Saturday, April 13, 2019

Trump's Despicable Use of People As Political Pawns

Good Day World!

I think it's apparent to most sane Americans that after two years of Trump, he's the real world Gru character from the Despicable Me movie franchise.

With one caveat, unlike the cartoon character, Trump doesn't end up being a good guy. 

Nothing touches his heart (if he has one), unlike the movie's supervillain.

Case in point:

A New Level of Inhumanity

As Trump becomes increasingly rabid about immigration he's ready to do anything - regardless of the human consequences.

Combining his racist attitude and his hatred for Democrats, Trump has come up with a supposed "fix" that even ICE officials thought - at first - was a joke, despite being a grim one. 

After several attempts ICE realized the idiot-in-chief was serious and declined to follow up with his desperate requests/orders.

The fact that Trump wanted to divert immigrants to so-called Democratic sanctuary cities as a way to retaliate against his opposition, didn't go down well with immigration authorities.

Ashley Etienne, a spokeswoman for Nancy Pelosi, labeled Trump's partisan attempt as "despicable."

"Using human beings - including little children - as pawns in his warped game to perpetuate fear and demonize immigrants is despicable, and in some cases, criminal," Etienne told reporters.

Up until two days ago, the WH press claimed Trump's idea was just floated around in conversation and was rejected. That story was suddenly scuttled on Friday.

On Friday morning our grifter-in-chief undercut his own administration officials and announced he is considering moving immigrants to sanctuary cities to retaliate against Democrats.

It looks like Trump/Gru is going to be pitted against the courts (and laws) once again, despite being slapped down by those courts numerous times. 

Using people as pawns is only one of the many despicable things Trump has done while in office.

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

Friday, April 12, 2019

Trump's Photo Ops vs Reality

Good Day World!

Trump has always been a grip-and-grin guy. 

His specialty being photo-ops that directly contradict reality.

Photo-Op For the Day 

Consider yesterdays visit from South Korea's leader Moon to the White House. 

With cameras rolling, Trump praised North Korea's crazed leader Kim, and his great potential. Both leaders sat in chairs and smiled like it was just a matter of time before Kim came to the table and agreed to US terms.

Meanwhile...

The Reality

As Trump and Moon were talking about making peace with North Korea, Kim Jong Un was warning the world that a "severe blow" was coming to those sanctioning his country.

In a party speech yesterday he urged his minions to continue with "self-reliance," signaling his determination to hold the party line in talks with Trump.

This one example is what we've seen numerous times before, where Trump says one thing and the reality is something else entirely.

Is it any wonder there's documented chaos in the West Wing? One hand doesn't know what the other is doing, and everyone kowtows to Trump's temper tantrums.

Foreign policy? There is none. The reality star and lifelong grifter cares little for policy, rules, laws, or anything that doesn't fit his agenda.

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

Thursday, April 11, 2019

In An Alternate Universe: Trump Unites All Americans!

Good Day World!

It occurred to me this morning, after liberal applications of coffee and cannabis, that the comic book I was looking at - the June 1961 Issue #280 Tales of the Bizarro World - answered my question about how Trump got a cult following.

Why was he still in office, despite being the most corrupt president in American history? Then it hit me...

We're living in an alternate universe!

As far as I can figure, the transition came the day Trump was sworn into office. I still remember the nearly universal shock when Trump lost the popular vote, but still won in the electoral college.

The amount of shock, horror, disbelief, dread, mourning, and depression rocked American's world...and that's when it happened.

The world we once knew was gone overnight. Replaced by a Bizarro World where everything was the opposite of what it should be. All norms, from laws to civility, were shattered and recycled by Trump and his minions.

So, here we are. Victims stuck in an alternative universe until the 2020 elections roll around where Americans will have a chance to return to a reality more reflective of our society.

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

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Research Shows Political 'Lie-Byes' Hit New Highs

Good Day World!

Based upon four plus decades as a newspaper editor, publisher, opinion columnist, and blogger, with countless hours of examining our government and the goons who run it, I've determined political "lie-byes" are on the rise.

In the Trump era political "lie-byes" are more common than house flies. "Lie-byes" come so fast every day that by the time they're fact-checked new ones immedietely replace them like maggots on rotten meat.

Consider: As per fact-checking publications like the Washington Post and Politico, Trump is averaging 22 lies per day. He's surpassed 9,000 lies in slightly more than two years.

Consider: Republicans in Congress, like Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Mark Meadows, and Steve Scalise ingratiate themselves with Trump by picking up his lies and magnifying them. 

Trump's team of supervillains on The Hill are joined by the West Wing and cabinet cabal of Mick Mulvaney, Mike Pence, Wilbur Ross, Stephen Miller, Andrew Wheeler, Elizabeth DeVos, Ben Carson, Mike Pompeo and the rest of the cabinet. 

Throw in AG William Barr for maximum effect and the result is inevitable.

Flight patterns of "lie-byes" over Washington DC have reached a crisis stage, resulting in a threat to the Constitution and the American people who rely on our democracy.

Thus far my studies have shown that "lie-byes" are part and parcel of most politicians playbooks. One way to deal with them is to shoot them down the moment they take flight.

Another way is to vote against Trump and his minions in 2020. While that won't eliminate the problem, it'll sure slow down the migration of falsehoods emanating from the nest of liars in our current government.

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

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Time To Sell Tickets To Attend Congressional Committee Hearings

Good Day World!

By now, anyone who has watched a few heated House committee hearings knows that they are great entertainment.

I think Congress is missing out by not charging attendance fees to witness those hearings first hand. 

Seats should be easy to sell considering that the hearings are packed with more twists and surprises than a good suspense movie.

Consider what a attraction these hearings are. You get the whole spectrum, from drama to comedy. 

From the Brett Kavanaugh comedy confirmation hearing (I like beer. Do you like beer? Everyone drinks beer. I like...) to the raw emotion of Rep. Keith Ellison (the first Muslim elected to Congress), when he denounced the hearing on radicalization in the U.S. community sponsored by NY Rep. Peter King.

The fun part is you're never sure who the star of the hearing will be, as the Democrats and Republicans attack each other relentlessly.

Meanwhile the majority of Americans will be watching these enlightening interchanges between the two parties on TV. As a matter of fact there's a potential barn-burner on today:

You're not going to want to miss watching AG William Barr testify in the House (see local times near you) about the Justice Department's budget, but the conversation is sure to turn to his handling of special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

Make sure to bring plenty of snacks because it's a double feature. More on that further down the page. 

The Barr questioning will be picked up again in the Senate tomorrow. 

I guarantee you'll be entertained by the differences between a House hearing (with Democrats in the majority) and the Senate hearing (with Republicans in the majority), both dealing with the same subject with so many spins viewers should be warned to wear a neck brace while watching.

Another don't miss hearing today!

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services are meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Internal Revenue Commissioner Charles P. Rettig, about budget requests; but you can expect the questioning will drift off to oversight matters.

They'll be asked to hand over the past six years of Trump's tax returns by Wednesday. If they don't, both will have to explain why to Congress.

As for the ticket sales from my proposal; all of the money raised should go towards providing better shelter and treatment for the immigrants on our southern border.

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

Monday, April 8, 2019

Let's Start Monday off With a Laugh...or Two, or Three

Good Day World!

I thought it would be nice to start this Monday off with smiles and laughs. 

Many people hate this day of the week, but I think it's time to cut Monday some slack.

What better way than to joke about politics?

Here's a small collection of famous funny political quotes via ThoughtCo.

1.) Mark Twain On Congress: "Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

2.) P.J. O'Rourke on Democrats vs Republicans: "The democrats are the party of government activism, the party that says government can make you richer, smarter, taller, and get the chickweed out of your lawn. Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then get elected and prove it."

3.) Jim Hightower on George Bush: "If ignorance goes to $40 a barrel, I want drilling rights to George Bush's head." 

4.) Groucho Marx on Politics: "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies."

5.) Will Rogers on Politicians vs Comedians: "Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians are a joke."

6. Barrack Obama on Donald Trump: "Now, I know that he's taken some flak lately but no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald. And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?"

If you enjoyed these quotes and are in the mood for more - go here.

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

Sunday, April 7, 2019

New Game Show Will Be A Hit In Washington DC

Good Day World!

Big announcement: a new game show sponsored by this blog is nearly ready for prime time.

The show is titled, "Lies and No Consequences." It's modeled after the wildly successful Truth or Consequences which first premiered on radio in 1940, then went to TV in 1950, lasting until 1988.

I will be your host. Here's a preview...

First Episode: The contestants are, our liar-in-chief Trump, and three of his most loyal minions; Steven Mnuchin, Mike Pence, and Kellyanne Conway.

Dave: I'll start with you Mr. President.
When will you release your income tax returns?

Trump: When they're done being audited.

Lie Points: 10 (on a scale of 1-to-10)
Moving on...Steven Mnuchin, when do you plan on fully divesting yourself from the stock you own in the movie production business?

Mnuchin: I've already complied with federal ethics rules. Next?

Lie Points: 8 (there was a hint of truth in his reply)

Dave: Everybody says Trump is a big fat liar. What's your response to that accusation Kellyanne?

Kellyanne: That's a wicked lie! I've never heard Donny lie about anything. You sound like that pencil neck Adam Schiff who hates our beloved president. Shame on you for even suggesting Trump lies.

Lie Points: 11! (an extra point had to be added for this whopper)

Dave: My question for you Mike Pence, is it true that you've told audiences that Trump was sent by God to straighten out this evil nation?

Pence: Listen, God talks to me all the time...okay? Just the other night he revealed to me that Trump is the next Christ! MAGA!

Lie Points: 0 (He's so crazed that he believes the shit he's spewing is the gospel.)  

That's the end of the first round. It looks like Kellyanne Conway is the early leader.

Stay tuned to this blog for further rounds and new contestants on a weekly basis. 

If you have some ideas for contestants for this game don't hesitate to contact me here, or here, or at this email address: richarddavestancliff@gmail.com 

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

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Today's Forum: Trump Gives Advise On Harassing Women


                                             Good Day World!

Today's special feature:
King Trump has kindly granted me an interview from his throne room this morning. He offered up advise to men about harassing women.

The Interview

Dave: Good morning, Mr. President. Thanks for granting this interview.

Trump: No problem. I know people love their president - me - and anytime I can offer my great insights, I'm happy to. MAGA!

Dave: You've been tweeting about former vice president Joe Biden recently and calling him "Creepy Joe." Pundits say mockingly. What's up with that?

Trump: The old pervert can't keep his hands off of women. I'm just warning them about Mr. Touchy Feelie.

Dave: To be fair, you've been accused of being too touchy feelie with women too.

Trump: Only by Democrats and the Fake Media.

Dave: What about the Access Hollywood tape? You bragged about grabbing women by the pussy!

Trump: It's even more fun than pinching titties! Lighten up! You're reading too much into that casual conversation (that never should have been released).

Dave: Biden's backers point out how much he respects women, and that he has never intentionally harassed a woman.

Trump: He's taking the wrong tact in dealing with his accusers. He also needs to stop the apology tour. 

Dave: What do you mean?

Trump: He needs to embrace his creepiness. Look at me. I got elected right after that Hollywood Access tape. It's probably one of the reasons I got elected.

Dave: Are you saying Americans like creepy old men who touch women inappropriately? 

Trump: No.You said that. 

Dave: But, you just...

Trump: Did you vote for me?

Dave: What's that got to do with what we're talking about? 

Trump: I want to see if your loyal to your beloved president.

Dave: I thought you were going to be giving advise on harassing women today.

Trump: I am. If your famous you can do whatever you want with them. I also recommend rating them on a 1-10 scale so men don't waste their time on skanks!

Dave: That's it! I thought you were trying to help women. I was giving my readers a chance to see how you changed your ways. It's obvious you have no respect for women.

Trump: Whoever said that I did? You can tell your readers to kiss my ass if they don't like it. My base does, and that's all that matters. Guards! Take this guy away and put him on a work crew building my wall!

End of interview...

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

Friday, April 5, 2019

What People-On-The Street Are Saying Today About Wind Power


                                         Good Day World!

I've got my morning cup of coffee in a to-go cup because it's  time to hear from People-On-The-Street (a new feature for this blog). In other words, let's see what the average American has to say about the subject for the day.

Today's subject is Wind Power:

Dave: Good morning sir! What do you think about clean alternative power sources? Like wind for example.

Man with MAGA hat: Windmills are horrible! Did you know they cause cancer?

Dave: Actually,that's not true. There's no scientific evidence that shows such a link exists. Where did you hear that?

Man with MAGA hat: Right from the top. President Donald Trump. Make American Great Again!

Dave: Thank you sir...
Hello, miss! Do you have a moment?

Woman: Yes.

Dave: What do you think about wind power as a viable energy source?

Woman: Unlike our creep-in-command, I think it's a great alternative. Did you hear Trump claimed windmills caused cancer? That asshole wants to take us back to medieval times using wood and coal for heat.

Dave: Yes, I did. Thank you for your time.
Excuse me sir...do you have a moment?

Man: Depends. What do you want?

Dave: I'll be quick. Just one question.
Do you think wind power has promise?

Man: Listen...anything is better than coal and nuclear power plants. If someone figured out a way to get alternative power from trash, I'd be all for it.

Dave: Then you'll be happy to hear there are waste-to-energy technologies being explored as we speak. Thank you for your time.
Excuse me miss...may I ask you a question this morning?

Woman: Sure. But I ain't got a lot of time, the mission serves breakfast until 10 a.m. After that, I'm shit out of luck.

Dave: I'll be brief. Do you think wind parks are a good energy source for the future?

Woman: What the hell are wind parks? If I'd of known you was crazy, I wouldn't have stopped. I'm out of here...

Memo: GE Bets On Offshore Wind As Fossil Fuels Stumble

That concludes my interviews for today. Look for future People-On-The-Street interviews.

Have a subject you'd like to see brought up? Contact me via this blog, or at twitter@AsItStands63 

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

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Survival Guide: How To Get Through 19 Months of Bullshit


                                          Good Day World!

Until Americans go to the polls in November 2020 to elect a new president, there's going to be a virtual avalanche of campaign bullshit besieging the country.

That's on top of the usual crap that happens daily like dealing with white nationalists, domestic terrorists, an assault on every one's intelligence coming from the White House, the immigration problem on the southern border, NRA lobbyists stifling gun safety laws, homophobia, and racism.

Survival Guide instructions:

How to filter out the campaign crud...

1. Every time you see someone running for the presidency change the channel, the radio station, or turn the page. Simple and effective.

2. Invent a bullshit meter to use during campaign debates. This may be difficult, but think of the rewards! A red light and the amplified sound of a fart would go off every time the speaker lied. Now that's entertainment.

3. Take an extended world tour and return days before the polls open to vote. I realize not everyone can afford this option. The next option is to hole up in your home in front of your TV and watch National Geographic and the Travel Channel for the next 19 months.

If you have any other ideas for this Survival Guide please don't hesitate to share here. It's still open to other options. 

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...