Of Unicorn Budgets and Rats Fleeing Sinking Ships - Trump Blog #29

The President's budget is a Republican douche bag wet dream. It contains huge tax cuts for the very rich while hurting everyone else and devastating the poor. Balanced budget? ... that will be delivered by unicorns with Bernie Madoff style accounting techniques and Jedi mind tricks. Not much that looks like reality in it. Luckily it will die quickly.

And now, his first international trip was a success ... mostly because he only embarrassed us a little bit. Well, maybe not a little bit, maybe less than we expected. The bar is low and getting lower. As if you didn't see this yet, here is a video of our leading pushing aside the prime minister of Montenegro to get to the front of a photo op.  No class!

5/24/17 - Trump's staff was woefully unprepared for this trip to the Middle East and the Vatican. (Source: Washington Post)

5/25/17 - The Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) report on the latest changes to Trumpcare are in. It is still awful. Now only 23 million Americans would lose their health care as opposed to 24 million from the older version.  The states it would badly affect the most, the red states (aka state that voted for Trump). (Source: Washington Post)

5/26/17 - Trump wants Germany to stop selling so many cars here in the US, even though the cars they sell here are manufactured here. (Source: Slate)

5/27/17 - Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, established a secret communications channel with the Russian ambassador in December to discuss the Syria civil war and other policy issues. The big question is, if that is all they were talking about, then why was the channel developed in secret? (Source: New York Times)

5/28/17 - Trump was chummy with Middle Easterners on his first trip abroad, but he was less successful with our oldest allies in Europe. So much so that German Chancellor Merkel stated that they could no longer rely on America anymore. (Source: Washington Post)

5/29/17 - The president wants us to believe two contradictory statements: (1) when a leak comes out of the White House, it isn't real and the report is "fake news," and (2) he is doing whatever can be done to stop the leaks (remember the ones that don't exist). (Source: Washington Post)

5/30/17 - Not only is Trump's administration understaffed, but it is getting thinner as major staffers resign. His communications director, Dubke, just resigned. Here come the rats fleeing the sinking ship. (Source: Washington Post)

Prior Trump Logs:
Issue # 1 - posted November 15th, 2016
Issue # 2 - posted November 22nd, 2016
Issue # 3 - posted November 29th, 2016
Issue # 4 - posted December 6, 2016
Issue # 5 - posted December 12, 2016
Issue # 6 - posted December 19, 2016
Issue # 7 - posted December 26, 2016
Issue # 8 - posted January 3, 2017
Issue # 9 - posted January 10, 2017
Issue #10 - posted January 17, 2017
Issue #11 - posted January 24, 2017
Issue #12 - posted January 31, 2017
Issue #13 - posted February 7, 2017
Issue #14 - posted February 14, 2017
Issue #15 - posted February 21, 2017
Issue #16 - posted February 28, 2017
Issue #17 - posted March 7, 2017
Issue #18 - posted March 14, 2017
Issue #19 - posted March 21, 2017
Issue #20 - posted March 28, 2017
Issue #21 - posted April 5, 2017
Issue #22 - posted April 11, 2017
Issue #23 - posted April 18, 2017
Issue #24 - posted April 25, 2017
Issue #25 - posted May 2, 2017
Issue #26 - posted May 9, 2017
Issue #27 - posted May 16, 2017
Issue #28 - posted May 23, 2017

The Slow March Toward Impeachment: Trump Log #28

We do seem to be on a road to impeachment of our President. We must remember for a president to be removed from office, not only does he need to be found guilty by the House of Representative, but the Senate as well. We have had two presidents that have been impeached by the House, Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, but both of them were acquitted by the Senate and finished their term as president. With both Houses of Congress being the same party as the president, the evidence against him will have to be overwhelming and it will have to be up to us, the people, to urge our representatives to remove him. It is hard to believe that this will happen until after the mid-terms, but we can dream. Can we not?

5/17/17 - In Comey's memos of his private meetings with the president, it was revealed that not only did the president ask him to drop the Flynn investigation but Trump asked him to consider putting journalists in jail. (Source: New York Times)

5/18/17 - Flynn told Trump's transition team, before the inauguration, that he was already under investigation by the FBI for secretly lobbying Turkey during the election. (Source: New York Times)

5/19/17 - We have had White Houses reeking with scandal in the past, but all of them have been fully staffed. Trump's administration isn't even close to fully staffed with some major high and mid-level positions unfilled.  Who wants to join an administration that is sinking?  (Source: New York Times)

5/20/17 - Trump is driving up insurance rates and blaming Obamacare. (Source: LA Times)

5/21/17 - Under Trump's budget, federal employees would get a very tiny raise, but would take a really big hit on their retirement programs. (Source: Washington Post)

5/22/17 - Trump's budget will devastate the poor. It will cut spending on the social safety net by $1 trillion over the next ten years including cuts to CHIP, Medicaid and food assistance. (Source: Washington Post)

5/23/17 - In March, Trump urged two intelligence directors to publicly deny the existence of any evidence of collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Both of them refused to comply. (Source: Washington Post)

Prior Trump Logs:
Issue # 1 - posted November 15th, 2016
Issue # 2 - posted November 22nd, 2016
Issue # 3 - posted November 29th, 2016
Issue # 4 - posted December 6, 2016
Issue # 5 - posted December 12, 2016
Issue # 6 - posted December 19, 2016
Issue # 7 - posted December 26, 2016
Issue # 8 - posted January 3, 2017
Issue # 9 - posted January 10, 2017
Issue #10 - posted January 17, 2017
Issue #11 - posted January 24, 2017
Issue #12 - posted January 31, 2017
Issue #13 - posted February 7, 2017
Issue #14 - posted February 14, 2017
Issue #15 - posted February 21, 2017
Issue #16 - posted February 28, 2017
Issue #17 - posted March 7, 2017
Issue #18 - posted March 14, 2017
Issue #19 - posted March 21, 2017
Issue #20 - posted March 28, 2017
Issue #21 - posted April 5, 2017
Issue #22 - posted April 11, 2017
Issue #23 - posted April 18, 2017
Issue #24 - posted April 25, 2017
Issue #25 - posted May 2, 2017
Issue #26 - posted May 9, 2017
Issue #27 - posted May 16, 2017

The War on Science ... From the Left

I've considered myself a liberal most of my adult life. As soon as I knew the difference, I have leaned left. Most of the stuff I see going on with the right wing of American politics is difficult to take, stomach or comprehend. The right wing assault on science, in the forms of creationism or climate change denial, is particularly alarming. But I find this far more alarming when the assault on science comes from the left. The idea that the progressive left is the friend to science is a myth. Many of them are as anti-science as the conservatives and an argument could be made that they have been more effective in squashing science because they do it from within (as teachers, bloggers or journalists) as opposed from above (politicians and businessmen).

1) Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) are safe. Here in Vermont genetically modified foods have to be labeled even though there is no proof that they are dangerous in any way. Labeling it is harmless and, I guess, people have a right to know what is in their food, but many people assume that it must be bad if it is labeled. My friends on the left often refer to it as "franken-food," yet genetically modifying food has been going on for thousands of years by selective breeding. The strawberries you buy in the supermarket look and taste nothing like wild strawberries. Now that we do such selective breeding in a laboratory by altering plants on a genetic level, it is scary to some. It is a common trope among my liberal friends that anything natural is safe and mad-made is not, but there is no science behind this. Because GMOs are still reasonable new, research continues. If you don't eat them because you think that they need more research that is fair. But to outright claim that they are dangerous is pure conjecture and not science, and sometimes it is just paranoia.

2) Vaccines don't cause autism and are overwhelmingly safe. In all, vaccines have brought seven major human diseases under some degree of control: smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, yellow fever, whopping cough, polio and measles. They have saved millions of lives. In 1998 a study was published in Great Britain that claimed a link between autism and vaccinations. It involved only 12 children and not only contained falsified data but severe conflicts of interest. It has been discredited and its main author lost his license, but this idea is still around and endorsed by some very famous people, most of them on the left. In 2017 already, ten states have reported measles outbreaks with over 60 deaths. The majority of the people affected were unvaccinated. The measles vaccine is not 100% effective, so some vaccinated will die if they are surrounded by the unvaccinated. Even as the evidence of vaccine safety piles up, so does the number of non-vaccinated. According to a number of articles I have read in the Washington Post and Mother Jones, this belief isn't higher among liberals but has broad belief across the political spectrum. I find this hard to believe. This week alone, I have had seen three of my friends on Facebook post something stupid about vaccines. So perhaps it is just me. I've never see any such thing from anyone that I'd consider conservative. Creationism and global warming denying yes, but my conservative friends have vaccinated all their children.

There was once a time in this country where the American university was a bastion of free speech. This time is over. When places like Middlebury College (here in Vermont) or UC Berkley erupt in violence over speakers visiting, we have to start asking the question: Is the left any better than the right? We used to be the adults in the room!  You don't fight bad ideas by squashing speech. You fight bad ideas with good ideas. If there is bad science in Charles Murray's "The Bell Curve," you prove it with good science.

If you only listen to speech that you agree with, then you are just guilty of confirmation bias as an anti-vaxer or global warming denier that scours the Internet looking for articles that justifies their beliefs. Liberals are supposed to know better. Having an open mind means letting it all in (within reason), evaluating, culling ... embracing the good stuff and rejecting the bad ... repeat repeat repeat.

Loyalty Over Honesty - Trump Log #27

In the early days of Trump's presidency he met with James Comey, then head of the FBI, in a private dinner. He asked Comey if he had his loyalty. Comey responded that he had his "honesty." A few minutes went by and Trump asked the same question and Comey responded with the same answer. Eventually, he got Comey to pledge "honest loyalty." I am not sure what that is other than someone diplomatically saying that he agrees that they disagree. (Source: New York Times)

Every president must grapple with this to some extent. It is obvious that Trump is all in on loyalty and doesn't give two shits about honesty. He will reward loyalty. He will fire honesty. So expect more lies, more smoke screens and more covering of the president's ass.

Trump Log:
5/10/17 - The big news of the day was the firing of FBI director James Comey. No one believes for a minute the reason Trump gives for doing so.  FBI directors usually stay in their position for ten year stints and then leave quietly. Only once, before now, has a director left early. (Source: New York Times)

5/11/17 - Our president doesn't like the American press, but apparently the Russian press is okay. In his first meeting with a top Russian official, he allowed the Russian press into a closed door session, but not the American press. This happened shortly after he fired Comey who was investigating the Russian tampering of the election. (Source: New York Times)

5/12/17 - Trump threatens to cancel Whitehouse briefings because his staff isn't capable of telling the truth. No, this is a not an Onion story or any other satire publication. It is real. (Source: Washington Post)

5/13/17 - Trump publicly threatens Comey on Twitter. Not that we expect him to act presidential, but it would be nice at some point. (Source: PBS)

5/14/17 - For years China has denied Trump several score of trademarks. Trump changed his mind on China's Taiwan policy and his trademark were approved shortly there after. Is anyone ever going to call him on the emolument clause in the Constitution? (Source: New York Times)

5/15/17 - You want to manipulate the President, just pass him some fake news. That'll do it. (Source: Politico).

5/16/17 - During his meeting with Russian diplomats earlier this week, Trump leaks some pretty serious classified information to the Russians on a whim. This was information provided by a Middle Eastern ally in confidence. What he did is not illegal but it is certainly questionable. In the future, if our allies cannot trust our presidents with vital information, then why would they share any information with us. As Trump said on the campaign trail: "We can't have someone in the Oval Office who doesn't understand the word confidential or classified." (Source: Washington Post)

Prior Trump Logs:
Issue # 1 - posted November 15th, 2016
Issue # 2 - posted November 22nd, 2016
Issue # 3 - posted November 29th, 2016
Issue # 4 - posted December 6, 2016
Issue # 5 - posted December 12, 2016
Issue # 6 - posted December 19, 2016
Issue # 7 - posted December 26, 2016
Issue # 8 - posted January 3, 2017
Issue # 9 - posted January 10, 2017
Issue #10 - posted January 17, 2017
Issue #11 - posted January 24, 2017
Issue #12 - posted January 31, 2017
Issue #13 - posted February 7, 2017
Issue #14 - posted February 14, 2017
Issue #15 - posted February 21, 2017
Issue #16 - posted February 28, 2017
Issue #17 - posted March 7, 2017
Issue #18 - posted March 14, 2017
Issue #19 - posted March 21, 2017
Issue #20 - posted March 28, 2017
Issue #21 - posted April 5, 2017
Issue #22 - posted April 11, 2017
Issue #23 - posted April 18, 2017
Issue #24 - posted April 25, 2017
Issue #25 - posted May 2, 2017
Issue #26 - posted May 9, 2017

Out Nixoning Nixon - Trump log #26

FBI Directory Comey was fired yesterday. You really have to wonder what he uncovered. Now that he has been fired, we will probably never know. Perhaps in a best seller, with so much of this being classified, maybe not. But Trump has to know that everyone in the country, that has a pulse, is thinking that he is guilty of colluding with Russia in the hacking of his opponent during the 2016 election. Now we wait to see what Trump-friendly-bot he replaces Comey with.

Time for an independent prosecutor!

This week's Trump Log:
5/3/17 - Is it possible that our president has lost his mind?  (Source: New York Times)

5/4/17 -Trump and Secretary of State Tillerson are not only ignoring human rights abuses but may even be complicit in the abuses. (Source: Slate)

5/5/17 - Trump proposes cutting the budget of the office that has been fighting the opioid crisis by 95%.  This is the latest in a series of acts that shows it is obvious that he is not series about one of his campaign promises to eliminate the opioid crisis. (Source: Politico)

5/6/17 - Obamacare is flailing but Trump is one of the big reasons it is. (Source: Washington Post)

5/7/17 - A border wall will not only NOT stop illegal immigration, but it is going to make a lot of money for smugglers by driving up the prices. (Source: New York Times)

5/8/17 - No one thinks giving billionaires tax cuts will stimulate the economy ... especially economists. (Source: Washington Post)

5/9/17 - You can add the country of Turkey to list of nations whose relationship with the US have to fractured due to Trump's ineptitude. (Source: Washington Post)

Prior Trump Logs:
Issue # 1 - posted November 15th, 2016
Issue # 2 - posted November 22nd, 2016
Issue # 3 - posted November 29th, 2016
Issue # 4 - posted December 6, 2016
Issue # 5 - posted December 12, 2016
Issue # 6 - posted December 19, 2016
Issue # 7 - posted December 26, 2016
Issue # 8 - posted January 3, 2017
Issue # 9 - posted January 10, 2017
Issue #10 - posted January 17, 2017
Issue #11 - posted January 24, 2017
Issue #12 - posted January 31, 2017
Issue #13 - posted February 7, 2017
Issue #14 - posted February 14, 2017
Issue #15 - posted February 21, 2017
Issue #16 - posted February 28, 2017
Issue #17 - posted March 7, 2017
Issue #18 - posted March 14, 2017
Issue #19 - posted March 21, 2017
Issue #20 - posted March 28, 2017
Issue #21 - posted April 5, 2017
Issue #22 - posted April 11, 2017
Issue #23 - posted April 18, 2017
Issue #24 - posted April 25, 2017
Issue #25 - posted May 2, 2017

The Burden of Leadership - Trump Log #25

The one thing, other than the comedy, I like about the Trump administration is the perverse pleasure I take when they fail.  Surprisingly, I have had my share of pleasure this Spring due to their blatant incompetence.

The Republicans have control over both houses of Congress and the Presidency. They should be able to get a lot done, pass a budget and reform health care etc. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. They are such an incompetent group that they are going to shut down the government because they can't even get a budget passed. They cannot point at the Democrats this time. This is all theirs. The burden of leadership is all on them.

Trump Log:
4/26/17 - North Korea is a problem, probably the biggest on the world stage. Much of Trump's administration is understaffed and it is sorely lacking in Asia experts. (Source: Washington Post)

4/27/17 - Middle class and working class tax cuts boost the economy because when we get a tax cut, we run out and spend it, because money is tight. When the wealthy get a tax cut, it does nothing for the economy, because most of them don't even notice it ... not like the poor do, anyway. Yet Trump's tax cuts give big tax cuts to the extreme wealthy ignoring the date that brought him to the party. (Source: New York Times)

4/28/17 - Today is Trump's 99th day in office. Up to this point he has made 452 false and misleading statements. That's right, when you are President, we keep track of these things. (Source: Washington Post)

4/29/17 - We feared that Trump would start a trade war with China. That hasn't happened yet but even worse, a trade war with Canada has begun. In retaliation for Trump's Canadian timber policy, the Premier of British Columbia has banned thermal coal from their ports. The US uses the west coast Canadian ports on their way to Asia. This will badly hurt the coal industry, the industry he claimed to want to save. (Source: Sierra Club)

4/30/17- Trump's pandering to the NRA continues into his presidency. (Source: New York Times)

5/1/17 - Trump's praise for tyrants and strongmen continues. On the campaign it was Putin and Sadam Hussein. Now that he is in office it is Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-och and  Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. The latter has been invited to the White House. (Source: Washington Post)

5/2/17 - Trump wants a government shutdown. Other presidents wanted to avoid this at all costs, but he wants to use it as a bargaining chip ... as if you needed further proof that he doesn't care who he hurts to get what he wants. (Source: Washington Post)

Prior Trump Logs:
Issue # 1 - posted November 15th, 2016
Issue # 2 - posted November 22nd, 2016
Issue # 3 - posted November 29th, 2016
Issue # 4 - posted December 6, 2016
Issue # 5 - posted December 12, 2016
Issue # 6 - posted December 19, 2016
Issue # 7 - posted December 26, 2016
Issue # 8 - posted January 3, 2017
Issue # 9 - posted January 10, 2017
Issue #10 - posted January 17, 2017
Issue #11 - posted January 24, 2017
Issue #12 - posted January 31, 2017
Issue #13 - posted February 7, 2017
Issue #14 - posted February 14, 2017
Issue #15 - posted February 21, 2017
Issue #16 - posted February 28, 2017
Issue #17 - posted March 7, 2017
Issue #18 - posted March 14, 2017
Issue #19 - posted March 21, 2017
Issue #20 - posted March 28, 2017
Issue #21 - posted April 5, 2017
Issue #22 - posted April 11, 2017
Issue #23 - posted April 18, 2017
Issue #24 - posted April 25, 2017