Are Republicans this Desperate? Now say Democrats, not GOP, the party of Big Business.

We’re supposed to believe Republicans finally took a stand against big business, and killed off market distorter and money redistributor the Export-Import Bank.

If you aren’t already laughing than you must be a Republican. Global billion dollar businessmen David and Charles Koch were against it…gee, I wonder why, they don’t have their own market shares to protect? You think?

Since the Republicans own the title, “the party of big business,” you have to wonder why they’re doing the old switcheroo, vilifying Democrats for being in the pocket of business.  

The article “On Ex-Im Bank, the Democrats Are the Real Corporate Shills,” blasted Elizabeth Warren for supporting the Export-Import Bank, established in 1934 by FDR during the Great Depression.

But Warren offered the empty, canned defense that Ex-Im “helps create American jobs and spur economic growth,” but the truth is that the bank exists to serve the interests of a powerful few at the expense of the not-so-powerful many she claims to champion.

Of course it does, and Republicans just hate that don’t they?

They (Democrats) argue that it is the interests of small businesses that they are protecting. That could be true, provided you think that businesses with up to 1,500 employees and $21.5 million in revenue qualify are small, as the bank defines them.

Ironic isn’t it. Republicans are now willing to briefly abandon their favorite lie about supporting “small business” (not so small after all) just to say to the Democrats, “I know you are but what am I.”

But the big election year lie about our “big business” Democrats is exposed in with this short paragraph listing some of those big businesses; like green energy, saving the auto industry...etc:

They support the Department of Energy’s 1705 loans, which mostly go to wealthy energy companies (PDF), and they never fail to join Republicans in saving other corporate energy subsidies. They support Obamacare, which among other things amounts to a huge giveaway to the insurance industry. They supported the auto and bank bailouts, and for all their complaints about Wall Street, they passed a law, Dodd-Frank, that in some ways protects the big financial institutions that they claim to despise.

That last sentence is a real whopper, especially flipping the whole reason behind Dodd-Frank and why Wall Street and the GOP oppose it so ferociously.

In another article, pictured on the right, I thought this summed it up well, but in a good way (not as dupes to big business):

Republicans have ceded being the party of fiscal responsibility and the party of national security to Democrats, who have done better on both fronts in modern times. Now it seems they are hell bent on ceding “the party of business” to Democrats as well.

Republicans are...filthy...disgusting...

Who would think to make the following comment, really, from the picture below?

I found this tweet on Wyatt's page...

Young Republicans Bat S**t Crazy, Celebrate Walker's first Year

I thought this Mad Hatter style press release of pure political projection lent itself to commentary, my own, interjected throughout:

Dane County Young Republicans Announce “Recall the Recall” Event to Take Place Nov. 15 at The Edgewater Hotel

The Dane County Young Republicans … announced plans to hold a “Recall the Recall” event in support of Gov. Scott Walker on the eve of the proposed recall by liberal special interests. (Wisconsinites who object to their “one party” government are now special interests?)

Speakers Vicki McKenna and Rep. Robin Vos will appear to denounce the Democrats’ historic overreach (Democrats…are they kidding or this clueless?) and recount how Governor Walker’s reforms are working to relieve the burden on working families throughout Wisconsin.

Here’s where it gets really, really surreal! Having been at the Capitol protests with my kids at least 10 times, what follows are the delusional ranting’s of a party so devoid of a moral and ethical center, that you have to be a complete dupe not to see through this bullshit. I don’t usually write this, but these people are really fucked up:

“While paid out-of-town capitol protesters and violent “Occupy” crowds have been rioting and disrupting state and local governments throughout the country, we wanted to focus on the positive gains Wisconsin has made because of Governor Walker’s leadership said David Summers, DCYR spokesperson.

“The only thing Democrats seek with the recall process is the furthering of their extreme liberal agenda, which the voters thankfully threw to the curb in the elections of 2010,” added Charla Halverson, President of the Dane County Young Republicans.

Instead of joining with Governor Walker … (the) Democratic party (is) only willing to ignore the voice of the people and instead are pushing for a costly and divisive recall. Wisconsinites have repeatedly shown their distaste for hijacking of their rights at the ballot box by Big Labor and other Washington, DC-based special interests, and we’re confident that opposition will continue. ” More information can be found at www.danecountyyr.com.

We Need More Tax Cuts for the Rich

Leona Helmsley's dog is dead. Trouble, aged 12, did not leave a will.

Trouble’s $2 million inheritance would cover yearly costs of $100,000 for a full-time security guard — the dog had received death threats — $1,200 for food and $8,000 for grooming. Mr. Lekic was also paid $60,000 for being the dog’s guardian.

“The funds held in trust for her care have reverted to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust for charitable purposes.”

Think Progress has the report on Michelle Bachmann's tax plan.

In an interview published today by the Wall Street Journal, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) — who is toying with a presidential run herself — decided to one-up both Romney and Pawlenty, calling for a reduction in the corporate tax rate to 9 percent. Adding insult to injury, Bachmann wants to pair that huge tax cut with giant tax reductions for the rich, as well as a tax increase on the working poor:

all links courtesy of Norwegianity.
via AWL
cross posted at Mikeb302000

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Republican Party of Wisconsin accuses Democrats of "tricking," "harassing," "intimidating," "confusing" recall signers into denial. Fire their writers.

Here's the next "big whopper" from the Republican Party of Wisconsin: 

The Democrat Party of Wisconsin is using a fraudulent tactic to harass and intimidate constituents … targeted for harassment people who signed recall petitions against Senator Hansen … using a fake phone number and caller ID that showed up on phones as “Bay Care Aurora,” a well-known Green Bay area medical center … they were told they were speaking with a Democrat Party of Wisconsin operative, and were questioned about signing a petition to recall Hansen. 

First the caller ID is correct, not fake as claimed in the press release. I actually called Bay Care Aurora. The number is an inactive one at the medical center. So right away, WISGOP is lying. Here’s where it gets insanely...dumb (the best word I could come up with):

“It’s disgusting that the Dems would use a fake call from a hospital to trick people into answering their phones – only so they could harass and intimidate them into saying they did not sign a recall petition,” said Mark Jefferson, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. 

Can we really trick and harass recall signers into…denial? Really? It's that easy? But the cheesy story line didn’t stop there:

“People who received that call may have feared the worst – an unexpected call from a hospital can bring terrible news about a loved one. The Democrats’ intent was obviously to confuse and upset people, hoping they would be disoriented and easily tricked into saying they had not signed a recall petition. 

Did anyone know Republican could be so easily tricked and disoriented into recanting their participation in recalling a Democrat? I called my very conservative gun toting friend in Milwaukee and asked him if he would deny ever signing a recall petition for a Democrat. His first reaction; "I wouldn't tell you." His second reaction, "Are you kidding." 

Dave Hansen’s political career may be coming to an end because he fled to Illinois, but that doesn’t excuse this cruel, desperate tactic.”

Here’s their proof, a photo at their web site of what they claim is a fake caller ID name and phone number. 

To be honest, I too received an intimidating call by someone who said they were an operative of WISGOP, who forced me to deny I ever was a liberal, and denounce Capitol protesters as thugs. I've got proof. Here's the fake caller ID and number:

See?

If you campaigned on Health Care Reform Repeal, Don't take Government Run Benefit in Congress!!

Think Progress put this nice presentation together:

Last week, responding to Rep.-elect Andy Harris’ (R-MD) hypocritical demand for government-sponsored benefits, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) began circulating a letter among his Democratic colleagues calling on Harris and other members of Congress who want to repeal the new health care law to forgo their own government health care plans. So far just two incoming Republican freshmen have agreed. But a new Public Policy Polling survey has found that most Americans “think incoming Congressmen who campaigned against the health care bill should put their money where their mouth is and decline government provided health care now that they’re in office.” Republicans and independents- who put these folks in office in the first place- strongly think they should refuse their government provided health care. GOP voters hold that sentiment by a 58/28 margin and indys do 56/27.:

Only 33% think they should accept the health care they get for being a member of Congress while 53% think they should decline it and 15% have no opinion. Democrats are actually the most supportive of anti-health care Congressmen taking their health care, with 40% saying they should accept it to 46% who think they should decline. Republicans could save the federal government $2.4 million if they forgo health care for a year.

The Wonk Room has more on why not opting out would be a betrayal of Republican candidates’ pledges to “listen to the people who sent us,” and on the scheme of Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), a reform proponent, to make the GOP lawmakers put up or shut up on repeal

Related articles

• "Decline your health care, say GOP voters" and related posts (publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com)
• House Democrats challenge incoming GOP legislators on health coverage (cnn.com)
• Republicans Want Lawmakers to Decline Health Care (politicalwire.com)
• Republicans Could Save $2.4 Million A Year By Forgoing Their Health Care (huffingtonpost.com)

Energy Bills through the roof even without Cap and Trade? Are the Republicans Wrong again? Does a Grizzly Bear...?

I don’t believe there will ever come a time when Republicans could imagine "their" America making the switch to green energy. The business climate is never ready to make the move. The economy is never strong enough to invest in the future. And most of all, consumers can’t take another increase in their energy bills. It would kill consumer spending and then jobs. We’re just stuck at this point, forever, according to conservatives.

So imagine my surprise when this shocking and never mentioned report came out that dashed the Republican claims green energy will cost too much. The price of COAL went through the roof!!!

Jsonline: The simple truth is this: we don’t produce energy products like natural gas and coal, so that leaves us at the mercy of the marketplace and high prices. Republicans have opposed alternative energy options because their costs will result in higher bills for consumers. They claim the abundance of coal and natural gas will help consumer with lower energy bills during this devastating recession.

Wrong again.

The price of electricity has shot up faster in Wisconsin than in all but five other states since 2000, which could pose a threat to the state's economic competitiveness, a new analysis by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance says … Wisconsin businesses and homeowners are paying more than most surrounding states, as the state continues to pay for power plant upgrades … coupled with rising natural gas and coal prices, has pushed rates up.

Kyle Christianson, policy research analyst at the nonpartisan Taxpayers Alliance said the price of coal has doubled since 2000, "We need to recognize that energy prices really do have an effect on the competitiveness of the state," said Christianson. "We're talking about trying to attract employers and adding new jobs, and particularly in a manufacturing-intensive economy like Wisconsin, energy prices are a major cost of doing business."

Here’s the part that not only stuns the mind, but makes all your home energy saving efforts worthless:

The recession has exacerbated the rate pressure on Wisconsin because utilities have had to respond to slowing sales with rate hikes to cover their fixed costs.

Got that? Since you didn’t use enough energy, and the utilities lost manufacturing business income, they had to increase their rates to make up the difference. No, really.

Charlie Higley, executive director of the Wisconsin Citizens' Utility Board, is concerned that rate increases will continue for residential customers. "Our households are paying a high price for electricity, and it's hurting their ability to make ends meet," Higley said. "It underlies our calls for moving toward cleaner energy solutions like renewable energy and energy efficiency, which don't have fuel costs."

Wisconsin now has a power glut that prompted the state Public Service Commission to launch an investigation into whether some of the state's older power plants should be mothballed or shut down.

Related articles

• Statewide Poll Shows Illinois Voters Overwhelmingly Favor Cleaner Power From Illinois Coal; Creating Jobs is Top Energy Priority (eon.businesswire.com)
• Vision of Green Economy Includes More Gas-Fired Power, Deutsche Bank (nytimes.com)
• Debating new strategies for curbing global warming (grist.org)

State Sen. Alberta Darling let it Slip: If Tax Cuts Create Bigger Deficits, Cut more Spending. How can they Lose?

It's taken me many years to figure out what's behind the conservative tax cut philosophy. On the surface, it never made any sense. Thanks to State Sen. Alberta Darling, I now have the answer.

Here's how it works: If the Republicans tax cut plan doesn't work, and creates an even bigger deficits, then Republicans can push more spending cuts. There's no down side to their argument. Failure is rewarded with "smaller government," which means more out of pocket expenses for taxpayers that more than wipes out any savings promised by the Republicans.

Keep in mind that for the last decade and a half, states have already cut government to the bone. It's time someone pointed out that cutting spending, isn't a new idea.

It's time Democrats message the idea that attacking our quality of life and the great American living standard will change our country in a significant way.

State Sen. Alberta Darling confirms in this WisPolitics.com interview, that no matter what the tax cut consequence, no matter what harm it causes, the ideologically driven policy will never be blamed for anything.

Related articles

• Voted-out members of Congress muddy tax-cut extension (dispatch.com)

Republican Plan to Create jobs; Repeal Obama Programs!!

This AP story said it all:

In a speech at the conservative Heritage Foundation, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the only way to achieve key GOP legislative goals such as cutting government spending and repealing the health care law "is to put someone in the White House who won't veto" them.

I can't wait to see how many jobs are created in the next 6 months, the same time the Republicans gave Obama after the recession. (can't wait for the long list of excuses why their plan isn't working too)

Related articles

• GOP asserts new strength, targets Obama programs (sfgate.com)
• GOP leader's top goal: Make Obama 1-term president (msnbc.msn.com)
• McConnell: Ousting Obama is "Only Way" (thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com)