Another looney Trump comment today.

On Saturday, Trump thanked Gambino Crime Family mobster, informant, and serial liar Sammy The Bull Gravano who confessed to 19 murders and countless kidnappings, armed robberies, burglaries & 1000s of other felonies, for vouching for him, adding, “I hope Judges Engoron & Kaplan see this.”……”Even if you come out vote and then die, thank you”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-uses-mob-boss-sammy-the-bull-gravano-as-character-witness-on-truth-social

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12962705/trump-iowans-caucus-president-vote-temperatures-weather.html

This is a very timely thread for me. I started to re watch The Sopranos! Great show! 2024 is the show's 25th anniversary!

@sundance

 Great show! Even greater cast. Many years of Sunday nites!

@sundance

 See we can agree  

@ joe pockets

Yes we can! 

What Sammy the Bull REALLY said; 

In the interview clip, Gravano said he failed at getting Trump to work with him because he always had ex-FBI agents around him and that Trump simply didn't want to get involved with the mob.

"I tried a couple times to press him and make arrangements where I could work with him and I did that with other big contractors. I had the power of the unions...But I couldn't get to him. He wouldn't bite. He just wouldn't bite. He didn't wanna do anything like that," Gravano said.

He continued: "One of my guys said, 'We'll go up to the office.' I said, 'We'll up to the office, everybody around him is an ex-FBI agent. We'll go up to the office, we'll get cuffed and we'll go right to prison.' So, forget about Trump. He's a legitimate guy. He don't wanna do it. Forget about Trump."

SO THE UNIONS DONATED MILLIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. 

And the media just says Trump thanks a hitman.

Having Gravano vouch for trump is like having Satan vouch for God. 

@UNIMAN

 Are kidding! Citizens United is by far more shady money than a minuscule portion on some working stiffs union dues! Other than teachers & police unions what do you really have ? Go down south ¡­Let¡¯s say South Carolina where the minimum wage is still 7.25 hr the folks don¡¯t like the word UNION yet most of the schools where teacher & police start at 39g¡¯s and the vast majority of public schools are 1970¡¯s deco in style and show it.

@UNIMAN

 can't stand unions...in today's times, they are friggen worthless...they always were just a front....

@darkhorse12

 I wouldn't say he vouched for him, but it does offer an example of how the mob would have done anything to be in bed with big business or developers...the fact someone said no to the mob and lived is a big deal especially if we are talking 40 years ago...

re:  Another looney Trump comment today

‘Even if YOU vote and then die, it’s worth it,’

trump urging his followers in Iowa to brave extreme conditions FOR HIM

@joe pockets

Was there supposed to be a coherent point in this?  Just because there is a minimum wage does not mean everyone makes that wage.  
Are you wanting to unionize fast-food workers, thinking that will make their schools update their wall coloring scheme or buy more modern desks?

There are plenty of new schools in SC and I imagine they are not putting in 1970s furnishings in them. 

I also imagine the folks making ¡®39g¡¯s¡¯ there are able to afford to live there.
What happens in a state that costs more to live in?  Don¡¯t folks simply have to make more to afford to maintain their lifestyle?

@darkhorse12

Actually this is a very poor analogy to use.  Because I know you thought you meant it to be bad. But it is actually the opposite. 

¡°Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.¡±

So, an evil and corrupt man was attempting to bribe or corrupt another  ¡ª AND he realized that guy was not evil or could not be corrupted or bribed. 

So, he recognized he was not one of them. 

Fast Food workers now have a coalition or council...not many may know this but they will soon be some of the highest paid in the country by force...check out what was already enacted...

In 2022, AB 257 attempted to create the FFC to set minimum standards for workers in the fast food industry. This bill was seen by many as a harbinger of industry-wide/sectoral bargaining (one industry, and workers negotiating with employers for increased rights across that industry). After the Governor signed AB 257 into law, a coalition of businesses created a referendum that qualified for the November 2024 ballot and proposed to repeal AB 257. This delayed the implementation of AB 257 until after the 2024 election. What followed was a chess match of political maneuvering and behind-the-scenes negotiation between labor leaders and the fast food industry. On September 11, 2023, the groups reached a compromise. The restaurant industry agreed to withdraw its pending ballot measure, and labor leaders agreed to a marginally modified version of AB 257, now codified in AB 1228. Below is a summary of some key provisions of AB 1228:

What does it do? It creates an FFC, and, effective April 1, 2024, it sets a $20 per hour minimum wage for covered national fast food chains. Specifically, AB 1228 repeals Labor Code Part 4.5.5 (Sections 1470, 1471, 1472, and 1473) (formerly AB 257) and adds a new Part 4.5.5 (Sections 1474, 1475, and 1476). This rise in the state-wide fast food minimum wage also increases the salary basis for impacted exempt employees to $83,200 annually.

Which businesses are covered? Any ¡°national fast food chain,¡± defined as, ¡°¡­ a set of limited-service restaurants consisting of more than 60 establishments nationally that share a common brand, or that are characterized by standardized options for decor, marketing, packaging, products, and services, and which are primarily engaged in providing food and beverages for immediate consumption on or off premises where patrons generally order or select items and pay before consuming, with limited or no table service.¡± (AB 257 applied to chains ¡°consisting of 100 or more establishments¡±.) A ¡°limited-service restaurant¡± includes, but is not limited to, an establishment with the North American Industry Classification System Code 722513.

Are any businesses excluded? Yes. AB 1228 does not cover: (1) ¡°an establishment that on September 15, 2023, operates a bakery that produces for sale on the establishment¡¯s premises bread ¡­ so long as it continues to operate such a bakery. This exemption applies only where the establishment produces for sale bread as a stand-alone menu item and does not apply if the bread is available for sale solely as part of another menu item¡±; and (2) ¡°a restaurant [that] is located and operates within a ¡®grocery establishment¡¯ ¡­ and the grocery establishment employer employs the individuals working in the restaurant¡­.¡± (such as a Starbucks inside of a Target or Ralphs market). It is expected that additional businesses will be excluded through future legislation.

What is the FFC? The FFC is part of the California DIR and will operate through January 1, 2029. AB 1228 slightly modifies the FFC composition contemplated by AB 257. Under AB 1228, the FFC is comprised of nine members, as follows: two fast food industry representatives; two fast food restaurant franchisees¡¯/owners¡¯ representatives; two fast food restaurant employee representatives; two advocate representatives for fast food restaurant employees; and (this is new) ¡°one unaffiliated member of the public who is not an owner, franchisee, officer, or employee in the fast food industry; who is not an employee or officer of a labor organization or a member of a labor organization representing fast food restaurant employees; and who has not received income from the fast food industry or any labor organization for a period of two years prior to appointment.¡±

This unaffiliated member chairs the FFC (this is also new). There are also two non-voting members, one from the DIR and another from GO-Biz.

What is the FFC¡¯s purpose? It exists ¡°¡­ to establish fast food restaurant minimum standards on wages, and develop fast food restaurant minimum standards on working hours, and other working conditions adequate to ensure and maintain the health, safety, and welfare of, and to supply the necessary cost of proper living to, fast food restaurant workers and to ensure and effect interagency coordination and prompt agency responses regarding issues affecting the health, safety, and employment of fast food restaurant workers.¡± The FFC must hold its first meeting by March 15, 2024.

How does the FFC make changes to the law? To pass any new standard, rule, or regulation, requires an affirmative vote of at least five of the nine voting council members. Presumably, this means that decisions can pass even if the fast-food industry and franchisee/owner representatives object. AB 1228 also makes clear that the FFC cannot create standards that are less beneficial than existing standards, rules, or regulations. One important difference between AB 257 and AB 1228 is that the FFC, other than for minimum wages, will not have authority to promulgate new standards, rules, or regulations on its own. Instead, the FFC needs to involve the DLSE, Cal/OSHA or the CRD, as needed. Those agencies would then promulgate the new standards, rules, or regulations under the normal rulemaking processes.

What about the minimum wage? By April 1, 2024, the minimum wage will be $20 per hour for national fast food chain restaurant employees (AB 257 would have made this $22 per hour by January 1, 2022). AB 1228 also notes that on or after January 1, 2025 and through 2029, the FFC ¡°¡­ may establish ¡­ minimum wages for fast food restaurant employees ¡­ on an annual basis.¡± These annual wage increases will be governed, ¡°¡­by no more than the lesser of one of the following, rounded to the nearest ten cents: (i) 3.5 percent; or (ii) the rate of change in the averages of the most recent July 1 to June 30, inclusive, using the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics non-seasonally adjusted United States CPI-W.¡± AB 1228 also allows adoption of local wages for fast food workers higher than those required by AB 1228. It also allows for a higher general local minimum wage increase that exceeds the AB 1228 requirements (i.e., a rate applicable to all hourly employees, not just fast food employees).

News like this is thread so hypocritical.

2020; The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition estimated Bloomberg¡¯s fundraising push has already paid off monetary obligations for 32,000 felons so they could register to vote. To the tune of $16 million dollars. 

Trump thanked a felon who said he was straight!!! 

Former white house communicator director Scaramucci calls Trump the Al Capone of politics.  Book 'Criminology of Trump" reveals his 50 years history of sexual assault, tax evasion, money laundering, non-payment of employees and defrauding of customers.

@KellyM_1964

 Millions did and would again apparently...what's your point...you act surprised that there is still major support for this guy...it's the only reason why you and fubah still talk about him...cause you are afraid of what might happen...if tens of millions still support a guy like this even after everything that has transpired what does that tell you about the current office of administrations...

@thirdperson

 millions of others out there doing the same thing...doesn't make it right but it is happening...how is the Biden family coping with its misfortunes for some of these same claims

@KellyM_1964

 Yes indeed. 

BUSINESS INSIDER;

"If you want to save America from crooked Joe Biden, you must go caucus tomorrow. First step, very first step," the former president said at the tail end of a 100-minute speech in Indianola. "We're gonna do it. We're gonna do it big. You got to get out."

"You can't sit home," Trump added, raising his voice. "If you're sick as a dog, you say: 'God, I gotta make it.' Even if you vote and then pass away, it's worth it."

Trump paused to let his supporters LAUGH before pressing on.

"If you're sick, if you're just so sick, you can't, darling, I don't think I can. Get up. Get up. You get up, you're gonna vote," Trump said, imitating a woman urging her husband to vote. "Yes, darling, because ultimately, we know who calls the shots, right?"

Republican supporters cheered for the president's caricature. 

Trump added that the caucuses would be held indoors and voters would "all be safe."

Man, you all sure are desperate. 

Cockeyed willies in here...