Month: June 2011

Robert Gates leaves with non-partisan success

From USA TODAY: At his 2006 confirmation hearing to become secretary of Defense, Robert Gates set the tone for his leadership with two words. “No, sir,” he replied when a senator asked whether U.S. forces were winning in Iraq. With that single crisp answer, Gates blew away three years of windy doublespeak about the Iraq […]

CGI’S Surprising Jobs Statistic

From the DAILY BEAST: There was no shortage of eye-popping statistics at CGI’s jobs summit here in Chicago on Wednesday. But as the second day of the conference begins, perhaps the most shocking stat  heard so far is that there are more than three million job openings in America today. “Posted job openings… are being […]

LETTER: The 100 year battle of Capital and Labor is very nearly over

In warfare, when you are winning, you do not let up, but press your advantage on as many fronts as possible. Overkill is necessary to break the spirit and demoralize the enemy. The 100 year battle of Capital and Labor is very nearly over and the vanquished middle class, born largely in the struggles of the labor movement, are now required to give back their borrowed personal and institutional gains.

France confirms arms supply to Libya rebels

From ALJAZEERA: The French military has confirmed that it air dropped weapons early this month to Libyan rebels fighting in the western part of the country. Colonel Thierry Burkhard, a spokesperson for the French general staff, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday that the military had dropped assault rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers to […]

B of A sets aside $14bn to cover loan claims

From the FINANCIAL TIMES: Bank of America has set aside $14bn to meet investors’ claims that loans packaged in mortgage-backed securities before the financial crisis failed to meet promised underwriting standards. The provisions will wipe out BofA’s profits during the second quarter and underline the high price the bank is paying to move beyond the […]

LETTER: Is debt ceiling constitutional?

The debt ceiling is very likely unconstitutional and Obama could remove it. In this article a former Reagan and Bush(I) Treasury official says debt ceiling is unconstitutional: “Furthermore, it’s worth remembering that the debt limit is statutory law, which is trumped by the Constitution which has a little known provision that relates to this issue. […]

NEWSMAX

“Senators Propose Raising Medicare Entrance Age to Cut Costs” reports: “Two U.S. senators known for having independent streaks are proposing to overhaul Medicare by raising the eligibility age by two years and requiring the wealthy to pay more out of pocket for care.

Poll: Obama’s Afghanistan plan wins public support

From USATODAY: President Obama’s plan to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Afghanistan this year and next wins broad approval from Americans who are increasingly ready for the nation’s longest war to end, a Gallup Poll finds. The survey, taken after the president’s nationally televised address on Afghanistan last Wednesday, shows an overwhelming 72% favor […]

Libyan rebels seize Gaddafi weapons depot

From ALJAZEERA: Capture of munitions dump seen as a big boost for the fighters, whose road to Tripoli remains rocky, however… Tuesday’s development is seen as a major victory for the rebels as they make their way to Tripoli, the seat of Muammar Gaddafi’s power. Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull, reporting from Jadu, a nearby town, said that […]

Deficit deal will favor the rich

No surprise to me, and probably not to you, that states that cut their budgets most also lost the most jobs.  How people think we can get out of the financial mess we are in without government spending is beyond me. http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/06/27/255010/chart-states-cut-most-spending-jobs/ But then, it also looks like Obama is going to sell out the […]