While clicking around on MSNBC.com, I came across the "'Lame duck' Couric hurting CBS News" story. I was a bit taken aback to "learn" that it is Obama not committing to the North Carolina debate:
The Obama interview allows Couric to do some personal lobbying, and perhaps even appeal to a little sympathy. CBS News has been anxious to get Obama to agree to an April 27 debate in North Carolina with Hillary Clinton that would be televised in prime-time. CBS says Clinton has agreed, but Obama hasn’t. Couric would moderate.
Why, oh, why are the idle rich taxed less than hard work? I just do not understand why dividends and capital gains are taxed MUCH lower than honest to goodness hard work. Not only do they get a lower income tax rate, they are exempt from FICA taxes. Who makes this stuff up? At minimum, they should be taxed the same. On one hand, the right wants to complain people don't want to work, but what incentive does this tax policy give them? Of course, one (or their parents) must have money to live the lifestyle of the rich and spoiled. But I digress. That should be at the top of the list of any tax reform.
The Minimum Wage Act of 2007. What shall it look like? Hopefully, it will be a comprehensive bill that guarantees that a 40 hour work week will at least equate to the ceiling of the poverty level, and be adjusted forever more based on the poverty level and the expected consumer price index. It is time to get this issue of fairness out of politics and safe from poison pills. Caveat - I am equating poverty level to a living wage, which I agree may not be so.
I work for a company that is telling me that before I can contribute to political candidates and organizations, I must first get approval from the legal department. They say that all employees, no matter what their function, must do this. Apparently, I live in one of ten states that this company has offices that require this procedure. I do not in any way understand how this can be legal. One of the guidelines, which I thought only applied to upper management, is to monitor influence peddling and for employees not to be contributing against the corporate interest. I am simply amazed.
AP is reporting on an Al-Arabiya documentary that states that Saddam accepted exile weeks before the invasion and agreed to elections within six months, but the deal was scuttled by the Arab League due to rules and protocol. A bit outrageous, considering the seriousness of the neo-cons to start the war, that the Arab League would not have gone the extra mile to prevent further US presence in the region. Unless, of course, there was something in it for them.
The article does say that the US was aware of the deal. Just another piece of evidence that there was a war-only agenda in the WH. Why else would the US not let the inspectors continue their work, lie about WMDs, and now it seems, not allow time for the Arab League to follow protocol with the exile agreement.
While most people focused on Roberts arguing for group prayer, it was another passage in an MSNBC passage that caught my ire. He seems to be pre-judging death penalty cases, as they all claim they can not and will not do, and will therefore probably deny any appeal to the SCOTUS. Apparently, it is too much work to determine whether or not a punishment that is so final has been implemented judiciously. And this is part of their "culture of life". Due process means nothing to these people. Remember, tort reform. They are trying to deny access to courts as a remedy.
I am so disgusted. A jury in VA has determined that a man who previously was not intelligent enough to understand his actions, now is, so he can be put to death. This man's IQ was raised apperantly through interaction with his lawyers. I thought the only thing that applied was his ability to understand his actions at the time of the crime.
I am in no way saying what he did is or isn't deserving of the death penalty for the crime he has been convicted of, as I do not know all the circumstances of his case. I am focusing on this very specific point of his IQ and whether or not the goal posts can be moved. Personally, I am against the death penalty in all cases as life imprisonment is far worse, but it is the law of the land.
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When the gavel came down, the vote 217 yes, 215 no, but it was what happened in the hours before, the arm-twisting and the favor dropping that prompted the House Democratic leader to say Congress resembled the set of "Let's Make a Deal." She even went so far as to suggest laws may have been broken.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: I do know of reports that have been made to me about offers that were made to Democrats, and they came running in saying, "It didn't sound like it passed the legal muster to me."
It's the first decision made by the nine tax experts chosen to analyze the nation's tax system and recommend changes to make it simpler, fairer and more economically efficient.
The consensus to repeal the alternative minimum tax means the panel must replace the more than $1.2 trillion that the Treasury Department expected to collect through that tax over the coming decade. The president instructed the panel to develop restructuring ideas that raise the same amount of tax revenue as current laws.
This following excerpt from a BBC article has me hot. This is unbelievable bullshit. Now that the environment and conservation is becoming more of a concern and more popular, this seems like an obvious attempt by neo-cons and extreme right to co-opt the message of the left and further muddy and blur the lines between left and right. Not that I ever believe for a second that they will ever change their policies, and if they do, it is only because it is part of the corporate race to the bottom line.
Sorry for the lack of analysis on this (I am at work), I just want to get this incredible confrontation on Daybreak this morning out there.
COSTELLO: Welcome back. It's 6:49 Eastern. Here is what will be making news today.
There is a link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda and 9/11. That's what Republican Representative Robin Hayes told me just minutes ago on this program. He indicated that Congress has evidence linking Saddam Hussein to 9/11.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ROBIN HAYES (R), NORTH CAROLINA: The connection between individuals who are connected to Saddam Hussein, folks who worked for him, we've seen it time and time again. But the issue is: Where are we now? Nobody disputes 9/11. They would do that again if not prevented. Preventing 9/11 wherever it might happen in America, winning the war overseas, not bringing it here to our shores is the issue in that regard.
Brazil, citing public interest, is seeking to break the patent for anti-AIDS drug Keletra so they can make cheaper generic copies which they provide FREE to anyone who needs them. A government that responds to the needs and interests of the people - what a concept!!!!
I wonder if the US will threaten retaliation, since the administation acts in the interest of the pharmaceutical companies, like with the prescription drug bill.
It is a shame that health care, such a basic life necessity, is only available in this country to those who can afford it, or only if you are in extreme poverty, and then you still don't have total access. Health care should be a right to everyone. Free markets shouldn't be allowed to go unchecked when one's very survival is at stake.
Cuba plans on raising the minimum wage from 100 pesos to 225 pesos a month. Still that isn't much but did you know most citizens pay no rent, and education and health care are free. Cuba is also increasing monthly welfare payments.
Also, we may now include Cuba in the Axis of Evil, as they have now just discovered oil discovered off its coast.
Just when you thought you heard everything. Of course, McDonald's is using an example of someone with a North Dakota accent taking your order, but we all know that will not be the case.
"The world's largest fast-food chain said on Thursday it is looking into using remote call centers to take customer orders in an effort to improve service at its drive-thrus."
"Call center professionals with "very strong communication skills" could help boost order accuracy and ultimately speed up the time it takes customers to get in and out of the drive-thrus, the company said."
By now we have all heard Greenspan himself thinks that a national sales tax may be the way to go. I am not necessarily opposed to that idea. Let's see if we can use it to our advantage.
We'd have to insist than any plan pays off the national debt in 20(?) years, maintain progressiveness, and SocSec & Medicare would be set aside in a lock box, with caps eliminated, gradual increase in the retirement age (we're living longer, so we can work longer), and subjecting the taxes to all classes of income as well. And pay as you go rules would be restored as well.
NEW YORK - A video that shows a young American soldier admitting to being a participant in the shooting of two Iraqi prisoners will air on "60 Minutes II."
"I hate it here," she says. "I want to come home. I want to be a civilian again. We actually shot two prisoners today. One got shot in the chest for swinging a pole against our people on the feed team. One got shot in the arm. We don't know if the one we shot in the chest is dead yet."
