Monday, June 29, 2009

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Housing Recovery In Peril As Obama Aid Program Has Little Effect Top
June 29 (Bloomberg) -- Driving through Riverside, California, Bruce Norris pointed to a half-dozen empty houses with "For Sale" signs stuck in untended lawns that he said investors might buy if banks would just extend some credit. More on Housing Crisis
 
Andy Borowitz: Ruth Madoff: 'This Is Not the Man I Owned Nine Homes With' Top
Just hours after her husband Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for masterminding a $50 billion Ponzi scheme, Ruth Madoff expressed shock and dismay at her husband's behavior, telling reporters, "This is not the man I owned nine homes with." "When you spend hundreds of millions of dollars with someone, you think you know him," she said. "I guess I was wrong." Mrs. Madoff said she was kept "totally in the dark" about her husband's activities because he used a clever cover story: "He told me he was hiking the Appalachian Trail." Read more here . Andy Borowitz is a comedian and the author of Who Moved My Soap? The CEO's Guide to Surviving in Prison: The Bernie Madoff Edition. . He performs Thursday July 2 in New York at the 92nd Street Y Tribeca. Tickets available here . More on Bernard Madoff
 
Steve Rosenbaum: Is Broadband a Civil Right? Top
There are some moments when you can feel the conversation change - and the world tilt from right to left. Today was one of those days. It began early at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City. The PdF as it's known, is now in it's 6th year - and attracts the top talent in politics, consulting, and technology. Predictably, the conversation this year revolved around Twitter, Iran and the transformational power of social media to change the political landscape. The days agenda featured a list of Obama campaign and administration superstars - and it perhaps is somewhat ironic that Julius Genakowski, the newly appointed FCC chairman wasn't able to attend, as he was being confirmed in DC just as the afternoon sessions began. But the elephant in the room wasn't about software, or technology - it was about Broadband. The issues around Universal Access emerged as the most powerful metaphor for freedom, democracy, and free speech. So the conversation came to a head as PdF Founder Andrew Rasiejr moderated a panel about access with two of the industrys best know spokesman - Hank Hultquist from ATT and James Assey from the National Cable Television Association. Also on the panel, activist Josh Silver from Free Press. For the bulk of the panel, Josh was the pitbull - taking on big cable and telcos for being a "duopoly" and that they had the interests of their shareholders and profits above the public good. Surprisingly, neither of the industry spokesman denied the charge, rather pointing out that it was because of the free market that they'd been able to 'invest' in the infrastructure that today was bringing Broadband to the nation. The fact that our access is woefully behind most developed nations, and priced high and going higher, was left an open question. Then, as the panel was drawing to a close - a woman got up to ask a question from the audience. She introduced herself as an Argentinean journalist, and said - simply - isn't' broadband access what is making the Iran Protests happen? Wasn't broadband and essential component of freedom and democracy. In short - should broadband access be a civil right? It was a question that was stunning in its simplicity. If the internet is the backbone of free speech and participation, how can it be owned by corporate interests whose primary concern isn't freedom or self expression or political dissent? Doesn't it have to be free? You could feel the room go silent. Hmm... freedom = broadband. Broadband as a right, not a privilege. Wow. That's the moment you could feel the conversation change.
 
Joe The Plumber Makes "Worst Person In The World" On Countdown (VIDEO) Top
Joe the Plumber made it back onto the political scene for, as Olbermann describes it, "fomenting violence against elected officials." According to the Wasau Daily Herald newspaper, Joe the Plumber, while speaking in Wisconsin, more than once asked about Senator Chris Dodd, "Why hasn't he been strung up?" Olbermann awarded Joe the gold in his "Worst Persons in the World" segment. Joe also proved that his off-the-cuff public speaking needs a little more work when he told the crowd that the Founding Fathers "knew socialism doesn't work. They knew communism doesn't work." Alas, these ideologies did not exist yet. An anonymous donor who funded ads urging atheists to reveal themselves to bolster the cause of atheism was awarded the bronze medal for, well, remaining anonymous. Rush Limbaugh took home the silver for interpreting a 5-4 Supreme Court decision reversing a case nominee Sonia Sotomayor upheld as not only indicting Ms. Sotomayor as a racist, but that the verdict, properly reflected upon, was actually a 9-0 decision instead of one that settled along rough ideological lines. [WATCH] Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy More on Video
 
Huff TV: Arianna Joins Eliot Spitzer On MSNBC's "Morning Meeting" To Discuss The Financial Crisis, Sentencing Of Bernie Madoff (VIDEO) Top
MSNBC"s new show "Morning Meeting," hosted by Dylan Ratigan, premiered today, and Arianna was one of the guests. She joined Eliot Spitzer to discuss the sentencing of Ponzi-schemer Bernie Madoff as well as the current financial crisis. Watch it below. Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy More on Eliot Spitzer
 
Donnie Fowler: Sanford Takes Me to Sunday School Back Home Top
South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford announced two great epiphanies today ... why he should not resign (gosh, we thought he was going to) and why his fellow South Carolina Republicans would not cooperate with him the last few years (no, it's not what you think). In a message posted on his website and put up on Facebook, Governor Mark Sanford, Chief Carolina Moralist (Retired) had these enlightened things to say: 1. God wants Sanford to remain governor: "Immediately after all this unfolded last week I had thought I would resign -- as I believe in the military model of leadership and when trust of any form is broken one lays down the sword ... [but] for God to really work in my life I shouldn't be getting off so lightly." 2. That woman is the reason Sanford's own Republicans turned against him over the last several years (not weeks) ago: "I may well have held the right position on limited government, spending or taxes -- but that if my spirit wasn't right in the presentation of those ideas to people in the General Assembly, or elsewhere, I could elicit the response that I had at many times indeed gotten from other state leaders." So let's get this right ... Sanford blames his inability to convince his fellow South Carolina Republicans , who control the state legislature, on his tainted spirit? That Argentinian Eve offered him the apple and derailed him and his true conservative agenda against the Palmetto State's governing GOP majority? I guess some warped version of a tax-cutting, country club Jesus would have gotten Sanford's agenda through the stubborn South Carolina GOP legislature. We all know that Sanford's Christian agenda -- pulling away a helping hand to the poor, rejecting support for those out of work, gutting universal public education in favor of private education only for a few, supporting pre-emptive war, and excusing "enhanced interrogation" was right out of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Problem is, I just don't know which one. Must have missed that day in Sunday school in Columbia, SC, where I grew up. You know, where the governor still governs 'cause he got his spirit back. When I'm back home this weekend I'm gonna ask my preacher. More on GOP
 
At Gay Pride Parade, Burris Backs Civil Unions But Says Marriage 'For Perpetuation Of The Species' Top
Senator Roland Burris was at Chicago's Gay Pride Parade yesterday, declaring his support for civil unions but saying marriage is for "perpetuation of the species." More on Gay Marriage
 
Roger Friedman Files $5.2 Million Lawsuit Against Fox News Top
Fired Fox News entertainment columnist Roger Friedman filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Fox News, News Corp, 20th Century Fox and Rupert Murdoch in New York State Supreme Court Monday, the Huffington Post has learned. In the suit, Friedman seeks $5,180,000 in damages for wrongful termination, tortious interference, and libel defamation. Friedman was fired in April after reviewing a copy of 20th Century Fox blockbuster "Wolverine" that had leaked online, a move seen as an implicit endorsement of piracy. Friedman, who now writes for the Hollywood Reporter , is expected to allege that the piracy incident was an excuse to fire him, and that News Corp really bowed to pressure from Scientologists , who had been seeking his dismissal over columns critical of Scientology. Get HuffPost Media On Facebook and Twitter! More on Fox News
 
Chicago Pride Parade 2009, In Pictures (SLIDESHOW) Top
Nearly 500,000 people jammed Boystown Sunday for the 40th Pride Parade . Here's a slideshow of some of the marchers, spectators, politicians and activists that made the scene. (All photos courtesy of Kate Gardiner and Angelina Cole ) More on Photo Galleries
 
Madoff's Apartment: An Inside look At The Luxury Duplex Top
Here's an exclusive look at the luxurious apartment Ruth Madoff is being forced to vacate. More on Bernard Madoff
 
What Happens If Illinois Doesn't Pass A New Budget By Tuesday's Deadline? Top
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The state's budget year ends Tuesday, and lawmakers are nowhere near a deal on a spending plan with Gov. Pat Quinn. Does that mean someone shuts off the lights of state government at midnight Tuesday? In a word, no. Construction crews likely will work on state highways even if Illinois lacks a budget on July 1. You'll be able to get a fishing permit or renew your driver's license. Public schools will continue planning for the fall semester. But if the stalemate continues far into July, state employees' pay runs dry. That's when services could be interrupted across the state. "You stop issuing paychecks, you have people not showing up to work, services not being provided - just think about transportation, secretary of state, human services - the consequences of that are going to be unthinkable," said Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville. With the state wallowing in red ink, Quinn, a Democrat, wants to raise the income tax rate to pay for government services. But he couldn't get agreement from the Democratic-controlled Legislature, which instead passed a budget that would require drastic cuts in human service programs. Budget talks have dragged on for weeks since then, with no real progress. Now legislators must decide whether to send Quinn a budget that slashes services, pass a temporary budget so talks can continue or simply let the new fiscal year begin without any spending plan in place. "Stay tuned," Quinn spokesman Bob Reed said Monday, adding that the governor "remains optimistic" that a new spending plan will be approved in time. Even without a budget in place, government would continue to function normally, for a while. It still could pay bills for expenses incurred under the previous budget. Big projects such as road work likely will continue because they typically are tied to multiyear contracts. Building goes on with the understanding that payment will follow eventually, although contractors technically would be taking some risk. Public schools aren't immediately in jeopardy because they don't receive any state aid payments in July. Agencies still can purchase commodities - gas for state police squad cars, for instance - because they buy on credit. And welfare checks to low-income families continue uninterrupted thanks to a 1993 court ruling that Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and Medicaid cannot be halted because they are paid in part with federal funds. The date to watch is July 15, the first pay day in the new budget year, according to state Comptroller Dan Hynes' office. Those getting paid that day are staff members working for constitutional officers, such as the governor, treasurer and attorney general, and payroll information has to be sent to the comptroller by July 9, although there's a little leeway on that deadline, Hynes spokeswoman Carol Knowles said. Pay deadlines for other groups of employees follow on subsequent days. "When July 1 comes, if there isn't a budget, you can pretty much go until mid-month until things start to be a problem," Knowles said. And it would be a problem. In 2007, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and lawmakers agreed to a one-month budget for July, but it expired without action in August. Blagojevich told Hynes to write paychecks anyway, but Hynes maintained that he needed an authorized budget to do so. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees sued Hynes, and a Christian County judge brokered a deal that allowed state employees to be paid in August, but ruled that in the future, the comptroller may not cut paychecks unless he had a budget or a court order in hand, except for minimal payments required by federal law. "It is wearying," AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said of the annual budget wrangling. "People are sick of the games, sick of the posturing, tired of the excuses and have every reason to be sick of the uncertainty." State employees aren't the only ones on edge. Private social-service agencies that rely on state funds face two troubling possibilities - a budget that slashes their money or no budget at all. But officials say without a budget, those agencies will continue getting paid for at least a few weeks because they are submitting receipts for services delivered in the previous fiscal year. Quinn has proposed balancing the budget with a combination of spending cuts, financial maneuvering and higher income taxes. But many lawmakers have balked at raising taxes. Trying to piece together a budget without such a painful step, the Illinois House voted Monday to borrow $2.3 billion for five years, an idea supported by the governor and Senate leaders. The money would be used to reduce the size of cuts to social services. But the money would only be available for one year, leaving officials to find some new source of money in the next budget. "Borrowing is not the answer," said Rep. Dave Winters, R-Shirland. "It is simply digging a deeper hole that we'll step into next year." -ASSOCIATED PRESS
 
Inspector General Calls For More Transparency On Olympics Bid Top
CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago's inspector general said Monday this corruption-plagued city should turn itself into a model of reform or it could be selected for the 2016 Olympics only to embarrass itself before the world. Inspector General David Hoffman told the City Club of Chicago that if the city is able to attract the Olympic Games in 2016 it will be a great opportunity for the community to put its best foot forward. "But what are we going to show?" Hoffman said. "Cost overruns? Corruption? Clout?" Chicago needs to acknowledge that it is awash in political corruption and not shy away from addressing the problem head on, Hoffman said. But, it's lengthy experience with the problem may have prepared it to turn things around and become a model of corruption-fighting know how, he added. "Who knows corruption historically better than us?" Hoffman said. "And so who could be better at knowing how to prevent it?" Chicago's reputation for political corruption goes back decades. Federal prosecutors in recent years found the city outsourcing trucking contracts to politically connected companies that in some cases did minimal work at best. Some of the companies were tied to the mob. A former top aide to Mayor Richard M. Daley is currently serving a federal prison sentence for using fraud to hide patronage on the city payroll. And Hoffman himself is investigating how the mayor's nephew managed to invest in city pension funds. That only scratches the surface of a problem that goes back a century. Daley hired Hoffman, a former federal prosecutor, as inspector general only to see him show great independence in the role. With Hoffman's four-year term up this fall, many Chicagoans are wondering if he will stay for another. Reporters asked Hoffman about that after his City Club remarks. He said he was still thinking about what he wants to do with his future. -ASSOCIATED PRESS More on Olympics
 

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