► The Associated Press reports on the big political news over the weekend: The big reveal from West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin that he would no longer entertain negotiations over the Build Back Better bill:
Manchin said Sunday he cannot back his party’s signature $2 trillion social and environment bill, dealing a potentially fatal blow to President Joe Biden’s leading domestic initiative heading into an election year when Democrats’ narrow hold on Congress was already in peril.
Manchin told “Fox News Sunday” that after five-and-half months of negotiations among Democrats in which he was his party’s chief obstacle to passage, “I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation. I just can’t. I’ve tried everything humanly possible. I can’t get there.”
Manchin’s choice of words seemed to crack the door open to continued talks with Biden and top congressional Democrats over reshaping the legislation. But the West Virginia senator all but said the bill would die unless it met his demands for a smaller, less sweeping package — something that would be hard for many Democrats in the narrowly divided Congress to accept.
The bill would provide hundreds of billions of dollars to help millions of families with children by extending a more generous child tax credit, creating free preschool and bolstering child care aid. There is more than $500 billion for tax breaks and spending aimed at curbing carbon emissions, which experts consider the largest federal expenditure ever to combat climate change.
Other provisions would limit prescription drug price increases, create hearing benefits for Medicare recipients and bolster aid for the elderly, housing and job training. Nearly all of it would be paid for with higher taxes on the wealthy and large corporations.
► Perhaps anticipating Manchin’s uselessness, Senate Democrats had already started shifting priorities toward advancing election reform measures. As The New York Times reports:
Schumer on Monday gave the clearest sign yet that he would try to force a fundamental change in Senate rules if needed to enact federal laws to offset voting restrictions being imposed by Republican-led legislatures around the country.
In a letter to colleagues, Mr. Schumer, the New York Democrat and majority leader, said that the Senate would take up stalled voting rights legislation as early as the first week of January and that if Republicans continued to filibuster, the Senate would “consider changes to any rules which prevent us from debating and reaching final conclusion on important legislation.”
But it is not clear how far Democrats will be willing or able to go in working around the 60-vote requirement for most legislation and finding a way to pass voting rights legislation with a simple majority. While several formerly reluctant senators have in recent weeks endorsed rules change for voting issues, at least two Democratic senators — Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona — have resisted.
Alarmed by state laws being enacted in the aftermath of the 2020 election that seem aimed at making it more difficult for people, particularly minorities, to vote, Democrats have tried repeatedly this year to set federal standards for early and mail-in voting and curb partisan gerrymandering, among other provisions. But they have been consistently thwarted by a Republican blockade.
► President Biden is boosting fuel economy standards that had been decimated under President Trump. From The Associated Press:
In a major step to fight climate change, the Biden administration is raising vehicle mileage standards to significantly reduce emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases.
A final rule being issued Monday would raise mileage standards starting in the 2023 model year, reaching a projected industry-wide target of 40 miles per gallon by 2026 — 25% higher than a rule finalized by the Trump administration last year and 5% higher than a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency in August.
► Democrat Yadira Careveo announced a slew of new endorsements in her bid for Congress in CO-08, including support from House Speaker Alec Garnett and State Rep. Mary Young.
Click below to keep learning stuff…
And Now, More Words…
► Congressman Jason Crow (D-Aurora) got a crappy Christmas present:
Rep Jason Crow says he’s tested positive for COVID-19 (breakthrough case) following an official trip to Ukraine. #copoliticspic.twitter.com/NQPuRyKjE6
► Moderna is optimistic that its COVID-19 booster shots will provide adequate protections against the Omicron variant. Governor Jared Polis, meanwhile, says that getting a booster shot might be the only way to be fully protected from COVID-19.
► As Alex Burness reports for The Denver Post, state lawmakers will be prioritizing affordable housing legislation when they reconvene in early January.
In the coming legislative session, which begins Jan. 12, lawmakers plan to create incentives for developers and local governments around the state to prioritize dense, multi-family housing as a means of promoting relative affordability in a state where home prices have risen at least 457% in three decades.
It’s not about density for density’s sake, they say.
“For a number of reasons, everything from just the pure cost of land to tap fees to the inefficiency one house at a time gets you, building taller and denser makes more sense in terms of the math of trying to finance these projects and actually make them happen,” said state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat and vice chair of a legislative task force on affordable housing that is wrapping up its study now.
► Douglas County Commissioners are responding to criticism after deciding to hold a fireworks display on Sunday despite extremely dry conditions in Colorado. From 9News:
The second annual holiday fireworks display caused fires at each of the three launch sites in the county. Firefighters at the sites in Parker, Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock were able to get those grass fires under control before they threatened any buildings…
…“Personally, in my opinion, the firework displays were not a great idea,” Seriff Tony Spurlock told 9NEWS. “It was obvious that we were in dry conditions.”
“The dryness clearly posed a risk for the people who lived nearby the displays,” he said.
► Colorado’s mandatory minimum sentencing rules are getting questioned after a stiff sentence for a truck driver accused of killing several motorists in Jefferson County.
► As Vox.com explains, some of the leftiest Members of Congress are not at all surprised that West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin screwed the Democrats.
Say What, Now?
Your Daily Dose Of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
► President Trump says he got a COVID-19 booster shot, which did not make the Trump faithful very happy. From The Washington Post:
At a joint event in Dallas, conservative political commentator Bill O’Reilly noted that both he and Trump had been vaccinated.
“Both the president and I are vaxxed and — did you get the booster?” O’Reilly asked Trump.
The former president paused slightly before responding, “Yes.”
Some in the crowd began booing, prompting Trump to wave his hand disapprovingly.
“No, don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t … ” Trump said. “That’s all right. It’s a very tiny group over there.”
"Did you get the booster?" O'Reilly then asked Trump. "Yes," Trump replied. "I got it too," O'Reilly added.
The former president was then forced to quieten boos that appeared to come from one side of the arena. "Don't, don't, don't… that's alright, it's a very tiny group up there," he said.
So, is Lauren Boebert in stating "Americans want principled public servants that put the American people first", making the case that someone else should take her job in 2022? I think so.
I’m old enough to remember when Evan Meacham made a racist crack about how Japanese people react when they see all the golf courses in Arizona. Back then the GOP of Ronald Reagan and Bush the Elder got rid of Meacham.
Sometimes the more things change, the more they really do change.
Hey, I remember when the formerly inclusive and progressive term "Colored People", as in NAACP, became outdated and oppressive, only to be replaced by the au courant, progressive and inclusive "People of Color."
I'm still trying to figure out the difference as are all people of logic.
Well, one difference is the stress on "People." "Labels “[end] up pigeonholing people or creating long descriptive titles where you use some main event in someone’s life to become the modifier before their name,” said AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor, Kathleen Carroll."
His recent op-ed in the Post blames state policymakers for the “crime wave” in “Crimerado”:
Here is the question nobody in the media has yet to ask our governor, attorney general, legislature, or any other policymakers: why is this happening now? Partial answers can come from historic changes we have seen in incarceration and our failures at deterrence and rehabilitation.
Skeptical readers should note:
🧐 Brauchler is a co-author of the study that shows this “crime wave”. He actually calls it a “tsunami” which is more dramatic, for sure.
🤨A less biased study by the FBI using actual case data does show that Colorado’s 2020 violent crime rate exceeded the national rate…by 423 to 400. Significant? Maybe. Violent crime using personal weapons was up. White folks, as usual were 3/4 of the criminals and victims…but you wouldn’t know that by looking at Brauchler’s Twitter feed. Out of seven crime posts Broccoli wrote or re-tweeted, 6 showed or linked to scary looking brown people as criminals, or as hapless victims. Who is his target audience?
🤥Quentin Young, editor of the Colorado Newsline, questions Brauchler’s “obvious biases…suspect conclusions… dubious assumptions… and conspicuous omissions”.
🤔 The period of time for which Broccoli studied crime rates (2019-2020) was during his own tenure as District Attorney of the 18th Judicial District…so these supposedly lenient Democratic policies were policies that he signed off on and implemented. This was also under the Trump presidency.
I maintain that, in the next few months, Brauchler will reveal which office he hopes to ascend to, by surfing this exaggerated and racialized “tsunami of crime”.
Republicans are the enemy of our republic…all of them…anyone who identifies with the republican party, today, is supporting the insurrection, and spreading sedition…this is not a game…lauren boebert is way to stupid to see that she is being used by the bad guys…republicans must never hold another elected office again…period…
Raving perhaps, V., but that does not make him/ her incorrect. Any person who supports the Republican/Trumplican party is supporting insurrection. Period.
Equivocating mugwumps like our resident conservative champions don't want to admit their complicity, but empty rhetoric about the noble anti-Trumpers and their steadfast objection to Bannons' insurrection is a lot like Lone Star beer..
You talk loud and long, Duke, about how "resident conservative champions" are complicit.
What we never hear from you is what YOU are doing to turn back the tide of Trumpism. "Vote Blue, no matter who," doesn't cut it any more. What are YOU doing down in the trenches to bring back political normalcy?
I daresay CHB, my words are worth as much as your dollars when it comes to defending democracy.
F'rinstance..who are sending your money to…Don Coram, right? You really dig the status quo, I think.How about Marina Zimmerman? Is she a socialist?
With all your palaver about being a Never-in-a-gazillion-years-Trumper, you keep trying to distance him from the party you support with your fervent allegiance. Your moderate friends DON'T RUN THE PARTY!! And they are not going to..EVER again. He does. And will until your side of the party chooses a leader and takes the lead. Who Dat, CHB?
Until you start leading the charge to take your party back, it is doomed anyway. What I CAN do CHB, to stop Trump is to convince you your party is in a death spiral and the cash you are sending them might be better spent on a trifecta at SantaAnita.
I think you and the rest of the "conservatives" I keep hounding, are so convinced your worst impressions of Democrats are true, you would rather look away and wait for someone else to convince your fellow Republicans they have lost.
"I daresay CHB, my words are worth as much as your dollars when it comes to defending democracy"
Really? LOL The fact that you spend all your time ranting on this site does absolutely nothing to change one individual person's point of view.
"Vote blue, no matter who." I was planning on doing that before reading your eloquent argument. I am planning on doing so next year regardless of your slogan.
I'm guessing that everyone else in here is going to do whatever they were going to do next year regardless of your words. Kiwi and Dio will vote blue, Pear and Moderatus will vote red.
At least CHB's money will go towards a candidate (Coram) who will use it to possibly take down Q-bert in a primary. That's hell of a lot more than your rantings on this site will accomplish.
Like I believe most of us do, I have great respect for both CHB and Duke — as well as yourself RandR.
But, yes, not a lot of minds are changed in this forum. What I can and do do for Democracy is send a few bucks to:
State Democratic Party.
Denver (my county) party.
DCCC (U.S. House)
Democratic National Committee
Schumer’s Senate PAC
State House and Senate campaigns
State Treasurer
Secretary of State
Attorney General
Michael Bennet
Worthy Congressionals like Jason Crow. (My rep. Is DeGette and she’s great but doesn’t need the cash. Same goes for Polis, who has more money than God.)
In the past I’ve backed challengers in the third and against Buckhead but will put that money in the new 8th when we have a candidate.
And a few personal heros like Stacy Abrams.
For one of my adequate but limited means, that’s a reasonable agenda.
Vote Blue, no matter who.
And put your money where your heart is with Act Blue.
In other words, Duke, as R & R says, all you’re doing is rant on this site. Fine, now we fully know you.
End of December/very early January is when I make the decisions for my charitable & other contributions for the new year. I pay no attention to giving days, end of year appeals, whatever.
Three persons are on my political list for 2022: Don Coram, if he runs, Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ). I may toss a little $$ towards Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). I will make large contributions to groups working to protect public lands here in Colorado. I’m also on the board of a center-right conservative group working on renewable energy here in the West and climate change in Florida.
You have no idea about how much I do or don't do. Just because I don't brag about it and use it as a cover. Great that your heart is so generous you will give to the occasional Democrat.
The most amazing part is you two (if you are two different humans…) think I am only talking to you, when in fact I have no expectation of affecting either of you. Do you really think this site only has a dozen readers? If so, you need to get out more.
Do not assume that the people on this blog who don't list their contributions, don't make them. You would be wrong.
I will say, in my defense — which is a lousy defense, and really no defense at all, if I think about it — that I have in fact voted for Republicans in the past; as recently as 2014, when I voted for Cynthia Coffman for AG . . .
. . . (It’s appropriate that I add here at this juncture, “Oh, just go fuck yourself, Moderatus!”) . . .
. . . It’s a vote I now regret, as she did not turn out to be anything remotely like John Suthers, who I admire greatly, and also voted for.
I can only attribute that vote to a misspent youth of heavy drinking, and way too many drugs — probably also a really bad acid flashback, or two, around November 2014 — and the fact that Don Quick was (is) a flaming, arrogant asshole and a waste of human genetic material. (As I recall this, even now, I still consider my vote at that time to be all his fault. So, Don, to you once again I say what I said to Moderatus, above.)
But, I think I’ve learned a little bit more about Republicans and the Republican Party since then, and if I had it to do all over again, I would just undervote that race . . .
. . . Now, if you will please excuse me, I think I could really use a good, stiff drink . . . or three.
And, please R&R, for the love of god, please don’t make me ever have to do this again?
December 20, 2021 09:58 AM UTC
27 Comments
It’s (still not) beginning
h/t Twitter:
The Face Eating Leopard Florida tour.
Donald Trump reveals he got vaccine booster shot, gets booed by tour crowd
Thanks, Michael: We added this above
(as he’s waving his tiny little hands 🤣)
So, is Lauren Boebert in stating "Americans want principled public servants that put the American people first", making the case that someone else should take her job in 2022? I think so.
State Senator Don Coram for Congress in Colorado’s 3rd District.
It would be an improvement to be sure.
GOP outreach to “Yellow People”….
Marjorie Taylor Greene Refers to ‘Yellow People’ in Speech on GOP Diversity (msn.com)
I’m old enough to remember when Evan Meacham made a racist crack about how Japanese people react when they see all the golf courses in Arizona. Back then the GOP of Ronald Reagan and Bush the Elder got rid of Meacham.
Sometimes the more things change, the more they really do change.
Hey, I remember when the formerly inclusive and progressive term "Colored People", as in NAACP, became outdated and oppressive, only to be replaced by the au courant, progressive and inclusive "People of Color."
I'm still trying to figure out the difference as are all people of logic.
Sigh.
You need to check with Kiwi who is the Keeper of the Glossary of Contemporaneous Politically Correct Words, Terms and Phrases
Well, one difference is the stress on "People." "Labels “[end] up pigeonholing people or creating long descriptive titles where you use some main event in someone’s life to become the modifier before their name,” said AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor, Kathleen Carroll."
And there is a straight-forward explanation in a Code Switch article The Journey From 'Colored' To 'Minorities' To 'People Of Color'
I guess it is similar to the opposition to "retarded people" or "disabled people" — and the shift to "people with mental or physical challenges."
Similar to educational terms – instead of "SPED kids", we now say, " Students with special needs" or "Students with disabilities / challenges".
The human being term does need to come first, before the descriptor, as a rule.
What office is Brauchler running for?
His recent op-ed in the Post blames state policymakers for the “crime wave” in “Crimerado”:
Skeptical readers should note:
🧐 Brauchler is a co-author of the study that shows this “crime wave”. He actually calls it a “tsunami” which is more dramatic, for sure.
🤨A less biased study by the FBI using actual case data does show that Colorado’s 2020 violent crime rate exceeded the national rate…by 423 to 400. Significant? Maybe. Violent crime using personal weapons was up. White folks, as usual were 3/4 of the criminals and victims…but you wouldn’t know that by looking at Brauchler’s Twitter feed. Out of seven crime posts Broccoli wrote or re-tweeted, 6 showed or linked to scary looking brown people as criminals, or as hapless victims. Who is his target audience?
🤥Quentin Young, editor of the Colorado Newsline, questions Brauchler’s “obvious biases…suspect conclusions… dubious assumptions… and conspicuous omissions”.
🤔 The period of time for which Broccoli studied crime rates (2019-2020) was during his own tenure as District Attorney of the 18th Judicial District…so these supposedly lenient Democratic policies were policies that he signed off on and implemented. This was also under the Trump presidency.
I maintain that, in the next few months, Brauchler will reveal which office he hopes to ascend to, by surfing this exaggerated and racialized “tsunami of crime”.
Republicans are the enemy of our republic…all of them…anyone who identifies with the republican party, today, is supporting the insurrection, and spreading sedition…this is not a game…lauren boebert is way to stupid to see that she is being used by the bad guys…republicans must never hold another elected office again…period…
Sun, that ain't musing, it's raving.
Raving perhaps, V., but that does not make him/ her incorrect. Any person who supports the Republican/Trumplican party is supporting insurrection. Period.
Equivocating mugwumps like our resident conservative champions don't want to admit their complicity, but empty rhetoric about the noble anti-Trumpers and their steadfast objection to Bannons' insurrection is a lot like Lone Star beer..
More like weak piss water than anything else.
You talk loud and long, Duke, about how "resident conservative champions" are complicit.
What we never hear from you is what YOU are doing to turn back the tide of Trumpism. "Vote Blue, no matter who," doesn't cut it any more. What are YOU doing down in the trenches to bring back political normalcy?
I can't speak for Duke but I just sent money to Stacy Abrams.
That girl rocks!
💯 – I keep her 2020 Xmas card on my refrigerator just to antagonize my MAGA family members.
Are they that easily triggered, Michael?
As easily as CHB.
I daresay CHB, my words are worth as much as your dollars when it comes to defending democracy.
F'rinstance..who are sending your money to…Don Coram, right? You really dig the status quo, I think.How about Marina Zimmerman? Is she a socialist?
With all your palaver about being a Never-in-a-gazillion-years-Trumper, you keep trying to distance him from the party you support with your fervent allegiance. Your moderate friends DON'T RUN THE PARTY!! And they are not going to..EVER again. He does. And will until your side of the party chooses a leader and takes the lead. Who Dat, CHB?
Until you start leading the charge to take your party back, it is doomed anyway. What I CAN do CHB, to stop Trump is to convince you your party is in a death spiral and the cash you are sending them might be better spent on a trifecta at SantaAnita.
I think you and the rest of the "conservatives" I keep hounding, are so convinced your worst impressions of Democrats are true, you would rather look away and wait for someone else to convince your fellow Republicans they have lost.
Who is your state party chair?
Right.
"I daresay CHB, my words are worth as much as your dollars when it comes to defending democracy"
Really? LOL The fact that you spend all your time ranting on this site does absolutely nothing to change one individual person's point of view.
"Vote blue, no matter who." I was planning on doing that before reading your eloquent argument. I am planning on doing so next year regardless of your slogan.
I'm guessing that everyone else in here is going to do whatever they were going to do next year regardless of your words. Kiwi and Dio will vote blue, Pear and Moderatus will vote red.
At least CHB's money will go towards a candidate (Coram) who will use it to possibly take down Q-bert in a primary. That's hell of a lot more than your rantings on this site will accomplish.
Like I believe most of us do, I have great respect for both CHB and Duke — as well as yourself RandR.
But, yes, not a lot of minds are changed in this forum. What I can and do do for Democracy is send a few bucks to:
State Democratic Party.
Denver (my county) party.
DCCC (U.S. House)
Democratic National Committee
Schumer’s Senate PAC
State House and Senate campaigns
State Treasurer
Secretary of State
Attorney General
Michael Bennet
Worthy Congressionals like Jason Crow. (My rep. Is DeGette and she’s great but doesn’t need the cash. Same goes for Polis, who has more money than God.)
In the past I’ve backed challengers in the third and against Buckhead but will put that money in the new 8th when we have a candidate.
And a few personal heros like Stacy Abrams.
For one of my adequate but limited means, that’s a reasonable agenda.
Vote Blue, no matter who.
And put your money where your heart is with Act Blue.
In other words, Duke, as R & R says, all you’re doing is rant on this site. Fine, now we fully know you.
End of December/very early January is when I make the decisions for my charitable & other contributions for the new year. I pay no attention to giving days, end of year appeals, whatever.
Three persons are on my political list for 2022: Don Coram, if he runs, Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ). I may toss a little $$ towards Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). I will make large contributions to groups working to protect public lands here in Colorado. I’m also on the board of a center-right conservative group working on renewable energy here in the West and climate change in Florida.
To all the above I say, so fucking what?
You have no idea about how much I do or don't do. Just because I don't brag about it and use it as a cover. Great that your heart is so generous you will give to the occasional Democrat.
The most amazing part is you two (if you are two different humans…) think I am only talking to you, when in fact I have no expectation of affecting either of you. Do you really think this site only has a dozen readers? If so, you need to get out more.
Do not assume that the people on this blog who don't list their contributions, don't make them. You would be wrong.
Rant and prattle on all you want, Duke.
I will say, in my defense — which is a lousy defense, and really no defense at all, if I think about it — that I have in fact voted for Republicans in the past; as recently as 2014, when I voted for Cynthia Coffman for AG . . .
. . . (It’s appropriate that I add here at this juncture, “Oh, just go fuck yourself, Moderatus!”) . . .
. . . It’s a vote I now regret, as she did not turn out to be anything remotely like John Suthers, who I admire greatly, and also voted for.
I can only attribute that vote to a misspent youth of heavy drinking, and way too many drugs — probably also a really bad acid flashback, or two, around November 2014 — and the fact that Don Quick was (is) a flaming, arrogant asshole and a waste of human genetic material. (As I recall this, even now, I still consider my vote at that time to be all his fault. So, Don, to you once again I say what I said to Moderatus, above.)
But, I think I’ve learned a little bit more about Republicans and the Republican Party since then, and if I had it to do all over again, I would just undervote that race . . .
. . . Now, if you will please excuse me, I think I could really use a good, stiff drink . . . or three.
And, please R&R, for the love of god, please don’t make me ever have to do this again?