Goodbye "George" Party |
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Say Goodbye to "George" Party: Please add to your calendars: Saturday, January 17, 2009. At the Galien American Legion. Festivities begin at 5:00 PM. $3.00 cover charge ($5.00/couple) which will be given to the American Legion for the use of their hall. A special handmade quilt to be raffled-off. The quilt will honor the election of Barack Obama and will be a real collector's item. Potluck -- Bring a dish to pass. If you don't want to cook, for an additional $5.00 a meal will be served. 50/50 drawing. Trivia Game. Music.
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POSTED 1/7/09 Panetta pick as CIA chief under fire(From CNN) Could someone without intelligence experience
effectively lead the United States' top spy agency, particularly in a time of war? Two Democratic sources told CNN on Monday that President-elect Barack Obama will nominate longtime Washington power broker Leon Panetta to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. The news provoked strong emotions in political and intelligence circles. Michael Scheuer, a 22-year CIA analyst who worked in tracking Osama bin Laden, likened Panetta to a "political hack" Tuesday. "He clearly has nothing on his curriculum vitae that suggests he should be the candidate for this job," Scheuer said. "It's not apparent he has any talent that is pertinent to the job." Scheuer said Panetta's lack of experience could damage the agency and jeopardize national security. "What Mr. Panetta's appointment says is that there's no urgency in the mind of the Obama administration that they think they can send somebody over there who can learn on the job and that the enemy will wait to attack us," he said. But Panetta supporters describe him as a consummate manager and bipartisan Capitol Hill insider who gets things done without alienating people. The eight-term congressman also has decades of foreign policy experience and was part of the Iraq Study Group, whose recommendations led to changes in U.S. policy in the region. Panetta, 70, also was director of President Bill Clinton's Office of Management and Budget. Although he had not officially nominated Panetta, Obama on Tuesday praised his long service in Washington. "I have the utmost respect for Leon Panetta," Obama told reporters. "[He has] an impeccable record of integrity as chief of staff [under Bill Clinton]..." THERE'S MORE - GO TO CNN STORY POSTED 1/7/09 Barack Obama On Leon Panetta & CIA Nomination
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Every newsletter has a "front page." This page is our front page for the Internet edition of the Donkey Chronicle. This is the gateway page for our entire web site. |
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LAST
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POSTED 1/7/09Conspiracy of Silence: Wage Collapse Caused Crisis (From the Daily KOS by Tasini ) Every day, there is another example of the conspiracy of silence that pervades the traditional media's description of the current economic crisis. Sure, de-regulation, greed and pure stupidity has a lot to do with it. But, in truth, the underlying reason for the collapse has been a persistent war on the wages of American workers. Call it--egads--class warfare. What is astonishing, and aggravating, is that much of the traditional media continues to point the finger at workers--those wild-spending people who just bought all those yachts, fur coats and mansions in far-away countries. And, now, shame on them, those wild-spending workers are doing something awful--they are saving money. |
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POSTED 1/7/09 Peters, Schauer appear headed to key committees (From the Detroit Free Press) WASHINGTON -- Looks like Michigan’s two newest members of Congress are headed to a couple of key committees for the state’s interests. The Democratic Caucus will decide Wednesday but it appears Rep. Gary Peters of The committee not only will help decide on the second round of rescue money for financial institutions -- a portion of which is to go to General Motors -- it also will write legislation on foreclosure relief. Michigan has been among the hardest hit states in the housing downtown.
That said, it looks like Michigan will have only one member on House Appropriations, the most important committee when it comes to doling out federal funds. Detroit Democrat Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick is the only Michigander left on the panel after Republican Joe Knollenberg -- the ranking Republican on the Transportation Subcommittee -- was defeated by Peters. THERE'S MORE - GO TO THE DETROIT FREE PRESS POSTED 1/7/09 |
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POSTED 1/7/09 Bush makes last-minute appointments
The full list as released by the White House after the jump includes attorney general Michael Mukasey, deputy national security advisor Elliott Abrams, and Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff. The President intends to appoint Robert D. McCallum, Jr., of Georgia, to be a Member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarships Board, for the remainder of a three-year term expiring 09/22/10. The President intends to appoint Martin Faga, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Public Interest Declassification Board, for the remainder of a three-year term expiring 10/03/11. THERE'S MORE - GO TO CNN STORY POSTED 1/7/09 |
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POSTED 1/7/09 Burris denied Senate seat in dramatic fashion (From the Detroit Free Press) WASHINGTON – The political theater provided on Capitol As in Roland Burris, the 71-year-old former Illinois comptroller, attorney general and Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pick to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. Blagojevich is under suspicion by federal prosecutors of trying to barter for seat and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada so far is refusing to honor Blagojevich’s selection of Burris – even though he’s under no ethical cloud himself. Burris was mobbed by reporters and photographers as he came to the Capitol today, then, in a closed door meeting with the Secretary of Senate promptly had his credentials to be seated rejected. He then held an extraordinarily brief news conference in a sleety rain outside – he’s not a senator in the eyes of the Senate, after all, so he couldn’t hold it inside. Said Burris, “I’m not seeking any kind of confrontation” and then he departed, saying his next move will be decided by him and his lawyers. THERE'S MORE - GO TO THE DETROIT FREE PRESS POSTED 1/7/09 |
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(From Blogging for Michigan by: wizardkitten) |
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POSTED 1/5/09Franken declares Senate race win after state ruling(From CNN) Democrat Al Franken declared victory in the hotly The Minnesota State Canvassing Board on Monday certified the results of the recount of Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's fight to retain his seat against Franken. The results showed Franken with a 225-vote lead. "I am proud to stand before you as the next senator from Minnesota," Franken told reporters Monday night. "It's clear that we have a lot of important work to do ... I'm ready to go to Washington and get to work as soon as possible." Coleman's attorney, Tony Trimble, said shortly after the ruling that the campaign will officially file a lawsuit. The Minnesota Republican's campaign later announced that he will make a public statement on Tuesday afternoon. Coleman's campaign contends the recount should have included about 650 absentee ballots it says were improperly rejected in the initial count. The initial count from the November 4 election put Coleman, a first-term senator, 215 votes ahead of Franken, who is known for his stint on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and as a former talk-show host on progressive radio network Air America. In Washington, the Senate's majority and minority leaders staked out opposing positions on the matter of who will serve Minnesota alongside Democrat Amy Klobuchar. "There comes a time when you have to acknowledge that the race is over," Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, told reporters. "The race in Minnesota's over. Now it's only a little finger-pointing. The certification by the canvassing board, which has been in process for a number of weeks, now clearly shows that Al Franken has won." Reid added later: "Coleman will never ever serve in the Senate. He's lost the election. He can stall things, but he'll never serve in the Senate." Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said: "The law in Minnesota requires certification from the secretary of state and that can't happen until the conclusion of all legal battles. It's not over." Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan echoed McConnell's criticism. THERE'S MORE - GO TO CNN STORY POSTED 1/5/09 |
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POSTED 1/5/09 Bush Cites Failed Social Security Privatization Push As His Biggest Domestic Policy Achievement (From Think Progress.com) The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes reports today that he and fellow conservative Bill Kristol met with President Bush last Friday for a lunch in the president’s “private dining room adjacent to the Oval Office.” According to Barnes, the “left-wing haters” are “going to be disappointed when they see his demeanor as he leaves his eight-year presidency” because Bush “appears comfortable with what he expects his legacy will be.” Speaking of Bush’s legacy, Barnes reports that the president cited his push to privatize On domestic policy, Bush was asked if he made progress in some areas for which he hasn’t and probably won’t get credit. Topping his list was his unsuccessful drive in 2005 to reform Social Security. Bush said his effort showed it’s politically safe to campaign on changing Social Security and then actually seek to change it. He also said it was important to have raised private investment accounts as an attractive option in reforming Social Security. It seems odd that Bush cited an unsuccessful effort as his biggest domestic policy achievement, but understandable given that he doesn’t have much else to consider. But not only was Bush’s drive to privatize Social Security an utter failure, the concept is also widely unpopular with the American public and if enacted, it would have had disastrous consequences for Americans’ retirement funds. A recent Center for American Progress Action Fund report found that if a worker had retired on October 1, 2008 after 35 years of contributions to private retirement accounts, that retiree would have lost nearly $30,000 in retirement funds because of the downturn in the stock market over the last two years. Part of the reason Bush’s push failed was that very few people actually believed he was trying to reform Social Security and instead thought he was trying to dismantle it. Even back in 2005, despite a lack of support for privatization, the Bush administration was insisting that their efforts were a “great success.” Indeed, a recent CNN poll found that 62 percent of Americans oppose privatizing any part their Social Security taxes. But seeing that Bush regularly ignores what Americans think, its no wonder he thinks he doesn’t get enough credit for his privatization crusade. (From Think Progress.com GO TO ITEM) |
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POSTED 1/5/09 Obama on his silence over Gaza violence: 'one president at a time' (From Raw Story) President-elect Barack Obama Monday expressed concern about the Gaza crisis but stressed he would not interfere in "delicate negotiations" by the outgoing US administration. There's More - Go to Raw Story Article POSTED 1/5/09 |
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POSTED 1/5/09 Obama to name Panetta to lead CIA, Blair as intelligence chief(From CNN) Leon Panetta, chief of staff in President Bill Clinton's White House, will be President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be CIA director, two Democratic officials told CNN on Monday. The officials also said retired Adm. Dennis Blair, who formerly headed the U.S. Navy's
Pacific Command, will be tapped as director of national intelligence. Panetta, 70, has had a long political career, beginning in 1966 when he served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Thomas H. Kuchel. R-California. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1977, serving California's 16th (now 17th) District until Clinton appointed him to head the Office of Budget and Management in 1993. He was chief of staff from 1994 to 1997. Panetta and his wife, Sylvia, founded and co-direct the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy at California State University, which provides study opportunities for students there and at several other schools. He serves on several boards and committees, and lectures internationally on economics. With a strong background in economics, Panetta has little hands-on experience in intelligence. But he is known as a strong manager with solid organizational skills. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who will be the new chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said she had not been told in advance of Panetta's selection. "My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time," the California Democrat said. But Sen. Ron Wyden, a senior member of the Intelligence Committee, said he was consulted on the pick and praised Panetta. "I believe he has the skills to usher in a new era of accountability at the nation's premier intelligence agency," said Wyden, D-Oregon. "For too long our nation's intelligence community has operated under a policy of questionable effectiveness and legality in which consulting two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee counted as 'consulting with Congress.' " THERE'S MORE - GO TO CNN STORY POSTED 1/5/09 |
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POSTED 1/3/09 WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT As I sit and use the benefit of hindsight there is one thing that becomes blatantly obvious to me, and that As I look at what you have accomplished, keeping an office open for going on five years, registering voters, working at the polls, making phone calls, putting out yard signs, having the best web site in the state for a club, working the Blue Tiger project and being recognized on that web site, working the fair booth, the festivals all over the southern part of the county, the parades, the guest speakers from U.S. Senators to the Governor and Lt. Governor, local politicians that spoke, being represented at the State Central Committee, working on the two Presidential campaigns with results not seen in the county for decades, helping those that needed help, some with voting rights and the information that allowed them to vote, others it was simply putting them in touch with the proper agency to help them, then there is the always pleasure of helping the homeless Veterans. To the members and activists of the SCDC I say we have much to be proud of, but there is still work to be done. As you move forward into a new year and into new challenges, you must begin working on the task ahead with new ideas and new answers to the problems you will face to remain a viable and solvent club and as friends working to achieve all your goals. REMEMBER ALL THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US AND LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THOSE THAT WILL COME TO WORK WITH US. |
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POSTED 1/4/09 Obama Talks Action, Republicans Talk Obstruction(From Blogging for Michigan by: wizardkitten)01/03/09: President-elect Obama's Weekly Address The President-elect calls for bold, swift action to address the nation's economic crisis... To put people back to work today and reduce our dependence on foreign oil tomorrow, we will double renewable energy production and renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient. To build a 21st century economy, we must engage contractors across the nation to create jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, and schools. To save not only jobs, but money and lives, we will update and computerize our health care system to cut red tape, prevent medical mistakes, and help reduce health care costs by billions of dollars each year. To make America, and our children, a success in this new global economy, we will build 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries. And to put more money into the pockets of hardworking families, we will provide direct tax relief to 95 percent of American workers. Republican members of Congress finished counting their latest raise in pay, looked up and said, "What? Help the American people? Create jobs? Reduce health care costs? Fix the infrastructure of this country? Educate children? Are you crazy? That might lead to waste and fraud!" Mitch, you forgot "abuse". Geez, you can't even get the talking points right. It's no wonder y'all got thrown out of office in such massive numbers. Nevertheless, rumblings from the party of "fiscal responsibility" indicate that obstruction of the mandate delivered by the voters is in order here. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voiced skepticism today about the emerging economic stimulus plan, applying a brake to Democratic plans to quickly pass up to $850 billion in spending and tax cuts soon after President-elect Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration. NOW he cares about the "taxpayers". Right. Tell us another one, funny guy. Obama already told you where the money is going, Senator. It's going to be spent trying to revive the economy and country that you destroyed. But, if you want to stop that from happening, well, must be that you really haven't learned anything yet, and we will just have to kick more of you out of office in 2010. The Republican Party will have smaller numbers than the Greens by the time this is all over. Meet the new year, same as the old year... (From Blogging for Michigan) |
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POSTED 1/4/09 If You Do Nothing Else Today, Read Krugman(From the Daily KOS by thereisnospoon )
Problem is, it turns out I have no need to write: Paul Krugman already did it for me toda. Krugman's column is one to print out, keep, and return to. It is the most consequential thesis, and the most important development politically in over a generation. From today's column, which really must be read in full (my emphasis added):
This past election was the true test of the continued efficacy of that strategy. On the one hand you had Barack Obama, an African-American candidate with Hussein as a middle name. On the other, you had a campaign invigorated only by a racist appeal to "real Americans", a marked distaste for "community organizers" (the sort of people who only help organize "Those People") and embodied by a candidate whose very popularity owed itself to thinly veiled racism. As nephewmiltie pointed out at RedState:
Of course, Krugman goes on to point out that the 2008 election essentially rendered that strategy obsolete. The puppetmasters of the Republican Party were never as concerned with rolling back the Great Society as they were with rolling back the New Deal. Their racist base wanted the Great Society destroyed; the real power, however, used that racial resentment as a secret wedge to attempt to roll back the real target of their ire. It is FDR, far more than LBJ, who is the real enemy of the Republican Party. As I said before in Why the GOP is Seriously Screwed if Obama Wins:
Krugman, as usual, puts it best. But he goes one step farther: it not just that Republicans will have to come up with a new playbook to remain competitive, but also that the constraints that used be upon the Democratic Party to create real change have essentially disappeared:
For the longest time, the progressive economic agenda was held hostage to vaguely economically progressive but socially retrograde racist Dixiecrats in the South. When truly progressive economics required that all our nation's people have equal opportunity to share in the nation's wealth, those erstwhile alliances became strained or broken. But today Democrats are no longer dependent on the likes of Zell Miller and his Dixiecratic friends to enact a progressive economic agenda. The Republicans have painted themselves into a corner as the Party of the South, and Democrats have largely cleaned our own house of the racists. All that leaves for us is the question of whether enough of our Democratic officials will recover from their Battered Wife Syndrome and reject the temptations of corporate corruption to truly herald the advent of a 2nd New Deal. Because at this point, the Republican Party is basically incapable of stopping us until they figure out a new strategy to win elections--a not impossible but truly monumental task. Nor are we as Democrats held back by the same constraints we once were. The time to seize the day is now, and the opportunity has never been more wide open. Few in Washington yet realize the significance of this, but Krugman does. If you do nothing else today, read his column in full. Memorize it. You'll be glad you did. POSTED 1/4/09 |
Bloomfield Township is going to the House Financial Services Committee, his appointment recommended by the House Steering Committee today.
Meanwhile, Rep. Mark Schauer of Battle Creek, another Democrat, appears to be going to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which oversees road, bridge and waterway projects. The National Journal reported that appointment on its Web site Tuesday. 
President Bush made another round of last-minute appointments Tuesday, giving 45 aides, supporters and others a parting gift as he leaves office: presidential appointments to boards and councils, with terms lasting three to six years after he leaves office.
Hill today as the 111th Congress came to Washington was a drama entitled “Mr. Burris Goes to Washington.”
contested Minnesota Senate race Monday, saying the win is "incredibly humbling."
Asked about whether Israel's offensive against Hamas was distracting him from his economic agenda, Obama told reporters "obviously, international affairs are of deep concern."
is, I am a very lucky man to have been privileged to meet and work with some of the genuinely nice people in Berrien County. The dedication shown the SCDC and the officers is astounding, when ask to work, the members did so with a zeal and gusto most asking for volunteers would not believe. The members know that we are all equals and willingly say O.K. to a project voted on by the majority even when we thought it was not the one we should do or do it differently. All the members realize that “you can’t win’em all” and go forward working very hard to make all events and happenings successful. They knew that the next time they could have the winning vote on a project and the method used to make it happen. This attitude and willingness to work together has made the South County Democratic Club one to be modeled by others. 
After a lengthy hiatus from blogging over the holidays and during the seemingly interminable transition period, I re-emerged to write a diary today, my thoughts fully formulated and my mental outline ready to go.