That GOP Budget Proposal Over the Weekend?

Check out for yourself just what is and is not in the latest GOP pandemic budget proposal.

It's insane. 

It would actually make us weaker.

Thanks, Republicans.

A Question for Missouri's Senator Josh Hawley

I ran across this article yesterday on Missouri Senator Josh Hawley's page on Facebook.

Sen. Hawley lays down new antiabortion marker for Supreme Court nominees

How many more side-stepping issues--like the NBA, first, and now abortion and women's rights, etc.--are you going to take up to avoid doing anything at all about the worst, most killing national and international pandemic in the last more than 100 years?

He's been harping on the NBA alone for weeks.

Even though he's supposed to be representing us, the people of Missouri, someone apparently never informed him Missouri has no NBA team.

Now he wants to attack women's rights, women's reproductive rights.

Clearly he needs to be schooled that this was settled by the US Supreme Court back in 1973.

Senator?

That pandemic?

Please?

Thanks, Republicans!

Tom Cotton is Arkansas' Gift to Missourians

I can hardly believe what I see, so frequently.  Here's another.

Sen. Tom Cotton Calls Slavery Nation's 

'Necessary Evil'

Yes, Missourians, I think Arkansas' Senator Tom Cotton is their gift to us to appreciate more our own Senator Josh Hawley. This way, we don't feel so bad.

Thanks, Republicans.

Congress, Those Unemployment Payments and the Rent Moratorium

If Congress doesn't get help out across the nation and then only sends $200 in unemployment payments instead of the $600 they were sending but then also doesn't keep the moratorium on evictions during this pandemic?

There could be so many ramifications.

--Putting people, whole families, too, out on the streets.
--Putting people squarely in either poverty or deeper poverty.
--People not able to maybe go, then, to work, because they are on the streets
--Children maybe not able to go to school
--Consequential food insecurity.

All kinds of things, more, much more than I've even poster here, above.

Insane.

This could get really ugly, folks. 

Really ugly.

Think as bad as or worse than the Great Depression.

What Donald Trump Has Done for the Presidency and Nation

Thanks, Republicans!

Quote of the Day -- Presidential Edition

Truth.

Thanks, Republicans!

I Warned, We Warned About This Man, This Donald Trump

Four years ago today I wrote and posted the following on social media, Facebook, to be specific.

An open letter to America.

Fellow Americans,

Please, please don't do anything remotely close to coming anywhere near the election of Republican Party candidate Donald Trump be President. Please don't be anywhere near that irresponsible, that reckless, that foolish. The safety of the nation and, honestly, even the world depends on it.

Sincerely,

Me

I begged. I pleaded.  Lots of us did. Even Republicans and conservatives did, too.

First, I was correct. We were correct.

Second, and most importantly now, let's undo this come November 3.

Vote blue.

Great, Breaking Trumpian News Today

I love this.

Watchdog alleges Trump campaign illegally concealed $170 million in spending

From the article:

A nonpartisan watchdog filed a complaint with the Federal Election Committee (FEC) on Tuesday alleging President Trump’s reelection campaign broke the law by “laundering” $170 million in spending in an effort to conceal payments to people close to the Trump family and campaign.

The 81-page complaint, filed by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC), alleges that former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale used a “pass-through” company to pay downstream vendors, including Trump campaign members, associates and family members.

“This illegal conduit scheme leaves voters in the dark about the entities working for the Trump campaign, the nature of their services, and the full amount they are paid,” said Brendan Fischer, the CLC’s director of federal reform. “We don’t know all of what is being hidden by this scheme, but we do know that it violates the law.”

Isn't it a beautiful day, campers?

HUGE, BREAKING CHIEFS/ROYALS NEWS

Fantastic! Incredible!!

Patrick Mahomes joins Kansas City Royals ownership group

GREAT, GREAT NEWS!!

He's definitely here to stay!!

GO CHIEFS!!!

GO ROYALS!!!

GO KANSAS CITY!!!

Great News on this coming Fall Election!

Check this out from very business-friendly Forbes Magazine this past Saturday.

Nearly 20 Swing State Polls Were Released Today–Biden Leads In All Of Them

Yet more reason, reasons for hope, campers!

On to November!

Vote!!

And vote blue!!

Question For Trump Supporters

Seriously...

Thanks, Republicans!!

Entertainment Overnight -- Excellent Reminder Edition

Remember everyone, especially now, even in the middle of a pandemic...


Good night, y'all.

Sleep well. Be and stay safe and well.

What Donald Trump Is--And Is Not

From a former Navy Seal and ER doctor as well as a true conservative and Republican.

Let's do this, America.

Vote November 3.

One of the Biggest Reasons Our Nation Is So Divided and Polarized

Environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on the Fairness Doctrine:

“The devolution of the American press began in 1986 when Ronald Reagan abolished the Fairness Doctrine.

We had a law in this country that we passed in 1928 that said that the air waves belong to the public. The broadcasters can be licensed to use them, but only if they use them to promote the public interest, to inform the public and advance democracy. That’s why we have the 6 o’clock news. They didn’t want it. The broadcasters didn’t want that because the news departments were chronic money losers.

But they were forced to put on the news at 6:00 and even today you hear news on the music radio stations and that’s an artifact of the Fairness Doctrine. They said, if you’re using the broadcast air waves, you have to do that…

They no longer have an obligation to serve the public interest. Their only obligation is to their shareholders. They serve that obligation not by informing us, telling us the things we need to understand to make rational decisions in a democracy, but rather by entertaining us...

We know we’re the best entertained, the least informed, people on the face of the world. They got rid of their investigative reporters. 85 percent of them lost their jobs in the last 15 years.

They got rid of their foreign news bureaus so the Bush and Cheney administration can say to the American people, ‘Oh, we’re gonna go into this 800-year-old fist fight in Mesopotamia and they’re gonna meet us with rose petals in the streets’ and the Americans believe them.

The Canadians didn’t believe them because the Canadians still have a Fairness Doctrine…

England has the same kind of rules and in Europe, but in our country, we lost those rules and, as a result, we know a lot about Britney Spears’ gradual emotional decline and we know a lot about Charlie Sheen, but we don’t know much about global warming or the fact that the Appalachian Mountains essentially no longer exist.”

Yet More Stunning Heartlessness and Callousness from the Congressional GOP Just Now, Today

Check out these two articles from The Hill today. First this one.

Senate GOP to propose cutting unemployment benefits in coronavirus relief plan

So the GOP made sure they gave big, fat tax cuts to the already-wealthy in the nation but now want to cut unemployment benefits from this. the worst, most killing pandemic and also worst economic crisis since the Great Depression because, I guess, the unemployed make and have too much money?

Not done there, of course, they add this little beauty.

Kudlow: GOP plan will include 'increased business deductions for meals and entertainment'

Check that out.

That's their priorities just now, the GOP, Republicans.

They want to make sure they hand out yet more tax cuts to businesses for meals and entertainment just now----but cut unemployment benefits.

During this killing pandemic, with millions unemployed.

You're welcome, America.

Thanks, Republicans.

See you at the polls this November.

On This President -- and the Presidency

So very, tragically true.

Thanks again, Republicans!

Quote of the Day -- Presidential Pandemic Edition

Thanks, Mr. President!

Thanks, Republicans!

We Must Make Black Lives Matter in America

Four examples. Following are just four very recent examples of what's gone on in America.  And for far, far too long.

--Tamir Rice was 12 years old. He had a toy gun. Within 3-1/2 seconds of the police officer arriving on scene, he had already shot and killed the boy.

--Breonna Taylor was at home. She was an EMT. It was around midnight. The police officers came crashing through her apartment door on a no knock warrant. They immediately shot and killed her. They had the wrong address.

To this day, from March to today, July 26, those officers haven't been arrested.  For anything.

--George Floyd was THOUGHT, only thought to have passed a counterfeit $20 bill. Eight minutes and 46 seconds after the officer began knee pressure on Mr. Floyd's neck/throat, he had killed him, Mr. Floyd. The officer, therefore, made himself judge, jury and executioner right there on the street.

--Auhmaud Arbery was jogging, out jogging, in his mother's neighborhood when two brothers, one an ex-police officer, thought he looked suspicious so they accosted him and within minutes shot him with a shotgun. Twice. Killing him.  Again, they made themselves judge, jury and executioner, no less, and in only a few minutes.

All 4 were Americans. American citizens.

Those are just 4 very recent situations, with their facts. 4, frankly, nearly insanely, of many here in the US both recent and going far back in our nation's history.

How could any of that be okay or right? How can any of that be okay here in our nation, in the United States of America?

We must make Black Lives Matter.

See for yourself:

A brief history of police officers killing black people

Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and stories of other black

George Floyd: Timeline of black deaths caused by police

"Say their names": The list of people injured or killed in officer ...

Search Results

Web results

Know their names: Black people killed by the police in the US

Quote of the Day -- Sunday, God and Man Edition

Happy Sunday, campers.

Be well and stay safe out there.

The Star Isn't as Bleak on Mission Gateway

Out local Star paper ran the following article today.

Future of Johnson County’s Mission Gateway 

in question

On their website, it had this headline:

‘We’ve waited so long’: Future of Johnson County project in question, funds in limbo

A bit from the article:

The property has the hallmarks of an active construction project: a yellow crane, orange cones and temporary chain link fencing. But there are no sounds of dirt moving or concrete being poured. And no workers in sight.

After 15 years of delays and tempered expectations, work has once again halted at the ill-fated $225 million Mission Gateway development in Johnson County. And it’s unclear if or when it might start back up.

And check out this ugliness.

Workers left the site after two major funding sources were put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, at least a dozen liens have been filed on the property, claiming invoices have gone unpaid to contractors and suppliers.

“We have not been paid,” said Jerry Messick, one of the contractors and owner of Metro Interiors in Lee’s Summit. “I can tell you that without any guilt because it really pisses me off.”
Keeping in mind, as the article states, too, this has been going on for 15 years. Wow.

So true. So very true. I wrote and posted this July 16, last week.

Mission Gateway: 

The Construction Project From Hell

To say, however, that the project is "in question" when you have a huge slump in retail shopping anyway and then now, this pandemic which makes even construction difficult, let alone, again, weakens that same retail shopping and, for the foreseeable future, dining out, restaurant business and then movie-going, too. Yes, it makes the funding of this project highly suspect, if not out and out deeply in doubt to very unlikely. Funding is drying up all over but especially here, on this nightmare.

I say again,  what should happen is the developer finally, finally faces the ugly reality, declares bankruptcy on the entire project then donates the land, the entire site, to the city of Mission for a park.

It won't but that's what should happen.

At one point in the article, the Star asks if it wasn't "The right idea at the wrong time."

To which I'd answer no. It was never the right idea. The former site worked and was good-looking and well-placed. It should have been updated, at most.  And all this was, of course, at the worst possible time, for all the reasons I mention in my post above--the 2008 financial collapse, the collapse of retail and now this pandemic and all it brings down on everything here.

Good luck, Mission.

You're gonna' need it.

And Speaking of Harry Truman...

Thanks, Republicans!

A Proud, Very Proud Day for Harry Truman and All Missourians

It was on this day, July 28, 1946, Missouri's own President Harry S Truman desegregated the military.

Executive Order 9981

Executive Order 9981 is an executive order issued on July 26, 1948, by President Harry S. Truman. It abolished discrimination "on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin" in the United States Armed Forces. The executive order led to the end of segregation in the services during the Korean War (1950-1953).

Thank you, sir. So much. We miss your wisdom and leadership.

So very much.

Links:

Harry Truman and the desegregation of the military

President Harry S. Truman desegregated the military

A Short List of This President's Accomplishments

Here is but a short list of all Donald Trump's accomplishments, to date, as President.

Thanks, so much, Mr. Trump. You really are running this job like you did your businesses.

Thanks, Republicans.

Present Day Republicans

Thanks, Republicans.

#VOTEBLUE

#BLUEWAVE2020

On This November Election Coming Up?

Let's be clear.  What needs to happen. What needs to happen to this man, to his political party and FOR our nation.

VOTE, folks!!

Tuesday, November 3, 2020!

And VOTE BLUE!!

BLUE WAVE!!!

Second Term? God Forbid

His actual words.

Thanks, Republicans.

Quote of the Day -- Successful Presidential Edition

Again, thanks, so much, Republicans.

That's quite the guy you got there. Quite the man--and businessman--you foisted on us all.

Entertainment Overnight -- Covid Edition

Can't touch this...


Stay safe out there, y'all.

Be well.

A Historical, Patriotic Reminder -- And a Hope

Vote, folks!

Come Tuesday, November 3 this year, VOTE!!

And VOTE BLUE!!

BLUE WAVE!!

Remember the Good Old Days?

Remember that? Remember those?

Yes, who knew at the time? Those were the good old days.

Thanks, Republicans.

Would you all please, please do no worse, ever again, than Donald J Trump?

Please?

Quote of the Day -- Missouri Governor Edition

Thanks, Governor Parson!

Thanks, Republicans!

Black Lives Must Matter

Langston Hughes was writing about this back at the beginning of the century, folks. And it certainly goes back farther than that, to the beginning, the founding of our nation.

I, Too

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

--Langston Hughes

Poem originally published 1926

Black Lives Matter didn't grow out of a Black issue or a problem Black people have or only Black people have, no. Far from it. It is a problem white people in America have. It's a problem we all have and share as Americans. If you don't see that, you don't know our own nation. You likely don't know our own nation's, your own nation's history.

Who Is Donald Trump?

Just who is Donald Trump, exactly?

• The “billionaire” who hides his tax returns
• The "law and order" President who, again, hides his tax returns
• The “genius” who hides his college grades
• The “businessman” who bankrupted 3 casinos, lost over $1B in 10 years and took 6 bankruptcies, to date. So far
• The “playboy” who pays for sex
• The “Christian” who doesn’t go to church
• The "Christian" who cheated on his first wife--with his second
• The "Christian" who cheated on his second wife--with his third
• The “philanthropist” who defrauds charity
• The “patriot” who dodged the draft five times
• The “innocent man” who refuses to testify
• The “President” who takes no responsibility
• The “tough, strong” man who wears makeup and hairspray
• The “deal maker” who has yet to close a deal

Thanks, Republicans.

That's quite the guy you got there.

Quite the guy you foisted on us all, on the nation.

What's the Matter With Kansas?? Again

Since when do state government agencies not follow the direction of the sitting governor?

Since Kansas.  Since now.

Kansas Board of Education rejects Kelly order delaying schools opening to stem virus

And all she did, all Kansas Governor Kelly did was say schools should be backed up a few weeks, to September, to after Labor Day, to open. That was it.

Thanks, Republicans!

Meanwhile, this.

Kansas labeled a coronavirus ‘red zone’ as cases spike, White House document says

Tell us, Republicans, is that Kansas Board of Education or Bored of Education?

And what part of killing international pandemic do you all not get?

The state's business is more important than your children?

Really?

Donald J Trump and What Passes for "Leadership"

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

Entertainment Overnight and Quote of the Day, Both--Birthday Edition

Yes, happy birthday to singer, songwriter, performer Don Henley, born this day, July 22, 1947.


And that quote?

It can't get too much more appropriate than this.

These times are so uncertain

There's a yearning undefined

People filled with rage

We all need a little tenderness

How can love survive in such a graceless age?

Good night, all.

Have You Seen This Ad for the Republicans?

I've seen this ad on TV multiple times and I have to say, I just love it.



"America first", it says and shows Vice President Mike Pence.

But that's it.

Not once do they show the Trumpster.

They seem to be clearly running from him.

Fantastic.

And why shouldn't they? Check out these articles today.

Broad disapproval for Trump's handling of coronavirus

Biden leads Trump by 8 points, holds big advantage among undecided voters: poll

Biden Now Leads Trump In Texas, 

Poll Finds

Bring it on. 

On to November.

Vote blue.

#BlueWave

Vote Republican?

Why any working class, middle- or lower-class schlub out here would vote for this guy is beyond me.

But then this is also true for anyone in the middle- or lower-classes voting Republican.

As the saying goes, there are two kinds of Republicans--

The rich, the millionaires and billionaires...

and the suckers.

If you vote Republican, check which one you are.

How Do You Not Love the Republican Party Senate Race Just Now in Kansas?

Seriously, how can anyone not but love, love, love the Republican Party Senate race in Kansas presently?

It pits racist Kris Kobach...

Group attacks Kobach over white nationalist ties 

Kris Kobach Tells CNN He Could Support Racist President

Kris Kobach and the problem of elite racism

Against law-breaking Marshall...

Roger Marshall was convicted of reckless driving in 2008. Here’s how it was erased

And then there's this---

Marshall struggles to unite GOP establishment in Kansas race

And this---

Roger Marshall prays for hope, 

campaigns on fear in Kansas

So the Democrats pull a Republican Party tactic and try to exploit it.

Democrats Are Spending Serious Cash 

To Aid Kris Kobach

As if all that weren't enough, we go this, too.

Kansas GOP responds to county chairman’s post comparing mask order to Holocaust

Fantastic. I'm loving it. We're loving it.

I say again...

What isn't to hate about Republicans, 

Is to love.

Onward to election day!

The Star Already Has White People Flipping Out

Oh, yeah. Our local Kansas City Star no doubt has people, white people flipping out today, what with this opinion article they just put out.

After decades of failure to close the wealth gap, Black Americans need reparations

A bit from the article:

One of the most telling and enduring vestiges of slavery and the period thereafter of horrific oppression of Black people is the wealth gap that currently exists between Black and white Americans. According to a study done in 2016, Black families have an average net worth of $11,000, compared to a white family’s average net worth of $141,900. This wealth gap exists at every income level.

First, are they right.  They are so correct. Given all we've done to African-Americans from the beginning of the nation to today?

• Slavery
• Reconstruction
• Jim Crow laws
• Lynchings
• Burning people out of their homes
• Legalized segregation
• Widespread incarceration and since the end of the Civil War

Oh, yeah.

But secondly?

White people will be flipping out.

They already are.

Just seeing responses to this article on the paper's Facebook page showed that. I'd never seen this response before today.

GTFOOHWTBS

The very recent decision to rename the JC Nichols fountain due to his racism and the legalized segregation of that era proves it by itself.

So should it happen? 

Yes.  Heck yes. Absolutely.

Will it happen anytime soon?

Not only will it not happen anytime soon, I think it will be some time until it does take place.

If it ever dose.

There's a blog written here in town and I can only imagine what the knuckle-dragging, racist commenters are going to be writing over there on this.

Is Missouri Governor Parson Trying to Out-Stupid Donald Trump?

Missouri's Governor Parson---showing that not just this deeply ignorant, even dangerous Republican Party President Trump can be or is reckless and stupid.  First, last week, he did this:

Missouri spending $15M in coronavirus relief funds on boosting tourism

Because yeah. In a pandemic.

Then yesterday, he said this.

From Randy Turner today at The Turner Report blog out of Joplin, Missouri.

"No truth to the rumor- Gov. Parson directed the Department of Tourism to use the $15 million CARES Act grant to promote Missouri through the slogan- Come to Missouri, Get COVID 19. You'll Get Over It!"

Once again and as ever, thanks, Republicans!

Quote of the Day -- When Things Aren't Right

“When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something. To do something. Our children and their children will ask us, ‘What did you do? What did you say?’ For some, this vote may be hard. But we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history.”

–-Representative John Lewis, December 2019 remarks in the House on impeachment of President Donald Trump

How Are Republicans Not Embarrassed Yet?

How are Republicans not, not yet, finally, at long last not embarrassed by this hollowed out receptacle, excuse for a man?

Chris Wallace on Trump’s claim he ‘aced’ cognitive test: ‘They asked you to identify an elephant’

I'd personally be heartily, mightily laughing if he weren't supposed to be leading us all, the nation.

And note, folks. This is Chris Wallace. From Fox.

Fortunately, some Republicans are, in fact, thankfully, getting it.

Six New Billionaires Donate To The Anti-Trump Lincoln Project

Here's hoping, folks.

Vote blue!

We Mustn't Normalize This President or his Administration

Journalist and political analyst Juan Williams makes what I think is an extremely good, even important point in his piece today at The Hill.

Juan Williams: We must not become numb to Trump's abnormality

A bit from the article:

Normal?

How about a summer in which Americans are not allowed to travel to Canada or Europe? Seriously. That’s due to President Trump’s failure to halt the high rate of coronavirus infections in the United States.

That’s not normal.

Is it normal for an American president to stand in the White House Rose Garden and begin ranting? Trump said if presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden wins this year’s election, Biden will do away with the suburbs and windows.

Yes, he really said that.

There is so much that is not normal at the Trump White House that Rachel Maddow, the MSNBC host, recently spent an entire segment reading off a stunning list of scandalous acts now accepted as normal in the Trump era.

Is it normal, she asked, that Trump “put his son’s wedding planner in charge of federal housing in the northeastern United States ... fired one inspector general who was investigating the secretary of State ... advertised his wife’s jewelry line on the White House website?"

Any of the Trump scandals, Maddow said, would have amounted to “the biggest scandal to ever afflict any other presidency — but by virtue of the sheer number of scandals that surround [Trump] like flies around a pigpen ... [they] have just become part of what we expect, right?”

"...Trump’s Cabinet features 'a former coal lobbyist as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, a former lobbyist for the defense contractor Raytheon Technologies as defense secretary, a lobbyist for the auto industry at the helm of the Energy Department and a former oil and gas lobbyist as interior secretary.'”

Donald Trump isn't draining the swamp. Far from it. This man his administration ARE the swamp. And they're going to get richer doing it. Meanwhile, they're stripping pollution and EPA laws, dirtying the air water and soil.

What's allowing for all this is that the Republican Party Senate is "running screen" for him, for Trump so he can, to date, do virtually anything and everything he might wish.

So no, we cannot, we must not become numb to any of Donald Trump's actions or words, any of it any more than we should get used to a killing national and international pandemic.

Final note: another thing that's particularly exceptional and welcome about this piece from Mr. Williams is that he is employed by Fox.

That's gotta' hurt the Dotard in Chief.  

All the more.

Coincidentally, The New York Times ran a somewhat similarly themed article yesterday in the paper.

Where Is the Outrage?

Additionally, it was announced earlier this morning that none other than lifelong Republican and former Presidential candidate in that party, John Kasich is going to speak next month at the Democratic National Convention in favor of Joe Biden for President.

Report: Kasich to speak at Democratic convention on behalf of Biden

Huge.

Finally, check out these two reports. First this on Republicans and their recent haul.

Senate GOP posts $35M quarter haul as candidates, Trump struggle

Then this on the Democrats.

Democrats raise more than $700 million in three months through ActBlue

Democrats blow past GOP incumbents in Q2 fundraising

On to November!