The Republic Is Saved.

[spenser1058]

Mayor Pete took back the streets of South Bend for pedestrians and cyclists. Can Secretary Pete do the same thing for the rest of America at DOT?

In South Bend, Pete Buttigieg challenged a decades-old assumption that streets are for cars above all else
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/pete-buttigieg-south-bend/2021/01/15/6bb014b2-55d5-11eb-a08b-f1381ef3d207_story.html

From The Washington Post 

[jack]

On 1/15/2021 at 7:45 PM, spenser1058 said:

Anyway, James Buchanan thanks you. He’s no longer the nation’s worst president.

Woodrow Wilson is the worst. Its not even close. 

[jack]

 

On 1/16/2021 at 10:08 AM, JFW657 said:

Calling Democrats "socialists" is a conservative/Republican propaganda talking point.

It's meant as a demonization tactic to imply (falsely) that Democrats are somehow un-American. 

As such, conservative Republicans run with it and repeat it ad nauseum in every social media platform or discussion forum.

Explaining to them how and why they are in error, is a waste of time because they don't care if what they say is true or not.

Just putting it out there is the goal.

It is reductive and similar to calling everything or everyone racist that they don't agree with. Or comparing something to slavery, the holocaust etc. 99% of the time, it is not true. 

The closest person to govern as a true socialist is Bernie Sanders and though he has some clout, he has been and will always be a back bencher. 

For the GOP, Steve King is the only person I can think that might truly be a racist. And he got bounced. 

 

[JFW657]

15 hours ago, jack said:

 

It is reductive and similar to calling everything or everyone racist that they don't agree with. Or comparing something to slavery, the holocaust etc. 99% of the time, it is not true. 

The closest person to govern as a true socialist is Bernie Sanders and though he has some clout, he has been and will always be a back bencher. 

For the GOP, Steve King is the only person I can think that might truly be a racist. And he got bounced. 

Well, I agree that the word "racist" gets tossed around a bit too freely these days, but I don't see or hear it directed at conservatives per se, quite as much as I see and hear the word "socialist" directed at liberals. People who are given to calling everything or everyone they don't agree with "racist" don't seem to care much about what ideology the target of their accusation subscribes to.

Just an observation I've made over many years of posting on political forums. 

I don't see most conservatives as racists, but they seem to favor policies that benefit their own kind. Most likely out of self interest more than animosity towards minorities. 

Of course, of the group of people who ARE blatantly racist (white supremacists, skin heads, neo-Nazis, etc.), I would say that they are almost exclusively conservatives and more prone to voting Republican than Democrat. Partly out of the same self interest that I mentioned before, but also because  policies that favor the white upper class are detrimental to the non-white under class. More of a "happy" (for them) coincidence than anything. 

[spenser1058]

On 1/18/2021 at 9:11 AM, jack said:

 

It is reductive and similar to calling everything or everyone racist that they don't agree with. Or comparing something to slavery, the holocaust etc. 99% of the time, it is not true. 

The closest person to govern as a true socialist is Bernie Sanders and though he has some clout, he has been and will always be a back bencher. 

For the GOP, Steve King is the only person I can think that might truly be a racist. And he got bounced. 

 

Actually, Bernie has finally arrived after all these years. Thanks to seniority and caucusing with the majority, the Bern will be chair of the Budget Committee this go ‘round. Jack, you’re right though that he’s never been in leadership and, until recently, never wrote much legislation.

The interesting thing to me about Bernie is how, unlike most of his followers, willing he is to work for compromise. That no doubt comes from a background in politics, going all the way back to his time as mayor.

Edited January 19, 2021 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

In less than 18 hours, the pictures of The Donald and Pence will come down in federal buildings and embassies around the world. They will be replaced by those of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. There is a just and fair God (who, unlike The Donald, believes in the peaceful transfer of power in the world’s longest-lasting constitutional Republic).

[JFW657]

3 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Actually, Bernie has finally arrived after all these years. Thanks to seniority and caucusing with the majority, the Bern will be chair of the Budget Committee this go ‘round. Jack, you’re right though that he’s never been in leadership and, until recently, never wrote much legislation.

The interesting thing to me about Bernie is how, unlike most of his followers, willing he is to work for compromise. That no doubt comes from a background in politics, going all the way back to his time as mayor.

Is that really why? 

Or are his supporters just being tossed a bone? 

[spenser1058]

6 minutes ago, JFW657 said:

Is that really why? 

Or are his supporters just being tossed a bone? 

It is. He was next in line. It also helped with the conundrum that he couldn’t be Secretary of Labor without sacrificing the Vermont senate seat to the GOP.

Also, Joe and Bernie really do like each other.

Edited January 20, 2021 by spenser1058

[JFW657]

Just now, spenser1058 said:

It is. He was next in line.

I didn't know there was a line.

I thought Republicans were the ones who did that, ala Bob Dole, John McCain, etc.

I suspect this is more of a nod to/acknowledgement of his popularity amongst progressives.  

[spenser1058]

Just now, JFW657 said:

I didn't know there was a line.

I thought Republicans were the ones who did that, ala Bob Dole, John McCain, etc.

I suspect this is more of a nod to/acknowledgement of his popularity amongst progressives.  

Nope, when it comes to committee chairs, seniority matters if you’re in the majority. It used to be totally sacrosanct (something the Dixiecrats counted on). The chairs have less power than they used to but that’s still how you get there.

[spenser1058]

So, Lady Gaga, J. Lo and Garth nailed their songs today.

Kudos to Garth for uncovering. Since he was outside he didn’t have to but class act given the gravity of the event.

Lady G has set the standard for inaugural dresses for many years to come. That was amazing.

[orange87]

I wonder how long until we get a $15 minimum wage, legal cannabis and expanded Obamacare. Hopefully quickly.

[spenser1058]

1 minute ago, orange87 said:

I wonder how long until we get a $15 minimum wage, legal cannabis and expanded Obamacare. Hopefully quickly.

With the barest of majorities in the Senate, it’s going to be tricky. Here’s hoping. Suffice it to say that for the next two years, Sen. Manchin of WV is God...

[JFW657]

16 minutes ago, orange87 said:

I wonder how long until we get a $15 minimum wage, legal cannabis and expanded Obamacare. Hopefully quickly.

 

12 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

With the barest of majorities in the Senate, it’s going to be tricky. Here’s hoping. Suffice it to say that for the next two years, Sen. Manchin of WV is God...

Expanding Obamacare could possibly be passed via the reconciliation process, which is how I believe Obamacare was originally passed with a simple majority.

Obamacare originally relied on requiring all 50 states to expand Medicaid to cover everyone, but Rick Scum Scott sued and it went to the SCOTUS, who ruled that states can decide individually for themselves whether or not they wanted to do so.

That is why today, in states like Florida, people who make too much to qualify for traditional, non-expanded Medicaid, but too little to qualify for subsidies under Obamacare, are out of luck in terms of getting health insurance.

The $15 minimum wage and legalized weed would not qualify for reconciliation, so they would need a 2/3 majority to override a filibuster.

1 hour ago, spenser1058 said:

So, Lady Gaga, J. Lo and Garth nailed their songs today.

Kudos to Garth for uncovering. Since he was outside he didn’t have to but class act given the gravity of the event.

Lady G has set the standard for inaugural dresses for many years to come. That was amazing.

I cannot stand the sight or sound of Lady Gag, Jail-Ho or Girth Brooks.

Instamute was soon as they came on. 

[spenser1058]

8 minutes ago, JFW657 said:

 

Expanding Obamacare could possibly be passed via the reconciliation process, which is how I believe Obamacare was originally passed with a simple majority.

Obamacare originally relied on requiring all 50 states to expand Medicaid to cover everyone, but Rick Scum Scott sued and it went to the SCOTUS, who ruled that states can decide individually for themselves whether or not they wanted to do so.

That is why today, in states like Florida, people who make too much to qualify for traditional, non-expanded Medicaid, but too little to qualify for subsidies under Obamacare, are out of luck in terms of getting health insurance.

The $15 minimum wage and legalized weed would not qualify for reconciliation, so they would need a 2/3 majority to override a filibuster.

The interesting thing about the filibuster is that if Moscow Mitch chooses to rely on it too much like he did in the Obama administration, he runs the risk of the Democrats throwing it overboard. But to do it, they have to go through Sen. Manchin. This could get interesting.

As you point out, Florida is not benefiting from Obamacare and/or any improvements which may come because of the idiots in Tallahassee. Now that President Biden is in, on to the governor’s race. If you want healthcare for all Floridians, send a Democrat up there to fix it. May I suggest Gwen Graham?

Edited January 20, 2021 by spenser1058

[jack]

30 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

With the barest of majorities in the Senate, it’s going to be tricky. Here’s hoping. Suffice it to say that for the next two years, Sen. Manchin of WV is God...

Medicare/Affordable Health Act is achievable, as well as cannibas. I don't see $15 as being realistic. 

Edited January 20, 2021 by jack

[orange87]

1 minute ago, jack said:

Medicare/Affordable Health Act is achievable, as well as cannibas. I don't see $15 as being realistic. 

$15 minimum wage has bipartisan support, as evidence of it getting a supermajority to support it in the red state of Florida.

[orange87]

9 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

The interesting thing about the filibuster is that if Moscow Mitch chooses to rely on it too much like he did in the Obama administration, he runs the risk of the Democrats throwing it overboard. But to do it, they have to go through Sen. Manchin. This could get interesting.

As you point out, Florida is not benefiting from Obamacare and/or any improvements which may come because of the idiots in Tallahassee. Now that President Biden is in, on to the governor’s race. If you want healthcare for all Floridians, send a Democrat up there to fix it. May I suggest Gwen Graham?

The Governorship is achievable in Florida for the Dems. The state's legislative chambers are gonna be next to impossible for the Democrats to get majorities in either. The Republicans currently have supermajorities in both chambers.

[nite owℓ]

Yeah I didn't really care for this year's star performers. I'm just glad the nightmare is finally over.

https://twitter.com/ImLizzieM/status/1351957217189257216?s=20

[JFW657]

25 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

The interesting thing about the filibuster is that if Moscow Mitch chooses to rely on it too much like he did in the Obama administration, he runs the risk of the Democrats throwing it overboard. But to do it, they have to go through Sen. Manchin. This could get interesting.

As you point out, Florida is not benefiting from Obamacare and/or any improvements which may come because of the idiots in Tallahassee. Now that President Biden is in, on to the governor’s race. If you want healthcare for all Floridians, send a Democrat up there to fix it. May I suggest Gwen Graham?

We don't just need the the Governor on our side, we need the House and Senate too.

Although some members of the state Senate were a bit more amenable to the idea than the strident ideologues in the House.

[gibby]

31 minutes ago, JFW657 said:

passed via the reconciliation process, which is how I believe Obamacare was originally passed with a simple majority.

definitely not.  It was 60-39.

[JFW657]

Just now, gibby said:

definitely not.  It was 60-39.

I wasn't sure.

I remember Olympia Snowe was the one Republican who crossed the aisle.

[gibby]

She voted nay.   Zero republicans voted for it.

[JFW657]

8 minutes ago, gibby said:

She voted nay.   Zero republicans voted for it.

True. She did buck her GOP colleagues and voted for it to go from the Finance Committee before the full Senate, where she then voted against it.

Quote

1. In October 2009, Snowe was the sole Republican in the Senate to vote for the Finance Committee’s health care reform bill. “When history calls, history calls,” she said at the time. Snowe said she wanted the bill sent to the full Senate, but noted she might not support the final version — and she didn’t. Still, many Republicans didn’t forget voted to bring health care reform up for a vote.

https://www.politico.com/story/2012/02/9-snowe-votes-that-angered-the-gop-073449

 

[spenser1058]

31 minutes ago, JFW657 said:

We don't just need the the Governor on our side, we need the House and Senate too.

Although some members of the state Senate were a bit more amenable to the idea than the strident ideologues in the House.

Also correct but you have to start with the governor, who will make appointments to boards and stuff and then contributors start giving money to Democrats and we start taking back legislative seats. It took 20+ years to get in this mess and it’s gonna take a bit to get out. Gotta start somewhere, though. Sadly, one of the worst thing about Democrats is we don’t pay much attention to down-ballot races even though that’s how the GOP took over (that and Jeb!’s once-invincible machine). So, we need a little glitter at the top to prime the pump and hopefully NOT Andrew Gillum.

Gwen is competent, has learned to give the Bernie Bros some red meat on Twitter and doesn’t frighten the old folks.

The good news is The Donald is likely to split the GOP in two, mostly out of spite. WeDems may finally get a tailwind in spite of ourselves.

Edited January 20, 2021 by spenser1058