The incoming president's transition debacle has come up with another plan to make America a third world country, and this time it involves the defense of the nation. The Trump minions have decided that the top priority for our defense should be to "develop a strategy to defeat/destroy ISIS." CNN likens ISIS as "...ultimately no more than a nuisance for the United States."
"As a point of comparison, ISIS and ISIS-inspired attacks have killed fewer Americans than gun violence by a factor of more than 1,000 to 1."
The balance of the priorities includes...
"...build a strong defense", "develop a comprehensive USG cyber strategy" and "find greater efficiencies."
Where's Russia? Where's Iran? Where's China? And where is the head of the country whose head displays the same erratic behavior as this country's president-elect, Kim Jong Un, President of North Korea? Donald Trump may have a personal relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia he thinks will assure a peaceful alliance, but that would just show how ignorant and naive the man is. And there is no way Trump can cuddle up with the other three countries. Jonathan Cristol of CNN says...
"The only entity on Earth that has the capability to destroy the United States is Russia, and it is notable, if unsurprising, that Russia is not on Trump's list. Russia has over 1,700 deployed nuclear warheads and can strike the East Coast of the United States within 20 minutes."
Cristol wonders further if Donald Trump plans to follow through on his campaign promise to "... withdraw the United States from the world." Here's what The Hill says...
"...Trump often belittles our allies, minimizing threats posed by adversaries. He lambastes assumptions upon which U.S. foreign policy is predicated, but his disjointed, incoherent proposals provide no discernible substitute, especially for existing alliances."
One would hope that beneath all this loud mouth bluster there might be something of substance. So far there is absolutely no evidence of that.
"(Obama) doesn't have a birth certificate. He may have one, but there's something on that, maybe religion, maybe it says he's a Muslim. I don't know. Maybe he doesn't want that."
The United States is a racist and sexist country, has been, is, and, perhaps, always will be. Bigotry has lain almost hidden for several years, starting in the late 1960s, after civil rights laws were passed. Before that I lived in the South and it was rampant, right out in the open for all to see. And it was accepted. Tragically by both whites and blacks. I grew up in it but never accepted it, thus, leaving that part of the country for more tolerant places. They exist on the outside, but deep down there is always that feeling, at least for some, that you are better than someone else.
We saw racism rear its ugly head here in Arizona with the state's immigration bill, SB1070, which was eventually stripped of its major parts and no longer has any influence. Arizona former disgraced Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, tried his best to continue the harassment of Mexican illegals but was finally stopped by the Federal government, was then voted out of office, and is the focus of several lawsuits. The "N" word is less prevalent than it used to be, but a recent comment on my blog proves it is still in use. It was in response to a post of how Trump's election might hurt the country...
What a joke, the market is breaking records every day since we elected a real President, your buckwheat nigger "president" was and is the biggest failure of all time
I also did another post earlier on how North Carolina has maintained a steady parade of racist laws: "North Carolina continues its racist mandate." The state seems hell-bent on proving that racism is not dead, but is thriving in that state. Immediately following Donald Trump's election the Ku Klux Klan was displaying its robes for all to see, crying out its support for Trump. Confederate flags were being flown everywhere, an accepted symbol today for racism. Former KKK leader, David Duke told Time magazine, "He and Donald Trump have the same message." CNN has this observation...
"At first glance, comparing some Trump supporters to ex-Confederates may seem absurd, even insulting. But historians say both groups developed an uncanny ability to obscure the role race played in transformative events and to persuade millions of Americans to go along with the charade."
More...
"Trump's victory may mark the resurgence of the Old South in another more sinister way: The return of 'racial amnesia.'"
Twenty-one states and twenty-two cities are increasing the minimum wage while Donald Trump's selected Secretary of Labor, Andrew Puzder, is a longtime critic of the concept. He's the guy who heads up fast food chains, Hardee's and Carl's Jr., so those of you out there who are minimum wage increase advocates might want to avoid these eateries. Try McDonalds or Burger King. In the case of one state, Arizona, where I live, they are fighting the minimum wage bill that passed in November, blaming it on the harm it will do to the state's health care system, which is pure bullshit.
The Arizona Republic claims that is only a smoke screen to cover the fact that businesses just don't want the minimum wage increased. I have lived in Arizona for over 20 years and this state has always been the backward state of the Union, all because it is and has been under Republican control for years. But that may be changing. In the state increases, some are piddly, like five or ten cents an hour, with others higher. Arizona voted $10 and hour, the biggest of all at 24%. In my judgment, that is a reaction by Progressives, finally coming out of the woodwork, to the long GOP control here.
"In the absence of action from Congress in terms of raising the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 since 2009, states and localities have taken matters into their own hands."
The restaurant industry is also a critic of raising the minimum wage, which is allowed to pay a minimum of $2.13 an hour, if the salary combined with tips equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Anyone who doesn't think that is poverty wage--and apparently Andrew Puzder doesn't and if he does, he simply doesn't care--is completely without compassion. But then, that would describe the majority of the Republican Party, particularly its new leader, Donald Trump. My guess is, though, some of these unfortunates even voted for Trump with hope that will never be realized.
"How stupid are the people of Iowa?"
This is in reference to a doubt Donald Trump had about the fact that Ben Carson tried to stab someone in his youth. Apparently it was partially right as Trump came in second in Iowa in the Primaries.
Donald Trump video getting completely idiotic over Iowa stupidity...
As a passionate Progressive, I would still welcome a loophole in the Donald Trump presidency, but until that happens, the left must look ahead to what we have to work with. Right now the Democrats are in something of a shambles, with Hillary Clinton no longer able to lead the Party and a new leader not yet even emerging. My choice, of course, is Bernie Sanders, and also the choice of most other Progressives, but the legions of politicians has grown quiet, until we are able to swallow the inauguration of Donald John Trump. That will be hard to do for many.
For the new DC chairman, the early choice, Keith Ellison, Minnesota congressman and ally of Bernie Sanders, has run into trouble. Politico reports...
"On the heels of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s troubled tenure as DNC chief, the issue of whether Ellison will commit full-time to the job poses a threat to his candidacy..."
My guess is that Wasserman-Schultz had the time but she just wasn't competent enough for the job. CNN says that, "...2017 will be a year for the history books." We knew that the day the Electoral College met and made its grim decision. That quiet you hear out there across the country are those voters of sound mind who didn't vote for Trump, and who are holding their breath in fear of the future. Most individuals are capable of handling most challenges sent their way, but the worst thing to confront is the unknown. Donald Trump is the epitome of the unknown.
Celebrities shun Donald Trump like the plague video...
With GOP control of both Houses of Congress, and a Republican in the White House, the outlook is fairly dim for the left, particularly for Progressives. Democrats have steadily moved to the center, which is one goo reason the Party is losing so many elections. Republicans have staunchly maintained their conservative positions on issues, establishing an identity that supporters can follow. The Dems are fractured with no single ideology to look up to, nor any individual to carry the torch. Until they find that, there could be even more Donald Trumps. God forbid.
Here is a recent quote from Newt Gingrich, a politician that should have been relegated to just cutting the yard a long time ago, re. Barack Obama's legacy...
"His legacy is like one of those dolls that, as the air comes out of it, shrinks and shrinks and shrinks. He's in this desperate frenzy."
Politico describes Gingrich's personal life as, "...a hot mess." As an example, "In April 1980, Newt filed for divorce while his wife, Jackie, was in the hospital fighting uterine cancer. "As far as politics goes, Politico says he is, "...The man who poisoned Washington." Further...
"More than anyone else in the modern history of Congress, it’s Gingrich who observers credit for bringing the hyperpartisan, obstructionist approach to Washington that we associate with the capital to this day."
And all this time we blamed Karl Rove. But enough about Newt Gingrich who should put out to pasture like Arizona Senator, John McCain, both of which outlived their usefulness--if it was ever there to begin with--years ago. But Gingrich has the nerve to question President Obama's legacy when his own will read like an empty book. Apparently, the outdated Gingrich forgot....
President Obama rescued an economy trashed by former President Geo. W. Bush
He gave health insurance to millions who did not have it
Obama has led the global push for climate change to save the environment
Struck the landmark nuclear deal with Iran, slowing down the nuclear race
President Obama passed the legalization of same-sex marriage
There's more but you get the idea...this is a man with a legacy. And what I don't really understand is why the media continues to give voice to completely outmoded politicians like Gingrich and McCain. But I guess we'd rather see another blast about the two of them than anything else from T-rump.
