Dysfunction in the 118th Congress isn’t a bug, it’s a feature. It’s the point. It’s the goal. Strap in, the Fakakte Circus is about to begin, and it’s going to be very real. The New York Times puts it in a nutshell in the follow–up header to their main headline on their story:
I hope & pray that Democrats have learned (maybe?) to really LOUDLY state precisely what these idjits are wanting to do with SS & Medicaid. Literally and OFTEN. Over & over!
Because those 2 little hummers just might help to rid us of these idjits (polite term!)
We all know they will not cut the defense budget except for the "woke" parts!
There isn't anything in evidence I've seen that convinces me that we Democrats EVER learn this. I can already sense the backing away from a fight, I mean a real two-fisted political fight, the kind Democrats have managed to avoid for a very very long time. Every year I ask myself about the reasons for this, and I usually come up with some; version of the same things. We Democrats are the holders of the moral high ground, we are compassionate, we care for widows and orphans, we work at food bands, etc. And Politics is a dirty business for people like Republicans who are out to take bread from the mouths of Mr. McCarthy's constituents. When did you ever hear of a knock-down drag-out political battle to provide free lunches for poor children? Nope. Effective politicking = bad intentions. I believe, like you, that we can win this election in 2024 on the issues of Medicare and Social Security. But Medicare and Social Security, left sitting there or addressed quietly, as if they are of course a given and all good people will see that, will not win it for us.
Jessica Cravens had a great script for calls to Congresscritters on the Rules and the IRS funding vote. Check out Chop wood, Carry water. Even if the vote has already happened Republican reps need to know why their constituents are turning against them.
Be sure to get in and see t hem and get everything set up BEFORE YOU TURN 65 - otherwise they can hit you with "expenses" and "fees" you don't want to be paying (ask me how I know)
because I had to leave work a few years before I wanted to, my whole SS thing was a mess. when I finally went to the local office, I'd just gotten my second cancer diagnosis. I discovered that if you say "cancer," doors open very quickly. I suppose the assumption is something like: "give it to him quickly...he won't be collecting it for very long." I don't remember any fees, either. please understand...this is NOT a tactic I recommend.
...and while I'm on this...I just got a card I'm supposed to return telling me that at 74 (three weeks away), I get a really nice discount on my Medicare. does anybody know anything about this?
without Medicare, I'd either die quickly or end up living in a cardboard box. just saying.
As I recall, I received a letter 3 months in advance notifying me that I would become eligible after a given date. The letter included instructions on how to go in person (required) to sign up. That was more than 13 years ago so I remember little more than sitting in the local SS office for my appointment. Hope they're still as organized. That, of course, is when everyone became eligible at age 65.
Thanks TC for the recital of looming disasters. This is going to be "baptism by fire' in one sense. And the troops better be ready in the House and Senate. The Dems need a training routine. :-)
I still wonder to what extent the multiple votes, negotiations, etc were possibly 'fake theater"---so that the GOP can now strut around (good messaging, as usual) and claim that they had a robust debate over the rules of the house and the selection of the Speaker. In other words, was the outcome preordained and the theatrics improvised? Not impossible, it seems to me. But some of these critters seem too "off the wall" and wacko to deal with a script. Stranger things have happened. (I'm not trying to trade in conspiracy theories, just observe a possibility). On the other hand Biden continues with a firm hand on the tiller steering the Ship of State amid very troubled waters. May he stay the course and stay calm while the seas are in tumult.
I hate to say it, but me too. I can further excuse this position by saying that Little Matty is bound to self-destruct sooner or later (what's doing with his "case?" does anybody know?) so it's okay to enjoy the damage he's doing to his own house.
“...hope springs infernal...” Absolutely. And yes, engaging in the same thing with unfavorable results over and over is the definition of insanity, which today’s RepubliQan party is exhibiting over and over.
The nice thing is, according to Professor Lawrence Tribe, the 14th Amendment states that the debts of the United States will not be questioned, and that gives the president the power and authority to borrow whatever money is needed to pay all debts incurred by the US.....and that does not require an act of Congress, since the debt limit affects debts we have already incurred, which means the President would be acting on the desires of Congress..... Hope it works. Here is the passage from Jennifer Rubin:
" Professor Tribe had originally expressed some skepticism about this Fourteenth Amendment-based argument when it first arose during the Republicans’ debt ceiling gambits in the Obama years. He now agrees that the relevant constitutional provision — “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.” — requires the President to borrow to prevent a default that would most assuredly bring the validity of the public debt into question. …
President Biden would be affirming congressional spending power, not defying it, because he would be doing exactly what Congress told him to do when it passed appropriations laws. Those laws tell a president exactly how much to spend, when, and to whom the money must be paid."
I am, however, delighted with your use of "fakakte" (variations in spelling are ok in Yiddish transliteration). for the uninitiated, it means "shat-upon." a lot of folks I know like to combine it with "punim." the phrase applies to the greatest number of House Republicans. I mean, like, take a LOOK.
another excellent term, along the same lines, is "fapishtig," meaning "pissed upon." I think it might actually be semantically worthwhile to look at a bunch of faces of people we don't like and decide which kind of face each one has. there ARE differences (I've spent HOURS with friends trying to decide if a particular person is a schmuck, dick, prick or whatever). everybody already knows there are tremendous differences. whole episodes of my favorite Shakespeare podcast have been dedicated to just such niceties.
I have a feeling I'll be saying "good grief" more often than I want to over the next two years. I only hope there are enough dems with a few decent republicans (there may still be a couple in this crowd) to get hold of this monster unleashed by the former "guy" and his crowd of dimwits and dubious dolts, the primary one having the speaker's gavel in hand. What a mess.
I'm good for a few "fuck me"s by the time I get out of bed. reading the news calls for considerably more drastic rhetoric. but we're all sorta limited by the English language's tendency to be more civilized than the times in which we live.
I've stockpiled what I need to get through this shitshow. Now it is a matter of watching the Republicans eat their own while continuing the greatest grift in American history.
what's the deal with these "secret rules" I keep hearing about? how can "rules" be "secret?" secret from whom? there would be some rich comic potential in all this if it weren't so important
'Since 2016, the Republicans have been engaged in Kultur Kampf rather than promoting fiscal discipline and pretending they care about spending and deficits.' (TC)
The increased hardships and more economic insecurity to 99% of Americans; the disarray in society and in our government, and growth of more seditionists were clearly depicted in HOW NOT TO PLAY THE GAME. What about the DECONSTRUCTION OF THE STATE by Republicans from Gaetz and Trump to Kevin McCarthy. Aren't the Republicans accelerating our tools for the 'Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule'?
'...the enemies of liberal democracy—a form of self-government in which human rights are recognized and every individual is entitled to equal treatment under law—are accelerating their attacks. Authoritarian regimes have become more effective at co-opting or circumventing the norms and institutions meant to support basic liberties, and at providing aid to others who wish to do the same.' (Freedom House)
Is that who we are--'enemies of liberal democracy'--or who we are about to become? The lies told to the Brazilians, delegitimizing their presidential election are the same lies that Trump and the Republicans told the American people. What of the 'rules' that McCarthy agreed to in order to be Speaker of the House?
Flying the plane while decommissioning it? Seat belt ✅ Helmet ✅ Parachute ✅
Wonderful. Nice job Beth B.
Anyone interested in this new mental wellness & beauty product? Face-palm oil.
Extracted by the repeated slapping of one against the other.
I hope & pray that Democrats have learned (maybe?) to really LOUDLY state precisely what these idjits are wanting to do with SS & Medicaid. Literally and OFTEN. Over & over!
Because those 2 little hummers just might help to rid us of these idjits (polite term!)
We all know they will not cut the defense budget except for the "woke" parts!
There isn't anything in evidence I've seen that convinces me that we Democrats EVER learn this. I can already sense the backing away from a fight, I mean a real two-fisted political fight, the kind Democrats have managed to avoid for a very very long time. Every year I ask myself about the reasons for this, and I usually come up with some; version of the same things. We Democrats are the holders of the moral high ground, we are compassionate, we care for widows and orphans, we work at food bands, etc. And Politics is a dirty business for people like Republicans who are out to take bread from the mouths of Mr. McCarthy's constituents. When did you ever hear of a knock-down drag-out political battle to provide free lunches for poor children? Nope. Effective politicking = bad intentions. I believe, like you, that we can win this election in 2024 on the issues of Medicare and Social Security. But Medicare and Social Security, left sitting there or addressed quietly, as if they are of course a given and all good people will see that, will not win it for us.
Where is Al Frankin, he had the fighting spirit. I’m as compassionate as any Dem, but I would tar and feather the fools, for starters
the Al Franken question is why I will never, ever vote for Gillibrand.
❗️ ❗️ ❗️
Too true, Dean.
Yup - wishful thinking, right?
I suppose we should be prepared to "watch them snatch defeat from the jaws of victory once again.
Couldn’t figure out why Dems rarely mentioned their plans. They told, only heard Joe tell towards the end. BIG mistake
Thank you again for explaining so well what is happening. It’s not reassuring but I hope more people will wake up and really open their eyes.
Jessica Cravens had a great script for calls to Congresscritters on the Rules and the IRS funding vote. Check out Chop wood, Carry water. Even if the vote has already happened Republican reps need to know why their constituents are turning against them.
Thanks TC for this excellent summary. I'm concerned about SS as I will start collecting this year.
Be sure to get in and see t hem and get everything set up BEFORE YOU TURN 65 - otherwise they can hit you with "expenses" and "fees" you don't want to be paying (ask me how I know)
because I had to leave work a few years before I wanted to, my whole SS thing was a mess. when I finally went to the local office, I'd just gotten my second cancer diagnosis. I discovered that if you say "cancer," doors open very quickly. I suppose the assumption is something like: "give it to him quickly...he won't be collecting it for very long." I don't remember any fees, either. please understand...this is NOT a tactic I recommend.
...and while I'm on this...I just got a card I'm supposed to return telling me that at 74 (three weeks away), I get a really nice discount on my Medicare. does anybody know anything about this?
without Medicare, I'd either die quickly or end up living in a cardboard box. just saying.
I know too, my husband warned me
I seem to recall having to set things up about 3 months before I was 65. As TC says, dont wait!!
yes, that's right
As I recall, I received a letter 3 months in advance notifying me that I would become eligible after a given date. The letter included instructions on how to go in person (required) to sign up. That was more than 13 years ago so I remember little more than sitting in the local SS office for my appointment. Hope they're still as organized. That, of course, is when everyone became eligible at age 65.
It was almost 20 years ago for me but I did it all online or thru the mail - dont remember having to show up at SS office at that time.
My family counts on it to live!
Right to worry
Thanks TC for the recital of looming disasters. This is going to be "baptism by fire' in one sense. And the troops better be ready in the House and Senate. The Dems need a training routine. :-)
I still wonder to what extent the multiple votes, negotiations, etc were possibly 'fake theater"---so that the GOP can now strut around (good messaging, as usual) and claim that they had a robust debate over the rules of the house and the selection of the Speaker. In other words, was the outcome preordained and the theatrics improvised? Not impossible, it seems to me. But some of these critters seem too "off the wall" and wacko to deal with a script. Stranger things have happened. (I'm not trying to trade in conspiracy theories, just observe a possibility). On the other hand Biden continues with a firm hand on the tiller steering the Ship of State amid very troubled waters. May he stay the course and stay calm while the seas are in tumult.
I thought the same thing, Gaetz loves to play the “hero.”
Gotta admit I loved it every time he stuck it to No Balls Kevin, the man in the empty suit!
I hate to say it, but me too. I can further excuse this position by saying that Little Matty is bound to self-destruct sooner or later (what's doing with his "case?" does anybody know?) so it's okay to enjoy the damage he's doing to his own house.
“...hope springs infernal...” Absolutely. And yes, engaging in the same thing with unfavorable results over and over is the definition of insanity, which today’s RepubliQan party is exhibiting over and over.
Along with a legion of MAGETS
The nice thing is, according to Professor Lawrence Tribe, the 14th Amendment states that the debts of the United States will not be questioned, and that gives the president the power and authority to borrow whatever money is needed to pay all debts incurred by the US.....and that does not require an act of Congress, since the debt limit affects debts we have already incurred, which means the President would be acting on the desires of Congress..... Hope it works. Here is the passage from Jennifer Rubin:
" Professor Tribe had originally expressed some skepticism about this Fourteenth Amendment-based argument when it first arose during the Republicans’ debt ceiling gambits in the Obama years. He now agrees that the relevant constitutional provision — “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.” — requires the President to borrow to prevent a default that would most assuredly bring the validity of the public debt into question. …
President Biden would be affirming congressional spending power, not defying it, because he would be doing exactly what Congress told him to do when it passed appropriations laws. Those laws tell a president exactly how much to spend, when, and to whom the money must be paid."
well, you've said it all and it's very upsetting.
I am, however, delighted with your use of "fakakte" (variations in spelling are ok in Yiddish transliteration). for the uninitiated, it means "shat-upon." a lot of folks I know like to combine it with "punim." the phrase applies to the greatest number of House Republicans. I mean, like, take a LOOK.
another excellent term, along the same lines, is "fapishtig," meaning "pissed upon." I think it might actually be semantically worthwhile to look at a bunch of faces of people we don't like and decide which kind of face each one has. there ARE differences (I've spent HOURS with friends trying to decide if a particular person is a schmuck, dick, prick or whatever). everybody already knows there are tremendous differences. whole episodes of my favorite Shakespeare podcast have been dedicated to just such niceties.
I think I will borrow that one.
it's all yours. after all, it's not exactly mine to give.
Hope does indeed spring infernal, love your verbiage. You tell it like it should be told, straight up, no sweetner
I have a feeling I'll be saying "good grief" more often than I want to over the next two years. I only hope there are enough dems with a few decent republicans (there may still be a couple in this crowd) to get hold of this monster unleashed by the former "guy" and his crowd of dimwits and dubious dolts, the primary one having the speaker's gavel in hand. What a mess.
Planning on awaking every morning. Looking around and saying Golly gee, where is the handbasket today?
We’re in it
Fred and Jeri - And it's full of holes!
I will be saying F*** Me more than you can count. A comment made often as I read the news.
I'm good for a few "fuck me"s by the time I get out of bed. reading the news calls for considerably more drastic rhetoric. but we're all sorta limited by the English language's tendency to be more civilized than the times in which we live.
so true!
I've stockpiled what I need to get through this shitshow. Now it is a matter of watching the Republicans eat their own while continuing the greatest grift in American history.
Thanks for this deep analysis, TC, and for your perspicacity.
what's the deal with these "secret rules" I keep hearing about? how can "rules" be "secret?" secret from whom? there would be some rich comic potential in all this if it weren't so important
'Since 2016, the Republicans have been engaged in Kultur Kampf rather than promoting fiscal discipline and pretending they care about spending and deficits.' (TC)
The increased hardships and more economic insecurity to 99% of Americans; the disarray in society and in our government, and growth of more seditionists were clearly depicted in HOW NOT TO PLAY THE GAME. What about the DECONSTRUCTION OF THE STATE by Republicans from Gaetz and Trump to Kevin McCarthy. Aren't the Republicans accelerating our tools for the 'Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule'?
'...the enemies of liberal democracy—a form of self-government in which human rights are recognized and every individual is entitled to equal treatment under law—are accelerating their attacks. Authoritarian regimes have become more effective at co-opting or circumventing the norms and institutions meant to support basic liberties, and at providing aid to others who wish to do the same.' (Freedom House)
Is that who we are--'enemies of liberal democracy'--or who we are about to become? The lies told to the Brazilians, delegitimizing their presidential election are the same lies that Trump and the Republicans told the American people. What of the 'rules' that McCarthy agreed to in order to be Speaker of the House?
I find it interesting that, as Rachel Maddow pointed out tonight, so many of the Brazilian insurrectionists' sign & banners are in English