A reminder from HRC, the 45th President of these United States
President Hillary Clinton would like to remind you of something.
What the fuck is your problem, America??
I’m Hillary goddamn Clinton. I’m a political prodigy, have been since I was 16. I have an insane network of powerful friends. I’m willing to spend the next eight years catching shit on all sides, all so I can fix this fucking country for you. And all you little bitches need to do is get off your asses one goddamn day in November.
“Oh but what about your eeeemaaaaillls???” Shut the fuck up. Seriously, shut the fuck up and listen for one fucking second.
Here’s all you need to know about me:
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In 1992, I said I was proud to have followed my career instead of baking cookies.
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The GOP fucking dragged me for it. They made me bake cookies. They’re scared of me.
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Every time I have a job, y’all love me. Every time I run for anything, the GOP breaks out the big guns again and fucks me up good. And apparently it fucking works.
Pro TPP, hawkish, cozy with bankers and insurance companies and from pro corporate wing of the ‘centrist’ DLC democratic party.
What the fuck, indeed.
But yeah, I am voting for her, because this is the DNC chosen one that we are being forced to endure.
I think she has core liberal values but can also see which way the wind is blowing. TPP comes out of with convention with a big black eye. She will not sign it.
Hey, if people vote Stein and Berlusconi the carnival barker wins, the democratic party machine has only itself to blame. I’m tired of voting Democratic just because the other party is full of hateful nutcases
Go for it, mouse.
“…the democratic party machine has only itself to blame.”
No, it can blame you, and all the others who chose to vote for irrelevant candidates, or not vote at all in protest. Making a child sit at the table until they finish their vegetables is teaching a lesson. Allowing an egotistical, monomaniacal, living Cheeto win the presidency in protest is just stupidity.
There is no lesser of two evils scenario here. There is a qualified, intelligent, experienced candidate who can put together a strong government and has advocated for a single payer healthcare system since she was first lady.
Then there is the evil…
TPP—AN ABDICATION OF WORKER RIGHTS AND AMERICA’S ECONOMIC FUTURE
All Americans should absolutely and resoundingly oppose the American worker-rights concession known as the Trans Pacific Trade Agreement. It has numerous, irreconcilable flaws and will cause much horrible damage to working families and American businesses. I will only list a few of the nearly dozen reasons that all should oppose this dereliction of duty. First, the current TPP text allows multinational companies to challenge U.S. laws, regulations and safeguards through a provision called “investor-to-state dispute settlement” (ISDS), a private justice system that undermines our democracy. Through ISDS, foreign investors can seek compensation from the United States for enforcing regulations and safeguards designed to protect America’s working families. Additionally China’s refusal to join the agreement has left them with a significant advantage to monopolize the manufacturing aspect of the TPP without any constraints or regard for fair-pay, environmental harm, worker safety, or human rights. The TPP’s weak rules of origin benefit China and other non-TPP countries. The rules of origin in the current TPP text are weak and allow China and other nonparticipating countries to reap the agreement’s benefits without having to follow its rules. In fact, the TPP’s auto content requirement allows the majority of the auto content to be Chinese and manufactured outside the trade agreement’s rules. This has the effect of promoting jobs in China while destroying U.S. auto supply-chain jobs http://www.aflcio.org/Issues/Trade/Trans-Pacific-Partnership-Free-Trade-Agreement-TPP/Ten-Critical-Problems-with-the-Trans-Pacific-Partnership. I personally spoke with individuals who participated in the creation and drafting of this proposed agreement and was told and assured that nothing in the TPP forbade any of the 11 signatories from having their products manufactured in China and sold as TPP goods to American consumers through the member nations. In fact there is no reporting or regulatory option for such behavior once the pact is signed. Finally be aware that Malaysia’s horrible human rights rating of a 3 precluded them from even being part of the negotiations until the United States and President Obama downgraded them to a less severe 2 rating with no apparent justification, that permitted them to be included in the pact. Corporate America, the President and most supporters of this agreement have forfeited the moral conscience of the United States for profit.
Representative John Kowalko
@jk “TPP—AN ABDICATION OF WORKER RIGHTS AND AMERICA’S ECONOMIC FUTURE”
Yea. OK. So we kill the TPP. Fine. Let’s kill it.
Now… What are we going to have in it’s place?
Is it OK to have nothing??? I really don’t think so. That’s a serious mistake.
Surely you wouldn’t try to kill the TPP without thinking through a clear plan on how to move forward… Right?
Frankly your perspective is analogous to the dark ages practice of bleeding people as a cure. Since no medical advances or cures were on the immediate horizon they continued the practice of bleeding (killing scores) when it actually would have been better to “have nothing”. Now to your next point. Having nothing in “it’s place” is a much better and less disastrous option. Your “serious mistake” is not having the foresight or vision to understand that establishing stricter regulations for American owned and headquartered corporations that build factories and create jobs in China (Dupont, Johnson Controls, Nike etc.) to manufacture products for unimpeded, unregulated and tariff free sale to U.S. consumers must be implemented. That the practice of “tax/corporation inversion” must be halted (unless their is a fair distribution of tax obligations) by our government. That unenforceable treaties and reform obligations in the context of the (“gold-standard” HRC’s recorded/written statement on TPP) Trans Pacific Trade Agreement are as useless and damaging as that aforementioned practice of bleeding. There are many, many alternatives to the disastrous “free trade” policies and every administration from Bill through Barack have neglected to even try to implement them instead conceding to the greedy corporatists who now run America
Representative John Kowalko
@jk “… Trans Pacific Trade Agreement are as useless and damaging as that aforementioned practice of bleeding.”
I don’t see why your sensible ideas could not be added to something like the TPP, and the more damaging items reduced or eliminated.
But you must realize that when there is no blanket trade agreement, then every little things get negotiated separately. What you get instead is a WHOLE lot of little agreements. And let me tell you…. There is a whole lot more room for corporate skullduggery in having lots of little agreements.
You want to really screw the American people at the expense of the 1%?
Then getting rid of trade agreements will do just that.
Like I said… doing nothing really is a serious mistake… especially for the 99%.
The uniqueness of the TPP is in the fact that it was negotiated “entirely” behind closed doors with very limited stakeholder input. It became public as a finished product, non-amendable, and nothing is allowed to be added (none of the many obvious failings may be changed) and it is subject to an up or down vote of congress as it stands with no reconstruction allowed. I’m going to allow for your lack of understanding of all the intimacies for this ridiculous statement: “You want to really screw the American people at the expense of the 1%?
Then getting rid of trade agreements will do just that”. Please read the link I posted and other facts about the abusive and non-transparent process that resulted in the TPP debacle.
Rep. John Kowalko
@jk “I’m going to allow for your lack of understanding of all the intimacies for this ridiculous statement…”
Really?? Do you really believe that extensive trading without cogent trade agreements is better than having a good blanket trade agreement.
You see no problem in trading without agreements that protect our national interest and prevent exploitation??
I think you fail to understand the true cost of doing nothing… which seems to be what you’re rooting for.
a “good blanket trade agreement”.
“You see no problem in trading without agreements that protect our national interest and prevent exploitation??”
“The current TPP text allows multinational companies to challenge U.S. laws, regulations and safeguards through a provision called investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS), a private justice system that undermines our democracy. Through ISDS, foreign investors can seek compensation from the United States for enforcing regulations and safeguards designed to protect America’s working families. In fact, multinational companies currently are using ISDS to attack democratic policies and laws in Australia, Canada, Egypt, Peru and Uruguay, among many others”.
You should try reading the TPP agreement with an open mind and you would see that it is in no way a “good blanket trade agreement” and it in no way “protects our national interest” in fact and in reality it threatens many of our national interests including American court jurisdiction and absolutely allows and encourages “exploitation”. Go to any of the many links on the TPP and if you still choose to be obstinately close-minded to reality than I”ll presume that you don’t have any idea what either you or I am “rooting for”
Representative Kowalko
@jk “You should try reading the TPP agreement with an open mind…”
I’ve read it… I never intimated here that the TPP was such a good agreement. It has some serious problems that you’ve enumerated. I don’t disagree with your assessment.
But you should make a minimal effort to understand what I am saying:
A good trade agreement is much much better than no trade agreement.
The problem with what you’ve been saying is that you seem to be happy having no new agreement at all. And I still believe that is a serious mistake. You have posted nothing whatsoever to shake that belief. If you think I am wrong, then address that directly, and don’t keep dumping on the TPP. It’s a non-sequitur response.
My beef with the anti-TPP folks is that they have proposed no viable alternatives. It’s easy to say “No! No! No!”, but that’s just not enough.
“A good trade agreement is much much better than no trade agreement”.
A horrible trade agreement is worse than no trade agreement. That is enough said about reality. I have studied these trade agreements, (politically and economically) for the last ten years and this is one of the more horrible trade agreements. The fact that you are so narrow-minded that you cannot comprehend reality and the fact that you think you have even the slightest right to tell me to not “keep dumping” on a pile of soiled toilet paper, that you seem to feel is some sort of sacred scripture displays a serious arrogance and ignorance on your part. To address that “directly” let me just summarize. ” I THINK (actually I know) YOU ARE WRONG”. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”, that’s more than enough of you.
John Kowalko
Did you even read what I wrote?
Why do you keep pretending that I’m a fan of the TPP?
How many times do I need to tell you that I am not?
What does that have to do with my objection?
If the same criteria were to be applied to ACA, we wouldn’t have that either. I have a great deal of disdain for those who have expectations of perfection from imperfect humans. Purity and perfection are often used as a reason to do nothing, vote for the wrong candidate, or even express continuous outrage to the point of being ignored.
If you read TPP, there is much to like in it. It is far from perfect. Regardless, it is a starting point. The agreement can be amended and we can withdraw from it when we so choose.
Article 30.2: Amendments
The Parties may agree, in writing, to amend this Agreement. When so agreed by all Parties and approved in accordance with the applicable legal procedures of each Party, an amendment shall enter into force 60 days after the date on which all Parties have notified the Depositary in writing of the approval of the amendment in accordance with their respective applicable legal procedures, or on such other date as the Parties may agree.
Article 30.6: Withdrawal
1. Any Party may withdraw from this Agreement by providing written notice of withdrawal to the Depositary. A withdrawing Party shall simultaneously notify the other Parties of its withdrawal through the overall contact points designated under Article 27.5 (Contact Points).
2. A withdrawal shall take effect six months after a Party provides written notice to the Depositary under paragraph 1, unless the Parties agree on a different period. If a Party withdraws, this Agreement shall remain in force for the remaining Parties.
“The agreement can be amended and we can withdraw from it when we so choose.”
On paper yes, but in practice nobody is going to get the nations together to renegotiate. Business interests will quickly become too entrenched for amendment or withdrawal.
The GOP has pretty much killed the TPP for now. Ryan said there were not enough votes for it in the House and blamed that on a weak agreement negotiated by Obama. Which says to me that they want something even more draconian. Unless business interests can somehow move the needle on enough votes in the House, the House GOP have already made this thing DOA.
“the House GOP have already made this thing DOA.”
A determined President could breathe it back to life. That is why Hillary needs to declare it dead from her own mouth. Hillary has nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing this tonight:
Unions want one thing from Hillary tonight: A stake in TPP’s heart
“A determined GOP President could breathe it back to life.”
Fixed that for you.
The current Democratic president could pass it today with the current Senate. But whenever he thinks about it he gets a Berning rash.
So, now you really think that I have no clue that this legislation (both pieces) have to get through *both* the House and Senate?
Seriously? Or are we meant to note that you have no idea how your own government works?
puck, you are such a barking idiot.
These trade deals are a big part of why so much of the working class is supporting Trump. I Saw Clinton on some pannel (not sure how long ago) saying you can’t legislate to stop outsourcing. I’ve even heard Obama say “that ship has sailed in reference to jobs that have left the nation for child/slave labor in Asia where there are no worker or environmental protections. Again, do you think people vote Democrat for any reason besides the Republicans are asuch nutcases?
Well, you can’t stop it. You can provide some disincentives for it, but you can’t stop it.
This is the central problem of an economy that is powered by people buying stuff. You have to provide that stuff at an attractive price point and if you want people to buy more stuff, you have to provide even more of it at an even better price point.
And then you provide your disincentives (tarriffs) and then these same Americans start bitching about not being able to have a flat screen TV in every room in their houses because they are too expensive.
So the working class is supporting Trump because of bad trade deals, but the working class wants a cheap flat screen TV in every room, which can only happen without tariffs and if those TVs are built in places who wages are low so that they are affordable by the working class.
I get it. They want a chicken in every pot as long as the chicken plant isn’t in their backyard and the chicken is cheap because chicken plant wages are kept low.
Who fed them that malarkey?
They also keep saying we need to raise taxes, but then won’t support a gas tax. I have trouble keeping up.
This: “Purity and perfection are often used as a reason to do nothing, vote for the wrong candidate, or even express continuous outrage to the point of being ignored.” Purity and perfection demand that people suffering now keep suffering. Usually those suffering aren’t the same ones demanding purity and perfection.
That’s all I’m looking for is disincentives. Eliminate any tax breaks related to outsourcing. Eliminate any CEO bonus/stock option tax breaks associated with outsourcing.
Germany has protected it’s middle class manufacturing base and has a great economy. Japan protects it’s workers. Why can’t we?
I happen to think there must be a middle ground between all-out trade war, and the bizarre total capitulations of TPP. Think of an intelligently managed industrial policy.
For example, maybe we want to give up our TV industry so we can have cheap TVs. But maybe we should apply some protection to solar panels.
The gas tax is a no brainer. A few cents a gallon generates 10 of millions of dollars for road infrastructure. Although our favorite party in Dover has raided the transportation trust fund which does give people a good reason to be skeptical.
I think you’re on to something puck. The wage thing needs to be addressed too. There’s noever too much for the CEO and his cronnies or ever too little for the front line worker
Coming in late but my sense is that TPP is mortally wounded. The activists can declare victory to cement it, but they aren’t that bright.
Jason,
Be aware and beware of “mortally wounded” Corporate/Chamber of Commerce inspired plots such as TPP. Dead is when it’s in its sarcophagus buried in one of those salt caverns in Utah with the nuclear waste spilling on it.
Rep. John Kowalko
Puck,
Too late fro the “middle ground” and “solar panels”. DuPont built a new $200 million factory in China to manufacture/produce those solar panels and sell those parts back here in the U.S. The construction jobs alone in building such a facility would have meant an unparalled boost to Delaware’s economy and working taxpayers. We certainly could have used the more than 1000 manufacturing jobs in the good old U.S.A. The Johnson Controls nearly $2 million DEDO investment in its distribution center was also marred by their announcement that they also had constructed a $100 million factory in China to manufacture their product (batteries) for distribution here. Oh and surprise, surprise L.E. and others re these two latest offshoring of jobs and facilities, no tariffs need apply since there are no tariffs and no American workers need apply unless you relocate and study Mandarin. If everything was a simple as it appears when presented by the corporate shills and their uninformed supporters we might have a more enlightened dialogue on the matter.
Representative John Kowalko
@jk “Oh and surprise, surprise L.E. and others”
No surprise for me. It’s not clear that you read or understood anything I posted… You certainly never addressed my question. Are you really as dense as a post?
And no surprise about the battery factory in China, because we already have strong trade agreements with China. That’s the easy place to put one.
You know… One of the main motivations for the TPP is to reduce the influence of China in our trade by making it easier to trade with other Asian nations.
The motivation is clearly to strengthen the US and to weaken China’s influence.
The factories built by US corporations in China have nothing to do with and are not constrained by any trade agreements with China. In fact you are obviously a shill for the Chamber, the Governor and/or the corporatists with your complete and utter ignorance of the reality that we do not have strong trade agreements with China unless you are referring to our “chicken feet” export deal or the fact that we have graciously allowed export of live chickens to China allowing re-importation of the processed product back here. Good luck with your salmonella/e-coli bout. You obviously have been pounding your head on one of those dense posts to be so addled in your thoughts. You’re one of the least impressive apologists or lobbyists for the Chamber and the 1% that I’ve had the opportunity to endure. You’ve actually done a pretty good job of enticing me to waste key-strokes in a dialogue with a mummy.
John Kowalko
@jk “In fact you are obviously a shill for the Chamber…”
Uhhh. No. Not even close. Not even in the same universe.
Clueless…
I agree with your self-diagnosis.
John k.
It’s too bad. You had a chance to teach us something important about trade, but instead you did that ^^^^
Too bad you can’t try to be even a little bit honest here. You never had any intention of trying to learn anything about anything. From the beginning you’ve insisted on defending the indefensible while pretending to be arguing for legitimate alternatives. Your woefully insincere attitude and words have struck the one chord with me that I do not easily overlook, a condescending attitude offered by an ignorant individual. You’ve consistently expressed a condescending attitude regarding this particular subject and other subject matter on this blog. “Condescending”–“having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority”. Let’s call a spade a spade. You have to be superior, (or at the minimum believe you are), to be truly condescending. You fit neither of these profiles so your game has become boring and annoying and not worth my valuable time.
Representative John Kowalko
@jk “From the beginning you’ve insisted on defending the indefensible”
Pure BS. Go back and read my first post here. I wasn’t defending anything except a desire for thinking hard and true competence.
If you truly think that doing nothing at all is the right choice, then defend that.