It's Somebody Elses Fault, Right?

       Have you noticed how President Trump has waged war against the news media? Of course you must have. And of course that's been his MOA as long as he's been a political figure. Anyone who finds fault with him has been given the one, two, three punch. But especially the media. He's labeled them the "Fake News" people. Actually the only real fake news is FOX, aka Faux news.
       Why do you suppose he does that? Because he can get away with it. But its the media that is charged with the responsibility of keeping government and politicians honest. Unfortunately they don't do such a good job of it, but it is their job. Even FOX News. It's not a witch hunt to investigate any politician if there's the slightest hint of impropriety. And with Trump, there's far more than a slight hint. He may be as pure as the driven snow, but...
       Look at all the Congressional investigations against Hillary. Republicans tried and tried, to no avail. But they still investigated her all the more. She certainly didn't get out of trouble because of her sparkling personality. Now it's Trump and his family's turn.
       You can't run for office simply to grow the family business although that seems to have been his primary goal. You can't run for office without at least having some slight interest in what the job entails and wanting to learn how to do it. But Mr. Trump seems to have done exactly that. He seemed to have labored under the illusion that if elected he could run our government like he ran his business empire, all by himself.
       The very rich love him because the promise of far greater wealth, for them, is overpowering to them. They care not for the commoners, only for their own greed. The motto for them is "Let em eat cake." It's a sad commentary for a class of people who could be of great help to the down-trodden.

He Comes From On High.

       Ya know, we shouldn't be concerned about Jared Kushner being involved with Russia. After all, even President Trump has called him a "good person." On the other hand it's been shown that sixty nine point nine percent, that's 69.9% of everything Trump says is factually untrue. But getting back to Kushner, his business is real estate. He's in rentals big time. He's what's commonly known as a "slum lord" and everything distasteful about that connotation.
       So why should we worry about Jared? After all, he may well be the smartest guy in the White House these days. On the other hand, being smart doesn't automatically mean trustworthy. On the one hand, if he is and or was trying to open back street communications with Russia, it may just have been an attempt to buy up some sub-standard housing units in Moscow.
       And by the way, what is meant be the term slum lord? That's the kind of land lord who never fixes problems with his housing units but always goes after tenants for every dime they have whether they owe him or not. And of course if you're rich enough, you can afford pricey lawyers to sue on your behalf. The tenants don't have those kinds of lawyers. It's a rich man's perk.
       So you can ask anyone connected with Trump's White House and they'll tell you Jared is a good person. They'd better, if they know what's good for them. After all, he knows more about each and everyone's jobs and the potential for their individual firings if that's in the wind, then any of those White House hanger's on. I hope this helps you understand how important to our Security, business interests, healthcare, education,  defense, intelligence, and general well being, Jared truly is.

Nits & Lice.

       Well, President Pushy seems to be doing well on his maiden foreign trip. Ahh all except with our most secure friends and partners. That's where the new nick name comes in. First he told them all in NATO they were ,in effect, cheating us. Then when he realized there was a photo op and he wasn't in the front row, he pushed aside the head of Montenegro to get out front. It wasn't quite a body slam, but you could see he had no qualms about pushing aside anyone who happened to be in his way when it came to his, not so smiling faced and a camera.
       So now instead of "The Donald", you can call him "The Pushiest president ever." President Pushy Trump. Kinda has a ring to it, doesn't it. It's like that just elected Idaho Congressman Gianforte who did body slam a reporter. I guess he'll be called "Slammer" from now on, or should be. He was supported by Trump and is a big supporter of Trump. Birds of a feather, don't cha know.
       So what else is new? Trump's meeting with the Pope was mercifully short. That was a good thing. All in all, so far, he's batting pretty good, but as John Boehner, former Speaker of the House, said he's a disaster. He's still learning. And another former advisor to Trump in his primary campaign, this one with ties to organized crime is being looked into again. I'll say this for Trump. He knows how to get things done. One way or another.
       And while I don't think they mean much. even Faux News polls show Trump at his lowest approval ratings ever at 40%. And that's FOX. Imagine what the others see him at. If he doesn't turn things around, he'll be in minus territory by election time.

Trickle A Trillion.

       When is a tax cut not a tax cut? If the President's proposed budget were to be enacted, it would mean an increase of as much as $10.8 trillion dollars to the deficit. but it's the tax cuts I'm curios about. The overwhelming amount of those cuts would go to the wealthy. But that's not what I'm talking about. after all that's the way tax cuts work anyway.
       But for the poor, the paltry tax cuts they would receive pale in comparison to the losses they would feel by the cuts to such things a food stamps, Medicaid, temporary assistance for needy families and a host of other programs.  Hundreds of billions slashed from Medicaid and more from the social welfare programs, but about $5.5 Trillion in tax cuts for the rich?
       How do you get 5.5 trillion from 600 + billion? Phony math. Actually, it's no deep dark secret. You just add it onto our national debt. After all, as the story goes, we all die anyway. The way the politicians seem to see it is if we're all gonna die anyway, lets enjoy ourselves to the hilt before we do. Now that's okay for the rich and politically connected, but what about the majority.
       The majority of Americans aren't rich or connected. We're just slogging along hoping to make ends meet. And then when the Politicians play reverse Robin Hood with what little we do have, well let's just say we don't get to join in the enjoyment. Now I don't mean to suggest the Politicians don't throw us a bone. After all they promise that by giving to the rich that somehow that wealth will somehow trickle down to us. They've been promising that for forty years. We're still waiting.

Budgets And Stuff.

       President Trump is about to present his vision of a budget. It includes 2.6 billion for border security including starting the wall. It also includes 800 billion to be taken from Medicaid. So, 800 minus 2.6 equals minus 797.4 billion from Medicaid. Where do you suppose that nearly 800 billion will go. Here's a hint. He's also proposing huge tax cuts for the wealthy. You don't suppose those two are related, do you?
       He's also proposing a huge increase for the military. Just what does the military need? I've been thinking about that for a while now. So let's see. He talked about cutting the budget for the Coast Guard. But the Coast Guard has a very large responsibility for our safety. If anything it probably needs an increase. What about the Army? I think they need to cut the size of the standing army and convert it to the ready reserve. Then increase the size of it's Special Forces and rapid response sections.
       Then there's the Navy. We already have the largest Navy in the world. Russia has one rather poor carrier. China is building some carriers, but they can hardly go up against any of ours. But I'm sure not an authority on the needs of the Navy. How about the Marines? Well, I think they need to be enlarged to provide a hard hitting presence wherever needed, giving the necessary time to bring up the Army Reserves if and where necessary.
       That leaves the Airforce. Again I'm not sure of the needs the Airforce has other then it's nuclear responsibilities. I understand our Nuclear arsenal needs modernization. That'll be expensive. It's likely that extra funding may be necessary for the Military. I'm not convinced it must be huge.
       My biggest question is why do the least able to pay for increases always seem to be to folks who must pay while the most comfortable reap the advantages of the those doing the painful paying? Wouldn't it be something if someday the rich were billed for increases to the military or to build a useless wall and to give aid to a few more poor and struggling? Huh, pipe dreams.

What's Next For The Veep?

       Why is it, do you suppose, that vice President Mike Pence continues to be so loyal to a man he must know is unbalanced? No matter how foolish Trump acts, no matter how close he comes to actually breaking laws that could well see the end of his presidency, no matter how many of his most trusted associates he slaughters, Mike Pence still follows his lead like a loving puppy dog.
       Is Mr. Pence in hopes that he will soon take the step up to the Oval Office? How much does he believe of what Trump says or does? Do you suppose Pence is just acting like a yes man willing to say or do whatever Trump expects him to do or say? Of course he's the one hanger-on at the White House that President Trump can't fire.
       So if Trump can't fire him, what does he have to fear but fear itself. Do you suppose he agrees with the way Trump is handling his leadership role? Does Pence think it's okay to act like the buffoon he is? What's inside the head of this man who could very conceivably become the next president, prematurely? Is he a plotter? A believer in Trump? Trump seems to know that his Veep is willing to follow his directions to the letter no matter he may change direction at any moment.
       It's past time for us to get some answers about the workings of this mans mind, because he could sooner or later become our next commander in chief. Will he try to follow Trumps lead? Soften the cruel impact of Trump's proposed legislation ? Harden it? Or will he run the train off the tracks like his boss seems to be trying to do? He was a hardliner as a Governor.

OMG

       I just heard this morning that Putin has made a statement that he would provide the proof of the meeting between Trump and the Russian Ambassador. Well, of course he could. The Russians were the only news media present in the room except for Trump and the two Russians. But what does it say that the Russian president is ready to stand up for the United States president?
       Now add that to the Firing of Comey after asking him to stop investigating one of his favored staff which he later had to fire anyway. And why did he have to fire Comey? Because of the nasty way he treated Hillary. Really?
       Now the president has the right to declassify any information he chooses. And he has the right to share any information he wishes with anyone he wishes. But to Russia? The thing is this information came from an ally as highly classified. Didn't he have the responsibility to clear it with that ally before sharing it with the Russians? Obviously Trump didn't think so.
       Then consider Jeff Sessions taking part in selecting the next FBI head. Jeff Sessions, who was caught lying to Congress about having any communications with Russia, who had to recuse himself from having any part in the FBI investigations into the Russia/Trump campaign. Now he's taking part in the selection process to choose the person who will lead that same investigation.
       Does any of this seem to have a bad odor to you? Are you concerned that any of this is costing us any of our freedoms or rights, or do you think this is a proper way to run a government? It's not as though they're setting up any death camps, but it does seem to me that no matter what, the leadership of Congress seems willing to go along to get along. Except that they can't accomplish anything because the president won't allow anything to happen except the next fiasco.

Another Example Of A Boob.

       One of my all time favorite politicians and current Senator, Ted Cruz of Texas, got the opportunity to question former acting Attorney General Sally Yates about her refusal to defend President Trump's first travel ban yesterday. As a lawyer, of which I believe he is overly proud, he read a portion of a US code allowing the President to withhold entry visas of any group of foreigners who might pose a danger to our society.
       He asked if she was aware of that provision with his usual superior attitude. But she, also a lawyer, of course, was ready for him. She responded that she was, in fact, aware of that code, but that she was also aware of another code which states that the President may not bar entry to America because of race, nationality or place of birth. This is exactly the point used to defeat that ban in the courts.
       Senator Cruz seemed to be taken aback by that (as Joe Scarborough on Morning Joe called it)  that home run. Once again Senator Cruz wound up with egg on his face looking like the fool he really is. It's hard to imagine why Texans continue to elect such buffoons. My guess is they have no real respect for our government. I have to admit, there are times I actually agree with their position. The Republican TrumpCare bill is a case in point.
       The main thrust of the Senate hearings where Ms. Yates testified was the concerns she had about Michael Flynn and his lies and discussions with Russian spies. I'm afraid I just do not understand President Trump's continued defense of the man.

Party Time For Poluters.

       Just how well do you understand the role of the Environmental Protection Agency? If you look at the name, it pretty much tells you what it was designed to do. That is to say, it was designed to protect our environment. Now why would we want to protect our environment? You don't suppose it's because it's the only environment we have, do you?
       Okay, if the idea is to protect our environment, wouldn't you think it should be peopled by scientists, people who study the environment in order do understand what's necessary to actually protect it? Funny, because that's exactly who were on the EPA. That is until Trump and his EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt decided to start firing those scientists and replacing them with representatives of the industries being regulated by the EPA.
       It's a great idea to get rid of the watchdogs if you happen to be the fox. After all, who better to protect these industries from rules that protect us from polluted water and air? The savings to these industries could be huge. And of course any time there's a lot of money involved, you can bet there's a lot of interest on the part of industries who break the rules. After all, if they don't have to spend any money to comply, that's just more money in the pockets of those who run those industries, right?
       So EPA Administrator Pruitt is considering replacing those scientists with those representatives of the polluting industries. The reason given is so they can have input into the costs of complying with tough rules. But didn't they have the right to have input before? They did. The question now is will the scientists have the right to input from now on?

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

       The house of Representatives has passed a health plan bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, The Good. The Democrats are secretly elated because they think it means they will win the mid-term elections, The Bad. The new health plan bill has been read by almost nobody, and the really scary part is that nobody knows how much it might cost America, The Ugly.
       The one point that has been made abundantly clear about this bill is that there will be a huge tax savings for the 0.1% of Americans that least need it. Of course the bill means nothing since it must now go to a Senate that will not pass it into law as it now stands. That's how our government was meant to work.
The problem isn't that our government is working as designed, the problem is that the two branches of the legislature don't have the slightest idea of how to communicate with each other. Heck, they don't even know how to communicate with their own people, never mind any other branch of government.
       Why is it that no Democrats will honestly work with any Republicans to develop a healthcare plan that will work for all Americans? Why will no Republicans allow any Democrats to have input into any plan they devise? Why are both parties celebrating what is not an accomplishment at all?
       The answer to all of the above questions is that there is nobody in Congress who is grown up enough to represent we the people. Yet we continue to elect these mental midgets. Might the real problem within this country be the fact that we don't deserve any better? At least not until we stop and think about our actions at the polls.

Don't Forget The V.A.

       I need to state some important points about the V.A. First, I hope that all Americans understand that the VA system serves only veterans who, whether peacetime or in combat, are done with war. They will never fight again. These men and women with broken bodies and minds and spirits were promised care for their medical needs by the American people and the Congress. Sometimes the VA gets bad press.
       Let me tell you it is nearly always unfairly levied press. Funding for the VA comes from Congress. When we went to several wars art once, we guaranteed many hundreds of thousands more injured, but funding for the VA actually shrank. I ask you, how can the VA properly serve so many more veterans with less money?
       My experience shows me that while the professionals who work for the VA make substantially less than they could in the private sector, they never the less  preform greatly. I have never failed to receive a thank you for my service from some worker or specialist. For these people this is a solemn mission they provide for fallen soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen and women.
       It's past time to demand that Congress live up to the promises made.

The Great American Shame.

       In the time I spent in the hospital over the last three weeks, both in and out of consciousness, there are two subjects that come strongly to my mind. First and perhaps foremost is our Congress. Our great country stands on the threshold of solving many. if not most. of our problems in America. It will not and cannot happen.
       Every member of Congress, in both the House and Senate have completely forgotten the single most important promise they made. They each swore allegiance to the United States of America and the people of this country. That's the only allegiance they took an oath on that matters. Unfortunately all those members have sworn another oath to another entity. Their allegiance has been given to the political parties they have chosen to align with. It seems to me that such allegiances to political parties flies in the face of the demand by our constitution to give their oaths only to America.
       If we have problems in our country, the fault falls squarely in the laps of the two major political parties as well as the several smaller parties vying for attention. I fear no good will come of these special allegiances. And Our country will slip further down a path to irrelevance.