Here’s something we all can do. 877-959-6082 connects you with the stop Sessions campaign. They will ask for your zip code and then connect you to your Senator. The vote in Sessions will likely be tomorrow so we have to call today.
For years now Republicans have gotten a lot of mileage from their base by railing against the media – or as Sarah Palin says, “the lamestream media.” Throughout his campaign and transition, Donald Trump jumped right into that fray. More recently, during his remarks at the CIA this weekend, Trump talked about being at war with the media.
After Sean Spicer’s bizarre statement to the press on Saturday afternoon in which he lied about the size of the crowd at the inauguration, most of the reporting has been framed as part of that “war.” There is a way in which that frame is accurate. But it deserves some examination if, for no other reason, than because it is the frame Trump wants us to adopt.
The truth is that Trump loves media attention. Those who have watched him over the years point out that he revels in it – especially when it is rooted in conflict. His entire presidential campaign was able to forego spending much money because he soaked up all the media attention with inflammatory rhetoric. That is Trump’s lifeblood.
In a way, Kellyanne Conway’s remarks to Chuck Todd yesterday demonstrate that this is more than a war with the media. She labelled Spicer’s lies as “alternative facts.” In case you missed it, even the folks at Merriam Webster weighed in on that.
Love this comment…”There is truly nothing more unbecoming than the most powerful person in the world, whining about criticism.
Trump my man, hate to break it to you, but you are now in the hot seat. Just wait until you start leaving your fingerprints on things, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Shoulda stayed a heckler…”
Rocky First Weekend for Trump Troubles Even His Top Aides
What I believe is that Trump is employing a SHOCK & AWE campaign against the citizens of the United States.
There are so many outrages every single day that we are left feeling overwhelmed and powerless and demoralized. I don’t know what we can do about it except make sure that there are coalitions in place at all levels to confront each and every one of these offenses as they arise.
Everything you said. The trick is for us to be persistent, no matter how many times, how long he does it.
Echoes from PBO as VC just shared below:
“The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”
~ Pres. B. Obama – Sept 2011
We can’t and should never stop. And when the media becomes fixated on one of his many distractions, we should try to veer them back to the issues. There are many in the media sympathetic to our plight. So, if we cc them when we tweet our concerns, they may not respond, but they will see it. At least that’s my thought. That’s why I repeat stuff over and again. The GOPers have used this tactic for years, even though they have been misleading. We have the truth on our side. And so I push it any time I can.
But One thing, I do believe is that we can’t despair. I constantly hear President Obama’s voice in my head. His wisdom is immeasurable.
africatimes2, I like your suggestion here: “There are many in the media sympathetic to our plight. So, if we cc them when we tweet our concerns, they may not respond, but they will see it.”
I believe Dan Rather is one and I’m sure others here can think of other reporters that we can include in our pushback on Twitter.
Very good suggestion, thanks!
See Jackie 4 Obama, here’s something we all can do 🙂
Hello TOD. I called both my NJ Senators at 9.30 EST this morning to ask them not to vote to confirm DeVos and Sessions
and also to keep fighting against the repeal of OBAMACARE.
The good news is that even at that early hour they stated that their lines were all tied up with the overwhelming amount
of calls being received so callers would have to leave a message…which I did. Asked my daughter to call her IL senators
and she got the same response and had to leave a message. Seems like the ‘kitty cap’ wearers are fired up and ready to go!!
“In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.” ~ Barack Obama – January, 2008
“The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”
~ Pres. B. Obama – Sept 2011
Also, when next you speak to CanadaBarb (& son), please convey my condolences on Arne’s passing , and my wish that the family will find peace together as they reflect on his love for them.
Donald Trump’s inaugural speech was filled, bizarrely and predictably, with dystopian falsehoods. His reference to “American carnage,” a reprise of his oft-repeated and utterly backwards claim that the country faces a violent crime epidemic, was an instant classic in authoritarian fear-mongering.
But that was not the most important moment in Trump’s inaugural. Singling out the most outrageous lie from any string of Donald Trump utterances is, of course, a bit like trying to pick the best Beatles album. But for my money, the heart of yesterday’s speech was Trump’s theory about why regular Americans aren’t prospering: because Washington politicians and foreign governments are stealing all their money. Here’s the key section:
For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished—but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered—but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
A few moments later, he added:
The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.
This is a master class in scapegoating and misdirection, an astonishing example of chutzpah even by Trump’s historically awesome standards. There really is a group of people that has been sucking up the economic gains that should be going to the middle class, and the Trump Administration is basically its all-star team. Of the executive branch nominees picks so far announced, five are billionaires (as Trump claims to be himself, of course). At least a dozen more are multimillionaires. Andy Puzder, the fast-food magnate and Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, has talked openly about his plan to replace restaurant workers with robots. Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary nominee, is a former Goldman Sachs partner who has already run into trouble for hiding $100 million in assets from the Senate Finance Committee. If middle and working class Americans watching Trump’s speech wanted to know who has been getting rich while they struggle to get by, they should have simply watched on mute. It’s the guy with his name on buildings.
Disability, senior, all advocacy groups and communities should be in high gear now to build opposition to this devastating plan. It would effectively end the Medicaid mandate of care for millions of vulnerable populations.
Well, there goes the federal government as being a “model employer.”
Having worked 30 years for the Navy as a civilian, even today I am proud of that. I helped support Sailors from my on-shore perch, doing work that they didn’t have to do, so their efforts could be directed toward our national defense (not to mention humanitarian efforts across the globe, which some people don’t realize). The Navy always taught us that civilian employees should be highly trained, managers and executives had that responsibility, and that even if that meant they would leave federal employment for higher-paying jobs in the private sector, it would benefit the country, overall. Our country.
There are also countless safeguards that ensure some crazy new guy in charge can’t just fire everybody on a Friday afternoon, with no notice – as we all know is done “every Friday” in private industry (like T-rump’s fictitious company).
Federal pay does not compare to private-sector pay. If memory serves (don’t quote me), the president usually signs a waiver each year to the Pay Comparability Act, “for the exigencies of the government,” which means pay will stay as NOT comparable. They did add locality pay to some of the pay scales in recent decades for certain geographical regions, which helps those working in the higher-cost areas. Before that, if you worked in San Francisco or a little town in the Midwest, you got the same pay for the same work, despite the fact it wasn’t enough to pay for stuff.
So, Trump will freeze pay, lower pay scales, try to contract for more outside defense workers (thus raising annual costs to taxpayers and helping his buddies in the private sector who own the big corporations, at the same time), cut the minuscule-to-zero raises received in most years by federal employees, etc., etc. He has NO CLUE that every job lost in the federal sector means one new name on the unemployment rolls. Make that he has NO INTEREST in any of that. He has NO CLUE of the high cost of ushering out federal workers (everybody gets paid for any vacation time they have on the books, if they have tenure they get retirement pay – if not, they get back all the funds THEY paid into their retirement, some will get re-training if desired which will cost the government huge amounts, etc., and many federal workers are above the magic age of 40 and will find it hard to get a new job so will be added to state unemployment rolls).
In many areas, the federal government (think Army base or the like) is the prime employer. So when they shut down the federal organization, all the local businesses close, too.
I could go on and on … but mercifully for y’all, I’ll stop here. Thanks, T-rump voters. Thanks a lot.
That’s just temporary until we get ready to go to war with Iran thereby requiring us to go into Iraq and take their oil to pay for the war with Iran, do try to keep up meta.
Hello TOD on a Manic Monday Afternoon.
I am sure that TODbots will be glad to hear that I will No Longer be posting Presser Vids from this Regime now.
I will find another way to be of a tiny value here at TOD.
Congrats to Au ⭐ winners since last Evening.
{{{ ❤ Chips ❤ }}} ((( ❤ Dudette ❤ )))
When Sir Winston #Churchill was asked about cutting funds for the #arts in World War II, his reply was, "Then what are we fighting for ?" pic.twitter.com/zk9aXSlHXD
Good day TOD. What a weekend it has been. Even worse than I anticipated from the DT admin, but so incredibly uplifting to see the millions of marchers with the heartwarming stories coming from the marches. I am sure PBO spent Saturday smiling! This–more than anything else–will be his legacy, reminding us of our power.
Sad to see the executive order pulling the US from the TPP was signed this morning. Once again, a case of workers voting against their own interests. When China’s exports to this region are much larger than the US exports ten years from now, China will have the jobs behind those products rather than the US. And it will be entrenched there. This is lost opportunity that PBO recognized which will be lost permanently.
There is a wonderful piece for the most part) on what PBO did for this country and what his legacy will be. It is already set, and even if the GOP reverses every piece of legislation he signed, they will not be able to eradicate this. Warning, there are some parts I vehemently disagree with, but it is well worth the read and the essence of it is correct.
“Though we may think that for better or worse, we get the president we deserve, there are times over these past eight years when I think we‘ve gotten a president who is more than we deserve — someone who calls us to a higher purpose, someone who shows us what is best in us. I think Barack Obama is one of those.
….
He is consequential because he is good and because he asked that we be good, too. History will judge his presidency. But we can already judge his character, and it is sterling. He showed us who we are supposed to be.”
Okay I’m reading that PBO shut the lines down the last week he was in office. Those lines are staffed by volunteers and by his last week they were only using essential staff. Maybe, just maybe the nutjub hasn’t gotten his full staff (including volunteers) in place to man the phones so the recording is still on.
Well, that would be good I guess. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they really drag their feet on replacing them. Last on a long list of jobs that need filling. UGH.
He’s going to have a heck of a time getting people to volunteer for him. I can’t imagine his wealthy white friends sitting at a desk answering phones all day. I could be wrong. 😯
Over the years Republicans have told a lot of lies about Obamacare. Leading the way has been their claim that the law is a government takeover of health care. The truth is that, whether you get insurance from your employer or via the Obamacare exchanges, you have health insurance provided by private insurance companies. The exceptions are, of course, Medicare and Medicaid—both of which were implemented long before Obamacare passed.
But we all know that Republicans hate any form of government regulation—and Obamacare heavily regulated the insurance market. Included in the law are:
A ban on denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions,
A requirement to cover children until the age of 26,
A requirement that only 15% of premiums (20% in the individual/small group market) can go to overhead/profit (medical loss ratio, or MLR),
A list of 10 essential benefits insurers must cover, and
A ban on annual and lifetime caps on what insurers will pay out.
We’ve heard a lot about the first two and many Republicans are promising to keep them in place when/if they repeal and replace Obamacare. While eliminating the MLR would likely cause premiums to rise, getting rid of the last two could reduce them significantly. Doing so would bring back what Consumer Reports once called “junk health insurance.”
…………………………………………..
Kim Soffen and Denise Lu report that all of the Republican alternatives to Obamacare eliminate the requirement for including 10 essential benefits. Orrin Hatch’s replacement plan allows insurers to cap annual payments and Ryan’s Better Way plan doesn’t mention caps (i.e., they would return).
These are important elements to keep in mind. Allowing the return of junk health insurance would mean that Republicans can claim to make premiums more affordable. But for people in Judith’s situation, they will assume they are covered when they’re not.
Listening to NPR interview OK residents about Trump’s win this morning was enlightening especially when they talk of needing the conservatives to win due to the morality issues. My thoughts are how can you feel morally superior by putting the most immoral person in the WH possibly ever? The other part of trusting God to oversee it all seemed like an excuse to do anything.
The article says FLOTUS flew on a private jet. The report also said POTUS left at the same time but it wasn’t clear if he boarded the same flight. I’m guessing he;s still using military transport.
“Our sources say at 2:45 PM they will leave Andrews on Special Air Mission 29,000, the plane that will take them to Palm Springs. It’s the same plane that Obama used as president, but it won’t be called Air Force One.”
It is going to get bad before it gets better folks, just sit tight with seat belts buckled and get ready to be citizen, press, government, activist, in short everything that is required to counter this thing. This must be done creatively. Understand that the previous play book does not apply because the opponent is fighting differently. So creativity is key.
The Republicans need to get the message from the majority of Americans that we value and need the benefits of Obamacare. Here’s how we do that.
On January 23rd [TODAY] everyone who feels that way (our numbers are legion) sends a note to Donald Trump with a simple message:
“Don’t make America sick again. Improve Obamacare. Don’t repeal it.”
One envelope for every ACA supporter in your household…even if they are under 18 years old.
Just that simple message. Put it in an envelope, and put a stamp on it.
On January 23rd, mail it to:
Pres. Donald Trump
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW,
Washington, DC 20500
Can you imagine the picture of 53 MILLION letters arriving at the White House by January 26th? It will be a mountain. That image might help deter the Republicans from killing the most substantial improvement to American healthcare since the discovery of Penicillin.
Do it today! Drop it into a mailbox near you on Monday, January 23rd.
Please send this email to 20 (or more) of your friends, neighbors and fellow Americans. Ask them to do the same.
[history teacher mode] He was appointed, pope Francis, according to the German constitution back then, appointed after exercising constant political pressure on an ailing, very old president and while his share of the vote was already in slight decline, never having reached much beyond a third of the population. [/history teacher mode]
Sorry for the smartassin´ , but I get the meaning behind that tweet.
Wow, thanks for the history lesson, niliathiel. I always thought he was elected, though I don’t recall where I first learned that. Fact-checking is essential, even with what we think we know.
Oh, no no, he wasn´t. He was appointed chancellor which btw wasn´t even a very powerful position since it hinged on the goodwill of the president (who in turn was very powerful. since this was Germany´s first attempt at democracy, we were not used to all this and were like “uh hey, how about we have a president with almost all the functions and powers of a monarch, won´t feel quite as unusual to us”)
So if Hitler´s rise to power is used as an argument I always prefer people to remind of the fact that even though he was merely a chancellor he managed to undo the democracy with cunning and calculation. (a very flawed constitution which had zero safeguards, mind you)
1) he pressured the president into dissolving parliament (as the presnde toften did) so there would be new elections
2) led an aggressive and intimidating, violent campaign
3) talked the president into infringing civil rights as a “protection measure” after the parliament building was set on fire
4) pretended to be all buddy buddy with the president
5) intimidated the heck out of the other parties and pressured them into accepting a law that gave him the power to pass laws as chancellor
6) then, after Hindenburg died and because 5) allowed him to pass laws passed a law that combined the office of president and chancellor and called it “Führer and chancellor”
7) abolished and dismantled all parties but one
taking all this into account we need to recall that the American constitutuin is much better guarded. As is the German one btw.
On inauguration day, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas released an intemperate statement to the press:
“Hundreds of thousands of Americans are in Washington this weekend at a designated special national-security event, yet the Democrats are obstructing the nomination of Mike Pompeo as CIA Director for no good reason. For Senator [Ron] Wyden’s [of Oregon] sake, I hope the jihadists take the weekend off from trying to kill Americans.”
I’d like to focus on that “no good reason” part of his complaint. As Charles Pierce pointed out last June and Frank Bruni reported in the New York Times, Senator Cotton once blocked President Obama’s nominee to be ambassador to the Bahamas for a very bad reason, which seems to me to be worse than no reason at all.
There’s a larger backstory to this that I could rehash but it’s not necessary here. This is the meat of it.
The Senate held a hearing [for Cassandra Butts’s] nomination in May 2014, and then … nothing. Summer came and went. So did fall. A new year arrived. Then another new year after that.
When I met her last month, she’d been waiting more than 820 days to be confirmed. She died suddenly two weeks later, still waiting. She was 50 years old.
The delay had nothing to do with her qualifications, which were impeccable. It had everything to do with Washington. She was a pawn in its power games and partisanship.
For Tom Cotton, who put a hold on her nomination and refused to lift it, his reasons were personal and he was apparently quite honest about them, including with Ms. Butts.
She told me that she once went to see him about it, and he explained that he knew that she was a close friend of Obama’s — the two first encountered each other on a line for financial-aid forms at Harvard Law School, where they were classmates — and that blocking her was a way to inflict special pain on the president.
Cotton’s spokeswoman did not dispute Butts’s characterization of that meeting, and stressed, in separate emails, that Cotton had enormous respect for her and her career.
Dayum! Grins in his face, then frowns and grimaces when he turns around. Still don’t feel sorry for her, however because she enables him. Furthermore, a Birther is always dead to me.
Now to cleanse my mind with photos/videos of the many loving interactions between PBO and his first and only, love of his life wife, Michelle.
Giving thanks today for Stanley Dunham, who studied economic anthropology & rural development (also we were born in same Wichita hospital 😎) pic.twitter.com/jjFnkaekmy
In a more-than-three-minute video posted on Facebook by Udai Basavaraj, former N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory, television personality and conservative pundit Lou Dobbs and three unidentified women are approached by people on the street who shout “Shame!” and call McCrory an “anti-gay bigot.” McCrory and his group try to avoid the crowd shouting, but are followed down a Washington, D.C. alley where they waited to be admitted to the building.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Good morning NW ….
h/t meta
DM’d Propane Jane to be sure she didn’t miss the DOD tweet … hope she sends them her “Instability in Chief” Warning …
Thank you, Bob, and good morning.
Good morning, NW – thanks for this great post! Have a fine Obama day.
Thank you Jacqueline and good morning 🙂
Not funny, but I chuckled at this ↓
😉
Found at BJ:
Here’s something we all can do. 877-959-6082 connects you with the stop Sessions campaign. They will ask for your zip code and then connect you to your Senator. The vote in Sessions will likely be tomorrow so we have to call today.
Well, that about says it all. Although, maybe not quite, because I’m afraid there’s more.
Wow. He sure hit the nail on the head.
Yup, Trump is truly an original.
‘jerkish’– I like that. Now we can translate from the original Jerkish into English when Dump speaks or tweets.
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
Good morning TOD folks! Thoughts and condolences to all affected by the storms. Thank you Nerdy.
And I laugh, because this is the only kind of thing the egomaniac cares about and sadness because this is the only thing he cares about.
Trump As An Agent of Chaos
by Nancy LeTourneau
January 23, 2017 9:59 AM
For years now Republicans have gotten a lot of mileage from their base by railing against the media – or as Sarah Palin says, “the lamestream media.” Throughout his campaign and transition, Donald Trump jumped right into that fray. More recently, during his remarks at the CIA this weekend, Trump talked about being at war with the media.
After Sean Spicer’s bizarre statement to the press on Saturday afternoon in which he lied about the size of the crowd at the inauguration, most of the reporting has been framed as part of that “war.” There is a way in which that frame is accurate. But it deserves some examination if, for no other reason, than because it is the frame Trump wants us to adopt.
The truth is that Trump loves media attention. Those who have watched him over the years point out that he revels in it – especially when it is rooted in conflict. His entire presidential campaign was able to forego spending much money because he soaked up all the media attention with inflammatory rhetoric. That is Trump’s lifeblood.
In a way, Kellyanne Conway’s remarks to Chuck Todd yesterday demonstrate that this is more than a war with the media. She labelled Spicer’s lies as “alternative facts.” In case you missed it, even the folks at Merriam Webster weighed in on that.
Love this comment…”There is truly nothing more unbecoming than the most powerful person in the world, whining about criticism.
Trump my man, hate to break it to you, but you are now in the hot seat. Just wait until you start leaving your fingerprints on things, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Shoulda stayed a heckler…”
Rocky First Weekend for Trump Troubles Even His Top Aides
This is pathetic, yet no one is doing anything about it. Or better yet, what can be done?
What I believe is that Trump is employing a SHOCK & AWE campaign against the citizens of the United States.
There are so many outrages every single day that we are left feeling overwhelmed and powerless and demoralized. I don’t know what we can do about it except make sure that there are coalitions in place at all levels to confront each and every one of these offenses as they arise.
Everything you said. The trick is for us to be persistent, no matter how many times, how long he does it.
Echoes from PBO as VC just shared below:
“The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”
~ Pres. B. Obama – Sept 2011
We can’t and should never stop. And when the media becomes fixated on one of his many distractions, we should try to veer them back to the issues. There are many in the media sympathetic to our plight. So, if we cc them when we tweet our concerns, they may not respond, but they will see it. At least that’s my thought. That’s why I repeat stuff over and again. The GOPers have used this tactic for years, even though they have been misleading. We have the truth on our side. And so I push it any time I can.
But One thing, I do believe is that we can’t despair. I constantly hear President Obama’s voice in my head. His wisdom is immeasurable.
Yes, thank you for reminding us again and again.
africatimes2, I like your suggestion here: “There are many in the media sympathetic to our plight. So, if we cc them when we tweet our concerns, they may not respond, but they will see it.”
I believe Dan Rather is one and I’m sure others here can think of other reporters that we can include in our pushback on Twitter.
Very good suggestion, thanks!
See Jackie 4 Obama, here’s something we all can do 🙂
Got it.
This^^^.
Hello TOD. I called both my NJ Senators at 9.30 EST this morning to ask them not to vote to confirm DeVos and Sessions
and also to keep fighting against the repeal of OBAMACARE.
The good news is that even at that early hour they stated that their lines were all tied up with the overwhelming amount
of calls being received so callers would have to leave a message…which I did. Asked my daughter to call her IL senators
and she got the same response and had to leave a message. Seems like the ‘kitty cap’ wearers are fired up and ready to go!!
THANK YOU.
Meant to add…Let’s keep calling and bombarding them. We will not let them off the hook.
Many thanks.
Today’s Quotable Quotes……from The Obama Legacy
“In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.” ~ Barack Obama – January, 2008
“The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”
~ Pres. B. Obama – Sept 2011
Have a **good** Monday, everyone!
Thanks for sharing, VC!!
You have a *good* one too VC 🙂
🙂 TY
Thank you, vc. Have a good day!
Great idea to bring that back – thank you!
YVW, JO’B. While The Idiot seems to be trying to poison all of our air, it seemed the perfect time to add some Obama air refreshener.
Also, when next you speak to CanadaBarb (& son), please convey my condolences on Arne’s passing , and my wish that the family will find peace together as they reflect on his love for them.
Thank you – I will. ❤
Hello TODers!!
Hi Nerdy, and thank you.
(((((((((((((((Chips)))))))))))))))
Dudette, thinking about you ((((((((((Hugs)))))))
Trump’s Biggest Inaugural Lie
by Gilad Edelman
January 21, 2017
Donald Trump’s inaugural speech was filled, bizarrely and predictably, with dystopian falsehoods. His reference to “American carnage,” a reprise of his oft-repeated and utterly backwards claim that the country faces a violent crime epidemic, was an instant classic in authoritarian fear-mongering.
But that was not the most important moment in Trump’s inaugural. Singling out the most outrageous lie from any string of Donald Trump utterances is, of course, a bit like trying to pick the best Beatles album. But for my money, the heart of yesterday’s speech was Trump’s theory about why regular Americans aren’t prospering: because Washington politicians and foreign governments are stealing all their money. Here’s the key section:
A few moments later, he added:
This is a master class in scapegoating and misdirection, an astonishing example of chutzpah even by Trump’s historically awesome standards. There really is a group of people that has been sucking up the economic gains that should be going to the middle class, and the Trump Administration is basically its all-star team. Of the executive branch nominees picks so far announced, five are billionaires (as Trump claims to be himself, of course). At least a dozen more are multimillionaires. Andy Puzder, the fast-food magnate and Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, has talked openly about his plan to replace restaurant workers with robots. Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary nominee, is a former Goldman Sachs partner who has already run into trouble for hiding $100 million in assets from the Senate Finance Committee. If middle and working class Americans watching Trump’s speech wanted to know who has been getting rich while they struggle to get by, they should have simply watched on mute. It’s the guy with his name on buildings.
Oh boy, I realized that I dislike Kellyanne as much as I dislike Trump.
I hope she is being compensated well.
Disability, senior, all advocacy groups and communities should be in high gear now to build opposition to this devastating plan. It would effectively end the Medicaid mandate of care for millions of vulnerable populations.
Well, there goes the federal government as being a “model employer.”
Having worked 30 years for the Navy as a civilian, even today I am proud of that. I helped support Sailors from my on-shore perch, doing work that they didn’t have to do, so their efforts could be directed toward our national defense (not to mention humanitarian efforts across the globe, which some people don’t realize). The Navy always taught us that civilian employees should be highly trained, managers and executives had that responsibility, and that even if that meant they would leave federal employment for higher-paying jobs in the private sector, it would benefit the country, overall. Our country.
There are also countless safeguards that ensure some crazy new guy in charge can’t just fire everybody on a Friday afternoon, with no notice – as we all know is done “every Friday” in private industry (like T-rump’s fictitious company).
Federal pay does not compare to private-sector pay. If memory serves (don’t quote me), the president usually signs a waiver each year to the Pay Comparability Act, “for the exigencies of the government,” which means pay will stay as NOT comparable. They did add locality pay to some of the pay scales in recent decades for certain geographical regions, which helps those working in the higher-cost areas. Before that, if you worked in San Francisco or a little town in the Midwest, you got the same pay for the same work, despite the fact it wasn’t enough to pay for stuff.
So, Trump will freeze pay, lower pay scales, try to contract for more outside defense workers (thus raising annual costs to taxpayers and helping his buddies in the private sector who own the big corporations, at the same time), cut the minuscule-to-zero raises received in most years by federal employees, etc., etc. He has NO CLUE that every job lost in the federal sector means one new name on the unemployment rolls. Make that he has NO INTEREST in any of that. He has NO CLUE of the high cost of ushering out federal workers (everybody gets paid for any vacation time they have on the books, if they have tenure they get retirement pay – if not, they get back all the funds THEY paid into their retirement, some will get re-training if desired which will cost the government huge amounts, etc., and many federal workers are above the magic age of 40 and will find it hard to get a new job so will be added to state unemployment rolls).
In many areas, the federal government (think Army base or the like) is the prime employer. So when they shut down the federal organization, all the local businesses close, too.
I could go on and on … but mercifully for y’all, I’ll stop here. Thanks, T-rump voters. Thanks a lot.
So, we’re propping up Assad now?
That’s just temporary until we get ready to go to war with Iran thereby requiring us to go into Iraq and take their oil to pay for the war with Iran, do try to keep up meta.
Man, we are going to need a whiteboard to make a new map of all our new alignments with an overlay of where Trump’s personal assets are located. UGH.
It shouldn’t be too hard to locate Trump’s personal assets, they all are gaudy with golf leaf prominently displayed.
*gold
Um, what’s going on here?
Hello TOD on a Manic Monday Afternoon.
I am sure that TODbots will be glad to hear that I will No Longer be posting Presser Vids from this Regime now.
I will find another way to be of a tiny value here at TOD.
Congrats to Au ⭐ winners since last Evening.
{{{ ❤ Chips ❤ }}} ((( ❤ Dudette ❤ )))
You are of MUCH value here every day, Nena (and good call on the vids!). ❤
Good day TOD. What a weekend it has been. Even worse than I anticipated from the DT admin, but so incredibly uplifting to see the millions of marchers with the heartwarming stories coming from the marches. I am sure PBO spent Saturday smiling! This–more than anything else–will be his legacy, reminding us of our power.
Sad to see the executive order pulling the US from the TPP was signed this morning. Once again, a case of workers voting against their own interests. When China’s exports to this region are much larger than the US exports ten years from now, China will have the jobs behind those products rather than the US. And it will be entrenched there. This is lost opportunity that PBO recognized which will be lost permanently.
There is a wonderful piece for the most part) on what PBO did for this country and what his legacy will be. It is already set, and even if the GOP reverses every piece of legislation he signed, they will not be able to eradicate this. Warning, there are some parts I vehemently disagree with, but it is well worth the read and the essence of it is correct.
“Though we may think that for better or worse, we get the president we deserve, there are times over these past eight years when I think we‘ve gotten a president who is more than we deserve — someone who calls us to a higher purpose, someone who shows us what is best in us. I think Barack Obama is one of those.
….
He is consequential because he is good and because he asked that we be good, too. History will judge his presidency. But we can already judge his character, and it is sterling. He showed us who we are supposed to be.”
Why Obama Nostalgia Matters http://bit.ly/2j5RnBt
WHOA WHOA WHOA
NO no no no no
Great minds… It’s a sad day but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see this coming. They don’t want any dissent.
OMG, this is a huge violation of redress. I can’t even fathom what’s to come. I’m sickened.
Okay I’m reading that PBO shut the lines down the last week he was in office. Those lines are staffed by volunteers and by his last week they were only using essential staff. Maybe, just maybe the nutjub hasn’t gotten his full staff (including volunteers) in place to man the phones so the recording is still on.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/14/white-house-shuts-down-call-line/
Well, that would be good I guess. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they really drag their feet on replacing them. Last on a long list of jobs that need filling. UGH.
He’s going to have a heck of a time getting people to volunteer for him. I can’t imagine his wealthy white friends sitting at a desk answering phones all day. I could be wrong. 😯
I am so loving these PBO admin now……didn’t think it was possible to love them any more…….
How Republicans Will Lower Health Insurance Premiums: A Return to Junk Plans
by Nancy LeTourneau
January 23, 2017 12:16 PM
Over the years Republicans have told a lot of lies about Obamacare. Leading the way has been their claim that the law is a government takeover of health care. The truth is that, whether you get insurance from your employer or via the Obamacare exchanges, you have health insurance provided by private insurance companies. The exceptions are, of course, Medicare and Medicaid—both of which were implemented long before Obamacare passed.
But we all know that Republicans hate any form of government regulation—and Obamacare heavily regulated the insurance market. Included in the law are:
A ban on denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions,
A requirement to cover children until the age of 26,
A requirement that only 15% of premiums (20% in the individual/small group market) can go to overhead/profit (medical loss ratio, or MLR),
A list of 10 essential benefits insurers must cover, and
A ban on annual and lifetime caps on what insurers will pay out.
We’ve heard a lot about the first two and many Republicans are promising to keep them in place when/if they repeal and replace Obamacare. While eliminating the MLR would likely cause premiums to rise, getting rid of the last two could reduce them significantly. Doing so would bring back what Consumer Reports once called “junk health insurance.”
…………………………………………..
Kim Soffen and Denise Lu report that all of the Republican alternatives to Obamacare eliminate the requirement for including 10 essential benefits. Orrin Hatch’s replacement plan allows insurers to cap annual payments and Ryan’s Better Way plan doesn’t mention caps (i.e., they would return).
These are important elements to keep in mind. Allowing the return of junk health insurance would mean that Republicans can claim to make premiums more affordable. But for people in Judith’s situation, they will assume they are covered when they’re not.
Listening to NPR interview OK residents about Trump’s win this morning was enlightening especially when they talk of needing the conservatives to win due to the morality issues. My thoughts are how can you feel morally superior by putting the most immoral person in the WH possibly ever? The other part of trusting God to oversee it all seemed like an excuse to do anything.
OMG, I have it muted, but have on the presser. Is that Kellyanne wearing the crazy hair off to the side? OMG. Looks more like Jan Brewer, so I dunno.
I may be the last one to see this, but we need a smile!
I am wondering, do they like travel with commercial planes now? maybe that´s a dumb question…
The article says FLOTUS flew on a private jet. The report also said POTUS left at the same time but it wasn’t clear if he boarded the same flight. I’m guessing he;s still using military transport.
“Our sources say at 2:45 PM they will leave Andrews on Special Air Mission 29,000, the plane that will take them to Palm Springs. It’s the same plane that Obama used as president, but it won’t be called Air Force One.”
“As for their return to D.C. where they’ll be living, they won’t have a government plane at their disposal. It’s only one way.” http://www.pe.com/articles/palm-823293-course-white.html
It is going to get bad before it gets better folks, just sit tight with seat belts buckled and get ready to be citizen, press, government, activist, in short everything that is required to counter this thing. This must be done creatively. Understand that the previous play book does not apply because the opponent is fighting differently. So creativity is key.
🖖🏼🗝🙏🏻❤
I can’t stop laughing.
The media was reporting that Trump gave the Oval office a ” new look ” with gold drapes !
He actually put the Clinton oval office drapes back up. They are still wrinkled from being stored.
hahahahahaha….does he not know about google images. What losers.
What have you done America??
They are all imbeciles.
@carolynlochhead White House closes public switchboard, replacing with recordings directing to post comments on line or on Facebook. 202-456-1414
Where’s the President? Still in Palm Springs?
I’ll do it, but it won’t be mailed until tomorrow. Great idea. Also, too, it’ll support the U.S. Postal Service, which the RWNJs want to privatize.
[history teacher mode] He was appointed, pope Francis, according to the German constitution back then, appointed after exercising constant political pressure on an ailing, very old president and while his share of the vote was already in slight decline, never having reached much beyond a third of the population. [/history teacher mode]
Sorry for the smartassin´ , but I get the meaning behind that tweet.
Wow, thanks for the history lesson, niliathiel. I always thought he was elected, though I don’t recall where I first learned that. Fact-checking is essential, even with what we think we know.
Oh, no no, he wasn´t. He was appointed chancellor which btw wasn´t even a very powerful position since it hinged on the goodwill of the president (who in turn was very powerful. since this was Germany´s first attempt at democracy, we were not used to all this and were like “uh hey, how about we have a president with almost all the functions and powers of a monarch, won´t feel quite as unusual to us”)
So if Hitler´s rise to power is used as an argument I always prefer people to remind of the fact that even though he was merely a chancellor he managed to undo the democracy with cunning and calculation. (a very flawed constitution which had zero safeguards, mind you)
1) he pressured the president into dissolving parliament (as the presnde toften did) so there would be new elections
2) led an aggressive and intimidating, violent campaign
3) talked the president into infringing civil rights as a “protection measure” after the parliament building was set on fire
4) pretended to be all buddy buddy with the president
5) intimidated the heck out of the other parties and pressured them into accepting a law that gave him the power to pass laws as chancellor
6) then, after Hindenburg died and because 5) allowed him to pass laws passed a law that combined the office of president and chancellor and called it “Führer and chancellor”
7) abolished and dismantled all parties but one
taking all this into account we need to recall that the American constitutuin is much better guarded. As is the German one btw.
Sen. Tom Cotton’s Double Standards on Nominees
by Martin Longman
January 23, 2017 2:02 PM
On inauguration day, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas released an intemperate statement to the press:
I’d like to focus on that “no good reason” part of his complaint. As Charles Pierce pointed out last June and Frank Bruni reported in the New York Times, Senator Cotton once blocked President Obama’s nominee to be ambassador to the Bahamas for a very bad reason, which seems to me to be worse than no reason at all.
There’s a larger backstory to this that I could rehash but it’s not necessary here. This is the meat of it.
For Tom Cotton, who put a hold on her nomination and refused to lift it, his reasons were personal and he was apparently quite honest about them, including with Ms. Butts.
OMG…. I thin she hate him.
I Do too. Ooooh. That was evil looking.
Dayum! Grins in his face, then frowns and grimaces when he turns around. Still don’t feel sorry for her, however because she enables him. Furthermore, a Birther is always dead to me.
Now to cleanse my mind with photos/videos of the many loving interactions between PBO and his first and only, love of his life wife, Michelle.
This is fabulous.
the destruction by gop is underway
In a more-than-three-minute video posted on Facebook by Udai Basavaraj, former N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory, television personality and conservative pundit Lou Dobbs and three unidentified women are approached by people on the street who shout “Shame!” and call McCrory an “anti-gay bigot.” McCrory and his group try to avoid the crowd shouting, but are followed down a Washington, D.C. alley where they waited to be admitted to the building.
Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article128087744.html#storylink=cpy
McCory is definitely a coward.
new post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2017/01/23/watch-this-space/