Sure, they are forced by necessity to report on all of Twit's and the Repug Party's fascist ploys. But they are too afraid to call it fascist because they still think they need to have them on their shows to provide fake equivalent 'balance' to political 'debate.' It's just the manufactured war strategy that sells products with no incentive or desire to ascertain truth or justice. If effect, corporate media is enabling their fascism for a buck.
Aka Propulism. Our house is on fire. Join the resistance: Do no harm/take no shit. My idiosyncratic and confluent bricolage of progressive politics, linguistic framing, the collaborative commons, next generation cognitive neuroscience, American pragmatism, de/reconstruction, dynamic systems, embodied realism, psychodynamics, aesthetics. It ain't much but it's not nothing.
Corporate media still pretending Repugs are not fascists
Do we Democrats want fake unity or real progress?
Hartmann: If we don't want another Twitler
In his FB post today he reiterated that the Repug Party has gone fascist. Some of them have openly supported Twit's pleas for legislatures to overturn the vote of the people and give the electors to Twit. Fortunately Republican legislatures in MI, PA, WI and AZ have said they would not corrupt the system like this. So how does the Repug Party respond? By threatening to primary those who would not comply with their fascist demands. Thom recommends that we must eliminate the Electoral College to take away any advantage for the next fascist the Repugs plan to install.
Schmidt's ode to Twitler
Tanden for Sec. of OMB
Meaning the Office of Management and Budget. She is the presumptive nominee for this position. Sirota reports that she, like Biden, has repeatedly put social security cuts on the table noting that we must address entitlements as well as taxes. Which is code of course for don't cut the wealthy or corporate tax rates too much because they fill our campaign coffers, so instead let's take it out on those who are hurting the most.
And btw, she loathes Bernie and progressives. And it's becoming more apparent that Biden does too with picks like this. As a senior citizen who has EARNED my social security benefits by paying into the system my entire working life I find it atrocious that Tanden and Biden, given their history, will likely cut my benefits with at least their chained CPI scam. Bernie of course is right that we need to expand our benefits instead. And to remove the cap on contributions to the system, where those making more than $142,800 don't have to contribute further. With Tanden we will not see such progressive policy.
The Repugnantan Party has embraced American fascism
From this piece:
"The Republican Party has embraced American fascism, an anti-democratic ideology that is unique to our country, and is ingrained deeper in our collective consciousness and our history than most of us have been taught. [...] The fascist KKK derived its ideology from a mass, explicitly anti-democratic movement to overthrow the government of the United States — the Confederacy. [...] The Confederacy's repudiation of equality is outlined in its founding documents, including 'The Cornerstone Speech,' a seminal speech given by Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens just a few weeks before the Civil War broke out. In it he outlined the the new nation's rejection of equality on the basis of white racial superiority.[...] It is equality that makes a democracy possible. Without it, the strong can crush the weak and impose their will on the rest of society. That is how fascist governments are structured, that is how the Confederacy came to be, and that is what Trump's Republican party is embracing now."
Bernie: Winning back the working class
Fascism or democracy?
New NY Attorney General is ready
Rising interviews Piketty on addressing inequality
Author of Capital and Ideology. Inequality is a matter of political choice. So in the US the stark inequality is by design of the corrupt government bought off by its money masters. Krystal wonders how the US left can begin to address this when the Dem Party now caters to the professional class and has abandoned a defense of economic populism along with the working class (7:32). Piketty noted that ideas coming from Sanders and Warren, like a wealth tax and progressive tax rates, are critical in this endeavor to both reduce inequality and to reaffirm support for the working class (8:30). Will Biden and company pay heed to this advice since Bernie and Liz aren't going anywhere near his Cabinet?
Lincoln Project: Repugnantan Party is treasonous
And this is from conservative Republicans, which says a LOT.
We need help with the recount
Perhaps we should enlist The Count to help?
Twit's own appointment to 3rd Circuit: The campaign's claims have no merit
After losing in PA at the District Court level, Twit appealed to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Stephanos Bibas, Twit's own appointment, wrote in the decision throwing out their case:
"Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here."
The Twitiots will now appeal to the Supreme Corp. We'll see how that goes.
Leningrad Lindsey admits Repugs can't win by legitimate votes
And that "if we don't do something about voting by mail we're going to lose the ability to elect a Republican in this country." What he means is that Repugs can't win by allowing every legal vote to be counted, including and especially mail votes. Instead they have to "do something about voting by mail."
That's their strategy: Suppress and purge voters. And they've been doing it since forever. It's been Twit's entire strategy in the courts, to not count mail votes. And he's lost every legal challenge in this regard because the mail votes are legitimate.
Rights and responsibilities
The lemmings cannot see the contradiction
Hartmann: The Vice President can take over the Senate
Thom has explored the Constitution and the Senate rules and apparently the VP is in charge. This will be great if Kamala walks in on day one and says "I'm in charge and I set the agenda." Some keys questions then: Will Biden have the courage to let his VP assert this power? Will he wimp out in the name of unity? Or to not cause waves? It seems to me that with Repugs power has to be grabbed, not negotiated.
Bernie: Which side are you on?
The Beatles - I Am The Walrus
This one came to mind today.
Colbert interviews Giuliani
Played by John Lithgow. Pretty accurate parody.
Covid Kelly Loeffler
She is corrupt to the core. If you want integrity then pick Warnock.
AOC's diet secret
The rich get richer
While the rest of us suffer and die. Let's be thankful for Bernie, AOC, Cori and the other progressives who are fighting this corrupt system. And that one day we will defeat it and return government to we the people.
A message from a sensible Christian
Unfortunately not many of the Twitler variety are, getting together in large groups today without masks to celebrate what? Being thankful that they are spreading disease and death to their own families?
Georgia has had enough
Of Perdue and Loeffler. Vote for Ossoff and Warnock.
Lincoln Project gives thanks
Good one.
Michael Moore: Where to Invade Next?
Continuing the last post, in this documentary Moore goes around the world exploring progressive policies. At the end he asks each of them where they got these ideas. Invariably they respond from the US of the past. It's time to carry that past forward.
If you haven't yet seen it click on the embedded link above. Well worth your time to be thankful for what we used to be as a country, and what we can be again.
I remember when
The good old days of social democracy in America. We can have it back if we move forward with progressives in the Democratic Party and dump the corporatists.
O- blood type slightly lower risk for covid infection and severity
According to this Annals of Internal Medicine Study dated 11/24/20. 'Slightly lower' ain't much but it's something.
"The O and Rh− blood groups may be associated with a slightly lower risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 illness."
Pope Fancis on anti-maskers
The Pope once again hits the mark. He said in his new book:
"Some groups protested, refusing to keep their distance, marching against travel restrictions — as if measures that governments must impose for the good of their people constitute some kind of political assault on autonomy or personal freedom. [...] You’ll never find such people protesting the death of George Floyd, or joining a demonstration because there are shanty towns where children lack water or education, or because there are whole families who have lost their income. On such matters, they would never protest; they are incapable of moving outside of their own little world of interests."
At least he's not hiring his relatives
True, at least that. But many of them are long-time Washington insiders in the establishment network.
Progressive groups on Biden's Cabinet picks
According to this article, they're happy with Yellen, Kerry, Mayorkas and Thomas-Greenfield. However they are adamant that Biden not pick his former chief-of-staff Bruce Reed to head the OMB, a deficit hawk who wanted cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Both AOC and Omar signed a petition to that effect.
Biden appoints Yellen Secretary of the Treasury
At least he got this one right. Reich:
GA really doesn't want Democrats to vote
How American of them. From Greg Palast's FB post and article:
"UPDATE: Georgia’s Board of Elections declined to discuss a new rule that could block new voter registrations before the Senate runoff to people who don’t have a car registered in the state. However, the new rule was only "shelved" after Ryan Germany, General Counsel for the Secretary of State’s office, advised the board that local officials ALREADY had the authority laid out in the proposed new rule. It was therefore decided that the Secretary of State’s office would remind election officials of this existing power by issuing the information in an official election bulletin. This bulletin has exactly the same effect. We are not fooled.
Rising on Biden's National Security team
Yes, they're all long-time, qualified, career politicos. But qualified for what? Apparently for neoliberal globalism and war mongering. Just what we progressives wanted, eh?
Push Biden left
PA certifies results
With each passing day Twit's denial of the reality of our election is chipped away. He and his Twitiots likely will never concede but the laws of the land are holding firm in confirming the results. Joe Biden is our next President.
"Pennsylvania certified its election results Tuesday for President-elect Joe Biden. [...] Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, tweeted that the Pennsylvania Department of State certified the results Tuesday morning and 'as required by federal law, I’ve signed the Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Today's certification is a testament to the incredible efforts of our local and state election officials, who worked tirelessly to ensure Pennsylvania had a free, fair and accurate process that reflects the will of the voters.'"
Of god(s), societies and punishment
Societies have always found it necessary to punish rule-breakers in order to keep cohesion. It worked well in smaller groups because everyone knew each other and could directly observe behavior. But what happens with societies get so large that such direct observation was not possible? This article claims that is when Gods appeared to provide the necessary punishment for bad behavior. Shared beliefs in God(s) provided assurance that people would behave appropriately and if they didn't they'd get appropriate punishment, if not in this life than certainly in the hereafter.
But what about contemporary, secular societies without God(s) to mete out punishment? Then it is necessary to form laws and ethical rules with appropriate punishments for the wicked who violate them. It is still necessary for tracking behavior and the enforcement of punishment for violators. Otherwise they rip the social fabric and tear apart what binds us. It seems the strong reaction against what is called 'cancel culture' defends against holding violators accountable because it challenges those who are privileged who fear that they too will be held accountable for their behavior.
Of course there our instances where the privileged feel they have been unjustly called to account by rogue elements that hold unreasonable standards of behavior. But that is for the society at large to determine what those standards are. And to provide the legal and ethical means for adjudication to make a determination. It is not though up to the privileged to claim exclusion from the process, otherwise it destroys the very cohesion necessary to bind us.
If the current political situation in the US has taught us anything it is certainly that. See the Code of Ethics for US Government Service. When violated offenders need at the very least to be publicly called out and ostracized. And further, if laws are violated, to be prosecuted and punished accordingly. This of course relates to AOC's Twitter comment and the response, and her previous comments on cancel culture.
Pox and Fiends: Grow up Mr. Presidunce
Kilmeade thinks it's in the country's best interest to acknowledge the necessity of coordinating with the Biden team on the pandemic and issues of State security. He emphasized that with the pandemic if we're to effectively implement and distribute the vaccine we'll need this coordination. Poor Twit has lost his favorite Pox sycophants.
Krystal makes the case for good, big government
Particularly this race to get the pandemic vaccine. She walks us through the myriad and complex steps to get it done and they did. Hence she confirms that big government, not without its problems, can be and is a force for good too, doing things in the public interest bigger, better and faster than any private market could.
Hartmann: Repugnantan cult of power, greed and hate
From this FB post today:
Who is radical?
Who gets the free stuff?
Bernie has it right. We pay taxes to get public services. Most corporations pay little to no taxes and get their tax breaks and subsidies for free.
Christie tells Twit and his Party to grow the f___ up
Will Twit and his Party listen to him? Of course not; he'll be run out of town. And as usual he's a day late and a dollar short, enabling Twitler the whole time. He's just another rat jumping a sinking ship to save his own ass. He said:
"Quite frankly, the conduct of the President's legal team has been a national embarrassment. [...] They allege fraud outside the courtroom, but when they go inside the courtroom, they don't plead fraud and they don't argue fraud. Listen, I have been a supporter of the President's. I voted for him twice, but elections have consequences, and we cannot continue to act as if something happened here that didn't happen. If you are unwilling to come forward and present the evidence, it must mean the evidence doesn't exist. The country is what has to matter the most. As much as I'm a strong Republican and I love my party, it's the country that has to come first."
There are 73 million American Twitiots
Excerpts from an article by Umair Haque.
"I don’t mean idiot in the way of an insult, by the way. To the Greeks, 'idiot' was the ultimate term of scorn. Idiots were the most contemptible people in classical society. Why? The term really means, in the classical context, 'people who are consumed only with self-interest.' And to the Greeks, the progenitors of democracy, nobody — nobody was more dangerous than an idiot.
"Their reasoning went like this. Should enough of a society be consumed solely with self-interest, a society would soon enough cease to be a democracy. People only concerned with themselves can’t look out for any kind of common wealth or shared interest. They can’t exercise any of the following virtues: courage, compassion, truth, beauty, grace, generosity, kindness, humility, all of which are allocentric, meaning 'other-focused,' not egocentric.
"So what will happen to such a society? [...] Soon enough, a demagogue would come along, who would prey on all those fears — conjuring up imaginary enemies, twisting rage into hatred — and democracy would flash out of existence. [...] You only have to look at America, the Land of the Idiots. This election does something remarkable — it gives us a comically exact headcount of American Idiots. There are 73 million of them. That’s how many people voted for Trump. Am I saying Trump voters are idiots? Of course I am, duh. Again, not as an insult, but as an observation. In the classical sense: people consumed with the narrowest definition of self-interest possible."
The Republican Party then and now
AOC on cancel culture
Michael and Dawn Kiehm flashback
To their 2005 US Open win in the Sophisticated Swing division. Michael has been an inspiration and virtual mentor to me over my entire 22-year dance career. In this performance it's not about fancy tricks (even though there are a few) but more about infusing basics with the style, grace and poise typical of this long-time coach, teacher and performer. I can only hope that some of that has rubbed off on me in my quest to emulate him.
Patriotic Millionaires - Tax the rich
With Senator Jeff Merkley. It's a 30-minute video but well worth the time to see just how corrupt US tax policy is in creating income inequality and the power of the oligarchy.
Sugarloaf - Green-Eyed Lady
This morning I was reminded of this classic. The Intro is a big long though.
Who is the real AOC?
This recent speech once again shows that she is a true representative of we the people, fighting to help us in this terrible time of need. It is quite the contrast with her opponents, who cater to corporations and the rich while stealing from us to pay off their masters.
Bernie: GOP is a cult
Bernie is right. Whatever semblance of humanity their Party once might have had is now gone. It's too late to negotiate or compromise with them; our only option is to defeat them and their fascism.
"Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Republicans for refusing to speak out against President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. 'It is beyond pathetic for a sitting president to try to subvert the results of an election.. It is even worse when the Republican Party, with few exceptions, remains silent over this outrageous attack on democracy. The GOP has ceased to be a political party. It is now a cult.'"
AOC: Let's keep the pressure on Biden
From her FB post. Click the link to see the video. She said:
AOC on Twit enabler accountability
I just became aware that AOC supposedly created an enemies list and called for their complete cancellation. Her Tweets are below on what she actually said. Just looking over this article titled "AOC wants to cancel those who worked for Trump" is instructive. Here is what AOC said in a Tweet: "Is
anyone archiving these Trump sycophants for when they try to downplay
or deny their complicity in the future? I foresee decent probability of
many deleted Tweets, writings, photos in the future."
Kimmel interviews Obama
I know, he wasn't the most progressive President and didn't live up to our unrealistic expectations. Still, he was a damn sight better than most who held that office. And there is NO comparison with its current resident. He is an intelligent, articulate, funny and caring human being and I for one appreciate and miss him immensely in retrospect.
Bill Maher: The F__kening
Even though I find some of his views unacceptable he is still a funny guy. If you need a few laughs, and who doesn't these days, here's his monologue last night.
Romney: Twit is undemocratic
Yeah, he stated the obvious. But he is apparently the only Repug with enough courage to stand up to his insanity. He slammed Twit for pressuring officials to "subvert the will of the people and overturn the election. It is difficult to imagine a worse, more undemocratic action by a sitting American President."
After Presidential meeting MI lawmakers comment
The Michigan Senate and House leader reiterated what they've said prior to the meeting. Let's hope they mean it.
"We will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan’s electors, just as we have said throughout this election. Michigan’s certification process should be a deliberate process free from threats and intimidation. Allegations of fraudulent behavior should be taken seriously, thoroughly investigated, and if proven, prosecuted to the full extent of the law. And the candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan's electoral votes."
We ain't all in the same boat
So quit pretending otherwise. We're drowning and you're partying on our stolen taxes. YOU are the cause of our problems, so quit trying to blame us and scapegoat others. We see who and what you are and we ain't buying your BS no more.
Don't be afraid Bernie
MI State Senator met by protesters
He's one of the two Michigan lead legislators Twit summoned to the Blight House in order to convince them to not certify the MI vote and to have the legislature decide who gets the Electoral votes. It's good that not only were there protesters but NBC covered it so that this gets as much press as possible so we can see their coup plot up front.
The Rebellion: Perdue is a sniveling, conniving coward
Just the facts.
Georgia recount confirms Biden's win
The hand recount was completed Thursday evening confirming the initial result. Four counties did discover more votes that gave Twit a net gain of 1,400 but it was hardly enough to change the outcome. The missing votes were due to human error, not fraud. One by one Twit's delusions are crumbling. We already know he cannot accept the reality so we still have cause to worry about what he'll do when all his efforts fail.
Lady Gaga, Blackpink - Sour Candy
As Opal Sky77 explains in the comments of the video:
"For those who don't understand what this video is, the video is supost to simulate a VR video game and if you're wondering why those things were moving so crazily was because Blackpink and Lady Gaga did the movements in real life and then they implemented it into the video. Each member is supposed to be the leader of a tribe. Lisa is yellow and is the leader of the Cyber Kids, Jennie is blue and is the leader of the Freedom Fighters. Jisoo is purple and is the leader of the Purple Tribe and Rose is red and is the leader of Government Officials (Lady Gaga is Kindness Punks). The video is set in the world Chromatica, which is also the world of a new and popular song Rain on Me by Lady Gaga ft. Ariana Grande. This one of the songs in Gaga's 6th album Chromatica. 'The song's true meaning is society's unfair expectations towards women.' What those creatures exactly are? No one knows. Just ask the Director/Animator, Sam Rolfes."
Also see this and this explanation.
Pox's Kristin Fischer on Fooliani's crazed rants
We can see why Twit now hates Pox Views. Fischer said what Fooliani claimed is not true. He provided no evidence at all for his bizarre conspiracy theories. She points out his continued claims of fraud in PA while in PA court he admits it's not a fraud case. Fooliani claims MI didn't certify its votes when the fact is they did. He claimed he had hundreds of witness affidavits claiming voter fraud but can't provide them. It was nothing more than a crazed performance calling into question the poor guy's sanity.
What if Twit won't leave?
Colbert's solution: Call F-U-Haul.
Waleed Shahid of Justice Democrats on Biden's Cabinet
He wants a corporate-free Cabinet but we're obviously not going to get one. He starts with the appointment of Richmond. He moves on to Fraschetti's appointment, a Big Pharma lobbyist who opposes Medicare For All. He is though optimistic of Ron Klain as Chief of Staff, as he at least somewhat understands the need for more progressive voices. He hopes for more corporate-free future picks and some embedded pictures show some of their progressive Cabinet preferences. We the people need to constantly apply pressure for this but don't hold your breath.
CNN: Twit's legal clowns
After all the reputable legal firms have backed away from Twit's insanity, he's left with these clowns headed by Giuliani as examined in this piece.
More on Richmond's dirty fossil fuel hands
Continuing this post, Ana of The Young Turks provides more information on Biden's pick for Director of the Office of Public Engagement. That office will be the liaison with the environmental movement. Richmond, in addition to taking fossil fuel money (Ana provides details), he returned the favor in legislative votes:
"Richmond has joined with Republicans to vote to increase fossil fuel exports and promote pipeline development. he also voted against Democratic legislation to place pollution limits on fracking--and he voted for GOP legislation to limit the Obama administration's authority to more stringently regulate that practice."
Reich: The rest of the MI fascist move
In the last post I noted that the two Repugs on the certification Board relented to certify Wayne Country after first declining to do so. The rest of the story per Reich is that Monica Palmer, one of those Repugs, received a call from Twit the night before and then she wanted to change her vote. The fascist Twitler is pulling out all the stops to interfere in a legitimate election and you can be sure he's not going to stop with this.
Twit dismisses last remaining MI lawsuit
Face it fascists: You lost and it's over. In this report Twitiots withdrew their last Michigan lawsuit claiming fraud because they have no evidence. There was an earlier fascist ploy when two Repug canvassers refused to certify the results in Wayne county but then relented and voted to certify them. But now they are claiming too late that the results should not be certified, as it's already gone to the Secretary of State and a done deal. Fascists are gonna do what fascists do and democracy is going to defeat them again and again.
Twit now sues to overturn PA votes
And have the legislature decide the election. We knew this was coming as the Repugs have been open about this last-ditch strategy. In the newly filed PA court documents they ask that "this court should enter an order, declaration, and/or injunction that the results of the 2020 presidential general election are defective and providing for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to choose Pennsylvania’s electors." Fortunately "Pennsylvania Republican leaders have already said it’s not an option." We'll see if they stick with that statement.
Hartmann: Whose freedom?
Of course everyone wants freedom. But which kind? In his FB post he talks about how liberals and conservatives define freedom.
Liberals want to conditions that allow us to be free: National healthcare, free education, food and housing rights, a living wage, unemployment benefits, workplace safety, public services etc.
Conservatives want the conditions that allow corporations and the wealthy to be free: Tax breaks that benefit only them, laws that siphon most of the wealth to the top, the ability to buy lawmakers to do their bidding, the ability to take risks not only with their own health but to infect others too.
The most progressive countries in world
The following is my response to Hanzi Freinacht's recent FB post.
Do Dems want to win?
Then pay attention to Bernie commenting on this article: "99% of Green New Deal co-sponsors won their races."
"I sometimes find it amusing when our opponents talk about the 'far-left' agenda. The truth is when you talk about raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, guaranteeing health care a human right and aggressively combating climate change, these are common sense ideas that the majority of the American people support. And we are going to fight to make sure they are implemented."
What is economic democracy?
From this website:
"One cannot understand ‘Economic Democracy’ without having an intuitive grasp of Our Commons. It is an intuitive concept, however modern society has erased the structural concepts of The Commons from our collective memory making it a hidden, largely unconscious part of our deep heritage as human beings on this planet. Learn more about The Commons.
"Implementation of principles of Economic Democracy is crucial to properly honoring Our Commons, as we believe that it defines the fairest, most balanced form of governance of our shared resources. Here are some terms that help to define Economic Democracy:
Climate activists challenge Biden's pick
Biden chose Cedric Richmond to head the White House Office of Public Engagement. The Sunrise Movement's Varshini Prakash said: "Today feels like a betrayal because one of President-elect Biden’s very first hires for his administration has taken more donations from the fossil fuel industry during his Congressional career than any other Democrat."
While I appreciate Biden's climate plan it's hard to believe it when he's appointing someone who takes fossil fuel money. To the contrary, it doesn't instill confidence that he's engaging the public so much as the special interests who butter his bread. Progressives are right that a public servant must pledge not to take such blood money if they claim to represent the public. And Biden must do the same in his Cabinet picks and not choose those so tainted if he really wants to convince us he's for the people. Otherwise it's just more pandering to special interests while lying to us for votes.
Songs, lyrics, poems
Songs, lyrics, poems and other writing/media
Here are about a dozen songs I've recorded at YouTube.* And this link is to my lyrics and poems folder at Google docs, mostly from my ...