November 2008 Archives

(Ed note: This article was written by Diane and is especially timely given the outrageous actions by corporations which have done severe damage to our country. How we respond to powerful CEO's and their corporations has long term consequence, both good and bad. So let's discuss them...and more!)

Earlier this morning, I was sent a YouTube video which was part of the Young Turks broadcast. Cenk reported that the CEO of Home Depot had flippantly spouted off that those retailers who did not support politicians such as Norm Coleman "ought to be shot." Cenk did a good job of putting the comments in perspective as to which party tends to support which constituency - business vs consumer or laborer.

While the economic crisis continues relentlessly and without aid from a lame duck pResident and his lame duck Congress, Obama pushes behind the scenes for a major stimulus package on his day one.

This is great news for our country because too many "Main Street Americans" are watching their retirement savings disappear and watching their jobs fold just as quickly.

This news comes to us via Josh Marshall and TPM:

Congress will have a stimulus bill in the half trillion dollar range ready for President Obama to sign on the first day of his presidency -- January 20th, 2009

Even with big Democratic majorities and the incentive of crisis, you still don't get this sort of legislation through Congress in a day. So if the new Congress gets sworn in January 6th, I think it's realistic to say that you need bill basically written -- at least the major line items -- when both chambers convene.

Today is November 24th, one month before Christmas and the New Year's Holidays. The severity of the crisis and the realities of the transition will keep things moving much more than usual over the holidays. But still, the holidays block out some time.

All of which suggests to me that to keep on a realistic schedule, the basic outlines of how to spend that half trillion-plus dollars needs to be worked out over the next four weeks. And there's a lot to figure out.

'Stimulus plans' are generally numbered in the tens of billions of dollars. $500 billion is the number we're talking about now. And I think you have to assume that number grows. Extensions to unemployment insurance and other counter-cyclical spending is critical. But it doesn't put a dent in that overall price tag. So clearly to spend that kind of money you need to fund programs that do more than inject money directly into the economy. You need to fund major new programs that will likely shape the economic direction of the country for years, perhaps decades into the future -- major spending on infrastructure, laying the cornerstones of a green energy economy and more.

Looks like Congress may not be taking their usual winter break. Obama is working behind the scenes to create the stimulus package and it's regulations and oversight here and now. Once again, hattip to TPM:

Dem Congressional leaders are working with Obama officials to create and pass a massive stimulus package before Obama takes power on January 20th, a senior Dem leadership aide confirms to me.

The timing is significant because it means Obama could sign it the first day he takes office.

"We come in January 6th and Obama is sworn in on January 20th," the leadership aide emails to me, adding that the timing "gives both of us a month and a half to work on a plan that could be taken up in House shortly after we come in and sent to the Senate before January 20th."

The crisis has forced Obama to walk a tricky balancing act: He's under tremendous pressure to show that he's acting on the economy, in order to calm the markets, while not appearing to step on the current president's toes.

Hence the leaks from Obama's team last week about his choices for economic advisers -- leaks which rallied the markets on Friday -- and, now, his team's behind-the-scenes work to get a stimulus package prepped and ready for him in advance.

So...we have some movement on this crisis even if it's the under the surface. And even though the stealing continues, most of the world watches with anticipation for the change of Presidents and the changes in policy. With that expectation of change comes hope.

And so for now, I will spend the next two months hoping for the best and probably fighting for universal health-care as part and parcel to the economic stimulus package.

What will you be doing?

My friend Christopher sent me this message this morning, Jack is his life partner:

Friends,

~Christopher

I replied:

This kind of enraged violence is happening and will continue to happen, although perhaps you and Jack will be vigilant and alert to it. "Power concedes nothing without a fight; it never has and it never will" Frederick Douglass knew.

Karen

Actually though, I got the Douglass quote a little wrong. It goes like this:

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

I am not really willing to endure assholes anymore. I'm past my limit; how about you? And I am not recommending the blows part of the above quote, although blowBACK is fine with me. But words? Yeah, got 'em. Tell this story, everywhere you can. Jack and Christopher live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and if this is what is happening THERE, you KNOW it is worse in smaller towns and more isolated environments. Check out DiAnne's piece on the front page if you don't believe me. Or if you do.

And after the stories are shared, it's time for action. Legal, social, educational, and creative ACTION.

Proponents of Universal Healthcare and/or subsidized healthcare have already fired warning shots to the Conservatives (in the media) that healthcare for all is not off the table and they're not going to be bullied into behaving as if this country is anything but moderate-left!

Baucus was the first to speak out:. According to Paul Krugman there are hopeful signs on this issue.

One of the key questions about the new Democratic majority was whether Congress would try to play it safe, backing down on big ideas about reform, especially on health care. You can view the whole chorus about how we’re still a “center-right nation” as an attempt by the usual suspects to scare Democrats into scaling back their ambitions.

But now Max Baucus — Max Baucus! — is leading the charge on a health care plan that, at least at first read, is more like Hillary Clinton’s than Barack Obama’s; that is, it looks like an attempt at full universality. (The word I hear, by the way, is that Obama’s opposition to mandates was tactical politics, not conviction — so he may well be prepared to do the right thing now that the election is won.)

Additionally, Baucus also addressed Kennedy directly in his opening statements. This is great news because Kennedy has been working on Universal Health Care from his hospital bed while receiving cancer treatments! (via Ezra Klein)

The fact is I did not write an actual bill that is legislation because I want to work with Senator Kennedy, the HELP committee, and senators on both sides of the aisle. I've spoken with Senator Kennedy three times over the last few weeks about this, and we're very much on the same page

And President-elect Barack Obama issued a press statement already. And he seems intent to keep that campaign promise:

"President-elect Obama applauds Chairman Baucus’s work to draw attention to the challenges of the health system and looks forward to working closely with the Chairman and other Congressional leaders, as well as the American public, to make quality, affordable health care a reality for all Americans."

I see this as a promising sign. As we continue to witness more and more layoffs and people unable to get jobs, the healthcare issue becomes more important to rescuing workers and their families but it's also important because many of those unemployed might become entrepreneurs and small business owners.

As the big corporations falter, the little guys and the little business owners will become the backbone of our country's infrastructure. As I've watched Obama's speeches since the major collapse of the banking industry, and as I've listened to his recent post-election press conference on the economy, I can see very clearly that Obama understands that jobs and health care are two bottom-up issues that need immediate action.

Universal health care will be a vital part of that new paradigm. There's lots of options out there PNHP, UHCAN, HR676, and more.

We can do our part by keeping up the calls and the letters and talking to our fellow Americans every chance we get.

We can get Universal Health Care.

Yes, We Can!!!

Focus on the Family compares Obama victory to Nazi bombing.! Via Think Progress:

The author of the e-mail, Focus on the Family Action senior vice president Tom Minnery, told his readers not to despair, saying that the right wing would overcome this situation just as Britons overcame Hitler’s bombing in World War II:


The spirit of Winston Churchill was alive and well on Tuesday night at Focus on the Family Action headquarters.


You may recall that in the most desperate days of World War II – when Great Britain was being pounded daily by Hitler’s Luftwaffe – that Winston Churchill called on his countrymen not to despair from danger but to rise to the challenge. […]


As our incredible team of staff members watched the election results pour in on Election Night, an amazing thing happened that Churchill might have recognized. Despite some sobering disappointments, there was no mood of despair and no “bunker mentality.”

Update: Ben Smith points out that, on the Corner, John Derbyshire compares Obama's Americorps program to Nazi concentration camps and medieval forced labor.

Focus on the Family’s show airs on more than 1,000 stations in the U.S. reaching millions of listeners.

This is deplorable hate speech coming from a Christian show that is supposed to focus on the family.

Let's focus on my family.

(Editor's note: Carol has given us permission to reprint this benediction written by her friend Susan Markman.)

I admit, I don’t pray very often.
I prayed when my children were born
that they be healthy and whole.
I prayed when my daughter got sick,
when all of the doctors, and all of the treatments
couldn’t make her better.
And I prayed when finally, she was well again
in profound thanksgiving.

When my son sang his heart out in his first high school play
I prayed to be deserving of the joy that filled my heart,
hearing his confident voice, watching his agile body.
I prayed when he went off to college
and I prayed on September 11th
when he called from his New York apartment.
And when his father and sister went to New Orleans to help, I prayed then, too.

I’ve prayed when I’ve been most afraid,
bone tired or thoroughly spent.
I know you’re supposed to pray more than that-
more frequently, more selflessly.
I acknowledge my negligence in the realm of spiritual correctness.
And I’m sure there are others like me
who mostly look to God when out of luck or out of time.
(I bet God understands that about people.)

These days I have a new prayer practice
One born of hope, not of fear.
These days I pray for America
and I pray for Barack Obama.
I pray for his wife who sustains him,
for his children and all of our children,
who compel him to reach for the heights he is seeking.
I pray for him to be safe,
to have wise and compassionate counsel.
And I pray for him to win the election
because even though my religious adherence has been minimal
I know a miracle when I see one.
The man is not the miracle.
Through the confluence of hope and history,
the miracle is the capacity he creates to inspire so many millions of us
to engage again, or for the first time,
in our nation’s political process –
to work together for peace, for prosperity, and for the planet.

I never sang, “God Bless America” unless I had to in school.
It seemed arrogant to me, like asking for divine special treatment.
Bless America instead of India? Not Peru or Mozambique?
“This Land is Your Land,” was my patriotic favorite.
I’m older now. The bifocals I wear make it easier to see shades of gray
and stand, like everyone else, with my hand on my heart
when the band plays loud martial songs.

My prayer is nonsectarian.
“Baruch atah adonai,” it begins, because that’s how I first learned to pray.
And then, tentatively, I say it,
“Please God, bless America.
Help people get to the polls.
Help others to count their votes fairly.
No fraud this time, or intimidation
no Florida hanging chads.
Help us move closer to the dream, closer to the promise of our creed.”

I teach in a wonderful public school with kids of all colors and faiths.
I borrow their words when I need them,
in Arabic, Creole, Chinese.
“Tal ouy ban sac, Barak Obama,” I say in Khmer to end my prayer.
“Vaya con Dios,” the same thought but in Spanish.
God be with you, Barak Obama.
I’m hoping to cover all bases.
Whether the way is a cross or a crescent,
Whether Allah, Loving Kindness, or Christ
Bless audacity.
Bless hope.
Amen.

On the Home Page, Karen describes change, today and for the future. It's odd how she woke up feeling both bitter-sweet, hopeful and yet concerned at the same time.

We all remember where we were four years ago at this time. And we remember the fear, the hope, the belief that there would be change, even though the country was still reeling from another Osama Bin Ladin tape release. Though we were hopeful that John Kerry would be elected, we also knew that the media and the branches of government were being used against John Kerry and all Democrats.

So we were less frightened of Osama than we were of the probable upcoming election fraud and suppression and the constant drum of lies from the pulpit and the media. I woke up on November 1, 2004 feeling scared but hopeful.

In the end, we were right.

The worst came to pass and another election was stolen again. And during the last four years, we've seen the consequences of hideous policy and corrupt government: Katrina, economy and jobs, bridges, schools, air, water, health insurance, gas prices, home foreclosure...the list goes on.

Today, I wake up with more hope than fear, but I still have a lot of thoughts swirling around in my head.