2013 - Page 38 of 106

Detroit’s Bankruptcy Is Getting Expensive

August 14, 2013 Buck Banks

$1.44 million

Amount Detroit is paying monthly to six consulting firms hired by the city for its turnaround, according to the Detroit News. In addition, Conway MacKenzie’s contract allows it to bill up to $400,000 every two weeks for its work, which was first approved by Mayor Dave Bing and the Detroit City Council in January. The city’s bankruptcy firm Jones Day charges up to $1,000 an hour.

New Opponent Criticizes Graham’s Egypt Trip

August 14, 2013 Buck Banks

During the recess, when I would hope that he would be around folks in South Carolina, getting their feelings on so many issues that affect their lives, he has instead chosen to take his time to be a community organizer for the Muslim Brotherhood and that concerns me. He needs to spend more time listening to what the brothers in South Carolina have to say.

— South Carolina State Sen. Lee Bright (R), announcing his U.S. Senate candidacy by criticizing incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who last week visited Egypt with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the Columbia State reports.

Jesse Jackson Was Late to His Son’s Sentencing Hearing

August 14, 2013 Buck Banks

I don’t know how I missed so many signs.

— Rev. Jesse Jackson, quoted by the Chicago Tribune, arriving at his son’s sentencing hearing.

Number of U.S. Citizens Renouncing Citizenship to Escape Taxes Hits a Record

August 13, 2013 Buck Banks

1,130

The number of U.S. taxpayers who renounced citizenship or permanent-resident status in the second quarter to avoid new tax laws, the Wall Street Journal reports. That is far above the previous high of 679, set in the first quarter, and more than were reported in all of 2012.

Empty Town Halls

August 13, 2013 Buck Banks

In 2012 the Republican party took quite a beating,
And ever since from their ranks voters are retreating.
While they used to go off half-cocked,
These days they’re so shell-shocked,
That GOP lawmakers won’t even hold a town hall meeting.

Twitter Is the Best Predictor of Congressional Races

August 13, 2013 Buck Banks

404 of 406

Number of House races correctly predicted by Twitter in the 2010 midterm elections, according to National Journal: “The key measure, researchers from Indiana University found, was a candidate’s ‘tweet share,’ the percentage of total tweets about a race that mention them. The more often a candidate is mentioned on Twitter relative to their opponent, the study reported, the greater their chance for victory.”

Almost 40 Percent of Internet Traffic is Fake

August 12, 2013 Buck Banks

36%

Of all traffic on the web is nonhuman, though that includes certain bots — such as those from Google — that do not inflate ad impressions, according to ComScore. The percentage has increased sharply from 2011, when it was just 6%.

Stephen Fry Calls for IOC to Move Winter Olympics from Russia

August 12, 2013 Buck Banks

Stephen Fry published an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron and the International Olympic Committee, calling for the IOC and world pressure to move the winter games from Russia and its increasingly hostile environment toward the LGBT community. Here’s an excerpt:

I am gay. I am a Jew. My mother lost over a dozen of her family to Hitler’s anti-Semitism. Every time in Russia (and it is constantly) a gay teenager is forced into suicide, a lesbian “correctively” raped, gay men and women beaten to death by neo-Nazi thugs while the Russian police stand idly by, the world is diminished and I for one, weep anew at seeing history repeat itself.

In response to Fry’s erudite, well-reasoned and heartfelt letter, Cameron responded with two posts on Twitter:

Thank you for your note @stephenfry. I share your deep concern about the abuse of gay people in Russia.

However, I believe we can better challenge prejudice as we attend, rather than boycotting the Winter Olympics. DC.

The IOC has remained characteristically mum on the topic.

Reid Hopes GOP Obstructionism Isn’t Race-Based

August 12, 2013 Buck Banks

It’s been obvious that they’re doing everything they can to make him fail. And I hope, I hope — and I say this seriously — I hope that’s based on substance and not the fact that he’s African-American.

— Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), quoted the The Hill, on GOP obstruction of President Obama’s agenda.

Majority Favors ID Checks for Voters

August 12, 2013 Buck Banks

74%

Of all Americans support the idea that people should have to show photo identification to vote, a new Washington Post poll finds. Also, 81% are concerned about possible fraud and 73% are concerned about voter suppression in a presidential election. Asked to trade off the two, slightly more Americans are concerned with fraud than with voter suppression, although stark partisan and racial differences emerge.

$1.44 million

— South Carolina State Sen. Lee Bright (R), announcing his U.S. Senate candidacy by criticizing incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who last week visited Egypt with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the Columbia State reports.

I don’t know how I missed so many signs.

— Rev. Jesse Jackson, quoted by the Chicago Tribune, arriving at his son’s sentencing hearing.

1,130

The number of U.S. taxpayers who renounced citizenship or permanent-resident status in the second quarter to avoid new tax laws, the Wall Street Journal reports. That is far above the previous high of 679, set in the first quarter, and more than were reported in all of 2012.

404 of 406

36%

Of all traffic on the web is nonhuman, though that includes certain bots — such as those from Google — that do not inflate ad impressions, according to ComScore. The percentage has increased sharply from 2011, when it was just 6%.

It’s been obvious that they’re doing everything they can to make him fail. And I hope, I hope — and I say this seriously — I hope that’s based on substance and not the fact that he’s African-American.

— Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), quoted the The Hill, on GOP obstruction of President Obama’s agenda.

74%

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.