The Hollywood Liberal

Late, Late Night FDL: Baby Girl
Sugarland – Baby Girl

Sugarland – Baby Girl

What’s on your mind tonite…?

?

“Let them eat their own Goodwill Store bootstraps!”
Republicans taking the food out of the mouths of the poor…how totally unexpected.

pic via urbiefoto at flickr.com

Fitting that in 2011, the Republicans are branching out from Ayn Rand’s political philosophy to one once attributed to an Austrian in a foreign land (insert Arnold Schwarzenegger joke…or joke about anything involving “insertion” and “Arnold Schwarzenegger”…here)…Marie Antoinette:

?

Republicans proposed cutting $832 million – or 12 percent – from this year’s budget for the federal nutrition program that provides food for low-income mothers and children…Two analysts from the liberal research and advocacy group Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Zoe Neuberger and Robert Greenstein, said Monday that the cuts could mean turning away as many as 475,000 people from the Women, Infants and Children program if food prices continue to rise.

Let them eat, uh, nothing!

Although, you have to admit it’s not like poor infants and children are going to vote for John Boehner, let alone donate to him, anyway. He saves his tears for those who can afford to play in his foursome.

?

Syria Turns Facebook on Protesters
Syrian authorities are busy proving Julian Assange right as they use what he called “the most appalling spying machine that has ever been invented” to keep tabs on their country’s digital dissidents. The Assad regime allowed open access to Facebook and YouTube in February. Some human rights activists warned that Facebook would be turned against those of its 580,000 Syrian users who dared to use it to organize anti-government protests, many of whom have been captured and forced to reveal their passwords to security officials, returning only to find pro-government messages scrawled across their virtual walls. —ARK The New York Times: Security officials are moving on multiple fronts — demanding dissidents turn over their Facebook passwords and switching off the 3G mobile network at times, sharply limiting the ability of dissidents to upload videos of protests to YouTube, according to several activists in Syria. And supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, calling themselves the Syrian Electronic Army, are using the same tools to try to discredit dissidents. … With foreign journalists barred from the country, dissidents have been working with exiles and using Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to draw global attention to the brutal military crackdown on protesters that has killed more than 700 people and has led to mass arrests in the last nine weeks. The Syrian Revolution 2011 Facebook page, which now has more than 180,000 members, has been a vital source of information for dissidents. … A man in his 20s living in Syria said that the police demanded his Facebook password late last month after arresting him where he worked and taking his laptop. “I told him, at first, I didn’t have a Facebook account, but he told me, after he punched me in the face, that he knew I had one because they were watching my ‘bad comments’ on it,” he said. “I knew then that they were monitoring me.” Read more

Syrian authorities are busy proving Julian Assange right as they use what he called “the most appalling spying machine that has ever been invented” to keep tabs on their country’s digital dissidents.

The Assad regime allowed open access to Facebook and YouTube in February. Some human rights activists warned that Facebook would be turned against those of its 580,000 Syrian users who dared to use it to organize anti-government protests, many of whom have been captured and forced to reveal their passwords to security officials, returning only to find pro-government messages scrawled across their virtual walls. —ARK

The New York Times:

Security officials are moving on multiple fronts — demanding dissidents turn over their Facebook passwords and switching off the 3G mobile network at times, sharply limiting the ability of dissidents to upload videos of protests to YouTube, according to several activists in Syria. And supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, calling themselves the Syrian Electronic Army, are using the same tools to try to discredit dissidents.

… With foreign journalists barred from the country, dissidents have been working with exiles and using Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to draw global attention to the brutal military crackdown on protesters that has killed more than 700 people and has led to mass arrests in the last nine weeks. The Syrian Revolution 2011 Facebook page, which now has more than 180,000 members, has been a vital source of information for dissidents.

… A man in his 20s living in Syria said that the police demanded his Facebook password late last month after arresting him where he worked and taking his laptop. “I told him, at first, I didn’t have a Facebook account, but he told me, after he punched me in the face, that he knew I had one because they were watching my ‘bad comments’ on it,” he said. “I knew then that they were monitoring me.”

Read more

Related Entries

• May 23, 2011 Obama vs. Netanyahu
• May 22, 2011 The Speech Obama Should Have Given to AIPAC

Here Comes Tim Pawlenty
As expected, erstwhile Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has come rumbling into the ring to challenge Barack Obama for the presidency in 2012. In launching his bid, T-Paw ran through the GOP’s list of top gripes with the current administration: the bailout, the stimulus and, of course, “Obamacare.” And he’s going to tell the truth!  —KA Los Angeles Times: Blasting what he described as the president’s “fluffy promises of hope and change,” Pawlenty sought to cast himself as a truth teller and argued that spending in Washington was driving the nation’s economy off a cliff. He chided the president for backing a “pork-filled stimulus bill,” financial bailouts for well-connected businesses, and called the Democratic healthcare plan “an unmitigated disaster for our country.” Read more  

As expected, erstwhile Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has come rumbling into the ring to challenge Barack Obama for the presidency in 2012. In launching his bid, T-Paw ran through the GOP’s list of top gripes with the current administration: the bailout, the stimulus and, of course, “Obamacare.” And he’s going to tell the truth!? —KA

Los Angeles Times:

Blasting what he described as the president’s “fluffy promises of hope and change,” Pawlenty sought to cast himself as a truth teller and argued that spending in Washington was driving the nation’s economy off a cliff. He chided the president for backing a “pork-filled stimulus bill,” financial bailouts for well-connected businesses, and called the Democratic healthcare plan “an unmitigated disaster for our country.”

Read more

?

Related Entries

• May 23, 2011 Obama vs. Netanyahu
• May 22, 2011 The Speech Obama Should Have Given to AIPAC

David Callahan: Tax Hikes Republicans Can Live With
A seemingly immutable law of today’s politics is that Republicans in Congress have shifted so far right that they oppose all revenue increases — no matter how urgent America’s fiscal needs may be. But perhaps this is no longer the case.

HuffPost TV: WATCH: HuffPost’s Sam Stein Discusses Obama, Israel On ‘Hardball’
HuffPost’s Sam Stein appeared Monday on MSNBC’s ‘Hardball’ to discuss President Obama’s proposal for a two-state solution in the Israel. Chris Matthews brought up recent…

Shawne Merriman: Any Given Election Day
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of teaching young people about their right to vote, and Rock the Vote is a great campaign to be a part of to get this message across.

Tea Party Confessions: “There Would Not Have Been A Tea Party Without Fox”

In a May 22 New York magazine article, Tea Party Express founder Sal Russo boasted that “there would not have been a tea party without Fox.” Indeed, Russo is correct: Media Matters has extensively documented Fox News’ relentless promotion of the Tea Party Express.

“There Would Not Have Been A Tea Party Without Fox”

Russo: “There Would Not Have Been A Tea Party Without Fox.” A May 22 New York magazine profile on Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, headlined, “The Elephant in the Green Room,” featured a quote from Tea Party Express founder Sal Russo. Russo stated: “There would not have been a tea party without Fox.” [New York, 5/22/11]

Indeed, Fox News Hopped On Board The Tea Party Express

Fox News “Hop[ped]” Aboard Tea Party Express With Rampant Promotions, Live Coverage. On August 28, 2009, Fox News devoted live coverage and publicity to the kickoff of the Tea Party Express. Fox News’ coverage followed numerous promotions of the tour on Fox News, Fox Business, Fox Nation, and FoxNews.com. [Media Matters, 8/28/09]

Fox News’ Embedded Reporter Jenkins Touted Tea Party Express. Despite his claim to be “simply reporting” on 2009 Tea Party Express rallies, Fox News correspondent Griff Jenkins, who traveled with the cross-country bus tour, repeatedly expressed support for the protesters, whom he referred to as “the America that Washington forgot.” [Media Matters, 9/2/09]

Tea Party Express Highlighted Fox News Coverage To Raise Money. In another fundraising email to supporters, the Tea Party Express highlighted Fox News’ coverage while soliciting donations, writing that “CNN and Fox News have confirmed they will be covering the launch of the ‘Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day’ — and other national networks are arranging to cover the tour as well.” [Media Matters, 10/20/09]

“Back By Popular Demand”: Fox News Promoted Tea Party Express II. During the October 25, 2009, edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends Sunday, co-host Dave Briggs hosted then-Tea Party Express co-chairman Mark Williams and Tea Party activist Lloyd Marcus, introducing them by stating: “Well, the bus tour that took the country by storm is back by popular demand. The Tea Party Express kicks off its second national tour today in San Diego, California.” Briggs invited Williams — who was a known birther — to plug the organization’s website and closed the interview by a playing portion of Marcus’ “Tea Party Anthem.” [Media Matters, 10/25/09]

Fox Nation Promoted The “Tea Party Express II.” Fox Nation promoted the Tea Party Express II, asking readers, “Will You Join the Tea Party Express II?” Fox Nation also advertised the tour’s start date and planned stops. [Media Matters, 10/13/09]

Tea Party Express Praised “Great Television News Coverage” From Fox News And CNN. In an email to supporters, the Tea Party Express praised “some of the great television news coverage this effort has received. Media coverage is an important aspect of the Tea Party Express tours — it’s all about getting our message out to millions of Americans — to inform them that there is an active political resistance against the socialist agenda of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.” [Media Matters, 11/17/09]

Fox Highlighted “Major Grassroots Support” Of Fox-Promoted Tea Party Express II. In October 2009, Fox Nation and Fox News both promoted the kickoff of the “Bigger & Better” Tea Party Express II. Tea Party Express’ Mark Williams appeared on the November 12, 2009, edition of Fox & Friends to discuss the conclusion of the Tea Party Express II tour. Co-host Gretchen Carlson noted that the tour “focused on small town U.S.A.,” while Steve Doocy lauded the tour for its “major grassroots support.” [Media Matters, 11/2/10]

Fox Provided Unending Coverage Of Tea Party Express III Kickoff Rally, Along With Its Keynote Speaker. Fox News provided all-day coverage of the March 27, 2010, kickoff rally for the Tea Party Express III bus tour, with the network’s hosts and on-site reporter Casey Stegall frequently praising the rally’s participants. At one point, Fox aired a graphic of the bus over the text, “Conservative Woodstock?” Fox provided live coverage of the event’s keynote address — given by Sarah Palin. [Media Matters, 11/2/10] 

“Party On!” Fox Relentlessly Promoted October 2010 Tea Party Express Tour IV. Despite News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch’s statement that he doesn’t think Fox “should be supporting the Tea Party,” Fox News and Fox Business relentlessly promoted the Tea Party Express, devoting numerous segments to the launch of its October 2010 tour — the fourth such tour — as well as hosting its chairman for softball interviews. [Media Matters, 4/8/10, 10/19/10]

Consultant Proposed The Express, Saying It Would “Give A Boost To Our PAC,” Highlighted Possible Friendly Coverage From “Fox News Commentators.” Following the April 15, 2009, Tea Parties, Joe Wierzbicki, a senior associate with the GOP consulting firm Russo Marsh, proposed creating the Tea Party Express bus tour in order to “give a boost to our PAC and position us as a growing force/leading force as the 2010 elections come into focus.” Wierzbicki also wrote in the original memo proposing the creation of the Tea Party Express that the effort could get “some mentions and possibly even promotion from conservative/pro-Tea Party bloggers, talk radio hosts, Fox News commentators, etc…” [Media Matters, 11/2/10]

Tea Party Express Was Launched By Republican Consultants

Tea Party Express Run By Republican PAC. The Associated Press reported in October 2008 that Our Country Deserves Better PAC (OCDB), which launched the Tea Party Express, “was formed in August [2008] by California political consultant Sal Russo and former California Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian.” As their OCDB biographies note, Russo is a veteran Republican consultant, and Kaloogian served as a Republican. [The Associated Press, 10/17/08; Media Matters, 3/1/10]

OCDB’s Mission Is To Oppose Obama And “Democratic Congress.” On its “About Us” page, OCDB states that “we must stand up to Barack Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress.” The PAC also solicits contributions by stating, “Help us fight the Democratic Congress!” NPR reported on September 26, 2008, that OCDB’s website then said “it has one objective: to defeat Obama.” During the 2008 campaign, the PAC hosted “patriotic, pro-McCain/Palin rallies” to “Stop Obama.” [Our Country Deserves Better PAC, accessed 5/23/11, 5/23/11, 5/23/11; National Public Radio, 9/26/08]

OCDB Campaigned For Republican Tedisco. OCDB “campaign[ed]” “on behalf of” Republican New York congressional candidate Jim Tedisco in March 2009 by “broadcasting television and radio advertisements. … Total ad buy is expected to reach well into the hundreds of thousands by Election Day.” [Our Country Deserves Better PAC, accessed 5/23/11]

TPM: Majority Of OCDB Spending In Recent Reporting Period “Went To GOP Firm That Created It.” On December 28, 2009, Zachary Roth reported for Talking Points memo that “[t]he political action committee behind the Tea Party Express (TPE) — which already has been slammed as inauthentic and corporate-controlled by rival factions in the Tea Party movement — directed almost two thirds of its spending during a recent reporting period back to the Republican consulting firm that created the PAC in the first place.” Roth further wrote:

Our Country Deserves Better (OCDB) spent around $1.33 million from July through November, according to FEC filings examined by TPMmuckraker. Of that sum, a total of $857,122 went to Sacramento-based GOP political consulting firm Russo, Marsh, and Associates, or people associated with it.

OCDB, which built the Tea Party Express, is essentially a Russo, Marsh creation, as we’ve detailed. The PAC’s site was registered in July 2008 by Sal Russo, the firm’s founder. That site also lists Russo as the PAC’s “chief strategist.” Tea Party Express fundraising emails, sent by OCDB and obtained by TPMmuckraker, come from another Russo, Marsh employee, Joe Wierzbicki. [Talking Points Memo, 12/28/09]

Other Tea Party Groups Reportedly Accused Tea Party Express Of Being “Sham Organization” For GOP

Tea Party Express Reportedly Seen By Other Conservative Activists As “Sham Organization” Pushing “Partisan Republican Agenda.” On October 9, 2009, David Weigel reported for The Washington Independent that other Tea Party activists see the Tea Party Express as “a scheme for Republican strategists and candidates to take advantage of a movement that was chugging along fine without them”:

An argument has broken out, perhaps inevitably, between Tea Party activists and one of the groups that has laid claim to the Tea Party mantle. The self-described grassroots activists in Tea Party Patriots and the American Liberty Alliance see the Tea Party Express as a sham organization, using the political heft of the movement to push a bland, partisan Republican agenda. Privately and publicly, they accuse the Tea Party Express of being an “astroturf” outfit, a scheme for Republican strategists and candidates to take advantage of a movement that was chugging along fine without them. [The Washington Independent, 10/9/09]

National Precinct Alliance Director Called Tea Party Express A “Republican National Committee-Related Group.” On January 25, 2010, The New York Times reported that Philip Glass, the director of conservative group National Precinct Alliance, announced that his organization would not participate in the National Tea Party Convention. The article reported: “Mr. Glass said he was also concerned about the role in the convention of groups like Tea Party Express, which has held rallies across the country through two bus tours, and FreedomWorks, a Tea Party umbrella. He called them ‘Republican National Committee-related groups,’ and added, ‘At best, it creates the appearance of an R.N.C. hijacking; at worst, it is one.’ ” [The New York Times, 1/25/10]

Meckler Of Tea Party Patriots On Tea Party Express: “[T]hey Raise Money For Republicans.” Weigel reported on October 2, 2009, that Mark Meckler, a national coordinator for Tea Party Patriots, said, “Tea Party Patriots are very dissatisfied with the Republican Party — we have nothing against Our Country Deserves Better PAC, but they raise money for Republicans.” [The Washington Independent, 10/02/09]

WND’s Joseph Farah May Sue Esquire Over Birther Parody
The death of World Net Daily editor Joseph Farah’s doubts about the legitimacy of President Barack Obama’s birth certificate has been greatly exaggerated.

Presented By:

Sanchez to Announce Senate Run in New Mexico
The Hotline reports that New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez (R) is expected to announce on Tuesday that he will run for the seat of retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), setting up a primary with former Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) and at least two others.

“Sanchez’s candidacy sets up a marquee primary battle. He will run to the right of the moderate Wilson, his advisers say, in hopes of rallying the conservative base. Two lesser known candidates, Greg Sowards and Bill English are also in the running in the Republican race.”

The Democrats also have a primary between Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and state Auditor Hector Balderas (D).

Perry Not Supported for President Even in Texas
A new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll finds just 4% of Texas Republicans say they’d vote for Gov. Rick Perry (R) for president if he decided to run.

Said pollster Daron Shaw: “This is a major question for a guy who’s getting national buzz. He hasn’t convinced Texans that he’s a presidential frontrunner.”

Perry’s not even the top-rated Texan in the race. That distinction goes to Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), who’s at 10% among registered voters who say they will vote in the Republican primary. The leader of the pack is Sarah Palin at 12%, followed by Newt Gingrich at 11% and Mike Huckabee at 10% while Mitt Romney and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) each have the support of 7%.

Back to the Future: A Short True Tale of Unregulated Competition Policy
The great historian Maitland famously said, what is now in the past was once in the future. I do not know if the era of unregulated competition in wireless communications is yet in the past – that is for others…

The Obama’s Administration’s Plan to Subsidize Mortgage Securitization
A child learns the dangers of fire by getting his hand burned. Washington policy wonks are not as quick learners. This is demonstrated by the reports that the Obama administration is about to come forward with a plan to replace…

Gold Rush: Utah GOP Makes Gold And Silver Coins Legal Currency

Conservative lawmakers across the country seem determined to crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. In the past week, a string of articles have exposed how once-fringe conservative economic theories have migrated into the political mainstream — with alarming consequences.

Perhaps the most obvious example is the conservative gold craze, which is based on apocalyptic beliefs that the U.S. dollar is on the verge of collapse, runaway inflation is imminent, and gold is a more stable and reliable currency than paper money. The tough economic times have spurred many Tea Partiers in particular to rush to invest in gold, pushing its price to a record high. Glenn Beck and other talk show hosts frequently advertise gold on their shows — along with fallout shelters — “as a way to weather the end of the world as we know it.” And presidential contender Ron Paul (R-TX), who was made chairman of the House committee overseeing federal monetary policy, has long advocated returning to the gold standard and abolishing the Federal Reserve.

This month Utah became the first state in the country to officially recognize gold and silver coins as legal currency:

Utah legislators want to see the dollar regain its former glory, back to the days when one could literally bank on it being “as good as gold.”

To make that point, they’ve turned it around, and made gold as good as cash…The law also will exempt the sale of the coins from state capital gains taxes. […]

The idea was spawned by Republican state Rep. Brad Galvez, who sponsored the bill largely to serve as a protest against Federal Reserve monetary policy. Galvez says Americans are losing faith in the dollar. If you’re mad about government debt, ditch the cash. Spend your gold and silver, he says.

The law is a toned down version of a bill introduced in Georgia last December that would have required that all transactions with the state, including paying taxes, be paid with gold or silver coins. Although Utah’s new law and similar bills are often sold as providing “options to consumers,” they are widely regarded as a backdoor attempt by conservatives to reintroduce the gold standard.

The U.S. officially went off the gold standard under President Nixon. Most mainstream economists agree that it never worked in the first place and reimposing a gold or silver standard now would have disastrous consequences. The U.S.’s failure to abandon the gold standard in the 1930′s was one of the main causes of the Great Depression.

Republican politicians have increasingly pandered to the far-right base by endorsing loony gold schemes, such as when presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty derided the U.S. dollar as a “fiat currency” — “a signal to a narrow constituency of voters who believe that America’s woes began when it abandoned the gold standard.” Minnesota also moved one step closer to adopting gold and silver coins as legal tender this month, and North Carolina, Idaho, and at least nine other states are considering similar legislation.

In a debate with Ron Paul, comedian Stephen Colbert lampooned the central tenet of this modern gold rush — the idea that gold is somehow different and better because it is inherently more valuable. “Yes!” he declared, “Gold is intrinsically more valuable because…it’s shiny!”

Gingrich: I’m not a ‘Washington figure’

Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich said Monday that he is not a “Washington figure” despite his years as House speaker, describing himself as a change agent with more ideas on how to fix Washington than any other candidate in the field.

Gingrich chuckled at the irony of the setting of his pronouncement that he is “the people’s candidate, not the capital’s candidate”— his 36th appearance at a downtown Washington breakfast organized by the Christian Science Monitor. But he insisted that voters see him this way, too.

Read full article >>

Obama calls Midwest storms devastating, heartbreaking; president to visit Missouri Sunday

LONDON — President Barack Obama says he will travel to Missouri on Sunday to meet with people affected by what he called “devastating and heartbreaking” tornadoes.

The president says he wants Midwesterners whose lives were disrupted by the deadly storms last weekend to know that the federal government will use all resources at its disposal to help them recover and rebuild.

More than 100 people were killed in the Missouri town of Joplin when a twister hit Sunday.

Read full article >>

Senate votes to proceed on four-year reauthorization of key Patriot Act provisions

The Senate voted Monday to end debate on a measure that would extend key provisions of the Patriot Act until June 1, 2015, setting up a final-passage vote on the counterterrorism surveillance law for as soon as Wednesday.

A bipartisan group of 74 senators voted to end debate. Eight senators, including three Republicans and five members who caucus with Democrats, voted against ending debate, and 18 senators – 12 Republicans and six Democrats – were not present to vote.

Monday’s Senate vote marked a rare instance of leaders of both parties lining up behind the same measure: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who last week worked out a deal on the four-year extension, both voted in favor of ending debate.

Read full article >>

Military chaplains fear repeal of ban on gays in service will alter conversations with troops

SAN DIEGO — Leaders of 21 religious groups that provide chaplains to the U.S. military want Congress or the Pentagon to guarantee that troops won’t be punished if they openly discuss their objections to homosexuality.

Chaplains and service members who believe gay marriage and homosexuality are immoral might fear reprisal if they express their views openly once the military’s lifts the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, said the retired chaplains, who sent a letter Monday to the chiefs of chaplains of the Navy, Army, and Air Force.

Read full article >>

Reid seizes on remarks by Newt Gingrich, Scott Brown on Medicare

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Monday seized on the remarks of two prominent Republicans to make the case against the 2012 budget blueprint drafted by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and passed by the House last month.

Opening the Senate on Monday afternoon, Reid did not mention either former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) or Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) by name. But he alluded to recent comments by both Republicans on Medicare in arguing that “sometimes it’s difficult to tell where the Republican Party stands on the issue.”

Read full article >>

Rick Perry’s 2012 Window of Opportunity
Mark McKinnon, Daily Beast
Ready or not, America, get ready for another Republican presidential candidate from Texas. Meet Ricky Perry. You're likely to be hearing a lot about him real soon. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' announcement this weekend that he will not be a candidate for president—coupled with Mike Huckabee's decision not to run, and Newt Gingrich's disastrous 2012 launch—is going to create a Texas tornado-size draft for Rick Perry.

Election Picture Sharpens for GOP
O’Connor & Weisman, Wall St. Journal
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels answered questions on Thursday at the Palais Royale ballroom during a breakfast speech in South Bend, Indiana. Mr. Daniels announced Sunday he wouldn't seek the Republican presidential nomination.Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, meanwhile, announced his candidacy in a video Sunday night and said he plans to begin his campaign with a speech in Iowa on Monday.

ObamaCare Repeal = Waivers for All
Grace-Marie Turner, DC Examiner
Can't we all just get a waiver from Obamacare? Unfortunately not, but the list of people applying is getting longer by the day.There are now 1,372 companies, labor unions and states that have applied for and been granted waivers from an early provision of the law that says health policies must provide at least $750,000 a year in insurance protection.