Saluting Tim Black

Tim Black is a true progressive who I will salute. His website, though not appearing to be current, is here: Tim Black. Here is the YouTube link to his program: TBTV.

I have been appreciating Tim Black for a number of his “No Sell Outs” episodes with H.A. Goodman. The latter tends to get mixed reactions. But, this is not the case with Black, who gives some down to earth and incisive takes on the Democratic Party Establishment (such as their exploitations of minority voters by use of identity politics), what the Donald Trump presidency means (for numerous reasons), and other insights on some current issues.

One topic which recently came up, in progressive circles, was that of Jordan Chariton. The former investigative reporter for TYT, who was hailed for having exposed former interim DNC chair Donna Brazile, has been accused of sexual assault. The Tim Black Show recently interviewed the accuser, TYT reporter Carly Hammond, who gave an account of her experience.

Following that interview, Tim Black revealed some information about the controversy from that interview. I will include his video below. But, I appreciate Tim Black for the reasons mentioned in the second paragraph. Although he no longer does “No Sell Outs” regularly with H.A. Goodman, I look forward to more from Tim Black.

‘TYT’

After eight years, I stopped watching The Young Turks, on a regular basis, just after Cenk Uygur endorsed Hillary Clinton for the general election of 2016. I found myself concluding that, when it comes to actually having to draw a line, I was drawing it while TYT was not.

On Election Night 2016, The Young Turks went on the assumption that Hillary Clinton would win. And then…surprise! (I know this because a video, on YouTube, which has been saved by at least one Donald Trump voter took delight in this embarrassment from TYT.)

Last August, there was a report from Variety that TYT Network was gifted with $20 million from Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo. Here is a link to that report: Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo Invests in TYT Network as Part of $20 Million Round. 

Recently there have been the reports that TYT investigative reporter Jordan Chariton has been fired over his sexual behavior. Using the word behavior is not the total word to use. There have been more than one incident. To use the words harassment and assault do not mean the same thing. (Admittedly, I have been slow with following this. I find myself checking out YouTube-uploaded coverage on this separately from H.A. Goodman and Tim Black.)

I want to ask, “What are your thoughts on all this?”

Here is a live statement, on the firing of Jordan Chariton, by The Young Turks and Cenk Uygur.

Music Weekend

“Music Weekend” threads invite you to share any music—especially a video—with all who participate here at Progressives Chat.

Open Weekend

This “Open Weekend” thread is a regular thing for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Please take this November 24–26, 2017 Progressives Chat to wherever you may want it to go.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Just one day in advance of the holiday, I want to wish everyone a pleasant Happy Thanksgiving Day!

In the meantime, consider the rest of this an extended “Open Weekend.” (There will be such thread on Friday, November 24, 2017. The time limit for posting a thread comment is five days.)

Giving Your ‘Thanks!’

This Thursday, November 23, 2017 is Thanksgiving Day!

I will be noting this again this coming Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

While thinking of the holiday, two things immediately cross my mind: 1) corporations destroying the holiday by having store openings to shop for the next commercial holiday, Christmas, so there is no longer a point for the people having to work to “celebrate” Thanksgiving; and 2) corporations being in just about all facets of our lives, including the food people will consume on Thanksgiving Day.

What a beautiful holiday!

It is not perfect. One thing that can happen is a person over-eating. If one wants to avoid that trap, thinking outside the box may be wise.

I suggest thinking about the corporations.

Give your “Thanks!” to the United Corporations of America! (And, intentional or not, also salute those corporations outside the nation’s borders.)

Who can you thank?

Here is a suggested list:

• Thank the corporation[s] which manufactured your computer[s].
• Thank your broadband provider for your high-speed Internet.
• If you are still subscribing to a linear cable-television service, thank your provider.
• If you are not with a cable-television provider, but you are streaming with use of a device, thank the manufacturer of that device.
• Thank all the media corporations which deliver the content.
• Make a point of thanking your mobile wireless carrier.
• Thank the manufacturer[s] of your vehicle[s].
• If you are on any medications, especially on a regular basis, thank the company[ies] for manufacturing your pills.
• Speaking of consumables: Thank the company for the turkey you will eat.
• Follow up this thanks by also expressing your gratitude to all companies applicable to all other items you will consume this holiday.
• If you will be drinking any beverage[s], thank all applicable corporations.
• And, finally, give your “Thanks!” to all corporations whose products you will be purchasing for the next major holiday, Christmas! (That it is for the people who do celebrate Christmas.)

Yes, Thanksgiving Day is a holiday which you can enjoy your time with family and other loved ones. (Or, if you choose to not be with any family and other loved ones—that, too, can be enjoyable.) But, if you have any concern about over-eating, it would be wise to give your “Thanks!” to the many corporations who are into your life every single day—including Thanksgiving Day! By doing that, you can curb your enthusiasm for what would otherwise be a rather big appetite.

Music Weekend

“Music Weekend” threads invite you to share any music—especially a video—with all who participate here at Progressives Chat.

Open Weekend

This “Open Weekend” thread is a regular thing for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Please take this November 17–19, 2017 Progressives Chat to wherever you may want it to go.

A ‘Special’ Election in Alabama

The special 2017 Alabama U.S. Senate election—pitting Republican Roy Moore, left,
and Democrat Doug Jones—is scheduled for [Tuesday,] December 12, 2017.

Next month is the special U.S. Senate election in Alabama for the seat previously held by current U.S. attorney general Jeff Sessions. (Replacing Sessions would be handled by election. The interim U.S. senator holding the seat is the state’s 47th attorney general, Luther Strange.)


The Republican nominee is state judge Roy Moore. The Democratic nominee is former U.S. attorney Doug Jones.

Moore is, of course, accused of sexual misconduct toward female minors from his past. And with the election looming—with the Democratic Party in position to flip with the 2018 midterm elections majority control of the U.S. House—the Republicans are not going to want to lose in Alabama because it would mean the U.S. Sense would likely also flip Democratic.


Here is a report, following the above pic, that majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) wants no more Roy Moore. The latter reportedly shot back at the former.

From “Roy Moore, Mitch McConnell each insist the other should quit,” by Alan Fram and Bruce Schreiner, http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/11/13/roy-moore-should-step-aside-mitch-mcconnell-says/cnmqGTO0sQTrUkRQFRaMsM/story.html : “The Senate’s top Republican said Monday [November 13, 2017] that GOP candidate Roy Moore should quit his Alabama [U.S. Senate] race amid allegations he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl decades ago. Moore fired back that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is the one who should leave, saying ‘[McConnell] has failed conservatives and must be replaced.’”


The party infighting may be interesting. There is no doubt that Roy Moore may be a deal breaker for the Alabama citizenry. Repeating what I mentioned earlier: If this seat flips Democratic, for Doug Jones, and because Moore was too damaging, it sets up the path for Democrats to win a majority-control pickup of the U.S. Senate to go along with the U.S. House. In theory, the Democrats—who need to flip three Republican-held seats—would retain all its party-held seats, currently 48, and would win pickups from the low-hanging fruit which are Nevada and Arizona. If the special election in Alabama flips, it would likely mean the U.S. Senate will become a majority-control pickup for the Democratic Party.

What Moore has in his favor is voting pattern. Alabama has not elected a Democrat to a U.S. Senate seat since Richard Shelby was re-elected to his second term in 1992. After the Republican wave election of 1994, Shelby changed his party affiliation to Republican and—with re-elections as a Republican beginning in 1998—he remains, now in his sixth term, the state’s senior U.S. senator. So, the GOP can look to this past pattern with Alabama. But, the party leadership appears to want Alabama’s next junior U.S. senator to not be Roy Moore.



Side Notes: 

This blog entry did not publish until about 09:00 a.m. ET because, as a mistake on my part, I did not send it to “Publish”; it was still in the mode of “Draft.” I want to acknowledge that this may happen again. But, typically I intend to present a new given day’s blog entry at 06:00 a.m. ET.

The “Recommendations” list—available in a regular full-screen format (not mobile)—now has two more entries: Niko House and RT’s Redacted Tonight. The links are to their direct YouTube pages.

Bernie Sanders Writes…

In a November 10, 2017 op-ed piece for Politico Magazine, titled “How to Fix the Democratic Party,” Bernie Sanders writes perceptively about what needs to be improved with the Democratic Party.

Standing out is his comment about the Democratic presidential nomination system.

“First, it is absurd that the Democratic Party now gives over 700 superdelegates—almost one-third the number a presidential candidate needs to win the nomination—the power to control the nominating process and ignore the will of voters.”

Yes—I agree. But, when describing this, I would use the word undemocratic. 

The reason is because these superdelegates are also human beings who are also private citizens. Thanks to their role in the Democratic Party presidential nomination process, they get to vote more than once. As one who has participated voting in Democratic presidential primaries, from my home state Michigan, for each time I have participated I have been allowed just one vote. So, I have reached the conclusion that superdelegates should go.

I appreciate that the junior United States senator from Vermont mentioned superdelegates.

I will not be quoting anything more from this piece by Bernie Sanders.

I wasn’t particularly moved by enough of what he had written.

Go ahead and read it. You will understand why. (It has to do with what was not mentioned.)

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/10/bernie-sanders-how-to-fix-democratic-party-215813

Music Weekend

“Music Weekend” threads invite you to share any music—especially a video—with all who participate here at Progressives Chat.

Open Weekend

This “Open Weekend” thread is a regular thing for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Please take this November 10–12, 2017 Progressives Chat to wherever you may want it to go.

Reflection: Results from Election 2016

Red: Republican Hold | Light Red: Republican Pickup
Blue: Democratic Hold | Light Blue: Democratic Pickup (not applicable)

Results:
Donald Trump  62,985,134 votes; 45.93%; 30 states, plus Maine #02, 306 (304) electoral votes
—Republican pickup winner; Shift from 2012: +2,115,582 votes and +1.77 percentage points—
Hillary Clinton  65,853,602 votes; 48.02%; 20 states, plus District of Columbia, 232 (227) electoral votes
Gary Johnson  4,489,235 votes; 3.27%; no electoral votes
Jill Stein  1,457,226 votes; 1.06%; no electoral votes




We have an anniversary today [Wednesday, November 8, 2017].

It was one year ago, [Tuesday,] November 8, 2016, which marked the 58th presidential election in United States history resulting in Donald Trump elected the 45th president of the United States.

This was considered devastating to all who believed Hillary Clinton was the correct choice.

They were wrong.

My No. 1 stated reason explaining why Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump is this simple: Participating 2016 Republican presidential primaries voters voted the nomination to the candidate they needed. Participating 2016 Democratic presidential primaries voters, who voted the nomination to Hillary Clinton, did just the opposite.

I could go beyond that. But, that does bottom-line it in describing just how badly out of touch and assuming pro-Hillary Clinton supporters turned out to be with the primaries and the general election. One year later, many of them—and this isn’t limited to party and beltway insiders but also citizens—remain out of touch and assuming and, well, you can have your fun describing them.

Getting into the details on some numbers, for results, and how the map unfolded is another thing.

The above map shows where the election was won: the industrial midwest and Rust Belt states appearing in light red were the 2016 Republican pickups for Donald Trump. (I wish Election Night coverage would use light shades for immediate illustration for switches in party support.) Trump began with carriage with 2016 Republican holds of the 24 states from the 2012 column for losing nominee Mitt Romney. (It typically happens, in a party-flipping year for the presidency, the pickup winner starts with carriage of the same states the party’s losing nominee won in the previous cycle.) These 24 states comprise 206 electoral votes. Trump flipped six states—Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin (as well as the 2nd Congressional District of Maine)—for a net gain of +100 electoral votes to finish with an initial and prevailing electoral-vote score of 306. (That number, compared to some previous party-flipping presidential election years, put 2016 Donald Trump on par with 1960 Democratic pickup winner John Kennedy, 1968 Republican pickup winner Richard Nixon, and 1976 Democratic pickup winner Jimmy Carter.)

Not all of Hillary Clinton’s efforts to win the White House were a failure. She actually got Trump to conspicuously underperform margins in Romney/Trump states Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Kansas, and Utah—all which should have solidified Republican margins in a year the party flipped the presidency—as well as Obama/Clinton states California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington, as well as non-state District of Columbia. These add up to 209 electoral votes.

The reason why Hillary Clinton won a 2016 Democratic hold of U.S. Popular Vote was because Donald Trump needed to shift +3.87 percentage points nationwide to be able to win a Republican pickup of the U.S. Popular Vote with a margin of at least +0.01 percentage points. (Mitt Romney lost to Barack Obama by –3.86; it was 47.15% for Romney to 51.01% for Obama.) In this area, Trump failed to achieve. Trump shifted to this necessary level in 26 states. These 26 states comprise 210 electoral votes. (Remember—it takes 270 to win.)

The below map, and when you compare it to the official map (especially the states which appear in light red), help to show why it is possible to have a split outcome—separate winners with the Electoral College (a Republican pickup for Donald Trump) and the U.S. Popular Vote (a Democratic hold for Hillary Clinton). For those states where Trump did have a sufficient shift, at least +3.87, they are shown in red. For those states in which Trump did not have a sufficient shift, they appear in blue.

The U.S. Popular Vote was first recorded in 1824. The presidential election of 2016 marked the fifth time, in a period of 192 years and 49 cycles, that there were separate winners of the U.S. Popular Vote and the Electoral College. This means, for now, there have been 89-percent outcomes in which both were won by the same candidate. That is, of course, a separate topic. One can have that discussion. This blog entry looks back a year ago to reflect on the results of Election 2016.

Red: Donald Trump shifted, at least, by his needed +3.87
Blue: Trump’s shift was not sufficient (to win over U.S. Popular Vote)

The Midterm Elections of 2018

From top to bottom: 
Wikipedia.org’s map of the 2018 schedule for U.S. Senate elections 
Among Democratic incumbent U.S. senators up for 2018 are 
Missouri’s Claire McCaskill and West Virginia’s Joe Manchin 
Former DNC chair and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida #23)
Info on Democratic U.S. House incumbents who—and who does not—support H.R. 676 (Medicare For All)

One year from today [Tuesday, November 6, 2018] are the midterm elections of 2018.

I could write “midterm congressional elections,” but not all election races are congressional. What also stands out are 36 states on the schedule for gubernatorial elections. Of those 36, nine are from the Top 10 populous states: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, and Michigan. (The only exception is North Carolina. Its gubernatorial elections are held with presidential elections.)

Based on historical voting pattern, and the fact that the 17th Amendment (allowing direct elections of U.S. senators from states’ voters) dates back to the 1910s, there have been 26 midterm election cycles from 1914 to 2014. From that period, only three were won with overall gains by the White House party: 1934, 1998, and 2002. The remaining 23 were won by the opposition party. This means, based on historical voting pattern, and that the current Republican president Donald Trump has a job-approval percentage rating in the range of the 30s, that the midterms of 2018 should be won by the Democrats.

I have to admit that I don’t care to see the Democrats win the midterm elections of 2018. Oh, sure, let them gain in numbers—especially state houses—to reduce some of the overall Republican-dominated strength. (They are close to being able to change the U.S. Constitution.) But, with a corporate Democratic Party Establishment still in charge—after approximately 1,000 state legislature seats were lost during the presidency of Barack Obama (and he bears some of that responsibility)—I would say that this is due either to incompetence or corruption. Some would say it is a combination of both. But, I lean more toward corruption.

Why corruption? It is money in politics. It is the No. 1 problem with U.S. politics. It is why we have the brands of politics for today’s two major political parties. It is why we have the policies.

Citing which particular Democratic incumbents I don’t care to see get re-elected can feel pointless. That is because I am trying to figure out who I want re-elected. Well, re-election for U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii #02) immediately springs to mind. And, if I wasn’t working on a timeline to get this published (I’m writing this on Sunday, November 5, 2017), I would cite more. (However little more.) It would just be easier for me to list a few Democratic incumbents who really need to go. The reasons have to do with how they vote. (It is also urgent that the ones not on board for Medicare For All to exit the upper chamber.) These names are not listed in order of importance. I am citing, in alphabetical order, five from the U.S. Senate and five from the U.S. House. (This list is certainly not sufficient. And I invite readers to list more names.)


U.S. Senate

• Maria Cantwell (D-Washington)
• Dianne Feinstein (D-California)
• Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia)
• Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri)
• Jon Tester (D-Montana)

U.S. House

• Henry Cuellar (D-Texas #28)
• Ruben Kihuen (D-Nevada #04)
• Dan Lipinski (D-Illinois #03)
• Nancy Pelosi (D-California #12)
• Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida #23)

Reminder: Beginning today [Monday, November 6, 2017], Progressives Chat will have blog topic threads on Mondays, Wednesdays, and “Open Weekend” and “Music Weekend” threads on Fridays. This three-per-week will play out until the remainder of 2017 (with respect for November and December commonly being busier months because of the holidays). 

Additional note: Just yesterday [Sunday, November 5, 2017], I added a “Recommendations” tag which appears on the right-side column and is available with the full-screen format. (I did not see it appear in mobile form.) —Candy83

Music Weekend

“Music Weekend” threads invite you to share any music—especially a video—with all who participate here at Progressives Chat.

Open Weekend

This “Open Weekend” thread is a regular thing for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Please take this November 3–5, 2017 Progressives Chat to wherever you may want it to go.

Happy Birthday, David Sirota!

Today [Thursday, November 2, 2017] marks the 42nd birthday of the excellent journalist and writer—and critic of neoliberal economic policies—David Sirota.

The author of several books, including Hostile Takeover (2006) and The Uprising (2008), Sirota was born in New Haven, Connecticut, educated at Northwestern University, and lives with his wife and children in Colorado.

I was not early to following the works of news columnist David Sirota. But, once I did, I would look into what more was coming from him. I used to download and listen to podcasts of his former talk-radio program, The David Sirota Show, which ran from 2009–2012, on Denver, Colorado’s KKZN.

Sirota—who was also also a former press aide to Bernie Sanders—gave up that talk show and joined with George W. Bush administration FEMA director Michael Brown for KHOW’s The Rundown with Sirota and Brown. This was ill-fated for Sirota. After its launch in July 2012, he left within six months.

Since that exit, Sirota has been senior editor for International Business Times, a move which has seen continued excellence in news reports from Sirota, and he continues to blog. He also has a podcast.




Houston Astros Win 2017 World Series
Last night’s [Wednesday, November 1, 2017] Game #07 of the 2017 World Series resulted in Houston Astros, in their defeat of Los Angeles Dodgers, winning their first-ever championship since becoming a franchise in 1962.

Houston Astros was in the National League, and won the pennant in 2005, through 2012. Under the ownership of Jim Crane, and with then-MLB commissioner Bud Selig wanting to equal both leagues with their current 15 teams, they moved to the American League. In its fifth season in that league, Astros won 4 games to the 3 for Dodgers to win their first title for the year 2017.

The MVP of the 2017 World Series is centerfielder George Springer, 28, who, for Houston, hit five home runs. Springer tied this record previously achieved by Reggie Jackson (1977) and Chase Utley (2009).

Congratulations, Houston Astros!

(Side note: I am not a lifelong baseball fan. I am a late bloomer. So, I don’t wear a baseball cap for that of any one particular MLB team. The 2006 Detroit Tigers which, as a resident of Michigan makes it my home team, became my start to follow some MLB. That Detroit Tigers team won the AL pennant that year and repeated in 2012. Unfortunately, they bombed in both Fall Classics. Two players from that 2006 Detroit team—outfielder Curtis Granderson and Cy Young pitching ace Justin Verlander—were facing in this 2017 World Series a first-ever title [Granderson, with Los Angeles Dodgers; Verlander, with Houston Astros]. The one who will be getting a ring is Verlander.)

Here are some YouTube-uploaded videos....

Regarding November and December 2017…

A Note to Everyone,

Now that today is [Wednesday,] November 1, 2017, I want to let participating Progressives Chat posters know that these last two months of 2017 will see regular thread topics just three days per week.

The period for commenting on any given day’s thread, via Disqus, is good for five days from the original date and time of a posted thread. So, this should not discourage anyone from being able to post a response.

The reason for this has to do with November and December typically being busier months because of the holidays. Some people have their minds on getting together with family and friends. The mood, in late-November and especially throughout December, is in getting in gear to bring to its end the current year.

As is it is usually the case at Progressives Chat, there are no strict rules to a given day’s topic for one being able to post here. I encourage a loose atmosphere.

The days of the week for which there will be regular threads will be Mondays and Wednesdays and, as it is usually the case, threads for “Open Weekend” and “Music Weekend” will continue. (They begin every Friday and also cover Saturday and Sunday.)

Due to the fact that I already have a topic planned for tomorrow [Thursday, November 2, 2017], the three-per-week threads will begin next Monday [November 6, 2017].

Thank you to everyone!

—Candy83