Friday News Roundup - Hour 1
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-04-01/friday-news-roundup-hour-1
Vice President Biden says congressional leaders are making progress to avoid a government shut-down. Advocacy groups have mixed reactions to President Obama’s energy speech. And a Wisconsin judge warns state officials about ignoring her order on collective bargaining rights. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week's top national news stories.
Guests
John Dickerson
chief political correspondent for Slate.com and CBS political analyst and contributor. Author of "On Her Trail: My Mother, Nancy Dickerson, TV News' First Woman Star."
Sheryl Gay Stolberg
Washington correspondent, The New York Times.
Major Garrett
congressional correspondent, National Journal.
Friday News Roundup Video
Diane and the panelists discuss the tax laws that allowed General Electric to make profits of $14.2 billion in 2010 while paying no U.S. taxes. The company instead claimed a tax benefit of $3.2 billion, causing a public outcry and raising questions about President Obama's pick of GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt earlier this year to head the Presidential Council on Jobs and Competitiveness:
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"B-b-b-but it's his fault ... he started it".....a must read
The Washington Post babbled again today about Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush. Amazingly enough, a lot of people swallow this B.S.
So once more, a short civics lesson.
Budgets do not come from the White House. They come from Congress and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democratic Party.
Furthermore, the Democrats controlled the budget process for FY 2008 and FY 2009 as well as FY 2010 and FY 2011.
In that first year, they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat belatedly got tough on spending increases.
For FY 2009 though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama could take office. At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the FY 2009 budgets.
And where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as President to complete FY 2009. Let's remember what the deficits looked like during that period:
If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the FY 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets. That deficit was the lowest in five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending. After that, Democrats in Congress took control of spending, and that includes Barack Obama, who voted for the budgets.
If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself.
In a nutshell, what Obama is saying is I inherited a deficit that I voted for
and then I voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th 2009.
DR Show is talking about jobs - but NPR has both refused to hire anyone on National Hiring Day #2 , on March 15, and refused to talk about National Hiring Day though they talk of jobs daily. NPR and DR Show have become part of the economic problem. DR SHOW please hire on National Hiring Day #3 coming up in May. Then talk about it to help other patriotic companies help too.
Regarding job creation, I recently read that many large corporations have created lots of jobs...overseas. There will continue to be a shortage of American jobs until the great leveling of global economies is complete. The average American will continue to face fewer jobs with lower wages and benefits for years to come. I'm not advocating protectionism but I would like to see some sense of patriotism from our large corporations. At this point the rising tide of the stock market is only lifting the yachts!
On the budget, Obama shows no leadership. He's sitting back waiting for everyone else to do the hard work. He's afraid to stick his neck out because he's already running for 2012.
The beast needs to be starved.
On jobs, companies are creating jobs overseas because that's where the growth/profit is. The US economy is big and sluggish with huge political uncertainty. In contrast, emerging economies are taking off and offer consumers who aren't leveraged to their eyeballs and politicians who want their citizens employed. The choice is easy.
Disappointed with such a liberal panel. They shouldn't be allowed to talk about business or business tax issues, especially Diane!
50% of Americans don't pay income taxes. Let's close that loophole! Charitable donations and mortgage interest deductions should be terminated as well.
I believe the other side of cut backs was presented yesterday focusing on corporate welfare and appropriate tax rates for the rich! Hello! Notwithstanding military spending....... Hello!
In formulating an hypothesis on our budget woes, it is important to consider all of the variables that contributed to it: the bursting of the housing bubble, the stock market crash, the constant trickling of jobs overseas for decades, the lack of enforcement of current regulations on financial institutions, increasing energy costs, and two wars. Now with the unemployment rate being this high, there is less collected revenue. Don't get me wrong - I am for fiscal responsibility, both individually and collectively. However, in order to solve the problem, we Americans need to look at all factors with measured consideration rather than just waving the meat cleaver at those programs that ultimately create a competitive nation - like education. And it would help if our corporations would also show some patriotism. After all, don't these corporations also benefit from well-maintained highways, public transportation, water treatment, fire department, and schools that help them make a decent profit. Let's be fair. It is both Republicans and Democrats that have been incompetent for decades.
Obama's energy policy, this ought to be good... He doesn't have one.
He's flipped-flopped on domestic oil production and nuclear policy. He said science would decide and then bends over for his corn-based ethanol buddies in Illinois and Iowa. He totally mischaracterizes idle leases.
Unions thankfully are in decline. Middle class taxpayers can't afford to pay state union worker's ridiculous wage and benefit packages. Middle class voters spoke last November and politicians are finally listening. This is the revolution that will carry us forward!
When Godzilla finishes eating Fukushima he should swim over here and get the Koch brothers, Ted Turner, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. Maybe that would scare Obama back into Socialism long enough I could get some gas and groceries.
200 tea party protesters get more media coverage than 50,000 true citizens but guess what, the astroturf movement doesn't get to vote.
BREAKING NEWS: Wisconsin Democrats just announced that local activists submitted over 100% of the signatures needed to "recall" Republican state senator Dan Kapanke from office!
Diane makes up a quote about Sen. McCain comparing Libya to Vietnam and when her panel says they have never heard that, she doesn't admit to having her facts wrong, again. Who could forget the show where Diane was emphatic that the FDA approved Thalidomide even when confronted with evidence to the contrary. Is Diane auditioning for a job at MSNBC?
I have a “modest proposal”, one which I doubt the Senate Democrats have the guts to try: The Republi-Cons want cuts? Give them cuts, in places and ways they’d hate! Find every program conservatives love, and zero it out. Find every state with two Republican senators, and remove funding for pet projects (“earmarks”) and military spending. Then adjourn!
This is a giant game of “chicken”, and we all should be offended by it.
(And I don’t hold the Democrats blameless. Had they done their job last year and passed the budget we wouldn’t be in this mess. But they were too scared to do it before the election, and caved-in to Republi-Con filibusters afterwards. That’s given Boehner and company the opportunity to play this game.)
Bernard Goldberg got the title of his book wrong. It’s crazies to the right of us and wimps to the left!
I don’t know a thing about Wisconsin law, but I wonder why all the focus on the distinction between “posting” and “publishing” the union busting law? Can’t the courts simply enjoin enforcement of that law?
I’d rather see more energy devoted to arguing the merits of the case: was the law validly passed, or is it invalid? That’s the critical question.
strudel the bloviator wrote:
"Find every program conservatives love, and zero it out. Find every state with two Republican senators, and remove funding for pet projects (“earmarks”) and military spending".
Funding bills start in the House, strudel. So good luck with your stupid proposal.
Unlike you, Bernie Goldberg has seen both sides of the fence. That's why he named the book the way he did.
You are right about one thing though. This IS a giant game of "chicken", but it's not between Republicans and Democrats; it's an ideological struggle between the big-government progressive left and American business. When the left allows it to be advantageous for businesses to create jobs here they will start doing it. Until then they will continue to rake profits from overseas. In the mean time, Congress is just a giant spectator who thinks they can actually do something.
monte on April 1, 2011 @ 9:49 am wrote: “B-b-b-but it's his fault ... he started it.....”
Here’s a history lesson for you, sir. Unemployment and the deficits declined every year during the Clinton Administration. They increased every year during the first three years of Bush the Second (and unemployment never fell as low as at the start)!
And yet, when did the Republican Party (“the party of responsibility”) ever take any responsibility for that? Answer: never! The Republi-Cons screamed it was all Clinton’s fault (when they weren’t busy trying to blame Jimmy Carter for everything).
Sorry, sir, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. If “your side” could give Bush a “free pass” during his first three years (at least!), then Obama deserves the same courtesy. Spare me this hypocrisy. Or, else, admit Bush’s responsibility for leaving office with the highest unemployment and the largest deficit of his entire term, and for leaving our economy in a state of collapse - the major (if not root) cause of much of our current problems!
Oh, and as for the “all powerful” Democratic Congress of 2007 - 2009: there was an even split between the parties in the Senate, and a “whopping” 29 seat Democratic majority in the House. Ever hear of the “veto”, of the “filibuster”, of secret Senatorial holds? You’re telling us that the Republi-Cons, who were so good at blocking things for the last two years (when they had only 40 Senators, and the Democrats had a 78 seat majority in the House), were helpless when their numbers were greater? (And let’s not forget they controlled the White House back them!)
I shall retire to Bedlam.
P.S. - These statistics come from The World Almanac for 2010, pages 17, 63, 108, and 439.
Dear Diane Rehm, This comment comes under the category of this morning's topic of President Obama's energy policy. I have been so very blown away by a program I saw on PBS last night featuring very credible witnesses and footage to the grave consequences of not mobilizing immediately. It is called Journey to Planet Earth and this segment was called "Plan B Mobilizing to Save Civilization". I am no stranger to environmental causes and information but this was so arresting that I can think of nothing else. I don't know if you have had Lester Brown on your morning broadcast, and even if you have before, I urge you to have him again. He is such a credible, intelligent, and composed and he was the major speaker and witness on last night's program.
The two points that really grabbed me were the ones about how, if the glaciers in the mountains that feed such rivers as the Ganges and the large river in China melt then those civilizations will be thrown into complete chaos and destruction. The second is if the South American rain forests get dry so that they burn, we are all sunk. Both of these two distinct possibilities are caused by the carbon emissions exacerbated by the exponential rate of population growth and how we need to educate the women to bring them our of poverty.
We probably have only till 2020 to bring emissions down 80%. The United States needs to be a leader NOW. Mr. Brown speaks of how in WWII we changed our factories from automobile to war airplane production in a matter of days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and how no cars were produced in the US for a couple of years. So we CAN do it--we need the will.
Please have Lester Brown on your program soon. People trust you to bring them what is important and in a sane manner. Thank you for listening.
Anne Bowler, Moscow, Idaho
Monte,
Didn’t catch Post article, but I must say I differ a bit with your summation.
George W, even though elected by minority, acted on mandate from God to divide country, alienate world, and funnel country’s present and future treasure to privileged few.” To clarify:
1) In 2000 Bush was elected by a slight majority in electoral college (let’s not discuss Florida), but was elected by a minority of voters. Bush (The “uniter”) policies that followed were as if he had been given a mandate by a sweeping majority to undo any and all progress made in the 8 years previous.
2) W was also quoted, when confronted about going to War in Iraq, “I answer to a higher power”, as if he did not need any legitimate reasons to go to War, because he was acting on a mandate from God.
3) Funneling $ to wealthy- Where do you think the trillions we have been borrowing have been going? Have we putting it all in a bomb and dropping on Iraq?
4) When I say alienate the world- I am referring to many things- withdrawing from Kyoto, acting fairly unilaterally in Iraq, withdrawing from treaties, weakening the U.N., and etc.
Going into 2000 election, after 8 years of Clinton, a 10 year forecast of $5.6 trillion was forecast. W said “Heck no” to this real and potential prosperity & immediately ladled $630 billion in tax cuts to top 1%. After first year debt shot to 6.2 trillion dollars. Bush spent more $ than all previous administrations altogether. On average, 2.5 times more jobs were created during Clinton years than each of Reagan, Bush SR, or W.
continue...
Obama- tax cuts and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan account for over $500 billion of the deficit in 2009 and will account for almost $7 trillion in deficits in 2009 through 2019, including the associated debt-service costs. (assuming tax cuts will continue extended and the administrations intentions of new funding provided for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan)
Unfunded prescription drug benefit enacted in 2003 will account for further substantial increases in deficits and debt.
Point being that yes debt and deficits have gone up greatly during Obama Administration, but large proportion do indeed have much to do with “hand dealt”.
ecgberht on April 1, 2011 @ 1:05 pm wrote: “Funding bills start in the House, strudel. So good luck with your stupid proposal.”
Actually I thought so too, egghead old buddy, until I bothered to read the Constitution. All that must originate in the House are “bills for raising revenue”. Article 1, Section 7, Paragraph 1. I’m not sure the budget qualifies. In any case, there are two points you’ve ignored (you’re so good at that):
1) I called my suggestion “a modest proposal”. That’s a direct reference to a famous essay by Jonathan Swift - a satirical essay. Of course I wasn’t being serious about it.
2) I only discussed cutting spending, not raising revenue.
I can't help noting you don't like the idea of balancing the budget on the backs of conservatives (instead of on the backs of the poorest and most helpless among us). Thanks for proving my point: for Republi-Cons sacrifice is for "the little people".
ecgberht on April 1, 2011 @ 1:05 pm wrote: “Unlike you, Bernie Goldberg has seen both sides of the fence. That's why he named the book the way he did.”
- Oh, I see both sides of the fence, sir. I’m quite willing to admit there are “crazies on the left” (Sharpton, Kucinich for example). But how much power and influence do they actually wield? Precious little compared to the likes of Bachmann, Palin, Boehner, Rand Paul, Beck, Limbaugh, O’Reilly, etc., etc., ad nauseum. (I threw that last part in because of your love of Latin.)
The Democrats constantly demonstrate they lack the courage of their philosophy. Or have you forgotten Senators Ben Nelson and the former (and unlamented) Blanche Lincoln (again, to name just two examples)?
Indeed, do they even have a universal philosophy? Remember, Will Roger’s famous remark: “I don’t belong to an organized political party, I’m a Democrat”. In contrast, as demonstrated especially during the past two years, Republi-Cons are adept at marching in lock-step, like good little party apparatchiks!
Oh, and as for “big business” (which has nothing to do with what I was discussing, but thanks for an irrelevant response - another of your specialties), you demonstrate how like a spoiled child they are: if we don’t cave-in and give them everything they want, they’ll take their marbles and go home. Maybe another budget cut should be a provision banning any protection (military or otherwise) we give them here or overseas. (Don’t worry, that’s just another “modest proposal”).
And one reason they get away with it is because we still haven’t closed the tax loopholes that enable them to avoid paying taxes using cute tricks, such as by merely opening a P.O. Box overseas and then using accounting gimmicks to claim that as their revenue source.
ecgberht on April 1, 2011 @ 1:05 pm wrote: “Congress is just a giant spectator who thinks they can actually do something.”
- Well, then, I guess neither party is responsible for anything, given that Congress is so impotent according to you.
P.S. - try using a spelling and grammar checker some time.
M Johnson on April 1, 2011 @ 10:16 am wrote: “There will continue to be a shortage of American jobs until the great leveling of global economies is complete.”
You have put your finger on the “800 pound gorilla” in the room that no one is willing to discuss. Above and beyond everything we are talking about, there is one fundamental factor at work.
What most people would consider the “golden age” of recent American history, the period they probably look back on with nostalgia, is the post World War II era of approximately 1945 - 1968. That’s when America “bestrode the narrow world like a colossus” (Julius Caesar). The problem is: our economic might was largely due to circumstances that are over (and hopefully will never recur).
The War decimated all of our economic rivals. Europe was prostrate, it’s great cities largely damaged or destroyed. Germany, that powerhouse, had literally been reduced to rubble. Japan? Destroyed and occupied.
We weren’t just the world’s first superpower, in many ways (for many years) we were it’s only power. Our response was unique in history and generous. We rebuilt our allies and former enemies through programs like the Marshall Plan. There’s a true example of “American Exceptionalism”. (Please note, you conservatives who like to use that phrase).
Of course, it was partly a case of enlightened self-interest (still an exceptionally rare thing). This helped create markets for our goods, and (of course) helped prevent Europe and Asia from going Communist.
But, it also meant that one day those prostrate powers would be able to challenge us again (economically, I mean). And as M Johnson correctly observed, as they go up, we must come down somewhat. We are no longer the only power in the world. At best, we truly are “first among equals”.
hainc on April 1, 2011 @ 10:37 am wrote: “On the budget, Obama shows no leadership. He's sitting back waiting for everyone else to do the hard work.”
I’m not going to bother responding to the rest of your nonsense, but let me say I agree with you on this one. And this isn’t the only example.
Despite Republi-Con false claims, one problem with the new healthcare law is that “dictator” Obama didn’t take a strong enough part in its creation. I think he was afraid of making the mistakes Clinton made (being accused of doing too much), but went too far in the opposite direction. When he did show some leadership and got directly involved (such as conferencing with Congressional leaders, including Republicans), it was “too little, too late”.
And he’s still failing on that score. He should be explaining the new law and its benefits better. Instead, like Democrats in general, he seems to think “Oh, the American people will ‘get it’ once they see it at work.” At least the Republi-Cons understand that perception is a key part of politics.
P.S. - What does “hainc” stand for, or where did it come from?
To JLMJ on April 1, 2011 @ 10:36 am:
You said it all!
cicero on April 1, 2011 @ 12:12 pm wrote: “Who could forget the show where Diane was emphatic that the FDA approved Thalidomide even when confronted with evidence to the contrary.”
I didn’t hear that show so this is pure speculation: Is it possible she (or you) are merely confused. Perhaps she was talking about the FDA’s approval of thalidomide for the treatment of lesions associated with Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) - on July 16, 1998 (according to Wikipedia), not approval back in the 60’s? (There have been other limited approvals for treatment of disease since then.)
Of course what you, and other “government is always the problem” Republi-Cons are ignoring is the fact that the U.S. was spared a disaster as great as other countries precisely because the “big government” FDA refused to approve the drug.
(Oh, and this happened during the JFK administration. One of those nasty liberal Democrats Republi-Cons think are the bane of the nation.)
strudel wrote: “I can't help noting you don't like the idea of balancing the budget on the backs of conservatives (instead of on the backs of the poorest and most helpless among us). Thanks for proving my point: for Republi-Cons sacrifice is for "the little people".
Shall I reduce your parroting of the left to shards with some facts? Yes, I think I shall:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=661pi6K-8WQ
“Republi-Cons are adept at marching in lock-step, like good little party apparatchiks!”
Do you have any clue how uninformed you sound? Other posters are laughing. Sure, strudel, good little party apparatchiks. That’s why there is a SEPARATE CAUCUS for the Tea Party from the Republican Caucus – because they’re all in “lock-step”!
“Oh, and as for “big business” (which has nothing to do with what I was discussing, but thanks for an irrelevant response - another of your specialties),”
Oops, strudel, not reading for understanding again are you? I simply answered your simplistic interpretation with one that demonstrates much greater depth. Try re-reading. Maybe you’ll get it this time.
“try using a spelling and grammar checker some time.”
Really? Point out the error … OR SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE!!! I would be careful with those accusations – because if you EVER make a mistake it will get slammed back in your face. Now, before you answer, consider this post of yours which speaks of "Europe and it's [sic] cities"! or how about "in many ways (for many years) we were it’s [sic] only power". Here, myabe this will help:
http://www.guilford.edu/about_guilford/services_and_administration/lc/gr...
M Johnson wrote: 'Regarding job creation, I recently read that many large corporations have created lots of jobs...overseas. There will continue to be a shortage of American jobs until the great leveling of global economies is complete."
On this, you, strudel, and I are agreed. But I would refine the statement a little. I would say there will continue to be a shortage of American jobs until the great leveling of global LABOR MARKETS is complete. There are many factors impinging on the success of a country's economy including natural resources, education levels, etc. Labor is only one of them. Since the world has become small, America has priced itself out of the labor market.
"The average American will continue to face fewer jobs with lower wages and benefits for years to come.' Right you are. But that is not the fault of the "large corporations". Large corporations are doing what large corporations do. The American worker has reaped the benefit of "large corporations" for decades. The old morality tale finishes, "you knew I was a snake when you picked me up". The American worker is going to have to accept lower pay and benefits because the law of supply and demand is requiring it.
Diane is a cult of personality but she's an obvious lib when her guests use inflamatory language like the phrase I heard today. They were discussing the Reagan assassination attempt and one of the panelists referred to "cop killing exploding bullets" and she made no attempt to correct him or tone down the lie that was voiced. Bullets do not explode. They expand or fragment. Any bullet placed in a vital area will kill the target animal. People kill each other. Stop blaming the tools. Assault is a behaviour, not a type of weapon. Guns and bullets are simply power tools like a skill saw or electric drill. Used by law abiding folk, they are no more dangerous than the saw or the drill. Carried in a conscientious fashion they seem to cause the crime rate to decline. It has worked in every right to carry state it's been tried in. Diane's panelists often try to scare people using language that makes the gun or the bullet seem evil. Neither are.
Ecgberht,
What about fact that corp execs make 100, 400, up to 1000x average American worker? Since the 70’s average workers wages have stagnated while executive pay has skyrocketed. Wouldn’t it make more sense if perhaps a CEO or exec made oh say, 30 or 40 times average worker and they used rest to hire 700 or 800 more employees and have those employees work on such things such as R&D, so we actually have a chance of staying ahead of other countries? In other parts of world the balance of wages between execs and employees, is nowhere near as imbalanced as ours. That’s partly why other countries are catching up and in many areas surpassing.
I’d be ashamed if I was part of corporate culture laying off workers so I can give ungodly bonuses to execs. That’s not “American dream” I believe in.
It's not just a matter of growing the economy for fabulously wealthy, it's a matter of creating policies that encourage economy that works better for all. "Trickle down" doesn't work. If it did, judging by gap between rich and middle class over past 10 years, our economy would be in heaven.
Corps play large role in "choosing our government" since officials seldom are elected to congress without corporate support. When was the last time you saw someone get elected on an anti- corpplatform? (except perhaps Sanders- Vermont).
On contrary we have seen people run on anti-government platforms. What does anti- g mean? For one it seems to mean let corps regulate themselves- don’t obstruct “free market”- corps will do the right thing. Yeah right. Last administration allowed corps to regulate their own pollution standards and let them regulate us into financial meltdown which further transferred wealth from “our” treasury to the already wealthy.
Who do you think is stronger in America today, government, currently w/ trillion $ deficits or corps (collectively) currently sitting on trillion dollar surpluses? Of course corps want “less government“.
Etaoin Shrdlu wrote:
"I didn’t hear that show so this is pure speculation: Is it possible she (or you) are merely confused. Perhaps she was talking about the FDA’s approval of thalidomide for the treatment of lesions associated with Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) - on July 16, 1998 (according to Wikipedia), not approval back in the 60’s? (There have been other limited approvals for treatment of disease since then.)"
No confusion on my part at all. Rehm was talking to Dr. Margaret Hamburg Commission of the Food and Drug Administration about thalidomide in 1960. Rehm tried to convince Dr. Hamburg that the FDA approved thalidomide despite the warnings from the U.K. doctor back in the late 1950's. The point is that Rehm's comprehension of historical truths is sketchy at best. That she made up the Sen. McCain quote is evidence that her ignorance is not limited to the historical record of yesteryear, but of yesterday as well.
September 28, 2009
26:40 into show
http://thedianerehmshow.org/audio-player?nid=733