mspart

Removing oil from the Strategic Oil Preserve (SOP) does not lower prices sufficiently. All it does is lower our cache of oil for a time of real trouble. And I believe that is a National Defense issue like sending all our manufacturing overseas is a National defense issue. Balance that out. What is up the D's sleeve when SOP is drained to zero? mspart

He was in jail for home invasion that ended up with 2 of the residents killed in 2009. He was sentenced in 2012. The trigger puller was sentenced to life. Salas apparently was not. He served 10 years approx. During that time he assaulted a prison officer. That should have added time to his sentence. So Illinois let out a person that was involved in a home invasion that ended up in murder. And he gets to go free in 10 years. He learned a lot from his partner apparently. Cold bloodedly killed 3 people and kidnapped a 4th. Yeah, I'd say Illinois has some issues with their justice system. mspart

Not to mention it would be unconstitutional. mspart

Is this about the former FBI guy or about Mike? Yes, I think everyone can agree that this guy and anything he did should be investigated. Possibly not for his role with Trump though, we know that was all on the up and up. mspart

That's quite the lineup. Who wouldn't go to that? mspart

I just watched the match and Garrett showed he is much better than DeSanto for the first period. Garrett looked awesome in that first period. He either gassed or lost concentration or something. I see no reason why he should have lost that match. As for DeSanto, kudos to him for continuing the pressure and take it to Nashon and getting the win. mspart

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-rolls-out-renters-bill-of-rights-as-lawmakers-push-for-federal-rent-control-laws-133846254.html Jennifer Schonberger ·Senior Reporter Wed, January 25, 2023 at 5:38 AM PST In the face of sky-high rents, President Joe Biden is rolling out a new set of principles the White House is calling a "Renters Bill of Rights" in an effort to improve rent affordability and protections for tenants. The president is directing the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to examine limits on rent increases for future investments and actions promoting renter protections. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have been tapped to root out practices that unfairly prevent applicants and tenants from accessing or staying in housing. This rollout comes as progressive Democrats have asked Biden to direct different agencies, including the FTC, to limit rent increases. While rent control is common in some cities, there has never been federal residential rent control. Nearly 50 progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), sent a letter to Biden earlier this month urging the president to take executive action to protect tenants from rising rents. "In the absence of robust investments in fair and affordable housing, it is clear that additional timely executive action is needed to address the urgent issue of historically high rental costs and housing instability," the lawmakers wrote. "…We urge your Administration to pursue all possible strategies to end corporate price gouging in the real estate sector." Specifically, lawmakers had called on the president to direct the FTC to issue new regulations defining excessive rent increases and enforce actions against rent gouging, suggestions that are aggressive than what the administration has so far put forth. The letter also asked to have FHFA put in place rent protection for tenants living in properties financed with government-backed mortgage properties, which is more closely aligned with what the president outlined on Wednesday. In Wednesday's announcement, the administration also sought to rally state and local governments — as well as the private sector — to protect renters. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, for instance, have agreed to cap annual rental increases to 5% per year for federal- or state-subsidized affordable housing. In the private sector, the National Association of Realtors has also agreed to put new resources towards property managers in their network to promote practices like advertising to prospective tenants that Housing Choice Vouchers are accepted at their property, providing information about rental assistance, and using alternative credit scores for applicants without a detailed credit history. Despite Wednesday's action, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Sen. Warren think the actions fall short. "We believe that the administration can go significantly further to help tenants struggling to pay rent as soon as next week," Bowman said. "We need actions that will urgently address skyrocketing housing costs, keep people housed, and rein in corporate profiteering...I look forward to continuing to work with the Biden Administration on this issue." Bowman said he plans to work with colleagues in Congress to work on legislation to address high rents. The limits of FTC power In advance of receiving the letter, the White House held several conversations with staff from Rep. Bowman and Sen. Warren’s offices about ensuring rental markets are fair and affordable for renters. Lawmakers argued the FTC already has the power to limit rent increases, given Congress has granted the agency power to police unfair and deceptive acts and practices. The argument is that rent hikes which are not proportional to higher costs for the landlord are unfair or deceptive. But analysts are skeptical the FTC could impose rent controls and that courts would uphold these policies if put in place. "The Supreme Court is more conservative. It is less inclined to let agencies assert authorities that Congress did not explicitly give them. Congress never empowered the FTC to limit how much residential rents may increase," Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg said in a recent note. "It is why we would expect the courts to reject this type of regime." Seiberg also questioned how a federal regime would actually work, given costs vary from city to city and buildings may get remodeled or upgraded. "The FTC is a relatively small agency," Seiberg added. "We don't see how it could account for all this in a way that could survive court challenges." While legislation could accomplish this, Seiburg said he doesn't see Congress adopting federal rent control. Rent prices rose 7.45% year over year in November, according to the latest available data from the Rent Report, the slowest annual rise over the last 15 months. Still, this increase is more than triple the 2.2% annual rent increase seen during the same month two years ago. So Biden wants to impose limits to landlords. How about those landlords that haven't been paid for months due to covid and still have to pay the mortgage and property taxes etc. Rents are based on those factors and making a profit. Biden has no authority to do this. But he knows that he can do it until it is shot down in the courts. Completely unconstitutional use of power and why the Founders didn't want a super powerful executive. In a time of high property prices, hence increasing property taxes, is rent control a good thing or not? If rent control is enacted, will this encourage landlords to make repairs in a timely manner or not? All of these costs go into determining the rental rates so all can be paid for and make a return on the investment. What are your thoughts on this effort? mspart

Surprised that the FBI has corruption in its ranks? They say not so. In fact, Merrick Garland just told us all that there is no difference in justice for Ds or Rs, rich or poor. They do the same thing to whoever. mspart

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/washingtons-gas-prices-have-jumped-25-cents-per-gallon-since-co2-tax-took-effect Prices here have risen 17 cents per gallon while Oregon and Idaho gas has gone down 8 cents a gallon. Net effect is a 25 cent rise in gas cost if we had been allowed to follow OR and ID prices. mspart

Maybe Reich is for enforcing enhanced sentences for the use of a gun in crime. No, I don't think so. Around here, that is the first charge to be plea bargained away. mspart

Yeah, I heard about this. I heard an MSN report and no mention of the Trump Russia investigation he was working. mspart

He came back from 10-2? Gotta ask what Nashon was doing. I have not seen the match. That is an incredible recovery. I don't particularly like DeSanto but that is perserverance which is something to admire. mspart

Right now the US is 31 Trillion plus change in debt. US GDP is 20 Trillion. So right now we owe 50% more than we make. Now that is not what the govt makes, it is what all of us rubes make. The debt is way out of balance with what can be paid. With interest rates rising, the amount of interest to pay on that debt grows ever more. There is no country in the world that has overcome this kind of irresponsibility. Right now the US brings in record amounts of money year over year. Yet the budget grows at ever faster rates. There is no harm in acknowledging this. But where the Ds are right now, you would think there would be. The Rs, not always the most fiscally responsible, are saying we need to lower the deficit now in order to raise the debt limit because we are nearing the breaking point. Biden and the D Senate is saying no way. Only Manchin seems to be an adult in this regard on the D side and is looking for compromise somewhere so that a bill can be crafted and passed. Let's say Rs cave and do the debt limit alone. How much leverage will they have in the future to lower the deficit spending? About zero. This is the time for this action to happen. Lower the amount you are spending and you can borrow a little bit more. This doesn't seem as unreasonable as Biden, the great uniter, would like us to think. What did he call the Rs in this regard? https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3815262-biden-knocks-fiscally-demented-republicans-in-mlk-day-speech/ “They’re gonna talk about big-spending Democrats again. Guess what? I reduced the deficit last year $350 billion. This year, federal deficit is down $1 trillion-plus. That’s a fact. And there’s gonna be hundreds of billions reduced over the next decade. But so what? These guys are the fiscally demented, I think. They don’t quite get it,” Biden said of Republicans. Now there's a uniter we can all get behind. At least he and McCarthy are going to meet on this topic. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-were-going-have-discussion-about-us-debt-with-house-leader-2023-01-20/ mspart

Now it is not just the garage and the DC office. More docs have been found. He's been kiping classified docs since he was a senator. Seems like a habit that never changed. mspart

Doh!!! I was even looking at the name and mispelled it. I could blame it on my keyboard. I think I will. Not user error, was equipment error. That's my story and I sticking to it!!! mspart

Two silvers is great! Kudos!! mspart

Rohn pinning Albrecht. mspart

Yeah, that is a pretty sad site. mspart

I think it is Fix's year this year. I could be wrong, but I think he'll make it this time. He just needs to jump higher as he gets on the mat!! mspart

Wishing him great success with GR now. Neal didn't play much the first few years. It was his determination and work ethic and improvement that kept him on the practice squad. It did not come fast but with perserverance it did come and he became an offensive titan. Not everyone can do that. mspart

BP, Yes, thankfully world situation is not like it was over 100 years ago. And was like for almost everyone, everywhere since time immemorable. The corrupt government I think you are referring to (USA) has raised the standard of living for almost everyone in the country from what it was in 1904(1804, 1850, 1776, 1669 etc), and that of many if not most of the rest of the world. Not recognizing this fact, and it is a fact, makes our situation not congruent with the Tsarist example. Now you may say our corrupt gov saw what happened in Russia and decided to change things around so people had it better so they would not revolt. On the other hand, the Bezos of this world became rich because of conditions in the country as have many many others. It doesn't keep people down, it allows for raising oneself up. Look at the southern border, that tells you all you need to know. Corrupt gov or no, people are coming in by the millions. mspart

Now that's a big response!! mspart

Yes, that is true headshuck. The admin said there are no records. The admin has said many things that are untrue about this. Like there are no more records, when they knew more had been found. Even mainstream media is pushing this. Is this an effort to get Biden not to run in 2024 since he has been such a stellar President. Just one example - from Cspan as reported on CNS news. You can watch the video at this site during a speech about Martin Luther King day. https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/melanie-arter/biden-stumbles-supreme-court-justice-ketanji-brown-jacksons-name The president said that the power to redeem the soul of America lies in the hands of “we the people.” “I was reminded of that truth on the south lawn of the White House. I believe you were there, both of you, both your senators, on the south lawn of the White House when the vice president Kamala Harris and hearing these words, and I quote. ‘It took just one generation from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States.’ Those are the words of Kejan- Kejan- Ketanji Drown Jackson, our Supreme Court justice,” the president said. I think even the media normally friendly to Ds and Biden have had enough. They are finally asking tougher questions that the Press Secretary is now ducking. mspart

The D's had 2 months left in their majority after the election of 2022. The House passed a bill that was contrary to the will of the people as noted above. They chose to be completely radical on this issue rather than reasonable and as a result, they failed to get the bill signed into law. That is completely on them. Do you think any D in the House right now would vote for a bill that only allowed 1st trimester abortions? That answer is no because they didn't. mspart

Democrats have had majorities enough to pass a federal abortion law and never did. That is historically true. The bill that was before Congress would have allowed abortions in the third trimester. Totally out of whack with what the vast majority of Americans are comfortable with. https://apnews.com/article/only-on-ap-us-supreme-court-abortion-religion-health-2c569aa7934233af8e00bef4520a8fa8 The above poll from AP news shows the situation in the country. The Ds in Congress had a bill that did not reflect this at all. It would allow abortion up until normal birth. So they were completely out of step with the people of the USA. That may be another reason the bill didn't go anywhere. I think if they crafted the bill to allow only 1st trimester abortions, they could have passed it. And that is in keeping with the vast majority of countries in the developed world. But they couldn't do that because they want women to be able to legally kill their offspring up until birth, and in the case we were discussing, killing the child after a botched abortion produces a live baby. That is historical fact and it was presented earlier on this board when it happened in the new Congress. mspart