The BIGGEST Republican story that is NOT being reported.

[Firebrand Gary]

Republicans in the lame duck of 2006 passed legislation forcing the US Postal Service to fund 75 years of pension within a ten year window. The reason why is simple and the consequences are damning.

The Republican party's intention was to fully fund 75 years worth business that the GOP could privatize with a no bid contract and pass off to one of their donors. In doing so they had hoped to layer in another tactic to suppress democratic mail-in voting.

[MrSlayer]

1. Well, why didn't the Democratic Congress repeal it?

It's not like they had the House, Senate and Presidency or anything.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. That's a good question. I've always wondered why they never

tried to undo that shady prescription drug plan that the repukes passed.............

[DrunkenBoat]

5. Yeah, it makes you wonder.

[AndyTiedye]

16. Repiglickin Filibuster

We never really had the votes to stop a filibuster by the Repiglickins,
because LIEberman always votes with them when it matters.

[Scuba]

22. I never bought that. n/t

[AndyTiedye]

27. That's How the Votes Went

It doesn't matter whether or not you "buy it". That's what happened.

[ellisonz]

92. +100

[Dr Fate]

95. Are you +100ing the fact that DEMS supported and voted on the bill that is bankrupting the PO?

Or are you plus 100ing the fact that "filibuster" is a handy excuse for why they refuse to repeal the bill they actually support?

Either way, I'm easy.

[ellisonz]

123. We didn't have the votes stop it. I also have no idea why Henry Waxman of all people co-sponsered it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2016044

Bottom line: It's a bad law and we need to fix. Gutting the postal service is unconscionable.

[Dr Fate]

31. They would have called Obama a "socialist" if he had even tried.

So we fooled them by never even giving them a chance.

They never even tried to educate the public or fight at all, much less put it up for a vote or anything. We had the votes for Mandates, seems like we could have gotten the votes to fix at least part of this problem with the PO.

Problem is we had other fights to fight besides ponies for the out-dated, unpopular, socialist postal unions. Even if we could have gottne the votes for this like we got them for the mandates, it would have been a bad idea.

They were compromising, knowing something we dont, avoiding the socialist label with an eye on winning the independent votes for the midterms, etc.

I'm guessing it must have worked, b/c I have seen the links saying it worked for when people say it did not.

But having said that, I'm sure everything will end up working out fine if we can just elect lots of centrist DEMS again and give them another chance. Whatever they do or do not do, they are still better than Sarah Palin or what have you.

[defendandprotect]

60. 200 Years of a "Socialist" PO -- funny ---

The very concept of a people's government working for the general welfare is

socialist -- or let's put it this way . . . .

it's anti-elite, anti-private, anti-greed thinking which has been a huge success

over 200 years!


Meanwhile, evidently the money which was going to early funding of the pensions is

evidently been being used for other purposes!!

Including that there have been 100,000 layoffs since that legislation took effect and

the money that would have covered those let go has NOT been returned to the PO accounts!!


YIKES!!

[newspeak]

111. those socialist post offices?

Gee some of our forefathers must be rolling in their graves.

[Dr Fate]

117. I trust our DEM leadership more than some old fore father from hundreds of years ago.

Next you will be saying that DEMS should go wayyyyyy back in time and look to FDR and Truman for inspriration-when we KNOW that voters prefer Reagan Democrats and centrists.

[Cal33]

134. Considering the fact that our young Wall Street Occupiers are showing a good

deal more good sense and guts than our DINOs, the future isn't looking so bad
as it did only two weeks ago.

I really love those kids! Hope many of them will become future leaders of our
country, and our present insane state of affairs will be only a nightmare
of the past.

[truedelphi]

137. Those "kids" have restored my faith in this country.

I haven't felt this good since the night Obama won the Presidency.

[Cal33]

139. Yes. Since the movement has already become a national movement spreading

across our country - just google "occupy wall street, Houston or Atlanta, or Miami, or Boston,
or Los Angeles" - it means that there are a lot more of these young people with honesty,
integrity and courage than I had imagined. Of course, from the MSM we hear mostly from the
corporatist GOP. They never say anything about the young people, even when the young people
started to organize. But now, the whole world knows about them, and is with them. And they are
with the world.

Yes, I am feeling a lot better, too.

[Dr Fate]

33. Also, our good DEMS suported the law and helped to pass it to begin with.

So why would our learned DEM leadership fight to repeal something they fought so hard to pass?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2020965&mesg_id=2022712

[Firebrand Gary]

50. The Democratic party has its flaws as well and when we find them we primary them.

[Dr Fate]

97. I thought "filibuster" was our excuse. Now it is "Liberals should have primaried them harder"

I'm fine with both excuses. Lord knows we need as many as we can craft.

[newspeak]

113. well we've tried that before

we've had some progressive candidates running and had the DNC and the DLC come and endorse the "established" DINO candidate. How's that working out?

[Dr Fate]

115. Hey, as long as the hope of "primaries" keeps some boots on the ground and some $$ in the coffers...

...then I say let the Liberals keep thinking that the establishment will support such a system.

LOL! Us centrists laugh every time we hear about some hopeless "primary"- we remember how everyone from the Clintons to Obama supported Lieberman even if the Liberals do not.

Face it- the establishment does not want far left candidates, b/c we know they will not win.

[Firebrand Gary]

138. I reject your notion.

And think your "centrist" philosophy is an excuse to find solace in the status quo. That's ok, you "centrist" can just kick back and relax while we progressives do all of the work. We actually don't mind, it builds our compassion and persistence.

[newspeak]

140. yeah as jim hightower says

"the only thing in the middle of the road are dead armadillos."

[defendandprotect]

58. Ouch ... Ouch -- !!! Didn't know that --- !!! Really, really sad = collusion -- !!!

[defendandprotect]

81. Someone asked ....

did this include the 10 year window to pay off 75 years of pensions funding --

Presume the answer is, of course, YES --

but thought I'd check with you -- do you know specifically -- ?

Thanks --

[quakerboy]

34. Which could have been changed

had there been the a will to accomplish the tasks at hand. Its a self imposed rule, and one that will be nuked as soon as it becomes inconvenient in the next republican controlled senate.

[AndyTiedye]

79. It Would Require *67* Votes to Change That Rule

[quakerboy]

80. as I understand it

not if they had done it at the very beginning of the terms. My understanding is that the basic rules changes can be done at that time with a bare majority.

But even outside of that, there is apparently some way of making it happen. Otherwise what was the basis of the "nuclear option" that was threatened under shrub?

[AndyTiedye]

82. The Constitutionality of That is Debatable

…and it is the Supreme Court that gets to decide. :o

[defendandprotect]

88. The filibuster is not in the Constitution ---

additionally, Dems are permitting it to be an automatic run --

The GOP couldn't filibuster 18 hours -- it would immediately be over --

No one made them do it -- why?

[AndyTiedye]

121. Because Shrub Packed the Supreme Court

so it would rule for a nuclear option if the Repigs try to do it, but not if the Dems do.

They can even make it a non-precedent-setting ruling like Bush v. Gore, so they can change their minds depending on who is in power.
They're the Supreme Court so they get to do that.

[Dr Fate]

122. The DEMS tried to vote against Bush's nominees and tried to filibster them too.

Lots of Liberals were saying we should do just that, but right before we started, the GOP fooled/tricked/pragmatized us into not doing it.

[defendandprotect]

59. Right ... The Omnipotent, Superman Lieberman ... ROFL --

[AndyTiedye]

78. Without Him, We Did Not Have 60 Votes

…which means that we could not end the Repiglickin filibusters.

[defendandprotect]

87. Nonsense ... did you ever see the Dems do this in reverse .. and as for the nut case

Liebermann ... can you imagine what W Bush would have done to a Lieberman

if Bush had the presidency, the Senate and the House -- ???


And even more farcical is GOP now ONLY having control of the House and running

Obama's White House for him -- !! ROFL


As I've said before -- can't wait until the Democrats ONLY control the House so

that we can control everything --- !!!


ROFL

[Uncle Joe]

101. Why didn't the Democrats filibuster this in 2006? n/t

[newspeak]

114. yeah, how come the repugs have become the filibuster addicts?

filibustering more than anyone else in history; but the democrats apparently want to just get along and compromise. Which is so funny, since cheney, as I understand it, even before he was sworn in told those repug congresscritters that there would be NO COMPROMISING with democrats, and basically the WH was calling the shots.

[Dr Fate]

120. Would not have been pragmatic. Plus, they supported the bill to begin with. nt

nt

[Raster]

23. There may be the appearance ot two political parties in Washington,...

however, they both feed from the same trough and by the same hand.

[Scuba]

28. Bingo.

[PuppetGubment]

47. well said

[defendandprotect]

62. We were told, warned about buying of government ... no one still wants to believe it !!

[Jackpine Radical]

37. Somehow, I just had a flashback to a cartoon I remember from 40 years ago.

There were these two hens in a chickenyard, with other chickens in the background. One hen, with a worried look on her little bird face, is saying, "You know, with all the eggs we lay, there should be a lot more of us."

The chickens are coming out of their trances.

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. Or No Child Left Behind

[elleng]

4. $$$$$$$

[MrSlayer]

10. Indeed.

That is why I don't trust the Democrats any more than I do the Republicans. They play for the same team.

[Selatius]

19. Professional victimhood can, also, be pretty profitable.

And it's a good way to keep marginally left-wing voters coming back to vote over and over again.

[McCamy Taylor]

36. Why is the first response to every post at DEMOCRATIC Underground to blame the Democrats?

One word. Filibuster.

[Jackpine Radical]

38. Three words:

End Supermajority Rule.

[defendandprotect]

64. Why? This was NOT a Republican bill . . . Introduced by House Dems Davis/Waxman -- !!!

This was not a Republican bill.

The OP is trying to hide the history of the law. It was introduced in the House by Danny Davis and Henry Waxman as co-sponsors. Are Davis and Waxman now part of the Republican conspiracy? It passed both the House and Senate with not one Democrat in opposition. The Post Office Union supported the bill in testimony in 2008.

http://www.apwu.org/dept/presvp/testimony/testimony0805...


I'm just repeating here info put on the thread by another poster --



Meanwhile, Wm. Greider in his 1992 book "Who will tell the people?" -- Greider makes clear

that back in 1978 the Democrats colluded with the GOP to break the tax code for the rich.

This was long before Reagan -- and with Dems in FULL power !!


We've also had more than 20 years of Koch Bros. funded DLC which infiltrated and influenced

the party agenda and its candidates --

and also the likes of the criminal Pfizer and Chevron chipped in!!

Today the Dem Party is controlled by the THIRD WAY -- and this morning on C-span Jonathan

Cowan, Pres. of Third Way made clear that their position is that the party's "base" should

be ignored -- !!

And that POPULIST discussion/debate by any Dem candidate is the equivalent of Karl Rove

propaganda -- !!


Let's remember this isn't only about Citizens United and corporations BUYING government --

it is largely about our elected officials SELLING themselves to corporations -- !!

Our Democrats are pre-owned and pre-bribed by corporations!!

[riderinthestorm]

74. Which the Dems could have changed the rules on, years ago...

The filibuster rule could have been changed by the Senate Dems at the outset. They chose not to do so.

[Dr Fate]

96. DEMS voted with the Republicans for the anti-Post Office bill to begin with.

What does a filibuster have to do with that?

[brentspeak]

104. Democrats voted for the bill because the original language called for the dismantling of the unions

Bush's "blue-ribbon" postal commission recommended privatizing the USPS and nulling the postal union contracts. In a completely GOP-ruled 109th Congress, the Democrats were fortunate to get a seat at the legislative table for this bill at all. They managed to eliminate the worst union-busting parts of the bill, but that was about it.

[Dr Fate]

107. I already know DEMS were fooled/tricked/pragmatized into destroying the Post Office.

Just like they were fooled/tricked/pragmatized into not repealing the bill they supported to begin with.

Evil GOP- always fooling, tricking or pragamizing us into doing things that we have to make excuses for.

First they pragmatized us into supporting he bill, then they pragmatized us some more, and now they are pragmatizing us AGAIN into not fixing what we wrought.

Tricky devils they are- but we will get them someday!

[brentspeak]

110. You have as much time as you feel necessary to demonstrate to all of us here

how the Democrats, without taking a seat at the legislative table http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/109th_United_States_Congress">back in 2006, could have magically prevented the majority GOP from simply passing a postal reform bill that would have immediately (back then) done away with the postal unions via contract nullification and privatization, as the original draft of the legislation, prepared by Bush's people, specified.

[Dr Fate]

112. I agree with you that DEMS had a good excuse then, a good excuse now, good excuses in between...

...and we will have good excuses in the future as well.

Like I said- there is NOTHING any elected DEM then, now or in between the two times (or in the future) could have done to make it a campaign issue, bring this up or even debate it, much less take it to the public and make an issue out of it or force the GOP to publicaly take a side. Nothing. Impossible. We dont have the votes, filibuster, media would be mean to us, on and on.

I like the excuses too, but I think the real reason they voted for it and have not even talked about repealing it is b/c they are for it.

Guess what- if they are for it, then I am for it. I'm easy.

[Firebrand Gary]

48. The Democratic party controlled the Senate for just over 12 months.

Lets remember the late entry of Senator Al Franken and the early entry of Senator Scott Brown. We achieved more in those 12 months than we have in the last 20 years, we did not get it all done, so we fight on.

[defendandprotect]

67. House Democrats Davis and Henry Waxman Introduced this legislation --

as co-sponsors --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2021240&mesg_id=2026035

[Firebrand Gary]

77. That's why we primary our sitting politicians!

[defendandprotect]

85. Sad to see that Henry Waxman was involved in this --

the hero of the tobacco wars!!!

[Firebrand Gary]

91. I agree, oh well he needs to be primaried.

[defendandprotect]

125. I'd agree -- because what was that his trade off to get into the Senate ... ???

We see this frequently -- the crusader then turned collaborator --

Schumer followed a similar pattern -- and don't see any reason to keep him around

any longer, either!!

[brentspeak]

105. Yeah, but they also succeeded in preventing the GOP from immediately busting the postal unions

http://home.comcast.net/~l308morr/BMC/localpresidentjohnmacey.htm

In the waning hours of the 109th Congress, H.R. 6407 passed the House and Senate early this morning, and will be sent to the White House for signature. President Bush is expected to sign the legislation, meaning that postal reform legislation has been enacted after more than a decade of debate.

Most of the onerous provisions were taken out of the bill. Gone are attempts to control collective bargaining, reduce retirement annuities, increase the retirement age, privatize portions of the Postal Service, and hand the single-piece parcel business and mail handler jobs over to private competitors.

[Dr Fate]

109. And today, those Unions and the Post Office are STRONGER THAN EVER as a result of DEM strategy.

Thank GOD for the DEM pragmatism and wisdom when it comes to long term economics and strategy.

My guess is there was NOTHING DEMS could have done, then or since (or in the future) to make it any different.

[brentspeak]

116. My guess is that you're not capable of telling us what else the Democrats could have done

Please elucidate precisely those things the Democrats could have done back in 2006 to prevent the GOP from passing a postal reform bill -- as it was originally drafted by the GOP -- which would have followed the Bush panel's recommendations for the immediate USPS privatization and the nullification of union contracts.

Also, please describe to us here your own personal efforts in helping to get Rep. Stephen Lynch's (D-MA) http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2011/11-041-hr1351-hr1262-110411.htm">pending legislation passed through Congress -- legislation which would remedy much of the onerous prefunding requirements.

[Dr Fate]

119. Tell us what personal efforts Reid, Pelosi and Obama are making to help Lynch.

Show us the links where they pledge support, votes, fighting any DEM dissenters over his legislation, etc.

Then I'll tell you how I plan on imitating and following the lead of my party leaders.

I am not going to say anything that might make it look like I want Obama or DEM leadership to do something they may not end up doing. First I need to see that Obama & the DEM leadership will support Lynch 100%, then I'll stick my neck out. Not a moment b/f.

I already agreed with you that DEMS could do nothing. Nothing then. Nothining now. Nothing in between, nothing in the future. No arguments, no debates, no campaigning on it, no educating the public, no bringing anything up for votes, nothing. We agree on that part. That is why we make sure to call it "pending"- b/c we know it will not pass and that we will need an excuse for why. I vote: "we did not have the votes" again.

You are right- I am not capable of telling you of how or why DEMS would repeal a bill they supported and voted for.

All I know is it WORKED. The PO and their Unions are stronger than ever as a result of the DEMS masterful, artful long term strategy.

[defendandprotect]

129. Strong Post Office Union ... with no Post Offices -- !! Btw, PO property = $50 BILLION ... !!!

[defendandprotect]

128. After 2006, the Dems took the House and the Senate -- in '08 the presidency --

but of course that isn't like being a LIEBERMAN -- SUPERMAN --

Nor is it anything like simply controlling the House as the Repugs have been showing us!!

:rofl: -- :rofl:


I absolutely can't wait until the Dems ONLY control the House so that we can finally and

at long last control EVERYTHING!!!


:nuke:

[defendandprotect]

127. Fell into the void of a no "sarcasm" sign ---

Here's what I wrote before I figured it out -- !!! :blush:

QUOTE ---

Ah .. .the "nothing they could have done" alibi -- What about since then ...???

Remember -- Dems took the House and Senate almost immediately after this legislation

was passed!!

Plus -- a strong PO union WITHOUT POST OFFICES TO WORK IN isn't going to mean much,

is it?


:nuke:

UNQUOTE ---

[defendandprotect]

126. So they simply compromised on bankrutping the Post Office and handing PO funds over as a

slush fund to be used for other purposes -- !!!

While laying off 100,000 or more postal workers -- ???

:nuke:


Keep in mind that Dems took House and Senate after that -- and could have CORRECTED

WHAT THEY DID -- AND SO FAR, THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT!!

[spooked911]

73. good point

thanks for the reminder

[dogmoma56]

56. because they only had a simple majority, the Fascists have it rigged for 60% to pass anything

[defendandprotect]

86. Farce -- the GOP would be lucky to keep a filibuster going even 18 hours and it would be over -- !!

[Dr Fate]

98. Are you talking about when the DEMS endorsed the anti-PO bill, or when they failed to repeal it?

DEMS supported this bill to begin with.

What does a filibuster have to do with any of this?

The reason they will not repeal th bill is b/c they supported it and they probably still support it.

"Filibuster" is apparently just a knee jerk excuse, unless you can show us a news article or something where DEMS specifically sited it as their reason for not repealing a law that they supported and helped to pass.

[defendandprotect]

57. Exactly -- GOP did it a short time before the '06 Dem win ... but they've had 5 years to change it !

[brentspeak]

103. They have tried

There have been two attempts in the House that would allow USPS to draw upon pension overpayments to pay for the prefunding requirement.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h22/show">H.R. 22 (actually introduced by Republican John McHugh and Democrat Danny Davis) was passed by the House in 2009 over objections by the Tea Party-like Republicans, but has been blocked in the Senate by the GOP ever since through threat of filibuster (along with over 300 other bills).

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) just a few months ago introduced http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2011/11-041-hr1351-hr1262-110411.htm">even stronger legislation designed to allow USPS to use tap its overpayments. No way is it going to get anywhere in the new Tea Party-controlled House.

Last year, Harry Reid tried to get something going in the Senate to limit the amount of money USPS would be required to prefund each year; the GOP http://www.nalc.org/news/latest/misguided_sept2010.html">killed it.

[flamingdem]

3. We need to relocate the GOP to Greenland immediately nt

[SnohoDem]

6. Greenland?

What did they ever do to us?

[flamingdem]

8. True. But maybe we could pay them off?

They have lots of space.

[newspeak]

118. yeah, greenland is beautiful and is still too close

I'm thinking Somalia-where there are no damn regulations and they can do what the hell they want.

[Muskypundit]

46. That would only accelerate the oceans rise.

With their hot air those glaciers wouldn't stand a chance

[defendandprotect]

68. Actually ....Democrats introduced it --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2021240&mesg_id=2026035

[glinda]

7. The final nail in the coffin on voting.

[flamingdem]

9. The "Donor" that wants to own the Post Office must be the Koch Brothers

or a surrogate perhaps.

[glinda]

26. Koch's own a few shipping/transit industries so bingo.

[Beartracks]

11. Damn. Sounds plausible. Is ANYone running this up a flagpole? n/t

[givemebackmycountry]

12. Kick! Kick! Kick!

A very important post.
This needs to be headed top of the charts type action.

[mojowork_n]

13. Amy Goodman (Democracy Now) covered this...

Here's the link:

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/9/27/shock_doctrine_at_us_postal_service

the much-touted crisis facing the U.S. Postal Service is not what it seems. They argue the greatest volume of mail handled in the 236-year history of the postal service was 2006. They also point to a 2006 law that forced the USPS to become the only agency required to fund 75 years of retiree health benefits over just a 10-year span, and say the law’s requirements account for 100 percent of the service’s $20 billion in losses over the previous four years, without which the service would have turned a profit. Last week, Republicans introduced legislation to overhaul the USPS in response to a bill proposed by Democrats that would refund a reported $6.9 billion in over-payments to the USPS retirement plan, offer early retirement and voluntary separation incentives, adjust retiree benefits prepayment requirements, and preserve employee protections set out in collective bargaining agreements.

[TreasonousBastard]

14. Well, I've seen it reported, but the thing I learned in another thread...

around here somewhere is that that law was co-sponsored by Henry Waxman.

So, the conspiracy seems larger than just Republicans.

On edit-- it was this thread ,and it was not that long ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2020965

[Occulus]

25. The Republican alternative at the time, IIRC, was Issa's current bill.

If I'm remembering correctly, it was a "pass this or we'll pass that" sort of thing.

Issa's current bill would dissolve the (merely months old) APWU contract and lay of hundreds of thousands of employees, as well as close many processing and distribution centers and local offices, as well as lay the groundwork for the contracting out of postal work.

The Waxman bill was bad, but the alternative was very, very much worse.

[Dr Fate]

99. We were fooled/tricked/pragmatized into supporting tea bag agenda even wayyyyyyy back then.

Then again, DEMS are the "devil I know" so I'm gonna stick with 'em and support whatever it is they do or do not do.

[newspeak]

142. and so the corporate owned greedy repugs give the democrats

choices. One choice screws the peons while throwing more of our money to their corporate sociopathic friends and the other choice, is we will do it slowly-take it down so then we can give it all to our greedy corporate friends.

[ErikJ]

15. Mail-in voting is GOP worst nightmare.

And its spreading. Here in Oregon we have it and one of the local T-Party goals is to kill our mail-in voting.

[Firebrand Gary]

49. Oh yes, the GOP will do everything they can to suppress voter involvement.

That is not democracy.

[Festivito]

17. Also, the rich USPO's money could be invested in the faltering derivatives/housing market.

With the USPO privatized, that transfer would be child's play.

[defendandprotect]

69. How much is Post Office property worth ????

I think the guy on C-span this morning said $50 billion ????

[Festivito]

90. 50B$ sounds plausible. But, that has nothing to do with retirement fund investing in derivatives.

The derivative market reached 645T$, as a form a cash, which is ridiculous since the whole world only needs about 20T$ for cash in a 150T$ world GDP.

There is great reward given to the transfer of some of that 645T$ into honest holdings. I figure the USPO was a target.

[defendandprotect]

133. Correct --- not retirement funds which are being used for other purposes -- !!!

Forgive me but I didn't understand the body of your post --

Can you restate it --

Imo, we don't need Wall St or corporations -- citizens make an economy --

and capitalism is finished --



:hi:

[Festivito]

135. I'd hope capitalism as pure capitalism is finished.

Allowing one vote per person is a form of anti-capitalism socialism. Pure capitalism is anti-democratic. It cannot be allowed.

The question remains: where do we draw the lines.

Restated: They try to steal the USPO money by having the USPO buy their worthless derivatives.

[defendandprotect]

136. Ah ... didn't know that -- !!! I heard they used the money to fund other agencies ....

but I didn't know they used it to buy derivatives -- !! Wow ... derivatives!!!


Meanwhile, $50 BILLION in real estate across the nation is also something they'd

like to get their hands on!

[AtomicKitten]

18. Rachel reported on this a week or two ago. nt

[malaise]

20. What do you expect from

ReTHUGS?

[Ilsa]

21. Yes and Darryl Issa is trying to get it privatized.

These people are real bastards. The Democrats have to stick together on this. Honestly, I think the whole thong since 2006 should be treated as a criminal scheme and prosecuted for attempted corporate theft.

[flamingdem]

24. It's strange that it's only coming to light now publically nt

[defendandprotect]

70. And, the way it did was that the union paid $1 million to RUN AN AD on TV ... !!!

And then people began to discuss it --

Certainly our Democrats didn't tell us what happened --

and this legislation was introduced in the House by Denny Davis and Henry Waxman !!!


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2021240&mesg_id=2026035

[Myrina]

29. I think the reason why was that they wanted to establish an unbearable burden.

They wanted to sink the Post Office and the Postal Workers. Drowning gov't services in a bathtub, remember?

[Dr Fate]

30. Who is stopping Reid, Pelosi, and Obama from "reporting" it?

Since the media would censor them or "cut their mics" if they tried, then how about something on their websites, or from the floor of congress, on CSPAN?

For that matter, who was stopping our pre-midterm DEM majority from repealing it?

Oh well, if the Democratic leadership is not going to worry their beautiful minds over this, why should I? I'm sure they have a good, pragmatic reasons for going along with the GOP on this.

[KansDem]

32. The creation of the post office is in the consitution...

Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 of the United States Constitution, known as the Postal Clause or the Postal Power, empowers Congress "To establish Post Offices and post Roads".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Clause

How do they propose to get rid of something that's in the Constitution?

[SnakeEyes]

44. It empowers Congress to do so

It doesn't require them to do so.

[Dr Fate]

100. Cool- so the DEMS were right in first helping the GOP and also correct in not not stopping them now.

nt

[Desertrose]

35. Bastards.

The Republican party's intention was to fully fund 75 years worth business that the GOP could privatize with a no bid contract and pass off to one of their donors. In doing so they had hoped to layer in another tactic to suppress democratic mail-in voting.


Didn't think about that but it makes sense from their twisted point of view.

[Tumbulu]

39. It should be reported- how do we get things reported......

I guess this is why we come here....

[Stuart G]

40. K and R thanks for posting..nt

[Blue Owl]

41. The Grand Old Pricks strike again

n/t

[defendandprotect]

89. No ---

It was the Dems --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2021240&mesg_id=2023932

[louslobbs]

42. Kicked and Rec'd they really make my stomach turn.KOCH Postal Services?

Lou

[ThomWV]

43. Never forget the Postal Union. Much of what they do can be attributed to union busting too.

[SnakeEyes]

45. elaborate

[Bjorn Against]

63. The US Postal Service is the largest union employer in the nation

Republicans despise unions, especially public sector unions and they would love to bust the postal workers union.

[SnakeEyes]

75. Ok, I get what you're saying.

[Firebrand Gary]

51. FYI: For the "American Originalist" The US Postal Service is older than the US Constitution.

[KurtNYC]

52. so repeal it

has anyone tried?

[alfredo]

53. Fuck the GOP and their tyrant corporate bosses.

[defendandprotect]

71. It was the Democrats --

House Dems Denny Davis and Henry Waxman introduced the legislation as

co-sponsors --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2021240&mesg_id=2026035

[alfredo]

76. Was the 10yr limit in the original bill?

[defendandprotect]

83. Would certainly presume so ---

but upthread I asked Dr. Fate if he can confirm that -

HOWEVER THE DEMS WON IN '06 AND COULD HAVE CHANGED IT ANY TIME AFTER THAT --

[alfredo]

94. True. But remember, McConnell immediately began his stonewall on

Everything the Dems tried to do.

[Dr Fate]

102. McConnel stonewalled the DEMS original support for the anti-post office legislation?

How?

Or are we saying that IF the DEMS had tried to come back later repeal something they supported and passed, McConnel would stop them?

Either way is okay with me. I just want to win.

[alfredo]

124. No, he stonewalled, slow walked any legislation, no matter

if it was good or bad. His only criteria was to sabotage our government.

[defendandprotect]

131. Funny -- in a sad way --- !!!

[defendandprotect]

130. That's why I can't wait until Dems ONLY control the House .... so we control everything!! ROFL

In '06 Dems tooks House and Senate -- In '08 they took the presidency --

but they only became weaker -- !!! ROFL

Who actually believes this stuff???

[brentspeak]

106. Explain to us how the Democrats "could have changed it any time after that"

Despite a Republican filibuster and a Republican president?

[Dr Fate]

108. Obama is a Republican President?

I prefer to say "Centrist" or "Progressive"- but hey, whatever it takes.

But we agree that there was NOTHING a President with both houses could have done to bring up in conversation, repeal, argue, debate, adjust, weaken, review, expose or educate the public about a bill that they supported anyway.

[defendandprotect]

132. Filibuster is farce -- Dems have allowed this "out" without challenge ....

After '06 Dems controlled House and Senate --

and in '08 they had presidency --

but obviously that only made them weaker -- !!! ROFL

[HowHasItComeToThis]

54. BEHOLD, THE ENEMY WITHIN

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[newspeak]

141. and the more public services corporatized, the more the PEOPLE lose

power and their voice. Why don't americans realize that corporations getting public services makes WS happy, but it's just more shitty jobs for the peons while gaining more profits for corporations. And more profits for corporations means the prices are going to go up anyway. I'd rather my money go for my mailperson, allowing them a decent job, than some greedhead on WS. Of course, as our money gets funneled to these corporate entities, be it foreign or domestic, that money by the corporation is used against our interests. They have more power than the people.

[Ruby the Liberal]

55. Mail-in voting. Yet another nail in the Post Office coffin we need to fight.

Thanks for noting that.

Here, our PO people are in the intersections looking for signatures. I am going to start noting a list of "what if we didn't have the PO" and take it down there to hand out with them.

[defendandprotect]

84. Yes -- a big issue -- especially because of all the gimmicking with "caging" votes ....

and RW trying to fight absentee ballots while in reality your postal address is used

as proof of your voting status!

And your best ID is your signature -- though people were so poorly trained in the last

years, that I had someone give me the page to sign and didn't cover up the prior

signatures.

Everything is a threat to the RW because everything they have is a house of cards --

money propping up every one of their evil organizations -- and we should keep pushing

cause some day soon we're going to bring it down!!


:hi:

[judesedit]

61. Take your ballot to the campaign headquarters in your area

They are happy to turn in the ballot for you and everybody else. They prefer it because they know it's going to the right place.

[Little Star]

66. People who live in the boondocks would have to travel pretty far..

to get to the campaign headquarters in their area. Plus think about poor people with no money for gas or even without a car.

Your suggestion was not well thought out.

[yellerpup]

72. Thank YOU for reporting it, FG.

Everyone in the country should know this.

[ellisonz]

93. Oregon and Washington vote exclusively by mail.

Ed Schultz has been covering this in depth every night this week.