Be INFORMED

Monday, January 26, 2009

John McCain: Still Stuck On Conservative Talking Points...

  so I would guess that Mr. McCain didn't get the memo from the voters back on November 4th,2008 when he got his ass kicked in an election. Oh, that would have been the election for president which he lost.

   Mr McCain was on Fox News Sunday being questioned by the ever Republican leaning Chris Wallace, so, as you can imagine, it was interesting.

  First we start with proof that McCain really is out of touch with Americans.

   From a video clip which Wallace puts up for McCain to watch, we have McCain saying:

MCCAIN: The message that the American people are sending us now is they want us to work together and get to work.

  So after the clip Wallace has a question for old John.

WALLACE: Given that belief, what do you see as your role towards President Obama?

MCCAIN: I view it as the loyal opposition -- help and work together where I can, and stand up for the principles and the party and the philosophy that I campaigned on and have stood for for many years.

  I have a problem with this answer because McCain says nothing about standing up for the American people in this country. It's all about the party and their principles, few that there are.

   Let's get to the economy, shall we?

WALLACE: Let’s talk about the economy. We’ll get to national security in a moment.

The president is pushing an economic stimulus package of $825 billion that raises some of the issues that were at the heart of your campaign against Barack Obama -- $275 billion in tax breaks, including money for people who don’t pay income taxes; $550 billion in spending, including $200 million to re-sod the National Mall, $360 million to fight sexually transmitted disease.

As that package now stands, can John McCain vote for it?

MCCAIN: No. We need to make tax cuts permanent, and we need to make a commitment that there’ll be no new taxes. We need to cut payroll taxes. We need to cut business taxes.

  Again with those permanent tax cuts! Give it a fucking break, John-boy, will you? Your party has sucked billions out of the U.S. Treasury with those tax cuts to big business. Money which any real government could have used for real issues. How do you keep the government running without taxes John. Oh, that's right. Privatize it, right?

We need to have a commitment that after a couple of quarters of GDP growth that we will embark on a path as we’ll say -- called Gramm- Rudman -- to reduce spending to get our budget in balance.

We’re going to lay an additional 2 trillion, basically, dollars of debt on future generations of Americans. Is there going to be a point where foreign countries such as the Chinese stop buying our debt?

WALLACE: As it stands now, though, you’d vote against it.

MCCAIN: Well, look. I mean, I am opposed to most of the provisions in the bill. As it stands now, I would not support it.

WALLACE: Would you filibuster it?

MCCAIN: Well, let’s -- I mean, I want us all to sit down and negotiate. The Republicans have not been brought in to the degree that we should be into these negotiations and discussions.

So far, as far as I can tell, no Republican proposal has been incorporated. Maybe there has been. I just may have missed it. But clearly, we need to have serious negotiations.

   We already know what the Republican ideas are John. The same as they have always been. More tax cuts and less regulation. the conservative cry throughout the ages. Give us a fucking break.

  When asked about the torture issue and Eric Holder's answers on the possibility of prosecutions to those who may have been involved in this mess, McCain did have the same answer all Republicans, and many Democrats have had.

WALLACE: The president’s choice for attorney general, Eric Holder, said the other day at his congressional hearing that waterboarding is torture, and he left open the possibility that lawyers or CIA officers who participated in some of these activities could be liable to criminal prosecution.

How do you feel about that, the idea of the possibility of investigations and even criminal prosecution of people who were doing what they were told to do during the Bush years?

MCCAIN: I think it’s time to move forward. I believe that waterboarding is in violation of the Geneva Conventions, and I’ve said it for years. But it’s time to move forward.     ( my emphasis )

  Let's move forward and forget about the illegal activities of the Bush administration so that the next group can screw us even more.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Salmonella Outbreak: Latest Recall Updates

   but first, thanks to  Jill Richardson for doing a lot of the legwork on this Salmonella outbreak. She is from whom I get much of the list updates.

                                  La Vida Locavore

Meanwhile, Kellogg Co. issued a voluntary recall of two varieties of ShopRite brand peanut butter sandwich crackers because they contain peanut paste produced by PCA and had the potential to be contaminated. The two recalled sandwich crackers are: ShopRite Peanut Butter on Toasty Crackers, all sizes; and ShopRite Peanut Butter and Cheese Cracker Snacks, all sizes.

The two products are manufactured by Kellogg for ShopRite, which has stores in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Whole Foods Market announced a similar recall of its Whole Foods Carob Energee Nuggets distributed to stores in California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada

Jewel-Osco, a division of Supervalu Inc. and leading Chicago supermarket and drugstore chain, recalled its Happy Tails multi-flavored dog biscuits. Like humans, salmonella in pets can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. It can also be transferred to other animals or humans.

Note: This is NOT A COMPLETE LIST of all recalled foods. This is only the newest foods recalled.

(If you notice - there are a number of brands with identically named products being recalled. A company called Nash Finch makes desserts that are sold under several brand names - even though they are the same exact foods! Any list that starts with "Peanut Butter Grand Brownies" is by Nash Finch, regardless of the brand.)

  • ABC Peanut Butter Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
  • Arbonne
    • Figure 8 Peanut Butter Chews Expiration Date 10/2009
    • Figure 8 Peanut Butter Chews Expiration Date 11/2009
  • Arizona Gold
    • I love Peanut Butter Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
    • Peanut Butter Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
  • Avanza Supermarket
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar
  • Baker Jo's Peanut Butter
    • Monster Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
    • Peanut Butter Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
  • Chef Jay's
    • Peanut Butter Tri-O-Plex Brownie ("Best Buy" 06/Sept/09 thru 16/Jan/10) 85 gram
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Tri-O-Plex Cookie ("Best Buy" 06/Sept/09 thru 16/Jan/10) 85 gram
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Tri-O-Plex Lite Bites Cookie ("Best Buy" 06/Sept/09 thru 16/Jan/10) 57 gram
    • Peanut Butter Tri-O-Plex Cookie ("Best Buy" 06/Sept/09 thru 16/Jan/10) 85 gram
    • Peanut Butter Tri-O-Plex Duo Bar ("Best Buy" 06/Sept/09 thru 16/Jan/10) 100 gram
  • Econofoods (excluding Wisconsin stores in Sturgeon Bay, Clintonville, Marquette, Holton and Iron Mountain)
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar
  • Family Fresh Market
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar
  • Family Thrift Center
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar
  • Food Bonanza
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar
  • Gigi's Peanut Butter Cookie Dough 3 lb. corrugated box
  • GNC Triflex Peanut Butter Soft Chews 60 count containers
  • Gourmet Cookie Dough
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
    • Peanut Butter Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
  • Jimmy's Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough 15 lb, 20 lb and 25 lb
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies 4 oz, 12.5 oz, and 18 oz.
  • One Smart Cookie
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough 15 lb, 20 lb and 25 lb
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies 4 oz, 12.5 oz, and 18 oz.
  • Ovens of Ashley Monster Cookie Dough 3 lb. pails
  • Parker
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup 1442 (Man. on 11/6/08) 30 pound case
    • Peanut Butter Cookies & Crème Organic Bark 2348 (Man. On 10/3/08) 10 pound case
    • Peanut Butter Milk Blend 2310 (Man. On 7/31/08) 30 pound case
  • Pick'n Save (Ohio stores in Van Wert and Ironton only)
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar
  • Prairie Market
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar
  • Rain Creek Baking Company
    • Michael's Baklava Assortment
    • Baklava Assortment
    • Peanut Butter Princesses
    • Peanut Butter Turtle Shells
    • Peanut Butter Turtles
    • Hand Crafted Baklava
  • Shurfine Peanut Butter Swirl Ice Cream 1.75 QT
  • Sinbad
    • Baklava & Sweets
    • Galleta estilo Baklava
    • Special Baklava Assortment
    • Sweets Baklava & Sweets
    • Sweets Caffe Sweets
    • Sweets Enrobed Peanut Butter Baskets
    • Sweets Enrobed Peanut Butter Princesses
    • Sweets European Baklava Assortment
    • Sweets Peanut Butter Princess Baklava
    • SinbadSweets.com 12pc Peanut Butter Princess
  • SunMart Foods
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar
  • Trader Joe's
    • Sutter's Formula Cookies 16-ounce
    • Nutty Chocolate Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars 7.4-ounce
    • Peanut Butter Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars 7.4-ounce
  • Wholesale Food Outlet
    • Peanut Butter Grand Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Rolls
    • Rolls and Cakes Iced with Peanut Butter Cream
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Scotcheroos
    • Puppy Chow snack mix
    • Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Bar
    • Special K-Bar

Additionally, the AP reports recalls for:

  • Archer Farms (sold at Target)
    • Milk Chocolate Monster Chewy Soft Baked cookies
    • Double Peanut Butter Chewy Soft Baked cookies
  • Sam's Choice (sold at Wal-Mart) Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter cookies.
  • Dough-to-Go cookie dough (California)
  • Jane Dough cookie dough (Washington, Nevada, and Arizona)
  • Auntie Ono cookie dough (Hawaii)
  • Nutrilite
    • Vanilla Pretzel Energy Bar
    • Peanut Butter Energy Bar
    • Chocolate Nut Roll Energy Bar
    • Product Intro Kit

Then there's ANOTHER recall... but not due to the peanut butter thing. It's a totally separate food safety oops... but I figured I might as well include it here too. Also from the same AP article.

  • Stonewall Kitchen
    • Chocolate Hazelnut Sauce
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter
    • Coffee Caramel Sauce
    • Dulce Le Leche Sauce
    • Barefoot Contessa Espresso Dulce de Leche
  • Simply Enjoy (Stop & Shop and Giant stores)
    • Coffee Caramel Sauce, square glass jar, 13 oz.
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Sauce, square glass jar, 12 oz.

See the FDA Site for the complete list. As is usual in America, at least 1 lawsuit has been filed in this case. I'm sure that many more will follow. Maybe this is where the next round of government bailouts for business will be heading.