UCmeNdc
UCmeNdc's JournalUnemployment Insurance To Be Extended, $30 Billion Cost Won't Be Offset
One of the remaining sticking points holding up a fiscal cliff deal appears to have been resolved, as negotiators have decided to extend unemployment benefits without offsetting the cost.
A source familiar with negotiations told The Huffington Post that lawmakers would treat the provision as "an emergency measure that shouldn't be paid for." A Senate Democratic and Republican source each confirmed the plan.
What that means is that the $30 billion pricetag for a year-long extension will simply be added to the deficit. Republicans have in the past objected to reauthorizing federal unemployment compensation because of its impact on the deficit, though in recessions since World War II Congress has generally added extra weeks of benefits without paying for them.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/unemployment-insurance-extended_n_2389634.html
John Bolton shifts Hillary Clinton critique
“I didn’t think that (protecting Clinton from Benghazi testimony) was the effort to begin with,” said Bolton, who accused Clinton just this month of having a “diplomatic illness” to dodge hearings on the deadly Sept. 11 attacks in Libya.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/john-bolton-shifts-hillary-clinton-critique-85626.html#ixzz2GinoOfql
Jon Huntsman: GOP 'Devoid Of A Soul'
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R), who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, had harsh words for his party in an interview published Sunday in Britain's Daily Telegraph.
"The party right now is a holding company that's devoid of a soul and it will be filled up with ideas over time and leaders will take their proper place," he said.
"We can't be known as a party that's fear-based and doesn't believe in math," he added. "In the end it will come down to a party that believes in opportunity for all our people, economic competitiveness and a strong dose of libertarianism."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/jon-huntsman-gop_n_2387879.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
Will President Obama cave in?
Fiscal Cliff Talks Go Through Night With Deal Still Uncertain
Discussions faltered over the weekend after Republicans sought to include some cuts to Social Security through a changed measure of inflation. They withdrew that demand under Democratic pressure, and the focus shifted back to tax rates.
Republicans on Sunday said they were looking for a deal that preserved tax cuts for incomes below $400,000 to $500,000, as well as keeping estate taxes at Bush-era levels.
Reports emerged Monday morning that Democrats might be willing to embrace a freeze of rates below $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/fiscal-cliff-mcconnell-biden_n_2387924.html
Weakened Filibuster Reform Plan Unveiled In Congress By John McCain, Carl Levin
The proposal by Levin and Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), doesn't propose a new rule requiring a talking filibuster, but a document they distributed explaining their proposal said the leaders of the two parties would require it.
"If a senator wants to block legislation, he or she should go to the floor of the Senate, and be there for that objection," said McCain.
"You must talk," said Levin, adding that no new rule is needed because the talking requirement has never actually been dropped. It's only been waived by senators as a courtesy, McCain and Levin said.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/weakened-filibuster-reform-mccain_n_2377516.html
This plan will not fix anything.
GOP Plans To Block Kerry Until Hillary Testifies On Benghazi
it’s just a coincidence, now that the 2012 election is over – and Benghazi-gate was useless in defeating President Obama – Fox News is suddenly making it all about Hillary Clinton, a potential 2016 nominee. Last week, the Communications Arm of the GOP was sneering that Clinton’s concussion, which caused her to cancel testifying in Congress about Benghazi, was faked. Today, Fox helped hype a Republican effort to embarrass Clinton by blocking John Kerry’s confirmation as her replacement as Secretary of State until she testifies.
http://crooksandliars.com/news-hound-ellen/gop-threatens-block-kerry-confirm
GOP plan to tarnish Clinton's reputation before 2016?
Fox News says Fred Phelps’ “God Hates F*gs” hate group is “left wing”
When’s the last time you met a gay-hating, Obama-hating (they think he’s literally the anti-Christ), Muslim-hating, Catholic-hating (conservative Baptists think Catholics worship Satan) evangelical Baptist church that was full of Democrats? Oh yeah, they also really really don’t like Jews. Well, if you believe Fox News (your first mistake), Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church is really a bunch of liberals. Albeit, liberals who hate gays, Obama, Muslims, Jews and have the same view of Catholics as the Republican-loving religious right.
Other than that, very liberal.
This story is a perfect example of why Fox News is not a “news” network, but rather, is little more than a propaganda arm of the Republican party. And the far right wing of the GOP, at that.
http://americablog.com/2012/12/fox-news-fred-phelps-is-left-wing.html
FreedomWorks tea party group nearly falls apart in fight between old and new guard
The real story.......
The day after Labor Day, just as campaign season was entering its final frenzy, FreedomWorks, the Washington-based tea party organization, went into free fall.
Richard K. Armey, the group’s chairman and a former House majority leader, walked into the group’s Capitol Hill offices with his wife, Susan, and an aide holstering a handgun at his waist. The aim was to seize control of the group and expel Armey’s enemies: The gun-wielding assistant escorted FreedomWorks’ top two employees off the premises, while Armey suspended several others who broke down in sobs at the news.
The coup lasted all of six days. By Sept. 10, Armey was gone — with a promise of $8 million — and the five ousted employees were back. The force behind their return was Richard J. Stephenson, a reclusive Illinois millionaire who has exerted increasing control over one of Washington’s most influential conservative grass-roots organizations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedomworks-tea-party-group-nearly-falls-apart-in-fight-between-old-and-new-guard/2012/12/25/dd095b68-4545-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html
Sam Seder on the ‘War on Christmas’ (vintage video, funny as hell)
This is vintage video, from 2005, with Sam Seder debating one of the scions of bigotry from the religious right about the supposed “war on Christmas.”
Sam does a wonderful job. He’s funny as hell, and also gets some hard-hitting serious points across as well. My favorite part is when he’s discussing the operational ties between Santa and Al Qaeda.
http://americablog.com/2012/12/sam-seder-on-the-war-on-christmas-vintage-video-funny-as-hell.html
Shoot-'Em-Up Charlie:
Shoot-'Em-Up Charlie:
Hello, America! It's me, Shoot-'Em-Up Charlie, with my pals Wayne and Dave, here to introduce our new line of bumper stickers! [blam-blam]
You may have seen our recent press conference about gun violence-- well now we're turning those words into bumper-sticker action! [blam!]
First up, "Guns Don't Kill People, Gun-Free Schools Kill People!" (And if more guns were allowed in schools, they'd be much smarter and less likely to fall in with crazy people!)
http://www.markfiore.com/political-cartoons/watch-violence-sandy-hook-newtown-nra-assault-weapons-gun-control-wayne-lapierre-press-conference-animated-vi#comment-10807
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