A report card on the Biden administration

[Sandy Shanks]

Apparently, Trump didn't want Americans to know what he said. The idiot didn't seem to know Bob Woodward was a reporter. The sixth grader next door is familiar with Woodward. His story is a Hollywood movie, a good one, too.

Trump consented to be interviewed by Woodward. Can you believe this?

"Former President Donald Trump has sued journalist Bob Woodward for copyright violations, claiming Woodward released audio from their interviews without Trump’s consent," CNN.

The guy really is stupid, which is why the educationally challenged rural folks like him so much.

CNN continued, "The former president has a long history of filing lawsuits that ultimately get tossed out of court. Woodward and the publisher Simon & Schuster said Trump’s case is without merit.

"Woodward conducted several interviews with Trump for “Rage,” the author’s second book on the former president that hit bookstores in September 2020. Woodward later released “The Trump Tapes,” an audiobook featuring eight hours of raw interviews with Trump interspersed with the author’s commentary. That book, which went on sale October 25, 2022, contains the 20 interviews Woodward conducted with Trump from 2016 through 2020, including those for “Rage.”

"Trump, in the lawsuit filed Monday in the Northern District of Florida, claims he did not give Woodward permission to release the audio of the interviews."

Which, of course, makes no sense. You give consent to a reporter to be interviewed, then claim the interview can't be used without consent.

That sounds like Trump.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Most importantly, "Voters often incorrectly assume—and lawmakers often incorrectly assert—that a vote to raise the debt ceiling is a vote for more debt. In fact, raising the debt limit is about paying for past choices."

In other words, it is like a family's mortgage or credit card bill. The debt limit is to allow payment for current debts, not new ones.

Today's House Republicans under McCarthy and led by the far right of their party fail to realize the fight for new spending should be fought when new spending becomes an issue. Duh!

Get that? Raising the debt limit is to pay for current debts, not new ones.

McCarthy wants to use the issue as leverage to cut spending. What does he want to cut? Which Americans does McCarthy want to hurt by the loss of funding? McCarthy doesn't say. Like any good politician, he speaks only in general terms, saying absolutely nothing.

This is what educationally challenged rural voters in the Republican Party wanted -- extremist Republicans who would threaten our own economy.

They will, of course, eventually back down, but what kind of a political party threatens the American economy? A dumb one, and a product of the rural Republican base mostly centered in the South.

CNN reports, "President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s talks on Wednesday are about more than a Washington power game.

"If the two leaders can’t agree to lift the debt ceiling by the time the Treasury runs out of money to pay its debts, the United States – the world’s fabled economic safe haven – could go into default.

"Every American will get hurt in the ultimate demonstration of how partisan politics, including growing conservative extremism, is threatening the country’s ability to govern itself and could doom it to a self-inflicted disaster.

If the extremist Republicans carry through on their threat, these are the consequences.

"If Republicans don’t grant more lending authority by mid-summer, Social Security retirement payments will be on the line. Veterans could stand to lose their vital health and living benefits. Americans whose 401(k) funds are locked into stocks could see their savings plummet in a global market crash. Borrowing costs for consumers would also likely spike, potentially plunging the economy into a recession that could choke job growth and cause widespread misery," CNN.

Don't waste your time waiting for a response from the forum's Republicans. They seem incapable of responding to the issues as this thread attests.

 

[Nickyjo]

Get that? Raising the debt limit is to pay for current debts, not new ones.

McCarthy wants to use the issue as leverage to cut spending. What does he want to cut? Which Americans does McCarthy want to hurt by the loss of funding? McCarthy doesn't say. Like any good politician, he speaks only in general terms, saying absolutely nothing.

This is what educationally challenged rural voters in the Republican Party wanted -- extremist Republicans who would threaten our own economy.

They will, of course, eventually back down, but what kind of a political party threatens the American economy? A dumb one, and a product of the rural Republican base mostly centered in the South.

CNN reports, "President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s talks on Wednesday are about more than a Washington power game.

"If the two leaders can’t agree to lift the debt ceiling by the time the Treasury runs out of money to pay its debts, the United States – the world’s fabled economic safe haven – could go into default.

"Every American will get hurt in the ultimate demonstration of how partisan politics, including growing conservative extremism, is threatening the country’s ability to govern itself and could doom it to a self-inflicted disaster.

If the extremist Republicans carry through on their threat, these are the consequences.

"If Republicans don’t grant more lending authority by mid-summer, Social Security retirement payments will be on the line. Veterans could stand to lose their vital health and living benefits. Americans whose 401(k) funds are locked into stocks could see their savings plummet in a global market crash. Borrowing costs for consumers would also likely spike, potentially plunging the economy into a recession that could choke job growth and cause widespread misery," CNN.

Don't waste your time waiting for a response from the forum's Republicans. They seem incapable of responding to the issues as this thread attests.

Nothing new here. No one wants to get specific about what they will cut. In a pinch they may say we have to get rid of “waste, fraud and abuse,” but that’s about it.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Nothing new here. No one wants to get specific about what they will cut. In a pinch they may say we have to get rid of “waste, fraud and abuse,” but that’s about it.

Yes, I know, but House Republicans are saying they want to cut spending. However, explaining which programs they want to cut is political suicide.

That reflects on the intelligence level of the House Republicans and the voters who placed them there.

 

[Nickyjo]

Yes, I know, but House Republicans are saying they want to cut spending. However, explaining which programs they want to cut is political suicide.

That reflects on the intelligence level of the House Republicans and the voters who placed them there.

I can understand the voters. For a long time, the GOP has talked about getting rid of a bloated federal government, even as they fail to cut spending much, and rarely get specific about what they would rid us of. But what is it about some GOP conservatives that has them somewhat hostile to Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, and more hostile to the ACA? The first two programs have been around for several generations, and are part of the “fabric” of our society, part of the calculations of so many of us with respect to life or career choices. And the ACA is a weak sister to more vigorous programs just about all other similar societies have, and is also likely not to go away. I am told that even the exalted queen of selfishness, that crypto-fascist Ayn Rand, collected Social Security. The notion that we are solely little Adam Smithian atoms, completely independent, and touching one another for economic transactions is as dead as the notion of inevitable Marxist-style class struggle being the only definer of modern humanity. Both gods failed.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

More bad news for Republicans. Turns out the Biden economy is doing great.

ABC reports, "The U.S. economy grew robustly at the end of last year, defying recession fears and weathering an aggressive series of interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, government data showed.

While there are still naysayers out there predicting doom and gloom insofar as our economy is concerned, the facts say they are dead wrong as things stand now. The Biden economy continues its strong pace, and inflation is on a downward trend.

ABC reports, "U.S. applications for jobless aid fell again last week to their lowest level since April, further evidence that the job market has withstood aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve as it attempts to cool the economy and bring down inflation.

"Applications for jobless aid in the U.S. for the week ending Jan. 28 fell by 3,000 last week to 183,000, from 186,000 the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. It was the third straight week claims were under 200,000 and the third straight weekly decline.

"The four-week moving average of claims, which flattens out some of the week-to-week volatility, declined by 5,750 to 191,750.

So far, the Fed’s aggressive policy has pushed inflation down, but has had less impact on a resilient U.S. job market, ABC.

In the meantime, House Republicans are removing Democrats from committees while continuing their threats to investigate the Biden administration.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

McCarthy's revenge on Democrats for telling Americans the truth about Republican President Donald Trump continues. While making high-minded speeches about national security, he fails to mention that he, along with 138 House Republicans, conspired with Trump to reject the duly elected President.

He also fails to mention that the Democrats refused to seat two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee because they played a role in Trump's scheme and were likely to be subpoenaed. For example, according to the Times, Representative Jim Jordan, Republican from Ohio, refused to cooperate with the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and refused to comply with a subpoena to testify.

None of that is mentioned in McCarthy's grandiose speeches.

ABC reports, "House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday night rejected the reappointments of Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both D-Calif., to the powerful House Intelligence Committee -- fulfilling a promise McCarthy made even before he won the gavel."

"I cannot put partisan loyalty ahead of national security, and I cannot simply recognize years of service as the sole criteria for membership on this essential committee. Integrity matters more," McCarthy wrote,adding, the "misuse of this panel during the 116th and 117th Congress severely undermined its primary national security and oversight missions -- ultimately leaving our nation less safe."

McCarthy's specific reasons for the dismissals were contrived and pathetic. "McCarthy cited their past conduct: In Swalwell's case, because of his reported run-ins with a suspected Chinese spy, though Swalwell wasn't accused of any wrongdoing; and for Schiff, because of what McCarthy has said were his comments related to a disputed dossier about Donald Trump and Russia."

Little wonder as to why Republicans continue their silence on the issues. Their party is an embarrassment, and they don't dare use quotes from Republican lawmakers.

So, they talk about everything except what their party is doing and saying.

There is not one thread from a Republican on what the Republican Party is doing.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

CNN reports,"Last week, the speaker announced that he was rejecting the appointment of the former chair, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, as well as Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California to the committee. It is no coincidence that the two played major roles in the two impeachments of former President Donald Trump.

"A year ago, he pledged that if Republicans became the majority, they would strip Schiff, Swalwell and Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from their committees, as payback for what Democrats had done.

"True, Democrats had – with support from some Republicans – removed Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar from their committees. But that was because of Rep. Greene’s incendiary and violent statements, such as supporting the execution of prominent Democrats, agreeing with comments calling the 2018 Parkland, Florida, high school shooting a “false flag." As for Rep. Gosar, the House voted to censure and remove him from committees over a photo-shopped anime video he posted on social media showing him appearing to kill Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Joe Biden."

It is true. Republican lawmakers are embarrassing.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

While there are still naysayers out there predicting doom and gloom insofar as our economy is concerned, the facts say they are dead wrong as things stand now. The Biden economy continues its strong pace, and inflation is on a downward trend.

Republicans no longer want to discuss the economy. Can you blame them? The economy is all bad news for Republicans. The Biden economy is on fire.

ABC reports, "For nearly a year, the Federal Reserve has been on a mission to cool down the job market to help curb the nation's worst inflation bout in four decades.

"The job market hasn't been cooperating.

"Consider what happened in January: The government said Friday that employers added a sizzling 517,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate dipped to 3.4%, the lowest level since 1969.

"The job gain was so large it left economists scratching their heads and wondering why the Fed's aggressive interest rate hikes haven't slowed hiring at a time when many foresee a recession nearing.

"Friday’s report added instead to the picture of a resilient U.S. labor market, with low unemployment, relatively few layoffs and many job openings. Though good for workers, employers’ steady demand for labor has also helped accelerate wage growth.

"The Fed’s aggressive policy has pushed inflation down, but has had less impact on a resilient U.S. job market,

"President Joe Biden called the jobs report “strikingly good news" and asserted that his Republican critics were wrong in their warnings of continued high inflation and a coming recession and layoffs."

“Our plan is working,” Biden said, "because of the grit and resolve of the American worker.”

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Is this a joke? It should be. Jordan's first investigation of the Biden administration is downright hilarious.

CNN reports, "House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan on Friday subpoenaed the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Education for documents as part of its investigation into whether a Justice Department strategy to address threats against teachers and school officials was abused to target conservative parents.

"The flurry of subpoenas are the first from the Judiciary’s subcommittee dedicated to investigating the alleged weaponization of the federal government and are an early indication that the newly minted chairman intends to aggressively pursue its probe into the Biden administration’s response to rising tensions and threats of violence surrounding school board meetings."

Now that is a hoot. Many are looking forward to more of Jordan's investigations. We all need a good laugh.

Reminder: Following the 2016 election, Jordan was allied with Trump's attempt to throw out the results of the Presidential election. That sorta puts matters into perspective.

Little wonder as to why the forum's Republicans will not respond to the issues in this report.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Most importantly, "Voters often incorrectly assume—and lawmakers often incorrectly assert—that a vote to raise the debt ceiling is a vote for more debt. In fact, raising the debt limit is about paying for past choices."

In other words, it is like a family's mortgage or credit card bill. The debt limit is to allow payment for current debts, not new ones.

Republicans under Trump knew this. They raised the debt limit three times while he was President without so much as a whimper.

But now we have a Democratic President, and Republicans are making foolish demands that have no relationship to the debt limit.

House Republicans are holding the American economy and the integrity of the American government hostage.

At the same time, they can't get straight what their demands are. They say they are collating as if the entire Republican caucus was new to lawmaking.

The Post explains, "House Republicans are demanding that President Biden agree to policy concessions in exchange for their support in raising the nation’s $31.4 trillion borrowing limit. But it is not clear — even to leading GOP officials — what they’re asking Biden to do.

"As Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) evades questions about his demands on the debt ceiling, which must be lifted to avoid an economically catastrophic government default, dozens of House Republicans and other conservatives have put forward their own ideas for what McCarthy should bring to the negotiating table."

In the meantime, the White House says it won’t negotiate future spending to lift the debt ceiling inasmuch as new spending is a whole different matter..

The Post continued, "The debt ceiling is a legal limit on how much the country can borrow, and it’s been raised or suspended routinely in the past, including three times when Donald Trump was president.

"Republican lawmakers say they want to rein in borrowing in exchange for voting to raise the cap. However, at least one of their ideas — rescinding newly approved funding for the Internal Revenue Service — is likely to reduce tax collections and therefore increase borrowing, according to nonpartisan estimates. Other proposals would force major cuts to programs that millions of Americans depend on, which could create political vulnerabilities for the GOP nationally.

"White House aides argue that making policy concessions [on new spending] in exchange for raising the debt limit would reward Republicans for holding the U.S. economy hostage."

I don't expect Republicans to respond to this report. They don't have the background.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The Trump candidacy is in deep trouble. He lost one of his major contributors.

CNN reports, "The deep-pocketed network associated with billionaire Charles Koch is preparing to throw its money and weight behind a single Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential primary – in a move that could significantly reshape the GOP field.

"Americans for Prosperity Action, the main political arm of the Koch network, “is prepared to support a candidate in the Republican presidential primary who can lead our country forward, and who can win,” Emily Seidel, the CEO of Americans for Prosperity and a top adviser at AFP Action, wrote in a memo released Sunday.

"An official with AFP Action confirmed that the network is not planning to support the former president’s White House bid.

 

[Nickyjo]

House Republicans are holding the American economy and the integrity of the American government hostage.

At the same time, they can't get straight what their demands are. They say they are collating as if the entire Republican caucus was new to lawmaking.

The Post explains, "House Republicans are demanding that President Biden agree to policy concessions in exchange for their support in raising the nation’s $31.4 trillion borrowing limit. But it is not clear — even to leading GOP officials — what they’re asking Biden to do.

"As Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) evades questions about his demands on the debt ceiling, which must be lifted to avoid an economically catastrophic government default, dozens of House Republicans and other conservatives have put forward their own ideas for what McCarthy should bring to the negotiating table."

In the meantime, the White House says it won’t negotiate future spending to lift the debt ceiling inasmuch as new spending is a whole different matter..

The Post continued, "The debt ceiling is a legal limit on how much the country can borrow, and it’s been raised or suspended routinely in the past, including three times when Donald Trump was president.

"Republican lawmakers say they want to rein in borrowing in exchange for voting to raise the cap. However, at least one of their ideas — rescinding newly approved funding for the Internal Revenue Service — is likely to reduce tax collections and therefore increase borrowing, according to nonpartisan estimates. Other proposals would force major cuts to programs that millions of Americans depend on, which could create political vulnerabilities for the GOP nationally.

"White House aides argue that making policy concessions [on new spending] in exchange for raising the debt limit would reward Republicans for holding the U.S. economy hostage."

I don't expect Republicans to respond to this report. They don't have the background.

Good to see that we are coming together in some issues. The GOP now also wants to defund the (IRS) police.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

According to the experts, somebody in China really goofed.

Keep in mind, from Xi Jinping on down, the communist Chinese leadership are now businessmen, and war is very bad for business. The last thing they want is a military escapade with the American military, by far the strongest in the world

CNN reports, "As the new year got underway in China, hopes appeared to be running high that an easing of tensions with the United States could unfold in the months ahead.

"China’s Foreign Ministry expressed as much late last month when it said China would “welcome” a visit from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken – an expected visit that analysts say Beijing viewed as an opportunity to help strengthen its economy and repair fraught diplomatic ties.

"So when a high-altitude balloon from China carrying a payload the size of three coach buses equipped with what American officials have described as surveillance equipment was spotted over the continental US, visibly hovering above a state with key military assets and ultimately sparking an international incident – it naturally raised critical questions about just what had happened, and why."

“By all accounts, the Chinese leadership was looking forward to having direct talks with Blinken … it would be very plausible that (Chinese leader Xi Jinping) would want to make sure everything was smooth in the lead up to the visit,” said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

“That this would happen is perplexing and strange,” he said.

There is speculation that Xi was unaware of the balloon fiasco. If he was, he is very much aware of it now.

CNN continued, "Beijing appeared to link the device to “companies,” rather than its government or military – though in China the prominence of state-owned enterprises and a robust military-industrial complex blurs the line between the two.

"Observers of elite Chinese politics say the timing of the less-than-subtle intrusion, amid a concerted Chinese effort to re-engage with the world and tone down its own combative rhetoric, suggests explanations ranging from a serious miscalculation by Beijing to a costly lack of communication within the government or with another entity."

In the meantime, some House Republicans are saying Biden made a serious miscalculation. They say the balloon should have been shot down in international air space over the Pacific Ocean so that it would not traverse the United States.

These Republicans do not know what little Jimmy next door knows. The balloon did not cross over into the U.S. from the Pacific. It entered American territory from Canada. Also, shooting down a Chinese aircraft in international air space would have very dire circumstances.

These same Republicans control the House of Representatives. We are in for a rough two years.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

CNN reports, "The continuing drama surrounding Republican Rep. George Santos of New York, whose self-constructed identity of lies is being dismantled piece by piece by journalists, is an irresistible spectacle — an odd concoction of amusing and infuriating.

"But there’s one particularly disturbing aspect that points to a dangerous weakness in American democracy: Who paid for Santos’ election campaign? In other words, who has the most influence over the congressman?

"The fact that it is so difficult to track down the source of this fantasist’s support reaffirms something that democracy funding experts have been telling us for years: Corrupt players are taking advantage of how democracy is financed in America.

The same could be said for Donald Trump. He came from nowhere to win the Presidency in 2016, and he is trying again in 2024.

This becomes even more important when one realizes Trump, as President, idolized the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, and the communist Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Putin aided the Trump campaign in 2016 by interfering in the Presidential election, according to American intelligence and the Republican Senate committee on intelligence.

"Our relationship with China has now probably never, ever been better," Trump said, adding that he gets on well with President Xi Jinping. "He's for China, I'm for the U.S., but other than that, we love each other." https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-on-chinas-xi-we-love-each-other/

"US President Donald Trump, in a stunning rebuke of the US intelligence community, declined on Monday to endorse the US government’s assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, saying he doesn’t “see any reason why” Russia would be responsible."

“I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today,” Trump said during a joint news conference after he spent about two hours in a room alone with Putin." https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/donald-trump-putin-helsinki-summit/index.html

"Former President Donald Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin's moves in Ukraine, calling him "savvy," after the Kremlin recognized the independence of two breakaway, Russian separatist-controlled regions in eastern Ukraine. "I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion ... of Ukraine, Putin declares it as independent," Trump said. https://www.npr.org/2022/02/22/1082...amid-new-escalations-on-russia-ukraine-border

So, who helped Trump become President?

Donald Trump is the current leader of the Republican Party. Little wonder as to why the forum's Republicans continue their silence.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Instead of acting like the second strongest military power on the planet, instead of acting like the second most successful economic power on the planet, China acts like a petulant child. Some wonder if President Xi is ill. Since the balloon fiasco began, Xi has been totally silent.

After traversing across the United States, China says the spy balloon belongs to them and they want it back.

Now China is claiming that the American President smeared the homeland.

ABC reports, "China says it was smeared in U.S. President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address that repeatedly mentioned competition between the two countries.

"China does not fear competing with the U.S. but is “opposed to defining the entire China-U.S. relationship in terms of competition,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Wednesday."

“It is not the practice of a responsible country to smear a country or restrict the country’s legitimate development rights under the excuse of competition, even at the expense of disrupting the global industrial and supply chain," Mao said.

Unreal. What a spy balloon shot down over the landscape of an adversary has to do with the "global industrial and supply chain" is a mystery.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

“It is not the practice of a responsible country to smear a country or restrict the country’s legitimate development rights under the excuse of competition, even at the expense of disrupting the global industrial and supply chain,"

Ignoring the meaningless diplospeak, this is what really concerns the Chinese leadership.

ABC reports, "The U.S. has been taking steps to rebuild its military might in the Philippines more than 30 years after the closure of its large bases in the country and reinforcing an arc of military alliances in Asia in a starkly different post-Cold War era when the perceived new regional threat is an increasingly belligerent China.

"On Feb. 2, the longtime allies announced that rotating batches of American forces would be granted access to four more Philippine military camps aside from five other local bases, where U.S.-funded constructions have picked up pace to build barracks, warehouses and other buildings to accommodate a yet-unspecified but expectedly considerable number of visiting troops under a 2014 defense pact.

"Manila-based political scientist Andrea Chloe Wong said the location of the Philippine camps would give the U.S. military the presence it would need to be a “strong deterrent against Chinese aggression” in the South China Sea, where China, the Philippines and four other governments have had increasingly tense territorial rifts — as well as a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory to be brought under Chinese control, by force if necessary."

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Our President's SOTU had mixed results, particularly when it came to Social Security and Medicare.

ABC reports, "Biden started the speech with his version of a victory lap, touting surprisingly strong job growth and a string of legislative achievements as well as continued consensus in supporting Ukraine against Russia. He also noted Democrats in November expanded their majority in the Senate.

"Unemployment rate at 3.4%, a 50-year low. Near record unemployment for Black and Hispanic workers," he said. "We've already created, with your help, 800,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs, the fastest growth in 40 years."

"But throughout his speech, Biden repeatedly said that the country's accomplishments were achieved with "your help" and insisted that he looked forward to working with Republicans."

Note: Republicans in the chamber didn't like what some Republicans like Senators Scott, Johnson, and Lee were proposing when Biden reviewed those proposals.

ABC continued, "Biden accused some Republicans of seeking to cut funds for Social Security and Medicare, seeming to pin the accusation on a plan released by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., that would sunset all federal funding after five years and make money for the program repeatedly subject to renewal.

"However, McCarthy has said such cuts are "off the table" as they negotiate on lifting the debt ceiling, sparking a wave of boos and Republicans asking for Biden to name the people pushing for the cuts."

Note: Which Biden did in a follow-up the next day.

"Besides the push for bipartisan or share of barbs -- depending on the moment -- Biden also took the opportunity to lay out sprawling policies he wants advanced in the next two years.

"Newly elected Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave the official GOP response to Biden's speech, focusing heavily on culture war issues and casting Biden as out of touch with the American people," ABC.

"I'm the first woman to lead my state. He's the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob (?) that can't even tell you what a woman is," she said.

Can someone please explain what a "woke mob" is?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The educationally challenged rural base of the Republican Party loved this. After all, they voted for these mavericks who disdain any form of professionalism even within the halls of Congress.

CNN reports, "Republicans repeatedly heckled President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, ignoring the occasional shushes from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

"In moments throughout the address, Republicans in the House chamber shouted at Biden, protesting his approach to a wide range of issues such as immigration, Social Security and Medicare spending and the debt ceiling.

"Democrats cheered while Republicans remained quiet. But when the president accused some Republicans of wanting to cut Social Security and Medicare, protests erupted again.

“Some of my Republican friends want to take the economy hostage unless I agree to their economic plans. All of you at home should know what their plans are,” Biden said. “Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset every five years.”

Of course, the President spoke the truth, but the truth is a foreign entity to Marjorie Taylor Greene who missed her appointment when the Lord was passing out brains.

"Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly yelled back at Biden throughout the speech – responding to everything from his comments on fentanyl to entitlement cuts. She also yelled out “liar” when Biden brought up the proposed cuts to Medicare and Social Security," CNN.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Committed to the path of revenge because the Democrats had the temerity to investigate Donald Trump's proven crimes and ignoring the fact that 139 House Republicans sided with Trump, Republicans are living in a reality distortion field.

What is happening here is surreal. This has absolutely nothing to do with oversight of the executive branch. Comer even admits it. See his statement.

CNN reports, "That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from Wednesday’s hearing on Capitol Hill where GOP lawmakers continued to push a factually unsupported narrative about the federal government secretly colluding with Twitter to censor the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020.

"House Oversight Chairman James Comer sent his first official request on Thursday to President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and the president’s brother, James Biden, for documents relating to their foreign business dealings.

"Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, is requesting a trove of documents from the pair, as well as from a close associate of Hunter Biden, Eric Schwerin, as the next step in his panel’s investigation into the Biden family. The requests come after Comer made requests for information from the Treasury Department about the Biden family’s financial transactions, and Comer has vowed to investigate the Biden family.

“Hunter Biden, James Biden, and Eric Schwerin are key witnesses in our investigation of Joe Biden’s involvement in his family’s international and domestic business schemes. Evidence obtained in our investigation reveals the Biden family business model is built on Joe Biden’s political career and connections,” Comer said.

ABC reports, "Abbe Lowell, an attorney for Hunter Biden, fired back at Comer's request early Thursday. In a letter sent to Comer, he argued that the committee "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose and oversight basis for requesting such records from Mr. Biden, who is a private citizen."

"Peddling your own inaccurate and baseless conclusions under the guise of a real investigation turns the Committee into 'Wonderland,' and you into the Queen of Hearts shouting, 'sentence first, verdict afterwards,'" Lowell wrote.

This is what the intelligence-challenged rural base of the Republican Party wanted -- revenge, not working for the interests of the people. Most of that rural base are anarchists. By electing people like Comer, Jim Jordan, M.J. Greene, George Santos, and others, the rural base is not interested in the government functioning. They are doing everything to prevent the government from functioning.

I would love to hear a rebuttal from the forum's Republicans, but they don't have the intelligence to defend themselves or their party as this thread shows time and time again.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

CNN reports, "President Joe Biden on Thursday made a forceful argument against Republicans by highlighting his support for Social Security and Medicare, an appeal to the senior-rich Sunshine State as he makes moves toward a 2024 reelection announcement.

"Biden took his State of the Union argument to the home state of GOP Sen. Rick Scott, seizing a political opportunity to go after Scott’s proposal to sunset federal legislation – including Social Security and Medicare – every five years, and poking at Floridian and former President Donald Trump, who has announced his 2024 candidacy.""

"Joe Biden is confused… to suggest that this means I want to cut Social Security or Medicare is a lie, and is a dishonest move," Senator Scott.

Scott is confused. Biden never said Scott wanted to cut SS or Medicare. This is the old, worn-out trick by Republicans. Invent what your opponent said, then criticize him based on what you created.

White House aides placed a copy of Scott’s proposal on every seat for Biden’s Tampa event.

“The very idea the senator from Florida wants to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block every five years I find to be somewhat outrageous. So outrageous that you might not even believe it,” he said, pulling out a pamphlet detailing Scott’s plan."

ABC reports, "On Wednesday, Biden showed the crowd proposals and repeated comments from Republican Sens. Rick Scott, Ron Johnson and Mike Lee -- calling them out by name.

"I remind you that Rick Scott from Florida, the guy who ran the U.S. Senate campaign, has a plan -- I got his brochure right here," Biden said, holding up Scott's brochure. "Here's what he says in his plan ... He says 'All federal legislation sunsets every five years. If a law is worth keeping Congress can pass it again.'"

"Senator Ron Johnson on Social Security and Medicare, quote, 'We should transfer everything. So, we have to consider everything every year."

"Biden provided a video from 2010, circulating on social media, in which he said Lee floats cuts to the programs."

Former Vice President Mike Pence, a possible 2024 Republican presidential candidate, has voiced support for Social Security privatization.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

This is what the intelligence-challenged rural base of the Republican Party wanted -- revenge, not working for the interests of the people. Most of that rural base are anarchists. By electing people like Comer, Jim Jordan, M.J. Greene, George Santos, and others, the rural base is not interested in the government functioning. They are doing everything to prevent the government from functioning.

WOW! DOUBLE WOW!!

CNN reports, "Former Vice President Mike Pence has been subpoenaed by the special counsel investigating Donald Trump and his role in January 6, 2021, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

"Special counsel Jack Smith’s office is seeking documents and testimony related to January 6, the source said. They want the former vice president to testify about his interactions with Trump leading up to the 2020 election and the day of the attack on the US Capitol.

"The subpoena marks an important milestone in the Justice Department’s two-year criminal investigation, now led by the special counsel, into the efforts by Trump and allies to impede the transfer of power after he lost the 2020 election. Pence is an important witness who has detailed in a memoir some of his interactions with Trump in the weeks after the election, a move that likely opens the door for the Justice Department to override at least some of Trump’s claims of executive privilege."

Imagine that! The Republicans voted for a President who is accused of insurrection, inciting an attack on our capitol, and obstruction, and the vice-president has been subpoenaed by the Department of Justice.

Do we want Republicans to chose our leaders again?

The forum's Republicans continue their silence.

 

[Jay59]

You can add a C- for the State of Biden's Union address. To say it preached to the choir is an understatement. The self-congratulatory exaggeration was Trumpian in scope

If there was any new policy direction announced, I did not hear it.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Biden said, holding up Scott's brochure, "Here's what he says in his plan ... He says 'All federal legislation sunsets every five years. If a law is worth keeping Congress can pass it again.'"

"Senator Ron Johnson on Social Security and Medicare, quote, 'We should transfer everything. So, we have to consider everything every year."

"Biden provided a video from 2010, circulating on social media, in which he said Lee floats cuts to the programs."

Former Vice President Mike Pence, a possible 2024 Republican presidential candidate, has voiced support for Social Security privatization.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis and a leading figure for the Republican nomination for the Presidency in 2024 voiced support for the privatization of Social Security and Medicare.

CNN reports, "A CNN KFile review of comments from DeSantis’ 2012 congressional campaign found he repeatedly said he supported plans to replace Medicare with a system in which the government paid for partial costs of private plans or a traditional Medicare plan. In one interview with a local newspaper, DeSantis said he supported “the same thing” for Social Security, citing the need for “market forces” to restructure the program."

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The Times reports, "The Pentagon shot down an unidentified object over frozen waters around Alaska on Friday at the order of President Biden, according to U.S. officials, less than a week after a U.S. fighter jet brought down a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic.

"U.S. officials said they could not immediately confirm whether the object was a balloon, but it was traveling at an altitude that made it a potential threat to civilian aircraft.

"At a news conference on Friday, John Kirby, a White House spokesman, said that Mr. Biden ordered the unidentified object near Alaska downed “out of an abundance of caution.”

"Some Republican officials had called Mr. Biden weak for not shooting down the Chinese spy balloon as it hovered over Montana and then drifted southeast last week, a step that Pentagon generals had advised against for fear that debris could hurt people on the ground.

“We think before we shoot and, in this case, we thought before we shot,” Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, director of operations for the Joint Staff told the Senators.

"The military detected the Chinese balloon on radar as it approached Alaska, and there was a decision that the balloon was “not a threat to U.S. citizens or aviation traffic,” and that it did not have the ability to “conduct significant intelligence collection,” Sims said. The balloon then flew over Canada before heading into the U.S. toward Montana and nearby states, raising the potential threat and prompting President Joe Biden to ask for military options, the general said," NBC reported.