Trump

Day 903 Friday June 28, 2019

493 Days until the 2020 election and 571 days until the Inauguration

Megan Rapino visits the White House (a dream).

I have a dream.

I dream that Megan Rapino, co-captain of the Women’s USA Soccer Team visits the White House, along with the rest of her teammates. I dream that when the official photo is to be taken the women gather around the president. That they place their hands on his body and that they rub up against him, and as the photographer gets ready to take the official photo Megan whispers to the president, “You know, you’re not my type.” As she does this she grabs his crotch and squeezes and twists. Simultaneously, two other players give the Donald’s nipples twisties. (That’s where you grab the nipple pinch as hard as you can and twist.) At the same time several other players grab his underwear and hank up on it giving him a super wedgie as other players grab his belt and rip downwards – depantsing him.

Imagine the live action stop photos!

Donald smiling,

Donald making that O-face of pain,

Donald bending over,

Donald being pulled up as the wedgie lifts him back up and his head tilts back in surprise,

Donald standing in his tidy whites and pants around his knees.

I think the women should then yank his pants back up so he’d be standing there with his shirt half way out, his tie disheveled and hair askew.

Megan could say something to him like, “Hey, welcome to the team. You’ve been initiated. Great job!”

Or maybe, “I always thought you were a fucking pussy.”

Okay. That’s my dream.

And I dream that some day, every group that comes to the White House will show the president the respect he deserves by acting in a similar fashion.

Now on to the Democratic Debate. Wow. What a difference to the Republican Debates of 2016. Here candidates addressed issues people were interested in, problems we face, and potential solutions. The first night the attack ads began. There was one of those “What’s he hiding?” scary ads in gray, black and white with yellow overtones. But the best part of the debates were that the candidates on the stage were talking about problems we face as a nation, as a people, as the world and how to deal with them.

My favorite part was when Elizabeth Warren was asked if she had a plan to deal with Mitch McConnell if he was still head of the Senate in 2020.

“Yes.” She stopped there for five seconds or so. I wish she had just stopped. Or waited until the moderators asked her what it was, but still it was great.

Some of the candidates were one note. Some were spouting pat high level answers. Some had really thought about how to solve the problem they were talking about. 

I kept thinking about how that compared to the Republican debate when the Fox folks asked the candidates what women they would want to see on a U.S. $20 bill. Some said their wife, or their mother. One said Margaret Thatcher. Wow, how friggin’ stupid. (No living person can be on U.S. currency, nor can a foreign individual be on our currency. Oh well, those are just rules. We don’t need no stinkin’ rules.)*

*Just to spell it out for those who might not follow the logic here. Because Margaret Thatcher is British she could not be pictured on our currency. If a person’s wife or mother is alive they could no be pictured on our currency. So maybe the only possibility would be someone’s mother who died. Great thinking there you all.

Universal health care, protecting our children from gun violence, naming the biggest threat to national security – these were the topics and issues being discussed by the Democratic candidates for President. 

I don’t know about you, but somehow this seemed more germane to what we need to be discussing as a nation than whose mother should be on a twenty dollar bill.

Have a nice day!

Remember – Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Thank-you, the management.

 493 Days until the 2020 election and 571 days until the Inauguration

PS Rocket Man

This is known as the El Baúl Ballgame Stella. There is a copy of it on the outside side wall at the National Archaeology Museum in Guatemala City, which typically you see as you are leaving the museum. To see the original you have to go to southern Guatemala where you pull up to a twenty foot high gate with an armed guard. You pass by a several rusting large building that are the remains of a sugar cane processing plant. Under a series of open roofed areas there are many sculptures. Some have thorny branches on top of them. Along one of these open corridors is this stella. No one knows much about it’s meaning or origin that I know of. However, this has not stopped the speculation that this is evidence of ancient aliens coming to visit us. I was told that most of these sculptures were discovered when plowing the area for sugar cane fields. Also, in this area of Guatemala are large rounded rocks with faces carved in them. 

After speculating as to the meaning of the thorny sticks atop some of the sculpted heads (religious or spiritual interpretation perhaps?) we asked.

The answer? “Naw, we just put the thorny branches up there to keep the birds off of them.” So much for deep spirituality. I wish we could ask someone about the helmeted rocket man.

Day 901 Wednesday June 26, 2019

495 Days until the 2020 election and 573 days until the Inauguration

Of Solar Cells and Swimming Holes

Before my trip to Indonesia I bought a small square white light at REI. It could be charged off the solar cell on its back or via a USB connection. I wanted it to be able to take pictures in dark places and to position the light at an angle to generate shadows to highlight what I was photographing. This technique is called raking and hence I would use it as a raking light. Before leaving I charged it up, turned it on briefly, saw the white light and turned it off. Fortunately, I never needed it, because it didn’t work correctly. 

When I got back and turned on the light it went into what the directions described as “Party Mode.” Party mode runs through four different colored lights in sequence: white, orange, blue, and green. Then the light shut off. The directions said you got to party mode by pressing the on/off switch four times quickly in succession. Regular mode, ie the white light, press once. Flashing press twice. Something else press three times. It didn’t matter what I did it went to “Party Mode” ran through the four lights and shut off. 

I took it back to REI. The clerk suggested that I get another off the rack. Seemed like a good idea. The blister pack had a cutout around the on/off switch with a “Try It!” printed on it. Guess what? Party Mode and shut off, just like the one I bought. I tried the next one, and the next one, and all six or eight on the pegboard holder. They all did the same thing. I brought them to the clerk. Hum. What to do? He called the floor guy, who came over and pressed my unit multiple times, confirmed that it only went to party mode and took the others and put them back on the rack. He suggested another light. One that used three triple A batteries.

But wait! What about the lights that don’t work as advertised? 

Why put them back on the rack? Do you think there are folks out there that want a light that only goes into Party Mode for one cycle and then shuts off?

What happened to individual responsibility? I would have thought the clerk or the floor guy, or both together would have discussed this as a problem and sent it up the line. I mean there must be a lot of these lights throughout the stores nationwide. Wouldn’t it make sense to pull them all, not let your members be stuck with them and have to take them back to the store? 

It made me think of “The Great Generation” as the WWII folks are called. Or “Greatest”, okay? Why? They saw a threat, recognized it and dealt with it. Then when they got home the government passed the GI Bill so they could get a good education. ( I wonder was anyone screaming “socialism” about that government funding? ) There are tons of stories about those people, my parents’ generation, solving problems, pitching in, helping one another.

A few years ago I went back to Great Pond. The place where I learned to swim. Where I spent many hours. There were picnic table and stone fireplaces under the trees away from the beach sand. I remember having picnics there and grilling hotdogs and hamburgers. Dad would sit by the coals with a marshmallow on a stick slowly turning it until it was a huge golden tan. There was a float with a diving board on it. That float held 55 gallon drums and had a ladder that you climbed up. There was also a rock in the shallow water. It had a wooden platform on top of it and a lovely rock ledge step so that any kid could climb up onto it. I spent many an hour on that little wooden platform.

When I went back all that was gone. The big float was replaced with a low level float with no diving board. The rock? It was gone. No platform. There was a strip of snow fencing down the middle of the beach. To keep the Canadian Geese away. No one else was there. Apparently, everyone now has there own swimming pool. I owned a swimming pool – once. One trip to the pool store for chemicals was equivalent to a year membership in a community pool. With a community pool you didn’t have to keep it clean, worry about someone drowning in your pool, paying extra insurance, etc. etc. etc. And the great thing about a community pool is you meet your neighbors. In the old days there was a shed where aluminum patio chairs were kept. When you came to the pool you got a couple of chairs out, when you left you put them away. Now? The shed was gone.

What happened to our sense of community? To our sense of togetherness? Of helping one another?

When did we become so fearful? I don’t know what else to call it. We’ve lost our sense of helping our fellow person. We’re fearful to do anything. WTF?

Meanwhile those 350 migrant children were moved out of the facility that was reported to be unsanitary. Then they moved in 100 other kids. Soap? Toothpaste? Toothbrushes? They were all donated to the centers. The administration turned them away. They have all that stuff. Right. So why aren’t the kids getting that stuff? I haven’t heard an answer to that. Other than it’s the Dems fault because they won’t pass an appropriation bill that includes funding for the wall. 

Then there is the picture of a father and his daughter face down, dead. Both drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande. Why the illegal crossing? They were refused entrance at a regular crossing. There is chaos at our southern border. Immigration is at a 50 year high. ICE agents are frustrated and confused by Trump’s policies and lack of direction. Is this what winning looks like?

Meanwhile, our democracy is under attack. There are comparisons to 1984, the book, that was written as a warning about the rise of fascism. There are comparisons to Hitler’s rise to power, and Stalin’s. Meanwhile, the right wing fanatics are worried that Bernie is a socialist. Really? That’s what you’re worried about? We’ve got an international criminal enterprise running this country and you’re worried that someone might get free medical care? 

The best Facebook post I saw yesterday was a picture of a billboard in Kentucky. It had Mitch McConnell’s face on it. Printed in large capital letters were the words, “PUTIN’S MITCH.”

Yup. That’s where we are. Have nice day. Interesting that none of my right wing buddies have taken up the gauntlet to let me know specifically how Trump has improved their lives. Or Mitch.

495 Days until the 2020 election and 573 days until the Inauguration

PS What are you looking at?

Day 900 Tuesday June 25, 2019

496 Days until the 2020 election and 574 days until the Inauguration

Push Back Tuesday

I’ve gotten a number of different inputs from friends that are Trump right wing supporters. I think it’s time to push back against this wall of crap they keep throwing up. 

There’s the guy who sends me a long list of terrible things Hillary did, and Obama did, along with snide childish remarks. There’s the person who keeps posting headlines from right wing sites that are about anti-abortion, the need for guns, how the Dems are terrible, etc. And there’s the person who posts how president Trump is working every day tirelessly to protect us and why can’t we just leave him alone and let him do his job?

Okay, let’s review the most recent headlines and stories:

The 16^th woman has come out and accused Trump of sexual assault, in this case rape. The story is corroborated by two people she told at the time and follows a similar pattern to the other women who said Trump assaulted them.

Texts between Sean Hannity and Paul Mannafort have been revealed. Apparently, they had ongoing communication before, during, and after his trials. It is well known that Hannity enjoys an especially close relationship with the president. If this isn’t witness tampering and Obstruction of Justice then how about…

The Mueller Report, which details ten instances of Obstruction of Justice by Trump. In every instance, all the criteria for Obstruction of Justice are met. Former prosecutors have said they could make a very credible case for obstruction. In fact one even went so far as to say he could do it with his eyes closed (or something like that.)

The scientists at one agency have been told their jobs have moved to Kansas City. They have one month to move, on their dime. This would put them away from the resources they need to do their jobs. Why the move? Seems the administration doesn’t like their reporting various facts, scientific facts.

The DNI and other agencies have stated global warming is a threat to national security. What does Mike Pence think about this? Well shucks, it’s an opinion right? Well, they’ll follow the science. That’s great, do you see it as a threat? Somehow, Mike can’t say those words.

Meanwhile another scientific report on climate change has been released. Let me summarize the conclusions of the report for the people and the regions, all the regions, of the United States of America (including Hawaii, Alaska, The Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico) – we’re fucked. NE – warmer weather less snow, severe flooding; SE – big hurricanes, severe flooding, many parts permanently underwater; Midwest – dry, hot, huge crop failures, flooding, Texas and that area – tornadoes, hail, flooding, big big storms; SW – dry parched earth; NW – less snow, less fresh water, more rain; West – fires, floods.

A news report says 350 immigrant children are being housed in an adult facility meant for 155. They are forced to sleep on concrete floors, have no soap, toothpaste, or tooth brushes. Ten year olds are caring for two year olds. To get fresh air you have to stand on a toilet. The facility has recently undergone an expansion to a metal windowless shed. There are outbreaks of lice. We, the taxpayer, are being charged upwards of $750 a day for this service. The administration response? Well it’s the Dems fault because they won’t give us more money. 

Financial reports show that the Trump tax bill enriched the rich and did nothing for the economy.

The deficit has increased at a record pace. Two trillion dollars in two years – a new record.

The pro-death movement (sometimes called pro-life, but they ignore the fact that their charade of every life is sacred really kills women) is getting encouragement because of all the right wing justices Mitch McConnell has steamroller through. Mitch used to be pro-choice to first get elected then switched sides. 

Speaking of Mitch, what has he done? Blocked any legislation that would help people, and put through onerous hateful legislation that makes the middle class poorer, and less healthy.

Meanwhile Mitch’s wife has been busy helping her dad, enrich himself at the public trough, and siphoned money to Kentucky for her husband’s re-election via various highway projects. She also had a huge stake in a highway gravel company, which she didn’t divest herself of until caught.

Kelly Ann Conway is guilty of running afoul of the Hatch Act. This says you can’t do political business on the government property or their dime. I don’t know, do you think doing so in the White House or it’s driveway counts?

Trump was asked if he’d accept information from a foreign power that could help his re-election. If you haven’t seen the clip I urge you to do so, because it shows you what this guy is all about:

He’s asked would he take the information or would he call the FBI?

He says he’d do both. Well, maybe both. He’d certainly listen to what they had to say. (He left moot whether he’d call the FBI.)

Then he justified this by saying, “There’s nothing wrong with listening.” Yeah, except it’s against the law, but that’s a trifle the prez doesn’t know (?), believe (?), or care about (+++).

When it’s pointed out that it’s agains the law and his own FBI director says so, he then steels his position, “He (the FBI director) is wrong.”

So we go from facilitating, to thinking out loud to reach a conclusion, to cementing one’s position to an illegal act.

Trump has picked up the rhetoric against Iran. Since backing out of the Iran Nuclear Deal what does he have to show for his efforts? Nothing. Zero, Nadda. Iran is close to violating one of the parts of the deal. Great job Donald! Trump is threatening war. Great job Johnnie Bolton. Meanwhile the U.S. had imposed more crippling economic sanctions and it’s resulted in pissing off the Iranians. I’m sure they are ready to negotiate with Bolton and crew now! (NOT.)

Meanwhile the economic trade war with China is really hitting our farmers. They are going deeper in debt because of it. Trump has given them millions to help, but they have lost billions. (Too bad we can’t find money for soap for those immigrant kids we kidnapped. Oh well.)

The right has gone crazy over AOC’s comment that we are running concentration camps. We are. What’s the debate? Oh, right, Kevin McCarthey (the guy who wanted to be speaker of the House and made up names of countries) says Ms. Ocasio-Cortez should learn some history and then he goes on to demonstrate his lack of knowledge on the subject. Hey, guess what? AOC is right on the money and the right wing and Republicans got it totally wrong. What a surprise! (NOT)

In the weekly Prince of Whales award Mr. Trump has said they are freezing the assets of the leader of Iran and names the dead Ayatollah. Great job, Mr. president!

In other news, I saw that there is actually a re-election team for Trump. They report being “Flexible” because they really don’t know what The Donald will do next.

Oh yeah, and there’s a report out that shows that the transition team knew about the problems with many of the picks for cabinet posts and the like and the administration went ahead and picked them anyway. So much for getting the best people. And some of those people? They had come right out and said what they thought of Trump. None of it was positive. The administration took them on anyway. Yet, they were willing to work for this man anyway. I mean at least long enough to enrich themselves as much as possible.

There’s also the report that an actors were hired to attend a recent Trump rally. Maybe, we can hire actors to attend too? The signs and t-shirts I would suggest might be slightly different than those the folks who were told they would be paid $50 would say. (We haven’t gotten confirmation that these people were paid, btw. I mean if we know anything about Trump we know he stiffs people.)

There have been more shootings. What was the number this week? Three? Somehow we can’t seem to stop them.

The level of hate crimes is at record numbers.

The number of immigrants has risen sharply. So much for deterrence.

This is mainly just the news of the last few days. 

So what has Trump done for us? I mean what positive thing has he done for you or me in the last week? 

If you have anything, I’d like to hear it. 

I’ve listed what I know, and none of it is positive.

There is one positive note. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched their heavy rocket. The two side stages were recovered and it is going to deploy 24 payloads in three different orbits. To bad Trump wasn’t president when this immigrant came to our country. He might be in a cage, instead of building a rocket company, a car company, a solar company, and founding Paypal.

496 Days until the 2020 election and 574 days until the Inauguration

PS Yeah! (I have no idea.)