Steve Schmidt @SteveSchmidtSES
29 years and nine months ago I registered to vote and became a member of The Republican Party which was founded in 1854 to oppose slavery and stand for the dignity of human life. Today I renounce my membership in the Republican Party. It is fully the party of Trump. It is corrupt, indecent and immoral. With the exception of a few Governors like Baker, Hogan and Kasich it is filled with feckless cowards who disgrace and dishonor the legacies of the party’s greatest leaders. This child separation policy is connected to the worst abuses of humanity in our history. It is connected by the same evil that separated families during slavery and dislocated tribes and broke up Native American families. It is immoral and must be repudiated. Our country is in trouble. Our politics are badly broken. The first step to a season of renewal in our land is the absolute and utter repudiation of Trump and his vile enablers in the 2018 election by electing Democratic majorities. I do not say this as an advocate of a progressive agenda. I say it as someone who retains belief in DEMOCRACY and decency.

On Ronald Reagan’s grave are these words. “ I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” He would be ashamed of McConnell and Ryan and all the rest while this corrupt government establishes internment camps for babies. Everyone of these complicit leaders will carry this shame through history. There legacies will be ones of well earned ignominy. They have disgraced their country and brought dishonor to the Party of Lincoln. I have spent much of my life working in GOP politics. I have always believed that both parties were two of the most important institutions to the advancement of human freedom and dignity in the history of the world. Today the GOP has become a danger to our democracy and values.

This Independent voter will be aligned with the only party left in America that stands for what is right and decent and remains fidelitous to our Republic, objective truth, the rule of law and our Allies. That party is the Democratic Party.

JFLNYC wrote:Just think how much restaurants could save if we brought back slavery!

thephan wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:Just think how much restaurants could save if we brought back slavery!

Well, it is pretty close in the back of the house. Some roles, and some employees with employers who might not necessarily be playing by the letter of the law. Slavery might even cost more because the cash transactions never seemed adequate, and most of these people had more then a few side hustles.

Steve Schmidt @SteveSchmidtSES

This Independent voter will be aligned with the only party left in America that stands for what is right and decent and remains fidelitous to our Republic, objective truth, the rule of law and our Allies.

pacino wrote:Pennsylvania's budget is sailing through this year, passing the House 188-10. It's basically an extension of last year's budget with some increases in spending on early education. It still doesn't have a tax on the Shale, no minimum wage hike, still has one-time funding, etc. we're in some #$!&@ shape as a state because they refuse to raise any taxes.

Werthless wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:No, you're not budgeting for the worst case scenario because most of the time they're making that in tips.

Let's say you own a small bar/restaurant. It's open from 11 AM to 2 AM daily. You average 3 servers/bartenders - nights and weekends more, but during the day shift there's just 2. That's 45 hours a day times an extra $9.17 an hour times 365. That's over $150,000 a year in new costs just in salary. As the minimum wage goes to $15 from $12.50, it is an extra $190k in hourly wages.

What do you think the outcome of this is going to be?

I think it's more than just small bars/restaurants. It's high volume, low margin businesses that will be squeezed. In the case of a struggling business, if the server is not earning enough in tips in these situations, the owners are already filling up the server to get to the $12.50 hourly rate. They are only paying more if they are getting enough volume for the server to average 12.50 with tips. If the restaurant was already struggling with attracting volume, sure, this will probably encourage them to close. But I think it's the high volume, low margin restaurants with more affordable pricing that will be hurt, and will most affect consumers. Their servers were earning a bunch in tips already, but now the restaurant will have to pay them full minimum wage before tips. They'll have to raise prices. I think this will happen at a bunch of lower-end, popular places.

pacino wrote:Michael Cohen resigned as the deputy finance chair of the RNC

how the hell was he still the deputy finance chair of the RNC?

Had a great meeting with the House GOP last night at the Capitol. They applauded and laughed loudly when I mentioned my experience with Mark Sanford. I have never been a fan of his!

jerseyhoya wrote:The WH misspelled separation in the headline of their memo thing ending the separation policy. They are the dumbest motherfuckers in the world.

Jacqueline Alemany @JaxAlemany
An HHS official tells @weijia that there will NOT be special efforts made to reunite children who have already been separated from their families bc of the Zero Tolerance Policy, despite Trumps EO. Process will proceed for minors currently in the unaccompanied children program.

Doll Is Mine wrote:Now there are reports that kids are being drugged.

thephan wrote:

Doll Is Mine wrote:Now there are reports that kids are being drugged.

If there is any truth what-so-ever to that it is over. There is no recovery. Heads have to roll.