Trump: King of Mount Stupid

I dub Trump the King of Mount Stupid after the latest insults he has hurled at the intelligence experts.  The reality is that he knows almost nothing about the topics and yet he is certain he does.


It reminds me a lot of blogging and commenting.  Which is one of the reasons I often ask for sources and rationale to support your beliefs and opinions.  Thoughts?

Tax the Rich !!! Give to the Poor !!!

NBC Opinion Piece: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 70 percent tax on the rich isn't about revenue, it's about decreasing inequality. Progressive taxation should work as a corrective tax, like tobacco taxes or a carbon tax, fixing the problems created by exploitative capitalism.
CNN Majority Favor Medicare For All. But with a Catch.
The first link is another FB find. Here is my first comment.

"Oh this one will most definitely become a post. "Progressive taxation should work as a corrective tax, like tobacco taxes or a carbon tax. Sure, tobacco taxes raise some revenue for the states. But their primary purpose is to curb smoking." Let's tax them so they have less incentive to grow their wealth. (ie learn, invent, work, save, invest, take risks, etc) I feel like I have fallen into an Ayn Rand book... I wonder how many rich folks would find a more agreeable country to call home, or at least to retire to."

Now I agree that there are some tax features (loop holes) that should be closed, but come on now.

On the upside, the DEMs may push moderates back to the GOP yet if they keep this talk up.

Thoughts?

Assimilate or Stay Poor

CNN It's not that Tom Brokaw is racist. It's that he's wrong


Thankfully I am not a public figure and therefore am free to disagree with the yahoo who wrote this...  Thoughts?

Pro-Lifers are Single Minded

So I spent the weekend trying to get Pro-Lifers on Facebook to answer 2 questions:

• The best solution to prevent these terrible procedures and/or babies being raised poorly is to prevent the unwanted conception in the first place. Any pro-active ideas on how to do this in modern America?
• Once the baby is born, it is important that the child is raised well. Any pro-active ways to ensure that these babies you seek to save are not neglected, abused, hungry, homeless, etc? Especially since many of their mothers are poor and single.

Honest to God, I could not get any of them to discuss these critical topics.  All they care is that little blastocyte turns into a fetus and is delivered as a baby. (pretty much no matter what)

Not even seeing the horrible abuse and neglect , Child Poverty by State or the Child Poverty - National statistics could break free their one track mind.

Now I agree that abortions are bad in many ways, however the Pro Lifer's obsession with only one aspect of a child's life seems very disingenuous to me.

"Hey look !!!  We did a wonderful thing by making sure that baby was born to an irresponsible person who is impoverished and could not correctly use birth control!!!  Yippee!!! Job done!!!"

I was wondering about philosophies, if a parent chooses to have a child:

1. does that child owe the parent something for this gift?
2. does the parent owe and become responsible for the child?

I personally believe in #2, so the idea of all these Pro Lifers working to ensure a baby is born...  And then disavowing all responsibility for the child's quality of life rubs me very wrong. :-(

On a lighter note. Kind of.

From MSN Comics

pick to enlarge

Iowa Abortion Ban

NPR Iowa Bans Most Abortions As Governor Signs 'Heartbeat' Bill

What fascinates me is that the folks who fight against:

• government intervention in their lives
• thorough sex education in school
• making quality birth control free
• ensuring father / mother are capable
• funding parent education
• funding early childhood education
• funding child welfare funding 

are the first ones to want to place the government between a woman and her doctor.

These same people who are concerned that the fetus is delivered often seem to be the first ones to turn their backs on the baby once it is born.

For more on my less than popular views.


This another FB follow up.  I don't what is happening lately but the pro-lifers are bombarding FB with this type of stuff.  No solutions on how to help:

• help prevent these unwanted pregnancies
• help these unwanted impoverished babies when they are born

Just joy at using government to force the unprepared and/or incapable mother to bring them into this world.

Drag Queen Story Tellers

A gift from Laurie:

Here's a link that I found funny, maybe something John could spout off about not judging people by how they look.  When drag queens lead children’s story time, ‘a lot of hugs’ — and controversy — follow  I asked my husband if he would support this program at our local library and he is on the fence. I say why not.

Given my slightly libertarian tendencies, I am fine with it as long as the parents know what is coming....  If people want to try to explain this topic to their kids, more power to them.

Once I was waited on by a crabby old man with a poorly shaven face in a dress and high heels at the front desk of a hotel near San Francisco. It was interesting and memorable... Not traumatic in anyway.

Now I understand gay, lesbian and possibly even transsexual... They make sense to me.  Transvestites are still just odd to me.  I mean make up your mind and commit already... :-)

3 Weeks and Counting. What Now?

VOX Is the government going to shut down again in February? Here are 4 scenarios.
The government is reopened for three weeks. What happens next?

What do you think will happen now?

And my same old questions...  G2A What Should Happen at the Border?
Apparently the poor border patrol agents and the system is having to catch and process ~14,000 border violators per month. (~500/day)  This I assume does not include the serious criminals and smuggled goods that evade arrest.  PBS At Yuma Border Crossing

I did some research for good video of the Southern border wall and perspectives.
WSJ Borders Ranchers Torn about Wall
Ranchers Share Experiences with Border Security
The second link has a very informative article below the video.

Yes, The Government is Still Shutdown

NYT Democratic Plan to End Shutdown Without Wall Fails in Senate


VOX Vote Just Failed.  What is Next


FOX News Large Down Payment Option


Thoughts?

Reverse Discrimination is Okay?

FB is hopping lately, we were discussing the Boy / Native American incident and Phillip's perceptions and judgments. And my friend made an interesting comment.

John, again you are lost in the weeds. The MAGA hat has become a big FU to those who embrace diversity and threaten the power of the majority race. It is the old white person’s Little Big Horn. It will last longer, but the outcome will be similar.

To which I responded.

So somehow being:

• against ILLEGAL immigration
• against harboring ILLEGAL workers
• for protecting the jobs and wages of legal low knowledge and low skill workers from unnecessary competition from ILLEGAL workers

has become being against "diversity"?  

I will never understand how tribe liberals think... Please remember that I work with dozens of immigrants from all over the world and they are great !!! However they followed the legal process and did not cut in line. 

Are you ready to take a shot at answering some of my questions yet regarding what an ideal immigration system looks like to you?

Then I gave it more thought...

I gave your comment more thought. So are agreeing that Tribe Left has become very prejudiced racist and sexist?  

I mean it sounds like being a young white man wearing a MAGA hat is now an excuse for treating them poorly?

Is this the equivalent of the young black man in a hoodie being pre-judged?  

That is an interesting concept. Thanks for the idea!!!

 Thoughts?  If I choose to where a certain hat it is then acceptable to consider me a alt right racist and attack me as you wish?

NY Codifies Roe v Wade Into Law

Daily Wire HORROR: New York Set To Legalize Abortion Up To Birth

 

 A Conservative FB Friend was very disturbed by the above link, so I posed some questions...

• What do you see wrong in this wording?
• What would you say differently?
• Do you really want government to get between the Doctor and the Patient / Mother?
• Are you concerned that there are lot of blood thirsty doctors and mothers out there that will take a late term abortion decision too lightly?
• That they would not C section the baby when possible?

Law's wording according to DW.

"A health care practitioner licensed, certified, or authorized under title eight of the education law, acting within his or her lawful scope of practice, may perform an abortion when, according to the practitioner's reasonable and good faith professional judgment based on the facts of the patient's case: the patient is within twenty-four weeks from the commencement of pregnancy, or there is an absence of fetal viability, or the abortion is necessary to protect the patient's life or health ."

What always fascinates me is that the folks who are usually most serious against sex education, making birth control free and early child funding are the first ones to be concerned about abortions.  Sorry... My Libertarian tendency is showing. Thoughts?

 

Coverage from CBS for comparison
Reason: Facts Regarding Later Term Abortions

Deep State vs Shady Characters

A more friendly FB friend asked me.

John, what is your take on people inside the government trying to take down Trump?
WSJ What Bruce Ohr told the FBI?  RCP Version

Here is my initial answer.

I think that Trump is a master manipulator who works hard to stoke conspiracies that benefit him. And that in his True Believers he has a very willing audience. 

Now it may be true that a couple of people disliked Trump and made their dislike known. However the FBI for better or worse is a huge bureaucracy full of rules, regulations, checks and balances... Which means that no small group of people can "conduct witch hunts"... 

The unfortunate reality is that Trump and crew have been lying since day 1. That is why they have continually been changing their story. Remember when Trump first said that he had pretty much no contact with Russia.... Hard to believe that was only 2 years ago. 

The good news is that our FBI was watching these secret meetings and investigating them. The big questions now:

1. Were they just cocky business men thinking they were above the law?
2. Were they stupid business men who did not even know working with our enemy was illegal?
3. Was there something darker and more sinister?

Doesn't it make you a little curious that the loud brash Trump become a submissive suck up when he is with Putin? It is a bit odd.

I would probably add that the honest man has nothing to fear in being investigated.  However people who manipulate, lie and skirt the boundaries of legality do.  I can't wait to see what the Mueller investigation found.

And of course Giuliani's comments always make it interesting...  If Trump was the candidate and boss... Where should the buck stop if funny business was happening within HIS CAMPAIGN...

House and Senate Move Seperately

WAPO Congress to pursue divergent paths to reopening government, but stalemate no closer to resolution


FOX Senate panel releases text of bill to reopen government, includes wall money


The dysfunction continues...  Thoughts?

Who Harassed Who?

Sunday Thoughts:
Now was it actually the Indian veteran who was harassing the young conservative men? Thoughts?


Monday Thoughts
And the story continues to shift and change, even in the main stream press.


Now I have been participating in a Facebook discussion regarding this topic, and I find it fascinating. It was started by a more privileged liberal woman of my age who compared the young man to one of the jerks in High School.  Then some other women piled on comparing the kid to Kavanaugh. Others added in that the seventeen year old was a disrespectful bigot.  And of course thrown in there were some insults aimed at me for even having the nerve to question their perspectives.


My perspectives and questions after all this:

• Isn't Tribe Liberal supposed to be the more open minded and compassionate tribe?
• It seems that how people are reacting to this complicated interaction between a White young man, a group of Black religious folks and a Native American with a drum says a lot more about the viewers than the participants.
• Why isn't anyone calling out the Black religious folks who apparently instigated this whole mess?
• I certainly am not wise enough to judge any of those involved in this incident that occurred far from my home.

Thoughts?

Trump is an Idiot. Again

Now if Trump had offered a Path to Citizenship for the DACA and Temporary Asylum folks, he could have won the hearts and minds of many Americans and gotten his ~$6 Billion for wall.  Or he could have moved public perception to blame the DEMs if the shutdown continues.  Instead the idiot offered a non-starter that only his True Believers will think was a "Fair Trade" and honest attempt to break the gridlock.

Where as the most of us will recognize it as another terrible move by someone who was supposed to know how to negotiate.  I am guessing the next 2 years are going to be real long for him he does not learn, mature and develop some humility.

FOX News Coverage
VOX Coverage
CNN Fact Checking

Best Comic Ever... :-)

MSN Week in Comics

Congress Personnel Should Give Away Salaries

Well since the Congress is partially responsible for this "longest partial shutdown" where many government employees are not being paid, I think the personnel in Congress should donate to those who they are harming.


I mean Trump always gives away his salary...  Where is their commitment to public service and sacrifice?


On the upside Trump is helping Pelosi to sacrifice one of her junkets...

Border Barrier and The Environment

VOX The ecological disaster that is Trump’s border wall: a visual guide New sections of wall will cut through a Texas wildlife refuge and the habitat of beautiful cats.


Now I am skeptical that the steel bar barriers will cause all these problems.  However I am happy to post other perspectives. Here is another useful link.

MN Goes Back to Education

MinnPost From early ed to school safety: A look at the education issues Minnesota lawmakers are set to tackle in 2019 by Erin Hinrichs

Here is an interesting quote:

"Nelson favors a more targeted approach to allocating state dollars toward early learning, to ensure that students in need are identified and prioritized. 

“As I’m talking with school officials from across the state, in our K-12 systems, the resources are already a bit thin. So we want to be careful about suddenly adding a whole nother grade of 4-year-olds, as opposed to targeting those resources to kids in need,” she said. 

Given the findings of Early Childhood Programs audit presented by the state Office of the Legislative Auditor last year — which largely concluded that the early ed landscape is muddled by a mess of funding streams — Nelson says she’ll be seeking greater reassurance that the dollars the state invests in early learning programs are actually producing results."

I wish they would do that for K-12 also... :-)  Thoughts?

Thoughts regarding Barr?

LA Times William Barr carefully distances himself from Trump on key issues

WE 'Did pretty well': William Barr impresses Dems in marathon confirmation hearing

He seems fine to me.  Thoughts?

We Are Responsible For the Shutdown

538 We’re All To Blame For The Shutdown: That’s what the game theorists say, anyway.

Now there is an article I can agree with.  All the folks on the Far Left and Far Right demanding their way are the cause for the shutdown.

What Should Happen at The Border?

MPR Two Minnesota attorneys' trip to the border captures 18-hour standoff with officials

A FB friend posted the above link.

"This is a big part of the problem. USCIS regulations state that asylum seekers can request asylum when they reach US soil or a port of entry. If we don’t want them to come here first, then seek asylum, we should change the law, not break it."

And the following quote.

“Pottratz Acosta said she finds it frustrating that, on the one hand, the Department of Homeland Security says people should apply for asylum the right way, at a port of entry, instead of crossing illegally. But on the other hand, it prevents certain people from doing so."

So I linked to the Asylum page and the Asylum Process page. And posted this quote from the Asylum page.

"Every year people come to the United States seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear that they will suffer persecution due to: Race, Religion, Nationality, Membership in a particular social group, Political opinion, If you are eligible for asylum you may be permitted to remain in the United States."

Here are my thoughts and questions:

• What do Liberals think should happen at the border?
• Is their idea that a person or group would show up, be finger printed, fill out some paperwork and be allowed to cross into the USA immediately? How long of a wait is acceptable?
• At which time they would be free to go where they want and do what they want in the USA until their court hearing?
• Are their any limits to how many they think should be processed each day?
• Why is it deemed "unacceptable" for these people to stay in Mexico while their asylum application is being reviewed?
• Do they deem Mexico to be an unsafe place for asylum seekers?  Is the USA that much better?
• Should we set up even more "safe holding" capacity at the US / Mexico border , so the asylum seekers can be safe and contained during the process?  In essence refugee camps?

And ultimately I wonder:

• How many of the billions of people in the world who live in more disruptive unfair and unsafe communities than ours do you want to accept into ours each year?
• Do you want them to go to our consulates, apply and await permission?
• Or do you want them to sell everything, pack up their kids, start walking through crime invested areas just be told their issues are not bad enough when they arrive?

Receipts Fall After Tax Cut

From Sean:

Oh, and by the way, we've now got a year of government revenue data post-tax cuts, and ….  They're not paying for themselves!

Before inflation, tax revenues fell last year by 1% (so in real terms, about a 4% drop).

NYT's Jim Tankersley

All the winning!

Wall Speech Fact Check

Well now I am in lovely Wuhan.  I missed the speeches and am happy.  What did you think?


NPR Fact Check
AP Fact Check
FactChecker

The Left is Moving Left?

VOX “Call me a radical”: Ocasio-Cortez reveals how much the Democratic Party has changedRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is more in line with the party’s base than establishment Democrats might think.
VOX How Marginal Tax Rates Work

Often the more Liberal commenters say it is just the Conservatives moving right causing our problems...   Usually I disagree...  I wonder how much farther LEFT the folks that support Ocasio-Cortez want us to move?  Half of our income / GDP to the government? Thoughts? (tap image to zoom)

Shutdown Continues

WAPO What will it take to end the shutdown? Watch these three things.


Thoughts?

Border Crisis?

From Laurie.


There Is No Crisis on the Southern Border. None.

Never Wrestle with a Pig

Never wrestle with a pig because you both get dirty and the pig likes it.


This is an excellent piece!!!


And on a related note.

Far Left Makes Voices Heard

This will be interesting to watch...  Can the DEMs control their extremists or not?
WAPO Liberal Revolt
CNN PAYGO

The 2012 Screw Up

It really is too bad we did not elect Romney in 2012.


Just think... He would likely still be our President and Trump would not... :-)

DEMs Working to Extend the Shutdown

USA Today Donald Trump rejects Democratic funding plan  I personally do not think the DEMs have learned anything about working with Trump. Their current plan apparently is to pass 2 bills out of the House:

1. Funds most departments for the year
2. Funds Homeland Security until 8Feb19

My question is why do the dunderhead DEMs think this will work?

• Do they think he fears their voters?
• Are they hoping his voters care if the government stays shutdown?
• Do they think enough GOP politicians would vote to over ride his veto?

I mean why would Trump give up his leverage without getting anything in return?

Apparently the DEMs do not care about getting government moving again...  If this $5 billion was for almost anything else they would not even hesitate, in this case they would rather put a stick in Trump's eye...

I feel for the federal workers who are stuck in this silliness.