So if you want to really see why we are not North Korea, or Russia, or any of the other countries out there who repress their citizens, give it a listen. It is a real shame that President Trump did not attend that dinner. He might have learned something about what America was envisioned to be.
Sunday, 30 April 2017
The First Amendment
Last night was the White House correspondence dinner. President Trump, unlike many of his predecessors, chose not to attend. His choice, of course. But I listened to clips of some of the speakers and ended up listening to one monologue in its entirety, the one by Hasan Minhaj, a comedian on the Daily Show. I listened expecting the jokes and the roasting of the President and the media. I got all of that, but there was also a very on point portion that gave us an inkling of what it means to be a minority. He also showed us what exactly that First Amendment right to free speech really means.
So if you want to really see why we are not North Korea, or Russia, or any of the other countries out there who repress their citizens, give it a listen. It is a real shame that President Trump did not attend that dinner. He might have learned something about what America was envisioned to be.
So if you want to really see why we are not North Korea, or Russia, or any of the other countries out there who repress their citizens, give it a listen. It is a real shame that President Trump did not attend that dinner. He might have learned something about what America was envisioned to be.
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Another one of Steve Bannon's people bites the dust.
Sebastian Gorka, Trump's very own Viktor Orbán Hungarian clone, is leaving the Trump administration soon. It's said he may take a non-White House position or he may go back to the private sector (most likely working for a right-wing advocacy group, or, maybe even FoxNews, which amounts to the same thing). link He hasn't decided where he's gonna land yet, shopping for offers I suppose, and they're giving him time to work on that one, but he's a gonner already.
It appears that the Congress has come to terms for funding the government through September of this year. It also appears that the Republicans basically folded on everything. No wall for one thing. No cuts to Democratic priority spending, and even some new Democratic priority spending, but not quite as much as the new military spending, and the Republicans did get $1.5 billion of new money towards ‘border security’ not consisting of new wall or new fences.
In general, the Republicans seem to have folded on almost everything and it's gonna get approved by relying on Democratic votes. So, that little drama is over until September, and Trump can move on to trying once again to repeal ObamaCare.
May 1:st today. A national holiday. Used to be a day when workers marched for worker's rights. Nowadays it's the blue- and geer-haired brigades with piercings in their faces who never worked an honest job between them who scream and squeal about "anti kapitalism" and multiculturalism.
We should have hung a great electro magnet above the parade route and just sucked them all up by all the metallic junk they have on their faces, dumped them into containers and then emptied those containers in the North Sea on a bad weater day.
Or sumphim' like that.
"Sebastian Gorka, Trump's very own Viktor Orbán Hungarian clone, is leaving the Trump administration soon."
Yet another loss. I wonder how long Bannon will remain. I wonder whether he will get sacked or quit or if they will come up with a mutual story, saying he "moved on" or something.
Oh well, you'll get your wars I expect. More costly wars in the ME and tax cuts for the most wealthy back home while the rest of ya'll sink further and further down into 3:d world depravity, cheering it on as you sink.
I really didn't quite expect China to be the dominant world power in the first half of the 21'st century as some speculated, now it seems destined to be so. And my Mandarin is limited to a mere 25 words or so. Boy did I place my bets on the wrong fucking horse.
"More costly wars in the ME and tax cuts for the most wealthy…"
I suspect you're being overly optimistic there.
In spite of his little bombing raid (which will make the Trumpkins happy on account of it's ‘tough’ and ‘strong’ and all that), Trump has shown absolutely no sign of following up. He only wasted a little money there.
And, the tax cuts aren't a sure bet either; he's still gotta repeal ObamaCare to get the immediate savings on medical expenses so he can use the ‘reconciliation’ process to pass some short-term tax cuts while avoiding a Democratic filibuster. If he can't get ObamaCare repealed, and that's not lookin’ like a sure bet there, then he's in real trouble getting any major tax cuts forced through the Senate.
"And my Mandarin is limited to a mere 25 words or so."
Looks like you'll have your hands full learning Arabic.
I know enough to speak to arabs: "En kebab, mild och stark sås, tack". (One kebab, mild and strong sauce, thank you). That's about all I need.
If I ever want to tell one to fuck off I just yell "fuck off!", it's pretty universal. With some signaling it's always undestood.
And apart from ordering a kebab and telling someone to fuck off, I can't really envision any dealings I would have with 'em.
Trump never lets a fact get in the way of his reality
Apparently not even his own words.
To commemorate his 100th day in office -- a "ridiculous" marker created by the "fake news" media! -- President Donald Trump gave a series of long interviews to a variety of news outlets. And, holy cow did he talk -- and talk.
Let's start with Trump's interview with "Face the Nation" host John Dickerson, the full text of which is making its way around the Internet this morning.
There's a LOT in there -- transcript is here -- but one passage stood out to me as particularly outlandish. After Trump said, "You saw what happened with surveillance," Dickerson asked the President whether he stood by his totally and completely unproven claim that then President Obama had wiretapped Trump Tower during the 2016 election -- and that Obama was a "sick" and "bad" guy for doing so.
Here's Trump's response:
"I don't stand by anything. I just-- you can take it the way you want. I think our side's been proven very strongly. And everybody's talking about it. And frankly it should be discussed. I think that is a very big surveillance of our citizens. I think it's a very big topic. And it's a topic that should be number one. And we should find out what the hell is going on."
"I don't stand by anything"!!!!!
*deep mournful sigh*
Oh well, you'll get your wars I expect.
I don't know, you may be disappointed. I just noticed that Trump is saying he would be "honored" to chat with Kim Jong-un. Apparently it has occurred to him, or someone close to him, that "speaking softly" might be of value.
"Apparently not even his own words."
He had a fairly incoherent interview with the Associated Press here not too long ago as well. (I think it came up #3 in the string from that video blogger you linked to in the last thread--the one who speculated on Trump maybe having Alzheimer's disease)
"Trump is saying he would be ‛honored’ to chat with Kim Jong-un."
This will likely dismay the Trumpkins, although they'll likely go to extreme lengths to deny same. Which reminds me, Paul Krugman gives us some reason to suspect the accuracy of those polls showing the dedicated Trumpkins are sticking with him tight. Basically, it comes down to the notion that most folks who've decided they don't like him after all, after just three months, simply deny having voted for him in the first place when a pollster asks. So, the only ones who admit to having voted for him are the ones who're sticking with him still. Interesting idea. Krugman reminds us that by 2006 you couldn't find a majority of voters who would admit to pollsters that they voted for Dubya in 2004.
He's right, nobody likes to admit they made a mistake. So they will either lie about how they voted or they will wear blinders until the bitter end.
What will Trump’s Katrina moment look like? Will it be the collapse of health insurance due to administration sabotage? A recession this White House has no idea how to handle? A natural disaster or public health crisis? One way or another, it’s coming.
This has always been what is in the cards. I almost hope it happens sooner rather than later, because that might be an end to the Trump administration fiasco. But I am concerned for everyone who will be affected. All right, I admit it, maybe not so concerned for those who voted for Trump. Ungenerous soul that I am.
"…that might be an end to the Trump administration fiasco."
Incompetence is not an impeachable offense. There is no recall procedure for Presidents in the case of voter regrets.
Okay, I have to admit I find this to be rather amusing. So, who wants us to remain in the Paris Accord?
Some big American coal companies have advised President Donald Trump's administration to break his promise to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement — arguing that the accord could provide their best forum for protecting their global interests.
Somehow I'm thinking Trump's remark about being President is more difficult than he thought it would be is an understatement! lol!
"I'm thinking Trump's remark about being President is more difficult than
he thought it would be is an understatement!"
I'm still not convinced he'll be willing to stick with it for the full four years. I know he's already fired up his reelection committee, but, nevertheless….
TrumpTweets: They are making the point that they've explained to Trump that Andrew Jackson was actually dead when the Civil War broke out. (Now they're ready to try to convince him that Frederick Douglass, who was not dead when the Civil War broke out, is nevertheless dead now.)
In his EO regarding trade:
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
Somebody must have mentioned to him about the Constitution and the role of judges too.
Shorthands is floating a new faerie tale. He's been heard to claim that the budget compromise from Friday, which specifically says he can't divert funds to his border wall instead contains a ‘down payment’ on that wall. PBS It clearly does not, but Shorthands was telling some Air Force Academy students that it does. I suspect this is a trial balloon. He's probably trying to see if he can get away with that one before trying it out on a wider audience, like at FoxNews.
(Of course, it is possible that he's decided it's true just because he wishes it were true; having himself a senior moment maybe.)
Republican Party leaders in the House, joined by some faction leaders from the reactionary ‘Freedom Caucus’ and the less reactionary ‘Tuesday Group’ are working overtime tonight to try to get enough support for the ObamaCare ‘Repeal and Whatever’ bill. Trump's working on it too and is supposed to be hauling Republican Congressmen into the White House tomorrow to follow up on calls he's making tonight. They really want to get this done before they go on recess Thursday. It ain't lookin’ good for ‘em.
Some Republicans are arguing that they'll lose voters (and lose sitting Congressmen) if they don't get something done on repealing ObamaCare.
Other Republicans are arguing that they'll lose voters (and lose sitting Congressmen) if they do manage to repeal ObamaCare.
The problem they're running into is that both these things are true. Sometimes there are no good moves to make.
Lynnette: "Last night was the White House correspondence dinner. President Trump, unlike many of his predecessors, chose not to attend. His choice, of course. But I listened to clips of some of the speakers and ended up listening to one monologue in its entirety, the one by Hasan Minhaj, a comedian on the Daily Show. I listened expecting the jokes and the roasting of the President and the media. I got all of that"
Sure you did. But why should Trump attend a dinner where people come just to make snarky and demeaning remarks about him? It's on a whole other level today than what any of his predecessors would have had to sit through. Obama? He was just loved by the media and wouldv'e only had to chuckle if they made fun of him in some nice way - knowing it would play well o the cables the next day. For Trump they're looking to set him up for humiliation. I guess you too wouldn't just walk into an ambush willingly, would you?
Lynnette: "I don't know, you may be disappointed. I just noticed that Trump is saying he would be "honored" to chat with Kim Jong-un. Apparently it has occurred to him, or someone close to him, that "speaking softly" might be of value."
I'm not too worried about NK. That was never a real aim of the War Party, at least for now. A lot of talk, but there won't be much action - too much deterrence on both sides.
I'm much more worried about a ramped up program against Assad in Syria, and an escalation of the conflict with Iran, and ultimately a new Cold War, possibly turning into a Hot one, with Russia.
Those are the three targets for your war party. Syria leading to Iran leading to the forever enemy in Moscow - the ultimate foe. There's where the Cheney's and McCains' are headed. That precise path - with a few "colour revolutions" in certain places to boost it and keep it going. But Moscow is the end station.
Well, China is there after Moscow, but they figure with Moscow out of the picture China's encircled and forced to play ball.
"Obama? He was just loved by the media…"
I see you've been reading Breitbart again.
The bloom fell off that rosebush years ago. Obama was said by the media to run a White House even more opaque than Dubya's was, and certainly prosecuted more reporters than any other recent president.
They got tired of that real fast. They may have loved him when he was first running against McCain back in the year 2000, but they got over that real fast once he got in office.
"I'm much more worried about a ramped up program against Assad
in Syria, and an escalation of the conflict with Iran, and ultimately a
new Cold War, possibly turning into a Hot one, with Russia."
Shorthands is a bully by temperament. Bullies pick on the weak. He's not gonna go up against Putin. Assad maybe… You should worry about Putin overreacting, not about Shorthands threatening Russia.
It sounds like Trump is meeting with GOP reps who are opposed to ObamaCare even as I type this.
Regarding losing votes: The problem they're running into is that both these things are true.
Yes.
Sometimes there are no good moves to make.
This is the type of situation where you need persuasive and knowledgeable leadership. Something we don't really see in Trump. The real solution lies in doing something that will benefit American citizens as a majority. In the beginning Social Security was opposed by some as being a socialist endeavor. But you will find, I believe, that now the majority of Americans would not want to see their Social Security taken away. In this case bending over backwards for drug companies or health insurance companies isn't the answer. I believe there does need to be some kind of government intervention, however, to cover the cost of those with high medical bills. I also think that something does need to be done to address the inflated costs of drugs and healthcare in general. The traditional capitalist tools of supply and demand aren't really the answer because they do not address the needs of those without means to pay for their care. And that is something that is the difference between a desirable country to live in and one that is not. Going back to the days where there is a significant gap between the have's and the have not's doesn't make for a stable country in which to live. And an unstable country does not make for a business friendly environment. Although the causes may be different the instability in Venezuela is a good illustration of what happens when a country implodes. I say may be, because there are certain similarities in the evidence of policy changes due to the greed of some people. It is all tied together. Something that those who only look at the surface don't really see.
"It sounds like Trump is meeting with GOP reps who are opposed
to ObamaCare even as I type this."
Shorthands has a serious problem with lack of foresight. He doesn't look beyond today. The Democrats are almost salivating over the idea that the Republican House will actually pass something (which will then die in the Senate). They can then run against the Republican congressmen on the idea that these Republicans voted to take away health insurance for the dedicated Trumpkins (who are the major recipients of the benefits).
Not being Trump, these charges will probably stick. The Democrats are within two of picking up a majority in the Senate for the 2018 elections; they need help in the House. They think the Republicans are helping them with this vote and they'd be real happy to see that vote taken in the House in the next couple of days (best case scenario, of course, is that the House votes and Ryan finds he's miscounted by one vote and it dies there, but if it dies in the Senate, that's okay too).
But why should Trump attend a dinner where people come just to make snarky and demeaning remarks about him?
Oh I understand perfectly well why he didn't attend. I certainly don't blame him for that. But, perhaps if you don't want people to make snarky and demeaning remarks about you, you might want to also refrain.
The Democrats are almost salivating over the idea that the Republican House will actually pass something (which will then die in the Senate).
I see that Trump is already hinting at the need to change the legislative vote requirements (the nuclear option). Of course, this will make it harder for legislators to run for cover if that piece of legislation turns out to be unpopular with Americans. Something they may want to consider. But it also means we are one more step towards undermining our democracy, giving one party that much more power to entrench itself.
"I see that Trump is already hinting at the need to change the
legislative vote requirements (the nuclear option)."
So far the Republican Senators have shown very little enthusiasm for that idea. They're not gonna get a long-haul benefit out of that like a stealth Bible Thumper Supreme Court Justice, so they're not real enthused with the idea.
Title: How Sweden Became “The Most Alt-Right” Country In Europe -- Buzzfeed
Okay, so I see the House has passed the spending bill, which now has to go to the Senate and then to Trump to sign. But I am confused. I was trying to see what is in it and found this:
Spending bill
Increase clean energy and science funding
Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy is up $17 million over Fiscal Year 2016
Department of Energy Office of Science is up $42 million over Fiscal Year 2016
So what about those cuts to the EPA and what not? Is that funding not part of this spending bill? Is this just a stop gap measure until the end of the fiscal year, when the real fight begins?
How Sweden Became “The Most Alt-Right” Country In Europe -- Buzzfeed
Makes me feel sorry for Anarki13. *sigh*
"Is this just a stop gap measure until the end of the fiscal year…"
Pretty much; it takes us to September is all.
"…Anarki13…"
I don't recall seeing any reference to them in the article. I don't follow.
It would appear that Paul Ryan thinks he's got the votes. He's scheduled a vote tomorrow on repealing ObamaCare. They may pull it off after all. And then again, maybe not.
It would appear that Paul Ryan thinks he's got the votes. He's scheduled a vote tomorrow on repealing ObamaCare. They may pull it off after all. And then again, maybe not.
Yes, I saw that. I've read over the provisions and still am not sure what effects this will have. I have little confidence that it will be an improvement.
"…Anarki13…"
Anarki13 was the screen name for an Iraqi who used to blog. He immigrated to Sweden a number of years ago. Right around the time Zeyad came to the States, if I remember right. He was a friend of Zeyad's way back when.
Lee: "You should worry about Putin overreacting, not about Shorthands threatening Russia."
I'm actually not too worried about that. I don't see Putin as a guy who overreacts on impulse. He's been in the game far too long and is, like him or not, extremely professional at what he does.
Mind you, I know he's a thug of sorts. But Russia was pretty much forced to chose a pragmatic thug after the rape of their nation during the Yelzin years. And that thug still swings about 80% of a credible approval rating - about 95% if you believe State controlled russian media - which I do not, in this case.
Lee: "How Sweden Became “The Most Alt-Right” Country In Europe -- Buzzfeed"
There are two reasons for that. The first and obvious is that Sweden has taken in (per capita) way more "refugees" than any other nation. So the backlash when the consequences of that are being felt across communities will natuarally start sooner here.
The second is that a relatively small group of nationalists figured out that the lefty regime we now suffer under is due to the 68-movement's "slow march through the institutions".
That was how we came to be where we are. Communists realised they could not win elections here, and Sweden was too prosperous for revolutions so they decided on a long term srategy. Infiltrate akademia, ursurp all journalism, etc. They won. They won for a long time.
But now the Right is mirroring those tactics here. The focus is on Meta-politics, changing the debate, moving the Overton window.
I might add a third point. Swedes are, compared to most European nations, way more proficient in the english language. It's easier to spread ideas to likeminded in, say the USA, if you share a language.
Lynnette: "Anarki13 was the screen name for an Iraqi who used to blog. He immigrated to Sweden a number of years ago. "
I remember him. He seemed like a good enough guy. I wonder what happened to him.
"I'm actually not too worried about that."
Then ya got no worries. Trump doesn't around threatening tough guys; Trump picks on the weak.
But, I'm not as sanguine as you are about Putin. He's got a domestic market to feed with international triumphs, to take their mind off their domestic situation.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Nate Silver does an analysis at 538, title: The Comey Letter Probably Cost Clinton The Election
Lee:
"Nate Silver does an analysis"....blah blah...
Trump won it on his energy and his mass rallies in states Hillary either took for granted or dismissed. Those are the main facts, the rest are excuses.
The if that/what if/suppose that analysis is retarded. The vote is in and IF Clinton had issues with it and a protest against it she should have done so BEFORE the vote.
Or you can just do away with voting all together, if you're gonna bitch and moan about the outcome.
"…if you're gonna bitch and moan about the outcome."
IF I want to ‘bitch and moan’ about the outcome, I will do that. I know how.
This was an analysis of whether or not Comey's letter cost Clinton enough support to have turned the election it Trump's favor. Silver says it did had that effect. End of story.
I'll save the bitching and moaning about it for some other time, assuming I ever get around to it again.
"The vote is in and IF Clinton had issues with it and a protest against it
she should have done so BEFORE the vote."
You seem to seriously, perhaps willfully, misunderstand our Presidential election process.
What is it you think Clinton should have done about Comey's interference ‘BEFORE the vote’?
I'll be happy to explain why whatever it is you've imagined up is not an option. (As will almost certainly be the case.)
Typo correction: "This was an analysis of whether or not Comey's letter cost Clinton enough support to have turned the election in Trump's favor."
Well, Trump got his bill to repeal ObamaCare passed in the House, finally. But, remember, that was supposed to be the easy part, and he only got it passed because a lot of the House Republicans are fairly confident it'll never get out of the Senate. (They managed to pass repeal ObamaCare bills with wild abandon whilst Obama was in the White House; 60 of them I think, in total. And they could guarantee Obama'd veto those bills. Now they're relying on the Republican Senate to kill it off, and they damn near couldn't bring themselves to risk it. And this was supposed to be the easy part.)
It passed. *sigh*
I remember him. He seemed like a good enough guy. I wonder what happened to him.
Last I heard he had gotten married. But that was a long time ago. I assume he is on Facebook somewhere, but since I don't have an account I couldn't say for sure. I hope he made it. He was a smart guy.
But, remember, that was supposed to be the easy part, and he only got it passed because a lot of the House Republicans are fairly confident it'll never get out of the Senate.
We can hope, but I don't know. Like the guy in the video with the shifty look said, anything can happen.
It's just hard to see the country hoodwinked like that.
The country hasn't been hoodwinked yet. Trump worked it hard and managed to keep from being embarrassed, bigly, first rattle out of the box. But, he ain't got nothin’ yet ‘cept he dodged the first bullet. There's more to come.
Lee: "Well, Trump got his bill to repeal ObamaCare passed in the House, finally. But, remember, that was supposed to be the easy part, and he only got it passed because a lot of the House Republicans are fairly confident it'll never get out of the Senate."
Lynnette: "It passed. *sigh*"
There's one issue you won't hear any opinion either way from me. I never really understood how US healtcare worked before Obamacare, I never really understood what Obamacare accomplished (although I imagine a whole lot of poor people got better healthcare with it) and I have no idea what this new Republican plan is meant to do.
To me it seems fucked up to begin with. I read that US healtcare costs per capita are around twice that of countries like Canada or Sweden, which have similar quality of health care. Not sure if that's correct but I remember reading it.
Per capita health care costs about the highest in the world here, if not the highest; I think it's the highest. Averages 60% - 70% over the rest of the the civilized world. And is double the costs, or even more, over several of them.
I probably should have written ‘industrialized’ world instead of ‘civilized’ to be all proper and PC about it.
Now you have made me curious, Marcus. We might have talked about healthcare in Sweden in the past, but I don't remember. How does it work? How do you pay and what choices are there for doctors or clinics? Is there any limits as to what types of procedures one can have done? How about drugs, can you get brand name drugs easily or do you need some kind of doctor's authorization, in addition to the regular prescription? Here they "encourage" generic drugs, as they are supposedly cheaper. But even they seem to be becoming more expensive now. If healthcare is run through the government, who pays the healthcare staff? Are they government employees?
I never really understood how US healtcare worked before Obamacare, I never really understood what Obamacare accomplished (although I imagine a whole lot of poor people got better healthcare with it) and I have no idea what this new Republican plan is meant to do.
To me it seems fucked up to begin with.
I think that last statement there sums it up pretty nicely.
It has also occurred to me that there was another thing I should have been more clear about. We spend 60%-70% more per capita than the average industrialized nation/state. But, that still leaves a fairly large percentage of our population who cannot afford medical care--so the costs per patient are rather higher yet than that 60%-70% differential would make ya think was the case. That means there's a lot of money sloshing around in that system that can be diverted to pay the administrators of supposedly non-profit hospitals and of health insurance companies.
The Republican plan is meant to make sure that doesn't change.
Short article by Fareed Zacharia, in the Washington Post, that I'd recommend specifically to Lynnette, but generally to everybody. Zacharia can get a little over-amped at times, but he's got basics right in this one, at least so far as Mexico is concerned. (I'd have to do a little more research on the claims pertaining to South Korean before I'd venture a judgment on those.)
Word on Radio-Right-Wing is that, after the success in coaxing the House to write a bill the Senate will never accept (indeed, one which some Republican Senators have already pronounced DOA), the Trump administration intends to be intimately involved in drafting and even scheduling the Senate version of the Repeal ObamaCare legislation.
One might suspect that Trump is about to become much better acquainted with Mitch McConnell and much better informed on the subject of who's in charge of McConnell's Senate majority.
Lynnette:
"Now you have made me curious, Marcus. We might have talked about healthcare in Sweden in the past, but I don't remember. How does it work? How do you pay and what choices are there for doctors or clinics? Is there any limits as to what types of procedures one can have done? How about drugs, can you get brand name drugs easily or do you need some kind of doctor's authorization, in addition to the regular prescription?"
It's paid for by our taxes, so basically a single payer system. A patient pays a small fee, about $50 for a visit, and the rest is free. There are no limits I'm aware of, you get what is deemed needed. Drugs I believe is prescribed also as needed, and when cheaper generics exist those are prescribed IF they are approved and have the same effect as brand name drugs. How easy it is I have no real idea since I've never been prescribed any drug myself. Afaik you get your prescription from a Doctor and then get the drugs from a pharmacy.
For drugs you have to pay yourself, but there is a high cost ceiling at about $300 annually I think. So expencive medicine, like for cancer treatments, is free above that $300 annual ceiling.
You're supposed to register with a clinic of your choice, you're assigned to one based on location but may change that at will. That's where you should go first and if they can't treat you they then assign you to one of the main hospitals. You're not supposed to just turn up at the emergency desk at a main hospital although too many do that anyway.
I'd say it works pretty well, used to work really well. The main problem now is understaffing which leads to less than ideal situations for the remaining staff, wages that probably need to increase for nurses especially, and sometimes too long waiting lines for non emergency treatments.
Lee: "I probably should have written ‘industrialized’ world instead of ‘civilized’ to be all proper and PC about it."
No need for that here. I don't care at all, Lynnette is usually pretty forgiving and PeteS is gone. Fire away cowboy!
Ya never know what might set the wannabe off on a rant.
You're 'fraid of that then? Me I like to encourage it.
Too many typos, must re-edit.
Okay, so then the pay part works like our Medicare, which is a tax we pay through our employers.
For drugs you have to pay yourself, but there is a high cost ceiling at about $300 annually I think. So expencive medicine, like for cancer treatments, is free above that $300 annual ceiling.
Now this is interesting. Obviously the government is picking up the rest of the tab for that. I have to assume that there is some procedure in place to keep drug prices within reason then. Here the costs are out of sight.
For those covered by Medicare the reimbursement to health care providers is determined by the government. Same goes for Medicaid, which is government provided health care coverage for lower income people. The problems with that can be that some doctors limit the number of Medicaid patients they accept because the insurance companies' reimbursements are usually more generous. The reason for that being that if the doctors and the insurance companies don't come to an agreement the doctor may not accept payment by that insurance company. That has been one of the Republican party's arguments, that expanded Medicaid will not necessarily provide people with health care coverage.
The main problem now is understaffing which leads to less than ideal situations for the remaining staff, wages that probably need to increase for nurses especially, and sometimes too long waiting lines for non emergency treatments.
Except for the long lines part, at least as far as I am aware, we also have the same problems.
Zacharia can get a little over-amped at times, but he's got basics right in this one, at least so far as Mexico is concerned.
Unfortunately it was inevitable that Trump would piss off many people around the world. He has done so here quite handily. I think that people need to realize though that Trump is not really all of America. Sure, he has his supporters, but by the number of demonstrations and crowds attending the town hall meetings it is obvious that we have a problem with him, and his Republican backers, too.
And that brings me to my small effort to make my voice heard regarding the health care bill by emailing my elected (Republican) representative to Congress. He voted for it. Needless to say I will not be voting for him again, should he run again. And it is very likely that I will be hesitant to vote for many Republicans in the future.
...and PeteS is gone.
I have kind of started to worry about him. Usually he stops in, even if only briefly, to say hi.
"You're 'fraid of that then?"
Wrong verb
"Me I like to encourage it."
I'm not that interested in hearing from him.
"I will be hesitant to vote for many Republicans in the future."
I haven't voted for a Republican anywhere up or down the ballot since I last didn't vote for Dubya. My small contribution to the implosion of the Republican Party. After they've gone through their reorganization I'll be open to voting for Republicans again. ‘Til then I figure the ballot contains Democrats, a few smaller parties (in my state), and independents. Lacking an acceptable person on the ballot, I still got my pencil. But, I ain't gonna vote Republican again, not for anybody with an "R" by their name, until the party purges itself of the madness that brought us Trump. And that's gonna happen fairly soon I reckon. (I'm expecting a Republican primary challenge to Trump next time ‘round. All hell's gonna break loose when that happens.)
Actually, I might vote for the Republican who challenges Trump in 2020, depending on whom that would be, but you get my drift.
Just saw a headline that reminded me of a point I was going to illustrate before I forgot to do that… I mentioned that Trump was a bully--preferred to pick on the weak rather than on folks who could strike back.
Well, ya'll may have noticed that Trump's all of sudden been telling the world how him and Mexican Prez Enrique Peña Nieto are good buddies now. Everybody likes everybody now. Well, that's ‘cause it's been pointed out to Trump that Mexico isn't without weapons of their own to unleash on him. (A point referred to in that article by Zacharia up above.) So, he's been picking on the Canadians instead on the theory that can't fight back. But, it's become apparent that they too have the ability to retaliate. So, our new Commerce Dept. Secretary, one Wilbur Ross, has now had to issue a warning to the Canadian, which they will no doubt ignore, that they shouldn't even consider trying to fight back. None of this haulin’ us up before the WTO or any such stuff as that, and certainly no retaliatory tariffs. Yeah, right, like that'll work, back Trudeau into a corner and try to embarrass him in front of his constituents just for the hell of it, and see how that works out for us.
I haven't voted for a Republican anywhere up or down the ballot since I last didn't vote for Dubya.
Actually, I'm not sure why I voted for this representative in the first place, other than my local paper made him out to be somewhat reasonable and willing to work across the aisle. That's the last time I listen to them!
But there is one Republican I have always voted for, and probably will continue to do so. That is the one who bucked the Republican party on the raising taxes issue. He has always been handily reelected.
But, I ain't gonna vote Republican again, not for anybody with an "R" by their name, until the party purges itself of the madness that brought us Trump.
Indeed. I can only hope they actually do purge themselves. Sometimes I have my doubts.
Lee: "Yeah, right, like that'll work, back Trudeau into a corner and try to embarrass him in front of his constituents just for the hell of it, and see how that works out for us."
On the other hand if there ever was an opponent you could browbeat into submission it would prolly be that girlieboy Trudeau. I say Trump should just grab 'im by the ... and tell 'im what's what.
Now that I think ‘bout it, I remember; I did vote for Ted Cruz in the Republican primary elections. There was still a chance he could beat Trump out for the nomination at that point.
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"…that girlieboy Trudeau."
I believe I detect a note of jealously there.
Poor Afghan refugee-children suffers under horribly racist German overlords:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DmIVcbKAkA&feature=youtu.be
No german maids pick up their trash! It's almost like another holocouast!
When will it end?!?!?!?
Congratulations to France!
The French voters have chosen a voice of moderation for their next President. I wish them the best.
It was always going to be a tall order for Le Pen to win. I would have counted 40% in the second round as a roaring success. Now she got about 35%. It's a step in the right direction, a doubling since 2002, but not quite satisfying.
At least her numbers are about 50% higher than average among the youngest voters. It stands to reason those are the ones feeling the effects of multiculturalism first and hardest and they are reacting to it. In 5 years we'll have 5 yearly cohorts more of based youth and the other end 5 years of habitual social democrats or traditional conservatives gone. Also 5 more years of failed multiculturalism to point at. We'll get there.
"Congratulations to France!"
Kinda depressing that the French managed to dodge that movement and we did not.
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"We'll get there."
I ‛spect by that time we'll have made our way back.
Kinda depressing that the French managed to dodge that movement and we did not.
My thoughts exactly! But in our defense I think that some of those Trump votes had more to do with economics than immigration or far right support. It's that age old saying, "it's the economy, stupid". Trump was adept at playing into that, while Clinton was not.
There was a story on CNN about one immigrant who was deported recently. He had been in the country for at least 20 years, is married with 3 children, and owns and operates his own business. His wife and children are all American citizens. He has never committed a crime, except for staying here beyond his visa. He has made every effort to remain here legally, paying thousands of dollars in legal fees.
His wife, and various customers of his business, who CNN interviewed, voted for Trump. They all say they regret that now. One of them pointed out his lack of criminal behavior and when asked about the argument that immigrants take American jobs she pointed out, rightly, that he has created American jobs.
While Trump was adept at playing at people's fears, he may not be so adept at reading the country's mood about his various policy shifts.
I ‛spect by that time we'll have made our way back.
I certainly hope so.
"Accounts differ on how extensive he got, with one person familiar
with the meeting saying that Obama forcefully told Trump to steer clear
of Flynn."
Politico.com
Contrary to popular opinion amongst Swedish right-wingers, it ain't near over yet. They're just gettin’ started.
The speculation as to why Trump didn't heed the warnings were:
1. Dislike for Obama
2. Loyalty
3. Trump knows best
Why Trump didn't listen
Lee: "Contrary to popular opinion amongst Swedish right-wingers, it ain't near over yet. They're just gettin’ started."
I'm confused. I have to assume "swedish right-winger" is aimed at me. But how does that article relate to something being ongoing that I said was over?
Lynnette: "The French voters have chosen a voice of moderation for their next President. I wish them the best."
Why do you want France to become increasingly like Africa? Why do you want the entire cities to fall into the dysfunction and despair that the banlieu´s surrounding them already are victim to? Why do not the french deserve to keep their land and culture?
Can't you see the gigantic problems France is having where the root cause is an invasion of migrants from the third world? Why do you assume more of the same will improve the situation? Can't you see that path surely leads to civil war or some sort of violent, unstable dystopia resembling a civil war?
You people... I just can't even.
Completely unable to plot a graph. No foresight.
"…how does that article relate to something…that I said…?"
Too much trouble for me to go find the quote.
Why do you want France to become increasingly like Africa? Why do you want the entire cities to fall into the dysfunction and despair that the banlieu´s surrounding them already are victim to? Why do not the french deserve to keep their land and culture?
My support for Macron has more to do with my belief that for Europe in general it is best for France to remain united with the rest of Europe within a common forum like the EU. Le Pen was not a supporter of that. It has been an entity that has kept a certain amount of peace in the region.
I believe that those who have immigrated to a country, either France or the US for example, should be give a chance to better themselves, and as a result the country to which they have emigrated. As in the story I related earlier in this thread about the immigrant who was deported from the US, he had created more jobs than he had usurped by his presence. That there are pockets of dysfunctional communities is a result of bad government policies. I have said, and I reiterate it, that those committing crimes should be deported. But those who help build a better community through their hard work and effort should be allowed a path to citizenship.
Ah-ha; stumbled across it by accident:
"Haven't you wondered Lynnnette about how quickly the ‘Trump-
Russia’ angle vanished from one day to the next in basically all media?"
Marcus @ Thu Apr 27, 12:04:00 pm
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New word out of the White House. Shorthands has been introduced to Mitch McConnell, and now he's gonna ‘let the Senate do their thing’ with the replacement for ObamaCare, and he's gonna keep his hands off of it, for now at least.
I also notice that the North Koreans have scooped up another American citizen for unspecified ‘hostile acts’; that brings their total up to four, and Shorthands doesn't seem to notice this even a little bit. Just a week or so ago he was threatening ‘kinetic action’ against North Korea and now it's crickets. (The media is being reserved about this too; I suspect the Trump administration has prevailed upon them; it happens.)
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As for Le Pen, they've been fairly open about the fact that her campaign and her political party is financed in a large part out of Moscow. That's enough for me to be agin’ ‘em. There's plenty more, but that would be enough on its own./i
Can't you see the gigantic problems France is having where the root cause is an invasion of migrants from the third world? Why do you assume more of the same will improve the situation? Can't you see that path surely leads to civil war or some sort of violent, unstable dystopia resembling a civil war?
I can see where mass immigration could strain the social safety net and cause more expense, yes. But to automatically assume that immigration is the root cause of civil strife due to cultural or religious differences isn't always accurate.
Here is a case that has arisen recently in Minnesota. This man is not an immigrant, but a man born and raised in the United States.
Sharia vigilante
I think people have reacted appropriately in their response to his activities, reporting him to the police etc. The root cause of his inappropriate behavior I think lays more in some kind of mental problem than anything else.
But the response of local community leaders and authorities could be a model on what to do if this kind of situation arises.
There was also this case:
Female genital mutilation
While this kind of procedure is done elsewhere, such as Africa, it is illegal in the US. If caught the people responsible are subject to criminal prosecution. The laws of a country need to be followed and applied.
As for Le Pen, they've been fairly open about the fact that her campaign and her political party is financed in a large part out of Moscow.
I knew she viewed Russia favorably, like Trump, but I hadn't heard that about the financing.
Just a week or so ago he was threatening ‘kinetic action’ against North Korea and now it's crickets.
Crickets? Hmmm...I've heard that phrase before...somewhere.
Anyway, snatching US citizens seems to be a common ploy for NK when they want to get back at the US. Perhaps Trump can call up Kim Jong-un, kind of like he did el-Sisi, and get them released. Wonder what he would have to promise him, though?
Shorthands is feeling all powerful and brave following his single base hit on repealing ObamaCare.
He's just fired FBI Director James Comey.
‘Chutzpah’ I think they call that.
Yes, I am starting to agree with you, Lee, about that Special Prosecutor.
I noticed that in the letter Trump sent to Comey he makes mention that Comey reassured him three times that he (Trump) wasn't under investigation. Interesting that Trump felt the need to put that into the letter.
"Trump…makes mention that Comey reassured him three times that he
(Trump) wasn't under investigation."
Comey doesn't have a whole lot of friends in Washington anymore, and the FBI may not have been formally investigating Trump himself, personally (yet), but Comey was coöperating with the Senate investigation, which is probably what got him canned.
It appears that Mitch McConnell has nixed the Special Prosecutor, saying that the Senate investigation needs to finish its work. Some are not happy, including some Republicans.
I don't expect McConnell, or Paul Ryan, to go along with the idea of a Special Prosecutor, or even a ‘Select Committee’ (à la Watergate), without a fight. They'll resist until and unless the clamor from within the Republican Party becomes overwhelming. We're not there yet. That's unfortunate, because the doubters are never gonna accept a Republican led investigation. McConnell and Ryan both know this, but they care less about credibility than about raw power--they'll approve an independent investigation only if this starts eating into their power.
Behind Comey's firing
President Donald Trump weighed firing his FBI director for more than a week. When he finally pulled the trigger Tuesday afternoon, he didn't call James Comey. He sent his longtime private security guard to deliver the termination letter in a manila folder to FBI headquarters.
He had grown enraged by the Russia investigation, two advisers said, frustrated by his inability to control the mushrooming narrative around Russia. He repeatedly asked aides why the Russia investigation wouldn’t disappear and demanded they speak out for him. He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe, one adviser said.
Screaming at the television. Symptom of dementia or fear that something will surface that shows he's guilty of something?
I'm guessing it's the latter, but that's just a guess.
McConnell and Ryan both know this, but they care less about credibility than about raw power--they'll approve an independent investigation only if this starts eating into their power.
Which means we will have to wait until 2018 or 2020. *sigh*
"Which means we will have to wait until 2018 or 2020."
Not necessarily. It is remotely possible that enough Republican legislators will become uncomfortable with the situation. I'm not holding my breath on that though.
And, of course, Trump may overstep himself. His paranoia may get the better of him and cause him to do something really, really stupid. After all, firing Comey wasn't smart--makes it look like he's into cover-up mode.
The biggest problem with this whole mess is that so much of the American public is not really paying attention. They turn off from politics or they don't understand the possible significance of some of what is taking place. They shrug and say oh that's politics. Never mind that with the advent of Trump there has come the possibility of some really extreme changes that will affect them. And through it all Trump has not drained any swamp, just rearranged the actors.
"…so much of the American public is not really paying attention."
That's true. On the bright side, Trump started out a minority President, a true black swan event. He's not got any margin to lose; no cushion. Losing only a fairly small portion of his support will be enough to cost him a major portion of his power. Once he's he's lost a few percentage points with the swing voters and is reduced to his dedicated Trumpkins, he's in serious trouble.
And, it'll take awhile, but we know that the drumbeat eventually makes a mark on the ‘turned off from politics’ crowd. (They all knew Hillary was hiding something bad; had something to do with e-mails, never did figure out what it was, but they thought they knew she was hiding something there. Eventually that sort of thing will catch up with Trump too.)
It seems Trump has now seriously annoyed Turkey
Turkey has lashed out at Washington's plan to send arms to Kurdish rebels fighting ISIS in Syria, calling for an end to the US strategy that has long rattled Ankara.
The Pentagon announced Tuesday that President Donald Trump had authorized arming the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), green-lighting a US policy that had sat on the backburner for years to avoid confrontation with Turkey, a key NATO ally.
In this case I agree with Trump. Even if Turkey is a member of NATO Erdogan has shown himself to be a questionable ally.
I don't think it was Trump's decision. I think the generals made that call and Trump just let ‘em.
Erdoğan is coming to D.C. to see Trump. He's scheduled to be there Tuesday.
The Trump administration's claiming to be ‘furious’ that the Russians posted photos of Trump's meeting with Lavrof. I ain't buyin’ it. Trump was obviously posing for the photo.
Lynnette:
"There was a story on CNN about one immigrant who was deported recently. He had been in the country for at least 20 years, is married with 3 children, and owns and operates his own business. His wife and children are all American citizens."
OK, so it seeems a bit harsh, maybe even retarded, to kick that guy out when there are so many others who live illegaly in the US and contribute less, or even negatively. He might indeed be a good choice for "amnesty", if that info is correct, although you would wanna be careful which precedents you set in that area.
That said, your system is obviously completely flawed from the get go. How can an ILLEGAL immigrant get a business license, how can he start paying taxes and even employ people, when he has no right to even be in the country? How is that even possible? Is that something to reward and in doing so encourage? What signal does that send to people actually waiting in line to attempt the legal route?
Do you imagine you could go to say China and just sneak in and start a business and employ people without any right to leagally reside in the country? And then if you managed to do so, later say look at all the good things I done I must be allowed to stay?
If someone just plain snuck into your house and took it upon themselves to renovate your kitchen and later claimed, look I've done more good than bad here, you need to let me stay, how'd you feel about that?
It's a slippery slope to start to reward illegal entry just because the individual in the one case can be said to be of net benefit. His entry/remaining was still illegal - it was a crime. Rewarding crime sends a bad signal.
Now of course, in a case like this one might be pragmatic and say OK, we are to blame as well for not enforcing our laws in time. This guy and those in his situation we'll make an exception for. That only works though if it's combined with a sincere effort to clamp down on further illegal immigration and do it for real this time.
Lee: "The Trump administration's claiming to be ‘furious’ that the Russians posted photos of Trump's meeting with Lavrof."
You have a link to that? Not saying you lie but it sounds insane to me. Meet someone, have pictures taken, and then being furious when they're posted? What was it a secret meeting or? Sounds very strange to me. Are you sure it's really the Trump-admin being "furious" or if that's a fake-interpretation from other sources?
Lynnette and Lee, just for the record here:
What exactly do you believe of this whole "russia connection"?
I mean, that Putin & CO preferred Trump I think we can all agree on. That they acted to further Trumps election... well maybe. For sure they did so openly via RT especially, which is in part a Kremlin mouthpiece. That'd be open propaganda, leagal and not Trump's fault.
Illegaly via hackers? Maybe. Not convinced myself how much of all these "hacks" are from state entities.
Ya'll have the /POL and 4Chan communities of trolls mingled with some quite savvy tech operatives who basically joined forces to favour Trump (many out of a no-Hillary reason). Those are in your own backyard.
But who went to digital war for Trump is one thing. Was the Trump campaign involved with them is another.
Do you really believe Trump was in cahoots with the Russians in order to get himself elected?
"Not saying you lie but it sounds insane to me."
Did you not see the part where I said I wasn't buyin’ it?
In any case, that's the story from ‘White House sources’ to any number of media outlets they think they can get to print it for them. link
"Do you really believe Trump was in cahoots with the Russians in
order to get himself elected?"
Proof's not there yet. Yet.
But, he's certainly lookin’ and actin’ suspicous as hell. He should be eager to get an independent investigation to exonerate him and his people. Put this behind him, reassure those swing voters whom he really does need about now, and make the Democrats out to be wild-eyed conspiracy theorist types. But he's not at all eager for that to happen.
Lee: link
Oh, so we allow fringe bloggers as sources now, do we?
Well then. Then we should maybe get back to the Podesta scandal where a cohort of Dems ritually rape and murder infants in the cellars of a DC pizza place.
I mean, if we're gonna go with heresay, why not go all out with it.
"Oh, so we allow fringe bloggers as sources now, do we?"
Where'd you get the notion that was a ‘fringe’ source? (I picked them because they tend towards the conservative end of the spectrum; but, there are multiple Main Stream Media articles on the subject; the Trump administration's been eager to get that story out there for some reason, escapes me why they want to go with that one. Hint: Google is your friend.)
And I believe it's spelled ‘heresy’ or maybe ‘hear-say’; depends on which you were goin’ for.
I think the cellars of Ping Pong Pizza in DC are a toorture chamber for all children the Clintons brought in from Haiti and other disaster zones. There they murdered those childern in vile sexual/homocidal acts only because.
Thats the flip-side of you Lee.
No point in getting mad at me. Ain't my fault the Trump administration picked a stupid cover story to promote.
Here, I'll help ya with that. Google Trump Lavrov pictures furious
Now you can yell at your screen instead of takin’ your frustrations out on me.
Gollyjohngood! I'll see me a complete mothefucker myowndamned self! Lee the wannabe whiteniggersherrif again tries to correct me on my spellin'. As if he didn't know english is my second language, and that I in fact can write it better than most native speakers, he finds value in pointing out my witten english is less than completely perfect. Goodjolly, he sure scored a biggly win on that one, did Lee C, the verbal master in chief.
Ah, lookin’ for some other subject to rant on already I see. (Don't reckon I blame ya much; if I were a Trump supporter I too would be lookin’ to change the subject right about now.)
Me cannot understand. Me too stoopid. You Lee C vely vely clevel, but othel peoplel no undelstand.
Please infolm us Lee, we like vely, vely much to know.
Why Thlump make deal with Lussia and think no one find out? How come big man is so stupid?
Lee C, you man to bleak this stoly fol the wold. Please Lee, you coule be oul helo! Spleak out!
"…and think no one find out?"
If we're gonna accept your theory there, just for the sake of argument, then I'd have to reckon he figured nobody'd find out on account of he wasn't gonna tell anybody, and didn't figure the Russians would either.
You know that phrase "never mess with the IRS"? Same goes for the FBI.
Andrew McCabe acting FBI Director
Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe Thursday rejected assertions by the White House that FBI employees had lost faith in James Comey and that the bureau's probe into Russian election meddling was one of its most minor concerns.
"I hold Director Comey in the absolute highest regard. I have the highest respect for his considerable abilities and his integrity," McCabe told members of the Senate intelligence committee.
He said Comey, who was fired by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, enjoyed "broad support within the FBI and still does to this day." He added, "The majority, the vast majority of FBI employees enjoyed a deep, positive connection to Director Comey."
Have to catch up on the comments later...
Yeah, yeah.
Fuck the american middle class over, fuck the american low class over, ensure that the 1% gains even more assets. Then take the american youth with no prospects at home to fight and die so that the 1% can gain 20-30% annual increases on theis equity.
Lee C is OK with this though. The American dream!
Fucking Vampire enablors. Horrid shills for the blood spent of others. Degenerate non ideological selfish creatures. No thoughts, no opposition, mere lemmings. Scum!
"Lee C is OK with this though."
I believe you are again confusing me with your friends, Scooter and Nils.
The little boy President
Unpredictable, impulsive and immature, Trump acts in a way that would be expected of a 6-year-old boy, but is terrifying in a man whose moods dictate decisions carried out by adults on behalf of the most powerful nation in the world.
Lack of impulse control and seemingly immature behavior is also another symptom of dementia.
Do you really believe Trump was in cahoots with the Russians in order to get himself elected?
I have gone round and round on this question. It would seem to be an impossible idea, one would think. But I also have to look at his behavior in his business dealings.
Donald Trump SoHo settlement
It would appear that he is quite comfortable working with anyone if they are helpful in furthering his agenda. I suspect that the FBI's investigation may have rattled Trump for more reasons then the American public realizes. I very much doubt that the average American voter would like to have a president with Russian mob ties.
"I very much doubt that the average American voter would like to
have a president with Russian mob ties."
I watched a short bit on CBS Evening News just yesterday. They were interviewing dedicated Trumpkins in the Midwest (I didn't actually catch whether it was Indiana, Iowa or Ohio, but it was up in there somewhere). Some of them were openly accepting of the notion that Trump might have colluded with Russian agents to get himself elected. They would remain loyal anyway; said so openly to the interviewer on camera (and they were convinced that he was doing one hell of a good job). Trump said they'd stick with him if he shot a person down in the middle of the street on 5th Avenue in New York. He was right.
But, they make up only a large minority, and that's just not enough. He has enough dedicated Trumpkins to save himself from impeachment, but not enough to govern with.
CBS just re-ran that clip on their early morning news--it was in Marshaltown, Iowa.
Shorthands is working the Twitter this morning. He's not happy about having his multiple contradictory explanations for the Comey firing examined for veracity or for the obvious internal contradictions. He is happy to announce that American farmers can sell beef in China once again, but he doesn't mention that American natural gas producers just got a deal to ship liquefied natural gas to China (so much for the much vaunted energy independence platform) nor does he mention that we're going to be exposed once again to Chinese chicken.
Lynnette, check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE&feature=youtu.be
Thoughts?
I think I've seen that clip before. I understand that we can't admit everyone in the world into the US or into Europe. But we can do what we can for those who make it here and for those who remain in their home countries we can help with responsible policies to assist them with food aid or help with sustainable farming. He's right that the majority of people must be helped in place. And, also, those who do come here send money back home to help relatives. For some this is much of their income.
"Lynnette and Lee, just for the record here:
"What exactly do you believe of this whole ‘russia connection’?"
Marcus @ Thu May 11, 10:59:00 am ↑↑
‘Bout time for you to go on record with your version of the story, ain't it?
Trump is giving a commencement address at Liberty University. He is speaking about God and patriotism.
The Bible Thumpers seem quite happy with the deal they made. So far he's kept his end up.
Lee: "‘Bout time for you to go on record with your version of the story, ain't it? "
I just did, in the very post you quoted from. You missed that? I can't get more specific because there is NO real information out there, just speculation. I gave you my best bet, what's yours?
"I just did, in the very post you quoted from. I gave you my best
bet…"
You gave us this:
"…who went to digital war for Trump is one thing. Was the Trump
campaign involved with them is another."
Marcus @ Thu May 11, 10:59:00 am
That's a fully noncommittal "best bet" ya got goin’ there.
Congratulations to Portugal on winning Eurovision.:) While I didn't understand the words, it was a beautiful rendition.
Russian money laundering case details remain in the dark as US settles fraud case
A major US investigation into Russian money laundering has come to an abrupt end.
The case aimed to expose how Russian mobsters allegedly stole $230 million and hid some of the cash in New York City real estate. Also sure to come up was the suspicious death of the Russian lawyer who exposed the alleged fraud, though US prosecutors weren't alleging that the defendants were behind it.
The trial was set to start on Monday, but late Friday night, federal prosecutors in New York announced they settled the case with Prevezon, the company accused of buying up "high-end commercial space and luxury apartments" with laundered money.
The abrupt conclusion has some involved in the trial wondering why this Russian investigation had been cut short.
"The abrupt conclusion has some involved in the trial wondering
why this Russian investigation had been cut short."
Those sorts of things are going to keep raising suspicions until and unless the Republicans agree to an independent investigation of the Trump/Russia connections. It's not going to go away.
And it shouldn't. There are enough questions to seek answers for. It's not just about Trump's, at times, poor policy choices.
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