The U.S. of Amnesia has joined Honduras, Bolivia, Venezuela, Haiti, and other little shit hole countries: We now have our very own coup-in-progress, but, although the LA Times calls #45’s kneecapping of the PO a terrorist attack, so far at least, no one seems to be taking it particularly seriously, except for the Shut Down D.C. and No Drones folks who stepped up to the plate early yesterday morning, banging their pots and pans outside Trump-appointed dismantler, Postmaster General DeJoy’s digs.
So far: We know that, unless the next bailout contains another billionaires’ giveaway, #45 has announced he’s blocking funding, although he and his clan vote absentee from Florida; we know that DeJoy fired 23 PO executives, we know that mail sorters have been removed from POs in Iowa and other states. We know that the distribution centers serving Colorado and Wyoming have been shut down. Internal postal service documents reveal that removing 671 high volume high volume postal sorting machines is just “natural business adjustments.” According to Politico, postal service has been ordered to remove blue Post Box mail drops in massive numbers in key swing states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Oregon Rep Peter DeFazio wants the Post Office Board of Governors to terminate DeJoy, and the Post Office has gone on record warning that 46 states will have mail-in voter ballots trouble.
According to item 18, #1701 of the U.S. code, obstruction of U.S. mails is a federal crime and is punishable by fines and imprisonment. Which is why DeJoy must be arrested and charged forthwith. He has committed a federal crime.
“Let ‘em eat cake”
Only difference with Marie Antoinette is queen McConnell wears a suit. If you thought #45’s war on democracy just added to our national Saturnalia, here’s a pincer movement coming from Mitch McConnell, and the Congress he was all to happy to adjourn for a one month luxury vacation as at least 28 million renter’s moratoriums ran out, with many of them seriously running out of food. By November, unless tents under highway overpasses can be identified as formal residencies, many of these folks will have lost their address of record; they will have become automatically disenfranchised.
Responding to #45’s coup attempt, the American Bar Association has come out backing full voting rights for incarcerated people, and Rep. Gerry Connolly has demanded a rapid IG probe into postmaster General Dejoy’s machinations, but our (the ineffectual Congress and public citizens) BIG MISTAKE is assuming we are still playing by the rules. That time has long ended. These people are Nazis, every bit as determined as Adolf and his minions were in 1938. Every petition we sign lulls us to sleep and keeps us off the streets one day longer. Denial will kill us unless we wake up.
For Intercept’s detailed speculation of how these events may play out, Frances Fox Piven’s article analyses the probability of various political scenarios.
Here’s the letter a colleague of mine wrote to Sen. Merkley of Oregon:
“The most important issue right now is not money for Oregon or the
election of other Democrats. The paramount issue before every US citizen
is to STOP THE CRIMINAL SABOTAGE OF POSTAL SERVICES to thwart our election
process and democracy. This is an open and blatant coup by a US
president. So what are the Democrats doing? Just talk and hot
air. They certainly were more vigorous in prosecuting Russiagate.
Trump's blatantly illegal activity goes far beyond Russiagate. It calls for
an emergency and muscular response by Congress. Democrats act like deer
in the headlights with silly calls for resignation of the Postmaster General.
I demand his ARREST!. I INSIST Democrats go into Court and get an
injunction to stop the Postmaster General from destroying the postal service
and to re-instate all the processes he has disrupted. And right here in
Portland!!
Time is of the essence. What are YOU DOING? Nothing else the Democrats do
after this will matter if they don't stop this!”
And here’s the link giving voting regs, methods, and deadlines state by state:
If #45’s stubby fingers have trouble dialing the movers, here’s what we the people have to do:
Vote as early as your state allows. A post card organizer wrote me this morning: “In most states the number of polling places has been reduced by 80% or more. Most elders who usually staff polling places are not signing up to do so this year because of the virus. If people wait to vote on Election Day they will wait for days and will never get to vote and will likely be exposed to the virus. People should vote as early as possible (e.g. MI starts early voting 45 days before election day). Take [their] completed ballot to [their] county elections office or use ballot drop boxes and early voting locations as much as possible. Help drive people to them who can't get there. Fill out ballots and return them as soon as [they] receive them. Montana stopped the removal of blue post boxes in their state this week with loud bipartisan noise. It can be done.”
We must encourage young people to step up to the plate and volunteer as poll workers, and wherever we can, we must deliver our completed ballots to our polling stations on election day. “Neither snow nor rain or heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” can be your motto, too. Bring mask, yardstick, a camping stool and an umbrella.
AND HIT THE STREETS!!!
ACTION
Sign to save post office distribution centers.
Donate
to mobilize millions of Americans to opposed crippling this necessary public
service.
Watch VoteVets ad and donate.
ROSES AMONGST THIS WEEK'S THORNS
Bald eagle attacks drone and wins.
Report of U.S. seizure of Iranian fuel cargoes a false one,
according to Iran’s ambassador to Venezuela.
Lessons from street playbook: Lebanese protesters occupy
building as army uses live ammunition.
Coalition of two alternative parties content the coup regime and form to face new elections in Venezuela.
In Portland vs. FCC, 9th circuit hands down opinion that cell towers must be treated differently from other types of equipment .
Rep. Betty McCollum introduces bill that would block U.S. funding from being used to annex Palestinian land.
UN Security Council rejects U.S. bid to extend Iran arms embargo.
AMLO promises Mexicans to receive COVID vaccine free.
Shut down DC protesters gather outside USPS Postmaster General DeJoy’s DC home amidst voter suppression crimes.
Montana stops DeJoy’s removal of blue post boxes from the state.
Supreme Court (for once) protects absentee voters from unnecessary witness requirement.
Victory for democracy as Supremes block ‘merciless’ GOP effort to restrict mail-in voting in Rhode Island.
DOJ Roy Cohn, and Bill Barr, AG constitutionally powerless to intervene in a state-led indictment of a sitting president if #45 is re-elected.
On heels of Supreme Court ruling that declares the president not immune to state criminal investigations, New York grand jury will subpoena #45’s financial records in effort spearheaded by Manhattan District DA Cyrus Vance.
New CEO salary calculator how how super wealthy could repay your mortgages in less than 8 minutes now available from Simple texting.
Major milestone for workers as California judge rules Uber and Lyft must classify drivers an employees.
Southern Poverty Law Center sues farm labor contractor for underpaying H-24 guest workers.
Largest private sector strike of year at Maine’s Bath Ironworks heads for union victory.
Even game writers make history by going on strike! and winning.
Sanders joins other congress people calling for removal of Post Master General over efforts to suppress the vote and undermine democracy.
Dread DNC announces progressive champion AOC to speak at
convention.
Ilhan wins primary hugely.
Climate activists push Biden to cut ties with industry-friendly energy advisers.
In Caledonia, Ont. bordering Six Nations of the Grand River’s eastern border defenders rebuild camp despite new injunction.
Progressive groups pressure Biden and #45 to include nuclear disarmament in campaign platforms.
Protesters block Teal Jones logging road near Port Renfrew.
Mountain Valley Pipeline water permit denied.
A campaign ad worth watching: Sen. Ed Markey’s campaign 2020
praised for highlighting America’s broken social contract.
Federal judge sets out to bring down law shielding police from legal liability.
Memorials and protests in Ferguson on the 6th anniv. of Michael Brown’s murder-by-cop.
Portland’s Wall of Vets continues long legacy of vet activism.
Seattle makes stab at defunding its cops. Elsewhere cops quit in droves.
As Seattle’s Police Chief resigns, more than 6 others join who’ve stepped down under pressure from the Geo Floyd uprising.
Washington’s Gov. Inslee announces $40 million fund for Undocumented Communities.
Major study calls for ban on
recognition in schools (that should be in the Sunday Funnies).
Youth lead movement for police-free schools.
Scores of education experts call on schools tor eject screen-saturated return to learning.
Utah teachers oppose schools reopening.
Florida teen wins trans rights suit in federal court.
SUNDAY FUNNIES
Statement issued by United Working Families and 3 City Council members:
"Billionaires don't need to sash windows to loot."
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