Fugelsang on Gorsuch and SC vote:

[fleur-de-lisa]

John Fugelsang✔ @JohnFugelsang

Gorsuch votes to let workers get ripped off.
From his Supreme Court seat.
Which was ripped off.

Link to tweet

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. And none of this had to happen if only all people who claimed to be liberal

would have NOT attacked and criticized our candidate.

[cynatnite]

2. It happened because of the repubs who stole that seat from Obama. n/t

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. Started there of course, and McConnell violated his constitutional duty

but if the ENTIRE non right of this country, call it whatever you want, had NOT attacked Hillary , she would have overcome the russian assisted stolen election

And I blame a lot of folks on the so called left for this.

[cynatnite]

5. It would never had happened had the repubs fulfilled their constitutional duties in the first place.

They stole that seat just as much as if they'd robbed a bank.

We can put a lot of what's happened on the 2016 election.

It doesn't change the fact that this seat was Obama's to fill and the repubs stole it. Merrick Garland was nominated and the repubs refused to do their jobs.

[mountain grammy]

19. Exactly!

The seat was Obama's to fill.

[Uncle Joe]

22. I totally agree cynatnite n/t

[olegramps]

36. Well, yes, but the herding the Democrats has always been like herding cats.

This is the basic nature of liberals who are free thinkers. Contrast that to the typical Republicans who are lockstep zombies whose only refrain is Democrats bad, Republicans good as they are hopelessly marched to their doom. Sad thing is they are taking us along with them.

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. And you and others fail to understand that this is such a minor issue

Not only that, its an issue that should NOT be changed in a thriving democracy. Any candidate should be ready and able to accept criticism from both the right and the left. No candidate is all things to all people.

I remember all the bitterness and infighting during the Obama/Clinton primaries, and even after with the PUMA groups lingering on message boards long after. Obama supporters accused of playing dirty tricks. Doing the R's job for them etc...

Criticizing your opponent in a primary race is par for the course. And that criticism was confined to perceived real concerns, not the fake news about emails, Benghazi, etc..

The only reason this divisive re-fighting of the primaries seems to be still going on is the fact that the Democrats lost the general, and they won after Obama was declared the candidate which followed with Hillary being appointed SoS which soothed a lot of wounds.

When it was a myriad of other factors we should be blaming instead of our Democratic process of holding primaries, and the temporary ugliness that is exposed during that time. The Russians and Facebook, the Republicans spouting lies, Trump spewing garbage, voter suppression laws, Crosscheck, 24/7 RW radio and TV propaganda, YouTube conspiracy channels, and billions of dark money after the Citizens United decision .....and also partly the DNC and the campaign in overestimating the galvanized support in the Rust Belt. Her lack of clarity on some issues, and not being a natural large crowd pleasing type of firebrand speaker as her opponent was.


edit just to add to that last line: and not willing to lie profusely in order to stir up those crowds with false facts and promises (which no candidate should I must also add)

[The Wizard]

26. good observations

you have to give the Devil his due. Trump used Twitter to snooker the corporate news outlets. He had four times the coverage as Hillary. We really have to restore the Fairness Doctrine.

[Demsrule86]

33. And that is why we lose....so we can lose or stop criticising our own....that is the choice we face

If we are not loyal to our party and candidates, the GOP will continue to win...and the progressive movement hanging by a thread will be gone...I laugh when I see all the discussion about fielding 'real' progressives...and how we can get single payer and a host of other goodies....so not true at the moment...even when we get back in power, now we have a hostile judiciary to block our policies. Of course, if we continue to criticize the only party that can stop Republicans, we will end up in the dustbins of history while fascists run the country... that is where we find ourselves now...so I consider 'constructive criticism (no such thing) about as useful as arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic...and progressive bills that are offered with no chance of passage due to our complete lack of power as laughable...no different than the 50+ times the GOP put up bills to repeal the ACA during President Obama's term. President Obama was a great president...he surely deserved a more loyal electorate...just imagine where we would be today had we had Obama's back in 10 and 14...Gorsuch would not be on the bench for sure.

[LiberalLovinLug]

38. See, I look at it differently. Constructive criticism should ALWAYS be invited from the grass roots.

And it is especially pertenent right after an election loss. Now when November draws nigh, we should have our plan in place and our candidates all lined up, and we should button our lips. Just like Bernie and all of his supporters (minus the ones that never would have voted for Hillary regardless) did. The primaries were over and we had to rally round our candidate.

But yes I believe every party, organization, group, especially when they have been losing, should be self reflecting as to how they can improve their chances next time. Not cling to narrative that its all because the other side are nasty cheaters. That there is zero more we could do. And look for reasons for what may be hampering their efforts, including policy. So any good intention constructive criticism should be welcomed with open arms. (Whether from an actual Democrat or a close ally who is regarded as one enough by the party to run as one), because the end goal of that criticism is to appeal to more voters. Or at least get voting Democrats off the couch.

If you have a bicycle with a squeeky wheel that is used for races, and in between races you think, "maybe I should take a look at that wheel, find out why it is squeeking", but then are convinced that meh...no need because you've always used it that way from as far as you can remember, so why look for faults? It will only make me feel like I'm not a winner. Or that something is wrong with my bike.

To me that just doesn't make sense. Maybe its a chicken and egg thing. You don't want to lose elections. But at the same time you don't think there is ever the time or place to actually look for fixes for the next one, that we should be using all our energy in polishing the seat and oiling the chain and that squeeky wheel will just have to wait. Then you lose again, and its rinse and repeat.

[Demsrule86]

39. You can look at it all you want...but the fact of the matter is such criticism demoralizes and

discourages Democratic voters. I do not welcome criticism...we get enough from the right and some of our 'close allies' in fact. I want to win...and feel the criticism does way harm and benefits no one. All the oh...Hillary was pulled left...yeah sure and we lost.

[LiberalLovinLug]

42. again, I see it differently

I think it actually ENCOURAGES Democratic voters when we the leadership of the party shows they are listening to their base. As long as they are actually listening and doing the improving. Like I said, the time to do that is only in a window between elections. That too much criticism is not good while the election is in full swing.

And Hillary altering her platform at the end to appeal to progressives was the least of the reasons why she lost. Bernie had a very popular platform despite the 'socialist' label he gladly accepted. There actually is support, especially amongst Democratic voters, but even for other voters, for $15 minimum wages, for single payer, and other "leftie" issues. She was smart to do that, as it galvanized Bernie and his supporters over to her. I did not hear one whine from either traditional Democrats or even Republicans about that slight shift on a couple of issues in her platform.

We need to be bolder with our platform. Show we are different. I think for instance that saying single payer universal health care "its never going to happen" is waaaaaaaaaay more discouraging and demoralizing to potential Democratic voters than saying it can happen....even if there is no clear road towards it yet. I think some Dems are so gun shy about looking like RADICALS for daring to boldly call for things that other countries enjoy and are normal. And Sanders proved that those issues can be discussed and even supported by the majority, including small r Republicans and Independents. We have to stop hand wringing about what Fox News is going to say about us and just get on with it.

[pennylane100]

18. Well lets just go with that.

If we did not blame the democrats we would have to look for the real culprits. That is why we are in the middle of this shit show.

[Demsrule86]

34. And for some that would be looking in the mirror...if you don't vote Democratic, you are not

progressive. I hope the disarray found in Our Revolution indicates the Dems have wised up and will support Democrats.

[Eliot Rosewater]

37. Oh I am NOT blaming DEMOCRATS

[pennylane100]

43. I apologise,

you did not mention democrats. I was unclear about who so called liberals are, I guess I have not been paying attention.

[Eliot Rosewater]

44. I am blaming people who constantly bad mouth democrats like Hillary or Nancy Pelosi

Today I saw where Bernie Sanders said Democrats arent energetic enough or some horseshit like that

[pennylane100]

45. Well I did not see his speech. I was a true Bernie fan during the last primary.

however I did not hesitate to wholeheartedly support Hillary in the general election. I still support him again only if he runs on the democratic ticket. I will vote for the democratic candidate as to split the vote is a sure win for the repugs/

However, he does have a point, we have way too many democratic politicians that I do no think are doing a good job. However at a time when we are at war for the survival of our democracy, we must swallow the bad medicine and vote for the party.

[Eliot Rosewater]

46. No he doesn't.

[Hortensis]

4. SCOTUS rules 5/4 for employers against class action arbitration cases.

"In a victory for employers and the Trump administration, the Supreme Court on Monday said that employers could block employees from banding together as a class to fight legal disputes in employment arbitration agreements."

BAD news for employees, but exactly what the Kochs and their like got Gorsuch appointed to do.

[Eliot Rosewater]

13. And the NONSENSE that we need to CRITICIZE dems STiLL is RIGHT HERE

on this thread while the GOP destroys America

Fuck this

[uponit7771]

15. How the hell is that constitutional !?!?

[Shrek]

29. There wasn't a constitutional issue before the court

It was about statutory interpretation. Good explanation here:

http://www.subscriptlaw.com/blog/epic-system-v-lewis-decision

[Hortensis]

35. As Shrek says, but also, judicial activism is right

and noble when it's done by archconservatives for archconservatives and they call it constitutional originalism instead. Gorsuch was appointed to reinterpret as much of 27 years of the constitutional law of our liberal democracy as he can get hold of.

Corporations have freedom of speech and religious rights.

Speaking of legacies, why have we never known why Scalia was at that secret retreat with its isolated desert airport and the identities of all the nearly 40 guests still secret? This was late February 2016, btw. The enormous battle for power was raging.

[HenryWallace]

6. I hate to say this...

but the Court is illegitimate as long as Gorsuch sits on it.

The lower courts have been packed with Conservatives just as underhandedly.

[BigmanPigman]

7. McConnell knew the Russians were fixing the election

and planned to take over the SCOTUS. McConnell should be kicked out of his position. Perhaps he will be if Mueller finds that Cohen (Deputy Financial Chair of the RNC) took money from the enemy and distributed it to the GOP leaders.

[Kurt V.]

9. i agree.

It's the only explanation for his moves at that time.

[BigmanPigman]

10. Did you read this post?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210595088

[Kurt V.]

17. no i didn't

but i have now. thanks! so..money on the way. Check. Election interference. Check. PACs are making themselves into dangerous entities.

[3catwoman3]

23. Of course he did. How else to explain his intransigent confidence...

...in reusing to let Merrick have a hearing. He damn well knew the fix was in. I hate him with the heat of a thousand white hot suns.

That bullshit rationale of "the Amercan people need a say." They/We had our say when President Pbama was re-elected in 2012.

Fucking bastard.

[BigmanPigman]

24. I love your choice of words!

At a family dinner my sister (who is never at a loss for words and is very articulate) started to describe how much she hates McConnell and all she could do was stammer and turn red. I will have to tell her your about "1,000 white hot suns".

[riversedge]

8. spot on.

[world wide wally]

11. Okay, so I have a question:

If dotard and the deplorables are so fucking stupid, why are they kicking our asses every time we turn around?

Asking for a friend.

[maxsolomon]

14. Money

Endless piles of money to buy and distribute Propaganda.

[Demsrule86]

32. Because they have all the power and are ruthless...we didn't support Democrats in 10,14 and

16 as a party...didn't turn out .Thus we got Gorsuch a stolen pick. All those who whined about emails...well...I guess you have no right to complain at this point...those that voted for Princess Jill were warned ...those who didn't vote were warned the courts were at stake, but the left left (Greens and other faux progressives) simply voted their 'conscience'...how noble of them. The rotten GOP send their thanks again...and an extra thanks for 2000, 2004,2010 and 2014...as for me, my I wish to say thanks for nothing.

[uponit7771]

16. Read the ruling, sounds like there could be individual opt op statements ... send them anonymously

[Cha]

20. Damn Straight! Is there any

workers' Buyers Remorse yet for those who got sucked into trump's LIES?

[Uncle Joe]

21. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread fleur-de-lisa

[Scurrilous]

25. K&R

[bucolic_frolic]

27. Goruch is ILLEGITIMATE

Period.

[lancelyons]

28. Democrats need to take back the house, senate and presidency and then do the same.

Democrats need to vote and get these people out of their office.

[Honeycombe8]

41. +1. nt

[magicarpet]

30. It will take decades to unscramble the trDump mess....

.... the damage trDump is causing the Federal Judicial Branch will be very long lasting and set back generations to come.

They high jacked our government right out from under us. The executive, the legislative and the judicial have all been captured and held by gun point aimed squarely at their heads. There is no check - counter check in place any more. The intended checks and balances have been craftily dismantled and eliminated. Team trDump the family of con men and criminals runs rampant over our government and their sole intent is endless gluttony of self enrichment by way of graft and corrupt practices like never seen or witnessed before.

Our experiment to refine a more just Democracy appears to have lived out it's usefulness and is being forced to expire. The new way, the new day, the new up and coming fashion seems to be Fascistic Oligarchy - where all power and authority is handed over to the rich and super rich. While the common folk and the unwashed masses are locked into a wacko Fascist Christian Theocracy of governance and are expected to submit to being led around by the nose as they go about their daily business.

How did we allow this to happen, why did we not see what was coming ? Can we turn back the tide and beat back the Fascists and restore some semblance of a thriving Democracy ? Or is it already to late - evil has captured and has a firm hold over our government - we are now Innocent bystanders who can only watch as our hopes and dreams for a more just society slowly erodes and then gets permanently washed down the drain like it was untreated raw sewerage.

What a bleak realization if that all comes to be. This is not the America I expected to see in the twilight years of my journey here. I fooled myself with the expectations we were capable of so much more in the realms of achieving a higher more fair and just humanity. But just a fool's errand - and not to be - much to the lost and detriment of our society in it's entirety.

Once again, how did we allow this to happen to our country ? Is it too late to turn back the tide, the monsoon, and the tsunami of FASCISM that is washing over us ?

[Demsrule86]

31. Yeah, well I remember John denigrating Hillary...guess she was not the same as Trump after all.

[Honeycombe8]

40. A gradual chipping away of individual rights in the country. nt