Trump outflanks Democrats ON THE LEFT!
Trump was already slightly to the left of the Democratic establishment on issues of wars and trade, but now the parties have totally switched positions.
I truly don't know how to describe how maddening it is that Republicans and Trump officials are to the left of Congressional Dem leadership on this issue. Absolutely fucking maddening. pic.twitter.com/qz55vvyzih
— jordan (@JordanUhl) March 18, 2020
Progressives erupted with frustration and anger Wednesday over days of reporting that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would not consider cash payments for Americans without means-testing despite the ongoing coronavirus outbreak that has ground the U.S. economy almost to a standstill.President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans have taken the opportunity to outflank Pelosi and House Democrats on the payments, leading to anger from the left.
Where, oh where, are the big ideas from the Dems?
Oh, that was defeated with Bernie.
The failure of the Dems is on full display.
House Democrats passed a paid-sick-leave bill designed to cushion workers from the inevitable economic shocks that will result from consumers avoiding public places. In order to obtain Republican support, they included exemptions so large, they swallow the entire bill, leaving 80 percent of workers, mostly from big companies, without paid sick leave. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended the exemptions, saying she doesn’t “support U.S. taxpayer money subsidizing corporations to provide benefits to workers that they should already be providing.”This is a ludicrous response; Pelosi might as well call for the abolition of Social Security on the grounds that corporations should be providing more generous pensions. If the Democratic Party cannot argue—even in the midst of an international crisis—that the state should provide for people who will otherwise be abandoned, it might as well be the Republican Party. The challenges the coronavirus poses to American economic and health infrastructure will require more competent leadership than the sycophantic, corrupt cult of personality occupying the White House is able to provide, and bolder thinking than the current Democratic leadership is apparently capable of.
Democratic centrists read the internal politics of their party far better than the left did. But getting the politics right is not the same as getting the policy right, and the Democratic establishment ignores the forces that contributed to Sanders’s rise at its peril.
Comments
A tiny silver lining
another corporate dem goes down
@gjohnsit Bye bye, Dan!
Bye bye, Dan!
What's mind-boggling is that there is even a selfish reason
to support paid leave for all workers.
If it's not available, expect people to show up for work sick, in which case they will spread the virus, and literally kill people. People have to eat and pay their bills, virus or no virus, and if they don't get paid sick leave, they'll have to do something to put food on the table.
This is a recipe for disaster, but maybe disaster is what it will take to shake these privileged potentates out of their lethargy. Nancy is clueless, as usual.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
Evil--not clueless. /nt
As predicted.
I gotta admit, all the people who are predicting the coronavirus could finally bring down Trump might be really disappointed (again). Lots of us felt if the Dems insisted on Biden, Trump would flank him to the left. Well, looks like it’s starting. Honestly, IDGAF who does the right thing or why but the Dems are having every opportunity now to win back a lot of voters and, no shock, they’re blowing it.
Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you.
I wouldn't go that far
There is talk of a 20% unemployment rate. 20%!!
I can't see anyone getting re-elected with that.
OTOH, I can't see Biden getting elected, period.
The real story here is the GOP establishment vs. the Dem establishment.
One shows life, while the other doesn't.
Maybe Trump should explain
that because half of Congress is controlled by a mean, bad party that hates him, he just can't get any of the great policies he likes enacted.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
It's deliberate
I've said before here that there is no way democrats could be this bad unless they were trying to be. I think that they are letting Trump look good so he gets reelected. There is no way Biden will be allowed to debate Trump unless it's filmed and edited with Biden getting the questions before.
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
Makes sense.
They’re probably in cahoots to even have no election due to the pandemic. The next few months will be telling.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Non-medical Machiavelllian prediction
The Wu Flu will soon be discovered to be a lamb, not a lion. A strange cure, like the venerable pharmaceutical chloroquine will alluva sudden be discovered to be curative. What then, of the Overton window shifts, M4A, honesty in government (yeah, oxymoronic of me to suggest)?
Trust me. I'm a doctor.
What odds are you giving me
Me thinks I'm gonna make good money on this bet!
Ok ~ doc
I hope you’re correct and this will all be over in a week or 10 days. Eat up that food, folks! I’m sure my granddaughter will be getting her restaurant job back any day now ~ Ed, trust-me-I’m-a-doctor says so!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Why, as a medical doctor
Are you referring to this pandemic as "Wu-flu"?
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
No Patient Zero has been identified publicly
This would be key to understanding whether natural virus mutation or human hands brought us COVID-19.
It’s too soon to attribute the source of the pandemic, or to imply it with the tag Wu Flu. Remember, the 1918 pandemic was known as “Spanish Flu” but most likely originated in the US. The Chinese have implied that Americans brought the virus to Wuhan. The Trump administration has laid the blame on China. Both China and the US have been less than forthcoming about their respective Patients Zero.
“There’s something happening here,
What it is ain’t exactly clear.
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware.”
Buffalo Springfield
“ …and when we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine,and understand who God is, and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.- RFK jr. 8/26/2024
Until proven otherwise, it's the Wu Flu
When evidence is unearthed that the virus originated in Fort Detrick, Porton Down or Chernobyl (s/), then I will abandon this name. But I think it is kinda catchy, just like the disease for which it stands.
I'm going to let my wiser self take the reins here
And decline responding with my first reaction to the idea that a medical doctor using a childish euphemism for a pandemic that may kill millions of people does so because he suspects foul play.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
No - the "DLC" Democrats are that bad
They can only win when Republicans screw up really badly, but once in office don't know how to do anything other than what corporate Republicans do. So, voters sour on them and give another nincompoop Republican a chance to screw up again.
Often, even the people criticizing the DLC Democrats--
like the author of that last quotation in this essay--essentially defend the DLC Democrats, who are, actually, the DNC Democrats, since they control the whole party. The fact that Biden has "won" the nomination is the sole fact that author uses to demolish "the Left's" criticism of Obama and interpretation of the history from 2008-2016, and re-establish the old DLC/Third Way idea that "America is just center-right, y'know? America can't even stomach Obama's `moderate reforms.'"
Personally, I find it hard to see the stimulus package as a "reform," since it was announced even before the legislation was written that the stimulus would be a one-time thing (unlike bailouts of Wall St). How can one spending bill be a "reform?" Particularly when it's presented with loud cries of "We'll never, never do this again!"
I'm not sure what other "reforms" the guy is talking about, other than the ACA. Were there any others? The Lily Ledbetter Act, I guess. Women get longer to file sexual harassment suits. I guess that could be considered a reform, albeit a minor one.
As for the ACA, it's an insurance bailout made to look like a humane project by a few genuine reforms attached to it like a pretty tail tacked to a kite made of dog shit.
We just have to trend right, guys. If we go far enough to the right, the mainstream of the American population will make friends with us and we'll live in a Democratically-ruled future that is just good enough.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Joe won't be the nominee.
Well, I don't *think* he will. Maybe they want a puppet in cognitive decline. It worked for the Republicans in the 80s.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
You shoulda known he would
He did it in 2016 to get elected, he's doing it again in 2020 to get re-elected. It'll probably work - again.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Yep!
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
Timely essay for sure
We are on the cusp (!) of such a massive shift of the Overton window that major reconstruction of the house is necessary. Populist Republicans have stolen the thunder from Bernie's weakened prospects. They are doing what Dems used to pride themselves on supporting--help the people. Now Dems only help a small 1% group of people--fuck the rest of you ants and alligators.
Those two videos you posted are but one sign of the growing prospect of the ultimate Whiggification of the DemonRatic Partei. I think I will light aromatic candles and play them again and again.
P.S. Any bets on Biden vs. Trump? JoJo will veto M4A--but, holy moly, gj, your life don't matter--nor mine.
It'll be Trump
Even if ByeDone makes it as far as Election Day - which is highly doubtful - he'll have been shredded to mincemeat by Trump & Co.
If there's a switcheroo, s/he won't have time to gear up (and they all have skeletons in their closets, every one - even Bernie has a couple of very small ones).
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
It's all a big show
Trump was about to take medical care from the sick and food from the hungry just a few weeks ago.
That being said, at least the GOP can respond to a crisis, if only to save themselves.
The Dems are incapable of doing anything but screwing the Left.
It's beyond pathetic.
The original Populist Party was a Republican spinoff
Could history repeat, or at least rhyme? Stay tuned....
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Trump is appealing the decision
I mean why not kick desperate people off food stamps in the middle of an epidemic and economic downturn? Oh well he's going to send them some money. But only if you're made enough to pay taxes on it and those people only get $600. Others up to $99,000 get $1,200, but I don't know if it's just once or monthly.
Here's ole Joe Manchin talking about why it's a bad idea to give people money right now. Notice though that he doesn't mention all the corporations that have their hands out for $$$
[video:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5bnD7afBCgc&list=TLPQMTgwMzIwMjCrQp57Glydg...
Such a swell guy.
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
Scuse, signora dawg
But
El Trumpo is not adopting the payroll tax holiday ruse favored by most Republicrats. He is going Wang gang UBI. This is the correct short term approach. Talking about cutting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security now is political suicide, even for Trump. You will not see such a move before November. In fact, the Wu Flu is changing politics so drastically, that Darnold may make modified UBI part of his next campaign pitch--you know, bail us out when the tide rises too high for most American households.
''Tis true
He got talked out of doing it. For now anyway. The longer this last the more chances of it coming by again.
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
All Trump has to do is be sincere once
and hold to it for a year or two.
And the Democratic party will be ashes.
He probably won't. But it would be easy, easy.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I said (on JPR)
That I did not support a UBI because giving it to everybody (especially an inadequate amount) would do a great deal of harm and only the illusion of any good. This DOES NOT apply in this case. Everyone, regardless of income, needs help.
Pelosi is not taking a principled stand, she is intentionally sabotaging the Democratic Party. She is refusing to help and scapegoating the poor at the same time, then playing to those who say that the Democrats only care about the poor.
On to Biden since 1973
We are living in interesting times
Left, Right, they have lost their traditional meanings.
Democrats are playing with fire
They are turning their backs on desperate people and desperate people will do desperate things when they have no other options. Go ahead and leave millions without any way to support their families and see what happens. Things might get very ugly here soon. The response to it is going to be interesting to say the least.
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
Countries usually go fascist in these cases
But guess what happens to the political leaders of the former center-left party when that happens?
The fascists don't even bother with trials.
It's an I'll wind that blows no good
Maybe Chris Matthews was right about having a date with destiny in Central Park: he simply imagined the wrong triggermen.
lol!
This is funny and possibly truer than anyone can imagine. I have been reading lots of articles that suggest this same thing. Society is being rewritten and who knows how it's going to end? Joe posted a great article in the EBs tonight. I think it the first one by Ian Welsh that is worth a read. The comments are interesting too. People are waking up and have taken the red pill.
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
Yeah. Terrifying Bernie Sanders
and his awful Communist firing squads.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
The coming show trials for the DNC apparatchiks
should be held in courtrooms like Belmarsh Prison , UK's Gitmo. In my humble opinion, seeking favor from no one, I propose that such trials be held in courtrooms surrounded by moats. In these moats would dwell members of certain species. When the accused is rightlyfully condemned to death the execution should be followed forthwith by judicial immersion in aforementioned moat. Slurp.
With regards to the title of this essay.
It doesn't take much to be on the left of the corporate loving leadership of the democrats. Trump could easily manage to do it even though he would be lying through his teeth.
Pray that Almighty COVID will save us!
Zombie Joe was trying to hit Sanders from both the left and the right. That's pretty easy to do if you have no principles and plenty of mendacity: despite Qualyie Joe's talent in those areas he's a novice compared to the COVIDbait in the White House.
Democrats do what democrats do
Typical. Bernies dead, blue no matter who, Bidens the anointed one. What's next?
What else, run to the center! They ain't afraid a no socialist ghost.
Tulsi Gabbard went all in for Biden, too
Of course, she has always resembled a spinning hubcap in her policy positions. I cheered when Kamala Harris gave her the dressing down she deserved.
On the other hand, Biden is a survivable event. It won't be easy, but progressives can form a movement. After all, Biden does not have the Obama hero aura of "If you oppose him, you are obviously a racist!"
Trump, on the other hand, is not survivable. We will be lucky to make it to November, what with the Trump Plague ravaging the population.
What was Tulsi supposed to do?
Would endorsing Bernie give him a big bump in the last 7 days of his campaign.
Tulsi walked out of the DNC for Bernie 4 years ago. When Warren leaked, 4 days before a primary, that Bernie told her a woman couldn't be elected, Tulsi got out a statement immediately saying that he was very encouraging when she talked with him about running. When they started attacking Bernie for being a Russian asset, she wrote an editorial calling the argument despicable.
What's Bernie done for Tulsi? He defended Cory Booker when he was attacked for suggesting the DNC was racist for not changing existing rules to let him stay in the debates. He defended Liz "knife in the back" Warren several times. It's OK because they are safely part of the establishment. Tulsi asked him to speak out against a CHANGE in debate rules that excluded her. Crickets. He maintained the DNC/Clinton embargo on her existence.
Coronavirus is giving us Democratic Socialism
Found out tonight
one of my coworkers has coronavirus.
Woah
Stay safe and healthy, please!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Ultimately, we will see in
Ultimately, we will see in the next few weeks (or maybe months if it comes to that) if:
A) Cash payments are sent out and...
B) If those payments are one-time offers, two-time offers, temporary UBI during the crisis, or perhaps (though IMO unlikely) permanent UBI.
If you follow the order I laid out in B respectively, each condition IMO increases the likelihood of Trump being re-elected.
What do Democrats such as rich elites and liberals such as Pelosi say? No.. and her base eats it up.
It is frightening how her base will say she is again being masterful because she wants to means test any benefits. All means testing will do will ultimately slow down the process and slow down any aid that could be sent out.
"I will not part with a ssssingle coin!"
They're all deathly ill with dragon sickness, hoarding their money like old Smaug atop his pile of gold and jewels.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Well, except this:
It's a scam. The Senate Republican plan does not give payouts to poor people who did not file tax returns or did not owe any federal tax.
Oh, I'm sure the Democrats with dither and dicker, and we will get some Obama-esque compromise that throws a few more crumbs to lower income people, and Pelosi et al can claim a "great progressive victory," but no one is outflanking anyone on the left.
Pelosi is OPPOSING throwing the peasants a bone
Maybe that's all it is, a dried-up well-chewed bone - but it's more than we'd get from the IGMFY Dims.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Well that's Pelosi for you
I donated more than once to Shahid Buttar's primary challenge to her. I couldn't find any info on the results in 2020, however.
CA primaries (except presidential)
advance the top two to the November general election. Buttar came in second and therefore, will be Pelosi's November challenger.
Don't confuse . . .
Trump's plan with the senate Republicans' plan.