Thursday night's Democratic debate imposing

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 NEWS BYTES

Who won, who lost...you decide...  

If we could wrap all ten Democratic contenders from last night's debate in a neat package of two, we'd have great candidates for 2020. RealClear Politics defined it, "10 Candidates, 10 Strategies on Display." And there lies the diversity of the Party of the Left, with little animosity, unless you consider Julian Castro's attacks on Joe Biden. Castro said they weren't personal, and they weren't really attacks, rather strong disagreements.

Taking it from stage right, Amy Klobuchar, from Minnesota, who makes a lot of common sense, but only ranks 1.2 on the RealClear Politics polling. Her primary statement was, "if you feel stuck in the middle of the extremes in our politics and you are tired of the noise and the nonsense, you've got a home with me." She is definitely against Medicare for the Medicare for All proposals championed by Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Next, Corey Booker, talking about growing up in unsafe Newark, NJ neighborhoods, and definitely on the band wagon for more gun control, when asked by Dana Bash if Joe Biden is too old, replied definitely not. But, on the other hand, he was concerned about Biden's meandering, in the past and on that evening. In addition to gun violence, Booker reminded us of the problems with our water supply nationwide. He is 2.3 in RCP. 

Pete Butigieg talked about coming out, and will likely lend support for the LBGTQ community if elected. Butigieg had an earlier surge, and there was talk that he would at least come in as a potential vice-presidential candidate, but he has lost ground and comes in at only 4.8 on RCP. He made the statement, “This is why Presidential debates are becoming unwatchable,” referring to Castro's attack on Biden.

And then there's Bernie Sanders, who should be President of the United States today, but for a DNC unethical move by Debbie Wasserman Schultz, is second on RCP with 17.3. There would be no Democratic Party today without the Bern, even considering his leftness, it is far more discernable than the politics of Nancy Pelosi/Chuck Schumer. Think Bernie was losing his voice last night, but only physically, since his political voice will live on forever.

Joe Biden was, well, Joe Biden, and thankfully no huge gaffes last night. Julian Castro said his challenge to Biden was not personal, but I wonder if there is some movement to unseat the former vice president from his number one position in the polls. Joe Biden is a solid 26.8, leading Bernie by almost 10 points. Biden is able to 'work across the aisle' as is described by many, but in my mind is too moderate for the new wave of Progressives he just doesn't understand.

CNBC says Elizabeth Warren is rising in the polls [16.8 RCP] due to a base "more intense than any other candidate." She, along with Bernie Sanders fought with Joe Biden on Medicare for all; Biden prefers to just improve on Obamacare. My gut tells me the pair will not sell MFA until they make it clear how it will be paid for, using actual numbers. It wouldn't bother me to get rid of health insurers, but that may be a hard sell. Warren still favors reigning in corporate America.

Kamala Harris was riding the high road for a while, but apparently hit a speed bump. Her primary thrust was and has been against Donald Trump, although following the debate she chided ABC for asking no questions about abortion and reproductive rights. She is fourth in the polls at 6.5 RCP, which has been a plateau for her recently. A body language expert said she was less passionate than other candidates in the first hour. Her big money supporters were watching.

Beto O'Rourke brought the audience to their feet with applause when condemning assault weapons and saying he is for a mandatory buyback law. He was criticized saying this would certainly help Republicans in 2020. I don't think so, and if I'm wrong the voting public is completely hopeless on gun control to save the lives of innocent Americans. You have to wonder if O'Rourke is a bit too early but a prime candidate for 2028? He is 2.8 on RCP.

Andrew Yang wants to save traditional retail and attacked Amazon to make his point. He also suggested a $1,000 monthly giveaway for an entire year to 10 American families, if you believe that you can solve your own problems better than any politician. This drew chuckles from other debaters, and one deemed the idea at least original. Later, he said he left the debate not “encouraged” for the Democrats’ future. He is 3.0 on RCP leading O'Rourke and Booker.

Finally, Julian Castro, already mentioned criticizing Joe Biden for his contradiction. Castro also attacked Biden for his references to former President Barack Obama throughout the primary campaign. This I don't understand since Biden was an integral part of the Obama administration. He is only 1.0 on RCP but at one time was considered an up and comer in the Democratic Party. This debate was no help

RealClear Politics poll rankings.

The chronicles of Moscow Mitch corruption

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 NEWS BYTES

Analyzing a corrupt Mitch McConnell a la Moscow Mitch  

Moscow Mitch: Money-power-corruption

The House hasn't yet given up on impeachment with 131 Democrats in favor. They need a majority of the House, 217 Democrats, plus independent Justin Amash. "Rep. Jerrold Nadler said an impeachment inquiry might begin in late fall, after hearings this month and next." The Daily Beast says there's a holdup because of "a faulty analysis of the politics of impeachment...

They’re still caught in the grips of myopic conventional wisdom about the way the whole thing would actually play out in a trial in the Senate.

Here's the scenario...

"Sen. Michael Bennet repeated the familiar argument that the Senate will not remove Trump from office. If the House impeaches him, Bennet said, Trump 'would be running saying that he had been acquitted by the United States Congress.'”

Julian Castro shot back: “If they don’t impeach him, he’s going to say, ‘You see? You see? The Democrats didn’t go after me on impeachment, and you know why? Because I didn’t do anything wrong.’”

"Conversely, Castro continued, if the House impeaches Trump, the public would conclude that 'his friend, Mitch McConnell, Moscow Mitch, let him off the hook.'”

The answer, dishonor "Trump by impeaching him, and blame McConnell when he is acquitted in the Senate." If this is done fast enough, it could lead to both T-rump and Moscow Mitch losing in 2020? The only other impeachment case, Bill Clinton, is not a good comparison, although it was during a Republican controlled Senate too. DB gives a good run-through that is worth reading, and of course there is a different SCOTUS Chief Justice, John Roberts.

Moscow Mitch blocking election security bill...

AlterNet says, "For most Democrats, beating Mitch McConnell in 2020 has become almost as important as defeating Donald Trump." Even non-Kentuckians probably feel this way about the tyrannical racist Moscow Mitch due to the way he has run the Senate as his own domain simply to thwart anything the Democrats try to accomplish. He has literally brought the U.S. Government to a standstill under his reign, starting with Barack Obama's administration.

Right now Moscow Mitch's approval ratings in his home state are 14%, and you wonder how anyone could win an election with numbers like that. Well, he did it in 2014 when he beat his challenger, Alison Lundgren Grimes, by over 15 points. Amy McGrath is running against McConnell in 2020 and you have to think, no matter how loyal these people are--a la Donald Trump supporters--they will too wake up and see what this moron is doing to our country.

Amy McGrath says Mitch McConnell must go...

The difference with Lundgren Grimes is that she was soft on everything Democrat like Obamacare, "even skirted answering a question about whether or not she had voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012." McGrath is coming on strong about just how bad Moscow Mitch has been for Kentucky and the country. As an example...

"McConnell blocked a measure that would have funded pensions and health care for coal miners in his home state of Kentucky, not long after steering almost the same Treasury Department funds to an aluminum plant linked to a Russian oligarch."

This is a clear connection between Mitch McConnell and the Russians, leading to more speculation he was involved with Vladimir Putin's hand in the 2016 elections to help Donald Trump win. Then you compound this with the fact that Moscow Mitch has fought and defeated all legislation to strengthen voting machine equipment across the country, and the charge that he is a Russian asset becomes the reality that it is.

We cannot afford another six years of the most corrupt politicians this country has ever experienced. Alongside Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell has brought the United States to the lowest point it has ever been, both domestically and internationally. But we can do something about both in just over a year, and if the current trend is any indication, the Democrats can expect the kind of results that will will rid us of the top two political scumbags.

Will Donald Trump make 2020 grisliest election ever?

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 NEWS BYTES

A less than pretty 2020 election ahead? 

This what you want in 2020, folks?

Remember what Moscow Mitch said about Barack Obama's second term? His comment was that he would do everything to make him a one-term president. It didn't work and Obama won handily. In 2016 Donald Trump got down and dirty as only he could, he won, and it isn't likely he could stand losing in 2020. As a matter of fact, he is again talking about a third term, which probably sent his double-digit supporters into the streets.

Can anyone even imagine a second term with the Oval Office lunatic, much less a third? Alex Henderson in AlterNet says...

"As ugly as the presidential election of 2016 was, 2020 is likely to be even uglier. President Donald Trump does not want to go down in history as a one-term president, and a key part of his reelection strategy is trying to fire up his base as much as possible..."

Those are the double-digits, above, I was talking about. This is how he pumps up these pathetics...

"Trump tells four Democratic congresswomen of color they should leave the United States (Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib), attacks the predominantly black city of Baltimore as a 'disgusting, rat- and rodent-infested mess' or claims that Jews who vote for Democrats are being 'disloyal' to Israel."

Trump significantly behind to four Dems...

Yes, that is the kind of rhetoric these mentally challenged people understand. And this is how Henderson says T-rump will do it...

1. There will be more racism: The Squad, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib, scenario will continue, and any other racial bigotry he can come up with.

2. More Hispanic harassment: The border wall, Latinos being hassled for speaking Spanish in public, jailing families at the border.

3. More emphasis on Evangelicals: In 2020, he will do everything imaginable to get far-right white evangelicals to the polls.

4. More voter suppression: "The last thing Republicans need in 2020 is a heavy turnout in Democratic parts of swing states, and as odious as the GOP’s voter suppression tactics have been, they will only get worse in the months ahead.

5. More violence: A recent Arizona newspaper headline read, “Could the 2020 election turn violent?" The answer was yes, due to the Trump White House encouragement of white nationalists

Bizarre moments with Donald dufus...

Keep in mind, the above is a compendium of how Donald Trump operates, a most pathetic conclusion when he heads up the most powerful nation in the world. But The Washington Post says, "Trump digs his own political grave," in a piece that points out once again the nuances of an individual that many think has reached a level of mental madness. The article places T-rump in a "somewhat feeble quality"...

"He makes the bare-minimum statement on the latest gun massacre, ducks a World War II commemoration in Poland on the grounds that he has to monitor the hurricane (but then plays golf and misinforms the public about the hurricane’s path) and eggs Vice President Pence to stay at the Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Ireland, raising once more the grotesque self-dealing and corruption that permeates this administration."

And the democrats just remain on the sidelines holding their reactions while "he’s in the midst of blowing himself up."  That's okay for now, but the Dems had better get off their butts soon and make hay of the deterioration of this maniac, or they/we will be dealing with him for four more years.

Donald Trump: The great betrayal

WEDNESDAY-SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 NEWS BYTES

An anthology of Donald Trump follies...  

The absurd #45

If ever there was a news media's dream, it is Donald Trump's absurdities in the White House. They come so fast that they have to be collected in anthologies. This is one of those and includes some of the most recent stupid moves this maniac has made. The Congress can see this but does nothing because a GOP headed up by lowlife Mitch McConnell can only think of maintaining the power of the right wing radicals. Something that will soon change.

Now Trump's tariff trade war has finally caused a slowdown' among American small businesses. Business optimism hit a five-month low in August, this from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a lobbying group. Here's the situation...

"Pantheon Macroeconomics said in an email that the main optimism figure was "dragged down by declines in expectations for the economy and business sales." Both measures fell significantly, by eight points and five points respectively, Pantheon said."

And...

"the trend remains weak and continues to signal a clear downshift in business investment through the end of this year and into early 2020."

These small business owners "are reluctant to make major spending commitments," in part due to Donald Trump's bizarre war on China with a steady increase in tariffs, which brings a like response from Xi Jinping.

Barack Obama knew the importance of small business to the economy...

The number of uninsured Americans for health insurance has increased under the Donald Trump White House.,,

"data suggest that the economic expansion, now the longest on record at more than 10 years, is still struggling to provide widespread benefits to the U.S. population."

Also, "household income rose last year at its slowest pace in four years and finally matched its previous peak set in 1999. There's more...

"Solid gains in household incomes in the past four years have returned the median only to where it was two decades ago. And despite strong growth last year in the number of Americans working full time and year-round, the number of people with private health insurance remained flat."

"An estimated 27.5 million people, 8.5% of the population, went without health insurance in 2018. That was an increase of 1.9 million uninsured people, or 0.5 percentage point."

T-rump must be stopped before these numbers are completely out of control.

Chris Cillizza on Trump and Obamacare...

Donald Trump fired war monger John Bolton, or Bolton quit, according to him. No matter, we're rid of the guy who could have started World War III. Apparently Johnny 'finger on the button' had a rivalry with Mike Pompeo, Sec. of State, and the Oval Office lunatic didn't like some of his recent moves. This is how the Guardian sees it...

"The US president’s antipathy to globalism and multilateralism will remain but there will be a rebalancing towards Trump’s instinctive anti-interventionism, coupled with his penchant for personal diplomacy. At best, it may also lead to greater policy coordination between Washington’s national security agencies and, as a result, more consistent advice being handed to an often under-briefed president."

I think that might infer that John Bolton stood in the way of some national security briefings that weren't getting to Trump. Not sure what difference that made cause T-rump probably wouldn't read them, and, if he did, wouldn't understand them. If you are interested in Bolton's positions on Afghanistan, Venezuela, Iran, Russia and No. Korea, suggest you read the article.

Read more 'Donald Trump Dumb' here

The 18th anniversary of 9/11

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 MEMORIAL

9/11, a day never to be forgotten...

2nd plane hits-1st smoke seen

We still remember those lost on that disastrous day September 11, 2001, when 2,977 people were killed, over 6,000 injured, as terrorists attacked New York city, Washington, D.C. and another plane supposedly headed for the White House brought down in Pennsylvania. Although it was eighteen years ago, the USA hasn't forgotten, and this post is in remembrance of the first responders and innocent people who lost their lives. Here's how the attack unfolded...

See more pictures of the destruction of 9/11

Gun violence bloodshed threatened if 2020 goes to Democrats

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 NEWS BYTES

Fox News suggests gun violence to stop new gun legislation  

Wayne LaPierre-Always there with more guns

You would expect no less from Fox News and other conservative news outlets than to suggest gun violence bloodshed should the Democrats win big in 2020. It's looking likely that they will so these anarchistic terrorists are "threatening mass violence and a bloody people’s revolt in the streets." Here's a sampling of right media delirium...

"If you take 'people’s guns away from them, there’s going to be a lot of violence,' The View’s Meghan McCain announced. 'What you are calling for is civil war,' warned Fox News’ Tucker Carlson. 'What you are calling for is an incitement to violence.'”

Of course, these are two of the most insane of the conservative Republican media wingnuts. And the nation's gun nuts still believe the...

"Second Amendment exists not for self-defense, or to protect the rights of hunters and gun enthusiasts, but to enable citizens to go to war with the U.S. government, and to fend off a 'tyrannical' turn at home."

And that is basically what Fox is espousing, suggesting a bloody revolution will be necessary to stop the Democrats. Here's the scenario...

“The core philosophy of the Three Percenter movement, whose adherents have engaged in violence, is that citizens would be justified in taking up arms to violently overthrow the government if the government enacted stronger gun regulations.”

The Daily show's Trevor Noah on Fox News and guns...

It all started with the Obama election when the radical gun nuts were convinced he was going to take away their guns. They were supported by the head gun nut, the National Rifle Assn.'s Wayne LaPierre. Following the Sandy Hook school massacre in Connecticut...

"Fox’s Todd Starnes warned there would 'a revolution' if the government tries to 'confiscate our guns,' while Fox News Pat Caddell claimed the country was in a 'pre-revolutionary condition,' and 'on the verge of an explosion.'”

AlterNet says, "The sinister, desperate threats of bloodshed come as the public opinion pendulum continues to swing away from the NRA and its radical gun defenders." And gun owners must now look forward to the possibility of a Democratic House, Senate, and White House where new gun laws are most likely. Of course, the most immediate benefit will be for the gun manufacturers since the gun nuts will be amassing to buy more firearms.

The latest massacre in Texas follows "a long list from that state alone." The Washington Post says...

"the [Texas] governor encourages people to buy more guns and a new set of laws now allow you to take your gun to church and prohibit landlords from banning guns in rental properties."

Elizabeth Warren talks about gun violence...

Now that's a move in the right direction if your intention is to encourage more gun violence in your state. Paul Waldman of the WP muses, "If we actually told the truth about guns"...

The first thing they’d [gun advocates] say: The rote response we give after every mass shooting is just playacting. President Trump will say, “We’re looking at a lot of different things. We’re looking at a lot of different bills, ideas, concepts,” but he’s not going to do anything. He’ll claim that he’s going to stand up to the National Rifle Association, but then he’ll cave. Republicans in Congress will make sure no bill offering even the mildest controls on gun ownership will pass, even if it’s supported by 93 percent of the public. We may offer up our “thoughts and prayers,” but our main thought is “Can’t we talk about something else?” and our prayer is that voters don’t decide to change the situation we’re in.

There's more but you get the idea. The gist of all this is the fact that the gun huggers aren't serious about anything that even slightly resembles the enactment of responsible gun laws...like universal background checks. They would rather listen to the evocative rantings of Fox News and its propaganda spouters. That's why we are in the situation we are, a nation where there are more guns than people. This is bound to catch up with us soon, and we'll be sorry.

Read more about gun violence from my blog.

  

Donald Trump's spool is unraveling

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 NEWS BYTES

Donald Trump lunacy tidbits... 

Definitely coming off the spool

It happens daily, almost hourly, these days, when Donald Trump opens his mouth and sticks the whole White House in it. His tweets have dubbed him master of the inane, a position he probably will never be challenged for. So, I am assembling more of the instances today where the Oval Office lunatic has lived up to his reputation.

"Trump’s G-7 achievements: No trade deal, no military deal, no climate deal — and ‘yes’ on helping himself." T-rump did come away from G-7 with the accomplishment he probably went there for in the first place. To promote his Florida resort Mir a Lago for the next G-7 Summit. Well done.

And the whole Mir a Lago idea backfired. "Observers and experts quickly observed that this idea was likely illegal and potentially unconstitutional. There's more...

"Trump’s suggestion that the world leaders should meet at the Trump [also losing money] National Doral in Miami — thus funneling potentially millions of dollars directly into his pockets. In two years, the resort’s net operating income — a key figure, representing the amount left over after expenses are paid — had fallen by 69 percent.

At least there was some humor at G-7...

"Trump Campaign Spokesperson Floors CNN’s Chris Cuomo: Trump Has Never Lied to American People." This was Kayleigh McEnany, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, "who claimed with a straight face that President Donald Trump has never lied to the American people." Cuomo thought he had bad hearing, but the T-rump minion stuck by her statement.

I say Trump is a "useful idiot" who is a Russian asset. There were a lot of points made about Donald Trump being so favorable to Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, in this article, but I liked this one best...

"A former CIA operative told Insider the evidence is "overwhelming" that Trump is a Russian asset, but another CIA and NSA veteran said it was more likely Trump was currying favor with Putin for future business deals."

A counterintelligence FBI agent added...

"It's hard to see the bar anymore since it's been pushed so far down the last few years, but President Trump's behavior over the weekend was a new low."

The agent was talking about the G-7 Summit, a meeting Donald Trump attended for the sole purpose of selling the Trump brand.

Former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe says Trump could be a Russian Asset...

"Trump’s trade war debacle has Wall Street and farmers turning on him," is the screaming headline from RawStory. According to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe"...

"Donald Trump is rapidly losing the support of businesses and business-friendly chambers of commerce over his trade policies, which could doom his 2020 re-election prospects."

And U.S. farmers, who were partially responsible for his 2016 election win, are furious over what the Oval Office lunatic has done in the tariff trade war, in some cases wiping out the sale of their crops. Speaking again about the recent G-7 Summit...

"on balance, it is good for China for the world’s big industrialized democracies to be without effective U.S. leadership."

And that's exactly what America has, ineffective leadership.

Recession signals say Trump economy may be in trouble. Here's why...

"Data is coming at investors from every angle with so-called recession indicators flashing signs of an economic slowdown brought on by slower growth abroad and the U.S.-China trade war."

There seems to be a lot of disagreement on "how healthy or unhealthy the U.S. economy really is" with several factors involved. The U.S. bond market is down; GDP growth is slowing; Corporate profits are down drastically; Manufacturing growth has slowed; and a host of other aspects point to a downturn. Obviously, not a good thing for T-rump with his multitude of other problems. But it is yet another clear sign that we must get rid of this ego maniac.