Monday, January 26, 2009

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW TEN REPUBLICANS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS GUY



I expected the dems to vote for this. A President with an eye toward character would have long ago called this guy aside and quietly said "i need you to withdraw." It is a total slap in the face of people like you and me who would never be given a pass by the IRS. And now all of these Republicans vote for him. Do they forget all of the times Republican nominees had to step down because the paid the domestic help in cash and that sort of thing. Amazing. I didn't expect any better from Obama... from the Republicans... yes, i expected better. I am disappointed and angry.

Richard
AP story below.
Senate confirms Geithner as treasury secretary

WASHINGTON (AP) — New York Federal Reserve Bank President Timothy Geithner won confirmation Monday as President Barack Obama's treasury secretary despite personal tax lapses that turned more than a third of the Senate against him.

"Tim's work will begin at once. We can't waste a day," Obama said, standing beside Geithner as he was sworn into office by Vice President Joe Biden.

The Senate voted 60-34 to put Geithner in charge of the administration's economic team as it races to halt the worst financial slide in generations. The swearing-in followed less than an hour later, the administration seeking to emphasize that it was wasting no time in trying to address the financial crisis.

Obama said there had been a "devastating loss in trust and confidence" and that the financial system was in "dangerous jeopardy."

In his remarks, Geithner said the new administration would work first to stabilize the financial system and get the economy growing again and then would move to reform the system.

"We are at a point of maximum challenge for our economy and our country," Geithner said to a standing-room only audience in Treasury Department's ornate Cash Room. On hand were Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, now director of Obama's National Economic Council.

Referring to Geithner's tax problems, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Geithner had made amends — he has paid the taxes and penalties — and possessed the talent needed to steer the nation out of the crisis.

Geithner, 47, served as undersecretary of the treasury for international affairs during the Clinton administration. As president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, he's been a key player in the government's response to collapsing financial institutions and the housing and credit markets since last summer.

The ambivalence dogging lawmakers was reflected in the fact that a third of the chamber voted against Geithner, in large part because of his failure to pay all his taxes on income received from the International Monetary Fund in 2001 and in three subsequent years.

Ten Republicans overlooked that matter and voted for confirmation. One Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, told reporters earlier in the day that he would vote yes, only to change his mind and vote no.

Three Democrats and one independent voted against Geithner's confirmation, including Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., the longest-serving senator in history.

"Had he not been nominated for treasury secretary, it's doubtful that he would have ever paid these taxes," Byrd said in a statement.

For the prevailing majority, the real reason for Geithner's likely confirmation appears to be less a matter of bipartisan cooperation than political survival. Lawmakers of all stripes are eager to set the economy in the right direction long before voters judge their progress in the 2010 midterm elections.

"People make mistakes and commit oversights," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "Even the most intelligent and gifted — two adjectives that certainly apply to Mr. Geithner — make errors in their financial dealings."

Even so, not everyone was convinced that the need for a speedy confirmation should trump concerns about the candidate. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, didn't buy Geithner's contention that he skipped paying some taxes because he was confused by the complexities of the tax code.

"They were described by the nominee himself as 'careless mistakes,'" Collins said in prepared remarks. "It has become clear to me that this is not merely a matter of complexity leading to mistakes, but of inexcusable negligence."

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., agreed and noted that his is one of the few voices of dissent.

"Nominees for positions that do not oversee tax reporting and collection have been forced to withdraw their nomination for more minor offenses. They have been ridden out of town on a verbal rail," Enzi told the Senate. "The fact that we're in a global economic crisis is not a reason to overlook these errors."

"The Senate," he scolded, "is not supposed to be a group of 'yes' men."

It wasn't. Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa lined up against the nominee, asking how someone of Geithner's "financial sophistication" could innocently not pay the taxes and then head up the agency that oversees the IRS.

"How can Mr. Geithner speak with any credibility or authority?" Harkin said.

Specter earlier in the day had told WHP radio in Harrisburg, Pa., that he planned to vote for confirmation, only to change his mind and vote no later in the evening.

"I'm prepared to back Obama on this issue," Specter had said in the interview. "The economic situation is so tense right now and I don't want see us go back to square one and wait several weeks or longer for the process to bring in a new treasury secretary."

The 10 Republicans who voted yes were Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee, John Cornyn of Texas, Mike Crapo of Idaho, John Ensign of Nevada, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Hatch of Utah, Richard Shelby of Alabama, Olympia Snowe of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio.

The Democrats voting no were Sens. Byrd, Russell Feingold of Wisconsin and Harkin of Iowa. Also voting no was Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with Democrats.

Sens. Kit Bond, R-Mo., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., were absent. Senate seats representing Minnesota and New York are vacant.

The Senate Finance Committee approved Geithner's confirmation in an 18-5 vote last week. However ambivalent, some Senate Republicans were supporting him. Specter, for example, said he's not happy that Geithner didn't pay up all of the $42,702 in back taxes and interest until after he was nominated to become treasury secretary.

As such, Geithner will be directing the nation's economic recovery from the worst financial crisis in three generations, a task that could define the first two years of Obama's term. Specific duties include directing how $350 billion of already existing Wall Street bailout money is to be spent, then making the case to Congress and the public if more is needed.

In addition, Congress is working on an $825 billion economic recovery package that dedicates about two-thirds to new government spending and the rest to tax cuts. Geithner will be playing a big role in disbursing that money, too.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

THIS IS "FLYOVER" COUNTRY - I AM TZAR


My hometown (population 380) from a plane. It is Flyover Country. That is the "Lodgepole Valley" and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, along with Highway 30 and Interstate 80.

This is how the term is defined.

Flyover country and flyover states are Americanisms describing the region of the United States west of the Delaware River–Delmarva Peninsula and east of California's Central Valley. The terms are often used in a pejorative sense.

They are references to the regions of the country passed over during inter-coastal flights —e.g., flights between the nation's two largest cities, New York City and Los Angeles. Flyover country thus refers to the part of the country that some Americans only view by air and never actually see in person at ground level.

the final prayer

sometimes i am just so darn tired of the race card
and the race bashing
did the final prayer just HAVE to say that finally the white man would embrace what is right? i am offended. really. there are generations of "white men and women" who have done exactly that in this country. bad way to end it

God Bless America

Now there are things i can and will elaborate on tomorrow. To compare where we are with the toughest times of our founders during the revolution... well it's just wrong. But when he says "God Bless America"... well, i believe him.

NOW WE'RE TALKING

did i just see the loudest applause so far for his vow that our enemies will not wear us down and defeat us.

now that's cool.

makes me proud

IT IS DONE...

There. It is done. I hope i am dead wrong on everything i have said about him, and that he is not just a good president, but a great one... for if he is, it will be good for America and you and I.

Could we have a little more applause for the thanks for President Bush.

Can you imagine the peaceful transfer of power 44 times. I love this country so much.

Richard

THOUGHTS part 1

Carter tightens my stomach (and to think i was so young and foolish that i voted for him... for change)
Bush Sr. now looks old (he wasn't RR, but i liked him)
Clinton... when he shook hands with Pres. Bush... did he look at him with a eye that said "i wish i were more like him"?
don't chant "obama, obama, obama" it's not a rally
and don't cheer during the prayer
and a nice prayer it was
retha sounds great and THAT is one easter bonnet
darn right you cheer after that singing

i look at obama
and he will soon be my President
and yours too
i WILL give him the respect that office deserves
and my prayers too
but it will not mean i will not hold him accountable for doing the right things for our country
i will take him to task when it is called for

YES.... I AM WATCHING


I actually did not imagine myself doing this... but I am watching. Not even sure why. Curious? Historic? To see how the media covers it? Probably a little bit of it all. Will give my thoughts later. Richard

Monday, January 12, 2009

IT'S WAR... HARRY IS AN ALLY... GET OFF OF HIS BACK.



Prince Harry... an ALLY... who was fighting with us... used some manly language in the field... and even used bad words to describe the enemy. Hmmmmm. I guess we can try to kill them.... but not call them names. It's WAR. I'm pretty sure the Vandals called the Romans bad names. I'll bet the French called the Brits bad names at Waterloo. They used bad names and language in the Civil War, and WWI, and WWII, and Korea, and Vietnam, and the 1st Gulf War... it is the way it is. Harry gave em hell just like thousands of other soldiers in the field. Wonder what our enemies call us? This is PC crazy.... oh yes, and the tape never should have seen the light of day. That's what I think. Richard

Here's the ABC version of the story.

Royal Furor Continues Over Harry's Racial Remarks
Prince Issues Apology, but for Many That's Not Enough
By JONANN BRADY
Jan. 12, 2009 —


Racially charged comments from Britain's Prince Harry that were captured on video while he was in the military are creating an explosive backlash in Britain, with lawmakers and Muslim groups condemning the 24-year-old's language.

While filming a video diary during his military training, Harry turned the camera on a fellow solder and said, "There he is, our little Paki friend."

"Paki" is a derogatory term used to describe South Asian immigrants in England.

David Cameron, Britain's opposition Conservative Party leader, said Harry's comments undermined work to root out racism from the country's armed forces.

"It is obviously a completely unacceptable thing to say," Cameron told the BBC.

The News of the World newspaper released the tape this weekend, reporting that Harry had made the remarks in 2006 during a visit to Cyprus to carry out training exercises with fellow military cadets.

One Pakistani man in London who did not give his name said it was "disgusting."

"If the royals are thinking about us in this way, then I'm sure other people are going to think the same," he said.

Harry has been in trouble before with alcohol, drugs and fistfights, and he's been called a racist after he dressed as a Nazi for a costume party in 2005.

But many in Britain believe this latest royal blunder is by far the worst. One London tabloid headline this morning read, "Sorry's Not Good Enough."

"The monarchy, as an institution, is here to unify the country, that's what they say their job is. But this, far from unifying the nation, is actually dangerous, I think," said Robert Jobson, a News of the World editor.

The prince's handlers offered an apology and an explanation Saturday.

"Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be and is extremely sorry for any offense his words might cause," spokesman Patrick Harrison said in a statement.

"However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon. There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend."

Harry was also caught on tape telling another cadet, "You look like a raghead." "Raghead" is a derogatory term for Arabs.

Harrison said that Harry had used the term "raghead" to refer to either the Taliban or Iraqi insurgents.

Harry's language "is sickening, and he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself," said Mohammed Shafiq, director of the Ramadan Foundation, a British Muslim youth organization.



Royals' Scandalous Past
The prince also pretended he was on the phone with his grandmother Queen Elizabeth and grandfather Prince Phillip.

He said jokingly, "And Grandpa. Ya, ya, God save you."

Prince Phillip is no stranger to the racial slur.

"Prince Philip has certainly made some unfortunate remarks over the years. He called the Chinese 'slitty-eyed,'" said Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty Magazine.

He's also insulted Romanians, Kenyans, Indians and Canadians.

"Perhaps neither of them remember that people are listening and cameras are on them," Seward said.

"Harry isn't particularly bright and is probably unable to weigh up what he can do and what he can't do and what he can say and what he can't say," Seward said.

British historian Robert Lacey said Harry will survive the uproar and compared his remarks to past royal scandals.

"In the grand scheme of things, I think they will have forgotten it by next week," Lacey told "Good Morning America Weekend." "Sixteen, 17 years ago we were pondering over the fact that his father had been caught on the telephone talking to his mistress saying that he wanted to be a tampon inside her. We heard about his mother talking to lovers on the telephone. I think this is all part of what we rather enjoy in Britain about the royal family."

Third in line to the British throne, Harry may have "spare heir" syndrome, according to Lacey.

"The queen had a younger sister Princess Margaret who was known to drink too much, who had a toy-boy boyfriend," Lacey said. "It's part of how you live with an iconic family. You've got to have that black sheep, and Harry certainly lives up to that."

The Associated Press contributed to this article.


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