Good News for the New Year

John Stossel Life is getting Better Video

For those on both the Far Right and Far Left who spend much of your time complaining and insisting the "end of days " is near.  I hope in the New Year you can lighten up and face reality !!!!  😀

We are lucky enough to live in a modern world where food is plentiful, healthcare is incredible, peace reigns, property rights are protected, etc.

And yes some people struggle, you have to pay taxes, etc...  But as I have said before, you are only as happy as you choose to be... I liked both comics so you got 2.  Click on the image to zoom.

Happy New Year !!!!

Support All Presidents

QCT Letter: Pulling for the president

A FB Friend posted this Letter to the Editor from the Quad City Times

I got on an airplane last year with other passengers. As I watched the pilot go into the cockpit and lock the door, I realized I didn’t know anything about him. Was he the best pilot the airline had, or was he the worst pilot in the nation? 

That began to concern me. If I had met the pilot, I might not have been happy with him being in charge. What if I really didn’t like this pilot? What if he had character flaws? What if he almost got kicked out of pilots’ training? I did not choose him. He wasn’t my choice. Somebody else chose him for this flight, not me. But he was the pilot. 

Still, we were going to fly together. So one thing was certain, I did not want him to fail. If he fails – we all fail. I read the emergency card, and I was alert for any trouble, but I hoped for the best. Maybe he wasn’t the worst pilot; or maybe he was. But that didn’t matter. I wanted him to succeed; I didn’t want him to fail. 

I think a lot of us need to remember that about our presidents. It is sad that some people want a president to fail. Although I didn’t want Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump to be president, I definitely did not want them to fail. Whoever is president; we should hope for the best. 

There are no winners in a plane crash, and no winners in a divided nation. 

Steve Garrington

My initial responses were:

Maybe someone should send this to Trump. 😁 It would be nice if he would work to increase his support amongst all Americans instead of just reinforcing his support among the religious right, NRA supporters, anti-immigrant folks, etc.... 

He is bit like a captain who cares for half the passengers while insulting the folks in coach. 😂  By the way, President Pence sounds okay to.... And we would not hear so much whining, tweeting, etc.

However I think this requires more thought and discussion... I even voted for this "pilot" in hopes that he could become "better".  And he just has not...  I assume this is why planes have co-pilots. That way if the Pilot becomes indisposed or loses his mind, they can be replaced for the good of the passengers.  Or do we recommend keeping the questionable Pilot in charge no matter what?

Thoughts?

Trump Tariffs Backfired

VOX A new government study shows how Trump’s tariffs have backfired

President Donald Trump has promised throughout his presidency to revive American manufacturing by slapping punishing tariffs on foreign competition.  But a new study from the US Federal Reserve suggests that his efforts have backfired — and that the manufacturing sector is worse off than it was before the president began his protectionist trade policy.

I have to wonder if anyone truly believed that Trump's haphazard tariffs would help American's?

I mean he went after steel, aluminum and other  "manufacturing" materials and components that American companies need to build high quality, high tech equipment that we then export around the world.

So not only did he make our equipment more expensive, he also pissed off the countries where 70% of my employers product was sold into.  The result of course is that I have only traveled overseas twice in 2019, not my usual 6 times. (ie sales down)

Now if he had worked with our allies and honored TPP, maybe something productive could have happened with regard to China... Instead it sounds like the agreement will be weak if it ever comes.

I am not anti-tariff, but I am against Trump's haphazard approach.

Cartels and Terrorism?

Reuters Exclusive: Cabinet opposed tagging Mexico cartels as terrorists before Trump announced the plan

WT Why drug cartels should be designated terrorist organizations

Wouldn't it be ironic if Trump did something that made him accept more refugees and asylum seekers...

Merry Christmas to All

My FB friend shared the following image and it seemed to align well with the season and my Happiness Tree!!!!  So I thought I would share it with all.

This one I share because it is kind of funny.  Merry Christmas to All !!!

Evangelical Argument for Trump

FOX Jim Daly: Christianity Today is wrong to want Trump removed – Here’s the evangelical argument in his favor

I'll give you a hint...  He may lie, cheat, break marriage oaths, have sex with porn stars, grab women's pussies against their will, break POTUS oaths, use his position for personal gain, use a charitable organization like his own piggy bank, fraudulently take money from students and commit other sins...  But he is doing good works and therefore should not be held accountable for his excess of human flaws...  At least he is a pragmatic and honest about it.

"The call for the president’s removal is shortsighted for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Trump and his administration have championed many issues of great importance to me and my fellow evangelicals. 

Is Donald Trump a perfect person? Of course not. None of us is perfect. But the president is the imperfect political street fighter who evangelicals have never had – someone who fights and wins in support of many of our most important values and priorities."

On the upside, apparently I can lower my expectations for self control... (see below)  Or is that only for people who are in power? I'll have to ask the next religious person who challenges something I do or don't do. :-)  :-) Tap the Pic to zoom.

Google More Evangelical Comics

Funny Coincidence

ABC White House ordered aid withheld 91 minutes after Trump-Ukraine call

What an interest coincidence...

"According to a rough transcript released by the White House, the July 25 call between Trump and Zelenskiy took place between 9:03 and 9:33 a.m.

At 11:04 a.m., an official with the White House's budget office, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Mike Duffey, sent an email to Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist, the chief of staff to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the Pentagon's chief financial officer telling them to withhold the aid to Ukraine, the documents showed.

"Based on guidance I have received and in light of the Administration’s plan to review assistance to Ukraine, including the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, please hold off on any additional DoD obligations of these funds, pending direction from that process," the email from Duffey said, according to the documents.

"Given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held to those who need to know to execute direction," Duffey's email stated. "

Mostly I just wanted to share this comic... :-)

 

A Christmas Classic

"Once Upon Impeachment," A Late Show Animated Christmas Classic

A FB friend who apparently does not find Colbert funny made a comment. And while searching I found that hilarious short....  It is funny.  I replied with link and the following comments.

I think you need to lighten up and enjoy the Holiday Season... 

Personally I am thinking Colbert is thankful for Trump's Presidency. I mean it helped him to become number one in late night, earned him a new contract and a big raise. :-) Unfortunately my TV is usually off by that time. :-)

Impeachment Negotiations and Positions

Christianity Today Trump Should Be Removed from Office. It’s time to say what we said 20 years ago when a president’s character was revealed for what it was.

NYT Trump Impeachment Trial in Doubt as Democrats Weigh Withholding Articles

FOX McConnell: 'Impasse' over Trump impeachment trial, as Dems depart from precedent

NBC Trump blasts evangelical magazine after it calls him 'profoundly immoral,' seeks his removal

I listened to the Editor of CT being interviewed today. He made a good comparison. Trump is like a somewhat verbally abusive husband who the wife stays with because he is a good provider for her and their children.  The challenge is that with time he slowly grows more abusive of her and the children.  At what point should she leave him because he shows no signs of remorse or improvement?

A quote from CT that proves at least they are NOT Hypocrites like many Trump supporters.  I mean if lying to the people was bad when Clinton was in office, why is it acceptable for Trump to do so?

This concern for the character of our national leader is not new in CT. In 1998, we wrote this:

The President's failure to tell the truth—even when cornered—rips at the fabric of the nation. This is not a private affair. For above all, social intercourse is built on a presumption of trust: trust that the milk your grocer sells you is wholesome and pure; trust that the money you put in your bank can be taken out of the bank; trust that your babysitter, firefighters, clergy, and ambulance drivers will all do their best. And while politicians are notorious for breaking campaign promises, while in office they have a fundamental obligation to uphold our trust in them and to live by the law.

And this:

Unsavory dealings and immoral acts by the President and those close to him have rendered this administration morally unable to lead.

Unfortunately, the words that we applied to Mr. Clinton 20 years ago apply almost perfectly to our current president. Whether Mr. Trump should be removed from office by the Senate or by popular vote next election—that is a matter of prudential judgment. That he should be removed, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalties but loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments.

It is a Mad Mad World

Sometimes my conservative FB Friends, however this one seems pretty much delusional.

Impeachment..... Each and every one of you should be ashamed and pray that this doesn’t happen....and, I’ll tell you why.....

• For 8 years, we sat silent, while Obama divided our nation. 
• He used identity politics, race warfare, and class warfare to divide us all. 
• Obama thrust universal healthcare upon us and we sat silent, 
• Obama and his administration removed monuments, statues and plaques....our past, our heritage from parks and plazas in cities and small towns around the nation, and we sat silent....
• In the meantime, Hillary and Obama let 4 Americans die in Benghazi, while they watched on closed circuit TV..... Again, we were silent. 
• We watched Hillary Clinton and Donna Brazil rig a primary against Bernie Sanders. 
• We saw Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch (Attorney General at the time) sit on a flight line, only to find that Hilary was exonerated for any crime; regarding her acid washed/bleach bit server and 33,000 deleted emails. Again, we were silent....
• We have watched our duly elected president harassed each and every day, for 3 years; even though he has put millions back to work, brought jobs back to America, stood up to our adversaries, and fought like hell to protect our borders, and yet he and his family and staff are ridiculed and dismissed, and we sat silent...
• Now, we see Joe Biden leveraging $1 Billion American dollars for his son. 
• However, the Democrats and the media only care about impeaching Trump! 

So, I can tell you with the utmost certainty, if you are successful in your witch-hunt, we will NOT be silent!!!

Tread lightly...... Years ago the Japanese leaders said, “I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant.” The silent majority are pissed!!!😡

I mean who is author kidding... "We sat silent..."  Maybe he lived an alternate reality? :-) I mean:

• I don't remember Obama ever calling people who were different from him names or vilifying them like Trump does regularly.  Remember Trump calling Mexicans / Hispanics murderers and rapists.  Or his implying that Muslims are terrorists, while calling White Supremacists good people.
• I don't remember anyone passing Universal Healthcare, there was the Affordable Healthcare Act where people were required to buy good quality health insurance or they would need to pay extra taxes.  Just as we require drivers to carry quality liability insurance so the tax payers and victims don't get stuck paying their bills.  I have never understood the resistance against making people carry good quality health insurance, I mean do they prefer paying for their emergency care through our taxes, higher fees at the hospital, bankruptcy costs that we all absorb?  And again...  Who sat silent?  I have been hearing Conservatives whine about ACA since before it was passed. :-)
• And silent regarding Benghazi, give me a break.  The GOP Congress spent tons of money on investigations that came up with SQUAT...  And Hillary at least had the balls to show up and testify before Congress unlike our current spineless President. (Note: He is a civil servant, when an investigation is being held his people should answer questions under oath. Just think of squawking would would have heard from the right if Obama had said... We in the Executive Office do not need to answer to the GOP House of Representatives)
• Emails: please remember that again. Hillary produced a LOT of data, worked with FBI, testified in Congress, etc.  Unlike you know who.
• Now I voted for Trump and like some of his actions, but how can anyone respect a man who lies, name calls, etc regularly.  If you disagree, please tell me where.
• As for accomplishments: the biggest are Conservatives Judges and an unnecessary tax cut that has spiked the deficit and national debt and mortgaged our children for generations.  More info here.
• Regarding Biden...  He was just one of many who knew the individual had to go and it was done out in the public via official channels.  Please do you research.  Whereas Trump did it on the down low via his personal lawyer and the EU Ambassador who normally would not even be working in Ukraine.

Now we have a Senator who is supposed to be the jury foreman colluding with the defendant, and a President who aggressively refused to cooperate with a very legal investigation.  And a bunch of supposed law and order Republicans who are cheering on this refusal to answer simple questions under oath.  

As I say...  Would you have supported Clinton stone walling Congress?

I Like These Folks

USA Today 'What is Trump hiding?': Republican billboard aims at Trump's impeachment defiance

The same question all good law supporting citizens should asking.

I Miss James Comey

FOX Sunday James Comey, Pam Bondi and Rep. Adam Schiff talk FISA report, impeachment on 'Fox News Sunday'

I mean here is a professional who admits that personnel screwed up on his watch, that he made statements that were incorrect, and notes that improvements needs to be made.

Just imagine if Trump showed a tenth of that kind of professionalism and humility. Or even one hundredth for that matter. :-)

I mean could you imaging Trump saying...

James Comey: He's right. I was wrong. I was overconfident in the procedures that the FBI and Justice had built over 20 years. I thought they were robust enough. It's incredibly hard to get a FISA. I was overconfident in those. Because he's right. There was real sloppiness, 17 things that either should've been in the applications or at least discussed and characterized differently. It was not acceptable and so he's right. I was wrong.  

James Comey: Sure. I'm responsible for it. That's why I'm telling you I was wrong. I was overconfident as director in our procedures and it's important that a leader be accountable and transparent. If I were still director, I'd be saying exactly the same thing that Chris Ray is saying, which is we are going to get to the bottom of this. Because the most important question is is it systemic? Are there problems in other cases?

When do you think Trump will admit that he was wrong, and the FBI is an excellent organization that tries hard in a very complicated world. (hahahaha)

James Comey: Well, maybe it turns upon how we understand the word. What I mean is that the FBI was accused of treason, of illegal spying, of tapping Mr. Trump's wires illegally, of opening an investigation without justification of being a criminal conspiracy to unseat -- defeat and then unseat a president. All of that was nonsense. I think it's really important that the inspector general looked at that and that the American people, your viewers and all viewers, understand that's true.

The Will of the People?

Now I am a big supporter of what I call region weighted voting as you know. (ie electoral system)  Where a citizen's vote for President in low population states have more relative power than similar citizens in a high population state.  And yet the high population states still have more overall power because of their large populations.  I think it helps to keep America stable and cohesive.  And it ensures that the parties / presidential candidates need to pay attention to low population states as well as large population states.

 However Hiram reminded me of some stupid hypocritical rhetoric that the GOP have been using during the Impeachment Proceedings.

Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary, called the articles a "baseless and partisan attempt to undermine a sitting president" when the articles were unveiled.
“House Democrats have long wanted to overturn the votes of 63 million Americans," Grisham said. "They have determined that they must impeach President Trump because they cannot legitimately defeat him at the ballot box."

They seem to have forgotten that far more American citizens voted AGAINST Trump than voted FOR Trump. Where is there concern for the voices of the 66 million citizens for Clinton?

Now as I noted to Hiram, Trump is our legal President because he won by our chosen weighted system, but to deny that more citizens really disapprove of him than approve is silly.

I keep wondering if Trump and the GOP are working to make sure they lose a couple of more states.  Though Trump likes to say he had some over whelming win, the reality is that he barely got over the finish line. And he sure has not been doing anything to gain supporters among Moderates. The only chance Trump has in 2020 is if the DEMs go too Far Left with their nominee.

2016 Vote Results

RCP Impeach Poll Summary

Can Anyone Explain How This is Okay?

"I'm going to take my cues from the president's lawyers," said McConnell 

The Senate members are to serve as the "Jury" during the proceeding, and this idiot says he is working with the accused's lawyers.  Would Conservative citizen accept this behavior in any other court?

The Hill ""Everything I do during this I'm coordinating with the White House counsel. There will be no difference between the president's position and our position as to how to handle this," McConnell told Fox News on Thursday night"

Heritage Discussion of Impeachment Trial

Trump Guilty of Obstruction

I listened to some of the Impeachment hearing discussions and am still amazed at what the GOP members are willing to say to avoid facing the facts. (see below)  I would vote:

• Likely guilty of Abuse of Power
• Incredibly GUILTY of Obstruction of Congress: NO Public Official should be allowed to refuse testifying in front of Congress. That is an action requiring immediate dismissal.

I can not even imagine the Holy Hell Conservatives would have raised if if Obama, Hillary, etc had refused to testify before the GOP Congress.  I am so tired of the hypocrisy practiced by the GOP.  Remember when the "Obama Deficits were TERRIBLE", and "Trump Deficits are No Problem". 

Timeline of Events
December 2018: A Ukrainian court upholds a complaint by Member of Parliament Boryslav Rozenblat, who alleged that Head of the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine Artem Sytnyk and Member of Parliament Serhiy Leshchenko had interfered in the 2016 US presidential election, according to the whistleblower complaint.

Jan.- Feb. 2018:  Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, meets with Ukraine’s new prosecutor general, Yuriy Lutsenko, in New York and Warsaw.

Feb 15, 2019:  The FY2019 federal budget is approved at midnight, containing nearly $400 million in military aid to support Ukraine and NATO efforts to counter Russian forces. Despite assurances from the White House, the funds are not released to Ukraine for months.

April 18: Special Counsel Robert Mueller releases a redacted version of his report into Russian meddling into the 2016 U.S. election.

April 2: Volodymyr Zelensky wins a runoff election in Ukraine.

April 21: Trump and Zelensky share "a brief congratulatory call" after Zelensky is elected president of Ukraine, the whistleblower complaint says.

May 6: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch is removed from her position.

May 9: The New York Times reports Giuliani is planning to travel to Ukraine to seek help with investigations that would help Trump, including looking to the Bidens. He cancels two days later.

May 13: U.S. Attorney General William Barr announces an investigation into the origins of Russia probe.

March 20: In an interview with The Hill cited in the whistleblower complaint Ukraine Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko alleges that Biden in 2016 pressured former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to fire Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin in a bid to stop a criminal probe that involved Hunter Biden.

June 13: In an interview with ABC, Trump says he would accept political help from a foreign government. Trump tells ABC's George Stephanopoulos he would not alert the FBI if foreign governments offered him damaging information about his opponents in the 2020 presidential election. The same day, the chairwoman of the Federal Elections Commission issues a statement that doing so would be illegal.

July 19: U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker and Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, exchange texts about Sondland’s briefing of Zelenky before a scheduled call with Trump.

June 21: Giuliani tweets that Zelensky was "still silent on investigation of Ukrainian interference" in the 2016 US presidential election. 

July 10-11: Oleksandr Danylyuk, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, visits the White House, Pentagon and the State Department.

July 16: Leshchenko publicly states that a Ukrainian court had overturned the lower court's decision to uphold Rozenblat's complaint, according to the whistleblower complaint.

July 24: Robert Muller testifies before Congress about his findings.

July 25: In a phone call, Ukraine’s Zelensky asks Trump for Javelin missiles to use in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. Trump then asks Zelensky to “do us a favor.” Focused on a disproven conspiracy theory, Trump asks Zelensky to investigate Crowdstrike, a cybersecurity company that played a role in uncovering Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election. After discussing his concerns about fighting corruption, Trump brings up Hunter Biden and says that he believes Vice President Joe Biden “stopped the prosecution and a lot of people.” He asks Zelensky to get in touch with Attorney General Richard Barr and Giuliani. Trump also invites Zelensky to Washington.

Someone in the White House puts notes of the call between Zelensky and Trump into an extra secure system usually reserved for issues of national security.

Trump staff write email ordering that the funding be held and that they keep it secret.

July 26: US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker, accompanied by US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, met with Zelensky and other "Ukrainian political figures" in Kyiv, according to the whistleblower complaint. Volker and Sondland reportedly advised the Ukrainian leadership on how to "navigate" Trump's demands of Zelensky. 

July 28: Trump announces that Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats will retire.

August: Giuliani says he spoke to a representative for Zelensky by phone and in person.

August 8: Trump announces deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon will depart the administration.

August 9: Trump tells reporters that Zelensky had been invited to the White House.

August 12: A whistleblower files a complaint with the intelligence inspector general.

August 15: Gordon and Coats depart the Office of Director of National Intelligence.

August 26: Intelligence IG forwards complaint to the acting DNI.

August 28: Then-national security adviser John Bolton meets with Zelensky in Kiev.

August 30: Trump considers blocking $250 million in military aid to Ukraine, effectively pausing disbursement of the funds during a formal review process.

Late August / Early Sept: Trump learns about whistle blower.

Sept 1: Zelensky meets with Vice President Mike Pence in Poland after Trump stays back to monitor Hurricane Dorian.

Sept 9: Sondland exchanges texts with U.S. Charge d’Affaires for Ukraine, Bill Taylor, about the Ukraine aid.

Sept 11: Aid to Ukraine, which had been on hold since mid-July on order of the White House, is released.

Sept 13: Rep Adam Schiff, D-CA, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee subpoenas the acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire to produce a whistleblower complaint that the ICIG had determined was of “urgent concern.”

Sept 24: Following media reports that the whistleblower complaint was regarding Trump pushing Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces an impeachment inquiry.

Sept 25: The White House releases a memo of the call between Zelensky and Trump.

Sept 26: The House intelligence committee releases a redacted copy of the whistleblower complaint. Maguire testifies before the committee the same day. Volker, who is named in the complaint, resigns the next day.

Sept 26: Trump orders executive personnel to not support impeachment investigation. Claims immunity from Congressional investigation.

Oct 3: Volker testifies in a closed-door session and releases text messages between him and various diplomats to the House. The same day, President Trump says publicly that China and Ukraine should investigate the Bidens.

PBS Timeline of Events
CNN Timeline of Events

GOP Against Personal Freedoms?

VOX There’s a conservative civil war raging — over porn

That article reminds me why I depicted both the DEMs and GOP below the "Control" axis line.  While the DEMs want to control and regulate a lot of things, they certainly are not alone.  I am always amazed when I tell Conservatives / GOPers that they certainly ARE NOT the champions of small government and personal freedoms, and they say "yes we are"...

It seems to me that some of the GOP folks want to control a whole lot of our personal choices and actions.  Here is a short list of where they want intense government control in our personal lives:

• between a doctor and a mother regarding what is best for the fetus she is carrying
• what adults are allowed to film and share
• what consenting adults are allowed to do to earn money
• what adults can drink, smoke, etc
• where and when adults can gamble
• who an adult can love and marry
• what sexual positions and methods are allowable
• what religions / cultures are acceptable in the USA
• etc

Thoughts?

Trump Accomplishments

White House: Trump Accomplishments

I was sent the above link, so I broke them into what I see as the main categories. Since this is a list generated by Trump, I am not sure what is real and what is fiction. So over the next day or two I hope to add some fact check links.  Here is a good starting point with good references.

Thoughts?

Economy: Lowered Taxes, Increased Government Spending, Generated Record "Boom Deficits" and Increased National Debt to Record Highs"

• Secured $6 billion in NEW funding to fight the opioid epidemic.
• Secured record $700 billion in military funding; $716 billion next year.
• Signed the biggest package of tax cuts and reforms in history. After tax cuts, over $300 billion poured back in to the U.S. in the first quarter alone.
• As a result of our tax bill, small businesses will have the lowest top marginal tax rate in more than 80 years.
• Almost 4 million jobs created since election.
• More Americans are now employed than ever recorded before in our history.
• We have created more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since my election.
• Manufacturing jobs growing at the fastest rate in more than THREE DECADES.
• Economic growth last quarter hit 4.2 percent.
• New unemployment claims recently hit a 49-year low.
• Median household income has hit highest level ever recorded.
• African-American unemployment has recently achieved the lowest rate ever recorded.
• Hispanic-American unemployment is at the lowest rate ever recorded.
• Asian-American unemployment recently achieved the lowest rate ever recorded.
• Women’s unemployment recently reached the lowest rate in 65 years.
• Youth unemployment has recently hit the lowest rate in nearly half a century.
• Lowest unemployment rate ever recorded for Americans without a high school diploma.
• Under my Administration, veterans’ unemployment recently reached its lowest rate in nearly 20 years.
• Almost 3.9 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps since the election.
• The Pledge to America’s Workers has resulted in employers committing to train more than 4 million Americans. We are committed to VOCATIONAL education.
• 95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future—the highest ever.
• Retail sales surged last month, up another 6 percent over last year.
• Increased our coal exports by 60 percent; U.S. oil production recently reached all-time high.
• United States is a net natural gas exporter for the first time since 1957.
• Net exports are on track to increase by $59 billion this year.

Judicial Appointments: This is appreciated by religious right voters.  Not so appreciated by Libertarian leaning voters like myself.

• Confirmed more circuit court judges than any other new administration.
• Confirmed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Regulations: Good for businesses. Uncertain the impact on our water, air, etc.

• Opened ANWR and approved Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines.
• Record number of regulations eliminated.
• Enacted regulatory relief for community banks and credit unions.
• Cancelled the illegal, anti-coal, so-called Clean Power Plan.

Healthcare Changes: Appreciated by those who do not want to be pressured to carry high quality health insurance. Not sure if Trump is overstating his contribution to the others?

• Obamacare individual mandate penalty GONE.
• My Administration is providing more affordable healthcare options for Americans through association health plans and short-term duration plans.
• Last month, the FDA approved more affordable generic drugs than ever before in history. And thanks to our efforts, many drug companies are freezing or reversing planned price increases.
• We reformed the Medicare program to stop hospitals from overcharging low-income seniors on their drugs—saving seniors hundreds of millions of dollars this year alone.
• Signed Right-To-Try legislation.
• We have reduced high-dose opioid prescriptions by 16 percent during my first year in office.
• Signed VA Choice Act and VA Accountability Act, expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.

Protectionist: People who are scared of refugees will appreciate. Though we have researched this many times. The crime rate among illegals / immigrants is less or equal to that of US Citizens. And most of the drugs come in through other ports of entry.

• Protecting Americans from terrorists with the Travel Ban, upheld by Supreme Court.
• Issued Executive Order to keep open Guantanamo Bay.
• Improved vetting and screening for refugees, and switched focus to overseas resettlement.
• We have begun BUILDING THE WALL. Republicans want STRONG BORDERS and NO CRIME. Democrats want OPEN BORDERS which equals MASSIVE CRIME.

Trade: Some benefit... But very expensive for US businesses and Consumers. We pay the tariffs and experience the loss of foreign sales. (ie exports)

• Concluded a historic U.S.-Mexico Trade Deal to replace NAFTA. And negotiations with Canada are underway as we speak.
• Reached a breakthrough agreement with the E.U. to increase U.S. exports.
• NATO allies are spending $69 billion more on defense since 2016.
• Imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to protect our national security.
• Imposed tariffs on China in response to China’s forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and their chronically abusive trade practices.

Withdrew: Good or Bad?  Only time will tell.

• Withdrew the United States from the job-killing Paris Climate Accord.
• Withdrew from the horrible, one-sided Iran Deal.

Miscellaneous: Who Cares?

• Helped win U.S. bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
• Helped win U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s united bid for 2026 World Cup.
• Process has begun to make the Space Force the 6th branch of the Armed Forces.
• Moved U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

Trump Against Free Speech?

NYT NATO Conference Is Canceled After U.S. Ambassador Barred a Trump Critic

"One day before he was set to leave for Copenhagen, Mr. Sloan was informed that the United States Embassy in Copenhagen had vetoed his participation because of his previous criticisms of President Trump, Mr. Sloan said on Facebook on Saturday."

What country are we living in again where the government blocks expert participation in conferences?

Well I am happy to support this gentleman's write to free speech.  Here is a link to the speech he was going to give.  Maybe I'll copy it into the comments section.

OECD Funny Numbers?

From Laurie: "So to me it looks that is we want to decrease the deficit the first step should be to raise taxes."

Of course she bases this premise on another one of Kevin Drums likely misleading charts.

Here is the OECD USA Page and the trend for the USA, which intuitively does not make sense to me.

Apparently to this source our total government spend right now is $8.1 Trillion, of which we steal ~$1 Trillion from our kids.  So our revenues should total $7.1 Trillion.  Now google says our current GDP is $19.39 Trillion...  Which would mean our Tax Revenues as a percent of GDP would be 7.1/19.4 = 36.6%...

Now the US Federal Only Spend is $4.7 Trillion minus that pesky $1 Trillion brings us to $3.7 Trillion in Tax Revenues.  So 3.7/19.4 = 19.1%.

Where as the US Federal spend is 4.7 /19.4 = 24.2%...

Now this source indicates Federal revenues per GDP are currently  ~17.3% of GDP. Does anyone really think that our local and state taxes are much smaller than our Federal taxes? (ie 24.3% OECD number - 18 Fed number = 6.3%)

Here Comes the Impeachment

WAPO Democrats consider bribery, obstruction for impeachment articles against Trump

I am starting the censure idea seems like a better idea, but neither side seems to like it.
Politco Republicans ignore an impeachment escape hatch

CNBC 'Democrats have gone nuts, they're crazy': Trump lashes out over censure speculation

LA Times Censure Better Option

And of course Hypocrite Trump is back at it again, the man who refused to testify for the Mueller investigation and the Impeachment investigation saying the he wants people who were not involved in this summer's questionable activities with regard to Ukraine to testify.

FOX Trump threatens to have Schiff, Bidens, Pelosi testify in Senate trial as he dares House to impeach

And of course he is trying to convince people that "Ukraine announcing an investigation of the Bidens" was for the good of all Americans...  Really!!!  Who are these suckers who still believe him?  :-)

Politico Trump: I was asking Zelensky to help America, not me

How To Be Happier

"How To Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie does an excellent job of explaining how to be happier. His view is simply to get out of your head and start thinking about other people. I recommend reading the book, it is excellent. It took me years to finally read this book because I thought "INFLUENCE" meant "MANIPULATE". Thankfully I finally read it and learned that it does not in this case.

Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

• Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
• Give honest and sincere appreciation.
• Arouse in the other person an eager want.

Six ways to make people like you

• Become genuinely interested in other people.
• Smile.
• Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
• Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
• Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
• Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.

Win people to your way of thinking

• The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
• Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say, "You're wrong."
• If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
• Begin in a friendly way.
• Get the other person saying "yes, yes" immediately.
• Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
• Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
• Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
• Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires.
• Appeal to the nobler motives.
• Dramatize your ideas.
• Throw down a challenge.

Be a Leader: Change People's Attitude & Behavior w/o Offending/ Arousing Resentment

• Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
• Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
• Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
• Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
• Let the other person save face.
• Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise."
• Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
• Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
• Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

G2A Happiness Tree

Okay... Preacher John is hear again to explain a simple way to be happier...

STOP FOCUSING ON THESE THINGS

This weekend I spent some time with a person who can not let go of a 30+ year old argument.  Instead of focusing on all the great things in their life they insist on bring up the same old tired issue.

And of course it causes a lot of stress during the holidays because who out there likes spending time with people who are often...

• Criticizing - Nobody can ever do anything right for this person. 
• Complaining - Nothing is ever good enough for this person.
• Comparing - This person compares people or possessions with envy, jealousy or put-downs.
• Competing - For sense of worth within relationship, families, work teams and cultures. This person thinks they are better, smarter or richer than everyone else.
• Contending - This person tries to make other people look like losers, so he or she can look like a winner. Everything is a competition.
• Cynicism - contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives; an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism
• Control - having a need to dictate other people's behavior; having the need to dictate how something is managed or done; finds it difficult to let others behave / do things as they wish.

The good news is that I have learned to love this person in spite of their flaws, and how to maintain boundaries for my health. (usually they hold... :-)) However I think they would be much happier if they would think more often of the wonderful things in life. (family, health, stability, etc)  Instead of focusing on the things can not control. 

Oh well, thankfully I have learned that I can only control myself...  I can nudge and coach others, but ultimately they need to make the decisions and take the actions. :-)  Here is to being thankful during the holiday season and all year round. G2A Principles  As the tree shows, for most of us Americans life is really good. Unfortunately many folks insist on staring at the bottom of the tree. :-(

Thanksgiving Talk Prep

VOX Most people are bad at arguing. 
These 2 techniques will make you better.

I think this piece is worth a read, and it aligns with my forth coming DEMs / GOPers discussion.

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

Humans Give Up on Clean Power?

From Laurie:

Off topic link about climate change from K. Drum. I am sure my view that more R and D is needed has been influenced by K. Drum posts.

The World Is Giving Up On Climate Change

Bringing this topic up again is a waste of time as no one here is persuadable, but the other topics also go nowhere and this one is more important. 

and From me...

NPR Green House gases continue to rise...

Tax Returns Stay Hidden. For Now

VOX The Supreme Court lets Trump keep his tax returns secret — for now

American Progress Case for Congress

Youtube Montage of Trump's Tax Return Promises

He promised over and over to release them, and he has not...
Now he is fighting against releasing them again...
What is he fighting so hard to keep hidden?

Picture with Corpse. No problem.

NYT Trump / Esper Demand Resignation of Navy Secretary

As I have said before, this action by Trump makes me dislike him even more than the Ukraine actions. The idea that he thinks it is okay for a field commander of the US Military to pose his team in front of a dead human as if it was a prize lion...

Next is he going to say it is okay if Gallagher takes the dead man home, has him stuffed / mounted and placed over his fireplace? :-(

Here is some more background regarding this disturbed individual...

Not to mention that Trump totally undermined the US Military Justice system for some possible votes.

Hypocrisy at Its Finest

Reuters Trump wants Senate trial, expects Joe Biden to testify: White House

So let's see...

• Trump refuses to testify in his own defense. 
• Trump refuses to let his personnel testify in his defense.
• Trump blames the House for not having first hand testimony.
• Trump wants witnesses at his trial to testify about things that happen years ago and have nothing to do with the accusations against him.
• And I certain that the Trump True Believers are thinking this makes sense
• My usual question, if it was Obama doing this. Would they feel the same way

I must say that Trump is a master of distraction and manipulation.  And his followers seem to be willing participants. "Don't look behind the curtain...  Watch what I am pointing at."

“President Trump wants to have a trial in the Senate because it’s clearly the only chamber where he can expect fairness and receive due process under the Constitution,” spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

“We would expect to finally hear from witnesses who actually witnessed, and possibly participated in corruption - like Adam Schiff, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, and the so-called Whistleblower, to name a few,” Gidley said, referring to House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Schiff, who is leading an impeachment inquiry into Trump.

It is kind of like a burglar caught in the act of robbing the house calling the homeowners as witnesses to prove that they legally purchased everything in the house.  Like it has any bearing on if he is guilty or not.

Sondland Just Followed Orders

Fox News Sondland Coverage

NYT We Followed President's Orders

I still think our genius transparent President who orchestrated the activities and made the wonderful call should testify publicly under oath.  Why wouldn't he?  He does work for the American people... Right?

Has he not heard said that "the truth will set you free"? :-)

Why is the GOP treating our public servant with such kid gloves?

Climate Change Continuum

So where do you fit on my newest creation?  Jerry and I were arguing Climate Change again and I said that I like the work of Judith Curry.  She is an expert who has the blog Climate Etc.  My belief is that she believes:

• the use of fossil fuels is warming the climate
• that the science is still immature, especially the forecasting
• other factors may be more significant in the future
• people need low cost energy
• clean energy & cheap energy must be balanced
• people should be preparing for extreme whether events either way
• alarmists abound and are confusing people

So I know that Jerry is a Denier and most of the other commenters are Believers or CAGW'ers... But I was not sure where that leaves folks like Judith and myself.  So I created a new continuum for your comments and critiques !!! :-)   (click it to zoom)

No Need for Courts / Discipline

Apparently King Trump knows better than the military courts. I assume he is just doing it to distract from his bigger problems.

FOX Trump grants clemency to 2 Army officers accused of war crimes, restores rank to Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher

"Lorance was six years into serving a 19-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth for ordering his soldiers to open fire and kill three men in Afghanistan. Lorence’s supporters say he killed Taliban fighters. Nine members of his unit testified against him, saying the men were innocent."

"Gallagher, a 15-year SEAL whose case garnered national attention, was found not guilty of murdering an ISIS fighter in Iraq in 2017 but was convicted in July of a lesser charge of posing for a photo with the dead ISIS prisoner's corpse."

Then there is the question if he will start pardoning the members of his personal swamp?  It is amazing how many of his friends and partners have been found guilty. 

Politico Roger Stone was found guilty. Now all eyes turn to Trump. The president will face pressure to pardon Stone after the GOP operative was found guilty of charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller.

And likely that he may join them in prison if his tax records are released... No wonder he is scared.

Second Memo Released

The Hill READ: Memo of Trump's first call with Zelensky

Who the FRICK CARES...  I want to hear the actual recording of the call in question...

I don't want some incomplete memo if there is a recording.

I mean how bad is it if Trump is not willing to let us listen to it ?
What Law and Order person would not be demanding the recording?
The GOP apparently is no longer the party of Law and Order. :-(

And We Are Off...

NYT Impeachment Hearings Open With Revelation on Trump’s Ukraine Pressure

The Hill Trump campaign dismisses Taylor, Kent testimony as 'third-hand opinions'

WE Democrat met with laughter after suggesting Trump testify before impeachment committee

CNN GOP's defense of Trump, Democrats' rebuttal and more from the impeachment inquiry

FOX Impeachment hearing testimony details Trump pursuit of Ukraine ‘investigations,’ as GOP decries ‘hearsay’

I liked this summary from CNN: 6 reasons to impeach Trump and 4 reasons not to impeach Trump. CNN's Marshall Cohen wrote an extremely detailed examination of the arguments, which I've tried to distill as much as possible.

Reasons to impeach Trump

1. Trump solicited election meddling from Ukraine
2. There was a quid pro quo for a White House invite
3. There was a quid pro quo for US military aid
4. Trump's directives to his lawyer Rudy Giuliani undercut US policy
5. Trump improperly removed US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch
6. The Trump administration obstructed the inquiry

Reasons not to impeach Trump

1. The process of the inquiry was fatally flawed
2. Presidents have vast foreign policy powers
3. Limited insight into Trump's state of mind
4. Ukraine got the military assistance after all

How America Ends?

From Laurie

Here is a very loosely related looong story that I found interesting (even though I haven't finished it as it is soooo long)  Atlantic: How America Ends

SCOTUS Hears DACA

NYT How the Trump Administration Eroded Its Own Legal Case on DACA

FOX DACA lands before Supreme Court: Showdown over Trump bid to end ‘Dreamer’ program

It will be interesting to see how SCOTUS rules.  It is too bad that Trump did not take the "Wall Money for Dreamers" deal when it was on the table.