June 10, 2008 - Pensito

Is Dick Cheney’s Life Worth $4 Million?

June 10, 2008June 10, 2008 Buck Banks

That’s what it will cost to keep Vice President Dick Cheney under Secret Service Protection for at least six months after he leaves office, if a bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives passes next week, according to the conservative Politico:

A bipartisan bill the House is scheduled to take up next week would require the Secret Service to protect Vice President Dick Cheney for six months after he leaves office. The Homeland Security Department would be authorized to determine if additional protection is necessary after the initial deadline ends.

The bill (H.R. 5938) was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), ranking member of the committee. Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), the chairman and ranking member of the Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security subcommittee, are also co-sponsors of the bill.

The legislation would require the Secret Service to protect the vice president and his or her spouse — as well as any children 16 or under — for six months after leaving office. Cheney would be the first vice president covered by the new bill, but it would also apply to future holders of the office.

Once the six-month deadline is reached, the secretary of Homeland Security is authorized “to direct the Secret Service to provide temporary protection for any of these individuals at any time thereafter” if a senior DHS official ” determines that information or conditions warrant such protection.”

Recent vice presidents, including Al Gore and Dan Quayle, were given Secret Serice protection after leaving office, but that was under temporary legislation or executive order, according to a May 16 Congressional Budget Office report. To give Cheney that same protection would cost $4 million next year, CBO estimated.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has been given Secret Service protection since she left the White House in 2001, and Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) have received it as well as part of their presidential candidacies.

Former presidents get lifetime Secret Service coverage after leaving office.

So who would want to do Cheney harm? For starters, any of the tens of thousands of inconsolable relatives of soldiers killed or wounded in Iraq.

But why should we have to pay for it? Cheney should hire some goons from Blackwater for protection, he’ll probably qualify for the corporate Haliburton discount. Of course, with those hired guns on the job, at some point there’s a good chance it will be open season on Cheney’s friends and neighbors.

Oh well, collateral damage ….

Why We’re Voting Republican

June 10, 2008June 18, 2008 Trish

This video, and its web site, break down all the reasons we should vote Republican. If you’re having trouble thinking of any, just click.

McCain Threatens the Beers of America with Veto

June 10, 2008June 10, 2008 Trish

Can this guy get any more like George Bush?

Here he is threatening to use the veto power every time he times he turns around, especially on legislation put forth by Democrats (oh great), and on every beer that comes across his desk.

Take a nap, Gramps.

Quote du Jour

June 10, 2008 Buck Banks

All political ideas cannot and should not be channeled into the programs of our two major parties. History has amply proved the virtue of political activity by minority, dissident groups, who innumerable times have been the vanguard of democratic thought and whose programs were ultimately accepted.

Day: June 10, 2008

Is Dick Cheney’s Life Worth $4 Million?

Why We’re Voting Republican

McCain Threatens the Beers of America with Veto

Quote du Jour

All political ideas cannot and should not be channeled into the programs of our two major parties. History has amply proved the virtue of political activity by minority, dissident groups, who innumerable times have been the vanguard of democratic thought and whose programs were ultimately accepted.

â€” Earl Warren (1891-1974), Chief Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.