Tragic News From Up North

Tragic News From Up North

From Toni in California: “Stand By Me”

More Republicans than Progressives (Liberals)

While we’re at it, could somebody explain why there are more Republicans than Progressives (Liberals) in the President-Elect’s cabinet? I’ve watched and waited; but, as the number of cabinet vacancies dwindled, it became clear that there is no place for the “Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party” in the new administration.

Barney Frank Not Happy About Warren

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN FRANK ON PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA CHOOSING RICK WARREN TO GIVE INAUGURATION INVOCATION

“I am very disappointed by President-elect Barack Obama’s decision to honor Reverend Rick Warren with a prominent role in his inauguration. Religious leaders obviously have every right to speak out in opposition to anti-discrimination measures, even in the degrading terms that Rev. Warren has used with regard to same-sex marriage. But that does not confer upon them the right to a place of honor in the inauguration ceremony of a president whose stated commitment to LGBT rights won him the strong support of the great majority of those who support that cause.

“It is irrelevant that Rev. Warren invited Senator Obama to address his congregation, since he extended an equal invitation to Senator McCain. Furthermore, the President-Elect has not simply invited Rev. Warren to give a speech as part of a series in which various views are presented. The selection of a member of the clergy to occupy this uniquely elevated position has always been considered a mark of respect and approval by those who are being inaugurated.”

Some Laughs to Cheer Us Up

Robin Williams in Britain on 11-30-08 with Prince Charles in the audience. Funny stuff…before the Progressive disappointment with the Obama transition triangulating on us really started to sink in.

Republican Senators Love Banks-Hate UAW Workers

Here’s a list of the Republican Senators who voted to bail out the banks; but not the automakers. They have placed their desire to kill the UAW above the interests of the millions who make their living from the soon-to-be-gone BIG Three:

Bob Bennett, R-UT
Richard Burr, R-NC
Saxby Chambliss, R-GA
Tom Coburn, R-OK
Norm Coleman, R-MN
Bob Corker, R-TN
John Ensign, R-NV
Chuck Grassley, R-IA
Judd Gregg, R-NH
Orrin Hatch, R-UT
Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX
Johnny Isakson, R-GA
John Kyl, R-AZ
Mel Martinez, R-FL
John McCain, R-AZ
Mitch McConnell, R-KY
Lisa Murkowski, R-AK
John Thune, R-SD

Up Against the Wall Motherf**ker!: A Memoir of Anarchism in the ’60s

By Osha Neumann, Seven Stories Press (for the full text of the article from AlterNet click here)

In 1967, I became a founding member of an anarchist street gang — an unexpected career move for a nice Jewish boy with an MA in history. Read more »

***

A well-written piece about a time that fades into memory as each day passes. It becomes harder to remember what happened as the MSM dilutes history.

Hinchey Statement on House Passage of Financial Rescue Package for U.S. Auto Industry

Washington, DC – Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) released the following statement regarding House passage of a financial rescue package for the U.S. auto industry. The congressman voted for the measure.

“I am very frustrated by the circumstances that led to a situation where Congress needed to craft a financial rescue bill for the U.S. auto industry. Through a combination of deregulation, speculative manipulation of investments, irresponsible tax cuts for millionaires and corporations, an illegal and expensive invasion and occupation of Iraq, and an overall budget policy that doubled the national debt and resulted in record budget deficits, the Bush administration has helped create the worst economic crisis this country has faced since the Great Depression. Those policies have made it very difficult for middle class Americans to get by on a daily basis let alone achieve the American Dream. To make matters worse, the U.S. auto industry was run almost as poorly as the Bush administration ran the federal government. By aggressively opposing congressional efforts to mandate higher fuel efficiency standards and ignoring the obvious potential to establish the U.S. as a leader in fuel efficient vehicles and instead focusing on building bigger SUVs and Hummers, the U.S. auto industry is largely to blame for its current situation. This combination of ineptitude at the White House and the Big Three has led us to this unfortunate moment.

“I understand the view of those who feel the U.S. auto industry should suffer the consequences of its poor business model, but I think it is absolutely necessary for Congress to act in a way that protects the more than 2.2 million auto industry jobs in the U.S., including the more than 82,000 jobs in New York. The U.S. economy has already lost 1.9 million jobs this year and the complete collapse of the auto industry would more than double that figure in a single swoop. Allowing the Big Three to go under would result in extraordinary hardship for its workers and their families and would put a much greater strain on the overall U.S. economy. Through the loan package approved today, Congress has provided financing that will enable the U.S. auto industry to restructure and develop a plan toward long-term viability that should keep those workers employed.

“While it was not easy for me to vote for this measure, it would have been much harder to watch more than 2.2 million hard-working Americans, most of whom are middle class people trying to make an honest living and provide for their family, lose their job overnight if these automobile companies were to go out of business. I am pleased that this measure contains a wide array of accountability provisions that will prevent corporate abuse and ensure that this money is put to good use with the goal of making the auto industry more focused on fuel efficient vehicles. It is also important to remember that these funds are being provided in the form of a loan, not a grant. With the various accountability provisions in place, I am hopeful and optimistic that these funds will be repaid to the federal government along with interest that will result in a net gain for taxpayers.”

Harper Morphs into Bush

The Canadian P.M., Stephen Harper. seems to think that following Karl Rove’s roadmap of division, fear, and personal destruction is the only way to save his job. Harper not only mirrors Bush’s disastrous policies, he seems to think Canada has a President, not a prime minister.

Facing a certain loss in a vote of confidence, Harper has suspended parliament, suggesting those who would form a coalition government are engaged in treason. Sound familiar?

There were many times in the last eight years, I wished the USA had a parliamentary system, so we could put Bush out with a vote of “no confidence”. I guess the Canadians must also wish they had a …ooops…they do have a parliamentary system.

The NDP was looking for six posts in the cabinet under the new coalition.

The National has it all covered.