"A few days later, Biden came into the scheduled committee meeting, this time with a broad, friendly grin aimed directly at me," Abourezk says in his book. "‘Jesus, Abourezk, you were right,' he said. ‘I am gonna thank you. You should see the Delaware newspapers—big front-page headlines saying, ‘Biden Battles Liberals in Washington.' He was unabashedly elated. ‘They love me back home, how did you know this would happen?'"
To coin a phrase, what a dirty bastard!
Now, don't get me wrong. He was doing his job, representing his bigoted, anti-bussing constituents. That's the sort of thing that gets you reelected term after term. I find it distasteful, but then I have this quaint little notion that moral rectitude is more important than personal gain and advancement. What made me gag though was the glee, the unholy delight he is reported to have expressed at his bigotry and unfairness being praised in the papers. I'm sorry, but that's repulsive. It puts the final touch on his turpitude as far as I'm concerned.
I have two feelings: 1) there's probably more where that came from; and 2) it may not play well in South Carolina, for but one example. Like the man said, his time is up.
I find myself musing about President Warren and VP Booker (he could play attack dog, like Agnew did for Nixon). Harris AG? Not sure--it depends on how she does in the rest of her campaign. Buttigieg some relatively safe cabinet or cabinet-level position? Maybe Administrator of the Small Business Administration? Inslee could be Administrator of the EPA. Bernie's position in the Democratic Party and the nation is secure.
Opinion: New York’s Socialist Revolution Isn’t What It Seems [Click] “The success of left-wing candidates in the Empire State has less to do with their ideas than with the decline of the Republican Party.” Sounds both reasonable and hopeful!
A majority of the American electorate — liberals, moderates and even some conservatives — want a greater government role in health care, a higher minimum wage, higher taxes on the rich and less punitive border policies. If Trump isn’t going to move to the center, then their only choice should be the party that, no matter its nominee, backs each item on that list.
Wouldn't you think? :) And wouldn't you think the blankity blank Dems would be busting their butts to weed out the riffraff and coalesce around the strongest, most serious candidates, i.e. Sanders and Warren, and start campaigning, albeit unofficially, for the general rather than squabbling in their giant playpen and sandbox?
I think the "New Democrats" just can't grasp what is happening, Cat. They don't want to get on board, or get out of the way either. If they don't decide, the decision will be made for them. Excuse me--I'm sounding like a broken record.
That's okay. The New Democrats frustrate me to the Nth degree! Good thing I now have blood pressure medicine which will, one hopes, keep my head from exploding this campaign season!
In Wyoming, leadership stands by gawking as the resource curse runs its course yet again. And the very Republican politicians who have power in those states, who made cozy deals with wealthy coal executives, who have systematically lied to their constituents about the fate of coal, are ... doubling down on their lies.
So here’s Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, ludicrously (still!) blaming “Obama’s War on Coal” for the mine closures and pledging “to stop the coal company exodus.” Oh? How does she plan to do that? She doesn’t say. She just repeats the latest administration propaganda: “Ensuring the reliability of our electric grid by supporting coal — a crucial baseload power source — is an economic and national security priority.”
Meanwhile, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell continues to block consideration of a bill that would ensure miner pensions, despite pleas from West Virginia Democrats.
The truth is, the US coal industry has never been a capitalist enterprise. In a purely capitalist system, a business pays all its own costs and keeps all its own profits.
The business model of the coal industry, as with most extractive industries, wherever they operate, is to capture the profits while avoiding the costs. That’s why they appear profitable as long as they do: Their steadily rising costs, in terms of humans (deaths, injuries, illnesses like black lung), the local environment (scarred land, dirty water, air pollution), and the atmosphere (climate change) are kept off their books. The public pays for those. The business model only works as long as the industry is able to offload costs.
Republicans (along with a shrinking number of Democrats from coal states) help coal executives offload costs — help them fight unions; diminish health, safety, and pollution regulations; and avoid their social and environmental responsibilities. That has always been the role of politicians in coal states. It’s the only way coal companies ever stay in business, which is one reason infamous coal CEO Bob Murray is hosting a fundraiser for President Trump later this month. Calling it “capitalism” would make Adam Smith roll over in his grave.
Do not let anyone convince you that we lack the ability as a nation to address the climate crisis. The problem we face is the lack of political will to take on the greed of the fossil fuels industry. - Bernie Sanders
Seen any red trumpthrashers?
ReplyDeleteAlaska government goes even crazier. [Click] Could this mean the end of Republican dominance in the state?
A very heavy piece of baggage falls over on Biden… [Click]
Trump to world champs: No cold hamberders for you! [Click]
Cuomo Signs Bill Allowing Release of Trump NY Tax Returns [Click] I suppose Cuomo won’t be getting any cold hamberders either.
What sickened me in the Biden article was this:
Delete"A few days later, Biden came into the scheduled committee meeting, this time with a broad, friendly grin aimed directly at me," Abourezk says in his book. "‘Jesus, Abourezk, you were right,' he said. ‘I am gonna thank you. You should see the Delaware newspapers—big front-page headlines saying, ‘Biden Battles Liberals in Washington.' He was unabashedly elated. ‘They love me back home, how did you know this would happen?'"
To coin a phrase, what a dirty bastard!
Now, don't get me wrong. He was doing his job, representing his bigoted, anti-bussing constituents. That's the sort of thing that gets you reelected term after term. I find it distasteful, but then I have this quaint little notion that moral rectitude is more important than personal gain and advancement. What made me gag though was the glee, the unholy delight he is reported to have expressed at his bigotry and unfairness being praised in the papers. I'm sorry, but that's repulsive. It puts the final touch on his turpitude as far as I'm concerned.
I have two feelings: 1) there's probably more where that came from; and 2) it may not play well in South Carolina, for but one example. Like the man said, his time is up.
DeleteI find myself musing about President Warren and VP Booker (he could play attack dog, like Agnew did for Nixon). Harris AG? Not sure--it depends on how she does in the rest of her campaign. Buttigieg some relatively safe cabinet or cabinet-level position? Maybe Administrator of the Small Business Administration? Inslee could be Administrator of the EPA. Bernie's position in the Democratic Party and the nation is secure.
DeleteWhat makes you think Bernie's position in the Dem Party is secure? They hate his guts.
DeleteNope, no red trumpthrashers. I've noted a few blue and green trumpthrashers, though. ;-)
DeleteEmulation is the sincerest form of flattery, no?
DeleteAn Executive Order Can’t Fix Trump’s Census Problem [Click] “Presidents who want to shape the world unilaterally must face four inconvenient legal truths.” [That applies to Democratic candidates, too.]
ReplyDeleteOpinion: New York’s Socialist Revolution Isn’t What It Seems [Click] “The success of left-wing candidates in the Empire State has less to do with their ideas than with the decline of the Republican Party.” Sounds both reasonable and hopeful!
Trump now says he didn’t have a social relationship with Jeffrey Epstein—contradicting his previous Twitter statement. [Click]
Second quarter fundraising totals: Buttigieg, Biden, Warren, Sanders, Harris. [Click]
Why Isn’t Trump Trying to Win the Center? [Click] Original column here. [Click]
Judge dismisses Johnson & Johnson's request to toss out lawsuit over opioids crisis [Click]
Why Isn't Trump Trying to Win the Center?
DeleteA majority of the American electorate — liberals, moderates and even some conservatives — want a greater government role in health care, a higher minimum wage, higher taxes on the rich and less punitive border policies. If Trump isn’t going to move to the center, then their only choice should be the party that, no matter its nominee, backs each item on that list.
Wouldn't you think? :) And wouldn't you think the blankity blank Dems would be busting their butts to weed out the riffraff and coalesce around the strongest, most serious candidates, i.e. Sanders and Warren, and start campaigning, albeit unofficially, for the general rather than squabbling in their giant playpen and sandbox?
I think the "New Democrats" just can't grasp what is happening, Cat. They don't want to get on board, or get out of the way either. If they don't decide, the decision will be made for them. Excuse me--I'm sounding like a broken record.
DeleteThat's okay. The New Democrats frustrate me to the Nth degree! Good thing I now have blood pressure medicine which will, one hopes, keep my head from exploding this campaign season!
DeleteThe Census Case Could Provoke a Constitutional Crisis [Click] [Ahem] Interesting.
ReplyDeleteMick Jagger Mocks Trump [Click]
ReplyDeleteTrump Campaign Plunges Into Pennsylvania GOP Fight [Click] Pass the popcorn!
Great links, Alan!
ReplyDeleteAs the saying goes:
Watch out who you step on on your way up;
You might meet them on your way down.
In Wyoming, leadership stands by gawking as the resource curse runs its course yet again. And the very Republican politicians who have power in those states, who made cozy deals with wealthy coal executives, who have systematically lied to their constituents about the fate of coal, are ... doubling down on their lies.
ReplyDeleteSo here’s Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, ludicrously (still!) blaming “Obama’s War on Coal” for the mine closures and pledging “to stop the coal company exodus.” Oh? How does she plan to do that? She doesn’t say. She just repeats the latest administration propaganda: “Ensuring the reliability of our electric grid by supporting coal — a crucial baseload power source — is an economic and national security priority.”
Meanwhile, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell continues to block consideration of a bill that would ensure miner pensions, despite pleas from West Virginia Democrats.
The truth is, the US coal industry has never been a capitalist enterprise. In a purely capitalist system, a business pays all its own costs and keeps all its own profits.
The business model of the coal industry, as with most extractive industries, wherever they operate, is to capture the profits while avoiding the costs. That’s why they appear profitable as long as they do: Their steadily rising costs, in terms of humans (deaths, injuries, illnesses like black lung), the local environment (scarred land, dirty water, air pollution), and the atmosphere (climate change) are kept off their books. The public pays for those. The business model only works as long as the industry is able to offload costs.
Republicans (along with a shrinking number of Democrats from coal states) help coal executives offload costs — help them fight unions; diminish health, safety, and pollution regulations; and avoid their social and environmental responsibilities. That has always been the role of politicians in coal states. It’s the only way coal companies ever stay in business, which is one reason infamous coal CEO Bob Murray is hosting a fundraiser for President Trump later this month. Calling it “capitalism” would make Adam Smith roll over in his grave.
Coal left Appalachia devastated. Now it’s doing the same to Wyoming.
- Click
Do not let anyone convince you that we lack the ability as a nation to address the climate crisis. The problem we face is the lack of political will to take on the greed of the fossil fuels industry. - Bernie Sanders
ReplyDeleteBernie Sanders Likens Climate Change to World War II As He and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Unveil Emergency Resolution - Click