~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL
Early in the week, my mother mentioned how Hart Schaffner Marx, the suit maker based in Chicago, were on verge of going under because Wells Fargo no longer wanted to back them.
My immediate reaction was that there’d be pressure put on Well Fargo.
Well, Chicago Correspondent Leslie sent this along which proves me right…although it wasn’t very difficult in today’s climate to think of this scenario. From WBBM 780 Chicago:
DES PLAINES, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is threatening to pull state business from Wells Fargo & Co. unless the bank stops trying to liquidate a company that makes suits for President Barack Obama.
Giannoulias made the ultimatum outside a Hartmarx Corp. factory in Des Plaines Thursday. Chicago-based Hartmarx is the nation’s largest maker of men’s tailored clothing.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. 23. It employs about 3,000 workers represented by the Service Employees International Union.
Giannoulias spokesman Scott Burnham says Wells Fargo is custodian of an $8 billion state portfolio.
We’ve explored Giannoulias’ actions in the past here at IA. See:
IL State Treasurer/Obama Ally Giannoulias Planning to Challenge Roland Burris–Report from Our Chicago Correspondent; Medicare Musings
Parts 1 & 2–The Lineup: A Who’s Who of The Associates of Barack Obama
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The folks over at HealthJustice continue pushing for single-payer to be included in the discussion about the “reform” of healthcare. Their latest update:
Fax The Finance Committee Again
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The Senate Finance Committee is hearing about health care reform, insurance-company-style, once more on May 12. Thanks to courageous protests by the Baucus 8, there is a better chance that a single payer advocate will be at the table. Three names are proposed: Rose Ann deMoro of CNA, Dr. Marcia Angell and Dr. Steffie Woolhandler. Sen. Schumer of New York has tentatively agreed to ask Sen. Baucus to inslude a single payer voice if — and here is the rub — another senator will also ask. The Senators to target are Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Kerry of Massachusetts and Rockefeller of W.Virginia. So crank up those fax machines once more, especially if you are from these states, and lets blast the faxes to the White House and to the Senate Finance Committee members this weekend. We have sent 27 thousand faxes to Congress so far. Let’s send another 27 thousand just this weekend. Go to this page on 1payer to send your free fax. Send one. Send all. Demand a seat at the table.
This game about needing to ask another senator has been pulled before, course. We needed one Senator to get the ball rolling to fight the “selection” of Bush in 2000, remember?
Anyway, I’ve been emailing and faxing courtesy HealthJustice and I hope many readers will do the same!
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The Independent (UK) has an exclusive interview with the probable successor to Gordon Brown, Tory David Cameron. It’s an interesting read and the next year before the election should be fascinating to see how it all unfolds.
…To the Tory leader and his party, this must be what waiting for power is like.
As it stands, Gordon Brown’s Government is reeling from setback after setback. The Prime Minister’s authority appears to be draining away. He is openly ridiculed by members of his own Cabinet, his expenses claim left open to question, his Government’s policy dictated to a minister by Joanna Lumley, the economy trapped in recession.
SNIP
It is Thursday 7 May, and in exactly a year’s time, if the polls are right and if Mr Brown is not ejected from office before then, Mr Cameron could be standing on the steps of 10 Downing Street having overnight brought to an end 13 years of Labour government.
Let’s recall how Obama and Cameron met during Obama’s summer tour of Europe. At the time, this happened:
Breaking: Tory Leader David Cameron “Hearts” Obama, Talks about “Progessive Goals” Achieved by “Conservative Means”
At the time I wondered “Are Cameron and the Tories following Obama’s lead, or is it the other way around?”
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THE PAST WEEK
Saturday Sanity: The Antidote to the Madness (May 9, 2009) ROADRUNNER in the Yard!
A Black Blogger’s Take on Obama’s Ambivalence toward the Real Problems in the Black Community
Tidbits from the 100 Days Debacle/Join the W.A.M. ACTION Against the Mainstream Media
Kurdish Women “Bend It Like Beckham” Pursuing Freedom
The Past Week: April 26-May 2, 2009 (Cap & Trade Speed Bumps; Tiny Houses; Obama’s Unchecked Spending Could Doom Health, Energy Plans)
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Barack Obama, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, David Cameron, Debbie Stabenow, Gordon Brown, Hart Schaffner Marx, Hartmax Corporation, Health Justice, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Jay Rockefeller, John Kerry, Labour, Senate Finance Committee, Senator Max Baucus, Service Employees International Union (S.E.I.U.), single payer healthcare, Tories, WBBM 780 Chicago, Well Fargo Bank | 1 Comment »
InsightAnalytical -- Watching Our World 