ADIOS 2018…GOOD RIDDANCE!!!
As we prepare for what will hopefully be a much better New Year than the past one under the corrupt and incompetent leadership of Donald J. Trump, it would be wise to reflect on 2018 and its events and how things can be so much better 2019. The biggest political event of the year was the mid term elections, which saw the Democratic party seize control of the House of Representatives from the REPUBLIKANS who had held absolute power in both the Congress and Executive Branch and couldn’t get anything accomplished despite that fact, i.e. rescinding Obamacare, funding Trump’s nonsensical border wall, etc. Their only meaningful victory was completely orchestrated by “RICH” Mitch McConnell, that being the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, a controversial nomination to say the least. We had the Helsinki summit, where POTUS Donald J. Trump appeared to be the cowering wimp sitting beside his BFF and mentor Vladimir Putin in one of the most embarrassing scenes I’ve ever witnessed for an American President. It further demonstrated that there is indeed something that Putin holds over Trump, be it videos or financial records. Then there is N. Korea. After assuring us all of his incredible negotiating skills, his summit with Kim Jong Un to “denuclearize” the Korean peninsula has proven to be an abysmal failure, with evidence indicating Kim is moving full speed ahead with his weapons development program in secret while assuring Mike Pompeo (another Trump lightweight!) that he isn’t. I know I’m sleeping better at night. Then we have the multitude of unseemly scandals that have plagued Trump since he took office. The number of lies and misstatements coming either from Trump himself or sycophants like “HUCKLEBERRY” Sanders number in the thousands this year alone as tracked by the Washington Post. We have the Mueller investigation continuing, as the net draws ever closer to the collusion and cover up he and his cronies orchestrated in order to influence the 2016 election. A number of his former associates have already been indicted and convicted of numerous criminal offenses, like Michael Flynn and Michael Cohen. We have adulterous affairs with hush money being paid to two different women, also with the intent of influencing the same election and in felonious violation of campaign finance laws. We have numerous other investigations which will soon be gearing up looking into other Trump enterprises, such as his never released income tax returns, Foundation and his real estate holdings, including the Washington hotel where he has raked in millions since being inaugurated in clear violation of the law. The list goes on and on. We have seen the President steadfastly defend a known murderer in Saudi Crown Prince MBS, despite his own intelligence community producing actual physical evidence clearly implicating him in Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal murder and dismemberment. He claims we need the Saudis as our ally and business partner, yet the only pocket book he’s really interested in these family dealings with the Saudis is his own-just ask Jared! He routinely sides with thugs like Putin and Erdogan of Turkey in order to further enhance his financial position at the complete expense of our national security interests. We witnessed the terror unfold in numerous school shootings with absolutely NO effort made by Congress to do anything about gun regulation-a Congress so beholden to the NRA they are literally bought and paid for by the gun lobby. We saw a man, an obvious Trump supporter who was encouraged by his outrageous lies and misstatements about his political opponents that he started trying to kill them all with package bombs, including two former Presidents! We witnessed blatant hatred and anti Semitism in the slaughter of innocent victims in the Pittsburgh Synagogue massacre, another individual motivated by the rhetoric and hatred being spewed forth daily from the Trump administration. We are witnessing an inhumane immigration policy that includes the imprisonment and death of innocent children in so called “detention centers” after being separated from their parents. We have seen Trump send American troops to our southern border to defend against a real “PHANTOM MENACE” in the form of a caravan “TRUMPED” up by him and FAUX NEWS for purely political purposes. And although POTUS himself assured the entire world in his meeting with Schumer and Pelosi a couple of weeks ago he would “take full ownership” of a government shutdown, it’s now “Schumer’s Shutdown”. All soooooo typical of the man who has absolutely no moral compass. Let’s not forget the fraudulent “middle class” tax cut that was foisted upon the unsuspecting American public. It turns out it was nothing more than a payback to corporate Amerika, who promptly took the money and gave it back to themselves, and to Trump’s buddies in the “BILLIONAIRE BOY’S CLUB, who he bragged about it to shortly after it passed through the REPUBLIKAN controlled Congress. “CRYIN” Paul Ryan’s legacy turns out to be as phony as the tax bill!!! We witnessed the resignation in disgrace of EPA Director Scott “I DIDN’T DO IT!!” Pruitt, Ryan Zinke, Interior Secretary who left town in hopes of escaping further scrutiny for his misdeeds, Defense Secretary Mattis quits over Trump’s border policy and his unilateral decision to withdraw American forces from Syria, thereby ceding that critical country to his pal Vlad, and Chief of Staff John Kelly is leaving his post today. There are countless others who have either quit or been fired in the past twelve months-the list is too extensive to post here. Our environmental policy and global commitment to positively affecting ongoing climate change has been completely reversed by this administration, and the effects will be felt for decades to come. In order to continue the financial windfall that oils/gas industry and coal companies, utilities and other related businesses provide to REPUBLIKAN coffers, Trump has decided that fossil fuels are the future we should be betting on while the rest of the world laughs and goes about the business of converting to more environmentally friendly power sources such as solar and wind. The Chinese have left us in their rear view mirror in this area. Heard enough? I know I have! So where does this leave us as we head into 2019?!? The one encouraging factor that is different is the fact that we now have a REAL check on Trump and his corrupt administration and policies in the form of the Democratic House. But let’s not forget that “RICH” Mitch and his REPUBLIKAN cronies still control the Senate, and can still do considerable damage as they have done over the last number of years to the institution of American democracy. They have all but taken away the power of the individual vote by eliminating campaign finance laws. They have rolled back numerous financial regulations instituted following the near financial collapse of 2008 that were designed to safeguard against such a thing happening again. They have rolled back numerous environmental regulations at the expense of public health, like allowing utility companies to once again release toxic mercury into the environment. They are in the process of stacking the court system from bottom to top with right leaning judges who will help further their conservative Christian agendas at every turn. I sincerely hope Mueller’s final report provides enough hard evidence of Trump and his campaign’s collusion and subsequent cover up to begin the process of impeachment. I hope it is SO damning in nature it absolutely forces McConnell and other REPUBLIKAN Senators to act for fear of losing their own grip on power, because otherwise we know they are more afraid of Trump than anything. In the meanwhile, I also hope the Democrats throw every investigation and subpoena they can at Trump and continue to deny him the funding for the absurd wall. It should be an interesting New Year, to say the least!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!! Until next time…..
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THE GALL OF TRUMP’S WALL
The current government shut down, born of Donald Trump’s temper tantrum over Congressional failure to approve his request for FIVE BILLION DOLLARS to construct a border wall between the United States and Mexico on our southern border, is yet one more example of the abysmal failure of his administration to enact ANY meaningful immigration policy or reforms. His current policy of detaining woman and children has already resulted in two deaths of young children as well as the incarceration of literally thousands of others whose only crime is the desire for a better life. The Democrats have already told POTUS that they will NOT approve his request, nor will eight or so Republican Senators which is why he is now absurdly threatening to “close the border”. He has already sent the United States military to the border, some 5000 to 7000 troops who have been given the OK to use deadly force to stop the “invasion of the caravans”. This was precipitated prior to the mid term elections for no other reason other than a political ploy aimed at offsetting the “Blue Wave” that ultimately wrested control of the House of Representatives from REPUBLIKAN control and gave the Democrats a majority beginning in January. Trump has consistently attempted to assign blame for the lack of funding for this absurd wall on the Democrats, but the simple truth is that over 60% of the American people DON’T WANT THE WALL!!! It is not nor will it ever be the answer to solving our so called immigration crisis, a crisis which is more fiction than fact. It is a crisis created by Donald Trump and FAUX NEWS solely to satisfy his 30% base and arouse the racism and bigotry for which they stand. And oh, by the way, what ever happened to the promise he also made that Mexico was going to pay for the wall?!? Now he wants the American taxpayers to foot the bill for this colossal boondoggle. The fact of the matter is that illegal immigration has actually gone down considerably dating back to the Obama administration for a number of reasons, including an improving economy in Mexico and more stringent enforcement of existing laws. It is also a fact that our existing immigration policies are in need of a bipartisan overhaul that is more reflective of the times in which we live where border security is an important part of securing the Homeland. But the policies being pursued by Stephen Miller behind the curtain with Donald Trump trying to sell the snake oil are NOT the answer to these problems. They are just further evidence of the isolationist policies being implemented around the globe to satisfy his mantra to “make America great again”, which, to Donald Trump means keeping out everybody who isn’t white or a REPUBLIKAN. I’ve recited it over and over again in this blog and I’ll repeat it: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” This is the America that greeted our grandparents and their parents when they had laid eyes on the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor for the first time in pursuit of a better life than the ones they had left behind in Italy, Ireland, Germany, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia , Mexico, India, Japan, China and any other country you can think of. This so called “melting pot” of cultures and people was the driving force behind making America great in the first place, not some half baked wall that in reality is nothing more than a symbol to the world of Donald Trump and the REPUBLIKAN party’s exclusionary and racist policies. As far as shutting down the government, Mr. President, be our guest. It’s very obvious to all that your only concern lies not with the men and women of the government who are implementing your policies but in what political capital you can extract from the stalemate. Shame on you and all of those in your administration who are responsible for promoting this wall and the exclusionary policies it represents. This is NOT America as we know it. Until next time……… “LUSH” LIMBAUGH and ANN “(DOLT)ER, NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE WORST WING!!
You know our country is in serious trouble when POTUS ignores the advice of his Cabinet members and advisors and instead follows the haranguing and screams of anguish coming from the far right in the form of conservative commentators Rush “LUSH” Limbaugh and Ann Coulter (DOLTER). It just happened on the wall issue, when President Trump, after agreeing to sign off on the Congressional bill for funding the government and avoiding a shut down, changed course and decided NOT to sign the bill after coming under fire from these two buffoons on their respective propaganda platforms. But hey, we’ve already got amateurs and idiots from FAUX NEWS like Larry Kudlow and Bill Shine working there, so why the hell not LUSH and DOLTER??? Rush Limbaugh has been the darling of the far right since the days of Bill Clinton with his radio program consistently ranking at or near the top of the conservative media ratings. He had a rather humiliating fall from grace over his addiction to pain pills a few years back, and since Obama left office he has had little to rail against with his hero CROOKED DONALD and his REPUBLIKAN cronies holding power. Trump’s love affair with FAUX NEWS and in particular Sean “INSANITY” Hannity has also sort of eclipsed Limbaugh’s influence. But Trump’s apparent agreement to compromise with Democrats did not sit well with Lush or his supporters, and they in turn went after Trump. The same is true with Ann Coulter. DOLTER had tweeted this week on her Twitter account about the “gutless President in a wall-less country” because of his previously stated position and apparent compromise, and she, like CROOKED DONALD, has over five million followers. Supposedly Trump lives and dies on her every word, just like with the compliment of clowns he has in his stable over at FAUX NEWS. He disregards the advice of informed and experienced officials, selected by himself, like James Mattis, on critical issues of national security like withdrawing from Syria and Afghanistan and instead watches cable news and follows Twitter. That fact alone should scare the living crap out of EVERYBODY!!! Now, by shutting down the government, he has fulfilled his and the far rights desire to “drain the swamp”. Aside from the very absurdity of the premise, in light of the number of scandals, improprieties and outright fraud committed by his “CABINET OF CLOWNS”, Trump has turned the swamp into the sixth Great Lake-we shall hereafter call it Lake Chump. If anybody believes that this amoral man cares about the fact that the very people who are supposed to be carrying out his missions on the border and securing our homeland will not be getting paid, just in time for Christmas, think again. The only thing that matters to Donald Trump is getting his way, and it doesn’t matter who gets hurt as a result. His entire immigration policy, including sending the military to the border, detaining innocent children (one of whom perished in custody) and separating them from their parent(s) and the insistence on building a physical wall (all the brainchild of Steven Miller, his ogre in charge of immigration policy) goes against everything America stands for. The plaque that rests at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor reads as follows, Mr. President: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.” I stand with the Democrats and those few Republikans of principle who refuse to be blackmailed into submission by the “Teflon DON” wannabe or bullied by the bombast of buffoons like LUSH Limbaugh or Anne (DOLT)er. It’s time we started taking our country back from these racist bigots who have had their way for the last two years, at the catastrophic expense of our great nation!!! January 3, 2019 will bring a new day for all of America, a day which will allow the light of day to shine on the REAL rats who are currently occupying the White House and the Worst Wing-Donald J. Trump and his entire family, as well as the inner circle of advisors who have been enabling his basest instincts from the beginning. Their day of reckoning is at hand!!!! Until next time…….. TWO DOWN, ONE UP!
The resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis yesterday, the latest in the ongoing exodus from the West Wing and Cabinet of President Donald J. Trump, comes on the heels of his decision to unilaterally withdraw from Syria after mistakenly proclaiming, like his predecessor George W. Bush, that victory over our enemy in the Middle East had been achieved and ISIS was finished. Mattis and every other military man in the loop had urged him NOT to withdraw our troops and walk away while Russia’s presence and influence, as well as that of Turkey (I feel there’s a whole NEW scandal brewing here!) in the region and that of Iran in the background will now dominate the region.Our ally in the fight against ISIS, the Kurds, will be left to fend for themselves against the Turks, who regard them as their mortal enemy and will undoubtedly take full advantage of Trump’s sell out of them. Our intelligence gathering apparatus will be crippled, and there will be a huge vacuum in which terror organizations may now freely operate. This decision was not in our best interest, Israel’s best interest or the Kurd's best interest, who feel abandoned by the U.S. after having spearheaded the actual fighting to drive ISIS out of northern Syria in alliance with our military, boots on the ground. Soon they will be gone. The decision to withdraw is a terrible one for many reasons, and was the straw that broke the camel’s back as far as the Defense Secretary is concerned. Next Trump announced his decision, again, unilaterally without consulting the Afghan government, his military or his political advisors, to withdraw approximately half, 7000 troops, of our contingent force in Afghanistan. This at the very time that the Afghan government is desperately trying to negotiate a sustainable peace with the Taliban, who are in fact winning the military AND political battle for Afghanistan. After seventeen long years of being engaged in this god awful sh*thole of a country, perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel after all. This is one decision of Trump’s I support, although the timing of it could have been better. There is no winning strategy in Afghanistan. It is a quagmire like no other, and it IS time we got out. If the Afghan government cannot sustain itself after being propped up by the U.S. military at the cost of nearly 2500 American lives and seventeen long years then they never will be able to. As far as the argument that El Qaeda or ISIS will reestablish a presence in the country after we depart, so what? That’s why we have cruise missiles, stealth bombers, smart bombs and drones. And we’re naïve as hell if we don’t believe they will continue to pop up in other locations around the globe, places like Yemen. They are like roaches who multiply in the dark, and our military must be in a position to deal with them on a mission by mission basis, not an unsustainable war that has drained our resources and military man power much like happened to the Soviets in the ten years following their disastrous invasion in 1968. I don’t know what Trump’s timetable is to draw down the remaining 7000 or so troops still there, but as far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better. General Mattis, nicknamed “Mad Dog”, did the only honorable thing his military background dictated given the circumstances. I commend him for his service, both military and political, even though I did not support him on a number of issues, like sending troops to the southern border. He should have resigned then. At any rate, just another week in the chaotic presidency of Donald J. Trump. He has blundered on Syria, and once again displayed incredible weakness when dealing with our adversaries such as Russia and Turkey. And make no mistake; the Turks are NOT our ally. They are not to be trusted, and lest anyone like Trump forget, were responsible for the outright genocide of over ONE MILLION Armenians in the early twentieth century. As I stated earlier and has been suggested of late, especially with the spotlight on Michael Flynn and his dealings with Turkey, there is more here than meets the eye. It’s no coincidence that Trump has real-estate and other financial ties to the Turks, and as is usually the case when investigating the multitude of wrongdoings committed by Trump and his cronies, just follow the money. Until next time…….. “MAD” MATT’S FOLLY IS KENTUCKY’S OPPORTUNITY
The latest debacle involving the absolute buffoon of a Governor that the good people of Kentucky elected a couple of years ago involved his calling of a special legislative session in Frankfort in a temper tantrum over the Supreme Court ruling that his pension reform bill was unconstitutional. The session ended just as abruptly as it started, with absolutely NO agreement or consensus reached over the thirty BILLION dollar revenue shortfall required for the pension fund. It also ended with Bevin losing even more face over an issue that was his policy cornerstone during his campaign. Once again, he and his REPUBLIKAN cronies in the Kentucky legislature, who have an overwhelming majority in both houses, have failed to deliver. Bevin has further alienated a great number of politicians in his own party with his childish antics, ridiculous commentary and all out war being waged against teachers. What’s being lost in all of this political mellow drama is that the solution to the entire problem is so obvious that it defies logic as to why it isn’t being pursued on a more aggressive basis by lawmakers in Frankfort. I already know the answer, but let’s explore the opportunity this budgetary stalemate affords the Commonwealth. The revenue shortfall could be eliminated within a very short period of time if the legislature would pass laws allowing: a) legalized gaming b) legalized marijuana. Either one or both. Let’s consider legalized gaming for example. EVERY single state surrounding us, OH, W VA, TN, MO, IL and IN have legalized gaming and multiple casinos. The citizens of Kentucky literally pour millions of dollars into the coffers of these states by gambling in their establishments because we have no such opportunity for them within our own borders. Churchill Downs and other racing tracks and off site facilities stand ready and able to get legalized gaming off the ground running, as they are already providing similar services right now under the guise of so called “historical racing” betting facilities and off track sites. And how about legalizing marijuana? Our esteemed Senator, Mitch McConnell, deems it OK to pass legislation approving the growth and harvesting of commercial hemp because it benefits his constituency which thereby benefits him with his political base. So why not take the next step and do what a number of other states have already done, approve the sale and use of recreational marijuana as a taxable regulated substance just like alcoholic beverages? There are already ten states, including MO and MI that have approved the sale and use of recreational marijuana. It’s really not a question of if but rather when on the universal legalization of pot, so why not get in on the financial bonanza while there is still an opportunity? The financial windfall from this industry is astronomical-just look at CO and CA and what has happened to those economies as a result. Obviously, the soil and climate in our state are very conducive to the cultivation of weed, whether or not it has THC. The answer to the above questions at the present time is that there is ZERO chance either of these totally viable solutions will be considered by our legislature. The reason?? The same reason that the overwhelming majority of people out in the state overwhelmingly support the crook in the White House-they are uneducated bible thumping Christian conservatives who supported Kim Davis and Matt Bevin that belong to the thousands of small little fiefdoms they call churches. Their local politicians are so afraid of being voted out of office that they dare not bring up such ungodly suggestions as gaming and pot!! Their constituents would rather we remain a state that is near the bottom of the barrel in every conceivable category from education to fiscal responsibility. They would rather crusade against women’s fundamental rights to choose and close down more abortion clinics. This is the REAL problem we face. So how do we overcome this obstacle and take advantage of the opportunity that lies before us? I say we put the measures on the ballot and let the public decide. I think that there are more progressive individuals that reside in our urban centers like Louisville and Lexington in larger numbers that could help pass such measures and overcome the obstacles presented by the right wing conservative core. That way, we could really determine if such measures are viable in the voter’s eyes, not leave it to a bunch of weak kneed political hacks who are only interested in self promotion and cronyism. It’s time to move the Commonwealth into the twenty first century instead of always being the toothless moron portrayed in the national media-or worse yet, by “MAD” Matt Bevin!!! Until next time……. BUMP STOCK BAN-A GOOD FIRST STEP
The following article was published today in the New York Times regarding the Trump administration’s decision to ban the so called “bump stock” which essentially enables turning a semi automatic weapon like an AR-15 into a nearly fully automatic weapon of the type utilized by military personnel. I applaud the move as one of the few positive moves this administration has made in attempting to reduce the horrific number of gun deaths we experience in this country, nearly 40,000 this year alone. “WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday issued a new rule banning bump stocks, the attachments that enable semiautomatic rifles to fire in sustained, rapid bursts and that a gunman used to massacre 58 people and wound hundreds of others at a Las Vegas concert in October 2017. The new regulation, which had been expected, would ban the sale or possession of the devices under a new interpretation of existing law. Americans who own bump stocks would have 90 days to destroy their devices or to turn them in to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Justice Department said A.T.F. would post destruction instructions on its website. Bump stocks work by harnessing a firearm’s recoil energy to slide it back and forth to bump against a squeezed trigger, so that it keeps firing without any need for the shooter to pull the trigger again. The Justice Department said that this function transforms semiautomatic weapons, like assault rifles styled on the AR-15, into fully automatic machine guns, which Congress sharply restricted in 1986 — allowing the ban. “With limited exceptions, the Gun Control Act, as amended, makes it unlawful for any person to transfer or possess a machine-gun unless it was lawfully possessed prior to the effective date of the statute,” the new regulation states. “The bump-stock-type devices covered by this final rule were not in existence prior to the effective date of the statute, and therefore will be prohibited when this rule becomes effective.” A senior Justice Department official, briefing reporters about the new rule on condition of anonymity, said that it was believed that tens of thousands of bump-stock devices are in circulation, but that more exact figures are unavailable. The official said the department expected that most owners of the devices would comply with the new regulation, and that A.T.F. would investigate and take legal action against those who violate it. After publishing a proposed version of the rule earlier this year, the government received 119,264 comments in support of it and 66,182 expressing opposition to it, the Justice Department said. The regulatory move may face a legal challenge. The Justice Department had initially decided that the executive branch lacked the authority to ban bump stocks on its own under existing gun-control laws, and that action in Congress — where it is politically difficult to enact new gun-control legislation — would be necessary to curb legal access to the devices. But the department reinterpreted its legal authority and determined it could ban the devices as an executive action after President Trump directed it to find a way to prohibit them earlier this year, following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. (The shooter in that massacre, who killed 17 people and wounded 17 others, did not use a bump stock.) The National Rifle Association, the gun-rights lobby, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the new rule or its intentions. In the immediate aftermath of the Las Vegas massacre, the N.R.A. supported an A.T.F. review of bump stock devices, seemingly breaking with its usual practice of fiercely opposing any new restrictions on legal access to firearms. At the time, it said it “believes that devices designed to allow semiautomatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations.” But the N.R.A. never embraced a ban, and the association’s chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, later bragged in an interview with a gun enthusiast that the organization’s actions had succeeded in slowing down momentum for legislative reform. As the Las Vegas massacre — the worst mass-shooting in modern American history — was replaced by other news, a push for legislation in Congress faltered.” (above from the NEW YORK TIMES) Personally, I feel this is a tremendous slap in the face of the NRA, and I hope it leads to additional common sense gun regulations, like the banning of the sale and ownership of the assault rifles themselves by ANY civilian. There simply is NO justification for a weapon of mass destruction like this to be in the possession of anybody but highly trained military personnel. If the bump stock can be retroactively banned, then so can these weapons of massacre, which is exactly what they were designed for. I’m sure I’ll be hearing an enraged outcry from all of the NRA enthusiasts out there who will immediately run and hide behind their misinformed interpretation of the Second Amendment and how it gives them the freedom to arm themselves to the teeth in the event of Armageddon. It does not. I also believe that ultimately the NRA will vehemently oppose this ban for these very reasons-and challenge it in the courts. The current members of Congress, many of them beholden to the NRA for the millions of dollars in campaign contributions they pour into their coffers, were too gutless to take any action. Perhaps with the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, we will see more aggressive efforts to legislate the current state of gun insanity we are experiencing in this country. The Senate, under the tutelage of a huge NRA supporter (and visa versa) “RICH” Mitch McConnell and the gun happy REPUBLIKANS will never pass any meaningful legislation. They are bought and paid for. Until next time………. TRUMP’S BASE(less) SUPPORT
My brother in law, a retired military man of high rank, was a supporter of Donald Trump in 2016. We both felt so strongly in our opposing political views at the time we literally almost came to blows at dinner one night over his belief that Hillary Clinton was “not trustworthy” because of the emails, Benghazi, etc. We decided that night to agree to disagree and to keep politics out of our discussions in the future. Well, here we are two years later, and I REALLY want to ask him when I see him over the holidays how he feels about his vote now? Let’s just review what we now know about Donald J. Trump that we didn’t know then, or did know and chose to ignore.
This list isn’t even complete. My simple question to the thirty some percent of Americans who profess to support Donald Trump and his presidency is, based upon what we know and is listed above in black and white, can you possibly believe that supporting this man and his corrupt and immoral policies is in ANY way beneficial to our country?!? Have you been watching FAUX NEWS for too long? Have you become so numbed by the daily bombast of negative media coverage necessitated by the actions of this President that you’re not paying attention anymore? Do you not CARE? Are you so wrapped up in your own little world that you feel this is somebody else’s problem? Are you a REPUBLIKAN member of Congress, so corrupted by the absolute power you enjoyed the last couple of years that your white male agenda is a bigger priority than serving the constituents that sent you to Washington in the first place? Or, as I have been surmising all along about the so called base, are you just plain IGNORANT?!? I don’t know how, based on the facts, there could be any other explanation. Until next time……… ANOTHER CLOWN GOES DOWN-“STINKY” RYAN ZINKE RESIGNS The news that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has resigned effective at the end of the year should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the Donald J. Trump “CABINET OF CLOWNS” as detailed in this blog numerous times over the past couple of years. He joins countless other administration officials who have quit, been fired or run out of town since CROOKED DONALD took office nearly two years ago. His announcement leaves open the dubious distinction of being the Chairman of this corrupt and incompetent Cabinet, since he had replaced previously disgraced Chairman Emeritus Scott “I DIDN”T DO IT” Pruitt, who also left town believing he was one step ahead of the subpoena avalanche about to be unleashed by the Democrats when they take control of the House of representatives in a couple of weeks or so. Let’s examine Zinke’s record as Secretary of the Interior, a Cabinet position and department that was created to PROTECT our most precious resources, not destroy them or sell them off to the highest oil and gas bidder!!! I sincerely hope that he WILL be held accountable for the destruction and damage he has caused, as well as the incredibly arrogant and corrupt way he conducted his agency’s business. As Secretary, Zinke opened more federal lands for oil, gas and mineral exploration and extraction.[9] Zinke's expenditures as Secretary of the Interior, which included expensive flights, raised ethical questions and controversy, and were investigated by the Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General. His ethical troubles were the subject of a PBS News Hour report on October 19, 2018. On October 30, 2018, the investigation into Zinke was referred to the Justice Department by Interior's Inspector General. On his first full day in office, Zinke rescinded the policy implemented on January 19, 2017, the last day of the Obama administration, by outgoing Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Daniel M. Ashe that banned the use of lead bullets and lead fishing tackle in national wildlife refuges. Zinke said: "Over the past eight years … hunting, and recreation enthusiasts have seen trails closed and dramatic decreases in access to public lands across the board. It worries me to think about hunting and fishing becoming activities for the land-owning elite. This package of secretarial orders will expand access for outdoor enthusiasts and also make sure the community’s voice is heard. The regulation was meant to help prevent lead contamination of plants and animals. In April 2017, Zinke began reviewing at least 27 national monuments to determine if any of the monuments could be reduced in size. In June 2017, Zinke recommended that Bears Ears National Monument boundaries be scaled back. In August, Zinke 2017 added the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to the planned list of monuments to be shrunk as well, while also calling for new management rules for multiple national monuments to decrease the number of actions that are prohibited within the monuments. In December 2017, Trump signed executive proclamations that reduced Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by almost 46%. These moves prompted several legal challenges. One day later, Zinke issued a report recommending that Trump also shrink two more national monuments--Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada and Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon. Zinke also recommended changes to the management of six other national monuments. These changes were welcomed by Republicans such as Congressman Rob Bishop, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, but condemned by Democrats and environmentalist groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club. After The New York Times took Zinke's Interior Department to court, it won and got 25,000 documents, of which 4,500 pages were related to Zinke's multi-monument review, and which showed the administration set out to increase coal, oil and gas mining access. The documents also showed that the Zinke administration's new map pretty much matched that previously promoted by longtime Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, whose plan claimed it "would resolve all known mineral conflicts for SITLA [Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration] within the Bears Ears… the real [beneficiaries] are Utah schoolchildren and the people of San Juan County," a claim disputed as hypocritical by the Utah Diné Bikéyah tribe. In September 2017, it was reported that on June 26, Zinke had chartered a jet belonging to an oil industry executive for a flight from Las Vegas to Kalispell, Montana. Zinke had been in Las Vegas to make an announcement related to public lands and to deliver a speech to the National Hockey League's Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion franchise owned by William P. Foley, a major donor to Zinke's congressional campaigns. The chartered flight cost taxpayers $12,375. Costs for commercial flights between Las Vegas and Kalispell typically start at $300. Upon arrival in Kalispell, Zinke, a native of nearby Whitefish, Montana, spent the night at his private residence, before delivering remarks at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association the next morning, having lunch with association members, participating in a photo shoot for GQ, and conducting an interview for Outside Magazine. Zinke and his staffers returned to Washington on a commercial fight the next day Zinke used private aircraft and performed political duties in relation to an April 1 trip between St. Croix and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Zinke had been in St. Croix on March 30 for an official meeting with Governor Kenneth Mapp during the day, and spent the night at a fundraiser for the Republican Party of the Virgin Islands, where donors of between $1,500 and $5,000 were allowed to have their pictures taken with Zinke. The following morning, Zinke took a private flight costing the government $3,150 to St. Thomas to celebrate the centennial of the Islands' handover to the United States by Denmark. In December 2017, Politico reported that Zinke had booked government helicopters for more than $14,000 to travel in June and July 2017. One of these trips was the swearing-in ceremony of his successor in Congress; the Department of Interior defended the use of government helicopters instead of a two-hour car drive by saying Zinke would otherwise not be able to fully participate in the swearing-in ceremony. An Interior spokesperson also said to a Politico reporter inquiring about the expenses, "Shame on you for not respecting the office of a Member of Congress." Another of these trips was the use of a Park Police helicopter to have a horseback ride with Vice President Mike Pence; the Interior Department justified the use of the helicopter over the three-hour car drive by saying "the Secretary will be able to familiarize himself with the in-flight capabilities of an aircraft he is in charge of" and that Park Police staff would "provide an added measure of security to the Secretary during his travel." Zinke dismissed Politico's reporting as "total fabrications and a wild departure of reality" but did not identify any inaccuracies in Politico's reporting. In March 2018, the Associated Press reported that the Interior Department spent approximately $139,000 to upgrade three sets of double doors in Zinke's office. However, a spokesperson claimed Zinke was unaware of the relevant work contract. In October 2017, the Interior Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) launched an investigation into Zinke's use of three charter flights during his tenure as Interior Secretary. In April 2018, OIG released its report, concluding that Zinke's chartered flight to give a speech to the June 2017 speech to the Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL team was authorized "without complete information" and that the speech was not official business because Zinke did not discuss the Interior Department or his role as Interior Secretary. OIG concluded that the two other charter flights, one to Alaska and the other to the U.S. Virgin Islands, "appeared to have been reasonable as related to official DOI business." Oh, and then there was the massive category 5 hurricane that slammed Puerto Rico last year where Zinke rushed to hire his next door neighbor in Montana to restore and rebuild the islands power structure-him and his ONE other employee!!!! Have you read enough?!? I know I have!! This corrupt and destructive sycophant for the oil and gas industry thinks he can now quit and ride off into the Montana sunset on his horse with no repercussions for the outright graft and damage he has wrought while Secretary. I don’t believe the incoming Democratic House will see it quite that way, and I fervently hope the have the stones to pin this crook to the proverbial wall. He deserves it. Finally, that leaves us to our newest appointment as Chairman Emeritus for the remaining “CABINET OF CLOWNS”; in a very close vote, Wilbur “THE BOSS” Ross won out over Betsy “CRUELLA” DeVos. Congratulations, Wilbur!!! Here’s to hoping you're next!!!! Until next time……. WHITE HOUSE SMACKDOWN-CHUCK/NANCY vs. DONNIE/MIKEE
The photo op yesterday of the meeting between Congressional Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and President Donald Trump and V.P. Mike Pence was better entertainment than the “Apprentice”!! It was more like a WWF Smackdown event, with Trump, Schumer and Pelosi discussing Trump’s request for funding of his border wall between the United States and Mexico. The best part of the entire surreal scene to me, however, was watching Mike “I’M A LITTLE DENSE” Pence just sit there with that stupid blank expression on his face, never uttering a word. He is the perfect sycophant for his boss, a man who will do and say anything in his defense irregardless of how ignorant or misleading it may be. At any rate, I think what we witnessed is just a harbinger of things to come. Trump’s wall will NEVER be funded as he has requested ($5 BILLION), if at all, by the Democrats who now control the House of Representatives. As is his way, he immediately doubled down on his threat to shut down the government if he doesn’t get the funding, and fell right into the trap laid for him by the Democrats. Beyond that, he hasn’t seen anything yet. The House has more subpoenas lined up than Robert Mueller waiting for he and his fellow Republikans and “CABINET OF CLOWNS” for their corrupt and illicit actions over the past couple of years, people like Devin Nunes and Chuck Grassley and Kevin Mccarthy, who all held positions of power and thwarted all attempts by the minority Democrats to discover the truth about the Russia investigation and cover up and other corrupt administration officials such as Eric Zinke and Betsy deVos and Wilbur Ross, who have been running their departments like their own private IRA’s!!! Now that the DOJ/SDNY has issued criminal indictments naming Trump as “Individual One” responsible for directing the illegal payment of hush money from campaign funds to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal to cover up illicit sexual encounters prior to the 2016 election, thereby altering the outcome of the election in the process, there is already grounds to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump. Instead of running and hiding whenever the subject comes up, these Democratic leaders should be actively pursuing that option with gusto. Trump, his family and many in his administration are just plain criminals and must be held accountable. No one is above the law, including you, Mr. Trump, despite a lifetime of free passes and bullying your way through any obstacle with the help of shady legal counsel, threats and intimidation. The thought of Mike Pence running our country is equally disturbing, especially knowing that he is worse than Trump because he also claims to be a Christian man DESPITE his unqualified support for his boss, a man who is guilty on a daily basis of breaking at least six of the Ten Commandments!!! I wonder if there’s any way to impeach him as well?!? Stay tuned-there’s certain to be more Smackdown matches scheduled in the very near future. Until next time………… WEEKEND UPDATE
College Hoops University of Louisville-Lost a real border state brawl in Bloomington before IU prevailed 68-67, the last of a three game series which I hope will be renewed and continued down the road, because there really IS a natural rivalry geographically and culturally. Louisville under Chris Mack is now 6-3 in his inaugural season and is likely to be 9-3 heading into the big rivalry game against UK on December 29th with three non conference patsies on the immediate schedule. University of Kentucky-Lost an overtime thriller to a much improved Seton Hall team in MSG, with two of the most amazing shots you will EVER see under pressure to close out regulation. Kentucky showed some grit, and Washington is amazing. BUT, with Utah, UNC and UofL coming up before entering SEC play against Alabama on the road, they certainly have their work cut out for them. There is some glimmer of hope. Indiana University-As noted above, beat Louisville in a thriller 68-67 to improve to 8-2 and looks to be a legitimate Big ten contender under the direction of Sean Miller. Bellermine Knights-Undefeated and No. 1 ranked Division II school Bellermine just might be the BEST team in the area as they continue to roll along under the direction of Scotty Davenport, who has done a remarkable job of competing at the highest level year in and year out. NFL Cincinnati Bengals-Lost again, this time to Los Angeles Chargers by a score of 26-21. This season cannot end soon enough for Cincy fans, and hopefully we will have seen the last of Marvin “LOSER” Lewis on the last day. He and his latest hire, Hue Jackson, who couldn’t win in Cleveland although somehow since he was fired the Browns are winning football games!!! I can’t imagine paying ANY money for a ticket to watch this sh*t show unfold!!! Indianapolis Colts-Found a way to beat the first place Texans 24-21 and thereby keep their play off chances alive, probably as the final wild card team. They have a real test on Sunday when the Cowboys come calling. Tennessee Titans-Demolished the reeling Jags by 30-9 with Derrick Henry finally showing the skill set that won him the Heisman Trophy at Alabama, rushing for over 200 yards and scoring four touchdowns! The Titans are fighting the Colts at 7-6 for that final wildcard playoff spot in the AFC. Cleveland Browns-How about them Brownies now under interim coach Gregg Williams have won three of their last four games to improve to 5-7-1 and still have a mathematical shot at making the playoffs, which just over a month ago when Hue Jackson was at the helm we were wondering if the Browns would ever win a single game!!! Remarkable what a difference a coach can make, and Baker Mayfield IS the real deal. He REALLY is a franchise QB, which is something the Browns have lacked since Dr. Frank Ryan guided them under center to win the NFL championship over FIFTY years ago!!!! |
About Mike ColeBorn in Hamilton, OH but a proud Kentuckian since age two. One brother and three sisters. Suburban, Catholic middle-class upbringing. Attended Jefferson Community College and Pasadena Community College. Proud father of four and grandfather to seven, and most of all, a concerned American citizen! Are you??? Categories |