U.S. And International Politics

[Rick Plant]

38 House Democrats sign letter demanding Boebert be stripped of committee assignments for ‘weaponizing bigotry’

Thirty-eight Democrats from the House Progressive Caucus have signed on to a letter calling for leadership to strip committee assignments from U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), who was seen in at least three videos suggesting Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is a terrorist.

The lawmakers in a statement cite Boebert's "Islamophobic comments and incitement of anti-Muslim animus," and note Omar has been ther target of "death threats and vitriol" as a result. Representatives Jamaal Bowman (NY), Cori Bush (MO), André Carson (IN), and Pramila Jayapal (WA) led the move.

They say that Boebert "has repeatedly weaponized dangerous, anti-Muslim bigotry" at Rep. Ilhan Omar.

"Instead of apologizing, Rep. Boebert has continued her Islamophobic rhetoric and chosen to spread hateful speech even further," which they warn "creates a dangerous work environment and furthers a climate of toxicity and intolerance."

They also chastise House Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's "decision to allow and embolden continued hostility from his members," which they say "speaks clearly to the Republican party's willingness to allow hate and division to grow at the expense of our people, our values, and our institutions."

In at least one of the videos Boebert says Congresswoman Omar is "black-hearted" and "evil." In two separate videos speaking to different audiences Boebert tells two very different versions of a story centered around being in an elevator with Omar but noting that because she wasn't wearing a "backpack" she was unafraid. Omar calls the entire story fake.

"Congress cannot forgo accountability when a Member engages in hate speech that dehumanizes not only a colleague, but an entire people," the House Democrats' letter also says. "We cannot be complicit as members of this body, who swore an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States, trample on the fundamental right of religious freedom."

Axios' Andrew Solender reports Rep. Jayapal "told me today me Pelosi has been 'reaching out to Ilhan today.'" He posted their letter:

[Rick Plant]

Senate Approves Spending Bill Averting Government Shutdown
Fight over vaccine rules threatened to slow progress on legislation, which passed House earlier in the day and now goes to Biden
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawmakers-reach-deal-to-prevent-government-shutdown-11638454923

[Rick Plant]

This is the garbage being put out by the right wing media. They aren't talking about the nearly 6 million jobs President Biden created which is the fastest job creation in history. They aren't talking about unemployment going down to 4.2% in record time. Nope, they are going back to their oldies but goodies greatest hits of lying right wing propaganda trying to smear Democrats based on an outright lie. The phony right wing media is telling their viewers that "Biden and the Democrats declared a war on Christianity". What an absolute joke. President Biden is a devout Catholic and goes to church every Sunday. Nancy Pelosi is a Catholic as well as many Democrats are in the Party. First Lady Jill Biden has beautifully decorated The White House in an amazing Christmas display. But these right wing liars make fun of the decorations and still make the false claim about the imaginary war Democrats have on Christianity. And here we have these right wingers worshipping an orange charlatan as their "God" which is blasphemous anyway trying to smear Democrats. Totally pathetic and you get zero news from those right wing outlets, only phony propaganda. Here's what the right wing media doesn't want you to know.

Newsmax host attacks Biden and entire Democratic party for declaring ‘war on Christianity’
https://www.rawstory.com/newsmax-host-falsely-biden-and-entire-democratic-party-for-declaring-war-on-christianity/

Here's what President Biden has accomplished so far in record time!

Unemployment is down to 4.2% three years faster than experts predicted. That’s the American Rescue Plan passed by Democrats at work.


What a remarkable turnaround from the 2020 Trump Disaster. President Biden's leadership has cut unemployment to a record low, employed more Americans, and saved more money for hard working Americans.


Household survey is everything you want to see. More people in the labor force, more people working, fewer unemployed or not in labor force. This is a Biden success!
                 

[Rick Plant]

This is just sickening. Innocent children are being murdered by these same assault weapons in mass shootings and these right wingers are glorifying semi automatic weapons in Christmas photos with their families. Families in Michigan will be without their sons and daughters this Christmas because Republicans refuse to pass gun control legislation which will prevent these mass shootings from happening. But they claim to be "Pro Life" and standing up for the "sanctity of life". What an absolute joke.

GOP lawmaker blasted for posting family Christmas photo with assault rifles in wake of Mich. massacre



Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie sparked intense backlash on Saturday when he posted a photo that appeared to show seven members of his family, including himself, brandishing assault rifles in front of a Christmas tree.

"Merry Christmas!," Massie wrote above the photo on Twitter alongside a Christmas tree emjoi.

"ps. (SIC) Santa, please bring ammo," he added, followed by a gift emoji.

Massie's photo generated thousands of responses, with many pointing out that it seemed particularly tone deaf in the wake of yet another deadly high-profile school shooting.

Four people were killed Tuesday at Oxford High School in Michigan by a 15-year-old whose parents are now charged with involuntary manslaughter for giving him access to a gun.

Shortly after Massie posted the photo, the father of a Parkland, Florida school shooting victim appeared on CNN to discuss the Oxford tragedy.

Host Jim Acosta asked Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin "Guac" Oliver was one of 17 people murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, about his reaction to Massie's photo.

"That’s a huge part of the problem," Oliver responded. "Someone elected leaders like this one that think that — I don't know if they're trying to be ironic, funny, or what — but it's the worst taste ever. ... It's a very nasty post."

Watch below:

[Rick Plant]

In order to be seen as viable in the GOP, all you need to do is embrace bogus conspiracy theories and preach Trump's racism and hate, then the MAGA crowd will love you. You don't even need to talk any real solid policies that will help these people in their everyday lives. Just make up fake conspiracy theories and base your platform on racism and these people will support you 100%. A perfect example is the current situation in Congress. Republicans voted against Covid Relief for Americans. They voted against money that went hard working Americans after Trump destroyed our economy. They voted against the Infrastructure Bill which repairs our crumbling infrastructure and creates thousands of good paying jobs in every major American and suburban city. Not to mention broadband internet to rural areas and brand new roads for them. The Build Back Better Act caps insulin at $35 but Republicans are against that and want people to pay the full outrageous price of $1200 a month where most people can't afford it. Republicans are also against raising the minimum wage so their own constituents can get above the poverty line. So, these Republican voters are voting against their own interests. Democrats are helping them everyday while the people they support in the Republican party are voting against them and their well being. But it doesn't matter to them because as long as these right wingers keep pushing racism and keeping their voters angry, that's all they care about and they ignore the fact the GOP party keeps voting against them.

Nebraska's GOP governor is ramping up the 'nuttiness' as he embraces Trump's policies



According to a report from the Daily Beast's Noah Kirsch, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) is trying to turn himself into a national player in the Republican Party by ramping up the "nuttiness quotient" and embracing far-right conspiracies.

As Kirsch notes, Ricketts previously kept his distance from former president Donald Trump but is now "embracing" the way the former president gained a mass audience while using the president's extremist playbook.

"Billionaire’s scion and Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts set a high watermark for controversy during his first six years in office. There was his 'crazy' refusal to lock down the state despite a surge of COVID-19 cases, the unearthed racist messages from his former campaign field director, and his maskless gabfest at a sports bar on election night 2020. (The restaurant worker who filmed the governor was fired)," the report states before adding, "Yet in recent months the nuttiness quotient has somehow metastasized."

According to political observers, Ricketts seems to have his eye on higher office, positioning himself for a possible cabinet position in the next Republican administration or, looking higher, the vice-presidential spot on the ticket.

Explained John McCollister, a Republican member of the Nebraska Legislature, "I think he’s gunning for either a cabinet office when a Republican president takes over in ’24 or a vice presidential slot. It’s ironic because he [initially] didn’t support Trump, but he’s embracing Trumpian types of policies now. I’d say during his first term, when I was in the legislature, he wasn’t embracing so many of these cultural issues.”

Another Nebraska politico claimed Ricketts seems to be trying to catch Trump's eye and attract the attention of his rabid followers.

“The only thing I can think of is that he expects Donald Trump to be a factor in the next election, whether he is a nominee or whether he anoints somebody else… and I think [Ricketts] is trying to appeal to the Trump faction of the party," the official explained.

As Kirsch notes, Ricketts can count on the support of his wealthy family which "collectively owns a majority stake in the Chicago Cubs," and "owes much of its wealth to the online brokerage TD Ameritrade" to fund his ambitions.

Noting the governor's previous resistance to Trump, the report states, "Pete Ricketts ultimately endorsed Trump, who infamously launched his campaign by calling many Mexican immigrants criminals and 'rapists.' Now, as the governor seems to be contemplating a similar presidential bid, he is fanning flames of his own, " with Kirsch writing that locals believe, "the governor seems to believe that political wedge issues offer his best shot at national office."

Read more:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-is-nebraska-governor-pete-ricketts-acting-extra-crazy

[Rick Plant]

GOP lawmakers inadvertently exposed their fake populism at recent House hearing

Some analyses of Trumpism and Republican populism have claimed to detect a strain of anti-corporate sentiment. It is true that today’s right-wingers are willing to criticize big tech companies for supposedly treating them unfairly, but most of the time the GOP continues to serve the interests of big business.

That was clear during an important hearing just held by the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on antitrust, commercial and administrative law. Subcommittee chair David Cicilline (D-R.I.), vice-chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), other Democratic members and the witnesses all raised serious questions about the current regulatory system, focusing on issues such as disclosure and social equity.

The Republicans, on the other hand, did their best to change the subject or spoke in favor of less rather than more oversight. Ranking member Ken Buck (R-Colo.) used his opening remarks to attack “executive overreach” and praise the Trump Administration’s wholesale attack on regulation.

Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) spent his time attacking what he claimed was a plan by the Justice Department to treat parents critical of school boards as domestic terrorists. One of the witnesses, NAACP climate justice director Jacqueline Patterson, was asked by Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) whether she was a revolutionary. She was also chastised for a facetious tweet about vaccines. The comments of GOP members on regulation were mainly limited to attacks on “woke bureaucrats.”

Despite these antics, there was a serious exchange between the Democrats and the witnesses on the failures of the current regulatory system. These issues are also addressed in the Stop Corporate Capture Act introduced by Rep. Jayapal. The legislation would create more transparency in rulemaking, reduce corporate influence over the process and create a framework for considering social equity. It would fine companies that lie about the impact of public interest rules. It would also create a Public Advocate to provide for more robust public participation.

It turns the usual discussion on its head. Rejecting the idea of executive overreach, the bill correctly diagnoses the problem as a situation of what one might call regulatory anemia. Agencies are not aggressive enough in tackling serious problems relating to the environment, the workplace and the marketplace. The parties meant to be targeted instead are playing an outsized role in creating the rules. Hence the reference in the bill’s title to regulatory capture.

Jayapal’s proposal is what one might call a populist approach to reforming the regulatory system—one that is not likely to receive support from corporate lobbyists. When they are not simply kicking up dust, Republicans, by contrast, are doing the bidding of big business by continuing the Trump Administration’s drumbeat against regulation.

This is one of those areas in which the conventional labels of U.S. politics continue to baffle me. Why are those working to benefit giant corporations called populists, while those who are seeking to rein in that power are called elitists?

https://www.rawstory.com/gop-lawmakers-inadvertently-exposed-their-fake-populism-at-recent-house-hearing/

[Joe Elliott]

President Biden is moving the country forward and is cleaning up the Trump economic disaster that devastated America.

ADP: Employers Added 571,000 Jobs in October, Beating Expectations:
Large companies in the services sector powered the strong monthly performance.

November 3, 2021

Employers added 571,000 jobs in October, above expectations, according to a monthly survey released Wednesday by private payroll firm ADP.

Gains were strongest among large companies, with increases of 342,000, and heavily concentrated in the services sector of the economy, with 458,000 new hires. The leisure and hospitality industry added 185,000 jobs.

Economists had been looking for 400,000 jobs to be created following September's increase of 568,000.

"The labor market showed renewed momentum last month, with a jump from the third quarter average of 385,000 monthly jobs added, marking nearly 5 million job gains this year," said Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. "Service sector providers led the increase and the goods sector gains were broad based, reporting the strongest reading of the year. Large companies fueled the stronger recovery in October, marking the second straight month of impressive growth."

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, which helps ADP prepare the report, said, "The job market is revving back up as the Delta-wave of the pandemic winds down. Job gains are accelerating across all industries, and especially among large companies. As long as the pandemic remains contained, more big job gains are likely in coming months.

The report comes two days before the Labor Department issues the monthly jobs numbers for October, with economists expecting close to 400,000 new jobs added in the month following September's disappointing 194,000 reading.

The labor market has been recovering, albeit unevenly, from the effects of the coronavirus which saw 22 million Americans lose their jobs in April of last year. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, has fallen to 4.8%.

But companies say they find it difficult to find workers and are having to pay higher wages and offer flexible schedules to attract jobseekers. Nonetheless, companies continue to post jobs and say they expect robust hiring ahead.

Data from HireVue, a firm that provides businesses with virtual interviewing technology, says interviews picked up in October, with tech companies seeing the biggest increase, completing 66.3% more interviews than in September, with retailers completing 64.7% more interviews.

A separate report from ADP found that wage growth, which picked up sharply following the pandemic, is now returning to more normal levels. Wages grew 3.3% during the third quarter overall, but for job switchers the pace was double at 6.6%.

The health of the job market is one of two factors the Federal Reserve Board is considering as it decides when to begin "tapering" its $120-billion-per-month purchases of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities. The central bank is widely expected to announce later Wednesday that it will cut that amount by $15 billion a month with a goal of ending the pandemic-era program by the middle of next year.

The other factor is inflation and there the news is not as sanguine. Consumer prices have been running about 5% higher year over year in 2021 and there are indications an inflation mindset has begun to set in that could make the Fed's job more difficult going forward.

It also complicates the political situation in Washington as President Joe Biden seeks to pass twin infrastructure bills with a razor-thin margin in Congress, which now seems even more in peril following Tuesday's election results which saw a Republican take the Virginia governor's race and a closer-than-expected contest for governor in the reliably Democrat state of New Jersey.

"An unmorring of inflation expectations can be self-fulfilling and self-perpetuating," economists Joseph LaVorgna and Troy Ludtka of Natixis CIB wrote Tuesday. "University of Michigan 5-year ahead inflation expectations have risen to a 10-year high but are still within their long-term range."

"However, the New York Fed's consumer price series has bounded higher," they added. "Is the U of M series headed for an upside breakout? We think so."

https://www.usnews.com/news/economy/articles/2021-11-03/adp-employers-added-571-000-jobs-in-october-beating-expectations


Companies add 571,000 jobs in October thanks to a big boost in hospitality hires, ADP says

Companies added 571,000 jobs for the month, beating the 395,000 Dow Jones estimate.

Leisure and hospitality led the way with 185,000 new positions.

Large businesses were by far the biggest creators, adding 458,000

Private sector job creation popped higher in October thanks to a burst in hiring in the hospitality sector, payroll processing firm ADP reported Wednesday.

Companies added 571,000 for the month, beating the 395,000 Dow Jones estimate and just ahead of September’s downwardly revised 523,000. It was the best month for jobs since June.

Leisure and hospitality, a category that includes bars, restaurants, hotels and the like, saw a gain of 185,000 for a sector that remains well below its pre-pandemic employment level. The sector is seen as a proxy for an economic recovery that stalled over the summer due to a rise in the Covid delta variant and a massive clog in supply lines.

“The job market is revving back up as the delta wave of the pandemic winds down,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, which aids ADP in compiling the report. “Job gains are accelerating across all industries, and especially among large companies. As long as the pandemic remains contained, more big job gains are likely in coming months.”

Growth in the sector helped fuel an overall 458,000 gain in services jobs.

Professional and business services also contributed 88,000 hires, trade transportation and utilities added 78,000, and education and health services jobs were up 56,000.

On the goods-producing side, which added 113,000 positions, construction was up 54,000 and manufacturing contributed 53,000.

From a size standpoint, businesses with more than 500 employees by far led the way with 342,000 new hires. Businesses with fewer than 50 workers added 115,000 and medium-sized firms increased by 114,000.

The ADP report comes two days before the Labor Department’s more closely watched nonfarm payrolls count, which is projected to show an increase of 450,000, according to Dow Jones.

While ADP can serve as a precursor to the government’s count, the two can differ widely.

In September, ADP’s tally of private payroll creation – initially at 568,000 before being revised lower by 45,000 – was well above the Labor Department’s 317,000. The total nonfarm payrolls count for September was just 194,000, well below estimates and held back by a loss of 123,000 government jobs.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/03/private-payrolls-up-571000-in-october-on-jump-in-hospitality-hires-topping-395000-estimate-.html

All of which is all well and good. But the one reason I intend to vote for Biden in 2024, or whoever the Democratic nominee is, is because I am confidence that the Democratic nominee does not intend to become President for Life. Anything else that President Biden can give us, more jobs, a better economy, save the Ukraine, is gravy. But maintaining America as a democracy, a land where the will of the people means something, and can not be overturned by false claims of stolen elections, is President’s Biden most important job. I wish him every success.