Biden / Harris Focused Discussion

[postman1782]

The infrastructure bill

Probably because it didn't go far enough. It's a watered down bill that should have been the 3.5 trillion, hell it should be more, simply because of the shit that will need to be added to it over the next 10 years.

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Mantaining this country is literally what this bill is about

It isn't enough, it is barely 1/3 of what was proposed, and probably 1/10th of what is needed.

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Bush
Bowman
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
PRESSLEY
Tlaib

Democrats that need to be primaried

Nope, we need more of them. Not less.

[Darththeo]

Yeah I've seen that exact same take from all the usual Right-Wing projection pieces (while also still harping on about Hunter's Laptop for some fucking reason) so I guess this'll be the next big thing and whatever 'smoking gun' Republicans will use to try and impeach him when/if they take the House/Senate back in 2022.

Like don't get me wrong, the allegations are fuckin' huge and -if- true I'd want Biden out on his ass as fast as possible, but Project Veritas' track record leaves a lot to be desired.

Same, but we need actual proof.

It is the same stance I had with the allegations on Trump (if true, get him out.) It is annoying that Right Wingers no evidence was enough to convince them Trump sexually assaulted women, they were all out to get them. But, any claim is enough to say that Biden is guilty.

It doesn't matter to them that Project Veritas doctors interviews and images because they are actually getting to the truth.

[Levelfive]

If the Dems (collectively) want to make sure the midterms aren't a bloodbath, they need to push out legislation between now and Nov-2022 stat.

Cram as much through reconciliation as you can and get er done.

I think this is true but mostly in the McConnellian (I need a better way to say that) sense that winning wins and losing loses and the details don't much matter because voters don't care or don't connect policy to their lives or don't remember anyway, and that's just counting the reasonably sane ones. If we really want to shore up against a mid-term bloodbath, Democrats have to figure out either their own negative partisanship without Trump on the ballot or some answer to relentless race baiting. Dems can basically pass two bills from now until then; the rest is messaging...so yeah, probably a bloodbath.

[Draco-Onis]

I think this is true but mostly in the McConnellian (I need a better way to say that) sense that winning wins and losing loses and the details don't much matter because voters don't care or don't connect policy to their lives or don't remember anyway, and that's just counting the reasonably sane ones. If we really want to shore up against a mid-term bloodbath, Democrats have to figure out either their own negative partisanship without Trump on the ballot or some answer to relentless race baiting. Dems can basically pass two bills from now until then; the rest is messaging...so yeah, probably a bloodbath.

Without the voting bill a blood bath is inevitable.

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If the Dems (collectively) want to make sure the midterms aren't a bloodbath, they need to push out legislation between now and Nov-2022 stat.

Cram as much through reconciliation as you can and get er done.

Now that the infrastructure bill has been passed, I would be shocked if Manchin votes for anything else. He will keep moving the goal posts then throw his hands up with some word salad when it's too late.

[Elenos]

So this is how it is to actually get a 1 trillion dollar infrastructure bill, you know four fucking years late mr Donald Trump.

It's a breath of fresh air and one sorely needed, the injection of cash will greatly aid not only the US economy, but also the world economy which is really needed. Yes I know it isn't 1 trillion nor do I agree with what everything they plan to spend the money on but that's how politics work. Now hopefully they pass the other spending package since that would improve things as well ( most crucially by better funding the IRS which is desperately needed ).

[Levelfive]

Without the voting bill a blood bath is inevitable.

Yeah and there are no hints of it getting done. I'm tired of Schumer bringing it up over and over, frankly, as if debate on it needs to be filibustered just <one> more time and then Manchin will "get it"--he gets it, just like we all get it, and it doesn't seem to be moving him whatsoever.

ETA: We need the voting bill, no question, but there's also the real possibility that absent any real accountability, Republicans just win fair and square, and Trump gets back into office and dismantles what remains of American democracy.

Now that the infrastructure bill has been passed, I would be shocked if Manchin votes for anything else. He will keep moving the goal posts then throw his hands up with some word salad when it's too late.

That may be true, but even (maybe especially) if it is, I want him to have to vote it down. It does seem like his whole thing has been pushing it off until next year for whatever reason. It also seems like he and Sinema are bent on assuring Dems do poorly next year (which of course could turn into forever).

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So in a follow up to a story I either entirely forgot or never knew even happened:

FBI executed search warrants at locations tied to people who worked w/Project Veritas as part of SDNY investigation into how a diary stolen from Biden's daughter Ashley was publicly disclosed days before ’20 election. She was burglarized in ‘20.

Today is the first I've heard of the story as well. I find the wording in the article deliberately vague--there was an investigation opened about the burglary of "several items":

"The Trump administration Justice Department, then led by Attorney General William P. Barr, opened an investigation into the matter shortly after a representative of the Biden family reported to federal authorities in October 2020 that several of Ms. Biden’s personal items had been stolen in a burglary, according to two people briefed on the matter."

Does anyone have more information that actually demonstrates it is Ashley Biden's diary, which the article seems to take on faith? Project Veritas didn't even run with it, which says a lot:

"Mr. O’Keefe said that his group could not authenticate the diary and made an “ethical” decision to not publish it. He said that Project Veritas gave the diary to “law enforcement” and attempted to return it to a lawyer representing Ms. Biden, who he said “refused to authenticate it.”"

Not saying it's impossible, but there's more implied than demonstrated in the article, and I just want to see it myself--it's weird how the Biden children leave their most personal possessions behind all over the place. We need a recount of Hunter Biden's laptops at this point.

[Machismo]

Bush
Bowman
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
PRESSLEY
Tlaib

Democrats that need to be primaried

Why would anyone take your list as gospel? You're literally a Trump supporter, calling on your political opponents to lose.

This would be like saying the Chiefs calling for the Packers to fire their secondary before this week's game.

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I literally have no expectations of the GOP. I can only be glad when they manage to not be evil

You literally voted for Trump, a guy who peeps in on kids.

That's pretty fucking evil, dude.

[Shadowferal]

Lawmakers who bucked their parties on the $1T infrastructure bill

Six progressive Democrats and 13 Republicans bucked party lines on Friday in a vote on a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal, which passed the House 228-206.

Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Cori Bush (Mo.) and Jamal Bowman (N.Y.) voted against the Senate-approved bill.

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) was joined in voting in favor of the bill by fellow Republican Reps. Jeff Van Drew (N.J.), John Katko (N.Y.), Don Bacon (Ill.), Don Young (Ala.), Fred Upton (Mich.), Chris Smith (N.J), Brian Fitzpatrick (Penn.), Tom Reed (N.Y.), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Andrew Garbarino (N.Y.), Nicole Malliotakis (N.Y.) and David McKinley (W.Va.).

Tensions ran high among Democrats ahead of the vote on Friday as the party struggled to unite on a path forward on the physical infrastructure bill and a separate $1.75 trillion social spending and climate package.

Among a list of provisions included in the massive package are proposals for free preschool for kids ages 3 to 4, boosts to Pell Grant funding, healthcare expansions and billions for affordable housing.

[Spectral]

Meanwhile, you also advocate for everything Trump stands for. Fascinating.

Not true - Machismo is an open borders enthusiast.

[DingDongKing]

Not true - Machismo is an open borders enthusiast.

He’s talking about NED Funded.

[Milchshake]

Turns out, donating to the two Georgia senate seats was the best money progressives could spend last year. $3.1 Trillion in domestic spending is like a new record.

After thinking it over.

I think i have a better return on Taxing the Rich by donating $58 to Ossoff and Warnock right now.

Got the vibe right, but missed on the taxes.

[Zan15]

Turns out, donating to the two Georgia senate seats was the best money progressives could spend last year. $3.1 Trillion in domestic spending is like a new record.



Got the vibe right, but missed on the taxes.

Adjusted for inflation its not even close to a record.

[Zeth Hawkins]

U.S. federal appeals court (fifth circuit) freezes Biden's vaccine rule for companies.

• ...citing "grave statutory and constitutional" issues with the rule.
• numerous Republican-led states filed legal challenges against the new rule, which is set to take effect on Jan 4.
• Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda said the Labor Department was "confident in its legal authority" to issue the rule
• "The Occupational Safety and Health Act explicitly gives OSHA the authority to act quickly in an emergency where the agency finds that workers are subjected to a grave danger and a new standard is necessary to protect them."
• Saturday's court order came in response to a joint petition from several businesses, advocacy groups, and the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Utah.
• The two-page order directs the Biden administration to respond to the request for a permanent injunction against the rule by 5 p.m. Monday.

I do believe the mandate does overstep. How much of a road bump do we expect this to be for the administration?

[PhaelixWW]

I do believe the mandate does overstep. How much of a road bump do we expect this to be for the administration?

None, when the appellate court is overruled. I think we're aware of SCOTUS position on this by now.

[postman1782]

U.S. federal appeals court (fifth circuit) freezes Biden's vaccine rule for companies.

• ...citing "grave statutory and constitutional" issues with the rule.
• numerous Republican-led states filed legal challenges against the new rule, which is set to take effect on Jan 4.
• Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda said the Labor Department was "confident in its legal authority" to issue the rule
• "The Occupational Safety and Health Act explicitly gives OSHA the authority to act quickly in an emergency where the agency finds that workers are subjected to a grave danger and a new standard is necessary to protect them."
• Saturday's court order came in response to a joint petition from several businesses, advocacy groups, and the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Utah.
• The two-page order directs the Biden administration to respond to the request for a permanent injunction against the rule by 5 p.m. Monday.

I do believe the mandate does overstep. How much of a road bump do we expect this to be for the administration?

It will be overturned, as SCOTUS has already upheld other vaccine mandates, citing Jacobson vs Massachusetts as precedent.

[Ripster42]

U.S. federal appeals court (fifth circuit) freezes Biden's vaccine rule for companies.

I'm always disappointed when there's a judicial order talked about in the story when they don't link the actual order.

How hard is it for those assholes just to link to the damn case. Two trump judges and a reagan appointee. Not expecting good jurisprudence.

[tehdang]

It will be overturned, as SCOTUS has already upheld other vaccine mandates, citing Jacobson vs Massachusetts as precedent.

States may have that ability, subject to certain restrictions. The federal government, through its agencies, is quite another thing.

[postman1782]

States may have that ability, subject to certain restrictions. The federal government, through its agencies, is quite another thing.

Health and safety are an OSHA thing, so requiring a vaccine is absolutely within their bounds. If you strike down the mandate, you might as well get rid of OSHA then and bring back the serf bullshit we had before the industrial revolution.

[PhaelixWW]

Health and safety are an OSHA thing, so requiring a vaccine is absolutely within their bounds. If you strike down the mandate, you might as well get rid of OSHA then and bring back the serf bullshit we had before the industrial revolution.

The point was that Jacobson v. Massachusetts deals only with the validity of state vaccine mandates, not federal ones, which is true. But SCOTUS has already indicated a general lack of opposition to vaccine mandates, regardless. The underlying reasons for the Jacobson decision apply here, as well.

[tehdang]

Health and safety are an OSHA thing, so requiring a vaccine is absolutely within their bounds. If you strike down the mandate, you might as well get rid of OSHA then and bring back the serf bullshit we had before the industrial revolution.

You can’t really take their health and safety area of focus to mean they have the power to do anything they wish with vaccination on a national scale. They’re a subsidiary department in the executive branch of government, and wielding a limited batch of delegated powers from the legislative branch. OSHA regularly gets rebuked by courts for overstepping its authority on workplace safety, or going too far in diagnosing a problem or correcting it. This is not so easily dismissed “health and safety matter so OSHA has authority to act as it sees fit.” Even a governor in Biden’s own party has written in opposition to the federal solution, desiring her own unique state solution and declaring the federal intervention too late.