Thursday, August 20, 2020

WOOD-TV finds dismantled mail sorting machines in Michigan and Governor Whitmer and Senator Peters react on MSNBC

Since I last looked at the plight of the Postal Service through a comedic lens in Stephen Colbert is 'ha, ha, only serious' about President Trump and Postmaster DeJoy messing with the Post Office to suppress the mail-in vote, it's time for a serious take on the issue. WOOD-TV provided just the opportunity yesterday when they reported Some USPS machines dismantled in Kent Co., including one Wednesday.

The day after the postmaster general said he would hit pause on massive changes within the U.S. Postal Service, News 8 learned a sorting machine was being dismantled in the downtown Grand Rapids post office. (Aug. 19, 2020)
I watched this story blow up on Twitter yesterday, which the WOOD-TV anchor noted. In particular, he mentioned both Michigan's Attorney General and one of Michigan's U.S. Senators retweeting the story. Both elected officials play a part in the next two videos, one off-camera and the other on-camera, from MSNBC. Follow over the jump for the reactions.

First, Joy Reid showed a clip of the above footage and asked Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer about her reaction to USPS machines being removed.

New reporting shows that USPS sorting machines are still being removed in Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer says, "I believe my eyes ... We're getting reports from across the state of Michigan that this is, in fact, still happening."
Governor Whitmer gave out the Attorney General's office phone number so anyone in Michigan can call in sightings of sorting machines being dismantled or other evidence of official interference in sorting or delivering the mail. It's (517) 335-7659. If any of my readers in Michigan know of information relevant to this issue, please call.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters appeared on camera early today on Morning Joe, where he said [he] Has Received 'Flood' Of Calls About Mail Issues.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., discusses new images of mail sorting machines out of service and dismantled and the planned congressional hearings with postmaster general Louis DeJoy, Aired on 8/20/2020.
First, the clips at the start of the segment show that sorting machines are being decommissioned and dismantled all over the country, not just in Michigan. Second, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will be questioned by a Senate committee tomorrow. I look forward to that. I also hope it helps slow down, if not stop outright, the damage being done to the Post Office by the Trump Administration. Stay tuned, as I'm sure I'll have more on this story at the intersection of the 2020 election and COVID-19 pandemic.

10 comments:

  1. Warren was right -- we can't trust these assholes an inch. And this is exactly what we need the media for. Expose what they're doing, publicize it, make it the big issue of the day. Trump has been known to back down when the public outcry over something got loud enough. It needs to be made clear to him that doing this stuff to the Postal Service will cost him even more support.

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    1. I second all your emotions! Also, good to see your comment.

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  2. Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs or retards the passage of the mail or any carrier or conveyance carrying the mail , shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both. June 25, 1948 ch 645, 62 stat

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  3. perhaps a win for voters.... chum & the rnc must provide proof of voter fraud in PA.
    https://missoulacurrent.com/government/2020/08/trump-voting-fraud/

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    1. Thanks for dropping by and commenting! I hope you stay. As for the link, it certainly is a win for Pennsylvanians voting by mail. I don't know if it helps the rest of us.

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  4. The republican Senate could have prevented all this idiocy by removing chump.
    All we have left is our Votes!!!!!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlZg-dObruo

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    1. Hahahaha! Now I really want you to stick around!

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  5. Propaganda of the deed (or propaganda by the deed, from the French propagande par le fait) is specific political action meant to be exemplary to others and serve as a catalyst for revolution.

    It is primarily associated with acts of violence perpetrated by proponents of insurrectionary anarchism in the late 19th and early 20th century, including bombings and assassinations aimed at the ruling class, but also had non-violent applications.[1] These deeds were intended to ignite the "spirit of revolt" in the people by demonstrating the state was not omnipotent and by offering hope to the downtrodden, and also to expand support for anarchist movements as the state grew more repressive in its response.[2] In 1881, the International Anarchist Congress of London gave the tactic its approval.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_of_the_deed

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    1. Are you saying the dismantling of the mail sorting machines is an example of this? If so, who are the people responsible trying to inspire into action on their their side? Or are you saying that an act like this would be an appropriate response? I really can't tell.

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