As you already know, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Bill is close to my heart. (Yesterday, I chose to read the Congressional Record in order to see what the stated opposition to the bill was. Other than the tax on foreign companies, there was concern that money would go to illegal immigrants. Of course, I took exception to that. The heroes of 9/11 didn't ask the people they saved if they were legal or not; we should not do the same to them.) That is why I was concerned yesterday when I heard that the President will be staying on vacation in Hawaii until January 2nd.
Once a bill is passed by both Houses of Congress, the President has 10 days to sign, veto, or do nothing to the bill. If he does nothing, after 10 days, the bill automatically becomes a law. However, if a session of Congress expires before those 10 days expire and the President fails to take any action, the bill does not become law. This is called a "Pocket Veto."
The Zadroga Bill passed Congress on December 22. The 111th Congress expires at the beginning of the new year. Thus, I was concerned when and where the President would sign the bill.
Thankfully, this morning, I read this tweet by White House New Media Director (and one of my idols, in full disclosure) Macon Phillips:
@PressSec When will President Obama sign the Zadroga Bill (because he only has 7 days to do so and he's in Hawaii until 1/2/11)?less than a minute ago via webSeamus Campbell
SeamusCampbell
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded:
Remember Jimmy McMillian (aka the "Rent Is Too DAMN High Guy")? Well, he's back.
Last night, he announced on Revolution Radio that he will announce in January or February that he will run for the Presidency of the United States. Furthermore, he has switched his party registration to Republican. (Interesting factoid: though he founded the Rent Is 2 Damn High Party and ran on it's line, he was a registered Democrat. The Rent Is 2 Damn High Party actually had only 3 registered party members.)
Below is the video of his announcement. McMillan begins his announcement at the 49-minute mark. Enjoy.
As I am sure we all heard, there was a major tea party in D.C. this past weekend. The protesters complain about taxation and spending. They hate the Stimulus Package. They hate the health care bill. They hate foreign aid. They hate progressive taxes.
They also hate excessive government bureaucracy. I have one piece of excessive spending and government bureaucracy that no one has ever mentioned.
Next time you are hanging out in Downtown D.C., walk to the Department of Agriculture, then walk to the Department of Commerce, then Labor, and continue walking around to all of the cabinet-level departments that everyone forgets. Then, to finish it off, head to the Capitol. You will notice that each bureau has its own police force. I understand that each government office should have some security, but its own police force?
First off, I am curious to know who has the jurisdiction to prosecute someone who the, say Capitol police, arrest.
I do not know why there is a need for this much bureaucracy and excessive spending. But, however, our friends on the Right have never mentioned this. They seem to care more about social spending
Here is my solution to the police force issue: The President nominates a Governmental Police Commissioner that shall be in charge of all police forces within the government (with the exception of special cases such as Military Police forces and the Secret Service) and a joint committee of the House and Senate confirm. The Police Commissioner, then, appoints police chiefs for each department (i.e. Agriculture Department Police Chief). Those Chiefs, then, manage all of the police that are stationed in that department.
My plan gives a direct chain of command and provides necessary resources to other bureaus when needed (like when other police precincts are called to a scene). If there is a fault with my plan, please comment.
Let's see what the so-dubbed 'teabaggers' have to say about this.
I guess someone has to chime-in about the late Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy.
There is nothing that I can say that has not yet been said by any of the talking heads in the media about his life, career, strength, courage... well, you get the point.
Instead, I will tell you a story. One year ago yesterday, was the day I became a supporter of then-Senator Barack Obama. I can tell you exactly where I was: sitting in an over-sized chair that my family has dubbed "The Death Chair" in my living room in my summer house. My mother was sitting adjacent to me on the sofa. The two of us were watching the Democratic National Convention.
As many of you may know, I was a strong Hillary Clinton supporter. After Sen. Obama received enough votes to be the Democratic nominee, I still was still weary to support him. I found the Senator to be inexperienced and disingenuous. Unless he chose then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his running-mate (which I thought to be a winning ticket), I was planning on voting for Ralph Nader. I still had my qualms, however, even after then-Senator Joseph Biden was chosen to be the Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee.
Being the good Democrat that I am, I watched the Convention religiously. I openly cheered when some of my favorite Senators, Congressmen, and Governors took the podium to give their two cents.
My mother and I were curious if Senator Kennedy would make an appearance at the Convention. The Convention was in Denver and he was undergoing treatment in Massachusetts. He was only diagnosed 2 months prior, there is no way he could make it out there, my mother and I thought.
Then, at around 9:15 PM EST, the announcer introduced Caroline Kennedy and we knew who was coming next: her Uncle Ted.
Regardless of all of the treatment he went through, he looked as healthy and as strong as ever. If I remember correctly, when Sen. Kennedy took the stage, I myself stood up and cheered in my living room.
It was at 9:33, when Sen. Kennedy said
For me this is a season of hope - new hope for a justice and fair prosperity for the many, and not just for the few - new hope.
And this is the cause of my life - new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American - north, south, east, west, young, old - will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege!
We can meet these challenges with Barack Obama. Yes, we can, and finally, yes, we will!
Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race and gender and group against group and straight against gay.
Within those two minutes, in which he said those four, short paragraphs, I became a supporter of Barack Obama for President of the United States. Senator Edward Kennedy, a man I, in many ways, idolized, told me that two of the most important issues for me -universal health care and gay rights- would be accomplished under an Obama presidency. I told myself that if Senator Kennedy, someone with whom I shared a dream for America, knew that this was the right person for the job of President of the United States, then he was my nominee.
At 9:34 P.M. EST on August 25, 2008, I re-united with my party in a nominee for President.
Within the next few days, my mother (who was planning on writing-in Senator Clinton) joined the Obama band-wagon; and, a few days after that, my (paleo-conservative) Republican father (a McCain supporter) moved to be a supporter of Senator Obama (though the initial spark for the change in his vote was due to a certain unqualified Vice Presidential nominee that shall remain anonymous). For the next two months until the election, my family, with each passing day, became more and more supportive of the Democratic Nominee for President. On November 4, 2008, I was watching the returns with my parents. The number of states with votes "too close to call" grew ever larger. It was around 10:30 PM that my parents went to bed. I had work the next day, but had no obligation to a time-frame when which to arrive. I budgeted myself until 1 AM to stay awake.
I figured that the returns would go on until 1 in the morning. So, I put on a television show that I had recorded from earlier that evening - 90210. (Yes, I watch 90210. I have a thing for teen dramas -I don't know why- and the star -Shenae Grimes- is my celebrity crush.) I get about 10 minutes into the show, when at 11 PM, from the back of my ear, I hear the voice of Charlie Gibson originating from my parent's bedroom; "For the first time in American History, the country will have an African-American President." To say that I started screaming would be an understatement (I have little doubt that the three young children in the apartment next-door to mine woke-up).
When I heard the news that I helped change (in more ways than one) come to this nation, I felt overly proud (in a way that words will never describe). And, I, for one, owe that all to the late Senator Edward Kennedy.
So, today celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Birthday of Abraham Lincoln. In my opinion, he was our greatest President because he spoke to every person. He was a hillbilly from Kentucky (the common man), who became a lawyer (the working man) that was so successful that he was able to send his son to a elite prep school (the rich man / family values). He helped keep this nation together in its darkest moment. And because of his efforts, the idea of working for the good of the group of a whole, regardless of its policies (in this case, the personal liberty of every person), was solidified. Though every four years people swear that they will leave this great nation of ours, they never do because they see that one's respect for a single person underweighs the good of the United States as a whole. By Abraham Lincoln's example, we should unite together, not necessarily behind the President, but by the United States to ensure that it stays the greatest nation in the world.
