Take the Pipe the Sequel

Congress.org presents: MEGAVOTE January 26, 2015 for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change
• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change
• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Energy Efficiency Standards
• House: Gas Pipeline Permit Deadlines – Passage
• House: Federal Abortion Funding Ban – Passage

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline
• House: Human Trafficking Prioritization Act
• House: LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act

Recent Senate Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change, Vote Rejected (50-49, 1 Not Voting)
The Senate rejected a Schatz, D-Hawaii, amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and that human activity significantly contributes to it. By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to raise the majority requirement for adoption of the amendment to 60 votes.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO
Sen. David Perdue voted NO
Why couldn't the Senate get it on the books that climate change is real when they were in control of the Senate. The sanctum of Al Gore and Harry Reid. The idea is preposterous on its face, a bill meant for the construction of an energy pipeline labelled with the concept that the energy is meant for evil. Besides the reality that an overt statement of duality is useless, besides the concept that climate change is the product of mankind is really the product of extrapolation of filtered data, the who damned thing is fucking stupid. Hell this dumb bastard is a Senator from Hawaii, the darned volcanoes there put out more heat and pollution than all of mankind.  
  
Keystone XL Pipeline - Climate Change, Vote Agreed to (56-42, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate agreed to table (kill) a Sanders, I-Vt., amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and caused by human activities. It also would urge the U.S. to overhaul its energy system away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable energy.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
More of the same freaking crap.

Keystone XL Pipeline - Energy Efficiency Standards, Vote Agreed to (94-5, 1 Not Voting)
The Senate adopted a Portman, R-Ohio, amendment to a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline. The amendment would would direct the General Services Administration to establish best practices regarding energy-efficiency in commercial real estate buildings, including those that house federal agencies. It would require the GSA to incorporate energy-efficiency standards into its building leasing program for federal agencies.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
Energy efficient planning from the people who couldn't two sentences in a row that have congruent meaning. Of course they are all for it, there is no there there to understand.  

Recent House Votes:
Gas Pipeline Permit Deadlines – Passage, Vote Passed (253-169, 11 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve or deny a natural gas pipeline project within one year after receiving a completed application. Federal agencies responsible for issuing permits would have to issue a ruling within 90 days of when FERC issues its final environmental statement for the project.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
Why do they have to vote on when they are going to vote. Heck they are politicians, they can make a promise with a vote and then ignore the damned thing later. It's moronic, I would have voted against it just for it stupidity. And these guys are going to set efficiency standards? 

Federal Abortion Funding Ban – Passage, Vote Passed (242-179, 12 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would permanently prohibit the use of federal funds, facilities or staff to provide abortion coverage and services, except in cases of rape or incest and for saving the life of the woman. It also would prohibit individuals and small business from receiving federal subsidies and small businesses from receiving federal subsidies and tax credits under the 2010 health care overhaul to purchase plans that cover abortions.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
I would have voted yes but have no problem with David Scott's vote if it was a personal choice. Problem is I don't think it is a personal choice. That makes him a lemming.

Upcoming Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline - S1
The Senate will consider a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.
Hell yeah!

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act - HR514
The House will consider a bill to prioritize the fight against human trafficking within the Department of State according to congressional intent in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 without increasing the size of the Federal Government.
Smells like one of those useless 100% votes to me.

LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act - HR351
The House will consider a bill to provide for expedited approval of exportation of natural gas.
Why this has not happened already is a mystery to me. The President has been resisting this as have the Democrats, a bill that would put another arrow in the State Department's quiver, for applying pressure on the Russians in Europe.

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Take the Pipe

Congress.org presents: MEGAVOTE, January 20, 2015, for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline - Cloture
• House: Rulemaking Process Overhaul – Passage
• House: Fiscal 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations - Passage
• House: Financial Regulatory Revisions - Passage

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline Act
• House: Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act
• House: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Recent Senate Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline - Cloture, Vote Agreed to (63-32, 5 Not Voting)
The Senate agreed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
The Democrats tried to tack on a bunch of amendments and got stonewalled by Mitch. Love it.

Recent House Votes:
Rule making Process Overhaul – Passage Vote Passed (250-175, 8 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would modify the federal rule making process by requiring agencies to estimate the cost of proposed regulations and consider new criteria, including potential costs and benefits of alternatives. The bill would create additional steps that agencies must follow when proposing major rules with annual costs of more than $100 million, or high-impact rules with annual costs of more than $1 billion, including an advanced-notice comment period to determine whether the rule-making process should proceed.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
I changed the spelling in the description from Congress, they identify it as "rulemaking" which is not a word. Maybe if the word is not real the whole concept is a charade. The premise for the bill itself is logical but knowing the way these assholes minds work the impact studies will just be bullshit anyway. Sometimes I wonder why they even bother.

Fiscal 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations - Passage, Vote Passed (236-191, 6 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. As amended the bill would bar the use of funds to implement the administration's immigration policies or to grant any federal benefit to any illegal immigrant as a result of those policies.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
There is something in this description from Congress that does not make sense.

Financial Regulatory Revisions - Passage Vote Passed (271-154, 8 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would modify numerous requirements under the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul. It would delay until July 2019 a requirement under the Volcker rule that banks sell off collateralized loan obligations, the complex securitization vehicles that are backed predominantly by commercial loans and exempt non-financial companies from margin requirements under the law.
Rep. David Scott voted YES
There are a couple more fake words, "securitization" and "collateralized", so what this amounts to a tweaking action. The whole darned overhaul was a shell game anyway, the government blaming wall street for something the government induced the banks to do. Did they learn a lesson, of course not, if you watch the news, they are already at it again. 

Upcoming Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline Act - S1
The Senate will consider a bill to immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.
Go for it dudes, stick it right up the POTUS back side.

Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act - HR161
The House will consider a bill to provide for the timely consideration of all licenses, permits, and approvals required under Federal law with respect to the sitting, construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline projects.
See what I said for Act S1, same logic applies.

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - HR36
The House will consider a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect pain-capable unborn children, and for other purposes.
There will be a lot of teeth gnashing over this one, not to mention constant media mis-characterization.

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The Stink Makes Sense

Now.
And all this time I thought it was the crap the White House was spewing.

It will be so warm and friendly, come on in, get a plastic fork and knife, break off a big chunk of feta cheese, eat that stuff even if it isn't endorsed by first lady.
The writer suggests this is created in honor of President Andrew Jackson, the hero of Battle of New Orleans and the first truly populist President, a man with whom the current President has not similarity.
Is this what I've heard of?
Gubmint cheez?

Fogs of War

The Onion cracks me up sometimes.....

Fog is appropriate in multipleways

1. The fog of the message itself, the State of the Union does not have to be a speech. The Constitution calls for the President to communicate to Congress on situation the country is, the darned thing could be done with a text message. But damned these politicians, harking back to Clinton (including Bush 43) have been getting away with vague political speeches devoid of serious content.  Heck the president last night was talking about individuals, poor with bad luck and circumstance. That crap isn't a reflection of the country's condition, it's just a ploy to keep the unfortunate on Democratic track.
2. The fog in the same sense as used by some sports teams, the University of Miami comes to mind, used as an attention grabbing stage trick.  Self aggrandizement. How many indicators of self congratulation have we become used to having thrust upon us in the last six years. Bush 43 was if nothing humble, Obama does't know the meaning of the word.
3. Fog in the sense that this executive branch has a fiscal strategy foundering in cloud of stupidity.
4. And last, fogged up in the sense that is what the Democratic party voter (no so much leadership) state of mind is. They do not understand reality, only what they think they need and never grasping that dependence is the string attached to every hand out. 

Radical Islam in Europe: No One to Blame But Us

Not written by some American Neo-Con, Vijeta Uniyal was born in India and is based in Germany.

He finishes his article by saying...

"The international jihadist movement has declared war." Our decision in the West is whether we wish to defend this freedom, or whether we wish to submit to rising Islamist intimidation even more."

Radical Islam in Europe: No One to Blame But Us

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

On the news last night ABC and CNN were beside themselves over the President's skyrocketing popularity. Now this poll is, in my opinion more accurate, tends to be a little lower in perception of Democratic position, but the result is still positive.

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

The ratio of strong approval to strong disapproval is still 2 to 3, so the other 25% is coming from the lukewarm. It would be fair to say that the press, now having a Republican Senate to join the Republican House will have more opportunity upon which to spread its hate.  I see the President's numbers going higher as long as he keeps up this current mode of promising the next "right", like we've recently seen, everyone deserves at least two free years of community college, free high speed WI-FI access and whatever ineffectual program bullshit he can dream up.

Just keep

1. playing golf 
2. writing executive orders
3. letting ambassadors and their guards die without support or reinforcement
4. releasing those prisoners from Cuba.
5. dumping Fast & Furious documents
6. stonewalling IRS investigations
7. insisting on working for the folks who did not vote, as opposed to the ones who did

Pathetic

At Least

The one in the middle goes home to Beyonce.

It looks like the rapper is standing on his toes.

If the one on the left is Jarrett Jack, shame, you are the only college graduate in the bunch.

Getting Ready for the Veto

Congress.org presents: MEGAVOTE for January 12, 2015 and Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization – Passage
• House: Healthcare Employer Mandate – Passage
• House: Keystone XL Pipeline  – Passage

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Keystone XL Pipeline Act
• House: Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act
• House: Regulatory Accountability Act

Recent Senate Votes:
Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization – Passage Vote Passed (93-4, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate passed a bill that would extend the Terrorism Insurance Act for six years, through 2020, and raise the threshold of insured losses at which federal assistance kicks in, reducing the share of losses that federal assistance will cover and increasing the amounts that the government recoups from the insurance industry. It also would clarify that certain entities, or so-called "end users", who trade in derivatives are not subject to margin requirements for those derivatives.
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Sen. David Perdue voted YES
Slam dunk time for politicians, making plans to give away taxpayer money. It is what hey are best at, giving away money for well intentioned causes, after of course taking that money from someone.

Recent House Votes:
Healthcare Employer Mandate – Passage Vote Passed (252-172, 5 Not Voting)
This bill would modify who is covered as a full-time employee under the employer mandate in the 2010 health care law by replacing the 30 hour-a-week threshold with 40 hours per week. It also would change how companies calculate how many of their employees can be counted under the employer mandates’ 50-employee threshold.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
Mr. Scott's vote is hardly surprising and in line with promises from the President to veto any things to do with modification of ACA.  He can do all the changes he wants with executive actions, but if elected officials try it, veto man is there to defend his own lawlessness.

Keystone XL Pipeline  – Passage Vote Passed (266-153, 1 Present, 9 Not Voting)
The House passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Rep. David Scott voted YES
Thank you Mr. Scott, that anybody would vote against this proves that there are folks out there that do not care what the impact of environment activism is.

Upcoming Votes:
Keystone XL Pipeline Act - S.1
The bill would approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.
This an opportunity to expose just how much Harry Reid was protecting the President by tabling every piece of legislation that might twist the President's nipple. Just watch, veto man will trot out some lame reason that he has to kill the thing. Does not matter how obscurely in the minority he is.  Just how obtuse can these Democrats be? 

Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act - H.R.37
The bill would make technical corrections to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to enhance the ability of small and emerging growth companies to access capital through public and private markets, to reduce regulatory burdens, and for other purposes.
Job promotion plans created by politicians that ignore their own debt effect on the economy.  What a waste of time. Business creation is out paced by business failure these days, that is due to debt impact by taxation. Here is a plan, quit looking for ways to give money away, start looking for ways to cut government cost, cut taxes, and create motivation to work by making it harder to survive without working. 

Regulatory Accountability Act - H.R.185
The bill would reform the process by which Federal agencies analyze and formulate new regulations and guidance documents.
Here's a another plan, add sunset rules to all new legislation that has cost or taxation impact. Don't package the items, put them each up for votes every three years, take away the temptation approve somebody else pork so you can be sure to get your own. Forget the concept that government is supposed to be benevolent, it's purpose if to protect the people, that's it.

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Old Maid

This is a new cartoonist for me, but I think this pretty much hits it on the head.

Watch, the writing is already on the wall. Republican leadership in Congress has made clear that the TEA party followers are not to have a voice. Imagine that a group that is responsible for putting them in the leadership and their reflexive action is to suppress the voice of the blue collar for classic GOP position of "just to the right of the Democrats". They keep this shit up and they'll loose to that old maid, just like they lost to the worst President in last 86 years.

The New Wrong

The emails from the White House are coming fast and furiously of late.
Unlike the emails that were requested by subpoena in the Fast and Furious investigation.
Perhaps if the White House had better internet service, provided at little to no cost, answers would have been more easily forthcoming.
And if you believe that bullshit I've got some free care to offer up too.

They keep coming up with new ways to give shit away, suggesting it is a right that should be provided by the government.
Imagine this, wi-fi will be installed all along the Mexican border so that "undocumented workers" (aka wet-backs) can use Google Maps to find the closest social security office.
Every thing they give away is either taken from a taxpayer whether they be alive or unborn.