Friday, March 24, 2017

Obama 1- Trump 0

Obamacare remains law of the land. Don the Con is America's new biggest loser.

Not an insignificant victory from an out-of-power, foreign Muslim, wire-tapper of Trump Tower, and not to mention "founder of ISIS".


Time to cut taxes for the rich and cut benefits for the poor, de-regulate Wall Street banks to allow more fleecing of the public, and gut environmental regulations to let polluters pollute, because...freedom, ya know. There are some travesties where all Republicans find agreement. 

Monday, March 20, 2017

Make America Smart Again

Restoring sanity, truth, and decency in our country may be just a futile dream now that the Great American Tragedy of Donald Trump is unfolding. But when the dream dies so does our representative democratic republic. 

Ignorance, bigotry, scorn for truth, science, the arts, journalism and a free press are the ugly and cruel operating principles of the authoritarian white nationalists in control of the Executive Branch of our federal government.

Their popularity is sinking into the unprecedented sub-40% approval ratings. They don't care, of course. They have no mandate, and working for the interests of the American people has never been their goal. 

Far Right power has always followed one path, and that always leads to militarism, civil rights abuses, trickle up wealth and stripping our constitutional provision for the general welfare. As the military and law enforcement agencies get more money and power, with less accountability for the latter, public health, safety nets, public services, education, and scientific and medical research are put to the chopping block. 

Freedom and democracy are in a desperate struggle for survival against repressive authoritarian rule. The authoritarian nationalists lie, cheat and steal in order to rob from the poor and reward the rich.

The American people are losing in the one sided conflict between democracy and the authoritarianism of the economic elites. And the authoritarians will demonize anyone who speaks this truth. 

Why is Trump the president of the United States? Orwell knew. "Ignorance is strength".

After the election, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson told Stephen Colbert, “I think we have a four-year mission now. I think what we need to do, let us together, make America smart again.”

There's no doubt on Sunday March 19th, Tyson was referring to Trump’s proposed cuts to science, the arts, health, education and more in this series of tweets:

The fastest way to Make a America Weak Again: Cut science funds to our agencies that support it.

The fastest way to Make America Sick Again: Cut funding to the National Institutes of Health

The fastest way to Make America Stupid: Cut funds to programs that support education.

The fastest way to thwart Earth's life-support systems for us all: Turn EPA into EDA — the Environmental Destruction Agency.

The fastest way to melt glaciers & flood the World's coastal cities: Ignore scientists and do nothing to stem the rise of CO2

We can all imagine a land that provides no support for Art. But is that a place you’d want to Live? To Visit? To Play?

The very best way to support and feed your delusions: Surround yourself with people whose world views match yours exactly.


We all want to Make America Great Again. But that won't happen until we first Make America Smart Again.

It boils down to this: If more Americans listened to and believed this man over the arrogant evil buffoon in the White House, we may have a slim chance for progress, fairness, equality and sanity.

But then again, since when have those been American values?

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

"Support The Troops", Or "Support Ignorance"?

Dear Leader says climate change is a Chinese hoax. It is a blatant lie, of course, but that means nothing to con-servatives.

The Orange Savior’s con-servative cult followers, and practically the entire Republican Party, join him in his denial of climate science.

Now we have science denier, and shill for Big Oil, Scott Pruitt in control of the EPA, the same agency he sued on behalf of oil companies. That should work out swell.

There’s an interesting quirk in the far-Right’s demented rejection of science. They revere the military to the point of worship, yet the Pentagon openly disagrees with their delusional anti-science ideology.

Obviously they revere and worship Big Oil PR even more than the military. And apparently they believe Dear Leader, and their cult indoctrination, over Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

In written answers to questions from Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mattis said, “Climate change is impacting stability in areas of the world where our troops are operating today. It is appropriate for the Combatant Commands to incorporate drivers of instability that impact the security environment in their areas into their planning.”

From Pro Publica:

Trump’s Defense Secretary Cites Climate Change as National Security Challenge 

Here are two of the climate questions from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, with Mattis’ replies:

Shaheen: “I understand that while you were commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command you signed off on a document called the Joint Operating Environment, which listed climate change as one of the security threats the military will face in the next quarter-century. Do you believe climate change is a security threat?”

Mattis: “Climate change can be a driver of instability and the Department of Defense must pay attention to potential adverse impacts generated by this phenomenon.”

Shaheen: “General Mattis, how should the military prepare to address this threat?”

Mattis: “As I noted above, climate change is a challenge that requires a broader, whole-of government response. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Department of Defense plays its appropriate role within such a response by addressing national security aspects.”

In a reply to another question, Mattis said:

“I agree that the effects of a changing climate — such as increased maritime access to the Arctic, rising sea levels, desertification, among others — impact our security situation. I will ensure that the department continues to be prepared to conduct operations today and in the future, and that we are prepared to address the effects of a changing climate on our threat assessments, resources, and readiness.”

Not only does the Cult of Conservatism reject science and the truth, but they reject the assessments of their precious military as well. 

If there was any doubt where their loyalty truly lies, it is dispelled now.

Capitalism is their god and corporations are their prophets.


The Cult of Con-servatism's open willful ignorance and disagreement with our own military tells us something deeper. So much for their “Support the Troops” BS. Most of their “Support the Troops” bleating means “support war”, just like liberals have asserted all along.

Cons clearly support ignorance more than they "support the troops". 

That should also work out swell.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Historic Words Of Our Great Leader

In these trying days of making America great again, working out ways to strip Americans of health care, padding the wallets of insurance company CEOs, de-regulating Wall Street, and letting polluters go unchecked, let's pause for reflection and inspiration. 

Let's once again share the timeless wisdom from the "only one" who can do it all. 

I invite you to pop a tic-tac, and bask in the words of our great leader and conservative nationalist savior. (Not to mention role model for our children.)

“I did try and fuck her. She was married.

I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there.

And she was married.

You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful.

I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss.

I don’t even wait.

You can do anything…Grab them by the pussy.

You can do anything.”


- The President of the United States of America

This is the eternal message America chose to pass on to our descendants. 

Rules for basic human decency are for losers.

Don't try this at home. It's OK ONLY if you are Republican.

 The Trump Regime has a message too. 

We know Kellyanne "Buy Ivanka" Conway violated ethics rules.

Don't expect any consequences for that. 

In fact the Trumpists have declared they don't need to follow "many" damn ethics rules. And they don't have to tell us why.

"We note initially that although many regulations promulgated by the Office of Government Ethics ("OGE") do not apply to employees of the Executive Office of the President..."

The Office of Government Ethics director Walter Shaub is calling out the arrogant authoritarian assholes.


U.S. Ethics Official To White House: No, These Rules Definitely Apply To You

The Office of Government Ethics has informed the Trump administration that the White House has an "incorrect" view of ethics laws.

In a Thursday letter, OGE director Walter Shaub contradicted what he called the White House's "extraordinary assertion," made in a recent letter, that "many regulations promulgated by the Office of Government Ethics ('OGE') do not apply to employees of the Executive Office of the President." 

Shaub was having no part of that: "The assertion is incorrect, and the letter cites no legal basis for it."

Ethics are for losers.


Thursday, March 2, 2017

What's That Smell?

On behalf of the American people, I'd just like to say this.

Thanks a lot, Vlad.

First came Dear Leader’s open invitation to Russia to hack Hillary and side with him in the election. That began with the famous words, "Russia, if you're listening..."

Apparently they were.

We recall Trump had praised Putin for being a "better leader" than President Obama. I guess killing critics is a sign of good leadership to our Dear Leader. 

That’s comforting.

Then Trumpist Paul Manifort had his ties to Russia that included working for the pro-Russian former president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych.

Next General Mike “Kremlin Boy” Flynn, Trump’s appointee for national security adviser, had to resign over his dirty dealings with Russia.

Is something is starting to smell here?

We recall Flynn tweeted the viscous far Right fake news about a pizza place serving as a Hillary “sex crime” location.

Edgar Maddison Welch, from Salisbury, North Carolina, entered the Comet Ping Pong restaurant with what police described as an assault rifle. There were conflicting reports of gunshots.

The restaurant had been the subject of death threats from radical Christian terrorists for Trump.

Ooops. Dear Leader has declared only Muslims can be terrorists.  Never mind.

And thank you for your "service", Flynn. You're a real hero. Have a slice of pizza. You earned it.

Then comes our top law enforcement officer Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions meeting with a known Russian spy in September, while KNOWING Russian interference in our election was being investigated.

Now we learn Sessions lied under oath to a Senate committee saying, “I didn't have — did not have communications with the Russians, and I'm unable to comment on it”.

Something definitely smells now.

What next? Good question.

Better add this bit about Donald Trump Jr. meeting with a pro-Russia group.

Three weeks before Election Day, Donald Trump Jr. left the campaign trail and the country to speak at a private dinner in Paris organized by an obscure pro-Russia group that promotes Kremlin foreign policy initiatives and has since nominated Russian President Vladimir Putin for the Nobel Peace Prize.

A key organizer of the event later told reporters she flew to Moscow to brief a senior Russian official about the session.

The White House referred question about the president’s son to the Trump Organization. A spokeswoman for the Trump business did not respond to questions from ABC News about why Donald Trump Jr. flew to France for the session during a critical phase of the presidential campaign, who arranged for him to attend, whether he was paid, what was discussed or if anyone vetted the group before he went.

The group sponsoring the session, the Center of Political and Foreign Affairs (CPFA), was founded by a wealthy French businessman and his partner, who are reported to have made major investments in Russia.

They are openly linked with the Russians,” said Renaud Girard, a French opinion writer who served as the moderator of the session Trump attended. “They don’t hide it at all.”


And finally, or worse yet, not finally, there’s this news:

Michael T. Flynn, then Donald J. Trump’s incoming national security adviser, had a previously undisclosed meeting with the Russian ambassador in December to “establish a line of communication” between the new administration and the Russian government, the White House said on Thursday.


Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and now a senior adviser, also participated in the meeting at Trump Tower with Mr. Flynn and Sergey I. Kislyak, the Russian ambassador.

I knew I smelled cooked beets!

Wake up and smell the borscht, Komrads.

***UPDATE***

(Just a reminder: The platform written at the GOP convention in Cleveland eliminated references to arming Ukraine in its fight with Russia.)

Hmm.

Exclusive: Two other Trump advisers also spoke with Russian envoy during GOP convention

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not the only member of President Trump’s campaign who spoke to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at a diplomacy conference connected to the Republican National Convention in July. At least two more members of the Trump campaign’s national security officials also spoke with Kislyak at the event, and several more Trump national security advisers were in attendance.

===

Trump’s son-in-law also met with the Russian spy.

Kushner and Flynn Met With Russian Envoy in December, White House Says

WASHINGTON — Michael T. Flynn, then Donald J. Trump’s incoming national security adviser, had a previously undisclosed meeting with the Russian ambassador in December to “establish a line of communication” between the new administration and the Russian government, the White House said on Thursday.

Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and now a senior adviser, also participated in the meeting at Trump Tower with Mr. Flynn and Sergey I. Kislyak, the Russian ambassador.

===

Just pass me the vodka.