The inevitable end result of our last 56 years

[David Andrews]

3 hours ago, Kirk Gallaway said:

This is involving an economic stimulus, with the Democrats controlling the House. 1+1 is pretty much 2, Dave. If we don't get a $600 check , it's because Trump vetoed it, in a frantic search to find some means to ingratiate himself to the public as an added ploy to somehow overthrow the election and keep in office and out of court.

 

Kirk: the Times story example was meant to show that select members of Congress are perfectly capable of orchestrating a collusive, bipartisan charade of progress through extended debate.  In the current case, they want to force people off the lifeboat of unemployment insurance to accommodate new swimmers coming aboard in 2021.  Trump's in on it, or there would have been an Executive extension of federal support for state unemployment insurance after the funds for his first order expired in September.  (That order only provided funds to retroactively cover the shortfall occurring when the March through July CARES Act expired.) 

2 + 2 = 5, as Orwell wrote, and I say all action since September was intended to scuttle funding through the remainder of the Trump administration.

Here's salon.com exploring your thesis.  They can't prove their point any more than I can prove mine, yet, for either hypothesis, "the circumstantial evidence is abundant and compelling."

"Trump likely thinks he's blackmailing McConnell into stealing the election for him. While we have no direct proof this is an extortion scheme, the circumstantial evidence is abundant and compelling. Here's what we know: 

"Trump really does believe that Republicans know some super secret method for nullifying the election he just lost, and that they're just not revealing it to him for some reason. In reality, Republicans probably would help him steal the election if they could, but they can't. But Trump refuses to accept this so he is constantly wheedling GOP officials to do more and whining publicly that they're holding out on him."

https://www.salon.com/2020/12/23/republicans-enabled-trump-for-four-years--of-course-hes-betraying-them-in-the-11th-hour/

Edited December 23, 2020 by David Andrews

[W. Niederhut]

First Eddie Gallagher.  Now this.   Trump seems strangely fond of grifters and homicidal psychopaths.

It's stuff like this that makes me embarrassed to be an American citizen -- and I say that as a guy whose family members fought in U.S. wars going back to the Revolutionary War.

Leaving Out Assange, Who Exposed US War Crimes, Trump Pardons Blackwater Guards Jailed for Massacring Iraqi Civilians

"While U.S. Army contractors convicted of massacring civilians in Iraq are pardoned, the man who exposed such crimes against humanity, Julian Assange, rots in Britain's Guantanamo."

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/23/leaving-out-assange-who-exposed-us-war-crimes-trump-pardons-blackwater-guards-jailed

[Andrew Prutsok]

I wrote this editorial in my paper Friday urging Trump to do the very thing he did. 

 

President Trump’s instincts are correct and he should follow them

 

Word Friday morning was that Congress was near a deal on approving a new stimulus package before heading home for the holidays.

The deal stinks and it’s a testament to the dysfunction that is the United States Congress that this deal — that gives individuals a paltry $600 and a minor temporary bump in unemployment benefits along with some aid to small business and money for vaccine distribution — is the best that our elected representatives can come up.

This at a time when the economic recovery has stalled and signs are emerging that it’s actually getting worse. 

Weekly unemployment claims are back up around 1 million (The all-time record was around 600,000 prior to the pandemic); it was announced this week that holiday retail sales in November — at a time most retailers depend on to make or break their year — were in the toilet; and a new analysis from researchers at the University of Chicago and University of Notre Dame estimates that nearly 8 million Americans have fallen into poverty since June — the biggest single-year spike in at least 60 years.

Millions are already behind on their rent or mortgage payments and 1 in 6 adults who live with children said their households lacked sufficient food in the past week.

The scale of the economic devastation the United States is suffering is staggering. The stimulus bill before Congress might help people for a few days, a few weeks at most.

What’s more, in exchange for getting even the tiny amount of money directly to people, negotiators had to abandon aid to state and local governments in the proposed bill. Economists are predicting that most states and local governments will be in dire straits soon, if they aren’t already, due to high unemployment and declining retail sales and the resulting loss of sales and income tax revenue. This means teachers, firefighters, police officers, public health employees and others we depend on to keep society functioning properly, will have their jobs threatened without local tax increases or severe service cuts enacted.

During the congressional negotiations, strange political bedfellows have emerged — Conservative Mo. Sen. Josh Hawley and Vermont socialist Bernie Sanders who have joined forces to urge their colleagues to get Americans the help they need now.

While it’s encouraging to see elected representatives set aside philosophical differences in the face of an emergency, that and $4 will get struggling Americans a cup of coffee. They, and the people of the country, need someone with real power and influence to join in the fight.

On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that President Donald Trump was on the verge of intervening in the House and Senate negotiations to lobby for a higher stimulus payment. The Post reported the president thought people needed a minimum of $1,200 and up to $2,000. Alas, his aides talked him out of taking action, apparently, for fear of “blowing up the negotiations.”

With his iron grip on the Republican party, President Trump could make this happen, probably without much effort — a mere tweet could do the trick.

The president is a politician who lives by his instincts, and those instincts have mostly served him well. In this instance, his instinct told him Americans are suffering and need a lot help. His instincts are correct in this case, too, and he should follow them.

The sad part of this for the president is that he been making this case back in October instead of focusing almost entirely on Hunter Biden’s laptop, he likely would have breezed to re-election.

With the likely end of his time in office approaching, the president could secure his legacy by following his instincts and doing what he knows is right — getting American citizens, small businesses, and state local governments the money they need now.

[James DiEugenio]

18 hours ago, Sandy Larsen said:

 

 

 

I don't think so, Dennis. After all, you had to throw in James Garfield to complete your list of ten. He served only six months before being assassinated... perhaps he wasn't in office long enough for you to learn to hate.  

 

Garfield was actually a pretty decent guy.  Advocated for civil rights, civil service reform, which was passed by Arthur, and forced Conkling to resign.

[James DiEugenio]

I assume you all think that the senate GOP will never in a million years go along with the 2 grand?

Or do you think Trump is bluffing?

If he does veto it, the votes are there to stop any override.

 

[James DiEugenio]

Now, this is interesting: was Trump planning to do this all along?

 

They could also overturn a veto, as long as it’s not a pocket veto, which allows the president to merely stall on signing a bill while Congress adjourns.

But those are worst-case scenarios that leaders had been working feverishly to avoid. In fact, during a meeting on the relief bill with the “big four” congressional leaders, Pelosi had repeatedly pressed Mnuchin — who was patched in via speakerphone — for Trump’s position on the stimulus checks.

After four times without an answer, Pelosi said: “Come on Steven!”

 

[James DiEugenio]

If Trump pocket vetoes this, he really has  the upper hand when he returns from Florida.

Technically, there is no override on a pocket veto. Congress would have to start all over. 

[David Andrews]

20 minutes ago, Kathy Beckett said:

Folks, we are not getting a stimulus package anytime soon. I think he's doing to this cripple the whole country. 

 

You are right, ma'am, but members of Congress are in on it.

[Richard Price]

As I write this, it is 27 days, 15 hours until we hopefully have a transition to a sane and normal presidency even with all its flaws.  I still have some hope, but I've been flying my flag at half staff since the death of RBG and plan on putting it back up only when the transition occurs.  I had thought of flying it upside down, but decided to wait until after the election and do so only if Trump won.  If these deluded "patriots" continue and violence begins, I will flip it over at that time.  Hopefully I do not have to do so.  I have been a pacifist independent my entire life and continue being so.  I deeply believe in the Constitution and the ideals set forth by the founders of this country with all of the flaws and errors we have introduced into it.  If I must fight to defend these ideals, I will in whatever manner I can muster.  Even at my age, I truthfully would rather be in a real jail cell than "free" in Trumpian fascist world.  It was said best by Nathan Hale, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."  I would only add, “You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” “If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary.” -Malcolm X

[Kirk Gallaway]

Andrew wrote:

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Posted 3 hours ago

I wrote this editorial in my paper Friday urging Trump to do the very thing he did. 

 

President Trump’s instincts are correct and he should follow them

 

Word Friday morning was that Congress was near a deal on approving a new stimulus package before heading home for the holidays.

The deal stinks and it’s a testament to the dysfunction that is the United States Congress that this deal — that gives individuals a paltry $600 and a minor temporary bump in unemployment benefits along with some aid to small business and money for vaccine distribution — is the best that our elected representatives can come up.

This at a time when the economic recovery has stalled and signs are emerging that it’s actually getting worse. 

Weekly unemployment claims are back up around 1 million (The all-time record was around 600,000 prior to the pandemic); it was announced this week that holiday retail sales in November — at a time most retailers depend on to make or break their year — were in the toilet; and a new analysis from researchers at the University of Chicago and University of Notre Dame estimates that nearly 8 million Americans have fallen into poverty since June — the biggest single-year spike in at least 60 years.

Millions are already behind on their rent or mortgage payments and 1 in 6 adults who live with children said their households lacked sufficient food in the past week.

The scale of the economic devastation the United States is suffering is staggering. The stimulus bill before Congress might help people for a few days, a few weeks at most.

What’s more, in exchange for getting even the tiny amount of money directly to people, negotiators had to abandon aid to state and local governments in the proposed bill. Economists are predicting that most states and local governments will be in dire straits soon, if they aren’t already, due to high unemployment and declining retail sales and the resulting loss of sales and income tax revenue. This means teachers, firefighters, police officers, public health employees and others we depend on to keep society functioning properly, will have their jobs threatened without local tax increases or severe service cuts enacted.

During the congressional negotiations, strange political bedfellows have emerged — Conservative Mo. Sen. Josh Hawley and Vermont socialist Bernie Sanders who have joined forces to urge their colleagues to get Americans the help they need now.

While it’s encouraging to see elected representatives set aside philosophical differences in the face of an emergency, that and $4 will get struggling Americans a cup of coffee. They, and the people of the country, need someone with real power and influence to join in the fight.

On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that President Donald Trump was on the verge of intervening in the House and Senate negotiations to lobby for a higher stimulus payment. The Post reported the president thought people needed a minimum of $1,200 and up to $2,000. Alas, his aides talked him out of taking action, apparently, for fear of “blowing up the negotiations.”

With his iron grip on the Republican party, President Trump could make this happen, probably without much effort — a mere tweet could do the trick.

The president is a politician who lives by his instincts, and those instincts have mostly served him well. In this instance, his instinct told him Americans are suffering and need a lot help. His instincts are correct in this case, too, and he should follow them.

The sad part of this for the president is that he been making this case back in October instead of focusing almost entirely on Hunter Biden’s laptop, he likely would have breezed to re-election.

With the likely end of his time in office approaching, the president could secure his legacy by following his instincts and doing what he knows is right — getting American citizens, small businesses, and state local governments the money they need now.

**********

Andrew, This is well written, and you've diagnosed the problem well. It sounds like you're in a political pickle. It sounds like you're trying to coddle  a deep red readership

Andrew said:.With his iron grip on the Republican party, President Trump could make this happen, probably without much effort — a mere tweet could do the trick.

No,he's a guy desperately trying to hold on to his eroding power. He's already tweeted and it's not happening. My guess it will get back to the Mac Connell getting his way and  the check will be $600. I hope I'm wrong.But the only way around that is the Dems making a broader coalition with the Republicans than one Senator from Missouri.

Andrew said:The president is a politician who lives by his instincts, and those instincts have mostly served him well.

No his instincts have been a disaster for the country..

Andrew said:In this instance, his instinct told him Americans are suffering and need a lot help. His instincts are correct in this case, too, and he should follow them.

Hate to clue you  Andrew. But Trump is a sociopath who does not care at all about people's suffering. As you yourself pointed out, he hasn't been helping anybody out for the entire pandemic except his buddies.. He could have gotten off this rear end back last summer and advocated a bigger relief bill. It's his populist ploy. He cares about one thing and one thing only, and that is staying in office and saving his neck, that's why he pardoned Manafort, Stone, and Flynn.

Andrew said :Frankly, I'd be surprised if the DNC wants the Dems to win Georgia. As it is, they have a built in excuse with "McConnell obstruction" not to do anything, certainly nothing of a progressive bent. If they lose Georgia, they run less risk of angering their corporate masters.

 Would you tell your readership that? I generally like your cyncicism  Andrew, but I think that's a total red crock..The Dems want to control the Senate and kick out Mac Connell very badly. If you're sad because the Democrats aren't progressive enough for you, it's because in this last election they were soundly rejected by everywhere from Ohio across the belt to Iowa, which were the places they were hoping to make gains and I assume is where your readership is from. If you can't make people wake up and vote in their interests. Life's a bitch, ain't it?

Since you're sincere about getting aid to the suffering. The best sustained deal you're going to get is from Biden with a Democrat Senate, other wise he may end up being effective as Gerald Ford. Mac Connell will hold the purse strings and Biden will get the blame for not doing enough about the suffering. Again, not a lot of choices, life's a bitch!

Edited December 24, 2020 by Kirk Gallaway

[Andrew Prutsok]

You are right in that I am in a pickle with a red readership. People have been dropping subs at a pretty fast clip since the election, complaining that our AP news is fake. I’ve tried really hard to find something, anything, to say about him that is not laced with curses.

While his motivations may be different than what I’ve posed, I fully believe the current deal is a POS and that Trump is the only person who can make it better for people who are hurting. I don’t care if he’s doing it out of pure spite. Pelosi’s not going to do anything. She settled for half of what Republicans offered a month ago and claimed the relief it provides is substantial, when it clearly is not. Nobody was even talking about $2,000 until he butted in.

And, to be clear, I said his instincts have worked for him, which they have until last month. I never said they were good for the country.

 

 

 

Edited December 24, 2020 by Andrew Prutsok

[W. Niederhut]

2 hours ago, Kathy Beckett said:

Looks like trump has about depleted the entire prison population of Azkaban. Welcome out to Jared's pappy, and Grooms of the Stool , Mr. Paul Manafort and Mr. Roger Stone.

 

'Basically what we're seeing here is a confession': Ex-Mueller prosecutor
www.rawstory.com/trumps-pardons-are-confessions/
 

December 23, 2020

[W. Niederhut]

Addendum:  Here's an interesting analysis of Trump's abuse of Presidential pardons by an historian from NYU.

Trump’s Pardons Make the Unimaginable Real

He may now attempt what no one thought a president would ever try.

How to Abuse a Presidential Pardon - The Atlantic

[Steve Thomas]

4 hours ago, Kathy Beckett said:

 I think he's doing to this cripple the whole country.

Millions of people are going to get evicted from their homes in the dead of winter, fighting over scraps of food in the garbage dumps.

Oh well, I'll just go and do what Jared and Ivanka did and buy myself a private island. I'll spend my time playing betting games on the stock market.

It'll be fun.

Steve Thomas

[Kirk Gallaway]

13 hours ago, Andrew Prutsok said:

You are right in that I am in a pickle with a red readership. People have been dropping subs at a pretty fast clip since the election, complaining that our AP news is fake. I’ve tried really hard to find something, anything, to say about him that is not laced with curses.

While his motivations may be different than what I’ve posed, I fully believe the current deal is a POS and that Trump is the only person who can make it better for people who are hurting. I don’t care if he’s doing it out of pure spite. Pelosi’s not going to do anything. She settled for half of what Republicans offered a month ago and claimed the relief it provides is substantial, when it clearly is not. Nobody was even talking about $2,000 until he butted in.

And, to be clear, I said his instincts have worked for him, which they have until last month. I never said they were good for the country.

 

 

 

I agree that we should get the most we can get through Trump or anybody.

Andrew said:" Pelosi’s not going to do anything."

That's not really true. Pelosi can't do it alone. Any bill has to go through the Senate and Mac Connell. .My gripe with Pelosi is that she should have settled at !.9 trillion in October, and I said it at the time. Instead she held out, I assume for you, Andrew and others, who would say she sold you out. And that was a mistake.

But she really first proposed the most generous package yet. I just found it and Pelosi's first proposal was back in late  March for 2.5 trillion. Everybody, retired and unemployed gets $1500, families up to $7500, and expand unemployment insurance $600 a week. 500 billion in loans to small business, (I don't see a mention of corporate bailouts, perhaps she knew the Repubs would add that in) ,150 billion to hospitals and public health centers, 60 billion  to schools and universities, 30 billion to states for school funding. She was painted by the Republicans as being incredibly liberal and of course she couldn't get it because that's how the system works..

 

 

Edited December 24, 2020 by Kirk Gallaway