[NeedKarma]

We should try to weed out cronyism from public money (unless the company can show that it's the best bidder) but it has to go deep and both ways. This is not a democrat-only issue for sure.

[speechlesstx]

No it isn't a Democrat-only issue, but a lot of Democrats pretend it's a Republican-only issue. Let them clean up their own house before laying all the blame on the other side.

[speechlesstx]

No wonder Obama is s big on solar energy, the investors are turning out to all be Democrat donors.

More solar companies led by Democratic donors received federal loan guarantees

[talaniman]

You mean like Bush was big on oil? But what would you expect from a Texas politician?

[NeedKarma]

.. or <shudder> Haliburton.

This stuff will NEVER stop.

[tomder55]

Halliburton ? I'm pretty sure that is Obama's no bid contractor of choice.

[talaniman]

He doesn't take bids. Haven't you been following the news? Haliburton and blackwater don't have to submit bids, they just get contracts renewed, by the Pentagon. There is a big stink now because the data said the military has been spending twice the money they would have, had they done whatever they do themselves.

The new guy Paneta is a budget wonk, who specializes in streamlining budgets.

[tomder55]

Don't think the military will go back to the old way of having a bloated force full of cooks and truck drivers delivering supplies.

Anne Marlowe writes in the WSJ that the old stereotypes of the military just won't go away. They are a well trained professional organization.
Ann Marlowe: The Truth About Who Fights for Us - WSJ.com

[speechlesstx]

Senate Republicans took Obama at his word and tried to get a vote on his PassThisBillRightNow "jobs" bill, and Harry Reid changed the rules so the minority can no longer do much of anything without the majority's permission.

Reid rewrites Senate rules with shocking move

In a stunning turn of events this evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. used an arcane legislative maneuver to effectively rewrite Senate rules to make it harder for the minority party to force uncomfortable votes on the majority.

The buildup to this point started on Tuesday, when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. tried to force a vote on President Obama's jobs bill as well as other Republican priorities by offering them as amendments to the China currency bill. Reid blocked the move.

Tonight, McConnell made what's called a "motion to suspend the rules," to allow a vote on the amendments. Such motions are almost always defeated, because they require a two-thirds majority to pass. But they're another way for the minority party to force uncomfortable votes. Even though the minority party doesn't get a direct vote on the amendment, how somebody votes on the motion becomes a sort of proxy for such a vote. In this case, for instance, if Democrats had voted down a motion for a vote on Obama's jobs bill, it would have put them in an awkward spot.

Though it's been the standing practice of the Senate to allow such motions by the minority, tonight Reid broke with precedent and ruled McConnell's motion out of order, and was ultimately backed up by Democrats.

So, the result is that by a simple majority vote, Reid was able to effectively rewrite Senate rules making it even harder than it already is for the minority party to force votes on any amendments. Should Republicans retake the Senate next year, it's something that could come back to haunt Democrats in a major way.

And just to clear up some confusion, what happened tonight was different than the so-called "nuclear option" to end filibusters. While triggering the "nuclear option" requires a Majority Leader to use the same sort of strategic maneuvers as Reid just did, tonight's move had to do with the amendment process, not filibusters.

The Hill also calls the move "shocking."

Harry, as they say, payback's a b*tch.

[tomder55]

I thought the Dems don't like the nuclear option. Good thing McCain and his fellow RINOs(ooops I mean non-partisans ) helped form the gang of 14 to preserve the Senate rules and tradition of comity and compromise and consensus .

[smoothy]

The Dems will do and say anything if it lets them get their way... including burning the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

THey don't even blink about rules changes...

Of course... Harry Reid will be the first to be screaming like a baby someone took the pascifier from when the Republicans do this after the next election since apparently its perfectly acceptable to do now.

[talaniman]

Almost like the repubs screaming at the dems for passing health care, using the very same tool the repubs passed the Bush tax cuts with. They take turns it seems screaming at each other. Of course they are all idiots. One no more or less than the other.

[smoothy]

Almost like the repubs screaming at the dems for passing health care, using the very same tool the repubs passed the Bush tax cuts with. They take turns it seems screaming at each other. Of course they are all idiots. One no more or less than the other.

Gee, Obama liked them enough to renew them.

But the Bush tax cuts... I'm not rich by anyone's definition but they helped me... is very much unlike Obamacare which means 50% of the working public will be paying for the health care of 100% of the American population... because that other 50% shouldn't be required to make the sacrifices and choices the rest of us have to make every day because we are the ones paying the taxes they aren't.

But the tax cuts are actually a budget related thing... and Obamacare is nothing like one.

If the Supreme court doesn't render it null and void, then when we take the senate every bill that goes to the White house should include a rider repealing Obamacare... and if nothing gets done it's the fault of the person that refuses to sign it.

If we take both the White house and senate... the first act should be a complete repeal of Obamacare.

And personally making a AMT that applies to EVERYONE equally. The same Percentage for EVERYONE. No exemptions, and then 100% of the workers will pay an income tax again. That should make the people calling for fair happy.

And the second thing should be Bringing Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi up on charges... Pelosi has family tied up in these loans to insolvent "green" companies.

Harry Reid is cleary going senile so he is likely to get off on degraded mental capacity.

[talaniman]

QUOTE by smoothy;
Gee, Obama liked them enough to renew them.

That was the only way to get unemployment insurance for those caught up in the rigged economic situation that the banks and repubs had perpetrated.

But the Bush tax cuts... I'm not rich by anyone's definition but they helped me... is very much unlike Obamacare which means 50% of the working public will be paying for the health care of 100% of the American population... because that other 50% shouldn't be required to make the sacrifices and choices the rest of us have to make every day because we are the ones paying the taxes they aren't.

That's an lie not based in facts, and draws no distinctions between a payroll tax we all pay, and how corporate taxes are levied. Most who take this position that you seemly have are not sufficiently knowledgeable to keep repearing the lies of the right wing, which have been thoroughly reputed with real facts. Do the math yourself. You are being lied to.

But the tax cuts are actually a budget related thing... and Obamacare is nothing like one.

Health Care IS a budgetary item, and yet again your facts are erroneous.

If the Supreme court doesn't render it null and void, then when we take the senate every bill that goes to the White house should include a rider repealing Obamacare... and if nothing gets done it's the fault of the person that refuses to sign it.

That's what your herione Michelle Bachmann wants to happen, but trust me, you still will have to explain to many of those who are already benefitted why they have to give those benefits up. Like not being able to get kicked off a policy because you got sick. Can't wait. But the right wing of the Supreme Court has already been bought, but there is a chance it will NOT be ruled unconstitutional as a whole.

If we take both the White house and senate... the first act should be a complete repeal of Obamacare.

And keep the HOUSE, don't forget.

And personally making a AMT that applies to EVERYONE equally. The same Percentage for EVERYONE. No exemptions, and then 100% of the workers will pay an income tax again. That should make the people calling for fair happy.

Yeah cut the corporate welfare before you touch mine, but a regressive tax will shrink the economy, not grow it. Have you done the math?

And the second thing should be Bringing Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi up on charges... Pelosi has family tied up in these loans to insolvent "green" companies.

Okay but start with Bush, the loan program was his idea, and even the repubs all over the country is getting in the green game. Rick Perry borrowed money from China so he could get wind mills in Texas, so good luck with that and I hope the jail is big enough.

Harry Reid is cleary going senile so he is likely to get off on degraded mental capacity.

Reagan did it, why can't Harry? You got any facts I can verify?

[smoothy]

Amazing how Democrats with twist and distort reality to be able to expect praise for doing the same thing they just spent years complaining about.

I keep expecting Harry Reid to forget where he is and take a dump on the Senate floor.

[talaniman]

What's the big deal we vote every two years. Its ugly, but its ours.

[smoothy]

Whats the big deal we vote every two years. Its ugly, but its ours.

And thank goodness we still can.

[speechlesstx]

Had a hard time picking a thread for this one, it could fit under the class warfare thread or the occupiers thread as well, but here you go.

The Obama campaign, expected to raise another billion dollars, is having a design contest to come up with posters "illustrating why we support President Obama's plan to create jobs now, and why we'll re-elect him to continue fighting for jobs for the next four years."

He's not going to actually HIRE someone to do his campaign posters, he wants it for free, and then prevent anyone from making a profit on their work.

"All submissions will become the property of Obama for America."

And the goofy Obama cult is going to gladly comply and miss the irony completely.

[NeedKarma]

He's not going to actually HIRE someone to do his campaign posters, he wants it for free,

It's called UGC, User Generated Content, it's what all the smart people are doing. Just like you do for this site here. We tap that resource at the enterprise site I help manage. People love to see their work be accepted by others.

[tomder55]

He's the perfect symbol for the Bowel Movement's desire to have something for nothing.