http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a51081/paul-ryan-medicare/
"You may recall that C-Plus Augustus—having been re-elected by a margin of 35 electoral votes in 2004, and I didn't remember that it had been that close—decided that he had accrued enough "political capital" to monkey around with Social Security. That attempt got body-slammed and its defeat started the downward spiral of his approval ratings from which he never recovered fully. This same thing should happen as regards any attempt by Speaker Paul Ryan, the zombie-eyed granny starver from the state of Wisconsin, to enact his golden dream of demolishing safety-net programs that he believes make old people with Medicare less "free" than old people who slowly waste away in darkened apartments. His idea is to set up a program with criminally inadequate vouchers, slap the name "Medicare" on it, and hope that people are as stupid as he thinks they are. There is every indication that HHS nominee Rep. Tom Price is more than willing to play Johnny Hooker to Ryan's Henry Gondorff."
Sunday, December 4, 2016
The Koch brothers couldn’t be happier with Donald Trump’s cabinet appointees
The Koch brothers couldn’t be happier with Donald Trump’s cabinet appointees
"From White House Counsel Don McGahn and transition team advisers Tom Pyle, Darin Selnick and Alan Cobb to Presidential Inaugural Committee member Diane Hendricks and transition-team executive committee members Rebekah Mercer and Anthony Scaramucci, Trump has surrounded himself with people tied to the Kochs."
"From White House Counsel Don McGahn and transition team advisers Tom Pyle, Darin Selnick and Alan Cobb to Presidential Inaugural Committee member Diane Hendricks and transition-team executive committee members Rebekah Mercer and Anthony Scaramucci, Trump has surrounded himself with people tied to the Kochs."
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Trump Booster Scottie Nell Hughes Declares Facts Dead; Twitter Is Truth | Crooks and Liars
Trump Booster Scottie Nell Hughes Declares Facts Dead; Twitter Is Truth | Crooks and Liars
"During a panel on Diane Rehm's show, Trump surrogate and right-wing propagandist Scottie Nell Hughes declared facts to be as dead as fossils in the ground. "There's no such thing, unfortunately, anymore of facts," Hughes stated. "And so Mr. Trump's tweet amongst a certain crowd, a large -- a large part of the population, are truth"."
"During a panel on Diane Rehm's show, Trump surrogate and right-wing propagandist Scottie Nell Hughes declared facts to be as dead as fossils in the ground. "There's no such thing, unfortunately, anymore of facts," Hughes stated. "And so Mr. Trump's tweet amongst a certain crowd, a large -- a large part of the population, are truth"."
So much for sticking it to the fat cats: Donald Trump’s Treasury nominee embodies the worst of predatory finance
So much for sticking it to the fat cats: Donald Trump’s Treasury nominee embodies the worst of predatory finance
"Steve Mnuchin's record as a ruthless foreclosure vulture puts the lie to any notion of "populist" Donald Trump"
"Steve Mnuchin's record as a ruthless foreclosure vulture puts the lie to any notion of "populist" Donald Trump"
How Donald Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Fails America
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2016/12/01/293948/how-donald-trumps-infrastructure-plan-fails-america/
"Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump boasted frequently and with great vigor that he would rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure as part of his pledge to make America great again. This claim turns out to be as bankrupt as many of his businesses. In the place of actual federal spending on critical projects, President-elect Trump has pushed the idea of authorizing a pool of tax credits that would flow to equity investors in large public-private partnership, or P3, deals. These project debts would be repaid by tolls and other fees levied on the people and businesses that use the new facilities.2 The plan suffers from five fatal flaws: The plan would push state and local governments to use equity capital that can cost 300 percent to 500 percent more than capital raised through traditional municipal bonds. The plan would provide no support for thousands of critical maintenance and reconstruction projects. The plan would raise taxes on middle-class Americans in the form of high-cost tolls and other user fees necessary to satisfy the 10 percent to 14 percent annual returns demanded by equity investors.3 The plan would leave behind rural communities and smaller cities and towns that are not large enough to generate sufficient toll or other user fee revenues to satisfy equity investors. The plan would not meaningfully increase total economic activity, employment, or real wages. Taken together, these defects make the Trump infrastructure plan a nonstarter. In the end, no rhetorical bluster or sleight of hand can obscure the fact that the Trump plan shovels money at wealthy investors instead of solving real infrastructure challenges."
"Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump boasted frequently and with great vigor that he would rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure as part of his pledge to make America great again. This claim turns out to be as bankrupt as many of his businesses. In the place of actual federal spending on critical projects, President-elect Trump has pushed the idea of authorizing a pool of tax credits that would flow to equity investors in large public-private partnership, or P3, deals. These project debts would be repaid by tolls and other fees levied on the people and businesses that use the new facilities.2 The plan suffers from five fatal flaws: The plan would push state and local governments to use equity capital that can cost 300 percent to 500 percent more than capital raised through traditional municipal bonds. The plan would provide no support for thousands of critical maintenance and reconstruction projects. The plan would raise taxes on middle-class Americans in the form of high-cost tolls and other user fees necessary to satisfy the 10 percent to 14 percent annual returns demanded by equity investors.3 The plan would leave behind rural communities and smaller cities and towns that are not large enough to generate sufficient toll or other user fee revenues to satisfy equity investors. The plan would not meaningfully increase total economic activity, employment, or real wages. Taken together, these defects make the Trump infrastructure plan a nonstarter. In the end, no rhetorical bluster or sleight of hand can obscure the fact that the Trump plan shovels money at wealthy investors instead of solving real infrastructure challenges."
Say ‘Bye, Bye’ to Expected Overtime Rules – Court Order Cuts OT Pay
https://trofire.com/2016/11/29/say-bye-bye-expected-overtime-rules-court-order-cuts-ot-pay/
"despite his rhetoric on the campaign train, President -“select” Trump is unlikely to do a damned thing to help working people and the middle class. In fact, Donald Trump has an extensive record as a deadbeat. He has repeatedly failed to pay what he owes to his own employees as well as contractors who have performed services or supplied him with material goods. Time after time, contracting firms who have worked for the Trump empire have had to settle for pennies on the dollar. New Jersey state senator Jim Whelan, former mayor of Atlantic City, told Newsweek in October of 2015 that “there were a lot of small contractors and vendors who got hurt, who went out of business because Trump did not pay contracts on time.” And that’s just his contractors. In 2007, Trump was sued by an employee at his Mar-A-Lago Resort for not paying time-and-a-half for overtime hours he put in over the course of three years. Earlier this year, he paid a settlement to employees of Trump Resort Management, LLC, who sued him for failure to pay overtime as agreed. He has also been sued for wage discrimination and as of this past September, has yet to pay at least ten of his campaign staffers. Of course, Trump is able to buy his way out of all of these legal problems, but seriously, with a record like his, does anyone realistically believe that the Trump Administration is going to do anything for people who actually work at making real, tangible contributions to society, providing us with real goods and services – as opposed to the billionaire investor class that enriches itself by moving money around, exploiting people and communities for their own benefit and rigging the game of crapitalism in their favor?"
"despite his rhetoric on the campaign train, President -“select” Trump is unlikely to do a damned thing to help working people and the middle class. In fact, Donald Trump has an extensive record as a deadbeat. He has repeatedly failed to pay what he owes to his own employees as well as contractors who have performed services or supplied him with material goods. Time after time, contracting firms who have worked for the Trump empire have had to settle for pennies on the dollar. New Jersey state senator Jim Whelan, former mayor of Atlantic City, told Newsweek in October of 2015 that “there were a lot of small contractors and vendors who got hurt, who went out of business because Trump did not pay contracts on time.” And that’s just his contractors. In 2007, Trump was sued by an employee at his Mar-A-Lago Resort for not paying time-and-a-half for overtime hours he put in over the course of three years. Earlier this year, he paid a settlement to employees of Trump Resort Management, LLC, who sued him for failure to pay overtime as agreed. He has also been sued for wage discrimination and as of this past September, has yet to pay at least ten of his campaign staffers. Of course, Trump is able to buy his way out of all of these legal problems, but seriously, with a record like his, does anyone realistically believe that the Trump Administration is going to do anything for people who actually work at making real, tangible contributions to society, providing us with real goods and services – as opposed to the billionaire investor class that enriches itself by moving money around, exploiting people and communities for their own benefit and rigging the game of crapitalism in their favor?"
Trump's Administration Poised to Be Wealthiest in Modern US History
Trump's Administration Poised to Be Wealthiest in Modern US History
"The collective wealth of Trump's appointees is astronomically larger than the previous richest cabinet under George W. Bush, whose administration had an "inflation-adjusted net worth" of about $250 million combined, as the Post's Jim Tankersley and Ana Swanson point out. Trump's nominee for commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, has roughly 10 times that wealth alone. In addition to Ross, who is worth about $2.5 billion, Trump's nominee for education secretary, Amway heiress Betsy DeVos, has a family net worth of $5.1 billion. Todd Rickets, the nominee for deputy secretary of commerce, is the son of a billionaire and co-owns the Chicago Cubs. Elaine Chao, transportation secretary appointee and wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), is the daughter of a shipping and trading tycoon. In 2014, following several generous gifts from the Chao family, McConnell's personal wealth stood at $22.8 million. Steven Mnuchin, Trump's pick for head of the Treasury Department, is a former Goldman Sachs executive and Hollywood producer whose net worth is estimated at $40 million, much of it accrued while working in the financial industry—including profiting off the financial crisis."
"The collective wealth of Trump's appointees is astronomically larger than the previous richest cabinet under George W. Bush, whose administration had an "inflation-adjusted net worth" of about $250 million combined, as the Post's Jim Tankersley and Ana Swanson point out. Trump's nominee for commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, has roughly 10 times that wealth alone. In addition to Ross, who is worth about $2.5 billion, Trump's nominee for education secretary, Amway heiress Betsy DeVos, has a family net worth of $5.1 billion. Todd Rickets, the nominee for deputy secretary of commerce, is the son of a billionaire and co-owns the Chicago Cubs. Elaine Chao, transportation secretary appointee and wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), is the daughter of a shipping and trading tycoon. In 2014, following several generous gifts from the Chao family, McConnell's personal wealth stood at $22.8 million. Steven Mnuchin, Trump's pick for head of the Treasury Department, is a former Goldman Sachs executive and Hollywood producer whose net worth is estimated at $40 million, much of it accrued while working in the financial industry—including profiting off the financial crisis."
Donald Trump Is a Hopeless Cable News Addict: Here's Why That Matters @alternet
Donald Trump Is a Hopeless Cable News Addict: Here's Why That Matters @alternet:
"Conway’s public airing of what are usually private internal debates is almost certainly a preview of how policy is going to be formed within the Trump White House: via televised debate shows. For an insight into the veteran GOP pollster’s motivations, one need look only to an on-the-record statement she gave to New York magazine writer Gabriel Sherman just last month: The key to managing Trump, she told me, is to let him feel like he is in control — always. “It all has to be his decision in the end,” she said. . . . She tried to get him to improve his image with women by appealing to his business sense. “You have to find new customers,” she told him. Another strategy she employed with him stemmed from the fact that Trump is such an avid cable-news viewer: “A way you can communicate with him is you go on TV to communicate,” she said. That strategy makes sense once you realize just how much television news the president-elect watches. According to Trump biographer Marc Fisher, the political rookie watches “enormous amounts” of cable news programming. Last December long before he secured the GOP nomination, Trump told “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd that he watched political-debate programs for military advice. “Well, I watch the shows,” Trump said. “I mean, I really see a lot of great, you know, when you watch your show, and all of the other shows, and you have the generals, and you have certain people you like.” That remark could be construed as mere flattery, but later on in the same interview, the future president-elect said that he liked George W. Bush-era United Nations ambassador John Bolton, a Fox News staple who is now also in the running as a potential secretary of state. “I think he’s a tough cookie, knows what he’s talking about,” Trump said. The soon-to-be 45th president’s view of TV is a pretty dramatic contrast from that of his predecessors."
"Conway’s public airing of what are usually private internal debates is almost certainly a preview of how policy is going to be formed within the Trump White House: via televised debate shows. For an insight into the veteran GOP pollster’s motivations, one need look only to an on-the-record statement she gave to New York magazine writer Gabriel Sherman just last month: The key to managing Trump, she told me, is to let him feel like he is in control — always. “It all has to be his decision in the end,” she said. . . . She tried to get him to improve his image with women by appealing to his business sense. “You have to find new customers,” she told him. Another strategy she employed with him stemmed from the fact that Trump is such an avid cable-news viewer: “A way you can communicate with him is you go on TV to communicate,” she said. That strategy makes sense once you realize just how much television news the president-elect watches. According to Trump biographer Marc Fisher, the political rookie watches “enormous amounts” of cable news programming. Last December long before he secured the GOP nomination, Trump told “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd that he watched political-debate programs for military advice. “Well, I watch the shows,” Trump said. “I mean, I really see a lot of great, you know, when you watch your show, and all of the other shows, and you have the generals, and you have certain people you like.” That remark could be construed as mere flattery, but later on in the same interview, the future president-elect said that he liked George W. Bush-era United Nations ambassador John Bolton, a Fox News staple who is now also in the running as a potential secretary of state. “I think he’s a tough cookie, knows what he’s talking about,” Trump said. The soon-to-be 45th president’s view of TV is a pretty dramatic contrast from that of his predecessors."
Hightower: The Kochs Are Going to Have a Huge Grip on the Oval Office @alternet
Hightower: The Kochs Are Going to Have a Huge Grip on the Oval Office @alternet:
"This so-called "grassroots" outfit has been set up by the gabillionaire Koch boys to train cadres of right-wing corporatists to spread their ideological laissez-fairydust across the land. The academy is run through Americans for Prosperity, Charlie's and Davie's political wing, which put up $3 million to get it going. About 10,000 people have gone through some of the training sessions in three dozen states. The brothers' grandiose scheme is to take over the Republican Party and use it as their tool to rebuild America itself into a Kochlandia, ruled by the superrich. The academy's curriculum is loaded with such corporate nonsense as a course titled "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels." Attendees are indoctrinated with two overarching lessons: (1) freewheeling corporate power—unrestrained by labor, environmental or other public protections—GOOD; (2) Social Security, unemployment benefits, and other social programs—BAAAAAAD! Koch Kollege for right-wing social engineers is peddling a status quo agenda of corporate elitism and trickle-down ideology, which the vast majority of Americans have openly rebelled against. It's like trying to sell chicken salad made out of chicken manure."
"This so-called "grassroots" outfit has been set up by the gabillionaire Koch boys to train cadres of right-wing corporatists to spread their ideological laissez-fairydust across the land. The academy is run through Americans for Prosperity, Charlie's and Davie's political wing, which put up $3 million to get it going. About 10,000 people have gone through some of the training sessions in three dozen states. The brothers' grandiose scheme is to take over the Republican Party and use it as their tool to rebuild America itself into a Kochlandia, ruled by the superrich. The academy's curriculum is loaded with such corporate nonsense as a course titled "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels." Attendees are indoctrinated with two overarching lessons: (1) freewheeling corporate power—unrestrained by labor, environmental or other public protections—GOOD; (2) Social Security, unemployment benefits, and other social programs—BAAAAAAD! Koch Kollege for right-wing social engineers is peddling a status quo agenda of corporate elitism and trickle-down ideology, which the vast majority of Americans have openly rebelled against. It's like trying to sell chicken salad made out of chicken manure."
Trump promised he’d make Carrier ‘pay a damn tax.’ Instead he’s doing the exact opposite.
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-carrier-deal-pay-a-damn-tax-ab3bd64e63d8#.v58r8s1nf
"The contradiction between what Trump said on the campaign trail and the deal he and Pence struck with Carrier was highlighted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in an op-ed published by the Washington Post on Thursday entitled, “Carrier just showed corporations how to beat Donald Trump"."
"The contradiction between what Trump said on the campaign trail and the deal he and Pence struck with Carrier was highlighted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in an op-ed published by the Washington Post on Thursday entitled, “Carrier just showed corporations how to beat Donald Trump"."
Trump's Absurd Plan To Dismantle Government's Protections | Crooks and Liars
Trump's Absurd Plan To Dismantle Government's Protections | Crooks and Liars
"This is not an approach to governing, it is about dismantling what government is so that an already-wealthy few are free to fleece, scam, harm and and pollute in the name of greed."
"This is not an approach to governing, it is about dismantling what government is so that an already-wealthy few are free to fleece, scam, harm and and pollute in the name of greed."
Donald Trump’s Carrier deal is an empty PR stunt — and a bad precedent that incentivizes bad corporate behavior
Donald Trump’s Carrier deal is an empty PR stunt — and a bad precedent that incentivizes bad corporate behavior
"Trump has incentivized hostage taking by multimillion-dollar conglomerates that are determined to create more value for shareholders"
"Trump has incentivized hostage taking by multimillion-dollar conglomerates that are determined to create more value for shareholders"
Bernie Sanders Rips Trump for Smoke-and-Mirrors Carrier Deal: 'Workers Should Be Very Nervous' @alternet
Bernie Sanders Rips Trump for Smoke-and-Mirrors Carrier Deal: 'Workers Should Be Very Nervous' @alternet:
"Essentially, the deal Trump made amounts to corporate welfare"
"Essentially, the deal Trump made amounts to corporate welfare"
Make the Electoral College great again: let “conscientious electors” do their jobs
http://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2016/11/29/13771920/electoral-college-faithless-electors-independent-trump
"Constitutional history makes clear that the founders had three main purposes in designing the Electoral College. The first was to stop a demagogue from becoming president. At the Constitutional Convention, arguing in support of the Electoral College, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts said he was “against a popular election” for president because the people would be “misled by a few designing men.” In Federalist No. 68, Alexander Hamilton wrote that the electors would prevent those with “Talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity” from becoming president. They would also stop anyone who would “convulse the community with any extraordinary or violent movements.” The second goal was to stop foreign interference in election. In the founding period, the framers were extremely concerned about infiltration by rivals including Great Britain. In Federalist No. 68, Hamilton wrote that one major purpose of the Electoral College was to stop the “desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils.” He said that the college would “Guard against all danger of this sort … with the most provident and judicious attention” from the electors. The third goal was to prevent poor administration of government. This is a less well-known purpose of the Electoral College, but it is again expressly discussed in Federalist No. 68. Hamilton wrote that “the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency to produce a good administration,” and for that reason, he said, the electors should be “able to estimate the share which the executive in every government must necessarily have in its good or ill administration.” This election has three aspects that have brought the Electoral College back to relevance."
"Constitutional history makes clear that the founders had three main purposes in designing the Electoral College. The first was to stop a demagogue from becoming president. At the Constitutional Convention, arguing in support of the Electoral College, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts said he was “against a popular election” for president because the people would be “misled by a few designing men.” In Federalist No. 68, Alexander Hamilton wrote that the electors would prevent those with “Talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity” from becoming president. They would also stop anyone who would “convulse the community with any extraordinary or violent movements.” The second goal was to stop foreign interference in election. In the founding period, the framers were extremely concerned about infiltration by rivals including Great Britain. In Federalist No. 68, Hamilton wrote that one major purpose of the Electoral College was to stop the “desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils.” He said that the college would “Guard against all danger of this sort … with the most provident and judicious attention” from the electors. The third goal was to prevent poor administration of government. This is a less well-known purpose of the Electoral College, but it is again expressly discussed in Federalist No. 68. Hamilton wrote that “the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency to produce a good administration,” and for that reason, he said, the electors should be “able to estimate the share which the executive in every government must necessarily have in its good or ill administration.” This election has three aspects that have brought the Electoral College back to relevance."
Voter Suppression Laws Cost Americans Their Voices at the Polls
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/reports/2016/11/11/292322/voter-suppression-laws-cost-americans-their-voices-at-the-polls/
"Once the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, even more states made it harder to vote in ways that were targeted at and fell disproportionately on people of color, young people, and low-income people. Even after major legal victories for voting rights this year—rulings that showed voter suppression tactics presented a grave danger and would prevent eligible Americans from casting their ballots—14 states had new voting restrictions in place for the first time in a presidential election."
"Once the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, even more states made it harder to vote in ways that were targeted at and fell disproportionately on people of color, young people, and low-income people. Even after major legal victories for voting rights this year—rulings that showed voter suppression tactics presented a grave danger and would prevent eligible Americans from casting their ballots—14 states had new voting restrictions in place for the first time in a presidential election."
Hedge fund managers admit it: They’re delighted that Donald Trump “conned America”
Hedge fund managers admit it: They’re delighted that Donald Trump “conned America”
"President-elect Donald Trump may have been elected on a pledge to “drain the swamp,” but the swamp creatures themselves seem pretty pleased with how he’s staffing his new administration. “I can take glee in that — I think Donald Trump conned them [Trump’s populist supporters],” said hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who runs Kase Capital Management, in an interview with Bloomberg Markets on Wednesday."
"President-elect Donald Trump may have been elected on a pledge to “drain the swamp,” but the swamp creatures themselves seem pretty pleased with how he’s staffing his new administration. “I can take glee in that — I think Donald Trump conned them [Trump’s populist supporters],” said hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who runs Kase Capital Management, in an interview with Bloomberg Markets on Wednesday."
The Six Worst Things About Trump's Tax Plan
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/38536-the-six-worst-things-about-trump-s-tax-plan
"1. Gives huge tax breaks to the rich and corporations, loses $6.2 trillion over 10 years, and if paid for will require deep cuts to domestic services. Three-quarters of lost revenues are from corporate and business tax breaks largely benefiting the rich. The top 0.1 percent of households, which includes Trump's, will get an annual tax cut of about $1.1 million each. Nearly half (47 percent) of the tax cuts will go to the top 1 percent of households; each one will get an average tax break of nearly $215,000 a year. The bottom 20 percent will get a tax cut of $110."
"1. Gives huge tax breaks to the rich and corporations, loses $6.2 trillion over 10 years, and if paid for will require deep cuts to domestic services. Three-quarters of lost revenues are from corporate and business tax breaks largely benefiting the rich. The top 0.1 percent of households, which includes Trump's, will get an annual tax cut of about $1.1 million each. Nearly half (47 percent) of the tax cuts will go to the top 1 percent of households; each one will get an average tax break of nearly $215,000 a year. The bottom 20 percent will get a tax cut of $110."
A monument to Trump’s kleptocracy sits in the middle of downtown DC
https://thinkprogress.org/a-monument-to-trumps-kleptocracy-sits-in-the-middle-of-downtown-dc-5351ac6550ff#.lh2hatbzd
"Trump’s new downtown hotel is leased from the government — so now Trump gets to negotiate with his biggest fan: himself."
"Trump’s new downtown hotel is leased from the government — so now Trump gets to negotiate with his biggest fan: himself."
A perversion 227 years in the making: Donald Trump has shown us the Electoral College is now as corrupted and anti-democratic as he is
A perversion 227 years in the making: Donald Trump has shown us the Electoral College is now as corrupted and anti-democratic as he is
"The institution Alexander Hamilton believed would protect us from dangerous demagogues now empowers one"
"The institution Alexander Hamilton believed would protect us from dangerous demagogues now empowers one"
Don't Let Politics Trump Science, 2000 Scientists Warn President-Elect
Don't Let Politics Trump Science, 2000 Scientists Warn President-Elect
"Signaling great pessimism about the future "role of science in policymaking," more than 2,000 scientists published an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump and the GOP-dominated 115th Congress on Wednesday warning against the dangers of allowing "political or corporate influence" to override scientific fact."
"Signaling great pessimism about the future "role of science in policymaking," more than 2,000 scientists published an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump and the GOP-dominated 115th Congress on Wednesday warning against the dangers of allowing "political or corporate influence" to override scientific fact."
Let's Face It: There Is No Moderate GOP
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/38467-lets-face-it-there-is-no-moderate-gop
"The GOP depends upon the virulent nationalism and racism that defines Trump's ideology. Trump is cast as a GOP "outsider" both because of his policies and because of his polemic nature. This categorization undermines the fact that Trump's ideology largely aligns with the GOP's. People have suffered socially and economically for decades under the ideas that Trump holds. Trump's polemic hot-takes are a gloss upon an already dangerous platform."
"The GOP depends upon the virulent nationalism and racism that defines Trump's ideology. Trump is cast as a GOP "outsider" both because of his policies and because of his polemic nature. This categorization undermines the fact that Trump's ideology largely aligns with the GOP's. People have suffered socially and economically for decades under the ideas that Trump holds. Trump's polemic hot-takes are a gloss upon an already dangerous platform."
Fake news, real sleaze: Donald Trump isn’t president yet, but his dirty tricks outdo Nixon’s
Fake news, real sleaze: Donald Trump isn’t president yet, but his dirty tricks outdo Nixon’s
"As for the fake news, we may never know if the popularity of fake news from overseas and nonpartisan actors was driven by a desire to see Trump elected president or by the simple fact that Trump’s supporters will believe anything."
"As for the fake news, we may never know if the popularity of fake news from overseas and nonpartisan actors was driven by a desire to see Trump elected president or by the simple fact that Trump’s supporters will believe anything."
Steve Bannon’s disturbing views on ‘genetic superiority’ are shared by Trump
https://thinkprogress.org/steve-bannons-disturbing-views-on-genetic-superiority-are-shared-by-trump-243d73866e2d#.fbaiw8eu0
"The belief in the genetic predisposition of qualities like intelligence are a hallmark of white nationalism. In Trump’s rhetoric on genes, white nationalists hear validation of their belief that genetics alone can qualify someone for leadership — or make them inherently inferior. Genetics and connections to race are a common theme on white nationalist, neo-Nazi sites like American Renaissance and Stormfront."
"The belief in the genetic predisposition of qualities like intelligence are a hallmark of white nationalism. In Trump’s rhetoric on genes, white nationalists hear validation of their belief that genetics alone can qualify someone for leadership — or make them inherently inferior. Genetics and connections to race are a common theme on white nationalist, neo-Nazi sites like American Renaissance and Stormfront."
Trump Turned Away Intel Briefings But Spread A Rumor Made Popular By One Guy On Twitter
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-illegal-voters-rumor_us_583c6b62e4b000af95ef15cc
"the strangest thing about the president-elect’s claim isn’t that there is zero evidence to support it — it’s that Trump, who has turned away daily intelligence briefings since winning the election, took time out of his day to repeat a rumor that initially spread because of one guy on Twitter."
"the strangest thing about the president-elect’s claim isn’t that there is zero evidence to support it — it’s that Trump, who has turned away daily intelligence briefings since winning the election, took time out of his day to repeat a rumor that initially spread because of one guy on Twitter."
There's Dark Money Buried in the Complicated State of Wisconsin
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a51017/wisconsin-voting-2016/
"It's fitting that the current demand to audit/recount the presidential vote is centered on Wisconsin. The transformation of the state where so much of the progressive improvements to self-government began into the independent Republic of Griftsylvania (Scott Walker, assistant manager for sales) is one of the great triumphs of the money power and its lickspittles in modern American politics. Further, if you want to see how long and hard a pull it's going to be to roll any of this back, you should check out the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's account of one race for a seat on the state's supreme court. (Reminder: an elected judiciary is the second-worst idea in American politics. Thank you.)"
"It's fitting that the current demand to audit/recount the presidential vote is centered on Wisconsin. The transformation of the state where so much of the progressive improvements to self-government began into the independent Republic of Griftsylvania (Scott Walker, assistant manager for sales) is one of the great triumphs of the money power and its lickspittles in modern American politics. Further, if you want to see how long and hard a pull it's going to be to roll any of this back, you should check out the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's account of one race for a seat on the state's supreme court. (Reminder: an elected judiciary is the second-worst idea in American politics. Thank you.)"
Koch Cash Instrumental in Key Senate Races and May Have Buoyed Trump
http://prwatch.org/news/2016/11/13179/koch-cash-withheld-trump-instrumental-key-senate-races
"In total, CMD documented 347 Koch candidates in 2016 and documented spending for those candidates of $41.13 million. There may be more Koch candidates promoted by the Kochs’ grassroots arm Americans for Prosperity, and similar dark money non-profits linked to the wider Koch network. But these groups do not always report their election-related activities or disclose the donors. Of the 347 Koch candidates, 169 were running at the state or local level. In Texas, the billionaire brothers went so far as to support a candidate for the State Railroad Commission and multiple candidates for the Corpus Christi city council."
"In total, CMD documented 347 Koch candidates in 2016 and documented spending for those candidates of $41.13 million. There may be more Koch candidates promoted by the Kochs’ grassroots arm Americans for Prosperity, and similar dark money non-profits linked to the wider Koch network. But these groups do not always report their election-related activities or disclose the donors. Of the 347 Koch candidates, 169 were running at the state or local level. In Texas, the billionaire brothers went so far as to support a candidate for the State Railroad Commission and multiple candidates for the Corpus Christi city council."
Pay more and get less: The Ryan plan to privatize Medicare
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/27/1602925/-Pay-more-and-get-less-The-Ryan-plan-to-privatize-Medicare
"It’s another “privatize the profit, socialize the risk” scheme. You will be told: There’s a crisis We have to do something There will be more choice We need to be “patient centered” Our solution is better, stronger, faster The market will produce savings through private sector “magic” and efficiency Don’t buy it. You will pay more and you will get less. This is the only “magic.” And if we sell off Medicare, we will never get it back."
"It’s another “privatize the profit, socialize the risk” scheme. You will be told: There’s a crisis We have to do something There will be more choice We need to be “patient centered” Our solution is better, stronger, faster The market will produce savings through private sector “magic” and efficiency Don’t buy it. You will pay more and you will get less. This is the only “magic.” And if we sell off Medicare, we will never get it back."
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