April 12, 2025

Man with HIV on disability has benefits cut (believes by DOGE) is ordered to pay back $200K

https://abc7news.com/post/bay-area-hiv-survivor-owes-back-201000-social-security-getting-disability-benefits-cut/16147446/

This Bay Area man has been on disability since 2005. He just got a letter from disability stating that they believe he should not have received payments from 2014-2025, and are demanding he pay back over $200K. He believes this is the work of DOGE. He's also been removed from Medicare, which he needs for HIV meds.

Very scary stuff for anyone on disability.

August 8, 2024

Debates?

CNN just posted (that Trump said--so probably not true) that the Harris campaign has agreed to three debates--the first with Fox, the second the planned ABC debate on the 10th, and a 3rd one on NBC. Is this confirmed anywhere or just Trump making stuff up?

August 3, 2024

One reason I think there are strong feelings with the VP selection

is because there seems to be this overwhelming sentiment among some that whomever is chosen as VP is automatically "next in line" to be president. I see this posted all the time on DU. With Kamala Harris, there were numerous posts about how no way could someone else be put on the ticket because the base wouldn't stand for someone taking her rightful place in line. (This is not a dig at Harris, btw. I am thrilled that she is the candidate, she is the best and only candidate, and I love the current energy. This is simply to reinforce my point that there is a lot of this sentiment going around.)

The situation with Biden was unusual and not likely to be repeated. But I think one reason some many feel strongly about Harris's VP pick is because does it lock us into another 16 years of having no say in who our democratic candidate for president will be? To me, it feels that way. If (God willing) she wins in November and serves her 8 years, will there be calls of (her VP) is next in line, and how dare anyone primary them because if you primary X, it's anti-Semitic, or it's ageist, or anti-LGBT? As a voter, I want to get to vote. I want to have my say. I think it's important that whoever is chosen, we have a full primary the next time around and we get away from thinking that the VP (chosen by one person) is automatically the next nominee. The voters need to decide.

July 21, 2024

Are we seriously naive enough to think changing the ticket now solves something?

It doesn't.

Let's say we change the ticket TODAY to Harris for President and someone for VP.

I don't think this improves our chances. I'm sorry, but I don't.

I think the Republicans and the media then shift the attack machine that is now turned 24/7 on destroying Biden to destroying Harris. Harris has never polled well. Never. Sorry, but it's true. She is smart and she is capable, but she does not have charisma, did not do well when she ran on her own in 2020 and her polling has never improved. She will face all the same sexism Hillary ran against in 2020 in the general election, when this country refused to elect her despite how overwhelmingly qualified she was, and she will face racism for being a Black woman.

It does not matter how the Democratic base feels about her, or how Democratic women feel about her, when she is running in the General. Those voters were going to vote for us anyway. At that point we are looking at swing states and independent voters. If they wouldn't vote for Hillary, why do we think they will vote for Kamala?

I think we are making a HUGE mistake by bowing to Hollywood pressure, and by changing the ticket at the last minute. I have stated many times before that I think Joe should not have run a second time and that is something that in the future, I think will impact any older politician running. But that is a decision that should have been looked hard at A YEAR AGO. Now it is too late to change course, IMHO. Switching to Harris is not going to be a magic solution that causes polling to soar. It's just going to turn the attack machine onto her.

And why hasn't the attack machine turned onto her yet? Because of course the Republicans aren't stupid. They'll weaken Joe as much as they can, while they can. And only if Harris is named the candidate, will they turn on her. Right now they want us to think making Harris the candidate would be an "easy" way to fix this. I guarantee you, they are preparing to attack and making ads even as we speak.

We need to get behind Joe.

January 2, 2024

225K migrant encounters in December 2023, highest monthly total since 2000

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/02/us/new-jersey-migrant-buses-nyc/index.html

From CNN:

The arrivals in the New York area come as US-Mexico border authorities in December encountered more than 225,000 migrants, the highest monthly total recorded since 2000, according to preliminary Homeland Security statistics shared with CNN.

January 18, 2021

Cuomo tries to buy Pfizer vaccine for NY

According to CNN:

"Cuomo said he also sent a letter to the President of Pfizer asking if New York can buy vaccine doses directly from the drug company, which Cuomo believes would be a first. “My job as governor of New York is to pursue every avenue and that’s what I am doing,” Cuomo said."

Well, that's exactly what we don't need. Rich states outbidding the poorer states and grabbing up all available doses of vaccine so people living in poorer states can't get access.

April 18, 2020

Zelizer CNN article: VP

"Of all the contenders for vice president, Warren has one of the best chances of mobilizing progressives within the party. Without having to compete against Sanders, Warren can represent the left wing and serve as a unifying force on the ticket. She is an unabashed supporter of using government to solve problems and she has consistently put forth policies that progressives agree with."

---snip---

"Warren has something else to offer. She became known for having a plan, or what seemed like an answer for every problem. She thought systematically about the nation's challenges and laid out detailed responses. At this moment, Americans are desperate for a plan. Somewhere in between the choice of permanent self-distancing and reckless liberation must come a well-thought-out plan that is comprehensive and clear."

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/18/opinions/biden-vp-pick-stands-above-the-rest-zelizer/index.html