Juliajms

http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/03/entertainment/paz-de-la-huerta-weinstein/index.html They might be able to arrest Weinstein because of Paz De La Huerta's case.

But that would mean people like the Kennedys/Clintons/Obamas would have to keep their nose out of it too. I'd rather have people who want to gut public education out of power. I'll admit my strongest bias is against the ultra wealthy, but some of them are a force for good in certain areas.

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/358620-doj-alleges-aclu-misled-government-about-timing-of-teens-abortion The DOJ is saying the ACLU misled them about when that South American girl who needed the abortion was scheduled. The government was going to go for a stay. This is really infuriating to me. The poor thing had the procedure at 4:30 in the morning because these ridiculous politicians and their minions have to impose their will on women's bodies. Thank goodness she was able to get it done.

I'm sure her PR is whipping up some generic statement as we speak.

Even on the set of House of Cards, it seems. Damn. http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/02/media/house-of-cards-kevin-spacey-harassment/index.html

Your comment the other day about Trump bringing back the 30's cracked me up too, in a dark humor kind of way. In these dark days I appreciate your low key humor. The one thing I like about the Republican tax plan is the cap on the mortgage tax deduction. The mortgage deduction is a regressive part of the tax code and should only exist if there is a concession to people who can't afford to own, imo.

^ I'm guessing she realized just how many people she alienated with those allegations and decided to back track.

Good. I'll admit I've always liked him, but I'll never support anyone who commits sexual assault/harassment. All of these people need to be shunned as far as I'm concerned. Beyond that the majority will get away with it as so many before them have done.

Thank the gods!

This is too good to be true, isn't it? They have a chance at a huge money grab for the rich. I can hardly believe they won't figure out a way to make it happen.

Yes, but I don't believe it. I hope to see Kushner led away in cuffs.

He showed himself to be a worthless human being when he called his little daughter a pig.

From that Vanitey Fair article: “Here’s what Manafort’s indictment tells me: Mueller is going to go over every financial dealing of Jared Kushner and the Trump Organization,” said former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg. “Trump is at 33 percent in Gallup. You can’t go any lower. He’s fucked.” Oh yeah, baby. You know there is a ton of dirt there. "Bannon’s sense of urgency is being fueled by his belief that Trump’s hold on power is slipping. The collapse of Obamacare repeal, and the dimming chances that tax reform will pass soon—many Trump allies are deeply pessimistic about its prospects—have created the political climate for establishment Republicans to turn on Trump. " I thought they were closer to "tax reform" than this.

I don't think you owe anyone that. Sometimes you just have to take care of yourself. I don't blame anyone for feeling that way in this environment. It's ugly out there for sure. Maybe the Russians made it worse, but they couldn't have done that if the racism wasn't there to start with.

^ Maybe there is more hope than I think. It's hard to say, but the idea of sending large numbers of people away from their families to find work is pretty disgusting to me given the amount of economic equality we have in this country. Plus it's not the 1930's. How many people would really send the money back to their families? Seems a lot more likely the families would just break up. Then people always say the families should move, and that's probably true, but I went down that road as a young single woman. I can only imagine how hard it would be with kids. Poor/working class people rely on family for social support, especially child care. Middle class and rich people can pay for it which is why we are more mobile. Plus some of these people still have upside down mortgages. Still, to survive some of these people will almost certainly have to move. All I can say is I absolutely believe plenty of people are feeling economic anxiety. I feel it and I'm in a much more secure situation than the average miner. We live in unstable times and did even before we were being led by someone completely incompetent. None of that is an excuse for people to scapegoat others though. I blame the Republicans for using economic anxiety to exacerbate racial/cultural anxiety.

I do believe it was about economic anxiety and racism and authoritarianism and Russian interference. One reason doesn't exclude another. It was a perfect storm. As to this article, why would you think it's so easy (or even possible) for people to change? People cling to what they know, especially people who are unsophisticated and lack education. I know that sounds condescending, but I grew up with people in this class (if not even lower). It's very hard to change when you do not have a wider view of the world. Does anyone really think the majority (or even plurality) of coal miners over 30 can become computer programmers or nurses? Not going to happen. Which does not mean some people can't change, but we should be blitzing the kids in this group who are still in school with these opportunities. That also won't happen, but that's where possibility for change is real.

Yes. My husband was telling me about Amy Barrett. She belongs to some group called People of Praise. The women in the group are called "Haidmaids" and the men are called "Heads" I cannot believe this is real life. Needless to say her views are abhorrent. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/amy-coney-barrett-abortion-rights-federal-judge_us_59f87abde4b0aec1467ac111?section=us_politics

I'm thrilled they're having a hard time getting their horrible tax bill done. http://thehill.com/policy/finance/358112-gop-to-release-tax-bill-wednesday-but-it-wont-be-final

No, I don't.

Got you. I was unsure whether you meant the entire American system or the Trump administration. I think there is definitely a case to be made that the American system is more vulnerable they many of us thought. Some people saw it, but not me. As for the Trump administration disintegrating quickly, in some ways it's always felt like it was falling apart. Right from the start with the ridiculous lies about crowd size he seemed unglued. At the same time, I won't trust it's over until someone else is sworn in.

If we ever manage to get billionaires out of government maybe we can get them out of education too. This is pretty disturbing. https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/30/kochs-public-schools-shakeup-244259

I don't, so explain it to me in more direct terms, please.

Carl - Right! I'm trying to be a little more optimistic than that. Like he said maybe our institutions still have enough life in them to get 45 out. I just feel we have to be on guard and protest if there is any sign of Mueller getting fired. I've certainly done all I can to marginalize them in my life, but I don't see how we can do that on a national basis. Right wing media is one of the big problems, if there were someway to hold them accountable that would be a good start.

This thread is why I'm only cautiously optimistic. It's about the power of the right wing media and how good they are at distorting facts. It's worth a read. https://twitter.com/drvox/status/924848605457825792

I can hardly believe it. I would be down right giddy, but until 45 is led out of the white house I can't help but thing something will go wrong.