Nation Not As Divided As Media Outlets Portray

Good Day World!

I was starting to really believe that America is so polarized that any chance of redemption was impossible.

My thoughts have evolved lately, recognizing that the apparent great divide in this nation is nothing more than two extreme ideologies pursued by partisan operatives.

Both have sounding boards in the media - from Fox News to MSNBC that are in a pitched battle for Americans attention. 

I've talked with numerous people who are tired of the constant "us-versus-them" mentality. I've researched a number of resources that prove all Americans are not divided despite the amount of media time spent trying to convince us otherwise.

I highly recommend reading this research paper: The Hidden Tribes of America. 

This report, with the input of 8,000 Americans, is the largest study ever done on polarization in our nation. You'll probably be surprised when you find out that 3 out of every 4 Americans believe that our differences can be worked out.

The research concluded that we have become a nation of tribes, with different codes, values, and even facts.

But this can change.

A majority of Americans, who the report called the "Exhausted Majority," are fed up by America’s polarization.

That gives me hope. I hope it does for you as well. 

Despite Trumpism and extreme ideologies touted by the corporate owned media in this country, there are millions of Americans who still believe in unity - not division. 

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

There's Nothing Worse Than Bad Losers

                                         Good Day World!

The Party of Trump is still reeling from the beating they took during the midterms. Now, we're seeing their response to the historic losses...and it's not pretty.

Butt hurt Wisconsin Republican losers pushed through measures that would weaken the incoming Democratic administration.

Like other Republicans who chose to become Trump minions,  Walker and his ilk were defeated and are taking it badly. This last parting shot proves it.

Meanwhile in North Carolina...

Being a sore loser is not as bad as what Republicans tried to do in North Carolina however.

Republican party minions did their best to rig the election and the new Democratic governor is now holding them accountable. An investigation is underway.

According to Democratic Party Chair Wayne Goodwin;

"From what we've seen from these sworn affidavits, and we will learn more as the hearing is held, there appears to be election tampering, election rigging, and election stealing."

As long as we're talking about Republican losers let's not forget about our liar in chief. 

Mueller's coming to town this Christmas with a bag of indictments for Trump. 

Ho! Ho! Ho!

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

Have A Merry Giftless Christmas

Good Day World!

Here's some fodder for Christmas; would you give up gift giving if all of your friends and family did this year?

According to a Harris Poll last December 69% of Americans said they would.

About 43% said they felt pressured to give gifts and spend more money than they can afford. Sound familiar? 

When our three boys were growing up my wife and I felt we were depriving them if half the living room around the tree wasn't piled high with presents.

We dreaded paying the piper every January. After our boys grew up we reined in our gift-giving habits. We haven't made that final commitment yet...but we're sure thinking about it this year.

To be truly free from the tyranny of gift-giving the best idea is NOT to give ANYONE presents (easier said than done).

As a kid, I considered the success of each Christmas Day was based on the amount of presents I got. Now that I'm an old coot, I look at the holiday more philosophically; Jesus never demanded we buy gifts to celebrate him. At least not in the Bible.

So, is it possible to have a great Christmas without showering each other with gifts fated to fade away in time? 

Sure. Save the money, damn tradition, and use it to travel. 

Meanwhile, you can have a Christmas feast, enjoy Christmas carols and stories, and be in the Christmas spirit without supporting major corporations who prey on consumers during Christmas, like a school of sharks in a moat around your Christmas tree!

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

I Like Funny Christmas Carols, Do You Like Them?

Good Day World!

Started this Monday out with a jolt of java and hunting down Christmas carols that will make you laugh so hard you'll pee your pants!

There's so many that I'm going to quit yapping and start sharing:

Reflection of the times:

1) White Trash Christmas (By Bob Rivers) 

I'm dreamin' of a white trash Christmas
We'll decorate the mobile home
There'll be cousin's kissin'
And front teeth missin'
And you'll hear grandpa peein' in the snow

I'm dreamin' of a white trash Christmas
No Christmas card from my ex-wife
I did get a subpoena though
Our family tree is leanin' to the right
And we'll all be playin' poker Christmas night

2) (video) Redneck 12 Days of Christmas (By Jeff Foxworthy)

3.) (Video) The Night Santa Went Crazy - (By "Weird Al" Yankovic)

4. (Video) Santa Claus and His Old Lady (By Cheech and Chong)

5. (Video) I Saw Daddy Kiss Santa Claus (By RuPaul)

6. (Video) Nuttin' for Christmas (By Stan Freberg)

I hope you enjoyed them. I thought it may help get you into a lighter holiday spirit during these dark days under Trump.

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

Nothing Nice To Say About The Deceased? Don't Say Anything

Good Day World!

I took a long reflective pause when I heard George H.W. Bush passed away at 94-years old.

Memories of his controversial pardons for six members of his administration facing prosecution in the Iran-Contra investigation haunted me.

When I was growing I was taught to never speak badly of the dead. It was wrong. Period. 

I thought about Trump's use of pardons. But (with emphasis), there are no other comparisons between the two presidents.

* You can't compare a draft dodger with a WWII combat bomber pilot.

* You cannot compare the difference between Bush's essential authenticity and Trump's phoniness. 

* You cannot compare Bush's "...thousand points of light" to Trump's America First.

* Bush always sought to set the bar higher, while Trump lowered the bar, violating the Constitution, attacking America's intelligence community, and attacking our judicial system right up to the Supreme Court.

The nation, and the world, is honoring the passing of our 41st president, George H.W.Bush.

Praise for his accomplishments continue to pour in.

Political World Reacts To Bush's Death

Rest in peace, Herbert Walker Bush. You are the end of an era.

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

Holiday Cards I'd Like to See and a Holiday Memo To Fed Workers

Good Day World!

I'm going to go out on a limb (spruce for the season) and say Christmas cards are probably on the way today.

People are sending greetings to family and friends wishing them happy holidays. 

I think the tradition began when Martha Washington sent George a long letter in a card while he was at Valley Forge. The card read: "Warmest Christmas Greetings," which he thankfully used to start a bonfire.

All right...I'm just kidding. He really used it to wipe his butt because of a serious shortage of toilet paper!

I'm going to be serious for a moment.

While Americans are sending each other holiday greetings, Trump and his minions have sent out memos to 2 million federal employees informing them they can't talk about impeaching Trump or about resisting his corruption.

According to an interview with the NY Times,Cathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University, said this:

“This goes beyond past guidance about what partisan political activity is and is more restrictive of speech of federal employees than past guidance that I’ve been able to find.

“I think their legal analysis is wrong in this attempt to outlaw all discussion of impeachment of Trump in the federal workplace."

Just the White House's way of saying the First Amendment doesn't apply to federal workers. Wrong. Again.

Christmas Cards I'd Like To See

1) front of the card - A picture of Mueller dressed up like Santa Claus with a cage (instead of a bag of presents) on his sleigh...inside reads;

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Off To Jail We Go!"

2) Front - Illustration of Grinch/Trump character in a sleigh pulled by Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Kellyanne Conway with reindeer horns on their heads. 

Inside -  "Yuge Christmas Greetings from the White House Liar's Club!"

3.) Front - Republican Congressmen (and women) dressed up like biblical characters, kneeling with outstretched hands toward a golden idol of Trump.

Inside: "Good News! Trump Has Risen and If You Want To be Wealthy Donate To His 2020 Campaign!"

Have you started mailing out your holiday greeting cards yet? Support the USPS, and wish someone the very best this season.

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

I'm Starting To Get The Holiday Spirit - Mueller's Coming To Town

Good Day World!

I'm really getting into the holiday spirit.

Americans are celebrating all the traditional holidays this December: 

Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus For The Rest of Us, Kwanzaa (African heritage), Bodhi Day (Buddhist), Krampusnacht (Feast of St. Nichols), and Pancha Ganapati (Hindu's honoring Ganesha).

Christmas carols are playing in the malls and homes of millions of people. My favorite this year is (same as last year);

Robert Mueller's Coming To Town!

It just seems so, how shall I say it? Topical? Timely? Current? Prophetic? Or, all of the above.

You decide after checking out these articles"

Federal Agents Raid office Of Lawyer Who Previously Did Tax Work For Trump

Michael Cohen Admits Talks For Trump Over Moscow Tower Occurred Well Into Campaign  

Pompeo, Mattis Briefing Provokes Senate Backlash

Trump Reiterates $5B For Wall Funding or Face Shutdown

Trump's 'Gut' Sees Pushback from 'Brains' Home and Abroad 

Allegations That Manafort Was Trump's Mole In The Mueller Investigation Will Have Consequences

A Fuming Trump Continues His Intervention In The Mueller Probe

Trump At Bay: Failure Looms As Democrats load 'Subpoena Cannon' 

Mind you, there are other developments that will also lead to the orange anus's hasty exit from power and a room with bars for a view.

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

Looking For the Baby Trump Blimp at The G-20 Summit

Good Day World!

Eager fans of the Baby Trump Blimp are hoping it'll appear at the G-20 Summit this weekend.

Argentina's government has told it's citizens to leave Buenos Aires for the two-day summit because the capital is going to be on a complete lock down when world leaders meet there.

Still, those leaders will be greeted by 33 planned protests...and hopefully the Trump Baby Blimp. More than 22,000 police and security agents will be deployed during the summit.

Flights over the city will be diverted, and all train lines, subways and other modes of public transport in the city of 12 million will be closed.

What to look for when Trump meets other world leaders:

1. Will the Trump/Putin bromance be renewed?

2. Lover's quarrel - Will Trump and Putin even talk now that Russia's getting aggressive with the Ukraine? 

3. Will Trump and Saudi Crown Prince bin Salman sneak off for some private time?

4. Will Trump and Chinese strongman Xi compare penis sizes or talk about tariffs?

5. Which country gets to sit next to bin Salman (hint: most leaders are probably going to try to avoid any contact with the murderous prince) during negotiations? 

The only thing that's sure about this summit is Trump is going to:
A. Act like a pompous ass,
B. Pick fights with other leaders,
C. Embarrass America (again),
D. All of the above.

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

White House Briefings Are Back: Divert...Lie ...Divert

                                       Good Day World!

They're back! 

Those folks in the Trump propaganda wing are talking to the press again.

In the first White House press briefing in a month, a new tactic was rolled out to give Sarah Sanders a minimal contact with reporters.

Mission Statement: With less time to lie, Sanders won't get attacked as often.

New Rules of Engagement: let other Trump minions (perhaps with harder shells) use up nearly all the allotted time. Using this new strategy, Larry Kudlow and John Bolton appeared and sucked all of the oxygen out of the room.

Kudlow's manner of speaking was slow and measured, eating up the minutes repeating himself. Bolton, true to form, acted like an asshole and screwed with reporters when asked if he heard the Jamal Kashoggi murder tape.

When Sanders did appear she launched into her normal lying mode. For example she claimed Trump cared about clean air even after he lowered omission standards.

When confronted with Trump's denial of the results of a four-year multi-government environmental study, Sanders said it didn't have enough facts and that's why Trump is not going to talk about it during the upcoming G-20 Summit.

She finished up with a flurry of "You'll have to ask (fill in blank)," "The president's position is crystal clear (she always pulls that one out when Trump's position is anything BUT clear), and a serious of denials.

When Sanders was asked about Trump's tweet (Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!) yesterday morning - in response to Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian ships - she did her usual denial dance replying;

"Again, the President has not laid out a timetable and is still leaving a number of other options on the table. And we're still considering a number of those, and a final decision on that front hasn't been made."

Considering his options eh? 

The orange anus is still considering his options with what to do about his buddy (and fellow authoritarian) bin Salman's ruthless murder of an American journalist for the Washington Post.

I did notice something that no one else seems to be talking about... 

Reporters asked follow-up questions - which (correct me if I'm wrong) was not supposed to be allowed anymore under new White House Press briefing rules, following Trump's embarrassment by the courts for trying to violate reporter Jim Acosta's Fifth Amendment.

Gee...I wonder what happened to those new rules? I'm going to go out on a limb and say the press pool won't play that game...and they knew it.

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

  

There is NO $110 Billion Arms Contract between US and Saudi Arabia

                                      Good Day World!

We now know that Jared Kushner and Trump have wildly exaggerated the amount of arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

If you recall, Trump's first state visit to another country as president of the United States was to Saudi Arabia, where they greeted him like a king.

He's had numerous wet dreams about the experience since, even (longingly) hinting about how much he was impressed by the complete and absolute control the Crown Prince had in his country.

It's no secret Trump has had business dealings with Saudi Arabia for a long time. He bragged about it during his presidential campaign.

With the help of his sleazy son in law, Jared Kushner, they came up with a Memorandum of Intent (not a legally binding contract) suggesting the Saudi's were going to buy $110 billion worth of arms from the U.S.

It was a con from the start. A Trump specialty. Much ado over nothing. A diplomatic nothing burger that he and his ratface son in law sold the State Department and the Department of Defense.

While claiming a diplomatic victory for Trump, Kushner pushed State and Defense officials to inflate the figure of the arms exchanges that were aspirational at best. 

Whatever credibility Secretary of Defense James Mattis had was erased as he supported Kushner's narrative and endorsed the memorandum. The die was cast. More like the conspiracy was launched.

When Saudi Crown prince brutally murdered Jamal Kashoggi and the CIA confirmed it as a fact, Trump rebutted his own intelligence sources to side with bin Salman. At that point, it became Saudi Arabia First...not America First.

He brought up the "significant amount" of investments in U.S. military equipment using the bogus $110 billion as a prime example.

Here's the facts:

There's a $15 billion dollar deal in the works (originally negotiated under Obama's administration) for a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system and maintenance for other systems.

This order has not even been fulfilled yet. As for the wildly exaggerated $110 billion figure, it was arrived upon based on an analysis of Saudi requirements in the future and optimal U.S. solutions. In other words...bullshit predications.

There are NO other signed contracts. Period.

Related: The $110 Billion Arms Deal To Saudi Arabia is Fake News

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