The Lame Duck Session of a legislative body is the period after the election but before the new members are sworn in. This year's lame duck period is from November 6th 2018 and to January 3rd 2019. Almost two months will go by where Congress people, who were not re-elected, will get to vote. Congress does meet during this period and has done so since 1940.
The original reason we have a lame duck period is because our Constitution was written a long time ago. It took people a long time to come from Georgia or New Hampshire to arrive in DC or Philadelphia. Now that we have airplanes etc., the time period is no longer needed. As soon as a candidate has been certified, they could be sworn. Maybe the next day or the next week, if we want them to be present in DC.
Lame Duck Sessions, particularly, makes no sense on the state level. Clearly, newly elected officials don't need two months to get to their state capital to be sworn in. Some states do it immediately (like Florida) and twelve others do it within the same year as the election (Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Indiana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia). What is going on in Wisconsin and Michigan is unconscionable. If they did away with the Lame Duck, this wouldn't be happening.
Wisconsin voted for a Democratic Governor, Tony Evers, over incumbent Republican Scott Walker. Thanks to the magic of gerrymandering, they have had a unified Republican government since 2010 even though there are more registered Democrats who voted in that time. Now that they lost the state house, the Lame Duck Session in that state is voting on limiting the power of the governor. The new Democratic governor will have stricter limits on whom he can appoint to his administration and he will have stricter controls over his negotiation powers with the Federal government. They are also preventing him from pulling out of the lawsuit against the ACA (aka ObamaCare) which is a campaign promise he made. Republicans: circumventing the will of the voters across America.
Michigan is similar with a new Democratic Governor, Gretchen Whitmer. The lame duck state legislature has been fast cutting her power making it difficult for her to appoint officials and for her to shutdown the controversial Line 5 Pipeline which she campaigned so hard against. The state senate is also putting up barriers for the new Democratic Secretary of State to enforce campaign finance reform. They are also gutting the minimum wage and required family leave act that they themselves enacted. Republicans: we wrap ourselves in the American flag when you are looking but wipe our asses with it when you are not.
Some good has come out of Lame Duck Sessions.This is probably because people have nothing to lose. They are leaving office so they can go out on the limb to vote for something that they may not if they were staying in office. The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 was passed by the 111th Congress in one of these sessions. But overall, the Lame Duck Sessions are bad and really should be eliminated on state and federal level.
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Health Care and How to Win an Election in 2018
I agree with Conservatives on at least one thing, that the US has some of the greatest hospitals in the world. One of those great hospitals employees me. Wealthy people come from around the world to be treated at American hospitals. The problem with our health care system lies with not in the quality of our health care, but in its accessibility and its affordability. We are the only industrialized nation that doesn't have some sort of comprehensive socialized health care. Medicare is not comprehensive in that it only covers a small group of people: the elderly, government employees, Amtrak employees and the military (aka Tricare).
Medicare is great, not perfect, but for the most part very well run. In my twenty years as a Health Care IT professional, in dealing with health care payers, I rarely have problems with them or with commercial insurances like Aetna, Cigna and US Healthcare among many others. In contrast Medicaid is a nightmare. Each time I have to call them, while I sit on hold, for usually a very long time, I feel like I am falling into an abyss of red tape. They are understaffed, underfunded and not taken very seriously. When I do get someone on the phone, they often contradict the last person I talked to there. It is my impression that they are saying whatever they need to get me off the phone. This is very frustrating when you are just trying to get the health care providers the money they have coming to them. It is a wonder that the poor's health care bills ever get paid.
One of the problems is that people confuse Medicaid with Medicare because their names are so similar. Medicaid used to be called Welfare, but it was rebranded because of the negative connotations that Welfare elicits. It is government assistance for the extreme poor among us. This is probably why they are a mess. America doesn't prioritize the poor very highly and the poor doesn't have strong lobbyists fighting for them like the elderly do.
Those who follow the numbers have noticed that our health care system is getting worst, from a financial standpoint for the last few decades. It is untenable and will crash eventually. My wife said to me recently, in frustration, "Our health insurance sucks!" My response was "Everyone's health insurance sucks now. That is the problem." Costs are spiraling and health care payers are struggling to stay afloat. This isn't new. We've known about this as a society for quite some time. A few brave politicians have tried to tackle it. President Richard Nixon did, but then came Watergate and survival became his priority. President Clinton tried but that was a complete failure, but he did pass HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act) which was tremendous success at least from my viewpoint. Obama passed the ACA (Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare) and it was, by no means perfect, but it was a step in the right direction.
What HIPAA did for me, as an IT professional, is standardize things. Before HIPAA, insurance companies could demand you send them electronic files and/or paper for claims in any format they wanted. Each payer had a different requirement and the providers had to jump through hoops to get their money from them. After HIPAA, there are standards that everyone (payer, provider, government, commercial) have to follow. We have what are called 837 files for insurance claims. After they are approved, the payments come in 835 files. When there is a problem with one of these files, it is deemed HIPAA non-compliant and most of the time the errors you deal with are benign and common. Life is a lot easier now. This is why whenever I hear someone say that government isn't the answer to our health care woes, I reject it completely. Government can and does often make things better. Not perfect, but better.
How did our health care system get so bad? I blame Baylor University. I kid about this really. I've worked with people at Baylor and they are some of the nicest and capable people I've ever worked with. In the early 20th century, health care was not a big deal. Americans didn't spend a lot of money on it and only went to see a doctor until they were dying or very hurt. Baylor hospital had empty beds that they wanted to fill so they had an idea to offer a low cost payment plan that would allow people to come to the hospital for non-deathly matters. The first plan offered teachers 21 days of a hospital bed for $6 a year (equivalent to about $120.00 in today's cash). Other hospitals in the Dallas, Texas area came on board. Once the Great Depression hit, no one was going to the hospital because they didn't have the money even for cheap health care, so other hospitals came on board. This plan was called Blue Cross. In a short time, every state had a Blue Cross plan available. During World World II, President Roosevelt sign Executive Order 9250 as a means to control inflation. Wages were frozen. So employers found a way around this by offering benefits to attract hard to find employees. Health insurance being tied to your employment was born. When WW II ended, the American economy boomed with the rest of the industrialized world in tatters. Competition for good employees was high. By then, you could not compete without have an insurance plan for your employees. In 1943, the IRS deemed that health plans were tax exempt. This created a boom for anyone who wanted to start their own health insurance plan.
Nothing about this is set in stone. It is just an accident of history. This fee for service plan only drives up the cost of health care. Providers have financial incentive to provide more care in quantity, not quality. It has gotten to the point where the system is unsustainable. When the ACA was passed and your good plan was cancelled, it was going to be cancelled anyway. Insurance companies just timed the cancellation of these to coincide with the ACA's passing so they could scapegoat the government, rather than explain the hard realities to their customers. The American health care system is on the verge of collapse.
The 2018 mid-term election just took place on Tuesday this week. I am in amazement by two things: 1) Trump's ability to drive people to the polls. Both voters that hate him and love him, showed up in droves. We had the highest turn-out for a mid-term election in recent years. 2) Democrats were able to stay on message. It is not a simple thing, for a politician, particularly one leaning toward the left. I have never seen this before. They could have easily ran against Trump, but they didn't. They let him be his own worst enemy. They ran on health care. The Republicans tried to claim that they were the health care party but it is obvious to anyone paying attention that they are not. Many of them lied during their rallies and commercials that they supported protecting pre-existing conditions coverage. In regards to health care they had nothing to run on. They couldn't bring up their bullshit tax plan that no one other than billionaires liked. Americans are finally figuring out that something needs to be done with our health care woes and there is only one party that is doing anything.
Lets hope that the Democrats continue to stay on message and run this wave into the 2020 election. I don't know how to get to a Medicare For All. It seems to an insurmountable problem. But I know, the first thing we need is the political will. The Democrats will need your support to do this. Stay with them. Your life could depend on it.
Medicare is great, not perfect, but for the most part very well run. In my twenty years as a Health Care IT professional, in dealing with health care payers, I rarely have problems with them or with commercial insurances like Aetna, Cigna and US Healthcare among many others. In contrast Medicaid is a nightmare. Each time I have to call them, while I sit on hold, for usually a very long time, I feel like I am falling into an abyss of red tape. They are understaffed, underfunded and not taken very seriously. When I do get someone on the phone, they often contradict the last person I talked to there. It is my impression that they are saying whatever they need to get me off the phone. This is very frustrating when you are just trying to get the health care providers the money they have coming to them. It is a wonder that the poor's health care bills ever get paid.
One of the problems is that people confuse Medicaid with Medicare because their names are so similar. Medicaid used to be called Welfare, but it was rebranded because of the negative connotations that Welfare elicits. It is government assistance for the extreme poor among us. This is probably why they are a mess. America doesn't prioritize the poor very highly and the poor doesn't have strong lobbyists fighting for them like the elderly do.
Those who follow the numbers have noticed that our health care system is getting worst, from a financial standpoint for the last few decades. It is untenable and will crash eventually. My wife said to me recently, in frustration, "Our health insurance sucks!" My response was "Everyone's health insurance sucks now. That is the problem." Costs are spiraling and health care payers are struggling to stay afloat. This isn't new. We've known about this as a society for quite some time. A few brave politicians have tried to tackle it. President Richard Nixon did, but then came Watergate and survival became his priority. President Clinton tried but that was a complete failure, but he did pass HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act) which was tremendous success at least from my viewpoint. Obama passed the ACA (Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare) and it was, by no means perfect, but it was a step in the right direction.
What HIPAA did for me, as an IT professional, is standardize things. Before HIPAA, insurance companies could demand you send them electronic files and/or paper for claims in any format they wanted. Each payer had a different requirement and the providers had to jump through hoops to get their money from them. After HIPAA, there are standards that everyone (payer, provider, government, commercial) have to follow. We have what are called 837 files for insurance claims. After they are approved, the payments come in 835 files. When there is a problem with one of these files, it is deemed HIPAA non-compliant and most of the time the errors you deal with are benign and common. Life is a lot easier now. This is why whenever I hear someone say that government isn't the answer to our health care woes, I reject it completely. Government can and does often make things better. Not perfect, but better.
How did our health care system get so bad? I blame Baylor University. I kid about this really. I've worked with people at Baylor and they are some of the nicest and capable people I've ever worked with. In the early 20th century, health care was not a big deal. Americans didn't spend a lot of money on it and only went to see a doctor until they were dying or very hurt. Baylor hospital had empty beds that they wanted to fill so they had an idea to offer a low cost payment plan that would allow people to come to the hospital for non-deathly matters. The first plan offered teachers 21 days of a hospital bed for $6 a year (equivalent to about $120.00 in today's cash). Other hospitals in the Dallas, Texas area came on board. Once the Great Depression hit, no one was going to the hospital because they didn't have the money even for cheap health care, so other hospitals came on board. This plan was called Blue Cross. In a short time, every state had a Blue Cross plan available. During World World II, President Roosevelt sign Executive Order 9250 as a means to control inflation. Wages were frozen. So employers found a way around this by offering benefits to attract hard to find employees. Health insurance being tied to your employment was born. When WW II ended, the American economy boomed with the rest of the industrialized world in tatters. Competition for good employees was high. By then, you could not compete without have an insurance plan for your employees. In 1943, the IRS deemed that health plans were tax exempt. This created a boom for anyone who wanted to start their own health insurance plan.
Nothing about this is set in stone. It is just an accident of history. This fee for service plan only drives up the cost of health care. Providers have financial incentive to provide more care in quantity, not quality. It has gotten to the point where the system is unsustainable. When the ACA was passed and your good plan was cancelled, it was going to be cancelled anyway. Insurance companies just timed the cancellation of these to coincide with the ACA's passing so they could scapegoat the government, rather than explain the hard realities to their customers. The American health care system is on the verge of collapse.
The 2018 mid-term election just took place on Tuesday this week. I am in amazement by two things: 1) Trump's ability to drive people to the polls. Both voters that hate him and love him, showed up in droves. We had the highest turn-out for a mid-term election in recent years. 2) Democrats were able to stay on message. It is not a simple thing, for a politician, particularly one leaning toward the left. I have never seen this before. They could have easily ran against Trump, but they didn't. They let him be his own worst enemy. They ran on health care. The Republicans tried to claim that they were the health care party but it is obvious to anyone paying attention that they are not. Many of them lied during their rallies and commercials that they supported protecting pre-existing conditions coverage. In regards to health care they had nothing to run on. They couldn't bring up their bullshit tax plan that no one other than billionaires liked. Americans are finally figuring out that something needs to be done with our health care woes and there is only one party that is doing anything.
Lets hope that the Democrats continue to stay on message and run this wave into the 2020 election. I don't know how to get to a Medicare For All. It seems to an insurmountable problem. But I know, the first thing we need is the political will. The Democrats will need your support to do this. Stay with them. Your life could depend on it.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Trump Log # 68: Please Remember To Vote
Regardless how bad Trump is doing as President people will still support him, because the economy is doing well. It is great irony because the economy is still one of those things that the American president has little control over. That is the beauty of free enterprise. Unlike most of our allies in Europe and especially Asia, our economy, for the most part, is truly free. Yet, you will still hear people say that they are going to support the president's agenda, because the economy is doing well.
Economies are cyclical. Our Federal Executive branch can pick winners and losers, overall the economy is on its own unencumbered by government. If you are one of the winners in the Trump economy please remember that it comes with a cost. Cost to our environment, to the education system, our health care and to our poor and disenfranchised. One should be voting not only for one's self-interest but for the interest of the nation and the planet as a whole, especially if you are doing well.
Please remember to vote this Tuesday. This President needs some checks in place to keep him under control. We need the improvements in our health care system protected. For this to happen, we need a Democratic congress.
I am taking a break from the Trump Log for a while. Perhaps I will publish one of these monthly instead of weekly. There is some other stuff I'd like to get done.
Trump Log:
Monday 10/29/18 - Trump is corrupt through and through, from his family to his cabinet. The New York Times has compiled a definitive list.
Tuesday 10/30/18 - Trump plans to end birthright citizenship. (Source: Washington Post)
Wednesday 10/31/18 - Trump was asked by Pittsburgh's leadership to wait a while before he visits. He visits anyway. (Source: Washington Post)
Thursday 11/1/18 - Trump wants to send 15,000 US troops to the Mexican border to greet the refugee caravan. This is about the same number of troops that we have in Afghanistan. (Source: Washington Post)
Friday 11/2/18 - Trump's average rate of lies per day has gone up to 30, leading up the election. Fear mongering is obvious in many of them. (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday 11/3/18 - US reimposes sanctions on Iran but gives exemptions to many countries including China, but not the European Union. Trump once again favors tyranny over of our allies of free nations. (Source: New York Times).
Sunday 11/4/18 - In a speech, Trump advocates the use of firearms against rock throwers at the border. The Nigerian Army uses Trump's words as a justification to fire upon protesters leaving at least 40 dead. (Source New York Times)
rior 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
Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Economies are cyclical. Our Federal Executive branch can pick winners and losers, overall the economy is on its own unencumbered by government. If you are one of the winners in the Trump economy please remember that it comes with a cost. Cost to our environment, to the education system, our health care and to our poor and disenfranchised. One should be voting not only for one's self-interest but for the interest of the nation and the planet as a whole, especially if you are doing well.
Please remember to vote this Tuesday. This President needs some checks in place to keep him under control. We need the improvements in our health care system protected. For this to happen, we need a Democratic congress.
I am taking a break from the Trump Log for a while. Perhaps I will publish one of these monthly instead of weekly. There is some other stuff I'd like to get done.
Trump Log:
Monday 10/29/18 - Trump is corrupt through and through, from his family to his cabinet. The New York Times has compiled a definitive list.
Tuesday 10/30/18 - Trump plans to end birthright citizenship. (Source: Washington Post)
Wednesday 10/31/18 - Trump was asked by Pittsburgh's leadership to wait a while before he visits. He visits anyway. (Source: Washington Post)
Thursday 11/1/18 - Trump wants to send 15,000 US troops to the Mexican border to greet the refugee caravan. This is about the same number of troops that we have in Afghanistan. (Source: Washington Post)
Friday 11/2/18 - Trump's average rate of lies per day has gone up to 30, leading up the election. Fear mongering is obvious in many of them. (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday 11/3/18 - US reimposes sanctions on Iran but gives exemptions to many countries including China, but not the European Union. Trump once again favors tyranny over of our allies of free nations. (Source: New York Times).
Sunday 11/4/18 - In a speech, Trump advocates the use of firearms against rock throwers at the border. The Nigerian Army uses Trump's words as a justification to fire upon protesters leaving at least 40 dead. (Source New York Times)
rior 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
Issue #29 - posted May 30, 2017
Issue #30 - posted June 6, 2017Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Issue #33 - posted June 27, 2017
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Issue #55 - posted August 5, 2018
Issue #56 - posted August 12, 2018
Issue #57 - posted August 19, 2018
Issue #58 - posted August 26, 2018
Issue #56 - posted August 12, 2018
Issue #57 - posted August 19, 2018
Issue #58 - posted August 26, 2018
Issue #59 - posted September 2, 2018
Issue #60 - posted September 9, 2018
Issue #61 - posted September 16, 2018
Issue #62 - posted September 23, 2018
Issue #63 - posted September 30, 2018
Issue #64 - posted October 7, 2018
Issue #65 - posted October 14, 2018
Issue #66 - posted October 21, 2018
Issue #67 - posted October 28, 2018
Issue #60 - posted September 9, 2018
Issue #61 - posted September 16, 2018
Issue #62 - posted September 23, 2018
Issue #63 - posted September 30, 2018
Issue #64 - posted October 7, 2018
Issue #65 - posted October 14, 2018
Issue #66 - posted October 21, 2018
Issue #67 - posted October 28, 2018
Monday, October 29, 2018
Trump Log #67: This Week in Hate
This week 11 people were killed in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, two black people were killed in a Kroger Grocery Store by a white supremacist in Kentucky and 14 Democrats were sent bombs in the mail by a man who thought of Trump as his father figure. Just another week in America? Maybe. The new normal? Perhaps.It doesn't have to be that way.
You cannot draw a direct line between Trump and these heinous acts, but the country's leader sets a tone so, perhaps a dotted line is more appropriate. He has advocated violence against his opposition a number of times at his rallies. He refers to a group of refugees as "America's greatest threat" and lies about there being Middle Easterners hiding among them ... as if being a Middle Easterner, itself, is a bad thing. He called white supremacist marchers "good people" in Charlottesville. His dog-whisper hate ridden rhetoric is a call to arms to every nutbag across the country.
You can help to stop this. Please remember to vote next week.
Trump Log:
Monday 10/22/18 - Trump threatens to cut off all aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. (Source: New York Times)
Tuesday 10/23/18 - Under Trump, everything is politicized. Now judges, who make rulings on the veterans disability claims, will be grilled about their political leanings before they are appointed. (Source: Washington Post)
Wednesday 10/24/18 - When Trump lies, often his staff have to scramble, attempting to reverse engineer the truth. (Source: Washington Post)
Thursday 10/25/18 - Do you remember Trump complaining about Hillary's unsecure email server and his supporters chanting "Lock her up!" He still hasn't given up his personal unsecure iPhone that is being hacked by the Chinese and Russians. (Source: New York Times)
Friday 10/26/18 - According to a Pew Research Center survey, more than half of Hispanics in the US feel that life has gotten worse for them under Trump. (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday 10/27/18 - There is no crisis on US's southern border, yet Trump is doubling down with his hateful narrative. (Source: Washington Post)
Sunday 10/28/18 - We can differ in our opinions on whether Trump should cancel a rally on the day of a synagogue shooting. But we can all agree that the president shouldn't lie when he justifies having it. No, the NYSE didn't open on 9/12/01. He lies about facts you can easily verify and yet his supporters don't seem to care. (Source: Slate)
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
Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
You cannot draw a direct line between Trump and these heinous acts, but the country's leader sets a tone so, perhaps a dotted line is more appropriate. He has advocated violence against his opposition a number of times at his rallies. He refers to a group of refugees as "America's greatest threat" and lies about there being Middle Easterners hiding among them ... as if being a Middle Easterner, itself, is a bad thing. He called white supremacist marchers "good people" in Charlottesville. His dog-whisper hate ridden rhetoric is a call to arms to every nutbag across the country.
You can help to stop this. Please remember to vote next week.
Trump Log:
Monday 10/22/18 - Trump threatens to cut off all aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. (Source: New York Times)
Tuesday 10/23/18 - Under Trump, everything is politicized. Now judges, who make rulings on the veterans disability claims, will be grilled about their political leanings before they are appointed. (Source: Washington Post)
Wednesday 10/24/18 - When Trump lies, often his staff have to scramble, attempting to reverse engineer the truth. (Source: Washington Post)
Thursday 10/25/18 - Do you remember Trump complaining about Hillary's unsecure email server and his supporters chanting "Lock her up!" He still hasn't given up his personal unsecure iPhone that is being hacked by the Chinese and Russians. (Source: New York Times)
Friday 10/26/18 - According to a Pew Research Center survey, more than half of Hispanics in the US feel that life has gotten worse for them under Trump. (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday 10/27/18 - There is no crisis on US's southern border, yet Trump is doubling down with his hateful narrative. (Source: Washington Post)
Sunday 10/28/18 - We can differ in our opinions on whether Trump should cancel a rally on the day of a synagogue shooting. But we can all agree that the president shouldn't lie when he justifies having it. No, the NYSE didn't open on 9/12/01. He lies about facts you can easily verify and yet his supporters don't seem to care. (Source: Slate)
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
Issue #29 - posted May 30, 2017
Issue #30 - posted June 6, 2017Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Issue #33 - posted June 27, 2017
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
Trump Log #66: Take The No-Republican Pledge #BlueWaveIsComing
It has been a long time since I have voted for a Republican. The last Republican I voted for was Vermont US Senator Jim Jeffords who eventually left the party. That was in 2002. That was back when there were still some moderate voices in the party. That is no more. Since then I have taken the No Republican Pledge where I will not vote for a Republican until their party becomes reasonable again.
Here are my two biggest reasons why:
Voter Suppression: For a party that claims to love democracies so much, they really don't act like it. The US population is getting browner. Within the next 35 years, we will be a minority majority country. This is not double talk; this basically means that we will have more minorities than non-minorities in our country . Next year, 2019, there will be more minorities children in the US than Caucasian children. They will be voting age within the next two decades. Most minorities tend to vote Democrats. So Republicans has two choices, the high road, change their ways and appeal to minority voters. Or, the low road, suppress minority voters. They have chosen the low road. What's going on in the Georgia Governor's race is a perfect example. Stacey Abrams (D) is running against Brian Kemp (R) for Governor. Brian Kemp is the Secretary of State. Who is in charge of voter rolls in Georgia? You got it, the Secretary of State. GA's "exact match" law has removed 52,000 voters from the rolls, a vast majority of which are African Americans. The GOP justification for this nonsense is voter fraud which is a non-existent problem. We know what is going on here and it is going on all over the country.
Global Warming: The greatest problem facing humanity this century is global climate change. Only one party on this planet denies that it is happening: the American Republican party. Overwhelming scientific consensus says that not only does it exist, but it is being caused by humans. Even Al Qaeda acknowledges global warming is real, but not the GOP. You heard it here first: Al Qaeda is more liberal than the GOP. It affects our economy, our health, our children, our weather, national security and our existence in general, yet they ignore it.
The No Republican Pledge means that you will not vote for a Republican on any level whatsoever. Not for dog catcher, not for probate judge. Nothing. They want my vote: Change parties.
Trump Log:
Monday 10/15/18 - Trump claims that it may be "rogue killers" that killed Jamal Khashoggi even though there is zero evidence for this. (Source: Slate)
Tuesday 10/16/18 - Once again, the idea that Republicans are the fiscally responsible party is proven a myth. Trump's budget deficit increases nearly 17% mostly due to corporate tax cuts. (Source: New York Times)
Wednesday 10/17/18 -We've heard a lot about Russia owning Trump, but what about Saudi Arabia? (Source: The Intercept)
Thursday 10/18/18 - The US received a payment of $100 million from the Saudi Arabia on the same day that Secretary of State Pompeo arrives in Riyadh to discuss Kashoggi's disappearance. (Source: Washington Post)
Friday 10/19/18 - At a rally in Montana on Thursday, Trump praises a Congressman for committing violence against a reporter: “Any guy that can do a body slam, he’s my kind of — he’s my guy." (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday 10/20/18 - I remember when the US and Russia signed the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty). I was a great sigh of relief. Now Trump wants to pull out of it. (Source: New York Times)
Sunday 10/21/18 - In a rally in Nevada, Trump claims he is planning a new middle income tax cut before November, even though both houses of Congress will not be meeting until mid-November. (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
Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Here are my two biggest reasons why:
Voter Suppression: For a party that claims to love democracies so much, they really don't act like it. The US population is getting browner. Within the next 35 years, we will be a minority majority country. This is not double talk; this basically means that we will have more minorities than non-minorities in our country . Next year, 2019, there will be more minorities children in the US than Caucasian children. They will be voting age within the next two decades. Most minorities tend to vote Democrats. So Republicans has two choices, the high road, change their ways and appeal to minority voters. Or, the low road, suppress minority voters. They have chosen the low road. What's going on in the Georgia Governor's race is a perfect example. Stacey Abrams (D) is running against Brian Kemp (R) for Governor. Brian Kemp is the Secretary of State. Who is in charge of voter rolls in Georgia? You got it, the Secretary of State. GA's "exact match" law has removed 52,000 voters from the rolls, a vast majority of which are African Americans. The GOP justification for this nonsense is voter fraud which is a non-existent problem. We know what is going on here and it is going on all over the country.
Global Warming: The greatest problem facing humanity this century is global climate change. Only one party on this planet denies that it is happening: the American Republican party. Overwhelming scientific consensus says that not only does it exist, but it is being caused by humans. Even Al Qaeda acknowledges global warming is real, but not the GOP. You heard it here first: Al Qaeda is more liberal than the GOP. It affects our economy, our health, our children, our weather, national security and our existence in general, yet they ignore it.
The No Republican Pledge means that you will not vote for a Republican on any level whatsoever. Not for dog catcher, not for probate judge. Nothing. They want my vote: Change parties.
Trump Log:
Monday 10/15/18 - Trump claims that it may be "rogue killers" that killed Jamal Khashoggi even though there is zero evidence for this. (Source: Slate)
Tuesday 10/16/18 - Once again, the idea that Republicans are the fiscally responsible party is proven a myth. Trump's budget deficit increases nearly 17% mostly due to corporate tax cuts. (Source: New York Times)
Wednesday 10/17/18 -We've heard a lot about Russia owning Trump, but what about Saudi Arabia? (Source: The Intercept)
Thursday 10/18/18 - The US received a payment of $100 million from the Saudi Arabia on the same day that Secretary of State Pompeo arrives in Riyadh to discuss Kashoggi's disappearance. (Source: Washington Post)
Friday 10/19/18 - At a rally in Montana on Thursday, Trump praises a Congressman for committing violence against a reporter: “Any guy that can do a body slam, he’s my kind of — he’s my guy." (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday 10/20/18 - I remember when the US and Russia signed the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty). I was a great sigh of relief. Now Trump wants to pull out of it. (Source: New York Times)
Sunday 10/21/18 - In a rally in Nevada, Trump claims he is planning a new middle income tax cut before November, even though both houses of Congress will not be meeting until mid-November. (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
Issue #29 - posted May 30, 2017
Issue #30 - posted June 6, 2017Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Issue #33 - posted June 27, 2017
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Monday, October 15, 2018
Trump Log #65: No Common Ground
Facts are our common ground. If Fact A plus Fact B therefore Fact C. C is where the debate happens. We used to agree on the A's and B's and had fine discourse over the C. C is where the fun happens. But if we don't agree on what the facts are then there is no common ground. In a post-fact world there is no common ground. There is no A or B, there is no equation whatsoever. Democracy's foundation is the solid ground of consensus, not the muddy haze of dissension.
Some fear the next Trump. The damage that he does in office may be to the office itself. Each breach of decorum and each envelope he pushes, sets a precedence for future presidents. When discord becomes acceptable and the norm, Democracy itself is in trouble.
Trump Log:
Monday 10/8/18 - The environmental state of the planet is worst than we thought. Trump doubts the validity of the report from the IPCC (the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Source: Washington Post)
Tuesday 10/9/18 - Nikki Haley resigns as Trump's U.N. Ambassador. She is one of that last moderate voices in his administration. (Source: Washington Post)
Wednesday 10/10/18 - Trump still has not filled 22 leadership roles in FEMA ... as Hurricane Michael starts to barrel down on the Southeast coast of America. (Source: Bloomberg)
Thursday 10/11/18 - Trump still has no problem doing business with Saudi Arabia as they bomb the shit out of Yemen causing a massive famine and assassinate one of our journalists. (Source: Washington Post)
Friday 10/12/18 - Trump write an Op-Ed in USA Today in which almost every lie contains a lie. (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday 10/13/18 -In a secret deal between and Catholic colleges, 74 Catholic institutions are denying students access to birth control. (Source: The Intercept)
Sunday 10/14/18 - In a speech in Ohio, Trump says that black people should "honor" Republicans with votes and then praises Confederate generals. (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
Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Some fear the next Trump. The damage that he does in office may be to the office itself. Each breach of decorum and each envelope he pushes, sets a precedence for future presidents. When discord becomes acceptable and the norm, Democracy itself is in trouble.
Trump Log:
Monday 10/8/18 - The environmental state of the planet is worst than we thought. Trump doubts the validity of the report from the IPCC (the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Source: Washington Post)
Tuesday 10/9/18 - Nikki Haley resigns as Trump's U.N. Ambassador. She is one of that last moderate voices in his administration. (Source: Washington Post)
Wednesday 10/10/18 - Trump still has not filled 22 leadership roles in FEMA ... as Hurricane Michael starts to barrel down on the Southeast coast of America. (Source: Bloomberg)
Thursday 10/11/18 - Trump still has no problem doing business with Saudi Arabia as they bomb the shit out of Yemen causing a massive famine and assassinate one of our journalists. (Source: Washington Post)
Friday 10/12/18 - Trump write an Op-Ed in USA Today in which almost every lie contains a lie. (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday 10/13/18 -In a secret deal between and Catholic colleges, 74 Catholic institutions are denying students access to birth control. (Source: The Intercept)
Sunday 10/14/18 - In a speech in Ohio, Trump says that black people should "honor" Republicans with votes and then praises Confederate generals. (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
Issue #29 - posted May 30, 2017
Issue #30 - posted June 6, 2017Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Issue #33 - posted June 27, 2017
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Trump Log #64: We Pay For This
The New York Times has been uncovering things about Trump's past, on how he has made his money, that is a little disturbing but is no surprise. It just confirms what we already knew about him. His story of being a self made man is a lie, imagine that. He lied. These stories of his tax fraud will change no one's mind about him. Those of us who hate him, already suspected this. Those you like him, like him because of this, and will continue to like him ... even though it is them (us), the tax payer, that he screwed when he made his millions. Interesting times we live in.
When a millionaire or billionaire cheats on their taxes, we pay for it in many ways. For one, our government doesn't get the money that it needs so it raises taxes, hence we pay. But we also pay for it in loss of services. Next time you hit a pothole on a federal road or a program you need is cut, please remember tax cheating assholes like Trump and his father. Their lives are so comfortable yet, they will do their best to take food off your table to make a few extra bucks.
You pay for tariffs as well. When the President increases a tariff on Chinese products, they don't pay the tariffs, you do. When you buy any of these products, the company that imports them has to pay the tariff, but they recoup that cost by raising the price. We pay for the higher price not China. China gets hurt because we will by less because of the higher price.
The tax cuts for billionaires, we pay for them as well.
It is high comedy, this administration. It is the type of comedy that makes you cry along with your laughter. The working class people who voted for him, they are being hurt the most and most of them will never blame Trump.
Trump Log:
Monday, October 1: The state of California passed the strongest net neutrality law ensuring large internet companies will not monopolize the internet. But of course, the Trump administration wouldn't have that. The US Justice department is suing California. (Source: Washington Post)
Tuesday, October 2: The US has never gotten into a trade agreement that wasn't strongly in our favor. Trump's complaints about how horrible NAFTA is/was is his usual nonsense ... appealing to the fears of the clueless. The changes he bartered for are mostly bad. (Source: New York Times)
Wednesday, October 3: Our sexual predator president mocked a sexual assault victim at one of his rallies and they laughed and cheered. (Source: Washington Post)
Thursday, October 4: Trump limits the scope of the FBI probe into Kavaunagh's background. (Source: Washington Post)
Friday, October 5: Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, disappears in Saudi Arabia and the Trump administration couldn't care less. (Source: TheIntercept)
Saturday, October 6: Trump's Education Secretary, Devos, has been delaying the implementation of some Obama era programs that would assist student in regaining their money from predatory for-profit colleges. (Source: NPR)
Sunday, October 7: The White House daily briefings are no more. (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
Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
When a millionaire or billionaire cheats on their taxes, we pay for it in many ways. For one, our government doesn't get the money that it needs so it raises taxes, hence we pay. But we also pay for it in loss of services. Next time you hit a pothole on a federal road or a program you need is cut, please remember tax cheating assholes like Trump and his father. Their lives are so comfortable yet, they will do their best to take food off your table to make a few extra bucks.
You pay for tariffs as well. When the President increases a tariff on Chinese products, they don't pay the tariffs, you do. When you buy any of these products, the company that imports them has to pay the tariff, but they recoup that cost by raising the price. We pay for the higher price not China. China gets hurt because we will by less because of the higher price.
The tax cuts for billionaires, we pay for them as well.
It is high comedy, this administration. It is the type of comedy that makes you cry along with your laughter. The working class people who voted for him, they are being hurt the most and most of them will never blame Trump.
Trump Log:
Monday, October 1: The state of California passed the strongest net neutrality law ensuring large internet companies will not monopolize the internet. But of course, the Trump administration wouldn't have that. The US Justice department is suing California. (Source: Washington Post)
Tuesday, October 2: The US has never gotten into a trade agreement that wasn't strongly in our favor. Trump's complaints about how horrible NAFTA is/was is his usual nonsense ... appealing to the fears of the clueless. The changes he bartered for are mostly bad. (Source: New York Times)
Wednesday, October 3: Our sexual predator president mocked a sexual assault victim at one of his rallies and they laughed and cheered. (Source: Washington Post)
Thursday, October 4: Trump limits the scope of the FBI probe into Kavaunagh's background. (Source: Washington Post)
Friday, October 5: Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, disappears in Saudi Arabia and the Trump administration couldn't care less. (Source: TheIntercept)
Saturday, October 6: Trump's Education Secretary, Devos, has been delaying the implementation of some Obama era programs that would assist student in regaining their money from predatory for-profit colleges. (Source: NPR)
Sunday, October 7: The White House daily briefings are no more. (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
Issue #29 - posted May 30, 2017
Issue #30 - posted June 6, 2017Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Issue #33 - posted June 27, 2017
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Sunday, September 30, 2018
The Dream Is Still Alive: Cubs / Sox in World Series
At this point, the dream of a Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago Cubs World Series is still alive. I am watching the last game of the year as I write this, Cubs versus the Cardinals. It will probably be over before I finish. Cubs need to win and Milwaukee needs to lose for the Cubs to win the National League Central Division. But they are both winning, so if that doesn't change, Cubs will have to play Milwaukee for the Division Championship tomorrow, game 163.
For the Red Sox, they clinched the American League Eastern Division days ago. They have been playing meaningless games for over a week. It looks like they will finish the year with 108 wins, a team record. That is a .667 winning percentage, the best in all of baseball. That is they win, two out of every three games they've played. This is the seventh best record ever for any team in Major League baseball history. They did all this with one of their stars, Gold Glove second baseman Dustin Pedroia, on the Disabled List (DL) most of the season and their best pitcher, Chris Sale, for part of the season. Because of Pedroia being missing, defense was less than stellar up the middle. They made up for it with hitting and pitching.
It is an incredible year, they have two candidates for MVP with Mookie Betts being the batting champion with a .346 batting average. He also lead the league in slugging percentage and extra bases. JD Martinez is right behind him in batting .329. He lead the league in total bases and runs batted in (RBIs). JD's chances at winning the MVP is less probable because he didn't play the field as much as Mookie or Mike Trout of the Angels who play ever day and are phenomenal.
The Sox have a lot of other standouts with Jackie Bradley Jr. playing Gold Glove caliber outfield and stealing bases at a 94.4% rate (highest in the league). Shortstop Xander Bogaerts had the best year of his career and they have the two best defensive catchers in the league with Vasquez and Leon. Their only soft spot is their bullpen who have been quite shaky late in the year.
The Cubs have the best record in the National League, tied with Milwaukee. They have a potential National MVP in Javier Baez who leads the league in RBIs, but considering what Christian Yellich has done late in the season for Milwaukee, I have no doubt he'll get that honor. Baez may be awarded it because of his defense. Check out this video below of Javy's 2018 defensive highlights. He is undoubtedly the most exciting player on the diamond to watch whether he is batting, fielding the entire infield or stealing home. If MLB is looking for a player to be the face of baseball, here he is.
Cubs have great hitting and pitching but the most impressive aspect of their game is their defense. They may have the best infield in baseball with Bryant and Rizzo on the corners and Javy and Russell in the middle. They tied a record this year by turning seven double plays in one game. Try scoring any runs in that game. It isn't just their infield. They have Jason Heyward in center field with a killer arm.
Either team could easily be eliminated with great teams from Cleveland, Houston and surprisingly Atlanta looking very good about now. Either way, my wife and I will be hoping our fantasy match up: Sox / Cubs with four games in Fenway so that we might get a chance to see one of them live.
For the Red Sox, they clinched the American League Eastern Division days ago. They have been playing meaningless games for over a week. It looks like they will finish the year with 108 wins, a team record. That is a .667 winning percentage, the best in all of baseball. That is they win, two out of every three games they've played. This is the seventh best record ever for any team in Major League baseball history. They did all this with one of their stars, Gold Glove second baseman Dustin Pedroia, on the Disabled List (DL) most of the season and their best pitcher, Chris Sale, for part of the season. Because of Pedroia being missing, defense was less than stellar up the middle. They made up for it with hitting and pitching.
It is an incredible year, they have two candidates for MVP with Mookie Betts being the batting champion with a .346 batting average. He also lead the league in slugging percentage and extra bases. JD Martinez is right behind him in batting .329. He lead the league in total bases and runs batted in (RBIs). JD's chances at winning the MVP is less probable because he didn't play the field as much as Mookie or Mike Trout of the Angels who play ever day and are phenomenal.
The Sox have a lot of other standouts with Jackie Bradley Jr. playing Gold Glove caliber outfield and stealing bases at a 94.4% rate (highest in the league). Shortstop Xander Bogaerts had the best year of his career and they have the two best defensive catchers in the league with Vasquez and Leon. Their only soft spot is their bullpen who have been quite shaky late in the year.
The Cubs have the best record in the National League, tied with Milwaukee. They have a potential National MVP in Javier Baez who leads the league in RBIs, but considering what Christian Yellich has done late in the season for Milwaukee, I have no doubt he'll get that honor. Baez may be awarded it because of his defense. Check out this video below of Javy's 2018 defensive highlights. He is undoubtedly the most exciting player on the diamond to watch whether he is batting, fielding the entire infield or stealing home. If MLB is looking for a player to be the face of baseball, here he is.
Cubs have great hitting and pitching but the most impressive aspect of their game is their defense. They may have the best infield in baseball with Bryant and Rizzo on the corners and Javy and Russell in the middle. They tied a record this year by turning seven double plays in one game. Try scoring any runs in that game. It isn't just their infield. They have Jason Heyward in center field with a killer arm.
Either team could easily be eliminated with great teams from Cleveland, Houston and surprisingly Atlanta looking very good about now. Either way, my wife and I will be hoping our fantasy match up: Sox / Cubs with four games in Fenway so that we might get a chance to see one of them live.
Trump Log #63: Merrick Garland Is Still Available #GarlandOrNoOne
During the Kavanuagh hearings Senator Graham went on a tirade about civility, yet when it was his turn, the GOP's turn, to approve a Supreme Court nomination by President Obama, they didn't even hold hearings. You can just add Senator Graham's speech to the long list of hypocrisies committed by the GOP in recent years. Do they think we don't remember? The party that impeaches a president for lying about a consensual blow job, is outraged by an investigation into sexual assault. What!?
Are the Democrats playing political hardball? Yup! It is about time. Merrick Garland is still available and if Trump is looking for a candidate that he can get confirmed quickly, look no further.
More has come out since the hearing on Thursday and some of it I am just catching up on. Kavanaugh's mentor, Alex Kozinski, is also under investigation for sexual harassment. Kavanaugh's high school wrote a letter to parents in 1990 about a culture of "sexual or violent behavior." The puzzle pieces are falling into place. You just have to put them together to see how guilty he is. His belligerence is another factor.
How belligerent could he be at a Congressional hearing? He was so rude to Senator Klobuchar, one of the few women to question him. My guess is that he was performing for Trump, for fear that he would pull his nomination. After his last hearing, Trump called him "weak" on Twitter. His aggression did him no good. He looked like a guilty man, trying hard to feign outrage. He looked like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum. He in no way looked like someone who is up for the pressure of being a Supreme Court Justice.
His guilt seems so obvious now. He hasn't asked Mark Judge to testify. If he is not guilty, wouldn't he be demanding that his friend go on record and defend him? Wouldn't you? If he had nothing to hide, then why would he want his friend to go before Congress and deny everything?
Trump Log:
Monday September 24th: Rod Rosenstein offered his resignation but apparently, for now, he is not leaving his position in the DOJ. It could just be a matter of days before he is gone. His replacement would mostly like be Solicitor General Noel Francisco, a Trump loyalist. His biggest responsibilities: oversight of the Mueller probe. (Source: Slate)
Tuesday September 25th: It is truly revolting listening Trump defend Kavanaugh. After the Access Hollywood recording of him bragging about "grabbing pussy" and being able to get away with it, you think he might refrain from bashing these women. But I guess that is not where we are as a country. (Source: Washington Post)
Wednesday September 26th: Trump speaks before a crowd of diplomats at the UN and they are laugh at him, not with him. (Source: New York Times)
Thursday September 27th: As we gawk at addictive news like the Kavanaugh hearings, let us not forget more important news like what is happening in Yemen. The US government (aka your tax dollars) are helping Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates bomb the shit out of Yemen. We provide supplies, intelligence and aerial refueling. (Source: New York Times)
Friday September 28th: Trump seeks to prevents legal immigrants access to social service programs. This includes health insurance. This will create a public health disaster. (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday September 29th: Kavanaugh's demeanor was attrocious during the hearings. Twelve years ago the BAR Association expressed concern over his demeanor and the Republicans ignored it. As long as he votes their way, Trump and the rest of the GOP don't care what kind of person they put on the Supreme Court for a life time appointment. (Source: Washington Post)
Sunday September 30th: Hundreds of undocumented teenagers are being rounded up and shipped to a tent city in Texas in the middle of the night. (Source: Slate)
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
Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Are the Democrats playing political hardball? Yup! It is about time. Merrick Garland is still available and if Trump is looking for a candidate that he can get confirmed quickly, look no further.
More has come out since the hearing on Thursday and some of it I am just catching up on. Kavanaugh's mentor, Alex Kozinski, is also under investigation for sexual harassment. Kavanaugh's high school wrote a letter to parents in 1990 about a culture of "sexual or violent behavior." The puzzle pieces are falling into place. You just have to put them together to see how guilty he is. His belligerence is another factor.
How belligerent could he be at a Congressional hearing? He was so rude to Senator Klobuchar, one of the few women to question him. My guess is that he was performing for Trump, for fear that he would pull his nomination. After his last hearing, Trump called him "weak" on Twitter. His aggression did him no good. He looked like a guilty man, trying hard to feign outrage. He looked like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum. He in no way looked like someone who is up for the pressure of being a Supreme Court Justice.
His guilt seems so obvious now. He hasn't asked Mark Judge to testify. If he is not guilty, wouldn't he be demanding that his friend go on record and defend him? Wouldn't you? If he had nothing to hide, then why would he want his friend to go before Congress and deny everything?
Trump Log:
Monday September 24th: Rod Rosenstein offered his resignation but apparently, for now, he is not leaving his position in the DOJ. It could just be a matter of days before he is gone. His replacement would mostly like be Solicitor General Noel Francisco, a Trump loyalist. His biggest responsibilities: oversight of the Mueller probe. (Source: Slate)
Tuesday September 25th: It is truly revolting listening Trump defend Kavanaugh. After the Access Hollywood recording of him bragging about "grabbing pussy" and being able to get away with it, you think he might refrain from bashing these women. But I guess that is not where we are as a country. (Source: Washington Post)
Wednesday September 26th: Trump speaks before a crowd of diplomats at the UN and they are laugh at him, not with him. (Source: New York Times)
Thursday September 27th: As we gawk at addictive news like the Kavanaugh hearings, let us not forget more important news like what is happening in Yemen. The US government (aka your tax dollars) are helping Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates bomb the shit out of Yemen. We provide supplies, intelligence and aerial refueling. (Source: New York Times)
Friday September 28th: Trump seeks to prevents legal immigrants access to social service programs. This includes health insurance. This will create a public health disaster. (Source: Washington Post)
Saturday September 29th: Kavanaugh's demeanor was attrocious during the hearings. Twelve years ago the BAR Association expressed concern over his demeanor and the Republicans ignored it. As long as he votes their way, Trump and the rest of the GOP don't care what kind of person they put on the Supreme Court for a life time appointment. (Source: Washington Post)
Sunday September 30th: Hundreds of undocumented teenagers are being rounded up and shipped to a tent city in Texas in the middle of the night. (Source: Slate)
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
Issue #29 - posted May 30, 2017
Issue #30 - posted June 6, 2017Issue #31 - posted June 13, 2017
Issue #32 - posted June 20, 2017
Issue #33 - posted June 27, 2017
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Issue #34 - posted March 12, 2018
Issue #35 - posted March 19, 2018
Issue #36 - posted March 26, 2018
Issue #37 - posted April 1, 2018
Issue #38 - posted April 8, 2018
Issue #39 - posted April 15, 2018
Issue #40 - posted April 22, 2018
Issue #41 - posted April 29, 2018
Issue #42 - posted May 6, 2018
Issue #43 - posted May 13, 2018
Issue #44 - posted May 20, 2018
Issue #45 - posted May 27, 2018
Issue #46 - posted June 3, 2018
Issue #47 - posted June 10, 2018
Issue #48 - posted June 17, 2018
Issue #49 - posted June 24, 2018
Issue #50 - posted July 1, 2018
Issue #51 - posted July 8, 2018
Issue #52 - posted July 15, 2018
Issue #53 - posted July 22, 2018
Issue #54 - posted July 29, 2018
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)