Rifkin and Smart Europe

Continuing this post, I found Smart Europe, the plan Rifkin is working to implement with the EU. In the 'partnership' menu it seems it is as he noted in his new book that he's working with government agencies, universities, an investment company owned by Sweden, a science park, a non-profit investment foundation in Finland, etc. In the 'publications' menu there is a host of peer-reviewed reports on its progress. I haven't had time to read all of that but just thought I'd provide the resource to see how Rifkin's collaborative worked is being implemented in the EU in real time.

Giuliani gets subpoena for Ukraine documents

Dump's lawyer spouted off over the weekend about all his Admin support backed by documents, so today the House issued him a subpoena to provide those documents. I can't wait to see what the House does when the vampire lawyer ignores the subpoena.

A better MAGA hat

I can get behind this one.

Pox Views threatens Shep Smith

Smith is part of the news division at Pox and one of the few that actually reports on the news, while at the same time challenging the opinion division when they distort the facts or flat out lie. Smith has been doing this repeatedly lately, calling out Sucker Carlson, who defends Dump at all costs, such costs being flat out lying about facts. So a Pox insider reveals that Pox has told Smith to lay off of Carlson or he's off the air. They deny it of course, but it sounds credible since their agenda is in fact to appease Dump to get his fan base.

Greta asked why grown-ups mock her

But it's just the sick so-called grown-ups who are far more childish than the Gretas of the world. Greta sees the mockery as a sign that those in power are being threatened by revealing the science so she takes it as a compliment that she and those like her are doing an effective job.

SNL: Ain't nothin' gonna happen

This skit highlights how Dump has committed so many outrageous acts where beltway insiders keep saying that it's the big one that will sink Dump. And it never happens. Will the whistle blower be the one that does it? We're right to be skeptical.

SNL: Impeachment

Baldwin is doing his Dump impression again with several cast members impersonating some of the key players.

One solution to AI taking our jobs

Just one of several, but an interesting one nevertheless.

Borowitz nails it again

His comment to the following pic: "Man Blowing Whistle Attacked By Men Blowing Trump."

Li'l Don's endless excuses

Even when he's caught with his hands in the cookie jar, just like now with Ukraine.

Who needs Giuliani's help?

And Dump is so stupid that he actually thinks Giuliani is helping.

Botox: Before and after

Good sales pitch.

Whistleblower to testify before Congress?

Schiff said he expects the whistleblower to testify before his committee very soon, but it must first clear the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). But they just interviewed the DNI who instead of releasing the complaint to the committee went first to the Blight House for permission. It appears that the DNI is yet another Dump lackey who will more likely obstruct the whistleblower testimony than approve it.

Orange is the new Dick

Good play on Nixon and being a general dick.

Wall Street Dems might leave the Party

See this article. Yes, let the corporate fat cats leave the Party and go join the Repugs where they belong. We don't need your stinking blood money. That includes Biden, the Clintons and the heads of the DNC etc. There are a LOT more of us regular folk that can out vote them and their greedy agenda to screw the rest of us.

"'Several high-dollar Democratic donors and fundraisers in the business community,' who vow to sit out the general election, or even back Donald Trump, if Elizabeth Warren wins the nomination. [...] This is fantastic news. Anything that accelerates the split in the decades-long marriage between the alleged party of the people and Big Money should be celebrated. The transformation in policy that would ensue if Wall Street Democrats walk away from the party, freeing it from self-censorship and bad ideas, far outstrips whatever money they might raise for Democratic candidates."

Repugnantans admit their lying, cheating, stealing ways

In this expose. Repugnantans know they cannot win based on their complete and total subservience to the very corporate forces destroying democracy, so they lie, cheat and steal their way into power. And in this expose they admit it! We need to make their unwitting dupes aware of this time and again, how Repugs are indeed the very swamp they claim to detest. Repug brainwashing techniques are pervasive and we need to expose those as well so people understand how they are being manipulated.

I know, it's a difficult road, much like an abused spouse that knows in her heart the truth but tries repeatedly to find excuses to deny that truth. But one day there is that last straw and they get out of that abusive relationship. It is our job to keep building and pushing that last straw so that the abused finally stands up to their abuser and walks away.

"In a trove of never before published memos and emails, however, GOP leaders come clean: Their nationwide advantage in state legislatures and Congress is built on gerrymandering. And top Republican strategists and political operatives admit to weaponizing racial data and the Voting Rights Act in order to flip the South red and tilt electoral maps in their direction."

Biden ripping off wealth tax idea

Funny how he only thought to do this after Warren starting leading him in the polls. Emma discusses both Warren's and Bernie's wealth tax proposals, and both have the bona fides to prove they're authentic. Biden's record however proves the only reason he's now stealing the idea is to appear more progressive than he is because he's going to lose otherwise.

What other Dump calls were covered up?

TYT notes a CNN report that said calls from Russia and Saudi Arabia were also illegally stashed in the secret security server, showing intent to cover up crimes. I can't wait until someone leaks these secret calls to the press and ends this farce of a Presiduncy.

Pelosi gives Dump a taste of his own bad medicine

What goes around...

Schiff lays out the Ukraine treason

In clear, succinct narrative. Well worth the listen. The Presidunce's actions are treason, and those who exposed it are national heroes.

Management should stay in its own lane

Come to think of it, management shouldn't even be a lane, since they don't really do anything useful.

The Greta Thunberg Helpline

For those who go into fits over Greta's crusade to save the world.

Reich: Repug plan to keep rigging

Repugs have all along suppressed the opponent voters by various means detailed in the video below. Another rig is gerrymandering districts so that even when they lose a majority vote in their State they still win more districts because they picked their voters. The Supreme Corp has even said that partisan gerrymandering is fine. And with the 2020 census coming up, they want to rig that too, scaring their opponents from participating.

Repugs know if we have full, fair voting counts they'd lose so they lie, cheat and steal their way to power. We must keep making the public aware of this to the point when they start changing their votes. In that light please share this video widely.

TYT: 35 Repug Senators support impeachment

But only if they could have an anonymous vote. And of course that can't happen. But Cenk thinks if the right circumstances should arise it could force them to actually vote their true feelings. Will this latest act of Dump treason, when it's details are released, force them into action?

Colbert on Dump's defenders

He helps us laugh at these buffoons who will not just be remembered as enabling treason but will be voted out on their asses in the next election. Colbert's Roy Baty impression from Blade Runner is especially funny (starting at 0:55 in the link).

Sanders with Colbert last night

Part 1 is below discussing impeachment. Part 2 is here on his climate proposal. If we want deep structural change in our rigged system then Bernie is our candidate.

10,000 farmers and ranchers support Green New Deal

Given that agricultural practices contribute to the climate crisis, this group of farmers and ranchers support the Green New Deal, as it will address how they can help alleviate some of that crisis. Plus I guess they are getting tired of the raw deal Dump has been giving them, so they want solutions that keep them in work.

"Agricultural and land use practices have been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as major contributors to climate change. And climate-friendly strategies like sequestering carbon in the soil and expanding the use of regenerative farming practices require buy-in from farming communities."

NRA a Russian foreign asset

According to this Senate Report. And still the Repugs defend it, probably because they will be implicated in this treason too. Hereafter the NRA is known as the National Russia Association.


"The National Rifle Association acted as a 'foreign asset' for Russia in the period leading up to the 2016 election. [...] The Senate Finance Committee's Democratic staff found that the NRA underwrote political access for Russian nationals Maria Butina and Alexander Torshin more than previously known — even though the two had declared their ties to the Kremlin."

"Wyden's 77-page report centers on Butina — a convicted Russian agent now in federal prison — and Torshin, a former Russian government official who has been sanctioned by the United States. The report indicates that top NRA officials were aware of Butina's and Torshin's links with the Kremlin even as they sought to work more closely together under the banner of gun rights."

"NRA officials paid for and facilitated Torshin and Butina's introduction into American political organizations. Butina and Torshin received access to Republican Party officials at NRA events."

Mafia Don threatens witnesses

Dump has done it before and he's doing it again. The whistle blower complaint notes that there are several people with first-hand knowledge of the events in that complaint. In this interview Schiff said he hopes they come forward to testify. But he also worries that Dump just said that these witnesses are traitors, and in the old days the penalty for such behavior was execution. Schiff sees it as a direct threat against witnesses, yet another crime on top of the others.

Ukraine treason in a nutshell

Fallon plays Dump at the UN

In case you need more levity to counter the treasonous news.

Celebrities read mean Tweets #12

The latest in Kimmel's popular segment.

Colbert on the quid pro joe

Fortunately Colbert adds some levity to this treasonous act.

Blight House releases whistleblower complaint

You can view it here. The Blight House redacted portions of the classified section. An except from the unclassified letter follows. Watching some of the DNI's Senate testimony this morning, it never ceases to amaze me how Repugnantans are still trying to spin away treason.

"In the course of my official duties, I have received information from multiple U.S. government officials that the President of the United States is using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election."

Dump caught lying about Ukraine aid

Dump claims the military aid was withheld due to concerns over corruption. But this Pentagon letter dated May 2019 noted that said corruption was addressed to the degree that the aid should be released. Dump withheld that aid until September after his July phone call with Ukraine asking for dirt on Biden.

Good confession joke

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl."

The priest asks, "Is that you, little Joey Pagano?"

"Yes, Father, it is."

"And who was the girl you were with?"

"I can't tell you, Father. I don't want to ruin her reputation."

"Well, Joey, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later so you may as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?"

"I cannot say."

"Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?"

"I'll never tell."

"Was it Nina Capelli?"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot name her."

"Was it Cathy Piriano?"

"My lips are sealed."

"Was it Rosa DiAngelo, then?"

"Please, Father! I cannot tell you."

The priest sighs in frustration. "You're very tight lipped, and I admire that. But you've sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar boy now for 4 months. Now you go and behave yourself."

Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and whispers, "What'd you get?"

"Four months vacation and five good leads..."

Blight House accidentaly sends Democrats talking points

On the Ukraine affair. "The talking points urge allies to reiterate that Trump made no promises to Zelensky and that he didn’t bring up his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, until his Ukrainian counterpart brought him up." It also reports that the released summary of the phone call is not a verbatim transcript, so we need to find out what was left out.

Warren leads Biden in new national poll

She gets 27% of the Dem and Dem-leaning independent vote to Biden's 25% in the new Quinnipiac poll. Even though it's within the margin of error it shows how the previous gap between the two has dramatically closed. The most important takeaway is that people are waking up to Biden's inadequacy for the job, and that a progressive is necessary to get the changes we want. Even though I want Bernie I'd be happy to get Warren over Biden any day.

Collaboration and empathy are evolutionary success stories

This piece describes the paradigm shift in evolutionary biology and psychology (confirmed here), heretofore unconsciously biased by the reigning narrative paradigm. Previously those disciplines were all about the individual's motivations for survival of his own bloodline. Now, given the shift to a new paradigm, they are finally realizing it was about cooperation and empathy after all.
 

Summary of Dump's Ukraine call

As provided here. It is not the actual, full transcript. Dump not only asked for a Biden investigation but told Ukraine that Giuliani and the US Attorney General would follow up. And he asked Ukraine to help knowing intelligence was listening in. Either he is that stupid or feels he is so above the law that it wouldn't matter.

"Mr. Trump asked Zelensky to 'do us a favor' and 'find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine.'"

Pox's legal advisor admits Ukraine call illegal

With TYT discussion afterward. Granted they posted this before Pelosi confirmed an impeachment inquiry.

Colbert acquires Dump's phone call with Ukraine

Barely satire.

The commons, P2P and their relationship

A good summary with this graphic. See the link for more depth.

Facebook removes Ukraine troll page for Dump

And Dumpsters of course were clueless of the manipulation.

"A Facebook page that backed President Donald Trump and touted American patriotism has been taken down after it was revealed that it was produced by a team based mostly in Ukraine. The "I Love America" page had more than 1.1 million followers and made constant references to "our country" and "our military" and cross-posted content from jingoistic pro-Trump pages such as "God Bless Donald and Melania Trump and God Bless America".

Pelosi finally declares an impeachment inquiry

Dump trading dirt on Biden for arms to Ukraine was the last straw, finally.

AOC on capitalism and socialism

Reich commented: "America in a nutshell: Socialism for the rich, harsh capitalism for everyone else."

Repugnantan agenda

Accurate, succinct summary. It forgot a few things, like collude with Russians, allow mass gun killings and put kids in cages. But it's a start.

Dump gives Mexicans $7 billion Jungle Gym

See, and you thought he hated Mexicans.

Vigeland: Warren is her second choice

Her discussion with Michael Brooks. Bernie is her number one. She reiterates many of things I've discussed in previous posts, that Bernie wants deep structural change and Warren wants to reform the system. But like me Warren is her 2nd choice because her reforms are far better than the other candidates, and certainly light years ahead of Dump or the Repugs.

Public education, then and now

History is repeating itself yet again. Democracy is premised on an educated and informed citizenry. Dump's and DeVos' attacks on public education are a direct attack on democracy, which they despise. We see the results in the rest of America's crumbling building. We fought back the oligarchs and fascists in our midst before and we'll do it again, with a good public education as the foundation.

Response to Vigeland on Warren

Good one Emma and I agree. But we also have to admit that Warren's "not broad enough" does have something to do with her just trying to reform a broken system rather than a much broader challenge via revolutionary transformation. And for me the latter is necessary given the climate, labor, inequality and other crises. Which is far different than the legitimate arguments against Hillary, as Warren genuinely goes much farther into much better reform.

I'll say it again: I'm all in for Warren if she gets the nomination. In the meantime I'm all in for the necessary, revolutionary transformation Sanders brings. If she does get the nomination I'm fairly sure she's sign the progressive policies that will land on her desk.

Why is Dump going to war with Iran over Saudi Arabia?

What is his only motivation in life?

Can you trust Biden?

Biden is pulling Repugnantan tricks, like lying about Medicare For All. If you want a manipulative centrist who caters to the same oligarchs to replace Dump then choose Biden. If you want an authentic progressive as President to actually help we the people flourish, then choose Sanders.

"A new poll by a firm linked to Joe Biden is testing messages designed to undercut support among Democrats for Medicare for All, one of the most contentious issues splitting the party’s top presidential contenders."

Nation perplexed by 16-year old that doesn't want the world to end

Adults just can't figure out why this young lady is more mature than they are. From The Onion:

NEW YORK—Following her U.N. address about the existential threat posed by a rapidly warming planet, citizens across the United States confirmed Monday 
they were perplexed by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old who apparently has no desire to see the world end. “I know she’s from another country, but she’s still a teenager, right?” said 33-year-old Sophia Williams of Kenosha, WI, her confusion reportedly shared by millions of Americans who recalled that during their own adolescence they had hated the world and everyone in it and had felt the end couldn’t come fast enough. “I don’t understand why a high school kid like her isn’t locking herself in her bedroom and writing bad poetry about how nothing matters and everything is meaningless. Instead of going around the world and giving speeches in which she urges people to save the planet, shouldn’t she be commiserating with her friends about how pointless life is and how we’d all be better off dead? I just don’t get it.” At press time, an online survey found that a majority of Americans agree someone should make sure Thunberg’s parents are aware of her unusual behavior in case she needs to seek help.

Bernie: Put oil execs in jail

Continuing the last post, Bernie talks about prosecuting oil executives who knowingly destroyed the environment and contributed to the climate crisis. He's right that it is a crime against nature and humanity that should be subject to imprisonment. Now what other candidate is saying that? It it going too far? NO it is not; it is legitimate justice for horrendous crimes that are causing global suffering and needless death. Lock them up!

Greta at the UN: How dare you!

She expresses the righteous anger that anyone with any concern for our planet and the life therein feels. World leaders are destroying that life and we know it. So thank you Greta for speaking for all of us. Hopefully the message will get through their thick skulls.

Related to the last post, Bernie really is the only one talking with this level of emotion against the perpetrators of the crisis, as well as providing the revolutionary measures necessary to effectively address it. Nothing less will be enough and Greta, and the younger generation, know it only too well.

Ball: If Warren gets nomination she'll lose to Dump

Warren seems on track to get the nomination based on polls, which delights the upper class liberals who don't feel she's anywhere near the threat to their wealth that Bernie is. But the problem is that she's not that down home sort of populist but more of the intellectual, elite kind. And polls also show that's is exactly why Dump won; the aversion for elites.

Ball also notes that Bernie and Biden frame on emotion, the former on righteous anger, the latter on nostalgia, which attracts the working class. Dump does as well and it is effective, even though those emotions are hate and resentment. Hence Bernie is much more likely to bring some of Dump's voters back with his effective emotional appeals, Warren not so much with her elite professorial approach.

Warren on big, structural change

Inspiring speech today.

Melissa Villaseñor - Dreamin' You Up

Since she doesn't get much air time on SNL I had no idea how talented she is until I started watching her stand-up impressions. Now she's come out with this music video and I'm becoming a fan.

Shahid Buttar v. PeLOSEy

Let's vote in this progressive and vote out that corporate lackey.

Framing Medicare For All effectively

I saw Michael Moore's recent interview on Real Time where Maher thinks that Medicare For All (MFA) is too radical. He bases that on polls that show that people are less inclined to approve of it when the question is framed that they will lose their private insurance coverage. But according to this poll, when people are made aware that they will not lose their choice of doctor or hospitals the approval rate goes back up.

Hence it's more about how poll questions are framed. The first frame is likely designed by opponents of MFA to make it seem like a loss of freedom of choice. Whereas Sanders, in the 2nd debate when this discussion came up, indeed said you will still have freedom of choice of your doctors and hospitals. We progressives need to dig up other polls that frame it this way to prove MFA is supported by the majority, as well as continuing to repeatedly frame MFA that way to keep support high.

 

 

Repugnantan Party, then and now

Same shit, different day.

Chuck Todd still spinning a safe center

Update: This poll shows that the main concern with the framing of losing private insurance was losing access to one's doctor and hospital. But when framed that you could keep your doctor and hospital, support for MFA went back up to a majority. Hence proper framing is the key, and this is exactly how Sanders framed it in the last debate.

Willies' astute analysis of Todd's loaded questions to make it appear we the people want some sort of wishy washy center that doesn't exist. Todd first admitted that a majority of both Democratic primary voters and registered voters favor progressive policies. The prevarication in question is when Todd refers to a poll that frames Medicare For All as taking away your private insurance, a standard Repug spin tactic that doesn't address that it is replaced with far better coverage at far lower cost. Todd uses that loaded poll to show we the people really don't want to go that far progressive when if fact polls repeated show a majority favor the policy. Todd is a centrist, corporate toadie trying to get people to vote against it.

Is States' rights wrong?

Mrs. Better Bowers, America's best satiric Christian, explains how Repugnantans are confused over the issue.

Don Beck appreciates Dump?

Ok, around 5:24 in this video Beck starts talking about Dump, how he was impressed by his "clarity and political skills [...] and the autocratic nature characteristic of the 7th code [yellow]." He goes on to say we should all be grateful for Trump's reshuffling of the system. Seriously?

Btw, Dawlabani also noted around 18:15 that Whole Foods and conscious capitalism are also in the yellow code? (Or were before Amazon took over.) Apparently because they used the Spiral Dynamics system? See my critique of both in my IR article where I argue it's just dressed up orange capitalism with maybe some green social democratic elements. 

At 28:00 Dawlabani thinks that Warren is a 7th level (yellow) thinker, and that we need many more like her to get government up to that value level. At 36.53 he said Lin (Elinor) Ostrom is the only 8th level (turquoise) economist, and she is a huge proponent of the collaborative commons.

AOC: Refusal to impeach a bigger scandal than Dump

I am so grateful that AOC is in the House and telling it like it is. The irony of not impeaching is that, contrary to PeLOSEy's claim, it will actually depress the young voters in the next election because they will just figure the Party is weak and corrupt so what's the point. That is, unless Sanders or Warren get the nomination, both of whom support impeachment, which might hopefully also inspire the young to kick PeLOSEy out. AOC said:

"At this point, the bigger national scandal isn’t the president’s lawbreaking behavior – it is the Democratic Party’s refusal to impeach him for it​. [...] It is one thing for a sitting president to break the law. It’s another to let him​. The integrity of our democracy isn’t threatened when a president breaks the law. It‘s threatened when we do nothing about it. The GOP’s silence & refusal to act shouldn’t be a surprise. Ours is.​"

The lying spin and the truth

Truthful responses when a Repugnantan starts spinning their twisted delusions.

Maher on Dump's mental illness and those who enable him

It is obvious to any sane person that Dump is insane. And it's true that a large part of Dump's base also lack sanity. But what of those Repugs that know their front man is gravely ill yet defend him anyway? Here's Maher's message to them.

Maher on the whistle blower complaint

He gives a succinct description of the complaint and the ensuing stages of  the typical political process ending with Dump and the Repugs telling the Dems to go f___ themselves and the Dems lamely saying "Oh well, we tried."

Straw man review of Klein's Green New Deal

Here's the review on the dangers of optimism. He claims that she engages in techno-optimism and avoids the problem of overconsumption. And yet he admits: "I want to emphasize key points Klein makes that I agree are essential to a left/progressive analysis of the ecological crises: First-World levels of consumption are unsustainable." "On Fire makes it clear that there are no magic wands to wave, no magic bullets to fire." "Klein does not advocate such [techno-optimism] fundamentalism." And yes, we do need tech to get it done.

I also do not see anywhere in GND advocates the notion that it's enough to solve all problems. It is indeed like the author suggests, that it's a start with a lot more to come. That the author lays that straw on advocates of the GND seems far more projection than fact.

After much huffing and puffing about the dangers of optimism the author then shows exactly how much Klein empathizes with the suffering caused by neoliberalism and its extractive destruction. I thought she was being too rosy and optimistic? Klein is doing anything but "avoiding the distressing realities of our time."

And then there's the critics who constantly decry her lack of addressing overpopulation, to which she recently replied via Tweet: 

TYT: The consequences of no Dem backbone

This statement is from a Young Turks email discussing their talk on Dump committing yet another crime and impeachable offense. He said of the Dems:

"The remaining questions now are whether we’ll find out what the “troubling promises” were and to whom they were made, as well as if Democrats are ever going to locate a backbone and start holding Trump officials in contempt. Otherwise, Cenk points out, they’re essentially saying that the Trump administration is above the law and can do whatever they want without having to fear consequences from the only branch of government that can hold them accountable. There’s the resistance for you!"