By BobbiV

Ya gotta love the Pentagon and the military.  The DOD has done one great job training these guys.  Now they say they can’t account for eight point seven billion dollars of money that was earned from Iraqi oil sales.  Seems to me I remember Paul Wolfowitz testifying before the House, or maybe it was the Senate, that the Iraqi oil revenues were going to pay for our expenditures in the war.  Actually, he said these oil revenues would more than pay for the war, so no harm, no foul,,,right?  We American citizens don’t have to worry though, because the DOD says the money was just lost due to simple accounting errors.

Noooo… fellas,  simple accounting errors would be a hundred dollars or a thousand dollars,even a million dollars in extreme circumstances.  But we are talking about eight point seven billion dollars. That is no accounting error or group of errors.  It is also most definitely not simple.

From Laurence Lewis at Daily Kos; (emphasis mine)

Now, let’s do the math. $8,700,000,000 divided by $9,100,000,000. That comes to 0.9560. Or 95.6%. Missing. Of the Iraqi oil revenue entrusted to the Defense Department between 2004 and 2007. Which would be during the Bush-Cheney administration. Which would be mostly during the tenure of Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense.

$8,700,000,000.

95.6%.

Unaccounted for. Gone. Missing. Poof. Like magic.

You can read the rest here.

Coming closer to getting the point now, guys?  It wasn’t just the American tax payers you ripped off this time.  We want the money paid back sooner rather than latter and everyone  up through Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld should have to cough up their share.  Out here in the reality based world that is just the way it is.

From The Los Angeles Times; (emphasis mine)

If more money is found to be missing, “Iraq will definitely try to get it back,” said Ali Musawi, a media advisor to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

Most of the money covered in the latest audit has been spent, but the study found $34.3 million that should legally have been returned to Iraq in 2007, when Iraq’s government assumed responsibility for its finances.

The Defense Department has not said what it intends to do with the money, which is “at risk” of being spent, the audit said.

In response to the audit findings, the Defense Department concurred with recommendations that it establish better guidelines for managing such funds. But a letter from U.S. Central Command emphasized that failure to establish deposit accounts for the $8.7 billion does not mean it all cannot be accounted for.

Read the rest of this article here.

Okay you guys, left…right…left…right…hup,hup,hup, get back in those little cubicles where you stick the bean counters and start accounting.  And do not stop until you find at least eight point seven billion dollars!

Just to let you know how serious we are about this, take a look at what is going on in Bell, California.  That is over a few million at most.  Imagine when we come after you for billions.  Wait, don’t imagine.  Its too gruesome even for a cardboard cut out, love to wear the medals but haven’t had to do any fighting Pentagon asshat.  It might mess with your sensibilities.

Get going, start accounting, right NOW!

Look how much we spend on you over inflated pieces of crap and this was in 2007. Find the money and stop the waste or we will send you where they don't spend very much at all on the military. To be clear that would be in the "Rest of the World" category on the pie chart. And yes, we will leave you there. Aw....don't cry.

By BobbiV

Bush did more for the wealthy rich in this country than any president before.  When it came to discussion about unemployment extensions to help the millions of Americans who are out of work thanks to the Bush economy, all we began to hear in the media and from Republicans was the deficit couldn’t handle these benefits.  This was, of course after we had paid for the unemployment insurance out of our pay checks.

However, when it comes to letting the Bush tax cuts expire for those making over $250,000 deficit suddenly becomes a dirty word.  I would be willing to wager we don’t hear about the fact that tax rates were higher through most of the Reagan era.

Democrats should pass the tax cuts for the 95% of America making less than $250,000, and dare Republicans to filibuster to protect the top five percent!

I mean really filibuster.  Bring in the mattresses, make these Republican Senators talk until they drop.  I would really like to hear how they are going to defend their position.  What do you want to bet they would cave pretty quickly?

If the Democratic side wants to win in November, force this filibuster.  Give the voters a graphic illustration of who cares about their well being and who doesn’t.  Don’t back down anymore to these asses.  Show them up for what they really are.  Believe me, the voters of this country will get it very quickly if a filibuster actually happens, plus Democratic members of the Senate can grab the news cycle and the headlines for as long as the filibuster lasts.  You know CNN, MSNBC, FOX and the rest of the press will be all over it.

I tell you, this is the best and most illustrative way to get a dual message out there.  First you show the Democrats are standing up for the common man and second you show you aren’t afraid to confront Republican hypocrisy and lies.

As an added bonus, voters and activists will be lighting up the phone lines and flooding the emails  to the Senate, House and White House.  Come on.  Let’s tea bag the tea baggers!  Lets show them what real protest is all about.  We know how to get loud and in their faces and we are not afraid to do it.

There is good news and some good paying jobs heading to the small towns of central Nevada.  Living in one of these towns I can say for a fact that we could use them.  With a 14% unemployment rate in Nevada the entire state could use more jobs.

I am not sure if Tea Bag darling Sharron Angle will even bother to comment on this topic.  If she deigns to give any statement on it whatsoever it will more than likely be just that, a statement made in front of the cameras and then she will do her usual sprint away from the reporters to the safety of her car.  Many questions asked but not a single one answered.

You see Sharron is already on record saying that it would not be part of her job to protect or promote new jobs in our beautiful state.  You would think though,  she would like to see as many jobs as possible created here to get those “Spoiled” people who are unemployed off of state and federal aid.

There is another reason for darling Sharon to smile her deaths head grin and condemn these new jobs.  Many of these jobs are being created through grants provided from the federal stimulus plan.  Now, we all know how she feels about that pesky big government butting into the business of the state of Nevada.

There is one project in particular that would make her poor head just explode.  It involves the stimulus plan, the green energy plan and creating jobs in the state for which she would like to become the Senator.

This plan revolves around a lithium mine in a small town called Silver Peak, Nevada and is getting headlines in our local paper,”‘The Tonopah Times-Bonanza”.  A grant in the amount of $28.4 million dollars has been granted to the Chemetall Foote Corp. to expand their lithium mine in Silver Peak.

Chemetall is the only domestic provider of lithium our nation has.  That lithium will be pivotal in creating the high capacity batteries needed for the next generation of electric cars and other high tech advancements.  It seems to me that investing in our own production of lithium will reduce our need to buy it from other nations.

This project is already creating jobs in our area.  Contractors doing the work to expand the Silver Peak mine are starting to hire workers.  When finished, the estimates are that the on site staff at the mine will double what it was in 2009 before the Bush fiscal debacle.  It is an investment not only in an area that needs jobs badly, but also an investment in the future of our nation.

Sadly, Angle will have no choice but to condemn this entire project that is investing millions of dollars into her state.  She is against the stimulus plan, she is against the clean energy bill and is completely indifferent about creating new jobs in the state she wants to represent.  Her tea baggers are against any form of government regulation or spending whatsoever.

The only win for Angle is that there will be fewer “spoiled unemployed people” sucking the resources out of her state.  I guess that will save her the trouble of hunting all the “spoiled unempolyed people” down and exercising her “second amendment solutions” on them.

If she ends up saying anything at all on the subject she will claim that Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid somehow blackmailed somebody in some way to divert this money to our state.

How sad!

Watch the video.  It shows the extremism of the tea baggers and Angle.

By BobbiV

There is a rule in the Senate that says the minority can hold up a vote on a bill for thirty hours after a filibuster is broken.  No one expected Republican Senators to pull this out of the hat and use it to delay unemployment benefits for just one more day.  What would be the point?

No matter what logic says and no matter that they lost the vote, Republicans decided to use this rule just , I guess, because they could.  So a few thousand kids go hungry for another day.  So a few more hard working Americans get ejected from their homes.  No skin off the Republican Senators noses.  They are living high on the hog with their corporation executive buddies and could care less about the lazy, too dumb to get a job lower class.

As Bugs Bunny would say, “What a bunch of maroons.”

As I would say, “What a bunch of heartless, self centered, crooked, unpatriotic bastards.”

I mean really, the truth is they helped create this mess.  The economic destruction of this country was brought about by Bush, Cheney,Republican Senators and Congresspeople, Banks and Wall Street.  Now they are so desperate to shift the blame to the Democratic side and Obama. they have lost all reason whatsoever.

We have simply got to get these Neanderthals out of our government and our economy.  They want a rules free government without any regulations at all……thinking……thinking……got it, let’s send them to Somalia, they don’t have any regulations.

Press release from the White House;

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2010

Statement by the Press Secretary on Continued Delay on Unemployment Insurance Extension

A day after the Senate moved forward to pass the unemployment insurance extension to help millions of Americans fighting to get back on their feet and find work, the partisan minority in the Senate is yet again obstructing passage of this bill.  After blocking this aid three separate times over the past weeks, Republicans have once again refused to reach an agreement and allow this bill to come to the floor for a vote quickly so these benefits can be restored.  Republican obstruction has already cost 2.5 million Americans essential aid they need to pay their rent, put food on the table, and take care of their kids.  By the end of this week, roughly 350,000 more Americans could be added to that number.  The livelihoods of nearly 3 million Americans shouldn’t hinge on partisan game playing in Washington.  This latest move gives the partisan minority thirty more hours to stall in the Senate, but that means thirty more hours of suffering for these hardworking families trying to get by.

That seems to sum it up quite nicely.  But just to put a cherry on the cake the unemployed can’t afford to bake, here is a video with our favorite House member Alan Grayson (D-FL) on the Ed Show.

Are we in for a repeat of these signs from the Great Depression? It sure looks like it if Republicans get their way.

By BobbiV

In another refreshing change from our former POTUS George W. Bush,  Barack Obama gets jokes and even subtle humor.  He can also pull off telling a comedic story or joke with real class.  As an extra bonus it doesn’t have to be frat boy humor for him to do it or understand it.

Last week President Obama illustrated his great sense of humor and timing during a speech.  I admit to laughing out loud in a room by myself when I heard this.  I can’t recall a president who was so suave with his delivery of a joke since JFK.  But, I must admit Bill Clinton has a great sense of timing and humor too.

So, today is Sunday and I really need a break from the bad news about the environment and the oil leak in the Gulf.  I posted the very funny Lewis Black for you readers.  Now I will post a video of President Obama that should bring another smile to your face.

Do you think maybe Democratic humor is just plain funnier than Republican humor?  Or is it that Democrats see humor in lots of things besides making cruel and/or crude jokes like the Republicans do?

No matter, this is funny so  just enjoy it and be thankful we have a president again who gets it.

By BobbiV

During the past week the Senate has been working on financial reform.  Lord knows we need some real regulation for Wall Street and the big banks as well as all other aspects of our economy where finance is concerned.  We are also sorely in need of a consumer protection agency that has enforcement teeth to it.  Consumers really need a way to force financial entities to toe the legal line.  When they step over it there should be appropriate consequences.

As you can well imagine there are really no Republicans who want a financial reform package with real clout.  Even some more conservative Democratic lawmakers are hesitant and have to be dragged kicking and screaming to do what is right for the people.  Even then some of them back off.  Could it be because these big financial institutions contribute to their campaigns, or should I say bought them?

It has become clear through the discussions and hearings that have been held in both the House and the Senate that one thing we truly need is an ongoing audit of the Federal Reserve Bank.  They are supposed to be there to loan to banks and take over management of failed banks.  But they have morphed into a virtual ATM for Wall Street and the big banks.

As Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL) illustrates and explains very well in the following video, the Fed is running out of control.  It is past time to get control and close oversight of this agency.  If we do not the whole thing could and dare I say will, come crashing down around us.

Watch and learn how taxpayers came to own The Red Roof Inns across the country.  I think you will agree with me that most of us are sick and tired of Wall Street and their lackeys milking this country.  It is time to put a stop to it.

By BobbiV

The Party of no today has said they will allow a vote on debate of the financial reform bill to come to the floor of the Senate.  Isn’t that big of them?

Of course, the Senate Republicans are acting like this is a win for them, it is not.  Republican Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky put it this way “The time afforded by my Republican colleagues and Senator Ben Nelson was instrumental in gaining assurances from the Chairman that changes will be made….”

Silly me, I thought bringing the debate to the floor and then bringing amendments to vote on was the way they made changes to a bill after it comes out of committee.  Is Mitch trying to say they want changes so major they can’t be handled on the Senate floor through the amendment and voting process?  Republicans have never been shy about adding major amendments before, like on the recent health care bill, so why now?

Why can’t McConnell just sack up and admit his group wasn’t willing to stay all night to get the bill to floor debate like Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said he intended?  Why can’t the hybrid man-tortoise just admit his side was crumbling and he couldn’t hold them in lockstep on this issue any longer?  Why am I even asking?

At this time there is no word as to exactly when  the bill will be debated, but at least we now know it will be, and soon.

Before leaving this subject, I will post a video of Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota speaking about the intransigence of his Republican colleagues and trying to convince them to see the light.  It is from the Senate floor yesterday and is titled ‘fueled by unbridled greed and love of risking other peoples money’.  That about sums it all up.

By BobbiV

Last Thursday was tax day.  tea baggers were out waving their misspelled signs and making sure to give speeches no one understood, Republican legislators were lieing about the phony increased tax burden everyone is feeling under President Obama with his Democratic administration and sane citizens were being pleasantly surprised as they realized the truth that under the Obama administration they actually paid less and got back more this year.

Just a regular tax day in the good old US of A.  Right down to the part about corporations getting by with paying nothing while at the same time seeing record profits.

From Forbes;

Exxon tries to limit the tax pain with the help of 20 wholly owned subsidiaries domiciled in the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands that (legally) shelter the cash flow from operations in the likes of Angola, Azerbaijan and Abu Dhabi. Exxon has tens of billions in earnings permanently reinvested overseas. Likewise, GE has $84 billion in overseas income parked indefinitely outside the U.S.

Though Exxon’s financial statement’s don’t show any net income tax liability owed to Uncle Sam, a company spokesman insists that once its final tax bill is figured, Exxon will owe a “substantial 2009 tax liability.” How substantial? “That’s not something we’re required to disclose, nor do we.”

Naturally the Obama administration wants to put an end to this. It has proposed doing away with tax deferrals on overseas income. If the plan passes, a U.S. company that pays a 25% tax on profits in China would have to pay an additional 10% income tax to Uncle Sam to bring it up to the 35% corporate rate. “Eliminating deferrals would put U.S. companies on an unlevel playing field,” says the Tax Foundation’s Hodge, “especially if competing with the likes of Germany, which only taxes companies on domestic operations.”

Poor, poor babies.  If they want to be considered as persons, then they should shoulder their responsibilities as persons are expected to do.  If they do not, then they should have to pay the penalty or do the time just like persons.

I am really getting sick of hearing corporations and their alphabet soup of managers complain.  They want all the breaks without any of the pain.  Like Massey they want to treat their employees as fodder and claim it isn’t their fault when they are killed.

Also from Forbes;

Hewlett-Packard ( HPQ – news – people ) and others among the top 25 state in their annual reports that if Obama’s tax measures pass it would mean a certain tax hike, probably amounting to billions of dollars.

Read the rest here.

But in the next breath they say if you really tax them this much then they will pass it along in the form of lower wages and fewer jobs.  I have news for you fellas, you don’t scare us anymore.  We already have your lower wages and fewer jobs, and we know that all your caring in your commercials is bull.  We just no longer care about your corporate well being because you have pushed us to the point of only being able to watch out for ourselves.  Hmmm, just like you do.

Didn’t anyone ever tell you to be careful what you wished for?

Just like their idol Bush. These corporations are the persons who never were.