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I think that by now you all caught yesterday's Labor Fest speech by President Obama. The President was fired up (if you haven't watched the speech yet, by the way, follow the link and you can see the video), and so was the crowd. But the President didn't go there just to rally the troops. He proposed an important new investment in the nation's infrastructure: $50 billion in new federal infrastructure spending.
Alongside it, the Obama administration is proposing two more economic investment measures: a $100 billion incentive for research and development by increasing extending the R&D credit permanently, and a $200 billion plan to let businesses write off all capital investments. Of course, Democrats and the President are still pushing for the small business jobs bill that the Republicans have been blocking in the Senate, with $30 billion in loan guarantees and $12 billion in tax cuts for small business.
Put them all together, and the Obama administration is front-loading a near-$400 billion investment in America's economy and jobs. Let's go through these investments one by one.
For your "it's almost 5 o'clock on this Thursday afternoon" reading pleasure.
1. We thought Artur Davis might be a Democrat again based on a quote he made about the Fair Sentencing Act not going far enough as reported by Huff Po yesterday. Actually Ryan Grim wrote the part about might be a Democrat again and deserves credit. Except for the fact that Davis didn't say that exactly. Congressman Danny Davis of Illinois made the statement.
An update to the story was offered
CORRECTION: The original version of this article inaccurately attributed a quote to Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.). The quote, which remains in the piece, has since been attributed to the proper source, Rep. Danny Davis (D-Il.) In addition to seeking clarification, Davis' office released a statement this morning offering the following thoughts on the issue:
My position is that I supported the legislation to reduce the crack powder distinction because the current 100 to 1 ratio in the federal sentencing guidelines cannot be justified. I have held that position since I practiced as a federal prosecutor in the nineties. At the same time, I would oppose efforts to make the new ratio retroactive to past drug defendants largely on the grounds that the federal courts would be swamped with appeals and collateral attacks on sentences.
So in theory, Artur Davis supported the Fair Sentencing Act so I guess he deserves some credit. Well not too much since essentially everyone in Congress except for some dude from Texas voiced approval for its passage. For example, one of the driving forces for the Fair Sentencing Act on the Senate side was Jefferson Beauregard Sessions. Nuff said there.
This masterpiece editorial should be reprinted by every paper in the country. Furthermore, every state should pass this law immediately and we should see it introduced at the Federal level. Fat chance but it's definitely worth dreaming about.
With our logo proposal, when lawmakers get up to speak, colorful patches on their suits will make it clear whom they represent. Your lawmaker, not just your AT&T installer, will wear the familiar blue and white AT&T sphere. AT&T is among the top spenders on lobbying in California - as is the Western States Petroleum Association. The association's curved swoosh will be prominent on lawmakers' suit jackets, along with the logos of their oil company members, including the red letters of ExxonMobil and the cheerful yellow and green sun of BP.
No doubt political leaders will protest. But enough is enough. We might as well make it clear that when lawmakers speak, what we're actually hearing is a word from their sponsors.
(another one of our PE candidates. Paul Broun was a surprise winner a couple of years back in a special election. Let's send him home. - promoted by admin)
Paul Broun, Jr. recently visited Athens, GA, for an America Speaks Out Town Hall and spread his wild conspiracy theories. Athens is a progressive city in GA, home to R.E.M., the B-52s, of Montreal, DJ Dangermouse. It also hosts the University of Georgia. The fact that Broun Jr. represents this community is an utter embarrassment to all Georgians and Americans. I feel compelled to share today about how we can fight together to defeat him in November.
How Democrats can impeach President Obama in one easy step
Step #1.Do NOT vote in 2010
That is all it will take!
If you want a Republican majority in Congress, be certain to not vote in the elections this November, because that is what you will be likely to get.
And that Republican majority in Congress will not stop until they have dragged the Presidency of Barack Obama into the dirt. They will not care one bit about the harm it will do to America. A Republican majority in Congress will do nothing but work towards "Obama's Waterloo", and the people who do not vote for Democrats in 2010 will be just as responsible for it as the people who vote for Republicans. That is the reality of it, and the possibility of a GOP majority in Congress is something America can NOT afford.
But you can do something about it before it is too late.
On June 8, Californians will vote on several referendums, in addition to primary races. One of those referendums, Proposition 14 (aka the Top Two Primaries Act), could hugely change how those primary races are conducted, and it would definitely not be for the better. As if to add insult to injury, but it could take down a public campaign financing measure along with it.
Prop 14 was put on the ballot through the backroom dealings of State Senator (not Lt. Gov.) Abel Moldonado, the very last holdout on the budget this year. He used the budget crisis for his own profit and one of his demands was to put this measure on the ballot. Now, his reckless action is being opposed by every political party in California and numerous electoral reform groups, groups ranging from the NAACP to the Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition.
But big business wants this to pass because of the control it could give them over elections (explanation below the fold). So your help is needed - $5, $10, $100 - whatever you can chip in to prevent California from descending further into a mess of broken government.
When I first started this site, I tended to shy away from getting involved in primary battles against incumbents. I considered myself a party faithful and one who usually stayed neutral in these primary fights.
My rationale went something along these lines:
Except in safe Democratic seats we don't see too many incumbents defeated. And even then it usually takes a scandal rather than just being wrong on the issues.
However, as I've progressed as a blogger I've grown weary of incumbents and softened my stance. I'm more excited about our primary challenges against incumbents than I ever have been. And win or lose in these races, I'm proud to be on the we won't take the status quo side.
40 days from today - on May 18 - we will see two HUGE primaries for U.S. Senate. Even if you're not from either of these two states, these races impact Democrats across the country and, well, the entire country as a whole.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak will try to upset Republican-for-decades Arlen Specter.
In Arkansas, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter will try to upset corporate lackey Blanche Lincoln.
These two races are tremendously important to defining who and what the Democratic Party is and what we will be fighting for.
If you can volunteer for these candidates (or encourage friends and family in Pennsylvania and Arkansas to do so), that would be amazing.
Of course, if you can help with a contribution to either or both via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page as soon as possible, it will make a big impact.
Polling shows that both Specter and Lincoln are at risk of - if not likely to - hand these Senate seats over to far-right-wing Republicans. (And, even if these two retain the seats, that's not much better on many key issues.)
Congressman Sestak and Lieutenant Governor Halter winning these primaries are critical to keeping these seats in truly Democratic hands. Your support can help make that happen! Please hop over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page right away to make a contribution - an investment in the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party to pull out an old expression - and show your support.
Thanks SO much for any support you can provide. 40 Days.
There is a fine art to making a powerful point without making that point. Usually, the way to do this is by saying something and then immediately follow by saying "That is not why I'm saying".
With that in mind, I give you Congressmen Alan Grayson (Kick Ass-FL), who, in an interview with Anderson Cooper last night, made the point ( without making it ) that to turn away Obama voters from your doctors office is pretty much the same thing as hanging a sign that says "No Blacks Allowed"
GRAYSON: Well, in fact, where he lives, in Mount Dora, which is in my district, many, many of the Democrats who live in Mount Dora happen to be African-Americans.
So, by saying that he will not treat somebody who supported Obama, he's saying that he's not going to treat a large number of African-Americans in the community
In the 1980s, the great tax-cutter Ronald Reagan raised taxes on unemployment benefits. The Patron Saint of GOP economic policy also shamelessly decided that your social security benefits should be taxed if you had any other income. Last year, Obama and the Democratic Congress provided relief on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits. The Recovery Act delivered numerous tax cuts to the middle class. Health care reform adds up to the largest middle class tax cut for health insurance ever. But hey, don't look at the evidence. Parrot after me: the terrible horrible no good very bad socialist communist Democrats want to raise your taxes!
Now, the Republicans have a new complaint against the Democrats, President Obama and the landmark health care bill: they're stopping corporations from claiming a tax break on the money the taxpayers give them!
So it is March, and that means the Meta Pie fight season is now open.
But I have bigger fish to fry.
I have ZERO interest in punching hippies, nor do I care for berating Dems who are more moderate than myself (with some exceptions). I mean no offense to the parties involved, but if that is your thing, good luck to you. I have bigger rotten fish to fry.
Now, having gotten that off of my chest, where do I begin?
I guess you'll have to go below the fold to find out . . . .
We've had a great week in the insurgency of Bill Halter in Arkansas. Tons of money has been raised. How sweet it is!!!
But let's make sure we are covering other races where we can elect Better Democrats.
If the DNC and the DCCC is not going to take on a 50 State strategy then it's our responsibility. Just because we don't have Howard Dean doesn't mean that we can't make a difference..
Over at the Progressive Electorate we've listed a number of candidates on our Act Blue page who need our assistance. Take a look at some of these folks where we can make a significant difference. Races where 50 $10 contributions can buy a ton of signs, races where 100 $25 contributions can get some polling, races where 1000 $5 contributions can buy significant media time.
George W. Bush
Tax Cuts for the rich
Strategery
Invading Iraq
"They will welcome us as liberators"
"The oil will pay for the war"
WMD's
Mission Accomplished
Torture isn't a war crime cause my lawyer says so
Hurricane Katrina
"The fundamentals of the economy are strong"
Sarah Fucking Palin
Katie Couric - But are you ready to become the leader of the free world?
Sarah Palin - Totally. I will totally lead the world. Any world. I will lead Mars or whatever too if those guys need a world president. Or just a Mars president. I took on the ole' boys club in Alaska and I can take it on in Mars.
Katie Couric - But I'm not asking about being president of Mars.
Sarah Palin - But I am answering about being president of Mars because a president person needs to be prepared for anything. I like to reform.
("great work again Curtis - you spurred a movement that got picked up by folks all across America - we got hits on major news networks for your work" by admin
(EDIT: All I did was pass this along, go Coug!) - promoted by Curtis Abbey)
Today's retirement announcement by Evan Bayh leaves a big opportunity in 2010. Bayh waited until the last minute to Brett Farve, so we're going to have to scramble to get the 500 signatures necessary to get a Dem on the ballot in Indiana.
You can join the draft Mellencamp movement on Facebook
