Then And Now

July 15, 2008 – 11:46 am by Joshua Rosenstock

July 11, 2008:

“I don’t see anything unfair about it, and I didn’t even know it was a deal.”

July 15, 2008:

Representative Charles B. Rangel has decided to move his campaign office out of one of four rent-stabilized apartments he leases in Harlem, his spokesman said. Mr. Rangel’s spokesman said the congressman would not discuss details of his decision.

“Mr. Rangel has indicated that he is not willing to say any more,” the spokesman, Emile Milne, said.

If he was doing nothing wrong, why the sudden change of heart?

Message to Congress - longtime incumbents like Rangel care more about getting sweetheart deals and being re-elected for life than serving constituents. Term limits would change this by prioritizing policies over the continued concentration of power.

Posted in Charlie Rangel, Congress, Ethics, term limits | No Comments »

Quote Of The Day

July 14, 2008 – 8:36 pm by Joshua Rosenstock

“If we’re serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives, our own families and our own communities. That starts with providing the guidance our children need, turning off the TV and putting away the video games; attending those parent-teacher conferences, helping our children with their homework and setting a good example. I know some say I’ve been too tough on folks about this responsibility stuff. But I’m not going to stop talking about it. Because I believe that in the end, it doesn’t matter how much money we invest in our communities, or how many 10-point plans we propose, or how many government programs we launch — none of it will make any difference if we don’t seize more responsibility in our own lives.”

Posted in Barack Obama | 2 Comments »

How Not To Solve Our Energy Crisis

July 14, 2008 – 5:31 pm by Joshua Rosenstock

“Today, I’ve taken every step within my power to allow offshore exploration. This means the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is action from the U.S. Congress,” President Bush told reporters earlier today.

Setting aside the fact that lifting this ban (smartly instituted by his father) will procedurally accomplish nothing, drilling for more oil does nothing substantively to solve our nation’s energy problems either. Bush himself has said that we are addicted to oil; why would he want us to sustain that addiction by helping us obtain more oil?

For a short term political gain and a temporary mild dip in prices?

The U.S. Energy Department’s forecasting arm has said opening the Pacific, Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico regions to drilling “would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030.”

The demand will only continue to increase, policies will not be put into place that will ween us off this addiction and supply will only marginally increase. The worst way to end an addiction is to provide the addict with more of what said addict is addicted to. High has prices will never go away and is something that we are going to have to get used to.

As usual, Bush’s logic is fatally flawed. It’s a good thing Bush is our first President with an MBA; that degree has sure been put to good use with ideas like this one.

President Bush - lame duck since November 2006.

Posted in Energy Policy, George Bush | 1 Comment »

Remember When Republicans Opposed Regulating The Market?

July 13, 2008 – 10:04 pm by Joshua Rosenstock

Alarmed by the sharply eroding confidence in the nation’s two largest mortgage finance companies, the Bush administration on Sunday asked Congress to approve a sweeping rescue package that would give officials the power to inject billions of federal dollars into the beleaguered companies through investments and loans.

Remember this little tidbit the next time your run-of-the-mill Republican tells you about the wisdom of the free market. The theory is that businesses should be free to succeed (and fail) without interference from the pesky government. Now that reality has set in, Republicans can’t bail out financial houses fast enough.

The free market - just another Republican fantasy that has been exposed under the Bush administration.

Posted in Fiscal Policy, Republicans | No Comments »

Another Poster Child For Term Limits

July 11, 2008 – 9:40 am by Joshua Rosenstock

Mr. Rangel, who has a net worth of $566,000 to $1.2 million, according to Congressional disclosure records, paid a total rent of $3,894 monthly in 2007 for the four apartments at Lenox Terrace, a 1,700-unit luxury development of six towers, with doormen, that is described in real estate publications as Harlem’s most prestigious address. The current market-rate rent for similar apartments in Mr. Rangel’s building would total $7,465 to $8,125 a month…Mr. Rangel, 78, declined to answer questions during a telephone interview, saying that his housing was a private matter that did not affect his representation of his constituents. “Why should I help you embarrass me?” he said, before abruptly hanging up.

No Charlie. You did this to yourself, thereby embarassing yourself. The only thing The New York Times did wrong was wait far too long to provide this enlightening information to its readers and your constituents. Charlie Rangel is just another politician that should have been forced into retirement, via congressional term limits, a long time ago. While his war record is admirable, his policies (bringing back the draft) and attitude are not needed in the United States House of Representatives. He should try paying full price for his residence(s) just like the rest of us.

Posted in Charlie Rangel, Ethics, term limits | No Comments »

So Much For Supporting Free Markets

July 10, 2008 – 3:47 pm by Joshua Rosenstock

“Those institutions, Fannie and Freddie, have been responsible for millions of Americans to be able to own their own homes, and they will not fail, we will not allow them to fail.”

Translation: John McCain supports a laissez faire approach to economics except when he doesn’t. Once again, he is trying to have both sides of an issue.

Posted in 2008, Fiscal Policy, John McCain | No Comments »