Everyone knows Trump hated the idea of imposing more sanctions on Russia for meddling in the 2016 election. Besides, Trump, after meeting with Putin several times during the recent Asian grand tour, had been assured by the Russian dictator that Russia never meddled in the election! How can the greatest dealmaker in history continue to seemingly get conned at every turn by Putin?
Senator McConnell said. “My preference on tax reform is that it be revenue neutral.” The old deficit hawk expressed his distaste for any further swelling of the national debt. “What I hope we will clearly avoid, and I’m confident we will, is a trillion-dollar stimulus,” It was clearly obvious to almost anyone that there was no need for a trillion dollar stimulus. Under the Obama administration the economy was on the rebound, the American auto industry had been pulled back from the brink of bankruptcy, the Dodd-Frank banking act had added tough new regulations that insured the shenanigans of the Wall Street banks would not plunge the country into monetary crisis again. The day before the election in 2016 the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 18,259. The unemployment rate was at 4.6% when President Obama left office, down from a high-water mark of 9.7 in? 2010. Despite McConnell’s sentiments on deficit spending, that is what the Senate Republicans did last night, a $1 trillion unfunded “stimulus” package.
This is not tax reform. It is not a jobs plan. It certainly isn’t a “middle-class miracle”. It is a purely political gambit by Trump and the Republicans to reward their donor base at the expense of everyday, ordinary people. Haven’t we had enough of this? Send a message in 2018. If this bill passes, which is likely, take the names of those who voted for it and let them know you are coming to cast your vote against them. Join the Resistance today!
The lessons of the 2017 elections reminded us of something the Party learned over 40 years ago. To rephrase a 1992 Clinton campaign adage “Its the grass-roots stupid”. Democrats win elections when they focus their efforts on grass-roots organization.
If you or someone you know has ever considered running for office, this is the year. You don’t need the approval of the county party. While many of these folks have labored in the trenches for years and are decent people, continuing to field the same old candidates with the same old message will result in the same old results. Nothing will change. We need new people of all races, ethnicities, ages, progressive causes and lifestyle preferences who will bring fresh ideas on public policy and governance. People who have the energy, commitment and passion to communicate them to our constituencies.
And it is high time the Republican Congress dealt with the source of this terrorism and stand up for the American people and against the National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre, million dollar a year shill for the gun and ammunition manufacturers. Congress needs to reinstate the assault weapons ban, reinstate their recent revocation of the mental illness regulation, ban bump stocks, enact universal background checks and do something right for a change, instead of filing their reelection campaigns with the blood money offered by the gun lobby for their complicity.
On Tuesday of this week, the Republican Majority in the United States Senate proved once again that they are the best money can buy. In a 50-50 tie vote, Vice President Pence cast the deciding vote to repeal the rule initiated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that allows private citizens to avoid arbitration and have their day in court.
