15 thoughts on “Tuesday Open Thread”

1. Have you every known a Trump-like billionaire that thought they had 'enough'? Yet another 'technicality' argument from Team Trump.  

   This isn't draining the swamp, it's stocking it with alligators. 

   Trump's New Finance Chief Cashed Out Madoff Ponzi Profits

   Donald Trump’s new national finance chairman and his family pocketed about $3.2 million in fake profit from his mother’s account with convicted con man Bernard Madoff — money that didn’t have to be returned to victims because it was taken out of the Ponzi scheme in time.

   A little trip down memory lane…

   …a global power structure that is responsible for the economic decisions that have robbed our working class, stripped our country of its wealth and put that money into the pockets of a handful of large corporations and political entities.

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2. Remember that Supreme Court seat stolen by Republicans? Democratic Senators can unsteal it:

   On January 3, 2017, Democrats will hold the majority in the Senate for a few minutes, until the newly-elected Senators are sworn in. Biden could convene the Senate in those few minutes and call for a vote. The majority could then suspend the rules and vote in Merrick Garland.

   The key here is that VP Biden would have to be willing to convene the Senate and recognize Senator Dick Durbin instead of Mitch McConnell. Durbin moves to re-nominate Garland, and Senate Democrats then vote to confirm him. They will have a quorum for those few minutes.

   It's bold. Garland would be confirmed by 34 Democrats and no Republicans. It will certainly enrage Republicans, but they're already enraged and full of hubris about how they're going to screw Democrats anyway, so what do they really have to lose?

   Not much.

   It takes courage.

   It takes a resolve to do what's right for this country, to reclaim the Supreme Court nomination Republicans think they stole from us. It takes backbone.

   Here's where the rubber meets the road. We're not talking about "comity" anymore. We're talking about conviction and confirmation.

   Our Dear Mike would weep bipartisanshippy tears of unicorn sadness, but he'd actually be upholding the Constitution and showing voters that he's willing to fight for what's right.

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   1. I would go for it…

      We must do anything to prevent four years of "the Apprentice" emanating from the White House.

      Other than our senior Senator, any other Democrats likely to be askeered?

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   2. It's a foolish idea.  Republicans could walk out and deny a quorum.   End of coup attempt.

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      1. Would you not suppose the Dems have thought of that, V?

         Perhaps they have a procedural move, of which you are unaware…

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         1. Then why is nobody except fringe dwellers like zappy talking about this?   Won't happen.   What could happen is a recess appointment to the open seat, good for one year.

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            1. Then why is nobody except fringe dwellers like zappy talking about this? 

               Because there are too fucking many Michael Bennets and Joe Manchins in the Senate. Because there are too many bi-partisany nambi-pambi, banker groupies who won't stand up to anyone wearing an Armani suit.

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               1. Or because it is a stupid idea?

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   3. Zap:

      Let me help you.

      You lost.

      It is over.

      The Dems are a quaint but unimportant vestige of a once national political party.

       

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      1. You are right PissAnt. We are defeated..done for.

         You and your army of Orcs are now free to rape and pillage as you like.

         Oh…woe is us…..!

          

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      2. Funny coming from a caricature of a great man who wrote "The Gospel of Wealth", calling on the rich to use their wealth to improve society, stimulating a wave of philanthropy, who devoted the twilight of his life to large-scale philanthropy, with special emphasis on local libraries, world peace, education and scientific research.

         Your guy wants tax cuts for the rich to make them richer, has a fake foundation (under indictment), uses said funds to buy paintings of himself, prefers Twitter over reading, taunts our allies 140 characters at a time, is a climate change denier and wants to defund NASA research.  

         You realize that curtain you hide behind isn't big enough to hide all your bullshit, right?  

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3. Nice plan, Unfortunately, I'm afraid the rubber is in V.P. Biden's spine. He's got nothing to lose, but it would require guts I'm not sure he has.

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4. 

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5. Credit where credit is due.  Good on Al.  The Fossilonians must be losing their minds this afternoon. The Wall Street Journal is reporting it was pressure from Trump’s children that prompted the meeting.  

   Trump Softens His Climate Image with Gore Meeting

   Gore said his conversation with the president-elect was “productive” and “extremely interesting”

   “I had a lengthy and very productive session with the president-elect,” Gore said. “It was a sincere search for areas of common ground. … I found it an extremely interesting conversation, and to be continued, and I’m just going to leave it at that.”

    

    

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   1. An informative piece in Forbes on clean energy.  Indiana, under Gov. Pence, was the first state to end it's renewable mandate, over the objections of local companies including Carrier.  

      The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away…

      What Trump And Pence Don't Get About Clean Energy Jobs

      But just two years ago, Governor Pence allowed Indiana to become the first state to abandon its energy efficiency standards – a move that Carrier and other companies warned would threaten nearly 1,500 jobs and $500 million a year in local economic investment. Evidently, losing 1,500 jobs wasn't enough to worry about. Yet two years and a presidential election later, saving 1,000 on the backs of taxpayers is held up as proof that Trump is making good on his promise to reinvigorate the American economy.

       

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