The Unprecedented President and Presidency

 Truly unprecedented.

This is one of the reasons why the magazine Scientific Americans endorsed Biden for President.

Scientific American Endorses Joe Biden

Scientific American breaks with 175-year history

Scientific American Trashes Trump, Endorses Joe Biden

"Scientific American has never endorsed a presidential candidate in its 175-year history. This year we are compelled to do so. We do not do this lightly.

The evidence and the science show that Donald Trump has badly damaged the U.S. and its people—because he rejects evidence and science. The most devastating example is his dishonest and inept response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cost more than 190,000 Americans their lives by the middle of September. He has also attacked environmental protections, medical care, and the researchers and public science agencies that help this country prepare for its greatest challenges. That is why we urge you to vote for Joe Biden, who is offering fact-based plans to protect our health, our economy and the environment. These and other proposals he has put forth can set the country back on course for a safer, more prosperous and more equitable future."

So along with the fact that this is the first sitting President in the history of the nation to have members of HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY not just oppose him but for four--count them, four--different groups of people from, again, his own political party, to form formal, funded organizations to see that he's defeated, now a group of American scientists come out for the first time in their organization's history, to defeat this same President.

With the fact that billionaire Michael Bloomberg is spending 100 million dollars, also, to defeat him, Trump, in Florida, things look good for the nation, for the people.

Vote.

Vote Blue.

#BlueWave2020

Quotes of the Day -- On This President

I'm loving these today.

The Lincoln Project  @ProjectLincoln

The choice is clear: America or Trump.

Bill Kristol @BillKristol

Are you a John McCain Republican or a Donald Trump Republican? Country first or Trump first? 

@RVAT2020

Let's do this, America.

86 45

BYEDON

Lots of Excellent News Today on this Presidential Election

 Yes, lots of great things today hitting this President. First up...

New poll shows Trump's tough path to reelection

One of the first major national polls released after the Republican National Convention shows former Vice President Joe Biden with an almost double-digit lead over President Trump.

The survey, conducted by veteran pollster Ann Selzer for Grinnell College, finds Biden leading 49 percent to 41 percent, on the strength of a huge advantage among female voters, suburbanites and Americans with a college degree...

This incredibly good news hit minutes ago.

Biden opens up 10-point lead over Trump in new Quinnipiac Poll

And this big hunk of wonderfulness hit minutes ago this morning, too. The Trumpster is upset with and going after the Republicans' and Right Wing's own Drudge Report!

Trump Flips Out After Drudge Trolls Him Over His Alleged 'Strokes'

Next up...

Biden campaign, DNC raise record $364.5 million in August

Fantastic.  Loving it. Loving that, for sure.

Trump campaign says it 'can't ignore' Biden-Harris major fundraising haul in appeal to supporters

And then there's this that hit 2 days ago.

Trump’s popularity slips in latest Military Times poll

Military Times poll: Trump trails Biden by nearly 6 points

Active-Duty Troops Support Biden Over Trump

That's huge. And very welcome, naturally. Shouldn't be terribly surprising since he not only didn't support the troops when it was found he, Trump, didn't and wouldn't try to punish Russia for putting a cash bounty on them in field in Afghanistan and still hasn't, to this day. Insane.

Then there's this wonderfulness.

Biden leads Trump in 9 battleground states, polling shows

Leading overall, yes, which is, again, fantastic and important but also leading in 9 battleground states. Yahoo, ladies and gentlemen.

Next up. Yet more goodness. Yes, it's bad news for America and I'd certainly rather not have that but the silver lining to this big, ugly, dark cloud is that most Presidents aren't reelected with bad economies.

Private sector adds 428K workers in August as job growth slows: ADP

Ford tells employees buyouts are coming as it aims to cut white-collar workforce by roughly 1,400

Then it was announced Joe Biden also got this support.

81 Nobel laureates endorse Biden's White House bid

Finally, today, this came out about 10 days ago, from the Republican held Senate.

Republicans incriminate Trump, decimate his 'Russia hoax' narrative

Unfortunately, there is a high likelihood this will get lost in myriad news cycles but hey, it was out there and will remain.

So all in all, campers, great news for those of us interested in Democracy and what is good for the United States, for the nation and the people.  Let's do this.

Vote.

Vote blue

#BlueWave2020

86 45

BYEDON

Donald Trump's America

 Yes sir, Mr. and Mrs. America. Herewith, Donald Trump's, very Republican Party President Donald Trump's America.

Thank you, sir!

May we have another?!

86 45

BYEDON

And Repulbicans.  Know, just know we are never, never going to let you forget this guy. Nor certainly the damage he wreaked on the nation. You're never living this down.

Donald Trump This Week at the RNC

After yesterday's opening performance at the Republican National Convention, it's extremely clear this is going to be like a badly failing student going to a class assembly in the auditorium, telling the entire student body he's making straight As.

And the heck of it is, some of his friends on the staff are going along with it.

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

86 45

BYEDON

Quote of the Day -- Fascist/Presidential Edition

From travel expert Rick Steves.

"This week, I'm sharing clips from my public television special, "The Story of Fascism in Europe." I believe that learning from the past is important. History may not repeat itself...but sometimes it rhymes.

Fascists all seem to use the same playbook: Hitler, Mussolini, whoever. They offer simplistic promises in response to complicated problems — repeating lies so loudly and boldly that people begin to believe them. After Hitler became Germany's chancellor in 1933, he consolidated his power by marginalizing his fiercest critics (which frightened others into silence) and suspending democratic procedures. For, you see, once a fascist gets a taste of power, he'll stop at nothing to keep it."

Thanks, Republicans.

Tweets of the Day: RNC Presidential Edition

Bill Kristol  @BillKristol
·Aug 22

"Mr. Trump...now plans to directly address the nation in prime-time on each of the convention’s four nights." It's not a party. It's a cult.

Bill Kristol  @BillKristol

The Republicans, in 2020, for the first time, have no platform. Instead: "RESOLVED, That the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda." It's no longer the Republican party. It's a Trump cult.

Dan Rather  @DanRather

I am confident that every other president in my lifetime would be speaking forcefully in support of the pro democracy protesters in Belarus. This is a shameful abdication of American leadership.

Dan Rather  @DanRather

I cannot remember a time when political journalists so needed backgrounds in criminal law.

And finally, what I think is probably the social media quote of the day.

Dan Rather  @DanRather

There are times I get online, see the latest news, and wonder how we are living in a world where Kafka writes for the Twilight Zone starring the Marx Brothers.

God help us, folks.

God and the heavens help us get to November 3.

And then January 20.

Vote!

VOTE BLUE!!

#BlueWave2020

At the Start of the RNC, Things are not Going Well for the Trumpster

 Yes, there have been, are some developments this morning and in the last day or two, both, just before the start of this Republican National Convention. And virtually all of them are---darn it---not good for this Republican Party Donald Trump or his group. Here's the first. It's my favorite. Just broke this morning.

27 former Republican members of Congress announce they'll support Joe Biden over Trump

Jeff Flake, 27 Other Ex-GOP Congress Members Endorse Biden

How great is that?

Yet more Republicans bailing on this psychotic President.

Next up is this from a conservative commentator. It came out yesterday.

The Biden administration needs to pursue every Trump appointee accused of perjury: conservative

In a column for the Washington Post, conservative commentator Jennifer Rubin said, should Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden win in November, he should commit to having his Justice Department look into any Donald Trump appointee who has been accused of committing perjury during the past four years.

According to the never-Trumper, the first thing the new administration needs to do is open up to the public “all documents the Trump administration previously withheld from congressional subpoenas.”

Pretty incredible, coming from, as it says, a conservative. Most, very likely a fellow Republican.

Next up and another I especially enjoy. This came out yesterday.

Trump's strategy on mail ballots divides party before GOP convention

What's especially great about this one is that the Trumpster is tearing his own political party apart.

Better still, he has no idea he's doing it.

That is fantastic.  I've said several or many times, what isn't to hate about this President, what he does and says and his administration, is to love.  This is one of the love parts.

The following broke this past Saturday and while we knew it, it's still important to hear and see--and from such an excellent source.

Trump's sister says president 'has no principles,' lies and is cruel

Not done there, God bless her...

Donald Trump’s Own Sister Thinks He’s a Complete Phony

Then it came out this morning that another one exiting the very revolving door of this administration.

Kellyanne Conway To Leave White House At The End Of The Month

Does that not maybe smack of a rat deserting a sinking ship, folks?

This next one is very likely good for destroying the Republican Party but very bad if, God and heavens forbid, this idiot were reelected. I don't think any political party has ever done this in the history of our nation.  If you didn't think or know the Republican Party has been taken over by Donald Trump, perhaps this will convince you. What would you call a party that has no platform and says whatever it’s leader says is the platform?

Republican convention to forgo party platform in favor of Trump's agenda

This one is partially good for tearing down this President's reelection attempt and to likely also tear down his political party but if this man, this buffoon, should, God and heavens forbid, actually be reelected? 

Insane.

• First, I don't think any political party has ever done this in the history of our nation and for good reason.
• Second, this kind of thing happens in Communist countries and dictatorships and banana republics. This doesn't take place in Democracies. It sure as heck doesn't happen here in America. At least, it didn't take place in America until now, with this man, this Donald Trump and his own personal political party. 
• Third, I and a lot of us out here are just personally hoping it helps just destroy his reelection campaign and their political party. Once again, proof positive he can no way be reelected, for the good and betterment of the nation, no exaggeration or overstatement. 
• Finally on this, if this isn't the epitome of a despot and despotism, what is?

Between this and the fact that 6 of the 12 keynote speakers this week at this RNC have the last name Trump, to what other conclusion are we to come but that this is a despot? He's praised other like Kim Jong Un and the Philippines' Duterte, etc.

Trump family make up half of RNC key note speakers

Additionally, Trump is requiring he speak ALL 4 NIGHTS of this convention.

Who does that? In America, what candidate for the presidency does that? Ever did it. I don't think ever. I think it's one more thing unprecedented by this President.

Finally, there is this great, breaking news this morning. I know we've seen this headline before but this just broke an hour ago.  The state of New York just isn't going to let us down.

New York attorney general investigating Trump over financial statements

And so, we go on to their---his--political convention tonight. I think NPR summed it up nicely.

Convention Gives Trump A Chance To Explain How He'll Make America Great Again...Again

86 45

BYEDON

Vote, folks!

And VOTE BLUE!!

#BlueWave2020

This Week's Republican National Convention, In One Picture

This, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly what we're going to get/hear for 4 days from this Republican National Convention and this, their President Donald J Trump. Get ready for it. 

He has already said, and he will say again, repeatedly, that if we don't reelect him, it will ruin America, the USA. The opposite is true, of course. If he's reelected... God forbid.

It would only be laughable if it and he weren't so dangerous and tragic, literally, and for the nation and so many Americans.

Vote, folks. Vote.

And VOTE BLUE.

#BlueWave2020

86 45

BYEDON

The Bizarro World That Is the Presidency of Donald J "Jenius" Trump

 Did you see this breaking news today?

Court orders Donald Trump to pay legal fees in Stormy Daniels suit

Seriously, you couldn't make up stuff this wacky, this insane that's come from this President and his Presidency the last 3-1/2 years. If it were a TV show, no one would believe it. It's too outrageous. Way too outrageous.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS GOT TO PAY THE LEGAL FEES OF A SEX WORKER

AND HE HAD HER PAID $130,000 TO BE QUIET ABOUT THEIR TRYST DURING HIS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FOR THAT OFFICE

How is this guy still there?
How is he still in the White House?
How is he still in charge?

What Democrat could have said and/or done all this guy has and still be in office?

And Evangelicals---ostensibly Christians and "moral people"---supposedly support this guy, still support this guy.

Thanks, Republicans!  You and your boy are SPECIAL!

86 45

BYEDON

Huge, Fantastic Presidential News Breaking This Morning!!

It's yet another tough, tough day for the Trumpster today, campers. Check out this incredible, breaking news from just this morning 

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon arrested on fraud charges in border wall fundraising scheme

Federal prosecutors say Bannon and three associates illegally funneled money from the “We Build The Wall” fund

Truly incredible. And wonderful.

Not done there, yet more good---no, great news.

Judge rejects Trump’s latest bid to shield his tax records from Manhattan district attorney

NEW YORK — President Trump’s latest attempt to block the Manhattan district attorney from obtaining his tax records was rejected by a federal judge Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero threw out the latest lawsuit brought by Trump’s lawyers which had argued that a subpoena to Mazars USA, Trump’s accounting firm, was “overbroad” in its request for documents and that it amounted to “harassment.” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. argued repeatedly that the subpoena, issued by a grand jury, was legally valid and tied to a legitimate criminal investigation.

And then one last breaking story today.

Prosecutors looking to reinstate indictment against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for mortgage fraud

The case was initially dismissed due to its similarity to the federal charges

The Manhattan District Attorney's office fought Thursday to reinstate the indictment against President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to court documents filed in the case.

Manafort had been charged in New York for allegedly conducting a yearlong residential mortgage fraud scheme before the case was dismissed in December due to its similarity to earlier federal charges.

The Manhattan DA's office argued, according to court filings, that the state's double jeopardy law contains an exception that would allow the case to proceed.

Isn't it a beautiful day, ladies and gentlemen?

So. herewith, a summary of this Trump, very Republican Party administration so far, to date:

• Rick Gates: Convicted
• Paul Manafort: Convicted
• George Papadopoulos: Convicted
• Mike Flynn: Convicted
• Michael Cohen: Convicted
• Roger Stone: Convicted
• Steve Bannon: Arrested, charged with fraud
• Donald Trump: Impeached

"Only the best people..."

"So much winning..."

Thanks, Mr. President!

Thanks, Republicans!

86 45

BYEDON

VOTE!!

And VOTE BLUE!!

The Donald Trump/Republican Party Election Platform 2020

In a nutshell.

Vote Trump?

Vote Republican?

I don't think so.

Four Different Formal Groups of Republicans Against Trump

Four, four different groups of Republicans now that formed formal organizations to defeat the sitting President of their own political party.

The Lincoln Project

Republican Voters Against Trump

Right Side PAC

43 Alumni for Joe Biden

And there's this, too, from The Guardian (link below):

A set of Republican national security officials has also emerged in opposition to Trump.

That group hasn’t given itself a name yet, and includes the former Bush homeland security adviser Ken Wainstein, and John Bellinger III, who served in the state department. The group is looking to rally national security officials away from Trump – either by supporting Biden or writing in someone else.

I'm telling you, folks., this is completely unprecedented in our nation's entire history.

Vote.

And vote blue.

#BlueWave

86 45

BYEDON

Links:

Republican rebels come together to take on Trump

A slew of organized Republican groups have sprung up to do all they can to defeat Trump in November

Anti-Trump Republican groups urge GOP voters to support Joe Biden for president

This President President Just Took Three Big Broadsides in 24 Hours

Yes, really, SO much going on and honestly, precious little of it good or positive for this President Trump.

First up, this was released yesterday.

Former DHS official blasts Trump, endorses Biden

Miles Taylor, who served as the Department of Homeland Security's chief of staff, in a video endorsement of Biden said that working under the current administration was "terrifying."

"What we saw week in and week out, for me, after two and a half years in that administration, was terrifying. We would go in to try to talk to him about a pressing national security issue — cyberattack, terrorism threat. He wasn't interested in those things. To him, they weren't priorities," Taylor says in the video, which was produced by the group Republican Voters Against Trump.

Taylor said that many of the things President Donald Trump wanted DHS to do were impossible and in some cases illegal. He characterized the president as vindictive and self-centered.

"Given what I have experienced in the administration, I have to support Joe Biden for president. And even though I am not a Democrat, even though I disagree on key issues, I'm confident that Joe Biden will protect the country, and I'm confident that he won't make the same mistakes as this president," Taylor, who was at DHS from 2017 to 2019, adds in the video.

That was brutal.

Then this came out this morning, in the last hour or two. And check the source.

Bipartisan Senate report describes 2016 Trump campaign eager to accept help from foreign power

The report highlights some never-before-seen evidence, including allegations about women and potentially compromising material tied to Trump trips to Russia

WASHINGTON — In a thousand-page bipartisan report released Tuesday, the Senate Intelligence Committee said the Trump administration obstructed its investigation with "novel claims" of executive privilege. It painted a portrait of a Trump campaign eager to accept help from a foreign power in 2016.

The Senate report, the most detailed account to date of the Trump campaign's embrace of Russian election interference, also asserted that the allegations that Ukraine interfered in the election — which President Donald Trump perpetuated — originated with Russian intelligence agencies.

The report highlighted some never-before-seen evidence about Trump and Russia, including three allegations of potentially compromising material relating to Trump's private trips to Russia that were unconnected to the dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele...

..."Russia and other countries took advantage of the Transition Team's inexperience, transparent opposition to Obama Administration policies, and Trump's desire to deepen ties with Russia, to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy," the report said. "The lack of vetting of foreign interactions by Transition officials left the Transition open to influence and manipulation by foreign intelligence services, government leaders, and co-opted business executives."

It added, "Russian officials, intelligence services, and others acting on the Kremlin's behalf were capable of exploiting the Transition's shortcomings for Russia's advantage. Based on available information it is possible — and even likely — that they did so."

On Ukraine, the report said that Russian-government operatives from late 2016 until at least January 2020 consistently spread "overlapping false narratives which sought to discredit investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections and spread false information about the events of 2016."

I personally, strongly recommend reading that entire article.

And there's more from and about this, too.

Senate report finds Manafort passed campaign data to Russian intelligence officer

Between even just these two events in the last 24 hours, this President took a couple of big, big hits, folks. And with these revelations on his campaign working with the Russians, etc., it's two big problems for him, among at least a few, if not several others, not least of which is the State of New York looking into prosecuting him.

Trump Flails Against Growing Financial Probe 

in New York

Thirdly and finally, this was announced yesterday.

Appeals court lets emoluments case against Trump continue

This President always was in over his head, so to speak. It's my contention he never knew what he was getting into because he clearly never knew our government and/or what's involved or what it takes.

As I keep saying, thanks, Republicans.  That's quite the guy you foisted on us all.

Covid-19: A Very Current International Comparison

 Check that out. This was yesterday. Deaths from this pandemic in 7 different allies and us, the United States of America. 

The world's richest, "most advanced" nation.

1,120 Americans died yesterday. Now, more than 168,000 Americans dead from this pandemic.

We're exceptional, all right.

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

Quote of the Day -- Presidential Edition

 

“Has there ever been a president so utterly devoid of scruple, so naked in his ambition to steal an election? Trump is so terrified of losing that he’ll take the entire system down with him. Our post office. Our elections. Our very democracy. His depravity is boundless.” 

--Rep. Adam Schiff, D-CA

And the answer, of course, is no. There has never been a President this low.

Thanks, Republicans.

Donald Trump, According to Another Republican

From very conservative and long-serving Republican Party member Steve Schmidt @SteveSchmidtSES:

I find it necessary to reach for the language and colorful colloquialisms of my native land, New Jersey, in order to express my feelings about today’s event in Bedminster. It was a fucking travesty. Truly. An utter Fucking disgrace.

The President of the United States of America stood behind the Seal of his office framed by American flags and his private club’s membership,slurring and raving about his victimization. His titanic self-pity was only exceeded by his dishonesty and uncontrolled lying. His lying was only subordinate to his staggering idiocy, ignorance, ineptitude and incompetence. |

The incompetence, even after all this time, shocks the conscience. 162,000 Americans are dead and the economy is shattered. So many more will die. The evictions, foreclosures and small business closings are just beginning. We are in the early hours of one of the greatest tragedies in our country's history. None of it had to be, but it has happened because Donald Trump is President. His malice, stupidity, ego and insecurity are a lethal combination.

He has wrecked this country in less than four years. He has induced a national nosedive, a decline that is precipitous, dangerous and humiliating. The world is more dangerous. American soldiers are hunted like animals by Taliban killers who are paid bounties by Russian killers and Trump does nothing but kowtow to Putin and advance his agenda.

Trump has divided the country and pitted Americans against each other. He has loosed violence against peacefully assembled U.S. citizens and deployed militarized paramilitary forces to escalate tensions in American cities in the name of law and order, when the real purpose and mission is to stoke the embers of chaos and create fear. Fear, built on a mountain of lies, is the autocrat's sword and shield. Trump stokes fear to abuse his power and press forward with his assaults on the rule of law, our essential constitutions and our national comity, all in the name of his corruption, aggrandizement and cult of personality.

It is a despicable hour in the life of this country. This will be ended because it must end. We will lose the country if Trump isn’t repudiated. Make no mistake about the intentions of a President who is openly undermining the 231-year-old tradition of American elections. He is undermining the legitimacy of the coming election with no regard for the consequences to liberal democracy here and around the world.

Fascism didn’t rise in the 1930s because it was strong. It rose because Democracy was weak. American Democracy is weak, decayed and led by an illiberal man who would cancel the election, lock up his political opponents, enrich his friends and remain in power for life.

Trump is the greatest failure in American history. No American has failed history’s test in a more spectacular fashion. His stoking of racial tensions and a cold civil war in our land will live in infamy. His disgrace will be eternal.

Thanks, Republicans.

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.

This Man, Donald Trump, In Senator Lindsey Graham's Own Words

Priceless.


Thank you, Senator Graham. You finally did some things right, albeit some years ago. And unintentionally.

Oh, and thanks, Republicans.