Can you really trust anything out of this admin? Kristoff today, Kristoff of all people shoots at the admin about the lack of information and/or misinformation taught to our children about contraceptives. They lie to everone, now our kids. Just abstain, and it will go away. How amazingly similar to all programs proposed by GWB, just abstain and it will go away. Global warming, the Iraq conflict, Faith Based Initiatives, AIDS programs in Africa, etc. Talked about up front, but run dry when it counts.

We cannot afford an admin that cannot adjust to science, true science, not the concocted sh** used to defend the indefensible. It is indefensible to lie to our children about contraceptives. It is indefensible to lie about Social Sec. It is indefensible to lie about WMD's. It is indefensible to lie about mercury levels, the Clean Air Act, and the need to chop down Redwoods, to save the forests. It is indefensible to lie/ spread misinformation about Syria-- so far it seems they are not involved.

Congratulations America, you now have a indefensible president.

Irony, indeed. Remind me again, just what EXACTLY is the President's plan for Social Security? So far, he has said he won't say.

Charles

BushSpeak:
reality = whatever George wants

It's astonishing to me that there are so many people who have signed on to this ideology that takes Coolidge's famous "the business of America is business" to such breathtaking heights/depths. The only thing these people care about is further enriching the rich.

How do you find enough people to keep a movement like this going? Apparently, the answer is "lie to a bunch of Christians about your commitment to theocracy, and count on your opponents to keep supporting gun control."

Well, Matt, saturating the radio spectrum with right-wing nutjobs who hate liberals helps.

Have a journalism corps completely captured and morph into rank propaganda helps.

Having an American populace turn into the most mentally lazy dumbasses on the planet helps.

Having our elected reps forsake their duty and cower before the GOp helps.

Having elections rigged, stolen, or suppressed helps.

I'm in LA and miserable about it. This is the place that elected Arnie--we barfed on that asshole in Norcal. They steal our water and our democracy, and I miss my daughter horribly.

What can I say? I'm not going anywhere and I'll do what I can. Some asshole in the Federal government took offense at little old me and I've been put on an ultra-security watch list--it takes me a long time to fly now--even before they strip me of my rights for security that doesn't work.

This country is a disgrace. I'm still never going anywhere, and no one will ever shut me up.

And it works like a charm, Matt.

The second part of that answer is to co-opt the opposition by means of corruption. Get everybody dependent on corporate "donations" and then give the people a raised "fuck off" finger.

And speaking of opposition parties, don't you wish we had one? I'm surprised and encouraged that Harry Reid has come out swinging. He's already done more for the Democratic Party in a few weeks than that useless twig Tom Daschle did the whole time he was (suppposedly) "leading" the charge. That -- plus the grassroots success in shoving Howard Dean to the front of the line -- bodes well for reconstructing the party into one that is an effective opposition. And, of course, the courageous Barbara Boxer is more than deserving of high praise.

Speaking of an opposition party, Susan at Suburban Guerilla, is reporting Martin Frost has signed up with FOX News. Two steps forward. One step back. And, to think, people actually were entertaining the notion of the pasty faux-Dem Frost being DNC Chair. How disgusting is *that*.

It's interesting to read what differing politicians say about Social Security. But the clean-up hitter is at the plate right now, Alan Greenspan. He has respect from both sides of the aisle, so his comments on Social Security reform are very important.

Aaran Task at realmoney.com is tracking Greenspan's Q&A session:

First question is from Sen. Richard Shelby about the transition cost of Social Security reform; after a long discussion of the issues, Greenspan seems to give definitive but tentative support to persononal savings account.

Greenspan: "If we move to private accounts, which I approve of, we have to do it in cautious, gradual way. And recognize there is yet another problem: unlike all programs we deal, moving to a forced savings account typically does not materially effect net national savings - moves from govt to pvt account (marginal change in personal behavior.) If it doesn't effect national savings, it shouldn't effect supply/demand for funds, but we don't know how the markets will respond to that. All in all, I'm glad we're going to move slowly and test the waters, a good thing to do long run. Eventually pay-as-you-go system going to be difficult to manage, we'll need an altenative."

Just one more, from CBS Marketwatch.

U.S. lawmakers must address Social Security by 2008, and President Bush's general plan to introduce personal savings accounts into the system is a good idea, said Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Wednesday.

snip...

"But the demographics are inexorable, and call for action before the leading edge of baby boomer retirement becomes evident in 2008," Greenspan said.

The Baby Boom generation will begin retiring in 2008.

Under questioning by members of the Senate Banking Committee, Greenspan says he has "always supported moves" toward the creation of personal accounts to help make the Social Security system sustainable over the long-term.

Greenspan star has been more than a little tarnished by his enthusiastic support of Bush's tax cuts.

So much for that "cautious optimism" he was famous for in the days of peace and prosperity.

Greenspan blew it with too many rate hikes in 1999-2000, that caused the stock crash. But to his credit, the 2001 recession was one of the shortest and mildest on record. And low interest rates have helped the majority of Americans buy homes and increase their networth.

Here's Greenspan's prepared remarks if you want to see all of his comments.

Muck,
I don't think Greenspan is for borrowing $2 trillion over 10 yrs to pay for the transition costs. He has expressed a lot of concern over the current deficits. I think private accounts are a great idea if only we had the money to do it.

All in all, I'm glad we're going to move slowly and test the waters, a good thing to do long run. Eventually pay-as-you-go system going to be difficult to manage, we'll need an altenative.

Let's not do anything reasonable, like leave it alone. Let's do something that costs $2 trillion dollars, most of it going to financial type fucks.

Better yet, lets ask Bob Ball, who went to work for Social Security in 1939 and was the Commissioner of SS for both democratic and republi-con administrations.

Bob Ball...calculates that even a small increase in the earnings cap could almost completely eliminate the long-term shortfall. If we were to eliminate the cap entirely and apply it to all income, not just wages, we would be able to cut the tax rate for both employers and employees while securing the system permantently.

And let's place the current non-crisis in a non-crisis perspective:

Today, upper-income workers pay no tax on earnings above $88,000. As income distribution has become more unequal, a larger share of the income earned by the wealthiest has become exempt. And, of course, those earners are the same folks who benefited most from the tax cuts proposed by President Bush and enacted by Congress.

To make matters even more unfair, those same high-income households earned the lion's share of investment income and capital gains...

But this stuff is all much more reasonable than Muck geting his $200 to put in a low yielding account so that he can take a 28% cut in his benefit.

Hey Muck. You have yet to address the $1 trillion in corporate welfare this year. RMW slow on getting the talking points to you?

And low interest rates have helped the majority of Americans buy homes and increase their networth.

You're like Old Faithful, except you spew crap on a regular basis. Substiture "increase their net worth" with "creating the largest private debt ever" and "paid for by the Asians" and you'll have made an accurate statement.

Some asshole in the Federal government took offense at little old me and I've been put on an ultra-security watch list--it takes me a long time to fly now--even before they strip me of my rights for security that doesn't work.

Please tell me you're engaging in a little hyperbole, paradox. If this is true, then democracy as we know it is truly dead.

Well, I'm just delighted that recession is over.

Too bad the only job I can get is (a.) clerical temping; (b.) flipping a goddamn hamburger or (c.) mowing yards. Oh well, so what if it's not like that high paying job I had through the last seven years of the Clinton Administration.

I don't give a rat's ass what the talking heads or other RNC tools say because where I live, the recession rages on. On the plus side, "Subway" is hiring like crazy!

Greenspan is for "pay as you go" budget, but Congress has been ignoring him.

But with regards to private accounts, Greenspan was pretty clear today that he's for them.

There's another news blurb out there about John Snow working on the details of the private accounts this week. Check it out.

Speaking of an opposition party, Susan at Suburban Guerilla, is reporting Martin Frost has signed up with FOX News
Sticks and stones Will show you what has really happened to our corporate media. Why this nation is slowly becoming a Nation of sheep” Mind control is that if something is repeated enough it will become truth. Isn’t it what happened in Germany’s pre-WWII? Slowl take control.
Neocons started theirs in the 90’s with congress. The Monika Lewinsky BJ was constantly on TV for months resulted in impeachment. That attracted the religious masses going to the right. The decade before the Reagan’s Iran-Contra affair (1983-1988) was ignore because Reagan said I’m sorry? A BJ was worst that meddling in other countries that results of the killing of thousands innocent. In the 1980's, in both Nicaragua and El Salvador, the U.S. introduced a new way for exporting U.S.-style democracy
Sound familiar?

I'm in LA and miserable about it. This is the place that elected Arnie--we barfed on that asshole in Norcal. They steal our water and our democracy, and I miss my daughter horribly.

Yo paradox -- if you hadn't noticed, all "your" water comes from Central and Northern California and Oregon, stolen straight from the fishes. You all down in La-la land better get cooking on some desalination plants -- someday this "asshole in Norcal" might cut you guys off.

Sacramento,

I think you misunderstand what paradox was saying.

I believe he was "in" LA. Not "from" LA. And that LA steals the water from the north. He was actually making the same point as you.

:)

Oops, thanks. In that case, paradox: word. :)

Though the part about the water being stolen from fishes, Oregon and true-Northern Cali (Redding and north) still stands. Even in Sacramento, plenty of the water comes from those sources.

Sacramento hates LA, Redding hates Sacramento, and Oregonians just hate everyone in California. There's a sign on the OR-CA border as you cross into OR that says something like "Welcome to Oregon, now go home!"

"Welcome to Oregon, now go home!"

If everyone that did see that sign did go home Oregon would be fucked.

The Oregon economy is no longer self-sustaining.

If no one from outside brought money there it would devolve back to the stone ages.

CA Democrats Party in Hawaii.

link

A mortgage company accused by hundreds of customers of fraudulent sales tactics financed a weekend at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu for the leader of the state Assembly and four other Democratic lawmakers. Officials of the lending company, Ameriquest, last weekend joined others from telecommunications giant SBC, nursing home operators and a liquor merchant at a Hawaiian fundraiser for the state Democratic Party, according to the office of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles).

Democratic Assembly members Hector De La Torre of South Gate, Lloyd Levine of Van Nuys and Cindy Montanez of San Fernando took the trip with Nuñez and Nava.

Who's got time to worry about the state of CA, when there's a party in Hawaii to go to?

The Oregon economy is no longer self-sustaining.

Agreed. We spend almost two years there looking for not-minimum-wage work, from 2002-2004, and it was not to be found for a couple of YUPs. (I finally found something back in Sacramento, where I grew up, so it was back to Cali for us.)

Half the people we knew there hailed from California within the last 10 years. The primary thing driving the Oregon economy is people taking the money they earned elsewhere and snapping up the real estate, driving prices so high that no locals can live there and providing an economy that creates only service jobs at near-minimum wage with no benefits. (See also: Aspen, CO. At least you can be a ski bum both places.)

I fear that if the Bu$hCo administration has its way, this will be the state of the nation. And everyone holding the service jobs will be so into the "I-got-mine, you-can't-have-any" mindset that Grover Norquist brainwashing, Measure 37s, and other general "my pocketbook, your womb" policies will be the only stuff that flies.

If Oregonians pass any more crazy laws like Measure 37, or even just keep Measure 37 and refuse to raise the issue of the T-word to get revenues, they will be the first state in the Union to lapse into anarchy due to a state government that is completely broke.

On the subject of Grover Norquist, if you want a laugh, or a chance to scream at the (net)radio, go get a stiff drink and listen to this:
Posted by sacramento at February 16, 2005 09:06 PM

I fear that if the Bu$hCo administration has its way, this will be the state of the nation. And everyone holding the service jobs will be so into the "I-got-mine, you-can't-have-any" mindset that Grover Norquist brainwashing, Measure 37s, and other general "my pocketbook, your womb" policies will be the only stuff that flies.

Sacramento you have the idea. As a teenager I first heard of the idea of 'snob appeal'. I didn't really understand the concept, my parents raised me to believe in the golden rule, until it became apparent to me that blue collar workers were supporting Reagan against their long term economic interest.

So far this decade has been the 80's on steroids: A self defined mass elete looking for someone to look down on. White collars look down on blue collars, blue collars look down on the unemployed and unemployed Americans look down on the 'towel heads.'