While most eyes were on the leaked draft of the Supreme Court decision this week, the Biden administration continued its work to move the country forward, demonstrating that investing in ordinary Americans creates a strong economy. Since the 1980s, Republicans have insisted that the way to establish strong economic growth is to cut business regulations and taxes in order to free up innovation and capital for investment. Rejecting the system in place since 1933 that used the government to keep the economic playing field level and protect the rights of workers, Republicans argued that the economy worked best when business leaders ran it. Government should support the employers on the supply side of the economy rather than the workers and consumers on the demand side.
We need votes for democracy. Don't sit wringing your hands & mind. Get out the vote in your own community and state. Help others with your example. Give young people your support. Work with your local League of Women Voters. Ukraine is our best example. They are losing everything but their will to fight, and their do or die attitude
“[The Bipartisan Innovation Act] would bring home production that the U.S. has ceded to China…”
The US “ceded” nothing. Those manufacturing jobs were brought to China on a platter by the people who own the politicians who preach that tax cuts and de-regulation pay for themselves and create domestic jobs. These are the same people who are now price-gouging us all, creating record profits, and blaming Biden and the Democrats for the resulting inflation.
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! To add to today's Letter, let us welcome incoming press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, to the podium. She will be replacing Jen Psaki in a few days. I have been reading about her impressive "credentials." She capped it for me with this story about how she intervened on behalf of then candidate for president Kamala Harris in 2019. Her quick action demonstrated her ability to both think on her feet, and then talk about it afterward. I am confident she will do well in the coming days as the new presidential press secretary.
I saw Biden’s speech today, in Ohio. He hit hard about explaining what and why inflation exists. It was necessary to do that because he had to combat the Pro-Rape party’s attacks. He explained exactly what the Professor said about how great the economy is in spite of all the negativity from the opponents and the war in Ukraine. What other president can boast these accomplishments in the short amount of time?
The talking heads want to quickly erect all manner of conspiracy theories regarding the leaked draft of a ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade. The ingenuity of these theories leads one to wonder why their creators aren't running for office themselves; after all, truth is no longer a political currency; probably never was, in fact. What's new today is just how unhinged and outrageous the degree of deceit has become. Perhaps the leak has some impact on May primary races? Beyond that, I'm not sure how disclosure in May versus July makes all that much difference in the long run. Aside from the various aides and clerks to 9 justices, I can easily imagine some night-shift custodial staff coming across a discarded copy of the draft document in the outgoing trash and imagining the potential for a paid vacation to Hawaii courtesy of someone in the press for the price of sending one less item through the shredder. I seriously doubt that Hizzoner Alito does all of his own typing, editing and printing (isn't the document over 60 pages?) for distribution to his peers. I wonder if he failed to use the "top secret" stamp and bright red ink for marking these drafts? With the rapidly rising heat on an increasing number of individuals over the Feb 6 committee findings and upcoming public hearings, I can image the potential value of shifting focus onto such a potent perennial hot button issue as pro-life vs. pro-choice. Sadly for the Republicans, the distraction at their immediate disposal is one for which they are equally in the minority as public opinion about an attempted coup. I can appreciate the difficulty they are having getting the appropriate spin on the issue, having to soft pedal the substance and attempt to divert attention to the occurrence and source of the leak. The public, outside of the Fox echo chamber, isn't buying that distraction however.
This political season has been endowed with so many noteworthy themes; 2/6/21 and the committee disclosures, imperial behavior of southern Governors, the undiminished egomaniacal presence of TFG, obvious parallels between our recent executive and the behavior of Putin, the very obvious freedom fight in Ukraine, COVID mass disinformation campaign, and now the re-emergence of RoeVWade. How could these opportunities to make political hay while the sun shines possibly be squandered between now and November? Voting blocks that can distinguish the right and wrong sides of any or all of these ought to be sufficient to annihilate traditional mid-term election trends. Give this administration a REAL majority in Congress and see what happens in the final half of the term...
Would Elaine Chao (McConnell’s wife) have possible influence on shipping costs and manipulation of inflationary costs/industry profits? That and Arab refusal to increase production sound ominously political in nature and deliberately unseat current administration.
Everyday one of the first things I do is to read the HCR letter from an American. It usually gives me some hope. But, we are under attack of losing so many things right now. The debacle of the SCOTUS situation is absolutely terrifying or should be for all women and marginalized people. The Biden administration is doing everything it can to build up America while scoundrels and crooks seem to rule! Why people still vote for these people is beyond me. I totally agree with another comment today. We dare not sit back wringing our hands while these criminals and their cronies take our democracy away from us. We have to be involved to stop the madness, no matter how depressed and discouraged we feel today.
If we could improve employment prospects in the so-called Rust Belt, chances are the anti-government militias would decline in power, and the popularity of Christian fundamentalism, which cedes personal automony to an authoritarian church organization, might decline as people are more self actuated. Both of which would be good for democracy.
...or the trivial fact that "some Patriot Missiles" are air defense missiles (I mean, they've only been prominently shown on the news since 1991 shooting down other missiles), and not surface-to-surface missiles, or that several nations could easily obtain and release intelligence proving it was us who did it. What a stable genius...
Week after week, I am struck by a growing disparity between LFAA’s justifiably favorable assessment of the Biden Administration’s performance on several fronts and the somewhat dismal public perception. Because I mostly attribute the discrepancy to the Dem’s ineffective messaging, I write to propose that a few highly accessible, straightforward points be repeatedly amplified.
To start, it must be stressed, that contrary to Trump, who declared the White House was not a shipping clerk, the Biden Administration, in its first days, set out to make the COVID vaccine free of charge and available to everyone, thus essentially saving our lives and, in short measure, saving our jobs. As stated in today’s LFAA, the Administration, to date, has created 8.3 million jobs and produced historically low unemployment (3.6%).
Additionally, the Administration owes the public a repeated, streamlined explanation of the remedies currently underway to rectify high inflation and gas prices, the two factors currently undercutting the recent wage increases. The public, also, especially, needs to hear how Democratic leadership is trying to save democracy from a Republican Party that no longer believes in democracy. So not to appear political, the Dems justifiably expect DOJ to start issuing indictments to the perpetrators, to the members of Congress, for example, whom we know through text messages are complicit in planning January 6th.
As the fairly large swath of people, who pay attention, likely knows, Republicans virtually have no ideas aside from those arising from greed and self serving impulses. Perhaps that’s why the one thing they loathe more than “liberals” is the truth and also why the surest way to dispel their deceptive rhetoric is to tell the truth.
" Over the past 12 months, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, which is a method of measuring how much it costs for an ordinary consumer to buy goods and services, has risen 6.6%. If you take fuel and food out of that index, it’s still 5.2%, and the Fed likes inflation to be no more than 2%."
Would someone mind explaining why we should take out THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS ON THE LIST - fuel (for transportation and for keeping houses warm since summer has yet to kick in) and food? What cost me $35 at the local Trader Joe's in January costs me $48 last Tuesday (I have a receipt from January and the most recent one to prove that). I don't worry about all the other "goods and services" out there BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THEM. Forget buying a new car, has anyone here looked at the price of USED CAR recently?
And that stupid price index, another invention of government liars, is about as useful as the Consumer Price Index that is used to give raises to Social Security payments - which went up a whole 2.5% because the "chained CPI" said that was how much inflation there was for seniors. HEY, YOU DUMBASSED FUCKWITS - BULL-FUCKING SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Biden Administration can come up with all the bullshit they want to come up with to convince us that black is white, day is night, up is down and left is right, but in the end, people are going to look at the receipts and see that their food bills went up 35% (an I'm not buying steak and lobster, believe me!).
The more they lie and prevaricate and play with statistics (like Twain said, statistics don't lie, but liars use statistics), the more pissed-off people are going to be. Being politically-aware and experienced, and the holder of advanced degrees in the social sciences, I know it isn't the administration that did this. But if someone who is educated and knowledgeable can be pissed off at them for prevaricating, what the hell do they think the people who don't understand all this are thinking????
Their use of statistical bullshit is going to result in them being wiped the fuck out come November. And then we're all going to be screwed, because the alternative really is unthinkable - which won't prevent it happening.
If any one needs a reason to fear a return to power, Esper's story emphasizes the incredible danger of re-installing an unhinged Trump to office, lobbing missiles at neighbors or "why not use some tactical nukes" certainly cements the conclusion that he would be a disaster. On another note, Pres. Biden's comment that the media is not interested in the spectacular success of the Biden administration in reducing the deficit shows the "anti-Biden" side of the "neutral" media.
Read about Mexico. Read about deficit reduction. Read about bills created to help middle class Americans. Read about the GOP justices lying under oath to gain admittance to the highest court. Then ponder why McConnell, McCarthy, the Kochs, and Peter Thiel all hate Biden, the programs he's pushing, and the great results of our economy. Then ponder why so many people still vote against their own best interests.
We need votes for democracy. Don't sit wringing your hands & mind. Get out the vote in your own community and state. Help others with your example. Give young people your support. Work with your local League of Women Voters. Ukraine is our best example. They are losing everything but their will to fight, and their do or die attitude
“[The Bipartisan Innovation Act] would bring home production that the U.S. has ceded to China…”
The US “ceded” nothing. Those manufacturing jobs were brought to China on a platter by the people who own the politicians who preach that tax cuts and de-regulation pay for themselves and create domestic jobs. These are the same people who are now price-gouging us all, creating record profits, and blaming Biden and the Democrats for the resulting inflation.
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! To add to today's Letter, let us welcome incoming press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, to the podium. She will be replacing Jen Psaki in a few days. I have been reading about her impressive "credentials." She capped it for me with this story about how she intervened on behalf of then candidate for president Kamala Harris in 2019. Her quick action demonstrated her ability to both think on her feet, and then talk about it afterward. I am confident she will do well in the coming days as the new presidential press secretary.
https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/-i-cannot-let-this-happen-karine-jean-pierre-on-blocking-sen-harris-61230661805
Thank you Heather.
I appreciate that you bring forward not just the "popular" story of the day, but all the plates that are spinning.
I watched the story regarding President Biden touring the Lockhead plant that produces/assembles missiles that the US has supplied to Ukraine.
What struck me was how genuinely appreciative Biden was to the employees.
It was refreshing to see and I'm reminded daily I never want to go back to the "me, me, me" mentality again.
Be safe. Be well.
I saw Biden’s speech today, in Ohio. He hit hard about explaining what and why inflation exists. It was necessary to do that because he had to combat the Pro-Rape party’s attacks. He explained exactly what the Professor said about how great the economy is in spite of all the negativity from the opponents and the war in Ukraine. What other president can boast these accomplishments in the short amount of time?
The talking heads want to quickly erect all manner of conspiracy theories regarding the leaked draft of a ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade. The ingenuity of these theories leads one to wonder why their creators aren't running for office themselves; after all, truth is no longer a political currency; probably never was, in fact. What's new today is just how unhinged and outrageous the degree of deceit has become. Perhaps the leak has some impact on May primary races? Beyond that, I'm not sure how disclosure in May versus July makes all that much difference in the long run. Aside from the various aides and clerks to 9 justices, I can easily imagine some night-shift custodial staff coming across a discarded copy of the draft document in the outgoing trash and imagining the potential for a paid vacation to Hawaii courtesy of someone in the press for the price of sending one less item through the shredder. I seriously doubt that Hizzoner Alito does all of his own typing, editing and printing (isn't the document over 60 pages?) for distribution to his peers. I wonder if he failed to use the "top secret" stamp and bright red ink for marking these drafts? With the rapidly rising heat on an increasing number of individuals over the Feb 6 committee findings and upcoming public hearings, I can image the potential value of shifting focus onto such a potent perennial hot button issue as pro-life vs. pro-choice. Sadly for the Republicans, the distraction at their immediate disposal is one for which they are equally in the minority as public opinion about an attempted coup. I can appreciate the difficulty they are having getting the appropriate spin on the issue, having to soft pedal the substance and attempt to divert attention to the occurrence and source of the leak. The public, outside of the Fox echo chamber, isn't buying that distraction however.
This political season has been endowed with so many noteworthy themes; 2/6/21 and the committee disclosures, imperial behavior of southern Governors, the undiminished egomaniacal presence of TFG, obvious parallels between our recent executive and the behavior of Putin, the very obvious freedom fight in Ukraine, COVID mass disinformation campaign, and now the re-emergence of RoeVWade. How could these opportunities to make political hay while the sun shines possibly be squandered between now and November? Voting blocks that can distinguish the right and wrong sides of any or all of these ought to be sufficient to annihilate traditional mid-term election trends. Give this administration a REAL majority in Congress and see what happens in the final half of the term...
Would Elaine Chao (McConnell’s wife) have possible influence on shipping costs and manipulation of inflationary costs/industry profits? That and Arab refusal to increase production sound ominously political in nature and deliberately unseat current administration.
Everyday one of the first things I do is to read the HCR letter from an American. It usually gives me some hope. But, we are under attack of losing so many things right now. The debacle of the SCOTUS situation is absolutely terrifying or should be for all women and marginalized people. The Biden administration is doing everything it can to build up America while scoundrels and crooks seem to rule! Why people still vote for these people is beyond me. I totally agree with another comment today. We dare not sit back wringing our hands while these criminals and their cronies take our democracy away from us. We have to be involved to stop the madness, no matter how depressed and discouraged we feel today.
If we could improve employment prospects in the so-called Rust Belt, chances are the anti-government militias would decline in power, and the popularity of Christian fundamentalism, which cedes personal automony to an authoritarian church organization, might decline as people are more self actuated. Both of which would be good for democracy.
...or the trivial fact that "some Patriot Missiles" are air defense missiles (I mean, they've only been prominently shown on the news since 1991 shooting down other missiles), and not surface-to-surface missiles, or that several nations could easily obtain and release intelligence proving it was us who did it. What a stable genius...
Week after week, I am struck by a growing disparity between LFAA’s justifiably favorable assessment of the Biden Administration’s performance on several fronts and the somewhat dismal public perception. Because I mostly attribute the discrepancy to the Dem’s ineffective messaging, I write to propose that a few highly accessible, straightforward points be repeatedly amplified.
To start, it must be stressed, that contrary to Trump, who declared the White House was not a shipping clerk, the Biden Administration, in its first days, set out to make the COVID vaccine free of charge and available to everyone, thus essentially saving our lives and, in short measure, saving our jobs. As stated in today’s LFAA, the Administration, to date, has created 8.3 million jobs and produced historically low unemployment (3.6%).
Additionally, the Administration owes the public a repeated, streamlined explanation of the remedies currently underway to rectify high inflation and gas prices, the two factors currently undercutting the recent wage increases. The public, also, especially, needs to hear how Democratic leadership is trying to save democracy from a Republican Party that no longer believes in democracy. So not to appear political, the Dems justifiably expect DOJ to start issuing indictments to the perpetrators, to the members of Congress, for example, whom we know through text messages are complicit in planning January 6th.
As the fairly large swath of people, who pay attention, likely knows, Republicans virtually have no ideas aside from those arising from greed and self serving impulses. Perhaps that’s why the one thing they loathe more than “liberals” is the truth and also why the surest way to dispel their deceptive rhetoric is to tell the truth.
" Over the past 12 months, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, which is a method of measuring how much it costs for an ordinary consumer to buy goods and services, has risen 6.6%. If you take fuel and food out of that index, it’s still 5.2%, and the Fed likes inflation to be no more than 2%."
Would someone mind explaining why we should take out THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS ON THE LIST - fuel (for transportation and for keeping houses warm since summer has yet to kick in) and food? What cost me $35 at the local Trader Joe's in January costs me $48 last Tuesday (I have a receipt from January and the most recent one to prove that). I don't worry about all the other "goods and services" out there BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THEM. Forget buying a new car, has anyone here looked at the price of USED CAR recently?
And that stupid price index, another invention of government liars, is about as useful as the Consumer Price Index that is used to give raises to Social Security payments - which went up a whole 2.5% because the "chained CPI" said that was how much inflation there was for seniors. HEY, YOU DUMBASSED FUCKWITS - BULL-FUCKING SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Biden Administration can come up with all the bullshit they want to come up with to convince us that black is white, day is night, up is down and left is right, but in the end, people are going to look at the receipts and see that their food bills went up 35% (an I'm not buying steak and lobster, believe me!).
The more they lie and prevaricate and play with statistics (like Twain said, statistics don't lie, but liars use statistics), the more pissed-off people are going to be. Being politically-aware and experienced, and the holder of advanced degrees in the social sciences, I know it isn't the administration that did this. But if someone who is educated and knowledgeable can be pissed off at them for prevaricating, what the hell do they think the people who don't understand all this are thinking????
Their use of statistical bullshit is going to result in them being wiped the fuck out come November. And then we're all going to be screwed, because the alternative really is unthinkable - which won't prevent it happening.
If any one needs a reason to fear a return to power, Esper's story emphasizes the incredible danger of re-installing an unhinged Trump to office, lobbing missiles at neighbors or "why not use some tactical nukes" certainly cements the conclusion that he would be a disaster. On another note, Pres. Biden's comment that the media is not interested in the spectacular success of the Biden administration in reducing the deficit shows the "anti-Biden" side of the "neutral" media.
Please, Fox News, read HCR’s letter and set your people free!
Read about Mexico. Read about deficit reduction. Read about bills created to help middle class Americans. Read about the GOP justices lying under oath to gain admittance to the highest court. Then ponder why McConnell, McCarthy, the Kochs, and Peter Thiel all hate Biden, the programs he's pushing, and the great results of our economy. Then ponder why so many people still vote against their own best interests.
Cajoling Saudi Arabia into producing more oil isn't exactly reducing our fossil fuel dependency. Just sayin'...