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Congressional Pimps


The Congressional crapcus is again making moves to block payments to insurance companies. These companies who provide care under the ACA. You remember the ACA aka “Obamacare”, the medical plan that is designed to provide healthcare for all at an affordable price. The same plan that our Congressional pimps decried because they wanted to block anything the President did or wanted to do. These same 535 seat fillers who never read the proposed bill but excerpted it and went balls to the wall against it. The result is a system that works some what and all because the Congressional pimps did everything they could including misrepresenting the ACT to defund and delete it. This blocking of insurance payments will increase the cost to subscribers or kill the program with nothing in it’s place. If the voters of America do not wake up too many of us will end up with no coverage and the Congress will still be protected under their government system. Who do you think  Congress represents?, apparently not us!

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The bottomless incompetence of congressional Republicans


The post below states the recent veto issue in greater detail. MA

Opinion

Ryan Cooper

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
October 3, 2016

Congressional Republicans in the Obama era have generally had two major characteristics. First, increasingly extremist politics, expressed above all by a fanatical resistance to anything the president does; and second, increasingly clownish incompetence at basic legislative mechanics.
Recently, the incompetence seems to be overtaking the extremism, as Republican procrastination allowed Democrats to drive an astonishingly good bargain on the recent budget deal, and Republican inattention to detail apparently allowed them to override President Obama’s veto of a 9/11 victims lawsuit bill without understanding what they were actually passing.
Let’s take these in turn. As I wrote right when Congress was coming back into session in early September, Republicans had been trying to exploit the Zika crisis to get some goodies for themselves for months. Just like they did with various manufactured debt ceiling crises, and with the wholly unnecessary government shutdown in 2013, they were threatening disaster to extract unrelated policy concessions. In this case, they wanted to “cut Planned Parenthood out of any Zika money, ban spending it on contraception, reverse a law restricting the display of the Confederate Battle Flag at military cemeteries, temporarily deregulate some pesticides, and pass spending cuts to offset any additional appropriation.”
Fast forward a month. After bickering and procrastinating for almost the entire session, Republicans ended up caving on almost every one of their demands, and then some. The budget resolution funding the government up through Dec. 9 contains $1.1 billion for Zika, with no restrictions about Planned Parenthood or contraception, and only $400 million of offsets. The bill also contains $500 million in flood relief for Louisiana and elsewhere, funds veterans programs for an entire year, and even appropriates $170 million for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. It’s far, far more than I would have ever expected to make it out of the Republican House.
The veto story goes as follows: Congress overwhelmingly passed a bill allowing families of the 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for damages in U.S. courts, should they be somehow proved responsible for the attacks. President Obama, citing the risk of retaliatory measures being passed in other countries — particularly the risk of U.S. soldiers being sued in foreign courts — vetoed the bill. Congress, for the first time in Obama’s entire presidency, overrode his veto.
Immediately afterward, both Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, plus a bunch of other congressmen who had just voted for the bill, expressed worries that they might have gone too far. Hilariously, McConnell tried to blame the president for not explaining the problems with the bill clearly enough — you know, the one Congress just wrote and passed twice.
It’s unclear whether Republicans were actually not paying attention to what was in the bill they were voting through, or were too afraid of being seen as voting against the 9/11 families during an election year, or some other reason. But probably the most important underlying factor is the sheer unwieldiness of the Republican base. The GOP’s guiding electoral principle during the Obama years has been the fanatical posture that the country is on the verge of total disaster, and therefore that procedural extremism to force the president to heel — for example, shutting down the government to try to coerce him into defunding Obama Care — is an urgent necessity. Anyone who tried to explain the constitutional limits of congressional power, or worse, tried to come to some accommodation with Latinos so as to win the presidency, was denounced as a RINO heretic and sometimes even scourged out of the party. It’s like having messianic cultists in the government — and paved the way for a lying demagogue like Donald Trump to win the party’s presidential nomination.
A party fueled by that level of diseased thinking just can’t make the sort of tactical compromises necessary to govern sensibly in concert with a president from the opposing party. A functioning party, presented with a popular but potentially problematic bill like the 9/11 one, would simply bury it in committee and play dumb. But Republicans are too terrified of being seen as Obama apologists to manage that strategy, so through it goes.
When it comes to must-pass budget bills, since fanatical base voters will automatically reject any overt compromise with the president, the de facto fallback strategy has become waiting until the absolute last minute, and then rushing everything through all at once, hoping that nobody notices what’s happened. Democrats, with their far greater level of trust from their base, and hence greater tactical maneuverability, can press the advantage — and seem to be getting better at it.
To be clear, this doesn’t say that much of Democrats. They have lost control of most state governments and both houses of Congress, and their party’s presidential nominee is barely a few points ahead of a deranged maniac. Nevertheless, it’s worth remembering that the Republican Party has all but forgotten the point of being in government in the first place.

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Trump’s African-American Reframing


This is an older post from Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert) which sheds light on Trumps powers of persuasion. MA

Scott Adams’ Blog

Posted September 26th, 2016 @ 5:05pm in #Trump

Do you remember last week (or so) when Trump was saying that things are worse for African-Americans in 2016 than at any time in their history?

You probably laughed because it was such a ridiculous thing to say. And perhaps you wondered what kind of person says something that is so clearly false. The answer is a Master Persuader. That’s who.

The recent headlines about police shootings, and Colin Kaepernick’s protests in particular, had focused the nation’s attention on the PROBLEMS that still need to be solved for African-Americans to fully enjoy the American experience. When you focus on something, it seems more important than it would otherwise seem. That’s how brains are wired. And the nation was focusing on something that had the potential to erupt into a race war.

So Trump flipped the frame. He said life in the big cities is worse-than-ever for African-Americans, thereby forcing his opponents and the fact-checkers to explain in detail how much better things have gotten since slavery. And the civil rights movement. And on and on. That changes your perspective. Now you see 2016 as the best year – probably ever – for African-Americans, albeit with plenty of work left to do. And that’s the sort of reframing that diffuses racial tension. I think it helped.

But it gets better.

Trump’s absurd claim that things are worse-than-ever isn’t true in a factual sense. But it is emotionally compatible with the feelings of African-Americans who feel victimized by police and the system in general. This is one of those cases where being totally wrong is the most sensible approach. Emotions matter in the real world because they drive behavior. Facts, not so much.

Trump doesn’t ignore facts because he is dumb. He does it because facts don’t matter. Every trained persuader knows that.

In the 2D world, where people think that facts and reason matter, Trump’s claim that life is worse than ever for African-Americans is an absurd lie. But in the third-dimension of persuasion – where Trump operates – it was brilliant.

In case you are wondering, this is a known persuasion technique. You agree with someone harder than they agree with themselves, and it forces them to argue against their own point. Trump did that in part to dilute racial tensions (that he partly caused) and also to put himself in emotional harmony with the African-American community. Persuasion-wise, and strategy-wise, what Trump did was a base-clearing home run…that you thought was a dumb mistake.

As I said last year, Trump is changing more than politics. He is changing how you understand reality itself.

—

Watch the debate with me on Periscope at @ScottAdamsSays. Tune your TV to CNN. I’ll be with my co-host and neighbor, Kristina Basham.

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The Congress in Digress


The recent override  of the President’s veto has been explained by members of Congress and hailed by the families of 9/11 victims. The long range effect is yet to be felt when these lawsuits move forward. Now good ole Mitch McConnell has piped up again (after the fact) stating that he wished that the President had explained the reason for the veto as it apparently makes sense. Now the Congress will come back after their (election) recess and modify the law before finalizing it. We are all victims of 9/11 and it seems that our Congress has been out to lunch on that fact. Allowing mass lawsuits against specifically Saudi Arabia is at once ludicrous and dangerous since as stated by the President this could bring the same types of lawsuits against the United States from a number of sources. Again “Doc” McConnell is “after speaking”, it appears to me that being in Washington, having ready access to the Whitehouse and related agents, Mr. McTurtle  had access to the information he said he wished the President had made available to the Congress. So explain to me why we keep electing the same Bozo’s after circus has left town?

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Modern Politics


“Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare: “The evil that men do lives after them.The good is oft interred with their bones.”
The above quote sums up our Congress in part or totally. It is within our means to change the quality of our representatives. As citizens we have been victims (yes victims) of organized politics and the media with its many offshoots in the airwaves and in print. Without fully understanding it we have been advertised into voting for folks who we clearly see afterwards are not representing us as they said they would. This misrepresentation then leaves us jaded and unwilling to investigate any new aspirants yet we (some of us) do not vote out of frustration or confusion. How about a little clarity? First all politicians in and out of office are for themselves in one way or another! Some are in it for the money, some are in if for the prestige and some (too few) are actually in it to represent heir constituents. There is a saying that “you can tell when a politician is lying when you see their lips moving”. You can’t stop the lips moving but you limit the output by voting regularly and with knowledge. If an aspirant to an office understands that his tenure is dependent on a knowledgeable base perhaps we will get better representation. The power of the government is in the hands of knowledgeable voters.

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Half Heard


Again the untold or total truth goes unsaid or heard. Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem is big news (why?). Apparently any protest against what is considered an institution in America is news, even Donald Trump has leapt full force and uninformed on this issue. Reading all of several articles and looking at a 20 minute news conference  on this I fully get the reason for his protest. It is unfortunate that too many of us do not. The history of anthem is as interesting as the unspoken history of our country. To address some modern ideas: Donald trumps constituency is comprised of conservatives and many “fringe” followers, the fringe followers are the people who believe people of color are ruining the country even though the country was ruined (so to speak) by their ancestors. The native Americans were exploited, murdered and displaced  for the purpose and needs of  non native Americans whose sole purpose was to advance their own needs. When these needs were met then the Native Americans and the “imported” Americans  were placed in subservient positions. That lower tier status was maintained for years until the 60’s when the Civil rights movement evolved. Even then the movement was slow and the resentment about the aspirations of the minorities was looked upon as “uppity”. Human dignity was considered a privilege reserved for the upper class , translated as White (even though many  enjoying the privilege were in the same circumstances as the minority). Many history books do not detail all of the events of this country so too many of us have no idea of the ill-treatment conferred upon the lesser of ALL of us. The issue we all need to address is the half heard, half reported and uncovered history and information that runs so rampantly in our society. Think about how you would feel if the roles of white and people of color were reversed, if you believe  your situation would remain the same then you should be on the front lines of any movement for progress for us all. If you believe you situation would change then you definitely need to be in the fight. It is generally felt that we have 2 candidates that are less than ideal but what is ideal? We are at a time in world history that Jesus or Mohamed would have a hard time getting elected so we need to find out all we can about candidates on our own and  not from the news media. This requires reading and investigating other avenues of information. What we need to do is try another view or look at things through the eyes of others. Keep in mind that racism and bigotry are the children of ignorance.

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Trump’s “Apology” Will Mean Nothing Without Repentance


Non Voter and voters should pay attention, this Presidential race is so foul and divided that a Trump election  will devastate this country and take countless years to correct. MA

Keith Augustus Burton Director of the Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations at Oakwood University

The Huffington Post

Did I hear Jesse Jackson correctly? Did the Founder and President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition really tell the hosts of “With All Due Respect” that Donald Trump needs to apologize for fueling the obviously racist “birther” movement against our President?

Sadly, this is not the first time I’ve heard this demand. The same proposal has been echoed by such prominent voices as Secretary Hillary Clinton, Congressman John Conyers, Governor John Kasich, and even Trump surrogate, Dr. Ben Carson!

“Low Bar” Definition

In light of the untold number of people who have been hurt by Mr. Trump’s words and actions, several questions flood my mind when I hear this flippant piece of advice. Really? Apologize? Do those who offer this easy off ramp really know the contextual meaning of ”apology” as it relates to Mr. Trump’s past [and present] behavior?

As they endorse this “low bar” definition of a potentially powerful term, do they realize that they are embracing the same attitude as the media soft-ballers who hold the presidential hopeful to an unbelievably low standard? Mr. Trump’s consistent transgressions do not call for a “late to a meeting” or “accidentally broke your vase” kind of “apology.”

If all apologies were this easy, we could drastically reduce our prison population overnight. We could mandate that juries double as parole boards and exonerate all violent offenders before sentencing if they simply mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.” Child molesters would only have to utter those magic words and they will be free to frequent children play areas again. Spouse abusers will only have to say they won’t offend again and the restraining orders would be instantly nullified.

Beyond “Lip Service”

Surely this couldn’t be what these esteemed officials have in mind when they call for this renowned serial offender to “apologize.” Surely they realize that the type of “apology” required from Mr. Trump can only originate from an individual’s sincere “regret, remorse, or sorrow” for causing injury to others.

Surely they know that a genuine apology is a spoken utterance that derives from heartfelt pain and a desire to make restitution. Surely neither our politicians nor our society have evolved to such a state of flimsy pretense that the mere mouthing of choice words from a school yard dictionary is sufficient to absolve people from their transgressions.

The type of apology demanded from Mr. Trump cannot be restricted to mere words. A “lip service” type of apology that is only uttered to appease public sentiment is no different than the type of shallow promise that provides “comfort to a fool.” Those who assert that his media staged apologies will magically erase all of his past statements and actions only contribute to the shameful naïveté that has infected too many in our society.

The “oops” category of apology would be perfectly fine if a person did something accidentally, but if it is known that the damage was premeditated, the culprit cannot be let off lightly. He or she must take responsibility and be willing to live with the consequences.

A “Baby Christian”

With this in mind, I have some advice for Brother Trump, upon whom Focus on the Family’s Dr. James Dobson conferred the “baby Christian“ mantle. Judging from his recent infomercial-like appearance before an African-American congregation at the Greater Faith Ministries Church in Detroit, he appears to be more biblically literate than he was when he first addressed an evangelical group at Liberty University (as is evidenced by his quoting a text from “First John” rather than “One John”).

If this “baby Christian” really wants to know the spiritual mechanics behind an apology from a biblical perspective, I would recommend that he read the story of Zaccheus in the nineteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke. For those who may not know the plot, Zaccheus was a wealthy socialite who upon being “born again” vowed to make restitution to everyone he had defrauded.

Steps to Repentance

After reading about Zaccheus, if Brother Trump is truly sorry for his words and actions, the first thing he should do is pull out of the presidential race. Genuine conviction will demand no less. Only then can he begin to practically demonstrate the substance behind his apologies, as—in the spirit of Zaccheus—he makes every effort to rectify past wrongs.

I am even willing to share ways in which his repentance can be tangibly demonstrated, This is where he can start:

If Mr. Trump is willing to start the path of repentance by addressing these past wrongs, I may just believe his apology. Unfortunately, his habitual actions indicate that he has little in common with Zaccheus and is much more akin to the Rich Young Ruler in Matthew’s gospel, who loved power and wealth more than people. If he proves me wrong, I will be the first to apologize—the “oops” type of apology, of course!

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To The Non Voters


There are many of us who do not vote, have never voted and who are electing not to vote. Voting is the only and best voice you have! That decision to abdicate your right to let you voice be heard is a great boon to the politicians that you so thoroughly dislike. These elected eels dismiss the non voters as unimportant and you feel that your vote does not matter. To explain: unfortunately our 2(?) party system is broken, while we do have a couple of fringe parties, it is not enough that they present different views on the state of the country and by extension the government. If some of us do not vote, their views and yours remain largely hidden and unrepresented. The act of voting has to do with understanding first how Government works (or not) and what effect the action or lack of has on all of us. Politicians who have been in office for a long time will and do say what is required to keep that office, gaining  all the perks they can (or feathering their own nests). Your vote can mean the difference between good government and poor government. You as non voters are relied upon being a constant number  of people whose influence is negligible except as a number  to be subtracted from the general count. In this case you do not exist as a citizen! Forget the electoral college as it has nothing to do with your personal vote YOUR VOTE COUNTS!- I repeat YOUR VOTE COUNTS!. No matter who you support in this Presidential race or any other political race, your voice is your vote and  you need to use it. Good government comes from informed voters.

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That’s Just The Way It Is!


The recent Colin Kaepernick discussion has again brought the issue of Race to light. I have had several discussions with folks who have not looked at the whole issue. The acceptance of sound bites and headlines appears to be commonplace these days so the backstories (as it were) are lost . Mr. Kaepernick’s protest is legitimate and not well understood by anyone who has never recognized or experienced racial discrimination. This is not to say that Racial disparity  stops at color but it does allow for a discussion of the issue and how it affects everyone. To get to the back story: The writer of “the Star spangled Banner” was a slave  owner and was concerned over the slaves going over to the British as they were treated better than their owners treated them and they were free. The third Stanza which I have posted below tells a story in itself:

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a Country should leave us no more? Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.  

The real issue is that America has still a long way to go as far as Race relations and we have allowed our leaders to continue the propagation of this divide. Mr. Trump has done a masterful job with his rhetoric and I believe does not realize what he is doing. Many Americans (all races) are dissatisfied with the Government but still vote along Racial lines in many cases because it’s easier to hate than to learn about the people they elect. Many of us have become addicted to “reality” shows that in truth are not everyone’s reality and feel that life is like that. If better government is what desired by Americans then reading up on what Congress, State and local elected officials are doing and pay little attention to what they say. Remember to examine the pieces rather than the whole if you want the truth! That’s just the way it is does not have to be.

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Lawmakers likely to do what they do best: the bare minimum yahoo.com


Lawmakers likely to do what they do best: the bare minimum

 I am a bit late in posting this however it is still relevant-MA
yahoo.com |

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers return to Washington this week for an abbreviated election-season session in which they will likely do what they do best: the bare minimum.

All Congress must do this month is keep the government from shutting down on Oct. 1 and, with any luck, finally provide money for the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Republicans controlling Congress promise they won’t stumble now, but the weeks ahead could prove tricky.

A chief motivation for the September session, especially for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is allowing lawmakers to return to campaigning as soon as possible. Republicans are scrambling to hold onto their Senate edge as GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump lags in the polls.

The short-term spending measure is sure to pass. The alternative is that Republicans would get the blame for a government shutdown, as they did in 2013.

But it’s a complicated path for the temporary spending bill. Some House conservatives say the measure should last into next year, when there is a new president and a new Congress, and that would block any chance for a session after the Nov. 8 election. Leaders in both parties feel otherwise — as does President Barack Obama — and a temporary measure until December seems to be the consensus.

“We are not doing anything into next year and every Republican should be aware of that right now,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Lawmakers left Washington seven weeks ago without resolving a dispute over money for Zika. The virus can cause severe birth defects and is linked to a host of other maladies. Obama asked Congress in February for $1.9 billion in emergency money, but legislation to partially pay for his proposal collapsed in July amid various fights. Among them was a Republican provision to deny money to Puerto Rican affiliates of Planned Parenthood.

Because the shutdown-prevention measure simply has to pass, it’s a tempting target for lawmakers seeking to use it as a vehicle for their preferences. For instance, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., is pressing for emergency grants to help communities in his flood-ravaged state to recover.

“I hope we can accomplish that in September,” Cassidy said.

But GOP leaders probably will try to keep the spending bill as free of unrelated additions as possible, especially now. If GOP leaders were to grant Cassidy’s request, it would make it more difficult to say no to others, such as Democrats seeking money for fixing the lead-tainted water system of Flint, Michigan.

House conservatives are looking to press ahead with impeaching IRS Commissioner John Koskinen over the destruction of agency emails and misleading testimony on whether the tax agency, before his arrival, improperly scrutinized conservative groups seeking nonprofit status. The impeachment drive is a headache for Republicans who believe that Koskinen’s conduct isn’t serious enough to warrant impeachment, but who may be reluctant to support the Democratic appointee in such a politically charged environment.

In a recent memo, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said lawmakers will take up legislation regarding the Obama administration’s $400 million payment to Iran in January, made immediately after four U.S. prisoners were released. The payment, for undelivered arms to the shah of Iran, was made on the same day of the prisoner release, and Republicans call it “ransom.” The as-yet-unreleased legislation is designed to prevent a repeat, but seems like an election-season messaging effort.

McConnell also wants to advance a popular water projects measure. But the priority is to simply adjourn the chamber to allow embattled incumbents such as Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., to get back home and campaign for re-election against the political headwinds created by Trump.

The abbreviated session should give GOP-run committees a final pre-election chance to hold hearings on the Obama administration and other targets such as EpiPen manufacturer Mylan, N.V. That company has come under withering criticism for steep price increases for its life-saving injector, which can stop potentially fatal allergic reactions to insect bites and stings, and foods such as peanuts and eggs.

House Republicans are promising hearings on Hillary Clinton’s emails. FBI Director James Comey criticized Clinton’s use of a homebrew email server to handle sensitive work-related emails as “extremely careless,” but said his agency’s yearlong investigation found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

Republicans now are demanding that the Justice Department open a new investigation into whether Clinton lied during testimony last year before the House Benghazi committee. They claim the FBI note may show Clinton provided inconsistent answers to questions about her handling of emails containing classified information.

___

This story has been corrected to reflect that Sen. Reid is D-Nev., not R-Nev.