Union Leaders are not happy about this excise tax on the middle class (Video)

From The Ed Show:



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Morgan Freeman's look is priceless....

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Are the White House and Democrats dumber than a box of rocks on this excise tax?

At this point, yes, dumber than a box of rocks.

We now are arguing about the excise tax which will shaft middle class workers while the White House and congress will attempt to put lipstick on a nasty pig and make us believe that we must do this.

Who is buying this and if so, what are you smoking or even drinking?

I heard from 2 people recently.

One a friend whose brother is a member of the Teamsters and asked his sister directly, "Is Barack really going to try to tax my health care plan? He said he would not do that. If so, I am done with him."

The other, my brother a RN who is also a member of a union who called me in the wee hours of the morning chomping on the bits about congress taxing his health care plan and he heard this in the break room at his job.

I could not say anything to him because those in the bubble at 1600 PA AVE think they can get away with this and they probably will.

Hell, they have gotten away with watering down this health care bill, no health insurance bill, to practically nothing. Our president said that he did not campaign on the public option, when all his statements, speeches pointed that he did but we are looking at selective memory here. Our President said he would get cheaper drugs to us in this country and chastised the Bush Administration for the Medicare D sweetheart deal to the pharmaceutical companies when now the White House did the same damn thing, no cheaper drugs for us, American citizens. To even be more direct, remember this about the pharmaceutical companies?



And the icing on the cake is when the White House put that pressure down on the Byron Dorgan's Drug Importation Amendment and Democrats, yes, Democrats voted no for cheaper drugs to protect the White House sweetheart deal.

Sigh, Turkana is right, we have crumbled down to nothing with this health care bill, no health care insurance bill.

Now the Labor Unions have stepped in. The very same tax the White House is talking about will have direct affect to members of unions across this country. It will tax their health care plans. But do the White House or even Democrats in congress get it?

Union leaders, who are fighting a proposal to tax high-end health care plans (which would hit many union and non-union workers), have been working closely with House Democratic leadership to fight the provision and are slated to go to the Hill to talk strategy soon. (Updated Below)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.), along with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), have both stressed their opposition to the so-called Cadillac Tax, on both policy and political grounds. In its place, they want to finance reform by issuing a tax on the wealthy -- a provision that labor supports.

But the deck seems stacked against them -- both the Senate and the White House are committed to including the excise tax in the final health care bill, citing the benefit it has in reeling in health care costs. In an hour-long meeting on Monday, the president did his best to present the benefits of the proposal in an effort to alleviate some of labor's concerns.

Details of the White House meeting are scant, with union sources staying uncharacteristically mum. But sources tell the Huffington Post that Obama re-affirmed his support of the excise tax while also signaling that he would try and find ways to dull its affect on working families. Several compromises were broached, including the possibility of raising the tax threshold from family health care plans valued at $23,000 to those valued at $25,000.

Whether this is enough of a concession to win labor's support, which seems unlikely, or at least mollify their opposition remains to be seen. But, at this juncture, the impasse over the excise tax seems quite vast -- to the point where it is no longer unreasonable to wonder if it could trip up the broader reform effort.

President Obama re-affirming his support of the excise tax.

Let me tell you what will happen. Or more importantly, do you remember President Bush (41) and how he got out of office? The Democrats used his own words to vote him out, "Read my lips, no new taxes..." And what did President Bush (41) do? He raised new taxes.

Barack Obama is on video during the campaign promising not to raise taxes on the middle class in this country. If the congress does this, expect videos out after the bill is signed, the next day. And you think we can explain this away? When many Americans are hurting, don't have jobs, hours cut on jobs, wages reduced, families struggling? Do you think the public will take this? I don't think so.

Sure, the Republicans are gas bags and ass hats. The public knows this. But if you want to really suppress voting, don't have boots on the ground, evaporated GOTV, then Democrats tax the shit out of the very public that put your asses in charge.

People that have union health plans, most have given major concessions to have this one luxury. It is called decent health insurance which most Americans DON'T have.

Finally, what happened about repealing the Bush Tax Cuts? We are too afraid to do this, but don't give a damn about taxing the shit out of folks who are barely making it out here?

I am sorry, but none of this makes any damn sense to me. What are the Democrats thinking!!

Update [2010-1-12 14:59:49 by icebergslim]:

Bush Tax Cuts Expiring the end of 2010

Update [2010-1-12 15:2:18 by icebergslim]:

inclusive heart makes a very valid point, it is not just union households that this will affect, but anyone will get clipped by this tax, which will force you to buy a plan at a cheaper cost and less coverage. Good point.

Update [2010-1-12 16:38:52 by icebergslim]:

This from the federal and postal employees union:

The letter from the federal and postal employees frames the tax as both inequitable and potentially damaging to the prospects of recruiting future government employees. The groups write:

"While the excise tax is slated to be imposed on the insurers on so-called high cost plans, the tax will be passed on to enrollees in the form of higher premiums, co-pays or reduced benefits. [Blue Cross blue Shield] plans cover approximately 48 % of [Federal Employees Health Benefits Program] enrollees, or nearly 3.8 million Americans. Single enrollees would be subject to the effects of the tax in 2013, while families are hit in the third year. Including other, non-BC/BS plans, more than one-half of active and retired enrollees will face the effects of these taxes that accumulate to thousands of dollars in the middle to out years of the Senate-passed bill. Because we understand the value of all health care is counted towards the threshold amounts, enrollees with dental or vision coverage, or a Flexible Spending account, could reach the thresholds even sooner and feel the effects of this tax earlier.

Characterizing this tax proposal as a "Cadillac tax" is a misnomer. It hits the average blue collar and white collar employee or annuitant. FEHBP insurers will simply reduce coverage and, as the taxes increase, a downward spiral towards less coverage will ensue, which is antithetical to health care reform's states purpose. Penalizing FEHBP enrollees with this tax is a huge disincentive to qualified applicants seeking federal or postal employment. It is bad for the government and bad policy overall.

People around here forget that Barack Obama told Hillary Clinton that words matter. Well, words do matter, the words matter more so from our president. When you continue to go back on what you said, you deserve to get blasted and many have the right to become suspect. That means we have the right to question every step made by this administration and as the unions have reminded our president, he needs to remember what he said during the campaign.



Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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This is why we are lucky Sarah Palin is not a heart beat away from the presidency (Video)

Former Campaign Manager, Steve Schmidt and authors of the new bomb shell book, "Game Change" on 60 Minutes



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Harry Reid, Democrats, arrogance, bigotry and race

Everyone is yapping about the new John Heileman and Mark Halperin book, Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime.

The remarks by Senate Leader Harry Reid is offensive but not shocking to me. Reid said the following remarks:

In a private conversation reported in the book, Reid described Obama as a "light-skinned" African-American "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

In fact the reference that Bill Clinton made to the late Teddy Kennedy about Barack Obama, "...a few years ago this guy would be getting us a cup of coffee..." Well, of course, the spin is Clinton is stating in reference to Obama being a junior senator, but ask anyone of color what that statement means to them. It sure is not about Barack Obama being a junior senator.

One thing about the Republicans, for people of color, they let us know how they feel. They let us know to our face, some of the Democrats? Not so much. They make references like this behind closed doors because they need people of color to win elections. It is arrogance, bigotry and thought like this that make them no different than any blatant Republican running. They are no different.

Harry Reid can lose his election in Nevada, I don't care. For me, there were other things of Reid that gives him a no in my book, but this disclosure is enough for me. Reid will not get one dime, no support from me. And don't tell me that we NEED HIM to hold the senate or keep a majority. Look at what we have in the senate now? A bunch of bought and paid for nothings who answer to corporations before citizens. They did nothing all of 2009 and losing Reid will not hurt this corporate bunch in my book.

Lastly, expect the apology tour. Reid already apologized to Obama, so expect more of that. But the thing for me is this, he said what he said and meant it, but now that he got caught say it all of a sudden he did not really mean it. What do I say to this, "BULLSHIT."

From morning joe:







Read it all at Daily Kos

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Michael Steele predicts GOP losses for 2010 (Video)

A couple of things on the GOP and Steele. First, Steele is releasing a book without the knowledge of the RNC, GOP. Yes, they are shocked. He has planned paid speeches, also without their knowledge and now the GOP can not control him.

Micheal Steele is all about MICHAEL STEELE. The GOP, RNC needs to get over it. It was their membership that put him in the chairmanship. Instead of the Republicans thinking through what they wanted in a leader of the RNC, they reacted to the election of Barack Obama and put the first black man in the seat. Bad move, horrible decision, now he is telling them to "shut up" or "fire him". If they do, you know the next set of statements is all about the GOP and RNC not being inclusive to minorities. And this is their biggest problem.

Steele is right about one thing in this interview with ABC, the Republicans are an antique party. They have not found their way to move forward and kudos to Steele for stating that out loud and acknowledging that the GOP will not recapture the House in 2010.

Lastly, with unemployment 10%, job losses continuing, the Republicans have a ripe opportunity to move forward with vision and populist themes, but as long as you have those in leadership who are still pumping 80s, Reagan themes, they will never move ahead. For this, the Democrats should be thankful in a year that the economy is taking a huge toll for many families.



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Obama Administration, GET RID OF TIM GEITHNER (Video)

He needs to go. Period. How long is Barack Obama going to keep Wall Street's best friend around? What he did to protect AIG is criminal. He has to go. Read it all here.

From the Ed Show:



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President Obama's Full Remarks on the airline security report (Video)

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Go, Tea Party, Go!!!!

Yes, there is nothing like seeing tea party leaders threaten the GOP, STATEWIDE. And coming from their no doubt, racist leader, Dale Robertson. Oh, you don't know him? Here he is holding a sign about our President proudly in his hands during one of his protests.



But back to the Tea Party threatening the GOP:

Dale Robertson doesn't mince words. The tea party spokesperson and head of Teaparty.org in Houston issued a strong statement this week warning state GOP leaders that if they didn't support strongly conservative candidates, their jobs were at risk.

"We are turning our guns on anyone who doesn't support constitutional conservative candidates," Robertson said. "If they don't get that, and their party chairmen don't get that, they are going to be ostracized."

Jim Greer, Florida's GOP Chairman, was forced to resign earlier this week under similar pressure from far-right activists following his endorsement of Charlie Crist, a "big-tent" Republican who has been criticized by some conservative factions for being too moderate. Tea Party activists have backed Crist's opponent, Marco Rubio, in the upcoming Republican primary.

It is people like this within the Republican Party that are running moderates out of the party. This is why Governor Charlie Crist (R-FL) is having a very difficult time in Florida from his opponent State Senator Marco Rubio. Again, keep an eye on this primary race in Florida, if the Tea Party is successful, Crist will lose his bid on running in the general election for the open U.S. Senate seat.

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When is Geither going to be asked for his resignation?

I don't know what more can be said about the problematic Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The very same individual who has protected Wall Street, the Big Banks and AIG. It is these decisions that have the American Public currently red hot about tax payer money being used to save these industries, which put us in the bind we are in. And the big banks? The very ones who used our money at 1% interest, invested it, made a bundle, paid the government back and still are not lending to move this economy.

Again, when are we going to see some asses flying from posts under the Obama Administration. This is a valid question, because this is all about changing Washington and not remaining the same, right?

An arm of the Federal Reserve, then led by now-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, told bailed-out insurance giant AIG to withhold key details from the public about overpayments that put billions of extra tax dollars in the coffers of major Wall Street firms, most notably Goldman Sachs.

The sordid tale unfolds in a series of e-mails between the company and the New York Fed obtained by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and first publicly disclosed by Bloomberg News.

The matter is the subject of an "ongoing review" by the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), communications director Kristine Belisle said in an e-mail to the Huffington Post. SIGTARP is headed by Neil M. Barofsky, a former federal prosecutor.

Taxpayers have committed about $182 billion to AIG. The under-regulated firm developed and sold complicated derivatives products without having adequate capital in place if those bets went bad, which they eventually did. The firm nearly single-handedly wrecked the entire financial system.

After the firm was given a taxpayer-funded backstop, one of its most controversial acts was to repay banks at 100 cents on the dollar for what was by that point nearly worthless insurance the banks had bought from AIG, known as credit-default swaps.

A brutal report issued in November by a government watchdog disclosed that AIG had actually been trying to negotiate better terms with the banks until - guess what? -- the New York Fed stepped in. The report held Geithner personally responsible, and led to renewed questions about his fitness for the job. read more here...

Geithner, for me was too close for comfort with his direct involvement of AIG and Wall Street. This disclosure to the public does not wear well on him nor the Obama Administration. Again, when is this man's resignation going to be on the President's desk?

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Looks like Senator Chris Dodd is not seeking re-election

First, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announces he is not running for re-election this year, now Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). Dorgan may just be fed up with Washington and the senate, while Dodd had other lingering issues like a special mortgage loan. Oh, I caught this diary over at Daily Kos tonight on Byron Dorgan and it makes you wonder, will the Obama Administration ever wake up.

Dodd's problems has been his TOO COZY relationship with the banking industry and his very cozy loan from the now defunked Countrywide Mortage. This seat was going to take many resources to hold, at least he has the decency to know when it is OVER.

Embattled Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D) has scheduled a press conference at his home in Connecticut Wednesday at which he is expected to announce he will not seek re-election, according to sources familiar with his plans.

Dodd's retirement comes after months of speculation about his political future, and amid faltering polling numbers and a growing sense among the Democratic establishment that he could not win a sixth term. It also comes less than 24 hours after Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced he would not seek re-election.

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is widely expected to step into the void filled by Dodd and, at least at first blush, should drastically increase Democrats' chances of holding the seat.

Blumenthal, who has served as state Attorney General since 1990, is the most popular politician in the state and has long coveted a Senate seat; he had already signaled that he would run for the Democratic nomination against Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) in 2012. (A sidenote: Assuming Blumenthal gets in to the race, Rep. Chris Murphy could be the long-term beneficiary as he is widely regarded as a rising star and would be at the top of the list of Democratic hopefuls to challenge Lieberman in 2012.)

Without Dodd as a foil, Republicans chances of taking over a seat in this solidly blue state are considerably diminished. Former Rep. Rob Simmons and wealthy businesswoman Linda McMahon are battling it out for the Republican nod but either would start as an underdog in a general election matchup with Blumenthal. read the rest here....

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Going after Bank of America, I FEEL THIS... (Video)

These banks are full of shit. End of message.



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President Obama said airline attack should have been preventable (Video)

President Obama need to performs "sweepers" as we called it in the military. Until he starts getting rid of inept folks, this is going to continue. And sabotaging the President? Yes, that is a valid question, is this happening?



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It REALLY is time for Desiree Rogers to go (Video)

I just finished watching Sally Quinn of the Washington Post talk about White House security, since it has been revealed that a third person crashed the White House State Dinner.

I stated that someone needs to take the hit for not doing their job and stated Desiree Rogers. She and her department just did not perform their jobs. Rogers is there to SERVE the President, not make herself a guest, mingle and not do her job, which is what she did the night of the Obamas first State Dinner.

Rogers is a close friend to the Obamas, but in this issue, friendship needs to be put aside. This snafu is a reflection of the President and his handling and running of the White House. If something happened to Barack Obama there are no second chances, in regards to security of the First Family, NO SECOND CHANCES.

Rogers need to go.

Now it turns out that there was a third uninvited guest at the White House state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, this one a member of the Indian delegation. It was enough of a shock that the would-be stars Tareq and Michaele Salahi had crashed. But a third? The Salahi story may have been delicious, but the implications of the appalling breach of security are immense. The president could have been assassinated. And had that happened, the Office of the White House Social Secretary would have been as culpable as the Secret Service.

One of the first lessons any administration needs to learn is that somebody has to take the hit for whatever goes wrong. If another culprit is not identified, the president gets the blame. One incident after another in the past few months has shown that members of this administration would rather lay low and let Barack Obama be the target. This has got to stop.

Did you read the bold above, which I put emphasis on? It does have to stop and people in these jobs need to resign or be FIRED.

Many in Washington wondered why the director of the Secret Service, Mark Sullivan, did not resign over the state dinner security breach. At least Sullivan testified before Congress on the subject. White House social secretary Desirée Rogers came under fire after the Salahi scandal erupted. From the start, Rogers was an unlikely choice for social secretary. She was not of Washington, considered by many too high-powered for the job and more interested in being a public figure (and thus upstaging the first lady) than in doing the gritty, behind-the-scenes work inherent in that position. That Rogers stayed and that the White House refused to allow her to testify before Congress reflected badly on the president. He, not a member of his staff, ended up looking incompetent. Although it has emerged that a State Department protocol error is to blame for the presence of a third uninvited guest, both Rogers and Sullivan should step down.

This above paragraph is true about Rogers. Desiree Rogers is not the best fit for this job and she has continuously tried to be a publicity hound, power player instead of a SERVANT, there to SERVE the White House.

Michelle Obama time to cut the ropes LOOSE. And for the President to continue to take hits is WRONG. Let Desiree Rogers, GO.



Read the whole article, here.

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The United States Intelligence is a JOKE

I don't blame President Obama for being angry at this country's intelligence. Period. When you have the terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's father walk into the United States Embassy and TELL personnel about his son and what he is up to, but this intelligence is not noted, moved on, even LOOKED at but this individual is on the many lists of "terrorists" and he almost blows up a U.S. aircraft, how would you feel.

I don't know if the CIA and all these other agencies are politicizing terrorists, terrorism, etc., but if they are anyone with this information and was not acted on should be FIRED.

What happened to all these agencies sharing information? Actionable information is gotten from HUMANS, not drones, not chatter, but humans with specifics. Abdulmatallab's father had actionable information, he knew that his son was coercing with potential terrorists and he did the right thing, he reported it.

What did we do? Not a damn thing.

This needs to STOP and the Republicans, "shame on you" for trying to politicize something like this. Much of what is in place and still going on was on YOUR WATCH and the same measures that President Obama is currently using were the same measures from President Bush. And of course, there was NO criticism then but now. Republicans your argument does not hold up, period. What about trying to help this President and our country instead of continuously pointing the "fucking finger"?

From Keith Olbermann's Countdown:





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CIA "thought they turned" the double agent who killed the CIA agents in Afghanistan

When you are playing the game of cat and mouse, you never know when you are going to be the mouse. The words "who do you trust" is never more true, when the CIA thought they turned him.

From morning joe:



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