Debt Ceiling Brinkmanship

While posturing brinkmanship may suit the short term goal of feigning differences, The President and Democratic Leaders in both House as well as Senate seem to be caving in to Republican demands of "no new taxes". They appear to be more concerned about election politics over what is right. Fear of what "could" happen to them in the 2012 General Elections seems to be pushing them toward the center so much that it looks like their credibility with average working folks may go down the drain. Half-choices now, regardless of the spin put on them, serve only the wealthiest among us. Polls show that the vast majority of middle and working class Americans want real action being taken on jobs and economic development. It is unfortunate that they now risk being sold out for political expediency, with little being done on improving the job market beyond empty promises.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0726/In-Obama-speech-and-John-Boehner-reply-political-jockeying-on-debt-ceiling

CHINA REALLY GOOD A FAKING? NO, REALLY? YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! A 19th century chinese immigrant copied a well known dessert treat from Japan and introduced the fortune cookie to diners everywhere. Now that man's homeland has outdone him. China, long known for producing counterfeit consumer gadgets, software and brand name clothing, has reached a new piracy milestone -fake Apple stores. (see article below)Whats gonna be the next chinese-produced clone? Someday soon we may even have mom's homemade apple pie transported 1000s of miles across the Pacific from a Shanghai factory to a dinner table near you!http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_6775/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=vPSWG8kE&src=cat&dbid=6775&dbname=Top+Stories&detailindex=9

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Today in 1995, Amazon.com sold its first book, "Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies."

PG3

Today in 1930, the first Football (Soccer) World Cup began. Uruguay beat Argentina in the final, 4-2.

PG3

Mitch McConnell's plan to sidestep Tea Party on Debt Ceiling

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has come up with a plan, complicated but not impossible, which would allow the President to raise the debt ceiling in increments. This move from mainstream Republicans in the Senate flies in the face of the Tea Party bunch that has been making divisive hay this summer over it. They want ANY deal to raise the US debt ceiling to include massive spending cuts as well as no cuts in taxes for increasing revenue. The McConnell deal, if it works, is a win/win for the President, allowing him to avoid any more political bleeding from the left wing of the Democratic party, just a year before the election.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/fury-mcconnell-outlines-plan-obama-raise-debt-ceiling-204213811.html

Today in 1543, King Henry VIII of England married his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr.

PG3

Gov Scott not a big draw? Not a big surprise.

A visit to the City of Sweetwater highlighted just how unpopular Florida's Gov. Rick Scott is. His visit today (July 12) to this medium sized town just west of Miami was newsworthy for the lack of interest it held over the local political community. Scott scored no local Dems and very very few Reps at his function. This comes on the heels of a recent poll showing his job approval rating at a low of 29%. With police, fire and educational personnel reeling from the squeeze his tight budget has placed on these vital services, its no wonder that Scott is not a big draw. At this rate the Governor won't be drawing flies pretty soon.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/07/12/poor-turnout-for-gov-scott-with-poor-approval-rating/

Today in 1804, U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr killed Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel.

PG3

Mexico growing despite violence, increasing potential as US ally

In another sign of just how vital a neighbor and ally it is, Mexican economic growth continues to grow exponentially despite the bloody drug war in the north. US as well as Asian tigers such as Taiwan and South Korea are increasing their investments in Mexico, not reducing them. These factories, known as maquiladoras in Mexico, were a staple of the early mid 1990s post-NAFTA economic boom south of the border. That was quickly put in check when US manufacturers saw that they could turn that 1$ an hour they paid in Mexico could easily be turned into 1$ a day or less in China and SE Asia. With the dramatic rise in the cost of oil recently, the resultant increase in transportation costs has made Mexico appealing again, even for the Asian industrial powers. Unlike China, Mexico has an economy very similar to the US, with a burgeoning middle class and one whose fortunes are inextricably linked to ours. The future continued growth of Mexico is at once tied to our own. They are not vying for their 'place in the sun' as a potential global superpower as is China. They simply are looking to modernize and advance.

Any followers of my blog know very well that I am pro labor, pro union and pro american jobs. That being said, if jobs which half left the US for Asia never to return now begin to come back but to Mexico they are at least less of a threat. Mexican laws, while pale compared to ours, are downright New Deal-ish when compared to those of China. These halfback jobs (making it back only half way) will serve to enhance the US economy and hopefully grow our closest neighbor into what we really need in this decade, a close natural ally, with similar values and one who, in an increasingly hostile world, will at least not be actively working against us.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/world/americas/11matamoros.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2

Versailles: 40 years serving food with a side of politics

 A Miami landmark celebrates 40 years of food seasoned with politics, celebrity and history.  

As a kid I remember going there at all hours with my late father, a local journalist and politico. Lots of memories and a true treasure of living Miami history.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/10/2306781/40-years-serving-food-with-a-side.html#ixzz1Rl3l6X6Z

Scott and Legislators want to gut FHP?

 So what exactly is a "law enforcement consolidation task force"? Floridians apparently will find out very soon. In the post-Session whirlwind of bill signings in the last few weeks, one small item seems to have flown under most radars. Gov. Scott and his cut happy band of tea party legislators seemed poised to begin cutting vital law enforcement positions. They call it a "reorganization" of FHP and a planned shift of many of their duties to county sheriffs (unfunded?) is imminent. This time, however, they will no longer be cutting what might be considered "fat" from the State budget. These law enforcement cuts would be digging deep into the muscle of what keeps Florida and Floridians safe. Scary stuff for those of us concerned with safety.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/29/2291842/scott-lawmakers-turn-cost-cutting.html

Lawmakers Scramble To Defend Failing Charter Schools

Wow, it seems like just yesterday (well maybe 2 mos ago) that the anti-labor, anti-education Legislature in Tallahassee was singing the praises of charter schools. These quasi private/public enterprises, run for profit by private business people but soaking state and local government coffers dry were the showpiece of educational "reform" in this state. Well the recently released numbers from this years FCAT exams shows just how little they actually differ from mainstream public schools in terms of success. In fact, many of them are quite below the MDCPS norm. And what do our political "leaders" have to say about that? Well, it seems that these schools failed because they had "failing" students. Could this be a code for poor and/or minority students in underprivileged areas? Maybe these were the Charters that did NOT expel weaker students "in time" like so many of these places do. Well, all I can say is "KUDOS" to the real public educators and public school students who, according to the quantifiable data, really DID make a difference in the academic progress of our community.


http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/07/06/i-team-lawmakers-react-to-charter-school-fcat-failures/