight lending rates for companies to 6.50 percent.

The U.S. dollar fell against the euro and global stocks seesawed as unease over the rescue plan -- which could cost every man, woman and child in America $2,300 -- kept investors on edge.

A new report showed existing U.S. home prices fell a record 9.5 percent in August, and up to 40 percent of homes on the market were in foreclosure or being sold at a loss.

"There's a tremendous amount of anxiety whether this (bailout) bill will get passed," said Thomas di Galoma, head of U.S. government bonds at Jefferies & Co. in New York.  Continue reading here.

Candidates Seek Changes in Federal Bailout Plan

►Candidates Seek Changes In Wall Street Rescue Plan - The Washington Post

SCRANTON, Pa., Sept. 21 -- Both presidential candidates called Sunday for speedy, bipartisan consideration of the Bush administration's $700 billion economic rescue proposal. But Republican John McCain complained that the plan gives too much power to the Treasury secretary, and Democrat Barack Obama cautioned that any final deal must offer protection to taxpayers and homeowners as well as to Wall Street.

McCain is concerned that the White House plan does not contain enough oversight of Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., or of his eventual successor. Even so, McCain did not say he would oppose it.  Continue reading here.

RELATED ARTICLES: 

►Obama Shows Steady Hand in Crisis

►US Financial System in Worst Shape Since Depression - How This May Affect the Election

►Dazed Capital Feels Its Way, Eyes on Election

►Finger-Pointing in Financial Crisis Is Directed at Bush

►$700 Billion for Largest Financial Bailout in US History

►McCain Tries to Link Obama to Financial Crisis

►Obama Rapid-Response Ad Skewers McCain - The Huffington Post

Technorati Tags: US economy,US financial system,federal bailout,Republicans,politics,election,2008 elections,finance,John McCain,2008 presidential campaigns,Barack obama,Obama,money,wall street,fannie mae,freddie mac,Merril Lynch,Lehman Brothers

US Financial System in Worst Shape Since Depression - How This May Affect the Election

►Dazed Capital Feels Its Way, Eyes on Election - The New York TImes

WASHINGTON — The huge bailout of the financial system that the Bush administration and Congress are rushing to draft will leave taxpayers with at least part of the bill at a time when high gasoline prices, job losses and stagnant incomes have already helped produce an overwhelming sense that the nation is on the wrong track.

Policy makers cannot say where it all ends. News reports are unrelentingly talking of “crisis.” After decades of deregulation and free-market fealty, antiregulation, small-government Republicans are putting the government in control of a big chunk of the financial sector.

All of which has left Washington in the midst of a political convulsion that both parties are struggling to understand and  Continue reading here.

RELATED: 

►Dazed Capital Feels Its Way, Eyes on Election

►Finger-Pointing in Financial Crisis Is Directed at Bush

►$700 Billion for Largest Financial Bailout in US History

►McCain Tries to Link Obama to Financial Crisis

►Obama Rapid-Response Ad Skewers McCain - The Huffington Post

Technorati Tags: US economy,US financial system,federal bailout,Capitol Hill response to financial system disaster,Democrats,Republicans,politics,effects on election,election,2008 elections,finance,money,wall street,fannie mae,freddie mac,Merril Lynch,Lehman Brothers