Weekend Open Thread

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Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 08:29:17 AM CST

UCFW Local 7 leadership

I am confused.
I thought Ernie Duran was booted out as president of the union.
Today's Post had a blurb saying "president Duran". cf. http://www.denverpost.com/sear...

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by: davebarnes @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 08:35:26 AM CST

I think the new officers take over in January

.
from the link, it looks like the International won't go along with a strike.
.  

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by: Barron X @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 11:59:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

So Duran can't get forced union dues from the international

to feed his striking members?

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by: Libertad @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 21:55:29 PM CST

[ Parent ]

When installing new software

Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 12:14:40 PM CST

Where's the statue of Saint Isadore?

"Saint Isidore of Seville is the Patron Saint of the internet, computer technicians, computer users, computers, school children and students."

http://catholic-saints.suite10...

"There is something good and motherly about Washington, the grand old benevolent National Asylum for the helpless." Mark Twain

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by: SSG_Dan @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 14:45:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

What's up with John Salazar?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/...

Kossacks are suggesting Salazar may vote for the Stupak amendment and are urging his constituents to call him. Anyone know where he stands?

"You need to move past Fourier transforms and start thinking quantum mechanics!" --The Transformers

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by: sxp151 @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 13:41:00 PM CST

Good luck with calling his office

There's nobody home.

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by: gertie97 @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 14:23:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Just add him to the increasingly long list

of "Blue Dogs" who the far left are demanding face a primary for listening to constituents rather than Nancy Pelosi.

Blond women all look the same to me-sxp151

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by: cologeek @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 15:02:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

If "listening to his constituents" means voting with the GOP...

...why worry whether he's re-elected or not?

In Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty takes words like "Democrat" to mean whatever Humpty wants them to mean; in the real world of get-tough politics, "Democrat" means voting with other Democrats, and persuading your constituents to go along.

Put another way: Who cares whether John Salazar is a U.S. representative besides John Salazar (and maybe his mother)? I care whether he's a vote for Democratic legislation as agreed by the Party leadership. If not, adios, little brother, or run for re-election as an Independent, Republican, Wild Man of the Western Slope, or as whatever word(s) you choose--except "Democrat."

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by: JO @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 16:11:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

it's a good thing...

we don't call it "representative democracy," eh?

oh wait...we do...

Michael Bennet is the new Abraham Lincoln.
- Sharon Hanson

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by: Dabee47 @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 17:11:30 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The trouble with your observation is..

I don't think the "far left" lives in Salazar's district.  Any of them.

When I use lots of words, they always form an analysis (and, while producing high volume, also produce high information-density).
--Steve Harvey, 2009

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by: Ralphie @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 20:49:12 PM CST

[ Parent ]

That doesn't matter.

He must move left now. And stay there. Or he's irrelevant.

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by: MADCO @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 21:01:25 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Huh?

I would love to have a more progressive Congress. But Salazar properly represents his district and that is what he should be doing.

Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 21:12:57 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Not to JO & Sharon Hansen

and all the other purists.

Even typing it it felt ridiculous- but that's what they're saying.

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by: MADCO @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 21:24:53 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Republicans are assholes, part 9,371

"You need to move past Fourier transforms and start thinking quantum mechanics!" --The Transformers

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by: sxp151 @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 18:10:04 PM CST

I thought it was 9,372.

Isn't that the motto of the Republican Party?  He who is the loudest ass is right, provided he continues to be a loud ass.

I think I read that once.

"Don't go all "Ralphie" on me now: Just let it go." - Steve Harvey

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by: droll @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 18:52:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

cute editing

.
listening to the actual words of the Gentleman from Michigan, the one with the gavel, he doesn't want to get bogged down in a "parliamentary morass."  What ? He doesn't want to follow the Rules of the House, because that would get them all bogged down in letting both sides have their say ?

The process is being railroaded, and one party, being slighted, objects.
Let the spinning resume.
.

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by: Barron X @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 22:07:29 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Education reform, from another viewpoint

Oh, those teachers' unions! Why, their students are falling asleep in class!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11...

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by: JO @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 18:52:24 PM CST

Was that an insurance company executive, faux news, LB

collective bowel movement I just heard?  Buy cotton futures Monday.

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 22:29:05 PM CST

Insurance Co's earnings will soar

a mandate on insurance for the people and now the actuarialists can further cost shift.  It'll be like a big regulated oligopoly.  

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by: Libertad @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 20:09:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Does anyone else remember telecom?

That's what health care is headed for . . . and then, someday in the future, it will be "deregulated" (really, just differently regulated) and a lot of the regulatory issues that look so big today will appear trivial.  

Discipline without purpose is tyranny.

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by: Automaticftp @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 09:16:48 AM CST

[ Parent ]

just a taste

You know this "reform" is good for the insurance carriers

http://www.google.com/finance?...

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by: Libertad @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 16:26:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Wow great quote

It is true as well. If you tell half the truth then the other half is a lie and when you are in a lying mindset you will lie to get your own way.  

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by: rdshelmerdine @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 06:10:48 AM CST

Betsy Markey votes no

Her statement:

"After carefully reviewing this legislation and hearing from thousands of Coloradans across my district, I could not support this bill. This was not an easy decision to make, because I know only too well that America's health care system is in dire need of reform.

This bill provides new coverage for millions of Americans, but it simply does not do enough to cut the health care costs that are crushing our businesses and families. It's critical that we control rising health care costs, increase quality and value within our health care system, and improve access to health care and affordable health insurance coverage.

This was not a vote on the idea of health care reform, it was a vote on one specific bill. I remain optimistic that with the House and Senate working together with the Administration, we can achieve a bill that meets the goals of affordability and coverage, improved access, and is also fiscally sustainable in the long-term."

Looks like she was told she had a "free" vote since there were already 218 on board. So the idea is that her constituents will think Markey is brave for changing her mind on a vote to try to get re-elected? Markey already said she'd vote for the bill. Republicans have already called her ultra-ultra far left-liberal left-far ultra, and this vote is going to stop them? Just seems stupid.

Good for the rest of the Colorado Democrats in voting for the bill.

"You need to move past Fourier transforms and start thinking quantum mechanics!" --The Transformers

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by: sxp151 @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 08:37:49 AM CST

Welcome to life in a democracy

Where representatives in challenging districts are asked for their vote only when it's needed for passage.

Why would you want Markey to vote yes? Makes no difference to passage. And it reduces her chances of being re-elected.

Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 08:55:02 AM CST

[ Parent ]

That's what I'm not sure about

Why does it reduce her chances of being re-elected? Do most people in her district not want health care reform to pass? Health care is popular all over.

This just looks cowardly, and the thing voters seem to dislike even more than a politician disagreeing with them is a politician being cowardly.

"You need to move past Fourier transforms and start thinking quantum mechanics!" --The Transformers

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by: sxp151 @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 09:00:18 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Reform, but not this package.

How many Republicans do we have on this site who say that it's the plan, not the reform that they have a problem with?  I think I've seen that at least four times.  How many Republicans are here?  I'm betting it's about four.

My point is, saying that she wants a different plan is a good cover all the way around.  It leaves wiggle room with the majority of her constituents, who want reform... somehow, but not like this, or that.

"Don't go all "Ralphie" on me now: Just let it go." - Steve Harvey

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by: droll @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 09:22:32 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Ask yourself this, sxp-

Is there one voter in CD4 who will not pay close attention to any of this until about the week before election day, then think back and ask his (wife, roommate, kids, mom, neighbor, whomever) hey- how did she vote on that healthcare thing and then feel better re-electing her because she vote no?

I think there are.

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by: MADCO @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 09:37:44 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Yep, the devil is in the details

Everyone wants the system fixed - but only in a way that is not scary, changes nothing, and operates perfectly.

Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 11:11:13 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Why the hell would she vote for the bill?

She already gets free government-sponsored health care.

When I use lots of words, they always form an analysis (and, while producing high volume, also produce high information-density).
--Steve Harvey, 2009

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by: Ralphie @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 09:12:03 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Apology to JO

JO had a couple of posts Friday about climate change that had numerous good ideas in them (I still think his timeline is way over-optimistic). And I unfairly and harshly disagreed with him.

I'm sorry.

And on Monday I will ask for budget to get all remaining employees home computers so they can telecommute more days. The odds aren't good of getting the budget request approved - but I will try.

Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 08:57:46 AM CST

Afghan strategy choices narrowed

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11...

There were about 34,000 US troops in Afghanistan when Obama took the reins.
So the choices are down to:
*** a major escalation of 34,000 + 20,000 = 54,000 troops, more than doubling the number of soldiers there;
*** a major escalation of 34,000 + 30,000 = 64,000 troops, almost tripling the number of soldiers there; or
*** a major escalation of 34,000 + 40,000 = 74,000 troops, more than tripling the number of soldiers there.  

Well, I take consolation that he at least thought about it and considered the consequences before deciding, leaving politics out of it.
.

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by: Barron X @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 15:07:01 PM CST

huh?

34,000 x 2 = 54,000 68,000    54,000 is < x2
34,000 x 3 = 64,000 102,000   64,000 is < x2
34,000 x 3 = 74,000 102,000   74,000 is < x3    

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 15:33:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

maths is hard...

Michael Bennet is the new Abraham Lincoln.
- Sharon Hanson

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by: Dabee47 @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 00:53:32 AM CST

[ Parent ]

what a poorly written post.

.
Thanks for bringing that to my attention.  I will try to clarify.  

There were about another 34,000 US soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan on 20 January, when Obama took office.

Obama has already added about 34,000 since then.  
Obama has seemingly narrowed his troop escalation options down to 3 choices:

*** Add another 20,000 on top of the 34,000 he's already added, taking the total from 34,000 to around 88,000.
THAT IS THE LOW OPTION.  
88,000 = 34,000 X ~2.6.  
Adding 54,000 to 34,000 (the original amount) more than doubles the number of uniformed US military personnel in Afghanistan.  To emphasize my point, I have left out troops from NATO and other allies.

*** Add another 30,000 on top of the 34,000 he's already added, taking the total from 34,000 to around 98,000.  
98,000 = 34,000 X ~2.9.  
Adding 64,000 to 34,000 roughly triples the number of personnel.  

*** Add another 40,000 on top of the 34,000 he's already added, taking the total from 34,000 to around 108,000.  
108,000 = 34,000 X ~3.2.  
Adding 74,000 to 34,000 more than triples the number of personnel.  

From my biased, subjective perspective, the choices range from a huge escalation to a humongous escalation.  
Its gonna take some real smoke and mirrors to make that pig in a poke look attractive.
I await the new rationalization Strategy in anticipation.  

.

The number of troops in Iraq is down to about the Pre-Surge level of 120,000.  
During the election campaign, Obama said he would remove all combat troops in 16 months.  That would be by 1 June 2010.  All but about 55,000 are combat troops.  
Who here believes that he's going to pull 65,000 out in the next 6 months ?
After taking office in January, he said something about removing 1 or 2 Brigades a month.  
That hasn't happened.  About 4 Brigades have been removed in 10 months.  
The Bush-Maliki withdrawal schedule was written as a "not later than" incremental drawdown.  It permitted drawing down faster, such as if Obama was to follow his own promised withdrawal schedule.  On the advice of Ray Odierno, who has said we shouldn't draw down at all for many years to come, Obama is keeping the maximum allowed under the agreement.  His Ambassador in Iraq suggested today that the US might be able to keep to the agreement, and we might not, depending on if the Iraqi voters have their election when we tell them to, and if they choose the right representatives.  

.

The number of contractors in Iraq, including both Mercenaries and non-combat contractors, is not going down.  
The number of contractors in Afghanistan is around 120,000.  I estimate that fewer than 30,000 of them actually carry weapons and have job descriptions that include possibly shooting local civilians.  But in the last 3 months the US Government has awarded contracts that will allow adding another 60,000 or more Mercenaries.  And the number of support contractors will go up at about 150% of the number of troops added.

The GOP thinks war is good for business.  Apparently the Democrats think war is good for politics.  Regardless of who's in the White House, these wars won't be ending anytime soon.
Oh, and in a nod to JO, why are we even there ?
.

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by: Barron X @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 02:25:49 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Its not easy fixing what someone else broke, but there is progress

By Timothy Williams And Sa'ad Izzi
The New York Times

BAGHDAD - "After weeks of political stalemate, Iraq approved a law on Sunday to administer a critical national election in January, a significant milestone for its fragile democracy and a step that will allow the rapid withdrawal of American combat forces early next year. The election, only the second national vote since the fall of Saddam Hussein, will be a crucial step toward popular sovereignty and stability in Iraq. But the election law had been stymied by a political battle over the northern province of Kirkuk, claimed by Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens, each of whom hoped electoral power would give them control of the region's oil wealth. The compromise reached Sunday, which satisfied all three groups, was hailed by Iraqi and American leaders as a triumph for Iraq's emerging democracy and a demonstration of Parliament's ability to resolve sticky sectarian disputes for the national benefit."

Last week, the Iraqi oil ministry signed initial deals with consortia led by Exxon and Eni SpA, along with a final agreement with a consortium headed by BP and China National Petroleum Corp.

These deals will continue to be a source of political and popular unrest.

"In short, we eat oil" ardy39

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by: Sir Robin @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 08:15:00 AM CST

[ Parent ]

GOP Continues to trip over their own dicks...

Patriot Games: GOP Reps Pick Tea Party Rally Over National-Security Votes

When it's a choice between strengthening the Patriot Act, or showing up for the Tea Party Patriots, what's a GOP lawmaker to do? We'll give you one guess...

Several Republican members of Congress yesterday blew off votes on the signature anti-terror legislation of the post 9/11 era to attend Michele Bachmann's Tea Party rally against health-care reform.

Reps. Steve King of Iowa, Trent Franks of Arizona, Randy Forbes of Virginia, Jim Jordan of Ohio, and Louie Gohmert and Ted Poe of Texas all took time out yesterday for the "Super Bowl of Freedom," as Bachmann has called it. And all missed votes in the House Judiciary committee on Republican-sponsored amendments to the reauthorization of the Patriot Act -- measures that would have toughened the Act, but narrowly failed. Those votes took place, a committee staffer confirmed, between noon and two -- the very time when Republican lawmakers were rallying the Tea Party troops on the Capitol steps.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpoi...

"There is something good and motherly about Washington, the grand old benevolent National Asylum for the helpless." Mark Twain

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by: SSG_Dan @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 16:22:16 PM CST

I wonder if...

a couple of Democratic members abstained so that the amendments lost by 1 vote - which makes it look like their absence cost the amendments :)

Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 18:59:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]