While Congressional and Senate Republicans stand in the way of Democratic Party initiatives to solve America’s economic woes and Bill Shuster complains about the ineffectiveness of inactivity, 9th District Congressional Candidate Tony Barr works toward real solutions for working people in Pennsylvania 9th Congressional District. In a statement released on Wednesday July 23rd, The Democratic Party Challenger offers a series of proposals intended to aid Central Pennsylvania’s economic woes.
Big Oil lobbyists will rush down the Capitol steps today like kids on Christmas morning and they won’t believe their eyes. Letting them drill for more oil in more places and only hot air on energy efficiency – House Republicans want to give them everything Big Oil has asked for.
Big Oil has been good this year to candidates of both parties, but particularly to Republicans. According to OpenSecrets.org, just three oil companies – BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil – have contributed $1,067,139 to Republican candidates in the 2008 election cycle alone. But go back to 1990 and those three Big Oil companies have given an astounding $19,909,655 to Republican candidates.
Remember the All-American hero who stood up to George Bush when he appeared in person in Charlotte, North Carolina? Remember how Bush was so taken back by Harry Taylor's respectful, well-thought-out and on-point approach? Well, Harry is now running for US Congress in the 9th US District in North Carolina and he is taking on Sue Myrick. Sue Myrick has had her turn and she has done virtually nothing, just like Bush. She will be just as taken back by Harry Taylor as Bush was.
On last night's edition of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart and John Oliver talked about the recent testimonies by members of the Bush administration on Capitol Hill for numerous different scandals. As Stewart explains - some or refusing to testify while others are testifying and refusing to say anything. Oliver claims that this is an historic administration that one day will have their names retired in the rafters of the Capitol building. Fathers will one day be able to tell their sons that yes, they saw the greatest douches of all time.
Also, Lewis Black rants about the economy and the "End of an Empire Sale". I'll try not to spoil it but suffice it to say that Lewis Black is always funny. There is also a new segment of Obama Quest up as well.
Enjoy the video recap and chime in with your thoughts / comments:
I don't see another diary about this yet, so am shooting it out ... the story and discussion of it, to my mind, belongs top o' Page 1, everywhere.
"Salon has uncovered new evidence of post-9/11 spying on Americans. Obtained documents point to a potential investigation of the White House that could rival Watergate."
What's more important -- Salon has uncovered evidence that a Democratic Congress is contemplating really doing its job starting in 2009 -- assuming we can make the gains in the Senate that seem possible.
From Federal Computer Week:
"The House rejected a bill last week that would have funded the purchase of paper ballots as a backup to electronic voting systems for the upcoming election.
The bill would have directed the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make the grants in time for the November vote."
If Democrats, who lost two presidential elections under questionable e-voting can't pass a bill providing alternative paper ballots to guarantee free and fair elections, then you have to ask "which lobby paid them off?"
President Bush is putting the political screws to Congress this week to get them to open offshore drilling and shale development to increase domestic production with the goal of lowering gas prices.
This is disingenuous - he knows it and the Saudis know it. The Saudis you say? The Saudis are scratching their heads at the high prices because they can't sell what they already have - nobody is buying right now according to a recent NY Times article about the development of the huge Khurais oil field:
With all this oil becoming available, the Aramco officials said they were baffled that the market seemed to be behaving as though there were a shortage.
"We’ve asked all the international oil companies that buy from us if they want more oil," Mr. Nasser said. "But we can’t find customers."
Roosevelt Calls on Nation to Ban Bootlegger--Saloon's Return; Huge Liquor Imports Authorized
Washington, Dec. 5. (Exclusive) National prohibition ended this afternoon at 3:32 o'clock when a convention in Utah formally ratified the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution, and thus repealed the Eighteenth Amendment.
What's this about? It's a reminder the U.S. Constitution can be amended.
These are words I longed to hear. Never thought I would hear:
Cap ... Executive ... Compensation
How do Americans feel about a possible $25+/- billion "bailout" of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the institutions which hold about half of the nation's mortgages?
Personal and family PAIN involved in all these foreclosures is simply incalculable and completely ignored. One out of every 200+/- homes in FL/CA/AZ is being Foreclosed! (1/122 in NV.) usnews
Senator Jim Webb talked (on Charlie Rose last night) about executive compensation at corporations where American taxpayers are holding the bag. I for one am grateful for this kind of leadership. At least that would be some progress.
when I first heard of "Oli" North I was intrigued by the expensive fence he built to keep Osama bin Laden from his home - admittedly surprised to learn that the muslim hoards had perpetrated our borders (this before our current HOmeland security - pun intended HOe) +/- 1983 (I was @ moscow, Idaho - you gotta know I'm laying low)
Standing between the North Coast RTA station in downtown Cleveland and the wind turbine at the Great Lakes Science Center, OH-14 Democratic nominee Bill O’Neill challenged Steve LaTourette to debate him on energy policy, "anytime, anywhere." Bill chose this location because it highlighted the differences between some of his long term solutions to the energy crisis, and LaTourette’s election year gimmicks.
Reiterating My OPPOSITION to Tolling I-80 as PA Turnpike Commission Reveals Plans to Spend I-80 Toll Money:
This week the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission released details of their plans to repair Interstate 80 using the funds generated from tolls paid by users of the highway. It was stated by the Turnpike Commission and their consultants that "An assessment of the interstate showed that more than half its length has not been repaved since it was built some 40 years ago". In press accounts, Barry J. Schoch, identified as Project Manager, also detailed plans to build a "cashless open road tolling system" that will utilize the EZ Pass system to collect a portion of the tolls. Mr. Schoch also described how vehicles not equipped with EZ Pass will have their tolls collected saying "a driver without E-ZPass will have his or her license plate photographed, generating a mailed-out bill for the vehicle owner". He also stated that this non EZ Pass system "is not currently used on any U.S. highway."
Last Thursday, Rep. Linda Sanchez called for Karl Rove to be arrested for failing to comply with a Congressional subpoena and appear before her Committee. While I applaud Congresswoman Sanchez's sentiments, I seriously doubt Karl Rove will face such action and I blame Sanchez and her ilk in Congress. Sanchez wrote:
"After my ruling that Mr. Rove's claims of immunity are not legally valid, Congressman Conyers and I gave him one last chance to comply with the law. He ignored us. As he let yet another deadline slip by this week, Mr. Rove's disregard for Congress has become intolerable..."
Translation: "I subpoenaed Mr. Rove and he didn't show up. Then I warned him and gave him one last chance, and he still didn't show up. Then I double warned him and he still didn't comply. If he refuses to comply any longer, I may have to super-duper double-secret warn him and see if he complies then..."
Yesterday at NN08, I spoke with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Vice President Al Gore, and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett about the bill in Congress to move Election Day to Saturday and Sunday. Check out the video.
We always hear or read about the horrible trial lawyers. In fact, last week in the Houston Chronicle we saw another op-ed by the chairman of Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
Barbara Ann Radnofsky, 2006 TX Dem nominee for U.S. Senate, wrote a responseto the article that has been published in the Sunday edition of the Houston Chronicle. Barbara Ann is a Houston attorney who has been listed in "Best Lawyers in America" for each of the past 15 years.
When Karl Rove refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee to answer questions, I began to worry that it might be difficult to find him--even if they wanted to. Could it be too late, or even worse, "off the table".
What if he's already in Paraguay? Ah, not to worry. Welcome releif arrived in my email. I was "reassured" to see his pudgy white visage on this cool website They have already collected about 50,000 signatures for the HJC, encouraging them to do their constitutional job and bring him in for a little oathy chat. The website looked legit. Our emptywheel, Marcy Wheeler was there. I signed the petition and wrote the committee a little note of encouragement. Then, fertilized by all the BS from Karl, one more idea blossomed.
House Democratic leaders said the proceedings would not be about Bush's impeachment, a first step in the Constitution's process of a removing a president from office.
The crimes are under review by our crime fighting congress! Oh goody, more investigations that have no result, other than casting further doubt on the notion that we are a nation of laws.
It is as if, one fine sunny day in school, a bully went rampaging through the halls, breaking into lockers, beating up students, and the hall monitor snuck over to one of the victims and whispered, "Excuse me, did you notice if he had the requisite hall pass?"
