Bush Era Tax Cuts Not Extended By Obama

Bush Era Tax Cuts likely won't be extended by Obama, according to reports issued.  Barack Obama has always been vocal about wanting to keep taxes low on families that make under $250,000 per year while raising taxes on the wealthy and big business.


Adjusting the tax law is like a two edged sword.  On one hand, you need to get money to pay for all the social benefits we are entitled to as Americans.  On the other hand, it is wealthy individuals and businesses that create jobs - and raising their taxes could make them less likely to do business in the US or promote various endeavors.


The Republicans, of course, want to extend the tax cuts - and Obama could have a difficult time with his agenda in a couple months after the mid-term elections.


According to the New York Times, Obama "will be partisan as he seeks to sharpen the contrasts between Republicans’ record and efforts by Democrats to create more jobs."


Will the failure of Obama to re-extend the Bush era tax cuts cause an even greater divide between Democrats and Republicans?

Dr. Laura N-Word and First Amendment Rights

Dr. Laura n-word controversy continues, even though the radio show host has stated that she will quit after her contract is up later this year. She claims that she wants to say what’s on her mind, reclaiming her “first amendment rights.”

Sarah Palin quickly backed up the radio advice giver, Tweeting “don’t retreat, reload!”

Dr. Laura used the n-word 11 times in 5 minutes while talking to a black woman who is married to a white man about how his family treats her.  The woman expressed concern over the n-word, and then Dr. Laura went off on her tirade.

Even though she was trying to make a point, did that give her the right to use a racially divisive word?  Does freedom of speech preclude every ounce of human decency – is it something we should be able to hide behind when we have our foot in our mouth?

Sure, she has the right to “say what’s on her mind” but she should still be sensitive to the feelings of others, and the pain her words – no matter how benign – may bring.

Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin’s “Restoring Honor” Rally to Occur on 47th Anniversary of “I Have a Dream” Speech

Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally will occur at the Lincoln Memorial 47 years to the day after Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech.  Although Beck claims that the rally won’t be “political”, rather “This rally will honor the troops, unite the American people under the principles of integrity and truth, and make a pledge to restore honor within ourselves and our country.”

Of course, wherever Glenn Beck goes, therein lies controversy.  There’s backlash over the chosen date – a date held very dear by Civil Rights leaders.  Some think he’s trying to undermine that part of our history, given his less-than-ideal relationship with the NAACP.

Beck said “It was not my intention to select 8-28 because of the Martin Luther King tie. It is the day he made that speech. I had no idea until I announced it and I walked offstage and my researchers said, New York Times has already just published that this is [the same day as the King speech] — and I said, ‘Oh, jeez.’ ”

Still, as the Atlanta Journal Constitution columnist Cynthia Tucker notes, Martin Luther King, Jr. wouldn’t have denied Beck his rally on that day. 

Sarah Palin Tweets Advice at Dr. Laura: Don’t Retreat…Reload!

Sarah Palin tweets advice for Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who recently quit her radio show amid a “scandal” over her excessive use of the “N” word. Sarah Palin is known for her Twitter antics, which sometimes involve creating words that never existed before, and sometimes leave her foot stuck in her mouth.

Could this be one of those times? Dr. Laura told Larry King that she wanted to “regain her first amendment rights” and be able to say whatever she wanted to, with no backlash from special interest groups or protesters.

Of course the idea is silly – there are always going to be opponents, and those that don’t think like you do.  However, at least on your own you don’t have to worry about ticking off a network, losing advertisers for your show, and the like.

Dr. Laura says she plans on focusing on her blog and YouTube channels, and one cannot help but wonder if she will start spending as much time on Twitter and FaceBook as the advice-laden Sarah Palin.

So what did Sarah Palin Tweet at Dr. Laura? First, She said “Dr. Laura:Don’t Retreat…Reload!” which was quickly followed by “Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice, America !”

The Ground Zero 911 Mosque: Does Having the Right Make it Right?

The 9/11 Ground Zero Mosque in Manhattan is creating a political stir. Obama recently said that the group planning on building the large mosque has every right to do so. However, in doing so there is a question: does having the right make it right?

There was a time when America was about common good and decency. There were no fears of offending certain groups, and we lived more by the “golden rule” than by trying to navigate through laws in order to get around social injustices.

If the group building the mosque lived by the “golden rule” this would be a non-issue. They would simply find another site in New York City for their building. It’s that simple. On the flip side, if those against the building were living by such rule, they wouldn’t stereotype people who practice Islam.

And if the leadership in America really truly cared about the common good, discussion would be over the softer social side of the issue instead of the laws written on paper. Sure, the group has the Constitutional right to build a mosque and the government cannot do anything about it because of separation of church and state…but does that make it right?

The “Ground Zero Mosque” a Political Debate During Elections

The “Ground Zero Mosque” is the planned establishment which is situated near the 9/11 ground zero location. It is there where many Americans lost their lives at the hands of radical Islamists. The debate is heated over whether or not an Islamic place of worship should be so close to where so many lost their lives.

The debate gained even more steam when the President said that the Muslims have the “right” to build their worship centers on private property. This comment gained him criticism from, among other people – Rush Limbaugh.

All critics and supporters aside, the “ground zero mosque” is becoming a hot political topic – and a buzz during the election year. Voters are cautioned to consider some of the bigger issues that are facing our country. The looming unemployment figures, lackluster economy, and more.

Still, there are many Americans who feel strongly one way or another about the worship center and its proximity to the World Trade Center . These individuals may align themselves with politicians with the same view, or at least distance themselves from politicians with openly opposite views.

Prop8 Ruling: Carly Fiorina, Barbara Boxer Disagree with Vaughn Walker’s decision

The Prop8 ruling has catalyzed the core of the gay rights movement. In California , judge Vaughn Walker overturned the voter-approved measure which banned gay marriage in the state.  San Francisco with the support of gay couples challenged the law, and successfully got it overturned.

An appeal has been filed, and we expect that the issue will make it all the way to the US Supreme Court before all is said and done.

The Senate Race in California is already setting up a debate, with Republican hopeful and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina stating that she’s against the judges ruling, citing that voters in California spoke their desires.  Barbara Boxer disagrees with her opponent, and cites that it’s an important step towards equal rights.

Diane Feinstein, another Senator from California who is not up for re-election right now is also supportive of the recent ruling.

While many are against the ruling, many are for it as well.  Gay rights is our modern-day civil rights movement, and it will be interesting to see how this case impacts the rest of the country

Glenn Beck Twitter: 'Favorite' White Nationalist, Deleted Post

Glenn Beck uses Twitter, and is reported to have used the 'favorite' feature in Twitter to promote a post of a white nationalist. Glenn Beck then, without explanation, deleted said post from his account. The white nationalist in question is @MalevoFreedom.

Who knew that 140 characters could get someone in so much trouble? From Sarah Palin to Glenn Beck to even socialites like Kim Kardashian, Twitter remains on the forefront of many discussion centering on the stars. One regular guy from the UK even got enormous fame when Kanye West decided to make him the one follower on his Twitter list.

So it comes as little surprise that someone so catalyzing as Glenn Beck would become under increased scrutiny for his Twitter usage.

Glenn Beck is seen by his adversaries as a conspiracy theorist. Had Obama used the 'favorite' feature on a similar type post, then subsequently deleted it - it would have been a huge issue on Glenn Beck's show.

Of course, since Glenn Beck deleted his favorite there's no link you can go to to verify. However, a Tweet from @MalevoFreedom read:

"Woah- #Beck fav's something I said- and all of a sudden everybody grows an opinion. Thanks for the support AND the hate mail :)"

Of course Glenn Beck is extremely controversial. As hard as he is on the NAACP, it's quite ironic that this is coming out. Still yet, the jury is out on Beck. Some are going to applaud him for his alleged 'favorite' while others are going to point and showcase that as just another reason why his many theories are wrong.

What do you think? 

Glenn Beck and Prop8: Library Removes Gay Book While Prop8 Overturned

Glenn Beck requested libraries to remove copies of the book, "Revolutionary Voices" is the name of the book, and Glenn Beck calls it "child pornography." Gay rights activists are pointing to the possibility that Beck's problem with the book lies in it being about same-sex relationships.

While libraries in New Jersey are removing "Revolutionary Voices" from their shelves, a judge thousands of miles away, in California, made a ruling that Prop8 is unconstitutional. Proposition 8 is the Gay Marriage ban that was voted into law in California. Appeals are expected.

So we have two opposite reactions to the Gay rights movement. On one hand, an anthology of first person accounts of same-sex relationships is getting removed from shelves of libraries during Glenn Beck's 9.12 program, while a Federal judge has ruled that a ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.

Gay rights, immigration, health care, and unemployment are all going to play big roles in the upcoming elections. What do you think about Glenn Beck getting a book removed from libraries, and what do you think about the overturning of Prop8?

Reference: USA Today

California Proposition 8 2010 - Judge Rules Anti-Gay Marriage Law Unconstitutional

California's proposition 8 has opposition.  Today - in 2010,  judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the proposition 8 anti-gay marriage law is unconstitutional.  After the passage of prop 8, the city of San Francisco and a couple of gay couples sued the state to stop the law from going in to effect.

The law previously passed with voter support on a ballot.

This is a battle won, but doesn't mark the end of the war.  There will likely be many more steps for this bill to overcome before we can say that it has been successfully overturned. The fight could go all the way to the Supreme Court - where a ruling would be a landmark for gay rights activists.

The attitude in California was rather celebratory.  Celebrities such as Ellen, Kim Kardashian, and more all applaud the judges ruling.

Many are concerned about the law, claiming that marriage is an institution between one man and one woman, and has been for the past millennium. Still others say it's time for a change, and time for same-sex couples to reap the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts.  What are your thoughts on the matter?

Chelsea Clinton Plastic Surgery? A Wedding Day Rumor Continues

Chelsea Clinton, plastic surgery, and her wedding. So did Clinton get plastic surgery before she walked down the aisle? All signs point to NO. There's a lot of buzz going on that the former first daughter went under the knife, but from what I gather from credible news agencies there's no indication that that happened.

Besides, Chelsea is a natural beauty. There are many out there who have criticized her, claiming that she wasn't a beautiful bride. I beg to differ. Chelsea's elegant Vera Wang wedding gown was enough to make even the toughest person shed a tear over the sheer beauty of the whole ceremony. Complete with a beaded waistline and swirling details in the skirt, the wedding day details were completely exquisite.

Clinton married Marc Mezvinsky over the weekend at an exclusive wedding in Rhinebeck, New York. Complete with a vegan menu, gluten free cake, and not one - but TWO Vera Wang gowns, this bride had a dream come true - minus the plastic surgery of course.

Photo: Bill Clinton walks Chelsea Clinton down the aisle at wedding

Former president Bill Clinton walked Chelsea Clinton down the aisle at her exclusive wedding in Rhinebeck , New York .  Although Chelsea Clinton’s wedding was absent of a media entourage, it’s still one of THE hottest events of the century.

Bill Clinton lost weight to walk his daughter down the aisle.  It’s reported that she told him that all he had to do was walk her down the aisle, and he had to look good doing it. Of course, just being Bill Clinton is enough in the eyes of many, but this is his daughter, the bride talking.  She reportedly told him he needed to lose 15 pounds.

And so he did.  He lost at least 15 pounds, per his bridezilla…er…daughter’s request.  Typically it’s the bride and the mother of the bride speaking about losing weight for the big day.  Of course, when you are the Secretary of State, you may not exactly have time for a weight loss regimen.

We know that Chelsea is health conscious just from her gluten free wedding cake. She reportedly purchased a gluten free cake from La Tulipe Bakery in New York . 

What do you think of Bill Clinton walking Chelsea down the aisle? Don’t they look great? Chelsea ’s flowered into a beautiful young woman, and Bill  looks fab with his noticeably slimmer frame.

2010 Unemployment Extension Benefits Bill: Are Americans Forgotten?

The long awaited Benefits Extension was signed into law last week by President Obama, but didn't take into consideration the millions of jobless Americans with no extensions left. The true question to ask ourselves now is: What about the 99ers? A tier 5 was not in the bill but there are thousands of Americans still without the needed benefits.

The bill that was signed into law was a good start, but it was cut short for many people who are still left without any benefits. Will there be a Tier 5? Only time will tell, the way the economy is many Americans goes to bed every single night hoping that a Tier 5 will be passed.

As of today, there is nothing on the books for a Tier 5 and the bill that was signed in was a start,  for many Americans it was just not enough. With unemployment at an all time high, or at last where many of us have never seen and it seems like everyday things you buy keep getting higher many without a job could use a Tier 5.

The question for many people who didn’t benefit from the new bill is will there be a new bill that will include the 99ers? One can only hope that the government can see that many of us still need help in these hard and troubling times.

Reference: HR 4213

VIDEO: Howard Dean - Fox News "Racist" in Susan Sherrod Coverage

Howard Dean thinks that Fox News acted with Racial Bias during the Shirley Sherrod coverage.  Sherrod is the USDA official who was forced to resign after conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart featured a clip of her speaking with an NAACP crowd.


In the clip, the former government official notes that she didn't give a white farmer the full service she was capable of because he was white.  The clip was grossly misleading and failed to show the rest of the speech which indicates that Sherrod used the incident to grow as a person and stop acting with racial biases.


Shirley Sherrod was not given the opportunity to explain herself, and to the surprise of many Fox News host Glenn Beck actually took the USDA official's side in the controversy, even though he is not a fan of the NAACP.


Dean says the following regarding Fox News's coverage of this event, saying "They took a -- they had an obligation to find out what was really in the clip. They had -- they had been pushing a theme of black racism with this phony Black Panther crap and this business and Sotomayor and all this other stuff. You -- I think you've got to be very -- I think the -- look the Tea Party called out their racist fringe, and I think the Republican Party's got to stop appealing to its racist fringe. And Fox News is what did that."


Dean failed to note that Fox News didn't even mention the scandal until after Sherrod had been forced to resign.   What do you think about his comments? Was he spot-on or is this just another example of another politician who has it out for Fox News?


Reference: Washington Post


Here is the video clip of Howard Dean speaking about the Shirley Sherrod case:

Senator Schumer: 99ers Tier 5 Extension Bill Coming Soon?

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) recently discussed that there are millions of Americans that still need jobless benefits, as they have exhausted all benefits available to them.  He is quoted, in the video linked below, of saying the following: 


There are a number of people who have maxed out, they've been looking and looking for work but haven't found it, and there is a separate act that would extend those benefits to them,. Extending this was really important. There are some people who go beyond the 99 weeks and we're gonna try to do that next


Sounds like those who thought they were forgotten really haven't been.  If Schumer is successful, along with other members of the House and Senate, of bringing such a measure to vote he will become one of the most popular politicians currently on Capital Hill.


After all, the recently passed legislation doesn't provide a true extension of benefits to those who have no where else to turn.  The job market, especially in states like Michigan and Nevada, is horrific and finding a job is almost impossible.  Providing an extra layer will allow people to relax and focus on their job search.


Even though this news is promising, there was no timeline discussed as to when the 99ers can expect forward movement on the extension.


Reference with Video: WENY-TV

99er Unemployment Legislation: Stabenow Among Those Desiring Another Extension Bill

99er unemployment legislation could be in the works.  Debbie Stabenow, the Democratic Senator from Michigan is said to be one of the handful of Senators who are ready to get some help to 99ers in need of a benefits extension.  This comes as little surprise as she is the representative for the state with the second highest unemployment rate, which sits well into the double digits.

99er legislation would make jobless benefits available for longer than...99 weeks. This is the current time frame allowed under the bill that was signed into law last week.

Stabenow has also indicated that job creation is crucial to the success of the economy. It's true that the only way to truly solve the unemployment issue is to get people back to work.  Perhaps this should be the focus now, alongside a measure to help extend benefit to the long term unemployed.

In a letter to the public, Stabenow said the following regarding her support of Tier 5 legislation for the 99ers:

I wish that the bill we passed helped those who have been looking for work the longest – the so-called "99ers." I'm working on a bill to help them because, when there are five people out of work for every one job opening, it's the right thing to do.


Hopefully more politicians feel the same, so that a comprehensive measure can be brought to the floor to discuss.


Source: American Chronicle

Unemployment Benefit Extension Checks: Available? July 2010, Maybe

Unemployment benefit extension checks could become available in July of 2010 for some states.  For instance, the state of Michigan has said that they will have the checks out in their state in about two weeks, as they have amped up their employee base to combat the sudden onslaught of paperwork they will receive in the wake of the benefits extension.

For some states, the wait could be much longer.  It all depends on the agencies that are going through the paperwork, certifying that those who have filed for benefits are, indeed, eligible to receive them.

HR4213 passed, finally, after a GOP lead filibuster was broken last week.  Now, the focus is on getting retroactive benefit checks to those whose benefits lapsed.  Then, the focus will be on trying to pass legislation that will allow those who have exhausted all 99 weeks of benefits available to have access to a longer lifeline.

A Tier 5 unemployment extension is the only way that some American families will stay out of poverty. Such legislation hasn't been suggested officially, but many are hoping that a measure will be brought up for politicians to review.

Of course, funding such a bill would be difficult. Given that the benefits extension bill was hard to pass at $34 billion, figuring out how to fund a new level of checks would be a challenge.

Elena Kagan Confirmation: Justice Hopeful Would Step Aside in 11 Cases

Elena Kagan is awaiting her Senate confirmation to become a Supreme Court justice. Kagan is the US Solicitor General, and is the former dean of Harvard Law. She would become the first to sit on the bench that has no previous experience as a judge, which is one of the things that bothers many of her opponents.

The most controversial thing in Kagan's past was when she removed military recruiters from Harvard Law's career center because she did not agree with their controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

In addition, as the US Solicitor General, she's worked on at least 11 cases that are set to be heard by the high court. Because of this, she would step aside from the case because she is too close to it. As a judge, her bias may have become clouded by her work on the case - and that wouldn't make for a very fair trial.

At first, there was no Republican support of Kagan. Now, at least two Senators have pledged approval of the justice hopeful. Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Lugar are two GOP members that will support her nomination.

Key questions are this: will she be able to keep a clear mind, free of an agenda? Does she have enough experience to serve on the high court?

Reference: NY Times; USA Today

Sarah Palin:Facebook Post Deleted, Apology Ensues

Sarah Palin on Facebook is something that America is growing used to. Palin's social networking accounts (Facebook AND Twitter) have been the cause of much ridicule for the former VP hopeful. When she's not inventing words or coming up with zany things to say, she still makes headlines. This time, Facebook deleted one of her posts and then subsequently apologized.

The post in question had to do with the building of a mosque on Ground Zero. We all know that there is a controversy over whether or not an Islamic worship center should be built so close to where the 9/11 attacks took place. The post can be found here, as it has been re-instated by the social networking site.

The first thing that you might think is that the post had something in it that violated FaceBook terms of service. That is not the case. After it became known to the site that the message disappeared, an apology ensued and the post was re-instated.

What do you think - was this some sort of glitch, or was this a calculated move on the part of someone at the site?

Shirley Sherrod USDA: Andrew Breitbart Blog Post, Video Create NAACP Nightmare

Shirley Sherrod is the USDA official who was forced to leave her post after Andrew Breitbart, a conservative blogger, launched a post in which he took a snippet of a speech that the leader gave and took it out of context. The clip showcased Sherrod telling the audience about how she didn't help a white farmer as much as she could have, because he was white and he acted as if he felt he was her superior.

What the clip didn't show was that Shirley was using that experience to showcase how she herself got past racial biases. Based on the clip, a host of individuals began to believe that Sherrod is, indeed, a racist.

This is not good for any government official or body of government, and that is likely why she was forced to give her resignation. Although after the incident was brought to light, it became apparent that the video was clearly misguided and misinterpreted.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has offered the woman her job back, although it is uncertain as to whether or not she will accept his offer. We could see it go either ways, both of them completely understandable.

Another thing that isn't for certain at this point is whether or not Shirley Sherrod is going to sue Andrew Breitbart for the blog post. He cost her economic harm, and acted in negligent manner. It will be interesting to see what transpires soon.