ThinkFast: January 14, 2009
ThinkFast: January 14, 2009
Sixty-two percent of voters “say their confidence in Washington has decreased over the past 12 months,” according to a new Public Strategies/Politico poll. A plurality of voters, however, want the government to take action on the economy with 45 percent naming an economic stimulus package as an issue the government should make a top priority.
President Bush will leave office with a 34 percent job approval rating, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll. The improved rating, which is “a shade better than what Bush has received for most of the past year,” is mainly due to Republicans, whose “approval of him rose from 67% in mid-December to 75% in the current poll.”
Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner “didn’t pay Social Security and Medicare taxes for several years while he worked for the International Monetary Fund, and he employed an immigrant housekeeper who briefly lacked proper work papers.” The revelations could delay consideration of Geithner’s nomination as Sens. Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) “blocked a request to proceed with his confirmation hearing Friday.”
A DoJ inspector general report released yesterday found that Bradley Schlozman, a former Justice official “entrusted with enforcing civil rights laws,” had refused to hire lawyers whom he labeled as “commies” and transferred another attorney for allegedly writing in “ebonics” and benefiting from “an affirmative action thing.” The report concluded that he had violated civil service laws and lied to Congress.
A new Marine Corps report has found that “[m]ore active-duty Marines committed suicide last year than any year since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.” The suicide rate, however, “remained virtually unchanged because the Marine Corps is increasing in size.” Nearly all of the 41 suicides were under 24 and two-thirds had deployed overseas.
“Glitches” at Veterans Affairs (VA) health centers have resulted in patients who were given “incorrect doses of drugs, had needed treatments delayed and may have been exposed to other medical errors due to software glitches that showed faulty displays of their electronic health records.” The problems began in August and lasted until last month, but the VA didn’t immediately disclose the problem to patients.
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) told the Washington Times that the Pentagon is “looking at several military bases in the U.S. as possible sites to hold terrorist suspects now at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including Camp Pendleton in San Diego and Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.”
A new report from the Center for Democracy in the Americas argues that Obama should engage Cuba. “The policy experts also said small U.S. steps now toward lifting restrictions could ease open Cuban society and polish America’s tarnished image in Latin America.” Read the full report here.
Obama’s nominee to lead the Dept. of Transportation, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) “sponsored $60 million in earmarks last year, steering at least $9 million in federal money to campaign donors.” LaHood, who opposes earmark reform, ranks roughly among the top 10 percent in the House for earmark sponsorship in 2008.
And finally: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)…with a twist. The Hill also has a piece explaining the video here.
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Bradley (Tiny Tim) Schlozman will probably be the first to go on trial and convicted……with any kind of luck and good sense, the whole administration of bush will follow in quick order.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:21 amOne more:
“President Bush will leave office with a 34 percent job approval rating”……………
That’s about 34 percent more than he deserves.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:23 amOne more:
“President Bush will leave office with a 34 percent job approval rating”……………
That’s about 34 percent more than he deserves.
More like, that’s about 40 percent more than he deserves.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:26 amBurning Question: How does one avoid paying Social Security and Medicare taxes for several years? The normal process is the Automatic Withdrawal/Payment on a monthly basis from your paycheck. How does one circumvent that process? The fellow politicians and media characterize it as “oversight”. Yeah, Right. He’s a crook, no more, no less.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:32 am“Glitch” started with the Bushies to cover their incompetence. It should end on January 20.
The VA health care errors due to an electronic medical records software errors is a major quality problem. Bear in mind:
Automation of bad practices, institutionalizes them.
The process of automation brings the opportunity for electronic errors.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:33 amceltic cynic, Geithner did not have his taxes automatically deducted while working for the IMF. That organization didn’t do that on Tim’s behalf. Thus he was responsible for paying self employment taxes. Normally, self-employed have to pay quarterly estimated taxes based on projected income.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:35 amPresident Bush will leave office with a 34 percent job approval rating . . . .”
Well, I might be tempted to approve of the job he’s now doing, too, which primarily entails packing up to leave the White House — I think he’s doing a great job getting the hell out of our way within the next 6 days…
January 14th, 2009 at 9:37 amThe improved rating, which is “a shade better than what Bush has received for most of the past year,” is mainly due to Republicans, whose “approval of him rose from 67% in mid-December to 75% in the current poll.”
Fools. Fooling all the Repuglycans all the time…
January 14th, 2009 at 9:45 amThe audit came in 2006. At that point he paid $16.732 in taxes and interest. Just days before his nomination, Geithner ponied up the rest, $25,970. The IRS waived any penalties. Lucky guy!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:45 ambratboy Says:
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Bradley (Tiny Tim) Schlozman will probably be the first to go on trial and convicted……with any kind of luck and good sense, the whole administration of bush will follow in quick order.
Nope. He won’t be charged with anything. Go over to TPMmuckracker and read their continuing reports from yesterday.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:47 amRay LaHood is the engineer of the Transporation train pulling hundreds of billions in infrastructure projects. He’s universally respected and a heck of a nice guy, but the private contractor profitapoolza continues.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:47 amBradley Schlozman–more evidence Bush led a “Just Us” department.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:48 amBrrrr, colder than Condi’s stare here in MN this morning. -40F air temp with wind chills pushing -60F. How cold is it? Well, you can throw a cup of hot coffee into the air & listen to it crackle while it freezes in mid-air. That’s cold!
Did we really ‘misunderestimate’ Dubyah? 34% sounds a little inflated to me. I think Repubs are going through ‘post-presidential partum’ now, knowing it will be years, if not decades, before another Rightie is President. Let’s hope so.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:55 amZimzone; In Port Huron, we are having a heat wave, compared to you. We had a balmy -15, actual temperature.
I hope it will be GENERATIONS before another reichwinger takes the helm, if ever again.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:00 amThe pundits were saying yesterday that Geithner is the only person who really understands TARP and so it doesn’t matter what he did he’ll be approved.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:01 amstateofthedivision Says:
Ray LaHood is the engineer of the Transporation train pulling hundreds of billions in infrastructure projects. He’s universally respected and a heck of a nice guy, but the private contractor profitapoolza continues.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:47 am
__________
DO you expect the government to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure projects and not hire private contractors to carry out the work?
That’s kind of the point of the economic stimulus, isn’t it?
January 14th, 2009 at 10:01 amI was always mystified about LaHood being nominated as Transportation Secy. Other than he’s an Arab-American and a moderate Republican, his only background in transportation is having been on the House Transportation Committee back in the 1990’s. And no doubt, a good number of those earmarks have been for transportation-related projects. At any rate, he doesn’t seem qualified for the position.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:01 amZimzone Says:
Brrrr, colder than Condi’s stare here in MN this morning. -40F air temp with wind chills pushing -60F. How cold is it? Well, you can throw a cup of hot coffee into the air & listen to it crackle while it freezes in mid-air. That’s cold!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:55 am
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I’m sure ICEMAN will be here in a minute or two using this to “prove” that science is wrong.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:03 amBush, Cheney and lots ofright wing talking heads have been all over rewriting history and praising W for weeks. We haven’t been attacked since 9/11 thanks to W. Obviously somebody else was president ON 9/11. Oh year up until the last quarter the economy was growing like gangbusters.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:06 amhussein toasterhead Says:
I’m sure ICEMAN will be here in a minute or two using this to “prove” that science is wrong.
It will be with a new moniker, since the old new one he used yesterday got kicked for racist comments.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:12 amThe improved rating, which is “a shade better than what Bush has received for most of the past year,” is mainly due to morons, whose “approval of him rose from 67% in mid-December to 75% in the current poll.”
January 14th, 2009 at 10:12 amShayne Says:
We haven’t been attacked since 9/11 thanks to W.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:06 am
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Well, duh. Al-Qa’ida hasn’t needed to attack us. Bush has screwed up the country far more completely than bin Laden could have dreamed.
And it’s also patently untrue. Terrorism is on the rise in the United States. An estimated 191,000 terrorist attacks (aka hate crimes) occur annually in the United States. Anti-Latino terrorism by hate groups is up 40% since 2003, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The number of domestic terrorist groups overall rose to 888 in 2007 – up 48% from 2000. Terrorist groups preaching anti-Semitism and homophobia and Islamophobia are also on the rise.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:24 amBradley Schlozman is the slimiest of the Bush slimebags. The emails from him (aired on Rachel Maddow’s show) were beyond disgusting.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:28 amhussein toasterhead Says:
Terrorist groups preaching anti-Semitism and homophobia and Islamophobia are also on the rise.
I listened to David Harris from the American Jewish Council’s radio spots this morning. He described in detail how terrified all Israeli citizens are of Hamas rockets. Of course, he neglected to mention the hundreds of dead & maimed children & babies in Gaza.
Israel has become what they’re ‘protecting’ against…
January 14th, 2009 at 10:36 amZimzone Says:
Israel has become what they’re ‘protecting’ against…
January 14th, 2009 at 10:36 am
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Oh, they’ve gone far beyond that:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/14/white_phosphorous_and_dense_inert_metal
January 14th, 2009 at 10:39 amZimzone Says:
Israel has become what they’re ‘protecting’ against…
They’re just trying to be like us — we managed that years ago…
January 14th, 2009 at 10:39 amLeftside Annie Says:
Bradley Schlozman is the slimiest of the Bush slimebags.
____________
You’re spelling his name wrong.
It’s Schlongman. Bradley Schlongman.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:39 amTreasury Sec Nominee – admittedly, his tax situation was far more complex than mine. However, in my audit next week, can I tell the IRS agent that I made an innocent mistake and let it go at that ?
DOJ Civil Rights – It is bad enough when the Dept of **JUSTICE** acts in an unjust manner. Violation of Civil Rights is bad enough in and of itself. But when the dept **IN CHARGE** of enforcing Civil Rights violates those very **RIGHTS** which they are in charge of enforcing…..
January 14th, 2009 at 10:50 amTreasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner “didn’t pay Social Security and Medicare taxes for several years while he worked for the International Monetary Fund, and he employed an immigrant housekeeper who briefly lacked proper work papers.”
It’s worth mentioning that he had already settled all of this. Apparently the IMF doesn’t withhold anything, and adds to your check the amount of payroll taxes they pay on you, then expect you to figure it out and comply. So I can see forgetting how to do that.
.
A DoJ inspector general report released yesterday found that Bradley Schlozman, a former Justice official “entrusted with enforcing civil rights laws,” had refused to hire lawyers whom he labeled as “commies”
Just you watch. If the Republicans ever get the White House again, this guy’s got a job, guaranteed.
.
A new report from the Center for Democracy in the Americas argues that Obama should engage Cuba.
Some additional text from the report:
“Duh.”
.
And finally: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)…with a twist.
Thus continues the great and noble American tradition of politicians strapping cameras to animals and letting them run wild in our nation’s capital. I call on all of our nation’s politicians to do this, with bonus points for using exotic animals such as Gorillas or Leopards. God bless the USA!
January 14th, 2009 at 10:50 amThe improved rating, which is “a shade better than what Bush has received for most of the past year,” is mainly due to Republicans, whose “approval of him rose from 67% in mid-December to 75% in the current poll.”
__________
Hmmm… it would appear the GOOP has been reaching out to new demographic groups, other than pudgy, middle-aged, balding white men and hard-core racists. They’re managed to pull in the mentally ill and totally delusional now.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:51 amIs probably because he is gone, gone, gone would be my guess.
congressional approval has already definatly improved now that so many republicans are gone…….
they have dragged us down and backwards long enough.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:05 amGood point Hussein, I should’ve said private equity profitapoolza. Those same Wall Street firms pocketing TARP capital injections have infrastructure funds. So does private equity.
http://infrastructure.dowjones.com/
Infrastructure investors have viewed the U.S. as a market with tremendous possibilities. There are, after all, numerous roads, bridges, airports, dams and power plants in need of repair, upgrade or complete overhaul. The one holdup to capitalizing on the opportunities has been the willingness of government agencies, both at the federal and the state level, to focus on these projects.
That holdup, however, may soon vanish as a result of the economic crisis. Congress, for starters, sees infrastructure spending as a means to revive the economy. Meanwhile, more states and cities are looking at selling infrastructure assets as a way to make up for revenue shortfalls. In short, it appears to be a perfect storm for infrastructure investors.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:12 amHaving worked for the self-employed, and having had family members in that group, as well as those having to pay quarterly taxes on estimated income, my second-hand experience has been that it is quite easy for those in those groups to get in trouble with the IRS.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:12 amIt’s not the same as for the rest of us working blokes who get our taxes taken out of our paychecks.
I also worked for a company who employed many immigrants; their credentials were noted and filed, but was their status re-checked regularly? No.
stateofthedivision Says:
That holdup, however, may soon vanish as a result of the economic crisis. Congress, for starters, sees infrastructure spending as a means to revive the economy. Meanwhile, more states and cities are looking at selling infrastructure assets as a way to make up for revenue shortfalls. In short, it appears to be a perfect storm for infrastructure investors.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:12 am
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Interesting… So this could go two ways – either this new infrastructure investment could be the liquidity injection that the financial system needs, OR it could be the next bubble that lets us pretend the economy’s doing well until it bursts.
Still – even if it’s a bubble, at least it’s a bubble based in something useful. We get some bridges and power plants out of it, instead of a bunch of worthless CDOs.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:17 amState continues to find the black lining to any silver cloud.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:20 amHussein, I hadn’t thought about the bubble side. I’m worried about the opposite problem. It comes if distressed state and local governments sell existing or future revenue sources at distressed, fire sale prices. That hurts taxpayers for the benefit of the big money boys, the same ones dining on our TARP money. It bears watching.
Private equity has hundreds of billions on the sidelines, waiting for financial firms to implode further before investing. They don’t want their investments watered down. The big money boys want to buy at the bottom and they don’t see it yet.
Fred, keep your head in the sand.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:26 amPlease, how can spending on infrastructure where you actually get something for your money be compared to the last 8 years of spending on a war where what you get out of it goes up in smoke?
January 14th, 2009 at 11:30 amLarry Kudlow of CNBC dined with President Elect Obama. He wouldn’t share the content, calling it off the record, but he indicated other diners, Peggy Noonan, George Will, Charles Krauthammer, & Bill Kristol. He said a total of 10 conservative journalists broke bread with Obama.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:32 amMore on the private infrastructure funds:
Twenty funds primarily focused on North America have closed since 2004 raising $41.5 billion, with an additional 17 funds currently seeking to raise a total of $27.3 billion.
Bain Capital and Carlyle Group expected a 30% annual return on investment. They are willing to take less, 15-20%, for guaranteed annual returns. Why should the taxpayer guarantee such returns for the super wealthy?
January 14th, 2009 at 11:34 amFred, I didn’t make the comparison. You did.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:35 amThis DIME stuff is interesting. It’s actually supposed to be a ‘low collateral damage’ weapon due to the fact that it doesn’t produce bomb fragments/shrapnel and has a lower pressure pulse. In point of fact, it’s such a vicious weapon that it required the development of new test equipment that could survive test blasts.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/dime.htm
January 14th, 2009 at 11:38 am
more turd polishing in my local paper:
Bush’s Mistakes (titled “Top 10 Mistakes” in my paper)
By Rich Lowry
President Bush infamously couldn’t or (more likely) wouldn’t identify mistakes he’d made during his presidency at a 2004 press conference. In a newly self-reflective mood in his twilight hours in the White House, Bush has opened up about what went wrong.
In a jaunty performance at his final press conference, he said pursuing Social Security reform instead of immigration reform immediately after the 2004 election was a “mistake,” as was hanging the “Mission Accomplished” banner on the tower of the USS Abraham Lincoln. As he heads to Texas, Bush should reflect on these 10 more important mistakes that shaped his presidency:
[...]
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/01/bushs_mistakes.html
one good thing, learn along with lowry, a NEW WORD!
January 14th, 2009 at 11:42 amguess what it is… sorry, you have to read the whole thing to find out…
stateofthedivision Says:
Hussein, I hadn’t thought about the bubble side. I’m worried about the opposite problem. It comes if distressed state and local governments sell existing or future revenue sources at distressed, fire sale prices. That hurts taxpayers for the benefit of the big money boys, the same ones dining on our TARP money. It bears watching.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:26 am
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Well, that’s where major federal investment would come in handy, right? It could offset the need for state and local governments to sell off these assets. I totally agree that it needs watching, which is why I expect to see much better regulation and oversight and transparency of the remaining TARP funds as well as the stimulus injection under the Obama administration. If not, they will be hearing from me.
I also think there’s a lot of potential for private equity to help the country’s economy rather than vulture the recession carcasses. I see public-private partnerships playing a big role in this, particularly the areas such as energy generation and green tech. There could be a multiplier effect as government props up a developing industry and thus gives investors a safe place to put money that will benefit the planet.
If done right – again, with adequate transparency and oversight and regulation – it’s win-win-win. But it’s up to us to watch what the new administration does and ensure that they don’t allow this to become a windfall for a few with little benefit for the masses.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:42 amCZ-1 Says:
This DIME stuff is interesting. It’s actually supposed to be a ‘low collateral damage’ weapon due to the fact that it doesn’t produce bomb fragments/shrapnel and has a lower pressure pulse.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:38 am
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Yeah – low collateral damage on a traditional battlefield, maybe. When dropped in an urban area with the highest population density in the world, it’s quite a different story.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:50 amHe thinks bridges and roads and these projects just appear. He doesn’t understand the whole creating jobs for the workers thingy.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:54 amYou’re OFF TOPIC and TP aleady covered this last night.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:55 amWell I guess you’re not off topic but definitely redundant.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:01 pmPress Secy. Gibb has announced that Obama will definitely end don’t ask, don’t tell. Any comment RHF?
January 14th, 2009 at 12:10 pmFred Says:
The Republic of Stupidity Says:
The improved rating
Is probably because he is gone, gone, gone would be my guess.
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Nostalgia, already????
Perhaps that would be a good motto for the GOOP, Fred…
Instead of “Upward and onward”, they can use “Downward and backward”…
Or, perhaps… “The GOOP… dragging America back into the 19th Century!”
January 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
Yeah – low collateral damage on a traditional battlefield, maybe. When dropped in an urban area with the highest population density in the world, it’s quite a different story.
I think it is intended for the urban battlefield, hence the reason why it is intended to be ‘low collateral damage’. I think the moral of this story is that powerful weapons-even with a limited range-kill people, and if one drops a powerful weapon amongst civilians it will kill or maim any civilians within its range. In other words, surgical strikes are pretty much a myth.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:17 pmShayne, this is a news summary post and Larry Kudlow spoke this morning on CNBC, a business news channel. I chose not to add it to the one you and RHF verbally upchucked through the night.
As I said before, TP needs better self appointed enforcers. Please ignore my posts.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pmSenior Pentagon Official Admits Torture-NY Times
A senior Pentagon official admitted the United States tortured a Guantanamo prisoner, Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Saudi man who allegedly had hoped to become the “20th hijacker.”
Why reveal this fact just days before Bush slinks out of Washington? Did the official release the story to prepare the public for Bush torture pardons? Stay tuned…
January 14th, 2009 at 12:25 pmman, that RHF meltdown last night was hilarious
are ALL pumas that funny (even unintentionally)?
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January 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pm‘ere – Atlanta’s Progressive Jazz
(yes that’s me on the piano)
Find us at ReverbNation.com/ere
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guessing you want the job, right?
January 14th, 2009 at 12:29 pmGee state I don’t think there are any enforcers here. Just opinions. I think though when TP has already put up a thread on a subject the day before it’s not exactly “breaking news” when you post it. I doubt if they need your help and more than they need mine.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:36 pmFred, do you think state is the hungover RHF?
January 14th, 2009 at 12:37 pmClose but not quite the same. Neither one want to hear anyones opinion but their own but rhf is a little more vile.
I now consider them both to be trolls however.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:48 pmWelcome to ThinkShayneFred.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:56 pmShayne, remember rhf’s ranting about Obama not supporting gay marriage?
Hillary doesn’t support gay marriage
January 14th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Look Fred, state thinks he’s the greeter.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:57 pmApparently Obama’s crime was that at one point he said he supported gay marriage. That makes him a bigot, apparently.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:58 pmShayne Says:
Apparently Obama’s crime was that at one point he said he supported gay marriage. That makes him a bigot, apparently.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
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No, just a smart politician who knows which way the wind is blowing.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:03 pmHe says to ignore him but that’s not really what he wants.
It’s a shame with state because I sometimes agree with him. It’s just their “your with us or a terrorist” mentality that offends.
I get tired of people who think they know everything and don’t want to discuss their beliefs, only preach and expect everyone to listen and agree.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:06 pmSen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) told the Washington Times that the Pentagon is “looking at several military bases in the U.S. as possible sites to hold terrorist suspects now at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including Camp Pendleton in San Diego and Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.”
Perhaps I’m a bit dim, but what the hell good does closing Gitmo do if we’re just gonna move the “detainees” (such a convenient word) and continue to hold them without charges or trials?
January 14th, 2009 at 1:17 pmIf nothing else it will end the legacy of what guantanamo has stood for and take the stench off of America for it’s existance.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pmPresident Bush will leave office with a 34 percent job approval rating, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll. The improved rating, which is “a shade better than what Bush has received for most of the past year,”
Give him a 98% for all I care, just make sure he leaves office!!!
January 14th, 2009 at 1:33 pm