Josh Marshall spells out an important underlying theme in Donald Trump's scandal plagued administration on Talking Points Memo. One issue I’ve touched on here and there in my posts on the Russia probe is my abiding sense that especially the younger generation of Trumpers: Kushner, Don Jr., et al. just don’t seem to grasp the magnitude of the trouble they’re in, or at least … [Read more...] about Trump, etal, Don’t Get the Trouble They Are In
Trump Is Dangerous Crazy & America Takes Him For Granted At Its Own Jeopardy
Let me make a statement that on its face seems farfetched but on closer inspection is the godawful truth: Donald Trump remains secure as president because Republicans have normalized his craziness in their own minds and would like you and I to do the same although the assault on American democracy by he and his family is beyond the pale. The question of whether Trump is … [Read more...] about Trump Is Dangerous Crazy & America Takes Him For Granted At Its Own Jeopardy
Mike Lofgren on False Equivalence
Mike Lofgren, former GOP Congressional staffer turned gadfly, offers an interesting and provocative take on false equivalence on BillMoyers.com. It has been six years since I last saw Capitol Hill and the Republican Party in the rearview mirror. Ever since, I have been relentlessly critical of the GOP because, as nearly as I could determine, it is contemptuous of anyone who … [Read more...] about Mike Lofgren on False Equivalence
Is The White House Sacrificing Donald Trump Jr.?
Donald Trump was riding high off his second trip abroad since assuming the Oval Office—that is, until another bombshell report concerning Russia’s possible influence in the 2016 election took over the news cycle before he even returned. The president was reportedly "frustrated" about stories published last week on a meeting during the campaign between Donald Trump… … [Read more...] about Is The White House Sacrificing Donald Trump Jr.?
Fear of a Black Flag: The Islamic State’s Propaganda and Future
Every country has its own propaganda stuff: its currency, passports, internet sites, and media to communicate its ideology. The Islamic State (IS or ISIS) is sort of a state: they think they are a “Caliphate” (which is slightly different), they control territory and like all states enforce their administration with a monopoly of violence within their borders. Analysts and … [Read more...] about Fear of a Black Flag: The Islamic State’s Propaganda and Future
Chinese fans of India’s Bollywood stars spotlight peace despite growing military tensions
Chinese and Indian soldiers are staring one another down across the barrels of missile launchers, mortars and high velocity guns in the frozen wastes of the western Himalayas and leech-infested rain forests of the eastern Himalayas. Currently, the Indian, American and Japanese navies, including submarines and aircraft and helicopter carriers, are also conducting exercises … [Read more...] about Chinese fans of India’s Bollywood stars spotlight peace despite growing military tensions
NYT Times has Trump Jr email: Smoking gun or collusion proof?
The New York Times has now published what The Huffington Post calls "the smoking gun," and some on Twitter suggest is virtual proof that the Trump campaign was involved with overt collusion with the Russian government to tilt the election in favor of Donald Trump and to defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Trump Jr.'s response to the email he got explaining what they had: … [Read more...] about NYT Times has Trump Jr email: Smoking gun or collusion proof?
Military Weekend: ‘Service Dogs Get Paws-On Training’ (Updates)
Update II: One of my “faults,” at least according to my wife, is pointing out a person and excitedly explaining how much that person looks like another person we know. Most of the time, again according to my beloved wife, I am dead wrong – no similarity whatsoever. So, here I go out on a limb again – this time with dogs. As our readers at TMV know, a loyal and dear … [Read more...] about Military Weekend: ‘Service Dogs Get Paws-On Training’ (Updates)
NY Times: Donald Trump Jr. Got Email From Russian Lawyer Telling Him of Russian Plot To Aid Trump Campaign
Embed from Getty Images Yet another journalistic bombshell from the New York Times: the paper reports that Donald Trump, Jr. was informed in advance of his meeting with a Russian lawyer that she had negative info about Hillary Clinton -- and that the info came from the Russian government. Before arranging a meeting with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer he believed … [Read more...] about NY Times: Donald Trump Jr. Got Email From Russian Lawyer Telling Him of Russian Plot To Aid Trump Campaign
Majority of Republicans Say Colleges Are Bad For the US
The United States of America were much less divided just two years ago, when the majority of citizens largely agreed on some fundamental beliefs across party lines: of those, that higher education leads to a better nation. But in 2017, where it seems even nonpartisan issues and institutions have become boxed into sets of beliefs based… … [Read more...] about Majority of Republicans Say Colleges Are Bad For the US
Cartoon: “Pro-life” Republican Party
Copyright 2017 David Donar. All rights reserved.Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Cartoon: “Pro-life” Republican Party
Facebook’s nicest defender of climate science
Facebook's nicest defender of climate science Scott Gruhn's Facebook ‘nice guy' approach: Informing and convincing someone can't involve insulting them. Our nation's current state of polarization is perhaps most vividly displayed in the hallways of social media, where commenters on all sides exchange derogatory remarks with an astonishing lack of inhibition. This is clearly … [Read more...] about Facebook’s nicest defender of climate science
Needed in Politics: Our Better Angels
In a commentary about the current state of the Democratic Party, Fox New politics editor Chris Stirewalt writes, “Democrats have come in for a great deal of mockery over a silly promotion in which supporters were asked to vote on their preferred slogans for campaign stickers. One of the options was, “I mean, have you seen the other guys?” This is some undeniably weak sauce … [Read more...] about Needed in Politics: Our Better Angels
Cartoon: Trump-Putin Spaghetti Kiss
The Hamburg Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo, Don Jr.’s Boo-Boo & Other Russia Scandal Tales
For something that doesn't even exist in the view of one primary protagonist and is a "witch hunt" in the eyes of the other, the Russia Scandal is generating a tremendous amount of heat and the flicker of flames at the feet of President Trump's eldest son in what may become a conflagration. As non-stories go, the scandal is a lulu. It has resulted in a special … [Read more...] about The Hamburg Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo, Don Jr.’s Boo-Boo & Other Russia Scandal Tales
A Fluff Piece: Seven Days in Paradise
A "fluff piece" is a story or report which is unimportant, inconsequential, meant to be lighthearted, unassuming, perhaps even cute or entertaining, or something like that. – Partly plagiarized from Google We all need to let our hair, and guard, down occasionally and just say or write what comes to mind, within reason. Let it flow, the critics and the grammarians be … [Read more...] about A Fluff Piece: Seven Days in Paradise
New York Daily News cover on Donald Trump, Jr meeting Russian lawyer report
The New York Daily News today features this cover on the breaking news that Donald Trump, Jr. met with a Russian lawyer in June to get "dirt" on the Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton: … [Read more...] about New York Daily News cover on Donald Trump, Jr meeting Russian lawyer report
NY Times: Trump’s Son Met With Russian Lawyer After Being Promised Damaging Information on Clinton
The New York Times has published another bombshell that is raising the issue of collusion and causing a member of President Donald Trump's inner circle to issue changing explanations. This time it involves Donald Trump, Jr. President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., was promised damaging information about Hillary Clinton before agreeing to meet with a … [Read more...] about NY Times: Trump’s Son Met With Russian Lawyer After Being Promised Damaging Information on Clinton
UN doubtful on Cyprus reunification: possible permanent partition looms (Revised)
The angry collapse of UN-sponsored talks to reunify the Greek and Turkish parts of Cyprus after over four decades may lead to the first permanent partition inside the European Union. Announcing Friday's breakdown, Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general made these remarks: Secretary-General: I am deeply sorry to inform you that, despite the very strong commitment … [Read more...] about UN doubtful on Cyprus reunification: possible permanent partition looms (Revised)
New level of political insanity: Choose Dr. based on partisan views
Recently a man from Michigan placed a simple post on Facebook: “My doctor wants Elizabeth Warren to be president of the United States.” In response, his post generated hundreds of comments from Facebook users who expressed revulsion that the physician favored Warren, a liberal Democrat from Massachusetts. Nearly all of the commentators advised that the man quickly find a … [Read more...] about New level of political insanity: Choose Dr. based on partisan views