US US politics 2025

[silva]

I don't feel like enough people are going to do it to make a difference.

..........I'm throwing them back into the sea. The tide is low and they'll die in the sun if left stranded on the beach.
You can't possibly make a difference
Well, I made a difference this one......and this one.....

Maybe if you and I, and he, and she, and they all did.......?
rump didn't win by votes, he won by those who didn't

 

[silva]

TJ Maxx has been very busy and I do not think there will be any impact the 28th.

What are your co workers affiliations

 

[silva]

This video is not a joke. This was posted on the White House site, and shared by musk
White house vid of people in chains

 

[Chryssie]

What are your co workers affiliations

I think most of them are Republican Maga people or are clueless teenagers. There is one woman who shares my views and one other one that has said she "hates Trump." Politics are not discussed.

 

[PTree15]

Cross-posting this from Facebook.

Salutations once again dear readers! There's no point in lambasting Trump's camp/supporters, the only path forwards if making sure everyone, EVERYONE knows what's in store if the administration is unchecked.
Since when did the right trust the government? What happened to a balanced budget?

From Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut:

“Last night in the Senate, something really important happened. Republicans forced us to debate their billionaire bailout budget framework. We started voting at 6 PM because they knew doing it in the dark of night would minimize media coverage. And they do not want the American people to see how blatant their handover of our government to the billionaire class is.

So I want to explain what happened last night and what we did to fight back.

The apex of Republicans’ plan to turn over our government to their wealthy cronies is a giant tax cut for billionaires and corporations. And they plan to pay for it with cuts to programs that working people rely on. Popular and necessary programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP, are all being targeted.

In order to pass the tax cut, Republicans have to go through a series of procedural steps. Last night, they took the first step which requires them to pass an outline of their plan, but with it, any senator can offer as many amendments as we want. So my Democratic colleagues and I did just that.

Now, we knew that Republicans would largely unanimously oppose them, but we had two objectives here. One, Republicans were forced to put their opinion on record — many for the first time — on the most corrupt parts of Trump and Musk’s agenda. Two, as I’ve been saying, I am going to make every process and procedure as slow and painful as possible for as long as my colleagues choose to ignore the constitutional crisis happening before our eyes.

So what did we propose? We proposed no tax cuts for anyone who makes a billion dollars a year. We made them vote on whether or not Elon Musk and DOGE should have limitless access to Americans’ personal data. We made them vote on whether to protect IVF and require insurers to cover it.

Every single amendment Democrats proposed was shot down. On almost every single amendment, Republicans universally opposed it. Every Republican voted against our proposal to prevent more tax cuts for billionaires.

The corruption and theft is happening in the open here. The whole game for Republicans is taking your money and giving it to the wealthiest corporations and billionaires — even if it means kicking your parents out of a nursing home or turning off Medicaid for the poorest children.
They know what they are doing is deeply unpopular. They are offering a tax cut to the most wealthy that is 850 times larger than what they are offering working people. Oh and by the way, any tax cuts for working people are going to be washed out by higher costs for basic necessities, like health care and food. It’s a fundamental injustice.

Thanks to your pressure and support, many of my Democratic colleagues have joined my effort to do everything we can to make sure they cannot destroy democracy and steal your money in the dark of the night. We are being loud about what is happening. I’m going to continue to grind the gears of Congress down as much as possible to make it that much harder and slower to get away with this corruption. That’s why the votes lasted until nearly 5 AM.

This is a five-alarm fire. I don’t think we have two years to plan and fight back. I think we have months. It’s still in our power to stop the destruction of our democracy with mass mobilization and effective opposition from elected officials.

So we can’t miss any opportunity to take advantage of opportunities to put Republicans on the record and shine a light on what is happening.
And you have a role to play in this as well. I need you to amplify what’s happening, support the leaders who are fighting for you to make sure they can continue speaking truth to power against Musk and Trump’s billionaire cronies, and show up at rallies and town halls. Use every tool at your disposal to send a message loud and clear about how you expect my colleagues to lead and fight in this moment.”
Every best wish,
Chris Murphy

View attachment 31992

https://www.nytimes.com/.../chris-murphy-democrats-trump...

https://www.nytimes.com/.../house-gop-budget-blueprint.html

https://www.congress.gov/.../senate.../7/all-actions...

Chris Murphy is one of my senators. I don’t often contribute to politicians’ coffers, but I might this time. He speaks out daily and I applaud him for that. I just hope he can get through to the other side, enough to get this Russian tool out of office.

 

[Emma JC]

Talk of a "Feb 28 Economic Blackout" is spreading on social media. What is it?

A grassroots effort is asking American consumers to refrain from making purchases at major retailers for one day in February.

www.cbsnews.com

this would be good timing as the massive tariffs they are set to impose on Canada and Mexico are supposed to now start on March 1 - so Feb 28 would be perfect - I hope many people do it - it's nice to see they are not calling for boycotts of small businesses, just the big ones and gas and online

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Andy_T]

House GOP (Barely) Advances Trump’s Billionaire Budget to Gut Health Care for Kids and Seniors, Give Handouts to the Rich - Democrats

democrats.org

217 Reich-wing members of congress voted to take health insurance away from 21 million Americans in order to give tax cuts to the ultra wealthy.

Clearly, this is what the American public wanted when they gave a « land-slide victory » to Repugnicans.

Let’s see who of the Repugnican protest three (Collins, Murkawsky, who was the third again?) is allowed to vote against this this time without endangering that this great « America First » measure passes the senate?

Also, let’s see that now, when right-wing people also get hurt by Repugnican policies, how many potential « Luigis » might decide to step forward among those 21 million people… those traditionally value the political process less than left-wingers.

 

[PTree15]

House GOP (Barely) Advances Trump’s Billionaire Budget to Gut Health Care for Kids and Seniors, Give Handouts to the Rich - Democrats

democrats.org

217 Reich-wing members of congress voted to take health insurance away from 21 million Americans in order to give tax cuts to the ultra wealthy.

Clearly, this is what the American public wanted when they gave a « land-slide victory » to Repugnicans.

Let’s see who of the Repugnican protest three (Collins, Murkawsky, who was the third again?) is allowed to vote against this this time without endangering that this great « America First » measure passes the senate?

Also, let’s see how many potential « Luigis » can be found among those 21 million people…

I am so angry about this. My dad relies on Medicaid for his nursing home care, otherwise it would cost $17,000 a month for him to live there. I have to look into what is actually being cut, as there are many programs tied to Medicaid.

 

[Andy_T]

I am so angry about this. My dad relies on Medicaid for his nursing home care, otherwise it would cost $17,000 a month for him to live there. I have to look into what is actually being cut, as there are many programs tied to Medicaid.

The articles I read were specifically mentioning the Medicaid expansion in selected states, where a big part is paid for by federal funds as part of the ACA, as the most likely program to get cut.

So yes, they are now gutting an important part of the ACA.

 

[Andy_T]

So, some additional details from Facebook here (from "Occupy Democrats"):

YES!!! Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern just EVISCERATED Republicans on the House floor right before they voted on their pro-billionaire budget proposal:

Here's what he said:
"Democrats offered an amendment to protect Medicaid. Every Republican voted NO.

Democrats offered an amendment to extend tax cuts for people making under $400,000 while ensuring that corporations and billionaires pay their fair share. Every Republican voted NO.

Democrats offered an amendment preventing tax giveaways for people earning over $1 million a year. Every Republican voted NO.

We asked them to vote against tax breaks for people earning over $100 million per year. Every Republican voted NO.

We offered an amendment preventing tax cuts for people with a net worth of over, get this $1 billion. Every Republican voted NO.

They betrayed their constituents. They voted to steal from the American people in order to protect tax breaks for billionaires!"

 

[beancounter]

So, some additional details from Facebook here (from "Occupy Democrats"):

YES!!! Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern just EVISCERATED Republicans on the House floor right before they voted on their pro-billionaire budget proposal:

Here's what he said:
"Democrats offered an amendment to protect Medicaid. Every Republican voted NO.

Democrats offered an amendment to extend tax cuts for people making under $400,000 while ensuring that corporations and billionaires pay their fair share. Every Republican voted NO.

Democrats offered an amendment preventing tax giveaways for people earning over $1 million a year. Every Republican voted NO.

We asked them to vote against tax breaks for people earning over $100 million per year. Every Republican voted NO.

We offered an amendment preventing tax cuts for people with a net worth of over, get this $1 billion. Every Republican voted NO.

They betrayed their constituents. They voted to steal from the American people in order to protect tax breaks for billionaires!"

He's spot on, but it doesn't matter. The Democrats are powerless. The Conservative media has ramped up hate against Democrats to such a degree, that Republicans are celebrating "liberal tears" while completely ignoring that the fact that they shot themselves in the foot.

Boy, I hope that leopard is hungry.

They just passed a budget with sever cuts to many services that lower income and elderly people rely on such as Medicaid. The bill instructs the House Energy and Commerce committee (which oversees health care spending in programs) to determine where cuts should be made, giving them plausible deniability. "We never said they should cut Medicaid, just to cut $880B from their budget" - ($880B btw, is the amount of the Medicaid budget....) - In other words, it would be impossible to cut $880B, without cutting Medicaid.

Amazing coincidence, huh?...

 

[Lou]

..........I'm throwing them back into the sea. The tide is low and they'll die in the sun if left stranded on the beach.
You can't possibly make a difference
Well, I made a difference this one......and this one.....

Maybe if you and I, and he, and she, and they all did.......?
rump didn't win by votes, he won by those who didn't

Brings to mind a few quotes that have stuck with me.

“Not being able to do everything is no excuse for not doing everything you can.”​

― Ashleigh Brilliant

You can't do everything, but you can do one thing, and then another and another. In terms of energy, it's better to make a wrong choice than none at all.

- George Leonard

 

[silva]

He's spot on, but it doesn't matter. The Democrats are powerless. The Conservative media has ramped up hate against Democrats to such a degree, that Republicans are celebrating "liberal tears" while completely ignoring that the fact that they shot themselves in the foot.

Boy, I hope that leopard is hungry.

They just passed a budget with sever cuts to many services that lower income and elderly people rely on such as Medicaid. The bill instructs the House Energy and Commerce committee (which oversees health care spending in programs) to determine where cuts should be made, giving them plausible deniability. "We never said they should cut Medicaid, just to cut $880B from their budget" - ($880B btw, is the amount of the Medicaid budget....) - In other words, it would be impossible to cut $880B, without cutting Medicaid.

Amazing coincidence, huh?...

Well now the leopard is going after the easy prey, and boy the magats are loving it, because they're finally recognized as soooo much better. It'll be a while. They'll celebrate, and be celebrated, until.....they realize they've just replaced the people they called 'vermin', and they're no longer needed

My gosh, the Democrats. They're Demolishing, Humiliating, Exposing, Crushing.....What they've done, and continue to do, is try and emulate what they perceive as what republican voters want. When Tim Ryan, D, ran against Vance for Ohio Senate, he pushed so hard on being bipartisan, he ran as a democrat pandering towards republican, and gave us Vance...Then, longtime favorite Sherrod Brown--again ran catering towards republicans, and what should have been an easy win, gave us another republican
People stayed home because they had no one offering anything. Too much of the Dems focus is on 'moderation', and thinking they can win Republicans over. Hah! The whole "Lincoln project" of republicans are the same as all the neo-libs
I get so sad listening to Bernie Sanders

 

[Andy_T]

I wonder why so few people are pointing out that 30% of those “big government slackers” fired so far are veterans.

What a great way to thank them for their service, which is what Repugnicans usually claim to do…

And yes, about 60% of those voted for the orange felon in 2024.

 

[Andy_T]

What a wonderful week!

You all know we Germany invented "Schadenfreude"...

Still a long way to go.

 

[Tom L.]

House GOP (Barely) Advances Trump’s Billionaire Budget to Gut Health Care for Kids and Seniors, Give Handouts to the Rich - Democrats

democrats.org

217 Reich-wing members of congress voted to take health insurance away from 21 million Americans in order to give tax cuts to the ultra wealthy.

Clearly, this is what the American public wanted when they gave a « land-slide victory » to Repugnicans.

Let’s see who of the Repugnican protest three (Collins, Murkawsky, who was the third again?) is allowed to vote against this this time without endangering that this great « America First » measure passes the senate?

Also, let’s see that now, when right-wing people also get hurt by Repugnican policies, how many potential « Luigis » might decide to step forward among those 21 million people… those traditionally value the political process less than left-wingers.

I am so angry about this. My dad relies on Medicaid for his nursing home care, otherwise it would cost $17,000 a month for him to live there. I have to look into what is actually being cut, as there are many programs tied to Medicaid.

I'm pro-life. Cutting healthcare support for those who need it but can't afford it is not pro-life.

 

[beancounter]

I wonder why so few people are pointing out that 30% of those “big government slackers” fired so far are veterans.

What a great way to thank them for their service, which is what Repugnicans usually claim to do…

And yes, about 60% of those voted for the orange felon in 2024.

You don't need to be smart to shoot a gun.

 

[Ahimsa24/7]

One group certain to suffer during a second Trump presidency are animals, and more specifically, farm animals. Gains that have been made in improving the deplorable conditions in which factory farm animals live will surely be undone in one sweep of the pen, bringing further deregulation to factory farms. All in the spirit of not impeding larges businesses with government over-regulation.

 

[Andy_T]

As humans in the United States (and everywhere else) are also animals, that goes without saying.

I am afraid there are a lot of vegans who often overlook that simple fact.

But yes, nonhuman animals will suffer a lot more than before, as well.

 

[Chryssie]

As expected no "blackout" at TJ Maxx as it was business as usual and very busy.