October 20-21, 2017
Oct 20 01:38 Do-nothing DC Democrats Oct 20 05:07 Enviroterrorists shut down hearing Oct 20 06:17 Democrats' Fusion GPS dilemma Oct 20 10:15 President Trump's first legislative victory? Oct 20 12:50 The shrinking DFL coalition Oct 21 09:27 St. Cloud, nanny city, Part II
Prior Months: Jan Feb ~ May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Do-nothing DC Democrats
It's becoming clear that DC Democrats don't have any intention of offering anything constructive or substantive that will Americans' lives. It's obvious because they're even opposing the Trump tax cuts. It wasn't difficult to figure out that they'd oppose major repairs to the ACA. I would've been surprised if that got a single DC Democrat vote.
Sen. Ron Wyden, (D-OR), said "The bottom line on this budget is that it's a right-wing fantasy document that paves the way for a hyper-partisan process on tax reform and trillions of dollars in handouts to big corporations and the wealthy." Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said "The more people learn about this tax bill, the less they will like it. That's what led to the demise of health care, ultimately, is that it was unpopular with the American people." Sen. Bob Casey chimed in, saying "I told the president, I said it was a giveaway to the rich, and there are a series of analyses that prove that. One is from the Center of Budget Priorities that after 10 years of implementation 80 percent of the tax cuts go to the top 1 percent."
Apparently, Democrats oppose everything proposed by President Trump and the Republicans. There isn't a single thing that they've supported since President Trump took office. They haven't proposed any substantive alternatives to President Trump's agenda, either, offering only platitudes and criticisms.
That avalanche of criticism has hurt the Democrats' reputation . "According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, more than half of Americans think Democrats don't stand for anything other than being against Trump." There's a simple message radiating from that poll question. That message is Democrats care about their base, which cares about regaining power. The Democrats' message doesn't say they're for policies that make people's lives better.
This video of a Schumer press availability sounds like he's gone full socialist:
If Democrats want to run on being full-blown socialists who haven't supported anything positive, that's their option. Here's a warning to them, though. If Democrats run as the party that opposes everything and supports nothing, they'd better have their candidates write their concession speeches now because losing frequently is what they'll be famous for this time next year.
Posted Friday, October 20, 2017 1:38 AM
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Enviroterrorists shut down hearing
It was inevitable that enviroterrorists were bound to shut down the Enbridge Pipeline hearings. It finally happened when DFL-supporting protesters shut down the Duluth hearing .
The foundation for the protest is exposed in the article when it says "Tribal and environmental groups say the project threatens pristine waters where wild rice grows." The assumption is that every drop of water must be pristine. Implicit in that assertion is that people's needs must always take a back seat to 'the environment.'
This article highlighted the enviroterrorists' tactics when they reported "The evening hearing at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center was marked by one interruption after another despite pleas from Minnesota Administrative Law Judge Ann O'Reilly. 'We've gotten through 13 hearings without this baloney,' she said. 'Now, stop it.'"
These rioters aren't interested in being reasonable. They're interested in shutting down infrastructure projects out of spite. It's time to teach them that treaty rights don't trump everything else. There's no reason why those lands shouldn't be subjected to the takings clause of the Constitution , which says "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation ."
Further, under eminent domain the "property need not actually be used by the public; rather, it must be used or disposed of in such a manner as to benefit the public welfare or public interest."
It certainly can be determined that replacing the existing pipeline with a newer pipeline will increase public safety and protect the environment. This woman isn't too bright:
Ashland's Sheila Mitchell said she opposes using oil from Alberta's tar sands. "I also think it's ridiculous to be putting a line this close to Lake Superior or any of the Great Lakes," she said. "Anything in the Great Lakes watershed is a very dangerous proposition."
There's already a pipeline there. I read tons of articles each day. Until a couple years ago, I'd never heard of Enbridge. If they've been irresponsible, I would've heard about it. These enviroterrorists would've highlighted the company's safety record. The PUC would've rejected the project immediately.
That hasn't happened, which tells me that these enviroterrorists are just whining for the sake of whining. This video proves that these enviroterrorists don't want the public's voice to be heard:
Posted Friday, October 20, 2017 5:07 AM
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Democrats' Fusion GPS dilemma
Kimberley Strassel's latest Potomac Watch article is a devastating indictment of the Democratic Party and opposition research firm Fusion GPS. Strassel's indictment starts with her writing "To read the headlines, a poor, beleaguered opposition-research firm was humiliated and constitutionally abused this week by partisan Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee. Fusion's lawyers sent a 17-page letter to the committee's chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes, accusing him of misdeeds, declaring his subpoenas invalid, and invoking a supposed First Amendment right to silence. Yet the firm's founders, the story went, were hauled in nonetheless and forced to plead the Fifth. 'No American should experience the indignity that occurred today,' Fusion's lawyer, Joshua Levy, declared."
Saying that the Democrats are neck-deep in GPS troubles is understatement. What other explanation is there for the Democrats' recent behavior? Ms. Strassel reported "But Fusion's secret weapon in its latest operation is the Democratic Party, whose most powerful members have made protecting Fusion's secrets their highest priority. Senate Democrats invoked a parliamentary maneuver in July to block temporarily Mr. Browder's public testimony. Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic ranking member on the Intelligence Committee, has been engineering flaps to undercut and obstruct Mr. Nunes's investigation. Democrats on the House Ethics Committee have deep-sixed what was meant to be a brief inquiry to clear Mr. Nunes so as to keep him sidelined."
Those aren't the actions of people wanting to find the truth. They're the actions of people wishing to hide their evil actions.
This is telling:
The untold story is the Democrats' unprecedented behavior. Mr. Rooney had barely started when committee staffers for Mr. Schiff interrupted, accused him of badgering witnesses, and suggested he was acting unethically. Staff do not interrupt congressmen. They do not accuse them of misbehavior. And they certainly do not act as defense attorneys for witnesses. No Democratic lawmakers had bothered to come to the hearing to police this circus.
It's obvious that Democrats want to benefit from Fusion GPS's nastiness but they don't want to get tied to Fusion GPS's tactics. Ethics charges should be brought against Schiff for not policing his staffers during the hearing. Rep. Schiff's staffers were the ones that interrupted a sitting Republican congressman while he questioned the witnesses from Fusion GPS. Those staffers should be thrown out of that hearing if they pull another stunt like this.
Finally, there's this:
Private-sector lawyers also tend not to accuse congressmen of unethical behavior, as Mr. Levy did in his letter to Mr. Nunes. But Fusion's legal eagle must feel safe. He's former general counsel to the Senate's minority leader, Chuck Schumer. He has also, I'm told by people familiar with the committee's activities, more than once possessed information that he would have had no earthly means of knowing, since it was secret committee business. Consider that: Democratic members of Congress or their staff providing sensitive details of an investigation to a company to which the committee has given subpoenas.
Democrats are acting unethically. It's time that they get sanctioned for their actions. Finally, it's time to put a tape together that highlights Fusion GPS's and Rep. Schiff's staffers' actions.
Posted Friday, October 20, 2017 6:17 AM
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President Trump's first legislative victory?
It's increasingly likely that President Trump will finally notch his first major legislative victory . Reuters is reporting that "U.S. Republican senator Rand Paul on Friday appeared to back the Trump administration's sweeping tax cut plan, saying he was 'all in' for massive tax cuts even as the Senate passed a key budget measure without his support one day earlier."
Reuters then quoted President Trump's tweet that said "The Budget passed late last night, 51 to 49. We got ZERO Democrat votes with only Rand Paul (he will vote for Tax Cuts) voting against." Then President Trump tweeted "This now allows for the passage of large scale Tax Cuts (and Reform), which will be the biggest in the history of our country!" Still later, Sen. "Paul responded with his own tweet, saying, 'I'm all in for tax cuts @realDonaldTrump. The biggest, boldest cuts possible - and soon!'"
As momentum builds for President Trump's tax reform legislation, Democrats' criticism will increase. Here's what some Democrat senators are saying :
Tim Kaine (VA): "Senate Republicans held this vote on a sham budget to pave the way for their partisan tax plan. Based on what little we know about it, their tax plan could increase taxes on many hardworking Virginia families, put Medicare and Medicaid at risk, and increase the debt by $1.5 trillion. And I'm not okay with that."
Cory Booker (NJ): "The Senate Republican budget resolution is an abomination. It threatens huge cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and essential programs that help poor families and people with disabilities - all to pay for President Trump's effort to give massive tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy and well-connected."
Heidi Heitkamp (ND): "Simply, this bill hurts rural America and that's why I can't support it. I've long said I want to work on comprehensive, smart tax reforms that help rural economies, and voting against this budget doesn't change that. But for tax reform to work, Republicans and Democrats need to be at the table as it's drafted, and any proposal must support workers, families, and retirees."
Of course, Chuck Schumer wants to paint the tax reform as tax cuts for the wealthy:
"We're going to also make our Republican colleagues vote on whether they want to raise taxes on the middle class," Schumer said. "The President claims his tax plan will cut taxes, but it actually will raise them on millions of hard working families. Today, our Republican colleagues will decide whether they want to support those tax increases, or protect the middle class from paying more taxes."
This show of solidarity will help bring President Trump's tax reform initiative to a successful conclusion:
Posted Friday, October 20, 2017 10:15 AM
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The shrinking DFL coalition
It isn't a secret that I don't buy into the Twin Cities media's depiction of the DFL as one big happy family but with a couple minor differences that aren't worth talking about. Frankly, I think that storyline is about as dishonest as Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi.
If I got $10 for every person that's read one of my 'the DFL is totally nuts' posts, I'd own an island in the Caribbean. I've written how the DFL has essentially rejected blue collar Minnesota. If I can highlight anything or re-inforce anything, that's what I'd highlight or re-inforce. The differences are real and growing.
I think I'm the only Minnesota journalist that predicted that Republicans would flip the Minnesota Senate to a GOP majority. The reason I made that prediction is because the DFL rift between white collar Minnesota and blue collar Minnesota is getting bigger. Attitudes are getting more hostile towards each other, too.
Harold Hamilton has his finger on Minnesota's pulse. Each Friday, Harold writes a commentary. This week's commentary is on this exact subject. What's most entertaining about Harold's commentary is when he wrote "The arrogance of the urban liberal is a sight to behold. It's also been somewhat amusing to watch DFL leaders dance on the head of a pin trying to explain away the civil war as a mere squabble between two key constituencies of the DFL. More importantly, it's more than presumptuous to call the construction trades a 'DFL constituency.'"
The thought that the DFL isn't fighting a civil war is laughable. Harold highlights it with DFL activists' quotes:
"Resentment is the primary driver of the pro-mining crowd here - they are resentful that other people have come here and been successful while they were sitting around waiting for a big mining company. They want somebody to just give them a job so they can all drink beer with their buddies and go four-wheeling and snowmobiling with their buddies, not have to think about anything except punching a clock." - Reid Carron, Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters
"Danny Forsman drives to the mine in his truck, comes home and watches TV, and he doesn't know this world exists." - Becky Rom, Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, speaking of pro-mining Ely city councilman Dan Forsman
"I'm not saying we are writing off the Iron Range. But you don't need the Iron Range to win statewide." - DFL Chairman Ken Martin
[Editor's note: Reid Carron is married to Becky Rom.] Ken Martin isn't trying to hide the fact that he knows the DFL can all but officially write off the Range. There's a reason why President Trump defeated Hillary by 15 points on the Range. This is my favorite part of Harold's commentary:
DFL happy talk of "uniting" around common issues in 2018 is fantasy. And just what are those "unifying" issues, pray tell? Mining? Pipelines? Transgender bathrooms? Gun grabbing? Abortion on demand? Banning menthol cigarettes? Banning plastic bags? Trigger words? Safe spaces? Sanctuary cities? Re-naming Asian Carp so as not to offend?
Does this hearing look like a search for common ground?
Let's get serious. That looks like the undercard for a mixed martial arts championship fight.
Posted Friday, October 20, 2017 12:50 PM
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St. Cloud, nanny city, Part II
Now that it's official that the St. Cloud City Council is packed with nanny state busybodies , the special interests are coming out of the woodwork. We're now being told the virtues of government overreach. This time, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota weighed in with this editorial .
The editorial says "Ninety-five percent of addicted adult smokers started by age 21, which is why they heavily target 18-to-21-year-olds. With tactics like menthol and candy flavoring, magazine advertisements and event sponsorships, the tobacco industry aggressively markets to youth and young adults to recruit replacement smokers and guarantee profits." Later, it says "Why should we care? Because smoking costs everyone. A recent report by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota showed smoking annually costs our state $3.2 billion to treat people with smoking-related diseases. Per capita, smoking costs $593 for every adult and child in Minnesota. It also claims 6,312 lives due to premature death. Every year."
Let me answer the question first. Governments shouldn't care. These are personal decisions. Anyone old enough to vote in elections and fight in wars is perfectly capable of making solid decisions. Further, this argument isn't fitting for the situation. It's one thing if a state law was passed raising the minimum age to 21. That law wouldn't have much of a chance of succeeding but it would have a better chance of succeeding than this proposed city ordinance.
Passing this proposed ordinance might make people feel better momentarily but it doesn't fix any problems. First off, I'd argue that this is a solution in search of a problem. Next, I'd highlight the fact that none of the other neighboring cities are thinking about raising the age. That means they'll get the business that St. Cloud is chasing away.
Posted Saturday, October 21, 2017 9:27 AM
Comment 1 by Skip Murray at 21-Oct-17 02:46 PM
The statistics they used to give was that the majority of people started smoking before age 18. Now that they have a T21 agenda, they quote the slightly higher number of people who start smoking before age 21. Makes it SOUND like it would solve a problem, but it doesn't. The cold hard fact is that prohibition doesn't work. Where are all the statistics of success stories from T21 in other locations?
Here's an example: Choasset, MA decreased education in the dangers of tobacco use and raised the age to purchase to 21. What happened? They saw a rise in the number of youth who smoked. They threw away what was working and tried to fix something that wasn't broke. Now they see the need to go back to educating youth.
http://cohasset.wickedlocal.com/news/20170929/survey-shows-cohasset-teens-tobacco-use-on-rise
We don't prohibit adults from using any other legal products in this country in the HOPE that it will eliminate youth usage. We need to be wary of government intrusion on our lives. They have no business micro managing us like we are a bunch of puppets.
Comment 2 by JerryE9 at 21-Oct-17 06:59 PM
And the real question here is: why do "we" care? Why does it "cost all of us"? If government wasn't so quick to pay the medical bills for self-inflicted maladies, "we" wouldn't have to be concerned about meddling in other people's personal choices and allowing them to take personal responsibility.
