(POLITICO) AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka came down hard on President Donald Trump on Sunday morning over what Trumka called a lack of progress in supporting America’s working class.
“We said when [Trump] was elected that when he did something good for workers, we’d support him. When he did something bad for workers, we’d oppose him,” Trumka said on “Fox News Sunday.” At this point in his presidency, Trump has not done enough for America’s workers, Trumka said.
When host Christopher Wallace commented that unemployment is down to 3.9 percent and employment numbers have held steady, Trumka argued that while those numbers are positive, Trump is still falling short.
“Those are good, but wages have been down since the first of the year, and gas prices have been up since the first of the year,” Trumka said. “So workers really aren’t doing that well.”
In terms of the upcoming midterm elections and even the 2020 presidential election, Trumka said, “It’s not about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about electing candidates who will protect the working people of this country.”
However, he added that workers are ultimately more likely to see progress from Democrats because “unfortunately, the reality is Democrats support working people more than Republicans.”
Speaking the day before Labor Day, Trumka also commented on the current status of the North American Free Trade Agreement and how far the U.S. is from reaching a new deal that includes the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
“NAFTA has had a devastating effect on the working people of this country for the last 20 years,” he said. “We’re trying to reach a deal that benefits all three countries, and we’re not there yet.”
There’s currently a lot of missing information about NAFTA talks, he added, saying the public hasn’t “seen the details” and is “missing whole chapters.”
“What we need is an agreement that we can enforce, no matter who’s in the White House.”
and can you believe in 2018 there’s a headline like this in today’s wapo:
Texas doctor faces backlash after saying female counterparts make less because they ‘don’t work as hard’
Gary Tigges’s comments were published in this month’s Dallas Medical Journal.
speaking of texas and trump also in wapo https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/02/trump-blasted-lyin-ted-cruz-again-again-activists-want-remind-texans-with-billboard/?utm_term=.93ebd8989a98
Trump blasted ‘Lyin’ Ted’ Cruz again and again. Activists want to remind Texans with a billboard.
Deep in the heart of Texas, a billboard truck will soon hit the road with a curated list of President Trump’s tweets — attacks on Sen. Ted Cruz, a former political foe.
Craig – everything is popping now. I am on a cell phone and do not remember this speed before.
Happy Labor Day to my mother the Teamster, and everyone else too.
Stay hydrated and cool, it is going to be a burner today. A good day to change circuit breakers, light switches and pull triplex. All in doors and without air conditioning.
It is Monday again, will this be the week the crime family gets it’s indictments?
Jobs. Can we blame it on Nixon for opening up China?
NAFTA – Ross Perot was correct. A Democrat did that to us. Blame Bill.
Depressed wages. That we can blame on the 1% who get richer on legalized gambling on Wall Street & some employers who would love it if folks would would work for free with no benefits.
We can also blame the insurance industry and BigPharma, because kinder employers can’t increase wages, as their budgets are all being eaten up by the rising cost of medical insurance. Not medical care, just insurance (more legalized gambling).
On this Labor Day, there is plenty of blame to pass around with those baked beans.
American Federation of Musicians
Local 257.
Craig… the site works great now… thanks!
Happy Labor Day… stay cool and enjoy!
Someone needs to create a snipet of Trump bellowing, “Lyin’ Ted Cruz.” They need more than billboard trucks. They need sound. I have been so happy & surprised to see BETO signs here.
I think that folks need to be quiet on polling, though. Just let Trump’s base think they aren’t alone in their admiration of the idiot-monster in the OO. Don’t energize them to go to the polls. Don’t let them think the Dems have a chance.
I like Avenatti’s idea of holding a counter-rally. I wonder if Mark Cuban would offer him the American Airlines Center where his Mavs play? (Well, I guess a big turnout there might mobilize Trump’s followers.)
Democratic congressional candidate Amy McGrath’s (KY-6) third television ad of the general election, and first 60-second version, which launched on August 24, 2018.
Labor Day- a fitting bookend to the unofficial Summer’s end – celebrating workers who’ve been given short shrift since Roosevelt. IMPOTUS has raised the level of lip service to Rooseveltian levels while he’s done everything possible to screw them. Every billboard, every counter rally, every expose about SH’s hypocrisy for the working middle and lower working class is a worthwhile exercise toward the goal of ridding the office of the presidency of this abomination.
btw, Poobah, Renee’s right. Site’s back to normal. Thx.
Arizona daily star:
Star Opinion: Don’t replace McCain with a Trump supporter
[…]
While we talk about “McCain’s seat” in the Senate, the seat truly belongs to Arizonans. It would dishonor McCain, and do an extreme disservice to the voters who elected him in 2016, to install a Trump supporter in McCain’s Senate seat.
longtime columnist for arizona republic, e.j. montini opinion:
Will Gov. Doug Ducey replace McCain with a McTrump?
Opinion: Selecting a person to replace McCain who truly reflects McCain’s values would no doubt offend President Donald Trump. But it’s the right thing.
[….]
That little voice in your head is undoubtedly telling you, “Think of yourself. Which choice will best help YOU win reelection?”
That same little voice knows the answer.
“Trump,” it says. “Give Trump what he wants. It will be better for your career.”
You know that the little voice is correct, politically.
You know that the little voice is wrong, morally, ethically and every other way.
You are Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who said of the late Sen. John McCain, “We will honor his life every way we can.”
Will you?
Thank you to the techie types who have us back up to full speed.
There will be hell to pay in November if Gov Ducey picks a Trump-er. He should tread lightly on this appointment.
Myanmar: Reuters journalists investigating Rohingya killings sentenced to 7 years in prison https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/03/asia/reuters-journalists-myanmar-trial-verdict-intl/index.html
The “Official Secrets Act.” Trumpsky would like something like that here.
HOUSEKEEPING: Still some maintenance going on today, might be an occasional delay.
Tell those maintainers/fixers thank you from all of us. They should be able to get a lot done today without management breathing down their necks.
As always, this Labor Day is in remembrance of Col Marvin Boothe, USAF. He understood Labor Day in the military context.
Well, I’ve mowed the grass, transplanted mums for the autumn season and spruced everything-up. Now I’m going to take a shower and leave for High Point, NC so that I will be able to put Rosie in the garage their at 0800 tomorrow. My kind-hearted s-i-l is taking tomorrow off so he can drive up and pick me up tomorrow in the early afternoon. That way, neither of us needs fight the rush-hour traffic around Charlotte.
figured Trump would take the bait ….
Richard Trumka, the head of the AFL-CIO, represented his union poorly on television this weekend. Some of the things he said were so against the working men and women of our country, and the success of the U.S. itself, that it is easy to see why unions are doing so poorly. A Dem!
I like Richard Trumka. It’s too bad in the way of the world that he moved up in the union world and didn’t stay with the mine workers. They could have used him.
I was a member of the butchers union which I think is now
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 427 ..
For a summer I worked a night shift on the coney line. Mostly I worked the water peeler – it shoots water between the plastic casing and the hotdog. Great paying summer job!!
would love to know if the aggregate number of all who attended and watched the McCain services and lined the hearse and caisson processions and paid respects at capitol exceeded the twit’s inaugural crowd (including tv viewers).
now that would really NOT make his day
.
leonard pitts at Miami herald:
With all due respect, President Trump, what do you want people to say at your own funeral?
[…]
The question is not meant to be morbid or to wish ill upon you. But given how churlishly you have behaved after the death of Sen. John McCain — was it really that hard for you to issue a laudatory statement and lower the flag in his honor? — it feels appropriate. Besides, it’s only human to wonder how you’ll be remembered once you exhale for the final time.
[…]
… Royalty from the worlds of politics, sports and entertainment are gathering to honor McCain. Will a similar panoply of greatness follow you to your final rest? It’s doubtful.
Two ex-presidents agreed to eulogize McCain, a man with whom neither was personally very close, but whom both regarded with respect. It’s hard to imagine any ex-presidents giving your eulogy. So, who do you think they’ll get?
Kid Rock? Vladimir Putin?
And what will they say?
When President Gerald Ford died, President Jimmy Carter thanked him “for all he did to heal our land.” No one can say that of you.
When President Ronald Reagan died, President George W. Bush noted that he “carried himself, even in the most powerful office, with a decency and attention to small kindnesses . . .” Something else no one can say about you.
With so many of your friends lining up to testify against you, who will even be left to mourn, outside of your kids and whomever you happen to be married to at the time? Will Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort be out on parole by then? Will Don Jr.?
Maybe Stormy Daniels will be there, signing autographs and taking selfies with her fans. Maybe David Duke will show up and burn a cross in your honor. Maybe Sean Spicer will stand out front and announce that, “This will be the largest audience to witness a funeral, period, both in person and around the world.” Point being, there will be little mourning of the kind we’re seeing for John McCain.
You see, the thing is, we write our own eulogies. Someone else delivers it, yes, but each of us authors his own in the life he lives and the memories he leaves. But despite having 72 years to work on it, the eulogy you’ve written thus far is meager and pathetic, your rise to the presidency and alleged billions in net worth notwithstanding.
Your inability to muster even a simulacrum of basic decency at the passing of an authentic American hero diminishes your eulogy even more. There’s cautionary wisdom here, if only you had the wit to understand it.
As is true of us all, Donald Trump, your funeral is coming. You’ve probably never thought about that.
This would be a good time to start.
🙂
How about, “Ding, dong, the witch is dead”?
I hope he lives a long life and gets to watch his entire, corrupt, facade of an empire crumble & every one of his cronies turn their backs on him.
In my much younger days, I spent labor day in union picnic parking lots asking people if we could put on bumper stickers
Not sure why but I have been binge watching Ken Burns Vietnam documentary last couple days. KGC I recall you had complaints about it. What were they?
craig, perhaps you were inspired by this burns op ed the other day in wapo:
In 2017, as Lynn Novick and I were finishing our film on the Vietnam War, I called Sen. John McCain to see if I could stop by his office and show some clips to him. He agreed, and when I asked if there were any sections of the 18-hour film that he’d particularly like to see, McCain said “the Vietnamese parts” — the stories that included the North Vietnamese soldiers and civilians.
McCain and I had first spoken about the film a decade earlier, just as it was getting underway. I wanted to let him know that, while we didn’t intend to interview him or his then-Senate colleague and fellow Vietnam War veteran John F. Kerry, we did plan to tell their stories. In typical McCain fashion, he had suggested we avoid his story completely — his service as a Navy pilot, his 5½ years confined and often tortured as a prisoner of war.
The film, he said, should include the stories of the “ordinary” Americans who went to war. Doing so would be a chance to “save lives,” he said, by ending the war for some in a deeply personal, even psychological way. At the same time, he noted that any film that truly wanted to understand the Vietnam War had to listen to the Vietnamese as well, both America’s allies in the South and adversaries in the North.
McCain had already done the work of ending the war for thousands of American families, bringing them closure by putting to rest the pernicious and persistent lie that U.S. soldiers had been left behind in Indochina. He also helped free hundreds of thousands of South Vietnamese veterans who had been imprisoned and he made it possible for the United States and Vietnam to interact as normal nations.
Kerry was McCain’s close ally in these efforts. The two men, from different sides of the political aisle, could have been antagonists, given McCain’s long family history of military service and Kerry’s impassioned antiwar leadership during the 1970s. But they shared a bond that was born in combat and nurtured by love of country. They also shared a belief in our common humanity, including the humanity of former adversaries.
Ultimately McCain and Kerry drew strikingly similar conclusions from their markedly different experience of that very complicated war. They had learned about leadership, hubris, heroism, patriotism and, perhaps most important, the need to be honest with the American people. That was McCain’s message when he and Kerry participated in a screening of the film at the Kennedy Center in Washington before its broadcast: “We can learn lessons today because the world is in such turmoil. Tell the American people the truth!”
[….continues…]
Ken Burns gave the commencement speech at Stanford’s 2016 commencement, and talked at length about Donald Trump (without mentioning his name).
and on cnn interview last year “Ken Burns blasts Trump’s attacks on McCain” Using unearthed footage of John McCain in a Vietnamese hospital just after his capture, historian and filmmaker Ken Burns calls Trump’s attacks “shocking.”
My objection to the Burns documentary is that he went in to portray the soldiers in a more favorable light.
It does not present a factually correct picture of what happened in Vietnam and why.
Vietnam War: New Ken Burns Documentary Dismisses the Origins of …
https://www.newsweek.com/vietnam-ken-burns-vietnam-war-doc-documentary-pbs-6…
Sep 17, 2017 – Ken Burns aims to win hearts and minds with his epic Vietnam series, … theories that obscure the root cause of a war that killed an estimated …
Ken Burns’s Vietnam: Great TV. Horrible History – Newsweek
https://www.newsweek.com/ken-burnss-vietnam-great-tv-horrible-history-674433
Sep 29, 2017 – The diplomatic, political and international facets of the war leave a lot to … In their sprawlingdocumentary of the Vietnam War, producer-directors Ken … Burns and Novick introduce additional causes of US involvement as the …
Veterans angry, disappointed following PBS’ Vietnam War documentary
https://www.mercurynews.com/…/veterans-angry-disappointed-following-pbs-vietnam…
Sep 29, 2017 – A gripping documentary on the Vietnam War — described by many viewers as a masterful depiction of a prolonged conflict that divided the …
Having watched my share of Vietnam documentaries what I find unique and interesting about this one is the focus on interviews with North Vietnamese. Otherwise I am drawing my usual conclusions re: The almost criminal incompetence and deceit of our civilian and military leaders from start to finish. I will never understand why Johnson could not listen to his own heart, take his own counsel and avoid such tragedy. Best I can figure is that he was simply bullied by the right wing military industrial complex.
Just did a drop in as a break from reading Gary Hart’s “The Republic of Conscience”. He is still around and still having ideas. Well worth the attention. Alert to David, come November you can drag Craig to the movies for “The Front Runner” and the Gary Hart scandal with all the questions about the start of tabloid media that may have deprived us of a good President.
Per LBJ there was also that whole “Kennedy” thing……..
they traded him civil rights and Medicare, though…..
When Gov Greg Abbott tells folks to keep Texas red…he means not brown.
jeffrey toobin in new Yorker
How Rudy Giuliani Turned Into Trump’s Clown
The former mayor’s theatrical, combative style of politics anticipated—and perfectly aligns with—the President’s.
[This article appears in the print edition of the September 10, 2018, issue, with the headline “Beating the Drum.”]
“Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything”: Colin Kaepernick is one of the faces of a new Nike advertising campaign commemorating the brand’s 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” motto.
Can’t wait for IMPOTUS’ stupid reaction to Nike featuring Karpernik I it’s ad. He’ll make an ass of himself. Bet on it.
“He’ll make an ass of himself.”
pogo, don’t you mean “ass-er” or more of himself. just what is the superlative when it comes to asses?
or perhaps like to zerox or google or bogart, his name will become the verb to mean the thing itself.