ChristiMTL, you should be ashamed of yourself. That man right there is second only to PBO in wonderfulness. He is the manager of Manchester United who, as LL will tell you, are the greatest soccer club in the history of planet earth.
Linda Greenhouse of NYT says ACA will pass easily. She gives analysis here. She is one of the most respected *real* journalists covering the SOTUS. She has done so for years. Has been a frequent contributor to Washington Week in Review on PBS. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/embarrass-the-future/?hp
According to regulators, it’s a doozy. The New York Times reports that Wall Street firms are poring over the legislation to determine whether it loosens some of the restrictions enacted to protect investors from financial abuses at the beginning of the 2000′s. In particular the act could allow big banks to breach the Chinese wall that has separated investment bankers working with public companies and the analysts who are covering those companies. Goldman Sachs (GS) and others are already reportedly exploring how to change their business practices once the bill is passed. President Obama is expected to sign it today.
Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer told the Times “It shouldn’t be called the JOBS Act, it should be called the Bring Fraud Back to Wall Street Act.”
Under the JOBS act, regulations could be loosened for emerging growth companies, potentially allowing analysts to pump up interest in the stock even as their firms stand to make millions underwriting the equity offer.
The act could also allow entrepreneurs to sell some stock on the Internet without registering with regulators. And it could allow hedge funds and private equity firms to market themselves more aggressively to the public, a practice that’s now heavily restricted.
WHERE THE HELL WAS ELIOT SPITZER when the president proposed his original Jobs bill and the Repubs were blocking it? No where to be seen. But now he wants to jump and attack it because it’s not perfect. All he’s being doing is criticizing this President from day one.
This article is full of “what ifs” and “could-bes” – yes we know it’s not perfect but it’s a START – and obviously, the President trusts that it will at least help more than hurt. There are all sorts of consumer protections in place that weren’t there before to watch the fraudsters’ behavior and put them in check. Furthermore, I don’t hear Liz Warren or Ray Coduray griping about it. I take the President’s word over any of these opportunistic politicians.
Do you have a link to the bill? If not, I do some research. I listened to my taped Bill Press show and he is totally against this bill. He said he loves the President, but he thinks the President is wrong to sign this bill.
I don’t have a PDF but I’m providing a WH link to a description of what the bill entails. I’m also citing the regulations and protections portion.
// Additional Initiatives Announced Today to Promote Capital Access and Investor Protection
• Monitoring of JOBS Act Implementation: The President is directing the Treasury Department, Small Business Administration and Department of Justice to closely monitor the implementation of this legislation to ensure that it is achieving its goals of enhancing access capital while maintaining appropriate investor protections. These agencies, consulting closely with the SEC and key non-governmental stakeholders, will report their findings to the President on a biannual basis, and will include recommendations for additional necessary steps to ensure that the legislation achieves its goals.
• Crowdfunding Platforms Commit to Investor Protections: In a letter to President Obama, a consortium of crowdfunding companies are committing to work with the SEC to develop appropriate regulation of the industry, as required by the JOBS Act. Members of this leadership group are committing to establish core investor protections, including an enforceable code of conduct for crowdfunding platforms, standardized methods to ensure that investors do not exceed statutory limits, thorough vetting of companies raising funds through crowdfunding, and an industry standard “Investors’ Bill of Rights.” //
I think the President is more than aware of this. I couldn’t help but notice that he strongly emphasized the regulatory aspect of the FCC in his little speech before signing the bill.
I believe that certain media folk (like Spitzer) have an agenda to be highly critical of whatever this President does, and knowing fully well that nothing is going to be perfect exploit those opportunities like cat on mouse. It’s getting tiresome already.
I was really happy to hear the emphasis on the regulatory aspect – I knew the Administration would be fully aware of the loopholes created by the GOP version of this bill, and they’d be all over it trying to fix it. I think the GOP tried to trap the President, because he said if they passed it, he’d sign it. He’s not stupid, though.
Methinks these guys get some kind of kinky thrill by trying to play devil’s advocate all the time. This ploy makes for irritating as well as annoying discourse! And then there’s the part, like Toobin and his ACA meme, who wants to be known as the throw down the gauntlet guy. Too puerile for words.
Plus, Eliot Spitzer had a TV show at the time, and decided to use his pulpit to attack the President instead of pushing for strong legislation. I ignore Eliot Spitzer, because he adds nothing to the conversation – even though he’s got a very good mind and could do good, if he chose to. I’m not sure what he’s going to be doing on Current TV, but I won’t waste any time watching.
Hf, Spritzer is a big bag of hot air. He had a chance to achieve something as governor and blew it big time. Now he’s so jealous of PBO he can’t see straight. Al Gore should not have given him a gig at Current. Fortunately no one will watch it.
USA – @Reince is Consistent. He, like all Party of Koch & Norquist stooges, DESPISES Women. Our answer IS >> W.A.R. #WomenAgainstRepublicans— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) April 05, 2012
Those beautiful hands of Michelle Obama’s (below) are so touching and so wonderful, I lifted the picture for my Obama album. How wonderful it would be (for me) to feel those warm hands on my own.
Now stop that joan! Your birthday is a day for celebrating life and taking stock. Don’t mourn the unfulfilled dreams. That fact that you’re still here means you can work on some new ones. I’m glad you’re still here. I hope you are too.
Do something that makes your heart sing and laugh until your guts hurt. {{{hugs}}}
And Dudette, Last fall and this spring I’ve ordered loads of peonies and baby apple trees, hydrangeas, and many perennials for the garden, so yes, I’m working as usual every as I do every spring on new dreams. Some day I’ll tell you where my ashes will be scattered (and in fact dug in, as my youngest [gardener] daughter reminded me will be absolutely necessary to keep me from blowing away!)
The very best thing, though, would to feel Michelle Obama’s beautiful hands on mine! Wouldn’t that be fine?
My mouth dropped to the floor at the bizarre homework assignment this judge insisted on from the DOJ lawyer arguing a case before him. If that’s not the definition of partisan judicial overreach, I don’t know what is.
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Anyway, Think Progress has published Atty General Eric Holder’s written response today.
“DOJ Responds To Republican Judge’s Partisan Tantrum | The Department of Justice’s letter responding to Republican Judge Jerry Smith’s partisan tantrum earlier this week is available here (http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Fifth-Circuit-letter.pdf ). At first glance, the most striking thing about it is that it is signed by Attorney General Eric Holder, not by the junior Department of Justice attorney who was unfortunate enough to be in the line of fire when Judge Smith decided to place partisanship ahead of judicial neutrality. This is a classy move by Holder. It was fundamentally unfair to for Smith to place a junior lawyer in the line of fire during his own partisan shot at President Obama — hopefully Holder’s actions will insulate her if Smith loses his temper again and decides to start issuing unwarranted sanctions because he deems Holder’s letter insufficiently useful to the Republican Party.”
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I’m not sure how long it’s been since I have proclaimed my love for Mr. Holder, but today, I will shout it to the rooftops: I LOVE ME SOME ERIC HOLDER!! That man is one class act!
Did you read Holder’s letter ? He refers to a case by then N.H . Attorney General Kelly Ayotte…..who was just on Morning Joe yesterday saying that woman do not care about contraception.
Oh gee, here’s a thought. I’m a woman concerned about my job and I can’t afford another child or to take time off and possibly lose my job. Therefore I need access to birth control. Its all tied together.
Oh and here’s another: That birth control is keeping ________ disease under control. If I can’t afford it my condition gets worse and I may lose my job from too many abscences.
I’m sure one of the campaign surrogates can tighten that up and presented better than I did.
She repeated that claim that women are concerned about the economy – the GOP women got their marching orders yesterday. Someone mentioned either here or on twitter that it’s interesting that these women don’t have many children – so they must be using contraception themselves, yet they’re advocating on behalf of misogynistic men who want to take that right away from other women. It’s disgusting and pathetic. If the GOP think that making women come and feed that crap to other women will make women get back in line behind them, then they are insane and insulting. Women are smarter than that, and we recognize a hoodwink when we see it.
In what universe does it work to tell someone what they are concerned with when they know damned well what worries them. My first reaction to someone telling me what I think is to get angry. Insult added to endless injury is to suggest that women don’t have enough brains to know what concerns them and they have to be told what it is. There’s a big potential for backlash here against the GOP. Walk down any street in America and ask all the women you see what most concerns her. You could walk all day and blisters on your feet before any women would spontaneously say, “Gee, I toss and turn all night worrying about the national debt.” This is idiocy.
Women don’t give a flying roasted fig about the “DEBT” and they care about the “economy” in so far as they can have health care, keep or get jobs that will actually pay to support them & their families & provide for their children’s education & know that their elders will continue to have Social Security & Medicare. Women have ever been the real pragmatists. They want a roof over their heads, food on the table, security for their families & the government out of their scared lady parts!
Women do not forget who really supports their issues (our Prez) & who likens them to farm animals & worms (GOP) I would think that most American women will not be ready to “make nice” with the Repugnants for 100 years. Ms Ann better watch out or she could get some real “B” slapping if she tries to talk to women outside her country club.
I was livid when I watched this last night on Lawrence’s show. This is the beginning of the end of justice in this country if this so-called judge gets away with this kind of behavior and doesn’t get sanctioned – privately or otherwise. This was so out of line, and so petty, and so disrespectful. Considering that the last Republican President cannot leave the country without fear of being hauled into The Hague for legal proceedings for violating international treaties, and that he flouted the law by invading another country on false pretences, and that he violated the Constitution by tapping into the phones of private citizens, and that eh stole the election to begin with – aided by the Republican led Supreme Court and his brother…. Who. do. they. think. they. are!?!
Brian Fitzpatrick, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Law and former clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia, put it this way: “I find all of this a bit incredible.”
.
The irony, as Jonathan Bernstein explained, is that “a major plank in the GOP platform for the last few years has been to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over entire areas of federal law.”
.
Indeed, throughout the Bush era, Republican leaders threatened to undermine the power of the federal courts. In one jarring instance, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) went so far as to say judges who are the victims of violence may bring the attacks onto themselves with liberal rulings.
Remind me, were there center-left appeals court judges assigning Republicans homework assignment at the time?
Republicans will destroy this country (and the world) if we let them. Their secret plans are frightening, and they’ve been at it for a long, long time.
Here is yet another example of knee jerk opposition to any and everything that President Obama says backfiring on the GOP and biting them in the arse.
President Obama responds to a question about the ACA and the Supreme Court and the right wing has a cow. They all race to the fainting couches in horror. How dare he weigh in and respond to questions about the ACA. Who does he think he is. Some kine of constitutional law professor. The nerve. Anyway, the right wing rage was so intense that even a Republican appellate judge got into the act. As soon as he used the term “Obamacare” the jig was up. The weird homework assignment was embarrassing, unprofessional and totally uncalled for.
Fast forward to today’s classy response directly from Attorney General Eric Holder to the judge. And you have to wonder if the judge wishes he had kept his mouth shut and not shown his bias.
This is the most informative and revealing hearing I have ever heard about high gas prices and the impact of speculation. It just confirms everything that President Obama has been saying for months now. There is no supply and demand problem, production is up and exports are up. Americans are buying more energy efficient cars. We have high gas prices because of “GAMBLING” pure and simple. The GOP and their friends on Wall Street are doing everything in their power to prevent the implementation of Dodd-Frank regulations that would address speculation. So as usual, they are blaming President Obama for high gas prices while blocking legislation that designed to prevent abusive speculation. The GOP majority in the House of Representatives would never hold a hearing like this. Too many facts might get out to the American people. Highly recommended.
Democratic Lawmakers Hold Hearing on Gas Prices and Excessive Oil Speculation
President Obama thinks women should be allowed membership in the Georgia golf club that is hosting the Masters tournament this week, according to the White House.
“His personal opinion is women should be admitted,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a press briefing on Thursday.
The Augusta National Golf Club, where the Masters golf tournament began on Thursday morning, only accepts male members, and is considered sacred ground in the world of professional golf.
More GOP heads will be exploding soon. I heard a man on the radio (a host on NPR I think) this morning saying that he thinks Augusta needs to open up to women. He said he’s got two daughters and he doesn’t want them denied entry anywhere.
The facts are that Augusta is hosting the Masters golf tournament. The sponsor is IBM. IBM’s CEO is a woman, who is not allowed to join the club.
The head of Augusta was an absolute d*** today in some press conference.
This is not the most pressing issue of the Republic today but it shines a big, bright light on what is still discrimination against women in the 21st century and it is unacceptable. the glass ceiling still exists. It’s legal, yes, because it is a private club. But they will reap immense benefits from the televising of this event and should join the 21st century.
One more small fact – the sponsors always get offered membership – that’s why this is a big deal. They are refusing to honor the tradition of membership to the sponsoring CEO because she’s a woman.
I can send some money to Hachiko from here in Battle Ground WA as soon as something is set up. I loved the outpouring of support from this family to her. This is what President Obama is all about–being your brothers, and sisters, keeper. I am furious about this homework assignment thing–three pages, single spaced. Do any of you know of any other incidence of such a belittling assignment from a court being made to a president? I know, it went to the justice dept., but it was a slap in the face to our President. I’m not going to forget this one—
I think it’s going to work against them, because it just gave the Administration another chance to demonstrate their case for constitutionality. Nobody can read that letter and still argue that the Supreme Court should even have taken that case, let alone give it a full hearing, let alone, find against the law. They laid it out pretty clearly.
What these GOP and their judge-puppets keep forgetting is that President Obama was editor of the Harvard Law review, and a Constitutional scholar. He’s also a man of integrity and honor, and he takes his oath of office seriously – to uphold the Constitution, a document he clearly reveres. If even one word of this law is struck down, then we’ll know it’s not about the law, but about politics. I see this letter as a warning shot across the bow. The Administration is prepared.
She’ll be here tonight. She will be at my house so she can be on as long as she likes. Maybe she can make arrangements to recieve all your pledges.
And they can continue dissing the Presisdent all they want. He is the best thing that ever happened to this country.
Ungrateful wretches.
Unfortunately pets are not allowed in my building. She found a place for him so that’s taken care of. She will be with me tonight and come on here to be with you all.
Miss pat, you are an angel! As soon as you know how we can help. Please post here & I will do what I can. Please give Hachiko/Marabout40 a big hug from me. Thank you!
Yes, our President is the best thing that ever happened to this country. He just keeps on keeping on despite all the criticism & disrespect. WE”VE GOT HIS BACK!!! 4 MORE FOR 44!!!
just a quick question, I’m on twitter and suddenly unable to access my ‘connect’ page.. it comes up blank, I’m wondering if anyone else on twitter is having the same problem? thanks~
Dems pledge to push the "Buffett rule" all year as a defining contrast between the parties ahead of the election: tpm.ly/HpLcld— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) April 05, 2012
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder responded Thursday to a federal appeals court’s request for a letter explaining President Obama’s assertion that the Affordable Care Act must be upheld, a move that even some conservatives considered a bridge too far.
Holder reminded the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that the president was making the point that the law jibes with longstanding precedent, but — contrary to what the Republican-appointed judges suggested — he wasn’t challenging the judicial branch’s authority to strike down laws that violate the Constitution.
The key portion of the DOJ letter:
The Department has not in this litigation, nor in any other litigation of which I am aware, ever asked this or any other Court to reconsider or limit long-established precedent concerning judicial review of the constitutionality of federal legislation.
At no point has the government suggested that the Court would lack authority to review plaintiffs’ constitutional claims if the Court were to conclude that jurisdiction exists. The case has been fully briefed and argued, and it is ready for disposition. The question posed by the Court regarding judicial review does not concern any argument made in the government’s brief or at oral argument in this case …
The power of the courts to review the constitutionality of legislation is beyond dispute.
Ohh, you like him? That is good. Obviously, very smart, sticks up for AA community, albeit, I thought he was a little intimidated by the Republicans on the whole KSM trial Thingy!
The Attorney General doesn’t work in a vaccuum, neither does The President. Admittedly, the whole Guantanamo thingy in general is something that shook my confidence in this Administration. I don’t like how this went down either.
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“On January 7, 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama signed National Defense Authorization Act which explicitly prohibits the use of US Defense Department funds to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States or other countries. It also bars Pentagon funds from being used to build facilities in the United States to house detainees, as the president originally suggested. The move essentially barred the administration from trying detainees in civilian courts. The president objected to the provision in the bill before signing it, calling it “a dangerous and unprecedented challenge to critical executive branch authority” but also said his team would work with the US Congress to “seek repeal of these restrictions.”
On April 4, 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other 9/11 terror suspects will face a military trial at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. In announcing his decision, Holder was highly critical of Congress for imposing restrictions on the Justice Department’s ability to bring the men to New York for civilian trials. “After thoroughly studying the case, it became clear to me that the best venue for prosecution was in federal court. I stand by that decision today,” Holder said. “As the president has said, those unwise and unwarranted restrictions (imposed by Congress) undermine our counterterrorism efforts and could harm our national security. Decisions about who, where and how to prosecute have always been—and must remain—the responsibility of the executive branch.” Holder insisted, “We were prepared to bring a powerful case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-conspirators—one of the most well-researched and documented cases I have ever seen in my decades of experience as a prosecutor.” He added, “Had this case proceeded in Manhattan or in an alternative venue in the United States, as I seriously explored in the past year, I am confident that our justice system would have performed with the same distinction that has been its hallmark for over 200 years.” Holder had promised to seek the death penalty for each of the five men and on 4 April he warned that it is an “open question” if such a penalty can be imposed by a military commission if the defendants plead guilty
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I’m still hoping after PBO’s re-election and a new Democratic-majority congress gets seated, they’ll fix this.
That excerpt implies that the National Defense Authorization Act was all about prohibiting funding for detainee transfer, and ignores that it was actually a bill to fund the military – who were actively engaged in two wars. The President could have stood his ground and said he’d refuse to sign the bill, or he could put the safety and security of the military and their families first and sign the bill, despite his extreme objection to the clause added by the Republican Party.
The Gitmo debacle has been the clearest case of Democratic weakness in supporting the President, and GOP disregard for national security and the country and the military. They’ll use anything to get what they want. They don’t see people. They don’t care about the consequences. They are cowards.
You should read the letter that Eric Holder wrote, I’m not a lawyer nor do I play one on teevee, but it was beautiful in its simplicity. Basically Holder told the judge to mind his own business and tend to the matter that’s before your own court.
He also said that the courts don’t automatically assume that a matter is unconstitutional, and that there is an extremely high burden on the complaining party to prove that a matter is unconstitutional – basically implying that this should never have come before the court to begin with because the courts typically give deference to the equal branches of government to uphold the Constitution. It should have been an extraordinary circumstance. Also, he said that there is precedents that state that the courts don’t strike down an entire law in order to address one grievance.
When Kennedy stated in oral arguments that the burden of ‘proving’ constitutionality was the government’s burden — that was when my heart sank. Bills are considered constitutional unless proven otherwise. The burden in on the party bringing the issue before the Court and the Court has a responsibility to assume that the other branches of government have done their jobs appropriately. That, unfortunately, is no longer the standard of the Roberts Court.
Kennedy is less a jackass on issues of the death penalty, etc. which is how he got his reputation as a swing vote but he is a Republican through and through.
These are the justices who hunt with Cheney; Scalia’s son actively working on Bush v. Gore; Ginny Thomas working on the Bush transition team, and a host of other conflicts of interest that would get a dogcatcher booted out. I have little confidence they have any shame whatsoever. They are political hacks who relish their job to undo every progressive action of the last century.
Eeesh! This country is in trouble. You’re right, of course. I even heard on Randi that this is the same court that forced a young girl to pay the $40K legal fees to a man who raped her, because they went to the same school and she was a cheerleader and didn’t want to cheer for her rapist. This court ruled against her. If they can do that to a young, innocent victim, they won’t think twice about disrespecting the President.
Rachel Maddiw is advertising her new Anti War book on Talking points Memo.
Nowhere, dies she explain the War Powers Act and why John Adams chose the President as the Commander in Chief and not Congress.
This Book suggests that this President is power happy.
Absurd. Every President has had the right, under law, to do the aforementioned. Another Book, smearing this President.
Thanks Rachel…
Yes, I’ve stopped watching Rachel again. She has a nerve to imply that President Obama “power happy”, when the evidence against his predecessor of being a power happy president is astounding. She was ranting last night about President Obama not prosecuting Bush, and I decided to give her a break for a while again. We all wanted Bush prosecuted (believe me, I REALLY wanted him prosecuted), but there are more important factors to focus on right now. We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, if anything at all. I don’t blame President Obama for any of it. He didn’t start the wars – he’s ending them. He didn’t stand by silently while Bush and his cronies made the false case for war – he spoke up against it, and he ran against the wars. He has to run the country, and prosecuting Bush and friends may be satisfying, but will come at a very high cost that would have an impact on generations to come. I can understand his decision to battle the economic collapse, pass health care, fix the auto industry, run the government – instead of pursuing his predecessor. Rachel needs to grow up.
I see that her media cronies are all lining up behind her with praise for her book. It’s that same media that helped Bush make the case for war. It’s that same media that hasn’t told the truth about who is actually keeping Gitmo open. It’s that same media that covers for the GOP on every failed policy they’re still peddling. They are all the same and they stick together.
Caught a clip of Rachel on Jon Stewart’s show where they were high-fiving each other on apportionaing blame equally to both Democrats and Republicans!!! False equivalencies 3.0, 4.0, 5.0!!!
Still have no use for either of them and my sentiments continue to be validated!!!
I’m glad I didn’t see that crap. These emoprogs are so dangerous. They play with fire, and don’t care who gets burned. Their reckless false equivalence hurts real people. It doesn’t further any cause, because we’re not dealing with a rational opposition party. The stakes are so high, and people like Maddow and Stewart make me sick with their nonsense.
Newt Gingrich's think tank files for bankruptcy; had raised millions to support his health care ideas: apne.ws/I0xDcy -EF— The Associated Press (@AP) April 05, 2012
His healthcare plan that CALLED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE! The degree of all out hypocrisy, time and time again…is STUNNING! Yet MSM misses ALL THIS. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Couric now VP frontrunner RT @jakebeckman ABC’s “Good Morning America” outperformed NBC’s “Today” by 87K Total Viewers on Wednesday, April 4— (@LOLGOP) April 05, 2012
TOD this is why we will win this November. Our campaign never stops working until the final vote is casts. The other side just pulls up stakes and moves on because they feel entitled so they they think they should be crowned the winner. I can’t wait to kick the Repubs butts this Fall.
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Almost three months after his resounding victory in the New Hampshire primary launched Mitt Romney toward the Republican nomination, his former campaign headquarters here is empty.
A “for lease” sign is plastered across the window of the inconspicuous storefront on Elm Street, and there are no indications that the staff and resources devoted to Romney’s strongest early primary win are close to getting back to work in what is shaping up as an important swing state in the general election.
Hachiko, I am so sorry about your current plight but thrilled that you are finding options here. I am in to help when you have a PayPal account set up. I have both dogs and cats, and appreciate your concern about getting Tucker taken care of first. Once he is settled in you will be in a better position to focus on what you need to get done.
So why did Judge Smith lose his cool and play the role of a partisan activist? I suppose that’s up to him to explain, but whatever his motivation, his tirade was an embarrassment to the federal judiciary at a time when the institution can least afford another setback in its credibility.
As we talked about on Tuesday, the larger concern, especially after last week’s oral arguments at the Supreme Court, is that Americans may no longer have confidence that judges, especially on the right, are guided by anything other than partisan and ideological goals. Our system of government relies heavily on an independent judiciary, but some judges appear willing, even eager, to blur the line between their duties and political activism.
When Americans start to see conservative judges as Republicans, rather than just Republican appointees, the integrity of the courts suffers in immeasurable ways. It’s something for Smith to think about when he receives Holder’s letter, accepts its argument, and moves on to other matters.
Woodhouse is having a twitter fight with the RNC SPOX-
.@seanspicer: we spent 1m in polling and have a 19 point lead with women. You didn't and @reince says their concerns are fictional.— Brad Woodhouse (@woodhouseb) April 05, 2012
I knew when right winger Stephen Harper got elected Prime Minister with majority…we were in trouble….I wasn’t wrong.
The New Democrats slammed Stephen Harper’s Conservatives for introducing a budget that recklessly cuts the vital services that Canadians rely on—such as Old Age Security and health care.
The Harper government promised jobs and growth, but is delivering reckless cuts instead
The budget outlines the Conservative plan to raise the OAS (old age security pension) eligibility age from 65 to 67, forcing seniors to work two years longer to make ends meet.
It also unilaterally changes the funding formula for federal health transfers, short-changing provinces by a whopping $31 billion, opening the door to privatization and two-tier health care.
As recently as last June, Mr. Harper solemnly stated in the House of Commons “We will not cut pensions.
We will not cut transfers to the provinces for major programs such as health care.”
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Another lying right winger….what a surprise
So it doesn’t matter what country you are from….if you are to the right, the far right….you should never be in power, it’s like a disease….hurt people, the poor….help the rich……sick ideology
He but more importantly and unfortunately the people of Canada are in for a rude awakening. What does it take to get these officials to realize austerity does not work?
Indeed. People = money to be made in their worldview. Nothing more, nothing less. Their god is Mammon. Will be interesting to see how the Canadians respond.
the garbage of austerity has been spread far and wide by rightwingers and the results of this actual experiment are in – austerity has failed to revive the economy
Robme is up in Pennsylvania. Well, that did not take long.
That said, his Campaign and Super PAC has had to spend about 25-30 million more than they would have liked, during Primary!
Can we start to twit Harvad the following: ” enrolling rich legacy rightwingers leads to trashing Harvad’s name for political gain. Harvard, demand your degrees back from Mitt the liar
mitt the liar feels entitled to the presidency. after all, he is rich and was raised to expect to become president one day.
My prayer is that President Obama not only gives rich boy liar mitt a political thrashing but that it is in form of a landslide that leaves permanent mental scars to the out-sourcing, worker-abusing, dog-abusing entitled liar
delusional. It’s a real thing. Some people’s sense of reality is very fragile so as a defense they make up a world where things look brighter for themselves. Shit happens. Can’t wait to violate his sense of reality come November. I can’t even pity him. Rat fucker.
File this under awkward: Jon Huntsman, who endorsed Mitt Romney after dropping out of the presidential race in January, is “not a surrogate for Romney” and will not be campaigning for him, according to his daughter, Abby Huntsman Livingston.
ABC News has the quote from Livingston:
“My dad is not a surrogate for Romney and will not be out stumping for him in the general,” she said in an email. “He is enjoying private life.”
As you might know Stephen Colbert is among this year’s Peabody Award winners for his SuperPAC satire. Here’s the complete list of recipients: http://www.peabody.uga.edu/71stwinners.php
The awards will be formally presented at a luncheon ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on May 21.
[Zoinks! Trekkie Alert!! OMG, Patrick Stewart is hosting!!]
Nice to see StoryCorps and Homeland get some recognition. Lots of shows and documentaries to check out.
RT @TeaPartyCat: ABC's John Karl: "The Great Gatsby was an excellent movie. Well, I didn't see it; I'm just going by this review the studio… 1 hour ago
First~!
Winner!!!!
Meh….
Meh? The nerve of you.
Viva la spanish league. epl can suck it.
Teabaggers, Firebaggers, now a Barcabagger. Ah amk, my heart is heavy.
They are ‘leagues’ above these prima donnas.
Ruddy nosed git!
haven’t heard that one for 40 years.
That’s what happens when you start watching Monty Python when you’re 9…
I lived in southeast London Eng. It was an every day thing.
The English just have much better insults than Americans. Just like they have much better chants at sporting events.
Congratulations LL……….although I have no idea who that person is….mmmmmm
ChristiMTL, you should be ashamed of yourself. That man right there is second only to PBO in wonderfulness. He is the manager of Manchester United who, as LL will tell you, are the greatest soccer club in the history of planet earth.
*cough*crashedoutofEuropaLeague*cough*
Haha not my area of expertise,
Matters not to me, either, christiemtl!
Yet another limey loser. fuggetabouthim.
He’s not a limey. He’s a Scot. Which might be worse.
tomayto, tomatoh. Either case, worth throwing in chip’s face.
Just missed.
Story of your life amk.
yeah, tellmeaboutit.
Woot! Go LL!!
Congrats!!!!!!!
Hello Chipsticks!
Congratulations LL on being First
Thanks Gail!
Congrats LL!!
Hiya GGail, should be done with my work very soon, then I’ll be ready to play – well, catch up with all the day’s news.
You have earned some playtime!
Watch out, everyone!
Congrats LL, I wish I got a prize for being first…
lol!
It was pure luck on my part.
There you go Jay
Oh Man! Jay if you don’t forgive Chipsticks for being busy and missing your “First”, then I’ll do it for you!!!!
I forgive you Chipsticks
Me too! Thank you Chips! You da wuh-man!!
Oh I forgive you…but that’s my avatar anyway, lol. I could use some FLOTUS love though…,
One of my favorite pictures…..a classic
This is the it!! The photo that makes my hands sweat, my heart thump–LOVE this photo\
Linda Greenhouse of NYT says ACA will pass easily. She gives analysis here. She is one of the most respected *real* journalists covering the SOTUS. She has done so for years. Has been a frequent contributor to Washington Week in Review on PBS.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/embarrass-the-future/?hp
Tweeted. We need to cheer up the fucking base. Again.
So true.
fucking ‘base’ is stupid.
True, Lisa, but compared to the tea party base, ours are freaking geniuses.
Love it!
Very interesting and excellent piece. Thanks very much, Bill R.
I enjoyed her intelligent commentary when I used to watch the Newshour. She never seemed self- inflated.
Awesome.
Could JOBS Act “Bring Fraud Back to Wall Street?”
Now here comes the JOBS act.
According to regulators, it’s a doozy. The New York Times reports that Wall Street firms are poring over the legislation to determine whether it loosens some of the restrictions enacted to protect investors from financial abuses at the beginning of the 2000′s. In particular the act could allow big banks to breach the Chinese wall that has separated investment bankers working with public companies and the analysts who are covering those companies. Goldman Sachs (GS) and others are already reportedly exploring how to change their business practices once the bill is passed. President Obama is expected to sign it today.
Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer told the Times “It shouldn’t be called the JOBS Act, it should be called the Bring Fraud Back to Wall Street Act.”
Under the JOBS act, regulations could be loosened for emerging growth companies, potentially allowing analysts to pump up interest in the stock even as their firms stand to make millions underwriting the equity offer.
The act could also allow entrepreneurs to sell some stock on the Internet without registering with regulators. And it could allow hedge funds and private equity firms to market themselves more aggressively to the public, a practice that’s now heavily restricted.
http://blogs.barrons.com/stockstowatchtoday/2012/04/05/could-jobs-act-bring-fraud-back-to-wall-street/
—-
This new bill makes me nervous……
WHERE THE HELL WAS ELIOT SPITZER when the president proposed his original Jobs bill and the Repubs were blocking it? No where to be seen. But now he wants to jump and attack it because it’s not perfect. All he’s being doing is criticizing this President from day one.
This article is full of “what ifs” and “could-bes” – yes we know it’s not perfect but it’s a START – and obviously, the President trusts that it will at least help more than hurt. There are all sorts of consumer protections in place that weren’t there before to watch the fraudsters’ behavior and put them in check. Furthermore, I don’t hear Liz Warren or Ray Coduray griping about it. I take the President’s word over any of these opportunistic politicians.
Do you have a link to the bill? If not, I do some research. I listened to my taped Bill Press show and he is totally against this bill. He said he loves the President, but he thinks the President is wrong to sign this bill.
I don’t have a PDF but I’m providing a WH link to a description of what the bill entails. I’m also citing the regulations and protections portion.
// Additional Initiatives Announced Today to Promote Capital Access and Investor Protection
• Monitoring of JOBS Act Implementation: The President is directing the Treasury Department, Small Business Administration and Department of Justice to closely monitor the implementation of this legislation to ensure that it is achieving its goals of enhancing access capital while maintaining appropriate investor protections. These agencies, consulting closely with the SEC and key non-governmental stakeholders, will report their findings to the President on a biannual basis, and will include recommendations for additional necessary steps to ensure that the legislation achieves its goals.
• Crowdfunding Platforms Commit to Investor Protections: In a letter to President Obama, a consortium of crowdfunding companies are committing to work with the SEC to develop appropriate regulation of the industry, as required by the JOBS Act. Members of this leadership group are committing to establish core investor protections, including an enforceable code of conduct for crowdfunding platforms, standardized methods to ensure that investors do not exceed statutory limits, thorough vetting of companies raising funds through crowdfunding, and an industry standard “Investors’ Bill of Rights.” //
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/05/president-obama-sign-jumpstart-our-business-startups-jobs-act
With Goldman Sachs sniffing around ….I just know they will be up to no good…..
I think the President is more than aware of this. I couldn’t help but notice that he strongly emphasized the regulatory aspect of the FCC in his little speech before signing the bill.
I believe that certain media folk (like Spitzer) have an agenda to be highly critical of whatever this President does, and knowing fully well that nothing is going to be perfect exploit those opportunities like cat on mouse. It’s getting tiresome already.
I was really happy to hear the emphasis on the regulatory aspect – I knew the Administration would be fully aware of the loopholes created by the GOP version of this bill, and they’d be all over it trying to fix it. I think the GOP tried to trap the President, because he said if they passed it, he’d sign it. He’s not stupid, though.
Methinks these guys get some kind of kinky thrill by trying to play devil’s advocate all the time. This ploy makes for irritating as well as annoying discourse! And then there’s the part, like Toobin and his ACA meme, who wants to be known as the throw down the gauntlet guy. Too puerile for words.
Plus, Eliot Spitzer had a TV show at the time, and decided to use his pulpit to attack the President instead of pushing for strong legislation. I ignore Eliot Spitzer, because he adds nothing to the conversation – even though he’s got a very good mind and could do good, if he chose to. I’m not sure what he’s going to be doing on Current TV, but I won’t waste any time watching.
You can say that again!!! Elliot Spitzer can go to hell for all I care!!!
Why does this has-been have anything to say at all? He disgraced himself and should have a shred of dignity and STFU.
Hf, Spritzer is a big bag of hot air. He had a chance to achieve something as governor and blew it big time. Now he’s so jealous of PBO he can’t see straight. Al Gore should not have given him a gig at Current. Fortunately no one will watch it.
THAT’s where I heard this! I couldn’t remember where.
Spitzer is making me long for Keith. At least Keith was a halfway decent writer sometimes.
#PRESSON
#AmericaThisIsNotATest
Those beautiful hands of Michelle Obama’s (below) are so touching and so wonderful, I lifted the picture for my Obama album. How wonderful it would be (for me) to feel those warm hands on my own.
Hey Birthday girl
Happy birthday Joan!!
Happy Birthday Joan!
Happy birthday, Joan!
are yah doing anything special today?
Mourning.
what?!?
Now stop that joan! Your birthday is a day for celebrating life and taking stock. Don’t mourn the unfulfilled dreams. That fact that you’re still here means you can work on some new ones. I’m glad you’re still here. I hope you are too.
Do something that makes your heart sing and laugh until your guts hurt. {{{hugs}}}
I love that “what?!?” from a4alice!
And Dudette, Last fall and this spring I’ve ordered loads of peonies and baby apple trees, hydrangeas, and many perennials for the garden, so yes, I’m working as usual every as I do every spring on new dreams. Some day I’ll tell you where my ashes will be scattered (and in fact dug in, as my youngest [gardener] daughter reminded me will be absolutely necessary to keep me from blowing away!)
The very best thing, though, would to feel Michelle Obama’s beautiful hands on mine! Wouldn’t that be fine?
Sorry for the extra “every” above.
Happy birthday to our magnificent Joan!!!
So right. Happy Birthday Joan. Do something you would not normally do. Just enjoy the day and give thanks for life.
Blessings to you Joan. A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY with all best wishes.
Happy birthday, Joan!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Joan!
Just a reminder that we’ve also got crazy right wing judges to deal with…
Republican Fifth Circuit Pitches A Partisan Tantrum After President Obama Speaks Out About Supreme Court
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/03/457727/republican-fifth-circuit-pitches-a-partisan-tantrum-after-president-obama-speaks-out-about-supreme-court/
You can read the article if you want, but for more impact, watch this video from Lawrence O’Donnell’s show last night:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755883/vp/46959887#46959887
My mouth dropped to the floor at the bizarre homework assignment this judge insisted on from the DOJ lawyer arguing a case before him. If that’s not the definition of partisan judicial overreach, I don’t know what is.
————————-
Anyway, Think Progress has published Atty General Eric Holder’s written response today.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/05/459133/doj-responds-to-republican-judges-partisan-tantrum/
“DOJ Responds To Republican Judge’s Partisan Tantrum | The Department of Justice’s letter responding to Republican Judge Jerry Smith’s partisan tantrum earlier this week is available here (http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Fifth-Circuit-letter.pdf ). At first glance, the most striking thing about it is that it is signed by Attorney General Eric Holder, not by the junior Department of Justice attorney who was unfortunate enough to be in the line of fire when Judge Smith decided to place partisanship ahead of judicial neutrality. This is a classy move by Holder. It was fundamentally unfair to for Smith to place a junior lawyer in the line of fire during his own partisan shot at President Obama — hopefully Holder’s actions will insulate her if Smith loses his temper again and decides to start issuing unwarranted sanctions because he deems Holder’s letter insufficiently useful to the Republican Party.”
————————-
I’m not sure how long it’s been since I have proclaimed my love for Mr. Holder, but today, I will shout it to the rooftops: I LOVE ME SOME ERIC HOLDER!! That man is one class act!
Tweeted.
Just came here to post AG’s letter. I,too, love me some Eric Holder! One of the highlights of my week in Denver was the opportunity to chat with him…
Did you read Holder’s letter ? He refers to a case by then N.H . Attorney General Kelly Ayotte…..who was just on Morning Joe yesterday saying that woman do not care about contraception.
Yep, caught that. Nice one.
Do you mean Nikki Haley who said that on The View or did Ayotte repeat that crap on Morning Joe?
Ayotte on Morning Joe
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/#46950062
Discussion about whether contraception flap explains the 20-pt gender cap between PBO and Romney around 2:29
Oh gee, here’s a thought. I’m a woman concerned about my job and I can’t afford another child or to take time off and possibly lose my job. Therefore I need access to birth control. Its all tied together.
Oh and here’s another: That birth control is keeping ________ disease under control. If I can’t afford it my condition gets worse and I may lose my job from too many abscences.
I’m sure one of the campaign surrogates can tighten that up and presented better than I did.
Pfftt, what’s the matter with you? Trying to inject LOGIC and PRAGMATISM into a political debate — you know better than that!
She repeated that claim that women are concerned about the economy – the GOP women got their marching orders yesterday. Someone mentioned either here or on twitter that it’s interesting that these women don’t have many children – so they must be using contraception themselves, yet they’re advocating on behalf of misogynistic men who want to take that right away from other women. It’s disgusting and pathetic. If the GOP think that making women come and feed that crap to other women will make women get back in line behind them, then they are insane and insulting. Women are smarter than that, and we recognize a hoodwink when we see it.
In what universe does it work to tell someone what they are concerned with when they know damned well what worries them. My first reaction to someone telling me what I think is to get angry. Insult added to endless injury is to suggest that women don’t have enough brains to know what concerns them and they have to be told what it is. There’s a big potential for backlash here against the GOP. Walk down any street in America and ask all the women you see what most concerns her. You could walk all day and blisters on your feet before any women would spontaneously say, “Gee, I toss and turn all night worrying about the national debt.” This is idiocy.
Just one of many things for which they deserve severe backlash. But, you have to know that this will actually work with some women… sadly…
She repeated it…
That is the new strategy, I guess….get the female Republicans on the tube to tell woman they don’t care about women’s health….
The are pushing the meme that woman care about the economy and the debt..
They are making fools of themselves..
Ann Romney
Kelly Ayotte
Nikki Haley
totally fucking clueless.
Women don’t give a flying roasted fig about the “DEBT” and they care about the “economy” in so far as they can have health care, keep or get jobs that will actually pay to support them & their families & provide for their children’s education & know that their elders will continue to have Social Security & Medicare. Women have ever been the real pragmatists. They want a roof over their heads, food on the table, security for their families & the government out of their scared lady parts!
Women do not forget who really supports their issues (our Prez) & who likens them to farm animals & worms (GOP) I would think that most American women will not be ready to “make nice” with the Repugnants for 100 years. Ms Ann better watch out or she could get some real “B” slapping if she tries to talk to women outside her country club.
Brilliant. RWNJ foiled again. They sure do love picking on women, don’t they?
I was livid when I watched this last night on Lawrence’s show. This is the beginning of the end of justice in this country if this so-called judge gets away with this kind of behavior and doesn’t get sanctioned – privately or otherwise. This was so out of line, and so petty, and so disrespectful. Considering that the last Republican President cannot leave the country without fear of being hauled into The Hague for legal proceedings for violating international treaties, and that he flouted the law by invading another country on false pretences, and that he violated the Constitution by tapping into the phones of private citizens, and that eh stole the election to begin with – aided by the Republican led Supreme Court and his brother…. Who. do. they. think. they. are!?!
I guess I’m still mad.
The last Republican will get his comuppance during the second term towards the end. Mark my words. I am Miss Cleo the second.
From your lips, to God’s ears, I hope.
oh, snap, AG Holder!
‘I FIND ALL OF THIS A BIT INCREDIBLE’
By Steve Benen
————————————————–
Brian Fitzpatrick, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Law and former clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia, put it this way: “I find all of this a bit incredible.”
.
The irony, as Jonathan Bernstein explained, is that “a major plank in the GOP platform for the last few years has been to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over entire areas of federal law.”
.
Indeed, throughout the Bush era, Republican leaders threatened to undermine the power of the federal courts. In one jarring instance, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) went so far as to say judges who are the victims of violence may bring the attacks onto themselves with liberal rulings.
Remind me, were there center-left appeals court judges assigning Republicans homework assignment at the time?
—————————————————
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/04/11018829-i-find-all-of-this-a-bit-incredible
Republicans will destroy this country (and the world) if we let them. Their secret plans are frightening, and they’ve been at it for a long, long time.
WILL THE RIGHT WING EVER LEARN??
Here is yet another example of knee jerk opposition to any and everything that President Obama says backfiring on the GOP and biting them in the arse.
President Obama responds to a question about the ACA and the Supreme Court and the right wing has a cow. They all race to the fainting couches in horror. How dare he weigh in and respond to questions about the ACA. Who does he think he is. Some kine of constitutional law professor. The nerve. Anyway, the right wing rage was so intense that even a Republican appellate judge got into the act. As soon as he used the term “Obamacare” the jig was up. The weird homework assignment was embarrassing, unprofessional and totally uncalled for.
Fast forward to today’s classy response directly from Attorney General Eric Holder to the judge. And you have to wonder if the judge wishes he had kept his mouth shut and not shown his bias.
Beautiful. When you know law, you know law. Legal smackdown!
SPECULATION & HIGH GAS PRICES 101
This is the most informative and revealing hearing I have ever heard about high gas prices and the impact of speculation. It just confirms everything that President Obama has been saying for months now. There is no supply and demand problem, production is up and exports are up. Americans are buying more energy efficient cars. We have high gas prices because of “GAMBLING” pure and simple. The GOP and their friends on Wall Street are doing everything in their power to prevent the implementation of Dodd-Frank regulations that would address speculation. So as usual, they are blaming President Obama for high gas prices while blocking legislation that designed to prevent abusive speculation. The GOP majority in the House of Representatives would never hold a hearing like this. Too many facts might get out to the American people. Highly recommended.
Democratic Lawmakers Hold Hearing on Gas Prices and Excessive Oil Speculation
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Lawmakers-Hold-Hearing-on-Gas-Prices-and-Excessive-Oil-Speculation/10737429634/
President Obama thinks women should be allowed membership in the Georgia golf club that is hosting the Masters tournament this week, according to the White House.
“His personal opinion is women should be admitted,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a press briefing on Thursday.
The Augusta National Golf Club, where the Masters golf tournament began on Thursday morning, only accepts male members, and is considered sacred ground in the world of professional golf.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/220143-obama-men-only-golf-club-should-accept-female-members
Agreed.
More GOP heads will be exploding soon. I heard a man on the radio (a host on NPR I think) this morning saying that he thinks Augusta needs to open up to women. He said he’s got two daughters and he doesn’t want them denied entry anywhere.
The facts are that Augusta is hosting the Masters golf tournament. The sponsor is IBM. IBM’s CEO is a woman, who is not allowed to join the club.
The head of Augusta was an absolute d*** today in some press conference.
This is not the most pressing issue of the Republic today but it shines a big, bright light on what is still discrimination against women in the 21st century and it is unacceptable. the glass ceiling still exists. It’s legal, yes, because it is a private club. But they will reap immense benefits from the televising of this event and should join the 21st century.
One more small fact – the sponsors always get offered membership – that’s why this is a big deal. They are refusing to honor the tradition of membership to the sponsoring CEO because she’s a woman.
Didn’t they JUST open the Masters golf tournment to African Americans in the 1975 with Lee Elder.
The CEO of IBM is hosting clients at Augusta National today. There is a good chance she is a member. The club does not comment on membership.
I can send some money to Hachiko from here in Battle Ground WA as soon as something is set up. I loved the outpouring of support from this family to her. This is what President Obama is all about–being your brothers, and sisters, keeper. I am furious about this homework assignment thing–three pages, single spaced. Do any of you know of any other incidence of such a belittling assignment from a court being made to a president? I know, it went to the justice dept., but it was a slap in the face to our President. I’m not going to forget this one—
Just incredible, auni. SMDH!
I think it’s going to work against them, because it just gave the Administration another chance to demonstrate their case for constitutionality. Nobody can read that letter and still argue that the Supreme Court should even have taken that case, let alone give it a full hearing, let alone, find against the law. They laid it out pretty clearly.
What these GOP and their judge-puppets keep forgetting is that President Obama was editor of the Harvard Law review, and a Constitutional scholar. He’s also a man of integrity and honor, and he takes his oath of office seriously – to uphold the Constitution, a document he clearly reveres. If even one word of this law is struck down, then we’ll know it’s not about the law, but about politics. I see this letter as a warning shot across the bow. The Administration is prepared.
Hi auni, I have a friend who used to live in Battle Ground, WA. WA state is like my 2nd adopted home.
She’ll be here tonight. She will be at my house so she can be on as long as she likes. Maybe she can make arrangements to recieve all your pledges.
And they can continue dissing the Presisdent all they want. He is the best thing that ever happened to this country.
Ungrateful wretches.
Yay, Miss Pat, now lovely, and lovely for you too! Will Tucker be with Hachiko? Oh, I do hope so! You are blessed, so blessed!
Unfortunately pets are not allowed in my building. She found a place for him so that’s taken care of. She will be with me tonight and come on here to be with you all.
Miss pat, you are an angel! As soon as you know how we can help. Please post here & I will do what I can. Please give Hachiko/Marabout40 a big hug from me. Thank you!
Yes, our President is the best thing that ever happened to this country. He just keeps on keeping on despite all the criticism & disrespect. WE”VE GOT HIS BACK!!! 4 MORE FOR 44!!!
Miss Pat bless you and Lunarsea for giving Hachiko a place to stay.
just a quick question, I’m on twitter and suddenly unable to access my ‘connect’ page.. it comes up blank, I’m wondering if anyone else on twitter is having the same problem? thanks~
same here. server overload.
ahh thank you amk.. so glad I’m not alone
Good!
oh that made me smile.. how lovely, they’re all so excited and POTUS so charming.. just wonderful
me too. I was grinning from ear to ear. I adore Henry and I am so happy for him.
How wild is that? They were all going crazy!! POTUS looks like he’s thinking, WHOA.
How fun.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder responded Thursday to a federal appeals court’s request for a letter explaining President Obama’s assertion that the Affordable Care Act must be upheld, a move that even some conservatives considered a bridge too far.
Holder reminded the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that the president was making the point that the law jibes with longstanding precedent, but — contrary to what the Republican-appointed judges suggested — he wasn’t challenging the judicial branch’s authority to strike down laws that violate the Constitution.
The key portion of the DOJ letter:
The Department has not in this litigation, nor in any other litigation of which I am aware, ever asked this or any other Court to reconsider or limit long-established precedent concerning judicial review of the constitutionality of federal legislation.
At no point has the government suggested that the Court would lack authority to review plaintiffs’ constitutional claims if the Court were to conclude that jurisdiction exists. The case has been fully briefed and argued, and it is ready for disposition. The question posed by the Court regarding judicial review does not concern any argument made in the government’s brief or at oral argument in this case …
The power of the courts to review the constitutionality of legislation is beyond dispute.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/doj-no-obama-didnt-say-courts-cant-strike-down-laws-1.php?m=1
Sigh! My Eric… ain’t he somethin’?
Ohh, you like him? That is good. Obviously, very smart, sticks up for AA community, albeit, I thought he was a little intimidated by the Republicans on the whole KSM trial Thingy!
The Attorney General doesn’t work in a vaccuum, neither does The President. Admittedly, the whole Guantanamo thingy in general is something that shook my confidence in this Administration. I don’t like how this went down either.
—————–
“On January 7, 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama signed National Defense Authorization Act which explicitly prohibits the use of US Defense Department funds to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States or other countries. It also bars Pentagon funds from being used to build facilities in the United States to house detainees, as the president originally suggested. The move essentially barred the administration from trying detainees in civilian courts. The president objected to the provision in the bill before signing it, calling it “a dangerous and unprecedented challenge to critical executive branch authority” but also said his team would work with the US Congress to “seek repeal of these restrictions.”
On April 4, 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other 9/11 terror suspects will face a military trial at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. In announcing his decision, Holder was highly critical of Congress for imposing restrictions on the Justice Department’s ability to bring the men to New York for civilian trials. “After thoroughly studying the case, it became clear to me that the best venue for prosecution was in federal court. I stand by that decision today,” Holder said. “As the president has said, those unwise and unwarranted restrictions (imposed by Congress) undermine our counterterrorism efforts and could harm our national security. Decisions about who, where and how to prosecute have always been—and must remain—the responsibility of the executive branch.” Holder insisted, “We were prepared to bring a powerful case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-conspirators—one of the most well-researched and documented cases I have ever seen in my decades of experience as a prosecutor.” He added, “Had this case proceeded in Manhattan or in an alternative venue in the United States, as I seriously explored in the past year, I am confident that our justice system would have performed with the same distinction that has been its hallmark for over 200 years.” Holder had promised to seek the death penalty for each of the five men and on 4 April he warned that it is an “open question” if such a penalty can be imposed by a military commission if the defendants plead guilty
—————–
I’m still hoping after PBO’s re-election and a new Democratic-majority congress gets seated, they’ll fix this.
That excerpt implies that the National Defense Authorization Act was all about prohibiting funding for detainee transfer, and ignores that it was actually a bill to fund the military – who were actively engaged in two wars. The President could have stood his ground and said he’d refuse to sign the bill, or he could put the safety and security of the military and their families first and sign the bill, despite his extreme objection to the clause added by the Republican Party.
The Gitmo debacle has been the clearest case of Democratic weakness in supporting the President, and GOP disregard for national security and the country and the military. They’ll use anything to get what they want. They don’t see people. They don’t care about the consequences. They are cowards.
Holder stood up to Repubs on that issue quite loudly until……. Bloomberg and Cuomo folded.
You should read the letter that Eric Holder wrote, I’m not a lawyer nor do I play one on teevee, but it was beautiful in its simplicity. Basically Holder told the judge to mind his own business and tend to the matter that’s before your own court.
He also said that the courts don’t automatically assume that a matter is unconstitutional, and that there is an extremely high burden on the complaining party to prove that a matter is unconstitutional – basically implying that this should never have come before the court to begin with because the courts typically give deference to the equal branches of government to uphold the Constitution. It should have been an extraordinary circumstance. Also, he said that there is precedents that state that the courts don’t strike down an entire law in order to address one grievance.
When Kennedy stated in oral arguments that the burden of ‘proving’ constitutionality was the government’s burden — that was when my heart sank. Bills are considered constitutional unless proven otherwise. The burden in on the party bringing the issue before the Court and the Court has a responsibility to assume that the other branches of government have done their jobs appropriately. That, unfortunately, is no longer the standard of the Roberts Court.
Kennedy is less a jackass on issues of the death penalty, etc. which is how he got his reputation as a swing vote but he is a Republican through and through.
I think that Holder outlining the case law might bring the Supreme Court to their senses, or shame them, if that’s possible.
These are the justices who hunt with Cheney; Scalia’s son actively working on Bush v. Gore; Ginny Thomas working on the Bush transition team, and a host of other conflicts of interest that would get a dogcatcher booted out. I have little confidence they have any shame whatsoever. They are political hacks who relish their job to undo every progressive action of the last century.
Eeesh! This country is in trouble. You’re right, of course. I even heard on Randi that this is the same court that forced a young girl to pay the $40K legal fees to a man who raped her, because they went to the same school and she was a cheerleader and didn’t want to cheer for her rapist. This court ruled against her. If they can do that to a young, innocent victim, they won’t think twice about disrespecting the President.
Rachel Maddiw is advertising her new Anti War book on Talking points Memo.
Nowhere, dies she explain the War Powers Act and why John Adams chose the President as the Commander in Chief and not Congress.
This Book suggests that this President is power happy.
Absurd. Every President has had the right, under law, to do the aforementioned. Another Book, smearing this President.
Thanks Rachel…
Yes, I’ve stopped watching Rachel again. She has a nerve to imply that President Obama “power happy”, when the evidence against his predecessor of being a power happy president is astounding. She was ranting last night about President Obama not prosecuting Bush, and I decided to give her a break for a while again. We all wanted Bush prosecuted (believe me, I REALLY wanted him prosecuted), but there are more important factors to focus on right now. We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, if anything at all. I don’t blame President Obama for any of it. He didn’t start the wars – he’s ending them. He didn’t stand by silently while Bush and his cronies made the false case for war – he spoke up against it, and he ran against the wars. He has to run the country, and prosecuting Bush and friends may be satisfying, but will come at a very high cost that would have an impact on generations to come. I can understand his decision to battle the economic collapse, pass health care, fix the auto industry, run the government – instead of pursuing his predecessor. Rachel needs to grow up.
I see that her media cronies are all lining up behind her with praise for her book. It’s that same media that helped Bush make the case for war. It’s that same media that hasn’t told the truth about who is actually keeping Gitmo open. It’s that same media that covers for the GOP on every failed policy they’re still peddling. They are all the same and they stick together.
Caught a clip of Rachel on Jon Stewart’s show where they were high-fiving each other on apportionaing blame equally to both Democrats and Republicans!!! False equivalencies 3.0, 4.0, 5.0!!!
Still have no use for either of them and my sentiments continue to be validated!!!
apportioning
I’m glad I didn’t see that crap. These emoprogs are so dangerous. They play with fire, and don’t care who gets burned. Their reckless false equivalence hurts real people. It doesn’t further any cause, because we’re not dealing with a rational opposition party. The stakes are so high, and people like Maddow and Stewart make me sick with their nonsense.
okay POTUS up now ~
I thought I had missed him! Be still my heart. All’s right with the world again … PBO is speakin’!
Loved the little handshake PBO gave ugly creepy Cantor – and he stood in front of him, so the cameras couldn’t even capture “the moment.”
Dang, missed it!
Ah, Karma, the sweet beeyotch strikes again.
Yes, thank you, Karma.
His healthcare plan that CALLED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE! The degree of all out hypocrisy, time and time again…is STUNNING! Yet MSM misses ALL THIS. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Because they supported an individual mandate. A Republican idea. A Republican solution to health care.
Exactly..it was THEIR idea:) But no longer what they say in public….
Do taxpayers have to pay for this bankruptcy?
They will pay the price for having the vile half term governor as a co-host…..idiots.
Sweet.
Quite.
Ha Ha..you craven idiots at nbc.
I thought they were all reporting that palin’s appearance had exceeded Couric? So, they were wrong? Again?
I heard that too. I think it was Joy Behar talking to LOD last night.
I think you’re right.
On another note – this “new post” feature on wordpress is heavenly!
TOD this is why we will win this November. Our campaign never stops working until the final vote is casts. The other side just pulls up stakes and moves on because they feel entitled so they they think they should be crowned the winner. I can’t wait to kick the Repubs butts this Fall.
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Almost three months after his resounding victory in the New Hampshire primary launched Mitt Romney toward the Republican nomination, his former campaign headquarters here is empty.
A “for lease” sign is plastered across the window of the inconspicuous storefront on Elm Street, and there are no indications that the staff and resources devoted to Romney’s strongest early primary win are close to getting back to work in what is shaping up as an important swing state in the general election.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/04/05/obamas_organizational_advantage_on_full_display_in_nh__113748.html
Methinks a “for lease” sign should be on Romney’s forehead, as well.
He just told NH that they aren’t that important to him.Hope they GOT THIS MESSAGE!
I think it would be classic if OFA leased it, the place would be humming in a matter of hours!
photo/1
Masterful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You should have a pic of Romney and Trump. People don’t hate H.W. Bush.
Excellent point!
Good point. Plus, I don’t think HWB has said many negatives, if any, about PBO.
Another great ad….
That was awesome!! Crush him!!
I love these comparison ads. Excellent one on one.
Hachiko, I am so sorry about your current plight but thrilled that you are finding options here. I am in to help when you have a PayPal account set up. I have both dogs and cats, and appreciate your concern about getting Tucker taken care of first. Once he is settled in you will be in a better position to focus on what you need to get done.
On a lighter note, this article is hilarious! Mitt Unzipped: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/post/mitt-romney–raw-wild-and-unleashed/2012/04/04/gIQA7AR9vS_blog.html
Perfect! Looks like my Lab.
I LOVE IT!!!
Retweeted!
Oh he is sooooo adorable!!
Lol..Tweet to Gail Collins at the NYT!
Good post at DogsAgainstRomney today
http://www.dogsagainstromney.com/2012/04/romneys-dog-on-roof-story-as-enacted.html
Another fave—-Mitt’s Easter bonnet
photo/1
We will add this sto the zipper joke. More to come, lots more.
HOLDER RESPONDS TO 5TH CIRCUIT TANTRUM
By Steve Benen
————————————————-
So why did Judge Smith lose his cool and play the role of a partisan activist? I suppose that’s up to him to explain, but whatever his motivation, his tirade was an embarrassment to the federal judiciary at a time when the institution can least afford another setback in its credibility.
As we talked about on Tuesday, the larger concern, especially after last week’s oral arguments at the Supreme Court, is that Americans may no longer have confidence that judges, especially on the right, are guided by anything other than partisan and ideological goals. Our system of government relies heavily on an independent judiciary, but some judges appear willing, even eager, to blur the line between their duties and political activism.
When Americans start to see conservative judges as Republicans, rather than just Republican appointees, the integrity of the courts suffers in immeasurable ways. It’s something for Smith to think about when he receives Holder’s letter, accepts its argument, and moves on to other matters.
————————————————
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/05/11039590-holder-responds-to-5th-circuit-tantrum
Woodhouse is having a twitter fight with the RNC SPOX-
Comparing women to an insect?
I knew when right winger Stephen Harper got elected Prime Minister with majority…we were in trouble….I wasn’t wrong.
The New Democrats slammed Stephen Harper’s Conservatives for introducing a budget that recklessly cuts the vital services that Canadians rely on—such as Old Age Security and health care.
The Harper government promised jobs and growth, but is delivering reckless cuts instead
The budget outlines the Conservative plan to raise the OAS (old age security pension) eligibility age from 65 to 67, forcing seniors to work two years longer to make ends meet.
It also unilaterally changes the funding formula for federal health transfers, short-changing provinces by a whopping $31 billion, opening the door to privatization and two-tier health care.
As recently as last June, Mr. Harper solemnly stated in the House of Commons “We will not cut pensions.
We will not cut transfers to the provinces for major programs such as health care.”
——-
Another lying right winger….what a surprise
So it doesn’t matter what country you are from….if you are to the right, the far right….you should never be in power, it’s like a disease….hurt people, the poor….help the rich……sick ideology
He must have Paul Ryan on speed dial…..
He but more importantly and unfortunately the people of Canada are in for a rude awakening. What does it take to get these officials to realize austerity does not work?
It’s just power and greed, that’s all they care about.
Indeed. People = money to be made in their worldview. Nothing more, nothing less. Their god is Mammon. Will be interesting to see how the Canadians respond.
the garbage of austerity has been spread far and wide by rightwingers and the results of this actual experiment are in – austerity has failed to revive the economy
Robme is up in Pennsylvania. Well, that did not take long.
That said, his Campaign and Super PAC has had to spend about 25-30 million more than they would have liked, during Primary!
Can we start to twit Harvad the following: ” enrolling rich legacy rightwingers leads to trashing Harvad’s name for political gain. Harvard, demand your degrees back from Mitt the liar
I like BWD’s tweet in the Chat Away post:
@BarackObama finished Harvard and went to help the poor,
@MittRomney finished Harvard and went to fire people.
I wonder which one Harvard holds in esteem?
excellent summary
Dudette, I love that.
A public suicide in Greece and Hachiko’s plight inspired my newest piece on TPV: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/04/new-savagery.html
I heard that story last night. Very sad. I wonder if people who vote for Republicans in this country realize that this could be them?
many people have a supreme ability to not put themselves in others’ shoes. I think that tide is turning, but some will always lack that empathy.
Excellent piece, LL.Wake Up People!!!!
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/04/05/458892/finance-expert-oil-price-speculation-wall-street/
Reblogged this on gobrook.
I am having a hard time believing that even Romney thinks he is going to become President. This whole Republican party is such a sham.
mitt the liar feels entitled to the presidency. after all, he is rich and was raised to expect to become president one day.
My prayer is that President Obama not only gives rich boy liar mitt a political thrashing but that it is in form of a landslide that leaves permanent mental scars to the out-sourcing, worker-abusing, dog-abusing entitled liar
delusional. It’s a real thing. Some people’s sense of reality is very fragile so as a defense they make up a world where things look brighter for themselves. Shit happens. Can’t wait to violate his sense of reality come November. I can’t even pity him. Rat fucker.
Santorum back Home in Virginia! Chilling, taking a break.
Is he giving up?
I heard that Santorum was taking the time off for Easter.
maybe his sugardaddy who has been providing his superpac money has asked him to chill and let mitt the liar off the hook
doubt it. I don’t see why he should step aside. He should stay in the race.
Asked whether women should be admitted to the all-male Augusta National Golf Club, Mitt Romney on Thursday said “yes.”
“Certainly if I were a member and if I could run Augusta …of course I’d have women,” Romney added.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney on Thursday said that President Obama believes women should be admitted to the club.
—-
” if I could run Augusta ” ? This man is power mad…
Well Myth Robme might have an career there after he loses the election.
Must not have been aware of what PBO said. He pretty much pre-empts the “Obama injecting himself” criticism that was going to be ppouring out.
File this under awkward: Jon Huntsman, who endorsed Mitt Romney after dropping out of the presidential race in January, is “not a surrogate for Romney” and will not be campaigning for him, according to his daughter, Abby Huntsman Livingston.
ABC News has the quote from Livingston:
“My dad is not a surrogate for Romney and will not be out stumping for him in the general,” she said in an email. “He is enjoying private life.”
I am soooooooooooooooooo late with this, but you can send more birthday greetings to Joan here:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/04/05/to-our-beloved-joan/
Thanks everyone
As you might know Stephen Colbert is among this year’s Peabody Award winners for his SuperPAC satire. Here’s the complete list of recipients:
http://www.peabody.uga.edu/71stwinners.php
The awards will be formally presented at a luncheon ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on May 21.
[Zoinks! Trekkie Alert!! OMG, Patrick Stewart is hosting!!]
Nice to see StoryCorps and Homeland get some recognition. Lots of shows and documentaries to check out.
…and Jeopardy! Awww!