"I got impeached faster than any President in history. Tremendously, bigly fast!"
-- Trump, bragging to his cellmate in 2018
Friday, March 31, 2017
Trump's clones and copycats will lose in other countries
The same as when communists won in Rrussia , they could not win in any other country afterwards, is with trump clones and copycats in other countries. People heard and saw and read the communist horror story and what had happened in Russia so they never voted for communists in any other country again. A win for Trump means a defeat for all the other copycats in other countries. The more he stays in power, the less is the chance of his clones winning in other countries the same as the more communists stayed in powRussiarussia, the less the chances of communists in other countries to be popular and to win in politics.
Do you believe that Trump is now separate from his business?
Why isn't anyone asking about Trump's business anymore. Has he really separated himself from his business? Do you really believe he does not discuss his business with his sons(supposedly running father's business now) when he sits for dinner with them? This is the most corrupt American government in history, where the president can benefit from his billion dollar business while he is also presiding.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Trump the embarrassing president is shocked a roomful of women know Susan B. Anthony
What I assume President Trump knows about Susan B. Anthony
THIS IS FUNNY. Again he names a historical figure his aids have just explained to him who she was and like an 8 year old he is thrilled that now he knows about her. He is illiterate, and he thinks everybody else is like him and he is shocked everytime he understands people know things he did not know.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Trump will probably be more successful with his tax "reform"
Trump's defeat in passing his Trumpcare bill was humiliating and that causes some news media sources to predict that he will have problems passing his tax reform bill. I don't think it will be difficult for him. If there is one thing that Republicans truly believe in it is cutting taxes for the rich. There can't be any resistance in the party against the reform, by and from any faction. Trump and the party both want the taxes for the rich to be cut, and I think they can do it without much problem and over democrats opposition.
Putin's dictatorship
In Russia if you can't find a taxi you can just shout 'DEMOCRACY' & the police will carry you the rest of your trip
ISIS and the forces against it
What strikes me about ISIS fighters vis a vis the Iraqi and coalition forces is this:
It took ISIS forces to capture Mosul only one day. They showed up and Iraqi forces escaped en masse. Iraqis had the best and most advanced weapons and ISIS only had and has hand weapons and some home made one and some toy drones.
Now, after two years of preparation, with the full support of the coalition including US forces, with the most advanced weapons in the world, the opposing faction is fighting for 5 months and they have not yet been able to capture Mosul back. ISIS forces inside Mosul are at most 5000 poorly trained and supplied fighters, and on the other side we have at least 100,000 forces with the most advanced weapons in their command.
ISIS is evil, there is no doubt in that. One of the most evil groups in modern history, but what is the difference between them and the other side that allows them to resist for more than 5 months against such a huge enemy force? I would say the difference is their unwavering belief in their evil ideology which prepares them to die for it, while on the other side there is no belief, in anything. Even in this modern world, with all the advanced computerized weapons, belief still plays a role. Trotsky said: it is not the readiness to kill others which makes an army powerful, it is their readiness to be killed for their ideology and belief that makes them invincible. And once again we see another example of this truth. Until the time that wars are fought with entirely robotized machines, belief still plays a role.
It took ISIS forces to capture Mosul only one day. They showed up and Iraqi forces escaped en masse. Iraqis had the best and most advanced weapons and ISIS only had and has hand weapons and some home made one and some toy drones.
Now, after two years of preparation, with the full support of the coalition including US forces, with the most advanced weapons in the world, the opposing faction is fighting for 5 months and they have not yet been able to capture Mosul back. ISIS forces inside Mosul are at most 5000 poorly trained and supplied fighters, and on the other side we have at least 100,000 forces with the most advanced weapons in their command.
ISIS is evil, there is no doubt in that. One of the most evil groups in modern history, but what is the difference between them and the other side that allows them to resist for more than 5 months against such a huge enemy force? I would say the difference is their unwavering belief in their evil ideology which prepares them to die for it, while on the other side there is no belief, in anything. Even in this modern world, with all the advanced computerized weapons, belief still plays a role. Trotsky said: it is not the readiness to kill others which makes an army powerful, it is their readiness to be killed for their ideology and belief that makes them invincible. And once again we see another example of this truth. Until the time that wars are fought with entirely robotized machines, belief still plays a role.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
What should concerned citizens in US do to bring down Donald Trump and save America
From an article by Frum in Atlantic:
Get into the habit of telephoning your senators and House member at their local offices, especially if you live in a red state. Press your senators to ensure that prosecutors and judges are chosen for their independence—and that their independence is protected. Support laws to require the Treasury to release presidential tax returns if the president fails to do so voluntarily. Urge new laws to clarify that the Emoluments Clause applies to the president’s immediate family, and that it refers not merely to direct gifts from governments but to payments from government-affiliated enterprises as well. Demand an independent investigation by qualified professionals of the role of foreign intelligence services in the 2016 election—and the contacts, if any, between those services and American citizens. Express your support and sympathy for journalists attacked by social-media trolls, especially women in journalism, so often the preferred targets. Honor civil servants who are fired or forced to resign because they defied improper orders. Keep close watch for signs of the rise of a culture of official impunity, in which friends and supporters of power-holders are allowed to flout rules that bind everyone else.
Get into the habit of telephoning your senators and House member at their local offices, especially if you live in a red state. Press your senators to ensure that prosecutors and judges are chosen for their independence—and that their independence is protected. Support laws to require the Treasury to release presidential tax returns if the president fails to do so voluntarily. Urge new laws to clarify that the Emoluments Clause applies to the president’s immediate family, and that it refers not merely to direct gifts from governments but to payments from government-affiliated enterprises as well. Demand an independent investigation by qualified professionals of the role of foreign intelligence services in the 2016 election—and the contacts, if any, between those services and American citizens. Express your support and sympathy for journalists attacked by social-media trolls, especially women in journalism, so often the preferred targets. Honor civil servants who are fired or forced to resign because they defied improper orders. Keep close watch for signs of the rise of a culture of official impunity, in which friends and supporters of power-holders are allowed to flout rules that bind everyone else.
Modern Dictatorships are different than 20th century totalitarian dictatorships
A corrupt dictatorship by Trump won't look like a Hitler or Stalin's dictatorship. Here is What Frum says in his famous article at Atlantic:
Whatever else happens, Americans are not going to assemble in parade-ground formations, any more than they will crank a gramophone or dance the turkey trot. In a society where few people walk to work, why mobilize young men in matching shirts to command the streets? If you’re seeking to domineer and bully, you want your storm troopers to go online, where the more important traffic is. Demagogues need no longer stand erect for hours orating into a radio microphone. Tweet lies from a smartphone instead.
Whatever else happens, Americans are not going to assemble in parade-ground formations, any more than they will crank a gramophone or dance the turkey trot. In a society where few people walk to work, why mobilize young men in matching shirts to command the streets? If you’re seeking to domineer and bully, you want your storm troopers to go online, where the more important traffic is. Demagogues need no longer stand erect for hours orating into a radio microphone. Tweet lies from a smartphone instead.
Difference of Trump and Used Car Salesman
Difference of Trump and a used car salesman: With the salesman you will at least get a car.
How to convince Republicans to investigate Russia-Trump?
The only way to get Republicans to vigorously investigate Russian meddling in the election is by convincing them that Hillary was behind it.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Is Trump literate?
Trump never wrote a book in his life. He put his name on a bunch of them, but they were all written by others. This is well-documented. Trump has probably never even _read_ a book in his life. He's admitted to getting lost and distracted after having to read a single page. He can't read briefings, relying on dumbed-down bullet points and facts delivered verbally. He is, as far as can be told, practically illiterate. He takes notes with a Sharpie -- three or four phrases per page. If you held a gun to his head and forced him to try to write the kind of two-page essay that high school students can churn out on demand, he'd be utterly incapable of doing it.
TRUMPNATION?????
Oh my god, for the first time I saw the word "Trump Nation" used by Trump supporters.... Rob Ford all over again. Rob Ford supporters used to call themselves "Ford Nation". I hope it all does not end up in Nazi salutes and the worship of the "Great Fuhrer with funny hair".
Friday, March 24, 2017
This article is very important: Steve Bannon wants to get rid of Paul Ryan
Read this article in Bannon's mouthpiece, Breitbart, it openly blames Paul Ryan and says that Republicans want to get rid of him, which means Bannon wants to get rid of him. President Bannon does not like Ryan and is afraid that Ryan will take over as the real power behind the throne.
This is the revealing article in Breitbart:
Discussion About GOP Replacement to Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House Intensifies in White House, Congress
This is the revealing article in Breitbart:
Discussion About GOP Replacement to Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House Intensifies in White House, Congress
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Trumps hire cheap foreign labor, and condemn it with other companies
Trump Vineyard Estates, owned by Eric Trump, is seeking permission to hire 29 foreign workers through the federal H-2A visa program to cultivate grapes at its Virginia winery, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. The immigration program lets agricultural employees temporarily hire foreign workers to do the jobs Americans don't want or can't do.
while Trump promised on the campaign trail to create new jobs for American workers and vowed to come down hard on trade deals that benefit foreign labor markets, companies owned by the New York business mogul requested 1,100 foreign worker visas between 2000 and the time he entered the presidential race in 2015, according to a Reuters analysis of Department of Labor data. Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, sought the most foreign workers, with applications for 787 workers such as maids, cooks and servers since 2006 under a H-2B visa program that tends to benefit Mexicans.
while Trump promised on the campaign trail to create new jobs for American workers and vowed to come down hard on trade deals that benefit foreign labor markets, companies owned by the New York business mogul requested 1,100 foreign worker visas between 2000 and the time he entered the presidential race in 2015, according to a Reuters analysis of Department of Labor data. Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, sought the most foreign workers, with applications for 787 workers such as maids, cooks and servers since 2006 under a H-2B visa program that tends to benefit Mexicans.
There will be no healtcare left in US with Trumpcare
On Thursday night, negotiations between the White House and the the House Freedom Caucus resulted in the announcement of drastic last-minute changes to the AHCA — including removing Obamacare requirements that insurance cover things like emergency services and maternity care.
The 10 “essential” benefits Obamacare introduced, which some Republicans hoped to repeal, are: ambulatory patient services; emergency services; hospitalization; pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care; mental health and substance abuse services; prescription medications; rehabilitative services; laboratory services; preventative care and chronic disease management; and pediatric services. So … all of medicine, basically. [
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Monday, March 20, 2017
Bernie Sanders about the happiest country in the world: Norway
Norway is now the happiest country on earth followed by Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden, according to the United Nations. Meanwhile, the United States has moved down to 14th on the list. Why are the people in Norway so much happier than the U.S.? It’s not that complicated.
While hundreds of thousands of bright, young Americans don’t go to college because they cannot afford the cost, public college is tuition-free in Norway.
While the U.S. is the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care as a right, Norway has a single-payer health care system that provides high-quality health care to all of its citizens at a far lower cost.
While the U.S. is the only major country that does not guarantee workers some type of paid sick leave, Norway guarantees 50 paid sick days.
The U.S. has the highest childhood poverty rate of nearly any major country on earth, while Norway has one of the lowest followed by Denmark and Finland.
As we strive to be a more just society, we must follow the examples of our brothers and sisters in other countries who have made better progress. What do you think?
difference between Trump and Obama's golf
The White House said President Trump’s criticism of President Obama’s golfing did not conflict with his frequent trips to the golf course because the difference is in “how you use the game of golf."
PAUL RYAN IS NOT A TRUE CHRISTIAN
From Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times Opinion Section:
"'Oh, come on, Jesus,' Pious Paul protested. 'Don’t go socialist on me again. Please don’t encourage class warfare. The best way to help the needy is to give public money to the rich. That then inspires the poor to work harder, galvanizes the sick to become healthy, forces the lepers to solve their own problems rather than kick back and depend on others.' "
"'Oh, come on, Jesus,' Pious Paul protested. 'Don’t go socialist on me again. Please don’t encourage class warfare. The best way to help the needy is to give public money to the rich. That then inspires the poor to work harder, galvanizes the sick to become healthy, forces the lepers to solve their own problems rather than kick back and depend on others.' "
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Some democrats are not much different than their Republican brethren
Certainly there are some people in the Democratic Party who want to maintain the status quo. They would rather go down with the Titanic so long as they have first-class seats.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Manchurian couch potato
Trump's name by Paul Krugman: Manchurian couch potato.
He only listens to Fox News and repeats it verbatim.
He only listens to Fox News and repeats it verbatim.
SINGULARITY
Singularity will be the end of civilization as we know it. Nobody can predict what will replace our civilization but it will be very different.
Friday, March 17, 2017
Trumpcare will cut medicaid to millions of poor Americans
Before, Medicaid provided insurance almost exclusively to poor families on welfare, pregnant women, and the low-income elderly and disabled on Supplemental Security Income. Today, in part due to Obamacare’s expansion of the program, Medicaid covers more than 73 million struggling Americans. Ryan’s AHCA gradually ends funding for the Medicaid expansion and allocates Medicaid funding to states based on the number of Medicaid beneficiaries rather than the actual cost of covering them as is currently the case. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 14 million fewer Americans will be covered by the program by 2026 as a result. That number could balloon if the work requirements and block-granting currently being contemplated on the Hill make it into the final bill.
The prospect of so many being dropped from Medicaid and states footing a much larger share of Medicaid’s bills has spooked more moderate Republicans across the country—the majority of states where the federal government currently spends more than average on state Medicaid programs are deep red and 16 states with GOP governors took up the Medicaid expansion. It remains to be seen if the chance to fulfill Paul Ryan’s lifelong dream of denying the poor government insurance might tug at their heartstrings.
The prospect of so many being dropped from Medicaid and states footing a much larger share of Medicaid’s bills has spooked more moderate Republicans across the country—the majority of states where the federal government currently spends more than average on state Medicaid programs are deep red and 16 states with GOP governors took up the Medicaid expansion. It remains to be seen if the chance to fulfill Paul Ryan’s lifelong dream of denying the poor government insurance might tug at their heartstrings.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Trump's horrible budget
If the president gets his way, funding for the environment, diplomacy, housing, health services and the arts will be cut 20 to 30 percent.
funding will be eliminated, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Military spending would increase by $54 billion, a 10 percent rise, in 2018, in addition to a $30 billion increase in the current year.
Amnesty International called the cuts to foreign aid “shameful” and predicted “global consequences.” The Union of Concerned Scientists said cuts to scientific programs were “antiquated ideas and misguided science, which will hurt our economy, kill jobs, make us less safe.” The American Library Association said that eliminating federal funds for libraries was “counterproductive and shortsighted.” Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, said, “This budget takes a meat cleaver to public education.”
Environmental activists criticized Mr. Trump’s priorities. Michael Brune, the executive director of the Sierra Club, said that “the only thing that matters in his America is corporate polluters’ profits and Wall Street billionaires.”
Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, criticized Mr. Trump’s decision to cut $300 million from a program that aims to protect Lake Erie. “I have long championed this program,” Mr. Portman said, “and I’m committed to continuing to do everything I can to protect and preserve Lake Erie, including preserving this critical program and its funding.”
funding will be eliminated, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Military spending would increase by $54 billion, a 10 percent rise, in 2018, in addition to a $30 billion increase in the current year.
Amnesty International called the cuts to foreign aid “shameful” and predicted “global consequences.” The Union of Concerned Scientists said cuts to scientific programs were “antiquated ideas and misguided science, which will hurt our economy, kill jobs, make us less safe.” The American Library Association said that eliminating federal funds for libraries was “counterproductive and shortsighted.” Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, said, “This budget takes a meat cleaver to public education.”
Environmental activists criticized Mr. Trump’s priorities. Michael Brune, the executive director of the Sierra Club, said that “the only thing that matters in his America is corporate polluters’ profits and Wall Street billionaires.”
Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, criticized Mr. Trump’s decision to cut $300 million from a program that aims to protect Lake Erie. “I have long championed this program,” Mr. Portman said, “and I’m committed to continuing to do everything I can to protect and preserve Lake Erie, including preserving this critical program and its funding.”
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
What we should know about Trump's tax report
The most interesting part of the document was that Trump claimed about $103 million in losses, from either that year or prior ones. On its own, that should've cut his tax rate down to a measly 3.5 percent. But the Alternative Minimum Tax, which seeks to crack down on wealthy taxpayers with large deductions, prevented that, and left him with an actual rate around 25 percent — not super-high, but not super-low either. [WSJ / Richard Rubin and Michael Bender]
• Notably, Trump, along with most Republicans, wants to eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax. Over time the tax has evolved to mostly hit people making $500,000 to $1 million a year; Trump is a weird mega-rich person who got hit with it. [NPR / Jim Zarroli]
• Notably, Trump, along with most Republicans, wants to eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax. Over time the tax has evolved to mostly hit people making $500,000 to $1 million a year; Trump is a weird mega-rich person who got hit with it. [NPR / Jim Zarroli]
Trump voters, like Rob Ford voters, will stand by him to the end
It is very difficult to let uneducated simple people understand that they are supporting their class enemy in the elections. They like him because he is like them, and he knows how to cheat them:
Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg coined the term “Reagan Democrats” in the mid-1980s to describe just these sorts of blue-collar whites in Macomb County, Michigan, mostly autoworkers, who had shifted from staunchly backing John F. Kennedy to going gaga for Ronald Reagan. He helped his client Bill Clinton assiduously court this constituency and bring them back into the Democratic fold.
To understand what happened, Greenberg went back last month to conduct four focus groups with 35 non-college educated whites who voted for both Trump and Obama.
There was no buyer’s remorse. Despite the drama of the opening weeks, not one of the participants regretted voting for the president. They described Trump as sincere, complained about unfair media coverage and criticized protesters for not giving him a chance to do good things. They love that he remains politically incorrect. They remain confident that he is a strong leader who will shake up Washington, secure the border and bring back manufacturing jobs. Their faith is strong. Their doubts are sparse.
At the same time, no one in the focus groups trusted congressional Republicans to do the right thing, particularly on the economy and health care. The Trump/Obama voters were asked to react to pictures of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. Among the responses: “shifty,” “they only look out for themselves,” and “like the CEOs.” They want these guys to support Trump and his agenda, not the other way around. Asked for impressions of Republicans generally, several volunteered that the party cares primarily about the rich.
Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg coined the term “Reagan Democrats” in the mid-1980s to describe just these sorts of blue-collar whites in Macomb County, Michigan, mostly autoworkers, who had shifted from staunchly backing John F. Kennedy to going gaga for Ronald Reagan. He helped his client Bill Clinton assiduously court this constituency and bring them back into the Democratic fold.
To understand what happened, Greenberg went back last month to conduct four focus groups with 35 non-college educated whites who voted for both Trump and Obama.
There was no buyer’s remorse. Despite the drama of the opening weeks, not one of the participants regretted voting for the president. They described Trump as sincere, complained about unfair media coverage and criticized protesters for not giving him a chance to do good things. They love that he remains politically incorrect. They remain confident that he is a strong leader who will shake up Washington, secure the border and bring back manufacturing jobs. Their faith is strong. Their doubts are sparse.
At the same time, no one in the focus groups trusted congressional Republicans to do the right thing, particularly on the economy and health care. The Trump/Obama voters were asked to react to pictures of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. Among the responses: “shifty,” “they only look out for themselves,” and “like the CEOs.” They want these guys to support Trump and his agenda, not the other way around. Asked for impressions of Republicans generally, several volunteered that the party cares primarily about the rich.
Monday, March 13, 2017
WHAT DOES TRUMPCARE MEAN FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Here, in short, is what the AHCA does. The bill guts Medicaid, halves the value of Obamacare’s insurance subsidies, and allows insurers to charge older Americans 500 percent more than they charge young Americans.
Then it takes the subsidies that are left and reworks them to be worth less to the poor and the old, takes the insurers that are left and lets them change their plans to cover fewer medical expenses for the sick, and rewrites the tax code to offer hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts to the rich. As Dylan Matthews writes, it is an act of class warfare by the rich against the poor.
The result isn’t just 24 million fewer people with insurance: Of those who remain insured, the pool is tilted toward younger, healthier people who need help less, because many of the older, poorer people who need the most help can no longer afford insurance.
TRUMPCARE, HELLCARE
"This is not fine. It is not decent, it is not compassionate, and it is not what Republicans promised. It is a betrayal of Donald Trump's vow to protect Medicaid from cuts and to pass a healthcare bill that covers everyone with insurance that has lower deductibles and better coverage. It is a betrayal of Ryan's promise to give Americans more choices — as it is only when you can afford insurance that you truly have the choice of which plan to buy. It is a betrayal of the older, rural voters who put Republicans in office and who will pay the most for heath insurance under this proposal. It is hard to imagine the electoral reckoning that would follow the implementation of this law.
That’s the thing about setting a fire. You’re often the one who gets burned." — Ezra Klein
The Big Winner in Donald Trump’s Decision to Fire Preet Bharara Might Be Rupert Murdoch
Throughout his six-decade career working on three continents, Rupert Murdoch has used his media properties to advance the prospects of politicians whose policies help his business interests. Whether it was Margaret Thatcher’s union-busting in the 1980s or Rudy Giuliani’s campaign to put Fox News on Time Warner’s cable system in the 1990s, Murdoch went all-out for leaders who allowed him to protect and expand his corporate empire.
Since Election Day, Murdoch, now the executive chairman of Fox News, has personally nudged the network in a more pro-Trump direction, sources tell me. That effort included anointing Trump-friendly Tucker Carlson as the successor to Megyn Kelly as host in the 9 p.m. slot. Fox News staffers are also grumbling that segments now have to fit a “pro-Trump narrative,” one insider told me. Trump seems to be returning the goodwill: He asked Murdoch to submit names for FCC commissioner and tweeted praise for Fox News. He’s even taken policy ideas from the network. Now Murdoch may be poised to reap a much bigger win from a Trump administration action.
That’s because on Saturday Trump oversaw the firing of Preet Bharara, the U.S attorney for the Southern District of Manhattan, whose office is in the middle of a high-profile federal investigation of Fox News. The probe, according to sources, is looking at a number of potential crimes, including whether Fox News executives broke laws by allegedly obtaining journalists’ phone records or committed mail and wire fraud by hiding financial settlements paid to women who accused Roger Ailes of sexual harassment. Sources told me that prosecutors have been offering witnesses immunity to testify before a federal grand jury that’s already been impaneled.
Trump’s decision to fire Bharara ignited speculation that it was designed to blunt investigations like the Fox News probe. In November, Trump had promised Bharara he could remain in the job. But on Friday, he reversed course and requested Bharara’s resignation along with 45 other Obama-appointed U.S. attorneys. (Adding to the intrigue, Trump’s prosecutor purge came less than 24 hours after Sean Hannity said on Fox News that Trump should “purge” the Justice Department of Obama-appointed officials.)
Given that Fox News is Murdoch’s most profitable division, the prospect of indictments is a serious problem. “They’re really worried,” one source close to the network said. Another insider said that Fox News executives considered the investigation “political” because Bharara had been appointed by Barack Obama. Which is why, for Murdoch, it must be a relief that Bharara’s replacement could be an ally. According to the Times, Trump’s short list to replace Bharara includes Marc Mukasey — who just happens to be former Fox News chief Roger Ailes’s personal lawyer.
Considering Mukasey’s close relationship with Ailes, he would surely come under pressure to recuse himself from the Fox News probe if he were appointed by Trump to succeed Bharara. “I have no comment,” Mukasey said when I reached him on Sunday evening and asked if he planned to do so, should he get the job.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/03/winner-in-trumps-decision-to-fire-bharara-might-be-murdoch.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Intelligencer%20-%20March%2013%2C%202017&utm_term=Subscription%20List%20-%20Daily%20Intelligencer%20%281%20Year%29
Donald, America is not North Korea
Poor Donald, he does not understand that America is not North Korea, and he is not Kim Jung Un.
Friday, March 10, 2017
YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.... Republican Party's plan for people: if you are rich, you are lucky, if not, forget it
By Paul Waldman, Washington Post, 10 March 2017
The GOP’s guiding principle: You’re on your own
President Trump is not an ideologue — not because he’s open-minded, but because he has little in the way of particular beliefs about policy. He does, however, have impulses, inclinations and prejudices. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), on the other hand, is an ideologue, as are many if not most of his compatriots in Congress.
Put that Congress and this White House together, and you get a Republican government with a clear and coherent ideology, one you can sum up in a short declarative statement:
You’re on your own.
This is the driving principle behind nearly everything the Republicans are trying to do in domestic affairs (the foreign affairs version is we’re on our own, and to hell with everyone else). Here are a few recent examples.
Yesterday, Ryan staged one of his PowerPoint presentations on the Republican health-care plan, the kind that makes Washington pundits swoon about how wonky and smart he supposedly is. Here’s part of what he said:
“The fatal conceit of Obamacare is that we’re just going to make everybody buy our health insurance at the federal level, young and healthy people are going to go into the market and pay for older, sicker people. So the young healthy person’s going to be made to buy health care, and they’re going to pay for the person, you know, who gets breast cancer in her 40s, or who gets heart disease in his 50s … the whole idea of Obamacare is … the people who are healthy pay for the people who are sick. It’s not working, and that’s why it’s in a death spiral.”
Clever readers will realize that what Ryan is describing here is actually called “insurance.” First of all, the healthy and the sick aren’t different people; they’re people at different points in their lives. And the whole idea of insurance is that those who don’t need it at a particular moment are paying for those who do. By Ryan’s logic, homeowner’s insurance is crazy, because those whose houses weren’t destroyed by tornadoes are paying for those whose houses were destroyed. If you didn’t get into a car accident this month, your insurance premiums paid to repair the cars of people who did. What an upside-down world we live in.
So the Republican health-care plan is, essentially, you’re on your own. They want to claw back the expansion of Medicaid — sorry, working poor, you’re on your own. They want to remove the Affordable Care Act’s subsidies for middle-income people and replace them with some meager tax credits. If that isn’t enough to allow you to afford coverage, you’re on your own. That’s also the principle behind the privatization of Medicare that Ryan has long advocated: He wants to replace Medicare’s guaranteed coverage for seniors with a voucher that might or might not pay for private coverage. If it doesn’t, you’re on your own. Sure, millions of people will lose coverage if they repeal the ACA, but that’s less important than whether we’re all enjoying more “freedom.”
But there’s more. As Kimberly Kindy reports:
House Republicans are advancing a series of bills that would make changes to the civil justice system long sought by doctors and U.S. corporations, including a cap on some medical malpractice awards and new roadblocks for classes of people seeking to sue jointly to address harm.
If your doctor amputates the wrong leg or leaves a sponge inside your body or even kills you through malpractice, guess what: You’re on your own. If you and thousands or millions of other people were screwed over by a corporation and Republicans have their way, you won’t be able to join together to sue. You’re on your own.
Meanwhile, a government-wide assault is underway on any entity that tries to protect citizens; indeed, if an agency has the word “protection” in its name, it’s almost certainly being targeted. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which works to prevent the financial industry from preying on consumers, is particularly galling to Republicans, perhaps because it has returned $11.8 billion to 29 million consumers who were victimized by misconduct by banks, payday lenders and credit card companies. Ted Cruz has introduced legislation to abolish it, while a bill championed by Jeb Hensarling, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, would “limit the bureau’s enforcement authority, reduce its ability to make rules and repeal its consumer complaint system.”
The Trump administration is on board with an effort to, at a minimum, defang the agency by replacing its director with a committee that could mire it in the same kind of paralysis we see at agencies such as the Federal Election Commission. If your bank or your credit card company cheats you? You’re on your own.
Then there’s the Environmental Protection Agency, now run by a climate denier who made his career suing to stop environmental regulations from being enforced. One of Congress’s first acts this year was to undo an Obama administration rule limiting the amount of coal ash that could be dumped in streams. If you live in the wrong area and you’re fond of clean water? You’re on your own. That’s just a small part of the comprehensive assault on environmental and climate change regulation we’re going to see.
Or if you need help affording housing? The administration is planning to cut $6 billion from the budget of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. How about if your local police department is mistreating you and your fellow citizens? Sorry, you’re on your own: In his first speech as attorney general, Jeff Sessions made clear that the Justice Department will step back from monitoring police departments for abuse. And don’t think that workplace protections are going to be vigorously enforced, not under this administration and with this Congress. In fact, Republicans just introduced a bill to allow companies to force their employees to undergo genetic testing. Because why not? While the Trump White House may be in chaos, powerful industries looking for action on their wish lists have been invited right in and granted quick satisfaction.
So if you already have wealth or power, “You’re on your own” will be terrific. You’ll be able to keep more money without being burdened by taxes to pay for a bunch of stuff that doesn’t benefit you and you only (Republicans haven’t even started cutting taxes for the wealthy, but have no fear: There’s a windfall coming your way). You will no longer have to worry so much about laws that might keep you from exploiting or even defrauding other people. Did you expect anything different from the head of Trump University, who scammed so many people out of their life savings?
But if you’re not rich or powerful, you may find that “You’re on your own” doesn’t work out so well. The government won’t be there to protect you or give you a helping hand. Republicans are in charge now, so it’s everyone for themselves.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Trump and health insurance
“An analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 6.3 million of the 11.5 million Americans who used the A.C.A. marketplace to buy their insurance last year live in Republican congressional districts. Policy analysts say that a rollback of the A.C.A. would hurt older and rural Americans — two populations that favored Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton in the presidential election.”
As he has done his whole life, Trump has sold those who follow him as some sort of money-drenched messiah a bill of goods, but this time the lie is likely to manifest in loss of life, as sick people lose coverage.
Donald Trump has sold his supporters — and by extension, this country — a ticket to hell.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Who wins and who loses under Trumpcare
Who Wins and Who Loses Under Republicans’ Health Care Plan
The biggest losers under the change would be older Americans with low incomes who live in high-cost areas. Those are the people who benefited most from Obamacare.(and many of them actually voted for Trump)
For some people, the new tax credit system will be more generous. The winners are likely to be younger, earn higher incomes and live in areas where the cost of health insurance is low.(and these people won't use the insurance anyways, as they are young and healthy, so hoorah for insurance company lobbyists.
Obamacare's subsidies were structured to limit how much low- and middle-income Americans could be asked to pay for health insurance. Under the G.O.P. proposal, many of the people whose tax credits would fall sharply would be likely to end up uninsured. For people with few resources, a gap of several thousands of dollars between their tax credit and the cost of coverage would be impossible to make up.
((But if you put Obamacare out of your mind, this program still represents a very large outlay of federal money to help Americans buy health insurance. Before Obamacare passed, those buying their own insurance did not receive government subsidies. And the tax credits in the Republican bill would go to people regardless of whether they even paid taxes -- another reason conservatives oppose it.)) SO OBAMA WON AT LAST AND REPUBLICANS HAD TO CAVE IN
The biggest losers under the change would be older Americans with low incomes who live in high-cost areas. Those are the people who benefited most from Obamacare.(and many of them actually voted for Trump)
For some people, the new tax credit system will be more generous. The winners are likely to be younger, earn higher incomes and live in areas where the cost of health insurance is low.(and these people won't use the insurance anyways, as they are young and healthy, so hoorah for insurance company lobbyists.
Obamacare's subsidies were structured to limit how much low- and middle-income Americans could be asked to pay for health insurance. Under the G.O.P. proposal, many of the people whose tax credits would fall sharply would be likely to end up uninsured. For people with few resources, a gap of several thousands of dollars between their tax credit and the cost of coverage would be impossible to make up.
((But if you put Obamacare out of your mind, this program still represents a very large outlay of federal money to help Americans buy health insurance. Before Obamacare passed, those buying their own insurance did not receive government subsidies. And the tax credits in the Republican bill would go to people regardless of whether they even paid taxes -- another reason conservatives oppose it.)) SO OBAMA WON AT LAST AND REPUBLICANS HAD TO CAVE IN
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
This is how you slowly slowly turn into a third world country, without even noticing it.
It is like a dystopian movie:
Omaha’s Answer to Costly Potholes? Go Back to Gravel Roads
Don't pay taxes, vote for republicans, and welcome living in third world country.
Omaha’s Answer to Costly Potholes? Go Back to Gravel Roads
Don't pay taxes, vote for republicans, and welcome living in third world country.
Monday, March 6, 2017
This is horrible and disgusting, Trump is removing all the government regulations on business and we all know what will happen later
Whenever Republicans remove regulations, there is a short recovery and then there is a crash because you can't trust the invisible hand and the market to take care of itself without regulations, we saw it with Reagan era, we saw it with Bush and the huge 2008 crash which took Obama two turns to reverse and now we are seeing a massive and crazy deregulation with Trump.
Leashes Come Off Wall Street, Gun Sellers, Polluters and More
Leashes Come Off Wall Street, Gun Sellers, Polluters and More
What Trump is doing to climate and environment is nothing short of disgusting
this is just disgusting. Deregulation in everything, even allowing automakers to pollute the environment again .
Automakers Near a Victory on Rollback of Fuel Standards
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Missing Obama
From some comments in Washington Post
Missing "No Drama Obama" and eight years of stability handed to us by exceedingly competent people. Trump and his people are a horror show.
Does anyone, even Trump's supporters, honestly think that there won't come a time when he will finally have a complete breakdown? It is just matter of time. This self-styled king (Louis XVI, no less) has always had his way because he was rich and he was a private citizen. Now he is a servant of the people, and he finds he can't buy admiration or command loyalty from the hundreds of millions of people whom he was elected to serve, and this fact is driving him toward an aneurism.
Someone extremely prominent, such as Obama, needs to file a multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit against Trump asap. Given that Trump now has all the vast information-gathering resources of the U.S. government available to him, he has absolutely no excuse for his delusional falsehoods and bizarre conspiracy theories. Calumny is not allowed.
Many of Trump's actions and policies are so wrongheaded, bizarre and probably unconstitutional that it's impossible to defend them without relying primarily on lies, distortions, bizarre fantasies and wild conspiracy theories. This is why so many of Trump's White House aides are equally delusional and routinely spout falsehoods.
I am becoming increasingly concerned that this unstable psychopathic Putin-wannabe will seek to divert attention from a future scandal by declaring war on some hapless county or, worse yet, launching a nuclear missile.
Missing "No Drama Obama" and eight years of stability handed to us by exceedingly competent people. Trump and his people are a horror show.
Does anyone, even Trump's supporters, honestly think that there won't come a time when he will finally have a complete breakdown? It is just matter of time. This self-styled king (Louis XVI, no less) has always had his way because he was rich and he was a private citizen. Now he is a servant of the people, and he finds he can't buy admiration or command loyalty from the hundreds of millions of people whom he was elected to serve, and this fact is driving him toward an aneurism.
Someone extremely prominent, such as Obama, needs to file a multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit against Trump asap. Given that Trump now has all the vast information-gathering resources of the U.S. government available to him, he has absolutely no excuse for his delusional falsehoods and bizarre conspiracy theories. Calumny is not allowed.
Many of Trump's actions and policies are so wrongheaded, bizarre and probably unconstitutional that it's impossible to defend them without relying primarily on lies, distortions, bizarre fantasies and wild conspiracy theories. This is why so many of Trump's White House aides are equally delusional and routinely spout falsehoods.
I am becoming increasingly concerned that this unstable psychopathic Putin-wannabe will seek to divert attention from a future scandal by declaring war on some hapless county or, worse yet, launching a nuclear missile.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
What are Republicans doing to America??
In case anyone is getting too sidetracked by the Russian spy drama, the following bills have been introduced:
1. HR 861 Terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
2. HR 610 Vouchers for Public Education
3. HR 899 Terminate the Department of Education
4. HJR 69 Repeal Rule Protecting Wildlife
5. HR 370 Repeal Affordable Care Act
6. HR 354 Defund Planned Parenthood
7. HR 785 National Right to Work (this one ends unions)
8. HR 83 Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Bill
9. HR 147 Criminalizing Abortion (“Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act”)
10. HR 808 Sanctions against Iran
1. HR 861 Terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
2. HR 610 Vouchers for Public Education
3. HR 899 Terminate the Department of Education
4. HJR 69 Repeal Rule Protecting Wildlife
5. HR 370 Repeal Affordable Care Act
6. HR 354 Defund Planned Parenthood
7. HR 785 National Right to Work (this one ends unions)
8. HR 83 Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Bill
9. HR 147 Criminalizing Abortion (“Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act”)
10. HR 808 Sanctions against Iran
Thursday, March 2, 2017
New Yorker in Russian? :-)
In the nearly 100 year history of this magazine, this is the first time the cover is published with another langauge
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
It is not OK
it is not O.K. for newspapers to publish he-said-she-said pieces that paper over administration lies, let alone beat-sweetening puff pieces about Trump allies. It’s not O.K. for businesses to supply Mr. Trump with photo ops claiming undeserved credit for job creation — or for business leaders to serve on “advisory” panels that are really just another kind of photo op.
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