Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

The next time the wall wtreet journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

This blog will pay for itself.

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

I really should read my own blog.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

John Fetterman: Too Manly for Pennsylvania.  Paid for by the Oz for Senator campaign.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

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Just Words

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This post is in: 

I get that Flake’s speech was something else, but they’re just words.

They voted to confirm all his nominees and the lunatic Gorsuch.

The only Republican exhibiting anything close to courage is Susan Colins, and she’s at 80%. So let’s not get all excited here.

Also, this:

They haven’t, fyi. Because with the GOP, it is always party before principle and party before country. Being a Republican means hating Democrats more than loving your country, always. So my apologies if I am not rushing to buy some kneepads to get in line at the Jeff Flake glory hole.

Reader Interactions

128Comments

  1. 1.

    Brachiator

    Being a Republican means hating Democrats more than loving your country, always.

    I believe this current crop of Republicans also hate their country. They are working hard to destroy it and every value they claim is important to them.

  2. 2.

    schrodingers_cat

    The bar is low but he is better than his other R colleagues. He has spoken out in favor of immigrants, even the ones demonized as illegal by the current R party President.

    He should do more, now that he doesn’t have to worry about reelection.

  3. 3.

    JMG

    Flake is a very conservative Republican. He votes that way. This reflects the nature of the legislation Republicans write, not support for Trump or lack of same.

  4. 4.

    cokane

    I like that 538 feature but it’s kind of silly without context. Outside of The Wall(tm), is there actually a Trump agenda in congress to vote for or against? Trump basically handed over policymaking on shit like healthcare and taxes to Ryan and McConnell. So I dunno if congresscritters are “voting in line with Trump’s position” so much as voting with their party’s position. Trump would sign a fucking medicare-for-all bill if it was the Republican position.

  5. 5.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    I agree with you JC. I’ve called Flake’s office and he goes along with whatever Dolt45 has proposed. He was there during the Congressional baseball game shooting and still can’t disagree with the NRA. Big chicken.

  7. 7.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    not just Moore, but Gillespie, Bush family retainer and Establishment lobbyist who doesn’t want trump to campaign for him but if running a replay of trump’s campaign: “The Messicans are coming to slit your throat and tear down that statue of your brave and noble great-great-grand-pappy who rode off to battle to defend states’ rights and your great-great-granny’s womanly virtue!”

  8. 8.

    Adam L Silverman

    Shannon Sharpe replying to Daniel Dale quoting Senator Flake:

  10. 10.

    cmorenc

    What’s most important in the big scheme of things is getting more prominent Republicans to openly turn against Trump NOW, rather than disdaining them because they didn’t do so in a more timely fashion to head off Trump becoming President in the first place. Lots of us are also expressing hostility toward Flake, McCain, and Corker for voting for things that are anathema to progressive values and institutions – but let’s not also lose sight of the fact that persuading more prominent Republicans to openly repudiate Trump is also a helpful step toward winning more seats supportive of our values next election. Their open rebellion against Trump will also hopefully cause a fatal split in the GOP that sends them back to minority status at federal levels and more state levels as well by 2020.

  11. 11.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Genuinely asking myself what McCain, Flake et al could do to live up to the hyperventilating praise they’re getting from TeeVee people. And each other. Here’s one idea.

    Kyle CheneyVerified account @ kyledcheney
    Trump critics McCain, Corker and Flake can control virtually every piece of legislation and are now unmoored from reelection concerns.

    Tommy Vietor‏Verified account @ TVietor08 38m38 minutes ago
    How about introducing a basic ethics reform bill. A bill requiring that the President release his or her tax returns.

  13. 13.

    jl

    A little Cole spleen, salted with pink Madagascar bile, is always a refreshing tonic.

    But I think this is a good time to contact your Congresscritters. Ask your Dem reps why they have been so quiet. Send something to the angry and disaffected GOPers to try to push them in the right direction. Word it in a way that will produce the most irritation for them and their staffers if they don’t do the right thing. That will make it worth it to you regardless of what happens.

  14. 14.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    SHS is a dreadful person who looks utterly miserable. But she keeps cashing those checks, so I have zero sympathy for her.

  16. 16.

    jl

    Maybe Flake, Corker and McCain (and maybe Collins and Murkowski) won’t caucus with the Dems. But they can withdraw from GOP caucus, can’t they, and function as independents?

    If that is a thing they can do, I will contact their offices and ask that they do so.

    Edit: right now I don’t care how these birds voted in the past. I care what they do and how they vote going forward. Just might mean avoiding catastrophic war, catastrophic tax policy, and catastrophic human rights crimes, and catastrophic damage to civil rights, including voting rights.

  18. 18.

    John Cole

    @cokane:

    I like that 538 feature but it’s kind of silly without context.

    Did you go to the link? They show you what bills and actions they use to create the score. In other words, the “context.”

  20. 20.

    MJS

    One does not have to fellate Flake to see what he,Corker, and McCain are doing as necessary first steps. Baby steps, and months too late, but still necessary. These guys are going to be on all the Sunday shows bashing Trump, and he is going to go bonkers.

  21. 21.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @West of the Rockies (been a while): @Kay: funny, from what little I can watch it always looks to me like she loves her work, bullying and lying for the sake of a Jesus who more resembles a commemorative plate from a Hot Springs gift shop than the one in the New Testament

  22. 22.

    cokane

    @John Cole: again, it’s not much of a Trump score though, Flake’s July 26th vote on repealing parts of ACA is a perfect example of what I’m talking about — Trump turned over policy agenda on healthcare and taxes to congressional R’s. They’re not so much voting “with Trump” as voting on their own agenda they’ve been banging on about for at least six years.

  23. 23.

    JaneSays

    I’m not going to pile any praise on Flake, but I will still take some joy in his speech today, because it can’t possibly be good for the moron in the Oval Office to have not one, but TWO senators from his own party to openly blast him as a thoroughly unqualified buffoon on the same day.

    It will undoubtedly be beneficial to our side to have three Republican senators (Corker, Flake, and McCain) unafraid to openly criticize President Fart at every opportunity for the next year.

  24. 24.

    dmsilev

    The Senate GOP holds Trump to very high standards:

    Senators left a Tuesday lunch meeting with President Donald Trump just as confused about his position on stabilizing the individual health insurance market as when they went in.

    “We really didn’t get into details on that,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) told reporters, noting that the meeting was cordial and “nobody called anyone an ignorant slut.”

    (TPM)

  26. 26.

    Kay

    Not to be a chump or anything but I think words can matter, in that they can give other people who might be tempted to do something substantive to block the moron courage or some sense they won’t be out there alone.

    They must be noticing Trump doesn’t make good on his threats. He doesn’t really do anything except attack them on Twitter. Threats only work if the victim thinks you’ll follow thru. Trump is full of shit.

  27. 27.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    party before country

    Yes, this. It’s like the GOP is starting to view Trump as not good for their brand.

  28. 28.

    schrodingers_cat

    @MJS: Exactly. Its good that W spoke against T too. T won by razor thin margins, if these Rs who have suddenly found their voice can help get at some of the people on the margins, then more power to them. I don’t have to personally like them to see the value in what they are doing.

  29. 29.

    The Moar You Know

    Being a Republican means hating Democrats more than loving your country, always.

    Lotta folks here still don’t seem to get that. Wonder if the light will finally dawn their first week in the internment camps.

  30. 30.

    Kay

    @dogwood:

    I think she’s so uncomfortable she freezes her face in a way she thinks looks tough but to me looks rigid- scared. She’s not comfortable enough to be herself up there. I think that blankness covers fear.

  32. 32.

    cokane

    @cokane: followup, if you do what you suggested, you actually find that the times Flake bucks the “trump score” are pretty much the only times when Trump is out of lockstep with the republican party, such as on the Russia sanctions vote. This shows how misleading the “trump score” is

  34. 34.

    trollhattan

    @Brachiator:
    They hate the part of the country that has thrust political correctness upon them such that they feel icky donning sheets and torches to march in public and also too can’t scream at Mexicans and the blahs in public. Just at the club. That country they want to fvck the hell up.

  39. 39.

    debit

    @dogwood: I think that she’s set a standard, though. Going forward, it will be a requirement to have your eyebrows and at least two facial features go in four different directions at the same time.

  42. 42.

    azlib

    True courage from Flake would have him run a principaled campaign for the Senate and excoriate Trump. But Republicans cannot do that because the Republican Party is Trump’s Party now. The best they can do is shout warnings as they head for the exits.

  43. 43.

    diierent-church-lady

    Dear half of America: maybe next time we tell you not to vote for a fuckin’ sociopath for president, you listen to us even though we’re just “librards”?

  44. 44.

    Brachiator

    @cokane:

    gain, it’s not much of a Trump score though, Flake’s July 26th vote on repealing parts of ACA is a perfect example of what I’m talking about — Trump turned over policy agenda on healthcare and taxes to congressional R’s. They’re not so much voting “with Trump” as voting on their own agenda they’ve been banging on about for at least six years.

    The Republicans are in a world of hurt. For example, this next commenter’s observation.

    @dmsilev:

    Senators left a Tuesday lunch meeting with President Donald Trump just as confused about his position on stabilizing the individual health insurance market as when they went in.

    “We really didn’t get into details on that,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) told reporters, noting that the meeting was cordial and “nobody called anyone an ignorant slut.”

    Trump recently claimed that Obamacare was dead, dead, dead, kilt with the might of his executive order, because Congress couldn’t do it and he, God Emperor Trump, was going to wade in and take charge.

    But this, along with his boast that he was going to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something better, has turned out to be as empty as any of his other blubberings. Trump has no agenda and really does not know how to be a leader. I suppose this leaves a vacuum that could be filled by a crafty Republican, but none of them, so far, seem up to the task. So all that’s left for now is chaos and confusion.

    OTOH, Ryan and McConnell have promised their rich donors that they will deliver a legislative victory to Trump for Christmas. They know that he will sign anything. They just have to rustle something together that the majority of Republicans can sign off on.

  48. 48.

    dogwood

    @raven:
    Yep. Republicans always made ridiculing Hillary’s looks part of every attack. Despite the misogyny of it all it never made sense to me. She’s a decent looking woman. SHS is an average looking woman to me.

  49. 49.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Here’s another take on these retirements; look at it from a conservative TRUE believer’s point of view, the GOP controls all branches of the government, they have a mass of brainwashed, captive voters, the economy is great, it’s as good at it will ever get for conservatives AND they can’t do diddle plus squat, Even something as basic as a budget is a cluster frak and it’s all down hill from here, worse, conservative is becoming an equally bad word as liberal. So everything these guys worked for their entire lives, wasted (yes I know the money, but they could have got the same thing in private industry or like McCain, retired at 65 rich and not spent his golden years dealing with this) and on top of it their movement’s been hijacked by one of lamest salesmen in the history of capitalism.

  53. 53.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    acts, not words

    Matthew Yglesias‏Verified account @ mattyglesias 5m5 minutes ago
    Force tax disclosure, strip Javanka security clearances, protect Mueller’s job, hearings on sexual assault, hearings on hotel finances, etc

  54. 54.

    Lyrebird

    @jl:

    A little Cole spleen, salted with pink Madagascar bile, is always a refreshing tonic.

    Absolutely agreed, even when in this case I go with Cheryl’s take – maybe Flake’s statement is late etc etc but he coulda just pulled a Chaffetz and took off to make more money…

    I think it’s time to call all our GOP congresscritters! I have emailed, asked them if this is how they want their party remembered, and could they please impeach before all our troops in Okinawa and Seoul get their lives tossed away?

  55. 55.

    Jay C

    @diierent-church-lady:

    Dear half of America: maybe next time we tell you not to vote for a fuckin’ sociopath for president, you listen to us even though we’re just “librards”?

    Sorry, d-c-l: don’t that’s gonna happen any time soon. Not unless someone can come up with some sort of antidote for the corrosive political poison RW hate-media have dosed their audiences with for years (most of their adult lives for younger wingers) – not least the notion that Almighty God is, in fact, a right-wing Republican (and will only bless those who unquestioningly support GOP policies and candidates)….

  57. 57.

    Alex in NYC

    Flake hasn’t endorsed Moore. He hasn’t formally come out against him either. But he has been pretty critical of him.

  59. 59.

    Betty Cracker

    @JaneSays: What JaneSays.

    @Kay: What Kay said too.

    Trump is a punk-ass bully, and the sooner the sniveling cowards in congress realize he’s all tweet and no meat, the quicker his reign of absurdity ends. Republicans aren’t going to start voting like actual human beings; they were kleptocracy lickspittles before Trump, and they will be plutocrat lackeys long after Trump takes a well-deserved dirt nap.

    But if the entire legislative branch tells the emperor he has no clothes, not only will it make the puffed-up cocksplat’s life a living hell (which is reason enough to wish for it), it will make him flail around even more stupidly, perhaps doing real damage to the fucked-up party that elevated such a ridiculous creature in the first place, and, perhaps even driving the MAGAt morons back under their rocks in disillusionment.

  61. 61.

    Brachiator

    @trollhattan:

    They hate the part of the country that has thrust political correctness upon them such that they feel icky donning sheets and torches to march in public and also too can’t scream at Mexicans and the blahs in public. Just at the club. That country they want to fvck the hell up.

    No, they hate all of America. When they talk about repealing Medicare, Social Security, and the Affordable Care Act, they are going to fuck everyone over.

    And the idea that Republicans are afraid of looking like racists is a weird fantasy. They spent all of Obama’s presidency opposing him mainly because he was black, while happily stoking the racist fire that Trump lit up in fiery brilliance.

  65. 65.

    Villago Delenda Est

    I agree, John.

    Unless Flake backs up his talk with some walk, it’s just talk.

    Oppose EVERYTHING Donald wants; appointees, judges, legislation. Then you’ll be taking a stand that MEANS something.

    Enough talk. ACTION.

  67. 67.

    Mary G

    I will admire Flake and Corker when and if they vote no on the tax cuts bill when Collins and McCain do too, so it dies. Walk the walk, Jeff, or STFU.

    It is amusing that the Republican frontrunner for Flake’s seat is now the “contrails are trying to kill us” lady.

  70. 70.

    eemom

    So my apologies if I am not rushing to buy some kneepads to get in line at the Jeff Flake glory hole.

    Thank you good Cole.

    I am so fucking sick of our side being Charlie Brown every time one of these scumbag Lucys holds out a football.

    This is all meaningless bullshit. Trump will never be impeached, unless and until (1) the Koch brothers instruct their wholly owned whores to impeach him, or (2) we take back Congress. Whichever comes first. If either comes at all.

  71. 71.

    sharl

    “Just words” indeed. I’ve loved Senator Collins on her health care statements and votes, but –

    Senator @JeffFlake has great intelligence and integrity. Always does what he believes is right. So sad that he won’t seek re-election.— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) October 24, 2017

    Collins said the same about Jeff Sessions during his AG confirmation hearing. https://t.co/8uZnJyhad8— Zach Carter (@zachdcarter) October 24, 2017

    – just words.

  75. 75.

    HeleninEire

    LOL. Had something to say. Was looking if this thread was open. Got a lot going on here. Both my family in America and my best friend in Ireland are having major crises.

    But the post is in “Just shut the fuck up”

    I love this place. I love John Cole too

    JUST FUCK THE SHUT UP!!

  76. 76.

    Barbara

    It’s all words right now. Sasse, in particular is all hat and no cattle. I don’t expect that they will show their bravery by changing their base ideology, which I disagree with in nearly every respect. What they need to come to grips with is that this goes beyond ideology and they either care about the U.S. functioning as a democracy or they don’t. McConnell and Ryan clearly don’t.

  77. 77.

    trollhattan

    @Brachiator:

    And the idea that Republicans are afraid of looking like racists is a weird fantasy. They spent all of Obama’s presidency opposing him mainly because he was black, while happily stoking the racist fire that Trump lit up in fiery brilliance.

    Have you listened to them? They bitch and moan about being imprisoned by political correctness all the time. What we see and hear is the tip of the iceberg.

  84. 84.

    Jeffro

    @Jay S: I think that’s exactly right – they seem quite aware of the 62 million Frankenstein monsters that they have created

  85. 85.

    Brachiator

    @cmorenc:

    but let’s not also lose sight of the fact that persuading more prominent Republicans to openly repudiate Trump is also a helpful step toward winning more seats supportive of our values next election. Their open rebellion against Trump will also hopefully cause a fatal split in the GOP that sends them back to minority status at federal levels and more state levels as well by 2020.

    Repudiating Trump is not the same thing as repudiating the Republican agenda. Right now, I just want to see these mild rebels make Trump angrier. Let’s see how far their rebellion can push him. Maybe they can make him Hulk out in rage.

  89. 89.

    HeleninEire

    @SiubhanDuinne: I’ll just talk America here. I have a sister who is mentally retarded (yeah that was the phrase 50 years ago). Her name is Mary. 30 years ago we put her in one of the best places ever. A house run by a non profit. They have taken the best care of here on earth.

    Recently she’s been out of hand. She’s doing weird things. They have her off a lot her meds. My father is 83 and can’t handle lots of this.

    So. I may have to go back.

  91. 91.

    Suffragette City

    Just saw part of a segment on MTP and paraphrasing the woman from AEI ” So you called Trump a creep. So what?” And she did not seem to mean it as a way of support but an expression of Trump’s supporters. She’s right.
    They’ll say so what, Flake is just a RINO and look at his liberal tears.
    Flake himself told Chuck doing anything to remove Trump from office was out of the question.

  93. 93.

    Brachiator

    @schrodingers_cat:

    BREAKING: US appeals court in DC rules immigrant teen being held in federal custody can obtain abortion.

    Wonderful. I hope this is nearing a final resolution, even though I know crazy conservatives will try to throw out further obstacles.

  97. 97.

    SatanicPanic

    Snarking on this is a bad strategy. We’ll need everyone on board for impeachment if we win the house in 2018. He did a good thing, let’s congratulate him and thank him.

  99. 99.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Speaking of physical appearance, and I am honestly not being snarky here, Trump looks godawful. I think he’s gained 40-50 pounds just since Inauguration Day, and most of it is chin, jowls, and neck. Or maybe he has developed a goitre. Either way, he appears to be very unwell.

  100. 100.

    SatanicPanic

    @jl:

    I don’t care how these birds voted in the past. I care what they do and how they vote going forward. Just might mean avoiding catastrophic war, catastrophic tax policy, and catastrophic human rights crimes, and catastrophic damage to civil rights, including voting rights

    Or maybe get the lights on in Puerto Rico. Lots of people don’t have the luxury of holding a grudge here.

  101. 101.

    Mnemosyne

    I understand why the MSM is freaking out. They are wholly invested in portraying the Republicans as a functioning, non-treasonous party, and Flake’s breaking the fourth wall is wrecking that fantasy.

    But those of us who never believed their bullshit are now standing around going, We told you so, you assholes, and you refused to listen!

  102. 102.

    jl

    @JPL: Probably true. Pence would be more effective at getting the GOP agenda through, less effective at starting senseless wars that will get millions of people killed for no reason.

    I think people understand that the extremist GOP will not go away if Trump goes. But Trump needs to go. Then fight and lick Pence.

  106. 106.

    jl

    @SatanicPanic: ” Or maybe get the lights on in Puerto Rico. ” Agreed. I mentioned Puerto Rico in longer comment in previous thread. And now Trump is reneging on promise for long term disaster relief and reconstruction in FL and TX. That should not surprise anyone, except the sad dupes who are still on board the Trump crazy train.

  107. 107.

    Brachiator

    @trollhattan: RE: And the idea that Republicans are afraid of looking like racists is a weird fantasy. They spent all of Obama’s presidency opposing him mainly because he was black, while happily stoking the racist fire that Trump lit up in fiery brilliance.

    Have you listened to them? They bitch and moan about being imprisoned by political correctness all the time. What we see and hear is the tip of the iceberg.

    I watch what they do, not just listen to their rhetoric.

  108. 108.

    dogwood

    @Brachiator:
    We live in a time when style and temperament are the only thing that counts in the media, and subsequently online when it comes to evaluating a politicians ideology and actual record. Thus, people like Flake and Sasse become “moderates”. Flake and Sasse are right-wingers, they’re just not assholes. I still remember the day Clinton announced Tim Kaine as her running mate and all the online disappointment that she picked a “moderate.” Nowhere in his governing or voting record in the Senate was there any indication that he was anything but a liberal. But he’s a good guy and definitely not an asshole, so he must be a “moderate.” It’s lazy thinking.

  111. 111.

    jl

    I have to wonder how much of the stink that Corker, Flake, McCain are making id due to rumors that Trump administration is thinking about strike on NK? All of them sit on committees that concern foreign relations and/or military, I think.

    And even oratorical defections like this usually have hidden support among colleagues that is not immediately apparent. Senate more plugged into foreign relations than House.

    So, other commenters and I have suggested this is a good time to contact Congress. Might nudge a few of any silent supporters of these three Senators who have come out explicitly against Trump

  112. 112.

    Brachiator

    @ruemara:

    Going the “instigate a stroke” route, eh?

    Trump is an angry, spiteful little child. I would love to see how far he can be pushed. A stroke would be a bonus.

  113. 113.

    dogwood

    @Brachiator:
    No matter what happens with this Trump “fake” presidency, we will never be done with him until he dies. He will be tweeting and showing up all over the news until he takes his last breath. I’m just thankful he’s not in his 50s.

  114. 114.

    Cacti

    @dogwood:

    I still remember the day Clinton announced Tim Kaine as her running mate and all the online disappointment that she picked a “moderate.” Nowhere in his governing or voting record in the Senate was there any indication that he was anything but a liberal. But he’s a good guy and definitely not an asshole, so he must be a “moderate.” It’s lazy thinking.

    The horseshoe theory of politics at work. Rather than viewing politics on a linear continuum of left to right, the horseshoe theory posits that as you approach the extremes of left wing/right wing thought, political movements start to have more in common with their supposed opposite, than with the mainstream of their movement (see: Berniebros and Trumpkins).

  115. 115.

    Brachiator

    I was waiting for another open thread, but I got to run for the day. A little something…

    Deals with the Tasmanian Devil
    The New Zealand Labour Party beat out other parties in the last election, but could only form a government with the support of the anti-immigrant NZ First Party. Agreeing to form a coalition government, new prime minister Jacinda Arden made NZ First leader Winston Peters Deputy PM and accepted some of that party’s anti-immigrant agenda. This would be like Hillary Clinton winning the election, but having to make Trump her vice president.

    But other parts of her agenda look very interesting. This is not necessarily a lesson for American Democrats, but is interesting and hopeful given a lot of the dismal political prospects in various countries. From the New Zealand papers:

    Today’s agreements build a clear agenda, prioritising regional economic development and job creation, Ardern said.

    “There has been a period of neglect over the last nine years for our regions.”

    The minimum wage will go up to $20 by 2021. Ardern says $16.50 starting in April 2018, will rise in steps since then.

    “We are a low wage economy… New Zealanders deserve a wage they can live on… it is no longer acceptable to try and expect families to survive on the minimum wage as it currently is.”

    There will be real progress on the environment and increases to the minimum wage, she says.

    NZF coalition agreement with Labour, at a glance:

    • Regional development: A $1 billion per year Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund

    • Rail: Significant investment in regional rail.

    • Forestry: Re-establish the New Zealand Forestry Service, and planting 100 million trees per year in a Billion Trees Planting Programme.

    • Auckland Port: Commissioning a feasibility study on moving the Ports of Auckland to Northport

    • Biosecurity: A funding increase to Biosecurity NZ and a select committee Inquiry into biosecurity

    • Irrigation: Honour existing Crown Irrigation investment commitments

    • Monetary policy: Review and reform the Reserve Bank Act

    • Minimum wage: Increase to $20 an hour by 2020, with the final increase to take effect in April 2021

    • Tax: Increase penalties for corporate fraud and tax evasion, and introduce a tax on exports of bottled water

    • KiwiBank: Investigate KiwiBank’s capabilities to become the Government’s banker when that contract is next renewed.

    • Foreign ownership: Strengthen the Overseas Investment Act and create a comprehensive register of foreign-owned land and housing

    • Research and development: Increase R&D spending to 2 per cent of GDP over 10 years

    • Health: Re-establish the Mental Health Commission, annual free health checks for seniors with the SuperGold card, free doctors’ visits for all under 14s, increasing the age for free breast screening to 74

    • Education: Restore funding for gifted students and Computers in Homes, pilot counsellors in primary schools, free driver training for all secondary school students, restart Te Kotahitanga teacher professional development

    • Defence: Re-examine the Defence procurement programme

    • Housing: Establish a Housing Commission

    • Law and Order: Work towards 1800 new police officers over three years, investigate a volunteer rural constabulary programme, increase funding for Community Law Centres, establish a Criminal Cases Review Commission

    • Social Development: More funding for family violence networks, including Women’s Refuge and Shakti, pilot a Youth Education, Training and Employment programme and provide 800 extra places for the LSV scheme, introduce Ready for Work programmes

    • Superannuation: Keep age of eligibility at 65

    • Environment: Move to an emissions-free government-vehicle fleet by 2025/26, introduce a Zero Carbon Act and independent Climate Commission, which will consider including agriculture into the ETS, establish a tyre stewardship fund, piloting alternatives to 1080, work towards a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary

    • Conservation: More funding for the Department of Conservation

    • Democracy: No new parliamentary building this term, an independent review of electoral processes and enrolments, and a review of the parliamentary processes, and pass a ‘Waka Jumping’ bill

    • Immigration: Ensure work visas reflect skills shortages and cut down on low quality international education courses, and take action on migrant exploitation, particularly international students

    • Pike River: Commit to re-entry to Pike River

    • Other: Build a Maori Battalion museum at Waitangi, review retail-power pricing, allow a conscience vote on a NZ First euthanasia referendum bill, a Public Inquiry “a decade after Shand” to investigate the drivers of local government costs, support NZ First’s racing policy, work towards a Free Trade Agreement with the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union, record a Cabinet minute regarding the lack of process followed prior to the National-led government sponsorship of UNSC2334, concerning the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories occupied since 1967

    The Green Party will get some ministerial positions and will be in charge of climate change issues.

  116. 116.

    jl

    @dogwood: If we are lucky and we get him out of the WH asap, the Trump Truthers will heavily overlap with the current groups of white supremacist militia reactionary loons already running around. Last thing I’d worry about. They’ll be easier to defeat with Trump in internal exile than with Trump in the WH.

  117. 117.

    Major Major Major Major

    @dogwood:

    Nowhere in his governing or voting record in the Senate was there any indication that he was anything but a liberal. But he’s a good guy and definitely not an asshole, so he must be a “moderate.”

    Well that, and the fact that that castrating neoliberal warmonger lady chose him.

  118. 118.

    trollhattan

    @Brachiator:
    Hopefully you/we never get the opportunity to see them operate full tilt. What you perceive as them set to “11” is actually about a “4.”

  121. 121.

    trollhattan

    @Cacti:
    My only Kaine disappointment–okay, #2 behind his not now being Veep–was his odd delivery in the Veep debate. He tried to be honey badger in conflict with his genial personality while Pence was content to be his usual jeebuz-and-zygote worshiping sentient barstool. Kaine is really good talking policy, politics and the impact on people. They could have reported on that.

  123. 123.

    Brachiator

    @trollhattan:

    Hopefully you/we never get the opportunity to see them operate full tilt. What you perceive as them set to “11” is actually about a “4.”

    I simply see their 4 as bad enough for now. I have no doubts that there is worse to come.

  125. 125.

    Wilson Heath

    There was only ever the one way in which “Country First” rang true:

    “Western Second.”

  126. 126.

    Scamp Dog

    @schrodingers_cat: my point was more that from an international perspective, our Dems would be a right-ish party. Our nominally Conservative party is in fact a radical right wing nationalist party with a taste for authoritarianism and theocracy.

    Of course, the effective definition of conservatism here IS the Republican Party, and I detest them more with every Republican administration.

  127. 127.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @HeleninEire:

    Oh, wow, so very sorry. I am genuinely grieved for you. You know you have a shitload of dear friends here in this den of jackals.

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