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There’s a full revolt taking place within the Democratic party following President Obama’s tax cut deal with Republicans
You need to know this. There’s a full revolt taking place within the Democratic party following President Obama’s tax cut deal with Republicans. House Democrats caucused last night to discuss the plan and count votes for it. Let’s just say it didn’t go too well and another meeting is scheduled for today. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted last night that there was a lot of “unease” within her Party regarding a vote on the compromise deal. She needs to convince at least 39 Democrats to support it. And among Progressives – that won’t be easy. Congressman Anthony Weiner said the President “shouldn’t count on [it],” and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey – co-chair of the Progressive Caucus – said the bill is simply not popular within her caucus. So if Pelosi can’t get progressives on board – she needs Blue Dogs. But they aren't enthusiastic either. Earl Pomeroy – a member of the Blue Dogs – has already come out in opposition to the bill. And others deficit hawks are likely to follow since the compromise adds nearly a trillion dollars to the national debt. The White House is sending Vice President Joe Biden to Congress today to rally support – though he is likely to face a hostile audience. If the Democrats blow this deal up – and taxes go up – it will then be up to the Republicans to solve the mess. And with the Americans people in large numbers supporting a tax increase for millionaires and billionaires – Republicans will be in a tough position not to listen. So could President Obama’s plan backfire – and in the end actually help him with his base? We’ll see – but I’m not holding out much hope.
-Thom
(Is it time for a revolt, or is it too risky for the 99-ers? Tell us here.)
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Today on the Big Picture... Congressman Steve King (R-IA, 5h district) will be here... On RT TV at 9pm and 11pm... (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Need to Know: Wikileaks: the Agenda At Play... Julian Assange Arrested: WikiLeaks Founder Taken Into Custody In L Congressman Steve King (R-IA, 5h district) will be here on the Tax cuts & Dream Act Republicans and Democrats unhappy with Tax Cut deal with Andrew Roth, Vice President Government Affairs-Club for Growth & Ari Berman, contributing writer The Nation Magazine
New GOP Appropriation Chair Secretly Lobbied For Health Reform Money He Called ‘Socialistic’ with Lee Fang, Reporter/Blogger Think Progress.com CAIR: Feds Charged Muslim Man After He Refused To Cooperate WikiLeaks is a hot topic at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancún after secret diplomatic cables revealed new details about how the United States manipulated last year’s climate talks in Copenhagen." with Amy Goodman, investigative journalist and host of Democracy Now!"
Crazy Alert! Return of the living dead...actors.
Daily Take: Targeting Muslims - Are we seeing the new McCarthyism?
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"Mass Deception" exposes the new George W. Bush memoir
Mass Deception, the bold and critically acclaimed new book by criminologist Scott Bonn, reveals that the Bush administration lied about the threat from Iraq and committed war crimes throughout the invasion and occupation. Order it today on amazon.com. Visit and "like" the Mass Deception fan page on facebook. |
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Community Square
" Beyond Elections Part 1"
Uploaded by Magonista.
"This video looks at experiments in participatory democracy across the hemisphere. These are inspiring, especially as working people get thrown under the bus so that the super rich can keep stealing from the common welfare in the form of tax giveaways."
Posted by writerofwrongs.
What would you report?
Which section would you move it to?
To upload an image click on the "add new blog post" link over at the community.
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Read Thom's Book for Free!
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The Daily Stack
Quote: "I believe in democracy, because it releases the energies of every human being." -- Woodrow T. Wilson (1856-1924).
Hour One: If the Democratic Party can't roll back the bush tax cuts on the wealthy in a "great recession" then how can they accomplish anything? Thom asks Dan Pfeiffer, White House Communications Director.
It's the anniversary of the death of John Lennon.
Hour Two: Why WikiLeaks is good for America With Evan Hansen, Editor in Chief, wired.com.
Quote: "Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship." by Hermann Goering.
Hour Three: Should an angry, crazy teenager be allowed to carry a gun? NRA says yes With Noel Flasterstein, Gun Rights Advocate/NRA member & Referral Attorney/General Counsel for 2nd Amendment Club of America.
Voting your conscience With Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, who was the deciding vote against President Bill Clinton's controversial 1993 budget.
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Coming up Thursday on The Thom Hartmann Program
Hour Two: Obama's failure to communicate on jobs-people and businesses put people back to work not the government... Really? I'll challenge Jackie Gingrich Cushman, daughter of Newt Gingrich and author of "The Essential American".
Plus, Geeky Science Rocks - what can human moms learn about motherhood from antisocial spider mommies?
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program... your media support group for we the people.
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Watch & Listen to Thom
How do progressives win in spite of Obama?
Is Julian Assange the New Revolutionary?
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Bring back the unions
Probably the most visible evidence of a strong middle class – in every nation in the world – is a strong and vibrant union movement.
In Europe’s industrial powerhouse Germany, for example, not only are virtually all industries unionized, but the law requires that half of the members of the boards of directors of every corporation in the country be comprised of representatives of the workers via the union.
Ever since 1947, American labor unions have been fighting an uphill battle, and every loss for organized labor has been a loss for the middle class.
“Supply side” insanity aside, any real economist can tell you that a nation’s economy grows because wages grow, increasing the purchasing power of an economic class that spends most everything they earn.
As wages go up, purchases go up. As purchases go up, demand goes up. As demand goes up, entrepreneurs will notice opportunities to meet that demand and create new products and start new businesses, and then hire people to create the product or service they noticed.
American working people went from earning and spending to borrowing and spending. We maxed out our credit cards, then wiped out the equity in our homes.
It all begins with increasing wages.
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow urgently. Please help if you can.
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