State of Union and Response

I was still on a plane when the President spoke, however I was driving home from the airport when Kennedy responded.  And from what I can tell it sounds like I did not miss a thing...


Both sides are still absolutely dedicated to playing to their more extreme bases.  And we really should not expect any enlightened collaboration / progress from either party.


CNN State Of Union
CNN Kennedy Response
CNN 6 Take Aways
CNN 7 Elephants
MinnPost SOU 1
MinnPost SOU 2
MinnPost SOU 3

I Hate Politicians

Now these idiots can not actually pass a budget, however they have plenty of time for stupid games.  Apparently there are 2 memos regarding this topic, a GOP version and  DEM version.  And the GOP folks are voting against the recommendation of the Justice department... Which called the releasing of the memo "extraordinarily reckless” and could harm national security and ongoing investigations."


Meaning they will release the GOP version, and not the DEM version. (at least not at this time)
VOX GOP Votes to Release GOP Memo
Fox News Memo


Why can't these people focus on running the country?  I mean is a simple budget too much to ask?  We are almost half way through the year!!!

Trump: Look at ME...

Here is Trump's latest case of trying to take credit for things that he had nothing to do with.

"Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!"

The graph here clearly shows that the vast majority of the unemployment rate drop occurred under the Obama tenure. And more importantly that the rate of drop has slowed during the Trump first year. CNBC WH Explains Jay Z Tweet

Of course, FOX News neglected to include that telling graph in their coverage.

 

It would much more accurate to say that Trump has not screwed up the economy yet. And we are thankful for that...

1. So back to Trust and Truth, are we attacking Trump for noting his error?
2. Or did he tweet this silliness to keep his name on the front page?

Either way Van Jones and Jay Z are happy for the free publicity.

Another interesting link...

CNN GDP Growth is very NORMAL

On Truth and Trust

Eric is discussing this topic over here. Here is my latest response to Ilya.

"First one has to note that you are citing a Right leaning publication who is citing research from an even more Right leaning organization. So their definition of "hostile" is likely suspect.

If Trump blatantly lies / exaggerates as is his norm, and they fact check him is that hostile? If Trump pays hush money to a adult film star that he cheated on his wife with and they report it is that hostile? If his campaign meets with Russian operatives and they report it, is that hostile?

Second, if Trump wants to garner positive coverage it is in his power to do so. He simply needs to be professional, positive, informed and honest. Unfortunately he is having a hard time growing out of his egotistical, attacking, lying, reactive, etc self. I keep hoping he can do so, but it is getting harder to keep the faith that that old dog can learn new tricks.

From your link.
"The working relationship between President Trump and the news media shows no signs of improving. Journalists continue to appear aggressively hostile toward the president, according to research released Tuesday by the Media Research Center, a conservative press watchdog.

The new study of major broadcast coverage reveals that 90 percent of statements made by reporters and nonpartisan sources the last three months on ABC, NBC and CBS evening newscasts about Mr. Trump and his administration were negative."

Grad Rates Up and Proficiency Down?

Erin has an interesting post at MinnPost  Then Joe insulted the education folk, so I had to step in to defend them...

"I hope at some point Americans wake up and once again demand that public High Schools get back to preparing our children for the real life of competition in the job market. Teaching the trades (yes folks, some people work with their hands in the real world), teaching the basics (hard to get a job if you can’t speak English, do math, read and write) and teach problem solving.

The years and years of social engineering, coddling little Jimmy and Jane to make sure they feel good about their failing grades, teachers and school districts being more concerned about what children are learning than actually having the children learning how to learn and being afraid to tell students that when 8 people are competing for 4 high paying jobs the owner will hire the most capable.

Competition drives the workforce and business, being afraid of teaching that has us where we are as a country with High School students.

We are currently 35th in the world in educating our children, we were number one in the 70’s into the 80’s. You would think with the Trillions we spend on public education, we might be better. Sad to say nothing will change until tax payers demand more from their money and the Teachers Union gets back to students first and advocating 2nd." Joe

"Now as most here know, I am no fan of tenure, steps, lanes, senior teachers picking their schools / classrooms, etc... However the idea of blaming this disaster primarily on schools is just silly. :-)

Look on the graph at the top of this source for the root cause of the academic achievement gap.
Single Parent Household Graph

Now the question is what are we as a society going to do to reduce the number of unplanned conceptions, encourage 2 Parent households, hold Parents accountable for fulfilling their responsibilities?

Here is one of my favorite comics regarding the topic.
Teaching: Then and Now" G2A

Of course I do love Charles Sykes Rules of Life though and wish Parents and Schools taught then.

The Great Wall

Well, my 52nd birthday was January 27th and I thank everyone for their best wishes. I was also trapped in Beijing over the weekend on business... So I decided to finally take a tour bus to the Great Wall and found something else to be very thankful for !!! I am very thankful that I did not keel over from a massive coronary while walking up all those steps.   The blue arrows show roughly the 2 end points of my little hike. Note to self: Take Alieve before bed...

WH Immigration Proposal

This seems like a good proposal, what do you all think?


Sorry for that very short post... I left home Tuesday at 4 AM, travelled to Beijing, travelled to Tianjin met with customers and travelled back to Beijing last night.  I am always amazed how I can be "awake" and moving for days, and yet seem to be in some lower state of consciousness... Well last night I hit the bed and was out for 12+ hours.  Now I feel a bit better.


Due to customer conflicts I am trapped in Beijing this weekend, however I have finally scheduled time tomorrow to see the Great Wall.  The concierge assured me that this is the best tour since President Obama went there. :-)


Now back to the topic of the post.
White House Immigration Framework
NPR WH Outline
VOX Explains


The VOX piece covers the topic pretty well, and I think these will be the DEM sticking points.

"It mentions “same treatment of illegal aliens, regardless of country of origin” — an allusion to changing the law that prevents Border Patrol agents from summarily deporting unaccompanied children from countries other than Mexico. And it refers to changing “the ‘catch and release’ policy through which immigrants are released while awaiting a hearing” — which would make it harder for asylum seekers to get a lawyer while their cases are pending.

Democrats have rejected past attempts at these changes as cruel: a crackdown on people fleeing gang violence that doesn’t make anyone safer. It’s not clear how many of them will accept these changes now as the cost of citizenship for DREAMers.

Preventing people from sponsoring parents, adult children, or siblings for US citizenship. The White House, led by Trump, has demanded limits on family-based immigration — which accounts for the majority of legal immigration to the US — as part of a DACA deal. The Trump framework would limit family sponsorship to “spouses and minor children” — thus presumably changing the F3 and F4 visas, used for US citizens to bring adult children and siblings, respectively, to the US, as well as an unlimited visa for citizens to sponsor their parents. (Reports indicate that people currently in line for those visas — a backlog that extends for years — will be able to remain in line.)"

I heard a Liberal woman on CNN who was adamant that the USA should keep all illegal workers and accept all people who show up at our borders because "they are just trying to improve their lives"!!!  Which of course is one of the silliest rationales I have heard since after travelling the world for decades I have never met anyone who is intentionally trying to ruin their life!!!  I have however met:

• People who have beliefs and behaviors who make their life worse.
• People who work to improve their lives in their home country.

So do you think the Far Left and Far Right can swallow their pride long enough to pass something that is as common sense as this proposal?  Or are they going to stay entrenched in their near religious zealotry?

Trump to Testify Under Oath?

I have to wonder what an oath means to a serial liar like Trump?
Does he even know when he is stating an untruth?
Do you think we will get to hear his version of the truth?
Or is his statement just another lie?


CNN Trump Wants to Testify Under Oath


And the true Trump Believers still puzzle me.  They keep coming to his aid to defend his amoral behavior no matter what is uncovered.  Now I agree that Stormy Daniels is smoking hot, but that does not excuse Trumps behavior.


Washington Examiner Stormy Daniels Feels Bad
CNN Graham say Trump is a Changed Person


Why is it so hard for them to say that the man is a snake, but he is our snake?

The Talking Stick

I love this story of common sense and good process, maybe there is hope for our politicians.  CNN Talking Stick and Kisses  Here is how Covey explains it.


By the way, I got to the airport at ~4 AM to find out that my 6 AM flight thru Detroit was now an 8:30 AM flight thru Seattle. The joys of business travel... My point is I have some time to write.

Did the DEMs Lose the Shutdown?

Well I am really hoping the airport is operational at 6 AM tomorrow... I am heading for Detroit and then Beijing again. (yippeee... :-( )  I'll check in when I can...

I think I agree with Ezra that the DEMs fared okay with the shutdown gambit.  They still have the leverage, the GOP knows they are serious, etc.  The big question is will all those idiots start acting like moderate adults or will they keep caving to their most extreme constituents?  Thoughts?

CNN How DEMS Lost the Shutdown?
VOX DEMs did not Cave
MinnPost Why?
MinnPost Outrage
VOX Shutdown

No Compromise Negotiations

From Government Shutdown Opinion

"President Trump has been clear on his goal for dealing with immigration. Along with a DACA fix, he wants increased security at the border, an end to chain migration, and an end to the visa lottery program."

After watching the morning shows, what amazes me most is that Trump, the supposedly superb negotiator, seems adamant that the DEMs should capitulate and give him every thing has requested.

Negotiate: "Bargaining (give and take) process between two or more parties (each with its own aims, needs, and viewpoints) seeking to discover a common ground and reach an agreement to settle a matter of mutual concern or resolve a conflict. "

Have I missed the part where Trump has been willing to give anything to help resolve this government shutdown?  Instead he sits there tweeting names and insisting that the Senate should invoke the Nuclear Option.  Which would really screw him next year if / when the DEMs take the Senate back.

At least his staged photos spread some joy. :-)

Washington is Broken

After listening to NPR on the way in to work, where GOPers were pointing fingers at the DEMs and DEMers were pointing fingers at at the GOP...  It is hard to disagree with CNN Washington is Broken.


Though Trump is absolutely failing as a leader, it is hard to see What would make Americans Happy?  "We the People" seem to be splitting into 2 very stubborn and self centered camps.


I have no idea how to change / improve on this.  And how do we expect politicians to better at representing the people, when we have so little common ground?

Desperate Need for Political Center

Eric posted and interesting piece. MinnPost New poll shows our desperate need for a political center. Here is my first comment on it. (hopefully)

I agree with you totally though I have no idea how to get there.  I have been playing the Devil's Advocate to people on the Far Left and Far Right for almost 10 years now and it seems folks are pretty much right where they started or even further split. 

Depending on the day I am now attacked for being a socialist by those on the Far Right, or a Conservative by those on the Far Left. And I think what concerns me most that it seems the level of anger is growing.  On the upside people are passionate about their beliefs.  On the down side it seems they are seeing the folks with different beliefs as an "enemy".  

And with people so strongly invested in confirmation bias, and mostly communicating with those of like minds...  I have no idea how to bring this nation back together. I really am starting to miss the days when we watched the same national news and had to actually talk to a mix of people. 

Here was my attempt to try and understand what is center and what would make Americans happy.  Unfortunately it did not get too far. :-(
G2A What would make Americans Happy

MN Bonding Battle Begins

I am guessing the GOP controlled legislatures are not going to be very friendly with Gov Dayton after his attempt to defund them last year... Thankfully they had enough in reserves to get by, though I am sure this is going to be a very confrontational year in MN.  Thoughts?
MN Bonding Fight Starts Again


We even made it in WAPO

Minnesota Regions

Greta posted a cool piece at MinnPost.

There is more than one Greater Minnesota

Reminder: Our family farm is in SW MN.