The only way to win is not to play!
Sales of nuclear bunkers increase while some argue that even discussing the possibility of surviving nuclear war distracts from the effort to eliminate nuclear weapons. pic.twitter.com/sc3HdDojB3
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 17, 2024
Congressional leaders have unveiled a stopgap spending bill that will keep the federal government funded through March 14 and provide more than $100 billion in disaster aid. https://t.co/wpUsEAQlll
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 17, 2024
Another noxious perennial — the GOP refusing to pay the country’s bills. Glass half full:
Congressional leaders have unveiled a stopgap spending bill that will keep the federal government funded through March 14 and provide more than $100 billion in emergency aid to help states and local communities recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters.
The measure would prevent a partial government shutdown set to begin after midnight Friday. It would kick final decisions on this budget year’s spending levels to a new Republican-led Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. The continuing resolution generally continues current spending levels for agencies.
Passage of the measure is one of the final actions that lawmakers will consider this week before adjourning for the holidays and making way for the next Congress. It’s the second short-term funding measure the lawmakers have taken up this fall as they struggled to pass the dozen annual appropriations bills before the new fiscal year began Oct. 1, as they typically do.
The bill will provide $100.4 billion in disaster relief, with an additional $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers struggling with low commodity prices and high input costs…
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the agreement was “free of cuts and poison pills,” and would provide money for Democratic priorities like child care, workforce training and job placement.
“With this agreement, we are now on our way to avoiding a government shutdown,” Schumer said…
President Joe Biden has sought about $114 billion in disaster aid, submitting a $99 billion request in November, telling lawmakers the funding was “urgently needed.” The administration subsequently updated its request to include funding to repair federal facilities damaged due to natural disasters.
The largest share of the money, about $29 billion, will go to the main disaster relief fund at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The fund helps with debris removal, repairing public infrastructure and providing financial assistance to survivors. About $21 billion goes to help farmers who have experienced crop or livestock losses.
Another $8 billion will go to help rebuild and repair highways and bridges in more than 40 states and territories. And some $12 billion would go toward helping communities recover through block grants administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. About $2.2 billion would go to low-interest loans for businesses, nonprofits and homeowners trying to rebuild after a disaster.
“While this is not the legislation I would have written on my own, it is a strong, bipartisan package that provides the resources communities urgently need to recover,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Congress is expected to pass the measure just before another shutdown deadline. House Republicans generally give lawmakers 72 hours to review text of the legislation, which would push a vote on final passage to Friday if they follow through on that rule. The Senate is not known for acting speedily, but many lawmakers are anxious to adjourn for the year and make way for the next Congress…
The GOP Tantrum Caucus, needless to say, has Big Feelings about this. Per the Hill, friend to all GOP tantrums, “House Republicans fume at Speaker Johnson over handling of CR: ‘A total dumpster fire’”
House Republicans are fuming at Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) handling of an end-of-year measure to extend government funding until March, saying it is more like a sprawling omnibus — which they abhor — than a simple temporary funding measure…
“It’s not a CR, which is a continuation of the budget. It’s turning into an omnibus,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said.
The final text of the measure has not yet been released, as congressional leaders work through the remaining hangups ahead of Friday’s funding deadline. But as the package begins to come into clear focus, Republicans of all stripes — including hard-line conservatives, committee chairs and moderates — are hammering away at Johnson for its contents, the process he followed to craft it, and how he plans to bring it to the floor for a vote.
“It’s a total dumpster fire. I think it’s garbage,” said Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. “This is what Washington, D.C., has done. This is why I ran for Congress, to try to stop this. And sadly, this is happening again.”
“We get this negotiated crap, and we’re forced to eat this crap sandwich,” echoed Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), another Freedom Caucus member. “Why? Because freaking Christmas is right around the corner. It’s the same dang thing every year. Legislate by crisis, legislate by calendar. Not legislate because it’s the right thing to do.”…
The gripes are not just coming from hard-line conservatives. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), who represents a district won by President Biden in 2020 and Vice President Harris last month, stood up during the GOP conference meeting and told Johnson the government funding process has not been member-driven, according to a source in the room.
“Lawler just went to the microphone and he said, ‘This is no way to due process. … This is bulls‑‑‑,’” the source said. “He’s like, ‘Look, why are you telling me, if I want something I need to go talk to [Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer], and [House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries] hasn’t blessed this.’”
“He literally said, ‘because I’m not a f‑‑‑ing Democrat,’” the source added. “He said, you know, I should be able to go move the concerns and priorities for my district without having to go talk to these guys. He said it hasn’t been a member-driven process.”…
The broad frustration with the end-of-year package from across the conference is putting Johnson in a precarious position as he aims to remain Speaker next year with an even slimmer House GOP majority than what he has now. A key indicator that his Speakership is on the ropes would be if a majority of House Republicans oppose the CR.
Asked what the CR means for Johnson’s future — an implicit nod to the looming Speaker vote — Burlison, a Freedom Caucus member, told reporters, “Personally, I’m disappointed.”
“I think that he can do better,” he added. “He can communicate better. The fact that we haven’t seen the language today and we’re supposed to vote on it this week is unacceptable.”…
Coda: Everybody put on their suprised face!
At a time of heightened political division, Americans’ confidence in their country’s judicial system and courts dropped to a record low this year, according to a new Gallup poll. https://t.co/JxDhpOJVRO
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 17, 2024
Chief Oshkosh
When was the last time a Republican Congress passed a normal budget, with normal planning, normal consensus-building, normal discussion, normal anything? Do any of them even remember that a Continuing Resolution is not normal?
Of course, why would they remember? The press certainly has forgotten.
Another Scott
Full federal funding for the FSKey Bridge replacement in Baltimore is in the bill, like Biden wanted.
Good, good.
The performative screaming about no time to read the bill, broken process promises, etc., etc., is performative and should be ignored. Everyone needs to use their attention wisely.
Thanks, AL.
Hang in there, everyone.
Best wishes,
Scott.
John S.
This SCOTUS is so lawless and corrupt that I wouldn’t put it past them to rule that the 22nd amendment implies that the presidential terms must be consecutive (allowing for a 3rd term).
They seem to delight in imagining legal intent that doesn’t exist.
H.E.Wolf
Electoral-Vote.com has a write-up about the Continuing Resolution in today’s blog entry (this is a Z day, for those who keep track of the 2 bloggers’ writing schedule):
electoral-vote.com/evp2024/Items/Dec18-2.html
Steve LaBonne
@Chief Oshkosh: Hey, be reasonable. They’re a trolling party, not a governing party.
Ohio Mom
@John S.: In that case, our best bet is that age and infirmity catch up with Trump before a third term can be considered. For certain values of “best” because then it’s President Vance.
This is all so depressing, I need to sign off for a while, at least for this morning.
Be well, everybody.
Geminid
@H.E.Wolf: Subtitled, “The plot thickens…”
Good thing Mike Johnson is a prayin’ man.
lowtechcyclist
@John S.:
At this point, the Constitution effectively means whatever five members of the Bogus Scotus says it means. If they say it means that Trump can unilaterally have his critics thrown in jail, then that’s what it means.
TBone
Someone somewhere yesterday said that Mike Johnson always has an expression on his face like someone activated his electric butt plug by remote control. Now I can’t unsee it.
lowtechcyclist
@Geminid:
I came across a collection of old buttons of mine yesterday. One of them says, “Are we talking about the same God here? Because yours sounds like kind of a dick.”
For some reason, Mike Johnson brought that to mind just now.
Soprano2
I found this from Josh Marshall interesting. Should be a free link. It’s about establishing a fund to help people who TCFG targets for retribution from the government. An excerpt:
oldgold
“About $21 billion goes to help farmers who have experienced crop or livestock losses.”
And damn near every farmer I know, and I know plenty of them, is virulently against socialism.
Plus, they stream to the voting booth to vote against illegal immigrants, leaving their hogs and dairy cows to be tended to by illegal immigrants.
I could go on ….
Elizabelle
@Another Scott: Always up for some good news. Thank you.
lowtechcyclist
@TBone:
Good thing I’m sitting in an armchair, otherwise I’d have been literally ROFL!
TBone
@lowtechcyclist: comrade, I am appropriating that saying for distribution among all who need to hear it.
TBone
@lowtechcyclist: good to see a laugh as well as hear it in my head. It is not yet after dark, so I expected a different reaction.
John S.
@Ohio Mom:
I honestly don’t believe Trump will make it through his second term — let alone a third term. But it’s amazing that his lackeys are emboldened enough to discuss it as a real possibility, and that the notion isn’t immediately laughed off.
It is thoroughly embarrassing how ridiculous the court has become.
Butch
The AP story about the budget included this quote from that weasel Johnson, and made me think I need to occupy myself elsewhere for the rest of the day: “Congress is doing the best it can under difficult circumstances.” That’s the best you can do? Really?
TBone
@Soprano2: AMEN
comrade scotts agenda of rage
Good to see they funded the Key Bridge rebuild.
Latest on that is targeted completion date in late 28.
The DoJ filed a $100m civil suit against the owner, Grace Ocean LtD and the operator, Synergy Marine group in Sep. That’s actually something the incoming (mal)administration will continue pursuing since it’s something the Orange Fart Cloud knows how to do and he’s got taxpayer-paid-for legal staff to do it.
lowtechcyclist
@oldgold:
“Major Major’s father was an outspoken champion of economy in government, provided it did not interfere with the sacred duty of government to pay farmers as much as they could get for all the alfalfa they produced that no one else wanted or for not producing any alfalfa at all.” – Catch-22
Omnes Omnibus
@lowtechcyclist: Legal Realism would posit that that’s always what the Constitution has been.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@oldgold:
Years ago, Bill Maher (I know, I know) on his now-ancient Comedy Central show once said “The biggest welfare queens wear overalls”.
He’s not wrong.
TBone
@lowtechcyclist: I adore a man who knows the classics.
Jackie
Merry Christmas, Gaetz!
Starfish (she/her)
Jamelle Bouie’s article on how to be an opposition party was good.
Captain C
@John S.:
“Since English kings have ruled for life since before the Magna Carta, clearly the 22nd is both unconstitutional and also means Dear Leader can rule as long as he wants. I am the best legal scholar everywhere and deserve many statues (and expensive things).” — Scam Alito
“Gimme another RV! And a private plane with a pilot!” — Clarence the Corrupt
Kay
@Soprano2:
I love that he keeps throwing ideas out there. We cannot keep doing what we’re doing. We lose a little more bedrock values every year.
We’re losing. Something has to change or it will continue. TPM is worth every penny – they’re genuinely creative people.
Geminid
@TBone: I always thought Mike Johnson looked like there’s a fidget spinner 12 inches in front of his eyes that nobody else can see.
Captain C
@TBone:
Maybe thats what the ‘anti-porn app’ that he and his son share actually does.
Starfish (she/her)
@H.E.Wolf: That was lovely. I liked it. I knew Cardin had been around a long time. I didn’t realize he was retiring.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@Starfish (she/her):
From the article:
It’s crap like that that most likely depressed turnout. JFC.
Eunicecycle
@Geminid: yes he always looks spaced out to me.
Kay
@Starfish (she/her):
He’s on TikTok – he’s popular. He does these short but substantive pieces on specific policy or politics and he sticks around in the comments and takes it so seriously his presence acts as a moderator – people sort of rise to his level. He’s classed up TikTok! Amazing.
suzanne
@Soprano2:
This is bang-on, and also deeply depressing.
Our political life is entirely about image, vibes, dominance displays, feelings, etc etc etc. Thoroughly detached from fact, evidence, results. The field of play is not going to be won by demonstrating or proving anything.
I worry that Democrats are just not really able to accept that reality.
matt
It’s super funny that the Republicans are too big of assholes to be counted on, so leadership is forced to go to the Democrats, so the Republicans whine about that being unfair instead of modifying their behavior.
Old Man Shadow
When is the last time Congress passed a real budget on time?
I sure as fuck can’t remember.
Kay
@comrade scotts agenda of rage:
RFK Jr is a deal breaker for me, as is Tulsi Gabbard. Everyone abandoning standards to pander to Right wing voters/media is not acceptable to me. That’s not the solution.
Quinerly
@Omnes Omnibus:
Responded to you on that dying thread. Gotta get on with my day. Hope you have a good one, too.
Miss Bianca
Re the nuclear bunker thing: Haven’t any of these people watched The 100?
Kay
Lost another one to far Right politics. My younger sister is now an antivaxxer along with a lawyer friend who has Parkinson’s but (now) denies it and says her tremors were caused by vaccination boosters. Her husband is frantic with worry now not just due to her disease but due to her mental health.
She’s super smart and the best legal writer I personally know. She now denies Parkinson’s exists.
Validating RFK Jr will cause casualties. It will kill people.
catclub
@John S.:
Obama would be re-elected. so they will not do that one.
H.E.Wolf
@Starfish (she/her):
Glad you liked the Electoral-Vote.com piece! I hadn’t realized Rep. Cardin was retiring, either.
With Electoral-Vote, I prefer Z, the historian who writes the Tues/Wed/Fri blog posts, and who co-writes the Saturday Q&A. V (Mon/Fri posts) is more pessimistic.
catclub
I have not, but I can easily predict that the guys with guns hired to protect the bunker from all the riff raff who want in, will protect it for themselves.
oldgold
I am not a world traveler. The only foreign country I know much about is Canada. I have visited it many times and mix with Canadians at my sandy shack in Florida.
I very much like the country and its people.
So, it pisses me off that the Short-Fingered Vulgarian has decided to gratuitously insult Canada. Calling Justin Trudeau “The Governor of the Great State of Canada.” Or yesterday, saying on Truth Social, “The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired by Governor Justin Trudeau.”
Picking a fight with Canada? Really? Crazy and worse.
Shakti
@Chief Oshkosh: I believe it was sometime during the Shrub administration.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_United_States_federal_budget
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_United_States_federal_budget
Elizabelle
@Kay: My sympathies. It is terrible to watch that.
I think some of these idiot ideas are part of the person trying to assert control over the disease.
H.E.Wolf
*snort* Thank you for pointing out the funny side.
I guarantee he’s a preyin’ man, too. Sanctimonious Christian Dominionists invariably are.
We already know he’s a pryin’ man, what with porn surveillance apps on his son’s phone. I bet he tracks the menstrual cycles of as many women as he can. Ugh.
Re: your later point, which also made me laugh: is he looking at a fidget spinner? Or an op-art whirligig meant to hypnotize? I’m thinking of the quack doctor in the 1988 film “Hairspray”. :)
lowtechcyclist
@oldgold:
With their beady little eyes, their flapping heads so full of lies…
John S.
@catclub:
Sure they would! They gave presidents total immunity without any exceptions even though theoretically Biden could have availed himself of those powers.
They know Democrats won’t play by their rules, and if they try, they’ll just change the rules again.
Another Scott
@Old Man Shadow: There have been bills to reform the process, but they haven’t really gone anywhere. e.g. 2017 bill to go to a 2 year budget cycle..
It makes sense that the House doesn’t want to give up any control over budget matters, but the current system gives those who want to break the government too much power.
FWIW.
Best wishes,
Scott.
John S.
@oldgold:
Unfortunately, Trudeau made himself Trump’s dignity wraith. Had he followed in President Sheinbaum’s footsteps, I don’t think he would be getting this sort of treatment.
But he decided to kiss the ring.
rikyrah
Good Morning Everyone 😊 😊 😊
John S.
@Another Scott:
Which quartile would you place this in the pantheon of things for Democrats to do when they are back in power?
Frankly, this game has gotten so tiresome (and destructive) that I would place it in my 1st wave of things that need to change.
Soprano2
@Kay: Oh good grief, I am so sorry. I think sometimes when people get diseases or conditions that there aren’t any good answers or treatments for, they go off the deep end of the “hippy dippy” stuff in a desperate search for a “cure”, or they go into denial. I get that, it’s scary stuff, but denial doesn’t help anything. Having chronic pain since I was 27 has made me understand why people would do seemingly crazy stuff. When the doctors don’t have any good answers or help for you, it seems reasonable to look elsewhere.
Geminid
@H.E.Wolf: Ben Cardin’s replacement Angela Alsobrooks strikes me as a very capable woman, with a solid base of experience.
Shakti
@Chief Oshkosh: @Old Man Shadow:
I’m not sure why my comment got moderated but… it was sometime during the Bush administration.
According to Wikipedia, it was the FY 2004 or the FY 2006.
Budget chicken started as soon as the Tea Party took the house.
TBone
@Kay: I’m sorry you have to go through this. Cuss words go here.
___________________ there is not enough room for them all.
H.E.Wolf
I agree. Her Senate career may well exceed my high expectations!
(I’m chagrined to have mis-identified Sen. Cardin as as House member, in my earlier comment to Starfish.)
UncleEbeneezer
@TBone: Bzzzzzzttt….lol
UncleEbeneezer
Samantha Hancox-Li with another great essay on masculinity, boys, and the Patriarchal Bargain etc.:
Miss Bianca
@UncleEbeneezer: another good article from that organization.
Juju
@Kay: Dementia can be a part of Parkinson’s. If it’s a somewhat drastic sort of sudden personality change, that could be a reason. She might also start having hallucinations. That’s can also be part of Parkinson’s.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@Kay:
We don’t agree on practically anything…except those two.
I’ve said it repeatedly, she’s a national security risk in that position. The Cheneys will go into apoplexy should she get confirmed.