So, I Did A Thing (again) The Other Day-

Cartoon Nine Four Seven by Josh Lieb

Santa’s bedroom. Santa, looking very scrawny, is trying on his red suit. The jacket is way too big and the pants are falling down. Mrs. Claus, annoyed, says: “I told you not to get those stupid shots.”

Some people just look better fat.

Ali Redford ends a long, long drought of reader art by submitting this wonderful nine four six:

Ali thought my cartoon was funny even though, she confesses, she’d never previously heard about the free U2 album that mysteriously appeared on peoples’ phones ten years ago. It occurred to me while I was writing it that I might mystify some of my younger readers. So yeah, while they were rolling out a new iPhone a decade ago, Apple and U2 rather presumptuously “gave” all iPhone users this new U2 album. Everyone woke up with it on their phone and just felt… invaded. Even U2 fans were a little put off. I think it bothered people to discover that they were not in charge of their own phone.

Most people deleted the album (or kept it and enjoyed it). Then there were people like me, who had the unwanted album follow them, from phone to phone, for a decade.

Ali, I love the cartoon you drew — it’s maybe your best yet. The women feel very real, and the speaker’s sense of liberation is palpable. Thank you!

The rest of you: get to work drawing my cartoons.

(snip)

GOP Rep Calls For Cuts To Social Security And Medicare And “Moving Back Retirement Age A Little Bit” [VIDEO]

GOP Rep Calls For Cuts To Social Security And Medicare And “Moving Back Retirement Age A Little Bit” [VIDEO]

Notice that while claiming the debt is too high tRump and crew are still trying to make permanent the huge tax cut to the wealthy give during tRump’s first term that added nearly 8 trillion in debt. Plus these people claim there is no money yet always find more for the military, increasing the profit of the defense contractors / companies that not only give them large donations but that the congress people have stocks in. They also never talk of why there is not enough money … the constant push to cut all the government’s revenue from those with the most money, the wealthy and large corporations. The greatest times of property for the public and the country was when taxes were high on the wealthiest people and corporations, why because they have all the money and can afford the tax.

Then Reagan began the shifting the tax burden from those most able to pay to the poorest members of society, those with no ability to pay. Suddenly the country went from a boom in infrastructure and ways to increase financially upward mobility for the middle class to a system of oppression and drudgery for the lower incomes while the upper incomes lived in untold luxury.

The republicans pushing for European countries to pay more for NATO was recently explained on a Sunday news show as the Senator said that by forcing the European governments to pay more for defense it would lower what they would be able to do for social welfare programs for the public. Why do the republicans in the US want the rest of the developed nations to lower the spending on their people? Because the people in the US constantly can see now that other countries can do it, that other countries take care of their public, the people living there. The US gives billions to Israel which has free healthcare, something these same politicians say we can not afford in the US. Profit is king in the US, people are expendable. Hug

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December 9, 2024 Politics, Republicans

“We all agree this is an unsustainable area that we’re in right now — almost $36 trillion in debt and we are spending more on the interest on our debt than we are going to spend on the National Defense Authorization Act this year. Over a trillion dollars.

“And so we’ve got to right the ship and it’s going to mean cuts. It’s going to mean cuts to the 24% of the discretionary spending that we have and it’s also going to mean looking long-term at the front end of some programs like Social Security and Medicare.

“Not taking anyone off of what they paid into so far. But there is some waste, abuse and fraud in Medicare that we can take those numbers back and add to our general coffers and our treasury.

“And on the front end on Social Security, I think there’s a way, when people are living longer, they’re retiring later, then on the front end we can move that retirement age back a little bit.” – GOP Rep. Mark Alford, today on Fox.

Alford appeared here last week when he called for impeaching “full of slime” Biden. Alford, a freshman and former TV reporter, appeared here in December 2023 when he introduced a bill seeking to defund the Pentagon’s investigation into white supremacist service members.

Rep. Mark Alford: "It's gonna mean cuts to the 24 percent of the discretionary spending that we have. And it's also going to mean looking long term at the front end of some programs like Social Security and Medicare … we can move the retirement age back a little bit."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2024-12-09T14:16:29.236Z

Joe_Buddha a day ago

Here is a radical idea. How about getting rid of the tax cuts for billionaires?

Librarykid MichaelJ19 hours ago

and forcing congress to fund all of the I.O.U.s they put into the social security trust fund when they took money from it to fun the budget instead of raising taxes. A one time surcharge on billionaires should take care of it.

BearEyes Joe_Buddhaa day ago

and scaling back an overly bloated military budget their own auditors can’t reconcile

Uncle Mark – Now with caffeine a day ago

Do Republicans REALLY wanna dance on that third rail, given how they barely control the House already? Y’all wanna test your whole “but we have a mandate” bullshit?

Stultus Uncle Mark – Now with caffeinea day ago

But don’t forget decades ago bothsides of the isle in congress took large amounts of money from the Trust Fund so they didn’t have to raise taxes. It was Gore in 1999 when he was campaigning that he promised to put the Trust Fund in a ‘locked box” to protect it. But , too little, too late.

Elagabalusa day ago

“But we still need to give millionaires, billionaires, and soon-to-be trillionaires more tax cuts because they need it, and cutting SS and Medicare is how we’ll pay for it.”

danolgb Ma day ago

This is something that a lot of people get wrong because the US debt is never explained. The US debt is held in bonds which anyone can invest in. Yes, it’s technically borrowing, but it’s borrowing like one lends money when they invest in even a 401k or savings account. That money earns interest. And the money “borrowed” from social security is really that the social security fund is held in interest-bearing bonds. What republicans want to do is cut medicare and social security so they don’t have to make good on those bonds.

Uncle Mark – Now with caffeine a day ago

How about taking away the pensions, tax benefits, security, and health insurance benefits of retired Congresscritters? They’re typically all wealthy, and are a drain on the budget. Hey, if we are all expected to tighten our belts, these fuckers should lead the way.

Scary stuff

Musk Appears To Endorse Ending All US Foreign Aid

Trump Details Raft Of Planned “Day One” Exec Orders

Trump Calls For Imprisoning Entire Jan 6 Committee

Federal Civil Servants Scramble To Shield Themselves As House Republicans Plot Mandatory MAGA Training

Prominent Cultist: We Will Ruin Hegseth’s GOP Critics

As you can see below, that “sifting” has already begun.

Last month, Davis, who was among Trump’s candidates for Attorney General, posted this about Trump’s critics: “I want to drag their dead political bodies through the streets, burn them, and throw them off the wall.”

Davis last appeared here with he threatened to imprison “fat ass” New York Attorney General Letitia James.

In August 2024, Davis appeared here when he threatened to sue any publication or social media user who referred to Trump as a “convicted felon.”

In April 2024, he appeared here when he vowed to imprison Trump’s critics and prosecute Barack Obama for murder.

In February 2024, we heard from him when he declared, “What’s so bad about Christian nationalism?”

His first appearance here came last year when he threatened to “arrest and deport” journalist Mehdi Hasan and throw gay reporter Tim Miller in a women’s prison.

Trump: “I Can’t Guarantee” Tariffs Won’t Raise Prices

Welker: Economists of all stripes say that ultimately, consumers pay the price of tariffs.Trump: I don't believe that.Welker: Can you guarantee American families won't pay more?Trump: I can't guarantee anything..
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2024-12-08T15:25:29.405Z

McConnell: MAGA Isolationism Won’t Make US Great

McConnell: MAGA Isolationism Won’t Make US Great

Understand McConnell shares the lion share of blame for why we are where we are at today. At all turns this racist money grubber has placed party over country, and power over decency. He would love a rollback of all civil rights and more money to the wealthy which he is one of. He craved power because with it came the money. He was one of the top fundraisers in the Senate because people knew if they bought him they could depend on him. However never underestimate him. What he says here is true, and his party should watch carefully. History shows that the more other countries like you, the more you are the friend they come to, then the more sway you have over them. Yes it can be over done, but it is a fact. Soft power seems a silly waste of money to many, but to those who think it out while it is a small part of our national budget it normally keeps the US from needing the world’s largest military a lot more. Hugs

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December 8, 2024 Politics, Republicans

“Within the party Ronald Reagan once led so capably, it is increasingly fashionable to suggest that the sort of global leadership he modeled is no longer America’s place. But let’s be absolutely clear: America will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline.

“At both ends of our politics, a dangerous fiction is taking hold that America’s primacy and the fruits of our leadership are actually self-sustaining.

“Even as allies across NATO in the Indo-Pacific renew their own commitments to hard power, interoperability, and collective defense, some now question America’s own role at the center of these force-multiplying institutions and partnerships.” – Mitch McConnell, speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

More right wing … diarrhea on the country.

Jordan: “Trump Has Never Been About Retribution”

Maker Of Recalled Raw Milk May Get Role At FDA

Pete Hegseth’s Lawyer Threatens To Sue His Accuser

NEW

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal is accusing Pete Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, of witness intimidation because Parlatore suggested that Hegseth may sue the woman who accused him of sexual assault and received a settlement if he doesn’t get confirmed.

This was…
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 6, 2024

100 US Ex-Security Officials Raise Alarm Over Gabbard In Letter To Senators Calling For Closed-Door Hearings

Hitler Fan Nick Fuentes Arrested For Assaulting Woman

GOP Rep Shrugs At Hegseth Rape Allegations: “We’ve All Had Indiscretions In Our Past And Things Like That”

Chip Roy dismisses the Pete Hegseth rape allegation: "We've all had some indiscretions in our past and things like that." pic.twitter.com/qrngbpzCtl
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 6, 2024

GOP Rep: Let Govt Shut Down Until Trump Takes Over

NIH Pick Plans To Defund Research By “Woke” Colleges

Trump NIH pick "considering a plan to link likelihood of receiving research grants to some measure of academic freedom…Bhattacharya wants to counter what he sees as a culture of conformity that ostracized him over his views on masking and school closures" http://www.wsj.com/health/healt…
— Richard Sever (@richardsever.bsky.social) 2024-12-06T16:20:39.999Z

Secretive Group To Hegseth: Fire All “Woke” Generals

The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity.

The above-named group is a dark money organization that does not reveal its donors. Their leader is a former staffer for nutbag Sen. Ron Johnson.

These people what a Russian style military of only white cis straight males which Ted Cruz gave such praise to over our US military. The thing is the Russian military was stopped and driven out of a country by the rag tag Ukrainian military with gifted supplies dripping in. A diverse military of the entire population is the strongest one, which has been demonstrated over and over again. Talk about a group wanting purity in a place, this is what these bigot racist haters want. Hugs

Trump: Hegseth “Does Not Have A Drinking Problem”

Giuliani Ordered To Face Contempt Hearing On Jan 3

See Kennedy’s Truly Bizarre MAHA Job Application

“Republican Messiah” Rioter Rages At Judge As He Heads To Prison: “Trump’s Gonna Pardon Me Anyway”

Johnson On Hegseth: “We’ve All Made Mistakes In Life”

Among Hegseth’s alleged “mistakes” are sexual assault, countless incidents of adultery (including with a coworker), at last one bastard child, drunkenly attempting to climb onto a strip club stage, on the job drinking, being fall down drunk at corporate events, shouting “kill all Muslims,” having white supremacist tattoos, belonging to a far-right misogynist Christian nationalist church, and running two nonprofits for veterans into the ground with what former colleagues call questionable spending on partying and travel. It’s what Jesus would want.

Politico: Foreign Agent Bondi To Face “Ethics Morass”

https://twitter.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1861120221991293322

So much for draining the swamp!

1. Bondi asked for a $25,000 campaign donation from Trump, and got it.
2. Then she dropped her state’s investigation into Trump University.
3. Now she’s Trump’s nominee for Attorney General.

GOP Plans $100 Billion Backstop For Bitcoin Owners

Watch the clip and you’ll see an excited Lummis wave a copy of her bill, calling it a “present for President Trump.” Hayes calls the bill an “enormous heist” and an “explicit bailout” of bitcoin holders should the price plummet

Peace & Justice History for 12/7

https://www.peacebuttons.info/E-News/peacehistorydecember.htm#december8

Let’s talk about espionage and your phone being compromised….

An important video to watch and try to understand. Sensitive times. I have encrypted mail and encrypted text on both computers. Plus my computers have VPN’s of high quality that do not have any tracking, along with good security programs. I have what I can also on my phone. You might ask why I have such things. I talk to people who have been abused. I also have been abused. All mainstream programs scan such communications with computers, AIs, and they don’t differentiate from this happened to me from I am doing this to a child now. In the past I have known people who had police or other agencies target them thinking they were part of an abuse network when they were only talking to fellow survivors.

Having said that it is going to get worse. We know from Snowden the US government was illegally spying on all texts, calls, and other phone / computer activities of the public, now we must worry about foreign governments doing it also. Please listen to the video and protect yourself. Oh, for clarity I use NordVPN, no possible tracking, and I use Teleguard, Sessions, and Proton mail. Hugs

https://signal.org/download/

And you wonder why people in this country are angry?

This is a must watch very short video. Over 50 trillion dollars moved from the lower 90% to the top 1%. Think of that as people became more productive and were driven by managers to do more with less, as those workers wages stagnated and did not keep up with costs, the upper top level of society raked in all the profit and benefits while providing nothing to the people that produced it for their effort. Hugs

Some Sam Seder clips

This one address the mistaken idea that anti-trans stuff worked to win the presidency for tRump. In fact it was not a factor according to surveys however the only ones talking about it were the tRump people. Harris never mentioned trans except for one time saying that they followed the law on treating trans prisoners with the hormone care they were prescribed or needed before incarceration. Again it is the law and tRump also did it in his first term. Hugs

More on the trans issues and the bathroom ban for trans people in the capital. Trans issues in the 2022 midterms showed that trans issues was a losing issue for them. It was the same this election. The larger problem is the democrats being too cowardly to stand up for the abused minority. Hugs

We hear about the genocide by Israel of the Palestinians. He talks about hate on the internet by right wing forced paid for and encouraged by people who want to normalize this level of violence and convince people it is good to be this bloodthirsty. Hugs

Target must face shareholder lawsuit over Pride backlash, US judge rules

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/target-must-face-shareholder-lawsuit-over-pride-backlash-us-judge-rules/ar-AA1vkxN5

This paragraph says it all. They want the LGBTQ+ removed from society. They are willing to be violent and obnoxious, hurting people, property, and staff. They attack other customers demanding to know if they support the LGBTQ+ and they then badger the customer.

Target pulled some LGBTQ-themed merchandise linked to Pride Month last year, citing increased confrontations between shoppers and employees and incidents of products being thrown on the floor.

The goal is being driven by this guy. He feels the idea of anyone not a white straight cis male shouldn’t be in any position of authority or corporate rank. His view is that women and the LGBTQ+ shouldn’t be in the work force or seen and the non-white males should be in menial jobs with little or no authority. Just be base workers. He and his ilk see great dangers to the white “race” people if they can not maintain a super majority of a male dominated white straight cis society. Notice in the quote below, his calling DEI and ESG programs a risk implying some nefarious harm. Hugs

America First Legal, the conservative group that filed the lawsuit last year, in a statement on Wednesday called the court ruling a “warning to publicly traded corporations’ boards and management.” The group said the risk of DEI programs and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives “cannot be whitewashed with boilerplate language or ignored.”

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Story by Mike Scarcella

• 1d • 2 min read

FILE PHOTO: People exit a Target store on Black Friday in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., November 29, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo© Thomson Reuters

By Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) -Target has failed to persuade a judge in Florida to dismiss a lawsuit that accused the retailer of deceiving shareholders after its sales of LGBTQ-themed merchandise for Pride Month sparked a backlash and a customer boycott.

U.S. District Judge John Badalamenti in Fort Myers ruled that the plaintiffs had presented enough information for now to pursue claims that Target misled investors about its efforts to guard against social and political risks.

The lawsuit from investor Brian Craig claims that Target’s board focused only on activist groups’ calls for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measures and overlooked potential negative responses to the Pride campaign in May 2023.

Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

America First Legal, the conservative group that filed the lawsuit last year, in a statement on Wednesday called the court ruling a “warning to publicly traded corporations’ boards and management.” The group said the risk of DEI programs and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives “cannot be whitewashed with boilerplate language or ignored.”

Target had urged Badalamenti to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that there was no evidence backing the allegations, that it had warned investors about a potential DEI backlash, and that the complaint was based merely on Craig’s disagreement with the company’s business decisions.

America First filed the lawsuit in Florida federal court in August 2023. The nonprofit group is headed by Stephen Miller, a close adviser to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

America First and other conservative groups have accused some major U.S. companies of undertaking diversity and inclusion efforts at the expense of shareholders.

Target pulled some LGBTQ-themed merchandise linked to Pride Month last year, citing increased confrontations between shoppers and employees and incidents of products being thrown on the floor.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Mark Porter and Diane Craft)