Donald Trump – Page 27

So You Think 2017 Was Bad …

January 1, 2018 By John DeProspo 5 Comments

By almost any measure, 2017 was a bad year.

As a nation, we (with the help of a hostile foreign power) installed a wannabe dictator into the highest office in the land. A man-child with near total disregard for truth and the rule of law. A narcissist with no sense of shame or empathy. A U.S. president who believes the Constitution is merely a set of suggestions.

Two of our most basic and fundamental institutions, the press and judiciary, came under constant attack last year. No, not by some subversive domestic organization but by the president of the United States himself.

2017 saw an America divided, the likes of which not seen since the days of the Vietnam War.

The world became a more dangerous place in 2017.

Thanks to the deliberate abdication by Donald Trump and his regime, the United States is no longer seen as the leader of the free world. There is no longer that steady hand at the helm that other nations relied on. Deepening conflicts are sprouting up everywhere.

As U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres put it:

“When I took office a year ago, I appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace. Unfortunately, in fundamental ways, the world has gone in reverse. … Global anxieties over nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War, and climate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing, and we see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise.”

Yes, 2017 will be a year to remember… for all the wrong reasons.

Yet, as bad as this past year has been, what lies ahead in 2018 portends to be much worse.

I’m afraid we will look back, fondly, on 2017 as we now view the presidency of George W. Bush … a calamity and a failure, but nothing compared to that of Trump’s wretched rule in 2018.

2018 does hold out one glimmer of hope. No, it’s not the Mueller investigation. The odds of a Republican Congress expelling Trump are slim, no matter what wrongdoing the FBI special counsel may uncover.

This year’s mid-term elections hold the key. They need to be swept by Democrats who will have the power to restore sanity and the rule of law to a government now in distress.

Photo | aljazeera.com

Trump’s Top 10 “Accomplishments” of 2017

December 30, 2017 By John DeProspo Leave a Comment

As we come to the end of 2017, it is time to pick Donald Trump’s top 10 “accomplishments” during his first year in office. While the list of his many presidential firsts is quite extensive, even bordering on the most unprecedented in American history, here are the ones that made the cut:

U.S. no longer seen as the leader of the free world
Has given aid and comfort to white supremacists, KKK, racists, etc.
Further divided an already divided country
Helped engineer the largest tax heist on behalf of billionaires in U.S. history
Has green-lighted Russians to keep meddling in our elections
Installed the most unqualified group of Cabinet secretaries … ever
Pardoned a sheriff who refused to obey a federal court order
Undermined institutions such as the FBI, the judiciary and the free press
Endorsed and defended a sexual predator for U.S. Senate
Scored lowest approval rating of any modern president his first year in office

The hearts of Trump supporters must be swelling with pride over such an impressive list of “accomplishments.” Yet with such an amazing slate of achievements in only his first year, what can we expect in year two?

I’d like to speculate but I’m too afraid to go there!

But take heart as we enter the New Year. Many betting sites are listing the possibility of Trump leaving office by the end of next year, either through impeachment or resignation, at 50-50.

Photo | dailymail.co.uk

Biggest Loser In 2017? Evangelicalism

December 28, 2017 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

Alabama evangelical voters overwhelmingly supported an alleged serial pedophile in this month’s special election for the United States Senate. A whopping 80% of born-again Christians gave their vote to Roy Moore, a man accused of sexually molesting young women.

While this group, as a whole, gave about the same level of support to accused groper Donald Trump (81%) in 2016, getting behind an abuser of children is beyond the pale for some Christian leaders.

Fearing association with the likes of a Roy Moore is giving his faith a bad name, Mark Galli, editor of Christianity Today, did not mince words in a recent essay. “No one will believe a word we say, perhaps for a generation. Christianity’s integrity is severely tarnished.”

The angst has grown so deep, according to Galli, that he knows of “many card-carrying evangelicals” who are ready to disavow the label.

The evangelical brand “is definitely tarnished” said Galli. “No question about it.”

The religious bloc that once marched under the banner “Moral Majority” and have called themselves “values voters” is today being ridiculed as a bunch of rank hypocrites … people who acknowledge Jesus with their words, and deny him through their deeds.

It seems as though they may have sold their souls for political power.

“What’s happened with evangelicalism is, it has become so conflated with Republican politics, that you can’t tell where Christianity ends and partisanship begins,” observed Jemar Tisby, president of “The Witness,” a black Christian collective.

Many women have expressed concern that overlooking accusations of sexual wrongdoing against favored candidates, for political gain, sends a dangerous message that women who come forward can be dismissed in the service of a political agenda.

“We’ve let evil overtake the entire reputation of Evangelicalism,” wrote one prominent evangelical author, Beth Moore, the day before the election. “The lust for power is nauseating. Racism, appalling. The arrogance, terrifying. The misogyny so far from Christlikeness, it can’t be Christianity.”

It may be time for evangelicals to adopt a new name.

Mark Galli said he had recently considered a list of 50 to 100 words, looking for an appropriate substitute. Among them: Neo-evangelical, Gospel Christian, Followers of Jesus.

“Purple-cow Christianity,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter. It’s the reality underneath that we affirm.”

Amen.

Photo | Kevin D. Liles/ New York Times

Kim Jong-un – The Rodney Dangerfield of Despots

December 26, 2017 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, gets no respect.

Try as he might to make himself the most feared dictator in the world, he just gets nothing but insults and ridicule.

Donald Trump famously called Kim “Little Rocket Man” after his umpteenth ballistic missile test in November.

Last week, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to apply new, tougher sanctions against the rogue nation. Led by the U.S., the measures included reducing the import of refined petroleum products into North Korea by almost 90 percent.

Kim declared these latest sanctions an “act of war,” adding that the US and other nations which supported the strict measures will pay a heavy price.

Last September, Kim, referring to Trump, declared, “I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire.”

But is anyone taking the man seriously? No, not with his long Trumpian history of idle threats.

During Trump’s 12-day tour of Asia, Kim called Trump an “old lunatic.”

Trump responded with a tweet:

Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me “old,” when I would NEVER call him “short and fat?” Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend – and maybe someday that will happen!

Interesting that Trump was offended by the word “old” but not lunatic. But I digress.

It appears the only way the North Korea dictator can gain the respect he craves is by actually starting a nuclear war!

Our narcissistic, bully of a commander in chief is just the guy to egg him on to such a disastrous decison.

Did you hear the joke about Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un walking into a party together? Trump asks the gathering to “say hello to my little friend,” in his best Tony Montana accent … of course.

Kim Jong-un gets no respect.

Photos | crainsnewyork.com; thesun.co.uk

Mr. Mueller, Another Indictment … Please

December 24, 2017 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

It is holiday time but we are not in a festive mood.

The national embarrassment sitting in the White House has zapped us of our usual holiday cheer. Try as we may, we just cannot jingle our bells or deck our halls as in years past. We need something only you can provide that will lift us out of our funk … an indictment or two.

Yes, we were happy when you announced your first indictments against Paul Manafort and Richard Gates. We were thrilled when George Papadopoulos was the first Trump aide to plead guilty in your Trump-Russia probe. But that was nearly two months ago.

We were more than ecstatic when you got former Trump national security advisor, Mike Flynn, to plead guilty to lying to the FBI. But that too was nearly one month ago.

We are in disperate need of a new dose of good news.

An indictment against Donald Trump Jr., or Jared Kushner, would do just fine.

We know you have the goods on these two loathsome human beings. Why not make your announcement now … before the start of the New Year?

We have been given a heads up by Senate Intelligence Committee member, Mark Warner, that something big is about to come down the pike. While appearing on MSNBC this week, Warner confirmed that “more” indictments are coming. So why not now?

Call it our Christmas present.

What’s that you say? Too cruel to announce indictments at Christmas time? You and your team of investigators would be seen as mean, biased, partisan hacks?

Sorry, but a good portion of the country, along with the man occupying the Oval Office and many congressional Republicans, already see your investigation as a “witch hunt.”

But we trust your judgment. If you are waiting until after the start of 2018 to drop the hammer of justice, I guess we can wait.

God bless you, Mr. Mueller. God bless us, every one.

(Credit Image: © Xinhua via ZUMA Wire)

America Under Siege From Within … Coo Coo Coo Coup!

December 18, 2017 By John DeProspo 4 Comments

Fox News, our very own state propaganda machine, finally went there.

They used the “c” word.

In an effort to delegitimize the ongoing investigation into the Kremlin’s meddling in our 2016 election, and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, Fox News has accused the FBI and special counsel Robert Mueller of a “coup” attempt against the Trump administration.

Here is part of Fox News’ Jesse Watters recent rant, filled with misleading statements, about the alleged coup d’état:

“So the investigation into Donald Trump’s campaign has been crooked from the jump,” Watters said. “But the scary part is we may now have proof the investigation was weaponized to destroy his presidency for partisan political purposes and to disenfranchise millions of American voters. Now, if that’s true, we have a coup on our hands in America.”

It’s possible that Jessie and his friends at Fox do not know the meaning of “coup” (a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics; especially : the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group). Or they are purposely stirring up their base of brainwashed blockheads in anticipation of some very bad news about to come down the pike.

Either way, this sort of language is not only irresponsible, it is downright dangerous.

There, no doubt, are many gun-toting Fox viewers who could take this incendiary talk to heart and see it as a call to action.

Since morphing into Trump TV, Fox News is doing it’s very best to paint Trump as a victim, not as a president who may be guilty of obstructing justice … or treason.

It appears Fox has given up on calling the Mueller investigation a “hoax”; a “witchhunt”; a “fraud.” Now it’s a “coup.”

Rest assured, no matter what Trump’s propaganda outlet calls it, or what Trump may try to do (shut down the investigation), the truth will eventually come out.

But the potential for violence only increases with what Fox News is spewing on a daily basis.

Photo | foxnews.com

Trump: Flynn … Flynn Who?

December 1, 2017 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

Today may be remembered as the day Trump went down for the count. Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser, has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador (spy?) last December. Sources say Flynn is ready to finger his old boss.

While we have yet to hear from the Twitter-happy Trump about this bombshell development in the Mueller investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia, Ty Cobb, Trump’s attorney issued the following statement:

“Today, Michael Flynn, a former National Security Advisor at the White House for 25 days during the Trump Administration, and a former Obama administration official, entered a guilty plea to a single count of making a false statement to the FBI.

The false statements involved mirror the false statements to White House officials which resulted in his resignation in February of this year. Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr. Flynn. The conclusion of this phase of the Special Counsel’s work demonstrates again that the Special Counsel is moving with all deliberate speed and clears the way for a prompt and reasonable conclusion.”

Perhaps anticipating this day, Trump put out a statement in early May trying to distance himself from Flynn’s legal troubles. He blamed any problems with the retired three-star general on the Obama administration. Trump tweeted Flynn was “given the highest security clearance by the Obama Administration – but the Fake News seldom likes talking about that.”

During a Fox News interview this past April, Trump blamed Obama for flaws in the Flynn vetting process. “So when he came into our administration, for a short period of time, he came in, he was already approved by the Obama administration and he had years left on that approval,” Trump said.

After Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was indicted on charges stemming from Mueller’s investigation, he tried to downplay his connection with Manafort as well. Once again his attorney, Ty Cobb, issued a statement that emphasized the short amount of time Manafort acted as campaign manager.

“[Trump] likes and respects Mr. Manafort and appreciates the work he did for him during the three months he was with the campaign.”

Let’s see … Flynn, 25 days with the administration; Manafort only three months with the campaign? How could Trump possibly have had any real association with the two or know what they were up to with Russia?

Alls eyes are waiting for the King of Twitter to offer up some ridiculous and incredible statement.

As a famous bandleader used to say, “ And-a-one-and-a-two-and-a-three …”

Photo | newsweek.com

Sex Scandal Hits The Vatican

November 29, 2017 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

At a time when women accusing powerful men of sexual misconduct has turned into a daily ritual, another dominant male has been ensnared in allegations of sexual impropriety going back decades.

Pope Francis has been accused of groping two nuns during his years as a seminary student at the Inmaculada Concepción Seminary, in Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires.

The nuns, who chose to remain anonymous, have told reporters that the Holy Father copped a feel while they were waiting in line to give their weekly confessions at the Catedral Metropolitana, Buenos Aires. The alleged incidents took place in the summer of 1955.

“From out of nowhere I felt a hand squeeze my buttocks” said one of the nuns. The second nun told the same story of a surprise, unwanted touching.

Vatican spokesman, Father Guido Sarducci, issued a statement that neither confirmed nor denied the accusations.

“The Pope does not recall any incidents of improper touching during his years at the seminary. The alleged groping goes back 62 years. One has to ask why the nuns would wait so long to accuse the Vicar of Christ.”

Catholics throughout the world are in shock, not knowing what to make of the allegations. Many are simply praying, “Please say it ain’t so, Papa.”

One powerful male facing sexual misconduct allegations of his own has come to the Pope’s defense … Donald Trump.

“This is ridiculous,” said Trump. “Why would the Pope grope a nun? They are generally very homely. I would say on average a four. Have you ever seen a hot nun except in the movies?”

Father Sarducci went on to say, “Pardon the pun, but the Pope does not make it a habit of forcing himself on nuns or any females for that matter.”

If the allegations are true, expect more nuns to come forward in the days ahead.

It is being rumored that the two nuns accusing the Pope of sexual misconduct have contacted Lisa Bloom, a lawyer famous for representing female victims of sexual harassment and assault.

Photos | courageouschristianfather.com – pinterest.com

Caution – this could be fake news!

Donald Trump Doesn’t Tell Lies, But …

November 12, 2017 By John DeProspo 4 Comments

According to fact checkers at the Washington Post, Donald Trump tells 4.9 lies per day.

So, our 45^th president tells almost five whoppers per day, a pace which would amount to more than 1,800 false statements over the span of a calendar year, or more than 7,000 over the course of a full four-year term.

And yet Donald Trump believes he is a very truthful person. He keeps reminding us that the only lies told to the American public are courtesy of the “fake news” media (all news outlets except Fox News, to be exact.)

In his 1987 book, The Art Of The Deal, Trump does admit he sometimes stretches the truth.

“The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people’s fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. That’s why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyperbole. It’s an innocent form of exaggeration—and a very effective form of promotion.”

In other words Trump is not lying if he is just telling people what they want to hear. And boy how works!

I guess one way to describe Trump’s method of communicating, especially with his base, is that he only tells little “white” lies.

Remember some of these “exaggerations”?

“I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created.”

“I’m really really rich!”

“I’m the most militaristic person.”

“I will build a great wall . . . and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me.”

“Hillary Clinton was the worst secretary of state in the history of the United States.”

“I would use the greatest minds. I know the best negotiators.”

“I would hit [ISIS] so hard your head would spin.”

“We’re going to have insurance for everybody… healthcare that is far less expensive and far better.”

“I went to the Wharton School of Business. I’m, like, a really smart person.”

“We’re going to win so much, you’re going to be so sick and tired of winning.”

Photos | businessinsider.com, timeline.com

Mueller Probe … What If It All Doesn’t Matter?

November 3, 2017 By John DeProspo 2 Comments

For the majority of Americans, the only thing that can bring an end to our national nightmare (otherwise known as the Trump regime) is Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into the Trump-Russia connection. Many defenders of our rule of law were overjoyed when, earlier this week, it was learned that three former Trump campaign officials have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from Mueller’s investigation.

As welcome as this news was to believers in our constitutional system of government, David Roberts’ piece in yesterday’s Vox.com cast a pall over those good feelings. Roberts asks:

What if Mueller proves his case and it doesn’t matter?

“Say Mueller reveals hard proof that the Trump campaign knowingly colluded with Russia, strategically using leaked emails to hurt Clinton’s campaign. Say the president — backed by the Wall Street Journal editorial page, Fox News, Breitbart, most of the US Cabinet, half the panelists on CNN, most of the radio talk show hosts in the country, and an enormous network of Russian-paid hackers and volunteer shitposters working through social media — rejects the evidence.

They might say Mueller is compromised. It’s a Hillary/Deep State plot. There’s nothing wrong with colluding with Russia in this particular way. Dems did it first. All of the above. Whatever.”

Farfetched? Not really.

As scary as the scenario Roberts paints might be, it is certainly plausible … and the article is worth the read. Here is a link to the piece… “America is facing an epistemic crisis.”

It appears the only sure way we Americans can rid ourselves of Trump and his band of traitors is for Democrats to take back the House and Senate in 2018.

But whether fair elections can ever be held in our country now that Republicans have all but acquiesced to a foreign power meddling in our electoral system (and their own efforts in suppressing the vote) is another question all together.

Photo | rollingstone.com