From Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC:
After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night.
###
The richest 1 percent of Americans now take home almost 24 percent of income, up from almost 9 percent in 1976. As Timothy Noah of Slate noted in an excellent series on inequality, the United States now arguably has a more unequal distribution of wealth than traditional banana republics like Nicaragua, Venezuela and Guyana.C.E.O.'s of the largest American companies earned an average of 42 times as much as the average worker in 1980, but 531 times as much in 2001. Perhaps the most astounding statistic is this: From 1980 to 2005, more than four-fifths of the total increase in American incomes went to the richest 1 percent.
Bush called that one percent the "have-mores" and considered them the base of the Republican Party.
The Al Smith dinner, hosted by Archbishop Edward Egan, is a traditional forum for presidential candidates, although in past years, the abortion issue has kept some candidates away.The event is named for the former New York governor who was the first Roman Catholic ever to be nominated for president.
The presidential candidates came well-armed with jokes, often poking fun at themselves.
Bush gazed around the diamond-studded $800-a-plate crowd and commented on the wealth on display.
"This is an impressive crowd - the haves and the have-mores," quipped the GOP standard-bearer. "Some people call you the elites; I call you my base."
Sure, it was a joke, but look at the results.
###
More from the Russification of the USA:
EAGLE, Colorado — A financial manager for wealthy clients will not face felony charges for a hit-and-run because it could jeopardize his job, prosecutors said Thursday.
So, if you live in Colorado and you are sufficiently rich, you can run over bicyclists and get away with probation and paying damages, because you are rich and you work for even richer people.
You can bet your ass that if the perpetrator was a gardener, the prosecutor would not be so concerned that the perp might lose his job.
The rich and powerful get to do whatever criminal acts they want and get away with it. Just like any other jerkwater Third World country.
###
The "anywhere but here" tour continues!
When we last saw President Carebear, he was fleeing the carnage of the midterm elections for the relative warm embrace of a Corporate America Trade Mission… to India!
At the last moment, this junket was rebilled as a Jobs mission, you know, because India wants to buy our stuff? Anyway, as ham-handed as fleeing after a shellacking was, to go to India to claim he is looking for jobs for Americans seems at best misguided and at worst a really bad joke.<.p>
And then there is this quote:
There still exists a caricature of India as a land of call centers.
Um, tell us how that is a caricature?
(TPM)
In an interview with Fox News Sunday, another person Barry is anxious to work with, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), the #2 Republican in the House, threatened to take the nation's economy hostage if President Obama does not comply with House GOPers' as yet undefined demands. When asked if he would take a government shutdown on forcing the United States to default on its debt off the table, Cantor responded that it would somehow be President Obama's fault if House Republicans press this agenda: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/11/07/cantor-shutdown/
###
Why are Democratic presidents so much more easily intimidated by the "move to the center" rhetoric after midterm losses than Republican presidents?Read the whole thing.Because Democrats think in terms of programs, policies, and particular pieces of legislation. It's easy to reverse course by compromising more and giving up on legislative goals. Bill Clinton never mentioned the words "health care reform" after the 1994 midterms.
Republicans think in terms of simple ideas, themes, and movements. It's far harder to reverse course on these (look what happened to the first George Bush when he raised taxes), and easier to keep them alive: Republican presidents just continue looking for opportunities to implement them.
Republicans are also more disciplined (ask yourself which party attracts authoritarian personalities and which attracts anti-authoritarians). This makes it easier for them to stay the course. Their base continues to organize and fulminate even after midterm defeats. Democrats, on the other hand, are less organized. Electoral defeats tend to fracture and dissipate whatever organization they have.
Republicans are cynical about politics from the jump. Political cynicism fuels them. Democrats are idealistic about politics. When they become cynical they tend to drop out.
Message to Obama: Whatever happens November 2, don't move to the center. Push even harder for what you believe in. Message to Democrats: Whatever happens, keep the courage of your conviction and get even more active.
