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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#357326: Feb 26th 2021 at 9:07:17 AM

I just want someone to break a Stone Chiseled Ten Commandments in front of it. It wouldn't get through to the Trumpeteers and the Kowtowing Republicans, but to Independents and Lite Republicans (how few there are), especially the Religious, they might get the picture of how far gone the Republican Party is.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#357327: Feb 26th 2021 at 9:30:49 AM

No non paywall at the moment but:

Top Senate Official Disqualifies Minimum Wage From Stimulus Plan – The parliamentarian ruled that the provision, which would gradually increase the wage to $15 an hour, violated the strict budgetary rules that limit what can be included in the package.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/25/us/politics/federal-minimum-wage.html

Edit: Here we go - https://www.axios.com/senate-parliamentarian-minimum-wage-15-relief-e490591a-c668-4be9-af75-5e2408fe8f34.html

Edited by sgamer82 on Feb 26th 2021 at 9:31:38 AM

Mullon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
#357328: Feb 26th 2021 at 10:29:07 AM

I'm trying to calm myself down about CPAC by reading about how many people are leaving the Evangelical church.

Never trust anyone who uses "degenerate" as an insult.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#357329: Feb 26th 2021 at 10:47:46 AM

I wish they'd try and take it back from this odiousness.

But yes, I'm not sure who is worse now: Comstock the fictional character or Trump.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Feb 26th 2021 at 10:48:47 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#357330: Feb 26th 2021 at 10:49:39 AM

For what it's worth, I'd argue the Bioshock character most similar to Trump is actually Frank Fontaine.

"Any campaign world where an orc samurai can leap off a landcruiser to fight a herd of Bulbasaurs will always have my vote of confidence"
DeMarquis Since: Feb, 2010
#357331: Feb 26th 2021 at 10:51:09 AM

Hey, this is good news guys. Let Trump keep control of the Republican Party, let him win the next primary. We beat him once and we can beat him again. His divisiveness will continue to cost them the Senate, and eventually the Judiciary.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#357332: Feb 26th 2021 at 10:51:50 AM

He also beat us once, and I'm not confident going best 2 out of 3.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#357333: Feb 26th 2021 at 10:56:13 AM

[up] Technically we're ahead of a best 3 out of 5 at this point, as we also made gains in 2018 against Trump. If Trump successfully takes over the Republican Party whenever CPAC happens, 2022 is gonna be a Republican blood bath. Democrats would probably keep the House and we'd be in a good spot to expand in the Senate, especially against a Trumpublican Party.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#357334: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:02:33 AM

CPAC hosts booed for asking attendees to wear masks – "When you’re in the ballroom, when you’re seated, you should still be wearing a mask," CPAC deputy director Carly Patrick said.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/26/cpac-booed-masks-coronavirus-471743

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#357335: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:03:53 AM

We barely pulled ahead in the 2020 election even giving it our all, so I'm not confident we can keep a completely Trump-overtaken Republican party again.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#357336: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:05:26 AM

Ideally the hardcore Trumpist and establishment Republicans rip each other during the primaries. Meanwhile Democrats need to organize and notch some successes during the next two years to ensure voters feel good about voting for them again.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#357337: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:06:52 AM

[up][up]Quite, and considering how poorly the down-ballot races went I think triumphalism is entirely unjustified. Our victory was good but it was in no way a landslide, there is still a risk.

Particularly considering that barely passing anything is likely to pose a political cost.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Feb 26th 2021 at 11:06:59 AM

"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -Hylarn
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#357338: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:06:56 AM

I don't expect the establishment Republicans to not just dovetail into Trumpist talking points after an initial round of token resistance, and drag a big chunk of their supporters down with them. Almost none of them voted to impeach the man who literally tried to have them murdered.

Edited by AlleyOop on Feb 26th 2021 at 2:07:13 PM

Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
#357339: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:11:01 AM

At this point the best hope of having Trump dealt with is the Manhattan DA throwing him in jail for God-knows how many crimes. Or the state of Georgia. If he can't run directly, there's only so much a Trump proxy can do.

Edited by Beatman1 on Feb 26th 2021 at 2:11:16 PM

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#357340: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:14:09 AM

I'm trying to calm myself down about CPAC by reading about how many people are leaving the Evangelical church.
Source? I couldn't find anything on my Google News feed, just a few articles about evangelical leaders condemning the 1/6 attack.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#357342: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:29:22 AM

And in a statement that will surprise no one, Trump Jr. criticized Republicans who "lose gracefully" and pointed to his daddy about how "you can actually push back" - blatantly omitting the part about how that "push back" sparked a fucking riot.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#357343: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:32:48 AM

Trump can still run from prison, I wouldn't put it past the Republican base to nominate an incarcerated man.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#357344: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:42:46 AM

Top Senate Official Disqualifies Minimum Wage From Stimulus Plan – The parliamentarian ruled that the provision, which would gradually increase the wage to $15 an hour, violated the strict budgetary rules that limit what can be included in the package.
Somebody tell me there's a way around this, because I'm sorry, we need this minimum wage raise. I do not want the Republicans to win in the midterms because Democrats were too afraid to push this through.

Edited by ScubaWolf on Feb 26th 2021 at 2:43:32 PM

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#357345: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:45:20 AM

I don't think there is a way, sorry. The rules are the rules. Maaaybe you can enact a minimum wage raise for federal employees, but I don't think that's what's wanted here.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#357346: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:48:15 AM

I think progress needs to be pushed forward rather than fight it on this element.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Cris_Meyers reluctant author, willing misanthrope from Chicagoland (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
reluctant author, willing misanthrope
#357347: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:48:16 AM

Trump can still run from prison, I wouldn't put it past the Republican base to nominate an incarcerated man.

Especially if they run with a narrative that he was incarcerated for purely political reasons. His base would both believe that easily and run with it eagerly.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#357348: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:49:10 AM

[up][up][up][up] Unlikely. CNN has a breakdown of what's in the COVID relief bill, why it's unlikely they can keep the minimum wage raise in, and why they might not be keen to fight for it.

    Pertinent Sections 
Let's talk about the Senate

The Senate parliamentarian's ruling on Thursday night is a major blow for progressives hoping to finally raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, but as multiple Democratic aides have been telling us for weeks, this will make it easier for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to get his party in line.

It also spares Schumer the difficult political decision of having to pull it from the bill and risk his own standing with progressives. That's because two moderates — Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia — had made it clear that the $15 minimum wage was not going to have their support. Manchin seemed open to lowering it, Sinema seemed less open to including any minimum wage hike at all.

There are still other sticking points for moderates both on the eligibility requirements on who gets direct checks, the formula surrounding state and local governments and some are fighting to expand broadband in this package, but those issues have more levers you can pull, scales you can slide to find a middle ground. Minimum wage was harder to contend with given its popularity, slogan and progressive base.

For his part, Schumer knows the moderates are going to need to be happy with this final version. Multiple aides tell CNN that the majority leader held a side meeting Thursday with moderates to talk a little bit about what they need to see in the bill to ultimately support it. The conversation was characterized as "positive" by multiple people, but underscores the growing realities for Schumer of a 50/50 majority and the emerging threat that moderates — two in particular — could pose to the Biden agenda if Schumer doesn't navigate those relationships very carefully.

Overruling the parliamentarian

This is not happening. The White House's statement was clear Thursday: The President is disappointed, but he respects the decision. He's not going to challenge it. White House chief of staff Ron Klain told MSNBC this week that they would not try to circumvent the parliamentarian.

But because we will get questions about it: Yes, the parliamentarian's ruling is guidance. Yes, technically the presiding officer (Vice President Kamala Harris in this case) could ignore it. But, if that happened, a Republican would object. A vote would be called to overrule it and if they had 60 votes it would be overruled. You could argue that maybe Democrats wouldn't join Republicans in overruling it, but you are missing the macro point here that Manchin and Sinema wouldn't vote for the bill if Democrats went down this road. Without them, the bill would be dead. So, again: This is not happening.

As usual? It's Manchin and Sinema again, and Biden not wanting to fight the parliamentarian (personally I disagree with his decision, but I see their point).

Schumer et al. are currently discussing ways to get around the minimum wage issue without settling for Romney's pittance of a compromise, such as by penalizing employers who pay less than minimum wage.

Personally I'm not very happy about Biden backing down from the $2000 stimulus in favor of a sliding scale of $1400, because even $2000 is a ridiculously small amount for how long people have gone without aid.

Edited by AlleyOop on Feb 26th 2021 at 2:52:34 PM

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#357349: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:50:55 AM

Yeah, I think the $15 minimum wage in the budget reconciliation is pretty much dead in the water, unfortunately. It will make for a good fight politically, though, as Democrats can point out just how much it would help Republican constituents while also helping the economy as a whole (more money in poorer peoples' pockets = more purchasing power = increased demand for goods = increased need for labor or materials = more people getting money = more purchasing power, ad infinitum)

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#357350: Feb 26th 2021 at 11:52:30 AM

Mostly I feel like the issue is it could be fought for but the time for this relief was a long time ago.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.

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