wafranklin's blog

A fantastic quote bubbled up in comments the other day:

“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves Orcs.”

-John Rogers

I did not see any mention of Kay Hagan working with McClain in Senate on bill to repatriate some trillions of corporate profits stranded offshore at some ridiculously low (5%?) rate. Check N&O last Friday, Oct 7, 2011. She waxes righteous about making sure that if companies do not comply with concurrent jobs creation part of the bill, we could clawback some of the money. Now, for starters that is sheer horse pooky. The Obama Justice Dpt has not managed to enforce anything of value or pursue massive leads from the financial sector. The SEC is piddling in place, as is the FDIC, OCC and all the other underfunded watchdogs.

Kay is frankly a Republican, disguised as a Blue Dog, and secure in her seat until 2014, when as result of this play, she will be showered with corporate plunder randomly by all. Her arguments are of the caliber one would expect from a fourth grader, not a legislator, attorney and ex-banker (oops, that is the real problem).

Story in News and Observer on Thursday explains the "local route" to avoid confrontation over trying to override a veto by Governor Perdue. Good explanation by Burley Mitchell.

Article in News and Observer goes once over lightly relationship between Pope Art and the Kochs but sheds no light anywhere. Nowhere does it mention (1) Pope being a director for Americans for Properous or (2) the money most likely funneled via Pope from Kochs into NC politics, for Republicans. This article is on par with most "mainstream" media output on Kochs and Pope, and people like them.

Just found a new video from Brave New Foundation on Wake County schools, Koch Brothers and Americans for Prosperity-and the fight of 2009. Look here.
It is entitled, "Why do the Koch Brothers want to end public education". Send the link to all your friends and family.

As usual, it is well done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mbJhjCbwo8

Conyers video just called out Obama for attacking SS, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. He was plain ticked off and said so. Obama is working hard on no second term right now, abandoning his base, reneging on promises, and debranding the Demcratic Party. Frankly it is not clear that Obama regards the Democratic Party as necessary for much of anything, and post 2012 that is surely the case.

http://tinyurl.com/3gt42lq Conyers video

At another FDL posting, reported demonstration at Obama Campaign HQ in California. Reported complete lack of concern by campaign staff.

http://tinyurl.com/3cwjaxp Demonstration post FDL
Video at: http://wp.me/p3xLR-sc

All this certainly sends a message of huris, arrogance and ignorance - and this man is the titular head of the Democratic Party!

NYT article, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/us/05deficit.html, puts some hundreds of billions on the table in talks (I refuse to think of them as negotiations since the Whine House has no idea of how to). Also, article in FireDogLake on same subject.

Biden says flatly the Medicare and Medicaid are subject to trades. As of this point, the Dems have NO revenue enhancements from deal, and look for some garbage which extends the Obama-Bush tax cuts.

Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Senate Democrat, said: We are very willing to entertain savings in Medicare. Medicare gives very good health care very inefficiently.

What the hell is that supposed to mean. Can you even imagine Medicaid being a full block grant to the NC legislature, which cannot find its way to the bathroom.

Take a look at this video. It was put up at WFMY at 6:25PM and taken down before midnight. bunch of cowards. Found it at Montgomery County School System site:

http://www.montgomery.k12.nc.us/montgomerycounty/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=311447

Outstanding piece, and there will be calls for this guy's head. Write him at:

dale.ellis@montgomery.k12.nc.us

We need to run this guy for House.

New study on privatization claims it simply does not work, and documents it. In fact, privatization sucks.

Here are some impacts the Cornell University Hebdon Report found that result from privatization:

-diminished quality and access to services

-lower employee morale, productivity and training

-worker exploitation through lower wages and benefits

-increased discrimination against minorities and women

-loss of government control and sovereignty

-lost constitutional and other legal rights

-decreased efficiency as a result of difficulty monitoring and administrating contracts

-loss of accountability and control

lost infrastructure

-increased corruption, bribery, kickbacks, bid-rigging, campaign donations, low-ball bids, and contractor bankruptcy

-higher direct costs or hidden costs to pay for the loss of pensions and benefits of public employees

-increased conflict, strikes, grievances, and arbitrations

From North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation (NCFEF):

Pardon for the long quote but I did not have a url.

About the Capital- Bill Would Clamp Down on Party Funding
NCFEF News - April 7, 2011: