Bill Clinton’s tirade against Black Lives Matter demonstrators in
Philadelphia, last week, signals that his wife’s inner circle is having
great difficulty resisting the urge to lunge rightward into general
election campaign mode to scoop up the millions of Republican voters
disaffected by Donald Trump. For months, corporate Democratic
strategists have been salivating over the prospects of building a
super-party – the ultimate “big tent” – from the ashes of a
disintegrating GOP. They calculate that the numbers of suburban
Republican “moderates” that can be won over to the Democrats in November
is greater than potential defections from the party by disgruntled
Sandernistas. The Black vote does not even count in this equation, on
the assumption that they have nowhere else to go.
-- Glen Ford, "Bill Clinton Insults Blacks in Order to Build Hillary's 'Big Tent' Party" (BLACK AGENDA REPORT).
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Truest statement of the week II
On taking office Mr. Clinton announced, co-opting the Republicans’ rhetoric as well, “The era of big government is over.”
First he attacked the welfare issue, with The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. It fulfilled Clinton’s promise to “end welfare as we know it,” and the punishing effects it set in motion have yet to abate. Since the end of the Clinton Administration, poverty in the U.S. has nearly doubled: “...the number of Americans living in high-poverty areas rose to 13.8 million in 2013 from 7.2 million in 2000, with African-Americans and Latinos driving most of the gains.”
To show how tough on crime he could be, Clinton next guided The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 through Congress. A flurry of prison construction quickly followed, an industry of private for-profit prisons blossomed, 100,000 new police officers took to the streets, harsh mandatory sentences were prescribed.
When Clinton took office in 1993 the prison population in the U.S. was roughly 855,000. When he left office eight years later it exceeded 2 million. Today it is about 2.25 million, and 4.7 million more citizens are on parole or probation. So our total “Correctional Population” is nearly seven million citizens. Most of them are black, and minor drug offenses are by far the most common. (Terminology and figures from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.)
The welfare and crime laws were passed with Hillary’s support and lobbying efforts. She displayed her enthusiasm indelibly, with her infamous remarks about the “super-predators” and “bringing them to heel.”
-- Richard W. Behan, "Black Lives Don't Matter, Black Votes Do: the Racial Hypocrisy of Hillary and Bill Clinton" (COUNTERPUNCH).
First he attacked the welfare issue, with The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. It fulfilled Clinton’s promise to “end welfare as we know it,” and the punishing effects it set in motion have yet to abate. Since the end of the Clinton Administration, poverty in the U.S. has nearly doubled: “...the number of Americans living in high-poverty areas rose to 13.8 million in 2013 from 7.2 million in 2000, with African-Americans and Latinos driving most of the gains.”
To show how tough on crime he could be, Clinton next guided The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 through Congress. A flurry of prison construction quickly followed, an industry of private for-profit prisons blossomed, 100,000 new police officers took to the streets, harsh mandatory sentences were prescribed.
When Clinton took office in 1993 the prison population in the U.S. was roughly 855,000. When he left office eight years later it exceeded 2 million. Today it is about 2.25 million, and 4.7 million more citizens are on parole or probation. So our total “Correctional Population” is nearly seven million citizens. Most of them are black, and minor drug offenses are by far the most common. (Terminology and figures from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.)
The welfare and crime laws were passed with Hillary’s support and lobbying efforts. She displayed her enthusiasm indelibly, with her infamous remarks about the “super-predators” and “bringing them to heel.”
-- Richard W. Behan, "Black Lives Don't Matter, Black Votes Do: the Racial Hypocrisy of Hillary and Bill Clinton" (COUNTERPUNCH).
A note to our readers
Hey --
A Sunday.
We're shocked as well.
First, we thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen,
Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
And what did we come up with:
Peace.
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.
A Sunday.
We're shocked as well.
First, we thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen,
Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
And what did we come up with:
Glen Ford gets another truest.
Richard Behan gets his first truest.
Ash Carter's words were big news. Or should have been.
Ava and C.I. play the truth game.
Barack is so very busy.
Mark Ruffalo continues to have one of the few Twitter feeds that matters.
Well now we know what she said. Finally.
Spike Lee serves it up.
Looking for a podcast?
What we listened to while writing.
Press release from US House Rep Gabbard's office.
Tweet and press release.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Press release from Rep Ashford's office.
Mike and the gang wrote this and we thank them for it.Peace.
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.
Editorial: US government prepares for more US combat in Iraq
Last week, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter talked Iraq briefly:
SEC. CARTER: Across the whole spectrum. You know we're looking to do more, but it ranges from in the air to on the ground. All consistent with our overall strategic approach, which is to enable local forces ultimately to hold and sustain the defeat of ISIL, after ISIL is defeated, but to enable them to do so and accelerate that process so we continue to look for and identify ways of accelerating that, and as we find those we will do them. Obviously in Iraq we do that with the permission of the Iraqi government.
But we -- you should expect us to -- to see us doing more, to be consistent with the same approach, but it will be across all the domains, right up to cyber, which I mentioned earlier.
Now over the next few days I'll have an opportunity to talk to our commanders, and also to some in the region here, and obviously look for more good opportunities to accelerate the defeat of ISIL here in Syria and Iraq, which is absolutely necessary.
Q: When you say "on the ground," do you mean more U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq?
SEC. CARTER: Yes, I mean, I think some of these have that aspect to it, but I just want to emphasize there's a lot more that goes with this, and our -- and our presence on the ground is -- and will continue to be to enable, not to substitute, for local forces.
"When you say 'on the ground,' do you mean more US troops on the ground in Iraq?"
"Yes."
And where's the outrage?
Hell, where's the public discussion.
Idiots like Jane Fonda and her former boy-toy Tom Hayden spent last week not decrying the ongoing war but announcing their support for the candidate who voted for it back in 2002 -- Hillary Clinton.
In fact, outside of Saturday's Iraq snapshot, we've not found anyone or any site even noting Carter's remarks, his actual remarks, not the cleaned up version ASSOCIATED PRESS provided.
In 2008, some Americans foolishly thought that, by voting for Barack Obama, they could end the Iraq War. Instead, it continues.
And shame or embarrassment appears to keep a large number of people from talking -- or at least talking truthfully.
That's a big reason why the Iraq War continues.
TV: Attacking lies with truth
NETFLIX's THE RANCH must be awful.
That's what some of our friends concluded when we took a pass on reviewing.
We must be so embarrassed for Debra Winger.
Actually, THE RANCH is a sitcom that gets better with each episode, is funny and actually has a point of view.
Friends got that we weren't that interested in promoting a show Ashton Kutcher was acting in and producing, being friends of Demi Moore.
That much is true.
But what they didn't get was that we were trying to save Debra Winger from embarrassment.
Her acting's fine.
It's her self-promotion,
Bette Davis once remarked that Debra, of all the actress around in the 80s, reminded her the most of herself.
That was in acting.
That was also in temperament.
Because Bette could be a real bitch.
You often have to be in order to survive.
But Bette didn't just turn that rage at the studio, she also turned it at fellow actresses -- and that went beyond just Joan Crawford and Miriam Hopkins.
In recent interviews, Debra feels the need to insist that women need to do like she's doing and look their age.
That's an opinion.
No problem.
But then she goes on to trash Michelle Pfeiffer.
Actually, if Michelle looks like Debra's younger sister, it may be because, fact, she is younger.
More to the point, Debra been grudge f**king Michelle for years.
She's always been jealous of Michelle and of Michelle's looks.
In 1987, Debra desperately wanted the lead in the film BETRAYED.
She originally exploded at her agents when Costa-Gavras went with Michelle Pfeiffer instead (this was the main issue during her 80s tantrums with CAA). When Michelle bowed out, Debra got the role (after Melanie Griffith also took a pass).
On the set, Debra made everyone's life miserable by constantly fighting with Costa-Gavras over everything from staging to interpretation.
"How would Michelle do it?" she would periodically snarl to express her disgust with the director.
Early into the shoot, Debra got ahold of a draft of MUSIC BOX, what would be Costa-Gavras' follow up. She wanted the part and just knew she would get it.
She hit the roof when the role went to Jessica Lange.
But, among other things, Costa-Gavras just couldn't endure another shoot where she worked out her petty jealousies against Michelle on a daily basis.
Which is why, as she goes around promoting THE RANCH, smart reporters would not just jot down her insults but also ask her exactly why, all these years later, she's still so obsessed with Michelle?
We sometimes take a pass in calling out friends.
I'm really here because I want to thank you all. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here today. So many of you, so many of today's speakers, including my fellow actors up here, were here at the beginning, before we went into Iraq, because you knew and they knew what was in store. Thank you so much for the courage to stand up against this mean-spirited, vengeful administration. Your actions are proof that the most precious part of this country, its soul, is alive and well. So thank you. Your ongoing commitment to ending this war allows people in other parts of the world to remain hopeful that America has the stuff to become again a country that they can love and respect. Thank you. I especially want to thank and acknowledge the servicemen and women and the military families and Gold Star mothers that are here. A lot of press people have been asking me today, "What's the difference between now and during the Vietnam War?" And I'll tell you one huge crucial difference: It took six years for Vietnam veterans, active-duty servicemen, Gold Star mothers and military families to come out against the war. It has happened now within three years of the war. Their presence here is critical, and we should acknowledge their courage. I haven't spoken at an antiwar rally in 34 years, because I've been afraid that because of the lies that have been and continue to be spread about me and that war, that they would be used to hurt this new antiwar movement, but silence is no longer an option. My daughter, who is here with me today -- come here -- she was a little girl when she would come with me to the anti-Vietnam War protests. She's here today with her two little children, my grandchildren. I'm very proud that they're here, but I'm so sad that we still have to do this; that we did not learn the lessons from the Vietnam War; that we've made the same mistakes, blindness to the realities on the ground, hubris and arrogance in dealing with a people and culture far older than we are; and that we understand so little, carelessness and thoughtlessness in our approach to rebuilding a country we've destroyed, allowing billions of dollars to be stolen, squandered at the hands of private contractors, just as this administration has done in our own gulf in the post-Katrina era. So, thank you. Thank you for being here, and we'll continue to be here for as long as necessary. God bless.
That's Jane Fonda.
Speaking in January of 2007.
"We'll continue to be here for as long as necessary"?
Try for as long as an aging starlet sees cameras.
She's a coward who can't speak out against an ongoing war.
She can't call out the violence.
Worse, she's now supporting Hillary Clinton.
Last week, at Tribeca, the elderly sex kitten purred that if Hillary was elected, there would be violence.
Yes, there damn well will be because Hillary is all about sending in the military to any and every country on the map.
But Jane was off on some giddy, manic high about how a female as president would produce a violent reaction from males in the US.
"Toxic masculinity" said the woman who couldn't keep her clothes on for the bulk of the sixties as she repeatedly sought the male gaze.
"Toxic masculinity" said the woman who's been ridiculed since the 80s over her efforts to play a sexpot off screen. The late journalist Paul Rosenfield used to entertain friends with Jane's desperate 1991 attempts to portray herself as a "hot piece" as she spent the bulk of the interview showing him her wedding trousseau she'd just picked up at, so classy, Frederick's of Hollywood.
More recently, she's overshared about Richard Perry in one interview after another to the point that many say the term "emasculating" is too weak to describe what she's done.
Clue to Jane, if it's not your own health problem, shut up.
More to the point, "toxic masculinity" -- or whatever you want to call it -- describes Hillary Clinton to a tee.
How many wars does Hillary get to start before Jane Fonda wakes up that the problem is not a gender, it's a point of view?
And how is anyone supposed to take her ridiculous ass seriously when they look at her 2007 speech and grasp that not only has she not spoken out against the still ongoing Iraq War since but she's now supporting the Democratic candidate who voted for the Iraq War?
Jane's devolved into one of the most embarrassing women in the entertainment industry. Twitter has not been her friend, to put it mildly.
Here's some facts for you, Jane.
One, Bernie Sanders has served in the House and the Senate since the 90s. Bernie has chaired a major Senate Committee and held hearings.
Hillary did photo ops in the Senate.
Hillary's done nothing for veterans -- except, of course, to create them with her war lust.
Bernie chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
Considering Jane's comments about veterans and the need not to fail them, you'd think she'd be aware of just how often Hillary has failed to be a leader on veterans issues.
Lastly, Jane, stop saying women shouldn't have plastic surgery when you . . . keep having plastic surgery.
It's not funny.
It's not cute.
Nor are the whores promoting Hillary.
Take Bob Somerby who makes a fool out of himself repeatedly including on Saturday with this:
We'll start with Drum's basic assessment. According to Drum's best guess, Clinton doesn't want to release the transcripts because some pointless remark will be yanked out of context and "made into yet another endless and idiotic Republican meme."
The one time 'media critic' now busies himself providing cover for Hillary.
Instead of demanding the truth, that the transcripts be released, he defends their non-release and offers that she has a reason: Republicans would make political hay of them -- and journalists too!!!!!
Is that really a logical defense?
Do we really want a US president who hides the truth repeatedly out of fear of what some Republican might say about her? Or what the media might report?
The times get more ridiculous and that happens when we don't speak the truth.
We're as guilty as anyone.
Looking the other way when Debra Winger goes all bitchy on Michelle Pfeiffer, staying silent as Jane's endless public babbles turn Richard Perry into a topic of ridicule, and acting as if it's okay for a politician to refuse to answer to the people.
That's what some of our friends concluded when we took a pass on reviewing.
We must be so embarrassed for Debra Winger.
Actually, THE RANCH is a sitcom that gets better with each episode, is funny and actually has a point of view.
Friends got that we weren't that interested in promoting a show Ashton Kutcher was acting in and producing, being friends of Demi Moore.
That much is true.
But what they didn't get was that we were trying to save Debra Winger from embarrassment.
Her acting's fine.
It's her self-promotion,
Bette Davis once remarked that Debra, of all the actress around in the 80s, reminded her the most of herself.
That was in acting.
That was also in temperament.
Because Bette could be a real bitch.
You often have to be in order to survive.
But Bette didn't just turn that rage at the studio, she also turned it at fellow actresses -- and that went beyond just Joan Crawford and Miriam Hopkins.
In recent interviews, Debra feels the need to insist that women need to do like she's doing and look their age.
That's an opinion.
No problem.
But then she goes on to trash Michelle Pfeiffer.
Actually, if Michelle looks like Debra's younger sister, it may be because, fact, she is younger.
More to the point, Debra been grudge f**king Michelle for years.
She's always been jealous of Michelle and of Michelle's looks.
In 1987, Debra desperately wanted the lead in the film BETRAYED.
She originally exploded at her agents when Costa-Gavras went with Michelle Pfeiffer instead (this was the main issue during her 80s tantrums with CAA). When Michelle bowed out, Debra got the role (after Melanie Griffith also took a pass).
On the set, Debra made everyone's life miserable by constantly fighting with Costa-Gavras over everything from staging to interpretation.
"How would Michelle do it?" she would periodically snarl to express her disgust with the director.
Early into the shoot, Debra got ahold of a draft of MUSIC BOX, what would be Costa-Gavras' follow up. She wanted the part and just knew she would get it.
She hit the roof when the role went to Jessica Lange.
But, among other things, Costa-Gavras just couldn't endure another shoot where she worked out her petty jealousies against Michelle on a daily basis.
Which is why, as she goes around promoting THE RANCH, smart reporters would not just jot down her insults but also ask her exactly why, all these years later, she's still so obsessed with Michelle?
We sometimes take a pass in calling out friends.
I'm really here because I want to thank you all. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here today. So many of you, so many of today's speakers, including my fellow actors up here, were here at the beginning, before we went into Iraq, because you knew and they knew what was in store. Thank you so much for the courage to stand up against this mean-spirited, vengeful administration. Your actions are proof that the most precious part of this country, its soul, is alive and well. So thank you. Your ongoing commitment to ending this war allows people in other parts of the world to remain hopeful that America has the stuff to become again a country that they can love and respect. Thank you. I especially want to thank and acknowledge the servicemen and women and the military families and Gold Star mothers that are here. A lot of press people have been asking me today, "What's the difference between now and during the Vietnam War?" And I'll tell you one huge crucial difference: It took six years for Vietnam veterans, active-duty servicemen, Gold Star mothers and military families to come out against the war. It has happened now within three years of the war. Their presence here is critical, and we should acknowledge their courage. I haven't spoken at an antiwar rally in 34 years, because I've been afraid that because of the lies that have been and continue to be spread about me and that war, that they would be used to hurt this new antiwar movement, but silence is no longer an option. My daughter, who is here with me today -- come here -- she was a little girl when she would come with me to the anti-Vietnam War protests. She's here today with her two little children, my grandchildren. I'm very proud that they're here, but I'm so sad that we still have to do this; that we did not learn the lessons from the Vietnam War; that we've made the same mistakes, blindness to the realities on the ground, hubris and arrogance in dealing with a people and culture far older than we are; and that we understand so little, carelessness and thoughtlessness in our approach to rebuilding a country we've destroyed, allowing billions of dollars to be stolen, squandered at the hands of private contractors, just as this administration has done in our own gulf in the post-Katrina era. So, thank you. Thank you for being here, and we'll continue to be here for as long as necessary. God bless.
That's Jane Fonda.
Speaking in January of 2007.
"We'll continue to be here for as long as necessary"?
Try for as long as an aging starlet sees cameras.
She's a coward who can't speak out against an ongoing war.
She can't call out the violence.
Worse, she's now supporting Hillary Clinton.
Last week, at Tribeca, the elderly sex kitten purred that if Hillary was elected, there would be violence.
Yes, there damn well will be because Hillary is all about sending in the military to any and every country on the map.
But Jane was off on some giddy, manic high about how a female as president would produce a violent reaction from males in the US.
"Toxic masculinity" said the woman who couldn't keep her clothes on for the bulk of the sixties as she repeatedly sought the male gaze.
"Toxic masculinity" said the woman who's been ridiculed since the 80s over her efforts to play a sexpot off screen. The late journalist Paul Rosenfield used to entertain friends with Jane's desperate 1991 attempts to portray herself as a "hot piece" as she spent the bulk of the interview showing him her wedding trousseau she'd just picked up at, so classy, Frederick's of Hollywood.
More recently, she's overshared about Richard Perry in one interview after another to the point that many say the term "emasculating" is too weak to describe what she's done.
Clue to Jane, if it's not your own health problem, shut up.
More to the point, "toxic masculinity" -- or whatever you want to call it -- describes Hillary Clinton to a tee.
How many wars does Hillary get to start before Jane Fonda wakes up that the problem is not a gender, it's a point of view?
And how is anyone supposed to take her ridiculous ass seriously when they look at her 2007 speech and grasp that not only has she not spoken out against the still ongoing Iraq War since but she's now supporting the Democratic candidate who voted for the Iraq War?
Jane's devolved into one of the most embarrassing women in the entertainment industry. Twitter has not been her friend, to put it mildly.
Jane Seymour Fonda
Here's some facts for you, Jane.
One, Bernie Sanders has served in the House and the Senate since the 90s. Bernie has chaired a major Senate Committee and held hearings.
Hillary did photo ops in the Senate.
Hillary's done nothing for veterans -- except, of course, to create them with her war lust.
Bernie chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
Considering Jane's comments about veterans and the need not to fail them, you'd think she'd be aware of just how often Hillary has failed to be a leader on veterans issues.
Lastly, Jane, stop saying women shouldn't have plastic surgery when you . . . keep having plastic surgery.
It's not funny.
It's not cute.
Nor are the whores promoting Hillary.
Take Bob Somerby who makes a fool out of himself repeatedly including on Saturday with this:
We'll start with Drum's basic assessment. According to Drum's best guess, Clinton doesn't want to release the transcripts because some pointless remark will be yanked out of context and "made into yet another endless and idiotic Republican meme."
The one time 'media critic' now busies himself providing cover for Hillary.
Instead of demanding the truth, that the transcripts be released, he defends their non-release and offers that she has a reason: Republicans would make political hay of them -- and journalists too!!!!!
Is that really a logical defense?
Do we really want a US president who hides the truth repeatedly out of fear of what some Republican might say about her? Or what the media might report?
The times get more ridiculous and that happens when we don't speak the truth.
We're as guilty as anyone.
Looking the other way when Debra Winger goes all bitchy on Michelle Pfeiffer, staying silent as Jane's endless public babbles turn Richard Perry into a topic of ridicule, and acting as if it's okay for a politician to refuse to answer to the people.
Very busy
As this April 13, 2016 White House photo by Pete Souza demonstrates, Barack is a very busy man.
Tweet of the week
-
170 Economists Endorse Bernie Sanders' Plan To Reform Wall St. And Rein In Greed via
@politicususa http://www.politicususa.com/2016/01/14/170-economists-bernie-sanders-plan-reform-wall-st-rein-greed.html …
Mark Ruffalo
Benghazi and Hillary's 3:04 pm call
September 12, 2012, at 3:04 pm EST, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton callas Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil and tells him, "We know that the attack in Libya had nothing to do with the film. It was a planned attack -- not a protest."
What to listen to this week
After you're done streaming on AMAZON PRIME, or maybe before, here's a podcast to check out:
marc maron
Tomorrow is @SusanSarandon day on @WTFpod!
This edition's playlist
1) Graham Nash's THIS PATH TONIGHT.
1) Diana Ross' DIANA ROSS SINGS SONGS FROM THE WIZ.
3) Anna Meredith's VARMITS.
4) Janet Jackson's UNBREAKABLE.
5) Diana Ross's THE BOSS.
6) Sam Smith's IN THE LONELY HOUR DROWNING SHADOW EDITION.
7) Aretha Franklin's ARETHA SINGS THE GREAT DIVA CLASSICS.
8) Anderson .Paak's MALIBU.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Votes Against Effort to Undermine Net Neutrality
US House Rep Tulsi Gabbard's office issued the following last week:
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Votes Against Effort to Undermine Net Neutrality
Washington, DC—Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) released the
following statement today after voting against H.R. 2666, the No Rate
Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act:
“For over 20 years, the Internet has broken down information barriers,
expanded access to critical information and services, fueled innovation,
and redefined our country and our world. In today’s digital age, free,
open, and equal access to the internet is not only essential to
upholding our democratic principles, it is critical to healthcare,
education, employment, and so much more. I strongly oppose H.R. 2666,
and any legislation that undermines the principles of universal,
affordable, and nondiscriminatory internet access. If signed in to law,
H.R. 2666 would limit the ability of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to investigate attempted breaches of net neutrality and
weaken their authority to enforce free and open internet access. While I
am disappointed that this legislation passed in the House today, I will
continue to do all that I can to protect American consumers from
attempts to create special treatment for a privileged few.”
H.R. 2666 passed in the House today by a vote of 241-173.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has strongly supported net neutrality, and has
cosponsored legislation like H.R. 196, the Online Competition and
Consumer Choice Act of 2015, which would prohibit multi-tiered pricing
agreements between Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and content
providers.
###
Beto O'Rourke DAV Outstanding House Legislator of the Year
Rep. Beto O'Rourke
So grateful and honored to be chosen by @davhq Disabled American Vets as their House member of the year. THANK YOU!
DAV Recognizes Outstanding Veterans’ Advocates in Washington
posted on
WASHINGTON—DAV (Disabled American Veterans) announced today the
names of eight dedicated veterans’ advocates being honored for their
outstanding efforts and achievements on behalf of the men and women who
served. Federal executives, senators, representatives and congressional
staffers are eligible for the honors that recognize commitment and
excellence in service to veterans, their families and survivors.
“The recipients of this year’s advocacy awards have shown a true commitment to fighting for the best interests of veterans and their families. The past few years are a clear reminder that veterans deserve strong leaders who will go above and beyond in fulfilling the nation’s promise to them,” said DAV National Commander Moses A. McIntosh Jr. “It is a great honor to present these individuals with awards that recognize their critical contributions in the areas of veterans health care, benefits, policy and legislation.”
WHO:
DAV Veterans Champion Award: The Honorable Patty Murray, Senate Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs, for her extraordinary leadership, commitment and accomplishments that meaningfully contributed to fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served, and their families and survivors.
Outstanding Federal Executive of the Year: The Honorable Carolyn M. Clancy, Department of Veterans Affairs, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Organizational Excellence, for her efforts to strengthen and improve access to the VA health care system.
Outstanding House Legislator of the Year: Congressman Beto O’Rourke, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for his efforts to enact innovative legislation to improve the appeals process for veterans seeking earned benefits.
Outstanding Senate Legislator of the Year: The Honorable Mark Kirk, Chairman of the Senate MilCon-VA Appropriations Subcommittee for his efforts to ensure sufficient funding for veterans programs, benefits and services.
DAV Special Recognition Awards: Ms. Amanda L. Meredith, Deputy Staff Director and General Counsel, Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for her longtime efforts to ensure veterans receive all the benefits they have earned; Mr. Ryan C. Pettit, Senior Advisor to Senator Patty Murray, for his efforts to advance legislation supporting caregivers and women veterans; Ms. Patricia M. Hayes, Ph.D., VHA Chief Consultant, Women’s Health Services, for her career efforts to improve health care services for women veterans; and Mrs. Margaret B. Kabat, National Director, VHA Caregiver Support Program, for her outstanding efforts to improve the benefits and services for caregivers.
ABOUT DAV: DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; assisting them with employment; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a non-profit organization with nearly 1.3 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932.
“The recipients of this year’s advocacy awards have shown a true commitment to fighting for the best interests of veterans and their families. The past few years are a clear reminder that veterans deserve strong leaders who will go above and beyond in fulfilling the nation’s promise to them,” said DAV National Commander Moses A. McIntosh Jr. “It is a great honor to present these individuals with awards that recognize their critical contributions in the areas of veterans health care, benefits, policy and legislation.”
WHO:
DAV Veterans Champion Award: The Honorable Patty Murray, Senate Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs, for her extraordinary leadership, commitment and accomplishments that meaningfully contributed to fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served, and their families and survivors.
Outstanding Federal Executive of the Year: The Honorable Carolyn M. Clancy, Department of Veterans Affairs, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Organizational Excellence, for her efforts to strengthen and improve access to the VA health care system.
Outstanding House Legislator of the Year: Congressman Beto O’Rourke, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for his efforts to enact innovative legislation to improve the appeals process for veterans seeking earned benefits.
Outstanding Senate Legislator of the Year: The Honorable Mark Kirk, Chairman of the Senate MilCon-VA Appropriations Subcommittee for his efforts to ensure sufficient funding for veterans programs, benefits and services.
DAV Special Recognition Awards: Ms. Amanda L. Meredith, Deputy Staff Director and General Counsel, Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for her longtime efforts to ensure veterans receive all the benefits they have earned; Mr. Ryan C. Pettit, Senior Advisor to Senator Patty Murray, for his efforts to advance legislation supporting caregivers and women veterans; Ms. Patricia M. Hayes, Ph.D., VHA Chief Consultant, Women’s Health Services, for her career efforts to improve health care services for women veterans; and Mrs. Margaret B. Kabat, National Director, VHA Caregiver Support Program, for her outstanding efforts to improve the benefits and services for caregivers.
ABOUT DAV: DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; assisting them with employment; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a non-profit organization with nearly 1.3 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932.
Leading post-9/11 vets group holds Congress accountable to veterans
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America issued the following last week:
WASHINGTON (April 14, 2016) — Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), its members and other veteran service organization partners joined Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Brad Ashford (D-Neb.), Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), Gwen Graham (D-Fla.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) and Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) at the U.S. Capitol to urge Congress to defend the Post-9/11 GI Bill from funding cuts. The greatest education investment in our veterans since WWII has recently come under attack with the House passage of H.R.3016, which calls for a 50 percent cut to the housing allowance that children receive if their military or veteran parent transfers the benefit to them. A similar bill (S.425) is making its way to the Senate floor and IAVA is calling on all Members of Congress to pledge to defend the Post-9/11 GI Bill from this and any future cuts to the vital program. IAVA will oppose the omnibus as a whole and call on the president to veto the bill if it is passed with the cuts intact.
“It is embarrassing that we have to come here and beg our elected officials not to steal from the pockets of our military, veterans and their families,” said IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. “As we stand in front of the U.S. Capitol, men and women are fighting in a prolonged war in Afghanistan and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, earning this very benefit. We are once again seeing the impact of a growing civilian-military divide in this country. It is national disgrace that some Members of Congress are willing to use veterans benefits as a piggy bank to pay for other programs. Congress must defend the promise made to our veterans. IAVA’s members — some still in harm’s way — kept their promise to our country; Congress needs to keep theirs to our vets.”
IAVA was joined at the press conference by veteran and military service organizations representing a diverse cross section of community of those who have served, including Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) and Commissioned Officers Association (COA).
“Vietnam Veterans of America has long held that government should never pay for a program for one group of veterans by cutting funding and taking away from any other group of veterans. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, no matter how important or vital Paul might be, goes against one of VVA’s core principles,” said Rick Weidman, VVA Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs.
“Officers in the U.S. Public Health Service fought hard to be allowed to transfer GI Bill benefits to their dependents. Because these officers have one or more college degrees when they join the USPHS, they don’t tend to use the bill’s provisions for themselves as much as do members of other services. Transferability means everything to them, and this proposed legislation would take some of that benefit from them,” said Col. (ret.) James T. Currie, Executive Director for Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Since IAVA launched the #DefendTheGIBill campaign in March 2016, IAVA members have sent nearly 14,000 letters to Congress asking representatives to oppose any cuts to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In addition, every Member of Congress has been challenged to take the pledge to defend the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
IAVA led the passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008 and in championing upgrades in 2010 and 2014. These upgrades simplified and improved tuition benefits, expanded eligibility to the National Guard, included vocational programs, and made nationwide in-state tuition rates a possibility for new veterans beginning this year.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill has been used by nearly one million veterans and their family members to accomplish educational goals and chart new career paths.
WASHINGTON (April 14, 2016) — Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), its members and other veteran service organization partners joined Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Brad Ashford (D-Neb.), Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), Gwen Graham (D-Fla.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) and Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) at the U.S. Capitol to urge Congress to defend the Post-9/11 GI Bill from funding cuts. The greatest education investment in our veterans since WWII has recently come under attack with the House passage of H.R.3016, which calls for a 50 percent cut to the housing allowance that children receive if their military or veteran parent transfers the benefit to them. A similar bill (S.425) is making its way to the Senate floor and IAVA is calling on all Members of Congress to pledge to defend the Post-9/11 GI Bill from this and any future cuts to the vital program. IAVA will oppose the omnibus as a whole and call on the president to veto the bill if it is passed with the cuts intact.
“It is embarrassing that we have to come here and beg our elected officials not to steal from the pockets of our military, veterans and their families,” said IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. “As we stand in front of the U.S. Capitol, men and women are fighting in a prolonged war in Afghanistan and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, earning this very benefit. We are once again seeing the impact of a growing civilian-military divide in this country. It is national disgrace that some Members of Congress are willing to use veterans benefits as a piggy bank to pay for other programs. Congress must defend the promise made to our veterans. IAVA’s members — some still in harm’s way — kept their promise to our country; Congress needs to keep theirs to our vets.”
IAVA was joined at the press conference by veteran and military service organizations representing a diverse cross section of community of those who have served, including Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) and Commissioned Officers Association (COA).
“Vietnam Veterans of America has long held that government should never pay for a program for one group of veterans by cutting funding and taking away from any other group of veterans. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, no matter how important or vital Paul might be, goes against one of VVA’s core principles,” said Rick Weidman, VVA Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs.
“Officers in the U.S. Public Health Service fought hard to be allowed to transfer GI Bill benefits to their dependents. Because these officers have one or more college degrees when they join the USPHS, they don’t tend to use the bill’s provisions for themselves as much as do members of other services. Transferability means everything to them, and this proposed legislation would take some of that benefit from them,” said Col. (ret.) James T. Currie, Executive Director for Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Since IAVA launched the #DefendTheGIBill campaign in March 2016, IAVA members have sent nearly 14,000 letters to Congress asking representatives to oppose any cuts to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In addition, every Member of Congress has been challenged to take the pledge to defend the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
IAVA led the passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008 and in championing upgrades in 2010 and 2014. These upgrades simplified and improved tuition benefits, expanded eligibility to the National Guard, included vocational programs, and made nationwide in-state tuition rates a possibility for new veterans beginning this year.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill has been used by nearly one million veterans and their family members to accomplish educational goals and chart new career paths.
Ashford Calls on Congress to Keep Promises to our Veterans and Military Families
US House Rep Brad Ashford's office issued the following last week:
Ashford Calls on Congress to Keep Promises to our Veterans and Military Families
April 15, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON
– Congressman Brad Ashford (NE- 02) joined colleagues in staunchly
opposing cuts to veteran’s benefits currently being considered by
Congress.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the most significant bills Congress has passed in a generation, and it promises our veterans access to education benefits, including housing allowances that can be transferred to family members. Proposed cuts would reduce these benefits by half if a veteran parent transfers them to their children.
“We are asking our military to do incredible things since 9/11. I do not understand why we are talking about restricting; we need to be expanding these benefits,” said Rep. Ashford. “There should be no question that when someone comes back from service they have a job, seamless healthcare and education benefits”
Ashford says not funding these benefits breaks a sacred promise our nation has made to our service members and their families.
Ashford was joined at the press conference outside the U.S. Capitol
by Representatives Tim Walz (MN-01), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Julia
Brownley (CA-26), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), Tammy Duckworth (IL-08), Beto
O’Rourke (TX-16), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Gwen Graham (FL-02) along with
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Founder and CEO Paul
Rieckhoff and representatives from the Air Force Sergeants Association,
the Association of the United States Navy, Commissioned Officers
Association, Vietnam Veterans of America and other Veterans advocates
and supporters.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the most significant bills Congress has passed in a generation, and it promises our veterans access to education benefits, including housing allowances that can be transferred to family members. Proposed cuts would reduce these benefits by half if a veteran parent transfers them to their children.
“We are asking our military to do incredible things since 9/11. I do not understand why we are talking about restricting; we need to be expanding these benefits,” said Rep. Ashford. “There should be no question that when someone comes back from service they have a job, seamless healthcare and education benefits”
Ashford says not funding these benefits breaks a sacred promise our nation has made to our service members and their families.
###
Highlights
This piece is written by Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude, Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix, Kat of Kat's Korner, Betty of Thomas Friedman is a Great Man, Mike of Mikey Likes It!, Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz, Ruth of Ruth's Report, Marcia of SICKOFITRADLZ, Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends, Ann of Ann's Mega Dub, Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts and Wally of The Daily Jot. Unless otherwise noted, we picked all highlights.
"The laughable and long delayed Chilcot report" -- most requested highlight by readers of this site.
"Kat's Korner: Graham Nash Breaks Your Heart Again" -- Kat reviews Graham Nash's latest release.
"MARVEL AGENTS OF SHIELD," "oh, shonda," "The Originals," "THE GOOD WIFE done wrong" and "You are (still) watching MADTV" -- Mike, Rebecca, Marcia and Stan cover TV.
"Diana Ross THE BOSS," "Graham Nash has a new album coming out" and "Graham Nash" -- Elaine and Kat cover music.
"BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT" and "A DANGEROUS WOMAN comes to NETFLIX" -- Stan goes to the movies.
"Wag The Kennel" -- Isaiah dips into the archives.
"A news outlet finally gets it right!!," "Her not so good resume," "She lies," "What did she tell Wall Street," "Where are her speeches?," "THIS JUST IN! CRANKY DOESN'T KISS AND TELL!," "Cranky believes some secrets must be kept," "The Clintons racism is so in your face," "Idiots of the week?," "Glen Ford calls out the racism," "Hillary's War Crimes and the liars who ignore them,"
"That classless Debra Messing," "Hillary War Hawk Clinton," "npr skews for hillary," "Those Crackers at Blue Nation Review," "THIS JUST IN! THE OLD DRUNK IN A STUPOR!," "When you drink too much . . .," "Hillary the nightmare of Haiti," "That Clinton way," "Honduras haunts Hillary," "She is not one of us," "Blood thirsty Hillary's Honduran rampage," "Brave Cher," "Will the FBI save America?," "Why De Blasio's apology won't suffice," "hillary's latest non-excuse," "THIS JUST IN! SHE SURVIVED THE 90S GANG WARS!," "Cranky responds to criticism," "Iraq and more," "Hillary just suggested Barack's run the country on CPT?," "hillary steps in it again," "Hillary owes the country an apology," "Again with the racism, Hillary?," "You have to wonder," "Jerry White tells the uncomfortable truth," "THIS JUST IN! HILLARY DICE CLINTON!!!!" and "She's got jokes" -- political coverage in the community.
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