Dec 3, 2022Liked by Heather Lofthouse, Robert Reich
They will begin a series of hearings and investigations into how Obama's decision to expand healthcare while wearing a tan suit led to the unnecessary Benghazi deaths that put millions of dollars into Hunter Biden's pockets which he used to fund a stream of illegal immigrant caravans who then took jobs from already struggling "real" Americans forcing them to the capitol to protest where they were savagely beaten by Deep State ANTIFA Secret Service agents, none of whom can be identified or found now thanks to the George Soros-funded media coverup kicked off years ago at the request of Hillary Clinton...who obviously did so...by email.
Dec 3, 2022·edited Dec 3, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
I couldn't make 2 choices, so I chose the most obvious. Shutting down the 1/6 hearings will happen >simultaneously< with beginning a >whole series< of revenge hearings. Make sure to include in your thinking, that just about every Republican initiative since Nixon - and arguably, FDR - have been motivated by revenge. It's the Repulivengance party! Indeed, for all their faux-Christian palaver, they embrace the notion of revenge as justice.
Perhaps after the successful conviction of the top lieutenants of the Oath Keepers, an emboldened DOJ may adopt an aggressive strategy of going after all of the right wing militia groups and their enablers in Congress? One can hope that the pendulum will eventually start to swing the other way.
DZK : And their non stop pa-Lather as they foam at the mouth about everything Democrat, and now Democracy itself, blaming everyone except themselves for everything that goes wrong in this world, while they worship dictators and Nazis!
my god, you nailed it! but you forgot the next tax cut for the struggling rich, as well as more restrictive union organizing rules to prevent overpaid workers from ravaging corporate bottom lines, and what about the persecution of matt gaetz? there are so many critical issues to address - 2 years may not be enough time, so they need to make sure the supremes rule favorably on the case allowing state legislatures to decide elections.
Progress on progressive agenda will be dead as a great auk. Many people think that when congress is in gridlock the country prospers because politicians can't do anything.
DZK, I love your squirrel cage logo. In addition to its current meaning of a treadmill it reminds me of the "Great Wheels" used in 1200 to 1400's in the building of the great cathedrals of Europe. These were large enough to be powered by four men. I am a retired engineer but blacksmithing is my hobby.
I like it because it harkens to the icon of the 20th Century businessman - the American Dream is a nightmare, kind'a thing, at least that was thinking of the time. It seems to have survived to the 21st!
Don't forget the pent-up expectations for an investigation of Hillary's pepperoni pizza pedophilia and the demands to stoke woke folk fears of backlash about reparations, police defunding, and affirmative action.
Other: Anything they can do to stop Biden from governing while doing everything they can to take their salaries for doing no real work.
The one thing they might not do, after this past election, is to protect Trump from prosecution. What a wonderful way to get rid of their cancer without lifting a finger of rejsponsibilty.
@rawgod, While I believe you’re likely correct on both counts, I merely would add, along with blocking Biden from governing, Republicans, in turn, will blame Biden for the consequences that ensue.
Absolutely. That is part of the game they play: Take responsibilty for the good, no matter who caused or brought it, while taking no responsibility for the bad, even if they themselves caused or brought it.
Their cult members will believe anything they are told, which is why Herschel Walker received 1.7+ million votes in Georgia yesterday.
And the anything includes believing "woke folk" are a cult of their own. They have no idea they are cult members, because they are told they in are the right.
Dec 3, 2022·edited Dec 3, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
I voted: Republicans to end the January 6 committee.
Robert and Heather talk Railroads. Fed. Musk. Ga voting.
I have OCD. I talk insurrection. If the Democrats win the Ga Senate seat, it is possible that the Senate could extend the investigation. We'll know Tuesday.
I've been asking house members to pass a resolution. "Resolved: All who challenge the legitimacy of the government cannot serve in this chamber."
I spoke to a couple of members who think it's a great idea. But so far, it hasn't been done. Maybe Democrats would have greater leverage.
I'm eagerly waiting to see whether the committee refers Congress members to the Justice Department for prosecution. Navarro said about 100 members were involved in the Green Bay sweep. Some asked Trump for pardons.
The big news of the week: 11th Circuit tosses Trump's Mar a Lago judge shopping & Oathkeeppers go down.
I like your resolution, Daniel, I just sent this resolution to my Congressman. Perhaps if everyone on Substack who can, emails their Congress person it might stir up more interest.
I think that "The Great Train Wreck" skitters up to the problem of what is wrong with the Democrats and then shies away from it. The sad fact is that the Democratic party has abandoned working people; it is no longer the party of FDR but of Bill Clinton (under whom this shift became blatantly obvious). One can examine the historical and political "whys" of this endlessly but the fact remains that the Democratic Party has by and large abandoned the basis issues of fighting financial inequality and championing workers' rights. Instead of a new third party being needed, the Democrats need to rediscover what used to be their bedrock principles and start defending them.
I'm sorry but this is the same issue we've had to face many times. Public employees don't have the right to strike. Common carriers are highly regulated and their employees have rights and benefits greater than the rest of the general population. I think I laid it out yesterday. This is a compromise and meanwhile collective bargaining is still ongoing.
A balance has to be struck sometimes in favor of national security. not just economics.
During the Korean War, there was a labor dispute between steel workers and steel mill operators. President Truman used an executive order to take control of the steel mills and ensure the continued production of steel during wartime. Youngstown and other steel mill operators challenged the President’s executive order, claiming that Truman’s action was an executive overreach because it was not authorized by statute. The Supreme Court held that the President had acted unconstitutionally because neither Congress nor the Constitution gave him the authority to seize the steel mills. In his influential concurrence, Justice Jackson described a three-category framework for analyzing separation of powers conflicts between the President and Congress. This key opinion took further steps toward defining the constitutional limits on executive orders and the boundaries between the branches of government. During the Korean War, there was a labor dispute between steel workers and steel mill operators. President Truman used an executive order to take control of the steel mills and ensure the continued production of steel during wartime. Youngstown and other steel mill operators challenged the President’s executive order, claiming that Truman’s action was an executive overreach because it was not authorized by statute. The Supreme Court held that the President had acted unconstitutionally because neither Congress nor the Constitution gave him the authority to seize the steel mills. In his influential concurrence, Justice Jackson described a three-category framework for analyzing separation of powers conflicts between the President and Congress. This key opinion took further steps toward defining the constitutional limits on executive orders and the boundaries between the branches of government.
Biden could have asked DOJ for a TRO, injunctions, temporary restraining orders on all the threatened strikes on the basis that national security is jeopardized. But he didn't.
We should continue this debate out in a frozen switchyard, at night, during a blizzard, while trying to get a switch engine that had derailed itself because the crew did not get out to throw the switch, back onto the tracks. That might change our perspective a little on what rail workers do for a living. I've done it.
The membership got a 24% raise and one more leave day.
I used to hear these cases. I got my railroading merit badge when I was about 12. My dad, uncles at one time worked on the railroad. My dad's experiences as a gandy dancer encouraged him to go to law school. My uncle died after an accident cutting out a boxcar in 1961. I have a friend whose daughter in law was killed a few years ago on an Amtrack run.
Got to remain impartial. Believe me, these cases rise and fall on credibility. I'm sure that BNSF, Union Pacific et al are not happy with some of my decisions. Same goes for some of the complainants who did not prevail.
Like I said before, Biden had to strike a balance. The public interest is the third party.
I agree. Pelosi tried to include sick days with an amendment but it didn't pass in the senate because of the republicans. Biden wants the sick days but the republicans continue to block them. People should put the blame where it is deserved and that is not on Biden or the democrats.
With that much I agree, but from what I have read so far, the 7 days sick leave did not have enforcement language in it. Sick leave is already in the Union Contract, but if an employee uses dick leave they are fired, without Federal and State agencies forcing the Railroad executives to actually grant sick leave legislation and contracts are meaningless.
I'm confused about the rail workers. They're PUBLIC employees? The trains and their employees are not working for private companies? So, how is it that these companies can pay their CEO's, upper management, etc, exorbitant salaries, bonus's and more? How is it that these people have good benefits and the underlings do not? People working in the government aren't treated like private employees....so, these were GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES? Really, I don't understand this....
Whether we like it or not, negotiations always result in compromises.
From PBS: “The main reason for Biden to act now is that nearly every industry would be hurt by a rail shutdown...Railroads haul about 40% of the nation's freight, and the railroads estimated that a rail strike would cost the economy $2 billion a day. In his statement Monday, Biden noted that he's been pushing for a separate federal paid leave policy for the past two years and will continue to do so.”
"I know that many in Congress shared my reluctance to override the union ratification procedures. But in this case, the consequences of a shutdown were just too great for working families all across the country,” Biden said. “We ensured rail workers will get a historic 24% wage increase, better conditions, and a cap on health care costs. And I won't stop fighting for paid sick leave for all workers.” Without freight rail, many of the U.S. industries would literally shut down. In the event of a shutdown, my economic advisors report that as many as 765,000 Americans, many of them union members themselves, would have been put out of work for the first time and — excuse me, within the first two weeks of this — of the strike alone.”
“Communities could have lost access to chemicals necessary to ensure clean drinking water. Farms and ranches across the country would have been unable to feed their livestock. And thanks to the bill Congress passed and what I’m about to sign, we’ve spared the country that catastrophe.”
This compromise is far from an “abandonment of working people.”
Like I've been saying, he wanted Congress to give them the added 6 days but had to strike a balance. All senate Democrats except Manchin and a few Republicans voted for the 7 days...even Ted Cruz...but couldn't get to 60 votes.
Despite some misinformation, "hours of service" provision remains intact.
Here's a report from Cobb County, Georgia -- where we've lived for close to 40 years. First, our county, north of Atlanta is very diverse -- 60% white; 30% African-American; and 10% Hispanic and Asians. Population about 3/4 million. Fairly highly educated, Cobb has turned far more blue in recent decades -- even though it was once part of Newt Gingrich's district.
Cobb went for Hillary Clinton in 2016 -- I waited in line for nearly 3 hours to vote for her. We went solidly for Stacey Abrams for governor in 2018, and again this year. Joe Biden, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in 2020, and Senator Warnock again in November. And get this: Cobb County went for Antonio Daza over the incumbent Barry Loudermilk. Daza is an open and proud member of the LGBT community, and an immigrant from Venezuela. (Loudermilk became famous for giving reconnaissance tours to rioters in early January, 2021.)
Early ("Advance") voting here has been phenomenal. There's a website where we could keep track of wait times and the polling place I usually go to had wait times averaging over an hour. I drove by it just to check and there was a pretty long line of a lot of young people -- which I always take as a good sign. And speaking of signs, I don't see many for either candidate in this part of the county.
Our outgoing Republican Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan made news the other day when he said he waited an hour in line to vote -- and when he saw the two names, he could not vote for either of them. You KNOW Georgia has changed when the only choices for US Senator given to "good ole boys" are two black men. May there be a million Duncans.
I advance voted on Thursday -- at a recently opened polling place -- and it took about 20 minutes. We're expecting some pretty heavy rain in this part of Georgia on Election Day / Tuesday, and that could play a factor. Phew...I'll be glad when this is over.
An additional reply: 538 Polling shows Warnock leading in all but two of it's aggregated polls. Extrapolated, that's Warnock leading in five polls, tied in one and down by 1 percentage point in the last. Warnock's point lead in the five polls are by 2, 3, 4, 7, and 4 points. Polls are polls, and are subject to error. But this is a pretty strong showing. And it could mean another rebuke to Donald Trump. -- And one other thing: For Georgia readers, please emphasize in your minds the idea that polls can be misleading and taking nothing for granted, go vote.
That's so good, Beth! -- My wife and I are near 70 and we've both managed to stay Covid-free, confirmed by frequent testing and never having any symptoms. (We too are extremely careful, and my n95 is always with me when I go shopping (or voting).
As I just voted on Thursday, I'll be testing again tomorrow.
The greatest alphabetizers! on the Saturday morning coffee klatch. As for the poll ' I think the Republicans will do everything on the list, except working with the Democrats on getting bipartisan legislation passed.
It is more productive to talk about what the Republicans will achieve. They will achieve nothing and will make a mockery of self-government and will be binned in November 2024. Unfortunately, the U.S. will have lost another two years to the dual crises of climate change and inequality.
and as you no doubt know,we do not have two years to lose on climate.we've used up all our time.the only question now is how catastrophic the future will be.
seems obvious to me that we need to set a climate catastrophe metric. sort of like we have for tornadoes.I propose one based upon the number of expected deaths in any given year. So for example a climate catastrophe of 0 would mean zero deaths a climate catastrophe of 2 would mean 100 deaths i e 10 to the second power. a climate catastrophe of 8 would be 100 million deaths. however such a metric should be constructed, point is that the severity of our situation needs to be made clearer to the public.telling the public that we Face catastrophe doesn't mean a whole lot since there are a whole lot of catastrophes
.I suppose one reason we don't have better metrics that we actually publicize is because it makes it a little harder for people to hide behind their cant and wishful thinking.
Good idea, but above my pay scale ! Maybe bring your idea up with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Sell it as a Climate Disaster clock like the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock.
Being working class all my life the expected answer to the rhetorical question "who speaks for the working class?" is sadly, no one. I finally got sick leave after a life of working sick or injured and I wonder at why something so essential and humane has been denied to a class that produces most of the country's wealth. I finally got a job that allows a degree of healthcare, something in the past I had to cobble together for myself and in the end lost. Why was this denied for so long? These are all rhetorical questions. We all know "the answer". When I vote, I know the Republicans are corrupt and are not in any way "the party of the working class" but the Democrats, in many ways had turned their backs, on us for over forty years! Politically, I have no home in either camp. A workers party sounds good. I'll believe it when I see it. But if there is a crisis in American Democracy it's that an entire class of individuals have been locked out of the conversation for a very long time.
I agree that the democrats turned their backs on the working people for a long time but I also see them now trying to do things for them. Pelosi set it up so paid leave could be included but the republicans and Manchin ,in the senate, rejected it. Today's democrats have to work with reality and reality is that the republicans, often with help from Manchin and sometimes Sinema, can block just about everything.
I agree. My personal thinking is that the Democratic party is effectively brain dead as it regards to anything that involves their old working class base. Very few exceptions. Maybe Tim Ryan in Ohio. And of course Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. But thank you for making this point.
The Squad puts themselves on the line everyday and their payment is often death threats and being labeled Communists. They require more security than other members of Congress.
BS. You are drinking the divide and conquer kool aid crap.
The first line of defense for the working class have been trial lawyers. Unfortunately Republicans control state legislatures in many states and now control the courts.
"I finally got a job that allows a degree of healthcare, something in the past I had to cobble together for myself and in the end lost."
The only things that losers like you have to take on the world are the Democratic Party, education and the contingent fee/fee shifting statutes that give you a chance to prevail.
They will do the first three choices, and they will also investigate Clinton's email server and Hunter Biden because they apparently think we've all forgotten how those investigations turned out last time.
The first thing they have to do is elect a Speaker, and I wouldn't be surprised if they try to vote in Trump, or even resuscitate Gingrich. Desperate measures for desperate times. If they try to elect someone who is not a House member, how will that be digested by the Supreme Court? Will they even hear a case about how another branch of government runs its business? How will a preposition war between a Speaker "of" the House and a Speaker "for" the House be determined?
I wasn't this crazy and suspicious before Trump was elected; I don't know if I should blame old age or life experience. But I'm still terrified about the path this country might take.
Once you focus and dwell on man's animality, you see that his desires are endless and his restraints nonexistent. Most of us can control our worst instincts; some can't and don't even try. They're criminals and psychopaths and dangerous to civil society. It's an eternal struggle to maintain civilization, which is why we created and maintain government, religion, education, law enforcement, and encourage good parenting and decent living conditions. We need all extant social forces to keep our noses above water.
That's why we came out of the law of the jungle. Originally, there were no restraints and we slowly developed them as we went from small hunter/gatherer groups to larger groups to bigger settlements with agriculture to small cities to larger cities. Each development required more laws. Now is not the time to reverse it.
So Heather doesn’t know why the Dems roll over. And Robert thinks it’s partially the money. C’mon guys, you’re smarter than that. IT’S THE MONEY! Biden and the corporate Dems, which are most of the party now, don’t represent their constituents, they represent the people who PAY them — their corporate donors! Biden could just as easily averted a strike had he forced the robber, er, railroad barons to give the rail workers more sick leave. But he chose what his donors wanted him to do instead. It’s really that simple and it has happened over and over again in the last two years while the Dems have been in the majority. I’m a Democrat, and this sickens me.
Isn't 'good ol' Joe from Scranton' just being the corporate Democrat he has always been. I'm not all about Bernie Sanders or President Biden but the president could have moved a lot closer to Bernie Sanders on this one. And maybe Bernie should have enlisted Jim Clyburn's help.
I'm disappointed in the president on the rail issue and it appears he is going to run again.
Yesterday, I heard something on the mainstream, broadcast news that astonished me. Apparently, somebody's now explaining inflation as being a result of the high employment numbers and everyone now having money to spend! That's a new one on me! I've heard it explained as being a result of government spending for shut-down assistance, supply chain issues, and low employment because so many resigned from their s#!7 jobs and s#!7 wages. I wish they'd make up their goddam minds on what lies to tell! Perish the thought any would breathe a word against the corporate profiteering >those of us here all know about!<
While I'm at it, a few days ago I went to get gas. While I found the price was down a bit at $3.49/gal, I notice the price of diesel was friggin' $5.99. >I nearly swooned!< I remember a time when diesel was typically $0.50 less than >regular< gas - gas prices were considerably lower then because the dollar was worth considerably more than it is now, and at that time the gas prices were considered outrageous! (I remember the days of $0.25/gallon regular gas - before the days of the alleged "gas crisis.") How's that significant; cars that run on diesel are usually higher end vehicles that relatively few of us drive? >>The goddam supply chain <runs> on diesel!<< What's exacerbating high grocery prices? Dope it out for yourselves!
I saw that $5.99 price, too. (At least it's not $6; that would really be overkill.)
Diesel is a waste product; they used to throw it on the ground. Then diesel engines came out; trucks etc. used it. It was a cheap product for a cheap price. How could its price increase so dramatically, surpassing the more highly processed regular gasoline? I don't understand. Is something rotten in Houston (where most oil companies headquarter)?
Once again, we have met the enemy, and he is us. If only we loved people more than money! I guess it's because people disappoint, bore, frustrate, annoy, and scare us; but the things we can buy with money -- survival, big houses, fancy cars and clothes, fine cuisine and wines, status, technological doodads, in short, a great material life -- rarely disappoint and usually serve to consistently make us happier. (I read new psychological research that concludes that, in brief, the more money you have, the happier you are. I know: That goes against the popular myth that rich people are often miserable, but apparently it just ain't so. Darn it! I was using that myth to help reduce my sadness as a relatively poor person; this new fact makes the pain increase. Just when you think it can't get any worse ... )
Your third paragraph nails it, James. From the 1980's on Money is King, the fantasy of all. Houses filled with useless and unused gadgets just because the ads say they have to have them. If money makes people happy, why don't Musk and Bezos never have enough?
Many trucks run on diesel, and the cars that run on diesel typically get more miles per gallon than gas cars. Remember the big VW scandal where makers had put in cheat devices to get passed emissions regulations ? Those where not high end cars. People I know we're driving them because of the mpg and unaware of the cheat device.
If you haven't seen Mr Muncie's reply to the my comment, that you're replying to here, it'll get into a little more detail on what I was driving at - if you'll excuse the unintended pun.
Don't know where you live, but here in Seattle, gas prices range anywhere from $4.39 to $5.69 a
gallon for regular, with diesel higher than that highest $. + some of the higher gas prices are at
stations in lower income neighborhoods. Go figure, except a good many of those stations also have mini-marts and are probably franchises where that owner determines $$-$$$. And a # of those have shut down to upgrade their premises. I, personally, seek out the cheapest gas along my regular in town routes, but even those fluctuate ~
Bravo, Heather! Alphabet 'backwards'. Brilliant. But why is it backwards? Why don't we learn the alphabet in a mixed up manner starting with 'a', or starting with 'z', or starting with 'n' and going round to 'm'. We might look at issues differently, and find solutions more readily. (I am from a country that says 'zed'). Loved today's podcast. Got me thinking how fortunate I was to grow up in a time of strong unions, and workers' rights, where we seemed to be pulling together for the betterment of humanity, and not the betterment of corporate bank accounts.
They will begin a series of hearings and investigations into how Obama's decision to expand healthcare while wearing a tan suit led to the unnecessary Benghazi deaths that put millions of dollars into Hunter Biden's pockets which he used to fund a stream of illegal immigrant caravans who then took jobs from already struggling "real" Americans forcing them to the capitol to protest where they were savagely beaten by Deep State ANTIFA Secret Service agents, none of whom can be identified or found now thanks to the George Soros-funded media coverup kicked off years ago at the request of Hillary Clinton...who obviously did so...by email.
I couldn't make 2 choices, so I chose the most obvious. Shutting down the 1/6 hearings will happen >simultaneously< with beginning a >whole series< of revenge hearings. Make sure to include in your thinking, that just about every Republican initiative since Nixon - and arguably, FDR - have been motivated by revenge. It's the Repulivengance party! Indeed, for all their faux-Christian palaver, they embrace the notion of revenge as justice.
Here's hoping they will be too busy defending themselves in criminal prosecutions.
I hope you're right. I sincerely hope the DOJ has sufficient staff to hold all the prosecutions necessary.
Perhaps after the successful conviction of the top lieutenants of the Oath Keepers, an emboldened DOJ may adopt an aggressive strategy of going after all of the right wing militia groups and their enablers in Congress? One can hope that the pendulum will eventually start to swing the other way.
Interesting possibility, Daniel. It is a possibility.
Randy Gaul: Something to hope for!
Daniel Solomon: Yes!
DZK : And their non stop pa-Lather as they foam at the mouth about everything Democrat, and now Democracy itself, blaming everyone except themselves for everything that goes wrong in this world, while they worship dictators and Nazis!
my god, you nailed it! but you forgot the next tax cut for the struggling rich, as well as more restrictive union organizing rules to prevent overpaid workers from ravaging corporate bottom lines, and what about the persecution of matt gaetz? there are so many critical issues to address - 2 years may not be enough time, so they need to make sure the supremes rule favorably on the case allowing state legislatures to decide elections.
I am glad that they only control the House. They'd need Senate cooperation and Presidential approval before any of those become law.
Controlling the House, however, gives them the right to name committee chairs, hold investigations ad infinitum.
Progress on progressive agenda will be dead as a great auk. Many people think that when congress is in gridlock the country prospers because politicians can't do anything.
Oh, boy!
You took the words right out of my keyboard!
It >really does< kind'a make you wonder how it'll all be recounted in history books 20 years from now, don'it?
They will pass a law to ban history books that contain anything true and factual.
Already have.
DZK, I love your squirrel cage logo. In addition to its current meaning of a treadmill it reminds me of the "Great Wheels" used in 1200 to 1400's in the building of the great cathedrals of Europe. These were large enough to be powered by four men. I am a retired engineer but blacksmithing is my hobby.
I like it because it harkens to the icon of the 20th Century businessman - the American Dream is a nightmare, kind'a thing, at least that was thinking of the time. It seems to have survived to the 21st!
DZK ; If history books are allowed.
@Ian. That's the spirit!! You are a funny man!!
Kevin McCarthyism
is it truly You?!
looks like you
guys'll be
Busy!
Lol
Love it! Look for a segment with Tucker Carlson coming soon!
Your script is straight on from Trumpland. Bravo! That is exactly the gobbledy goop the retrumplicans dish out.
Don't forget the pent-up expectations for an investigation of Hillary's pepperoni pizza pedophilia and the demands to stoke woke folk fears of backlash about reparations, police defunding, and affirmative action.
Love it!
Fight amongst themselves and grand stand. In other words, get nothing positive accomplished for the majority of Americans 😔
Other: Anything they can do to stop Biden from governing while doing everything they can to take their salaries for doing no real work.
The one thing they might not do, after this past election, is to protect Trump from prosecution. What a wonderful way to get rid of their cancer without lifting a finger of rejsponsibilty.
Good observation.
@rawgod, While I believe you’re likely correct on both counts, I merely would add, along with blocking Biden from governing, Republicans, in turn, will blame Biden for the consequences that ensue.
Absolutely. That is part of the game they play: Take responsibilty for the good, no matter who caused or brought it, while taking no responsibility for the bad, even if they themselves caused or brought it.
Their cult members will believe anything they are told, which is why Herschel Walker received 1.7+ million votes in Georgia yesterday.
And the anything includes believing "woke folk" are a cult of their own. They have no idea they are cult members, because they are told they in are the right.
I voted: Republicans to end the January 6 committee.
Robert and Heather talk Railroads. Fed. Musk. Ga voting.
I have OCD. I talk insurrection. If the Democrats win the Ga Senate seat, it is possible that the Senate could extend the investigation. We'll know Tuesday.
I've been asking house members to pass a resolution. "Resolved: All who challenge the legitimacy of the government cannot serve in this chamber."
I spoke to a couple of members who think it's a great idea. But so far, it hasn't been done. Maybe Democrats would have greater leverage.
I'm eagerly waiting to see whether the committee refers Congress members to the Justice Department for prosecution. Navarro said about 100 members were involved in the Green Bay sweep. Some asked Trump for pardons.
The big news of the week: 11th Circuit tosses Trump's Mar a Lago judge shopping & Oathkeeppers go down.
I like your resolution, Daniel, I just sent this resolution to my Congressman. Perhaps if everyone on Substack who can, emails their Congress person it might stir up more interest.
I think that "The Great Train Wreck" skitters up to the problem of what is wrong with the Democrats and then shies away from it. The sad fact is that the Democratic party has abandoned working people; it is no longer the party of FDR but of Bill Clinton (under whom this shift became blatantly obvious). One can examine the historical and political "whys" of this endlessly but the fact remains that the Democratic Party has by and large abandoned the basis issues of fighting financial inequality and championing workers' rights. Instead of a new third party being needed, the Democrats need to rediscover what used to be their bedrock principles and start defending them.
I'm sorry but this is the same issue we've had to face many times. Public employees don't have the right to strike. Common carriers are highly regulated and their employees have rights and benefits greater than the rest of the general population. I think I laid it out yesterday. This is a compromise and meanwhile collective bargaining is still ongoing.
A balance has to be struck sometimes in favor of national security. not just economics.
During the Korean War, there was a labor dispute between steel workers and steel mill operators. President Truman used an executive order to take control of the steel mills and ensure the continued production of steel during wartime. Youngstown and other steel mill operators challenged the President’s executive order, claiming that Truman’s action was an executive overreach because it was not authorized by statute. The Supreme Court held that the President had acted unconstitutionally because neither Congress nor the Constitution gave him the authority to seize the steel mills. In his influential concurrence, Justice Jackson described a three-category framework for analyzing separation of powers conflicts between the President and Congress. This key opinion took further steps toward defining the constitutional limits on executive orders and the boundaries between the branches of government. During the Korean War, there was a labor dispute between steel workers and steel mill operators. President Truman used an executive order to take control of the steel mills and ensure the continued production of steel during wartime. Youngstown and other steel mill operators challenged the President’s executive order, claiming that Truman’s action was an executive overreach because it was not authorized by statute. The Supreme Court held that the President had acted unconstitutionally because neither Congress nor the Constitution gave him the authority to seize the steel mills. In his influential concurrence, Justice Jackson described a three-category framework for analyzing separation of powers conflicts between the President and Congress. This key opinion took further steps toward defining the constitutional limits on executive orders and the boundaries between the branches of government.
Biden could have asked DOJ for a TRO, injunctions, temporary restraining orders on all the threatened strikes on the basis that national security is jeopardized. But he didn't.
Cut him a break.
We should continue this debate out in a frozen switchyard, at night, during a blizzard, while trying to get a switch engine that had derailed itself because the crew did not get out to throw the switch, back onto the tracks. That might change our perspective a little on what rail workers do for a living. I've done it.
The membership got a 24% raise and one more leave day.
I used to hear these cases. I got my railroading merit badge when I was about 12. My dad, uncles at one time worked on the railroad. My dad's experiences as a gandy dancer encouraged him to go to law school. My uncle died after an accident cutting out a boxcar in 1961. I have a friend whose daughter in law was killed a few years ago on an Amtrack run.
Got to remain impartial. Believe me, these cases rise and fall on credibility. I'm sure that BNSF, Union Pacific et al are not happy with some of my decisions. Same goes for some of the complainants who did not prevail.
Like I said before, Biden had to strike a balance. The public interest is the third party.
I agree. Pelosi tried to include sick days with an amendment but it didn't pass in the senate because of the republicans. Biden wants the sick days but the republicans continue to block them. People should put the blame where it is deserved and that is not on Biden or the democrats.
With that much I agree, but from what I have read so far, the 7 days sick leave did not have enforcement language in it. Sick leave is already in the Union Contract, but if an employee uses dick leave they are fired, without Federal and State agencies forcing the Railroad executives to actually grant sick leave legislation and contracts are meaningless.
From what I've read, they don't have sick leave. Biden built in 1 day in the contract.
"Common carriers are highly regulated and their employees have rights and benefits greater than the rest of the general population."
other than sick days
and paid time off?
"On call."
I laid this out yesterday. Goes to "hours of service. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/appendix-A_to_part_228
These are parties in collective bargaining. The unions have internal problems with their own members.
I'm confused about the rail workers. They're PUBLIC employees? The trains and their employees are not working for private companies? So, how is it that these companies can pay their CEO's, upper management, etc, exorbitant salaries, bonus's and more? How is it that these people have good benefits and the underlings do not? People working in the government aren't treated like private employees....so, these were GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES? Really, I don't understand this....
How dare ye, use my beloved Truman against me!
Whether we like it or not, negotiations always result in compromises.
From PBS: “The main reason for Biden to act now is that nearly every industry would be hurt by a rail shutdown...Railroads haul about 40% of the nation's freight, and the railroads estimated that a rail strike would cost the economy $2 billion a day. In his statement Monday, Biden noted that he's been pushing for a separate federal paid leave policy for the past two years and will continue to do so.”
"I know that many in Congress shared my reluctance to override the union ratification procedures. But in this case, the consequences of a shutdown were just too great for working families all across the country,” Biden said. “We ensured rail workers will get a historic 24% wage increase, better conditions, and a cap on health care costs. And I won't stop fighting for paid sick leave for all workers.” Without freight rail, many of the U.S. industries would literally shut down. In the event of a shutdown, my economic advisors report that as many as 765,000 Americans, many of them union members themselves, would have been put out of work for the first time and — excuse me, within the first two weeks of this — of the strike alone.”
“Communities could have lost access to chemicals necessary to ensure clean drinking water. Farms and ranches across the country would have been unable to feed their livestock. And thanks to the bill Congress passed and what I’m about to sign, we’ve spared the country that catastrophe.”
This compromise is far from an “abandonment of working people.”
Like I've been saying, he wanted Congress to give them the added 6 days but had to strike a balance. All senate Democrats except Manchin and a few Republicans voted for the 7 days...even Ted Cruz...but couldn't get to 60 votes.
Despite some misinformation, "hours of service" provision remains intact.
My comment wasn’t meant to be directed at you Daniel. I apologize for the confusion.
Here's a report from Cobb County, Georgia -- where we've lived for close to 40 years. First, our county, north of Atlanta is very diverse -- 60% white; 30% African-American; and 10% Hispanic and Asians. Population about 3/4 million. Fairly highly educated, Cobb has turned far more blue in recent decades -- even though it was once part of Newt Gingrich's district.
Cobb went for Hillary Clinton in 2016 -- I waited in line for nearly 3 hours to vote for her. We went solidly for Stacey Abrams for governor in 2018, and again this year. Joe Biden, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in 2020, and Senator Warnock again in November. And get this: Cobb County went for Antonio Daza over the incumbent Barry Loudermilk. Daza is an open and proud member of the LGBT community, and an immigrant from Venezuela. (Loudermilk became famous for giving reconnaissance tours to rioters in early January, 2021.)
Early ("Advance") voting here has been phenomenal. There's a website where we could keep track of wait times and the polling place I usually go to had wait times averaging over an hour. I drove by it just to check and there was a pretty long line of a lot of young people -- which I always take as a good sign. And speaking of signs, I don't see many for either candidate in this part of the county.
Our outgoing Republican Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan made news the other day when he said he waited an hour in line to vote -- and when he saw the two names, he could not vote for either of them. You KNOW Georgia has changed when the only choices for US Senator given to "good ole boys" are two black men. May there be a million Duncans.
I advance voted on Thursday -- at a recently opened polling place -- and it took about 20 minutes. We're expecting some pretty heavy rain in this part of Georgia on Election Day / Tuesday, and that could play a factor. Phew...I'll be glad when this is over.
An additional reply: 538 Polling shows Warnock leading in all but two of it's aggregated polls. Extrapolated, that's Warnock leading in five polls, tied in one and down by 1 percentage point in the last. Warnock's point lead in the five polls are by 2, 3, 4, 7, and 4 points. Polls are polls, and are subject to error. But this is a pretty strong showing. And it could mean another rebuke to Donald Trump. -- And one other thing: For Georgia readers, please emphasize in your minds the idea that polls can be misleading and taking nothing for granted, go vote.
So nice to see a local perspective report on Georgia's runoff. Thank you.
We had rain in LA County on Nov 8 and people kept on coming in to our election center. Hopefully, GA, too!
I've been reading how the Covid numbers in your area are on the rise again. Please, stay safe!
Ooooh, thank you! Haven't let up on masking, very picky about my environs....so far, my husband and I are infection free.
That's so good, Beth! -- My wife and I are near 70 and we've both managed to stay Covid-free, confirmed by frequent testing and never having any symptoms. (We too are extremely careful, and my n95 is always with me when I go shopping (or voting).
As I just voted on Thursday, I'll be testing again tomorrow.
The greatest alphabetizers! on the Saturday morning coffee klatch. As for the poll ' I think the Republicans will do everything on the list, except working with the Democrats on getting bipartisan legislation passed.
On this I totally agree, Laurie. Join with the dems was the only false answer!
It is more productive to talk about what the Republicans will achieve. They will achieve nothing and will make a mockery of self-government and will be binned in November 2024. Unfortunately, the U.S. will have lost another two years to the dual crises of climate change and inequality.
and as you no doubt know,we do not have two years to lose on climate.we've used up all our time.the only question now is how catastrophic the future will be.
seems obvious to me that we need to set a climate catastrophe metric. sort of like we have for tornadoes.I propose one based upon the number of expected deaths in any given year. So for example a climate catastrophe of 0 would mean zero deaths a climate catastrophe of 2 would mean 100 deaths i e 10 to the second power. a climate catastrophe of 8 would be 100 million deaths. however such a metric should be constructed, point is that the severity of our situation needs to be made clearer to the public.telling the public that we Face catastrophe doesn't mean a whole lot since there are a whole lot of catastrophes
.I suppose one reason we don't have better metrics that we actually publicize is because it makes it a little harder for people to hide behind their cant and wishful thinking.
Good idea, but above my pay scale ! Maybe bring your idea up with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Sell it as a Climate Disaster clock like the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock.
tks I submitted to UCS .
I agree, I expect a 'Do Nothing' Congress for the next two years.
Being working class all my life the expected answer to the rhetorical question "who speaks for the working class?" is sadly, no one. I finally got sick leave after a life of working sick or injured and I wonder at why something so essential and humane has been denied to a class that produces most of the country's wealth. I finally got a job that allows a degree of healthcare, something in the past I had to cobble together for myself and in the end lost. Why was this denied for so long? These are all rhetorical questions. We all know "the answer". When I vote, I know the Republicans are corrupt and are not in any way "the party of the working class" but the Democrats, in many ways had turned their backs, on us for over forty years! Politically, I have no home in either camp. A workers party sounds good. I'll believe it when I see it. But if there is a crisis in American Democracy it's that an entire class of individuals have been locked out of the conversation for a very long time.
I agree that the democrats turned their backs on the working people for a long time but I also see them now trying to do things for them. Pelosi set it up so paid leave could be included but the republicans and Manchin ,in the senate, rejected it. Today's democrats have to work with reality and reality is that the republicans, often with help from Manchin and sometimes Sinema, can block just about everything.
Manchin and Sinema are only 2 of 50 Democrats in the senate.
You would throw out the baby with the bathwater.
So you are the local troll yes?
But when they side with the republicans, they can block everything. The other 48 votes won't count.
I agree. My personal thinking is that the Democratic party is effectively brain dead as it regards to anything that involves their old working class base. Very few exceptions. Maybe Tim Ryan in Ohio. And of course Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. But thank you for making this point.
The Squad puts themselves on the line everyday and their payment is often death threats and being labeled Communists. They require more security than other members of Congress.
BS. You are drinking the divide and conquer kool aid crap.
The first line of defense for the working class have been trial lawyers. Unfortunately Republicans control state legislatures in many states and now control the courts.
Oh, yeah... "the lawyers will save us..." And you assert that I have been drinking something. Would be funny if it weren't so pathetic.
"I finally got a job that allows a degree of healthcare, something in the past I had to cobble together for myself and in the end lost."
The only things that losers like you have to take on the world are the Democratic Party, education and the contingent fee/fee shifting statutes that give you a chance to prevail.
You coudda, shoudda had a lawyer!
They will do the first three choices, and they will also investigate Clinton's email server and Hunter Biden because they apparently think we've all forgotten how those investigations turned out last time.
The first thing they have to do is elect a Speaker, and I wouldn't be surprised if they try to vote in Trump, or even resuscitate Gingrich. Desperate measures for desperate times. If they try to elect someone who is not a House member, how will that be digested by the Supreme Court? Will they even hear a case about how another branch of government runs its business? How will a preposition war between a Speaker "of" the House and a Speaker "for" the House be determined?
I wasn't this crazy and suspicious before Trump was elected; I don't know if I should blame old age or life experience. But I'm still terrified about the path this country might take.
Once you focus and dwell on man's animality, you see that his desires are endless and his restraints nonexistent. Most of us can control our worst instincts; some can't and don't even try. They're criminals and psychopaths and dangerous to civil society. It's an eternal struggle to maintain civilization, which is why we created and maintain government, religion, education, law enforcement, and encourage good parenting and decent living conditions. We need all extant social forces to keep our noses above water.
That's why we came out of the law of the jungle. Originally, there were no restraints and we slowly developed them as we went from small hunter/gatherer groups to larger groups to bigger settlements with agriculture to small cities to larger cities. Each development required more laws. Now is not the time to reverse it.
So Heather doesn’t know why the Dems roll over. And Robert thinks it’s partially the money. C’mon guys, you’re smarter than that. IT’S THE MONEY! Biden and the corporate Dems, which are most of the party now, don’t represent their constituents, they represent the people who PAY them — their corporate donors! Biden could just as easily averted a strike had he forced the robber, er, railroad barons to give the rail workers more sick leave. But he chose what his donors wanted him to do instead. It’s really that simple and it has happened over and over again in the last two years while the Dems have been in the majority. I’m a Democrat, and this sickens me.
Isn't 'good ol' Joe from Scranton' just being the corporate Democrat he has always been. I'm not all about Bernie Sanders or President Biden but the president could have moved a lot closer to Bernie Sanders on this one. And maybe Bernie should have enlisted Jim Clyburn's help.
I'm disappointed in the president on the rail issue and it appears he is going to run again.
See my comments, above. Divide and conquer. Do you want Christmas or not?
See my comment below. And yes, even though I still have my two front teeth.
Yesterday, I heard something on the mainstream, broadcast news that astonished me. Apparently, somebody's now explaining inflation as being a result of the high employment numbers and everyone now having money to spend! That's a new one on me! I've heard it explained as being a result of government spending for shut-down assistance, supply chain issues, and low employment because so many resigned from their s#!7 jobs and s#!7 wages. I wish they'd make up their goddam minds on what lies to tell! Perish the thought any would breathe a word against the corporate profiteering >those of us here all know about!<
While I'm at it, a few days ago I went to get gas. While I found the price was down a bit at $3.49/gal, I notice the price of diesel was friggin' $5.99. >I nearly swooned!< I remember a time when diesel was typically $0.50 less than >regular< gas - gas prices were considerably lower then because the dollar was worth considerably more than it is now, and at that time the gas prices were considered outrageous! (I remember the days of $0.25/gallon regular gas - before the days of the alleged "gas crisis.") How's that significant; cars that run on diesel are usually higher end vehicles that relatively few of us drive? >>The goddam supply chain <runs> on diesel!<< What's exacerbating high grocery prices? Dope it out for yourselves!
I saw that $5.99 price, too. (At least it's not $6; that would really be overkill.)
Diesel is a waste product; they used to throw it on the ground. Then diesel engines came out; trucks etc. used it. It was a cheap product for a cheap price. How could its price increase so dramatically, surpassing the more highly processed regular gasoline? I don't understand. Is something rotten in Houston (where most oil companies headquarter)?
Once again, we have met the enemy, and he is us. If only we loved people more than money! I guess it's because people disappoint, bore, frustrate, annoy, and scare us; but the things we can buy with money -- survival, big houses, fancy cars and clothes, fine cuisine and wines, status, technological doodads, in short, a great material life -- rarely disappoint and usually serve to consistently make us happier. (I read new psychological research that concludes that, in brief, the more money you have, the happier you are. I know: That goes against the popular myth that rich people are often miserable, but apparently it just ain't so. Darn it! I was using that myth to help reduce my sadness as a relatively poor person; this new fact makes the pain increase. Just when you think it can't get any worse ... )
Your third paragraph nails it, James. From the 1980's on Money is King, the fantasy of all. Houses filled with useless and unused gadgets just because the ads say they have to have them. If money makes people happy, why don't Musk and Bezos never have enough?
My dad had a 'saying' (which I now call - dadisms)::
'It ain't a sin to be poor,
but it sure is unhandy ~'
"Money ain't everything, but it sure helps!" - an old saying from these parts.
A penny for your sarcasm? LOL! You're right about diesel, though. >My< thoughts exactly. It's bullshit.
Many trucks run on diesel, and the cars that run on diesel typically get more miles per gallon than gas cars. Remember the big VW scandal where makers had put in cheat devices to get passed emissions regulations ? Those where not high end cars. People I know we're driving them because of the mpg and unaware of the cheat device.
How 'bout the diesel trucks and diesel train engines that make up the backbone of the supply chain. >That< was the point.
If you haven't seen Mr Muncie's reply to the my comment, that you're replying to here, it'll get into a little more detail on what I was driving at - if you'll excuse the unintended pun.
Don't know where you live, but here in Seattle, gas prices range anywhere from $4.39 to $5.69 a
gallon for regular, with diesel higher than that highest $. + some of the higher gas prices are at
stations in lower income neighborhoods. Go figure, except a good many of those stations also have mini-marts and are probably franchises where that owner determines $$-$$$. And a # of those have shut down to upgrade their premises. I, personally, seek out the cheapest gas along my regular in town routes, but even those fluctuate ~
Bravo, Heather! Alphabet 'backwards'. Brilliant. But why is it backwards? Why don't we learn the alphabet in a mixed up manner starting with 'a', or starting with 'z', or starting with 'n' and going round to 'm'. We might look at issues differently, and find solutions more readily. (I am from a country that says 'zed'). Loved today's podcast. Got me thinking how fortunate I was to grow up in a time of strong unions, and workers' rights, where we seemed to be pulling together for the betterment of humanity, and not the betterment of corporate bank accounts.
Can Professor Reich recite the list of US Presidents in reverse order?
OBSTRUCT!
That’s what the Republicans will (continue) to do.