Saturday, February 24, 2018

About The Dopey Olympics, Poor Sportsmanship, and Americans Hating On Americans

Good Day World!

“Sickened & disgusted once again by the lack of humanity that engulfs our country. Lindsey Vonn just raced her damn heart out & Trump supporters gloat/cheer/celebrate her inability to medal. Is this what we've become?” - Julie Foudy
(Swedish Hockey Team Gets Silver. Captain throws it to crowd. Not good enough!)

Yes Julie, Americans were rooting for fellow Americans to fail at the Olympic Games, and it's a damn shame.

First it was Adam Rippon, then Lindsey Vonn, then Gus Kenworthy.


All three dared to speak out critically against the leaders in our country. As we all know, that is about as American as apple pie. Then there's the First Amendment.



Lindsay Vonn got hate-tweets after not medaling in the Super-G. 

Why?

Because while training for Pyeongchang in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in early December, Vonn said she would not accept an invitation to the White House following the Winter Games. That drew social-media outrage from Trump supporters.

Then there's more doping scandals at this year's Winter Olympics. At this rate maybe they should be called the "Dopey Olympics."

This time, it's (surprise!!) a Russian athlete, bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva. What makes this more surprising is two weeks before the Olympics she was seen wearing a shirt that read, " I don't do doping." 

Since this is there second Russian athlete who got caught, it is possible that "Olympic Athletes from Russia," won't be allowed to participate in the closing ceremony. 

Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky was stripped of his bronze medal Thursday after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.

Slovenian hockey player Ziga Jeglic and Japanese speedskater Kei Saito also left the games after testing positive.


Olympic freeskier Gus Kenworthy kissed his boyfriend, Matt Wilkas, a quick kiss at the bottom of the hill.

The embrace was caught live on TV by NBC as part of their Olympic footage, quickly went viral. Social media followed that moment with vile posts about gay Americans - and Gus in particular.
When coming in second is not an honor...
Team Captain Lias Andersson was so frustrated with Sweden’s second-place finish at the world junior hockey championship that he threw his silver medal into the crowd.

I don't know about you, but the luster of the Olympic Games has worn off for me. It's just a sad reflection of the world and not the Olympic spirit I grew up with.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Friday, February 23, 2018

Here's Three Common Sense Questions for the NRA That All Americans Should Ask

Good Day World!

Few things stir up Americans more than gun rights. 

Facts:

There's 325.72 million Americans according to the 2017 census.

The National Rifle Association has five million members. That's a total of 12.4 percent of all Americans.

According to the latest polls 75 percent of all Americans want more gun safety laws.

The NRA is one of the biggest spenders in elections, ranking 9th among all outside groups, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

A Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday found 97 percent support for universal background checks, while 67 percent backed a ban on the sale of assault weapons.

Questions for the NRA :

1. How is it that such a small percentage of Americans - spearheaded by your organization - can control Congress and stop any gun legislation from being enacted?

2. Why does the NRA refuse to budge, or compromise, with the majority of Americans who are calling for sensible gun safety laws?

3. Why did you give Trump $30 million dollars? Quid pro quo? The other question is, what did YOU get in return for those millions of dollars?

To The Reader:

If you're interested in learning more about the NRA's current lobbying dollars, which congressional candidates got money from the NRA, and more, click here.

Related story:

Trump Praises NRA As It Mount's Offensive Against Gun Measures

Final comment:

The NRA tries to mislead people with deceiving statistical figures  like "Forty percent of  Americans live in gun-owning households."

On the surface, that's probably right. Does that mean everyone in those households approve of having guns? Common sense tells us NO.

Many people don't have a choice. They live with other people who have guns because they're minors (with no voice), or out of financial necessity.

Think about it. Because there's one gun owner in a household, it doesn't mean the others approve and count themselves NRA supporters.

Yet, the NRA casually throws out deceiving statistics as cited above, all the time.

The truth is the NRA represents a small (but vocal)percentage of Americans, yet the political power they exert on Congress is overwhelmingly complete.

When was the last time you read about any gun law being passed without the blessing of the NRA? That in itself, is proof of the power this small organization wields.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Why I Believe This Current Student Protest Movement Can Make A Difference

Good Day World!

I was a teenager in the 60s, full of passion and distrust of our government.

I recall my peers who were already protesting against the "illegal war" in Vietnam, when I graduated from high school in 1968.

Politically, I was clueless. I didn't even understand what was really happening in Vietnam when I voluntarily joined the Army.

Why did I join? Friends and family still ask me that. I can only say that I wanted a change in my life and going into the Army seemed like an interesting adventure at the time.

I never seriously thought about having to go to Vietnam. I wasn't exactly a deep thinker in those days. I shouldn't have been surprised when I got orders to go to Vietnam in the fall of 1969. I was 19-years old.

After serving my time in Vietnam and Cambodia in 1970, as a combat engineer, I came home to a rude greeting. No one liked Vietnam veterans. At least, it felt that way.

My time in Vietnam taught me many lessons. Perhaps the most important one was that we - America - were the "bad guys" invading their homeland.

I felt like I'd been duped by the government after what I saw in Vietnam. The corruption and senseless slaughter of civilians singed my soul. I felt dirty and betrayed.

 When I returned to the United States a powerful youth movement against the war was underway in colleges across the nation.

The passionate protests coming from the country's youth made a difference. We got out of Vietnam.

When I look at the survivors of the recent school slaughter in Florida, I see the youth from my days. Anger. Resolve. Persistence. Bucking the system to stop the madness.

This time it isn't college students leading the way for change. It's high school students. Survivors with a message for our polarized politicians.

"We want to feel safe when we go to school!"

The NRA and right-wing nuts are trying to delegitimize these brave teenagers by claiming some are hired actors paid by left-wing forces.

That's bullshit ,and the world knows it.

I stand in solidarity with teenagers nationwide who are trying to make a positive difference, and save future lives.

Right on!

Time for me to walk on down the road.... 

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

WH Spin Department Has A Communication Problem

Good Day World!

The White House apologizers, aka the Communications/PR Department, is functioning like a ship lost at sea.

At the helm of the tempest-tossed ship is chief WH house apologizer, Sarah Sanders.

After no communications for a week with the mainstream press, Sanders slithered out of her hiding place yesterday to spew a few lies and dodge facts.

In other words, a normal WH Press Conference filled with so many falsehoods reporters are still floundering to make sense of them.

The press conference was an hour late, and Sanders took limited questions, before retreating back to the bowels of the White House.

Obviously, the inhabitants of the West Wing are becoming camera shy. But they do have one friend in the WH Press Corp...

The Gateway Pundit web site, where conspiracies crop up daily, and truth is lost in the shuffle of sensational headlines and claims.

The Trump spin room likes the Gateway Pundit because the publication and it's WH correspondent Lucian Wintrich, love Trump.

Wintrich's hit piece criticizing Florida shooting survivor David Hogg is a fabrication of his fevered mind, and nothing more than another crazy conspiracy story to deflect attention away from the Do-Nothing About Gun Safety White House minions and master.

Trump's announcement yesterday that he's instructing his puppet Jeff Sessions to propose changes that would ban so-called Bump Stocks, which make it easier for a weapon to fire rounds faster, is another delaying tactic.

Remember Las Vegas?

I wonder how long Sessions (an NRA darling) is going to take coming up with an answer for Donny?

It's was a good soundbite in a week of negative news for the minions of Trump, and the Liar-In-Chief himself.

As for today's planned "Listening Session" with students, teachers, and local lawmakers, you can expect some theatre from reality actor Trump.

Don't expect answers. Expect Trump to make it all about himself somehow. That's the way he operates.

It's about Donny trying to look like he cares. He needs good vibes coming from somewhere. His fantasy presidency is being pushed to the limit by unpleasant realities.

Among them, is the forthcoming truth that the Trump Campaign did collude with Russia in the 2016 election, and Donny knew what was going on.

The WH spin machine is malfunctioning worse than a year ago. Most of the original parts, like Sean Spicer, etc., have been kicked out and replaced with the likes of lying Sarah Sanders, who has no reservations about protecting her master. 

Until the spin factory flunkies start using verifiable facts, which is about as likely as an honest politician, we have to accept the fact this will be the norm as long as Donny sits his fat ass in the Oval Office!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Our Obstructor/Groper-In-Chief Can't Make Accusers Go Away

Good Day World!

Fact: Trump has yet to answer for sexually harassing more than a dozen women.

Lie:
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Sunday that those alleging misconduct against the president have "had their day." 

However, Trump's accusers my actually "get their day" yet.

Ironically, Trump may have called for that accounting inadvertently when he urged the public to "always report" instances of bad and erratic behavior, or actions by somebody that's mentally disturbed, after the Parkland High School shootings.

Congress has that same responsibility.

Whether it's reacting to school shootings with new gun safety laws, or to a president who has yet to pay for sexually abusing women.

One of the things Democrats are talking about is if they take the House back during the midterm elections, is appointing a Congressional committee to look into the numerous allegations of sexual abuse against Trump.

A Democratic House could also mean Impeachment for Trump for Obstruction of Justice, and Conspiring Against the America People.

Both are unfinished business that Trump has to confront...someday.

Hopefully sooner, rather than later.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Monday, February 19, 2018

Students Nationwide To Speak Out For Gun Safety - Can They Make A Difference?

Good Day World!

Parkland High School students hope to make history after a tragedy.

They are trying to do what Congress has been unwilling to do; get sensible laws passed on gun safety, and outlawing assault style rifles (semi-automatic AR-15s).

The "adults" in Washington are going to be schooled by outraged high school students/teachers coordinating a nationwide protest against the NRA.

Lawmakers that are beholden to the NRA because of the political donations they accept, are going to be highlighted during the planned nationwide walkout by students and teachers on March 24th.

Students and teachers are also planning on sit-ins and other protest activities on April 20th - the anniversary of the Columbine massacre that left 12 students and one teacher dead.

Can our nation's students cries of "BS" on the NRA and Republican lawmakers in Congress make a difference? Thus far, each tragic shooting has not produced any changes.

Republicans send their condolences to the victim's families. Democrats cry for reform. It's like watching an evil version of "Groundhog Day."  

It's time for students to speak out. They're tired of being silent victims while so-called adults argue about the issue of gun control. 

They're the victims, as are the teachers, in this deadly standoff. Students are saying they're tired of being sacrificed in order to get money from the NRA.

Will the upcoming demonstrations shame those weak-kneed and greedy, lawmakers into action?

If history is any kind of yardstick, the protests will happen, but no changes will be made. There will be more mass shootings at schools, and other locations.

Shame is not enough for change. It can only happen at the polling booths.

Related:

Florida Students: "You Are Either With Us Or Against Us"

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Trump's Parade: Every Good Dictator Deserves A Show Of Strength

Good Day World!

Trump's desire to have a military parade goes back further than his visit to France last year, when he saw the French put on a patriotic parade.

Pundits suggest that after he was done clapping his tiny hands together in glee at the sight of so many troops and military equipment, he told the French president that he was going to have a bigly parade of his own.

While that may be true, let's unfold the rest of the reasoning for Donny's big parade.

Since attending military school while growing up, Trump developed a love of generals and authoritarian figures. He particularly loved military pomp and showy parades.

But, being the chicken-shit he is, Trump avoided the draft five times. That's where he earned the nickname Cadet Bone Spur.

Little Donny never forgot his dream of being a grand marshal in a military parade to end all military parades.

A quick look at Donny's favorite appointees reveal "his generals" who are ready to obey his commands.

Most Republicans and Democrats don't want to have Donny's $30 million (*estimate by Pentagon) dollar parade, and are saying that's the kind of thing dictators - like Putin, Kim, Jiping - do. Not Americans.

Exactly. But Donny doesn't give a shit about what anyone thinks. His ego and desire to see naked power paraded past him - honoring him - has no limits.

His dream is America's nightmare. 

Stretching this nightmare out, is those Republicans who'll try to enable him, and give him his parade for partisan reasons.

After all, every good dictator deserves a parade.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

It's Time to Pay Up Donnie!

It's looks like there will be some prime real estate going on the market soon in New York City. Convicted rapist and former president ...