Category Archives: NADA – New American Dark Ages

New American Dark Ages

“Are we still in America?”

Read the whole thing – it won’t take very long. Well-reasoned.

Robert Reich (Why Governor LePage Can’t Erase History, and Why We Need a Fighter in the White House)

The Governor’s spokesman explains that the mural and the conference-room names were “not in keeping with the department’s pro-business goals.”

Are we still in America? …

Big business and Wall Street thought Perkins and Roosevelt were not in keeping with pro-business goals. So they and their Republican puppets in Congress and in the states retaliated with a political assault on the New Deal.

Roosevelt did not flinch. In a speech in October 1936 he condemned “business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.”

Big business and Wall Street, he said,

“had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.”

Robert Reich (Why Governor LePage Can’t Erase History, and Why We Need a Fighter in the White House)

Your Tax Money Went to GE Shareholders

ThinkProgress » Despite Paying No Income Taxes, GE CEO Lauded His Company’s Patriotism In 2009 West Point Speech

On its front page this morning, the New York Times reported that General Electric — the world’s largest company — made $14.2 billion in profits ($5.1 billion in America) and managed to not pay a dime in federal taxes. In fact, the company actually received “a tax benefit of $3.2 billion.”

The mega corporation’s tax dodging flies in the face of the rhetoric of its CEO Jeffery Immelt — also the head of President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness — who sought to portray his company as one that values fairness in a speech at West Point in 2009.

ThinkProgress » Despite Paying No Income Taxes, GE CEO Lauded His Company’s Patriotism In 2009 West Point Speech

The Loons Gather in New Mexico

Wilson is “too moderate.” No one will be more conservative unless they’re on the “loon right,” which is “like coming back around on the left.” (Yes, they’re so conservative their liberal!) It’s going to be great fun watching Republicans shoot each other in the foot in 2012.

Attacking Wilson as ‘moderate-type,’ Sanchez says he’ll decide on Senate run soon | New Mexico Independent

Sanchez also was dismissive of the tea party movement, saying, “I don’t necessarily need to be the Tea Party candidate.” He did say that he agreed with tea party positions like smaller government and less taxes.

Attacking Wilson as ‘moderate-type,’ Sanchez says he’ll decide on Senate run soon | New Mexico Independent

Sowards: ‘There will be no one to my right’ in GOP primary | New Mexico Independent

“There will be no one to my right, and I believe the other candidates are more conglomerated around the moderate area,” Sowards said, according to David Cantanes. “I don’t see how anyone would get between me and conservative principles. They can go to the loon right, which is, as far as I’m concerned, like coming back around on the left.”

Sowards also said that Pearce supporters had told him they would oppose a second Senate run from the Republican congressman.

Sowards: ‘There will be no one to my right’ in GOP primary | New Mexico Independent

Sowards sells himself as the conservative candidate | NMPolitics.net

Sowards has run for federal office twice in the past, without success; however, with the growth of the tea party movement, he appears to be getting a closer look from some influential groups this time around. He also recently got a prominent mention in an investors.com article.

One of Sowards’ missions is to keep U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., out of the race.

Sowards sells himself as the conservative candidate | NMPolitics.net

Remember the Republicans’ Priorities in 2012

– The NPR ’emergency’ by Dana Milbank

House Republicans called an "emergency meeting" last week, suspending the usual procedures to rush an urgent piece of legislation to the floor.

Had the new majority finally come up with a job-creation bill? A compromise with Democrats to rein in the deficit?

Not quite. This particular emergency involved the lower end of the FM-radio dial. Republicans, in an urgent budget-cutting maneuver, were voting to cut off funding for National Public Radio. All $5 million of it – or one ten-thousandth of 1 percent of the federal budget.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office ran the numbers and calculated the impact this emergency measure would have on government spending: "No effect."

Five minutes after acting on this “budgetary emergency,” House Republicans voted to continue the war in Afghanistan – which costs about $10 billion. Per month. They then flew home for a vacation.  [mjh: quotes added]

– The NPR ’emergency’

The Chamberpot of Commerce is a bunch of dicks

ThinkProgress » Wall Street Front Group President Sneers At Protesters, Says Public Servants Are Paid Too Much

Asked about the massive protests against Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), [U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Tom Donohue] said that public servants have “over bloated” compensation:

Donohue turned truculent when asked whether events in Wisconsin are weakening unions and the right of workers to collective bargaining. [….] He went on to express his concerns that public sector pensions are “out of control” and that public workers compensation is “over bloated.”

Speaking of “over bloated” compensation, Donohue “travels in a chauffeured Lincoln and a leased jet, and his salary, $3.7 million last year, makes him the sixth highest paid lobbyist in the country.”

Donohue apparently has no problem taking cheap shots at people who have dedicated themselves to public service, but what does he do to deserve so much money? As we’ve reported, Donohue runs nothing more than a shell organization to help big corporations pursue nasty lobbying campaigns under the brand of the “U.S. Chamber of Commerce,” a group misleadingly associated with local chambers of commerce. For instance, the health insurance industry secretly funneled $86 million to the Chamber in 2009 to try to kill health reform. Similarly, oil companies, chemical firms, and defense industry corporations have used to the Chamber to run ads or lobby against regulations.

ThinkProgress » Wall Street Front Group President Sneers At Protesters, Says Public Servants Are Paid Too Much

Gun Lovers’ Fear Made Real: Government Helicopters Descend on Town

Grab the ammo belts and run to their defense!

ABQJOURNAL NEWS/STATE: ‘Shocked and saddened’

I’m sure the Founders would be right there, making a buck selling AK-47 pistols (yup) to Drug Cartels so they can continue their noble fight to earn a living the way they choose (killing people, ruining lives, destroying nations). Freedom means you get to choose what you destroy for money and guns mean no one can tell you otherwise.