Mike Luckovich:

Robert Scheer:

If it had been revealed that Jeffrey Immelt once hired an undocumented nanny, or defaulted on his mortgage, he would be forced to resign as head of President Barack Obama’s “Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.” But the fact that General Electric, where Immelt is CEO, didn’t pay taxes on its $14.5 billion profit last year—and indeed is asking for a $3.2 billion tax rebate—has not produced a word of criticism from the president, who in January praised Immelt as a business leader who “understands what it takes for America to compete in the global economy.”

What it takes, evidently, is shifting profit and jobs abroad: Only one out of three GE workers is now based in the U.S., and almost two-thirds of the company’s profit is sheltered in its foreign operations…

Maximizing corporate profits at the taxpayer’s expense is what top CEOs are good at, and after all it was Immelt who presided over GE when it got so heavily into the subprime mortgage business that it needed a government bailout to avoid bankruptcy. This was before Obama made him a trusted adviser.

Capital Eye:

Earlier this week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the only self-avowed socialist in the U.S. Senate, urged his colleagues to support new legislation to close “corporate tax loopholes and eliminating tax breaks for oil and gas companies.”

As part of his pitch, Sanders highlighted the 10 “worst corporate income tax avoiders” — many of which are among the biggest spenders when in comes to lobbying in the nation’s capital, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.

These 10 companies — including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Carnival Cruise Lines — spent a combined $117 million on lobbying during 2010 alone, according to the Center’s research.

Four of these organizations were even ranked among the top 25 biggest spenders on lobbying in 2010: General Electric (No. 3), ConocoPhillips (No. 9), Boeing (No. 11) and ExxonMobil (No. 23).

Greg Sargent:

* Shutdown talks resume as Dems edge towards GOP position: GOP and Dem negotiators appear to have reached a general agreement that an additional $33 billion in cuts would constitutean acceptable compromise, though plenty of haggling remains over the details and over Planned Parenthood and other politically charged “riders.” Key point: This is actually more than the GOP leadership originally was asking for, before the Tea Party dragged the GOP leadership (and of course Dems followed) further to the right.

Steve Benen:

[M]ost of the country has no idea the extent to which the GOP’s proposed cuts would be devastating to key domestic priorities. These are cuts that, if put to a poll, the vast majority of the American mainstream would reject out of hand.

But here’s another thought: maybe most of the country has no idea how brutal these cuts are because Dems haven’t told them…

If I’m a Democratic strategist, I would have recommended a couple of things. First, pick a handful of the most jarring cuts in the GOP plan, and repeat them ad nauseum. Ideally, they’d be cuts most Americans would find offensive — “Republicans want to slash funding for education, medical research, job training, and homeland security. We think that’s irresponsible.” Say this over and over again, and sooner or later, folks will start to know that the GOP wants to cut education, medical research, job training, and homeland security.

Second, turn the GOP line around and start calling the cuts what they are: job killing…

Dems made some hay out of this for a while, but let it fade. It should have been the only thing the party talked about for weeks — Republicans want to make the jobs crisis worse, on purpose — but it wasn’t. They could have come up with a simple little slogan — “the GOP plan is bad for the middle class and bad for jobs” — that could have been easily repeated, instead of, “Don’t worry, we like cuts, too.”

Sure, I realize it might be frustrating to Democrats in Washington to be on the defensive right now, but much of this is the result of the party choosing not to go on the offensive when it had the chance.

From the comments:

I don’t know what you mean. I find the Democrats more offensive with every passing day.

Water is wet. The sun rises in the east. The Dems are spineless and inept at messaging.

Maybe the Dem’s are sleeping with the same Republican lobbyist.

New York Times food blogger, Mark Bittman:

I stopped eating on Monday and joined around 4,000 other people in a fast to call attention to Congressional budget proposals that would make huge cuts in programs for the poor and hungry…

These supposedly deficit-reducing cuts — they’d barely make a dent — will quite literally cause more people to starve to death, go to bed hungry or live more miserably than are doing so now. And: The bill would increase defense spending.

Well, Mark, war profiteers have to eat. Everyone else can just starve to death.

Greg Sargent:

McConnell’s paean to Tea Party

One of the leading Democratic talking points in recent days has been that the GOP is unwilling to reach a budget deal with Democrats because Republicans are hostage to Tea Party extremists who won’t permit them to engage in anything approaching a reasonable compromise when it comes to spending cuts.

On the Senate floor today, Mitch McConnell pushed back on this notion with an extraordinary speech that served as a paean to the Tea Party movement, claiming that their goals are ”pretty reasonable” and that Democrats are the ones who are “extreme”.

Dakinikat:

Tea Party Astroturf: More Apparent than Ever and Blatantly Hypocritical

Have you been wondering why we seem to have such a concerted effort in all kinds of states to take down unions, women’s rights, attack public workers, bankrupt the state with excessive tax cuts for business and the wealthy and other basically overwhelming policy attacks?  Thought much about the Teabots recently?  Well, here’s some interesting information on the little grass roots that got played big time.  Not only is the tea part representing the interests of the rich, it’s also representing the interests of the rich taking  lots of money from the state and federal government that they purport to hate.  ABC’s Good Morning America has found some really interesting things on Tea Party Darlings on the Dole. Many of the biggest political icons in the movement are big abusers of government largess.

ABC’s senior political correspondent Jonathan Karl reported “the Tea Party movement is all about slashing federal spending, but at least five House members with Tea Party connections have themselves collected more than $100,000 each in federal farm subsidies, totalling more than $8 million since 1995.”…

It continually amazes me that so many people appear to be vulnerable to the message that  it’s government workers or poor people that benefit from government programs when so many statistics show that most of the largess from federal programs and subsidies go to those that are solidly upper middle class.  What really kills me is that the same people that are waging wars on working people, women, children, and the poor for taking the tax payers’ hard earned cash are the same ones that are really living off the government teat.  My guess is that many corporations–like GE–and individuals–like the Bachmanns–would be scraping around for other forms of incomes if it wasn’t for the funds they receive from the governments they so love to hate.  Hypocrisy this huge should hurt.

Political Wire:

Obama Approval Hits New Low

A new Quinnipiac poll finds American voters disapprove 48% to 42% of the job President Obama is doing and say 50% to 41% that he does not deserve to be re-elected in 2012, both all-time lows.

Think Progress:

Breaking: Wisconsin Judge Declares Anti-Worker Law Is Not In Effect

Nearly two weeks ago, Wisconsin state Judge Maryann Sumi issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting Wisconsin’s Secretary of State from “publishing” Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) anti-union law. Because Wisconsin law requires the Secretary of State’s office to publish a law before the law may take effect, this TRO should have suspended the law for as long as Sumi’s order remains in effect. Nevertheless, the state’s Republican leadership asked a different government office to publish the law on its website, and the Walker Administration has already begun to implement the law in defiance of Sumi’s original order.

This morning, Judge Sumi issued a new order clarifying that any attempt to implement Walker’s assault on working families is lawless.

Rep. Ron Paul Argues States Can Ignore Constitution By Nullifying Federal Laws

Speaking at an Iowa homeschool event, [Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)] told the crowd that “in principle, nullification is proper and moral and constitutional.” “That is why,” Paul declared, “I am a strong endorser of the nullification movement, that states like this should just nullify these laws”

New posts at Many Years Young 3/31/11

Diet along with exercise may be the best way for seniors to gain strength and fitness

Negative Attitudes Toward Fat Bodies Going Global, Study Finds

Women’s Body Image Based More on Others’ Opinions Than Their Own Weight

Want to reduce BPA exposure? Cut canned foods from your diet, report says

Plus lots more.

‘Spicing’ up your love life, with spice

Healthy Lifestyles Could Halve Cases of Dangerous Irregular Heartbeat

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes fight loneliness

Walnuts Are Top Nut for Heart-Healthy Antioxidants

Plus lots more.

For some primary care, try your pharmacist

5 Strategies to Improve Your Memory

Boost Your Willpower with a Quick Squeeze

Make your body earn/burn what it eats

Plus lots more.

Bad Habit? You’re Fired

Nutrition and the Eye

Remedies: Horse Chestnut Seed Extract for Leg Pain

Cayenne: The Burning Balm

Plus lots more.

Taking Responsibility for Own Health Often Not Enough

Laughter, Music May Lower Blood Pressure, Study Says

‘Simulated’ Needles Just as Effective as Real Acupuncture in Study

Overeaters have more food brain activity

Plus lots more.

New posts at Many Years Young 3/25/11

Added Sugars Add Pounds

Vascular Benefits of Diets Rich in Leafy Greens

Inadequate Diet Can Lead to Anemia in Postmenopausal Women

Fish-Rich Diet Reduces Obesity-Related Disease Risk

Plus lots more.

Those Who Sleep Less Eat More: Study

Americans’ Exposure to Mercury From Fish Won’t Harm Hearts: Study

Exercise May Blunt Salt’s Effect on Hypertension

6 Powerful Health-Boosting Foods

Plus lots more.

. . . because people in other nations would like him so much better than Bush?

Stop Me Before I Vote Again:

He was no different as my senator. And instead of listening, you called me a racist.

Brent Budowsky:

A disengaged presidency

The governing style and political strategy of President Obama simultaneously hurts the reelection prospects of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress and delays crucial decisions that require strong hands-on leadership from the president.

Obama’s governing style is to remain as distant as possible, for as long as possible, from the nasty details of major policy decisions as Congress and the nation face domestic and foreign challenges on multiple fronts in real time.

Obama’s political strategy is to position himself as the lofty leader above the fray, appealing to voters who tell pollsters that “we must work together” without risking his elevated image of possessing the hands-on executive leadership that is required to make hard decisions on tough issues in a  divided government…

The hands-off governing style and above-the-fray political strategy was a disaster for Democrats in 2010, whose base became depressed and whose elected officials either chose not to run again or were widely defeated in elections for the House, the Senate, governorships and state legislatures.

It is not acceptable when the real jobless rate is 15.9 percent, when housing foreclosures continue at punishing levels, when the deficit and debt time bombs move closer to exploding, when gasoline prices move toward $4 per gallon (and ultimately much higher), and when American forces are engaged in multiple combat missions without the American people being fully engaged in any of them.

Republicans are overreaching again.

Undernews:

Ohio GOP governor wants to privatize just about everything

Toledo Blade -  Ohio would sell off five state prisons to raise $200 million, cut half a billion that would have headed to local governments, and privatize the state’s liquor system for a lump sum of $1.2 billion under Gov. John Kasich’s first two-year budget proposal. He’s proposed doubling the state’s school voucher program and eliminating the cap on the number of charter schools in the state while cutting overall support for public K-12 schools to reflect the evaporation of one-time stimulus dollars.

Selling long term assets to pay short term expenses is just about the stupidest plan anyone ever came up with. What will they do when all the assets are gone?

Greg Sargent:

Ohioans oppose rollback of bargaining rights

As you may know, there is a proposed law in Ohio that would limit collective bargaining rights for public employees. Do you support or oppose limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees?

Support 35
Oppose 54

That’s from a new Quinnipiac poll of Ohio voters. It looks like Governor Scott Walker’s initiative isn’t the only proposed rollback of bargaining rights that’s tanking in the polls — and dragging a GOP governor down with it…

[T]he poll also finds that only 30 percent approve of GOP Governor John Kasich’s performance, though it appears that the budget fight overall may be to blame.

Think Progress:

Strong Plurality Of Michigan Voters Support Amending State Constitution To Protect Collective Bargaining

Last November, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) won a decisive 18 point victory in his race for the governor’s mansion. Yet after less than three months of draconian budget proposals and unconstitutional assaults on collective bargaining, Snyder is hurting. A new poll finds that Snyder would lose his election if it were held today, and that a strong plurality of the state would support amending the state constitution to prevent Snyder from continuing his anti-union agenda.

Political Wire:

Walker Emails Contradict Him

“Seeking a way to counter a growing protest movement, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) cited his email, confidently declaring that most people writing his office had urged him to eliminate nearly all union rights for state workers.”

“But an Associated Press analysis of the emails shows that, for close to a week, messages in Walker’s inbox were running roughly 2-to-1 against his plans. The tide did not turn in his favor until shortly after desperate Democrats fled the state to stop a vote they knew they would lose. The AP analyzed more than 26,000 emails sent to Walker from the time he formally announced his plans until he first mentioned the emails in public – a span of seven days.”

Think Progress:

REPORT: Three States Propose Massive Tax Cuts For Millionaires, Tax Hikes for Middle Class

Last week, ThinkProgress documented conservative efforts in twelve states to shift the tax burden onto the middle class even while cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy. In three states, conservatives are going even further, proposing massive estate tax cuts for millionaires even as income inequality is at its worse since the 1920s.

Undernews:

South Dakota passes worst anti-abortion bill in the country

CNN– A new South Dakota law requiring a woman to get counseling at a “pregnancy help center” and wait 72 hours after a physician assessment before having an abortion appears destined for a legal challenge. Law opponents say the waiting period would be the longest in the nation.

Think Progress:

Arizona Passes Anti-Abortion Bill To Send Doctors, Clinicians To Jail For Abortions Based On Race Or Gender

In the race to secure the most destructive state anti-abortion law, Arizona may leap ahead of South Dakota by seeking to tackle a problem that doesn’t exist. In a 41-18 vote last month, the House passed a bill to prohibit abortions sought because of the race or sex of the fetus or the race of the parent. Seeking to prevent “race- or sex-based discrimination against the unborn,” the bill would allow lawsuits and civil fines against “abortion providers who knowingly provide such abortions.”

On Monday, the Arizona Senate passed bill on a 21-5 vote. But unsatisfied with civil fines, the Senate upped the ante by “adding provisions which could send doctors and others involved in these acts to prison.” Now, the bill, which is headed to Gov. Jan Brewer (R), will ensure that any doctor or employees of clinics like Planned Parenthood that terminates a pregnancy based on race or gender would face 3.5 years in jail.

In These Times, thanks to Susie:

Vermont’s Single-Payer Salvation

Three weeks after the House of Representatives voted to repeal last year’s landmark healthcare reform legislation, and one week after a federal judge ruled the bill’s insurance mandate unconstitutional, Vermont’s leaders decided to take matters into their own hands.

On February 8, newly inaugurated Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin unveiled his plan for a publicly funded single-payer healthcare system, which was introduced into the state’s legislature. If enacted, which appears likely, it will be the first system of its kind in the United States and Vermont would become the first state to abolish most forms of private health insurance.

“In five years, I predict the United States will go through another major debate of how to reform the healthcare system,” Harvard School of Public Health Professor William Hsiao told the state’s legislators in January, noting his belief that the federal reform legislation passed in March 2010 will not solve the nation’s healthcare crisis. “The question for Vermont is, do you want to walk ahead of the United States? Do you want to be a model for the United States?”

Democracy Corps and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner:

The Republican-Obama Seats Put Republican Majority in Jeopardy

A new survey by Democracy Corps in 50 of the most competitive battleground Congressional districts — nearly all of which gave a majority to Obama in the last presidential election — shows the new Republican majority very much in play in 2012. *

The Republican incumbents in these districts, 35 of them freshmen, remain largely unknown and appear very vulnerable in 2012 (depending on redistricting). In fact, these incumbents are in a weaker position than Democratic incumbents were even in late 2009, or Republican incumbents were in 2007 in comparable surveys conducted by Democracy Corps.

Political Wire:

Stabenow Re-Election Prospects Look Better

More proof a Midwestern backlash against Republicans is helping Democrats: A new Public Policy Polling survey in Michigan finds Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) standing much improved since late last year. Stabenow now leads all of the Republicans tested against her by double digits.

Cannonfire: