applegrove
applegrove's JournalGreg Abbott Calls on Joe Biden for Help Amid Texas Storms
Greg Abbott Calls on Joe Biden for Help Amid Texas Storms
Published May 16, 2024 at 2:45 AM EDT
Updated May 16, 2024 at 4:47 PM EDT
01:00
By James Bickerton
US News Reporter
https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbott-asks-joe-biden-disaster-declaration-texas-extreme-weather-thunderstorms-1901240
"SNIP............
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked President Joe Biden to issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas of the Lone Star State impacted by recent severe weather and flooding.
Texas has been rocked by inclement weather over the past few weeks, including thunderstorms that have triggered flooding and tornadoes.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday Abbott wrote: "Due to severe weather and flooding that continues to cause devastating damage in several of our communities, I am requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
"The extensive damage caused by these severe storms, historic river flooding, and tornadoes requires comprehensive, robust action by all levels of government to help Texans rebuild and recover."
............SNIP"
Applegrove:
What? What's that you say? Government helps people in trouble? Is Abbott afraid of being Cancuned like Ted Cruz was for not looking after people in a crisis?
There is a reason Putin is the richest person in
the world. Corruption works like this: the police and government officials shake down the public. The rich always shake down people below them. The authoritarian shakes down the rich. They are inventing a level of power above them in the authoritarian instead of democracy where the public and the public good rules and the majority are for honest brokers.
Billionaires willing to kill democracy for trillions in tax breaks
Billionaires willing to kill democracy for trillions in tax breaks
by Mark Sumner
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 3:30:08p EDT
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/16/2241045/-Billionaires-willing-to-kill-democracy-for-trillions-in-tax-breaks
"SNIP...............
But despite this, the super wealthy have determined that they don't care if Trump is a threat to democracy, and that the violent 2021 coup attempt is simply not an issue. They are still willing to vote for Trump in 2024 because he promised to extend their tax cuts, this time including a whole new round of new tax cuts even bigger than what came before.
It doesn’t matter to the wealthiest Americans that extending the existing tax cuts would come at a cost to the nation of $4.3 trillion. And why should it? That is $4.3 billion that comes directly out of federal bank accounts and goes straight into theirs, which is what happened with the $1.9 trillion that Trump cut billionaires in their biggest, sweetest break yet.
On the other hand, Biden has proposed a tax on the super rich, which would only hit those with over $100 million. As CNBC explains: “That would lift the average tax rate for America’s 1,000 billionaires from 8.2% and bring it in line with the 25% paid by average American workers, according to Biden.”
Billionaires forced to pay taxes at the same rate as average workers? That is a horror they simply can’t live with.
.............SNIP"
But the Pope says "who am I to judge". At least
there is him even when the Bishops are too backwards to support gay rights even though nature (and I assume God) made gays to help their sisters (in big families) raise lots of children as the documentary "Survival of the Fabulous" goes into. You would think the catholic promoters of big families would see a like goal in that.
The stark difference between how Democrats and Republicans run states
The stark difference between how Democrats and Republicans run states
by Mark Sumner
Daily Kos Staff
Monday, May 13, 2024 at 11:30:25a EDT
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/13/2240440/-The-stark-difference-between-how-Democrats-and-Republicans-run-states
"SNIP..............
With many state legislatures wrapping up their 2023-2024 sessions, here are two examples of what voters get for their partisan investment. One state got guns and a culture war; the other got education, transportation, and housing.
In Colorado, the 74th General Assembly contains 69 Democrats (23 in the Senate, 46 in the House) and 31 Republicans (12 in the Senate, 19 in the House). Together with Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, this session gave Democrats an opportunity to execute on issues they had campaigned on in this cycle, as well as follow up on Democratic victories from the previous session.
As Colorado Politics reports, the result was one very successful year in Colorado politics. Democrats were able to pass:
* A program that gives students from families earning under $90,000 two free years of college. That’s not just at technical schools or community colleges, but it includes state-run universities.
* Property tax reform that provides relief for homeowners and more equitable funding for schools to make them less dependent on property taxes and the wealth of their local communities.
* A tax credit program for low income families that provides $1.4 billion that’s expected to drastically reduce child poverty.
* A bill that doubles the earned income credit for families.
* Changes to zoning policy to spur sustainable, affordable housing, especially in resort communities where housing costs far exceeded the incomes of many workers.
* A fee on oil and gas production that goes to promoting transit, conservation, and renewable energy.
..........SNIP"
Applegrove:
Someone needs to make a meme of this stark contrast. What Republicans have passed in Tennessee is bats*** crazy.
Secret Service notified as Trump aide brags about 'causing innocent people to be arrested'
Secret Service notified as Trump aide brags about 'causing innocent people to be arrested'
David McAfee
May 12, 2024 9:14PM ET
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-mcentee-secret-service/
"SNIP...........
Donald Trump's former White House aide is under fire after a video showed him claiming to distribute fake money to homeless people so that they will be arrested when they spend it.
Johnny McEntee, formerly the White House Presidential Personnel Office under the former president, posted a video on TikTok in which he discusses the purported scheme to "clean up the community."
"So I always keep this fake Hollywood money in my car, so when a homeless person asks for money, and I give them like a $5 bill, I feel good about myself, they feel good," said McEntee, also a senior advisor to Project 2025. "And then when they go to use it, they get arrested, so I'm actually helping to clean up the community and get them off the street."
Law professor Orin Kerr responded to the video, "Causing innocent people to be arrested is good, according to Trump aide."
..........SNIP"
Applegrove:
Thanks to my cousin for the suggestion.
Here is video:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/132222895
Applegrove:
After reading your responses I think this was performative to teach people, voters, to hate the poor. Psychopath teach their followers how to behave. It is part of grooming and giving them a vivid role in life so they finally have somewhere to belong (after years of being lost because the GOP gutted unions and government) and building an army of bullies.
Stronger economy improves outlook for Medicare, Social Security
Stronger economy improves outlook for Medicare, Social Security
Benefits projected to last longer before running dry in the 2030s
By Caitlin Reilly and Jessie Hellmann
Posted May 6, 2024 at 6:18pm
https://rollcall.com/2024/05/06/stronger-economy-improves-outlook-for-medicare-social-security/
"SNIP...........
The hospital insurance trust fund, which pays for Medicare Part A benefits, will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2036, five years later than was reported by the trustees last year. Meanwhile, the outlook for Social Security improved slightly over last year’s projections by one metric and remained unchanged under another.
If combined with the program’s disability insurance trust fund, the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund could pay out the full retirement benefit until 2035, a year later than last year’s projection. At that point, Social Security benefits would face a 17 percent cut.
The results nonetheless represent “good news,” the program’s top official said Monday.
“Any potential benefit reduction event has been pushed off from 2034 to 2035. More people are contributing to Social Security, thanks to strong economic policies that have yielded impressive wage growth, historic job creation, and a steady, low unemployment rate,” Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley said in a statement. “So long as Americans across our country continue to work, Social Security can — and will — continue to pay benefits.”
.............SNIP"
Applegrove:
Imagine if wages had risen in the last 40 years as they have in the last two. Imagine if employment had been high for the whole time.
A good portion of MAGA believe it is a witch hunt. Another
percentage want authoritarianism and to get rid of democracy. Some want to roll back immigrants and women's rights. Some just want to be entertained by Trump. 20% obviously are 'somewhat slow on the pick up' but want decency in office and say if he gets convicted they may vote elsewhere.
So authoritanian. Not democratic at all: the people
decide how they want the government to maintain order.
Trump Calls Biden Administration the 'Gestapo'
Trump Calls Biden Administration the ‘Gestapo’
May 4, 2024 at 10:18 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 345 Comments
https://politicalwire.com/2024/05/04/trump-calls-biden-administration-the-gestapo/
"SNIP...........
“Fresh from his criminal trial in New York, Donald Trump delivered a frustrated and often profane roughly 75-minute speech at a Republican National Committee donor retreat in Florida on Saturday, attacking one of the prosecutors pursuing him and comparing President Biden’s administration to the Nazis,” the New York Times reports.
Said Trump: “These people are running a Gestapo administration.”
“In his speech, he complained repeatedly about the criminal trial in Manhattan, to which he will return on Monday, insisted that Democrats use ‘welfare’ to cheat in elections and said he would need an attorney general with ‘courage’ as he mocked his former attorney general, William P. Barr, who recently endorsed him after speaking critically of Mr. Trump since the administration ended.”
............SNIP"
Applegrove:
I guess calling himself Nelson Mandela didn't test well. I wonder why? Now he is a Jewish victim of the Holocaust.
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