In the best WWE match in six years, CM Punk won the strap this week. Today's a full work day for me, I can't contain my work week to a full Saturday anymore, but I couldn't just leave Tendown at the side of the road the week one of my guys became a real rasslin' star. Here's 86.
1. Just Raise the Social Security Ceiling
What's exhausting about the current economic debate, about all of the current political debates, is how they're presented as if having never happened before.
Go ahead. Tell me Social Security is running out of money and needs fixed. Go ahead.
I can fix it. I could have fixed it 15 years ago, the first time I had this exact same conversation.
Raise the payroll tax ceiling. If you raise the ceiling at which income can still be taxed for social security, you're fine.
To what figure you ask? A hundred 80 grand. Robert Reich tells you why.
2. Just Give People Money
How do we get the unemployment rate down?
Increase demand. There. Fixed. Give me money and I can buy stuff. If I can buy stuff, business will hire.
Who said that this week? What radical socialist rag am I about to link to? The Wall St. Journal.
3. You May Have Missed This, 'Cause it Happened Friday Night.
Bernie Sanders said the Democrats should primary Obama
And he's right.
4. Hegemony Exposed
When I was in school and used to have debates about hegemony, I recall a particularly popular comeback was "where are the secret meetings? How do these corporate and political forces get together in these shadowy ways to control and manipulate the levers of power?"
Here's how. Go read that multi-part expose of the work done by the American Legislative Exchange Council from this week's issue of the Nation. Reading each portion of that series is the best use of your time this week.
5. Or You Could Just Look At This Leopard.
6. From My Congressman
Here was the week for my Congressmen, the Honorable Allen West.
First the chairwoman of the DNC, said this about West.
The gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries, unbelievable from a member from South Florida.
Which, of course, is true. The Republicans are trying to kill Medicare. Because they're Republicans, that's who they are. Medicare, by the way, is not only fixable - but it should be expanded to every American. Once again, here's Robert Reich.
West, who last week, called Obama supporters threats to the "gene pool" responded thusly:
You are the most vile, unprofessional ,and despicable member of the US House of Representatives...You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!
Okay.
West then claimed to have apologized. There's an audio tape:
Huffington Post reporter: Hey Congressman West?
Allen West: Hey.
HP: I have a question for you. I saw that there’s a bunch of Congresswomen having a press conference today to talk about your email to Debbie Wasserman Schultz. What do you think about it? Does that bother you that they’re doing that?
AW: No, it doesn’t bother me.
HP: They’re probably going to say something about being anti-woman or something. [inaudible]
AW: I’ve been married for 22 years. I have two daughters.
HP: So what does that mean? That you respect women or ...
AW: [inaudible] And I just apologized.
HP: And you just apologized?
AW: Mmhmm.
HP: OK. Alright. Thank you.
AW: You’re welcome.
Allen West: Hey.
HP: I have a question for you. I saw that there’s a bunch of Congresswomen having a press conference today to talk about your email to Debbie Wasserman Schultz. What do you think about it? Does that bother you that they’re doing that?
AW: No, it doesn’t bother me.
HP: They’re probably going to say something about being anti-woman or something. [inaudible]
AW: I’ve been married for 22 years. I have two daughters.
HP: So what does that mean? That you respect women or ...
AW: [inaudible] And I just apologized.
HP: And you just apologized?
AW: Mmhmm.
HP: OK. Alright. Thank you.
AW: You’re welcome.
West then said he absolutely did not apologize - and fundraised off the original comment.
From: Allen West For Congress
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011
To: XXX
Subject: vile, despicable, and unprofessional
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011
To: XXX
Subject: vile, despicable, and unprofessional
Those three words sum up my feelings about Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
By now, you've probably heard the story. But I wanted you to hear it from me.
Yesterday, on the floor of the House, I publicly expressed my support for "Cut, Cap, and Balance" -- the leading conservative proposal to help us get our spiraling debt and spending under control.
Once I left the floor, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (DNC Chair) -- who it seems does little except act as an attack dog for the "vast left wing conspiracy" -- attacked me personally for supporting the legislation.
It's not a coincidence that she is the Chairwoman of the DNC and that the Democrats are making me target #1 for defeat.
In a discussion of grave importance to this nation's future, she somehow finds time to try to score political points. And she doesn't have the guts to do it to my face!
Episodes like these show that her agenda isn't to improve the lives of Floridians or to stand on principle. She's an attack dog for the liberal, progressive wing of the Democratic Party -- plain and simple.
And it's times like this that I need friends with me.
Please make a donation of $25 or more at my website right now. And join thousands of other patriotic Americans in standing up against the vicious attack from the Democratic National Party.
Steadfast and Loyal,
Allen West
Allen B. West LTC(R)
Member of Congress
Member of Congress
7. RIP-Forrest Blue
One of the 50 greatest San Francisco 49ers of all time died this week. Forrest Blue, the center for those early 70s John Brodie teams. He died the way football players die. From concussions.
Brittney Blue said her father began having dementia-related hallucinations in the mid-'90s, and they became more frequent and elaborate about seven years ago. Mr. Blue, who worked as a general contractor in Rocklin (Placer County) after his playing career, spent the past 22 months at an assisted-living facility in Carmichael (Sacramento County), where he often talked about "little people that lived in the walls," Brittney Blue said.
She said he also became extremely paranoid and believed people were using his contracting license to perform illegal work at the assisted-living facility.
8. My Favorite Story In The Palm Beach Post This Week
She said he also became extremely paranoid and believed people were using his contracting license to perform illegal work at the assisted-living facility.
ORLANDO — A woman believed to be Casey Anthony was spotted at the Orlando Executive Airport on Tuesday. It appeared that she was getting out of the same plane that flew her out the morning she was released from the Orange County jail on July 17.
That's my favorite - "someone who may or may not have killed someone may or may not have been in an airport"
Best story ever.
9. I Write the Stories
Here was my look at where the MLB season stands 100 games in.
I finished the NFC posts in my series of all time NFL rosters with my last 3. You can get to them by way of the All Time NFC 45 Man roster.
In addition to the 4 1/2 star Punk/Cena match, there was a second 4 star match at the WWE PPV last Sunday, the Smackdown MITB match in which Bryan Danielson went over. Which is not a bad week for the good guys. I also saw a 4 1/4 Briscoes v. All Night Express, let's say from May.
10. A Podcast For You
That's all for this time. I'll be back next time. If there is a next time...
Your pal,
Jim
11. Wait!
This is why I take notes during the week.
The best booked wrestling show on tv, as I've mentioned before, is Jerseylicious. Last Sunday, in what, perhaps is a heel turn, the show's white meat babyface, Olivia, kicked a defenseless Tracy square in the head. Like Samoa Joe style, sent her clean through the retaining barrier. Jerseylicious struggles in maintaining plausible storylines (like sneaking a hidden teddy bear cam into a rival salon to ostensibly spy while, obviously, the show's cameras are in plain sight) but then can rock you by bringing character driven violence. If WM28 were Rock v. Cena, Austin v. Punk, Christian v. Danielson, Olivia v. Tracy - they'd get my fifty bucks. Oh, I know what my other wrestling observation was this week. Why isn't the MITB briefcase sponsored? Bryan Danielson's gonna carry that briefcase everywhere he goes until Wrestlemania, every TV shot between now and April; why isn't it orange with the word Cheetoes on it? How is it they haven't been able to brand that briefcase? Its product placement you can't fast forward your way through. Easy money, Hunter. No need to thank me.
That's it.
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