Just Plain WRONG

Trump praises Putin and criticizes POTUS and dismisses the CIA and FBI.  Trump is wrong.  This goes so far beyond disrespect and taking yet another step in presenting the United States as in chaos.  This follows Trump's weighing in on the UN resolution and subsequent fall out. 
The concept of one President not in Trump's wheelhouse..  It is one thing to forge new ground but trump is ruining the reputation of the USA on the international stage.  Who on the entire planet would think that Trump has a handle on what he's doing? 
Trump's repeated statements that nobody knows what is going on undermines credibility of the entire USA.  Does he think he knows what is going on?  What is he going to say after January 20?  He ahs lied so extensively - I focus for the moment on hhis statements that he won by a landslide and how much Clinton lost by, and that he would have won the popular vote except for the "million of illegal voters".
Most importantly, what does Trump think he gains by his behavior?  Is it the tactic of a forward thinking international chess player planning the next step or is it a spontaneous flippant quip of a egocentric personality?  Who knows. 
Will anyone ever be able to trust anything Trump says when he is President?
Terrifying

Cult of Personality

Get used to it.
Trump "announced" the return to the USA of 5000 jobs by Sprint.  He declared that this was because now there is hope.
In fact, this return of jobs was apparently planned in July, thereby having nothing to do with Trump.  The Japanese head of Sprint may have let Trump announce the job return because Sprint wants to merge with TMobile and has been blocked as anti-competitive.  So Sprint has every reason to curry favor with Trump.
Trump knows how to use publicity to his own interest.  Trump has talked publicly about Boeing, Lockheed and Carrier.  Now Sprint. 
Regarding Sprint, Trump did nothing to get these 5000 jobs to the US.  It was Indiana that put up $7 million to keep some carrier jobs in Indiana - and Carrier is still sending some jobs to Mexico. 
So, first of all, Trump is definitely taking credit for the work of others.  Is that lying?  Misrepresenting?
And, of more concern, is the paradigm of Trump's dealing with individual corporations on very small unique deals.  Is there quid pro quo?  Do these corporations expect favorable decisions in return?  Is that anti-competitive toward the competitors of these favored companies?  Should Carrier's competitors also be given $7 million?  Should the Trump administration permit the Sprint TMobile merger?
This is no way to run a country.  Well, maybe a banana republic.

Kerry & Israel

Secretary Kerry spoke with great passion for over an hour.  A passion for a realistic peace.  Even more, a lesson for President-elect Trump.  We can be sure that Trump has listened to those who donated to his campaign, including Sheldon Adelson and David Freidman, the latter who is now designated to be the US Ambassador to Israel.  However, does anyone have any confidence that Trump has explored the details of the longstanding issues involved in the Israeli-Palestinian efforts to live in one space? Has Trump listened to all sides of this issue?  Who knows.  At least Secretary Kerry just provided a thorough education if President-elect Trump listened.

Transition

Trump just tweeted that the concept of a smooth transition is not happening and laying the blame on President Obama.  President Obama tried.  But the President-elect Trump has gone out of his way to take steps that at a minimum contradict the current President or at worst interfere with the current governing process, which includes everything from contacting the Taiwanese leader to generally declaring positions that will change upon his taking the oath of office.  Not to mention his vague tweeting that leads to fears about nuclear proliferation, undermining the UN and leaving the relationship with China in doubt.

This tweeting is not an appropriate way to express views and positions that remain unclear.  The long standing tradition of communicating via the mainstream media with a press secretary and press conferences allows for more accurate clear communication.  Not to mention that the USA has one President at a time and Trump doesn't care about that anymore than he cares about stability both domestically and internationally.  Everything is personal to Trump.  This time it's a zinger against the President - wait until he is President and the zinger is against the Chinese premier.  Terrifying.

It is high time that President Obama stand firm on his views and continue acting upon them while he is President.  A beginning for the political response to the coming Trump Presidency from the Democratic Party.

American Cancer Society

I have been seeing endless tv ads for the American Cancer Society over recent weeks, endlessly!  My guess is that these are paid ads, not PSA's, since these ads recur so frequently.  In any case, I decided to take a look at their financials.  Here's what I discovered through the reliable charity evaluator, Guidestar:
Assets $1,893,983,000 (almost $@ trillion!)
Expenses:
Administration $48,606,000
Fund Raising $177,011,000
Program Services $631,708,000
Add fund raising and administration and the total is $225,617,000 while program services are $631,708,000.  It doesn't look like much is going to services.  I think there are many other organizations both fighting cancer and supporting patients. 
My advice - look closer where you donate and don't get sucked in by glitzy endless sentimental ads.  Do some research and make sure you get your money's worth when you contribute!

Terrorism

Trump is no better than a terrorist with words.  He is vindictive and against peace.  No wonder he appeals to angry white men - he is one.  He is going to launch World War 3 - he doesn't know history nor understand the art of diplomacy.  remember, his art of the deal brought him and his companies into bankruptcy as many as eight times.  Fighting terrorism and international relations are not games. His words have meaning.  Take away his twitter and nuclear codes before he gets us all killed.
What a sad situation for us to be facing at this time of light and peace and a new year.  very bleak and terrifying.

Speechless

Trump says "let there be an arms race." i'm ready to cry - this is beyond terrifying. Where will he get the $$ to destroy the planet? reducing Social security, medicare and Medicaid. And ending healthcare coverage via Obamacare for 26+ million people. TIME FOR SANE PEOPLE TO ORGANIZE AND STAND STRONG

So Far Gone

Trump tweeted about expanding nukes, is appointing a radical right winger as Ambassador to Israel and now Trump is opposing President Obama's decisions on US position on UN resolutions.  Trump is out of control, not following the long standing American tradition of ONE PRESIDENT AT A TIME.  He is WAR MONGERING at the most dangerous level.
TERRIFYING.
TIME TO UNITE

Total Sleaze

Or totally unethical.  Carl Icahn, hedge fund megamillion investor, is now designated to advise the future President on regulatory matters.  Icahn is known to oppose regulations and he is invested in transportation and energy among other stock areas.  As unpaid, informal advisor, he won't have to divest!  HE WILL BE ADVISING ON HOW HIS HOLDINGS WILL GAIN MONEY.  THE RISH GET RICHER.
There is no way that the middle class who voted for Trump anticipated this.  Many Trump voters never expected him to actually repeal Obamacare and take away their health insurance - the press has been interviewing numerous Trump voters to reach this conclusion about their view of Obamacare.
There is nothing in what we can see in the Trump administration that would help the middle class.

Lies Continue

After the berlin tragedy, Trump declared this was an attack on Christians.  Today, he was actually nabbed by the press and, in answer to aa shouted question about that claim of attack directed at Christians, he replied, "who said that?"  Who? It was him!  Instead, today, he said it was an attack "on humanity".  Doesn't he remember what he said? doesn't he care? Did someone tell him it was not the right way to characterize the attack?  Or did he just lie again?
Eventually, his lying, off the cuff comments, or whatever he thinks he is saying, is going to get the nation into diplomatic disasters.

No Excuses

The talk of changing the election result through the Electoral College hangs its legitimacy on the issue of Russian hacking.  No such excuse is needed.  First of all, Hillary Clinton won the popular for by almost 3 million votes!
And ultimately, Trump is incompetent to be President.  His campaign was based on an array of lies.  His proposed cabinet is radically conservative, contrary to views of the vast majority of American positions, Republican and Democrats alike.  Then there is the unknown - Trump's never revealed tax filings, his business dealings, including his international indebtedness, the proposed involvement of his family in government and the Trump businesses.  Finally, there is his lack of foreign policy knowledge and experience.  He is openly attracted to Putin and Russia -  maybe based on debts owed to them - and he has openly stated that he does not get daily intelligence briefings and he does not trust the CIA.
Just now, I read that Russian official news media are expressing concerns that anti-Trump elements in the USA was to stage a coup d'état!  So Russia is openly meddling in the final stages of the SU election.  So Russia shows more evidence of their pro-Trump position.
We don't need the excuse of Russian hacking. 
Trump is incompetent and will present a danger to world stability in every way imaginable.

The Red Line

December 19, 2016

I just heard a talking head , formerly affiliated with Senator Rand Paul, talking about "The Red Line."  Meaning of course Obama's red line posed over the use of Asad's chemical weapons in Syria - presenting that declaration and not following through on it - as a major sign of how the USA is no longer the power in the world and the world is turning inward and de-stabilizing.  John McCain also talked about how the USA has not presented a position of strength.  Others are saying that bck in October, Obama did not make enough of  the Russian hacking - even though he did speak personally to Putin about it and did publicize it.

Do you see a trend?  I do - let's blame Obama! Another result of this phoney thinking is to encourage Trump's saber rattling with China.  Where this leads us on Russia since Trump and Tillerson are in love with Putin.

Could you imagine what Trump would have said in his rallies if Obama had been more forceful?  Trump already said that the election was rigged.  And the media made headlines of the content of the WikiLeak products of the hacks, all against Hillary Clinton,  while not pointing out that the content was the result of Russian hacking.

And "The Red Line".  Were the American people willing to enter another war?  Was the American budget deficit to assume that responsibility?  While at the same time taking on another instance of nation building.  Oh, and by the way, fighting Russia?

Puh-lease! 

Is this a way to blame Obama and validate the Trump nonsense?

Trump Revises Constitution's Intent

Yes, Trump has decided that the reason the Founding Fathers designed the Electoral College was to prevent Americans for staying in Boston or some other coastal location (I can't remember which one).  To lie about the basis of our Constitution is just another frightening lie.  The Electoral College was included because the Founding Fathers did not think that the common man (no women voted at all of course) could be trusted.  Trump has attributed his lie because it fits his victory - that he won the popular vote in the middle section of the country.  Of course, it's ironic because those states are OVER represented in the Electoral college relative to their populations.  The most UNDER represented state in the Electoral College relative to its population is California!

WOW

so many aspects of the Russian hack.  Former Ambassador Michael McFaul, a super top expert on Russia, says that it would feed into the Russian hands to somehow de-legitimize the recent election, that in fact, we must accept the result and move on.
A new point that astounds me even further than Trump's refusal to acknowledge the accuracy of the CIA conclusion that it was Russia, if that's possible.   That point is that some republicans re saying the hacking was okay because it revealed the "horrible" things about Hillary Clinton.  WHAT?!?
Republicans are supporting Russian hacking!  President-elect does not accept CIA work product.
Insanity prevails, no it's treason.  A question is raised - did any Republican or Trump official support help Russia?

New Evidence

NBC News has discovered from CIA sources that Putin was aware of the hacking of Democrats and probably directed its distribution.  That is provocative enough to warrant sanctions or, in earlier times - think of the immediate provocation of World War I, ie, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand - war. 
Equally provocative is Trumps' response to disbelieve the CIA, along with refusing his daily intelligence briefings.  He stated that the CIA doesn't know who hacked the Democrats and he's a smart person who doesn't need daily briefings.
Anyone with sense would want to know the truth and the facts, especially since his Presidency could be tainted by the belief that the Russians hacked to gain Trump a win.  But no, he would rather provide the disinformation, read LIE,  that no one really knows.  Maybe he would know if he took his daily briefings.
Another point I have not yet ranted about is this - despite the dedication, knowledge and skill of the US professional government intelligence community, a general principle is that when some material is developed and left on the cutting room floor, eventually that material is not produced.  Well, since we cannot rely on the incoming President, we can only pray that the intelligence apparatus maintains their high standard.
Finally, remember that Trump ahs announced his personal failings for the entire world - Russia, China, ISISS, you name it.  He ahs just told the world that he is an irresponsible fool.
If this isn't enough evidence for the Electoral College to their task as conceptualized by alexander Hamilton.

So True!

http://www.teenvogue.com/story/donald-trump-is-gaslighting-America

An op-ed in teen Vogue is so correct, it should terrify every American.  On the day that the GOP revealed a plan to gut Social Security as we know it.  Here's the thing - Trump may eventually be defeated or impeached - will he take the Republican Party with him?  Time for Republicans to stand up and be counted - if only to preserve the two party system.

Unpredictable, Jim Cramer

Trump said he would be unpredictable and he is.  Today's tweet is about the Lockheed Martin cost overrun for the F-35.  Trump says he won't pay it.  Watch Lockheed's stock price drop today. 

Jim Cramer, CNBC guru whose words I respect, is apoplectic.  Why?  Trump has never paid his bills and loads of vendors said so during the campaign, it was well known that he declared bankruptcy about five times and he said, during the campaign that he might support the USA simply not paying its debt.

Cramer has been on this jag -"Trump Stock or Not a Trump Stock".  Wrong, Jim.  The right advice now is take your profits.  The USA is in for a wild ride - either Trump will create economic chaos with his policies and tweets or there will be financial instability as the country fights out impeachment.  Take your choice.

How Soon?

How long will it take before Trump is impeached?  I give it less than a year.

Trump is Playing the USA into an Alternate Universe

I honestly feel like I'm living in an alternate universe.  This is no longer a partisan political issues.  Trump says he is "like, a smart person."  Ergo, he has told the daily intelligence briefers to let him know if something changes!!!!!  He says he doesn't need to be told the same thing every day.

He doesn't believe the CIA's statement that Russia was behind the hacks with the goal of electing Trump.  Trump doesn't believe the CIA and suggests the Democrats are behind the revelation.  Trump said the hacks could be China, could be a guy on his bed in New Jersey.  Making his refusal to accept CIA's statement even more troubling - insane, really - is the myriad ties to Russia by Manfort and his Secretary of state nominee and his many favorable comments on Russia. 

Trump also declares his victory was a landslide, the greatest in US history.  WHAT?  Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 2.8 million.  Think about the elections of Reagan and  the Goldwater loss.  Trump either doesn't know history or he lies, or both.

Our national security and personal safety will be in this man's hands.  Along with an array of nominees that is truly bizarre, maybe excepting Genral Mattis and Representative Mike Pompeo.  And a couple appointees not requiring confirmation who maybe worse yet, ie, Bannon and Flynn.

Terrifying.

James Comey Worse Yet

Joy Reid interviewed Senator Harry Reid  who revealed that Comey, FBI Director, knew about the CIA conclusion that Russia was influencing the election for Trump's win!  This takes my breath away.  Comey is the same person whose announcements about Clinton emails just before the election had impact. 
This election is so flawed. 
The USA is in the hands of the Electoral College electors.  If the electors fail, the country will face impeachment proceedings sooner rather than later.

Trump is for Trump

How far can the disrespect go?  Washington Post reveals that the CIA learned that not only did Russia engage in hacking, but that they did so with the specific objective of electing Donald Trump.  Trump's response?  A snide statement that the CIA is the organization that said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.  So Trump doesn't believe the CIA.  Excellent point of view for the future President ho will rely on the CIA for the information to guide his decisions.  (note the sarcasm, please).  This is the same future President who has had only four of the daily intelligence briefings since the election.  This does not indicate someone prepared to be the ultimate authority and decision maker of the federal government - to put it mildly.

Meanwhile, he told his rally that he no longer needed their votes and when the audience chanted "lock her up", Trump replied "we don't care about that anymore".  So much for his followers.  Which explains why there are three people who worked for Goldman Sachs (remember his accusations against Clinton for her speeches) and an array of millionaires and billionaires who funded his campaign and who are generally opposed to the missions of the cabinet  departments they are appointed to lead.  Huh?

Bottom line - Trump is for Trump.  When he reveals his plan for control of his businesses on December 15, the best choice will be to withdraw from the electoral process.  He is is without a foundation, without a compass of any sort to guide him through the process of governing.

Worth Noting

Hillary Clinton's popular vote lead has now surpassed 2.8 million.  Ahd the CIA reports that Russia was behind an effort to elect Donald Trump.  So way is Trump creating the most extremely conservative administration I can even imagine?  And, with Trump denying Russian involvement, now we are hearing that Trump is seriously considering the Exon CEO, with agreements in place with Russia, for secretary of State.
NOW will the Electoral College come to its senses and become patriots?

It's Time

It's time for Democrats to stop talking about the racism of the Trump campaign, despite that very valid  point.  It's time for Democrats to start fighting the Trump cabinet appointments.  See my December 8 Daily Commentary that lists the nominees.  Their known positions could destroy the fabric of this country.

WELCOME!

I have been commenting on politics and news for months, starting with the recent Presidential campaign.  My point of view is to look at current news and attempt to distinguish between facts and fiction and also to communicate sensible comments on the absurdity of  politics today.

Americans are very polarized in their views and that polarization has been encouraged by politicians, particularly politicians in the Republican Party, for their own end.  I point to Senator Mitch McConnell who declared his goal to make President Obama a one term President back in 2008.  It is my belief that McConnell simply found the vulnerability of President Obama that he could tweak  - the racism in America that we all know reacted to an African American in the White House.  We could go back further and look at the impeachment of President Clinton.  Again, Republicans found the vulnerability of a successful President and took it as far as they could.

Simple fact - Republicans obstruct and Democrats compromise.  Republicans in Congress stonewalled every reasonable action put forward by democrats, culminating in their refusal to confirm President Obama's moderate Supreme Court nominee.  Republicans obstructed and then blamed the Democrats for inaction.  Huh?  Republicans want to go back to values and attitudes of a time that doesn't exist anymore while Democrats try to move the country into the twenty-first century.  It seems that the Republican Party's main value is power, while Democrats value is reason. 

Donald Trump won by promising a return to employment in industries that are dying or dead and by stoking all manner of fear and prejudice.  Actually, I predict that Trump will either decide to resign when the realities of governing confront him or he will be impeached.  Either way, we will simply face a new President who is just as frightening, maybe moreso because he is the ultimate conservative ideologue while Trump's values remain unclear.

So, I continue my blog as the Democratic Party confronts years of reactionary policies.  Please check out my pages, especially my effort to call out the many lies that are sure to continue.

Here's a sample of my take on Trump's Lies.  He declared that millions of illegals voted for Hillary Clinton.  Wow.  He scored big with that one - a two-fer of points for Trump - he manages to dismiss Clinton's 2.7 million vote popular win AND, as a bonus, casts further distress about undocumented immigrants.  Now here is a great lie - it manages to serve two purposes at once!   What a bonus!

CNN Van Jones

Usually, I have been impressed with Van Jones' journalism.  Last night, his special on the election postmortem left me angry and offended.  It is too soon for this as all sides remain raw and hurt.

His representives of the Republican and Democratic positions were uneven choices.  Former Senator Rick Santorum of PA is definitely a conservative, known for his fanatical pro life position.  He defended Trump positions down the line, while denying the radical statements that trump made while campaigning.  Maybe he's looking for a job - I'm sure their are many positions, perhaps below cabinet level, available.  Award winning film maker, Michael Moore, represented the Democratic position.  But Moore focused on his mantra over past months - the serious issue in the heartland, the loss of jobs in the rust belt, and how the Democrats missed that point.  The third rep, whose name I missed, was a Republican Latina who voted for Hillary Clinton and argued that the Republican Party needs to accept people of diverse views on issues like LGBT rights.

Efforts to talk about race were extraordinary examples of denial of truth.  The enormous hole in the discussion was total absence of the discussion of sexism.

The fact is that in 3 critical states, Trump won by about 100,000 votes.  Clinton won the popular vote by 2.7 million votes.  If no patriots come forward to change the result of the Electoral college, Trump will be President in January.  So be it. 

BUT the current discussion should be about how to bring both sides together - in the middle, where the collective body politic is located.  Trump's staff and cabinet selections take no account of the facts of the election and Kellyanne Conway's statement, "Hashtag, we won," sums up the Trump position.  Do not ask me to accommodate anything coming from the Republicans right now.  I ask Democrats in Congress - make the most of confirmation hearings and point out as firmly as possible the problems Trump is creating.

FACTS

Hours before Trump declared the new Air Force One from Boeing as too expensive at $4 billion, Boeing confirmed that they are under contract for $1.7 million for design of Air Force One, targeted for completion in 2024.  At best, $4 billion is an estimate.  News outlets are reporting the Boeing CEO's public statement hours earlier in which he pointed out the vast segment of their plane construction and delivery goes overseas and criticized Trump's advocacy of  tariffs, particularly mentioning China.
At best, this is a disturbing example of Trump micromanaging and fudging facts, if not lying.

I plan to open separate page on this blog that will be devoted to lies in the news, particularly lies by Trump. 

Truth, Please!

Trump tweeted and then said in person that $4 billion was too expensive for a new Air Force One.  David Faber, on CNBC, who ahs amazing amounts of information at his fingertips, declared that the most recent public information was a cost of one million and change for 2 new Air Force One planes.  He was unable to get a clarification from Boeing so far. 
Surely Trump knows that Air Force One is a moving secure Oval Office.  Let's look closely at the costs - security, development programs involved, number of planes, cost overruns, agreed upon initial costs, etc. 
These glib pronouncements continue to undermine faith in government.  How can this be combtted when glib pronouncements, if not lies, pour forth?
Where is the truth? 

Secretary of State

This "search" is a joke.  The position is too important for the search to be a very public game.  The "game" includes many candidates of vastly different views, coupled with the supposition that interviews of some of these candidates were Trump's efforts to elicit groveling from his former opponents.  Think Romney, who talked the talk, probably because he is willing to serve his country, even to the point of practically humiliating himself.  While all the opinions of these candidates might be valuable to this very needy President-elect, but plying the guessing game is nonsense.
It is likely that whoever is now selected will have less gravitas, less authority than a selection chosen without this very public game. 
Come to think, this is also a way for the President-elect to retain his own position of power and authority.  How will any Secretary of State in a Trump administration be able to negotiate anything?  Now that is w Trump really wants!

YIPPEE!!

There's hope. Joe Biden is considering running for President in 2020.  It can't come soon enough!  Joe would have crushed Trump.  He still can.

Trying to Catch Air

Trump takes a phone call and then says it's no big deal, Taiwan just called  for congratulations.  Public and press get upset, Trump spokespersons downplay the implications of the phone call and then Trump tweets enumerating serious issues that he has with China's policies and then VP-Elect Pence and Trump surrogates say it's just a Trump response to those distressed by his phone call and he supports the One China policy.
Isn't it reasonable to be confused?  What does Trump want?  Just this - keep everyone guessing.  After all, he said during the campaign that he liked being unpredictable.  well, here it is in action.  And at best, this is an inappropriate way to conduct foreign policy, worse, it's terrifying.

Unintended Consequences

I think it was General Colin Powell who reminded us about unintended consequences when George Bush contemplated the second Iraq war.  Those words haunt to this day.  And Trump seems ready to pursue unintended consequences with China.  Initilly, he tweets that there was nothing in the Taiwan phone call - he said they called him, implying what's the big deal.  A couple days later, he tweets about the problems that he finds with China and e learn that the Taiwan call was  in the works for a while.
China reacted by blaming Taiwan for the call.  This is just as dangerous as if China actually confronted Trump, who is, thankfully, not yet, the American government representative.  China could easily gobble up Taiwan - one little island against a nation that is a continent of how many people?
What happens then?  Do we take on China militarily over Taiwan?  Then there is always the issue of American debt held by China and North Korea.  And does Trump want American shoppers paying a 35% premium due to the tariffs he wants to impose?
I don't think Trump has ever played chess.

Some Day

Currently, it serves Trump's interest to be both the President-elect and to be seen as inexperienced, unprepared, etc.  He can tweak China with Taiwan and test their response.  China was quite gentle in their response.  Then, Trump tweets about China's alleged positions and affronts to the USA.  This tweet tells us that Trump seemed to know what he was doing with the Taiwan phone call. 

Any way you look t this, Trump is heading down a dangerous path.  The most important issues with China are  North Korea's nuclear ambitions and the US debt held by China.  Taiwan and trade phoney ways to appease Trump's voters.  The debt is a huge issue and has potential to interfere his plan with rebuilding the infrastructure.  Tweeting will prevent effective diplomatic relations with China. 

Diplomacy by tweet is dangerous, short sighted, rude and just plain wrong.

Aha!

I think I figured it out.  Rep Tom Price for Health & Human Services.  Of course.  VP-Elect Pence is in charge of the transition team.  That pick is Pence's choice.  Whether Trump said, do your thing, I don't care or, simply, it's your call, or I owe you one, or I'm too busy focusing on the economy and foreign affairs or working on pay back to the people who trashed me -whatever - this is Pence's choice.  Fro whatever this possible insight is worth.  Does Trump even realize the potential impact of this appointment on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security?

My Opinion

Pundits have been parsing whether Trump knew what was involved in the Chin-Taiwan-USA when he participated in the phone call from the Taiwan president.  Then the pundits sited the calls to the leaders of Pakistan and the Philippines.  It has been reported that Trump is not taking the daily intelligence briefings that are offered nor has he consulted with the department of State.  Meanwhile, Kelly Ann Conway states that Trump is getting the necessary advice about international diplomacy.
None of the above matters.  What is very clear is that Trump does what he feels like with disregard for the ramifications. 
He said in the campaign that he wanted to my unpredictable.  He is doing just that.
My conclusion is that he is doing what any child, especially any spoiled child does - test.  Trump just does stuff, seemingly saying, let's see what happens.  With the Taiwan call, when there is a "kerfluffle", he tweets that the Taiwan president called him.  This is a typical child's response to a fuss - he started it!
I don't think Trump cares about the details of history and diplomacy.  He just throws it out there  and waits to see what will happen.  Utterly terrifying in a President.

Impeachment

I am curious as to how long everyone thinks it will take for Trump to get impeached.  I remember the Republicans who held hearings that were heading toward the Nixon impeachment before he resigned.  "What did he know and when did he know it?"  Remember that?
I wonder what the issue will be - his conflicts of interest? his military stances led by the generals?  his diplomatic mistakes? - and when it will happen.  I'm inclined to expect it after the midterms in 2018 and a result of his actions as President, not his conflicts of interest.  I wonder what will drive the Republicans over the edge.  Maybe interest on the debt or its repayment.
Or will he do something so illegal it can't be ignored?

Trump is over the edge

Trump spoke to the President of Taiwan - the first contact by an American President or President-elect in about 40 years.  Thereby he contradicted the American policy toward China for the past 40 years.  Mainland China maintains that they are the one and only China and the American position accepts that position.  China is a major trading partner and holds countless amounts of American government debt.
It is reported that Trump has not accepted the daily intelligence briefings nor has he consulted with the US Department of State.  So why did Trump take this action?  Why did he tell the President of Pakistan that he (the President of Pakistan) was great?
Why is Trump doing these things?  Either he is simply stupid, choosing to take positions contrary to long standing positions of the US government, listening to someone who wants to destabilize American foreign relations.  Is he trying to undermine Obama and the sitting US government?  He can't wait to screw it up until he is sworn in?  reporters say that John Bolton was visiting Trump today.  Did he listen to this radical out of the mainstream voice?
This is the same person who last night declared publicly that his promises (to keep carrier jobs in the US) are "euphanisms"!  Trump has told us that he views his words as meaning nothing!
Can it get more terrifying?

Trump Smiled

He held a rally in Columbus, Ohio and I listened to a bit.  He asked the audience if the campaign had been so much fun, adding something about fighting Hillary.  The audience cheered and began the now famous chant, "Lock her up."  Trump stood there and smiled.
He also declared that he had won by so much that he had a mandate.  He did not.  Hillary's lead in the popular vote is over 2.5 million votes.  Maybe that's why he held the rally - he has good reason to still fight the campaign.
Here's the thing.  Trump had the perfect opportunity to put the campaign behind the country and attempt to unify the country.  But NO!  Trump fed the mob.

Two Percent !

With Philadelphia updating its vote total, Hillary Clinton now has a 2% lead over Trump in the national popular vote.  This is despite Trump declaring that he has a mandate.  He continues to lie.

Why?

I hear that Carrier had previously turned down the Indiana offer of support to keep their jobs in Indiana.  The current thinking is that the motivator to accept the offer now is that the parent company, United Technologies, is a big defense contractor and that they want to stay in Trump's good graces.
Moving on to the why of the election, the carrier issue is a microcosm of Republican politics.  It's about control.  Just like Senator McConnell promising to make Obama a one term President and Boehner promising obstruction of Obama's every initiative.  Again, Republican control.
While the democrats try to compromise.
Here's my point.  democrats are playing the wrong game.  Republicans have been seeking how to attck going back to the President Clinton impeachment.
Now Democrats are dithering over why they lost and why they are loosing voters.  They don't play rough (or dirty) - choose your own perception.  Yes, perhaps they needed to hone their economic message.  But it goes beyond that.  Democrats need to attack Republicans. 
Add to that the Republicans ready targets - there is a segment (a large one) of white America that is only too happy to revolt even now against the idea of an African-American President and white male America continued the revolt against the possibility of a woman as President.
Democrats, stop arguing and start fighting!

Jobs in Indiana

Jim Cramer, CNBC “guru” and sometime sage, has been on a post-election rant of euphoria.  Claiming to be apolitical and nonpartisan, but suspected to be Democratic (large “D”) leaning, Cramer reports the prospects of the upcoming reduction in regulation, favorable approach to fossil fuels and change allowing the repatriation of vast amounts of corporate profits now held overseas, lower tax rates for corporations and repeal of some or all of Dodd Frank Law (which includes the Consumer Protection Bureau and oversight on lending policies of big banks).  Not to mention Trump’s desire for more oil pipelines.

The prospective Presidential cabinet and staff is loaded with millionaires and billionaires and graduates of Goldman Sachs.

There is some debate about the forthcoming position on income taxes, with Trump pledging a big reduction in upper income taxes while the Treasury Secretary nominee claims any reduction in upper income taxes will be offset by reductions in allowable itemized deductions.

Meanwhile, the prospective Secretary of H&HS has been vocal about repealing the Affordable Care Act and Medicare and Medicaid hang in the balance.  Now there is something that will seriously damage the middle class AND potentially increase the charity bill for hospital emergency rooms.

And, today, Trump will take a falsely called “victory” lap, for saving 1,000 jobs at the Carrier plant in Indiana.  What no one is talking about is the “deal” that made it possible – some sort of government subsidy from Indiana – the Indiana governor is still vice President-elect Mike Pence.  So government funding is keeping these jobs in Indiana.  Think about the future prospects – a corporation can threaten to send jobs overseas and the “deal” will be government subsidy to keep them here?  Where is the Republican promoted free marketplace?  What about the competitors who don’t get the government subsidy?   This is a dreadful precedent.  I think of George W Bush’s proclamation of victory in Iraq – remember that big publicity stunt on the aircraft carrier?  Here we go again.

One thousand jobs saved in Indiana with government subsidy is just another sign of the phoney bait and switch game of mirrors designed to sucker the average American.

Lawrence Tribe

Lawrence Tribe is a professor of constitutional law at Harvard School of Law.  He opined that the Electoral college should not vote for a candidate that has intrinsic conflicts of interest.  Trump's declaration that as President he has no legal obligation to divest his vast business interests.  What Trump is saying is no different than what Nixon said when he declared that if the President does it, it can't be illegal.  IMHO, If Trump's conflicts aren't addressed, the country continues to push the Presidential crisis down the road toward impeachment.

True Colors

Threats to prosecute Hillary Clinton - because of her going along with Jill Stein's recount efforts -shows the trump team for what it is - self serving, unethical, without any principles except trump gain.  Nothing and none is safe from Trump's self-aggrandizement.

DIVERSION

Trump just nominated 2 critical posts - Tom Price for Secretary of Health & Human Services and Seema Verna for head of the center for Medicare and Medicaid.  See my previous post for my scathing rant on her. 
Rather than having the public and media focusing on the discussion of their qualifications and characteristics for handling these jobs, Trump tweets about revoking citizenship for flag burning.  Revoking citizenship for flag burning is unlikely to ever take place, unless this country drastically changes our Constitutional safeguards. 
So media focuses on Trump's bull shit rather than one of the most critical areas for the majority of the citizens of this country - their health insurance system!
MEDIA, GET WITH HE PROGRAM !!!

Tom Price & Seema Verna

Welcome to Indiana, USA - Seema Verna has been named to head the center for Medicare and Medicaid within the dept of HHS, to be headed by Tom Price - the GA Congressman who swore to repeal the ACA. So much for Trump's "promise" to maintain Medicare.  Welcome aboard, suckers!

Here's an excerpt from the official blog of Physicians for a National Health Plan that explains the absurdity of the Indiana  Medicaid program (POWER ccounts):

So how do the POWER accounts work? First it is important to understand the complexity of the establishment and administration of these accounts because there are so many variables depending on whether the recipients are above or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), which plan they participate in (Regular Plus, Regular Basic, State Plus, State Basic, plus HIP Link), whether or not they are classified as medically frail, whether they are Native Americans, whether or not they use preventive care services, and so forth. The description that follows applies differentially depending on these variables but will be presented as if it were a uniform program since these features represent the general drift of HIP 2.0. The actual details can be found in the Lewin Group report (link above).

The POWER accounts are funded mostly by the state with a contribution from the patient amounting to about 2 percent of income, up to a combined maximum of $2500 (mostly from the state). They are used to pay for the first $2500 of care (except for preventive services) and then a managed care plan begins paying. The payment by the patient is so small that it has very little impact on the government’s share of the costs. But most of these patients have no discretionary income thus even these small payments can be a financial burden to them, having to displace spending on other essentials.

If the individual uses no medical services, their contributions can accumulate in their POWER accounts and they can take their funds with them when they leave the program. But the maximum in the account can be only $2500, and their contribution is only a fraction of that. It is obvious that the meager amount that would be returned in no way could be used as an additional retirement benefit – defeating one of the purposes of HSAs.

If the patients fail to contribute to the POWER account, and their income is over 100 FPL, they completely lose their coverage and cannot reapply for a minimum of 6 months. If their income is under 100 FPL and they fail to contribute to the POWER account, they are shifted to the Basic plan and then are exposed to copayments, and they lose services such as dental and eye, and are limited in their prescription benefits.

These accounts are supposed to increase consumer awareness, but many of the participants do not know that the accounts exist, and many of those who do don’t really understand them. This hardly advances the conservative concept of consumer-directed health care.

Obviously these POWER accounts are not based on any sound health policy science, but they are merely a fabrication of ideologically-driven bureaucrats who want to pretend or maybe have fooled themselves into believing that they have created a poor man’s version of health savings accounts. HSAs actually provide benefits, albeit primarily for the healthy and wealthy. Medicaid was designed as a prepaid health care system for those with low incomes. The Medicaid Power accounts do the opposite of HSAs in that they penalize those who do not participate, taking away traditional Medicaid benefits, thereby adversely affecting particularly those with the lowest incomes.

This is a perverse program designed to satisfy the ideology of the Indiana stewards. (Kentucky is next.) One of the Indiana stewards and a strong supporter of POWER accounts – the governor – is currently a candidate for the vice-presidency of the United States. Programs like this expose the souls of those who support them.

Clown Show Continues

Trump has announced that millions voted for Clinton - illegally.  Of course, he presented no evidence with his announcement.  This sort of blatant lie might have been humorous from a candidate, but as President-elect it is dangerous.  A potential President by Tweet.  Disinformation.  Disgusting. 
Meanwhile, the clown show continues as his staff argue publicly between Guiliani and Romney as his nominee for Secretary of State.  Not worthy of a Presidential staff and not supportive of the potential candidate who will need international credibility to do the Secretary's job properly.  Not to mention that Guiliani has displayed total behavioral absurdity for a potential secretary.  It would be a joke, if it weren't so serious.
Finally, for the moment, I read that one impact of the Affordable Care Act was the saving of $7.4 BILIION in charity uncompensated costs at US hospital emergency rooms.  So frightening talk continues about repealing the ACA, knocking 22 million people out of coverage and loosing supportive portions of the ACA, like not allowing denial for pre-existing conditions and also allowing adult kids to continue on their parents' policies.  And then there is Medicare - talk about Paul Ryan's pet project - to unravel a program that has worked for seniors for decades - so the very seniors who can't afford it and are most vulnerable will face the need to further subsidize their health insurance.  And please note that currently, poor seniors who can't afford the highest quality Medicare options must choose basic coverage with co-pays and treatment limitations. 
Maybe Republicans in the Congress, who will eventually face re-election fights, might come to their senses on health insurance, but meanwhile, the executive clown show continues.

YES !

The Clinton campaign is supporting the recount initiated in Wisconsin by Jill Stein.  A good move.  107,000 votes in 3 states decide the Electoral count; over 2 million votes more than Trump overall.
Who talked endlessly about a "rigged" election?  Who cast doubt on whether he would accept the result if he didn't win?  Who encouraged Russian hacking?
Whatever happens, will happen.  But there is no reason to believe the results without the closest review possible.
Al Gore was the American hero in 2000.  This situation is entirely different - without raising the terrible direction we face for four years under Trump.  A leader who isn't bothering to receive the daily security briefings, who is establishing a cabinet through a public tease.  Who is changing his positions on major issues randomly.  A disaster in the making.
And he has absolutely NO MANDATE for radial change.
Turmoil now will save fiasco later.

Another Old White Man

Wilbur Ross, likely for Secretary of Commerce.  Perfect.  (That's sarcasm, just to be clear.)   He's 78 years old and his claim to wealth and fame is that he took bankrupt companies, like steel companies, broke them up and made a fortune.  Just what Trump voters thought they would get.  (That's also sarcasm, just to be clear.)
This is the epitome of what we can expect form Trump.  Along with Betsy DeVos, another wealthy scion of conservatism, for education who supports charter schools rather than the public schools - which educate the vast majority of American children and support the men and women who educate them.
Welcome aboard, fools!

Daily Security Briefings

The most unprepared President-elect in recent history has had only two security briefings of the briefings provided DAILY since the election.  Be afraid, be very afraid.

MAKE THE CALL !!!

Jill Stein has quickly - in lightning fast speed - raised millions toward the recount in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.  Hillary's popular vote margin is going over 2 million.  We are facing the most unprepared polarizing President in our lifetimes who is moving toward a very radical administration - think Steve Bannon, Betsy DeVos, Wilbur Ross.  This is not even what his voters expected, let alone his opponents.  Well, maybe his opponents were smart enough to expect this.  In any case, we need to know the facts.
MAKE THE CALL !!!!

Precision

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by over 2 million votes.  Scientists have discovered anomalies in voting patterns in the counties using electronic ballots in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.   It's time for a recount to make sure that the election ahs been accurately tallied.
Remember who spent the entire campaign declaring that the election "was rigged".  Who promised that if he didn't win, it would be proof that the election "was rigged".  He questioned whether he would concede the election.
Then there is the general issue of hacking, Wiki leaks and Russian influence.
DEMAND A RECOUNT!

Wrong Twice

It was wrong for Trump to promise to prosecute Hillary Clinton during his campaign.  I wrote endlessly about his leading the chants of  "lock her up".  It was not a promise that any candidate could fulfill as President  since it was always up to the Department of Justice and the DOJ/FBI Director declared that there would be no prosecution of Hillary Clinton.  This was simply one more phoney issue to achieve victory.
Now, as President-elect, Trump again has taken it upon himself to decide who does or does not get prosecuted for a possible act.
The remaining outstanding question is how Trump has formulated the position of Attorney General in the person of his nominee, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions.  Is there a mutual agreement in the standard independence expected of the USAG?
We will continue to see other evidence of this theme - phoney issues to achieve victory that will haunt until Trump leaves office, if he ever actually survives to take the oath.
My prediction is that he will take the oath, nominate a supreme Court Associate Justice and then - one way or another - leave the Office of the President.

Crooked Media

CROOKED!  First is was Hillary, now it's the "media".  Using multiple approaches to avoid the media, Trump is moving toward a lack of visibility and openness that hints of authoritarian style of leadership that is contrary to American democracy.
Recent examples of this pattern range from trivial to critical. 
By producing his own video to update his transition efforts, he denied the press the opportunity to ask questions.  And there is a critical issue on the table - how to separate his business and public government interest.  Already, we have seen serious breaches of the American tradition - Trump's children meeting with foreign leaders while participating in transition planning, Trump meeting with leaders from India on his business dealings, raising issues with British leaders about wind farms off Scotland that would interfere with the views from his golf courses.
Trump held a meeting with television political press - on the condition of being "off the record" !!! (which in itself is problematic) - and then ranted for twenty minutes and criticized his coverage as "unfair".  This is from the man who got vast amounts of free tv coverage that propelled him to Electoral College victory.  He also singled out Martha Radditz and another woman journalist, perhaps Megan Kelly.
Finally, while not major, it is an attack on free speech when he criticized the Hamilton cast member - and the audience who booed - for stating his concerns to Pence.
We have here evidence that he is attempting to stifle criticism and openness.  Given his campaign promises - remember "I alone can fix it" - and the stream of lies that led to his Electoral College victory vigilance is the only possible response to this authoritarian threat.  And this threat is coupled with the frightening bigotry toward everyone except white men - just look at his first cabinet choice, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions.

Tim Ryan

Tim Ryan wants Nancy Pelosi's job as Democratic House leader.  To that end, he predicts that the Democratic Party will be a regional, no national, political party. 
It's a great line but not true.  A few facts - Hillary Clinton won the national vote by over 1.7 million votes.  Trump's election, in my view, was the response of the white male electorate to an African-American President and a woman Presidential candidate.  The media gave Trump huge amounts of free coverage, and much of that coverage included his vast array of lies,
That is not to say that there is no work to do for Democrats. The key will be to reconcile the diverse elements of the Party, particularly bringing back the white working class people who fear the other part of the Democratic  Coalition - Africn-Americans, Latinos, women and people who live on the East and West Coasts.
Tim Ryan doesn't need to tear the party apart for his own ambition.

Hail or Heil

Does it matter?  Even if it was "Hail", it's intent was the same.  This Alt-Right gathering was celebrating the election of Donald Trump as a sympathetic voice to their causes of "European" supremacy and bigotry against all others. 
Trump has not come out forcefully against their message.

Meanwhile, Trump has produced a video about his transition team plan.  No press invited. 
And I heard about an in person meeting with media leaders, supposedly to work out relationships, began with his twenty minute rant.
Of course he doesn't want to meet openly with press - the first issue is the conflicts of interest.

I follow liberal media.  the question is how the mainstream press will follow him.

Lies

During the campaign, Trump said that his influence resulted in the Ford Motor Company changing its plan to move a factory making cars to Mexico.  Trump has reiterated this claim.  The Ford CEO has stated repeatedly that his company never planned the move that Trump accused him of. 
It's bad, but not unusual, for a candidate to lie or at least exaggerate.  It's another thing for a President-elect to blatantly lie, all with the goal of self-aggrandizing.

This fits with Trump's limiting access to the press.  Equally alarming is the involvement of his children in managing the transition - Ivanka meeting with the Japanese prime minister, wanting Ivanka's husband in Trump's security briefings (not cler whether he was actually there), limiting access to press preventing photo ops and instead providing in-house photos.  It goes on.

Elliot Cohen,  a foreign policy professional, advised staff to work with trump, in the interest of the well being of the nation.  After one meeting with Trump staff, who basically said they won and it would be their way, changed his mind and advised staying as far away as possible.  There is  a hint of an authoritarian style that is truly contrary to American values and Constitutional law.  Think aobut the Presdient-elect criticizing protest directed at the Vice-President-elect.  That is too close to condemning free speech.

I despise the reactionary potential to civil and women's rights.  The thought that the country could revert to the status of the 1950's or worse is appalling.  But I believe the country could survive this, however painful that survival would be.  But in foreign affairs!  The anti-Islam and anti-Moslem actions, along with enabling Russia through apparent friendships and lobbying - that would be change that would never undone and could actually lead to active war.

 I fear for our future as country.I have not yet given up hope that some Republicans will come to their senses and vote for sanity in the Electoral College.

Maybe

Well, look at the "bright" side.  There is nothing ambiguous about Trump's first three picks - AG,  CIA and National Security Advisor.  There is no confusion, non subtlety.  Trump is going all out on his campaign rhetoric.  They were not empty words.  He has now shown his true color. 
It is up to reasonable people of all political shades and stripes to stand for ration, reason, basic good sense and human concern.

Jeff Sessions

Here's a link to The New York Times confirmation of sessions' appointment as US Attorney General:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-attorney-general.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=a-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

 In summary, in the past, Sessions was denied Senate committee approval for a federal judgeship because of his racist comments.  He supports denial of avenues to citizenship to undocumented immigrants, he supports building "the wall" and anti-Moslem policies. 

Again, I am sick to my stomach.
The struggle continues and grows.

A Picture

So far, two trends are emerging foreshadowing the Trump Administration.  Well, perhaps three trends. 
First, the overall economy.  The likelihood of vastly decreased regulation corporations has led to a sudden and widespread increase in the values of stocks while bond prices have gone down in anticipation of a huge infrastructure program.  So there will be an impact on the economy.  As an aside, isn't it interesting that the Republican Congress is willing to spend and accrue huge deficits for a Republican President, but would not do under a democratic President.  We can expect higher interest rates (compounding the problem with the deficit) and increased inflation.  Perhaps most key for the average American is the potential loss of consumer protections.
Second, bigotry has become mainstream.  Steve Bannon in the White House, talk of a Moslem registry and the flirtation with the man from Kansas, Kris Koback, who wrote the /Arizona laws putting undocumented Latinos at grave risk.  It is no accident that hate crimes have increased significantly.
Third, there is a pro-Russian flavor developing with Lt. General Flynn at center stage.
None of this bodes well for the average American.
Finally, Trump is surrounding himself with people who have - dare I say - extreme views.  Wile at the same time, Trump seems to be maintaining an autocratic view of leadership by himself alone.  Remember?  "I alone can fix it"?  I think he meant it.  Maybe the "I" includes his adult children and Jared Kushner, a few trusted allies.  But there seems to be a lack of understanding of government that is going to led to chaos.  Maybe tht ill be good in slowing his "progress".
Pundits  say the "wisdom of the electorate", "this is what they voted for" .  No, voters did not vote for bigotry nor economic benefits to corporations.  None of this addresses the needs of the electorate - affordable health care, child care and college, an economy that will allow them to return to the middle class, to buy a house.
We will see but it looks like we are headed for a rough four years.

We Will Survive

Nothing about the past week has shown an ability of the President-elect to get off to a good start.  Truthfully, I have tried not to pay too much attention since I do not expect anything of substantial effect for a while.  But really, the bad signs are evident everywhere.
Purging his transition team (even though as a Jerseyite I detest Christie and am happy to see him put in his place for one) in an apparent vendetta over Christie conviction of Jared Kushner's father is frightening in itself.  Trump halted the pace of the transition over a family vendetta.  The vendetta included Mike Rogers who is said to be the most capable person for security on the team.  And the replacement team was not anywhere near ready to pick up the pieces.
Then there are the only staffing decisions public - Reince Prievis, Steve Bannon and the Trump adult children.
Then there is the issue of the Trump empire - to be run by the same adult children for whom he wants security clearances.  The family that already is mixing their commercial interests with the government funded transition website.
Then there is the Presidency-elect by tweet, declaring that the transition is organized and only Trump himself knows who will be joining the cabinet.
Then there is Fifth Avenue, New York City. brought to gridlock because of both protesters and Presidential level security.  Think of the cost in dollars and personnel for the NYC Police Department.  But Trump won't take his team to Washington.
Finally, he spoke Putin and the next day Putin bombed Aleppo.  Republican John McCain issued a warning about not responding appropriately to Putin's phoney overtures.  The American government's reaction to Putin's behavior was reasonable.  Funny how Trump wants to warm to Putin while he distances the American public form his transition activities.
Speaker Paul Ryan is grinning and happy about total Republican control of the federal government.  Senator leader Mitch McConnell was more measured, responding to question with silence.  I have written many times that the future in in their hands.  How far are they going to be willing to go in selling the country's soul to the devil?
Congressional elections are in two years.  The struggle continues
Yes,. the USA will survive but vigilance is essential and the press will play a vital role. 

Peace

Barrack Obama brought us peace and improving economy.
Trump allies are talking about "rebuilding" the military (was it dismantled - I think not), aggressive stances around the world, lowering taxes, and a major infrastructure bill.  He is floating names of candidates for posts in foreign relations who are war hawks.
Here's the thing - Trump doesn't know what he is looking at.  These are people with powerful agendas who will lead this country into hostile relations with adversaries  and that leads to war.  It is a question of how the USA leads -  Obama led through diplomacy and respect. these neocons want to lead through power and force. 
I truly doubt that Trump understands the ramifications of where he is heading the country.
Kushner, his son-in-law, asked how many staffers in the West Wing would be leaving and they would replace.   He didn't even know that they would all be leaving.  Trump wants top security clearance for his children and, even if they don't get it now, they will when he is President.  These young adults are not appropriate advisors, nor is Steve Bannon nor Reince Prievus.  Not one has worked with Congress or government.
Maybe the ebst we can hope for is that the administration is so messed up that they can't get anything done.

STEVE BANNON ?!?!!?

Steve Bannon - a counsel to the President.  A total outrage.  He is anti-government, obstructionist, racist, bigot.

Then there is the issue of Trump's adult children being his counsel while also supposedly running the family businesses.  The American people still don't know the reach of trump's financial empire around the world, especially the impact of it on relations with Russia. 

And remember, Republicans control the entire Congress.  The very politicians who obstructed Obama for eight years and will continue to show that they put the Republican Party ahead of the nation.  I doubt that Trump could do anything that would cause his own party to impeach him.  But, given his view of military tactics, will we need to rely on the military to confront Trump?  A military coup in the USA.  What a horror.

Here's the thing.  Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by over two million votes!  Donald Trump does not have some extreme mandate.  I understand and accept that Trump's election means a leaning to the right, to more conservative policies. 

But the change in direction should not erase the direction of the country for the past fifty to seventy five years.  Medicare, Social Security, Roe v Wade.  The recent global climate change agreement, NATO, NAFTA. 
Radical change will bring upheaval across the USA and Trump will have earned it. 

I fear that these people will know the inner secrets of the American government.

Safety Pins

Wear your safety pin.  A symbol of solidarity and protection for those at risk of discrimination.

Get It Together

Let's not get caught up in the blame game.  Yes, Clinton lost.  We could rehash all the factors that led to the most bizarre Presidential election result in history.  Instead, let's look at the result for hints of how to regroup and find a way to achieve going forward.
Clinton won the popular vote by as much as two million!  But lost the central spine of the country in the electoral vote.
These stories about the civil war in the Democratic Party are a fake out. 
The Democratic Party has two main tasks.  First, reach out to their old constituency, the industrial "rust" belt working voters, most without college educations, who feel left behind, while maintaining the Obama coalition.  Second, figure out how to overcome repressive voter id laws that probably sewayed the lection definitively. 
At the same time, the Democratic constituency must gear up for potential fights on issues.  We'll see how Trump of the Republican Congress work together or not. We know wht the Congress will do, but we can hope trump will notice that his "mandate" will be from the Electoral College, not the popular vote. 
We will need to look to the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Planned Parenthood and other organizations who can lead the fight from outside the government.

Electoral College

Why don't the electors vote for Hillary Clinton? 

Election Results

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote.  Trump won the Electoral vote.  This also happened when Bush won the Electoral and Gore won the popular vote.
The bottom line is that the country is evenly divided - there re no mandates for radical agendas on either side.
For the moment, putting aside social issues, perhaps the main area of agreement is that the country needs to find a way forward in the post-industrial age.  This is an age where many people have been left behind - the people who have made their living in basic factory industries, ie people without the resources (skills, education, abilities and more) to thrive in this service and technological world.
The problem is that Republican Party wants to address this problem by reducing government and the Democratic Party wants to use government to help those struggling.
Healthcare is a perfect example.  Republicans look to employers to cover health insurance (which excludes those without good jobs) while Democrats seek to supplement available health insurance with a government program.  The problem is the health industry lobby - how can the country get rid of private insurance companies and go to a straight forward government system for all?
Affordable college is another.  How can young people enter the work force saddled with huge debts?  And, without a college education, really, without an advanced degree, how can young people find well paying jobs?
The best I see on the immediate horizon are tax cuts and infrastructure repair.  Which will balloon the deficit.  Beyond that, I see Republicans trying to impose an agenda that more than half the country doesn't want.
A good strt would be a Supreme Court nomination of a moderate, which, by the way, is exactly what Barrack Obama did.

The Day After

Lawrence O'Donnell just described the result of the election of Donald Trump as the decline of  American civilization.  This explains why an old college friend posted on facebook that the supporters of Hillary Clinton should be quiet and get over it.  That is why there are spontaneous organic protests in Oakland, CA, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City.
This election is not a typical election - O'Donnell is right - the results of this election reveal that our civilization is in decline.  It is not just the policies tht Trump espoused, it is his bigotry and the delivery of his message, his personal abuse of Hillary Clinton.  Hopefully this will be an aberration in American political history.
Of course, the Trump voters had legitimate concerns but their choice to address those concerns will be shown to be a scm unless Trump changes his course dramatically.  Considering Giuliani, Gingrich and Christie for major positions is not encouraging.
It is appalling to think that there is a civil protest against the results of a US Presidential election.  But it is because our civilization is in decline.

Election Results

The people have spoken.  The majority have been taken in by a scam artist.  As Michael Moore said, in a couple months, they will find out that he is a scam artist and then what?
Obama and Hillary said all the right things - unlike what the republican leadership said when Obama won in 2008 every day thereafter. 
But Hillary also said it's worth fighting for what you believe in.  We can't desert the causes and principles we value.
We can only hope that Trump figures out how to move the country forward responsibly.  "Make American Great Again" was a sogan for white dominance and bigotry of all sorts.  Did Trump know what he was doing?  Does he have a commitment to the worst that his slogan came to mean?  Does Trump really expect to move forward on all his vague, impossible to execute promises?
Or will he work to achieve a rational Presidency?
Only time will tell.  We will get hints as forms his government.

I ahd thought about discontinuing my blog after the election, but I guess not.

The Right to Vote

I saw this photo on the Washington Post.  Those are "I voted" stickers all over the grave of Susan B Anthony in Rochester, NY.  Let's remember her today - as we elect our first woman President.  I think about how much it meant to my grandmother to vote  up until her dying day at age 86.  She knew what it meant to actually get the opportunity to vote when she was already a mother of thirty-something.
But I haven't forgotten about Goodman Schwerner and Chaney or the Pettis Bridge.  (Forgive my spelling.)  African Americans fought and still fight to vote. 
But we might take another step forward tonight.
The country needs to put the lies behind us.  The difference in this election is that Trump tossed lies around like truth, ie., Clinton should be in jail, she would bring in millions of foreigners on day one, Clinton is sleeping away the campaign, she is ill and has no stamina and it goes on and on.  When Clinton talked about Trump's temperament and ability to be President, she told the truth.  Sure, I'm a liberal Democrat, but my observation is simple fact.  Trump lied, Clinton told the truth.
Friends have expressed the view that the Democrats and Clinton need to reach out to the Trump voters - the hard working white men who fear the loss of their livelihoods as the world moves forward, who resent others, women and people of color, who achieve in the evolving society.  I disagree, I think the democrats need to stand for their values - values that include affordable healthcare and college, rebuilding infrastructure, clean energy and the energy grid, among so much else.  Maybe if the Democrats get enough numerical strength they can overcome the fears of those left behind.
We might take a step forward tonight

Rally

What a night at Independence Hall !   Bon Jovi, Springstein, Bill Clinton, Mchelle Obama, President Obama and then Hillary.  I was standing behind Independence Hall, could her the audio but couldn't see anything.  A nice group gathered - it was as close as we could get.  Lots of young people and women, men of all ages, too, but lots of women.  Happy people.  I was there - maybe 3 Presidents in one event, we'll know about that tomorrow night.

Meanwile, Trump proposes his key cabinet officers - Gingrich for Secretary of State, Guiliani for attorney general, General Flynn for Defense Secretary and Rence Previs for Chief of Staff.  ll white older men.  Think about it - the Nine Wives Club.  Think of the limitations all have shown - Previs presiding over the disintegration of the Republican Party, Flynn, who sat in on Trump's security briefing and argued with the briefer.  Gingrich I so divisive nd is going to be our top diplomat?  and Guiliani who ahs been sounding insane on the campign circuit.  No people of color, no women.  That's Trump all over gain.  It is why he must be defeated

Why No Trump

Here's a link to Fareed Zakaria's op ed:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/06/opinions/fareeds-take-on-trump/index.html

I was interested because he headlined, "Trump is a cancer on American democracy".  I agree with this sentiment.  But I was disappointed in the limits of his conclusions.  I m obliged to add, perhaps more crucially, Trump does not display any indication of how the US Constitution direts the government.  His promise of how "I alone can fix it" ignores the US Constitution.  Trump does not respect the rule of law.  In addition to the pandering that Zakaria describes.

Unbelievable

I heard a reliable reporter with good sources say that it is possible that the FBI doesn't even have these alleged emails in their possession (because they haven't gotten the search warrant yet).  EEEGAD!
Meanwhile, Trump declares that for Comey to having done this, it must be something really horrible and it's worse than Watergate.  (Watergate - which was the story of 49 officials criminally convicted and many of the sent to prison, an entire Presidency engaged in criminal activity and the forced resignation of a aPresident.)
The US Attorney general advised Comey against doing this.
In any case, James B Comey is going to change the course of the election with no known concrete basis at all.
This is so so so wrong.  The only thing that will resolve it as best possible is for Comey to fall on his sword and reveal what exactly the FBI knows right now.  Or he will go down in American history with the worst.  His reputation is already ruined for all time based on his choice to cower to Republican lawmakers and his total lack of judgement so he might as well tell the whole truth.

If It Takes This

If it takes this revelation from FBI Director Comey to propel Trump to the Presidency, not only will the election have been skewed by the FBI director singlehandedly.  Prosecutors have pointed out the problem of revealing an investigation virtually before it has even begun.  The US Attorney General and deputy Attorney General both pointed out before he took the action of sending the letter to Congress that Comey's proposed against went against the long standing policy of not revealing things with 60 days of elections!  But Comey did it anyway. 
Even democrats still talk about Comey's integrity.  But perhaps hispride in his own integrity overcame simple common sense.
According to recent polls, the electorate was moving toward Clinton and awy from Trump.  Kind of like the electorate was coming to it collective senses.  If it takes this insane bizarre action, this country might get what it deserves.  A Trump Presidency will definitely bring a conservative Supreme Court, jeopardizing a woman's right to her own health decisions,  risks destabilizing the Americna economy by his immigration policies and the economic world order through trade and, ultimately, risking wars on a world level.
Here comes a Trump Presidency and thank you James Comey

Fire James Comey

Today, it is being reported that Loretta Lynch, US Attorney General, the boss of FBI Director, James Comey, advised him not to send the informational letter to the Republican congressional committee heads, with cc's to the Democratic ranking members. 
Most rational objective prosecutors are concurring that Comey's action is unprecedented and inappropriate.  Some have explained in more depth that the FBI's political review, normally sent issues of political importance for review before action, could not have possibly been consulted in this instance since Comey was only informed on Thursday and sent the letter on Friday, on day later. 
It is widely being discussed that Trump's relationship to Russia and Putin is under investigation by the FBI, as well as the WiKi leaks directed at Clinton and the Democratic Party.
Ergo, if Comey finds it necessary to reveal totally vague information about Huma Abedin's email accounts ascribing a relationship to Clinton's email server and questions of her possible abuse of confidential information how can he justify maintaining the privacy of the investigation of Trump and Russia?
Even FBI agents have been quoted as being distressed at the politicization of the FBI.  The politicization of the FBI is wrong and Comey needs to be fired.

James B Comey

What a revelation: In a brief letter to congressional leaders, Comey said that the FBI, in connection with an “unrelated case,” had recently “learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the Clinton investigation.”
Whoa.
So, a computer shared by Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner and seized by the FBI in the Weiner sexual scandal is where the emails were alledgedly discovered.
There is a consensus that any review will not be completed before the election.
From my knowledge of criminal investigations, the normal practice is that the investigation takes place privately. But not in this instance.  Comey has said everything and absolutely nothing.  These emails could be evidence of criminality or evidence of personal communication between Clinton and Abedin, who have had a close working relationship - or something in between.  We don't even know if these emails are new or copies of something already reviewed.
Donald Trump is ready to jail Clinton on this announcement and we can be sure to her him repeat what he ahs already declared, ie, that she shouldn't "be allowed" to run for President.
Now Comey broke all precedent in July when he described the outcome of his investigation into Clinton's server and emails by giving a pubic accounting of an investigation that did not result in any charges or indictments.  But that accounting including his judgment about Clinton's behavior.  Now he, again, presents damning but inconclusive facts.  Comey's July actions set him up to decide whether to reveal this new situation.  Granted, he was in a precarious position.  even if he didn't reveal these emails, any FBI staffer could easily leak them between now and election day.   So, in my view, Comey took the chicken way out.  he did the easy thing for himself.  No one can criticize him - eh withheld nothing! 
But he crucified Hilary Clinton.  She doesn't even know what the charge is, so how can she possibly defend herself?  While Trump has a field day.  And the Republican Party goes off the deep end.
Even Donald trump just declared that maybe the election isn't rigged.  No, the election isn't rigged, but James B Comey knows how to attack one candidate who has no chance to defend herself.
Neither the public, nor, presumably Hillary Clinton, know what is involved, so she will not be able to defend herself - if a defense is even warranted.
Eleven days before the election.
Remember Ken Starr, the Special Prosecutor? That led to Bill Clinton's impeachment over a lie totally unrelated to the initial reason he was appointed?  Then you wonder why the Clintons feel persecuted?  Is James B Comey related to Ken Starr? 
No responsible person wants Donald Trmp to become President.  If he does, we can thank James B Comey, head of the FBI.

Amazing

Trump went on a rant about how "Obamacare" was so terrible for his Doral golf course employees.  When the Doral manager was asked, he explained that at least 95% of their emplyees do not use "Obamacare" because they get employer provided health insurance.  Trump sounded so authoritative - he didn't have the slightest notion of the facts! 
Later, after he found out about employer provided health insurance, Trump said authoritatively that "Obamacare" was too much trouble for Doral to deal with.
Two points here - Trump knew none of the facts in the topic on which he was speaking authoritatively.  He can lie with total aplomb.  And he doesn't know the slightest bit about our health insurance delivery system!
The talking heads have already pointed out that what could have been a good news day for Trump was lost because he had no idea of how the health insurance system is delivered in this country.
There is a problem with the Affordable Care Act and its solvency.  Not a word was said about how it might be fixed.  Trump says repeal and replace - but with what?  and what about the many positive aspects of the law, including allowing kids to stay on their policies to age 26, getting rid of preexisting conditions and ending lifetime caps. 

Rigged

Trump says the election is rigged.  Every mainstream politician and media representative points out that the US election system is so local and state run, so de-centralized, that it would be difficult to "rig" the entire election.  There could be some irregularities - it has been established in court that some recent laws, primarily voter id and early voting reductions, have attempted to suppress voting by college students, people of color and the elderly - the people who generally vote for the Democratic candidate.  Regarding the North Carolina law, the court said the law aimed "with surgical precision" to suppress minority voting.  A PA state legislator was quoted as saying that his states' law aimed, in 2012, to elect Mitt Romney.
That said, to say that the media is biased, calling Hillary Clinton "crooked" and promising to put work at putting Clinton in "jail" - is ridiculous.
To broadly declare that the "election is rigged" is an outright lie and undermines the democratic (small "d") process in a way that endangers the foundation of our country.
As an aside, I read that Russia as interested in bringing "observers" to Oklahoma and another nearby state.  Officials in those states immediately promised to jail any Russians attempting to observe the election.  Interesting how Russia keeps popping up in this election - that's definitely a new development.  But I digress.
The media gave Trump enormous amounts of free air time during the primary - maybe even gave him that win.
Trump has a core group of followers who believe everything that he says.  It doesn't matter if he believes what he says.  What matters is that he is undermining belief in the democratic system. 
Hillary Clinton is going to face not only a divided country, but a portion of the country who does not accept her as President. 
Hillary and the Democratic Party are doing all they can to run up their score - that is the only thing they can do to give the election legitimacy.  Mainstream Republican politicians will some day have to take some leadership, maybe after the election, if any of them are left in office.  Right now, Republican politicians are afraid of the Trump voter.  That leadership will need to broaden their base and develop a consistent message instead of the current patchwork of racism, economic conservatism and religious fervor.

He said, "I'll sue."

Before the eleventh victim of sexual aggression by Trump came forward, Trump said he would sue each of the ten that had described his alleged sexual aggression toward them - after the election.  One of two things - either he is sure he won't be President or he is prepared to spend the first one hundred days of his Presidency on law suits that will place him at risk of perjury, given their right to cross examine him under oath.  And it will be difficult for him to testify in these ten, or eleven, suits, while pursuing his governmental agenda.
He will also be working on getting a special prosecutor to prosecute Hilary Clinton.  Now he is also discussing prosecuting some members of the media.
Gosh.  Trump is taking plays from the book of facism.

Outrage

Christie signed legislation that increases NJ gasoline tax by 23 cents per gallon.  I just learned that the figure isn't fixed.  It can change relative to the amount of gasoline sold in NJ.  So, if consumption goes own (probably due to increased gas prices) gas tax amount per gallon will go up.  WHOA! Talk about a double screw.  The tax goes from one of the lowest in the country to one of the highest and it could go higher, most likely when the price of gas goes higher.  You have to be kidding!
Two Republicans state legislatures are trying to pursue a repeal because of the flexibility aspect.

Interesting, same day the gas tax details were publicized, Bridget Kelly testified under oath that Christie knew about the GW bridge lane closures before they happened.  Another witness testified that he told Christie that his staff members knew about the closures 4 minutes before Christie told a press conference that noone on his staff knew.

And Christie has become the subject of a whistleblower law suit to testify about what he knew. 

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

Too bad that Christie is likely to veto legislation that would make drugs available to terminally ill people.  Oh well, /Christie will be gone soon enough.

Can we impeach him now?  The good news is that his political career is toast.

Hillary Clinton

I began as a Joe Biden supporter.  Not because I disliked or distrusted Hillary, but I felt that the US was not ready to elect a woman and I like Joe a lot.  After three debates and one Al Smith dinner, I am so impressed with Hillary.  She will be a great President.  And then I finally felt the excitement and joy - I am going to see a woman become President!

Here's the Thing

Here's the difference.  Trump has been saying that the entire election is rigged.  He has said this in a very universal manner, ie., inner cities need to be watched, the media coverage has been biased.  Repeatedly at his rallies.
Then, during the debate, he said he would wait and see if he would accept the election results.
His surrogates, Guiliani and Conway, tried to make that answer sound reasonable by recalling Al Gore's challenge to the 2000 Florida close race of 500-some votes.  This was a very specific circumstance that Gore challenged when it happened - that is entirely different than Trump's declaring in advance that there are vast problems across the country with the electoral process. 
AND Gore finally accepted the result even though he won the popular vote.  Al Gore, in that moment, became a hero to the democratic (small "d") process.  Entirely different than what Trump said in the debate.
While Trump not only vacillates about whether he will accept the results, he has also said he wants his opponent jailed and that he admires Vladimir Putin.  His basic message has attempted to separate basically white people from African Americans, Latinos, Moslems.  Altogether, that's facism.
This is not the package that belongs in the Presidency.

Disqualifier

That's game, set and match.  Trump stated, in the debate, that he would wait and see whether or not he would accept the results of the Presidential election.  He said he would keep us in suspense.  Trump has attacked democracy. 
I wonder that, with these angry, bitter personal attacks,  if Trump hasn't offended all fair minded people.
Vast, absurd lies from Trump - off the wall, crazy lies.

Interesting

Morning Joe talking head, Mike Barnacle, said he had recently spent some time with someone close to Trump.   Barnacle said that Trump was filled with rage at the prospect of loosing the election.  His point was that there is nothing calculated about trump's rants about a rigged election, that whether he was planning a post-election television network his Tea Party style conservative supporters, he was now simply lashing out.  Pretty terrifying for our electoral process. 
I dread tonight's debate.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio declared that he would not react WikiLeak revelations as part of his campaign.  He added, Remember, it might be us next. 

Reconciliation

I had a great reminder this morning.  Morning Joe talked about what it will be like over the Thanksgiving dinner this year.  We are so polarized and passionate.  How do we put "us" - families and country - back together?  We need to understand how tough it's been for the core Trump supporter  - the white man, factory worker, if I might stereotype - whose candidate has lost, whose candidate has ginned them and then left them as the candidate goes back to his gilded penthouse on fifth avenue.
Joe Scarborough said it - if, after that horrible war, Lincoln could say, "with malice toward none," surely we can work toward that same sentiment.  I add this:  It is up to us to understand where they are coming from - as their economic lives have been hurt for the past thirty years - and support the things that we believe will actually really help the situation of those supporters.
At the same time, Clinton needs to win in a blow out - that is the only thing that will counter Trump's ever more insistent and vitriolic accusations of a rigged election and will allow her to actually govern effectively.

"The Media"

Trump says "The Media" is rigging the election by not covering him fairly.
Hmmm.  Remember how Trump won the nomination?  Free coverage from the media - he had more coverage than any one of his 15 or 16 opponents.
Now that it's  serious run for the Presidency and he gets coverage, it's rigged.  yeah, right.