ALG's Daily Grind - Perez needs more scrutiny before confirmation vote

May 16, 2013

Perez needs more scrutiny before confirmation vote

In light of recent scandals, we can ill afford to insert another blatant political activist in a high-level cabinet position in our government who has disregarded the rule of law is rife throughout his career.

Cartoon: Not a crook

So says Obama.

Did the IRS act alone?

Fox 19 exclusive interview with Cincinnati IRS employees: "We were simply doing what our bosses ordered."

Smith: The Brewing Generational Conflict  
"[A] smaller working population in a low-to-zero growth economy burdened with fast-rising debt cannot fund the pay-as-you-go retirement of 76 million citizens, fully 25% of the entire U.S. population."

ALG's Daily Grind - Obama unmasked: from IRS politicization to AP wiretapping

May 15, 2013

Obama unmasked: from IRS politicization to AP wiretapping

A little truth to the formerly complicit Fourth Estate: The actions of the Justice Department are a direct attack on your ability to protect sources, develop stories and have those you speak with have any expectation that their anonymity will be preserved.

The SEIU is Not the Fastest Growing Union—It's Shrinking

Service Employees International Union's 2012 LM-2 shows membership dropped by nearly 45 thousand members- the first drop in 8 years. The SEIU is in trouble.

Sen. Max Baucus asked IRS in 2010 to investigate 501(c) groups, letter shows

ALG's Mehrens: ""Considering the invasive questions the IRS was asking the targeted organizations, it appears that Sen. Baucus got exactly what he asked for, which was a witch-hunt."

BBC News: U.S. shale oil supply shock shifts global power balance

"A steeper-than-expected rise in U.S. shale oil reserves is about to change the global balance of power between new and existing producers, a report says."

ALG's Daily Grind - NSA denies spying on U.S. citizens

May 13, 2013

NSA denies spying on U.S. citizens

NSA statement: "One of the biggest misconceptions about [the] National Security Agency is that we are unlawfully listening in on, or reading emails of, U.S. citizens. This is simply not the case."

IRS admits to targeting conservative groups like the Richmond Tea Party

IRS head of tax-exempt groups Lois Lerner: "That was wrong. That was absolutely incorrect, it was insensitive and it was inappropriate. That's not how we go about selecting cases for further review. The IRS would like to apologize for that."

Austerity versus growth a false choice

What if that spending apparently takes away resources from the private sector? Is government spending then truly a measure of economic health? A new ALG study investigates Keynes' chief claim.

Pethokoukis: Is the real US unemployment rate 11.3% or 7.5%?

"How much of the 2.7 percentage point drop in labor force participation since 2007 reflects structural forces rather than weak demand discouraging workers? Second, is the key structural element mostly the aging of the U.S. population or is it the shift of the workforce into Social Security disability?"

ALG's Daily Grind - The IRS's tea party scrutiny was no random error

May 14, 2013

The IRS's tea party scrutiny was no random error

Washington Post rips IRS excuse for targeting tea party, writing this "wasn't an isolated, dumb incident by some random field office."

Cartoon: 'Tyranny lurking just around the corner'

Obama at Ohio State University on May 5: "They'll warn that tyranny always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices."

Woodward's revenge?

Is Obama's honeymoon with the press corps finally over?

The IRS Predicted Scandal

Sen. Max Baucus wrote letter urging IRS in 2010 to target non-profit organizations he said were engaging electioneering, lobbying and raising money. Now he wants to investigate them, apparently, for following his lead.

ALG's Daily Grind - What is the GOP's Debt Ceiling Strategy?

May 8, 2013

What is the GOP's Debt Ceiling Strategy?

The debt ceiling suspension ends on May 19, but what do Republicans want?

Sarah Palin's Unheeded Example for the GOP

While she may not be the leader that any elective office needs, she sets a bright example for the GOP's emerging leader, whoever he — or she — might be.

Obama's Labor Dept Green Jobs Chief Resigns

Jane Oates had come under fire for the alleged mismanagement of the Job Corps program which was forced to freeze enrollments for three months due to overspending budgeted funds. 

Has the Conservative Party Learnt any Lessons from Ukip's Success?

"There has been a groundswell in the big world – the neglected majority of conservative voters has moved on"