Editorial Cartoons of the Week

 

Happy Fourth of July Everyone

 

Brooks and Capehart from July 2, 2021

 

Bidenomics is Working in Arizona and Across the Country; It is Time to Pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Democratic Budget Reconciliation Plans

 850,000 new jobs were created in June.

Sectors that grew the most were hospitality and leisure, education, and state government workers.

It is the highest monthly jobs growth this year.

However, there are still 6.8 million jobs less than when the COVID 19 Pandemic surged across the nation.

In comments to the nation, President Joe Biden said:

"This is historic progress pulling our economy out of the worst crisis in 100 years, driven in part by our dramatic progress in vaccinating our nation and beating back the pandemic, as well as other elements of the American Rescue Plan. Today, the U.S. is the only major advanced economy where the OECD projections of future output are higher today than they were in January 2020, before the pandemic hit. And America was ranked first in Bloomberg’s “COVID Resilience Ranking.” None of this happened by accident. Again, it’s a direct result of the American Rescue Plan. And at the time, people questioned whether or not we should do that, even though we didn’t have bipartisan support. Well, it worked. In February, the Congressional Budget Office projected 2021 economic growth would be 3.7 percent. Yesterday, they doubled that number to 7.4 percent, in large part thanks to the American Rescue Plan and our work to defeat the virus. The last time the economy grew at this rate was in 1984, and Ronald Reagan was telling us it’s “Morning in America.” Well, it’s getting close to afternoon here. The sun is coming out. At the time, the CBO revised their long-run deficit projections down as a share of GDP they — just as they have done. So, the American Rescue Plan is strengthening our financial position, and it grows our economy. It’s continuing to grow our economy. And the strength of our recovery is helping us flip the script."

Later in his comments, the President extolled the benefits of the American Rescue Plan in helping to reduce Child Poverty in half and noted support for the bipartisan infrastructure plan and the Democratic budget reconciliation plan (which incorporates much of the Biden/Harris American Jobs and Families Plans,) that is being negotiated in Congress.

Mr. Biden said:

"And I’ve said it for a long time: It’s time to give ordinary folks, ordinary Americans, middle-class and working-class Americans a tax break. This is the type of tax cut that can help our economy because it will go to families who are going to spend it. It will also help lead a historic reduction in child poverty — excuse me — historic reduction in child poverty, which would have long-term benefits for our economy. And we’re delivering $39 billion to help childcare providers serve more families, to help parents, particularly women, get back to work. Last month, our economy added nearly 25,000 childcare jobs. Again, none of this happened by accident. We’re providing — proving to the naysayers and the doubters that they were wrong.

None of this is guaranteed to continue, though, unless we finish our work.  Now is the time to accelerate the progress we’ve been making.  Now is the time to build in a long-term foundation that we’ve laid, and build it in for a long term.  Economists of all stripes agree that my plan will create good jobs and drastically strengthen our economy in the long run. So we have to continue to make the investments that will allow our economy to build back better and deal everyone in. We took a significant step in that direction last week when the bipartisan group of senators forged an agreement with me to move forward on key portions of my American Jobs Plan.

It was — I just in Wisconsin, where I highlighted how this agreement is going to pave the way for a generational investment to modernize our infrastructure; create millions of jobs, according to the experts; and what that will mean an ever- — and it won’t just be in the center cities. It will be every corner of the state and our nation.

We’re going to create jobs repairing roads and bridges, replacing 100 percent of our nation’s lead water pipes, making our power grid more reliable, delivering high-speed Internet to every American home, rural and urban. 

We’re going to put people to work building a nationwide electric vehicle charging network, transitioning from diesel school buses and transit buses to electric buses, and bringing in world-class rail service to more Americans by reducing — and, in the process, reduce our carbon footprint.

For example, when I was up in Wisconsin, I said — I pointed out — the governor was there. I said, “Gov, I know it takes…” — or I don’t know how many people — a couple hundred people, I guess, in the audience. I said, “It takes, they tell me, four and half hours to drive from here to Chicago. With the money we have in — for mass transit here, we — you’re going to be able to do that in two and half hours.” And all the data shows that when it’s easier to get someplace by rail than by automobile, it’s cheaper and it generates a whole lot less carbon footprint.

We’re going to create good-paying union jobs capping hundreds of thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells to stop methane leaks, which are devastating, and to protect the health of our communities. These are good jobs.

You know, as we bring home key parts of my American Jobs Plan, I’m going to make the case for equally critical investments that we still need, including those in which I introduced at the same time: my American Families Plan.

When I was running for President, I put together a bold, aggressive plan to deliver childcare, paid leave, universal pre-K for three- and four-year-olds, free community college. Maybe the most important among them was extending the expanded Child Care Tax Credit I just mentioned for another five years, which will significantly benefit middle-class and working-class families.

That human infrastructure is as essential as our physical infrastructure. It’s going to help us create more good jobs, ease the burden on working families, and strengthen our economy — strengthen it in the long run..."

Taking Questions on Afghanistan and the Coronavirus. 

The President concluded his presentation by taking questions on Afghanistan which was a sore spot for Mr. Biden to respond to (he actually stumbled a little when he said he wanted to talk about "happy topics") because the ground situation in that country quickly shaping up to go through what happened in South Vietnam after the American troops left.

Mr. Biden also took a question on COVID surges in areas of the country where vaccination rates are below the national average and whether that increase in Coronavirus levels will grow bigger after the July 4 weekend.

The President said:

"I am concerned that people who have not gotten vaccinated have the capacity to catch the variant and spread the variant to other people who have not been vaccinated. I am not concerned there is going to be a major outbreak — in other words, that we’re going to have another epidemic nationwide, but I am concerned lives will be lost.  And I was even reading today there’s some speculation and some judgment that’s coming out that you may be able to even communicate the vaccine — the — the new variant to your pets.  So I say, not — not totally facetiously, for those of you who haven’t been vaccinated because you don’t — you don’t — you don’t think it’s — you want to go through it: It doesn’t hurt, it’s accessible, it’s free, it’s available.  And not only — don’t think about yourself; think about your family.  Think about those around you.  That’s what we should be thinking about today. The Fourth of July this year is different than the Fourth of July last year.  And it’s going to be better next year."

Moving forward in Arizona. 

Bidenomics is working in Arizona and across the country. It is time for Congress to build on the American Rescue Plan and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Democrat Budget Reconciliation bills which incorporate much of the funding priorities of the American Jobs and Families Plans.

Already, you see mayors across Arizona getting a head start (with American Rescue Plan dollars in some cases) on modernizing local infrastructures and revitalizing communities.

In Tempe, there is a local streetcar line that is being constructed in the Arizona State University area.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and the City Council have announced the creation of additional electric vehicle charging stations and consumer-friendly adjustments on the construction of solar panels.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and the City Council have just approved the installation of "electric vehicle (EV) outlet in new one and two-family residential construction and have given city staff direction to begin the process of developing similar code amendments for EV charging outlets in new multi-family residential and commercial construction."

On this development, Mayor Romero said:

“With this action, we are taking an important step to usher in and increase access to EV technology, improve air quality, and avoid costly home retrofits. We are preparing the City of Tucson to be at the forefront in the adoption of a clean, renewable transportation system.”

On the bipartisan infrastructure plan, Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy commented:

"It is great to see infrastructure being embraced once again in our country, while also realizing that “infrastructure” is not only bridges and roads but also includes broadband, which is what we need to move our country into the future."

The Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Charles Fisher issued a statement on the June jobs report that read:

"America is back. Today’s strong jobs report provides yet another indication that President Biden’s recovery plan is working as our economy continues to build back stronger. On his first day in office, President Biden put forth his American Rescue Plan, promising to get shots in arms, checks in pockets, and people back to work. Now, as we come back together to celebrate this Fourth of July, Arizonans can see that the Biden-Harris administration not only kept that promise, but has delivered unprecedented economic growth centered on working families and small businesses.”

Later, Hannah Goss of the Arizona Democratic Party released an additional statement noting the impact of the Biden/Harris economic policies in the Grand Canyon State like in education, mortgage, and rent relief, airport infrastructure, small business assistance, aid to the vulnerable, and the child tax credit.

Former Arizona Democratic Party spokesperson and current Vice President and Director of Public Affairs of Matters of State Strategies Matt Grodsky sounded a more cautious note on the infrastructure and reconciliation plans going through Congress, warning what may happen if Democrats do not deliver to the full satisfaction of their base. He stated:

"From a strategic communications perspective, if this bill passes then members of both parties will have some bragging rights that they can take home to their districts ahead of 2022. Infrastructure has high support among voters across the political spectrum, so it's beneficial to have your name attached to this bill if you're serving in Congress. 

It is always good to find common ground when it comes to solving America's problems, however, it defeats the purpose of bipartisanship when a substantially lesser deal prevails at the expense of Americans' best interests and when too much is given away for too little. Granted the opportunity to give Americans everything they needed in sweeping legislation, we opted for a watered-down version despite broad support for the original legislation. This was apparently done to appease a party that is determined to block this administration's agenda. 

 

The workaround here is to promptly pass a second bill so that the key human infrastructure and climate items that were in the original infrastructure plan are addressed. Yes, that means Manchin and Sinema would need to be on board. Additionally, this plan still doesn't meet some of the key milestones that experts have said needed to be met.

 

If an additional bill doesn't happen then this whole episode would be considered demoralizing for Democratic supporters, organizers, volunteers, and donors who have worked tirelessly since 2010 to regain control of both chambers of Congress and the Presidency in order to advance much-needed legislation. 

 

Yes, bipartisanship is critical for Democracy and should be utilized when all parties are operating in good faith. But Republicans have taken hostages and forced Democrats into a corner. By caving now, when Democrats had the opportunity to circumvent this obstruction, lawmakers have thwarted the will of the American people. We'll just have to wait and see what happens with this bill."

 

Mr. Grodsky is correct.

 

While the news about Bidenonmics has been impressive so far, it is necessary to keep up the momentum and pass the programs the country needs to move further into the Twenty-First Century and lift all Americans up with good-paying jobs in a safe and clean environment.

 

 

Arizona and National Democratic Reaction to Yesterdays Supreme Court Ruling on Section Two of the Voting Rights Act

Editorial Cartoon from Steve Benson, Arizona Mirror

While Republicans in Arizona and the rest of the nation were dancing in the street after yesterdays Supreme Court Ruling validating two Arizona voting laws that seemingly make it harder for certain groups like Native Americans to vote (and Justice Alito's opinion giving credence to the specter of nonexistent voter fraud,), the reaction among Democrats in the real world has been the exact opposite in the country and Grand Canyon State.

7-1-21

President Joe Biden issued a White House statement which read:

"I am deeply disappointed in today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court that undercuts the Voting Rights Act, and upholds what Justice Kagan called “a significant race-based disparity in voting opportunities.”

In a span of just eight years, the Court has now done severe damage to two of the most important provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – a law that took years of struggle and strife to secure.

After all we have been through to deliver the promise of this Nation to all Americans, we should be fully enforcing voting rights laws, not weakening them. Yet this decision comes just over a week after Senate Republicans blocked even a debate – even consideration – of the For the People Act that would have protected the right to vote from action by Republican legislators in states across the country.

While this broad assault against voting rights is sadly not unprecedented, it is taking on new forms. It is no longer just about a fight over who gets to vote and making it easier for eligible voters to vote. It is about who gets to count the vote and whether your vote counts at all.

Our democracy depends on an election system built on integrity and independence. The attack we are seeing today makes clearer than ever that additional laws are needed to safeguard that beating heart of our democracy. We must also shore up our election security to address the threats of election subversion from abroad and at home.

Today’s decision also makes it all the more imperative to continue the fight for the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and expand voting protections. The Court’s decision, harmful as it is, does not limit Congress’ ability to repair the damage done today: it puts the burden back on Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act to its intended strength.

That means forging a coalition of Americans of every background and political party – from advocates, activists, and business executives – to raise the urgency of the moment and demand that our democracy truly reflects the will of the people and that it delivers for the Nation.

That is what Vice President Harris and I will continue to do.

This is our life’s work and the work of all of us.

Democracy is on the line.

We can do this together."

Democratic Party National Chairperson Jamie Harrison released a statement which said:

“The DNC challenged two Arizona laws in 2016 that were intended to, and did, have a suppressive effect on the votes of minorities. One law resulted in the rejection of the votes of minorities by a ratio of 2:1. The other law effectively ended the ballot collection process that many minority communities in Arizona rely upon, particularly on Native American lands.
“We’re disappointed in the Court’s ruling today, but we will continue to work to make sure every voter’s vote is counted and protected. This ruling is exactly why we urgently need to take action at the state and federal levels to protect voters from Republicans’ unprecedented efforts to undermine the right to vote
“All Americans should have the same opportunity to exercise their right to vote. Every person’s vote should be counted and treated in the same manner.”

Arizona Secretary of State and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Katie Hobbs posted on social media:

“For our government to work for us, it must include all of us. As our state’s Chief Election Officer, I will never stop fighting against unnecessary and discriminatory barriers to voting here. While legislatures across the country—including right here in Arizona—pass partisan laws that create new barriers to the ballot box, today’s decision makes one thing clear: Congress must act to protect voting rights.

"The Voting Rights Act was passed to protect the right to vote and to fight against racial discrimination. The Supreme Court weakened one of our country’s landmark civil rights laws. It is truly a sad day for the future of our democracy.

"This decision upholds the criminalization of neighbors for helping one another vote, allows for entire ballots to be disregarded if the voter goes to the wrong polling place, and will make it more difficult for voters to rely on the VRA to fight discriminatory voting rules and policies. All of this underscores how urgently we need stronger voter protections at the state and federal level."

Arizona Democratic Party Chairperson Raquel Teran issued a statement that read:

“This disappointing Supreme Court decision is an attack on Arizonans trying to exercise their right to vote. But, even in the face of this decision, Arizona Democrats are organized earlier than ever before to inform Arizonans on how to overcome these restrictions and make their voices heard at the ballot box.

“It’s impossible to ignore that this ruling and these voter restriction laws are the culmination of Republicans’ longtime efforts to sow distrust and doubt in our election system, with politicians like Mark Brnovich leading the charge. In open court, the Arizona Republican Party’s own lawyer admitted that the purpose of the laws was to gain political advantage. This is just the latest proof that Republican leaders are willing to betray Arizona voters for their own political gain.”

Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cazares-Kelly stated:

"We are witnessing a historic attack on voting rights. The 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision allowed voter suppression tactics like the ballot collection prohibition to be passed. In this year’s legislative session, we have seen a record-breaking number of bills introduced in state legislatures across the nation aimed at disenfranchising voters. It has never been clearer that we need strong protections for voters of color, and it is appalling to see further weakening of the Voting Rights Act through today’s decision..."

"...Now, more than ever, as many Arizonans have leaned on their neighbors for help with basic needs during a global pandemic, we see the disparity of resources in our communities. This decision prohibits neighbors from helping neighbors to vote and we are disappointed with the Court’s decision, to say the least. Today’s decision from the Court completely disregards the present-day racial disparities in access to voting and allows us to continue to challenge white supremacist laws and policies in the election process. I hope Congress will recognize the racial disparities in access to voting, end the filibuster, and pass both the For the People Act and the John Lewis Act to protect the right to vote for marginalized communities. These bills will be a step in the right direction to allow everyone to participate in our democracy.”

Nancy Schriber, the chairperson of the Maricopa County Democratic Party commented in a mailer:

"Earlier today, the Supreme Court upheld two restrictive Arizona laws. As a result, thousands of Arizona voters - predominantly voters of color - will face tedious and onerous obstacles to cast ballots. This ruling will disenfranchise thousands of Arizona voters who consistently vote for Democrats.

Republicans and their appointed Supreme Court Justices are sending a message. They will do anything to shape laws that favor the Republican Party."

Vote Latino President Maria Teresa Kumar wrote:

"Let’s call this ruling what it is: a full-on adoption by the Supreme Court’s conservative justices of Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s ‘Big Lie.’ It furthers the belief that Arizona’s restrictive voting laws reasonably guard against nonexistent voter fraud when in reality, they explicitly discriminate against and disproportionately impact voters of color."

“The real-time dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, now diminishing Section 2’s safeguards that protect against bills disadvantaging voters by race, is a worrisome setback to overturning the dozens of discriminatory laws being pushed, and passed, across state legislatures. By disallowing the collection and delivery of completed ballots, and requiring officials to throw out ballots accidentally cast in the wrong precinct, we are actively seeking ways to make it harder to vote, disenfranchising voters who may need assistance reaching faraway polling places, or penalizing them for not keeping up with the ever-changing location of precincts."

“These laws disproportionately target Arizona’s Latinx voters, its indigenous voters, and all voters of color, as well as low-income voters. It also sends the wrong message to young Latino voters, who made up over 27 percent of Arizona’s electorate in 2020 and is growing, making it harder for them to participate. This is not how we create a more inclusive democracy that ensures every voice can be heard in our elections.”

With this decision, it is apparent that Congress must act and pass versions of the For the People and John Lewis Acts that stop the actions certain red and purple states have already taken and what they plan to do next year. If it necessitates a carve out of the Senate filibuster to do it, so be it.

It is also vital that citizen activists like those in Arizona create ballot inititaives/referendums that seek to stop the worst voting suppression measures passed by the state legislatures work to submit the required signatures into the Secretary of States office in the 90 day allowed period.

If possible, the Biden/Harris Administration and Democrats should use the coming reconciliation budget measure to pass monies to build more post office boxes on Native American nations and hire qualified individuals to help get out the vote in 2022 and 2024.

The war for Democracy and truth is on.

It is time to defeat the forces of autocracy and the Big Lie forever and consign them to the dustbin of history.

Editorial Poster from Occupy Democrats and Editorial Cartoon from Steve Benson

 

Kevin McCarthy is no Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton or Liz Cheney

When Republicans created the Select Committee to investigate the Benghazi attacks and politically witchhunt Hillary Clinton in order to drive down her poll numbers (even though she was not the President or Secretary of Defense at the time,) Kevin I want to be the speaker at all costs, McCarthy thought it was a great idea.

Now when the proverbial shoe is on the other foot, Mr. McCarthy is singing a different tune, apparently threatening to strip Republicans of committee assignments if they accepted Nancy Pelosi's invitation to join the select committee looking into the Domestic Terrorist Trumpist attack on the Nations Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Really. This is the man who helped torpedo the bipartisan committee to investigate the January 6, 2021, Domestic Terrorist Attack. This is the man who had to be overruled in a House vote to remove Qanon loving Marjorie "Jewish Space Lasers cause California Wildfires" Taylor Greene. This is the man who is still letting accused sexual predator Matt Gaetz and insurrectionist enablers Paul Gosar, Mo Brooks, and Lauren Boebert remain on their committee assignments.

Again, the House Minority Leader has demonstrated he is no Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton, or Liz Cheney.

When the Benghazi Committee was set up, then Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had the opportunity to act with the same level of immaturity as Mr. McCarthy is demonstrating today. Instead, she appointed Democrats to the committee so their voices could be heard. McCarthy has not committed to appointing anyone and is annoyed that Cheney accepted Pelosi's invitation.

When the Benghazi Hearings occurred, Hillary Clinton appeared and testified for the whole day.

Most doubt Kevin McCarthy will show that fortitude and strength of character if he is subpoenaed to appear and reveal all he knows about Donald Trump and others' involvement in the January 6, 2021, Domestic Terrorist Attack.

Kevin McCarthy is no Liz Cheney either. Even though there is little to agree with her on concerning the major issues of the day, at least Ms. Cheney did not make a Faustian Bargain with the twice impeached, twice David Duke endorsed, and twice popular vote loser former President to look the other way on Trump's (and others) role on January 6 in exchange for supporting his campaign to become the next Speaker of the House.

Liz Cheney put country over party.

Kevin McCarthy chose Trump and personal gain over Democracy.

He is not a tenth of the public servant Pelosi, Clinton, and even Cheney is.

He definitely does not have the guts to tell Trump and his Trump Zone-Fox Island-Disinfowar confederates to go away.

He is not worthy of serving his constituents in California or this country.