Kill the Bush tax cuts, stop rewarding the rich during the recession

In another display of stunning hypocrisy, congressional Republicans continue their fight to reward the rich during the recession. During the upcoming campaigns, Republicans will claim to represent every American, but that’s hardly the case when it comes to tax policy. This time the battle is over whether Congress should extend Bush’s 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts and the GOP is siding with the rich over the middle-class.

Read the rest at The Loop.

Haiti, Bush, Obama And The CBC

Even George W. Bush recognizes that Obama's response to the Haiti earthquake isn't political.

However, as I write in my weekly column for The Loop, there is one group that has been looking out for Haiti for a long time...

The travesty in Haiti and the ill-conceived, thoughtless comments by both Rush Limbaugh and the Rev. Pat Robertson has actually served to ignite serious questions about Haiti and the nature of American foreign policy. No, Haitian's did not make a pact with the Devil to rid themselves of the French. Neither is Obama using the Haitian earthquake to score political points as Rush foolishly points out. George W. Bush did not use the 2004 tsunami for political points and neither is Obama.

Unfortunately, after the media moves on to the next cycle and Americans return their attention to American Idol, members of the Congressional Black Caucus will be among the few still looking after Haiti's long-term interest.

Read the rest at The Loop.

Higher Taxes Are The Right Thing

Unfortunately, few politicians have the cajones to admit it. Instead, politicians and the public continue to delude themselves into believing that we can bail out the banks, reform health care, and fight two wars simultaneously without raising more funds.

Read the rest at The Loop.

More Republican Lunacy

Republicans went crazy over this a couple of weeks ago (still are going nuts over it)....

Obama dipped his head as he approached Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to shake his hand. Probably not a great move for Obama... but it is nothing close to what we have seen in the past. (another case of a Black person being held to a different standard... something I said was going to happen and happen often in terms of how the Country would deal with Obama).



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Let me get this straight... Obama is called a terrorist... a Muslim (not that this would be bad necessarily), weak on terror, etc etc etc...for the way that he greeted the Saudi King? This was essentially part of a handshake.

Yet George W. Bush, a White man, walks around holding hands with the King...and even tastes the Kings lips on several occasions and there was no outcry from these same folks. Tradition? Perhaps... but the folks who are up in arms are John Wayne types... for them, George W. was their John Wayne. They don't care about tradition. But no mention of Bush being weak. I don't recall Bush being called a Terrorist... a closet Muslim...or any of that nonsense. And many of the above pictures were taken when gas prices were $4.00 +.... No President that I know of has ever groveled at the feet of Saudi Royals the way that George W. Bush did.

Could you imagine the reaction if Obama kissed the King? These crazy Right wing Republicans wouldn't be able to control themselves.

Chas Freeman Forced Out!

Chas Freeman has been forced to pull his name out of consideration for the chairmanship of the National Intelligence Council. I knew it was too good to be true.

Pressure from pro-Israel members of Congress, AIPAC, and the Israeli leadership turned out to be too much. Once again Israel has shown that it can control American politics. We might as well call Benjamin Netanyahu the President of the United States. Because in many ways... he, along with the Israeli lobby groups in this Country, determine U.S. policy. Obama is nothing more than Israel's poodle. Members of Congress are like Prostitutes working for another Country.

It's absolutely amazing to me that even with a Democratic House of Representatives, a Democratic Senate, and even with a popular President, Progressives still don't hold any sway in this Country. They have no say in the formulation of policy nor in determining who works for the President. They (Progressives) don't even have a platform to make any demands, since no media infrastructure exists. The airwaves are dominated - more like clogged and polluted - by Right wing zealots, religious Conservatives, and "Neo-Con Lite" Democrats who repeat Right Wing talking points...allowing the Right to control the narrative on damn near every media outlet in the Country... so it doesn't matter who you listen to.

The Rethuglicans claim there was a conflict of interest... that Freeman had too many Saudi business dealings. What about the Bush's? George H.W. Bush and Skull & Bones Jr. were basically sleeping with Saudi royalty... One of the younger Bush brothers, Neil Bush, was neck deep involved with the Saudi's.

Bush exchanging saliva with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia


Remember how Bush wanted to sell U.S. ports to UAE interests? They didn't have much of a problem with all of Clinton's MANY overseas dealings. For them, they made an accommodation... because they can tolerate Neo-Con Lite. But when Chas Freeman comes along, now all of a sudden these Conservatives come out of the woodwork claiming a problem. Of course none of this was the real problem.... the problem was Israel and AIPAC. It seems to me, they gave some folks an ultimatum on Freeman. And Joe Lie-berman - Senator from the State of Israel - couldn't be more disingenuous. Where were these jackass Republicans when Bush was selling us out? Go and read up on the Bush's and The Carlisle Group and their connections with Saudi Arabia. Chas Freeman's dealings pale in comparison... it's not even close.

It's almost enough to make me sick to my stomach.

Obama better grow a backbone and a pair of testicles and learn how to fight for something. All this caving has to stop.

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NPR story on Chas Freeman's nomination


UPDATE

See Freeman's statement from Juan Cole's Blog

Obama's Intersection of Foreign and Domestic Policy

Environmentalists have known for years that America's dependence on foreign oil was problematic for the nation's foreign policy. It requires us to bow before OPEC; instead of being unconstrained, we're forced to make foreign policy decisions based on who has the the oil (i.e. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia), not who has real problems (i.e. Darfur).

This is why Obama's announcement yesterday that he would require the EPA to review Bush-era guidelines which prohibited California and other states from adopting auto emissions guidelines stricter than federal emissions standards is such a good move.

We need to applaud any move that increases our chances of becoming energy independent. In the end, America will save in lives and in treasure; we won't have to fight for oil and our energy dollars will go to domestic suppliers and spent in our domestic markets.

This move, ultimately requiring more stringent auto emissions standards will be difficult on the auto industry, but now is the right time. If you let the auto companies pick when they'll change their behavior, we'd never have seat belts, airbags or anti-lock brakes.

Besides pure common sense, another reason Republicans, like John Boehner need to support his policy, is their own ideological convictions. Traditionally, conservatives take a states-first mentality. They normally don't like the federal government dictating to the states. However, when Bush was doing it, they didn't mind. With Bush gone, the GOP should return to its conservative principals and support a move that puts states - and the country - first.

Obama and Intellectualism

President George Bush, deliberately or not, (I believe deliberately) cultivated a policy of disassociating policy from reason or logic. Nicholas Kristoff sees in Obama a president who will allow intellectual debate to run rampant in the halls of the White House. Kristoff sees Obama as a president who will allow intellectuals free reign to shape policy, whereas under Bush eggheads were taken out to the woodshed to be beaten by Karl Rove.

While I make light of this issue, in reality this is serious business. Ignoring the scientific community on global warming and stem cell research and Middle East experts on the true hazards of invading Iraq have only stunted American growth, prestige, and treasure.

The policy of alienating intellectuals was done for political reasons. If you'll notice, right-wing radio and Fox News repeatedly bash the "liberal elite." In their infinite wisdom, Republicans decided that since they represent "Joe the plumber," all those who aren't (metaphorically speaking) plumbers must be evil liberal elite intellectuals. This shaming of intellect has been bad for the GOP and bad for the country.

Bush Congratulates Obama

I'm posting it because I thought it was the best Bush has done in quite awhile. It was gracious.

Obama Ad Locks McCain To George Bush

And they use McCain's Own Words to do it....

Dems In Denver: Opening Night Review

Twenty-two million Americans tuned in to the Democratic Convention last night, four million more than party attracted to the opening days in Boston four years ago. The opening day was filled with highs, lows, and unusual choices, but the night should ultimately be a successful one for Democrats.

The surprise appearance from Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, in the midst of a fight with cancer, sent a clear jolt of energy through Denver's Pepsi Center. One of his party's most indelible icons, Kennedy had jumped wholeheartedly behind Barack Obama in February, passing the torch to the young Illinois senator. "It's time for a new generation of leadership," he said then. His appearance Monday was in question just hours before he took the stage and Kennedy acknowledged those doubts in his opening. "Nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight."

While Kennedy's speech was the highlight of the night for many, a speech from former Iowa Republican Congressman Jim Leach was one of the low points. Leach, who represented Southeast Iowa for 30 years before a surprising defeat in 2006, failed to deliver red meat to the crowd as Zell Miller did for Republicans four years ago and as Joe Lieberman will likely do next week. Instead, the mild-mannered (and, quite frankly, boring) Leach talked of bipartisanship and praised the Democratic nominee. The speech fit nicely into Obama's call for unity, but it seems like a missed opportunity. Was Leach was the best Obamacon they could find?

There were a few other curious decisions as well. Jimmy Carter made only a brief appearance after a video tribute was shown in the convention hall. It was a surprisingly small part for an former president to play. Carter insisted today that the decision not to speak before the delegates was his decision, but I have to wonder if the Obama campaign would have welcomed him, having already drawn negative comparisons from his Republican rival. Carter famously refused vetting before his 2004 convention speech, one of the few to explicitly go after President Bush. Since, he has also drawn criticism for a number of statements about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Still, Carter's ex-presidency has been filled with humanitarian accomplishments and is a model for those who followed him in the Oval Office. His brief role last night is simply curious.

The prime time spotlight (and the attention of the broadcast networks) belonged to Michelle Obama and she made the most of it. Owing to her "proud of America" comments in February, the would-be First Lady is a controversial figure to many. Introduced by her brother Craig Robinson, who showed an unmistakable family resemblance, Michelle Obama's speech was as much a reintroduction of her as it was an introduction to her husband. Twenty minutes later, she had hit one out of the park. She talked of her own middle class upbringing, her relationship with Barack, and her children, exemplifying her own American story. Her goal was to connect with the hopes and struggles of the average voter and with visible emotion she did just that. Daughters Malia and Sasha joined her on the stage as their dad spoke briefly to the convention from Kansas City, Missouri. All in all, it was a powerful appearance and one that could only help her husband's campaign.

Not everyone was happy with the evening's events, however. Former Clinton strategist James Carville suggested his party had wasted their first night in Denver. "You haven't heard about Iraq or John McCain or George W. Bush--I haven't heard any of this. We are a country that is in a borderline recession, we are an 80 percent wrong-track country. Health care, energy--I haven't heard anything about gas prices," Carville said on CNN, calling for his party to become more aggressive. In 2004, John Kerry barred virtually any criticism of the Bush Administration--a decision he probably came to regret. "I guarantee on the first night of the Republican Convention, you're going to hear talk about Barack Obama, commander-in-chief, tax cuts, et cetera, et cetera."

While Carville is correct that the Democrats need to put the focus on the Republicans, Monday night was not the right venue for such attacks. Bush-bashing will certainly help unite a fractured party, but it would have been out of place coming from the candidate's wife. The Democrats will almost certainly use Tuesday and Wednesday to lay out their message against John McCain (Thursday will be about Obama's vision) and the effectiveness of those attacks could set the tone for the campaign's final seventy days. It seems the weight of that task will fall largely to Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in the days to come, as if those two needed any more pressure.

Cross-posted at Political Realm.

Deal would have U.S. troops out of Iraq by 2012

From CNN.com:

Deal would have U.S. troops out of Iraq by 2012

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have reached agreement on a proposal calling for a complete U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq by 2012, the head Iraqi negotiator said Friday.


The deal still must be approved by both sides, said Mohammed al-Haj Hamoud, deputy foreign minister and head of the Iraqi negotiating team.

Hamoud said Thursday's meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was helpful in reaching the tentative agreement.

Hamoud said the proposal also says the last date for the presence of U.S. troops in cities and towns will be June 30, 2009.

There are clear caveats, however. Watch for details on the plan »

If the Iraqi government sees the necessity of keeping the American forces in cities and towns or in Iraq past December 31, 2011, it would ask that the Americans stay. A joint Iraqi-U.S. committee would help define the duration and number of forces that would be needed and regularly assess the security situation on the ground.

Regarding the issue of troop immunity from Iraqi law and American authority over military operations, American authorities would have jurisdiction over their troops. Hamoud also said that in case of a major crime such as murder, the case would be reviewed by a U.S.-Iraqi joint committee.

Rest of article at link above.

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Now, here are some questions:

1. Wasn't this the crux of BARACK OBAMA'S argument about Iraq?
2. Why isn't this leading every other news story for the day?
3. Does this mean that John McCain is the last person who wants to keep up the Iraq War?

All Senator Straight Talk has is ' Foreign Policy'. What can be said when his own President undercuts the only poll strength he has?

That's why you need to keep your eye on this mess with Russia, which is nothing but another scam on Dubya's part to help McCain. They know Iraq is played out, so here comes another ' crisis'.