Editors’ Choice

Posts selected by Moose editors

Editors' Choice, Fighting Back

Fighting Back: “Republicans are giving a raw deal to hard working families across America.”

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The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Congressman Bill Pascrell of New Jersey.

(Congressman Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week’s address, Pascrell called out the GOP tax scam for what it is: a disastrous law that raises taxes on millions of middle class families, while handing massive tax breaks to corporations and the richest few. )

“Republicans didn’t write their bill for the middle-class. The middle class was the furthest thing from their minds. They wrote their tax bill for their donor class. Then they shoved it down our throats in hopes no one would read the fine print.

“Let’s talk about the fine print.

“The Republican tax scam cost more than $2 trillion. That’s trillion with a ‘T.’ Where will that money go? I’m going to tell you.

“About $1.6 trillion of that money will go straight to reward corporations and the top One Percent. Can you think of a group less in need of tax relief?

“I’m all for growing wealth. But I’m not for gaming the system in the name of greed.

“And what are these big corporations doing with their payouts from the Republicans? I’m going to tell you, again.

“They’re putting it right in their pockets. They’re giving themselves sweet bonuses. They’re lavishing buybacks on their shareholders. […]

“The Republicans’ only major legislation passed under this administration is a corruption of our democracy done at the behest of their donors.

“The Republicans are giving a raw deal to hard working families in New Jersey and across America. You deserve a better one – A Better Deal: with Better Jobs, Better Wages and a Better Future for everyone.”

(CSPAN link to Weekly Democratic Address: here)

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Editors' Choice, Fighting Back

Fighting Back: “We must come together to work on gun violence reforms that will make a difference.”

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The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Senator Dianne Feinstein of California.

(Sen. Dianne Feinstein Delivers the Weekly Democratic Address)

“On December 14, 2012, a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, with an AR-15, and murdered 20 children – ages six and seven, beautiful children – and six young staffers. Five years later, a gunman walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, with another AR-15, and murdered 14 children and three staff. Between just these two shootings, Congress did precisely nothing to remove weapons of war from our streets. Nothing to tighten background checks. Nothing to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). “There’s so much we can do. We just need the willpower and intestinal fortitude to take on the NRA and get something done for the safety of the men, women, and particularly the children in our schools of this country.”

(CSPAN link to Weekly Democratic Address: here)

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Editors' Choice, From the Archives, Personal Stories

The Other Closet: Living With the Stigma of Mental Illness

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From the Motley Moose Archives … (Photobucket images are no longer available and have been downsized)

I have touched on the topic of stigma against the mentally ill before, so I’m taking bits and pieces of research from that previous diary. But I’d like to revisit it here in a slightly different way. There was a statement made in another diary the other day that brought this to mind. Someone elsewhere in the blogosphere suggested that the mentally ill should be imprisoned “just like sex offenders” until doctors could determine that they were safe for society. I’m assuming that it was not intended as it was written (I certainly hope not), but unfortunately, there are many out there who do actually think this way.

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Editors' Choice, Fighting Back

Fighting Back: #NeverAgain – “We are tired of hearing it is too soon. It’s time.”

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The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Florida).

(Congressman Ted Deutch, representing Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, home to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, speaks on gun control)
 
Congressman Deutch:

For those who say it is too soon – For those who always say it is too soon to make change, you must live with the knowledge that it is too late for the grieving parents, it is too late for the survivors who will carry this with them forever, it is too late for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas community.

We are tired of hearing that it is too soon. […]

It’s time for Republicans in Congress to show just a shred of the courage of American students. It’s time for Speaker Ryan to let the House vote to require background checks on every sale and transfer, to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists, to outlaw bump stocks that enable automatic rates of fire, to require that no one under the age of 21 can buy a gun, and to once again ban assault weapons from our streets.

The students of Stoneman Douglas demand action. They will never give up. They are crying out, America has heard it, the world has heard it from them. Never again!

(Link to Nancy Pelosi Newsroom here)

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Editors' Choice, Fighting Back

Fighting Back: “Children are dying in our schools … all this Congress has to say is, let’s have a moment of silence.”

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House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference and the topic was the mass shooting in Florida and the weak Republican Party response to it. She was joined by Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) who is the chair of the House Democrats Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

Nancy Pelosi:

Once again, we come together very sadly. Our hearts have been broken by the tragedy of gun violence, this time Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Seventeen pronounced dead, more wounded. Innocent children sending terrified texts and goodbyes to their parents. We thank God for the heroism of the teachers, the school leaders, and our first responders running into harm’s way to save lives. […]

Children are dying in our schools, in our communities, on our streets. All this Congress has to say is, let’s have a moment of silence.

Mike Thompson:

If I was a Republican Member, I would be embarrassed that my Leadership wouldn’t address this issue. […] We were elected to deal with tough issues. And this is no different than any other tough issue. Somebody has to screw up the courage to be able to look at this issue and figure out what can Congress do. […]

And the idea that all of these shootings are mental health issues? I am sure that mental health factors in, but you can’t deflect by saying, ‘Oh, it is a mental health issue,’ and then turn around and work overtime trying to repeal the mental health programs that we have in place or put out a budget that cuts the mental health budget that we so desperately need across our United States of America.

The full transcript is below.

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Editors' Choice, Fighting Back

Fighting Back: Infrastructure Weak! “Trump’s plan is embarrassingly small”

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The weekly Fighting Back post is also an Open News Thread.

The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon.

(Rep. Peter DeFazio knows infrastructure is a critical piece of any effort to create quality, good-paying jobs. That’s why he fighting for #ABetterDeal to Rebuild America.)

The administration must offer an infrastructure plan that strengthens the commitment to the national transportation network by providing stable funding for more than a year. Trump’s plan is embarrassingly small. Democrats have announced a better deal to rebuild America. This infrastructure plan is five times bigger than his proposal. One trillion dollars to rebuild crumbling roads, schools, extend high-speed internet to every family in America. […] We must strengthen the federal commitment to the national transportation network of providing stable, long-term funding. If the president and congress are serious about prioritizing infrastructure, they have a unique opportunity to make badly needed investments. But they have been avoiding this for decades. Democrats are ready to get to work and deliver to the American people a better deal, jobs, wages and future.

(CSPAN link to Weekly Democratic Address: here)

(Link to Nancy Pelosi Newsroom here)

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Editors' Choice, Fighting Back

Fighting Back: Shutdown Redux “Republicans have once again revealed their utter incompetence in governing.”

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The government is being funded with a Continuing Resolution that will expire on February 8th, next Thursday. No progress has been made on the issues that need to be resolved to come up with a plan to keep the government open.

The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota.

(Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) delivers Weekly Democratic Party Address)

“Earlier this week, President Trump delivered his first official State of the Union address. It was my first State of the Union as well—I’ve only been a member of the Senate for a little over a month, so I was eager to hear the President’s ideas for how best to move our country forward,” said Senator Tina Smith (D-MN). “When it comes to bipartisanship, President Trump must match his deeds with his words. The challenges we face can only be met if we meet them together, not just as Democrats or Republicans. Mr. President, Democrats stand ready to work with you. But if you are unwilling to work with us in good faith, know that we won’t back down from the fight.”

(CSPAN link to Weekly Democratic Address: here)

(Link to Nancy Pelosi Newsroom here)

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Democratic Party Values, Editors' Choice, Fighting Back

Fighting Back: Rep. Joe Kennedy III – “This is not right, this is not who we are”

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Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) speaking from Fall River, Massachusetts gives the Democratic Party response to the State of the Union Address:

Many have spent the past year anxious, angry, afraid. We all feel the fault lines of a fractured country. We hear the voices of Americans who feel forgotten and forsaken.

And [we have that] nagging, sinking feeling, no matter your political beliefs: this is not right. This is not who we are.[…]

This administration isn’t just targeting the laws that protect us – they are targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection.

For them, dignity isn’t something you’re born with but something you measure.

By your net worth, your celebrity, your headlines, your crowd size.

Not to mention, the gender of your spouse. The country of your birth. The color of your skin. The God of your prayers.

Their record is a rebuke of our highest American ideal: the belief that we are all worthy, we are all equal and we all count. In the eyes of our law and our leaders, our God and our government.

That is the American promise. […]

Bullies may land a punch. They might leave a mark. But they have never, not once, in the history of our United States, managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united in defense of their future.

Politicians can be cheered for the promises they make. Our country will be judged by the promises we keep.

THAT is the measure of our character. That’s who we are.

Out of many. One.

Ladies and gentlemen, have faith: The state of our union is hopeful, resilient, enduring.

Full text of speech is below

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Editors' Choice, Fighting Back

Fighting Back: “Republicans who control the House, the Senate and the White House are refusing to govern”

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The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Representative Adam Smith of Washington state.

(Congressman Adam Smith of Washington, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week’s address, Smith condemns the Republican Congress’ refusal to govern and inability to pass a budget that meets the needs and values of our country.)

Rep. Smith:

I know a lot of people paid close attention to the government shutdown that happened last week and are wondering what it was all about. Why did it happen? And there’s really a very simple explanation. The Republicans who control the House, the Senate and the White House are refusing to govern on the critical issues that face our country. And what they were trying to do last week – and ultimately did do – was pass yet another short-term, stop-gap spending bill. That is not funding the government. […]

We need to pass a budget to fix health care, to deal with disaster relief to deal with all of these issues if we’re going to actually take care of the middle class and the working people of this country – and that is what the Republicans have refused to do. […]

The problem we have in this country right now is the Republicans who control the House, the Senate and the White House, flat out refuse to govern. They refuse to fix our health care system, they refuse to pass a budget, they refuse to take care of disaster relief. It is time we hold them accountable.

(CSPAN link to Weekly Democratic Address: here)

(Link to Nancy Pelosi Newsroom here)

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