Saturday, September 29, 2018

Because 1 Republican Stood Tall an FBI Investigation on Kavanaugh is Happening

Good Day World!

Millions of Americans owe Republican Senator Jeff Blake respect for what he did yesterday. 

Without Flake holding back his vote because he wanted a full FBI investigation, the rest of his colleagues would have ridden roughshod over the confirmation process.

Personally, I'll be sad to see him leave the Senate. He and Democratic Senator Coon have been trying for years to conduct business in a bi-partisan manner. They're both loyal to their parties, but have shown the ability to rise above political rhetoric when considering important issues.

Without a doubt, Sen. Flake's push for a fair investigation will go down as his biggest accomplishment in his 18 years in the Senate. I'm confident of that.

If, after the investigation he changes his mind and votes for Kavanaugh, I'll still respect him, because I know he was being honest. Frankly, that's not something I often say about any politician.

In this age of political tribalism it takes courage to stand up to his colleagues and speak from the heart. To speak about fairness and justice in the face of a heartless juggernaut trying to stack the Supreme Court with a bias judge, takes conviction. Even if Flake wasn't retiring this year. 

This whole confirmation process has been without precedent. A case of politics on steroids. A vivid demonstration on how polarized we are as a nation. 

Even Trump has recognized the need to agree with Senate Republicans on putting the confirmation process on hold while an FBI investigation on Kavanaugh goes forward.

The deal is the investigation will be wrapped up in one week and have a narrow scope. Let's see how that works out.

One thing is for sure; political fireworks are on the horizon.

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

Friday, September 28, 2018

Kavanaugh's Partisanship Nakedly Exposed During Hearing

Good Day World!

One thing is for sure after listening to the testimonies of Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford yesterday; we know Kavanaugh is Trump's and the GOP Senators puppet.

He said as much yesterday, if you took note of his rant against Democrats and praise for Trump's crooked 2016 election.

That's called a stacked deck in poker.

The implications are clear; if confirmed, Kavanaugh can be counted on to carry out not only Trump's agenda but to protect him from impeachment. 

His GOP handlers in the Senate and the Federalist Society, have spent millions, and countless hours, to advance their own stooge to the Supreme Court.

Anyone watching Dr. Ford's testimony couldn't help being touched by her sincerity as she recounted Kavanaugh's assault?

Kavanaugh came off like an angry little boy one moment, and a saint the next. No sex for years after high school? Really? How believable was that party boy who drank beer but never passed out?

How convincing was his proud membership of the Ralph Club for puking after drinking lots of beer? Something he denied doing in excess, despite numerous reports to the contrary that he was a hard drinking jock.

He's one of the Alumni of a group of buddies all proudly claiming to have had sex with the same woman. It's in his Year Book. Yet he claimed to be a choir boy. A reputation he's made up for himself, not one awarded by numerous witnesses.

Which brings us to today. The Senate Judiciary Committee is supposed to be considering the nomination. What they'll really be doing is trying to convince Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Jeff Flake, and Joe Manchin to vote for Kavanaugh. It's a group arm-twisting time.

In response to the Republican's rush to confirm the American Bar Association has called for a full investigation and delay in the conformation process today.

We'll see what happens.

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

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Free Admission to the Political Theater Today

Good Day World!

Step right up my friend! 

There's a rare special feature (Supreme Court judge nominee Brett Kavanaugh will face at least one of the women accusing him of sexually harassment) to see today, for free. 

I don't care where you are, you can watch and listen as the Senate Judiciary Committee goes through a sham hearing in a futile attempt to appease Americans who want justice for Kavanaugh's accusers. All three of them.

 A female Republican prosecutor will ask questions instead of the spineless GOP senators themselves. 

It's totally inappropriate to bring in an outside criminal prosecutor for a trial like this. The same rules don't even apply to a political hearing. I know why they want her to ask questions. It's about optics.

By staging a theater set piece like this, the Republicans are desperately trying to go through the motions before they vote on partisan lines on Kavanaugh's confirmation Friday.

It's telling that these Republican senators didn't want to ask the questions. They knew their bias would bubble over and it wouldn't look good for their case.

The stock market is expecting a slow day of trading (according to yesterday's business news) as wall street traders take time off to watch the dog-and-pony show in the senate.

Call me silly, but I don't see the vote happening on Friday. 

There's just too much resistance across the entire country. The Republicans aren't going to get away without hearing from the other two accusers. How that'll happen is just speculation at this time.

Invariably, people will compare this hearing to the one that railroaded Anita Hill when she accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his confirmation process. Some of the optics may change, as I mentioned earlier. 

Nevertheless, this contentious confirmation process has aroused women across the country to support Kavanaugh's accusers. These same woman will be voting in the midterms, and if my guess is right, they won't be voting for Republicans.

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

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

The Melt Down Has Begun! Trump Loses It During Questioning!

SPECIAL EDITION

On Trump's rambling rant with the press today.

It was almost scary to watch. Everything said and written about his mental condition was nakedly exposed as his anger got the better of him.

His rambling answers were off topic and turned into lectures about everything he thinks is wrong in America and the world. 

I watched his features get more animated by the minute. He appeared to be drugged at times. He systematically defended every controversial move he made in the White House and in foreign relations.

He treated each reporter with pure scorn and talked over their questions. It was like his mind kept shifting gears in spite of himself. He almost seemed helpless in his general rage and the topics he lurched off into.

I had a creepy feeling watching him admit that he favors the accused and not the accusers in anything he said, she said.
To one reporter...
"Have you ever been picked before to ask a question?"

"Not from the president of the US," the nervous man replied.

"What are you? A Kurd? I like Kurds. Go ahead...speak."

"Will you support the Kurds when..."

"Next!"

And so it went. The most amazing performance a president has ever made in a simple question and answer format. It was like watching a reality show. 

At times, reporters couldn't even get the words out before he interrupted them and went off in a crazed tangent. His mood swings were written on his rubbery face - happy, mad, sad, glad, bored, and on and on as he performed for the press.

At times, I had the feeling I was a bar tender listening to a drunk with a shit pile of grudges and obvisiously living in an alternate universe.

If you have children, don't let them see this video of their president melting down on live on prime time.

He boasted and bragged with comments like, "I don't care what the rest of the world thinks about Iran. It only matters what I think. What the US thinks."

Watching Trump take apart reporters was liking watching a little boy pick the wings off of butterflies. He reveled in his anger. His voice rose at times and then slid down to a whisper as he went from one subject to the other seemingly  
energized by his aggressive behavior.

It was the strangest press interview of the 21st century. Probably even in the 20th century. 

I think it was a psychiatrist's dream getting to analyze Trump's anger and easy lies in a one hour plus performance for the world to marvel at.

The narcissist, the sociopath, the racist, and the bully all stood together and defied the world...and reality. 

In the end, I think this was a sign of things to come...very soon. Trump was clearly losing it. It might be time to start talking 25th Amendment.

The Show Goes On: UN Audience Gets a Good Laugh


                                        Good Day World!

Entertainers and con men, from P.T. Barnum to Trump, live by the phrase; "The Show Must Go On!"

As our Moron-In-Chief addressed the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday, the audience couldn't help themselves and laughed when he bragged about his administration being better than any other in US history.

Trump's speech also comes amid an undercurrent of global unease as Trump continues to up the ante in his trade war with China, after he slapped tariffs on another $200 billion in Chinese imports with promises to punch back if China retaliates. His rhetoric is threatening to roil the global economy.

Trump's opening speech was a defining moment. The world put him on alert that his bullshit claims hold no water with the rest of the world. They can see the emperor has no clothes on. 

Let me ask you, "When was the last time an American president was mocked and laughed at in the UN General Assembly?"

That wasn't very hard was it? History tells us, never.

As Trump attempts to drag the nation back to a time of isolationism, the rest of the world is quickly losing faith with America. They see our leader, and protest his visits to their countries.

During Trump's search-and-destroy mission to obliterate civility, the rules of the land, and our system of government, there has been a lot of resistance. I hope the world has taken note. Don't give up on us.

Things are going to change after the midterms. Trump's co-conspirators (the House Freedom Caucus assholes) will no longer be able to run inference for Trump with false allegations and investigations.

Meanwhile the show will go on. Trump will continue to tell lies, promote anti-LBGT laws, racism, misogynism, isolationism, and the myth that this administration is better than any before it.

It's telling, however, when world leaders laugh at our celebrity star president. To them, Trump is a joke. To the American people, he's a bane, and a pain.

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




















Tuesday, September 25, 2018

The Circus from Hell

Good Day World!

I remember, back in the day, when everyone loved the circus. 

Times have changed however as animal activists finally brought the institution down.

That doesn't mean we still don't have circuses. The big top is now located in Washington DC, featuring a three-ring act between Trump, GOP senators, and the Justice Department.

What stands out in this new form of entertainment for the masses is the constantly shifting acts. The opening act was the clown-in-chief being investigated for conspiring with the Russians during the 2016 election.

The dog and pony acts in the side rings, run from a controversial attempt to push a supreme court justice through confirmation process before his past catches up to him, to Trump threatening minor clowns like Attorney General Jess Sessions.

Side shows feature ongoing attacks against deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, and special counsel Robert Mueller.

As the ringmaster, Trump is in his glory causing chaos and playing to his audience of alt-right supporters. 

When Trump was elected, everyone knew the circus was coming to town. Instead of jugglers and acrobats it featured corrupt congressman and racists willing to ride the Trump train through the heartland.

Todays circus, operating in the guise of Trump's administration, doesn't feature animals (not even elephants or donkeys). It's content to destroy the environment, take away protection for immigrants, and to marginalize women. All easy acts for Trump minions.

Unlike the original circus we all grew up with, this one won't be as enduring. Trump is on borrowed time. If he makes it to the end of his term (odds are 50-50), he'll be lucky. 

Right now all we can do is cringe and sit back and watch the circus from hell unfold.

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












Monday, September 24, 2018

Baby Trump Visits Florida: Are You Ready For a Crazy Week?

Good Day World!

Last week's political bombshells were just a warm-up for this week's activities.

The fast track Kavanaugh confirmation hearings were temporarily derailed when a woman came out and accused him of sexual assault. 

A Baby Trump balloon was sighted flying over West Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday, during a rally to mark the anniversary of Hurricane Maria striking Puerto Rico. 

Trump's denial of 3000 dead from the devastating hurricane stunned people from both sides of the aisle, once again demonstrated his losing battle with reality.

But you haven't seen anything yet. Buckle up! 

Today a federal judge will decide whether Stormy Daniel's defamation case against Trump will go forward. If the judge allows it, Trump will be forced to testify. 

The partisan spin masters will be working overtime finalizing a proposed hearing (that could change on a dime) for Thursday.


Tomorrow...

Trump will be addressing (and almost certainly berating) world leaders in New York on Tuesday during a United Nations General Assembly.

But the real drama will be on Wednesday, when Trump is expected to chair a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. 

The 15 member panel security council will probably be a case of countries playing it cool and strenuously avoiding offending Trump. However, Bolivia isn't going to play that game and is expected to piss Trump off.

It really boils down to Trump himself. Will he stay on script and follow protocol as "President of the Security Council?"

Thursday...

If everything sticks to the script on Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford's comments.

Don't be surprised if Thursday arrives and everything isn't ready to go. 

This confirmation battle is haunted by the ghost of Anita Hill, and the uphill battle she faced against a partisan group of Senators who already made their mind him to confirm Thomas and ignore Hill.

The specter of that happening again has the Republicans trying to change some optics. Like having a female outside council ask questions instead of the 11 angry white Republican men.

As for Friday...if past Fridays are any indicator, there's sure to be some new bombs dropped onto the political landscape for people to consider over the weekend.

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

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Nation's Top Two Law Schools Call For Fair Hearing

Good Day World!

A university professor, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, opened up Pandora's Box with her accusation supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her when they were teens.

As Senate Republicans rush to push Kavanaugh's confirmation through to the supreme court, the two most prestigious law schools in the country are saying "...slow down and give Kavanaugh's accuser a fair trial." 

At Yale Law School, Kavanaugh's alma mater, students are denouncing administrators for their rote support of Kavanaugh and are demanding changes to the culture that enables powerful elites to get away with sexual misconduct.

Concerned students are demanding to know how aware the school was of the conduct of another past student, Alex Kozinka, a high-profile judge many alumni clerked for and who resigned last year amid accusations of sexual harassment.

Kosinka was Kavanaugh's mentor.

Meanwhile at Harvard Law school, students wrote an op-ed in the Harvard Law Record calling for a full and fair investigation, or the school shouldn't allow Kavanaugh to teach there, and the senate shouldn't confirm him to the supreme court. He's been a lecturer at the law school since 2009.

The whole nomination battle sparked a reckoning at Kavanaugh's alma mater and Harvard. Students feel betrayed by professors being aware of allegations for years against federal judges, but still funneling students to them.

What it comes down to is there's been a "good old white boy" culture in both law schools for decades, and secrets are coming out about their students and professors, in this current Me Too climate.

Like Pandora's Box in mythology, once secrets come out there's no putting them back.

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

Universal Music Power

In a delightful description of the power of music William Congreve wrote "Music hath charms to sooth a savage beast..." in his 16...