State Of The Union!

Final year for President Barack Obama and he vows to do more.

The final State of the Union Address for President Barack Obama had wrapped up and the agenda for the year is set.

Of course, with a Republican majority, will it be possible for the agenda to be accomplished?

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) got his first opportunity to sit in the big kid's chair. As the House Speaker, Ryan is now determined to get the House of Representatives in order. After a continuous year of battles, Ryan is hoping to get the advantage.

Handful of Republican lawmakers, Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito skipped the State of the Union again. 

South Carolina's Nikki Haley, the two term Republican governor delivered the response. 

Let's cut to the chase.

The president laid out a simple agenda. He wants to raise the minimum wage. He wants to enact reasonable gun control measures. He wants to improve on infrastructure. He asks of Congress to approve his use of force against the Islamic State. He appointed Vice President Joe Biden to head up a committee on how to fight cancer. He asked for more tax cuts. He praised Ryan for his leadership. He knocked on Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, Chris Christie and Rand Paul. He said that his biggest regrets was seeing Washington be so freaking divided.

I didn't get to capture every moment on television but I want to be clear that I enjoyed the speech.

Anyway, here's the video of the president and Haley.

No Tea Party Response or other unofficial Republican responses.

Winter Bliss!

The president delivers his last State of the Union. As he goes in, the unemployment rate is at 5%.

The jobs report for the month of December released some good news for the economy. The unemployment rate remains unchanged at 5%. 

Looks like the economy is back on the right track despite the noise being churned by agitators in the conservative media saying that 1/3 of the United States not working.

94.3 million are not working. Of course, if you do the math, you actually would say that less than 10 million aren't working.

Because death happens everyday. Births happen everyday. Someone is incarcerated in the iron college. Someone just quit their job. Someone just got fired from their job. Someone retired from their job. Someone was just laid off from their job. Someone is going to school full time. Someone is attending high school. Someone is attending college. Someone is often homeless. Someone is disabled. Someone has given up on their job. Someone has changed majors. Someone got promoted.

And this is never mentioned by the agitators in the junk food media. Because it would be simple to tell half-truths instead of the actual truth.

President Barack Obama's policies are working.

Conservatives have often bitched about the unemployment numbers being fudged.

Inept leaders Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader have pass a resolution to eliminate Obamacare. It will be vetoed by President Barack Obama.

The labor market ended 2015 on a roll as employers added a blockbuster 292,000 jobs last month, underscoring that the U.S. economy remains on solid footing despite weakness in China and this week’s brutal market selloff.

The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5%, the Labor Department said Friday.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected 200,000 job gains, according to their median forecast.

Businesses added 275,000 jobs, led by professional and business services, healthcare and construction.. Federal, state and local governments added 17,000. In another positive sign, job gains for October and November were revised up by a total 50,000. October’s was upgraded to 307,000 from 298,000, and November’s, to 252,000 from 211,000.

“This jobs report is pretty reassuring that the slowdown in (fourth-quarter economic growth) is not a prelude to a flattening in the economy,” says Stuart Hoffman, chief economist of PNC Financial Services Group. “GDP growth is likely to speed up” next year.

Many economists expected the December tally to be somewhat inflated by unusually warm weather that could have spurred hiring by construction firms, restaurants and retailers. Construction, in fact, added 45,000 jobs last month and 128,000 in a fourth quarter characterized by generally balmy temperatures across much of the country. And restaurants and bars added 37,000 in December.

Still, the economy gained a healthy average of 221,000 jobs a month in 2015. In 2014 ,260,000 new jobs a month were created, though that marked a 15-year high.

Economists had said a weak showing in December could signal that the global turmoil was shaking business confidence and hiring. A similar scenario appeared to play out in August and September, when payroll growth slumped before rebounding strongly the next two months. Back then, reports about China’s economic slowdown sent stocks tumbling, as they have in recent days.

Other labor-market indicators, though, have been encouraging. Payroll processor ADP estimated that businesses added a better-than-expected 257,000 jobs in December and an index of service-sector activity showed a pickup in hiring. Initial jobless claims, a reliable barometer of layoffs, hovers at prerecession levels.

At the same time, measures of manufacturing employment, online job ads and auto sales declined last month, leading some analysts to predict that job growth slowed.

Holiday Cookies!

The final year begins in January.

The final jobs report for the year comes out and it seems like President Barack Obama is smiling all the way. The unemployment rate remains unchanged but it did net over 211,000 jobs.

U.S. job growth increased solidly in November in a show of the economy's resilience, which most likely paves the way for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this month for the first time in nearly a decade.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 211,000 last month, the Labor Department said on Friday. September and October data was revised to show 35,000 more jobs than previously reported.

The unemployment rate held at a 7-1/2-year low of 5 percent, even as people returned to the labor force in a sign of confidence in the jobs market. The jobless rate is in a range many Fed officials see as consistent with full employment and has dropped seven-tenths of a percentage point this year.

Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen may raise the federal interest rate. She believe the government is healthy enough for the interest rate to increase to at least 4%.

Yellen said the economy needs to create just under 100,000 jobs a month to keep up with growth in the working age population.

The Fed's policy-setting committee will meet on Dec. 15-16. Market-based measures of Fed policy expectations assign a probability of 79.1 percent to the central bank's raising interest rates at that meeting, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch site.

The dollar extended gains against a basket of currencies, while prices for U.S. government bonds fell. U.S. stock futures extended gains.

The second month of strong job gains should allay fears the economy has hit a soft patch, after reports showing tepid consumer spending in October and a slowdown in services industry growth in November. Manufacturing contracted in November for the first time in three years.

Though wage growth slowed last month, economists say that was mostly payback for October's outsized gains, which were driven by a calendar quirk. Anecdotal evidence, as well as data on labor-related costs, suggest that tightening job market conditions are starting to put upward pressure on wages.

Average hourly earnings increased four cents, or 0.2 percent from 0.4 percent in October. That lowered the year-on-year reading to 2.3 percent from 2.5 percent in October. The average workweek, however, dipped to 34.5 hours from 34.6.

Other labor market measures that Fed officials are eyeing as they consider lifting the benchmark overnight interest rate from near zero were mixed.

The labor force participation rate, or the share of working-age Americans who are employed or at least looking for a job, rose to 62.5 percent from a near 38-year low of 62.4 percent.

But a broad measure of joblessness that includes people who want to work but have given up searching and those working part-time because they cannot find full-time employment rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.9 percent.

Employment gains in November were broad-based, though manufacturing shed 1,000 positions and mining lost 11,000 jobs.

Manufacturing has been crippled by a strong dollar, efforts by businesses to reduce bloated inventory and spending cuts by energy companies scaling back well drilling and exploration in response to sharply lower oil prices.

House Speaker Paul Ryan's (R-WI) first months as House Speaker have been so far "fair" to say at least.

Mining employment has declined by 123,000 since reaching a peak in December 2014. Three quarters of the job losses over this period have been in support activities for mining.

Oilfield services provider Schlumberger (SLB.N) this week announced another round of job cuts in addition to 20,000 layoffs already reported this year. The company said it expected the slowdown in drilling activity to continue in 2016.

Construction payrolls increased 46,000 last month. With 163,000 jobs added, the services sector accounted for the bulk of the increase in employment last month. Retail jobs rose 30,700 and transportation and warehousing employment rebounded after two straight months of declines.

Professional services added 27,000 jobs and government payrolls increased 14,000 last month.

Of course, the conservative agitators will not accept this good news. They keep repeating the debunked talking points that over 94.6 million people are unemployed.

And I will continue to tell you that 1/3 of the U.S. population is either in the iron college, attending high school or college, disabled, retired or dead.

Republicans have not passed any legislation to create jobs. They've shown the world that they're incapable of governing. They won power to just showboat their ignorant agenda.

Newsflash: We have mass shootings in the United States. People are dying because of gun violence everyday. Over 245,000 people have been killed by firearms. We have a large generation of retiring people. We are going through a baby boom. We are having more people quit their jobs in search of better jobs. We have people in college, high school, and vocational school. We have people on disability.

Turkey Jerky!

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) in 2010 meets with President Barack Obama.

Well it seems like the ney sayers will have an opportunity to debate the October jobs numbers.

It seems like House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will have to find some reason to attack the president for 95 million people not working.

Conservatives are fucking stupid. They seem to be fixated on this notion that 95 million people not working. If 95 million people aren't working, then 1/3 of the nation isn't working.

So that means over a third of 320 million Americans are determined to be lazy gubmint leeches right?

Nevermind the incarcerated, the disabled, the retired, the underage, those attending college and the dead. Nevermind those who felt confident to quit their jobs. Nevermind those who were laid off, fired, or temporarily hired for a selective period.

To spread a misleading statement as fact is the reason to why Ben Carson and Donald Trump in the lead. That helped Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) gain momentum.

Anyway, the unemployment drops to 5 percent after it was revealed 271,000 jobs were recorded for the month of October.

This strong jobs report may push Janet Yellen, the Federal Reverse chief to push the interest rate up.

Employment gains in October were broad-based, though manufacturing added no jobs and mining shed 4,000 positions.

Manufacturing has been hit by a strong dollar, efforts by businesses to reduce bloated inventory and spending cuts by energy companies cutting back on well drilling and exploration in response to lower oil prices.

Mining employment has declined by 109,000 since peaking in December 2014. Oilfield services provider Schlumberger last month announced further layoffs in addition to the 20,000 jobs it has already eliminated.

Construction payrolls, however, increased 31,000 last month, the biggest gain since February.

The services sector added 241,000 jobs last month, with large gains in retail, health and leisure. Government payrolls increased 3,000 last month.

It seems like the president and Secretary of State John Kerry will also reject the building of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada put a lot of influence in the Congress. They were bidding for lawmakers to support the measure. Many Republicans claim the pipeline will create 30,000 jobs. Many Democrats said that tar sand oil could be dangerous to the environment.

Republican passed a bill supporting the pipeline. The president swiftly vetoed the bill and it died.

The pipeline would cut through a lot of properties. A lot of people have to lose land due to government seizure of land.

What could happen if there's an earthquake and the pipeline is ruptured?

Once the pipeline is completed, how many jobs will it take to work on the pipeline?

The Justin Trudeau effect helped a lot.

Trudeau who won the Canadian national elections to become the next prime minister. He opposes the Keystone XL pipeline.

House Weeper Paul Ryan!

Will it get better? -  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

The former vice presidential nominee is now third in line in the power of succession. The House of Representatives voted today to place him at the gavel. He will now have the difficult task of trying to get the House in order.

The Republican lawmaker from Janesville was really reluctant to take the task, but for the sake of the party, he decided to jump into this.

Paul Davis Ryan, you got a big House. Mr. Ryan, the pressure is now on you to work with President Barack Obama and the members of Congress.

You will be the third Midwestern lawmaker to become the most powerful (and yes gullible) lawmaker in the country. You will be issued Secret Service detail and a cool perks being the House Speaker. You are going to make tough decisions that may help or hurt the country.

Many in the insurgency thought Ryan will be willing to compromise with the Democrats. Ryan also said that he will work with the president. He warned Republicans that he will not cave to pressure from either the president or a handful of insurgents.

The White House has called the new Speaker and wished him well.

His predecessor Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) said that he will get the budget and debt ceiling debacle completed before he steps down. Today the House had passed the legislation. The senate will take up the measure. Of course, I am guessing that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) will find ways to derail the deal.

He was the chairman of House Ways and Means committee. He held that position for a couple of years now.

Picking him was a controversial move.

The 1st Congressional District has a Cook PVI rating of Republican +3. His district is a swing that leans Republican.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) will now continue his reign on World News Today.

Pumpkin Pie!

Looks like the economy is stalling again. With China's economy stalling, global markets have seen a decrease in progress. China's economy is big enough to take everyone down. 

U.S. employers added only 142,000 jobs in September keeping the unemployment rate stalled at 5.1%. That release closes out the Summer. Showing that a weak jobs report will result in the usual partisan blame game.

Weak job numbers assure conservatives the talking points saying President Barack Obama's policies have the country going in the wrong direction. Weak job numbers assure liberals the talking points saying the Republican controlled Congress have the country going in the wrong direction.

Average hourly earnings up just 2.2 percent from last year.

Employers decided to halt hiring causing a ripple effect on the economy. For the last two months, wages and hiring fell raising doubts on the economy. Is it strong enough? 

With the service and manufacturing industry cutting hours and positions, many are finding it harder to obtain a better job. 

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

U.S. factories are feeling the global chill and shed 9,000 jobs in September after losing 18,000 in August, according to the Labor Department's survey of employers.

The recent pace of job growth should have been enough to push the unemployment rate lower because only around 100,000 new jobs are needed a month to keep up with population growth.

But the jobless rate held steady at 5.1 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a separate survey of households that showed 350,000 workers dropping out of the labor force last month, as well as a lower level of employment.

Average hourly wages fell by a cent to $25.09 during the month and were up only 2.2 percent from the same month in 2014, pointing to marginal inflationary pressures. 

Kevin McCarthy: I Promise I Won't Cry When I'm Speaker!

Does Kevin McCarthy have the juice? 

Soon I will add Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to the list of many here on World News Today. The California congressman who became a rising star since the departure of Eric Cantor is thinking about becoming the next House Speaker.

K-Mac is the Republican Majority Leader. He represents the 23rd U.S. Congressional District of California. The district carries Bakersfield, a large city with a population of 376,000 residents.

The current district is centered in areas of the southern San Joaquin Valley and southern Sierra Nevada, the Tehachapi Mountains, and the northwestern Mojave Desert. It includes the cities of Mojave and Ridgecrest, as well as most of Bakersfield. Sequoia National Park and Sequoia National Forest are within it.

If he's picked to become the new Speaker, he will have a lot of work ahead of him. He will face an already invigorated President Barack Obama. Obama has won the summer.

Obamacare survived another Supreme Court challenge. Marriage equality is valid in the all states and territories. The Iranian deal will go into effect. Cuba and the United States are establishing friendly relations. Planned Parenthood will not be defunded.

Conservatives are demanding Republicans stand firm against Obama or face a primary challenge.

The president promises that anything the Republicans pass will fail. He concludes that the Republican civil war is damaging the party and hurting the country. The party has become more extreme in their views.

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) the outgoing Speaker of the House blasted the insurgency. He believes that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Rep. Steve King (R-IA) are false prophets. He believes these politicos are fucking stupid.

He announced on Friday that he's bouncing out of Congress effective immediately. In late October, Boehner will give up his role as the House Speaker and representative. He basically said to Republicans, "Fuck you! I'm Out! Good luck on getting things done with Obama!"

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) may become the new House Speaker. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) were Speakers of the House. President Barack Obama believes Republicans infighting causing government shutdown.

Boehner's congressional district is up for grabs. Insurgents are looking to replace him, A right wing bigot sheriff named Richard Jones is considering a run for the seat. The Butler County Sheriff is willing to take his anti-immigrant, anti-BlackLivesMatter rhetoric to Washington, DC.

McCarthy on the other hand is hoping the Republicans will give him a chance. The insurgents are really happy with picking McCarthy as the new House Speaker.

Matter of fact, Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) is plotting to derail McCarthy's coronation.

The insurgent lawmaker announced his bid to become the speaker as well.

The insurgent and establishment are showing teeth. The departure exposed some real bad tension between Republicans.

Kevin Owen McCarthy (born January 26, 1965) is the House majority leader of the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. representative for California's 23rd District.

A Republican, he was formerly chairman of the California Young Republicans and the Young Republican National Federation. McCarthy worked as district director for U.S. Representative Bill Thomas and in 2000 was elected as a trustee to the Kern Community College District. He then served in the California State Assembly from 2002 to 2006, including from 2004 to 2006, as the minority leader. When Thomas retired from the House in 2006, McCarthy ran to succeed him and won the election.

The 23rd district, numbered as the 22nd District from 2007 to 2013, is based in Bakersfield and includes large sections of Kern and Tulare counties.

McCarthy was elected House Republican chief deputy whip, from 2009 to 2011, and House majority whip, from 2011 until August 2014, when he was elected House majority leader to replace the outgoing Eric Cantor, who was defeated in his primary election.

Peter King: Boehner Gave These Assholes Everything!

Rep. Peter King (R-NY) said that the "crazies" are running the Republican Party.

The New York Republican is not mincing words to the shocking announcement of Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) stepping down as Speaker of The House in October.

He said that the Weeper of the House gave Republicans everything. They can't pass laws when the Democrats block them. And knowing you can't get everything you want, the insurgency refuses to concede.

The insurgency pissed Boehner off. He gave them the finger. On his way out, he said behind closed doors "Fuck all of ya. I'm out! Good luck on getting your agenda accomplished with Obama!"

Basically the departure of the Weeper is a good/bad thing. For my community, a really bad thing. Boehner, despite his blubbering and immature outburst is really popular in the Dayton and Cincinnati metro area. His departure left a seat open for an insurgent or Democrat to take. It's unlikely a Democrat could win a politically Republican district. The 8th U.S. Congressional District for Ohio is +14 Republican.

The good is Republicans can finally push their extremist agenda and eventually be uprooted out of power.

New blood is bad blood. Already controversy within leadership. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA, Majority Whip) had once worked with former Klan leader David Duke. The potential Speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA, Majority Leader) will face obstruction from not only Democrats but the insurgency. Current House Speaker, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) bouncing out in October.

At the Voter's Value Summit, as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) delivered the news, the audience stood up and done backflips.

We can confirm that the civil war within the party gotten even uglier.

Rep. Peter King (R-NY) went off on the insurgency. “I think it signals the crazies have taken over the party, taken over to the party that you can remove a speaker of the House who’s second in line to be president, a constitutional officer in the middle of his term with no allegations of impropriety, a person who’s honest and doing his job. This has never happened before in our country," King said in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on Friday. "He could have stayed on.”

Many of Boehner's allies have long complained about things not getting done because of a handful of insurgents who refuse to compromise.

House Weeper John Boehner (R-OH) once called Rep. Peter King (R-NY) a "shit head".

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is currently the Majority Leader. He may become the new Speaker.

He will face challenges from the insurgency. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and a handful insurgents vow to disrupt the new speaker if Obamacare isn't repealed or Planned Parenthood defunded.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is shaking her head. She was once a Speaker of the House.

Pelosi managed to get things done despite having the insurgency oppose her. She would be sent to the minority after the Republicans recaptured the House.

President Barack Obama has also spoke out to the news. He said that the party's internal struggles are the reasons to why government isn't working. Obama praised Boehner as a patriot.

Weeper Boehner Abruptly Resigns!

Weeper of the House resigns in late October. Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) resigning from Congress sent shock waves across the nation

Today, the Ohio lawmaker informed President Barack Obama and his Republican colleagues that he's resigning as House Speaker. He also will end as a term as a congressman in October. This cause a ripple effect in Washington.

With the most powerful Republican stepping aside, this assures a civil war within the party.

Republicans are solely responsible if they stand firm and shut down the government again.

Boehner blames the conservative agitators in the junk food media as well as them knucklehead insurgents for things not getting done. Some of the rational members are signaling a rebuke to the insurgents.

Boehner's abrupt resignation was quick. He faced pressure from conservative members to take a tougher stance against the president. The Republicans want to defund Planned Parenthood. It's highly unlikely the Republicans got the votes to defund the women's health group.

Weeper John Boehner (R-OH) was emotional during Pope Francis's visit to the Capitol. He was routinely mocked for being a "crybaby" and his glowing "orange tans".

Boehner who was reelected last year won easily in his district. The 8th Congressional District is based in Southwestern Ohio. The 8th district covers West Chester, Eaton, Oxford, Hamilton, Middletown, Troy, Piqua, Huber Heights, western Springfield and Greenville.

He also faced a challenge for his House Speaker role by knucklehead insurgents Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) and Rep. Dan Webster (R-FL).

He also watch his right hand man face an embarrassing defeat. Eric Cantor, Boehner's right hand man was defeated by an insurgent disrupting the chain of command. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) quickly became the Majority House Leader.

Now you know how I feel, Mr. Speaker.

McCarthy is considering the possibility of being the House Speaker. No confirmation yet.

Boehner lives in West Chester. He's been a lawmaker since 1991. He was a the minority leader from 2007 to 2011. Boehner became the House Speaker in 2011 after the Republicans took control over the House of Representatives.

He released a press release to the reason why he's resigning.

"The first job of any Speaker is to protect this institution that we all love. It was my plan to only serve as Speaker until the end of last year, but I stayed on to provide continuity to the Republican Conference and the House," Boehner said in a statement. "It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. To that end, I will resign the Speakership and my seat in Congress on October 30."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) praised Boehner on the Senate floor Friday.

“He is an ally. He is a friend. And he took over as Republican leader at a difficult time for his party," he said.

Boehner's supporters and the top Democratic leaders complained that Republicans are too goddamn extreme. Minority Leaders Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Harry Reid (D-NV) are praising Boehner for at least putting up with such obstruction. But quickly said that a government shutdown is coming and they warn that the ripple effects could hurt the nation.

Reid is retiring from the Senate. He cites his eye injury and Republican obstruction for his departure.

"By ousting a good man like Weeper Boehner -- someone who understood the art of compromise -- the party of Eisenhower and Reagan is no more," he said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Boehner's resignation "seismic," adding that it was "a stark indication of the disarray of the House Republicans."

Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) said that Boehner had resigned because he knew that he could lose his position.

"There's no question conservatives had a victory here," he said. Huelskamp is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, the group that was trying to oust Boehner.

But Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) said that Boehner was sacrificing his position for the good of the conference.

"I think that following the pope's visit -- this is sacrificial love on his behalf to strengthen the Republican conference. It's really amazing and unheard of in modern-day politics," he said.

Across town, a group of social conservatives were gathered for the start of the annual Values Voter Summit, where dozens of politicians were scheduled to speak over the next few days. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) delivered the news of Boehner's resignation to the summit to huge cheers and a standing ovation from attendees, underscoring the opposition Boehner often faced from within his own party.

Asked about the resignation, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) skipped over the pleasantries and went straight to criticizing Boehner -- without naming him -- and McConnell for making promises to conservatives and not keeping them. Cruz is running for the Republican nomination. He is a relatively unaccomplished politico. He is cited as one of the reasons to why Republicans are too extreme.

Friends to the end. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) lose two allies.

"I have long said leadership decisions are decisions to be made by the House, but I have also long called on Republican leadership to do something unusual, which is lead,” Cruz said at a press conference hosted by Liberty Institute. “To actually stand up and honor the commitments that we made to the American people. There’s a frustration across this country. It is volcanic. And it’s not complicated to understand.”

Cruz did not give a yes or no answer when asked whether McConnell should step down as well, saying it is "a question for Leader McConnell and for the Republican conference." He said he would "sing their praises," though, if they stood up to lead, referring to Boehner and McConnell.

Twice during a nearly two-hour meeting between Boehner and Republicans at the Capitol on Friday applause could be heard from inside the room.

Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) came out teary-eyed and started choking up when asked what he thought of Boehner's resignation. Cramer said that Boehner recited the prayer of Saint Francis when announcing his resignation to House Republicans Friday morning.

"It's kind of like the announcement of a death," Cramer said.

"A lot of really small people look smaller, and he looks bigger," he said. "And why not, why not let the guy who's always taken all the slings and arrows for us, take it one more time."

Rep. John Flemming (R-LA) said Boehner played his decision close to his vest and that even Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) didn't know about it until the announcement.

Boehner had been scheduled to speak with reporters Friday morning after meeting with Republicans, but left the meeting by a back door and didn't talk to the press.

Handicapping U.S. Senate Race!

Republicans will likely keep their hold on the Senate.

This has been a very unproductive year for the Republican-led Congress. The House and Senate have spent a majority of their time trying to oppose the president's policies and repealing the laws created from the previous sessions.

They are officially back to work. They got a highway spending bill to pass. They got to pass a budget for the fiscal year. They have to raise the debt ceiling. They have to authorize the president's military action to fight against the Islamic State. They also have to decide on the Six Power resolution on Iran.

The Republicans have signaled opposition to the Iranian deal. They have promised to pass a temporary stop gap bill for highway funding. They want to repeal the healthcare law. They want to cut funding to Planned Parenthood. They want to pass the reactionary Kate Steinle law.

President Barack Obama promised to veto any legislation that goes against his agenda.

So far the job approval of Congress is 13%. The leadership of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) have been dismal at best.

By far, Republicans are fucked. The longtime lawmakers fear they may be usurped by insurgents.

Could the insurgents retake Congress once again?

Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) vows to beat Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL). The double amputee veteran could win. She could be the first Asian American woman from the state to be a senator.

My best thoughts on the U.S. Senate race include the ones the junk food media will focus on.

So far I count this as unpredictable. It's a matter of anti-establishment or anti-politician. It's a focus rather on Obama fatigue or the inept Republican led Congress.

The races so far are handicapped by SAFE, LIKELY, LEAN or TOSS UP.

Anything I say doesn't matter. I don't control the mind of a voter. But I will tell you that the Republicans have to the most seats up for grabs. The Democrats have the most to defend.

So far, if the elections were today, Republicans would retain seats and earn two. Democrats would retake two and retain most of their seats.

I can't predict the outcome but I guarantee that most of these candidates will survive an election. A few of them might have an insurgent challenger in the primaries. But who knows?

Alaska (Lisa Murkowski) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Hawaii (Brian Schatz) (Running) (Safe Democrat)
Washington (Patty Murray) (Running) (Safe Democrat)
Oregon (Ron Wyden) (Running) (Safe Democrat)
California (Barbara Boxer) (Retiring) (Safe Democrat)
Nevada (Harry Reid) (Retiring) (Toss Up)
Idaho (Mike Crapo) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Utah (Mike Lee) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Arizona (John McCain) (Running) (Likely Republican)
Colorado (Michael Bennet) (Running) (Toss Up)
North Dakota (John Hoeven) (Running) (Safe Republican)
South Dakota (John Thune) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Kansas (Jerry Moran) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Oklahoma (James Lanksford) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Iowa (Chuck Grassley) (Running) (Likely Republican)
Missouri (Roy Blunt) (Running) (Likely Republican)
Arkansas (John Boozeman) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Louisiana (David Vitter) (Undecided) (Safe Republican)
Wisconsin (Ron Johnson) (Running) (Toss Up)
Illinois (Mark Kirk) (Running) (Toss Up)
Indiana (Dan Coats) (Retiring) (Likely Republican)
Kentucky (Rand Paul) (Running) (Likely Republican)
Ohio (Rob Portman) (Running) (Likely Republican)
Alabama (Richard Shelby) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Georgia (Johnny Isakson) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Florida (Marco Rubio) (Retiring) (Toss Up)
Pennsylvania (Pat Toomey) (Running) (Safe Republican)
Maryland (Barbara Mikulski) (Retiring) (Safe Democrat)
North Carolina (Richard Burr) (Running) (Likely Republican)
South Carolina (Tim Scott) (Running) (Safe Republican)
New York (Chuck Schumer) (Running) (Safe Democrat)
Connecticut (Richard Blumenthal) (Running) (Likely Democrat)
Vermont (Patrick Leahy) (Running) (Safe Democrat)
New Hampshire (Kelly Ayotte) (Running) (Toss Up)

The most competitive races I predict will be Nevada, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Illinois and Wisconsin.

These seats were won by Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Four states are controlled by Republicans governors: Nevada, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Colorado is controlled by a Democratic governor.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) the most vulnerable Democrat running for the senate.

Ron Johnson and Mark Kirk are the most vulnerable Republicans in this race. They have the most to fear because of the state's political leans. Scott Walker who is running for president has terrible job approval in his state. His bid for president could be an anchor for Johnson. Matter of fact, there could be a federal probe into Walker's office. Wisconsin voters are unpredictable. They have voted for Walker three times. He survived. Could Johnson survive?  He will likely face the former senator Russ Feingold. The Democrat was defeated in the insurgent wave. Feingold is considering another challenge against his old nemesis.

Kirk on the other hand has the most to lose. Kirk holds on the old seat once held by then senator Barack Obama. Kirk had an opportunity to retire when he suffered a stroke. But he held on to the seat. He also said some offensive things about fellow senator (presidential candidate) Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Kirk has to deal with the most competitive challenger the Democrats lined up. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has signaled her intention to run. She like Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) have both served in the Iraqi War. She is a double amputee who won against an insurgent in 2012. She easily won her seat in 2014. The Democrats hope that she could built enough support to take on well funded Kirk.

Michael Bennet is the most vulnerable Democrat in the race. Bennet survived an insurgent challenge the first time, but could he face another one? Colorado Republicans have embraced weed legalization and a more stern stances to immigration. Insurgent Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) who faced him will likely sit it out. But the only candidate I can see willing to challenge Bennet is former secretary of state Scott Gessler. It's a toss up. Gessler's history could be a potential problem. Also the only Republican confirming a run is Darryl Glenn. He is an El Paso County commissioner. He has little name recognition.

Ohio's Rob Portman hasn't lost an election. He may face former Democratic governor Ted Strickland in this race. Portman is well funded and his job approval is decent here. John Kasich's run for president and his job approval may inspire Republicans to vote likely for Portman. He is one of the few Republicans to endorse marriage equality. He is also a political moderate who works with Democrats at some point.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is retiring. He is part of the gridlock machine that kept Congress at record low job approval. His retirement is a good thing for Washington. It's a bad thing for Democrats. They have a real good fight on them. They have to line up a candidate to take on the potential Republican. No candidate inspires me. Talk radio agitator Wayne Allan Root is too extreme. Shannon Angle is too dumb. Democrats are corrupt in Nevada. Who knows?  We'll see if there's a candidate willing to take the seat.

Florida's Marco Rubio decided to run for president. He can't be on the ballot twice. So he opt out for retirement to focus solely on the presidential run. He has nothing to lose. He may win the nomination. But then again, he may be a potential veep candidate. He, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) have chosen to take the gamble of being relatively unaccomplished politicians running for the nomination. Rubio's job approval is bad in Florida. The Republicans have to scramble to find a candidate willing to defend the seat. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-FL), a conservative leaning Democrat has signaled a run for the seat. I don't see any inspiring Republican challenger. The state is a toss-up for two reasons. Florida is a major swing state. Rick Scott sucks as a governor and his job approval could hurt the Republican nominee. Freshman insurgent Rep. David Jolly (R-FL) has signaled his intentions for the U.S. Senate seat. He recently won after Bill Young died.

Sen. Rand Paul is running for president and as a senator. Donald Trump put his bid in jeopardy. The people of Kentucky have soured upon Paul for his inept actions. He hasn't accomplish much as a senator and they're likely to reward him another term. But he may face a primary challenger if he opts out the presidential bid for the senate. Paul is an insurgent candidate who's got the most to lose. If he fails to get the nomination, he will continue his bid for the senate. As Trump said, why would Kentucky be willing to take a candidate who has failed!

Sen. John McCain from Arizona is by far the most annoying of the establishment. He will face a likely challenger from the right. He beat J.D. Hayworth in a primary fight in 2010. Trump mocked McCain on his status as a POW. McCain mocked Republicans for taking a tough stance on immigration. Trump used that as an advantage as well as his failed bids for president. His former running mate Sarah Palin will not endorse his bid. While the state is leaning as a swing, it's still has strong Republican hold. McCain running could be a safe bet. But given his standings with the party establishment and his inconsistent stances on issues, he could be beaten. Arizona will be a likely Republican hold.

Okay, what's your thoughts on this?

Share your thoughts?

Ain't No Half-Steppin'!

Jobs aplenty and conservative agitators complaining.

Okay, once again the agitator dissect the latest job numbers for the month of August. The unemployment rate drops to 5.1% and it's netted a reasonable 176,000 jobs.

The jobs numbers for the final month of Summer netted less than expected. However, hiring is still going on.

Indicating that the slowdown in job growth was likely not reflective of the economy's true health, payrolls data for June and July were revised to show 44,000 more jobs created than previously reported. In addition, average hourly earnings increased 8 cents and the workweek rose to 34.6 hours.

While the report may not change views that the U.S. economy remains vibrant amid volatile global financial markets and slowing Chinese growth, it could make Fed officials hesitant to push borrowing costs higher at a policy meeting on Sept. 16-17.

In the wake of a recent global equities sell-off, financial markets significantly scaled back bets on a September rate hike over the past month. But Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer told CNBC last week it was too early to decide whether the stock market rout had made an increase less compelling.

Still, the labor market is improving and adds to a string of upbeat data, including figures on automobile sales and housing, that has suggested the economy was moving ahead with strong momentum early in the third quarter after growing at a robust 3.7 percent annual rate in the April-through-June period.

The jobless rate's two-tenths of a percentage point drop took it to its lowest level since April 2008 and brought it into the range that most Fed officials think is consistent with a low but steady rate of inflation.

A broad measure of joblessness that includes people who want to work but have given up searching and those working part-time because they cannot find full-time employment fell to 10.3 percent, the lowest since June 2008, from 10.4 percent in July.

Jobs gains were spread across nearly all sectors of the economy in August. The energy and manufacturing sector, which are grappling with last year's sharp drop in crude oil prices and a strong dollar, were the exception.

Construction payrolls rose 3,000 last month on top of the 7,000 jobs added in July. Mining and logging employment fell by 10,000 jobs last month. Manufacturing payrolls fell 17,000, despite robust demand for autos.

The increase in hourly earnings left them 2.2 percent above their year-ago level, still well below the 3.5 percent growth rate economists consider healthy. Some analysts think earnings are being held back by falling wages in oil field services.

But a tightening labor market and decisions by several state and local governments to raise the minimum wage should eventually translate into faster earnings growth and give the Fed confidence that inflation, which collapsed with oil prices, will move closer to its 2 percent target.

A number of retailers, including Walmart, Target and TJX Cos, have increased pay for hourly workers.

Another thing. The idiocy of our politicians and agitators in the junk food media. The 93 million not working comments from concern trolls. Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and that network with the many agitators on made this bold claim that 1/3 of the U.S. population is not working.

Okay, there's 323 million Americans.

Let's put it all into perspective. First things first, for every birth. Do you believe that a newborn should be working. There's probably over 145,000 births a day.

Okay there's death. There's probably over 350,000 deaths a day.

Those who are between the age of 1 to 15. There's probably over 80 million children living.

Those who are in the iron college. There's probably over 5 million in iron college.

Those who are in high school or college (age 16 - 25) there's probably 5 million of those not working but attending full time at a high school or college.

Then those who have retired, physically disabled,  laid off or unemployed with no payroll.

Those people make the remaining amount of non-working individuals.

There's approximately 10 million active body people not working in the labor force.

Quit the lying and tell the truth.

Democrats Nervously Support Iranian Deal!

The Democrats finally got balls. The Democrats vows to defeat any Republican attempt to block the Iranian deal. The president praised the decision. Some Democrats will aid Republicans in its defeat. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) opposes the deal. Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) support the deal. 

The House and Senate Democrats who support the president will be rewarded by their supporters.

The controversial Iranian deal sponsored by the Six Powers with the U.S. leading the way has enough to withstand a Republican sponsored bill condemning it. Republicans believe the deal doesn't go far enough.

The president will likely veto any attempts to derail the Iranian deal.

The battle is over before it even began. There are 34 Democrats in the senate on board with the deal. The House has enough votes as well.

The Iranian deal will lift sanctions against Iran if they comply to limiting their nuclear ambitions and allow inspectors into the nuclear facilities. The deal also seals a possible truce between the U.S. and Iran.

The war chicken Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent his allies into the states to lobby Republicans and Democrats to oppose the deal.

Netanyahu and President Barack Obama have a testy relationship. This year, Netanyahu appeared for a Joint Session of Congress to denounce the deal. He was invited by House Weeper John Boehner (R-OH). The president condemned the move as an attempt to have American influence on Israeli elections.

The Republican contenders in the clown car vow that the deal will end if they're elected.

Rand Paul Poses With Cliven Bundy!

Stallmigo Rand Paul (R-KY) poses with White extremist rancher Cliven Bundy. 

And the insurgent candidate running for the clown car just dropped another bombshell on his campaign. Once again he's saying that he's not a racist, but doesn't mind them supporting him.

Stallmigo Rand Paul (R-KY) once again gets some unwanted attention for embracing extremists.

Remember that old geezer Cliven Bundy! He was the Nevada rancher who was upset over the government warning him about his cattle grazing on federal lands. This rancher who threatened to wage an armed insurgency against the Bureau of Land Management. They had a stand off and it was going to be another Waco.

He was a hero to the likes of a certain annoying conservative agitator. That's until he opened his mouth about the NEGRO.

Jack Hunter was once the Southern Avenger. He renounced the title. He now is warning Republicans that they're doomed if they continue to embrace extremism.

A video surfaced with Bundy telling the junk food media about how the NEGRO being better off picking cotton than getting government assistance.

As soon as he dropped that comment, many Republicans distanced themselves from him.

Nevada state lawmaker Michele Fiore, a possible Republican candidate running for the open seat in the U.S. Senate race embraced Bundy during his stand off.

Bundy never shy of his opinions told the junk food media, that Paul promised more state sovereignty.

Even his former ally, Jack Hunter is disgusted with Paul's antics. Hunter is known as The Southern Avenger writes for the Charleston Daily Paper, and has made appearances on talk radio and MSNBC as a commentator. Hunter was a co-author of two of Paul's books.

Stallmigo Rand Paul (R-KY) with Rev. Perm. 

Hunter once wore a Confederate flag mask when he done his commentary on YouTube.

Hunter denounced his old ways. Yeah, he admits he's still a true conservative but he figures that the Republican Party's rigid ways are dooming their chances in the 2016 election.

“As a former conservative radio personality, who used to use the same kind of over the top rhetoric with the same recklessness, I cringed,” Hunter wrote. He explained that he truly believes that libertarian and conservative Republicans are what is best for the country, but no one will listen to their platform if they keep acting like a bunch of bigots. If Republicans continue down this path, he explained, they risk “becoming incompatible with America”.

“For Republican candidates—who ostensibly have a problem with big government telling people how to live and what to do—why have their reactions, with a few exceptions, been so hateful?” Hunter asks. “Perhaps some self-reflection and a reexamination of first principles are overdue.”

Summer Madness!

President and First Lady Obama greet Girl Scouts outside the White House. The best two weeks for the president. Affordable Care Act is here to stay, marriage is equal, and the jobs market is improving. Also the White House now allows photos. Great day for Barack Obama.

The good news is that 225,000 jobs were reported for the month of June. The unemployment rate has dropped to 5.3%. Thus sealing a set of two good weeks for a president most in the media written off as a lame duck.

President Barack Obama's policies have improved the economy.

His executive order also gives salaried workers who make less than $50,000 a pay raise. It's a temporary fix until the lame Congress officially pass a worker's pay bill which includes an adjustment to the minimum wage.

The AP reports the Labor Department said Thursday that the unemployment rate dropped from 5.5 percent in May. The rate fell mostly because many people out of work gave up on their job searches and were no longer counted as unemployed.

Other details in the report were less encouraging: The percentage of Americans working or looking for work fell to a 38-year low. Average hourly pay was flat. And employers added 60,000 fewer jobs in April and May than the government had previously estimated.

For the first five months of 2015, monthly job growth averaged 217,000, a healthy streak that has been steadily absorbing the unemployed as well as part-time workers looking for more hours.

That job growth has raised economists' expectations that the Fed will soon boost the key short-term rate it controls in September or, if not, in December. The Fed has kept that rate at a record low near zero for 6½ years to support the economy. A Fed rate hike would lead to higher rates for mortgages, auto loans and other borrowing.

Strong hiring has endured this year despite a miserable winter, which helped cause the economy to contract 0.2 percent at an annual rate in the January-March quarter.

Politifact rated Stallmigo Ted Cruz (R-TX) statements on unemployment false. He took that talking points from an annoying conservative agitator and used it for his attacks.

The job gains show that employers are increasingly confident that their customer demand will keep growing. Their willingness to hire in anticipation of greater demand marks a shift from earlier in the economic recovery, when many businesses tended to hire only when essential.

A survey of purchasing executives at manufacturing firms released this week found that factories reported a scant rise in orders in June but ramped up hiring anyway.

Americans are finally spending more after boosting their savings earlier this year, in part because they're growing more confident about the economy. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index reached 101.4, matching March's figure for the second-highest level since the recession.

That's good news for auto dealers and real estate agents. Auto sales jumped to nearly a 10-year high in May. The National Automobile Dealers Association forecasts that sales will top 17 million this year for the first time since 2001.

And home sales are running at an eight-year high and boosting construction. Permits to build homes jumped 11.8 percent in May to the highest level since 2007.

Good news pisses this old fart off.

Most economists now expect economic growth to reach an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the April-June quarter and 3 percent in the second half of the year.

The workforce rate dropped to 62.5%. The lowest since 1977. That means a slight improvement from normal figures.

The jobs report for the month of June comes roaring like a lion and the conservative agitators are still devoted to making the ridiculous claim that 93 million people not being in the workforce. Of course, they don't explain to their stupid followers that it's based on statistics not policies.

The biggest nay sayer in the junk food media is an old fart. That old fart is Rush Limbaugh.

Jobs are being loss. Yeah, because the radio stations keep you and that annoying conservative agitator Sean Hannity on the radio. You squeeze out the local agitators. For you see, if you see an old fart like Rush Limbaugh dominate 573 radio stations across the country, he already destroyed 80 jobs.

It already cost a lot to put this piece of shit on radio. He's not profitable. When they kick him off the radio station, that puts people out of jobs. Matter of fact, the progressive radio stations have to sell their stations to accommodate to you. So that means you put agitators like Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Bill Press and Alan Colmes on the street. They don't have the 500 stations. They barely have 50 affiliates.

In reality, if you have a bunch of people not in the workforce, I am guessing that some are not looking for service jobs. Many careers for a post graduate are not hiring. Construction is up. I mean when it rains or when the working season is over, construction is halted.

Out of 320 million people, there's over 56 million people who are leaving the job force through retirement. At least 100,000 people die in the United States a day. The baby boomers are retiring at a faster rate. There are 38 million people who are between the age of 16 - 25 either in high school or attending college. There are active college student that don't work.

So lumping in everything would make sense if you count the dead bodies, force the retired back to work, tell the disabled to get to work and tell children under 16 to pick up a job application.

The Boys Of Summer!

Haters are gonna hate. The jobs are coming and the ney sayers are complaining about it!

The U.S. Department of Labor released its jobs report for May. Another good day for the president, a lot of belly aching for the conservatives. The May jobs were around 280,000 giving the jobs rate a rise to 5.5%. This rise was due to an uptick in those who gave up on searching for jobs and those underemployed.

Nevertheless, another healthy jobs report means the president created more jobs than his predecessor.

But will the partisan agitators make noise about it?

Of course.

They can't tolerate good news in the country. They believe everything that President Barack Obama's done has ruined the country. The gas below $3.00 a gallon in most states, the unemployment numbers are below 6%, the stock market has improved, the world looks to the United States as a developing partner, and many are spending $$$$ on luxuries.

This ends a slump of slow job growth that seemed to hoover.

The AP added that last month's strong job growth suggests that employers remained confident enough to keep hiring even after the economy shrank during the first three months of the year. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in March and April by a combined net 32,000.

Construction and health care companies the drove the May job growth. On the negative side, persistently cheaper oil led energy companies to shed workers for a fifth straight month.

Still, average hourly wages rose only 2.3 percent from a year earlier. Tepid pay gains has been a persistent problem for the economy.

Still bitching and whining.

Over the past three months, the economy has added an average of 207,000 jobs, a decent gain though lower than last year's average of 263,667.

Consumers, the main driver of the U.S. economy, remain fairly cautious. Factory orders have dropped. But Friday's solid jobs report could help confirm the economy's vitality.

Auto and home sales are accelerating despite otherwise slow-spending consumers. More big employers, such as Wal-Mart, have unveiled pay hikes.

Those factors could power faster growth, fuel job gains and boost wages. If they do, a broader economic recovery than the one that's existed in the six years since the Great Recession officially ended could emerge.

Over the past 12 months, around 3 million jobs have been added. Those additional paychecks helped increase spending on housing and autos. Sales of newly built homes have surged 23.7 percent through the first four months of 2015 compared with a year ago, government data show. Rising demand for new homes could lead construction firms to ramp up hiring.

Americans bought 1.64 million cars and trucks in May, the most since July 2005. If that trend were to endure, it would benefit a manufacturing sector that's added a scant 4,000 jobs since January.

Employers seem to be envisioning a healthier economy, given that the weekly number of people applying for unemployment benefits — a proxy for layoffs — has remained under a historically low 300,000 for more than four months. By holding on to nearly all their workers, businesses are ensuring that they will have the capacity to respond to greater customer demand.

But the economy faces other challenges. The dollar has appreciated about 19 percent in the past year against other major currencies. That trend has made U.S. goods costlier overseas, thereby squeezing exports and the U.S.-based branches of foreign companies.

Nor has cheaper gasoline delivered much help. Instead of sparking the wave of consumer spending that many economists had expected, a nearly 45 percent drop in oil prices since July has damaged a U.S. economy increasingly reliant on energy drilling. The energy industry has shed workers and cut orders for pipelines and equipment.

The setbacks have been substantial enough that the International Monetary Fund on Thursday said it thinks the Federal Reserve should hold off on raising short-term interest rates until 2016. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, saying a rate increase could disrupt the economy, urged the Fed to await signs of wage growth.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said she expects to raise rates this year if the economy continues to improve, thereby ending nearly seven years of record-low rates.

Falling unemployment usually leads to fewer people seeking work, forcing employers to boost wages. But plenty of people are still searching for jobs. The aftermath of the recession has left 8.5 million people unemployed and seeking work, about 1.3 million more than were jobless before the downturn began in late 2007.

Companies often increase pay when their workers become more productive. Yet productivity fell at a 3.1 percent annual rate in the first quarter — a sharper drop than the decline estimated a month ago, the government said Thursday.

The Planters Nut Is Losing Friends Already!

While I do agree that the Patriot Act is an overreach by the federal government, I think that presidential candidate and Stallmigo Rand Paul (R-KY) is throwing his hypocrisy into this.

The very same Paul rather meddle between a woman's legs, a Black man's firearms, a poor family's safety net and a family's Obamacare subsidies. Paul wants the big old bad gubmint stop looking into your cell phone.

After all his stupid son probably was incriminating himself with pictures of him smoking a bong while playing with snow lines.

Paul is already not making friends in the Republican race for the red nose. Paul put on his makeup and juggling his balls hoping he can pick off young minds with legal weed and low incarceration.

On a rare Sunday night, the U.S. Senate is in session. His fellow senator, Majority Leader Mitch The Turtle (R-KY) called for a vote on the  "Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet-collection and Online Monitoring Act." For the smart people this is called the USA Freedom Act.

This bill is sponsored by Wisconsin Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the creator of the Patriot Act.

He also sponsored this bill a few years back and it didn't get traction. In October 2013, he introduced the USA Freedom Act in the House, a bill designed to curtail the powers of the NSA and end the NSA's dragnet phone data collection program. The bill is supported by civil liberties advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union.

Even he's skeptical of his own law. Did he even read this shit?

NOPE.

The USA Freedom Act was not passed by the U.S. Senate on May 22, 2015. By a vote of 57-42, the Senate did not pass the bill that would have required 60 votes to move forward, which means that the NSA must start winding down its domestic mass surveillance program this week. The Senate also rejected, by 54-45, also short of the necessary 60 votes, a two-month extension for the key provision in the Patriot Act that has been used to justify NSA spying, which is set to expire on June 1, 2015.

I don't want to jeopardize the lives of Americans because of a handful of lawmakers standing on principles that are wrong.

However, on May 31, 2015, the Senate voted 77-17 to limit debate on the act. Senate rules will allow it to be passed after the mass surveillance programs have expired.

The Republican majority promised transparency. They promised jobs. They promised to deny President Barack Obama a victory. So far, they are destroying themselves to defeat Obama.

They are wasting time trying to pass symbolic votes on restricting abortions, gutting the safety net, passing that stupid Keystone XL pipeline, restricting the president's executive powers on education, immigration, and raising the minimum wage. They are not working on passing reasonable gun control, refusing to work on peace deals with Cuba and Iran. They are pushing for troops in the battle against the Islamic State and Boko Haram. They want to waste time on Benghazi hearings, IRS emails, Hillary Clinton's missing emails, and dragging Attorney General Loretta Lynch into committee hearings about Fast & Furious.

With Paul's temper tantrum and some of his fellow Republicans and even Democratic allies calling upon the end of bulk collection done by the NSA, it seems like the bill is possibly on its way to defeat.

Here's the filibuster. Paul runs 11 hours of whine.

Again, this lawmaker has no legislative accomplishments and they act like he's a god.

Weeper Boehner Still Acting Like A Scarecrow Without A Brain!

Don't ask Weeper Boehner (R-OH) for help. He tells the junk food media that the conductor was going too damn fast.

The tragedy in Philadelphia. I've ignored it for a moment. I wanted to get my facts right before I go into this story. I want to be clear that the train conductor is under investigation and he's lawyer up.

The controversy is whether a Washington-New York bound Amtrak train was going too damn fast around a curb or the issue regarding faulty infrastructure.

World News Today sends our condolences to the families lost in this horrible tragedy.

We got this foolish Weeper. Congressman John Boehner (R-OH) is the most dumbest or just legally incompetent lawmaker to ever hold leadership. This man is such a diva.

With the body count standing at eight with nearly 80 injured badly, the Congress is full steam ahead on issues that matter. Late term abortion, repealing Obamacare, passing legislation to repeal Dodd-Frank, and trying to meddle in the Iranian nuclear deal.

They have nothing on the table when it comes to jobs, education, infrastructure repair and unemployment benefits. Oh, them's entitlements, right?

Boehner during a press conference went off on a reporter after she questioned the Republican budget bill that required major cuts to Amtrak.

Boehner shot back.



This is the guy who believes President Barack Obama is arrogant.

Look in the mirror and don't cry when you see yourself.

The NTSB and Pennsylvania state police are investigating the tracks, the conductor and the reason to why the train derailed.

May Day, May Day!

Barack for the win...

The Department of Labor releases the jobs report for the month of April. The job rate is now 5.4%.

The jobs numbers for the month were good. For the month of April, 223,000 jobs.

Not bad at all.

With that being said, who's going to be the first one to complain about the numbers being bad?

I mean the president managed to bring over 7.9 million jobs. The economy is rebounding and the conservatives will continue to complain about it. No matter what President Barack Obama does, they'll find some reason to hate on it.

There's six clowns running for the Republican nomination. Which one will dismiss this as good news?

The U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs in April, hewing close to expectations from economists, but the numbers fell short of a threshold that forecasters believe would signal an early rise in interest rates.

The unemployment rate dipped to 5.4 percent, according to data released by the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It is a moderately strong showing following on March's weak report of 126,000 new jobs, but the jobs figures for that month were revised downward to just 85,000. February's numbers were revised slightly up from 264,000 to 266,000.

Continuing to stall policies, nominees and proposals. The Republican majority and it's two inept leaders have made the president's second term more contentious.

The labor force participation rate was largely unchanged at 62.8 percent. The average workweek on private non-farm payrolls remained at 34.5 hours in April.

The results were roughly in line with forecasts of between of 222,000 to 228,000 new jobs. As MarketWatch suggested ahead of the Labor Department's release "anything less than a 200,000 increase in April would be viewed as another letdown."

The New York Times added: "A strong number — a jump in payrolls by more than 300,000, for example — could rekindle speculation about when the Federal Reserve will take its long-awaited first step in raising short-term interest rates, which have been near zero since the onset of the financial crisis in late 2008."

The Associated Press says home sales staged a big rebound in March and restaurants, retailers and banks grew at a faster pace in April than in the previous month, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

Sectors that grew the most include professional and business services (+62,000), health care (+45,000). Mining and oil and gas construction both lost jobs.

Insurgent Lawmaker Bill Shuster Riding Shotgun On Interstate 69!

Rep. Bill Shuster got the money shot from a lobbyist and the media is concerned about his ethics.

There's a whole lot of loving going on in the city of Altoona, PA.

Again, I don't give a rats ass about what goes on in the private lives of politicians. Why the junk food media made this a story is the fact that a powerful Republican lawmaker who has the power to issue funds to roads is caught up in an affair with a lobbyist.

The lobbyist is a part of a growing field of "I'll give you head" if you give me "$$$$$".

The lawmaker Republican Bill Shuster (R-PA) admits to having a relationship with a lobbyist.

He admits to cheating on Rebecca, his wife of 20 years.

According to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, Shuster represents the the 9th Congressional District. It was the most Republican district in Pennsylvania (and the Industrial Midwest), then with a score of R +17. Redistricting slightly increased the number Democrats in the district, with the addition of majority-Democratic Fayette County as well as the some of the Democratic portions of Washington County.

The price of gerrymandering. The Democrats can win the cities of Altoona, State College and Johnstown but fail at winning the district because it's strongly Republican.

Shuster has been resting comfortably in this district. For that he was promoted to be the chairman of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

According to the insiders, he's a known player around the Capitol. He charms them ladies. All the while playing the game on his wife and children.

He finally tells the world that he's in love.

He's in love with his lobbyist. Shelley Rubino a former Democratic political operative now works at Airlines for America, a trade association for the major U.S. airlines.

Shuster and his mistress are circled. Politico broke the news of the improper and unethical relationship.

Shuster got a bundle of cash from this group. Matter of fact, Shuster gets top billing from the airline industry. Shuster and his staff are drafting bills to make the airline industry get away from the gubmint.

The FAA is trying to impose strong regulations on airlines and Shuster and his Republican friends are not willing to allow it to happen.

The Politico broke the story and now the junk food media is wondering did Weeper John Boehner (R-OH) know about this relationship?

Paging Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington. We got another one!

I-99 is the Bud Shuster Freeway.

Shuster is the son of Bud "Mr. 99" Shuster.

Papa Shuster was a major player in Pennsylvania politics. As a lawmaker, Papa Bud was the guy who advocated a lot of pork and beans in Altoona, Johnstown and State College.

He managed to turn U.S. 220 into Interstate 99. The highway is being worked on from New York and it will end at its current terminus in Bedford near the PA Turnpike (Interstate 70 and 76). If it's possible Interstate 99 will continue into West Virginia, Virginia and end near Greensboro, NC.

Papa Shuster resigned from office after the FBI was looking into political corruption. He bounced before he could be served the papers. When he left, his son Lil' Bill got into the act and been in the Congress for over a decade.

Lil' Bill is a big supporter of the Interstate 69/Pan American Highway (aka NAFTA Superhighway).

The Republican Congress is willing to shelve out millions to the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The highway will continue from its former terminus in Indianapolis and head towards Texas.

In twenty years, Interstate 69 will connect Canada to Mexico. The Interstate will start from Port Huron, MI and end in three points, Brownsville (I-69E), the cities McAllen and Pharr (I-69C), and Laredo, Texas (I-69W).

I-69 will travel from Michigan to Texas.

This adds to the list of controversial issues plaguing this inept Congress.

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is indicted on political corruption. He was involved in a scandal involving his friend who lobbied for Medicare benefits. Menendez also was involved in a sex scandal with underage Dominican Republic prostitutes. He was cleared of any involvement.

Aaron Schock, former U.S. Rep. from Illinois resigned after it was revealed he was spending like sailor and hiding his debts. Schock was a power broker in their Republican 2010 and 2014 victories. Schock's departure leaves Republican governor Bruce Bruner a crucial spot to be filled.

Michael Grim, former U.S. Rep from New York resigned after being reelected. He was indicted by the Department of Justice for taking bribes and tax evasion. The Republicans hope to retain the seat. It's in Staten Island, the only conservative part of New York City.

This clown Shuster released a video criticizing the president. He claims that the president shut down the coal mines and processing plants because of the EPA's regulations.