Blog Catalog

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Quote of the Day -- On Donald Trump and the Republican Party and How Scary and Unhinged They Are



From David Clow, from Facebook today:

"What Trump made unmistakable is that the GOP needs to live in fear of its base. Policy and numbers are unimportant, as Trump (keeps) showing them. He commands the mob. The mob runs the party. None of them cares about the budget or the details. None of the Trump voters care about intellectual consistency or actual policy measures; Trump can contradict himself in the same sentence and all they hear is tone, not substance. Trump is there to manifest malice and hostility, period. If the GOP isn't with him they're against him and he'll turn that on them....

The point is that there is no philosophical underpinning left in the GOP. Their stated "policies" are generalities about "smaller government" and "less regulation" and "freedom"--but situationally those and all the rest of the platitudes are defined any way that power wants them to be defined. So in places like Kentucky they've been smartly getting people to sacrifice their own real interests for the sake of slogans. 


Trump called their bluff. 

He dispensed entirely with the very idea of policy, and made it 100% about pure tone--all he needed (was) to be malicious, nasty, vindictive, and proudly stupid. While Bush and Romney were talking about policy, Trump was wagging his wood and laughing at them. The GOP had been hinting for decades at what Trump said openly--they hate for fun, they won't govern, and they're ready to cash out, so why not just make it clear? Now they must make the all-in final bet on these bluff and lies, shovel as much money offshore as they can carry, and then get the hell out of politics while their heads are still on."
________________

If you don't recognize all this, all the above, you are very likely a Trump supporter.

If all this doesn't frighten you, nothing can.


Friday, June 23, 2017

Republicans' "Wealthcare" Bill Is Just More Class Warfare


It needs to be said, pointed out and emphasized just what this new AHCA, "Trumpcare" is, at its heart. It is, at its core, not concerned with heath care virtually at all. If it were, more Americans would be assured of having health insurance, not less.

No, at it's core, this is yet one more, again, Republican Party, Right Wing money grab for the already-wealthy.

Republican Health Care Bill Delivers 

Big Tax Cut For The Rich


House Health Bill: Tax Cuts for Wealthy, 

Insurers, and Drug Companies, 

Paid for by Low- and Middle-Income Families



Image result for rich taking from the poor





Warren Buffett famously said it so right and this, some years ago.

“There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.”

Missourians got, in effect, a pay cut when their new, Republican, pretty boy Governor, Eric Greitens and his fellow Republicans put in their "Right to Work" legislation recently. This just makes it that much tougher for the middle- and lower-classes to get, have and keep health insurance.

But they're proposing this for all 50 states.

Link:  Warren Buffett


Mounting Opposition to the Republicans' Obscene "Trumpcare"


Image result for republicans releasing ahca

I've been heartened this morning over what I've seen out in the world today of opposition already to this monstrous "wealthcare" bill the Republicans created. Here is just some of that opposition.

Groups opposing the American Health Care Act


According to this page of Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper, "Over 50 organizations oppose the proposed healthcare plan that will make Americans will pay more for less. The list includes nurses, doctors, hospitals, teachers, churches, and more."

And thank goodness.

Here are just some of those organization from this link.





This next one is wonderfully ironic.


Get that.  The AHCA is against this AHCA. I love that. 

Here's more:







Even state employees are united against this nightmare.


And that's just a partial list of groups opposing.

The media coverage of the opposition to the bill is mounting, also.


Fortunately, even some Republicans in Congress realize this bill is a virtual train wreck, even for themselves, let alone us out here, their constituents.


Keeping in mind it only takes four of them defecting to kill the bill, too.


The fact that they created this healthcare stealing, tax giveaway to the already-wealthy is bad and scary enough. Fortunately, the light of day and information about it is swiftly creating opposition to it.

And rightly so.

Please contact your Congressional representative, especially any Republican. Tell them you're against this AHCA of theirs, that it takes away health care options from Americans--because it does--while it gives yet more tax cuts to the already-wealthy and corporations.


Thank you, in advance.

More on the Republicans' Wealthcare Proposal



Because that's what this AHCA, "Trumpcare" is, of course.


Definitely.

Wealthcare.

It's certainly not healhcare.


Thursday, June 22, 2017

Republicans, Their AHCA, aka "Trumpcare", at Last


Image result for trumpcare

Cut health insurance coverage for 23 million Americans?

Slash Medicaid?

Make it harder for the elderly to get health insurance?

Make it harder for the disabled to have health insurance?

Make it harder for America's Veterans to have health insurance?

Make it harder for women to have health insurance?

Make it harder for families to have health insurance?

Take away the mandate for those with pre-existing conditions to get and have health insurance?

But give yet more tax cuts to the already-wealthy?

Really?

This is who we are?

This is who we want to be?

Related image

Tell us how this isn't oligarchy and plutocracy, both.

Fortunately, there is this.

Four GOP senators say they can't vote 

for Republican health care bill


And it only takes 4 Republicans defecting to kill it. There's no telling how many more won't be able to back it, as word of this nightmare gets out.

One last note. Check out what happened at the very cowardly and heartless Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office today, too.


This is not going to go well. It's not going to go well for them. How every Republican in Congress isn't already running from this thing, this health care nightmare, is anyone's guess.

I will be very, very surprised if this bill of theirs, the Republicans, isn't DOA.

Already.

Links:

Here's the simplest takedown of the Republican scheme to take away health care from millions


Senate's health care bill shreds Medicaid 

and essential health benefits



The people who will be hurt the most 

by Trump's Medicaid plan


Eric Greitens' and the Republicans' Missouri


With our new, "pretty boy" Governor Eric Greitens and his Republican pals in Jefferson City having had a special session so they could rule further on womens' and couples' reproductive rights---them with their "small government" and all---I thought of them with this video, rather naturally. How perfect.



They'll deny any of it if they recognize themselves in any way.

Pitiful.

Pathetic.

Painful.

Sexist.

Pretty fascist, too, really.


Wednesday, June 21, 2017

The Heat Isn't Just the Southwest US


I think the news that it's hitting 120 degrees in Phoenix today and being so hot all over the Southwest US is getting around. That seems clear.

What isn't also clear is the heat on another continent.

Britain is set to see its first five-day stretch of temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius in June since 1995

Heatwave scorches Europe, 

from London to Siberia


Europe sizzled in a continent-wide heatwave on Wednesday, with London seeing Britain's hottest June day since 1976 as Portugal battled to stamp out deadly forest fires.

More than 1,000 firefighters were still fighting to control the flames that broke out in central Portugal at the weekend, killing 64 people.

Cooler weather was aiding their efforts, but thermometers were still hovering around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit)—a level matched across oven-like swathes of Europe, including Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and even alpine Switzerland.

Two forest fires have also broken out since Sunday on Croatia's southern Adriatic coast, prompting the authorities to evacuate 800 tourists, though the blazes have now been brought under control.In Italy, forecasters say the current heatwave could turn out to be the most intense in 15 years, with temperatures around eight degrees above the seasonal average—39 C in Milan and up to 30 in the Alps at an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,300 feet).

Britain saw its first five-day stretch of temperatures over 30 degrees in June since 1995—and the thermometer hit 33.9 C in west London, a UK record for the month since 1976.

In Guildford, southwest of the capital, a road surface melted on Tuesday, with motorists likening it to a bar of chocolate left out in the hot sun.


In Russia, Siberia was also suffering a heatwave, with temperatures of up to 37 Celsius in the city of Krasnoyarsk, Channel One television reported.


It's gotten so clear there's global warming, apparently, even the extreme Right Wing website, Breitbart,  posted the same story.


So, yeah, it looks like 2017 is shaping up to be, again, the new hottest year in recorded history.

Maybe we need those Paris Climate Accords after all.


Senator Roy Blunt Is Lying To Missourians and America About Health Care Today



Senator Blunt, one of our two Senators here in Missouri, posted on Facebook today. What he posted is not just a lie but it makes me angry.  What he wrote:

Obamacare is imploding. In Missouri, premiums on the Obamacare exchanges have increased by 145 percent, on average, since 2013, and 25 counties may have no provider offering health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges next year.

That's what he says and what Republicans in that political party want us to believe but here are the facts.
First, Obamacare is anything but "imploding."


More Americans have health insurance 

than ever 


Even doctors support it.


Even doctors who voted Trump support Obamacare.


Their plan, the Republicans' plan, the AHCA, "Trumpcare", would hurt the disabled, for starters.



Their plan would also hurt the poor.


It would hurt the elderly.


it would hurt Veterans, for God's sake.


Heck, even their supposed leader, President Trump calls it out for what it is.


And why wouldn't he call it mean?


So just who would or does  their ultra-secret plan help?  Take a guess. It's Republicans, after all.


If you already have money, here's yet one more plan--and a great one--for you. If you're sick or get sick or you're elderly or disabled or a Veteran?

It sucks to be you.

So while the rich get even richer, more Americans would be dropped from heath care insurance, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office or CBO.


That isn't even touching exactly how they're writing their horrible health care bill for nation.



The fact is, right now, Americans very much support the current plan, the ACA, "Obamacare. This is from February of this year.


And this is from April of this year.


And if Obamacare is "imploding", how do Americans feel about the Republicans' upcoming plan?


Check out exactly how few Americans support the Republicans' new plan for us.


So, it seems clear here, given all the above, that Senator Blunt and any and all like him who would say or are saying that Obamacare is collapsing in on itself and/or that Americans don't want or don't like Obamacare clearly don't know the facts or, especially, the wishes of the American people.

Don't tell us it's raining, Senator Blunt. We know better.


Hope for the Left, In Spite of Yesterday's Loss


What Political Party Am I Quiz?

Okay, sure, Jon Ossoff lost yesterday against Republican Karen Handel in Georgia's 6th District.

You wouldn't think anyone in this nation could say, publicly, in the middle of a political campaign, as Ms. Handel did, that she's against a living wage and still win an election but here we are.

That said, even with knowledge of yet one more loss today, last evening, there are two things to keep in mind. First, there is this from the  New York Times a few days ago (link below).

If Mr. Ossoff wins the election, Republicans can argue — with some credibility — that Georgia’s Sixth was a particularly ripe opportunity for Democrats at a time when Mr. Trump’s ratings among college-educated voters have sunk into the low 30s.

But even if he loses, Mr. Ossoff’s strong performance has already demonstrated that Republicans in well-educated but traditionally conservative areas now shoulder the burden of Mr. Trump’s weak performance. It suggests that previously safe Republican incumbents in Orange County, Calif., or the suburbs of Dallas and Houston could face serious challenges next November. And most important, a close race in Georgia’s Sixth suggests that control of the House is in play, regardless of which candidate comes out on top.


Second, next, there is this today, from Professor Robert Reich's Facebook page.

As the national political and media world focused heavily on the Georgia race, an underfunded, overlooked Democrat, Archie Parnell, also a first-time candidate, almost pulled off a huge upset in the South Carolina seat vacated by Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s budget director. Parnell lost by about 2,800 votes, a little more than 3 percentage points, after party leaders decided to devote all their attention in the run-up to Tuesday’s elections to the Ossoff-Handel race.

Bottom line: Democrats are doing extraordinarily well in traditionally red districts -- and have an excellent chance of taking back the House next year.


So take heart all you Liberals (libruls), Lefties, Democrats, Progressives and Socialists out there. There is cause and room and reason for hope.

We just have to get out there and work our tails off.

And VOTE, of course.








If Someone Like Trump Can Do It, This Guy Should, Too


It would be fantastic if Democrats would start running candidates like this guy and end up winning.


Links:

Meet Randy Bryce: The 'Iron Stache' coming for Paul Ryan's






Sh*t Republicans Say


Related image

Forgive the suggestion of the expletive in the title today. It's taken from a theme, a meme, if you will,  people have been using for the last year or two at least.

But I saw yet another nearly unbelievable thing a, you guessed it, Republican said and it inspired the post. Here it is.

Trump White House Says Diabetics Don't Deserve Health Care


Really. They did.

They said because of the way some diabetics get the disease---I guess with poor eating habits?---they didn't deserve health care.

It comes on the heals of this one. The person who said it is running for office in Georgia for a seat in the House of Representatives.


And then there was this recent beauty.

To make it worse, the above, that sick people don't deserve health care, was said by Alabama Representative Mo Brooks as well as President Trump's Budget Director Mick Mulvaney so we got a national "two-fer" on that one. They doubled-down.

Then, we all remember our infamous, wonderful Republican Representative Todd Akin and his quote about women and rape.


How these people are even elected to their government offices but then, how they keep them, is beyond me.

Links:






About Planned parenthood