Grassley Once More Shows Disdain For Citizens

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Dave Bradley

Chuck Grassley used his incredibly valuable time as one of the investigating senators on the senate committee that is investigating General Michael Flynn and possible connections of the Trump administration to Russia to ask inane, irrelevant and frankly insulting questions to witness Sally Yates Monday. He is one of a handful of people in this country who has the power to investigate possible collusion between the president and a foreign power.

 

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His waste of that incredibly valuable time shows his total disdain for our country, its citizens and of course his constituents in Iowa. If we had wanted a playground bully as a US senator, I am sure Iowans could have found a sixth grader with some time on their hands.

Following his attempt at misleading the investigating committee, Grassley took to the airwaves to show his disdain for one of the very cornerstones of democracy: the press. Appearing on what I am guessing is the friendly turf of Fox News, Grassley let it be known that he didn’t care for newspapers reporting what happened in the administration:

“Suck it up and move on” said Grassley.

Grassley has been little but a party hack for two decades.

Senator, it is time for you to move on.


(Grassley questioning starts at 19:00 ends at 26:30)

Posted in Charles Grassley, Trump | Tagged | 1 Comment

Republican Party All Alone On Market Based Health Care

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Dave Bradley
AARP om AHCA

AARP on ACHA after the House vote

While taking one of my tours through democraticunderground.com my eye caught a comment that piqued my interest:

Interesting thing about the far right National Front (French) Party

In their angry racist far right campaign, considered by many to be the most far right major party in Europe, not a single statement was made about changing their single payer health insurance for all national plan.

They also voiced their support for the 35 hour work week and supporting civil servants and continuing the basic work of the modern state.

They may be bat shit crazy for Europe but here they would be seen as too far left for the Republican Party.

The US Republican Party is the only party in modern developed democracies to not embrace universal health care as a fundamental right.

I have seen this posted elsewhere but never really followed up on it. Once again I tried to follow up on it but was not sure how to google this. About all I could do was depend on readings and videos over the years.

America has been working on making some form of universal health care available for all for over a century. In that time every other major country in the world – many with much less for resources – have been able to figure a way to get healthcare for every citizen.

Of course, truth be told, Americans pay 40% more than the next most costly system, Canada, and deliver health care to far less people and worse results.

Now that Republicans are in charge of the whole apparatus of the federal government from capitol hill to the Supreme Court and White House there is little chance that this will get any better. Their last proposal left 24 million behind. Their current proposal is much worse.

The richest country in the world certainly has the resources and facilities to offer health care to all of its citizens. What we appear to lack is the moral courage to stand up to those who deny other American citizens access to health care. It is very obvious who is denying access to the health care system. The Republican Party is the only group in the world that actively works to keep health care out of the access of the poor and ill.

Whether it is out of some misguided religious morality – how can denying health care be driven by morality? – or some horrible hangover of the racism that seems to pervade our society, it is long past time for America to grow up as a nation. It is time for us to fulfill one of the promises in the Preamble to the Constitution to “promote the general Welfare.”

If you voted for the Republican Party you really have to ask yourself if you want pre-existing conditions to return as a part of the health care system. You must ask yourself if you would be comfortable to see your son or daughter as someone who would be denied insurance and thus health care. Republicans don’t campaign on taking away health care from people, but the time for anyone not knowing that a vote for Republicans is a vote to restrict access to health care is long past.

Posted in Affordable Care Act, Health Care & Medicare, Republicn Policy | Comments Off on Republican Party All Alone On Market Based Health Care

Flood The FCC With Comments For Net Neutrality

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Trish Nelson

common causeAction Alert from former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps:

Donald Trump’s new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman wants to give big cable companies like Comcast and Verizon the power to censor what you can see and say online, or to charge you extra for using sites like Netflix, Youtube, and Facebook.

This corporate power grab couldn’t happen at a worse time, when so many rely on the Internet to get informed and organized against this authoritarian president. We The People must fight back.

Speak out today, and we’ll transmit your information to the FCC as an official public comment in defense of Net Neutrality.

Take Action!

Net Neutrality is the simple principle of fair and equal treatment online — and that Comcast and Verizon shouldn’t get to slow down the websites you use to make you pay a special fee. We won those protections because 4 million Americans used the FCC’s public comment process to speak out — so we must flood the docket now to demand that Trump’s FCC leave Net Neutrality alone.

Without Net Neutrality, your internet could get a lot slower, a lot more expensive, and limited only to what your internet provider wants you to see. It’ll be much harder for activists to connect and organize together, for independent news outlets to get their message out, or for voters to get informed about the issues they care about — and our democracy will be weaker for it.

That’s why we need to speak out in Net Neutrality’s defense, by once again flooding their public comments with a resounding message in support of Net Neutrality

One thing I learned after serving for a decade on Federal Communications Commission and spending my life advocating for the public interest, it’s to never underestimate what We The People can accomplish.

So even though Big Cable thinks their high-priced lobbyists and friends on the FCC are enough to win this fight, I’m not giving up hope.

Because I remember hearing the exact same things three years ago, when millions of Americans demanded the FCC write its strong Net Neutrality rules. But through our (and your) determined grassroots efforts, we proved everyone wrong, and we’ll do it again.

It won’t be easy — neither was gathering four million grassroots comments to the FCC, while mobilizing constituents to expose lawmakers on Comcast and Verizon’s payroll and stop them from getting in the way.

But if we can count on your support again, I know we will win. Please join me in calling on the FCC to leave Net Neutrality alone.

Thanks for all you do,

Michael Copps, former FCC Commissioner & Special Advisor for Media & Democracy
and the team at Common Cause

Posted in Internet Issues | Tagged , | Comments Off on Flood The FCC With Comments For Net Neutrality

The Republican Contempt For Voters in Muscatine

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Trish Nelson

 

Image (1) muscatine-city-council-nd-Mayor-Broderson-300x200.jpeg for post 36020

Muscatine City Council

 

Hard-hitting editorial by QCTimes.

http://qctimes.com/editorial-in-muscatine-an-abuse-of-power-in-the-making/

Quad-City Times editorial board May 7, 2017Q

Hours of testimony. Reams of documents. Months-worth of email chains.

The past 18 months of political upheaval in Muscatine has been laid bare because of the impeachment trial of Mayor Diana Broderson. And after listening, reading and culling, there’s only one reasonable conclusion for Muscatine City Council, which is expected to vote Thursday: Broderson’s ouster would be an egregious abuse of power.

Kill the resolution to remove Broderson from office and, instead, beat her at the ballot box in November.

There’s no doubt that Broderson entered office in 2016 without a clear understanding of her duties. But all the evidence suggests a clumsy first-time politician trapped in a battle of personalities within City Hall. Rampant, benign bumbling is not an impeachable offense. Nor is being a liberal in a town long run by conservatives.

Put bluntly, the so-called charges against her, and associated facts, in no way suggest negligence or dubious intent. In fact, they are but a long list of petty grievances compiled by Muscatine administrators and council members themselves. It’s now that very City Council, which initiated this mess by illegally stripping Broderson’s power, that is judge and jury of a kangaroo court that should never have existed.

Prosecutors spent copious amounts of time, for example, hammering away on the fact Broderson held monthly Coffee with the Mayor confabs. It’s an official act, because of the title and use of letterhead, the prosecution contends. Such an act requires City Council approval under local code.

Yes. This is an actual charge that could fuel a mayoral removal that’s almost unheard of anywhere in the country.

How about another?

Broderson discussed various issues with city staff without first seeking City Administrator Gregg Mandsager’s permission. Apparently, bringing a pothole directly to the attention of public works staff, too, is a violation of city code if done by the mayor without consent of the unelected administrator.

One more? Sure.

Broderson dared send out a political mailer — using campaign funds — calling her political opponents “good old boys.” Allegedly, even such a staple of small-town American politics violates city code, because it disparages elected officials. It’s as if, once elected, the mayor of Muscatine forgoes even First Amendment rights.

All of those alleged wrongdoings are, in fact, precisely what mayors do throughout the country. They meet with constituents. They take feedback to relevant departments. They play ugly little political games with opponents. Broderson has been impeached for simply acting as a mayor.
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Broderson is being held to a unique standard, one that isn’t applied to any other elected official in Muscatine. This is personal. And that’s a problem.

Frankly, this entire charade has been an utter embarrassment. Broderson stormed into office, occasionally overstepped her bounds and the entire Dumpster fire spun out of control. The council stripped her of appointment power. She took it to state officials, who determined that was illegal. The council wouldn’t back down. She asked local law enforcement to prosecute. Yes, this farce has cost Muscatine taxpayers. But to pin the entire expense on Broderson is an exercise in dishonesty.

There’s nothing impeachable here. There never was. All this time and money spent. All this embarrassment heaped on Muscatine. More cash will no doubt be blown on defending the City Council when Broderson sues, should council members vote to remove her. And all of it has done nothing but expose the sewer that is Muscatine local politics.

It’s a ruthless, farcical crusade to oust an elected official for not toeing the line. It’s an affront to the voters of Muscatine and the democratic process itself. It’s the weaponization of an incredibly serious mechanism of impeachment for purely personal and partisan ends.

Broderson might not be a quality mayor by most measures. But then again, she never had a chance.

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Blum Faces Angry Constituents In Cedar Rapids: Full Video

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Trish Nelson
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Congressman Blum Can’t Take Heat

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Trish Nelson

Image (1) Rod-Blum-picket-300x162.jpeg for post 36090

Was Blum really that upset by the natural and logical follow up question from a local TV reporter?  Some say his outrage was phony and staged. I tend to agree. 

Blum found himself backed into a corner and decided the easiest thing to do was to leave and take the opportunity to slam the “liberal media.”  It’s a common GOP deflection strategy. That way when you look like an incompetent coward on the TV,  you at least get something out of it.  And besides, Donald Trump has said the media  (NY Times, NBC News, ABC,  CBS,  CNN) is the “enemy of the American people” and he also  walked out of a CBS interview.  Joni Ernst avoided the Des Moines Register editorial board and other major Iowa newspapers during the campaign and she still won the election. Nobody cared. So why not just leave when it gets uncomfortable? 

Republicans have gotten so used to getting away with not doing their jobs for so long they are shocked and offended when a reporter has the audacity to ask a follow up question. He no doubt calculated, why stay and try to answer the question, revealing that I don’t have an answer, when I can just get up and leave with no consequence? 

He’ll probably get re-elected.  He seems curiously unconcerned about it.

Photo Credit

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/19/1622236/-Iowa-Republican-finds-himself-on-the-wrong-side-of-constituents-on-Obamacare

 

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Grassley Asks Irrelevant Questions of Sally Yates

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Trish Nelson

Grassley’s questions start at around 19:00.

 

Posted in Charles Grassley | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Greater Evil

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Trish Nelson
Posted in #trumpresistance, 2016 Election Campaign | Tagged | Comments Off on The Greater Evil

A Real Sticky Problem

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Dave Bradley

Image (3) Cory-Booker-show-me.jpg for post 31045

If I was a loud and proud Republican Christian member of congress who truly believed that Christ exists and judges us on our acts, I would be quite concerned about my spiritual life right now.

Throughout the gospels the central message is to treat our fellow men as we would want to be treated.

Based on that, there are about 216 congress critters that will have a lot of explaining to do were they to have to explain their vote to take away health care from tens of millions of Americans or make it nearly inaccessible.

If Christ is all that they purport to believe, then they won’t be able to spin and bullshit their way out of this. Their Christ will see through the lies and easily see that those who voted for the ACHA are playing God with the lives of millions and millions.

From time immemorial this has been the kind of thing that is a grievous sin.

Good luck talking your way out of this one, Republicans. Or is it that deep down you really do not believe what you claim to believe? Either way you are living a lie.

Also if these men and women had spiritual leaders who were more conversant with Christ than with the trappings of money and power, said leaders should be counseling congress critters that Christ taught us to help our fellow man rather than use power to impoverish and debilitate others.

The vote to take health care away from millions by the party purporting to be the Christian party should once and for all put to rest the lies about this country being either a moral nation or a Christian nation. Our current leadership loves and follows only money and power.

republican jesus

Republican Jesus

Photo Credit:

Cory Booker credit: http://samuel-warde.com/2015/08/democratic-senator-shames-religious-extremists-one-quote/

 

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Sunday Funday: Repeal And Replace Edition

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Dave Bradley

alternative-facts-229x300[1]

A fictional cousin of mine had a great idea a while back. He was all caught up in the ‘repeal and replace’ fervor that has been the rage in Republican circles for many years. He didn’t like his job, so he told his wife that he had decided to ‘repeal and replace’ it. So he quit his good paying job. Unfortunately he followed Republican guidelines and the replacement was much worse. He chose a replacement in the minimum wage range.

He was quite proud because his taxes were bigly lower. But the replacement was not the equal of the original. His life fell apart as he lost his home, his cars and his family.

The lesson here is that if you plan to replace something, you had best make the replacement better than what it replaced. Or there will be blowback.

Yet another week from hell.

1) A small bomb popped in Des Moines when Iowa’s attorney general said Kim Reynolds could not legally do what?

2) The New York Times ran off many subscribers when it hired what climate change denier from the Wall Street Journal as a columnist?

3) An appeal to the 9th circuit court threatens to unravel a $25 million settlement with what fraudulent Trump business?

4) In their continuing rush to the right, MSNBC gave Nicole Wallace a show and reportedly is in talks with what ultra right radio talker?

5) May 7th was day our family would take some time to think. What happened on May 7th, 1945?

6) The current president loves his dictators. What Philippino President has been invited to visit the White House?

7) The president walked out during an interview last week with what reporter when he (the president) objected to a line of questioning?

8) Also, the president called for a what in September to “fix this mess in government”?

9) Branstad signed what three extremely regressive bills Friday calling it a “banner day!”

10) Which Iowa congress member did NOT vote to repeal the ACA Thursday?

11) Hasan Minhaj garnered much attention as he did what last weekend?

12) Democratic House members sang what song on the floor after Republicans voted for the awful ACHA Thursday?

13) Jared Kushner is a partner in a real estate company named Cadre with what bane of Republicans?

14) It looks like at 96 what royal has decided it is a good time to retire?

15) According to our poorly read president, who could have stopped the Civil War?

16) Jimmy Kimmel drew rancid right wing criticism when he spoke about what on his show early this week?

17) Commencement season is here. What unlikely commencement speaker is scheduled to address HBCU Bethune-Cookman University Wednesday?

18) Desiree Farooz of Code Pink was convicted of what heinous crime last week and may faced up to a year in prison?

19) A lawsuit set to go before a judge May 15th links what Trump property to a pedophile ring?

20) Jane Meyer won a $1.43 million judgment against the U of Iowa for what offense by the university?

“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men;” John Adams, Thoughts On Government 1776.

What is it about this that Republicans don’t get?

Answers:

1) fill the Lt. Governor position when she moves to governor.

2) Bret Stephens

3) Trump University.

4) Hugh Hewitt

5) The surrender of Germany to the US

6) Rodrigo Duterte

7) John Dickerson

8) a government shutdown

9) bills restricting abortions, voter suppression and medical malpractice lawsuit limits

10) Dave Loebsack. Thank you, Dave

11) The entertainment at the White House correspondents dinner

12) “na, na, na, hey, hey, hey good-bye” referring to Republican election chances sinking.

13) George Soros. Kushner did not reveal this investment when he was appointed to his government position.

14) Prince Phillip

15) Andrew Jackson

16) his newborn son’s emergency surgery. Kimmel related it to the impending repeal of the ACA

17) Education Secretory Betsy DeVos. (HBCU is historically black colleges and universities)

18) Laughing during the Jeff Sessions confirmation hearings. She laughed when Sen. richard Shelby stated that Sessions had a well-documented record of “treating all Americans equally under the law.”

19) Mar-a-Lago

20) sex and gender discrimination along with retaliation and whistle blower violation and unequal pay.

See you next week

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Sunday Funday: Repeal And Replace Edition