SDB Evening News Reads for 060811: Swipe Fees and Pathetic Politicians
Posted: June 8, 2011 Filed under: just because 73 Comments
Should get some of this stuff and spread it around Washington...what do you think?
Sitting in my little room, looking out the window at the trees. Every few moments the breeze shakes the leaves and branches sway. It is way better than watching the damn cable news shows. And honestly, I could probably get a better broadcast from a couple of dogwoods than Wolf and that other dud that is on the show with him…or any one of the media personalities on the screen today.
So, just forgive my rant and let’s get to it…
Here is the latest on the Swipe Fees vote: 2nd UPDATE: Senate Defeats Plan To Delay Debit-Card Regulations – WSJ.com
In a blow to the financial industry, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday defeated a bipartisan plan to postpone new federal debit-card regulations.
The 54-to-45 vote means new rules that would reduce the debit-card transaction fees banks charge merchants are set to take effect next month as scheduled, a move that could cost the financial industry billions of dollars in lost fee revenue.
Garnering support for a delay from the majority of the Senate was a major feat in the banking industry’s uphill battle to block the new regulations. But because of its controversial nature, proponents of the measure to postpone the rules needed a 60-vote supermajority to prevent a filibuster.
Now, the financial industry seems to be turning to Plan B: urging the Federal Reserve to revamps its plan to limit the debit card fees known as swipe fees or interchange fees.
Don’t know if it is a mental block against all companies or banks or politicians making more money, just don’t have the energy to comment on this swipe thing right now.
There’s a heat wave going on in the North East, and a huge wildfire raging in Arizona. Arizona wildfire swallows over 600 square miles | Reuters
A wildfire believed sparked by inattentive campers blazed unchecked for an 11th day in eastern Arizona on Wednesday, leaving at least 600 square miles of pine forest blackened and menacing several mountain towns near the New Mexico border.
The monster blaze, ranking as Arizona’s second-largest wildfire on record, has chased up to 2,000 people from homes in and around two communities in immediate danger, Eager and Springerville, since Tuesday, fire officials reported.
This next link is sad…pathetic and pitiful…I remember when Lieberman wasn’t such a disappointment. Someone explain to me why he is doing this? Senility?
Joe Lieberman joined Glenn beck on his FOX Show the other day and boy, was it a love-fest. Joe played Beck’s fanboy and showered him with hugs and kisses.
Jose Baez, the attorney for Casey Anthony has a jerk ass past…like failing to pay child support and get health insurance for his daughter.
Casey Anthony Trial: Who Is Defense Attorney Jose Baez? – ABC News
It has taken a while for Baez to establish himself as a defense lawyer. Despite graduating from law school in 1997, the Navy veteran was denied admission to the Florida bar for eight years until 2005.
An order by the Supreme Court of Florida states that he was denied admission because of his failure to pay child support to his ex-wife and secure life and health insurance for his teenage daughter. It states that he had previously declared bankruptcy, written bad checks and defaulted on student loans, the court said.
The Florida Supreme Court said his financial mishaps coupled with failure to pay child support “show a lack of respect for the rights of others and a total lack of respect for the legal system, which is absolutely inconsistent with the character and fitness qualities required of those seeking to be afforded the highest position of trust and confidence recognized by our system of law.”
So, the lawyer for Casey Anthony sounds like he has the kind of personality and past track record to go far…he should run for office. Seems to me Anthony would have done better with Jackie Chiles. Is this some sort of plan, to get a mistrial?
One more link, to this series of photos from The Lens Ernesto Bazan Explores Western Cuba, a Countryside Where Little Has Changed – NYTimes.com
The rhythm of life among the guajiros en el campo — farmers in the countryside — is a slower one that reminded Mr. Bazan of his childhood in Sicily and offered a respite from the melancholy, gritty urban world portrayed in his previous book “Cuba.” He found himself returning often to the western end of the island where he spent days with farmers like Fidel Rodriguez.
“In an hour and a half from Havana, I would be in another era,” Mr. Bazan said by phone from Spain, where he had been conducting editing workshops. “The Cuban countryside is stuck in time. Havana was more agitated, but the countryside had an extraordinary slowness. They lived off their land, they had animals, so they could eat better. It was different from the city where people felt all the economic restrictions. In the countryside it was poverty with dignity.”
So that is it for me today. I know it is disjointed and doesn’t flow, but my brain just is not functioning…hate these migraines.
peej
Carissa
dakinikat
ecocatwoman
grayslady
mablue2
JJ Lopez aka Minkoff Minx
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Can I have my vote back, I voted for him, because Gore said he believed in the Democratic platform… whaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Lieberman/Beck 2012! Because the world is ending anyway. /snark
LOL!
MM, hope your migraine eases up and take it easy. I admire all that you can blog while you’re having one. I don’t get migraines all the time but end up in bed when I do. I’m pretty wimpy 😉
The New York Times is reporting that the congressman’ Anthony Weiner ‘s wife, Huma Abedin, is pregnant.
Oh Huma… Hillary must be giving that girl her ear and counsel.
I’d go with Hillary too…the most tender time for a mom to be, and she has to deal with this mess.
here’s hoping the press will now give him the GOP naughty pass…for her sake!
Anthony called Bill today and apologized to him. Bill and Hillary say Huma is their second daughter and Chelsea considers her a sister.
If I were her I think I’d being weighing my options as a single mom.
oh I think this breaking means she’s staying . I believe it’s to change the tone
I wouldn’t want a child of mine around some one with impulse control issues, frankly. That would be the overriding concern for me.
I agree.
I hope she knows, what Elizabeth Edwards knew, ‘Its not about her, it’s his issues…his demons’. Beautiful, intelligent, caring and devoted wives…the issues are with the men here. Glad she is away with Hillary and taking care and being cared for by people that love her.
Lieberman and Beck??? There must be something in the water. And Beck is shilling this ‘Restoring Courage’ confab as a historic moment, a defining moment for attendees, one that God will take notice of. Because we all know that Beck has God’s ear.
Gag!
Anyone who takes Beck seriously is around the bend. I guess that says it all for Lieberman.
As for the card swipe battle, this is apparently a 14 billion dollar issue that the banks did not want to give up. The retailers won this round. It will be interesting to see how the consumer fares because both sides insisted that they were protecting the interests of the buying public.
My natural inclination [and confessed bias] is to side with anyone fighting the bankers.
because both sides insisted that they were protecting the interests of the buying public.
The retailers actually are fighting for their lives…. mostly today if you aren’t getting money directly from the US Treasury like the banks are , usually you are screwed . But the retailers, unlike the banks , still care if we have a dollar to spend …thankfully someone does
My natural inclination [and confessed bias] is to side with anyone fighting the bankers.
yup
WASHINGTON (AP) – June 8, 2011 — Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania is the first Democratic member of Congress to call on Anthony Weiner to resign
Wow This is very interesting. Allyson Schwartz, is a long time, solid Hillary Dem .
This is part of what’s going on…I can’t figure it out. Either Allyson is doing this for for Hillary or Obama .
I can’t say which …but the Weiner wars seems to becoming a proxy one.
I don’t think it’s for Hillary.
I agree…and it’s weird…because as I say she’s a long time Hill girl….Obama always picks the nearest and dearest he can to do the hit job . Sad …I mean sad to see Allyson bend her knee and attack camp Hill
Even Ed Rendell came out today and said Weiner has reached the end note, that there’s no way he can be effective after this last release. He suggested he resign and get treatment for something that looks very much like a compulsion. He said it with sadness because he’s a friend of Weiner and admires his passionate and unflinching support of the working class, the poor, etc. That’s the hard part–the man’s always been on the right side of the issues. But . . .looks like he’ll bite the dust.
As for Schwartz, she’s been tasked in recruiting, strong credible Dem candidates to run against Republicans in 2012. She probably feels this hullabaloo will make that job a whole lot harder.
Casey Anthony’s defense team also includes the wife of a serial killer.
http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report/2011/05/wife-of-serial-killer-joins-casey-anthony-defense.html
Couldn’t finish the story, the idea of her marrying a serial killer and advising on the case…too much.
I couldn’t even click on the story. “wife-of-serial-killer-joins-casey-anthony-defense” was depressing enough.
She is actually someone who is an expert in death penalty issues. Why she would marry a serial killer, I do not know or understand.
I was also shocked to learn that the Night Stalker was married and to a real conservative lady. EAK!
Taylor Marsh:
Completely agree!
I agree with Taylor too.
My issue with him is the stupidity . I’m done with stupidity and saying it’s okay. It ‘s not. And this amazing stupidity is shocking . It’s not the sextexting…it’s stupidity of an out spoken liberal gifting his enemies in this manner. He’s not some back bender. He’s supposedly our best. Thanks, Tony
opps, back bencher!
That’s EXACTLY how I feel.
It’s not as though these guys don’t realize what they’re up against with the press and the Repubs. How stupid do you have to be to send Little Anthony over the Intertubez?
DUMB!
Thought you Skydancers would be interested in this article about how long it takes people to find jobs these days. The average is 39 weeks.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/06/report-time-it-takes-to-find-a-job-is-off-the-charts.html
It was tremendously stupid… but I still think it’s for his constituents to decide if that’s a dealbreaker for them or not. As I’ve said before, I do wish outspoken liberals wouldn’t risk the liberal brand this way, though. If that’s selfish of me, fine, I’m selfish. But, it’s such an uphill climb as it is for liberalism to get a voice anywhere in the mainstream, and everybody knows how the rightwing machine works.
Yeah. Anyway, I was getting tired of “dick” this, “dick” that even before this Weiner generated stupidity broke. Who cares about his stupid little tube anyway? Let’s get back to real news.
I agree it’s not the sexting–but if it were Loretta Sanchez or Nikki Haley or Cynthia McKinney or Niki Tsongas, the sexting alone with no other misconduct would end their careers in a flat second. So there’s that.
.
but I still think it’s for his constituents to decide if that’s a dealbreaker for them or not
Oh I agee with that. I haven’t said he should step down…but i’m not saying it’s okay and what’s the big deal? He knew the dangers of what he was doing I’m sure better than we do…yet could not stop himself from endangering everything he supposedly holds dear for some thrill . I frankly think he wanted to be caught .
Well, I guess the picture is now out there, leaked by that slimebucket Breitbart. This is beyond awful. Weiner is probably contemplating suicide. How could he not be? And how could Breitbart have stooped so low? He had the picture on his cellphone and was proudly showing it off to the media (he says so himself) to verify that he had the pic. I mean, Weiner was already done for – why do this? Breitbart claims he wasn’t responsible, but please – this was done intentionally to demolish Weiner. I have no love lost for Weiner, but releasing this pic is so sick. Nasty and sick, sick, sick. Not content with destroying someone, no, no, let’s drive the guy to suicide. Tell me again why Obama thinks it necessary to make nice with these sick, sick people?
UGH. I just saw Elliot Spitzer interviewing Andrew Breitbart and then follow up with Howard Kurtz. Talk about surreal.
The MSM letting Breitbart walk out of this unscathed after showing Opie and Anthony the photo is pathetic, even for the MSM.
I thought Spitzer would leave this story alone, for obvious reasons.
Melanie Sloan of CREW says that a lot of Dems hate Weiner because of his prominence in the media.
Spitzer said that Breitbart was correct in assessing that Weiner has become a problem for Democrats and the sentiment has coalesced that he should resign. Isn’t that absurd? Spitzer? Breitbart determining what’s a problem for Democrats? Hello?
Spitzer also took Breitbart at his word that he didn’t know the photo he was showing to Opie and Anthony was being photographed.
Obviously, Weiner is not liked by the Dems (and he does come off as a pompous ass) and Breitbart may well have found encouragement among the Dems (like Spitzer, that paragon of virtue, but on Capitol Hill too) to go after him, but, still, how did the photo get out? There is only one answer. Breitbart. He was the one carrying the photo around and showing it off. Please. We’re not idiots out here. This stinks so bad. Breitbart’s fixation on Weiner is deranged. How quick they forget what Breitbard did to Shirley Sherrod. Jesus, I actually feel so bad for Weiner, even though I find his reckless cybersex repulsive. He obviously has some serious issues. But he did not deserve this. Breitbart is the penis-sniffing scum of the earth.
They don’t just hate him because of his media prominence – they hate him because he has a spine and stands up to the wingnuts.
He is a problem for Obama because he makes Obama look like the wimpy Reagan-loving *ssh0le he truly is.
It is more dangerous to be a liberal Dem under Obama, than it is to be a wingnutty Repub.
Wonk The Vote, check out little football (s) they have the Andrew Breitbart lies…Ann Coulter was shown the picture…lots of people were, it was all done intentional…Spitzer has lost his touch in getting at the truth.
You know, this latest – the release of the pic of Weiner’s erection – may be typical Republican overkill (you know, like all the Repub jerks who were elected last year who are already despised for their union-busting, pension-stealing, generally not-helping-the-average-schmo ways).
I am one who makes no excuses whatsoever for Weiner’s arrogance, recklessness, selfishness, and stupidity, and I have made that very clear here in earlier posts. I find him repulsive. No excuses hold any water for me.
But, now, I despise Breitbart and the harm he’s caused to another human being even more (before the exposure of Weiner’s dick it was 50-50 for me). I would not be surprised, if Weiner can hold off resigning, to see his district come out for him after this. This was a witch hunt. Pure and simple. Spanning a very long time. A witch hunt about a middle-aged fool who fell in love with his erection. I am now with those who say who gives a damn. I mean, I still condemn his behavior, but I condemn even more this Breitbart scum who targets and then then tries to destroy a Dem, any Dem.
If I were advising Weiner, I’d say hold on a minute. There is going to be a backlash against those waging the sex war. I am speaking as one, albeit a very liberal one, who would never have come to his defense until this latest. That’s my poll of one – but I bet it has merit. I feel terrible for Weiner and his family. He does not deserve this sadism (which also contains quite deviant sexual behavior on the part of Breitbart, of whom I would ask, if given the opportunity to question him, whether he was aroused during this “investigation” – a question I already know the answer to).
of course Breitbart is scum…but did he photograph Wiener’s penis and then send it over the Internet ?? Wiener and his family are suffering from what Wiener did….that his enemies are exploiting it is to be expected. Saying he doesn’t deserve this is like saying someone playing traffic doesn’t deserve to be run over….perhaps not. But it’s a very likely consequence anyone should foresee. He gambled and he lost….I hope the thrills was worth it
BATON ROUGE, La. —
Thank you for posting an update on this Dak. I really appreciate it. I saw today that NC and Iowa stuck some more nails in the coffin:
Iowa House passes abortion ban after 18 weeks pregnancy | Reuters
N.C. House passes abortion bill that would require 24-hour waiting period – Wire – Lifestyle – bellinghamherald.com
And check out the name of the NC Bill:
Give me a freaking break, Woman’s Right to Know Act my ass.
First, I want to apologize for anything I may say tonight that offends anyone. (Head tends to snuff out any “nice” thoughts.)
Okay, The whole Weiner thing is really making me ill. After reading this from his ex Kirsten Powers, tell me if you all get the same feelings about him as I do. Some of the stuff he says is very misogynistic. And I think exposes a violent nature to all this sex talk. h/tBlueLyon
Anthony Weiner’s Ex Kirsten Powers: He Lied to Me – The Daily Beast
I had not read any of the transcripts on this thing. I did not even know that this post was written until I saw the mention of it on my reader.
Powers ends with this:
I have to agree with this statement…I think she has a point about treating women with dignity and respect.
I have been saying that he should stay, and that this is being blown our of proportion. And maybe it is…but after reading this, I feel sick. And that is the last thing I am going to say on the matter.
Now I am going back into my cave…check in a little later. Have a feeling it is going to be a long and painful night. Ugh.
Yea Mink, I haven’t said much on the situation, and sort of waiting for it all come shuffling out. Here is the thing, I don’t see him as a real man. Maybe it’s my expectations, but he’s got along way to go. It is men who show us how they are in the “real world” of government, of corporations, and sports, and everydamn thing else.
I have no admiration for this man. This is his story, and he dug his own grave. And far as his wife and unborn baby, that’s private, and when he confessed he should not have brought them to the front pages.
Basically exactly what I was saying yesterday about him going after young women, but nobody else here seemed to think it was any big deal – “young women can take care of themselves” (and if not, they can suffer in hell, I guess). Not surprised he’s a predator and misogynist, just that it is being acknowledged.
Branjor–did anyone actually say that? That “young women can take care of themselves” ? I don’t remember reading that..
A woman can be vulnerable at any age, and women in their 20s to 30s today often go through a lot of self esteem issues, imho. But I also understand the point Kat made that women in their twenties can be more mature than these immature older men. Mostly because being more mature than them is such a low bar to cross anyway and also because there are a lot of women who have to grow up faster and fend for themselves in the world because nobody else is going to do it for them!
Not exactly in those words, but that’s what I took away from my exchange with Kat yesterday.
She ignored what I said about myself, and all in the name of defending him.
Anyway, women in their twenties “can” be more mature than older men….what kind of a point is that? They also “can” be immature and very vulnerable. And in addition, the power differential is huge – men are more socially powerful than women, even when the same age or younger, the older are more socially powerful than the younger, plus men have been trained to be dominators and exploiters of women from infancy through their sex role training and women have not been trained even to recognize that fact, much less effectively neutralize it. It takes years to do so.
I was not raised to be powerless nor did I raise my own daughters that way. I suggest you stop projecting your own experience onto other women.
My mother didn’t raise me that way and I didn’t raise my daughters that way. My father didn’t treat me that way either. Pioneer and farm women aren’t raised to be powerless or helpless and in many cases are tougher than men. I can’t relate to anything you’re saying here. It sounds foreign to me and silly. There’s your “response”.
Which is why I said a woman can be vulnerable…etc.
I can’t speak for Kat, but I didn’t take it as a point about Weiner and the women he sexted with. Just took it as her own personal experience. Shrug.
She just popped in there with a personal anecdote that had nothing to do with the subject at hand? Forgive me for getting everything all wrong.
Well, that was a stone cold heartless and hurtful response. Just because you are thus and so doesn’t mean every woman is. I don’t think I’m projecting my experience onto every woman, I’m just trying to bring some attention to those of us whose experiences are similar to mine and who don’t fit the stereotype of competent woman as opposed to “poor” man. I didn’t say every young woman is vulnerable and immature, just that some are. I didn’t deny your experience. I would like to see a little protectiveness of those women who are not quite as capable as you are and less protectiveness of a man with massive institutional power trolling the internet for young, inexperienced women to have cybersex with, and who has somehow been twisted into the victim in this case.
Try pathetic man and I don’t see any victims in this because no one was coerced. What consenting adults do in their spare time is their business.
No one has referred to Weiner as “poor man.” His behavior is disgusting. I think we can all agree on that.
Pathetic, poor, what’s the difference? As to victims, well, maybe not, but who knows how many women, and of what ages, he hit on *before* settling on the final six? As a youngster, it was the hitting on itself I found upsetting, even if I got away good and fast and he didn’t follow me.
I’m glad we all agree that his behavior was disgusting.
MM, fwiw, you haven’t offended me in the least…
I had heard about the Powers piece. I hadn’t read it though–I’ve been successfully avoiding the details of the Weiner scandal.
I think Kirsten Powers viewpoint is understandable since Weiner personally duped her into defending him and telling lies for him unknowingly. If I were in her shoes, I’d be very unable to trust him on much of anything.
All I can say is, while Weiner is coming across like a cad as far as his interactions with women go, I still think the fallout from this scandal is something for him, his wife, and his constituents to sort out.
Of course we need to hold elected Ds to the standard of being a representative of the Party of Women, but if Weiner needs to resign for that reason, we need to start at the top. Reid, Pelosi, and Obama should resign then too.
Hope you’re feeling better when you wake up in the morning, MM!
Thanks Wonk. Just got up now, it was a bad night…but feeling much better today. 🙂
Yuck!!
I hope Huma dumps him. As Dak said yesterday, this man should not be near children.
Yup…
Between the pregnancy announcement and this report, it sounds like she’s staying:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/perv_pol_on_wife_support_JYp14o1Sy5bqb4WIxzbW9H
@Wonk, I saw that last night…or I mean early morning. I wonder if she will still feel this way now that the transcripts of calls has come out. I got the impression that she did not know all this happened until the day of the press conference. Knowing your husband is doing these kind of things online with other women is one thing, seeing what he said (allegedly) is something else. All those “honey” and other terms of endearment have to sting…I am sure he calls her honey and stuff. I can tell you from experience, when you see those words being sent to some other woman, it hurts.
Mink, I’ve avoided the transcripts, so I didn’t know what he’s calling them. I kinda hope for the sake of Huma and her pregnancy and the stress factor, she doesn’t really read the transcripts right now either, though that may be unavoidable.
I hope she also avoids talking to any of their reporter friends, because he’s got them all out there industriously whispering that it’s her fault because of her travel schedule. I’ll give the guy credit for one thing, when it comes to things he really, really cares about he certainly is a fighter.
Just caught this on NHK:
NHK WORLD English
The readings of this strontium-90 go up northwest of the plant because of the prevailing winds. Check it out:
These poor people around that plant, I think they are being lied to.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Too Many American Women Are Sitting On The Sidelines
Here is the link to the website
Off The Sidelines | http://www.offthesidelines.org/
Senator ought to tell Jarrett to get out of the way, and take over the White House’s Woman’s council, and make it work for women!