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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Where Is The Middle Class in America? Half Living Low Income Or Poor

The St. Columbanus Church food pantry in Chicago feeds 500 households a week, but some weeks it struggles to keep up with demand.



From  Denny:  Where is the middle class in America?  Half of Americans are now scraping by on low income or downright poverty, according to the latest census data.  That's 146 million doing without because of high unemployment, costs that have risen fast, stayed high and suppressed wages.

Mayors of 29 cities say they cannot meet the needs for emergency food assistance, food stamps, and are turning away 25 percent of applicants.  There are already 46 million people on food stamps, a former middle class that never asked for any help until now. Federal and states' programs are frayed at the edges.

And the Republicans claim the Democrats are screaming "class warfare"?  These figures don't lie.  Just where did the GOP expect the unemployed to go?  How do they expect people to eat?  

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Funny Jon Stewart Mocks Perry Romney 10K Bet

speaking at CPAC in Washington D.C. on Februar...
Image via Wikipedia
From Denny:  This is too funny.  Jon points out that on the GOP national debate stage a Mormon is gambling with an evangelical about who is the biggest liar of the two, to the tune of 10,000 large.  According to comic John Oliver, this feeds into the narrative of Romney being an out of touch rich guy millionaire.

After all, the average person in Iowa makes a $10 bet not a $10, 000 one.  Only rich guys throw money around like that demonstration.

How dumb can you get?  In the worst economic depression in 70 years you have a millionaire making expensive bets in front of an audience trying to figure out how to keep their kids in college and pay their mortgage.

John Oliver basically buries Romney as "everything tells the tale about Romney as the guy who just fired your Dad."


Jon interviews John Oliver about how Newt Gingrich compares to Romney as just another rich guy running for president.  Oliver disagrees and states, "No, no, Gingrich rates as the Infidelity Guy."

Then they move on to the Achilles heel issues of all the candidates.  They both decide that Rick Perry has no Achilles heel but rather an Achilles head, with the ensuing amusing explanation.

But the best part of the video comes at the end as Oliver explains how Romney is a rich guy and what dastardly rich guys can do to your family - just because they can.  You have got to see that part, as it is the very foundation upon which Oliver sees Romney demanding us to vote for him in the general election.

Laugh on.


Indecision 2012 - ABC News GOP Debate - Mitt Romney's Bet

John Oliver reports on how Mitt Romney's $10,000 debate bet feeds into his out-of-touch multi-millionaire narrative.







* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -   - see what's new!  (yes, my new charity - why stand on the sidelines when you can actively do something about a problem?)



 Subscribe in a reader to A Truth Journal

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Polls: Voters Yell: Throw Them ALL Out!

Official photographic portrait of US President...
Image via Wikipedia
From Denny:  Americans are fed up with a bad economy, massive job loss, bickering politicians and a weak President who does nothing about it all.  The anti-incumbent mood is downright antagonistic toward current office holders, according to the most recent poll released by Gallup.  In fact, it's the worst anger against politicians in 19 years.

How many members of Congress deserve to lose their jobs?  More than 75 percent of the registered voters said, "Yes, throw the bums out!"  By that large margin voters said Congress deserves to be kicked down the road.

What about the all-important Independent voting bloc?  They don't think Congress deserves to keep their jobs either, saying so by 80 percent.  Republicans weigh in at 75 percent and Democrats at 68 percent.

But here's the kicker on this angry agreement across political party lines against Congress in general, there are still 53 percent that thinks their own representative deserves to be re-elected while 40 percent say they do not.

Back in the 2010 election, when voters were not quite so angry in general at Congress, they were still angry enough to rip the House away from the wimpy do-nothing Democrats and gave it to the scorched Earth destructive Republicans.

That voter fiasco created a 63-seat turnover that has made the past year even worse than before the election because of bizarre Tea Party newbies.  This was the largest turnover by either party since 1948.  The stingy Republicans have managed to create a whole new class of people:  the former middle class now reduced to the working poor and The 99ers - those who have gone unemployed for years and exceeded unemployment benefits.

What about voter attitude towards Obama?  It ain't good, folks.  Only 43 percent thinks he deserves re-election.  At one point that figure had dipped down to 37 percent (measured in October 2010). What is most telling is that a high of 55 percent think Obama does not deserve a second term and it's trending higher as time goes by.

With a low percentage of approval like this for Obama what are the historical views of Presidents winning re-election?  Again, not likely.  Ever since WWII when these stats have been gathered it bears out that it takes an approval rating of at least 48 percent to win a second term.

Approval for how Obama has handled the economy is only at 33 percent, according to the recent CBS poll.  In fact, since 2008 when 75 percent of the country thought the economy was bad it has risen in 2011 to now 86 percent are negative on the economic outlook.  There are 42 percent who say it is terrible.

Worse are the numbers delivering the perception that President Obama's policies have favored Wall Street over everyone else comes in at 42 percent.  The fact that the pollsters even asked such a question lets you know it is high in the minds of everyday voters.  Corporate politicians beware.

What about the perception of whether voters think President Obama shares their priorities?  Not good on this front either.  They weigh in at 54 percent think he does not share the same priorities for the country.  When people go into the voting booth, invariably they go in to vote for someone who will help them.  The fact that Obama is seen as someone who will not be good for the average voter says he will not see re-election.

A suggestion to members of Congress and President Obama?  Get busy and do something more meaningful than payroll tax cuts and renaming the country's motto.  As rocky and unstable as is the economy so too can be your political job prospects.  Tick tock.





* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -   - see what's new!  (yes, my new charity - why stand on the sidelines when you can actively do something about a problem?)



 Subscribe in a reader to A Truth Journal

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!



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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Obama Step Aside: Should Hillary Clinton Replace Him for 2012?

Official portrait of Secretary of State Hillar...
Image via Wikipedia
From Denny:  Voters are severely dissatisfied with both the GOP candidates and President Obama.  Because of a rocky economy, 36 million foreclosed homes dumped onto the market since 2007 plummeting home values for everyone not foreclosed (another 20 million foreclosures on their way) - and uncertain employment - everyone is looking elsewhere for answers and real leadership.

The name of Hillary Clinton is on the lips - and in the hearts - of many Democrats disillusioned with the Obama term.  Many women are looking for more women in government to meet their needs instead of the current male dominated politicians playing ego games and stuffing their wallets while in office.
The figures reported are that there are over 150 million employed in America.  That figure is old and wrong, down to about 120 million employed.  The country is in need of 31 million jobs currently in order to pull the economy back from the brink of collapse.

That's right.  At the rate of foreclosures, and by the end of 2012, under President Obama, half of the employed will have been evicted out of their homes:  60 million homes.  All this in spite of so-called help from the federal government.  Obama has done ZERO to prosecute the crookedness from Fannie Mae and the many Bush era contractors, mortgage companies and banks administering these programs.

In short, these guys took taxpayer money and shafted the middle class taxpayers in need.  By now, with the rampant scams reported, Obama should have called a halt to all foreclosures and evictions like he did last year at this time.  Much is in need of thorough investigation.

Yet, Obama remains silent and refuses to get involved, allowing Big Banks to run over the consumers, breaking so many laws it's astonishing.  If he doesn't get on the job, what will happen after he is out of office?  It is Obama and Team Obama who will find themselves answering to a court, suspected as party to the corruption.  Obama may end up our first president to be on trial, that's how scandalous are the crimes happening in our government and foreclosure mess.

It's time for the Democrat super delegates to put some steel into their spines and push Obama to the side.  His complete lack of executive skills and lack of compassion for the struggling middle class is an insult to every voter he demands to vote him back into another term.  His poll numbers continue to decline that is also met with no longer loyal ground troops willing to work for him.

Former President Bill Clinton has been repeatedly asked The Big Question for the past year by anxious journalists and Democratic party faithful:  Can you get Hillary to run in 2012?  Both Bill and Hillary dodge the question, saying it's off their radar.  Hillary wants out of the public sector, desiring to go work on women's issues around the world.  And Bill, well, we all know he wants back into the Big House.  In his heart he never left.

But "What if?" conditions became so dire that the situation changed and Hillary decided to run at the last minute?  What kind of conditions would need to appear on the horizon for Hillary to take it seriously and accept the call, if reluctantly?  Will the Democrats screw up the courage to nominate Hillary at the 2012 convention - instead of Obama?

What would make Hillary the best candidate for president in 2012?  Well, for one thing, she's a woman.  The Democratic Party is about 75 percent female and would rally behind her.  So will older Americans and the very young.  All the demographics that Obama can't pull and never will.

Hillary's speech-making skills leave a lot to be desired (as do mine).  What she has in her favor is a long list that no one else running for president possesses:

* been in the White House twice and seen it up close and personal, as First Lady and Sec. of State
* been Senator and has a network and knows how to negotiate and pass legislation
* been Sec. of State and knows foreign affairs well and has established a strong network
* willing to chick slap Israeli conservatives and other foreign leaders back to their side of the line
* cares deeply about women's and family issues
* is an intensely tireless effective hard worker not shy about getting involved
* has tremendous name recognition and a positive brand
* does not really want to be president

And it's the last item that matters the most.  With all the bullying screaming egos throwing their weight around on the GOP stage and Obama wimping around it's about time a woman stepped up to get the job done.  These men have been farting around with the economy and our lives for far too long.  Everyone has run out of patience for their antics.

You can always trust real power and authority with someone who really accepts it reluctantly.  The person who doesn't want it is the person who will be able to gracefully walk away when their term is finished.

, member of the United States House of Represe...
Rep. Chris Van Hollen Image via Wikipedi
So, now hear this Democratic Party, get Hillary Clinton on board.  Without her, the party is going down in the flames of voter apathy.  It could be another 20 years before you can get the voters enthused like in the 2008 race.  This time the candidate must be authentic.  An interesting effective choice for her vice president would be Rep. Chris Van Hollen, another authentic.

I was saving this Draft Hillary for 2012 post until January.  But after the Team Obama press secretary came out this afternoon with some outrageous drivel about how they are not political animals at this White House, well, you can see the result. :)

Do I think Hillary might answer the call now?  Yes.  Even she sees things are going badly.  Bill Clinton knew it when Obama wanted to be photographed walking with Bill.

Obama looks like a deer caught in bright headlights.  He and his team really don't know what they are doing and now it shows miserably.  You just can't fake it for three years and suddenly think you can turn on the reality switch and it would work.

Everyone knows Obama won't get reelected.  Too many former homeowners furious with him. I've been repeatedly warning Obama about this foreclosure mess and he and his team never took it seriously, not realizing the severity of the huge numbers.  You just can't have millions of people angry at you and think your poll numbers will still float.

How many lobs over the net for the past couple of years does a journalist blogger have to send you guys?  It was too easy for you to turn things around in this country if any of you were actually teachable.  But, instead, you chose arrogance and indifference to the needs of this country.

Hey, don't say I didn't try to help you.  Thousands of Democrats tried to help you, all to no avail.  You didn't even listen to the experienced Bill Clinton trying to advise you.  That was double stupid.  Why would you ignore the advice of a guy who had been in the office?  He knew his way around the labyrinth.

Bill Clinton also has had plenty of time to reflect upon what he would do differently if he had a second chance.  He just might get that second chance.  Perhaps it's the needs of the country that can finally convince Hillary to run in 2012.  If Hillary is still adamant about staying out of the race, then the Democrats had better draft someone else - and fast.



* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -   - see what's new!  (yes, my new charity - why stand on the sidelines when you can actively do something about a problem?)



 Subscribe in a reader to A Truth Journal

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!


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Monday, December 5, 2011

Poll: Americans Want To Cut Congress Pay, Work Longer Hours

The western front of the United States Capitol...
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From Denny:  You can always tell just how bad a job Congress is really doing when the voters want to fire them all, cut out their health care and raid their pension funds.  After all, turn about is fair play for it is what Congress and the Obama White House have done to the American worker.


A recent poll from The Hill, which covers Washington politics and lawmaking extensively, reveals some dire predictions for the upcoming 2012 election.  No one in Congress or the White House should consider their jobs to be safe.  This is an angry electorate.

Since Congress has behaved so badly the past year the public now wants to treat them like a business owner with a bad employee:  fire them, scale back their pay, eliminate or reduce their health care benefits and cut out the pension funds.


America's view of national lawmakers is dark and gloomy, not holding out much hope for a better government.  The approval rating of Congress hovers around 9 percent - on a good day.

The reason this poll was more significant is because it included questions about how people felt about the prospects of their personal finances improving next year.  Eighty percent did not predict much good on that front:  40 percent expect their finances to get worse in 2012 and 40 percent expect no growth and stuck at the same level.

Remember those high salaries that Congress voted for themselves during the Bush years?  Well, under Obama they did nothing to lower those excessive pay hikes - and at a time when most Americans see their pay checks dwindling.  Underemployment is the new work place buzz word and that soon translates into the inability to continue paying house mortgages, escalating foreclosures to new heights.

In this poll, it was 67 percent that said the congressional pay of a $174,000 base salary should be lowered - instead of raised or left as it is.  When it comes to pensions, it was 69 percent who think those pensions should be retired along with the ineffective lawmakers.  

Should Congress work more days than it currently does to finally get something done?  Sixty-four percent want Congress to work more days than on their current calendar, dissatisfied with the snail's pace of passing legislation and the intractable attitude about solving important issues.

How was the new Republican majority in the House viewed?  Well, not well at all.  It was 38 percent who say it changed Washington for the worse.  Only 28 percent claimed it improved Washington while another 28 percent saw it as no difference.  After all, if nothing significant gets done then there really is no difference.  The voters pay a lot of money to people who get nothing done, sabotaging the government's effectiveness.


Check out the gender differences in opinion: 

How is the Republican takeover of the House perceived?

Men:

a good thing:  33 percent
changed Washington for the worse: 31 percent
made no difference:  28 percent

Women:

a good thing:  24 percent
changed Washington for the worse:  44 percent



Should Congress work more days?

Men:

yes - 56 percent

Women:  

yes - 72 percent



Should the members' base salary be lowered?

Men:

yes - 69 percent

Women:

yes - 66 percent



Should congressional pensions be discontinued?

Men:

yes - 71 percent

Women:

yes - 66 percent

Note:  Under the current pension system, members are eligible at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service.  They get the pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service.

Click here to view data from The Hill Poll



It's evident the only reason people run for political office these days is to get rich and do no serious work for the American people.  They only work half days and half a year, yet whine about how they can't get out to the golf course more often.  Somehow, GOP Speaker Boehner manages to keep his tan from his time on the  links while his sidekick, Eric Cantor, uses insider trading to make his fortune off the backs of the American people.

Worse, Congress had the nerve to secretly vote themselves a bill a couple of years ago where they declared it legal to use insider trading information to basically lay bets on the stock market.  Now, if you or I did such a thing we would get slammed in jail and fined up to our eyeballs.

It's no surprise as to how Congress is getting rich at our expense.  They give the national Treasury to foreign countries and Big Banks in the form of foreign aid bribe money and We Made Crooked Bets bailouts while American jobs continue to travel overseas and out of sight.  The politicians get rewarded from their benefactors by money coming into their various slush funds they have declared legal.  

Is it any wonder that the public is disgusted with Congress and the Obama White House?  With corruption this rampant the people no longer have confidence in their government:  a bought government.

So, listen up, Washington politicians, your days are numbered in office.  Either learn to work more hours for less pay and no benefits like the rest of America - or get fired.





* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -   - see what's new!  (yes, my new charity - why stand on the sidelines when you can actively do something about a problem?)



 Subscribe in a reader to A Truth Journal

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!



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