Who the Hell Are We America?

 Who the Hell are we, America? Who and what have we become?

We put immigrant children in cages at our Southern border and now we're forcing hysterectomies on immigrant women?? 

US nurse alleges 'hysterectomies on migrant women'

Women in ICE Custody Allegedly Coerced Into Hysterectomies

US watchdog to investigate ICE unwanted hysterectomies

Really?? This is who we want to be??

And now we have a President that has been accused by more than 2 dozen women of sexually assaulting them?

The 25 women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct

So what?  They're ALL lying?  Really?

And that's not bad enough, now another woman just came forward and accused him of same.

'Tired of Being Quiet,' Another Woman, Amy Dorris, Comes Forward to Accuse Donald Trump of Sexual Assault

Donald Trump accused of sexual assault in new interview

And then there's this.

Trump Luxury Properties Have Charged US Government $1.1M Since Inauguration: Report

Can you even imagine the outrageous uproar that would have uttered forth from the Right Wingers and Republicans and conservatives across the nation if the previous President, Obama, did anything remotely similar to this? Does the Emoluments Clause of our Constitution mean nothing now, with this Trump, this President?

Really?

Is this what and who we want to be?

America?? Americans??

More. Believably/unbelievably, still more:

'One of the Most Callous Sentiments Ever Uttered' by US President: Trump Falsely Says Covid Death Toll Not So Bad 'If You Take Blue States Out'

The Trumpster is Pushing an Ultimatum for the Debates Now?

 This news broke today.

Trump challenges Biden to drug test before debate

This surely surprised me.

How could the Jenius possibly think Joe Biden, taking a drug test, could or possibly would be some kind of an issue?  Does he think Biden does coke or something?  Like his own kids apparently do? At least one of them. (Eric Jr).

So as long as we're throwing out ultimatums here, here's one for you, Mr. President.

No Tax Returns, No Debate

That's right.

No tax returns, no debate.

That is, if you, sir, Mr. President, don't turn in your taxes, your tax returns. AS EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY HAS IN RECENT HISTORY--- no debate.

Hey, as long as you're throwing around ultimatums, sir, here's one back at you.

With all due respect, sir---for the office of the President, anyway--put up or shut up.

How about it?

Links:  This idea has come from a few sources, too, before now.

Peter Scotto: No tax returns, no debate

Bill Kristol: "No tax returns, no debates!" 

Joe Lockhart suggestion: No TAX RETURNS? NO DEBATES

No tax returns, no debate - NEWSRUST

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

Donald Trump, All the Way From the UK

None other than the BBC out of the UK did an expose' on Trump and the Mob.

Thanks, Republicans.

Entertainment Overnight -- The British Monarchy

This makes me laugh so hard, again, still. Fantastic stuff. They, Monty Python, were brilliant. We were so very lucky to have those Saturday nights.


I can't think of a better description of the British Monarchy. Spot on.

Not to stop there,..

Fantastic. Thank God and goodness for Monty Python, the BBC and PBS, without which...

Harry Truman and V-E Day, Same Day!

Yessir and ma'am, today would have been President Harry Truman's 136th birthday!

Harry S. Truman was born 136 years ago today

And then yes, the 75th Anniversary of V-E Day--Victory in Europe Day, the end of World War II.

VE Day 75th anniversary: WWII veterans share lessons

VE Day 2020: Britain toasts second world war heroes

VE Day: UK marking 75th anniversary of end of WW2

Huge, huge day.

So happy birthday, Harry! And thanks so very much for all you---and certainly our Veterans---did.

Would that we had such leadership today.

Fantastic, Evaluative, Maybe Even Important Read On Where We Are Presently

I ran across this article today, this morning, online and found it very good and seemingly complete for where we are now, where we've been since maybe the Great Depression up to today and on our nation, overall. I think people might find it helpful.

Coronavirus: What this crisis reveals about US - 

and its president

It's a pretty all-encompassing, sweeping read so I'll only post a very little bit of it here--what I found to possibly be most important.

"Consequently, America's claim to global pre-eminence looks less convincing by the day. While in previous crises, the world's most powerful superpower might have mobilised a global response, nobody expects that of the United States anymore. The neo-isolationism of three years of America Firstism has created a geopolitical form of social distancing, and this crisis has reminded us of the oceanic divide that has opened up even with Washington's closest allies. Take the European travel ban, which Trump announced during his Oval Office address to the nation without warning the countries affected. The European Union complained, in an unusually robust public statement, the decision was 'taken unilaterally and without consultation.'"

Can't recommend it enough.

Be well out there, everyone.

Quote of the Day (Week, Month, Year)-- On Donald Trump

A Facebook friend posted the following quote about Donald Trump and I cannot find a better, more complete, nor more accurate description of the man.

Someone asked "Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?"

Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England, wrote this magnificent response:

"A few things spring to mind.

Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem.

For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace - all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed.

So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing - not once, ever.

I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility - for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman.

But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is - his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.

And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults - he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface.

Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront.

Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.

And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.

Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that.

He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat.

He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.

That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead.

There are unspoken rules to this stuff - the Queensberry rules of basic decency - and he breaks them all. He punches downwards - which a gentleman should, would, could never do - and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless - and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority - perhaps a third - of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think 'Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:
* Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.
* You don't need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss.

After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.

God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid.

He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart.

In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws - he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish:

'My God… what… have… I… created?

If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set."
Meanwhile, THANKS, REPUBLICANS!

Now get us out of this mess.

Senator Blunt Rightly Takes a Well-Earned and Very Deserved Beating In the Media With This Latest Florida Slaughter of Innocents

So yet 17 more Americans, innocent Americans were, once again, slaughtered here in America.

Having what they thought was a normal, peaceful even, likely, beautiful day when a fellow American got and took an AR-15 automatic weapon---because they could---and gunned these people down.

It's beyond disgusting.

Now, rightfully, our own Missouri Senator Roy Blunt is taking a beating in media for his bought and paid for complicity in one more of these massacres in our country.

A writer for JImmy Kimmel, Bess Kalb, posted this yesterday on Twitter.

Bess Kalb‏Verified account @bessbell

This is not a political issue. This is not a Constitutional debate. This is a pandemic that's killing children. And it's perpetrated by hypocrites who preach a doctrine of "life" but take money from a profit-driven gun lobby. @RoyBlunt @SenatorBurr @SenThomTillis @SenCoryGardner

1:35 PM - 14 Feb 2018

• 3,601 Retweets
• 7,578 Likes
• 

The New York Times showed, last year, how our Senator was the third highest paid Republican Party Senator by and from the NRA. The New York Times published this article last October.

The Congress Members Receiving 

the Most N.R.A. Funding 

In it, one can read how Senator Blunt took in more than 4 million five hundred fifty one dollars from the NRA last year.

Imagine that.

Our Senator took in $4,551,146 from the NRA, from just one, single source.

What would be, what is, really, a person's or even a family's fortune, this one government representative took in from one organization.

It's obscene. 

I've said it probably a thousand times. It's why I created this group on Facebook.

Get the Big, Ugly Money Out of Our Election System 
and Government

It made it into media clear across "the pond" to the UK. This came from the BBC.

Florida shooting: Senators singled out 

over gun lobby funds

This is where we are presently, as a nation.

America Is Averaging One School Shooting 

Every 60 Hours In 2018

Let's keep this in mind, too.

'This Happens Nowhere Else Other Than the United States of America'

We have to finally, at last, get things done about weapons in America. I propose the following, at minimum:

1)  Require background checks for ALL weapons purchases, coast to coast, for criminal history

2)  Require background checks for ALL weapons purchases, coast to coast, for mental stability and finally

3) Ban the purchase of all automatic weapons, including and especially the AR-15 and all like it, again, nationwide. 

These are not difficult things but they are important. If they save even one life, let alone more, they will have achieved their goals and what we so desperately need in our country. We need to bring back the Assault Weapons Ban.

The time for "thoughts and prayers" and inaction is over.

You hear that, Senator Blunt?

The days of putting money and the NRA before the people, before we Americans, needs to be over and soon as possible. 

As with our health care, we must put people and American lives ahead of profit and profits.

Links:

Sachs: Ban semiautomatic assault weapons and save lives 

Mass Shootings Are Getting Deadlier

No Mass Shootings in Australia in 20 Years: How Did They Do It?

Since 1968 More Americans killed by guns than in all U.S. Wars

WALL OF SHAME: The NRA Gave These 9 Senators Over $22 Million 

Kristof: How to Reduce Shootings

Survivor Calls for Action: ‘You Guys Are the Adults’

This we cannot allow:

As Nation Suffers 18th School Shooting in 45 Days, Trump Budget Would Slash Funding for Background Checks

You Must Read This Article

If you only read one piece this year on technology and what it is, where it's going and where it may or may not go and take us, you should read this.

Will Democracy Survive Big Data 

and Artificial Intelligence

It has far, far more in it than I could ever describe here.

It is both fascinating and alarming, at once.

Governments will no way be able to keep up with technology. Heck, they're already far, far behind. 

I would like--heck, I want--every member of our national, US Congress to read this, let alone our state legislators and office holders.

All the things called for in the article would have to be done by government, of course. It would have to be done by far-seeing, responsible legislators.

I don't see it happening.

I'd love to be wrong.

God help us all.

Links:

Elon Musk issues a stark warning about A.I.

Elon Musk's Billion-Dollar Crusade

 to Stop the A.I. Apocalypse

Elon Musk Says AI Is a Greater Threat Than North Korea

Elon Musk Warns: Regulators Must Be Proactive On AI

Stephen Hawking warns artificial intelligence 

could end mankind

Bill Gates is worried about artificial intelligence too

Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates 

Warn About Artificial Intelligence

This Unprecedented Presidential Administration

Adding to the fact that this has been the most protested administration, both before and after it took office and, again, both nationally as well as internationally, there is now this.

Look at that. It's incredible.

--A total of 10 people already resigned in less than 6 months of an otherwise entirely new administration.

--Four people left the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency. Or what used to be the Environmental Protection Agency, anyway. Now it's the Fossil Fuel Protection Agency, it seems.

--And a total of four people were fired from this administration. So far.

Yet one more indication and example of the turmoil of this man Trump and his administration.

God help us, America.

Links:

Protests against Donald Trump

Donald Trump protests attract millions across US and world 

Trump protests around the world

A Trump White House Preview: Feuds, Turmoil And Conspiracies

Top Trump White House official Mike Dubke resigns amidst turmoil 

Behind the scenes: A White House in turmoil

One Helluva News Day

Incredible News Day and So, Headlines Today

Comey says he was fired because of Russia investigation

James Comey Accuses Trump of 'Lies' in Bombshell Congressional Testimony

James Comey testifies in historic hearing, accuses Trump administration of defaming him

Note this one from Fox:

Comey testimony: Ex-FBI boss says Trump team lied

Comey: White House Lied 'Plain and Simple' About Firing - NBC News

Comey says Trump fired him to undermine FBI Russia investigation

Comey: White House "lies"

Comey says he was fired because of Russia investigation

One thing he said is what occurred to me at the time, weeks ago, when Trump first threatened he had tapes.

'Lordy, I Hope There Are Tapes': Highlights Of James Comey's Testimony

And here’s what they’re saying “across the pond”:

Comey: Trump White House 'lied' about the FBI - BBC News

Keep in mind, this is what he said in public, in the testimony. There is a strong chance he’s said even more behind the closed doors of his further testimony to the Senate.

Oddly, however, given all the above article and headlines, The Trumpster remains defiant and confident.

Trump feels "vindicated" by James Comey's testimony, lawyer says

This, his public response, sounds as though it might well be a public, pre-thought press release from his attorneys.

We shall see what we shall see, of course.

Meanwhile, there is this, too, breaking today:

Trump's approval rating has fallen to a record low

And I wouldn’t want to be Daniel Richman today.

Who Is Daniel Richman, the Columbia Professor Who Leaked Comey’s Trump Memo?

The Republicans must be so happy.

And proud.

And if that isn’t enough news for one news day, this happened, too.

North Korea launches another salvo of missiles

Finally, it was on this day, coincidentally, June 8, 1949 that George Orwell’s “1984” was published.

Just saying.

So think good thoughts, y’all, and hope and wish for good things for everyone.


Link: Big Brother is watching you as '1984' is published

An Un-Constitutional, Un-American President and His Political Party

Starting with their President, Trump, some very un-Constitutional and un-American acts this week. He did this, yesterday.

White House blocks CNN, New York Times from press briefing hours after Trump slams media

Now, today, he did this. He's gone international with his press ban.

Donald Trump press ban: BBC, CNN and Guardian denied access to briefing

And lest we think he's alone in this, in his actions, perish the thought. His very Right Wing, Republican cohorts are doing much the same, state to state, across the nation. They don't want to hear from us, from you, Mr. and Mrs. America.

Republican lawmakers introduce bills to curb protesting in at least 18 states

Let's be clear, here, ladies and gentlemen, Americans. This is not only a narcissistic, insecure man but a dangerous one and he's going against everything we think we are about, everything we've "been about" for the last few hundred years.

Not to be done there, check out what the Kuwaiti government did last month.

Kuwait Celebration At Trump Hotel Raises Conflict Of Interest Questions

They switched a 600 room reservation from the Four Seasons Hotel in New York to the Trump Hotel.

Conflict of interest much?

Can you imagine if the last President had done anything, anything remotely similar? 

Can you imagine the uproar? The outcry? The investigations?

Presidential Protests?

As we know, there is what is described to be a large women's protest in the nation's capitol today, Washington, DC after and about the Presidential inauguration yesterday.

Women's March on Washington

Women's March on Washington flooding 

streets of DC

Women's March live: 500,000 people take 

to the streets of Washington

These marches are in big and not so big cities all across the nation today, from Los Angeles to our own, right here in Kansas City.

Women's March LA

Thousands stream into downtown L.A. 

for massive women's march

Boston Women's March For America

Women's March 2017: Thousands Take 

to Washington, Other Cities

Atlanta protesters denounce Donald Trump

'No Trump' chants fill downtown 

New Orleans

Women's March Kansas City Jan 21, 2017

But there are protests in other nations, too, and not just by or for women.

Photos of Anti-Trump Protests 

Around the World

Anti-Donald Trump protests take place around UK during inauguration

Donald Trump protests: Washington leads 

global rallies

Anti-Trump Protests Take Place Around the World

Anti-Trump protests around the world

Trump protests around the world

So here's the question. Let's put this in perspective.

When was the last time a newly-elected world leader, let alone our own newly inaugurated president, just put into office, was protested around the nation? More to the point, when was the last time a newly-elected national leader was ever protested across the globe, around the world?

Never?

Would that be never?

Isn't that instructive? Doesn't that tell us something?

Anything?

Shouldn't it?

Links:

A most dreadful inaugural address

'American Carnage': The Trump Era Begins