Morning BT,
I hope that all of the states that have these terrible governors follow the example of Wisconsin in the recall process with their Senators, and then in January hopefully Scott Walker will fall too. Go Wisconsin!!!

The election for governor is quite a ways off comrade BT, I wouldn’t go countin’ these chickens just yet…. as for a recall – good damn luck.

I’m not sure what her approval ratings are, but Mary Fallin, a VERY conservative Republican elected in Oklahoma last year, has seemed less loony than Kasich, Walker et al. She has taken a lot of flak from her fellow Repubs for supporting health care exchanges. She has also not gone after public employee unions anywhere near as much as have some of the other bozos. She also has avoided the loudmouthed, abrasive style of Christie and LePage. I’m not happy with her, voted against her, and would again. I’m just saying she’s not as awful as I had feared. So far, anyway.

A voice of moderation in Oklahoma. What’s this world coming to?

Good morning, Firepups! I really want to see a big backlash in all of these states. But I am really more worried at the moment about what Obama is planning to pre-concede in his budget address tonight. He should stand firm and offer nothing, but he won’t.

Off to work, have a good day everyone.

Who needs to be popular when you have Diebold as a friend?

She has also not gone after public employee unions anywhere near as much as have some of the other bozos.

That’s probably because Oklahoma is a Right to Work state.

No person shall be required, as a condition of employment or continuation of employment, to:

1. Resign or refrain from voluntary membership in, voluntary affiliation with, or voluntary financial support of a labor organization;

2. Become or remain a member of a labor organization;

3. Pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind or amount to a labor organization;

4. Pay to any charity or other third party, in lieu of such payments, any amount equivalent to or pro rata portion of dues, fees, assessments, or other charges regularly required of members of a labor organization; or

5. Be recommended, approved, referred, or cleared by or through a labor organization.

http://www.nrtw.org/c/okrtwlaw.htm

Here in Indiana, I just learned yesterday that redistricting has carved up Joe Donnelly’s district (where I live) and he may be out of a job. But he’s talking about a Senate run. He’s a Blue Dog and I don’t like his votes, but the Republican waiting in the wings is another xtianist abortion nut.

Whether Ohio is able to recall Kasich in the end or not, I think it’s apparent that his governorship has been neutered.
Good morning.

From everything I’ve read, the Catfood Commission’s recommendations are Oilbama’s starting point at budget negotiation pre-capitulation. I don’t believe I have the heart to watch that speech tonight.

Abortion is making a comebrownback as National Priority Numero Uno.

Sam Brownback, the conservative Republican governor of Kansas, signed tight restrictions on abortion into law Tuesday in the central US state.

That’s probably because Oklahoma is a Right to Work state.

“Right to work”…. Right to get fired at any time for any reason.

Mornin’, BT, pups

King Rick of FL is due to give some sort of speech today. Doesn’t matter whether it’s Obama or King Rick, it’s all bullshit.

Good Morning, Peg & All Other Pups
I don’t think I’ll be watching either. Too depressing.
Missed you yesterday.

But it will be history in the making! A Democratic president flushes the New Deal down the crapper!

In repsonse to Margaret @ 10

Good morning. I’m glad Kasich’s governorship has been neutered, but I’m still wondering when the Democrats will get their heads out of their asses. I’m still wondering where the real leaders are.

Yeah, that’s what I’ve been reading. Fortunately (IMHO) I have that volunteer gig at our Performing Arts Center tonight — the panel discussion with Michelle Rhee — so I won’t be home for the speech anyway.

How many states/counties still use touch-screen machines? To the best of my knowledge Diebold got out of the voting machine business.

x2

Here’s a little bit of reality for Obama, his Republican overlords and his Vichycrat lapdogs:

A trick question: If Congress takes no action in coming years, what will happen to the budget deficit?

It will shrink — and shrink a lot. This simple fact may offer the best hope for deficit reduction.

It’s all kabuki. An act solely designed to convince a population increasingly aware that the rich are bleeding us dry that we have to “sacrifice” more and more.

I’m wondering where the real Democrats are.

Good morning all.

Kuroneko let me sleep in yesterday.

They don’t have to be “popular”. They just have to know how to wield power to implement their ideological goals. In that they are effective. Democrats, more worried about being popular and courting the awesome Independents.

I don’t believe I have the heart to watch that speech tonight.

It’s harder to watch Obama than it was to watch George Dubya Bush. I’ll read about it afterward so that I won’t have to watch him stand there and spin, twist and lie.

Obama, his Republican overlords and his Vichycrat lapdogs

In fairness to Obama and his Vichycrat lapdogs, Republicans aren’t their overlords so much as they are all puppets – Obama, Vichycrats, and Republicans – all dancing on the same strings.

It’s harder to watch Obama than it was to watch George Dubya Bush

Yep. At least with the wanking chimp we expected it from him and it was a pleasant surprise if he didn’t go total wingnut on us. Though Obama has become oh so predictable, it’s still hurts me to see him sell us out.

I didn’t invent the phrase Right to Work.

I was just indicating that the lady from Ok didn’t have to concern herself about private sector unions, as #3 pointed out because that work was done already.

As far as “Right to get fired at any time for any reason”, even union people can get fired at any time for any reason, but they have the union to cover their back if it’s not justified.

So do these talks get recorded and tossed up on the magical innertube box?

Morning BT & FireKids…

I was all set to watch the Prez’s speech, but then I remembered that I’ve got to rotate to faceplates on the electrical outlets to make sure they don’t wear unevenly. Some things just have to take priority…

I guess there’s not enough slaughter going on in Israel for the MIC. The US is determined to stir the pot some more under the guise of “peacemaking”. Ever wonder why Carter only lasted one term? Because he was the last American President truly committed to brokering real and lasting peace.

WASHINGTON — The United States plans a new push to promote comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday, suggesting a stronger U.S. hand in trying to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hey, ya gotta have your priorities. I think I’ll delint the dryer.

I think I’ll delint the dryer.

It’s always good to be proactive. I mean…you could be riveted on the speech and not realize that the dryer is up in flames.

White House strategy session.

I don’t know, Shoto. We showed the Waiting for Superman movie a couple of times last week, and the panel tonight is to discuss it, I guess. Michelle Rhee is one of the “educators” who is covered and speaks in the film. These things aren’t normally recorded, AFAIK.

I was a little bit surprised by the film. It was not an anti-union polemic or a manifesto for charter schools (although there was a little bit of both in it), but more a sad look at the state of education in the country and how poor children in poor neighborhoods are stuck in poor schools. Parts of it are quite moving.

I’ve got a real out. I’ve got Manning Marable’s new Malcolm X bio to read instead.

Too bad there aren’t alternatives.

Just saw this Missouri congresswoman on WJ. While she’s not in Bachmann territory, she does raise the dingbat stakes just a bit. Talk about some full-on Repuglican talking points with your breakfast Kool Aid…

Speaking of Diebold–Kasich just gave Diebold 50 to 100 million Ohio dollars to stay in Akron/Canton, Ohio. 2,000 jobs stay here for up to 100 million–sounds like too much tax payer money to keep only 2,000 jobs. NC and Va made offers but Kasich really, really, wanted Diebold in Ohio. They start building a new 100 million HQ w/in the year.

Does anyone know how I find out where to sign to be one of the 230,000 signatures to get the referendum for HB5 on the Ohio ballot?

I don’t think Kasich cares if he has a second term.
It would appear slash, burn, support the big corps, run, then collect.

I’ve been wondering about that. I suspect it’s going to be a good read. Too bad the writer shuffled off before the tome was published…

Gotta bail…

We’re stuck with them here.

Blazing assholes.

My reply button isn’t working this morning here at work. My #41 was in reply to SouthernDragon @19.

It’s Twooooooooooo! ;-)

Morning everyone!

You know what’s going to get Obama re-elected? The absolute insanity coming out of the Republican Party Circus. This is theater and the Koch boys and their cohorts are laughing their rich asses off while lighting cigars with $1,000 bills from the loose change jar.

Ever wonder why Carter only lasted one term?

I Googled. Got a lot of different answers from yours.

Or slim pickens.

Just in, Lindsey Graham says they are going to raise the retirement age to 70! Using the old Tip O’Neil plan from the last raise and reduce the benefits on the back end to people.

I don’t think Kasich cares if he has a second term.

None of them do. This is about getting rich post public office, not about actual public service.

As I understand it, at will employment amounts to the same thing.

Absolutely. They wouldn’t even care if they were recalled — for the right reason.

Two what?

In reference to the movie Blazing Saddles.

Exactly. They do the bidding of their masters and even if forced from office early, they get their treats like a good little dancing chicken.

Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool.

US KIA Afghanistan: 1,531

US KIA Irak: 4,447

Iraki, Afghan and Pakistani casualties: estimates vary to over 1.5M

US MBS 2011: 12,648 and counting

Our History Was Destroyed by Slavery

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things

Namaste

No war but class war

Never. Give. Up.

Retire from what? The vast majority of American workers are treated like they’re not worthy of respect from their ignoble masters. And those are the ones who’ve been “lucky” enough not to have been laid off yet. Retiring with dignity at any age in America is going to be a memory soon enough.

Madeline Cahn’s pronunciation of “true” in Blazing Saddles.

I agree with the first part about Obamas re-election. Sad. As for $1000 Bills, fun fact:

It featured a portrait of Grover Cleveland and was last printed in 1945, although all of those carried the series date 1934.

$1000 bills were rarely used at the time and are effectively gone from circulation today. NO Federal Reserve Notes have ever been declared invalid, so if you had one you technically could still spend it. It would be foolish though because they’re worth more to collectors – anywhere from $1100 to over $2000 as of 04/2010.

Bills larger than $100 are no longer available from banks. President Nixon signed an executive order in 1969 suspending distribution of high-denomination notes as a way of fighting organized crime by making it harder to move large amounts of currency.

All the asshole has to do is show the American people a spending chart with:

–no wars
–no Bush tax cuts, and
–a revived economy.

“Crisis” over. And, then pledge to preserve Medicare and SS. He wins. We win.

The guy is fucking evil.

You are right, but the problems are larger than that. Currently nobody wants to hire the older workers because of experience and the fact that they may demand more pay.

# 47–Lindsey wants SS to begin at 70? It shows what the military think of civilians. Again, one can actually retire with a military pension at the age of 37. It happens. They get 50% of three highest years. There are civilian jobs just as difficult or dangerous as some in the military. And, many in the military never see fighting as we continue to waste so much in the nations overseas that never attacked us.

But the shock doctrine demands that there be a “crisis” so that the a$$holes can rake in profits while the heads of the people are spinning.

Looks to me like Obama’s just happy to do his part.

In other words, first do no harm.
Our government is so toxic that if it ceased writing any new laws the nation could possibly recover on it’s own.
I truly don’t think they want it recovered.

Oh. I’ve never seen Blazing Saddles, so I guess I’m clueless.

[edited by moderator]. It was a rhetorical device.

Seriously! The repugs are creating their reality through our legislature and I for one am sick of it!

If workers that have seen this union busting would all stop reporting to work and do as the repugs suggest to negotiate their own wages, they would shut TFU on it.

Yeah, pretty much. But most larger employers are pretty careful. I was an at will employee my whole career. Also similar to exempt vs. non-exempt in some ways.

Fun fact: Who cares?

A bit testy today? I thought it was kinda interesting, and it was presented as a “fun fact.”

EDIT to add: I didn’t know any of that! Thanks.

Only somebody with an unhealthy obsession with all things money.

The root of the problem is the exact opposite:

Managers are told to lay off workers in their 50s who have accrued benefits and earn more so that the companies can hire much younger workers who will work for fewer benefits and less pay.

The result is that there are many older workers without decent jobs.

I “thank” Jack Welch, former CEO of GE (1980s & 90s), for creating this business model, which has become standard in classrooms across the country.

(Btw, in an ironic twist, the companies lay off many of the managers who just laid off most of the older workers…)

Geez, why is a “fun fact” causing such pushback? I guess I will get on with my day. The morning air isn’t too pleasant at the Lake this morning.

Same here. All the states around me at “at will” employment states. However, the only way I see of getting around this mess they have us in is to declare yourself a corporation and run your home as a business.

Until they prove to me that the Citizens United ruling is fair and equal under the law that is the way I see it.

You try spending two years looking for gainful employment only to have the rug yanked out from under you every single time you are offered a glimmer of hope and see if that makes you testy.
EDIT: Besides, this particular person tries to find some fault with everything I say.

The US is a truly incredible place for workers. Most are employed ‘at will’, which means that they can be fired anytime for taking their vacations (for them that actually have a right to one). In most countries, there is a government agency that handles ‘unjust’ dismissals, and beyond that legislation permitting a person to go to court if necessary. This goes way beyond what unions can offer. And these are countries that have massively outperformed the United States over the past 30 years. The US labour market has become truly pathological. Wage slavery doesn’t seem to strong a term for it.

Yes.

What continues to fascinate me are his supporters. They can no longer claim that doing the right thing is “hard” — as with HCR. Now, all Barry has to do is … nothing — but restore the economy and end the wars. He doesn’t have to offer up any cuts — even to get re-elected.

Evil guy.

I understand, and as best I can (not being in that situation), I empathize. But snapping at another commenter for a bit of trivia seems sorta petty.

And I really DO have to get on with my day, so I’m out.

I’ll see you guys later. Maybe MS will be more pleasant now.

Well, it’s not just “fun facts.” It’s like “fun facts” from Newt Gingrich. The messenger and timing does make a difference. YMMV, however.

We’re not all always going to agree 100% with everything that’s said around here. I try to stick to issues and try let go of anything that can lead to a grudge. Not always easy, but it makes FDL a better place if we all try.

It’s ok.

Mar has more smarts than me and WAY stronger opinions.

At least I got STFU and not “Just Stop It…” with scold.

Besides, this particular person tries to find some fault with everything I say

My fault was:

I agree with the first part about Obamas re-election. Sad. As for $1000 Bills, fun fact:

I’ll try to be less scathing.

Have a good day.

Thank goodness, I have work to do. Once he started caving a couple of years ago, Mr. RedWA and I quit watching him. Same reaction as we had with Bush. I so want a president I can believe in. Might as well hope for a Unicorn instead.

Right to work states have private sector unions, I think you meant public sector.

I have no intention of watching the Great Capitulator grovel on TV this evening, either. Even if I simply stare into space it will be more productive than anything Obama says.

THE NUMBER OF GOP HOUSE BILLS INTRODUCED TO CREATE JOBS = ZERO

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/ROLL_000.asp

AIG CEO SAYS THEY HAVE A RED STATE CULTURE BECAUSE THEY DON’T RELY ON HANDOUTS

AIG is only in existence today because of a massive bailout by the American taxpayers and (b) the Red States more often receive more federal dollars than they pay into the system. So yes, AIG certainly is more of a Red State kind of company.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/22685.html

AS TEA PARTY KOCH BROTHERS EARNED AN EXTRA $11 BILLION IN RECENT YEARS, THEY LAID OFF THOUSANDS

Koch Industries pretends that it thrives from the “free market,” and that the government only inhibits its growth. But in reality, as Koch slashed jobs, the company exploited government contracts, public forests, public land, narrow corporate loopholes, eminent domain seizures of private land, and has demanded taxpayer bailouts for its refineries.

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/458013/as_tea_party_koch_brothers_earned_an_extra_$11_billion_in_recent_years,_they_laid_off_thousands/