MAGATS are ------- retarded.

While that may/may not be true, I am beginning to think that its more about their feelings of entitlement to all of the benefits that American society can bestow on them. And, as a result, they will bend and break the rules whenever it suits them and not feel one iota of regret. Also, they KNOW that the resources to fund benefits are limited and therefore, if extended to all citizens, there will be less for them. So, they decide not to extend the benefits to those considered unworthy. Who are the unworthy? For the entirety of American history, we know that the unworthy were considered to be POC and their descendants.

Dems lost because a few of their priorities, like cancer research

Strictly speaking, you may be right that funding cancer research was a democratic priority. However, it is hard to imagine that funding cancer research wasn't important to republicans. In reality, it IS and SHOULD BE an American priority to fund cancer research. Dems aren't the only ones that get cancer.

#5, #6

Thanks.

Based on the following statement from the link Hispanic Republicans are barred from membership per 2000s rule change, it seems as if caucuses can create rules to include or exclude any one they want.

They'll frame cuts to Social Security as a way to pay for things, but they don't care " they'll just add it all to the deficit.

President Musk/Trump have 2 years to do whatever it is that they plan to do. If they implement their plans regarding cuts to SS or Medicare, seniors will hand them their heads in the 2026 elections. Seniors will be quick to recognize the negative impact on these 2 essential programs and, as we know, seniors vote. A little democratic messaging to stoke the fire and 2026 will be a free for all. Musk's pledge to primary incumbents that are insufficiently local will only improve the odds of a democratic challenger because the republican replacement will have lost the advantage of incumbency.

Are these House caucuses open to any member of congress? If so, why wouldn't dems join so that they would have some visibility into the process?

There is such a thing as jury nullification. One of the reasons that the person that murdered the United Healthcare executive has achieved social media notoriety is because many people have felt abused by the health insurance industry. There will likely be many potential jurors that don't have a high regard for the insurance industry. The prosecutor will have to be vigilant to exclude them from the jury box.

The economic effects of the mass deportation of millions of people will act as a brake on Trump's deportation plans because he knows that one of the reasons he got elected was the "economy". However, to the people surrounding him and many of the people that voted for him, the economy was an after thought. This tension will probably limit the deportations to only criminals which will leave many of his supporters very unhappy. How unhappy? The elections of 2026 will be very revealing.

Russia's war on Ukraine is proving that the war can not be constrained to a "battlefield". The battlefield is where ever the enemy is. The animosity and hate generated by war will last a generation or more. It's an important lesson that combatants in the Middle East would be wise to learn.

How about if we just deport the 13000 known murderers? Still a problem?

These "murderers" broke American laws and should serve out their sentences in the US. They should not be released to their country of origin to engage freely with other members of society. In any event, their country of origin probably won't accept them after they have served their sentences. If their country of origin won't take them back, then what? A life time of incarceration? Seems a bit inhumane and a source of trouble for people having to guard "inmates" that have lost all hope.

It's amazing of how many attorneys (who presumably knew better) were duped ($$$ signs) into violating the tenants of their profession in hopes of landing a gig in the Big Time.

IMHO "duped" is to tame a word because it implies that they were "tricked" into doing something wrong. These highly intelligent, legally trained people, willfully participated in the alleged criminal activity for personal gain. If they didn't know of the potential legal consequences, their certification as attorneys implies that they should have known.

If the idea is to bring factories back to the US, why not just stop incentivizing businesses to off shore those factories? Give incentives to businesses that bring those factories back.

The increasing frequency and severity of disasters underscore the urgent need to fortify our nation's healthcare capabilities

Agreed! But, the fortification should not be limited to healthcare. A comprehensive look at all major facets of our economy should be undertaken and an assessment made as to their disaster resilience. If their resilience is found lacking, steps should be undertaken to shore them up.

Just setting term limits is not enough. All of the drama associated with a SCOTUS pick needs to be minimized or eliminated if possible. I would think a rotation into SCOTUS seats would be preferable than direct appointments. In that way, the POTUS can not influence the current makeup of the court and consequently its decisions.

Members of the SCOTUS would rotate into those positions on a random basis from the appellate courts and serve a multi-year (6?) year term. Instead of nominating judges to the SCOTUS, president would nominate candidates to the District courts. Staffing of appellate court positions would come from the District courts.

Trump Lobbied DeSantis to Name Daughter-in-Law Lara to Senate

Nothing to see here. Lara, along with Trump's other picks are just more of the same: DEI candidates: Didn't Earn It.

Receiving a disability payment from the VA is an acknowledgment that military service "broke" something. What it was that was broken may not disqualify a veteran from holding a full time job unless, of course, that full time job makes extensive use of that "thing" that was broken.

It's that kind of messaging that contributes to the GOP getting such a paltry portion of the black vote.

It is not messaging that contributes to the GOP getting such a paltry portion of the black vote. Messaging is certainly a part of it (i.e. Willie Horton, etc.) but it extends into policies as well i.e. lack of support for the VRA, reflexive support for police accused of assaulting unarmed black folk, using gerrymandering to deprive black folks of adequate representation, lack of support for reasonable gun controls, etc.

The dems don't have to make any substantive changes in their policy positions. What they do need to do better, much much better, is to let people know how dependent they are on democratic policies and how republican policies will hurt them. Just as Trump had his name printed on each stimulus check, Biden should have done the same. Every road, bridge, etc. that was built, maintained by Biden should have had his name on it. Every person getting a on insulin should have gotten a letter from Biden stating that it was his policies that made that happen. Every ribbon cutting that a republican not voting for infrastructure funding attended should have been accompanied by a democratic candidate explaining to the press and people in attendance that the republican did not vote for the funding.

Biden Pardons his Son

Good

If he doesn't there is big trouble. If he does, not so big trouble but still trouble.

I would be surprised if Yoon didn't anticipate that parliament would not overrule his martial law declaration. He had to have some plan in place in the likely event that it did. That plan would have to involve the military because that is the only way that he could impose his rule. If he didn't have military buy in, he is one dumb --- SOB.

The second Trump admin will flout the law openly because there won't be anyone to do anything about it.

Trump has 2 years (maybe less) in which to cement power so that he doesn't have to face another election. Because republicans have such a small majority in the HOR, a few resignations, deaths, etc could tilt the balance in favor of democrats. If dems are in control, a lawless and unpopular presidency will surely result in another impeachment and, depending on the extent of lawlessness and unpopularity, enough senators may be persuaded to vote his butt out.

A lot of ifs but strange things have been known to happen.

So how much of what he's talking about doing is just a rehash of what Michelle Obama was talking about years ago?

It is important that dems point that and any other situation where reps adopt dem positions. Dems do a good job of designing and implementing policies for the whole of society and screw it up by not emphasizing how those policies improve the lives of the average person. Reps, OTOH, do a good job designing and implementing policies for the rich and convince Trump's "poorly educated" that their lives will be improved. What's even more baffling is reps taking credit for dem policies for which they voted against and Trump's "poorly educated" swallowing it all: "hook line and sinker".

Being "poorly educated" doesn't make you stupid; just misinformed. Being poorly educated can be fixed; being stupid cannot. The vast majority of Trump's "poorly educated" are not stupid but what I think they do have in common with the misinformed is their resistance to the demographic changes that are taking place in the country. LBJ got it right: If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you." After he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he reportedly said to Bill Moyers: Well, I think we may have lost the south for your lifetime " and mine.'

This demographic drama is still playing itself out with an ever expanding demographic pool.

It will be funny watching all the Lewzer fanbois go from gloating to excuse making.

Of course. The excuse will be it's not Trump; it's his advisors.

Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are restarting communications with President-elect Donald Trump

Why? They are doing what they badmouthed others for doing i.e. bending a knee to Trump. If they wanted to interview him, they could have done so in DC. IMHO, they have lost a lot of credibility.

... a "responsible and reasonable work requirement" for Medicaid benefits resembling the one that already exists for food stamps ...

There is no law that says people must be fed. However, there is one that obligates hospitals to "treat" people that show up on their door steps. Reducing Medicaid payments is just going to deprive hospitals of revenue for treating the indigent which, by federal law, they are obliged to do.

Biden Allows Ukraine to use US Arms to Strike Inside Russia

Good. Just as Russia is attacking Ukraine's electricity grid, Ukraine can now attack Russia's. Turn about is fair play.