Online Left

For GOP, Creating Jobs is Priority #122

While legislators profess to be concerned with creating jobs, they actually spend their time playing to their base, the right-wing conservatives in charge of the Tea Party. As proof, 64 members of the House of Representatives have signed on to H. Con Res 13, a resolution by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) to affirm "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions."

House Report 112-47 includes:

A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84–851) and approved by the President on July 30, 1956, the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. IN GOD WE TRUST was first used on paper money in 1957, when it appeared on the one-dollar silver certificate. The first paper currency bearing the motto entered circulation on October 1, 1957. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing was converting to the dry intaglio printing process. During this conversion, it gradually included IN GOD WE TRUST in the back design of all classes and denominations of currency.

So, what has happened since 1956 that requires congressional action to reaffirm the need for the motto? Nothing, except the need to convince right-wingers of their devotion to their religious beliefs. Is the House of Representatives completely ignorant of the needs of the American people in the midst of the most serious economic downturn since the Great Depression? Thank goodness, they aren't.

The dissenting views mirror those who understand our nation's priorities.

Today we face the highest budget deficit in our Nation’s history, a national unemployment rate of nearly 9%, and an ongoing mortgage foreclosure crisis. American forces are deployed in combat on several fronts, while our children who—by the very circumstances of their birth—are placed into a cradle-to-prison pipeline. We are also in the midst of reacting to a natural disaster of unimaginable proportions that recently occurred in Japan and the resulting nuclear disaster, which may have worldwide import. Yet, instead of addressing any of these critical issues, and instead of working to help American families keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables, we are debating whether or not to affirm and proliferate a motto that was adopted in 1956 and that is not imperiled in any respect.

So, if you're worried that the House of Representatives have completely lost their mind, rest assured that not all of them have -- but at least 64 of them are too busy pandering to their base to notice.

Updated: The House adopted, 396-9, a resolution (H Con Res 13) that would reaffirm the phrase "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States and encourage the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools and other government institutions.

Quote of the Day

"Mr. Williams, you might stick to the penning of a new hit that you haven't had for a long period of time" --

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), slamming country singer Hank Williams Jr. for comparing Obama to Hitler.

Ed Fights Attacks on Postal Service

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Instructions for managers - 1878 [MACKEY VS. O'CONNOR]

In reading recently several depositions of a contested election in 1878, I stumbled across the "Instructions for Managers", included in the file.  I found it interesting.  I hope you will, too. The contest was in the Second Congressional District of South Carolina, U.S. House of Representatives. The contestants were Michael Patrick O'Connor and Edward William McGregor Mackey.

Each manager of election must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer an oath, the oath of office provided by the constitution, and send the same to the commissioners of election, to be filed in the office of the clerk of the court.

1. At their first meeting, the managers should organize themselves into a board by appointing one of their number chairman. The chairman should administer the necessary oaths in the course of the election.

2. The managers must then appoint a clerk, who must take the oath provided by the constitution before the chairman of the board.

3. The polls must be opened at 6 o'clock a.m., and closed at 6 p.m.; and must be kept open, without intermission or adjournment, during these hours.

4. At the opening of the poll the box must be publicly opened and inspected, to see that it is empty and secure, then locked, the key returned to the managers, and not again opened during the election.

5. The managers must administer to each person offering to vote an oath that he is qualified to vote a this election according to the constitution of this State, and that he has not voted during this election.

6. The voting must be by ballot, which must contain written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, the names of the persons voted for, and the offices to which such persons are intended to be chosen, and must be so folded as to conceal the contents.

7. The clerk of the poll must keep a poll-list, upon which must be entered the name of every elector voting at the election.

Now for me, this is when it gets really interesting!

8. At the close of the election the managers and clerk must immediately proceed, publicly, to open the ballot-box and count the ballots therein; and continue such count, without adjournment or interruption, until the same is completed.  If, in counting, two or more lke ballots should be found folded together compactly, only one shall by counted, and the others destroyed; but if they bear different names, the same must be destroyed and not counted. If more ballots are found, on opening the box, than there are names on the poll-list, all the ballots must be returned to the box and thoroughly mixed together, and one of the managers, or the clerk, must without seeing the ballots, draw therefrom and immediately destroy as many ballots as there are in excess of the number of names on the poll-list.

9. After counting the votes, the managers and clerk must make and sign a statement of the result of the election.  Within three days after the election, the chairman of the board, or one of the managers designated in writing by the board, must deliver to the commissioners of election their written statement of the result of the election, the poll-lists, and the boxes containing the ballots, properly sealed and secured. The managers must, in addition to the statement of the result of the election, make and sign separate returns of the number of votes cast for governor and lieutenant-governor, in duplicate, and seal up the same, and deliver them to the commissioners of election, to be transmitted to teh secretary of state, and filed with the clerk of the court.

This is an interesting case that tells a lot about our country, campaigns, elections and politicians. Rather than ending it here, I'll periodically post more from MACKEY VS. CONNOR, as my schedule permits.

Thanks for reading.

White House Talking Points: Reducing the Deficit and Meeting our Obligations

 One of the most important and urgent things we can do for the economy is get our fiscal house in order and reduce our nation’s deficit. 

 

• There is no doubt that a large burden on economic growth is the size of the federal debt.  Many are waiting to invest in our economy until we, as a nation, can act responsibly to deal with it and make our future more secure.

 

• The President wants the biggest deal possible to reduce the deficit and he will meet with Congressional leaders every day until it gets done. 

 

• He believes that solving our fiscal problems is an economic imperative that requires shared sacrifice.  We cannot ask the middle-class and seniors to bear all the burden of higher costs and budget cuts. 

 

• We need a balanced approach that asks the very wealthiest and special interests to pay their fair share as well, and we believe the American people agree.  We’re talking about getting rid of tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires; tax breaks for oil companies, hedge fund managers, and corporate jet owners. 

 

• The President is willing to make tough choices -- it’s time for members of both parties to do the same.  He’s willing to make tough choices when it comes to entitlement reform.  He put forth a framework to make Medicare and Medicaid stronger and more efficient without shifting the cost of care to our seniors or people with disabilities.

 

• He also supports working in a bipartisan way to strengthen Social Security for future generations. 

 

• Both parties have made real progress thus far, and to back off now will not only fail to solve our fiscal challenge, it will confirm the cynicism people have about politics in Washington. 

 

• The President believes that now is the moment to rise above that cynicism and show the American people that we can still do big things. 

 

• We can’t simply kick the can down the road – that’s how we built up this debt in the first place.

 

• We must take a balanced approach that includes shared sacrifice to force our government to live within its means and put our economy on a stronger footing for the future. 

 

• We must get this done before August 2nd to ensure that America does not default on its obligations.  If America, for the first time in its history, defaults on its obligations, it would have a catastrophic impact on our economy and the financial system.

 

• The United States must pay its bills. Defaulting on our obligations will:
  • Require the government to stop, limit, or delay payments on a broad range of legal obligations, including military salaries, Social Security and Medicare benefits, interest on the national debt, and tax refunds.

 

• We will see a spike in interest rates for mortgages, car loans and credit cards.

 

• It will also hurt folks who have been putting money away in their 401(k)s to save for retirement or into accounts for their kids’ education.

 

##

 

Members of Bachmann's Tea Party Caucus

The 42 charter members of Michelle Bachmann's Tea Party Caucus are:

Tom Graves (GA)

Randy Neugebauer (TX)

Louie Gohmert (TX)

Ralph Hall (TX)

Jerry Moran (KS)

Adrian Smith (NE)

Phil Gingrey (GA)

Steve Scalise (LA)

Ander Crenshaw (FL)

Cynthia Lummis (WY)

Rob Bishop (UT)

Tom Price (GA)

Rodney Alexander (LA)

Paul Broun (GA)

Trent Franks (AZ)

Walter Jones (NC)

Joe Barton (TX)

Dan Burton (IN)

John Fleming (LA)

Doug Lamborn (CO)

Roscoe Bartlett (MD)

Michael Burgess (TX)

John Culberson (TX)

Lamar Smith (TX)

Todd Tiahrt (KS)

John Carter (TX)

John Shadegg (AZ)

Cliff Stearns (FL)

Todd Akin (MO)

Lynn Jenkins (KS)

Steve King (IA)

Kenny Marchant (TX)

Tom McClintock (CA)

Joe Wilson (SC)

Gary Miller (CA)

Michele Bachmann (MN)

Pete Sessions (TX)

Gus Bilirakis (FL)

Mike Coffman (CO)

Mike Pence (IN)

Peter Hoekstra (MI)

Denny Rehberg (MT)

What's The Matter with ... Kentucky?

In the Washington Post today, an article, In Kentucky, a not-so-healthy slice of Americana, Wil Haygood reports on the overwhelming number of obesity cases in Manchester, Kentucky, a small town of 1,738 in Clay County.

The national obesity rate for adults is 24 percent; in Manchester and surrounding Clay County, it's been estimated to be as high as 52 percent. In a study of the healthiness of Kentucky's 120 counties, Clay County ranked dead last, with 41 percent of the population classified as in poor health.

Manchester, part of Kentucky's 5th Congressional District is represented by Republican Harold Dallas "Hal" Rogers. Of course, Rogers voted against health care reform. Does he think his constituents don't need health care, considering that 52% of them are obese? Or, did he vote against the bill because it had too many pages for him to read? In fact, of the number of issues highlighted on Roger's website, health care did not even make the list.

Good thing Roger's has that great health care system for Members of Congress.

Rogers won the 2008 election with 84% of the vote.

Barney Rules The World (and the GOP)

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Republican Study Committee Can't Tell a Truth

Republican Study Committee Chairman, Tom Price of Georgia, released the following statement:

“Liberals in Washington insist on giving terrorists a timetable for our withdrawal from Afghanistan, but they are unable to stick to a timetable for funding our troops in harm’s way,” said Chairman Price. “This funding was requested months ago, and the Pentagon made perfectly clear that delaying it beyond July 4th would disrupt military operations. But instead of looking after our men and women in uniform, Democrats have continually stalled consideration of this vital legislation. They have wasted precious time deliberating amongst themselves how to add billions more in un-related funding to what should be a clean, targeted package of resources for those who are defending our nation. This is sadly par for the course under the current majority. Last year, Democrats larded up a war supplemental with Cash for Clunkers and $5 billion for the IMF to bailout other countries.

“Republicans understand that our military deserves better, and the President could sign this defense funding into law tomorrow if not for the irresponsible actions of the majority. It is a failure of leadership by Congressional Democrats that has allowed this money for our troops to be held hostage to further deficit expanding bailouts. That is unacceptable.”

Note: On June 16, Politico reported that, “Funding for the Navy and Marine Corps will begin to run out in July, forcing the Pentagon to disrupt other programs. And by early to mid-August, the military may have to start furloughing civilians and might not be able to pay members of the active-duty military. ‘We begin to have to do stupid things if the supplemental is not passed by July 4,’ [Secretary of Defense Robert] Gates said during a wideranging Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing that provided him with an opportunity to press for supplemental funding.”

Late Thursday night, the House approved legislation providing additional funding for the [Republican] war in Afghanistan, 239-182. Of the 177 Republicans in the House, only 10 voted for the funding.

Who's a lying asshole?

Well...you know the answer.

Maddow: Boehner Flunks Politics 101

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