More Unfair Bob Pear: New Republicans on Super Committee ‘Among the Most Conservative’
August 12, 2011 No CommentOn Tuesday , Times reporter Robert Pear couldn’t describe Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman as “liberal Democrats,” only as “influential Democrats.” In Thursday’s Times , Pear displayed no aversion to labeling conservatives named to the new “super committee” created in the debt-limit deal. Pear even found Democrats John Kerry (lifetime American Conservative Union rating 5) and Max Baucus (ACU lifetime score, 14) would be found in the middle: “If a deal is to be struck in the middle, it is likely to involve Mr. [Rob] Portman, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and perhaps Senator Max Baucus of Montana, Congressional aides said.” But the Republican list included the “most conservative” Members: Mr. [Jon] Kyl, the No. 2 Senate Republican; Mr. [Pat] Toomey, a former president of the Club for Growth; and Mr. [Jeb] Hensarling, a former chairman of the Republican Study Committee, are among the most conservative members of Congress and rarely vote with Democrats on issues that split the parties. Mr. Toomey voted last week against the bill that raised the debt limit, saying it did not do enough to cut spending. In more than two decades in Congress, Mr. Upton, a moderate conservative [ACU lifetime score of 73], has often shown an independent streak. He supported expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, for example. But last fall, under fire from conservatives, he tacked to the right in his successful effort to become chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Liberals who opposed Rep. Jeb Hensarling’s spending caps weren’t liberals, but lobbyists for the old and poor: In 2004 and 2005, Mr. Hensarling proposed an overall cap on spending for most entitlement programs other than Social Security. Lobbyists for older Americans, veterans and poor people opposed the idea, saying that it could lead to deep cuts in such programs. Pear could somehow not describe in his output this week that Kerry, Pelosi, and Waxman are “among the most liberal members of Congress and rarely vote with Republicans on issues that split the parties.”
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Police chiefs’ leader Sir Hugh Orde says home secretary had no role in ‘more robust tactics’ and cuts will mean fewer officers Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers , has rejected home secretary Theresa May’s claims that she had ordered the “more robust” approach that quelled rioting in English cities. Orde said tactics had changed because more officers were made available. The fact that MPs had come home from holiday was “an irrelevance”. May had “no power whatsoever” cancel all police leave, Orde said. “The more robust policing tactics you saw were not a function of political interference; they were a function of the numbers being available to allow the chief constables to change their tactics,” he told BBC’s Newsnight. Orde defended their police after David Cameron used an emergency debate on the riots in the Commons to critice their tactics. Meanwhile a 22-year-old man has been arrested over the murder of Richard Mannington Bowes , the 68-year-old who was attacked as he tried to put out a fire during riots in Ealing. Bowes had been in hospital with critical injuries – his death was announced early this morning. Four other deaths coinciding with the riots are being investigated by police. A man was found shot in a car in Croydon and three men were hit by a car in Birmingham. Courts again sat through the night as magistrates heard charges against many of those arrested during the four nights of violence. The Metropolitan police have made 1047 arrests since the rioting began on Saturday, with 584 people charged. West Midlands police have arrested 445 people and 178 have been arrested in Manchester and Salford. Police had faced an “unprecedented situation, unique circumstances,” Orde said in the BBC interview. “The fact that politicians chose to come back [from holiday] is an irrelevance in terms of the tactics that were by then developing. The more robust policing tactics you saw were not a function of political interference; they were a function of the numbers being available to allow the chief constables to change their tactics.” Cuts to policing budgets would “inevitably” lead to fewer police officers, he said. “We need to have some very honest conversations with government about what we stop doing if we are to maintain frontline service delivery at current levels. “It’s the 20% cuts in the present spending period that will lead to less police officers, we should be very clear about that.” UK riots Theresa May Police Hugh Orde James Meikle guardian.co.uk
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European stock markets fall as Eurostat data shows French GDP was flat in the second quarter The French economy failed to grow in the last quarter as households across the country cut their spending, in the latest sign that Europe’s economy is stumbling. Data released by Eurostat, the region’s statistics body, on Friday showed that French GDP was stagnant between April and June. Economists had expected the economy to grow by around 0.3%. The disappointing data helped to send stock markets across Europe lower at the start of trading, with the FTSE 100 falling 40 points to 5122. France’s CAC 40 was down 1.9% at 3030.48. Household consumption in France fell by 0.7% compared with the first three months of 2011, increasing the pressure on president Nicolas Sarkozy to convince financial markets that he can meet his fiscal targets. Sarkozy has promised to release revised plans to cut France’s budget deficit within days. Finance minister François Baroin said the French government had no plans to change its targets for GDP growth on the back of one quarter’s data. He also pointed out that France’s economy had grown by 0.9% in the first three months of 2011. “For this year we are in line [with targets],” Baroin told French radio. In contrast, the UK economy grew by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2011, and 0.2% in the second. Baroin also insisted that France’s banks were among the safest in the world, just hours after regulators banned traders from ‘short-selling’ certain financial stocks in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium . Despite this move, shares in Société Générale and BNP Paribas fell by more than 3% in early trading. France has also denied that its AAA credit rating is at risk. Global economy Europe Europe Global recession Economics France Financial crisis Graeme Wearden guardian.co.uk
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Public anger as China’s rail industry suffers fresh blow only weeks after 40 killed in high-speed crash China’s second-biggest trainmaker is to recall 54 bullet trains used on the new showcase Beijing-Shanghai line for safety reasons, dealing a fresh blow to the nation’s rail system. The recall of the trains by China CNR Corp Ltd comes three weeks after 40 people were killed in a high-speed rail crash, which triggered public fury , unusually bold media coverage and a freeze on approvals for new railway projects . China’s high-speed rail drive was until recently held up by senior government officials as a symbol of the nation’s technological prowess. Now it has become a political albatross, drawing scorn from many citizens already frustrated with the hulking railways ministry. China’s fast-growing microblog websites have served to amplify public anger , and the recall drew more catcalls on the popular Weibo site. “Wasn’t this locomotive the most advanced type, and put into use only after many tests? So how come the problems were discovered after they were put into operation? What a miracle,” wrote one Weibo user. “Can we also recall the Ministry of Railways?,” asked another. Officials blamed July’s crash first on a lightning strike and then on faulty signals technology. But on Friday Chinese media quoted a senior investigator as saying the crash also exposed management failings and could have been avoided. “There were serious flaws in the system design that led to an equipment failure,” said Luo Lin, the minister of China’s State Administration of Work Safety, who is leading the investigation. “At the same time, this exposed problems in emergency response and safety management after the failure occurred,” the Beijing Times cited Luo as saying. “This was a major accident involving culpability that could have been totally avoided,” he said. Industry analyst Lu Zhou said the recalls added to signs that China’s high-speed railway boom faced bleak times. “The government is putting a sudden brake on China’s high-speed railway story, and we must wait for the bad days to pass over,” said Lu, an analyst with Everbright Securities in Shanghai. “A Great Leap Forward-style movement in China’s high-speed railway is changing abruptly to a period of silence, and that could last a few years,” he said. The Great Leap Forward was Mao Zedong’s disastrous effort in the late 1950s to catapult China into communist prosperity. But China could not afford to curtail train investment in the longer-term, said Luo. “After all, China’s railway system can’t go back to the old days of shabby green cars.” China Rail transport Rail travel guardian.co.uk
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There was no clear winner from the debate which was enlivened only by feisty comments between Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty The chances of Texas governor Rick Perry becoming front-runner for the Republican nomination to take on Barack Obama rose on Thursday after a lacklustre showing by other candidates in the biggest debate so far. Perry’s office confirmed on Thursday he is planning to announce he will join the race on Saturday at a conservative conference in Charleston, South Carolina. Perry’s entry came too late for him to participate in Thursday’s debate in Ames, Iowa. It was an important debate, coming at the start of three hectic days of campaigning in the state where the first of the Republican caucuses is scheduled to be held in February. Eight declared candidates took part but no clear winner emerged from what was a largely dull two hours. It was enlivened only by feisty personal exchanges between Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and the former governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty, whose campaign is faltering. Asked about Perry’s imminent arrival in the race, the candidates were polite, with one describing him as formidable and another welcoming both him and Sarah Palin should she choose to stand. Palin is scheduled to make a public appearance in Iowa on Friday. Pawlenty badly needs to revive his campaign by doing well in the Iowa straw poll on Saturday, a traditonal test of would-be presidential candidates. If he fails, he could see his remaining financial backers desert him. Under pressure, his main target was predictably Bachmann, winner of the previous debate in New Hampshire and who is leading in the polls in Iowa. Adopting a patronising tone, he said Bachmann had done little in her five years in Congress. “She has done some wonderful things in her life but it is an indisputable fact that her record of accomplishment and results is nonexistent,” Pawlenty said, trying to compensate for his failure to make an impact in the New Hampshire debate and shed his image of dullness. But he picked on the wrong candidate. Bachmann came back recalling his record in office as governor on health, energy and trade. “That sounds a lot more like Barack Obama’s record,” she said. She also raised his record on abortion, a litmus issue for Republicans. After a series of personal exchanges, Pawlenty called her position as “illogical”. Romney was left unscathed, which his campaign team was happy about. But Perry’s arrival could provide him with real competition by the time of the next debate, in California, in September. Pawlenty’s jibes, which appeared to be prepared in advance, are unlikely to have swayed many doubters. Others who failed to make much of an impression included former senator Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. Jon Huntsman made his debate debut. He has struggled in the polls, too close to the centre for many conservatives and also, unforgivable for many Republicans, he worked in the Obama administration as ambassador to China. But his opening answer was poor. Asked for a detailed plan for tackling the economy, he said limply: “It is coming.” Republican presidential nomination 2012 Iowa United States Rick Perry Michele Bachmann Mitt Romney US politics US elections 2012 Republicans Sarah Palin Ewen MacAskill guardian.co.uk
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Click here to view this media I’m sure none of us could possibly have guessed this, but in case you’re in the dark, let there be light: Rick Perry plans to announce his candidacy for President on Saturday. I’m sure you’re shocked. There have been some pretty clear indicators, like a brand-spanking new SuperPAC with Sacramento GOP operative Tony Russo at the helm, for example. The group surfaced this week in an e-mail from former Perry chief of staff Mike Toomey and supporter Brint Ryan, who will work with Russo to lead the fundraising operation. It is one of seven super PACs that have been launched on behalf of Perry’s not-yet-announced presidential campaign so far, but organizers say they expect this one to easily be the biggest. The e-mail from Toomey to potential donors that went public earlier this week quoted Toomey as saying donors should “avoid any other group claiming to be ‘the’ pro-Perry independent effort.” Money will not be a problem. And in the primaries, his association with the New Apostolic Reformation movement might not be too much of a problem, either. Still, the general election might give him a problem if he wins the nomination, and we can expect some major heartburn over the non-stop dog whistles sure to emanate from his neck of the woods. Rachel Maddow did a great segment last night on Perry and his particular flavor of Religious Right. It’s cause for concern. Forrest Wilder explains the relationship between Perry and the NAR: If they simply professed unusual beliefs, movement leaders wouldn’t be remarkable. But what makes the New Apostolic Reformation movement so potent is its growing fascination with infiltrating politics and government. The new prophets and apostles believe Christians—certain Christians—are destined to not just take “dominion” over government, but stealthily climb to the commanding heights of what they term the “Seven Mountains” of society, including the media and the arts and entertainment world. They believe they’re intended to lord over it all. As a first step, they’re leading an “army of God” to commandeer civilian government. In Rick Perry, they may have found their vessel. And the interest appears to be mutual. Governor Goodhair as the Anointed One?
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Click here to view this media Fox’s Megyn Kelly had breaking (and breathless) news today that terrorists activists from a “liberal think tank” had breached security at the Iowa State Fair Grounds in Ames today, attacking Mitt Romney, assaulting him with questions in raised voices about Social Security and Medicare, fairer taxes for the rich, and other things ordinary Americans aren’t supposed to think about too much, apparently. In the end, poor Mitt Romney lay prostrate on the ground, helpless and confused by it all, forced to admit that yes indeed ” corporations are people ” and that liberals were just too mean to them. Or something. Ok, there may be some dramatizing in there. Watch the video and judge for yourself. These folks who were doing the confrontation, these protestors were from the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement , which is described as a liberal think tank. They got there early. They positioned themselves in front of the crowd. They got a few questions into Romney. Do you think we’re going to be seeing more of that? You know, people who have a defined agenda from the average citizen showing up at these events. Fox News really is something else, isn’t it? enlarge
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Follow all the cut and thrust from tonight’s Republican presidential candidates debate in Iowa – live 8.35pm: If you are bored waiting until the debate starts, here’s the liveblog of the last debate back in June . It was a scream. Seriously, just screaming, basically. On second thoughts, don’t tead it. I want to use the same jokes. I thought at the time that Tim Pawlenty did well but Serious People said he didn’t because he failed to rough up Mitt Romney when it mattered and now everyone thinks he’s a wimp. 8.30pm: For British viewers – assuming the government hasn’t cut off the internet to end the rioting yet – Fox News appears to be live-streaming video of the debate right here . Preamble: Welcome to tonight’s Republican presidential candidates debate in Iowa – or, if you prefer, the competition to decide who will get beaten by Rick Perry for the 2012 Republican nomination. On stage at Iowa University in Ames tonight are the eight people battling for the nomination. But not on stage and hanging over proceedings like that guy in No Country For Old Men is Perry, the governor of Texas. It now appears certain that Perry will announce that he’s a candidate as of Saturday in Charleston. And that changes everything, since Perry is a bigger presence than any of the earthlings at tonight’s debate. So it kind of makes you wonder what the point of this is. Except that for the eight on stage, it’s their last chance to make an impression before Perry enters the face. They should, therefore, go at it like rats in a sacks. (And by that I mean fighting, not having sex.) Apart from Perry there is another absent figure haunting this debate like Banquo’s ghost – St Sarah of Wasila, the patron saint of pipelines. The former governor of Alaska was said to be running for the nomination. But then during a bus trip across America in June she disappeared and has not been seen since. Palin’s supporters have been out in force and many claim that she will appear among them in Iowa , for so it has been prophesised on Palin’s Facebook page. So who is actually on stage tonight? Here’s a quick run-down: Mitt Romney: currently the Front-Runner In Name Only (FRINO), the former Massachusetts governor leads the polls. But if you’ve got a poll, throw it away, it’s worthless. After Saturday the polls will just say: “Rick Perry. The end.” Michele Bachmann: Bachmann was said to be the winner of the last debate , which was roughly a million years ago in June, so no-one cares. Currently on the cover of Newsweek looking a bit mad. Jon Huntsman: A first appearance for the former governor of Utah, who graciously left his governor’s mansion to serve his country as the US ambassador to China. Naturally he’s as popular as anthrax. Newt Gingrich: Less popular than anthrax. Ron Paul: Iconic, veteran congressman, principled, intelligent. He has no chance. Quite the libertarian, except for abortion and gays. Then he’s not. Seriously, he would win the nomination but for a secret alliance of the Mainstream Media, Wall Street and Republican voters who insist on not voting for him in large numbers. Rick Santorum: Is he still running? I forget. Herman Cain: Pizza guy. Meh. Gary Johnson: According to NPR: “the former New Mexico governor will be a curiosity since most people still don’t know who he is”. I know he was governor of Mexico. Sorry, New Mexico. (Actually, he’d have more chance of becoming president of Mexico. Maybe he should try?) In fact Johnson is smart, sensible, was a very good governor and seems like a nice guy. Obviously: zero chance. Tim Pawlenty: Still running. May as well not bother. Seriously, have you seen his latyest poll ratings? He’s now less well-known than when he started. That’s quite an achievement: negative publicity. Anyway it all kicks off at 8pm in Iowa, which is 9pm ET, or 2am BST. Republican presidential nomination 2012 Iowa Michele Bachmann Mitt Romney Rick Perry US elections 2012 Jon Huntsman Republicans Ron Paul Sarah Palin Newt Gingrich Fox News US politics United States Richard Adams guardian.co.uk
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enlarge Tonight is the Big Republican Debate on Fox News. Candidates appearing are Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman and Newt Gingrich. And of course, ever present in this debate will be the corporate “persons.” Fox will be livestreaming it here , or you can follow my live-tweets on Twitter . Discuss. 
Rush Limbaugh: ‘The Chris Matthewses and the Media Are Very Close to the Rioters in London in Terms of Anger, Disappointment’
August 11, 2011 No Comment
As NewsBusters reported , MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Wednesday took some poorly-researched cheap shots at conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh responded Thursday explaining that this is borne of frustration over the failure of Barack Obama noting, “The Chris Matthewses and the media are very close to the rioters in London in terms of anger, disappointment” (video follows with transcript and commentary): RUSH LIMBAUGH: Snerdley, I think it's a sign of effectiveness. Snerdley is all upset because last night on MSNBC Chris Matthews… (sigh) You know, I don't know if he's lost his mind and it would be insensitive to mock him and make fun of him until he goes through some rigorous therapy. I'm not a psychiatrist; I'm a radio guy. LIMBAUGH: There's an unsettledness out there, a disquietedness, a general sense of panic. This is not how it's supposed to be. You know what? The Chris Matthewses and the media are very close to the rioters in London in terms of anger, disappointment. This is not how it was supposed to be! We were supposed to have utopia. This was a new kind of politician, and the politics of old was supposed to vanish, and there really wasn't supposed to be any more opposition to a president. Everybody was supposed to sign up, and there was gonna be this massive, nationwide love affair — worldwide love affair — not only for Obama, but for our country again. We were supposed to have an economic rebound. None of this was supposed to happen, and they have no choice but than to look at themselves when trying to explain why all this has happened. They have held near supermajorities for much of the last four years in the House of Representatives, then in the Senate, and now they add the White House to it. Every day they wake up and look out over the country, and they see the consequences of what they believe, and in those rare moments where the reality permeates and they admit the truth to themselves, they realize it's their policies that have done all this. As it was pointed out the other day, these people all have 401(k)s as well. They all have retirement accounts, and they've all got kids, and they've all got futures to be concerned about — and, you know, at some point they start saying, is my kids' future worth supporting this guy? Now, they not ever gonna voice that, so when these moments of panic and disquiet set in, you go out — just like the rioters in London — and you attack who you think is responsible for foiling all this, and it's clear that in the case of many on the left Obama would have been a stunning, overwhelming, resounding success…if it weren't for me. So now I become the focal point of blame, I become the target. LIMBAUGH: You have to say: Where was the staff? Did they bother in the commercial break to say, “You know, Chris, that didn't happen?” But, you know, of all the shortcomings at MSNBC, not seeking help for the troubled Chris Matthews, that's about as low as they can get. Clearly he's in need of serious assistance over there. Not surprisingly, Limbaugh was spot on. The reality is that folks like Matthews and his colleagues abdicated their journalistic responsibilities in 2007 and 2008 by assisting a presidential candidate into the White House rather than vetting and thoroughly analyzing him for their readers and viewers. Their expectation was this “messiah” would solve all that ailed the nation, the world would be a better place, and their media malpractice would be vindicated and therefore forgiven. Years later with the country still facing stubbornly high unemployment and a possible double-dip recession in the wake of the nation's first ever credit rating downgrade, these same folks are frustrated by all they see. Of course, when in front of the camera or a keyboard, they're still largely blaming all our troubles on George W. Bush and the Tea Party. But privately, they know this isn't the case, and they're concerned their dreams of a socialist utopia in the United States are fading away. So they're angry just like the rioters in London. Unfortunately, they're not mad enough – or at least not yet – to jump off the Obama bandwagon, fully admit their mistakes as well as his shortcomings, and tell the American people that this man isn't and never was qualified to be President of the United States. Quite the contrary, they will for the next roughly fifteen months attack every Republican candidate as they do all in their power to get the current White House resident four more years. This raises a question: Which is worse – the so-called journalist that blindly supports an individual out of hope that he represents something truly special or the media shill that continues to do so after he's realized the object of his affection has no clothes? Video courtesy Daily Rushbo.
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