The big story today is that in Israel, a coalition of eight very different parties has come together to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power after 12 years. Netanyahu, who was a close ally of former president Trump, is currently on trial for fraud, bribery, and breach of trust while in office. For the first time, the coalition that will replace him includes a party that represents Palestinian citizens of Israel. According to the deal, hardliner Naftali Bennett will serve as prime minister for two years before turning the office over to center-left leader Yair Lapid, who hammered out the arrangement. The deal has to be accepted by the Israeli parliament, which is expected to do so.
Just heard the high school Valedictorian speech of Paxton Smith of Lake Highlands, Texas. She didn't give the approved speech. She gave a powerful speech on the Texas heartbeat anti-abortion law. Hope she runs for state Senate in Texas ... and beyond! Here's the video.
A woman should have sovereignty over her own body. Period. Or let's have an equivalent law for men which would be a penectomy for rape. Then maybe this nonsense over control of a women's body would stop.
It’s about time for Netanyahu to go. I’m tired of dirty leaders having immunity from prosecution while they are in office.
Hi, everyone, this is my first post to this august group! Heather’s last few posts finally convinced me to support her with more than my rapt attention and admiration. I have been losing sleep along with many people for a long time, and I just discovered that I could read posts from this group a few months ago.
I am a member of Indivisible GA 10, and a supporting volunteer with MoveOn Georgia. I call myself the Invisible Indivisible because I physically can’t attend their meetings, but my heart is with them! I am happy to report that I, along with so many Georgians, drained our bank accounts and ran up the old magic plastic in order to get the Rev. Warnock and Mr. Ossoff to both receive the title US Senator, and we tried so hard to get Stacey Abrams elected as our governor. But this corrupt state government is well entrenched by republicans and the fight is hard. If you want to know what our country could look like in two years, we can show you.
Enough about me and my state for now. I won’t post very often, but I will hear everything you say, and be fighting very hard alongside all of you as we work to get voter legislation through the senate.
And, may I join all of you posters in expressing my deep gratitude for Professor Cox-Richardson’s willingness to share her impressive knowledge and wise perspective with us. I do believe that you, Professor, have more influence on the people who are working to save our democracy than you could ever realize. Thank you!
So I have several thoughts about the news in this letter--good morning everyone, by the way! Firstly, these deplorables who jetted off to Israel to save it from itself have no understanding of the degree of contempt to which Bibi is held in Israel. He lost FOUR elections in less than two years. FOUR. The Israeli public wants him to go, they just are divided on their own political ideals because proportional representation in such a small country means fragmentation at the parliamentary level. This is why he has been able to claw back power: no one has heretofore been able to come up with a coalition that can hold up. The President (who, in this la-la land of pseudo British parliamentary systems serves the same function as the queen) has consistently refused to call on Bibi to form a government. This is why this coalition is willing to work together, despite their significant political differences: they want him GONE. The tone deafness of these Trumpistas in trying to interfere is both ignorant and derisory. And it will make them look like idiots. Which they are--in the original Greek sense of the term of mindless and thoughtless fools who fail to do their duty as citizens.
Second, they don't give a crap about Israel or the Middle East. They don't give a crap about Jews or the Holocaust or the idea of a Jewish homeland. They are not "Zionists" any more than Amy Semple McPherson might have been in her day. And the reason why I invoke her is because the REAL reason why these jokers have flown to Israel is because the Americans who support Bibi (as opposed to the Americans who support and respect the political, social, and cultural legitimacy of the State of Israel) are extremist right-wing evangelical "Christians" whose fondest wish is that the Jews will be consumed by fire when the Second Coming and the Rapture happens. But in their twisted theology that cannot occur unless the Antichrist comes out of the Jewish community and appears in Jerusalem. So they "welcome" and "support" the State of Israel because they are eagerly anticipating the End Times and the ultimate death and destruction of the Jewish people forever. This, to me, is the ultimate cynical form of Antisemitism. Bibi is well aware of this phenomenon of the so-called religious Right. He has been equally cynical in his ginning up of support for his personal power by catering to them. The difference between him and the broad coalition--which might not hold at all, but I hope it does because it will force these folks to TALK to each other--is that they are not universally willing to embrace an essentially racist rationale in order to sustain and maintain their personal power.
Right now I would consider the fate of the Israeli Prime Minister irrelevant to America in the light of the crisis of our looming loss of democracy. We need to help all Americans realize the impact of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights bills not passing. It is time to be outraged! It is time to ACT.
The disrespect being shown to our able bodied and minded President is sad and shameful. Do these politicians and pundits not realize that the seeds they’re planting could undo the very fabric and foundation of our nation?
The big story that I read this morning, after reading today's Letter, was that 25 states will leave 4.5 million workers with little to no benefits next month.
'States canceling extra unemployment benefits will cost local economies $12.3 billion''
'Half of the states planning to cancel the extra $300 in weekly unemployment benefits this month could cost their local economies $12.3 billion, according to a new study. The analysis comes a day after Maryland became the latest GOP-led state to opt out of the jobless program'.
"There is little evidence that enhanced UI (Unemployment Insurance) is holding back employment. In fact, ending it could cost local economies more than $12 billion," Chairman Don Beyer (D-VA) said in a statement on Wednesday following the release of the analysis by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC). "If states proceed with their plans to end these critical programs, they will be ripping the rug out from under millions of Americans and further hindering our economic recovery."
'The analysis uses a multiplier effect that shows every $1 in unemployment benefits generates $1.61 in local spending based on estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities'. (Yahoo, Money)
'If you lost your job last year there's nothing for you'. This is a Republican governors decision, and you would not be surprised to learn that 'House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) urged all GOP governors to opt out of the federal programs in a letter earlier in May.' For a few more details about this lack of support for workers by the Republicans (and lack of smarts) while sticking it to Biden and the Democrats for their determination to have government fill in when support is needed, here's link for a few more details:
Graham, Cruz, and Hagerty flew to Israel to show support for Netanyahu and call Biden weak! Call the U.S. President WEAK! THOSE ASSHOLES HAVE GOT TO GO!
Israelis know that Senators Cruz, Graham, and Haggerty have absolutely zero interest in the Israeli situation, and are there to grandstand. Unlike the Republican Party, the Israeli electorate is a pretty intelligent lot, and there is no opinion that they ever hold back. Those three American senators are there to shill for Netanyahu, and most Israelis want him gone as soon as possible. The battle was always over who Netanyahu's successor was going to be, and now that a governing coalition appears to be worked out, Netanyahu is about to be shown the door, and likely as not, the inside of a prison cell. Israelis also know that the temper of the American electorate is not as likely to be as favorable to Israel's expansionist political objectives, as exemplified by Netanyahu's policies as in years gone by. There are internal issues that have been put on hold during the years that Netanyahu's coalition has held power, and those issues need to be addressed. The best thing the Israelis could do right now is to tell Senators Cruz, Graham, and Haggerty 'We've got this', to wish them a pleasant flight home, and not to let the door hit them on the way out. I think the adults in the room will be in charge from here on in.
The behavior and language of Republican politicians & FOX characters match my experience with grade school bullies on the playground.
Israel and Russia are two examples of how Republican politicians do more to offer to and ask for help from foreign countries for their personal benefit than any political group in the world. One might think this is a characteristic of socialists. In comparison, they dismiss a majority of Americans, their votes, their wishes and aspirations, their work and their contributions.
Correct me if I am wrong, but tax credits are only meaningful to people who make enough money to pay taxes. I don't recall ever getting a tax credit without a job and income. The people hurting the most during covid19 were let go from jobs and businesses that closed, reduced hours or couldn't retain a full workforce.
My daughters, all in their late 30s and 40s are unmarried with good well paying careers. They admit that they would be less stressed, financially and emotionally better off if they had been able to find a right partner to marry. Being poor doesn't improve your interest in marriage. It may just force people into relationships that aren't healthy, lead to more domestic abuse, broken homes and damaged children.
Republicans have so many biases, illogical, abusive, nasty, authoritarian ideas that they cast against other people that it's impossible to give them credit for anything worth hearing or talking about as a solution for better living. Their best advice could be to talk less and listen more, if they believe that.
Ugh, Conservatives. Fewer incentives to work low paying jobs. There, I fixed it for him. That, and why should people be forced to marry in order to stay out of poverty? This seems like another way they try to make women dependent upon men as women typically earn less than men, and there are fewer living-wage jobs for non-educated women.
“Scott Winship of the American Enterprise Institute told New York Times reporter Jason DeParle, “It’s not sustainable to just give people enough cash to eliminate poverty…. And in the long run it can have negative consequences by reducing the incentives to work and marry.” “
Glad to hear Bill Hagerty, TN’s new senator, is hanging out with Ted and Lindsay and traveling to Israel with these statesmen so he can criticize his own president. Marsha Blackburn was AWOL during the 1/6 commission vote last week. TN is so well represented. Not.
“It’s not sustainable to just give people enough cash to eliminate poverty…. And in the long run it can have negative consequences by reducing the incentives to work and marry.”
What a load of complete and utter tosh.
However, it does reveal the American Enterprise Institute is in favor of captive poverty, poverty wages, and forcing women to marry for economic necessity.
As much as I loathe Senator Graham, the Jewish News Service reported that Graham did not join Cruz in his attack on President Biden.
Their report states, in part:
“Cruz also criticized Democrats, including U.S. President Joe Biden, for not standing more forcefully behind Israel. “Far too many Democrats morally equivocated between Israel and the terrorists attacking them, and fringe progressive Democrats went even further with wild accusations and conspiracy theories,” he said.
He added that prior to leaving the United States, he urged Biden to move forward with efforts to help replenish Israel’s stockpiles of Iron Dome rockets, which he said saved thousands of lives.
While Cruz and Hagerty met with Israeli officials together, Graham held separate meetings with them, during which he reiterated American support for Israel and pointed out that it was bipartisan, despite a handful of left-wing Israel critics.
“There’s been a big dustup over the last engagement between Hamas and the State of Israel in the United States, but I’m here to tell you that there is a wide and deep support for Israel among the Democratic Party,” Graham said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Unlike Cruz, Graham did not criticize the administration and instead thanked Biden for his unequivocal support for Israel and for the administration’s request of funds from Congress to help replenish Iron Dome systems.”
"Scott Winship of the American Enterprise Institute told New York Times reporter Jason DeParle, “It’s not sustainable to just give people enough cash to eliminate poverty…. And in the long run it can have negative consequences by reducing the incentives to work and marry.”
Two things jumped out at me here - No one is suggesting or promoting 'just giving people enough cash to eliminate poverty". The goal was to keep people in their homes and able to feed their families while the pandemic gutted the economy. Secondly, his last comment is the GOP 'tell'. It's that comfortable hammock Paul Ryan loved to warn about.
And by the way, I didn't hear anyone on the Right decry the billions that was gifted to Wall St. when they caused the greatest recession since the 1930s! Nor did I see a rush to keep banks like Wells Fargo from making homeowners desperate to work with the banks to save their homes, from being steam-rolled by trickery and deceit, only to see many of those home bought up by the same banks and flipped when market forces turned in their favor. I'm sure they'd say, 'That was just smart business."
Obviously, America's vaunted work ethic only applies to the 'haves'. The 'have nots' only work when treated like the serfs they're meant to be. Once more the Monty Python famous line struck me - "The beatings will continue until morale improves!!"
What strange concerns, this worry over money as a disincentive "to work and marry." Most of us (human beings) attempt to make meaning in our lives. To paraphrase Tina Turner, 'What does marriage have to do with it?"
These white guys (young or old) who want to regulate my body, my choices...even though they are so 19th century, it still ticks me off.
Hannity and Cruz need time out with 4-year-olds. They could perhaps garner lessons about honor and honesty.
And Bibi needs to be put away for a while, perhaps with idjt for company. And Barr, while we are giving folks a well-deserved confined rest...
Just heard the high school Valedictorian speech of Paxton Smith of Lake Highlands, Texas. She didn't give the approved speech. She gave a powerful speech on the Texas heartbeat anti-abortion law. Hope she runs for state Senate in Texas ... and beyond! Here's the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpJkErsb7UE
A woman should have sovereignty over her own body. Period. Or let's have an equivalent law for men which would be a penectomy for rape. Then maybe this nonsense over control of a women's body would stop.
It’s about time for Netanyahu to go. I’m tired of dirty leaders having immunity from prosecution while they are in office.
Hi, everyone, this is my first post to this august group! Heather’s last few posts finally convinced me to support her with more than my rapt attention and admiration. I have been losing sleep along with many people for a long time, and I just discovered that I could read posts from this group a few months ago.
I am a member of Indivisible GA 10, and a supporting volunteer with MoveOn Georgia. I call myself the Invisible Indivisible because I physically can’t attend their meetings, but my heart is with them! I am happy to report that I, along with so many Georgians, drained our bank accounts and ran up the old magic plastic in order to get the Rev. Warnock and Mr. Ossoff to both receive the title US Senator, and we tried so hard to get Stacey Abrams elected as our governor. But this corrupt state government is well entrenched by republicans and the fight is hard. If you want to know what our country could look like in two years, we can show you.
Enough about me and my state for now. I won’t post very often, but I will hear everything you say, and be fighting very hard alongside all of you as we work to get voter legislation through the senate.
And, may I join all of you posters in expressing my deep gratitude for Professor Cox-Richardson’s willingness to share her impressive knowledge and wise perspective with us. I do believe that you, Professor, have more influence on the people who are working to save our democracy than you could ever realize. Thank you!
So I have several thoughts about the news in this letter--good morning everyone, by the way! Firstly, these deplorables who jetted off to Israel to save it from itself have no understanding of the degree of contempt to which Bibi is held in Israel. He lost FOUR elections in less than two years. FOUR. The Israeli public wants him to go, they just are divided on their own political ideals because proportional representation in such a small country means fragmentation at the parliamentary level. This is why he has been able to claw back power: no one has heretofore been able to come up with a coalition that can hold up. The President (who, in this la-la land of pseudo British parliamentary systems serves the same function as the queen) has consistently refused to call on Bibi to form a government. This is why this coalition is willing to work together, despite their significant political differences: they want him GONE. The tone deafness of these Trumpistas in trying to interfere is both ignorant and derisory. And it will make them look like idiots. Which they are--in the original Greek sense of the term of mindless and thoughtless fools who fail to do their duty as citizens.
Second, they don't give a crap about Israel or the Middle East. They don't give a crap about Jews or the Holocaust or the idea of a Jewish homeland. They are not "Zionists" any more than Amy Semple McPherson might have been in her day. And the reason why I invoke her is because the REAL reason why these jokers have flown to Israel is because the Americans who support Bibi (as opposed to the Americans who support and respect the political, social, and cultural legitimacy of the State of Israel) are extremist right-wing evangelical "Christians" whose fondest wish is that the Jews will be consumed by fire when the Second Coming and the Rapture happens. But in their twisted theology that cannot occur unless the Antichrist comes out of the Jewish community and appears in Jerusalem. So they "welcome" and "support" the State of Israel because they are eagerly anticipating the End Times and the ultimate death and destruction of the Jewish people forever. This, to me, is the ultimate cynical form of Antisemitism. Bibi is well aware of this phenomenon of the so-called religious Right. He has been equally cynical in his ginning up of support for his personal power by catering to them. The difference between him and the broad coalition--which might not hold at all, but I hope it does because it will force these folks to TALK to each other--is that they are not universally willing to embrace an essentially racist rationale in order to sustain and maintain their personal power.
That, at least, is a start in Israel.
Right now I would consider the fate of the Israeli Prime Minister irrelevant to America in the light of the crisis of our looming loss of democracy. We need to help all Americans realize the impact of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights bills not passing. It is time to be outraged! It is time to ACT.
The disrespect being shown to our able bodied and minded President is sad and shameful. Do these politicians and pundits not realize that the seeds they’re planting could undo the very fabric and foundation of our nation?
The big story that I read this morning, after reading today's Letter, was that 25 states will leave 4.5 million workers with little to no benefits next month.
'States canceling extra unemployment benefits will cost local economies $12.3 billion''
'Half of the states planning to cancel the extra $300 in weekly unemployment benefits this month could cost their local economies $12.3 billion, according to a new study. The analysis comes a day after Maryland became the latest GOP-led state to opt out of the jobless program'.
"There is little evidence that enhanced UI (Unemployment Insurance) is holding back employment. In fact, ending it could cost local economies more than $12 billion," Chairman Don Beyer (D-VA) said in a statement on Wednesday following the release of the analysis by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC). "If states proceed with their plans to end these critical programs, they will be ripping the rug out from under millions of Americans and further hindering our economic recovery."
'The analysis uses a multiplier effect that shows every $1 in unemployment benefits generates $1.61 in local spending based on estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities'. (Yahoo, Money)
'If you lost your job last year there's nothing for you'. This is a Republican governors decision, and you would not be surprised to learn that 'House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) urged all GOP governors to opt out of the federal programs in a letter earlier in May.' For a few more details about this lack of support for workers by the Republicans (and lack of smarts) while sticking it to Biden and the Democrats for their determination to have government fill in when support is needed, here's link for a few more details:
https://www.aol.com/finance/states-canceling-extra-unemployment-benefits-175056664.html
Graham, Cruz, and Hagerty flew to Israel to show support for Netanyahu and call Biden weak! Call the U.S. President WEAK! THOSE ASSHOLES HAVE GOT TO GO!
Israelis know that Senators Cruz, Graham, and Haggerty have absolutely zero interest in the Israeli situation, and are there to grandstand. Unlike the Republican Party, the Israeli electorate is a pretty intelligent lot, and there is no opinion that they ever hold back. Those three American senators are there to shill for Netanyahu, and most Israelis want him gone as soon as possible. The battle was always over who Netanyahu's successor was going to be, and now that a governing coalition appears to be worked out, Netanyahu is about to be shown the door, and likely as not, the inside of a prison cell. Israelis also know that the temper of the American electorate is not as likely to be as favorable to Israel's expansionist political objectives, as exemplified by Netanyahu's policies as in years gone by. There are internal issues that have been put on hold during the years that Netanyahu's coalition has held power, and those issues need to be addressed. The best thing the Israelis could do right now is to tell Senators Cruz, Graham, and Haggerty 'We've got this', to wish them a pleasant flight home, and not to let the door hit them on the way out. I think the adults in the room will be in charge from here on in.
The behavior and language of Republican politicians & FOX characters match my experience with grade school bullies on the playground.
Israel and Russia are two examples of how Republican politicians do more to offer to and ask for help from foreign countries for their personal benefit than any political group in the world. One might think this is a characteristic of socialists. In comparison, they dismiss a majority of Americans, their votes, their wishes and aspirations, their work and their contributions.
Correct me if I am wrong, but tax credits are only meaningful to people who make enough money to pay taxes. I don't recall ever getting a tax credit without a job and income. The people hurting the most during covid19 were let go from jobs and businesses that closed, reduced hours or couldn't retain a full workforce.
My daughters, all in their late 30s and 40s are unmarried with good well paying careers. They admit that they would be less stressed, financially and emotionally better off if they had been able to find a right partner to marry. Being poor doesn't improve your interest in marriage. It may just force people into relationships that aren't healthy, lead to more domestic abuse, broken homes and damaged children.
Republicans have so many biases, illogical, abusive, nasty, authoritarian ideas that they cast against other people that it's impossible to give them credit for anything worth hearing or talking about as a solution for better living. Their best advice could be to talk less and listen more, if they believe that.
Ugh, Conservatives. Fewer incentives to work low paying jobs. There, I fixed it for him. That, and why should people be forced to marry in order to stay out of poverty? This seems like another way they try to make women dependent upon men as women typically earn less than men, and there are fewer living-wage jobs for non-educated women.
“Scott Winship of the American Enterprise Institute told New York Times reporter Jason DeParle, “It’s not sustainable to just give people enough cash to eliminate poverty…. And in the long run it can have negative consequences by reducing the incentives to work and marry.” “
Glad to hear Bill Hagerty, TN’s new senator, is hanging out with Ted and Lindsay and traveling to Israel with these statesmen so he can criticize his own president. Marsha Blackburn was AWOL during the 1/6 commission vote last week. TN is so well represented. Not.
“It’s not sustainable to just give people enough cash to eliminate poverty…. And in the long run it can have negative consequences by reducing the incentives to work and marry.”
What a load of complete and utter tosh.
However, it does reveal the American Enterprise Institute is in favor of captive poverty, poverty wages, and forcing women to marry for economic necessity.
Thank you, Professor Richardson.
As much as I loathe Senator Graham, the Jewish News Service reported that Graham did not join Cruz in his attack on President Biden.
Their report states, in part:
“Cruz also criticized Democrats, including U.S. President Joe Biden, for not standing more forcefully behind Israel. “Far too many Democrats morally equivocated between Israel and the terrorists attacking them, and fringe progressive Democrats went even further with wild accusations and conspiracy theories,” he said.
He added that prior to leaving the United States, he urged Biden to move forward with efforts to help replenish Israel’s stockpiles of Iron Dome rockets, which he said saved thousands of lives.
While Cruz and Hagerty met with Israeli officials together, Graham held separate meetings with them, during which he reiterated American support for Israel and pointed out that it was bipartisan, despite a handful of left-wing Israel critics.
“There’s been a big dustup over the last engagement between Hamas and the State of Israel in the United States, but I’m here to tell you that there is a wide and deep support for Israel among the Democratic Party,” Graham said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Unlike Cruz, Graham did not criticize the administration and instead thanked Biden for his unequivocal support for Israel and for the administration’s request of funds from Congress to help replenish Iron Dome systems.”
Source: https://www.jns.org/republican-senators-visit-israel-meet-officials-to-pledge-unequivocal-us-support/
"Scott Winship of the American Enterprise Institute told New York Times reporter Jason DeParle, “It’s not sustainable to just give people enough cash to eliminate poverty…. And in the long run it can have negative consequences by reducing the incentives to work and marry.”
Two things jumped out at me here - No one is suggesting or promoting 'just giving people enough cash to eliminate poverty". The goal was to keep people in their homes and able to feed their families while the pandemic gutted the economy. Secondly, his last comment is the GOP 'tell'. It's that comfortable hammock Paul Ryan loved to warn about.
And by the way, I didn't hear anyone on the Right decry the billions that was gifted to Wall St. when they caused the greatest recession since the 1930s! Nor did I see a rush to keep banks like Wells Fargo from making homeowners desperate to work with the banks to save their homes, from being steam-rolled by trickery and deceit, only to see many of those home bought up by the same banks and flipped when market forces turned in their favor. I'm sure they'd say, 'That was just smart business."
Obviously, America's vaunted work ethic only applies to the 'haves'. The 'have nots' only work when treated like the serfs they're meant to be. Once more the Monty Python famous line struck me - "The beatings will continue until morale improves!!"
What strange concerns, this worry over money as a disincentive "to work and marry." Most of us (human beings) attempt to make meaning in our lives. To paraphrase Tina Turner, 'What does marriage have to do with it?"
These white guys (young or old) who want to regulate my body, my choices...even though they are so 19th century, it still ticks me off.
Hannity and Cruz need time out with 4-year-olds. They could perhaps garner lessons about honor and honesty.
And Bibi needs to be put away for a while, perhaps with idjt for company. And Barr, while we are giving folks a well-deserved confined rest...
I assume our taxes paid for Cruz, Graham, and Hagerty’s trip to criticize Biden. As you pointed out, it’s political. Can we bill them?