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Why I'm excited about 2023 - Good News Roundup for Sat Jan 21 [1]

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Date: 2023-01-21

California Poppies

First of all, it’s nice to be back. I’m in remission (yay) but still recovering from the chemo side effects and typing is sometimes difficult. But when Goody asked for a sub today, I had to jump in. You know why?

BECAUSE I’M SO DARNED EXCITED ABOUT THIS COMING YEAR!!!

I’m not a bit worried about what is coming and neither is Katie Porter

Katie Porter not giving a f*ck

And here is a partial list of why I’m hopeful:

Joe Biden is Awesome 🕶️

x After two years in office, I am more optimistic about America’s future than ever before. pic.twitter.com/WvDcqFeqHO — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 20, 2023

Here are Joe and Kamala talking about where they started two years ago and where we are now. I’m not ashamed to say that Joe Biden wasn’t my first choice for president, but I’m sold now. In this vid, Kamala says “What you have singularly done, based on who you are, to bring together people in a uniquely bipartisan way, you have been an incredible leader these past two years ...” I agree.

x It’s been an incredible two years. pic.twitter.com/AYyUyhANXa — President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2023

But don’t take their word for it ...

New Report Shows Inflation Dropping Again, Silencing GOP by Gloria Christie, Bipartisan Report, Jan 18, 2023

President Joe Biden’s economy has taken another significant step in its return [sic] greatness. Not only did December see a reduction in inflation, but the wholesale prices also dropped from 7.3 percent to 6.2 percent on the annual basis. That was the greatest drop month-per-month since June 2022.

President Biden has argued that inflation was a temporary event caused by a whiplash effect after the pandemic. And that is proving true. The job market remains active as prices decline, CNN reported.

Here is Build Back Better in action:

x Thanks to President Biden’s infrastructure bill, remote locations on the Navajo Nation reservation are receiving electricity — for the first time, ever. pic.twitter.com/CUKpRsthby — Lakota Man (@LakotaMan1) January 18, 2023

We are still pretty soggy out here on the West Coast. Here is our president helping with that.

Governor Newsom and President Biden Visit Communities Impacted by Winter Storms Press Release, Jan 19, 2023

Yesterday, the Governor announced that the White House added the counties of Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara to the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration – with San Joaquin being added today. FEMA and the President also announced a 100% federal cost share for Categories A (debris removal) and B (emergency protective measures). Last week, President Biden also approved the Governor’s request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration to bolster state, local and tribal government storm response efforts.

x Thank you, @POTUS for having the back of Californians. pic.twitter.com/gOnYOYj8Yy — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 20, 2023

Our reps in Congress are awesome, too

x BREAKING: We've introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and the irresponsible SCOTUS decisions that came before it.



Unrestricted dark money has no place in our elections or democracy. We need to return power to people. Once and for all. pic.twitter.com/zUoTbMa11k — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 19, 2023

And also — no more executions in Arizona! At least for a while …

x BREAKING: @GovernorHobbs has appointed a Death Penalty Independent Review Commissioner, and @AZAGMayes has filed to withdraw a motion for the only pending death warrant, effectively pausing executions in Arizona. — Jimmy Jenkins (@JimmyJenkins) January 20, 2023

We’re great! Republicans keep stepping on rakes

Kevin McCarthy’s pic for the portrait hall

You know that stupid investigation on Biden that the GOP think is going to be good for them? It isn’t starting well.

Biden Special Counsel Demand Backfires On Republicans by Jason Eastly, PoliticusUSA, Jan 18, 2023

Republicans demanded that a special counsel be appointed to investigate Biden’s handling of classified docs, but now House Republicans are blocked from getting info by the special counsel investigation.

Rep. James Comer (R-KY) wants all sorts of documents, but according to the Punchbowl AM Newsletter, there is a problem, “Comer’s investigation is just one of a number of House GOP queries into Biden’s document handling, along with efforts from Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio). But due to Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to appoint a special counsel to look into the matter, many of the requests for information about the documents scandal are likely to be turned down while the DOJ probe unfolds.”

Most of the current Republican chairs have never run committees or conducted investigations, so they are sabotaging themselves to score political points and hopefully get a primetime segment on Fox News.

The special counsel investigation will likely clear President Biden of any wrongdoing. Biden followed the law when the classified documents were discovered. In contrast, Trump chose to break the law.

House Republicans wanted a special counsel to ‘even the score’ between Biden and Trump. They got what they wanted, but in the process, they sabotaged their own effort to smear the president with an investigation.

x DOJ Let's Jim Jordan Know He Isn't Getting Their Evidence Against Trump: In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) the DOJ made it clear that he is not getting their criminal evidence against Trump. https://t.co/6pr5BGc8t5 — Top U.S. & World News🗽 (@USRealityCheck) January 21, 2023

The GOP House Caucus needs its own fight card

First up, the battle of the Mean Girls heats up.

Lauren Boebert Reveals Details Of Bathroom Spat With Marjorie Taylor Greene by Josephine Harvey, Huffpost, Jan 19, 2023

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has confirmed some details of a reported argument with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) in the congressional women’s bathroom. Earlier this week, the Daily Beast reported that on Jan. 3, the first day of Congress this year, the two far-right lawmakers got into a shouting match in the Speaker’s lobby ladies’ room just off the House floor, citing multiple sources. According to the report, Greene exited a stall and confronted Boebert for accepting support from Kevin McCarthy during her re-election campaign but refusing to vote for him in the House speaker election. Boebert told her, “Don’t be ugly,” and “ran out like a little schoolgirl,” a source told the Daily Beast.

The Old Guard Republicans are super pissed that the gavels they expected to have after years of slogging away supporting the party are suddenly being given away to the crackpot caucus. Did I say pissed? Sooooper pissed.

Kevin McCarthy Is Making New Foes for Every Friend He Can Find by Charles P Pierce, Esquire, Jan 18, 2023

The House Ways and Means Committee (now under new management) is already turning into a tasty wingnut stew. First, Speaker Kevin McCarthy ignored seniority and installed Rep. Jason Smith as chairman, a move that harshed the mellow of mild-mannered Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida and, according to Tara Palmieri of Puck, caused ol' Vern's manner to become considerably less mild. Just how angry was he? Well, a source on the House floor during the vote told me that while McCarthy was gaveling down the votes, Buchanan walked up to McCarthy and said, “You fucked me, I know it was you, you whipped against me.” He then proceeded to chew out McCarthy’s deputy chief of staff for floor operations, John Leganski. It was shocking to see such fury from Buchanan, who’s known for being mild mannered. Indeed, I heard that the tirade was so heated that the Speaker’s security detail stepped in with a light touch. (McCarthy’s spokesperson Matt Sparks disputed this detail saying, “at no point did anyone have to step in.” A spokesperson for Buchanan declined to comment.)

Furthermore —

x Republicans continue their amazing streak of losses in voting and election litigation. https://t.co/wqSV90GEtd — Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) January 17, 2023

And then, there is George Anthony Kitara Ravache Devolder Zabrovski Santos.

As long as he remains in Congress, he’s going to keep stinking up the place. I feel confident that he will be removed due to one of the many subpoenas he will be facing. That will make McCarthy’s majority even slimmer.

And then in 2024? Don’t believe the naysayers. The kids are alright.

x "What we can see now is that the historic levels of youth turnout we saw in 2018 and 2020 were not just flukes, but a movement. Once is a fluke. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern."https://t.co/ww2TpVTa8D — Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) January 21, 2023

Meanwhile, Around the World

America in Decline? World Thinks Again. by Matthew Kaminski for Politico, Jan 20, 2023

From the World Economic Summit in Davos —

DAVOS, Switzerland — For the American abroad, the signals are unmistakable — and dissonant. The world is bullish on America and American power. You read that right. This is the same world that looks on with glee or horror at the carnivalesque, occasionally violent politics on Capitol Hill. The same one that barely a year ago dismissed an America defeated in Afghanistan as a has-been and hailed the rise of a new authoritarian age led by China, with an assist from Vladimir Putin’s confident Russia. By many lights, the sole winner of the Russian war on Ukraine so far is the U.S. Accounting for nearly half the world’s military capability, the U.S. has reminded friends and adversaries of its superiority. Iraq and Afghanistan — that’s a bad but fading memory. Armed and aided by Washington, the Ukrainians have not just withstood the assault but destroyed a large chunk of the Russian military. Washington also gets points for its diplomacy. Another source of American power? Chinese weakness. Bearishness on China and on Europe’s prospects adds to America’s appeal, in particular, for business elites.

This news item didn’t fit anywhere, but I thought it was cool anyway.

x Nicole Mann, the first Native American woman in space, ventured out on a spacewalk to prep the International Space Station for more solar panels. https://t.co/5n2F37WpqK — ABC News (@ABC) January 20, 2023

Good News from My Hometown

Move over, Harry and Meghan, true royalty around here are a nesting pair of bald eagles named Jackie and Shadow. Last year they successfully raised one chick who is out finding its own way as a young eagle. This year, Jackie is sitting on two eggs while Shadow protects the nest from harrassing ravens and brings in fish from the lake. Here is a webcam into their nest. Plus, a good view of Big Bear Lake. A side bit of good news is that the recent storms brought the level of the lake up two feet.

Good News Confetti

Jill Biden Thought Melania ‘Had Awful Taste’ and Removed Her ‘Tacky’ WH Renovations Immediately

Ted Cruz tries to own Cary Elwes and Stephen King on Twitter, Fails.

x "Extreme" drought has been completely eliminated in California for the first time in nearly three years, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. https://t.co/18NeGb2IwE — ABC News (@ABC) January 21, 2023

That’s it for me. Welcome back, Goody, your Saturday spot is secure.

How Can You Help Build Our Democracy Back Better? 💗

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