Russell Brand:
Author: susie
Daily Bernie
BLITZER: Let me just ask you, I want to get your quick reaction to what we heard from speaker of the House, John Boehner. He was very blunt. He said if the president goes ahead and, through executive action, unilaterally, without going through Congress, tries to change the status of illegal immigrants here in the United States, that will be very dangerous, he’ll poison the well. And it’s as simple as that. He says the president better not even think about doing that. Your reaction?
SANDERS: Well, my reaction is the people of this country overwhelmingly want to see the minimum wage raised. Is the Republican Party going to do what the American people want? The American people do not want more tax breaks to the wealthy and large corporations. Is the Republican Party going to poison the well by going forward, at a time of massive wealth and income equality, giving more tax breaks to people who don’t need the tax breaks? Boehner is talking about a political attack on the president.
BLITZER: Will you support the president if he goes around Congress and takes that executive action to change the status of illegal immigrants?
SANDERS: Look, what I support is Congress and the president doing everything they can to address the serious problems facing the American people. Immigration is one of those issues. In the Senate, we passed a bipartisan bill. The House did nothing. Let’s do something together. That’s the preferable route. Most importantly, let’s not turn our backs on the middle class of this country and ignore the enormous economic problems they are facing. Let’s not simply work for the rich and big campaign contributors who control the United States Congress. If we can do that and respond to the needs and the pain of the American people, you know what, I think you’ll suddenly find that Congress is regarded more favorably than is currently the case.
Voters to Chevron: Up yours
Maybe we should all move to California!
In a surprise victory, Tom Butt was elected Richmond Mayor tonight after a multimillion-dollar campaign by the Chevron Corporation failed to defeat Butt or elect a slate of candidates the giant oil company had supported.
According to tallies as of Wednesday morning, Butt received 51.43 percent of votes, beating his nearest opponent Nat Bates, whose campaign was supported by Chevron, by 16 points.
An ecstatic Butt, speaking from his headquarters, praised his campaign workers and marveled at the unexpected margin of victory: “I’ve never had such a bunch of people who are dedicated and worked so hard. It’s far away above anything that I’ve ever experienced.”
Butt’s election also helped bring victory to a slate of progressive candidates including Jovanka Beckles, Gayle McLaughlin and Eduardo Martinez, who each won a seat on the City Council.
The progressives’ sweep of city hall and the city council further means they’ll be able to fill Butt’s vacated council seat.
A number of observers said that Chevron’s aggressive spending may have backfired.
Uche Uwahemu, who ran third in the mayoral race, said, “The election was a referendum on Chevron, and the people obviously made it clear they did not appreciate the unnecessary spending by Chevron, so they took it out on the rest of the candidates.”
Thanks to Attorney David Benowitz.
Elizabeth Warren is a politician, Part 1
She shouldn’t be backing this, but it’s for her state, so!
Meet the new boss
What can we expect from the new Republican-controlled Congress? Many people will likely be surprised at the high level of cooperation between Obama and the Republicans, who have much in common. Most likely, a quick bi-partisan consensus will be reached on continuing and expanding the wars in the Middle East, with the ultimate and insane goal of toppling the Syrian and Iranian governments.
A new consensus will be reached regarding the U.S. economy, as both parties will “work together” to lower the U.S. corporate tax rate and give other “incentives” to the corporations and rich investors to actually invest their money in something productive other than their Wall Street gambling.
Obama and the Republicans will continue to work on their bi-partisan public school agenda, which aims to privatize the public schools through charters schools, an idea first proposed by the Reagan administration.
And while Republicans moan about Obamacare, they agree with its central feature, that “the market” should determine who gets health care and of what quality, based on what you can afford. The Republicans will loudly crow about this or that aspect of Obamacare they want eliminated, but the central logic is bi-partisan.
Ironically, as Obama continues to act in favor of the very wealthy, the Republican-controlled congress will give the president a chance to regain his lost popularity among Democrats. The Republicans are likely to use their control of the House and Senate to put forward legislation to appease their Christian fundamentalist base, targeting either abortions, immigrants, homosexuals, etc.
Continue reading “Meet the new boss”
War criminal watch
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Fox’s Brian Kilmeade this morning in which the two discussed everything from the midterm election results to President Barack Obama‘s willingness to work with a Republican-dominated Congress, to political ads during the campaign season that had certain racial connotations.
Rice said she was “appalled” by ads run by the Georgia Democratic Party that warned of more Ferguson-like events if Republicans were elected.
While acknowledging that there are still racial tensions in America, she said America is still “the best place on Earth to be a minority” and that the country has made “enormous progress” over the years on race relations.
“The idea that you would play such a card and try fear-mongering among minorities, just because you disagree with Republicans, that they’re somehow all racist, I find it appalling, I find it insulting, and as a Republican black woman from the South, I would say to them, ‘Really? Is that really the argument that you’re going to make in 2014?’”
Just keep reminding yourself: She lives in a very sturdy bubble.
Be careful what you wish for, Mitch
At least this part is going to be fun to watch!
Leaders of some of the most prominent tea party and conservative-aligned outside groups gathered for a press conference on Wednesday to take a post-GOP-now-controls-the-Senate victory lap. But they also had a much less cheerful message for the new Republican Senate majority: we’re watching you.
[…] “Repeal Obamacare. Use reconciliation to pass a bill repealing Obamacare. Put it on the president’s desk. Let him veto it and draw a line in the sand,” Martin continued. “Secure the border and block the president’s planned executive amnesty. Maintain the rule of law and prove that we as a country, as we have been for more than two centuries, are a nation of laws and not of men.”
Martin said during the celebrations over Republican victories in the midterms she had “reason for concern” because of a press release from Boehner’s (R-OH) office.
“In this release, Speaker Boehner lays out an agenda for the 114th Congress,” Martin said. “Obamacare is mentioned nowhere. Neither is securing the borders nor blocking the President’s planned executive amnesty.”
I predict Mitch will not only keep the filibuster, he’ll embrace it! It will be his primary tool for keeping the crazies on the reservation.
Via Price Benowitz LLP.
Another slap on the wrist
Of course! We wouldn’t want to send the wrong message, would we?
Bank of America is nearing a deal with federal regulators to settle an investigation into the bank’s suspected manipulation of the currency market, the latest sign that Wall Street is bracing for another crackdown on its misbehavior.
Bank of America disclosed the development on Thursday in a news release, saying that it had increased its legal costs to deal with the currency market investigation. Although the bank did not name the regulators, people briefed on the investigation identified the agencies as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve
In the news release, Bank of America said it recently had “advanced discussions” with the regulators about a potential settlement, forcing the bank to increase its legal reserves to pay for the expected fine. A settlement is not final, the people briefed on the matter said.
The increased legal bill resulted in a $400 million charge that cut into the earnings that Bank of America reported for the third quarter a few weeks ago. The charge resulted in the bank reporting a loss of $232 million, or 4 cents a share, in the quarter.
Bank of America becomes the latest bank ensnared in the foreign exchange investigation to retroactively increase its expected legal costs — and lower its earnings — after reporting third-quarter results last month. Banks are required to set aside legal reserves once they have a clear picture of the costs they are likely to pay in a potential settlement.
Arrow
Oh I remember you/In the TV light/Holding you close to me/Where we lay…
Nashville songwriter Cheryl Wheeler has written some of my favorite songs, and this is one of them:
http://youtu.be/YM6uTPPf0Bk
Love got in the way
Dayna Kurtz: