Holiday Hell and the Meaning of Christmas

Good Day World!

Americans are taking to the air, and the roads today, in a mini-migration movement that happens every year.

Like confused lemmings, people across the nation visit one another briefly, before repeating the mini-migration home. Going to, and coming back, during the holidays is generally a hellish experience.

Let's be honest. The chances of getting stuck in an airport or horrendous traffic jams are pretty high this year.

The Automobile Association of America is warning that there's going to be a record amount of travelers (90 million plus) this weekend.

If you thought last year was bad, you better buckle up for this year.

I find it curious that people feel like they have to travel for the holidays. There's an entire year to visit family and friends, so why pick the worst days of the year to go?

Here comes the part that really confuses me; is traveling to visit others the true meaning of Christmas? I guess it depends. Being with family is usually a positive thing, but not always.

The religious aspect of Christmas is simple; it's a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Nothing more, or nothing less.

If you aren't religious, then it stands to reason that you see the holiday as a time to go shopping, and perhaps partying.

That's the case with most Americans today. The religious aspect has been slowly dwindling away in recent decades. I don't think that's bad, or good. It is, what it is.

The majority of people today, according to analysts, see Christmas has a time to travel and exchange gifts. To me, that's where the holiday hell part comes in.

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

What a Week! Tax Bill For Wealthy Passes, and UN Stands Up To Trump's Bullying Tactics

                                        Good Day World!

I hope you're not struggling with the holiday blues this year.

A lot of people are depressed after watching our democracy slowly get dismantled during Trump's first year in power.

Drilling down...

Fear, Anxiety, and Depression in the Age of Trump

People Are Mourning the US Because Trump Is Our New President

Polls Show Trump With Historically Low Approval Ratings 

After this week's passage of a Tax Reform Bill for the wealthy, the majority of Americans realize they've been sold out to Wall Street, Trump's billionaire buddies and his family.

As if things haven't been bad enough domestically under the Trump regime, America now finds itself isolated against the world by declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

Trump's stupid move has officially taken the US out of any future peace process in the middle east after the United Nations passed a resolution yesterday to condemn Trump's action on the issue and declare it "null and void."

Despite Trump's threats against the entire United Nations assembled there, the world voted against him. The bully didn't win. 

In one swift stroke, Trump has turned the world against America. That's quite an accomplishment for his first year in office.

No wonder most Americans are struggling to enjoy the season this year. This is the winter of our discontent over what's happened to our country, and our world standing.

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

Trump Threatens World: Countries Put On Notice If They Vote Against Him

                                     Good Day World!

Well...well, it looks like America's first dictator is ready to take on the world after bullying the American people for the last 11 months.

Trump told the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, to "report back on those countries who voted against us," in an upcoming vote against Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel.

Here's the kicker:

Haley gave the UN a thinly veiled threat, "As you consider your vote, I want you to know that the President and U.S. take this vote personally." 

What's that supposed to mean?

Are we going to make up a world enemy list based upon countries that don't kowtow to Trump's imperialistic demands?

The Jerusalem resolution to be presented to the General Assembly today is similar, although not identical, to the one presented to the Security Council last week. 

The resolution to be presented today to the General Assembly is brought under a rarely used 1950 resolution called "Uniting for Peace" that has a provision that would give authority to the 193-nation body to act when the Security Council is deadlocked. 

The point of both resolutions, negotiators said, is to show that the U.S. stands alone on the Jerusalem recognition. 

Halley sent out a warning letter to 180 nations that whoever votes against the US will be noted and dealt with accordingly. A not so thinly veiled threat.

Just in time for the holidays. What a touching tribute to this season of Goodwill To All and Peace on Earth.

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

Republicans Sing About How Much the New Tax Bill Will Bring

Good Day World!

Tis the season when Trumpies gloat

Over a tax bill that is a wealthy gravy boat...

Hark The Herald Republican's sing

About what wealth the new tax bill will bring

They sing 'Glory be to Trump, our new King.'

Joyful, all ye nations rise, stand up to Trump's lies!

Join the resistance and heed the people's cries

Let the truth be energized and don't be demoralized!

Hark the Herald Republicans sing

About what improvements their wealth bill will bring

They sing 'Glory be to Trump, our new King.'

Gleefully, all ye people celebrate the day

When Trump is arrested and has to go away

Have a happy holiday!

Dave Stancliff - 2017

A Conservative Christmas Story: Trump's Coming To Town

Good Day World!

You better watch out,
you better at least try,
I'm telling you why,
Trump is coming to town.

He's trying to take away
your hopes this holiday,
and rights to what you can say
Trump is coming to town.

He knows who follows him

and jumps to his every whim,

so, for your sake, use a pseudonym

because Trump is coming to town.

Christmas has been hijacked

along with America's social contract

and reduced to a white supremacist abstract

Trump has come to town.

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

The Smoking Gun: Corker To Cast Yes Vote on Tax Bill After New Provision Enriches Him Personally

Good Day World!

No matter how Trump tries to dress up this tax bill as a "Christmas present for the middle class," it's still meaner than something even the Grinch would do.

Here's what's happening:

Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee suddenly switched his vote to “yes” on the upcoming tax bill after GOP leaders added a provision to personally boost his real-estate income.

What more proof do we need that the so-called Tax Reform Bill is a boon to billionaires?

When International Business Times interviewed the Republican Majority Whip, John Cornyn, they uncovered how the blatant bribe was wrapped up to "cobble together" the necessary votes to pass the controversial tax bill.

Cornyn tried to defend the last minute provision as "just one piece" of a 1000 page-bill when asked if it was put there for Corker.

Corker, and Trump, both real estate tycoons, would benefit greatly from this sneaky little add-on. No surprise there. This is shaping up to be Trump's biggest con...and most Americans will be the victims.

Not so happy holidays...

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

Latest Trump Assault on America: Censorship Gone Wild, 7 Words The CDC Can't Use

Good Day World!

I know I'm going back here, but do you remember when George Carlin (American comedian) first performed his famous Seven Words You Can't Say monologue?

Back in the day, it was pretty shocking stuff, saying those swear words (that have since crept into the national dialogue daily).

Today, we're faced with seven words that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention aren't allowed to use when preparing their budget for the Trump regime.

The CDC, the very agency tasked with saving and protecting the lives of the most vulnerable, is now under order by the Trump regime to stop using seven words - including "vulnerable" on 2018 budget documents, according to The Washington Post.

Are you ready for this?

The CDC can not use the words; diversity, fetus, transgender, vulnerable, entitlement, science-based, or evidence-based. 

Let's pause for a moment and try to figure out why these words are so bad.

* Quote: "To pretend and insist that transgender people do not exist, and to allow this lie to infect public health research and prevention is irrational and very dangerous," Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said in a written statement.

* The Trump administration is full of dangerous science deniers who have no business near American public health systems like the CDC.

* You cannot fight against the Zika virus, or improve women's and fetal health, if you are unable to use the word "fetus."

* You must be able to talk about science and evidence if you are to research cures for infectious diseases such as Ebola.

* You must be able to acknowledge the humanity of transgender people in order to address their health care needs.

* You cannot erase health inequities faced by people of color simply by forbidding the use of the words 'vulnerable' or diversity."

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

There's absolutely no good reason for forbidding those seven words. It's a blatant attack from a regime with no morality, humanity, or sanity.

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

When Intelligence Leaks Don't Matter, and Trump's Hypocritical Speech To FBI Grads

Good Day World!

Let's see now.

Who has been whining about intelligence leaks since January?

Stumped? The answer is Trump.

Check this out...

The Justice Department said on Thursday that the release of text messages between two former investigators in the federal probe into Russian election meddling, in which President Trump was referred to as an "idiot," was not authorized.

Not authorized. I think that's simple enough. A leak.

But did Trump get upset about the leak? Actually he never said a thing about it. At least not in public. In private, he was probably doing his happy dance. A new diversion!

His trolls in Congress made a big deal of releasing the transcripts to the press hours before the House Judiciary Committee hearing (despite having been unlawfully leaked) where they grilled Deputy Attorney General, Rod Rosenstein, on them.

No one brought up the fact that the transcripts were illegally taken. Yet, every Republican on the committee waved them like a holy relic.

On Friday, Trump gave a speech at the FBI Academy Graduation ceremony, but not before slamming the whole department and promising to "re-make" it great again in a brief press conference outside the White House.

He said the FBI was in tatters (again) and that it was sad what's happened to it. 

I think he thought he was at a Police Academy graduation. If in his last sentence he hadn't said FBI...anyone watching would have surely thought it was about cops, not FBI Agents.

The pure hypocrisy surely wasn't lost on the graduates who must have been wondering if they'd be a part of a process to prosecute Trump of obstruction of justice someday.

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

What A Crazy Week! It's TGIF - Are You Ready To Party?

Good Day World!

Can you say TGIF?

Has this last week's news events left you exhausted? 

Has there been enough drama for you? Kick back and enjoy this weekend.

It's been a crazy week.

7 quick examples: 

1. Omarosa Manigault Newman suddenly left her White House job under a cloud yesterday.

She told the press that she observed things in the White House that made her uncomfortable(?) and that upset her. Stay tuned.

2. Trump backs pedophile in Alabama special election...and Moore the molester loses, and isn't going to the senate. His democratic opponent Doug Jones, is however.

3. Senate Judiciary Committee: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein offered a strong defense of Robert Mueller's appointment and actions as special counsel Wednesday and further praised the FBI, even as the bureau has been criticized by President Donald Trump in recent weeks.

Republicans called for a second special counsel to investigate Mueller's team.

4. Kentucky state Rep. Dan Johnson took his own life on Wednesday afternoon after being publicly accused of molesting a teen girl, according to ABC affiliate WHAS in Louisville.

5. Three women who were sexually harassed by Trump went on the Today Show and told their stories. Afterwards, they went to the press and called for a Congressional Ethics Investigation.

Trump called them liars. Then he attacked Sen. Gillibrand who also called for an investigation, or for him to resign.

6. Republicans are pushing ahead with a tax reform bill that still isn't complete, or has been rated by bi-partisan finance committee. They hope to hand it to Trump as a Christmas present for him, and the wealthy in this country.

7. Net Neutrality - Millions of comments submitted to the Federal Communications Commission as it sought public feedback on the agency's plan to roll back "net neutrality" rules were fake, New York prosecutors claim.

The state's attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, said Wednesday his office's investigation found that 2 million of the comments stole the identities of real Americans.

But FCC ignores claims and votes to repeal net neutrality protections Thursday. Stay tuned.

These random samples of news this week are only highlights of what's going down in our world today. 

That's become the norm in the Trump era.

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