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TikTok Sues U.S. Government Over Trump Ban
4 years ago
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
CIA station chief in Algeria raped at least two Muslim women
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is looking into allegations the CIA station chief in Algeria raped at least two Muslim women after lacing their drinks with a drug, a State Department spokesman said on Wednesday.
A report by ABC News said the CIA officer, a convert to Islam, was sent back to the United States after the women came forward with the charges in September.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Women still only receive about 78 cents for every dollar that men get for doing equivalent jobs.
There were people who actually voted against this bill; see other post on the site. Were these people hatched from an egg, with no mother, sister, or wife who wouldn't fair well without this bill?
Pay Discrimination Bill Is Sent to Obama
The bill is a response to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that said a person must file a claim of discrimination within 180 days of a company's initial decision to pay a worker less than it pays another worker doing the same job. Under the bill, every new discriminatory paycheck would extend the statute of limitations for another 180 days.
The measure, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after receiving a congratulatory phone call from Obama, is ''a bold step to move away from that parsimonious interpretation'' of the Supreme Court.
The plaintiff in the case, Lilly Ledbetter, argued that she did not become aware of the pay discrepancy until near the end of her 19-year career at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Gadsden, Ala.
The Bush White House and Senate Republicans blocked the legislation in the last session of Congress, but Obama strongly supports it and the Democratic-controlled Congress moved it to the top of the agenda for the new session that opened this month.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
This guy (PBO) is serious. I really thought that most of what he said was campaign rhetoric, evidentially not. Checkout his new, first day, EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
January 21, 2009
The Presidential Records act is an incredible attack on what President Bush did with his signing of the Presidential Records act of November 2001. President Bush extended the time of his executive authority for Presidential Records. Also, he passed the authority to vice-Presidents and to the children of Presidents. In essence, President Bush passed his executive authority to Jenna and Barbara. No, that's unacceptable.
President Bush made it mandatory for all White House employees to sign an Ethics statement after the Republicans were plagued by Ethics issues. I recall it being around the 2006 elections when there was this push for morals and ethics in the White House. Yes, really. It struck me as odd because in the Army there is mandatory ethics training. I was one of the trainers, and if it's good enough for the US Army it should be good enough for the White House. So I'm glad to see that this White House is starting off right.
more:
Supreme Court Justice Roberts
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
ISRAEL: TROOPS OUT BY INAUGURATION
ISRAEL: TROOPS OUT BY INAUGURATION
- Israelis hope Gaza's civilians, who suffered heavily in the fighting that ended Sunday, will blame their militant rulers for provoking the Israeli assault with rocket attacks on southern Israel. Hamas, however, raced to capitalize on anger toward Israel and sought to show it remains unbowed and firmly in command of the Mediterranean coastal strip.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
So much for standards of behavior...
Thoughtful, yet elegant...wouldn't you say?
US Flag Code: “The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.”
Apparently, that particular vendor didn't get the word.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
NYTimes - Latvia Is Shaken by Riots Over Its Weak Economy
Violent protests over political grievances and mounting economic woes shook the Latvian capital, Riga, late Tuesday, leaving around 25 people injured and leading to 106 arrests.
[snip]
For years, Latvia boasted of double-digit economic growth rates, but it has been shaken by the global economic downturn. Its central bank has spent a fifth of its reserves to guard against a steep devaluation of its currency, the lat, and experts expect a 5 percent contraction of the country’s gross domestic product in 2009. Salaries are expected to fall substantially, and unemployment is expected to rise.
[snip]
In Bulgaria on Wednesday, separate riots broke out in the capital, Sofia, after more than 2,000 people — including students, farmers and environmental activists — demonstrated in front of Parliament over economic conditions, Reuters reported.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
An Investigation of Allegations of Politicized Hiring and Other Improper Personnel Actions in the Civil Rights Division
Let's remember, we are a nation of laws. This issue is something I started paying attention to years ago when I heard that the DOJ's Civ Rights Division would not prosecute any cases that were not religious or voting issues in nature. What? A Civ Rights Div that doesn't prosecute sexism, pay discrimination, prejudice, discrimination, or racism? That's new. - CMP
A former Justice Department official entrusted with enforcing civil rights laws refused to hire lawyers that he labeled as "commies" and transferred another attorney for allegedly writing in "ebonics" and benefiting from "an affirmative action thing," according to an investigation released yesterday by internal watchdogs.
[snip]
Over three years in which he controlled employment decisions, Schlozman favored young conservatives for entry-level jobs, transferred what he called "right-thinking Americans" into top assignments and instructed colleagues that "adherents of Mao's little red book need not apply," according to e-mail messages cited in the report. Authorities analyzed 112 career hires during Schlozman's tenure and determined that "virtually all" of the lawyers whose political affiliations were known at the time had ties to Republicans or conservative legal groups.
Monday, January 12, 2009
the President firing off Heat Rounds -part 2
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The President firing off Heat Rounds -part 1
The President firing off Heat rounds.
- Congratulations, I appreciate the angry Pres..
- The Pres. should not try to rewrite history. Everyone who has a vested interest in Pres. Bush's history has been out recently reshaping what happened in front of our eyes. We known what we saw Mr. Pres., the internet is a living history of history not to be retold. Please Mr. Pres. do not try that. Do not Misunderestimate our intelligence.
- Mr. Pres. call on Helen Thomas - above.
- Wait a minute, Mr. President please don't call someone else elite. You are a trust fund baby.
- But again I do like the heat rounds.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Latest from BLS
Employment Situation Summary
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: DECEMBER 2008
- Nonfarm payroll employment declined sharply in December, and the unemployment rate rose from 6.8 to 7.2 percent.
- Payroll employment fell by 524,000 over the month and by 1.9 million over the last 4 months of 2008. In December, job losses were large and widespread across most major industry sectors.
- The unemployment rates for adult men (7.2 percent), adult women (5.9 percent), and whites (6.6 percent) increased in December. The jobless rates for teenagers (20.8 percent), blacks (11.9 percent), and Hispanics (9.2 percent) were little changed over the month. The unemployment rate for Asians was 5.1 percent in December, not seasonally adjusted.
- Among the unemployed, the number of job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs rose by 315,000 to 6.5 million in December. Over the past 12 months, the size of this group has increased by 2.7 million. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) rose to 2.6 million in December and was up by 1.3 million in 2008.
- Weekly Hours - In December, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.2 hour to 33.3 hours, seasonally adjusted--the lowest level on record for the series, which began in 1964.
Jobless rate soars to 7.2 pct.
2008, by Sector
Number of U.S. jobs gained or lost last year.
Sector Change
Education/
health +536,000
Government +181,000
Financial -148,000
Leisure/
hospitality -167,000
Retail -522,000
Construction -632,000
Professional/business
services -681,000
Trade/utilities/
transportation -725,000
Manufacturing -791,000
SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Begging for Dollars- 乞求美元
U.S. debt is losing its appeal in China
The largest capitalist nation asked the largest communist nation for dollars??
$586 billion on an economy that's 25% the size of the U.S.
China's new $586 billion spending package heralded as China's "New Deal".
- China is spending more on spending than the U.S.? Something to think about, 'Can China have tax cuts? Do they have taxes in a communist country?'
Martin Feldstein - Conservative Economist
Economy May Be Worse A Year From Now: Feldstein
The above link refers to conservative economist Martin Feldstein. Feldstein was an advisor to John McCain this past election season. Interestingly enough he stated that the U.S. should spend $500 billion per year for two years on the economy, PEBO actually adopted this guideline in his economic proposal. The reason this jumps out to me is because he would have advised President McCain in the same way. Moreover, Mark Zandy, senior economist for Moody's stated the same thing about U.S. spending in the economy. Mark Zandy, was.. was.. was an advisor to John McCain.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Wasilla Trailer Park Chronicles -07 Jan 08 - 2
Palin's future son-in-law quits job for not having diploma
Wednesday night @ 10:00 pm on FOX 'Dynasty, the Bush legacy'
From the Miami Heard
Jeb Bush's decision on U.S. Senate run dueFor the last half of the 20 century it was the Kennedy name for the 21 century it is the Bush name. The legacy Prescott Bush, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, and the name to watch is George P. Bush. Yes the 'P.' is for Prescott.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Married to the Chamber - Republicans
Chamber of Commerce Irks Democrats with Big Push for GOP
Business executives fear that Democrats, bouyed by heavy spending from organized labor, could gain enough muscle in the Senate to spark policies favoring increased unionization, higher taxes, more restrictions on trade and more regulation on the financial-services and housing sectors.
Republicans want cheap wages 1
So some time last week I got the BLACK HELICOPTER award from GOS (Grumpy_old_soldier) for stating that Republicans typically lean towards cheaper wages with a pro-business pose. I noted that because of this position Republicans are against raising wages, noting opposition to any increase or fairness to wages. This, historically, is a Conservative position from the South and their opposition to organize farmers or from the time of the Robber Barons and their opposition to better work standards and their opposition to paying the Irish fair wages.
The Progressivity of the Tax System - dialog btw GOS and CMP
This is important.
Thanks GOS, now we’re getting to the meat of the issue. By shear volume of funds paid the rich do pay more in taxes. The top 5 percent of the nation pays the bulk of the money to the Fed; I think it’s 40 percent of revenue. Additionally, that same 5 percent holds 90 percent of the nation’s wealth. So who pays? That’s not the debate. About a century ago our nation realized that we had a dilemma, 1 – 5 percent of the nation held 90 percent of the wealth. Thus the progressive tax system was formed. In 1915 President Woodrow Wilson, along with the 63rd U.S. Congress, decided that the nation had to address this imbalance noting that the Forefathers did not want a nation owned by the moneyed class. If the situation continued, ‘The wealthy would own every inch of the
If there is anyone who does not know that the top income earners pay more in taxes I would be amazed. Amusingly, if there is someone stating that people say that the rich is not paying as much in taxes as the middle income then that person should show some type of proof. Just saying so does not make it so. As a lower-mid income maker I realize that if someone making $10 million has a problem paying their share then that burden falls to the sub-millionaire group. The middle income makers in the
I apologize for the Sesame Street ® approach to tax policy but if I understand your link and statement correctly you have a problem with who pays taxes. One, if the problem is that the middle and lower income groups are not paying taxes I say that they are paying there share. Two, if the issue is that the rich is overpaying then okay. We all must “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”, Matthew 22:21. Yes, that may be a little heavy but dang it pay your taxes.
Below are follow-ups to the above link and discussion. The statement and links show that the elite group of wage earners lookout for their friends. Please see bullet 1 the columns Ave Tax cut and Share of the Tax cut, as one can see nothing is fair about the amount or percent or change. See bullet 2 for a written CBO breakout. See 3 for all visual learners.
| Table 1 | ||||
| Who Benefits?: Distribution of ____ Administration Tax Cuts in 2004 | ||||
| (excluding the effects of the corporate and estate tax cuts) | ||||
| | Average Income | Average Tax Cut | Share of the Tax Cut | Percentage Change in After-Tax Income |
| Lowest 20 percent | $16,600 | ($230) | 2.80% | 1.50% |
| Second 20 percent | $38,100 | ($720) | 8.30% | 2.20% |
| Middle 20 percent | $57,400 | ($980) | 11.50% | 2.00% |
| Fourth 20 percent | $84,300 | ($1,520) | 17.70% | 2.30% |
| Top 20 percent | $203,700 | ($4,890) | 59.90% | 3.30% |
| All | $80,100 | ($1,680) | 100.00% | 2.70% |
| | | | | |
| 81-90 percent | $116,600 | ($2,210) | 13.40% | 2.50% |
| 91-95 percent | $155,000 | ($3,180) | 9.80% | 2.70% |
| 96-99 percent | $243,100 | ($4,830) | 12.00% | 2.80% |
| Top one percent | $1,171,000 | ($40,990) | 24.60% | 5.30% |
| Source: CBPP calculations based on CBO data. | ||||
The top 1 percent of income earners paid about 36.7 percent of federal income taxes and 25.3 percent of all federal taxes in 2004. The top 20 percent of income earners paid 67.1 percent of all federal taxes, up from 66.1 percent in 2000, according to the budget office.
By contrast, families in the bottom 40 percent of income earners, those with incomes below $36,300, typically paid no federal income tax and received money back from the government. That so-called negative income tax stemmed mainly from the earned-income tax credit, a program that benefits low-income parents who are employed. –
3. For more about where we spend see below this chart is CBO data.
From: GOS [mailto:grumpy_old_soldier@verizon.net]
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 06:34
To:
Subject: Greg Mankiw's Blog : The Progressivity of the Tax System
GOS has sent you a link to a blog:
CMP: This is from a link at Redstate. My position has always been that there can be only ONE set of facts, then who do I believe, the voices that say the most financially wealthy DO pay the most in taxes, or the voices that say they do not? GOS
Blog: Greg Mankiw's Blog
Post: The Progressivity of the Tax System
Link: http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2009/01/progressivity-of-tax-system.html
--
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New Features for the year! 2
- Investigate great misstatements in Conservative media.
- Prove that there is negative campaign against anyone who is not part the Conservative\ Republican crowd.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
New Features for the year!
- Once a month I will have 'The Prediction'.
- Periodically I will have a 'Only in America'.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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