Here it comes: The Fast Track (TPA) freight train to shove the TPP down our throats

[cali]

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [e-mail] to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce008052-5dfd-11e3-8fca-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2mgitAITB

Senior US lawmakers have moved closer to a deal to grant President Barack Obama the authority to pass trade agreements swiftly and without changes through Congress, bolstering the White House’s position ahead of a key round of trade negotiations with Pacific nations.

The breakthrough in recent days could lead to the presentation of so-called “fast track” legislation before the end of the year, and possibly as early as next week, say people familiar with the discussions.

<snip>

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [e-mail] to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce008052-5dfd-11e3-8fca-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2mgj5gmjs

Aides to the Senate finance committee and the House ways and means committee, which cover trade, have been working on a TPA bill for months, and progress has been much slower than expected, raising doubts about the political appetite for trade liberalisation in Congress.

The original aim was to have leaders of the panels from both parties bless the deal, but Sandy Levin, the top Democrat on the ways and means committee, is not expected to sign on to the agreement. But Max Baucus, the Democratic chairman of the Senate finance committee, and Orrin Hatch, the panel’s top Republican, are on board, as is Dave Camp, the Republican chairman of the ways and means committee.

<snip>

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ce008052-5dfd-11e3-8fca-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2mgiZjMXK

[Laelth]

1. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[djean111]

2. No vote from me for anyone who supports the TPP.

Anyone who does is actually a republican, and I will not vote for a republican, no matter what game jersey they have appropriated.

[cali]

3. Alas, you're wrong. There are many in the dem party in Congress who support this shit

and that doesn't make them republicans. time to accept that corporate influence and control exists in both parties.

[djean111]

4. I am accepting it, sadly.

The result is that I am feeling less and less like voting makes a difference.
We are exhorted to vote for DINO's, knowing they will side with the GOP, and told this is the only way to change things.
Yes, this is the only way to change things to the satisfaction of the GOP and the third way and ALEC.
I don't know what the answer is, but willingly participating in the demise of what the Democratic party used to stand for is not something I want or need to do.

And looks like I will be expected to vote for a third way prez in 2016 because we both have lady parts and because there is a nominal D after the name and because Big Dog.

[newfie11]

13. I am so hoping Bernie runs

I agree with you. Why keep voting for people the vote with the repugs.

[sendero]

18. And that says it all..

... we are down to a literal handful of Democrats that are actually Democrats. At long last, this is where we stand.

It would be cool if we could at least organize a petition that says, basically:

"I will not cast a vote for any member of Congress involved in any way in enabling the passage of this legislation".

[merrily]

7. You're correct, except that is is long past time.

[solarhydrocan]

6. "Anyone who does is actually a republican..."

She doesn't just support it, she "worked" on it.

[merrily]

8. And Obama wants it fast tracked.

I can't wait to see the kabuki vote. I predict that it will squeak by (or appear to), with most Republicans voting for it, along with Democrats in the safest blue seats.

[SidDithers]

39. Green for victory!!

Sid

[NuclearDem]

49. Another completely content-free post from you.

[SidDithers]

56. There's meaningful content to the poster that was addressed...nt

Sid

[Puzzledtraveller]

52. I think they all pretty much play for the same team anymore.

The one that pays the most.

[silvershadow]

5. I am sure this will work out for the states about as well as NAFTA did. Cue the Ross Perot video.

Giant sucking sound indeed. We are truly screwn.

[Art_from_Ark]

37. Screwn, blewn and tattoon

[stuffmatters]

9. Aren't Sherrod Brown and Liz Warren on the Senate Banking Committee

I expect them to make some very loud and rational objections in opposition before the vote, maybe convince enough to vote against this antilabor, antidemocratic treaty. Baucus is only one (predictable) vote for global corporate supremacy, but Brown & Warren... hard to believe that the more they are finally able to read in this essentially ALEC "masterpiece", the more convincingly they will inform and rally thier peers to vote against it even in committee for fast tracking.

[ZM90]

26. I sure as hell hope so. If this thing passes we're all fucked. n/t

[Divernan]

10. "Bolstering the White House's position" =s bolstering special corporate interests' position.

Interesting spin put in the link:

bolstering the White House’s position ahead of a key round of trade negotiations with Pacific nations

.

And it is so true, since we have seen for months that the White House has included hundreds of corporate representatives in secret negotiations on the TPP, while excluding public interest groups and severely limiting information provided to congress.

Public Citizen Detail on TPP http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=3129

Congress has barely even been allowed to see the “draft” text. Members cannot take detailed notes or review with staff. They are not allowed to talk about it.

A secret trade negotiation that has included over 600 official corporate “trade advisors” while hiding the text from Members of Congress, governors, state legislators, the press, civil society, and the public

.

FROM —http://www.exposethetpp.org/

[sabrina 1]

73. Congress is supposed to write bills that represent the people. It is so blatantly UNCONSTITUTIONAL

and stunningly WRONG for Corporations, some of them foreign airc, to write legislation for this country that there are no words to express the sheer GALL of those who are supporting this. Criminality actually when something so clearly violates our laws.

Have they forgotten their oaths of office, or did they just mouth them for show?

Surely the people can stop this legally?

IF this passes it will not only expose those who support it, it will demonstrate that we no longer have representation.

I hope there is fight over this because when we are at the point that Giant Corps are writing our legislation it means there has been a takeover of this government.

I hope there are enough elected officials who have the guts to put a stop to it.

But I'm not hopeful.

Otoh, let's see how Republicans act considering, as the article indicates, this is something Obama wants.

I was under the impression that if Obama wants something, Republicans will vote against it.

This will clear that up, whether it is all just a game they play to keep up the illusion of a two party system, or if it's real.

[Divernan]

75. Corporations/ALEC have been drafting bills for decades at state and federal levels.

I started working for the Dem. caucus of a state legislature in 1993 and was disgusted to learn it was business as usual that lobbyists made the rounds of both Democratic and Republican state house and senate members - with a check in one hand and an already drafted bill in the other. And that was well before SCOTUS sold the country out to corporations in its Citizens United decision. There was a handful of state reps/senators who had integrity and could not be bought off - I'm talking about 1/20th at the most. They were ridiculed by the rest as being fools who did not know how the game was played, and of course they were blocked from ever, ever, ever being appointed to chair committees in their respective chambers, or elected to any leadership positions within their respective caucuses. Our top 2 Dem. leaders from that period are both in prison now for malfeasance - prosecuted by a Republican state Attorney General, who never got around to investigating or prosecuting GOP members.

Switch channels to today's presidential wannabe, Hillary Clinton. How can anyone in their remotely right mind look at the millions paid/donated to the Clintons and or their Foundation in the past years by the One Percenters and corporate/banking interests and kid themselves that those dollars were paid/"donated" with no strings attached. Those were corporate investments. Bill Clinton's exorbitant speaking fees have netted him a personal worth of over $50 MILLION since he left office. That's personal worth, not his Foundation. Whenever there is a conflict of interest between corporate profits and public interests, there is no question on which side Mrs. Clinton will come down.

[sabrina 1]

80. I think most people were not aware of this unless they were very involved politically, which

most are not. But now it IS more widely known, and this should be a number one issue in all elections from now on. Make huge Corporate donations POISON for candidates. If someone is running who has these huge donations, political signs and tee shirts etc should have their donations listed on them with the question 'Who will (whoever) be representing, YOU or their Corporate Donors'??

[Divernan]

11. "Corporate trojan horse" from the trojan horse in the White House

Democracy Now Report on TPP

It’s a corporate Trojan Horse. Limits food safety and environmental safety legislation and more. . . and a whole chunk of SOPA is also included. Every country will be required to change its laws to conform to this.

TPP threatens food safety. It places the profits of multinational corporations over the food security of individual nations

.

The Obama administration has made it a priority to have the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) completed by the end of the year. The TPP is the largest trade agreement negotiated since the World Trade Organization (WTO). It covers 12 countries so far and includes provisions that reach beyond issues of trade. The full contents of the TPP are unknown because it has been negotiated with unprecedented secrecy; however, it is clear from what has been revealed that the TPP gives transnational corporations the power to alter our laws down to the local level to enhance and protect their profits.” See more at: http://www.occupy.com/article/we-will-not-obey-building-global-resistance-trans-pacific-partnership#sthash.ksspK8AT.Pdfcbs67.dpuf

[newfie11]

16. Kiss America goodby if this shit is passed. Nt

[polichick]

21. There's not much left as it is, but yes - nail in the coffin.

[newfie11]

34. Your so right

[ronnie624]

50. Thanks for the link.

The interviewee recommended these sites:

http://www.exposethetpp.org/

http://www.citizen.org/TPP

[dotymed]

12. Senator Bernie Sanders

for President.

[ZM90]

23. Either Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren would do nicely. n/t

[Buns_of_Fire]

63. One of the best Democrats we have -- and he's not even a Democrat!

I know he'd be running so that his ideas would be introduced into the national debate, but the problem is that by the time the 2016 election rhetoric gets cranked up, this monstrosity may well already be signed, sealed, and delivered.

And if that happens, all the purdy speeches by the President in the world aren't going to put the toothpaste back in the tube. So much for "transparency."

[polichick]

14. I've wondered if Obama's recent appearances with the populist talk about...

inequality are meant to be a distraction from the TPP - or even a way to confuse people, making them think: How could a guy who sounds like this support a trade agreement that will further hurt people?

[ZM90]

22. Probably a confusion tatic.

Politicians who are pushing this shit tend to talk out of both sides of their mouth to try to make people think "Maybe it's not so bad." whenever we all know it's horrible and we're all going to get fucked 10 different ways by the corporate powers if this deal passes.

[polichick]

25. And Obama is so likeable - he's the pefect con man, though that idea is sickening.

[ZM90]

27. The truth can be very sick sometimes polichick.

The truth of the matter is either.

A.) President Obama is conning us and knows very well what is in the deal.

or

B.) President Obama doesn't know what is in the deal and is fucking clueless.

So that would either make President Obama

A.) A TPP Con-Man.

or

B.) Clueless and doesn't research things.

Either way, that doesn't bode well for the nation.

[polichick]

28. Yeah, and he's really too smart to be clueless so...

[ZM90]

31. Yep. So FDR is turning over in his grave seeing what the leader of his party is doing.

I'm beginning to think Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders may be the only hope left for America among our politicians.

Next thing you know once the TPP is done they'll pull back the curtain and start selling individual states to corporations. Like how Oklahoma will be known as Exxon-Mobile Land or something. Then our elections will consist of whether we want Exxon Mobile or Google for President. All rights will be taken away from individuals (who will be slaves) and then given to corporations.

It will be the perfect corporate dystopia.

[solarhydrocan]

40. He has somehow managed to get most Democrats to support a Right Wing

Health insurance law. Few others could have done that. And those who don't support the Heritage Insurance law are "Racists" or "Haters" or, most ironically - "Wingers".

So he'll probably convince most of the herd to support this too. It will be passed and those that do not support it will be called "Luddites" or "Right Wingers" or "Isolationists".

Just watch.

[polichick]

47. Wonder how he justifies it to himself.

[historylovr]

59. Money justifies a whole lot for some people.

[polichick]

61. So the community organizer succumbed to the promise of money...

or was the organizer job part of the con?

Does Obama care about the Constitution? Does he care about the people or the country?

His words don't match his actions.

[villager]

53. Most of his campaign rhetoric, we now can see, was a "confusion tactic"

Given this administration's actual policies, vs. the occasional rhetorical flourishes which crop up at election time...

[Enthusiast]

36. You recognize the Kabuki.

I'm glad you do.

[polichick]

46. Not enough people will see it in time to...

stop this train.

[MisterP]

67. at this point it's noh theater...

[Marr]

74. That's his usual schtick. Same game he played with the "public option".

Say one thing, do another. Some people are stupid enough to form their opinions on soundbites.

[watoos]

15. If the TPP is enacted

it will govern our nation, not the politicians. Repubs won't have to worry about losing control, they will have the TPP to fall back on.

[ZM90]

17. Fuck this shit. TPP is a assault on the first amendment and on worker's rights.

It censors the internet and outsources jobs. That's only the tip of iceberg anyway because this asshole of a "deal" also kills the sovereignty of the United States among any other nation that signs on to this piece of shit "trade agreement".

Elizabeth Warren 2016! or Bernie Sanders 2016! I just want someone who will stand up to the corporate powers that have taken over our great nation. If we don't get a populist candidate as the democratic nominee in 2016, I fear bad things for this nation sadly.

[newfie11]

20. +infinity

[magical thyme]

54. "kills the sovereignty of the United States among any other nation that signs"

that should be the title of your post because that is the crux of the matter.

Everything else can be fixed in our courts. But when we are no longer a sovereign nation, but are ruled by corporations in fact...this is just uneffing real.

Every time I read about TPP I feel like I've entered the Twilight Zone...and I just want to go disappear into the woods....

[pampango]

19. All trade deals need to be done right. "2/3 say greater US role in global economy

is a good thing."



http://www.people-press.org/2013/12/03/public-sees-u-s-power-declining-as-support-for-global-engagement-slips/

Democrats are slightly more supportive of "growing trade" and "greater involvement" than are republicans.

If TPP includes strong, enforceable provisions on labor rights and the environment, it may be a good way to "grow trade". Obviously, republicans will want to keep such provisions out of the final agreement that goes to Congress and/or delete them during the ratification process.

[solarhydrocan]

30. How many pages of this "agreement" (treaty is so 1850's) detail actual

"Free Trade" language as opposed to fine print that strips sovereignty?

The Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty is the complete opposite of 'free trade'

Mark Weisbrot 19 November 2013

The TPP would strip our constitutional rights, while offering no gains for the majority of Americans. It's a win for corporations

...But the TPP and its promoters are full to the brim with ironies. It is quite amazing that a treaty like the TPP can still be promoted as a "free trade" agreement when its most economically important provisions are the exact opposite of "free trade" – the expansion of protectionism.

Exhibit A was released by WikiLeaks last week: the latest draft of the "intellectual property" chapter of the agreement, one of 24 (out of 29) chapters that do not have to do with trade. This chapter has provisions that will make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to get patents, including in developing countries; have these patents for more years; and extend the ability of these companies to limit access to the scientific data that is necessary for other researchers to develop new medicines. And the United States is even pushing for provisions that would allow surgical procedures to be patented – provisions that may be currently against US law.

All of these measures will help raise the price of medicines and health care, which will strain public health systems and price some people out of the market for important medicines. It is interesting to see how much worse the TPP is than the WTO's Trips (Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Rights).

This, too, was a massive rip-off of consumers and patients throughout the world, but after years of struggle by health advocates and public interest groups, some of its worst features were attenuated, and further consolidation of pharmaceutical companies' interests were blocked...MORE
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/19/trans-pacific-partnership-corporate-usurp-congress

Mark Weisbrot is co-director of the Centre for Economic and Policy Research in Washington DC. He is also president of Just Foreign Policy. He co-wrote Oliver Stone's documentary South of the Border.

"Free Trade" is the way they sell this to fake liberals. Kind of like Humanitarian Bombing.

[Enthusiast]

35. Wrong question. That is akin to a push poll.

No one asked the American people, "Do you favor or oppose new trade deals?"

Working people know how miserably NAFTA failed us. You can stand up in defense of NAFTA and repeat the standard Rightie boilerplate answer, "NAFTA was a net job creator." But we have heard that bullshit before.

Asking people if a greater US role in global economy is a good thing is an entirely different question, the wrong question.

[pampango]

42. The question "Do you favor or oppose new trade deals?" was not in this poll but has been before.

A plurality of Democrats thought that 'free trade' agreements had been good for the US. A majority of republicans (and a super-majority of tea party types) thought they had been bad for the country.



US manufacturing employment has been declining since about 1955. The advent of NAFTA does not seem to have changed that pattern one way or the other.

Asking people if a greater US role in global economy is a good thing is an entirely different question, the wrong question.

How then would one pursue "a greater US role in the global economy", since that is the current question that respondents were agreeing with?

[Enthusiast]

44. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Apparently the Tea Party can actually be right about a position. Shocking.

[pampango]

64. "Apparently the Tea Party can actually be right about a position."

Fortunately it is a very rare occurrence for republicans (particularly their wacko contingent) to be 'right' and for a plurality of Democrats to be 'wrong'.

Which is fine. None of us agrees with most Democrats on everything. Or, more painfully, some of us may agree with the tea party on particular issues - although none springs immediately to mind.

[Enthusiast]

66. The only issue I can agree with is the proposed trade deals.

I don't want any more horribly flawed trade deals. The TPP will be like the others, anti-worker, a race to the bottom.

[postulater]

24. So did Chris Matthews ask Pres Obama

About this last night?

*That* would have been good journalism.

[ZM90]

29. Nope, not at all. Ed Schultz seems to be the only MSNBC pundit that gives a fuck, sadly. n/t

[Enthusiast]

32. Why is a POS bluedog

like Max Baucus the Democratic chairman of the Senate finance committee? This guarantees that someone calling himself a Democrat is working against our interests.

[Ed Suspicious]

38. Because they think the blue-dogs are the grown-ups in the room. It's tacit admission that

republicans do economies better. Fuck my life.

[AzDar]

33. K & R

[bullwinkle428]

41. All the pretty speeches in the world don't amount to JACK SQUAT

(tip of the cap to Chris Farley, RIP) if TPP is just going to get ram-rodded down the throat of the American people.

[marmar]

43. I always suspected that they'd try to sneak this through during the holi-daze.

nt

[Chrom]

45. This is outrageous

Look at what the last free trade agreements did to our nation

This, my friends, is far too typical for my generation
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024135755


Apparently the media and Congress are well aware of how this fucked up everything, so they don't want to talk about this new trade agreement at all.

We cannot let them get away with this.



Why aren't the Republicans screaming about this? Limbaugh? anyone?

Obama is going around Congress to implement a horrible plan for our nation, isn't this just the thing, actually a real issue now, that they would like to run with?

We need to get this message to real people in the Republican party, on this we can unite, and they can finally realize their party is a bunch of hot air and doesn't give a damn about real issues affecting people.


Then, I am just going to have to pray that the pope reads this article and says something about this new trade agreement, because he is about the best thing the 99% have going right now and the only one that actually gets heard.

[Autumn]

48. His inequality speech yesterday shows that one really should

watch what he does, because his speeches just don't sync with his actions.

[Divernan]

51. In a classic line by Marlon Brando in "One-Eyed Jacks"

TALK IS CHEAP JACK, MAKE YOUR PLAY!

It's all about words versus deeds. And don't you all forget, that Obama/Hillary are simultaneously pushing the Keystone Pipeline. I fear and suspect they'll hit us with a one-two punch over the end of the year holidays.

What a sad and SHAMEFUL contrast between Obama's priorities and those of the late Nelson Mandela.

[NuclearDem]

55. Wait, I'm confused. Populist minimum wage speeches AND TPP at the same time?

[pa28]

57. Still only crickets from the media and almost nobody seems to even realize this is happening.

NAFTA was an object of fairly heated national discussion that was thoroughly covered. Everyone seemed to have an opinion.

This one is getting rammed down our throats in secrecy. Disgusting.

[polichick]

62. I spoke with several long-time Dem Party activists this week...

and none of them had heard of the TPP. Freaks. Me. Out.

[BelgianMadCow]

69. and it freaks me out when you say that

isn't Democracy Now rather broadly-visited, or is it more a Lefty Kooks (card-carrying member) venue? Because they covered it in no uncertain terms.

Now, here it's even worse concerning the TTIP. But on the european scale, the greens are rather active & aware, and other parties seem to have some second thoughts given the NSA thingie. Plus, the Guardian has given the TPP a couple big whacks.

[polichick]

71. I think it's a combination of people working long hours to make ends meet...

and the U.S. corporate media not covering the TPP.

Isn't that exactly how the powers-that-be like it?!

I wish we had a system that allowed for the success of more parties.

[raouldukelives]

58. Investors pay for it & profit from it. Rest of us have to live with it.

For every single person out there who is concerned about the future for their children, for wildlife, for democracy and lives a life that mirrors those concerns. There are about 100 investors pumping funds into Wall St who then use those funds for ALEC, Third Way and Heritage.
With so many invested against progress is it no wonder we never have any?

[historylovr]

60. K & R

[polichick]

65. Seems like there should be some Dem leaders fighting this loudly, but...

I haven't seen any of them on TV. Have they been on with Rachel or Big Ed or Chris Hayes - or anybody?

[tritsofme]

68. I remain skeptical that a TPA that is useful to the WH can pass the House

House Republicans will revolt before giving Obama meaningful power to negotiate on labor and environmental issues, and without that, TPA is pretty useless to the White House.

Not to mention the 60 vote test it will surely face in the Senate, although I would assume that to be a lower bar.

[rhett o rick]

72. Republicans work for their masters. Those masters want to see the TPP passed.

The Republicans will go along.

[pampango]

77. I agree. The idea that the House will give Obama enhanced power in a trade agreement which they fear

will include environmental and labor standards would go against what the tea party types stand for. They have stood up to the rest of the GOP on immigration reform, Syria, the budget/debt ceiling standoff and many other issues and will continue to do so.

Bush barely got TPA in 2002 by a few votes in the republican-controlled House and that was before the rise of the tea party and ODS.

[solarhydrocan]

78. Both (D) and (R) platforms endorse the TPP

Trans-Pacific Partnership: The biggest trade deal you’ve never heard of
Salon.com Tuesday, Oct 23, 2012
http://www.salon.com/2012/10/23/everything_you_wanted_to_know_about_the_trans_pacific_partnership/

Why isn’t trade a part of the election? After all, in 1992, Ross Perot made the last successful third-party run for the presidency, mostly on the strength of his anti-NAFTA rhetoric. Today, however, on the core question of these trade agreements, the parties basically agree. President Barack Obama has pledged to double U.S. exports as a core policy goal, and the Democratic platform lists the TPP as a “historic high-standard agreement” that will help accomplish this. The GOP platform pledges that “a Republican President will complete negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership to open rapidly developing Asian markets to U.S. products.” Both party leaders argue that exports are one key to creating high-quality American jobs...more

Democratic Party Platform
http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

We remain committed to finding more markets for American-made goods—including using the Trans-Pacific Partnership between the United States and eight countries in the Asia-Pacific...

Republican Party Platform
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=101961

Because American workers have shown that, on a truly level playing field, they can surpass the competition in international trade, we call for the restoration of presidential Trade Promotion Authority. It will ensure up or down votes in Congress on any new trade agreements, without meddling by special interests. A Republican President will complete negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership to open rapidly developing Asian markets to U.S. products. Beyond that, we envision a worldwide multilateral agreement among nations committed to the principles of open markets, what has been called a "Reagan Economic Zone," in which free trade will truly be fair trade for all concerned.

The fix was in years ago. The elite laugh at the proles, as their servants count their money.

Those expecting the Republicans to somehow block this because "they hate Obama" haven't been paying a bit of attention.

The 1% have already stolen our children's future, now they are coming for everything else. After all, recent history has shown that they can do just about anything and nobody really does anything to stop them. Right now for example presses are printing ~$80 billion dollars per month to reward crooked bankers for their gambling with our money. Few really care. There's a Super Bowl coming up.

[tritsofme]

82. You look at the issue through a very general lense.

Without really paying attention to the politics behind it.

While party elites and leadership largely back TPP, if the last three years have taught you anything, it should be that their support does not preclude a backbencher revolt in a Congress that prefers to do nothing.

It's also true that while both parties support the idea of TPP, they would like to implement it very differently. Many of them would be content to wait for a Republican president. The labor and environmental power that Obama would need to be included in TPA is toxic to House Republicans and would not be on the agenda of a Republican president. Republicans will be under massive pressure to pass TPA but keep these provisions out, a situation that is intolerable to President Obama, and brings the passage of TPA and TPP into serious question under his presidency.

[tritsofme]

81. Exactly, and TPA must explicitly grant the president power on labor and environmental issues

or those provisions would lose protection and could be struck out by Congress.

These issues were not covered under Bush-era TPA, that as you note passed with razor thin margins, which is important in understanding why not just TPA but a meaningful TPA is needed by the White House, and empowering Obama on labor and the environment especially, is an anathema to House Republicans.

[jsr]

70. Recommend

[djean111]

76. I was just thinking that depending on "public outcry" or "public opinion" is useless. And has

been, for a long time now. Pretty much anything we hear about is a fait accompli, the politicians are just giving us that spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down without affecting votes. They don't really need contributions any more, except as petty cash and an indicator of support.
Almost all of Washington is beholden to donors - bought and paid for.

Just recently, when people happily felt that we did not bomb Syria due to public opinion, we were loftily told that when Obama said he wanted to bomb Syria, that was just a ploy, so when Syria was not bombed, it was multidimensional chess and the public opinion was either pointless or deliberately stirred up. We were merely sock puppets.

It has become quite clear to me that almost no one in Washington cares much about public opinion or polls unless they are actively running for office and need to pander for votes.

I believe the TPP will be signed into law no matter what public opinion is, either because the public at large does not even know it exists, much less what is in it, and what it means, or because it was a done deal in the first place.
I expect we will be pelted with pretty speeches and maybe even cheer-leading from the Clintons - depending on whether they think being connected publicly with the TPP is advantageous for 2016.

2014 and 2016 may be pretty ugly, and it will not be the fault of liberals and/or progressives. It is time to put the blame on those who enact this shit, time to make them accept responsibility, not give them a free pass because we are supposed to believe things will get better when we keep on doing the same demented thing. And the juiciest parts of the TPP can be used against the Dems to stir up the GOP base.

Oh, and the ACA does NOT excuse the TPP - and I am afraid that some of the provisions of the TPP will erase any cost savings due to the ACA. False equivalence to compare the two. Hey, maybe the insurance companies and Pharma will be able to sue for damages if anyone really does propose single payer, because single payer would affect their profits......neatly done, that investors are more important than sovereign laws thing. The nuclear industry could sue over solar panels affecting profits. Well done!

Yeah, I feel pretty bleak about it.

[polynomial]

79. Please some of this is satire

So according to Forbes Qatar which is not part of the trade agreement, is the most wealthiest country in the world. O Kay, Ya with me, then why is the mainstream media always saying America is the most powerful the most wealthiest country in history.

Let’s add something to that. This is Arab country. The Babylon of Persia, the Mesopotamian bread basket of the Bush family.

Bush and Cheney are there somewhere in the shadow with the Bin Laden family sorting through piles of the current NSA metadata. Courtesy of Booze Allen and Hamilton long time business partners to pirate money launder a new profiteering peak and sneak patriot act that is to be handed to the next president for the next blowout bailout sellout in special packed Bloomberg best deal ever for implosive derivatives.

The most peaceful country ever in the middle of grief strife corruption and the burka in my opinion the gross religious product, with a designer Klux Klan veil your choice of colors blur blue or silky black. Let’s just be honest this is the new improved better scamming business model not the old Cayman Island tax evasion type. This a well-oiled treaty about north Borneo to eradicate the last two tribes of cannibals.

Seriously I agree with Ed Schultz radio show, this is not good.