Democrat Big Labor Cartoons

Rep. McCarthy blasts support for impeachment inquiry into President Trump

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Calif., speaks to reporters at his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 25, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy blasted congressional Democrats after a majority of left-leaning lawmakers said they support an impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
In an interview Wednesday, the representative said “Democrats are trying to push impeachment without saying the word.” This comes after more lawmakers switched sides to support an inquiry, bringing the total number of lawmakers who support it to 114 with only four more needed to push an inquiry forward.
Impeachment has been a hot button issue since special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony on Capitol Hill last week, where McCarthy criticized Democrats for pushing it.
He had this to say during his weekly news conference following Mueller’s testimony:

“Why would you ever even bring up impeachment after yesterday’s hearing? …That should be put to bed. That is over. We watched it. We heard it. We’ve read it. What more can they make up? The only people that want impeachment are the ones sitting inside this chamber on the democratic side. The American public have made their decision. Poll after poll you see it.”

McCarthy says even if House Democrats get support for an impeachment inquiry in their chamber, the Republican-controlled Senate will reject it right away.

Sen. Graham pushes through asylum bill after waiving committee rules

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham pushed through his asylum bill by waiving committee rules. The legislation narrowly moved out of committee Thursday in a 12-to-10 vote, which means it can now be taken up by the full Senate for consideration.
Graham’s decision allowed Republicans to act alone in making the bill eligible for Thursday’s vote after Democrats skipped last week’s business meeting on the bill. The South Carolina lawmaker defended his actions by saying “the Judiciary Committee can’t be a place where nothing happens.”

“We have a right to vote. You don’t want the committee to be ignored by the majority leader of either party, and just take a bill out of our committee and bring it to the floor because we can’t do our business. I’m not changing the rules. I’m making a motion in response to what you did last week.” — Senator Lindsey Graham, (R-S.C.)

His asylum proposal would increase the number of days migrant children can be held in custody, and it would require asylum seekers to file their claims from outside the U.S.

I will no longer allow our asylum laws to be exploited by human traffickers and cartels.

Unless we change our laws we are aiding and abetting the horrific practices we now see taking place at the southern border.
My bill fixes these problems.
WATCH:https://t.co/5eiMegJEKU
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 1, 2019

Big Labor warns 2020 Dems: Don't take union workers' support for granted

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, addresses members during the union's quadrennial convention in Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 2013. (Associated Press)

Big Labor warned Democratic presidential contenders Wednesday against taking union support for granted, adding that Dems would need to be more honest about the party’s record on workers’ rights, reports said.
The president of the AFL-CIO labor union, which represents 12.5 million union workers, addressed a closed-door meeting with representatives from each campaign in attendance before the second round of debates Wednesday in Detroit.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka argued that “both parties” needed to take responsibility for U.S. labor laws that benefit corporations to the detriment of the middle class.
IN LETTER TO AOC, BIG LABOR SAYS GREEN NEW DEAL COULD CAUSE 'IMMEDIATE HARM' TO UNION WORKERS
“More often than not, the Republican Party is bad for workers. This president is bad for workers. But let’s be honest about the Democratic Party’s record,” Trumka said.
“We are caught in a web of century-old labor laws that prioritize unchecked corporate greed over all else,” Trumka said, according to the Huffington Post. “We can blame this White House all we want. But this isn’t new.”

“We are caught in a web of century-old labor laws that prioritize unchecked corporate greed over all else. We can blame this White House all we want. But this isn’t new.”
— AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, addresses members during the union's quadrennial convention in Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 2013. (Associated Press)

It wasn't the first time the AFL-CIO has criticized Democrats this year.
In March, the union implored Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and other lawmakers to not go through with the Green New Deal, claiming the plan to combat the effects of climate change would cause “immediate harm” to millions of union employees and threaten their livelihoods.
As the Democratic Party shifts toward a more progressive identity, Trumka reminded 2020 candidates that unions would no longer support candidates simply because of their party affiliation. Unions historically played influential roles in getting Democrats elected through get-out-the-vote efforts, canvassing and other campaigning methods.
“It’s time to do better,” Trumka said. “I believe you can. I believe you will. And working people are hungry for it. But you can’t offer campaign rhetoric or count on workers’ votes simply because you have a ‘D’ next to your name.”

"You can’t ... count on workers’ votes simply because you have a ‘D’ next to your name.”
— AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

“You need to prove that this party is the one and only party for working people,” he said. “And recognize that unions and collective bargaining are the single best way to make this economy work for everyone.” “Convince our members, and you’ll have the country’s largest and most effective movement for working people on your side,” Trumka added.
Trumka argued that Democrat-backed trade deals, including NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), hurt the middle class, the Huffington Post reported.
The TPP, an Obama-era global trade deal that was never submitted to the Senate for approval, was signed by 11 nations: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. President Trump pulled support from the deal soon after his inauguration in January 2017, arguing it gave up American power. Supporters argued the agreement would benefit the American middle class by making it easier for small business owners to sell American-made goods abroad, Politico reported.
The AFL-CIO has yet to endorse a candidate ahead of the 2020 election.
Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report. 

US pulls out of Reagan-era arms treaty, saying Russia 'made no efforts' to comply

A historic arms-control treaty signed three decades ago by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was scrapped after President Trump decided to withdraw Friday.
The move to scrap the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty comes amid the administration’s assessment that Russia was in “material breach of the treaty” and made no effort to “come back into compliance” with the agreement, a senior White House official said.

This undated file photo provided Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, by Russian Defense Ministry official web site shows a Russian Iskander-K missile launched during a military exercise at a training ground at the Luzhsky Range, near St. Petersburg, Russia. (Associated Press)

Russia was given a six-month period, in accordance with the treaty, as a “final opportunity to come back into compliance” with the agreement, but the government headed by President Vladimir Putin “has made no efforts to do that,” the official added.
The end of the treaty sparks of a new global arms race between the two countries, which possess the world's largest nuclear arsenals.
The Trump administration stressed it was Russia’s fault the treaty came to an end, pointing out that Moscow has been developing and fielding weapons that violate the treaty and threaten the U.S. and its allies, particularly in Europe.
“Russia alone is to blame for this situation,” the senior official said. “We have taken every opportunity -- dozens and dozens of opportunities across two administrations – to bring Russia back into compliance.”

“Russia alone is to blame for this situation. We have taken every opportunity -- dozens and dozens of opportunities across two administrations – to bring Russia back into compliance.”
— A senior administration official

“It is clear that they are in material breach of the INF Treaty, which is, of course, not its only arms control violation. They are a serial violator of arms control agreements,” the official added, noting that “This violation, however, represents a direct security threat to the United States and our allies.”
The U.S. has long complained that the treaty was no longer fair and actually doesn’t stop the arms race as intended as Russia was openly violating it, while China, which is a non-signatory, is free develop weapons that would otherwise be prohibited.

President Ronald Reagan, right, shakes hands with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev after the two leaders signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty to eliminate intermediate-range missiles during a ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, Dec. 8, 1987. (Associated Press)

The Trump administration said, for example, Russia has produced and fielded multiple battalions of the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile throughout Russia, which is a violation of the treaty. Some of the missiles have “the ability to strike critical European targets.”
“This violation, which has been underway for many years, is a critical threat to American and Allied security now. That is why this action has become unavoidable,” a senior official said.
Another White House official pointed out that Russia has been deceptive about its military buildup, particularly denying the development of a ground-launched cruise missile in 2014 that is now fielded and poses a security risk to Europe.
“Throughout the process, they lied about the existence of the missiles at both the expert level and, finally when confronted with the evidence, came clean for this in the past several months,” the official said.
European powers came out to criticize Russia for not complying with the INF treaty amid the U.S. announcement of withdrawing from the agreement.
“We regret the fact that Russia has not done what was necessary to save the INF treaty,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.
“Now we call all the more on Russia and the U.S. to preserve the New START treaty as a cornerstone of worldwide arms control,” he added. “Nuclear powers such as China must also face up to their responsibility on arms control — they have more weight in the world than at the time of the Cold War.”

“We regret the fact that Russia has not done what was necessary to save the INF treaty.”
— German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

Both the U.S. and Russia will have to decide whether to extend or replace the larger New START treaty when it expires in early 2021, a treaty that imposed limits starting in 2018 on the number of U.S. and Russian long-range nuclear warheads and launchers.
Trump hasn’t committed to extending the treaty and even once calling it as “just another bad deal” concocted by the predecessor, the Obama administration.
The 1987 INF treaty was responsible for the elimination of 2,692 U.S. and Soviet Union nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles. The treaty also banned land-based missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,410 miles).
Fox News' John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Free Medical For Illegals Cartoons

N.Y. lawmakers introduce bill to make water attacks on NYPD a Class E felony

A New York City Police (NYPD) officer stands guard in Central Park in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S. (REUTERS/Mike Segar/Photo)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:47 PM PT — Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Following the latest water attack on the NYPD, GOP lawmakers in New York say enough is enough. They have introduced a bill which would make it an Class E felony to douse water or any other substance on an on-duty officer. Assembly members Michael Reilly and Mike LaPetri held a press conference alongside police officers Wednesday about the new proposal.

.⁦@NYCPBA⁩ President Pat Lynch with Assembly members ⁦@NMalliotakis⁩ ⁦@TheMikeLiPetri⁩ and ⁦@MikeWReilly⁩ condemning recent water attacks on NYPD officers responding to calls. pic.twitter.com/aZgoCIjycO

— John Seravalli (@John_Seravalli1) July 31, 2019

Several people have been charged with misdemeanors in connection to water-dousing attacks in the Bronx and Manhattan, but Republican lawmakers believe the charges should be upgraded. They say the attacks have reached a tipping point, and they must be stopped before a life-threatening attack.
This time it’s water. What’s next? Gasoline? Acid? What will it take for radical left-wing politicians to abandon their hostile police rhetoric to law enforcement?
The GOP lawmakers claim the attacks have been fueled by the radical left. President Trump recently called the incidents “a total disgrace” on Twitter, and said Mayor Bill de Blasio needs to “stand up for those who protect our lives and serve us all so well.”

We love our Law Enforcement Officers all around this great Country. What took place in NYC with water being tossed on NYPD officers was a total disgrace. It is time for @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio to STAND UP for those who protect our lives and serve us all so well…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2019

The proposed Class E felony would be punishable by up to four years in prison.

Trump touts stock market, unemployment in response to Democratic debate

President Trump late Wednesday tweeted a response to CNN’s Democratic debate and said none of the candidates would keep up what he sees as momentum in the country.
“The people on the stage tonight, and last, were not those that will either Make America Great Again or Keep America Great!” Trump began in a series of tweets around midnight. “Our Country now is breaking records in almost every category, from Stock Market to Military to Unemployment. We have prosperity & success like never before..” the president continued.
“...It will soon be time to choose to keep and build upon that prosperity and success, or let it go. We are respected again all around the world. Keep it that way! I said I will never let you down, and I haven’t. We will only grow bigger, better and stronger TOGETHER!,” Trump said.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump also said Democratic 2020 hopefuls, specifically former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., will lead the U.S. into an “economic sinkhole” if elected. He also claimed America would have experienced a "Great Recession/Depression" if he had not been elected in 2016.
"The people I saw on stage last night, & you can add in Sleepy Joe, Harris, & the rest, will lead us into an economic sinkhole the likes of which we have never seen before. With me, only up!" Trump said before the second debate Wednesday night.

Kushner meets with leaders of Jordan, Israel on first day of Mideast tour to unveil peace plan

Jared Kushner met with the leaders of Jordan and Israel on Wednesday to outline the administration's Mideast peace plan on the first day of a five-country tour through the region.
Kushner first discussed the “Deal of the Century,” a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, with  King Abdullah II in Jordan before heading to Israel for a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The administration has been working on the plan for two years.

​​​​​​​White House adviser Jared Kushner listens during a proclamation signing with President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House in Washington, March 25, 2019. (Associated Press)

After the meeting in Jordan, Abdullah reiterated “the need to achieve just, comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution," Jordan's state news service said, according to Al Arabiya.
It’s not clear if the plan calls for a two-state solution, and it fails to address Israeli occupation, according to Al Arabiya.
U.S. Ambassador David Friedman, who attended the Kushner-Netanyahu meeting, said the U.S. believes in “Palestinian autonomy,” according to The Post.
Kushner will leave on Thursday for Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.
The Trump administration has invited Arab leaders to a peace summit at Camp David in September to further discuss the plan.
Israeli officials were involved in planning the summit but Netanyahu does not plan to attend.

Doug Schoen: Second Democratic debate -- Two big winners, two big losers and one big, unanswered question

Former Vice President Joe Biden dominated the debate stage and weathered the attacks of nine opponents for the Democratic presidential nomination Wednesday night, emerging the clear winner and standing by his promise not be “overly polite.”
In possibly the most contentious Democratic primary debate thus far, frontrunners Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris of California sparred with each other and the other candidates over the issues of health care, immigration, race relations and climate change.
Following Harris’ and Biden’s heated exchange over busing to achieve school integration in the first debate, Biden was far more aggressive than in his previous debate performance in responding to attacks from every candidate on stage.
The former vice president delivered his message compellingly and convincingly. Even during his less strong moments, Biden remained the focal point of the conversation, speaking for over 21 minutes – more than any other candidate on stage.
On health care, in particular, Biden displaying his in-depth policy knowledge while also rebutting repeated attacks from Harris. Biden gave a strong defense of his pragmatic plan to strengthen ObamaCare, while the confusion and lack of clarity around Harris’ plan hindered her position.

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Biden also successfully took aim at what he has called Harris’ “have it every which way approach.”
Health care “is the single most important issue facing the public,” Biden said to Harris. “To be very blunt ... you can't beat President Trump with doubletalk on this plan.”
Darkhorse candidate New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio focused his efforts on attacking Biden directly, particularly during the discussions over immigration and race relations. But the attacks failed to create the searing moment that de Blasio had hoped for and did not seem to damage Biden in any meaningful way.
On another front, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii scored points against Harris while addressing criminal justice reform and race. Gabbard took aim at the racial implications of Harris’ tough-on-crime record as a California attorney general, leaving Harris without a rebuttal on an issue that the senator commanded during the last debate.

Despite Biden’s strong performance and solid frontrunner status, it is clear that the party has seismically shifted away from the centrist Democratic Party of the 1990’s, making his path to the nomination far from certain.

Gabbard told Harris: “When you were in a position to make a difference and an impact in these people's lives, you did not and worse yet in the case of those who are on death row, you blocked evidence from being revealed that would have freed them until you were forced to do so.”
“There's no excuse for that and the people who suffered under your reign as prosecutor, you owe them an apology,” Gabbard added.
At best, Harris met expectations but fell short of being the focal point of the night as she was at the debate last month.
The only substantive losers were minor candidates such as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Both have consistently polled at or below the 2 percent threshold and did not get the debate moment that they likely needed to enhance their candidacies in order to qualify for the next round of debates.
Although businessman Andrew Yang did not have a resounding debate moment, the universal-basic-income advocate will likely still secure a spot in the fall debates due to the strength of his grassroots support.
Moreover, despite Biden’s strong performance and solid frontrunner status, it is clear that the party has seismically shifted away from the centrist Democratic Party of the 1990’s, making his path to the nomination far from certain.
Though Biden controlled this debate in many ways, his two leading opponents were absent from the stage of the CNN debate in Detroit. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, both competing for the support of the far left, debated Tuesday night.
Under attack for being too moderate, Biden delivered a powerful response when asked how he can appeal to progressives in the Democratic Party. He drew on his past success in winning elections and scoring major achievements in governing during his long career and emphasized his clear appeal to Midwest and working-class voters.
“I was asked to manage an $87 billion plan that would be spent in a total of 18 months that revived this state and many others … and it kept us out of a depression,” Biden said, referring to his work as vice president to help the auto industry and the country as a whole climb out of the Great Recession shortly after he took office with former President Barack Obama.
Biden said he led the economic recovery effort with just a fraction of 1 percent waste or fraud, “and our administration pushed bailing General Motors out saving tens of thousands of jobs here in this state.”
Ultimately, the strength of Biden’s performance made it clear that he is prepared to combine the policy knowledge and experience necessary to take on President Trump and potentially win in November 2020. He clearly remains the candidate who will be tough to beat for the Democratic presidential nomination.