February 2, 2013

Mayor Bloomberg and The Pepsi Generation --his BAN on 32 oz size sodas coming! Holy Prohibition!

If you are in NYC and watching the Super Bowl this weekend, this might
be the last time you can order a refill and get a Coke and a smile!

It appears that Mayor Bloomberg thinks the Pepsi Generation's explosion
of Type II Diabetes, is now his obligation and even if "I'm a Pepper and
you feel like a Pepper"...you probably look way too much like a potato.

I appreciate the Mayor is concerned about my widening waistline, but I much
prefer he focus on widening the lanes on the Long Island Expressway!

People voted for Mr. Bloomberg to worry about alternate side of the street
parking, if they wanted to choose an alternative lifestyle they would have
purchased a weight loss program from Richard Simmons.

I personally want a Mayor to know how to clean my streets...not my colon!
Obesity is a serious problem with serious consequences, but our culture of
over indulgence is not limited to overeating...but a competitive lifestyle
where "Bigger is always Better".

Who has the biggest building, cruise ships are bigger than certain zip codes,
and planes are so big it takes you longer to find your seat than to get to your
destination! Is it really a surprise that our ass in the seats are so much bigger
too?!

Soon our luggage will go back to flying for free and they will charge our ticket
on how much we weigh per pound!

But this challenge cannot be overcome by changing a law...but by changing a
culture!

Modern Science may reduce our cravings or the calories we consume, but we
should not try to reduce someone's waistline... by reducing their "Rights".
They tried that once before...it was called Prohibition...and it didn't stop
drinking but started another cultural phenomenon... called the Mafia.

Just as we fight so hard everyday for a woman to have the right to choose
to actually be pregnant or not...if someone wants to eat enough to look pregnant
all of the time...than God bless Krispy Kreme and 32 oz. sodas to help them do so!
Laws are meant to stop us from hurting other people...they are much less influential
in stopping us from hurting ourselves.



One can argue that seat belt laws and motorcycle helmets are examples where a
law has saved lives, when a culture had failed to do so...but we did not pass a law
that required someone to wear a seat belt only in certain cars or helmets on only
certain motorcycles to protect against only a certain type of accident!

Calories is the enemy here...and sugar in sodas is only one of the culprits. Unless
we are willing to ban sugar altogether...than this selective and arbitrary choice
to choose this one product and this one ingredient...becomes more harmful as a
a restriction of "Our Rights" than a benefit to our health!

Will carbohydrates be appearing soon before Judge Judy? Should we be legislating
how many pieces of bacon will be allowed on a Bacon Cheeseburger? Are we over-
reaching here even if we can't put our arms around our waist?

To truly tackle obesity, wouldn't our children be better served by offering them
more physical education classes instead of french fries and milkshakes in the
school cafeteria?

Sometimes the natural law of education, warning labels and the consequences of our
actions are our best guides...and if that doesn't work...I wouldn't bet against Mayor
Bloomberg's passion and philanthropic effort...to make sure it does!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/02/1184116/-Mayor-Bloomberg-and-the-Pepsi-Generation
http://www.politicalpizza.net/2013/02/mayor-bloomberg-and-pepsi-generation.html

February 1, 2013

Shouldn't our government be "Too Big To Fail?"

The first time I heard the phrase "Too Big To Fail", I thought they were talking
about Mark Wahlberg's character Dirk Diggler in the Hollywood classic "Boogie
Nights", or they were announcing the new "tagline" that would appear in the
latest Cialis commercial...I had no idea they were actually referring to how
Americans were getting screwed over by our largest financial institutions.

Almost overnight it seemed top bankers became the biggest "Bank Robbers".
JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley were making Bonnie and Clyde look more like
Sonny and Cher.

The new showdown at the OK Corral was at the ATM machine and whether or not
you could draw down on your card or simply walk away with an IOU.

The Banks walked away with 1 trillion dollars in cash and another 4-6 trillion in
money printed from the Federal Reserve...and the only shot that was fired was
loaded with our fear and their incompetency.

In spite of the fact they had already left the economy for dead...they still sent the
vultures back to make sure the carcass still had enough money left for their exorbitant
bonuses and stock options to be paid out at the end of the year!

But as one institution has learned to eat cake, while its customers still struggle to
buy a cup of coffee, the most important institution that is "Too Big To Fail"... the
United States Government, can't seem to get any help at all!

When banks are sitting on trillions of borrowed dollars to shore up their ledgers
and service fictitious assets that make "credit default swaps" sound like a new kinky
financial section on the latest married dating site...the American government is
fighting to pay its bills and support it's people.


Less government is not by definition more effective government, and if you are a
member of the Republican Party you probably believe only "the smallest size fits all".

We cannot continue to take in only 74% of the revenue that we spend...but the size of our
our government needs to match the limitless of our potential.

We need to size our government so our teenagers are not ranked 22nd in reading literacy,
21st in science and 29th place in math.

We need to re-size our government so we are not spending 1 trillion dollars more a year
in military programs than the Chinese, so they are free to spend the equivalent on roads,
trains and research and development.

We need to size a government that provides one of the highest infant mortality rates and
a retirement that leaves people proud of their sacrifice instead of shamed without dignity.

As the battle over the size of spending cuts and tax revenue becomes percentages of GDP,
flat taxes and cost of living increases tied to inflation...remember that we are not fighting
over numbers but we are fighting for our neighbors, our family and our friends.

Unlike the American Revolution which began with a fight not to pay an unjust tax, we are now
fighting for people to pay their fair share...so we can all share the good life.

The latest tactic by the Republicans is to exaggerate the shortfall and be the financial Paul Revere
of today by shouting the message of one if by tax increase with 10 if of spending cuts.

We won the War with the British and they became our strongest allies...maybe their is hope for
the Republicans yet!

http://www.politicalpizza.net/2013/01/the-story-of-two-big-institutions-rich.html

January 31, 2013

The Republican Land of Oz

I am sure that Kansas is a wonderful place, but if Leavenworth Penitentiary is your best known landmark and a fictitious 12 year old girl from the "Land of Oz" is your most famous resident...then you might want to question why you are living in a state, where all everybody does...is dream about leaving!!!

Dorothy had to be hit on the head, threatened by a wicked witch and followed by three possible pedophiles with no first names...before wanting to come home.

If she had known that the Republicans now controlled both legislative chambers and the Governorship, she might have decided to still just be clicking her heels.

While Munchkin Land was a fantasy, Governor Sam Brownback has described the new reality of a unanimous conservative Republican state government as a "Grand Experiment" and model for other states to follow.

Unlike the experiment that forced a frightened monkey 75 miles into space last week on an Iranian rocket ship, Kansans voted to go along for this tumultuous ride.

The monkey landed back safely, but Kansans may not have as soft a landing after they see how the blueprint to implement Republican principles of small government and lower taxes, might leave John Gotti's 12x6 cell at Leavenworth, as the only affordable government housing plan.

Next month they will be working on lowering pensions, reducing education financing and changing the way that judges are selected to insure that conservative social principles will not be undone by liberal activist judges. Or in other words...close the only medical clinic left in the state that still performs abortions, allow prayer in public schools and authorize Glen Beck's picture to be printed on a commemorative $3.00 bill.

As the Governor brandishes his record for legislating the "conservative dream", it is estimated that the tax cuts, "that never pay for themselves",...will cost the government $850 million in revenue in the coming fiscal year... to be paid for by raising the sales tax, repealing tax credits for food, rental housing, child care, mortgage interest deductions and by selling the soundtrack of "Les Miserables" as the new state song.



This is why the Republicans now seem to be willing to compromise with the President at the national level, because as the ultimate believer in "State Rights"...they finally understand it is better to control a Grand Experiment at the state level than negotiate a Grand Bargain. And with complete Republican control in 23 more states...winning the "Debt Ceiling" debate is a lot less important to people when they no longer have a roof over their head.

Before Sen. John Edwards could tell Gov. Mark Sanford...that "nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning"...is only true if the National Enquirer is not on your front lawn...he talked about two Americas.

But even he, didn't envision that his battle for "One America" would be won and lost between each and every state. That it is not democracy that is the Grand Experiment, but a map drawn of Red and Blue States, that may need a white flag waved to restore American values back into our government.

http://www.politicalpizza.net/2013/01/the-republican-land-of-oz.html

January 30, 2013

The Republican Nightmare is the Democrats' Dream Act

Ever since Donald Trump accused the President of being "Soft on Immigration"
because he was secretly an immigrant himself...his fellow Republicans have
wanted to get rid of the President's "Dream Act" faster than one of his recent
recess appointments.

With that plan falling short, in part due to Mitt Romney failure to attract more
than 24% of the Hispanic vote, Mitt was deported "out of the bubble" and sent
back to Bain Capital, to export more American jobs to overseas companies.

Republican leadership though quickly changed course and decided that antagonizing
the fastest growing voting segment of the population, is about as smart as asking
Sofia Vegara to speak with more of an English accent.

Mitch McConnell is now busy hitting the Pinata and planning Cinco de Mayo Parties
and John Boehner understands to win an election in the future, you must listen to
Rosetta Stone and not visit it in a Museum.

But as Conservative House Republicans always do...they treat every policy debate as
if it was a religious experience...and of course Immigration has been the Holy Grail.

And as long as they want the path to citizenship to be like the road to Heaven...then
we will need more than right wing Republicans checking passports at the Pearly Gates!

They forget that many of these "illegal aliens" were invited to this country with a wink
and a nod of low paying jobs and a life in the shadows. Our criticism of them is the
equivalent moral dilemma of criticizing Chinese Labor Laws and then celebrating the
lowest prices at Wal-Mart.

But our politicians have announced that no immigrants will wake up to the "Dream Act,
"unless the Border comes to resemble our version of the modern day Iron Curtain.

The collapse of the Soviet Union, the tunnels by Hamas and the failure to keep drugs
flowing across our border...tells us, that walls built on fear are much more effective
at keeping people in, than a desperate family out...but you can still find some Republicans
who rather shop eBay for souvenir bricks from the Berlin Wall than build a policy based on common
interests and "economic cents."



Our nation is not only a country of laws, but has always been connected by a kindred
spirit of people who know how to risk everything they have...when they have virtually
nothing left to risk.

The modern day Ellis Island looks quite different today. It no longer simply passes by the Lady who holds the Torch of Freedom soaring over New York Harbor but through our Colleges and Universities that invite the world's brightest to learn...even though we never invited them to stay once they graduated.

This change in Policy will do more to insure the tradition that America's melting pot will boil over from the flame of innovative ideas and that our policies won't contribute to immigrating people in, while emigrating the best ideas out!

If the Republicans finally understand that immigration is not someone moving from a Blue State to a Red State or a New Yorker going to Florida for the winter...then maybe they are one step closer to realizing the "Dream Act" is not a Broadway Show but a policy that helps all of us be one step closer to the American Dream!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/29/1183180/-The-Republican-s-Nightmare-is-the-Democrat-s-Dream-Act
http://www.politicalpizza.net/2013/01/the-republicans-nightmare-is-democrats.html

January 28, 2013

The story of two big institutions: Rich Banks, Poor Government

Since 1965, the costs of entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare
have grown twice as fast as personal income, while the top 1% of the population has
also seen their share of personal income double during the same period of time.

This triangular policy of the rich getting richer - the middle class getting poorer - and the Government receiving the lowest percentage of tax revenue since 1950, is building a nation that is not "Too Big To Fail" but destined to fall to a failing ideology.

Less government is not by definition more effective government, and if you are a
member of the Republican Party you probably believe only "the smallest size fits all".

We cannot continue to take in only 74% of the revenue that we spend...but the size of our our government needs to match the limitless of our potential.

We need to size our government so our teenagers are not ranked 22nd in reading literacy, 21st in science and 29th place in math.

We need to re-size our government so we are not spending 1 trillion dollars more a year in military programs than the Chinese, so they are free to spend the equivalent on roads, trains and research and development.

We need to size a government that provides one of the highest infant mortality rates and a retirement that leaves people proud of their sacrifice instead of shamed without dignity.

As the battle over the size of spending cuts and tax revenue becomes percentages of GDP, flat taxes and cost of living increases tied to inflation...remember that we are not fighting over numbers but we are fighting for our neighbors, our family and our friends.

<strong>Unlike the American Revolution which began with a fight not to pay an unjust tax, we are now fighting for people to pay their fair share...so we can all share the good life.
</strong>
The latest tactic by the Republicans is to exaggerate the shortfall and be the financial Paul Revere of today by shouting the message of one if by tax increase with 10 if of spending cuts.

We won the War with the British and they became our strongest allies...maybe there is hope for the Republicans yet!

January 26, 2013

Gov. Jindal to GOP:"Time to Stop Being the Stupid Party" - Really?

Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana said today, "it is time for the Republican
Party to "stop being the stupid Party"...but how do you do that, when most of
your Party thinks stupid is the "New Normal?"

Just this week we have Rick Santorum being the Keynote Speaker at the anti-
abortion rally, "March For Life". In order to show that a fetus is just as smart
as he is, Rick answered questions with one kick for yes and two kicks for no!

In New Mexico, 10 Republicans co-sponsored a Bill that would force a woman,
impregnated by rape, to give birth to the baby in order to secure a conviction
against the rapist...this is because Republicans still believe that babies are from
cabbage patches delivered by a Stork!

And in Texas, the day after New York signed the toughest gun control law in
the nation, Attorney General Greg Abbot placed internet advertisements in NYC
that said,"Attention New Yorkers - We Want You and Your Guns!"...probably
because Rick Perry is still looking for help in seceding from the Union!

Governor Jindal went on to say that "we as a Party have to start talking like
adults and stop damaging the brand"...and then abruptly announced the cancellation
of a 12 City Debate Tour between Big Bird and Mitt Romney.

The problem for the Governor, is that he believes he has a Sales and Marketing
issue, when the Party actually has a message and a messenger problem.

Paul Ryan, (the messenger),...today, defined the Party as a "Value- Add", (the message),
in helping to negotiate a final outcome over the debt ceiling and spending cuts. The
floor mats in a Chevrolet are a value-add...not exactly a "Lincolnesque" branding
moment for a Party in crisis.

As Chris Mathews pointed out on "Hardball", the Democratic positions on most major
issues, such as abortion, gun control and immigration, are now favored by more than
50% of the people, while the Republican popularity on key positions has been dropping
faster than the weight of the leading contestant on "The Biggest Loser".

This winning formula has now emboldened them to try to change the electoral college
in states, where it could give them a competitive advantage in a Presidential Election.

So unfortunately for Governor Jindal, he will still see Republican Candidates such as
a Ted Cruz from Texas, who will not hesitate to shut down the government over
spending cuts, claim gun control is unconstitutional and consider a legislative standoff,
another chance at winning at the Alamo!

Next week the biggest corporations in America will be spending up to 4 million dollars
on Super Bowl ads to sell their best message in 60 seconds or less.

The best message that Governor Jindal can sell...is that the Republican Party needs
to sell a new product to the American People!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/26/1182209/-Gov-Jindal-to-GOP-Time-to-stop-being-the-Stupid-Party-Really?
http://www.politicalpizza.net/2013/01/gov-jindal-to-goptime-to-stop-being.html

January 25, 2013

Can children ever feel safe again, when everyone is letting them down?

Madison Avenue taught politicians a long time ago, that voters will ultimately
make their decisions based on emotion rather than information.

That is why Republicans will frame any failure to lower the Debt, as an immoral
act of irresponsibility being passed down to the children of future generations.

While Democrats won't hesitate to portray the Republicans, as willing to "Throw
Mama from the Train", if she and her two kids show more interest in receiving
food stamps than waiting in line to buy postage stamps.

Child Safety, used to be an issue limited to school crossing guards, caps on
medicine bottles and warning labels on Clorox Bleach. Now, children don't even
feel safe from the voices of Elmo and Charlie Brown.

Have our policies increased the likelihood that we all know an obese 10 year old boy
boy with Attention Deficit Disorder, that goes to an overcrowded and underfunded,
school, that drinks shots of 5 Hour Energy instead of a glass of non-fat milk?

Is it all to common today, to know a 12 year old girl, confused by an early adolescence,
possibly brought on by environmental concerns or emotional stress.

Do we know any children that go to school and are afraid of coming home safely
because they know someone who didn't?

Do comments by a Prince Harry, confuse them even more, when he draws no
distinction and connects a real life killings and violent video games.

We no longer have time to explain the Birds and the Bees but are forced to make
explanations for the acts of misguided Priests and the Jerry Sanduskys.

But maybe the most confusing message of all, must be the disconnect they feel when
they pledge allegiance to the Flag and learn the very people their parents voted for
to represent that Flag... have an 8% approval rating and an even lower opinion of
each other.

We wonder why the greatest generation has raised a series of self-centered generations,
when we can't solve any of their problems without first going through a period self-twisted machinations.

Athletes, rock stars and superstar entrepreneurs used to be role models for whom our children wanted to be...
since that doesn't seem to be working out too well, can't our elected officials at least try to be a role model...
for who are children should try to be.

After all...we are supposed to be a representative government...so why not begin with
representing something better than the 8%... that no one wants to be!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/25/1182082/-Can-children-ever-feel-safe-again-when-everyone-is-letting-them-down
http://www.politicalpizza.net/2013/01/can-children-ever-feel-safe-again-when.html

January 24, 2013

Must See Hillary TV

Hillary Clinton was "must see" viewing on television yesterday because she was neither "Dancing" to avoid tough questions...nor "Dancing With Political Stars".

Republican members of the Intelligence and Armed Service Committee who had most recently accused her of pretending to be Terry Schaivo in order to avoid testifying about Benghazi, did more to kick-off her Presidential campaign then send her off in political turmoil.

Fiery when challenged, emotional when taking responsibility and unapologetic when confronted by the politicization of the deaths of 4 former friends and colleagues, Mrs. Clinton showed why women were long overdue in being granted the right to fight in combat.

Unlike Ambassador Rice, who has had better success navigating the dangers of North Korea and China than the halls of Congress or questions on Meet The Press, this Clinton never wavered or gave a definition of what "is" is.

Joe Biden who is rumored to be running for President in 2016, liked it much better when her 1 million frequent flyer miles were keeping her as invisible as a drone at 20,000 feet.

John McCain, who never got over running for President, thinks being the elder statesman of the party, now requires him to act like Walter Matthau's sidekick in Grumpy Old Men... wanted to say to Hillary, "I know Sarah Palin and you're no Sarah Palin." But then he would come out of the fog and remember that if Sarah Palin had been more like her...he might have won the election!


Two very different candidates for one potential very special election....

One candidate that has proven her remarkable capabilities, while the other still surprises us with what she might be capable of.

One candidate overcame a cheating husband, the other can't get the cheat notes off the palm of her hand...

For the complete article:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/24/1181632/-Must-See-Hillary-TV
http://www.politicalpizza.net/2013/01/must-see-hillary-tv.html

January 23, 2013

The Inauguration's Hottest Issue - Literally

The hottest issue to arrive out of the President's Inaugural Address, appropriately
enough ...was Climate Change! This issue was 5 degrees warmer than same-sex
marriage and the Republican response has been full of more hot Co2 than Lance
Armstrong's apology on Oprah Winfrey.

Many Republicans are still doubting whether or not we have a "global warming" issue,
in spite of the fact that bars at Happy Hours in NYC, were giving away shots of free
suntan lotion instead of chicken wings this past summer, and the Island of Manhattan
was nearly lost to a storm like a ship sailing by in the Bermuda Triangle.

As reported in a recent column by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times, the simple facts that the 10 warmest years on record have all fallen within the past 15 years, while today our atmosphere is polluted with almost twice the amount of carbon
dioxide that has been the norm for the previous several thousand years.

But the real danger according to Hal Harvey, the chief executive of Energy
Innovation, is if the Ice Caps continue to melt, the frozen methane that lies
beneath the frozen tundra will release into the atmosphere "the equivalent
of all the carbon dioxide that all humanity has emitted from the start of history
to now."

It is not that the Republicans don't believe in Science...they just don't believe in
scientists that don't serve their constituencies.

Most members of Congress are attorneys by trade, so they are used to representing
clients with indefensible positions. And as long as elected officials see their clients
as those that are paying to get them re-elected as opposed to those that are voting
for them...we will continue to get their version of Bill Nye the Science Guy instead
of common sense solutions from Nobel Laureate scientists.

How can we hope to change the climate, when we are not willing to change an
environment in Washington, whereby Republicans always seem to lie about the
facts while the Democrats are busy lying to themselves...

For complete article:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/23/1181354/-The-Inauguration-s-Hottest-Issue-Literally
http://www.politicalpizza.net/