February 18, 2021

Democrats introduce LGBTQ Equality Act in House and Senate - make clear Biden has 'made it a priorit

Source: Rawstory

The Equality Act remains a much-needed tool in the protection of LGBTQ people, women, and other minorities, because 29 states still do not protect these people in all areas, including employment, education, credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations, as Rep. Cicilline said in a statement Thursday.

“In 2021, every American should be treated with respect and dignity," Cicilline says in a press release. “Yet, in most states, LGBTQ people can be discriminated against because of who they are, or who they love. It is past time for that to change. I'm proud to introduce the Equality Act today, and I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Merkley to get this bill signed into law."

In 2019 the Equality Act passed the House in a historic 236-173 bipartisan vote. But then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) refused to even allow it to be taken up in a committee.

“All of us go to work and school, go home, and go shopping, and none of us should have to keep our families hidden or pretend to be someone we're not to do those things," Merkley added. “But in 29 states, Americans can still be evicted, be thrown out of a restaurant, or be denied a loan because of who they are or whom they love. We all love the vision of America as a land of freedom and equality, but are we willing to take the steps to make that vision closer to reality? Let's make 2021 the year the Equality Act crosses the finish line and is signed into law by President Biden."

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/democrats-introduce-lgbtq-equality-act-in-house-and-senate-make-clear-biden-has-made-it-a-priority/

February 16, 2021

Boycotting Publix? Let them know.

https://www.publix.com/contact/contact-us


Publix Heir’s Funding of the Capitol Trump Rally Leads to Boycott

The grocery chain denies any connection to the event, but has made corporate donations to conservative politicians in the past

Publix is facing calls for a boycott after reports revealed that Julie Jenkins Fancelli, heir to the regional supermarket chain and daughter of its late founder George W. Jenkins, donated $300,000 to the Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” Donald Trump rally that preceded the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Fancelli contributed the bulk of the $500,000 needed to fund the rally where Trump refused to concede the election and called on supporters to go to the Capitol and “take back our country,” the Wall Street Journal reported on Jan. 30. Fancelli herself directly contacted far-right pundit Alex Jones — who pledged seed money for the event — and offered to contribute to the rally, organizers told the Journal.

Fancelli, a GOP megadonor, contributed a total of $171,100 to a pro-Trump PAC in 2019, as the Miami New Times reported. This was on top of the personal maximum donations that Fancelli and multiple family members gave to Trump’s campaign. Through a trust, Fancelli also donated more than $50,000 to a PAC for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis from 2018 to 2019.



Leon County Democrats are calling for boycott too.

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/02/leon-county-democrats-republicans-opposite-sides-publix-debate/4355679001/


Petition at MoveOn.

https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/boycott-of-publix-for-promoting-radical-republicans-who-are-willing-to-subvert-democracy?source=facebook-share-button&time=1612197438&utm_source=facebook&share=b0c73986-71ad-4a4a-96ec-41d8a95a4cf1&fbclid=IwAR2u5Vw6vdLYLR4YYqxQHCLT8mgUrhAewuffHjbzkNOINxhqIqnbS73Oais

February 13, 2021

Former Clinton official lays out roadmap for making Trump accountable for the Capitol riot.

The United States Senate is an inadequate forum to hold Donald Trump accountable, but he can still face justice, former White House press secretary Joe Lockhart argued on Saturday.]

"For everyone disappointed by the lack of witnesses, the truth is going to come out. Our justice system will get to the bottom of this and those who helped incite the insurrection will be investigated, prosecuted and convicted. And juries will pass judgement, not old R Senators," he wrote.

"For me, I'd rather have Trump in a real courtroom with a real judge and real jurors facing time in prison for what he did. Calling witnesses in the Senate would not bring justice because the Republican party is so morally bankrupt there is no justice there. See [you] in court Trump," he explained.
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"I understand activists being upset and disappointed with Dems decision, but reporters shouldn't be tweeting their shock and disappointment. Stick to covering the news, not making it," he argued after Democrats refused to call witnesses.


https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-capitol-insurrection-2650528970/

February 13, 2021

You can take the assholes out of the gop, but you can't take the gop out of the assholes.

Young men were “wizards" while young women were “girls." Political rivals were “pussies" or “cocksuckers" or “faggots." By the time the staff convened in Park City, the situation had become so “toxic," according to more than a dozen accounts, that at least two co-founders, neither of whom remain at the project, had tried unsuccessfully to intervene to improve working conditions.

Staff had also complained that some of the project's ads, specifically some related to Ivanka Trump, were sexist. There was dissatisfaction among the ranks when Ben Howe, billed as the wunderkind behind some of the Lincoln Project's earliest ads, was brought back by Wilson. Howe had been fired after The 19th reported that in a series of tweets, he had used offensive slang for female anatomy to insult political rivals.

There were few women in Lincoln Project's leadership, and those who were there were treated differently than the men, multiple people said. Horn was left out of meetings and not consulted about key decisions or public statements. At points, others within the organization had to persuade her not to quit entirely.



https://www.rawstory.com/lincoln-project-2650523061/

February 13, 2021

Look at this lovely ballerina fly.

I wanted to post something inspirational on this day. I love ballet and this dancer is exceptional.

Girl born without arms chasing her dream as a ballerina

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/02/12/brazil-ballerina-born-without-arms-orig-bdk.cnn

February 11, 2021

Saudi driving activist's family credits Joe Biden for release.

Saudi driving activist Loujain al-Hathloul's family said Thursday US President Joe Biden's election win helped secure her release after nearly three years' imprisonment, but cautioned she was still far from free.

Hathloul, 31, was provisionally released in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after being detained in May 2018 with about a dozen other women activists just weeks before the kingdom's historic lifting of a decades-long ban on female drivers -- a reform they had long campaigned for.

"I would say thank you Mr President that you helped my sister to be released," Alia al-Hathloul told a virtual press conference.

https://www.rawstory.com/saudi-driving-activists-family-credits-joe-biden-for-release/

February 10, 2021

Aw, tanks for da harts. Ala dem!!

And thank you for giving to DU. I wish I could, but it's been a really difficult year for me and my wife. Thank you!!

February 10, 2021

If conviction isn't the end game, we may still have recourse to prevent it from running again.

In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, Yale Law School professor Bruce Ackerman and Indiana University law professor Gerard Magliocca argued that members of Congress have another, perhaps easier, path to barring Trump from office.

They pointed to the Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, aimed at preventing people from holding federal office if they are deemed to have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against” the Constitution.

The professors write that if a majority vote of both houses agree that Trump engaged in an act of “insurrection or rebellion,” then he would be barred from running for the White House again. Only a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress in the future could undo that result.

The sole article of impeachment adopted Wednesday cites that provision of the Constitution and says Trump should be disqualified from holding future office.


https://apnews.com/article/barring-trump-holding-office-again-f477c7ddc7ad0cc91a5fb86d12b007f0

Old article from January, but it still brings me hope.

February 9, 2021

David Schoen blasted for 'despicable' defense -- threatening more violence by Trump supporters

Trump defense lawyer David Schoen was harshly criticized on Tuesday for his defense of Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial in the United States Senate.
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Schoen gave a fiery speech arguing that impeachment would disenfranchise Trump supporters and could result in more violence from the former president's base.

https://www.rawstory.com/trumps-lawyers-terrible-impeachment-defense/

February 9, 2021

New drinking game.

Every time that lawyer drinks and touches the top of his head...