Racist Republicans Opposed to Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Don't Give a Crap About Offending Latinos!

It's been 3 months since the Senate passed an Immigration Reform Bill. They left it to the House to pass their version, however the Republicans in the House are Racist and Refuse to Pass Any Version of Comprehensive Immigration Reform and they could Give A Damn about Alienating the Latino Vote. The Republican dominated House, whose 1st goal was stricter Mexico Border enforcement, has walked out of negotiations.

Republicans walking out are attempting to blame "Obamacare" for their walkout, but the facts are clear. They are walking out because Republicans in the House cannot gain enough votes to pass a bill within their own ranks. They are a party divided and the racist half is the most Vocal, the most Opposed to Comprehensive Immigration Reform. And it is their Racist Half that is adamantly and Vocally opposed to Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

It is clear most Republicans DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT LATINOS and Could Care Less IF We Vote For Them.

Republicans are Sneaky & Nasty! Propose Keeping Tax Cuts for Rich while Insisting Upon Massive Cuts to Social Security & Medicare!

Today, the Republicans in Congress, led by John Boehner and Paul Ryan, have just outed themselves! Horrible! John Boehner made an AWFUL counter proposal to our President today regarding the Fiscal Cliff.

Here is what Republicans are proposing:
1. NOT ENDING TAX CUTS for Rich: Boehner said NO to the President's proposal to end Tax Cuts for the Rich 2%! Instead, he proposed....

2. CUTTING Social Security: SS is SOLVENT until 2033. Yet Boehner and the Republicans are asking for $200 billion through revising the Cost of Living "CPI". This means that those on SS will see IMMEDIATE CUTS in their Social Security benefits. No more cost of living increases...instead, if approved, each retiree will see a CUT of up to $1000 each month by the time they reach 75.

3. RAISE MEDICARE ELIGIBILTY AGE TO 66 - 70: $600 billion in Medicare savings that would include raising the eligibility age and "structural Medicare reform." That's what they euphemistically call Ryan's voucher system, but it's not clear from the information available if that's what they're talking about now.


4. $800 billion in unspecified "pro-growth tax reform that closes special-interest loopholes and deductions while lowering rates."


5. $300 billion in other "mandatory" savings, including farm subsidies. No further details there.

6. $300 billion in further unspecified discretionary cuts.

Texas Teaparty Republican Lynches Empty Chair as Obama Effigy

Bud Johnson, an anti-Obama Teaparty Republican in Austin, Texas, took it upon himself to hang an empty chair (meant to represent Barack Obama) from a tree in his yard.

My Intrusive Vaginal Probe and Out of Touch Male Republican Candidates

Birth Control is a needed prescription drug and should be on every Health Care provider's formulary. These prescriptions not only prevent pregnancy for working women, they are also prescribed for the treatment of many female illnesses.
Why do Republican men minimize female medical procedures? Why do they oppose Birth Control? Why do they minimize the role of women in the workforce? In the Military? Why do they want to control women's lives?
The ANSWER: Republicans are closely linked to Big Business Pharmaceuticals who are looking for the opportunity to remove female Birth Control products from their covered formulary list. This would save them Billions of dollars a year.

What else? A Republican MANDATE for Women who are considering abortion to undergo a MANDATED extremely invasive procedure. All the Republican Presidential candidates support the proposed law in Virginia which requires woman to undergo a Transvaginal Ultrasound Exam. (see the video above) I want each of you, ESPECIALLY REPUBLICAN MEN ADVOCATING THIS PROCEDURE, to see this ENTIRE video so you understand what these Republican candidates are asking women to undergo.
I've recently had an Intrusive Vaginal probe medical procedure. In my case, it was a D&C. My husband has heard jokes by his male friends calling it "Dusting and Cleaning," but I am here to tell you, it is no joke. See this video to see what I went through. I had this procedure yesterday and I am still very sore and find it difficult to walk across the room without discomfort.

These Republican Men DO NOT UNDERSTAND Women's Health nor do they have a clue about how important Birth Control prescriptions are to American Women, all Women - whether working mothers, retirees, stay at home moms or single girls. Any man who has a question about this, I suggest you talk to your sister, wife, mother or woman friend about Birth Control. Just ask this question: "Is Birth Control important?"
Then just listen. Let her talk.

TeaParty Republican Sen. Cornyn Smashes Dream Act which Leads Latino Dream Student to Commit Suicide!

TeaParty Republican Sen. John Cornyn from Texas led the charge to defeat the Dream Act! This led a "straight A" Latino Dream Student to commit Suicide!

Before you read this story, please get out your handkerchiefs. This is a very sad story about a promising young Latino student whose life was shattered and ended early -- due to the hate-filled attacks led by Tea Party Republicans!

This is a true story about a young Latino Boy. His name was Joaquin Luna, aged 18, a straight A student. When Joaquin was six months old, he and his family, including his parents and five siblings, crossed the Texas/Mexico border without visas and travelled about 40 miles north to Mission, Texas, just on the US side of the border.

As a young student, Joaquin studied very hard. His parents taught him about the American Dream -- if he studied and worked hard enough, he could achieve the American Dream!

As Joaquin grew older, he heard all of the hate-filled rhetoric by the Republican Tea Partiers and he grew more and more concerned about not having a social security number. He became afraid that due to these Hate Mongers, he would never find a job. Joaquin talked about this often with his brothers and sisters, and often cried at night, realizing that even if he gained a good college education, he would never be able to find a decent job or be able to support a family of his own.

Joaquin followed the news and politics very closely. He read newspapers detailing all of the angry talk and hate filled rhetoric by the Republican Tea Party members and by Republican politicians like TX Senator John Cornyn who spewed his Hate Talk to defeat the Dream Act. He also read about the Hate Bills like sb1070 in Arizona and the Georgia and Alabama Hate Bills that passed harsh immigration laws that racially profiled ALL Latinos!

Joaquin's brother Carlos Mendoza said, "Joaquin became very sad. He said the people passing these laws had no heart! How could they leave so many kids without parents and destroy so many lives?"

Last year, when the Dream Act failed to pass the US senate, Joaquin's heart became saddened. Carlos said, "Joaquin got depressed real bad. Every one of us, we all get depressed. Some of us can handle it, some of us can't. Joaquin couldn't."

Last Friday, all of the Hate Filled rhetoric surrounding the Immigration debate became too much for young Joaquin. Early in the morning, Joaquin put on his best Sunday Suit, white shirt and black skinny tie, the same outfit he wore every Sunday without fail to the Pan de Vida church in downtown Mission, Texas. As his brother Carlos put it: "Joaquin dressed himself to go to God."

Then Joaquin went into the bathroom, into the shower, then shot himself.

Joaquin left behind a note that explained why he ended his young, promising life. Joaquin spoke of his desperation at the Hate Filled WALL blocking out his future and preventing him from attaining his Dreams.

A wall reserved for the undocumented Latino immigrants in America.

John Cornyn on the DREAM ACT

As President Obama Moves to Allow Dreamer Students & Non Criminals to Stay, Republicans Voted on Wednesday to Enforce Stricter Deportation Policies!

As our President and the Dept of Homeland Securities move to focus on Felonious Criminals for deportation and allow Dreamer Students and Non Criminal Workers to stay in the US, ANTI-Latino Republicans Advocate to attack our President and DEMAND MASS DEPORTATION!

HP Reports: WASHINGTON -- House Republicans on the immigration subcommittee voted on Wednesday to authorize a subpoena of the Obama administration over its deportation policies, arguing that immigration enforcers may be hiding their release of dangerous undocumented immigrants. "Are administration officials afraid the information will show that illegal aliens intentionally released by ICE have committed crimes that could have been prevented?" Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said.

"The American people have a right to know what crimes these 300,000 illegal immigrants committed after [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] intentionally chose not to detain them," he continued. House Republicans have been critical of the deportation policy, announced in August, under which the Department of Homeland Security will review its pending deportation cases and close the ones deemed low-priority.

Smith requested information on the deportation policy in August, and told Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano last week that he would take further action this week if he had not received data. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), chairman of the immigration subcommittee, said they have been "stonewalled" by the Department of Homeland Security in investigating the policy. "The administration is obviously not acting in good faith and is wrongly trying to keep crucial information from the American people," Smith said at the subcommittee meeting. "They are on the verge of obstructing the legitimate role of congress."

The Department of Homeland Security said its policy is based on the agency's limited resources, not a desire to let undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes off the hook. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton has said the agency has funding to deport about 400,000 people per year. Last fiscal year, they nearly hit that figure, removing a record 396,906 undocumented immigrants.

The Department of Homeland Security told Smith in a letter last week that the agency deported about 126,000 undocumented immigrants taken into custody through the Secure Communities enforcement program, out of the 629,000 people referred to them. Some of those matched by the program turn out to be naturalized citizens or legal immigrants, the department has said in defense of the program.

DHS says it is working to gather the information requested by the committee, some of which belongs to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "DHS has implemented common sense immigration enforcement priorities that focus our limited resources on convicted criminals, repeat immigration law violators, fugitives and recent entrants," Chris Ortman, a spokesman for the agency, said in a statement. "DHS is fully cooperating with the committee and is in the process of gathering information responsive to the Committee's inquiry."

Democrats, all of whom voted against the subpoena authorization, said the move would be premature when the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly said it will cooperate. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said the committee only issued subpoenas under the last Congress when officials refused to appear in hearings. He said he understood the chairman's frustration that the August request had not yet been answered, but added that the issue involved multiple agencies and complex privacy issues.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), a member of the committee, said the subpoena effort was an attempt to undermine the Obama administration's deportation policy, which has been praised by supporters of immigration reform. "My angst with this subpoena is this is a way to attack the Obama administration on a policy that my friends on the other side disagree with," she said. "This is not a policy that can be shown to jeopardize the American public or the safety of the American public."

Republicans Out to Destroy the Poor & Middle Class with Tax Code Revisions

Today on Meet the Press, the Republicans/John McCain cited the Republican Agenda:
Cut/Reform
1. End Medicare as we know it
2. End Social Security as we know it
3. Privatize Health Care
4. Tax Code: Change from the Progressive Tax to a Flat Tax
(click on picture)
We're all familiar with their views on their top 3 items, but let's talk about how they want to change the way we are TAXED and why all Poor and Middle Class Americans should be concerned.

Our current IRS tax system utilizes the Progressive Tax. Each year, each taxpayer is taxed on their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Everyone is allowed to take certain deductions (eg: dependents,earned income, education, healthcare, etc). The percentage of tax paid is based on your AGI into the Federal Tax Brackets. You must understand that you are taxed on the last dollar earned. That is, a person earning $83,000 is NOT taxed 28% on the entire amount. Instead, he is taxed 10% on the first $8,350 earned, 15% for the portion up to $33,950, 25% for the portion up to $82,250, and pays 28% ONLY for the last $750.

What the Republicans want to do is change from a Progressive Tax to a FLAT Tax. They are LYING about the Progressive Tax -- which is FAIR for all levels of income. And instead, they are laying out such nice terms for their proposal -- the FLAT TAX. "Our current tax system is unfair and archaic and too difficult to understand. Why not let everyone pay one flat tax." Such nice, flowery words. In reality, what this means is, they want the Rich to pay far less taxes and they want the poor, those who are barely surviving, many of our sick and elderly, to pay much more in Taxes. The Republicans are Brutal and Heartless!

They want to ELIMINATE the ability to take Deductions as you do today including deductions for your children and for low income tax credits. Today, understandably, those earning below the poverty level, are able to utilize these low income tax credits to significantly reduce their taxes. In 2011, the low income level for a family of 4 is $22,350. These families make only about $400 a week or about $1800 a month. Now think about their home and food costs. Think about their rent (obviously they cannot afford to buy a house). If their rent is only 700 a month, utilities only 400 a month, their car and insurance is only 300 a month, that leaves only 600 a month ($150 a week) for groceries, clothes, and everything else. We are not even taking anything out for taxes, healthcare, accidents, emergencies, phone, tv, cable, NOTHING!

When paying taxes, these families take out their justified deductions and pay very little in taxes, and sometimes receive tax credit at the end of each year. What the Republicans want to happen is, they will FORCE these families, who have NO MONEY TO SPARE TODAY, to pay a FLAT TAX -- a 10% - 25% TAX. Let's take this same family. They will NOT be able to take deductions or receive a family tax credit. Instead they will be FORCED to PAY between $2,235 to $5,588 a year in taxes. Can you imagine? Where are they going to get the money to pay these taxes? The Republicans and their supporters are outsourcing jobs offshore. They certainly are NOT creating jobs here in America.

At the other end of the spectrum -- the Rich Millionaires -- will, at most, only have to pay 25% -- this is, on average, over a 25% Tax Reduction for most of them -- a Windfall!! Additionally, Republicans, like Paul Ryan are recommending MORE LOOPHOLES for the Rich. Ryan is recommending "Elimination of Double Taxation of Savings." What a BOGUS name for a Tax Loophole. Here is what he is proposing. Today, most of the rich invest their excess money into Tax Shelters. If they are investing After Tax dollars, this portion of the money remains invested "Tax Free." The only portion of these monies taxed is the earnings and dividends. These rich millionaires pay taxes on these dollars, as they should because this is earned income. Ryan, using his Republican "Save the Rich" mentality, suggests these earnings are "double taxed." (What a load of crap that is!) and NOW he wants the Rich to get even Richer by NOT taxing them on these earnings. Do you get it? They shelter the money, it grows exponentially, then he DOESN'T WANT THEM TO BE TAXED ON IT.... All under the name "Elimination of Double Taxation of Savings."

Do you see what Ryan, McCain and the Republicans are doing? They are AGAIN protecting their backers, the RICH/BIG Business and they are AGAIN hurting the Poor and the Middle Class. They LIE by putting pretty words around their Outrageous plans for the future. Their plan: To WIDEN the GAP between the Rich and the Poor -- the Haves and the Have Nots!

MY FEAR: What will happen to the Elderly, the Sick, the Poor, the Jobless if the Republicans ever get back in Power! We need to be ever vigilant of what the Republicans are proposing, for if they ever get back in power, WOE TO ALL OF US!

Advice to President Obama on Winning the Hispanic Vote in 2012

Many pundits are attempting to push the topic that President Obama is losing the Hispanic vote because he has not fulfilled his promise on getting Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) passed. While it is true that many leading CIR advocates are upset that CIR has not progressed, it is difficult to fathom Hispanics voting Republican, especially since many 2012 potential Republican candidates are blindly following Tea Party / Restrictionist extremists and supporting racial profiling bills like sb1070, English Only bills and bills to change Birthright Citizenship -- all bills targetted against Latinos. I don't think these Republicans have a hope of obtaining the large majority of the Hispanic vote. Some Republicans have attempted to recruit Hispanics. These recruiters say Latinos have many of the same values as Republicans. These values include: Christianity and Traditional Families (aka ANTI Gay and ANTI Women's rights). These well-funded groups (funded by the likes of the Koch brothers and Fox News), have deep pockets. They've even funded websites like "Fox News Latino." One glance at the Latino Fox News website reveals their true agenda: Push Republican HINO (Hispanic in Name Only) politicians. One good example is Marco Rubio. Expect to see him on the front page of Fox News Latino on a daily basis. He is their poster boy. This two faced HINO was against sb1070 before his political backers encouraged him to switch sides -- now he is FOR this racial profiling bill. He is also AGAINST CIR, even though he is a Cuban! Continue reading Latino Fox News, this "Roger Ailes" rag, and see their phony attempt to sway Latinos by referencing Church, ANTI-Mexico rhetoric and attacks against popular Latino politicians who are Democrats. The very thought of this website's attempt to brainwash Voting eligible Latinos makes my skin crawl! There are some "so-called" Latino groups that are saying they are Republican Latinos, including groups like "Somos Republicanos." These groups are having a difficult time for two reasons: 1. They do not carry much favor among most Latinos, particularly our younger voters, primarily due to their ANTI-Gay, ANTI-Women's Rights support. 2. They do not carry much favor among many Republicans themselves because, regardless of anything else, "Somos" groups DO support Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) and are AGAINST racial profiling bills like sb1070 and against the rhetoric of extremist politicians like Virgil Peck - the Hate-Filled state rep. who recommended shooting Latinos like "feral pigs." I've read many Restrictionist and Conservative blogs/websites that refer to them as RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) and talk very negatively about them. While I agree with their support of CIR, I think they are dangerous. At least some of the members of these "Somos" type groups are wannabees. They wannabee accepted by their Rich Donors. Many have money themselves. Some are old time politicians with deep pockets. Some have done long-term work for Republicans. Some helped George Bush into power, with long time friendships with Bush's Brain. Some easily give in on key political issues like CIR, like sb1070 and who knows what else. Go to their website. See them arm in arm with the likes of John McCain, Rick Perry and others. These "Somos" types groups are dangerous because they may be able to convince a few Latinos to vote for Republicans who have very ANTI Latino agendas. President Obama, we True American Latinos support you, however, we need something to motivate our base. I personally recognize the change in your method of deportations. You have stopped the deplorable workplace ICE raids and instead moved to target and prosecute abusive employers. You have targetted criminals and gangs versus workers. You have partnered with Mexico in border security and targetting the drug cartels, increasing the number of drug arrests and reducing the flow of weapons back into Mexico. It's a start and clearly there is a long way to go. I recognize that in the Republicans' mountain of "NO's" it has been difficult in getting any version of CIR passed. Given all of this, there are steps you can take to improve the relationship with Latinos and help you with the Latino Vote. Recommendations: 1. Pass the Dream Act now. You can gain support from some Republican members. Find a way to do it and do it this year. If there is a way to do this without a Congressional Vote, do it. One way to get this passed is to explain the process to the voters. The last time you attempted to pass it during the lame duck session didn't work because Republicans were allowed to LIE about what was in the bill. There is NO Free Tuition and there is NO "Amnesty" in the bill! If they attempt to LIE about this again, call them out on it! "THEY LIE!" 2. Ease the Backlog in the Immigration Courts. You don't need Congressional approval on this. Just do it! Find a way! We all know that 40% of the 12M are Visa Overstays. By removing the backlog, you will help that 40% on their way to Legal status. 3. Have Eric Holder move forward on the Arpaio/Arizona case. Have the DOJ release their findings. There is clear corruption in Arizona. Reveal your findings. America needs to know the truth! Lastly, once you are re-elected, if that day comes, PASS CIR the very 1st year. Do it. Just Do It. YES, YOU CAN! Why? Because we ALL know, it is the Right Thing To Do! YES YOU CAN!

Survey of Latino Citizen VOTERS Indicates NEGATIVE View of GOP!

A recent survey of Latino Voters indicates they have a very negative view of the GOP. The survey, conducted by a GOP pollster and consultant, found that Latino voters hold "widely negative" views about the Republican party. The poll began as the starting point of understanding Latino registered voters. The results of the poll were NOT surprising to those of us that have been studying the current political landscape.

The poll found:
1. Latino Voters are Positive about the Democratic Party and hold negative views about Republicans and Tea Partiers.
2. Republicans do not understand that the most important issue for Latino Voters are Jobs and the Economy; then Education; then Taxes & Government Spending.
3. The Major Concern Latinos have about Republicans include:
a. Republicans Favor the rich/wealthy
b. Republicans are Selfish and are out for themselves
c. Republicans have a negative Immigration agenda and do not represent the average person.
4. The vast majority of Latino Voters support Immigration Reform and a Pathway to Citizenship.


When it comes to Immigration (which is Number 4 on their list, most Latino Voters favor:
1. A Pathway to Citizenship. Next, Better Border Security.
2. There is Wide Support of a Pathway to Citizenship
3. Latino Voters much prefer legalizing those here and securing the border Vs Mass Deportation.
4. The Vast Majority of Latino Voters OPPOSE Arizona's Racial Profiling sb1070 Immigration bill(s).

Perhaps the most enlightening aspect of the survey indicates the rate of Latino Citizen Voters is growing significantly and 61% of those surveyed indicate they will vote in 2012 and will VOTE Democratic!

This obviously ALARMED the Republican pollsters and suggested to their sponsors that Republicans make a radical change toward Latino Voters if they hope to be successful in the 2012 elections!

(Read ENTIRE SURVEY HERE!)

Republicans Vote AGAINST Middle Class and Poor!

The Republicans have OUTED themselves! They have voted NO against extending tax cuts for the middle class and the poor. They have also voted NO all year against extending unemployment compensation for the unemployed, unable to find jobs and now with nothing! And still unemployed.


It is clear. The party of NO is AGAINST the American Poor -- the Middle Class and the Poor.

It is Clear. They are ONLY supporting the wealthiest, those that load their Political Action Committee with Dollars! With those foreign donors that anonymously donate to them through groups like the Chambers of Commerce.

SHAME on the Republican Party and ALL that support them. This is their time of SHAME!

Breaking News: Reports are coming in that Republicans are planning on filibustering against the Start Treaty, or any relief for the poor UNTIL the tax cuts for the richest 2% are passed.

Anyone who supports Republicans should HANG THEIR HEADS IN SHAME!

Republican Leaders & TeaPartiers Chant Obama Tune to RNC Leader Steele: "We Want Our RNC Back from our Black Leader"

Washington Post reports: Michael Steele's days as chairman of the Republican National Committee appear to be numbered. The real questions about his eventual departure are when it will take place and how messy it will be. The embattled chairman has not said whether he intends to seek another term leading the RNC...
Among Republicans outside the RNC, Steele's credibility is lower than for any other recent chairman. But are his critics shrewd enough to help engineer a smooth transition to another chairman and a soft landing for Steele? Or will their public pressure force Steele, for the sake of his pride and ego, to stand firm and fight a battle the party doesn't need right now?

Steele has attributes that made him an attractive choice for leader after the beating Republicans took in 2008. He is the first African American to lead a party that has struggled for decades to improve its standing in the minority community. He is certainly personable, and he has an engaging (if undisciplined) style of communicating. But his tenure has produced a combination of personal gaffes and structural problems that, now that the 2010 campaign is over, have led some of the GOP's leading politicians to call for a change in leadership - or to fret in an increasingly public way about the state of the committee.

In the past week, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) and a former RNC chairman, reiterated his belief that the national committee needs a new leader. And Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a likely 2012 presidential candidate, said he was concerned about reports critical of the RNC's performance under Steele, though he stopped short of calling for the chairman to step aside.

The RNC's political director, Gentry Collins, resigned with a blast at Steele's management - a five-page letter detailing the financial and political shortcomings of the committee this fall. The letter added up to a devastating portrait of the RNC's problems, most significantly the failure to fund a robust get-out-the-vote operation. Collins, pointing to an outside study, argued that these shortcomings may have cost Republicans two Senate seats, and he said he would add three governor races to that list. Properly managed and better funded, he claimed, the RNC could have put an additional 21 congressional districts into serious competition.

Others can dispute the particulars, but the broader indictment - that Steele's tenure has left the national committee in a far weakened position - is something that Republicans have been complaining about for many months.

Others stepped in to fill the void left by the RNC, most notably Barbour's RGA, which spent about $100 million on campaigns (and which is not bound by the same fundraising limits that govern the national party). But with 37 gubernatorial races this year, the RGA needed to step up. In 2012, however, there will be only 11 gubernatorial races, few in major presidential battlegrounds.

On Friday, Steele issued his own memo, trumpeting the historic Republican victories this month and claiming the RNC's share of credit. He argued that it was the RNC that helped achieve "what was, by far, the greatest turnout by any party in any midterm election in U.S. history."

That assertion actually underscores what political strategists long have known - that the political environment counts for far more than a well-organized ground game. There was a surge in Republican turnout, whether the RNC had anything to do with it or not. Would it have been larger with a more effective national committee? Perhaps.

Explaining the Impact of Republicans Voting NO on Unemployment Extensions

One of my anonymous posters posted this ludicrous comment about Republicans voting NO on extending unemployment which goes to show you how uninformed Republicans and their supporters are. He said, "Geez, those being cut off have been on unemployment for a year and a half. All others will still get their unemployment checks.You can't live on unemployment forever anymore than you can live on welfare forever."

He is so wrong!

Here is how the process works. If you become unemployed, once you qualify and are approved, you receive the standard 26 weeks Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. After that, because of our high rate of unemployment, Congress passed 3 tiers of Emergency Unemployment Benefits (EUC) and one additional Extended Benefits (EB).
EUC Tier 1: 20 weeks.
EUC Tier 2: 14 weeks.
EUC Tier 3: 13 weeks.
EB: 20 weeks.

Since Congress has not extended Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), no new claims are able to be added. This means that when you complete a Tier, you cannot apply for the next Tier of benefits. Your benefits stop until/unless Congress approves extended benefits. Therefore, once you finish your standard unemployment (26 weeks) you cannot apply for additional tiers or EB. Or if you are in the middle of a Tier, once you complete that Tier, you cannot apply for another. Each week that Congress does not approve the extensions, millions more will fall off. Many will drop off at the end of 26 weeks. Many will drop off once they complete the Tier they are on.

With unemployment rates hovering at about 10% nationally and the job outlook appearing bleak, with only 1 job for every 5 unemployed, it is heartless and inhumane to expect our unemployed to survive without unemployment extensions. Economists indicate these monies boost the economy with a return rate of $1.6 for every dollar provided.

Republicans do not care about the Americans they are impacting. They continue to be the party of NO. They do not care that Americans are starving and in need of unemployment insurance. I've researched and studied a number of comment sections focusing on these extensions not passing. All commenters blame Republicans. I agree with them.

Republicans LIE about Reconciliation! They've Used it 13 Times!

The Republicans are LYING again! They are calling "Reconciliation" the "Nuclear Option." Sen. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) and other republicans refer to the use of the reconciliation process as "an unprecedented power grab," and the "politics" of Hugo Chavez. They are using these terms to scare the American Public and demonize the passing of Healthcare Reform. These Republicans are puppets for the Healthcare Industry.


Sen. Gregg has a short memory. He forgets that the Republicans have used Reconciliation 13 times. Examples include: They used it in 2001 and 2003 to pass the GIANT Bush Tax Cuts (especially to the rich/big business which has led us into our current economic tsunami!). They used it again in 2005 to permit oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.


In fact, Sen. Gregg spoke on the floor of the Senate in 2005 to support the use of Reconciliation by the Republicans. He said it was "in the Senate Rules" and it was fine for "Majority to Rule." He said, “The president asked for it, and we’re trying to do what the president asked for.”

If the President and the Democrats decide to use Budget Reconciliation, they need only 51 Votes. There are 58 Senators. This is good news for the American People. Healthcare Reform can pass afterall. The Republicans who are long time supporters of the Healthcare Lobby and the party of NO do not even have to participate.

2012 Republican Prez Candidate Pawlenty Reveals Conservative Agenda: The TRUTH - CHANGE EXPECTATIONS! NO MORE MEDICARE! MORE TAX CUTS TO RICH!!

I saw Tim Pawlenty on Meet the Press this morning. Hearing his answers to questions brought back memories of George W. Bush and what would happen if we elected a Republican again. Tim convinced me the core Republican agenda has not changed. They want tax cuts for the rich and additional ease on regulation for big business. They want to reduce Social Security/Medicare.

Listening to him reminded me that most Americans today are forgetting about what happened during the 8 years of GW Bush's reign. Pawlenty wants to give tax cuts and deregulation to rich/big business.

Today, Pawlenty said, "the way that you create jobs in this country is get businesses who provide the jobs to have--make it more likely that they're going to start a business, grow a business, buy equipment, build buildings, conduct research, commercialize the results of that research and grow jobs."

Pawlenty's own hometown Minnesota newspaper reported, "Governor Pawlenty's budget is bad news for low-income Minnesotans who rely on state health care and for mayors already struggling to balance their own budgets, but good news for corporations paying high taxes."

Then, to top it off, when asked what he would CUT in the Federal Government to bring the deficit under control. Here is the question and response he provided today:

MR. GREGORY: So would you be prepared to cut entitlement benefits, cut Medicare, raise the, the, the age for Social Security or cut
benefits for Social Security?
GOV. PAWLENTY: Here's the math. The federal government takes in $2.2 trillion a year revenues, all sources for all purposes. Their total unfunded liabilities, including entitlements, including pensions, including the whole bill, is $65 trillion. There is no way you can make that math work. So the truth of the matter is, is we are going to have to reform entitlement programs. I've done this in Minnesota, for example, with our bus drivers in the Twin Cities. They had post-retiree health insurance benefits, and the premise was this, if we made a promise to you, we'll keep it. We're not going to cut people off in terms of their pensions if we've made a promise to you. But for people who are new to the system, who are coming on, where we can fairly give them notice and fairly change expectations, the system's going to change. And we did it.

Pawlenty's statement made my skin crawl. He may have plans to run for President in 2012. This is a Republican leader, the party of NO, saying NO to Healthcare Reform, and INSTEAD longing for the GW Bush days. The days when rich/big business received the most tax cuts, the most deregulation, which left us in the biggest Recession/Depression since the Great Depression of the 1930s. (We also lost civil liberties, but that is an entirely different blog.) Considering we entered into GW's reign with the biggest budget surplus in history, that is quite a feat.

We have a "new poor" in America. As the NY Times reports, the new poor are those of us over 50, who may have lost their jobs due to the downturn in the economy, have exhausted their unemployment compensation, do not have the "look" of desirable new prospects for Hot new jobs and are not old enough for Social Security. These folks have spent twenty, thirty, forty years working and contributing to the economy, people long accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life who are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives — potentially for years to come.

These fifty-somethings are the people Tim Pawlenty is talking about...the people who will be "new to the system", who have not gotten there yet. Tim Pawlenty/Republicans/Conservatives political agenda is to cut us all off before we enter into the Social Security/Medicare system, the system we have supported for forty plus years.

My husband and I both heard the words come out of Pawlenty's mouth this morning. My husband, a left leaning independent/centrist, who has been questioning President Obama of late for not getting enough done, was suddenly flashed back to the times of GWB. He shook his head. "We can't go back to THAT!"

My husband and I were both impacted by the recession, down-sizing and our dreadful economy. We were both layed off from our respective jobs over the last year or so. However, I do have a pension from my company and a small consulting business I own which contributes to our overall income. Additionally, he does have a small pension. However, we are saving and counting the years until we receive our duly paid for Social Security and Medicare. I have contributed over 40 years into social security. If you count my childhood years in the migrant camps, I have worked over 50 years of my life. My husband, over 30 years contributing into Social Security. Now, the Republicans want to take it away from us??? Plus they want Comprehensive Healthcare Reform to FAIL!

What the Republicans/Conservative agenda FAILS to REALIZE is, all of us fifty-somethings have contributed to Social Security ALL OF OUR LIVES. We do NOT want to believe it was some kind of Madoff style Ponzi scheme! DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING SOCIAL SECURITY AWAY so you can privatize it to your Healthcare Provider friends/PAC contributors form of Social Security. DO NOT CHANGE PLANS unless you are going to pay us back for all we have contributed over the last 40 years, with interest!

For many of us, as illustrated in the NY Times article, finding jobs/new careers is difficult for us "fifty-somethings." Contrary to what the ANTI websites portray, we fifty-somethings are NOT competing with those they term "illeegals." We are not looking for AgJobs, Construction Jobs, or anything in the fast food industry. We are primarily business people who worked in business all of our lives. People like Jean Eisen (57), a proficient salesperson, now out of work, existing on her husband's disability check and food from food banks.

Some businesses do not want to hire domestically. They prefer to automate or outsource offshore. These are the same businesses Tim Pawlenty/Republicans/Conservatives want to provide more tax cuts, more deregulation. The truth for the fifty somethings is, we want Businesses to hire domestically, hire experience. Don't outsource off-shore. We will continue to contribute to the economy domestically. We are loyal. We are patriots. We are hard workers. AND PLEASE DO NOT TAKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AWAY, just as we are approaching our time.

Listen to this good and hard: DO NOT OFF-SHORE. HIRE EXPERIENCE. HIRE DEDICATED AMERICANS TO THESE JOBS. The hard working "illeegals" are NOT IMPACTING US!!! They are NOT taking away OUR Jobs! We need people to perform the AgJobs, the Construction Jobs, the Meat Packing Jobs. However, ALLOW US to continue OUR JOBS!! DO NOT OUTSOURCE OUR JOBS OFF-SHORE!

Listen to this most of all: DO NOT ELIMINATE OUR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER IT! WE HAVE PAID INTO IT ALL OF OUR LIVES!!! DON'T TOUCH IT! DON'T YOU DARE!!! (This means YOU Tim Pawlenty and ALL YOU REPUBLICANS/CONSERVATIVES who WISH to get back in Power!!!)

Why On Earth is Anyone a Republican?

Republicans Desperate! Now Starting FAKE "New American Tea Party!"

Republicans are absolutely desperate. Extreme Right Wing groups have formed a new group called "New American Tea Party." This group pretends to be a "new anti-stimulus activist club." The group feigns ignorance to the fact the economic crisis occurred over the last eight years and instead places the entire blame on the current administration.

According to their website, this so-called new grassroots anti-stimulus activist club is "a coalition of citizens and organizations concerned about the recent trend of fiscal recklessness in government." According to them, "this isn’t a conservative or liberal thing." They LIE and deny affiliation to any political party.

The reality, however, is the "New American Tea Party" is sponsored by the extreme right wing groups: the American Spectator, the Heartland Institute, Americans for Tax Reform, the National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, the Institute for Liberty, the Coalition for a Conservative Majority and the Young Conservatives Coalition. Michelle Malkin is a strong supporter. J.P. Freire, the editor of the extreme right wing "American Spectator" hosts their website and provides their updates.

The minions of these extremist conservatives are armed with a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and a blog advocating their supporters email Tea Party events to their friends. Their first tea party event they titled "the Big Event" was to be a huge gathering of supporters in various locations across the nation. Despite all of their website hype, very few people attended. On this clip from the Neil Cavuto show, Cavuto says the close-ups of the events makes it seem like there are large numbers attending, but when the camera pans out, you see there are very few in attendance. (reminds me of the "Hold their feet to the Fire" ANTI - National event). What is also interesting is the Cavuto video itself. The panel keeps repeating their group is a grass roots, non-partisan effort. However, the panel is comprised of John O'Hara, the membership Manager of the very conservative Heartland Institute, Fran Eaton, President of the Eagle Forum of Illinois, a group founded by Phyllis Schlafly, and Jason Pye, the Atlanta Chairman of the Libertarian party supporting Bob Barr for President and with Ron Paul on his website.

In the videos I've seen of the DC event, the speakers were Michelle Malkin, JP Freire, and Brendan Steinhauser, Director of Freedom Works (extreme Conservative group). John O'Hara scoffed at Cavuto for saying, "I don't see the throngs or rallies I see in other events of this nature. You are just a small, vocal minority." O'Hara responded, "For every one person you see attending these rallies, I know there are a thousand sitting at home supporting us." (yeah, riiiight)

The Tea Party website appears dead at this time. How did I find out about them? There is a chain email going around spamming a number of email addresses. I received one from one of my old ANTI commenters. The subject is "Tea Party" and it asks everyone to snail mail a tea bag to Washington in April, in time for Tax Day.

I imagine the Conservative Right Wing groups I listed above will be buying tea bags by the truck load so Washington will think they are from their so called grassroots supporters.

These faux Tea Partiers should keep in mind this interesting bit of history about the original Tea Party, notably, that it actually meant more expensive tea. There's a corollary here. The let-them-fail attitude of these Republican and ANTI-Obamaist Tea Partiers -- toward foreclosures could come with a hefty price tag. The bailout may be unfair (as bailouts, by their nature, tend to be) but instead of pricier tea, doing nothing could mean even more damage to home prices and increased foreclosures for countless Americans.

All of us true grassroot Americans should take the FAKE Tea Partiers with a grain of salt. Afterall, they are spending millions of dollars on their advertising campaigns, salaries, websites, fake rallies, mailings, teabags and fake webaccounts. If they truly cared about the American Public, they would be donating all of these funds to REAL AMERICANS who are out of work instead of on all this rhetoric to support Limbaugh's charge for Obama and America to FAIL!
Reference:

The Price Of A Tea Party

What, Exactly, is the New American Tea Party?

RNC Chairman's Lead Candidate has Racist Past! Limbaugh Ranting over Obama comment! Republicans Don't Want to Change Their Ways!

Even after their huge loss in November, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has no plans for changing their ways or being more inclusive now or in the near future.
Here are the signs:

1. The RNC is selecting a new National Chairman next Friday. Who is their Lead Candidate? Is it a candidate known for extending their hand across the aisle? Or known for welcoming minorities? No. Their Lead Candidate is Katon Dawson. Dawson is the chairman of the very strictly conservative South Carolina Republican Party. How does he score on diversity? For the last 12 years, he was a member of a "White's Only" Country Club. So much for respecting diversity.

2. Last week, Rush Limbaugh said he wanted Obama to Fail. Leading Conservatives chastised Limbaugh for his remarks. Even Bill Bennett said he was wrong. The President met with Republican Senators calling for unity, "You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done. There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats, we shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done." Now Limbaugh and his minions are on the attack on several websites across the net. He is calling for the Republicans to take a stand now against our President. He is using disrespectful language in his attack. Some Republicans are listening.

It appears many from the core republican base are not on the road to Unity. Many are saying they will go back to pandering to their core conservative/right agenda and distancing themselves from minorities, women's rights and human rights. Apparently they have learned nothing from the American people in the last election. We want change. We want diplomacy. We want an improved economy. We want Unity. We want all people to be treated equally and respectfully.

Powell, Limbaugh in a Food Fight! Will RNC Take Road Less Traveled Going Forward?

Colin Powell and Rush Limbaugh are in a Food Fight right now over the future of the Republican Party! I am on Colin Powell´s side. (surprise!)

A few days ago, Powell said, "Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh? Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?" What Powell was saying is, in order for the Republican party to be successful going forward, they need to stop pandering to extremists and exclusionists and become more inclusive and start being the party that supports Moderation, Integrity, Experience, Reason and Acceptance of our growingly diverse America!

Limbaugh did not respond to Powell´s comments lightly. In fact, he took offense. He responded by saying, "I think Powell's premise -- and I understand what's going on -- I think Powell's premise is all wrong. The Republican Party needs to stop listening to me. Basically, what that means is the Republican Party's gotta throw you overboard; the Republican Party can't win as long as it is defined by people like you and me, those of you in this audience. The simple fact of the matter is, folks, what makes this funny to me is that the Republican Party's not listened to me in the last two years. And you might even say in matters of policy and so forth, the Republican Party hasn't been listening to me for the last six years. And you might even say that the Republican Party is in the situation it's in precisely because of the people like Colin Powell and John McCain and others who have devised this new definition and identity of the party which is responsible for electing Democrats all over this country."

It is clear the Republican Party is at a crossroads and needs to make a very strong decision about how they will proceed going forward. The question is, will they follow Limbaugh? Or will they follow Powell? Or, will they follow a new Road, perhaps, as my favorite poet suggests, the Road Less Traveled?

References:

Colin Powell Slams Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh

Rush Responds to General Powell