Quote of the Day -- On Today's Republicans

"The D.C. press corps has operated under one basic assumption: both Democrats and Republicans, whatever their ideological differences, ultimately believe in the norms of America’s constitutional government..."

"...Sadly, this assumption is no longer a given." --Dan Rather @DanRather

Know This About Republicans, America

The Republican Party, every member of Congress in the Republican Party, voted against the COVID Relief Plan to help America and Americans just now during this, the most deadly international pandemic in the last more than 100 years. Do you know what they ARE working on and for just now, presently? They have the chutzpah to be working to pass a repeal of the estate tax. It would only benefit the top .1% of the already-wealthiest Americans.

Seriously.From an article at Truthout today: The legislation was unveiled on Tuesday by Senators John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) and John Thune (R-South Dakota) and has been co-sponsored by 24 other Republican senators, or about half of all Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), according to a Kennedy press release. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Missouri) has also introduced similar legislation in the House. The federal estate tax’s current top rate is 40 percent, but thanks to exemptions that grow every year, an estate in 2021 would have to be worth $11.7 million for individuals and $23.4 million for married couples before the estate tax kicks in. The exemption was previously around $5 million but was doubled by then-President Donald Trump in 2018. Because the threshold is so high, an estimated less than 0.1 percent of estate tax returns will pay the federal estate tax for 2020. In other words, Republicans are fighting for a repeal of a tax for the richest 0.1 percent of dead people. These people, these Republicans are not for you and me, America. Well, they aren't for you and me unless you're already wealthy, anyway. And they're blatant about it, too.

The Ever-Changing Chameleon That is Ted Cruz

The beauty that is Ted Cruz. Immigrant bashing Ted Cruz.

Republicans, Crushing American Votes

From The New Yorker today. Their cartoon.

If only it were funny. If only it were only funny.

Question of the Day -- Self-Serving, Greedy Congress Edition

Members of Congress should not be allowed to buy and sell stocks. How is this even a thing? --Citizens for Ethics @CREWcrew

We know why it's a thing, of course, because they benefit from it. The question is, why is it still a thing? This is nuts. We should have put an end to this long ago, long before now. The $174,000 per year salary and all-inclusive, fully paid for health care all their benefits should be enough. It should be more than enough. We must demand an end to even the possibility of this self-serving greed and insider trading.

Sure, the COVID Relief Plan Passed But...

The COVID Relief Plan passed today, thank goodness. It will be signed into law by President Biden this Friday. Meanwhile, something to keep in mind.

Just a reminder that the overwhelming majority of Republicans supported trillions in COVID relief up until the moment Biden became president --Judd Legum @JuddLegum

Just Glad the Republicans Know What's Important

Yes,during the worst, most killing, deadly international pandemic of the last more than 100 years, it's great to know the Republicans and their political party know what's important and on what to focus. So glad they're supporting the COVID Relief Plan in Congress the nation knows we need so badly just now.

Yes, those terrific Republican Party priorities.Political party first and last for these guys, nation, people and Democracy be damned. Thanks, fellas!

Quote of the Day -- On All-Consuming Capitalism

-- Frederic Bastiat, 1801-1850, born Claude Frederic Bastiat, French economist, statesman, and author Mr. Bezos? Mr. Zuckerberg?

Entertainment Overnight -- Mr Biden, Bring My Vaccine

From--who else? Randy Rainbow!

Good night, y'all! Sleep well. And if you haven't already, get that vaccine soon as possible!

On Republicans Disenfranchising Fellow American Citizens So They Win Elections

“American democracy means every eligible person has the right to vote in an election that is fair, open, and secure. Our goal always should be to increase, not decrease, voter participation.” —Former President Jimmy Carter

Our Insane US Healthcare System

No other nation in the world does health care the way we do in the US.

--We have, far and away, the most expensive health care system in the world. --We are the only nation that ties health care to profit. --We are the only nation where citizens go bankrupt from health care costs. --We are the only nation where our number one cause for bankruptcy for citizens is health care costs, approximately 40% of all bankruptcies in the US are from this, year after year, consistently. Insane. Obscene. Immoral. Fixable.

Quote of the Day -- On Un-American Vote Suppression

"43 states are debating 200 different voter suppression bills right now. Today alone, Iowa shortened early voting by a week, and the Georgia Senate passed a bill ending no-excuse absentee voting. We must end the filibuster and pass HR1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act." --Julián Castro @JulianCastro

Republicans, Jim Crow much? Again? Some more? Now? In 2021? Really?

Incredible Missouri Senatorial News Today

Big and surprising news broke this morning as Missouri's own Republican Senator Roy Blunt announced he will not seek reelection in 2022. That was out of the blue. ---Senator Blunt is now the fifth Republican Senator to announce he won't be seeking reelection next go around. It is big news and, I think, a good indication of the state of the Republican Party, too. It's in a shambles, mostly after and because of Donald Trump and his presidency but it's also been tearing itself apart in recent time.

---On top of this is that it's also been announced Mitch McConnell over in Kentucky is setting things up for his exit. It's not enough he is signalling his exit, however, he's apparently trying to set it up within the state that he must be replaced by another member of the same Republican Party, people's wishes be damned. Anyway, it seems at least some of the old guard of the party are moving on and out. ---Jason Kander already came out and said he will not be getting in the race for the job. It will be interesting to see if former Senator Claire McCaskill does get in the race. I would think this helps Scott Sifton in his already running campaign for the job. ---Anyway, fascinating, even positive stuff to start the week, folks! ---Have a great day and week, campers! Onward!

The Incredible Republican Party Year -- So Far

Think about it. In about 2 months this year, it's nearly unimagninable what the Republican Party has done---has gotten away with, really. First, on Janurary 6, of course, the Republican Party President lead an insurrection, an attack on our nation's Capitol and our government resulting in death and harming fellow citizens.This from the supposed "law and order" party. Then, more recently, they followed that up just last week with voting down, every one of their members in Congress voting down a financial relief plan for the nation, for Americans during the worst, most killing, deadly international pandemic in the last more than 100 years. Incredible. Loet's hope, hope, they have now, with this last one, done their worst. For the rest of the entire year. Hey, we can hope.

Quote of the Day -- Republican Party Hypocrisy Edition

"While Trump was president, EVERY Democrat voted for the $2 trillion CARES Act, even though doing so helped Trump. While Biden is president, ZERO Republicans voted for the $1.9 trillion American Relief Plan, because hurting Biden is more important than helping Americans." -- Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen "The disconnect and hypocrisy of elected officials honoring front line, healthcare, daycare, grocery store workers, etc who many don’t make a living wage/$15 an hour, while simultaneously voting against a increase in the minimum wage is absolutely appalling." --Matthew Dowd @matthewjdowd

BREAKING: US Senate Just Passed Biden 's COVID Relief Plan!!!

Fantastic!! It just broke! Our US Senate just passed President Biden's COVID relief plan for Americans and America 50-49!! Fantastic!! Yahooooo!!

The only thing better than this is that NOT ONE Republican voted for it. America, you're getting help. And Republicans didn't support it in any way! Have a great day and weekend!!!

Quote of the Day -- Where We Are Now Edition

"It's so depressing that Donald Trump can incite a violent insurrection and mismanage a pandemic catastrophically in ways that destroy countless lives and livelihoods, but then GOP voter loyalty remains unwavering because they get truly fired up about Dr. Seuss & Mr. Potato Head." --Brian Klaas @brianklaas

The Insanity of What We Let Corporations Get Away With

Dan Price @DanPriceSeattle Amazon, Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, Starbucks, Chevron, GM, FedEx, IBM, Netflix, Halliburton, Deere, Prudential, Coors, Salesforce, Olive Garden, MGM, Eli Lilly, Whirlpool, Goodyear, U.S. Steel, Levi's, Avis. Sorry, just listing a small sample of companies that pay $0 income tax.

Examples of How and Why Jeff Bezos Is Now Worth About 200 Billion?

Check these out as just two examples.

Dan Price @DanPriceSeattle Dec 22, 2020 1. A small business began selling camera tripods on Amazon 2. It reached $3.5 million in sales, 0.001% of Amazon's revenue 3. Amazon copied the tripods exactly and sold them as AmazonBasics tripods 4. Amazon banned the tripod company from Amazon And number two-- Dan Price @DanPriceSeattle · Dec 22, 2020 1. A small business began selling camera tripods on Amazon 2. It reached $3.5 million in sales, 0.001% of Amazon's revenue 3. Amazon copied the tripods exactly and sold them as AmazonBasics tripods 4. Amazon banned the tripod company from Amazon These two examples came from articles in the Wall Street Journal and then CNBC, too, to be clear.

Quote of the Day -- Conservatives and Coronavirus Edition

"Mask refusers appeal to liberty. But even staunch libertarians know that checking the spread of disease is a legitimate government function. The hostility to masks isn't libertarian. It's nihilistic. Nihilism has come to characterize a significant part of today's 'conservatism.'" --Bill Kristol @BillKristol

And Quick As That, It's Now Gone

After sitting there for at least 2 months, that car I posted about earlier today, quick as that, is now gone.

Stunned me for sure.

Abandoned In Westport

Just getting the word out. This car, an old Chevrolet Malibu, has been abandoned in Westport here in town in front of the Sunfresh Market on Mill Street, for what it's worth.

It's been there at least 2 months.

It has 2 flat tires. If you can see the license plate here, it is a Nebraska plate WFS 987. It seems it isn't Sunfresh's parking lot and I'm told it's up to the owner of the lot to get it taken care of. The police are aware it's there and that it's been abadoned. Maybe someone will see this and get word to the owner. Doubtful but possible.

Missouri Is Celebrating Its COVID Rollout

This is stunning to me. It was only a few days ago that Jackson County, finally, finally flipped from getting the vaccine for Phase 1B, Tier 1 for "First Responders, Emergency Services and Public Health Infrastructure" to now, Phase 1B, Tier 2--"High Risk Individuals (18-64) and Individuals 65>." Whoop-tee-doo. Now, check out this little celebration going on today on social media.

On March 15--TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, of course--we'll switch to "Criical Infrastructure" citizens of Missouri. Just that. That's all. And keep in mind, there are still FIVE, count them, 5 more levels until the get down to all the rest of us average citizens out here in the state. How does this remotely make sense? How is this not insane? How is this not the most pitifully slow rollout of a very needed vaccine the world has needed in the last more than 100 years? Thanks, Mr. Trump! Thanks, Republicans! Y'all are just terrific. Really.

Quote of the Day -- Insane Republican Party Edition

"From 9/11 truthers to Barack Obama birthers to 2020 Election liars to January 6th deniers. Ugh." --Bill Kristol @BillKristol Thanks, Republicans!

America Needs a Wealth Tax -- Here's Why

Message to All Republicans

Yes, a message to all Republicans and to anyone who thinks or says Joe Biden didn't win this last election.

Stand Up, America. Stand Up, Americans

We must do this.

We Must Outlaw Gerrymandering and Voter ID Laws

Republicans don't feel they've gerrymandered enough or put into place enough voter ID laws and disenfranchised enough Americans. They want to do it still more, after this last election they lost. We must stop them. We must not allow it. It's un-American.

That Trump Statue at CPAC?

Really, CPAC. What were you all thinking? Who thought this was a good idea?

The DNC should ask if they can borrow that statue of Trump from CPAC this weekend. How anyone thinks that's remotely flattering, I can't imagine. It looks for all the world like a huge, ugly, mocking insult. Turns out, too, it was---wait for it--made in Mexico. I tell you, what isn't to loathe of the Right Wingers and Republicans is to love. For the comedic, ironic, hypocritical values. Incredible. Stunning they never get this. It's also been said it is, naturally, for sale already, too. For a mere $100,000, one can purchase it. i can't imagine anyone with that much money wanting it."The Onion" can't write stuff this good.

A Reality Game Show Host and White America's Identity Crisis

Follow and listen to Matthew Cooke, y'all. You'll learn a great deal.

Have a great day and week, y'all.