The Rooney Report

Citizen Palin paid $100,000 to trash talk the president

It's amazing to me that the GOP paid Sarah Palin $100,000 to trash talk President Obama before only 600 paying customers at the Tea Party Convention. 

And they say Democrats waste money. 

It's also amazing to me that anyone listens to her anymore. After handing the GOP an inevitable but painfully embarrasing defeat last year, Palin walked off her job as governor of Alaska to promote her self-serving book and try to generate whatever she can for herself.

But trash talk the most brilliant politician in modern times? You're just not in his league, darling.

The self-appointed leader of the anti-intellectual movement has nothing to offer. She lacks a fundamental understanding of U.S. history and foreign affairs.  And we found out last week that her ex husband or soon-to-be ex-husband pretty much ran the state of Alaska, so any pretense of political achievement has been nullified.

She's good looking, of course, and that helps a lot of unqualified people get elected in this country. But she's pretty much done in the political arena. 

Maybe she and King George should co-host a show analyzing current affairs. Now that would be a comedy no one could afford to miss.

Tea Party's McCarthyism is downright un-American

It's amazing that the Tea Party has any credibility at all.

I mean, really. The crazies at the sparsely attended convention in Tennessee this week on camera called President Obama a "Marxist" and a "Socialist,"  as if they really understood those terms, as if any of it were true. FreedomWorks' Dick Armey indoctrinated his troops well.  

(Such extreme propaganda reminds me of the Scott Brown campaign, which quietly spread the word to the uninformed masses that Martha Coakley was, like Obama, also a "Nazi."

It's fine for any citizen to question the role of government in any matter. But to suggest that Obama is either of those things is patently absurd to the point of ridiculous.

Why won't the mainstream media ask these people to explain how Obama is a Marxist?  Why aren't they asked to explain in detail their objections to the proposed health care reform bill?

Do they know that the proposed health care reform bill has no public option and that means the government would play no role in health care? 

Do they understand that reform is really aimed at curbing the excessive monopolistic power of health insurance companies?

Do they know that if the insurance lobby wins than all of our insurance premiums will likely increase far more than any reform bill would have cost them? 

Do they know that the group that conceived and organizes the Tea Party activities-- the for-profit FreedomWorks -- is funded by a bunch of GOP lobbysist and corporations including Cancer Treatment Centers of America?

No, but even if they did, it would not stop them. They seem content to serve as non-paid lobbyists for the financial and health care insurance industries that have fleeced this nation.  

Why? Let's just say it. What drives their agenda is their hatred of Democrats and in particular, Barack Obama -- not love of country. FreedomWorks' Dick Armey knows how to tap into this hatred to benefit his corporate sponsors. 

Marxist? Socialist? Nazi? 

McCarthyism all over again. 

I wonder if the reporters are too embarrassed to ask Tea Party activists to explain? Or are the networks fearful of being libeled by the GOP spin monsters as part of the 'liberal media elite' -- and face advertising boycotts? Do they have their own marching orders?

As a viewer, I really want to know why they think President Obama is a Marxist and a Nazi. Please ask them, will you? 

Brown Exposed as the Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

So now we finally know who Scott Brown really works for -- and it's not the people of Massachusetts.

Turns out out-of-state financial service execs pumped almost half a million dollars into Brown's campaign coffers in the last week, fueling the anti-democratic hysteria and public execution of Martha Coakley.  

Martha Coakley aggressively pursued the greedy, unethical financial giants that had much to do with the unraveling of our economy and ensuing job loss.  The corporate and financial sector definitely did not want Coakley to get elected. They wanted Scott Brown, paid for Scott Brown, and got Scott Brown. 

Old news. But why would the people of Massachusetts vote against their own interests?

Scott Brown, like all of his Republican counterparts who will and have always represented the interests of the corporate sector, managed to convince the masses that it would be he -- and not Coakley -- who would represent the people of Massachusetts. He did this in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Hell, days after the election, the ding dong was out promoting bigger tax cuts for the corporate sector, and rejecting President Obama's efforts to regulate the financial companies that fleeced our nation. Yes, the companies that fleeced the people. And the masses still seem to like him.  Is our drinking water that bad? 

The masses in Massachusetts are asses. I used to harbor a bias that the people of this state were too educated or street-smart to be hoodwinked by a no-name corporate-biased Republican homeboy posing as a man of the people. But they're not so hip after all. 

Forget about ther fact that nobody heard of Scott Brown before Jan 1 or that he did nothing for the people of Massachusetts during his tenure as a state rep and state senator. It's not what someone does. It's now what they say that matters?   

All the ad execs have to do is present a pretty face, nice body, preferably a white boy, and then toss in pics of the American flag and a pickup truck, and the morons are off and running to the polls. This cocktail, perfected by the Republicans, is politically Pavlovian -- and pathetic.  

It still blows my mind that this Republican spin trick still hasn't been exposed for what it is. Reagan's people concocted the mix to convert hard-core socially conservative Democrats to the Republican fray in the 80s and it's worked since then -- even as life for those former Democrats consistently gets worse under Republican rule and better under Democratic governance. 

How are the Republicans able to sell sensible hard working people to vote against their own interests? When will these people figure out they've been had? 

Maybe they never will. If the masses in Mass can elect a Scott Brown after Ted Kennedy's 40-plus year fight for the people, fresh off an eight-year republican nightmare for the same people, anything is possible. Let's hope the people of Illinois have better drinking water. 

My mother is fond of quoting my grandfather, an Irish immigrant and laborer, who advised his children to never vote Republican (unless they struck it rich, of course). He advised his children to vote for the party that would best represent their interests, and the Republicans don't represent the middle-class, and lower classes. "All the Republicans do is start bad wars and get us into recession," he'd say. Then the Democrats come in, take all the blame, clean up the mess and right the ship. 

Hmm, looking back now, I see that he was right.  

You bet Ted Kennedy rolled over in his grave on January 19. But so did all of our immigrant grandparents, who were smart enough to know who buttered their bread and see who was a wolf in sheep's clothing.  They'd be embarrassed that their grandchildren voted for a wolf like Scott Brown. I didn't. 

Breaking News: Brown wants tax cuts for corporations and the rich

It's no surprise to me, but for all of you suburban saps who voted for Scott Brown -- your Senator elect really represents corporations and the really, really rich. 

Appearing with Boston Mayor Tom Menino today, Brown said he "appreciates" the president's efforts to enact middle class tax cuts, but similar tax cuts should be extended to corporations and wealthy capitalists to stimulate job creation.

Ah, just what we need.  Funny, I don't remember you telling the working class guys on the streets of Southie and Lowell that one. 

You mean we should once again subsidize the corporations and capitalists who enjoyed massive tax cuts during King George's eight-year regime and then outsourced or eliminated all of our jobs? The rich got the biggest tax cut in history and then spent the next decade, in collusion with the criminal, inept Republican administration, fleecing the American people.

You claimed to be a man of the people. You claimed that you represented the interests of the working people, good people who lost their jobs under the last Republican administration but sold their soul and gave their vote to you out of desperation.  Mr Brown: You lied to them. 

Here's what he is quoted saying today on Boston.com:  

"While I appreciate his efforts for middle-class tax cuts, we need an across-the-board tax cut for everybody to stimulate the entire economy, payroll taxes in particular," Brown said. "You can give all the middle-class tax cuts you want, but if you don't get ... people creating jobs -- the businesses to create jobs -- what good is it going to do?

Brown also said that when he gets to meet the president and Vice President Joe Biden, he will tell them that Massachusetts -- where he scored a stunning upset a week ago -- is a "microcosm of what's happening nationally – people are very concerned about work." And he said he was glad the president has "shifted gears" and is focusing on the economy.

How arrogant.  Hey, thanks for appreciating the efforts of President Obama. How nice of you. But neither he nor the American people need your counsel. 

Here's a reality check for you and your followers, who can't seem to grasp that it was the Republicans that killed our economy and our jobs, and that under the one-year-old Obama administration:

-- the rate of job losses has slowed.

-- a massive depression was avoided by saving the banking/financial sector. (in fact, taxpayers are enjoying interest on those loans. 

-- stimulus packages have worked very well, say leading economists, including McCain's former economic policy advisor -- who said more are needed.

Obama is working vigorously to turn the ship, but given the staggering damage inflicted by the Republicans, it will take years before it is righted. The corporations had their chance and blew it. Sure, the government ought to provide tax incentives to corporations to stimulate job creation -- but that's it. No more handouts. 

Mr Brown: You did nothing for the state of Massachusetts during your multiple years as state representative and state senator and you will likely do little as US Senator -- aside from aiding and abetting the obstructionists and lobbying for the rich. We are on the right track and don't need a bunch of Republicans deliberately screwing it up to line their own pockets.

You are not there to represent the interests of the people. You are there to represent the interests of the Republicans and yourself. You will do as you are told by GOP leaders in Washington, D.C. in order to secure their support in your re-election campaign.

But I see you. We see you. And you won't get support next time around. 

Browns Love The White Hot Hot Hot Spotlight

Anybody notice how the Scott Brown family is obsessed with being on camera? 

It's awesome that they're all so gorgeous, spectacular and successful. But the obsession with being shot and filmed is downright weird if not narcissistic. 

Scott Brown's Cosmo spread -- real family values. He's beautiful, no doubt. But consider his wife, WCVB-TV reporter Gail Huff, who, according to the Huffington Post, did her own little naughty video before her transformation into a serious journalist. 

What do I know? Sex sells. 

Then there's beautiful Ayla, our American Idol hero who appeared on the show  -- with her hunky Dad. On camera. That's right. Scott Brown appeared on the show with his daughter. 

What will second daughter Arianna do? 

It's laudable that the Brown family aspires high and advances their interests. But their obsession with the public attention -- in combination with the early kinky stuff -- gives me the creeps. 

If Martha Coakley got nailed with a nudi spread, or a naughty video like Huff, she'd be run out of town by the Republicans. 

Let's Have A Party

Republicans have their Tea Party. What about one for Democrats? 

My name is Paula Rooney and I am a 45-year-old woman, partner, mother and resident of Scituate, Mass. I think it's high time we form a united front against the Republican machine -- a citizens group to counter the Tea Party.

Member count? So far, one -- me. 

That makes it an authentic grassroots movement. 

What does that mean? 

It means I am not quietly funded by a slick, Rove-like Washington-based political consultancy for Democrats -- though at times I do wish one existed. 

A citizens group may be helped by the Democratic Party -- but not run by it.  Our main objective would be to promote our values and the ideals of the Democratic Party --you know -- silly little things like supporting the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. 

Another important objective would be to help and support good Democratic candidates and elected officials facing character assassination by the Republican operatives, and their deep pocketed corporate backers. Let's make them accountable for a change.

Why? There are millions of people like me in Massachusetts and beyond who are frustrated and concerned about the dangers to Democracy posed by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and their listeners -- many of whom belong to right wing Republican groups like FreedomWorks and the Tea Party. 

I believe that those are fringe groups and that people like us vastly outnumber people like them. Yet we must acknowledge that the Republican party has been far more effective at rallying and unifying those people into a powerful group.  

We have all silently stood by and witnessed the devastation visited on our nation by the Republican agenda.  And this week, we looked upon with horror the victory of the Republican machine -- well oiled with tons of corporate funding -- in our hallowed state. Perhaps Martha Coakley did not campaign enough. But her record is unblemished and accomplishments for the state of Massachusetts are too numerous to name. 

The Republican machine's ability to step in to Massachusetts at the last minute, trash such a worthy public servant, and take a no-name superficial pinup boy from virtual obscurity to stardom overnight makes that clear. Massachusetts is the ground zero of liberty and democracy. If they can do it here, they can do it anywhere. And they plan to -- starting with Indiana. Will we sit idly by again?

I, for one, will not. I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and I will not stand and watch the Republican machine, its allied corporate cartels and mob mentality stomp on the ideals of democracy and reduce us to a second class nation.  Bush has done enough damage. Let's try to stop what we can from this day forward.

Democrats tend to be sensible, logical and reasonable people. And too nice. It's time to fight fire with fire. 

Forget about reaching across the aisle. Let's get our agenda done. 

How? We need a new umbrella organization that unifies like minded citizens. MoveOn.org is great. But the Democratic Party has not been able to unify its diverse constituency in a  way that translates well for the camera.  

Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann are terrific, but they can't fight this powerful army alone. We are an intelligent, progressive, dynamic, hip and happening force whose collective intelligence can be tapped to expose the hollow positions of the Tea Party and bring the Republican machine to its knees. 

Let's unify and fight. Let's show up for our brothers and sisters in Indiana and elsewhere. 

We have the right to peacefully assemble and we should. Why not protest? Why not hold signs with our messages?  George Bush popularized stupidity. Let's kill it -- with words, with firmness, with conviction, and with class. We need large numbers of people to show up. Large numbers bring cameras. Large numbers change public opinion. 

The Republicans may try to block us, but let's have our lawyers ready to file challenges. Let's get the Student Democratic Society chapters going strong again. Let's do it peacefully. Let's give our children a better world to live in than the one Republicans envision. 

Let's get this party rolling.  On Boston Common?  Where and when? Please let me know what you think!

Microsoft layoffs coming? E-gads

You know it's a de....... re ... recession when big Red is tightening its belt. That's right: the venerable Microsoft Corp is  now considering layoffs as one of its cost cutting options. 

Currently, the Redmond, Wash-based company employs roughly 94,000 people worldwide, and roughly 56,000 of them in the U.S. 

In spite of the economic doldrums, it seems somewhat odd for a company that showed 18 percent revenue growth(to $60.42 billion) and a 26 percent leap in profit (17.7 billion) for the year ended June 30, 2008. 

Let's admit that there's likely lots of room for cuts considering the company's pro-employee policy. Few have been laid off in the 20 years I have followed Microsoft. After all, with a growth spiral like Microsoft, how could layoffs be justified in the past?

I am not really sure how it's called for given the company's rocket growth for the last year. I'm sure sales have slowed, yet Microsoft's licensing based financial model is favored by Wall Street for its deferred and predictable revenues stream. 

Is there something amiss at Microsoft? Something tucked deeply in the ledger that has executives worried about the company's financial health? 

The WSJ cited sources close to the company who also say that other cost cutting measures are being considered. Decision could come within a week, they say. Should be interesting to see what Steve B decides. Fill me in if you know. 

As Hyper-V ships, EMC taps ex Microsofter to lead VMware

It takes one to know one.

At least that’s what EMC hopes as it appoints former Microsofter Paul Maritz to head up its lucrative VMWare unit, not coincidentally on the same day that Microsoft formally released its much anticipated Hyper-V to market.

The departure of longtime VMware CEO and president Diane Greene is no doubt a big loss to EMC and VMware employees and customers.  The industry vet has done an excellent job building and maintaining VMware’s mega empire both pre and post EMC’s acquisition in 2003. She even fended off Microsoft’s half baked attempt to acquire the virtualization company before EMC’s move. Instead, Microsoft bought Connectix and rebranded that software as Microsoft Virtual Server to compete aginst VMware ESX. Go figure.

So the VMware board of directors thinks it’ll take a Microsoft veteran to fend off Redmond’s more serious re-entry into the virtualization software market.  Maritz, a 14-year Microsoft exec who joined EMC just months ago, certainly knows the top brass at Microsoft, the way they think, the way they do business, the company’s pricing and licensing strategies, their joint customers, and likely enticements that will be used to win defectors.

The appointment of Maritz – on the same day that Hyper-V shipped – informs Microsoft and the market that the new president and CEO of VMware has the Redmond playbook and knows its tricks.   And it signals that the battle will indeed get bloody.

EMC is very worried about Microsoft’s re-entry into the virtualization market and thinks it will take a Microsofter to fight Microsoft.  EMC has a right to be worried.  Microsoft will very likely give the code away essentially free and probably even services free to lure enough enterprise accounts away from VMware to Hyper-V.  But Maritz can’t do anything about that. EMC hopes Maritz can steer the company through the war, stem the flow of blood, maybe even reach an accord with his former company. We shall see.

AllThingsDuplicitous

Microsoft's CEO once again reiterated that he is looking to do a deal with Yahoo -- and an outright buy of the online service giant is still on the table. 

In a chat with Wall Street Journal staffers Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at AllThingsDigital conference Tuesday, Steve Ballmer, on stage with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, said anything is possible.

"We made a bid. There was a difference of opinion over its size. We walked away. We’re now talking to Yahoo about a new deal that doesn’t involve a full-on acquisition. But we reserve the right to rebid for the company if we choose to."      

It's strange. Microsoft's top brass continue to set expectations publicly that they are seeking an "alternative deal" with Yahoo -- that is, an alternative to acquisition -- but  at the same time continue to reserve the right to make a full buy."

Why the duplicitousness? Why not just say all options are back on the table?

Yahoo Chair Jerry Yang balked at Microsoft's first offer of $44.5 billion and scoffed at its version 2.0 $47.5 billion offer earlier this month. Following the last rebuke, Microsoft issued a public statement stating that it was taking the offer off the table and would not attempt a hostile and likely pricey takeover. Gates chimed in at a Tokyo press conference that indeed the deal was over -- for real.

But it's not. The smooth talking belies the heavy politicking going on behind the scenes between Microsoft and Yahoo's shareholders and board of directors, which has delayed its annual meeting as multiple parties negotiate a mega deal. Certain shareholders, namely Carl Icahn, have threatened to replace Yahoo's board of directors if the deal with Microsoft ultimately fails. Looks to me like a MicroHoo deal is very probable. Besides, Gates and Ballmer looked way too happy on stage today.

Microsoft now looking to buy "parts" or "all" of Yahoo?

Not surprisingly, Microsoft is still trying to acquire some parts of or all of Yahoo!

The Redmond, Wash. company issued a statement Sunday confirming that it has not entirely given up on a deal with Yahoo and is considering buying some parts of the Internet search and advertising company.

Yet also on Sunday, a memo written by Microsoft online chief Kevin Johnson and published by the Wall Street Journal says that the company is looking at a variety of alternatives with respect to Yahoo! and that an acquisition of Yahoo is not out of the question.

All of this follows published reports late last week that Yahoo mega-investor Carl Icahn may stage a proxy battle to unseat Yahoo's board of directors as a way to get the Microsoft deal done. On May 3, Microsoft put the lid on negotiations after Yahoo! Chair Jerry Yang rejected the software giant's "version 2.0" $33 per share buyout offer.

On Sunday, Microsoft officially confirmed it is still interested in doing a deal despite public insistences by both CEO Ballmer and Chairman Gates recently that negotiations with Yahoo are dead.

Right.

“In light of developments since the withdrawal of the Microsoft proposal to acquire Yahoo! Inc., Microsoft announced that it is continuing to explore and pursue its alternatives to improve and expand its online services and advertising business," according to the statement, posted on Microsoft's web site. " Microsoft is considering and has raised with Yahoo! an alternative that would involve a transaction with Yahoo! but not an acquisition of all of Yahoo! 

"Microsoft is not proposing to make a new bid to acquire all of Yahoo! at this time, but reserves the right to reconsider that alternative depending on future developments and discussions that may take place with Yahoo! or discussions with shareholders of Yahoo! or Microsoft or with other third parties."

Is Microsoft insinuating it will try to breakup Yahoo! if a deal is not reached amicably?

Of course not.

"There of course can be no assurance that any transaction will result from these discussions," the statement read.

Smart manuevering on Microsoft's part. The statement formally re-opens the discussion, puts the squeeze play on Yang and gives Carl Icahn and other Yahoo shareholders the leverage needed to persuade the board to reconsider Microsoft's offer.

Reports suggest that Microsoft and Icahn have not spoken but this reporter gives those two parties a thumbs up for shrewd partnering. I'd bet some deal is done before Yahoo's annual meeting on July 3.