As we have learned Donald J. Trump has been being investigated for his possibly being compromised by the Russians. It was after he fired James Comey that the investigation began. So the answer that DJT demanded from Comey about whether or not he was under investigation turns out to have been, "Not yet."
From his erratic behavior in the many months since then a pattern has arisen that says clearly that DJT was and is compromised by the Russians although the report has yet to be released on the definitive answers to all those questions. Along the way we have also seen the nature of his appointments to offices and his attempts to compromise others. The one that is the most baffling at the moment is all about Mitch McConnell. I mean, Mitchy's wife was appointed as Secretary of Transportation. This accomplished bringing Ol' Mitch into the fold. Later a relative of Mitchy was appointed to a position within the Department of Labor. Mitch now acts to stop any legislation that would put DJT in a difficult position. The Trumpster shuts down government and Mitchy won't allow the Senate to vote on funding the government because it will not have the funding for the wall that DJT wants. The normal way this would work is that the bill would pass, as it has already, and be sent to Trump's desk for signature. Then the President would veto, either by directly vetoing or by a pocket veto and the Senate would have the opportunity to override the veto by voting again. Mitch shows he is compromised by not allowing the Constitutionally authorized method of handling the problem to work its way out. He has short stopped democracy.
Something to ponder is what steps the Senators will take to restore democracy. It seems likely that given the recent history of the Senate they (the Republican majority) are not going to do anything. If that is the case what steps can the rest of the country take to remedy this problem. "The Wall" is just a symptom of Trump's corruption and the shut down is now the Trump/McConnell Shut Down.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Saturday, November 24, 2018
The Wreckage Expands
When Ronald Reagan began saying that the most feared words to hear were,"I'm from the government, how can I help?" he ushered in an era of hate for what the power of good government can be. It has been a conservative tenant ever since that government doing anything will screw up the results.
Never mind that an incredible variety of wonderful and positive things have happened because we did them together through government. It was government that put together our interstate highway system. It is government that maintains that system when starved for the requisite cash by politicians under the guise of "fiscal responsibility". For many years it was government that created an efficient and inexpensive educational system. It is government that sees to our national security and defense. Likewise, it is government that creates commerce by creating the rules for commerce. The list of things that have been and should be the job of government is very, very long. And yet, it is the naysayers who have given us the idea that government should be put in shackles and that all the jobs that it does for us should be privatized and monetized. This is the rich telling us they are not rich enough and that we should be obliged to them for all that they can do on our behalf. It is also bullshit.
We need the Constitutionally mandated Postal Service to be separate from government and not privatized. It works as an example of the best mail service on the planet. While it is overseen by politicians it is still separate from government. The conservative politicians that have tried to ruin the U.S.P.S. by making it set aside enough money to fund the retirement system for that entity into the future 75 years are, in essence, trying to privatize it. They want someone to profit from delivering the mail. They want less competition for FedEx and UPS. We have a service that works works really well when we allow it to. This semi-governmental example is instructive because it something that is fostered by government and says to us loudly and clearly that people are capable of creating systems that work near perfectly and efficiently without making the rich richer.
The problem occurs when a politician becomes the property of the rich and promotes the desires of his/her owners. It would be like making all roads toll roads. Tolls when run by government are simply a method for capitalizing the work needed to make the road happen in the first place and expire when the road is paid for. Tolls when run in a for profit way never end. The profit of the few is reason that they exist.
Never mind that an incredible variety of wonderful and positive things have happened because we did them together through government. It was government that put together our interstate highway system. It is government that maintains that system when starved for the requisite cash by politicians under the guise of "fiscal responsibility". For many years it was government that created an efficient and inexpensive educational system. It is government that sees to our national security and defense. Likewise, it is government that creates commerce by creating the rules for commerce. The list of things that have been and should be the job of government is very, very long. And yet, it is the naysayers who have given us the idea that government should be put in shackles and that all the jobs that it does for us should be privatized and monetized. This is the rich telling us they are not rich enough and that we should be obliged to them for all that they can do on our behalf. It is also bullshit.
We need the Constitutionally mandated Postal Service to be separate from government and not privatized. It works as an example of the best mail service on the planet. While it is overseen by politicians it is still separate from government. The conservative politicians that have tried to ruin the U.S.P.S. by making it set aside enough money to fund the retirement system for that entity into the future 75 years are, in essence, trying to privatize it. They want someone to profit from delivering the mail. They want less competition for FedEx and UPS. We have a service that works works really well when we allow it to. This semi-governmental example is instructive because it something that is fostered by government and says to us loudly and clearly that people are capable of creating systems that work near perfectly and efficiently without making the rich richer.
The problem occurs when a politician becomes the property of the rich and promotes the desires of his/her owners. It would be like making all roads toll roads. Tolls when run by government are simply a method for capitalizing the work needed to make the road happen in the first place and expire when the road is paid for. Tolls when run in a for profit way never end. The profit of the few is reason that they exist.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Nancy Pelosi
We have had a forceful plague of those saying they don't want to see Nancy Pelosi as the next Speaker of the House. They vilify her. They attack her. Based on no information and certainly no theories of clarity we are told that Pelosi is not an effective leader.
To this I have to say, "Nonsense".
The Republicans seem to think that no one can see that they fear her effectiveness. They are determined to undermine her before she retakes the seat. Yes, it's that simple. They have patterned this attack after the longer one they waged against Hilary Clinton. Giving us vague innuendo to feel bad about Pelosi.
You may have forgotten that Pelosi led a filibuster to protect Dreamers. You may have forgotten her leadership in the fight for the ACA (Obamacare). You may have a bunch of angst built up over what we need to accomplish in the coming period before the 2020 election. The battle for the Speakership is opposed by five less than progressive folks in the Democratic party. The Progressive Caucus has already approached Pelosi to see if we can put powerful progressives in Committee head positions and she is amenable to this direction... more so than her opposition (the Corporate Dem's). While Pelosi is not a super progressive herself she IS aiming at what the country seems to support now (finally).
Before we throw her under the bus we should be thankful that by taking on another term as Speaker she can mentor future leaders to do the job that will need to be done. There is a lot to learn from her.
To this I have to say, "Nonsense".
The Republicans seem to think that no one can see that they fear her effectiveness. They are determined to undermine her before she retakes the seat. Yes, it's that simple. They have patterned this attack after the longer one they waged against Hilary Clinton. Giving us vague innuendo to feel bad about Pelosi.
You may have forgotten that Pelosi led a filibuster to protect Dreamers. You may have forgotten her leadership in the fight for the ACA (Obamacare). You may have a bunch of angst built up over what we need to accomplish in the coming period before the 2020 election. The battle for the Speakership is opposed by five less than progressive folks in the Democratic party. The Progressive Caucus has already approached Pelosi to see if we can put powerful progressives in Committee head positions and she is amenable to this direction... more so than her opposition (the Corporate Dem's). While Pelosi is not a super progressive herself she IS aiming at what the country seems to support now (finally).
Before we throw her under the bus we should be thankful that by taking on another term as Speaker she can mentor future leaders to do the job that will need to be done. There is a lot to learn from her.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Decrying Socialism
There is a constant attack by the right wing talkers on socialism. They say that we should all take personal responsibility for everything. They go on and on about how the lefties just want free everything. They work to obscure that we are the ones who will pay for all that "free" stuff AND that we will pay less than their system of privatization and profit. It is a tenant of their faith that socialists are bad.
Let's look at that for a bit. The recent example of the tax scam comes to mind. It was an example of the richest right wingers fully believing in a socialist agenda... as long as it only benefits them. It was a transfer of wealth from the poorest to the richest. It was socialism for the rich.
There have been plenty of other examples of course. Like the way we import oil and other goods into the country under the watchful eyes of our military. The rich and the companies they own cannot afford to protect these things long enough to bring them to market but if we spread the cost over all of the tax payers, well then, the rich don't have to pay their fair share. They say that it is because the rest of us benefit from these goods so we should pay this cost instead of them. We would have to pay them anyway to get these things into the country if the military were privately financed by them. This is especially true in the extractive (mining) industries but applies to the manufactured goods as well. In any case, this is the cry they put up when they want us to pay for their profit and keep their profit at the highest level possible. In the meantime they make sure that there is a loud batch of proponents for the way they have rigged the system to support their socialist agenda to benefit themselves.
This is an especially old story. It applies to feudal societies as much to a modern, complex "free market" capitalist society. Rile up the little guy so that they do not clearly perceive that their pockets are being picked. There is considerably more to that story line but for now just come see this point with clarity. The rich run the world and they only let their system of one way socialism to prevail. They do not allow us to actually rule ourselves and they will strongly block any real democracy.
Let's look at that for a bit. The recent example of the tax scam comes to mind. It was an example of the richest right wingers fully believing in a socialist agenda... as long as it only benefits them. It was a transfer of wealth from the poorest to the richest. It was socialism for the rich.
There have been plenty of other examples of course. Like the way we import oil and other goods into the country under the watchful eyes of our military. The rich and the companies they own cannot afford to protect these things long enough to bring them to market but if we spread the cost over all of the tax payers, well then, the rich don't have to pay their fair share. They say that it is because the rest of us benefit from these goods so we should pay this cost instead of them. We would have to pay them anyway to get these things into the country if the military were privately financed by them. This is especially true in the extractive (mining) industries but applies to the manufactured goods as well. In any case, this is the cry they put up when they want us to pay for their profit and keep their profit at the highest level possible. In the meantime they make sure that there is a loud batch of proponents for the way they have rigged the system to support their socialist agenda to benefit themselves.
This is an especially old story. It applies to feudal societies as much to a modern, complex "free market" capitalist society. Rile up the little guy so that they do not clearly perceive that their pockets are being picked. There is considerably more to that story line but for now just come see this point with clarity. The rich run the world and they only let their system of one way socialism to prevail. They do not allow us to actually rule ourselves and they will strongly block any real democracy.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Considering
Something to ponder came up recently.
Let's imagine that Robert Mueller has some patience. Let's further imagine that he can capture both Donald Trump and Mike Pence in his report of the sweeping corruption that is the Trump administration. Enough corruption and collusion to be able to eliminate them both from government at the same time. If it could be done after the new House of Representatives is in session it creates an opportunity to fix several things at once. We will come back to that in a moment.
Currently DJT has appointed a person to head the Justice Department who is technically unqualified (Matt Whitaker) so that Mueller's problem is that he has to keep the investigation alive and viable long enough for his patience to be useful. Imagine that Matt Whitaker enter his office after having had a good talking to by the departments ethics folks. He has a choice to make and while we might think it an easy choice not doubt he will be conflicted. He clearly should recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation but likely he will not do that. DJT claims he does not know Whitaker but that too is clearly not the case. Whitaker is known to have briefed DJT several time over that last several months so he does, indeed, know Whitaker very well. Imagine further again, that Whitaker is foolish enough to command that Mueller turn over all investigative material and Whitaker starts to cut funding to the investigation. On Mueller's part I think there is reason for him to say to Whitaker, "I'm sorry but I cannot recognize your authority to do any budget cutting or demanding of records." At which point we could see a protracted battle over authority and the now Democratic House of Representatives would bring their spine to full stiffness and enter the fray. There would need to be a block of some sort to keep this mess out of the Supreme Court. Congressional hearings and such could delay Mueller's need to present his facts if he isn't quite ready or to proceed if he is. As an aside this is where I should mention that full disclosure, so despised by the DJT lot, is one reason we cannot fully see how often Whitaker and DJT met in the preceding months. DJT's administration does NOT disclose to the public the White House log of visitors as previous administrations have done. It likely should be a side thread that at some near point the Congress, as a point of law, makes it necessary for all future White Houses to make public that information.
So, the stage is set for what you might not see coming our way in this scenario.
Mueller springs into action divulging the finding of his investigation. Congress sets in motion hearings and proceedings that lead to the expulsion of BOTH Trump and Pence from serving out their terms AND because Nanacy Pelosi is again the Speaker of the House succession of the office of the President makes her the new President! Let us further say that she is not inclined to pardon either DJT or Pence we could see the resultant jailing of a former President.
What can be learned from this exercise, I ask you?
Let's imagine that Robert Mueller has some patience. Let's further imagine that he can capture both Donald Trump and Mike Pence in his report of the sweeping corruption that is the Trump administration. Enough corruption and collusion to be able to eliminate them both from government at the same time. If it could be done after the new House of Representatives is in session it creates an opportunity to fix several things at once. We will come back to that in a moment.
Currently DJT has appointed a person to head the Justice Department who is technically unqualified (Matt Whitaker) so that Mueller's problem is that he has to keep the investigation alive and viable long enough for his patience to be useful. Imagine that Matt Whitaker enter his office after having had a good talking to by the departments ethics folks. He has a choice to make and while we might think it an easy choice not doubt he will be conflicted. He clearly should recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation but likely he will not do that. DJT claims he does not know Whitaker but that too is clearly not the case. Whitaker is known to have briefed DJT several time over that last several months so he does, indeed, know Whitaker very well. Imagine further again, that Whitaker is foolish enough to command that Mueller turn over all investigative material and Whitaker starts to cut funding to the investigation. On Mueller's part I think there is reason for him to say to Whitaker, "I'm sorry but I cannot recognize your authority to do any budget cutting or demanding of records." At which point we could see a protracted battle over authority and the now Democratic House of Representatives would bring their spine to full stiffness and enter the fray. There would need to be a block of some sort to keep this mess out of the Supreme Court. Congressional hearings and such could delay Mueller's need to present his facts if he isn't quite ready or to proceed if he is. As an aside this is where I should mention that full disclosure, so despised by the DJT lot, is one reason we cannot fully see how often Whitaker and DJT met in the preceding months. DJT's administration does NOT disclose to the public the White House log of visitors as previous administrations have done. It likely should be a side thread that at some near point the Congress, as a point of law, makes it necessary for all future White Houses to make public that information.
So, the stage is set for what you might not see coming our way in this scenario.
Mueller springs into action divulging the finding of his investigation. Congress sets in motion hearings and proceedings that lead to the expulsion of BOTH Trump and Pence from serving out their terms AND because Nanacy Pelosi is again the Speaker of the House succession of the office of the President makes her the new President! Let us further say that she is not inclined to pardon either DJT or Pence we could see the resultant jailing of a former President.
What can be learned from this exercise, I ask you?
Monday, November 5, 2018
Voter Fraud?? No such thing.
The Republican right wingers have been pounding this over and over again saying we need protection against voter fraud. THERE IS NO VOTER FRAUD. There are maybe a couple of times in the last 50 years that there was anyone convicted of voter fraud. It is not because someone is getting away with voter fraud it is because there is nobody committing the offense... period.
On the other hand the Republicans are massively committing ELECTION FRAUD for all the elections since Richard Nixon was President. It has been proven that Nixon committed treason and election fraud in his win. He had conversations with the South Viet Namese officials asking them not to accept the peace terms offered by Lyndon Johnson at the time. He was recorded doing it and was never charged with it. Johnson pointed it out to Everett Dirkson who agreed with Johnson but nothing happened. Since that time Ronald Reagan and every Republican candidate for President has done something similar.
Currently we see voter suppression efforts by Republicans like Chris Kobach of Kansas and Brian Kemp of Georgia having a deep effect. This has yet to be called out but it needs to put these folks in jail not rewarded.
On the other hand the Republicans are massively committing ELECTION FRAUD for all the elections since Richard Nixon was President. It has been proven that Nixon committed treason and election fraud in his win. He had conversations with the South Viet Namese officials asking them not to accept the peace terms offered by Lyndon Johnson at the time. He was recorded doing it and was never charged with it. Johnson pointed it out to Everett Dirkson who agreed with Johnson but nothing happened. Since that time Ronald Reagan and every Republican candidate for President has done something similar.
Currently we see voter suppression efforts by Republicans like Chris Kobach of Kansas and Brian Kemp of Georgia having a deep effect. This has yet to be called out but it needs to put these folks in jail not rewarded.
Blending In
As for who is the President of the United Sates one has to wonder if we are governed by Donald J Trump (DJT) or Donald Duck? I mean, the President cannot be as ignorant as he seems (or claims) to be. The item from about a week ago was DJT saying that he always tried to tell the truth... when he could. This stuck with me for obvious reasons. DJT's problem is that he does not seem capable of telling what truth is and therefore he is unable to tell the truth because he does not know what the truth might be.
Beyond that there are a number of items that are distressing right now. On the horizon is the possibility of a Constitutional Convention. This is where the 1% has been driving us for quite some time. The rich are attempting to rewrite our constitution in a way that will favor them even more than they already are. They require Republican Governors in 38 states to bring this about. They need adherence to their ruthless "free market" economic policies. Let me say right now, there is no such thing as a free market. It cannot exist. All markets exist because there have rules created to make them happen. Within those rules are the ways in which it is allowed or not allowed to make money, exchange goods and services or be taxed. Taxes are also one of the ways in which we control how this works. It is taxes that shape the market. It is taxes and the spending of them that determine our humanity or lack of humanity. A Constitutional Convention run by the 1% is the greatest threat to a democracy continuing to exist in the USA.
Beyond that there are a number of items that are distressing right now. On the horizon is the possibility of a Constitutional Convention. This is where the 1% has been driving us for quite some time. The rich are attempting to rewrite our constitution in a way that will favor them even more than they already are. They require Republican Governors in 38 states to bring this about. They need adherence to their ruthless "free market" economic policies. Let me say right now, there is no such thing as a free market. It cannot exist. All markets exist because there have rules created to make them happen. Within those rules are the ways in which it is allowed or not allowed to make money, exchange goods and services or be taxed. Taxes are also one of the ways in which we control how this works. It is taxes that shape the market. It is taxes and the spending of them that determine our humanity or lack of humanity. A Constitutional Convention run by the 1% is the greatest threat to a democracy continuing to exist in the USA.
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