Top Republican says Trump everything but electable

September 4, 2019: PROGRESSIVE STREET NEWS BYTES...Where Liberals Walk

Donald Trump completely unqualified for his office 

And that's an exaggeration

“He’s unqualified, he is unfit, he’s a child, he’s reckless, he’s erratic, he’s a narcissist, he’s mean, he’s cruel and he lies every time he opens his mouth.” That was a Republican talking about Donald Trump, not a Democrat. It was former Rep. Joe Walsh from Illinois, and the above tirade was followed by Walsh's assessment that the "GOP is in big trouble." There's more in this article reported by RawStory...

“If he’s our nominee in 2020, the Republican Party is going to get spanked because young people don’t like Trump, women don’t like Trump and people who live in the suburbs don’t like Trump,” Walsh explained. “I heard you earlier, Joe, the Republican Party right now is at a real crossroads and because of Trump they’re in trouble.”

You have to understand here that Joe Walsh is challenging Donald Trump in the Republican Primary. Then MSNBC's Joe Scarborough asked former RNC head Michael Steele...

“You have run the Republican Party before and it’s looking like another political tsunami is coming the Republican Party’s way if Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket,” he prompted.

“Yeah, it will be very hard for the president to sustain the races beneath the presidential campaign,” Steele conceded.

Joe Walsh challenging Trump in 2020 Republican Primary...

Vanity Fair says...

"his [Donald Trump's] first victory was a miracle. A second, after four years of embarrassments and betrayals in office, might take an act of God."

There's more and it's classic...

The best you can say for Trump is that he became less scary to a lot more people, and the devil you know is always preferable to some.

The magazine continues with its assessment of Donald Trump on everything from gun violence to trade tariffs, and most of it isn't complimentary, but it's definitely worth reading.  Salon/AlterNet reports on a Steve Bannon statement from the 2016 election, “The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.” Donald Trump took it from there with his lies and racism, concluding...

"Nearly three years into Trump’s tenure the American news media is still struggling with how to cover a president and an administration that have no use for democratic norms, the Constitution, the rule of law, and the truth or reality itself."

Republicans exit the House en masse...

Now here's an interesting viewpoint...

"The media covers President Trump because it must — and because he is highly entertaining and good for ratings. Those two factors together mean that Trump the president and TV character is highly profitable for the corporate media. He stands at the center of the country’s and the world’s attention in two roles. He is both the Mad King and the King of the American Kakistocracy."

And here's another glaring illustration that Republicans are looking at disaster in 2020, "GOP lawmakers are quitting at a ‘stunning’ pace rather than serve under Trump." That is perhaps one of the, if not the most, damning condemnation of Donald Trump I've heard yet. Here's the scenario...

CNN’s “New Day,” contributor John Avlon highlighted the exodus of GOP House members who have chosen to step down and not run for re-election under Donald Trump, calling the sheer number of them “stunning.”

The results: “Since Trump took office, the House GOP has seen a stunning 38 percent turnover." It can only bode well for Democrats, but will 2020 come too late?

How to stop mass shootings with a computer model

September 3, 2019: PROGRESSIVE STREET NEWS BYTES...Where Liberals Walk

Second thoughts on a gun violence database  

Now that looks like a mass murderer

It's like anything else Donald Trump proposes, you question it immediately. Not in the same way lowlife Senate head Mitch McConnell reacts to Democrats' motions in Congress where everything is blocked. Trump denial is based on his first two years in the White House spewing lie after lie--10,000 since his inauguration--his perpetual bouts with instability which occur daily, and a general feeling by leading psychiatrists that the man is incompetent in his job.

Having said that, I published a post on September 1, "Trump to launch Big Brother to stop mass shootings." And I have to admit that my intentions were not totally focused on solving gun violence, but to point out where the Oval Office lunatic was trying to pry into the lives of innocent Americans. And then I saw this article in the local papers suggesting a FICO-like score that could predict what gun owners might be prone to gun violence.

I had just entered the direct marketing industry when the FICO score was being created. Actually had the opportunity to sit in on some meetings held at the then retail giant, Montgomery Ward. FICO works, not only for credit, but also for determining auto insurance rates for drivers. But the key to anything aimed at gun violence would be lifestyles; your wine preference; the books you read; if you are a coffee drinker; Are you a fitness freak; there are several hundred.

Charlie Manson who started it all...

And they are documented by several database companies in the U.S. That plus a multitude of demographic data is readily available. The next thing missing is data on guns by household, which would require a U.S. registry of guns that will certainly be repelled by most gun owners and the National Rifle Assn. But the most important factor in this formula will be getting individual online search behavior, which, like a gun registry, will be resisted.

With the combination of the four, an AI (artificial intelligence) computer model could be generated that would very possibly tell us the next location of a mass shooting, even those on an individual basis. It's a matter of combining the right variables to solve the problem. But it's all questionable whether most of this could be accomplished in a Republican environment. However, with the NRA on the ropes and on its way out, and a Democratic takeover in 2020, there's hope.

Wanna know more about artificial intelligence?...

Not sure whether this should be government run or private enterprise, but it will take the feds to assemble the data necessary, plus enact a law requiring everyone register their guns. No doubt this will be the major hurdle, an act that may also demand getting rid of Wayne LaPierre and his NRA. But both are a good thing. I personally have created AI models that were able to predict the customers for a mail order catalog that would spend the most money.

We will need to analyze the household characteristics of the mass murderers to date (around 50 since 2014) using the guns per household, demographics, and lifestyles, plus online surfing behavior. Building the AI model will have to determine two things. One, based on the appropriate variables, what is the area where the next mass shooting is most likely to take place? Two, which households are most likely to house the shooter?

Wouldn't it be nice to give it a try for the sake of our children and innocent adults?

The bizarre behavior of Donald Trump

September 3, 2019: PROGRESSIVE STREEY NEWS BYTES...Where Liberals Walk

The outlandish madness of Donald Trump  

I have so many articles saved on the preposterous stupidity of Donald Trump that I decided to list them one by one with their absurdity intact and let the reader rank them in their idiocy...

Donald Trump being led out of White House

"Trump is ‘having a full-blown mental breakdown’ and needs to resign: Trump ex-staffer." This coming from Anthony Scaramucci, during an interview with Chuck Todd on MSNBC’s “Meet the Press Daily.” Scaramucci was one of Trump's biggest cheerleaders--for a few days--then turned on him with vehemence.  READ MORE

"New video emerges of Trump blurting out anti-Semitic slurs," exclaiming "that the majority of American Jews were 'disloyal' to Israel because they support the Democratic Party." But there's more, "a video clip from 2011 that shows Trump boasting about how great one of his golf courses is before saying that “even these spoiled, rich Jewish guys, they can’t believe how good this [course] is.” READ MORE.

Not Trump but "Trump campaign official bizarrely compares president to Mother Teresa: ‘Who has done more for women?’" Just as is the case with all the women who voted for Trump, this idiot has no self respect, or otherwise she is mentally deranged. Tana Goertz, the key primary state’s [Iowa] Trump Team coordinator, claimed the president had done more for women than possibly anyone else in history than the sainted Calcutta nun." READ MORE.

Yes, Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland...

 "GOP strategist: Greenland debacle proves that Trump is ‘batsh*t crazy’ and a ‘madman.’" Keep in mind this is not a Democrat doing the harsh criticizing, it is a Republican, none other than the unwavering Never Trump conservative GOP strategist Rick Wilson. Wilson mentions Trump's notion to purchase Greenland adding, “This isn’t madman theory,” Wilson declares in his op-ed. “This is just a mad man.” And so many agree. READ MORE.

"‘He’s empty’: Psychiatrist warns Trump is in a ‘psychotic-like state.’" Now this is so scary that it should start a stampede for the doors of reality for the morons in Congress. Dr. Lance Dodes, a Los Angeles psychiatrist, said, "Donald Trump, because he has a fundamental need to be all-powerful and all loved, can’t stand challenges. And the nature of democracy is that it challenges people." The key here is "Democracy," a word that T-rump destroyed the minute he took over the White House. READ MORE.

"Former Trump officials are increasingly worried about the president’s erratic and outlandish behavior." Alex Henderson of AlterNet reports, "Donald Trump became the butt of jokes all over the world this week when he offered to purchase Greenland and angrily canceled a visit to Denmark after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the proposal as 'absurd.'” Maggie Haberman and Peter Baker note in a report for the New York Times "stress that to former Trump Administration officials, the president’s erratic behavior is no laughing matter...increasingly worried about his actions — especially with the 2020 election only 15 months away and the U.S. economy possibly going into a recession." READ MORE.

Donald Trump China call lie, sounding stupid in rebuttal...

"Trump’s fabricated China phone call is ‘a serious escalation of his lying’ which bodes ill for America." It's not like the Oval Office lunatic hasn't been lying since the first day he hit the White House, and on the campaign trail before that. But the media is jumping on the China lie because it had other serious ramifications than the regular untruths. This one seemed to be destined to boost a sagging stock market to prop up T-rump's ratings. The real story is, "Trump’s tariff hikes on Chinese goods in 2018 alone cost consumers $32 billion, threatening jobs and economic activity across the country. But there is no sign China is interested in negotiating for a deal to end the standoff." Yes, this man is a maniacal liar. READ MORE.

There's more to come but even I can't take too much of Donald Trump in one sitting.

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Labor Day: What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Great explanation of Labor Day from a cowboy...

Have a safe Labor Day!

Trump to launch Big Brother to stop mass shootings

September 1, 2019" PROGRESSIVE STREET NEWS BYTES...Where Liberals Walk

Donald Trump seeks Orwell's 1984 to solve gun violence  

Trump - Orwell

Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell wouldn't think of initiating the correct approaches to stopping mass shootings, things like universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole, halting straw purchases, and, of course, banning assault weapons. No, the Oval Office lunatic and Moscow Mitch would go with grossly invading the privacy of innocent Americans with Orwellian fictionalized technology. They prefer "new 'solutions' that won’t do anything about guns"...

"These proposals frequently focus on mental health, but a new plan before the White House to monitor “neurobehavioral” predictors of violence isn’t just misguided, it’s terrifyingly dystopian."

Should we all re-read George Orwell's 1984 to understand Donald Trump?...

They are creating a new agency called HARPA, a healthcare counterpart to the Pentagon’s research and development arm DARPA. And here is how HARPA would stick their noses into the lives of us proles...

The proles in 1984 are Orwell's satirical take on the proletariat, the industrial working class in whose interest the Party is ostensibly operating. George Orwell's novel was intended to be a very dark satire on what a totalitarian government would be like if it were ever inflicted upon Britain.

HARPA "would reportedly collect volunteer data from a suite of smart devices, including Apple Watches, Fitbits, Amazon Echos, and Google Homes in order to identify “neurobehavioral signs” of “someone headed toward a violent explosive act.” The project would then use artificial intelligence to create a “sensor suite” to flag mental changes that make violence more likely." And there you have it, George Orwell's Big Brother in 2019.

This maniacal idea has been in the works since 2017, but the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio gave it momentum. Trump's demented mind calls it, “SAFE HOME,” an acronym for “Stopping Aberrant Fatal Events by Helping Overcome Mental Extremes.” And why does Donald dufus keep returning to mental health as an answer to gun violence? Because Donald Trump, himself is mentally ill and he wants everyone else to be the same.

Donald Trump 2020 polls spiral down

August 31, 2019: PROGRESSIVE STREET NEWS BYTES...Where Liberals Walk

Top Democratic contenders all beat Donald Trump big in 2020 

A new national Quinnipiac University poll was just released, and with the results Donald Trump couldn't win city dog catcher. His recent behavior almost seems like the Oval Office lunatic wants to go home to his beloved Trump Tower. It would suit most Americans--and many foreign countries--just fine. Here's where things stand today...

"former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, California Sen. Kamala Harris and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg all lead President Donald Trump by significant margins in potential 2020 matchups."

Here are some numbers...

"Biden is ahead of Trump by the most (16 points, 54% to 38%), while Buttigeg is up by the least (9 points, 49% to 40%)."

Quinnipiac University poll explained...

 Now, in Biden's case, he has regularly led Trump, sometimes significantly like now, but Buttigeg is the shocker leading T-rump by 9 points. CNN Politics summarizes...

"Trump's worst poll against any of the top five Democrats at this point is 5 points worse than the worst poll for any incumbent since World War II against his eventual challenger. It's 12 points worse against his most likely challenger, Biden."

We can only hope. 

Donald Trump donors should be boycotted

August 30, 2019: PROGRESSIVE STREET NEWS BYTES,,,Where Liberals Walk

Your official sites to boycott Donald Trump's reelection  

CVS Pharmacy is one of Donald Trump's major donors to his 2020 reelection campaign. CVS is obviously one of the largest drug chains in America, one you can depend on in your neighborhood. Don't go there. Walgreen's is probably closer and cheaper anyway. The Out site is saying, "you may want to reconsider your next CVS visit"...

"The hashtag #BoycottCVS began trending on Thursday following news the company plans to cut reimbursements for women who receive birth control through the mail, which led to swift condemnations from groups like NARAL Pro-Choice America."

That's definitely enough but there's more...

"that might not be the only reason for CVS customers to join the campaign. CVS Health Corp. is allegedly one of the largest donors to the president’s reelection campaign. The report was originally published in the Wall Street Journal in February 2018, and the Federal Election Commission website shows they gave $35,000 to the Trump Victory PAC."

And that's not all. You might want to rethink your enlistment in the U.S. Army which gave Trump $37,272, or the U.S. Air Force, a $20,188 contributor, or the U.S. Navy, my alma mater, $25,474. When you fly, just remember that American Airlines donated $28,160. United Airlines $17,619, and if you do fly, stay away from all Boeing planes, $25,851. In doing your banking, you want to snub Wells Fargo who contributed $32,714.

But you would hope the U.S. Postal Service, always begging for money, would think better about giving T-rump $29,642. Can't go to United Parcel Service (UPS) because of their $17,932 contribution. Even the US Dept of Veterans Affairs, which is letting its patients die, kicked in $18,875. Go to Verizon if you are an AT&T customer who donated $25,317, and insurance carrier State Farm coughed up $20,605 to the Oval Office lunatic.

More Trump supporters to boycott...

And there is a host of fast food companies and restaurants you'll want to stay away from if you are anti-Donald Trump. Someone on BoingBoing provided this list of companies to avoid because they are Donald Trump supporters...

- Bang
- inn n out
- chick fil a
- Taco Bell
- McDonald’s
- Wendy’s
- KFC
- Pizza Hut
- Olive Garden
- Waffle House
- IHOP
- Carl’s Jr.

Depending on how serious you are about your political persuasion, there is a new company, Progressive Shopper, that provides political spending from hundreds of major brands. Here's the scenario...

"The site shows shoppers what percentage of a company’s political spending went to Democrats and Republicans in the 2018 and 2016 election cycles. If a company is deemed too far in the red, Progressive Shopper offers a list of competitors where you might also find that sweater or sofa, but from a more left-leaning brand. So far, co-founders Mark Hanis and Van Chappell have culled data from more than 500 companies -- from Walmart to T-Mobile to General Motors."

Just another way us Progressives can show our teeth and beat the scourge of Donald Trump in 2020.