Good one Jerry. I think Mr. Jeffries deserves at least a Dishonorable Mention in this mess for not being constantly up front in public about all the points you raised and presenting alternatives. There has to be a parliamentary mechanism by which a sufficient number of members can bypass the Speaker and bring things to a vote other than the Discharge Petition. Times appear on the way to becoming even more "interesting".
Thanks, Dave, I always appreciate your supportive comments.
But I'll have to disagree with you about Leader Jeffries. He began advocating for a discharge petition in the House even before HR815 had passed the Senate on February 13. At the about same time (on Feb. 21) he called out Speaker Johnson "to just put the bill on the floor for an up or down vote." Meanwhile he continued negotiating with traditional Republicans to get their support for the discharge petition.
Mr. Jeffries publicly estimated that as many as 80-100 Republicans would vote for the aid package if it came to the floor. And he gave the Speaker assurances that Democrats would not vote for his removal if MAGA extremists tried to punish him for supporting Ukraine.
Not sure what more he could have done. And ultimately he was successful. It was only when the petition was about to pass that Johnson finally acted.
I absorb so much fact and solid understanding of the goings-on of my country when you write Jerry.
Government , like aging can be looked at as a way forward or we can get stuck in mediocre ideas that change can’t be good. If I sit around thinking I should still act like a teenager I will be totally useless to both myself and to my community. Same for our government. Things have changed hugely. Being creative must be a goal for the betterment of our Constitution. We can’t keep saying “ well it is really difficult to make changes “. We went to the moon. We need to get Citizens United banished. We need to get laws that actually mean what they say they do. We need accountability for ALL.
Well, you know all this and so I am getting it off my “old” chest.
Thank you for all you do as a very fine citizen. We highly admire you.
You are so right that democracy requires creativity, and sustained nourishment. Yes, it is hard to make changes. But we can't let the enormity of the task overwhelm us. Focusing on a single issue is a great way to overcome that feeling of hopelessness. And working to overturn Citizens United is an excellent place to devote one's energy.
For those who don't know, Rep. Pramila Jayapal is the lead sponsor of the proposed "We the People Amendment" to the Constitution. The amendment would "firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights . . . that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights."
This excellent analysis of the current legislative session deserves an A+.
Jerry, you deserve more readers!!! Your comments are always "spot on!!" and you back your words with substantive proof! Busy time of year for everyone, but the folks in DC are so behind the 8 ball, as we used to say....I think we need some pertinent laws to be passed in 2025 to prohibit one "monkey from ruining the show!" And others, of course, to keep the country funded without having to beg and grovel--amazing how grown folks apparently don't know where their food comes from, isn't is? Ah, but there's HOPE--we're already making plans for the 2026 return of sanity to Washington DC! "Time flies and we're the pilots!" (Copied from someone's ? quote)
It's been a while since I've gotten any grade, Catherine -- let alone an A+ ! Thank you.
Yes, I am a big fan of facts and data. So much commentary now is grounded in fear. And fear promotes inaction, making adversaries appear more powerful than they actually are.
I too am expecting 2026 to mark a return to sanity. But we needn't wait for that. As you say, we are the pilots making time fly.
The MAGA crowd is vastly over-estimating its appeal in the real world. Democrats may have lost the election, but the policies we advocate are far more popular than the slash-and-burn plans of the new administration. Actively opposing the destruction is not only the right thing for us to do now. It's the best way to insure victory in '26.
Good one Jerry. I think Mr. Jeffries deserves at least a Dishonorable Mention in this mess for not being constantly up front in public about all the points you raised and presenting alternatives. There has to be a parliamentary mechanism by which a sufficient number of members can bypass the Speaker and bring things to a vote other than the Discharge Petition. Times appear on the way to becoming even more "interesting".
Thanks, Dave, I always appreciate your supportive comments.
But I'll have to disagree with you about Leader Jeffries. He began advocating for a discharge petition in the House even before HR815 had passed the Senate on February 13. At the about same time (on Feb. 21) he called out Speaker Johnson "to just put the bill on the floor for an up or down vote." Meanwhile he continued negotiating with traditional Republicans to get their support for the discharge petition.
Mr. Jeffries publicly estimated that as many as 80-100 Republicans would vote for the aid package if it came to the floor. And he gave the Speaker assurances that Democrats would not vote for his removal if MAGA extremists tried to punish him for supporting Ukraine.
Not sure what more he could have done. And ultimately he was successful. It was only when the petition was about to pass that Johnson finally acted.
.
I absorb so much fact and solid understanding of the goings-on of my country when you write Jerry.
Government , like aging can be looked at as a way forward or we can get stuck in mediocre ideas that change can’t be good. If I sit around thinking I should still act like a teenager I will be totally useless to both myself and to my community. Same for our government. Things have changed hugely. Being creative must be a goal for the betterment of our Constitution. We can’t keep saying “ well it is really difficult to make changes “. We went to the moon. We need to get Citizens United banished. We need to get laws that actually mean what they say they do. We need accountability for ALL.
Well, you know all this and so I am getting it off my “old” chest.
Thank you for all you do as a very fine citizen. We highly admire you.
Thanks for your kind words, Jean.
You are so right that democracy requires creativity, and sustained nourishment. Yes, it is hard to make changes. But we can't let the enormity of the task overwhelm us. Focusing on a single issue is a great way to overcome that feeling of hopelessness. And working to overturn Citizens United is an excellent place to devote one's energy.
For those who don't know, Rep. Pramila Jayapal is the lead sponsor of the proposed "We the People Amendment" to the Constitution. The amendment would "firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights . . . that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights."
Learn more here: https://www.movetoamend.org/
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Thank you for the important information. Merry Holidays to you and all you share with . Much happiness and many many thanks.
This excellent analysis of the current legislative session deserves an A+.
Jerry, you deserve more readers!!! Your comments are always "spot on!!" and you back your words with substantive proof! Busy time of year for everyone, but the folks in DC are so behind the 8 ball, as we used to say....I think we need some pertinent laws to be passed in 2025 to prohibit one "monkey from ruining the show!" And others, of course, to keep the country funded without having to beg and grovel--amazing how grown folks apparently don't know where their food comes from, isn't is? Ah, but there's HOPE--we're already making plans for the 2026 return of sanity to Washington DC! "Time flies and we're the pilots!" (Copied from someone's ? quote)
It's been a while since I've gotten any grade, Catherine -- let alone an A+ ! Thank you.
Yes, I am a big fan of facts and data. So much commentary now is grounded in fear. And fear promotes inaction, making adversaries appear more powerful than they actually are.
I too am expecting 2026 to mark a return to sanity. But we needn't wait for that. As you say, we are the pilots making time fly.
The MAGA crowd is vastly over-estimating its appeal in the real world. Democrats may have lost the election, but the policies we advocate are far more popular than the slash-and-burn plans of the new administration. Actively opposing the destruction is not only the right thing for us to do now. It's the best way to insure victory in '26.