2013 - Page 31 of 106

More Money than Sense

September 5, 2013 Trish

$145,050

Amount donated by billionaire rightwinger David Koch to New Yorkers for Proven Leadership, a PAC supporting Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, the deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani. Koch’s wife, Julia, donated the identical amount.

Most Americans Oppose Military Intervention in Syria

September 4, 2013September 5, 2013 Buck Banks

48% to 29%

Margin by which more Americans oppose than support conducting military airstrikes against Syria in response to reports that the Syrian government used chemical weapons, a new Pew Research survey finds. Key findings: “Just 29% of Democrats favor conducting airstrikes against Syria, while 48% are opposed. Opinion among independents is similar (29% favor, 50% oppose). Republicans are more divided, with 35% favoring airstrikes and 40% opposed.”

Candidate Questions Effectiveness of Jersey Shore Promos

September 4, 2013 Buck Banks

I don’t know about you, but seeing Chris Christie frolicking on the beach is not going to drive me to go to the shore.

— New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono (D), quoted by CBS New York, questioning Christie’s new tourism commercials.

Poll: Majority Thinks Polls Are Biased

September 4, 2013 Buck Banks

75%

Of those polled said they believe polls are biased in some way, though they couldn’t agree in which direction, while 17% said they thought polls had a liberal bias and 4% said they were slanted toward conservatives, a new Kantar poll finds.

Now Putin Sounds Like the Reasonable One

September 4, 2013 Buck Banks

We work, we argue about some issues. We are human. Sometimes one of us gets vexed. But I would like to repeat once again that global mutual interests form a good basis for finding a joint solution to our problems.

— Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with the Associated Press, on President Obama canceling their scheduled meeting.

The Legislative Dodge

September 4, 2013 Buck Banks

Oh, what should we do about the Syria mess?
Should we punish Assad for his sarin excess?
For help with the decision,
Though risking derision,
Obama opted to do the unthinkable — ask Congress.

McCain Fears Consequences of Syria No Vote

September 3, 2013 Buck Banks

A rejection, a vote against that resolution by Congress, I think would be catastrophic because it would undermine the credibility of the United States and the president.

— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by Roll Call, on the resolution to attack Syria over its use of chemical weapons.

Big Chunk of Spy Budget Aimed at Purported Ally Pakistan

September 3, 2013 Buck Banks

$52.6 billion

The budget for the U.S. intelligence arsenal, which is aimed mainly at unambiguous adversaries, including al-Qaeda, North Korea and Iran. “But top-secret budget documents reveal an equally intense focus on one purported ally: Pakistan,” reports the Washington Post.

GOP Staking Out ‘Pretty Thin’ as Its Position on Syria Justification

September 3, 2013 Buck Banks

Yes, I saw the classified documents yesterday. They were pretty thin.

— Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), quoted by The Hill, after a briefing on the Obama administration’s evidence that Syria used chemical weapons against its own people.

Obama Administration’s Handling of Syria a Case Study in How Not to Do Foreign policy

September 3, 2013 Buck Banks

Whatever your views on the larger issues, it’s hard not to conclude that the administration’s handling of Syria over the last year has been a case study in how not to do foreign policy.

$145,050

Amount donated by billionaire rightwinger David Koch to New Yorkers for Proven Leadership, a PAC supporting Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, the deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani. Koch’s wife, Julia, donated the identical amount.

48% to 29%

I don’t know about you, but seeing Chris Christie frolicking on the beach is not going to drive me to go to the shore.

— New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono (D), quoted by CBS New York, questioning Christie’s new tourism commercials.

75%

Of those polled said they believe polls are biased in some way, though they couldn’t agree in which direction, while 17% said they thought polls had a liberal bias and 4% said they were slanted toward conservatives, a new Kantar poll finds.

We work, we argue about some issues. We are human. Sometimes one of us gets vexed. But I would like to repeat once again that global mutual interests form a good basis for finding a joint solution to our problems.

— Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with the Associated Press, on President Obama canceling their scheduled meeting.

A rejection, a vote against that resolution by Congress, I think would be catastrophic because it would undermine the credibility of the United States and the president.

— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by Roll Call, on the resolution to attack Syria over its use of chemical weapons.

$52.6 billion

The budget for the U.S. intelligence arsenal, which is aimed mainly at unambiguous adversaries, including al-Qaeda, North Korea and Iran. “But top-secret budget documents reveal an equally intense focus on one purported ally: Pakistan,” reports the Washington Post.

Yes, I saw the classified documents yesterday. They were pretty thin.

— Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), quoted by The Hill, after a briefing on the Obama administration’s evidence that Syria used chemical weapons against its own people.

Whatever your views on the larger issues, it’s hard not to conclude that the administration’s handling of Syria over the last year has been a case study in how not to do foreign policy.

— Fareed Zakaria, writing on CNN.com.

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%

$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.