Sean Casten
@SeanCasten
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US Rep, IL-06. Engineer. Former CEO. Dad. Husband. Born at 326 ppm. Official tweets @RepCasten. Also: SeanCasten at Mastodon & Bluesky.
Joined August 2009
"The best friend of a nation is he who most faithfully rebukes her for her sins—and he her worst enemy who, under the specious… garb of patriotism seeks to excuse, palliate or defend them." - Frederick Douglass.
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Brave of you to stand up to a pair of shoes. Maybe one day you’ll stand up to the man who insulted your wife, your father and our country.
I love America. I stand for the anthem, respect the flag & honor the men & women who fought to defend our Nation. I respect Free Speech & I’m exerting mine: until @Nike ends its contempt for those values, I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE NIKE PRODUCTS. #WalkAwayFromNike RT if you agree.
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Every elected @GOP official owns this moment. They elected him. They coddled him. They cowered before him. They refused to have witnesses at his trial. Given the opportunity to stand up, they sat down. How much must he break before they will put our country first?.
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Coffee prices are about to go up because Trump's feelings got hurt by a country he doesn't know how to spell.
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I want to quickly highlight a completely bonkers part of Trump's Project 2025 agenda relating to your salary and faith. You have to see this stuff in text to understand the degree to which these extreme MAGA types want to control your life.
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Waking up this morning to find out that an obese 78 year old adjudicated rapist and convicted felon simulated a sexual act on stage in the course of trying to be President. Zero respect for every one of my colleagues who continues to endorse him.
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You cannot repeal the first amendment by tweet. I know this because I watched Schoolhouse Rock.
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Respect to the welcome my friends in the Mad River Valley gave to the Russian asset who came there to ski today. 1/3
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My overwhelming conclusion after the last few weeks' hearings is that the @GOP - in its current incarnation - is a fundamental threat to our democracy. Thread:.
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You have no idea how many ethics presentations we members sit through. This is not only TOTALLY illegal, but he knows it. This is brazen.
Sen. Graham: “I think people in South Carolina are excited about Judge Barrett. I don’t know how much it affected fundraising today, but if you want to help me close the gap…I think the contest in South Carolina has taken on sort of a national profile.”
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Imagine a world where Fox News praises the President for negotiating a deal that raised the price of oil by 24%. That of course, was what happened 2 years ago today, and we need to talk about it to understand the @GOP hypocrisy about today's gasoline prices. Thread:.
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I don’t feel like we talk enough about the fact that Kavanaugh lied under oath to the United States Senate and the majority of United States Senators didn’t care.
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To all those saying "shouldn't we root out government inefficiency? What's wrong with DOGE?" a quick background on Constitutional law and why the WAY it is being violated exposes the true motives of the criminals:.
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I’d be happy to take that bet. Try me.
Sarah Sanders claims members of Congress are too dumb to review Trump's tax returns. "Frankly, I don't think Congress, particularly not this group of congressmen & women, are smart enough to look through the thousands of pages. my guess is most of them don't do their own taxes"
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Brief thread on how we got here: Since the GOP won control of the House 2 years ago they have not passed a single appropriations package into law. Government has operated at funding levels set by Dems 2 years ago via continuing resolutions every few months. This is not normal.
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THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL IS NOT THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYER AND HE CANNOT CLAIM PRIVILEGE.
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Because there seem to be some indignant folks suggesting that it is standard practice for a CEO to demand daily performance updates or else fire you, a few observations from a guy who spent 20 years in the private sector 16 as CEO and the last 6 in government….
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There is nothing good that comes from having a President of the United States who is gobsmackingly stupid, surrounded by obsequious courtiers and fellow morons. But the sooner we collectively acknowledge that truth, the sooner we can fix it.
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Measles kills. There were waves of polio epidemics from 1948 - 1955 when Trump was growing up. And the last time he was in office there were body bags in Central Park prior to the deployment of the COVID vaccine. This is, quite literally a promise to kill kids.
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It's hard to explain how dysfunctional the @HouseGOP is, and the degree to which their own internal divisions are superseding every normal function of government. But I'm going to try with a short story about this week in the house. Thread:.
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If we have a close Presidential election in November, do you trust Mike Johnson to fairly certify the electoral college results next January 6? . Cause if you don't, this would be a good time to support Democratic House members & ensure Hakeem is holding the speaker's gavel.
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RFK Jr. is going to kill Americans. And every Senator who voted to confirm him is complicit.
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I am announcing this morning that I will not be competing on the US 4x100 team at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
This morning on CNN This Morning…Manchin also told me “no,” he would not consider being Harris’s VP ↘️.
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Just so we're clear: the Senator from Florida's first picks for Team Defend American Greatness included an Exxon CEO, a Goldman CEO, McConnell's wife, Bannon, Miller, Flynn, Gorka and some random Trump kids.
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If McCarthy wins tonight, it will be because - on January 6, of all days - he put members who were implicated in J6 in positions of great power. Will the so-called "moderate" Rs object, or will they simply repeat the "silence of our friends" mistake they made 2 years ago?.
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It seems a discussion is in order of the Laken Riley Act that I happily voted against on the House floor today. It is a bill that served no purpose than to stir up anger. But let’s quickly review why:.
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The guy who folded like a Montgomery chair when an obese 77 year old said his wife was ugly has opinions on how to satisfy your spouse.
Ted Cruz says liberal women are unhappy and pissed off all the time because liberal men don’t satisfy them in bed.
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Let’s talk a bit about Project 2025, the really unpopular guidebook to destroy American democracy that the Koch brothers, Leonard Leo, the Heritage Foundation and lots of Trumpified wing nuts are pushing - but Trump claims to know nothing about.
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1. First, they would eliminate overtime pay. You want to work the night shift to make more money? Too bad. Do you think your boss should pay you more if they make you work longer? Too bad.
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I would direct your attention to rule 26(a) of the House Republican Conference rules for the 118th Congress.
Hannity: Sources are telling me that some Republicans have been in contact with and has started an effort to draft former Trump to be the next speaker and I have been told that Trump might be open to helping the Republican party at least in the short term if necessary.
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Today, the @HouseGOP is bringing a bill to the floor to "denounce socialism in all it's forms". Let's unpack that: a bunch of people who have a taxpayer-funded job, many of whom have never worked a day in the private sector are denouncing socialism. Riiiiight. Brief thread:.
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So the Supreme Court ruled against @GOPLeader and his 125 co-conspirators. That's good. But that does not exonerate them. Attempting to destroy our democracy is not excusable just because they failed.
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If you are a Senator right now confirming ANY Trump nominee who will not unambiguously defend their oath to the Constitution even if that means standing up to Trump you are completely misunderstanding the risk of this moment.
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I cannot stress this enough - so many of the people in the Trump WH, including Trump himself would NEVER pass even the most rudimentary background checks. They have access to intel only because the Senate Republicans confirmed their incompetencies.
Wow. So @JeffreyGoldberg says he got an inside look into a sensitive policy discussion regarding the Houthis between Mike Waltz, Pete Hegseth, JD Vance, and other senior officials because he was accidentally invited to a Signal group chat they used to discuss operational.
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So House Republicans voted on a budget tonight that would cut ~$800B+ from Medicaid. Among other things, but it’s important to understand how much that will hurt every single one of us. (Spoiler: they know all of this - but they hate you.).
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This is the kind of nonsense that happens when you replace a political party with a clown show. Let’s unpack this a bit:
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If you count yourself among the 92% of Americans who don't like Project 2025 this is scary AF.
BREAKING: Trump has named Russ Vought as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director. Vought is the architect of Project 2025.
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My favorite part all all this Noem silliness is that SHE NARRATED THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION. “As soon as this was brought my attention” was after she read the whole damned thing out loud.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Did you meet Kim Jong Un?. KRISTI NOEM: As soon as this was brought to my attention, I made some changes and looked at this passage. BRENNAN: So you did not meet with Kim Jong Un?. NOEM: I've met with many world leaders. I'm not going to talk about specifics.
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McConnell abused the filibuster to make America worse. Schumer is refusing to use the filibuster to. accomplish what, exactly?.
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I was just evacuated from the @dccc office after the building was surrounded by protestors who had blocked all modes of ingress and egress. Grateful to Capitol Police for getting all members and staff out safely. To the protestors: PLEASE don’t do something irresponsible /1.
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4. This however raises a separate problem. Because you may recall that the Old testament predates the New testament. And the word "sabbath" comes from the Hebrew word "shabbat" which means "Saturday". Which is not the Christian sabbath day.
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2. BUT. this runs afoul of their commitment to there being only one true religion (e.g., Christianity) which they want to impose on all Americans. You know the whole on-the-seventh-day-God-rested bit.
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Enabling sexual molestation, supporting an insurrection and defying Congressional subpoenas were the three biggies for me.
If you’re not voting for Jim Jordan, you at least owe it to the American People to tell them the REAL REASON.
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3. So they add-back time-and-a-half pay IF you are compelled to work on the Christian sabbath.
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@GOP 8. As for me, I still think freedom of religion is a pretty good thing. As is an honest salary for an honest day's work. If you feel the same way, be sure not to vote to folks who are committed to taking it away. /fin.
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1. First, if you think that government employees aren’t already setting goals, doing performance reviews and being held accountable. they are. And if you’ve ever lamented that the gov’t has too much bureaucracy - HR is a part of that bureaucracy!.
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The gentlelady from NY seems to have forgotten about body bags in Central Park, a collapsing economy, loss of faith in US democracy around the world and a tax-dodging, COVID-denying rapist President who was preparing his final act of sedition.
Stefanik: Are you better off today than you were four years ago? The answer is a resounding no
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These images from Brazil, almost 2 years to the day after January 6 are really hard to watch. Democracy is not "normal" - it requires vigilance and a commitment to equality for all, even when the oppressors have the arms. .
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Since 1989, there have been 6 Presidents: 3 R and 3 D. We've created over 50 million jobs during that period. 49 million of them were created under Democratic Presidents. That's not a coincidence.
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Please, everyone. Check your politics at the door. Firing people who are responsible for guarding our nuclear arsenal is a massive and irreversible catastrophe waiting to happen. Call your GOP rep, tell them to grow a f-ing spine. Scream from the rooftops while you still can.
DEVELOPING: As part of sweeping cuts, the Trump administration has terminated around 300 employees at the agency responsible for maintaining America's nuclear weapons arsenal and combating nuclear terrorism. More on today's mass firings here:.
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This was in the Inflation Reduction Act. Passed under Biden. Every Republican, including Senator Vance voted against it. How many of his other life choices is he ashamed of?.
Vance: Donald Trump’s record on healthcare was so good that the main thing Kamala Harris talks about was actually an achievement of Donald Trump which is getting insulin down to $35. Thank Donald Trump for that. Don’t let Kamala Harris lie and take credit for it
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I’ve no doubt that this self-sanctified Speaker tried to take advantage of a medical situation rather than allow democracy to play out. But it’s also true that a guy who thinks the universe is 6000 years old might not be very good at basic math.
Speaker Mike Johnson says he was counting on a Democrat to be in surgery during his failed impeachment efforts
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OPEC's slash in oil production this week should be called out for what it is: an attempt to enhance Russia's ability to wage an illegal war against Ukraine, and an attempt to meddle in US politics. It is time for us to reconsider our military support for the region. Thread:.
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I didn't give any Capitol tours to anyone last week either.
Ok, I will start. I didn’t give any Capitol tours to anyone last week.
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These are the words of a mad king. They are not the words of someone who cherishes and defends the separation of powers innate to our Constitution. You’re smart enough to know better, JD. You’re just too cowardly to stand up to Trump & Musk.
If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power.
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Trump’s Project 2025 has some VERY creepy surveillance ideas about women’s pregnancies. Read this passage carefully (from page 455 of their plan).
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5. So, if you can PROVE a "sincere religious observance" (Pastafarians may have to rally to define that legal term in court) then you can shift to a different day.
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If you care about the planet. If you care about US leadership. If you care about our children. If you care about affordable energy. If you care about our democracy. Then it's time to mobilize. So, so much is at stake. Thread:
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It is HIGHLY unlikely that Scott Perry would pass the background check required if he were to apply for a junior job at the FBI. And yet the @HouseGOP just assigned him to the Intel Committee. This is not good.
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Nancy Mace filmed that video. And she then chose to share it. Whatever else you take of it, that is really weird and insecure behavior from a sitting member of Congress.
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Thanks @tedlieu. It turns out that when you cap the SALT deduction people’s taxes go up. Voters in #IL06 were smart enough to figure that out back in November. I bet they could help @presssec understand her boss’ taxes too.
To my friend Rep @SeanCasten, White House @PressSec Sarah Sanders thinks we are too stupid to understand taxes. Maybe she's right because I don't understand why the @GOP tax law increased taxes on middle class families in my district. Can you help me understand?.
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7. You really should read the whole bonkers document for yourself. This is the @GOP agenda if they win in November. (The above sections on page 589).
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6. But then they add a further carve out that if your job requires you to work on the sabbath day (however defined), you still don't overtime pay. Which subgroup apparently includes (but is not limited to) all who work at houses of worship, firemen, police and hospitals.
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@HouseGOP 15. Because if they can't get their s**t together, 8 days from now soldiers, air traffic controllers, food safety inspectors, IRS agents, border patrol. all go without pay. Some will be furloughed. Food, heating, housing assistance. Every government function.
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The fact that the heads of the CIA, DNI, NSA, State, Defense and VPOTUS were all on this chat and never interjected to say "Team, WTF are you doing? This is not a secure channel and these conversations do not happen here" is a damning indictment of their fitness for service.
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2. For context, when Dems had the majority we got all our appropriations done by August 1 so the Senate could finalize and POTUS could sign. @HouseGOP still hasn't done that.
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12. And Kevin Roberts is the guy who recently suggested that the Project 2025 agenda will be "bloodless if the left allows it to be." These are neither good, nor patriotic, nor peaceful people. /fin (for real this time.)
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I am often critical of the @HouseGOP for their incompetence, absence of any abiding moral compass and hostility to democracy. But this week, they deserve praise for their nationwide message discipline during “anti-woke week”. Thread:.
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Postscript: in the private sector analogy you should also assume that your new CEO is a easily-manipulable, sundowning narcissist who spends all his time with a Ketamine junkie who has billions of dollars of contracts with your org.
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@HouseGOP 9. Note: ALL of these bills violate the law we passed last June. But having discovered that Ds won't vote to break the law, they are trying to pass these with all R votes. But they're big mad at each other so even that's not possible.
With 9 days to go until a government shutdown, House Republicans are bringing a bill to the floor that would defund the ability of regulators to develop consistent climate accounting rules. Science is real. We have serious challenges. Let's stop wasting our time and get to work.
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7. The hubris that Musk & Trump have to do this is one thing. Their fundamental insecurity, failing to trust anyone junior to them who is more than an order-taker is something else. But it is how you create more bureaucracy, not more efficiency.
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Record-setting crowds at Four Seasons Total Landscaping today. Biggest ever at that location.
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3. Third, today’s bill would have made it deportable not to be *convicted* of a felony but simply to have been charged with a felony. That completely eliminates due process. And worse puts vulnerable people in even more tenuous circumstances.
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4. Which brings to the first problem with Trump/Musks missive. The arrogance. If you’re working in a national lab, you set your goals with a research director whose goals are set by the lab director who reports up through undersecretaries, ultimately to Wright and then to POTUS.
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1. First, undocumented people in the US who are convicted of felonies are already subject to deportation. If that is your concern you should be happy with existing law. As I am.
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8. Now let’s turn to the government-specific side. A lot of federal employees, in every branch are doing work that is classified. Sending information about what they’re doing to a single, unsecured email address is really freaking stupid.
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Every Congressional session we get a new pin - it's our ID on the floor for the next 2 years. Today we're getting a new pin, half way through the term because the @HouseGOP didn't like the color. Big congrats to them on their first tangible accomplishment of the 118th.
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@GOP 6/ That is textbook corruption. It is also a textbook bribe. It is also a quid pro quo. These are all synonyms, no matter what the President says.
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@HouseGOP 11. A bill to prevent the government from using the word "latin-x" - a bill to cut WH press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's salary to $1 - a bill to defund the office of gun violence prevention - a bill to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau -.
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@GOP @GOPLeader 31/ And so the voters must. And I know they can. Because Elijah Cummings is right. We're better than this. The American people have too much decency, too much pride and too much respect to tolerate those who put loyalty to party over loyalty to country.
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@HouseGOP 6. That leaves a lot of work to do by a party that doesn't like laws, is at war with itself and an inexperienced leadership team. But off we went. Last week, we were supposed to vote on transportation funding. Rs couldn't agree so Johnson never brought a bill to the floor.
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OK everyone. Take a breath. It's time to fight like everything you have for democracy, because that's what's on the damned ballot. Are you with me to fight like hell for RBG's legacy? Then here's what you gotta do: (thread).
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2. In my past job I sold stuff to the government and big corporates. They’re both a pain in the butt as customers. Interminable sign offs, reviews and checks to confirm the purchase tracks with larger goals. Bureaucratic decision making is innate to large organizations.
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You wouldn't believe what we just found out.
Just found out that at a charity auction of celebrity portraits in E. Hampton, my portrait by artist William Quigley topped list at $60K.
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6. Managerially, the WH communication last week is like Tim Cook sending the same emails to every Apple Store employee. It would destroy all of their entrepreneurial culture and paralyze the company as everyone waited for the word from on high.
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9. Sending that information to someone who just hacked into the $5+T/year treasury payment system with unsecured hardware and software and has failed to disclose what they are doing there is foolish, and unpatriotic.
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1. First: We operate on a 9/30 fiscal year but the (McCarthy) led house couldn't agree on how to fund prior to. They tried to just say "cut everything by 30%". That didn't pass. So they said "let's just fund at current levels for 45 days". That cost McCarthy his job.
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3. And while it’s annoying as a vendor, it’s also necessary; any organization large enough to be interesting is too big for one person to understand. You want the engineers to have independence from the accountants and them from the lawyers and them from the operations team, etc.
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Let's give some color here. Johnson is pretzelling himself to try to make him and his leadership team look less incompetent than they are. Here are the facts:.
SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON said legislative action for the week is canceled after the rule went down. "That rule being brought down means that we can't have any further action on the floor this week. That means we will not be voting on the Save act for election integrity. We will not.
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