Friday, December 17, 2010

Eric Cantor sets new House work schedule, two weeks on, one week off - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Eric Cantor sets new House work schedule, two weeks on, one week off - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

As the new Majority Leader for the incoming Congress, Eric Cantor (R-VA) is responsible for setting the work schedule for the new Congress. The schedule will be: work two weeks, then take one week off, work two weeks, then take one week off, etc.

Cantor said that he has examined the current congressional work schedule for the last few months and he says with a two weeks on, one week off schedule it will “maximize efficiency“. And he was serious.

"More days in session has always resulted in bigger, more intrusive government, not more production. What matters is who’s in charge and the process put in place, not the number of days in session," said Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for Cantor.


COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

Thursday, December 16, 2010

House passes Senate Tax Bill now awaits Presidents signature - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

House passes Senate Tax Bill now awaits Presidents signature - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

The House just held a final vote to past the Senate Tax Bill (which passed yesterday), the House passed the Bill by a vote of 277-148.

The Senate tax Bill was brokered by President Obama and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier this month after the Republicans held 2 million unemployed Americans hostage as their unemployment benefits were set to expire around Christmas Day. The Republicans also held millions of middle class working American families hostage as well by saying the middle class and the poor will get nothing, zip, nada, zilch, unless the rich get their tax cuts.

The legislation will continue the Bush era tax cuts for everyone including the wealthiest Americans for two more years. The Bush ear tax cuts, which were passed ten years ago through reconciliation with Dick Cheney casting the tie breaker vote in the Senate, were rammed down the throats of working Americans, 90 percent of the Tax cuts went to the top two percent in America, everyone else were given crumbs, they call it trickle down. But Americans felt something else trickling down.

The Bush Tax cuts for the rich added 2.5 trillion to the National Debt because they were unfunded, they again are being rammed down the throats of working Americans for another two years and still remain unfunded while adding an additional $858 Billion to our National Debt.

The Bush era tax cuts were set to expire at midnight December 31.

Among the items included in the legislation is a 13 month extension of unemployment benefits, a 2 percent income tax break for working American and Billions in tax breaks for the rich again.

The Bill now goes to the President for his signature. And two years from now as we are in the heat of the 2012 Presidential campaigns, we will all be forced to listen to this debate all over again. Gee, I wonder who will benefit.

You've heard of a Turducken, a Duck shoved up a Turkey then baked...Well now comes the Donkiphant, a Donkey shoved up an Elephant's backside then it sits on the American Public.

And the next time the Republicans pound their chest about lowering our National Debt, ask them to pound their chests harder, until it hurts.

Nevada GOP Presidential Caucus to be held on February 18, 2012 - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Nevada GOP Presidential Caucus to be held on February 18, 2012 - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Nevada Republican Party Chairman Mark Amodei announced today that the GOP Presidential Caucus will be held February 18, 2012.

News Release

Nevada to Hold Presidential Caucus on February 18, 2012

Cory Adair
Nevada Republican Party

RENO, NEVADA – Nevada Republican Party Chairman Mark Amodei released the following statement regarding Nevada’s Presidential Caucus:

“Last evening, the Nevada Republican Party’s State Executive Committee voted to hold the Nevada Republican Presidential Caucus on Saturday, February 18, 2012, making our state the third Republican presidential contest overall and the first in the Western United States.

“This decision will allow Nevada Republicans the opportunity to help select our party’s presidential nominee. This is an important responsibility, because the failed economic policies of President Obama have made Nevada the nation's leader in unemployment. Nevadans cannot afford four more years of his job-killing agenda in the White House.”

State Senator Mark Amodei will have his work cutout for him as Nevada Republicans try and bring the fractured party together. Tea Party groups in Nevada this past election rejected Nevada’s GOP backed Sue Lowden in favor of Sharron Angle who lost her race for US Senate against Senator Harry Reid. Tea Party groups in Nevada are looking to replace the established GOP Party with Tea Party members.




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Rep. Dina Titus considers run for 2012 congress - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com

Rep. Dina Titus considers run for 2012 congress - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com

Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) who was first elected in 2008 and lost her re-election bid to Joe Heck (R-NV) this past November, says she is considering a run for Congress in 2012 and will make her decision by next summer.

Speaking to Politico, Titus spoke about the redistricting that is coming now that the 2010 Census numbers are in. Nevada will be receiving a fourth Congressional seat due to its population explosion over the last ten years.



COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Sue Lowden named to State Board of Medical Examiners - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com

Sue Lowden named to State Board of Medical Examiners - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com

Former candidate for US Senate Sue Lowden who earlier this year made national headlines with her comments of using a barter system to pay for doctors visits after telling a story about her grandparents, today was named to the State Board of Medical Examiners by Governor Jim Gibbons.

The Las Vegas Sun said that “Lowden will represent the public at large on the board that regulates doctors in Nevada.”

Sue Lowden comment on Nevada Newsmakers discussing what became known as “Chickens for Check-ups: (Video on the left)



COMPLETE ARTICLE AND VIDEO HERE:

Sen. Reid to Republicans ‘There's still Congress after Christmas’ - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Sen. Reid to Republicans ‘There's still Congress after Christmas’ - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today said he expects to have a final vote tonight on the tax deal that was worked out by President Obama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Senate Reid said the vote may come “sometime before midnight” if he reaches agreement with Republicans to act before the time allotted for debate runs out at 12:30 a.m. Senate passage will send the tax issue to the House, where Democrats have been fighting President Obama’s decision to extend the Bush era tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.



COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

Monday, December 13, 2010

Breaking: Federal Judge in Virginia declares Obamacare unconstitutional - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Breaking: Federal Judge in Virginia declares Obamacare unconstitutional - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

After seeing Federal judges strike down other law suits against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, a Federal Judge in Virginia has now declared it unconstitutional. Next stop the right winged Supreme Court.

The Health Care Reforms that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid negotiated in the Senate had caused a major uproar in our country in the summer of 2009. Town Hall meetings were filled with irate people shouting down politicians trying to explain the Health care reforms.

AP is reporting that a federal judge in Virginia has declared the Obama administration's health care reform law unconstitutional.


COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sharron Angle quote makes Yale top ten list - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com

Sharron Angle quote makes Yale top ten list - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com


Former Nevada candidate for US Senate Sharron Angle who was backed by the Tea Party but ended up losing to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, is not forgotten.

Yale University has released one of its many year end Top Ten lists, this list covers memorable quotes.

Delaware’s Tea Party backed candidate Christine O’Donnell was tied for number one with her statement “I’m not a Witch”.

There are many memorable quotes from this past years, but here are the ones that made it onto Yale Universities Top Ten Quotes for 2010, enjoy.


Read List Here:

Friday, December 10, 2010

Rep. Dean Heller announces Budget Spending Cut - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Rep. Dean Heller announces Budget Spending Cut - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV) today has announced that he will join the soon to be Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH), on a spending cut to highlight just how serious they are about cutting government spending and waste.

John Boehner will introduce the Reduction of Irresponsible Members Representational Allowance Growth Act that was first introduced by Heller in 2009. The (MRA) is an allowance given to each member of congress to pay for office upgrades for new carpets, furniture, etc.

Rep. Heller said, “The proposed cuts to congressional office budgets would be a meaningful step towards true fiscal responsibility”.

There is nothing that says you are more serious about spending cuts, than cutting your tax payer paid office furniture expenses. A few more office cut backs, and that nasty budget deficit will be a thing of the past, in about 300 years.

If Dean Heller truly wants to show his support for cutting budgets, such as the national budget deficit, he could start by showing his support against adding $700 billion to the deficit via tax cuts for the richest Americans. That would be a true “meaningful step towards true fiscal responsibility”.



COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Senate fails on cloture vote for DADT Sen. Ensign votes no - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Senate fails on cloture vote for DADT Sen. Ensign votes no - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Earlier today the US Senate held a cloture vote on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) which in its current form allows lesbians and gays to serve in the Military as long as they don’t tell anyone that they are gay or lesbian. The vote failed to receive the 60 votes needed to end the Republican filibuster, the final vote count was 57-40 with three Senators not voting.

The repeal of DADT has the support of the Secretary of Defense Bill Gates, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, 70 percent of those currently serving in the military, more then 70 percent of the American people, the President of the United States Barack Obama, the US House of Representatives, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), but not Nevada’s junior Senator John Ensign (R-NV) who earlier signaled that he was in favor of repealing DADT, but voted no today.



COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

Monday, December 6, 2010

Nevada General election had renewed interest from ‘inactive’ voters - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com

Nevada General election had renewed interest from ‘inactive’ voters - Las Vegas Clark County Elections 2010 | Examiner.com


According to Ross Miller the Secretary of State Nevada, the total number of active voters in Nevada increased by more than 30,000 following for the Nov. 2 General Election.

More then 30,000 voters who are listed as registered but “inactive” came out and voted this past November 2nd.

The race for US Senate between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Tea Party backed Sharron Angle (R-NV) had close to $100 millions dollars in ads poured into it, which certainly had a lot to do with "inactive voters" in Nevada coming out to vote.



COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE
:

GOP offer the ‘Gift of Coal’ for 2 million Americans this Christmas - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

GOP offer the ‘Gift of Coal’ for 2 million Americans this Christmas - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

A few days ago the Republican Party filibustered a Democratic Party Bill to extend unemployment benefits for 2 million Americans as we approach Christmas. Then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and the Democrats which was signed by all 42 Senate Republicans saying, “we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item “, meaning they will filibuster everything until they get what they want, which is to extend the Bush era tax cuts for the richest people in America.

The Letter: (Full Text)

"We write to inform you that until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike."

In a rare Saturday Senate session, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid held two votes on extending the Bush era tax cuts for the middle class, but excluded the tax cuts on the rich. The first vote was to extended them for families making under $250,000 and the second vote was extending for families making under $1 million dollars. Both votes did not get the 60 votes needed to end the republican filibuster and allow the full senate to debate the tax cuts and then vote on the legislation which would then only a require a simple majority to pass.



COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Senators Reid and Ensign split on Tax Cuts for the Rich - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Senators Reid and Ensign split on Tax Cuts for the Rich - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

In a special Saturday Senate session Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid held two votes regarding the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire at midnight December 31.

The first vote was to extend tax cuts for the middle class families making under $250,000 and let the unfunded Bush tax cuts for everyone above that number revert back to the tax rate under former President Bill Clinton of 39.6 percent.

The second vote raised the $250,000 to $1,000,000 and under to maintain the current tax rate and anyone making more than $1 million have their tax rates revert back to 39.6 percent.

Both votes only received 53 yeas, with every republican in attendance voting no and with a few democrats joining them. 60 votes are needed to end the filibuster and send the legislation to the full senate floor for debate and a final vote that would only require a simple majority to pass.


COMPLETE STORY HERE:

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Dick Cheney charged with bribery, several Halliburton personnel arrested - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Dick Cheney charged with bribery, several Halliburton personnel arrested - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com


An arrest warrant will be issued for former Vice President and former CEO of Halliburton, Dick Cheney. The Nation of Nigeria has indicted Cheney on bribery charges. The charges involve Cheney and Halliburton in a $180 million bribery case.

Halliburton, along with three other companies, are charged with conspiring to corner a $6 billion contract to build a natural gas plant in the Niger Delta.


COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wikileaks Julian Assange is a marked man next document dump on US Banks - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com

Wikileaks Julian Assange is a marked man next document dump on US Banks - Las Vegas Democrat | Examiner.com


The latest round of leaks from WikiLeaks, covers about 250,000 US State Department diplomatic communications that have made the United States government look and sound foolish.

These communications with caricature tidbits and gossip on various world leaders, along with some very candid talk about mutual enemies like Iran and North Korea, could put lives in danger, and were never meant for public view.

Sect. of State Hillary Clinton, US Ambassadors and State department officials around the world are scrambling to repair the diplomatic damages caused by the latest round of leaks.

The leaked documents originated from the Pentagon data base which contains the State Department communications and they were accessed by Army SPC Bradley Manning while he was serving in Iraq. Manning has been in custody for several months with the first leaks by WikiLeaks happening earlier this year. Those leaks centered around US military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan detailing strategies, tactics, the local population and confidant sources.

And the Pentagon has not been clear on whether others besides Manning were involved in giving sensitive information to WikiLeaks.

But it is only now that our government is trying to put an end to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who is Australian, from causing anymore damage with further leaks. When WikiLeaks leaked information earlier in the year about Iraq and Afghanistan there was no rush to contain further damage. Now that Assange has gone public with his planned dump of sensitive banking information, the whole world wants to shut him up.

US Attorney General Eric Holder told reporters Monday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Defense (DOD) are conducting a criminal investigation of WikiLeaks over its release of confidential government communications. Holder condemned WikiLeaks' recent release of government cables, saying that it threatens US national security, specifically by risking the safety of those serving the country and straining important diplomatic relationships. The DoJ is looking into whether they can charge Assange under the Espionage Act.

Congressman Peter King (R-NY) said that what WikiLeaks did was “worse than a Military Attack” against the United States, and he wants WikiLeaks to be declared a terrorist organization because he didn‘t like what they leaked. Nobody is happy with the data dump. But WikiLeaks is merely a hub for whistleblowers, its not a terrorist organization. They may be guilty of some crime which some court somewhere may someday rule, but the only people terrorized from WikiLeaks are people in our government, and other governments around the world.

I bet if you asked the families and friends of the 9-11 victims, they would disagree with King.

That brings us to WikiLeaks next target. US Banks.

Julian Assange gave an interview to Forbes and said his next data dump will cover at least one US Bank, the Bank of America, and possibly others. He told Forbes that he pans to make the financial data available in two or three months.

In the interview with Forbes conducted in London on November 11, Assange said that he’s still sitting on a trove of secret documents, about half of which relate to the private sector. And WikiLeaks’ next target will be a major American bank. “It will give a true and representative insight into how banks behave at the executive level in a way that will stimulate investigations and reforms, I presume,” he said, adding: “For this, there’s only one similar example. It’s like the Enron emails.”

That only leaves the United States financial institutions two or three months at the most to stop WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from doing to them, what they did to everyone else.

Assange is hiding out at an undisclosed location, he‘s gone underground, he gave an interview to Time magazine yesterday from his undisclosed location through the Skype internet phone service.

Interpol has alerted member states to arrest WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange on suspicion of rape on the basis of a Swedish arrest warrant. The charges were previously dropped and supporters of Julian Assange say that he is being set up.

"There is a public 'Red Notice' on behalf of Sweden," a spokeswoman told AFP, confirming that Interpol had posted Sweden's request for assistance in tracking down the 39-year-old Australian on its website.

The Red Notice is the equivalent of putting him on Interpol's most wanted list.

Here in the US, both the Department of Justice and the Pentagon are looking into charges of espionage, and Peter King wants WikiLeaks declared a terrorist organization

The chances of WikiLeaks leaking information on the Bank of America and other financial institutions regarding their rolls in the economic collapse that started in 2007 may not happen because of the big red target that is now painted on the back of Julian Assange..

If Julian Assange is not found and placed under arrest soon, his website WikiLeaks.org will certainly have its plug pulled or hacked and crashed just as it was a few days ago.

Financial institutions will be doing everything they can to prevent him from telling the world about their dirty little secrets. And financial institutions have deep pockets and the leverage for pulling the strings of our government and governments around the world.

Sarah Palin likes to say you don't mess with "Mama Grizzlies", well, a "Mama Grizzly" is a pussy cat compared to the Banks who hold the purse strings. Julian Assange is now a marked man, there is a sense of urgency to arrest him and to pull the plug on his whistleblower website WikiLeaks, when there was no such efforts after past leaks. When he told Forbes in the interview that US Banks were next on his hit list, he sealed his own fate.





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