WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump won valuable leverage in the fight over young immigrants on Monday following the Democrats' caving to the White House in agreeing to end the shutdown. The issue goes way beyond Democrats agreeing to vote to reopen the government. They have also offered to spend billions to build Trump's signature wall along… … [Read more...] about With deal on ending shutdown, Trump wins immigration leverage
Dysfunction, Schizophrenia and Half-Truths “Unpresidented” In Trump’s Washington
Washington is not only profoundly broken but a sea of shameless dysfunction. Okay, so that's been the case for years if not generations. But now it's on steroids. The recent “near deal-no deal” by the commander-in-chief, coupled with Republican leaders desire to throw out anything to blame on Democrats and see what sticks is more heinous than ever before. Add that to … [Read more...] about Dysfunction, Schizophrenia and Half-Truths “Unpresidented” In Trump’s Washington
‘Loose Lips Pence’: His Whining and Ignorant Behavior with Our Troops in Middle East (UPDATED)
Where do we start re Pence acting like an old woman scolding about politics and who is the baddie in his eyes and who is the goody re govt shutdown-- WHEN ADDRESSING DEPLOYED young military people whose very lives are on the line RIGHT NOW in the Middle East, in DANGER in the air and on the ground EVERY day. Unlike Pence's cushy life in more ways than one, including his … [Read more...] about ‘Loose Lips Pence’: His Whining and Ignorant Behavior with Our Troops in Middle East (UPDATED)
Donald Trump’s First-Year Presidential Report Card
It's time to present Donald Trump's first-year presidential report card, and it isn't exactly what Democrats and Republicans want. To evaluate Trump's first year in the Oval Office, let's start with those gloom-and-doom predictions that members of the political Left made when President Trump was elected. Those predictions were as accurate as the federal government's 10/19/17 … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s First-Year Presidential Report Card
Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad: An Analysis Of The Russia Scandal Timeline
Believe it or not, there still are people in addition to the president of the United States who claim to not believe Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. And there are a larger number of people who claim to still not believe that the Trump campaign -- and possibly Donald Trump himself -- colluded with Vladimir Putin in his successful scheme to cybersabotage … [Read more...] about Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad: An Analysis Of The Russia Scandal Timeline
Remembering that government can work
[facebook] TROY, Mich. -- Episodes of congressional disarray feed an ideologically loaded narrative that government is hopelessly incompetent and can never be counted on to do much that is useful. Even if President Trump and the Republicans ultimately come to bear the burden for Washington's disarray, episodes of this sort bolster the standard conservative view of … [Read more...] about Remembering that government can work
Trump Is Driving Young Voters Out Of The Republican Party
While the Republicans in DC have come around and are less willing to criticize Donald Trump in public these days, officials running the Republican Party itself are fuming over the fact that the President is destroying the longevity of their party by driving away young voters. While their youth outreach has been successful, the RNC admits… … [Read more...] about Trump Is Driving Young Voters Out Of The Republican Party
What on Earth does President Trump want?
WASHINGTON -- As the federal government hurtled toward a shutdown this last week, lawmakers played a now-familiar parlor game: What on Earth does President Trump want? On Wednesday, the White House issued an official statement saying it supported a 30-day spending bill to avert a shutdown that included a six-year extension of the popular Children's Health Insurance Program, … [Read more...] about What on Earth does President Trump want?
Spanky (Cartoon and Column)
I may have mentioned this issue on my last blog. Do you recall anything about “spanking?” Just in case I didn’t, let’s touch on it again. Ew, wrong choice of words. You may have heard the accusation that Trump had an affair with a porn star named Stormy Daniels after he married Melania and his fifth child, Barron, was only four months old in 2006. Along with this accusation … [Read more...] about Spanky (Cartoon and Column)
Great Music Chapter 5
This chapter of great music will focus on an American composer, George Gershwin. Many consider Gershwin to be the greatest of American composers, although Aaron Copland, Edward MacDowell and Scott Joplin would also get many votes. George was born in 1898, two years after his musician brother, Ira Gershwin. The Gershwin family moved to Brooklyn, New York in the early 1890’s … [Read more...] about Great Music Chapter 5
Thai police arrest ‘kingpin’ in Asian wildlife trafficking
Thai police have arrested an alleged kingpin in Asia's illegal trade in endangered species, dealing a blow to family-run syndicate that smuggles elephant ivory, rhino horn and tiger parts to Chinese and Vietnamese dealers. Boonchai Bach, 40, a Vietnamese national with Thai citizenship, was arrested on Friday evening over the smuggling of 14 rhino horns worth… … [Read more...] about Thai police arrest ‘kingpin’ in Asian wildlife trafficking
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump’s Tax Cut
OF RELATED INTEREST: --What Trump’s Tax Cut Really Means for the US Economy --The Trump Tax Plan Has Failed the Average American Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His favorite expression “WHAT A HOOT” certainly sums up his outlook on his life and work … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump’s Tax Cut
Hundreds of Israeli rabbis say they will personally hide African asylum-seekers in their homes
Hundreds of Israeli rabbis, including the sister of comedian Sarah Silverman, announced a bold initiative this week: They say they will personally hide African asylum-seekers in their homes, to protect them from a new Israeli immigration policy. Tens of thousands of African asylum-seekers, largely from Sudan and Eritrea, live in Israel. The government has announced the… … [Read more...] about Hundreds of Israeli rabbis say they will personally hide African asylum-seekers in their homes
One Year In, Trump Remains His Own Worst Enemy (Guest Voice)
y John L. Micek When it came to a recent column about President Donald Trump's preference for "executive time" that includes a healthy dose of cable news viewing and unhinged Tweeting, the reader wasn't in the mood to hold back. "This article was just a pack of lies," wrote a reader of the Mansfield News Journal in Mansfield, Ohio, where my column occasionally runs. … [Read more...] about One Year In, Trump Remains His Own Worst Enemy (Guest Voice)
Border Patrol Agents Sabotaging Water Bottles in Desert Should be Held Accountable for Deaths of Migrants (Guest Voice)
By Miriam Raftery (San Diego’s East County) – A new report by humanitarian organizations reveals that Border Patrol agents have been systemically destroying water bottles left in desert areas for undocumented immigrants in the Arizona desert, condemning people to die of thirst. While its unknown if this is occurring in California, this article in Britain’s The Guardian … [Read more...] about Border Patrol Agents Sabotaging Water Bottles in Desert Should be Held Accountable for Deaths of Migrants (Guest Voice)
How Will the Trump Shutdown Affect the Military? (UPDATES)
(Final) UPDATE (on the AFN issue): Dana W. White, chief spokesperson for the DoD has issued a statement: Despite the government shutdown, DoD determined the operational necessity of television and radio broadcasts constitutes them as essential activities…We will continue to find solutions to support our troops at home and abroad. Congress must come to a resolution, … [Read more...] about How Will the Trump Shutdown Affect the Military? (UPDATES)
Social media is making you miserable. Here’s how to delete your accounts.
So long, and thanks for all the Likes. Ditch your social apps—for good. Rahul Chakraborty via Unsplash In theory, social media promises to connect you with the world. In practice, it compromises your personal privacy, puts you at risk of online abuse, and makes you unsatisfied and unhappy with your real life. If you're irritated by… … [Read more...] about Social media is making you miserable. Here’s how to delete your accounts.
Shutdown under a unified government? Blame Trump
By Jennifer Victor, Associate Professor of Political Science, George Mason University. Trump on Jan. 19, 2018 AP Photo/Evan Vucci Government shutdowns are rare. This one is unique because the U.S. has never before experienced a shutdown under a unified government, a time when the White House and Congress are controlled by the same party. The policy… … [Read more...] about Shutdown under a unified government? Blame Trump
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: No deal=Trump shutdown? (UPDATE 4)
On the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, the government has shut down in what has not seen since the days of Jimmy Carter: a government shut down coming when one party holdsd both the White House and both houses of Congress. The spin will now be that the Democrats shut down the government, but it's going to be a hard sell when polls show that most … [Read more...] about GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: No deal=Trump shutdown? (UPDATE 4)
Poll: Americans more likely to blame Trump, Republicans if government shuts down
Forget what Fox & Friends, Sean Hannity and Trump supporters on Twitter are saying. Will the public blame the Democrats if there is a government shut down? A new poll says no. And the margin is padded by independent voters and women -- even Republican women: A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds substantially greater Republican risk in a government shutdown, with … [Read more...] about Poll: Americans more likely to blame Trump, Republicans if government shuts down