The 1% Gone Wild!!!

No, there's no topless drunk chicks in this post.  That would be clean compared to the shit that the 1% has pulled off in these three stories.  Here we go!

Number THREE story...

Mortgage lender GMAC pulls a shit move on the people of Massachusetts (why can I never spell this state correctly on my first try?  sigh):

GMAC Mortgage, the mortgage lender of Ally Financial Inc., is exiting the vast majority of its lending in Massachusetts a day after the state sued it and other lenders over its allegedly improper foreclosure practices, a decision the state's attorney general called an admission. 

The nation's fifth-largest mortgage originator said it "has taken this action because recent developments have led mortgage lending in Massachusetts to no longer be viable."

So it must be something pretty bad to make Massachusetts "no longer viable" as a market to help people get homes.  It's got to be something really, really bad to destroy the mortgage market for GMAC to the point where there's just ZERO business for them anymore.

Actually, what happened was the state Attorney General filed a lawsuit against GMAC for illegal mortgage practices.  You know, the same practices that led to thousands of foreclosures and contributed to the crash of the economy.  So the state tries to hold this company accountable (which the taxpayers have a 74% stake in thanks to the bailout) for their crimes, and instead they retaliate.  Its very mafia of them... "You try and hold us responsible, and we'll blow up your house."

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Number TWO  story...

In case you were wondering whether or not Republicans are just stooges of the 1%, here's what they do when they have power in the house:

The House on Thursday approved a bill ending the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) that was set up to ensure states meet certain standards at the voting booth, and ending the public financing of presidential campaigns. The bill passed in a mostly partisan 235-190 vote...

"There is no doubt that a voter suppression effort is underway in this nation," Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) charged on the House floor. "Abolishing the Election Assistance Commission, an agency charged with ensuring that the vote of each American counts, is just another step in the voter suppression effort and would completely remove oversight of the most important process in our democracy."

 
Republicans have said ending the EAC would save $33 million over the next five years. The GOP says the EAC has already served its purpose, and that any work it still does offering guidance to states can be transferred to the Federal Election Commission.

 Really?  REALLY?!?  WTF?  Suddenly you're concerned about $33 million over FIVE YEARS?  *ugh*  Makes me so stabby*.  What's more important to a democracy?  Saving chump change, or oversight of the voting process?  

The only reason the Republicans want to end oversight of the voting process is so they continue with their voting suppression efforts without any obstacle.  And while they do this, they scream about voter fraud, ACORN, etc.  All that is really just code for them to suppress the votes of minorities, the poor, women, and youth.  Don't want power to be taken away from the stooges of the 1% now.

Maybe they want to get rid of this commission because they're afraid their CRIMINAL actions might be found out.  Just saying...

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And the Number ONE story...

In a move of dickishness that may rival the levels of Newt Gingrich, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the following:

In a speech at MIT last night to discuss the packed sweepstakes to build a tech campus in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg said he prefers City Hall to the White House. Almost immediately after Mayor Bloomberg dampened recent speculation he’s eyeing a White House bid, he added fuel to the fire by explaining why a mayor would be the best person for the job.

“I have my own army in the NYPD, which is the seventh biggest army in the world. I have my own State Department, much to Foggy Bottom’s annoyance. We have the United Nations in New York, and so we have an entree into the diplomatic world that Washington does not have,” Mayor Bloomberg said.

 "Whatchu talkin 'bout Bloomy?!?"

Uh, so let's get one thing straight Mr. Bloomberg.  The New York Police Department is NOT and will never be your own personal army.  The Police Department won't ever be an army.  I don't know what its like to live in your reality or your world, but I'm pretty sure I know what the police is all about.

The police, for example, are separate from the military.  The police are paid for by our tax dollars.  The police are there to protect our neighborhoods and communities.  The police are there to enforce the law and protect the citizens that pay for them from abuse.  The power of the police is limited, including in matters of arrest, search and seizure, and use of force.

What they are NOT is your own personal army.

For a view into Mr. Bloomberg's world where he has his own army, let's consider an interesting fact.  Bloomberg is the 12-richest person in the United States with a worth of $19.5 billion.  What can you do with that much money?  Own 88% of your own media company.  What else can you do with that much money?  Oh I don't know, maybe buy your own army...  *sigh*

But all this makes me wonder, does $19.5 billion put the mayor of NYC in the 1% that the Occupy movement is protesting against?  Tough question...

PEACE

*((the "stabby" reference was from a wonderful podcast I listen to called the LiberalOasis.  Please check out their blog and weekly podcast, both very good))

Bachmann's Bachmann Problem

This has been very hard for me to blog about because there's so much STOOPID in Michelle Bachmann's head that it hurts my head. 

Watch this first.  A Republican strategist speaks the truth, and not even on accident!  Which is a rare occasion in itself...

                       

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Then watch this.  What does Michelle Bachmann think about intelligent design in the classroom?  Should it be taught as science along side evolution in our public schools?  I think I'll let her answer!



                      
It's almost as if Michelle Bachmann is doing comedy routine.  Except it would be funny if it wasn't for the pesky fact that Bachmann wants a theocracy.  You know, one of those places where the facts are up to debate.  Where people can choose what's right and what's wrong.  Where traditional Jesus-y thinking rules the day.  But only if you're one of those good, Republican, conservative, Jesus lovers.  Not if you're some left wing, progressive, socialist Christians.  Oh no, then you're even more disturbed than those science-y types.

Even if you are let down by Barack Obama, do you really want a Republican President who believes this kind of idea?

"What is the point of teaching children facts if it only confuses them?  It should be up to the American people to decide what's true!  Doesn't that make common sense?"

 Isn't choice great!  It's the "American Way"!  Yay Freedom!*

 

PEACE**

*((The "American Way" and freedom of choice only applies to white males.  Certain side effects may occur if you are a woman, African-American, brown skinned immigrant, liberal, senior citizen, active soldier, veteran, child, Jew, Muslim, Atheist, homosexual, student, home-owner, homeless, or union member.  Side effects may include imposed religious values in your personal life, lack of reproductive choice, restrictions of voting rights, and attacks on personal character.  The "American Way" is trademarked by the GOP and represents conservative, white, "traditional" values.))

**((and God Bless America))

p.s. Hat-tip to John Amato and CrooksandLiars where this clip of Bachmann was posted.  If anyone can help me with getting the full length clip from CrooksandLiars embedded into my blog that was great.  Otherwise you'll have to click the link to view it.

Romney's Romney Problem

Oh my Gawd!  Two posts in one day!  Can it be?  What could be better than getting two posts in one day from the best new blog on the internet? 

Well, maybe an open faced hot turkey and gravy sandwich...

 

But after you eat that sandwich (with your eyes!), check out the following problem that Mitt Romney has.  And no, its not as bad as Santorum.... or is it?  That's for you to decide.

So not only is Mitt Romney a tool, he also thinks the voters are stupid and can't figure this shit out.  

Now... even if Obama isn't your cup of tea, or if you're a Democrat and Obama has let you down, do you REALLY want to see the words "President Romney"?  Yea...

Oh, and some definitions for "Romney":

- a tool

- blowhard

- flip-flopper

- Shape-shifting, cream-cheese LDS hustler with a spray-on tan.  (my favorite)

PEACE

p.s.  Check out the link to the food blog I posted above.  You WON'T be disappointed.  Spread the blogger love people!

Santorum's Santorum Problem

Rick Santorum has a problem.  What problem is that you might ask?  No, it's not Red Leader from Star Wars silly!
 
It's when CNBC and Yahoo! publish an article about the homes (note, plural) of all the Republican candidates for president.

And I quote:

"In addition to his more modest house in Penn Hills, Pa., Rick Santorum also lived in this two-story residence on 3.76 acres in Leesburg, Va., until 2007. It was purchased new in 2001 for $643,361. The question of Santorum’s residency location was the catalyst for a frothy controversy spanning more than a decade, as detailed here."

Did you catch that?  Any time a presidential contender has a subtle comedic dig taken at him by the lame-stream media, I applaud!  Especially when its Santorum.

Thank you Dan Savage.

PEACE

p.s.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, google "Santorum"... if you dare!  Mwaaa haaa haa

UPDATE:  From the following article, Santorum says the following rather creepy bit:

"I may not be the guy that the girls are initially attracted to when they walk into the dance hall, but ultimately once you get to know all the folks, I'm the one you want to take home to Mom," Santorum said.

 I'm pretty sure that there's not too many mother's who are into Santorum... *cough*.... either way.

They've Been Doing it for Years

You often hear from conservative voters and the media blah-blah-blah talking heads that the Republican party is only losing its way now.  As if they have completely forgotten everything during Bush.  But it goes back even farther than that!  What Republicans are doing now at an extreme pace, the obstructionism of the law making process, the political games with people's lives, and the burn-it-down mentality has been happening for years!



And I quote:

"The agenda [they] would impose on America — abortion on demand, a litmus test for the Supreme Court, homosexual rights, discrimination against religious schools, women in combat — that's change, all right. But it is not the kind of change America wants. It is not the kind of change America needs. And it is not the kind of change we can tolerate in a nation that we still call God's country."

 Let's play a little game.  (1) Who said this quote?  (2) When did they say this?  (3) Who were they talking about?

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Almost there...

You guessed correctly!  If you said Red Leader from Star Wars.... oh wait....

In all seriousness, that quote above was from

(1)  Pat Buchannan, Republican running for president, current media figure for MSNBC (that liberal media station!)

(2)  Twenty years ago!  He said this in 1992, in his famous "Culture War" speech to the Republican convention.

(3)  Now that you know he's not talking about Obama or that other black guy (*cough* Vader *cough*), he was saying this about Bill and Hillary Clinton, those socialist Kenyan-usurpers.  What about Muslim?!?

So what they're saying now about Barack AND Michelle Obama really isn't a new thing.  Don't let anybody think it is either.  These are the same talking points they've been at for at least twenty years, but this time there's a hint of racism and an extra flutter of stoopid as well.

PEACE

p.s.  If you haven't year, check out Driftglass blog.  It was the inspiration for this peace.  As was their podcast.

Airport Workers Making Less than Minimum Wage

This will be a brief story, but it will show you how in the new economy, low and ultra low paying jobs are becoming the norm.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Every day she goes to work at O'Hare International Airport, Elda Burke faces the same dilemma. 

Burke, 30, works as a passenger attendant at the airport, escorting the elderly and disabled to and from their gates by wheelchair. Even though the airlines describe this as a free service, Burke's employer has her working partly for tips, which is why her base pay is a low $6.50 an hour, somewhat like a restaurant server's, rather than the typical Illinois minimum wage of $8.25. 

But unlike diners at a restaurant, many of the passengers Burke will be escorting on their holiday travels this week won't realize she's working for tips -- and by federal law, she won't be allowed to tell them.

"We cannot say anything," Burke says. "If we do that, they can fire us."

The company that has been hired for this airport work is Prospect Air Services Inc.   Of course they are claiming that this is just a "union ruse", and that they are paying their employees above the minimum wage.  Apparently those uppity low wage workers are just lying so they can get a bigger slice of that pie that they feel entitled to *snark*. 

Doing a little research shows that the average wage is $8.95 / hr at Prospect.  Even if that is true and its not as the employees claim above, with 4000 employees, this is still an example of the face of a low wage service economy. 

Darn uppity employees, wanting a living wage.  Socialists...

PEACE