The Temptations - My Girl

Flashback Monday.

Happy Holidays from New Mexico

May you have peace and hominy.

AOC responds to Buttigieg on free college

From her Twitter:

This [Buttigieg's ad] is a GOP talking point used to dismantle public systems, and it’s sad to see a Dem candidate adopt it.

Let’s talk about why Republicans are wrong on this.

Just like rich kids can attend public school, they should be able to attend tuition-free public college.

Here’s why. 

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 29, 2019

1. Universal public systems are designed to benefit EVERYBODY! Everyone contributes & everyone enjoys. We don’t ban the rich from public schools, firefighters, or libraries bc they are public goods. 

2. Universal systems that benefit everyone are stronger bc everyone’s invested!

3. When you start carving people out adding asterisks to who can benefit from goods that should be available to all, cracks in the system develop. 

4. Many children of the elite want to go to private, Ivyesque schools anyway, which aren’t covered by tuition-free public college!

5. Lastly, and I can’t believe we have to remind people of this, but it’s GOOD to have classrooms (from pre-k through college!) to be socioeconomically integrated. Having students from different incomes and backgrounds in the same classroom is good for society and economic mobility.

Kerry, Schwartzenegger on bi-partisan climate action

They handled Todd's Repug talking points quite well in defending this bi-partisan effort to educate voters on the climate crisis. And how to address it while creating new renewable energy jobs to replace their old polluting jobs. Arnold emphasized later how important framing is in motivating people to care and take action.

Thomas Frank agrees

Interviewed by Hartmann on his book Listen Liberal. He talks about the Dem Party abandoning the working class to chase after the top 10%'s money.

AOC agrees

From this prior post where she said: "I want to be the party of the New Deal again. The party of the Civil Rights Act, the one that electrified this nation and fights for all people. For that, many would call us radical. We aren't 'pushing the party left,' we are bringing the party home."

The real civil war in the Dem Party

From this source:

"There seems to be unanimous consent that the Clintonites represent the 'Democratic Establishment.' While this may be true in the present moment and from a purely operational perspective, the Clinton Wing of the Party (which also includes Obama) by no means represents historically Democratic principles or indeed the 'traditional' Democratic Party positions, policies and philosophies. Rather today’s Democratic elites are 'moderate Republicans' who regularly praise Ronald Reagan as their philosophical model while they rarely even mention FDR. These Democratic revolutionaries have created a Party in which the likes of Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush and even Barry Goldwater might feel at home. It is the Sanders Wing, the ones the Media call the 'upstart activists,' who represent traditional, dyed-in-the-wool Democratic principles and values."

"It took a revolution within the Democratic Party to allow that to happen [undo FDR's New Deal policies]. That revolution was led by the Democratic Leadership Council and its Chair, Bill Clinton. Declaring that the era of big government was over, this radical cabal of right wing Democrats proceeded to hijack the Democratic Party and leverage its legislative strength and former reputation to actually enact all of Reagan’s wish list, from 'ending welfare as we know it' to signing NAFTA, to deregulating business and rolling back all the New Deal banking safeguards that were enacted after the Great Depression."

"The Sanders revolution is really a restoration."

Pox's Judges: Napolitano v. Pirro

Napolitano uses sound, reasoned, legal arguments, Pirro spits Pox propaganda talking points. And of course we know that Dump gets his policy advice from Pox propagandists over his on intelligence and national security staff. It's also pretty much what it also comes down to in the House impeachment and Senate trial. Reasoned legal facts in the House majority, lying Pox propaganda in the Senate.

Cornel West on Bernie and democratic socialism

Both are as American as apple pie. Dr. West is highly knowledgeable and articulate on the topic. I especially appreciate that it is now the progressives who emphasize morality since it has been abandoned by the Evangelicals and other fake Christians. He also makes the case that establishment Dems are still tied to centrist neoliberalism, and it's time we moved on from it to progressive populism (aka democratic socialism) if we want to beat Dump and create a better world for all. Amen brother West.

House Dems have passed nearly 400 Bills

They are doing their jobs. McConnell has blocked most all of their Bills. Dump is a liar when he claims otherwise. See the link for many more details.

"House Democrats have passed a wide range of bills since they came to power in January, ranging from a sweeping anti-corruption and pro-democracy reform known as H.R.1, to bills to save net neutrality, pass universal background checks for guns, and reenter the United States into the Paris climate accords. They have also put a large emphasis on health care, a defining issue of the 2018 election after Trump and Senate Republicans attempted to pass a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Democrats have focused on bills to lower prescription drug costs, protect preexisting conditions, and condemning the Trump administration’s legal battle to strike down the ACA in the courts. And although Medicare-for-all is driving the conversation in the 2020 presidential primary, it has not gotten a vote in the House."