Trump log# 54: His Approval Rating

President's Trump's approval rating is steadily increasing among Republicans. It is up to around 90% now while a year and a half ago, it was around 81%. This was a shock to me, initially, because most Republicans I know, really can't stand what he is doing. Then I realized why this was so. Many people are leaving the Republican party, mostly because of Trump. So if the people who are leaving don't like Trump, his approval within the party goes up. Makes sense to me. The party of greedy scumbags and morons is getting more scummy and moronic.  Great! (*sarcasm*)

Just like if Independents who like Trump join the party, his approval rating within the party will increase as well.

Neither party is doing well these days in regards to recruiting new members. Their main selling point seems to be that they are better than the other party and not good at stating what they stand for. When the young become politically active, they tend to be Independent. 71% of Millennials say that the US needs a stronger third party. Bad candidates like Hillary and Trump does neither party any good.

Trump Log:
Monday 7/23/18 - Trump's threats on Twitter about Iran is weakening the moderates and strengthening the hardliners. As usual, he's doing the opposite of what he should be doing. (Source: Washington Post)

Tuesday 7/24/18 - Trump is now going after legal citizens. (Source: New York Times)

Wednesday 7/25/18 - Trump creates the problem for the America farmer with his idiotic tariffs. Now, Trump to rescue with a $12 billion bail. Guess who is paying for it? Republicans used to be against bail outs too. (Source: New York Times)

Thursday 7/26/18 - Trump's corporate tax cuts help raise the Federal deficit to $1 trillion. The amount of tax revenue collection in the first half of this year is 1/3 of last year's first half. (Source: New York Times)

Friday 7/27/18 - Trump's Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, is doing away with some of the safe guards protecting students from predatory for-profit schools.  (Source: New York Times)

Saturday 7/28/18 - We are headed for a major housing crisis and Trump's HUD is just making it worse. (Source: New York Times)

Sunday 7/29/18 - Trump is giving jobs to loyalists, regardless of experience, in a foreign aid agency (MCC) while those (experience, qualified people) holding the jobs are looking at unemployment. (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, 2017
Issue #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 

My Pick for the 100 Greatest Dylan Songs

I've been reading the Rolling Stone issue dedicated to Bob Dylan's 40th anniversary in music (great toilet reading). They provide their list of the 100 greatest Dylan songs. Enjoyable reading but I thought I'd come up with my own list.

This was difficult. I tried to put them in order of my preference but once I get past the top five, this was quite daunting. Also, I don't have all his albums, but I believe I own and know all of his good albums. There are some stinkers and I avoid those, but if I bump into them at a yard sale, I snag them.

I have included only original Dylan songs so that rules out most of his first album and such greats as "World Gone Wrong" which is an amazing album. So if you are thinking of finally checking out Dylan, here is your list to start with.

1) Visions of Johanna - Blonde on Blonde
Tangled Up In Blue - Blood On the Tracks
Sweetheart Like You - Infidels
Like a Rolling Stone - Highway 61 Revisited
It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Bring It All Back Home
Ring Them Bells - Oh Mercy
Buckets of Rain - Blood On the Tracks
When You Gonna Wake Up - Slow Train Coming
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright - Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
When the Ship Comes In - The Times They Are A-Changin'

11) She Belongs To Me - Bring It All Back Home
Man Gave Names to All the Animals - Slow Train Coming
Love Minus Zero / No Limit - Bring It All Back Home
You Gotta Serve Somebody - Slow Train Coming
Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bring It All Back Home
Desolation Row - Highway 61 Revisited
One More Cup of Coffee - Desire
Girl from the North Country - Nashville Skyline
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

21) Ballad of a Thin Man - Highway 61 Revisited
Hurricane - Desire
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts - Blood on the Tracks
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Highway 61 Revisited
I and I - Infidels
Black Diamond Bay - Desire
Masters of War - Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Simple Twist of Fate - Blood On the Tracks
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
             - Highway 61 Revisited
Boots of Spanish Leather - The Times They Are A-Changin'
Everything is Broken - Oh Mercy
Blowin' in the Wind - Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

31) Not Dark Yet - Time Out of Mind
Political World - Oh Mercy
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol
           - The Times They Are A-Changin'
Love Sick - Time Out of Mind
To Make You Feel My Love - Modern Times
Shelter from the Storm - Blood On the Tracks
Mississippi - Love and Theft
My Back Pages - Another Side of Bob Dylan
Watchin' the River Flow - Greatest Hits Vol. II
I Want You - Blonde on Blonde

41) High Water - Love and Theft
Tryin' to get to Heaven - Time Out of Mind
If You See Her, Say Hello - Blood on the Tracks
Most of the Time - Oh Mercy
Blood in my Eyes - Modern Times
Meet Me In the Morning - Blood On the Tracks
Queen Jane Approximately - Highway 61 Revisited
Positively 4th Street - Greatest Hits Volume I
All I Really Want To Do - Another Side of Bob Dylan
Mr. Tambourine Man - Bring It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited - Highway 61 Revisited
It's All Over Now Baby Blue - Bring It All Back Home

51) The Times They Are A-Changin' - The Times They Are A-Changin'
You're Going to Make Me Lonesome When You Go
              - Blood on the Tracks
Most of the Time - Oh Mercy
Isis - Desire
All Along the Watch Tower - John Wesley Harding
Chimes of Freedom - Another Side of Bob Dylan
With God On Our Side - The Times They Are A-Changin'
When I Paint My Masterpiece - Greatest Hits Vol. II
Tombstone Blues - Highway 61 Revisited
You're a Big Girl Now - Blood on the Tracks

61) Mozambique - Desire
Forever Young - Planet Waves
Oxford Town - Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Jokerman - Infidels
Highlands - Time Out of Mind
What Was It You Wanted - Oh Mercy
Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
               - Blonde On Blonde
Ballad of Hollis Brown - The Times They Are A-Changin'
Shooting Star - Oh Mercy
Lay Lady Lay - Nashville Skyline

71) Things Have Changed - Wonderboys (movie soundtrack)
Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35 - Blonde on Blonde
Po' Boy - Love and Theft
License to Kill - Infidels
Temporarily Like Achilles - Blonde on Blonde
Romance in Durango - Desire
Man in the Long Black Coat - Oh Mercy
Workingman's Blues #2 - Modern Times
Changing of the Guard - Street-Legal
Dignity - Greatest Hits Vol. III

81) Talkin' World War III Blues - Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Quinn the Eskimo - Basement Tapes
Only a Pawn in Their Game - The Times They Are A-Changin'
Bye and Bye - Love and Theft
To Ramona - Another Side of Bob Dylan
Obviously Five Believers - Blonde on Blonde
Bob Dylan's 115th Dream - Bring It All Back Home
Rollin' and Tumblin' - Modern Times
Standing in the Doorway - Time Out of Mind
Precious Angel - Slow Train Coming

91) Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat - Blonde on Blonde
Dear Landlord - John Wesley Harding
I Shall Be Free No. 10 - Another Side of Bob Dylan
Where Teardrops Fall - Oh Mercy
Neighborhood Bully - Infidels
Lonesome Day Blues - Love and Theft
Moonlight - Love and Theft
Just Like a Woman - Blonde on Blonde
It Ain't Me Babe - Another Side of Bob Dylan
Idiot Wind - Blood On the Tracks

Tяump Log #53: The Other Russian Story

So much shit is going down, it is difficult taking it all in.  Don't let it overwhelm you and by no means, turn away. Our Democracy is at stake.

The story that I am afraid is being lost in this mess is that of Maria Butina, a 29 year old Russian political activist that was arrested this month by the FBI for espionage. She has been working closely with the NRA to sow discord here in America. An America in chaos is good for Putin. Do you remember when it was Democrats that used to be accused of cozying up to Communists?  Check out this video from The Guardian:

Monday 7/16/18 - Trump not only doesn't push Putin for the extradition of the 12 Russians indicted by Mueller, but he calls the probe a "disaster." A foreign country disrupts our elections and the US president (who benefited by it) is denying it and working against the investigation, this is nothing less than treason. (Source: Washington Post)

Tuesday 7/17/18 - Trump's EPA has proposed a new rule that would limit the amount of scientific studies if the data used couldn't completely be made public. They would simply not read them or "throw them out." Many of them contain private health data of the participants so they cannot be published. (Source: PBS)

Wednesday 7/18/18 - In most administrations, White House stenographers follow the president almost everywhere so that we have a record of everything he says. This is for historical record, but also, so that if the media misquotes him, they have proof. In this administration, the stenographer have difficulty getting access to the President. We all know why, right? (Source: New York Times)

Thursday 7/19/18 - Trump is making the Endangered Species Act weaker.  This is what you get when you have a developer as President.  (Source: Washington Post)

Friday 7/20/18 - Trump's EPA has solidified is working against the environment. Polluters can decide for themselves how they deal with coal ash. Fox is officially running the hen house. (Source: Washington Post)

Saturday 7/21/18 - Trump is going after journalists with indictments just to smear their reputation. (Source: The Intercept)

Sunday 7/22/18 - Carter Page, one of Trump's campaign aides, is suspected of being recruited by the Russians to help disrupt the 2016 election. (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, 2017
Issue #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

Trump Log #52: Republican Fever #GarlandOrNoOne #RepublicanFever

The biggest news of the week is without a doubt Trump's nomination of a new Supreme Court Justice, Kavanaugh. The president doesn't affect our lives on a day-to-day basis. The office is relatively week compared to other executives around the world. This is by design. The selection of Supreme Court Justices is, perhaps, the biggest decision any president will make and will impact all our lives for decades to come.

Kavanaugh is 53 (my age) and the life expectancy for a man this age is 80. This man gets to make major decisions about our lives for almost three decades and beyond, because of precedence. Your rights to worship who/what you want, your rights to say what you want, your right to marry who you want and your right to make decisions about your own body ... are balls in the air now. So thanks again to all the scum bags and morons that voted for Trump. And again, to all of you who didn't bother to vote against this creep, fuck you too. Elections has consequences and we failed. Now we have to live with this shit.

The rule of law used to be a thing. Republicans and Democrats had their disagreements but they at least all respected the rule of law. In 2015, when President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court and Mitch McConnell refused to hold hearings for him, it was clear that this was no longer the case. The Constitution clearly says that Congress "shall" approve or disapprove of nominated judges. It says nothing about how long a president has left in office. Democrats did nothing about this, that would require balls. They also had the naive idea that Hillary Clinton would defeat Trump so didn't push the point.

As a young lawyer, Kavanaugh, wrote the section of the Starr Report that enthusiastically promoted the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. Now that there is a Republican president, his opinion has changed. His opinion now is that presidents shouldn't be bothered with such things as criminal prosecutions while they are still in office because it is a distraction. He has Republican Fever ... the dramatic shift of opinion when your guy is in office. Gee, why do you think Trump likes this guy?!

Monday 7/9/18 - This one is baffling. The US adamantly opposes breast feeding at a World Health Organization (W.H.O.) conference. When Ecuador introduced the measure, the US delegates threatened them withdrawal of military aid. Big Formula has pull, I guess. (Source: New York Times)

Tuesday 7/10/18 - Trump nominates Kavanaugh. In the past, this judge has expressed opinions that executives should not be bothers with prosecutions while they are in office. (Source: Washington Post)

Wednesday 7/11/18 - NATO was formed to hold off Soviet aggression in Eastern Europe. Just four years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine and took over the Crimean Peninsula. To other Baltic states like Latvia and Estonia, the NATO alliance is very real, but Trump calls it "obsolete" making them very nervous. (Source: New York Times)

Thursday 7/12/18 - The ACA was deemed legal by the Supreme Court and successful by the CBO (Congressional Business Office), yet Trump is still trying to destroy it. (Source: Washington Post)

Friday 7/13/18 - Trump's former Secretary of HHS (Health and Human Services) spent over $300,000.00 in unneeded and over-priced air travel. This may seem like a small amount of money but since several of Trump's cabinet leaders have had the same problem, this is become very expensive for the American tax payer. (Source: Washington Post)

Saturday 7/14/18 - You may recall, on July 27, 2016, candidate Trump stood at a podium in Doral, Florida and urged Russia to hack his opponent, Hillary Clinton, and find her missing emails. According to the latest set of Mueller indictments, Russia hackers did hack her email on that very same day. (Source: Slate)

Sunday 7/15/18 -Trump is using his visit to Europe to advertise his golf course in Scotland. (Source: New York Times)

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, 2017
Issue #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

Trump Log #51: Road Trip Reflections

I had an opportunity to drive out to the Midwest last week on vacation. We left Vermont on a Saturday, drove through Quebec and Ontario, Canada to arrived in Michigan. I spent a couple of nights on Diamond Lake enjoying the company of my wife's cousins, a boat ride, fireworks and some barbecue chicken. We went to Chicago to visit her immediate family and spent some quality time with my nieces and nephew. We went to a Cubs game, went on a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's house, lots of food and of course, more fireworks. Friday morning we took off for Kansas City and stopped at Abraham Lincoln's tomb and toured the Illinois State House in Springfield. We stayed at an AirBnB in KC, saw the Red Sox play at Royals' Kauffman Stadium, had some incredible Southern chow and watched more fireworks. You see any patterns? I don't even like fireworks, but they were everywhere we went.

I read and listen to a lot of news. You could say I'm a news junkie. As a result, I get a little down about the state of our country. A trip like this is good for me. The natural beauty, the incredible history, culture and art our country has produced and the creativity, ingenuity and eccentricity of our citizens ... these are the things I get patriotic about. Not about wars and the military, but pretty much everything else. Overall, we live in an incredible place that is more free and safe than most places on this planet. It is important we don't take it for granted.

It is also important that we don't forget that it is something that we have to work at perfecting. Perfection may never be reached but we continue to work on it. On my trip I am also reminded of a lot that is wrong with our country. Here are some:

• The trash I see on the side of the roads in KC is like nothing I've seen in any city in America. This is really disgusting. How much time does it take just to pick up your trash. Hey, pick up someone else's trash while you're at it. You will love the results. 
• Rural Missouri is all gun shops, strip joints, XXX shops, fireworks stores and churches. This always amazes me when I got South. I'm not sure what the connection is with these things, but this the South in a nutshell. 
• About 30% of you are awful drivers. You tailgate, you weave back and forth through traffic and you are shitty multi-taskers. I actually saw a school bus driver talking on a cell phone while she was driving.  
• What's the deal with fireworks anyway. Does every town have to spend a fortune to pollute our lakes and scare the hell out of our dogs? They goes boom and makes pretty colors. Why aren't you over this by now! Don't tell me it is for the kids because half of them are afraid of it and want to go home. 

The 30% bad drivers stat reminds me of that is about the same percentage of you that voted for Trump. They may just be the same people. Lets see, what do they have in common? They are clueless about their surroundings, don't give a shit how their actions affect anyone else and have fucked up priorities. Sounds about right.  

Trump Log:
Monday 7/2/18 - Trump's Treasury Secretary, Tim Geirthner, is the president of a firm that is lending predatory loans to the poor. (Source Washington Post)

Tuesday 7/3/18 - The Trump administration is revoking guidelines created by the Obama administration for colleges in regards to race in admissions. This won't change anything, but symbolically, it should show you where this administration stands on race. (Source: Washington Post)

Wednesday 7/4/18 - Trump's tariffs on foreign cars will badly affect workers who work for foreign car producers here in the US. Many of them voted for Trump. (Source: New York Times)

Thursday 7/5/18 - Trump claims President Obama gave citizenship to 2,500 Iranians in the Iran Deal ... which is a complete lie. He and Fox "News" get their misinformation from Iranian propaganda. (Source: Washington Post)

Friday 7/6/18 - It is great news that Scott Pruitt is gone as head of the EPA, but his temporary replacement may be just as bad. Andrew Wheeler is a former coal lobbyist. (Source: New York Times)

Saturday 7/7/18 - Our new Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen visited an immigrant detention center on Friday. This is great, but the 60 mothers of separated children that are staying there were moved by ICE to a recreation field, far away, so they couldn't talk to her. (Source: TheIntercept)

Sunday 7/8/18 - Naturalization via military service has always been an option for immigrants who want to speed up their path to citizenship. But Trump has found a new way to persecute these immigrants. (Source: New York Times)

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, 2017
Issue #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

Trump Log #50: Don't Let This Become Normal

This is my 50th Trump blog. I took a long break (mental health break), but other than the break I published one of these every Monday or Sunday since his first week. Let us remember that this is not normal times.  Elections have consequences. We have to deal with this until he is gone. Please remember that the November election is very important.

In the meantime, here is a reminder of what has transpired since he is taken office. This is not a definitive list, this is only the ones I could think of.

Environmental: Let's put aside the fact that Trump's EPA head is using federal employees to be his, and his wife's, personal assistants. Also, he is spending tax payer money for 24/7 personal security and building a sound-proof phone booth for his office. Lets look at Trump environmental"\ record:

• Repeal of the Clean Power Plan 
• Rollback of CAFE standards for automobiles
• Repeal of emission requirements 
• Loosening of other air pollution rules (industrial and power plants)
• Repeal of the Waters of United States rule
• Scale back of lead-risk reduction program
• Delay or reduction of chemical bans
• Weakening of rules on coal ash waste

Emoluments: The moment Trump took the oath of office, he was in breach of the Constitution. All presidents before him divested before taking office to avoid the perception that they were in breach of the Emoluments Clause.

• He reversed his stance on the One China Policy after selling a hotel to a Chinese business man.
• Saudi Arabia spent $270,000 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., as part of a lobbying effort to roll back legislation that allows family members of 9/11 attack victims to sue the Saudi government.

Stormy Daniels: The president paid a stripper $130,000.00 in hush money. What else can anyone say about this? Do you remember how the GOP clung to their pearls in moral outrage over Bill Clinton's improprieties.

Zinke - Interior Secretary Zinke has been using expensive charter planes, Park Police helicopters and other government resources for his personal travel. He has been rolling back regulations on public land in response to request from industry lobbyists. National Park Service employees have walked out in massive numbers including to their Board of Directors.

Children at the border - The president and his minions blame Obama (wrong), blame a Democratic law (wrong) and blame everyone but themselves for separating young children from their parents due to their zero tolerance policy at the border. Zero tolerance applies to everyone, not just criminals, but refugees. These are people who have gone through hell to get here from war torn parts of our hemisphere. Thousands of children still remain separated from their parents.

Russian collusion - The president staff met with Russia during the campaign to discuss dirt on Hillary Clinton. This we know. Until the Mueller report comes out, we won't know everything.

Devos - The Secretary of Education is an advocate of private schools and charters schools, but not public school. She has yet to visit an under-performing school. She is grossly under-qualified.

Carson - In regards to unqualified, Ben Carson knows less about Housing than I do. As head of the HUD he has proposed raising rents on those in public housing and has scaled back the Fair Housing enforcement. Our homeless problem is pretty bad but under Carson, it is getting worse.

Foreign Policy problems:

• The Paris Agreement - Trump has rejected it. He clings to fossil fuels while the rest of the world embraces green energy. China is corning the market on an industry that will be the norm in the future.
• He is alienating our allies while emboldening dictators around the world. He's even gone as far as expressing support for Filipino President Duterte's extrajudicial murders in the name of drug enforcement.
• He is downsizing the State Department
• He fails to acknowledge that the Iran deal was working and has rejected it. Now things are getting worse for Iranians, particularly their activists. 
• He wants to increase our nuclear arsenal.

Immigrants - He demonizes immigrants using racists, coded language. We are a nation of immigrants. They should be celebrated, not derided.

Trump Log:
Monday 6/25/18 - Trump's trade war is driving Harley Davidson to open a manufacturing plant in Europe. (Source: Washington Post)

Tuesday 6/26/18 - Since Trump has pulled out of the Iranian Deal, things have gotten worse Iranian citizens, particularly the activists. (Source: New York Times)

Wednesday 6/27/18 - Trump threatens sanctions on any country, ally or otherwise, if they buy Iranian oil. (Source: New York Times)

Thursday 6/28/18 - Trump wants to cut the Public Health Service Corp by 40%. These are the health care professionals that rush into disaster zones to assist people in need. This president really has his priorities set .... NOT!  (Source: Washington Post)

Friday 6/29/18 - Trump is licking Putin's boots again. (Source: Washington Post)

Saturday 6/30/18 - In response to Trump's steel tariffs, Canada slaps a 10% tariff on American products from ketchup, pizza to dish washing detergent. (Source: Washington Post)

Sunday 7/1/18 - The US Ambassador to Estonia resigns in response to Trump's lies and disrespectful treatment of our European allies. (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, 2017
Issue #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