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News Roundup
Author: BobR    Date: 06/25/2010 12:31:57

Every once in a while rather than focus on a single topic, we like to provide our readers with a news roundup of stories that may or may not be on the front pages. Today's stories involve (surprise) politics, particularly of the "you gotta be kidding" variety...

Probably the most visible of the stories is the Senate Republicans killing the jobs agenda legislation. This would continue to extend unemployment benefits, something that saved me last year when I was unemployed:
Stymied by Republicans, Democrats are at a loss as they struggle to help pump up the economy in the run-up to congressional elections this fall.

The demise of their jobs-agenda legislation Thursday means that unemployment benefits will phase out for more than 200,000 people a week. Governors who had counted on fresh federal aid will now have to consider a more budget cuts, tax increases and layoffs of state workers.

Senate Democrats cut billions from the bill in an attempt to attract enough Republican votes to overcome a filibuster. But the 57-41 vote fell three votes short of the 60 required to crack a GOP filibuster...

Apparently, the Republicans think this is unnecessary because the economy is back on track, right? Which means President Obama was successful at fixing it right? No?... Then they don't care about the unemployed in their districts? What's it going to be?

Back in the House, the Democrats passed a campaign finance disclosure bill:
Corporate CEOs would have to appear in campaign ads they fund, under a political disclosure bill the House just passed by a narrow margin.

Democrats, hoping to rein in special-interest spending before November's midterm elections, pushed the measure, which would impose broad new disclosure rules on political spending.

The bill, approved by a 219-206 vote, was opposed by Republicans who cast it as violating free-speech protections and filled with exemptions for powerful groups, such as the National Rifle Association and labor unions.

So the Dems are suddenly big NRA supporters? Actually, that was a carrot tossed in to appease the Republicans, who still voted against it. Look for Senate Republicans to kill this one too. One thing you can count on from Republican politicians is that they do NOT want you to know who is funding them.

Another piece of legislation that Republicans are going to hate is a new Estate Tax bill, which is dubbed the "billionaire estate tax". Republicans will predictably call this another Death Tax and spread all kinds of lies about it, infuriating Average Joes who will think it applies to them when it doesn't and never will. They complain about the deficit, but when common sense measures are introduced, their scorched earth policy prevents them from even considering them.

Which leads to "teh stoopid" which seems to percolate from the lower bowels of the party. In this instance, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) seems to think that the Obama-Hitler comparison is brilliant, and felt the need to say so on the House floor:
There’s a brilliant man named Thomas Sowell. And, um, I didn't vote for Barack Obama in 2008, but I sure would have voted for Thomas Sowell. This man, well, his article says quite a lot. His editorial, um, says here — and it’s just been posted this week — but it says, "When Adolph Hitler was building up the Nazi movement in the 1920’s" — and I'm quoting from Thomas Sowell in his editorial: 'leading up to his taking power in the 1930s, he deliberately sought to activate people who did not normally pay much attention to politics. Such people were a valuable addition to his political base, since they were particularly susceptible to Hitler's rhetoric and had far less basis for questioning his assumptions or his conclusions. 'Useful idiots' was the term supposedly coined by V.I. Lenin to describe similarly unthinking supporters of his dictatorship in the Soviet Union.'

And this isn't in the article — this is my comment — but we do have useful idiots today, who are heard to say, 'Wow, what we really need is for the president to be a dictator for a little while.' They know not what they say.

Stupid is as stupid does. And speaking of stupid, Sarah Palin has been found guilty of violating campaign finance rules:
Nearly a year after she quit her governorship of Alaska, Sarah Palin was found guilty today of another breach of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act involving her so-called Alaska Fund Trust (AFT), which she established as a private "legal defense fund" while governor.
[...]
In what is an extremely detailed finding, Petumenos ruled that even though Palin assigned the research of forming the fund to her former spokesperson Meghan Stapleton and even though Palin relied on extensive outside legal counsel, that "the Trust itself, as ultimately conceived, violates the Ethics Act."

The finding is a stinging rebuke to Palin, who must now return more than $386,000 in contributions to the AFT.

I guess she needs to sell a few more books. I'm sure FAUX News will be more than happy to help her with that.

That's it for today.

Bonus Click: Oral Roberts mat have died, but his stoopid lives on...


 

42 comments (Latest Comment: 06/25/2010 23:26:50 by trojanrabbit)
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Comment by TriSec on 06/25/2010 12:57:20
Morning, comrades.



Two tidbits to start the day. I was reading something about water recycling, and I ran across this:





blackwater (blāk'wô'tər) Pronunciation Key

Wastewater containing bodily or other biological wastes, as from toilets, dishwashers, or kitchen drains.





Strangely appropriate, don't you think?



"Vuvuzela" sounds an awful lot like "Vulva Zealot"...only I have no idea what that could possibly mean.



It's Friday, people. We need a Friday around here. Going to fish Walden this weekend; gotta check my requirements and limits, but if we catch anything, we can eat 'em!



Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 13:04:46
Morning



You know I like the News Round up - maybe it should be a weekly feature

Comment by BobR on 06/25/2010 13:19:13
Quote by TriSec:

Morning, comrades.



Two tidbits to start the day. I was reading something about water recycling, and I ran across this:





blackwater (blāk'wô'tər) Pronunciation Key

Wastewater containing bodily or other biological wastes, as from toilets, dishwashers, or kitchen drains.





Strangely appropriate, don't you think?



"Vuvuzela" sounds an awful lot like "Vulva Zealot"...only I have no idea what that could possibly mean.



It's Friday, people. We need a Friday around here. Going to fish Walden this weekend; gotta check my requirements and limits, but if we catch anything, we can eat 'em!



I've also heard of "gray water", which comes from showers and washing machines. It can be filtered and reused for the toilet or watering the lawn.



Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 13:24:05
speaking of types of water - am I the only one who's noticed that home depot and Lowes have been selling rain barrels lately?

Comment by TriSec on 06/25/2010 13:24:21
There's a significant move around Eastern MA to get everyone rainbarrels to use for lawn & garden watering. There's a company on the North Shore that recycles milk bottles to make them, too.





Comment by TriSec on 06/25/2010 13:29:52
Comment by BobR on 06/25/2010 13:38:08
more God talk again??

Comment by BobR on 06/25/2010 13:39:09
Quote by wickedpam:

speaking of types of water - am I the only one who's noticed that home depot and Lowes have been selling rain barrels lately?


I thought they always did, but maybe they're more visible now. We made one and it is always full (the AC condensation feeds into the gutter).

Comment by TriSec on 06/25/2010 13:41:09
Hmm....I have two garden plots, and I've been taking care of the lawn in front of the building. (the hired hands won't touch anything unless they can see the office from where they're standing.)



I've been using the building's water (it's the landlord's, right?) but I suppose I could be more responsible...





Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 13:47:24
Quote by BobR:

Quote by wickedpam:

speaking of types of water - am I the only one who's noticed that home depot and Lowes have been selling rain barrels lately?


I thought they always did, but maybe they're more visible now. We made one and it is always full (the AC condensation feeds into the gutter).






Maybe they have, I've just not seen them there before. Now they sit right up front in the big endcaps - looks like they've been selling well too

Comment by BobR on 06/25/2010 14:24:09
wow - HUGE shout out for Shane-O

Comment by Scoopster on 06/25/2010 14:27:23
I've got two words for Lou Gohmert.. they're on my Facebook wall.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 14:27:47
anyone remember the year we all met up at that big rally in DC was that 5 years ago at this point?

Comment by Scoopster on 06/25/2010 14:28:07
Oh yeah.. morning all & Happy Fridee!



Goin' to the farmers market later with the boss to pick up some more fresh strawberries!

Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 14:28:59
Quote by Scoopster:

I've got two words for Lou Gohmert.. they're on my Facebook wall.






*steph's mom* Oh Dear...

Comment by Scoopster on 06/25/2010 14:29:20
Quote by wickedpam:

anyone remember the year we all met up at that big rally in DC was that 5 years ago at this point?


I think I'm still coming down from the chain smoking I was doin' at that rally

Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 14:29:28
Quote by BobR:

wow - HUGE shout out for Shane-O






that was more like a billboard

Comment by BobR on 06/25/2010 14:37:31
Quote by wickedpam:

anyone remember the year we all met up at that big rally in DC was that 5 years ago at this point?


the one on Sept 23, 2005?

Comment by BobR on 06/25/2010 14:39:00
Quote by Scoopster:

I've got two words for Lou Gohmert.. they're on my Facebook wall.


Gee - now how did I manage to guess what those two words would be?

Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 14:58:42
Quote by BobR:

Quote by wickedpam:

anyone remember the year we all met up at that big rally in DC was that 5 years ago at this point?


the one on Sept 23, 2005?






I think that was it - the first big meet up in DC when we were all still with AAP

Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 15:02:21
I can't believe its been 5 years since then!



We should do something anniversary like.

Comment by TriSec on 06/25/2010 15:07:31
Quote by wickedpam:

I can't believe its been 5 years since then!



We should do something anniversary like.






Boston is a fine city to visit in the summer. But you won't beat New England foliage season, either!





Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 15:23:17
Kevin

Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 15:23:49
Quote by TriSec:

Quote by wickedpam:

I can't believe its been 5 years since then!



We should do something anniversary like.






Boston is a fine city to visit in the summer. But you won't beat New England foliage season, either!







Hey, I've never been to BOston at any time of the year



Comment by livingonli on 06/25/2010 15:52:47
Good morning everyone.



It's a 0-0 tie in the Brazil-Portugal match. And I think I was tired this morning.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/25/2010 16:17:08
Morning or rather afternoon Liv



I don't think anyone can fault you for wanting sleep, you do hold down the late night early morning hours

Comment by livingonli on 06/25/2010 16:20:38
At least I am glad I don't work overnights.

Comment by livingonli on 06/25/2010 16:53:55
Is anyone else having trouble getting into facebook right now?

Comment by livingonli on 06/25/2010 16:57:43
Never mind. It's back.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/25/2010 17:02:55
http://www.theeuropeans.net/blog/images/Nola_8682.jpg




Just cause I think we all need some pretty this week.



http://blog.nola.com/living/2009/02/large_indian1.JPG


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/25/2010 17:22:34
Comment by Mondobubba on 06/25/2010 17:27:46
Quote by BobR:

Quote by TriSec:

Morning, comrades.



Two tidbits to start the day. I was reading something about water recycling, and I ran across this:





blackwater (blāk'wô'tər) Pronunciation Key

Wastewater containing bodily or other biological wastes, as from toilets, dishwashers, or kitchen drains.





Strangely appropriate, don't you think?



"Vuvuzela" sounds an awful lot like "Vulva Zealot"...only I have no idea what that could possibly mean.



It's Friday, people. We need a Friday around here. Going to fish Walden this weekend; gotta check my requirements and limits, but if we catch anything, we can eat 'em!



I've also heard of "gray water", which comes from showers and washing machines. It can be filtered and reused for the toilet or watering the lawn.





Merrill used "reclaimed" water in all their sprinklers to keep the non-native plants looking healthy. It smells funky.

Comment by TriSec on 06/25/2010 17:31:31




Charming couple. But of course we can't give babies to gays; look how awful they would be as parents!





Comment by TriSec on 06/25/2010 18:59:18
Say, it's a Friday!







All I got.





Comment by Mondobubba on 06/25/2010 19:10:46
Quote by TriSec:





Charming couple. But of course we can't give babies to gays; look how awful they would be as parents!







Yeah my would be governor and current Attorney General, Bill McCullum, hired the dude who got his traveling companion from Rentboy.com to say that the gays are bad parents in testimony for a lawsuit challenging the law. This cost Florida about 120 grand, McCollums aides said don't hire him he's not credible.

Comment by TriSec on 06/25/2010 20:23:53
Ticking down to a much-needed weekend. Alas, no airshow now. (The T-Birds are at N. Kingston, RI...I was going until the car blew up.)



So, my plans include sleeping late tomorrow, lying in the sun, and maybe going fishing Sunday am.





Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/25/2010 21:05:30
Hello, bloggers!



BobR, thanks for an interesting blog. It does seem that there is a common theme of the GOP wanting to see the control go further down the drain so that they can claim that they alone can save us.





Comment by Raine on 06/25/2010 21:23:54
Hey Everyone!



I am back in Germantown, for the rest of the weekend. We have returned from the funeral, and are going to go forward with Oma's 91st birthday Celebration. Tommorrow I am making Rouladin for 14 people....





But mostly for Oma.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/25/2010 23:02:24
Quote by Raine:

Hey Everyone!



I am back in Germantown, for the rest of the weekend. We have returned from the funeral, and are going to go forward with Oma's 91st birthday Celebration. Tommorrow I am making Rouladin for 14 people....





But mostly for Oma.






Did you second line?



Have I mentioned that Oma rocks?

Comment by clintster on 06/25/2010 23:09:19
So apparently, Fort Knox isn't in the United States?



http://img.wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/palin-tweet.jpg


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/25/2010 23:26:23
Quote by clintster:

So apparently, Fort Knox isn't in the United States?



http://img.wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/palin-tweet.jpg




Wow, that it really incoherent, even for her. I so hope NBC doesn't get all pissy about Conan doing the tweets o' Palin as beat poetry as read by Shatner.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 06/25/2010 23:26:50
Just came back from dinner celebrating Mr & Mrs Rabbit's 27 years of wedded bliss. Got asked to work tomorrow which I guess is a good thing, the Honda is due for a timing belt replacement.