While in Washington D.C., Bush gave his endorsement. The endorsement was a four word sentence, “I’m for Mitt Romney.”

Surrogates are spinning but the Romney campaign is now going to need to figure out if the negative Bush factor of 2008 will be a positive or a negative.

Effective today, Dr. Paul’s campaign stated they will suspend spending. Further, they determined they did not have the resources to continue forward with the next primaries. However, his campaign will continue to accumulate delegates (Chicago Tribune, May 15, 2012)

Dr. Paul announced earlier he wouldn’t seek re-election to his congressional seat (SFGate, May 15, 2012).

Of course, they don’t mean they will tighten their belt. No. No. They mean YOU must tighten YOUR belt. They’ll keep partying.

Austerity rules seem reasonable during economic trouble, however, they quickly fall apart when it is clear that the equity of the rules fall very short. Austerity means the poor must go without, the middle become squeezed, while the rich just get richer.

Politicians try to wrap themselves around the county’s flag, speaking of better times, and try to convince you that tightening your belt will help revive a country. Don’t accept their trickery.

There is only one way out of an economic recession. One. And it’s done through innovation.

The United States stopped innovating years ago. It turned away from the pioneer spirit of building and became a consumption and service economy. It’s time to change the path we are taking as a nation. We must innovate. It’s time to build.

And you don’t build under austerity. No. Austerity does not work. Building is only done through investment. Investment of time, energy, and money.

It’s time. Don’t you agree?

During a round-table discussion today on Fox News, the subject was about Gay marriage. Instead, one individual used every Republican talking point to discuss the economy.

Talking points are fine – when they are relevant to the discussion. But now the Republicans have learned to just answer every question in terms of the day’s talking points. Once countered then they pivot to another talking point. There is never a rational discussion of point-counterpoint. It’s always shift, shift, shift.

Today on ABC News, Ms. Blackburn was to discuss Gay marriage. Instead, she talked about the economy. Interesting. She must have received the daily talking point. Barney Frank attempted to point out she wasn’t answering the question but he was being too polite. The host was also lousy – he should have cut her off and replied “Answer the question.”

This election will be defined by the talking points being repeated often. The surrogates will also be defined by not answering the questions and pivoting to the talking points.

Doesn’t this annoy you?

Media Credit: DonkeyHotey

We all know the past few years have been difficult for this country.  After the worst recession of our lifetimes, it will take longer than any of us would like for the economy to fully recover.  But there are plenty of steps we can take to speed up the recovery.  There are things we can do – right now – to help create jobs and restore some of the financial security that so many families have lost.

Just as he did during his Albany speech, the President explains the list is short so it can easily be read by your representatives (a jab at all the long legislation usually landing on his desk for signature – filled with little goodies for lobbyists).

1. Reward American Jobs, Not Outsourcing

2. Expand Refinancing For Responsible Homeowners

3. Invest in Tax Credits for Small Business Jobs

4. Invest in Clean Energy Manufacturing

5. Create a Veterans Jobs Corps

Is this a realistic list? Nope. It isn’t even a new one but just organized well enough for the campaign.

I particularly enjoyed the ending of his address:

You’re working harder.  You’re meeting your responsibilities.  Your representatives in Washington should do the same.  Let’s push Congress to do the right thing.  Let’s keep moving this country forward together.

Moving forward should be his campaign slogan.

Brown is expected to cut public school and colleges funding. Budgets for social services may also be cut.

The California State Legislature is to deliver a budget by June 15. For decades the budgets deals at the state level have been cantankerous, missing many deadlines.

Some politicians hoped the Facebook IPO would bring revenues to the state, however, this will not stop the state’s fiscal bleeding.

Sixteen Republicans in the House voted against the bill titled Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012 . All Democrats voted against it.

Of course – the media misses the simple fact that the bill Constitutional Authority Statement is missing. The URL is a dead link. So much for transparency.

Section 381 of the text also states, “In General- Subtitle B of title I of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is hereby repealed.”

Section 405 is also awesome, “MAXIMUM AWARD- The amount of punitive damages, if awarded, in a health care lawsuit may be as much as $250,000 or as much as two times the amount of economic damages awarded, whichever is greater. The jury shall not be informed of this limitation.”

Even better still, “No punitive damages may be awarded against the manufacturer or distributor of a medical product, or a supplier of any component or raw material of such medical product, based on a claim that such product caused the claimant’s harm where … [such medical product was subject to premarket approval, clearance, or licensure by the Food and Drug Administration].”

Now we get to section 621, “Sections 2001 through 2007 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397-1397f) are repealed.”

Aren’t you glad you voted for these guys?

These attacks are the second ones since the last airline bomb plot was blocked by a CIA informant who was given the bomb.

The paper also reports “The bombmaker suspected of designing the latest device, Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, has eluded U.S. and Yemeni authorities.”

“I’ve always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally,” Obama told Roberts, in an interview that will air in full on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday.

“I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” he said.

The Senate needed 60 votes to overcome a Republican threat of a filibuster. Filibusters are those fake we’ll stand up and talk forever threats – in which no one really stands up as Jimmy Stewart did in the movie Mr. Smith goes to Washington. Instead, these phoney poops just whine.

Thinking of Jimmy Stewart – we need him in Washington DC. These Senators and Representatives are just too busy collecting their paychecks. Let’s make them stand up and actually filibuster.

As someone with over 60K in student loan debt – this vote was not unexpected. Lobbyists are happy. Citizens are tuned out. Students are sad.