Year: 2017

Vox has this summary document provided by a lobbyist: The Senate Republicans’ revised health care bill will keep Obamacare’s taxes on high-income Americans in place and allow the sales of…

WDEL's Amy Cherry covered Coons questioning of FBI Director nominee Christopher Wray. Coons, opened by stressing the unique circumstances of the appointment:

"Let us not forget why we're having this hearing--your predecessor James Comey was not even at the half-way point of his 10-year term as FBI director when President Trump abruptly fired him without cause and without warning...so now more than ever, I believe it to be crucial that our next FBI director be prepared to be steadfastly independent," said Coons.

It sounds like Coons did a fair job. He got Wray on record stating that the investigations into Russian interference in the election is not a "witch hunt" contrary to the views of President Dumbfuck. Read more at WDEL.

If you are a Republican, you can like Trump. You are dumb, but I get it. You can't, however, go around thinking that he is a Christian. Not unless you are the dumbest dumbfuck in all of Christendom.

Who could have predicted it? Actually, everyone except Republicans. The truth is, they are not concerned with the number abortions. They are concerned with punishing women for having sex. If anyone happens to know a so-called "pro-life" Republican who supports sex education and family planning, let me know. I'd like to shake that unicorn's hand.

NEW YORK ― Republicans are trying to find a way to defund Planned Parenthood as part of an overall effort to limit abortion in America. But doing so had the opposite effect in Texas, according to a new study based on research from Texas A&M University. The study, conducted by economics professor Analisa Packham (now at Miami University), shows that in the first three years after Texas Republicans slashed the family planning budget in 2011 and shut down more than 80 women’s health clinics, the abortion rate among teenagers in the state rose 3 percent over what it would have been had the clinics remained open. After cutting Planned Parenthood out of the state’s subsidized women’s health program, then-Gov. Rick Perry (R) said his “goal” was to “ensure abortions are as rare as possible under existing law.” But the move actually interfered with an overall downward trend in abortions in Texas. “This certainly isn’t the way to have fewer abortions,” said Dr. Diane Horvath-Cosper, an OB-GYN in Maryland and an advocate with Physicians for Reproductive Health. “The abortion rates nationally have decreased and are at a historic low. So for Texans to see an increase in adolescent abortions is really telling ― it seemed to have followed the national trend until these clinics were defunded.”

Because the whole point of Trumpcare is to give a huge tax break to millionaires and billionaires, this seems highly unlikely. Nevertheless, it is a start. If McConnell's Senate somehow comes up with a program that 1) retains the ACA tax structure, 2) continues to ensure preexisting conditions are covered in a real way, and 3) doesn't cut or privatize medicare or medicaid - they might just get some Dems on board.

‘Make America great again' - The Song. Just listen to it as pictures of Trump greeting Angela Merkel, Justin Trudeau, Narendra Modi and other world leaders fly past in a flurry of cross dissolves and zooms

I'm a "Trump will be impeached" skeptic. for the following reasons: 1) The entire federal Government including the Supreme Court is in the hands of ideological Republican zealots, 2) At least half of the country is firmly in the "so what?" camp, 3) The Democrats, as ever, are fractured, weak-willed and pusillanimous, and 4) The 4th estate is a joke. That said, these new revelations about Donny Jr. turn the knob in the direction of something (not impeachment, but something) happening. Per Josh Marshall:

Donald Trump Jr. began this engagement with Rob Goldstone on the basis of this message. “This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump.” At a minimum Don Jr. and likely (though this is as yet unproven) all high level members of the Trump team knew about this more than a year ago. Ergo, all the total and aggressive denials about Russia’s role supporting Trump, law-breaking for Trump, etc. etc were all the most total and abject lies.

Trump 'Brain Trust'  Met With Russian Lawyer To Get Dirt On Hillary Clinton. Trump, Jr., Manafort and Kushner. And Donnie Jr. lied about the purpose of the meeting.  Sounds like…

Sturgeon has launched a polished, professional campaign that I'm sure is already giving Lavelle a panic attack. That is worthy of support all on its own, but as a DEMOCRAT, I also like reading...

All strong economies have a large, vibrant middle class. Unions help the middle class, progressive taxation helps the middle class, affordable health care helps the middle class, women's access to reproductive choices helps the middle class, and excellent public education helps the middle class. I do not support the failed trickle-down economic policies of the past, and will fight to make sure the working people of Delaware are not over-burdened by shouldering the bulk of the cost of state programs.

This was El Somanbulo's take on Lavelle back in March:

I think Lavelle could well be vulnerable based both on anti-Trump sentiment and b/c he’s such a shill for the least desirable aspects of Rethuggery. District’s about 50-50, and there are a lot of moderate R’s. A D appeal to R women could prove effective.

It only takes a $1.00 to show you are onboard.