Mariachis In The Illinois Statehouse: This Is What America Is All About

The American Dream isn't confined solely to people who look like you and me or come from Europe. It embodies the words in the sonnet by Emma Lazarus engraved in a bronze plaque in the Statue of Liberty monument — 

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, 

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

— that America is a land of immigrants, built by immigrants, and of opportunity for those who come here seeking a better life. It is fitting that Illinois, land of Lincoln, becomes the first state to enact the DREAM Act, with solid bipartisan support as 11 Republicans joined with 34 Democrats in the Illinois State Senate to vote for its passage. The law will grant access for both documented and undocumented children of immigrants to private college scholarships and state college savings programs. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signs it Monday.

Mariachis In The Illinois Statehouse Celebrate In Music Passage Of The DREAM Act

Quotable: The Reverend AL Sharpton On John Boehner's Scramble

"What you have here is the Republican quarterback call a huddle and be sacked by his own team."

Ragin' Boehner's Shifting Vote Count ....

As everyone knows, the House vote scheduled for today was suspended sometime after 6 p.m. this evening as John Boehner tries to corral enough Tea Party votes to pass whatever debt limit/balanced budget monstrosity  he's crafting to try and appease them. Louie Gohmert, a weird Texan Teabagger is always good for a florid quote. Said he, upon exiting Speaker Boehner's office: "I'm still a beaten and bloodied NO." Another Teabagger, predictably, headed straight for the House Chapel to "pray for my leadership."

It appears the Speaker is falling a few votes short of 216, and the longer this goes on the more those flipped "NO" votes become hesitant and reluctant about walking the plank for their Speaker, since Democrats astutely served notice the Boehner proposal is DOA in the Senate. In this sense, the failure to pass the measure today is already a Republican FAIL. Even if it passes on Friday, it will have been a Pyrrhic victory amid vast Republican disarray. And when Democrats tear Boehner's proposal to pieces, the GOP humiliation, its utter inability to govern will have been complete in the public's eyes.

Better lay off the sauce, Johnny B. Looks like you have a looooong night/morning ahead.

House Republicans Pass JUMP, CRASH, AND DIE Social Security Bill

The new law will remove restrictions on cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol as well as provide tax incentives for seniors who bungee jump off of cliffs. (Courtesy: Onion.) Said Speaker Boehner: "This bill enables our 'job creators' and corporate citizens to avail themselves of the best and the brightest college grad workforce while at the same time slashing costly healthcare and pension benefits as the longevity of our population steadily declines. It's a 'WIN-WIN' for the 'job creators' and corporations, and ... uh, undertakers. Or, to build upon former Rep. Grayson's statement on the House floor, the Republican entitlements reform policy is, DIE QUICKLY, DIE OFTEN, and DIE EARLY."

Social Security Reform Bill Encourages Americans To Live Faster, Die Younger

TEA PARTY Rallies In Washington To Destroy America — President Fiddles

The ignorant know-nothing Teabagger brigades may hold yet another obese, phlegmatic, whitebread rally in our nation's capital to stiffen the spines of the neo-fascists they sent to Congress to bring our nation to its knees. Boehner can't control them; neither can the Chamber of Commerce, aka Dr. Frankenstein. Many of the Teabaggers and their kinfolk rely on the very same programs — Medicare and Social Security — they are now enthusiastically pushing to KILL. They also rely on low interest rates, a tax on everyone when rates rise after default, retirement accounts of various types which will be decimated, and lots of their jobs which will be lost.

The Tea Party rabble represents less than 30 percent of the American people, they can't drive, yet they're driving our America bus to the brink of disaster. Ultimately, this will have been a massive FAIL by President Obama if financial disaster isn't averted. Contrary to the claims of reactionaries in the Idiot Punditocracy, the President's base is abandoning him in droves because we're fed up with all of this "triangulation" between so-called "independents" and the corporations, with nothing but rhetoric concerning the pain felt by the poor, blacks, Latinos, the elderly. How many lines in the sand has President Obama drawn then said, "never mind?" How many times must we to listen to the sickening Fox "News" mantra, "fair" and "balanced?" How many more times must we see the President cave and cave and "compromise" away all of the Democratic Party's cherished values?

Every time I see Valerie Jarrett on the White House lawn I'm reminded of how so not progressive this President is. Jarrett is the ultimate insider's insider, the corporate schmoozer, the Georgetown party lady, the boardroom dealmaker, the "close family friend" who embodies everything — everything — about fake Democrats-in-name-only, and nothing of the Democratic Party's roots, its heart and soul — the people's party — representing those who do not have a voice or a seat at the table. Historically, "close family friends" who are political neophytes and outsiders make lousy advisers.

I will challenge anyone to tell me WHO, in President Obama's inner circle speaks for ordinary citizens, the poor, Latinos, the disadvantaged, seniors. Who: Elizabeth Warren? She's leaving. She's fed up; she can hardly get the President's ear, it seems, without Valerie Jarrett hovering about like a controlling den mother. The last thing the President needs is to be in more of a "bubble" than he is in already. Then there's Bill Daley, White House Chief of Staff, a Jarrett friend and ally, who is the quintessential smooth corporatist Democrat, a favorite of these obstructionist Republicans. The truth is, there is no one inside this White House who represents the people. The shocking statistics of historical highs in income disparity between white America and African Americans and Latinos only serve to underscore how so very neglectful and passive this President and administration have been to the people's suffering and to core Democratic values.

Every time the President speaks out in Bobby Kennedy language, we think maybe, maybe this is the time he will become the President for the poor, for those who are suffering, for seniors. But it's so much cruel talk, considering how hurtful the policies he is pushing will be to those most vulnerable. And each time President Obama assumes the posture of a "negotiator" it seems he insists, unilaterally, on holding the weakest hand and having to beg for crumbs from Republican extremists.

Paul Krugman said, "At this point, we just have to accept it as a fact of life: Obama doesn’t, and maybe can’t, do outrage — no matter how much the situation calls for it ... It turns out, I’m sorry to say, that he wasn’t the one we were waiting for." Steve Benen delved into the surreal politics of Washington, the farcical White House option of a "trigger" for ending the Bush tax cuts. President Obama has said he does not read his critics, as if it's a badge of honor. Well maybe he should — they're far more frank than his yes-man inner circle or protective family friend Valerie Jarrett can be.

The President's penchant for "negotiating" from a position of weakness and timidity is not a negotiation, it's not rational, and it's not an option. It's time to invoke the 14th Amendment, Mr. President. Even Bill Clinton would do it. Or, as President Obama said, "there's always hope."

How The MINISTRY OF TRUTH Covers BIG BROTHER & DEAR LEADER

IT DOESN'T! This is REALITY ORWELL, folks, thanks to our chastened buddy Lawrence; imagine Cal Thomas suddenly vanishing before the RAPTURE ... S'long, maite:

Then BILL MAHER breaks Larry-O's heart. Awww ...

NEW AGE FREAKOUT: 1997 Book Predicts Our Current Debt Crisis

"An impasse over the federal budget reaches a stalemate. The president and Congress both refuse to back down, triggering a near-total government shutdown. The president declares emergency powers. Congress rescinds his authority. Dollar and bond prices plummet. The president threatens to stop Social Security checks. Congress refuses to raise the debt ceiling. Default looms. Wall Street panics."

The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy — What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny: page 273, Ch. 10, by William Strauss.

Here is Amazon's Summary of the book:

Human history moves in cycles. A full cycle lasts from 80-100 years, the length of a long human life. These cycles have what might be considered seasons, or TURNINGS as the authors call them. Each turning has its own characteristics and lasts between 20-25 years.

A first turning is a HIGH a time of building up of institutions. A second turning is an AWAKENING at time of spiritual renewal and the beginning of questioning the instiutitons created or valued in the previous turning. A third turning is a period of UNRAVELING when all those institutions that were valued in the first turning are coming apart slowly but surely as a result of the questioning of them during the second turning. The FOURTH TURNING is a CRISIS period. A time when the old institutions no longer get the job done, and must be replaced by new more effective institutions.

At the core of these seasons of time, are the four generational archetypes the HERO, ARTIST, PROPHET, and the NOMAD. It is the movement of these various generational archetypes through the four stages of life, Childhood, Young Adult, Middle Age, and Elderhood that sets the stage for the FOUR TURNINGS. Each time one of the archetypes moves to a new stage of life, a new turning begins.

Mark Twain said it best "History never repeats itself, at best it sometimes rhymes."

That's exactly what this book is about.

Quotable: Boehner On The BIGGEST Republican LIE

No wonder John Boehner takes his marching orders from the PIGMAN, who makes a millionaire's living out of broadcasting LIES, hurtful to our country, on a daily basis. This is Boehner's BIG LIE:

"The sad truth is that the President wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today. That is just not going to happen."

When was conceding over $4 trillion in cuts, including the Big Three, ever become a "blank check"? And when does a rise in the debt ceiling, which occurred SEVEN times under George W. Bush and 18 times under Ronald Reagan become a "blank check"? Greg Sargent of WaPo explains:

This is a straight-up lie. Not the everyday, casual fudging that politicians do, but a straight up lie. As the Government Accountability Office explains: “The debt limit does not control or limit the ability of the federal government to run deficits or incur obligations. Rather, it is a limit on the ability to pay obligations already incurred.”

George W. Bush along with his party — many Democrats, including then-Senator Obama, opposed going to war and a blank check to pay for them — took us down the road to economic catastrophe (enacting tax cuts for the rich, two wars, and an insurance company Medicare giveaway) by turning a surplus (under Democratic President Clinton) into a $10.626 trillion debt on the day President Obama took office, with the economy in a death spiral. President Obama stopped the bleeding and now the Republicans do not want him, we the people, to succeed, even if it takes destroying our economy.

In the latest poll, 51 percent of Americans blame Republicans for this manufactured crisis and only 30 percent blame the President. The phones are literally ringing off the hook in Congress, and if you try to get through you'll get a busy signal. The Democratic Party is viewed more favorably (49 percent) than the Republican Party (38 percent).

So why aren't Republicans buckling to public pressure? Because our regular two-party system has turned into three parties in addition to divided government. Democrats control the White House, barely control the Senate, while the Tea Party (about 80 or so nominally Republican members) share control of the House and drive its Republican leadership. This is not "divided government" in the usual sense when the "third party," the Tea Party is composed of intransigent, nihilistic anti-government political terrorists.

The only way out is an FDR-style historical realignment which guarantees the Democratic Party the necessary majorities to govern. It's up to the people, the voters. It's up to the millions of natural Democratic constituents who never cared to vote but are finally making the connection when the pain of Republican LIES and anti-government anarchy hits home.

It's up to the voters. EVERY citizen must become engaged.

POISON PILL FACTOID RE: THE REID $2.7 TRILLION PLAN

President Obama praised Senate Majority Harry Reid's plan as an acceptable compromise going forward:

• Nearly twice as  many cuts as Boehner's plan, taking the debt ceiling off the table until after the 2012 election; Boehner wants to revisit the debt ceiling before the election for political reasons;

• It includes all the Biden original Gang of Six negotiated cuts, $2.7 trillion with bipartisan agreement;

• It has no tax or "revenue" increases to mollify Republican ideological extremism;

• All entitlement so-called "reforms" are off the table ... YAY!

But wait ... (to mix my metaphors deliciously) there's a poison pill in Harry Reid's TROJAN HORSE plan, which is the VENAL "SUPER CONGRESS" intended to ram through the gutting of entitlements ("modest reforms" are TOTALLY in the eye of the beholder) — OOPS.

STAY ALERT PEOPLE, because the Reid "Super Congress" POISON PILL is set to be released in a sneak TROJAN HORSE attack.

Fifty-Second Dueling Post-Speech Analysis: Obama v. Boehner

President Obama is still playing on the Republicans' turf, buying into what former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich calls "the BIG LIE" (we know all about that) by Republicans that cutting spending amid an economic downturn will create jobs. IT WILL CREATE PAIN, AND LOTS OF IT. AND EXCUSE ME, MR. PRESIDENT, BUT THE REPUBLICANS ARE TO BLAME. As Reich pointed out, taking $2.7 trillion out of this weak economy while demanding ZERO sacrifice from the rich will cause tremendous hardship to ordinary Americans and slow economic recovery.

President Obama has conceded this BOGUS ARGUMENT, THIS LIE to the Republicans, he framed the argument in a Republican way as the astute Joan Walsh remarked, nailing that RATBASTARD John Boehner: "I want to comment about the utter MENDACITY of John Boehner, this is BAD FAITH, going full-tilt TEA PARTY CRAZY!" Joan noted that the President and Boehner had come to within $400 billion in a $4 trillion package before Boehner caved to the Tea Party and walked out on the talks.

 But I must say, the disrespect that was shown to the President, to the office, the trappings of the presidency by the Republican Speaker of the House was utterly appalling. Not only did Boehner LIE and LIE and LIE, but he did it with such contempt for the TRUTH, literally pulling a Rush Limbaugh, whom he called before his speech to get his marching orders. Boehner has this really disgusting habit of mimicking/mocking his opponents' EXACT LANGUAGE and throwing it back in their face. It's JUVENILE AND CLASSLESS.

A real political leader and master of rhetoric would have used his own words to neutralize his or her opponent and take them down. Last Friday, when the President had his outburst of frustration, he outlined all the TERRIBLE CONCESSIONS (I'M SORRY, BUT HE'S TOO FUCKING TRIGGER HAPPY) he made to the Republicans. President Obama said in one of his more memorable rhetorical flourishes, that Republicans had left him standing "at the altar" TWICE, and can't "take YES for an answer."

Tonight, in his despicable LIE-infested attack on the President, that tobacco-smoking DRUNK behaved like a petulant child: "no you can't, no you can't, no you can't, no you can't ..." when he used the President's EXACT words to throw them back at him — "The President can't take YES for an answer" — then proceeded to LIE and LIE and LIE and LIE:

LIE — The DRACONIAN "Cut, Cap and Balance" Bill passed the House of Representatives last week, not as Boehner claimed on a "bipartisan" basis but on a party-line vote with only FIVE Democratic votes;

LIE — "There is no stalemate in Congress." Even his Tea Party freshman caucus member Joe Walsh contradicted that;

LIE — "If the President signs [the new Boehner plan] the crisis atmosphere he has created will simply disappear." THE CRISIS "ATMOSPHERE" was created by EXTREMIST REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WHO REFUSED TO ACCEPT HISTORIC AND, LET'S FACE IT, FROM A LIBERAL'S PERSPECTIVE (WHICH IS NOT OUR TRIANGULATING CLINTONIAN PRESIDENT'S), DESPICABLE CUTS;

LIE — Harry Reid's alternative is unacceptable because it contains "phony accounting and Washington gimmicks" — THE SAME ACCOUNTING GIMMICKS EMPLOYED BY THE RYAN BUDGET WHICH BOEHNER PROMOTED.

And so it went. As Joan said, the MENDACITY of John Boehner was beyond belief; his disrespect for the President and the presidency, simply jaw-dropping.

The President of the United States asked the PEOPLE to let their representatives in Congress know they want this impasse ended and the issue resolved. The people CRASHED the Congressional websites and servers, including John Boehner's.

Go easy on the booze, you RATBASTARD.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The American people should not be collateral damage to the political warfare in Washington." ~ President Obama.

Idiot Punditocracy Watch: Chris Cilliza Makes The Grade

Don't get me wrong. Chris Cilliza, of WaPo, is a good guy. So while I seldom paid much attention to what he had to say, he wasn't one to venture into Idiot Pundit territory. Mostly he's always seemed competent, with no hidden agendas other than earning an honest living to keep his family fed. Like the rest of us.

I like Chris. But on Friday, commenting on President Obama's EPIC eruption, Chris likened OBAMA to AL GORE (!)... It was one of those (WHAT?) moments with the embarrassing pregnant pause followed by the awkward (silent) 'movin' right along now'... No one had any idea in what context this was said, only that Chris may have taken temporary leave of his senses. I mean, Al Gore has HIMSELF poked fun in SNL skits at his undying reputation as the ultimate STIFF politician, variously compared to a log, a statue, or a potted plant.

But as an Idiot Punditocracy takedown of President Obama, it was almost too clever to make the grade. Almost. Chris would later redeem himself by noting, rather cynically, that it was an entirely political outburst by the President. It cuts both ways, but this was an objective enough comment to pass journalistic muster, allowing other exculpatory evidence. So, Chris Cilliza made the junior rankings grade of the Beltway Idiot Punditocracy. Still, Chris has loads of promise, and I really think that he can pull himself out of such an ignominious hole. C'mon, Chris. You're better than that!

CONSPIRACY CORNER: McConnell-Reid-Boehner TRIUMVIRATE Propose Unconstitutional "SUPER CONGRESS"

RENDER UNTO CAESAR ...

Across the INTERNETS ideological spectrum, left to right and inbetween are abuzz with chatter about an alarming report in the Huffington Post by crack reporter (with the perfect surname) Ryan Grim:

"Debt ceiling negotiators think they've hit on a solution to address the debt ceiling impasse and the public's unwillingness to let go of benefits such as Medicare and Social Security that have been earned over a lifetime of work: Create a new Congress.

This "Super Congress," composed of members of both chambers and both parties, isn't mentioned anywhere in the Constitution, but would be granted extraordinary new powers. Under a plan put forth by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his counterpart Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), legislation to lift the debt ceiling would be accompanied by the creation of a 12-member panel made up of 12 lawmakers -- six from each chamber and six from each party.

Legislation approved by the Super Congress — which some on Capitol Hill are calling the "super committee" — would then be fast-tracked through both chambers, where it couldn't be amended by simple, regular lawmakers, who'd have the ability only to cast an up or down vote. With the weight of both leaderships behind it, a product originated by the Super Congress would have a strong chance of moving through the little Congress and quickly becoming law. A Super Congress would be less accountable than the system that exists today, and would find it easier to strip the public of popular benefits. Negotiators are currently considering cutting the mortgage deduction and tax credits for retirement savings, for instance, extremely popular policies that would be difficult to slice up using the traditional legislative process.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has made a Super Congress a central part of his last-minute proposal, multiple news reports and people familiar with his plan say...Obama has shown himself to be a fan of the commission approach to cutting social programs and entitlements."

Most bloggers (myself included) agree this "chilling" scheme is most likely unconstitutional. One called it a Soviet-style "politburo" while the Daily Kos properly termed it "diabolical." I call it a CONSPIRACY FARCE: When two people scheme together (McConnell and Reid) it's a CONSPIRACY; when a third joins in (Boehner) it's a FARCE.

LIFE IMITATING ART: NO, THIS IS NOT ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD SEQUEL

But here's the interesting thing (with a nod to the conspiracists) about this cunning, unconstitutional plan DIABOLIQUE: (1) There is historical precedent: When Julius Caesar around 60 BC wanted to abolish the Roman republic, "he set up the First Triumvirate, an extra-legal arrangement that those with foresight within the Roman Senate and the Optimates opposed as best they could." I wonder what the Paulist libertarians think of all this? (2) Back to the present: Where have I RECENTLY heard of a SUPER CONGRESS, maybe not in name but in CONCEPT? AH-HA! Scroll down, kiddies, to the post covering the interview by BRITISH EXPATRIATE Piers Morgan with SAUDI PRINCE (and 26th richest man IN THE WORLD) ALWALEED BIN TALAL. Keep in mind, Prince Bin Talal OWNS a great chunk of Rupert Murdoch's RIGHT WING PROPAGANDA MACHINE, NEWS CORP., AND WILLINGLY SPEAKS FOR THE RULING CLASS, TRANSNATIONAL PLUTOCRATS, CORPORATIONS, AND WALL STREET. HE SAID THIS regarding the parameters of a DEBT "AGREEMENT:"

"So it's very important for the U.S. Congress, represented by the Senate and the House of Representatives, and by President Obama, to come close together and to finish it — to finish an agreement as soon as possible. And frankly speaking, the so-called Gang of Six should be expanded to represent all the — both the — all the House's members and the Senate's members and reach a conclusion as quickly as possible."

EMPHASIS MINE. The Prince DID NOT HAVE TO MENTION A "SUPER CONGRESS." IT'S ALL THERE: "the so-called Gang of Six should be expanded to represent all the — both the — all the House's members and the Senate's members and reach a conclusion as quickly as possible."

IT'S ALL THERE: FROM A "SO-CALLED GANG OF SIX" TO, EFFECTIVELY, A GANG OF TWELVE REPRESENTING BOTH CHAMBERS, ANSWERABLE NOT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BUT TO THE TRIUMVIRATE OF McCONNELL-REID-BOEHNER, TO RAM THROUGH THE GUTTING OF ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT PRINCE ALWALEED DECREED "ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN," WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.

Buh-Bye AMERICAN DEMOCRACY; Buh-Bye REPUBLIC; Buh-Bye CONSTITUTION ... WE HARDLY KNEW YE ...

OH.MY.GAWD.

Idiot Punditocracy Watch: Milquestoast Chuck Todd Slams Liberals With Misinformation

As they say, "there are lies, damn lies, and statistics."

Chuck Todd, MSNBC's mascot and member in excellent standing of the Idiot Punditocracy, is an expert at manipulating polls and statistics to make specious points that support the Beltway elites' preferences. Necessarily, Chuckie must keep marginalizing the minority liberal view within the Beltway which, according to supercilious colleague Jonathan Capehart, is at best "amusing." With a surprising turn of imagination, the typically bland Chuckie has lately turned feral toward liberals. First, he offered the theory of a liberal cabal inhabiting the general geographic perimeter between Washington and New York City. This so-called "liberal elite" as Chuckie describes it no doubt includes everyone he despises in his political milieu — ah, let me guess: Chris Hayes (he might get his own prime time show b/c for one he's twice as smart as Chuckie) and The Nation crowd (a backstop to Chuckie's pals at POLITICO), columnists E.J. Dionne and Princeton egghead Paul Krugman, Keith, Big Eddie, the New York Times, and of course, Rachel.

To my knowledge, Chuckie's floated this "liberal elite" nonsense twice now in so many weeks, the second while dismissing any notion that the President is losing support with his base, noting that only the "liberal elite" in the D.C.-NY corridor is unhappy (I forget what disparaging term he used) while the "basers" as Big Eddie calls them are staunchly behind the President. Chuckie pulled out some poll or another to make his specious point. It's a HOOT to see Chuckie 'milquetoast' Todd get so upset about liberals, "amusing" indeed. But the point is, NOTHING Chuckie says should be taken at face value. EVERYTHING must be verified, if it's even worth the trouble. This story in Talking Points Memo completely flips and contradicts Chuckie's claim about the President's support being strong in his liberal base:

After weeks of prolonged negotiations with Republicans, proposed dealmaking around the federal debt and attempts to reign in future deficits, and in the wake of the strong push back from Congressional Democrats against a 'grand bargain' between the President and the House GOP leadership, a new CNN poll shows that support from the political left flank is starting to leave Obama.

President Obama registered an approval rating in line with other current polls, with 45% of the populace approving of his performance and 54% disapproving, slightly outside the TPM Poll Average of 45.0% approval and 50.1% disapproval.

But the troubling news for the President was within that approval number, where there is a growing number among his base who are disappointed: his rating among self-described liberals in the poll was only 71%, along with 80% self-IDed Democrats in the approval column.

From the CNN report:

"...drill down into that number and you'll see signs of a stirring discontent on the left," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Thirty-eight percent say they disapprove because President Obama has been too liberal, but 13 percent say they disapprove of Obama because he has not been liberal enough — nearly double what it was in May, when the question was last asked, and the first time that number has hit double digits in Obama's presidency."

It should also be noted that complaints of the President not being liberal enough were not just relegated to liberals themselves. 14% of self-described moderates who disapproved of Obama cited the same reason, and even 9% of conservatives.

Quotable: Saudi Prince ALWALEED Dictates Terms Of OUR Debt Agreement

 Here's Piers Morgan introducing Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal on his July 22 show: "TIME Magazine calls Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal the Arabian Warren Buffett. He owned big chunks of Apple, Citigroup and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. And when he talks, the business world listens." It's simply amazing; the ARROGANT SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT from this transnational plutocrat who is the world's 26th richest man, according to FORBES, over OUR CULTURE, WAY OF LIFE, AND RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR GOVERNMENT.

Typically, most heads of state and diplomats will rightfully say it's not their place to comment on internal American affairs, even though that's exactly what WE, the world's PRESUMED superpower, have been doing to other developing countries for so many generations. President Obama said at one point during this hostage-taking manufactured crisis, that we're "not a banana republic." Really? Perhaps the President would like to revise and extend his remarks in light of Prince Alwaleed's statements.

Here's Prince Alwaleed LECTURING Americans while talking to A BRIT:

"As for the U.S. economy, as we all know, that the 2nd of August is nearing very fast, and it's very important for the members of Congress and the president of the United States, Obama, to reach a conclusion as swiftly as possible because the budget deficit in the United States and the cumulative debt and the raising of the debt ceiling, it does not only impact the United States economy but also impacts the whole world economies."

Lecturing CONGRESS and THE PRESIDENT:

"So it's very important for the U.S. Congress, represented by the Senate and the House of Representatives, and by President Obama, to come close together and to finish it — to finish an agreement as soon as possible."

DICTATING TERMS TO THE GANG OF SIX:

"And frankly speaking, the so-called Gang of Six should be expanded to represent all the — both the — all the House's members and the Senate's members and reach a conclusion as quickly as possible."

AND THE MOST AMAZING, AND REVEALING, PART OF THE INTERVIEW IS THE SAUDI PRINCE DICTATING TO OUR CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT EXACTLY WHICH STRUCTURAL CHANGES ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THEM (PLUTOCRATS AND WALL STREET MOGULS) AND WHICH ARE NOT:

MORGAN: When you have a debt approaching $13 trillion and rising all the time and calls now for that debt ceiling to be risen again, surely it is now the time for the American administration to implement higher taxation, isn't it? I mean, you have to get more revenue back into the system.

BIN TALAL: It is very clear that the Republicans do not want to raise taxes. And clearly, President Obama and the Democrats would like to have an element of taxing — of taxes to be raised. Clearly, cutting spending is very important. Clearly, attaching entitlement, whether it's Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, are going to have to happen.

TRANSLATION: Why are we at an IMPASSE in Washington with this manufactured crisis? Why can't the President, Republicans and Democrats simply accede to the American people's EXPRESSED WISHES AND REACH AN AGREEMENT WHICH DOES NOT TOUCH ENTITLEMENTS — SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID — RAISES TAXES ON THE RICH, AND MAKES TARGETED CUTS IN DEFENSE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WOULD NOT HURT THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE POOR? WHY?

SAUDI PRINCE ALWALEED BIN TALAL TO AMERICAN PEOPLE: "I OWN YOU."

BECAUSE a multibillionaire Saudi Prince, who owns a large portion of Fox "News" has dictated to Congress and the President terms THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE TO TRANSNATIONAL PLUTOCRATS, WALL STREET, AND THE CORPORATE ELITES. PRINCE BIN TALAL REPRESENTS FEWER THAN 1,000 POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS WORLDWIDE WHO FEEL ENTITLED TO DISMISS WHAT 80 PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AND DICTATE TO OUR GOVERNMENT THE TERMS OF ANY DEBT "AGREEMENT."

HERE'S SAUDI PRINCE ALWALEED BIN TALAL, WALL STREET'S SPOKESMAN: " CLEARLY, ATTACHING ENTITLEMENT, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, OR MEDICAID, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN."

"... ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN."... "It is very clear that the Republicans do not want to raise taxes" AND "Clearly, cutting spending is very important." BUT CUTTING ENTITLEMENTS — SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID — "ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN." WHAT A FUCKING ASSWIPE.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY? SINCE WHEN DO THE PEOPLE RULE? ANSWER: SINCE BEFORE THE CITIZENS UNITED DECISION CAME DOWN. MEMO TO THE TEABAGGERS: HERE'S YOUR NEW MANTRA; REPEAT IT WITH YOUR PRAYERS: "I'M AN IGNORANT SAUDI BIG OIL CORPORATE TOOL."

Suspect In Norwegian Terrorist Attack: WHITE RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALIST

That's right. Immediately after the attacks, right wing BIGOTS in the wingnut media began smearing Muslims with the broad brush of terrorism. Now we learn that the suspect in the horrible killings (so far) of 92 people "left behind a detailed manifesto outlining his preparations and calling for a Christian war to defend Europe against the threat of Muslim domination, according to Norwegian and American officials familiar with the investigation." First, Laura Ingraham at Fox "News" states that the Norway terror attacks “appears to be the work, once again, of Muslim extremists.” Then she jumps straight from the Norway terrorist attacks to the Islamic mosque in New York City, that is in no way connected to terrorism much less with this latest attack committed by right wing Christian fundamentalist(s). This is typical of Fox anti-Muslim bigotry — a Fox non sequitur to conveniently smear the religion and culture of Islam.

Oh yeah, and our buddy Jim Treacher at the Daily Caller, who runs an ongoing smear campaign against Muslims broadly titled "Not All Muslims Are Terrorists" ... etc. had to swallow his bigotry unapologetically. You can be cute about it, Treach, but you still come out smelling like a bigot and a racist. There are 2.1 billion Christians and 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. What percentage of these would you say are terrorists, hmm?

In Reply, Jean D'Orange Throws A HISSY FIT!

Here's some frightening video of the Speaker's ERUPTION at President Obama ... YIKES!

ASKED AND ANSWERED!

THANK YOU, Mr. President!

President Obama came out swinging today after Boehner walked out on the talks, talking tough and playing HARDBALL LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE. It was a VIRTUOSO political performance, and a REVELATION — one we've been waiting to see from the first moment the Republicans began their venal obstructionism.

I must say, this TOUGH GUY President, not the conciliator, not the compromiser — President Obama wears it Really REALLY WELL. I believe he was sincere about getting his "Big Deal" and so I'm glad the talks broke down, for now. But even if he wasn't, this is GREAT POLITICAL THEATER. I'll post the video presently; it's a must-see performance, from beginning to end. Watch it here.

Quotable: President Obama to Bernie Sanders, On "The Problem" With Progressives ... And Vice Versa

"That's the problem with YOU PROGRESSIVES. You see this as half-empty."

~ President Obama, holding up a glass to Independent Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders had asked the President whether he would nominate Elizabeth Warren to head the new Financial Consumer Protection Agency.

"At this point at least, despite a Democratic President and a Democratic Senate, the Republicans have won a MASSIVE victory, moving this debate FAR TO THE RIGHT."

~ Senator Bernie Sanders, earlier today on the state of play in the debt so-called "negotiations."

Just to illustrate the mentality of the Beltway Idiot Punditocracy, Jonathan Capehart of WaPo and an MSNBC "political analyst" said Senator Sanders was "amusing." They keep pounding this type of message day after day after day. It's almost a 'Fox News'-like alternate reality.

A final note about what so infuriates this progressive about President Obama. Today at his town hall at the University of Maryland, President Obama raised the example of the Emancipation Proclamation he had made in an earlier talk to young Republicans — which got rave reviews from Lawrence; something about "the politics of governing." The President said the Proclamation, which hangs in his office, did not free all slaves immediately. President Lincoln had to "compromise" with slave-holding Union territories because his first priority was to save the Union. Eventually, it happened with passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.

Fair enough. I can understand such a rationale with respect to the Affordable Care Act, aka "Obamacare." I'm not convinced but I understand it. The President explained that to govern effectively leaders must compromise: "you cannot get 100 percent of what you want." Understood. The problem becomes, though, how to define 80 percent, or 60, or 55? Progressives have always maintained that the President's definition of a "good deal," of 80 percent, is overly broad and much too accomodating of his Republican opponents.

Eventually, in twenty years or so, we might get affordable health coverage that is cost-effective and halfway comprehensive, if and when it ever becomes more like Medicare. But then — and this is what sticks in our craw — not only is the President prepared to slam Social Security by hitting beneficiaries where it hurts them most, in the pocketbook for people living on fixed incomes, but there's an even crueler irony to such a betrayal of core, bedrock Democratic values embodied by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Consider this: As a result of President Obama's health care act being so compromised, thousands of people approaching retirement age will have fallen through its cracks. These people may be suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, or any number of life-threatening senior diseases. They may be holding on for dear life, in the hope and expectation they'll have Medicare by age 65. But lo and behold, President Obama who gave up too much on health care reform in the first instance, now breaks bread with Traitor Joe Lieberman and Tom Coburn, and agrees to raise the Medicare eligibility age to 67.

How many potential lives will have been lost as a result of such a decision? This is not an abstraction; it's a moral issue. A question of life and death. And no one in those "negotiations," least of all President Obama, seems to be giving this serious consideration. Because if they did, benefit cuts in Social Security and Medicare (let's not forget Medicaid as a disabled student today implored the President) would not be on the chopping block. After all, it truly is an abstraction to those Congress persons who can get free medical care at Bethesda Naval Hospital, or afford a luxury suite at the Mayo Clinic.

Negotiating away Social Security — which was NEVER a part, however tangentially, of this manufactured debt issue — and Medicare with extremist, hostage-taking terrorists who are holding a gun to our heads is not right. What would FDR do? Or Truman? What would Bobby Kennedy do.

Where have you gone, Mr. President?

Rumor Mill, Body Language, And Betrayal

The so-called "cut, cap, and balance" plan passed by the House is a REPUBLICAN feint; it will not pass the Senate, and if it does it will not be signed by the President. It's an insane Tea Party bill. Which would give the Betrayer-in-Chief the perfect cover to sell his "Grand Bargain" negotiated principally with Speaker Boehner. The President is content, I think even looking forward, to stab progressives in the back once he has assured himself of a head count sufficient to pass his plan in the House and Senate. John Boehner wasn't whistling past the New Deal graveyard after meeting with his caucus, as the aroma of cigarette smoke wafted out into the corridor — a sign of Boehner's relaxed/victorious mood. He was singing "Zippy-Dooh-Dah, it's a wonderful day," hardly a subtle sign that things are going his and the Republicans' way.

Boehner seems confident he can peel off enough Tea Party caucus votes to craft a majority for passage in the House along with Blue Dog corporatist and moderate Democrats who will go with the President. The Progressive Caucus "NO" votes will probably be irrelevant as a bargaining chip. Similarly, in the Senate, the President is confident there will be 60 votes to pass his BETRAYAL. I have never seen the combative Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive champion, looking so dejected. His shoulders were sagging and he seemed on the verge of tears as he was interviewed by the Rev. Al. He said he could not speak for Democrats in the Senate. He was headed for a meeting with "about ten progressive senators" to "map out strategy." Then he shrugged as his voice trailed off: "But ..."

That's my interpretation of events. Boy, do I hope IT (the "Grand Bargain") doesn't come to pass. As Sam Stein from the Huffington Post reports:

The administration pressed, as it has in the past, for lawmakers to coalesce around as big a deficit reduction package as politically possible. There are conflicting reports as to what was discussed. But according to multiple sources from both parties, the administration signaled a willingness to tackle a bigger plan than even that proposed by the bipartisan Gang of Six.

hat such a deal would look like is difficult to pin down in detail, as much of the Gang of Six proposal requires congressional committees to write in the specific cuts to programs under their purview. But it would involve steep reductions in health care spending -- both in Medicare and Medicaid. In previous debt ceiling negotiations, the administration has supported further means-testing elements of Medicare as well as raising the eligibility age of the program. Cuts to Medicare suppliers would also be part of a larger package, as would adjusting the payment structure of Social Security so that a lower level of benefits was paid out over time.

So much for escapist West Wing entertainment. The reality is much too harsh and depressing. Sure, I'll take The West Wing in a heartbeat. But I fear that's not what's happening in Washington right now.

Spin This One, Lawrence: The BIG CAVE Is Imminent

This just in, from the New York Times; I've highlighted the major points of concern to progressives:

Boehner and Obama Close to Deal, Leaders Are Told

By CARL HULSE and JACKIE CALMES

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has informed Democratic Congressional leaders that President Obama and Speaker John A. Boehner were starting to close in on a major budget deal that would enact substantial spending cuts and seek future revenues through a tax overhaul, Congressional officials said Thursday.

With the government staring at a potential default in less than two weeks, the officials said the administration on Wednesday night notified top members of Congress that an agreement between the president and Mr. Boehner could be imminent. The Congressional leaders, whose help Mr. Obama would need to bring a compromise forward, were told that the new revenue tied to the looming agreement to increase the debt limit by Aug. 2 would be produced in 2012 through a tax code rewrite that would lower individual and corporate rates, close loopholes, end tax breaks and make other adjustments to produce revenue gains.

Officials knowledgeable about the conversations between the administration and Congressional leaders said the details of the potential package remained unknown but they presumed it would include cuts and adjustments in most federal programs, including Medicare.

However, officials on all sides of the tense negotiations warned that no firm deal was in hand yet, and tried to play down the progress — if only to stave off attempts to block it or influence its shape by hardliners on both sides of the debate on taxes and spending.

“While we are keeping the lines of communication open, there is no ‘deal’ and no progress to report,” said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Mr. Boehner.

The White House denied that any deal is imminent. Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, said that “there is no deal. We are not close to a deal.”

The same fiscal and political issues that stymied earlier negotiations between Mr. Obama and Mr. Boehner remain, including how much a deal would raise in new revenues over all. Democratic and Republican leaders in both chambers were resistant to an Obama-Boehner deal for separate political reasons — the Republicans because of party opposition to new taxes and Democrats because many want to campaign in 2012 against Republicans’ proposed deep cuts in Medicare and Medicaid and a compromise, they believe, would make that harder.

The agreement was likely to rile Democrats, who could view it as more tilted toward Republican priorities than a bipartisan plan issued by the so-called Gang of Six senators this week; its prospects with conservative House Republicans were uncertain as well. Though it would initially appear to meet Republican demands for less reliance on new revenues as part of what Democrats have called a “balanced” approach, Republicans could be uneasy about accepting a plan tied to a higher future revenues through tax changes.

“The trick on this has always been the tax issue,” one Republican said. [READ MORE HERE ...]

Can't you just see it coming; the President is about to sell us out on Medicare and Social Security — ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE DECIDED THOUGHTFULLY AND TRANSPARENTLY, NOT AS PART OF A FAKE DEBT "CRISIS" — just as he handed us a fait accompli on extending the Bush tax cuts when Nancy Pelosi, the only leader who could represent the people's interests, was cut out of the dealmaking. The same pattern seems to be repeating itself here. And if it's true, progressives CANNOT take this sitting down; no matter how big a selling job the President throws out there. If there are benefit cuts or a raise in the retirement/eligibility age of either or both programs, DEMOCRATS.MUST.SAY.NO TO THE PRESIDENT.