Fwd: Energy & Environment Update: Global Warming Treaty Still Off Track

Energy & Environment Update Advancing freedom and prosperity by unleashing free enterprise, protecting America's energy interests, and advancing free global energy markets. Recent Updates The Eco-Left's Love of Eco Taxes Don't Let the Nuclear Industry Get Hooked on Subsidies Earth Day 2010: On Lenin and Liberty Climategate Investigation Only Fuels Controversy The Cost of Al Gore's Renewable Energy Plan May Your Earth Day Glow Brightly Featured Research UN Global Warming Treaty Still Off Track By Ben Lieberman The United Nations' first significant global warming meeting since last December's Copenhagen summit just wrapped up in Bonn, with no progress toward a new international treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol. This meeting was supposed to help lay the groundwork for an agreement at the next major conference scheduled for Cancun, Mexico, in December. However, none of the issues that doomed negotiations in Copenhagen have been resolved, and it looks very unlikely that the process will be fixed this year. But what is bad news for the U.N. climate treaty negotiators is good news for the rest of the world, as a new treaty would be an economically ruinous solution to what is increasingly looking like a non-problem. >> Click here to read Ben Lieberman's full report  Global Warming on the Hill An Update from Heritage's Senate Relations Deputy Dan Holler Over the weekend, Senator Graham (R-SC) abruptly pulled out of negotiations on global warming legislation with Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lieberman (I-CT).  The reason?  President Obama, Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) said immigration reform is more of a priority.  Abandoning a bill that will hurt the economy and raise gas prices seems like good policy and good politics, but it is unwise to consider any poorly conceived Washington policy idea as permanently deceased.  For information on cap and trade, visit Heritage's Rapid Response page, which features research, commentary, blog posts, charts and additional policy resources. Shine Light on Energy Taxes Tap into your network on Facebook and invite your friends and family to join The Heritage Foundation as we educate more Americans about the dangers of a cap-and-trade system that will tax most forms of energy. Get started today at NoEnergyTax.com. About The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute -- a think tank -- whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 |  202.546.4400  202.546.4400

Fwd: Obama Administration Sends Mixed Message on VAT as Fiscal Commission Prepares First Meeting

Today's Headlines Monday, April 26, 2010

Obama Administration Sends Mixed Message on VAT as Fiscal Commission Prepares First Meeting Washington (CNSNews.com) – As President Barack Obama prepares to kick off his National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform on Tuesday, the administration continues to send mixed messages on whether it supports imposing a European-style value added tax on top of all existing taxes to help cover the federal government's $1-trillion-plus deficit spending. While the official line from the White House is that the president is not considering a VAT, comments by the president and administration officials seem to leave the door open to the possibility. Obama's Debt Commission Will Consider a Value-Added Tax (CNSNews.com) – When President Obama asked former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and Democrat Erskine Bowles to chair his debt commission in February, he told them to consider any and all ways to reduce the federal deficit. Bowles told Fox News Sunday that "the president looked Senator Simpson and me in the eye and he said, 'Everything is on the table.' So we are going to look at every single way to right this fiscal ship," Bowles said. Senate Panel Previews Electronic Health Technology (CNSNews.com) – The Senate Committee on Aging offered a preview of the government's future role in health care on Friday, showing how Americans will interact with doctors and other health care providers in a wired world. The demonstration offers a glimpse at an overlooked effect of health care reform. Republican Lawmaker Will Enter EPA's Video Contest to Show the Downside of Federal Regulations (CNSNews.com) – Rep. Marsha Blackburn says she will enter an Environmental Protection Agency contest intended to promote the benefits of government regulation. But Blackburn says her video entry will show that government regulations have negative consequences. "We were astounded to learn that the EPA was launching such a contest," the Tennessee Republican told CNSNews.com. Iran Drops Bid for Human Rights Council Seat, Eyes Women's Rights Body Instead (CNSNews.com) – Iran has confirmed it will no longer run for a seat on the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council. Instead, it aims to become a member of an international women's rights body – although it's not clear which one. The prospect that Iran – with the support of other Asian states – will take a seat on a body charged with promoting the rights of women is certain to stoke controversy. Hamas Film Clip Portrays Kidnapped Israeli Soldier Returning Home in a Coffin (CNSNews.com) – Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu described as "despicable" an animated video clip released by Hamas on Sunday which shows an Israeli soldier who was abducted by the terrorist group in Gaza nearly four years ago, being returned to his father in Israel in a coffin. The clip demonstrated "the true character of Hamas," Netanyahu said. The three-minute clip implies that if the Israeli government does not agree to a prisoner swap, then Gilad Shalit will be killed. GOP Bill Would Empower Border Patrol to Secure U.S.-Mexico Border without National Guard Help (CNSNews.com) – Legislation recently introduced by House Republicans would "prohibit the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from taking action on public lands which impede border security on such lands, and for other purposes." The bill's supporters believe that, if it is passed, it will allow the U.S. Border Patrol to secure the southern border without the assistance of the National Guard. La Raza President: Immigration Bill 'Would Make Living in Arizona a Police State' for Hispanics (CNSNews.com) – The head of the National Council of LaRaza pleaded with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Thursday not to sign into law a bill that could become the toughest immigration statute in the nation. "It perpetuates the fantasy that we can detain and deport millions of people from our country as a solution to our immigration problems and it propagates the notion that immigrants who are working hard in the Arizona economy are a criminal element to be rounded up and incarcerated," LaRaza President and CEO Janet Murguia said during a telephone news conference. CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO Sigourney Weaver: 'The Oceans Are Not Prospering' (CNSNews.com) – Because the oceans are "not prospering," people "cannot prosper," said actress Sigourney Weaver, narrator of the new documentary "Acid Test," which examines ocean acidification. OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES U.S. Newspaper Circulation Continues to Drop Conservative Utah Senator Feels Anti-Incumbent Fervor Obama Asks His Supporters for Help in Midterm Elections Narrow Escape for British Ambassador Targeted in Yemen Democrats Plan to Test Republican Resolve With Vote on Financial Regulations Lieberman Encouraged That Energy Bill Will Advance This Year Obama Says W.Va. Miners Died in Pursuit of A Better Life Court to Decide If State Can Regulate Video Games Treasury Announces Plans for First Sale of Government-Owned Citigroup Stock Open Pens Lead to Chicken 'Cannibalism' on Egg Farms Activists Call on President Obama to Fight Arizona Immigration Law Donate Today! Please help CNSNews.com keep bringing you 'The Right News - Right Now!' Make a contribution to CNSNews.com today. It's fast, simple and secure. Help CNSNews.com and Donate Today!  NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP: SEC's inspector general to investigate timing of suit against Goldman Sachs White House 'entrepreneur summit' aims to boost business ties with Muslim world Gathering aims to boost business ties Reid: Health bill is most important thing Senate has done for the world Sen. Max Baucus: A bank tax is coming States seek new ways to restrict abortions More undocumented workers are filing tax returns, advocates say Amid outrage over civilian deaths in Pakistan, CIA turns to smaller missiles UK apologizes to Vatican over Pope visit jokes Brown U. starts fulfilling its vow of atonement for slavery N.J. Gov. Chris Christie aims to cap salaries of nonprofit group executives to $141K Lebanese demonstrators march for secularism Proposal to make voting mandatory riles up tiny Colorado town COMMENTARY Border Crossing By Rich Galen Back in the good old days, Social Security held the title of "the third rail of politics." Now it's immigration. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and President Obama apparently have decided to shove aside climate change/energy legislation in favor of what they consider to be a more politically favorable immigration debate. Cap-and-Trade Treason By Alan Caruba Global warming has been exposed as a massive hoax and fraud. Why would the United States Senate proceed to enact a bill based on it? In essence, it will make some corporations, utilities, and people very rich and impoverish the rest of us. You can click here to unsubscribe. *To ensure reliable delivery, be sure to add cnsnews@mail.mediaresearch.org to your spam filters and/or safe sender list.* Visit our web site at www.cnsnews.com

 

 

Fwd: National Security Update - "Defending Missile Defense"

heritage.org | Heritage research | Blog |                          April 26, 2010 Issue in Depth: Defending Missile Defense The Obama Administration's Ballistic Missile Defense Review Report (BMDRR), released in February to outline the administration's long-term vision for missile defense, acknowledges the increasing threat of ballistic missiles to the United States. The President's "phased adaptive approach" for missile defense in Europe and the sea-based Aegis BMD program have the potential to protect the U.S. and its allies from attack, but necessary Congressional funding and oversight will be necessary to guarantee these programs will continue to provide robust defenses in the future. The proposed FY 2011 budget for the missile defense program will not adequately meet the emerging threats and increased proliferation of missile technology among state and non-state actors. Missile defense systems are an important part of fulfilling the government's obligation to provide for the common defense in today's dangerous environment of emerging threats, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure they are fully funded. Read more from our recent research below in this week's Issue in Depth. Latest Research: The Heritage Foundation: Strengthen the Pentagon's Programs for Sea-Based Missile Defense The Administration's new "phased adaptive approach" for missile defense in Europe and the Pentagon's wider sea-based Aegis BMD program have the potential to provide robust missile defense coverage and to operate from advantageous locations at sea. In support of these efforts, Congress needs to ensure that the Aegis BMD program is adequately funded, including funding for increased procurement of interceptors and accelerated development of critical Aegis components to expand its capabilities. Congress also needs to exercise proper oversight to prevent the Administration's arms control agenda from limiting U.S. missile defense options or cooperation with friends and allies. The Heritage Foundation: The Obama Administration's Ballistic Missile Defense Program: Treading Water in Shark-Infested Seas The Obama Administration's plan for ballistic missile defense and its proposed FY 2011 budget for the missile defense program would leave the program treading water. At the same time, the threat of ballistic missile attack on the U.S. and its allies will continue to increase as more state and non-state actors gain and improve the missile capabilities. The Heritage Foundation: The "New START" Treaty: Did the Russians Have Their Fingers Crossed? In its current form, the "New START" treaty is not one to which the Senate may unconditionally give its consent to ratification. The two parties to the treaty—the United States and the Russian Federation—cannot agree upon the meaning of its terms, and therefore there is nothing to which the Senate can consent. The Heritage Foundation: The Nuclear Posture Review: Adding More of an "Unfunded Mandate" for Defense? In President Obama's Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), the Administration is expanding the equivalent of an "unfunded mandate" for the Department of Defense (DOD), charging the already overstretched and under-resourced organization with even more responsibilities. More Blogs: The Foundry: Obama Opens a New "Window of Vulnerability"     According to a Reuters report, the Obama Administration is assessing that Iran could have a long-range ballistic missile by 2015. Now they tell us. The Foundry: New START's Inherent Contradiction President Barack Obama's National Security Advisor James Jones has sought to counter an April 17th Wall Street Journal editorial criticizing the New START arms control agreement with Russia for limiting U.S. missile defense options with an April 20th letter to the editor. The Foundry: Obama's Good Cop/Confused Cop Policy on Iran The Obama Administration appears to be confused about its own policies regarding Iran's nuclear challenge.   More Events: April 28, 2010, 10:30 AM Location: Washington, DC The Heritage Foundation: China and Cyber Security Following the incident between China and Google, concern is growing regarding the PRC's threat to cyber security. Please join us as our panel provides us with a better understanding of what kinds of incidents are occurring, how likely the Chinese are indeed responsible, and what can be done about it. April 29, 2010, 8:45 AM Location: Washington, DC Institute for the Study of War: Politics and Power in Kandahar Please join us as Carl Forsberg discusses his recent research and presents the ISW report on the new military offensive in Kandahar and the political-military strategy necessary to succeed in Afghanistan. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  June 24-27, 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Reserve Officers Association: National Council Meeting Please join us for the ROA National Council Meeting and the presentation of the ROA Academy on June 25.   Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2009, The Heritage Foundation The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400

Fwd: Morning Bell: CBO Confirms You're on the Hook for Wall Street Bailout Bill

04/26/2010 CBO Confirms You're on the Hook for Wall Street Bailout Bill President Barack Obama's favorite rhetorical device is to lecture the American people about what are and are not "legitimate" public policy arguments. So throughout the health care debate, President Obama insisted that it was "not legitimate" to claim that "a public option is somehow a Trojan horse for a single-payer system." This despite the fact that Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Nobel Prize winning New York Times columnist Paul Krugman were all caught on video explaining to single-payer advocates that the public option was exactly that. Now the President is bringing the same audacity to the health care debate, telling a handpicked audience at New York's Cooper Union: "Now, there is a legitimate debate taking place about how best to ensure taxpayers are held harmless in this process. But what is not legitimate is to suggest that we're enabling or encouraging future taxpayer bailouts, as some have claimed. That may make for a good sound bite, but it's not factually accurate." Before President Obama continues to go around accusing others of lacking legitimacy, he should read the official cost estimate of the financial regulation bill released by the Congressional Budget Office last Thursday. Assessing the budgetary impact of the $50 billion that "systemically important financial firms" would have to pay in assessments to pay for the bill's "Orderly Resolution Fund," the CBO writes:

Fwd: MRC Alert: CBS Frames Arizona's Anti-Illegal Alien Law Through Eyes of Opponents: 'Veto Racism'

 

A daily compilation edited by Brent H. Baker, CyberAlert items are drawn from daily BiasAlert posts and distributed by the Media Research Center's News Analysis Division, the leader since 1987 in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias.

 

Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Monday April 26, 2010 @ 09:43 AM EDT

1. CBS Frames Arizona's Anti-Illegal Alien Law Through Eyes of Opponents: 'Veto Racism'
Arizona's new law hardly earned a friendly reception Friday night from any of the network newscasts, but CBS went the furthest in presenting it from the perspective of its "victims" as anchor Katie Couric, over video of "Veto Racism" and "Stop the Hate" signs, teased: "Tonight, Arizona's controversial new immigration law. Police will now be able to make anyone they choose prove they're here illegally. It triggers demonstrations by both sides and a warning from President Obama." (Presumably, she meant "prove they're here legally.") Reporter Bill Whitaker suddenly found wisdom in the Catholic Church, plastering "mean-spirited" on screen: "In Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahony, head of the country's largest Catholic archdiocese, called the law 'mean-spirited' and compared it to Nazi repression. Today at a ceremony for new citizens, President Obama criticized Arizona's actions."

2. Delay of Cap & Trade a 'Disaster' and 'Travesty' Friedman Despairs, 'Shame on Republicans'
Reacting to news the Obama administration wants to postpone a vote on "Cap and Trade" in favor of immigration reform, on Sunday's Face the Nation New York Times columnist Tom Friedman despaired: "This is a disaster...This is a travesty. Basically, we were about to send the first bi-partisan legislation for radical move toward more green energy, more green jobs and putting a price on carbon..." While he chastised Democrats and Obama for putting the "raw politics" of trying to save Harry Reid ahead of the energy bill, he saved his real disgust for how only one Republican Senator, Lindsey Graham, was willing to help promote "green energy," charging: "Shame on the Republican Party. There's one Republican for advancing green energy in this country? One Republican Senator dare step out?"

3. ABC Offers Serious Look at Global Warming Skeptics, But Downplays ClimateGate
ABC's Nightline on Thursday provided a welcome look at the significant number of meteorologists in America who are skeptical of man-made global warming. Instead of simply dismissing their views, reporter David Wright interviewed Accuweather's Joe Bastardi and allowed him to assert, "I think that the warming that we're having is cyclical in nature."

4. CBS's Week-Long Pressure on Republicans to Support Dem Financial Reform Bill
On Friday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez declared that when it comes to financial reform legislation, "Democrats have all the leverage right now." Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer appeared on the show and observed that "They think this is the time to picture Republicans as trying to protect fat cat bankers, as it were." Schieffer added: "it's one thing to oppose health care reform, but on this case, I think most people would agree that doctors are more popular than bankers, especially at this particular time when you've had this lawsuit filed against Goldman Sachs." The headline on screen throughout the segment read: "Financial Reform Face-Off; Obama Takes on Wall Street, GOP."

5. CNN's Malveaux Omits Pro-Illegal Immigration Stance of 'Legal Defender'
On Friday's Situation Room, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux omitted the pro-illegal immigration activism of guest Isabel Garcia. Malveaux only referenced how her guest was "legal defender of Pima County, Arizona" and that she was "also co-chair of a Tucson-based human rights group." She also omitted how Garcia participated in the beating and decapitation of a pinata effigy of Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The CNN correspondent, filling-in for anchor Wolf Blitzer, brought on the legal defender five minutes into the 5 pm Eastern hour to discuss how Arizona Governor Jan Brewer had signed a strong anti-illegal immigration bill into law less than an hour earlier. After introducing Garcia without mentioning the name of her organization, ("The Human Rights Coalition," whose website features a logo incorporating the southwestern states into Mexico; a CNN graphic called it the "Coalition for Human Rights"), Malveaux first asked her, "The governor...said...she's not going to tolerate racial profiling....She's not going to let police officers pull somebody over because [of] the color of their skin or how they look. Do you believe the governor?"

6. Iceland's Volcano Eruption: 'Judgment for the Bad Things We Have Done to the Earth'
Some Saturday night humor. File under Things a Journalist Should Be Too Embarrassed to Cite. In her weekly Washington Post column published on Monday about the impact of the ash emitted by the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland which shut down European airplane flights, "Nature hoists Europe back in time," Warsaw-based Anne Applebaum included this sentence about reaction to the volcanic eruption: "A British friend sees this as 'judgment for the bad things we have done to the Earth.'"

Fwd: MRC Alert: ABC's Sam Donaldson Hypes: Al Gore for the Supreme Court

 

 

Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Friday April 23, 2010 @ 09:39 AM EDT

1. ABC's Sam Donaldson Hypes: Al Gore for the Supreme Court
On Thursday's Good Morning America, ABC journalist Sam Donaldson touted a liberal hero for the Supreme Court, one that even made George Stephanopoulos chuckle: Al Gore. After arguing that Barack Obama should choose a politician, Donaldson enthused, "Let's go further...I give you Al Gore." The veteran reporter, who was participating in GMA's Morning Mix panel, argued his case for the former Democratic presidential nominee: "He's 62. But, he's still a few years kicking [sic]. I think he's confirmable, although there would be a fight to some extent. I think he might make a very good justice."

2. Chevy Chase Reveals Matt Lauer Doing Charity Work for Liberal Green Groups
Comic legend and liberal activist Chevy Chase was invited on Thursday's Today show to promote his NBC comedy "Community" and advocate for environmentalism on this Earth Day, as he told viewers he'll be emceing a charity auction to benefit liberal greenie groups like the NRDC. In the process of noting some of the items to be auctioned off at the Christie's event, including a golf outing with Bill Clinton, Chase revealed none other than Today co-anchor Matt Lauer offered his own donation - a guided tour of the Today set.

3. George Stephanopoulos Hits Geithner From the Left on Financial Regulation: Break Up Big Banks?
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Thursday challenged Timothy Geithner from the left, advocating that the administration really needs to "do something" tough with the financial reform bill. He complained, "I mean, you have got a situation now where the six biggest banks in the country have assets equal to more than 60 percent of GDP. Why shouldn't those big banks be broken up?"

4. CNBC Reporter to Obama: Is Wall Street As 'Harmful' To Us as Big Tobacco?
CNBC's John Harwood, in an interview aired on Thursday's Today show, pressed Barack Obama about the need to regulate Wall Street as he questioned the President if Americans needed to view them in the same way they view Big Tobacco as "companies whose core activities are harmful to the country?" Obama declined to make the comparison to the tobacco companies, but went on to insist Wall Street needed new rules to protect against "excess."

5. Biden and Bo with TV's Endearing and Cuddly Moments at the Obama White House
Never missing a chance to highlight events that make Team Obama seem to be loveable characters, ABC and NBC on Thursday night showcased endearing and cuddly moments with Joe Biden and First Dog Bo. You can decide which one is endearing and which one is cuddly. ABC's Diane Sawyer took time to marvel at how "we heard on The View today that it was the President who told" Joe Biden "we heard" Biden calling "the health care reform a big you know what deal" when "of course he didn't know that his microphone was so sensitive," and NBC's Brian Williams showed video of Bo barking at First Lady Michelle Obama.

6. CBS 'Early Show' Guilts Viewers to Give Up Bottled Water for Earth Day
In the 8:30AM ET half hour of Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez introduced an Earth Day segment by proclaiming: "Americans throw away more than 30 billion plastic bottles every year....We have a film maker, Stephanie Soechtig, here with us, she has a documentary out called 'Tapped,' which looks the impact that all those bottles have had on the environment."

---

 

ABC's Sam Donaldson Hypes: Al Gore for the Supreme Court

 

View the Video Here

On Thursday's Good Morning America, ABC journalist Sam Donaldson touted a liberal hero for the Supreme Court, one that even made George Stephanopoulos chuckle: Al Gore. After arguing that Barack Obama should choose a politician, Donaldson enthused, "Let's go further...I give you Al Gore." [Audio available here.]

The veteran reporter, who was participating in GMA's Morning Mix panel, argued his case for the former Democratic presidential nominee: "He's 62. But, he's still a few years kicking [sic]. I think he's confirmable, although there would be a fight to some extent. I think he might make a very good justice."

Stephanopoulos, a former Democratic operative, incredulously responded, "There would be a massive fight!" He then broke out laughing. Donaldson, perhaps realizing the unlikely nature of this liberal fantasy, conceded, "I said to some extent." He, too, started laughing.

GMA's Morning Mix segment has quickly turned into a panel of journalists touting left-wing conventional wisdom. Thursday's edition, in addition to Stephanopoulos and Donaldson, also included former Democratic operative Donna Brazile and liberal sportswriter Christine Brennan.

Arguing for the President to not go soft with his Supreme Court pick, she lobbied, "You know, from a sports perspective here: You win, to the victor goes the spoils. And the President has absolutely every right, as any other president, it seems to me, to pick whoever he wants. Litmus test or no litmus test."

The March 12 Morning Mix featured a chorus of liberal voices to sympathize with Democrats Patrick Kennedy and Eric Massa.

A transcript of the April 22 segment, which aired at 8:18am EDT, follows:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's do a little politics right now. The President heading up to Wall Street right now. In the meantime, Sam, he's right in the middle of deliberations again on another supreme court pick. Replacing Justice Stevens. Who are you thinking about?

SAM DONALDSON: Well, my pick would be Janet Napolitano. She's made a star of herself in the cabinet. A puff piece in the Washington Post this morning.

STEPHANOPOULOS: The Secretary of Homeland Security.

DONALDSON: That's right. Exactly. She faced the voters in Arizona. They liked her. And I like the idea that not just federal judges. I have nothing against judges should be on the court. And I'll give you another name. Let's go further. The Constitution does not say you have to be a lawyer to be on the Supreme Court.

STEPHANOPOULOS: That's right.

DONALDSON: I give you Al Gore.

STEPHANOPOULOS: [Seemingly shocked] Al Gore?

DONALDSON: All right. He's 62. But, he's still a few years kicking [sic]. I think he's confirmable, although there would be a fight to some extent. I think he might make a very good justice.

STEPHANOPOULOS [Incredulous]: There would be a massive fight! [Laughs]

DONALDSON: I said to some extent. [Laughs]

STEPHANOPOULOS: [to Brazile]: You was his campaign manager, you think he wants it?

DONNA BRAZILE: He would be qualified. But with a Nobel Prize and Oscar, I think Al Gore's going to continue to fight for climate change. Look, I like a lot of the names on the short list and the short-short list. There's a lot of qualified people. And some great women. And so, I'm one of these people that would like to encourage the President to put another court on the court. And, yes, a female version of Justice Alito.

DONALDSON: What about Janet Napolitano?

BRAZILE: I like that name. I like Elena Kagan. I like all of them. Judge Sears. Give me any of 'em.

DONALDSON: In other words, if it's a woman, it's okay with you.

BRAZILE: Absolutely.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: With 50/50 in the nation, and not they're not there on the court, that makes a lot of sense.

DONALDSON: You actually have more than 50 percent of the population.

BRENNAN: 51, as a matter of fact.

BRAZILE [Motioning to the panel] This is 50/50.

BRENNAN: And I'm intrigued, when we hear that people say, no litmus test on this or that. You know, from a sports perspective here: You win, to the victor goes the spoils. And the President has absolutely every right, as any other president, it seems to me, to pick whoever he wants. Litmus test or no litmus test.

DONALDSON: But, he hasn't come clean on that. He actually said, there's no litmus test.

STEPHANOPOULOS: You know there is.

DONALDSON: On the other hand, when it comes to females using their body, we know where he stands.

BRAZILE: He respects individuals rights. And also women's rights. And I also think the President has high regards for the Supreme Court. He's a constitutional lawyer. He did a fantastic job with Judge Sotomayor.

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.

Chevy Chase Reveals Matt Lauer Doing Charity Work for Liberal Green Groups

 

View the Video Here

Comic legend and liberal activist Chevy Chase was invited on Thursday's Today show to promote his NBC comedy "Community" and advocate for environmentalism on this Earth Day, as he told viewers he'll be emceing a charity auction to benefit liberal greenie groups like the NRDC. In the process of noting some of the items to be auctioned off at the Christie's event, including a golf outing with Bill Clinton, Chase revealed none other than Today co-anchor Matt Lauer offered his own donation - a guided tour of the Today set. 

The following exchange was aired on the April 22 Today show:

MEREDITH VIEIRA: You're not just an icon, you are an emcee tonight at a very important auction.

CHEVY CHASE: Yeah tonight I'm emceing this Christie's Auction. It's a green auction. It's to save the Earth. And let me just mention that it's also gonna be sponsored by Oceana, NRDC, the conservation-, in other words there are, Central Park Conservancy.

AL ROKER: All the profits go to those organizations.

CHASE: There are a number of organizations, four that will be benefitted.

MATT LAUER: That's right.

CHASE: And I can just quickly give you, from CharityBuzz.com a list of some of the, like golf with President Clinton will be auctioned off. A tour of the Today show with Matt Lauer.

LAUER: That's a huge item! Huge!

CHASE: Is he still on that? Yeah. Oh and then Jane Pauley. Oh no!

ROKER: Nice.

CHASE: When was that? 80 years ago. Anyway.

ROKER: Ow!

CHASE: Anyway but it's, there are some great things. Gonna be doing that and of course I always celebrate Earth Day quietly at home with a bonfire and some liquor.

ROKER: Very good.

LAUER: We were actually talking about 40th anniversary of Earth Day. And you were on the first Earth Day where?

CHASE: As I remember her name was-

ROKER: No!

LAUER: Don't do that!

ROKER: Comedy icon ladies and gentlemen!

CHASE: I don't know! I had no idea where I was but I know I was for it.

ROKER: Yes!

CHASE: You betcha!

—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.

George Stephanopoulos Hits Geithner From the Left on Financial Regulation: Break Up Big Banks?

 

Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Thursday challenged Timothy Geithner from the left, advocating that the administration really needs to "do something" tough with the financial reform bill. He complained, "I mean, you have got a situation now where the six biggest banks in the country have assets equal to more than 60 percent of GDP. Why shouldn't those big banks be broken up?"

Following up, Stephanopoulos complained to the Treasury Secretary: "But, why isn't it a good idea to do something about the size of these banks? Are they still too big to fail?" The former Democratic operative turned journalist managed to go the entire interview without mentioning Republican concerns about the legislation.

Yet, he worried, "I mean, Goldman Sachs, 27 percent profits. You can't find a business that you make profits at that level." On April 21, Apple announced profits of 49 percent for the first quarter. (Perhaps hyperbole isn't Stephanopoulos' strength.)

The ABC journalist did question Geithner about future bailouts and whether the American public could be guaranteed there wouldn't be more. But, he mostly stuck to highlighting liberal worries, such as a new plan to allow trading firms to create a box office futures market.

Before asking if this should be "banned," Stephanopoulos chided, "But even as Washington limits these risky investments, Wall Street is trying to create new ones. The latest, letting people bet on box office results. A futures market in movies. Do you think that's a good idea?"

A transcript of the April 22 segment, which aired at 7:08am EDT, follows:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: I had the chance to talk to about all of this when I spoke with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner yesterday afternoon. We sat down just before he met with top General Motors executives to get back their government bailout money. So, Geithner was in a pretty good mood. He was also optimistic about getting Democrats and Republicans to agree on a financial reform package, which he believes will end bailouts paid for all of us. That's where we began.

TIM GEITHNER (Treasury Secretary): I think we will. Yeah. I'm spending a lot of time up there, both sides of the aisle, a lot of time with Republicans, too. People I talk to, want to be for a strong bill. You can't be against reform, George, given what happened. But what matters is, are they going to be for strong reforms? And based on what I've heard and what they tell me, they're for strong reforms.

STEPHANOPOULOS: There's a lot of people who are questioning whether what you're pushing for is strong enough. I mean, you have got a situation now where the six biggest banks in the country have assets equal to more than 60 percent of GDP. Why shouldn't those big banks be broken up?

GEITHNER: This is a very strong package of reforms. It's going to set limits we never had in place on risk-taking across the system. Limits on how large firms can be and how risky they can be. You know, we've been doing this for 14 months. There's enormous resistance, still, across the U.S. financial community, and by large institutions around the world to what we're trying to work through.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Yet, they're fighting it at a time when the banks are just making staggering profits. I mean, Goldman Sachs, 27 percent profits. You can't find a business that you make profits at that level. And it's a sure sign, isn't it, that there's not enough competition?

GEITHNER: No, I don't believe that. Bit. I think most of what you're seeing now in the American economy. The economy is really getting stronger. I mean, the economy is growing again. Private investment is expanding. People are starting to spend more. Exports are growing. That's a good sign. That's a healthy sign. But, again we're still living with the financial system that brought us this crisis. And, so, we have a huge obligation, I believe, huge responsibility, now, to make sure we putting in place tough reforms now.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But, why isn't it a good idea to do something about the size of these banks? Are they still too big to fail?

GEITHNER: We agree. Are view is- Absolutely. You're limiting how big they can get and how risky they can get. But in the future, if they mess up and take themselves to the edge of the cliff again, then we want to make sure we can put them out of existence. Dismember them. Break them up, safely without the taxpayer having to bail them out again. That's a very important- That's a critical part of this bill.

STEPHANOPOULOS So, you're confident, if these reforms are put in place and 18 months down the road, we face another situation like Lehman Brothers. Whether it's now Citigroup or JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, whichever bank, you take your pick, Goldman Sachs, you're confident that the government will not step in and save them?

GEITHNER: Absolutely. Absolutely. That's important for people to understand. You can't run a system in which private investors or their executives can take risk on the expectation the government is going to protect them. That's a recipe for disaster.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But, that's what happened, isn't it?

GEITHNER: That's what happened before. And we're not going to let it happen again.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's talk a little bit about Goldman Sachs. The SEC is taking action against Goldman Sachs. Did anyone in the Obama administration, in Treasury, in the White House, in the government, get any heads-up? Nothing?

GEITHNER: Absolutely not. And, again, that could never happen, should never happen. It's a fully independent agency and they give no warnings and no heads-up. And there should be no involvement ever by any person in the executive branch, ever, in those kind of investigations. And I'm confident our system protects against that risk.

STEPHANOPOULOS: And I know you can't talk about the investigation, per se. But how about the underlying issue? These firms are setting up what are synthetic CDOs. Collateralized Debt Obligation. These are just bets. Why should firms who are getting backing for the federal government be allowed to do this at all? We end up paying, don't we?

GEITHNER: Let me do it slightly differently, because, again, I want to be careful. Because there's an important tradition of not commenting of enforcement or their merits. What you need to have a system in which this stuff happens, not in the dark. Where some people can make some money. But it comes at enormous risk to the system as a whole. We bring derivatives out of the dark. Those types of activities happen in broad daylight with full disclosure. And with the cops able to police the stuff more effectively.

STEPHANOPOULOS: I understand that for private firms. When you have got these banks who are getting subsidies from the federal government, why should they be allowed to do this?

GEITHNER: You're exactly right. It is an obligation of government, in some ways this was the failure of the system we had. You know, we had in place for seven years after the Great Depression. But the markets just outgrew it. The obligation of government is to prevent firms from taking risks that could imperil the economy. And to prevent people from taking advantage of their customers.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But even as Washington limits these risky investments, Wall Street is trying to create new ones. The latest, letting people bet on box office results. A futures market in movies. Do you think that's a good idea?

GEITHNER: You know, here's what I think about this, George. The financial sector will be creative and will innovate. It will come up with products in a meet some real need people have. And also come up with products that are designed to help people bet on some basic outcome. That's going to happen. It's a necessary part of running a good financial system. But, those things come with risks. And our job, our obligation, is to make sure that we're reducing those risks. We can contain the damage when those financial innovations go awry. And, again, you need the government better equipped to do a better job earlier, preemptively, to limit the risks that come with the obligation.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So, they shouldn't be banned?

GEITHNER: You can't stop innovation. You can't run a system where you have a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington, trying to figure out what's risky and what's not. Because, the risk is they'll miss it. They'll be too late. Or they'll overdo it. So, the best thing we can do for the country, is to make sure the system just has better protections in place when innovations go a little too far.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Mr. Secretary, thanks very much.

GEITHNER: Nice to see you, George.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Not all senators got the memo from the Treasury Secretary. A key Senate committee did, in fact, vote to ban that movies future market yesterday.

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.

CNBC Reporter to Obama: Is Wall Street As 'Harmful' To Us as Big Tobacco?

 

View the Video Here

CNBC's John Harwood, in an interview aired on Thursday's Today show, pressed Barack Obama about the need to regulate Wall Street as he questioned the President if Americans needed to view them in the same way they view Big Tobacco as "companies whose core activities are harmful to the country?" Obama declined to make the comparison to the tobacco companies, but went on to insist Wall Street needed new rules to protect against "excess."

JOHN HARWOOD: Should average Americans think about big Wall Street institutions the way that some have come to think about tobacco companies, that is, companies whose core activities are harmful to the country? 

BARACK OBAMA: No. We have to have a thriving financial sector. But, we also have to have basic rules of the road in place to make sure that investors, consumers, shareholders, the economy as a whole, are protected against excess. We have gotten into one of those places where we need to update those rules of the road, and if we do so, not only is that good for the economy, not only does it protect consumers and investors, it's also good for the financial sector.

Harwood did manage to ask Obama about contributions he received from Goldman Sachs and the fact that his former White House counsel is representing them as he pried: "In the 2008 campaign you got a lot of money, about $1 million, from employees of Goldman Sachs. Your former White House counsel Greg Craig is apparently going to represent Goldman Sachs. In light of this case, do either of those things embarrass you?"

However at the end of the segment Today co-anchor Meredith Vieira claimed Republicans were "warming up" to a financial reform bill and did the White House have "a sense" of "victory over this?" To which Harwood responded "Average Americans dislike Wall Street...so this is a case where public opinion's on the President's side. He was hitting Republicans over the head with that and they're finally coming to the table..." And just before signing off Harwood ominously warned higher middle class taxes could be on the way.

MEREDITH VIEIRA: You know Republicans are warming up to this reform bill where they were adamantly opposed to it before some revisions were introduced. Was there a sense at the White House of, of victory over this?

HARWOOD: I think so. Look this is an issue, unlike health care, where public opinion was divided. Average Americans dislike Wall Street, in many cases as much as they dislike Washington. So this is a case where public opinion's on the President's side. He was hitting Republicans over the head with that and they're finally coming to the table and looks like they're gonna make a deal pretty soon.

VIEIRA: And on a very different note, during your interview the President did not rule out the possibility of raising taxes on the middle class, something he has always opposed in the past. Was he sending up a trial balloon? 

HARWOOD: Watch this story, Meredith. This is likely to be the biggest - next big debate in American politics in 2011 because as the economy recovers, many on the President's team believe we need a serious assault on the deficit, and the amount of revenue that's needed can't all be gotten from the rich.

The following is the full Harwood segment as it was aired on the April 22 Today show:

MEREDITH VIEIRA: Moving on to the economy and President Obama's push for a new financial reform package, the President travels to New York today to sell his plan in the shadow of Wall Street. But before leaving Washington he sat down with CNBC's John Harwood who also rights for The New York Times. John, good morning.

JOHN HARWOOD: Good morning, Meredith. You know the President made the case financial regulation reform would be good not just for average Americans but for those Wall Street institutions. But he also made emphatically clear that the White House had nothing to do with the case involving one of those most famous institutions, Goldman Sachs, that was filed last week by the SEC.

[On screen headline: "Taking On Wall Street, President Obama One-On-One"]

BARACK OBAMA: The SEC is an entirely independent agency that we have no day-to-day control over and they never discussed with us anything with respect to the charge that will be brought. So this notion that somehow there would be any attempt to interfere in an independent agency is completely false.

HARWOOD: In the 2008 campaign you got a lot of money, about $1 million, from employees of Goldman Sachs. Your former White House counsel Greg Craig is apparently going to represent Goldman Sachs. In light of this case, do either of those things embarrass you?

OBAMA: No. Anybody who gave me money during the course of my campaign knew that I was on record pushing very strongly that we needed to reform how Wall Street did business. As far as my former White House counsel, Greg Craig, he's one of the top lawyers in the country. He has a range of clients. But we have toughest ethic rules that any President's ever had. And the one thing that he knows is that he cannot talk to the White House, cannot lobby the White House. Once he left the White House, he cannot in any way use his former position to have any influence on us.

HARWOOD: Should average Americans think about big Wall Street institutions the way that some have come to think about tobacco companies, that is, companies whose core activities are harmful to the country?

OBAMA: No. We have to have a thriving financial sector. But, we also have to have basic rules of the road in place to make sure that investors, consumers, shareholders, the economy as a whole, are protected against excess. We have gotten into one of those places where we need to update those rules of the road, and if we do so, not only is that good for the economy, not only does it protect consumers and investors, it's also good for the financial sector.

HARWOOD: Some of the institutions and their lobbyists don't seem to think it would be so good for them.

OBAMA: Well, that's not surprising. They've made out very well. I, and I think the vast majority of Americans, think it is unacceptable to have a situation in which tails, you win, and, and heads, I lose.

HARWOOD: Now we expect to hear from Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein at a Senate committee next week. But as for the Cooper Union speech today the President is expected to talk about average Americans and the consequences for them if the Congress doesn't pass financial reform, Meredith.

VIEIRA: You know Republicans are warming up to this reform bill where they were adamantly opposed to it before some revisions were introduced. Was there a sense at the White House of, of victory over this?

HARWOOD: I think so. Look this is an issue, unlike health care, where public opinion was divided. Average Americans dislike Wall Street, in many cases as much as they dislike Washington. So this is a case where public opinion's on the President's side. He was hitting Republicans over the head with that and they're finally coming to the table and looks like they're gonna make a deal pretty soon.

VIEIRA: And on a very different note, during your interview the President did not rule out the possibility of raising taxes on the middle class, something he has always opposed in the past. Was he sending up a trial balloon?

HARWOOD: Watch this story, Meredith. This is likely to be the biggest - next big debate in American politics in 2011 because as the economy recovers, many on the President's team believe we need a serious assault on the deficit, and the amount of revenue that's needed can't all be gotten from the rich.

VIEIRA: Alright, John Harwood, thank you so much.

HARWOOD: You bet.

VIEIRA: Good interview.

—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.

Biden and Bo with TV's Endearing and Cuddly Moments at the Obama White House

 

Never missing a chance to highlight events that make Team Obama seem to be loveable characters, ABC and NBC on Thursday night showcased endearing and cuddly moments with Joe Biden and First Dog Bo. You can decide which one is endearing and which one is cuddly.

ABC's Diane Sawyer took time to marvel at how "we heard on The View today that it was the President who told" Joe Biden "we heard" Biden calling "the health care reform a big you know what deal" when "of course he didn't know that his microphone was so sensitive," and NBC's Brian Williams showed video of Bo barking at First Lady Michelle Obama:

If you're a dog owner, then you know there are times when they want your attention and they do not like that you're talking to other people or doing something else. It only means that you are not loving them at that given moment. Well, that's pretty much what happened today with the Obama's dog Bo while the First Lady was talking about her life and her job with some visiting students.

(Later, Williams featured a full story on Google's "earth-friendly lawn care" solution -- goats -- as Anne Thompson gushed "this is one time speed doesn't matter at Google as it opts for an animal footprint instead of a carbon one.")

Back to Bo, NBC Nightly News viewers saw video of Michelle Obama, with Bo, in front of a group of kids:

The notion of being First Lady of the United States, you know, there have never been anybody in my race who had been here. [To a barking Bo] I know. I know. All right. You're going to have to go. You ready to go? Are you ready to go?

Williams added: "The kids all got to pet Bo. They were there, by the way, as part of take our daughters and sons to work day. We also learned today that daughter Malia's issue is saving the world's tigers and the First Lady, put it gently, that they talk about that issue as a family these days at least once a week."

From the April 22 World News on ABC:

DIANE SAWYER: Remember when Vice President Biden called the health care reform a big you know what deal? Of course he didn't know that his microphone was so sensitive. We heard on The View today that it was the President who told him, we heard it.

JOE BIDEN, ON THE VIEW: And we gotten off in the limo to go over to another event. And he was laughing like the devil. I said, "what's so funny? I don't see anything funny about this." And he said, well, he said, "Katie, my secretary, told me when you said that to me, everybody could hear it." I was, "oh, God all mighty."

Earlier: "Enchanted Matthews Holds Up His Own 'Health Reform Is a BFD' T-Shirt"

— Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.

CBS 'Early Show' Guilts Viewers to Give Up Bottled Water for Earth Day

 

In the 8:30AM ET half hour of Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez introduced an Earth Day segment by proclaiming: "Americans throw away more than 30 billion plastic bottles every year....We have a film maker, Stephanie Soechtig, here with us, she has a documentary out called 'Tapped,' which looks the impact that all those bottles have had on the environment."

Rodriguez invited Soechtig to explain her mission: "What has your message been?" Soechtig responded: "we've been trying to educate people that bottled water's one of the greatest marketing scams of all time. 40% of bottled water is really just filtered tap water. And every day we throw away 30 million single serve bottles of water." A headline on-screen read: "Early's Earth Day; Filmmaker Says 'Get Off the Bottle!'"

Soechtig warned of the "tremendous impact" of bottled water on the environment: "there's a soup of plastic in the north Pacific that's twice the size of Texas, that's just littered with plastic. So this type of plastic getting out in the environment is hurting our sea life, it's hurting us....plastic is a byproduct of oil. So from the production of the plastic all the way through the disposal, it just has a tremendous carbon footprint."

Rodriguez then described Soechtig's solution to the problem: "if you encounter Stephanie along her travels, she will likely give you one of these. It's a 'Clean Canteen.' And you're advocating putting tap water in these instead of drinking bottled water." With that, Rodriguez held up a reusable water container made of, you guessed it, plastic.

Wanting to point out her commitment to saving the planet, Rodriguez bragged: "I only drink tap water." Fill-in news reader Betty Nguyen chimed in: "I do, too." Rodriguez also observed: "By the way, it saves me a ton of money, to boot, not only saving the environment."

In concluding the segment, Rodriguez declared: "Stephanie, thank you....Thank you for helping us commemorate Earth Day. Important message." She then handed a 'Clean Canteen' to fellow co-host Harry Smith, who replied: "Thank you very much. I want one of those."  

In a similar demand for people not to use a particular product, on Wednesday, the Early Show touted a report asking the government to "take salt off the table." 

Here is a full transcript of the segment:

8:30AM

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Welcome back to the Early Show on this Earth Day. Americans throw away more than 30 billion plastic bottles every year.

HARRY SMITH: Wait a minute, did you say billion? Billion with a 'B'?

RODRIGUEZ: 30 Billion with a 'B.'

SMITH: Okay.

RODRIGUEZ: We have a film maker, Stephanie Soechtig, here with us, she has a documentary out called 'Tapped,' which looks the impact that all those bottles have had on the environment. And for the past month, she has been collecting bottles in this truck so that everybody can see [Pointing to truck with transparent containers of plastic water bottles]. Good morning, Stephanie.

STEPAHNIE SOECHTIG: Good morning.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Early's Earth Day; Filmmaker Says 'Get Off the Bottle!']

RODRIGUEZ: You've been traveling the country collecting these bottles. Why and what has your message been?

SOECHTIG: Well, we've been trying to educate people that bottled water's one of the greatest marketing scams of all time. 40% of bottled water is really just filtered tap water. And every day we throw away 30 million single serve bottles of water. [Pointing to the truck] So this represents about four seconds worth of what we throw away every single day.

BETTY NGUYEN: 4 seconds?

HARRY SMITH: 4 seconds?

SOECHTIG: 4 seconds every day, into landfills and the ocean.

RODRIGUEZ: And what impact has this had on the environment?

SOECHTIG: Well, it's had a tremendous impact. I mean, there's a soup of plastic in the north Pacific that's twice the size of Texas, that's just littered with plastic. So this type of plastic getting out in the environment is hurting our sea life, it's hurting us, it's ending up back in our food chain. Every step along the way seems to be bad. It's also oil – plastic is a byproduct of oil. So from the production of the plastic all the way through the disposal, it just has a tremendous carbon footprint.

RODRIGUEZ: So if you encounter Stephanie along her travels, she will likely give you one of these. It's a 'Clean Canteen' [holds up plastic reusable container]. And you're advocating putting tap water in these instead of drinking bottled water. I only drink tap water.

NGUYEN: I do, too.

RODRIGUEZ: By the way, it saves me a ton of money, to boot, not only saving the environment.

NGUYEN: Exactly. And this would save you money, too, because you don't have to go to the stores and keep buying that bottled water. You just have to think a little and pack it.

SOECHTIG: Right.

RODRIGUEZ: Exactly. Which is easy. Stephanie, thank you.

SOECHTIG: Thanks so much.

RODRIGUEZ: Thank you for helping us commemorate Earth Day. Important message. Your 'Clean Canteen,' sir.

HARRY SMITH: Thank you very much. I want one of those.

—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here.

Fwd: Morning Bell: The Fatal Flaws of the Wall Street Bailout Bill

04/23/2010 The Fatal Flaws of the Wall Street Bailout Bill Speaking to an audience of big business and big labor executives (including Goldman Sachs' Lloyd Blankfein, Bank of America's Bruce Thompson and SEIU's Andy Stern) at New York's Cooper Union, President Barack Obama noted "the furious efforts of industry lobbyists to shape" the financial regulation bill "to their special interests." Obama then admitted, "I am sure that many of those lobbyists work for some of you. But I am here today because I want to urge you to join us, instead of fighting us in this effort." Obama should have saved his breath. Wall Street and big labor lobbyists have already joined forces to make sure the current Senate legislation has become a Wall Street Bailout Bill. Big labor's ties to this White House are already well documented. Less known is just how close Obama administration interests align with the big firms that benefit most from the TARP bailout. The Washington Examiner reports that at Goldman Sachs, the nation's largest investment bank, four of the five in-house lobbyists were Democratic Capitol Hill staffers -- the remaining one gave $1,000 to Hillary Clinton last election. And USA Today notes that Goldman Sachs alone has given nearly $900,000 since January 2009 to congressional candidates, with 69% of that cash lining Democrat pockets. Finally, then-candidate Obama collected almost $1 million from Goldman executives and employees in 2008, more than the combined Goldman haul of every Republican running for president, Senate and the House. So what have Wall Street lobbyists bought with their campaign cash and high priced lobbyists? A bill that gives permanent TARP-like authority to Washington regulators, thus enshrining Washington as a permanent bailout machine. Specifically, the bill: