Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Sen. Chuck Schumer Proves He's a Dem Neoliberal Rat On The TPP Issue


Hmmmmm......if enough Democrats can  just help us to sneak this by the People all will be well!"

Two years ago, in a post pertaining to Russia's giving Constitutional hero Edward Snowden asylum, I identified the traitorous rats inveighing against it, including assorted Democrats. I noted:

"Neolib Weasel Chuck Schumer,  barking that "Russia has stabbed us in the back and each day Snowden is allowed to roam free is another twist of the knife!",  you'd think that nation was harboring a war criminal like Cheney or Bush, or a serial killer or genocidal madman, not a man who simply exposed the over reaching and trashing of the Constitution done by his own gov't.  Not a man who is a genuine patriot in every sense of the word, as opposed to a disgusting reprobate tool."

I've never waivered from the conviction Schumer was a pompous Neoliberal worm in the guise of a center -left Democrat. And his most recent traitorous antics on the Trans- Pacific Partnership confirm it. The giveaway was highlighted in the Washington Post's headline:
Schumer at Center of Democrats’ Trade Drama
Therein we learn:

The likely outcome is the separate measures will pass out of the Senate, but the currency-related measure faces a rough road in the House and at the White House.Pro-trade Democrats, though, will be able to say they voted to get tough on trade even as they voted for a six-year fast-track trade bill.

In other words, Chuckie engineered a split  bill to try to deflect left Demos' ire and attention.  In essence, a separate bill for  the currency restrictions will pass, but can be vetoed separately from Fast Track. This translates in a win for TPP Fast Track, i.e. no enforceable currency restrictions. Second, passing a separate currency bill allows pro-TPP Democrats to brag about how they "tried" their best to oppose the liberal onslaught - thereby grabbing a handy fig leaf.

The WaPo account goes on leaving no doubt the architect was Chuck Schumer:

"Senate Democrats’ epic trade revolt against President Barack Obama’s fast-track bill — and the furious efforts to salvage it — had one senator at the center of it all: Charles E. Schumer.
The New York Democrat, who has become the heir apparent to Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, found himself in an awkward position, to say the least.

A provision he authored to get tough on countries that manipulate their currencies was threatening to bring down the White House’s entire trade agenda; its absence on the Senate floor was why Democrats filibustered Obama’s fast-track trade package Tuesday. By the end of the day Wednesday, the crisis — what White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest kept calling a “procedural snafu” — had been averted, with Schumer helping to seal the deal.

Although the New Yorker has opposed the trade bills — he voted against fast track in committee — as the caucus’ future leader, he has to balance the anti-trade sentiment among the vast majority of Democratic senators with his loyalty to the White House and the desires of a sizable number of pro-trade Democrats, such as Sen. Patty Murray of Washington. In short, it’s a sign of the kind of leader Schumer will be."

So we get one Neolib weasel to replace another (Reid).  And let's not overlook another rat in the making, Patty Murray - who didn't do duck squat back in Nov.-Dec. 2013 to halt a bill allowing $9b cuts in food stamps in order for the military to prevail in a sequester deal.  As one percipient blogger on smirkingchimp.com has observed:

Notice "progressive" Patty Murray's role in this. As a member of Democratic leadership, she seems to have had to choose between "following the neo-liberal leader" — in this case, Barack Obama on TPP — and standing with all other progressives in the "Democratic coalition," including every labor union. Murray is choosing to play ball with Senate leadership against progressives. Watch her carefully going forward. This looks a lot like the victory of careerism over principle.

All of which is enough to make a diehard liberal  - who hasn't changed his political position in 52 years - vomit.  But hell, we could as well expose the other pro-TPP Neoliberal Demo-RATS while we're at it, along with their phone numbers so interested readers can unload on 'em and blister their sorry asses:

  • Michael Bennet (D-CO) — 202-224-5852
  • Maria Cantwell (D-WA) —202-224-3441
  • Ben Cardin (D-MD) —202-224-4524
  • Tom Carper (D-DE) — 202-224-2441
  • Chris Coons (D-DE) — 202-224-5042
  • Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) —202-224-3841
  • Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) —202-224-2043
  • Tim Kaine (D-VA) —202-224-4024
  • Claire McCaskill (D-MO) —202-224-6154
  • Patty Murray (D-WA) —202-224-2621
  • Bill Nelson (D-FL) — 202-224-5274
  • Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) — 202-224-2841
  • Mark Warner (D-VA) —202-224-2023
  • Ron Wyden (D-OR) —202-224-5244

  • I also add Cory Booker (D-NJ) — who declined to vote on the first filibuster, but is nevertheless a weasel poltroon trying to find cover.

    We cannot allow these Demo-RATS to find such cover, not on this issue. It's too big and the consequences too parlous if it goes through. Including the fact the repukes have attached a new amendment to the fast track that cuts Medicare by $700 million.  This is serious given the core  problem is that it breaks the promise  that no laws will change before any vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership or any other fast-tracked agreement. Thus there continues a disturbing trend, identified by Paul Krugman, about not being able to trust the White House’s categorical denials about the consequences of their trade agenda. 

    Another noisome aspect not given sufficient attention in the corporate media is Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz's point that any legal authority would be transferred from the sovereign courts of the United States to multinational corporations if this "deal" comes to pass. Do Americans really and truly want to be serfs in a global Neoliberal fiefdom? I would hope not!

    Even if the Senate manages to pass this execrable bill - with the help of Demo-Rat  Neolib traitors, we must make sure it meets its end in the House even if a coalition must be formed with Tea Partiers.

    See also:

    http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/dean-baker/62297/the-incredible-arrogance-of-the-trans-pacific-partnership-crowd

    And:

    http://www.salon.com/2015/05/19/another_trans_pacific_partnership_lie_exposed_how_medicare_is_getting_stiffed_in_obamas_massive_trade_deal/



    http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/william-rivers-pitt/62286/the-trojan-horse-president

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