Entertainment Overnight - A Song for You

Sing it, brother Ray.

I've been so many places in my life and time

I've sung a lot of songs

I've made some bad rhymes

I've acted out my life in stages

With ten thousand people watching

But we're alone now

And I'm singing this song to you

I know your image of me is what I hoped to be

I treated you unkindly

But darling can't you see

There's no one more important to me

Baby can't you see through me?

'Cause we're alone now and I'm singing this song to you

You taught me precious secrets 

Of a true love

You wanted nothing

You came out in front

When I was hiding

But now I'm so much better

And if my words don't come together

Listen to the melody

'Cause my love is in there hiding

I love you in a place

Where there's no space or time

I love you for my life

You're a friend of mine

And when my life is over

Remember when we were together

We were alone

And I was singing this song to you

I love you in a place

Where there's no space or time

I love you for my life

You're a friend of mine

And when my life is over

Remember when we were together

We were alone and I was singing this song to you

We were alone 

And I was singing this song to you

We were alone and I was singing this song

Singing this song to you

Now Look Who Says This President Is An Actual Threat to National Security

Retired four-star Army general: Trump ‘serious threat to US national security’

A retired four-star Army general said that he believes that President Trump is a “serious threat to US national security.”

Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey tweeted Friday that he reached the conclusion about Trump because the president “is refusing to protect vital US interests from active Russian attacks.”

“It is apparent that he is for some unknown reason under the sway of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he added. 

It's not MSNBC. It's not one of the three networks. It's not "Left Wing" or Liberal (librul) or Democrat or anyone else.

At what point are we collectively concerned?

Who has to point out how wrong this man, this President, is until we believe them and do something about him and so, our situation, our national situation?

At what point do we do something?

The FBI and CIA and Robert Mueller are all investigating if there was collusion between Russia and this President, to get him elected, as we know. Heck, more than one source has said there was collusion already, given the evidence.

Ex-CIA chief: Trump staff had enough contact 

with Russia to justify FBI Inquiry

Ex-CIA chief: Worries grew 

of Trump campaign contacts to Russia

How soon, America?

Another Huge "Gift" From President Trump and the Republican Party

Have you seen this yet?

U.S. national debt exceeds $21 trillion 

for first time 

About a year ago, President Trump pledged to eliminate the national debt "over a period of eight years." But for the first time in history, the national debt surpassed $21 trillion this week, according to the U.S. Treasury.

When Mr. Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2017, the national debt was $19.9 trillion, according to U.S. Treasury data. Since then, the GOP-led Congress has passed a $1.5 trillion tax cut bill and a two-year spending deal which, together, are expected to drive the deficit and debt further upward. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates annual deficits could top $2.1 trillion per year in the next decade, which would send the national debt soaring even higher.

 
Is fiscal conservatism dead?

Republicans railed against the national debt level under the Obama administration, when it jumped from $10.6 trillion to $19.9 trillion, nearly doubling, but few have been as outspoken about the situation with Republicans controlling Capitol Hill and the White House.

Insane. Insanity. Fiscal insanity and irresponsibility.

They're spending their way to huge debt, after railing about over-spending and debt and deficits for the previous 8 years. 

And for what?

So they could hand over yet more of the nation's wealth to the already-wealthy and corporations with their big "trickle down economics" tax bill they just passed.

Nation and middle- and lower- and working-classes be damned.

Now they're coming after Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

We have GOT to vote these people out.

Link:

GOP tax cut plan would add $1.7 trillion 

to the deficit, CBO projects

Reputedly, a Canadian Asks Some Very Good and Relevant Questions of Us

Two Headlines That Say It All

You've maybe read or heard that the retail chain Toys R Us is going out of business shortly, right? Going bankrupt? It can't keep up with online toy sales so it's having to shut down, right?

With that in mind, check out these two headlines on that subject. They say everything. Here's the first.

Bankruptcy judge approves $14M 

Toys R Us executive bonus payout

And here, here's the second.

31,000 Toys 'R' Us employees: 

No job and no severance

Oh yes.

The deck is stacked, ladies and gentlemen.

And it's stacked, severely, against most of us.

Not done there, here's another beauty.

What scandals? Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan 

gets $4.6M raise

Wells Fargo bank has untold scandals and so, fines, from the government, for scamming their own customers out of millions of dollars but what does the CEO get? 

A huge pay raise.

Because, sure, that makes sense.

You or I would be fired, forget about a raise.

Oldest Irish-owned Business in America? Happy St. Patrick's Day, Kansas City!

Did you know this?

The oldest Irish-owned business in America 

is right here in Kansas City

If you've never been, go.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone.

Let's be careful out there.

What Tying Health Care to Profit(s) Gets You

Yes sir/ma'am, this, this, among many other things, is just what, exactly, tying health care to profit and profits gets a nation---us.

U.S. Health Care Ranked Worst 

in the Developed World

Note two things about the article--First, it is from Time magazine, not some wild, irresponsible rag and two, it was published June 17, 2014.  As prices and costs for health care in our nation get ever-higher, this only becomes more true and only gets worse.

This study is from just last year.

Study: US healthcare system is worst 

among 11 developed nations

Report: U.S. Has the Worst Health Care System

Here are some of the other things tying health and health care to profits gains you.

Once again, U.S. has most expensive, 

least effective health care

Health Care Costs: 

The Leading Cause of Bankruptcy

So congratulations, America. The rest of the world knows better than this. We pay more, far more, than any other nation for health care and we have the worst medical outcomes.

Aren't we brilliant?  Seems "exceptional" to me, right?

Will you EVER learn?

Stephen Hawking, 1942 - 2018

Rest in peace, sir.

May we try to live up to your guidance and advice.

Who, Exactly, Is President Trump Tryng to Protect?

This happened yesterday, last evening.

Rex Tillerson condemns Russia 

for UK nerve agent attack 

So what did Trump do today? What did he tweet within the last 2 hours?

Donald Trump just fired Rex Tillerson 

on Twitter

Is our President, Donald J Trump, protecting or trying to protect Russia, ladies and gentlemen? Or someone in it?

Let's ignore that he fired yet one more person of the highest rank in his own administration and by tweet, no less, the coward.

Who, really, is this Republican President working for?

Again, who is he trying to protect?

How Insane This Republican President Is

Extending the most bizarre Presidency in the history of our nation, bar none, at this moment, this same President's own political party is creating bills to undo the man's own very recent handiwork.

GOP Talks of Bill to Thwart Tariffs

Here's what's happening:

Republican lawmakers are openly discussing legislation to limit President Donald Trump’s trade powers after the White House detailed plans last week to impose global tariffs on U.S. imports of steel and aluminum.

It seems Benedict Donald decided, out of the blue and on his own, that he thought we should put tariffs, taxes on aluminum and steel because, you know, we just aren't a wealthy enough country yet. Once he made the decision, he created unilateral Executive Orders, taxing these more, trade agreements and partners be damned.

Now, bad as that is, what's great is that his own political party realizes and understands how crazy this all is, so they're writing a bill to limit his own very powers so he doesn't pull this kind of nonsense in the future.

Ya' just gotta' love these Republicans.

Well, when they aren't destroying the nation or environment or some such, anyway.

This is, as I have said before, the unprecedented Presidency, without doubt.

The Time Has Come. Our Time Has Come

Yes sir and ma'am. The time has come.

Our time has come.

The time to put people, people's lives, Americans, innocent Americans, at that, as a higher priority than weapons and weapon ownership has come. Is now.

No one's talking eliminating guns in the nation, either.

Not remotely.

We're not proposing doing away with the 2nd Amendment or confiscating all the weapons in the country.

It's just that the taking of, again, innocent American lives must end.

A few simple, obviously necessary, helpful, intelligent regulations of weapons only makes sense.  Three that come to mind are:

• Background checks, required, coast to coast, for mental stability and criminal history, for all weapons purchases to finally, finally close the gun show loophole
• Making the maximum number of shots per clip to be 10
• Re-instituting the Assault Weapons Ban

This is no way asking too much. And again, people would still have their weapons if they wish.

It should have ended long ago.

This is a grassroots effort and movement. It's coming from the people. It started with the students and we mustn't let it stop.

Let's do this.

Entertainment Overnight: One, Two, Three Tull

Great News Day Yesterday!

The last 12 to 24 hours have brought some pretty fantastic news, frankly, and on two fronts. First, out of the Koreas, North and South.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has agreed to suspend nuclear and missile tests while engaged in negotiations with South Korea, Seoul's government announced Tuesday morning. According to the office of South Korean president Moon Jae-in, Kim has agreed to hold an inter-Korean summit on the border between the two Koreas in late April, the first of its kind since 2007.

South Korea also said that Kim expressed willingness to begin talks with the United States about "denuclearization and normalizing relations"; President Trump has said that North Korea must be willing to denuclearize before negotiations begin.

"The North Korean side clearly stated its willingness to denuclearize," Moon's office said. "It made clear that it would have no reason to keep nuclear weapons if the military threat to the North was eliminated and its security guaranteed."

Now we just need our President to not exacerbate the situation with any tweeting or comments. Good luck to us all and God help us on that. It's starting to look like, of the two, our President Trump and their Kim Jong Un, Mr. Un is the sane one. Let's hope they both are.

Then there is this, regarding the Russia investigation of this President and his White House.

Former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg spent much of Monday on a media tour, granting interviews to CNN, MSNBC, NY1, the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other outlets as he declared his intention to ignore a subpoena from special counsel Robert Mueller.

The subpoena, which Nunberg supplied to multiple outlets and then held in his hand as he appeared on television, demanded he turn over all documents he had from November 1, 2015 to the present that related to President Trump and former Trump campaign officials Carter Page, Corey Lewandowski, Hope Hicks, Keith Schiller, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Roger Stone, and Steve Bannon.

In his multiple interviews, Nunberg said that it would take too much time to sort through that "ridiculous amount of documents," and that he would ignore the subpoena's demands and an order by Mueller to appear before a grand jury on Friday.

"Screw that," he said on CNN. "Why do I have to go? Why? For what?" Nunberg essentially dared Mueller to hold him in contempt of court and jail him. "Let him arrest me," Nunberg told the Washington Post.

But by Monday night, the ex-Trump aide had begun to change his tune. Nunberg told the Associated Press that he is "going to end up cooperating" with the special counsel, although he would like Mueller's team to narrow the subpoena's scope of inquiry. After a day of publicly proclaiming his intent to defy Mueller, Nunberg appeared to back away from his plan to fight.

Here are just a few of the quotes from Mr. Nunberg yesterday:

• "Trump may well have done something during the election with the Russians."
• "You know [Trump] knew about [his son's Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer]. He was talking about it a week before. ... I don't know why he went around trying to hide it."
• "I was told that [Russian pop star Emin Alagarov] had offered to send women up to Trump's room [while he was in Moscow] but Trump didn't want it. He's too smart for that."
• "I believe [former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser] Carter Page was colluding with the Russians. ... Carter Page is a weird dude."

Finally, this.

Cochran to resign from Senate next month

Another Republican, Senator Thad Cochran, is to resign from Congress. Unfortunately, it's because of poor health which I would wish on no one but hey, at least another Republican will be out of office. That's the upside to an otherwise unfortunate situation.

Incredible. An incredible--and good--day.

Maybe great, even. Here's hoping it continues.

Link:

Wake Up To Politics

Idiocy and Death-Enabling Irresponsibility Out of the Florida Statehouse

Florida Senate rejects ban on assault weapons, 

votes to arm teachers

Idiots. Irresponsible, death-enabling, Right Wing, Republican idiots. On top of an extremely recent shooting death of 17 students, this is what they do.

Then there's also the thoughtlessness. And heartlessness.

Think of it.

Think of your teachers from school.

Now think of them armed. With weapons.


What part of that even SEEMS like a good idea?

This Actually, Literally Frightening Republican President Donald J Trump and His Administration

There is so much wrong with and from this President Trump, it's honestly difficult to assess. That's  partly because he says and does so many contradicting things and then partly because there are so many ramifications, here and across the world, from, again, what he says and does. Here are some examples from this past week alone.

Trump’s Tariffs Stoke Fears That Trade War Will ‘Kill’ U.S. Jobs

Around the World, Threats of Retaliation Against U.S. Exports

A Week That Leaves Even Trump’s Supporters Confused

He's not even for supporting our laws, due process and the legal system.

Trump says take guns 'early' 

without due process

One more example of him saying one thing...

Trump Says Raise Age for 

Buying Assault Rifles, 

Defying NRA

And then, days later, if not sooner, changing his mind and position, entirely.

N.R.A. Suggests Trump May Retreat From Gun Control

There is not only what he says and then contradicts, entirely, there is also the gross, gross incompetence for what he isn't doing and what he doesn't do.

From South Korea to Syria, 

32 countries don't have a US ambassador

And then there's the corruption. You can't forget the corruption. Some of it is from within the White House.

Regulator Seeks Kushner Loan Details From Deutsche Bank

Some of it is outside the White House.

Former Trump Adviser Dumped Millions in Steel Stocks Days Before the President Announced New Tariffs

Not done there, there's this.

According to Fact Checker and the Washington Post, so far in his Presidency, in 406 days, Trump made 2,436 false or misleading statements.

President Trump has made 2,436 false 

or misleading claims so far 

Additionally, in 408 days, as of today,  he has spent 100 of those days on a Trump golf course.

Just 408 days into his presidency, Trump spends his 100th day on a Trump golf course

If you aren't at least concerned, folks, you aren't paying attention.

Try to have a nice weekend.

Links:

Chaos? What Chaos? Let's Have a Trade War!:

“I Hate Everyone in the White House!”: Trump Seethes

Every top Trump adviser in this photo has now resigned 

or been fired

A list of officials who have left 

the Trump administration

Surprising, If Disappointing, Continuity From 1912 To Today

We think we've made vast, huge leaps of progress in workers rights and pay and all kinds of things in the workplace and on a lot, we certainly have, sure. But check out this list of things called for in 1912 for workers.  We are still, more than 100 years later, working for far too many of these, not least of which is a "living wage", rather famously right now.

I'm a "Progressive" and this is what we stand for (from a 1912 document)

-Effective legislation looking to the prevention of industrial accidents, occupational diseases, overwork, involuntary unemployment, and other injurious effects incident to modern industry;

-The fixing of minimum safety and health standards for the various occupations, and the exercise of the public authority of State and Nation, including the Federal Control over interstate commerce, and the taxing power, to maintain such standards;

-The prohibition of child labor;

-Minimum wage standards for working women, to provide a “living wage” in all industrial occupations;

-The general prohibition of night work for women and the establishment of an eight hour day for women and young persons;

-One day’s rest in seven for all wage workers;  (okay, let's make this two out of the seven, mkay?)

-The eight hour day in continuous twenty-four hour industries;

-The abolition of the convict contract labor system;

-Standards of compensation for death by industrial accident and injury and trade disease which will transfer the burden of lost earnings from the families of working people to the industry, and thus to the community;

-The protection of home life against the hazards of sickness, irregular employment and old age through the adoption of a system of social insurance adapted to American use;

-The development of the creative labor power of America by lifting the last load of illiteracy from American youth and establishing continuation schools for industrial education under public control and encouraging agricultural education and demonstration in rural schools;

-We favor the organization of the workers, men and women, as a means of protecting their interests and of promoting their progress

The NRA Is In a World of Hurt Just Now

Think about it. Think about what's going on right now in America regarding the NRA. The NRA is getting his--hard--on three fronts and it's all pretty terrific.

First, Americans are sick to death of the shootings and killings and are finally standing up and demanding change regarding weapons ever since the Parkland, Florida shootings. Coast to coast, people are organizing and demanding change from their legislators on both the state and national level.

Second, companies are abandoning NRA left and right 

Here's a full list of companies that have cut ties with the NRA since the Parkland shooting

Then, finally, quite possibly the biggest development is that the NRA is also getting hit with reports like these, showing money being funneled from a Russian oligarch/banker to the NRA.

Depth Of Russian Politician's Cultivation Of NRA Ties Revealed

Russian politician claims he knows Trump through NRA

The Russian banker under scrutiny for money transfers to the National Rifle Association said that the organization helped him meet President Trump.

Alexander Torshin, a deputy head of Russia’s central bank, is one of his country's strongest supporters of the NRA, even hosting dinners for an American delegation that came to Moscow in 2015.

A report earlier this year said that federal investigators were looking into whether his payments to the group were funneled towards Trump’s election as part of what Fusion GPS investigator Glenn Simpson said was a “very concerted effort” by Russian officials to get in with the gun lobby.

Here is my favorite headline on this topic.

FBI investigating whether NRA 

used Russian money to help Trump

So put all that together and face it, folks. 

The NRA is in a world of hurt presently.

Oh, darn.

Pass the popcorn.

Two Things On Billy Graham Passing

First this.

Billy Graham was one of America's 

richest pastors

Then this.

"I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

--Jesus Christ himself, reputedly, Matthew, 19-24

What This President Is Concerned With Today

This, of all things in the world today, just this moment, is what's concerning the person who is supposed to be the leader of our nation and the Western world. He tweeted the following this morning.

Donald J. Trump‏
Verified account
@realDonaldTrump
Following Following @realDonaldTrump

Alec Baldwin, whose dying mediocre career was saved by his terrible impersonation of me on SNL, now says playing me was agony. Alec, it was agony for those who were forced to watch. Bring back Darrell Hammond, funnier and a far greater talent!

I'm glad he's thinking and working on the big stuff.

Guns in America?  Nuclear warheads?  Nuclear war? Kim Jong Un? North Korea? Nuclear weapons?A foreign enemy hacking and influencing our elections? The economy? Health care, affordable health care? Any of that?

No. None of that.

A Saturday Night Live comedian/actor, instead.

Have you had enough, Republicans? Can we be over this soon?

What Canadians--and the World--Are Seeing Here In the US

I saw this today out on the interwebs. I couldn't confirm it's written by a Canadian but seriously, think about what they write. It seems a very real, fair and at least sad, if not ugly comment on America presently.

And he didn't even touch on shoveling yet more money to the already-wealthy and corporations while taking it from the middle- and lower-classes.

Again, thanks, Republicans!

And may God help us.

Again, To Missouri State Legislators, Are You Kidding Us Here?

In the face of the latest mass slaughter of innocent Americans, check out what our Missouri State Legislators are doing this week in Jefferson City. Check this out from the Star today.

In wake of mass school shooting, Missouri lawmakers push forward pro-gun legislation

After hearing five hours of testimony Monday afternoon and into the night, lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Tuesday and voted out of committee a handful of bills that would expand where Missourians can carry their concealed firearms. They voted down bills that would have required background checks and repealed aspects of concealed carry without a permit, which lawmakers legalized in 2016.

It's nearly unbelievable.

We keep getting more and yet more shootings and killings and all these Right Wing, Republicans can come up with is the NRA mantra: "MORE GUNS!!"

It's insane. It also goes against every scientific study out there.

Guns Do Not Stop More Crimes, Evidence Shows 

- Scientific American

Heck, it even goes against Missouri's own experience with guns after they just loosened our laws a few years ago, in 2015, with negative results.

In Missouri, Fewer Gun Restrictions 

and More Gun Killings

They learn nothing.

Check out the data for yourself:

Homicide | Harvard Injury Control Research Center 

Gun Threats and Self-Defense Gun Use | 

Harvard Injury Control

Gun Ownership | 

Harvard Injury Control Research Center

Then, very famously, there is the glaring Australian example of what works with guns.

Massive study of Australia's gun laws 

shows one thing: they work

I'm not suggesting we here in the US are capable of doing what they did. What I am saying is that it proves less weapons are the way to go for reducing shootings and killings. It doesn't even seem it needs to be said but sadly, it does.

How many people have to die, have to be killed, until they realize and then act on the hard fact that more guns is exactly the opposite, wrong way to go? We are the only nation in the world with this many weapons that also has these problems. Does that tell us nothing?