Mitch McConnell got some tough-love from Occupy Louisville, when the group protested his vote for the National Defense Authorization Act. Many believe the law effectively repeals the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
One protest this week highlighted the flood of money and corporate influence into politics. Another highlighted the question of whether, given this flood, the voice of the people can still be heard.
Occupy Louisville's encampment survived the cold of winter and a tornado, but it was Louisville's annual invasion by the 1% that finally forced them inside.
"Things should never have reached this point."
So starts the public letter from a massive coalition of powerful economic and social justice organizations that is setting out to prepare 100,000 people to take part in non-violent direct action this Spring.
When the Paul family, Ron Paul and son Rand Paul, blame the Federal Reserve and its cheap money policy during the Bush years for creating the housing bubble and the resulting financial collapse, they are only telling a fraction of truth. The bigger problem was the loophole Phil Gramm wrote into the 2000 Federal Budget that made it possible for banks to lend at ratios that were guaranteed to end in disaster.
On July 7th, Ben Chandler voted for an anti-gay amendment to a Pentagon appropriations bill that only existed as a vehicle for homophobes to flex their political muscle.
Senators are given $3 million a year to run their office and fund their official activities. Rand Paul says he didn't spend that much, and will return $500,000 to the US Treasury.
His paperwork is filed. John Yarmuth will run for a fourth term representing Kentucky's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
Mitch McConnell didn't like the Tea Party from the get-go, but he was a shrewd enough political player to carry their water when he had to. Those days are over. He has survived their onslaught, and from here on out expect him to call the shots.
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