July 22, 2015

Luckovich: Trump

July 21, 2015

Mexican immigrants didn't steal your job, take your home, and crash your 401(K)...

July 21, 2015

Cost of college around the world...

July 21, 2015

Someone put up a new warning sign for motorists in the town where Sandra Bland was arrested

Waller County, Texas District Attorney Elton Mathis has announced the death of Sandra Bland will be treated as thoroughly "as it would be in a murder investigation", but at the same press conference Waller County Sheriff's Office Captain of Patrol Brian Cantrell had this to say:

In the meantime, a new warning sign has popped up in Prairie View, Texas. From Molly Hennessy-Ficke (via Twitter):



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/21/1404253/-Someone-put-up-a-new-warning-sign-for-motorists-in-the-town-where-Sandra-Bland-was-arrested

July 21, 2015

Message from Team Bernie..

Dear Xxx,

Bernie just spoke to eleven thousand in Arizona. Fifteen thousand in Texas. These numbers are totally unprecedented for this stage in a presidential election in any state, let alone Red states. Millions of people are stepping up and signing up to build a movement around Bernie’s campaign.

What next? This: On the evening of July 29th, Bernie will speak to another unprecedented crowd. And this time, no matter where you live, you can attend. Bernie will be speaking via video to more than 1,500 separate events -- all organized by volunteers, in their homes, in local pubs and coffee shops, in union halls, and in large auditoriums.

Reserve your spot at a kickoff meeting near you before everything fills up: Click here to see the meetings near you. https://berniesanders.com/

Why are so many people coming out to support Bernie? Because we know who he is -- and he knows who he his. We know who he stands for -- the people -- and who he doesn’t stand for -- the billionaire class. And anyone who watches Bernie speak for even a few minutes sees what we already know: he’s not a stage-managed triangulator -- he’s the real deal.

That’s why it’s so important on July 29, that you not only bring yourself, but bring your friends too.

This is just the beginning, team. This is only our first official organizing kickoff. And we all know where this is going to end: With a grassroots movement powerful enough to take this country back from the billionaire class -- and Bernie in the White House to help us do it.

Let’s go!

Team Bernie

July 21, 2015

Why won't Hillary join Bernie in demanding employers provide paid vacation days?

was reading this great Vox article on quality-of-life in Switzerland -- and Western Europe, more generally -- and really became a bit agitated thinking about our current Democratic Party primary -- specifically, why won't Hillary Clinton demand that employers provide workers with paid vacation?and each of those days came with a sizable portion of guilt if actually used. But in Switzerland, my husband's company gave employees six weeks of vacation a year. Most of the Swiss companies I worked for gave four — the legal minimum is four. Moreover, everything shut down between Christmas and New Year's, giving most employees like me another guaranteed week off.

As this article shows, it's a pretty good thing:

Vacations improve worker productivity (i.e. more profits for job creators!), they improve worker satisfaction, and they enhance mental health. But, sadly, many Americans get zero vacation days. And, those who do, face a stigma when they attempt to use them.
Everything points to the fact that American employers should be compelled -- by the force of law -- to provide workers with at least a couple of weeks of paid vacation a year. Bernie Sanders understand this very well.




More here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/21/1404238/-Why-won-t-Hillary-join-Bernie-in-demanding-employers-provide-paid-vacation-days

July 21, 2015

Great point!

July 21, 2015

Does Bernie Sanders surge threaten Hillary?

In 2008 and again in 2012 a liberal coalition of minorities, college-educated whites and single women gave Barack Obama more than enough votes to comfortably win the presidency. Can it hold fast after he exits the stage next year?

A two-term presidency can paper over a host of fissures within a political movement. The longer a party stays in power, the more competing interests are liable to grow dissatisfied with their share of the governing pie.

Sometimes the centre holds. In 1988, for instance, George HW Bush rode to power on the strength of the Ronald Reagan governing coalition. By 1992, however, the foundation had given way, as fiscal and social conservatives revolted, ushering in eight years of Democratic rule and pushing the Republican Party farther to the right.

At the Netroots Nation conference of left-wing activists in Phoenix, Arizona, last week, the fault lines within today's Democratic Party were on full display. And while Mrs Clinton was more than a thousand miles away, honouring "prior commitments" in Iowa and Arkansas, the events that transpired in the desert this weekend should give her pause.

There's no question, for instance, that the enthusiasm and support for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' insurgent presidential campaign is real. He's climbed in polls over the past few weeks, and on Saturday night 11,000 turned out to hear the firebrand socialist give one of his 60-minute stem-winders.

On the menu was a heavy dose of liberal red meat - including condemnation of the "billionaire class" and calls for higher taxes on the wealthy, expanding government-run healthcare programmes, raising the minimum wage and tuition-free college education.

"Bernie Sanders stands up for what's just and right," says conference attendee Jean Devine of Phoenix. "He's for the Democratic ideals of equality for all people and for the rich not being able to buy elections."

While in Arizona, campaign supporters hoisted banners and toasted their man at a local nightclub with cleverly named cocktails like "Weekend at Bernie's" and "Vermont Treehugger" (with maple syrup-infused whiskey).

There was a point in time when Mrs Clinton was the cool Democrat. She had her own internet meme. She was near universally beloved by party faithful. Now, however - at least among the rank and file at Netroots Nation - Mr Sanders is the candidate of the hour.

>snip<

On Friday morning Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a champion of the left, used her keynote address to rail against an "insider Washington" that ignores the liberal priorities of the nation at large - on issues like gun control, income inequality and tighter Wall Street controls.

"The American people are progressive, and our day is coming," she said.


More here: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33469464

July 21, 2015

You want what, Bernie?

Sounds good to me!!

Reminds me of a friend who claimed that he'd spent as much money trying to kept his son out of jail then I spent putting one on my son's through college..

July 21, 2015

Dr. Corrnel West on Bernie Sanders...