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!" 

Trump's Conflicting Easter Messages

Donald Trump issued a traditional Easter Message today.  Please read it if you like, but it is basically the usual type of message we would expect from a president for Easter.  

Below is another Easter Message from him on Truth Social.  This is from an Irish Star article (this link also contains the traditional Easter Message).

"Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting and scheming so hard to bring Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, the Mentally Insane, and well known MS-13 Gang Members and Wife Beaters, back into our Country."

"Happy Easter also to the WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue, an attack so violent that it will never be forgotten!"  

"Sleepy Joe Biden purposefully allowed Millions of CRIMINALS to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, through an Open Borders Policy that will go down in history as the single most calamitous act ever perpetrated upon America.   He was, by far, our WORST and most Incompetent President, a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing."

"But to him, and to the person that ran and manipulated the Auto Pen (perhaps our REAL President!), and to all of the people who CHEATED in the 2020 Presidential Election in order to get this highly destructive Moron Elected, I wish you, with great love, sincerity, and affection, a very Happy Easter!!!" 

Which one do you think Trump wrote?

President Thinks Midshipmen At Naval Academy Are Incompetent

In the newspaper this morning I read an article by the AP about 381 books being removed from the library at the Naval Academy.

The article said Navy officials used a key word search and identified about 900 books that looked to be problematic and then pared that number down to 381 which were removed from the library.

According to Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, Navy spokesman, "Nearly 400 books were removed from the Nimitz Library to comply with directives outlined in Executive Orders issued by the President."

So the President believes that future leaders of our military and country are not competent enough to make their own decisions about what they should read.   I think I know who is not competent and it is not the Midshipmen.  

 

Below is a definition of DEI.  Given that U.S. military members come from all over our diverse country and often have to work shoulder to shoulder with allies from around the world, does DEI really sound like such radical ideas we need to hide them from people?

Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another.

Equity is the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups.

Inclusion is the act of creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate.

"Hands Off" Rally

My wife and I joined a "Hands Off" rally yesterday.  It was satisfying and enjoyable.  We took some quickly made signs (unfortunately not very water proof) and joined about 1,300 people on the shoulder of a very busy four lane street.  I think the crowd stretched more than a quarter mile.

It was cold and rainy,  but that didn't dampen the spirits of the many people there.  A lot of cars drove by.  Many honked their horns, waved and gave us thumbs up as they went by.  We waved back.  I saw some one finger salutes.  I also smiled and waved at these people.  That is what free speech is about.

People walked behind the crowd  and took pictures of us and our signs.  I again smiled and waved.  

Some days the torrent of unconstitutional, illegal, incompetent, immoral and corrupt actions we see coming from the Trump administration and Republican politicians can be very depressing.  It felt good to be doing something in public.  To stand up and say I think what you are doing is wrong.

What I was amazed by was the number of cars that had a person or two with their windows down and their phones up videoing the whole line of protesters.  I've never had so many people want a picture of me.

Schumer Was Correct

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is being severely criticized by fellow Democrats for his YES vote on the Republican CR funding bill and letting it become law. Democrats wanted Schumer to vote NO which would have caused the government to shut down. Most Democrats thought a NO vote would be one of their few chances to stop or at least slow Trump's radical agenda.

Schumer thought that shutting the government down would only give Republicans more power to implement their plans.

I agree with Schumer.

Limited government has been a guiding principle of Republicans for decades. Ronald Reagan said the government was the problem, not the solution. Grover Norquist, a well known Republican advisor from the 1980s, wanted to cut the government so deeply that he could “drown it in a bathtub”. Trump shut the government down for about a month during his first term. Republicans like government shut downs.

I haven't figured out what Trump's overall plan is for the country (assuming he has one), but it obviously includes destroying the government, the economy, Democrats, the rule of law, the free press, the Courts and probably the Constitution. A long government shutdown that he could blame on Democrats helps him meet his (and Putin's) plans.

If Trump and Musk really wanted to down size the government and make it more efficient, they wouldn't be firing thousands of employees by in-discriminant means or decimating government departments and agencies.

We need to fight Trump every way we can. Helping him shut down the government does not help the country at all. Once the government was down, how would Democrats every get it going again without Republican help? Do you really think Republicans would make any adjustments or concessions to their bill to get Democratic votes to restart the government? Republicans did not ask for or allow any suggestions from Democrats when writing the CR funding legislation. Why would they do anything during a shutdown they were happy to have? 

It would take Democrat's making concessions and promising enough YES votes before Republicans would bring the CR bill up for another vote. So instead of stopping the Republican's CR bill Democrats would just put the country through the turmoil of a possibly long shutdown and show the country how truly politically weak they are.

Does Trump Cower At Threat Of WW III?

Like many people I wonder what hold Putin has on Trump. There are many possible explanations and Trump's obvious mental decline may make any rational explanation impossible.

But in Trump's meltdown while talking to Ukraine's President Zelensky in the Oval Office, Trump twice warned Zelensky that by not accepting his plan to end the war Zelensky threatened to unleash World War III.  Trump seemed to be sincere in his assertion.

I wonder if Putin warned Trump he would start WW III if Trump didn't convince Zelensky to just give up. 

For all his bluster, I can easily believe Trump could not stand up to such a threat.  Trump is a bully and is always eager to threaten opponents when he thinks he has an advantage.  When it is the other way around he is a coward.

 

Two Hundred Year Old Social Security Recipients?

During President Trump's recent address to the nation Republican's were appalled by his claims of very old people in the Social Security System.  He implied that they were receiving benefits, but provided no proof.  Of course, he never provides proof for his outlandish statements.

What really surprised me was that Republicans seemed stunned to hear of very old people being in the system.  Didn't the President's physician during his first term, Dr. Ronny Johnson, claim President Trump was so healthy he could live to be 200? So what's the big deal?  True to his Republican roots Dr. Johnson provided no proof.

Letter To Republican Senators

The conduct of the President in his first month is appalling. I know he promised us shock and awe and we have gotten that. What I didn't expect was incompetence, outrageous lies, illegal actions, unconstitutional actions, scorn for the rule of law and corruption. I could cite many specific actions, but if you can honestly say you don't know what I'm talking about than this letter really doesn't matter.

I expect a new administration to make changes that reflect their priorities. There are always things that the President wants to add or change, but I would expect these to reflect careful thought and be checked for legality and constitutionality. Instead we have rash, harsh, slap-dash actions with no clear plans. Many of these actions seem to be aimed at pure retribution rather than making our government more cost effective or better for our country and citizens.

I understand the President believes he knows more about everything than anyone else. That is clearly revealed by his many appointments that represent his desire for absolute sycophancy from all subordinates rather then expertise in the nominees' areas of responsibility. We both know he does not know everything.

What I didn't expect was the complete lack by Republican elected officials to honor their oaths of office and constitutional responsibilities. You and your colleagues are charged by the Constitution to be an equal and independent branch of the government. You are expected to act as a constraint on a President who refuses to act like anything close to what we have come to believe is presidential behavior. What I see are politicians who are more concerned about their personal and partisan political power than they are for their country or its citizens.

Please perform your constitutional duty and help President Trump understand that many of his actions are not helpful or condoned by most voters. And the number of voters who would like to see him constrained is growing quickly. If you want to continue to be an elected politician you should start listening to voters.

If you read anything else in this letter, know that the President needs to stop acting like a know-it-all king and Elon Musk needs to go back to running his companies.

Republicans, Only You Can Save Us

 I think it was Thomas Jefferson who said something like, In a democracy you get the government you
deserve. I didn't vote for Donald Trump and I certainly don't think I deserve Trump's version of government. I believe in the Constitution, the Rule of Law, separation of powers, democracy, integrity, character, facts and truth. Trump is proving that he does not.

If you want to fight waste and fraud, go for it, but do it in ways that don't harm innocent people or valuable institutions. When you find out you were wrong it can be very difficult to repair the damage.

I've been told many times that we need a business leader in the White House. Really? When a business leader creates a disaster, they are often fired or they declare bankruptcy and leave their problems for someone else.  Before President Trump brings moral, institutional and fiscal bankruptcy on us, we need to fire him. 

Democrats can't do this by themselves. We need the help of Republicans (voters and politicians) who realize that Trump is not working in the best interests of citizens or our country. Republicans need to convince him that the chaos we are seeing is not what they voted for. If he doesn't change, they need to help to impeach and remove him from office. 

Republican's please don't wait too long. His recent executive order giving himself complete control over legally established independent departments and agencies shows he really wants to be a dictator forever.

MAGA Voters Need A Reality Check

When Democratic voters became aware of the effects of aging on President Biden, they encouraged him to reconsider his candidacy.  His accomplishments in office and his unselfish act of withdrawing from the campaign will cement his legacy as a great president.

For anyone outside the MAGA bubble, the decline of Donald Trump's mental competency and his failing grip on reality is obvious.  Trump's current poll numbers show that those inside the bubble either never see any of his outrageous comments or they really do not understand or care about the damage he proposes to inflict on the country or his political opponents.  

One of the responsibilities of being a citizen is that you be an informed voter.  That means you should search for information outside of media and information sources that tailor their product to a specific population to gain economic benefits or shape opinions.

Facts about his outrageous behavior surrounding January 6, 2020 is easy to find.  Examples of flagrant and continuous lying are everywhere.  If you can't find any, just wait.  He happily generates new ones everyday.

MAGA voters, you need a reality check and as a responsible voter it is on you to make that happen.

After the fact apologies that you didn't know or believe he would be that bad will not cut it.