Russia Meddling 2020

Trump dismisses intelligence official’s assessment of Russian preference for him as Democratic ‘hoax’  (WAPO)

Lawmakers Are Warned That Russia Is Meddling to Re-elect Trump (NYT)

Yes, it seems that Trump is still in denial that Putin helped him get the job in 2016 and that he still likes Trump as President for 2020.  Which has prevented him from taking Russia's efforts seriously and working to stop them.  I mean he has been so busy chasing the silly Ukraine conspiracy to assuage his ego.

Apparently Joe Maguire was the 3rd Director of National Intelligence under Trump.  Ironically Dan Coats quit because Trump kept ignoring his warnings about Russian interference also.  What kind of President ignores / fires the country's intelligence personnel because he does not like what they report?

Pardon The Swamp

Furor over Trump pardons as frustrated Barr weighs quitting (FOX)

Trump just granted clemency to 11 people. Here's a look at each. (CNN)

Trump could pardon or commute Roger Stone's sentence at any time (FOX)

I do wonder how Trump True Believers are taking this action?

I mean many of them do not approve of corrupt politicians / bureaucrats and/or the self dealing in the swamp.  And here Trump just let a lot of these convicted white collar criminals walk free.

Barr Playing Politics in Justice Department

Federal Judges Meet Regarding Barr Politicizing Justice Dept (The Hill)

Barr Moves to Protect Trump Cronies (FOX)

Barr Bashes Local District Attorneys (NBC)

2000+ Former Justice Dept Officials Ask Barr to Resign (ABC)

No Charges for Andrew McCabe (VOX)

Trump's Investigators Uncover NO Deep State (CNN)

I really have to wonder when rational conservatives will begin to understand that Trump is trying is manipulating them with lies and conspiracy theories.   I mean Trump has been in office for 3 years and neither the Senate nor his Lackeys at the Justice Department have uncovered one "Deep State Operative" who did anything worth prosecuting...

Where as a whole raft of Trump Compatriots have been charged and found GUILTY. (ABC)

Oh, I forgot the conspiracy rules...  If you can not find proof of guilt, that is proof that the conspiracy is real.  Even when the people in charge were selected by Trump... :-)

Utah Respects Romney's Choice

WAPO Can a GOPer Annoy Trump and Survive?

In this time of GOPers worshipping Trump like he is their God... :-(

It is good to see there are still some GOPers who remember the true God and the behaviors that are expected of by his / her followers. :-)


These comics were both so funny and true that I had to share both.

Who is Paying for the Wall?

The Pentagon announced it is taking $3.8 billion approved by Congress for fighter aircraft, ships and other military programs and using the money to pay for the wall. The Defense Department took a similar step last year and may yet again. U.S. taxpayers are paying for the wall, not Mexico, as has been the case from the start.

How do DEMS Win Presidency?

There’s a big reason Democrats’ (relatively small) policy differences shouldn’t matter that much in the presidential race (MinnPost Eric Black)

Hiram, Laurie, Moose, Sean and myself have been discussing how they feel the rules of the game are SO UNFAIR over on Don't Fear the Bernie.  Eric's piece seems pretty relevant.

"Which leads back to argument No. 1: that the relatively small policy differences within the Democratic field are not of primary importance. Preventing four more years of Trump is of primary importance. And, even if we can’t rely on current polling (or anything else) to tell us clearly which Democratic nominee would maximize that outcome, that’s the goal that matters.
So, fight it out in the primaries and at the convention, sure. But make sure that supporters of Bernie or Pete or Amy or Joe or Mike all keep in mind that it is of the utmost importance that Democrats and persuadable independents of the moderate or far-left variety don’t get so pissed off about not seeing their first choice nominated that they fail to unite behind the last Democrat standing after the convention."

Here was my guidance from the other discussion.

It seems to me that the campaigns are won in mid-size purple states lately. Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, etc... Now how to win these without supporting racist policies:

• Support strong border security, policies to dissuade walk up asylum requests and support the removal of illegal residents / workers. There is nothing racist about making people apply and be approved before they can enter and set up residency in the USA.
• Support policies that minimize abortions after the first trimester. Stop referring to only Mother's rights, and start acknowledging fetal rights.
• Support the rights of religious organizations and individuals along with LGBQ+, Women's Rights, etc
• Demand results / improvement from welfare recipients. Stop implying that people are entitled to food, housing, medicine, etc just because they stand on US soil.
• Start promoting merit / productivity based compensation policies within the public employee workforce. Stop supporting time served / degrees oriented compensation and job security methods.

Unfortunately for them, they seem to think these are too GOP for them...  Thoughts?

Barr May Be Growing a Spine?

Barr blasts Trump's tweets: 'Impossible for me to do my job' (ABC)

Then of course "Emperor Trump" claims that he can interfere where ever he wants. (NYT)

Now McConnell, top Republicans support Barr. Critics are suspicious. (WAPO)

VOX has an interesting related piece. How Justice Scalia paved the way for Trump’s assault on the rule of law. Three words: “the unitary executive.”

Which brings us back to David French's piece... If the President Is Going to Be So Powerful, Can We Ask He Also Be Good?  The need for presidential character has never been greater, while the demand has rarely been smaller.

So does anyone really want the President to be so "Emperor Like"?

The Conservatives seem happy to give the current President everything he wants, and yet are they really willing to set that precedent for the next DEM President?

Maybe they are that short sighted... :-)  The good news is that at last finally a few GOP individuals are starting to push back against the "Emperor" and remind him that he is actually just another lowly public servant that must play by the rules.  Now if only more will do that we will be in a much better place.

And on a related note. Now Trump reverses story and says that he sent Giuliani to Ukraine. (Fox)  I asked some Conservatives how they can believe in what Trump says, when he lies so often?  I did not get a reply.

Don't Fear the Bernie

VOX Mainstream Democrats shouldn’t fear Bernie Sanders

VOX After Obama, Democrats need a new theory of change. Pete Buttigieg thinks he’s got it.

VOX Amy Klobuchar is the thinking moderate Democrat’s electability candidate

VOX DEM Delegate Tracker

Insider: Sanders to Jeremy Corbyn

Well I am pretty sure that Bernie is one way to get me to vote for Trump again...

Third World Dictatorship

Graft, corruption and personal favors all seem to be present in the Trump Presidency...
Now we have:

• President's personnel protecting convicted criminals
• President Denying Involvement
• Though Obviously He was Involved
• War Heroes Fired for Speaking the Truth
• The President's Personal very Partisan Lawyer is Investigating with Presidential Support and the Justice Dept is Listening. (like the Steele dossier but worse)
• Does this mean that Barr will open the Door for Private Partisan Investigation Data to be Brought to Him regarding Trump and his Children's Questionable Deals?

I am still very sad the the GOP is not calling out this "swamp" for what it is... :-( 

This comic is so sadly true...  Apparently the President can now have our government officials investigate his political rivals in a very partisan manner according to the Trump True Believers.

Retaliation by Trump

This seems so wrong, since we the tax payers want government personnel to tell us when they think politicians are doing something questionable or illegal. That is why we have judges and other systems to review and deal with these concerns.

Without this our system becomes susceptible to corruption and other breaches of the public trust.

For you Trump True Believers, how would you take it of Obama started to fire any public employees who questioned his behavior or reported possible wrong doings? 

Are you really supportive of politicians intimidating "OUR EMPLOYEES"?  Please remember that they work for the US Citizens, not another of our employees who envisions himself to be some kind of King who can put heads on pikes to keep his dealings secretive.  Our maybe that is what you want?

Here is a very disturbing piece by David French that has put his finger on the problem. :-(

If the President Is Going to Be So Powerful, Can We Ask He Also Be Good?

Tax Payers Pay FULL Price at Trump Hotels

From Sean...  Sorry for the delay in getting it out, I was on planes heading to lovely smoggy New Delhi. At least it is cooler than during my Summer visits..

"I did find something that Mr. Anti-Corruption Guy might want to look into...

WaPo:Secret Service has paid rates as high as $650 a night for rooms at Trump’s properties

Details like this seem important:

"The full extent of the Secret Service’s payments to Trump’s company is not known. The
Secret Service has not listed them in public databases of federal spending, as is usually
required for payments over $10,000."

and

"The Secret Service is required to tell Congress twice a year about what it spends to protect Trump at his properties.

But since 2016, it has only filed two of the required six reports, according to congressional offices. The reasons, according to Secret Service officials: key personnel left and nobody picked up the job.

Even in those two reports, the lines for Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago were blank."

and

"Also: Why did the Secret Service spend so much at Trump’s D.C. hotel, a place where — unlike Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago — Trump has not stayed overnight since taking office? In response to records request from NBC News, the Department of Homeland Security released a listing of 39 payments there during Trump’s first year, totaling $159,000."

 

Unapologetic Trump Apparently Learned Nothing

VOX Trump strikes a bitterly vindictive tone during National Prayer Breakfast speech
He showed up waving around a newspaper that read “ACQUITTED” — and things didn’t get more prayerful from there.

USA Today 5 things we learned (and still don't know) after the Trump impeachment saga

G2A Timeline of Events
Trump Attacks Romney

Apparently the usually "law and order" and "government / politicians" need to be transparent Conservatives are now okay with people "getting off" on process technicalities and politicians keeping their documents and witnesses hidden.  Who da thunk. :-(

And Trump is overjoyed by this change.  It will be interesting to see how bad his next abuse will be and how far the Conservatives will let him go....

I had one on FB justify his unwavering support of Trump because the DEMs were worse...  Like there are not any good GOP candidates who are actually honest?  He also thought I was a Democrat since I am against a lying sleazy GOP politician...  It is SO SAD... :-(

Romney Rocks

Romney Speech Regarding Impeachment

We really screwed up by not electing him President. :-(

Though I am sure he is somewhat of a pariah right now within Trump's GOP.  The good news for him is he is a very rich man who can sleep assured that he kept his vow in front of God to be impartial.

Unlike a lot of the Senators on both sides. (mostly on the GOP) :-)

State of the Union Fact Checks

I could not make myself watch Trump mislead America, so I figured I would just read the fact checks... :-)

NPR SOTU Fact Check
AP SOTU Fact Check
USA Today SOTU Fact Check
Fact Checker SOTU
PBS AP Fact Check
Busn Insider 3 False Claims

And of course the DEMs are upset and the GOPers are upset with Pelosi and not willing to fact check Trump...  And all the while ignoring that the Trump policies are creating UNSUSTAINABLE MASSIVE DEBT... 

I mean any idiot can spur an economic boom through excessive borrowing. (ie low taxes , high spend)  Where are the responsible fiscal conservatives?  Maybe Trump sucked their brains out their ears or something...

PGPF Debt Problem

Policies vs Science

VOX Climate scientists are not priests or prophets
Assessing climate policy requires much more than science.


That is a very good piece...