The Biden Presidency - 2020

[Edward64]

Shouldn’t have taken so long

[NobodyHere]

Unless there is some enforcement mechanism then it will be useless.

[larrymcg421]

Any real enforcement mechanism would require a Constitutional Amendment.

[miked]

It's pretty amazing (and shows how out of touch these folks are) when nearly every job in the country requires some COI reporting and enforcement...except for the Supreme Court.

Also, how can they enforce it when they don't even enforce the redrawing of districts that they have ordered?

[Edward64]

T-4

Will another clean CR get the Dems votes?

I’m surprised I don’t see Yellen in the news more often (Google says last time was 5 days ago)

[Edward64]

Some (tentatively) good news on T-3.

Democrats look ready to ride to Johnson's rescue - POLITICO

Don’t hold your breath, but it looks like Capitol Hill might actually get a holiday break this year: Both senior Democratic and GOP sources say that Speaker Mike Johnson’s two-step continuing resolution is on track to pass the House when it comes to the floor Tuesday.

The Dems rationale ...

But senior Democrats agree neither of those reasons are justification for flirting with a shutdown that would hurt federal workers and disrupt a fragile economy. And they certainly don’t want to be blamed for such a fiasco.

What’s more, the spending levels are their own. The CR continues funding priorities that Democrats themselves enacted into law when they had majorities in Congress.

[NobodyHere]

House Republican accuses "bully" McCarthy of elbowing him in back

Burchett just broke the first rule about Republican Congressional Fight Club.

And now Matt Gaetz is calling for an ethics commission investigation about the incident.

[GrantDawg]

Shut down averted at least through the New Year. 92 Republicans abd 2 Dens vote against the CR.

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[RainMaker]

Didn't McCarthy threaten someone else awhile back and then backed down when that person said "sure, let's fight"? Huge pussy move to jab someone and then scurry away behind your security.

[RainMaker]

Did anyone mention the new Speaker and his son monitor each other's porn viewing habits?

Mike Johnson Said He and His Son Monitor Each Other’s Porn Usage, and Yeah, It’s Exactly as Weird as It Sounds | Vanity Fair

[Ksyrup]

Don't worry - I'm sure that story has a happy ending.

[flere-imsaho]

Bravo, Ksyrup.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Didn't McCarthy threaten someone else awhile back and then backed down when that person said "sure, let's fight"? Huge pussy move to jab someone and then scurry away behind your security.

Eric Swalwell:

"Call me a pussy again, and I'll kick your ass," McCarthy allegedly said.

Swalwell was undeterred. "You. Are. A. Pussy," Swalwell reportedly replied, emphasizing each word of his insult.

[miami_fan]

Sen. Markwayne Mullin challenges Teamsters head to a fight: Video | AP News

How about we just set a ring or octagon in the Capitol rotunda and just let these folks go at it?

[JPhillips]

I'd put all my money on the Teamsters head beating the hell out of a Senator.

[Ksyrup]

Apparently that Senator used to be an MMA fighter?

[miami_fan]

I felt better about his chances when I was thinking Sen. Mullin was the stereotypical bar fightin' country boy than finding out he was a MMA fighter after I looked up his MMA career.

According to a couple of MMA reference sites, he is 3-0. His congressional bio says he was 5-0. Two of the wins were against a guy who had a career W/L record of 1-11. His bio also stated that he was in the National Hall of Fame which is true. He did get a scholarship to go to Missouri Valley College but he's no Kurt Angle as a Hall of Famer.

For setting an example of determination and tenacity, Markwayne Mullin is honored as the 2016 Outstanding American by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

[cuervo72]

GRIT award

[JPhillips]

Even if Mullin could win an MMA fight I still take the Teamster in a no-rules fisticuff.

[Edward64]

Markwayne will make mincemeat out to Sean in a fight. But he'll end up in cement soon after.


Teamster Sean



vs

Senator Markwayne

[Edward64]

Interesting situation with the anti-Israel squad. I'm sure Jeffries is getting pressure from the Jewish PACs also. Jeffries has a fine balancing act here.

Progressives facing primary challenges over Israel demand more help from Jeffries - POLITICO

Progressive Democrats who’ve condemned Israel over its war offensive in Gaza are demanding that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries do more to protect them against primary challenges from pro-Israel Democrats.

In a closed-door meeting at party headquarters last Thursday, the three lawmakers who lead the Progressive Caucus’ PAC met with Jeffries and Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), the head of House Democrats’ campaign arm. They told the Democratic leader he needed to keep the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee out of Democratic primaries.

Not convinced easier path to 218 though.

In fact, the progressive leaders argued, Democrats’ efforts to recapture the House next year might depend on it.

[Edward64]

I can easily see Santos backtracking on his pledge to not seek re-election, so I really hope he gets expelled.

George Santos announces he won’t seek reelection following damning Ethics Committee report | CNN Politics

House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican, will make a motion to expel Santos as soon as Friday during the pro forma session, a source familiar told CNN, which would tee up action on the issue for when Congress returns from the Thanksgiving recess. The reasoning here is that having Guest make the motion will be seen as less political and give other members more cover to back it, according to sources involved in the planning.

While the committee didn’t include a disciplinary recommendation in its report because that would have taken more time, the fact that the chairman is making the motion will send a strong signal to the rest of the Republican conference — and is a sign this expulsion effort could succeed this time around.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Interesting situation with the anti-Israel squad. I'm sure Jeffries is getting pressure from the Jewish PACs also. Jeffries has a fine balancing act here.

Progressives facing primary challenges over Israel demand more help from Jeffries - POLITICO

Not convinced easier path to 218 though.

I don't see any of their districts going red. The worse that happens is a more moderate Dem wins the nomination. The only way those seat flip is if they run third party.


Edit: They as much as admit that. Their argument is money spent defending the incumbents could better be spent on other competitive races.

[RainMaker]

None of those people will lose their seat. 80% of the party supports a ceasefire, so Jeffries is in the extreme minority. The idea you're going to target an incumbent on an issue where they support the popular stance is silly.

I think it's more a threat that they have to toe the line with Israel if they want to continue to get donations from AIPAC and the defense industry.

[RainMaker]

lol

#Blinken's reaction to the old man calling #XiJinping a dictator.#Biden pic.twitter.com/tj3ICNY4Vs

— Syricide (@Syricide) November 16, 2023

[Edward64]

No idea how this will play out and by when, but really interesting battle re: Ukraine for border/asylum concessions.

Basically, still talking but still aways apart. Joe's going to have to concede some but how much?

Tough border negotiations endanger Ukraine aid - POLITICO

In a sensitive congressional negotiation, the fact that everyone is still speaking after a week of high-stakes discussions is a positive sign. But Republicans say many Democrats are still resisting their efforts to reform the asylum standard as the sole way to unlock help for Kyiv.

The GOP Senate has their 1-pager memo on what they want. Hint: stronger asylum restrictions + border wall

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo..._one_pager.pdf

[flere-imsaho]

I have a better idea: expel all GOP politicians to Somalia and replace them with asylum seekers.

[Edward64]

No idea what the big deal is with Pandas. They just sleep.

Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled that China will send new pandas to the United States, calling them “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.”

“We are ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation, and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians so as to deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples,” Xi said Wednesday during a dinner speech with business leaders.

What appropriate symbolic gift can US give back in return?

Maybe cattle?

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Edward64

No idea what the big deal is with Pandas. They just sleep.



What appropriate symbolic gift can US give back in return?

Maybe cattle?

Guns

[miked]

Diabetes?

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Guns

Well, we are doing that for the "real" China.

Originally Posted by miked

Diabetes?

We are already doing that also, albeit generationally slowly, with KFC, McDonalds and other fast food

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Edward64

What appropriate symbolic gift can US give back in return?

Maybe cattle?

Moms For Liberty. They have so many who don't have a prior engagement now....

[Thomkal]

I think COVID is always in style...

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

I think COVID is always in style...

But regifting is so gauche...

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I can easily see Santos backtracking on his pledge to not seek re-election, so I really hope he gets expelled.

And who said bi-partisanship is dead?

Nearly 60 new House members say they will vote to expel Santos - Live Updates - POLITICO

If an effort to expel George Santos comes to the House floor, it’s looking increasingly likely that it will succeed.

Unlike previous attempts to remove the embattled New York Republican, the latest push led by Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) could actually get the two-thirds majority that is required to expel him. If all Democrats vote to boost Santos — the most likely outcome — then roughly 80 GOP members would need to join them in order to oust him.

And nearly 60 House Republicans tell POLITICO they now plan to vote for his removal, including the 24 who previously sided with a push to expel him. That includes a number of members who have shared their support publicly.
:
And the number of members in support is ticking up.

Only 5 have been expelled. The most recent was in 2002.

List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded - Wikipedia

[GrantDawg]

He has a press conference scheduled for Nov. 30. I have a feeling he sees the blood in the water.

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[RainMaker]

We actually sent them Musk Oxen decades ago as a return gift for the Pandas. There's a whole thing with "panda diplomacy" between China and most of the world.

[Edward64]

Thanks, did not know. Read up more on it.

While the two pandas gifted to the U.S. survived for over twenty years until the 1990s, sadly, neither musk ox fared very well in China. The director of the U.S. National Zoo, Theodore Reid, recounted that “Milton had a runny nose, cough, and hair loss at the Beijing Zoo. He might be a little depressed. Matilda is said to be in poor condition.” The Arctic animals also suffered from poor skin conditions.

When George Bush was director of the U.S. liaison office to the People’s Republic of China from 1974-1975, he was not permitted to visit the zoo. He pondered that this might have been because as American orthnithologist Dillon Ripley noted after his own visit, there was only one musk ox left rather than two.

As it turns out, Milton died after swallowing a sharp object in 1975, and Matilda died in 1980.

Two more musk oxen arrived in China in 1988 thanks to the efforts of a dedicated Alaskan woman, but they, too, later died.

Basically, musk oxen don't do well in China.

[GrantDawg]

There was an explosion reported in the building of the Atlanta offices Sen. Jon Ossoff. Reports of injuries but there has been no further information. There are other law offices there, so it might not be related.

[Edward64]

Interesting article from Politico but it doesn't do any analysis of how it might impact 2024 ... possible seats gained/lost for Dems/Rep.

House and Senate retirements affect 2024 election for control of Congress - POLITICO

How a flood of congressional retirements is rocking the 2024 elections
:
A surge of lawmakers calling it quits the past three weeks is on the verge of putting Congress on pace to have more members retire before the next election than in any similar cycle over the past decade. And the implications are huge.

[NobodyHere]

Biden confuses Taylor Swift with Britney Spears in remarks on his 81st birthday

Biden's done.

He just lost the Swifties.

[JPhillips]

Everybody hates Biden, but 48 out of 50 governors have positive net approval ratings.

[Ghost Econ]

At least Biden finally called it "price gouging" out loud instead of letting the media continue to ding him for "inflation." Unfortunately there's notl real bipartisan way to fix it since Republicans only care about gaining power instead of actually helping people by going after these companies.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/27/whit...mics-wins.html

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

At least Biden finally called it "price gouging" out loud instead of letting the media continue to ding him for "inflation." Unfortunately there's notl real bipartisan way to fix it since Republicans only care about gaining power instead of actually helping people by going after these companies.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/27/whit...mics-wins.html

Biden has multiple times called for higher corporate tax rates, while Trump gave them a huge tax cut. I just don't understand why corporations, who used the excuse of inflation to raise prices that made them record profits, wouldn't want to help Biden get re-elected.

[miked]

Again, Kroger and Publix are posting record profits, which is their job. So what can be done since we know it's not the cost of goods but rather the greed of corporations? I heard somebody once say that corporations were people too. Maybe we can ask them nicely to lower their prices, or hope they'll do it for the good of the country.

[Ghost Econ]

I mean, they managed not to price gouge over the previous 100 years. What has changed in the last 20 years? It's almost like.its the rise of a particular type of politics that emphasizes wealth over all.

[GrantDawg]

I was just reading an article on why Diet Coke has gotten so high, and the answer was because it can. Inflation didn't affect sales numbers, so it proved they could raise prices without consequences. Coke just now is saying they have probably hit the upper wall and won't likely raise the price more anytime soon, but they have no intention of lowering it. They have moved their profit margin up to double digits and aren't going to let it go back down.
That is true across all grocery prices. Sales stayed steady as the prices soared. Now that cost has come down, they see no reason not to continue with the same prices or even to continue to raise some. It is how a free market works, yet somehow the government gets the blame for it.

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[molson]

I don't believe there was a magical time when companies priced products cheaper even though people would happily pay more for just as much of the same thing.

Consumer spending has kept everything afloat, but, that won't last forever.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by molson

I don't believe there was a magical time when companies priced products cheaper even though people would happily pay more for just as much of the same thing.

Consumer spending has kept everything afloat, but, that won't last forever.

There wasn't. But no one was going to run up the price while the competition didn't for fear of losing market share. The inflation run allowed companies cover to run prices up and see how much the market actually will bear. Now, no one wants to be the first to give up that sweet, sweet profit margin. I mean Coke openly admitted that is what they are doing in their latest shareholder meeting, and Pepsi said in theirs that they feel they still have room to increase prices/profit margins in the coming year. Unless people stop buying in bulk, they aren't dropping prices. The people are getting hurt by it the most are consumers, and they seem to be only placing the blame on Washington. Corporations continue to cash in.

[GrantDawg]

On consumer spending, I expect that the crash is likely come from the higher-end items. Already the car market is declining. I imagine high end electronics will continue to slide as well. As a larger percentage of income is having to be spent on food and housing (which among lower incomes was already a much larger part of their budget), it is the discretionary and entertainment segments that will probably be hit first.