Thursday, May 31, 2018
Governing like the 1920's. Another lesson from History.
When people think about the history of the 1920's, some positive events probably come to mind.
They may think of Babe Ruth hitting 60 home runs for the 1927 Murders Row New York Yankees.
They may think this was the time of the Jazz Age.
They may think this was the time of the Harlem Renaissance.
They may think this was a time when talking motion pictures premiered.
They may think that humanity, through future America First Leader Charles Lindbergh, was first able to pioneer airplane technology (not aeronautic because Zeppelin crews had already accomplished the feat) by being the first to fly his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, across the Atlantic.
While these are all events to commemorate, there are uglier historical lessons from this period that are making a reappearance in this administration. It is like they are Governing like we are still in the 1920's. The examples to illustrate this are:
* The Proliferation of Extreme Racism and Xenophobia towards all non-White Groups with a resurgence of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Our current President, in his tweets, comments, Attorney General, aides (current and former like Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, and Sebastian Gorka) and endorsement by Klan leader David Duke personifies this vile period in our past.
* The withdrawal of the United States from global affairs. President Trump has signaled a return to isolationism with his withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Paris Climate Agreement and the Nuclear Agreement with Iran. He wants to renegotiate N.A.F.T.A. and is willing to impose tariffs on our allies in a protectionist model that historically helped enlarge the Great Depression.
* The Embracing of Trickle Down Economics. While Presidents Reagan and Bush Jr. resurrected this tried an failed economic doctrine, the President with more severe draconian budget proposals and corporate tax cust for the one percent, has gone where his conservative predecessors only fantasized about.
* The Eroding of our Social Contract and the growth of Fascism. Watch how the President thinks the Justice Department is his private law firm. Listen to what he says about the "fake news" outlets that accurately report his transgressions. Watch and listen to how he lies and lies and lies in a bombastic tone at his rallies and you would think Mussolini had American descendants. Look how he shields himself around the flag in his denunciation of mostly African American athletes for exercising their First Amendment Rights by kneeling during the National Anthem at football games. These are all examples of tactics Fascist leaders utilize to main support and power.
As indicated in a previous post, we all need to heed the lessons of history. The old adage (often paraphrased) that those "that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" is especially applicable here. We need to pay attention to history's lessons because they are the most instructive in knowing how to move forward.
They may think of Babe Ruth hitting 60 home runs for the 1927 Murders Row New York Yankees.
They may think this was the time of the Jazz Age.
They may think this was the time of the Harlem Renaissance.
They may think this was a time when talking motion pictures premiered.
They may think that humanity, through future America First Leader Charles Lindbergh, was first able to pioneer airplane technology (not aeronautic because Zeppelin crews had already accomplished the feat) by being the first to fly his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, across the Atlantic.
While these are all events to commemorate, there are uglier historical lessons from this period that are making a reappearance in this administration. It is like they are Governing like we are still in the 1920's. The examples to illustrate this are:
* The Proliferation of Extreme Racism and Xenophobia towards all non-White Groups with a resurgence of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Our current President, in his tweets, comments, Attorney General, aides (current and former like Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, and Sebastian Gorka) and endorsement by Klan leader David Duke personifies this vile period in our past.
* The withdrawal of the United States from global affairs. President Trump has signaled a return to isolationism with his withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Paris Climate Agreement and the Nuclear Agreement with Iran. He wants to renegotiate N.A.F.T.A. and is willing to impose tariffs on our allies in a protectionist model that historically helped enlarge the Great Depression.
* The Embracing of Trickle Down Economics. While Presidents Reagan and Bush Jr. resurrected this tried an failed economic doctrine, the President with more severe draconian budget proposals and corporate tax cust for the one percent, has gone where his conservative predecessors only fantasized about.
* The Eroding of our Social Contract and the growth of Fascism. Watch how the President thinks the Justice Department is his private law firm. Listen to what he says about the "fake news" outlets that accurately report his transgressions. Watch and listen to how he lies and lies and lies in a bombastic tone at his rallies and you would think Mussolini had American descendants. Look how he shields himself around the flag in his denunciation of mostly African American athletes for exercising their First Amendment Rights by kneeling during the National Anthem at football games. These are all examples of tactics Fascist leaders utilize to main support and power.
As indicated in a previous post, we all need to heed the lessons of history. The old adage (often paraphrased) that those "that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" is especially applicable here. We need to pay attention to history's lessons because they are the most instructive in knowing how to move forward.
Why does the Trump Administration slap tariffs on our allies and play nice with China and Russia? WAKE UP MIDDLE AMERICA
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/31/politics/republicans-gop-react-tariffs-trade-trump-aluminum-steel-imports/index.html
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/5/31/17413172/trump-tariff-steel-aluminum-eu-canada-mexico
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-metals/u-s-hits-eu-canada-and-mexico-with-steel-aluminum-tariffs-idUSKCN1IW1UY?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/5/31/17413172/trump-tariff-steel-aluminum-eu-canada-mexico
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-metals/u-s-hits-eu-canada-and-mexico-with-steel-aluminum-tariffs-idUSKCN1IW1UY?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook
How do you get a pardon from President Trump? Read below to find out.
The President has issued five pardons since becoming President. Three of them have the following in common.
1) They are kindred spirits of the President be it they are anti-immigrant or Anti Obama or a Birther or a "victim" of a special counsel.
2) They are symbols (signals) that the President can hold up to former associates now under investigation or prosecution by Robert Mueller and his team as signs of what they can get if they do not betray the President in a not so subtle attempt at witness tampering (we call it obstruction of justice).
When the founders gave the Pardoning Power to the President, they obviously did not envision a President like Trump or his team of the Worst and the Dumbest.
It would be a travesty if the President pardons the people who hold is legal future in his hands. It would be another step on the slippery slope towards Authoritarianism. This is a risk that we cannot ignore.
https://www.vox.com/2014/10/8/6936717/dinesh-dsouza-explained
1) They are kindred spirits of the President be it they are anti-immigrant or Anti Obama or a Birther or a "victim" of a special counsel.
2) They are symbols (signals) that the President can hold up to former associates now under investigation or prosecution by Robert Mueller and his team as signs of what they can get if they do not betray the President in a not so subtle attempt at witness tampering (we call it obstruction of justice).
When the founders gave the Pardoning Power to the President, they obviously did not envision a President like Trump or his team of the Worst and the Dumbest.
It would be a travesty if the President pardons the people who hold is legal future in his hands. It would be another step on the slippery slope towards Authoritarianism. This is a risk that we cannot ignore.
https://www.vox.com/2014/10/8/6936717/dinesh-dsouza-explained
Both Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee were wrong. So was the White House.
Today late-night host Samantha Bee made news by the reporting of inappropriate comments towards Ivanka Trump on her show last night.
Like Roseanne Barr in her tweets the day before, Ms. Bee's remarks were inappropriate. To her credit, Ms. Bee apologized and did not use Ambien as an excuse for her ill-prepared comments.
Unfortunately, the White House communications office showed its hypocrisy by immediately chastizing Ms. Bee because of her comments about the Crown Princess.
They still have not criticized Ms. Barr for her racist and vile tweets towards Valerie Jarrett, Chelsea Clinton, and George Soros.
Samantha Bee was criticized by the White House for two words. Ms. Barr has received a virtual free ride from the White House for her multiple tweets with multiple sentences about a Former First Daughter and White House Advisor.
They can not have it both ways.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/31/politics/samantha-bee-ivanka-trump/index.html
Like Roseanne Barr in her tweets the day before, Ms. Bee's remarks were inappropriate. To her credit, Ms. Bee apologized and did not use Ambien as an excuse for her ill-prepared comments.
Unfortunately, the White House communications office showed its hypocrisy by immediately chastizing Ms. Bee because of her comments about the Crown Princess.
They still have not criticized Ms. Barr for her racist and vile tweets towards Valerie Jarrett, Chelsea Clinton, and George Soros.
Samantha Bee was criticized by the White House for two words. Ms. Barr has received a virtual free ride from the White House for her multiple tweets with multiple sentences about a Former First Daughter and White House Advisor.
They can not have it both ways.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/31/politics/samantha-bee-ivanka-trump/index.html
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
It is an awful lot like Obstruction.
While the Watergate Burglary was the fuse that lit the match that resulted in the resignation of President Nixon, it was Nixon's obstruction of justice in trying to cover it up that propelled the impeachment process.
While the Whitewater matter caused the appointment of a Special Counsel, it was President Clinton's obstruction of justice by lying under oath about having an affair with Monica Lewinsky that sparked the impeachment process in that case.
Did Trump campaign forces collude with the Russians, other nations, and the New York Office of the F.B.I. in damaging the Clinton Campaign? That is a distinct possibility. Unfortunately for the President's or his teams colluding during the campaign, like the Watergate Burglary and the Whitewater Real Estate Deal, will not be his undoing. Obstruction of Justice will be whether it is the real reasons for the firing of James Comey or helping his son draft a response to a meeting with Russian emissaries during the campaign or asking Jeff Sessions to unrecuse (Not a real word. It was invented thanks to the President) himself from the Mueller Investigation or at first dictating to Assistant Attorney General Rosenstein to fire Comey because of the Russia Investigation. Even to most people who are not legal experts, this appears to be an attempt to obstruct an investigation.
It must also seem apparent to most people that the President does not appear to be acting like an innocent man.
The findings of the Mueller Investigation will be interesting to review but, right now, it appears that the President and his people have to worry most about obstruction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/us/politics/rosenstein-trump-comey-firing-mccabe-memo.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/us/politics/trump-sessions-obstruction.html
While the Whitewater matter caused the appointment of a Special Counsel, it was President Clinton's obstruction of justice by lying under oath about having an affair with Monica Lewinsky that sparked the impeachment process in that case.
Did Trump campaign forces collude with the Russians, other nations, and the New York Office of the F.B.I. in damaging the Clinton Campaign? That is a distinct possibility. Unfortunately for the President's or his teams colluding during the campaign, like the Watergate Burglary and the Whitewater Real Estate Deal, will not be his undoing. Obstruction of Justice will be whether it is the real reasons for the firing of James Comey or helping his son draft a response to a meeting with Russian emissaries during the campaign or asking Jeff Sessions to unrecuse (Not a real word. It was invented thanks to the President) himself from the Mueller Investigation or at first dictating to Assistant Attorney General Rosenstein to fire Comey because of the Russia Investigation. Even to most people who are not legal experts, this appears to be an attempt to obstruct an investigation.
It must also seem apparent to most people that the President does not appear to be acting like an innocent man.
The findings of the Mueller Investigation will be interesting to review but, right now, it appears that the President and his people have to worry most about obstruction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/us/politics/rosenstein-trump-comey-firing-mccabe-memo.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/us/politics/trump-sessions-obstruction.html
ME ME ME ME I CONDEMN ABC FOR NOT APOLOGIZING TO ME ME ME
Is the President kidding? Without mentioning or condemning the multiple vile tweets Roseanne Barr made yesterday towards Valerie Jarrett, Chelsea Clinton, or George Soros, the President tweeted that ABC should issue an apology to him for all the unkind comments made by employees of ABC to him.
What comments is he referring to? Did any ABC employee compare him to an Ape? Did any ABC employee say he was a Nazi? Did any ABC employee say he sold out the Jews?
The President is going to be 72 years old this year.
He needs to act his age, condemn the Roseanne tweets, and stop having a self-centered temper tantrum about fictitious acts ABC employees did not make.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-television-roseanne/trump-sees-media-bias-in-handling-of-roseanne-cancellation-idUSKCN1IV10L
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/30/politics/trump-roseanne-analysis/index.html
What comments is he referring to? Did any ABC employee compare him to an Ape? Did any ABC employee say he was a Nazi? Did any ABC employee say he sold out the Jews?
The President is going to be 72 years old this year.
He needs to act his age, condemn the Roseanne tweets, and stop having a self-centered temper tantrum about fictitious acts ABC employees did not make.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-television-roseanne/trump-sees-media-bias-in-handling-of-roseanne-cancellation-idUSKCN1IV10L
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/30/politics/trump-roseanne-analysis/index.html
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
After securing our borders, tending to the weak and the children are what separates a great country from an average or bad one.
Close to 5000 people are dead in Puerto Rico, some because the recovery efforts have been slower than they should be. We, as part of a great country, need to have a government that is decent and competent that will make sure the survivors are properly cared for and the territory put on a path forward.
Children of Illegal Immigrants have gone missing. The number is not quite clear but their welfare, since they are in our custody, should be our responsibility. Unlike the few in the MS-13 gangs, these are not "animals" to be discarded. Some of these children are four or younger. Most are probably fine but we, as a great country, need to ensure that all are safe and sound. It should not matter what nationality or ethnicity they are.
All life is sacred. This Administration should have the decency to recognize that and the competence to get the job done.
If they cannot, then we need an Administration in 2021 that is decent, competent, and willing to work to help the needy and vulnerable while moving the country forward.
Unfortunately, some of these people do not have the time to wait as an action is needed now. Please spread the word to help these people.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/29/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-death-toll/index.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/05/27/the-u-s-lost-track-of-1500-immigrant-children-last-year-heres-why-people-are-outraged-now/?utm_term=.6831156e66a3
Children of Illegal Immigrants have gone missing. The number is not quite clear but their welfare, since they are in our custody, should be our responsibility. Unlike the few in the MS-13 gangs, these are not "animals" to be discarded. Some of these children are four or younger. Most are probably fine but we, as a great country, need to ensure that all are safe and sound. It should not matter what nationality or ethnicity they are.
All life is sacred. This Administration should have the decency to recognize that and the competence to get the job done.
If they cannot, then we need an Administration in 2021 that is decent, competent, and willing to work to help the needy and vulnerable while moving the country forward.
Unfortunately, some of these people do not have the time to wait as an action is needed now. Please spread the word to help these people.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/29/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-death-toll/index.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/05/27/the-u-s-lost-track-of-1500-immigrant-children-last-year-heres-why-people-are-outraged-now/?utm_term=.6831156e66a3
Do not believe this Demagogue just because he is the President of the United States.
Do not believe this Demagogue just because he is the President of the United States.
Do not believe him when he says that the Mueller Team is trying to rig the 2018 elections.
His conspiracy theory from last week, "Spy Gate," was just discredited by Republican and Trump ally Trey Gowdy.
When considering what the President or any President or Public Servant says, check it out by reading impartial news sources. Check Politifact.
Do not take any outlandish statements for granted even if the President says or tweets it.
It is a safe course considering he lies on average six times a day.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/29/politics/donald-trump-robert-mueller-demonize/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/27/politics/rudy-giuliani-sotu/index.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trey-gowdy-fbis-use-of-informant-for-trump-campaign-was-appropriate
Do not believe him when he says that the Mueller Team is trying to rig the 2018 elections.
His conspiracy theory from last week, "Spy Gate," was just discredited by Republican and Trump ally Trey Gowdy.
When considering what the President or any President or Public Servant says, check it out by reading impartial news sources. Check Politifact.
Do not take any outlandish statements for granted even if the President says or tweets it.
It is a safe course considering he lies on average six times a day.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/29/politics/donald-trump-robert-mueller-demonize/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/27/politics/rudy-giuliani-sotu/index.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trey-gowdy-fbis-use-of-informant-for-trump-campaign-was-appropriate
Thank God ABC did the right thing. Why did not Sarah Huckabee Sanders?
Roseanne Barr was fired today for her grossly inappropriate tweet attacking Valerie Jarrett. ABC and the Disney Company did the right thing. There is no place for society to reward vile individuals that sprew such thoughts to the public. If it was not for the archaic Electoral College, Donald Trump and all his comments would not have been rewarded with the Presidency.
What is viler is that Sarah Huckabee Sanders when given the chance to condemn what Roseanne Barr had tweeted and support ABC's decision, she balked and avoided the "softball question." This may be more disgusting then what Ms. Barr did because this person is the mouthpiece for the President. Why could she not utter the words, "What Ms. Barr did was wrong and ABC was within its rights to dismiss her." Why would that have been so hard to say? She has no problem spewing the President's fantasies. Why not make a comment, condemning a totally inappropriate comment about a former White House adviser.
This is just another example of how vile this Administration can be.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/business/media/roseanne-barr-offensive-tweets.html
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/389782-white-house-dodges-roseanne-questions
What is viler is that Sarah Huckabee Sanders when given the chance to condemn what Roseanne Barr had tweeted and support ABC's decision, she balked and avoided the "softball question." This may be more disgusting then what Ms. Barr did because this person is the mouthpiece for the President. Why could she not utter the words, "What Ms. Barr did was wrong and ABC was within its rights to dismiss her." Why would that have been so hard to say? She has no problem spewing the President's fantasies. Why not make a comment, condemning a totally inappropriate comment about a former White House adviser.
This is just another example of how vile this Administration can be.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/business/media/roseanne-barr-offensive-tweets.html
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/389782-white-house-dodges-roseanne-questions
Monday, May 28, 2018
Getting it Right
Off again? On again? That is the question. People should be happy if a summit with North Korea is on again. No stone should be unturned in the pursuit of peace and nuclear arms reduction/disarmament. That said, all degrees of preparation should be undertaken to ensure that this summit, the first of hopefully a series of meetings, is flawlessly conducted with no chances of misunderstandings that will hinder progress. There are no guarantees that a summit (on or after June 12, 2018) will be a success with 100 percent preparation but it will be a guaranteed failure if there is not 100 percent preparation. So it is important for both sides to prepare to get a good start to the process.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/28/politics/north-korea-trump-summit/index.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
