Popular Posts 2010 at Dennys Global Politics

Check out some stellar political cartoons chronicling social issues and politics throughout the year, news analysis and opinion.

From Denny:  What a list of news that happened this year! Whew! Sometimes the news and politics were as toxic as the weather - and we all felt like we needed government issue gas masks. Take a look at some of the highlights:

Haiti earthquake
Volcanic eruptions in Iceland and Indonesia
BP Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico (my backyard in Louisiana)
Floods around the world
North Korea threatening to launch nukes
Finally getting the beginnings of a national health bill reform in America - which needs a lot of tinkering to perfect
Another woman appointed to the Supreme Court - not before the GOP humiliated her publicly and drug her through the mud for not being Christian enough - she's Jewish.
WikiLeaks documents released about the Afghan War
Unemployment high around the world like in America and the world economy floundering
Obama's popularity up and down, according to which fool he is listening to as the It Advisor Of The Moment.
The Republicans marching goose step as The Party of No Conscience, No Sense and Don't Care About the Middle Class


Popular Posts 2009 at Dennys Global Politics

See Cartoons by Cartoon by John Trever - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

New Years: Funny Quotes, Resolutions Tips, Poems

Poll: Most Admired People For 2010

Arrested WikiLeaks Founder Signs Tell All $1.3 Million Book Deal

Funny Life and Christmas Cartoons - 25 Dec 2010

GOP Grinch Refuse Healthcare to 911 Responders, Dems Say YES to Pass Bill

72 Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 20 Dec 2010

What Is The Truth About Unemployment In America?

Gordon Brown Book: 9 Big Banks Manipulating World Economy - Check out the crooked world of global banking.







WikiLeaks, Obama Tax Cuts, Political Humor - 12 Dec 2010 - More Santa and WikiLeaks cartoons for fun.

Sellout Obama and Bush Tax Cuts Firestorm Angers America

World Politics: Funny WikiLeaks Cartoons

Political Cartoons: American and World Politics - 4 Dec 2010

Obama Presidency: Dead On Arrival in 2012?


North Korea Throws Dangerous Temper Tantrum: Why?

American and World Politics Cartoons - 27 Nov 2010 - Lots to lampoon this week for cartoonists as they poke fun at crazy North Korea, the buffoon of the world.

American and World Politics Humor - 20 Nov 2010 - Check out the national mind and the national conversation about politics and American culture this week from our favorite cartoonists.

TSA Pat Downs: PC Sexual Assault? - Furor over invasive sexual airport security measures has thousands across the country furious at the groping.

Funny Thanksgiving Quotes, Video, Cartoons and Food Posts

Funny Thanksgiving Presidential Pardon 4 Turkeys Apple and Cider

Taiwans Whale-Sized Skimmer to Gulf Coast Rescue, Obama Ranked High as 15th Prez - News Headlines 2 July 2010 - Behemoth sized skimmer ship created just for oil spill clean up is impressive. Check out Obama's rankings compared to past presidents.

American and World Politics Cartoons - 3 July 2010 - Check out the latest suspects this week in the world of politics who qualify for the Bozo Sapien Award!

Kagan Takes Hits From GOP For Not Being Christian Enough - News Headlines 1 July 2010 - Greed Over Principle Republicans scorn Elena Kagan for being a Jew at Supreme Court nominee hearings.







Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 4 July 2010 - Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Posts Roundup of Dennys 14 Blogs - 27 June 2010

Obamas Oval Office Speech, CEO Weigh in on Obama, Reality of BPs $20 Billion Escrow - News Headlines 16 June 2010 - Hold on to your hats getting happy about this $20 billion from BP. They have some tricks up their sleeves to avoid paying it out in a timely fashion.

Spies Among Us, Scumbag Congress Denies Food to Children of Unemployed - News Headlines 29 June 2010 - Spies play games in America and scumbag Congress denies extension of unemployment benefits to desperate jobless in America.

Why Not to Nuke the Oil Spill, Israels International Mess - News Headlines 2 June 2010 - Read why not to nuke the Gulf oil spill and the many sides of the Israeli raid issue.

Obamas Oval Office Speech, CEO Weigh in on Obama, Reality of BPs $20 Billion Escrow - News Headlines 16 June 2010

American and World Politics Cartoons - 12 June 2010 - And this crazy world goes round and round from politics. Check out the world cup soccer cartoons!

Krewe of Dead Pelicans BP Protest Parade, Oil Spill Stories - News Headlines 8 June 2010

World Idiots: Israel Gaza Raid Mess, North Korea Cartoons - 5 June 2010

BP On Hook for $75 Billion in Claims, 1-Man Mission American Ninja Faulkner Hunts bin Laden, News Headlines 15 June 2010 - New Federal Reserve rules to protect consumers on credit cards, new larger estimate for oil gushing in the Gulf, Bloody Sunday apology from Britain PM

BP Nightmare Well, Congress Ready to Nail BP, Kennedy FBI Docs, Obama Gets Oil Spill Help - News Headlines 14 June 2010 - Assassination attempts on Ted Kennedy recorded by the FBI. Congress gets ready to nail BP to the wall this week in hearings. Get a front row seat as it will be rich political theatre.

10 Funny Posts For a Laugh - 23 June 2010

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Jimmy Margulies - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Woman Chosen 4 Supreme Court, BP Sprays Chemicals into Oil Spill, Obscene Exec Perks - News Headlines 10 May 2010

BP Found Cheating, Auto Dealers Sleazing Public, Voters Oust Porkers, Haiti Charities Stingy - News Headlines 12 May 2010

Sticking It to Iran, Obama and Jobs Creation, Survey Goes Against New Oil Drilling - News Headlines 18 May 2010

American and World Politics Cartoons - 29 May 2010 - Check out funny political opinion from the national cartoonists and what they think about American and world politics.

Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 30 May 2010

American and World Politics Cartoons - 29 May 2010

Russians Say Nuke BP Oil Spill, Hordes Leaving Facebook, Big Business Cheats, Obamas Tax Reform - News Headlines 13 May 2010

Supreme Court Pick Hunt, Dems Whimp Out on Finanacial Fund 4 Reform, How You Get on No-Fly List, Obama Tough on Airlines - News Headlines 5 May 2010

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Jimmy Margulies - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Eric Allie - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Greek Debt Crisis 4 The World: Political Cartoons 8 May 2010

Russians Say Nuke BP Oil Spill, Hordes Leaving Facebook, Big Business Cheats, Obamas Tax Reform - News Headlines 13 May 2010

America Not Ready 4 Cyberattacks, Pelosi Death Threats, Iraq Violence, Kyrgyzstan Riots, Skinhead Leaves Hate Behind - News Headlines 7 Apr 2010

Goldman Sh--ty Deal Testifies Loud and Clear, Drug Company Pays $500 Billion Fine, How to Detect Liars - News Headlines 27 Apr 2010

BP Oil Spill Gulf Coast Disaster, Employers New Tactics to Fire Employees, Travel Smarter, New PTSD Treatment - News Headlines 30 Apr 2010

America Boycotts Arizona, BP Oil Spill Impacts Wildlife, Enraged Wall Street Protestors, Strange News Stories - News Headlines 29 Apr 2010

Greedy Opportunistic Wall Street: Political Cartoons, Opinion Post - 24 April 2010

BP Oil Spill Gulf Coast Disaster, Employers New Tactics to Fire Employees, Travel Smarter, New PTSD Treatment - News Headlines 30 Apr 2010

Cool Earth Day Links, Message From Our Prez

Prez Clinton Versus Violent Wingnuts and Blowhard Limbaugh

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs - 18 Apr 2010

Obamas Nuke Policy, China Hacks India, Britain Votes, Net Neutrality, Guilt Study, News Headlines 6 Apr 2010

Voters Moon American Politics Polls Say, Bush Years Bad Air Report Released, Throwing Eggs at Ukrainian Politicians - News Headlines 28 Apr 2010

Scumbag Walmart Lawsuit Caught, Scumbag Goldman Sachs Email Guilty, Scumbag GOP Denies Scumbag Reform - News Headlines 26 Apr 2010

Icelands 2nd Volcano, Haiti Food Stops, Wayward Nukes Seized, Freaky Unschooling, Earth Day - News Headlines 21 Apr 2010

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Mike Keefe - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Poison Politics Meet Domestic Terrorists, Volcano Axes Economies, Wall Street War, Octupus Thief - News Headlines 20 Apr 2010

Prez Clinton Interviews, Slamming Wall Street, Tea Party Spat With Fox, Volcano Effect - News Headlines 19 Apr 2010

Breakdown of Who Are Tea Party Members, Bizarre Karzai, Obama Picks New Justice Soon, Immunity for Pope - News Headlines 5 Apr 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 30 May 2010

Child Porn Social Site Busted - News Headlines 27 May 2010 - International child pedophile ring acting as a sicko social site arrested.

Use NASA 4 Oil Spill Help, Corrupt MMS, Lightning Rod Rahm Emanuel - News Headlines 26 May 2010

Political Cartoons: Local and World Economy - 22 May 2010

Airport Scanners Safety Questioned, Iran Skirts Nuke Sanctions, Sex Criminals Indefinitely Detained - News Headlines 17 May 2010

Actor Kevin Costner Pitches Solution to BP Headache, Intelligence Head Resigns, Why Kagan Elitist Good - News Headlines 20 May 2010

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs - 16 May 2010

See Cartoons by Cartoon by John Cole - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Hedge Fund Short Selling Caused Market Dive, Cameron New Brit PM, Govt Changes Approach to Oil Oversight - News Headlines 11 May 2010

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs 9 May 2010

Pakistan Trained Bomber, Obamas Workaholic Ways, Catholics Polled About Sex Abuse - News Headlines 4 May 2010

BP Oil Spill Coverage - News Headlines 3 May 2010

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs 2 May 2010

Roundup of Political Cartoons This Weeks Funny Opinion 1 May 2010

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs 25 Apr 2010

Whats Happening in America This Week - Political Cartoons 17 Apr 2010

Clinton Addresses Wingnuts, Wall Street Cries Foul, Radioactive Obama Nominee, Airplanes and Volcanos - News Headlines 16 Apr 2010

Icelands Volcano Stops Air Traffic, Poland Grieves, Utah Earthquake, Obama OKs Gay Hospital Visits, Healthy Chocolate - News Headlines 15 Apr 2010

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Petar Pismestrovic - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Both Obamas Charm the World, Vatican Squirms, Wall Street Howls Against Reform, Tibet Earthquake - News Headlines 14 Apr 2010

Iran Scientist Defects to America, Obama Issues Sanctions - News Headlines 30 Mar 2010

Hate Groups On the Rampage, Big Banks Skirting the Law - Headlines 29 Mar 2010

Weekly Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 28 Mar 2010

51 Funny Political Cartoons - Sex Scandals, Rove, Obama, Health Care, Tea Party - 27 Mar 2010

How New Health Law Affects You, Comics Review The News, Tea Party Antics - Headlines 26 Mar 2010

Health Bill Bounces Back to House for Final Push - Headlines 25 Mar 2010

Sweeping Health Care Reform Signed into Law Today, Headlines 23 Mar 2010

41 Post Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 22 Mar 2010

Health Care Reform Resistance, Funny Political Cartoons - 20 Mar 2010

News Headlines Roundup 16 Mar 2010 - Religious Sex Scandals, Scientology Abuses, Lost Shakespeare Found

More Hideous Molestation Sex Scandals - Headlines 24 Mar 2010

Health Care Vote and What You Get, Iraq War Anniversary - News Roundup 21 Mar 2010

Latest on Health Care Bill - Headlines Roundup 19 Mar 2010

Fleecing America: Political Hypocrites Drenched in Stimulus Money

See Cartoons by Cartoon by John Darkow - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Senate Parliamentarian Rules Against GOP to Stop Passed Health Care

Cartoonists Cajun Whoop A$$ on Everyone - 40 Funny Political Cartoons - 13 Mar 2010

News Headlines Roundup 10 Mar 2010 - Rep. Patrick Kennedy righteous outburst in House

44 Funny Political Cartoon Strike Outs: Bunning, Health Care, Chile, Toyota

Hissy Fit Over Controversial Armenian Genocide Vote

Update: Republican Senator Flips Off Middle Finger to Families: Takes Food Off Kids Plates

48 Post Roundup: Dennys Blogs 7 Mar 2010

Iran Scientist Defects to America, Obama Issues Sanctions - News Headlines 30 Mar 2010

News Headlines Roundup 15 Mar 2010 - CEO Bonuses, Life in Antarctica, Old Europe

More Hideous Molestation Sex Scandals - Headlines 24 Mar 2010

News Headlines Roundup 16 Mar 2010

News Headlines Roundup 15 Mar 2010

29 Post Roundup at Dennys Blogs 14 Mar 2010

Speaker Pelosi Grades the Republicans on Lack of Governing







8.8 Chilean Earthquake 500 Times More Powerful than Haiti

Funny Political Cartoons: Political Olympics, Broken Government, Lampooning Toyota - 27 Feb 2010

Toyota Owner Testifies to Congress, Toyota Prez Pretends Apology, Still No Fixes

Republicans Smash Health Care Summit, Snub Prez Obama

Funny Colbert Interviews Erickson, Head of Conservative RedState.com

42 Funny Cartoons: Olympics, Obama, Obstructionists, Obesity and You - 20 Feb 2010

Tepid Blowback of Hamas Leader Assassination

Funny Mardi Gras Quotes, Who Dat Rocking Saints Songs

Funny Faceoff with VPs Biden and Valdamort Cheney

How Wall Street Killed the Middle Class in America

See Cartoons by Cartoon by John Trever - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Obama Fires Back at Republican Unruly Opposition

American Public Angry at Prez Obamas 1st Year in Office

Political Showdown: Obama in Face-Off with House Republicans

Prez Obamas 1st State of the Union Speech Text and Video

Student Documentary Filmakers Rolled Cameras in Haiti Moments After Earthquake

Doctors Without Borders Work Without Meds, Logistics of Ferrying Supplies into Haiti

67 Charities to Donate: Helping Haiti Heal

Haiti: Before and After Quake Photos


Haiti Flattened by 7.0 Earthquake, Awaiting Rescue, Charity Worker Cousin Survived

Funny Editorial Cartoons 9 Jan 2010

Obama Fires Back at Republican Unruly Opposition

Editorial Cartoons 2 Jan 2010

How Funny! 10 Banned Overused Buzzwords of 2009

Fun Cartoon Review: Happy New Year!



Popular Posts 2009 at Dennys Global Politics



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GOP Grinch Refuse Healthcare to 911 Responders, Dems Say YES to Pass Bill

Saying yes to American heroes from 911. They deserve proper health care and our respect and compassion in their last days.

From Denny: If this isn't the Hall of Shame for America and the world. Especially the financial sector like Wall Street which was the intended target of the terrorists who did absolutely nothing for the 911 responders who rescued. gave aid comfort and closure to countless thousands and their families in America and around the world.

Jon Stewart sat down with four responders who are all dying of heart-lung diseases and various cancers because of the horrific toxic exposure. It was President Bush and his administration that declared the air quality to be safe for rescuers. Yet now we find these same courageous people to be dying slowly from exposure from the Twin Towers devastated site.  Where is former President Bush now when these 911 responders need him?  Answer: silent.

American health insurance companies have the nerve to actually deny these rescuers coverage because they don't believe their strange illnesses are due to exposure at the Twin Towers site. Cowards. OK, the real truth is Big Insurance companies are total scumbags to lack any compassion for these brave souls who literally gave their lives to the effort of rescuing fellow Americans - and people from other countries - because it was the right thing to do.

Now these 911 responders have spent almost the past decade getting denied health coverage and need our help paying their bills from ongoing treatments. Their families are as devastated as they are. What a legacy for Congress to allow. What a shame for America and the world. What ever happened to respecting those who risk their lives to save us? How depraved has society become to no longer care?

Well, the public outcry has been so great that the Republicans' resistance to helping the 911 responders is caving in to political reality. After all, these Republicans were the first to hail these responders as "great American heroes" and took their photos with them. Now, when the 911 responders need them the Republicans have resisted the $6 billion bill to help them.

Today, New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announce the impasse has been broken down. The passage of this bill may be the last act of the 111th Congress. Let's hope so.

"The Christmas Miracle we've been looking for has arrived," the New York senators said in a statement. "Over the last 24 hours, our Republican colleagues have negotiated in good-faith to forge a workable final package that will protect the health of the men and women who selflessly answered our nation's call in her hour of greatest need."

The current agreement is not expected to encounter any road blocks. It reduces the current cost of the bill which was split between $3 billion for the health care of the responders and another $3 billion for a compensation fund. Many of the responders did not experience severe illness until after the previous compensation fund closed. This new compensation fund will close after five years. The bill also limits attorneys fees.

This bill still needs to pass the House. Well, the House, in compassion mode for the holiday season and eager to help the 911 responders, has remained in session in hopes the Senate would pass this bill to them for approval. If the House approves then the bill bounces back to President Obama to sign.

Let's hope for the 911 responders and their families this will be their Christmas miracle. Many have waited for as long as seven years to see this day.

*** UPDATE 4:29 PM: The House just passed the bill overwhelmingly of a vote by 208 - 60. The bill's total amount was reduced from $6 billion down to $4.2 billion. The money goes to health care for the 911 responders and survivors of the 911 terrorist attack.


The Daily Show: Worst Responders
Senate Republicans filibuster the Zadroga bill but pass tax cuts for the wealthy, which is great news for firefighters who make over $200,000 a year.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Worst Responders
www.thedailyshow.com
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Daily Show: 9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster

9/11 first responders express their thoughts on Mitch McConnell's tearful send off of a retiring friend and Jon Kyl's reasons for why the Senate can't work after Christmas.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> The Daily Show on Facebook

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What Is The Truth About Unemployment In America?

Check out the status of unemployment across America and how high the figure is for the long term unemployed.

From Denny: The reality is that the recent tax cuts bill that was signed by President Obama on Friday only reinstates and extends unemployment insurance to about one million people. That's it.

The 99ers

Remember all those who have been unemployed for so long - past the two year mark and many for as long as four years - now called The 99ers because they exhausted their 99 weeks of available benefits? There are literally millions of them, perhaps as many as seven million by now.  Every month there are an additional two million added to their roles. Though the statistics are sketchy and infrequent it's believed The 99ers make up at least 10 percent of the unemployed.

Most 99ers over age 50 

Never mind that most of The 99ers are older Baby Boomers, there are those under age 45, many are well past age 50. They have paid unemployment insurance from their paychecks every month, every year, for decades. Now, in their time of need, their own government and politicians turn a deaf ear to them. How long before you, a relative or someone close to you enters their unhappy ranks? And we wonder why we see so much violence on the news every night, as a larger and larger segment of American society grows more desperate?

Economists seem to think maybe the economy is turning around because of the number of initial unemployment claims have trended downward by 400,000 this past month. Let's hope they are correct on their judgment call because this economy has already shed eight million jobs during this so-called "recession."

Long term unemployed figures vs. short term 

How many long term unemployed are there in America? Try 6.3 million and that's about 42 percent of all the unemployed. That's not the best figure to know that creeping up to half of all your country's unemployed are long term unemployed.

Just this past week retailers like TJ Maxx let go 4,400 jobs right before Black Friday that comes the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. It's supposed to be the best shopping day of the year and yet they shed those jobs. Clearly, something is still wrong in this economy.

If you believe the news stories, watching bustling happy shoppers purchasing expensive gifts for this Christmas season you would be led to think the economy has bounced back. The problem is that those news clips are taken at the upscale shopping malls, in metro areas and wealthy neighborhoods. I'd like to see news clips from middle class malls, from small to medium-sized towns and cities, to get a better average of the truest reality of holiday shopping.

Take a look at the jobless rates in some of the states:

* North Dakota, lowest jobless rate, 3.8 percent
* South Dakota, 4.5 percent
* Nebraska, 4.6 percent
* New Hampshire 5.4 percent
* Vermont 5.7 percent
* Nevada, 14.3 percent, the highest unemployment rate among the states in November. * California, 12.4 percent
* Michigan, 12.4 percent
* Florida, 12 percent rate
* Rhode Island, 11.6 percent

True unemployment rate a guessing game

Apparently, there were 21 states, and the District of Columbia, reporting unemployment decreases. (In D.C. there are literally thousands who work for the federal government so it is not a true picture of the rest of the country since it is not a private sector free market free fall.)

There were 17 states reporting increases in unemployment while there were five states that had no change. Mind you, these are the official figures and I question the true transparency of this White House like its predecessors. Many speculate that unemployment figures run far higher, with figures ranging from 17 percent to 22 percent. That doesn't even begin to address the long term under employed who are finding it difficult to pay bills because prices remain high for necessities like gas for your car, food at the grocery store, a colder winter heating bills and the like.

The kind of numbers and spin we keep getting out of our politicians is annoying at best. The people they are not counting in government statistics are at least seven or more million long term unemployed, people unemployed for the past two to four years - which is insane.

Politicians keep telling us those eight to ten million jobs that went overseas will never come back. So, we can only assume that eight to ten million people will remain long term unemployed?

What is really going on here? We have official statistics of 6.3 million long term unemployed of which the government claims make up to 42 percent of the unemployed. Then add in seven million of The 99ers and you get a truer picture of almost 14 million or more long term unemployed - since two million a month are added to the rolls of The 99ers because they have exhausted their benefits. The reality is that almost 70 percent of our unemployed are long term unemployed. That's the dirty little secret this White House and Congress are hiding and the statistics with which they are playing spin games.

Well, it's any one's guess what will happen to the long term unemployed in this country.  Stay tuned for The New Ugly, the new Congress that's installed in January to see what's next on the horizon for increasingly desperate Americans.



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*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

*** Check out Holiday Recipes From Dennys Food and Recipes

The Social Poets - news, politics
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
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Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
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Dennys Funny Quotes - humor

Sellout Obama and Bush Tax Cuts Firestorm Angers America

Obama continues to bully a bad tax plan down the throats of America.


 


President refuses to caucus with his own Democrats, stiff-arms them

From Denny: President Obama continues to refuse to caucus with his own Democratic Party. How illogical and insane is this? Answer: very. For some reason this President has adopted a President Nixon autocratic condescending leadership style of which the Democrats are now thoroughly in revolt.

Black Caucus refuses to support the President

Even the African-American caucus does not support him on this Bush Tax Cuts plan he tried to ram down every one's throat. Obama never consulted with any of his own party but rather this plan just suddenly appeared out of thin air via Obama and his senior advisers who met solely with Republican leadership. Increasingly, the Democratic leadership is abandoning Obama on key issues - like national security.

Democrats part ways with Obama 

Here's how the Democratic leadership have gone their own way on current legislation up for vote:

* On a $1.1 trillion provision to keep the federal government funded for the next year there was a provision attached to prevent Obama from spending any funds to try terrorism suspects in a civilian court instead of a military commission. The language contained in this provision basically keeps open the Guantanamo Bay prison indefinitely.

Think about the recent fiasco where there were 285 counts against a terrorist and the weak federal government case was such that he was only found guilty on one count. Then it was back to Guantanamo for him.  Definitely a complete waste of taxpayer monies.

House Democrats furious with Obama 

In an interview with The Hill this is one reaction to the provision. Many other Democrats, including Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), a member of the defense appropriations subcommittee, said they didn’t even know the provision was included - until the rule for the bill hit the floor. Democrats  began defecting in large numbers when that happened:

“This is a lack of leadership on the part of Obama,” fumed Moran (D-Va.) “I don’t know where the f*** Obama is on this or anything else. They’re AWOL.”

Obama threw down ugly ultimatum 

It was yesterday the House Democrats completely rejected Obama's Bush Tax Cuts plan.  Obama told them "to take it or leave it."  So, they decided to leave it.  Obama did not count on that.  Why is Obama jamming up his own Democrats and fighting with them, refusing to meet with them to caucus?  In fact, Obama walked out on a meeting with House and Senate Democrats. Instead, he chose to meet with only the Senate Republicans and proceeds to make a unilateral agreement.  Then Obama fights with his own party to ram it down their throats.  None of this makes any sense.

Speaker Pelosi 

Since the rejection vote, Speaker Pelosi said, "Democratic priorities remain clear: to provide a tax cut for working families, to create jobs and economic growth, to assist millions of our fellow Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and to do this in a fiscally sound way."

White House Press Secretary Gibbs

Now ask if the White House response makes any sense: White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said "the president is confident Congress will approve the tax package despite its rejection by House Democrats. At the end of the day the bill will pass both houses."  This is where the heart of the matter lies - with the deaf White House.  They listen to the Republican Party of No yet refuse to hear their own Democrats.  "What's wrong with this picture?" is all the buzz in the progressive liberal blogosphere - and among voters.

"We have tremendous concerns about what was given away by the White House," DeFazio commented after the vote. We have given our leadership license to force the Senate and the White House back to the table to get a better deal for the American people."

When DeFazio was asked if the leadership had agreed he said, "Well, they're not going to get a bill if they don't." So much for Press Secretary Gibbs' glib response. Apparently, the White House does not accept these House Democrats mean business and will hold out for as long as it takes.

The Obama Bush Tax Cuts Plan proposal

What did Obama propose?

* 13 month extension of unemployment benefits
* two year extension of ALL Bush Tax Cuts that adds to the national deficit to feed the rich
* and a few minor details that don't amount to much of anything for the middle class benefit

Obama a lousy and weak negotiator 

As it stands, Obama basically got about $100 million in unemployment benefits for 13 months as a trade  in exchange for almost $800 billion in tax cuts for the rich to last two years.  Now why did Obama take a paper towel to a gun fight?  Clearly, he does not know how to negotiate. Either he's incompetent, corrupt, greedy or "C" all of the above multiple choices.  A high school kid could have done better than this.  As it is, Americans pay unemployment insurance out of every paycheck to cover them for benefits should they require them.  There is no excuse, legally or otherwise, as to why they should be denied their own insurance they paid out.

How did Obama give away our rights, our winning hand and common sense? 

What happened here?  Obama went into these negotiations with the overwhelming will of the people on his side to not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans.  Even 55 percent of Republicans don't want it.  Almost 70 percent of all Americans don't want it.

Why does Obama want to rush up the vote on this tax plan? 

Obama had a winning poker hand and lost the game too quickly - which means something is stinking in this White House.  It's as if he intended to throw the game in order to win some side bets that would pay higher.  What could that be?  Try the fact that Obama, senior advisers Axelrod and Plouffe, Sec. Geithner and a lot of his cabinet are all recent millionaires.  The reality is that they don't want to see their taxes go up come 31 Dec 2010.  This is all about self-interest, disgustingly plain and oh, so corrupt simple.

Estate Taxes revision proposal

As to estate taxes, well, I think both sides of the aisle are completely crazy and greedy.  Why?  Explain to me why when our parents pass away they should pay yet again on their estates?  They already paid taxes on those monies and assets.  It's an insult to them to pay when they die too.  Maybe have death taxes for the wealthiest since they find ways to elude taxes in their lifetimes anyway.  Getting some kind of taxes out of them after death might be the only way.

As to estate taxes Obama and the Republicans decided upon a ceiling of $5 million and 35 percent taxes.  The Democrats originally wanted the ceiling at $3.5 million and 55 percent taxes.  See?  They are both crazy.

Adding Ethanol Tax Credits to revise plan 

Currently, to sweeten the deal to get the bill passed Obama has now signed off on adding ethanol tax credits and a $3 billion one-year extension of energy production tax credits.

Sen. Bernie Sanders Filibuster of tax plan winning hearts and minds

Today, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the Senate's leading liberals and darling of voters nationwide,  is filibustering the Obama Bush Tax Cuts plan. "I'm not here to set any great records or to make a spectacle," Sanders said as he began his speech. "I am simply here today to take as long as I can to explain to the American people the fact that we have got to do a lot better than this agreement provides."

Sanders Filibuster getting national attention 

Well, Sen. Sanders has the attention of Washington with his old-school speech-making blasting the tax deal, filibuster style.  Media folks are buzzing about his speech and over at Twitter his name is the sixth most popular hash tag topic.  The nickname for his speech that went viral with Beltway reporters?  Filibernie.  And get this: the Senate TV server had to be shut down temporarily because there were too many people trying to watch Filibernie all at the same time it could not handle the overload of viewers.

Some bullet points contained in his speech:

* a detailed case for more infrastructure investment
* higher corporate tax rates
* reducing the federal budget deficit
* Sanders said Wall Street bankers and the wealthy will be the real beneficiaries of the tax plan

Excerpts from Sanders Filibuster 

Says Sanders as he mocks the pampered wealthy, “How can I get by on one house? I need five houses, ten houses! I need three jet planes to take me all over the world! Sorry, American people. We've got the money, we've got the power, we've got the lobbyists here and on Wall Street. Tough luck. That's the world, get used to it. Rich get richer. Middle-class shrinks."

Senators who support Filibernie opposition to tax plan

Two of my favorite Senators also support Sen. Sanders publicly:  liberal Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and my own Democratic centrist from Louisiana, Sen. Mary Landrieu. They both joined Sanders on the floor in supportive conference.

Here is what Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) had to say about the Obama tax plan version both she and Sen. Brown oppose:  "It's morally corrupt."  And that about says it all.


*** More in the news about this ugly tax deal:

On tax-cut deal, ignore Bill Clinton - from economist Robert Reich







*** UPDATE 17 DEC 2010: House Democrats put up a fight over the estate taxes but eventually relented when a suspicious poll was published that suddenly announced that the American public - who had been 70 percent against the tax cuts - was now miraculously 70 percent for the tax cuts plan. The reality is that two-thirds of Republicans and Independents (that are made up of two-thirds former Republicans) wanted the bill. Democrats were 54 percent against the bill.

The real reason this bill passed so quickly is when the Tea Party folks made a huge fuss - and rightly so - about the $8 billion in pork attached to the $1.2 trillion funding bill to keep the government running. You guess it: the funding bill was attached to the tax cuts bill. The Tea Party squawking gave the Democrats the cover necessary to cut out the pork - but also the funding bill with it, to be raised later for consideration. Meanwhile, the federal government may shut down.

Talk about getting everything. The Republicans were poised for the almost $1 trillion tax cuts to the rich PLUS $8 billion in pork that went mostly to their party. Greedy pigs that just don't know when to stop gobbling up everything in sight. It's shady doings like this that angers the American public at our politicians. Will these guys ever learn?

President Obama signed the bill today. The least he could have done in his "deal" while giving away the store is get an equal two years unemployment extensions for the two years of tax cuts to the rich. He could have folded in The 99ers (people who are now two years or longer unemployed) - who are millions without any unemployment benefits for six months now. Their plight has been completely ignored by their government.

So, as it stands there are millions of unemployed without any unemployment benefits to survive from day to day. We also have a federal government about to shut down for lack of funds. Buy hey! The rich got their tax cuts and are jingling plenty of money in their pockets saying, "Ho! Ho! Not!"

The idea that these tax cuts would spur the wealthy to start hiring again is preposterous. Big Business is still cutting jobs by the thousands and sending them overseas. Why hire American workers when you can get cheaper labor overseas while enjoying tax loopholes here in America? It's a win-win for the wealthy holding all the cards in the game.



*** Photo by David Katz @ flickr from the 2008 campaign


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