As the GOP Presidential primary continues, the amount of Tea Party infused, economic Dogma that is mandatory for GOP candidates to accept, but that is wholly unrelated to economic reality, continues to grow like Pinocchio's nose. In saving Capitalism Part 2, we discussed how the Stimulus actually worked and saved between 2-3 million jobs.
This week, we will discuss how TARP and the bailouts of GM, Chrysler, and AIG, literally saved American Capitalism as we know it, prevented the loss of over 1 million jobs, stopped a depression from occurring, and since the loans are being repaid with interest, will make the taxpayers a profit.
In this entire Light of Truth series, my goal is to frame good economic policy in accordance with Mainstream Capitalism, not by the current misguided notions of Tea Party driven Laissez Faire Capitalist Dogma. Mainstream Capitalism is defined by what works in the real world, not by what is good dogma. GOP Dogma today is that Capitalism is always good. Therefore, any government interference with Capitalism is bad. The historical reality is quite different. Smart government actions can save jobs, save industries, and if done properly make taxpayers a return on investment.
Recent GOP Statements Against Bailouts
Mitt Romney: "They [GM/Chrysler] needed to move into a managed bankruptcy process rather than getting money up front by President Bush or President Obama. They wasted a lot of money."
All 8 GOP Candidates at recent debate: Answered in the negative "Is there anyone here who, given that prospect, and President Bush started the program, given that prospect, anyone here who would have stepped in and said, 'I don't want to do this, but this is the backbone of American manufacturing, I'll do something?'"
L.A. Times: AIG on schedule to repay all loans with a profit for taxpayers.
Capitalism is Not Divine; Government Intervention is a Part of Mainstream Capitalism
Even though Capitalism is the best economic system the world has ever known, it is merely a man-made system. It is not divine The reality is that the flaws of Capitalism are many, and well known. The goal of a government in a Capitalistic economy must be two-fold.
First, in a Capitalistic society, it is the economic and moral duty of government to create the infrastructure needed by Capitalism that Capitalism cannot or will not provide for itself in an efficient manner (roads, justice, police, education, fire, social safety nets.
Second, it is the economic and moral duty of government to intervene in the market place to prevent the unnecessary and socially unwanted extremes of unregulated or Laissez Faire Capitalism. These extremes include boom and bust cycles, depressions, banking instability, monopolies, trusts, and yes- entire industries facing economic failure when the business cycle has temporarily failed.
Past and Current Bailouts Were Effective, Saved Jobs, Turned Profits, and Were Bi-partisan
What is most amazing about these bailouts is that although being initially bipartisan, and are successful by almost any measure (often making a profit for taxpayers), they remain politically unpopular in many circles - especially in the Dogma-driven GOP. Indeed, despite savings jobs and industries, and despite a past history that shows they have become necessary about once a decade in the past 50 years, future bailouts appear to be politically untenable unless Mainstream Capitalists start speaking the truth.
(Below the fold is detailed data on how the current Auto and AIG bailouts, and the past bailouts of Airlines in 2001, of the S&L industry in 1989 and of Chrysler in 1979 were succesful and often made money for taxpayers).
In light of the recent GOP debate on International Policy, I wanted to take a slight break from economic policy to discuss torture.
I know it is amazing to me, but in 2011 America, somebody has to stand up against torture as an instrument of foreign policy. But somebody does, and I think it should be military people who do. So being a veteran, and being somebody who believes that the Democrats need to be strong on foreign policy, I think it is even more important to stand up against torture, especially torture in the form of "enhanced interrogation techniques."
Even military people know that might is not always right. Sometimes being strong is simply wrong, especially when the purported means of being strong is being uninformed by using means and methods that are immoral, illegal, and ineffective. As someone who has been waterboarded, I can testify it is both ineffective and constitutes torture.
Michelle Bachman: Waterboarding is "very effective" and "[i]t gained information for our country."
Herman Cain: Against torture, but does not consider waterboarding torture.
Rick Perry: stated that Enhanced interrogation techniques "save young American lives. This is war. That's what happens in war. "
Rick Santorum: Enhanced techniques had been successful in gathering information, and "critical" in the war against terror.
Not surprisingly, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman came out against waterboarding and other forms of torture (and Romney avoided taking a position on the issue).
But more importantly the statements by Perry, Bachmann, Cain and Santorum are all demonstrably false.
Indeed, while as a Christian I oppose these policies because they are immoral, as believer in personal liberty I oppose these police because they are so dehumanizing that they corrupt the foundation of our national government's foundation for governing, but equally as important, as a military man I am opposed to these policies because they simply do not work - except to provide false information.
Specifically, both GOP Senator John McCain and CIA Director Leon Pentta have made it clear that the use of waterboarding was not successful , and had not assisted the war of terror in capturing Al Qaida or stopping terror in its tracks." Indeed, waterboarding "produced false information" according to GOP Senator McCain.
The fact is that waterboarding was not invented to gather good information. Rather waterboarding was invented to break the will of prisoners. Waterboarding goes all the way back to the Spanish Inquisition. Any student of interrogation techniques will tell you that waterboarding simply does not work at providing valid intelligence information.
For example, contrary to GOP exaggerations, waterboarding did not work did not work against al Qaida terrorists, and waterboarding simply does not work against anybody.
(I'll be posting Joaquin Casto's list of Austin supporters here shortly. It's only fair that both campaigns battling each other over a Congressional District that's not going to exist in 2 weeks have their equal time on the front page. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
We now also know that Joaquin Castro is raking in a lot of money from traditionally Republican donors. Of course, in the past he's accepted checks from Altria (Big Tobacco), J.P. Morgan Chase, and Wal-Mart. But now, in his race to unseat progressive champion Lloyd Doggett, deep-pocketed GOP donors are throwing their $$$ at Castro. And he’s accepting it.
Castro’s Republican donations have been talked about in a San Antonio blog (http://plazadearmastx.com/index.php/politics/98-news/1536-castro-and-doggett-battle-for-fundraising-dollars) that said: Castro did receive $5,000 from Lionel Sosa, a prominent GOP advertising consultant who’s worked for Republican presidential candidates ranging from Ronald Reagan to John McCain, and $500 from District 8 Councilman Reed Williams, a declared Republican. But neither of those contributions came out of the blue. Sosa served as treasurer for the 2005 mayoral campaign of Castro’s brother, Mayor Julián Castro, and Williams has worked closely with the mayor over the last two-and-a-half years.
Castro also received more than $25,000 from political action committees, much of it from groups that skew conservative. Valero Energy Corporation PAC gave his campaign $5,000 and NuStar chipped in $2,500. Over the last decade, Valero has contributed $17,500 to the Americans for a Republican Majority PAC. They’ve donated $59,000 to Texas Republican Congressman Joe Barton, $45,500 to former Republican Congressman Henry Bonilla, and $7,000 to GOP presidential candidate – and Tea Party favorite – Michele Bachmann.
It also comes up in a lot of the discussion of this race here at BOR. Although it is easy enough, nobody’s shown the who and where of this Republican giving. Who are those staunch Republicans who oppose our values but are voting with their money on Castro?
Over 50 separate donors, who have given to Castro in just this last three-month reporting period, have also given to Republicans. How much? These donors have given over $3.5 million to Republicans since 2006. They’ve also given over $800k to Governor Rick Perry. They’ve funded Eric Cantor’s leadership PAC, Senator John Cornyn, the RNC, the RNCC, unsuccessful presidential candidate John McCain, and a host of other hardcore Republicans working to undermine progressives. Add Joaquin Castro to these efforts.
Here are just a few of the more prominent names among the 50 that are recognized as being big Republican donors and what they’ve given to Republicans since 2006:
John Hurd- $65,000
Lloyd Denton- $64,000
Alan Dreeben- $259,000
Peter and Julianna Holt -Together, they’ve given over $1.5 million dollars!
Red McCombs- $521,000
H..B. Zachry- $117,000
William Kaufman- $24,000
50 folks. That’s a lot of people. Just a coincidence? Hardly.
In one of the articles I mentioned above, it’s noted that these folks are business people and business people tend to be Republicans. They argue that Julian Castro has done a good job of convincing the business community that the Castros are middle of the road people.
Some (Joaquin Castro among them) would have us believe that the problem right now is refusing to meet Republicans half way. Ridiculous! Jim Hightower got it right: There’s nothing in the middle of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos.
I don’t want a so-called middle of the road person, who can smile and take these fat cat GOP donors' money, representing me in Congress. The dialogue in Washington has shifted so far right that the middle of the road is tax cuts for millionaires and job losses for teachers. It’s cutting Social Security and slashing our investment in our roads and schools. I don’t want someone representing me that wants to make nice with the intransigent, middle class-killing Republicans. I want someone who stands up and fights Republicans, not someone who lines his pockets with their lucre.
Giving Castro their money (and his acceptance of it) is just is another way Republicans are trying to get rid of Lloyd Doggett. Remember the memo from Tom DeLay’s staff in 2003 that said “A map that returns Frost, Edwards, and Doggett is unacceptable and not worth all the time invested into this project”? That map became law and Doggett is now the last targeted Dem left standing. He ran and won in a district that went to McAllen. Now, Republican mapmakers, with the help of Castro, have drawn a district that links San Antonio to Austin (and is anchored in San Antonio) (http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/11458/why-i-am-now-even-more-dogged-for-doggett). Republicans have not given up on targeting Lloyd. A Democrat should not be helping Republicans do it.
I don’t want these Republicans influencing a Democratic primary. I don’t want anybody who shakes their hands, headlines their names on his fundraiser invites, and then pockets their money, winning the Democratic primary and being the Democratic nominee for Congress. Joaquin Joaquin, why don't give the money from the donors I listed back to them, and state that you don't share their values? That’s true, isn’t it?
What got the the juices flowing in the mostly Republican audience at last night's presidential debate? I gathered all the applause and laugh lines together to have a looksee. Some of what caught the audience's fancy struck me as predictable; some, less so. Some I found horrifying; some, just plain goofy.
I was probably most surprised by what I call the mid-debate social security melee, but I don't want to prejudice your perception of these highlights too much. Take a look for yourself and chime in with comments as you like.
ANNOUNCER: Live from the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, the Republican candidates debate. Here now are Brian Williams and John Harris.
(APPLAUSE)
ROMNEY: If [Perry] tried to say that, well, it would be like Al Gore saying he invented the Internet.
(APPLAUSE)
ROMNEY: Well, as a matter of fact, George Bush and his predecessor created jobs at a faster rate than you did, Governor.
(LAUGHTER)
It has been a tough news weekend for the United States.
I've been blocking out news coverage today and cringing every time I hear a partisan or pundit prognosticate about the decline of America, or our supposed shuffle closer to doomsday.
My heart breaks hard every time I think about the selfless men and women we lost in Afghanistan this weekend. Brothers and sisters alike, it seems almost trivial to sit here tonight and type--a freedom they have won for me--while so many are facing grim realities and long, tense moments of combat half a world away.
It's easy to lose focus of who you are and what you stand for in times like these.
Tonight, I'm reminded of a famous speech given by a wartime American president from Illinois (emphasis added):
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
It is easy to cower in the face of disappointment or unspeakable tragedy, to cave to the demands of those playing the temporary game of political opportunism. In these times, we should not forget who we are:
If you've ever been in downtown Dallas on a Good Friday, you've probably seen people walking silently, some carrying signs bearing Bible verses, others carrying accompanying signs highlighting statistics on the plight of the poor, the sick and the hungry in Dallas and the state of Texas.
That's Dallas Area Christian Progressive Alliance, a group of theologians and laity, calling upon politicians claiming to be Christians to actually enact policies that improve the plight of "the least amongst us."
Today, DACPA has issued an open letter to Rick Perry, calling upon him to repent, a word which means "go a new way."
Well, this is sad. I've been hoping that Pete Sessions would leave Congress "to spend more time with my family," but, apparently, I'm out of luck. Pete Sessions and his wife of 27 years are separating.
The 56-year-old Texas Republican issued a statement Friday:
"After a great deal of thought and discussion, a decision has been made that my wife and I are separating. I am grateful for many years of marriage, and the blessing of two wonderful sons. I ask for respect for my privacy and for that of my family, and I do not intend to comment any further."
Of course, he can't be reached for comment, and he dumped this news on Friday night. So there's no news on what's behind this--maybe she got tired of him running off to fundraisers at strip clubs or just got tired of him being so damned stupid.
Whatever the reason, he's got some splainin' to do--like it or not--to his right-wing followers who've been lapping up his "family values" message all these years.
Oh snap. So now our Washington D.C. hating Governor wants to move tout de suite to the place that he loves to loathe?
Apparently Rick Perry hates Washington so much that he cannot wait to get there.
But wait.
Apparently Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera believes Rick Perry's comments about secession are so unbelievably treasonous that the Governor of the once great state of Texas should be impeached.
Of course Rick Perry has not been impeached. This is Texas, after all. The esteemed Governor won yet another term in office.
Texas Republicans obviously have a very high threshold for third world statehood in which low taxes, small government and a budget based on smoke and mirrors prevails. The Texas GOP also demonstrates a high tolerance for narcissistic and integrity-free lawmakers who bring more than a tad of hurt and suffering to them, their families and their pocket books. But to be fair Texas has more than its fair share of right wing extremists and crackpots that include white supremacists, secessionists, xenophobes and racists, most of whom voted for Rick Perry. The Governor relied heavily on this base in order to get re-elected.
There is a reason why Rick the Rooster and his Texas GOP want to keep Texas schools at the bottom of the national pile. And there is a rationale for why the Governor supports the anti-intellectual and anti-science Christian Taliban zealots that run the State Board of Education.
Is Rick Perry pandering? Pandering is precisely what crowing roosters like slick Rick do. As Texas progressive writer and friend of the revered late Molly Ivins Harold Cook duly noted, voters outside of the state may recoil from a sinking sense of deja vu when they see the swaggering rooster Rick on the campaign trail.
The problem for Perry, in the blinding light of the national stage, is that he may ultimately be seen as the swaggering rooster who believes the sun came up because of all that crowing.
Currently, as I am writing this note, Representative Pena still lists several Democrats on his "official" website as supporters of his (http://www.aaronpena.com/endorsements.htm). After speaking with many of the listed supporters, I am quite sure that Mr. Pena has lost many of his friends with his move to deceive, insult, and betray the good people of his district who voted for him. Mr. Pena needs to take down this site.
You have indicated by your actions, Mr. Pena, that you have no respect for your constituency, and soon they will have an opportunity to reward you for this behavior, but show some respect to your colleagues and take down your website. This site is simply a continuation of your lies and is indicative of your leadership. I've had it reported to me that even those folks on this list serving federal prison sentences are embarrassed about what you've done! Accept this as a lesson, that strong consideration of who your friends are should be done before making such foolish decisions.
Lastly, for the sake of your own honor. Resign now, before you make any more foolish decisions, and allow the voters of your district to make an honest decision about which individual and which Party they really want representing them. Mr. Pena you have mislead your voters, they don't know you and they deserve for you to do what is respectable.
In the annuals of the history of the GOP the southern strategy is one of the most conniving and prolific strategies. In short the southern strategy made the cost benefit analysis that the GOP was never going to be able to capture a significant amount of the "Negro" (as used in a 1970 New York Times article) vote. With that in mind the GOP should just write off the African-American vote and utilize the innate hatred of whites towards blacks to the GOP's advantage. This started the GOP's move to be the Mad Lib of political strategy we know and love today. The GOP's Mad Lib has one single line BE AFAID OF _(INSERT GROUP HERE)_. In short this one Mad Lib line is the sum total of the political strategy that the GOP holds. They have used it for every SCARY group out there. The current move to the party of NO is just a continuation of this Mad Lib but don't fear (well, they want you to fear so do fear) this time it is much much deeper, just like a dog bowl. Here in Texas the Southern Strategy has been utilized pretty effectively by out large shouldered Governor in picking on Immigration; see the Mad Lib works for everything. With his large shoulders Perry has warned his fellow Texans that them sneaky brown folk are coming up to get us! or steal our jobs! or take or money! or something something something..... It all gets confusing when we have to be afraid of so many things.
Fear and the GOP go hand in hand just like fleas and dogs (I ain't calling the GOP dogs) they just go together, and when you wash em off they come back. It is hard to think when the GOP has ever tried to wash the fleas (read fear) off but one would hope that there has to be one instance but after thinking about it for a while and washing my dog a couple of times I still can't think of one but I am still optimistic that there is some instance somewhere and now old rusty is flea free, for a while.
With all this in mind (everything except the GOP being dogs because they ain't technically dogs but they do eat their young, puke and eat it (regurgitating talking points), they are know to travel in packs, but thanking fully I have yet to see one scoot across the carpet but I digress.... They are not dogs!!) GOP Mad Libs make the GOP a one trick dog show (still not dogs) they tie the GOP to a very large tree that they can never get away from. Their political rhetoric is simply a theme and variations or a simple series of fire hydrants, each one in a different place but you open it up and you get the same thing.
With this one single strategy the base of the GOP has been trained to certain dog whistles in dealing with its candidates (they ain't dogs either). A candidate must insert special key words that give a nod to the rest of pack that say hey.... Sniff my butt I'm a-ok. These dog whistles can rage from school vouchers to succession the trick is to make them so innocuous to the casual person but when used those who know what to listen for they will perk up and run to the front door scratching to get to the polls.
The easiest ways to counter this strategy is stay away from the tree and know how long the chain is. This is playing out with the T.E.A. Party; they are doing a pretty effective job of running a rut in the ground to let everyone know how long that chain is, all the right has to do is stay away from it but they don't, they climb into the dog house and try to bark louder. While the barking will always be there and like everyone knows at three in the morning a barking dog is so very annoying eventually they do stop. The left will always have to suffer the barking dog and it's hard to persuade the normal folk around us not run over to see the barking dog but everyone knows that them dogs don't hunt..... dogs dogs dogs.... Still not calling the right dogs.
