Congressional members with NRA blood on their hands

Rep. Joe Barton

Recipients of cash from the National Rifle Assn. (NRA) (1988-2016) who refuse to pass gun control laws that would save lives, as reported by The Nation magazine. Call them today!

Congressman: Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)

Total amount received: $31,500

Tel. Number: (202) 225-2002

Why are Americans killing 51 times more people with guns than Canadians?

The short answer is loose gun laws in the United States where anyone can buy a gun as long as they are a warm body. From the National Observer...

"...you can buy them without a background check at gun shows or from neighbours in many American states. Background checks through the FBI’s database are only required for in-store purchases. Customers are asked if they’ve ever been committed to a mental institution and their criminal history before the store calls the FBI. Denials are rare, amounting to less than 1 per cent."

 We've all known that for years with past events like when an AR-15 was used in an Orlando, Florida gay nightclub to kill 50 people. Weapons like that are restricted in Canada. More on this...

Handguns are generally classified as restricted weapons, while rifles and shotguns are usually non-restricted. The AR-15 rifles used by the San Bernardino suspects is classified as restricted. Anyone wishing to buy a gun in Canada and/or ammunition must have a valid licence under the Firearms Act. Dec 4, 2015, which is only given after you’re trained on how to safely handle firearms, and must consent to criminal record and background checks before being given a license.

Most states in the U.S. do not require any training to get a gun, although I give the National Rifle Assn. (NRA) credit for holding regular classes, after the fact. And let's get this straight right now re. "Americans killing 51 times more people with guns than Canadians," and the differences between the two populations. The U.S. population is only nine times the size of Canada's. Associate professor of sociology at the University of Toronto Jooyoung Lee says, Canada has a more robust set of policies that make gun violence much less likely than in the U.S. Further...

"Canada creates an infrastructure that somewhat levels the playing field, trying to address poverty — the underlying driver of gun violence in communities. Canada has a more robust healthcare system, there’s more money being funneled into public education, there’s a much more progressive approach to ensuring that gun violence doesn’t happen here.”

The United States could learn a lot from Canada when it comes to guns. But it probably won't.

Congressional members with NRA blood on their hands

Rep. Tim Murphy

Recipients of cash from the National Rifle Assn. (NRA) (1988-2016) who refuse to pass gun control laws that would save lives, as reported by The Nation magazine. Call them today!

Congressman: Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA)

Total amount received: $33,500

Tel. Number: (202) 225-2301

Is it more dangerous with Putin as the enemy?

This is all hypothetical since none of us really know what's going on between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Russia in general. Putin appears to be Trump's friend and many in the U.S. believe Russia's President had a lot to do with getting Donald Trump in the White House. Hell, maybe all Putin wants is to spend a night in the Lincoln bedroom. CNN's Daniel Treisman has reminded us of the 1962 political thriller "The Manchurian Candidate." He explains it this way...

"...a hostile government uses covert measures and secret agents in an elaborate plot to get its favored candidate elected president of the United States. The scenario seemed fanciful even at the height of the Cold War."

But if you delve deeper into the plot of the movie, "The Manchurian Candidate concerns the brainwashing of the son of a prominent right-wing political family, who becomes an unwitting assassin in an international communist conspiracy," thanks to Wikipedia. The assassin, played by Frank Sinatra in the film, is supposed to kill the President-elect. And this is where the similarity to the current situation ends but still with some serious questions unanswered. Like did the hacking into the Clinton campaign and the DNC originate from Russia?

Even a Republican Congress now wants a bipartisan probe of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. And if there was interference from Russia in favor of Trump, we can be assured it was originated by Putin who is in complete control. But the question remains, just what does the President of Russia want from the U.S. President-elect, and that brings up the question of how far back the ties go between these men. Here's what CBS News said...

"While the Republican presidential nominee has denied any ties to Russia, his connections to the country and its president go back years. Trump has talked about Russia being a hot business climate, and he has been trying to bring his brand to Moscow for decades, reports CBS News correspondent Julianna Goldman."

Okay, we know that Donald Trump is in the White House for the purpose of promoting his businesses. He's already alienated the Chinese government and that could cause damaging repercussions to the U.S. in both trade and diplomacy, especially with China as one of our biggest trade partners. I see Vladimir Putin as a harmless old crony of Donald Trump who plans to use the President-elect like he has used so many people. What the watchdogs must do is make sure that Trump doesn't give away any state secrets, that is if he ever goes to a briefing.

Donald Trump becomes President-elect...Stocks take a dive

Yeah...sure

They all did well during Barack Obama's administration but put the skids on when Donald Trump was elected. These are Standard and Poor's stocks that excelled under Obama, some even soared like online retailer Amazon.com (AMZN), alcoholic beverage seller Constellation (STZ) and real-estate investment trust General Growth (GGP) all with 1,000% growth since 2008 when President Obama took office. They now trail the 3% regular rise in the S&P 500 since the Trump win. There is also a rapid decline in bond prices according to USA Today.

Investment experts expect a significant change in government policy under Donald Trump, particularly on globalization, which many of the down companies depend on. And as well they might, considering the new President-elect changes his mind daily, his word is worth very little, and shows fits of being unstable at times. Here's an example of why the concern...

Constellation bought U.S. distribution rights to Corona and other Mexican brews in June 2013. Mexican beers now account for 90% of Constellation's beer business, which is more than half the company's revenue, Ramey says.

Constellation is a top maker of wine and beer including brands like Robert Mondavi and Black Velvet. Here's another quote from USA Today...

"His tough talk on larger, unregulated companies (and) industries has many spooked that he’ll do something negative, or that he’ll be friendlier to competition," says Daniel Kurnos, analyst at Benchmark Capital.

Bernie Sanders had said if Donald Trump planned to fight the outsourcing of many U.S. companies, he was with him all the way. Then the Carrier Indiana plant situation arose with Trump demanding the company change its position on sending jobs to Mexico. As it turns out more than half of the Carrier jobs still went south. Just another Trump deception.

Congressional members with NRA blood on their hands

Rep. Ed Whitfield

 Recipients of cash from the National Rifle Assn. (NRA) (1988-2016) who refuse to pass gun control laws that would save lives, as reported by The Nation magazine. Call them today!

Congressman: Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY)

Total amount received: $34,850
Tel. Number: (202) 225-3115

Bernie Sanders,"unhappily," sorry we'll have pathological liar in White House

As I am sure the rest of us sane individuals are, but there is nothing we can do about Donald Trump getting there, but maybe something can be done about his staying there. The Bern made reference to Chuck Jones who challenged the President-elect's outright lie that he had saved all the Carrier jobs at the Indiana plant, when in fact more than half are still going to Mexico. Sen. Sanders concludes that Trump's message here to unions and their workers was that if you continue to stand up and fight, my administration will go after you. Just as he did with Chuck Jones on Twitter.

MSNBC's Chris Hayes questioned Bernie on the appointment of "Andrew Puzder, CEO of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, who supported Trump during his campaign, praising him as a 'pragmatic centrist' and 'negotiator.' The Senator took the opportunity to remind those who voted for the President-elect that all those promises of standing up to the establishment were all "crap," my word but still accurate. Pudzer, who is anti-worker, and who pays his workers as little as possible--many of whom have to get federal assistance--is adamantly against raising the minimum wage.

When Chris Hayes asked Bernie Sanders about the reality of all this, referencing how Barack Obama has established his legacy from his accomplishments, particularly, bringing the economy back from near disaster under George W. Bush--now that's reality. At this point we have another Republican in the White House, and Hayes wondered if reality would hit when under Trump wages decline, outsourcing continues, and the economic squeeze on the middle-class advances, will the public, particularly his supporters, blame it on the President-elect or Bernie, Hillary, the Democrats?

The Bern hopes to build a movement of grass roots supporters who do see the reality of what just happened in this election, plus what will be taking place under Donald Trump. I know I'm in!