Video: Full Story Of Poster Altercation At McCaskill Event: By The Guy Who Filmed It

By Peter Glickert

Video: Sen. McCaskill tells Town Hall there will be no Single-Payer leglislation

The Greatest Opponent of "Main Street Job Creation Act"

Please note the unofficial renaming of the stimulus bill to

'Main Street Job Creation Act'.

John McCain's beef with the bill is based upon a fear that the spending will be permanent. He wanted a trigger in to stop spending when GDP reaches a certain level so that the spending pulls back and then they will go into balance budget measures.

I don't think that is such a good idea because GDP is only one measure of the health of the economy, albeit an important one. That permanent condition that halts spending is not wise considering the depth and breadth of the financial and economic crisis.

We should also remember that as FDR got along making progress with The New Deal that brought the unemployment rate down, In 1937 Roosevelt was urged to begin the process of balancing the budget at which time another recession emerged. Government spending as a result of the nation's entry into World War II revived the economy.

The 'Buy American' clause was put in by my House Rep. Pete Visclosky in order to boost the steel industry in Northwest, Indiana. John McCain refers to that as 'protectionism'. Northwest Indiana steel workers have been talking about unfair trade prices with respect to foreign steel for many years now.

We don't look at it as 'Protectionism', more like survival, especially in these tough times.

I thought for a minute there that McCain was going to say that this was the biggest transfer of 'wealth', but then he changed up. There has been a transfer of wealth in recent months. It completely disappeared out of the economy and out of people's pockets.

About 5:40 Claire McCasill says on Meet the Press, that the door was open to all Republican Senators to go through the bill line-by-line. Sounds bipartisan to me.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Drop in Approval Ratings: What has the President learned thus far?

I think that Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight.com has noted three good lessons that can be learned by President Obama in this first legislative spending adventure.

1. Republicans have nothing to lose. Public perceptions of Congressional Republicans are also significantly down from their already-low levels since the stimulus debate began. But, the Republicans will gladly torpedo their own brand if it means taking Obama down with them. They are dangerous to him, in the way that a gang of rabid velociraptors is dangerous to a T-Rex.

2. Obama has to do the heavy lifting himself. Support for the stimulus dwindled when the Congressional Demorcats, who are not much more popular than their Republican colleagues, were charged with the job of selling it. The more Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are the faces of the Democratic Party, the more Barack Obama's approval ratings will come to resemble those of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

3. The benefits of "bipartisanship" are dubious. The public says they want bipartisanship, and a large majority of the public believes that Obama acted in a bipartisan fashion during the stimulus debate. And yet, his approval ratings fell significantly during this period.

I hope somebody at The White House is taking notes.

The next stimulus legislation, and it seems definite that there will be more, may require a different approach than the lessons gleaned form this experience, because the perception of the effectiveness of the first recovery package by the American people may be spotty at best depending upon location.

Further, the argument that we must do 'something' during the next round of spending will most definitely be getting very, very tired and old to the American people. That is probably, at least in part, why many have said that this bill is not big enough, among them, economist Paul Krugman.

We shall see what President Obama has to say tomorrow as he will be holding a Town Hall meeting to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan with residents of Elkhart, Indiana who experienced an unemployment rate spike to 15.3% in December. Probably more important than what the President has to say will be the questions raised by the residents of Elkhart who attend this Town Hall meeting.

I'm assuming that this Town Hall Meeting will not be the same as the highly crafted, I totally agree with you Mr. President Town Halls that Bush conducted, but we shall see. This is Indiana after all, and we are still a state that is predominantly RED.

Elkhart, Indiana is the county seat of Elkhart, Indiana. The county went for John McCain so it's not like President Obama is going to a Democratic stronghold to talk about his plan.

Elkhart

11:09 a.m. EST, Nov 5 '08

Obama	31,289	44%
McCain	39,344	55%

source: CNN

I am looking forward to seeing some reality in this town hall. I don't think they will have any problem getting some blatant and unabashed honesty out of Hoosiers in Elkhart tomorrow.

Good luck Mr. President.

Populism: 'The rich get rich and the poor get laid off...'

I'm getting to be a big Senator Claire fan. Some of those teevee peep skulls are calling her a 'Populist' like there's something wrong with that.

I'm a thinkin' that we've been needing a few populist politicians for quite some time, and it's long overdue.

It's one thing to wax Populistily in order to squeeze a few votes from a population in order to win a tight election. It's an entirely different matter when the things you say are absolutely necessary in order to effect change for the betterment of the people you serve.

George Bush was a bit of a populist himself, but we know how that turned out. Here we are today. I think Bush was on the level of the squeezer referred to in the previous paragraph.

If being a 'Populist' means that those of us in the middle and the bottom have a little more power, influence and say about how this nation is managed then we need a few more 'Populists'.

I think it's pretty clear that as the rich have gotten richer and the top 400 richest Americans saw their incomes double during eight years of Bush, that it's time for somebody to stand up for the rest of us. Also, we need more than just President Barack Obama.

A Populist politician would not be effective if their weren't a reason that compells people to him or her. The folks who created the situation, for whatever reason, should begin to understand that they bare a great deal of responsibility for the popularity of the Populist.

They are only popular 'Populists' if they are saying something that matters to us, and if they are sincere in finding the solutions and making the changes that will make our lives better.

But seriously though, in the mean time, in between time, here's a little depresison era diddy to hold us off until jobs start coming back.

Oh, and also... you go Claire McCaskill!

Every morning, Every evening
Ain't we got fun?
Not much money, Oh but honey
Ain't We Got Fun?
The rent's unpaid dear, We have'nt a bus
But smiles were made dear, For people like us

In the winter, In the summer
Don't we have fun?
Times are bum and getting bummer
Still we have fun?
There's nothing surer, The rich get rich and the poor get children
In the meantime, In between time
Ain't we got fun?

Every morning, Every evening
Don't we got fun?
Twins and cares dear, Come in pairs dear
Don't we have fun?
We've only started, As mommer and pop
Are we downhearted, I'll say that we're not
Landlords mad and getting madder
Ain't we got fun?
Times are bad and getting badder
Still we have fun?
There's nothing surer, The rich get rich and the poor get laid off
In the meantime, In between time
Ain't we got fun?

Night or day-time, It's all play-time
Ain't we got fun?
Hot or cold days, Any old days
Ain't we got fun?
If wifie wishes, To go to a play
Don't wash the dishes, Just throw them away
Street car seats are awful narrow
Ain't we got fun?
They won't smash up our Pierce Arrow
We ain't got none?
They've cut my wages, income tax will be so much smaller
When I'm paid off, I'll be laid off
Ain't we got fun?

(lyric source)

The Chronicles of GoshDarnia: Those wacky TARP recipients and their extravagent, self-rewarding ways

Rachel brings together the recent stories of the audacity of the outrageous TARP recipients, et al.

I like Claire McCaskill. Senator Claire got my attention recently as she was giving a really great speech on the Senate floor. Check it.

I think she's right. If they can't do it for themselves, given the gravity of the situation, then they need to have it legislated upon them.

I think if I had a vote, I would actually vote for Rachel's pet bunny to run our banks. That's sad isn't it? Frustration and outrage will do that. I also wonder if Rachel really has a pet bunny.

Here's some of the conversation that took place on the conference call made last fall that Rachel Maddow refers to in the above segment. The call was hosted by Bank of America, and starring a Home Depot co-founder named Bernie Marcus.

The basis for the conference was a possible President with a Liberal/Progressive slant, i.e. candidate Barack Obama, (oh yeah... and Congressional seats going Demoratic too!) and The Employee Free Choice Act, a piece of legislation which strengthens the ability of people to unionize.

From The Huffington Post

"This is the demise of a civilization," said Marcus. "This is how a civilization disappears. I am sitting here as an elder statesman and I'm watching this happen and I don't believe it."

..."If a retailer has not gotten involved in this, if he has not spent money on this election, if he has not sent money to [former Sen.] Norm Coleman and all these other guys, they should be shot. They should be thrown out their goddamn jobs," Marcus declared.

Earlier he argued: "As a shareholder, if I knew the CEO of the company wasn't doing anything on [EFCA]... I would sue the son of a bitch... I'm so angry at some of these CEOs, I can't even believe the stupidity that is involved here."

source: The Huffington Post

Some very dramatic stuff I'd say. I always though that it was the Liberals who were stereotyped as behing a bit theatrical as well as whiney. I think the tables have turned of late.

Go Claire! "We have a bunch of idiots on Wall Street that are kicking sand in the face of the American taxpayer,"

I have said before on this blog that I don't swear very much. I try to reserve those 'special words' for only the most inspired occasions.

I have been saying 'those Fuckers' a lot.

You go Senator Claire. Go get 'em!

Senator McKasill says "What planet are these people on? What could they be thinking about?"

Themselves and their families. Increasing their own standard of living. Covering their own asses.

Themselves. Not America. Just themselves. I bet they thought nobody would notice.

Wrong!

They also owe us an apology. I'll take the cash back to the American people without the apology, but an apology would be good too. I don't know if they could write that into the legislation, but it would be good.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One day after President Obama ripped Wall Street executives for their "shameful" decision to hand out $18 billion in bonuses in 2008, Congress may finally have had enough.

An angry U.S. senator introduced legislation Friday to cap compensation for employees of any company that accepts federal bailout money.

Under the terms of a bill introduced by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, no employee would be allowed to make more than the president of the United States.

Obama's current annual salary is $400,000.

"We have a bunch of idiots on Wall Street that are kicking sand in the face of the American taxpayer," an enraged McCaskill said on the floor of the Senate. "They don't get it. These people are idiots. You can't use taxpayer money to pay out $18 billion in bonuses."

McCaskill's proposed compensation limit would cover salaries, bonuses and stock options.

On Thursday, Obama said the prospect that some of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout could end up paying for bonuses to managers of struggling financial institutions was "shameful." souroce: CNN Politics

Heartland Change Tour: Missouri

Post from Amanda Scott's Blog:

By Amanda Scott - Sep 13th, 2008 at 5:39 pm EDT

Also listed in: Rural Americans for Obama

On the Heartland for Change RV Tour, local leaders and surrogates who support Barack are traveling across states, stopping in towns - both large and small - to discuss the issues affecting rural voters. So far the tour has made stops in Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and is currently in Minnesota.

In Missouri, Governor Joe Maxwell, United States Senator Claire McCaskill, Missouri State Senators Wes Shoemyer, and J.C. Kuessner, Congressman Russ Carnahan and his sister, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan traveled around the state, visiting with Missourians and discussing how Barack will stand up for farmers and help strengthen the rural economy.

During the first day of the tour Senator McCaskill told voters...

Barack understands the importance of subsidies to the American farmer. Being the Senator from Illinois, he’s no stranger to these issues. This isn’t about hand outs; this is about leveling the playing field.

...We’re not just talking about investing in ethanol and maintaining subsidies. Senator Obama knows we need to shift our energy policy… Currently we consume twenty five percent of the world’s oil, but we only produce about three percent. Now I’m not a math major, but that just doesn’t add up to me. We need to invest in solar and wind technology as well. Become self reliant and generate our own energy here at home.

A lifelong Missouri farmer named David held an event on his farm in Rolla on the second day of the tour, inviting family and friends to join in the discussion. He shared his story and explained to others that Barack has fought for rural areas of Illinois during his time in the Senate and will continue to do so as president.

After the Rolla event, the tour traveled to Webster Groves, Festus, Cape Girardeau and ended in Sikeston.

On the third day, Governor Maxwell held an informal town hall event at which he discussed rural issues, especially the shrinking processing market, healthcare and the failure to enforce existing antitrust laws. He encouraged those involved to speak up and make their voice heard.

The Obama campaign wants to hear from you. This is your chance to shape the strategy of this campaign and the direction of this country.

The tour across Missouri ended outside of Springfield, where supporters spent the day discussing how to help elect Barack president and bring change to rural communities.

Here are the pictures from the Missouri tour...