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WH Has Social Security Cuts on Their Table

Get a load of this.  It was released late yesterday evening in The Hill.

2 things happened Wednesday.  The new Republican majority House gleefully voted to overturn the last session’s PPACA health care reform bill completely, as expected.  And the Chinese President, Hu Jintao had a fancy state dinner at the White House with the President. It was said to be a “quintessentially American” state dinner, with lobster, rib eye beef with onion crisps, potatoes, and apple pie for dessert.


Wednesday, January 19th, 2011.

The Hill

Senior White House officials have told Senate Democrats that raising the Social Security retirement age and changing the calculation for cost-of-living adjustments are “on the table” but no final decisions have been made, according to Senate sources.

A White House spokesman declined to comment.

Strategists for congressional Democrats fear this could create permanent Democratic minorities in the House and Senate.

http://thehill.com/homenews/ad…

These so – called political strategists really have their heads up their bums if they think their biggest problem is that it could create permanent Democratic minorities in the House and Senate.

I bet they want me and you to be civil about this.

Let’s get this straight.

This isn’t about which Party gets to be on top.  This isn’t about getting somebody elected, or re elected, and it’s sure not about being able to pass more pathetic legislation and declaring a victory at the photo – opp.

This isn’t about writing your best selling, tell all,  cover up biography afterwards, nor your cushy post administration job in the private sector or think tank.  

This is literally about life and death for the elderly and the most vulnerable in our population.

They really think they can extort their remaining constituency on this issue.

They really think they can raise the retirement age to 68 or 69 before somebody can collect on Social Security or Medicare.

They think this is merely a matter of strategizing for the 2012 national re election of the Democratic candidate for the White House, and to hell with the House and Senate.

This is war.

Hey, Madame ex Speaker, we saw what you did before in the House, when push came to shove, on that concept of everybody in the tax extraction in exchange for universal eligibility of coverage for a government program. You punted, and it was disgraceful.  Senate Majority Leader, too.

You know and I know what’s going down on that State of the Union speech this month.

There Will Be Platitudes.  “And I pledge to you, Social Security will remain safe and solvent on my watch.”  

Then afterwards he does whateverthehell he wants.  

Don’t make me use the Mother of 5 Voice.  

Froomkin has more:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

Spokane Backpack Defused Monday

The writing of this will not cause any aggravation whatsoever for the PR team, publicists, speechwriters, groupies, and fangurls ‘n guize of the former GOP Vice Presidential Candidate who ran in 2008, nor of the millions of armchair instant psychiatrists now on the innertubalas.  

FBI:

Status: All clear, but they’re looking for something

Location:  Spokane, Washington

sublocation:  Parade Route

Date: Monday, January 17, 2011

Information Wanted, $20,000 reward.  Subject Should Be Considered Armed and Dangerous. (But notice we are not saying armed with what so nothing is implied. )

Casualties:  None

Potential:  Could Have

Heroes:  3 City Employees

Outcome: Parade Route changed, Item Diffused


Harrill declined to release details of the device, other than to call it a functional [redacted] that could have caused multiple casualties.

The agency released photos of the redacted [thing with armstraps on it that begins with a “b”] and two shirts found inside

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

 So, She Who Will Not Be Named, you’re just going to have to fundraise on something else this week.    

Arrrrrghhh !!!

As Lieberman deliberated, the new chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), told HuffPost that the party would consider supporting Lieberman if he returned to the fold.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

Joe Lieberman,Senator Joe Lieberman

Joe & George the President


The feeling of ill will is mutual: Lieberman said during the health care debate that one reason he opposed a Medicare buy-in compromise was that progressives were embracing it.

Joe Lieberman and John McCain

Joe & John the Presidential Candidate




March 20, 2003

” What we are doing here is not only in the interest of the safety of the American people. Believe me, Saddam Hussein would have used these weapons against us eventually or given them to terrorists who would have. But what we are doing here, in overthrowing Saddam and removing those weapons of mass destruction and taking them into our control, is good for the security of people all over the world, including the Iraqi people themselves.”

http://www.lobelog.com/lieberm…

John McCain Joe Lieberman,McCain,Lieberman

Joe and John in Iraq


September 29, 2011.    10 years and 18 days after 9-11 attacks on NYC



” It is time for us to take steps that make clear that if diplomatic and economic strategies continue to fail to change Iran’s nuclear policies, a military strike is not just a remote possibility in the abstract, but a real and credible alternative policy that we and our allies are ready to exercise.

It is time to retire our ambiguous mantra about all options remaining on the table. It is time for our message to our friends and enemies in the region to become clearer: namely, that we will prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability — by peaceful means if we possibly can, but with military force if we absolutely must. A military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities entails risks and costs, but I am convinced that the risks and costs of allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapons capability are much greater.

Some have suggested that we should simply learn to live with a nuclear Iran and pledge to contain it. In my judgment, that would be a grave mistake. As one Arab leader I recently spoke with pointed out, how could anyone count on the United States to go to war to defend them against a nuclear-armed Iran, if we were unwilling to go to war to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran? Having tried and failed to stop Iran’s nuclear breakout, our country would be a poor position to contain its consequences.

I also believe it would be a failure of U.S. leadership if this situation reaches the point where the Israelis decide to attempt a unilateral strike on Iran. If military action must come, the United States is in the strongest position to confront Iran and manage the regional consequences. This is not a responsibility we should outsource. We can and should coordinate with our many allies who share our interest in stopping a nuclear Iran, but we cannot delegate our global responsibilities to them.”

http://www.lobelog.com/lieberm…

http://lieberman.senate.gov/in…

Senate’s Conrad Cashes Out

North Dakota “Democratic” Senator Kent Conrad, 62, has announced he is not going to run for re election in 2012. He is the current majority Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.   He is also on Agriculture Nutrition Forestry, Finance, and Indian Affairs committees.  Kent Conrad


Conrad said he would serve out his term.

“Although I will not seek re-election, my work is not done,” Conrad said in his statement. “I will continue to do my level best for both North Dakota and the nation.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

He says he’s going to spend his remaining time and energy trying to reduce the national debt and dependence on foreign oil.  And working on a Farm Bill.  http://www.valleynewslive.com/…

Senator Kent Conrad’s legacy will include recommending former OMB head Peter Orszag for his White House position early in the Obama administration (Orszag sharing Conrad’s curious blind spot on what drives the deficit, see more of that here: https://www.docudharma.com/diar…    ) , being a phony “deficit hawk,”  who couldn’t see anything wrong with increased military budgets and decreasing domestic needs being met, and opposing the Public Option during the Health Care reform legislative battle. Voting for reducing the payroll tax that funds Social Security, and for continuing the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest in Dec of 2010 during the Lame Duck Session.  http://www.thestate.com/2010/1…    Oh, and being part of that Democratic Senate Supermajority of 2009 That Didn’t Do Any Energy Policy, Global Climate Change,  or Tax Code Changes.  Other than a lot of stimulus money got earmarked for “research.”

Kent Conrad was also on the President Obama Deficit (“Catfood Commision”) Committee of 2010, which called for cuts in Medicare and Social Security.


“You know, a certain amount of this is shock therapy,” Conrad said. “There are different options and, of course, what everybody has fastened on is the most extreme of the options. But, look, the important thing for people to know is that we are borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend. That’s utterly unsustainable. It can’t continue much longer, so it’s got to be dealt with.”



“Fundamentally, if we’re going to raise revenue, I don’t think the way to do it is to raise rates. I think the way to do it is to eliminate some of the loopholes that exist in the system,” the senator said.  

November 14, 2010.  Kent Conrad in an interview with Christiane Amanpour on “This Week” about the Deficit Commission

http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek…

You’ll Love This- WH Sides With Big Pharma vs. Clinics on Prices

There are over 15,000 clinics and hospitals in this country, which get their drugs for poorer patients from a government discount – drug act which was created in 1992.   They spend over $6 billion, and they are supposed to get a discount of 30% to 50% off.

During the past 8 years, (that’s mostly during the Bush administration 2002 – , with some overlap into the 3rd Term of Bipartisanbamaship ) the inspector general for HHS noticed drug manufacturers were overcharging their customers, but not getting dinged for it and being motivated to be good contractors.


Ted Slafsky, executive director of Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access — which represents 600 hospitals in the program — said that “manufacturers have been able to overcharge covered entities with impunity.”

http://www.californiahealthlin…

Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz County in California sued Astra Zeneca USA.   This upset Big Pharma.

In Dec 2009, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals of San Francisco ruled that clinics and hospitals could sue.

The Supreme Court is asked to rule next.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Eric Holder, Attorney General, under the Presidency of Barack Obama, is now siding with the Pharmaceutical companies to overturn that decision, and telling the Supreme Court they don’t want counties and clinics suing over drug price rip offs.   Per the DOJ, only the Federal Government (not meaning Congress, I guess, but the secret deal maker- in – chief) had the authority to enforce the law.

Monday: Turton -just another coincidence, nothing to see here

1. Duke Energy is buying Progress Energy today for $13.7 billion. Progress shareholders will get 2.6 shares of Duke Energy stock for each share of Progress stock they own.  The merger creates the country’s largest electric utility company.  They are doing well enough to offer a rate decrease to customers this coming year.  They’re also planning on building another nuclear generating plant in Florida.

2. Ashley Turton is a lobbyist for Progress Energy.  Progress Energy is homequartered in Raleigh, N.C and has 2 major electric utilities that serve 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida, with about $10 billion in annual sales.

3. Ashley Turton was found dead in her car after a fire at her home’s garage very early this morning in Washington, DC.  Neighbors call 911 to report the fire around 5 am.  Turton was supposed to be on the way to the airport for an early flight.  The southeast is socked in today by a winter snowstorm that was topped off by freezing ice, which has caused travel havoc and flight cancelations in Georgia and South Carolina. http://www.charlotteobserver.c…  The most impacted cities are Columbia, S.C., Atlanta, Birmingham, Ala., Huntsville, Ala., Montgomery, Ala., Fayetteville, Ark., Little Rock, Ark., Jackson, Miss., and Chattanooga, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.

The photograph of the scene at Roll Call shows a silver BMW with its undamaged rear sticking partially out of a brick garage with black smokestains wreathing the entrance. (link can be accessed via this site http://dailycaller.com/2011/01… )

4.    She was 37 years old, the wife of White House Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, Dan Turton,   and was the mother of 3 young children.

5. Ashley Turton would have been a liaison with Capitol Hill discussing the merger with legislative staff. Her husband Dan’s job was and is to push the White House’s agenda through Congress.  He is described as the President’s “point man” in the short bio at the WAPO.  Dan Turton used to be a lobbyist for Timmons and Company from 2003 to 2006.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T…  Long term clients of Timmons & Company include the American Petroleum Instititute (API), the American Medical Association, Northrop, Anheuser-Busch.  A list of clients that Dan Turton lobbied for in 2006 is here: http://www.opensecrets.org/lob…

Before lobbying for Progress Energy, Ashley Turton was the Chief of Staff of Rep. Rosa DeLauro, (D, Connecticut -03).  

6. Continuing the Six Degrees of Rahm, Rep. DeLauro and her husband, Stanley Greenberg,   were giving free rent for years at their DC townhouse to Rahm Emanuel. (aprox from 2004 to at least 2009, the time of that story.  

7. The MSM cable TeeVee headline news is pretty much ignoring this.  Except that they are running a lot of stories about how all the flights in the coastal southeast are delayed or canceled due to the snow.

___

edit. fixed state initial.

8. Tue am check of any updates on this mystery:  Another view of the burned interior of the garage is here, http://www.rollcall.com/issues…   along with the hypothesis that it was a “slow speed collision” with “something” as she backed the 2008 BMW out of the garage, which caused the fire.   I’m just not buying this.  It’s a Beemer, not a Pinto, for pete’s sake, how often do you hear about them self immolating while in reverse ?  

“Neighbors describe hearing a crash followed by several popping sounds.”  – WAPO  http://www.washingtonpost.com/…

AZ Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Has Been Shot in Tuscon This Am at Constituent Event

Saturday, January 8, 2011   Representative Gabrielle Giffords, (D, AZ-08 ) was shot this morning at a “Congress on Your Corner” constituent event in a Safeway grocery store at around 10am local mountain time.

http://my.firedoglake.com/tedd…

At 11:07 am PST her condition is unknown, she has been hospitalized at the University Medical Center in Tuscon, along with other staffers, people and bystanders who were wounded. (at least 6 others wounded )

The attempted assassin ran up to her and fired at point blank range, hitting her in the head, and then ran off, but he was tackled by witnesses and brought down and taken into custody. (per what I am hearing now on MSNBC as they are talking to a sheriff on a phone line)

Rep. Giffords, 40 years old, was elected to a 3rd term on Nov 2. http://www.npr.org/2011/01/08/…

Oh, my God, a witness on the phone to MSNBC says there are bodies laying all over the place, at least 3 killed.  Sheriff says 5 killed, 6 wounded.

Arizona has been a hotbed of hostility towards Democrats since Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed the racial profiling law targeting Latinos and Indigenous peoples,  and both Giffords and Rep. Raul Grijalva have previously received death threats from the extreme right wing.

_____

UPDATED According to a spokesperson for the hospital at a recent news conference on MSNBC, the Congresswoman remains in critical condition, but he is optimistic that she will survive her wound.  She is said to be out of surgery.  The bullet is said to have gone completely through her head.

A Federal Judge died in the attack.

A nine year old child taken to the hospital did not survive.

5 people are in surgery, 5 people are in critical condition.

The name of the suspected shooter is Jared Laughner, and it is unknown at this time if he was acting alone or in concert with others.

____

Updated #2 spelling correction. suspect Jared Lee Loughner.  Age 22, Tuscon, AZ

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…  (see creepy youtubes at link, the last one is “my final thoughts” )

excerpts:


I’m a sleepwalker – who turns off the alarm clock

All conscious dreaming at this moment is asleep

Jared Loughner is conscious dreaming at this moment

Thus Jared Loughner is asleep

___

If I define terrorist then a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism,

especially as a political weapon

I define terrorist

Thus, a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon

If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem

you call me a terrorist

thus the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad Hominem

___

you don’t have to accept the federalist laws

nonetheless, read the United States of America’s Constitution to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws

You’re literate, listener ?

___

the property owners and government officials are no longer in ownership of their land and laws from a revolution.

thus, the revolutionary’s from the revolution are in control of the land and laws

__

In conclusion, reading the second United States Constitution, I can’t trust the current government because of the ratifications: The government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar.

No !  I won’t pay debt with a currency that’s not backed by gold and silver !

No !  I won’t trust in God !

What’s government if words have no meaning ?

-Jared Loughner 3

The above quotes were from the #3 video of a youtube account of a “Jared Loughner” which is at the HuffPo link.

This is Tea Party – Libertarian theme babbling.

The Federal Judge who was murdered, along with 5 others so far, was US District Court Judge John Roll.

_______

Update #3.  Law enforcement are looking for a second suspect, who is believed to have come to the store with the shooter, a white male in his 50’s, whom they are not otherwise releasing any news on, other than they have pictures they are not releasing.  http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.c…

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik says Rep. Giffords was the intended target of the shooting, and was “not convinced” that the suspect had acted alone.  http://www.13wmaz.com/news/bre…

Healthcare: A Blast From the Past

December 7, 1964  from a newspaper in the national archives

Says Medicare Bill Will Be Passed

Newark – Speaking at a meeting of the New Jersey Association of Health Underwriters at the Military Park Hotel here Friday, Joseph J. Sear, president and chairman of the board of the Progressive Life Insurance Company of Red Bank, said the outcome of the recent election makes it virtually certain that the 89th Congress, meeting in January, will pass a Medicare bill, and that it will be signed by the President.

“We, in the accident and health insurance business,” he said, “should have no fears that the passage of such a bill will hurt our business unless it becomes the opening wedge for a socialized medicine program such as in Great Britain, which includes everyone from cradle to the grave. The bill before Congress is generally restricted to providing medical aid for persons 65 years of age and older under the Social Security Program, and we are still insuring primarily persons below the age of 65.

“Since I last spoke to you 13 years ago, (note: 1951) the people cared for by hospital expense policies increased from $85 million to $145 million and the people cared for by medical expense policies increased from $28 million to $102 million, and the trend is still upward.”

Forty Six Years Later

March 23, 2010. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), aka Dole/Nixon/RomneyObamaCare, signed into law by “Democratic” President.   2009 Bill passed by Senate still lacks universal coverage and the option of purchasing government insurance, but contains universally loathed tax mandate and excise tax pushed by “Democratic” Senator from Massachusetts and WH “Economist” consultant from MIT.  Bill not designed to add more Medicaid coverage until 2014.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P…

September 17, 2010. Number of uninsured Americans now rises to 50.7 million, or 1 out of 6, or 16%.   Workers now paying 47% more for family health insurance coverage than in 2005, while employers pay 20% more.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/n…

January 3, 2011 New Republican Majority leader Eric Cantor introduces bill to rules committee called “Repealing the Job Killing Health Care Law Act”   “Effective as of the enactment of Public Law 111- 148, such act is repealed, and the provisions of law amended or repealed by such Act are restored or revived as if such act had not been enacted.”

pdf download text here: http://rules-republicans.house…

January 4, 2011  from Kaiser Health News-

House Republicans have scheduled a Jan. 12 vote to repeal the health care law. While the measure is expected to pass the House, Democrats in the Senate have pledged to stop the bill.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.or…

January 5, 2011 Shuffle the Deck Chairs on the Titanic


The Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, created just after the law passed, is about to be folded into the federal Medicare agency, signaling a major organizational shift just months after the office was created, administration officials said.

In addition, Michael Hash, who has been serving as a top White House health adviser, has taken the reins of the Office of Health Reform at the Department of Health and Human Services. Hash succeeds Jeanne Lambrew,  who has been director of the office since May 2009 and has played a central role on the health law. Lambrew, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, will stay on at HHS as an adviser to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The insurance oversight office was headed by Jay Angoff, who battled with insurance companies both as a Missouri official and a class-action litigator. He’ll become a senior adviser to Sebelius.

The office will become part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and will be managed by Marilyn Tavenner, deputy administrator of CMS.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.or…

January 5, 2011.   Blue Shield of CA seeks rate increases of up to 59% for customers by March 1st. They blame costs of hospitals

http://www.latimes.com/health/…

Hospitals treat the un insured when their health descends into the most expensive crisis mode,  and pass the markup, make it up prices along to the insured, while charging the uninsured the highest rates, so they can still have their debts “sold.”

And nothing has changed the basic dynamic of leaving a portion of the population uncovered to act as a price lever on the rest.

Nothing.

A million and a half people filed for bankruptcy last year.  The leading cause is uncontrolled medical debt.

Blue Shield spent $16 million on federal lobbyists in 2010.  The top recipient was “Democrat” There Will Be No Public Option Blanche, the former Sen. Lincoln of Arkansas.  Eric Cantor got $22,500.

http://www.opensecrets.org/org…

They have a PAC, too, for their executives to use.

http://www.campaignmoney.com/p…

There’s more – each of those executives will be making other, individual donations.

But in CA, the real action is at the state level.  How they loved Schwarzenegger, the ex governator.  And the Republicans. And the Democrats.  Last year’s money bomb:

http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Ca…

http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Ca…

most complete list of donations in 2009 – 2010 election cycle:

http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Ca…

Poor Jerry Brown only got $2,500 out of all of that ?  

 

Gerry Rafferty, 1947- 2011, Scottish Bard of “Baker Street”

Gerry Rafferty, April 16, 1947  –  January 4, 2011  the Scottish singer songwriter best known for “Baker Street,”  (1978) which took saxophones and made them sing like bagpipes doing jazz,  has passed away at home.  He was 63.

http://www.latimes.com/news/ob…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs…

Jerry Rafferty

Gerry Rafferty

the lyrics, Baker Street. (The song’s iconic musical saxophone riffs were played by Raphael Ravenscroft. )

Winding your way down on Baker Street

Light in your head and dead on your feet

well another crazy day you’ll drink the night away

and forget about everything

this city desert makes you feel so cold

it’s got so many people but it’s got no soul

and it’s taken you so long to find out that you were wrong

and forget about everything

You used to think it was so easy

you used to say it was so easy

but you’re tryin’   you’re try -in’ now

Another year and then you’ll be happy

just one more year and then you’ll be happy

but you’re crying,  you’re cryin’ now

(music riff )

Way down the street there a light in his place

He opens the door, he’s got that look on his face

and he asks you where you’ve been you tell him who you’ve seen

And you talk about everything

He’s got this dream about buyin’ some land

He’s gonna give up the booze and the one night stands

and then he’ll settle down

in a quiet little town

and forget about everything

But you know he’ll always keep moving

You know he’s never going to stop movin’

He’s rolling, he’s a rolling stone

And when you wake up it’s a new morning

THe sun is shining, it’s a new morning

But you’re going, you’re going home

(music riff )

Pakistan’s Punjab Governor Taseer Assassinated

News Being Ignored by the cable TeeVee AMSM Dept, not that we’re in a covert war or anything:

Tuesday, Jan 4, 2011. The governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Salman Taseer, age 56,  has been assassinated in the northern capital of Islamabad by one of his bodyguards.   Taseer was a member of the Bhutto legacy Pakistan People’s Party.  In 2008, the president of Pakistan, Zadari, appointed him governor of Punjab, which is Pakistan’s wealthiest province and in the east along the Indian border.   According to Al Jazeera, Taseer, who was visiting Islamabad, was not being guarded by his usual security detail. The alleged assassin was from Rawalpindi, which is slightly south of Islamabad, and that is where former PM Benazir Bhutto was also killed in 2007 by a bomb explosion.  Rawalpindi is the headquarters of the Pakistani Army and Air Force.

Tomorrow, January 5th, was to be the anniversary celebration of the birth of Bhutto’s father,   Zufikar Ali Bhutto.  

The government has closed parliament and announced a three day period of mourning.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…

Last month he publicly supported Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman and mother of three who has been sentenced to death for allegedly insulting the prophet Muhammad. Bibi’s case has triggered a fresh debate around the blasphemy laws, which human rights groups say are frequently abused to settle scores or target minorities.

Enraged PPP supporters took to the streets across Pakistan, chanting slogans and weeping. A procession of ashen-faced ministers and officials trailed into the Islamabad hospital where Taseer’s body was taken after the shooting. “These are the forces that are ranged against us,” said Latif Khosa, a former attorney general. “Every time our party comes to power, its leaders are assassinated or disappear.”

Foreshadowing ?


Monday, Jan 3rd, 2011.  

http://www.reuters.com/article…

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s government lost its parliamentary majority Sunday when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) announced it would go into opposition over fuel price policies.

The former military chief (Musharraf), who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, has lived in self-imposed exile since he stepped down under threat of impeachment in 2008. He spends most of his time in London and Dubai.

Musharraf said: “I must return (to Pakistan) well before the next elections, whenever that may be. I strongly believe the real momentum for my party will start once I reach Pakistan. So we are trying to create an environment for me to reach there.”

JP Morgan Chase Exec For WH Chief of Staff?

Things I Couldn’t Make Up If I Tried, continued:

William Daley, an executive with JP Morgan Chase in Chicago, is under consideration to replace Rahm Emanuel, who is running for Mayor of Chicago, as President Obama’s Chief of Staff.


http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-…

Emanuel hopes to succeed outgoing Mayor Richard M. Daley, the brother of William Daley. Like Emanuel, Daley would be a choice with strong ties to the president’s hometown of Chicago.

The decision comes at a critical point of turnover for the Obama administration, as it pivots toward the back half of its first term, and looks toward re-election in 2012.

Snowy Monday Blues: Teena Marie, 1956 -2010

Teena Marie, a singing partner of the late Rick James, has passed away at the age of 54 in Pasadena, CA.  She is survived by a daughter, Alia Rose, also a singer.   Teena Marie’s first album was “Wild and Peaceful” in 1979, which had her first top 10 hit, “I’m Just a Sucker for Your Love.”   Although best known as a R&B singer, she also did movie soundtracks (Top Gun, The Goonies, Undisputed).  Rest in peace, sweet Lady Tee.  

http://www.latimes.com/news/ob…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T…

Fire and Desire – Rick James and Teena Marie  Originally from Jame’s 1980 album Street Songs

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