FRIDAY FYI’s

***COLIN POWELL SAYS NEW YORK MOSQUE SHOULD GO FORWARD:  Former Secretary of State in the George W. administration, Gen. Colin Powell, says he strongly supports a community center two blocks from Ground Zero in New York City.  “If you believe in our system…then you can’t make a distinction between two, three, five, and ten blocks” away from the site of the September 11, 2001 attacks.  On ABC’s The View, he said “politicians” have used the issue for political reasons, and noted that the criticism of the mosque is indicative of a current wave of “Islamophobia across the country.”

***PALIN-BECK PROFITEERING ON 9/11:  Conservatives and groups of right-wingers are planning to use the anniversary of 9/11 this weekend to make some big bucks and score political points.  And, among them are Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck.  They’re teaming up in Anchorage, AK for a rally, and are charging attendees between $74 and $225 admission.  The Hill reports “There was no indication as to whom or what the proceeds will go.”  And, The Hill says that promoters for this rally are trying to downplay the perception of profiteering on the memory of 9/11.  Republicans are holding political rallys and fundraising events across the country on Saturday, and are not all shy about using 9/11 as a political and profitable issue.

 ***HALEY BARBOUR’S HAIR IS ON FIRE ABOUT PAYING FOR OBAMA’S TAX CUTS, BUT IGNORES THE COST OF GEORGE W.’S:  President Obama proposed new tax breaks for businesses this week to help jump start the economy.  You’d think that the Repubs would have jumped right on this idea — after all they’ve been beating the drums for business tax cuts for the past year.  But, naw, they’re not interested now that the President has proposed the same ideas.  Presidential hopeful, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, responded with, “very good,” but then added that the “problem” with the President’s plan is that “we do not know how he will pay for it.”  Huh?

If Barbour has had a ‘road to Damascus’ conversion about paying for tax cuts, what’s HIS plan to pay for the Bush tax cuts for the rich?  Republicans have done little else in the last few months but push for the extension of the Bush tax cuts, while insisting they do not need to be paid for. 

The Bush tax cuts for the super-rich 2% of Americans will rack up a cost of $830 billion to the deficit over the next decade, way more than the $180 billion price tag for the President’s plan.  Barbour has not had any concerns about the Bush tax cuts being paid for — just the President’s.  Hypocrites. 

***THE PRESIDENT HAS BEGUN TO DEFINE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY:  This week in Milwaukee and Cleveland President Obama labeled Repubs the party of “stagnant growth, eroding competitiveness and a shrinking middle class.” Earlier this summer the President was quoted as saying, “They forget that I’m pretty good at politicin’.”  We’re hoping that this week is just the beginning of improved Democratic messaging, leading up to the November mid-term elections.