*********************************** JANUARY 20, 2017 **************************************
Photo | newsl.org
Archives for 2017
Yesterday Is Only A Day Away!
Tomorrow, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the nation’s 45th president. And at long last, conservatives will have taken “their” country back … as in backward!
Conservatives, by definition (and nature), fear progress. They long for the simpler days of yesteryear when everything seemed to make sense. For them, a return to the 1950s has always been their greatest wish.
Gee those days of Ike and “Father Knows Best” were so swell!
But exactly what made those bygone days so great? Why do conservatives believe the fifties were America’s golden age?
Unlike today, the 1950s were a time when everyone seemed to know his or her place. For blacks, it was the back of the bus. For women, it was the kitchen. For homosexuals, it was the closet. It was a time when few doubted we were a Christian nation. There was no war on Christmas by the godless media.
Oh to be back to those glory years of three TV networks, home milk delivery, LPs, fotomats, skate keys and S&H Green Stamps!
With Trump about to assume the office of president, conservative Republicans think they have a man in the White House who will rubber stamp their legislation rolling back progress made by Democrats since FDR.
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid? Chopping block. A woman’s right to abortion? More restrictions. Public education for all? Not so fast. Environmental protection? Less regulations. Voting rights? More obstacles. Marriage equality? Let’s get back to the Bible.
Yes, conservatives can’t believe their good fortune. Many think they are only one Supreme Court justice away from having it all.
Unfortunately, President Trump may just surprise them. He is not ideologically driven as they are. The fact is he has no core political convictions …. zilch. He just may bend to public opinion that is dead set against conservative regression.
“Yesterday! Yesterday! I love ya Yesterday! You’re only a day away!”
Photo | pinterest.com
The Two Amigos, McCain and Graham, Also Skipping Inauguration
It is not hard to understand why a growing number of Democrats say they won’t be attending President-elect Trump’s inauguration in just a few days.
Many Democrats are boycotting the ceremony in support of Rep. John Lewis of Georgia after he was dissed by Trump in an all too familiar Twitter rant.
Lewis, the civil rights icon, explained last week why he will be missing the first swearing-in ceremony since first coming to Washington.
“I don’t see this President-elect as a legitimate president,” Lewis told NBC News’ Chuck Todd. “I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.”
In what has become as predictable as mullets in NASCAR, the soon-to-be leader of the free world could not let Lewis’ comment slide.
“Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!” tweeted the thin-skinned President-elect.
But now there is word that two senior Senate Republicans, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, will also miss Trump’s big day.
Unlike the Democrats who are avoiding the ceremony in order to make a political statement, McCain and Graham say they have “scheduling conflicts.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham has a scheduled cruise to Barcelona aboard the Allure of the Seas. There is widespread speculation it is an all-male cruise.
Sen. John McCain will be attending a birthday party on January 20. It will be his grandfather’s 125th birthday celebration. Said McCain, “Our family is like that old Timex commercial … we take a licking but keep on ticking.”
Some fellow Republicans are questioning the true motives of the senators sometimes known as the “Two Amigos.”
“I know for a fact,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,” Lindsey’s cruise is fully refundable and could be rescheduled. I also know McCain’s grandfather said he would be willing to push back his big birthday party a day or two. Heck the man still buys green bananas!”
McCain and Graham are two of the most vocal Republican senators who have opposed Trump’s dangerous bromance with Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin.
Coincidence?
Editor’s Note – This could be fake news!
Photo | politico.com
Palin: “So How’s That Swampy, Drainy Thing Workin’ Out For Ya?”
Sarah Palin, former vice-presidential candidate and half-term Alaska governor, is angry.
“That bumper sticker that maybe you’ll see on the next Ford F-150 driving by — a Trump bumper sticker — you should stop the driver and say, ‘So how’s that swampy, drainy thing workin’ out for ya?'”
The once loyal Trump supporter has gone rogue, having jumped off the bandwagon after being snubbed for a cabinet position by the new incoming president.
Palin is taking pleasure in mocking Trump’s campaign promise to “drain the swamp” in Washington D.C. of lobbyists, corruption and pay-to-play.
A quick look at Trump’s cabinet picks suggests the much-used slogan of “drain the swamp” was just that … a slogan to attract the gullible. Instead of protecting the man on the street, Trump is protecting the men on Wall Street. Two of Trump’s picks, Wall Street insider Steve Mnuchin as head of the Treasury Department and investor Wilbur Ross at Commerce, suggest instead of draining, Trump is augmenting.
The word on the street is that Palin had her heart set on being tapped for Secretary of State. After all, she did have some foreign policy experience. During her run for vice president, Palin boasted she could see Russia from her backyard in Wasilla, Alaska.
Any chance of being part of the Trump administration, in any capacity, was lost when Palin publicly slammed Trump for breaching Republican orthodoxy of letting the free market pick winners and losers.
Palin criticized Trump’s deal with Carrier — which purportedly kept 1,000 jobs in Indiana instead of moving them to Mexico, but which still sent 1,300 jobs from a second shuttered plant anyway — calling it “crony capitalism.”
Palin penned an op-ed for the website Young Conservatives, where she blasted Trump for giving Carrier subsidies to keep some of its jobs within the United States.
Who knows what the future holds for Sarah Palin. Certainly a 2020 presidential run is not out of the question.
Trump should have known better than to upset a mama grizzly. Don’t be surprised if Palin’s next line of attack against Trump is that he is an illegitimate president!
Warning – This just might be satire!
Photo | malialitman.com
To Sir, With Love … End Of An Amazing Journey
Yesterday, Barack Hussein Obama, gave his presidential farewell speech in the city where his improbable path to the White House began so many years ago … Chicago.
“It’s good to be home,” said the 44th President to a massive group of well-wishers gathered at the filled-to-capacity McCormick Place Convention Center.
Speaking of his adopted hometown, the President said, “I first came to Chicago when I was in my early 20s, still trying to figure out who I was; still searching for a purpose to my life.”
“Some of you here tonight or watching at home were there with us in 2004, in 2008, in 2012 – and maybe you still can’t believe we pulled this whole thing off, “ said Obama.
Indeed! Reminding the crowd of his administration’s accomplishments despite almost total Republican obstructionism throughout his eight years in office, the president remarked:
“If I had told you eight years ago that America would reverse a great recession, reboot our auto industry, and unleash the longest stretch of job creation in our history…if I had told you that we would open up a new chapter with the Cuban people, shut down Iran’s nuclear weapons program without firing a shot, and take out the mastermind of 9/11…if I had told you that we would win marriage equality, and secure the right to health insurance for another 20 million of our fellow citizens – you might have said our sights were set a little too high. But that’s what we did. That’s what you did. You were the change.”
For a good portion of his speech, the former constitutional law professor gave his listeners a comprehensive lesson on the meaning of democracy and the brilliance of our Founding Fathers in drafting the Constitution.
“Our Constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift,” said the President. “But it’s really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its own. We, the people, give it power – with our participation, and the choices we make.”
The crowd at the convention center made their feelings known from the moment the President stepped onto the stage, clapping and shouting: “Four more years!, Four more years! and I love you Obama!”
By the end if his speech, there probably wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Even the President got a little teary-eyed talking about his family.
President Obama’s final speech while in office was nothing short of a glorious celebration; a lovefest. And it reminded everyone of the grace and dignity the man brought to the Oval Office … in stark contrast to its soon-to-be new occupant.
Photo | elle.com
GOP Switcheroo … Obamacare “Repeal And Replace” Becomes “Repeal And Delay”
The message could not have been any clearer. Trump promised voters one of his first acts in office would be to repeal Obamacare. It would be replaced with something “truly great.”
“We’re going to fix health care and make it more affordable and better,” Trump said throughout his presidential campaign.
Now, with only 14 days before Donald J. Trump is sworn in as our nation’s 45th president, the new congress is wasting no time in bringing out the ax to “do in” the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. Funny thing, though, they have nothing to replace it with.
After eight years of demonizing the legislation that brought healthcare coverage to nearly 20 million previously uninsured Americans; after the House voted 62 times to roll back all or part of the law; after so much time to come up with a suitable alternative, the Republicans have nothing ready to go.
The new mantra is now “repeal and delay.” And the delay could last as long as four years!
By repealing Obamacare without simultaneously replacing it, our health care system will be thrown into chaos. The lives of Americans who rely on Obamacare would be put at risk.
Many experts, from both sides of the aisle, are warning that “repeal and delay” would lead to some Americans losing insurance coverage during the delay period — either because premiums spike so high that they are unaffordable, or some areas of the country have no health insurers who want to sell plans.
How this will play out with the many Trump voters who are currently enjoying the benefits of Obamacare (even though they might not realize it) remains to be seen. But it does not promise to be good.
Ironically, before Obamacare was enacted, Republicans falsely warned Americans of the dangers of the new law. There was much talk of “death panels’* determining who would get coverage and who would not. In other words, who would live or die.
We have now finally gotten to the point where the Republican scare tactic of “death panels” has become a reality. Many Americans will lose their healthcare coverage because of Republican congressional action. Many will not get the treatments that could save them, and die.
The “death panels” we heard so much about are today suddenly very real, brought to you by the reckless, seemingly unstoppable action of our Republican Congress.
* PolitiFact.com awarded “death panels” the 2009 Lie of The Year
Photo | catholiclane.com
A Modest Proposal For 2017
In 1729, the Anglo-Irish writer, Jonathan Swift, wrote an essay entitled A Modest Proposal. More precisely, the full title of his work was A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Public.
Swift suggests a way for the impoverished Irish to ease their economic troubles … sell their children as food to rich gentlemen and ladies!
“A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout,” Swift suggests.
Of course, anyone who took a college course in English literature would know this essay is one of the finest examples of political satire ever written. Through seemingly well-reasoned hyperbole, Swift mocks the heartless attitudes of his time towards the poor, as well as British policy toward the Irish in general.
My guess is that if Swift wrote such an essay today, in the age of the Internet, more than half of those reading the piece would take it literally!
We as a nation we are losing the ability to separate fact from fiction… to think critically, The art of satire is slowly dying, if it is not already dead.
Our educational system is broken when the ability to detect and appreciate satire, especially political satire, is gone.
My modest proposal for 2017, and beyond, is that we stop focusing so much on science and math for our kids at the expense of the humanities.
Yes, in times of economic stress such as these, studying history, philosophy and literature may seem like a big waste of time. But a liberal education is what molds us into well-rounded individuals able to navigate whatever comes our way.
Flexibility, creativity, critical thinking, logic and reason, along with strong communication skills, are at the core of a liberal arts education. With fake news and misinformation all around us, the ability for rational thought is needed now more than ever.
I can easily imagine a reader’s comment to Swift’s proposal in today’s age of social media:
“You are one sick dude. Don’t you have any regard for life? … especially your own kids? You should be hung!”
Photo | usnews.com
Trump Names Son, Barron, Special Consultant On Cyber Security
After praising his ten-year-old son’s computer skills, the President-elect has named Barron Trump his cyber security adviser.
In a tweet, the soon-to-be president of the United States lauded his son while at the same time proposing a solution to cyber espionage:
“I have a boy who’s ten years old, he can do anything on the computer. You want something to really go without detection, write it out and have it sent by courier.”
Many opponents feared a Trump presidency would set the country back. Very few, however, envisioned the return of the Pony Express.
Photo | inquisitr.com
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