What kind of Biden Cabinet Nominees do Republican Senators loathe the most?

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Thursday March 18, 2021 · 11:41 AM PDT

2021/03/18 · 11:41

Xavier Becerra was confirmed as Health and Human Services secretary on a 50-49 Senate vote

Let’s take a quick look at Republican support for President Biden’s nominees for cabinet-level positions. Here’s how much support nominees have garnered from GOP Senators:

White male nominees (5): 33 vote average

White female nominees (4): 29.5 vote average

Black nominees (5): 29.6 average

Hispanic nominees (4): 13.3 average

Republican Senators don’t seem to like Biden’s Hispanic nominees very much. It’s a small sample of course, but striking. Hispanic men, in particular, have received very little support from Republican Senators with Xavier Becerra receiving one GOP vote for Health and Human Services secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas receiving 6 for DHS secretary and Miguel Cardona receiving 14 for Education secretary. For other ethnicities, results range from zero GOP support for Neera Tanden (OMB nominee), 4 votes for Debra Haaland (Interior) to unanimous support for Katherine Tai (US Trade Rep.).

Do you think the low support for Hispanic nominees is particular to the nominees or just anti-Hispanic racism? Are GOP Senators scared to go on record supporting Hispanic nominees because of electoral consequences in primaries?

How YOU can impact #BoycottIndiana even if you don't live anywhere near there. With your wallet.

tremayne

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Friday March 27, 2015 · 7:28 AM PDT

2015/03/27 · 07:28

The hashtag #BoycottIndiana is now trending on Twitter due to Governor Pence's signing of a "religious freedom" law okaying discrimination in the state. In addition to helping spread the message there is another way to get people's attention: buy withholding your cash. Do you ever go the mall? Chances are it's owned by Simon Property Group which is headquartered in, you guessed it, Indiana. Do you ever eat at Steak 'n Shake? Also based in Indiana. And guess what? These outfits tend to give money to Republican candidates.

More below.

Poll

138 votes Show Results

Will #BoycottIndiana make a difference?

138 votes Vote Now!

Will #BoycottIndiana make a difference?

Yes, money talks

84 votes

Maybe

22 votes

Probably not but I hope so

22 votes

It's not a great idea

10 votes

2016 GOP Power Rankings

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday February 02, 2015 · 11:21 AM PST

2015/02/02 · 11:21

Who is leading the GOP field of presidential candidates right now? My ranking of candidates and rationale for each is below. Sports fans are no doubt familiar with Power Rankings. The idea is too look beyond just team records and determine which teams are the strongest right now. Some Power Rankings are entirely subjective and others are entirely driven by an algorithm and some are a mix of objective and subjective factors. My rankings will be like the latter. Full list and analysis below.

Poll

58 votes Show Results

Thinking like a Republican, who is the current GOP favorite?

58 votes Vote Now!

Thinking like a Republican, who is the current GOP favorite?

Jeb Bush

22 votes

Ben Carson

4 votes

Chris Christie

4 votes

Lindsey Graham

0 votes

Mike Huckabee

4 votes

Rand Paul

5 votes

Mike Pence

2 votes

Rick Perry

0 votes

Bobby Jindal

2 votes

Rick Scott

0 votes

Scott Walker

15 votes

New Kansas Poll Surprise (Orman+10) and other Signs of Life for Senate Democrats

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday October 05, 2014 · 9:18 AM PDT

2014/10/05 · 09:18

NBC News is out with new Senate polls this morning and the big news is a surprise 10-point lead for Greg Orman over incumbent Republican Pat Roberts, 48-to-38 percent among likely voters (and also a 10-point lead among registered voters). Orman is the independent candidate who says he will caucus with the majority in the Senate. Pat Roberts seems to be in big trouble with the election 4 weeks away.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER in KANSAS: Oct. 14. Advanced voting starts Oct. 15.

The NBC/Marist joint effort is also showing Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan with a 4-point lead over Thom Tillis among likely voters in North Carolina, 44-40 percent.

Finally, the race remains tight in Iowa where NBC/Marist has Joni Ernst (R) leading the Democrat Bruce Braley by two points, 44-42 percent.

Nate Silver's recent ratings of pollsters doesn't have a grade for NBC/Marist jointly. His grade for NBC/WSJ is A- (A to F scale) with a 0.5 D lean and his grade for Marist is B+ with a 1.5 D lean.

Election day is Nov. 4!

One Philadelphia Gay Bashing Suspect is a Catholic H.S. Assistant Coach Who Was Fired Last Night

tremayne

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Thursday September 18, 2014 · 7:19 AM PDT

2014/09/18 · 07:19

Here's an update to yesterday's diary by mconvente regarding the social media sleuthing that revealed a group of people suspected of attacking a gay couple in downtown Philadelphia. Follow that link for background on the story.

But the update is that one suspect, an assistant coach at Archbishop Wood High School, has been fired by the school. Kenneth Gavin, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, commented on the firing:

"He was terminated this evening and will not be permitted to coach in any archdiocesan school," Gavin said. "We expect all those who work with students in our schools to model appropriate Christian behavior at all times."

Other members of the attacking group were apparently also associated with Archbishop Wood High School according to another story:

“Earlier today, Archbishop Wood High School became aware that some of its former students were allegedly involved in the assault of two men in Center City last week,” the statement read. “This afternoon, administrators communicated with the entire Archbishop Wood school community to make it emphatically clear that the school does not, under any circumstances, tolerate or condone the violent and hateful behavior displayed by those who took part in this senseless attack.
“Administration also stressed that Catholic schools are centers of learning where students are expected to treat each other in a Christ-like manner at all times and that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The actions of those who took part in the attack are reprehensible and entirely unacceptable. They are not an accurate reflection of our Catholic values or of Archbishop Wood High School.”

Here is some additional info. This high school is located in Warminster Township, PA. This community is about 90% white. Apparently if the remaining 10% is a concern for families they can send their kids to Archbishop Wood High School where "Students of color make up less than 3% of the student population." This sounds like an insulated world where everyone is expected to look and act and love the same way.

At least the school administrators are saying and doing the right things since this story came to light.

Suicide By Cop: What a Well-Trained Officer Would Do

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday August 21, 2014 · 1:33 PM PDT

2014/08/21 · 13:33

Two days ago 25-year-old Kajieme Powell stole two cans of soda and, when St. Louis police arrived, demanded they shoot him. As ZhenRen's diary describes, they did, multiple times, until he was quite dead.

Ezra Klein believes Powell may have been mentally ill. And Powell's actions certainly seem inspired by the killing of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson. But whatever else the Powell case is, it's also an act of Suicide By Cop. This is actually a common phenomenon. Common enough that many police departments have policies on how to deal with people who want you to kill them. Did the two St. Louis cops who encountered Powell follow these recommendations? As I detail below, they didn't do a single thing right. If they had, Powell would still be alive.

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday July 21, 2014 · 11:10 PM PDT

2014/07/21 · 23:10

This song hit the charts during the first year of Ronald Reagan's presidency and reached number 8 on the Billboard chart.

This song's performer is popular across the political spectrum. He was invited by a Republican president to perform at a Christmas special and this song was used by a Democratic presidential during his campaign.

This song is basically an ode to immigrants who seek a home in the United States.

Figure it out yet? Maybe some lyrics will help:

Far,
We've been traveling far
Without a home
But not without a star
Free,
Only want to be free
We huddle close
Hang on to a dream

On the boats and on the planes
They're coming to America
Never looking back again,
They're coming to America

Home
Don't it seem so far away
Oh, we're traveling light today
In the eye of the storm
In the eye of the storm

Home
To a new and a shiny place
Make our bed and we'll say our grace
Freedom's light burning warm
Freedom's light burning warm

Everywhere around the world
They're coming to America
Ev'ry time that flag's unfurled
They're coming to America

Got a dream to take them there
They're coming to America
Got a dream they've come to share
They're coming to America

They're coming to America
They're coming to America
They're coming to America
They're coming to America
Today, Today,
Today, Today, Today

My country 'tis of thee (today)
Sweet land of liberty (today)
Of thee I sing (today)
Of thee I sing
Today, Today, Today
Today, today, today......

Huge hit. People loved it. Or they used to. It was called "America" (or "Coming to America").

Video below the thing and a bonus photo/Tweet.

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 23, 2014 · 9:34 PM PDT

2014/06/23 · 21:34

I think this is new but I haven't checked the site until now and don't see it.....

According to the NY Times, the Christie administration is the target of a new investigation being conducted in parallel by the Manhattan district attorney and the SEC. This investigation involves the Pulaski Skyway. You may recall that Christie diverted the Port Authority money that had been designated for the Hudson River tunnel toward repairs on Pulaski. The problem is, that bridge isn't one controlled by the Port Authority and therefore it's improper to use those funds on it. Even Port Authority lawyers told Christie this. What did Christie do? Just call the project: “Lincoln Tunnel Access Infrastructure Improvements.” Of course the Pulaski Skyway doesn't connect to the Lincoln Tunnel but what the hell, close enough right?

No. The repairs should have been funded entirely by NJ and not by Port Authority funds. Here's the problem for Christie:

Under a New York State law known as the Martin Act, prosecutors can bring felony charges for intentionally deceiving bond holders, without having to prove any intent to defraud or even establish that any fraud occurred.

So where is the investigation at this point?

Among those who have received subpoenas from Mr. Vance’s office is Jeffrey Chiesa, a close friend of Mr. Christie’s for more than two decades who has served as New Jersey’s attorney general and as a United States senator. He was the governor’s chief counsel in 2011 when the authority’s lawyers amended the funding resolution with what critics have said was a questionable legal justification. A person familiar with that subpoena said Mr. Chiesa was not a target of the investigation.

Chiesa may not be the target of the investigation but I think I have an idea who is.

Roads are socialism

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday May 14, 2014 · 8:48 PM PDT

2014/05/14 · 20:48

President Obama called today for spending to improve the nation's transportation infrastructure. This is another example of Obama's big government thinking. He doesn't understand what most Americans instinctively do: roads are socialism.

In real America, if you want to get from point A to point B you either hack your way through the brush using good old-fashioned hard work or you build a private road and charge other people to drive on it. If you can't afford the private road option then it's brush hacking for you. It's called independence. And freedom.

The President made his push for renewed infrastructure spending in an outdoor speech in front of a dilapidated bridge. Obama said many bridges are in dire need of repair or replacement and he wants me to pay for it. You know what I say to that?: Bridges are socialism.

In a free country if you want to cross a river you do something we used to call "swimming." That is, before the country got too lazy for that kind of effort. Now people just drive over bridges and think nothing of it. And why should they? Most of them are freeloaders, crossing raging rivers for free on the hard work of us freedom lovers.

And as usual, President Obama is circumventing the will of the people and just making some of his socialism happen by dictatorial decree. Here's an example:

"We're releasing a new plan for 11 more projects to accelerate from Boston South Station to Pensacola Bay Bridge, to new light rail projects north and south of Seattle," he said, adding that his order would cut "bureaucratic red tape that stalls good projects from breaking ground."

That's right, there he goes again with his light rail projects. All this guy knows how to do is spend my money on trains. And you know what? Trains are socialism. Hell, trains are communist! We know they're communist because the Chinese love 'em.

And think about it: when you drive a car you're by yourself. An independent freedom loving American! But when you take the train you're surrounded by sweaty characters of questionable heritage. It's obvious socialism and not at all surprising someone like Obama would be all for it. Wake up America!

Also, Benghazi!

Poll

60 votes Show Results

Which thing is the most socialist?

60 votes Vote Now!

Which thing is the most socialist?

roads

9 votes

bridges

1 vote

trains

3 votes

food

2 votes

Obamacare

10 votes

the gays

2 votes

The Constitution

16 votes

Hillary Clinton

1 vote

pie

16 votes

GOP's Obamacare Evolution in 44 words

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday February 26, 2014 · 12:50 PM PST

2014/02/26 · 12:50

2008: Death panels!

2009: Socialized medicine!

2010: Obamacare will destroy America!

2011: Repeal Obamacare!

2012: Repeal and replace!

2014: Fix Obamacare!

2016: Benghazi!

2017: We were the ones that named it "Obamacare"

2018: We created Obamacare!

2020: Keep your government hands off my Obamacare!

Shhh, Don't Tell Anybody (some things are improving)

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday December 06, 2013 · 7:31 AM PST

2013/12/06 · 07:31

Psst. Keep it quiet, but just between you and me, some things are getting better. Apparently, unemployment has fallen to it's lowest level in 5 years: 7 percent. The realists at Calculated Risk are impressed:

This was another solid employment report. Many of the negatives in the October report were related to the government shutdown and were mostly reversed in the November report.

Please don't alert the media.

Also, and keep this very quiet, Healthcare.gov is currently not lagging.

Meanwhile, the annual budget deficit continues to fall rapidly. There are downsides to that but it deflates the GOP talking points about Democrats as big spenders. But don't even think of sharing this news. Let's keep it between you and me.

Some other hush hush news on the morals front:

The teenage pregnancy rate has fallen to historic lows.

The numbers of states with legal gay marriage keeps rising.

Oh, and here's one last story to keep to yourself, the Senate is now pushing through nominations to fill important government positions. Nothing Republicans can do to stop it.

Please, don't let this news get out.

Poll

16 votes Show Results

Which?

16 votes Vote Now!

Which?

I am going to tell people about this!

9 votes

Quiet, this stuff never happened.

4 votes

Pie

3 votes

GOP Base: They're hurting so bad I almost feel sorry for them. But not quite.

tremayne

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday October 12, 2013 · 6:35 AM PDT

2013/10/12 · 06:35

The squeals are loud from certain corners of the political webs. They're calling for John McCain's head, they're calling for a new party, and mostly they're just howling at the moon.

Poll

362 votes Show Results

This amount of schadenfreude was:

362 votes Vote Now!

This amount of schadenfreude was:

Too much

13 votes

Just the right amount

63 votes

Not nearly enough

259 votes

pie

27 votes

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What kind of Biden Cabinet Nominees do Republican Senators loathe the most?

How YOU can impact #BoycottIndiana even if you don't live anywhere near there. With your wallet.

2016 GOP Power Rankings

New Kansas Poll Surprise (Orman+10) and other Signs of Life for Senate Democrats

One Philadelphia Gay Bashing Suspect is a Catholic H.S. Assistant Coach Who Was Fired Last Night

Suicide By Cop: What a Well-Trained Officer Would Do

Name That Tune

NY Times: A New Christie Bridge Scandal

Roads are socialism

GOP's Obamacare Evolution in 44 words

Shhh, Don't Tell Anybody (some things are improving)

GOP Base: They're hurting so bad I almost feel sorry for them. But not quite.