Two Headlines From Yesterday That Show What a Completely Bizarre, Republican Party, Trumpian Rabbit Hole Into Which We Are

I can't even believe my eyes, frequently.  Here they are. Here's number one.

Vaccine Chief Says He Was Removed After Questioning Drug Trump Promoted

The reason I can't believe this one---because I can totally believe Trump and his administration would fire him---is that we let this go one under this Republican Party President and his administration but the Republicans and Right Wing would absolutely flip if the opposing political party even attempted such a thing.

But this next one, the second, wow. It takes the cake. Check this out.

Former Labradoodle breeder was tapped to lead U.S. pandemic task force

This is so bizarre, I'll give you two sources for it.

HHS secretary faces criticism over naming aide with little public health experience to lead COVID-19 response

This Trump administration picked---wait for it---a former Labradoodle breeder, a breeder of dogs, for God's sake, to lead this Covid-19 pandemic response team.

Isn't that reassuring? Doesn't that give you confidence? Make you feel safer, Mr. and Mrs. America?

How are we even letting this happen?

Into what bizzaroworld have we stepped, ladies and gentlemen?

How far are we going to let this madman go?

At long last, what will be "too far"?

More of Just How Unprecedented this Presidency and His Administration Are

It's hard to keep up with the news of just how, exactly, as I said in the title above and as I've said here before, how not just unprecedented but completely, totally unprecedented this Trump Presidency and his administration are.

There have been the unprecedented protests of the administration, widespread and nationwide but also worldwide, even before he became President. Then there were, have been, the protests against him, personally, ever since, up to today.

There is the fact that he's known to have paid for the service of at least one female "escort", if not more than one.

There's the fact that both he and people in his presidential campaign and now, again, in his administration, have worked and do work with our self-sworn enemy, Vladimir Putin and the Russians.

Then there is the fact that this President takes money in, on the side, as it were but literally, in his official, public position, as leader of the nation, from many businesses, hotels, etc., from across the nation and globe. Which, by the way, goes against our very Constitution, given the important-to-a-lot-of-us Emoluments Clause.

Next, additionally, there is the fact that this President has put people in charge of government agencies they were, up to that point and date, vehemently, publicly against.

Senate Panel Approves EPA Critic Scott Pruitt to Head Agency

Oh, yeah, Scott Pruitt is a real beauty, he is.

Scott Pruitt Wined and Dined a Catholic Cardinal Accused of Sexual Abuse to Talk Climate Change

Scott Pruitt Rejects the Scientific Fact of Climate Change

Scott Pruitt is the target of no less than 

10 federal investigations

Trump picks former Eli Lilly exec Alex Azar to head HHS

Here's just some of his head of HHS' handiwork:

Trump’s pick to head HHS drove up insulin prices at Eli Lilly

Then there is the spending of Trump's government picks.

Scott Pruitt's $43000 

soundproof phone booth

Ben Carson's explanation f

or the $31,000 dining set 

He wants to take us, the nation, backward, into the past, and does it two ways, not just one.

Trump pledged to revive coal industry

Trump's Tariffs on Solar Mark Biggest Blow 

to Renewables Yet

There was the big man's famous phone call.

Trump Congratulates Putin, 

but Doesn't Mention Meddling in U.S. Elections

He attacks the press--repeatedly, continually and famously. Or rather, infamously.

Trump launches second day of attacks 

against the media

He attacked his own, our own FBI.

Trump attacks FBI and Mueller investigation 

in morning tweets

He attacked his own, our own Justice Department. And more than once.

Hear Trump attack the Justice Department again

Heck, he attacks businesses and businessmen.

Trump Attacks Amazon, Saying 

It Does Not Pay Enough Taxes

Trump continues attacks on Amazon

Trump attacks Amazon, again, 

over U.S. postal rates

Trump attacks Jerry Brown, Jeff Bezos, 

then hits the links

Heck, this President Trump has even verbally, publicly attacked American Veterans.

All those times President Trump dishonored 

U.S. veterans and military

Tester touts support for vets 

after Trump attacks

Then there's all his vacations.

Trump's travel costs during his first year 

exceed 13 million dollars

Trump visited his properties over 100 times 

this year

Heck, this President and his administration are so bad, even Right Wing, Republican Party-owned Fox goes against them at times.

Watch ‘Fox & Friends’ anchors take apart White House over McCain insult

Now, today, there is this.

Trump pledges to help Chinese phonemaker ZTE ‘get back into business’

Just who, exactly, is this guy working for?

Well, I mean, who is he working for besides the already-wealthy and corporations, anyway.  That we much know. Here's what his and his Republican Party's very recent tax plan, tax cuts for the already-wealthy and corporations are doing to us all.

How the Republican tax bill benefits the rich

How the Republican tax law hurts the poor 

and helps the rich

Why the GOP Tax Bill Will Make 

Wealth Inequality Worse

Here's how they did it.

Senate Passes Massive Tax Cuts For The Rich 

In Middle Of The Night

And here's the effects their tax cut plan has had so far.

Under Trump's watch, national debt 

tops $21 trillion for first time ever

One thing is for sure. Warren Harding and Richard Nixon, both, together and separately, have nothing, nothing on this guy. He outdoes them both, hands down.

And it's only the first year and a half of this Presidency.

God help us. God help us all.

The ACA for Seniors

Still more facts on "Obamacare" and who it's for:

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sibelius on the Affordable Care Act, Part 2

You might be surprised at how informative and so, important this interview is.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Kansas' own Kathleen Sibelius on the Affordable Care Act

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

A cartoon from Osawatamie and Secretary Sebelius

First this one, based on President Obama's big speech this week, from Osawatamie:

Secondly, this one, based on Health and Human Services Secretary and Kansan Kathleen Sebelius after she overturned the FDA's okay for a "Plan B" contraceptive pill without a prescription:

Proud of one--the first one--sad for the 2nd. So it goes.

Kathleen Sebelius lets us down after all

First she's getting off Air Force One with Presdident Obama here in town, headed to Osawatamie, Kansas for a big speech and I'm thrilled, next thing you know, there's this, today: Teenage Girls Will Still Need A Prescription For 'Plan B' WASHINGTON (AP) — "In a surprise move with election-year implications, the Obama administration's top health official overruled her own drug regulators and stopped the Plan B morning-after pill from moving onto drugstore shelves next to the condoms. The decision by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius means the Plan B One-Step emergency contraceptive will remain behind pharmacy counters, as it is sold today — available without a prescription only to those 17 and older who can prove their age." How disappointing. There's almost no other conclusion you can come to but that this was done for political, election year reasons. Proof? "It was believed to be the first time that the HHS has publicly overruled an FDA decision." You let us down, Madam Secretary, you let us down. Links: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=143249666; http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/12/07/143275251/teenage-girls-will-still-need-a-prescription-for-plan-b

Great news, just out

Another "right thing" happened just now.

It seems Tom Daschle has withdrawn from consideration as Director of Health and Human Services.

Terrific.

He shouldn't have been under consideration in the first place, since he hadn't paid, apparently, over $140,000.00 in taxes and he didn't tell the Obama administration about this glitch during his earlier clearance.

The reason he really ought to have been thrown out of consideration is because he "earned" at least $200,000.00 from some of the very health care companies he'd have to be overseeing.

That's a huge conflict of interest.

And this is exactly, specifically what this new administration was not supposed to be about.

If we're going to be creating a new type administration that's "cleaner" than what's come before, there shouldn't be anyone on the staff who has not paid or who does not pay their taxes.

That's easy and obvious.

If we're going to have a new administration that breaks from the past as promised, the person shouldn't have taken money and support from the very corporations they're going to be overseeing for the public's welfare.

No way.

So no matter what is said in the near future, the right thing happened here.

Tom Daschle was not the right person for this job.


Link to full story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_go_pr_wh/daschle_taxes

"Creeping corruption"?

The term is Howard Shore's, from yesterday on NPR.

It was a good question yesterday and it's a good one today.

Is there, as it seems, this creeping corruption in the United States?

Think about it.

There's the whole fact of lobbyists paying their representatives so they can get the regulations they want. Does "banking crisis" mean anything to you?

Timothy Geithner is nominated to be Treasury Secretary but it's found he hasn't paid $34,000.00 in taxes.

Rod Blagojevich offers to give a Senate seat but not without being paid first.

It seems like there's both local and national representatives being on the take, in different examples and situations.

Now, Tom Daschle is nominated to be Secretary of Health and Human Services but, oops, he hasn't paid $140,000.00 in back taxes. Sure, after the fact, on January 2 he pays them in full but hey, doesn't that look as though he's trying to "get by"?

And there are many, many more indications of at least impropriety, if not out and out illegality.

Are we becoming no better than any other country in the world where graft is common?

Part of it might be results of a tougher economy, sure, but it seems we are victims of our own lower standards, too. Lower standards by politicians and ourselves.

When we hear of rampant corruption in the former Soviet Union or Mexico or other countries, I think we Americans always thought we were better than that.

And we have been, by and large.

When we want to see our doctor or dentist, we don't pay for that privilege, by and large, I don't think. And I think that's true nationwide.

But for our government representatives, it seems it's getting more questionable, at least.

We need to hold them--and ourselves--to a much higher standard.

______________________________________________

A fun side note, I think:

Did you hear this? Rush Limbaugh is referring to the White House/Democrats stimulus bill as "porkulus".

I have a recommendation:

I think it's the perfect way to refer to Mr. Limbaugh.

Think of it: "Porkulus is bloviating on the economy again!"

It's perfect.

Have a great week, y'all.