Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Trump Effect: The 'New Deal' is Dead

Good Day World!

Looking back at 2017 is exhausting, and disappointing.

Our democracy has been under assault from a crazed autocrat that slithered into the White House in January.

Trump's war on democracy has effectively destroyed the "New Deal" that  president Franklin Delano Roosevelt rolled out after radical Republicans brought the country to it's knees and caused the stock market to collapse.

The New Deal responded to the Great Crash and the ensuing Depression by regulating business, providing a basic social safety net and promoting infrastructure in order to maintain a level playing field for all Americans.

By any measure, the New Deal was wildly popular, so conservatives sold their reactionary economic vision by enlisting white racism.

As the federal government promoted civil rights, they warned that an active government redistributed the wealth of hard-working, white taxpayers to African Americans, a “special interest” that wanted better treatment than everyone else.

From the moment our first illegal president stepped into office he followed an authoritarian playbook. He began by rejecting objective reality.

Then he turned over the government to his billionaire buddies. Despite Trump's campaign promises, he kicked the middle class under the bus.

Trump's individualist vision of destroying all the good done by the New Deal has unfolded so fast, people are still gasping in surprise.  

His takeover still isn't complete. He's busy trying to undermine the FBI and American intelligence agencies.

He's also working hard to undermine the authority of special counsel Robert Mueller, whose job it is to determine what Trump's role was with Russia during the 2016 election. 

Even though the New Deal's good work has been overturned by the wealthy it's important to understand that the damage doesn't have to be permanent.

Roosevelt purged our corrupt government in the 1930's after it was held in a stranglehold by the wealthy.

There's no reason to believe that a new president in 2020 can't reverse the damage he's done.

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

Monday, December 25, 2017

Christmas in America: What's Under Your Tree?

Merry Christmas!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

What did Santa Claus bring you today?

If you're a Trump supporter, don't be surprised if that sock you hung from the mantle is full of coal. After all he did promise to bring coal production back.

Liberals made it clear to Santa Claus that all they wanted for Christmas was to see Trump impeached. As you can imagine, they're very disappointed.  

Santa did leave a gift (the kind that grows); the Russian/Trump collusion/ and Obstruction of Justice packages.

If you're one of the wealthy that benefited from Trump's Tax Scam, you got your gift early so don't bother looking under the tree. 

Speaking of the wealthy, Trump's Treasury toad, Steven Mnuchin, got another (beside the Tax Scam bill) Christmas present early...someone dropped off a package of horseshit in the front of his house!

If you hoped to see Trump locked up for crimes against the people for your Christmas present, I suggest you hang on to that hope - you may get your present in 2018.

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

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Christmas Eve Musings: On Peace and Goodwill To All

Good Day World!

My favorite yuletide greeting is, "Peace and Goodwill To All."

I extend it to you now, even though I probably don't know you.

I don't care what race or gender you are. We're all brothers and sisters. Same species.

More than anything, I want to see a world at peace before I die. I want to know it's going to be okay for my children, and their children.

It's hard to imagine worldwide peace right now.

There's way too much hate in the world. But there's always hope. Each of us must keep the hope of better times in our heart year around. Not just for one holiday.

Reminders of how many good people there are in the world keeps me going. I had one a few days ago. A stranger emailed me after reading an article I wrote in 2013.

This stranger, whose name I prefer to keep secret, asked me for help in sending the remains of a North Vietnamese soldier whose leg bone (with carvings on it) was kept as a war souvenir, back to his family and country.

I hope the information I provided will help him accomplish this humanitarian mission. The souvenir wasn't his. It belonged to a friend.

As a Vietnam combat veteran, I found his email to be especially poignant. I saw some terrible things when I was there.

Things that will always haunt me.

This small act, by one man who believes there's too much hate in the world, gives me hope. I never stop looking for hope in this chaotic world.

I hope you don't either.

Merry Christmas! Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All!

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

Saturday, December 23, 2017

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...

Friday, December 22, 2017

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...

Thursday, December 21, 2017

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...

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

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

Tuesday, December 19, 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...

Monday, December 18, 2017

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...

Sunday, December 17, 2017

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...

Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...