Saturday, July 25, 2020
Things Are Getting Dangerous
We're sitting on a powder keg.
Louisville police closed streets and set up barricades to help separate members of the NFAC (Not F***ing Around Coalition), an Atlanta-based Black militia, from those of far-right "Three Percenter" militia groups vowing to show up in response.
At least 100 NFAC members lined up in a park a few blocks from downtown before marching to a protest where Black Lives Matter activists and the Three Percenters were being separated by a police barricade of about 40 officers in riot gear.
Labels: battlefield, culture wars, politics, rumours of war, the end of western civilization, violence
Friday, September 16, 2011
Predictions and Driving the Narrative
Personally, I think its far to soon to speculate on who the Republican nominee might be, but this article has an interesting perspective on who the nominee will be and why.
Labels: politics
More Conservative Shenanigans
Now the Republicans in Harrisburg are pushing to replace the "winner take all" electoral vote allocation with a plan to distribute PA's Presidential Electors according to how the vote turns out in each individual congressional district. Governor Bought And Paid For says this needs to be done to "counter" the huge majorities Democrats enjoy in Philadelphia.
Left unsaid, and unremarked on, is that millions of Pennsylvanians live in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and their surrounding suburbs, compared to the thousands that live elsewhere. Pennsylvania's largest counties, by population, all surround major urban areas. This is not surprising. These areas also trend Democratic. The more rural areas, counties with populations less than 100,000 comprise more than half of the Commonwealth's count of counties, and contain a fraction of the population. If you added the entire population of Pennsylvania's 28 smallest counties, those with populations under 50,000, they don't even add up to the number living in just Allegheny.
Now, this push comes just as Harrisburg is set to redraw congressional boundaries. Gerrymandering is bad enough as it is, but this is an invitation to seriously screw with the system by creating freakish district boundaries to further dilute the influence of Pennsylvania's majority party. Oh and don't expect relief from the state Supreme Court, which is in the hands of the GOP.
More here:
Nebraska and Maine already have the system the Pennsylvania GOP is pushing. But the two states' small electoral vote values mean it's actually mathematically impossible for a candidate to win the popular vote there but lose the electoral vote, says Akhil Reed Amar, a constitutional law professor at Yale University. Pennsylvania, however, is a different story: "It might be very likely to happen in [Pennsylvania], and that's what makes this something completely new under the sun," Amar says. "It's something that no previous legislature in America since the Civil War has ever had the audacity to impose."
Ever wonder why they're only pushing this in blue states, and not places like Texas? Oh, and why are Republicans in Nebraska backing a plan to return that state to winner take all?
Left unsaid, and unremarked on, is that millions of Pennsylvanians live in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and their surrounding suburbs, compared to the thousands that live elsewhere. Pennsylvania's largest counties, by population, all surround major urban areas. This is not surprising. These areas also trend Democratic. The more rural areas, counties with populations less than 100,000 comprise more than half of the Commonwealth's count of counties, and contain a fraction of the population. If you added the entire population of Pennsylvania's 28 smallest counties, those with populations under 50,000, they don't even add up to the number living in just Allegheny.
Now, this push comes just as Harrisburg is set to redraw congressional boundaries. Gerrymandering is bad enough as it is, but this is an invitation to seriously screw with the system by creating freakish district boundaries to further dilute the influence of Pennsylvania's majority party. Oh and don't expect relief from the state Supreme Court, which is in the hands of the GOP.
More here:
Nebraska and Maine already have the system the Pennsylvania GOP is pushing. But the two states' small electoral vote values mean it's actually mathematically impossible for a candidate to win the popular vote there but lose the electoral vote, says Akhil Reed Amar, a constitutional law professor at Yale University. Pennsylvania, however, is a different story: "It might be very likely to happen in [Pennsylvania], and that's what makes this something completely new under the sun," Amar says. "It's something that no previous legislature in America since the Civil War has ever had the audacity to impose."
Ever wonder why they're only pushing this in blue states, and not places like Texas? Oh, and why are Republicans in Nebraska backing a plan to return that state to winner take all?
Labels: pennsylvania, politics
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Buyers' Remorse
Gov. Tom Corbett's plan to slash education funding and his continued opposition to taxing natural gas extraction aren't going over well with voters, according to a new poll.
A survey by Franklin and Marshall College showed 78 percent of respondents oppose reducing state funding for local school districts, and 67 percent rejected the governor's proposal to cut support to public universities in half.
Another 70 percent said they do not support proposed cuts to state funding for "Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income residents.
A survey by Franklin and Marshall College showed 78 percent of respondents oppose reducing state funding for local school districts, and 67 percent rejected the governor's proposal to cut support to public universities in half.
Another 70 percent said they do not support proposed cuts to state funding for "Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income residents.
Labels: corbett, pennsylvania, politics
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
An Interesting Development
Hmmmm...it seems that the GOP may not have as tight a hold on some of the 'baggers as once thought.
The House defeated a bid Tuesday to extend for nine months the government’s authority to conduct roving wiretaps of terror suspects, along with two other expiring provisions of the Patriot Act. The vote, 277 to 148, fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.
It would be nice if the NYT had a bit more than a single paragraph though. Luckily, the WaPo has quite a bit more on what could be a very interesting development.
And of course, there's Glenn Greenwald:
while it shouldn't be overstated, there is a real significance here that also shouldn't be overlooked. Rachel Maddow last night pointed out that there is a split on the Right -- at least a rhetorical one -- between what she called "authoritarian conservatives" and "libertarian conservatives." At some point, the dogmatic emphasis on limited state power, not trusting the Federal Government, and individual liberties -- all staples of right-wing political propaganda, especially Tea Party sloganeering -- has to conflict with things like oversight-free federal domestic surveillance, limitless government detention powers, and impenetrable secrecy (to say nothing of exploiting state power to advance culture war aims).
The House defeated a bid Tuesday to extend for nine months the government’s authority to conduct roving wiretaps of terror suspects, along with two other expiring provisions of the Patriot Act. The vote, 277 to 148, fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.
It would be nice if the NYT had a bit more than a single paragraph though. Luckily, the WaPo has quite a bit more on what could be a very interesting development.
And of course, there's Glenn Greenwald:
while it shouldn't be overstated, there is a real significance here that also shouldn't be overlooked. Rachel Maddow last night pointed out that there is a split on the Right -- at least a rhetorical one -- between what she called "authoritarian conservatives" and "libertarian conservatives." At some point, the dogmatic emphasis on limited state power, not trusting the Federal Government, and individual liberties -- all staples of right-wing political propaganda, especially Tea Party sloganeering -- has to conflict with things like oversight-free federal domestic surveillance, limitless government detention powers, and impenetrable secrecy (to say nothing of exploiting state power to advance culture war aims).
Labels: politics
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Climate Change Committie Killed
Because pretending that data doesn't exist is good public policy!
These clowns are like children sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting.
These clowns are like children sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting.
Labels: climate change, politics
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Fetish
I really don't care who the Republicans choose as their party chairman, but why on earth was the question "How many guns do you own" asked at the candidates' debate? How is that even relate to the job of party chair, other than some sort of purity test? Isn't it possible to support the right of people to own guns without actually owning one, or several, yourself?
Labels: politics
Monday, January 03, 2011
The Carnival Comes To Town
Darrell Issa.
The Republican congressman who is taking over responsibility for congressional oversight called President Barack Obama's administration "one of the most corrupt administrations" on Sunday and predicted that the investigations he is planning over the next two years could result in about $200 billion in savings for U.S. taxpayers.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, was bullish in laying out his agenda for the new Congress with Republicans in control of the House.
Mr. Issa, who as chairman will have subpoena power, said he will seek to ferret out waste across the federal bureaucracy. While he used fiery rhetoric in describing the Obama administration in a series of television interviews Sunday, he said he will focus on wasteful spending, not the prosecution of White House officials.
"Waste"= Stuff Darrell Issa Doesn't Like. I also like the way Issa calls the Obama administration "the most corrupt ever" without offering any examples of how, exactly, it is the "most corrupt ever." He just makes the assertation, and offers no evidence whatsoever to back up his claim. I'm sure that wont stop him from wasting millions, if not billions of tax dollars on investigations designed to ferret out "waste."
Its 1994 again.
The Republican congressman who is taking over responsibility for congressional oversight called President Barack Obama's administration "one of the most corrupt administrations" on Sunday and predicted that the investigations he is planning over the next two years could result in about $200 billion in savings for U.S. taxpayers.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, was bullish in laying out his agenda for the new Congress with Republicans in control of the House.
Mr. Issa, who as chairman will have subpoena power, said he will seek to ferret out waste across the federal bureaucracy. While he used fiery rhetoric in describing the Obama administration in a series of television interviews Sunday, he said he will focus on wasteful spending, not the prosecution of White House officials.
"Waste"= Stuff Darrell Issa Doesn't Like. I also like the way Issa calls the Obama administration "the most corrupt ever" without offering any examples of how, exactly, it is the "most corrupt ever." He just makes the assertation, and offers no evidence whatsoever to back up his claim. I'm sure that wont stop him from wasting millions, if not billions of tax dollars on investigations designed to ferret out "waste."
Its 1994 again.
Labels: politics
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Now Wait Just A Minute!
Ummm, did Republicans, with President Obama's help, manage to kill Social Security Monday?
The tax deal reached Monday by the White House and congressional Republicans would cut worker payroll tax contributions by about a third. The White House said the arrangement will put more money in workers' pockets at a time when there is considerable concern about weak demand for goods and services undermining a fragile recovery.
The tax deal reached Monday by the White House and congressional Republicans would cut worker payroll tax contributions by about a third. The White House said the arrangement will put more money in workers' pockets at a time when there is considerable concern about weak demand for goods and services undermining a fragile recovery.
That might be true in the short term, but lowering payroll taxes by 2% will drain money out of the trust fund. Although described as temporary, the "cut" is scheduled to expire in 2012. Seeing what we just saw with Republican strong-arming over extending the Bush tax cuts, which would have expired at the end of the year, does anyone really believe that in an election year there will not be the same clamor to extend the cut, further draining income from the Social Security system?
The payroll tax is a flat tax, which means higher income earners will see most of the savings. The 2% cut might have been a good idea if in exchange the earnings cap (currently at $106,800) was lifted, in essence requiring every earner, regardless of income, to kick in 4.2%. That didn't happen, and I think Social Security is now doomed. It will be a slow, painful death, put the poison was administered, and Democratic politicians do not have the backbone to administer the cure, and Republican politicians don't want to.
UPDATE: Ayup!
Republicans acknowledged that the expiration of the tax holiday will be treated as a tax increase. "Once something like this goes into place, a year from now, when it expires, it'll be portrayed as a tax increase," said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). So in a body like Congress, precedents matter and this is setting a precedent. I think that certainly is going to create some problems down the road if it passes."
Given that Congress, under Democratic control, can't gather itself to let tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire, members of both parties are convinced that letting the payroll tax rate revert back to its current spot will be near impossible.
Nice job Mr. President! Seriously, which party do you belong to?
Think I'll be buying Nestle stock. They own Ralston-Purina, the makers of Friskies cat food. Since that's what many baby boomers will be eating in 20 years, it seems like a good investment.
Labels: politics, social security
Friday, December 03, 2010
Rangel Censured
Thursday, December 02, 2010
And?
I've been saying this for years now. Andrew Sullivan in The Atlantic:
What we've observed these past two years is a political party that knows nothing but scorched earth tactics, cannot begin to see any merits in the other party's arguments, refuses to compromise one inch on anything, and has sought from the very beginning to do nothing but destroy the Obama presidency. I see no other coherent message or strategy since 2008. Just opposition to everything, zero support for a president grappling with a recession their own party did much to precipitate, and facing a fiscal crisis the GOP alone made far worse with their spending in the Bush-Cheney years...
The two parties are evenly spread in this 50-50 country, but only one can brook no compromise in its accelerating rush to the far right. And that is what it seems we have to contemplate for the next two years - total paralysis in the face of urgent problems as part of a game of cynical partisan brinkmanship. They simply cannot bear that another party might actually have a role to play in government.
This is not conservatism, properly understood, a disposition that respects the institutions and traditions of government, that can give as well as take, that seeks the national interest before partisan concerns, and that respects both the other branches of government and seeks to work with them. These people are not conservatives in this core civilized sense; they are partisan vandals.
Its been going on for longer than two years. Its been happening since 2006, when the Democrats took control of Congress. Its been happening since 1994, when the Republicans took control of Congress and essentially locked Democrats out of the legislative process.
There simply is no point in trying to negotiate with the modern Republican party, because the Republicans aren't interested in negotiation or bipartisanship, haven't been since the Tom Delay era, and it gets worse and worse with every passing day. The Republicans idea of bipartisanship is to get Democrats to do exactly what the Republicans want them to do, with no compromise or quarter given.
Now, we've got a neo-Confederate element in the Republican party that seems to be calling the shots. Virginia is calling for a return to nullification, and teatards are discussing bringing back property qualifications in order to vote. What's next, poll taxes? Bringing back the 3/5's rule in the interest of honoring the Founders' Orginal Intent?
Its the 1850's all over again, and President Obama is looking a lot like James Buchanan.
UPDATE: Limbaugh says the poor shouldn't be able to vote.
What we've observed these past two years is a political party that knows nothing but scorched earth tactics, cannot begin to see any merits in the other party's arguments, refuses to compromise one inch on anything, and has sought from the very beginning to do nothing but destroy the Obama presidency. I see no other coherent message or strategy since 2008. Just opposition to everything, zero support for a president grappling with a recession their own party did much to precipitate, and facing a fiscal crisis the GOP alone made far worse with their spending in the Bush-Cheney years...
The two parties are evenly spread in this 50-50 country, but only one can brook no compromise in its accelerating rush to the far right. And that is what it seems we have to contemplate for the next two years - total paralysis in the face of urgent problems as part of a game of cynical partisan brinkmanship. They simply cannot bear that another party might actually have a role to play in government.
This is not conservatism, properly understood, a disposition that respects the institutions and traditions of government, that can give as well as take, that seeks the national interest before partisan concerns, and that respects both the other branches of government and seeks to work with them. These people are not conservatives in this core civilized sense; they are partisan vandals.
Its been going on for longer than two years. Its been happening since 2006, when the Democrats took control of Congress. Its been happening since 1994, when the Republicans took control of Congress and essentially locked Democrats out of the legislative process.
There simply is no point in trying to negotiate with the modern Republican party, because the Republicans aren't interested in negotiation or bipartisanship, haven't been since the Tom Delay era, and it gets worse and worse with every passing day. The Republicans idea of bipartisanship is to get Democrats to do exactly what the Republicans want them to do, with no compromise or quarter given.
Now, we've got a neo-Confederate element in the Republican party that seems to be calling the shots. Virginia is calling for a return to nullification, and teatards are discussing bringing back property qualifications in order to vote. What's next, poll taxes? Bringing back the 3/5's rule in the interest of honoring the Founders' Orginal Intent?
Its the 1850's all over again, and President Obama is looking a lot like James Buchanan.
UPDATE: Limbaugh says the poor shouldn't be able to vote.
Labels: politics
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Department Of Symbolism
So, the big news (aside from the Wikileaks dump) is President Obama's freeze on federal salaries. Its expected to save some five billion dollars over two years. That's quite a sum of money, working out to estimated savings of about 6.8 million dollars a day, but in the grand scheme of things, its chump change, and will have no real impact on the deficit.
Consider: The total proposed for the 2011 Defense Department budget is over 708 billion dollars, or just under two billion dollars a day. We're spending over three billion dollars a week in Iraq and Afghanastan. We'd save around 312 billion dollars over that two year period just by getting out of those two money pits.
This is nothing but a symbolic gesture, and the clerk filing papers at some federal office, the nurse at the VA, and the food safety inspector at the FDA will pay the price. And the Republicans will continue to refuse to compromise or engage in bipartisanship.
Consider: The total proposed for the 2011 Defense Department budget is over 708 billion dollars, or just under two billion dollars a day. We're spending over three billion dollars a week in Iraq and Afghanastan. We'd save around 312 billion dollars over that two year period just by getting out of those two money pits.
This is nothing but a symbolic gesture, and the clerk filing papers at some federal office, the nurse at the VA, and the food safety inspector at the FDA will pay the price. And the Republicans will continue to refuse to compromise or engage in bipartisanship.
Labels: politics
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Paultard Charged
The man who allegedly stomped on the head of a liberal activist in Kentucky is facing assault charges.
A volunteer for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul faces a fourth-degree assault charge after the man stepped on the head of a liberal activist when she tried to pull a political stunt on Paul Monday evening.
Police said Tuesday that a criminal summons would be served on Timothy Profitt, 53, of Bourbon County.
Meanwhile, Profitt wants his alleged victim to apologize to him for letting her head get in the way of his foot.
A volunteer for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul faces a fourth-degree assault charge after the man stepped on the head of a liberal activist when she tried to pull a political stunt on Paul Monday evening.
Police said Tuesday that a criminal summons would be served on Timothy Profitt, 53, of Bourbon County.
Meanwhile, Profitt wants his alleged victim to apologize to him for letting her head get in the way of his foot.
Labels: assault, kentucky, politics, rand paul, republicans, teaparty, teatards, violence
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Stomp
Now we see the violence inherent in the system!
Labels: kentucky, politics, rand paul, republicans, teaparty, teatards, violence
Friday, October 22, 2010
Interesting
It appears that the Federal budget deficit is shrinking. Under that "tax and spend" liberal Obama. Just like it did under Clinton.
The $1.294 trillion shortfall is smaller than last year's total; it's slightly lower than the deficit President Obama inherited from his predecessor; and the final figure was smaller than projections made by the administration and the CBO earlier this year.
Strange, I haven't heard much about this in the media.
The $1.294 trillion shortfall is smaller than last year's total; it's slightly lower than the deficit President Obama inherited from his predecessor; and the final figure was smaller than projections made by the administration and the CBO earlier this year.
Strange, I haven't heard much about this in the media.
Labels: budget, deficit, politics, US
