Clipmarks | masbury's 'politics' clips

Lawyers file suit against politicking DOJ

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:04:05 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: After internal Justice report maintains DOJ officials illegally screened applicants

Clip Source: tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against the DOJ

The class action by Sean Gerlich -- filed yesterday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia -- is the first suit resulting from an internal Justice report issued last week that says two former Justice officials illegally screened applicants to the honors and summer intern programs.

Gerlich's suit says the department politicized the selection process, mishandled the applications and failed to maintain the records, all in violation of the Privacy Act, the Civil Service Reform Act and the Federal Records Act. In addition, the suit claims violations of the First and 14th Amendments.

Tags: bush, politics

Dems who gripe at Big Oil but hold stock in it

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:28:41 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Is your Rep listed here? 14 Dems in House and Senate profit from policies they oppose

Clip Source: thehill.com

Dems willing to criticize oil despite holding stock

At least 14 Democratic members of the House and one senator have holdings ranging from several thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars in companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. or partnerships such as Schlumberger and Hornbeck Offshore Services.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.)

Sen. John Kerry (Mass.)

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)

Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s energy program, said it was inconsistent for Democrats to criticize companies but also invest in them.

Clip Source: thehill.com

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.)

Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-Ohio)

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)

Rep. David Price (D-N.C.)

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.)

Democratic Reps. Patrick Kennedy (R.I.), Carolyn McCarthy (N.Y.), Heath Shuler (N.C.), and Howard Berman (Calif.)

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s (D-Calif.)

Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.)

Reps. Rubén Hinojosa (D-Texas) and Charlie Melancon (D-La.)

Tags: politics, environment, oil

McCain tax cuts give Corporations $175B/year windfall

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:11:57 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: And guess who will make up the difference?

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Report: McCain Tax Cuts to Save Corporations $175 Billion/Year

In campaign news, a new report is estimating Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s proposed tax plan will produce a windfall for corporate America. The Center For American Progress estimates McCain’s plan would save corporations $175 billion per year. The country’s largest 200 corporations alone would save $45 billion.

Tags: politics, economy

The McCain Residences: A Google Earth Tour

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:04:59 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: 10 to 13 luxury homes. How long will inherited fortunes rule the USA?

Clip Source: www.jedreport.com

The McCain Residences: A Google Earth Tour

Inspired by the McCains' recent tax default, I decided to go on a little tour of their many homes across the nation. Enjoy!

[Video]

Tags: mccain, politics

The "Big John" Cornyn video - truly dumbfounding!

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:57:16 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "Yer doin' the Lord's work, and we got yer back." "Kept Texas in power, made lesser states squirm." I think he should ask for his money back. This was made for the Texas Republican convention, but may become the most viewed non-presidential political video of the season.

Clip Source: www.dailykos.com

[Video]

Tags: cornyn, politics

Immunity-backing Dems got more Telecom donations

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:46:00 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Ugh. This would be against the law in Britain.

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Immunity-Backing Dems Netted Higher Share of Telecom Donations

Meanwhile, a new analysis shows Democratic Congress members who changed their vote to support immunizing telecom companies in last week’s FISA bill have on average received thousands more from phone companies than those Democrats who have voted consistently against immunity. Ninety-four Democrats voted against immunity as recently as March but changed their votes to support it last week. According to MAPlight.org, these Democrats have received an average $8,000 in telecom contributions over the last three years. The 116 Democrats who remain opposed to immunity received on average nearly $5,000.

Tags: politics

What's McCain tax cut worth to McCain? $373,000

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:40:39 GMT

clipped by: masbury

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

John and Cindy McCain would reap $373,429 if McCain’s tax proposal were enacted.»

	John and Cindy McCain	Barack and Michelle Obama
Savings Under McCain Tax Plan	$373,429	$49,329
Savings Under Obama Tax Plan	$5,641	$6,124

Check out The Wonk Room for the full details, including how the McCain and Obama households fared under the Bush tax cuts.

Tags: politics, taxes

Obama bounces: now 51-36 over McCain

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:15:27 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: more trusted in every category; far ahead of where Kerry or Gore were at this point in campaign

Clip Source: www.newsweek.com

Barack’s Bounce

The latest NEWSWEEK Poll shows the Democrat with a 15-point lead over McCain.

A new NEWSWEEK Poll shows that he has a substantial double-digit lead, 51 percent to 36 percent, over McCain among registered voters nationwide.

In the previous NEWSWEEK Poll, completed in late May

Obama managed no better than a 46 percent tie with McCain

55 percent of all voters call themselves Democrats or say they lean toward the party while just 36 percent call themselves Republicans or lean that way

Obama is running much stronger at this point in the race than his two most recent Democratic predecessors, Sen. John Kerry and Vice President Al Gore

Kerry led Bush by only 6 points

Gore was in a dead heat with Bush

Clip Source: www.newsweek.com

Women voters in the new poll prefer him over McCain by 21 points

Democratic leaners who supported Clinton during the primaries now favor Obama over McCain by 69 percent to 18 percent

Registered independents

backing him by a 48 percent to 36 percent

economy and jobs

54 percent to 29 percent

Tags: elections, politics, obama, mccain

Texas GOP convention vendor highlights Obama's race

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:32:37 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Wonder why they'd do that?

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

In other campaign news, the Texas Republican Party is coming under criticism for allowing the sale of racist pins at last week’s convention. One vendor was selling a pin that read “If Obama is President…will we still call it the White House?”

Tags: race, racism, politics

Gore: Obama more experienced than Kennedy, Jefferson, Madison

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:56:02 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Regarding experience, after citing Kennedy (2 yrs younger), he continues: “To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution..."

Clip Source: cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com

Gore endorses Obama, warns ‘elections matter’

urging Americans to reject what he called the Bush administration’s legacy of “incompetence, negligence and failure

Gore took direct aim at criticism by some that the 46-year-old freshman senator from Illinois lacks the experience necessary for the job by citing similar criticisms of John F. Kennedy, who was two years younger than Obama is now when he took the oath of office in 1961.

“To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution and Christopher Columbus from even discovering America,” said Gore, who lost to George W. Bush in the bitterly fought 2000 contest.

Tags: obama, politics, gore

US Govt to McCain: Campaign Mgr undermining national interests

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:38:02 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: NY Times: McCain warned by National Security Council about campaign manager Rick Davis' lobbying firm undermining US policy in Ukraine

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

McCain Lobbyist Scandal Continues: Government Warned Senator That Campaign Manager Was Undermining National Interests

The lobbying firm of McCain campaign manager Rick Davis acted in direct opposition to American foreign interests, which prompted a warning to McCain's Senate office from the United States government, according to a recent New York Times article.

Mr. McCain may have first become aware of Davis Manafort's activities in Ukraine as far back as 2005. At that time, a staff member at the National Security Council called Mr. McCain's Senate office to complain that Mr. Davis's lobbying firm was undercutting American foreign policy in Ukraine, said a person with direct knowledge of the phone call who spoke on condition of anonymity.

This isn't the only time when Davis' business interests have appeared counter to those of the United States: Davis' Ukranian contacts shared several business ties with Iran.

Tags: politics, mccain

McCain won't be the candidate in November

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:35:30 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Interesting theory . . .

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

McCain will not be the Republican candidate in November.

John McCain will announce that he has decided that he can not accept

The reason will be health releated

The reasons are simple. He can't win

some Democrats that think the Republicans are planning to let McCain lose and 'sit this one out'

But that just isn't how they play

So, who will be the Republican Candidate

Condoleezza Rice (Secretary of State)
Colin Powel (fmr Sec. of State)
Marilyn Musgrave (Colorado Congresswoman)
Mitt Romney (fmr Massachusetts Governor)
Mike Huckabee (fmr Governor of Arkansas)
Charlie Crist (Florida Gov. )
Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota Governor)
Bobby Jindal (Louisiana Gov.)
Mark Sanford: (Governor of South Carolina)
John Thune (Senator from South Dakota)
Dick Lugar (Senator from Indiana)
Chuck Hagel (Senator from Nebraska
MIchael Bloomberg (nyc Mayor)

They'll come on the scene late, with a press corps that is looking for a horse race and a new story

Tags: mccain, elections, politics

Middle class taxes: Obama plan cuts three times more than McCain

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:00:33 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Non-partisan Tax Policy Center: Families making between $37,595 and $66,354 of annual income with Obama would get an average tax cut of $1,042 per family while McCain’s tax cut for this group would be $319. But the rich guys, now, that's another matter.

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

According to a non-partisan analysis of the presidential candidates’ tax plans, Barack Obama “offers three times the break for middle class families” than proposals of John McCain, who “would steer the bulk of the benefits to the wealthiest families”:

Families making between $37,595 and $66,354 of annual income with Obama would get an average tax cut of $1,042 per family while McCain’s tax cut for this group would be $319

The Wonk Room has more on the study by the Tax Policy Center.

UPDATE: In 2001, McCain said of the Bush tax cuts: “I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief.” McCain is now proposing tax cuts that are more regressive than the Bush tax cuts.

Tags: taxes, politics

Why everyone should support Republicans

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:09:33 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: They offer so very much ...

Clip Source: www.dailykos.com

the Republican party appeals to me for so many reasons

I fully and totally support the war

I can only hope that these or other wars are still raging when my boys are old enough to fight--they're already 6!

Republicans know that there is no problem for which the free market cannot find a solution

We need more insurance companies to charge unaffordable premiums for policies that offer bare bones coverage with sky high deductibles

Fourth, polar bears, ice caps, bumblebees, glaciers, carbon footprints, mass transit, Florida, California, New York, New Orleans and all other low lying, densely populated areas can kiss my ass

I absolutely support the GOP's sweeping education reform

No one understands better than a teacher the importance of demanding accountability and reform while underfunding and mismanaging at the highest level

One last point. How in the world is my marriage going to survive if my gay neighbors get to do it, too?

McCain/Lieberman '08

Tags: humor, satire, politics

92% of max Bush contributors not giving now; Iraq concern

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:51:55 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "I always considered myself a Republican, primarily because of a belief in smaller government. And if you want a smaller government, you don’t want wars — especially wars that can be avoided."

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

Citing Iraq opposition, former Bush donors are reluctant to donate to McCain.»

A CQ analysis shows that only about 8 percent of the 62,800 donors who gave the maximum contribution of $2,000 to Bush in 2004 had given to McCain as of April 30. Moreover, at least 46 of Bush’s 2004 donors have contributed significantly to both Obama and Clinton but are not listed as McCain donors. One, a lifelong Republican who donated $2,000 to Bush in 2004, said that he will not donate to McCain because of the senator’s fervent support of the Iraq war:

I always considered myself a Republican, primarily because of a belief in smaller government. And if you want a smaller government, you don’t want wars — especially wars that can be avoided.

Tags: bush, republicans, politics