ThinkFast: August 26, 2008
ThinkFast: August 26, 2008
“In another large-scaled workplace immigration crackdown,” federal officials raided a Laural, Mississippi factory on Monday, “detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally.”
The oil industry is holding an “Energy Mid-Day Reception for invited guests only” today at the Democratic convention. “Location: Unannounced,” writes the Houston Chronicle. “The event is sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute, the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute.”
In Iraq today, three blasts killed at least 34 Iraqis, “most of them in a suicide car bombing that struck a group of police recruits,” resulting in “one of the highest daily casualty tolls in recent months.”
On the trail today: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) speaks to the American Legion National Convention at the Phoenix Convention Center. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) holds a town hall meeting in Kansas City, MO.
Twelve states and two cities, New York City and Washington D.C., “are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over greenhouse gas emissions from oil refineries.” The lawsuit “accuses the agency of violating the federal Clean Air Act by refusing to issue standards, known as new source performance standards, for controlling the emissions.”
Lawyers representing White House counsel Harriet Miers are holding “confidential talks” with the House Judiciary Committee about resolving the legal impasse over her subpoena. There have been “preliminary discussions” between the two sides, although “no concrete progress has been made.”
The Pentagon estimates that “as many as 300,000, or 20 percent, of combat veterans who regularly worked outside the wire, away from bases, have suffered at least one concussion.” But “some veterans — it is impossible to know how many — remain unscreened.” “No doubt that there are significant numbers out there,” says Dr. Barbara Sigford of the Department of Veteran Affairs.
And finally: Daily Show host Jon Stewart called Fox News’ “fair and balanced” slogan an insult “to people with brains.” “I’m stunned to see Karl Rove on a news network as an analyst,” said Stewart, adding only “Fox News Sunday” moderator Chris Wallace “saves that network from slapping on a bumper sticker…Barack Obama could cure cancer and they’d figure out a way to frame it as an economic disaster.”
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Kennedy and Michelle Obama Electrify Democratic Convention
Two of Barack Obama’s most important allies, his wife Michelle and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, spoke emotionally about his candidacy and his character on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, electrifying delegates with their improbable presence.
Potentially the first African-American first lady, Michelle Obama was given an unusually prominent speaking slot, an opportunity she used to tell a series of personal stories about her South Side Chicago upbringing and marriage to the presumptive Democratic nominee. Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, cast the Illinois senator as the heir apparent to the legacy of the most famous family in Democratic politics.
“I have come here tonight to stand with you to change America. To restore its future, to rise to its best ideals, and to elect Barack Obama president of the United States,” Kennedy said in a speech that brought cheering delegates to their feet at Denver’s Pepsi Center. “This November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans.”
Kennedy’s presence was something of a surprise given his failing health. And, until moments before he appeared on stage there were questions about whether he would or could speak. But he told the delegates, “Nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight. I have come here tonight to stand with you, to change America.”
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/livecoverage /
So many Kleenex moments I think some of the men got choked up too. I was elated to see Ted Kennedy make it, what determination. What Ted and Michelle accomplished with their speeches not only touched the hearts of so many but they also inspired the younger generation. Michelle put her heart and soul into that speech. It radiated with passion and showed the personal side of herself and Obama, that we the public, got a glimpse of through her eloquent words. What a wonderful First Lady Michelle would make.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:02 amI see that it’s OK to use the word “A n a l y s t” in a post. Why the hell can’t it be used in comments?
August 26th, 2008 at 9:03 amParty Crashing AT&T and the Blue Dogs: The Best Government Money Can Buy
Last night I was at a party with Matt Stoller when he found a notice in the paper announcing a party that AT&T was having that night for the Blue Dogs. Glenn Greenwald instantly became a man with a mission: he wanted to go interview the guests and see how they felt about their telecom hosts and the retroactive immunity delivered to them by the Blue Dogs, at bargain basement prices. We had no invitation, but nobody really cared.
So Christy, Pach, John Amato, Egregious, Ian Welsh, Dave Neiwert and Stoller headed for the party. Using my HarrietCam flip video, I was Glenn’s videographer as he asked one guest after another why they were there and what their connection to AT&T and the Blue Dogs was. It was remarkable. I’ve never seen anything like it, really. Glenn would announce that he was from Salon.com, ask them if they would be interviewed about the party, and nobody wanted to say who they were or even acknowledge that they knew what the party was about.
Almost every single person we talked with had the good sense to be ashamed of being there, but that didn’t stop them from going in. We’ll try to have the video up soon and try to identify as many guests as we can. If they’re eating AT&T’s cocktail weenies, they shouldn’t be afraid to let their telecom flag fly.
http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/25/party-crashing-att-and-the-blue-dogs-the-best-government-money-can-buy/
Jane Hamsher did this post from the convention. What a great group, Glenn’s tenacity has made him one of my favorites. Nothing stops him from searching out the truth. When they get the video up and can identify any of our Congressmen, I will post it.
If anyone from the Ohio delegation is identified they are going to be getting a strongly worded email and a phone call from me.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:05 amfederal officials raided a Laural, Mississippi factory on Monday, “detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally.”
When are they going to start ‘detaining’ the employers who hire and benefit from the labor of these workers???
August 26th, 2008 at 9:06 amgummitch, I think it’s because they think you’re trying to reference Rush’s an al cyst..?
August 26th, 2008 at 9:07 amAgreed, Freb, Michell would make a wonderful First Lady. That speech made me ponder this question; how many First Ladies have had law degrees from Harvard? Anyone?
On another note; Lawyers representing White House counsel Harriet Miers are holding “confidential talks” with the House Judiciary Committee about resolving the legal impasse over her subpoena.
What ‘impasse’? She was subpoenaed! Why does Conyers, et al, even allow ‘confidential talks’? That cloud of secrecy has been the undoing of our great Nation. Secrets, bullying, non-responsive postures accompanied by lies, rumors & innuendo are this administrations trademark, for God’s sake.
Throw her ass in jail, along with pigboy. That’s justice.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:08 amAfter the convention ended Day One, CNN couldn’t wait to get Larry King, The Undead on with a panel of Repugs to try to trash everything they possibly could about the speeches. I was much more pleased with the guys on PBS, who seemed very positive, especially about Michelle and the kids.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:08 amMornin FR! I love Hamsher’s posts!!
August 26th, 2008 at 9:08 amIn court documents filed yesterday, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) “accused the Justice Department of trying to smear his character” and “making accusations haphazardly, hoping to damage his reputation at trial.” Stevens’s attorney called DoJ’s alleged smear campaign “obvious” and one that extends to “the senator’s family.”
So, he gets caught breaking the law and because they are bringing charges in court they are “trying to smear his character”?
The same DOJ Bush politicized.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:10 amHow F_cking ridiculous can they get?
I totally agree with you, FR. However, I am also anticipating that the right-wing radio rant-jockeys will be out in full force today belittling the both of them.
When will the majority in this country wake up to the realization that we should be aspiring to greatness rather than devolving into the “smallness” represented by GDumbya, Darth Cheney, McNumbNuts and their minions in the right wing rant-media?
August 26th, 2008 at 9:10 amUnfortunately, for Ted Stevens, his character is so corrupted, there’s nothing the media could do to smear it.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:11 amI have to say that, ironically, Nancy Pelosi is an abysmal speaker, but one of the best lines of the convention last night was her delivery of “John McCain has experience being WRONG.”
August 26th, 2008 at 9:11 am“Legal impasse?”
There is no legal impasse. the woman has been subpoenaed and she failed to appear.
Reason behind, or justification for, the subpoena do not require or merit negotiation – she should be in a small, cold, damp, musty cell in the bowels of the Capitol.
The cowardly Democrats in Congress don’t deserve reelection.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:11 amHere is one you missed, TP:
August 26th, 2008 at 9:12 amAT&T Throws Party to Support Dems Who Voted to Grant Telecoms Immunity for Illegal Domestic Wiretapping
“In another large-scaled workplace immigration crackdown,” federal officials raided a Laural, Mississippi factory on Monday, “detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally.”
The Republicans can try to act like they care about illegal immigration, but he fact that these 350 people had JOBS shows otherwise.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:12 amLawyers representing White House counsel Harriet Miers are holding “confidential talks” with the House Judiciary Committee about resolving the legal impasse over her subpoena. There have been “preliminary discussions” between the two sides, although “no concrete progress has been made.”
They have got to stop playing nice and do their jobs. No progress is being made because not a single one of them will stand up and do the right thing. I can’t wait til November when we can get rid of most of the garbage that has been stinking up this congress.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:13 amKudos to Ted Kennedy. Here’s hoping this man lives to see many more Presidential elections.
The video of him & his brothers brought back a flood of memories; most good but some nightmarish.
I’m in awe of a man facing the challenges he has ahead of him to take time to speak publicly with the strength & passion he showed last night.
Well done, sir.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:13 amThe oil industry is holding an “Energy Mid-Day Reception for invited guests only” today at the Democratic convention. “Location: Unannounced,” writes the Houston Chronicle. “The event is sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute, the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute.”
Lemme guess: Those invited guests are our “Representatives” in Congress.
Obama might be snubbing Big Oil, but he’s in very limited company on that one.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:14 amJoe Scarboro sux:
Here is another reason why; This morning @ 7:20 Scarboro went off on David Shuester.
It was disgusting.
You might be able to find it on You Tube, or maybe TP will feature it later.
¶ AIO
August 26th, 2008 at 9:15 amUnlike CheneyCo, which is “wholly owned by the American Petroleum Institute, the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute.”
August 26th, 2008 at 9:19 am#6 Zimzone Says:
Agreed, Freb, Michell would make a wonderful First Lady. That speech made me ponder this question; how many First Ladies have had law degrees from Harvard? Anyone?
Good Morning Zimzone :) The only one I know is Hillary Clinton and she got her law degree from Yale Law School.
But you are right not many, I think Michelle would be the second.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:19 amThis pretty much says it all. Don’t forget…what the government can do to one identified group (immigrants), they can also do to any group they chose to identify as troublesome. Who’s next?
An immigrant rights group in Jackson, Miss., the state capital, was critical of Monday’s raid, saying families with children were involved.
“It’s horrific what ICE is doing to these families and these communities,” said Shuya Ohno, a spokesman for the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance. “It’s just hard to imagine that this is the United States of America.”
August 26th, 2008 at 9:19 amI’m glad one of those credentialled bloggers crashed the AT&T party. The Blue Dogs might as well join the Republicans and create a new party, the CorporaCrats. Bill & Hilary Clinton, Evan Bayh, Max Baucus, Mary Landrieu are just a few.
Want to know why Congress did nothing to correct the preferential tax status on “carried interest”. Repugnicants have The Carlyle Group, Democrats have George Soros and Ron Burkle. They’re competing for the big money people. The coudln’t give a rat’s behind for the average American
I look forward to Glenn Greenwald’s report.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:21 amDaily Show host Jon Stewart called Fox News’ “fair and balanced” slogan an insult “to people with brains.”
The whole Fox network is an insult to people with brains, but their “news” is designed to dumb down, mislead and flat out lie to the American public.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:22 amThem calling their misinformation shows “news” is an insult to anyone with a brain.
Did anyone else see McPOW on Leno last night.
Someone needs to bring up the fact that this guy might still have PTSS.
Not only did the Hanoi Hilton cause him to cheat on his first wife, now it’s the cause of him not remembering how many houses he has.
¶ AIO
August 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am#8 RUCerious Says:
Mornin FR! I love Hamsher’s posts!!
Good Morning RUC :) Great to see you…
She cracks me up. I like her sense of humor also. I agree, her posts are a great read.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:22 amFreedom Rebel Says:
Ooops, didn’t read your post before posting the same story on the AT&T “Blue Dog traitors” party. =)
August 26th, 2008 at 9:24 amunbelievable at 9:12 am
It makes one wonder if the owners of this particular factory have adequately contributed to the Republican party? As well as any previously raided companies?
August 26th, 2008 at 9:25 am“In another large-scaled workplace immigration crackdown,” federal officials raided a Laural, Mississippi factory on Monday, “detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally.”
I guess the owner of this company neglected to mail his monthly “contribution” to the RNC.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:26 amFrom the Democracy Now piece with Amy and Glenn:
There was a very intended-to-be-intimidating wall of private security surrounding the event, and they were actually infinitely more aggressive and angrier than the Denver police were. And in fact, I was there with Jane Hamsher, the blogger from FireDogLake, who at one point was trying to speak with one of the individuals entering the party, and she was physically pushed by one of the private security members, notwithstanding the fact that the Denver police had been there the entire time, navigating and negotiating where it was that we could stand.
The other aspect of it was, was that what the police had been clearly trained to do is create this façade of being accommodating and cooperative and pleasant, but what it really does is it masks the fact that their strategy is to ensure that any sort of dissident voices, or people off script, are relegated to places where they can’t really be heard.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:29 amFreedom Rebel Says:
The only one I know is Hillary Clinton and she got her law degree from Yale Law School.
Doesn’t Cindy McBimbo get any points for her degree in Pharmaceutical Ingestion from Budweiser University?
August 26th, 2008 at 9:29 amalphainfinityomega Says: Not only did the Hanoi Hilton cause him to cheat on his first wife, now it’s the cause of him not remembering how many houses he has.
An people want to vote for someone like that to be President? Amazing.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:31 amI thought Michelle Obama went to Princeton and Barack went to Harvard. Did Michelle attend both Universities?
August 26th, 2008 at 9:31 amTo H of R @#28:
Your post beat mine. GMTA :)~
August 26th, 2008 at 9:33 amHouse of Roberts Says: It makes one wonder if the owners of this particular factory have adequately contributed to the Republican party? As well as any previously raided companies?
A few weeks ago, I read that the Big Greedy Pig Corporations were actually giving more $ this year to Democratic campaigns. I guess they are trying to buy them knowing that they are likely to make big gains this election.
Makes me wonder how many of them will keep Obama from all the changes he’d/we’d like to make? We’ll just have to fire them too.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:35 amI hope the Blue Dogs get mange. They’re more like the chucacabre, the goat blood sucker.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:36 amIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
I thought Michelle Obama went to Princeton and Barack went to Harvard. Did Michelle attend both Universities?
She went to Harvard Law after Princeton.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:40 amIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says: I thought Michelle Obama went to Princeton and Barack went to Harvard. Did Michelle attend both Universities?
She went to Princteon and then Harvard.
He went to Columbia and then Harvard.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:41 amNews conference on the number of poor and uninsured starts in twenty minutes. Not sure who might be covering this event.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2008/2008iph_agenda.htm
August 26th, 2008 at 9:42 amunbelievable at 9:35 am
Maybe we can have a wholesale housecleaning at DOJ in late January!
Exit Stage Left: Good morning! If I had a great mind, I’d say that great minds think alike. Instead I’ll just say WE think alike!
August 26th, 2008 at 9:42 amFrom a few articles in today’s NYT:
U.S. and West recognize Kosovo as independent and Russia raises the ante by two.
Russia Recognizes Independence of Georgian Areas
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/world/europe/27russia.html?hp
U.N. Envoy’s Ties to Pakistani Are Questioned
By HELENE COOPER and MARK MAZZETTI
Published: August 25, 2008
WASHINGTON — Zalmay Khalilzad, the American ambassador to the United Nations, is facing angry questions from other senior Bush administration officials over what they describe as unauthorized contacts with Asif Ali Zardari, a contender to succeed Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/washington/26diplo.html?hp
Israeli Group Reports Sharp Increase in Settlement Activity
By ETHAN BRONNER
Published: August 26, 2008
JERUSALEM — Peace Now, the Israeli advocacy group, said in a report released Tuesday that in the past year Israel has nearly doubled its settlement construction in the occupied West Bank in violation of its obligations under an American-backed peace plan.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/world/middleeast/27mideast.html
August 26th, 2008 at 9:46 am#10 tom Says:
I totally agree with you, FR. However, I am also anticipating that the right-wing radio rant-jockeys will be out in full force today belittling the both of them.
When will the majority in this country wake up to the realization that we should be aspiring to greatness rather than devolving into the “smallness” represented by GDumbya, Darth Cheney, McNumbNuts and their minions in the right wing rant-media?
good morning tom :) It has already started, with postings all over the internet. There are quite a few that really ticked me off last night. Talk about “belittling” here are a few samples:
Sorry we failed you, Hillary. We should had worked harder – we should had worked smarter. Now we must accept Obama as our Commander-In-Chief, tutored by Biden, our new “Dick Cheney”.
Posted by: Louie | August 25, 2008 5:43 PM
Mcain is the moderate candidate. Obama the extremist. Mcain has a long history of reaching across the isle. Obama votes only far-left. Its time to think non-partisan and decide who stands the best chance of uniting this country. Its a no-brainer. I would have considered Hilary but never a devider like Obama. With Obama we will go from pathological Bush hatred syndrome to pathological Obama hatred syndrome. The country does not need that. The Dems blew their chance. Im voting for Mcain the moderate.
Posted by: Domingo | August 25, 2008 6:13 PM
Those awe-inspiring speeches and this is what these two got out of it. Some are even worse than this, I had to stop reading I got so angry at their complete ignorance. Calling Biden the new “Dick Cheney”, give me a break. No one can compare to the evil in Dick Cheney. I’m wondering what rock that guy crawled out from under. Truly scary.. But you are right tom, the media will do even more discrediting. I find it throughly disgusting that these people have nothing better to do than smear people and name calling with no relevant facts to back up why they feel this way.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:47 amNot one troll comment yet about how Michelle was awful, his kids are future whores and Ted Kennedy killed a girl?
I guess the speeches were so good, they broke the talking points fax machine.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:47 amThe trolls have to sleep in this morning because mommy doesn’t like when they have the TV on late watching the convention.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:50 amHouse of Roberts Says: Maybe we can have a wholesale housecleaning at DOJ in late January!
I wish John Edwards had behaved himself. As AG, he would have. No way he could fill a role of such high integrity now and be taken seriously in this country… Sad.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:50 am#27 Wayne Says:
Freedom Rebel Says:
Ooops, didn’t read your post before posting the same story on the AT&T “Blue Dog traitors” party. =)
Good morning Wayne :) No problem, I’m just waiting for the video to see who enjoyed that party. It should prove to be very interesting… I’m sure I will be surprised by a few.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:53 amFreedom Rebel Says: Calling Biden the new “Dick Cheney”, give me a break. No one can compare to the evil in Dick Cheney.
What idiots! The only thing Joe and Dick-tator have in common is that they are both older white men who live in the United States.
Cheney has that, plus so much more in common with McCain. Pompous, filthy rich, war-mongering corporate whores for starters. It’s McCain they should fear.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:56 am***Numerous agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement descended on a factory belonging to Howard Industries Inc., which manufactures electrical transformers, among other products.***
Americans are getting lazier and lazier if this is an example of “jobs Americans won’t do”.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:56 amunbelievable Says:
She went to Princteon and then Harvard.
He went to Columbia and then Harvard.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:41 am
_______
Such elitists! All that book-learnin and edjumucatin!
August 26th, 2008 at 9:56 am#31 Exit Stage Left Says:
Freedom Rebel Says:
The only one I know is Hillary Clinton and she got her law degree from Yale Law School.
Doesn’t Cindy McBimbo get any points for her degree in Pharmaceutical Ingestion from Budweiser University?
Good to see you :) ROTFL, good point. Big Pharma loves her other than that I can’t think of anyone else.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:57 amHouse of Roberts Says:
Exit Stage Left: Good morning! If I had a great mind, I’d say that great minds think alike. Instead I’ll just say WE think alike!
HEY!! I resemble that remark :)~
August 26th, 2008 at 9:58 amCaption:
“Fuçk the deficit, George, where is my bridge to nowhere”?
¶ AIO
August 26th, 2008 at 9:58 amunbelievable at 9:50 am
I was totally behind Edwards, which made it all the harder to understand why he entered the race this time with such a potential liability. One reason I am here is the rabid in-fighting between the Hillary and Obama supporters at Huffpost. We’ve seen just a little here of what went on every day over there. Admin here was smart to keep us out of that mess, as it only gave the trolls something to use to instigate people against each other. I also prefer the chronological comments, which makes it possible to follow the discussion. This site also loads well on my cell phone so I can read it at work in the evenings.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:00 am#33 IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
I thought Michelle Obama went to Princeton and Barack went to Harvard. Did Michelle attend both Universities?
Good Morning :)
Michelle graduated from Princeton University, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 and Harvard Law School.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:01 am“In another large-scaled workplace immigration crackdown,” federal officials raided a Laural, Mississippi factory on Monday, “detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally.”
If these workers were “detained” I certainly hope that the factory owners were arrested on the spot and hauled off the jail. If at least 350 undocumented workers were found in this factory, that amounts to at least 350 violations of the law.
But since we’re talking about a Mississippi business owner, I’m not holding my breath.
PEACE
August 26th, 2008 at 10:05 amStevens’s attorney called DoJ’s alleged smear campaign “obvious” and one that extends to “the senator’s family.”
Well, that’s because his son is as big a crook as he is. Too bad so sad Ted. It’s time you pay the piper for your misdeeds.
On another subject, did anyone read where the court may let Delay off on his charges? It’s something having to do with the fact that he took checks as bribes rather than cash. How ridiculous is that.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:10 am#47 unbelievable Says:
Freedom Rebel Says: Calling Biden the new “Dick Cheney”, give me a break. No one can compare to the evil in Dick Cheney.
What idiots! The only thing Joe and Dick-tator have in common is that they are both older white men who live in the United States.
Cheney has that, plus so much more in common with McCain. Pompous, filthy rich, war-mongering corporate whores for starters. It’s McCain they should fear.
Good morning :) I was reading the article and normally I never read the comments I don’t have time. But I thought I would to see if other people were moved as much as I was by the speeches. I went through half of box of kleenexs, I’m such an emotional person.
I completely agree with you. Cheney has made so much money from Halliburton, John McCain is the only one you can compare with him. Plus neither one can tell the truth.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:11 amin other news, white conservative terrorists were caught before they could asassinate Obama Barak.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:12 ambonzo 1958 Says:
***Numerous agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement descended on a factory belonging to Howard Industries Inc., which manufactures electrical transformers, among other products.***
Americans are getting lazier and lazier if this is an example of “jobs Americans won’t do”.
And exactly how do you know that these are jobs Americans won’t do. It’s more likely that they would have plenty of applicants for the job if the company paid a fair wage. When they can find undocumented workers for half what they would pay an American worker, the business owner takes the course that will make more profit for him. And he can be very confident that if he is raided, it will be workers who will be punished and not him for hiring them in the first place.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:13 ambonzo 1958 at 9:56 am
“Americans are getting lazier and lazier if this is an example of “jobs Americans won’t do”.”
This is an example of manufacturing jobs US employers won’t pay a living wage for, resulting in jobs Americans CAN’T AFFORD to do. Sometimes the citizen employees get pushed out by illegals who are willing to undercut on wages, and sometimes the citizen employees get laid off for lack of work, because other companies who have hired illegals already, can underbid the companies who still have well-paid citizen employees.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:16 amBonzo, Why do you hate america? Why are you calling us lazy? Jon Mccain spent 5 years in a POW camp so you can call us lazy?
August 26th, 2008 at 10:17 am#
bonzo 1958 Says:
***Numerous agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement descended on a factory belonging to Howard Industries Inc., which manufactures electrical transformers, among other products.***
Americans are getting lazier and lazier if this is an example of “jobs Americans won’t do”.
Or won’t get hired to do because the jobs are filled by illegal immigrants who will work for next to nothing. Get a clue.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:19 ambonzo went to the Phil Gramm school of economics and labor relations.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:20 am#
Bobwurst Says:
bonzo went to the Phil Gramm school of economics and labor relations.
Well Bozo? Are you going to keep “whining” about the “laziness” of Americans who don’t do thorough background checks to determine the legality of their employees? You don’t believe the factory was “tricked” into hiring these guys do you?
August 26th, 2008 at 10:23 amBilbo Hussein Baggins at 10:13 am
You type faster than me! I didn’t see your comment until the page refreshed when I submitted mine.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:24 amspencers mom Says:
But since we’re talking about a Mississippi business owner, I’m not holding my breath.
Rarely does the Bush controlled INS prosecute employers, just the illegal aliens.
They will just rehire new illegals when the INS turns their heads away again, and keep on with business as usual.
The illegal alien issue will not go away until employers are actually prosecuted.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:24 amHouse of Roberts Says: I was totally behind Edwards, which made it all the harder to understand why he entered the race this time with such a potential liability.
Someone suggested it as to get his message there… I don’t know, but I agree it was selfish of him to run with the chance that he could have been the nominee. Could you imagine?
I feel sorry for the Hillary Clinton supporters, but come on already. Vote for McCain rather than Obama? When Edwards dropped out I had a hard time deciding whether to vote for Clinton or Obama because they had such similar views on the issues of health care, education, economy, women’s issues, etc. I just felt Obama’s specifics were more practical and that he was the better candidate. Time for Clinton’s supporters to get over it. They will be cutting tehir own throats if they vote for anyone but Obama.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:26 amThe oil industry is holding an “Energy Mid-Day Reception for invited guests only” today at the Democratic convention.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:35 amThere IS a big difference between democrats and republicans . in this election the choice to put neo conservativism to sleep as the greater of two evils is vital ,however neither party seems to have much use for the constitution ,whatever the rhetoric.
And a great time was had by all at the telecommunications ball!
August 26th, 2008 at 10:40 amWayne Says:
The illegal alien issue will not go away until employers are actually prosecuted.
________________
The illegal alien issue will not go away until the standard of living rises in the countries they’re leaving to come here. If they could make a decent living where they are, they certainly wouldn’t bother to come here.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:40 amAmen rep of stu , amen !
August 26th, 2008 at 10:42 amunbelievable at 10:26 am
I was never torn between Hillary and Obama, because I knew her high negatives were an insurmountable obstacle. After Obama started winning and new voters were registering in record numbers it was easy to see he had the best message. I know people who will vote Obama here in Huntsville, Ala. that would vote against Hillary. Maybe instead of being 38 percenters this election we can be 44 percenters (in my state). Our Blue Dog is retiring (Bud Cramer), and the new Dem candidate, Parker Griffith, is in an uphill battle here. He could use Obama’s coattails, Hillary’s would have been non-existent here.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:43 amDebates sponsored by clean coal , convention and candidates bought and paid for……. priceless .
August 26th, 2008 at 10:44 amA few observations:
1-Polls show that 25% of Hillary Clinton supporters say they will either vote for McCain or not vote at all. Noting that Bush’s approval rating hovers between 23-28% and roughly the same percentage of Americans believe in ufos I would state that apparently you CAN fool a quarter of the people ALL of the time.
2-As the election nears, how much more important will it be for FOX to use it’s favorite tool Karl Rove. Considering the conflict of him being a consultant to McCain (which they and the rest of the MSM seem to avoid mentioning for some reason) he is accepted as just another pundit putting in his two cents when everything he says is in an attempt to bolster McCain’s chances? FOX viewers (read: LIVs)know that he is partisan but how many are aware that he actually is working for the McCain campaign? Why isn’t this a bigger deal?
3-To all those Independent voters out there:
August 26th, 2008 at 10:48 amYou do realize that a vote for McCain IS MOST DEFINITELY A VOTE FOR BUSH’s THIRD TERM don’t you? As was the case with Chimpy, he is just the face of the Republican/neocon party (the well-meaning slighty dopey guy you want to have a beer with). McCain’s actual Administration will be run by exactly the same group of anti-American war loving neocon thugs and corporate bigwigs who have acted with a clear cut agenda that has absolutely NOTHING to do with America and it’s citizen’s interests in mind. Bush had Ken Lay, McCain has Phil Gramm (yes he has quietly snuck back to the campaign), creator of the Enron loophole which has allowed manipulation of the oil market and lobbyist for offshore tax sheltering banks and a defender of the banking industry’s role in the housing crisis (Mr. Gramm’s House and Senate election campaigns in the 80’s were led by Karl Rove btw), both Bush and McCain have big oil, defense industries and the neocons setting the agenda and let’s not forget the Maverick’s newest best friends-every god damned lobbyist he ever met. Face it Indies, the Maverick that once was has had to sell his soul to the same group that destroyed his earlier presidential aspirations and has comprised Bush’s bubble of solitude in order to hold the republican nomination this time around. Without their consent he wouldn’t stand the slightest chance. It’s got to leave a bitter taste with “the maverick” having to suck up to all of the people that brought you down before but he sure doesn’t seem to mind.
It is very definitely another lesser of 2 evils election either way you get a government by of and for large international corporations .I do however defer to patriot acting’s logic , a mccain presidency will most likely end in a nuclear war !
August 26th, 2008 at 10:51 amHouse of Roberts Says: I know people who will vote Obama here in Huntsville, Ala. that would vote against Hillary. Maybe instead of being 38 percenters this election we can be 44 percenters (in my state).
Regardless of how much conservative hate her, Hillary would have been a good President. I have little doubt she had a very active behind-the-scenes role in her husband’s successful Presidency (that was her ‘experience’ :).
However, I agree with you that she very probably was unelectable in a general election.
I don’t think McCain will do as well here in Georgia as the nmdia thinks. I’ve seen a lot of conservatives with Bob Barr posters in their yards. More than I’ve seen anything McCain. But still less than I’ve seen Obama stuff…
August 26th, 2008 at 11:16 amWhere is Jim AK/Wilke this morning to defend his favorite person in the world, Teddy Boy Stevens?
August 26th, 2008 at 11:22 amIn court documents filed yesterday, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) “accused the Justice Department of trying to smear his character” and “making accusations haphazardly, hoping to damage his reputation at trial.” Stevens’s attorney called DoJ’s alleged smear campaign “obvious” and one that extends to “the senator’s family.”
Yeah…Bush loyalist Mukasey is going to launch a smear campaign against a Republican. Now you know Stevens is guilty.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 26th, 2008 at 11:24 amWhy is our Right Wing conservative DoJ persecuting a poor, honest Alaska Republican? Those dirty Republican-politicized DoJ smear merchants!
August 26th, 2008 at 11:36 amHey and despite my new label as “concern troll” I still believe passing on Pat buchanan’s two recent articles Blowback from bear bating and mccains neo con warmonger and none deare call it treason ,to republicans ,is a good way to counter act the Lieberman effect and sow a little confusion in the enemy camp .
August 26th, 2008 at 11:43 amGood morning, patriots!
I had lots of tears in my eyes last night, and I was very proud to be a Democrat and a liberal.
We need to take our country back – now’s the time.
~A
August 26th, 2008 at 11:53 amPat’s a flake, we don’t sow confusion….you got us mixed up with them. We are different.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:58 amJimAK Says:
Crime fighters trying to make a name or justice trying against all odds to be rectified?
He’s a criminal and an arrogant one that left a trail just as nixon did because he thought no one would have the nerve to look into it….too bad he is such scum. He deserves whatever he gets and more.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:35 pmJim,
If what you say is true, why would the BushCo DoJ allow such a thing to happen? They all love them some Teddy. He has been the lead dog in Big Oil’s ownership of BushCo and it would NOT be in their best interest to dump him UNLESS they are afraid of all the other crapola that will come bubbling up out of his cesspool.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:57 pmJohn McCain’s campaign is reviving the most famous political commercial of the Democratic primary cycle, launching a new 30-second spot Tuesday that uses footage from Hillary Clinton’s original ad and declares “Hillary’s
right.”
LINK
The ad, set to run in key battleground states and specifically in Denver this week, also goes a step further than the New York senator’s original ad, explicitly detailing the national security threats America faces.
“Uncertainty. Dangerous aggression. Rogue nations. Radicalism,” the ad’s narrator states as images of tanks and launching missiles flash on screen.
The ad also includes Clinton’s attack on Barack Obama in March 2008 in which she declared “I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House. And, Senator Obama has a speech he gave in 2002.”
She was NEVER interested in party “unity”.
She’s a selfish, political whore who’d just as soon switch parties if it was in her best interests.
I hate that b*tch.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pmGreat post’s all…Thank you Wayne for the link #14. Interesting read…
About all the arrest’s of illegal’s, similar situation in our state…My neighbor is a legal hispanic, has now moved back to Nevada in search of work…He use to go to our local Home Depot parking lot’s early in the morning’s along with many illegal’s looking for day work….They all had gotten work in the past there…About 3 month’s ago he went for the last time and came back home to put everything up for sale to get a bus ticket to leave the state…He was enraged and related to me why…Everyone standing out side hoping for a day’s work were ticketed by the police…The ticket’s were $106.00…..He said “how can someone out of work trying to raise enough money to feed their children pay a fine like that”.?….He had remained in his car waiting for people that might hire someone to arrive at the store or he also would of been ticketed…Last I heard from him he and 4 other people are living in a tent in Nevada trying to get work there….
I keep hearing in my head the word’s to a song,”Doe’s anybody know what time it is”? Doe’s anyone really care…
Thank you Freedom for the note on Think fast yesterday……P,B & J
August 26th, 2008 at 1:08 pm“In another large-scaled workplace immigration crackdown,” federal officials raided a Laural, Mississippi factory on Monday, “detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally.”
“Howard Industries runs every check allowed to ascertain the immigration status of all applicants for jobs,” the statement said. “It is company policy that it hires only U.S. citizens and legal immigrants.”
It’s just that 350 people slipped through the cracks? At what point do we hold the employers responsible?
August 26th, 2008 at 1:09 pm“Americans are getting lazier and lazier if this is an example of “jobs Americans won’t do”.
“And exactly how do you know that these are jobs Americans won’t do. It’s more likely that they would have plenty of applicants for the job if the company paid a fair wage. When they can find undocumented workers for half what they would pay an American worker, the business owner takes the course that will make more profit for him. And he can be very confident that if he is raided, it will be workers who will be punished and not him for hiring them in the first place.”
SARCASM alert.
Advocates for more immigration ALWAYS use the excuse *jobs American won’t do*. I’m sure most of you heard mccain and his $50 hr. speech for picking crops which he quickly rescinded when he realized he’d blundered.
But I’ve been keeping track and so far I’ve learned there are a bunch of jobs Americans supposedly won’t do.
Pick crops
Clean their own houses
Do their own yard work
Build houses
Clean motel rooms
Wait tables
AND NOW I’ve learned they must not want to do factory work either.
Glad to see so many people defend American workers but there was an *if* in my sentence. I was doing an impression of mccain.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:14 pmFred , I think therefore I am . .sorry.
ps. just put my Obama sign out on the front lawn , even though I find the democrats thoroughly disappointing .I guess I’m worthy of insulting and name calling now , for not toting the party line well enough and falling in ,lockstep ,behind the candidates who are partying tonight with the telecommunications and energy lobbyists, but it’s the best you’ll get from me .
I recently had a conversation with a conservative who told me that I should leave the country and questioned both my sources and my patriotism .Here because I do not believe in a government which is owned outright by AT&T and Exxon I am labeled a troll , despite my being a poster here for 2 1/2 years .
Your either with us or against us , is that really your opinion Fred ? Then I submit ,you have more in common with conservatives than you would like to admit .
Intolerance for anyone who doesn’t tow the party line COMPLETELY !
Where everybody thinks the same , no one thinks very much .
August 26th, 2008 at 1:31 pmJimAK, federal prosecutors don’t need to charge anybody like local prosecutors do. And they are judged by the percentage of convictions they get. Basically they don’t charge anybody until they’re sure they have enough evidence to convince.
Maybe it’s just me but on the annoying paid shill troll scale you sore a 10.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:36 pmps. just put my Obama sign out on the front lawn , even though I find the democrats thoroughly disappointing .
August 26th, 2008 at 1:37 pm…that is with the exception of Russ Feingold , Robert Wexler ,Chris Dodd ,Dennis Kucinich and a very few others .
Post #36, I got the creature wrong. The Blue Dogs are more like the Chupacabra, the goat sucker. Corporate payolla is a tasty treat for these mangy critters.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:10 pmBlue Dogs = Azure Chupacabras
http://peureport.blogspot.com/2008/08/blue-dogs-turn-chupacabra.html
August 26th, 2008 at 4:28 pm“In court documents filed yesterday, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) “accused the Justice Department of trying to smear his character”
August 26th, 2008 at 4:59 pmSorry Senator….the DOJ did NOTHING to smear your reputation…you did that all on your own!
#12 Unbelievable – We already knew Nancy was an abysmal Speaker – Now we know she doesn’t do well at talking in public.
August 26th, 2008 at 5:24 pm