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22 Feb 2009 10:35

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U.S.: Two states, two approaches to the stimulus

  • Mississippi: Ehhhh … Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, says he won’t take some of the allocated funds for his state if it means extra costs for Mississippi down the road. He specifically noted the unemployment tax, which might force the state to pick up the tab for increased benefits. “I mean, we want more jobs,” Barbour said. “You don’t get more jobs by putting an extra tax on creating jobs.” source
  • Mississippi: Ehhhh … Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, says he won’t take some of the allocated funds for his state if it means extra costs for Mississippi down the road. He specifically noted the unemployment tax, which might force the state to pick up the tab for increased benefits. “I mean, we want more jobs,” Barbour said. “You don’t get more jobs by putting an extra tax on creating jobs.”
  • Massachusetts: Bring it on! Democratic Governor Deval Patrick, on the other hand, has zero qualms with taking a ton of stimulus cash, if it means building up the state’s – and by extension, the country’s – infrastructure. He specifically mentioned roads. “Whether governors say they will or won’t take this or that as part of the stimulus bill, in some ways, is irrelevant,” Patrick said. “People want that help.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Feb 2009 10:23

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U.S.: The Feds and Roland Burris have a nice fireside chat

  • Wonder what they talked about. Burris, who had delayed the chat for several weeks, was asked by the Feds about his role in the Rod Blagojevich scandal, which saw the former Illinois governor try to sell Burris’ current Senate seat for profit or personal gain. Rod got kicked out last month, but now Burris is a giant question mark due to his recent admission that he actively campaigned to raise funds for Blagojevich. Burris faces no criminal charges – well, in this probe. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Feb 2009 19:29

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Biz, U.S.: Obama wants cake, then to eat it (too), then go on a diet

  • Cutting the deficit Obama, who just signed a massive stimulus bill into law, then went to Canada to, uh, celebrate, spoke in his weekly radio address about the need to cut the deficit by the time his four-year term ends. With the extra spending, he’ll have his work cut out for him. But hey, that’s why we elected him to office, right – that whole change thing? source
  • Cutting the deficit Obama, who just signed a massive stimulus bill into law, then went to Canada to, uh, celebrate, spoke in his weekly radio address about the need to cut the deficit by the time his four-year term ends. With the extra spending, he’ll have his work cut out for him. But hey, that’s why we elected him to office, right – that whole change thing?
  • Already on the table He didn’t exactly come to office with a clean slate deficit-wise. He came in with a deficit of $1.2 trillion left by that Bush guy, which should probably rise to $1.5 trillion by the time all his stimulus stuff hits. In other words, imagine one of Scrooge McDuck’s giant money bins. Then imagine it empty. Then imagine jumping into it. source
  • Cutting the deficit Obama, who just signed a massive stimulus bill into law, then went to Canada to, uh, celebrate, spoke in his weekly radio address about the need to cut the deficit by the time his four-year term ends. With the extra spending, he’ll have his work cut out for him. But hey, that’s why we elected him to office, right – that whole change thing?
  • Already on the table He didn’t exactly come to office with a clean slate deficit-wise. He came in with a deficit of $1.2 trillion left by that Bush guy, which should probably rise to $1.5 trillion by the time all his stimulus stuff hits. In other words, imagine one of Scrooge McDuck’s giant money bins. Then imagine it empty. Then imagine jumping into it.
  • How he plans to do it Among other things, he’s suggested taxing the he investment income of hedge fund and private equity partners at higher rates. Currently, they’re taxed at the capital gains rate, which is 15 percent at most. He wants to tax them at ordinary income tax rates of as high as 39 percent. Which probably won’t make Rick Santelli happy. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Feb 2009 16:43

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Biz, U.S.: Rick Santelli speaks (loudly) for the true fiscal conservatives

  • We’re thinking of having a Chicago Tea Party in July. All you capitalists that wanna show up to Lake Michigan, I’m organizing. We’re gonna be dumping in some derivative securities, what do you think about that?
  • Rick Santelli • CNBC analyst, on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange yesterday. He was railing against the idea of Obama’s $75 billion foreclosure plan, designed to help people from losing their homes. We have to admit that we may not necessarily agree with what he’s saying, we sure love the way he said it. It’s fun to hear him rant. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Feb 2009 14:34

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U.S., World: The Hilary Clinton quote that set off a ton of human rights activists

  • But our pressing on those issues can’t interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis.
  • Secretary of State Hilary Clinton • talking about China and their human rights record, and how they fit in with U.S. economic interests. As you might guess, activists aren’t happy about this policy stance, especially when it comes to Tibet. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Feb 2009 13:40

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U.S.: How’s Obama doing in the polls?

  • 67% approval rating, down a bit but still pretty high source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Feb 2009 13:22

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U.S.: New Illinois governor: Yeah, Burris should resign

  • He will always be held in high regard by the people for making this decision. The common good is really what we have to focus on today.
  • Gov. Patrick Quinn • regarding a potential resignation by Illinois senator Roland Burris, who’s been a pretty entertaining dramabomb unto himself lately. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

20 Feb 2009 12:58

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U.S.: Fast food and strokes: Tied together like burgers and fries

  • 13% increase in stroke rates in areas with 33 fast-food restaurants or more source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Feb 2009 21:45

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U.S., World: Obama’s first foreign trip: It went alright, eh?

No offense man, any foreign relations are good, but isn’t Canada kind of close? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Feb 2009 21:13

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U.S.: R. Allen Stanford: He could run, couldn’t hide

  • Where they found him FBI agents found the Texas-residing Stanford hiding out in Virginia, evading authorities trying to serve him with civil suit papers. He vanished Tuesday and somehow made it to Fredricksburg, because every alleged Ponzi schemer with a mustache goes there. Clearly. It’s the place to be. source
  • Where they found him FBI agents found the Texas-residing Stanford hiding out in Virginia, evading authorities trying to serve him with civil suit papers. He vanished Tuesday and somehow made it to Fredricksburg, because every alleged Ponzi schemer with a mustache goes there. Clearly. It’s the place to be.
  • He’s kinda like Waldo When found, we imagine Stanford was wearing a striped red shirt, glasses and a wool cap, trying to hide from authorities with his billions of dollars and tarnished reputation. He hasn’t been charged with any crime, but neither was Waldo, and everyone was looking for him, too! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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