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.

Progressive News Bytes

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019: LATEST NEWS BYTES

Yes, trim the Senate, starting with Mitch McConnell  

The main target, Mitch McConnell, is on the RIGHT

NBC News says the landscape of the U.S. Senate may be due for a trimming and then reseeding. Very competitive are No. Carolina, Texas, Iowa and Georgia. The most vulnerable seats include Colorado, Maine and Arizona. Here are some examples...

In Iowa, Sen. Joni Ernst is a one-term incumbent running in a state that has been hit hard by the president’s trade disputes with China. 

In Texas, Sen. John Cornyn is up for re-election in a state where the registered voter demographics are changing and where GOP Sen. Ted Cruz had to fight hard to eke out a win over then-Rep. Beto O’Rourke.

Seats that could be upsets are Montana, Kansas, Kentucky and So. Carolina. If we can just get rid of Mitch McConnell in Kentucky the whole political spectrum will change.

MSNBC comments on Democrats 2020 Senate chances...

You think Fox News is biased and spews lies and misinformation, just wait for Sinclair Broadcasting, who now has control over the local broadcast airwaves reaching 72% of the nation’s households. And they are ultra-conservative. Sinclair has “must-run” commentaries at its 193 broadcasting outlets in 89 markets required by all of its stations to air. Here's an example coming from political commentator Boris Epshteyn, coming straight out of the 1990s...

"Epshteyn argued that children must not be exposed to the “gratuitous violence” of video games and movies, and that the “impact of violent media on the psyche of our youth” has to be a part of preventing mass shootings."

AlterNet says the broadcaster could be "competing with Fox News to be Trump’s favorite propaganda machine." Just what we need.

Turning to another major problem, Suicide rates are on the rise in rural America reported by Danielle Steelesmith, a postdoctoral fellow at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. Not unexpected, the presence of more gun shops was also associated with an increase in suicide rates in all counties, except for the most rural ones. Number one, rural areas love their guns and, two, they were also what helped put Donald Trump in the White House.

Okay, farmers were one of the hardest hit with the Trump tariffs, but the study doesn't mention them specifically. However, one must wonder?

How No. Carolina ended gerrymandering...

And finally, Politico says, "Republicans fear drubbing in next round of redistricting." When Democrats fell asleep at the switch in 2010, [it] "cost them control of Congress for nearly a decade." The Democrats still haven't fully waked up but recent laws on the issue are kicking in and could help save their ineffectual butts in 2020...

Senior Republicans concede they’re at risk of losing dozens of state-level elections that will determine who wields power over the post-2020 congressional map — and potentially which party controls the chamber for the following 10 years.

That should get us back to round zero, but then, something must be done to prevent gerrymandering in the future. 

You the taxpayer rescued Trump Scotland Turnberry resort hotel

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2019: SPECIAL REPORT

Trump Turnberry resort corruption accelerates  

Where the latest Trump correction is

Here's the scenario. Donald Trump has a resort hotel, Turnberry, about 50 miles outside Glasgow, Scotland. It's in trouble financially, like just about everything else this moocher owns; the property lost $4.5 million in 2017, but revenue went up $3 million in 2018.” Also, VP Pence stayed at Trump's resort during his recent trip to Ireland in his usual suck-up way. That, alone, brought along the investigations into impropriety still progressing.

And it seems Turnberry has a money-losing airport they cannot afford to give up due to its convenience for travelers flying in to stay there. So, not only do you own this property, but you're also the U.S. president who can do what you want to when manipulating the government to support the Trump brand. And the Oval Office lunatic did just that. Rachel Maddow of MSNBC reported the following Politico headline...

"Air Force crew made an odd stop on a routine trip: Trump’s Scottish resort”

Here are the details...

“In early spring of this year, an Air National Guard crew made a routine trip from the U.S. to Kuwait to deliver supplies. What wasn’t routine was where the crew stopped along the way: President Donald Trump’s Turnberry resort."

Not only did they refuel at significantly higher priced gas than they could have gotten on a military base, but the crew stayed at the ultra-expensive Trump hotel. What is even worse is, the Air Force said this "wasn't unusual." Not in a Donald Trump administration it isn't. This is compounded by the fact that T-rump also has another money-losing resort in Florida, Mar a Lago, that he has been trying to steer the next G-7 to, since returning from the Summit. Maddow continued...

“But now, miraculously, now that Donald Trump is president, American military cargo planes have started refueling at that airport, at a significant price mark up. Right. It’s much cheaper for them to get their fuel at military bases. That’s part of the reason they always stop at military bases. Also, they’re the military. They’re no longer stopping at military bases.”

Rachel Maddow exposes Trump Turnberry fiasco...

Don't know how many said this when Trump was elected--it was several--that he really didn't want to be president, but now that he was, he would make the best of it by using the office to promote his Trump brand. Maddow says the Turnberry incident is, "uncharted waters, obviously, in terms of presidential corruption," and it implicates Donald Trump himself and everyone else who participated in it. These partners in the exploitation are not cooperating.

House Democrats have obviously picked up on this with investigations, added to those already started on the Mike pence Ireland visit. A senior Democratic aide on the oversight panel told Politico...

“The Defense Department has not produced a single document in this investigation. The committee will be forced to consider alternative steps if the Pentagon does not begin complying voluntarily in the coming days.”

Mike Pence pathetically defends Ireland Trump resort stay...

So far this committee has not been effective. Vox comments on the Politico report, "The US military may have spent millions to help prop up a Trump resort." There's more...

"The military has spent $11 million on fuel alone at the Prestwick Airport near Trump’s Turnberry resort since fall of 2017. the airport has provided discounted rooms and complimentary rounds of golf at the Trump resort for some US military members. The expenditures are unusual given buying fuel from Prestwick Airport costs the government (and, ultimately, taxpayers) more than refueling at military bases, such as the nearby Lakenheath Air Base in England."

Corruption will be one of Donald Trump's major legacies. 

Is there method to Donald Trump's madness?

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2019, NEWS BYTES

More madness in the White House...  

The new Donald Trump campaign cap

This question could be answered in a number of ways. First, 'Of course, he always has been.' Second, 'Yes, the power usurped by the presidency has driven him over the edge.' Three, 'Although he seems crazy as a loon, it is really just a cover for the publicity and promotion he is receiving for his Trump brand.' I go with numbers one and two, for sure. Three has definitely been a benefit to the family in some ways, but not one of them has the IQ to pull it off. Plain luck.

The president is “batsh*t crazy,” according to a Republican operative Rick Wilson, and we'll have to wait until 2020 to do something about it. Wilson continued...

"Trump supporters, and much of the mainstream media, once believed the president’s outrageous and outlandish remarks were part of some psychological strategy to “own the libs,” wrote GOP strategist Rick Wilson for The Daily Beast, but 'only idiots and zealots believe that now.'”

That is very interesting that a major Republican, no less, political pundit would agree that Donald Trump supporters are both idiots and radicals. Just what this blog has been saying for months. And they are still talking about T-rump's most embarrassing performance at G-7, looking like he was coming off the spool spouting off...

dramatically escalating "the trade war with China, declared the whole world to be in recession — except the United States — wondered publicly whether the chairman of the Federal Reserve (whom he appointed) was a bigger enemy than the Chinese president, and “ordered” American companies to stop doing business with China. Oh, and he called American Jews who vote for Democrats either stupid or disloyal and canceled a state visit to Denmark after the Danish prime minister said that his proposal to buy Greenland was absurd."

There was a method to Donald Trump's madness...

If that isn't a plethora of madness, I don't know what is. But one of his biggest critics, Nicolle Wallace of MSNBC, says, "He’s almost self-imploding on the economy.” She's joined by Princeton Professor Eddie Glaude who remarks over Trump's tumbling polls...

"saying that this is a critical time of year for farmers, and they’re already hurting. If Trump destabilizes the economy, they’ll be hit even harder."

In other words, the more the Oval Office lunatic opens his mouth, the worse the U.S., and the world, becomes. The question is, can we wait until 2020?