Archive for meeting

GOP Rep. “Rohrabacher’s face turned red, she said, adding that he said he represents citizens and hates illegals.”

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

Dana rohrabacher

Allow me to refresh your memory about who exactly California’s Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is: 

Anderson Cooper Whumps Rep Rohrabacher On Benghazi “What You’re Saying Is Factually Not Correct”   

GOP Congressmen: Iraq War a “horrible mistake…Everybody” thinks so.  Surprise! It turns out it was just a big ol’ GOP oopsie! (Maybe he should watch this VIDEO– Hubris: Selling the Iraq War. BushCo saw an opportunity and took it, and took us.)

And just for giggles: Dana Rohrabacher surfin’ and singin’. Not kidding.

But you know what isn’t funny? Rohrabacher’s long record of voting against measures like a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.. His disgusting attitude literally brought one in particular, a teenage girl who was raised here but born in Mexico, to tears.

L.A. Times:

When Jessica Bravo came here this month to talk to her congressman, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), about expanding rights for illegal immigrants, their meeting ended in a shouting match and tears.

Bravo, an 18-year-old community college student at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, was smuggled over the border from Mexico by her parents when she was 3. She recently joined hundreds of other young illegal immigrants in a campaign to confront members of Congress and ask them to vote for a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants. [...]

In the scheduled meeting with Rohrabacher, Bravo said the congressman stiffened when she said she and her parents came to the U.S. unlawfully. Five minutes into the meeting, Rohrabacher’s face turned red, she said, adding that he said he represents citizens and hates illegals.

Of course, Rohrabacher denies that ever happened, saying the meeting turned nasty when “a community organizer with Bravo implied he was racist.”

Maybe it was Rohrabacher himself who implied he was racist. Just a thought.

But see, a community organizer was present. In his narrow mind that explains everything. Next thing you know, he’ll accuse the now-defunct ACORN of setting him up to look like an intolerant, bigoted, xenophobic villain, forging Jessica Bravo’s name on eleventy-two voting registration form, and throwing the meeting.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

V.P. Biden spent 90 minutes with NRA and all he got were these lousy talking points

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

met with NRA tee shirt

Vice President Biden is heading a task force whose goal it is to reduce gun violence. He said he would make recommendations to President Obama by January 15th, next Tuesday.

He’s met with victims’ groups, law enforcement officials, governors, mayors and clergy. He’s doing his best to reach a consensus in a timely manner while there is still support for Congress to act after the Newtown shooting tragedy.

Today he gave the NRA an hour and a half of his time (that he’ll never get back), and look where it got him:

(Reuters) – Biden [told] reporters he is likely to recommend background checks for all gun buyers and a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips.

It is unfortunate that this administration continues to insist on pushing failed solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems. We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen,” the NRA said in a statement after the meeting. [...]

We were disappointed with how little this meeting had to do with keeping our children safe and how much it had to do with an agenda to attack the Second Amendment,” the NRA said. “While claiming that no policy proposals would be ‘prejudged,’ this task force spent most of its time on proposed restrictions on lawful firearms owners – honest, taxpaying, hardworking Americans.”

That’s right, all he got were the usual talking points about how the White House is trying to limit the constitutionally protected rights of gun enthusiasts who inexplicably feel compelled to own and use high capacity gun magazines and military weapons.

The NRA insists on armed security officers at schools. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out too well at today’s school shooting. And how depressing is it that I just had to write “today’s” shooting?

And the NRA is “disappointed”? Very productive, guys, thank you for your time and redundancy.

Here is a list of other groups Biden was scheduled to meet with today.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

Encouraging news about the fiscal cliff, er, speed bump, er, crossroads endgame

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

It must be Good News Tuesday! First we had Consumer confidence highest since February 2008; reports signal economic growth.

Now we have Greg Sargent feeling very positive about a meeting between senior Obama administration officials and reps of major unions and progressive groups, because those groups liked what they heard:

Things can always change at a moment’s notice. But attendees at this meeting came away convinced — for now — that the White House firmly believes it has the leverage in the fiscal cliff talks, and has no intention of budging on the demand for higher tax rates from the rich or on other core priorities.

Indeed, one person at the meeting — which included people from the AFLCIO, AFSCME, SEIU, MoveOn and others — came away convinced that the White House would ultimately prove willing to go over the fiscal cliff if necessary, rather than give ground on core demands, though this is not by any means a desired option and isn’t being discussed as a strategic possibility…  “They feel confident that they don’t have to compromise [re: Medicare and Medicaid benefits].

The glass looks half full at this point. At least that’s the impression those at the meeting got, despite the White House indicating that they wouldn’t be too happy about sliding down the fiscal slope, or tripping over the speed bump, or blinking during the fiscal showdown or plotzing at the fiscal crossroads or however we’re wording it today.

Keep pushing, Progressives, and don’t let up just because the Election 2012 has come and gone. We still have work to do, still have to stay united, and more than anything, we still must use our voices to make a difference.

Please read the whole post, because it’s good.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

Elizabeth Warren giving face time to financial industry CEOs, lobbyists

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

Elizabeth Warren is not only a great communicator and very charismatic, she’s scary smart.

Case in point, cutting the financial industry big shots (and the Party of No) off at their corporate knees by taking a generous moment or eleventy-two to hold some pow-wows. Now at least they can’t whine and cry about her not giving them the time of day:

(Reuters) – Elizabeth Warren has been on what looks like a diplomatic mission, meeting with some of the biggest names in the financial industry since becoming President Barack Obama’s chief adviser on consumer issues in late September.

On Wednesday Warren’s office released a copy of her calendar that shows her shuttling between media appearances, meetings with bank CEOs and get-togethers with lawmakers as she attempts to set up and sell the public on the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, scheduled to launch in July. [...]

Warren’s calendar, however, shows top executives have not had trouble getting time with her to make their case.

Those who she will meet with, has met with, or has talked to include:

  • JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive
  • Wells Fargo & Co Chief Executive
  • US Bancorp Chief Executive
  • American Express Co Chief Executive

And lobbying groups, such as:

  • The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
  • The Financial Services Roundtable
  • American Bankers Association

They’re no match, no matter what they might think.

UPDATE: Crooks and Liars has some good news. Please read the whole thing. Here is an excerpt:

Elizabeth Warren was the first senior Obama administration official to recognize the potentially incendiary impact of a bill that would have made it significantly easier for mortgage companies to foreclose on homes, and her subsequent warnings played a crucial role in persuading the President to veto the measure, according to freshly released documents and people familiar with the deliberations.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

VIDEO- Rachel Maddow: Politico published GOP lies. “Just printing something somebody said is not news, it’s publicity.”

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rachel Maddow: America’s professor. Listen and learn.

Unnamed Republican staffers lied, and Politico printed it.

“They keep in the spin!”

“Just printing something somebody said is not news, it’s publicity.”

“Republicans say that… Republicans say…  That is not the same thing as those things being true.”

Again:  “Writing down what they say is not reporting…That’s called ‘publicizing’.”

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

VIDEO- BP Chairman Svanberg: “We care about the small people”

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Yes, he did actually say that.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

Liveblog: President Obama’s meeting with BP. VIDEO ADDED

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Liveblog… President Obama is speaking after his meeting with BP and their lawyers: (I missed the very beginning)

BP will set aside $20 billion dollars to assure that claims will be honored. IT IS NOT A CAP. BP will meet obligations. This sets up a financial/legal framework.

[BP will still be responsible for environmental clean-up.]

This fund will not be controlled by BP or government: Impartial independent third party. So, if you or your business suffered loss, you can file a claim from this $20 billion. You can still pursue claims in court.

BP voluntarily agreed to establish $100 million fund to compensate unemployed oil rig workers.

BP’s liabilities are significant. They acknowledge that fact. I’m confident they’ll be able to meet their obligations to Gulf coast and American people.

It’s in all of our interests that they remain viable. It’s about accountability.

This will not make Gulf whole over night.

During private convo with Chairman Feinberg, I emphasized for families and business owners, this is not just a matter of dollars and cents. A lot of these folks have no cushion, coming off Rita/Katrina/economy. This season was going to be where they bounced back. Worst possible time, because their entire income for year is during 3-4 months, tourism, etc. So I emphasized that he should keep in mind those individuals. They are desperate. If they don’t get relief quickly, they’ll lose businesses… he said he would keep them in mind. That’s the standard by which I judge BP…

I got assurances that BP would meet its responsibilities. [Laffy Note: Ha.]

We’ll make the Gulf families whole again. That’s who we’re doing this work for.

MSNBC commentary: This is corner turning… step in the right direction.

Mayor Ron Davis, Alabama is on now, very appreciative of Prez O.

MORE… BP executive Svanberg  speaking:

We appreciate president’s deep concern. His frustration.. sadness, sorrow. We have always met our obligations and responsibilities. We made clear from first moment that we’d live up to them. We’ve agreed w/ President today on framework, we mean what we say. We will look after the people affected, repair the damage to this region, to the economy. We announce today a $20 billion commitment to make sure all proper claims handled quickly, fairly.

We will not pay any further dividends this year. Words are not enough. We understand we will, should be judged by our actions.

We are fully aligned in interest to close well, clean beaches…

Finally, I apologize to American people on behalf of all employees of BP, many who live on Gulf Coast. I thank you for the patience that you have in this difficult time. Through our actions, commitment, we hope over longterm that we will regain the trust that you have in us.

We are going thru a series of investigations. We will do our own independent one… scrutinize everything we do.

Constructive meeting, including many parts… important to get language right… ambition was clear from beginning.

I spent a fair amount of time with president. He’s frustrated. He, and we, care about the small people We do care about the small people.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email