The previous blogs about this section  covered ways that Obama was proposing to cut the federal budget. What we are looking at today is the holy grail of GOP politics which is based on the assumption that all Democrats are tax and spend liberals. Republicans always look for ways to cut taxes, and these proposals are all about increasing revenue.  Those pesky Democrats are actually looking at both sides of the equation in order to find some balance. It is about everyone paying their fair share.

“The President is committed to reducing the deficit through a balanced approach—one that re­strains spending across the Budget, including in the tax code; asks the wealthiest among us to con­tribute to deficit reduction; and lays the founda­tion for future growth.”

“We cannot address a deficit a decade in the making through spend­ing cuts alone—that is, unless we, as a country, agree to cut every program in the entire budget by more than a quarter, including defense spend­ing, Social Security payments, Medicare benefits, and veterans’ benefits, along with everything else. The Administration believes in a balanced approach that cuts spending responsibly, but also asks the most well-off in society—many of whom, through loopholes and other exemptions, pay less in taxes than most middle-class families—to contribute their fair share toward reducing the deficit and invigorating our economy.”

“The corporate tax system pro­vides special incentives for some industries, like oil and gas producers, yet fails to provide sufficient incentives for companies to invest in America.”

“… the President announced five principles for tax reform: 1) [it] should be simplified and work for all Americans with lower individ­ual and corporate tax rates and fewer tax brackets.” 2) It should be as good a deal for the middle class as it is for wealthy Americans, and there should be no unneeded subsidies for millionaires. 3) It should both decrease the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years and remain a progressive tax code. 4) It should increase the incentives to work and invest in the U.S. 5) It should observe the Buffett Rule.

Specific proposals:

Let the Bush Tax Cuts expire for those at the top.” The Administration remains opposed to the extension of these high-income tax cuts past 2012 and supports the return of the estate tax exemp­tion and rates to 2009 levels. This would reduce the deficit by $968 billion over 10 years.”

“… the proposal would limit the tax rate … to a maximum of 28 percent, [for] married taxpayers filing …with income over $250,000 (at 2009 levels) and single taxpayers with income over $200,000. This [limits] all itemized deductions; foreign excluded income; tax-exempt interest; employer sponsored health insurance; retirement contributions… It would reduce the deficit by $584 billion over 10 years.”

“… pro­poses to eliminate the loophole for managers in investment services partnerships and to tax car­ried interest ... This would reduce the deficit by $13 billion over 10 years.”

“… change depreciation schedules for corporate planes … to seven years ... This would reduce the deficit by $2 billion over 10 years.”

“…to phase out subsidies for fossil fuels…reduce the deficit by $41 billion over 10 years.”

“…the President said in his 2011 State of the Union address, we cannot win the future with the government of the past. In order to win the future and better serve a more competitive America, we need a 21st Century government that is efficient, effective and accountable. To continue these efforts, the Administration proposes to:

“…reorganizing government so that it does more for less, and that it is best po­sitioned to assist businesses and entrepreneurs grow and win in the world economy…” The primary vehicle for this reorganization would be a proposed bill--the “Reforming and Consolidating Govern­ment Act of 2012…”

… consoli­date … Department of Commerce, Small Business Administration, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corpora­tion, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agen­cy.” … incorporate related programs from …the Department of Agriculture’s business develop­ment programs, the Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund program, the National Science Foundation’s statistical agency and industry partnership pro­grams, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the Department of Labor.

“… [move] the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the Department of the Interior.”

“With more effectively aligned and deployed trade promo­tion resources, strengthened trade enforcement capacity, streamlined export finance programs, and enhanced focus on investment in the United States, the Government could better implement a strong, pro-growth trade policy.”

“… generate approximately $1.5 billion in savings over the next 10 years by reducing overhead and consolidating offices and support functions, … additional … savings through programmatic cuts … for a total of $3 billion over the next 10 years.”

The President promises to stop making payments where money is not owed. “Agencies … recaptured more than $1.2 bil­lion in overpayments to contractors and vendors in 2011. … the Administration is less than $100 million away from meeting the President’s goal to recapture $2 billion by the end of 2012.”

“President directed agencies to accelerate efforts to shed unneeded property and reduce operating costs in order to achieve $3 bil­lion in non-defense savings by the end of 2012.,, Building off the best practices of BRAC, the Administration proposed the Civilian Proper­ty Realignment Act (CPRA) ... The proposal would create an independent Board of experts to identify opportunities to consoli­date, reduce, and realign the Federal footprint as well as expedite the disposal of properties.”

The president directed the administrative staff to reduce expenses by controlling travel costs and “employee informa­tion technology devices.” (I guess that means laptops and cell phones!)

“DOD is: 1) decreasing the use of high-risk contracts based on time-and-materials and labor-hours; 2) … provide needed oversight; 3) eliminating or re­structuring lower-priority acquisitions; 4) reduc­ing contract spending on management support services; 5) taking full advantage of contract ve­hicles that reflect the Government’s buying lever­age; 6) increasing the use of strategic sourcing; 7) increasing small business participation; and 8) improving financial management systems.”

“… the Budget includes approximately $1 billion for energy conservation investments at DOD… energy retrofits of existing buildings, meet­ing energy efficiency standards in new buildings, and developing renewable energy projects”

” To reduce duplicative spending, the Administration has already shut down over 140 Government data centers and is on track to close nearly 1,100 by the end of 2015. Overall, the data center optimization efforts are expected to yield $3 to $5 billion in savings.”

“OMB will work with the Congress to eliminate or consolidate plans and reports that have become outdated or duplicative.”

“the Adminis­tration is testing a new program model—Pay for Success—in which the Government provides flex­ibility for how services are delivered and pays for results after they are achieved.”

We are now officially up to page 51! More to come.

Homework

2013 White House Budget

The last time we visited Obama’s budget, we were about to look at the proposals in the budget that would provide spending cuts and/or revenue increases in order to cut the deficit. We are picking up where we left off by filling in the blanks of the proposals outlined in the last blog.

Proposals include:

Find Savings in the Agricultural Sector.

“The Administration remains committed to a strong safety net for farmers, one that protects them from revenue losses that re­sult from low yields or price declines, and strong crop insurance programs. But there are programs and places where current support is unnecessary or too generous. To reduce the deficit, the Admin­istration proposes to eliminate or reduce those programs, while strengthening the safety net for those that need it most.”

The proposal would eliminate direct payments to farmers, for a savings of $23-billion over 10 years.

The proposal would reduce crop insurance subsidies: “… the program continues to be highly subsidized and costs the Government ap­proximately $10 billion a year to run: $3 billion per year for the private insurance companies to administer and underwrite the program and $7 billion per year in premium subsidy to the farmers. “ Reducing this subsidy, capping insurance administrative costs, and changing the premiums for catastrophic coverage policies would save $4.3 billion over 10 years.

“In addition, the Administration is proposing to reduce producers’ premium subsidy by 2 basis points for all but catastrophic crop in­surance … expected to save $3.3 billion over 10 years.”

“… the Administration proposes to reduce conservation funding by $1.8 billion over 10 years by better targeting conserva­tion funding to the most cost-effective and environmentally-beneficial programs and practices.“

 

Better Align Federal Worker and Military Retirement Programs.

$12.1 billion can be saved by increasing deductibles, capping benefits, and increasing enrollment fees for retirees.

“To recommend improve­ments to the military retirement system, the Administration is proposing to establish a Military Retirement Modernization Com­mission. Under the proposal, the President would appoint the Commissioners; DOD would transmit to the Commission initial recommendations to change the military re­tirement system; the Commission would hold hearings, make final recommendations, and draft legislation to implement its recommen­dations …“

“The Administration believes that any major military retirement reforms should include grandfathering provisions for cur­rent retirees and those currently serving in the military.“

Reform the Aviation Passenger Security Fee to Reflect the Costs of Aviation Secu­rity More Accurately.

“The Administration proposes to replace the current “per-enplanement” fee structure with a “per one-way trip” fee structure … remove the current statu­tory fee limit and replace it with a … minimum of $5.00 … annual incremental in­creases of 50 cents from 2014 to 2018, … allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to adjust the fee … through regulation when necessary. The proposed fee would collect an estimated $9 billion in additional fee revenue over five years, and $25.5 billion over 10 years. Of this amount, $18 billion will be deposited into the General Fund for debt reduction.”

Share Payments More Equitably for Air Traffic Services.

“To reduce the deficit and more eq­uitably share the cost of air traffic services across the aviation user community, the Administration proposes to create a $100 per flight fee, payable to the Federal Aviation Administration, by aviation operators who fly in controlled airspace.”

There are some exemptions to this fee, including exemptions for military aircraft.

This fee would generate $7.4 billion over 10 years.

Provide Postal Service Financial Relief and Undertake Reform.

“the President is proposing a … reform package that would: 1) re­structure Retiree Health Benefit pre-funding … 2) provide USPS with a refund over two years of the $10.9 billion positive credit balance … 3) … reduce delivery from six days to five days starting in 2013; 4) allow USPS to increase col­laboration with State and local governments; and 5) … better align the costs of postage with the costs of mail delivery … and … increase in postage rates …”

“…would produce savings of $25 billion over 11 years.”

Strengthen the Safety Net for Workers’ Retirement Benefits.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation “is responsible for paying current and future retirement benefits to more than 1.5 million workers and retirees. PBGC re­ceives no taxpayer financing and relies primarily on premiums paid by insured plans. PBGC pre­miums are currently much lower than what a pri­vate financial institution would charge for insur­ing the same risk and are insufficient for PBGC to meet its long-term obligations. As of the end of September 2011, PBGC faced a $26 billion deficit. The Administration proposes to encourage com­panies to fully fund their pension benefits and ensure PBGC’s continued financial soundness by giving the PBGC Board the authority to ad­just premiums …”

“This proposal … the single-employer flat-rate premium that will raise approximately $4 billion by 2022; …  the single-employer variable-rate pre­mium to raise $12 billion by 2022. This proposal would save $16 billion over the next decade.”

Restore the Solvency and Financial Integ­rity of the Unemployment Insurance System by Helping Employers Now and Restoring State Fiscal Responsibility.

“Currently, 28 States owe more than $37 billion to the Feder­al UI trust fund. As a result, employers … now facing automatic Federal tax in­creases, …States have little prospect of paying these loans back ... State UI programs … improper pay­ment rates—12 percent in fiscal year 2011. The Administration proposes to put the UI system back on the path to solvency and financial integ­rity by providing immediate relief to employers to encourage job creation now, reestablishing State fiscal responsibility going forward, and working closely with States to eliminate improper pay­ments.”

“…employers in indebted States would receive tax relief for two years.”

“the proposal would also raise the minimum level of wages subject to unemployment taxes”

Reform Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Payments.

“The coal industry … is cur­rently held responsible for cleaning up abandoned coal mines by paying a fee that finances grants to States and Tribes for reclamation”

“… regular reclamation funds are not … targeted at the highest priority abandoned mine lands, … amounts are distributed by a production-based formula …funding goes to the States with the most coal production, not the greatest reclamation needs …”

“…the Administration proposes to terminate unrestricted payments [that] do not contribute to reclaiming abandoned coal mines…”

“Through a competitive grant program, a new AML Advisory Council will review and rank the abandoned mine lands sites, so that the Depart­ment of the Interior, in coordination with States and Tribes, can distribute grants to reclaim the highest priority coal sites each year.”

“The Administration proposes to create a parallel AML program for abandoned hardrock sites. … hardrock reclamation would be financed by a new AML fee on the production of hardrock miner­als on both public and private lands.”

“…this proposal will save $1.6 billion over the next 10 years.”

Provide a Better Return to Taxpayers from Mineral Development.

“The public received about $10 billion in 2011 from fees, royalties, and other payments related to oil, gas, coal, and other mineral development on Federal lands and wa­ters.”

“… taxpayers could earn a better return through more rigorous oversight and policy changes…”

“The Budget proposes …  charging a royalty on … hardrock minerals (such as silver, gold, and copper); ex­tending net receipt sharing … charging user fees to oil companies for processing oil and gas drilling permits and in­specting operations on Federal lands and waters… establishing fees for new non-producing oil and gas leases (both onshore and offshore) …  making administrative changes to Federal oil and gas royalties[i.e.] adjusting royalty rates and terminating the royalty-in-kind program. … these changes are expected to generate approximately $3 billion in savings over 10 years.”

Health Savings

“Health care comprises one-quarter of non-in­terest Federal spending, and is the major driver of future deficit growth.

“Affordable Care Act (ACA) which, ac­cording to the Congressional Budget Office’s lat­est analysis, will reduce the deficit by more than $1 trillion over the next two decades.”

And then there is this warning to the GOP: “Repealing or failing to implement health care reform would return the Nation to a path of rapidly increasing health care costs, and add tril­lions to deficits over the long run. The President is putting forward $364 billion in health savings that build on the ACA to strengthen Medicare, Medicaid, and other health programs by reducing wasteful spending and erroneous payments, and supporting reforms that boost the quality of care.”

“… Medicare …reimburses 70 percent of bad debts resulting from beneficiaries’ non-payment of de­ductibles and copayments …”

“the Budget proposes … reducing bad debt payments to 25 percent … over three years starting in 2013. This proposal will save approximately $36 billion over 10 years.”

“This proposal would reduce the IME adjustment by 10 percent beginning in 2014, and save approximately $10 billion over 10 years.” The IME adjustment evidently reimburses teaching hospitals for inefficiencies caused by interns.

“payment system is better targeted [in rural hospitals] will save approximately $2 billion over 10 years.”

“… the Administration supports policies that will save approximately $63 billion over 10 years … These include adjust­ing payment updates for certain post-acute care providers, equalizing payments for certain condi­tions commonly treated in IRFs and SNFs; en­couraging appropriate use of inpatient rehabili­tation hospitals; and adjusting SNF payments to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions.”

By allowing Medicare to negotiate price with drug manufacturers “This proposal is estimated to save $156 billion over 10 years.”

“Beginning in 2017, the Administra­tion proposes to increase income-related premi­ums under Medicare Parts B and D by 15 percent”

“… the Administra­tion proposes … a $25 increase in the Part B deductible in 2017, 2019, and 2021 for new ben­eficiaries … save approximately $2 billion over 10 years.”

“This proposal would cre­ate a home health copayment of $100 per home health episode… This proposal will save approximately $350 million over 10 years.”

“… the Administration proposes a Part B premium surcharge equivalent to about 15 percent of the average Medigap premium (or about 30 percent of the Part B premium) for new beneficiaries that purchase Medigap policies with particularly low cost-sharing requirements, starting in 2017. Cur­rent beneficiaries and near-retirees would not be subject to the surcharge. This proposal will save approximately $2.5 billion over 10 years.”

 Fraud prevention is expected to  save nearly $5 billion over the next 10 years.

By changing how states are allowed to tax health care providers, this proposal is projected to save $21.8 billion over 10 years.

By changing how states are reimbursed for Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP programs this proposal is projected to save $17.9 billion over 10 years.

“The Medicare program … through the DME Competitive Bidding Program… is expected to save the Medicare program more than $25 bil­lion and Medicare beneficiaries approximately $17 billion over 10 years.”

“The Admin­istration proposes to increase the availability of generic drugs and biologics by authorizing the Federal Trade Commission to stop companies from entering into anti-competitive deals, known also as “pay for delay” agreements, intended to block consumer access to safe and effective ge­nerics.”

“… greater ac­cess to lower-cost generics and will generate $11 billion over 10 years in savings to Federal health programs including Medicare and Medicaid.”

“Beginning in 2013, this proposal would award brand biologic manufacturers seven years of exclusivity rather than 12 years … prohibit additional periods of ex­clusivity … due to minor changes in product formulations… The proposal will result in $4 billion in savings over 10 years to Federal health programs including Medicare and Medicaid.”

The last section in this part of the budget proposal deals with tax reform. We’ll save that for another day.

FYI, this blog reviewed pages 13 to 37 of the budget document.

 Homework

White House Budget

As I was preparing to go to a meeting yesterday I was half listening to the TV in the background, when I realized that Obama was talking about energy and his plans for our future. I made it to the meeting on time, but just barely as I became glued to the TV until the speech was finished.

 

Since part of the budget that we’ve already looked at  dealt with his energy plans, we are taking another diversion from budget analysis and turning today’s blog over to the speech that got almost zero attention in the main stream media.

The speech is full of reality and vision.

Read it!

Homework:

Obama Speech on Energy

I got a kick out of Lawrence O’Donnell last night when he called the latest assault on women political suicide. The GOP is busy trying to spin their attack on women and contraception as an attack on religion. This woman isn’t buying it. Old white men, who are completely out of touch with the modern woman, are busy trying to tell us what to do with our own bodies. They have an antiquated vision of women—one where father knows best, and the little lady needs guidance because she can’t be trusted to think for herself.

We are woman, hear us roar.

A friend of mine is planning a get together of women to discuss reelecting President Obama. She said that people she invited to this event, to take place next week, have been calling and asking if they could bring their daughters and friends. Women are organizing. Women are strong. Get out of our way. Get your “small government” out of our bedrooms.

Yesterday Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, convened a hearing to talk about women’s health, but he banned all female witnesses. Women serving on the committee walked out in protest, a first for Eleanor Holmes Norton who has been in the House for over 20 years.  Before the clock struck Midnight the Democratic leader in the House, Nancy Pelosi had sent out an E-mail to Democrats. The full text follows:

We almost couldn’t believe it.  Today, at a House Oversight Committee hearing, House Republicans convened a panel on denying access to birth control converge with five men and no women.  As my colleague Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney asked, where are the women?

Join me in our call to Speaker Boehner, Eric Cantor, Chairman Issa and all House Republicans to demand that women be brought to the table when discussing women’s health issues. Help us gather 50,000 signatures before Congress heads home tomorrow.

Sign the petition >>

Thank you for standing up for what’s right and joining our fight.

It is apparent that Republican men have forgotten that more women than men vote in every election. We aren’t going to be voting for a bunch of male chauvinist pigs. As of this writing almost 25,000 people have signed Nancy’s petition. That happened over night while most women were sleeping.

Homework

Story About Democrats Walking Out of Issa Hearing

Link to Petition

It is almost 2012, and elections are almost upon us. As soon as the party dresses are hung up, and the confetti and noisemakers are put away, people in Iowa will be going into their famed caucuses to choose who gets delegates to the GOP convention in Tampa Bay Florida.

Even though I haven’t written much about the GOP debates, it isn’t because I haven’t enjoyed the spectacle.  At one point I even tweeted that the GOP had been invaded by Ringling Brothers. The only candidates that might appeal to the independent voter never made it out of the basement. Gary Johnson got so frustrated with his lack of respect from the media and people responding to polls that he jumped from the GOP to the Libertarian party. Tim Pawlenty jumped off the bandwagon early on, perhaps because he has too much Minnesota Nice to enjoy mixing it up with the  crazies at the top of the polls. Jon Huntsman is hanging in there, but I suspect that he believes that his real chance will come in 2016.

The current front runners, with the possible exception of Romney, have enough crazy genes to provide any self respecting progressive with ample entertainment. 

Ron Paul’s aversion to anything gay has landed him in hot water, even with his college age supporters. As though that wasn’t enough, newsletters from decades ago have exposed the racist side of Representative Paul.  Paul’s history has plenty of additional entertaining facts: He ran as a Libertarian. He is anti-war. He was banned from Republican debates during the last presidential primary season.

And then there is the Newt: he wants to be the leader of the free world, but can’t even figure out how to get on the ballot in the state in which he votes. Newt’s ego is so big that he blames the “failed system” in Virginia for his lack of organization. When his entire campaign team resigned, the Newt said that he was so special he could get elected without a traditional campaign team. He even went so far as to say that he was destined to be president.

I don’t pretend to understand how Republicans think, but it is increasingly becoming apparent that Romney will be the GOP candidate, even though most of the circus has revolved around the concept of Anybody-But-Romney. My personal favorite Romney story during this run-up to the Iowa caucuses was when “I’m not a witch” Christine O’Donnell threw her support to Romney, then immediately damaged his credibility by saying that he hadn’t changed his mind since the last time he changed his mind. Priceless.

As a dyed in the wool Democrat, I’m equally at a loss to understand how independents think. Understanding independents is the key to winning elections in 2012, as they are the fastest growing voter group. Right here in Mesa County there are more independents than there are Republicans and there are more Republicans than there are Democrats. My theory has been that if one is over 50 and an independent it is because they are a disenchanted Republican, concerned because the party is too centrist. If one is under 30 and an independent, it is because they just don’t like labels of any kind.

Obama will in all probability win reelection. His approval numbers went up when he won the recent battle over extending unemployment benefits and a payroll tax holiday. They also went up after he got Bin Laden. Both of those fights will play prominently in his reelection bid. And he has the advantage of being a Democrat.

USA today recently reported on a trend that shows independent voters growing at the expense of both parties—more than 2.5 million people have left the two major parties. Despite the increases in independent voters nationally, there are still more registered Democrats who will be stepping into the voting booth. According to the same article, “Registered Democrats still dominate the political playing field with more than 42 million voters, compared to 30 million Republicans and 24 million independents.” In Colorado Democrats have lost the most and independents have gained the most.

Homework

Denver Post Story About Iowa Caucus

GOP Convention 2012

USA Today Story About Voter Registration

A mentor of mine in the banking industry used to advise me to listen both to what is said and what is not said. Applying that philosophy to the Robert Gibbs interview on Meet the Press today reveals some interesting possibilities.

Gibbs was asked if the Obama campaign was afraid of a Bachmann campaign, as Bachmann opined in a recent speech. Gibbs replied with a description of all the tall tales being told by Rick Perry. What wasn’t said? By not even using Bachmann’s name in the reply, Gibbs told you that Obama has no fear of Bachmann, but he is concerned about Rick Perry. If you listen carefully to the rest of the interview you will see that Gibbs, who is on the show to deliver Obama’s message, told you who Obama is building a case against—Perry and Romney.

On the same show, Governor Mitch Daniels was asked if he would work to get any of the current candidates elected. His reply was that he would work for the eventual nominee. What wasn’t said? Daniels is hoping that someone else will enter the race, and he will gladly work for that unknown candidate. Later in the interview, Mitch Daniels didn’t say that Paul Ryan should run, but it is clear that Daniels was sending a message to Ryan—we’re behind you, get in the race.

In political training camps this is called the Pivot. When asked a question, candidates are told to stay on message and say what they came to say. I’m a horrible candidate. When asked a question I try to answer the question to the best of my ability. You’ve heard me say that Bachmann is a better candidate than I am because she stays on message. That doesn’t mean that I believe she’d be a better President, just that she follows the rules of a good campaign.

Quite a few people have asked me recently if I am considering another run for office. I keep saying no. But I’ll tell you that it won’t sit well with me if not one Democrat is willing to stand up to run for the two open county commissioner seats or the two Colorado House seats in 2012. Is it possible to be a bad candidate in four races at once?

Homework

The Hill Story About Bachmann's Claim

Staying on Message Advice for the Job Seeker

President Obama ran on the idea of hope for the future. When he was elected, the future looked so bright that we all thought we’d have to wear shades. Now to see a bright future we need the proverbial rose colored glasses.

There’s been a lot of grumbling about Obama in the liberal blogosphere for quite some time now. I’ve refrained from the same kind of bashing because I know that he is better than the alternative would have been. Although can you imagine how distracted from the current debt crisis we would be if Palin were V.P.? Actually, not even I can go there—in all likelihood a Republican in the White House would have meant an automatic debt increase, just like it has been increased 70 times during my lifetime.

This time the GOP is playing with fire. For the first time since credit ratings were invented (even before the market crash of 1929), the safest credit in the world could be reduced by at least one rating agency to the lowest possible rating. We have Michelle Bachmann opining that it is no big deal; the government will still pay its interest. The boys on Wall Street, who have a pretty good idea what will happen if the U.S. loses its Aaa rating, have got to be wondering about the monster they have created with their donations to GOP candidates and conservative think tanks and PACs and 527s. I’d say let them suffer, but we will all be suffering along with them, and I’m no martyr.

What finally got my dander up is a report that Obama is not going to appoint Elizabeth Warren to head up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Elizabeth Warren wrote the book. She is so popular that she even had a rap song written about her. But, in keeping with the GOP theme that if Obama wants it, it must be stopped, the GOP threatened to block her nomination. So Obama caved and decided to nominate someone who works for her. The good news is that the guy he’s appointing, Richard Cordray, is famous for investigating mortgage foreclosure practices. The bad news is that the GOP has already declared that they will block his nomination.

See, the GOP doesn’t want anything that Obama wants. They don’t want to upset the money bags on Wall Street again. They don’t want no stinking regulations that might help ordinary Americans get a voice about the financial products they use.

Homework

Timbuk 3 The Future's So Bright

Blogosphere Bashing in 2008

Warren Rap Song

Warren Bypassed

Just days before evangelical Christians are predicting the Rapture; Barack Obama made a speech challenging America’s unending, unqualified support for Israel. That does sound like the end of the world. However, if you are expecting to the remains of raptured Christians along the streets of Grand Junction on Sunday, know that an ornery friend of mine suggested that it would be fun to drop pools of old clothing around, and then videotape onlookers reactions.

For a long time I’ve been questioning the continuing military aid to Israel. Sure, it is the only true democracy in the Middle East, and they have reason to be concerned for their national security. But, their leaders have been both corrupt and hot headed for quite some time. Some of the criticism they get is well deserved. In defiance of international law, they keep building new settlements in territory that was Palestinian.

And some of the support they get is silly. Those same fundamentalists that are predicting the end of the world on Saturday, have been supporting Israel because they believed upheaval in the Middle East would hasten the day of the rapture, when they are called to Heaven and the rest of us sinners will be left filming their left-overs on the streets of our communities.

Sadly, come Monday, we will still be living in a world where Israeli citizens live in fear of suicide terrorists, and Palestinians have no place to live in peace and dignity. And Benjamin Netanyahu will still be pissed at Barack Obama. For the first time in America’s history, an Israeli Prime Minister was told to grow up, and stop stalling the peace process. And he was told that the day before he was scheduled to meet with Obama in the Oval Office.

I’d give anything to be in the Oval Office during that conversation today. I’m sure the agenda was informed by conversations with the King of Jordan just the other day.

Homework

Full Text of Obama Speech on Middle East and North Africa

Obama and King of Jordan Talk

Obama and Netanyahu to Meet Friday

Top 10 Recipients of US Foreign Aid

Corrupt Israeli

Rapture Parties

Remember when I wondered what could unite Americans the way that a wedding united Brits? For less than 24 hours the news of the killing of Osama Bin Laden did that. But already the partisan sniping has begun. Believe it or not, instead of continuing in celebratory harmony, we are already playing the claim game. Republicans want to give all credit to Bush policies. Democrats think that the guy who actually gave the order to go in and kill Bin Laden should get the credit, especially after Bush said that he didn’t spend much time thinking about Bin Laden.

It is being reported that Sister Sarah’s presidential aspirations will never be realized because she failed to include Obama and the intelligence community in her tweets. A man in Abbottabad tweeted the incident as it was happening. Twitter is now credited with organizing revolutions and real time reporting of major world events. We used to say the pen is mightier than the sword; maybe we should be saying a tweet is the mightiest of all.

Our world has irretrievably changed because of the technology that was invented right here in the U.S.A. We don’t have to wait until the 5:00 news to find out what is happening in our world. We only need to look at a computer screen, or at our smart phone.

Now think about this: the Navy Seals that spent less than an hour on the ground in Abbottabad did two remarkable things. They killed America’s number one enemy, and reported it to the White House with the coded phrase, “Geronimo, EKIA,” at the moment it happened. Then they went around the compound and retrieved every computer, every jump ring, every smart phone they could find.

At an undisclosed location in Afghanistan, this treasure trove of enemy data is being analyzed. If you are an ally of Bin Laden, be afraid, be very afraid. You are next on the list, and we probably have your photograph. Sister Sarah, you missed the point when you didn’t include the intelligence arm of the U.S. Government in your congratulations. That may be the biggest player in this whole story.

Homework

Raid Snags Bin Laden's Computers

GOP Wake Up Call

One of my ex-husband’s friends once told him that I would be really cool if I weren’t always so serious. It is a personality flaw of mine that I don’t do well with small talk, and would rather solve the problems of the world than to just sit down and have some fun. So, it is not without some sympathy that I note that Donald Trump seriously lacks a sense of humor.

Last night was the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. The event is an excuse to dress up and have some fun, usually at the expense of the President. The reporters who sit in the White House, asking questions of the administration during daily press briefings, are invited to a dinner and asked to bring a few guests. They bring people like Joan Rivers and Donald Trump—not that the two of them are anything alike! The room is filled with reporters, politicians of every color and persuasion, and members of entertainment industry, including the people at Fox News.

It is probably because of my personal personality flaw that I almost religiously watch this event. The after dinner speakers are first the President, and then an actual comedian. The expectation is that both will deliver a lot of funny lines. I’ve seen presidents bomb and I’ve seen them knock it out of the park. Obama knocked it out of the park last night. Much of his presentation was poking fun at the birthers and the field of GOP candidates for 2012. Trump was in the room, but not enjoying himself. I don’t think I saw him crack a smile even once. Of course, the camera wasn’t’ always on him…

Homework:

They're Even Talking About It in Ireland

Video of Comedian