What the Absolute Heck, Mr. President??

Check this out. Yet more unbelievability from this administration.

Kushner-backed program chartering flights to address hospital shortages raises questions in Congress

The details:

"A flight from China chartered by the U.S. government touched down at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday last week. Inside were nearly 6 million surgical masks and some respiratory equipment.

But the supplies on board weren’t tucked into the national stockpile or distributed by the federal government among cities hardest hit by novel coronavirus despite the average taxpayer bill of $750,000 to $800,000 per flight.

Instead, the masks and other life-saving equipment were owned by Medline, one of the nation’s largest privately held manufacturers and distributors of medical supplies. They were loaded onto cargo trucks and driven to the company’s warehouse in suburban Chicago.

It was up to Medline to decide who gets the protective gear and what price they would pay.

The sole federal requirement imposed on Medline was that it would promise to sell half its cargo to designated 'hot spots' facing outbreaks of the coronavirus."

What the absolute heck?

Our Federal dollars are spent but a private company is going to decide who gets what, when and how---and they'll no doubt pocket any and all profit from it all?

How is this right?

Can you imagine the Republican Party uproar if the previous President did anything remotely similar?

Why are they, why is he, Mr. Trump, getting away with this?

Why are we letting him get away with this?

Thanks, Mr. President!
Thanks, Republicans!

Republican State Senator From My Hometown Making Us Proud

Yes sir, St. Joseph's own Republican Representative Rob Schaaf, no less, is asking questions and trying to hold our very Republican Governor, Eric Greitens, to task for what he said and claimed and challenged during the now-Governor's campaign for that job.

Bait-and-switch 

Some of the article:

When Eric Greitens was seeking the Republican nomination for governor last year, he claimed to support transparency in the funding of political campaigns. He said in one interview, “What I’ve found is that the most important thing is that there’s transparency around the money,” continuing, “I’ve been very proud to tell people, ‘I’m stepping forward, and you can see every single one of our donors, because we are proud of our donors and we are proud of the campaign that we are running.’ ”

Since that time, Greitens has turned his back on transparency, accepting millions of dollars from undisclosed donors and now disavowing donor disclosure altogether. With this reversal, he has betrayed the Republican Party and the people of Missouri. His new stance threatens the integrity of our republic.

It's a great article, I think, and even important. Any and every voting age Missourian would do well to  read it so they know what's going on in our state and what should likely change.

Top Benefactor of the NRA?

Check this out from Missouri's own The St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Report: Blunt top NRA campaign 

donation recipient in Congress

So no one, no one takes more money home from the NRA than our own very Republican Senator Roy "You Got Money for Me" Blunt.

Yeehaw.

If fewer innocent Americans are shot and/or killed any time in the near or far future, it doesn't look like any solution will be coming from this Senator, no surprise.

New Term for Bought Politicians

So a buddy of mine were talking at work and I gave him my usual, deeply felt opinion, briefly, that I thought the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision had to be overturned and that we had to kill campaign contributions. That, until we do that, nothing would change, it would remain representatives, legislation and so, laws and government for the wealthy and corporations. (I didn't say all that but you get the idea).

And this buddy says we have to end the...

wait for it...

pocketicians.



Dang.

I instantly loved it.

He said it just came to him.

Had to spread the word.  Literally.

(With great thanks to friend Joe--Joe Thompson--for the word. Glad I was there).

Excellent news out of Jefferson City!

EXCELLENT NEWS!   AND FOR THE PEOPLE!

State Senator Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) has officially introduced a statewide Anti-Corruption Act!

Outstanding! And from a Republican! Who'da' thunk it?

And from my own hometown, no less!

Now, here's hoping it passes!

But did you see what Congress GAVE THEMSELVES in that budget bill?

Sure, there's the awful stuff of giving the big banks yet more carte blanche to use and abuse Americans, to the tune of millions and billions of dollars---that they wrote themselves, at least in part--that was in that omnibus budget bill this weekend. Sure, that was horrible.

And then there was the further uncapping of limits corporations and the wealthy could spend on and in our elections so they can buy them and our representatives and so, our legislation and laws so they can keep our government and keep it in their own pockets.

Sure. That's all horrible and shouldn't be in there, shouldn't have taken place. That was all bad enough, right/

But did you see this? Did you see what Congress put in this clusterpuck for themselves?

Spending bill includes $1,000 monthly subsidy for Congress to pay for their cars

Wouldn't it be great to be in Congress so you could hand yourself an additional payout, at nearly any time, year after year?

And this on top of their rather hefty salary, full expense account, travel and franking (postage) included, the ability, again, at virtually any time, to create a travel junket to go really any safe place in the world, in the name of "research" for your job? And then get a big, fat, again, hefty pension, to boot? Added to that the ability to raise your own salary? 

It doesn't get any better than being a member of the US Congress. Not when it comes to taking care of and paying yourself.

Do you think they wonder why Americans have such a low opinion of them?

The good news? All Americans, on the Right or Left, the middle, everyone, surely agrees this is wrong. 

And deeply so.

Our own Senator Blunt, tight with Mitt Romney--and the money, Part II

Apparently, in Washington, DC, in our Federal Government, when you want big money raised, one of the people you have to get hold of, at least on the Right Wing, Republican side, is our own Missouri Senator, Roy Blunt. Because that's what Republican presidential candidate Mitt "Mittens" Romney has done and is doing, as reported in yet another story out of that city, this time by Politico: Mitt Romney money machine calls in cavalry

"GOP operatives thought it would cost Romney about $50 million to secure the nomination, but coming off a bruising few months and with a slog still ahead, some say it could cost closer to $75 million...Now, with the nominating contest stretching into the spring, Romney’s point man on Capitol Hill, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, sent an email Monday to congressional chiefs of staff to talk up the cause. 'We need your support to ensure it is a big success,' Blunt wrote of the fundraiser. 'Take this opportunity to reach out to your best supporters, and ask them to commit to this special event. In this case, with a fundraiser substantially driven by members, the governor has an opportunity to strengthen his relationships now,' Blunt said. 'It’s important for the governor to have time with members and for members to be financially committed to the campaign as well as politically.'” So you can bet this is very good for our Senator Blunt. If former Massachussetts Governor Romney is elected President (don't be on it), he'll be sitting pretty with the sitting Prez. Even if that doesn't happen, the traditionalists in the party will not soon forget the work--and money--Senator Blunt can squeeze out of the corporations and wealthy people in the country, nosiree, Bob. Either way, Senator Blunt wins. At the same time, either way, the American public loses, what with all that money that's exchanging hands and the buying of votes and support. It isn't pretty. Link to original story: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73807.html

Our own Senator Blunt, tight with Mitt Romney--and the money, Part I

It seems our own Missouri Senator Roy Blunt has quite a talent and close relationship for himself and his political party for raising big money for both himself and the presumed Republican nominee for presidency this year, Mitt "Mittens" Romney. This from The Sunlight Foundation's blog just after St. Pat's Day: Romney and Blunt: The big Washington invitation this week is the Mitt Romney campaign's Thursday breakfast with the 80 members of Congress that have endorsed him. It could bring in at least $800,000, a welcome infusion of cash for a campaign that is burning it at a fast rate in a primary season that has gone on longer than expected. For the event, Romney's point man on Capitol Hill, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, wrote a letter to the lawmakers asking them to raise $10,000 in exchange for a table of 10. That's an interesting Washington twist—typically it's the lobbyists and insiders bundling money for a campaign-fundraising dinner with a member of Congress but now it's the lawmaker bundling the special interest money. Conveniently for the lawmakers and lobbyists, the event is right by the Capitol, at the Hyatt Regency.

Blunt warms up: On Tuesday, Blunt himself will be holding a $1,000-per-plate breakfast for his own campaign, and if he hasn't secured his ten $1,000 donors for Romney's big event already, it's a good bet that he'll make the pitch over eggs. Blunt is no stranger to these exclusive fundraisers—in fact, Sunlight and National Public Radio tried to enter one last year but were turned away. This one is at a favorite senatorial saloon, The Monocle. Link: http://politicalpartytime.org/blog/2012/03/18/this-weeks-fundraisers-blunt-greases-the-wheels-for-romney-hatch-reloads-and-belated-st-paddys-day-gold/

Our government is far more bought and sold than we knew

There was a terrific program on NPR and KCUR today at 10 am on "This American Life." It was (is, because you can still go online and hear it and I recommend you do) called "Take the Money and Run for Office." It tells how so much worse our political situation is across the nation. The lobbyists and corporate representatives and people from Pacs and Super-Pacs can now go into a representatives' office and simply tell them they need to support such-and-such legislation or else they'll unleash their advertising money on the representative. Here's a quote from the story from Senator Dick Durbin: "Most Americans would be shocked — not surprised, shocked — if they knew how much time a U.S. Senator spends raising money." It gets worse, too. Here's another quote from the story: "We imagine lobbyists stalking the halls of Congress, trying to influence lawmakers with cash. But often, it's the other way around: Members of Congress stalk lobbyists, looking for contributions." It's so bad and the corruption so pervasive they don't even have to spend the money. All they have to do is threaten to spend it. It's that bad. It's that disgusting. That is one vile, badly broken system, folks. We--the people--need to stand up and demand "campaign contributions" are killed and the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court is overturned--and as soon as possible, of course. Please go to these links and hear and see how bad it really is and why we must demand change: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/461/take-the-money-and-run-for-office; http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/; http://sunlightfoundation.com/

What corporations and our government representatives are doing: pretty cozy

I was looking over some blogs I keep an eye on and ran across a situation in Alaska right now that epitomizes what our government representatives and corporations are doing to and with us here in the US so frequently. It is from The Mudflats blog: It seems the Conoco-Philips Oil Company is supporting the Alaskan Governor Sean Parnell's campaign to give oil companies yet more tax breaks. The cozy little situation works like this: the oil company gives the good Governor "campaign contributions" and supports a $40/plate luncheon for him while the Guv' pushes for these tax breaks for them. Pretty sweet, eh? Meanwhile, the losers? The Alaskans themselves who have to somehow make up for the lost tax revenue. That wouldn't be so bad except it comes from their schools and roads and bridges and sewers and such and so would have to likely be made up out of their own pockets. Alaska, if this flies, it sucks to be you. For that matter, with this political system, it sucks to be us. Link: http://www.themudflats.net/2012/03/27/dont-bend-over-alaska-soon-to-be-viral-video/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheMudflats+%28The+Mudflats%29

Quote of the day

“'Big government' isn’t the problem. The problem is the Big Money that’s taking over government. Government is doing fewer of the things most of us want it to do—providing good public schools and affordable access to college, improving infrastructure, maintaining safety nets and protecting the public from dangers—and more of the things big corporations, Wall Street and wealthy plutocrats want it to do." --Robert Reich, Professor, writer, columnist and writer for The New York Times. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why we have to kill "campaign contributions." If we don't, we'll never get our government back for the people first. Link to original post: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/03/23-2#.T23Zrj2Y1FI.facebook

We need to get the money out

We need to get the big, ugly, corrosive, corrupting money out of our campaign and election systems so we get it out of our government. We need true, tough, comprehensive, accountable, stringent, prosecutable campaign finance reform. If we don't do this, nothing will ever change. Our representatives, their legislation, our laws and so, ultimately, our government will be bought, paid for and owned by the wealthy and corporations of the nation and you and I will matter very little, if at all.

Failing Institutions, Part II

Two more institutions that are failing us (besides the Catholic Church): Goldman Sachs and Citibank (also known as "Shittybank", pardon the crudeness). As for Goldman Sachs, you may have heard that a high-ranking executive just left the organization, then wrote and published a letter in The New York Times, describing the ugly, greedy culture within: Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs It's a good and important read, I think. Help yourself, if you haven't already. (link below). The second failed--really failed--institution is, as I said earlier, Citibank. It seems the Federal Reserve tested 19 of the biggest banks in the nation recently and 15 of the 19 passed this "stress test." One that didn't? The third largest bank in the US? You got it. Citibank: Four US banks fail Federal Reserve stress test So here we are, yet again. Two more big institutions, failing the people they should be serving, along with failing the nation. It seems true, that what we need is a mix of free market Capitalism that works but that government that keeps these organizations honest and from over-reaching. (See 3rd link, below). We seem to be victims of huge success that is otherwise now, bringing us down. I say it again, we must get the big, ugly, corrosive, corrupting money from the wealthy and corporations out of our political and election process and system. They mustn't be able to buy our legislators, their legislation, our laws and so, finally, our government. If we don't do that, if we don't kill "campaign contributions" with true reform, nothing will ever change. Links: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17361899

Brits run far better elections than the US

There are two very simple things Britain does in their elections that we in the US don't do but that we should. The first is that they don't allow "mis-statements" in campaigns. They are outlawed, formally. If, after the fact, a person is in office and is found to have done such a thing, they must forfeit their office. So simple, so smart. The second thing the Brits do that we need so horribly here in the States is--and I've said this before--we need to make our campaigns for election a certain length of time. Three or six months seems about right. In this way, we wouldn't have to keep hearing from these people but far more importantly, once in office, they could merely legislate instead of virtually constantly campaigning and raising money for those campaigns, as they must now. (Then, if we put this with true, stringent, touch, accountable and prosecutable campaign finance reform, we could get the "big money" from the wealthy and corporations of these campaigns out of our election system and government). We can always hope. That said, we must work for these changes.

Missouri: Some monumental stupidity in government

From Steve Kraske and his column today in The Star: "Missouri’s the only state where officials can accept $500,000 campaign donations and unlimited lobbyist gifts. And now, courtesy of a state Supreme Court ruling this week, donors can once again hide whom they’re giving to." How's that for disgusting? Thank you, Jefferson City legislators. Thank you, Republican Party. For nothing. Out of all 50 states--the entire nation--Missouri is the only one where our legislators can be bought and paid for in HUGE sums of money. Worse yet, then the trail can be covered. That is some kind of sick and irresponsible. This, ladies and gentlemen, truly is "what's wrong with our country", to use the cliche'. The wealthy and corporations can--and do, as we know--give sometimes small amounts (as low as $2,000) to our representatives. In the end, that gets them OUR legislation, OUR laws and so, our government. That's why it's government for the rich and for corporations first, if not always. This is why we must change the laws on "campaign contributions." This is why we need tough, stringent, accountable, prosecutable, punishable campaign finance reform. This, like it or not, is why we need to have our government finance our elections. That and make them 3 or 6 months long, at worst, by law. Until we do that, until we get this big, ugly, corrupting money out of our election systems, our government and laws will be for the rich and for corporations first, if not always. Link to original article: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/17/3436381/steve-kraske-where-to-begin.html

Great, breaking news from Washington

Breaking just now: Stock Act – Insider Trading Bill Passes Senate While long, long overdue, it's still good news. At least they've passed it. Now, on to the House of Representatives. We can't let Rep. Eric Cantor weaken this. Link: http://inyourfaceradio.net/stock-act-insider-trading-bill-passes-senate/

More, new reasons for Americans to be angry at and because of Congress

In case you missed it.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Our own Congressional represntatives push legislation so they can flaunt laws the rest of us have to obey. It is truly maddening. Then, in order to get good information on it, we have to watch a comedy channel and a show of humor and satire in order to know what's going on in our government and country.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

The legislation was originally created in 2006, too, for pity's sake. Note that it was Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA-7th District) who killed the original bill, too. This is sick. It's crazy. Our system of government just doesn't work and this is only the latest examples of this. I hope they don't wonder why we want to replace at least our legislators, if not part or all of our system of government. We have got to get the big, ugly, corrupting money from corporations and the wealthy out of our politics and government. We need to pass the STOCK Act and it needs to include the provisions about intelligence-gathering and -gatherers, that's all there is to it.

How powerful media COULD be

Some weeks ago, the CBS show "60 Minutes" did a 20 minute segment on our US Congress and their individual ability to trade in stocks with "insider information." So what happened next? Nearly immediately, the President mentioned creating a law prohibiting it and now, just a few weeks later, Congress has created just such a law, making that kind of thing illegal. Finally, our representatives can't benefit any more than they already do from being in Washington. Just like that, nearly. This is evidence to me of a couple things. First, it shows, as the title says, just what, exactly, COULD happen if we truly did have an engaged, working, searching media in washington and across the country--from Washington, DC to every state house and every major city in the nation. I've written here before about how our own Kansas City Star occasionally--but not nearly frequently enough--researches important, piercing articles about our governments, either city, county or state. Here, CBS News rather "blew the lid" off a dirty little Washington secret and made some change. In the following weeks, however, they did articles on truffles, for pity's sake and turned back into an 'infotainment" source instead of maintaining higher, more important standards. Even now, if you go to the CBS "60 Minutes" website (link below), you'll find it difficult, if not impossible, to find the video from their insider trading segment. I know I couldn't find it. To actually find the video, I had to go to YouTube. You'd think CBS would be proud--very proud--to have both come up with that story and made change in Congress and the nation. On the contrary, they seem rather ashamed of it. They've buried it on their site. I think it's easy to assume that they don't want to be "too controversial" for the Senators and Representatives in Washington as they want them as "good friends" and on their side. They don't want the people in Washington to see them as "enemies." So here's evidence of how the old, big networks could help the people and nation get better government. The fact is, it likley isn't going to happen. CBS and the other networks will "lay low" and continue to give us pap and, again, "infortainment" instead of hard news about our government, our officials and the corporations that run this country. In the meantime, we have to go to other, harder sources for good, dependable information. I believe better sources for this information will arise if we demand it, as we must. Links: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/us/politics/house-passes-bill-banning-insider-trading-by-members-of-congress.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha24; http://finance.yahoo.com/news/house-passes-insider-trading-bill-153829455.html; http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

Legislators funnelling money through "earmarks"

There is a 2nd of two great articles today The Washington Post has put out. The first told of legislators in Washington who funnelled money to projects that they themselves own property close to, thereby likely increasing the value of their own property, of course. Nice, huh? No surprise, right? Our own example, out of Missouri is the one and only Republican Todd Akin, bless his pointy little head and it falls under the first category--funneling money to property near his own.

From The Washington Post: Earmark near personal property: $3.3 million Between 2005 and 2009, Akin helped secure $3.3 million to upgrade part of Route 141 in his district west of St. Louis. Less than a half-mile east of Route 141, Akin and his family own nine acres. Akin's family has applied to construct six homes on the land. His spokesman said Akin's land had no bearing on his support for the earmarks. "It is going to be helpful as a connector but not helpful for residential property values whatsoever," he said. Anyway, the 2nd article, today, tells of legislators who funnel "earmarks"--read: money--to institutions and organizations that--surprise!!--their own family member happens to run. I'm certain--like you, I'm sure--that it's purely coincidental. Right? On the far more positive side, it mentions our own Senator Claire McCaskill for sponsoring a bill to eliminate earmarks, yet again. Yay, Claire! Go get 'em. It'll stick one of these days. We're behind you. Links: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/capitol-assets/public-projects-private-interests/; http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/capitol-assets-some-legislators-send-millions-to-groups-connected-to-their-relatives/2012/01/10/gIQAyrzdxQ_story_1.html

Former Senator Alan Simpson, speaking truth

Journalist and writer Fareed Zakaria had a brief interview with former Senator Alan Simpson yesterday and I thought the way Sen. Simpson closed the interview was insightful: ZAKARIA: Senator, a real pleasure to have you on. I hope we can have you on again. SEN SIMPSON: "Well, I hope you'll stick around, because you speak with clarity and you - and you ask great questions and you don't get caught up in all the garbage on the extreme right and extreme left. People - Erskine and I go around the country and we can speak to any group, right or left. Give us an hour, let them ask questions. We'll get a standing ovation because people are thirsting for somebody to give them something other than BS or mush. And both parties are giving the - giving the American people BS and mush. And they're sick of it. And something is going to happen. I don't know what it is, but people are smarter than their politicians. They always have been. And we'll see what happens." Link to original post, inlcuding video of the interview: http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/09/former-senator-alan-simpson-on-americas-failing-politicians/