Quotes of the Day -- Presidential Debate Edition

After last evening's debacle of a debate, it seemed a good time to maybe quote some evaluations of it. Mind you, too, most of these are from conservative sources, too.

"I can’t say this any more clearly: Our democracy is in terrible danger....And that is why the only choice in this election is Joe Biden. The Democrats are not blameless when it comes to playing politics, but there is no equivalence to the Republicans. The Democratic Party sorted through all the choices, and, led by older Black men and women in South Carolina, rejected the Democratic socialist candidate and said they wanted a moderate unifier named Joe Biden.

The Republicans — who in the past voted for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, sane conservatives who could be counted upon to uphold the common good — have done no such equivalent thing. They have fallen in line lock step behind a man who is the most dishonest, dangerous, meanspirited, divisive and corrupt person to ever occupy the Oval Office. And they know it. Four more years of Trump’s divide and rule will destroy our institutions and rip the country apart."  

--Thomas Frieman

After that fiasco, Biden should refuse to debate Trump again. The president was petulant and puerile, so what is the point? I wasn’t in the crowd of people who believed Joe Biden shouldn’t deign to debate President Trump, but put me in the crowd that believes he shouldn’t debate him again. Not after Tuesday night’s horror show: a disgrace to the format, an insult to the country, a nearly pointless 90 minutes. And, I should add, a degradation of the presidency itself, which Trump had degraded so thoroughly already.

--Frank Bruni, The New York Times

This debate was disgraceful and painful to watch; everyone knows the reason was Trump. The psychological effect of this debate will be fairly profound on the majority of Americans, which is, “I can’t bear four more years of this.” Trump is the most intensely unlikable candidate in American history, and that matters.

--Peter Wehner

Chris Wallace..."utterly failed at the job assigned to him, which was to make the president behave like a normal human for 90 minutes."

--Alyssa Rosenberg

"For all his heckling, shouting and nonsense talk, Trump made one thing perfectly clear: He’s getting ready to take his chaos and mayhem from the debate stage and use it to try to disrupt the election itself."

---Dana Milbank

"When faced with questions about his actual record and policy, Trump threw up word salads, switched topics, made scurrilous accusations and convinced any rational viewer he is in over his head. He mostly interrupted, repeatedly and falsely accusing Biden of harboring positions that his more progressive opponents in the Democratic primaries held. Trump was a walking Twitter feed — no facts, all bluster and all insults. Unfortunately, moderator Chris Wallace was never able to control Trump, so the debate devolved into constant interruption."

Chris Wallace "...should have halted the debate or cut Trump’s microphone until he agreed to abide by the rules. Trump’s strategy was to be so obnoxious and aggressive that he could avoid answering questions and defending his record. Trump’s job was to win over voters. It’s hard to believe anyone not already part of his cult would be persuaded to support a rude, blustering know-nothing."

--Jennifer Riubin

Let's do this, folks.  Vote. And vote blue.

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The Democrats Are Asking Some Great, Even Important Questions Today

 Yes sir and ma'am, the Democrats and their Democratic Party are asking some great and important  questions today over at their website. Without further adieu, they are:

3 Questions for Senate Republicans Today

Three key questions for Senate Republicans to answer today — and they didn’t even have to watch President Trump’s spectacle last night to answer:

1. If the Supreme Court rules to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, why do you still not have a plan to replace the health care law and maintain current protections for pre-existing conditions? (Reminder: all of the GOP’s deceptive pre-existing conditions bills would still gut those protections.)
2. Will you commit to accepting the results of the November election and pledge not to undermine public confidence in the outcome with unfounded claims about voting?
3. Why are you comfortable supporting a president who refuses to condemn white supremacy?

If they can’t provide straightforward answers to these basic questions, they have no business serving in the United States Senate.

Senators?

Senator Blunt?  Senator Hawley?

Your answers, gentlemen?

Highlights and Results From That Debacle of a Debate

Donald Trump was, once again, childish, immature, rude and, as ever, bullying last evening in what was the first and possibly last "presidential" debate with Joe Biden. I use the word presidential here very, very loosely as this President was anything but presidential. Herewith, some results and takeaways from it all.

Unfortunately for most of us, it either scared or insulted so many of us.

Presidential debate didn't help Trump catch Biden, but horror show scared America

Usually always, it's a presidential debate between 2 mature adults and both have manners. In this case, one, Trump, is neither, of course--not a mature adult and certainly without manners. Or decency.

How do you keep up with a 74 year old man child that incessantly interrupts?

Who would have thought this is where we would be with an American President?

Trump blows up the debate — and himself

Then this was stunning.

Trump was asked to denounce white supremacy. 

He wouldn’t.

A President of the United States was asked, publicly and on camera, to denounce white supremacy and he would not and did not. Stunning.

At least Joe got this in last evening.

Joe Biden Tells Donald Trump 'You're the Worst President America Has Ever Had' During Debate

And he's right, of course. Harding, Buchanan, Nixon, they're all pikers compared to this divisive, ignorant, reckless, dangerous, colluding fool of a President.

Joe also got this in. Thank goodness.

It was fair. It was certainly fair in this one regard, Joe getting that in.

I think it seems extremely clear to most of the voting, adult population of our nation that the time has long since come for the moderator of these debates to have a mute button, capable of cutting off a speaker if they go over their time or are rude and/or interrupting. That much seems clear. That time is now. It's overdue. Long overdue.

Face it, ladies and gentlemen. We need to face the truth, the facts. Donald Trump is dangerous. Surprisingly, frighteningly, legitimately dangerous. No exaggeration or overstatement. Read this next article.

At the debate, Trump made it clear he's already decided the election doesn't count

Then check out some of the results. This is where and what really counts. This is one of the most important results of last night's debacle.

Undecided voters describe Trump as a 'crackhead,' 'arrogant' in post-debate focus group

And this.

BREAKING: CNN instant poll gives it to Biden by 32 points!

The first post-debate polls say Biden won

Oliver Darcy  @oliverdarcy -- CNN instant poll of debate watcher: 60% say Biden won, 28% say Trump won.

As this article above points out, sure, things could still change but this is, of course, a great short term result from last evening. That is a pretty huge margin of win for Joe Biden right there, folks.

One thing seems to be coming clear, too. That is, Donald Trump looks as though he is going to also be the one who gets this Donald Trump presidency defeated.

That 'debate' was bad for America. 

But it was even worse for Trump

Then check out Joe's other great, great result from last night. Another of the most important things that can or could or even should take place in this insanity called a presidential election campaign.

Joe Biden smashed his single-hour fundraising record after the first presidential debate

Ultimately, of course, this, this is what we need.

David Frum: "Trump yelled, threatened, interrupted--and changed nothing. He's Losing."

So there's some hope, folks. Some big things and they went and are going our way, certainly. We can take nothing, nothing for granted, however. 

We must VOTE. 

And we must VOTE BLUE come November 3.

#BLUEWAVE2020

More:

Even America's CEOs are dumping Trump like bad rubbish

Unpatriotic Donald Trump and His Taxes

 From September 26, 2016 after the debate with Hillary Clinton. Suddenly very poignant again, now, today.

The very Republican Party President, it's been shown, didn't pay any taxes for nearly 20 years. Worse, he also paid more in taxes at that same time, to the Philippines. Insane.

Can you imagine if then-President Barack Obama had been found to have not paid taxes? Even one year, let alone nearly 20 years.  The Right Wing and Republicans would have lost their minds.

Oh, yeah. It's time. Let's do this.

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On Trump's Taxes

On Trump's taxes, folks, with that New York Times bombshell article of theirs from this weekend (see link below). This is no small thing. This Republican Party President, Donald J Trump paid almost nothing in personal income taxes for nearly two decades.

The President of the United States.

That is incredible. It's nearly unthinkable. A President? Of the United States? And he PAID NO TAXES? None? And not just one year but for NEARLY 20 YEARS?

Someone wanna' tell us what part of a patriot that is?

Can you imagine the uproar if Barack Obama, the nation's first Black President, didn't pay taxes? And then for nearly two decades, too? The Right Wing and Republicans would have been furious. And livid.

Thanks, Republicans!

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Links:

LONG-CONCEALED RECORDS SHOW TRUMP’S CHRONIC LOSSES AND YEARS OF TAX AVOIDANCE

Five takeaways from NYT Trump taxes bombshell

18 Revelations From a Trove of Trump Tax Records

7 takeaways from President Trump's tax returns

5 Takeaways From NY Times Report on Trump's Tax Returns

Six takeaways from Trump's tax return report

Key Takeaways from Trump’s Leaked Tax Records

Trump’s long-hidden tax returns make him look like a terrible businessman, or a cheat. Probably both.

Quote of the Day -- Dumb President's Edition

So true. So dumb. 

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Vote, folks.

And VOTE BLUE!

Companies Had to Form an Organization to Counter This President's and His Political Party's Efforts Against Our Voting

 This is what this has all come down to.

This Republican Party President and that political party have been working so hard against we Americans, we citizens and taxpayers voting and for so long, they had to form an organization to work for helping us vote. Check it out.

Civic Alliance

From their website:

We are the Civic Alliance,

a non-partisan group of businesses

working together to build a future

where everyone participates in

shaping our country.

Participation is fundamental to a healthy, functioning democracy.
Yet, in recent U.S. elections, nearly half of eligible voters didn’t participate.

In 2020, a global pandemic, growing civil unrest, and polarizing politics are challenging our democracy in new ways.

As a growing coalition of businesses, we strengthen our democracy by supporting safe, healthy and trusted elections, and by inspiring our employees and customers to participate in civic life.

We aspire for historic voter turnout in 2020 and beyond, with a goal to achieve 80% voter turnout by 2028.

We have a ways to go, but by working together, we will create a culture where civics matter and every vote counts.

Each of our companies has unique values. Yet, we are united by these shared beliefs: 

• Every American has a voice in our democracy. 
• Voting should be safe and accessible to all. 
• Elections must be fair and transparent.

As business leaders, we’re committed to strengthening our democracy by encouraging nonpartisan voter participation. Here are unique ways each of us is activating our companies and communities.

Hundreds of Companies Will Pay Employees to Volunteer as Election Workers

More than 60 Civic Alliance member companies – including Starbucks, Target, Old Navy, Salesforce, Microsoft, Expedia, Twitter, Uber, Lyft, and Warby Parker – are taking concrete steps to encourage their employees or consumers to serve as poll workers.

How cool is that, that they would do this but ladies and gentlemen, how sick is it that this is necessary? How sick is it that the Republicans could, would and are fighting our voting, what with their gerrymandering and then voter ID laws and so much, how sick is it that this is necessary?

Anyway, I was so glad to see their full, double-page ad in Sunday's New York Times. Very cool. Great on these companies. I'm going to do what I can to support them. Hoping you will, too.

Membership is free – join today!

Additional links:

Trump And The Republicans Are Doing Everything They Can To Confuse Voters Before The Election

Trump And Republicans Voter Suppression In 2020

What Is Voter Suppression? Republican Strategy Explained

The racist anti-vote effort by Florida Republicans

The Bizarro World That Is President Donald Trump

The bizarro world of this President Trump. Sadly, madly, even nearly mystifyingly, this is very darn near the absolute truth of our situation with this idiot maniac manchild.

(As usual and ever, for larger picture, easier reading, click on picture).

Thanks, Republicans. (and thanks, Tom Tomorrow!)

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Quote of the Day -- Democracy Edition

 

"This is an election between Donald Trump and Democracy and Democracy must win."

--Bernie Sanders

Vote, folks.

And vote blue.

#BlueWave

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This President Is In a World of Hurt Now

This is what I'm talking about, folks. 

 

Yesterday and yesterday's breaking article from the New York Times is, I think, a turning point in this presidential election. Watch for it tomorrow night. I think this is and has been now, already, a watershed moment for us, for the nation, for the people and against this President and even his political party.

Laurence Tribe @tribelaw·

A lot of Americans want to know: Will Chris Wallace ask Trump on Tuesday night: “Mr. Trump, to whom do you owe that $410M?

Then check out just some, only some of the headlines that have developed in the last 24 hours.

Former Trump housekeeper: He 'only paid $750 a year in taxes and calls all immigrants deadbeats'

Trump has $1.1 BILLION in personally guaranteed loans coming due in next two years - Forbes reporter

Trump's Tax Return's Liabilities make him a Prime Target for Foreign Influence

Undocumented immigrants respond to Trump's returns: We've paid our taxes—why haven't you?

And his reaction to the NYT report and all that's going on.

TRUMP'S PSYCHOTIC SUNDAY Tweetstorm Defies All Reason, Decency, and Honesty

And then it seems like Trump's big issue for Biden was something about Biden being on or doing drugs?

Biden neuters trump over his drug test challenge

Not done there, it seems there is apparently more, possibly much more, that is about to hit the fan news this week, shortly.

Another Trump Bombshell On Its Way

From London, where Cambridge Analytica Ltd (CA) was a British political consulting firm that combined misappropriation of digital assets, data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis with strategic communication during electoral processes to help Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. There’s a long sordid history and though the company was forced to close operations in 2018 in the course of the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal, related firms still exist (notably Emerata), and the history has a number of political characters and associations.

Channel 4 News

@Channel4News

Tonight at 7pm:

EXCLUSIVE: Channel 4 News investigation reveals a huge Trump campaign data leak, exposing how 3.5 million Black Americans were listed as ‘Deterrence’ - to try to stop them voting in 2016. #DeterringDemocracy

Not even done there, it seems the children may also be in some trouble.

Ivanka Trump is in deep trouble over Donald Trump’s tax returns

This is from October, 2018 but shows that he, Jared, is in the same boat as his very unpatriotic, tax skipping father.

Jared Kushner Paid No Federal Income Tax for Years 

Tomorrow evening's presidential election debate has now been turned on its head, so to speak.I think if Donald Trump's political career were a house, it would quite likely be collapsing about now.

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Missouri's Senator Blunt Tries to Clean Up Another of This President's Messes--Again

Did you see this? Missouri's Senator Blunt had to speak in Congress about our election this Fall after his political party's President put it all into question.

As Trump questions U.S. election system, Blunt says it’s ‘secure as it’s ever been’

How pathetic is it that we have to have our Senators come out to speak in Congress, publicly, officially, to reassure the American people, we, the taxpaying citizens, that our President, this President, this very Republican Party President won't threaten our very own election and our vote, our votes?

What's additionally insane is that this is no way, not even remotely this same Senator or other Republican Party Senators have had to go behind this President and clean up after his verbal messes. Here's another. This one took place in October, 2019.

Top Senate Republican: 'I doubt the China comment was serious'

Like Senators Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham and far too many others, they all prove they're extremely faithful lapdogs to this lying, cheating, conniving, self-serving conman. McConnell came out to "reassure us" this week.

McConnell Vows Orderly Transition of Power After Election

They're all far more interested in keeping and maintaining power--and their own money--than they are for doing what's right and good for the nation, for the people, even for Democracy.

Thanks, Republicans. Thanks again. Thanks again so very much.

Vote, folks.

And vote blue.

#BlueWave2020

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Republican Party President Donald J Trump and Taxes

There is an excellent article in yesterday's NY Times on this Republican Party President Donald Trump and his taxes. Following is just a bit of the article.

The President's Taxes.

LONG-CONCEALED RECORDS SHOW TRUMP’S CHRONIC LOSSES AND YEARS OF TAX AVOIDANCE

Donald J. Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency. In his first year in the White House, he paid another $750.

He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years — largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.

As the president wages a re-election campaign that polls say he is in danger of losing, his finances are under stress, beset by losses and hundreds of millions of dollars in debt coming due that he has personally guaranteed. Also hanging over him is a decade-long audit battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the legitimacy of a $72.9 million tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses. An adverse ruling could cost him more than $100 million.

The tax returns that Mr. Trump has long fought to keep private tell a story fundamentally different from the one he has sold to the American public. His reports to the I.R.S. portray a businessman who takes in hundreds of millions of dollars a year yet racks up chronic losses that he aggressively employs to avoid paying taxes. Now, with his financial challenges mounting, the records show that he depends more and more on making money from businesses that put him in potential and often direct conflict of interest with his job as president.

Emoluments Clause of our Constitution, anyone?

Then check this out.

Confidential records show that starting in 2010 he claimed, and received, an income tax refund totaling $72.9 million. The president’s estranged personal lawyer, Mr. Cohen, recalled Mr. Trump’s showing him a huge check from the U.S. Treasury some years earlier and musing "that he could not believe how stupid the government was for giving someone like him that much money back."

However much money you and I made, we paid more taxes, much more, than this Republican Party President Donald J "Mr. Patriot" Trump.

Oh, yeah. It's time.

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BYEDON

A Question for, a Plea to Dos Mundos

 To the Dos Mundos Newspaper

You advertise on Kansas City PBS. 

Can you not arrange, somehow, to help Nick Haines get someone from the Hispanic/Latinx community each week for his program "Week in Review"? You are frequently, repeatedly not represented on the program. Can't someone in the community help him/them get someone reliably on the show? 

Please? 

For your own sake, the sake of that Hispanic/Latinx community and for the sake of the entire community?

Weekly, weekly, there are 3 white people and a token Black man or woman on the show and that's it.

Give the poor man some help.   Help him help you.  Heck, help him help all of us. Let's hear from the ENTIRE community.

Thank you, in advance.

Links:

Kansas City PBS

Kansas City Week in Review

Now We Have to Discuss a President Not Recognizing Our Election, Our Vote, Our Votes?

 We are having to have conversations about a President who might require being escorted or even dragged out of the White House after our election.

Trump refuses to commit to a 

peaceful transition of power 

Meanwhile, here's your vote fraud, Mr. President. From your own, our own FBI Director.

FBI Director Says No Evidence Of 

‘National Voter Fraud

And yes, there are facts behind it.

The Myth of Voter Fraud | Brennan Center for Justice

Congratulations, Republicans!
Thanks, Mr. President.

Just exactly how completely low are we going to let this cheat, this liar, this conman drag our nation down? Check out this current headline.

Trump and U.S. in COVID-19 Crisis is 'Like Watching The Decline of The Roman Empire': Canadian Mayor

Vote, folks.

And VOTE BLUE.

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Question of the Day -- Sunday Edition

 ??

Additionally, it's the "pro-life" Republicans and Conservatives that fight this.

What??

Trump Said What??

 Breaking today.

Trump pledges to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, designate KKK a terrorist group in pitch to Black voters

Once again, this man, this President is stunning.

How is this not going to alienate much of the South, the Southern states and all the KKK members and all his racist base?

I wonder if he cleared this with Stephen Miller in his White House?

At the same time, the Trumpster did this, too.

Trump assails Black Lives Matter in appeal to Black voters

Check that out. From the article.

President Trump on Friday assailed the Black Lives Matter movement as an “an extreme socialist” organization that is harmful to Black Americans during a campaign event planned to court Black voters.

Trump criticized the organization, whose goal is to combat police violence and racial injustice, for calling for funding to be reduced or redirected from police departments during a campaign event in Atlanta. He sought to blame violence and destruction that has accompanied some racial justice protests in U.S. cities on Black Lives Matter.

Unbelievable.

Well, it would be unbelievable if it came from anyone but this Republican Party President Donald J "Jenius" Trump.

You see what he did there?

Innocent Black Americans are being killed on our streets, repeatedly, by rogue police officers so they form an organization to combat it and Donald Trump ATTACKS THAT GROUP. At the same time, he's asking for their support.

Honestly, it is stunning. There's nothing else that can be said of it.

Well, except it's delicious in its ignorance and recklessness and even cluelessness.

No kidding, Donald Trump is destroying himself out on the campaign trail, trying to get votes for this November election.

God bless that, anyway.

Thanks, Republicans!  He's the gift that keeps on giving.

Oh, and...

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Quote of the Day -- Presidential Edition

"Trump is the most psychiatrically disordered president in history."

From an article today at The New York Daily News from 2 psychologists.

Say it plainly: 

Trump is a psychopath

Thanks, Republicans. Y'all must be so proud. And happy. You love power over all else, as we know.

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Psychologists on this President

I saw a terrific article today at Daily Kos, this one, below, that references one in the New York Daily News. While I'm not crazy about the original source, the fact is, two psychologists came to a conclusion that's difficult, if not impossible, to disagree with.

'We are psychologists, and we are convinced Donald Trump is a psychopath'

Here's the original article:

Say it plainly: Trump is a psychopath

A bit from the original article:

“Get rid of the ballots” and “there won’t be a transfer,” said Donald Trump on Wednesday. This comment is a direct and dangerous expression of his anti-democratic intention. If unstopped, Trump may well destroy our 244-year-old democracy.

It is time to stop pulling punches. It is time to stop relying on political pundits to weigh in on Trump’s behavior, which they often soften and even normalize.

We are psychologists, and we are convinced Donald Trump is a psychopath. His malignant behavior over the past four years is growing and escalating right before our eyes. Trump’s psychopathy will change us forever if he is not stopped.

This is not hyperbole. This is not an expression of "a left-wing agenda.” This is a mental health opinion based on thousands of hours of documented behavior by this president.

• He breaks norms, rules, and laws with impunity.
• He lies, on average, 15 times a day.
• He peddles fake conspiracy theories and irrational magical thinking.
• He has been accused of sexually predatory behavior by at least 25 women.
• He blames, scapegoats and gaslights as easily as he breathes.
• He undermines the vital role of the free press because he abhors oversight and accountability.
• His lies and anti-scientific advice and intentional downplaying of the coronavirus pandemic has led to countless American deaths.
• He is callous and cold and unfeeling because he has no conscience.
• He denigrates and humiliates anyone and everyone in his path.
• He has no respect for military heroes or renowned experts.
• He is racist and xenophobic.
• He incites violence and culture wars.
• He is obsessed with power and adoration.
• He is a greedy opportunist.
• He is corrupt to the core.

It goes on. I can't recommend the full, original article enough.

I will repost here only one last line from it.

"Trump is the most psychiatrically disordered president in history."

I say again...

Thanks, Republicans.

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