Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Monday, April 5, 2021
Quote of the Day -- Campaign Finance Reform Edition from the Wayback Machine
Check out this very appropriate quote today. More American history too many don't know.
In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt called for campaign finance reform. The result was the Tillman Act of 1907, the first law prohibiting corporate donations to national political parties. And note. Teddy Roosevelt was a member of the Republican Party. He'd no way be welcomed by them today.
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Great Time to Point Out What We Need To Do As a Nation
Three things, three big and important things, at minimum, we need to do to and with our government given the new administration that will be comind in. Next year couldn't be soon enough. First up--
We need to do this and badly. We need to first overturn Citizens United and then end the legalized bribery we call "campaign contributions." We could easily do this if we but have the will, too. We should do what the UK did long ago and make our elections only, say, a month or 3 months long. This would have many benefits besides killing the need for our government legislators to beg for and raise and have so much money for their political campaigns. It would also end the nearly constant campaign cycles we have now. Those two right there are huge benefits.
Next up--
We need to do this so, of course, no political party even can let alone does gerrymander any political district so they can win reelection in perpetuity. It needs to be illegal for both political parties, everywhere, period. This only make sense.
And yes, end voter ID laws since they only disenfranchise fellow taxpaying American citizens and are frequently racist, too.
Then, third--
Finally, we need to get the division and ugliness out of our media, out of what is still called "news" but which, because of ending the Fairness Doctrine, has become the likes of Fox "news" and Breitbart and so much Right Wing, even literally hate radio and media. It needs to be illegal, again, to not show at least 2 sides of any issue or story and not just one. Lying on the news should be illegal.
So there you are. With a new Presidential administration coming in soon, these are 3 things, at minimum we need and need so sorely. I doubt we do them but there is talk of changing things and now is the time. We are long, long overdue on these.
Links:
Saturday, November 28, 2020
This Is It! A Way to Avoid Another President Donald J Trump!
At last! I found it! I found the answer and way for us all to avoid any second Donald J Trump, President.
Amend the Constitution to Prevent Another Trump
This man, Rohit Aggarwal, wrote this in Bloomberg News, thank goodness! Here's the meat of the article:
The amendment should replace the Office of Government Ethics with a new entity that's responsible jointly to the president and both houses of Congress, charged not only with establishing ethics regulations but also with suspending officials who violate them. It should institutionalize the independence of the Justice Department by making the attorney general an officer who serves at the pleasure of both the president and Congress, thereby ensuring that attorneys general would not be able to do active harm for very long.
Finally, the amendment should prevent presidents from pardoning themselves, their families, their staffs and campaign officials, and perhaps even major donors to their campaigns. It should eliminate the ability to grant pardons between Election Day and the beginning of the next presidential term.
Simple. Intelligent. Important. Necessary, as we have seen these last four years.
Let's do this, America. Get the word out to your government representatives.
Monday, November 23, 2020
Quote of the Day -- Presidential Edition
I'm not violating any pledge of journalistic confidentially in reporting this: 21 Republican Sens–in convos w/ colleagues, staff members, lobbyists, W. House aides–have repeatedly expressed extreme contempt for Trump & his fitness to be POTUS.
The 21 GOP Senators who have privately expressed their disdain for Trump are:
- Portman
- Alexander
- Sasse
- Blunt
- Collins
- Murkowski
- Cornyn
- Thune
- Romney
- Braun
- Young
- Tim Scott
- Rick Scott
- Rubio
- Grassley
- Burr
- Toomey
- McSally
- Moran
- Roberts
- Shelby
With few exceptions, their craven public silence has helped enable Trump’s most grievous conduct—including undermining and discrediting the US the electoral system.
9:10 PM • 11/22/20
Let's do this, folks.
#Throwthebumout
The New York Times Asks a Good and Important Question
In this weekend's New York Times Magazine, they not only ask a great question but then take it further and point out 5 features of this President's possible problems if not out and out crimes. First the question.
Can America Restore the Rule of Law Without Prosecuting Trump?
To which I think it's, first, important to answer that yes, we, America do need to restore the rule of law here in America and we need to at the very least investigate this President and what he's done and then, likely, very likely, yes, go forward with charges and for two reasons.
First, we need to make sure and clear that no one, no one is above the law and then, second, as the article says, we need to restore the rule of law here in America. It's important we do this and it's very important we make sure nothing like Donald Trump, his presidency or administration ever, ever happen again.
And then? For what to investigate this man Trump?
This is the 2nd thing I think the article does clearly and importantly if not and out out beautifully. We examine Mr. Trump for
- Possible financial crimes
- Election law violations
- Obstruction of justice, any and all
- Public corruption
- Partisan coercion
No small things.
Let's do this, America.
Our first priority has to be getting him out of office, of course, since he lost the election but this is second. This is an important, very important second priority. And let's be clear about this, too. This is not Democrat trying to punish Republican. This is about law-abiding citizens keeping everyone law-abiding.
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Quote of the Day -- Historic, Depressing Edition
"Surely something can be done to check corruption.
Are we forever to be at the mercy of thieves and ruffians?
Is a respectable government impossible in a democracy?"
--Henry Adams, "Democracy: An American Novel", 1880
Monday, November 2, 2020
Vote Tomorrow!!!
And VOTE BLUE!!
BLUE WAVE!!!
Let's do this!!
86 45!!
At long last!!
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Arguably the Most Important Article All Adult Americans Can--and Should--Read Today
The Business Insider published today what I think is an excellent, downright important article on this President and the direction we should all take once he's out of office.
Once Donald J Trump is out of office, we need to investigate--and more. A lot more.
I'd argue that it is easily, easily the most important, insightful, over-arching article any adult American could read about our nation and our situation today and going forward and in at least a few different ways.
All Democrats need to see, read and understand this article.
We need to make certain nothing like Donald J Trump ever happens again in our nation. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our children and grandchildren, we owe it to the nation and all successive generations of Americans.
It isn't about "revenge", either, no way. And it's not about fighting between the two political parties. It's about having people follow the law but especially government officeholders, especially the highest officeholder of the nation.
Let's do this. We need to do this. We need to root out corruption so it doesn't happen again.
And then prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.
And then fight for restructuring the government so that it's far more fair and just and science-friendly and forward-thinking and acting, at the very least.
Our lives and our nation depend on it.
Friday, October 30, 2020
Further Proof How Dirty This President Is
This, this is exactly how dirty this President is. And he's, to date, gotten away with it.
A private company forgave a 130 million dollar debt from Trump after they got a federal contract. The story is from September, huge as it is.
President Trump touring the Cameron LNG Export Terminal on May 14, 2019, in Hackberry, La. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)"A multi-billion dollar private equity firm whose subsidiary was awarded two special permits by the Trump Administration to haul hazardous liquified natural gas (LNG), including by rail along Florida’s east coast, apparently forgave more than $100 million in debt owed by President Trump.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed a petition last month in the New York Supreme Court seeking to compel the Trump Organization to produce documents pertaining to a $130-million loan to Trump from Fortress Credit, part of the $45.5 billion Fortress Investment Group. The AG seeks to determine if the president evaded paying capital gains taxes on a large portion of the 2005 loan that the Attorney General says it has learned was “forgiven.” Trump and his staff have not cooperated in obtaining the loan documentation, the petition said."
Hey, it's just our tax dollars and federal government, right? What's a little-- a lot?--of corruption between friends?
What's additionally bizarre about this is that it's so "in your face." So blatant. So obvious.
Meanwhile, this from Fox itself.
Vote, folks. And vote blue. Let's do this.
86 45
BYEDON
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Get The New York Times Today, Folks
Great, even important op/ed piece today from The New York Times.
End Our National Crisis
"The case against Donald Trump"
CORRUPTION
ANGER
CHAOS
INCOMPETENCE
LIES
DECAY
The Worst President in Modern History
Let's do this, folks.
86 45
BYEDON
Monday, September 21, 2020
What Is It With Kansas City, Missouri and Purchasing Contracts?
Delay at KCI? Council’s bungled contract could slow progress on new airport terminal
Construction firm asks feds to investigate why it was denied $75 million KCI contract
The city of Kansas City, Missouri was founded in 1853.
Will we ever, ever get letting purchasing contracts right?
Ever?
Friday, August 28, 2020
On the RNC---From Dan Rather
Chilling.
That is the sentiment that sticks with me this morning as I reflect on day 2 of the Republican National Convention. Even to call it a convention is to miss the point. This was propaganda, the pageantry, power, and symbolism of our federal government - OUR government, we the people - exploited by a president who feels unbound by the constitution in his desperate desire to hold on to power.
A secretary of state from foreign soil pledges sycophantic fealty to his boss with hopes of bolstering his own standing in a political party that has become a personality cult. Immigrants are used as props in the White House by a president who has demonized, restricted, and mistreated even legal immigrants and asylum seekers. Uniformed military personnel are employed in this charade. A first lady, who is an unrepentant birther, mouths teleprompter platitudes in front of an unmasked crowd of true believers during a deadly mismanaged pandemic in a re-imagined rose garden and is heralded by some for her tone.
Meanwhile, in the real America, there is death, desperation, depression, hunger, and heartbreak. Once again a Black family is thrust into the national spotlight by a police shooting. And scenes of violent protests and counterprotests sweep across our national discourse, encouraged by a president who sees personal gain in racial division.
The polls tighten, or do they? What is hitting with the public and what isn't? How are these speeches playing? These are questions for the mechanics of the horse race. They are the comfortable grooves into which campaign reporting usually falls. They are hard to resist. But they do not accurately see the full scope of the moment.
A line of attack on Joe Biden is that he would be a captive of the far left, that he is somehow a socialist. Nevermind that many of the policies of even the more liberal members of the Democratic Party would be considered mainstream center left in most European democracies. But what one doesn't hear enough in our media coverage is the term "far right." Racist and antisemtic authoritarian conspiracy theories are waved off by Republican politicians who know very well what they are about and how they are fueling support for Donald Trump. The trappings of the state are used for naked power politics. Corruption reigns. Foreign dictators are coddled. The rule of law is undermined. Voting is suppressed. This all isn't theoretical. This is happening now. All of it. And in plain sight.
With all of this power, it is rather amazing that Donald Trump isn't assured re-election. It is a testimony to the strength and durability of the majority of Americans, across a diverse political spectrum, who see the threat for what it is. Yes, this is a fight for democracy. But do not underestimate the strength and power of those who stand in opposition. Time and again, America has withstood threats - external and internal - in its uneven march to a more perfect union. And time and time again, courageous and energetic mass movements have signed up for service to this nation's higher ideals. This is a moment of testing, to be sure. It is, as I said, chilling. But it cannot be defeated unless it is clearly seen for what it is.
Know how to get your vote in, and make sure it is counted. See how you can help others have their voices heard at the ballot box. There is so much to despair about, but despair and demoralization is being weaponized by those who seek to cynically hold on to their power. Instead, try to be inspired by a movement of tens of millions across this nation who are determined that this shall not be the definition of America.
__________________________________________________________
Vote, folks.
Be sure to vote.
And vote blue.
86 45
BYEDON
Monday, July 20, 2020
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.
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?”
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.
Huge.
Finally, check out these two reports. First this on Republicans and their recent haul.
Then this on the Democrats.
On to November!
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Remembering Tricky Dick
We thought we'd never do any worse than Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew.
Yet here we are.
Thanks, Republicans.
You've outdone even yourselves.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Great, Breaking Presidential Election News Today!
I just saw this news, breaking today, out on social media. Fantastic.
A new organization, Republican Voters Against Trump, is testing the premise of whether there are really any persuadable voters left.
I tell you, folks, it's enough to give a person hope. Think good thoughts.
Enjoy that sunshine out there.
Have a great day.
Monday, May 25, 2020
Happy? Memorial Day
Click on picture for easier reading.
Try to have a happy Memorial Day out there, folks. Be well. Be safe.
Friday, May 8, 2020
Americans Need to Know What Just Happened In and To Our Justice System
The Justice Department has dropped Michael Flynn’s case
It seems Attorney General William Barr had up to now guilty Michael Flynn freed from his guilty convictions.
Michael Flynn was formally found guilty in our courts, in our justice system and this administration just overturned that finding.
Everyone needs to know, remember, keep in mind that Michael Flynn plead guilty---twice---formally, officially, in a court of law to lying to the FBI. Perjury. One of the worst offenses, short of murder, one can be found guilty.
Now this.
The Trump administration’s Justice Department is undermining the rule of law.
If he is successful, Barr will save Trump from the political fallout of pardoning a former close aide, while still clearing Flynn. A pardon might have seemed to be the ultimate perversion of justice — but Barr’s maneuver is actually much, much worse.
Flynn lied to the FBI in early 2017 about a conversation he had with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak when Flynn was a member of the Trump transition team. Flynn’s conversation involved mollifying Russia immediately after the Obama administration expelled 35 Russian spies and imposed sanctions as punishment for its interference in the 2016 election. When interviewed by the FBI about his conversation with Kislyak, Flynn lied, despite knowing — as he undoubtedly would, as the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency — that doing so was a crime.
The fact that he would lie to the FBI, which is charged with protecting the country’s national security, raised the concern that he might be compromised by a foreign power — a concern that Barr’s current motion to the court claims that the FBI should have ignored. In fact, Barr’s motion to the court echoes the request Trump made to the bureau’s then-director, James B. Comey, in February 2017, when he asked Comey to “see [his] way clear to letting Flynn go” — a request that landed Trump in the middle of an investigation into obstruction of justice...
"The head of the American justice system now saying publicly that there is no good or bad except what the strongest want," said another critic. "The definition of autocracy."
'Transparently Corrupt': Barr Lets Flynn Off Scot-Free
And today, now, it seems this President Trump is even honestly making things worse for himself by---wait for it---shooting off his mouth. Further. Check this out.
During a Friday morning phone interview on Fox News' morning show, "Fox and Friends," President Donald Trump said he's studied history and "learned a lot from Richard Nixon," while reflecting on the federal investigation into his 2016 campaign's ties to Russia.
The president said one of his key lessons came from Nixon, who resigned in 1974 while facing almost-certain impeachment after directing the criminal Watergate break-in. Taped conversations illustrating Nixon's involvement in the criminal conspiracy and his attempts to cover up the wrongdoing by firing top aides helped seal his fate.
"I learned a lot from Richard Nixon. Don't fire people," Trump said.
"Only the best people..."
Remember that?
Thanks, Republicans.
God help us all.
God forgive and help us all.
Monday, May 4, 2020
The Corruption of This President--and of our Goivernment and Political System---Is Rampant and Plain For All To See
Herein, two mess ups by the Republican Party Buffoon in Chief.
When former Vice President Joe Biden entered the Democratic presidential race a year ago, he introduced the now familiar theme that the “soul of this nation” was at stake in the 2020 election. Judging by what we’ve seen from President Donald Trump over the past few days, Biden is right.
It began Friday night, when Trump informed Congress that he was firing MIchael Atkinson, the Intelligence Community’s inspector general. This was nothing more than a vile act of political retribution that had been months in the making. Atkinson fulfilled his legal responsibilities by informing Congress about a whistleblower complaint that exposed Trump’s impeachable crimes. What everyone else recognizes as following the letter of the law, the president views as cause for termination.
On Monday, Trump turned his attention to the inspector general who oversees the Department of Health and Human Services, who had just released a report revealing the extent to which hospitals were struggling to meet the health care demands associated with treating COVID-19 patients. The thorough review included interviews from 323 hospitals across 46 states and stood in stark contrast with the rhetoric coming from the president. Naturally, Trump labeled the report a “Fake Dossier” and suggested “politics” influenced it.
Irony is alive, oversight is dead
On Tuesday, the president removed Pentagon Inspector General Glenn Fine. He had just been designated to oversee the newly created Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, a watchdog panel authorized by Congress to conduct oversight of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill. The same day, Trump said he had seven IGs in his sights — prompting Sen. Chris Murphy to announce he would draft a bill to “give all Inspectors General protected 7 year terms.”
The irony here is that Republicans once cautioned about this exact thing before Trump infected them and they abandoned every principle they once proclaimed to stand for. There was a time when oversight over massive government spending was the centerpiece of the Republican oversight agenda. My former boss and House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa actually declared, “This money, at the American people’s expense, going through the hands of political leaders, is in fact corrupting the process.” He literally called the Obama administration “the most corrupt government in history.” Where are those Republicans now?
In the course of three days, Trump fired an IG for telling the truth, attacked another for exposing the totality of a health care pandemic, and removed another in a brazen effort to avoid being held accountable for how trillions of taxpayer dollars will be allocated. The sum of these actions is nothing short of blatant corruption in plain sight. Free from the limitations of accountability, there is nothing stopping the president from turning the so-called “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act) into a $2 trillion personal slush fund.
Coronavirus hypocrisy: From masks to mail voting, Trump's special and we're not.
Trump feels empowered to obliterate the guardrails of checks and balances. Bit by bit, he has stripped away the levers of oversight until there's nothing left. It started by ignoring congressional subpoenas for his financial records. It continued as Trump refused to cooperate with the House impeachment investigation, stonewalling Congress’ attempts to hear witness testimony and conduct depositions with administration officials close to the president. And now he is leading a purge of the final remaining frontier of oversight — the inspectors general.
Supreme Court's dangerous path
For anyone hoping the Supreme Court will assert its role as the third branch of government, it has delayed hearing cases, including three lawsuits involving Trump’s tax returns and financial dealings. And yet, somehow, the Supreme Court managed to reverse a federal judge's order to extend absentee voting by a week in Wisconsin's primary on Tuesday. The result was that voters had to choose between their health and their civic duty.
The court’s refusal to move forward with cases that impact the president, coupled with its willingness to interfere with the Wisconsin election, foreshadows a very dangerous path as we look ahead to the November elections. In essence, the court’s conservative majority is just another political instrument for Trump to wield.
End of oversight: Trump's unfettered attacks on accountability are a life-and-death crisis for democracy
It may be hard to see the forest through the trees in this time of social distancing, but make no mistake about it, our democracy is in the midst of a three-alarm fire. The highest court in the land has effectively been hijacked — serving only the interests of Donald Trump. Congress is no longer a co-equal branch of government, a result of Trump’s toxic brand of obstruction.
By taking a wrecking ball to independent oversight, Trump has made the presidency into a dictatorship. At this point, the only recourse we will have left to save our democracy, repair the institutions of government, and restore accountability to the American people, is to vote in November to save “the soul of this nation.” That is, assuming Trump, the Republicans and the Supreme Court let us.
The 2nd two-fer of the day isn't as bad, not as huge but still bad. Not done there, a former President, none other than also Republican Party member George W Bush states publicly we need to be non-partisan as Americans just now, what with this pesky international pandemic but who comes out against even that? Comes out against Americans being and working together.
If it were anyone but this Republican Party President Donald J "The John" Trump, any one part of this would be unbelievable.
As it is, Trump is getting and has gotten away with all of this, to date, and it's very believable.
The lampoon site, "The Onion", can't keep up with, let alone outdo, this guy.
Link: Once a staunch Republican and rising star, Kurt Bardella
Thursday, April 23, 2020
What the Absolute Heck, Mr. President??
Kushner-backed program chartering flights to address hospital shortages raises questions in Congress
The details:
"A flight from China chartered by the U.S. government touched down at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday last week. Inside were nearly 6 million surgical masks and some respiratory equipment.
But the supplies on board weren’t tucked into the national stockpile or distributed by the federal government among cities hardest hit by novel coronavirus despite the average taxpayer bill of $750,000 to $800,000 per flight.
Instead, the masks and other life-saving equipment were owned by Medline, one of the nation’s largest privately held manufacturers and distributors of medical supplies. They were loaded onto cargo trucks and driven to the company’s warehouse in suburban Chicago.
It was up to Medline to decide who gets the protective gear and what price they would pay.
The sole federal requirement imposed on Medline was that it would promise to sell half its cargo to designated 'hot spots' facing outbreaks of the coronavirus."
What the absolute heck?
Our Federal dollars are spent but a private company is going to decide who gets what, when and how---and they'll no doubt pocket any and all profit from it all?
How is this right?
Can you imagine the Republican Party uproar if the previous President did anything remotely similar?
Why are they, why is he, Mr. Trump, getting away with this?
Why are we letting him get away with this?
Thanks, Mr. President!
Thanks, Republicans!
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