Tag: Domestic Policy

Trying To Make sense

For year now many people have been trying to make sense of the policies and actions Donny has taken….there have been a wealth of opinions…..but I read one that will make you think….

Donny’s actions start to make sense if one considers this one thing….

It can be hard to work out what might be going through Donald Trump’s head at the best of times, but lately his actions have seemed to be increasingly bizarre and reckless.

However, all of those actions become much easier to understand with one simple perspective shift: Trump knows he is dying, he doesn’t have much time, and he won’t have to face any consequences, at least not in this life.

Trump often doesn’t seem too stressed about consequences, and that’s felt especially true since he won the 2024 election. But over those four years out of office, he came close to facing very real consequences. He was tried and found liable and guilty in both civil and criminal court. It’s not unreasonable to suggest that he was well on his way to being bankrupt, imprisoned, or both. The only thing that saved him was the presidency.

If Trump leaves the White House again, he’ll be at risk of those consequences again, along with all the other ones that he has racked up over the last few months. While Steve Bannon has become the latest supporter of Trump seeking an unconstitutional third term, and Trump still refuses to rule that out, it starts to feel more likely that Trump will avoid walking out of the White House not by changing the Constitution, but by shuffling off his mortal coil while still in residence.

Trump’s health is clearly failing. He’s been seen struggling with stairs and has even mused that Obama was better at navigating them. His cognitive health might well be in decline, and his instances of random word association in public comments appear to be getting worse.

While Trump and his cronies claim that his medical reports generally show that he is in the finest health any person has ever been in, the number of those reports recently should raise an eyebrow. In early October, he had what he called a “semi-annual physical” at the Walter Reed National Medical Center. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed it was a “routine yearly checkup.” The problem is that he already had his annual physical in April.

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/11/everything-donald-is-doing-makes-sense-if-hes-dying/

Like I said many opinions that is just one….but if you read it and think about it it is an interesting concept.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Biden And Domestic Production

This is a continuation of my series on the policies of Pres. Biden.

Our new president is trying to increase the US domestic production with the hope that it will be a job creator…to go it alone he decided the way to accomplish this goal is through the executive order process.

President Biden signed an executive order Wednesday intended to boost manufacturing jobs by strengthening US supply chains for advanced batteries, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and semiconductors. The United States has become increasingly reliant on imports of these goods—a potential national security and economic risk that the Biden administration hopes to address with the planned 100-day review and the possibility of increased domestic production, the AP reports. However, Biden will also look to work with international partners to ensure a stable and reliable supply chain. “These are the kinds of common sense solutions that all Americans can get behind,” Biden said at a White House ceremony.

“It’s about resilience, identifying possible points of vulnerabilities in our supply chains, and making sure we have the backup alternatives or workarounds in place,” said Biden, who met Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office before the signing. “It was like the old days,” Biden said. “People were actually on the same page.” White House officials emphasized that the order would help to create manufacturing jobs, a promise made by past presidents with decidedly mixed results. There are 12.2 million manufacturing jobs in the United States, down from 17 million in 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Biden’s order also included sectoral reviews to be completed within one year for defense, public health and biological preparedness, information communications technology, energy, transportation, and food production.

The part that concerns me is the sector called “critical minerals”…..I am guessing that that means rare earth minerals…..and since the US has a very limited amount and Afghanistan is teeming with them it would have something to do with our prolonged stay in Afghanistan.

In case you are not too sure just what a ‘rare earth’ mineral is then I can help with that…..https://lobotero.com/2019/06/04/it-is-about-rare-earth/

All in all this should step up our domestic production….but as far as a massive job creator I have my doubts.

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I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

It Went Up In Smoke

Closing Thought–19Nov19

I heard more about vaping a couple months ago and the president went on a tear, the warpath, on the sell and use of a vaping trend…..He, Trump, even went in front of the press and promised that a policy on the banning of vaping would be forthcoming….why because he caught kid vaping in his room……that was a couple months ago….and now we have our policy…..(or is that…lack of a policy?)

In September, President Trump said his administration would ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes. “We can’t have our kids be so affected,” said Trump at the White House, making reference to first lady Melania Trump’s concern over the dangers of vaping. Now two reports say Trump abruptly reversed course, mostly because he became worried about the political fallout from young voters and lost jobs in the vaping industry. The Washington Post first reported the reversal, and the New York Times confirmed. Both accounts say Trump made the final decision on Nov. 4, while aboard a plane to a political rally in Kentucky. Health and Human Services chief Alex Azar had until then been scheduled to have a press conference the following day to announce the federal restrictions.

The Post has a critical take on all this: “It was the latest example of the chaotic way policy is made—and sometimes unmade—in a White House where the ultimate decider often switches gears after making a controversial vow, whether on combating gun violence, pulling troops from Syria or promising to deliver an Obamacare replacement plan.” The gist of both stories is that Trump was surprised at the negative reaction his initial announcement received. Political advisers including 2020 campaign manager Brad Pascale also warned him that the backlash could hurt him in battleground states. The administration is now working on a new plan, and it’s not clear when it will be unveiled.

Not to worry this is a typical track for a Trump promise….go out make wild accusations and consequences and then after the  press value is gone to then just blow off all the promises made.

This was not the first time he did this and it will not be the last….

I Read, I Wrote, You Know

“Lego Ergo Scribo”

Trumpism Meets Neoliberalism

The election has me wondering where this country is heading……do we talk Trump at his word during the campaign or will he become more pragmatic in his approach to governing?

This is the same thing I did when Obama was elected…..I dissected his appointees to try and see just what to expect from his administration….why should I not do the same for Pres. Trump?

Will the neoliberals keep their stranglehold on our foreign policy?  Will Trump have his own version of foreign policy?

As Donald Trump builds his cabinet and staff, it’s already clear that the White House will host both neoliberal Republican elites and advocates of the racist ideology on which Trump ran his campaign. The merger of their two ideologies — each of them dangerous on its own — will not only result in horrific policies but could also prompt a dangerous transformation of the ideology that governs the center of power in Washington.

Source: The Cabinet From Hell: Trumpism Meets Neoliberalism

It is still early in his admin…..his decisions on the cabinet will go a long way to determine if there is a changer brewing or more of the same…..

How the Rich Control Policymaking

It is election time and we Americans are doing what we always do……we blame the rich for all the bad decisions that this country makes.  Even though we hear that we have a voice and we can be heard if we interact with our representatives…….well sports fans that is damn right FALSE!

How many times have you heard your Congress person say that they need to hear from you so that they may lay out the proper tract for any issue?

The truth is that your voice is very low and almost none existent…..the rich control the policymakers…..I know we all know this already……but how do they control the process?

New research shows the power of the wealthiest Americans to impose their preferences….

The United States of America is a democratic country. Over the past few decades, however, important questions about policy and budgets have been decided overwhelmingly against the interests and preferences of the middle and working classes. When the preferences of the rich and the middle class come into conflict, the rich tend to win.

Matt Grossmann, a political scientist and the director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, is working on a project to expand upon the work of Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page, whose bombshell paper last year revealed the impact of economic inequality on public opinion in the U.S. As part of his research, Grossmann examined 50 proposals in the Gilens data set on which opinions between the wealthiest Americans and the median voter diverged the most.

Source: How the Rich Control Policymaking | Al Jazeera America

We can bitch about this from now until the cows go to Benghazi……for it will not change….why?  Americans do not truly want it to change.  Proof?  Just look at the voting for the last 25 years….your answer is there.

Prioritize Foreign Policy Over Domestic Policy

Americans will soon be asked to make a choice of who they think will make the best president…….most of us will vote for the least objectionable candidate……we seldom find a candidate that fulfills all our expectations for a president….

Maybe, just maybe, we should look beyond personality and bravado to find our presidents……I know…..but it is just a thought…

Deciding who to support in a US Presidential election often comes down to a matter of priorities. The two party system rarely offers a candidate that can be supported wholeheartedly by anyone. Instead, we decide what issue we care about most, determine who is the least bad on that issue, and then vote for them. […]

Source: Prioritize Foreign Policy Over Domestic Policy – Antiwar.com Original by — Antiwar.com

Congress Drops All Pretense: CISA

Remember a couple of years ago when everyone and I do mean everyone was up in arms about the NSA spying thing……all political sides were on the same side….and then a couple of terrorist attacks and now……the topic is barely a hiccup on the blogosphere…..it amazes me what Americans will tolerate when the are put in a constant state of panic or fear.

Well, while you were concerned about the babbling of political candidates it seems that Congress has done what it does best….work in secret….maybe we should be paying attention……

Americans have the attention span of an oversexed rabbit……they only get aroused when it is too late and the damage is done…..take CISA for instance…………

Source: Congress Drops All Pretense: Quietly Turns CISA Into A Full On Surveillance Bill | Techdirt

A shame that Americans care so little about their privacy….by the way  that is one of those things that is in the Constitution…..you see there is more to the document than some 2nd amendment thing…..

So whatcha think?

America: I Do Not Like Where This Is Going

The newest political football is the refugees and all related items…..there is some statements that smack with historical context and yet supporters will not see the un-American activities and games being played.  The refugees are the latest complex issue to be turned into a politicized mess to gain support from the mentally slow.

Personally, I do not like what is going on in this country…..Trump has gone a bit far…in my book……

Donald Trump went on MSNBC Monday to discuss issues related to the Paris terror attacks and ISIS, and he had some controversial ideas about steps he might take as president. “Well, I would hate to do it but it’s something you’re going to have to strongly consider,” Trump said when asked whether he would consider a plan similar to France’s interior minister’s promise to shut down “mosques where hate is preached,” CNN reports. Trump continued, “Some of the ideas and some of the absolute hatred is coming from these areas … The hatred is incredible. It’s embedded. The hatred is beyond belief. The hatred is greater than anybody understands.”

Trump had started out by discussing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s decision to put a stop to a covert NYPD program that had previously carried out surveillance on Muslim communities. “You’re going to have to watch and study the mosques, because a lot of talk is going on at the mosques,” Trump said. “Under the old regime we had tremendous surveillance going on in and around the mosques of New York City.”

But wait there is more……..

Donald Trump voiced support Thursday evening for creating a mandatory database to track Muslims in the US—the latest in an escalating series of responses following the deadly attacks in Paris. “I would certainly implement that. Absolutely,” Trump said between campaign events in Newton, Iowa, according to video posted on MSNBC.com. He said Muslims would be signed up at “different places,” adding: “It’s all about management.” Asked whether registering would be mandatory, Trump responded: “They have to be.”

What’s next from these twats?  Maybe a suggestion to make Muslims wear a large yellow crescent moon and star patch?  (that sounds oddly familiar)….

Sounds all you Righties…all that sounds a bit unconstitutional to me…..but then when have you guys ever let the Constitution get in the way of a good fear?

I know this will not matter to those that have their minds made up and are thanking Jesus for the vote …..but just in case….the GOP God Ronnie Reagan has something to say……

Just in case there is any doubt, President Obama has explicit statutory authorization to accept foreign refugees into the United States. Under the Refugee Act of 1980, the president may admit refugees who face “persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion” into the United States, and the president’s power to do so is particularly robust if they determine that an “unforeseen emergency refugee situation” such as the Syrian refugee crisis exists.

This power to admit refugees fits within the scheme of “broad discretion exercised by immigration officials” that the Supreme Court recognized in its most recent major immigration case, Arizona v. United States. Indeed, in describing the executive branch’s broad authority to make discretionary calls regarding immigration matters, Arizona seemed to explicitly contemplate the circumstances that face President Obama today. The United States may wish to allow a foreign national to remain within its borders, the Court explained, because the individual’s home nation “may be mired in civil war, complicit in political persecution, or enduring conditions that create a real risk that the alien or his family will be harmed upon return.”

And then we have the out right lies about other Americans…..and the biggest liar is that twat Trump……..

Donald Trump is insisting he saw something on 9/11 that most Americans have apparently developed amnesia about. On Saturday, he told a rally in Alabama that he had “watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering” as the World Trade Center came down, the Guardian reports. The New York Times reports that he doubled down on the comments about cheering in “areas with large Arab populations” on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, even after George Stephanopoulos told him that police have said there was no such cheering. “It did happen, I saw it,” Trump said. “It was on television. I saw it,” he continued, adding that while “it might be not politically correct for you to talk about it,” it was “well covered at the time.” More:

  • Trump’s remarks were widely condemned as simply untrue by both parties, NJ.com reports. “Clearly, Trump has memory issues or willfully distorts the truth, either of which should be concerning for the Republican Party,” said Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, a possible Democratic candidate for governor.
  • “I think if it had happened, I would remember it,” said NJ Gov. Chris Christie, per the Times.
  • “It did not happen. He didn’t see it. But who’s there to challenge him on that?” wondered NBC’s Tom Brokaw, calling Trump’s statements “flat-out lies.”
  • The Washington Post gives Trump’s claim four Pinocchios on a scale that does not go up to five, finding that while there were rumors of isolated celebrations in New Jersey, they were not covered on TV and no video or other proof exists. The police commissioner of Paterson, which has the state’s largest Muslim population, says the community was extremely helpful and law-abiding after the attacks. “There were no flags burning, no one was dancing,” he says, using what the Post calls a “barnyard epithet” to describe Trump’s claims.
  • In the ABC interview, Trump also refused to rule out a mandatory database to track US Muslims and promised to bring back waterboarding, the Times reports.
  • On Sunday, Trump tweeted what the Huffington Post calls a “chart of racist and wildly inaccurate crime statistics” that appears to be aimed at “perpetuating racist myths about black people and crime.” The numbers in the chart bear no relation to the FBI’s crime statistics, and the source is listed as the “Crime Statistics Bureau of San Francisco” which does not exist.

(Newser)

The Right wing talkers are doing a fine job of alienated American citizens…..look at over the weekend in Irvine, California armed protesters showed up at a mosque and threatened attending religious services….that is NOT what Americans do to fellow Americans…..this is MORONIC!

You dipshits realize you are doing what the bad guys want?  They want alienated minority that makes for good recruiting…..and YOU are aiding in that effort.

You people are MORONS!  Your kneejerk reactions are playing into the hands of those you are afraid of…..ever thought about thinking your little ideas through before acting?

Local Governments Increasingly Poking Through Your Garbage

Do you have this feeling of creeping paranoia?  It could be because they ARE out to get you!

We are all concerned with the NSA listening to our phones or sneaking a peek at our e-mails….but garbage?

I am not sure if all this is kosher but this story just make me feel a bit ill at ease…..now I know why I shred every damn thing that enters or leaves my house……

How about you?

 

Local Governments Increasingly Poking Through Your Garbage.

Frightening Proposal to Intern Muslim Citizens | Al Jazeera America

Back during the early days of the 2004 campaigns I was a supporter of Wes Clark for president…..unfortunately his message got lost in the rhetoric of the day……

But recently I read an interview with Clark on the “Lone Wolf” syndrome that is invading the American mindset…….I thoroughly disagree with his assertion…..

With all the Lone Wolf attacks we have been experiencing….people re looking for a solution to the problem and Clark thinks he has the answer……

 

Frightening Proposal to Intern Muslim Citizens | Al Jazeera America.

 

If you will recall the Charlie Hedo shooters were radicalized in jail……..if you put these people together and they will become more radicalized than they were before they went in…….and the hardcore will have willing converts to make more radical…….

This is NOT a good idea……I would like to hear what my readers have to say about this situation…..

Please sound off!