.
Credit where due: The NYTimes is where most of us who aren’t econ majors first heard about Paul Krugman. “Judas, Tax Cuts and the Great Betrayal”:
The denarius, ancient Rome’s silver coin, was supposedly the daily wage of a manual worker. If so, the tax cuts that the richest 1 percent of Americans will receive if the Affordable Care Act is repealed — tax cuts that are, obviously, the real reason for repeal — would amount to the equivalent of around 500 pieces of silver each year.
What inspired this calculation? The spectacle of Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, and Paul Ryan, the speaker of the House, defending Donald Trump’s firing of James Comey.
Everyone understands that Mr. Comey was fired not because of his misdeeds during the campaign — misdeeds that helped put Trump in the White House — but because his probe of Russian connections with the Trump campaign was accelerating and, presumably, getting too close to home. So this looks very much like the use of presidential power to cover up possible foreign subversion of the U.S. government.
And the two leading Republicans in Congress are apparently O.K. with that cover-up, because the Trump ascendancy is giving them the chance to do what they always wanted, namely, take health insurance away from millions of Americans while slashing taxes on the wealthy.
So you can see why I find myself thinking of Judas.
For generations, Republicans have impugned their opponents’ patriotism. During the Cold War, they claimed that Democrats were soft on Communism; after 9/11, that they were soft on terrorism.
But now we have what may be the real thing: circumstantial evidence that a hostile foreign power may have colluded with a U.S. presidential campaign, and may retain undue influence at the highest levels of our government. And all those self-proclaimed patriots have gone silent, or worse…
oldster
Yup, the perfesser is right: “…evidence that a hostile foreign power may have colluded with a U.S. presidential campaign…,” and all of the chest-beating yellow-ribbon patriots go silent and look the other way.
This episode also shows how much the 2nd amendment patriots care about resisting tyranny when it is staring them in their face. Shooting black people is fun, but actually resisting a foreign take-over of the US govt? Meh, who cares.
Can we have a remake of Red Dawn? In this one, the Russkies say, “Look, you should let us occupy your country. Otherwise, the scary lady might take your guns! Whereas we’ll let you keep your guns, safe in the knowledge that all that stuff about “resisting tyranny” was just a code for “let’s shoot black people.” And we’re not black, so what do we care!”
After that, the kids all yell, “Wolverines!” while they sign up with the Russian occupying force. Then the Russkies give them jobs as cops in Ferguson.
Of course, that would be remaking a fantasy as a documentary.
Litlebritdifrnt
I had a thoroughly wonderful morning sitting in a village hall selling baked goods in aid of Wolfwood Wildlife Rescue Centre and no kill shelter. It was a joy to sit and listen to all the thick Lancastrian accents. After the fair ended we went to a lovely seaside cafe that overlooked Morecambe Bay. Cars pulled up constantly containing people taking their dogs for a walk. I had Scampi, Chips and Mushy Peas and drank robust tea out of real china cups. After I had eaten I went outside and had a cigarette and there were several young boys (perhaps 5 or 6) trainspotting with their Granddads. The main line North to Scotland and South to London runs right by the cafe. Grandma of one of the boys told me that he was “mad about trains” and that this cafe was the best place to bring him. They later tucked into fish and chips. Yes dear Juicers I am finally home.
mai naem mobile
@Litlebritdifrnt: are you staying or coming back to the States? I remember you saying you were thinking of moving back.
Mnemosyne
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Hey, you! People have been asking about you. Glad to see that you’re in a better place, both emotionally and physically.
Suzanne
@Litlebritdifrnt: Good for you. Sounds wonderful.
clay
Just once — just ONCE — I’d like a reporter to sit down with McConnell or Ryan and ask him point blank, “You’ve seen the evidence, you’ve heard the briefings… Why are you okay with a foreign power meddling with our election and installing a potential collaborator in the Oval Office?”
schrodingers_cat
@Litlebritdifrnt: Sounds like you are having a good time! Nice to hear from you.
La Caterina (Mrs. Johannes)
@Litlebritdifrnt: Great to see you posting again! Tell us more.
Boussinesque
God I love Krugman. If only FTFNYT had more than one columnist that adhered to the old “comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable” maxim for the role of newspapers =/
Baud
@Litlebritdifrnt: Congrats. Don’t laugh at us in the colonies too hard.
Litlebritdifrnt
All – I am home for good. Husband will be joining me later in the year when his State retirement kicks in. It is so good to be home my stress levels have plummeted. I am also now in the nurturing bosom of the good old NHS.
SgrAstar
@Boussinesque: Oh, they do. Charles Blow, Tim Egan, and Gail Collins are performing heroically. Without them the NYT would be a worthless husk.
Alain the site fixer
@Litlebritdifrnt: please send pictures! We’d love to see
LurkerNoLonger
I would say the Republicans sold their souls for this bargain, but since they didn’t have any to begin with I guess they sold their face-holes like 2 dollar crack whores.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
I’m watching the 52-3 Gopher softball team struggle with its own sloppiness and some strange umpiring in their Big 10 semifinal against Illinois.
SiubhanDuinne
First time of seeing Rosenkavalier since the Era of Trump, and OMG, Baron Ochs could be modelled on him! Will have more to say later.
Boussinesque
@SgrAstar: good to know–I so seldom read the NYT anymore that I was unaware.
jeffreyw
@Alain the site fixer:
Yes! Pictures of the fish and chips!
Hobbes83
To be honest with you, Krugman was a step behind on this one, and I’m not saying that to attack his body of work or his political stance. It is clear that republicans will sell themselves out for two things: 1) tax cuts for the rich; and 2) inflicting maximum pain on brown people, gays, and women. A few days ago, Mrs. Hobbes asked me why they are allowing this to go on, and the answer is simple; greed and racial/gender tribalism, even though greed is the overarching goal.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
Okay, Kendyl Lindaman just hit a two out grand slam in the 4th to make it 5-2.
lollipopguild
@LurkerNoLonger: If you have no soul to sell the Devil will take your body and use it for his purposes. Murdoch, the Mercers and the Koch brothers decided along time ago that their money gives them the right to rule over all of us “pond scum”. If enough voters decide that they want to destroy our country then they will vote for people(trump) who will work to destroy the country. All we can do is fight back as best we can. The firing of Comey has opened a lot of eyes.
sharl
@Litlebritdifrnt: Congratulations! I’m glad to see you went through with your plan, and how happy you are with where you are now. Live well and with contentment!
Felanius Kootea
The Republicans in Missouri’s legislature just overturned the state’s week-long minimum wage hike to $10. The Democrats in the Senate tried a filibuster but eventually the legislation passed with minutes to spare. So the minimum wage in Missouri goes from $10 to $7.70.
Can we have Democrats champion legislation that makes voting easier for those earning minimum wage? As a guest on Bill Maher pointed out when he complained about how poor people don’t go vote, this country makes it harder for them to vote than any other democracy. We don’t have a national holiday on voting day, we vote on a Tuesday rather than a weekend day, and it is hard for people scraping by to take a day off work and deal with lost wages. Just as the Republicans seek to restrict voting rights, there should be an aggressive counter-campaign to expand access to voting, state by state.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
And there goes the lead, with no outs in the top of the 5th.
Frank Wilhoit
@Hobbes83: No, greed is secondary at most. One of the keys to understanding Trump’s people is that they want nothing for themselves. They only want to hurt others.
mai naem mobile
@Litlebritdifrnt: I am happy for you. I totally get it.
LurkerNoLonger
@Felanius Kootea: I’ve always thought voting day should be a national holiday. It seems like a no-brainer to me.
Mnemosyne
I should be working on my novel’s outline, but I may take a nap first. I’m debating wandering over to the Huntington for some outdoor writing, but it will probably be pretty crazy this weekend since it’s Mother’s Day weekend.
Elizabelle
@Litlebritdifrnt: You escaped! We missed you. Please stay in touch.
Now. Where’s debit?
And hugs to greennotGreen and family.
Steeplejack
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Please tell us the story of how your ogre ex-boss freaked out when you told him you were leaving. Bonus if his practice immediately went to shit.
Corner Stone
@Felanius Kootea:
I personally have not seen any data on it, but it seems to me that people earning min wage or low wage would be just as likely to be working Sat & Sun as any other day. Or no set days for the month, for that matter.
jl
@LurkerNoLonger:
” I would say the Republicans sold their souls for this bargain, but since they didn’t have any to begin with I guess they sold their face-holes like 2 dollar crack whores. ”
So, the GOP managed to scam Satan too? Neat trick.
Mike in NC
@LurkerNoLonger: Voting Day being a national holiday, universal health care, sensible gun legislation, etc. are considered evil things that those horrible Europeans do. Our sociopath politicians and their tax-averse corporate masters will never permit such things here in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.
Calouste
@Felanius Kootea: Also, the US votes more often and for far more elected positions than other countries. Most European countries have local, state/provincial, national, and European elections about once every 4 years. No primaries, no voting for judges, schoolboards, attorneys-general, land commissioners, etc., etc., etc.
Chris
Oh, they’re patriotic. It’s just that “America,” to them, means “the GOP.” The rest of us don’t count as American.
Remember “Hitler never gassed his own people”? That’s how they think.
James Powell
@Hobbes83:
No. 2 is what they do to stay in power so that they can do No. 1. It really is all that they care about.
Chris
@Frank Wilhoit:
True.
We’re far past the point where greed, even short-sighted and stupid greed, could explain their actions.
p.a.
@Elizabelle: and Redshirt, I believe the name was. She (IIRC) was very distraught after the election. Rightly so I don’t have to add.
Felanius Kootea
@Corner Stone: A national holiday might make things easier in the sense that some businesses would simply close on the holiday, but I hear you on the fact that people would probably need to work no matter what. Australia makes voting mandatory, with a fine for people who don’t vote. I don’t think that approach would ever work in the US and again it would unfairly penalizing the working poor but I just wonder what would work to increase turnout. Studies have showed that increased voter registration (e.g., through motor voter laws) doesn’t necessarily lead to increased voter turnout on election day.
@Calouste: All those elections definitely complicate things – even as a permanent vote-by-mail voter, it gets tricky. I’ve voted once since November 2016 in LA’s mayoral elections and there is another CA election coming up this May but it is really hard for people to keep track as you point out. I think Dems absolutely need to strategize on how to address this and perhaps could get some cooperation from Greens and Libertarians on this one issue (we know Republicans live for low turnout).
Elizabelle
@p.a.: Yes. I wish redshirt would come back.
And hello out there, yarrow. Come back!
Elizabelle
Peeps should check in on Alain’s gorgeous On The Road weekday posts. Almost always Trump free.
Speaking of our MIA and AWOL peeps, but for any lurkers.
Marcopolo
@Felanius Kootea: A few corrections: in was the city of St Louis that passed a measure to raise the minimum wage in the city. That went into effect a week ago. The Lege (and btw none of the votes for this POS bill were actually cast by legislators from St Louis) has now passed the bill saying local munis could not have a higher wage that the state minimum wage which, as you said, is $7.70/hr. That bill is now on the governor’s desk. He will probably sign it but who knows. If he does sign it the state law does not take effect till August. In the meantime, the minimum wage in St Louis stays @ $10/hr. and city employers might have an interesting choice to make come August. Anecdotally, the son of a friend mine who works in St Louis County last week got a raise, along with all his co-workers, that brought his pay to $10/hr.
Gelfling 545
Some good local news here. The NY chapter of the ACLU took up the case of a city high school student who was prevented from establishing a gay/straight alliance club by the principal who also announced via loudspeaker that students could only invite prom dates of the opposite gender. Now, I know this principal of old as she tried to get an acqusintance of mine fired because he, the American History & Government teacher, advised a girl who was a practicing wiccan that she could not be prohibited from wearing a pentagram necklace as this principal had tried to do.
Surprisingly, at the drop of the word lawsuit, the principal was placed on administrative leave, the club has been established and students were informed that their choice of prom date was totally up to them. Frankly, I’m surprised but agreeably so.
Emerald
@Felanius Kootea:
Mail-in ballots solves it all. They’ve got that completely in Oregon and it’s an option here in California. I’ve voted that way for a couple of years now. Love it.
But just try to get that passed in a red state. Look what just happened in Montana, which is more pinkish, when they tried to do it.
a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio)
@Felanius Kootea: Voting by mail would make a big difference. It might also make more thoughtful voting possible; I know that at the last school board election I was digging around the night before, checking to be sure I didn’t enable a disaster.
Early voting is a big help also; I always see a good turnout there when I go. Which is why the GOP keeps trying to narrow the window and limit sites, even though their voters also take advantage of it. It allows too many of the wrong sort of people to vote.
Gretchen
@Gelfling 545: Geez, how many awkward high schoolers don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend and would like to go to the prom anyway? Who does it hurt to let kids bring a friend to the prom? His determination to hurt gay kids shows his cluelessness about all kids. Someone this clueless about kids shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near any of them.
Gretchen
@Emerald: Yes – the Secretary of State wanted to do mail-in ballots for the special election to save several hundred thousand dollars, which they don’t have. The Republicans were quite frank that they couldn’t do this because it would result in more Democrats voting. They came right out and said it!
Felanius Kootea
@Marcopolo: Thanks for the clarifications!
Lizzy L
@Gelfling 545: That’s lovely. The ACLU carries a big stick and they do not back down; I’m not at all surprised the school district caved. I rejoined last November after many years not a member. Which reminds me, I should send them more money.
Baud
@Emerald: I think it was Kos who proposed mail in ballots for the Dem primary. I hope that get implemented.
Ksmiami
@Litlebritdifrnt: go see hampsteAd the new movie w Diane Keaton it takes place all in and around the heath. I have friends that live there- what a great neighborhood in London
Litlebritdifrnt
@Steeplejack: I didn’t tell him. I left the keys on his desk on Friday afternoon and flew out on the Saturday. I can just imagine the language on Monday morning.
mai naem mobile
@Litlebritdifrnt: lolol.I love that. I would love to do that to my boss.
J R in WV
Travel update from Italy… Florence is still a medieval place. Food good ++, wine told! Giant churches, leather shops, going on art tour early tomorrow, last day of trip. Many pix. Streets Valley narrow, arrow slots common in most old stone/brick buildings.
Flying back Monday–>Tuesday will post more soon…
Ruckus
@Frank Wilhoit:
Are you forgetting that mcturtle has made millions during his tenure as a senator? Far more than his salary. He stands to gain in the tax cut business and he has more than enough to insure that he doesn’t get hurt in any other way.
H/T EFG Fuckem.
Ruckus
@Emerald:
We do of course have mail in ballets in CA. You can even get that set as the permanent arrangement. And a bill passed in 2016 makes it much more likely that we will have vote by mail for all within a few years.
Steeplejack (phone)
@Litlebritdifrnt:
I hope at least you left him a detailed “fuck you” resignation letter.
TenguPhule
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Which is about to die under Hunt and the Conservatives. Sorry, the evil was waiting for you at home too.
Daddio7
@clay: What evidence has Ryan seen? Print it for me and others who think this is all wishing and hoping by Democrats who still can’t believe Hillery lost.