tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63127158590505467722024-03-12T18:17:57.885-07:00Missing Mister SmithStephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-38409366721756957522021-11-07T16:48:00.000-08:002021-11-07T16:48:29.144-08:00Donald Trump expected to run in 2024... So what?<p>Donald Trump has allegedly decided that he's not finished inflicting damage on our country, and that he intends to run for President in 2024. Personally, I doubt he'll actually run. He's dangerously obese, visibly unhealthy, and would be 78 years old were he to run again. At age 75, he already sounds unstable, and I fear for his mental health. So why is he running around beating his drum for anyone who'll listen? He's an attention whore, plain and simple. There are countless reasons why Democrats and Independents shouldn't be wringing their hands in fear at the prospect of another Trump campaign--and perhaps the most obvious one is that this man has shown himself to be a loser--many, many times over.</p><p>He lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton in 2016 by 3,000,000 votes.</p><p>He lost the popular vote to Joe Biden in 2020 by over 7,000,000 votes.</p><p>He was trounced in 2020's Electoral College count, 306 to 232.</p><p>He's a disgraced, two-time loser--having been impeached twice.</p><p>And let's not forget he's a loser in business as well. As of this moment, Trump has filed six bankruptcies in his "illustrious" Wall Street career, and it appears as though a seventh is on the horizon. In every instance he was bailed out by U.S. taxpayers.</p><p>Donald J Trump is a notorious sexist pig and serial groper, and now that he's out of office a rape case is slated to proceed against him. He's blatantly and unapologetically racist, and has no interest in matters of justice. And, given the fact he's guarded his educational records with a paranoid frenzy, it's probably safe to assume he's the stupidest man to have ever occupied the Oval office.</p><p>The multiple failures racked up by the Trump White House boggle the mind. His bungled Covid policies cost tens of thousands of lives. His failed bromance with Kim Jong-un left north Korea free and clear to develop long-range ballistic missiles. He lost the trade war he initiated with China, and failed to live up to his promise that he'd topple the Iranian regime. And, let's not forget his other failed bromance--this one with Vladimir Putin. Trump opened the door to Russian interference in our elections, and allowed Putin to run roughshod over basic human rights in Russia,. It's also likely that Putin directed the attempted assassination of Alexei Navalny. Trump never squeaked out a word of criticism, afraid to anger his mentor. The list of Trump's failures is endless.</p><p>Donald is the poster child for failure, and if he decides to run for president again, he's sure to become a three-time loser, and an international laughing stock. It would be nice, though, if we could be spared the "drama" of "will he, or won't he?" We've got better things to do with our time than to waste another minute thinking abdou that pompous, arrogant fool.</p>Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-91735994773590264012021-03-14T16:51:00.000-07:002021-03-14T16:51:07.022-07:00The Trump Pandemic<p> Ever since Joe Biden became the duly-elected 46th President of the United States, and Trump was effectively fired by the American people, we've been blessed with comparative calm. Sure, the occasional toadie (McCarthy, Graham, Scalise) ventures down to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the bloated ego, but by and large since Twitter bestowed the ultimate gift upon the nation (stripping DJT of his accounts), it's been relatively quiet... until now.</p><p>You'd think that after fomenting the January 6th attack on the Capitol, "the Donald" would be inclined to lay low. But as the country recently marked the one year anniversary of the Trump Pandemic, he's attempted to re-insert himself into the national dialogue by demanding full credit for the development of the Covid vaccines. Well, perhaps we should give him an iota of credit for the rapid pace, but it was primarily science that came through for us. And, given the history of Trump's response to the virus, it's a wonder he has the audacity to even raise the topic.</p><p>--In May of 2018, the Trump administration disbanded the White House pandemic response team. Tragically stupid.</p><p>--In January of 2020, he crowed "we have it totally under control. It's one person coming in from China." Speaking of China, he praised President Xi for his "transparency" and efforts to curb the virus.</p><p>--All along, Trump was made to understand how dangerous this virus was. He told Bob Woodward (in private) "This is deadly stuff". However, he assured the American people "this is a flu". He lied.</p><p>--He claimed that "one day, it's like a miracle, it will disappear". Delusional.</p><p>--By April of 2020, he was promoting hydroxychloroquine as "a great thing to try", contrary to all medical and scientific advice. This was followed by his off-hand suggestion that we investigate injecting the body with disinfectant/bleach, for a thorough cleaning. He also wondered about the possibility of hitting the body with "very powerful light", ultraviolet or otherwise. Insanity.</p><p>--In May, he proclaimed "this is going to go away without a vaccine", while May also saw the national death toll surpass 100,000.</p><p>--Once testing for Covid finally began to approach appropriate levels, he complained there was "too much testing" (because more and more cases were being uncovered). He took the U.S. out of the World Health Organization (in the middle of a pandemic!), and began his racist references to Coronavirus as "the China virus". </p><p>--By August 2020, he was once again proclaiming that everything was under control, and demanding that schools be reopened in the fall. September saw the national death toll pass 200,000 (and climbing).</p><p>--Trump was now solely focused on getting re-elected, Covid 19 be damned. He always scoffed at masks, as well as social distancing. When questioned if he was afraid of contracting the virus, he replied "I'm on a stage, it's very far away, so I'm not concerned at all". Apparently he had no concern for his supporters.</p><p>--In October, both Trump and the First Lady tested positive for Coronavirus. More than a dozen White House aides followed suit shortly thereafter. Ceremonies at the White House continued to serve as "super-spreaders" when all safety precautions were routinely ignored.</p><p>--On November 2nd, he falsely claimed that "Joe Biden is promising to delay the vaccine and turn America into a prison state--locking you in your homes while letting far-left rioters roam free. The Biden Lockdown will mean no school graduations, no weddings, no Thanksgiving, no Christmas or 4th of July. He'll listen to the scientists!"</p><p>Mercifully, Trump was booted out of the White House--he lost the popular vote by over 7,000,000 and suffered a landslide defeat in the Electoral College (306-232, almost the same margin as his win over Hillary Clinton, and he called it a "landslide"). At any rate, he's gone, though by the time he left D.C. the Trump pandemic had claimed over 400,000 lives. Given his complete failure at dealing with the crisis, he needs to be quiet now and let wiser heads prevail. Goodbye Donald, may the next time we see you be in court in New York!</p><p><br /></p>Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-5125080607450200422021-01-20T16:36:00.002-08:002021-01-22T03:18:10.032-08:00Joey Molland: The Underdog Takes It All<p>The classic Badfinger line-up consisted of Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins, and Joey Molland. From 1968-1975 the band recorded five albums for Apple Records, and topped the charts world-wide with "Come and Get It", "No Matter What", "Day After Day", and "Baby Blue". Harry Nilsson scored a smash hit with the Ham & Evans song "Without You" (also covered with great success by Mariah Carey almost twenty years later). During their time with Apple, Evans & Molland worked on John Lennon's "Imagine" album, and, after working on "All Things Must Pass", George Harrison brought the band to New York to play at his "Concert for Bangla Desh" concerts. Harrison worked with the band as a producer on the "Straight Up" album, along with Todd Rundgren. By 1973, however, Apple Records was in financial chaos, and the notorious American businessman Allen Klein was brought in to establish "order". Unfortunately, he showed little regard for artists, even those who'd proved to be successful, and Badfinger signed on with Warner Brothers. Badfinger released two albums for Warners in 1974, "Badfinger" and the critically acclaimed "Wish You Were Here". However, it had become evident to Joey Molland that their manager, Stan Polley, had been robbing the band blind. Apparently believing he could do the same to Warners, Polley pilfered a joint publishing account. Unfortunately, the band paid the price. "Wish You Were Here" was pulled from record stores weeks after its release. With Apple royalties tied up in escrow, the band had no income. In the months that followed, Pete Ham left the band, then returned a few weeks later. Following a short tour, Molland left the band permanently, frustrated at his inability to get the others to see Polley for what he was. By the time Ham realized the truth, it was too late. In April of 1975 he hanged himself, leaving behind a note that pointed the finger at Polley.</p><p>Following brief stints with other bands--Molland with Natural Gas, Evans with the Dodgers--the two joined forces in 1979 to revive Badfinger. They released "Airwaves" in 1979 and "Say No More" in 1981. Both albums had their high points, but disco was peaking at around the same time, and Badfinger's "power pop" was suddenly out of place. Combined with internal frictions, the band broke apart in 1982. Molland and Evans went their separate ways with each fronting their own version of "Badfinger". Neither one of them proved successful, and Evans lost his struggle with his personal demons. In November of 1983, he hanged himself.</p><p>Despite the daunting adversity, Joey Molland resolved to carry on. Supported, as always, by his wife, Kathie, he released his first solo album, "After the Pearl" in 1983. He toured extensively in an effort to establish his own identity while simultaneously keeping the memory of Badfinger alive (in 1990 he released the recording of a Badfinger concert at Cleveland's Agora theater in 1974). 1992 saw the release of "The Pilgrim", with "This Way Up" following in 2001. Though both were chock full of great tunes and were well received by critics and fans alike (particularly "This Way Up"!), neither achieved the widespread success they deserved. "Return to Memphis", released in 2011 saw Joey exploring new ground, but felt oddly incomplete. It gave no hint that a power pop masterpiece was in the making.</p><p>However, in 2020 the combined talents of Joey Molland and producer Mark Hudson released the "feel good" album/CD/digital download that had been missing from the music world for far too long. Frankly, there isn't a weak track on "Be True to Yourself", but there are <i>more</i> that a few songs that warrant special mention: "Better Tomorrow", "Rainy Day Man", "All I Want To Do", "I Don't Wanna Be Done With You", "Shine", and the title track. Not bad when you feel the need to single out more than half the tracks!</p><p>Joey Molland has endured more than his fair share of hard knocks (most recently in 2009 when, after 37 years of marriage, Kathie passed away in her sleep), yet there are a few folks who apparently resent the fact that he's a survivor. Not only a survivor, but an optimist! Those detractors need to get over it. On the other hand, many of us have always believed that Joey was capable of work like this, and "Be True to Yourself" is precisely what we've waited for. Now, finally, the underdog "takes it all".</p><p><br /></p>Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-54409206091276096542020-03-03T10:54:00.000-08:002020-03-03T10:54:26.410-08:00Pete Buttigieg: What Could Have Been<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pete Buttigieg’s withdrawal from the Democratic nomination
race left me with a number of questions… and one in particular that will
linger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if Pete was ever
given fair consideration by those who seemed ready to pounce on every perceived
past faux pas, without seeing him for who he really is?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not sure it’s widespread knowledge that Pete advocated
for a solid progressive agenda:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He is pro-choice, and supports repealing the Hyde Amendment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He supports abolishing the death penalty, reversing criminal
sentences for minor drug-related offenses, and restoring voting rights to
former felons.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pete would have restored U.S. commitment to the Paris
Climate Agreement, and doubled our pledge to the Green Climate Fund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He supports a carbon tax and dividend policy
for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He proposed building a clean economy through the creation of clean
energy jobs, improving our resilience by investing in disaster relief &
prevention, and building the US role on the international stage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pete proposed the Douglass Plan:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it would have allocated $10 billion to
African-American entrepreneurship over 5 years, and grants amounting to $25 billion to
historically black colleges.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a self-avowed “Democratic capitalist”, Pete supports
“Medicare for All Who Want It”—a plan that would have implemented a public
option for healthcare insurance, while still allowing <i>private</i> healthcare
insurers to remain in business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
released a $300 billion plan to expand mental health care services and fight
addiction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pete favored amending civil rights legislation w/ the
Federal Equality Act, so that LGBT Americans also receive federal
non-discrimination protections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
opposed the ban on transgender people that prevents them from joining the
military.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pete advocated tor empowerment of workers by raising the minimum wage to $15, and offering paid family leaves nationwide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pete advocates for the abolition of the Electoral College….
He believes that the president ought to be elected by the people—i.e. Hillary
Clinton’s victory, by roughly 3 million votes, would have spared us Donald
Trump.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yet, there were many who decided he wasn’t progressive
enough, he wasn’t green enough; heck, he wasn’t even gay enough for some of
these people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were suspicious of
his time as Mayor of South Bend, they were suspicious of his time in the
military, they were suspicious of his work with McKinsey… Did I always agree
with Pete?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I was certainly
uncomfortable with how some of the fundraising was handled, but in the long run
I believe he would have been an incredible choice for our country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, I’m 63, and I recognize the need
for a generational change of leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes,
I realize Pete is 37 and likely to be around for quite some time, but that
doesn’t ease the disappointment I’m feeling now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-46485830933587537302020-02-27T12:17:00.001-08:002020-02-27T16:09:25.155-08:00Never Trump... but Bernie?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me start with a given:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Donald Trump must be defeated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His presidency is an embarrassment to the American people; a betrayal of
our values and beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Donald has
ushered in a culture of corruption unparalleled in our history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, where the United States was once
admired—if not revered—by many around the globe, we have now become a laughing
stock. And, quite frankly, though Trump claims to be a “stable genius”, all
available evidence points to him being a vain and stupid little man…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My question now is whether or not the best hope of
defeating Trump lies in nominating a 78 year old self-described Socialist who
is apparently unable to control the outrageous behavior of his own so-called “Bernie
Bros”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus far, these Sanders flying
monkey types have been using social media to attack rival candidates, their
families, surrogates, journalists, and even celebrities who may have strayed
from the Bernie message. In Nevada, they bullied members of the Culinary Union and harassed the State Democratic Chair late at night outside his home (bullhorns). One aide in
particular, Ben Mora, has demonstrated an appalling lack of character and
judgment—making disparaging (to put it mildly) comments concerning the physical
appearance, gender, and sexuality of rival candidates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In light of this—and other—instances of bad behavior,
Bernie has postulated that perhaps these aren’t his supporters acting out, but
rather Russian operatives looking to embarrass him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look, if Sanders 2016 campaign operatives and associates
hadn’t actively encouraged people to vote for third parties, or not at all, and
if the 12% of Sanders supporters who actually cast their votes for Trump could
have behaved responsibly (i.e. in the best interest of the country), then it’s
likely Donald Trump would have never desecrated the White House. So, although Bernie himself did campaign for Hillary (39
rallies over the course of 3 months), far too many in his “movement” were
intent on keeping their noses out of joint and refused to play nice. Look at where it got us! If Bernie can’t hold sway over his own
supporters, it’s hard to see him as an effective nominee-- unifying the many factions of the Democratic Party, while simultaneously advocating for an
agenda that promises (or threatens) revolution.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-64932073204843758272020-02-12T12:35:00.000-08:002020-02-12T12:36:57.847-08:00Pete Buttigieg & Our First Priority<div class="MsoNormal">
Priority one, for every decent, intelligent, and patriotic American is to rid the White House of Donald Trump. To that end, the Democratic Party kicked off the current election cycle with enough presidential candidates to choke a horse. Mercifully, the winnowing process took effect, and no horses have been harmed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the interest of transparency, I’ll admit upfront that I’m 63 years old. In most people’s minds, that has somehow come to mean that I must be supporting former Vice President Joe Biden. Even though he’s fourteen years older than I am, they assume I must be generationally linked to him. Of course Bernie is even older at 78, Bloomberg is 77, and Warren the “spring chicken” of this particular group is 70.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Initially, I found myself pining for a Sherrod Brown-Kamala Harris ticket, but my personal “dream team” was not to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, although I find myself supporting much of the Sanders agenda, I find it impossible to ignore the fact that his intransigence in 2016 proved to be a significant factor in ensuring Donald Trump’s Electoral College (not popular vote) victory. When he talks about the need to support whichever candidate wins the Democratic nomination, I find myself cringing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Furthermore, although I recognize the need to overturn every piece of legislation that Trump has signed into law, I don’t believe that the surest path to victory lies in promising to make a series of sweeping changes from day one. That would have the effect of further traumatizing voters. Extremism will not result in regaining control of the Senate, let alone bringing the curtain down on the Trump national nightmare.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a result, I find myself supporting Pete Buttigieg. There is no candidate (or human being, for that matter) who isn’t flawed to some extent, and I have my concerns about Pete. I’m not comfortable with some of the donors he’s courted, or with the lavish fundraisers in wine caves. On the other hand, I believe he handled the McKinsey consulting firm questions forthrightly. Contrary to what the conspiracy theorists may have led us to suspect, there was nothing sinister in his list of clients.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I trust Pete... He strikes me as a thoughtful, intelligent guy. He won’t make rash decisions based on political calculations, and he won’t engage in deceitful and petty efforts to bring down his political opponents. Pete is, genuinely, a very stable Rhodes Scholar. The days of dealing with a paranoid narcissist (and his other personality disorders) will fade from sight in our rear view mirrors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Does Pete’s “lack of experience” worry me? Not really, because while he may not have a “traditional” background in foreign policy, for example, he’s gained at least comparable experience through serving our country abroad. I am convinced that Pete will take his time, surround himself with the best people, and govern in a calm, deliberate fashion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We don’t need another President who’s in his or her 70s. It’s time to turn the page and hand over the keys to those who have a lifetime ahead of them. At 38, Pete Buttigieg fits that bill perfectly, and I plan to do whatever I can to insure that he becomes our next President.<o:p></o:p></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-79726698071955688662020-02-04T04:40:00.001-08:002020-02-04T04:40:26.102-08:00Mike Pompeo: The Lap Dog Roars<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his role as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has proven
himself a fascinating combination of sycophant and bully.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the one hand, it’s evident that his life mission is to
gain the approval of Donald Trump, no matter the cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s made sure to attune his every position
to those of the “President”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pompeo was
instrumental in undermining the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran (a particular
obsession for Trump), and his devotion to the Donald’s vision/intransigence has
threatened to plunge that region into war on more than one occasion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Likewise, Pompeo has adopted Trump’s views on North
Korea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where he was once in charge of a
covert cyber campaign against Kim Jong Un, he has now tailored his actions to
fall in line with Trump.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He has humbled himself before the dictator, and has
repeatedly claimed great success in negotiating with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing of lasting value has been achieved,
of course, and Kim Jong Un is currently demanding that Pompeo be excluded from
any future talks/negotiations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given
Trump’s peculiar, quasi-romantic, relationship with Kim Jong Un, and his
obvious reluctance to lose that special friendship, it remains to be seen what
Pompeo will resort to next.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In another effort to gain favor with the groper-in-chief,
Pompeo has adopted DJT’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>disrespectful/abusive
attitude toward women—as evidenced by his recent temper tantrum directed at NPR’s
Mary Louise Kelly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pompeo is unable to
tolerate challenging questions, and most especially from a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His condescension took full flight—he
screamed at her in an expletive-filled tirade, then he employed his mentor’s
modus operandi and chose to lie about the encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, Kelly had to point out Ukraine to
him (on an unlabeled map)—and he later claimed she pointed to Bangladesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally, Trump felt the need to
congratulate Pompeo for his “handling” of the situation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Personally, I believe Pompeo’s level of rage stemmed from
his takedown by Linda Ronstadt at the Kennedy Center Honors dinner (she
chastised him for enabling Trump).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given
the setting, he was unable to explode at Ronstadt, and has been looking for a
female victim ever since.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without a doubt, Mike Pompeo is one sorry excuse for an
American Secretary of State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t
come close to meeting the standards set by his most recent predecessors:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Madeline Albright, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice,
Hillary Clinton, and yes, even John Kerry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our country deserves so much better—yet another reason why the November
elections are of critical importance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-7096484116169470742020-01-30T06:59:00.000-08:002020-02-03T17:18:17.206-08:00The March of Trump's Toadies<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just as the migratory behavior of the lemmings leads to mass
suicide, so the inevitable march of the toadies will lead the walking dead of the
Republican Party straight down to hell, courtesy of the AntiChrist himself,
Donald J. Trump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are the most
notable toadies?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A closer look is in
order…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Toadie-in-chief</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Moscow Mitch” McConnell</b>, one of the most vile
and reprehensible individuals in the history of the Senate… and a certified racist to boot--which ought to be surprising, given his marriage to fellow swamp creature Sec. of Transportation Elaine Chao... but the way he behaved throughout the Obama years left no doubt. Meanwhile, estimates of Moscow's net worth vary widely, from $13-54 million... Perhaps an investigation is in order. Incidentally, Satan wants his soul back, Mitch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lindsey Graham</b> –
the less said the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From combative Trump adversary in 2016, to apologist extraordinaire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Speculation that Graham </span>has suffered numerous concussive events would at least provider an explanation for his behavior. John McCain would no
longer recognize his old friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tom Cotton</b> –this
guy is a real piece of work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A veteran
who opted to embrace DJT’s ludicrous assertion that soldiers (stationed in
Iraq) who were injured in the Iranian missile attack following Soleimani’s
assassination were actually suffering from “headaches”, not traumatic brain injuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Way to turn your back on your comrades in
arms, “Captain” Cotton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick any topic…
civil rights?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cotton opposes a woman’s
right to choose, same-sex marriage, stem cell research, and the Violence
Against Women Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His depressing resume
plays out in similar fashion across the board. I have a sneaking suspicion he participated in the Unite the Right march in Charlottesville back in
2017…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ben Sasse</b>—dubbed
the preeminent intellect in the new conservative movement (scary!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spent his time during the impeachment
trial passing notes and giggling with S.C. Senator Tim Scott.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least this noted Chinaphobe didn't share his views (for the most part) in a public forum, though it was evident he’d made up his mind before proceedings began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No need to deliberate thoughtfully if you're an intellectual icon!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joni Ernst</b> – the
train ran off the tracks a long, long time ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Joni has</span> supported privatizing Medicare, rolling back clean water
protections, opposes a federal minimum wage, has never met a gun she doesn’t
love (in any setting), and has been a staunch supporter of Steve King and his
racist rhetoric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Iowa has done so much better...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marsha Blackburn</b>
– might be more dangerous "if she only had a brain" (witness her inexcusable
attack on Lt. Vol. Alexander Vindman’s patriotism).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, is it just me or do her eyes appear to
spin counter-clockwise? Remember Michele Bachmann?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Roy Blunt</b> – even
after the Bolton bombshell this character opposed calling witnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blunt didn't<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>want to “prolong” the trial, and made it clear that no new witnesses, or evidence, would change the outcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he “not guilty”
verdict was predetermined.. As far as these folks are concerned, DJT and Jesus must be one and the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Josh Hawley</b> –
Missouri rookie grandstanding for the Donald, demanded that the Bidens,
Schiff, and the whistleblower all be called to testify if the Senate voted to
hear from new witnesses, i.e. Bolton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amusing notion, rookie, but
irrelevant to the Trump impeachment case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Back to the bench Josh.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Martha McSally</b> –
might be taken more seriously if she behaved in an appropriate (human) fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lashed out at CNN reporter Manu Raju,
alleging he’s a “liberal hack”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find
it hard not to wonder if his name (i.e. ethnicity) contributed to her rage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rand Paul</b> – “The
Senate will not continue this partisan abuse of power and should at once put an
end to the charade.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His arrogance and
intransigence helped the outside observer at least place his neighbor's actions in context.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
On the plus side: six of these individuals are in reelection battles this year. It's always possible that lightning could strike, and decency prevail. Lord knows, the country deserves better.</div>
<br />Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-49646986607931652262019-12-31T10:11:00.001-08:002020-01-07T10:00:21.630-08:00Susan Collins: Time to Head for the Exit<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once upon a time, Maine had a Senator who would occasionally
(albeit rarely) cross the aisle of a divided chamber to cast a bi-partisan
vote.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the days of Susan Collins being anything but a
partisan hack are long gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According
to FiveThirtyEight, she has voted in support of Donald Trump’s corrosive agenda 66.4% of the time--hardly indicative of any "independent streak".</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition, according to Maine Beacon, she’s voted to put over 100
of Trump’s judicial nominees onto the Federal bench. She did summon her "courage" to oppose four other Trump nominees.<o:p></o:p><br />
Four... how pathetic is that?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Susan Collins has claimed to be “one of us”, and cast herself as the patron saint of small
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is ludicrous given the fact that 95% of her itemized campaign contributions have come from
outside the state, and that she voted enthusiastically in support of giving 100
billion in tax breaks to drug and insurance companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> By doing this</span>, she willingly collaborated with
the repeal of key components of the Affordable Care Act and potentially placed
Medicare and Social Security on the Trump chopping block.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now she’s trying to pretend that she hasn’t already made up
her mind as to how she’ll vote when the Trump impeachment trial unfolds in the
Senate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One need only recall that she scrapped whatever remaining principles she may have had to cast a vote putting Brett
Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court to realize there’s no doubt she’ll vote to
acquit the Donald.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's laid claim to her soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Susan Collins is petrified that unless she tows the line, a Trumpite might decide to challenge her in the Republican
primary. So, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski now stands alone as the sole voice
of reason in the GOP swamp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 22 years in the Senate, it’s time for Susan Collins to put aside her own ambitions<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The state of Maine deserves a new dawn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-50689318015736377062019-01-29T15:18:00.000-08:002019-01-29T15:33:06.332-08:00Maduro... and Trump<br />
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> It’s really a no-brainer to say that Nicolas Maduro should step down. You’ve pretty much lost any credibility you may have had when 87% of your citizens are living below the poverty line, between 7-10% of the population has fled, and the
rate of hyperinflation defies the imagination. <u style="color: #500050;"></u><u style="color: #500050;"></u></span></div>
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> What’s less clear, however, is why Donald Trump is feigning concern for Venezuela. After all, Trump has rarely met a brutal dictator he hasn’t fallen in love with: Rodrigo Duterte, Mohammed bin Salman, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kim Jong
Un, and everybody’s favorite, Vladimir Putin.<u style="color: #500050;"></u><u style="color: #500050;"></u></span></div>
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Trump may have (accidentally) stumbled into a foreign policy position that many of our traditional allies have found agreement with, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he turns around and shoots himself in the foot. With his dismal poll numbers after
the Wall/Shutdown debacle, it strikes me as plausible that Trump might initiate an invasion. After all, he likes bright, shiny things--and we know he’s crazy for explosions--preferably caused by big weapons. An invasion might be just the ticket (in his mind) to make him
popular again. Of course, there are potential problems. First and foremost, Putin is supporting Maduro--and Trump does not want to offend Putin. Second, he’s turned his Venezuela policy over to a discredited madman named Elliott Abrams. Abrams has the
blood of thousands of innocent Latin Americans on his hands (supported a brutal dictatorship in El Salvador and illegally intervened in Nicaragua), and in 1991 he was convicted on two misdemeanor counts of lying to Congress regarding the Iran Contra Affair.
Granted, that may make him look good in Trump’s eyes, but the rest of the world isn’t welcoming him with open arms. The last thing the United States needs is to intervene yet again in Latin America.</span><br />
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Economic sanctions would ultimately do little more than harm the Venezuelan people, and the military "option" isn't an option. We need to maintain political pressure, and work with out allies--and the United Nations--to ensure a peaceful solution. Free and fair elections should be the goal; not leadership hand-picked or installed by the United States.</span><br />
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Let's hope Trump's fear of offending<i> other</i> dictators restrains him from initiating military action against Maduro, and that Maduro sees the writing on the wall, and resigns.</span></div>
<span class="im" style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><i></i><br />
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</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-31628337518753502942019-01-24T12:13:00.000-08:002019-01-26T06:57:07.040-08:00Adventures in Racism: Covington Catholic High School Students on the Loose in D.C.<div class="MsoNormal">
On January 18, 2019 a group of high school students from
Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky traveled to Washington D.C. to
participate in the 2019 “March for Life”.
In and of itself, that was certainly a political act. Wearing “Make America Great Again” caps
further polarized participants and spectators (not to mention those who had
gathered to stage their own demonstrations).
As these students (and their chaperones) had to have known, a MAGA cap
is seen by many as a symbol of white privilege and racism. This group from Covington was clearly itching
for a fight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The students soon engaged in a mutual taunt-fest with a
group of Hebrew Israelites. Where were
their chaperones? I fail to see how
telling the Hebrew Israelites that they should “go back to Africa” was going to
accomplish anything apart from ratcheting up the hatred. For good measure, several of the students
could be heard shouting “build that wall”, another sentiment designed to douse
the fire in gasoline. They should have
stuck to their school chants (which they were also employing). Again, where were their chaperones?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was at this point, according to most accounts that Nathan
Phillips stepped forward. Mr. Phillips
is an Omaha Nation elder (and veteran!) who was attending the first Indigenous
People’s March in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He was beating a ceremonial drum, praying,
and had decided to try and move between the Covington students and the Hebrew Israelites
to diffuse the situation. Unfortunately,
the Covington students responded with tomahawk chops, taunts, and ignorance. One student, a junior named Nick Sandmann,
stood in Mr. Phillip’s path and fixed him with a smirk seen round the
world. In a disingenuous interview with
NBC’s Today Show, Mr. Sandmann subsequently attempted to deny all
responsibility: he wasn’t smirking, the
students were not chanting anything offensive, and they couldn’t be racists
because their church wouldn’t tolerate it.
Of course... and those MAGA caps provided additional evidence that these
students were as pure as the driven snow.
For the last time, where were the chaperones?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Sandmann has emerged as one more poster child for the racial
divisions that have torn at our country’s fiber these past two years. Let’s hope we never see that smirk again, and
that the Most Rev. Roger Foys stops apologizing to these Covington Catholic high school students and instead keeps them close to home. They could certainly benefit from a broader education: one that includes racial sensitivity, social justice, and compassion... not to mention responsible adult role models.</div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-90782232732167122262018-08-14T10:18:00.000-07:002018-08-15T07:53:11.954-07:00The Dismal Legacy of Donald Trump<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rodolfo
Rodriguez, 92, is an American citizen who was brutally beaten on the 4th of
July in Los Angeles--first by a woman with a cement block, then by four men who
joined in the attack. The woman falsely claimed Rodriguez tried to “touch” her
toddler. As she beat him, she demanded that he go back to his own country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mia Irizarry, an
American citizen who had purchased a permit to rent a picnic area in a Chicago
park to celebrate her birthday, was verbally harassed for wearing a Puerto
Rican flag shirt. The man who berated
her was yelling “you should not be wearing that in the United States of
America”. Of course, Puerto Rico is a
territory of the U.S., and its residents are citizens--though based on the
pathetic response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, one would never
guess that to be the case. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Srinivas
Kuchibhotla was murdered in Olathe, Kansas last year. The gunman also wounded a co-worker of
Kuchibhotla’s, and a man who had come to their aid. Kuchubhotla was a legal Indian immigrant
working for the tech firm Garmin. His
killer repeatedly yelled “get out of my country” before opening fire.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The list of similar
incidents is voluminous, and is growing daily.
The common denominator? Donald J.
Trump (and the Republicans who enable him).
Hate crimes spiked following his election; attacks against Muslim, South
Asian, Sikh, Hindu, and Middle Eastern communities alone were up by 45% in
2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Donald Trump is
recognized world-wide as a paranoid narcissist.
He ought to be accorded similar recognition for his well-known history
of racism. Decades ago, Trump’s real
estate company sought to avoid renting apartments to African-Americans, and in
reference to black employees at his casinos, he noted that “laziness is a trait
in blacks”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His recent
history continues to be equally vile. He
launched his 2016 presidential campaign with a speech disparaging Mexican
immigrants as criminals and rapists. In
2017 he said 15,000 immigrants from Haiti “all have AIDS”, and that 40,000
Nigerians would never “go back to their huts” in Africa after seeing the United
States. He often refers to prominent
African-Americans as “unpatriotic, ungrateful, and disrespectful”. He has labeled Puerto Ricans who criticized
his Administration’s embarrassing response to Hurricane Maria as “politically
motivated ingrates”. He has stood with
white supremacists (“some are very fine people”), and has shown that he
believes one’s immigration status determines their humanity (“these are not
people, these are animals”). Mr. Trump
has taken the low road at every turn, from embracing Infowars to enabling
QAnon. As founder and chief purveyor of
“fake news” (“Obama is not a citizen”) he’s been driving a wedge between Americans
and reality for years now, and his xenophobic vision of America is inciting
racist violence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It may be
possible, with time and considerable effort, to undo the damage his disastrous policies and judicial choices will have inflicted on the country, but the<i>
real</i> legacy Donald Trump will leave behind is another matter. He chose, with malice and forethought, to let
loose the genie of hatred, racial division, and violence. The question before us is if that genie can
ever be contained? <o:p></o:p></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-86712062671409639112018-06-08T04:50:00.001-07:002018-06-08T04:58:11.667-07:00Choose Adam Cote for a Democratic Victory in November<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Let’s cut to the chase: if Democrats are serious about
winning back the Blaine House this year, then they’ll vote for Adam Cote in the
June 12th primary.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As a candidate, Adam is proposing a progressive and
transformative agenda: the establishment of a human capital investment
fund (to ensure continuous/effective workforce training), job creation that
targets every corner of the state, a single-payer healthcare system, and a
determination to see Maine powered 100% by renewable energy within ten years (which
would ensure good jobs and the prospect of becoming the nation’s first
renewable energy “exporter”). These are only a few highlights of a
comprehensive program.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Adam has demonstrated leadership skills over the course of 20
years with the Maine Army National Guard serving in Bosnia, Iraq, and
Afghanistan, and 16 years in the private sector as a small business
entrepreneur and Renewable Energy attorney. He’s not likely to be
impacted by rhetorical headwinds in Augusta.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Throughout the course of the primary campaign, at candidate events
and forums, there’s been an expectation shared by a number of people that Janet
Mills--by virtue of her lengthy tenure in Augusta--”deserves” to be the
Democratic party standard-bearer, that it’s “her turn”. I assumed we were
participating in an election, not a coronation.
I was, of course, pleased to see Attorney General Mills butt heads with
the Governor on several issues (among them the availability of Naloxone, and
the use of tobacco settlement funds for Medicaid expansion); it’s reassuring
when a public servant does his or her job on behalf of the people.
However, I worry that independents Alan Caron or Terry Hayes, and
whichever LePage wanna-be the Republicans anoint, will have plenty of issues to
choose from in attacking Ms. Mills should she win the primary. For example,
until the NRA recently provided her a lifeline by “awarding” all 7 Democrats an
“F” grade--prior to this Ms. Mills had consistently been given “A” grades.
She’s simply not qualified to lead on gun issues. Likewise, her record on matters involving
tribal sovereignty--specifically clean water issues, demonstrates positions
more in line with Governor LePage than with mainstream Democrats. However, what concerns me most is her failure
to put distance between herself from the disgraced former NY State Attorney
General Eric Schneiderman. He hosted a lucrative fundraising event for
Ms. Mills in Manhattan, and--to my knowledge--she has yet to return the
thousands of dollars the event netted her. Hardly a #MeToo moment.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Adam Cote is a fresh face on the political scene. He
offers new leadership, and he's not weighed down by "baggage". His broad appeal will help bridge
differences, and facilitate a genuine discussion of the issues. Maine voters
deserve no less.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I had the good fortune of getting to know Adam for a short while,
and I learned that his honesty is rooted in integrity, not in some political
strategy. This quality of character won’t vanish once he’s in the Blaine
House, but it’s up to each of us to make sure he gets there.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Vote Adam Cote for Governor on June 12th!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-22201304012432981682018-04-12T09:02:00.000-07:002018-04-12T09:07:35.804-07:00See Ya Paul Ryan!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the era of
make-believe-President Donald Trump, any good news is a welcome event, so the
announcement by Paul Ryan that he’ll be retiring in January of 2019 is
fantastic! The phrase “Good riddance”
has rarely seemed more appropriate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However,
listening to a few of the news reports and reading several opinion pieces has
been disconcerting. They paint the
picture of a guy who “struggled” to hold onto his principles while wrestling
with Donald Trump for the soul (?) of the Republican Party. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While it’s true
that Ryan occasionally objected to a few of Trump’s more outrageous comments
throughout the Republican primary season in 2016, and he called him out during
the fall campaign following the release of the infamous “Access Hollywood”
video (“I am not going to defend Donald Trump.
Not now, not ever”), he was quick to change his tune after Trump’s
Electoral College victory.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul Ryan saw a
golden opportunity to pursue his long-cherished agenda: destruction of Obamacare, privatization of so-called
entitlement programs, and re-shaping the tax code to benefit the wealthy and
corporations. In order to attain these
goals, he willingly sold his soul (?) to the Antichrist. He refrained from additional criticism, and
instead praised Trump’s “leadership” (???).
He enthusiastically embraced Trump’s use of identity politics--playing
on white privilege and resentment. It
became difficult to distinguish the lackey (Mike Pence would be the handmaiden)
from the Antichrist himself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As he prepares
his slow departure, Ryan touts his accomplishments--in particular pointing to the tax
bill. Several days ago, the
Congressional Budget Office estimated that the deficit is expected to reach $1
trillion in 2019, courtesy of the Republican “tax cut”. That’s a nice legacy to leave the next
generation, Mr. Ryan. This piece of
legislation passed (last December) without a single Democratic vote. It locks in permanent tax cuts... to
corporations (down from 35% to 21%). By
contrast, middle class tax cuts were given an expiration date of 2026! And though most middle-class Americans were
projected to receive an average payout of $930 (tantamount to 1.6% of their
average income), the real bonanza will be enjoyed by the top 0.1%, who’ll
receive an after-tax gain of $193,380.
You’ve performed your duties for the privileged few well, Mr. Ryan, but
you’re leaving behind a country that has never been more polarized--economically
or politically. You should be ashamed of
your behavior--though given the fact that you were barely able to keep your
racism in check during the eight years of the Obama presidency, nothing you do
is all that surprising.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yours is a sad
story, as well as a cautionary tale, though I’m certain you’ll be raking in
tons of cash by spinning it otherwise. Don’t
let the door hit you on the way out... see ya Paul!<o:p></o:p></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-15615807158031365852017-11-02T12:39:00.000-07:002017-11-02T12:39:41.594-07:00The Trump/GOP Tax Bill: Nothing But Coal In the Stockings of Working People<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like a stocking full of coal (particularly apt this holiday
season), the Trump/Ryan/GOP tax
boondoggle has arrived. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we might have expected, our so-called “leaders” have
staked their bill on corporate tax cuts (from 35 to 20 percent). The majority of Americans oppose these cuts
(Pew Research Center), but what does the will of the people have to do with
reality? Trump, Mnuchin, and Cohn have
been relentlessly parroting the tired line that the U.S. corporate tax rate is
too high. On the surface, they appear to
have a point. The U.S. rate stands at
39% versus 30% in Germany and 24% in the UK.
Yet our “effective” corporate tax rate (once you factor in the bundle of
goodies they’re able to deduct: cost
recovery allowances, interest deductability, and expensing research &
development) is actually around 18.6% which puts us in line with the UK rate of
18.7 %, and much closer to Germany’s rate of 15.5%. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s likely that slashing our corporate tax rate will instigate a race to lower corporate taxes across the globe. That will only benefit the rich. The rest of us will pay a price the country
can’t afford. Trump supposedly wanted to
call this the “Cut, Cut, Cut Bill”. Apart
from his desperate need to simplify everything (how else could he hope to
understand the issues?), he’s accidentally right--but not in the way he
intended. In order to pay for the massive
additions--an estimated $2 trillion dollars over 10 years--to the deficit that
will be caused by this corporate giveaway, the government will cut funds for
education, cut funds for health care (Medicaid), and cut funds to safeguard the
environment. Cut, cut, cut... but not
for Trump, Robert Mercer, the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and the other bloated GOP cash cows.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few other tidbits to demonstrate their largesse: Although they’ve made a show out of keeping
the highest tax rate (39.6%) in place, they’ve more than doubled the threshold
at which that top rate kicks in--from $400,000 to $1 million (for married
couples). Nice sleight of hand. They’ve also made <i>wealthy</i> families eligible for expanded child credit!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If one wants to study the results of Republican tax policy
in action, the disastrous Kansas tax experiment stands as a terrifying testament.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trump and company would undoubtedly love to say “let them
eat cake” (and probably do behind closed doors). My hope is that resistance to their
insatiable greed will continue to grow and 2018 will see their power begin to
crumble. <o:p></o:p></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-9493320903263324292017-06-30T08:22:00.002-07:002017-07-02T05:45:42.386-07:00Donald the Drama Queen<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many of our Presidents have had descriptive nicknames
associated with them: Washington was the
“Father of His Country”, Madison was “Father of the Constitution”, Lincoln was
“Honest Abe”, Teddy Roosevelt was “The Trust Buster”, Wilson was “The
Schoolmaster”, and Reagan was “The Great Communicator”. Other Presidents have simply been known by
their initials: Franklin Roosevelt was
“FDR”, Kennedy was “JFK”. Nothing more
was needed. Until now, however, we’ve
never had a president identified by the term “drama queen”. Granted, mention of the Trump “presidency”
will more often than not be accompanied by an asterisk, but, let’s assume for
one moment that he<i> is</i> the
President. The one thing that will never
be footnoted are his all-too-frequent forays onto the catwalk of crazy. He pirouettes and sashays in outrageous form,
depending on the mood d’jour: temper
tantrums, megalomania run amok, misogynistic rants... the lunacy is limitless.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One moment he’ll prattle on about “fake news” (which he
pretty much invented--see his false and shameful Obama birth certificate claims,
among other fabrications), the next he’s being called on the carpet for
doctoring a Time Magazine cover (from 2 March 2009) and posting this fraudulent
piece of self-promotion (“Trump is hitting on all cylinders... even TV” uh huh,
as if any legitimate source would have written that!) at four of his country
clubs for all to admire. Talk about
“fake news”...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If he’s not telling outright lies, then he’s
whining about any number of supposed grievances and manipulating the media.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Obama had me bugged!” (demonstrably false). “Obama was colluding with the Russians!”
(didn’t he claim the Russians weren’t colluding with anyone, because they would
<i>never</i> meddle in our elections?). “My Inauguration crowd was the biggest ever!”
(Sorry Diva Don, the empty space was epic--the proof is in the photos). “Comey should be careful, there could be tapes...”
(then watch him drag this out as long as possible--much like his claim that he might
one day release his taxes). “Let me turn
the announcement of my Supreme Court nominee into a three ring circus, or a cheesy
game show”--(playing coy, trying to hide his identity, scheduling the
announcement as though it were some great unveiling. It was embarrassing, as well as disgraceful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last, but certainly not least, Donald the Drama Queen
surfaces most consistently on his Twitter feed.
Trump cannot tolerate criticism in any form, nor can he stand it when he's not the center of attention. He's unable to play well with others... but as a paranoid narcissist,
how could he? While portraying himself as a much maligned victim, he has verbally assaulted countless individuals, news sources, and
organizations in the course of these late night Twitter rants. One assumes these have been collected for
posterity--a testament to the Trump years.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, let’s let the “leader” of the Free World
speak for himself, as he did so eloquently on 6/29/17. Joe Scarborough and Mika Brezezinski,
co-hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”, have incurred Trump’s wrath by failing to
praise him in the sycophantic style of his cabinet. He tweeted: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #595959; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
heard poorly rated </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Morning_Joe"><span lang="EN" style="color: #4372b8; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">@Morning_Joe</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #595959; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> speaks badly of me (don't watch
anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #232323; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">— Donald J. Trump
(@realDonaldTrump) </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/880408582310776832"><span style="color: #4372b8; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">June 29, 2017</span></a><span style="color: #232323; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #595959; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">...to
Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year's Eve, and insisted on joining me.
She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #232323; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">— Donald J. Trump
(@realDonaldTrump) </span><a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/880410114456465411"><span style="color: #4372b8; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">June 29, 2017</span></a><span style="color: #232323; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Rage on, drama queen, rage on...
but please make America great again--by resigning.<br />
<br />
NOTE: Despite almost universal condemnation from both parties, Trump doubled down and continued running his mouth on Twitter--repeating and expanding his comments about Scarborough and Brezezinski. He continues to embarrass himself, the presidential office, and America.</div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-14258355586113827942017-06-22T04:47:00.001-07:002017-06-22T04:47:15.742-07:00Donald Trump? Bubonic Plague?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If one were to adhere to the journalistic standards set by Breitbart & InfoWars, I’d be willing to bet that it’s possible to equate Donald Trump
with the Bubonic Plague, and, after reporting a few facts which are then skillfully wrapped in baseless innuendo and repetition, create the distinct impression that the two are related
and/or synonymous. Let me state right up
front that the Bubonic Plague is sometimes referred to as “Black Death”. Given Trump’s racism, use of that
term here would be far too easy, not to mention potentially incendiary. Instead, let us focus on the facts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bubonic Plague is a bacterial infection that is spread
through the air from person to person, or through the bite of infected fleas
from <i>small</i> (Donald Trump) animals.
Historically, outbreaks of Bubonic Plague were not limited to any one
nation--it spread rapidly across <i>borders</i> (Donald Trump) making a mockery of any
so-called natural barriers such as rivers and oceans, or man-made barriers such
as <i>walls</i> (Donald Trump).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some people dealt with their terror and uncertainty by
lashing out at their neighbors (see “Trump campaign”, 2016), while others coped
by turning inward and seeking to strike a bargain with God--and turning to
flagellation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the 14th century, it was estimated that the Plague killed
an estimated 50 million people--25-60% of the European population. This devastation of the working population perversely
produced an increase in wages. In their
attempt to devastate health care for working people, (Trumpcare) the
Republicans are seeking to replicate what they see as a viable economic
formula. Survival of the fittest, as
long as it’s them!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bubonic Plague is an infection of the lymphatic system
that causes <i>chills</i> (Donald Trump), <i>seizures</i> (Donald Trump), general <i>malaise
</i>(Donald Trump), high fevers (Donald Trump), muscle cramps, lymph gland
swelling, and <i>gangrene</i> (Kellyanne Conway--bonus points).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is not responsive to <i>vaccines</i> (Donald Trump) as
preventative treatment; however numerous antibiotics that have been developed
are highly effective.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, and in true Trumpian/InfoWars/Breitbart
journalistic fashion, let me report that there is <i>allegedly</i> a 14th century Sicilian lithograph depicting the arrival
of members of the Drumpf (Trump’s real name) family arriving in the port of
Messina in October of 1347 on one of 12 Genoese ships widely thought to have
introduced the Plague into Europe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There you are, the Drumpfs (Trumps) and the Bubonic
Plague...inextricably linked by fine right-wing journalism! <o:p></o:p></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-70318821631634941072017-03-31T11:02:00.000-07:002017-03-31T11:02:37.076-07:00Trump's Numbers In The Tank<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Donald Trump is a man obsessed with numbers. Sometimes, he’s unable to grasp the
significance of big numbers (see “Failed Policies, Trumpcare”) and there are
times he struggles with the concept of sharing certain numbers (see “Broken
Promises, Release of Tax Returns”). However, despite numerous bankruptcies, Donald believes that numbers can prove he’s
a <i>billionaire</i> as he claims, and not “just”
a <i>millionaire</i> as others familiar with
his business ventures have maintained.
Numbers would also show if Donald owes large sums of money to Russian banks,
but he still refuses to release those pesky tax returns.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are two numbers in particular that Donald refuses to
accept. 62,984,825 and 65,853,516. The first figure is the number of votes he
received in the 2016 presidential election.
The second figure, almost 3 million votes higher, was the number of
votes Hillary Clinton received. If you
combine her total with the 4,489,233 votes Gary Johnson received and the
1,457,222 votes Jill Stein received, it’s clear that the vast majority of
Americans wanted someone other than Trump--by a <i>huge</i> margin... almost 9 million votes! Donald doesn’t like those numbers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, it’s safe to assume he must <i>really</i> despise a whole bunch of recent numbers. FiveThirtyEight reports that Trump’s current
approval rating of 41.3 constitutes a new low for this presidency, but it’s
also a new low for ANY recent presidency at this juncture. To add historical context: Trump trails Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy,
Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2, and Obama. In virtually every instance, Trump trails
these former Presidents by <i>huge</i>
margins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Public Policy Polling has Trump with a 40% approval rate,
while 53% disapprove. CNBC reports
similar numbers: 42% approve of Trump’s
job performance, while 56% think he’s doing a poor job and the country is
headed in the wrong direction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the bad news gets even worse for Donald. The latest Gallup poll measured his approval
rating at a paltry 36% following the Trumpcare debacle. To Donald, all these numbers must sound as
bad as someone telling him that, upon review, it’s been discovered that Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s ratings as host of “The Apprentice” had actually been higher
than Trump’s. News of that sort would
likely cause angry denials followed by uncontrolled fits of rage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, numbers certainly matter. They play a vital role in our lives... and
sometimes, they’re just plain fun--but don't ask Donald.<o:p></o:p></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-72936253495793367252017-03-16T12:41:00.000-07:002017-03-16T18:18:08.098-07:00Donald Trump Screws the Base<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Much as he gloated about grabbing women by the p***y, Donald
Trump is now assuming he can bend his base over the proverbial “Apprentice”
casting couch, and expect them to take it while still singing his praises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question is... will they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, is there a chance that at least some of
them will wake up and realize they’ve been conned by a lesser Oz?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Throughout the campaign last fall, Trump liked to throw red
meat to the tens of thousands of his supporters who craved blood, baring their
fangs at every opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe
the chant was “lock her up”, in reference of course, to former Frist Lady,
Senator, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trump made it clear in the first days of his (pseudo) presidency that he
has no plans whatsoever to pursue the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Trump promised to “drain the swamp”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, he pretty much acknowledged that was
just a campaign slogan, and he had no intention of drastically altering the
status quo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, he’s appointed a
cabinet of billionaires:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>anti-labor,
pro-corporate establishment who have absolutely nothing in common with the
average American.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Trump claimed he was beholden to no one, but his Russian
ties continue to raise questions and keep him tied in knots of his own creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the world condemns Putin’s second
attempt to poison a political opponent (Vladimir Kara-Murza), Trump remains
silent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trump appointed Putin ally and
patsy Rex Tillerson (former Exxon CEO) as his Secretary of State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tillerson is an advocate of lifting sanctions
on Putin and his circle of thugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
questions remain about Putin’s efforts to get Trump elected--just how deep was
his involvement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were the constant
Wikileaks drips piped out of the Kremlin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as Trump has no interest in releasing his taxes due to the
revelations they contain (perhaps he’s not really a billionaire, perhaps he
owes millions to Russian banks...) he constantly attempts to divert attention
from investigations into the “Russian connection”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His latest break with reality came when he
accused President Obama of wiretapping Mordor (Trump Tower).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No proof whatsoever, but Trump has a close
relationship with fantasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does his base
really want the image of the United States of America tarnished by a close relationship
with a murderous band of thugs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
unfortunately ventured down this road before; it wasn’t pretty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Finally, there’s healthcare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wow... candidate Trump promised that when he repealed Obamacare he would
“take care of everybody”-- his replacement would be cheaper & better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, suddenly, he is claiming that “nobody
knew healthcare could be so complicated”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He</i> may have been the only one who didn’t realize the complexity of
the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His response to this shocking
discovery has been to take refuge in Paul Ryan’s plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the CBO (a nonpartisan group designed
to provide Congress with independent analysis & estimates of the cost of
proposed legislation) has reported that 24 million people will likely lose
insurance in the next decade under this “plan”--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with 14 million losing their insurance in 2018 alone!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to break it to the base, but there’s
every indication that this will hit you hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are so many other reasons to open your eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> U.S. taxpayers are paying for Trump's wall folly, not Mexico. </span>Coal is not coming back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has not divested from his businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He slept through the Yemen raid (in which a
Navy SEAL and an 8 year old American girl were killed--along with numerous
other civilians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The raid produced no
useful intel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He touts the same jobs
reports he once labeled as “phony”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
invented “fake news”, and continues to create more of it than any other person,
living or dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stop allowing this man to abuse you, and don’t believe his
promises (once a liar, always a liar).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Remember, all abusers have a weakness... some fatal flaw that allows victims the opportunity to break free. In Trump's case it's his massive ego. Just remind him that he lost the </span>popular vote by almost <b>3 million votes, </b>and that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b></span>John Lewis was right, Donald will <i>never</i> be
a legitimate president.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-85152638556746973902017-02-21T16:43:00.001-08:002017-02-21T16:43:45.844-08:00Attack in Denmark!<br />
Following on the heels of last week’s terror attack in Sweden (revealed to the world by would-be U.S. President Trump), tonight ISIS seized the spotlight by staging a dramatic attack in Denmark.<br />
<br />Two gunmen, believed to be jihadists, opened fire at an indoor rally of the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party. According to reports from Flux News, hundreds of people were likely wounded by the heavily armed individuals, though there had been no immediate reports of fatalities. Danish authorities denied allegations of a delayed response to the crisis, while the Chief of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service specifically denied having said “there’s no urgency, it’s only the Dansk Folkleparti”. Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that U.S. intelligence sources had tentatively identified one of the two men as the shadowy and infamous cleric Sheikh Yerbouti, long suspected to be deceased. The other individual is thought to have been his long-time assistant, Eisel Eifel Kahn. The pair eluded Danish authorities and escaped into the Copenhagen night. However, a notebook recovered at the scene revealed the two had been planning to infiltrate the United States using Nutopian passports. According to preliminary research, there is no indication that any citizens of Nutopia have ever been vetted prior to admission into the U.S.<br />
<br />
President Trump noted that this exposes the U.S. to a clear and present danger. Accordingly, he vowed that Nutopia will now be added to his revised travel ban. Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-63033920203432311222017-02-13T18:19:00.000-08:002017-02-14T11:11:05.997-08:00After the Apocalypse: Democrats Move Forward<br />
In his excellent post-mortem on the 2016 presidential campaign (“Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus), not-beholden-to-anyone journalist Matt Taibbi hits the nail on the head in describing the peculiar appeal of Donald Trump.<br />
<br />
“Candidate Trump told a story about a conspiracy of cultural and financial elites bent on finishing off a vanishing white middle-class nirvana, first by shipping jobs overseas, and then by waving hordes of crime-prone, bomb-tossing immigrants over the border. These elites lived in both parties, Trump warned. The Republicans were tools of job-exporting fat cats who only pretended to be tough on immigration and trade in order to win votes, when all they really cared about were profits. The Democrats were tools of the same interests, who subsisted politically on the captured votes of hoodwinked minorities, preaching multiculturalism while practicing globalism. Neither party saw the awesome potential of this story to upend our political system.<br />
<br />
Taibbi later points to a Democratic leadership “increasingly indebted to banks and corporations, never imagining it could be the target of a class uprising. They failed to understand how they could be seen as aristocrats--after all, as the party of FDR they received union endorsements and were pro civil rights!” <br />
<br />
The maneuvering within the Republican Party is hardly surprising. After spending the better part of the general election campaign distancing themselves from the Donald, McConnell, Ryan and company are suddenly kissing Trump’s tuckus at every turn; while simultaneously convincing themselves they’re his equals in wielding power. They’re seeking to impose a regressive, ultra-conservative agenda on a deeply divided country that recently rejected their vision (as well as Trump) by a margin of several million votes.<br />
<br />
Democrats, meanwhile, are searching for a way out of the wilderness. Rep. Keith Ellison, former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, and several lesser known candidates are battling to become the next chairman of the DNC. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, and Harry Reid have all weighed in with their opinions/endorsements. Whoever wins, the task will be daunting. Political operative and author David Brock has called on the Democrats to become the party of “no”, maintaining that their “no” would differ from the past 8 years of Republican obstructionism because anything that Trump proposes is certain to be harmful to the majority of Americans-- thereby requiring determined opposition . Elizabeth Warren has said much the same thing: maintaining that Democrats need to “grow a backbone”. One thing is certain, the last thing the Democrats can afford to do is turn to career politicians or corporate lawyers running milquetoast campaigns and looking to “play it safe”. Go along to get along only leads to more of the same. Pretty soon we’ll all be playing footsie and become Facebook buddies with the likes of Steve Bannon. We’ll be reduced to spirited conversation about sporting events, or the weather.<br />
<br />
As Democrats in Maine look toward the gubernatorial contest in 2018, they’re faced with the fact that they lost not only once, but twice, to Paul LePage--an early (yet equally terrifying) prototype of what the country now faces in Donald Trump. Opposing his agenda for the remainder of his term will be a moral imperative. LePage has repeatedly demonstrated that he has neither the vision nor the temperament to govern the state. He’ll leave behind a myriad of failed policies and a toxic political environment-- a product of his racist/sexist/ludicrous remarks, vicious personal attacks, and irrational outbursts. His behavior has become legendary; embarrassing not only himself, but the state of Maine. There will be a great deal of work needed to undo the damage, and to close the enormous gap now separating Republicans, Democrats, Greens, and Libertarians.<br />
<br />
There are bound to be several so-called “establishment” Democrats who pursue the nomination. The “old politics” so recently turned on its head would dictate that they’re “deserving” of the nomination, perhaps “entitled” to it. No doubt these are honorable men and women who’ve served the state well, but the Democratic Party needs to change with the times--regardless of tradition. There’s a need for fresh(er) faces, real world experience, and a boatload of empathy and understanding. Contrary to his mantra in the state of the State address, LePage has done a great deal of harm--to cite one of many examples, Maine leads New England in child poverty and hunger. We must work hard to reverse moral disgraces such as these, engage in constructive dialogue, and provide positive leadership focused on economic growth and opportunity throughout the state. The only choice before us is to get back up and be ready to fight at every turn, because as Paul Wellstone observed, "if we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-50127085777634778472017-01-26T12:30:00.003-08:002017-01-26T12:30:18.830-08:00No Respect, and No Surrender<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, the illegitimate Trump “presidency” is already
unfolding in disastrous fashion, just as most of us assumed it would.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apart from his “band of unqualified billionaires”
(translation: cabinet selections), he’s
begun to issue a series of berserk Executive orders. As a special treat to the oil barons he’s
looking to proceed with the Keystone pipeline--regardless of the environmental
consequences-- and the Dakota access pipeline--oblivious to desecration of
tribal lands and burial locales.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a nod to evangelicals and rabid-right Republicans that he
hoodwinked on the issue, he reinstated President Reagan’s ill--informed global
abortion gag rule.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, of course, he’s looking to proceed with his deluded
border wall. Mexico will refuse to pay,
as they should, for Trump’s folly. On
the heels of that, the would-be president is resurrecting his crackdown on
immigrants and refugees in general, but Muslims in particular. The racist tendencies of Trump and many (if
not most) of his supporters are blossoming into full flower.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve read several pieces in the past few days, suggesting
that Trump is not of “sound mind”, and should immediately resign. I agree.
His temperament will apparently not allow him to accept the fact that
the significant majority of voters in the recent election did not choose
him. In fact, Hillary Clinton defeated
him by close to three million votes in the popular vote count. Add in the votes cast for Jill Stein and the
Green Party, along with the votes cast for Gary Johnson and the Libertarians,
and Trump falls even further from getting anywhere near the 50% mark. His paranoid/narcissist personality is such
that he has to claim there was widespread voter fraud--on the basis of no
evidence whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In similar fashion, Trump chooses to ignore photographic
evidence and accept that the crowds for his “inauguration” fell far short of
President Obama’s in both 2008 and 2012.
Instead, he embarrassed himself and dishonored members of the CIA when
he stood before the wall of stars at Langley and used that visit to laud
himself for the number of instances Time magazine had chosen him for their
cover, as well as for his imagined “inauguration” crowd size. As former CIA Director Brennan and former
Deputy Director Philip Mudd have subsequently reminded him--the stars on that
wall honored actual people; it was not the time or place for Trump’s
self-congratulatory nonsense. Trump also
rattled on about the standing ovation he received at the CIA--pretty easy to do
when you never invite your captive audience to have a seat!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Trump apologists, especially Sean Spicer and the inimitable
Kellyanne Conway, are doing their best to spin “alternative facts” (i.e. lies),
but the cracks in Donald’s demeanor are already showing. Comey and Putin have bestowed us with damaged
goods. Take a rest, Mr. Trump, a lengthy
and permanent rest down at Mar-a-Lago.
America has been great all along; we don’t need you charting a lesser
course.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This administration certainly doesn’t deserve our respect,
and God knows--we’ll NEVER surrender! <o:p></o:p></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-80203593003414217822017-01-18T10:52:00.004-08:002017-01-18T11:08:53.768-08:00The REAL Black Friday: Trump Takes Office<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> The real Black Friday is
almost upon us; Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the
United States. By a substantial margin,
most of us voted for other candidates.
Hillary Clinton alone defeated Trump by close to three million votes. The Electoral College handed down a different verdict. So, we are told, we need to grin and bear
it--come together in the best interest of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Well, this was not your “typical”
election where political passions ran high, but in the end we unify behind the
victor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Donald Trump ran a scorched earth
campaign based on vitriol and outright lies, “fake news”, and racial
hatred. He doesn’t deserve a “pass”, and
he certainly doesn’t deserve the “honeymoon period” the Republicans never saw fit
to deny President Obama (see Mitch McConnell’s infamous remarks following the
2008 election). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Trump employed fake news like
no one before him... and he started long before the election with the assertion
that President Obama was not a natural born citizen. It was utter rubbish, which Trump undoubtedly
knew, but he used it to gain a toehold in the fight for the GOP nomination. Trump’s
subsequent ventures into fake news quickly proved the man is pathologically
dishonest. Here are just a few of his “greatest
hits”:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Trump attacked Heidi Cruz’s
looks, <b>then denied it.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Trump claimed Rafael Cruz was involved in
the JFK assassination. <b>LIE.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Trump
claimed Muslims in New Jersey celebrated the 9/11 attacks. <b>LIE. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Trump claimed Syrian refugees were
entering the U.S. without vetting. <b>LIE.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Trump claimed
34 million undocumented immigrants are living in the U.S. <b>LIE. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Trump claimed he couldn’t release
his taxes due to an IRS audit. <b>LIE.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Trump claimed he never supported
the invasion of Iraq. <b>LIE.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16px;">Trump claimed that he never referred to women he didn't like as "fat pigs", "dogs", "slobs" or "disgusting animals". <b>LIE</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;">Trump claimed he never said that the numerous women who accused him of sexual misconduct/assault were "too unattractive" to assault. <b>LIE.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> From his ties/allegiances to
Vladimir Putin, to the insane lies he spouted about Hillary Clinton, and now
John Lewis... he is a paranoid narcissist run amok. Whether or not the dossier is factual almost
doesn’t matter to me; he’s thrived on these sorts of stories so I hope he
chokes on this one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> This Friday he takes office,
and as I write this over 50 Democratic Representatives are boycotting the
inauguration. I applaud their decision
but almost wish they’d attended and then turned their backs on the stage when
Trump is sworn in (his hand on the Lincoln bible is almost too much to
bear). It would be no less than he
deserves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Resist!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-3641483496348246762017-01-07T13:39:00.002-08:002017-01-07T13:43:33.493-08:00Document #001 Trump Presidential PapersFrom the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library and Golf Resort in Acapulco, Mexico... 2021<br />
<br />
DJT: As the greatest President in the history of America, I had many meetings with incredible<br />
leaders dealing with huge issues. Sometimes they thought they could challenge me, but<br />
I've always been a rock star and I was too much for them. I was amazing. One of the<br />
most important exchanges during what I like to call "the Great Trump years" actually<br />
happened a few days before I became president. I was trying to put the finishing<br />
touches on my tremendous cabinet, and this happened a few hours before I met with<br />
all those national security leaders who were engaged in a witch hunt against my good<br />
friend Vladimir. (Of course everyone now knows that he handed me the election, but<br />
it's too late now suckers, you can't touch me!).<br />
Anyway, just as I always knew more about ISIS than the generals, I've always recognized<br />
key issues better than my aides or advisors. I know monumental news when I see it and<br />
I responded... The following is from my two-part tweet when I received news about<br />
declining ratings for the reality show I created (by myself) and starred in (by myself). They<br />
tried to manage without me.<br />
<br />
DJT: "Wow the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got "swamped" (or destroyed) by <br />
comparison to the ratings machine: DJT. So much for being a movie star--and that was<br />
season 1 compared to season 14. Now compare him to my season 1. But who cares, he<br />
supported Kasich and Hillary."<br />
<br />
Arnold's reply was so weak:<br />
<br />
AS: "There's nothing more important than the people's work."<br />
<br />
Lame. Then he tried again:<br />
<br />
AS: "I wish you the best of luck and I hope you'll work for ALL the American people as<br />
aggressively as you worked for your ratings."<br />
<br />
Right. That was never going to happen LOL!<br />
<br />
I realize this incident took place right before I assumed the office, but I knew this was<br />
an important moment in history, and that it needed to be documented, After all, I <br />
always understood these moments better than anyone else...<br />
What ever became of Arnold? Loser.Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312715859050546772.post-30605712061144332016-12-30T12:34:00.000-08:002016-12-30T12:34:25.560-08:00Trump-Free Zones, January 20th... and Beyond<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Many years ago, Richard Nixon proclaimed
that he had the support of a “silent majority”.
Years later, Jerry Falwell and extreme right-wing allies in the
Republican Party touted their so-called “moral majority”. Well, my friends, the cold hard truth is that
we are an <b><i>actual majority. </i></b>Donald
Trump received only 46.1 % of the popular vote.
That means that the majority of Americans (53.9%) voted for someone
else. In fact, if we remove the votes
cast for Jill Stein and Gary Johnson, Trump lost to Hillary Clinton by almost
three million votes. Contrary to his
rants and tweets, his victory in the Electoral College does not constitute a
mandate, but rather a mishap; a national tragedy. And, as evidence continues to come to light
regarding Russian tampering on Trump’s behalf, along with the deliberate timing
of James Comey’s letter, the very legitimacy of any Trump presidency is called
into question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> This leaves us with the question of how
best to deal with January 20th... and beyond.
I would suggest that we initially celebrate the many “Trump-free zones”
already in existence, and endeavor to create many more. Certain locations automatically qualify as
TFZs: institutions of higher learning,
and every public school across the country (along with any number of private
schools), for example. Anywhere where
healing is practiced: hospitals,
clinics, doctor’s offices, birthing centers, rehabilitation facilities... all
of these would automatically be “Trump-free zones”. Then, of course, places of beauty, art,
culture, etc... all of these would also be regarded as TFZs: museums, theaters, concert venues, galleries,
public gardens, parks, etc. Finally, our
churches, temples, and mosques--anywhere that welcomes faith and
contemplation--these would also be TFZs.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Based on the popular vote, it’s certainly
reasonable to conclude that most homes across our great country (and it never
stopped being great), are Trump-free zones.
We must nourish the TFZ within each of us, and support it in
others. We are called to cultivate more
and more Trump-free zones, thereby creating a brighter world based on justice
and respect. It may take time, but we
have to believe that in the end love and decency will indeed trump hate. If TFZs flourish throughout the land, the roots
of racism and fascism will be choked--and those weeds will dry up, crumble, and
the ashes will be blown into the darkest recesses of history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Beyond January 20th, it will be up to each
of us to speak up and act out. Talk to
your friends and neighbors, use every facet of social media, and even go “old
school” by writing letters to the editor of any newspaper or magazine you may
read. Because, one thing is for
certain: virtually every Trump proposal
or policy will require determined and constant opposition. We must take a page from the Republican
playbook of 2008 wherein McConnell famously (infamously) stated that the
primary Republican achievement had to be that of insuring that President Obama
would be a one-term President (sorry Mitch, you failed). Democrats should remember McConnell’s
obstructionist tactics, minus one key component. While McConnell, Ryan, Boehner, and Cantor
(remember him?) could scarcely conceal the racism at the heart of their hatred
for Obama, we’ll be battling Trump on the basis of truth, social justice, and a
genuine concern for the future of our country.
That, my friends, is genuine patriotism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Stephen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643771620045549888noreply@blogger.com4