Republican House Ready to Pass Abortion Bill but Refusing to Consider Jobs Bills; SCOTUS Overturns AZ Voting ID Bill

Another abortion bill and repeal of Obamacare but no jobs bills coming out of hard right Republican House; Ted Cruz strikes again with an amendment to reinstate AZ law the SCOTUS just overruled.  Typical day in the land of the GOP in Congress who work a three-day week but want everyone else to work for cheap with no benefits especially if you are a woman or minority.

There is no better example that the hard right has taken over the Republican Party then the fact they are set to pass an abortion bill limiting abortions to less than 20 weeks but no jobs bills during their 3-day work week.  Trent Franks (R-AZ) is the sponsor of the bill but Boehner is trying to shut him up after his comments like Akins that pregnancy from rape are rare.  Glad to know they are all doctors.  Boehner and his cronies also put in the exceptions for rape and incest but where is 'life of the mother' which many Republicans have recognized for years.  A lot of women  wouldn't vote Republican if you paid us today.  With this example of their neanderthal thinking, there is zero chance that I will ever vote Republican again as long as the hard right pulls the strings and they are now entrenched in state after state so they are here to stay.

The Party of NO supports the unborn but they want to cut food stamps drastically for those already born - convoluted thinking but it comes from a party that has the common sense of a gnat.  They take parts of the Bible and try to relate in their own words to today.  They don't like women as equals, don't like minorities, and detest anyone who doesn't think like them.  Have seen the 'my way or no way' around on the net and in person for years with regular dust-ups with them.  The hard right went from being a small but loud minority in the party but now thanks to the Libertarian Koch Bros they now run the GOP through the Koch puppet Priebus.  He thinks the problem with the GOP is not the message but how they package the message which is Bravo Sierra.

Happy to see the White House put out that President Obama will veto this bill if it hits his desk.  Don't believe it will get through the Senate.  First thing Harry Reid needs to do is put it in File 13 (waste can) because that is where it belongs.  The Congress has no right to usurp the rights of a doctor and his patient if they decide to terminate the pregnancy for whatever reason.  It is none of their business.  Sick and tired of men pushing this when it is not their body.  These white males in charge of the GOP can shove it in my book with their thinking that women are only in the world to have their children.  Their Neanderthal thinking is that women are to stay home to raise their children and be dominated by their husband.  It is great to be able to stay home and raise your children, but it is the dominated part that is dead wrong as someone speaking from experience.  These white males of the GOP are fully out of touch with today's reality.  Voters need to send this whole group back to their states and get out of the business of telling women what to do.

From Politicususa (6/17/2013):

The White House responded to the likelihood that the House will pass the bill tomorrow with a veto threat. The Executive Office of the President put out a statement telling House Republicans that their abortion ban bill has zero chance of ever becoming law: 

The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 1797, which would unacceptably restrict women’s health and reproductive rights and is an assault on a woman’s right to choose. Women should be able to make their own choices about their bodies and their health care, and Government should not inject itself into decisions best made between a woman and her doctor.

Forty years ago, the Supreme Court affirmed a woman’s constitutional right to privacy, including the right to choose. This bill is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and shows contempt for women’s health and rights, the role doctors play in their patients’ health care decisions, and the Constitution. The Administration is continuing its efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies, expand access to contraception, support maternal and child health, and minimize the need for abortion. At the same time, the Administration is committed to the protection of women’s health and reproductive freedom and to supporting women and families in the choices they make. 

If the President were presented with this legislation, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto this bill. 

President Obama has the backs of women with his veto pen ready!

If the House abortion bill was not enough, then how about Sen Cruz's reaction below to the  Supreme Court ruling against requiring proof of citizenship to vote in AZ with an opinion by Justice Scalia against the AZ law that shocked many including me.

The Court’s opinion in this case, Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, also establishes an important doctrinal rule regarding the power of Congress to push back against state election laws. The Constitution permits duly enacted federal laws to trump state law, a process known as “preemption.” Normally, however, courts should apply a presumption against preemption and assume that Congress did not intend to invalidate state law if the matter is uncertain. Scalia’s opinion holds that this presumption does not apply with respect to federal laws regulating federal elections, a holding which suggests Congress’ power to sweep away state election laws is quite sweeping. 

As the Court points out, this broad view of the federal role in governing elections is consistent with the Constitution’s text, which provides that “[t]he times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations.” So a future Congress more supportive of voting rights has the power to sweep away voter ID laws and other methods of voter suppression that have recently popped up mostly in conservative states. By contrast, a future Congress more keen to voter suppression may have significant authority to impose its will on the nation, although this power would be checked by constitutional safeguards against many forms of voter suppression.

Been having a hard time figuring out how states could make their own election laws when it came to federal elections with the Constitution is clear they are to be the same.  Hard right has been trying to limit voting with their voter suppression laws and limiting hours of voting aimed at minority voters.  If someone has been voting at the same precinct for over 50 years, why do they need to go pay for an ID?

Then there is the hard right Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, who basically gave the middle finger salute to SCOTUS immediately wanting an amendment passed to the Immigration bill putting the AZ law back in place even though the SCOTUS just ruled otherwise.  Another example of a Republican refusing to acknowledge the SCOTUS ruling is now the law.  Cruz and other hard right have no regard for the SCOTUS unless a ruling favors them like Citizens United.  Still believe they misinterpreted but who am I to question the GOP guru's like Rove who took the ruling and ran setting up dark money PACs and calling political PACs social not political.  This group of Republicans have the integrity of a gnat.

Today's Republican Party does not reflect the Party of Lincoln or Eisenhower but the party of the wealthy donors led by the Libertarian Koch Bros who want to do away with all regulations including minimum wage and hours.  They want to throw out safety and environmental regulations in order to do business with no rules.  In order to do that they have to own the White House, Senate, and House.  They tried with Romney but failed and also failed with the Senate.  In 2014, we have to ensure that they fail with the House and once again with the Senate.  This Country needs to move foward not backward.  Two more years of GOP led House would be two more years of nonsense bills and NONE to help the American people.  All the GOP cares about today is their special interest groups, wealthy donors, and the hard right base.

Time to say goodbye to the GOP - wish I could say it has been nice to know you but it has been a royal pain in the neck for years since President Reagan brought in the religious right which gave us social conservatives who now have taken over.   Discovering that those on the left have ideas and don't live in the past - also nicer and don't get so angry when you don't agree.  Guess you could say that I am 'free at last' from the 'my way or no way' crowd and it feels great!

Two for one today - enjoy the rest of your day.  If you get bored, join Twitter where you get the latest information of what is happening around the world in seconds.

Long Weekend and Lack of Sleep from Storms - Blog will be back tomorrow!

Got woken up at around 3:30 a.m. with heavy thunder and lightening which shook the house when it hit close.  Then there was Chewie who decided he wasn't sleeping on the floor all by himself so he was coming in bed and took up all but a little on each side as  he stretched out in the center.  That is not conducive to sleeping.  He was so scared he was shaking so being the soft touch, he got the bed.

Hopefully, it is a quiet night and can get some sleep.

Happy Father's Day!

Every year at this time, I think back to when I was a little girl and my Mom would give me $2 to go buy Dad something at our local 5 & 10 store for Father's Day.  He had such an influence on my life - he always made me laugh and fortunately I inherited his sense of humor and love of sports.

On a Saturday afternoon in the fall, you could walk in the House with Dad in the living room with the sound turned off on the TV and the radio turned up to Ohio State Football.  Only time they were synced was when OSU was on TV and even then he might turn down the sound on the TV as he liked the radio announcers better then TV.  Can remember as a kid his rooting for Oklahoma against Nebraska as he thought Bud Wilkerson was the perfect coach.

Here I am in Norman, OK, now as a huge fan of the Sooners with football season tickets.  My Mom always said that Dad would have loved Norman after she moved here.  She settled right in her senior apartment and started watching OU football every Saturday which I had never seen my Mom do in my life.  Told Dad's love of sports did rub off and she laughed.

My parents went to see the Reds every year and couldn't wait to be old enough to go along.  It was awesome and became a huge Reds fan so much so when the kids and I planned our visits back to Ohio we made sure the Reds were in town.  We were at the first weekend series at the new Riverfront Stadium - no hot dogs just sandwiches, but they had beer and soft drinks along with peanuts.

Dad loved to go to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB.  He could spend hours there.  Even when he had trouble walking, we would get him a wheel chair and push him around - he loved the WWII exhibits seeing the planes and all the artifacts that are there.  He also loved the space exhibits.  When our family went to Disney World the second year it was open, we took a bus trip to the Kennedy Space Center which didn't even seem real.   We had such a good time except my little brother put a rubber snake under the sheets which our Mom found before we left the room.  Dad thought that was hilarious and laughed about it years later.

At 16, he taught me to drive but not to parallel park until two days before my test - he said if I concentrated on parallel parking too much, might have trouble with the driving portion so told me to just turn the steering wheel where I told you and you will pass.  He was right - passed with no problems.  Still remember being shook up after I passed and the OHP asking me where I took driving course.  Told him it was my Dad who taught me, and he said he should open up a driving school.

My girlfriend and I used to get in water fights every summer with Dad and his good friend - one summer Mom joined in and had a bucket of water she dumped on who she thought was Dad as he rounded the corner and it was his fuddy, duddy cousin who looked like him.  For some reason she never joined us again.

Then there was Dad's brother, Uncle Specky, who was always thinking up the darnedest things.  Can remember coming home on a Saturday afternoon and my parents and aunt and uncle were standing outside the back porch with my aunt and my Mom not very happy with the two men.  Turned out they had captured a snapping turtle and were going to make turtle soup but once they put it on the back porch, they had trouble catching it again.  Refused to try the turtle soup, but my Mom and Aunt kept saying it lacked something and Dad and Uncle Specky saying it was great but Mom ended up throwing it out so I would guess it wasn't so great.

Used to go fishing with Dad - not sure I ever caught a thing but it was nice to be with Dad and down by the Stillwater River which just moved slowly along.  Plenty of frogs to watch.  Used to take me hunting on Thanksgiving weekend or a better word would be he took me along for a walk because he never shot off his gun when I was with him.  I remember asking him how he could shoot a poor, defenseless rabbit and my Mom goes "I want to hear this" and after that Dad would go hunting with one of my Uncles but never brought any game home.  My one Uncle loved to hunt squirrels and frogs but Dad fed the squirrels.  We never had squirrel on our menu and our turkey came from the grocery.  He used to throw the fish back he would catch when I was along- he would say he just loved to fish.

Looking back I realize now that he liked the idea that I loved nature and didn't want to destroy that by his hunting or fishing so we went out for the long walks in the fields every year and went down by the river to fish that he would throw back.

My Dad signed up for the Army the day after Pearl Harbor - never talked much about what he saw but he was so proud to be a Veteran and to have fought for this Country in World War II.  He was a huge supporter of Dwight Eisenhower for President and instilled in me a love of Country and a willingness to be willing to stand up for what you believe - got that one down very well.

To me my Dad was my hero growing up and as an adult he was still my hero and always will be.  I feel so fortunate to have had him as my Father and the Grandfather to my three children.  Miss his smile and laughter to this day but he was in such pain from the arthritis that it was his time but he went on his own schedule.  Had not been back to Ohio for Mother's Day in years but arrived at the airport for his funeral the following week on Mother's Day.  We always said he planned it that way.

Happy Father's Day to those men who bring so much joy and happiness into their children's lives that will last a lifetime.

Dark Money Owns the Repubilican Party of Today

Republicans are the worst I have seen in all my years around politics for being willing to sell their souls for campaign donations and no primary challengers by supporting Dark Money donations.

There is one reason in my mind to support Russ Feingold if he decides to run for Senate in 2016 - Campaign Finance Reform (CFR).  McCain, his partner, has let the Country down on CFR preferring to mess in Syrian politics meeting with the rebels and promising them things he cannot deliver.  Someone tell him he does not speak for the President.  He was a Champion for CFR before running for President which brings into question some of the money he received.  That's nothing compared to what happened after the Citizens United ruling which was a travesty.

That travesty and the yelling by Tea Party groups they were targets is a farce as liberal groups were asked further questions 2/3 to 1/3 for the hard right Koch Bros Tea Party.  The hard right shouts the loudest after having Koch Bros and other major GOP hard right donor money funneled into their accounts.  The very idea these non-profits don't spend almost all their money on partisan races is a joke.  Why do you think some Republicans in Congress are afraid to vote against what the Tea Party wants?  GOP office holders are afraid of being primaried.  When the GOP played up to the Tea Party and the Libertarian Koch's they got more then they bargained for - they are owned lock, stock, and barrel and told what to do and how to vote.  They sold out the American people and now try to attack IRS for going after some of the groups that they know full well break the law.

Looks to me like when the hard right GOP owned by the Koch Bros breaks a law, it is okay but let a Democrat come close to doing the same thing, it is the end of the world as the hard right rushes to the microphones to give their narrative the lapdog media loves so they don't have to work to do a story -- they use GOP Talking Points never bothering to check if they are true.

Tom Edsall nails the non-profits  trying to fit the IRS rules in his editorial at the New York Times.  It is must reading:

Dark Money Politics 
By THOMAS B. EDSALL 12 June 2013 

In the world of nonprofit “dark money” groups, nothing is as it seems: political committees, through the magic of the internal revenue code, become tax-exempt “social welfare” organizations; a partisan campaign ad becomes principled “issue advocacy”; and federal election law that requires public disclosure of donors is rendered toothless by regulatory loopholes. 

The flow of cash through organizations asserting tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(4) of the federal tax code has been rising exponentially, from just $5.2 million in 2006 to $310.8 million in 2012. 

There is one reason for this growth: 501(c)(4) groups do not have to reveal their donors. 

Brendan Smialowski/Getty ImagesJames Martin, chairman of the 60 Plus
Association,  and Selena Owens before a Tea Party Express press conference
at the National Press Club in Washington on Aug. 4.

Two pie charts — Figure 1 and Figure 2 — drawn up by the Center for Responsive Politics demonstrate the crucial role of conservative non-profits in driving this increase in spending.

 Center for Responsive Politics, Fig. 1 

Center for Responsive Politics, Fig. 2

The Center, which has dug deeply into this submerged area of American politics, has gathered a lot of the relevant data about the influence of money on American politics at OpenSecrets.org. It makes for instructive reading. 

The controversy over the revelation that organizations whose names include the words “Tea Party” were targeted by the I.R.S. for review has provided new cover for politically active conservative organizations, allowing them to charge that investigations of the legitimacy of their tax-exempt status are politically motivated. Many of these groups have, in fact, been explicitly involved in federal election campaigns, as reported upon by The New York Times and Politico.
Sheila Krumholz, the Center’s executive director, told me that despite the denials coming from conservative non-profits her organization has found increasing evidence of practices designed to evade I.R.S. rules governing tax-exempt status and donor disclosure. 

The actual I.R.S. rule is worth examining closely:

The promotion of social welfare does not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. However, a section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization may engage in some political activities, so long as that is not its primary activity. However, any expenditure it makes for political activities may be subject to tax under section 527(f).

The phrase “not its primary activity” has been interpreted by campaign finance lawyers to mean that a 501(c)(4) organization can spend no more that 49.9% of its money on political activity, according to Krumholz. 

In a process she refers to as “money churning,” a hypothetical tax-exempt organization, let’s call it the Good Government Coalition, has $10 million in revenues. The G.G.C. fulfills its obligation to spend just over half its money on non-political activity by giving $5 million plus $1 to another tax-exempt social welfare organization with an ambiguous name, the Liberty Bell Alliance. G.G.C. can now spend what it has left, $4,999,999 on political activity. The Liberty Bell Alliance, which now has $5 million plus $1, can spend just under half, $2,499,999, on political activity. The net result is that of the original $10 million, instead of only $4,999,999 going to political activity, $7,499,998, or 75 percent of the original $10 million, can be spent on politics.

Excerpt:  Read more at the NY Times about these groups especially the the 60 Plus Association who seems to be laundering Koch money to do advertising that is anything but non-profit as they are the hard right's answer to AARP.

Anyone who tracks money is discovering that a lot of donor money is being hidden.  Time for all money to be accounted for - give $1 and have it revealed.  If the Republicans were not so archaic with their system, that could happen easily but then they would have to be honest which is not likely to happen.  Act Blue is so much farther ahead of the GOP on software for donors that it is getting funny.  Guess no one with skills wants to touch any Republican organization.  Romney has been trying to buy people with skills to duplicate Act Blue but so far they have not found people who can build a system that works.  Romney is sounding more and more like he wants to run again.  Mr. 47% with all his excuses why he lost doesn't even realize that he is the reason a lot of us dumped GOP candidates in 2012 and will do it again in 2014.

Let's get Russ Feingold reelected to the Senate and lead a campaign finance reform.  Most of us have had enough of the stench coming from the Koch Bros/GOP wealthy donors, Fox News, and Karl Rove.  Time to take the Country back and get all this dark money out of politics so honest people can win elections without having to bow at the knee of wealthy donors.  Republicans are the worst I have seen in all my years around politics for being willing to sell their souls for campaign donations and no primary challengers.  Yet, with being sell outs, they claim they are the party of values.  Give me a break!

Cong Bridenstine (R-OK) Sinks to New Lows in his Floor Speeches Against President Obama

Mr. Speaker, the President’s dishonesty, incompetence, vengefulness and lack of moral compass lead many to suggest that he is not fit to lead.  (Cong Bridenstine, R-OK)

Once again the Republican Congressman Bridenstine from Tulsa, OK, proves why he should never have been elected.  He replaced John Sullivan who was much more attuned to doing what was best for the Country and Oklahoma.   Bridenstine is typical Tea Party with no class along with being extremely arrogant.  When I first heard about his rant against President Obama, I couldn't believe he was that dumb - I was wrong.  Judge for yourself what a no-class, unethical person this Freshman Congressman has shown himself to be in only a few months in office:


This one-minute speech made me cringe and is a total insult to the Office of the President.  Shows he has zero class and doesn't understand there is a certain docorum in the House.  He fits in perfectly with the Tea Party Caucus trying to outdo each other on attacks on President Obama.  The man should be censored but that would take backbone out of Speaker Boehner who has none at all as he plays up to the Tea Party.  Cong Issa must love Bridenstine.  This is all you to know about one of the most offensive members of Congress - guess he is trying to be Ted Cruz of the House.  He had this to say on 5 June 2013:

Mr. Speaker, the President’s dishonesty, incompetence, vengefulness and lack of moral compass lead many to suggest that he is not fit to lead. 

The only problem is that his vice president is equally unfit and even more embarrassing. 

Person unfit in all of this in my honest opinion, is the arrogant Mr. Bridenstine who is fronting for Issa the way it sounds.  When did Freshman Congressmen take to the floor in the past to be so hateful toward a sitting President?  You can tell he has zero respect for the Office of the President or Vice President which means, in turn, Mr. Bridenstine deserves every last bit of scorn thrown his way.  I would have said the same thing about a Democrat Congressman saying such trash against a sitting Republican President but don't remember a Democrat being so vile.

Have had it with the elected Tea Party people who think only they have all the answers and come across as arrogant, rude, and nasty.  Bridenstine fits all three.  The Congressman wasn't done as now he wants Obama to Apologize to Oklahoma for Investing in Climate Change Research.  The person who owes Oklahoma an apology is Bridenstine for being a jerk and taking tax payer dollars for his salary and expenses.

Anyone who doesn't see climate change in what we went through this past spring in Oklahoma is clueless or has their head buried in the sand.  There is a variety of facts that go into climate change and to deny they exist is stupid but he has a good teacher in Sen Inhofe who refuses to acknowledge any change at all to the weather.  It is a Democrat plot in their small minds.

Still cannot get over the remarks I hear in Oklahoma against wind power and the smart grid with the smart meter which I take full advantage here in Norman and saved almost $200 last year.  Another time I have been called a liberal Democrat recently.  If wanting to go more green and build less power plants that use coal is what a liberal Democrat is all about then count me in on energy.  I also recycle as much as I can at the huge recycling bins here in Norman - cardboard boxes, newspapers, plastics, paper - all go to recycling.

Don't know what it in the water supply in Tulsa, but suggest they get a new one as they have Inhofe and now Bridenstine who refuse to believe there is climate change:

Congressman Demands Obama Apologize To Oklahoma For Investing In Climate Change ResearchBy Rebecca Leber posted from Climate Progress on Jun 12, 2013 at 9:12 am   

Just as extreme weather season kicks off, freshman Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) demanded that President Obama apologize to Oklahoma for allocating funding to climate change research. Bridenstine, a climate denier who serves on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, plans to introduce a bill that defunds climate change research. 

Rep Bridenstine

“Even climate change alarmists admit the number of hurricanes hitting the U.S. and the number of tornado touchdowns have been on a slow decline for over 100 years,” Bridenstine said on the House floor Tuesday, according to Raw Story. “But here is what we absolutely know. We know that Oklahoma will have tornadoes when the cold jet stream meets the warm Gulf air, and we also know that this President spends 30 times as much money on global warming research as he does on weather forecasting and warning. For this gross misallocation, the people of Oklahoma are ready to accept the President’s apology and I intend to submit legislation to fix this.” 

Here is what Director of the National Climatic Data Center Tom Karl had to say about hurricanes, tornadoes, and climate change in 2011: “What we can say with confidence is that heavy and extreme precipitation events often associated with thunderstorms and convection are increasing and have been linked to human-induced changes in atmospheric composition.” Meanwhile, climate scientists are in near universal agreement that climate change is driven by human activity. 

Bridenstine also recently accused Obama of “dishonesty, incompetence, vengefulness” in an unhinged speech on the House floor. 

FYI, Bridenstine also voted against the Violence Against Women Act, voted against Hurricane Sandy relief, voted to Repeal Obamacare, and follows the Michelle Bachmann Tea Party Caucus line.  Check out his votes from only his first two months in office:

March 6, 2013	HR 933	Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013	Bill Passed - House (267 - 151)	Nay
Feb. 28, 2013	H Amdt 23	Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act	Bill Failed - House (166 - 257)	Nay
Feb. 28, 2013	S 47	Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013	Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)	Nay
Feb. 15, 2013	HR 273	Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees	Bill Passed - House (261 - 154)	Yea
Jan. 23, 2013	HR 325	To Ensure the Complete and Timely Payment of the Obligations of the United States Government Until May 19, 2013	Bill Passed - House (285 - 144)	Nay
Jan. 15, 2013	H Amdt 4	Offsets Cost of Disaster Relief Appropriations Through Discretionary Budget Cuts	Amendment Rejected - House (162 - 258)	Yea
Jan. 15, 2013	HR 152	Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013	Bill Passed - House (241 - 180)	Nay

Tulsa Democrats need to get busy and field a candidate that can win this seat even if it is the Tulsa area which is heavy Republican.  If Kathy Taylor wins the Tulsa Mayor's race in November, it should give  boost to Democrats as the current Mayor Dewey Bartlett leaves a lot to be desired.  More on that race later this summer.

McCain Doesn't Vote on Immigration Bill to Start Debate When He is a Co-Sponsor

Sometimes 2+2 don't add up to 4 which describes John McCain today.  

This is the information on the vote that took place today in the Senate to proceed to debate on the Senate Immigration bill which passed handly with 82 yes votes when only 60 were needed.  Still have a hard time with the new way of fiibuster because it wastes so much time and money.  Taking a vote to proceed to debate is ludicrous.  Majority Leader Reid should NEVER have agreed with McConnell whose word is worth zero, zip, nada as Reid found out shortly after the agreement. McConnell has been thumbing his nose at Reid ever since.  

Must be an election year as McConnell voted to proceed on this Immigration Bill.  Would bet he is planning on it being killed in the House where all good bills go to die with the Republicans in charge of the House.  The vast majority of Republicans only know one thing -- vote against anything Obama is for which is petty and mean spirited.  It also gives us a look into why the GOP is incapable of being in charge of the House with the hard right calling the shots.

When I looked at one of the three who didn't vote/abstained, one name jumped out at me - John McCain is a co-sponsor of this legislation who didn't vote to begin debate.  What am I missing?  How can you co-sponsor a bill and not vote for that bill?  McCain is all over the place.  Used to him being a maverick but this goes well past that into never, never land and have to wonder about McCain.  Having your picture taken in Syria with kidnappers is not something most Senators would have done.  Think McCain and Inhofe should have both retired in the last election as a lot of what they do and say makes no sense.  So should have Reagan in 1984 instead of running for a second term.  Sometimes ages catches up with some people more rapidly then others.  

Also noted today that Ted Cruz (R-TX), most hated man in Senate who wants to run for President believes this bill will pass but be killed in the House.  Can only imagine what off the wall things he will have to say about this bill in the debate.  Pants on Fire, Fact Checkers better get some good sleep tonight as they are going to need it with Inhofe and Cruz debating for the anti-everything group of Senators.

S.744 Latest Title: Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act
Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 4/16/2013)      Cosponsors (7)
Related Bills: H.R.490, S.223, S.616 Latest Major Action: 6/10/2013 Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.
Senate Reports: 113-40

---

COSPONSORS(7), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] - 4/17/2013
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 4/17/2013
Sen Flake, Jeff [AZ] - 4/17/2013
Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] - 4/17/2013
Sen McCain, John [AZ] - 4/17/2013
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 4/17/2013
Sen Rubio, Marco [FL] - 4/17/2013

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---82
Alexander (R-TN) Ayotte (R-NH) Baldwin (D-WI) Baucus (D-MT) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Blumenthal (D-CT) Blunt (R-MO) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Burr (R-NC) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Chambliss (R-GA) Chiesa (R-NJ) Coats (R-IN) Cochran (R-MS) Collins (R-ME) Coons (D-DE) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Cowan (D-MA) Donnelly (D-IN) Durbin (D-IL) Feinstein (D-CA) Fischer (R-NE)	Flake (R-AZ) Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Graham (R-SC) Hagan (D-NC) Harkin (D-IA) Hatch (R-UT) Heinrich (D-NM) Heitkamp (D-ND) Heller (R-NV) Hirono (D-HI) Hoeven (R-ND) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Johnson (D-SD) Johnson (R-WI) Kaine (D-VA) King (I-ME) Klobuchar (D-MN) Landrieu (D-LA) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Manchin (D-WV) McCaskill (D-MO) McConnell (R-KY) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD)	Moran (R-KS) Murphy (D-CT) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Paul (R-KY) Portman (R-OH) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Rubio (R-FL) Sanders (I-VT) Schatz (D-HI) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Thune (R-SD) Toomey (R-PA) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Warner (D-VA) Warren (D-MA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wicker (R-MS) Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---15
Barrasso (R-WY) Boozman (R-AR) Crapo (R-ID) Cruz (R-TX) Enzi (R-WY)	Grassley (R-IA) Inhofe (R-OK) Kirk (R-IL) Lee (R-UT) Risch (R-ID)	Roberts (R-KS) Scott (R-SC) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Vitter (R-LA)

Not Voting - 3
Coburn (R-OK)	McCain (R-AZ)	Murkowski (R-AK)

Booz-Allen Where Snowden Worked for Less Three Months is Owned by Carlyle Group

With details emerging that make no sense, was Snowden working alone or was he connected to someone who was inside NSA who fed him the information?  

The reporter who broke the story for the British newspaper The Guardian said that he did not believe American authorities had been in touch with the contractor, Edward Snowden, 29.

“I don’t believe they know where he is or how to communicate with him,” the reporter, Glenn Greenwald, told TODAY from Hong Kong. 

If this reporter really believes that Americans through Hong Kong and China officials don't know where this guy is or how to communicate with him, then I will put put the reporter in the same category of Snowden who doesn't seem to be the brightest bulb in the pack.  He goes to Hong Kong who has an extradition treaty with the United States and unless the Chinese wasted their money on this fool, they would not stop him from being extradited.  Then he said he could go to Iceland and seek asylum BUT Iceland has a new Government trying to get in the United State's good graces so chances of Snowden being allowed into Iceland are slim to none.

How did Snowden who has less than three months with Booz-Allen even get access to this information?  Is he the only person involved is my first reaction?


Statement from Booz-Allen who is owned by the Carlyle Group on Snowden:

June 9, 2013
Booz Allen can confirm that Edward Snowden, 29, has been an employee of our firm for less than 3 months, assigned to a team in Hawaii. News reports that this individual has claimed to have leaked classified information are shocking, and if accurate, this action represents a grave violation of the code of conduct and core values of our firm. We will work closely with our clients and authorities in their investigation of this matter.

Snowden worked for BA for less than three months which is not even time to get a high security clearance. As a security guard, you wouldn't need one.  Two plus two do not add up to four in this case.  The holes are big enough in all of this to drive a Mack truck them.  Whatever happened to ethics in Journalism?

This morning an editor-at-large for The Atlantic overhearing four guys talking at the airport was reported by various outlets including Huffington Post with this Headline:

'4 Intelligence Officials' Allegedly Joke Of 'Disappearing' NSA Leaker, Reporter (UPDATED) 

Leading foreign policy analyst Steve Clemons said he witnessed a rather disturbing conversation while waiting for a flight at the Dulles airport on Saturday. 

According to Clemons, four men sitting near him were discussing an intelligence conference they had just attended, and turned to the topic of the NSA leaks. One said that both the reporter and leaker should be "disappeared," a term used to describe secret murders and abductions carried out by authoritarian governments. Clemons said on Twitter the suggestion seemed to be "bravado" and a "disturbing joke." He said that the officials were talking loudly, "almost bragging." 

HuffPost asked Clemons via Twitter how he could be sure they were in the intelligence community and he noted that "one wore a white knit national counterterrorism center shirt." But more importantly, he said, the conversation led him to conclude that they were certainly in the community, especially given the conference they talked about attending. They discussed former Ambassador John Negroponte as having been in attendance.  

Clemons, who is editor at large at The Atlantic, said he did not know who the officials were or what agency they were with. He recorded part of the conversation and took some photos, which he plans to post online.

(snip) 

UPDATE: Clemons has learned that the men were in town attending an event hosted by the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, which lists dress code for the dinner as "black tie or mess dress."

Automatically The Huffington Post termed them "Intel Officers" leading posters to think they were CIA and then you find out at the bottom there was an UPDATE which was not in the healine at the time saying they were in town for an Intelligence and National Security Alliance Conference so who knows who they were. I bet the farm they are not in a position to order anyone to do anything in the Intel community because those types don't joke like that.  They blend in and are not loud and boistrous.  Reminder to CIA types - don't wear a white shirt with counterterrorism logo.

Media has gone over the edge on this as well as some posters on Huffington Post who didn't like my post - got called a Democrat from the hard right which today I consider a compliment rather then being part of the GOP hard right. These were my comments on Huffington about Snowden, Intel officers, and the media:

The man is not a hero - he broke his oath and every other regulation dealing with classified. Some of you think it is a movie from the comments. It is not and the media has been irresponsible in reporting the facts of the program. Listen to what President Obama said and you find that everything is anonymous unless a red flag goes off. Guess some of you would rather have another 9/11.

Media reporting has been horrible including this article with the sensationlist headline - turns out they were here for a conference. Guess you wouldn't likle my comment either to lock him up and throw away the key. Know how important classified is after years working for the Air Force. It is a need to know and all of us including the media with no ethics today has (no) right to know everything. I would rather be safe.

Maybe some of you should stop and think the GOP wanted this as another scandal and maybe that is why the bad info. Seems a lot of the media take the GOP talking points and report if it is against Obama. Seems a lot of so-called journalist forget the SPJ Code of Ethics in a rush to be first. Some need to go back to college and take a course in Ethics taught by the Journalism Colleges. 

If my comments are considered Democrat then I really am in the wrong party because the GOP today seems to stand for no rules or laws apply to anyone who goes after Obama.  All is fair in their hard right attacks on Obama and his Administration to bring the Government down.  Comments from hard right aimed at me reminded me of when I was on one of their sites years ago and why I left.  Got tired fighting them. Those unappeasables are now in charge of the Republican Party.  Want no part of them ever again.

NBC News had this to say today about Snowden:

The National Security Agency contractor who came forward claiming to be the source of leaks about vast government surveillance programs set off diplomatic intrigue Monday by holing up in Hong Kong and hinting at seeking protection in Iceland. 

The reporter who broke the story for the British newspaper The Guardian said that he did not believe American authorities had been in touch with the contractor, Edward Snowden, 29.
“I don’t believe they know where he is or how to communicate with him,” the reporter, Glenn Greenwald, told TODAY from Hong Kong. 

The Justice Department, without naming Snowden, said it was in the early stages of an investigation, and there were already calls from some members of Congress to prosecute him. 

As long as you have laws on the books, and we do, you’ve got to enforce the laws,” Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told CNBC. “This is somebody who — it appears, at least — leaked sensitive classified information, and I think he needs to be prosecuted.” 

The Guardian and The Washington Post, with Snowden’s consent, revealed him Sunday as the source for stories that disclosed two giant surveillance programs collecting data on Americans’ phone calls and foreigners’ Internet use. 

(snip) 

Hong Kong, a former British colony, is part of China but has considerable autonomy. It has an extradition treaty with the United States, but China can veto extradition requests when it believes its foreign interests would be affected. 

“The only thing I can do is sit here and hope the Hong Kong government does not deport me,” Snowden told The Guardian. 

Experts and Hong Kong lawmakers said it was unlikely China would defy such a U.S. request. One Hong Kong legislator told The Wall Street Journal that Snowden’s choice of location was based on “unfortunate ignorance.” 

Excerpt:  Read More NBC

Not here to pick NBC apart but how do you go from being a security guard to working on tech security to CIA communications expert without any education to speak.  Would say that NBC over blew the guy's resume.  Big difference between working on tech security and CIA communications expert.  My biggest question remains about his security clearance from Booz Allen to even be part of tech security when he was a security guard.

Background on Snowdon:
Snowden grew up in North Carolina and enlisted in the Army in 2003 in hopes of joining the Special Forces. But he broke both legs in a training accident and was discharged, he said. 

Edward Snowden, a defense contractor and former CIA communications expert, has revealed himself as the man behind the leaks detailing secret National Security Agency programs monitoring phone and Internet use. The Atlantic's Steve Clemons, Maria Teresa Kumar from Voto Latino, and Washington Post Columnist Jonathan Capehart join Karen Finney to break down Snowden's reasons for the leak and what this means for the debate over privacy and national security. 

He told the paper that he joined the armed forces in hopes of helping the Iraqi people escape from oppression, but was jarred that his commanders “seemed pumped up about killing Arabs.” 

After his injury, Snowden got a job as a security guard at a covert NSA facility at the University of Maryland before working on tech security for the CIA, The Guardian reported.

Bottom line is this is much to do about nothing.  Most of the information gathered is anonymous unless a red flag is raised that requires further investigation.  The funniest part to me are some of the Libertarians complaining about lack of privacy from these NSA programs like Rand Paul who was quick to get out front as he gears up to running for President in 2016 as a hard right, Tea Party, Libertarian Republican, are wanting data mining for the GOP to find donors and supporters.

For all of those upset - ever buy anything from Amazon or check out a website looking for an item only to have that item turn up in a web ad when you are a different site?  It is called data mining which is very popular today.  That means they know what you buy and what you are looking for which is more intrustion into my life in the NSA where I am anonymous.

Another scandal against President Obama by the GOP and the Media which has doubled back on them.