Midnight Rules - Bush Does Not Go Quietly

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

Bush is not going to leave office soon enough for most Americans, but before he goes he’s not quite done screwing up the country. Using a practice called “midnight rules” Bush is cramming through tons of last minute rules changes that have the force of law.

These rules run the gamut of nearly every federal agency. One of those rules could have wide ranging ramifications for every American who uses a pharmacy or visits a doctor or hospital.

Under Bush’s rule medical practitioners and pharmacists may refuse to perform medical practices, prescribe or dispense medication or even provide information, if it in any way conflicts with their religious beliefs. Want to buy a pack of condoms? Better hope the clerk’s not a Catholic.

Need a blood transfusion? Better hope the doctor’s not a Jehovah’s Witness, because they can now legally refuse to give you one.

Of course the big one is abortion. Fundamentalist Christian healthcare providers can now legally refuse to even discuss the options. Even worse anti-choice activists can infiltrate clinics taking any position from receptionist to nurse, then use the Bush ruling to deny service. Previous to the ruling those employees could be fired for that type behavior, but now they’re protected by the force of law.

While Obama can overturn these rulings, they’ll be challenged in court, bogging down the new administration and impeding progress.

Tags: Bush, Choice, Medical Ethics, Midnight Rules, Obama, Religion
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Obama Announces Recovery Advisory Board

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

President Elect Obama announces the Presidents Recovery Advisory Board, “made up from experts from Business, Labor and Academia and others” he said today. The PRAB will be chaired by Paul Volcker. Volkcer was chairman of the Fed in 1979 in the Carter administration. Additionally Obama’s economic advisor, Austin Goolsby, was named to the PRAB.

Obama intends to announce the remaining PRAB members in the coming weeks.

Tags: Economy, Obama, PRAB, Presidents Recovery Advisory Board
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Obama-nomics; Geithner is the Right Guy

Monday, November 24th, 2008

Today President Elect Barack Obama selected Timothy Geithner, 47, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as his Treasury Secretary. Geithner, who speaks Chinese and Japanese, as well as finance, is widely lauded as the right man for the job.

As president of the New York Federal Reserve Geithner has been dealing with Wall Street’s major players on a daily basis for the past 5 years, and they with him. Wall Street knows what they are getting with Geithner and they like what they see. Following the announcement of Geithner the Dow Jones Industrials went on a prolonged rally up approximately 300 points.

Geithner also has been working with current Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on administering the bailout and has been involved at least tangentially in every major decision to date. This provides a level of consistency that the market is looking for.

Widely regarded as an economic centrist, Geithner will take over during the worst economic climate the US has seen since the 1930’s.

Obama also announced that Larry Summers will be leading the National Economic Council. Speculation is that Summers is in line to replace Ben Bernanke when his term expires at the Fed in 2010. (Source)

President-Elect Obama also pressed his plan for a major economic stimulus package to kick-start the economy, saying “I want to see it enacted right away. It is going to be of a size and scope that is necessary to get this economy back on track.” (Source)

Tags: Bailout, Economy, Geithner, Obama, Paulson, Summers
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Lieberman Compromise Floated

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

A defiant Joe Lieberman told the Democrats recently that if he didn’t get to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee he was going to take his gavel and go caucus with the Republicans. With a 55-40 lead, and 3 senate races still officially undecided, the potential loss of a “Democratic” senator is something the leadership, and President-Elect Obama are loathe to endure.

But there’s a lot of anger on the left directed towards Lieberman, who has been viewed for a long time as the most Republican of Democrats. Lieberman’s pro-Bush agenda cost him his own party’s nomination for re-election in the Connecticut primary in 2006. Lieberman consequently won the general election as an independent, due mainly to support from Connecticut Republicans and Independents.

Lieberman, is under fire from Democrats for endorsing John McCain, and speaking at the Republican National Convention on behalf of Senator McCain’s campaign. Also Lieberman supported Republican Susan Collins of Maine in her re-election bid, and Norm Coleman in his campaign against Al Franken in Minnesota.

So to keep Joe the Senator from Connecticut, caucusing with the Democrats Ken Salazar, D-Colorado, and Christopher Dodd, D-Connecticut are floating a compromise punishment. Lieberman gets to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee but has to give up his chairmanship of the Environment and Public Works Sub-Committee. (Source)

This may not be enough for some rank and file Democrats who are still steamed at Lieberman for his active role in support of McCain and the Republicans in the 2008 general election. Lieberman would get to keep his plum job as chairman of Homeland Security and in return give up a Sub-Committee job he could care less about.

And in return for letting Lieberman keep his precious Homeland Security gavel, the Democrats get what?

Tags: Christopher Dodd, Compromise, Homeland Security Committee, HSA, Joe Lieberman, Ken Salazar, Lieberman, Obama, President-Elect
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