Someone asked me today why former president Trump seems still to get more news coverage than President Biden. My answer was that Trump is still a powerful force and explodes into the news because he is so unpredictable, while Biden is behaving like presidents always did before Trump, holding meetings and letting Congress get on with its own business, which is much less immediately newsworthy for all that it matters in the longer term.
why is former president Trump still to get more news coverage than President Biden? B/c the news media still flock to a train wreck even while all the plane land safely.
I know this is an unrelated comment, but I've been thinking for some time about an earlier letter in which Heather discussed Reagan and trickle down economics. Voodoo economics, as George HW Bush called the theory until he joined up...
Trickle down is fairly thoroughly discredited, I believe, as a job generating, economy boosting injection of growth hormone. So why aren't we sold on its opposite, getting money to people on the other side of the economic see-saw?
I spent years working with poor people, people wrestling with substance abuse and mental illness, trying to get along on a typical SSI income of $700 a month, or less, and one of the first lessons I learned was that when they had money, they ran right out and put it back into the economy. They didn't invest in Korean ceramics or buy stocks.
So, money that gets to poor folks, or kids, as Mr Romney is suggesting, gets right back into circulation. Isn't that the way economies grow? Am I missing something, or if not, why isn't this the obvious use for federal funds?
And why did Rs have no issue with a $1.5T tax break mostly for rich people that did very little for the economy but a $1.9T fix for the wasteland they left behind is a budget buster?
As the closest neighbor Canada is a good choice for Biden's first bilateral meeting, signaling that "America is back" (cheesy but necessary words). He and Trudeau should partner well together. But when they say they're "addressing climate change," it's also code referring to the canceled Keystone pipeline. That is a contentious issue between the two countries. I doubt that Trudeau is fully invested in it, and genuinely wants to address climate disruption, but powerful interests are applying pressure to keep Keystone open for business. The true grounds of contention, the real struggle, is between those in both countries who will act on climate, and those who wish to continue the current unsustainable economic regime. This struggle is playing out around the world both within and across borders, and its results will have profound impacts.
My favorite tweet yesterday, regarding Ron Johnson blaming Antifa for the Trump insurrection:
“It takes a special kind of stupid to think the left would dress up like the right and raid the Capitol to change the outcome of an election they just won.“
I think it's worth emphasizing (though I know those who read your posts likely don't need to be reminded) that every item you wrote about today involved racism in some form or another. Senator Johnson's repetition of lies about the insurrectionists was blatantly racist ("nice white folks couldn't have done this!"). The fact that troops were not deployed sooner was clearly racist, as we know there would have been no such hesitation if the protestors were Black and Brown. We must assume that at least some of the no votes on Linda Thomas-Greenfield were racially motivated, as she is so clearly very qualified for her position. And even the Canada summit involved a discussion of racism (though this time in a positive vein). Combined with the failure to charge any of the officers involved in the death of Elijah McClain, it is crystal clear that substantially NOTHING has changed in the way we perceive and respond to race in this country, despite the actions taken over the past year. We must work much harder than we have been to change this.
While I imagine that it's not a likely crime to be prosecuted, lying to Congress is a felony. 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Section (c)(2) says this applies to the legislature when there is "any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee". You can argue that a confirmation hearing is not a review (its not an investigation), but it would be interesting to see our new AG prosecute the Big Lie and its constant repeat in Congress.
Why do I twitch so much when the Sedition Caucus speak? Johnson is disgustingly stupid and I have a problem with him being a high ranking member. Hawley, well I would just like to sew his lips together. I have the vision of him praising the insurrectionists with his fist raised, imbedded in my brain. Ugh!
Listening to the testimony from the Captain of the Capitol Police, was daunting. Her description of not being able to help her staff nor get a response from the higher ups really ticked me off. Then...the higher ups blaming each other was just pathetic although, it sure revealed just how unprotected America is against itself.
I remember when Al Gore ran for president the biggest complaint about him was that he was "boring". The Iraq war wasn't boring but it did cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. I remember when Barack Obama was elected after the great recession in a speech he said that it was time to let go of childish things. He was so focused on doing his job that he didn't want to spend any energy on frivolous things so during the the crisis he stuck to two suits one blue one black. I live next door to the state of Vermont and Governor Tom Scott (a Republican) has taken the pandemic seriously, has taken responsibility for the safety of Vermonters upon himself. South Dakota has close to the same population as Vermont but has almost TEN TIMES the deaths from covid. Governor Scott won reelection this year in a landslide. The Vermont trumpkins call Gov. Scott a dictator because he has banned high capacity magazines and has a mask mandate.
Trump and the people who voted for him and the people who attacked the capitol are adults but they don't act like it. They act like dangerous children. They have been arming themselves for years and have been following increasingly bizarre conspiracies.
The real work of governing is not as exciting as fomenting insurrection but it is a whole lot healthier.
I wonder why Johnson was allowed to read obvious lies into the Congressional Record. Shouldn’t there be fact-checking? Now that those lies are posted and published, conspiracy mongers (aka Johnson and his fellow Republicans) will be able to refer to them as “proof” that liberals staged the Capital riots.
Imagine this, a month from now - Hawley or Cruz or one of their ilk rises to speak on the Senate floor, “As published in the Congressional Record, we now know the riots were staged by leftists intent on hurting President Trump. A president, I should remind you, who was justifiably angry that the election had been stolen from him!”
The constant drumbeat of lies and conspiracies from Republicans is maddening. And, I worry, working. The death of truth will lead to autocracy...
We always focus on Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Rand Paul, etc., as being the biggest a--holes in the Senate, but Ron Johnson is a stealth a--hole. He's every bit as bad as the others.
“U.S. leadership has been sorely missed over the past years,” Trudeau said. Yes, it has. It is appalling trump and the other wingnuts get any air time. Cringe worthy "Senator" Ron Johnson looks like a normal person, but I could not believe the (dangerous) crazy nonsense he was spewing. Seriously, what is wrong with these people?! A plea to the media . . . stop covering the absurdity. Our national psyche needs to heal and our support and focus be on assisting the Biden Administration to bring us out of the abyss.
And, there was this the other day. Words do not begin to express the comfort and gratitude President provided, from his heart, to a devastated nation in an emotional remembrance to the 500,000 people (and their families) lost to the pandemic. Thank you President Biden.
Trump is not the problem. At this point, he is nothing more than a "useful idiot" who provides defensive cover while Republicans revert to time-honored guerrilla tactics in their Civil War against Constituional Democracy. The only difference is that army of traitors now includes a violent terrorist component, ready and willing to turn America into the equivalent of the Irish "troubles". January 6, 2021 was absolutely the day of decision for Republicans. And decide they have, to the extent that EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN in Congress who did not instantly declared himself or herself an "Independent" (or resigned from office) has committed abject treason against the United States, and by doing so have pledged themselves to a lifetime "In-It-To-Win-It" commitment to preserve, restore and protect white supremacy in the USA.
Glory, Glory, Glory ... Their lies keep marching on ... and on ... an on ...
To anyone on this conversation thread from Texas, Missouri or Wisconsin: whatever you can do to remove these three scumbag senators from office will be a great gift to the entire nation - and the world. Ron Johnson may be the craziest one of the bunch.
It angers me that Cruz and Hawley are even allowed to remain in office, let alone have the audacity to question witnesses.
why is former president Trump still to get more news coverage than President Biden? B/c the news media still flock to a train wreck even while all the plane land safely.
I know this is an unrelated comment, but I've been thinking for some time about an earlier letter in which Heather discussed Reagan and trickle down economics. Voodoo economics, as George HW Bush called the theory until he joined up...
Trickle down is fairly thoroughly discredited, I believe, as a job generating, economy boosting injection of growth hormone. So why aren't we sold on its opposite, getting money to people on the other side of the economic see-saw?
I spent years working with poor people, people wrestling with substance abuse and mental illness, trying to get along on a typical SSI income of $700 a month, or less, and one of the first lessons I learned was that when they had money, they ran right out and put it back into the economy. They didn't invest in Korean ceramics or buy stocks.
So, money that gets to poor folks, or kids, as Mr Romney is suggesting, gets right back into circulation. Isn't that the way economies grow? Am I missing something, or if not, why isn't this the obvious use for federal funds?
And why did Rs have no issue with a $1.5T tax break mostly for rich people that did very little for the economy but a $1.9T fix for the wasteland they left behind is a budget buster?
As the closest neighbor Canada is a good choice for Biden's first bilateral meeting, signaling that "America is back" (cheesy but necessary words). He and Trudeau should partner well together. But when they say they're "addressing climate change," it's also code referring to the canceled Keystone pipeline. That is a contentious issue between the two countries. I doubt that Trudeau is fully invested in it, and genuinely wants to address climate disruption, but powerful interests are applying pressure to keep Keystone open for business. The true grounds of contention, the real struggle, is between those in both countries who will act on climate, and those who wish to continue the current unsustainable economic regime. This struggle is playing out around the world both within and across borders, and its results will have profound impacts.
My favorite tweet yesterday, regarding Ron Johnson blaming Antifa for the Trump insurrection:
“It takes a special kind of stupid to think the left would dress up like the right and raid the Capitol to change the outcome of an election they just won.“
I think it's worth emphasizing (though I know those who read your posts likely don't need to be reminded) that every item you wrote about today involved racism in some form or another. Senator Johnson's repetition of lies about the insurrectionists was blatantly racist ("nice white folks couldn't have done this!"). The fact that troops were not deployed sooner was clearly racist, as we know there would have been no such hesitation if the protestors were Black and Brown. We must assume that at least some of the no votes on Linda Thomas-Greenfield were racially motivated, as she is so clearly very qualified for her position. And even the Canada summit involved a discussion of racism (though this time in a positive vein). Combined with the failure to charge any of the officers involved in the death of Elijah McClain, it is crystal clear that substantially NOTHING has changed in the way we perceive and respond to race in this country, despite the actions taken over the past year. We must work much harder than we have been to change this.
I hope the wing nuts like Johnson and Hawley fade from the news, and lose their positions in time. I am listening to more music on my car radio now.
While I imagine that it's not a likely crime to be prosecuted, lying to Congress is a felony. 18 U.S.C. 1001(a), punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Section (c)(2) says this applies to the legislature when there is "any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee". You can argue that a confirmation hearing is not a review (its not an investigation), but it would be interesting to see our new AG prosecute the Big Lie and its constant repeat in Congress.
Why do I twitch so much when the Sedition Caucus speak? Johnson is disgustingly stupid and I have a problem with him being a high ranking member. Hawley, well I would just like to sew his lips together. I have the vision of him praising the insurrectionists with his fist raised, imbedded in my brain. Ugh!
Listening to the testimony from the Captain of the Capitol Police, was daunting. Her description of not being able to help her staff nor get a response from the higher ups really ticked me off. Then...the higher ups blaming each other was just pathetic although, it sure revealed just how unprotected America is against itself.
I remember when Al Gore ran for president the biggest complaint about him was that he was "boring". The Iraq war wasn't boring but it did cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. I remember when Barack Obama was elected after the great recession in a speech he said that it was time to let go of childish things. He was so focused on doing his job that he didn't want to spend any energy on frivolous things so during the the crisis he stuck to two suits one blue one black. I live next door to the state of Vermont and Governor Tom Scott (a Republican) has taken the pandemic seriously, has taken responsibility for the safety of Vermonters upon himself. South Dakota has close to the same population as Vermont but has almost TEN TIMES the deaths from covid. Governor Scott won reelection this year in a landslide. The Vermont trumpkins call Gov. Scott a dictator because he has banned high capacity magazines and has a mask mandate.
Trump and the people who voted for him and the people who attacked the capitol are adults but they don't act like it. They act like dangerous children. They have been arming themselves for years and have been following increasingly bizarre conspiracies.
The real work of governing is not as exciting as fomenting insurrection but it is a whole lot healthier.
I wonder why Johnson was allowed to read obvious lies into the Congressional Record. Shouldn’t there be fact-checking? Now that those lies are posted and published, conspiracy mongers (aka Johnson and his fellow Republicans) will be able to refer to them as “proof” that liberals staged the Capital riots.
Imagine this, a month from now - Hawley or Cruz or one of their ilk rises to speak on the Senate floor, “As published in the Congressional Record, we now know the riots were staged by leftists intent on hurting President Trump. A president, I should remind you, who was justifiably angry that the election had been stolen from him!”
The constant drumbeat of lies and conspiracies from Republicans is maddening. And, I worry, working. The death of truth will lead to autocracy...
We always focus on Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Rand Paul, etc., as being the biggest a--holes in the Senate, but Ron Johnson is a stealth a--hole. He's every bit as bad as the others.
Calvin and Hobbes! I needed that
“U.S. leadership has been sorely missed over the past years,” Trudeau said. Yes, it has. It is appalling trump and the other wingnuts get any air time. Cringe worthy "Senator" Ron Johnson looks like a normal person, but I could not believe the (dangerous) crazy nonsense he was spewing. Seriously, what is wrong with these people?! A plea to the media . . . stop covering the absurdity. Our national psyche needs to heal and our support and focus be on assisting the Biden Administration to bring us out of the abyss.
And, there was this the other day. Words do not begin to express the comfort and gratitude President provided, from his heart, to a devastated nation in an emotional remembrance to the 500,000 people (and their families) lost to the pandemic. Thank you President Biden.
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/22/970155352/white-house-to-honor-victims-of-the-coronavirus-in-evening-ceremony
Trump is not the problem. At this point, he is nothing more than a "useful idiot" who provides defensive cover while Republicans revert to time-honored guerrilla tactics in their Civil War against Constituional Democracy. The only difference is that army of traitors now includes a violent terrorist component, ready and willing to turn America into the equivalent of the Irish "troubles". January 6, 2021 was absolutely the day of decision for Republicans. And decide they have, to the extent that EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN in Congress who did not instantly declared himself or herself an "Independent" (or resigned from office) has committed abject treason against the United States, and by doing so have pledged themselves to a lifetime "In-It-To-Win-It" commitment to preserve, restore and protect white supremacy in the USA.
Glory, Glory, Glory ... Their lies keep marching on ... and on ... an on ...
To anyone on this conversation thread from Texas, Missouri or Wisconsin: whatever you can do to remove these three scumbag senators from office will be a great gift to the entire nation - and the world. Ron Johnson may be the craziest one of the bunch.