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Drug Policies Are WAYYY Outta Hand

Hundreds Of Musicians Removed From Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame For Drug Use

B’Man’s Patriot Watch: Naomi Klein on Obama

Klein speaks about Obama and the intellectual and political integrity of the progressive movement. h/t The Real News.

Automakers seek increase to government loan program

B’Man: My, how convenient that the government will bail another Big Money entity out. Amazing how they are asking for even MORE money. But let me ask the most obvious question: why loan money or bail these asshats out when they have made so damn much profit all these years and made a conscious decision NOT to upgrade their plants with their own money, enabling even more profits and preparing for what they knew was coming but decided not to pursue (for monetary reasons, I am sure)?

Same for any military contractor.

As a matter of fact, the same for ANY corporation. Why hasve we, as citizens, allowed the corporations more power and influence than we, The Citizens, have ourselves?

On the front page of its Business Day section, the New York Times (8/23, C1, Bunkley, Vlasic) reported that General Motors (GM), Ford Motor, and Chrysler are seeking “a significant increase in the $25 billion government loan program authorized last year to help them build more fuel-efficient vehicles.” According to the automakers, “the loans would allow them to overhaul their plants more quickly than they can otherwise afford to in a dismal time for the United States auto industry.

The Wall Street Journal (8/23, A3, Terlep, Mitchell) quoted GM spokesman Greg Martin as saying, “There’s a real urgency in that all of the progress we have made on these new vehicles could come to a standstill if we can’t get capital at reasonable rates.” According to some reports, “the domestic auto industry now seeks between $40 billion and $50 billion. The automaker’s would like to have a funded plan in place by the end of 2008.

“The industry is urging Congress to appropriate the funds before the November 4 election and asking the energy department to complete the necessary regulations before the end of the year,” the Financial Times (8/23, Simon) added. “The scheme, known as the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program, would be available to all vehicle manufacturers with operations in North America, as well as parts suppliers.” Yet, GM, Ford, and Chrysler “would be by far the biggest beneficiaries. They see the loans as a way of bridging a cash shortage that is likely to continue for at least the next 18 months.”

According to the AP (8/23, Thomas), “the auto industry’s future has been a top issue in Midwest battleground states key to the presidential race.” Even though Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) “had opposed the retooling efforts, arguing that his $5,000 tax credits for consumers who buy fuel-efficient vehicles and a $300 million battery prize would accomplish the same goal,” he said on Friday that “Congress should fund the loan program in the energy bill.” Sen. McCain’s Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) “previously outlined support for the loans, and a 10-year, $150 billion program for green manufacturing. Obama’s campaign said Friday they would support the $50 billion loan program.” Auto industry officials maintain “that the loan program would not represent a bailout, but would be similar to aid lawmakers have given to Wall Street investment banks and struggling mortgage firms.

The Detroit Free Press (8/23, Hyde) added that “Detroit automakers, the UAW (United Auto Workers union), and their allies on Capitol Hill will launch an all-out blitz over the next few weeks for up to $50 billion in government loans over the next three years.

B’Man: How nice it must be to have the government bail out all these rich bastards when they could have helped themselves. I think I’m going to shit a brick the next time I hear a McCain supporter talk about welfare cadillacs when it is the business sector that gets more help than ANY citizen alive.

B’Man’s Scar Watch: Get A Shovel, Joe

KO ko’s Scar with an open mic moment in which he tells Joey to get a shovel to dig himself (and the McCain neocon, reTHUGlican talking points) out from under the bullshit he just spewed.

Joe tries to change the meme, but he was caught.

This will piss some folks off, but good for Keith.

Traveling today… limited posting.

Having a Party–

Questions! I have questions!

My sister-in-law worked at the National Chamber of Commerce/ Washington DC in the 70’s! … and back then she knew that the Democratic and Republican Parties had so much money that they both had to have various Off-Shore Accts then!!! So, I would love know how much each has– and if they pay taxes on the funds????

How do you start a new political party in the United States?

The first step in organizing a new political party in the United States is to think of name and elect temporary officials in your party’s first convention. Despite the pompous air a convention stirs, there is nothing special about it. You first convention could be in your back yard around the bar-b-que grill, for all it really matters. The party name, however, cannot be previously used. At a minimum, your party leadership should include a committee chairman and a treasurer.
Collecting funds to elect an official to a federal, state, or local position is essential to the success of the party. As such, a bank account must be opened in the party’s name. Be aware that you will be required to file financial documents and disclosures with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) when you reach the benchmarks laid out by the FEC.
This next section comes direct from FEC website and includes two parts, when to register with the FEC and qualifying as a national or state party committee:

When does my party committee need to register with the FEC?
National and state party committees must register with the FEC once they make contributions or expenditures in connection with federal elections that exceed $1,000 in a calendar year. Local party committees must register with the FEC once they:
Make contributions or expenditures in connection with federal elections that exceed $1,000 in a calendar year;
Spend more than $5,000 in a calendar year on so-called “exempt activities”; or
Raise more than $5,000 during a calendar year in funds designated for use in federal elections.
As with other committees, parties must register by filing FEC Form 1 [PDF], Statement of Organization within 10 days after reaching the applicable threshold. Party committees should download the Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees [PDF] for more information about the laws that apply to them.
How does a committee qualify as a state or national party committee?
How does a committee qualify as a state or national party committee?
The Commission determines whether committees meet the criteria for state or national party committee status through the advisory opinion process. For state committee status, the Commission has generally looked to see if the committee engages in activities that are commensurate with the day-to-day operations of a party at the state level, and if the committee has gained ballot access for its federal candidates.
For national committee status, the criteria include:
Nominating qualified candidates for President and various Congressional offices in numerous states;
Engaging in certain activities–such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives–on an ongoing basis;
Publicizing the party’s supporters and primary issues throughout the nation;
Holding a national convention;
Setting up a national office; and
Establishing state affiliates.
Consult our “Advisory Opinions” brochure for more information on how to obtain an opinion from the Commission.

Once your party is up and running, you will need to elect permanent leadership and accept a Charter and Bylaws. In essence, the Charter and Bylaws are the constitution of the party. It outlines your party organization, and the relationships between other party organizations (such as state committee’s for your party) and other operations your party may undertake (i.e. Presidential Elections, Senate and House elections, State elections, etc.). Your party’s Charter and Bylaws may also outline the relationships between your national convention and your national committee. Your Charter and Bylaws may also establish who is eligible to run for public office (federal, state, and local), may include the basis on which your party was founded (party platforms, idealologies, philosophies, etc.), and should set out the goals and intents of the party as a whole.
Remember during this process to keep meticulous notes. Every dollar raised and spent MUST be accounted for and reported to the FEC as well as Committee members, Party Leadership, and the general public. You will need to record the minutes of every meeting, the decisions voted for and against, officers elected, fundraising started and stopped, voters registered in the party, voter registration drives, and the list goes on and on.
It goes without saying that at some point your party should retain a lawyer. The services of a good lawyer specializing in Constitutional Law, Election, Campaign and Political law will be invaluable. You might also search out a law firm practicing Local and/or Federal Government Law, Labor and Employment, and Administrative Law. They will need to file legal documents on your party’s behalf at the federal level as well as State and Local levels.