Unemployment benefits are about to expire for 33,000 Kentuckians and 67,000 Hoosiers, and its starting to look like the Republicans will let them expire next month.
The Bush tax cuts will also expire next month and the President wants them extended ONLY for individuals earning less than $200,000 and couples earning $250,000 (these people will still pay reduced taxes on amounts less than that, just that amounts greater than that will be taxed at the old rate). To do what the Republicans want, to keep the tax cuts across the board, will cost the U.S. $700 BILLION over the next 10 years verses the President's plan.
Who do the Republicans represent?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Letters to the Editor Part One
I've written several letters to the editor of our local newspaper, the Courier Journal. Most do not get published, but I thought I'd try to put a few here on my blog.
April 4, 2006
Courier-Journal
Editor
501 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
via fax (502) 582-4610
Dear Sir or Ma'am,
Does anyone edit your paper anymore? Today's Doonesbury cartoon is the same as yesterday's.
Yesterday's Metro section, page B6 states that a man was found dead at 1629 South 13th Street, and his "name was not released," yet the previous page contains an article which says that the coroner was looking for relatives of Willie Compton "who was found dead at 1629 South 13th Street." So maybe his name was released a little bit.
Very truly yours,
June 22, 2006
Courier-Journal
Editor
501 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
via fax (502) 582-4610
Dear Sir or Ma'am,
Your editorial of June 21 regarding the "conspiracy theorists" and the arena project was most revealing. Although some might question whether building the arena on the waterfront with its inherent drawbacks is really worth the extra millions over the water company site, coupled with the lack of transparency in the selection process, the Courier, instead of taking the lead in investigating what seems to be a legitimate issue, resorts to inferring that anyone who would question the decision is a kook.
Especially precious is the statement that critics should come forward with evidence of a scandal or shut up. I hate to show my age, but I can remember a time when the Courier understood that inquiry was a vital part of its job.
I acknowledge that your paper long ago abdicated any meaningful role in investigative journalism, but it is becoming increasing obvious that you no longer even remember that that role was once part of your job description.
Very truly yours,
July 2, 2006
Courier-Journal
Editor
501 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
via fax (502) 582-4610
Dear Sir,
Just in time for Independence Day our very own King George shows us his disdain for our criminal justice system by commuting the sentence of a crony, Scooter Libby, as well as his low regard for us, the people, by lying about the reason. That’s true independence!
After hearing the evidence against him, a jury of his peers convicted Mr. Libby and a judge sentenced him pursuant to the legal guidelines. If I’m not mistaken, it was only last week that our president told us he was not going to interfere with the appellate process. I guess he meant as long as it went his way.
In his explanation, our President said that the sentence was excessive, so he commuted it: a glowing example of this administration’s favorite tactic, the old tried-and-true ‘false choice.’ One might wonder, what would be an appropriate sentence in the eyes of the Decider? A week? A month? Maybe a year? If that’s the case, why not let Libby serve the appropriate amount of time, then commute the remainder? Instead, we, the people, are given these as the only two possible options in order to make this contemptuous behavior seem reasonable. I mean, these were felony convictions, and one day to serve is ‘excessive?’ Does he really think we’re all morons or has his hubris become so great that he doesn’t even care what this looks like?
The next time I hear His Smirkiness speak of his high regard for our rule of law I’m going to throw up.
Very truly yours,
I've got a few others I'll post at a later time, that's probably enough for now.
Thanks for visiting.
April 4, 2006
Courier-Journal
Editor
501 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
via fax (502) 582-4610
Dear Sir or Ma'am,
Does anyone edit your paper anymore? Today's Doonesbury cartoon is the same as yesterday's.
Yesterday's Metro section, page B6 states that a man was found dead at 1629 South 13th Street, and his "name was not released," yet the previous page contains an article which says that the coroner was looking for relatives of Willie Compton "who was found dead at 1629 South 13th Street." So maybe his name was released a little bit.
Very truly yours,
June 22, 2006
Courier-Journal
Editor
501 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
via fax (502) 582-4610
Dear Sir or Ma'am,
Your editorial of June 21 regarding the "conspiracy theorists" and the arena project was most revealing. Although some might question whether building the arena on the waterfront with its inherent drawbacks is really worth the extra millions over the water company site, coupled with the lack of transparency in the selection process, the Courier, instead of taking the lead in investigating what seems to be a legitimate issue, resorts to inferring that anyone who would question the decision is a kook.
Especially precious is the statement that critics should come forward with evidence of a scandal or shut up. I hate to show my age, but I can remember a time when the Courier understood that inquiry was a vital part of its job.
I acknowledge that your paper long ago abdicated any meaningful role in investigative journalism, but it is becoming increasing obvious that you no longer even remember that that role was once part of your job description.
Very truly yours,
July 2, 2006
Courier-Journal
Editor
501 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
via fax (502) 582-4610
Dear Sir,
Just in time for Independence Day our very own King George shows us his disdain for our criminal justice system by commuting the sentence of a crony, Scooter Libby, as well as his low regard for us, the people, by lying about the reason. That’s true independence!
After hearing the evidence against him, a jury of his peers convicted Mr. Libby and a judge sentenced him pursuant to the legal guidelines. If I’m not mistaken, it was only last week that our president told us he was not going to interfere with the appellate process. I guess he meant as long as it went his way.
In his explanation, our President said that the sentence was excessive, so he commuted it: a glowing example of this administration’s favorite tactic, the old tried-and-true ‘false choice.’ One might wonder, what would be an appropriate sentence in the eyes of the Decider? A week? A month? Maybe a year? If that’s the case, why not let Libby serve the appropriate amount of time, then commute the remainder? Instead, we, the people, are given these as the only two possible options in order to make this contemptuous behavior seem reasonable. I mean, these were felony convictions, and one day to serve is ‘excessive?’ Does he really think we’re all morons or has his hubris become so great that he doesn’t even care what this looks like?
The next time I hear His Smirkiness speak of his high regard for our rule of law I’m going to throw up.
Very truly yours,
I've got a few others I'll post at a later time, that's probably enough for now.
Thanks for visiting.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Goodbye, Brian Williams
It was rainy yesterday and I was home early and tuned in to NBC Nightly News. After his greeting, Brian Williams said something to the effect that, "everyone is fascinated with the British Royal Family..." and went into NBC's opening story, the royal engagement.
I'm not saying that the segment isn't news, but the top news story of the day? Brian, there may not be a whole lot of us left who aren't fascinated with the royal family, but I'm not. I'm also not enchanted with the mainstream's curious devotion to celebrity (see prior post, "Who's it all about, anyway" from 8-30-10). I turned the channel to CBS news which was actually reporting news.
I turned back to NBC in a few minutes and they were still on the "story."
I tried to imagine Chet Huntley or David Brinkley opening with such tripe, but couldn't. I tried it with Tom Brokow, and although not quite the same stretch, still couldn't.
When Brian came back on, he had that right eyebrow famously cocked into its most sincere or most ironic position (I can no longer tell the difference).
NBC nightly news, like all network news, is transforming into the Today Show, little by little, abandoning any resemblance to real news. When they hired Jenna Bush I thought I'd throw up, but the effort was rewarded with one of the first interviews with George W. Bush on his book tour, so there.
Not that Matt Lauer was going to really ask real questions of W, or try to pin him down on any of his non sequiturs, but there was W nonetheless, in all of his empty-headed glory, you know, deciding stuff.
Some years ago, my sister, Karen and I thought of writing a couple of dozen books, titled something like "The ABC's of _______," (lets say, "infidelity" for one), then, when Biker Bob is caught running around on his lovely movie star wife, we could run to our local tv station for a video hookup with the Today Show host/hostess and be the expert panelists.
We are convinced you don't have to know squat about anything, but if your name is attached to a book, you're book-able. While on the panel, I could opine that maybe starlet didn't treat Biker Bob well, then Karen could say what a scoundrel he is. We could publish books on any subject, what the hell does it matter?
When you gotta fill in hours of air time, most anything goes.
NBC (real) news is headed there in a hurry. Cast aside your journalistic integrity, forget the hard work of exposing some real story, just cock that eyebrow and give us that humorous one-liner.
I used to try and catch the news at 6:30, now its pretty much a waste of time, I'd much rather watch the PBS Newshour, despite its changing formats.
Whats next for NBC news, a "page 6" girl between commercial breaks? A laugh track?
Brian, as I watch our nation descending into an abyss of total ignorance (25% of Americans believe Obama is a muslim) I would hope that you would see your job as helping to educate. But with decreasing staff and money for real news stories, just keep picking that low-hanging fruit.
Oh, well, anyone else less than spellbound over a royal wedding?
Its over, Brian. Sorry, I really tried to make this thing work, but we've just grown too far apart.
I'm not saying that the segment isn't news, but the top news story of the day? Brian, there may not be a whole lot of us left who aren't fascinated with the royal family, but I'm not. I'm also not enchanted with the mainstream's curious devotion to celebrity (see prior post, "Who's it all about, anyway" from 8-30-10). I turned the channel to CBS news which was actually reporting news.
I turned back to NBC in a few minutes and they were still on the "story."
I tried to imagine Chet Huntley or David Brinkley opening with such tripe, but couldn't. I tried it with Tom Brokow, and although not quite the same stretch, still couldn't.
When Brian came back on, he had that right eyebrow famously cocked into its most sincere or most ironic position (I can no longer tell the difference).
NBC nightly news, like all network news, is transforming into the Today Show, little by little, abandoning any resemblance to real news. When they hired Jenna Bush I thought I'd throw up, but the effort was rewarded with one of the first interviews with George W. Bush on his book tour, so there.
Not that Matt Lauer was going to really ask real questions of W, or try to pin him down on any of his non sequiturs, but there was W nonetheless, in all of his empty-headed glory, you know, deciding stuff.
Some years ago, my sister, Karen and I thought of writing a couple of dozen books, titled something like "The ABC's of _______," (lets say, "infidelity" for one), then, when Biker Bob is caught running around on his lovely movie star wife, we could run to our local tv station for a video hookup with the Today Show host/hostess and be the expert panelists.
We are convinced you don't have to know squat about anything, but if your name is attached to a book, you're book-able. While on the panel, I could opine that maybe starlet didn't treat Biker Bob well, then Karen could say what a scoundrel he is. We could publish books on any subject, what the hell does it matter?
When you gotta fill in hours of air time, most anything goes.
NBC (real) news is headed there in a hurry. Cast aside your journalistic integrity, forget the hard work of exposing some real story, just cock that eyebrow and give us that humorous one-liner.
I used to try and catch the news at 6:30, now its pretty much a waste of time, I'd much rather watch the PBS Newshour, despite its changing formats.
Whats next for NBC news, a "page 6" girl between commercial breaks? A laugh track?
Brian, as I watch our nation descending into an abyss of total ignorance (25% of Americans believe Obama is a muslim) I would hope that you would see your job as helping to educate. But with decreasing staff and money for real news stories, just keep picking that low-hanging fruit.
Oh, well, anyone else less than spellbound over a royal wedding?
Its over, Brian. Sorry, I really tried to make this thing work, but we've just grown too far apart.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Why are those government workers ripping us off?
First, it was the poor ripping off the banks by taking out mortgages they couldn't afford, then failing to pay back the money and interest on their homes. Failing to recognize the "sanctity of the contract." After being foreclosed upon, they should willingly pay back all money and attorney fees accrued in putting them out of their home. After all, what does it cost to live out of a refrigerator box and what are they doing with all of that money they are saving?
A good Republican would pay it back. Just like the owners of that multi-billion complex, Stuyvesant Housing in New York City. Oh wait, they didn't.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/nyregion/25stuy.html
But now, I keep hearing about how Federal workers are paid TWICE what their private counterparts are paid! This past weekend I heard my hero, Rand Paul say it and his hero, Sen. Jim Demint (as in "demented") repeat it.
Apparently, it will now become the new mantra for those who know that the government is totally out of control.
I think the source of this new revelation is an article from that scholarly bastion, USA Today in an August, 2010 article.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/income/2010-08-10-1Afedpay10_ST_N.htm
First, even though the headline reads, "Federal Workers Earning Double their Private Counterparts" that applies only if you believe that mopping floors is the counterpart of designing nuclear warheads. Or that working part time in sales at The Gap is the equivalent of unravelling the human DNA for the NIH.
In other words, the study looked at OVERALL wages between the public and private sectors. I can remember when menial workers were employed by government, but all of that stuff has been outsourced to private contractors. So now the government must be punished for doing what had been asked of them-cutting the cost of providing services.
So, in a breathtaking example of Republican dishonesty, we are now going to have to withstand this new onslaught of charges that Federal Judges are earning more than that guy at the carwash!
And don't expect the lamestream media to point out this new hypocrisy to you-their job is to report whats told, anything else is taking sides.
Get ready for this new myth to grow legs and appear in all conservative talking points. It must be true because I heard it on Fox News.
A good Republican would pay it back. Just like the owners of that multi-billion complex, Stuyvesant Housing in New York City. Oh wait, they didn't.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/nyregion/25stuy.html
But now, I keep hearing about how Federal workers are paid TWICE what their private counterparts are paid! This past weekend I heard my hero, Rand Paul say it and his hero, Sen. Jim Demint (as in "demented") repeat it.
Apparently, it will now become the new mantra for those who know that the government is totally out of control.
I think the source of this new revelation is an article from that scholarly bastion, USA Today in an August, 2010 article.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/income/2010-08-10-1Afedpay10_ST_N.htm
First, even though the headline reads, "Federal Workers Earning Double their Private Counterparts" that applies only if you believe that mopping floors is the counterpart of designing nuclear warheads. Or that working part time in sales at The Gap is the equivalent of unravelling the human DNA for the NIH.
In other words, the study looked at OVERALL wages between the public and private sectors. I can remember when menial workers were employed by government, but all of that stuff has been outsourced to private contractors. So now the government must be punished for doing what had been asked of them-cutting the cost of providing services.
So, in a breathtaking example of Republican dishonesty, we are now going to have to withstand this new onslaught of charges that Federal Judges are earning more than that guy at the carwash!
And don't expect the lamestream media to point out this new hypocrisy to you-their job is to report whats told, anything else is taking sides.
Get ready for this new myth to grow legs and appear in all conservative talking points. It must be true because I heard it on Fox News.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Mitch McConnell-Honored Statesman or Political Hack?
Sometimes it's hard to not swell up and burst with pride over the state of politics here in Kentucky. The very fact that we've replaced one nut job, Sen. Bunning, with another nut job, Sen. elect Rand Paul has got to keep us in the national focus.
And now, over the past week, we have learned that our other esteemed senator, Mitch McConnell, is hard at work in his attempt to emulate his idol, Sen. John Sherman Cooper. Personally, I am anxious to learn how the senator's lapdog, John David Dyche, is going to help out his hero from fallout from the disclosures.
Earlier in the week, at a time when home foreclosures are at a 50 year high, unemployment is stuck at about 10%, and unemployed workers are running out of unemployment benefits and employed people are afraid for their jobs, we learned that statesmen Mitch McConnell believes that the most important objective to the Republican party is limiting Pres. Obama to a single term.
Now we learn from the new book by "the decider" that Mitch McConnell approached him in September of 2006 with the suggestion that the president lower troop levels in Iraq in order to increase Republican chances of victory in the fall elections. Not to save Iraqi and American lives, or to reduce the massive, uncontrolled spending created by his President and party , but to win an election.
To Mitch McConnell, the king of hypocrites, what's good for the Republican Party is not always whats good for America. And before Mr. Dyche writes his next fawning article on Sen. McConnell, I would suggest that the body of Sen. Cooper be exhumed in order that his body can be tightly secured in the casket to reduce the spinning which must be taking place inside.
The smug, multi-chinned "statesman" from Kentucky is no more interested in the safety of American troops than he is interested curing the economic malaise which his party has inflicted on our country.
And for whatever one thinks of our president, I believe it is safe to say that he has genuinely tried to help us out of the hole dug by the previous administration. Further, even if you think he is totally misguided, he did attempt to win over Republican votes in order to form some kind of consensus between Republicans and Democrats. With reference to the healthcare bill, it is obvious that the Republicans in the Senate just played him for a fool, because it was never their plan to agree to anything. But they were able to get him to water down every important aspect of his original bill before they all voted against it.
But at any rate, as we are headed towards eliminating the middle class and to becoming a nation of huge inequality between the rich and the poor, at least we know what is important to Kentucky's own statesmen, Sen. McConnell. And its not you or me.
And now, over the past week, we have learned that our other esteemed senator, Mitch McConnell, is hard at work in his attempt to emulate his idol, Sen. John Sherman Cooper. Personally, I am anxious to learn how the senator's lapdog, John David Dyche, is going to help out his hero from fallout from the disclosures.
Earlier in the week, at a time when home foreclosures are at a 50 year high, unemployment is stuck at about 10%, and unemployed workers are running out of unemployment benefits and employed people are afraid for their jobs, we learned that statesmen Mitch McConnell believes that the most important objective to the Republican party is limiting Pres. Obama to a single term.
Now we learn from the new book by "the decider" that Mitch McConnell approached him in September of 2006 with the suggestion that the president lower troop levels in Iraq in order to increase Republican chances of victory in the fall elections. Not to save Iraqi and American lives, or to reduce the massive, uncontrolled spending created by his President and party , but to win an election.
To Mitch McConnell, the king of hypocrites, what's good for the Republican Party is not always whats good for America. And before Mr. Dyche writes his next fawning article on Sen. McConnell, I would suggest that the body of Sen. Cooper be exhumed in order that his body can be tightly secured in the casket to reduce the spinning which must be taking place inside.
The smug, multi-chinned "statesman" from Kentucky is no more interested in the safety of American troops than he is interested curing the economic malaise which his party has inflicted on our country.
And for whatever one thinks of our president, I believe it is safe to say that he has genuinely tried to help us out of the hole dug by the previous administration. Further, even if you think he is totally misguided, he did attempt to win over Republican votes in order to form some kind of consensus between Republicans and Democrats. With reference to the healthcare bill, it is obvious that the Republicans in the Senate just played him for a fool, because it was never their plan to agree to anything. But they were able to get him to water down every important aspect of his original bill before they all voted against it.
But at any rate, as we are headed towards eliminating the middle class and to becoming a nation of huge inequality between the rich and the poor, at least we know what is important to Kentucky's own statesmen, Sen. McConnell. And its not you or me.
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