Click here to view this media Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann admitted Sunday that Libya may still be under the rule of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi if she had been president instead of Barack Obama. In May, the candidate called the U.S. military action in Libya “a disaster in the making.” “If President Bachmann had been in charge, wouldn’t Muammar Gaddafi still be in power?” Fox News’ Chris Wallace asked Bachmann Sunday. “Well, he may be,” Bachmann agreed. “I stand by that decision. I think it is wrong for the United States to go in to Libya. Barack Obama said we were going in to Libya for humanitarian purposes. It wasn’t humanitarian purposes. It was regime change. And what’s the result? We don’t know who the next leaders will be.” “It could be a radical element. It could be the Muslim Brotherhood. It could be elements affiliated with al Qaeda. We don’t know yet who that regime will be, but worse, we’ve seen the MANPADS go missing and the should-fired rockets that are very dangerous, that could fit into a trunk of a car. And there are some reports out there that they may have even gone as far as Gaza and of course, that could be used to bring down a commercial airliner. This is a very bad decision, and it’s created more instability in that region, not less.” “Are you suggesting that we would be better off with Gaddafi’s dictatorship still in effect?” Wallace wondered. “The world is certainly better off without Gaddafi,” Bachmann replied. “But consider what the cost will be. We are only looking at a snapshot today. The last chapter hasn’t been written on Libya… We knew who the devil was that was running [Libya]. We don’t know the next one. And again, this was leading from behind on the part of the administration.”
Continue reading …‘Just Scrap The Cap’ Video A Creative Way to Raise Awareness on Social Security Fix
October 23, 2011 No CommentThe Economic Opportunity Institute and Social Security Works released a new video this week that features two senior citizens rapping “Scrap the Cap,” a reference to the easiest and most logical solution to the long-term funding of Social Security. The organizations are quick to point out that talk of a ‘crisis’ in Social Security is nonsense since the program currently has a $2.6 trillion surplus, and that scrapping the cap on taxable income for Social Security is a good fix for the long-term projections of a funding shortage. Currently, everyone paying into Social Security only pays taxes on the first $106,800 of their income and nothing on any income above that, effectively meaning that wealthier citizens pay no Social Security taxes on most of their income. Eliminating this cap would make the program solvent for a much longer time period. Anyone who supports “Scrapping the Cap,” can take action on the web site related to the video . The lyrics of the song: The real old school in the house Give it up for the geezers Had our golden years all planned out Small pension, golf cart and a Florida house But congress put a hit on Social Security Mugged us of our dignity despite our maturity Tax we paid with every check we earned Time to collect we the ones gettin burned There’s nothing we can do if we can’t get paid ‘cept eat cat food, and drink haterade Listen up cuz while we drop some knowledge We raised our little boy, put him through college Only safety net is our next of kin Look out son, cause we’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in (what!?) No arguin (what!?) No arguin (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in Name’s Spinal Twist, check my orthopedic kicks ‘cause I stoop farther south than the St. Lunatics. I’m still getting play and it’s all thanks to Pfizer, Keepin me stiffer than my Yankees cap visor My station wagon windows are dark with tint I subscribe to vibe and I get the large print They call me Martini got substance abuse ‘cause I’m always playin gin and sippin on juice Our son wants to know if we can pay the rent, But without benefits we ain’t got 50 cent, We don’t pack a nine, we’re just strapped for funds But we’re still game killers for our bachelor son [interlude] Social Security payments are far from erratic “it’s broke and failin” don’t believe that static This crisis is a fiction there would be no debate If we all pitched in at the same tax rate There’s a cap on how much millionaires pay Even though we all work like every single day These are the facts but they’re provin’ thin So pull out the couch ‘cause we’re movin in We’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in (what!?) No arguin (what!?) No arguin (what!?) Pull out the couch ‘cause we’re movin in Alright now younginz, you’re our last resort ‘cause sooner or later, we’ll be needin support If you don’t want roommates just learn this rap It’s only one line, shout SCRAP THE CAP Scrap the cap Scrap the cap Throw your hands up Just scrap the cap Scrap the cap Scrap the cap Throw your hands up Just scrap the cap
Continue reading …‘Just Scrap The Cap’ Video A Creative Way to Raise Awareness on Social Security Fix
October 23, 2011 No CommentThe Economic Opportunity Institute and Social Security Works released a new video this week that features two senior citizens rapping “Scrap the Cap,” a reference to the easiest and most logical solution to the long-term funding of Social Security. The organizations are quick to point out that talk of a ‘crisis’ in Social Security is nonsense since the program currently has a $2.6 trillion surplus, and that scrapping the cap on taxable income for Social Security is a good fix for the long-term projections of a funding shortage. Currently, everyone paying into Social Security only pays taxes on the first $106,800 of their income and nothing on any income above that, effectively meaning that wealthier citizens pay no Social Security taxes on most of their income. Eliminating this cap would make the program solvent for a much longer time period. Anyone who supports “Scrapping the Cap,” can take action on the web site related to the video . The lyrics of the song: The real old school in the house Give it up for the geezers Had our golden years all planned out Small pension, golf cart and a Florida house But congress put a hit on Social Security Mugged us of our dignity despite our maturity Tax we paid with every check we earned Time to collect we the ones gettin burned There’s nothing we can do if we can’t get paid ‘cept eat cat food, and drink haterade Listen up cuz while we drop some knowledge We raised our little boy, put him through college Only safety net is our next of kin Look out son, cause we’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in (what!?) No arguin (what!?) No arguin (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in Name’s Spinal Twist, check my orthopedic kicks ‘cause I stoop farther south than the St. Lunatics. I’m still getting play and it’s all thanks to Pfizer, Keepin me stiffer than my Yankees cap visor My station wagon windows are dark with tint I subscribe to vibe and I get the large print They call me Martini got substance abuse ‘cause I’m always playin gin and sippin on juice Our son wants to know if we can pay the rent, But without benefits we ain’t got 50 cent, We don’t pack a nine, we’re just strapped for funds But we’re still game killers for our bachelor son [interlude] Social Security payments are far from erratic “it’s broke and failin” don’t believe that static This crisis is a fiction there would be no debate If we all pitched in at the same tax rate There’s a cap on how much millionaires pay Even though we all work like every single day These are the facts but they’re provin’ thin So pull out the couch ‘cause we’re movin in We’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in (what!?) No arguin (what!?) No arguin (what!?) Pull out the couch ‘cause we’re movin in Alright now younginz, you’re our last resort ‘cause sooner or later, we’ll be needin support If you don’t want roommates just learn this rap It’s only one line, shout SCRAP THE CAP Scrap the cap Scrap the cap Throw your hands up Just scrap the cap Scrap the cap Scrap the cap Throw your hands up Just scrap the cap
Continue reading …‘Just Scrap The Cap’ Video A Creative Way to Raise Awareness on Social Security Fix
October 23, 2011 No CommentThe Economic Opportunity Institute and Social Security Works released a new video this week that features two senior citizens rapping “Scrap the Cap,” a reference to the easiest and most logical solution to the long-term funding of Social Security. The organizations are quick to point out that talk of a ‘crisis’ in Social Security is nonsense since the program currently has a $2.6 trillion surplus, and that scrapping the cap on taxable income for Social Security is a good fix for the long-term projections of a funding shortage. Currently, everyone paying into Social Security only pays taxes on the first $106,800 of their income and nothing on any income above that, effectively meaning that wealthier citizens pay no Social Security taxes on most of their income. Eliminating this cap would make the program solvent for a much longer time period. Anyone who supports “Scrapping the Cap,” can take action on the web site related to the video . The lyrics of the song: The real old school in the house Give it up for the geezers Had our golden years all planned out Small pension, golf cart and a Florida house But congress put a hit on Social Security Mugged us of our dignity despite our maturity Tax we paid with every check we earned Time to collect we the ones gettin burned There’s nothing we can do if we can’t get paid ‘cept eat cat food, and drink haterade Listen up cuz while we drop some knowledge We raised our little boy, put him through college Only safety net is our next of kin Look out son, cause we’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in (what!?) No arguin (what!?) No arguin (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in Name’s Spinal Twist, check my orthopedic kicks ‘cause I stoop farther south than the St. Lunatics. I’m still getting play and it’s all thanks to Pfizer, Keepin me stiffer than my Yankees cap visor My station wagon windows are dark with tint I subscribe to vibe and I get the large print They call me Martini got substance abuse ‘cause I’m always playin gin and sippin on juice Our son wants to know if we can pay the rent, But without benefits we ain’t got 50 cent, We don’t pack a nine, we’re just strapped for funds But we’re still game killers for our bachelor son [interlude] Social Security payments are far from erratic “it’s broke and failin” don’t believe that static This crisis is a fiction there would be no debate If we all pitched in at the same tax rate There’s a cap on how much millionaires pay Even though we all work like every single day These are the facts but they’re provin’ thin So pull out the couch ‘cause we’re movin in We’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in (what!?) No arguin (what!?) No arguin (what!?) Pull out the couch ‘cause we’re movin in Alright now younginz, you’re our last resort ‘cause sooner or later, we’ll be needin support If you don’t want roommates just learn this rap It’s only one line, shout SCRAP THE CAP Scrap the cap Scrap the cap Throw your hands up Just scrap the cap Scrap the cap Scrap the cap Throw your hands up Just scrap the cap
Continue reading …‘Just Scrap The Cap’ Video A Creative Way to Raise Awareness on Social Security Fix
October 23, 2011 No CommentThe Economic Opportunity Institute and Social Security Works released a new video this week that features two senior citizens rapping “Scrap the Cap,” a reference to the easiest and most logical solution to the long-term funding of Social Security. The organizations are quick to point out that talk of a ‘crisis’ in Social Security is nonsense since the program currently has a $2.6 trillion surplus, and that scrapping the cap on taxable income for Social Security is a good fix for the long-term projections of a funding shortage. Currently, everyone paying into Social Security only pays taxes on the first $106,800 of their income and nothing on any income above that, effectively meaning that wealthier citizens pay no Social Security taxes on most of their income. Eliminating this cap would make the program solvent for a much longer time period. Anyone who supports “Scrapping the Cap,” can take action on the web site related to the video . The lyrics of the song: The real old school in the house Give it up for the geezers Had our golden years all planned out Small pension, golf cart and a Florida house But congress put a hit on Social Security Mugged us of our dignity despite our maturity Tax we paid with every check we earned Time to collect we the ones gettin burned There’s nothing we can do if we can’t get paid ‘cept eat cat food, and drink haterade Listen up cuz while we drop some knowledge We raised our little boy, put him through college Only safety net is our next of kin Look out son, cause we’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in (what!?) No arguin (what!?) No arguin (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in Name’s Spinal Twist, check my orthopedic kicks ‘cause I stoop farther south than the St. Lunatics. I’m still getting play and it’s all thanks to Pfizer, Keepin me stiffer than my Yankees cap visor My station wagon windows are dark with tint I subscribe to vibe and I get the large print They call me Martini got substance abuse ‘cause I’m always playin gin and sippin on juice Our son wants to know if we can pay the rent, But without benefits we ain’t got 50 cent, We don’t pack a nine, we’re just strapped for funds But we’re still game killers for our bachelor son [interlude] Social Security payments are far from erratic “it’s broke and failin” don’t believe that static This crisis is a fiction there would be no debate If we all pitched in at the same tax rate There’s a cap on how much millionaires pay Even though we all work like every single day These are the facts but they’re provin’ thin So pull out the couch ‘cause we’re movin in We’re movin in (what!?) We’re movin in (what!?) Pull out the couch cause we’re movin in (what!?) No arguin (what!?) No arguin (what!?) Pull out the couch ‘cause we’re movin in Alright now younginz, you’re our last resort ‘cause sooner or later, we’ll be needin support If you don’t want roommates just learn this rap It’s only one line, shout SCRAP THE CAP Scrap the cap Scrap the cap Throw your hands up Just scrap the cap Scrap the cap Scrap the cap Throw your hands up Just scrap the cap
Continue reading …Oct. 13 at At AP: Lech Walesa, ‘Legendary Freedom Leader’; Now: ‘Lech Who?’
October 23, 2011 No CommentOn October 13 , Monika Scislowska of the Associated Press reported that a “legendary freedom leader … says he supports the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York that protests corporate greed,” and that “that he is planning either a visit or a letter to the protesters.” That leader would be Poland's former President Lech Walesa. On Friday, October 21, at 5:01 p.m., Adam Andrzejewski at BigGovernment.com reported that “Based on our discussion and intervention, President Walesa is not going to get involved with the OWS.” The AP's follow-up story is after the jump: That's right, a search on Walesa's last name at the Associated Press's main site returns nothing . A Google News search on [Walesa "Associated Press"] (typed exactly as indicated between brackets) returns nothing less than four days old . Andrzejewski at BigGov elaborates: We suspected that the European news media had filtered out accurate information about the genesis of Occupy Wall Street (OWS). When Walesa’s comments hit the AP wire last week, my team immediately reached out to our Polish contacts. We made the point that the political themes of Occupy Wall Street may have started out with some of the principles that we share, but OWS themes were rapidly being morphed into anti-freedom and anti-liberty messages. At the core is the want for a big, powerful central government to dominate the lives of individual citizens. Using biggovernment.com plus other news sources, rapidly we painted an accurate picture of the groups training, leading, and organizing the “movement.” The movement is organized by anarchists, Code Pink, the American Communist movement, jihadists, anti-Israel, socialist, and anti- free enterprise interests. OWS folks are politically to the left of President Barack Obama. At the Lech Walesa Institute Foundation in Warsaw, they were thankful to receive this information. Based on our discussion and intervention, President Walesa is not going to get involved with the OWS. He is not comfortable with the “organizations” behind the movement. It was not a difficult discussion. The lifetime of good work exercised by President Walesa has lifted people around the world fighting tyranny. Through the Lech Walesa Institute Foundation in Warsaw, Walesa has supported freedom and liberty around the world. As a man primarily responsible for vanquishing communism in Poland, Walesa has a personal bent toward helping the underdog and the downtrodden. So it's news at the Associated Press when Walesa jumps on board the “Occupy” train, but not when he figures out that he was misled, and jumps off. Oh look!There's Pete ” I still call myself a communist ” Seeger! At the AP via Cristian Salazar, he's just a “folk music legend.” The bias could not be more obvious. Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com .
Continue reading …Oct. 13 at At AP: Lech Walesa, ‘Legendary Freedom Leader’; Now: ‘Lech Who?’
October 23, 2011 No Comment
On October 13 , Monika Scislowska of the Associated Press reported that a “legendary freedom leader … says he supports the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York that protests corporate greed,” and that “that he is planning either a visit or a letter to the protesters.” That leader would be Poland's former President Lech Walesa. On Friday, October 21, at 5:01 p.m., Adam Andrzejewski at BigGovernment.com reported that “Based on our discussion and intervention, President Walesa is not going to get involved with the OWS.” The AP's follow-up story is after the jump: That's right, a search on Walesa's last name at the Associated Press's main site returns nothing . A Google News search on [Walesa "Associated Press"] (typed exactly as indicated between brackets) returns nothing less than four days old . Andrzejewski at BigGov elaborates: We suspected that the European news media had filtered out accurate information about the genesis of Occupy Wall Street (OWS). When Walesa’s comments hit the AP wire last week, my team immediately reached out to our Polish contacts. We made the point that the political themes of Occupy Wall Street may have started out with some of the principles that we share, but OWS themes were rapidly being morphed into anti-freedom and anti-liberty messages. At the core is the want for a big, powerful central government to dominate the lives of individual citizens. Using biggovernment.com plus other news sources, rapidly we painted an accurate picture of the groups training, leading, and organizing the “movement.” The movement is organized by anarchists, Code Pink, the American Communist movement, jihadists, anti-Israel, socialist, and anti- free enterprise interests. OWS folks are politically to the left of President Barack Obama. At the Lech Walesa Institute Foundation in Warsaw, they were thankful to receive this information. Based on our discussion and intervention, President Walesa is not going to get involved with the OWS. He is not comfortable with the “organizations” behind the movement. It was not a difficult discussion. The lifetime of good work exercised by President Walesa has lifted people around the world fighting tyranny. Through the Lech Walesa Institute Foundation in Warsaw, Walesa has supported freedom and liberty around the world. As a man primarily responsible for vanquishing communism in Poland, Walesa has a personal bent toward helping the underdog and the downtrodden. So it's news at the Associated Press when Walesa jumps on board the “Occupy” train, but not when he figures out that he was misled, and jumps off. Oh look!There's Pete ” I still call myself a communist ” Seeger! At the AP via Cristian Salazar, he's just a “folk music legend.” The bias could not be more obvious. Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com .
Continue reading …Politicians Aren’t Talking About Cutting Expensive Weapons, Just Health Care And Pension Coverage For The Military
October 23, 2011 No Comment
enlarge Credit: Portland Observer Here’s a thought : Maybe we shouldn’t have a standing army. Maybe we shouldn’t have hundreds of military bases (at least 660) in 38 countries. Maybe the thing that needs to be cut is the reach of our imperial ambitions… Nah, that’s crazy talk! Forget I said anything: The government’s promise of lifetime health care for the military’s men and women is suddenly a little less sacrosanct as Congress looks to slash trillion-dollar-plus deficits. Republicans and Democrats alike are signaling a willingness — unheard of at the height of two post-Sept. 11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — to make military retirees pay more for coverage . It’s a reflection of Washington’s newfound embrace of fiscal austerity and the Pentagon’s push to cut health care costs that have skyrocketed from $19 billion in 2001 to $53 billion. Maybe we could stop sending people to places where they suffer devastating head traumas and get important body parts blown off? The numbers are daunting for a military focused on building and arming an all-volunteer force for war. The Pentagon is providing health care coverage for 3.3 million active duty personnel and their dependents and 5.5 million retirees, eligible dependents and surviving spouses. Retirees outnumber the active duty, 2.3 million to 1.4 million. Combined with the billions in retirement pay, it’s no surprise that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta recently said personnel costs have put the Pentagon “on an unsustainable course.”
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Adversity assumed more than one form for Manchester United in a result that will figure for generations when this fixture is under discussion. The red card in the 46th minute for Jonny Evans, after he had pulled back Mario Balotelli, was damaging but Manchester City already held a 1-0 lead. Although the hosts reduced the deficit to 3-1 with a precise drive from Darren Fletcher, that simply galvanised City. In the closing moments, they struck three times, two of them from the substitute Edin Dzeko, with a David Silva goal between them. In the first half City had struck the ideal balance between prudence and audacity. At first neither side could pose a threat with any regularity but City took their chance impeccably. Despite the reputation Balotelli has for volatility, he was preferred to Dzeko at centre-forward. Whatever else is said about the Italian he has been reliable of late and the opening goal saw him find the net for a fifth consecutive appearance. Silva picked out James Milner and the low ball to the edge of the area from the left was converted meticulously by Balotelli, who shot past the left hand of the goalkeeper David de Gea. Balotelli lifted his shirt to show a T-shirt with the message “Why always me?” One might have assumed that the visit by the fire brigade to his home in the early hours of Saturday after a fireworks incident was a matter of sheer chance. The dismissal of Evans capped a troubled day for the centre-half and raised questions over Sir Alex Ferguson’s preference for him rather than Phil Jones, who was on the bench. Irrespective of the personnel, it almost seemed natural that United should go on to produce their most intense, attacking spell, with Ashley Young seeing one effort blocked before he sent the rebound beyond the post. City retained their poise to extend their lead after half-time. A flowing move saw Silva turn and release Milner inside the penalty area on the right and Balotelli was at the far post to knock the cutback into the net. This was not one of the days when United could flourish in adversity. Mancini’s side was unsparing. Milner released Richards on the right and Sergio Agüero converted another cutback for a 3-0 lead. Fletcher raised United hopes with a well-taken shot in the 81st minute but City had a morale-shattering finale up their sleeve. Premier League 2011-12 Manchester United Manchester City Premier League Kevin McCarra guardian.co.uk
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Italian government accused of broken promises by heritage organisations after latest incident of decay Part of a Roman wall has collapsed at Pompeii, one year after a house there crumbled, prompting accusations that the Italian government has failed to keep promises to protect the ancient site. During heavy rain on Friday, an eight square metre section of a perimeter wall crumbled near Nola Gate. It is the latest in a series of incidents including the fall of the House of the Gladiators last November, which Unesco criticised and which led the government of Silvio Berlusconi to vow that upkeep would improve. “A year after the collapse of the House of the Gladiators nothing concrete has been done,” Italy’s national association of architects said in a statement. “There is a continued lack of ordinary maintenance, which is the only way to save the site. Our fear is that the coming months will see ever more frequent and serious incidents.” Culture minister Giancarlo Galan blamed “violent rains” and said only the outside layer of the stone wall had fallen, leaving the structure intact. The EU, he added, was about to provide €105m (£91m) for safeguarding the site. But one expert said a year-old pledge to hire new staff at Pompeii had not been kept. “Money and people were promised, but despite frequent announcements, neither arrived,” said Maria Pia Guermandi, a council member at Italian heritage organisation Italia Nostra. “The hiring of new archaeologists to help protect the site was included in a new bill recently but was then omitted from the final text. In the meantime, funds have actually been diverted to support museums in nearby Naples.” Teresa Elena Cinquantacinque, superintendent of the site, said she was awaiting the arrival of 25 archaeologists. Guermandi said the partial collapse of the wall had been caused by water infiltrating the stonework. “All it would have taken to prevent this was some waterproofing on top of the wall – simple, regular maintenance,” she said. “Instead of waiting for €100m, the government could have freed up €10m to get started immediately.” Tsao Cevoli, president of the Italian association of archaeologists, said Pompeii’s buildings, which were excavated in 1748 and are renowned for their well-preserved state, were now falling apart on a daily basis. “Every morning the custodians collect pieces of crumbling walls and hide them before the tourists arrive, to stop tourists taking them away and to hide the real situation.” Guermandi said archaeological sites across Italy were at risk as Berlusconi’s government pushed through budget cuts. “Take for example the Forum in Rome and the underground spaces at the Colosseum, which were both completely flooded by the rains last week,” she said. Italy Silvio Berlusconi Heritage Archaeology Europe Tom Kington guardian.co.uk
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