Friday, December 30, 2016

Nope, Putin Won't Expell Diplomats

Because yes means no and no means yes these days....and everyone wants to show everyone whose the boss. Need a frickin scorecard to keep up.

Andy Puzder Employees Don't Need Overtime Will Have Lucrative Sense Of Acomplishment

These coal country voters backed Trump. Now they’re worried about losing Obamacare.



Last night, CNN aired a terrific segment on people from coal country who voted for Donald Trump — but are now worried that his vow to repeal Obamacare will deprive them of crucial protections that enable them to stay afloat financially. This dovetails with other reporting that suggests a lot of Trump voters may be harmed by repeal of the law.
Which raises a question: Did voters such as these know they were voting for this? After all, Trump promised countless times throughout the campaign to repeal the Affordable Care Act, didn’t he? If they are complaining about this now, don’t they have only themselves to blame?
Full Story via Washington Post 

 

Could black lung benefits be in jeopardy?

Trump needs to keep these promises to his voters

A look at Trump's 'clean coal' options

Is There Really Such a Thing As Clean Coal?

Holiday special: Watch INEQUALITY FOR ALL for free. Holiday Gift from Robert Reich

Enter password: bernie2016

Inequality for All (2013) - IMDb

www.imdb.com/title/tt2215151/
Rating: 8.1/10 - ‎5,385 votes
Documentary · A documentary that follows former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich as he looks to raise awareness of the country's widening economic gap.



All Hands On Deck ~ 5 Things You Can Do Right Now About Donald J. Trump - from Michael Moore

It's been seven weeks since Hillary beat Trump by nearly 3 million votes but lost the presidency to him. So if your head is still spinning from that mindf***, or you can't quite believe a malignant narcissist will now sit in the Oval Office, or if you are simply still working your way through the 17 stages of grief, then I am here to say to you, "There's no crying in TrumpLand -- Let's get to work!" All hands on deck! Brush your yourself off and let's get busy because: a) All hope is not lost; b) There are more of us than there are of them; and c) The roadside is littered with the ended careers of self-absorbed, narcissistic politicians whose arrogance led them to do things that caused their early resignation or impeachment. Don't think that can't happen here.
I do not say these things because I am filled with optimism. In fact, I think the first thing we all have to do in order to move on is to admit out loud what we already think privately: As bad as we know it's going to be, it's actually going to be worse. A lot worse. Now cheer up and read on...
THE FIVE THINGS EACH OF US MUST DO THIS WEEK
1. MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN. Your Senators and Members of Congress are home right now, in your town (or a nearby town), for their holiday break. Their office is open! You don't need an appointment. Just show up (to find out where the local office is click here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and type in your zip code). Go there (take a friend!), walk in and say "I'm a constituent and I'd like a few minutes with my Congressman/woman." He/she may be busy, so tell them you'd like to speak to someone on the staff for a couple minutes. Most local congressional offices are LOATHE to turn anyone away because to them you are that one vote who could vote them out of office. Tell the person you get to speak to why you want the Congressman to block all the damage Trump is going to do (cite examples). If he/she is a Republican, they will explain why they "support the new President." You then must politely tell them you and everyone you know will work to unseat them in 2018 if they don't act independently from Trump. The calmer and cooler you say this, the more they will believe it. If your rep is a Democrat, tell him/her that you expect them to AGGRESSIVELY fight the Trump agenda -- and if they don't, you will work with others to support a true progressive in the Democratic primary in 2018. Tell them that millions of us will do what the Tea Party did to the Republicans: primary them and toss them out of office. Say it politely, thank them, then leave. You actually showing up in person to do this is as powerful as 100 letters or a large demonstration on the street in front of their office. Do this and post it on social media. Post it on my Facebook or Twitter and I'll try to re-post/tweet as many as I can.
2. WRITE TO THE DNC TONIGHT. It will take 5 minutes. Send a quick email to the Democratic National Committee (http://my.democrats.org/page/s/contact-the-democrats) and tell them you want them to elect Congressman Keith Ellison as the new chairperson of the Democratic Party. He is the future and everyone else is the past. Here's what the old guard gave us: TWICE in 16 years the Democratic candidate WON the vote for President but LOST the White House. Incredible! This has to stop! Ellison and the progressive wing of the party must take us forward. Keith has the backing of Bernie Sanders and myself, but also the endorsement of some of the old guard who've come around to see the error of past ways (Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, etc.). In addition to being born in Detroit, spending his adulthood as a community organizer and now representing the Twin Cities in the House, Ellison is also the only Muslim member of Congress. He was one of the few members of Congress brave enough to back Bernie. He will fight to turn this around and, as a son of the Midwest, bring that part of the country back from the dark side. Let's flood the DNC with emails tonight (and cc: the your state Democratic Party, too - you can look up their email address on Google).
3. FORM YOUR OWN RAPID RESPONSE TEAM. By New Year's Day this Sunday, I want you to ask 5 to 10 friends, family members, co-workers, classmates or neighbors to be part of your Rapid Response Team. Pick a name for it -- the "Doyle Family Rapid Response Team", the "Oak Street Rapid Response Team", the "Seabrook High School Rapid Response Team", the "Gilmore Girls Fan Club Rapid Response Team", etc. Set a plan to contact each other online as soon as word goes out on any given day to oppose what Trump and Congress are up to. Your Rapid Response Team will agree with each other to email elected reps, make calls, post on social media, go to protests and/or organize others at work, school or in the neighborhood. Through my own social media sites, as stuff happens, I will send out instructions immediately as to what we all must do. Sign up now to follow me on my Facebook (facebook.com/mmflint) and Twitter (twitter.com/mmflint) if you don't already. Form your team this week. I'm personally organizing a Rapid Response Team in the apartment building where I live. We need to get prepared and be ready now. If we wait til late January to organize, it will be too late.
4. MAKE PLANS NOW TO BE AT THE INAUGURATION WEEKEND PROTESTS! We need millions in the streets in DC -- and that's what it looks like it's shaping up to be. The big march will be the day after the Inauguration - the Million Women March on January 21st. Click here for details https://www.facebook.com/events/2169332969958991/. On January 20th - Inauguration Day - a call has been gone out to non-violently disrupt the proceedings. Go to http://www.disruptj20.org/ and learn about civil disobedience on that day. Planes and trains are already selling out, as are hotels. Contact the above sites to get info on buses and housing (or charter your own bus from your town). Everyone who can should be there. If you can't make it, find (or organize) a local protest in your area. Take the day off. No one should be silent that day.
5. YOU SHOULD RUN FOR OFFICE. Yes, YOU. Why not? Who else do you think is going to do it? I'm not saying you have to be the next Senator from Michigan, but why not run for State Rep. or school board or city council? At the very least, run for precinct delegate in the local Democratic Party. It's time to stop carping about politicians and become one. But a different kind of one! I ran for and got elected to the school board at 18-years old. Form your campaign committee now for the elections in 2017 and 2018. (If you need me, I'll even offer to be your honorary chair!) You know you can do this. We have no choice. We've left it up to others - yes, Democrats - and they are inept and continual losers. Haven't you had enough? Run for office, any office!
There you go. 5 Easy Pieces. Start tonight. And spread this around. ALL HANDS ON DECK!
-- Michael Moore
https://www.facebook.com/mmflint/posts/10154046637756857

Russia moves to expel US diplomats in response to sanctions

Via BBC


The Russian foreign ministry has called for the expulsion of 35 US diplomats in response to a similar move by Washington.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the request had been made to President Vladimir Putin.
The Obama administration expelled 35 Russia diplomats and their families over alleged Russian hacking during the US election campaign.
Russia denies any involvement and calls the US action "ungrounded".
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev accused the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama of ending in "anti-Russian death throes".
Full Story

If You’re A Liberal, Stop Sharing Links From These Fake News Sites

I agree, we must set the example by verifying, crossing all T's and dotting all I's

’Im expecting the following responses to this article on stopping Donald Trump. Normally, I would be loath to suggest working with conservatives and Republicans, but 2016 has taken the normal rules of our political system and turned them into a burning cross Klan rally that is our future under a Trump presidency.
“Wait, what? How dare you suggest that we work together with conservatives to stop Trump? Conservatives and Republicans are our worst enemy according to everyone I know in the liberal media! You’re a secret Republican plant paid off by the NRA and the Koch Brothers like those websites said, I knew it!”
I get it, the though of working with Republicans is stomach-turning to most liberals, especially those who have not had to work in the daily grind of government. Outside of the partisan bubble fantasy, our country has always managed to lurch forwards because people from all sides got together and found a way to make things work. The last time we failed to do that was a little over 150 years ago, and approximately 620,000 soldiers died as a result in our Civil War.

Full Story and List of Media Sites Via Modern Liberal


Dear Liberals: To Stop Trump, We Have To Work With Republicans

Dear Liberals: To Stop Trump, We Have To Work With Republicans

Tough Question


Israel's Attorney General 'orders criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu'

Allegations of bribery and fraud made against leader, according to report
 Harriet Agerholm

Police declined to confirm or deny the Channel 10 report AP
 
Israel's Attorney General has ordered a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a TV channel in the country.
Channel 10 claimed Mr Netanyahu would be summoned to give evidence following a nine month police inquiry into two unspecified matters.
Police have reportedly been investigating allegations of bribery and fraud against Mr Netanyahu, The Times of Israel reported.

Full Story and Video via The Independent
 

Trump Seeks Credit for 5,000 Sprint Jobs Already Touted

by Justin Sink, Michelle Jamrisko and Olga Kharif
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sought credit for Sprint Inc.’s commitment to create or bring back 5,000 jobs that the carrier says are part of broader U.S. hiring plans previously announced by Japan-based parent SoftBank Group Corp.

"Trump disputed the notion that the jobs had already been announced, telling reporters later Wednesday that “I just spoke with the head person. He said because of me they’re doing 5,000 jobs in this country.” He referred reporters to his spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, for details. She didn’t respond to a request for comment."
Full Story 

 Lyin Donny Trump

Marco Rubio Statement on Russian Sanctions - He Gets It

We need a bipartisan effort to thwart Russian Stooge Trump from his Un-American agenda.

 Hey Trump, Look at those great big hands...

Shady Pastor to Pray With Trump at Inauguration

Paula White has spent her life taking money from gullible people in the name of religion. And thanks to Trump, she’ll be taking her road show to the inauguration.

 
In 2007, TV preacher Paula White got investigated by the U.S. Senate for her shady fundraising practices.
Ten years later, she will pray at Donald Trump’s inauguration.

GOP Looking To Profit From Pain Repealing ACA


Obama's Russia sanctions put Hill Republicans in a box

They're caught between the GOP's longstanding tough-on-Russia stance and Donald Trump.

President Barack Obama’s eleventh-hour Russia sanctions present a big test for congressional Republicans, who are torn between decades-old GOP principles and their new standard-bearer's unorthodox embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Democrats are already seeking to exploit this rift, drafting legislation designed to make it harder for President-elect Donald Trump to unilaterally roll back Obama’s new sanctions.

Full Story via Politico

“While today’s action by the administration is overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia,” Paul Ryan said in a statement.

Also See

On Salon Talks, Media Matters' President Angelo Carusone Explains How The Fake News Ecosystem Lets The "Alt-Right" Harass People


White House FACT SHEET: Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release

White House Dares Trump To Roll Back Sanctions Against Russia

“We don’t think it makes much sense to invite back in Russian intelligence agents.”

Sam Levine  Associate Politics Editor, The Huffington Post 
White House officials predicted Thursday that new sanctions being levied against Russia in retaliation for that country’s apparent hacking during the 2016 election would not be reversed by President-elect Donald Trump, despite Trump’s call for warmer relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.