NC GOV Demeans Women

Pat McCrory, gov of NC, condescends women protesting his policy with a plate of choclate chip cookies. Cant make this stuff up.Offering women who wish to debate healthcare issues a literal symbol of domestic servitude is a perfect symbol of some wings of the GOP.

AP IMPACT: CEO pay exceeds pre-recession level

CEO's are now making more then they where in 2007, the year before the Great Recession hit. Unemployment however is still double what it was back then. And that is not including those Working Class Americans who took actual paycuts or found lesser work to keep feeding and housing their families while the richest of the rich climbed their way back comfortably, right back into their fatcat seats.

Stories like this can just make you sick with rage. Remember things like this when we hear talk about how 'raising taxes on the rich will only hurt the economy.' After all the misguided harm these bastards have done, they are making more, and not paying one red cent more in taxes, while the rest of the Country SUFFERS for their mistakes.



By RACHEL BECK, AP Business Writer Rachel Beck, Ap Business Writer – Fri May 6, 8:36 am ET
NEW YORK – In the boardroom, it's as if the Great Recession never happened.

CEOs at the nation's largest companies were paid better last year than they were in 2007, when the economy was booming, the stock market set a record high and unemployment was roughly half what it is today.

The typical pay package for the head of a company in the Standard & Poor's 500 was $9 million in 2010, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data provided by Equilar, an executive compensation research firm. That was 24 percent higher than a year earlier, reversing two years of declines.

Executives were showered with more pay of all types — salaries, bonuses, stock, options and perks. The biggest gains came in cash bonuses: Two-thirds of executives got a bigger one than they had in 2009, some more than three times as big.

CEOs were rewarded because corporate profits soared in 2010 as the economy gradually got stronger and companies continued to cut costs. Profit for the companies in the AP analysis rose 41 percent last year.

More Details and Breakdown are available here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_ceo_pay

Our Country faces record deficits and huge questions about its future ability to provide a comfortable, middle class life style to its working peoples. When are some of these Tea Party folk going to get around to realizing that Government is not the only problem in town, and that these pigs on Wall Street are just as liable for the unenviable situation the vox populi find themselves in?

How has the outrage that has been centered on Barrack Obama's plan to contain healthcare costs and provide better coverage options to all Americans overshadowed the overwhelming question of what are we going to do about the out of control excesses of the Corporate Classes? Where are people in the streets protesting such a blatant economic injustice?

This Flag Bows Before No Earthly King

In case you didn’t hear, they had a little wedding over in England this morning.
If you are one of the millions in the States who are enthralled, enamored, and all wrapped up in this farcical fairy tale, you probably should bail out on this column right now.

You’re still with me? Good.

I do not understand why we in this Country are so smitten with a Monarchy we cast off over 200 years ago. It truly befuddles me. I take pride in our Flag, our Constitution, and our Democratic Republic. Not in some ancient regime which we discarded any allegiance to on the Concord Bridge and in the hallowed Halls of Independence.

This is nothing against the British people, but I despise the very concept of Monarchy, Nobility, and Royalty. The arcane and archaic espousal of power into a familial lineage regardless of their character or qualifications is no legitimate way to determine a Head of State. Who gives them this authority? Is it still some divine right?

At least in modern times they have had the good sense to put a limit upon the powers of this Aristocratic lunacy and the Monarchs whim is no longer the absolute law of the land. The real power is invested in their representative Parliament, and the Monarch in almost all circumstances performs only ceremonial power within the Realm. And if they choose to continue to prop up these antiquated institutions of heralded heredity, then I guess that is their endowed right to do so. Over there. Far away from me.

So why, oh why, do I ask, does the media from the United States cover this outlandish and garish event like it is our own crowning achievement? Are we so starved off from pomp, circumstance and glitterous, glorified extravagance that we need to somehow collectively tap into our obedient collective colonial roots to fixate our infatuation for foppish foolery? I, for one, am sick and tired of being bombastically bombarded with the Royal hullabaloo.

For on July 4th, 235 years gone by, we cast off these tired customs of rulership through arbitrary marriage, life, and death of far off Kings and Queens. We stood up as a nation of Free and Independent People declaring: “enough with your ancient and capricious lordship, our ennobled powers of State shall be invested in the Common Man!”

Our sacred artifacts are not those of Crowns, Carriages, and Trappings of Lordship. They are documents of ink and parchment declaring our Freedoms and Protections from obtrusive intervention by a whimsical Governing Authority. Why can we not celebrate these Freedoms, which are our sacred birthright, as extravagantly as we commemorate far-off nuptials betwixt those whom would station and allot themselves above us in life?

I say what makes our nation great is that we do not sit by and watch as subjects, but instead we take action as free and independent Citizens.

God Save the Common Man

Mass Movement Continue to Rock the Arab World

It started with a fruit vendor in small villiage of Tunisia. Sick of government bureaucrats making his life miserable, he poured gasoline all over himself and set himself ablaze in front of the local municipal building. It was the pebble that started an avalanche of mass protest across the region against totalitarian governence. Tomorrow could be another big day, Libya is engulfed in a full fledged civil war with international intervention. Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain all face serious potential protests. Saudi Arabia and Iran are at a low simmer. It should be interesting to see what unfolds as thousands go out for Friday prayers. This is the biggest shakeup in the Arab world since WWII. How things play out this Spring will have effects for decades on oil prices, global human rights, and terrorist threats.

Monday Morning Notebook (03.21.V3-3)

*The US lead an all out air assault over the weekend on Muammar Gaddafi's forces in the Libyan civil war. The UN resolution gives nations carte blanche to do whatever is necessary in order to stop Gaddafi from attacking civilians in his bid to retain power. This is a bold gambit by the Obama Administration to spread and cultivate the new found freedom and Mass Movement power in North Africa. The attempt to so audaciously spread core American values is a grand goal, but is military intervention really the best route to do so? One can only hope for the best results from this adventure for US forces and sincerely wish them success in their mission. The prudence of this undertaking must be brought into question in light of the already ongoing conflicts our all-volunteer military is currently serving in. It is not to be suggested that the (so far) limited engagement airstrikes will truly strain our armed forces readiness. As we saw in Iraq however, not only the worst case, but sometimes totally unpredictable scenarios unfold from these actions. It would be a shame if a decade from now we are looking back with regret on this moment of well intentioned intervention because of these unforeseen demons yet to be encountered. The cause against Gaddafi however is just, and hopefully in this case justice prevails for the people of Libya, the people of America, and the people of the world.

*Matt Cooke's hit yesterday on Ryan McDonough of the New York Rangers was ill-timed, dirty, and really selfish when you consider the situation both within the game that was in progress and efforts at large by his team, and others, to eliminate these cheap shots from the game. The fact that McDonough was okay should be no consolation to anyone with the power to determine Cooke's fate. The Penguins should step up and send their own message to Cooke that these actions will not be tolerated on top of the already certain forthcoming league discipline. The GM and coaching staff of the Penguins must also take into serious consideration whether Cooke is a potential liability come playoff time with these increasingly frequent unnecessary hits that cost his team significant penalty minutes.

*Yemen seems to be the next Country in line after Libya to go down the road toward political freedom through mass movement protest. The army today announced they will support the protesters legitimate complaints in that nation, and several of President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s administration members are also turning against him quickly. Saleh, who could be out of power by tomorrow, has been an ally of the United States in trying to root Al Qaeda out of his Country, but perhaps a more free, open, and prosperous society in Yemen will reduce the recruiting base of the terrorist forces in that region long term. Yemen is the most poor and desolate Countries in the Arabian Peninsula, and one of the most beleaguered in the world. It would be the first Country outside the geographical barrier of Africa to succumb to the protest movement that has rocked the Arab world.

Another Twist in Libya

Libyan Foreign Minister declares that forces under control of Muammar Gaddafi will comply with a cease fire to come into compliance with UN Resolution. Is this a head fake to delay implementation of a no-fly zone by Western forces or a genuine case of the threat of force ending a conflict? Reports from the ground would indicate that the fighting is continuing, so it seems that the UN will have to interject itself into the civil war in that Country. Great Britan, France, and now Canada have all decared that they will join in operations to enforce the UN resolution.

UN Authorizes Action in Libya

The UN Security Council past a resolution today approving swift military action against Gaddafi's forces in Libya. A no fly zone is expected to be enforced by the United States, France, and Great Britan. This was a big diplomatic win for the Western block on the Security Council, I'm not sure what they had to do to get Russia and China to go along, but they did a good job getting them to sign off on the resolution. My take is that this will be a truly international operation and not a US led force with token European support. I'm not sure stategically how much this effort will help rebel forces on the ground, but it should at least re-moralize and re-energize a resistance movement that has been in retreat over the past week.

Quick Hits on Budget Battles; Clinton in Eygpt

*Hardline conservatives break with Speaker Boehner on bill to continue funding the government. Middle of the road Democrats come in to save the bill. What does this mean for the budget and GOP control of the House going forward?

* Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a compelling speech yesterday in Eygpt, then announced today she wouldn't seek a 2nd term as Secretary, nor would she run for President in 2012. Her speech is worth going to CSPAN and listening to, it is a perfect blend of pragmatism in approach, while holding up the best of American ideals and values for the rest of the world to live up to and for people seeking freedom anywhere tyrants rule to strive for. Poweful stuff from someone whose role in this administrations foreign policy efforts has been massively under reported.

Monday Morning Notebook (03.14.V2-4)

*The devastation in Japan over the weekend once again shows us, as humans, that no matter how complex and advanced we build our societies, that there are forces of nature much more powerful then we can ever control. What we do and say here in the long run may prove quite insignificant, but it is all we have so we continue on in the face of this harrowing tragedy.

*Right now, no news is bad news for the Pittsburgh Penguins in regards to Sidney Crosby's health. With him still suffering symptoms this long from a concussion that occurred in early January, I now have significant doubts we will see him play again this year. You can't rush back a franchise guy for this year’s playoffs; it’s too risky long term for his health. Without Crosby, or fellow superstar Evgeni Malkin, the Pens should be an easy first round out for the Bruins, Capitals, or Lightning.
***BIG UPDATE***
Crosby did skate today for the first time since early January, a sign that off ice work has been going well for at least a week. If he continues to progress with no setback of symptoms you can expect him to practice with no contact in about another week.

*Fridays "Day of Rage" in Saudi Arabia passed by without so much as a whimper. "There were so many police in the streets you could not even think of protesting," said one anonymous dissident. Security forces got way out in front of this one in the Oil Kingdom, but the question remains, how deep is the bottled up rage in the world's leading oil producer?

*The New Jersey Devils won yet two more overtime games over the Thrashers and Islanders over the weekend, proving my law of averages predetermined downfall theory for them off once again. They have climbed back to .500 for the year and are within definite striking distance of the 8 seed in the East with 14 games left. I still predict they fall short of getting in, but only because the also hot Maple Leafs do...

*The massive triple disaster earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown in Japan pulled all attention away from the crisis in the Arab world. Absolute total destruction from nature has all humanity feeling for the Japanese, but the stock market was up on Friday with hopes of $$$ from reconstruction efforts. Ladies and Gentleman: Market Capitalism at its finest.

*The 4-12 spots in the Western Conference are so tightly packed that there is no way of telling how it will shake out. The only thing we can do is wait, watch, and enjoy the race.

*It looks like the showdown over funding the Federal Budget for the rest of this fiscal year will continue to drag on in a week to week mode. Both long term plans failed to even come close to garnering the needed 60 votes in the Senate, so another 3 week short term plan has been floated to keep the government running. Who knows what it will take to find a middle ground between the GOP house, White House, and something 60 Senators can agree on. Right now they aren't even touching the vast majority of the budget and haggling to death over domestic discretionary funds, which is like an argument over the change jar while the fiscal house burns down around them.

And so it begins...

Security forces are clashing with protesters in the Shitte majority Eastern city of Qatif. Police have fired on protesters in the oil rich Kingdom where all public demonstrations are banned. Calls have gone out for a "Day of Rage" tomorrow after Friday prayers. As far as international oil prices are concerned, Saudi Arabia is THE big one, so if the protests there have any sort of a whiff of destabilizing the established order... Well, as Samuel L. Jackson would say: "hold onto your butts!"

What place has a worker?

Last night in Madison WI a heavy punch was thrown not just at the teachers and public employees of that State, but at the labor movement of the entire Country that has been down on the mat for at least the last two decades. What occured when the State Senate in Wisconsin moved forward with a bill stripping public employees of their ablities to collectively bargin was precise and strategic tactical blow in the direct heartland of one of organized labor's former strongholds. What it brings into focus is the existential threat that has been engulfing unions for much longer then the past few weeks in the upper midwest: the disconnect of working people across the country from identifying themselves as an interconnected and united political, social, and economic powerbase. Voters in our Country are much more likely to identify themselves with Race, Gender, or Relgious/Cultural principles, then they are with the bottom line of their pay-stub.

Update on Arab Revolutions

Obama calls on Gaddafi to step down in Libya, okays use of sanctions. It is obvious that any moral standing Gaddafi had is long gone, but will sanctions and harsh rhetoric really accomplish anything? At what point do his actions against his own people warrent direct action by the UN Security Council? Ideally, Obama can get desired results without using force in this growing North Africa/Mid-East unrest. Saudi Arabia will remain the tipping point however, I believe. If there is an uprising in the heart of the Arab Kingdom like we have seen elsewhere in that part of the world, it will no longer be a tenable choice for the rest of the world to sit on the sidelines.

Civil Unrest in the Arab world

Saudi Arabia to spend billions in social welfare to further placate their populous. The royals are freaking over protests across the region. I am torn, I like democracy for all people of the world, but fear economic harm from gas prices if SA does fall into turmoil. Libya moves toward freedom, more pain and casualties then Eygpts uprising. I support them in their brave efforts to overthrow a tyrant. I hope Iran is next. I would also like to see new free peoples alliance bloc formed in the region to oppose the dictatorial regimes monopoly on power.