Today’s miscellaneous political news - part 8

Yes and some peas are still sucking the orange dick and lining his pockets with their hard earned money.

I read it and thought about it before posting. And I am looking at the big picture.  An end to the war is in everyone's best interests. The legislators are only asking for Biden to open negotiations, not an unreasonable request.  If opening negotiations will end the war sooner, it's worth trying.  They're not suggesting that Ukraine concede anything.  I have a lot of respect for Jamie Raskin who signed the letter.

The war crimes committed by Russia absolutely need to be addressed.  Maybe Nuremburg style trials?  Opening negotiations to end the war could be the start of holding Russia accountable.  The 30 Democrats are only asking that rather than wait for Ukraine or Russia to start negotiations, the US intervene to get the ball rolling.  They're not asking for Ukraine to concede anything.  They acknowledged the costs to Ukraine in civilian and military deaths and displacement.

Here's a link to their full letter

progressives.house.gov/_cache/files/5/5/5523c5cc-4028-4c46-8ee1-b56c7101c764/B7B3674EFB12D933EA4A2B97C7405DD4.10-24-22-cpc-letter-for-diplomacy-on-russia-ukraine-conflict.pdf

Given the destruction created by this war for Ukraine and the world, as well as the risk of catastrophic escalation, we also believe it is in the interests of Ukraine, the United States, and the world to avoid a prolonged conflict. For this reason, we urge you to pair the military and economic support the United States has provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire. This is consistent with your recognition that “there’s going to have to be a negotiated settlement here,” and your concern that Vladimir Putin “doesn't have a way out right now, and I'm trying to figure out what we do about that.”

We are under no illusions regarding the difficulties involved in engaging Russia given its outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine and its decision to make additional illegal annexations of Ukrainian territory. However, if there is a way to end the war while preserving a free and independent Ukraine, it is America’s responsibility to pursue every diplomatic avenue to support such a solution that is acceptable to the people of Ukraine. Such a framework would presumably include incentives to end hostilities, including some form of sanctions relief, and bring together the international community to establish security guarantees for a free and independent Ukraine that are acceptable for all parties, particularly Ukrainians. The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks.

In conclusion, we urge you to make vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, engage in direct talks with Russia, explore prospects for a new European security arrangement acceptable to all parties that will allow for a sovereign and independent Ukraine, and, in coordination with our Ukrainian partners, seek a rapid end to the conflict and reiterate this goal as America’s chief priority.

AMA finally speaks out!

The American Medical Association is finally coming out against politicians who insert themselves into the medical care of individual Americans.

Speaking to Ayman Mohyeldin, Dr. Jack Resneck explained that the main concern of the AMA is that there is a lot of damage being done to patients, "and the health of the nation when we have politicians inserting themselves into very complicated and personal medical decision-making that we think should be made between a doctor and patient."

"That is really what is creating this danger," the doctor explained. "Stories like the one you told about patients who are having complications from pregnancy, an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage that leads to a bloodstream infection -- or to hemorrhage and are finding themselves sitting with doctors in emergency departments, having discussions like, 'Well, we have to call the attorneys now, because your chance of death or losing a kidney might be 20 percent. Under our state law, we don't know if it qualifies for us intervening at this point.' And so, from our standpoint, this is really creating chaos, and some of these restrictive states around the country are placing patient lives at risk, and we are extraordinarily concerned."

www.rawstory.com/american-medical-association-president-women/

What are they go to do with this information?   I mean, I know they are just trying to intimidate people, but it isn’t  like you turn in your ballot in a color coded envelope showing if you voted R or D.   

I realize they were writing down license plates, but  you can write down license plates anywhere.   They would get more pertinent info if they wrote down license plates at a planned parenthood or writing down license plates of cars with political bumper stickers they disagree with.     This is clearly just to intimidate people, but why the hell would  anyone be intimidated by voting?  

Statement clarifying the progressive letter

Here in CT we can register to vote at the DMV. All of that is tied to my face, address, license plates to all my car including my kids etc.