President Biden's American Jobs Act IT'S FINALLY INFRASTRUCTURE YEAR!

Have you had a chance to look at President Biden's ambitious American Jobs Act? It's pretty incredible. Now I know I'm a liberal pretty darned Progressive tree hugging type of a "CAPITAL *L*" type Liberal. But I encourage us all to take a moment as you drive to town or to the store or where ever - take a moment and look at the street. Bridge closed? I know of 2 bridges close which are at risk SERIOUSLY noticeable breaks & cracks at risk. REPORT: MORE THAN 400 OREGON BRIDGES ARE STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT How about potholes in the hiway? Or how about the power grid. Anyone recently had a power outage because of downed lines? old transformers? ummmm frozen gas lines (looking at you Texas) Or water systems Anyone remember Flint Michigan, by chance? America’s Clean Water Crisis Goes Far Beyond Flint. There’s No Relief in Sight

Many of us -including a VAST number of BICOP Folks don't have regular access to clean water here in America. Many reservation homes lack clean drinking water

HERE. IN. THE. RICHEST. NATION. IN.THE.WORLD.

FACT SHEET: The American Jobs Plan

I'm old enough to remember how many CCC jobs were available still in the SIXTIES - and how very appreciated those jobs were. I remember as a kid having the opportunity to plant trees in a reforestation project in the Cuyamacas. I didn't get paid of course, these were volunteer programs through the CCC (CA Conservation Corps) but the ADULTS working with us did plus good solid experience for later.

And I really like the Made in America Tax Plan, this Administration isn't asking for "something out of thin air", how many times have I heard "How are we going to pay for it"? and "Stop our jobs from going overseas!" well?

I know it's big and ambitious. But that is what is needed. We are at a .. tipping point in History and investing in AMERICANS & AMERICAN INGENUITY sure seems like a good bet to me

But of course the Partisan #GQP Republican Party would only support this kind of a Public Services Project if it came from Trump Republicans Are Having Trouble Selling the Anti-Biden Rhetoric When Trump floated an Infrastructure plan with the same price tag the #GQP was all a'twitter with support Trump Team Weighs $1 Trillion for Infrastructure to Spur Economy How Trump's $1 Trillion Infrastructure Pledge Added Up but of course "The Great Golden Builder" couldn't get 'er done.

 

#SorryNotSorry I simply do not understand why when the #FormerGuy floats the idea of a massive Infrastructure plan the Democrats say YAHOO let's go, how can we help? yet when President Biden offers a PLAN a solid, well-thought-out paid for, PLAN which incorporates massive infrastructure jobs and subsequent investment in AMERICAN JOBS -from which all of us all We the People will benefit all of a sudden it's a Liberal Wish List. Why? Every single time I ask a Republican this question I hear crickets.

The Politics of Logical Fallacies -BLM and Trump Insurrection

"Calm down,.....Where was your outrage and wanting Pelosi and Waters removed from Congress when our cities were being burned and looted ALL summer long,.....Billions of dollars of damage being done, people killed that were doing nothing but trying to protect their small business, including a CHILD,.......and Waters, Pelosi, and others, including the media,....egging them on and telling them protests don't have to be peaceful?? Over 17,000 arrested! A 3 hour entry into a building, with two people killed that knew full well the risk they were taking, and, at most $10,000 worth of damage, and you are all afraid of Trump? There is NO comparison. The Democrat legislators said NOTHING about the lawlessness for months while our cities and businesses were being destroyed, UNTIL the people started asking why they weren't. When Biden, hiding in his house realized, it might hurt his quest for the presidency, ONLY then did he open his two faced mouth. The ONLY reason they want Trump removed is so he cannot run again. They are afraid of an outsider that is there for the PEOPLE, instead of just collecting a paycheck FROM the people, while living in their million dollars houses, with $20,000 freezers, filled with Premium ice cream, doing back room deals with foreign countries. Reminds me of Marie Antonette,.....Only poor Marie did not know people lived differently than she did."

These people must be thirsty for KoolAid.

Fact-checking claim about deaths, damage from Black Lives Matter protests

PolitiFact - Portland Protest

Your argument is a logical fallacy of false equivalency.

People were mostly PEACEFULLY protesting and were met often by amped up jack-booted #TrumpGestapo who snatched people off the streets, tear gassed them for photo ops, and instigated further violence by over reacting. Perhaps we should look to the reasons behind both sets of "Protests". Can they be contrasted and compared? In the Portland Black Lives Matter Protests why were we gathered in the streets protesting? BECAUSE FOR 8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS Ex-Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled upon the neck of George Floyd until he asphyxiated, despite having an ambulance call in for "medical distress: "According to the incident report, Floyd then “physically resisted arrest.” Police say it was only after they cuffed him that they realized he was “suffering a medical distress” that prompted them to call an ambulance." Yet witnesses, videos & body cams do not show him resisting arrest, they show him struggling to breathe. As one would do when breath is being squeezed out of you both internally & externally. 

He died according to medical records of "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression." The medical examiner's report also details blunt-force injuries to the skin of Floyd's head, face and upper lip, as well as the shoulders, hands and elbows and bruising of the wrists consistent with handcuffs.

And yes, THERE WAS some violence and we ALL know that was wrong.

Perhaps a refresher of what America watched live, the brutal slow murder of another human being without just cause by a Police officer. Perhaps you have forgotten how that Police officer murdered this man in front of witnesses for an ALLEGED !! unproven claim of forgery. As an ex-bartender, I can tell you EXACTLY how easy it is to pass phony money. I'll be willing to bet you that you have done the same all unknowing. The crime does not warrant a death sentence. Let me remind you in graphic detail what we were Protesting. Let me show you why we marched and why we kneel and why we still protest, mostly peacefully, yet with great anger. How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody George Floyd Died After Police Knelt on His Neck During Arrest | NowThis

And after America watched in horror as a human being was murdered on live video before our very eyes, many many of us had finally had enough and took to the streets to demand Justice. 

Dispatch recordings: George Floyd was in cardiac arrest when EMS arrived: " The initial call started as a Code 2 to assist EMS on a scene, not the more urgent Code 3, indicating a life-threatening situation. Preliminary information given to firefighters said only that Floyd had “trauma to his mouth,” according to an incident report."

Now : they are STILL investigations regarding the motives of some of these murders. "Personal disputes and looting linked to some of the deaths." There are several incidents of far right radicals posing as Anti-Fascists in order to commit mayhem. Many of the people listed as "Killed in the Protests" were, in fact, killed for entirely unrelated reasons, or not associated with the Black Lives Matter protests.

So let's dig deeper, shall we? 100 Days of Protests in Portland against police brutality The Police response in Portland was a bit over the top, especially on the Federal level. Ken

Cuccinelli's explanation differs somewhat from Navy vet Christopher David's experience. 

David's interview here. It did not, in fact, get any better any time soon.

Also, despite the pleas of Oregon's Governor for local help, 2 local sheriff's offices DENIED ASSISTANCE for political reasons. One of those Sheriffs was from my hometown County, in case you think I am speaking out of my hat. Sheriffs reject governor's plan to curb Portland violence In Lafayette Square in DC, WaPo's timeline clearly shows that #Trumpery's photo op was the flash point for the events of that day. The "official claims" do not jibe with the facts as they were videoed by several Journalists, participants. WaPo's account is well sourced by police transcripts. Contrast and compare police response to this mostly peaceful protest to police response to the #CultOfTrump followers riot on Jan 6th. The Officers finally begin actively pushing the unruly violent crowd away well AFTER the 6 pm curfew. As opposed to 2 hours BEFORE called curfew as in Lafayette Square. And now let us return to the #TrumpInsurrection. In better words than mine, “The assault was fueled by more than four years of poison politics spreading deliberate misinformation, sowing distrust in our system, and pitting Americans against one another…. The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost. The election was free, the count was fair, the result was final. We must complete the peaceful transfer of power our Constitution mandates.”
Wednesday's Insurrection, on the other hand, was driven specifically by #Trumpery & Co's months of lies regarding the unproven allegations of "wide spread voter fraud" -cases for which have been tossed out in 61- of 62 court cases as having no evidence. Many of these court cases were with Trump appointed judiciary.

Then after America watched in horror as an American President & his personal lawyer, assisted by 13 ambitious Senate members and 127 Ambitious CongressPersons, called for insurrection by Followers they all had spent the past 10 months ramping up convincing willful malicious malfeasance on the part of the "Deep State" IE: ANYONE WHO WASN'T A LOCK STEP TRUMP SUPPORTER have we finally had enough?  Granted, the gathering began mostly peacefully at the Ellipse, but after Giuliani & Trump whipped the crowd up, Trump ended his rally with a call to March to the Certification & take the fight too Congress, and that he would be walking right there with them. 

Jim Lo Scanzo was an eyewitness to the riot Jim is a Photo Journalist who was there to cover the official certification count. Jim Lo Scalzo - Photo Journalist said "It was like a Zombie Movie" Other photos can be seen here. This should make ALL Americans sick to their stomachs. Sadly these scenes are being applauded in some circles. Jim goes on to recall the Fascists talking about hanging Mike Pence outside (do you recall there was a cheaply made guillotine outside?) and "rounding up all the media". Trump Insurrection Photos Scenes from an Insurrection 1 Trump Insurrection Photos Scenes from an Insurrection 2 Trump Insurrection Photos Scenes from an Insurrection 3 Now with the attempted kidnapping of Governor Whitmer, photo evidence of armored men with zipties, and people stating they were hearing screaming white men shouting "WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE ARE THEY?" what shall we infer from this? "The People just wanted to talk?"

In order to compare and contrast situations there must be an "apples-to-apples" kind of similarity. With much thanks to Bobby Lewis, Journalist for Media Matters : Here are various dishonest comparisons between Black Lives Matter, anti-fascism, and the January 6 pro-Trump insurrection -- many from the same right-wing media figures who also pushed the “voter fraud” lies that inspired the insurrectionist mob in the first place. It is fairly well lined out. Logically speaking, the comparison lies dead and stinking like 8 day old fish.

TRUMP'S SEDITION -Jan 6th 2021

 WE ARE WITNESSING SEDITION BY A US PRESIDENT 

It will take me a moment or eight to wrap my mind around this 

D.C. National Guard will be activated as mobs breach U.S. Capitol; one person shot inside; D.C. mayor imposes curfew

Senate evacuated, National Guard activated, person shot after pro-Trump protesters storm Capitol The person shot was in critical condition and at least one improvised explosive device has been found on the grounds, law enforcement officials said.

THE WORLD IS WATCHING 

Trumpery's Speech before the beginning of the Electoral Vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru0LbdU1oOQ

Trumpery's response to the violence he incited: 

Trump's Response to his Supporters

So now the #CultOfTrump claims that Antifa (Or AuntieFiFi as we like to call ourselves at tea) is behind this all. I'm sure we can expect the #Covidiot currently awaiting the 25th Amendment charge AND ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT (again. Let's set a record, shall we?? The First American President to be impeached TWICE) 

The right's new conspiracy theory: blame left for Capitol riot 
Here's the original article these foolish people believed: 
Facial recognition firm claims antifa infiltrated Trump protesters who stormed Capitol
Only NO, they claimed no such thing:
"An attorney representing XRVision, which says it was founded in 2015 in Singapore, issued a statement to BuzzFeed News refuting the Washington Times story. The statement said XRVision’s software actually identified two members of neo-Nazi organizations and a QAnon supporter among the pro-Trump mob — not antifa members." 

IMAGINE THAT. 

And yet, #Trumpery remains defiant and unrepentant. 

Isolated Trump reluctantly pledges 'orderly' transition after inciting mob
WE MUST REMEMBER HIS WORDS. He gets no pass, Folks. 
"In remarks Wednesday afternoon, Biden called on Trump to appear on national television "to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege."

Trump, instead, released a taped video statement on social media, addressing the rioters and urging them to "go home." But Trump, who campaigned on a message of "law and order," also appeared to sympathize with them, saying, "We love you. You are very special." [sic] "Multiple people told CNN that Trump was borderline enthusiastic over the protests and did not wish to condemn them. He only agreed to record a short video after multiple staffers and Republican lawmakers lobbied him to make a statement.

Trump has yet still to condemn the violence at the US Capitol on Wednesday." 
He must removed AND Impeached AND Prosecuted everything necessary to make sure he can't run again. 

Cuppa Thought Fodder Dec 30th, 2020 Trump Calls for Protests on Jan 6th's Certification

 

This makes me VERY nervous. Not because I think they have a leg to stand on, but because once again, these miscreants are normalizing tyrannical oligarchal behavior ala Putin.

GOP senator to delay affirming Biden victory by forcing votes on Electoral College results

" urging Trump to “immediately declare a limited form of Martial Law, and temporarily suspend the Constitution and civilian control of these federal elections, for the sole purpose of having the military oversee a re-vote.”"

I HONESTLY believe that without a full blown military coup -which assuredly will not happen, according to Military peeps- and a 1-for-60 lawsuit win record, he's just grifting. However, his Crazy Cult supporters are VERY SERIOUS.

Donald Trump Has Never Understood the Military—and He’s Not Going to Be Able to Co-opt It for a Coup

The Military Times wrote this rather frightening article clarifying martial law...

How the president could invoke martial law

“A really important limitation in the event that there is martial law is that it’s highly unlikely to be tolerated in a situation where our civilian institutions are working,” Banks noted. “Martial law requires a complete meltdown. It requires the inability of our civilian institutions to manage government. It’s hard to imagine that.”

and our civil institutions regarding this election ARE WORKING.

Even the Bulwark agrees that our Military won't abide.

The Military Would Not Participate in a Coup. Trump Can’t Understand Why.

even the Military Times disagrees with #Trumpery's self-serving and destructive stunts.

Calls for martial law and US military oversight of new presidential election draws criticism

and the Hill, also Conservative:

Trump's final days try to turn the military into a political pawn

and I have Faith in the integrity of our Military. They serve the COUNTRY, not a Party, not a person & not the President; THE COUNTRY.

Personally, I most sincerely hope & pray that this bites the GOP SO HARD on the arse as to destroy this radical insurrection of the Party of Trumpery. This puts the GOP in a position to ACTIVELY VOTE AGAINST #Trumpery's illegal activities to purloin the 2020 Election. And what with the rabid cultish violence-prone behavior of his ProudBoi vigilantes, I see calls on the horizon for Primarying on their behalf. #Trumpery's tacit support of Authoritarianism has given them permission to be brazen about their anti-Democracy bigotry. 

GOP Sen. Hawley Will Object To Electoral College Certification

Again, just as a reminder, he has lost 59 out of 60 court cases.

Trump's election fight includes over 50 lawsuits. It's not going well.

and now, I guess we wait, and gird our loins against the expected violence #Trumpery is advocating on Jan 6th.

Trump Encourages 'Wild' Protests in D.C. on Date of Electoral College Vote Count

"*Resident Trumpery has called"

‘President Trump Has Called’: Supporters Plan D.C. Rally To Overturn His Loss On Day Congress Certifies Election

Ex-Pence aide turned Trump critic ‘very concerned’ about Jan 6 violence
PLEASE REMEMBER THIS is the Message that #Trumpery supporters are putting forth. It's not We the People, or the Democratic Party, or really, even the "typical Republican"  who is advocating this divisive violence, it's the Party of Trump. 

Please be careful out there. #Courage #Steady #Resist BE SAFE

 

Cuppa Thought Fodder ~ Dec 27th, 2020 On Third Parties, Standing up to Trump's corruption, & Russian influence

 

A bit of a ramble this morning ~ I'm skipping around a tad.

I am so grateful to hear Republican voices standing up to #Trumpery's malarkey & corrupt shenanigans. I'm NOT a Republican- never ever have been ~ I'm a PATRIOT and an AMERICAN who desperately believes in equality and righteousness for ALL AMERICANS and that includes people who do not believe exactly as I do. Heck, I don't believe lock step with my Democratic Party either.

I think #Trumpery's shenanigans with vetoing the Defence Bill and the Omnibus Bill will split the GOP Party. AT LEAST, it will IF the Republican Party has ANY cajones whatsoever. Which is debatable, even with a few stand out voices. Rep. Adam Kinzinger Emerges As Strongest GOP Voice Against Donald Trump

I'd LIKE to see a third party, but I have ZERO FAITH in the Libertarian Party, as they have been led by the nose by the Koch Brothers (who now admit they screwed up big time) nor in the Green Party as headed by Jill Stein.

Charles Koch Says His Partisanship Was a Mistake

a little back history on the Koch Bros may be warranted, which is provided quite well, here:

Inside the Koch Brothers’ Toxic Empire

The Koch Brothers’ Fake Libertarianism: War, Forced Pregnancies, and Homophobia

How the Koch brothers built the most powerful rightwing group you've never heard of

None of this jibes with the Party's platform. And I would argue that the Libertarian Koch Brothers absolutely do not practise what they preach:

"2.3 Energy and Resources

While energy is needed to fuel a modern society, government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. We oppose all government control of energy pricing, allocation, and production"

from their platform: LIBERTARIAN PARTY PLATFORM

From their ACTUAL BUSINESS DEALINGS:

Subsidy Tracker Parent Company Summary

Parent Company Name: Koch Industries

privately held

Subsidy Tracker Parent Company - Koch Brothers Industries

(this is a fascinating collection set of data)

Koch Brothers Should Return $157 Million in Government Subsidies

Koch Bros Web of Influence

Sound very "Libertarian" to you?

and I have found Jill Stein to be particularly disingenuous although I like the PROPOSED Party Platform (being an environmentalist & a conservationist myself)

Green Party Platform

Jill, however, :/ she reeks; and there is no strong leadership within the Party.

The Moscow Project: Jill Stein

Senate Russia investigators are interested in Jill Stein Jill Stein owes FEC more than $66,000 in campaign finances The Russian effort to divert votes to Jill Stein was more extensive than previously thought Jill Stein Isn’t Sorry and while I think a LOT of the wild stories about her connections to Russia are conspiratorial in nature with little foundation in facts, she allowed herself to be a tool. And for a leader of a Party dedicated to Environmental causes, a tool for RUSSIA?? Oil, corruption and the fight for power in Putin’s Russia Corruption in Russia Oil spill in Russian Artic had many causes, environmentalists say Another Voice: Corruption from Russia, with love This article references Rachel Maddow's book "Blow Out" which I am currently 3//4 of the way through. It is ... frustratingly dreadful to read as it is explicit in revealing the corruption and deceit of US policy makers. But it is important to understand the depth of oligarchal influence which Big Oil pressures our Governmental Representation. “Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth" .pdf Neither Party seems to want to work UP or bother with local politics, they seem ONLY to be interested in the "Sexier" positions of power: the Presidency. Thus, they have only played spoilers, and have done not much in actually positively affecting the lives of people. In the Libertarians case, they have become proponents of intimidation via open carry nonsense, unregulated fossil fuel subsidies, rampant environmental exploitation and vulture capitalism for personal gain. In the case of the Green Party, they have become cartoonishly corrupt. In addendum, I found this old 1963 article in Harper's Magazine The Paranoid Style in American Politics Things have only gotten worse since #Trumpery, & his and McCarthy's mentor Roy Cohn's vile little fingerprints can clearly be seen greasily smearing our Democracy.

Cuppa Thought Fodder ~ Christmas Eve -2020

 I guess I need a new title. Is anyone out there? 
Another Morning, another #Trumpery bombshell. He just wants to burn the whole thing down because the babbling whiny manbaby #BunkerBoy didn't get his Lolly, and now must pay the piper as a civilian.

The House passed a #Covid19 bill back in May :

House Passes $3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill That Has Dim Future

which the #GrimReaper #MitchMcConnell & his cronies blocked.

After months (EIGHT MONTHS to be exact) of negotiation, The House, the Senate & Mnuchin finally come to a bipartisan Bill that no one is REALLY Happy with, but everyone thinks will pass

Breaking down the $900B stimulus package and $1.4T omnibus bill

and THEN -true to form- #Trumpery waits until the very last moment to complain that HIS PARTY'S $600.oo direct payment is too little (duh) and of course, bolluxes the whole thing. Because, reasons.

The House is NOT rolling over tho

House fails to pass measure to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 "On Monday, I will bring the House back to session where we will hold a recorded vote on our stand-alone bill to increase economic impact payments to $2,000. To vote against this bill is to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny them the relief they need," Pelosi said in a statement. "Hopefully by then the President will have already signed the bipartisan and bicameral legislation to keep government open and to deliver coronavirus relief," she said."

You may ask why there was so many non-covid19 related expenditures. Good Question ! THAT'S because the GOP ALSO would not address the spending bill, AKA #Trumpery's bloated budget, HIS BUDGET. His own Cabinet insisted that HIS BUDGET & the items HE REQUIRED TO BE IN IT be combined with the Corona Relief Bill.

Ohio Republican knocks Trump criticism of spending bill: 'Items he complained about' are a 'lie' or 'in HIS budget'

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio)

“If @realDonaldTrump didn't want money going to foreign countries, he shouldn't have asked for it. 100% of the items he complained about last night were either a lie (i.e. illegals aren't getting $1800) or things in HIS budget (all the foreign aid),” the Ohio Republican tweeted."

"Just took a quick look at the budget Trump submitted to Congress. Some interesting stuff in there. Just State Department portion: Ex: 125 Million to Egypt. 130M to Nepal. 131M to Burma."

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sta_fy21.pdf

Trump's complaints vs. his own budget proposal

This is so typical of a narcissistic sociopath, tho.

A strong dose of Gaslighting, anyone?