GOV/MIL "Friday Night Massacre" At US Postal Service: Postmaster General Boots Top Brass Ahead Of Election

[intothatgoodnight]

"Friday Night Massacre" at US Postal Service: Postmaster General boots top brass ahead of election

The Postmaster General — a major Trump donor — suddenly ousted the Postal Service's top officials

www.salon.com

"Friday Night Massacre" At US Postal Service: Postmaster General Boots Top Brass Ahead Of Election

The Postmaster General — a major Trump donor — suddenly ousted the Postal Service's top officials

Jon Queally

August 8, 2020

(This article originally appeared at Common Dreams. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License. Feel free to republish and share widely.)

Government watchdogs, Democratic lawmakers, and pro-democracy advocates declared it a "Friday Night Massacre" for the U.S. Postal Service after news broke in a classic end-of-the-week dump that Louis DeJoy—a major GOP donor to President Donald Trump and the recently appointed Postmaster General—had issued a sweeping overhaul of the agency, including the ouster of top executives from key posts and the reshuffling of more than two dozen other officials and operational managers.

"Trump is actively sabotaging the election under our noses—this isn't theoretical, it's happening RIGHT NOW." —Brian Tyler Cohen, political commentator. According to the Washington Post:

The shake-up came as congressional Democrats called for an investigation of DeJoy and the cost-cutting measures that have slowed mail delivery and ensnared ballots in recent primary elections.

Twenty-three postal executives were reassigned or displaced, the new organizational chart shows. Analysts say the structure centralizes power around DeJoy, a former logistics executive and major ally of President Trump, and de-emphasizes decades of institutional postal knowledge. All told, 33 staffers included in the old postal hierarchy either kept their jobs or were reassigned in the restructuring, with five more staffers joining the leadership from other roles.

Already under fire for recent policy changes at the USPS that mail carriers from within and outside critics have denounced as a sabotage effort to undermine the Postal Service broadly as well as disrupt efforts to carry out mail-in voting for November's election amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the moves unveiled late Friday were viewed as an overt assault on democracy and a calculated opportunity to boost Republicans' long-held dream of undercutting or privatizing the government-run mail service while also boosting their election prospects in the process.

"Another Friday night massacre by this administration—and this time dealing another devastating blow to our postal service," said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) "The American people deserve answers and we're going to keep fighting for them."

Scanlon was among more than 80 congressional lawmakers who sent a letter to DeJoy earlier in the day expressing "deep concerns" about operational changes he has made for mail carriers that have delayed deliveries and lowered standards.

"It is vital that the U.S. Postal Service not reduce mail delivery times, which could harm rural communities, seniors, small businesses, and millions of Americans who rely on the mail for critical letters and packages," the letter stated. "Eliminating overtime and directing postal workers to leave mail on the floor of postal facilities will erode confidence in the Postal Service and drive customers away, resulting in even worse financial conditions in the future."

As Common Dreams reported earlier Friday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren was among those who signed the letter and also called for DeJoy's efforts to be investigated by the Inspector General of the USPS. Since 2016 alone, DeJoy has donated more than $2.5 million to the Republican Party and candidates. In 2020, prior to his appointment as Postmaster General by the GOP-controlled board of governors, DeJoy had already given approximately $360,000 to a Super PAC supporting Trump's reelection.

As the Post notes in its reporting, the reshuffling of top managers and executives—as well as a hiring freeze and push for early retirements—"worried postal analysts, who say the tone of DeJoy's first eight weeks and his restructuring have recast the nation's mail service as a for-profit arm of the government, rather than an essential service."

In a video posted to Twitter, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oreg.) characterized DeJoy as a "political crony" of the president's and also denounced the brazen efforts now on display as a "Friday Night Massacre" scenario:

Appearing Friday afternoon on Capitol Hill, DeJoy brushed off accusations that he is acting as a political bag man for Trump. "While I certainly have a good relationship with the president of the United States, the notion that I would ever make decisions concerning the Postal Service at the direction of the president or anyone else in the administration is wholly off-base," DeJoy said.

But outside critics like Walter Shaub, former head of the Office of Government Ethics and a fierce critic of Trump's behavior as president, said the latest move should be seen as nothing less than a direct effort by DeJoy to exploit his authority at the Postal Service to further the president's political interests and reelection prospects.

According to Brian Tyler Cohen, a liberal commentator and podcast host, "Congressional Democrats need to do something about this" immediately.

"If we wait until October/November, it'll be too late," said Cohen. "Trump is actively sabotaging the election under our noses—this isn't theoretical, it's happening RIGHT NOW." Cohen said this situation should be treated like a "****ing five-alarm fire" and said action must be taken by both lawmakers and the U.S. public without delay.

Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), chair of the House subcommittee which has oversight for the USPS, said what DeJoy is trying to pass off as simple organizational restructuring is actually "a Trojan Horse" designed to destroy one of the nation's most trusted and valued institutions from within.

Connolly on Friday night called it, "Deliberate sabotage to disrupt mail service on the eve of the election—an election that hinges on mail-in ballots."


Jon Queally is managing editor for Common Dreams. Follow him on Twitter: @jonqueally

 

[Meadowlark]

I wish they would fire every postal worker in Tomball TX. At one time we had a delivery guy who would race around my neighborhood in his mail truck after 8 PM! They once lost a package sent to me for two whole weeks.

Worse when you were in the place, they moved everrrrrrrrr so slow just to even help you, like your had just ruined their day.

The worst part is they never processed my forwarding address application!

 

[Blacknarwhal]

Connolly on Friday night called it, "Deliberate sabotage to disrupt mail service on the eve of the election—an election that hinges on mail-in ballots."

Go to your nearest polling place and vote like nearly every other regular person around.

 

[Walrus Whisperer]

I wish they would fire every postal worker in Tomball TX. At one time we had a delivery guy who would race around my neighborhood in his mail truck after 8 PM! They once lost a package sent to me for two whole weeks.

Worse when you were in the place, they moved everrrrrrrrr so slow just to even help you, like your had just ruined their day.

The worst part is they never processed my forwarding address application!

It got "lost in the mail"

 

[Elza]

"Trump is actively sabotaging the election our cheating under our noses—this isn't theoretical, it's happening RIGHT NOW."

Fixed it.

 

[bw]

Connolly on Friday night called it, "Deliberate sabotage to disrupt mail service on the eve of the election—an election that hinges on mail-in ballots."

Easy fix: vote in person.

 

[BeeMan]

If the Demon-craps are opposed to it...
Well, it must be that someone is doing something good.

 

[hiwall]

 

[mistaken1]

The wailing and gnashing of teeth in that article was epic!
When the left screams about something you know it hurt them badly.
I do believe this qualifies as more winning.

 

[Millwright]

A housecleaning at one of the most mismanaged federal pits?

Until other evidence is presented...

I'm more than OK with that.

 

[Meadowlark]

Know what a triple dipper is? Serve 20 years in the military, retire and serve another 20 years part time in the reserves while working full time for the post office. When you finally retire you get three hefty pensions at once and cheap healthcare, making an easy big six figures while sitting back and doing nothing.

 

[intothatgoodnight]

Know what a triple dipper is? Serve 20 years in the military, retire and serve another 20 years part time in the reserves while working full time for the post office. When you finally retire you get three hefty pensions at once and cheap healthcare, making an easy big six figures while sitting back and doing nothing.

I know of several who have followed your above prescription - with variants to include a full 20-something year long (second) career corporate gigs, complete with full-ride retirement benefits, instead of a second career .gov agency job.


intothegoodnight

 

[billet]

I'd love to see them clean out the dead wood at NASA while they're at it.

 

[marsofold]

Know what a triple dipper is? Serve 20 years in the military, retire and serve another 20 years part time in the reserves while working full time for the post office. When you finally retire you get three hefty pensions at once and cheap healthcare, making an easy big six figures while sitting back and doing nothing.

I always thought it was 20 years military, 20 years civil service, then social security.

 

[ShadowMan]

Hey. If you do the time you've earned the dime. Nothing wrong about that. Sounds like sour grapes cause you didn't think of that when you could have.

I hear so many people whine "I should have stayed in and completed my 20." Well you didn't. It was your call. My 22 years cost me two marriages and a heap of money in lawyers and child support. Some choices are good, some not so good. You roll the dice and play the hand you're dealt.

 

[Murt]

Know what a triple dipper is? Serve 20 years in the military, retire and serve another 20 years part time in the reserves while working full time for the post office. When you finally retire you get three hefty pensions at once and cheap healthcare, making an easy big six figures while sitting back and doing nothing.

it gets better if they retire from the military with disability then go to the post office

 

[Tex88]

I'm gonna suit up, put on my mask and my bitch mittens and vote against whomever is responsible for a ton of my ebay crap getting lost, both incoming and outgoing.

 

[et2]

We’ve had a few mail carriers over the years caught throwing the mail out to make their job easier. Anyone that tells you mail in voting is not a issue is selling you a line of BS

The commie demonrats rule over this process and have their people in place to steal the election

 

[Squib]

Yeah, DJT is cleaning house in a dept that loses money constantly.

The demons and leftists are just crying the blues because now they won’t be as able to cheat via mail.

 

[mistaken1]

The workers in the trenches will keep right on keeping on without a dozen high-level, demonrat executives sitting in their offices.
Demonrat operatives planning on losing republican votes and finding demonrat ones will have their necks exposed without a dozen high-level, demonrat executives sitting in their offices.

 

[ericha]

I always thought it was 20 years military, 20 years civil service, then social security.

Your take is correct. The active duty and reserves are on the same retirement system. Reserve time after active duty simply earns more points which will enhance your final pension take home pay. Though i don't think most would forego that immediate retirement benefit unless they were looking for some quick rank advancement.

 

[Ractivist]

What if it's a diabolical plan to garner the addresses off every mail in vote with name attached, and then cross reference them with other voter rolls and see if folks voted twice.......be quite the snare point I'd think. Seems to me they already do track all packages....be interesting how quickly the data could turn into actionable intelligence.

It's always been, "who counts the votes matters"....turn that inside out and what ya got....red handed fraud, likely with video too....

It's a trap......I hope.

 

[155 arty]

Know what a triple dipper is? Serve 20 years in the military, retire and serve another 20 years part time in the reserves while working full time for the post office. When you finally retire you get three hefty pensions at once and cheap healthcare, making an easy big six figures while sitting back and doing nothing.

And?

 

[TerryK]

Know what a triple dipper is? Serve 20 years in the military, retire and serve another 20 years part time in the reserves while working full time for the post office. When you finally retire you get three hefty pensions at once and cheap healthcare, making an easy big six figures while sitting back and doing nothing.

Hey I get 3 retirements (military, California and Florida) plus Social Securitybenefits. That makes me a Quatro Dipper
Planned each and every career to be vested and secure in retirement. I have zero debt and own my home free and clear and am not worried about being evicted like some who (fail to plan and plan to fail) because since the very beginning I built a nest egg for emergencies and other things. I save a large part of my retirements and have enough money and investments to live for 10 years even if all my retirements go away.

People whining about others good fortune, due to good planning, says more about themselves than me.
Your post sounds like pure sour grapes to me. Too bad you didn't go with at least one of those triple dipper options to earn at least a little security.
Anyway I hope you are able to keep your apartment and give some future considerations to planing for contingencies.

Back to the Postal Service.
Trump and his family and most of his cabinet vote by mail just as I do. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me.
Hell 30% of voting in Florida are ballots by mail. Florida is heavily populated by old farts and many would not vote if they didn't vote by mail. and most of us are life long republicans. As our demographic get younger and more "foreign" we are now close to becoming blue. It's all us old folks who are so far keeping us red.
Trump has already said he is fine with vote by mail here in Florida and other Red states.

I go one better though. My ballot comes in the mail, and my wife and I fill ours out and seal them in the enclosed envelopes and then hand carry it down to one of the early voting centers and drop it directly in their ballot box (NOT MAIL BOX). All because I don't feel like waiting in line , breathing the same air, with a bunch of idiots, some who may even be democrats, too stupid to wear masks.

Is it wrong what he's doing to the Postal Service before the election?? Sure is, but I am convinced if the shoe was on the other foot, that the Democrats would be doing the exact same thing or worse, and anything else they could get away with. That's politics.

Postal Service:
Receives no federal funding, they must operate on the postal fees they receive, but they have gotten a couple federal bailouts for very good reasons.
Reason 1: they carry Amazon and other giant mail order packages at rates that lose money. Trump has bitched about Amazon and a few others ripping off the postal service so you can get your little Amazon packages.
Reason 2: They are required to deliver letters and packages to anyone at the standard rates. So a letter to someone who lives next door to the post office costs the same postage as someone who lives out in the stix in the middle of nowhere.

/Rant off
Sorry but I get pissed at people who criticize and belittle the hard work and dedication of others who exercise a little intelligence, planning and preparedness for their future.
I've earned my retirements.

 

[Marie]

A couple of facts:
Sorry to say but everytime a new PMG moves in there are ALWAYS big changes.
Listen to why there is all of a sudden a huge outcry, who is whining?

The biggest fact is it's either big changes to address the financial shortages or no more PO.
Cant live on loans forever
Congress has had 2 decades to address the prefunding debacle.
Haven't been concerned enough to actually eliminate that.

So again who is crying the loudest?

 

[TerryK]

Hey. If you do the time you've earned the dime. Nothing wrong about that. Sounds like sour grapes cause you didn't think of that when you could have.

I hear so many people whine "I should have stayed in and completed my 20." Well you didn't. It was your call. My 22 years cost me two marriages and a heap of money in lawyers and child support. Some choices are good, some not so good. You roll the dice and play the hand you're dealt.

Well said.
Classic sour grapes. I see it all the time. Usually from people who made bad choices.

 

[energy_wave]

Trump is giving America the Enema she needs.

 

[Millwright]

Sorry but I get pissed at people who criticize and belittle the hard work and dedication of others

Problem being, the USPS is absolutely ate-up with grifters who game the system for every thing they can.

Years of sick leave and medical issues, just being worthless POSs and so on.

Often it's the usual affirmative action types.

Damn near impossible to get rid of them.

 

[TerryK]

The post office is the third largest employer in the US with over 630,000 people. Second only to the federal government and Walmart.
Every large organization big enough to have an fair sized HR and their own lawyers will have those grifters. Most of those grifters you speak of are probably at the higher levels. I know the people on foot and driving the delivery trucks have a hard row to hoe day in and day out.

A survey of postal workers intelligence test results reveals them to have a significantly higher intelligence than the population in general.
From Forbes: Why Your Postman May Be Smarter Than He Looks

Why Your Postman May Be Smarter than They Look
The traditional view of government employees is as below average workers who could not compete in the private sector, and thus need to be protected by union work and seniority rules. This may have been true in the 1960s era when low pay would attract low achievers. The current high pay for government jobs, however, has reversed this effect to a great extent.
(Terryk-unfortunately this doesn't mention or discuss affirmative action hires or labor laws implemented by political appointees or lawmakers.
Also according the the OP the majority of those being shown the door are political appointees appointed by various administrations and not those who were actually hired at lower levels after competing in tests and working their way up.)


An associate of mine was contracted to do intelligence testing on a sampling of postal workers. We are all aware that these workers are the butt of endless jokes and real life horror stories, yet intelligence testing found them to be significantly smarter than the public as a whole. His testing found significant numbers of individuals at a Ph.D. level of intelligence and, in fact, many postal workers found time to do their jobs and study for advanced degrees.


What accounts for this higher average intellect? The postal service does IQ testing of job applicants and picks the highest scoring candidates. What accounts for intelligent people applying for such mundane work? High pay, great benefits and job security. What accounts for the poor performance of the post office as an entity? Work rules and procedures that dumb down jobs and routines.

How then does government hiring the best and brightest have a corrosive effect on the very fiber of our economic system? Government work does not grow the economy, only private, profit making activities can do this. When government wages are below those of the private market place, it attracts mainly individuals with below average abilities, the very people who in an economic downturn will be the first to be laid off.

In short, people who, during much of their working lives, would be your lower income individuals, people who routinely need government support when they are laid off or need retraining. By government paying above average wages and testing for the best and brightest, they assure that the worker pool for the private sector will thereby be populated with more of the less capable. How perverse is that? The private sector has to work with a lower talent pool and thus will grow slower and be less capable of competing internationally.


An ancillary problem is that government workers as an economic elite leads to a perception that they are critical to growth and should exercise rule making authority to guide the market place. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes markets are volatile and often get things wrong, but central planning has never proven to be the answer. And yes, there are exceptions where you do want the best and brightest. The most obvious example is school teachers. However, given their work rules and hiring standards, I would love to see a comparison of their IQ scores to those of the postal workers. Then again, I probably wouldn’t.

 

[Millwright]

Most of those grifters you speak of are probably at the higher levels.

Nope.

Not even.

I have dear friends who are in that orbit.

The horror stories I could share.

From the white-hating, musloid, affirmative action, postmaster to the useless tyrones on the clock.

It is the dregs of worthless Fk'rs gaming the system...and the normies who get shit on, covering for them.

Read between my lines and put an exponential factor to it.

 

[Tex88]

Fun fact:

President Trump admits he's blocking Postal Service money to stop mail-in votes

The president has said he opposes funding to the USPS of money Democrats say it needs to process an expected surge in mail-in ballots due to COVID-19.

www.wfaa.com

Lock him up.

 

[Walrus Whisperer]

The post office is the third largest employer in the US with over 630,000 people. Second only to the federal government and Walmart.
Every large organization big enough to have an fair sized HR and their own lawyers will have those grifters. Most of those grifters you speak of are probably at the higher levels. I know the people on foot and driving the delivery trucks have a hard row to hoe day in and day out.

A survey of postal workers intelligence test results reveals them to have a significantly higher intelligence than the population in general.
From Forbes: Why Your Postman May Be Smarter Than He Looks

Why Your Postman May Be Smarter than They Look
The traditional view of government employees is as below average workers who could not compete in the private sector, and thus need to be protected by union work and seniority rules. This may have been true in the 1960s era when low pay would attract low achievers. The current high pay for government jobs, however, has reversed this effect to a great extent.
(Terryk-unfortunately this doesn't mention or discuss affirmative action hires or labor laws implemented by political appointees or lawmakers.
Also according the the OP the majority of those being shown the door are political appointees appointed by various administrations and not those who were actually hired at lower levels after competing in tests and working their way up.)


An associate of mine was contracted to do intelligence testing on a sampling of postal workers. We are all aware that these workers are the butt of endless jokes and real life horror stories, yet intelligence testing found them to be significantly smarter than the public as a whole. His testing found significant numbers of individuals at a Ph.D. level of intelligence and, in fact, many postal workers found time to do their jobs and study for advanced degrees.


What accounts for this higher average intellect? The postal service does IQ testing of job applicants and picks the highest scoring candidates. What accounts for intelligent people applying for such mundane work? High pay, great benefits and job security. What accounts for the poor performance of the post office as an entity? Work rules and procedures that dumb down jobs and routines.

How then does government hiring the best and brightest have a corrosive effect on the very fiber of our economic system? Government work does not grow the economy, only private, profit making activities can do this. When government wages are below those of the private market place, it attracts mainly individuals with below average abilities, the very people who in an economic downturn will be the first to be laid off.

In short, people who, during much of their working lives, would be your lower income individuals, people who routinely need government support when they are laid off or need retraining. By government paying above average wages and testing for the best and brightest, they assure that the worker pool for the private sector will thereby be populated with more of the less capable. How perverse is that? The private sector has to work with a lower talent pool and thus will grow slower and be less capable of competing internationally.


An ancillary problem is that government workers as an economic elite leads to a perception that they are critical to growth and should exercise rule making authority to guide the market place. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes markets are volatile and often get things wrong, but central planning has never proven to be the answer. And yes, there are exceptions where you do want the best and brightest. The most obvious example is school teachers. However, given their work rules and hiring standards, I would love to see a comparison of their IQ scores to those of the postal workers. Then again, I probably wouldn’t.

They are probably all INFJs...

 

[energy_wave]

What if you use a mail in ballet but also show up to vote in person. Is there a mechanism in place to stop the double voting and which vote would count? The one where you show up and prove you are the person casting the vote or the mail in.

 

[Marie]

Fun fact:

President Trump admits he's blocking Postal Service money to stop mail-in votes

The president has said he opposes funding to the USPS of money Democrats say it needs to process an expected surge in mail-in ballots due to COVID-19.

www.wfaa.com

Lock him up.

Fun fact. The Postal service has been underwater long before Trump came to office.
Why all the sudden everyone is concerned when he refuses to bail out an organization that needs to fix itself first.
Just like gibsmedats have a hand out but never do anything to change their course.

 

[TerryK]

What if you use a mail in ballet but also show up to vote in person. Is there a mechanism in place to stop the double voting and which vote would count? The one where you show up and prove you are the person casting the vote or the mail in.

To answer you question, yes, there are several mechanisms in place.
When you request your absentee ballot, it will be sent to you together with a return envelope and a privacy folder. Your ballot envelope will have you name on it and you must sign the envelope before submitting it with your ballot. Your signature is compared to the signature you gave when you did your voter registration. You can either drop it in the mail (after you signed it) or take it in person to a polling place that has a box where you don't have to wait in line and you can drop your ballot in the ballot box at the polling place if you choose not to mail it in.

If you try to cheat and get in line to vote in person, when you reach the desk where they hand you your ballot, your name will appear as a absentee voter on the voter rolls and they will stop you there.

So a short summary:
1st. You to put your signature signature on your ballot envelope and it can be compared with your voter registration signature on file.
I believe it was Ivanka that forgot to sign her absentee ballot during the last election.
The ballot envelope will have your name and a special tracing code printed on it. It also has a felony warning on the envelope. In addition to signing the envelope you also have a place to put your email and telephone number on the envelope so they can contact you if your signature doesn't match the one on file or you miss something else like not even signing it..

2nd. All the polling places have either electronic or hard copy registered voter rolls for that precinct that are checked when you get to the check in table before voting. That will tell them if you are registered for an absentee ballot and therefore should not be allowed to vote.

 

[Tex88]

Fun fact. The Postal service has been underwater long before Trump came to office.
Why all the sudden everyone is concerned when he refuses to bail out an organization that needs to fix itself first.
Just like gibsmedats have a hand out but never do anything to change their course.

What a strange thing to say. The postal service isn't supposed to make money. It's a service the government is supposed to provide, as by the US Constitution. It's like saying "bailing out the military, they don't make any money."

 

[raven]

this did not become a big deal until someone decided that "Everyone" would vote by mail.
there has always been early voting and absentee voting by mail
we know this because mail in ballots are turning up, uncounted, all over the place this year from past elections.
which is a pretty good indicator that mail voting is not worth a shit. "**** that" I am going to the polls.

 

[Tex88]

Yes, but you may have noticed there's this whole pandemic thing going on where people are strongly discouraged from spreading their plague germs around...

 

[Marie]

What a strange thing to say. The postal service isn't supposed to make money. It's a service the government is supposed to provide, as by the US Constitution. It's like saying "bailing out the military, they don't make any money."

They aren't supposed to Make money. But they are Millions in the hole. Two entirely different situations

 

[Murt]

Yes, but you may have noticed there's this whole pandemic thing going on where people are strongly discouraged from spreading their plague germs around...

but Fauci said it would be OK to go vote
I bet that made nancy's day