marylou

The math on this is fuzzy at best. The auto workers make around 30 bucks an hour. Average in some OT (and yes, hours over 8 in a day is a legit number, every worker should get this, as an hourly worker who works way over 8 in a day on a regular basis I say it's right--follow me around on a long day and you'll "get it" immediately). Factor in some vacation (probably 2 weeks a year, maybe three), some retirement benefits, some Health and Welfare (you know it as medical insurance) and then add in about 30% for overhead* and it's easily 70 an hour. Mine is 50-60 dollars an hour for shitty health care and no vacation, and no, I don't make nearly that by the hour. *the overhead is payroll, hiring/firing costs, and the other basic expenses associated with any employee.You can add that onto any worker hourly cost right on top of whatever they make.

Senate to banks: here's 700 Billion. Fix it. Senate to UAW: no money until your auto workers, who did not make the poor choices that put the US auto industry in peril, agree to lower their wages to match the wages the scabs in the South make. Oh, and UAW workers? Fuck you. (what R Senators are doing is called, in negotiations, the "most favored nation" argument, and it's as petty and insincere in this context as it is in a traditional bargaining environment.)

I dunno, teh Intrenets is not giving that information up easily, Baby.

I would be too if I found out the RNC spent 110K on her hair and makeup. That was paid for out of the pockets of people who donate to the RNC.

Actually that's not a very good point. The bank employees are not unionized and don't have a contract. Should the bank deem that a wage cut is necessary they will simply impose one, take it or leave it. The UAW has a contract for certain wages, which can only be renegotiated out of the kindness of their hearts or in bankruptcy court. A unilateral attempt by GM to cut their wages would be deemed illegal. Sorry, did not think I needed to explain all of that...

Maddow made a good point last night on her show--no one asked the bank employees to take a pay cut.

Weasels must be ignored.

Hopefully this thing won't be too tough to overturn next month. Sad to see FW here spreading the hatred again--it was nice when he was gone for a spell.

What?

D'oh! I guess I didn't read carefully enough.

It's a real shame that people are trashing this woman for not being pretty enough. I didn't realize that being pretty was one of the qualifications for being the head of Homeland Security.

Bacon Salt is nice.

Born on First Hill, raised in Pierce County, moved here to Seattle at the ripe age of 17. Can't find my way around Tacoma or Puyallup any more, but I know the non-mean streets of Seattle pretty well. Consider myself a Seattleite through and through.

It's an insanely interesting time in US politix.

agreed. complete red herring. That Fairness Doctrine "sky is falling" argument from the right falls under that category as well..

That's an insult to fairies!!

I think I'd like to see the Democratic party go back to being more to the left.

No worries, the GOP's sent the cavalry right on up to AK to round up the clothes. All is not lost for some foolish donors who unknowingly supported the Hillbilly Juggernaut.

I have to point out the obvious here. Sarah Palin HERSELF brought Bristol's personal drama to our attention. It was said that she did it to set the record straight on who birthed Trig. Palin herself is to blame for this conversation. Since Sarah Palin refused to release her medical records, Trig's mother question remains a mystery--but the likelihood of a 44 year old woman birthing a Down's baby versus a 16 year old kid birthing one, well the odds are a lot better it was the elder Palin. I wonder if she refused to reveal her medical records because she possibly had an abortion at some point, which would make her high-and-mighty 'tude pretty hypocritical, that is, if her shopping problem doesn't already do that. Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus stores across the coutry, indeeed. Viva Lady Macbeth!

What! I highlighted it so it wouldn't be missed, you want royalties too?

I deleted my post above, because yes, it was in poor taste. I'd still like to take this opportunity to Palin-bash, possibly for the last time now that the election's over.

**deleted by ML**

I think McCain's concession speech was good, right up until the beligerent horde before him started booing and jeering at the mention of their new president and vice president. In contrast, Obama's mention of McCain was met with cheers. Final verdict on which side was the dark side in the election, as if it weren't already apparent. If McPalin had not run such an unbelievably bad and negative campaign, those supporters might not have acted so unbelievably bad at the concession speech.