Yesterday, Arizona governor Doug Ducey brought the Republican governors of 26 states together in the “American Governors’ Border Strike Force” to serve as a “force multiplier” in what he says is “criminal activity directly tied to our border.” For all of Ducey’s rhetoric about how the force is supposed to “accomplish what the federal government has failed at, protecting our communities from ruthless transnational criminal organizations,” the “strike force” is supposed to “share intelligence, strengthen analytical and cybersecurity efforts, and improve humanitarian efforts to protect children and families.”
Anyone else getting really tired of Republicans telling us we can't say certain things, we can't read certain books, we can't teach certain things, we can't talk about certain history, etc. Why are they taking away our freedom to think and talk and read and teach? Why are they taking away our freedom to vote, to choose what happens to our bodies, to grant asylum to seekers, to defend our Constitution, and the freedom to live in a democracy? And not to get started on the wasted taxpayer money and the economic disaster for certain states pretending to defend the southern border.
@robreiner. A vote for Democrats is a vote to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Democracy itself. The choice couldn't be clearer. It couldn't be more simple. A vote for Republicans is a vote to destroy Democracy.
Mallory McMorrow is taking the correct action against a bully. She did a masterful job of preventing her accuser from dehumanizing her. A news host today properly identified dehumanizing as being an action of war; if your enemy is not human, then atrocities are much easier to justify. Mallory is correct; we must fight dehumanizing and hatred with humanizing and love.
If you heard Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow speak, you would've been impressed by how precisely and incisively she delivered her message. There were none of those hesitations or fillers like "um" "uh" and other vocalizations that people often use when they speak. She's someone to watch in the years ahead, if she stays in politics.
Two powerful messages for Democrats to push in the campaign:
"We will not let hate win."
"... the Republican tax plan will increase taxes on 75 million middle-class families by an average of almost $1,500 a year while Biden’s plan will not raise taxes on anyone who makes less than $400,000 a year."
And Beto O'Rourke's messaging is bringing the heat.
Thank you Professor Richardson for highlighting Senator Mallory McMorrow’s courage in responding to Senator Theis, for standing up and speaking truth, to call out representatives who use hate to marginalize and destroy in order to win elections.
“Senator Lana Theis accused me by name of grooming and sexualizing children in an attempt to marginalize me for standing up against her marginalizing the LGBTQ community...in a fundraising email, for herself.”
Listen to her on Twitter.
“Hate wins when people like me stand by and let it happen. I won't.”
Well well, if we don’t have a nice cozy conflict going on in the Mizzell-Kushner households! The DOJ’s request to appeal should be granted just based on that tidbit of information. Slime and sleaze doesn’t travel very far.
I sincerely hope that Judge Mizelle limited her opinion on the public mask mandate for planes, trains and buses to the extent of the CDC's authority, rather than the value of masking in those environments. There are no measures absolutely 100% effective in avoiding COVID 19 transmission, short of extremely remote isolation perhaps, but the last person who should render an opinion on the validity of public health measures would be someone whose entire professional education/credentials are something other than public health. The CDC resides under the federal Department of Health and Human Services. If the CDC does not have authority over public health mandates, perhaps it is HHS? Did someone simply miss which level of the chain of command has authority over public health mandates? If not HHS, is it the POTUS?
It certainly makes sense that CDC, which is expressly focused on disease, would be the most appropriate authority over public health mandates. Why are we so offended by such a mandate, when we essentially universally accept such mandates as stop signs, red lights, bans on smoking in public places? It's far easier to understand a debate over the use of masks from the isolation of one's living room, but certainly not if one is obligatorily placed in close proximity to strangers for hours at a time, breathing common air. How many super-spreader events are needed before we understand that voluntary compliance with public health recommendations/suggestions simply don't provide adequate protection for those who WISH to comply with the guidance of experts?
Presidential appointment of judges and justices has become entrapped in the briar-patch of political partisanship. There is no level at which justice rises above suspicion of partisan influence anymore. What would the result be if the law prohibited examination/consideration of political views, politically based questions during confirmation hearings, demanding that the only official process surrounding appointment and confirmation of judges should focus on education/training/experience, rather than personal opinions. It would not change the tendency of the president to forward candidates whose record suggests political predispositions, but would certainly cool the political rhetoric (and worse) that surrounds the confirmation process. And, laws that specifically prohibit overt attempts to influence the judiciary before/during hearings/cases/decisions with political ramifications would be welcome, IMHO.
Turns out, both the Border Patrol and the Texas Agricultural Commission ALREADY inspected every truck in multiple ways.
Abbot's stunt only added inspections of things like tire pressure and Abbot's inspectors could not go inside trucks to check for illegal migrants. They could hold up trucks to let food rot though.
Texas own Agricultural Commissioner says that billions of dollars of food is rotting at the border and for the third time during Abbot's tenure grocery stores are empty. He also says that it is much more effective to work with our partner Mexico, as we did before, to stop migrants at MEXICO's southern border. Apparently that Trump era negotiated outcome is no longer in place.
BUT, the Ag commissioner says he will vote for Abbott. Does not want Beto O'Rourke.
Great interview.
You are right Dr. Richardson. Stunts are what the Republicans will play out as we near the elections.
But, I would ask: Is it the Republicans that use dumb stunts to get elected OR is it Americans who let blatantly stupid stunts influence their thinking that are the problem??
At last, hearing Democrats speaking up. Now media must no longer try to be fair in reporting republicans as if they have a decent point of view! Thank you for pointing out facts which reflect truth.
President Joe Biden is a graduate of the University of Delaware, and so am I!
I read on LinkedIn this morning that he will be giving the commencement speech at UD this year. I couldn't believe the bile and spew in the comments - it was disgusting.
Here is a sample: "...because they ( Democrats) stole the platform , for now . The count down has begun ."
Amazing. Horrifying.
When I was at UD, Biden was one of my senators. He had a reputation then as a hardworking legislator and all-around nice guy. As far as I know, that's still the case. I don't understand the hatred.
April 20, 2022
Anyone else getting really tired of Republicans telling us we can't say certain things, we can't read certain books, we can't teach certain things, we can't talk about certain history, etc. Why are they taking away our freedom to think and talk and read and teach? Why are they taking away our freedom to vote, to choose what happens to our bodies, to grant asylum to seekers, to defend our Constitution, and the freedom to live in a democracy? And not to get started on the wasted taxpayer money and the economic disaster for certain states pretending to defend the southern border.
Thank you Mallory McMorrow! You are leading the way on how to live in integrity and love.
@robreiner. A vote for Democrats is a vote to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Democracy itself. The choice couldn't be clearer. It couldn't be more simple. A vote for Republicans is a vote to destroy Democracy.
Mallory McMorrow Is my new hero. Other Democrats would be wise to follow her example of confronting Republican hate tactics head on.
Mallory McMorrow is taking the correct action against a bully. She did a masterful job of preventing her accuser from dehumanizing her. A news host today properly identified dehumanizing as being an action of war; if your enemy is not human, then atrocities are much easier to justify. Mallory is correct; we must fight dehumanizing and hatred with humanizing and love.
If you heard Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow speak, you would've been impressed by how precisely and incisively she delivered her message. There were none of those hesitations or fillers like "um" "uh" and other vocalizations that people often use when they speak. She's someone to watch in the years ahead, if she stays in politics.
Two powerful messages for Democrats to push in the campaign:
"We will not let hate win."
"... the Republican tax plan will increase taxes on 75 million middle-class families by an average of almost $1,500 a year while Biden’s plan will not raise taxes on anyone who makes less than $400,000 a year."
And Beto O'Rourke's messaging is bringing the heat.
Thank you Professor Richardson for highlighting Senator Mallory McMorrow’s courage in responding to Senator Theis, for standing up and speaking truth, to call out representatives who use hate to marginalize and destroy in order to win elections.
“Senator Lana Theis accused me by name of grooming and sexualizing children in an attempt to marginalize me for standing up against her marginalizing the LGBTQ community...in a fundraising email, for herself.”
Listen to her on Twitter.
“Hate wins when people like me stand by and let it happen. I won't.”
This sewage tide.
THIS FILTH.
They hollered "DRAIN THE SWAMP!"
But all they can offer is to
SWAMP THE NATION.
IN FILTH.
LIES.
CORRUPTION.
By their fruits ye shall know them.
Well well, if we don’t have a nice cozy conflict going on in the Mizzell-Kushner households! The DOJ’s request to appeal should be granted just based on that tidbit of information. Slime and sleaze doesn’t travel very far.
Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow spoke her truth clearly and passionately. There was light in it.
Thank you for sharing it with us Professor Richardson.
I sincerely hope that Judge Mizelle limited her opinion on the public mask mandate for planes, trains and buses to the extent of the CDC's authority, rather than the value of masking in those environments. There are no measures absolutely 100% effective in avoiding COVID 19 transmission, short of extremely remote isolation perhaps, but the last person who should render an opinion on the validity of public health measures would be someone whose entire professional education/credentials are something other than public health. The CDC resides under the federal Department of Health and Human Services. If the CDC does not have authority over public health mandates, perhaps it is HHS? Did someone simply miss which level of the chain of command has authority over public health mandates? If not HHS, is it the POTUS?
It certainly makes sense that CDC, which is expressly focused on disease, would be the most appropriate authority over public health mandates. Why are we so offended by such a mandate, when we essentially universally accept such mandates as stop signs, red lights, bans on smoking in public places? It's far easier to understand a debate over the use of masks from the isolation of one's living room, but certainly not if one is obligatorily placed in close proximity to strangers for hours at a time, breathing common air. How many super-spreader events are needed before we understand that voluntary compliance with public health recommendations/suggestions simply don't provide adequate protection for those who WISH to comply with the guidance of experts?
Presidential appointment of judges and justices has become entrapped in the briar-patch of political partisanship. There is no level at which justice rises above suspicion of partisan influence anymore. What would the result be if the law prohibited examination/consideration of political views, politically based questions during confirmation hearings, demanding that the only official process surrounding appointment and confirmation of judges should focus on education/training/experience, rather than personal opinions. It would not change the tendency of the president to forward candidates whose record suggests political predispositions, but would certainly cool the political rhetoric (and worse) that surrounds the confirmation process. And, laws that specifically prohibit overt attempts to influence the judiciary before/during hearings/cases/decisions with political ramifications would be welcome, IMHO.
NPR invterviewed Texas' own Agriculturual Commissioner who is at odds with, and objects to, Texas Governor Abbott's "inspections".
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1093282003
Turns out, both the Border Patrol and the Texas Agricultural Commission ALREADY inspected every truck in multiple ways.
Abbot's stunt only added inspections of things like tire pressure and Abbot's inspectors could not go inside trucks to check for illegal migrants. They could hold up trucks to let food rot though.
Texas own Agricultural Commissioner says that billions of dollars of food is rotting at the border and for the third time during Abbot's tenure grocery stores are empty. He also says that it is much more effective to work with our partner Mexico, as we did before, to stop migrants at MEXICO's southern border. Apparently that Trump era negotiated outcome is no longer in place.
BUT, the Ag commissioner says he will vote for Abbott. Does not want Beto O'Rourke.
Great interview.
You are right Dr. Richardson. Stunts are what the Republicans will play out as we near the elections.
But, I would ask: Is it the Republicans that use dumb stunts to get elected OR is it Americans who let blatantly stupid stunts influence their thinking that are the problem??
Me? I do think it the latter.
I found this little tidbit this morning in my "word of the day" email. It seems as far back as 1522 people knew that trump was bad news : betrump
PRONUNCIATION:
(be-TRUHMP)
MEANING:
verb tr.:
1. To deceive or cheat.
2. To elude.
This certainly applies to poor choices such Gov Abbott and Gov Ducey are making.
At last, hearing Democrats speaking up. Now media must no longer try to be fair in reporting republicans as if they have a decent point of view! Thank you for pointing out facts which reflect truth.
President Joe Biden is a graduate of the University of Delaware, and so am I!
I read on LinkedIn this morning that he will be giving the commencement speech at UD this year. I couldn't believe the bile and spew in the comments - it was disgusting.
Here is a sample: "...because they ( Democrats) stole the platform , for now . The count down has begun ."
Amazing. Horrifying.
When I was at UD, Biden was one of my senators. He had a reputation then as a hardworking legislator and all-around nice guy. As far as I know, that's still the case. I don't understand the hatred.