Politics Report

Why Chuck Todd Was Wrong To Whine About Colbert

Colbert continues social criticism veiled as satire in the vein of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense".

Stephen Colbert announced the creation of a political Super PAC last year, turning political and pundit heads in an unprecedented move by a comedian to draw attention, via satire, to some perceived injustice. In this case it was the Supreme Court’s nonsensical Citizens United decision, allow the unfettered accumulation of hundreds of millions of dollars to throw at political candidates and campaigns (subsequently granting them unfettered access to these politicians when they enter office). Colbert’s most recent move, however, has got some of the political insiders fuming. Stephen Colbert has formed an exploratory committee for a Presidential run, handing control of his Super PAC over to fellow Comedy Central fake news host, Jon Stewart. Though no one knows just how far the comedian will take this ruse, he’s taken it far enough to ruffle some feathers, as NBC political correspondent Chuck Todd made clearly known at a Winthrop University forum. Read more about Why Chuck Todd Was Wrong To Whine About Colbert

Indiana Bracing For A Wisconsin-Style Union Law Fight

Democrats are boycotting the state legislature until Republicans agree to have statewide hearings on their proposed anti-union law.

Indiana looks to be heading for a legislative showdown over union collective bargaining rights in the vein of Wisconsin’s historic battle last year. Wednesday, Democratic state lawmakers refused to come to the floor and remained in special meetings in protest over a Republican sponsored bill that would remove collective bargaining rights for any employees that are forced to pay a fee for union representation. The bill, which Republicans have lauded as a job creator, is unconstitutional and unfair to employees according to Democratic lawmakers. Democrats will refuse to allow the bill to be voted upon, they say, until Republicans agree to have public hearings on the issue around the state. Read more about Indiana Bracing For A Wisconsin-Style Union Law Fight

U.S. Economy Adds 212,000 Jobs In December

But it's not time to celebrate just yet.

E conomic indicators are improving, and it’s starting to look like a true recovery in the United States. The most recent jobs numbers out from the U.S. Labor Department on Friday showed that 212,000 jobs were added to the private sector in December. This is the largest single month growth in the private sector (which includes seasonal hiring but not farm and agriculture jobs) in a while and brings unemployment down to its lowest level since 2009 at 8.5%. This is a 2% drop from November’s unemployment rate, which was revised up to 8.7%. This news has implications for both economic recovery, and the current political climate. The questions being; how long, and how strong?

First, according to The Wall Street Journal, the economy has continued to add jobs every month since October of 2010. In addition, growth has accelerated in the last couple of months, though it remains to be seen whether this is primarily a product of seasonal hiring or a true upward trend. As for the strength, economists say, “not enough”. Although unemployment has dropped, and even the so-called “under-employed” have dropped from 15.2% in November to 15.6%, it isn’t enough. October and November both saw gains of about 100,000 jobs, with about twice that number in December. However, economists believe that the U.S. needs to add 125,000 a month just to keep up with population growth, to say nothing of reaching pre-recession levels. There are still 13.1 million Americans unemployed, not including those that have been unemployed so long that they’ve stopped looking for work. The economy has added 1.6 million jobs over the course of 2011, which is still 6.1 million less than peak employment in January of 2008. Read more about U.S. Economy Adds 212,000 Jobs In December

Ben Nelson's Departure Threatens Dem Majority In Senate

The red state may get a little redder in 2012.

Ben’s out, and Democrats are worried. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska officially announced his retirement from the Senate by declaring that he would not run for a third term. Nebraska is a red state (even the Cornhuskers are red) and although he’s a conservative Democrat, his departure could threaten the already tenuous Democratic majority in the Senate. It’s likely that one of the stable of Republican opponents running for Nelson’s seat will take it as the Dems don’t seem to have a Plan B. Read more about Ben Nelson's Departure Threatens Dem Majority In Senate

House Bill Hits Senate Floor With Partisan Republican Riders

...and is likely to be DOA on the Senate floor.

The payroll tax bill has passed in the House with a strong Republican majority and a few Blue Dog Democrats hanging on. However, the bill is so loaded with toxic GOP interests that it’s likely to be dead on the Senate floor. The payroll tax cut, instituted by President Obama in 2009, has been keeping an extra $1,000 dollars in the pockets of middle class Americans to help them weather the current economic storm. However, should congress be unable to agree on a way to preserve the tax cut, it will expire at the end of this year, hitting American people when many are already overwhelmed. Read more about House Bill Hits Senate Floor With Partisan Republican Riders

A Senate GOP Common Sense Alternative To Payroll Tax Holiday

And they're probably not going to agree with one another long enough to even submit it....go figure.

The White House and Senate Democratic leadership has been out to paint the Senate GOP as a middle-class killer. The latest round of punches came after Senate Republicans voted, almost unanimously, to turn down an extension of Obama’s payroll tax cut (a rival Republican bill was similarly rebuked). The tax cut has been putting an extra $1,000 in the pockets of middle class Americans, but is slated to expire at the end of this year. However, some Senate Republicans are fighting back, proposing an alternative to the payroll tax cut; a tax credit. Read more about A Senate GOP Common Sense Alternative To Payroll Tax Holiday

The Post Office Employees Are Not the Enemy

The post office's budget changes will affect more than just delivery.

The Post Office’s $3 billion budget shortfall will likely result in delayed first class mail if the proposed budget cuts take place. The old adage that “the mail must go through” seems to have gone by the wayside as many Americans are blaming the federal agency for mismanagement and for paying their employees decent wages and benefits.

Ron Paul to Sit Out Next Debate

Candidate won't participate in a Trump-hosted event

The Republican presidential debates seem to be occurring as regularly as episodes of reality TV--and in truth, the difference between the two appears to be shrinking. People watch each debate to see who's going to screw up and how. After each debate, viewers are left with incredulous gossip about the blunders and the wry jabs the candidates make. It's less about airing out opinions and engaging in true political dialectic and more about establishing personality and providing entertainment. It may be fun, but it's probably not productive. And Ron Paul's campaign committee has started to call out the facade for what it is.

Newt Gingrich Would Do Away with Child Labor Laws

Thinks putting kids to work will fix the school system

In case this country wasn't close enough to the third world for you, Newt Gingrich has proposed a way to turn the clock on labor rights back by about a century. Those child labor laws that FDR signed into effect way back when? Apparently, they're a major damper on the well-being of the United States.

Democrats and Republicans Fail to Reach an Agreement on Deficit Reduction

No big surprise.

Ever since I can remember, the most common term associated with the United States congress is gridlock. Republicans and Democrats can’t seem to get it together on anything. And, while the gridlock has been crippling in the past, it’s even worse now that the United States has to agree on a deficit reduction package. The bi-partisan panel led by Senator Patty Murray from Washington State couldn’t agree on a deal. And, like a married couple, both parties are fighting over who was responsible for the breakdown of the original deal.

The Democrats are in favor of more taxes for the wealthiest Americans, but neither party seems to have a specific plan for re-structuring the tax codes for the United States' largest corporations.