Japan disaster relief sites list
From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE…
2012 Democratic Budget
Looks like I have to do everything for my party. Here it is, the budget that would rock this nation and put America on top 'o the world:
- 99 percent annual courtesy assessment on millionaire income
- 99 percent annual courtesy assessment on corporate profits
- 99 percent courtesy assessment on estates
- $500 transaction fee on purchases of "Don’t Tread On Me" flags
- Close all corporate tax loopholes and weld them shut
- $10,000 courtesy fee for every fact Fox News gets wrong
- Allow government to negotiate lower drug prices
- Tuesdays: Free tacos!
- Revise health care law to "Medicare for All" system
- Free tuition for any state college
- De-fund the wars, recall the troops
- Fully fund high-speed and light rail systems
- $1 million courtesy charge on U.S. Reps. who smoke
- Repeal DOMA to encourage economic growth in the wedding sector
- Increase funding for the VA by 5 million percent
- Increase funding for public school teachers by 5 million percent
- Increase funding for green energy projects by 5 million percent
- Increase funding for infrastructure projects by 5 million percent, making sure to create a whole bunch of new jobs in the process
- Fund and implement serious, progressive immigration reform
(All numbers double-checked and approved by the Institute Institute, and verified by the Center Center.)
It's a courageous budget. It's a brave budget. It's a budget without fear. It's a clean budget, a clear budget, a serious starting point from which we can have a national discussion.
It is reasonable. It is what the people want, demand and expect from their government: strong, sensible leadership that puts real Americans first, while putting the politics of the past in front of us so we can put it in the past again. Preferably with a giant steamroller, which I can rent for the day at a flat rate.
Now everything's on the table. Out in the open. Nekkid as a jaybird.
Of course, we're willing to work with Republicans to discuss specifics. But first they need to prove that they're serious about policy and not just scoring partisan political points with petty posturing, pouting and procrastinating. Otherwise, we're not playing.
Your move, Mr. Boehner, Mr. Cantor, Mr. Ryan. It's time to tell the American people whose side you're on. Do you love America enough to approve this centrist, balanced budget proposal…or are you rooting for the Taliban to destroy us? Well? Which is it?
Cheers and Jeers starts below the fold... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
Cheers and Jeers for Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Note: The Progressive Congress News Spring Fling Online Auction is in full swing. Plenty of goodies on the block for your perusal. Although the original Faberge egg has been removed on account of the auctioneer got drunk again and didn’t watch where he was swingin' his gavel, and Muammar Khaddafi's ass was removed from the list because The Hague already called dibs on it.
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By the Numbers:
Days 'til the next End of the World that won’t happen: 39
Days `til the Stockton Asparagus Festival in California: 3
Percent increase in median pay for CEOs in 2010: 27%
Percent increase in median pay for all workers in private industry in 2010: 2.1%
(Source: USA Today)
Number of victims of the 9/11 attacks whose remains have not been identified: 1,123
(Source: The New York Times via The Week)
Average salary for a Chicago Cubs player: $5.4 million
Age of the oldest working TV set in Britain: 75
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Tuesday Words of Wisdom from the Right-wing Blogosphere:
Glenn is a fantastic
voice for truth. He HAD to be silenced. But don't count Glenn out.
I hope that his co. Mercury Radio Arts will blow Fox out of the water.
Leave the Jackel Rino O'Riley to be the kind of news Fox dishes up.
Hannity is good, but so much is held back. I think he knows the
writing on the wall at Fox. I am sure exposing the Muslim Brotherhood
and standing up for Israel was the final straw. Everything was supported
with video's and facts. That had to hurt. Spooky Dude thinks he has won,
but the war is not over. Go Glenn!!!!!!!!!
---Commenter Spirit1776 at the Atlas Shrugs blog
All together now: One…two…three… Classy!!!
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Puppy Pic of the Day: Sure…always blame the dog.
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CHEERS to fewer idle hands. Read it and do the opposite of weep:
Businesses have added more than a half-million jobs this year, the best three-month gain in private-sector employment in five years. And that momentum should continue.
A year ago, a false start in hiring came to a sudden end when the economy started to slow. But experts believe the nascent hiring boom has a better chance of weathering the economic headwinds this time around. "It looks like that expansion phase probably has some legs this time," said Madeline Schnapp, director of macroeconomic research for TrimTabs Investment Research.
Of course, things could change, depending on various factors and circumstances. So for now we'll play it safe and just consider that a Schnapp judgment.
JEERS to moving in the wrong direction. Okay, I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that the Japanese atomic poobahs have finally woken up, faced reality, and elevated the threat level at the Fukushima Daiichi plant from five to seven on the Nuclear Ruh-Roh Scale. The bad news: the scale doesn’t go up to eight.
CHEERS to trading places. Sacre bleu! Don’t make France mad, yo, or they'll go into HULK SMASH! mode:
Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo was arrested Monday by French-backed forces of president-elect Alassane Ouattara, raising hopes for an imminent end to the strife that has wracked the West African country since Gbagbo refused to acknowledge his defeat in a November presidential election. Following an attack on Gbagbo’s residence in Abidjan, the country’s major city, by French forces earlier Monday, troops loyal to Ouattara went in and seized Gbagbo, according to U.N., French and Ivorian officials.
Wait a minute. Let me get this straight: France is now the alpha male…and the United States is now where the big labor protests are going on…mostly in the state that produces enormous amounts of cheese…and now Americans are even buying more wine than the French??? My god…we're becoming them and they're becoming us! Golly, I don’t know if I can cope with an efficient healthcare system and the month of August off. Oh, what the hell, I'm willing to give it a whirl. But be honest: does this beret make me look thin?
CHEERS to the C&J mailbag. Just arrived on the Mad As Hell Express:
Dear Rep. Paul Ryan,
We understand that your budget proposal preserves Medicare as it exists today for everyone 55 and older.
In response, we worked over the weekend to form a thoughtful response that comes equally from our heads and our hearts:
Assface.
Sincerely,
America's 54 year-olds
I admire their restraint.
JEERS to cerebral hemorrhages. They suck. Franklin Roosevelt died from one 66 years ago today down in Warm Springs, Georgia. While his generation got a rendezvous with destiny, ours got a rendevous with a fuckup named Dubya, and we'll be paying for it the rest of our lives---thanks a lot, fate. Now comb your hair and go pay your respects. And, as always, regards to Eleanor.
CHEERS to Mr. Stiff. Sounds like the Mittster is stirring. Here's how it went down, according to my sources in the Land of Odd:
"Oil can!"
"What?"
"Oiiiil can!"
"My goodness, Toto! Mitt needs oil!"
[Glunka Glunka…Glunks Glunka]
[Squeak Squeak!]
"Oh, thank you! I've been frozen stiff in the wilderness for four years!"
"What are you going to do now?"
"I'm forming an exploratory committee!"
And then he broke into a chorus of, If I only had a base.
JEERS to days we'd like to forget. On April 12, 1861, in one of the most tragic mix-ups in American history, Confederate troops accidentally fired cannons loaded with lead balls, instead of their "prank" cannons loaded with confetti, at Fort Sumter, thus igniting a cataclysmic Civil War that raged for four years. Northerners...so touchy.
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Five years ago in C&J: April 12, 2006
CHEERS to shooing Schieffer off the set. After an announcement that shifted the world's axis, Katie Couric becomes the first "perky" evening newscaster in American history. If, that is, you don't count that one time in '69 when Cronkite got hammered at the CBS Christmas party and closed the newscast with his rendition of Build Me Up Buttercup.
JEERS to spoiling all the fun. Secretary of Whatever Condi Rice has yanked copies of Playboy and Penthouse from State Department newsstand shelves. On the bright side, the wait time to get into the men's room stalls there has been cut in half.
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And just one more…
CHEERS to the rites of spring. The snow banks are finally gone here in southern Maine, so last weekend I performed the annual raking of the leaves from the flower beds. It's always an emotional shot in the arm to discover all the new life popping up: the hostas and periwinkle and…Aaaaaaahhhhh!!! Giant worm!!! Giant worm!!!!!...irises and lilies and who-all-knows-what. They're just poinkin' left and right. And yesterday morning we got bounced out of bed by the first boomers of thunderstorm season. Or, as our kitty calls it, I'm Under the Basement Stairs and I Ain't Comin' Out Until It's Not Thunderstorm Season Anymore Season. [Sigh] Wonderful time of year. I think I feel a thong coming on.
Have a decent Tuesday. Stay classy. Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
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Today's Shameless C&J Testimonial:
"Cheers and Jeers is such a messy deal, such a distraction. Who knew it was going to come to this?"
---Robert Redford
Time
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