Donald Trump expected to run in 2024... So what?

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.

He lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton in 2016 by 3,000,000 votes.

He lost the popular vote to Joe Biden in 2020 by over 7,000,000 votes.

He was trounced in 2020's Electoral College count, 306 to 232.

He's a disgraced, two-time loser--having been impeached twice.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Trump Pandemic

 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.

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.

--In May of 2018, the Trump administration disbanded the White House pandemic response team.  Tragically stupid.

--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.

--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.

--He claimed that "one day, it's like a miracle, it will disappear".  Delusional.

--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.

--In May, he proclaimed "this is going to go away without a vaccine", while May also saw the national death toll surpass 100,000.

--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".  

--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).

--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.

--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.

--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!"

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!

Joey Molland: The Underdog Takes It All

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.

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.

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.

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 more 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!

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".

Pete Buttigieg: What Could Have Been

Pete Buttigieg’s withdrawal from the Democratic nomination race left me with a number of questions… and one in particular that will linger.  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?

I’m not sure it’s widespread knowledge that Pete advocated for a solid progressive agenda:

He is pro-choice, and supports repealing the Hyde Amendment.

He supports abolishing the death penalty, reversing criminal sentences for minor drug-related offenses, and restoring voting rights to former felons.

Pete would have restored U.S. commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, and doubled our pledge to the Green Climate Fund.  He supports a carbon tax and dividend policy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  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.

Pete proposed the Douglass Plan:  it would have allocated $10 billion to African-American entrepreneurship over 5 years, and grants amounting to $25 billion to historically black colleges.

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 private healthcare insurers to remain in business.  He released a $300 billion plan to expand mental health care services and fight addiction.

Pete favored amending civil rights legislation w/ the Federal Equality Act, so that LGBT Americans also receive federal non-discrimination protections.  He opposed the ban on transgender people that prevents them from joining the military.

Pete advocated tor empowerment of workers by raising the minimum wage to $15, and offering paid family leaves nationwide.

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.

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!  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?  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.  Furthermore, I’m 63, and I recognize the need for a generational change of leadership.  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.

Never Trump... but Bernie?

     Let me start with a given:  Donald Trump must be defeated.  His presidency is an embarrassment to the American people; a betrayal of our values and beliefs.  The Donald has ushered in a culture of corruption unparalleled in our history.  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…

     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”?  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.  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.  Seriously?

     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.

Pete Buttigieg & Our First Priority

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.

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.

Initially, I found myself pining for a Sherrod Brown-Kamala Harris ticket, but my personal “dream team” was not to be.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mike Pompeo: The Lap Dog Roars

In his role as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has proven himself a fascinating combination of sycophant and bully.

On the one hand, it’s evident that his life mission is to gain the approval of Donald Trump, no matter the cost.  He’s made sure to attune his every position to those of the “President”.  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.

Likewise, Pompeo has adopted Trump’s views on North Korea.  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.

He has humbled himself before the dictator, and has repeatedly claimed great success in negotiating with him.  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.  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.

In another effort to gain favor with the groper-in-chief, Pompeo has adopted DJT’s  disrespectful/abusive attitude toward women—as evidenced by his recent temper tantrum directed at NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly.  Pompeo is unable to tolerate challenging questions, and most especially from a woman.  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.  Apparently, Kelly had to point out Ukraine to him (on an unlabeled map)—and he later claimed she pointed to Bangladesh.  Naturally, Trump felt the need to congratulate Pompeo for his “handling” of the situation.

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).  Given the setting, he was unable to explode at Ronstadt, and has been looking for a female victim ever since.

Without a doubt, Mike Pompeo is one sorry excuse for an American Secretary of State.  He doesn’t come close to meeting the standards set by his most recent predecessors:  Madeline Albright, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton, and yes, even John Kerry.  Our country deserves so much better—yet another reason why the November elections are of critical importance.

The March of Trump's Toadies

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.  Who are the most notable toadies?  A closer look is in order…

Toadie-in-chief:  “Moscow Mitch” McConnell, 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.

Lindsey Graham – the less said the better.  From combative Trump adversary in 2016, to apologist extraordinaire.  Speculation that Graham has suffered numerous concussive events would at least provider an explanation for his behavior.  John McCain would no longer recognize his old friend.  Sad.

.

Tom Cotton –this guy is a real piece of work.  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.  Way to turn your back on your comrades in arms, “Captain” Cotton.  Pick any topic… civil rights?  Cotton opposes a woman’s right to choose, same-sex marriage, stem cell research, and the Violence Against Women Act.  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…

Ben Sasse—dubbed the preeminent intellect in the new conservative movement (scary!).  He spent his time during the impeachment trial passing notes and giggling with S.C. Senator Tim Scott.  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.  No need to deliberate thoughtfully if you're an intellectual icon!

Joni Ernst – the train ran off the tracks a long, long time ago.  Joni has 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.  Iowa has done so much better...

Marsha Blackburn – might be more dangerous "if she only had a brain" (witness her inexcusable attack on Lt. Vol. Alexander Vindman’s patriotism).  Also, is it just me or do her eyes appear to spin counter-clockwise?  Remember Michele Bachmann?

Roy Blunt – even after the Bolton bombshell this character opposed calling witnesses.  Blunt didn't  want to “prolong” the trial, and made it clear that no new witnesses, or evidence, would change the outcome.  The “not guilty” verdict was predetermined..  As far as these folks are concerned, DJT and Jesus must be one and the same.

Josh Hawley – 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.  Amusing notion, rookie, but irrelevant to the Trump impeachment case.  Back to the bench Josh.

Martha McSally – might be taken more seriously if she behaved in an appropriate (human) fashion.  She lashed out at CNN reporter Manu Raju, alleging he’s a “liberal hack”.  I find it hard not to wonder if his name (i.e. ethnicity) contributed to her rage.

Rand Paul – “The Senate will not continue this partisan abuse of power and should at once put an end to the charade.”  His arrogance and intransigence helped the outside observer at least place his neighbor's actions in context.

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.

Susan Collins: Time to Head for the Exit

     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.

     However, the days of Susan Collins being anything but a partisan hack are long gone.  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".

     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.
Four... how pathetic is that?

     Susan Collins has claimed to be “one of us”, and cast herself as the patron saint of small business.  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.  By doing this, 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.

     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.  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.  He's laid claim to her soul.  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.

     After 22 years in the Senate, it’s time for Susan Collins to put aside her own ambitions  The state of Maine deserves a new dawn.

Maduro... and Trump

     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. 

     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.

     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.
     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.
     Let's hope Trump's fear of offending other dictators restrains him from initiating military action against Maduro, and that Maduro sees the writing on the wall, and resigns.

     

Adventures in Racism: Covington Catholic High School Students on the Loose in D.C.

     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.

     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?

     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?

     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.

The Dismal Legacy of Donald Trump

     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.

     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.

     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.

     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.

     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”. 

     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.

     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 real 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?  

Choose Adam Cote for a Democratic Victory in November

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Vote Adam Cote for Governor on June 12th!

See Ya Paul Ryan!

     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.

     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. 

     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.

     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.

     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.

     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!

The Trump/GOP Tax Bill: Nothing But Coal In the Stockings of Working People

     Like a stocking full of coal (particularly apt this holiday season), the Trump/Ryan/GOP tax  boondoggle has arrived. 

     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%. 

     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.

     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 wealthy families eligible for expanded child credit!

     If one wants to study the results of Republican tax policy in action, the disastrous Kansas tax experiment stands as a terrifying testament.

     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. 

Donald the Drama Queen

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 is 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.

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”...

If he’s not telling outright lies, then he’s whining about any number of supposed grievances and manipulating the media.

“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 never 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.

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. 

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:

I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don't watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017

...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!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017

Rage on, drama queen, rage on... but please make America great again--by resigning.

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.

Donald Trump? Bubonic Plague?

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.

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 small (Donald Trump) animals.  Historically, outbreaks of Bubonic Plague were not limited to any one nation--it spread rapidly across borders (Donald Trump) making a mockery of any so-called natural barriers such as rivers and oceans, or man-made barriers such as walls (Donald Trump).

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.

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!

The Bubonic Plague is an infection of the lymphatic system that causes chills (Donald Trump), seizures (Donald Trump), general malaise (Donald Trump), high fevers (Donald Trump), muscle cramps, lymph gland swelling, and gangrene (Kellyanne Conway--bonus points).

It is not responsive to vaccines (Donald Trump) as preventative treatment; however numerous antibiotics that have been developed are highly effective.

Finally, and in true Trumpian/InfoWars/Breitbart journalistic fashion, let me report that there is allegedly 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.

There you are, the Drumpfs (Trumps) and the Bubonic Plague...inextricably linked by fine right-wing journalism!   

Trump's Numbers In The Tank

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 billionaire as he claims, and not “just” a millionaire 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.

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 huge margin... almost 9 million votes!  Donald doesn’t like those numbers.

So, it’s safe to assume he must really 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 huge margins.

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.

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.

Yes, numbers certainly matter.  They play a vital role in our lives... and sometimes, they’re just plain fun--but don't ask Donald.

Donald Trump Screws the Base

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.  The question is... will they?  Or, is there a chance that at least some of them will wake up and realize they’ve been conned by a lesser Oz?

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.  I believe the chant was “lock her up”, in reference of course, to former Frist Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  Guess what?  Trump made it clear in the first days of his (pseudo) presidency that he has no plans whatsoever to pursue the matter.

Trump promised to “drain the swamp”.  Well, he pretty much acknowledged that was just a campaign slogan, and he had no intention of drastically altering the status quo.  In fact, he’s appointed a cabinet of billionaires:  anti-labor, pro-corporate establishment who have absolutely nothing in common with the average American.  

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.  While the world condemns Putin’s second attempt to poison a political opponent (Vladimir Kara-Murza), Trump remains silent.  Trump appointed Putin ally and patsy Rex Tillerson (former Exxon CEO) as his Secretary of State.  Tillerson is an advocate of lifting sanctions on Putin and his circle of thugs.  The questions remain about Putin’s efforts to get Trump elected--just how deep was his involvement?  Were the constant Wikileaks drips piped out of the Kremlin?  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”.  His latest break with reality came when he accused President Obama of wiretapping Mordor (Trump Tower).  No proof whatsoever, but Trump has a close relationship with fantasy.  Does his base really want the image of the United States of America tarnished by a close relationship with a murderous band of thugs?  We’ve unfortunately ventured down this road before; it wasn’t pretty.

Finally, there’s healthcare.  Wow... candidate Trump promised that when he repealed Obamacare he would “take care of everybody”-- his replacement would be cheaper & better.  Now, suddenly, he is claiming that “nobody knew healthcare could be so complicated”.  Wrong.  He may have been the only one who didn’t realize the complexity of the issue.  His response to this shocking discovery has been to take refuge in Paul Ryan’s plan.  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”--with 14 million losing their insurance in 2018 alone!  I hate to break it to the base, but there’s every indication that this will hit you hard.

There are so many other reasons to open your eyes.  U.S. taxpayers are paying for Trump's wall folly, not Mexico. Coal is not coming back.  He has not divested from his businesses.  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.  The raid produced no useful intel.  He touts the same jobs reports he once labeled as “phony”.  He invented “fake news”, and continues to create more of it than any other person, living or dead.

Stop allowing this man to abuse you, and don’t believe his promises (once a liar, always a liar).  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 popular vote by almost 3 million votes, and that John Lewis was right, Donald will never be a legitimate president.

Attack in Denmark!

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.

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.

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.