I Saw Nothing

I Saw Nothing

Several weeks ago magettes were in an uproar about people in the Biden administration who they thought hid the cognitive decline of President Biden.  They wanted investigations and legal charges.

It is clear that Trump's physical and mental health is declining quickly yet the White House insists that Trump is fine.  He has minor health issues and shakes too many hands.

What the hell are magettes going to say when Trump finally completely falls apart?  We all know they'll do a Schulz.  "I saw nothing"  Schulz is from Hogan's Heroes for those under 60.

I suggest magettes start reading up on the 25th Amendment.  At Trump's rate of decline I think it will be needed before the end of the 2025.

Voting For A Presidential Third Party Is Bad

The U.S. political system is currently structured for two parties.  Voting for a third party presidential candidate is not a good idea.

At best, a vote for a presidential third party candidate is potentially bad for one of the two major party candidates.  It is a common belief that Ralph Nader prevented Al Gore from winning Florida in 2000.  The thought is that without Nader, who received thousands of votes in Florida, more Nader voters would have voted for Gore than would have voted for Bush.  We can't know that for sure, but it does make sense given the platforms of each candidate.  Bush beat Gore in Florida by only about 800 votes while Gore won the national popular vote by more than 500,000.  If Gore had won Florida he would have been the next president.  Imagine how that might have changed world history. Like no war with Iraq.

There are some people who think that third party voters kept Clinton from beating Trump in the 2016 race.

But worse than that is what happens if a strong third party candidate divides the vote totals so that no presidential ticket gets a majority of the electoral college vote (>=270).  This situation is called a contingent election and it will get ugly very quickly.  

According to ChatGPT here is roughly what would happen:

If nobody secures a majority of the electoral votes for president, the U.S. House of Representatives chooses the president from the top three vote-getters, with each state delegation casting one vote, and a candidate needs 26 state votes to win. Meanwhile, if there’s no VP majority, the Senate chooses the vice president. If the House hasn’t selected a president by Inauguration Day, the vice president-elect acts as president, or if there’s no VP-elect either, the Speaker of the House becomes acting president.

Read that paragraph carefully.  It is just a summary, but even this exposes several issues with this process.  

Representatives from each state vote as a group to determine their single vote from their state to elect the next president.  Do you see any possible problems with that?  The Representatives that vote are those from the new Congress just elected.

That means in a contingent election the state of California with 54 electoral votes (and approximately 16 million voters) has the same power to elect the next president as Wyoming with 3 electoral votes (and approximately 300,000 voters).   

The vice president is selected by a similar process, but with a separate vote in the Senate.  Senators must vote for one of the top two vice presidential candidates (the House chooses from the top three presidential candidates).  Each Senator gets one vote. Fifty-one votes are needed (not just a majority of the Senators present at the time of the vote).  So the vice president selected by the Senate could come from a different party than the president selected by the House.   

I believe if the Senate selects a vice president elect, but the House has not selected a president elect by Inauguration Day, the vice president-elect is the acting president until the House selects a president-elect.  If neither chamber has made their selections before Inauguration Day, the Speaker of the House is the acting president.  

The Constitution originally had the presidential election and vice presidential election as separate.  The 12th Amendment changed that.  Now a party chooses a team of a presidential candidate and a vice presidential candidate, but the contingent election process still sees the presidential race and the vice presidential race as separate.  

Without going into great detail, we might see candidates try to form coalitions to get the necessary votes in the House.  Building a coalition might force a presidential candidate to elevate the power of some minor party or selected Representatives just to get enough votes to win the presidency.  For an example, look at how Israel has had to suffer with the extreme religious right's hold on Netanyahu.  He absolutely needs these extremist in his coalition so he must accept some of their absurd demands.  

My point is, we don't want to ever get into a situation where the election goes to the House.  Voting for a third party presidential candidate that can't possibly win is not just your way of making a statement, it could allow a candidate you would never vote for win.

If you think gerrymandering is a hot topic now, hold your breath if no candidate gets a electoral majority.  Given that Trump thinks he is above the law, who knows how he (or a subsequent Republican presidential candidate) would deal with an election that went to the Congress. Again, it will get ugly very quickly.  And if a third party is strong enough, contingent elections could become the norm and generate seismic changes to the political landscape.  Small state Representatives will receive huge increases in campaign contributions since they will probably elect the next president.

I don't have a problem with third parties.  I think the country would benefit from a more robust discussion of issues. But we need to abandon the Electoral College and change the presidential selection process.  Allowing the House and Senate to determine presidential elections results seems like a very bad idea.  

You can double check my information by asking ChatGPT or your AI for information about Presidential contingent election rules, Election & contingent election timeline, Electoral College rules.

Why Did Trump Give ICE 180 Billion Dollars?

The OBBB (One Bodaciously Bad Bill) recently passed by Republicans gave ICE a 180 billion dollar budget (some expenditures are spread over a 3 year period but I don't think we know the actual annual amounts).  Only two countries have annual national defense budgets that are larger than than 180 billion, the U.S. and China.  Russia's annual defense budget is estimated to be 149 billion dollars.  Germany annually budgets about 89 billion.

So ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has an average annual budget (60 billion) which puts it in range of the annual defense budgets of countries like Ukraine, France and Japan.  Only seven countries have annual defense budgets greater than 60 billion dollars.  Canada spends about 35 billion dollars a year on defense.

The current yearly funding by the Department of Defense for the U.S. National Guard is about about 40 billion dollars a year.  

The estimate of the total amount spent on state and local law enforcement in the U.S. is estimated to be approximately 135 billion dollars a year. 

What the hell does Trump really plan to have ICE do with 180 billion dollars? 

Keep in mind that ICE is going after "illegal" aliens which are not accorded the same rights as U.S. citizens.  When they grab you they don't ask you if you are a citizen.  How would you prove it anyway?  Do you normally carry your passport?  We know most detainees don't have warrants for their arrest.  ICE can treat you as illegal until you find a way to prove you are a citizen after you've been hauled away. 

Do you think Republicans in Congress know or care about what Trump is doing? 

Dollar figures come from ChatGPT.

Liberal Democracy Constitutional Changes

The United States is governed by our Constitution which I believe contains many of the ideas behind the concept of a liberal democracy (click on this for a description of a liberal democracy).  The "liberal" in "liberal democracy" is not directly tied to the Democratic Party, but I suspect that Democrats agree with many of the core principles that would define a liberal democracy. 

I asked ChapGPT "How should the US Constitution be changed to make it more in tune with the ideals of a liberal democracy?"  Its responses are below.  I provide ChatGPT's response here because it provides a starting framework for a discussion of changes that Democrats should think about enacting when they once again get control of the presidency and Congress. 

I've added some additional suggestions after ChatGPT's list.

 

The U.S. Constitution is already a foundational document that reflects many liberal democratic ideals, such as the protection of individual rights, the separation of powers, and the rule of law. However, there are several potential changes or reforms that could make it more in tune with modern liberal democracy, ensuring it aligns better with evolving standards of fairness, inclusivity, and accountability. Here are some suggestions:

1. Electoral Reforms

• Abolishing the Electoral College: The Electoral College can distort the will of the people, as a candidate can win the presidency without securing the popular vote. A direct popular vote for president would align better with democratic principles of majority rule.

• Reforming or Expanding Voting Rights: Making voting more accessible by eliminating voter ID laws that disproportionately affect marginalized groups, restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions, and ensuring automatic voter registration for all eligible citizens.

• Proportional Representation: The U.S. operates under a "winner-takes-all" system in most elections. Implementing proportional representation (for Congress or local elections) could better reflect the diversity of political opinions and allow for more minority party representation.

2. Strengthening Civil Liberties

• Guaranteeing Economic and Social Rights: While the Constitution emphasizes political and civil rights, it does not explicitly guarantee rights related to healthcare, education, or economic security. Adding these protections could enhance the liberal democratic promise of equality and human dignity.

• Privacy Protections: In the age of digital information, stronger constitutional protections for privacy and data security would align the document with modern values around personal freedom and security.

3. Campaign Finance Reform

• Reducing the Influence of Money in Politics: Supreme Court rulings like Citizens United have led to the proliferation of "dark money" in politics, undermining democratic accountability. Constitutional amendments or reforms that limit campaign spending and increase transparency in political donations could help reduce the influence of wealth on the political process.

4. Judicial Reform

• Term Limits for Supreme Court Justices: Currently, Supreme Court justices are appointed for life. Introducing term limits or a set retirement age for justices could prevent the court from becoming too politicized or entrenched in ideologies for too long. This could help ensure that the court remains in touch with contemporary values and challenges.

• Increasing Judicial Accountability: Implementing reforms for greater oversight of judicial actions and ensuring that courts reflect broader societal diversity could help make the judicial branch more responsive to the evolving principles of liberal democracy.

5. Clarifying or Expanding Rights for Marginalized Groups

• Strengthening LGBTQ+ Rights: Although the U.S. has made strides in recognizing the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, clearer constitutional protections could further protect against discrimination and ensure equal treatment under the law.

• Addressing Racial Justice: Amendments could be made to specifically address systemic racism, ensuring that equal protection under the law applies robustly and with focus on rectifying historical inequalities.

• Women’s Reproductive Rights: After Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, an amendment to explicitly protect a woman’s right to choose could strengthen reproductive freedoms and align with liberal democratic ideals of bodily autonomy.

6. Decentralizing Power

• Strengthening Local Governance: A stronger emphasis on federalism could allow local governments to make more decisions that directly affect their communities, increasing political participation and ensuring that diverse viewpoints are represented.

• Reforming the Senate: The current system gives disproportionate power to smaller states due to equal representation for all states, regardless of population. This could be reformed to ensure that the Senate better represents the people, reducing the influence of smaller, less populous states.

7. Improvements to the Impeachment Process

• Clearer and More Accessible Accountability: The impeachment process could be clarified to ensure that it is not used for partisan purposes and that presidents and other high-ranking officials are held accountable for serious misconduct. This would reinforce checks and balances, a key feature of liberal democracy.

8. More Inclusive Amendments Process

• Making Constitutional Amendments More Accessible: The current amendment process is intentionally difficult, requiring either a two-thirds majority in Congress or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures. Making this process more accessible could allow for the Constitution to be more responsive to the evolving needs of a liberal democracy, especially as social and political dynamics change over time.

Conclusion:

Changing the U.S. Constitution to make it more in tune with the ideals of a liberal democracy would require balancing the foundational principles of democracy with modern concerns around equality, accountability, and inclusion. Many of these changes would make the political system more responsive, transparent, and representative of the diverse population, ensuring that the Constitution continues to serve its purpose as a living document in a modern democratic society. 

Above are the suggestions from ChatGPT to the question "How should the US Constitution be changed to make it more in tune with the ideals of a liberal democracy?".

Other constitutional or legal changes I would suggest:

• Restrictions on gerrymandering.
• Restrictions on presidential power.  The Supreme Court was obviously wrong when it said that a president could not be held accountable for illegal actions taken as part of his official duties.  The failure of Republican congressional men and women to perform their constitutional requirement to provide checks and balances on the executive branch shows the need for some way for citizens to demand change more frequently than every two years.
• Better restrictions to prevent presidential influence over or dismantling of independent agencies.  For example, The Department of Justice and FBI should not report to the executive branch.

Feel free to comment if you have any additions or issues with the improvements suggested in this entry.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

Why Do Republicans Hate CPB, PBS and NPR?

The Republicans in Congress just voted to de-fund the public media organizations CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting), PBS (Public Broadcasting System, domestic TV service) and NPR (National Public Radio).  These media organizations were established by Congress decades ago.  For much of the time since then Republicans have complained that they are biased "liberal" media and they are unfair to Republicans and Conservatives.  

As a long time regular viewer of PBS and a listener of NPR, I disagree.  PBS shows a wide variety of shows including Sesame Street, Daniel Tiger, Ken Burns documentaries, Master Piece Theater, and some news, political and cultural shows.  The news shows seem to me to be very fair and balanced unlike FOX news or MSNBC.  NPR provides many shows including news, weather, science, entertainment, etc.  In many rural areas NPR may be a primary provider of news and weather.

I have been confused by the vehement hatred of these public media outlets by Republicans/Conservatives.

I think I've figured out why Republicans hate them. 

I asked ChatGPT to summarize principles of Democrats and  Republicans.  You can click on the links to see its answers.  I also asked ChatGPT to make a summary list to compare Democratic and Republican principles.  Finally I asked ChatGPT to define the principles of a Liberal Democracy.  You can read these to get a more detailed description of each.

According to ChatGPT":

Democrats tend to emphasize:

• Collective responsibility through government action,
• Equity and inclusion for historically marginalized groups,
• Public investment in health, education, and the environment,
• And a belief that government can and should help level the playing field for all Americans.

In essence, a liberal democracy blends majority rule with minority rights, ensuring that even unpopular groups have their basic freedoms safeguarded.

The principles of the "liberal" Democratic party seem to more closely align with ChatGPT's description of a liberal democracy.  So Republican's consider any institutions that believe in the ideals of a liberal democracy to be biased towards and aligned with Democrats.  But sorry Republicans, the U.S. Constitution was designed to define a liberal democracy for the United States.  This was long before the Democratic Party was created.  The founders fell short of a liberal democracy in some areas (slavery, universal suffrage), but until recently we have been moving forward to complete the project (more about this in future posts).

We have a First Amendment which guarantees free speech, but which party likes to ban books?  Which party believes in an historical interpretation of the Constitution and then chooses to ignore the opening clause of the Second Amendment?  

Which party is the worst proponent of gerrymandering?  I know Democrats have also been guilty of gerrymandering, but it is Texas Republicans who are trying to take gerrymandering to a new level.  

Which party would like to implement universal health care?  Which party wants to cut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP?  In the current environment, which party is standing up for rule of law and due process?  Which party is trying to destroy the principle of separation of powers?  Which party has neutered congressional oversight?  Which party is trying to make courts impotent?  Which party is trying support medical science? Which party is trying to keep independent agencies like the DOJ and FBI truly independent and not subject to executive pressure? Which party believes in the unitary executive?  Which party is trying to mitigate climate change?  Which party has been more willing to get big money out of politics? Which party is more interested in funding early education (like Head Start).   Which party is trying to fund food for school children?  Which party is trying to destroy our world class higher education system?

So Republicans hate CPB, PBS and NPR because these organizations work very hard to provide objective information and services that reflect the ideas of Constitution and the people of this country.  They may not always be perfect, but they are always working to be provide facts and objective truth. 

And Republicans hate them for this.

What is a Liberal Democracy?

The United States is governed by our Constitution which I believe contains many of the ideas behind the concept of a liberal democracy.  The "liberal" in "liberal democracy" is not directly tied to the Democratic Party, but I suspect that Democrats agree with many of the core principles that would define a liberal democracy. 

I asked ChatGPT for a definition of a liberal democracy.  Below is its answer.  I provide it here because I want to use it as a reference in future posts.

A liberal democracy is a form of representative democracy characterized by:

1. Free and fair elections – Government officials are elected through regular, competitive elections where multiple parties can run and citizens can vote without coercion.

2. Rule of law – Laws apply equally to all citizens, including government officials. Legal processes are transparent and independent.

3. Protection of individual rights and freedoms – Civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly are guaranteed and protected by law.

4. Separation of powers – Government power is divided among branches (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent abuse.

5. Pluralism and political participation – Multiple viewpoints and interest groups are allowed and encouraged to compete and participate in the political process.

In essence, a liberal democracy blends majority rule with minority rights, ensuring that even unpopular groups have their basic freedoms safeguarded.

Above is the description of a liberal democracy as provided by ChatGPT.  You may or may not agree with this analysis.  Feel free to comment if you have issues with this description.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

 

 

Differences Between Conservative and Liberal Beliefs

I asked ChatGPT to do a side-by-side comparison of typical Republican and Democratic party principles.  The answers are provided below.  I included them here because I want to reference this in a later post. 

Principle	Republican Party (Conservative)	Democratic Party (Liberal/Progressive)
Role of Government	Limited government; more power to states and individuals	Active government role in addressing social and economic issues
Taxes & Economy	Lower taxes, deregulation, pro-business	Progressive taxation to fund public services and reduce inequality
Healthcare	Market-based solutions; repeal/replace the ACA	Healthcare is a right; expand ACA or pursue universal healthcare
Social Safety Net	Reduce size of welfare programs; encourage self-reliance	Strengthen programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
Individual Rights	Emphasize gun rights, religious freedom, property rights	Emphasize civil rights, voting rights, and protections for marginalized groups
Abortion	Pro-life; support restrictions or bans	Pro-choice; support access to abortion and reproductive healthcare
LGBTQ+ Rights	Mixed; some support traditional definitions of gender/marriage	Strong support for legal equality and protections for LGBTQ+ people
Climate and Environment	Skeptical of regulations; favor fossil fuels and energy independence	Support strong environmental regulations; invest in clean energy and climate action
Immigration	Emphasize border security, reduced legal immigration, strict enforcement	Support path to citizenship, protections for Dreamers, more humane policies
Education	School choice, parental control, charter schools, reduce federal role	Invest in public schools, affordable college, universal pre-K
Gun Policy	Defend Second Amendment; oppose most gun control laws	Support background checks, red flag laws, limits on certain firearms
Law and Order	Strong support for police and tough-on-crime policies	Criminal justice reform, address systemic racism, community policing
Foreign Policy	“America First,” military strength, skeptical of global institutions	Multilateralism, diplomacy, alliances like NATO, global leadership
Judicial Philosophy	Originalist interpretation of Constitution	Living Constitution; support judicial decisions that expand rights
Voting Rights	Emphasize election integrity, voter ID laws	Expand voting access, oppose voter suppression, support automatic registration

Notes:

• These are general trends and do not apply to all individuals in either party. Both parties include moderates, libertarians, populists, and progressives. 
• Platform positions may shift depending on current leadership, national events, or generational changes.

Above is the side-by-side comparison of care principles of Conservative Republicans and Democrats as provided by ChatGPT.  You may  or may not agree with the results of this comparison,  Feel free to comment if you have issues with this description.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

What Principles Define A Democrat?

I asked ChatGPT "What principles would the Democratic Party say define a Democrat??"  The answer is provided below.  I included it here because I want to reference this in a later post.

 1. Equality and Civil Rights

• Strong support for equal protection under the law, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

• Defense of civil rights legislation and expansion of anti-discrimination protections.

• Advocacy for voting rights and access to the ballot as essential components of democracy.

2. Economic Opportunity and a Fair Economy

• Support for progressive taxation—higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund public programs.

• Emphasis on raising the minimum wage, strengthening unions, and ensuring fair labor standards.

• Support for social safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food assistance, and housing support.

3. Healthcare as a Right

• Belief that everyone should have access to affordable healthcare.

• Strong support for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), with many favoring expanding it or transitioning to universal healthcare (e.g., Medicare for All, in the progressive wing).

4. Environmental Protection and Climate Action

• Acknowledgment of climate change as a major threat, with support for aggressive environmental regulations and investments in clean energy.

• Support for international climate agreements (e.g., the Paris Accord).

• Promotion of environmental justice to protect vulnerable communities from pollution and climate-related harms.

5. Expanded Access to Education

• Support for public education, universal pre-K, affordable college or free community college.

• Emphasis on reducing student debt and investing in teachers and school infrastructure.

6. Women's Rights and Reproductive Freedom

• Support for a woman's right to choose and access to abortion and reproductive healthcare.

• Advocacy for equal pay, paid family leave, and workplace protections for women.

7. Gun Safety Reform

• Support for stricter gun laws such as background checks, red flag laws, and bans on assault-style weapons.

• Framing gun violence as a public health and community safety issue.

8. Immigration Reform

• Support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, especially Dreamers (those brought to the U.S. as children).

• Advocacy for humane border policies and opposition to family separation and mass deportation.

• Belief that immigrants strengthen the economy and enrich American culture.

9. LGBTQ+ Rights

• Support for full legal equality for LGBTQ+ individuals, including marriage equality, anti-discrimination protections, and access to gender-affirming care.

• Opposition to legislation that targets or restricts LGBTQ+ individuals in education, healthcare, or public life.

10. Democratic Institutions and Voting Rights

• Efforts to strengthen democracy, such as expanding early voting, fighting voter suppression, supporting D.C. statehood, and reforming the Electoral College.

• Proposals to reform institutions like the Supreme Court or the filibuster to ensure more responsive governance

Summary:

Democrats tend to emphasize:

• Collective responsibility through government action,
• Equity and inclusion for historically marginalized groups,
• Public investment in health, education, and the environment,
• And a belief that government can and should help level the playing field for all Americans.

Above is the description of a Democrat as provided by ChatGPT.  This may or may not reflect what you believe are the principles of liberal Democrats.  Feel free to comment if you have issues with this description.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

 

What Principles Define A Republican Conservative?

I asked ChatGPT "What principles would the Republican Party say define a Republican conservative?"  The answer is provided below.  I included it here because I want to reference this in a later post.

The Republican Party and self-identified conservatives within it typically define Republican conservatism through a set of principles rooted in limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and traditional values. While there’s variation among Republicans (e.g., traditional conservatives, populists, libertarians, nationalists), the mainstream principles they claim to uphold include the following:

Core Principles of Republican Conservatism

1. Limited Government

• Government should play a minimal role in the economy and personal lives.

• Federal power should be restrained, with more authority left to states and local governments (federalism).

• Regulation should be limited to foster personal responsibility and free enterprise.

2. Individual Liberty and Personal Responsibility

• Emphasis on constitutional rights—especially free speech, religious freedom, gun ownership (Second Amendment), and property rights.

• People, not government, should be primarily responsible for their own success or failure.

3. Free Market Capitalism

• Private enterprise is seen as the engine of prosperity and innovation.

• Low taxes, minimal regulation, and limited government spending are prioritized.

• Opposition to what’s viewed as government overreach in areas like healthcare and environmental regulation.

4. Traditional Social Values

• Support for traditional family structures and opposition to policies that conservatives believe undermine them.

• Pro-life stance on abortion.

• Religious values—particularly Judeo-Christian ethics—are often emphasized as foundational to American identity.

5. Strong National Defense and Law Enforcement

• Military strength is viewed as essential to national security and global leadership.

• Support for law enforcement, border security, and a tough stance on crime and illegal immigration.

6. Strict Constitutionalism

• The Constitution should be interpreted according to its original meaning ("originalism").

• Opposition to judicial activism or creating new rights not explicitly stated in the Constitution.

7. Fiscal Responsibility

• Government should balance its budget, reduce the national debt, and cut spending—though in practice, this principle is sometimes inconsistently applied.

• Opposition to large welfare programs and belief in the efficiency of private charity and faith-based initiatives.

8. American Sovereignty and Patriotism

• National interests should be prioritized in foreign and domestic policy ("America First").

• Skepticism of global institutions (like the U.N. or World Economic Forum) and international agreements that are seen to compromise U.S. sovereignty.  

Above is the description of a Republican Conservative as provided by ChatGPT.  This may or may not reflect what you believe are the principles of conservative ideology.  Feel free to comment if you have issues with this description.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

 

Leave The Compaign Hats In The Golf Cart

I'm sick of seeing Trump wearing one of his campaign hats at events that are clearly not campaign events.  If he wants to wear his silly campaign hats at a campaign rally to juice up the crowd or up his income from Trump merch, that's his prerogative.  But when he is representing this country in his official duties, he should leave the cap in the golf cart. 

There are pictures of Trump in the Situation Room during the bombing of the Iran nuclear facilities wearing a campaign hat.  That is unacceptable.  Members of the military are risking their lives and he is using them to score political points. It is another example of how Trump demeans his office and reminds the country he really doesn't understand his presidential responsibilities and considers himself above the presidency. 

I'll bet he sometimes wears these hats because his hair dresser was not available.  Trump needs to face the fact he is old.  I've got grand kids who sometimes need their stuffies (stuffed animals) to help soothe their anxieties so I understand why Trump needs his hair, but really.  

Trump, get some therapy (psychological not scalp) and try to look like a real president.  

Trump's OBBB Is Bad

The devil is in the details

Trump and MAGA Republicans (aka magettes) are trying to destroy America.  Trump's OBBB (One Bodaciously Bad Bill) that was just passed is proof.  I'm sure there are some good things in the bill, but from what we know now the harm this bill will generate will far out weigh whatever good it creates.

The bad things I've heard about include the number of people who will lose health care.  This not only hurts these people. The cuts will hurt health care in areas that depend on Medicare and Medicaid dollars.  There will also be a massive transfer of costs to the states.  Either state taxes will go up or other state priorities will be cut.  Missouri's governor is already cutting items from the state's budget to be prepared for the expected increased state costs caused by Trump's OBBB.  And he is a Republican!

Trump's OBBB cuts support of renewable energy sources.  Trump just said he wants to double electric energy creation in the US.  This is mainly because of the massive energy demands of AI (and crypto).  The fastest, cheapest, cleanest way to increase electricity production is to use renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.  So cutting support of renewable sources will make rapid increases of electricity more difficult.

China is loving Trump's OBBB.  This will make it easier for China to win the race to become the world's AI leader.

While Trump's OBBB decreases support for renewable energy it increases support for dirty energy like coal.  If you like hot summers, large wild fires, powerful hurricanes, lots of big tornadoes and massive floods then Trump's OBBB was made for you.

Trump's OBBB has lots of money for border security.  It will make ICE the single largest federal law enforcement agency.  Think about that when you hear stories about how ICE treats people they detain.  I didn't say arrest because many of the people they put into ICE detention facilities and move or try to move around the country and the world have no arrest warrants.  If you think you are safe because you are a citizen or because you have a legal status to be in the US, you are naive.

The timing of the fiscal effects of Trump's OBBB are interesting.  The parts that benefit the lower ends of the income scale are implemented quickly.  The parts that harm the lower ends of the income scale are delayed until after the mid-term election.  This should tell you who to trust and it is not Trump and his magettes.

This is, as Trump is happy to tell you, a very big bill.  We are going to hear a lot more about hidden items in the bill.  You are going to frequently hear "I didn't know that was in the bill" from politicians, including Trump.  That will be another clue about how bad this bill really is for America. The devil is in the details.

Has Trump Done Anything Right?

Donald Trump is completely incompetent.  If he does something presidential it was probably an accident.  I really believe he is trying to destroy the country although I can't figure out why other than his personal and mental deficiencies.

Below is a list of issues where I disagree with what he is doing.  Some represent failures to honor his presidential oath, others are just illegal, some are flagrant corruption.  Many are just the result of his outrageous stupidity and ignorance.  Some are all four. 

• Incessant lying to confuse all the unpresidential actions the administration is taking. Trump lies about everything.  He lies constantly.  Add to that he can't keep his mouth shut if he thinks he can make himself look good.  This includes spilling  national security issues. 
•  The rule of law is ignored.  Due process is ignored.  Laws that Trump doesn't like are ignored.
• Disdain for the separation of powers as defined in the Constitution.
• Coercion is used to effectively neuter congressional oversight.
• Courts and judges are insulted and abused.  Judicial orders are ignored. 
• Politicization of historically independent agencies like the Department of Justice and the FBI. 
• Executive actions are often invoked to inflict pain and damage on individuals, political enemies, businesses, institutions (independent, public and private).
• Willful cruelty has become a political tool and in some cases, a policy. 
• Willful ignorance as to what made this country the "leader of the free world" and how his actions are diminishing our standing in the world.
• Disrespecting and punishing allies who are not sufficiently obsequious.
• Failure to understand that are allies are part of what make us the most powerful country.  At least we were the most powerful country.  Trump may change that. 
• Putting clearly unqualified people into important positions. 
• DOGE: Every administration is expected to fight waste, fraud and abuse.  They will try to delete, remove or improve the actions of previous administrations, but DOGE seemed like more of an attempt to destroy departments, agencies and civil service employees for no apparent reasons except maybe retribution or spite.  
• Lack of support for Ukraine.
• Reverence for authoritarians. 
• Politicization of the military.  The military is just another tool to protect himself or increase his power.
• Use of the active military for domestic police activities. 
• Politicization of the federal civil service work force. 
• His war on DEI.  His lack of respect for historical individuals and institutions that have helped to make this county great. 
• Denigrating the military service of women. 
• Removal of protections for LGBTQ+ people.  Banning trans individuals from the military.  
• His war on trans individuals, especially trans children and their families. Life can be hard enough for these people without Trump using them as political tools.
• Rewarding MAGA states, sycophants and supporters while punishing political opponents, liberals and blue states.
• Renaming military institutions to honor Confederate soldiers and politicians. 
• Rolling back protections for the environment.   Actions to increase fossil fuel production which includes opening formerly protected federal lands.  Reducing pollution controls on coal fired energy plants.
• Relying on extortion as his primary negotiation strategy.  He is not good negotiator.  He is a bully. 
• Destruction of USAID.
• Dismantling the Department of Education.
• Dismembering agencies like FAA, FDA, NIH, CDC...  
• Disdain for scientific research.  Casual destruction of research which could take years to restart.
• Ignorance of basic scientific facts and a refusal to listen to people who could help him understand these issues.   I think he hates scientists because they obviously know more than he does about their areas of expertise.
• Oblivious to the harm his rash actions cause. 
• Destroying ongoing research in many areas of study. 
• Attacks on the freedom of the press and attacks/de-funding of PBS, NPR, CPB, Voice of America and related communication agencies that promote democracy and truthful reporting around the world. 
• Tariffs.
• Disrespecting and punishing allies who are not sufficiently obsequious. 
• Attacks against out allies. Especially the bullying of  Canada, Greenland, Mexico, Panama, Europe, NATO, etc.
• Border and immigration issues.  What started as a policy to deport illegal immigrants who had committed serious crimes became actions to roundup and deport many non-citizens for no apparent reasons.  People who are here legally were also caught up in their lawlessness.  Some were arrested without warning by people who were not clearly identifiable as legal officers of the government, forced into vehicles with nothing that identified them as official vehicles and then they were moved around the country and out of the country to prevent them from getting the legal support they were entitled to. 
• Attacks on higher education.  Our higher education institutions were the envy of the world.  Trump wants to destroy them or make them subservient to the administration.  Especially Harvard which Trump clearly wants to destroy. 
• Measures were taken to intimidate foreign students in the U.S. to force them to leave the country.  That is so stupid.
• Corruption.  Using his position as president to enrich himself, his family and key supporters.
• Meme Coins.
• Special rewards for  people who buy large amounts of Trump's meme coin.
• The Qatari luxury jet.
• Openly selling presidential access. 
• Trumps relatives and friends making money off of their relation to him.
• Trump's eagerness to financially hurt working people so he can reward the rich.  
• Pardons of the January 6th rioters and other pardons seemingly to help Trump supporters. 
• Despite his outrageous boasting, Trump realizes he is not the smartest and most knowledgeable person.  Many of his actions are attempts to hide his very, very low self esteem.  This mental anguish is so debilitating he spends a great deal of effort trying to make other people convince him he is really great.  His desire for to remake the rose garden, add big flag poles around the White House, win a Nobel Prize, have his bust added to Mount Rushmore, put his picture up in multiple places in the White House, get his own opulent Air Force One are all examples of desire to cement his historical legacy and make him feel important.  It would all be very sad if his mental deficiencies were not hurting all of us. 

I will add more issues as I identify them.  Trump is obviously proud of his ability to break all the laws, rules and norms he can so we can all expect more outrageous acts. Please comment on any issues I've missed.

No DEI For Republicans

Republicans have been complaining for years that higher education in the U.S. is too liberal and has been treating conservative scholars and students badly.

They want to see more conservative faculty, students and administrators in higher education.  They want more respect for conservative thought and policies.  They want a full seat at the table.

Sorry Republicans, that sounds like DEI. 

Why The Hell Destroy Harvard?

Why the hell is Trump trying to destroy Harvard?  His purported reason is that they haven't done enough to suppress antisemitism on campus.  Of course that is bullshit.  Just  another of Trump's continuous string of  lies. 

Does Harvard have some problems?  Name one institution that doesn't have some.  Are some Jewish students feeling uncomfortable on campus?  Well of course.  Jews have faced prejudice for millennia.  They may be facing more now because of the current war in Gaza.  I deplore antisemitism, but I also deplore Israel's current actions in Gaza.   

Antisemitism is not a justification for the multiple actions Trump is taking against Harvard.  What is Trump really trying to accomplish by going after Harvard?  My guess he wants to show Harvard (and all of us and the world) that he has power over everyone and everything.  Harvard is a widely respected institution and Trump wants to make sure that even they have to kneel to him.  He really does want to be king of the world.

Higher education in the U.S. is the envy of the world.  Many of the worlds best scholars and researchers want to work at Harvard.  The most talented students from around the world want to study at Harvard.  Harvard is a power house of research and an engine of academic advancement.  Harvard's affect on the economy and health of the world is tremendous. 

Yet Trump seems to relish the idea of destroying the institution and its on-going research.  He wants to make Harvard less appealing to foreign researchers and students.

Why is he doing this?  If Trump destroys Harvard or brings the institution to its knees, will antisemitism be decreased?  I don't think so.

The fact that Trump is trying to destroy for no valid reason just shows how significant his mental decline is.

Trump Is Not Presidential And Is Getting Worse

I'm having trouble putting the word "President" in front of Trump.  I know he won the election, but practically every day he does something that is clearly not presidential.

He seems to be working very hard to destroy this country.  I'm not sure why.  My guess is there are four impulses that are driving him.  

First, he is a narcissist  He only cares about himself. He does not care about anyone else except to the extent he can use them to bolster his ego or increase his wealth.  His obvious corruption and lawlessness doesn't bother him as long as it helps him. He is deeply flawed psychologically.

Second. as has been pointed out by many people, he is transactional.  He makes decisions on what to do or say by calculating what the most beneficial action would be for him personally in that particular moment.  It is reported that he doesn't read his daily intelligence briefings.  We have to depend on him to keep us, the country and the world safe, but he shows no interest protecting anyone or anything except himself.

His transactional method of governing explains his most significant and obvious personality trait, constant lying.  If Trump says something, there is a better than even chance he is lying.  That is why he can say something and then soon after say the exact opposite.  Both of the contradicting statements were true to him when he said them; even if the first true statement was reversed later.   

Trump never admits a mistake.  So you won't hear an apology or a reason.  He feels it would be weak to admit a mistake.  He only admits to a mistake when doing so would benefit him.  And even then he will claim that the mistake was caused by someone else.

Trump continually violates his oath of office to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States".  He has dismantled important independent agencies such as the  Department of Justice and the FBI.  He neutered the legislative branch and he is trying to destroy the judiciary.  He insults and alienates our  allies.  He is trying to destroy important institutions such as Harvard for seemingly no reason.

Third, Trump can hold a grudge for a long time. Trump promised to be the president for everyone in the country, not just the people who voted for him.  That is clearly not the case.  The pardoning of January 6th rioters is a good example.  Another is his actions that benefit states or groups he considers part of the MAGA movement while trying to hurt states or groups that are not MAGA.

Fourth, Trump's mental condition is declining rapidly.  Republicans have been making a lot of noise about Joe Biden's mental health while he was in office.  I wonder if any Republicans are thinking about how and when they are going to be faced with removing Trump from office?  My guess is they are hoping for some health issue bad enough that it is obvious he can no longer perform his duties as president (as if he ever has actually performed like a president).

Trump was never fit to be president in his first term and he is much worse this time around.  

I worry that without some help from Republicans Trump will irreparably damage our  country before we can vote in a Democratic legislative majority next November.  And that assumes enough voters wake up and see how dangerous Trump is.

The Devil Is In The Details!

Do you think the Supreme Court is correct that a president should not face criminal charges for anything they do as part of their official duties?

If so, you know nothing about how Donald Trump dishonors his oath of office every day!

     The Devil Is In The Details

It's All About The Insecurity Equipment

Does Trump really believe that accepting the gift of a lavish 747 jet is good for the country or is it just good for Trump's ego?

The Qatari plane was built to haul a king around in ostentatious luxury.  The replacement Air Force One planes currently in production are being designed to haul a president around comfortably with extreme security measures to keep the  president safe and elaborate communications equipment that would allow him to perform presidential duties from anywhere in the world.  Granted the  replacement planes are over budget and delayed, but that just proves that refitting the Qatari plane will not be easy, cheap or fast.

For example, Air Force One has the ability to be refueled in flight by military tankers.  I doubt that the Qatari plane has this capability.

The Qatari 747 does have some features not found on the current and replacement Air Force One planes: insecurity equipment. 

This is all about Trump's ego.  That says a lot since Trump has the use of Air Force One just to shuffle him between his golf outings.

So let's suppose he gets permission and money to modify the free Qatari bribe plane (there is no such thing as a free lunch or a free luxury jet).  It will take at least a couple of years for the upgrade to be completed.  So we put millions of dollars into the plane and he uses it as Air Force One for a year or a year and a half.  Trump says the plane will then go to his library. Not a chance.  He'll fly in it (probably at tax payer expense) until he drops.

Most of the security equipment that had to be added to the plane will have to removed so it can't fall into an adversaries hands.  Who pays for that?

Even worse, what if it is not complete when his term expires?  Do tax payers have to pay to finish the project so he can fly it around?

There are actually two Air Force One planes.  Their use is rotated so there is always a backup ready when needed.  Pity the poor fool who has to tell Trump he has to use the old dumpy Air Force One for a flight.  The old Air Force Ones will probably be reserved for Melania or the kids.  

Or maybe Don Jr. will want to continue to use the Qatari plane when he is elected in 2028.

I've go to stop.  This is all making me nauseous.

 

 

 

Maybe Trump Isn't Bound By The Constitution

On Meet The Press yesterday, Kristen Welker asked Trump if, as president, he needed to uphold the Constitution.  He said he "didn't know" and he would have to ask his lawyers.  I immediately thought, what an idiot.

After I thought about it for a minute I realized he may have a point.  Maybe he can't be held to his oath to uphold the Constitution.

On inauguration day he took the presidential oath of office which includes ""I Donald John Trump do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States...".

There you go.  He has a point.  He said he would "to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution...".   He has no ability to be president.  He is a liar, a con, a grifter, an extortionist.  Add your favorite pejorative.  Those are his abilities.  He has no ability or competency to be president.  He doesn't begin to understand the duties, requirements and responsibilities of a real president.  He couldn't even play one on television.

Trump thinks of himself as the leader for the average person and people believed him.  Trump has no empathy.  In fact, he is callously cruel. He recently claimed kids have too many dolls so it is no big deal if the new Trump economy may mean they can't buy so many more or they might cost more.  This from the man who has golden toilets.

So he can't be blamed for not performing as a president because he really doesn't understand what a president is supposed to do.

We can blame the MAGAs who should have been smarter than Trump and knew that they shouldn't have voted for him.  He constantly made it clear that he had no presidential abilities. What we need now is for those people to realize how incompetent he is and do what Trump often says,  help us "get him the hell out of here!"