Speaking virtually today to the Munich Security Conference, the world’s largest gathering to discuss international security policy, President Biden promised that “America is back.” He assured the world that the U.S. will work with our European partners. We are, he said, committed to NATO, which the previous president tried to undermine, and we will honor Article 5 of that compact, which says that an attack on any one NATO ally will be considered an attack on all of them. He noted that the only time this article has ever been invoked was after the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
“Republicans have become the party of obstruction . . . “
Republicans are the party of NO, as in “No change from the 1800s.“
Republicans are the party of Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott, craven self-serving pols who only care about lining their pockets, padding their resumes and making themselves look good on paper.
Republicans are the party of big business billionaires.
Republicans are the party of Donald Trump.
Donald Trump is the man who let himself be used by Vladimir Putin to shake down the Ukrainian president, obstruct Congress on January 6, and much more. He is the single most corrupt president in US history, and I dare anyone to refute that statement.
Republicans are the party of racism.
Republicans are the party of sexism and misogyny.
Republicans are the party of fighting against gay and lesbian rights.
Republicans are the party of QAnon.
Republicans are the party of David Duke and the KKK.
Nine times out of 10 Republican
politicians are the ones investigated and indicted for corruption.
Republicans are the party of members of Congress who oppose the people’s election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Republicans are the party of the attack on Congress, the first time in our nation’s history that has ever happened.
Republicans are not the party of Lincoln anymore, that’s for sure.
What party affiliation would Lincoln have today? Where would he fit in?
Republicans are the party of voter suppression, because their inherent racism forces them to target non-white voters. When do you ever hear of Democratic state and county officials targeting mostly white Republican towns and districts to suppress votes?
Republicans are the party of self service over public service.
Republicans are the party of union busting, because broken unions and non-unionized work forces make it even easier for corporations to exploit their workers with impunity than they already do. Remember Wisconsin?
The Republican Party has become such a reactionary group of extremists, so radical and off-the-reservation, that Joe Biden, a center right politician, looks like Fidel Castro to them.
Donald Trump, a lifelong New York Democrat, joined the Republican Party before making his run for the presidency. Why? Why would he do that?
The best nationally known Republicans are no longer George Bush and his family, Dick Cheney (what is it about the name Dick?), John McCain, Mitt Romney, and John Boehner.
The best nationally known Republicans are now Donald Trump and his family, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Kevin McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene. Now you can include Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley.
If the Republican Party were not turning into an extremist and terrorist organization which looks more and more like the IRA and the apartheid South African National Party of F.W. de Klerk, it would be Larry Hogan on everybody’s lips, not Rafael Edward Cruz.
Hard to embrace the perpetrators after Democracy being threatened of extinction for four years. It is such a relief to be able to breathe and to see a President working for the country and its citizens. It brings tears to my eyes. Thank you Heather for highlighting these moments. We need this for healing
My hope is Republicans will allow themselves to open to the possibility of embracing Democracy and denouncing self serving autocrats. I worked hard to defeat Susan Collins because of her inability to take a stand against the tax cuts for the millionaires, Justice Kavanaugh, etc. but now she takes a brave stand as Senator. I can applaud her for that. I pray with time we will be better able to work together. However as a psychotherapist who worked with trauma patients I know it takes a long time to heal. It will take me a while to recover from the last four years of watching our Democracy being replaced with fascism. It is moments of watching and hearing Biden wanting to work with Europe that lets me rest and breathe again.
Clarity and honesty, both yours and Biden...totally refreshing. tRump's takeover of the state R machines is troubling, particularly the repression of voting rights. Such a gift is the vision of JRB, he does seem destined for the role of Statesperson, molded by years in the crucible of the Senate, to lead into a future of a more equitable world. Deep gratitude to you, dear Heather, for your work on behalf of the nation, placing events into perspective and keeping an even keel. You are a national treasure!
“'Democracy doesn’t happen by accident... We have to defend it, fight for it, strengthen it, renew it. We have to prove that our model isn’t a relic of our history; it’s the single best way to revitalize the promise of our future.'"
"'[I]f we work together with our democratic partners, with strength and confidence, I know that we’ll meet every challenge and outpace every challenger.'"
May the Force be with you, President Biden! I'm so delighted that you're here!
All the more reason to hurry up and pass the John Lewis Voting Act! I simply cannot wait until the commission to investigate the insurrection reveals exactly who are the criminals in Congress.
"More than 72% percent of Americans like Biden’s American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Sixty-one percent want a $15 federal minimum wage, which is currently in the American Rescue Plan. Sixty-three percent want the U.S. to be in the Paris climate agreement (which we officially rejoined today), and 83% want undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, the so-called Dreamers, to have a path to citizenship. Biden promised 100 million vaccines in his first 100 days; we should actually hit that goal by late March— a month early-- even if the pace stays where it is."
Obstruction. Delection. Projection. Rejection.
That is the GOP go-to response - may, strategy - to anything and anyone who seeks benefits for the greater good, whether in principle or practice. In my view they do this out of fear. Fear that the Democrats will succeed where they have failed. Fear that people will see through their failure to offer alternative approached that benefit more than just their "base." Fear that their base may, in fact, like what Biden has to offer.
They've had their chances, most recently after Romney's defeat to Obama in 2012, despite McConnell's vow to limit Obama to one term. They said they were going to conduct a post mortem. They talked about inviting more voters into their tent, of engaging communities of color and young voters. And then they did nothing. In 2016 they reviled Trump but lined up behind him, rationalizing each successive transgression. In 2020 they offered nothing, deciding that no party platform was sufficient, maybe because they thought the strong economy would be their ticket to victory, perhaps because Trump was uncontrollable, but so long as they could nominate conservative judges they'd put up with him.
Ultimately they offered nothing because they had nothing. They voted over 60 times to repeal and replace Obamacare, but in 8 years never countered with a different approach. Trump regularly promised a much better, much cheaper plan than the ACA. It would be coming in two weeks. After four years it never arrived.
They've arrived empty hsnded because they just don't care. These Ivy educated, gold plated resume politicians DO. NOT. CARE. if you're not white, wealthy, and Christian, you're invisible to them, and their goal is to institutionalize that invisibility by trying to eliminate your options to vote. They hope to starve you of hope until you give up.
But in 2020 the nation didn't give up, though it was a bit close for comfort. Biden is attempting to rebuild confidence better and abroad, trying to rekindle hope, and the GOP will try to wait him out by saying "No.".
Obstruction. Delection. Projection. Rejection. Don't let them do it. Hold their feet to the fire. Call them out on their BS. There's still a chance. There's still hope.
Did you see the interview with Dan Patrick here in Texas? I was impressed how the host called him out on his lies and comments about maintenance on our grid but also about his comments on California’s fire maintenance. If the media and press are going to regain their credibility, challenges to the truth with facts to back it up, must become the norm.
Late night comedy writers have been suffering from the sudden dearth of material due to the absence of the former president's daily, hourly, Twitter feed. Ted Cruz took it upon himself to step up and fill the void, as it were. Although the skim milk of Cruz's just plain stupid (jps) doesn't satisfy like the rich cream of the former president's psychotic narcissisism and megalomania, if it's all you have, put in the biscuit batter anyway.
We, The Amalgamated Brotherhood of Comedy Scribes and Biscuit Bakers, Local 695, salute Ted Cruz and bestow upon him honorary membership.
I did not think it was humanly possible for an American politician to out-lie Ted Cruz this week. But to my utter astonishment and utter revulsion, Joe Manchin proved me wrong with his intellectually insulting, steaming pile of BS excuse for objecting to Biden's nomination of Neera Tanden. Not one voter in WV could give a flying fuck about Neera Tanden, so Manchin's objection was just another example of misogynistic, wildly egotistical personality. The English have no trouble applying the most hated derogatory word starting with the letter "C" to disgusting humanoids like Manchin. As my dear ladylike mother always said, "If the choe fits, wear it".
Regarding voting rights, the fact that Democrats in 37 states have more bills out to protect voting rights than Republicans have to suppress voting rights is very encouraging. We need to clone Stacy Abrams!
One of the things I think Republicans have done very poorly is be Republicans. Have you looked at the national debt? Have you noticed how the national debt growth relates to Republican admirations beginning with Reagan. Republicans were supposed to be deficit hawks. What a bad joke. It is as if the Republican moto is "Small government big deficits". The question is, what did those huge deficits pay for? At least with Democrats you might get a few miles of new interstate roads or a few bridges and damns repaired.
The crisis in Texas and, on a much wider scale, the pandemic are both clear cases of failures in the Republican philosophy of "a government that governs least is a government that governs best." The failure to address climate change is another such example. Whenever the Republicans are faced with a challenge, they fail. Continuing to give them power is like expecting an elephant to fly or a baboon to write a symphony.
“Republicans have become the party of obstruction . . . “
Republicans are the party of NO, as in “No change from the 1800s.“
Republicans are the party of Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott, craven self-serving pols who only care about lining their pockets, padding their resumes and making themselves look good on paper.
Republicans are the party of big business billionaires.
Republicans are the party of Donald Trump.
Donald Trump is the man who let himself be used by Vladimir Putin to shake down the Ukrainian president, obstruct Congress on January 6, and much more. He is the single most corrupt president in US history, and I dare anyone to refute that statement.
Republicans are the party of racism.
Republicans are the party of sexism and misogyny.
Republicans are the party of fighting against gay and lesbian rights.
Republicans are the party of QAnon.
Republicans are the party of David Duke and the KKK.
Nine times out of 10 Republican
politicians are the ones investigated and indicted for corruption.
Republicans are the party of members of Congress who oppose the people’s election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Republicans are the party of the attack on Congress, the first time in our nation’s history that has ever happened.
Republicans are not the party of Lincoln anymore, that’s for sure.
What party affiliation would Lincoln have today? Where would he fit in?
Republicans are the party of voter suppression, because their inherent racism forces them to target non-white voters. When do you ever hear of Democratic state and county officials targeting mostly white Republican towns and districts to suppress votes?
Republicans are the party of self service over public service.
Republicans are the party of union busting, because broken unions and non-unionized work forces make it even easier for corporations to exploit their workers with impunity than they already do. Remember Wisconsin?
The Republican Party has become such a reactionary group of extremists, so radical and off-the-reservation, that Joe Biden, a center right politician, looks like Fidel Castro to them.
Donald Trump, a lifelong New York Democrat, joined the Republican Party before making his run for the presidency. Why? Why would he do that?
The best nationally known Republicans are no longer George Bush and his family, Dick Cheney (what is it about the name Dick?), John McCain, Mitt Romney, and John Boehner.
The best nationally known Republicans are now Donald Trump and his family, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Kevin McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene. Now you can include Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley.
If the Republican Party were not turning into an extremist and terrorist organization which looks more and more like the IRA and the apartheid South African National Party of F.W. de Klerk, it would be Larry Hogan on everybody’s lips, not Rafael Edward Cruz.
Hard to embrace the perpetrators after Democracy being threatened of extinction for four years. It is such a relief to be able to breathe and to see a President working for the country and its citizens. It brings tears to my eyes. Thank you Heather for highlighting these moments. We need this for healing
My hope is Republicans will allow themselves to open to the possibility of embracing Democracy and denouncing self serving autocrats. I worked hard to defeat Susan Collins because of her inability to take a stand against the tax cuts for the millionaires, Justice Kavanaugh, etc. but now she takes a brave stand as Senator. I can applaud her for that. I pray with time we will be better able to work together. However as a psychotherapist who worked with trauma patients I know it takes a long time to heal. It will take me a while to recover from the last four years of watching our Democracy being replaced with fascism. It is moments of watching and hearing Biden wanting to work with Europe that lets me rest and breathe again.
Clarity and honesty, both yours and Biden...totally refreshing. tRump's takeover of the state R machines is troubling, particularly the repression of voting rights. Such a gift is the vision of JRB, he does seem destined for the role of Statesperson, molded by years in the crucible of the Senate, to lead into a future of a more equitable world. Deep gratitude to you, dear Heather, for your work on behalf of the nation, placing events into perspective and keeping an even keel. You are a national treasure!
Other good news is that three of the Proud Boy traitors have each accused the other two of having turned into cooperating witnesses.
“'Democracy doesn’t happen by accident... We have to defend it, fight for it, strengthen it, renew it. We have to prove that our model isn’t a relic of our history; it’s the single best way to revitalize the promise of our future.'"
"'[I]f we work together with our democratic partners, with strength and confidence, I know that we’ll meet every challenge and outpace every challenger.'"
May the Force be with you, President Biden! I'm so delighted that you're here!
All the more reason to hurry up and pass the John Lewis Voting Act! I simply cannot wait until the commission to investigate the insurrection reveals exactly who are the criminals in Congress.
"More than 72% percent of Americans like Biden’s American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Sixty-one percent want a $15 federal minimum wage, which is currently in the American Rescue Plan. Sixty-three percent want the U.S. to be in the Paris climate agreement (which we officially rejoined today), and 83% want undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, the so-called Dreamers, to have a path to citizenship. Biden promised 100 million vaccines in his first 100 days; we should actually hit that goal by late March— a month early-- even if the pace stays where it is."
Obstruction. Delection. Projection. Rejection.
That is the GOP go-to response - may, strategy - to anything and anyone who seeks benefits for the greater good, whether in principle or practice. In my view they do this out of fear. Fear that the Democrats will succeed where they have failed. Fear that people will see through their failure to offer alternative approached that benefit more than just their "base." Fear that their base may, in fact, like what Biden has to offer.
They've had their chances, most recently after Romney's defeat to Obama in 2012, despite McConnell's vow to limit Obama to one term. They said they were going to conduct a post mortem. They talked about inviting more voters into their tent, of engaging communities of color and young voters. And then they did nothing. In 2016 they reviled Trump but lined up behind him, rationalizing each successive transgression. In 2020 they offered nothing, deciding that no party platform was sufficient, maybe because they thought the strong economy would be their ticket to victory, perhaps because Trump was uncontrollable, but so long as they could nominate conservative judges they'd put up with him.
Ultimately they offered nothing because they had nothing. They voted over 60 times to repeal and replace Obamacare, but in 8 years never countered with a different approach. Trump regularly promised a much better, much cheaper plan than the ACA. It would be coming in two weeks. After four years it never arrived.
They've arrived empty hsnded because they just don't care. These Ivy educated, gold plated resume politicians DO. NOT. CARE. if you're not white, wealthy, and Christian, you're invisible to them, and their goal is to institutionalize that invisibility by trying to eliminate your options to vote. They hope to starve you of hope until you give up.
But in 2020 the nation didn't give up, though it was a bit close for comfort. Biden is attempting to rebuild confidence better and abroad, trying to rekindle hope, and the GOP will try to wait him out by saying "No.".
Obstruction. Delection. Projection. Rejection. Don't let them do it. Hold their feet to the fire. Call them out on their BS. There's still a chance. There's still hope.
Did you see the interview with Dan Patrick here in Texas? I was impressed how the host called him out on his lies and comments about maintenance on our grid but also about his comments on California’s fire maintenance. If the media and press are going to regain their credibility, challenges to the truth with facts to back it up, must become the norm.
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! Oh, Happy Day! Who's to say which of these is the best. I couldn't decide...so you choose: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=oh+happy+day+song&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3doh%2bhappy%2bday%2bsong%26form%3dANNTH1%26refig%3d177ddf9473df4ab49eca87923ca2c37f%26sp%3d3%26qs%3dEP%26pq%3doh%2bhappy%26sk%3dPRES1LS2%26sc%3d8-8%26cvid%3d177ddf9473df4ab49eca87923ca2c37f&view=detail&mid=707E2FE477942CDBDB04707E2FE477942CDBDB04&rvsmid=CCCC305349AC92A150F3CCCC305349AC92A150F3&FORM=VDRVRV
In a nod to Founding Father Thomas Paine (and a wink to House Manager Raskin): "Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way!"
Somebody get that Cruz guy a towel; he's got egg all over his face: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/aoc-raises-2m-for-texas-relief-heads-to-houston-after-blasting-cruz-for-mexico-trip/ar-BB1dQ2xq?ebsb=1&ocid=uxbndlbing
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/aoc-social-20210219?refcode=tw20210219
As always, this issue was thorough, concise and put numerous news stories into focus ... utterly enjoyable!
Thank you, Professor HCR, have a lovely weekend ... fellow readers, stay well and take care.
☮️
Real leaders step up in a crisis.
Late night comedy writers have been suffering from the sudden dearth of material due to the absence of the former president's daily, hourly, Twitter feed. Ted Cruz took it upon himself to step up and fill the void, as it were. Although the skim milk of Cruz's just plain stupid (jps) doesn't satisfy like the rich cream of the former president's psychotic narcissisism and megalomania, if it's all you have, put in the biscuit batter anyway.
We, The Amalgamated Brotherhood of Comedy Scribes and Biscuit Bakers, Local 695, salute Ted Cruz and bestow upon him honorary membership.
He really saved our biscuits!
I did not think it was humanly possible for an American politician to out-lie Ted Cruz this week. But to my utter astonishment and utter revulsion, Joe Manchin proved me wrong with his intellectually insulting, steaming pile of BS excuse for objecting to Biden's nomination of Neera Tanden. Not one voter in WV could give a flying fuck about Neera Tanden, so Manchin's objection was just another example of misogynistic, wildly egotistical personality. The English have no trouble applying the most hated derogatory word starting with the letter "C" to disgusting humanoids like Manchin. As my dear ladylike mother always said, "If the choe fits, wear it".
Regarding voting rights, the fact that Democrats in 37 states have more bills out to protect voting rights than Republicans have to suppress voting rights is very encouraging. We need to clone Stacy Abrams!
Thank you so much. It is my daughter’s 20th birthday and we will celebrate a more hopeful direction for our nation.
One of the things I think Republicans have done very poorly is be Republicans. Have you looked at the national debt? Have you noticed how the national debt growth relates to Republican admirations beginning with Reagan. Republicans were supposed to be deficit hawks. What a bad joke. It is as if the Republican moto is "Small government big deficits". The question is, what did those huge deficits pay for? At least with Democrats you might get a few miles of new interstate roads or a few bridges and damns repaired.
The crisis in Texas and, on a much wider scale, the pandemic are both clear cases of failures in the Republican philosophy of "a government that governs least is a government that governs best." The failure to address climate change is another such example. Whenever the Republicans are faced with a challenge, they fail. Continuing to give them power is like expecting an elephant to fly or a baboon to write a symphony.