Author: Jobrny

We need a political revolution that will restore government to We The People.

Money spent on lobbying skyrocketed during tax overhaul

Let’s put to rest the promise lie that Trump would “drain the swamp.” The ‘swamp’ has never been deeper:

Money spent on lobbying by corporations, trade associations and special interest groups spiked during the final three months of 2017 as they battled for the biggest breaks possible in the most dramatic tax overhaul in more than 30 years.

The figures for the heavyweights are eye-popping.

The National Association of Realtors tallied $22.2 million between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, according to newly filed disclosure reports. That’s double what the organization spent in the third quarter on lobbying activities. The Business Roundtable spent $17.3 million in the fourth quarter, nearly quadruple the amount over the three previous months, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported spending $16.8 million, a $3.7 million increase.

President Donald Trump swept into the White House promising to “drain the swamp” in Washington, but lobbyists continue to wield considerable influence and they plied their trade with vigor as Congress crafted the $1.5 trillion tax-cut package that Trump signed into law in late December.

Woman ‘Dragged’ From West Virginia Hearing After Listing Lawmakers’ Oil And Gas Donors (video)


This is what happens when you live in a corporate dictatorship. The truth is suppressed. If only we had a press that was as courageous as this fine woman:

A woman was removed from the West Virginia House of Delegates on Friday after she used her testimony about a fossil fuel-sponsored piece of legislation to list industry donations to state lawmakers.

Lissa Lucas ventured to Charleston to voice her objections to the proposed bill, HB 4268, which would give oil and gas companies the right to drill on private land with the consent of just 75 percent of the landowners. Current law mandates energy companies obtain 100 percent approval before they can develop land, allowing a single person to hold up drilling.

Police Move In As Clashes Erupt At Right-Wing Rally At University Of Washington

Five people were arrested Saturday when counterprotesters clashed with members and supporters of a controversial right-wing “Patriot Prayer” group at the University of Washington campus in Seattle.

The group was invited by the school’s College Republicans to lead what was touted as a “Freedom Rally.” While the Prayer group chanted, “We died for liberty, not for socialism,” some of the hundreds of counterprotesters, who dwarfed the number of those at the rally, chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear, racists are not welcome here,” The Seattle Times reported.

The rally remained peaceful for about 75 minutes. But then police in riot gear struggled to keep the sides separated, using their bikes as barriers — and pepper spray — as the protesters began to clash.

Source: Police Move In As Clashes Erupt At Right-Wing Rally At University Of Washington

Gillibrand: If Trump wants due process, we’ll have hearings on allegations against him

Where are the other members of Congress calling for an investigation?

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) went after President Trump on Saturday for his tweet questioning a lack of “due process” in abuse claims, saying that Congress could hold hearings about sexual misconduct allegations against him if he wanted due process.

“The President has shown through words and actions that he doesn’t value women. It’s not surprising that he doesn’t believe survivors or understand the national conversation that is happening,” Gillibrand tweeted.

“If he wants due process for the over dozen sexual assault allegations against him, let’s have Congressional hearings tomorrow,” she continued. “I would support that and my colleagues should too.”

The alt-right is killing people

On December 7, 2017, a 21-year-old white male posing as a student entered Aztec High School in rural New Mexico and began firing a handgun, killing two students before taking his own life.At the time, the news of the shooting went largely ignored, but the online activity of the alleged killer, William Edward Atchison, bore all the hallmarks of the “alt-right” — the now infamous subculture and political movement consisting of vicious trolls, racist activists, and bitter misogynists.

Source: The alt-right is killing people – Salon.com

Twisted: Trump says Porter sick, guilty; defends him publicly

President Trump is defending Rob Porter even though, privately, he says he’s guilty.

Behind closed doors: The president has told multiple people that he believes the accusations about Porter, and finds him “sick.”

Four sources who have spoken directly with Trump tell me his private comments about ex-aide Porter — whose two ex-wives accused of violent attacks — have been brutal.

But his public comments don’t reflect that, at all.

This is the strongest indicator yet that Trump will reflexively defend his male allies from any and all accusations, even when he thinks those accusations are true.
Trump tells friends that he deplores the #MeToo movement and believes it unfairly exposes CEOs to lawsuits from their female employees. The fact that women frequently face sexual predation in the workplace doesn’t impact his view on this.

Source: Axios