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