***OFFICIAL TRUMP CABINET THREAD***

[boutons_deux]

That swamp is SO DRAINED! :lol

The Koch Brothers Are Smiling: The White House Will Be Packed With Some of Their Most Loyal Servants

One-third of the Trump team has ties to the Koch brothers.

http://www.alternet.org/files/styles/story_image/public/story_images/kochs_3.jpg

From the time Trump picked his vice presidential running mate, Koch favorite Mike Pence, the brothers’ influence on Trump World has grown ever stronger.

From transition team staffers to his Cabinet, Trump has brought numerous Koch lieutenants and allies into his inner circle.

It’s very likely that Trump is eager to work with Charles and David Koch, who represent exactly what Trump values most—wealth and power—which is also reflected in his potential Cabinet of billionaire executives. And though the Kochs may object to Trump’s Islamophobia or other select viewpoints,

they stand to add to their combined $88 billion through Trump’s

planned environmental deregulation,

privatization,

corporate tax cuts and

other policies favoring the wealthy to be carried out by his Environmental Protection Agency pick, who recently sued that agency;

his secretary of state choice, the CEO of ExxonMobil;

his labor pick, a fast-food CEO who doesn’t believe in the minimum wage; and others.

The Koch Brothers’ Darling
The Kochs must have popped champagne when Trump announced that Mike Pence, the conservative governor of Indiana, would be his running mate. Pence is adored by the Kochs and their vast political donor network; Ken Vogel and Maggie Haberman described (http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/mike-pence-koch-brothers-2016-election-110408) him in Politico as “among the best … messengers for this new Koch brand


A Grim Future for the Environment
Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general who recently sued the Environmental Protection Agency over its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is, incredibly, Trump’s pick to head that very agency. Pruitt has called the climate change debate “far from settled (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-pruitt-epa-20161207-story.html).”

Rick Perry is also in a curious position: He’s nominated to lead the Department of Energy, a department that he said he wanted to eliminate during the 2012 presidential campaign (and couldn’t name in his famous “whoops” moment at a debate). Perry may not have been a Koch favorite for president, but Koch Industries has directly given $111,000 to his campaigns over the years, and David Koch has contributed $75,000.


Intelligence
A Koch favorite has been tapped to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. Mike Pompeo, a U.S. representative from the Kochs’ home state of Kansas, was involved with the brothers long before his days as a politician; his private aerospace company used seed money from Koch Venture Capital (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pompeo-draws-liberal-groups-ire/2011/03/10/ABogK33_story.html), and Pompeo was president of a company that worked with Koch Industries’ Brazilian distributor (https://thinkprogress.org/meet-mike-pompeo-the-congressional-candidate-spawned-by-the-kochtopus-2b5530a2e2ac#.47r1n7ai1).


Education
Betsy DeVos, a billionaire and recent chair of the pro-“school choice” and politically active American Federation for Children, is Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Education. Aside from donating $265,000 to sitting senators (https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/trumps-cabinet-picks-gave-big-to-the-senators-who-will-confirm-them) who will vote on her confirmation, her foundation has contributed millions (http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/11/13180/5-things-know-about-billionaire-betsy-devos-trump-choice-education) to Americans for Prosperity and to other conservative political groups backed by the Kochs.


Corrupt Counsel to Defend Corrupt President
Donald McGahn, a lawyer who has worked for Freedom Partners and its affiliated super PAC, will be chief White House counsel. As a member of the Federal Election Commission from 2009 to 2013, he was known for hobbling the enforcement of campaign finance laws in favor of letting big money flood politics and transforming the commission into the ineffective, gridlocked body that it is today

Trump’s transition team has even reached outside of the team itself for additional advice from people deeply embedded in the Koch political operation. One of the Department of Veterans Affairs' harshest critics, Florida GOP Rep. Jeff Miller, may become head of that department (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/us/donald-trump-veterans-affairs-leader.html?_r=0&mtrref=undefined). Trump is considering Miller for the job, and members of a closely Koch-linked “social welfare” nonprofit are advising his transition team on the matter;

the only person Trump spoke to on the record about a big anti-regulatory act that’s been on the Kochs’ agenda for years was Phil Kerpen, former vice president of policy for Americans for Prosperity.

Another Koch ally, Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Bill Shuster, is hoping to privatize air traffic control (http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/312756-gop-chairman-hopes-to-spin-off-air-traffic-control-under-trump) under a corporate president who, despite winning several states with the help of union voters, is no fan of unions (http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-unions-war-232382). ... . The congressman, who’s received $30,000 from the Koch Industries PAC since 2012, fought a federal wind energy tax credit (http://www.sierraclub.org/compass/2014/01/local-congressmen-pocket-cash-wind-powers-foes-while-jobs-blow-away-their-backyards), in line with the Kochs’ campaign targeting the program. In 2016, a Koch-funded outside political spending group, American Action Network, put $208,000 toward ads benefiting Shuster (http://www.publicopiniononline.com/story/news/local/2016/04/19/super-pac-ad-buy-boosts-us-rep-bill-shuster/83232890/).

Shuster’s 2016 campaign manager was Andy Post (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-post-65b53a5), who previously worked in media relations for the Charles Koch Institute and was grassroots coordinator for Americans for Prosperity during the 2012 election cycle.

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/koch-brothers-are-smiling-white-house-will-be-packed-some-their-most-loyal-servants

So, there you have it, govt by the Kock oligarchs. America will be Kocked up for decades, fucked and unfuckable.

=======================

The Koch/Stalin connection: Where their wealth started….

Interesting story behind how the Koch Brothers accumulated their wealth. It was from the helping hand of Josef Stalin.


“We are the world’s greatest market, and we are prepared to order a large amount of goods and pay for them,” – Josef Stalin, 1932


Fred Koch answered the call, and signed a $5 million deal in 1929 to build 15 refineries in the Soviet Socialistic Republic, thus providing a substantial wet kiss to the cause of worldwide socialism everywhere. Koch and his partner provided equipment and oversaw construction and installation, and quickly became Comrade Stalin’s number one go-to refinery contractor.

Koch’s Josef Stalin connection was the deal that got the Koch family fortune rolling downhill fast. Seemingly,

Fred Koch came to the conclusion that ethics were optional when it came to the chase for the almighty dollar,

and a few short years later, the Bush family apparently made a similar calculation when they signed a business compact with Adolph Hitler

http://investmentwatchblog.com/the-kochstalin-connection-where-their-wealth-started/

[boutons_deux]

GOP (Ala fucking bama) Rep. Says 'War On Whites' In Part To Blame For Sessions Criticism

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) said Tuesday that the close scrutiny of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general was in part due to a “war on whites.”

The Alabama congressman argued that the VRA treated certain areas "differently" by requiring federal pre-clearance of changes to voting laws in states where there had been a history of voter suppression, until that provision was gutted by the Supreme Court in 2013.

"That's only a tool that the Democrats are using," he said of VRA pre-clearance.

"It's really about political power and racial division and what I've referred to on occasion as the 'war on whites,’” he added.

“They are trying to motivate the African-American vote to vote-bloc for Democrats by using every

'Republican is a racist' tool that they can envision, even if they have to lie about it." :lol lie about it? :lol
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mo-brooks-war-on-whites-sessions-criticism?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tpm-news+%28TPMNews%29

:lol War on Whites is racist fabrication just like the KKK's racist "white working class"

[boutons_deux]

In Rocky Hearing, Rex Tillerson Tries to Separate From Trump

Mr. Tillerson also found himself on the defensive when it came to Exxon Mobil (http://www.nytimes.com/topic/company/exxon-mobil-corporation?inline=nyt-org)’s lobbying activities and his reluctance to declare that some dictators were violators of human rights.

On issue after issue — the dangers of letting Japan and South Korea obtain nuclear weapons (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/atomic_weapons/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier), his opposition to a ban on Muslim immigration, the need to push back hard against Mr. Putin’s efforts to expand Russian influence — Mr. Tillerson showed considerable independence from Mr. Trump, separating himself from many of the president-elect’s campaign pronouncements. While Mr. Trump described an America that would defend allies only if they paid their fair share, Mr. Tillerson repeatedly emphasized fulfilling alliance commitments.

Mr. Tillerson dodged a series of questions about whether Exxon Mobil, under his leadership, had lobbied against the sanctions imposed on Russia, which prevented the company from fulfilling huge contracts for oil exploration on Russian territory.

Mr. Tillerson said he did not view it as the imminent national security threat that some others did.

he said that much of the literature on the issue remained “inconclusive,” despite the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community about the role of humans.

He told the committee repeatedly that he would not act on human rights abuses, such as the summary executions underway in the Philippines, until he received corroboration, presumably from American intelligence agencies. That inflamed Mr. Rubio, who charged that Mr. Tillerson was ignoring easily verifiable news reports. It also angered Human Rights Watch, the nongovernmental organization that monitors such violations.

“Rex Tillerson’s reluctance to acknowledge human rights abuses by Russia, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines raises serious questions about whether he can effectively serve as secretary of state,”

Mr. Tillerson tried to weave a fairly conventional, hard-power view of American influence into a tapestry that clearly rejected some of Mr. Trump’s views.Mr. Tillerson said he could not say whether Exxon had lobbied against Russia sanctions after the annexation of Crimea, even though the company had submitted filings saying that it was lobbying on the topic. :lol

“Let’s be clear,” the company said on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. “We engage with lawmakers to discuss sanction impacts, not whether or not sanctions should be imposed.” :lol

Pressed on Mr. Trump’s calls for a national registry of Muslims, Mr. Tillerson said he “would need to have a lot more information around how such an approach would even be constructed.” WOW

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/us/rex-tillerson-confirmation-hearings.html

Tillerson is all about getting Repugs to kill sanctions on Russia so Exxon can close that $500B deal with Pootin, dropping sanctions is of course Pootin's prime objective in getting Trash elected.

[boutons_deux]

Is Rex Tillerson—Friend of Putin, Uninformed on the Issues—the Best We’ve Got?

he seemed poorly briefed on several key foreign policy issues and surprisingly shallow in his view of power.

And he failed to allay several senators’ doubts that, after 45 years at Exxon Mobil Corp., including 10 as its chairman and CEO, he’ll be able to separate the nation’s interests from those of the world’s largest, most aggressive oil company, which has ties to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. :lol $500B for Exxon!

In the exchanges that might raise Trump’s eyebrows, Tillerson said that

he would come to the aid of any NATO member nation under attack, regardless of how much the nation had been spending on defense (Trump has said he might not commit U.S. troops if the nation hadn’t spent as much as it should have);

that he wouldn’t

pull out of the Paris talks on climate change

or tear up the Iran nuclear deal;

that Muslims should not be kept out of the United States because of their religion;

that, in fact, moderate Muslims are among “our greatest allies” in the war on terror;

that Mexico is “a long-standing neighbor and friend of this country;”

that, contrary to Trump’s statement (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/us/politics/donald-trump-foreign-policy.html) in a New York Times interview, it would be bad for U.S. security if Japan, South Korea, or Saudi Arabia built nuclear weapons;

and that, contrary to what Trump has said many times, he is opposed to the use of torture.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2017/01/tillerson_delivers_mixed_performance_in_confirmati on_hearing.html

[boutons_deux]

Jeff Sessions would be a disaster for the LGBT community: Trump’s attorney general pick has spent his career opposing equality at every level

Name the minority group and Sessions has spent his long, varied career in public life fighting rights of its members

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker testified today against the confirmation of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General in a speech as impassioned as it was unprecedented.

A sitting U.S. Senator had never testified against the Cabinet appointment of a colleague,

and he was joined in that effort by Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).

Each of these men highlighted Sessions’ noted history as a virulent opponent of civil rights — especially when it comes to people of color, women and the LGBT community.

“The arc of the moral universe does not just naturally curve toward justice, we must bend it,” Booker said. “America needs an attorney general who is resolute and determined to bend the arc. Sen. Sessions record does not speak to that desire, intention or will.”

The Cabinet nominee, who has alternatively served as a legislator, district attorney and the attorney general of Alabama, is known for his antipathy toward the black community.

The problem with Sessions’ pledge is twofold:

First, there are extremely few federal laws that ensure equal rights for the LGBT community.

Second, Sessions voted against the introduction of the handful of nationwide protections that do exist. For instance, he came out against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act in 2013, a bill that prevents shelters for victims of domestic violence from shutting their doors to LGBT abuse survivors. He wanted a watered-down version of the legislation without provisions about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Sessions doesn’t believe that LGBT people experience discrimination. When voting against the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009, Sessions claimed that the legislation simply wasn’t necessary.

These protections do not exist largely due to the work of people like Sessions. The Alabama senator has voted against a federal law, known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, that would prohibit LGBT workers from being fired just because of who they are.

In fact, Sessions has often acted to undermine proposed protections. In addition to refusing to sign a pledge saying that his office wouldn’t fire staffers for being LGBT, he is a co-sponsor of the First Amendment Defense Act. FADA is a “religious liberty” bill that would allow businesses to openly discriminate against LGBT people based on the belief that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. The bill, which President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to sign in office, would hypothetically let an employer terminate a gay man for keeping a photo of his husband on his desk.

Sessions has been a leading critic of same-sex marriage rights during his two decades in the Senate, a stance that has earned him a zero rating on equality from the Human Rights Campaign (http://www.hrc.org/your-elected-officials/profile?id=445).

Sessions has supported adding an amendment to the Constitution that would limit the definition of marriage to heterosexual couples. The right-winger has said he would continue to push Congress to block same-sex marriage “again and again,”

In 1996 he attempted to prevent the yearly Southeastern Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual College Conference from being held at the University of Alabama. Sessions, then the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, claimed that the conference was prohibited from meeting because of a 1992 law making it unlawful for state-funded universities to support any organization that promotes “actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws.”

Sessions stated during his confirmation hearing that he would “consider” bringing back the Obscenity Prosecution Task Force, a disbanded office in the Department of Justice that was shuttered by President Barack Obama. While that office is charged with prosecuting cases of child pornography, obscenity laws have frequently been used to target the freedom of expression of LGBT people.

This is the same man who once threatened to pull funding (http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/Session-Report-Rev.pdf) for the National Endowment for the Arts due to its financing of “Watermelon Woman,” a 1996 film that was the first full-length feature to be directed by a black lesbian filmmaker. A pivotal scene in the movie features graphic sex between its interracial romantic leads.

http://www.salon.com/2017/01/11/jeff-sessions-would-be-a-disaster-for-the-lgbt-community-trumps-attorney-general-pick-has-spent-his-career-opposing-equality-at-every-level/

Fucking slave state racist Christian Taliban, as US AG.

[CosmicCowboy]

Corey Booker was just grandstanding for 2020.

He didn't offer shit in his "testimony" other than proving he was an egotistical blowhard sucking up to the far left idiots like Boo.

It's hilarious that the Democratic Party has fallen so far Booker could be a leading candidate in 2020.

[Thread]

Corey Booker was just grandstanding for 2020.

He didn't offer shit in his "testimony" other than proving he was an egotistical blowhard sucking up to the far left idiots like Boo.

Yep, if he were so outraged he'd a refused to stand with Sessions a year ago. But, he didn't. He stood next to the WASP and proudly so.

[boutons_deux]

Corey Booker was just grandstanding for 2020.

He didn't offer shit in his "testimony" other than proving he was an egotistical blowhard sucking up to the far left idiots like Boo.

It's hilarious that the Democratic Party has fallen so far Booker could be a leading candidate in 2020.

As a knitter, he's got plenty of legit gripes, complaints on behalf of minorities, against racist Sessions and his long history of anti-minority votes, policies.

[boutons_deux]

Rex Tillerson Denies Oil & Gas Subsidies Exist, While Company Profits From Them

Rex Tillerson on Wednesday, under oath, denied the existence of fossil fuel subsidies. This is dangerously incorrect. In fact, the Oil & Gas Industry receives more than $17 Billion in Subsidies per year, and according to our new analysis ExxonMobil likely gets as much as $1 billion of that.

The industry’s long-time argument is that liability loopholes and sweetheart tax breaks like the Intangible Drilling Costs are not a form of special treatment for the oil and gas industry. In reality,he IDC is specifically designed to make drilling, survey work, clearing ground, workers’ wages, drilling supplies — basically anything you need to produce oil and gas (aka ExxonMobil’s products) — less expensive for oil and gas companies.

It’s also been around for more than a century, and even though Congress has already agreed to phase out tax credits for wind and solar by 2020, they have not agreed on any plans to sunset oil and gas handouts. That sure seems like special treatment.

ExxonMobil’s subsidies

So how has ExxonMobil benefitted from the subsidies its ex-CEO says don’t exist? At Oil Change International, we’ve calculated that ExxonMobil may get as much as $700 million to $1 billion in US government giveaways each year.

We looked at it two ways.1 According to our analyses, the US oil and gas industry receives an annual average of approximately $17 billion in federal and state government subsidies. If we assume that ExxonMobil receives subsidies in proportion to its share of US oil and gas production, then ExxonMobil may receive nearly $1 billion dollars in subsidies from federal and state governments each year.2

Many subsidies to oil and gas companies are handed out based on capital expenditure. So If we instead assume that ExxonMobil receives subsidies in proportion to its share of capital expenditure in the US upstream oil and gas sector, then ExxonMobil may receive nearly $700 million in subsidies from federal and state governments each year.3

Oil and gas subsidies are designed to incentivize fossil fuel production, and the more oil is produced, the cheaper it is, and the more of it we burn. That means greater greenhouse gas pollution and worse climate disruption.

If fact, a recent study by SEI and EarthTrack found that oil production subsidies will be responsible for almost half of the remaining oil production in the United States. Burning the oil that subsidies make possible will release more than 8 billion tonnes of climate pollution, equivalent to building 100 coal-fired power plants and running them for 23 years.

And when government giveaways don’t drive new extraction, subsidies simply become extra profits that companies like ExxonMobil can use to fund even more climate denial through lobbying, misinformation, and campaign contributions.

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/01/12/rex-tillerson-denies-oil-gas-subsidies-exist-while-company-profits-them

[Mitch]

I can tell why Mattis is such a respected guy, tbh. Ben was impressive as well

[boutons_deux]

http://images.dailykos.com/images/348222/story_image/sessions.png?1484005820

[Thread]

GO---BOUTS---GO!!!

[boutons_deux]

Sessions disclosure forms were almost completely blank, taking a corruption/fuck-you cue from Trash

just got this in an email

"BREAKING: The Washington Post has reported that Jeff Sessions failed to include critical details about his ownership stake in an oil company in the financial disclosure forms submitted to the Judiciary Committee.1

This comes after ethics watchdogs flagged enormous gaps in his Judiciary Committee questionnaire regarding his years as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama and as attorney general of Alabama.

This is yet ANOTHER reason why we can't let Senate Republicans get away with fast-tracking Sessions' confirmation and putting a racist, sexual assault-denying, civil rights-hater in charge of the Justice Department."

==================
The corruption will be "unpresidented"

[spurraider21]

your email subscriptions must be shitty

[boutons_deux]

Betsy DeVos and her family have given nearly $1 million to 21 senators who will vote on her confirmation.

Will they recuse themselves?

[boutons_deux]

your email subscriptions must be shitty

:lol If you can stand the shitbags you've elected, tough shit.

[SnakeBoy]

Corey Booker was just grandstanding for 2020.


They were criticizing him on Morning Joe for doing exactly that. You know you've over played your hand when even your liberal friends on msnbc are saying wrong place and 2 years early Corey.

[boutons_deux]

Chinese Media Threatens ‘Large-Scale War’ Over Islands (http://www.ozy.com/presidential-daily-brief/pdb-75084/baring-teeth-75114)

Secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson said during confirmation hearings that Beijing shouldn’t be allowed access to man-made islands in the South China Sea.

Two state-run papers in the People’s Republic responded with harsh editorials condemning his words and threatening military conflict should the U.S. attempt such an incursion.

China’s (http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/the-sci-fi-author-bridging-america-and-china/74506) territorial claims are contested by five other nations and by Taiwan. Though the Obama administration stayed relatively neutral, many wonder if the Trump White House will be more hawkish and inflammatory.

http://www.ozy.com/presidential-daily-brief/pdb-75084?utm_source=pdb&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=01132017&variable=992d608214b505003aa04bf10a595031#article7 5114

With Trash cementing his oligarchic/kleptocratic/authoritarian coup with many generals, including one running DoD, nobody should be surprised if Trash (who wanted a Purple heart without getting hurt) starts a war, or a few. Repugs certainly won't scale back USA's Global War on Terror and USA's militaristic planetary hegemony.

Trash's regime is starting horribly and will only get worse.

[spurraider21]

:lol If you can stand the shitbags you've elected, tough shit.you elected trump. my state went blue.

thanks, boutons

[boutons_deux]

Rudy Giuliani’s Cybersecurity Role Reflects Diminished Place in Trash Worldhttps://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/us/politics/rudy-giuliani-cyber-security-trump.html

==================

Security experts say Trump cybersecurity advisor Rudy Giuliani's website is incredibly insecurehttp://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/01/13/security-experts-say-trump-cybersecurity-advisor-rudy-giulianis/21654749/

[Thread]

Rudy Giuliani’s Cybersecurity Role Reflects Diminished Place in Trash World

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/us/politics/rudy-giuliani-cyber-security-trump.html

==================

Security experts say Trump cybersecurity advisor Rudy Giuliani's website is incredibly insecure

http://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/01/13/security-experts-say-trump-cybersecurity-advisor-rudy-giulianis/21654749/




Obviously not as incredibly insecure as the DNC's was.

But, c'mon, people, there was no "hack." Even Trump won't capitulate on the point..."I think." That was enough on the day of the presser. Now 72 hours+ later Media knows he was placating those who need it. Me? I never needed it. It's all a crock of shit, a feeding frenzy at boundless loss. It happens. Just keep the race card pulled, you'll be fine. You're better like this. You can piss, moan, riot, pilfer. That's you. You had no business winning this. You know you didn't.

[boutons_deux]

Trump's Team Is a Major Threat to Public Schools

A new report finds online charters are “gearing up for a boom" under the watchful eye of Betsy DeVos.

If you want to get an idea of what kind of education policies to expect from a Donald Trump administration, Wall St. has a clue for you.

A report from BuzzFeed (https://www.buzzfeed.com/mollyhensleyclancy/online-charter-schools-prepare-for-a-trump-era-boom?utm_term=.pqj2Mv0Bo#.shQ47LPQd) explains, online charter schools are “gearing up for a boom during the Trump administration,

judging by where investors are placing their bets.”

K12 Inc., which is the country’s largest operator of online charters, whose stock price has risen in value by more than 50 percent since Election Day – hitting a 2-year high at one point.

The article quotes K12 executives who’ve “told investors the company was one of the ‘best positioned under Trump,” especially due to the “‘personal’ experiences that high-level Trump administration members have with the company.”

Among Trump personnel who’ve had these “experiences” with K12 is his pick for US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.

As the article notes, Betsy DeVos’ husband Dick is “an early investor in K12.”

Another in the Trump entourage who is close to online charters is his Vice President-Elect Mike Pence. As governor of Indiana, Pence advocated for more “school choice” in the state, including online charters.

Online charter schools operated by K12 have a particularly poor track record for academic achievement

http://www.alternet.org/education/trumps-team-major-threat-public-schools

DeVos, Repugs, for-profit "school choice" assholes don't GAF about education, only about investors and administrators pocketing taxpayers $Ts.

More destruction by the Repugs/VRWC/capitalists, America is fucked and unfuckable.

[Thread]

^They've had their bite at that apple for decades and pissed it all away.

I've no sympathy for them.

[baseline bum]

Does anyone take Buzzfeed seriously after the golden shower story? They should stick to making videos about eating $500 burritos.

[Thread]

Does anyone take Buzzfeed seriously after the golden shower story? They should stick to making videos about eating $500 burritos.

Like it's owner said:::[[[it had been out there for months. Everybody had seen it cept (((us.)))]]]

It's no more true than what MSM puts out there daily. We had at least 5 modes of transfer of this materiel to Trump by Intel. At least 4 of those modes were fake news. Still, Media got return on the dollar on at least all of 5 of 'em.

Where it hits is it gave Trump the opportunity to bust Intel's hole again. And they need that hole expanded. The CIA Chief, a little over 72 hours from leaving his post comes on Sunday morning talk show and blasts Trump. If he weren't quitting I'd fire his fuckin' ass come 12:01 EST Friday if I were Trump. But, that's why he sat there yesterday, he was resigning. The fuckin' hump.

No free shots. NONE. Whether you're some left over '60's marcher with a sore head, or, a leaker on his way to his pension you're not swinging and run. He'll chase your ass down, black or white.

[baseline bum]

Like it's owner said:::[[[it had been out there for months. Everybody had seen it cept (((us.)))]]]

It's no more true than what MSM puts out there daily. We had at least 5 modes of transfer of this materiel to Trump by Intel. At least 4 of those modes were fake news. Still, Media got return on the dollar on at least all of 5 of 'em.

Where it hits is it gave Trump the opportunity to bust Intel's hole again. And they need that hole expanded. The CIA Chief, a little over 72 hours from leaving his post comes on Sunday morning talk show and blasts Trump. If he weren't quitting I'd fire his fuckin' ass come 12:01 EST Friday if I were Trump. But, that's why he sat there yesterday, he was resigning. The fuckin' hump.

No free shots. NONE. Whether you're some left over '60's marcher with a sore head, or, a leaker on his way to his pension you're not swinging and run. He'll chase your ass down, black or white.

tl;dr

[TheSanityAnnex]

Does anyone take Buzzfeed seriously after the golden shower story? They should stick to making videos about eating $500 burritos.

The only thing taken less seriously is an Alternet article quoting Buzzfeed

[boutons_deux]

GoldenGate will stick to Trash forever, because it's credible that he, from everything else he's said and done, would have done it.

[Thread]

GoldenGate will stick to Trash forever, because it's credible that he, from everything else he's said and done, would have done it.

& nothin' wrong it. You get one chance here, one, before you go on into the dust that is always the end.

[Splits]

821122938300731394

:cry needs a safe space :cry

[SnakeBoy]

821122938300731394

:cry needs a safe space :cry

Only CNN reporting
Only one quote from an anonymous source

Think I'll have to wait to see if this is real or fake news

[spurraider21]

Only CNN reporting
Only one quote from an anonymous source

Think I'll have to wait to see if this is real or fake news
Do you think cnn is fabricating the source/quote and is willfully publishing what they know to be completely false and untrue?

[boutons_deux]

821122938300731394



DeVos should withdraw, she's much more dangerous, harder, maybe impossible to reverse her shitstorm

[SnakeBoy]

Do you think cnn is fabricating the source/quote and is willfully publishing what they know to be completely false and untrue?

Fox news repeatedly had breaking news with an anonymous source inside the FBI saying Hillary was going to be indicted. When only one network is reporting something based on an unidentified source I take that with a grain of salt.

but if it turns out to be true then what a pussy.

[Thread]

821122938300731394

:cry needs a safe space :cry

Yep, he doesn't relish (get it) the grilling (get it) that's on short order (get it). Neither did Christie when he scooted several feet from the fire. Trump? He's got Bannon. He's got Spicer. He's got Conway. He's got Preibus, but, he doesn't know how to handle a mace. The others? They know how to get up against a wall and take 'em one at-a-time as they come thru the wire with said mace. Sorehead Lewis already came thru and got knocked the fuck out.

There's a boundless line of people to take his place, Splits.

Chop/chop.

[boutons_deux]

Fox news repeatedly had breaking news with an anonymous source inside the FBI saying Hillary was going to be indicted. When only one network is reporting something based on an unidentified source I take that with a grain of salt.

but if it turns out to be true then what a pussy.

and dubya's bullshit often started with "some say ..."

There's plenty of sleuthing going on about Trash getting compromised by Pootin in Moscow. The smoke will become fire, sooner or later.

But impeach the Illegitimate Fat Prick LOSER next week for violating Emoluments laws.

[CosmicCowboy]

and dubya's bullshit often started with "some say ..."

There's plenty of sleuthing going on about Trash getting compromised by Pootin in Moscow. The smoke will become fire, sooner or later.

But impeach the Illegitimate Fat Prick LOSER next week for violating Emoluments laws.

*flush*gurglegurgle*booscreaminggggggggggggg

#circlingthebowl

[Thread]

and dubya's bullshit often started with "some say ..."

There's plenty of sleuthing going on about Trash getting compromised by Pootin in Moscow. The smoke will become fire, sooner or later.

But impeach the Illegitimate Fat Prick LOSER next week for violating Emoluments laws.

- "Promises, promises."

- Ernie "The Cat" Ladd

[spurraider21]

Fox news repeatedly had breaking news with an anonymous source inside the FBI saying Hillary was going to be indicted. When only one network is reporting something based on an unidentified source I take that with a grain of salt.

but if it turns out to be true then what a pussy.
I'm just trying to figure out what your standard is for "fake news"

[Spurminator]

Given the clusterfuck of petty internal warfare the intelligence community has shown itself to be recently, it is fair to be skeptical of "exclusives" from anonymous sources within the IC.

[SnakeBoy]

and dubya's bullshit often started with "some say ..."

There's plenty of sleuthing going on about Trash getting compromised by Pootin in Moscow. The smoke will become fire, sooner or later.

But impeach the Illegitimate Fat Prick LOSER next week for violating Emoluments laws.


Given the clusterfuck of petty internal warfare the intelligence community has shown itself to be recently, it is fair to be skeptical of "exclusives" from anonymous sources within the IC.

lol the most likely "leaker" of the fake Russia document is Donald Trump. He's the one who benefited from it.

[boutons_deux]

Trump's HHS pick introduced legislation to help medical device company days after investing in it (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/16/1621242/-Trump-s-HHS-pick-introduced-legislation-to-help-medical-device-company-days-after-investing-in-it)

Rep. Tom Price last year purchased shares in a medical device manufacturer days before introducing legislation that would have directly benefited the company, raising new ethics concerns for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary.Price bought between $1,001 to $15,000 worth of shares last March in Zimmer Biomet, according to House records reviewed by CNN.

Less than a week after the transaction, the Georgia Republican congressman introduced the HIP Act, legislation that would have delayed until 2018 a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulation that industry analysts warned would significantly hurt Zimmer Biomet financially once fully implemented. […]

After Price offered his bill to provide Zimmer Biomet and other companies relief from the CMS regulation, the company's political action committee donated to the congressman's reelection campaign, records show.

It's a twofer for Price—personal enrichment through the shares, and campaign coffer enrichments from a grateful company. Price didn't even pretend to make this one not appear horrendously unethical

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/16/1621242/-Trump-s-HHS-pick-introduced-legislation-to-help-medical-device-company-days-after-investing-in-it?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

[boutons_deux]

Andrew Puzder’s shady history: Trump’s labor secretary nominee is a habitual violator of labor law

By tapping Puzder, Trump has made clear that his administration will be a dystopian nightmare for U.S. workers

As secretary, he’d be charged with enforcing health and safety, overtime and other labor laws.

But as CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., he’s made his considerable fortune from violating these very same laws, according to a report by the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United (http://rocunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PuzdersLaborProblem_Report_0117.pdf) released last week.

A recent national survey among non-managerial women working in fast food found that 40 percent of such women have experienced sexual harassment on the job. Under Puzder, the problem could worsen:

A whopping 66 percent of female CKE workers ROC surveyed had faced sexual harassment.

Harassment came from supervisors, co-workers or — most often — customers, and took the form of sexual comments, groping, unwanted sexual texts and pressure for dates.

Of the CKE employees who participated in the ROC survey,

nearly one-third said they did not get meal breaks that are mandated by law;

around one-fourth had been illegally forced to work off the clock or had timecards altered;

almost one-third had been illegally deprived of overtime pay.

The ROC survey also found widespread health and safety violations.

Nearly one-third of those surveyed said they had become sick or injured on the job.

Workers described an environment of slippery floors, frequent grease burns and many said they had to do dangerous tasks — like cleaning a hood over a hot char broiler, for instance — without proper protective equipment.

http://www.salon.com/2017/01/17/andrew-puzders-shady-history-trumps-labor-secretary-nominee-is-a-habitual-violator-of-labor-law_partner/

[boutons_deux]

Trump Health Secretary Pick’s Longtime Foes: Big Government and Insurance Companies (http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/health/tom-price-health-secretary.html?partner=rss&emc=rss)

his legislative record shows that over eight years in the Georgia Senate and 12 years in Congress, he has advocated at least as much for physician groups and health care companies — seeking to limit damages in malpractice cases, for instance, and voting against legislation that would have required the government to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicare/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) beneficiaries.

Mr. Price has routinely argued that patients are the driving force behind his efforts. Still, his positions have often coincided with the financial interests of groups whose donations have helped advance his political career.

If confirmed, Mr. Price, 62, will soon have far more power (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/04/us/politics/tom-price-is-eager-to-lead-hhs-and-reduce-its-clout.html) to influence the nation’s vast health care system than he ever did as a lawmaker.

One of his first tasks would be to help Mr. Trump and Republicans in Congress determine how to eviscerate and replace the health law, a goal he has held (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/29/us/tom-price-trump-health-secretary.html) since the law’s passage in 2010. But as leader of the agency that oversees Medicare, Medicaid (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicaid/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier), the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mr. Price would also hold considerable regulatory power, with the ability to influence everything from how applications to market new drugs are reviewed to how doctors are compensated for treating elderly and poor patients.

As Mr. Price prepares for two confirmation hearings — the first of which is scheduled for Wednesday — his past efforts on behalf of health-related companies, which have donated generously to his campaigns, are under scrutiny.

So, too, is Mr. Price’s history of trading (http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trumps-pick-for-health-secretary-traded-medical-stocks-while-in-house-1482451061) in biomedical, pharmaceutical (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/health/innate-immunotherapeutics-tom-price.html) and health insurance (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) stocks while serving on the health subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. Democrats have called for investigations into whether he traded stock based on information he gleaned as a congressman.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/health/tom-price-health-secretary.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Repugs picks prove without any doubt that the Repugs intend to FUCK UP GOVERNMENT and thereby fuckup America and Americans.

[boutons_deux]

Another agency to be destroyed

Bipartisan EPA Alumni Urge Senate to Reject Pruitt's "Troubling" Nomination

Pruitt's track record shows he would "set science aside when the outcome is at odds with his predetermined political point of view"

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/16/bipartisan-epa-alumni-urge-senate-reject-pruitts-troubling-nomination

[spurraider21]

lol commondreams.org
lol salon
lol dailykos

[boutons_deux]

lol commondreams.org
lol salon
lol dailykos

lol spurraider, buffoon.

[boutons_deux]

When Journalists Investigated Trump's Nominee For Education Secretary, They Found Scores Of Unanswered Questions

But Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for the post, is no typical nominee. She is a billionaire with a complex web of financial investments, including in companies that stand to win or lose from the department she would oversee. She has been an aggressive force in politics for years, as a prominent Republican donor and as a supporter of steering public dollars to private schools.

Her wealth and her politics seem likely to make her confirmation hearing unusually contentious, and possibly drawn out.


Thanks to the DeVoses, Michigan’s charter schools enjoy a virtually unregulated existence. Thanks to them, too, the center of the American automotive industry and birthplace of the modern labor movement is now a right-to-work state. They’ve funded campaigns to elect state legislators, established advocacy organizations to lobby them, buttressed their allies and primaried those they disagree with, spending at least $100 million on political campaigns and causes over the past 20 years.
[...]
Buoyed by the success in Michigan, the DeVoses have exported a scaled-down version of that template into other states, funding an archipelago of local political action committees and advocacy organizations to ease the proliferation of charter schools in Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Iowa, Virginia and Louisiana, among others. At the same time, DeVos-backed PACs have transformed the nature of American political campaigns. By showing the success of independent PACs that answered to a few deep-pocketed donors rather than a broad number of stakeholders associated with a union or chamber of commerce, for instance, the DeVoses precipitated the monsoon of independent expenditures that has rained down upon politicians for the past decade. In the process, they’ve reshaped political campaigns as well as the policies that result from them.

Ten years after she watched her husband give a concession speech, Betsy DeVos was unveiled as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of education. Across the country, public-school advocates and teachers’ unions expressed almost unanimous horror: One of the most effective advocates for breaking down the rules and protections for public schools and teachers would soon be the nation’s most powerful education policymaker\


Ms. DeVos and her husband had lobbied hard for the state law that established charter schools in 1994. It allowed an unusually large number of organizations to start charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run. But it created little oversight.

Even charter school supporters now criticize Detroit as one of the most unregulated markets in the country. About 80 percent of the state’s charters are operated for profit, far higher than anywhere else.

In 2011, the DeVoses and the Great Lakes project lobbied successfully to lift a cap on the number of charter schools, fighting off a provision that would have kept failing schools from expanding.

In Detroit, which now has a greater proportion of charters than any city but New Orleans, one result was a glut of schools as more charters opened but the city’s population continued to decline. Yet while there are too many seats in schools downtown, there are not enough in the poorest, most remote neighborhoods, where most students live.

Michigan is one of the nation’s biggest school choice laboratories, especially with charter schools. The Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids school districts have among the nation’s 10 largest shares of students in charters, and the state sends $1 billion in education funding to charters annually. Of those schools, 80 percent are run by for-profit organizations, a far higher share than anywhere else in the nation.

The DeVoses, the most prominent name in state Republican politics, have been the biggest financial and political backers of the effort.

But if Michigan is a center of school choice, it is also among the worst places to argue that choice has made schools better. As the state embraced and then expanded charters over the past two decades, its rank has fallen on national reading and math tests. Most charter schools perform below the state average.

And a federal review in 2015 found “an unreasonably high” percentage of charter schools on the list of the state’s lowest-performing schools. The number of charter schools on that list had doubled since 2010, after the passage of a law a group financed by Ms. DeVos pushed to expand the schools. The group blocked a provision in that law that would have prevented failing schools from expanding or replicating.

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team acknowledged Friday that Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary, omitted a $125,000 political donation from disclosures she submitted to a Senate committee in advance of her confirmation hearing, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

“We appreciate this being called to our attention and we will be updating our committee submission,” a transition team spokeswoman said Friday.
The missing donation — to a Michigan committee that successfully opposed a ballot initiative that would have enshrined collective-bargaining rights in the state constitution — represents a small fraction of the more than $5 million in donations that DeVos did disclose last week to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

In announcing his intention to nominate Ms. DeVos, Mr. Trump described her as “a brilliant and passionate education advocate.” Even critics characterized her as a dedicated, if misguided, activist for school reform. But that description understates both the breadth of Ms. DeVos’s political interests and the influence she wields as part of her powerful family. More than anyone else who has joined the incoming Trump administration, she represents the combination of wealth, free-market ideology and political hardball associated with a better-known family of billionaires: Charles and David Koch.
[...]
Indeed, the DeVoses’ education activism, which favors alternatives to traditional public schools, appears to derive from the same free-market views that inform their suspicion of government. And perhaps more than other right-wing billionaires, the DeVoses couple their seeding of ideological causes with an aggressive brand of political spending. Half a dozen or more extended family members frequently coordinate contributions to maximize their impact.

In the 2016 cycle alone, according to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, the family spent roughly $14 million on political contributions to state and national candidates, parties, PACs and super PACs.

Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary, is not just a prospective Cabinet member seeking confirmation from the U.S. Senate.

She is also a billionaire Republican donor whose family’s donations have funded the campaigns of many of the senators now tasked with voting on her nomination, including members of the committee overseeing her confirmation hearing, scheduled for Wednesday.

During the 2014 and 2016 election cycles, DeVos and her relatives gave at least $818,000 to 20 current Republican senators, including more than $250,000 to five members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission records.

DeVos personally made a relatively small percentage of those donations: at least $31,400 to committee members and $96,000 to all senators. But her giving appears to have been coordinated with her family: In most cases, senators received donations from more than a half-dozen DeVos family members, including her husband, his parents and his siblings, on the same day.

Betsy DeVos, tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to run the U.S. Department of Education, is an indirect investor in online-lending company Social Finance Inc., a startup whose fortunes hinge in part on policies crafted by the department Ms. DeVos would run.
[...]
Policy changes can have a big impact on the private-lending business. For example, a 2010 change cut out private lenders from much of the market, making the Education Department an even bigger force in student loans. During her presidential campaign, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton proposed that the government refinance student debt at lower interest rates. Such a move would have hurt SoFi’s business.

A school-choice advocacy group headed by billionaire Betsy DeVos owes the state of Ohio more than $5.3 million for election law violations — a record fine that is now nearly a decade past due.
[...]
The unpaid fine dates back to 2008, when All Children Matter — a group that lobbied for school-choice legislation and was run by DeVos — broke Ohio election law by funneling $870,000 in contributions through its nationwide PAC to its Ohio affiliate, according to the Ohio Elections Commission.

The state commission told POLITICO that DeVos' group initially asked Ohio if this sort of spending was permissible. When the state said no, DeVos' group did it anyway.
[...]
The elections commission slapped the two PACs with $2.6 million in fines — the largest ever levied by the state panel. Ohio's attorney general sought to collect on the fines and the groups appealed. After a lengthy legal battle, a judge ruled in the state's favor in 2013, saying All Children Matter, along with its affiliated PACs, owed the elections commission both the original fines and a late fee of $25 a day.

That late fee — also unpaid — now exceeds $91,000.


Unfortunately, Trump’s selection to the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos, has no governmental experience with public schools. Rather, she is a staunch supporter of “school choice,” which ostensibly allows families to choose which type of school (in other words, public or private) their child attends and for federal funding to support private schools. This is something public school advocates fear. They argue that redirecting dollars from public to private schools weakens public education and gives taxpayer support to schools that don’t have the same obligation to serve all students, including those with disabilities. Special education is already extremely underfunded: Although IDEA calls for 40 percent of special education be funded by the federal government, that has never happened. In 2016, for example, the federal government covered only 16 percent of special education costs. Hence, cutting more public school funding would make a bad situation even worse.

Moreover, students with disabilities aren’t truly given school choice: No choice exists if private schools can legally refuse to provide appropriate and necessary services and supports, which is often the case. In fact, generally, protections under federal laws such as the IDEA, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Rehabilitation Act, do not extend to students with disabilities who attend private schools. In other words, private schools who do not receive federal funding have absolutely no legal duty to support students with disabilities.

DeVos and her husband have given hundreds of thousands to Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group whose founder called the battle against LGBT rights a "second civil war," according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group has also pushed so-called “conversion therapy” — discredited practices aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation — according to the Human Rights Campaign.

DeVos’ ties to a group that pushes “conversion therapy” is “most alarming,” and DeVos needs to clarify her stance on the practice, [Human Rights Campaign president Chad] Griffin said.


The billionaire philanthropist whom Donald Trump has tapped to lead the Education Department once compared her work in education reform to a biblical battleground where she wants to "advance God's Kingdom."

Trump’s pick, Betsy DeVos, a national leader of the school choice movement, has pursued that work in large part by spending millions to promote the use of taxpayer dollars on private and religious schools.

Her comments came during a 2001 meeting of “The Gathering,” an annual conference of some of the country’s wealthiest Christians. DeVos and her husband, Dick, were interviewed a year after voters rejected a Michigan ballot initiative to change the state’s constitution to allow public money to be spent on private and religious schools, which the DeVoses had backed.

In the interview, an audio recording, which was obtained by POLITICO, the couple is candid about how their Christian faith drives their efforts to reform American education.

School choice, they say, leads to “greater Kingdom gain.” The two also lament that public schools have “displaced” the Church as the center of communities, and they cite school choice as a way to reverse that troubling trend.

http://mediamatters.org/research/2017/01/17/when-journalists-investigated-trumps-nominee-education-secretary-they-found-scores-unanswered/215034?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mediamatters%2Fresearch+%28Me dia+Matters+for+America+-+Research%29

"school choice" is code word for "siphon taxpayer $100Bs to no-oversight, unregulated corporate for-profit charter schools"

[boutons_deux]

Homeland Security Pick Gen. John Kelly Fails to Disclose Ties to Defense Contractors (https://theintercept.com/2017/01/17/homeland-security-pick-gen-john-kelly-fails-to-disclose-ties-to-defense-contractors/)

https://theintercept.com/2017/01/17/homeland-security-pick-gen-john-kelly-fails-to-disclose-ties-to-defense-contractors/

All Repug's picka following Trash'a corrupt, fuck-all-y'all example

All these generals will certainly follow Trash order's to enforce martial law.

[TeyshaBlue]

lol commondreams.org
lol salon
lol dailykos

It's The Axis of Vapidity.

[Mitch]

Only pick that might not go through is the DeVos lady and I wouldn't put money on her not getting in.

[boutons_deux]

It's The Axis of Vapidity.

simpleton, you motherfuckers have no counter, no refutation, defense of the shitbags your Repugs have nominated each to weaken, destroy the depts.

[TeyshaBlue]

Not even trying fuckstick. I dont have an RSS feed telling me what to think.
lol facile coward.

[Thread]

Only pick that might not go through is the DeVos lady and I wouldn't put money on her not getting in.

How come, Mitch?

[Thread]

simpleton, you motherfuckers have no counter, no refutation, defense of the shitbags your Repugs have nominated each to weaken, destroy the depts.

Damn, Bouts, you've gotten mean. You had the con for 8 years. Be thankful for that.

[boutons_deux]

Not even trying fuckstick. I dont have an RSS feed telling me what to think.
lol facile coward.

you shootin blanks, shitkicker :lol

[Mitch]

How come, Mitch?

She's getting a lot of shit from democrats, I don't see her having the universal republican appeal like Rex and Mattis would have either. I say she has a 90% chance to get in, but if the dipshit blues stop anybody it'll be her.

[TeyshaBlue]

you shootin blanks, shitkicker :lol

Youre posting blanks fuckpoodle.

[boutons_deux]

Bitchy DeVos says

WE NEED GUNS IN SCHOLS!!! paranoia

... BECAUSE OF GRIZZLY BEARS! :lol

My RSS oracle tells me everything! :lol

[Splits]

How come, Mitch?

Do you know who her brother is?

[Splits]

Only pick that might not go through is the DeVos lady and I wouldn't put money on her not getting in.

Nice quadruple negative.

[baseline bum]

Only pick that might not go through is the DeVos lady and I wouldn't put money on her not getting in.

You think Tillerson is a slam dunk? Rubio doesn't like him and has to keep an anti-Russia stance to not piss off all the Cuban refugees who make up his base. If Rubio and one other senator says no he's not getting confirmation.

[Splits]

You think Tillerson is a slam dunk? Rubio doesn't like him and has to keep an anti-Russia stance to not piss off all the Cuban refugees who make up his base. If Rubio and one other senator says no he's not getting confirmation.

:lol Tillerson is measuring drapes. No fucking WAY "little Marco" goes against Trump. Ever.

[Thread]

Do you know who her brother is?

No, who is it, Splits?

[Mitch]

Nice quadruple negative.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM220XCGypQ

[Mitch]

You think Tillerson is a slam dunk? Rubio doesn't like him and has to keep an anti-Russia stance to not piss off all the Cuban refugees who make up his base. If Rubio and one other senator says no he's not getting confirmation.

It's unlikely that the confirmations will strictly follow partisan lines, tbh. I see more democratics voting aye than republicans voting nay

[boutons_deux]

Six astonishing things Betsy DeVos said — and refused to say — at her confirmation hearing

Here are some of the notable moments:



DeVos refused to agree with a Democrat that schools are no place for guns, citing one school that needs one to protect against grizzly bears. (She really said this.)




DeVos seemed to have no understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA, which requires public schools to provide free and appropriate education to all students with disabilities.




DeVos refused to agree with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that all schools that receive public federal funds — traditional public, public charter or private schools that receive voucher money — should be held to the same standards of accountability.




DeVos said she would review gainful employment regulations without committing to enforce them.




DeVos appeared to have no idea what Franken was talking about when he referred to the accountability debate about whether to use test scores to measure student proficiency or student growth.




And here’s a bonus:

DeVos said her name should not have been included on tax forms for her mother’s foundation, which has contributed to controversial causes.




The forms say that she was vice president and a member of the board.



“That was a clerical error,” DeVos said. “I have never made decisions on my mother’s behalf.”


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/01/18/six-astonishing-things-betsy-devos-said-and-refused-to-say-at-her-confirmation-hearing/?utm_term=.950f50bcfff2&wpisrc=nl_most-draw7&wpmm=1

Being born wealth and privileged means "Never Having To Say Anything Intelligent" -- paraphrase Love Story

[boutons_deux]

Betsy DeVos outpaces Ben Carson as Trump's least prepared nominee (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/18/1621731/-Betsy-DeVos-outpaces-Ben-Carson-as-Trump-s-least-prepared-nominee)

If you followed the confirmation hearing for Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s education secretary pick, you are no longer in any doubt

why Republicans tried to bury the hearing (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/17/1621428/-One-of-Trump-s-least-qualified-nominees-is-up-for-a-hearing-and-Republicans-seem-to-want-to-bury-it) in the evening and keep it short

Sen. Maggie Hassan drew a blazingly clear connection between DeVos’ beloved privatization programs and the IDEA:

We do know that children with disabilities in at least some of the voucher programs that you have supported have gone with a voucher to a school, because of their disability had to leave the school.

The school keeps the money, and they go back to public schools that now have even less resources to deal with them.

And many of us see this as the potential for turning our public schools into warehouses for the most challenging kids with disabilities or other kinds of particular issues.

Or the kids whose parents can’t afford to make up the difference between the voucher and the cost of private school tuition.


That is the DeVos plan in a nutshell, though DeVos had been too well coached for this hearing to say it directly.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/18/1621731/-Betsy-DeVos-outpaces-Ben-Carson-as-Trump-s-least-prepared-nominee?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

[boutons_deux]

Foreclosure victim blasts Trump’s pick for Treasury: ‘They lied to us and took our home’

Lisa Fraser, who tells the story of how OneWest foreclosed on her and her late husband, despite the fact that they never had one late payment.

“We had lived in our house for years when John got sick with cancer,” she explains in the video. “Then the bank foreclosed on us. We did everything the bank asked. They lied to us and took our home anyway – after years of on-time payments.”

She said the bank’s foreclosure created tremendous stress for her husband in his final years, as he worried constantly about his wife’s future.

“John spent his last days terrified I’d be homeless, and then they kicked me out right after the funeral,” she said. “Steve Mnuchin ran the bank that committed fraud and took our home.”

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/foreclosure-victim-blasts-trumps-pick-for-treasury-they-lied-to-us-and-took-our-home/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story% 29

[boutons_deux]

JL is on her payroll

Joe Lieberman disses the entire education establishment at Betsy DeVos’s confirmation hearing

And then, he said:

“I know that some people are questioning her qualifications to be secretary of education, and too many of those questions seem to me to be based on the fact that

she doesn’t come from within the education establishment.

But honestly I believe that today,

that’s one of the most important qualifications you could have for this job.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/01/17/joe-lieberman-disses-the-entire-education-establishment-at-betsy-devoss-confirmation-hearing/?utm_term=.ffff8981d9b5

[boutons_deux]

Wilbur Ross, Donald Trump’s secretary of commerce nominee, has offshored 2,700 jobs since 2004

http://www.salon.com/2017/01/17/wilbur-ross-donald-trumps-secretary-of-commerce-nominee-has-offshored-2700-jobs-since-2004/

[boutons_deux]

DeVos says it’s ‘premature’ to commit to following Title IX guidance on campus sexual assault

On Tuesday night, sexual assault survivors flooded Capitol Hill to observe Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos’ confirmation hearing.

The guidance, which expanded gender discrimination protections on campus to sexual assault and sexual violence survivors, requires every school to have an established internal procedure to handle allegations of sexual harassment and sexual violence. It also says that every time a complaint is filed the school must promptly investigate it, independent of whether or not the crime is reported to the police

DeVos said that she was aware of many “conflicting ideas and opinions around that guidance.”

DeVos has a documented history of donating money to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a group that has opposed legislation aimed at preventing campus sexual assault and even provides legal counsel to students under investigation for sexual assault.

https://thinkprogress.org/devos-says-its-premature-to-commit-to-following-title-ix-guidance-on-campus-sexual-assault-bee85e7f4aa5#.a2hbnnvft

And all y'all pussy grabbers and rapists are cheering DeVos! :lol

[boutons_deux]

Rex Tillerson’s Exxon Mobil Frequently Sought State Department Assistance, New Documents Show (https://theintercept.com/2017/01/17/exxonmobil-state-department/)

EXXON MOBIL UNDER ITS CEO Rex Tillerson frequently pressed the U.S. State Department for help in negotiating complex business deals and overcoming foreign opposition to its drilling projects,

The requests for help — documented in diplomatic cables obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request from DeSmogBlog (https://www.desmogblog.com/) as well as some previously released by Wikileaks — raise a whole new series of conflict-of-interest concerns about Tillerson,

Exxon Mobil sent State Department officials a request to help overcome local opposition to fracking in Germany;

in Indonesia, the State Department acted as a advocate for Exxon Mobil during contentious negotiations between the firm and the Indonesian government over a major gas field in the South China Sea;

and in Russia, Exxon Mobil asked the U.S. ambassador to press the Russians to approve a major drilling program, noting that a “warming of U.S.-Russian relations” overall would also help the company.

https://theintercept.com/2017/01/17/exxonmobil-state-department/

[boutons_deux]

Endangered Species Act is now an endangered species as Republicans plan its extinction (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/17/1621533/-Endangered-Species-Act-is-now-an-endangered-species-as-Republicans-plan-its-extinction)

In control of Congress and soon the White House, Republicans are readying plans to roll back the influence of the Endangered Species Act, one of the government's most powerful conservation tools, after decades of complaints that it hinders drilling, logging and other activities. ...

"Any species that gets in the way of a congressional initiative or some kind of development will be clearly at risk," said Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife and a former Fish and Wildlife Service director under President Bill Clinton. "The political lineup is as unfavorable to the Endangered Species Act as I can remember."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/17/1621533/-Endangered-Species-Act-is-now-an-endangered-species-as-Republicans-plan-its-extinction?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

[boutons_deux]

Trump’s Interior Pick Wants to Save Our Public Lands by Drilling On Them

Ryan Zinke, Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of the Interior, is planning to drill on public lands, set aside largely for outdoor recreation and conservation purposes.

During his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, the former (http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-united-states-of-climate-denial) Navy SEAL commander and sole representative from Montana in the House of Representatives, talked about both his strong support of public lands, and the drilling and mining he wants to do on them.

He is widely seen to be Trump’s vehicle to carry out an aggressive domestic fossil fuel strategy.

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/trumps-interior-pick-wants-to-save-our-public-lands-by-drilling-on-them

[boutons_deux]

Democrats Have the Receipts for Price’s Reproductive Health Discrimination

Sen. Maggie Hassan, the former Democratic governor of New Hampshire, grilled Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) about whether an employer “should be able to fire a woman because she uses birth control.”

his assertion that “there’s not one” woman who can’t afford contraception (https://rewire.news/article/2016/11/21/trump-top-hhs-pick-thinks-theres-not-one-woman-who-cant-afford/).

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D), the former New Hampshire governor who unseated anti-choice Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) (https://rewire.news/article/2016/11/09/gop-senate-majority-incumbent-anti-choice-senators-key-races/) in the 2016 election, grilled Price about whether an employer “should be able to fire a woman because she uses birth control.”

“I don’t believe so,” Price said.

But Price, as Hassan noted,

voted with House Republicans (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll194.xml) on a 2015 resolution of disapproval taking aim (https://rewire.news/article/2015/05/01/d-c-reproductive-health-bill-survives-despite-house-vote-overrule/) at the District of Columbia’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act (RHNDA), a law that protects employees from retaliation over their reproductive health-care choices.

Price again joined Republicans (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll390.xml) in a subsequent 2016 attempt to overturn RHNDA (https://rewire.news/article/2016/07/08/house-gop-votes-d-c-reproductive-health-bill/). The Senate never took up GOP-backed repeal efforts (http://dcist.com/2017/01/as_promised_republicans_on_capitol.php), leaving the law in place.

“Your vote would’ve had the effect of allowing employers to fire a woman for using birth control or for other decisions she makes about her own body and reproductive health,” Hassan said. “So, how is that vote consistent with the answer you just gave me?”

Price became evasive despite attempts from Hassan to pin him down, making the case that his vote would not have had that effect.

“Would you like us to provide examples for you?” Hassan asked. :lol

https://rewire.news/article/2017/01/18/democrats-receipts-prices-reproductive-health-discrimination/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rhrealitycheck+%28RH+Reality+ Check%29

These Repugs LIE, thinking the Dems aren't going to check their public actions. :lol

Fucking slave state misogynistic, racist assholes :lol

[boutons_deux]

Chris Christie: My wife refused to move to DC which is why I couldn’t take Trump administration job



http://2d0yaz2jiom3c6vy7e7e5svk.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Chris-Christie-and-Mary-Pat-Christie-1-800x430.jpg

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/chris-christie-my-wife-refused-to-move-to-dc-so-i-couldnt-take-trump-administration-job/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story% 29

:lol

[boutons_deux]

Trump Budget Nominee Did Not Pay Taxes for Employee

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for White House budget director failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household employee, he admitted in a statement to the Senate Budget Committee, the sort of tax compliance issue that has derailed cabinet nominees in the past.

In a questionnaire provided to the committee, Representative Mick Mulvaney (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/16/us/politics/mick-mulvaney-office-management-budget-trump.html), a conservative from South Carolina and vocal proponent of fiscal restraint noted, “I have come to learn during the confirmation review process that I failed to pay FICA and federal and state unemployment taxes on a household employee for the years 2000-2004.”


https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/us/politics/mick-mulvaney-taxes.html

The corruption will be unpresidented

[boutons_deux]

Idiot Tasked With Maintaining America's Nukes Surprised to Learn What His Job Is (http://gizmodo.com/idiot-tasked-with-maintaining-americas-nukes-surprised-1791360449)


https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Oa38cD7E--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/nm1dvvizku98nbe1swdv.jpg


In December, Rick Perry enthusiastically accepted the nomination to be Donald Trump’s secretary of energy—unfortunately for both Perry and the American people, he had no idea what the fuck he was signing up for. According to a New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/us/politics/rick-perry-energy-secretary-donald-trump.html?_r=0)report,

Perry originally believed the job was being “a global ambassador for the American oil and gas industry.”
It’s not (https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what%20does%20the%20energy%20secretary%20do).

In fact, two-thirds of the Energy Department’s budget is spent on maintaining and protecting our nuclear arsenal, which Perry clearly doesn’t know much about.

In his 2012 bid for the GOP nomination, Perry proposed (https://gizmodo.com/report-rick-perry-to-head-energy-agency-he-couldnt-rem-1790030114) abolishing the Energy Department before forgetting what it was even called.

Now this dunce will likely be in charge our country’s most powerful weapons. This is sure to go just fine.

http://gizmodo.com/idiot-tasked-with-maintaining-americas-nukes-surprised-1791360449?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29

Just another way Repugs tell America "Fuck All Y'all"

[spurraider21]

Perry originally believed the job was being “a global ambassador for the American oil and gas industry.”
why is that in quotes? who's quote is that, booboo?

[DMX7]

why is that in quotes? who's quote is that, booboo?

The NY Times' quote.

[spurraider21]

The NY Times' quote.and who was the new york times quoting? nobody. so how the fuck does the NYT claim to know that rick perry thought he was a global ambassador for oil and FF industry?

that shit should be classified as an op-ed

[boutons_deux]

Scott Pruitt, Testifying to Lead E.P.A., Criticizes Environmental Ruleshttps://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/us/politics/scott-pruitt-testifying-to-lead-epa-criticizes-environmental-rules.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Will 100Ks of environment-hating Repug voters become diseased and die from pollution? Probably, they always vote against their own best interests.

[boutons_deux]

The Kochs bought their unified Republican government, and now they want their reward (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/17/1621267/-The-Kochs-bought-their-unified-Republican-government-and-now-they-want-their-reward)


“We’ve had promises, especially on controlling spending, from Republicans, and it’s time for them to really keep their word,” AFP President Tim Phillips said in an interview Friday.

“Before, they had a reasonable point when they would say, ‘Well, we don’t control the White House.’ There was a time when they only had the House and not the Senate.

They have all three now, and so the ability to genuinely get these actions, take these actions, get this agenda done — now they have that opportunity.”

The new AFP agenda is being rolled out after a long campaign where the Koch network focused its energy on state and congressional races — not on the presidential race, in what was widely interpreted as a rejection of Donald Trump. […]

There are plenty of signs that any tensions between Trump and the Kochs are in the rear-view mirror.

Marc Short, a former top Koch network official, will be serving in an influential post in the White House as director of legislative affairs.

And the Washington Post reported last month that many Trump transition advisers on veterans affairs had ties to Concerned Veterans for America — a Koch group that was recently brought under AFP’s umbrella.


What that means is killing Obamacare,

privatizing whatever government-provided healthcare programs—like the VA's—they can get their hands on and

doing away with all the regulations. Particularly the ones that give us clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.

That's what they expect for the $250 million they spent in 2016

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/18/1621267/-The-Kochs-bought-their-unified-Republican-government-and-now-they-want-their-reward?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

The corporatocracy RULES. America is fucked.

[boutons_deux]

Rick Perry ‘regrets’ calling for elimination of the Energy Department now that he knows what it does

He also apparently misunderstood the Energy Department’s role after Donald Trump nominated him to serve as its secretary.

Perry initially believed he would serve as a global ambassador for the American oil and gas industry :lol — a role he gladly embraced.

“My past statements made over five years ago about abolishing the Department of Energy do not reflect my current thinking,” Perry will tell the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“In fact, after being briefed on so many of the vital functions of the Department of Energy, :lol :lol I regret recommending its elimination.”

Perry will reportedly say that he believes the climate is changing, but he won’t go so far as to say that those changes are related to human activity.

“I believe some of it is naturally occurring, but some of it is also caused by manmade activity,” Perry will say. “The question is how do we address it in a thoughtful way that doesn’t compromise economic growth, the affordability of energy, or American jobs.”

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/rick-perry-regrets-calling-for-elimination-of-the-energy-department-now-that-he-knows-what-it-does/

:lol

Fucking TX Repugs, all a bunch dumbshit BigOil whores

[boutons_deux]

Trump's EPA pick casts doubt on California's power to regulate auto emissions

Donald Trump (http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-na-all-things-trump)’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.latimes.com/topic/environmental-issues/u.s.-environmental-protection-agency-ORGOV000048-topic.html) cast doubt on whether California should continue to have power to impose its own emission rules for cars and trucks, an authority the state has enjoyed for decades that is also the cornerstone of its efforts to fight global warming.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pol-epa-confirmation-20170118-story.html?utm_source=Essential+California&utm_campaign=d27a36b984-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_12_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6e35f7f85b-d27a36b984-80115881

Block CA from regulating emissions in CA and kill CAFE, that's what Kock Bros paid for, and that's what they'll get.

[Winehole23]

Tom Daschle couldn't be a cabinet member for a very similar reason:


“I have come to learn during the confirmation review process that I failed to pay FICA and federal and state unemployment taxes on a household employee for the years 2000-2004.”https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/us/politics/mick-mulvaney-taxes.html?_r=0

[Winehole23]

Two potential attorneys general under President Bill Clinton — Zoe E. Baird and Kimba Wood — lost their chances to become the first women to hold that office; their nominations were pulled after revelations that they had not paid “nanny taxes.”

[Winehole23]

variation of the same theme: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wilbur-ross-undocumented-worker_us_587f8c7ce4b01cdc64c8b559?zx9row9bdxg06bt 9

[boutons_deux]

#RickPerry is trending on Twitter - Want to guess why? (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/18/1622106/--RickPerry-is-trending-on-Twitter-Want-to-guess-why)

After that screw up, you would have at least thought he would’ve looked up the wikipedia page for the DOE.

Rick Perry follows in the footsteps of

Secretary Ernest Moniz, a nuclear physicist and former Chair at MIT, and

Steven Chu, a physicist and former Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
As unqualified goes, it appears that Perry is bested only by Betsy DeVos and of course Donald J. Trump in the new administration.

What a shit show.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/1/18/1622106/--RickPerry-is-trending-on-Twitter-Want-to-guess-why?detail=email&link_id=6&can_id=4217e8eb109c68bd0c2e4143dd2d8c15&source=email-cartoon-trumps-health-care-plan&email_referrer=cartoon-trumps-health-care-plan&email_subject=cartoon-trumps-health-care-plan

Perry is epitomizes how Repugs insult govt and intentionallyt MISgovern.

The Repug Klown Kar rolls on, completely deserving widespread, hilarious ridicule.

[boutons_deux]

Trump's bungling cripples his national security team right out of the gate (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/18/1621858/-Trump-s-bungling-cripples-his-national-security-team-right-out-of-the-gate)

Remember when counterterrorism expert Richard Clarke described "hair on fire" moments (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/18/magazine/the-way-we-live-now-4-18-04-on-language-hair-on-fire.html) at the beginning of W's presidency as his CIA director tried to get the president focused on a potential terrorist attack in the lead up to 9/11?

Yeah, well, Obama's national security officials have been diligently prepping (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/us/politics/trump-team-has-barely-engaged-with-national-security-council.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0) for the transition to the next national security team since last summer, producing some

275 briefing documents and 1,000 pages of classified material and, writes Mark Landler:

Nobody in the current administration knows whether anyone in the next has read any of it.


Really, Trump has made such a big show of whom he was going to pick for certain cabinet posts that he just hasn't had time to get the national security team in place—not to mention someone who isn't a purveyor of fake news (http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/michael-flynn-conspiracy-pizzeria-trump-232227) and conspiracy theories to lead it.

But lead it retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn will, and in an apparent information vacuum, according to outgoing national security adviser, Susan Rice.

“We really wanted to make sure there was nothing a new team needed to know that we hadn’t told them,” Ms. Rice said in an interview. “It took them more time than we expected for them to be ready to engage with us.” Now, she added, “we’re racing to make up lost time.”


Rice's team has reportedly been scrambling to make unclassified versions of their original reports because, true to Trump's stellar management skills,

most of the National Security Council (NSC) personnel he installed to run the transition didn't have security clearances. Perfect. :lol

Let’s remember that none of the NSC positions require Senate confirmation, so the slow start represents nothing less than sheer incompetence.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/18/1621858/-Trump-s-bungling-cripples-his-national-security-team-right-out-of-the-gate?detail=email&link_id=3&can_id=4217e8eb109c68bd0c2e4143dd2d8c15&source=email-cartoon-trumps-health-care-plan&email_referrer=cartoon-trumps-
health-care-plan&email_subject=cartoon-trumps-health-care-plan

clownish, incompetent Don The Con driving his Klown Kar.

Does Trash have a security clearance? :lol

[boutons_deux]

Bernie Sanders brings a flamethrower to grill healthcare nominee Tom Price (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/18/1621884/-Bernie-Sanders-brings-a-flamethrower-to-grill-healthcare-nominee-Tom-Price)

Sanders: Congressman Price, the United States of America is the only major country on earth that does not guarantee healthcare for people as a right. Canada does it, every major country in Europe does it. Do you believe that healthcare is a right of all Americans whether they are rich or they are poor? Should people, because they are Americans, be able to go to the doctor when they need to, be able to go into a hospital—because they are Americans?

Price: We are a compassionate society— :lol

Sanders: —No we are not a compassionate society.

In terms of our relationship to poor and working people our record is worse than virtually any other country.

We have the highest rate of childhood poverty of any other major country on earth.

And half of our senior older workers have nothing set aside for retirement.

So I don’t think compared to other countries we are particularly compassionate.

But my question is, in Canada, in other countries, all people have the right to get healthcare.

Do you believe we should move in that direction?

Price: ​If you want to talk about other country’s healthcare systems, there are consequences tot he decisions they’ve made just as there are consequences to the decision that we’ve made.

I believe, and I look forward to working with you, :lol

to make certain that every American has access to the highest quality care and coverage that is possible.

Bernie: ’Has access to’ does not mean they are guaranteed healthcare. I have ‘access to’ buying a ten million dollar home, I don’t have the money to do that.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/18/1621884/-Bernie-Sanders-brings-a-flamethrower-to-grill-healthcare-nominee-Tom-Price?detail=email&link_id=8&can_id=4217e8eb109c68bd0c2e4143dd2d8c15&source=email-cartoon-trumps-health-care-plan&email_referrer=cartoon-trumps-health-care-plan&email_subject=cartoon-trumps-health-care-plan

[boutons_deux]

TRUMP EDUCATION NOMINEE BETSY DEVOS LIED TO THE SENATE (https://theintercept.com/2017/01/18/trump-education-nominee-betsy-devos-lied-to-the-senate/)

Newly elected Democratic Sen. Margaret Hassan pressed DeVos on these claims.

She asked DeVos directly if she was on the board of her mother’s foundation during the period in which large donations were made to Focus on the Family.

DeVos said that she was not on the foundation’s board.

When I heard that, I pulled up the 990 tax documents of the Prince Foundation, which I investigated for my book “Blackwater.”

Betsy DeVos was clearly listed as a vice president of the foundation’s board, along with her brother Erik, for many years, at least until 2014. DeVos was a vice president during the precise period Hassan was referring to.

I then began a tweet storm about this lie:

https://twitter.com/jeremyscahill/status/821524884136325120/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://theintercept.com/2017/01/18/trump-education-nominee-betsy-devos-lied-to-the-senate/

[DarrinS]

The sad life of boutons on full display

[boutons_deux]

The sad life of boutons on full display

suck it, loser bitch

Your hero Trash and his band of sociopathic billionaires and dumbshits gonna fuck up real good,

[Cry Havoc]

Not even in office yet and already one of the worst Presidents in the history of the United States. :pctoss

[boutons_deux]

"Price: We are a compassionate society"

U.S. Ranks 23rd Out of 30 Developed Countries for Inequality

Study after study (https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/09/why-so-few-american-economists-are-studying-inequality/499253/) shows that America has more wealth concentration than most other developed nations. But WEF’s findings about how poorly the U.S. performs when it comes to wages and social safety nets is particularly notable since

legislation intended to address those disparities are set to undergo significant changes in the early years of the Trump administration.

perhaps the clearest indication of what the Trump administration has in mind for wage protections is the choice of Andrew Puzder for secretary of the Department of Labor. Puzder, the CEO of a fast-food company, has been outspoken about his disdain for federally mandated minimum-wage increases and new overtime rules (https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/01/raises-overtime-trump/512300/) that would result in either raises or additional pay for millions of workers.

Conservatives have said that these rules place an undue burden on business owners, which could result in hiring fewer works, or giving them fewer hours—which would ultimately hurt the labor force. Advocates of these federal initiatives say that, without them, workers—especially low-income workers—will remain underpaid, overworked, and without enough consistent income to access basic necessities.

the U.S.’s striking inequality likely influences a variety of other disparities, including political and social polarization.

The report suggests that while dangerous, the current problem can be improved through policies that, among other things, promote parity in wages regardless of gender, race or ethnicity; educational opportunities; and access to jobs.

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/01/wef-davos-inequality/513185/

Trash and his sociopath Repug assholes will make the poor poore, the richer much richer, and kill 10Ks due to denying them health.

[boutons_deux]

Not even in office yet and already one of the worst Presidents in the history of the United States. :pctoss

yep, look at his agenda, look at Repug platform, look at Exec branch staffing, if they "succeed", America of the 95% fails.

[Mitch]

yep, look at his agenda, look at Repug platform, look at Exec branch staffing, if they "succeed", America of the 95% fails.

A large part of America failed themselves, people like yourself included. This picture pretty much represents the crybabies like you and other hyper liberals
http://i.imgur.com/pPDa0BE.jpg

[boutons_deux]

Trump Treasury pick: 'I have been maligned' :lol

Grilled by Senate Democrats on Thursday, Steven Mnuchin firmly defended his record as a banker. He insisted that regulators -- not the California bank he owned -- were at fault for a series of troubling foreclosures on widows, military families and other vulnerable homeowners during the Great Recession.

One of the final Donald Trump Cabinet picks to face Congress, Mnuchin went before the Senate Finance Committee. He faced policy questions about taxes, the debt ceiling and banking regulation (http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/18/news/economy/steven-mnuchin-issues/index.html?iid=EL).

"Since I was first nominated to serve as Treasury secretary, I have been maligned as taking advantage of others' hardships in order to earn a buck. Nothing could be further from the truth," Mnuchin said. :lol :lol :lol :lol

Mnuchin said he was concerned with the foreclosure practices while he ran the bank, :lol :lol

It's not just his banking record that's generating criticism.

Even before the hearing began, Democrats went on the attack Thursday about offshore investments Mnuchin has in the Cayman Islands, which they charged had not been submitted to the committee as part of his financial disclosure (http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/11/investing/steve-mnuchin-disclosure/index.html?iid=EL).

"Mnuchin's failure to disclose his Cayman Islands holdings just reeks of the swamp that the President-elect promised to drain on the campaign trail," said Sen. Charles Schumer, the Democrats' senate leader. "It's no wonder that Republicans are trying to rush these nominees through the Senate, but the American people and Senate Democrats are not going to stand for it."

Under questioning about those holdings, Mnuchin said the offshore entities were set up to benefit clients of his client, including pension funds and not-for-profits. He denied that he had used these holdings to reduce his personal taxes. He also said he supports simplifying the tax code, which would eliminate such offshore loopholes. :lol :lol :lol

"What you did may have been legal but it was to help people and entities avoid U.S, taxes," said Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey.

"we were forced to foreclose on senior citizens even when they only owed $1." :lol :lol

Critics of OneWest and the attorney who sued on behalf of the Florida woman insist that OneWest's policies frequently sought improper foreclosures, and that the bank was far more aggressive dealing with foreclosures than other reverse mortgage lenders were.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/19/news/economy/mnuchin-treasury-confirmation-hearing/index.html?sr=fbCNN011917mnuchin-treasury-confirmation-hearing0530PMVODtopVideo&linkId=33563936

Stats show OneWest was the worst of the worst of the foreclosure mills.

yeah, Munchkin is FOR raising taxes on the scamming, predatory, destructive wealthy capitalists like himself by closing loopholes? :lol

Somebody forced him to buy criminal IndyMac at distressed price? :lol

[boutons_deux]

What Betsy DeVos Didn't Say About School Choice

Charter schools have fueled school resegregation in urban America.

one topic never came up: American schools’ deeply entrenched racial segregation (https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/09/in-pursuit-of-integration/499505/).

“Both historically and currently, voucher programs have served as a means for wealthier and white families to flee an increasingly diverse public school system, moving into largely unaccountable private schools that can exclude students based on a number of factors.”

an increasing body of research suggests these concerns should not be isolated to vouchers, but to school-choice programs of all kinds: Nationwide, school-choice programs—such as charter schools and open-enrollment options—have pushed more low-income, minority students into even more racially segregated schools.

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/01/what-betsy-devos-didnt-say-about-school-choice/513641/

Certainly, in the red/slave states, "school choice" is code word for keeping knitters in horrible, underfinanced schools and out of decent white schools.

And DeVos' Detroit urban charter schools are a disaster, for profit.

[boutons_deux]

Elizabeth Warren just absolutely scorched Trump’s Treasury pick with one tweet

he left out $100 million in assets (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/01/19/treasury-nominee-initially-omitted-more-than-100-million-from-disclosures-democratic-memo-shows/?utm_term=.c75357ccd1da) on the financial disclosure form he submitted, as is required for cabinet nominees.

According to the Washington Post, Mnuchin’s missing $100 million is attributed to a corporation in the Cayman Islands, which is perhaps the most notorious overseas tax haven in the world.

Mnuchin spokeswoman Tara Bradshaw told the Post that the omission of the Cayman corporation’s assets was an oversight, and that the paperwork has since been changed to reflect the $100 million.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/722044174799777792/bXaodRhx_bigger.jpgElizabeth Warren (https://twitter.com/SenWarren)
(https://twitter.com/SenWarren)✔@SenWarren (https://twitter.com/SenWarren)

When Mnuchin makes mistakes on complicated paperwork, he asks for forgiveness.

When his customers made mistakes, he took their homes.

10:50 AM - 19 Jan 2017 (https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/822124067906080770)

http://usuncut.com/politics/elizabeth-warren-steve-mnuchin-tweet/

[Quadzilla99]

What Betsy DeVos Didn't Say About School Choice

Charter schools have fueled school resegregation in urban America.

one topic never came up: American schools’ deeply entrenched racial segregation (https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/09/in-pursuit-of-integration/499505/).

“Both historically and currently, voucher programs have served as a means for wealthier and white families to flee an increasingly diverse public school system, moving into largely unaccountable private schools that can exclude students based on a number of factors.”

an increasing body of research suggests these concerns should not be isolated to vouchers, but to school-choice programs of all kinds: Nationwide, school-choice programs—such as charter schools and open-enrollment options—have pushed more low-income, minority students into even more racially segregated schools.

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/01/what-betsy-devos-didnt-say-about-school-choice/513641/

Certainly, in the red/slave states, "school choice" is code word for keeping knitters in horrible, underfinanced schools and out of decent white schools.

And DeVos' Detroit urban charter schools are a disaster, for profit.


Find some stats on this academic segregation..actually seems interesting. Go find the data and copypasta it here and make yourself useful for once.

[CosmicCowboy]

Elizabeth Warren just absolutely scorched Trump’s Treasury pick with one tweet

he left out $100 million in assets (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/01/19/treasury-nominee-initially-omitted-more-than-100-million-from-disclosures-democratic-memo-shows/?utm_term=.c75357ccd1da) on the financial disclosure form he submitted, as is required for cabinet nominees.

According to the Washington Post, Mnuchin’s missing $100 million is attributed to a corporation in the Cayman Islands, which is perhaps the most notorious overseas tax haven in the world.

Mnuchin spokeswoman Tara Bradshaw told the Post that the omission of the Cayman corporation’s assets was an oversight, and that the paperwork has since been changed to reflect the $100 million.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/722044174799777792/bXaodRhx_bigger.jpgElizabeth Warren (https://twitter.com/SenWarren)
(https://twitter.com/SenWarren)✔@SenWarren (https://twitter.com/SenWarren)

When Mnuchin makes mistakes on complicated paperwork, he asks for forgiveness.

When his customers made mistakes, he took their homes.

10:50 AM - 19 Jan 2017 (https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/822124067906080770)

http://usuncut.com/politics/elizabeth-warren-steve-mnuchin-tweet/


I sure hope you losers run Warren next time.

[Clipper Nation]

Fauxcahontas is a less likeable, less competent, and less accomplished version of Hillary. Please nominate her in 2020, libs!

[boutons_deux]

Liz emasculated yˋallsˋ criminal, predatory Shylock, bitches.

[CosmicCowboy]

Liz emasculated yˋallsˋ criminal, predatory Shylock, bitches.

Please run her for President!!!!!

#boocirclingthedrain

[spurraider21]

mnuchin and devos have come across horribly. sessions actually held up surprisingly well even though he faced the most heat coming in

lindsey grahams questioning of the naacp dude during the sessions hearing was a pretty savage beatdown though :lol...

[Clipper Nation]

http://i.imgur.com/mxRL37r.jpg

[Winehole23]

that's pretty much you too, CN.

you're the mirror image of boutons...rigidly ideological, humorless, unpleasant and socially inept.

[boutons_deux]

Betsy DeVos Won’t Shed Stake in Biofeedback Company, Filings Show

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/business/dealbook/betsy-devos-neurocore.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

[boutons_deux]

better than all the "media" combined, Sam, John, Trevor, etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8okdzcz7PTM

[Thread]

Betsy DeVos Won’t Shed Stake in Biofeedback Company, Filings Show

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/business/dealbook/betsy-devos-neurocore.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

+ the Conway girl stated this morning that Trump will not release his tax returns.

That ought to get ya goin, Bouts.

[boutons_deux]

Trash drainging the swamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8okdzcz7PTM&t=9s

[boutons_deux]

http://pictures.ozy.com/pictures/2048x1152fit/7/4/0/102740_dsc_8065.jpg

[rmt]

http://pictures.ozy.com/pictures/2048x1152fit/7/4/0/102740_dsc_8065.jpg

These Asian girls are the ones being discriminated against most in college admissions - all for the sake of diversity instead of merit.

[boutons_deux]

These Asian girls are the ones being discriminated against most in college admissions - all for the sake of diversity instead of merit.

godDAM, you're fucking stupid.

Asian culture, East and South, values education more than you rightwingnutjobs who mostly don't go to college or anything higher than HS.

Asians in general have better grades, AP work than whites, are in college in higher %age than their population %age.

[rmt]

godDAM, you're fucking stupid.

Asian culture, East and South, values education more than you rightwingnutjobs who mostly don't go to college or anything higher than HS.

Asians in general have better grades, AP work than whites, are in college in higher %age than their population %age.

Please remember who you are talking to, bou. I've been through most of the #1 math team in the nation (mostly Asians) put on the waiting list at WashU while lesser (Hispanic and Black) students getting acceptances with full rides. Ironic isn't it - when these Asian students are peer tutoring the others who get in based on the color of their skin and the peer tutors get refused on the color of their skin.

[boutons_deux]

A Few Thoughts on Mike Flynn

US counter-intelligence agents have been scrutinizing

Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's contacts with Russia, both during the presidential campaign and on the crucial date of December 29th, 2016, the day President Obama leveled a series of new sanctions on Russian in response to their election year subversion campaign.

"It isn’t clear when the counterintelligence inquiry began, whether it produced any incriminating evidence or if it is continuing. Mr. Flynn, a retired general who became national security adviser with Mr. Trump’s inauguration, plays a key role in setting U.S. policy toward Russia."

this is an almost belief-defying set of facts.

To do his or her job the National Security Advisor must have access to literally all of the US government's secrets. Their role is to bring together and synthesize the information coming from every part of the US government touching on national defense, security and diplomacy.

The Pentagon, the various intelligence services, diplomacy emerging from the State Department - the NSC Advisor must have a full view into all of those.

Nothing can be secret or hidden from the them because what is secret from the National Security Advisor is essentially secret from the President.

Any restrictions on the National Security Advisor's right to know, let only any question about his loyalty or ties to foreign governments, makes his position untenable. In terms of the impracticality of the situation, as opposed to the consequences, it is almost tantamount to the President himself being under such scrutiny.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-few-thoughts-on-mike-flynn?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tpm-news+%28TPMNews%29

Putin is laughing his ass off. America is such a naive pushover, so easy to hack, so easy to subvert. Nostrovia, Vlad, you da best.

[Th'Pusher]

Looks like Rubio is going to support Tillerson, so that should lock him in as our next SoS.

[boutons_deux]

Looks like Rubio is going to support Tillerson, so that should lock him in as our next SoS.

Sanctions on Russia terminated, Tillerson gets his $500B gas/oi. deal with Pootin, enriching America's arch-enemy by $Ts.

Thanks, Repugs!

[Splits]

823967305751285770

[spurraider21]

Makes sense. Carson came across fine in his hearing, and surprisingly I thought sessions held up well. Devos and mnuchin (spelling?) worry me

[boutons_deux]

Trump's swamp creature Tom Price lies his way through second hearing on the way to confirmation (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/24/1624642/-Trump-s-swamp-creature-Tom-Price-lies-his-way-through-second-hearing-on-the-way-to-confirmation)

More details have emerged about the most troublesome purchase of more than $100,000 worth of stock in the Australian biotech firm Innate Immunotherapeutics in 2016, a purchase he failed to properly disclose (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tom-price-stock-trades_us_588793fee4b0441a8f712436).

On a financial disclosure Price provided to the Office of Government Ethics in December, he listed the value of his stake in Innate Immunotherapeutics in the category of "between $15,001 and $50,000." This failed to include his second purchase of stock at a special price that was available to 18 investors they selected (http://www.innateimmuno.com/irm/PDF/1285/NoticeofAnnualGeneralMeetingProxyForm), including two members of the company's board. He has since estimated that stake to be worth "between $100,001 and $250,000" at the time he filed his disclosure on Dec. 20. The value of his holding in the little-known Australian company has since increased by more than 100 percent.

Price learned about Innate Immunotherapeutics (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/health/innate-immunotherapeutics-tom-price.html?_r=0) from Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), a member of the firm’s board, in early 2016. On Sept. 1, when the actual price of a share was $0.31, he purchased 400,613 shares at a price of $0.18 each, for an instant profit of $57,080. Based on the current value of Innate Immunotherapeutics stock on the Australian market, the shares Price bought through this private placement are now worth more than $520,000—more than four times their value at the time of the purchase.

Substantially more, as well, than what he claimed in his disclosure a month ago. "Set aside the legal issues," said ranking member of Finance, Democratic Colorado Sen. Ron Wyden. "It is hard to see this as anything but a conflict of interest, and an abuse of positions."

Price says that his failure to correctly report the value of his stock is simply a "clerical error. :lol

Other highlights of the hearing were Price disputing that he had ever said protecting the insurance patients with pre-existing conditions was a bad idea, as Wyden pointed out. Price was lying. In fact, he called it (http://www.politico.com/story/2012/04/gop-ers-split-over-how-to-reform-health-care-075767) a "terrible idea."

Price also said in the hearing (http://in.reuters.com/article/usa-congress-price-hearing-idINL1N1FE56E) that he does not support privatizing Medicare, which was news to everyone in the room, since he talked about wanting to do that back in November (http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/306540-house-gop-eying-major-medicare-overhaul-in-2017) of last year and in March 2015 (http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/house-gop-budget-116141), and voted for it five times.

Price said that he would support the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program not for the usual five years, but for eight. He voted against (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll016.xml) both reauthorization and/or efforts to expand the program in 2009, 2008 (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll022.xml), and 2007 (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll1009.xml).

And this was pretty good, too: Price's apparently stunned reaction upon learning that being a woman was a pre-existing condition before Obamacare came along.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/24/1624642/-Trump-s-swamp-creature-Tom-Price-lies-his-way-through-second-hearing-on-the-way-to-confirmation?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

And Mnuchin's $100M "error" about his hidden money in the Caymans? :lol

[boutons_deux]

The State Department’s entire senior management team just resigned

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2017/01/26/the-state-departments-entire-senior-management-team-just-resigned/?utm_term=.d910d37d372f&wpisrc=nl_most-draw7&wpmm=1

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

[Thread]

^After Trump asked them to...according to CNN.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

So who is Trump going to appoint for SCOTUS?

[boutons_deux]

The fast food CEO Trump is putting in charge of labor spent big against minimum wage increase (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/25/1625028/-The-fast-food-CEO-Trump-is-putting-in-charge-of-labor-spent-big-against-minimum-wage-increase)

He once spent $10,000 to oppose a pay bump of one dollar an hour.

Andrew Puzder, CEO of the company that franchises Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants,

gave the money (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3382209-Nevada-minimum-wage-Puzder-donation.html#document/p3/a335198) in 2006 to battle a Nevada ballot measure to raise the state minimum wage from $5.15 (the federal minimum wage at the time) to $6.15.

The donation put him among the top 10 donors (http://followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=10246313&default=ballot) trying to prevent the wage increase, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.


Puzder doesn’t just want to underpay his workers. He has absolute contempt (http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/23/news/kfile-puzder-best-of-the-worst/) for them,

as he showed in two 2011 speeches, bragging about how he’d improved the workforce at Hardee’s when he came on as CEO:

"In fast food, you sort of compete for the best of the worst," Puzder said. "In other words, you're not getting the Microsoft guys. At Hardee's we were getting the worst of the worst. Nobody wanted to work at Hardee's. It was complicated to work there, we had to change our network systems, our menu was too complicated we had to simplify it."


In public interviews Puzder has talked about his workers in more positive ways, but it’s not hard to tell what he really thinks. You look at what he does, and

what he does is wage theft (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/16/1621199/-Protecting-workers-That-s-not-a-job-for-Donald-Trump-s-labor-secretary), poor working conditions (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/12/1619803/-What-would-Trump-s-labor-pick-mean-for-workers-People-who-ve-lived-it-tell-Democrats-their-stories), and opposition to raising the minimum wage.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/25/1625028/-The-fast-food-CEO-Trump-is-putting-in-charge-of-labor-spent-big-against-minimum-wage-increase?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

[tlongII]

The fast food CEO Trump is putting in charge of labor spent big against minimum wage increase (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/25/1625028/-The-fast-food-CEO-Trump-is-putting-in-charge-of-labor-spent-big-against-minimum-wage-increase)

He once spent $10,000 to oppose a pay bump of one dollar an hour.

Andrew Puzder, CEO of the company that franchises Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants,

gave the money (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3382209-Nevada-minimum-wage-Puzder-donation.html#document/p3/a335198) in 2006 to battle a Nevada ballot measure to raise the state minimum wage from $5.15 (the federal minimum wage at the time) to $6.15.

The donation put him among the top 10 donors (http://followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=10246313&default=ballot) trying to prevent the wage increase, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.


Puzder doesn’t just want to underpay his workers. He has absolute contempt (http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/23/news/kfile-puzder-best-of-the-worst/) for them,

as he showed in two 2011 speeches, bragging about how he’d improved the workforce at Hardee’s when he came on as CEO:

"In fast food, you sort of compete for the best of the worst," Puzder said. "In other words, you're not getting the Microsoft guys. At Hardee's we were getting the worst of the worst. Nobody wanted to work at Hardee's. It was complicated to work there, we had to change our network systems, our menu was too complicated we had to simplify it."


In public interviews Puzder has talked about his workers in more positive ways, but it’s not hard to tell what he really thinks. You look at what he does, and

what he does is wage theft (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/16/1621199/-Protecting-workers-That-s-not-a-job-for-Donald-Trump-s-labor-secretary), poor working conditions (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/12/1619803/-What-would-Trump-s-labor-pick-mean-for-workers-People-who-ve-lived-it-tell-Democrats-their-stories), and opposition to raising the minimum wage.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/25/1625028/-The-fast-food-CEO-Trump-is-putting-in-charge-of-labor-spent-big-against-minimum-wage-increase?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29




What he does is keep wages at an appropriate level for burger flippers.

[boutons_deux]

Jeff Sessions laid the groundwork for Trump's Muslim ban and must be rejected by the Senate (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/29/1627116/-Jeff-Sessions-laid-the-groundwork-for-Trump-s-Muslim-ban-and-must-be-rejected-by-the-Senate)

To longtime Jeff Sessions observers, the chaos that unfolded in American airports on Saturday morning wasn’t a surprise. At all. Rather, the refugee ban was the predictable culmination of years of advocacy from two of President Donald Trump’s most trusted advisors:

White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller and attorney general designate Jeff Sessions.

For years, Sessions and Miller—who was the Alabama senator’s communications director before leaving to join the Trump campaign—pushed research and talking points designed to make Americans afraid of refugees.

Press releases, email forwards, speeches on the Senate floor—Miller and Sessions used it all to make the case against Obama’s refugee program was a huge terror threat. The executive order Trump signed late in the day on Friday is just the logical conclusion of their work.

Last year,

the Senate voted on a non-binding resolution (https://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/ted-cruz-votes-against-senate-resolution-that-rejects-trumps?utm_term=.uewWE7gyl#.afER4aKXV) " affirming that the United States does not use religious tests for immigrants seeking admission into the country."

Guess who was one of the four voting against this resolution? You got it—Sessions.

Who also cast a proxy vote for Sen. Ted Cruz while he was at it.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/29/1627116/-Jeff-Sessions-laid-the-groundwork-for-Trump-s-Muslim-ban-and-must-be-rejected-by-the-Senate?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

[boutons_deux]

Steve Bannon, Trump's Top Guy, Told Me He Was 'A Leninist' Who Wants To ‘Destroy the State’

The Breitbart executive director turned GOP leader boasted at a party about his goal of destroying the conservative establishment.

we had a long talk about his approach to politics. He never called himself a “populist” or an “American nationalist,” as so many think of him today. “I’m a Leninist,” Bannon proudly proclaimed.

“Lenin,” he answered, “wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.” Bannon was employing Lenin’s strategy for Tea Party populist goals. He included in that group the Republican and Democratic Parties, as well as the traditional conservative press.

I then asked Bannon whether or not he had read Sowell's piece (https://www.creators.com/read/thomas-sowell/11/13/tea-party-at-the-crossroads), since Bannon was in favor of the very Tea Party tactic that Sowell had criticized.

“National Review and The Weekly Standard,” he said, “are both left-wing magazines, and I want to destroy them also.”

He added that “no one reads them or cares what they say.”

His goal was to bring down the entire establishment including the leaders of the Republican Party in Congress. He went on to tell me that he was the East Coast coordinator of all the Tea Party groups. His plan was to get its candidates nominated on the Republican ticket, and then to back campaigns that they could win. Then, Bannon said, when elected they would be held accountable to fight for the agenda he and the Tea Party stood for.

If they didn’t, “we would force them out of office and oppose them when the next election for their seats came around.”

That, essentially, was the tactic employed when Eric Cantor was ousted by a far right candidate, virtually unknown college economics professor Dave Brat, in his Virginia district’s primary.

Trump’s decision to take on Bannon indicates that he wants to wage his campaign along the lines laid down by him—that of destroying the Republican leadership and the Party as we know it. Trump’s behavior thus far has been compatible with Bannon’s belief in Leninist tactics. As the Bolshevik leader once said,

“The art of any propagandist and agitator consists in his ability to find the best means of influencing any given audience, by presenting a definite truth, in such a way as to make it most convincing, most easy to digest, most graphic, and most strongly impressive.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/22/steve-bannon-trump-s-top-guy-told-me-he-was-a-leninist.html

I never heard this Bannon talk, but his pics, his words give the feeling that's he's aa mentally ill as Trash, but a lot smarter, focused, much more dangerous.

[boutons_deux]

Who's the Favorite Senator of Followers of White Nationalists on Twitter? (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/jeff-sessions-close-ties-white-nationalists-twitter)

Based on an analysis of senators' Twitter followers, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), President Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, had the most overlap with white nationalist groups and individuals.

"He's the closest of all senators to the white nationalist groups,"

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/jeff-sessions-close-ties-white-nationalists-twitter

[spurraider21]

:lmao Sean Spicer

http://usuncut.news/2017/01/30/sean-spicer-retweeted-the-onion-and-the-internet-will-never-let-him-live-it-down-screenshots/

[boutons_deux]

How Jeff Sessions Helped Kill Equitable School Funding in Alabama

A civil-rights lawsuit challenging the system for funding Alabama’s schools succeeded, and the state’s courts in 1993 declared the conditions in the poor schools a violation of Alabama’s Constitution. Gov. Guy Hunt, who had battled the litigation, accepted defeat, and vowed to work with the courts to negotiate a solution for equitably funding all of Alabama’s schools.

“This is a unique and timely opportunity to make historic improvements in Alabama’s public schools for our children,” Hunt said at a news conference in 1993, “and we will not miss this opportunity.”

Jeff Sessions had other ideas.

Sessions, elected Alabama attorney general (http://www.nationalmemo.com/jeff-sessions-and-jim-crow/) just a year after the courts had begun review of reform measures,

didn’t think the state’s courts should have any role in deciding how Alabama educated its children.

He hired expensive private lawyers to fight the findings of the court — first at the district level, later at the state Supreme Court level.

He succeeded in removing a judge sympathetic to the plight of poor students from the case.

He filed appeal after appeal, insisting he be heard even after the state’s highest court issued final decisions.

He fought every effort by the court to require that schools in the state’s poorer communities be funded at the same levels as its wealthier ones.

Sessions’s efforts won out — both in the short term, and in the end. His legal jousting across his two years as attorney general effectively prevented any overhaul to the way schools were financed in Alabama, and as a result, helped drag out a case that would ultimately collapse years later when the makeup of the state’s top court turned over.

http://www.nationalmemo.com/sessions-helped-kill-equitable-school-funding-alabama/

[Splits]

:lmao Sean Spicer

http://usuncut.news/2017/01/30/sean-spicer-retweeted-the-onion-and-the-internet-will-never-let-him-live-it-down-screenshots/

lol

[boutons_deux]

lol


...Just like STers getting punked by borowitz :lol

[spurraider21]

...Just like STers getting punked by borowitz :lol
:lol no

Boroshitz is unfunny and nobody falls for it despite your repeated attempts

[Splits]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3YqndIVcAArEG_.jpg

[boutons_deux]

Treasury Secretary Nominee Mnuchin Misled Senate About Robo-Signed Foreclosures

Steve Mnuchin, President Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, recently told members of the Senate Finance Committee that his former bank OneWest did not use the illegal practice of “robo-signing” when foreclosing on homeowners after the collapse of the housing bubble. However, a new report claims that

OneWest repeatedly used robo-signed documents on foreclosures.

As part of Mnuchin’s confirmation process, he responded in writing to questions from individual members of the Finance Committee, declaring that “OneWest Bank did not ‘robo-sign’ documents.”

However, the Columbus Dispatch claims to have found (http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170129/trump-treasury-pick-mnuchin-misled-senate-on-foreclosures-ohio-cases-show) multiple OneWest foreclosures involving Ohio homes that appear to be cases of robo-signing, including three foreclosures that were dismissed by a judge for using inaccurate, robo-signed documents.

One local woman says received a note from a OneWest field inspector declaring that her house was vacant and was to boarded up.

Problem was, not only was the homeowner still living there, but she was not behind on her mortgage payments. What she didn’t know was that OneWest had decided to ignore a loan modification previously granted by a lender that OneWest had acquired.

She says it took her five years and a personal bankruptcy before the foreclosure was finally thrown out.

The OneWest employee who signed these foreclosure documents had admitted in a separate lawsuit that she signed some 750 documents a week, while only reviewing about 10% of them for accuracy.

https://consumerist.com/2017/01/30/report-treasury-secretary-nominee-mnuchin-misled-senate-about-robo-signed-foreclosures/

Of COURSE he lied, he's BigFinance predatory shark.

[boutons_deux]

Democrats just blocked Mnuchin’s nomination for Treasury secretary

Senate Democrats just delayed the confirmation of Steven Mnuchin as President Trump’s secretary of Treasury. (http://thehill.com/policy/finance/316945-senate-democrats-block-vote-on-trump-treasury-pick)

The Democrats blocked a committee vote, which would have permitted the Senate Finance Committee to vote to recommend Mnuchin for confirmation. Instead, the committee will have to vote on his nomination Tuesday morning.

“While not surprising, this is an unfortunate and needless delay that simply means the Committee will reconvene tomorrow morning to vote on the nominee for U.S. Treasury Secretary,”

http://usuncut.com/news/democrats-just-blocked-mnuchins-nomination-treasury-secretary/

=========

OneWest "was responsible for 16,200 foreclosures on government-backed reverse mortgages, or 39 percent of all foreclosures nationwide, from 2009 through late 2014, even though it only serviced about 17 percent of the loans."

http://time.com/money/4639480/steve-mnuchin-treasury-secretary-foreclosures-onewest/

[boutons_deux]

Company Says It Gave Price Exclusive Stock Deal, Contrary To His Testimony

An Australian pharmaceutical company says it gave President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services an exclusive deal to purchase stock, the Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/articles/rep-tom-price-got-privileged-discounted-offer-on-biomedical-stock-company-says-1485800769) reported Monday.

That directly contradicts Price's testimony in his confirmation hearings that discounted shares of Innate Immunotherapeutics Ltd. “were available to every single individual that was an investor at the time."

Innate Immuno CEO Simon Wilkinson said in an interview with the Journal that those investors who had previously participated in private placement had been invited to “make friends and family aware of the opportunity” to buy discounted shares.

The Journal confirmed the exclusive discount in an interview with Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), who owns a 17 percent stake in the company and who made Price aware of the stock opportunity.

Prior to the Journal report,

Price was already in hot water (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chuck-schumer-tom-price-may-have-broken-law-healthcare-stocks) for the timing of his initial investment in Innate Immuno. He introduced legislation that would have benefitted the company after buying up to $15,000 in stock in the company in March of last year.

After that initial investment, Price invested larger sums in Innate Immuno stock at discounted rates, according to the Journal report. On two separate occasions, Price invested a net of $50,000-$100,000, according to disclosure forms.

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-price-idUSKBN15D0OS) on Price's nomination to lead HHS.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/tom-price-purchased-exclusive-discounted-stock?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tpm-news+%28TPMNews%29

This corrupt fucker is a Repug hero, for being a liar, the only ethical rule Repugs follow

The Corruption Will Be Unpresidented.

[boutons_deux]

Hundreds of State Legislators and Civil Rights Groups Urge Senate to Reject DeVos

'Ms. DeVos has used her vast wealth to influence state legislation and the outcomes of elections to advance policies that have undermined public education and proved harmful to many of our most vulnerable students'

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/30/hundreds-state-legislators-and-civil-rights-groups-urge-senate-reject-devos

[boutons_deux]

On the same day Rex Tillerson is confirmed, the House votes to kill a transparency rule for oil companies


the House voted to kill a transparency rule for oil companies that Tillerson once lobbied against while CEO of Exxon Mobil.

Using the little-known Congressional Review Act (http://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/2/1/14459630/congressional-review-act-obama-regs), the House GOP voted on Wednesday to kill an Obama-era regulation (https://www.sec.gov/news/pressrelease/2016-132.html) that would require publicly traded oil, gas, and mining companies to disclose any payments that they made to foreign governments, including taxes and royalties.
The rule itself dates back to the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act — when senators from both parties included a provision (https://votesmart.org/public-statement/612406/lugar-floor-speech-on-transparency-amendment) requiring greater disclosure from mining and drilling companies working abroad. The hope was to cut down on corruption in resource-rich developing countries by increasing transparency.

Under the Congressional Review Act, the House and Senate can basically vote to repeal any Obama-era regulation finalized after June 13, 2016, by a simple majority vote — as long as the president agrees. And the SEC’s “resource extraction rule,” detested by the oil industry, was one of the first rules the GOP decided to target using the CRA.

Supporters of the rule, for their part, argued that the rule wasn’t substantially different from similar requirements in Canada and Europe. Foreign companies like BP and Royal Dutch Shell now regularly report taxes, bonuses, and other payments to foreign governments. Why shouldn’t American oil majors like Chevron and Exxon Mobil?

“The US had been at the forefront on the transparency issue, with more than 30 countries following in its footsteps to pass similar legislation,” said Isabel Munilla of Oxfam International, in a statement. “State-owned companies from Brazil, China, and Russia are all now required to disclose their payments. If the Senate follows suit in overturning this rule, the US will go from a leader into a laggard.”

http://www.vox.com/2017/2/1/14477314/oil-companies-disclosure-rule-tillerson

The corruption will be unpresidented

[boutons_deux]

Late Wednesday, DeVos' nomination took another hit, from Eli Broad, the billionaire philanthropist (http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-eli-broad-opposes-devos-20170201-story.html)who has funded many education reform efforts, especially charter schools. Broad sent a letter to senators (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3441190-170201-Letter-to-Senators-Schumer-and-McConnell.html)calling DeVos unqualified.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-confirmation-of-betsy-devos-in-doubt-as-1485979980-htmlstory.html?utm_source=Today%27s+Headlines&utm_campaign=2984d660f5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_12_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b04355194f-2984d660f5-80027601

We'll see if the Repugs force her through anyway, they know she's another useful idiot, like Trash, way out of her depth.

[boutons_deux]

Sen. Al Franken tears into Texas Sen. John Cornyn over Ted Cruz lies in Jeff Sessions hearing (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/2/2/1628891/-Sen-Al-Franken-tears-into-Texas-Sen-John-Cornyn-over-Ted-Cruz-lies-in-Jeff-Sessions-hearing)

http://images.dailykos.com/images/360427/story_image/Sen_Al_Franken_tears_into_Texas_Sen_Cornyn_over_Te d_Cruz_lies.jpg?1486010997

Senator Al Franken laid into false moralizing Texas Senator John Cornyn as he corrected the record from a lying Ted Cruz before the Jeff Session vote.
When Senator Franken began illustrating the lies Senator Ted Cruz told on a previous day of Jeff Session's hearing, John Cornyn interrupted. Watch the full video where Al Franken made the entire case against Sessions and Cruz here (https://egbertowillies.com/2017/02/01/al-franken-takes-ag-session-cruz-cornyn/).

"That's what happened," Al Franken said. "Those are the facts. But when describing this history, Senator Cruz misrepresented what happened. So I would like to take the opportunity to set the record straight."

"I object to the Senator disparaging a fellow member of the committee here in his absence," John Cornyn interjected. "I would think he .."

Franken immediately lashed back.

"Well, he should be here first of all," Franken slammed back pointing at Cornyn. "And secondly, he disparaged me, Senator."

"This is what happened," Franken continued with his speech. "Those are the facts. But when describing this history, Senator Cruz misrepresented what happened. So I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight."

"Mr. Chairman, I object again," Cornyn interrupted again. "The Senator apparently can't get the message from the Chairman that this is over the top and inappropriate."

"I think the Senator from Texas doesn't get the message from the Chairman,"

"Can I explain what I am doing here?" Franken asked Grassley.

"Because Senator Cruz did the very thing, Senator Cornyn is accusing me of doing. In my absence, he misrepresented me. He misrepresented Mr. Hebert. He personally went after me. He personally impugned my integrity. You did not object then, did you?"

Cornyn claimed he was not sure if he was there.

"I wasn't here either," Franken lashed back. "Let me continue sir."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/02/02/1628891/-Sen-Al-Franken-tears-into-Texas-Sen-John-Cornyn-over-Ted-Cruz-lies-in-Jeff-Sessions-hearing?detail=email&link_id=6&can_id=4217e8eb109c68bd0c2e4143dd2d8c15&source=email-unapologetic-kansas-air-patrol-officer-to-legislator-this-b-needs-to-swing-from-a-tree&email_referrer=unapologetic-kansas-air-patrol-officer-to-legislator-this-b-needs-to-swing-from-a-tree&email_subject=unapologetic-kansas-air-patrol-officer-to-legislator-this-b-needs-to-swing-from-a-tree

At least one Dem is not taking shit from the Repug assholes.

[Mitch]

:lol Franken is a crying baby complaining about how mean Cruz is

[boutons_deux]

:lol Franken is a crying baby complaining about how mean Cruz is

not crying, complaining about Cruz lying about Franken, and we know from the primaries that Cruz lies nearly as much as Trash

[Mitch]

not crying, complaining about Cruz lying about Franken, and we know from the primaries that Cruz lies nearly as much as Trash

:lol sure thing, botox. Why do you keep posting articles from illigimate places like Vox, Thinkprogress and Salon about dems blocking cabinet members? Republicans have the majority and the tie breaker, dummy

[boutons_deux]

:lol sure thing, botox. Why do you keep posting articles from illigimate places like Vox, Thinkprogress and Salon about dems blocking cabinet members? Republicans have the majority and the tie breaker, dummy

[boutons_deux]

Puzder’s anti-worker positions disqualify him from serving as labor secretaryHere is a partial list of the worker protections that Puzder’s policies would undermine

The minimum wage

Puzder opposes raising the federal minimum wage.1 (http://www.epi.org/publication/puzders-anti-worker-positions-disqualify-him-from-serving-as-labor-secretary/#_note1) He has stated, “Some jobs don’t produce enough economic value to bear the increase.”2 (http://www.epi.org/publication/puzders-anti-worker-positions-disqualify-him-from-serving-as-labor-secretary/#_note2) His statement demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of the minimum wage

Overtime pay

Puzder opposes a Department of Labor rule that would give millions more workers the right to the overtime pay they deserve. The updated overtime rule (set to go into effect Dec. 1, 2016, but blocked by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas) would raise the threshold below which most salaried workers who work more than 40 hours per week are automatically eligible for overtime pay. It has been raised only once since 1975 and is well below inflation-adjusted historic levels.

Paid sick leave

Puzder has been critical of proposals to provide paid sick leave.9 (http://www.epi.org/publication/puzders-anti-worker-positions-disqualify-him-from-serving-as-labor-secretary/#_note9) According to Puzder, businesses can’t afford to provide such benefits because our economy hasn’t seen the underlying economic growth necessary to support such increases.

Puzder’s position demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of what’s been going on in the U.S. economy.

Enforcement of workers rights

Puzder’s record as CEO of CKE Restaurants is marked by repeated violations of the very wage and hour and safety protections he would be responsible for enforcing as secretary of labor. In a survey of workers at CKE Restaurants conducted by the Restaurant Opportunities Center, nearly one-third of workers reported that they were not paid overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a week.15 (http://www.epi.org/publication/puzders-anti-worker-positions-disqualify-him-from-serving-as-labor-secretary/#_note15) Workers also reported working in unsafe conditions. Furthermore, while the secretary of labor is not tasked with enforcing anti-discrimination laws, Puzder’s company’s record of sexual harassment and sex discrimination lawsuits demonstrates his hostility to our nation’s system of worker protections.

Trump’s selection of a man who opposes raising the minimum wage, has criticized safety and health regulations, and has disparaged paid sick time proposals does not demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of workers. Trump’s selection of a CEO of a company with a record of paying low wages and violating basic labor and employment laws does not demonstrate a desire to create an economy that works for us all. America’s workers deserve better.

http://www.epi.org/publication/puzders-anti-worker-positions-disqualify-him-from-serving-as-labor-secretary/

[DarrinS]

Gotta admire the furious googling copy/paste skills of boutard.

[boutons_deux]

A Leninist in the White House: Heavy-handed Steve Bannon

http://www.trbimg.com/img-58925309/turbine/os-micmurphy-1485984586-snap-photo/950/950x534

Everything Donald Trump has done so far — the wall, the Muslim ban — is a masterstroke of political misdirection by the real power in the White House (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/white-house-PLCUL000110-topic.html), Steve Bannon (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/business/media-industry/stephen-bannon-PEBS00023-topic.html), who served as executive chair of Breitbart News.

Steve Bannon is a self-described Leninist (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/22/steve-bannon-trump-s-top-guy-told-me-he-was-a-leninist.html), and that is a far greater threat to the Republic than any wall or Muslim ban. I do not mean that Bannon aims to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a communist state underpinned by Marxist ideology.

If anything, the Annapolis- and Harvard-educated businessman seeks a restoration of “Judeo-Christian (https://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/this-is-how-steve-bannon-sees-the-entire-world?utm_term=.tx4DEbNOm#.gjp9qKmx6)” capitalism that would make Vladimir Lenin shake in his mausoleum.

What Bannon does admire about Lennin is his methodology and ideas on political struggle.

Lenin rejected the “bourgeois” notion that politics is a game of compromise between competing interests.

Instead, Lenin embraced a view of politics known as “democratic centralism” that called for a complete centralization of power within the party to engage in a struggle for domination over state and society.

This is Bannon to a tee:

a man who calls the media the “opposition party (http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/donald-trump-steve-bannon-media-opposition-party-234280),” and

rationalized his refusal to engage with reporters on the grounds that “politics is war (https://www.wsj.com/articles/steve-bannon-on-politics-as-war-1479513161).”

Comfortably ensconced in the West Wing, Bannon has a free hand to fundamentally alter the nature of American government.

under Bannon’s eye the executive order was drafted by senior Republican congressional staffers who were then

forced to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-immigration-congress-order-234392) preventing them from telling their bosses — the duly elected members of the U.S. Congress — exactly what they were doing.

This explains

why Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan have been rather quiet of late, since senior Republicans do not want to admit they have zero control over their own staffs.

While protesters burn effigies of Trump and scream at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, Bannon has used the distraction provided by these “useful idiots” to full effect.

Bannon secured himself a seat on the principals committee on the National Security Counci (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/us/stephen-bannon-donald-trump-national-security-council.html?_r=1)l while downgrading the nation’s highest-ranking military officers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/joint-chiefs-of-staff-ORGOV0000243-topic.html), to part-time status.

According to one civilian official cited by Foreign Policy magazine, even before Bannon’s official appointment,

he had created a “shadow NSC (http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/01/30/steve-bannon-is-making-sure-theres-no-white-house-paper-trail-trump-president/)” in which he centralized decision-making powers without documentation.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-steve-bannon-is-the-new-vladimir-lennin-02022017-story.html

[boutons_deux]

STEVE BANNON'S FEVER DREAM OF AN AMERICAN GULAG

Trump promised (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-donald-trump-family-melania-ivanka-lesley-stahl/) a week after the November elections that he would expel or imprison some 2 million or 3 million undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions—a number that exists mainly in his imagination. (Only about 820,000 undocumented immigrants currently have a criminal record, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. Many of those have traffic infractions and other misdemeanors.)

Still, the spectre of new, pop-up jails housing hundreds of thousands of people is as powerful a fright-dream for liberals as it is a triumph for the president’s “America first” Svengali, Steve Bannon. But, like the fuzzy Trump order dropping the gate on travelers from seven Muslim-majority states,

the deportation measure presents so many fiscal and legal restraints that is also looks suspiciously like just another act of ideological showboating from the rumpled White House strategy chief.

“Trump’s top advisors on immigration, including chief strategist

Steve Bannon and senior advisor Stephen Miller, see themselves as launching a radical experiment to fundamentally transform how the U.S. decides who is allowed into the country and to block a generation of people who, in their view, won’t assimilate into American society.”
How broadly radical their vision is can be seen in

“Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States,” the companion order (https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/25/presidential-executive-order-enhancing-public-safety-interior-united) to the travel ban, which lists aliens for “prioritize[d] removal.” It includes those who “have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense,” and also aliens who have “abused any program related to receipt of public benefits.”

In other words, some targets can be deported because a DHS agent believes the person has broken a law of any kind,

“regardless of whether that person has been charged with a crime,” as one analyst (http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/11/10-worst-immigration-detention-centers-america) put it.

And what does “abusing” a welfare-oriented program mean? Judges and lawyers could be fouled up with that matter alone for years.

http://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-fever-dream-american-gulag-551472

[Splits]

HVOw-yOfYSg

[boutons_deux]

How Betsy Devos Burned Michigan Republicans in Pursuit of Her Charter School Crusade


Trump's pick for education secretary has proven herself a zealot for vouchers and deregulation.

DeVos’ views on public education are well outside the mainstream of either party.

DeVos has demonstrated a willingness to override and even go after Republicans who fail to completely embrace her program of charter schools, vouchers and deregulation.

And as one of the state’s wealthiest and most powerful political donors — in the 2016 election year (http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/12/campaign_contributions_betsy_devos_education_secre tary.html) alone, she and her husband, Dick DeVos Jr., gave $2.7 million to Republican candidates — Betsy DeVos has the clout to enforce her will.

(Since 1999, DeVos and her extended family has spent an estimated $82 million (http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/31/betsy-devos-education-secretary-contributions/97161958/) on political campaigns at the state and federal levels.)

The bottom line for Michigan Republicans — and perhaps for GOP representatives anywhere — is that you cross or ignore DeVos and her educational crusade for at your own peril.

http://www.alternet.org/education/how-betsy-devos-burned-michigan-republicans-pursuit-her-charter-school-crusade

[Th'Pusher]

This White House is leakier than Thread's adult diapers. Tillerson's gonna plug it.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/05/conway-suggests-tillersons-vow-to-change-state-will-also-address-trump-white-house-leaks.html

[Thread]

We got 50 solid (yes) votes for DeVos at close of business Friday. If that holds thru the nite and into tomorrow she's home free.

I got my fingers & toes crossed.

[spurraider21]

We got 50 solid (yes) votes for DeVos at close of business Friday. If that holds thru the nite and into tomorrow she's home free.

I got my fingers & toes crossed.what you like about devos, specifically? or do you just like that it pisses off the left?

[Thread]

what you like about devos, specifically? or do you just like that it pisses off the left?

Do the right thing and apologize and we can resume our relationship.

[spurraider21]

Do the right thing and apologize and we can resume our relationship.It was justified. Act like somebody and I'll retract.

[Thread]

It was justified. Act like somebody and I'll retract.

No, it wasn't. You let this damn campaign and Presidency and ancillary issues break you down to the point that you insulted me numerous times after I asked you not to. I've never crossed the line with you, be it this, or, the Spurs stuff.

But, I see no need to carry this on. Rarely if ever have I found a person who will apologize for wronging me. So just forget it and lets go on. I'm terribly frustrated by having to bypass the (Reply) button to your provocative posts.

[spurraider21]

No, it wasn't. You let this damn campaign and Presidency and ancillary issues break you down to the point that you insulted me numerous times after I asked you not to. I've never crossed the line with you, be it this, or, the Spurs stuff.

But, I see no need to carry this on. Rarely if ever have I found a person who will apologize for wronging me. So just forget it and lets go on. I'm terribly frustrated by having to bypass the (Reply) button to your provocative posts.
Fair enough. Explain your DeVos take... Anything specific you like about her running education or just that the left dislikes her?

[Thread]

Fair enough. Explain your DeVos take... Anything specific you like about her running education or just that the left dislikes her?

That's it.

I want to see his entire first team cabinet get confirmed. That'll drive 'em nuts.

[mavsfan1000]

what you like about devos, specifically? or do you just like that it pisses off the left?
We should leave it to the states anyways. Democrats just like to control everything.

[spurraider21]

That's it.

I want to see his entire first team cabinet get confirmed. That'll drive 'em nuts.thats where you lose me, cub. there's no authenticity or reason behind the opinions, just blind loyalty to the tribe.

[Thread]

thats where you lose me, cub. there's no authenticity or reason behind the opinions, just blind loyalty to the tribe.

Oh, yeah, absolutely. I make no bones about it. And again, it is much like the Lakers materiel in many ways. Dems/teams/Media want to conduct themselves in a strict manner at my expense and then when their candidate/team/Media has lost and my candidate/team has won expect me to behave differently. And the kicker? They fuckin' really believe they're above my vengeance and are entitled to escape it.

No, I wait patiently, the resentment building, the hate stoking my innards and then finally when (it comes around) I exact that vengeance with unabashed joy. I never wanted mercy when I was the one being used as the mop head and I sure as hell ain't granted nary when I have the mop handle and me and Trump are moppin' the floors with ya's.

[boutons_deux]

Betsy DeVos bankrolls quack medical centers that claim to treat ADHD and autism with TV


http://2d0yaz2jiom3c6vy7e7e5svk.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Clockwork-Orange.png

Betsy DeVos sits on the board of a “brain performance” center whose physician operator claims he can treat ADHD with television.

Dr. Majid Fotuhi, who emigrated from his native Iran in the 1980s while disguised as a mullah, oversees treatments at Neurocore, a controversial chain of medical facilities bankrolled by President Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary, reported The Daily Beast (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/02/07/betsy-devos-backed-doctor-an-iranian-refugee-says-tv-can-remedy-attention-deficit-disorder.html?via=desktop&source=twitter).

Neurocore claims its treatment — which requires patients to watch videos such as “Frozen” or “Mad Men” on TV while hooked up to brain sensors — helps at least 90 percent of cases involving attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and anxiety.

Critics say the treatment isn’t effective and serves only as a placebo that gives patients unrealistic hopes and wastes time and money.

“A review of Neurocore’s claims and interviews with medical experts suggest its conclusions are unproven and its methods questionable,” the New York Times reported (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/30/us/politics/betsy-devos-neurocore-brain-centers.html).

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/betsy-devos-bankrolls-quack-medical-centers-that-claim-to-treat-adhd-and-autism-with-tv/

[Thread]

DeVos is in!!!!!!!!!

[DarrinS]

DeVos confirmed by Pence. :lmao

[DMX7]

DeVos confirmed by Pence. :lmao

f*cking pathetic. Then she tweets that we will improve options for kids... (i.e. f*ck public schools and let's give our money to for-profits)

[Thread]

f*cking pathetic. Then she tweets that we will improve options for kids... (i.e. f*ck public schools and let's give our money to for-profits)

Damn right. Public Schools have been an unmitigated catastrophe.

You thought you had a 3rd rat. You did not. You got worked once & again.

Find solace in that TV show. muhahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!

[boutons_deux]

DEVOS CONFIRMATION MAKES IMMIGRANTS AMERICA’S ONLY SOURCE OF EDUCATED PEOPLE

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report (http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report))—The Senate’s confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary means that immigrants will be the nation’s only reliable source of educated people going forward, education experts said on Tuesday.

Under DeVos, according to Davis Logsdon, the dean of the University of Minnesota’s School of Education,

the U.S. will have to “drastically increase its inflow of immigrants” if it wants people capable of performing even the simplest tasks.

“Most of our industries require people who can read, write, and do arithmetic, even in a rudimentary way,” he said. “The Senate just shot that to hell.”

With DeVos running the Department of Education, Logsdon said, millions of

American students “will graduate from high school each year without mastering any useful skills—in other words, much like DeVos herself.”
The spectre of

an economy plagued by workers “operating at a DeVos level of sub-proficiency”

means that the United States will need to do everything in its power to attract educated immigrants to its shores, he said.

Logsdon did not offer a complete list of countries with people whom the U.S. should try to lure, but he said that a partial list would include Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Libya.

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/devos-confirmation-makes-immigrants-americas-only-source-of-educated-people (http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/devos-confirmation-makes-immigrants-americas-only-source-of-educated-people)

[DMX7]

Damn right. Public Schools have been an unmitigated catastrophe.

You thought you had a 3rd rat. You did not. You got worked once & again.

Find solace in that TV show. muhahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!

For profit schools have been an unmitigated disaster. How many for profit universities have ever even cracked the top 100 ranking of any major publication? Like zero, lol.

[Trill Clinton]

828996147519774721

maga:cheer

[ElNono]

First cabinet confirmation vote decided by a VP in history...

[Winehole23]

Bannon screwed Trump:


According to the Times, which confirmed the account after interviewing numerous government officials, aides, and former staff members, Trump grew frustrated when he realized after signing the order that it gave Bannon more power than he initially thought. Trump was apparently more upset about that than he was with the public uproar surrounding his controversial immigration ban.


The White House chief-of-staff, Reince Priebus, has since decided to loop the president in earlier in the drafting process—which usually isn't necessary—and has had to create a ten-step checklist for the administration to follow before Trump signs off on another executive order.


Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News, allegedly told his allies that he and White House policy director, Stephen Miller, had to move quickly to solidify their vision of Trump's "economic nationalism" before losing influence in the administration.


The order (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/us/politics/stephen-bannon-security-council.html?mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=7CA0AD401C999BFB5F8120FAA4C01816&gwt=pay)—reportedly crafted by Bannon and Miller—gave the chief strategist a spot on the National Security Council and lowers the influence of the director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The move gives Bannon, who previously had no designated national security role, a say in decisions regarding the nation's diplomacy, counterterrorism efforts, nuclear power, and cybersecurity.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/apparently-trump-wasnt-fully-briefed-on-the-order-giving-bannon-an-nsc-seat

[boutons_deux]

Trash had to call Flynn yesterday to ask whether a strong or weak dollar should be preferred. Nutcase Flynn, knowing nothing about international economies, bailed.

So Trash intends to manipulate like the USD just like he says the Chinese manipulate their currency?

[Thread]

Bannon screwed Trump:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/apparently-trump-wasnt-fully-briefed-on-the-order-giving-bannon-an-nsc-seat

FAKE NEWS

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Bannon screwed Trump:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/apparently-trump-wasnt-fully-briefed-on-the-order-giving-bannon-an-nsc-seat

smh. Trump as useful idiot.

[boutons_deux]

DEVOS COMES IN CONTACT WITH BOOK FOR VERY FIRST TIME


http://www.newyorker.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Borowtiz-Devos-sworn-in-1200.jpg

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report (http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report))—On her inaugural day as the Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos came into contact with a book for the first time in her life.

Cameras were present to capture the historic moment, as

DeVos extended her left hand tentatively and eventually touched the foreign object.

After touching the book for approximately one minute, DeVos quickly withdrew her hand and appeared drained by the experience.

“It was not as bad as I thought it would be, to tell you the truth,” DeVos said. “After all these years, it turns out it was nothing to be scared of.”

DeVos said that she “might touch another book” in the future but gave no specific indication of when that might occur.

Across the nation, millions of Americans reacted to DeVos’s confirmation by requesting vouchers that would enable to them to select an Education Secretary of their own choosing.

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/devos-comes-in-contact-with-book-for-very-first-time (http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/devos-comes-in-contact-with-book-for-very-first-time)

[Thread]

DEVOS COMES IN CONTACT WITH BOOK FOR VERY FIRST TIME


http://www.newyorker.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Borowtiz-Devos-sworn-in-1200.jpg

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report (http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report))—On her inaugural day as the Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos came into contact with a book for the first time in her life.

Cameras were present to capture the historic moment, as

DeVos extended her left hand tentatively and eventually touched the foreign object.

After touching the book for approximately one minute, DeVos quickly withdrew her hand and appeared drained by the experience.

“It was not as bad as I thought it would be, to tell you the truth,” DeVos said. “After all these years, it turns out it was nothing to be scared of.”

DeVos said that she “might touch another book” in the future but gave no specific indication of when that might occur.

Across the nation, millions of Americans reacted to DeVos’s confirmation by requesting vouchers that would enable to them to select an Education Secretary of their own choosing.

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/devos-comes-in-contact-with-book-for-very-first-time (http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/devos-comes-in-contact-with-book-for-very-first-time)

You tried to find that 3rd rat and could not do it. She went in.

Sessions is going in tonite.

[boutons_deux]

Five Reasons Parents Should Be Very, Very Scared of Betsy DeVos

1. DeVos has no idea about IDEA. The disability community has a strong ally in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(“IDEA”).

2. She may allow federal student loan money to go to fake colleges.

3. She’ll also might help create and fund sham K-12 schools.

4. She might ensure that poor kids get lousy educations.

5. She’ll make the handling college sexual assaults a lot worse for everyone.

http://lawnewz.com/uncategorized/five-reasons-parents-should-be-very-very-scared-of-betsy-devos/

[Thread]

Five Reasons Parents Should Be Very, Very Scared of Betsy DeVos

1. DeVos has no idea about IDEA. The disability community has a strong ally in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(“IDEA”).

2. She may allow federal student loan money to go to fake colleges.

3. She’ll also might help create and fund sham K-12 schools.

4. She might ensure that poor kids get lousy educations.

5. She’ll make the handling college sexual assaults a lot worse for everyone.

http://lawnewz.com/uncategorized/five-reasons-parents-should-be-very-very-scared-of-betsy-devos/




She's in, Bouts, and she's going after public schools. They are an unmitigated disaster.

[TeyshaBlue]

Academia in general has not been kind to public education. That being said, at least a passing knowledge of educational pedagogy would be helpful. This pick is a swing and a miss.

[boutons_deux]

TRUMP VOWS TO GET ENDORSEMENT FOR JEFF SESSIONS FROM FREDERICK DOUGLASS

WASHINGTON — Infuriated after Senator Elizabeth Warren read a scathing letter from 1986 about Jeff Sessions by Coretta Scott King, Donald Trump vowed on Wednesday to secure an endorsement for Sessions from Frederick Douglass.

“I know Frederick Douglass will write a great letter, much better than that bad letter Coretta Scott King wrote,”

Trump said. “I said really nice things about Frederick Douglass last week, so I’m sure he will do this for me.”

Visibly angered by the King letter, Trump contrasted

the “great job Douglass has done” with the “terrible, very bad job that Coretta Scott King has done.”

“I don’t know who this Coretta King person is, but she should stay away from writing letters because she has zero talent for it,”

Trump said.

At the daily White House press briefing, Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, said that, while Trump is confident that Sessions will be confirmed as Attorney General,

“a strong endorsement from Frederick Douglass will clearly seal the deal.”
After the press corps reacted with blank stares, Spicer snapped, “Do you people even know who Frederick Douglass is?”

Warren, who ignited the controversy by reading King’s letter on the Senate floor, was

rebuked by Republican senators for exploiting a little-known provision of the Constitution called the First Amendment.

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-vows-to-get-endorsement-for-jeff-sessions-from-frederick-douglass (http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-vows-to-get-endorsement-for-jeff-sessions-from-frederick-douglass)

[Thread]

TRUMP VOWS TO GET ENDORSEMENT FOR JEFF SESSIONS FROM FREDERICK DOUGLASS

WASHINGTON — Infuriated after Senator Elizabeth Warren read a scathing letter from 1986 about Jeff Sessions by Coretta Scott King, Donald Trump vowed on Wednesday to secure an endorsement for Sessions from Frederick Douglass.

“I know Frederick Douglass will write a great letter, much better than that bad letter Coretta Scott King wrote,”

Trump said. “I said really nice things about Frederick Douglass last week, so I’m sure he will do this for me.”

Visibly angered by the King letter, Trump contrasted

the “great job Douglass has done” with the “terrible, very bad job that Coretta Scott King has done.”

“I don’t know who this Coretta King person is, but she should stay away from writing letters because she has zero talent for it,”

Trump said.

At the daily White House press briefing, Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, said that, while Trump is confident that Sessions will be confirmed as Attorney General,

“a strong endorsement from Frederick Douglass will clearly seal the deal.”
After the press corps reacted with blank stares, Spicer snapped, “Do you people even know who Frederick Douglass is?”

Warren, who ignited the controversy by reading King’s letter on the Senate floor, was

rebuked by Republican senators for exploiting a little-known provision of the Constitution called the First Amendment.

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-vows-to-get-endorsement-for-jeff-sessions-from-frederick-douglass (http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-vows-to-get-endorsement-for-jeff-sessions-from-frederick-douglass)




Sessions is still going in tonite, Bouts.

ha, ha.

[boutons_deux]

Andrew Puzder’s House of Debit Cards (http://capitalandmain.com/andrew-puzders-house-of-debit-cards-0208)


Chambers said his store issues paychecks only in the form of a prepaid Visa debit card, and it comes with fees.

“In order to get the money out the card, you have to go to the ATM, and the one I have to go to, they charge $3.95 for every transaction

he’s also charged different fees for using the card in stores and for paying his bills, and there’s no option to get his full paycheck at any particular bank or store without being charged.

“Including food and gas and everything, in a week, total, I’m outta $80 [just on transaction fees]. And I’m only gettin’ paid roughly $250 a week,”

2014 Department of Labor investigation (http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/hardeesprepaidcards.pdf) found that the company’s use of debit cards violated minimum wage laws. The agency ordered CKE to pay $2,071.98 to an undisclosed number of employees, again at a Hardee’s in Alabama, for similarly issuing cards that incurred fees.

7.4 million American workers received their payroll via debit card in 2015, and that number is expected to rise to 12.2 million by 2019. The cards are popular with some employees and very popular with payroll companies, who see huge savings by going paperless. The ROC United report found, for instance, that Darden Restaurants, the parent chain of Olive Garden, Yard House and LongHorn Steak House restaurants, saved $2.75 per check per pay period by going to plastic, saving the company $5 million a year.

Some workers could not access their full pay without paying some kind of fee; workers also said they were coerced or pressured by management into taking the card even if there were other options like direct deposit or a paper check.

shows just how many times the card company is touching a worker’s money:


ATM fee, typically anywhere from $1 to $3.95
Point of Sale (swipe) fee (the merchant also pays an interchange fee on this)
ATM balance inquiry fee
Optional paper statement fee
Point of Sale decline fee
Overdraft fee
Card-to-card transfer fee
Fee to talk to customer service if there is a problem (such as the payroll not loading on payday, which is a common occurrence)
Monthly maintenance fee
Card replacement fee
Inactivity fee if the card isn’t used often enough


But in 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ... issued a stern warning (http://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-bulletin-warns-employers-against-exclusive-use-of-payroll-cards/) that federal law prohibits employers from mandating that workers take their pay on plastic. They must also be offered a choice of a paper check or a direct deposit.

http://capitalandmain.com/andrew-puzders-house-of-debit-cards-0208

A Puzder DoL will certainly not do anything about labor getting screwed, and pro-business/labor-hating Repugs will destroy the CFPB ASAP

[Thread]

Jeff Sessions just went in.

Victory!!!!!!!!!

The kicker:::If Dems hadn't fought him tooth & nail he'd a been confirmed weeks ago and they'd a been able to take out DeVos.

Just like that!!!

[boutons_deux]

Lawsuit: Carl’s Jr. Blocked Managers From Accepting Jobs With Other Franchisees

Do Carl’s Jr. restaurants prevent managers from moving between locations owned by different franchisees to keep wages artificially low and to prevent restaurants from competing against each other for the best employees? That’s what one current and one former employee allege in a lawsuit against the fast food chain, calling the policy unfair to those managers.

“There’s no pro-competitive justification that we can identify that would support having a restraint like this,” an attorney for the plaintiffs told the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-puzder-lawsuit-20170208-story.html). “The only reason we can identify is to actively reduce labor costs to save them money.”

https://consumerist.com/2017/02/09/lawsuit-carls-jr-blocked-managers-from-accepting-jobs-with-other-franchisees/

... echoes of Jimmy John's, IIRC, forcing employees to sign NDAs.

[boutons_deux]

Nine People Say Mike Flynn Lied About His Phone Calls With the Russian Ambassador


Flynn on Wednesday denied that he had discussed sanctions with [Sergey] Kislyak. Asked in an interview whether he had ever done so, he twice said, “No.”

On Thursday, Flynn, through his spokesman, backed away from the denial. :lol

The spokesman said Flynn “indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn’t be certain that the topic never came up.” :lol

....The emerging details contradict public statements by incoming senior administration officials including Mike Pence...Nine current and former officials, who were in senior positions at multiple agencies at the time of the calls, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

All of those officials said *Flynn’s references to the election-related sanctions were explicit.

Two of those officials went further, saying that Flynn urged Russia not to overreact to the penalties being imposed by President Barack Obama, making clear that the two sides would be in position to review the matter after Trump was sworn in as president. “Kislyak was left with the impression that the sanctions would be revisited at a later time,” said a former official.

A third official put it more bluntly, saying that either Flynn had misled Pence or that Pence misspoke. A spokesman for Pence did not respond to a request for comment. The sanctions in question have so far remained in place.


Nine officials! And every one of them says Flynn explicitly talked about the sanctions that Obama levied on Russia as retaliation for their cyber-hacking during the campaign.

The message: don't worry about it. (dearest Vlad) We've got your back.

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/02/nine-people-say-mike-flynn-lied-about-his-phone-calls-russian-ambassador

[boutons_deux]

Another big win for the BIG ORANGE TURD

Potential solicitor general pick withdraws name

A lawyer believed to be on the shortlist for President Trump’s solicitor general has removed himself from the running,

His withdrawal could open a window for George Conway, top White House adviser Kellyanne Conway’s husband, :lol who is also believed to be under consideration.

Cooper said that he doesn’t want to undergo the grueling Senate confirmation process, which he helped Sessions through on his way to attorney general.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/318870-potential-solicitor-general-pick-withdraws-name

Cooper a friend of life-long racist Sessions? GTFO

[boutons_deux]

Senator wants a piece of Pai: FCC boss blasted for ripping up schools, libraries internet report

Ajit gets a Florida-style full Nelson after study scrapped

US FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is facing criticism for his decision to axe a study on improving internet connections at public schools and libraries.

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) said in a letter to Pai (https://regmedia.co.uk/2017/02/09/nelsonlettertopai.pdf) on Wednesday that the decision to rescind the "E‑Rate Modernization Report" was "deeply disturbing."

"Your unilateral decision last week to quash a staff report providing an analysis and progress report of the agency's E‑Rate modernization efforts shows a troubling disinterest in the facts," Nelson wrote.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/02/09/florida_senator_wants_some_pai/

Will Pai improve the E-Rate? fuck no.

[boutons_deux]

Of Course Trump's Health Secretary Is a Friend of Big Tobacco

Tom Price has taken tobacco money and voted against rules on cigarettes

The man Donald Trump has chosen to direct health policy for the federal government has close ties to the tobacco industry he will soon be charged with regulating.

has repeatedly voted against bills that could harm big tobacco.

At the same time, he's received thousands of dollars in political contributions from the industry and held investments in tobacco companies — investments he says he didn't know about. :lol

lawmakers raised cigarette taxes by 62 cents per pack and cigar taxes by 40 cents per cigar. Price blasted the new fees.

"Today's tax hike serves as a useful reminder that the president is comfortable raising taxes on hard-working Americans to feed his reckless agenda,"

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/02/tom-price-hhs-tobacco

The Confederacy still FUCKING UP America with these shitty, corrupt assholes.

[boutons_deux]

There will NEVER be enough knitters in jail to satisfy Sessions

Jeff Sessions vows to 'end lawlessness'

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38925671

Of course, the lawlessness of (black) voter suppression is actually The Law by The Man.

[boutons_deux]

Just more "FUCK YOU" by Repug FCC, to enrich the PIC

FCC made a case for limiting cost of prison phone calls. Not anymore.

Federal regulators no longer are pressing to cut the costs of most prison phone calls, backing away from a years-long effort to limit charges imposed by a handful of private companies on inmates and their families.

The shift by the Federal Communications Commission comes as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Monday considers whether commissioners went too far when they capped prices for

inmate calls that had reached more than a $1 per minute.

To make phone calls from most federal and state prisons,

inmates generally must set up accounts with a private company to hold money deposited by family members.

The companies typically have a contract with the prisons, which receive a portion of the call revenue.

Federal regulators had pushed since 2013 to lower the costs, saying the prices made it too hard for relatives to stay in touch.

But a week after President Trump tapped a new leader for the FCC, the commission’s attorneys changed course and told the court that the FCC no longer would defend one of its own key provisions that limited fees for prisoners’ intrastate calls.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/fcc-made-a-case-for-limiting-cost-of-prison-phone-calls-not-anymore/2017/02/04/9306fbf8-e97c-11e6-b82f-687d6e6a3e7c_story.html?utm_term=.59cd6333f1bf

[Winehole23]

FAKE NEWSWH is leaking like a sieve; seems to be the only way they can get their boss's attention.

[Thread]

WH is leaking like a sieve; seems to be the only way they can get their boss's attention.

FAKE NEWS

[Winehole23]

everything that fails to flatter your guy is fake. got it.

[Thread]

everything that fails to flatter your guy is fake. got it.

I ain't doin' "sources" - I ain't doin' ad hoc reports - I ain't doin' "on condition of anonymity"

No, it's horseshit. Media has no checks & balances. That's nice and expedient for them. Cheaper too in their times of financial crisis. But, this cat ain't buyin' any of it.

[Winehole23]

of course not, you don't honor any coin that doesn't bear your own image

[Thread]

of course not, you don't honor any coin that doesn't bear your own image

I'll tell ya I ain't honoring this total crap of putting out stories based on "sources." Uh, uh, those days is over.

[clambake]

you want dale to believe, then donald has to drop it right on his pod.

[boutons_deux]

‘Betsy DeVos’ Makes a Surprise Appearance on The Tonight Show: ‘No More Textbooks!’



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCJDn-vkAi4

[boutons_deux]

Protesters Blocked Betsy DeVos From Entering A Public School

The controversial education secretary was eventually able to get into the building, after she was confronted by protesters at a DC school on Friday


https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2017-02/10/12/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane-03/sub-buzz-19196-1486746025-6.jpg?resize=990:606&no-auto


After a man threw himself in front of a staircase leading into the school, DeVos was forced return to her car, a small number of protesters chasing after her. One held a “Black Lives Matter” sign and chanted repeatedly, “Shame!”

A small number of protesters also greeted DeVos on her first day of work at the Education Department on Wednesday, holding signs that read “Resist” and chanting, “Welcome to your first day, we will not go away.”

DeVos said she was “honored” to meet with the team at the middle school

“about our shared commitment to public education.” :lol LIE!

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mollyhensleyclancy/protesters-blocked-betsy-devos-from-entering-a-public-school?utm_term=.av5n4lyeE#.ufN2YpwaA

[boutons_deux]

https://scontent-dft4-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16684151_10106920542808765_5340852793469809682_n.j pg?oh=911a1d3a2f8dea441c157926a8ba84fb&oe=590794C0

[spurraider21]

:lol

[boutons_deux]

This sorta like NYC voting 90-10 against Trash

Andy Puzder’s Hometown Paper Says He’s ‘Uniquely Unqualified’ to Be Labor Secretary

In an editorial in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, (http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-andrew-puzder-local-boy-made-good-has-no-business/article_989ea2cb-ae74-55f1-915b-3a04b012de98.html) Puzder was described as a misogynist who is not prepared to head up the Labor Department.

He is brash, outspoken, misogynistic, combative and uninterested in quarantining himself from his financial interests.

Like many of Trump’s nominees —

Rick Perry at the Energy Department, Betsy DeVos at Education, Ben Carson at Housing and Urban Development —

he is almost uniquely unqualified for the duties of the office to which he seeks confirmation.


Puzder perviously worked as a trial lawyer in St. Louis before heading up CKE Restaurants, which runs the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. fast-food restaurants. CKE is currently headquartered in St. Louis but is soon moving to Nashville.

At the end of the editorial, Puzder was taken to task over hiring an undocumented worker as a housekeeper, as well as for the company’s risque commercials.

Add this to the fact that he hired an undocumented immigrant as a housekeeper and

reveled in TV commercials featuring bikini-clad supermodels

pitching 1,000-calorie burgers to his testosterone-crazed target demographic.

And, like Trump, he has balked until this week at divesting his assets.

There’s every reason for the committee to send him back to Nashville. A robot would be better


http://www.mediaite.com/online/andy-puzders-hometown-paper-says-hes-uniquely-unqualified-to-be-labor-secretary/

[Thread]

This sorta like NYC voting 90-10 against TrashAndy Puzder’s Hometown Paper Says He’s ‘Uniquely Unqualified’ to Be Labor Secretary

In an editorial in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, (http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-andrew-puzder-local-boy-made-good-has-no-business/article_989ea2cb-ae74-55f1-915b-3a04b012de98.html) Puzder was described as a misogynist who is not prepared to head up the Labor Department.

He is brash, outspoken, misogynistic, combative and uninterested in quarantining himself from his financial interests.

Like many of Trump’s nominees —

Rick Perry at the Energy Department, Betsy DeVos at Education, Ben Carson at Housing and Urban Development —

he is almost uniquely unqualified for the duties of the office to which he seeks confirmation.


Puzder perviously worked as a trial lawyer in St. Louis before heading up CKE Restaurants, which runs the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. fast-food restaurants. CKE is currently headquartered in St. Louis but is soon moving to Nashville.

At the end of the editorial, Puzder was taken to task over hiring an undocumented worker as a housekeeper, as well as for the company’s risque commercials.

Add this to the fact that he hired an undocumented immigrant as a housekeeper and

reveled in TV commercials featuring bikini-clad supermodels

pitching 1,000-calorie burgers to his testosterone-crazed target demographic.

And, like Trump, he has balked until this week at divesting his assets.

There’s every reason for the committee to send him back to Nashville. A robot would be better


http://www.mediaite.com/online/andy-puzders-hometown-paper-says-hes-uniquely-unqualified-to-be-labor-secretary/




Price got sworn today. Still battin' a thousand.

[boutons_deux]

Nurses: Puzder Nomination a Direct Assault on Women, Workers

“Andrew Porter’s career is a testimony to the worst behavior of corporate America –

the sexual objectification of women,

an utter contempt of workers, and

disdain for the most basic protections for workplace rights and safety,”

said NNU Co-President Deborah Burger, RN.

“It is hard to imagine a worse and more insulting candidate to head a federal agency whose primary role is to advance the welfare of working people,” said Burger.

“There can be no other conclusion than that Puzder was specifically chosen to subvert the intent of the Labor Department, and roll back every existing standard that defends working people in America,”

Burger said. “In every regard, Puzder’s nomination directly parallels the nomination of, in particular, Scott Pruitt to administer the Environmental Protection Agency, who apparently was also chosen to destroy the intent of an agency he was named to head for the benefit of corporate profits.”

“As an organization of predominantly women, NNU is particularly appalled at the nomination of Puzder,

a man whose view of women is to view them solely as sex objects to sell hamburgers,

to be subject to the most crass sexual harassment in the workplace, and

as workers to be thrown aside and replaced by machines if they stand up for their rights,”

RN cited Puzder’s record as CEO of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s (CKE) restaurants as

a staunch opponent of raising the minimum wage,

fostering a hostile work environment for women employees,

opposition to overtime pay, and

rampant labor law violations, including wage theft.

Examples include sexual harassment complaints by two thirds of women workers at brands owned by CKE restaurants,

well above the 40 percent at similar workplaces, and documented labor law violations at 60 percent of Department of Labor CKE investigations.

One recent survey by the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United indicated that one-third of all respondents said

they did not receive meal breaks as mandated by law;

around one-fourth had been illegally forced to work off the clock without pay;

almost one-third had been illegally deprived of overtime pay, the NNU letter noted.

Puzder’s arrogant scorn for workers, especially the most low wage workers employed in his restaurants, is evident in a history of public statements, such as

“No more people behind the counter unless they have all their teeth,” and

“How do you pay somebody $15 an hour to scoop ice cream?”

As well as his advocacy for eliminating workers and replacing them with machines because “they're always polite, they always upsell, they never take a vacation, they never show up late, there's never a slip-and-fall, or an age, sex, or race discrimination case.”

“The mission of the Department of Labor,” Burger and Ross wrote, “is ‘to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.’

Throughout his career … Andrew Puzder has consistently failed to show regard for the principles of the Department of Labor.”

“It is deplorable to imagine Puzder in the same role once held by the first woman to hold a Cabinet position in the U.S., Frances Perkins, who as Franklin Roosevelt’s Labor Secretary was both a role model for women and a uncompromised champion of the rights and economic security for all working people,” Burger noted.

“There can be little doubt,” said Burger, “that as Labor Secretary,

Puzder would be a champion, not of workers, but accelerating corporate profits at workers’ expenses.

NNU will vigorously oppose his confirmation,” Burger concluded.

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/02/10/nurses-puzder-nomination-direct-assault-women-workers

"Hell hath no fury ..." :lol

[boutons_deux]

‘It’s like Hunger Games or Game of Thrones’: Obama advisor shocked by Trump’s White House chaos

Pfeiffer was asked about Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway’s latest ethics flub and her claim that the president supports her “100 percent.” (http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/kellyanne-conway-refuses-to-say-if-shell-be-reprimanded-and-offers-every-woman-should-have-a-boss-like-trump/) Burnet revealed that there are now reports that the president is upset with Conway.

Pfeiffer explained that this is just another in a long line of “alternative facts” (http://www.rawstory.com/?s=alternative+facts) from Conway that hurt her credibility (http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/this-guy-lies-all-of-the-time-bernie-sanders-rails-against-pathological-liar-trump/).

Burnet brought up the leaks that are coming out of the White House and that there seem to be factions forming that are fighting amongst themselves. Pfeiffer agreed with the assessment and also that it is unhealthy for a White House.

“Look, I’ve been in Washington a long time, I’ve watched a lot of White Houses, I’ve never seen anything like what’s happening here,” he said.

“There are clearly factions, I don’t know who’s in what faction, but

the things that White House officials are saying to other White House officials on background to reporters is mind boggling.

Every day you read another story about someone in the White House trashing Sean Spicer, saying that Trump doesn’t support him, doesn’t like him, that Reince Priebus is out of favor because he supported Sean Spicer.

In White Houses, presidents get mad at staffers, staffers get mad at each other, but you don’t read it in the paper in a minute by minute basis.

It appears to people on the outside like it is pure chaos. It’s like ‘Hunger Games’ or ‘Game of Thrones’ in there.’

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/its-like-hunger-games-or-game-of-thrones-in-there-obama-advisor-shocked-by-trumps-white-house-chaos/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story% 29

[boutons_deux]

I just heard for the first time Steven Miller speak, on Stephanopoulos. He's one scary mofo.

Miller kept claiming VT and national vote were lost because of illegals voters.

George asked for evidence, Miller responded with talking points, propaganda, but not a shred of evidence.

"repeat a LIE enough times, and it becomes "truth" "

Miller's last words were robotic, scariest "campaign" bullshit.


Today's show, http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek, scroll down to "Steven Miller On What's Next for Trash's Immigration Order"

Referencing Kris fucking Kobach as having proof of Ms of illegal voters? :lol

Holy shit, one scary mofo.

Trash, Bannon, Miller, Gorka, those fucking assholes have done and will do horrible damage.

[Winehole23]

I'll tell ya I ain't honoring this total crap of putting out stories based on "sources." Uh, uh, those days is over.not over by a long shot. you'll buy when a Democrat occupies the WH. until then, government leaks will still be newsworthy.

[boutons_deux]

Donald Trump Praises Adviser Stephen Miller for His Round of Lies This Sunday

It was an avalanche of robotic talking points and lies for Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller this Sunday, solidifying that he is in the right administration for his ethics and integrity.

http://15130-presscdn-0-89.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Screen-Shot-2017-02-12-at-10.38.28-AM-701x342.png


in his adviser Stephen Miller, Trump has found the propaganda crack he so desperately needs.

It was an avalanche of robotic talking points and lies for Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller this Sunday, solidifying that he is in the right administration for his ethics and integrity. :lol

The most accurate thing :lol Miller said was on ABC News’ This Week,

“We have a president who has done more in three weeks than most presidents have done in an entire administration.” :lol

Of course that is not accurate – not anywhere near accurate, but we are grading on a curve here.

(http://www.politicususa.com/2017/02/12/donald-trump-praises-adviser-stephen-miller-lies-sunday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Politi cus+USA+%29)http://www.politicususa.com/2017/02/12/donald-trump-praises-adviser-stephen-miller-lies-sunday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Politi cus+USA+%29

Miller is a Jew who would open the Zykon B valves.

Trash, Miller, Bannon, Gorka, this ain't gonna end well

[Thread]

Donald Trump Praises Adviser Stephen Miller for His Round of Lies This Sunday

It was an avalanche of robotic talking points and lies for Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller this Sunday, solidifying that he is in the right administration for his ethics and integrity.

http://15130-presscdn-0-89.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Screen-Shot-2017-02-12-at-10.38.28-AM-701x342.png


in his adviser Stephen Miller, Trump has found the propaganda crack he so desperately needs.

It was an avalanche of robotic talking points and lies for Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller this Sunday, solidifying that he is in the right administration for his ethics and integrity. :lol

The most accurate thing :lol Miller said was on ABC News’ This Week,

“We have a president who has done more in three weeks than most presidents have done in an entire administration.” :lol

Of course that is not accurate – not anywhere near accurate, but we are grading on a curve here.

(http://www.politicususa.com/2017/02/12/donald-trump-praises-adviser-stephen-miller-lies-sunday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Politi cus+USA+%29)http://www.politicususa.com/2017/02/12/donald-trump-praises-adviser-stephen-miller-lies-sunday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Politi cus+USA+%29

Miller is a Jew who would open the Zykon B valves.

Trash, Miller, Bannon, Gorka, this ain't gonna end well




He has nary problem doing the wet work that is required in a Trump presidency.

[boutons_deux]

Trump labor nominee Puzder owes millions to bank seeking waiver from his department

President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Labor personally owes millions of dollars to a convicted (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/five-major-banks-agree-parent-level-guilty-pleas) bank that is relying on the same department to waive sanctions for its crimes, according to federal records.

The ties between Trump’s embattled (http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/09/politics/schumer-calls-on-puzder-to-withdraw-nomination/) appointee Andrew Puzder and the multinational bank UBS were listed in federal documents reviewed by International Business Times—but they were not explicitly acknowledged in Puzder’s ethics agreement with federal regulators.

Puzder listed two mortgages and one line of credit with UBS Financial Services, an investment in UBS Dynamic Alpha Fund and 10 other accounts with UBS. In all, Puzder listed a total of $2.6 million to $11.5 million of investments and loans with UBS. That is in addition to the millions of dollars of assets in the 10 other UBS accounts held by Puzder.

In 2009 (https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/tax/legacy/2009/02/19/UBS_Signed_Deferred_Prosecution_Agreement.pdf), UBS admitted to the Justice Department that it had “participated in a scheme to defraud the United States” by helping customers evade taxes. In 2015 (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/five-major-banks-agree-parent-level-guilty-pleas), UBS plead guilty to manipulating interest rates in violation of a previous deferred prosecution agreement.

The case—in which prosecutors determined the bank engaged in “deceptive currency trading and sales practices”—could trigger federal prohibitions designed to prevent convicted banks from managing billions of dollars of workers’ pension money.

But if Puzder’s nomination is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he would head a Labor Department empowered (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/1108) to waive such punishments.

The Department of Labor notes (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-11-17/pdf/2016-27564.pdf) that the Secretary of Labor is the federal official who decides whether to grant companies the key designation—and waivers —they require to manage retirement assets.
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/trump-labor-nominee-puzder-owes-millions-to-bank-seeking-waiver-from-his-department/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story% 29

The Corruption Will Be UnPresidented

[tlongII]

Trump president not Clinton.

[Thread]

Trump president not Clinton.

[boutons_deux]

You 41%ers are SO FUCKING DUMB.

[boutons_deux]

https://twitter.com/EliClifton/status/830883548471111686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Do Jews Miller, the Kushners agree, or care?

[Thread]

The Manooch goes in!!!

The hit streak continues.

[Winehole23]

the Justice Department informed the White House that it believed [Flynn] could be subject to blackmail.

[Winehole23]

streak was broken

[Winehole23]

keep waving those pom-poms!

[Thread]

The Mulvaney goes in!!!

[Splits]

The Mulvaney goes in!!!

Was hoping he was gonna be #5.

[boutons_deux]

Republican senators won’t wait on Pruitt confirmation, despite thousands of missing emails

Only one Republican senator has said she will vote against Trump’s nominee for head of the EPA.

senators never seeing some 3,000 requested pieces of correspondence between his office and oil and gas companies.

Pruitt has been criticized for acting on behalf of the fossil fuel industry. As EPA chief, he would be responsible for enforcing environmental laws that govern how much and what kind of pollution those companies are allowed to emit.

Center for Media and Democracy “is asking the judge to declare that Pruitt has violated Oklahoma’s Open Records Act and order immediate release of all of the requested emails and other documents,”

CMD filed an Open Records Act request in 2015 seeking correspondence between Pruitt and his staff and a number of oil and gas companies.

Officials in the AG’s office have said there were 3,000 responsive documents to that request. After a two-year delay in releasing the documents, CMD filed a lawsuit last week to force the AG’s office to respond. Since then, the office has

released 411 of the 3,000 emails.

https://thinkprogress.org/republican-senators-wont-wait-on-pruitt-confirmation-despite-thousands-of-missing-emails-b8274da943e0#.kssx65111

Just another Repug nominee being sent to a dept to neuter or destroy it. Crapification of America

[boutons_deux]

Pick for Medicare post faces questions on Indiana contracts

President Donald Trump's pick to oversee Medicare and Medicaid advised Vice President Mike Pence on health care issues while he was Indiana's governor,

a post she maintained amid a web of business arrangements, including one that ethics experts say conflicted with her public duties.

A review by The Associated Press found Seema Verma and her small Indianapolis–based firm made millions through consulting agreements with at least nine states while also working under contract for Hewlett Packard.

Her firm, SVC Inc., collected more than $6.6 million in consulting fees from the state of Indiana since 2011, records show.

At the same time, records indicate she also received more than $1 million through a contract with Hewlett, the nation's largest operator of state Medicaid claims processing systems.

Last year, her firm collected an additional $316,000 for work done for the state of Kentucky as a subcontractor for HP Enterprises, according to documents obtained by AP through public records requests.

https://www.mdlinx.com/rheumatology/medical-news-article/2017/02/16/medicare-medicaid-seema-verma-trump-consultant/7058535/

Chosen for her corruption, and intent to destroy Medicare.

[boutons_deux]

Nearly 800 former EPA officials oppose Trump pick for agency

Nearly 800 former Environmental Protection Agency officials urged the U.S. Senate to reject President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the agency as the chamber moved closer on Thursday to approving his pick, Scott Pruitt, the attorney general of oil-producing Oklahoma.

The 773 former officials signed a letter organized by the nonprofit group Environmental Integrity Project that said Pruitt’s record and public statements suggest he does not agree with underlying principles of environmental laws.

As attorney general, Pruitt sued the EPA more than a dozen times on behalf of Oklahoma and he has cast doubts on the science of climate change.

“Mr. Pruitt has shown no interest in enforcing those laws, a critically important function for EPA,”

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/nearly-800-former-epa-officials-oppose-trump-pick-for-agency/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story% 29

[boutons_deux]

That’s H. R. 861. Not the title of H. R. 861, it’s the whole bill.\


The Environmental Protection Agency shall terminate on December 31, 2018.


The bill, introduced by Florida Republican Matt Gaetz and co-sponsored by Kentucky’s Thomas Massie, Mississippi’s Steven Palazzo, and Georgia’s Barry Loudermilk

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/02/15/1634007/-The-Environmental-Protection-Agency-shall-terminate-on-December-31-2018?detail=email&link_id=3&can_id=4217e8eb109c68bd0c2e4143dd2d8c15&source=email-apparently-grabbing-women-by-their-lady-parts-is-common-practice-in-state-legislatures&email_referrer=apparently-grabbing-women-by-their-lady-parts-is-common-practice-in-state-legislatures&email_subject=apparently-grabbing-women-by-their-lady-parts-is-common-practice-in-state-legislatures

[boutons_deux]

Russia-linked ex-Trump adviser Carter Page compares himself to MLK in batshit crazy letter to DOJ


http://2d0yaz2jiom3c6vy7e7e5svk.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Carter-Page-RT-Interview-800x430.jpg

Carter Page, a former adviser to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, has written a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice blaming former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her campaign for accusations that he has been colluding with the Russian government.

Page, a former investment banker who has made a name for himself attacking the United States government on Russian state media outlets (http://www.rawstory.com/2016/10/trump-foreign-policy-adviser-bashes-the-united-states-for-disregarding-russias-interests/),

gave The Intercept a copy (https://theintercept.com/2017/02/15/carter-page-at-center-of-trump-russian-investigation-writes-bizarre-letter-to-doj-blaming-hillary-clinton/) of a letter he wrote to the DOJ asking it to investigate “the severe election fraud in the form of disinformation, suppression of dissent, hate crimes and other extensive abuses led by members of Mrs. Hillary Clinton’s campaign and their political allies last year.”

“The actions by the Clinton regime and their associates may be among the most extreme examples of human rights violations observed during any election in U.S. history since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was similarly targeted for his anti-war views in the 1960’s,” writes Page.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/russia-linked-ex-trump-adviser-carter-page-compares-himself-to-mlk-in-batsht-crazy-letter-to-doj/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story% 29

investment banker? all we need to know proving this asshole is crook, just like Don The Con'

[boutons_deux]

The Scandal That May Haunt the New Nominee for Labor Secretary

R. Alexander Acosta was the head of the civil rights division at the Department of Justice in the Bush administration when subordinates skirted civil-service laws and engaged in politicized hiring.

R. Alexander Acosta, President Trump’s pick to run the Labor Department following the withdrawal of Andrew Puzder’s nomination, was the head of the civil-rights division of the Department of Justice in the Bush administration during a period in which

his subordinates became embroiled in a scandal over politicized hiring.

That scandal raises questions about Acosta’s ability to effectively manage a much larger federal agency in an administration that has already shown a tendency to skirt ethics rules (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/us/politics/Kellyanne-Conway-ivanka-trump-ethics.html?_r=0).

“That period, all hell broke in the civil rights division,” said William Yeomans, a professor of law at American University and a former deputy section chief in the division under Acosta.

“That was all under Acosta, he presided over the politicization of the civil-rights division.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/trump-labor-nominee-presided-over-politicized-hiring-scandal-at-justice/517002/

[boutons_deux]

COURT ORDERS SCOTT PRUITT TO RELEASE EMAILS (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/2/16/1634612/-COURT-ORDERS-SCOTT-PRUITT-TO-RELEASE-EMAILS)

Scott Pruitt Found In Violation of Oklahoma Open Records Act; Orders Withheld Emails Released by February 21

In her ruling, Judge Aletia Haynes Timmons slammed the Attorney General’s office for its “abject failure” to abide by the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

CMD, represented by Robert Nelon (http://www.hallestill.com/our-team/robert-d-nelon) of Hall Estill and the ACLU of Oklahoma (http://acluok.org/), filed a lawsuit that has driven unprecedented attention to Pruitt’s failure to disclose his deep ties to fossil industry corporations.

“Scott Pruitt broke the law and went to great lengths to avoid the questions many Americans have about his true motivations,”

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/02/17/1634612/-COURT-ORDERS-SCOTT-PRUITT-TO-RELEASE-EMAILS?detail=action&link_id=0&can_id=4217e8eb109c68bd0c2e4143dd2d8c15&source=email-urgent-mcconnell-is-forcing-a-vote-on-epa-nominee-today-despite-judges-new-order&email_referrer=urgent-mcconnell-is-forcing-a-vote-on-epa-nominee-today-despite-judges-new-order&email_subject=urgent-mcconnell-is-forcing-a-vote-on-epa-nominee-today-despite-judges-new-order

Vote on Pruitt is today, the court is too late?

[Thread]

Pruitt goes in!!!

[DMX7]

I'm surprised he didn't nominate Bernie Madoff to be Secretary of the Treasury. These picks have mostly been a sick joke.

[boutons_deux]

Pruitt narrowly confirmed to head EPA over Democratic objections

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/17/pruitt-narrowly-confirmed-to-head-epa-over-democratic-objections.html

EPA and its benefits to America will be destroyed, that's what Kock Bros/BigCorp paid for.

[Thread]

I'm surprised he didn't nominate Bernie Madoff to be Secretary of the Treasury. These picks have mostly been a sick joke.

That's what you get for letting Trump mop the floor with your asses.

[mavsfan1000]

We got this!

[Thread]

Petraus is out. He wanted to pick his own staff, in other words he did not want Bannon sitting there. Bannon is a deal breaker. Trump set him there to make a point.

[Splits]

Petraus is out. He wanted to pick his own staff, in other words he did not want Bannon sitting there. Bannon is a deal breaker. Trump set him there to make a point.

I was tempted to nail the Petraus scalp upon hearing the news, but thus far not confirmed he was offered the position so that would be disingenuous.

And Bannon should be a deal breaker for anyone worth their salt. Dude doesn't know jack shit about "national security".

[Thread]

I was tempted to nail the Petraus scalp upon hearing the news, but thus far not confirmed he was offered the position so that would be disingenuous.

And Bannon should be a deal breaker for anyone worth their salt. Dude doesn't know jack shit about "national security".

Like the big shots who knew that jack shit when the Twin Towers were attacked not once, but, twice. No more big shots.

Bannon staysPERIOD If you don't like it, we'll find someone who does. No problem.

[spurraider21]

Scott Pruitt emails tho...

[Thread]

Scott Pruitt emails tho...

...did he ever release them?

[spurraider21]

...did he ever release them?
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/22/emails-reveal-epa-chief-pruitts-work-with-oil-gas-companies.html

[Thread]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/22/emails-reveal-epa-chief-pruitts-work-with-oil-gas-companies.html

The judge shoulda ordered the release BEFORE the vote.

[spurraider21]

The judge shoulda ordered the release BEFORE the vote.
No shit, which is why the GOP rushed the vote against the Dems wishes.

Party matters more than truth.

[Thread]

No shit, which is why the GOP rushed the vote against the Dems wishes.

Party matters more than truth.

Everybody lies, 21.

[spurraider21]

Everybody lies, 21.
Yep. Not saying the Dems are immune from it. Just checkin assholes... You know how it is.

[RandomGuy]

McMaster and servant
Donald Trump appoints another national security adviser

Trump does something fucking right.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2017/02/mcmaster-and-servant

McMaster is probably one of the most talented, bright people in uniform today, from what I have read.

[RandomGuy]

This also points to the biggest puzzle about the 45th president. Mr Trump has surrounded himself with a clutch of amateurish and ideological advisers, led by Stephen Bannon, who have been responsible for much of his administration’s early haplessness. At the same time he has hired some reassuringly sensible and accomplished cabinet secretaries, such as James Mattis, the defence secretary, and, based on early reports, Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state. This group is believed to be opposed to, and possibly contemptuous of, Mr Bannon’s populist agenda--and Mr McMaster looks like a valuable addition to it. So whose advice will Mr Trump follow? The answer is unclear. Yet the future stability of America and the world may depend on it.

No shit.

Let's hope the grown-ups win. Not betting on it though.

[boutons_deux]

McMaster and servant
Donald Trump appoints another national security adviser

Trump does something fucking right.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2017/02/mcmaster-and-servant

McMaster is probably one of the most talented, bright people in uniform today, from what I have read.

McM is TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE with the rest of Trash's destroyers, so he will be prevented from doing good, and will probably be a short timer.