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Thom's blog
Congress avoids default
Only hours before the debt limit deadline, Congress finally passed a temporary measure to avoid default. The plan was approved 81 to 18 in the Senate, and 285 to 144 in the House. The Continuing Appropriations Act funds the government through January, suspends the debt limit until February, and directs both parties to agree on a long-term budget by December 13th. After two weeks of Tea Party hostage-taking, Republicans only got a continuation of the sequester and an Obamacare income-verification rule in exchange. But, they caused serious harm to our nation in their effort to extract more demands.
Because of the standoff, our nation lost at least 900,000 jobs, our economy lost at least $24 billion dollars, and our national credit rating is once again on the brink of being downgraded. After both chambers approved the legislation, President Obama made a short statement. He praised Congress for passing the measure, but said, “We've got to get out of the habit of governing by crisis.” However, the temporary measure that Congress passed could simply have scheduled the next one.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the deal “is far less than many [republicans] hoped for, quite frankly, but it's far better than what some had sought. Now it's time for Republicans to unite behind other crucial goals.” Presumably, those goals include trying to dismantle Obamacare, and slash the budgets of other social net programs. In addition to the economic consequences, the debt-limit standoff produced record-low approval ratings for Republicans, so it's unclear why they would want to have the same fight over again. The American people want to see Congress move on to working on ways to improve our nation, and stop this governing-by-hostage-taking.
-Thom
(What do you think? Tell us here.) |
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 9pm... What madness lurks in the Tea Party brain? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Have a question or comment for Thom? Grab your phone, hit record and send your video to YourTakeMyTake@gmail.com and we may air it on "The Big Picture."
Watch the video 'Last Hours' narrated by Thom Hartmann about the "time bomb" that is ticking underground, underwater and under ice… frozen methane that is now escaping and could trigger runaway climate change. www.lasthours.org
Read Thom's latest Liberally Yours column for The Daily Caller....stop by the DC online to leave your comments & support your local liberal!
Need to Know: What madness lurks in the Tea Party brain?- Mike Papantonio, Ring of Fire Radio 
YOUR TAKE / MY TAKE LIVE: Call Thom LIVE at (202) 904-2134 TONIGHT 7-8pm ET (check local listings)
GEEKY SCIENCE: Climate change and the power of plants
Daily Take: How the "know nothing" press extended the shutdown
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Wednesday's Daily Stack 
Hour One: "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joins Thom with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too... Follow Bernie:    campaign site.
Hour Two: What's a Good Name for Corporate Welfare Queens?
Call: "Reagan Hood capitalism" by Peter, NY.
Chat: "'Extortionism' Pay half their wages or we'll work these employees to death." by mcwbr.
Chat: "Parasitic capitalism" by Benedict.
Chat: "Arachno-capitalism" by sandlewould.
Chat: "leech capitalism" by Jewels.
Chat: "Cuckold Capitalism" by Snorky2k.
Chat: "cannibalistic capitalism" by mdhess.
Chat: "Primitive Accumulation" by Benedict.
Bible: " 1 Timothy 6 - 10" "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil".
Hour Three: Our last best hope for a future on earth...- Alan Weisman, Countdown.
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Thursday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: How the "know nothing" press extended the shutdown
Plus, Everything You Know is Wrong...about the # 12?- William Gladstone, The Power of Twelve
Hour Two: What madness lurks in the Tea Party brain?- Mike Papantonio, Ring of Fire Radio
Plus, the debt deal winners & sore losers...- Professor Peter Morici, Newsmax
Hour Three: Geeky Science - where would we be without plants?
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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Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
It's "Anything Goes Friday"...your one day of the week to choose the topics we talk about...what's on your mind?
Plus, we'll have the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"
And remember...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...
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Thom's Poll
Did the Tea Party learn anything this week?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Here Lies the Tea Party 2009-2013
Fukushima is collapsing - the worst is coming...
Lone Liberal - Grandfather of conservatism Hayek supported single payer healthcare
Lone Liberal - Ted Cruz confessed what he got from shutdown - signatures and money
Governed by threats - intimidation - and crisis...
Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 10/16/13: Here Lies the Tea Party, 2009 - 2013
Thom talks with Economist Marshall Auerback on the economics of the potential deal in Congress to fund the government and raise the debt limit. Tonight's "Lone Liberal Rumble" panel discusses the politics of the deal in Congress, where we stand with the implementation of Obamacare and a new study detailing how low wage workers are forced to rely on government assistance. Thom talks with Beyond Nuclear's Paul Gunter on the latest from the Fukushima disaster in Japan, and in tonight's "Daily Take" Thom discusses how the Senate deal could mean the beginning of the end for the Tea Party.
Thom Hartmann on the News: October 16, 2013
Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth
What's a Good Name for Corporate Welfare Queens?
Is it Vampire Capitalism, or Something Else?
Bernie Sanders: The Koch Brothers' Vision for America
Bernie Sanders on the Federal Budget Deal
Brunch with Bernie - October 16, 2013
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook. |
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