It’s The Trade, Stupid !

It’s The Trade, Stupid !

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One of my favorite investigative reporters, David Cay Johnston observes that our foreign trade deals in the last couple of decades figure in a big way in the systemic weakness of our domestic economy. Particularly hard hit by really bad trade deals are the non-college educated in the workforce.

Tuesday Open Thread [3.25.14]

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“At times we are able to humiliate our worst enemy. Inevitably, his weak moments come and we are able to thrust in his side the spear of defeat. But this we must not do. Every word and deed must contribute to an understanding with the enemy and release those vast reservoirs of goodwill which have been blocked by impenetrable walls of hate,” – Martin Luther King, Jr., Dexter Avenue Baptist Church; Montgomery, Alabama, Christmas Sermon, 1957.
This is the single hardest thing to do in life, whether in politics or no. I admit that I often succumb to schadenfreude, known as the joy in the suffering of one's enemies, especially political enemies. And yet, it is the Christian thing to do. That is why being a true Christian is supposed to be difficult. And that is why it is both wonderful and ironic to see a lesson in Christian forgiveness being given to the Westboro Baptist Church, as shown in the above picture. Another example is the Catholic bigot Bill Donahue's failed attempts to set up one of his signature "Outrage" moments where his Catholic beliefs were being discriminated against.
Dems 2014 “Get Out the Vote Project” is bullshit and doomed to fail

Dems 2014 “Get Out the Vote Project” is bullshit and doomed to fail

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Without knowing anything about the project beyond this....
WASHINGTON — The Democrats’ plan to hold on to their narrow Senate majority goes by the name “Bannock Street project.” It runs through 10 states, includes a $60 million investment and requires more than 4,000 paid staff members. And the effort will need all of that — and perhaps more — to achieve its goal, which is nothing short of changing the character of the electorate in a midterm cycle.
...I can tell you that this Democratic effort is bullshit and doomed to fail. Why? Read on.
Republicans link Ukraine aid to favorable IRS treatment for Koch Bros

Republicans link Ukraine aid to favorable IRS treatment for Koch Bros

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John Carney needs to call Jim Renacci on his super-duper bipartisan hotline and look into this, because Republicans are soooooo reasonable once you get to know them and give them every crazy-ass thing they want.
Republicans in Congress want to add language to a U.S. aid plan for Ukraine that would block a proposed IRS rule curbing political activity by tax-exempt groups, Sen. Bob Corker said Tuesday. Corker, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, said the proposed Internal Revenue Service measure was one of the unresolved issues facing lawmakers working to complete a Ukraine aid package in time for the panel to consider it on Wednesday.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., March 25, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., March 25, 2014

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Just a few of the items on the GA Agenda: 1. Starting with the Senate Committee meetings. More accurately, the Senate/House Joint Veterans Freebies Committee. Today's meeting will consider HB 236(Jaques), which gives free surf fishing licenses to Delaware National Guard members. The concern is not merely, or even primarily, the freebie being handed out. The Fiscal Note for this bill is $44,000 annually. While this may not be a big amount, this money all comes out of the state parks budget. A permanent reduction on an annual basis. Since we have given similar freebies to other exalted groups, the state is taking money from parks in order to provide perks. And these are not one-shot deals, these are annual perks. Unto perpetuity, barring legislative intervention. If you support the state park system, you might just want to let your legislators know that you're tired of these giveaways, as they have real impact. 2. Rep. Johnson's 'Box' bill, which would 'prohibit a public employer from inquiring into or considering the criminal record, criminal history or credit history or score of an applicant before it makes a conditional offer to the applicant', comes before the Senate Labor & Industrial Relations Committee Wednesday. It's in an hospitable committee, so the bill could be on the agenda as early as Thursday.