The corporate US House of Lords, aka Senate, passed Big Agra's "Food Safety and Modernization Act" which aims to further impede the natural agriculture resurgence while shielding the real sources of food contamination, factory animal farms. Count BOTH Colorado Dems among the corrupt legislators who I guess pretend they don't know better. Yes, Senator Mark Udall and newly entrenched incumbent Michael Bennet. Here's the full list of DP-led Monsanto/ADM shills, courtesy of Natural News. Akaka (D-HI) Alexander (R-TN) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Brown (R-MA) Burr (R-NC) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Coons (D-DE) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Enzi (R-WY) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA) Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hagan (D-NC) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Johanns (R-NE) Johnson (D-SD) Kerry (D-MA) Kirk (R-IL) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) LeMieux (R-FL) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Lugar (R-IN) Manchin (D-WV) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD) Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (D-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (D-VA) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR)
Tag: Senate
Meanwhile, at the D.C. Pig-Ranch….
The Pentagoons, meanwhile back in DC, are expecting another 37 BILLION dollars to fall into their pockets. Telling the Senate House, it got kicked back to the House after modifications by the Senate, that not giving them more of their Purina PIG Chow would be treason and the betrayal of “the Troops” about whom the Pentagon and other warmongers care Not One Damned Bit in the first, second, third and all the way to the Last place. The Senate House vote is expected by this afternoon, and it’s already almost noon in Washing Tundy Sea. Will the Senate do the patriotic thing, for the first time in like, forever? Or will they do what the War Industry Lobbyists pay them to do and fork over more bread? My prediction is that the Manufacturers of guns, bullets, grenades, rockets, trench-knives, uniforms, shrouds, coffins and Funerary Flags are going to be treating their Tame SenatorsRepresentatives to steak and lobster dinners tonight. Meanwhile the TeaBags are out screaming about proposed increases in Health Care and more oversight of the Banking and Investment "industries", neither of which has actually taken place yet. But not one word against the War. Hardly surprising, as Silly Sarah had made it plain during the last election that she feels God Himself is leading the "war on terror". Other TeaBag leaders agree, meanwhile providing cover with their Childish Street Tantrums for "supplemental" bills such as the one the House is about to pass. Our very own Tame Pigs like Douglas Lamborn already passed a "supplement" that was $4 billion more than the new figure, 33 Gigabux as compared to the earlier 37. "Fiscal Conservatives" my left ass cheek.
War Funding in trouble? I would hope so, but I don’t think so…
The AP report is that War Funding increases were passed by the House, that's a kind of Dog Bites Man story that's never changed in my lifetime. Is it a call from the Propaganda Ministry to have "concerned patriots" flood their senators with requests to "get behind the troops" once more? It's not bloody likely that anybody in elected office will ever stand up to that baseless emotional plea that not funding for-profit private corporate wars with public money somehow puts "The Troops, Holy and Noble" in more harms way than actually starting such wars in the first place would. The same loudmouth Hawks, especially those of the ChickenHawk species, who push funding for expanded war every Election Cycle and every Congressional Session are either curiously silent on the subject of compensating the families of the soldier-slaves when they're destroyed either partially or completely in the course of giving their lives In Defense Of Freedo Conquering Lands and People which and whom do not actually belong under our jurisdiction.... or actively cutting any such compensation. Far less holding the Corporations that make the money from the bloodshed ever being held responsible for their crimes or even financially responsible for paying the bills on the Wars that profit them, and only them, in the way of Taxes. They even get extra tax incentives to take part in the War Effort. How sick is that? It would be refreshing to see, more often that is, a Senator or Representative actually stand up in Congress even in committee and demand that any increase in War Funding should be done by a raise in income tax, Specifically On Money, including capital gains, gotten from ANY so-called "defense" contract but, that's always done by somebody on the "far left" who isn't going to get any support from the political establishment, and the WarMonger propaganda industry will immediately call out their trusted Voter Shock Troops to make a loud noise about Treasonous! non-support for "The Brave Troops". Do these same Fox News inspired Morons ever get out in the street and demonstrate against sending Their Own Families and Friends off to kill, die or become crippled or D) All Of The Above for the profit of Rich People who buy their way out of every such war? Slave-soldiers, break your chains! Break the chain of your sons and now, daughters, for generations to come, being gulled into "serving the country" and Other LIES the recruiters tell them. For God's sake, there are still people telling their kids that their Great Great Great Great Grandpa "fought and died for States Rights" and that they need to carry on the Family Tradition, but when the "tradition" is one of abject servitude and absolute unquestioning obedience to people who Tell You that they have the authority to order you around like some kind of slave... they're not being recruited to fight for Freedom in any form. They're being recruited to fight for Corporate Slavery, and to make people in other countries
US Senate represents Insurance, Israel
Are you represented by a US senator? I doubt it. Today the Senate Finance Committee rejected Public Option amendments to the health care reform legislation; continued to vilify ACORN based on fraudulent accusations hyped the MSM; and thirty two senators signed a letter drafted by AIPAC, to urge Secretary of State Clinton to block further investigation of Israel for its crimes in Gaza based on the findings of the Goldstone Report. Abolish the Senate! Does America have any use for a House of Lords? Today five Democrats joined the ten Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee to reject a PUBLIC OPTION. The senators voting no were: Max Baucus (D-MT), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Thomas Carper (D-DE), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Charles Grassley (R-IA), John Ensign (R-NV), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Mike Enzi (R-WY), John Cornyn (R-TX) Senator Rockerfeller promoted his public option saying that "the public option is on the march." There should be more pitchforks than that on the march. Who are these rich bastards who lord over our representatives in Congress? It's a House of Lords, representing America's moneyed interests, against the needs of the common people. Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga) collected signatures last week to urge the GAO to investigate ACORN. I mention this letter because of similar source of today's letter. Isakson and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) circulated the letter to block the UN from taking action against Israel. The other senators, among them 16 Democrats, are: Charles Schumer (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Carl Levin (D-MI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), David Vitter (D-ND), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Mark Begich (D-AK), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dan Inouye(D-HI), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), James Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jim DeMint (R-SC), John Ensign (R-NV), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John McCain (R-AZ), John Thune (R-SD), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Do these people represent the American People? Here is their letter sent on behalf of Israel: Dear Madam Secretary, We appreciate the State Department publicly raising significant concerns about the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission led by Justice Richard Goldstone. We believe it is critical that the U.S. continue to work very hard to block any punitive actions against Israel that this report mentions, whether at the Security Council or other U.N. bodies. The loss of innocent lives is unfortunate wherever it occurs – in Israel or in Gaza. But this biased report ignores many of the key facts, and this should be recognized by the international community. We commend the State Department statements criticizing the one-sided mandate directing the Goldstone report and highlighting the real causes of the war between Israel and Hamas. In particular, we are gratified that the Department has very serious concerns about the
Al Franken in the house bada boom
Al Franken has no sooner reached Washington, that he's fulfilling his comedic promise, no small thing. At the Judge Sotomayor confirmation hearing, Franken framed his parting question thus: he too was a Perry Mason fan, could Judge Sotomayor name the lone case which the television barrister famously lost? Giggles all around. Surprising no one, Ms. Sotomayor was stumped. She could not name the case or the episode, though she'd claimed Perry Mason as an early inspiration for her practice of law. Probably to step on Senator Franken's cheap stunt, Chairman Patrick Leahy threw the question back at Franken: he'll bite, what was the famous lost case? "I don't know either" said Franken, "that's why I asked." Bada Boom. If Franken had looked it up on Wikipedia already, he wasn't about to pretend to know more than a Supreme Court candidate. And if the joke got a laugh, there's nothing gained by explaining it. What Franken really drew out of his adversary was a concession to the shallowness of the hearing's veneer. First, because a teevee legal case was as relevant as the other scattershot issues into which Sonia Sotomayor's detractors were trying to mire her. And second, because all the pretense of getting-to-know-you curiosity masked nothing more than trick questions. Al Franken's colleague expected him to know the answer because legislators only asked questions to which they knew what they wanted Sotomayor to say. Franken played Mr. Smith Goes to Washington brilliantly, he'd asked an honest question. And he wasn't through. When the chairman's microphone lost its power, Franken proclaimed that his still worked, and did Senator Leahy want to switch places?
Rod Blagojevich a Great American Hero
Deposed Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich earns my nomination for great American hero. What hyperbolic laurels would fit a loudmouth buffoon? Be fair. Blagojevich brought the media spotlight to an overlooked exploit of American political cronyism: a governor's solitary prerogative to appoint national legislators. Alright, Blago didn't mean to. But if the little Dutch boy had stuck his Rod Blagojevich into the dike, instead of his finger, would the little pervert be any less a hero? Had you wondered how so many otherwise quite obviously unelectable, pasty white men of entitled bearing, each of them visibly the creepiest of crooks, become unassailable political incumbents? They sneak into office aided by other white cronies. And the governor's appointment is the fast track. Blagojevich wanted his share in the payola, but maybe other governors have simply been more discrete. A look at just the appointments made after the formation of Barack Obama's cabinet, turns up odors of the most dubious of machinations. In this case, those chosen were Democrats who look more like Republicans, and certainly nothing like the kind of politician which the mostly progressive American voter would have supported in the last election. Should legislative seats be appointed by a governor? Someone has to do it I suppose. A governor is elected after all. Maybe in this instance he's representing his constituents in choosing a senator for them. But a recent Obama cabinet appointment episode calls that justification into question. When Obama picked Republican Senator Judd Gregg for Commerce Secretary, a deal was struck whereby the senator would only consent to the appointment if the senator's state governor agreed to allow a Republican replacement. Who then, can be said to have made the choice of that representative? Whether it's a bribe paid to a governor, fundraising shenanigans, or a favor offered by the president, it's still crooked.
The league of Southern Gentlemen cons
DC- Look at the old ambulance chasers! Senator Ted Kennedy was EMT'd out of the inaugural luncheon, seen off by concerned friends Senators Kerry, Dodd and Hatch. Wait a minute -- Senator Orrin MoFo Hatch?! Has the DC mutual admiration society no standard? It may be that having to address your debate opponent as "the right honorable so-and-so from such-and-such" keeps disagreements from devolving into fist fights. On the campaign trail, this convivial artifice translates into referring to your rival as "my good friend." What does it mean, all these lawmakers, being best buds? Do they disagree on matters of principle, or is it a tomato - tomahto charade? Maybe the fundamental values of these civic minded gentlemen millionaires aren't so far off. If you ascribe to the notion that left battles right for the opportunity to hold the government accountable to its subjects, you already know that the difference between liberals and conservatives is more than academic. It's not about the Federalist Papers any more. In DC today, you're either an idealist, or you're a crook. We can give the Democrats their unfettered majority chance to show of what political mettle they are made. But eight years of Bush and his compliant Congress have shown the Republicans to be crooks. Crooks are a scourge of human nature, fair enough. But do you mean to count a one among your best friends? If Ted Kennedy were the champion he pretends, or likewise were Kerry or Dodd, they'd have kicked Orrin Hatch to the curb like the morally unambiguous cretin he is. If anyone has thwarted a Democrat's legacy, it's the earache-inducing reprobate Senator from Utah.
Is Roland Burris a GOP Senate ringer?
Is there more to senator-aspirant Roland Burris being turned away in DC, than political theater? Illinois governor Blagojevich was caught asking for payola to decide the appointment. Did he get the money? Without asking, the DC Dems are acting like the unassuming Mr. Burris is the pay-to-play golden ticket holder. I suspect the undistinguishing features which allay our suspicions about the septuagenarian may be the very traits which interest his sponsors. In boxing, it's called a ringer. While some Democrats are content to ask the would-be junior senator if he'd consent to be a modest placeholder until the 2010 election, I think that's exactly what he's intended to be, but not for the Dems. Burris is a placeholder for the GOP. The uncharismatic Burris, regular-loser of elections, is meant to remove any incumbent advantage the Democrats would hope to cultivate in the next two years. Burris would waste that opportunity, then face a Republican challenger in the next election and lose. Who did you think was offering big bucks for the senate seat? Was someone going to pay multi-millions to put Jesse Jackson in Washington? If the Dems had dibs on the party affiliation of Barack Obama's old office anyway, why was Blagojevich expecting that an ally would pay millions to install one particular Democrat over another? Who would have been offering the millions, except bidders dismayed at Blagojevich's nonpartisan disloyalty. Maybe the Democratic Party's insufficient coffers, and the projected Republican gained foothold, is what drew colleagues to unleash investigators to nail the turncoat sumbitch politician. Though no one's asking such questions, Burris cuts short the proforma inquiries, about his links to the governor's alleged graft, with mock surprise that his personal record might invite suspicion. Except, what is Burris's public record but a trail of failed elections? He has no accomplishments other than the elections in which he played straw man or spoiler and he lost every one. Perhaps he has always been an innocent pawn. It would seem pretty damn racist to suggest the diminutive black man has never been accomplice to the scheme, even now. No one dares be seen critical of Burris, who would be the only African American in the Senate. And the media is not about to spoil the GOP fix. Burris is in, and apparently it's all legal. And inevitable. The best legal opinions the media want to parade before us explain that because the governor is still in office, his appointment of Burris is legitimate. Even though the crime is the very act which installed Burris. Does that make sense to you? A bank robber gets to keep the bank's money until he's faced a jury of his peers? A court order could secure the monies for the bank, lest the accused gamble it all in Vegas, or score big, and return with a better legal team. An injunction could prevent Blagojevich and partners from enjoying the fruits of their crime, until the mess is untangled. But the corporate media and the GOP have put the
Stop the Senate of would-be thieves!
Call your Band of Thieving Senators now to tell them you don't want to give $700 Billion --more honestly likely to be $5 Trillion-- to the robber bankers of Wall Street! Telephone Colorado Senators Ken Salazar at 202.224.5852 and Wayne Allard at 202.224.5941 NOW. Why not call OBAMA too! (phone: 202-224-2854) Tell them you want them to consult with at least ONE economist of repute! At least one analyst not on the corporate payroll. As he promised yesterday, Michael Moore suggests a 10 PART PLAN, only IF pressure can be brought to bear right now to stop the Senate bill. Friends, The richest 400 Americans -- that's right, just four hundred people -- own MORE than the bottom 150 million Americans combined. 400 rich Americans have got more stashed away than half the entire country! Their combined net worth is $1.6 trillion. During the eight years of the Bush Administration, their wealth has increased by nearly $700 billion -- the same amount that they are now demanding we give to them for the "bailout." Why don't they just spend the money they made under Bush to bail themselves out? They'd still have nearly a trillion dollars left over to spread amongst themselves! Of course, they are not going to do that -- at least not voluntarily. George W. Bush was handed a $127 billion surplus when Bill Clinton left office. Because that money was OUR money and not his, he did what the rich prefer to do -- spend it and never look back. Now we have a $9.5 trillion debt. Why on earth would we even think of giving these robber barons any more of our money? I would like to propose my own bailout plan. My suggestions, listed below, are predicated on the singular and simple belief that the rich must pull themselves up by their own platinum bootstraps. Sorry, fellows, but you drilled it into our heads one too many times: There... is... no... free... lunch. And thank you for encouraging us to hate people on welfare! So, there will be no handouts from us to you. The Senate, tonight, is going to try to rush their version of a "bailout" bill to a vote. They must be stopped. We did it on Monday with the House, and we can do it again today with the Senate. It is clear, though, that we cannot simply keep protesting without proposing exactly what it is we think Congress should do. So, after consulting with a number of people smarter than Phil Gramm, here is my proposal, now known as "Mike's Rescue Plan." It has 10 simple, straightforward points. They are: 1. APPOINT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO CRIMINALLY INDICT ANYONE ON WALL STREET WHO KNOWINGLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COLLAPSE. Before any new money is expended, Congress must commit, by resolution, to criminally prosecute anyone who had anything to do with the attempted sacking of our economy. This means that anyone who committed insider trading, securities fraud or any action that helped bring about this collapse
What kind of idiot do they take you for?
In the hands of Republicans, the filibuster seems to be a silver bullet. They used it today without firing a shot. The Democratic majority wanted to fashion some legislation, but lacked the 60 votes to stop a filibuster. As a result, no go. It now takes 60% of the Senate to pass a bill, where it used to take the Republicans only 51%. What's going on here? That's a question the media won't ask. Or answer. Someone must have polled the American public and discovered that the term filibuster is misunderstood, and can thus mean whatever the media needs it to be. In the hands of Democrats, to filibuster is to impose partisan gridlock upon conservatives trying to help our blessed nation. How dare the Dems even threaten such divisive stubbornness? As a Republican tool, the filibuster is a trump card, a fait accomplit. They needn't even roll out the overnight cots for round the clock monopolizing of the microphone. Saying you'll filibuster is threat enough to make the Dems back down. Are civics no longer taught in high school? I remember a filibuster was a tool opponents of a bill could use to force a little reciprocity from the majority party sponsors. A filibuster meant holding the floor of the Senate hostage for as long as you and your colleagues could hold out. Hopefully provoking the sponsors of the bill to consider some concessions in the phrasing. To do a filibuster you had to be prepared for a marathon speaking session, a continuous tag team of allies holding forth on the debate until somebody dropped. It was politically risky to be seen shutting down DC just to keep your rivals from having their way. And so filibusters were always rare. Back when the Republicans dominated Congress, filibusters were like hurricanes in Hartford, Hereford, and Hampshire, they hardly happened. The media cautioned that the political fallout would be too great for the Democrats if they should try so vaingloriously to oppose the mandate of the electorate, self-evident by the nature of the GOP having the 51% majority. What's become of the media's admonitions now? Where are their words of caution to the Republican minority? What even has become of their definition of filibuster? Now to filibuster is to fire a shot across the bow, to feign showing your fangs to make your opponents back down. You don't have to do it, you don't have to take the heat for doing it. If the "majority" doesn't have the margin to stop it, it's as good as done. And the Democrats dutifully follow the choreographed capitulations and the media dutifully doesn't question the illogic. If my naval analogy was appropriate, let me add that the shot across the bow was not delivered by a ship of inferior firepower, it always came from the superior ship as a warning that it had come within range and would decimate its target if the lesser rated craft did not immediately heave to.