tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272083520634544142024-03-05T02:12:53.657-06:00Trump TrackKeeping track of President Trump's AdministrationBill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-19826217653423207742020-03-01T15:54:00.000-06:002020-03-01T15:54:18.434-06:00Winning - February 2020<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOtDWSqPscWeCV13wumWLDL5j_8mtIfvF06W3fBNLEpwL2QuMEtnOoWM2z7lnKtL_rhXuRc_Ksjc0U8ryw-kxSpooIHEZegANhOEvECuLVbDR7QqwJvZhlX5WYDHYSgPvG0TOf48xpsDE/s1600/Winning+Dance.gif" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOtDWSqPscWeCV13wumWLDL5j_8mtIfvF06W3fBNLEpwL2QuMEtnOoWM2z7lnKtL_rhXuRc_Ksjc0U8ryw-kxSpooIHEZegANhOEvECuLVbDR7QqwJvZhlX5WYDHYSgPvG0TOf48xpsDE/s400/Winning+Dance.gif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: left;">
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump's big, beautiful, strong, impenetrable wall. The wind blows over one section, other sections will need <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trumps-border-wall-vulnerable-to-flash-floods-needs-large-storm-gates-left-open-for-months/2020/01/30/be709346-3710-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_the_daily_202&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_daily202" target="_blank">open storm gates.</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/01 - The <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/backing-abbas-arab-league-rejects-trumps-middle-east-peace-plan/" target="_blank">Arab League</a> unanimously rejects the Trump/Kushner <i>peace</i> plan for the Israel-Palestine situation. That didn't take long.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/11 - At one of Trump's pep rallies in New Hampshire, he confuses Concord, New Hampshire with Concord, Massachusetts. He's a history and jeography jenius. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/senate-passes-resolution-limiting-trump-against-iran-in-bipartisan-vote/2020/02/13/d2f7429c-4e8f-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert&wpisrc=al_news__alert-national--alert-world--alert-politics&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Both Houses pass resolutions</a> limiting Trump's ability to take military action against Iran. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/technology/amazon-jedi-pentagon-contract-microsoft.html?emc=edit_na_20200213&ref=headline&nl=breaking-news&campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=21253&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">A federal judge orders a halt</a> to work on the DOD-Microsoft JEDI contract pending legal action by Amazon.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/13 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/us/politics/william-barr-trump.html" target="_blank">Barr Says Attacks From Trump Make Work ‘Impossible’.</a> Will Barr survive criticizing the King?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-77369491-7fff-1eb6-19c3-3be329c54e96"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">02/18 - </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/post-impeachment-trump-declares-himself-the-chief-law-enforcement-officer-of-america/2020/02/18/b8ff49c0-5290-11ea-b119-4faabac6674f_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_politics_am&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_politics" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump declares himself</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Chief Law Enforcement Officer. So, can we eliminate the Attorney General?</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/20 - Trump's best buddy <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/us/roger-stone-sentencing.html?emc=edit_na_20200220&ref=headline&nl=breaking-news&campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=21455&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">Roger Stone</a> is sentenced to 40 months in prison. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-82fd899c-7fff-d7be-92d9-e6d096395e77"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">02/24 - During Trump’s trip to India, he proved that he can mispronounce words in any language.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/27 - Trump appoints medical expert VP Mike Pence to be the Coronavirus Czar. Pence will pray the virus away. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXlK5MoJkUW9_PxYFLu2_vGPzTxGCWziq844zacdrXMlL-Kl_gMBzvSgYpcPUQbHTMiU_T4BAUyOgO0-z_V0EV0koGbUqJBC1nfwcj1GbdcEi3tiO_PoSO9Hg3LxRGEwEsmM5sSx8rBAj/s1600/coronavirus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXlK5MoJkUW9_PxYFLu2_vGPzTxGCWziq844zacdrXMlL-Kl_gMBzvSgYpcPUQbHTMiU_T4BAUyOgO0-z_V0EV0koGbUqJBC1nfwcj1GbdcEi3tiO_PoSO9Hg3LxRGEwEsmM5sSx8rBAj/s320/coronavirus.jpeg" width="233" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/28 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/us/migrants-court-remain-in-mexico-mpp-injunction.html?emc=edit_na_20200228&ref=headline&nl=breaking-news&campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=21729&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">A federal appeals court </a>blocks Trump's "stay in Mexico" border policy. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/29 - The Dow dropped 2,990 points in February, -3,548 YTD. Don't blame Trump though. He only takes credit for the Dow when it goes up. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-69497204152382390622020-02-01T17:57:00.000-06:002020-02-01T17:57:42.700-06:00Winning - January 2020<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOtDWSqPscWeCV13wumWLDL5j_8mtIfvF06W3fBNLEpwL2QuMEtnOoWM2z7lnKtL_rhXuRc_Ksjc0U8ryw-kxSpooIHEZegANhOEvECuLVbDR7QqwJvZhlX5WYDHYSgPvG0TOf48xpsDE/s1600/Winning+Dance.gif" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOtDWSqPscWeCV13wumWLDL5j_8mtIfvF06W3fBNLEpwL2QuMEtnOoWM2z7lnKtL_rhXuRc_Ksjc0U8ryw-kxSpooIHEZegANhOEvECuLVbDR7QqwJvZhlX5WYDHYSgPvG0TOf48xpsDE/s400/Winning+Dance.gif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="color: #222222;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/05 - The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/05/world/middleeast/iran-general-soleimani-iraq.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20066&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">Iraq Parliament votes</a> to oust US troops from the country.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/05 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/body-of-commander-slain-by-us-strike-arrives-in-iran-to-crowds-of-mourners/2020/01/05/4ca3281a-2f17-11ea-bffe-020c88b3f120_story.html?utm_campaign=news_alert_revere&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert&wpisrc=al_news__alert-world--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Iran ends all commitments</a> to the nuclear ban deal. No limits on uranium enrichment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/05 - The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/05/us/politics/us-isis-iran.html" target="_blank">US-led coalition</a> suspends its fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Resurgence time for ISIS.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/05 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/05/us/politics/trump-iran-cultural-sites.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20074&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">Trump reiterates</a> that he would target Iranian cultural sites as retaliation. That's a war crime.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/06 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/us/politics/bolton-testify-impeachment-trial.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20091&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">John Bolton</a> says he would testify in the impeachment trial if he is subpoenaed. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/07 - Duncan Hunter (R-CA) to resign from the House after admitting to campaign finance violations.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/09 - Congressional members on both sides of the aisle unconvinced that Soleimani posed an <i>imminent</i> threat. The administration's presentation is roundly panned. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/10 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/house-measure-demanding-trump-pull-back-on-iran-could-have-some-gop-support/2020/01/09/c612975c-3300-11ea-91fd-82d4e04a3fac_story.html?utm_campaign=politics_am&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Newsletter&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1" target="_blank">The House votes to limit Trump's</a> authority to take military action against Iran without Congressional approval.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/12 - The <i>imminent threat</i> from Iran/Soleimani story continues to change. DOD secretary <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/12/us/politics/esper-iran-trump-embassies.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20265&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">Esper contradicts Trump</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-58d7f874-7fff-9753-92be-8a225583fa5d" style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/14 - New evidence emerges from </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/us/politics/trump-impeachment-articles.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20331&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lev Parnas</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the Ukraine impeachment case.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/15 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/federal-judge-temporarily-halts-trump-administration-policy-allowing-local-governments-to-block-refugees/2020/01/15/ffd40bee-3317-11ea-9313-6cba89b1b9fb_story.html?arc404=true" target="_blank">A federal judge halts </a>Trump's policy on blocking refugees by local governments.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/16 - The impeachment Senate trial officially begins.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fbdfe781-7fff-2eef-6ee1-70e18c1fd3dc" style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/17 - Trump supporter and former Representative </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/01/17/former-rep-chris-collins-be-sentenced-insider-trading-case/?utm_campaign=news_alert_revere&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert&wpisrc=al_news__alert-economy--alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chris Collins</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (R-NY) sentenced to two years in prison for insider trading. </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/black-americans-deeply-pessimistic-about-country-under-president-who-more-than-8-in-10-describe-as-a-racist-post-ipsos-poll-finds/2020/01/16/134b705c-37de-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html?utm_campaign=news_alert_revere&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">83% of Black Americans say Trump is a racist.</a> </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/17 - Trump's best buddy <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/nunes-aide-communicated-with-parnas-about-ukraine-campaign-messages-show/2020/01/17/398ea1f6-3984-11ea-a01d-b7cc8ec1a85d_story.html?utm_campaign=news_alert_revere&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert&wpisrc=al_politics__alert-politics&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Devon Nunes</a> and his aides had contact with Lev Parnas concerning Ukraine mess. More swampiness. </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab485747-7fff-e914-b803-ad4ddd711f1f" style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/22 - The </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/dc-attorney-general-sues-trump-inaugural-committee-over-1-million-booking-at-presidents-hotel/2020/01/22/aa4ffab6-3c90-11ea-b90d-5652806c3b3a_story.html?utm_campaign=news_alert_revere&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert&wpisrc=al_news__alert-national--alert-politics--alert-local-politics&wpmk=1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DC attorney general sues the Trump</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> inaugural committee for overpaying at Trump’s DC hotel. How to personally profit from the presidency. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/24 - The <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1334365511"></span>Pentagon now says that 34<span id="goog_1334365512"></span></a> US service members suffered brain injuries from Iranian rocket strikes. Not the "no injuries" Trump said. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The latest count is 50 injuries.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/26 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/us/politics/trump-bolton-book-ukraine.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20678&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">Leaks of Bolton's book</a> alleges that Trump did link Ukraine aid to a Biden investigation. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/27 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/emails-support-npr-host-after-pompeo-calls-her-a-liar-in-setting-up-contentious-interview/2020/01/26/d793cf0e-4071-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_politics_am&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_politics" target="_blank">SOS Pompeo</a> berates an NPR reporter for asking questions he didn't want to answer. Then calls her a liar. Turns out he is the liar. No surprise.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/28 - The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/28/technology/britain-huawei-5G.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20720&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">UK defies Trump</a> and allows Huawei to supply 5G cellular network equipment. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/30 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/new-recording-shows-access-lev-parnas-and-igor-fruman-had-to-trump-at-mar-a-lago-donor-event/2020/01/30/a11cb354-437e-11ea-abff-5ab1ba98b405_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_politics_pm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_politics-pm" target="_blank">Another Lev Parnas video leak</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">01/30 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/human-trafficking-groups-refuse-to-attend-ivanka-trumps-white-house-summit/2020/01/29/6410de32-41d4-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_politics_pm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_politics-pm" target="_blank">Anti-human trafficking groups</a> boycott Ivanka's White House summit. Daddy is going to be pissed. He'll probably look for a way to punish those groups. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<b style="color: orange; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>wjh</i></b></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-86481567803616971462020-01-13T03:45:00.000-06:002020-01-13T03:45:29.142-06:00But They Did It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHzWhBxqR2jKxVJ76UK9LgBwp3QQ2xiF-EX4rv1bzcttv0iglZvsLm-z3HAthlmoFX6tStKWSTfcBoYOMFnFR374o4apHzr7uxY2Vl1-a33q8Hi2qlC0ydmIbs6u9bQjM7vD7k7IRr8-S/s1600/Wrong-Right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHzWhBxqR2jKxVJ76UK9LgBwp3QQ2xiF-EX4rv1bzcttv0iglZvsLm-z3HAthlmoFX6tStKWSTfcBoYOMFnFR374o4apHzr7uxY2Vl1-a33q8Hi2qlC0ydmIbs6u9bQjM7vD7k7IRr8-S/s400/Wrong-Right.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the main comebacks I see when Trump or the administration is criticized or questioned by anyone is that Hillary did that too or Obama did worse or Bill Clinton did it first. Even George W. Bush gets blamed. Almost all his spokespersons bring up Obama when their policies and actions are questioned. My response to that is "so what". Is that how we are to judge the actions of others? Not by a right or wrong test, but by whether someone else did it too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, the "everybody is doing it" excuse doesn't hold water. Millions of people are addicted to drugs but that is not a good lifestyle. Millions in Germany followed the Nazis and they killed millions of Jews. Everybody speeds on the freeways but telling that to the cop who pulled you over for speeding won't get you out of a ticket. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am not a Trump fan and find fault with most of his policies, methods, and with his personality. Surprise, I also didn't agree with everything Obama, Bush, both Clintons, the other Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford, and Nixon have done. Obama made several mistakes and missteps during his administration. George W. Bush got us into an unnecessary war and allowed the economy to crash. Bill Clinton's personal behavior was terrible and some of his policies were disastrous. Hillary made a major mistake with the email mess, was a poor campaigner, and was less than transparent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It reminds me of those times during my youth when I wanted to do something or go somewhere. Often the justification was that everybody is going or all my friends can do it. My parents and yours too had the classic comeback "If all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump too?" It wasn't a good excuse or reason many years ago in my youth and it should be even less of a reason or excuse for our politicians now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What the country needs now is for my Mom to return to life and set these politicians straight. It shouldn't be necessary since our politicians and government leaders are allegedly adults. I know that is hard to believe sometimes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Republicans were complete obstructionists during most of the Obama administration. They were against everything he did or proposed. They even opposed things they were traditionally in favor of. Now the Democrats are threatening to do the same thing during Trump's administration. Likewise, Congress shouldn't rubber-stamp everything the president wants because he is in your party. Both are wrong. Both are putting party and petty politics above country. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have no easy answer for this. At least one party has to begin the healing by agreeing to some cooperation, compromises and stop the revenge. It will take leaders who want unity, not chaos and gridlock. That will only happen when politicians are punished at the ballot box for being completely uncompromising and uncooperative. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am not optimistic any meaningful changes will occur in the near future. I am optimistic that if the present deadlock and string of excuses continue, the electorate will eventually revolt and clean house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully, <i style="font-weight: bold;">but they did it, </i>will become an unacceptable excuse for all politicians regardless of their party affiliation. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-12281054920974601802020-01-08T10:47:00.000-06:002020-01-08T10:47:08.657-06:00At What Cost?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCqEm5zvmgVNSCRyU4k91Ww9nvCw-cklPPBXiZX0WvcokYmJELJHYZxtq-dfWwXd6ORTsZhUR8FW4VKmog_U66SYceeP36u38-FqmxFK9-kOueenraqBvAsBapY86xEE_wuc7OiJ4lDXW/s1600/america-fought-two-wars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="660" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCqEm5zvmgVNSCRyU4k91Ww9nvCw-cklPPBXiZX0WvcokYmJELJHYZxtq-dfWwXd6ORTsZhUR8FW4VKmog_U66SYceeP36u38-FqmxFK9-kOueenraqBvAsBapY86xEE_wuc7OiJ4lDXW/s400/america-fought-two-wars.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's get this on the table right from the start. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Qasem Soleimani was a bad guy, Supreme Leader </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ali Khamenei</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a bad guy, and Iran does bad stuff both in and out of their country. Let's also acknowledge that Iran is a sovereign state and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Qasem Soleimani</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> was a military and government official of that sovereign state. That is the problem.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether you want to admit it, there are rules in this world both in war and diplomacy. That is the only way modern civilization can survive without constant warfare. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">One of those rules is that one country does not kill government officials of another country unless they are at war. Not some difference of philosophy, ideals, commerce, even armed clashes, but declared war. We are not officially at war with Iran. Therefore, we don't get to kill (assassinate) their leaders. They also don't get to assassinate our leaders. These international rules, laws, and conventions often seem ridiculous and can be hard to live with. Regardless, they are still the rules we have agreed to either through United Nations resolutions, the Geneva Convention, or various treaties and agreements. Just like in our personal lives, these rules may be hard to obey. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We don't abide by these international conventions for completely altruistic reasons. We want our diplomats, officials, and military to be able to move about foreign countries with some reasonable assurance that the local government won't detain, harm, or kill them. We aren't happy that there are foreign spies in our country under cover of being diplomats but we don't assassinate them because we have our own spies in other countries pretending to be diplomats. A whole bunch of bad actors come to the US for UN meetings. We don't gun them down in the streets of NYC. In fact, we don't even give them parking tickets. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To make the </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soleimani killing even more problematic, our military hit him in Iraq, another sovereign country. I assume </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soleimani was in Iraq legally, maybe even an invited guest. Our diplomats and military did not bother to inform the Iraqi government of our plans. Think about that for a moment. How would the US react if members of the Israeli military assassinated a Palestinian official while visiting our country? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are invited guests of Iraq. There to fight ISIS, not kill foreign officials. Our troops may be evicted over this incident. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breaking the rules of civilization emboldens others to do the same. That ultimately makes the world a more dangerous place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">On its face, the killing of </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soleimani looks like a kneejerk reaction by an impetuous president with no thought of the consequences. It also seems that there was no strategic plan, just reactions. Par for the course. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iran has already responded. There has been damage to US assets, there will probably be more. Thankfully there were no additional US casualties in Iran's initial response. Sure, we can win any conventional war with Iran. The question is can we prevail over the long haul? Iran is a huge country with over 80 million citizens. They also have a lot of weapons. We have been unable to extricate ourselves from Afghanistan for almost 20 years. A smaller, less populated, less developed, less well-armed country. Think about that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this point, no one knows how this will play out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let's hope cooler heads prevail and this turns out to be just a short blip on the world scene radar. I am not confident that will happen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">At what cost?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">wjh</span></i></b></span>Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-83271369553440230302020-01-02T14:55:00.000-06:002020-01-02T14:55:02.691-06:00Winning - December 2019<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_184927884"></span>Duncan Hunter<span id="goog_184927885"></span></a> (R-CA) to plead guilty to campaign finance violations and resign from Congress. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/03 - A <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/03/business/trump-deutsche-bank-subpoena.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=19245&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">federal appeals court</a> ruled that Deutsche Bank must turn over Trump's financial records to Congress. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Georgia GOP governor Brian Kemp appoints Kelly Loeffler as US Senator over Trump's wishes and best buddy Doug Collins. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump blunders through the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/world/europe/trump-video-nato.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=19276&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">NATO meetings</a>. Other leaders openly mock his behavior. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/10 - A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/federal-judge-blocks-trump-plan-to-spend-36-billion-in-military-funds-on-border-wall/2019/12/10/e534468a-1b9f-11ea-87f7-f2e91143c60d_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">federal judge blocks</a> the use of military funds to build Trump's wall.</span></li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump lies - as of 12/10/19</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - 15,413 in 1,055 days. 14.6/day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/12 - <a href="https://outlook.live.com/mail/0/inbox/id/AQQkADAwATZiZmYAZC1iZGI5LWZjYTQtMDACLTAwCgAQAPh%2BXxDRzwtMl7VLoNj9Vtw%3D" target="_blank">DOD inspector general</a> to review the $400 million border wall contract awarded to Trump donor. More swampiness. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump decides that ridiculing a 16-year-old girl is acceptable because she won an honor he wanted. He is a small pitiful human being. Be Best, bullshit.</span></li>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/18 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/us/politics/trump-impeached.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=19712&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735" target="_blank">Trump was impeached</a> on two counts. He is now in the top three of all the presidents in US history who have been impeached.</span></li>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-50661231848416261982019-12-02T11:42:00.000-06:002019-12-02T11:42:09.843-06:00Winning - November 2019<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: left;">
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/04 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/appeals-court-rejects-trumps-attempt-to-withhold-tax-return-from-local-prosecutors-setting-stage-for-supreme-court-fight/2019/11/04/567cdb02-f695-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-economy--alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">A federal appeals court</a> rejects Trump's attempt to block access to his tax records by New York prosecutors. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Writer <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/new-york-writer-who-accused-trump-of-sexual-assault-sues-him-for-defamation/2019/11/04/8ab2afb0-fcf7-11e9-9534-e0dbcc9f5683_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">E. Jean Carroll</a>, who alleges that Trump sexually assaulted her, has filed a defamation suit against him.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/04 - Virginia Dems flip both houses of the state legislature.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/04 - Kentucky elects a Democratic governor.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/05 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/us/politics/impeachment-trump.html" target="_blank">Sondland revises testimony.</a> He now says that there was quid pro quo with Ukraine. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/06 - Trump's best buddy <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/trial-opens-for-roger-stone-accused-of-lying-about-wikileaks-and-trump-campaigns-interest-in-hacked-2016-democratic-emails/2019/11/06/647bd322-ff2b-11e9-8bab-0fc209e065a8_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Roger Stone's trial</a> begins.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/06 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/trumps-conscience-rule-for-health-providers-voided-by-federal-judge/2019/11/06/39aa9b74-00b1-11ea-9518-1e76abc088b6_story.html" target="_blank">A federal judge voided</a> the Trump administration <i>conscience rule</i> declaring it unconstitutional. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Several <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/who-built-this-beautiful-place-despite-trumps-visits-to-his-properties-some-of-his-businesses-show-new-signs-of-financial-decline/2019/11/05/819869cc-f691-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics-pm&wpmm=1" target="_blank">Trump properties</a> continue to perform poorly. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/07 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A New York judge <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-ordered-to-pay-2-million-to-charities-over-misuse-of-foundation-court-documents-say/2019/11/07/b8f804e2-018e-11ea-9518-1e76abc088b6_story.html" target="_blank">ordered President Trump to pay</a> $2 million in damages for misusing funds from a tax-exempt charity. He also admits wrongdoing. What's the excuse for this one?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/11 - A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/us-judge-rules-trump-suit-to-block-house-from-getting-his-ny-state-tax-returns-belongs-in-new-york-court/2019/11/11/964eaa84-d963-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics-pm&wpmm=1" target="_blank">federal judge dismisses</a> Trump's suit to block New York from releasing his state tax returns. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/13 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/13/us/politics/trump-financial-records-lawsuit.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=18761&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">A full federal appeals court panel </a>allows a lower court ruling to stand that Trump's accounting firm must turn over his financial records to Congress. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/15 - Trump buddy <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/us/politics/roger-stone-trial-guilty.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=18827&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Roger Stone found guilty</a> on all seven counts including obstructing a congressional investigation. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/16 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/16/us/louisiana-governor-edwards-rispone.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=18865&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Governor John Bel Edwards</a>, a Democrat, wins reelection in Lousiana despite Trump's campaigning against him. First Kentucky, now Lousiana. The magic touch is gone. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-ireland-golf-course-reports-smaller-loss-in-2018/2019/11/18/d9baa748-0a1c-11ea-bd9d-c628fd48b3a0_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics-pm&wpmm=1" target="_blank">Trump's Ireland golf resort</a> loses money for the fifth straight year. $1.7 million in 2018. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ambassador Gordon Sondland testifies that there was quid pro quo in dealings with Ukraine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/24 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/24/us/politics/navy-secretary-richard-spencer-resign.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=19067&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Secretary of the Navy</a> Richard Spencer is fired/forced to resign. The reason, he believes in discipline and the rule of law. Trump doesn't. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/25 - A federal judge rules that <a href="http://is%20this%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%20courts%20restoring%20some%20balance%20between%20the%20executive%20and%20legislative%20branches/?" target="_blank">Don McGahn</a> must testify before the House Judiciary Committee. </span></li>
</ul>
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<b style="color: orange; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>wjh</i></b></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-63060621793970238112019-11-01T15:04:00.000-05:002019-11-01T15:04:58.957-05:00Winning - October 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOtDWSqPscWeCV13wumWLDL5j_8mtIfvF06W3fBNLEpwL2QuMEtnOoWM2z7lnKtL_rhXuRc_Ksjc0U8ryw-kxSpooIHEZegANhOEvECuLVbDR7QqwJvZhlX5WYDHYSgPvG0TOf48xpsDE/s1600/Winning+Dance.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOtDWSqPscWeCV13wumWLDL5j_8mtIfvF06W3fBNLEpwL2QuMEtnOoWM2z7lnKtL_rhXuRc_Ksjc0U8ryw-kxSpooIHEZegANhOEvECuLVbDR7QqwJvZhlX5WYDHYSgPvG0TOf48xpsDE/s400/Winning+Dance.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whistleblowers-attorney-says-team-now-representing-multiple-officials/2019/10/06/18b48fec-e83d-11e9-9306-47cb0324fd44_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Multiple whistleblowers</a> now coming forward. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Numerous Congressional subpoenas issued to White House and administration officials regarding the Ukraine caper. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">10/07 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/nyregion/trump-taxes-lawsuit-vance.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=17655&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">A federal judge ruled</a> that Trump must turn over his tax returns to the Manhattan DA.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">The House subpoenas numerous White House, DOD, and OMB documents concerning Ukraine. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">10/07 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mcconnell-joins-other-republicans-in-rebuking-trumps-syria-withdrawal/2019/10/07/aef0d11e-e914-11e9-9306-47cb0324fd44_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Republican leaders warn Trump</a> not to withdraw troops from Syria.</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Then <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/us/politics/turkey-syria-trump.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=17664&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Trump sends mixed signals</a> about his plans. Diplomacy by whim from the stable genius.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/10 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/two-business-associates-of-trumps-personal-lawyer-giuliani-have-been-arrested-and-are-in-custody/2019/10/10/9f9c101a-eb63-11e9-9306-47cb0324fd44_story.html" target="_blank">Two Giuliani business associates</a> are arrested for campaign finance violations. Foreign money to GOP candidates. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/11 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/appeals-court-rules-against-trump-in-fight-with-congress-over-presidents-accounting-firm-records/2019/10/11/42933894-b9ea-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html" target="_blank">A federal court of appeals ruled against Trump</a> trying to block the release of financial data.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/11 -<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/us/immigration-public-charge-injunction.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=17812&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Three federal judges</a> issue injunctions against Trump's new green card policies.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10/11 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-hes-replacing-mcaleenan-as-acting-dhs-secretary/2019/10/11/f10703fe-ec82-11e9-9c6d-436a0df4f31d_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Kevin McAleenan resigns</a>. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another one bites the dust. The revolving door continues at DHS. We will now get a new acting secretary to replace the old acting secretary.</span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does Trump not realize that the more he disparages the media, the harder they will work to find dirt on him and the administration? Even fair and objective media members do not appreciate being called <i>fake, dishonest,</i> and <i>corrupt</i>. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump's abandonment of the Kurds has turned into a cluster fuck. Armed conflict all along the Turkey-Syria border. The Syrian Kurds are now aligned with Assad, Russia, and Iran. All enemies of the US. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/15 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/trump-emoluments-case-over-his-dc-hotel-gets-second-chance-in-legal-challenge/2019/10/15/7532f0aa-ef8c-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html?wpisrc=al_politics__alert-politics&wpmk=1" target="_blank">A federal appeals court</a> revives the emoluments lawsuit brought by the DC and Maryland AGs. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/16 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/16/us/politics/house-vote-trump-syria.html" target="_blank">The House votes 354-60</a> to condemn Trump's troop withdrawal from northern Syria.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Energy Secretary Rick Perry resigns.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/17 - After extensive research and open bidding (just kidding), Trump awards the 2020 G7 conference to Trump Doral. Emoluments-R-Us. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/17 - Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney admits Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Democrats. Then he tries to walk back what he said. There is a video Mick.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump announces that the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_708387049"></span>2020 G7<span id="goog_708387050"></span></a> meeting will be held at his Trump Doral resort. Then after criticism from almost everybody decides that is a bad idea. Flip-flop Trump.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/21 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/netanyahu-fails-to-form-new-israeli-government-rival-gantz-poised-to-take-up-the-challenge/2019/10/21/7a4574d4-e27e-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html" target="_blank">Trump's best buddy Benjamin Netanyahu</a> fails to form a new government in Israel despite Trump's help and endorsement. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/22 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkeys-erdogan-meets-with-putin-in-russia-to-discuss-syrian-operation/2019/10/22/764abcea-f43f-11e9-b2d2-1f37c9d82dbb_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-world--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Russia joins Turkey</a> in removing our former allies, the Syrian Kurds, from the border area. Putin is winning, not Trump.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/22 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/diplomat-who-raised-alarm-about-withholding-aid-to-ukraine-testifies-in-impeachment-probe/2019/10/22/086fb850-f436-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Acting ambassador to Ukraine</a> William Taylor testifies before House impeachment investigators that there was quid pro quo attached to Ukraine military aid.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/24 - A federal judge holds Education Secretary <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/10/24/federal-judge-holds-devos-contempt-loan-case-slaps-education-dept-with-fine/?wpisrc=al_politics__alert-politics&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Betsy DeVos</a> in contempt in a student loan case. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A company with ties to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/company-with-ties-to-trumps-brother-robert-awarded-33-million-government-contract/2019/10/26/f67164d2-f688-11e9-829d-87b12c2f85dd_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-economy--alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Trump's brother Robert</a> was awarded a $33 million government contract. I want Ukraine and the Bidens to investigate. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/25 - The federal deficit soars to $984 billion, up $205 billion (26%) in fiscal 2019. Where are the fiscally responsible Republicans? Trump promised to eliminate the deficit in eight years. It's up almost 50% in his first three years in office. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/25 - <span id="docs-internal-guid-6d101a39-7fff-1088-5ae4-a93576fca102"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/us-judge-orders-mueller-grand-jury-materials-released-to-house-judiciary-committee-in-impeachment-inquiry/2019/10/25/18e60278-f75d-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html" target="_blank">A federal judge ruled</a> that the House Judiciary Committee can see some grand jury material from the Mueller investigation.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ce038dd2-7fff-bfd4-1fb8-2216f88b20fd"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10/29 - </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/vindman-offers-a-firsthand-account-of-critical-episodes-in-alleged-quid-pro-quo/2019/10/29/cb16a5c0-fa45-11e9-ac8c-8eced29ca6ef_story.html?wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> testifies before House investigators about the Ukraine call. He disputes the transcript. </span></span> </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-75460121626770071132019-10-01T13:11:00.000-05:002019-10-01T13:11:51.664-05:00Winning - September 2019<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistYmFV65575BEzI9mpSRPkcp93x_hq1JJJQBrSX7uC7oUpxG8nY15DKDVaazznIGUlSVXGpkI-T123xY5kSzyt8TJYiFOB1W8BhaCMisbSAo98BYzwQt0lQh6t8UgdCM2Caq9-XowbIH6/s1600/Trump+seal.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistYmFV65575BEzI9mpSRPkcp93x_hq1JJJQBrSX7uC7oUpxG8nY15DKDVaazznIGUlSVXGpkI-T123xY5kSzyt8TJYiFOB1W8BhaCMisbSAo98BYzwQt0lQh6t8UgdCM2Caq9-XowbIH6/s400/Trump+seal.png" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;">The Trump Presidential Seal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="color: #222222;">
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wisc) will not seek re-election.</span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </i></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully, Alabama was spared from Dorian's wrath. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPO8faAARRMIOC8q5GZOptWoHDQLqKV6bpYDQFNRo4BFYJFtAW8qryBbs5DYI6S5M4lUJuk1FK5ql5k9-LymizQ_uTrIz4RtRVj_eTPz_uHKGB_EKOjarkM5RHQkFDRTyxfd7WCxL_5Otm/s1600/Alabama+Dorian.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPO8faAARRMIOC8q5GZOptWoHDQLqKV6bpYDQFNRo4BFYJFtAW8qryBbs5DYI6S5M4lUJuk1FK5ql5k9-LymizQ_uTrIz4RtRVj_eTPz_uHKGB_EKOjarkM5RHQkFDRTyxfd7WCxL_5Otm/s320/Alabama+Dorian.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/noaa-staff-warned-in-sept-1-directive-against-contradicting-trump/2019/09/07/12a52d1a-d18f-11e9-87fa-8501a456c003_story.html?wpisrc=al_trending_now__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">NOAA instructed not to contradict Trump</a>. We now get our weather forecasts from the White House, not meteorologists.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A meeting scheduled between Trump and Taliban leaders at Camp David falls apart. Peace talks are stopped. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump's middle east peace negotiator, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-lead-middle-east-negotiator-stepping-down--peace-plan-still-under-wraps/2019/09/05/7913a21e-cfe8-11e9-8c1c-7c8ee785b855_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics-pm&wpmm=1" target="_blank">Jason D. Greenblatt</a>, steps down. No deal, no plan, no peace. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/10 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/us/politics/john-bolton-national-security-adviser-trump.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=16896&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Trump fires National Security Adviser</a> John Bolton.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/11 - <a href="https://beta.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-to-remove-tariffs-on-some-us-products-but-not-pork-or-soybeans/2019/09/11/79d45fc0-d459-11e9-8924-1db7dac797fb_story.html" target="_blank">Trump delays China tariff increases</a>. More of his erratic diplomacy.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump is the subject of a <i>whistleblower</i> report. It seems to be related to a phone call to the Ukranian president and aid previously approved by Congress. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/20 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-orders-president-trump-to-testify-in-2015-lawsuit/2019/09/20/caaf9026-dbd5-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics-pm&wpmm=1" target="_blank">A NYC judge orders Trump to testify</a> in a lawsuit involving his 2016 election security team. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/24 - <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1370100095"></span>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi<span id="goog_1370100096"></span></a> begins a formal impeachment inquiry. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/25 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/09/25/trump-administration-weakened-endangered-species-act-rules-today-state-attorneys-general-sued-over-it/?wpisrc=al_news__alert-hse--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Attorneys General from 17 states</a> will sue the Trump Administration over weakened Endangered Species Act.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/25 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-mistakenly-sends-trump-ukraine-talking-points-to-democrats/2019/09/25/5170aa52-dfb2-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics-pm&wpmm=1" target="_blank">The very competent White House staff</a> send their Trump-Ukraine talking points to Democrats. Genius.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/27 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/us/politics/house-democrats-impeachment-trump.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=17412&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Secretary of State Pompeo subpoenaed </a>by three House committees to produce documents regarding Ukraine. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/27 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/us/migrant-children-flores-court.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=17413&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">A federal judge rejected</a> the administration's new rules allowing the holding of immigrant children indefinitely. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/27 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/us/politics/volker-ukraine-resigns.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=17417&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Kurt Volker</a>, Trump's envoy to Ukraine, resigns. The first casualty of Trump's phone call.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/27 - <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_896926139"></span>Russian Rudy Giuliani cancels his appearance<span id="goog_896926140"></span></a> at a Kremlin-backed conference in Armenia. More fallout from the Trump-Ukraine phone call. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/30 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/30/rep-chris-collins-expected-plead-guilty-insider-trading-case/?wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Chris Collins (R-NY) resigns</a> from the House and will plead guilty to insider training. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">09/30 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/us/politics/impeach-giuliani-subpoena.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=17466&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Rudy Giuliani and three associates subpoenaed</a> by three House committees. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
</div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-835730996881225502019-09-03T18:21:00.000-05:002019-09-03T18:21:08.465-05:00Winning - August 2019<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistYmFV65575BEzI9mpSRPkcp93x_hq1JJJQBrSX7uC7oUpxG8nY15DKDVaazznIGUlSVXGpkI-T123xY5kSzyt8TJYiFOB1W8BhaCMisbSAo98BYzwQt0lQh6t8UgdCM2Caq9-XowbIH6/s1600/Trump+seal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistYmFV65575BEzI9mpSRPkcp93x_hq1JJJQBrSX7uC7oUpxG8nY15DKDVaazznIGUlSVXGpkI-T123xY5kSzyt8TJYiFOB1W8BhaCMisbSAo98BYzwQt0lQh6t8UgdCM2Caq9-XowbIH6/s400/Trump+seal.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Trump Presidential Seal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/us/politics/china-trade-trump.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=15783&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Trump's trade talks with China</a> are going so well that he plans to impose tariffs on an additional $300 of Chinese goods on September 1st.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">08/02 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/02/us/politics/trump-ratcliffe-dni.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=15831&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Either John Ratcliffe withdrew of Trump dumped him</a> as nominee for Director of National Intelligence. Another stellar example of the Trump administration's vetting and solid personnel choices. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">08/06 - <a href="https://www.kvia.com/news/politics/as-president-trump-heads-to-el-paso-he-still-owes-the-city-569-204/1106460528" target="_blank">Trump still owes El Paso over $500K</a> from his last visit which was a campaign rally. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">There appear to be some cracks in the once full-fledged Trump/Fox romance. Anything less than full idolatry is akin to treason to Trump. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">08/08 - <a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/8/sue-gordon-deputy-director-national-intelligence-o/" target="_blank">Sue Gordon</a>, Deputy Director of National Intelligence resigns. More turmoil in the intelligence community. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">John Huntsman is resigning as Ambassador to Russia.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">08/13 -<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-delays-some-new-china-tariffs-until-dec-15/2019/08/13/be21e812-bdd1-11e9-b873-63ace636af08_story.html" target="_blank">Trump delays some of the China tariffs</a> until 12/15. Somebody apparently told him his original 09/01 deadline would affect holiday shopping. I thought Trump said China was paying the tariffs.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">08/13 - <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_723102830"></span>A coalition of 29 states sue<span id="goog_723102831"></span></a> the Trump administration over rollback of restrictions on coal-burning power plants.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">08/14 - The US Treasury bond market enters an inverted yield curve. A usually reliable indicator of an impending recession. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">08/19 - </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hugh J. Hurwitz, the acting head of the Bureau of Prisons, is removed. He apparently is the scapegoat for the Epstein suicide. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">08/23 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/08/23/china-hits-us-with-tariffs-billion-worth-goods-reinstates-auto-levies-state-media-report/" target="_blank">China adds tariffs to $75 billion</a> of American goods. Trump's trade war is going great. </span></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump responds by saying he'll raise many tariffs on Chinese goods from 25% to 30% and from 10% to 15%. Trade wars are easy.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">08/28 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/28/us/politics/jim-mattis-trump-pentagon-book.html?searchResultPosition=1" target="_blank">Retired Marine general and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis</a> criticizes Trump for divisive tribalism and driving away allies.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">08/30 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/29/us/politics/trump-madeleine-westerhout.html?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20190830&section=whatElse?campaign_id=9&instance_id=12018&segment_id=16603&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ion=whatElse" target="_blank">Madeleine Westerhout</a>, Trump's personal assistant, steps down or is fired after she shared Oval Office and Trump family details with the press.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
</div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-60469995135309593732019-08-01T10:13:00.000-05:002019-08-01T10:13:44.172-05:00Winning - July 2019<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid468_4o8k-2hyphenhyphenPgJVTLo0nLct6wJZEPOy5OMN5sZ2d5f7TpEGwQ3rGa3jyhnSWQG6x7yhHOvQif_WK7V2yX4SXJAesKT4qSRwS2yWKtb50bZ3XyLONL5kBeI_Wtt_NUc0smdkfc2BGTTD/s1600/trump-im-fucked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid468_4o8k-2hyphenhyphenPgJVTLo0nLct6wJZEPOy5OMN5sZ2d5f7TpEGwQ3rGa3jyhnSWQG6x7yhHOvQif_WK7V2yX4SXJAesKT4qSRwS2yWKtb50bZ3XyLONL5kBeI_Wtt_NUc0smdkfc2BGTTD/s640/trump-im-fucked.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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<ul style="color: #222222;">
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/01 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/01/us/politics/iran-nuclear-limit-compliance.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=14820&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">Iran exceeds the limit</a> of enriched uranium agreed to in the 2015 JCPOA. A direct consequence of Trump unilaterally backing out of the agreement and imposing new sanctions on Iran. More nuclear fuel is not a good thing.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/02 - The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/2020-census-will-not-include-citizenship-question-doj-confirms/2019/07/02/0067be4a-9c44-11e9-9ed4-c9089972ad5a_story.html?utm_term=.cb948549cac3&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Trump administration will not include a citizenship question</a> on the 2020 census. Good news if you want an accurate count. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/02 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/02/house-democrats-sue-trump-administration-over-presidents-tax-returns/?utm_term=.c7b86f17d678" target="_blank">House Democrats file suit</a> to obtain Trump's tax returns. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/05 - Trump’s buddy Jeffrey Epstein arrested for sex trafficking of minors.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/09 - A federal appeals court ruled that Trump cannot block critics on his Twitter account. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/09 - A federal judge denies the DOJ bid to change the census citizenship question legal team.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/11 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/11/us/politics/mueller-subpoena.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=15123&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">House Judiciary Committee subpoenas</a> a dozen people involved with the Mueller investigation. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/11 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/11/us/politics/census-executive-action.html" target="_blank">Trump abandons census citizenship question</a>, AGAIN! </span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/12 - Labor Secretary Alex Acosta resigns amid scrutiny of his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case when US Attorney.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/17 - The House votes to block Trump's arms sales to Saudi Arabia. AGAIN.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/17 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/17/us/politics/barr-ross-contempt-vote.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=15303&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">The House votes</a> to hold AG William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in criminal contempt of Congress for failing to turn over subpoenaed documents.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/24 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/world/asia/north-korea-launched-projectiles.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=15518&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">North Korea fires two projectiles</a> off their east coast.</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And again on 07/30</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/24 - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/us/asylum-ruling-tro.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=15522&user_id=67a5f3b88f2309c658b0b21773dbdd20&regi_id=82194735ing-news" target="_blank">A federal judge blocks </a>Trump's latest asylum ban attempt. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/25 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/07/25/major-automakers-strike-climate-deal-with-california-rebuffing-trump-proposed-mileage-freeze/?utm_term=.baa39baf25be&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Major automakers side with California</a> over Trump on a climate deal. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump gets punked at Turning Point rally with a fake Presidential Seal. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPYN1m7EIK4PyTq-HRQMsMIJfogeuv4xCYbY8m3B4Q0-6EwuG6gfzO0cl-0o6SvLo7hoH0pKMV6Bhy7MNqBxY7reH6kKB_e5FbF2ras2DsjSOSiwOVD-l5DNvM41iWxH8LLnZEfiUQDA9/s1600/Trump+seal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPYN1m7EIK4PyTq-HRQMsMIJfogeuv4xCYbY8m3B4Q0-6EwuG6gfzO0cl-0o6SvLo7hoH0pKMV6Bhy7MNqBxY7reH6kKB_e5FbF2ras2DsjSOSiwOVD-l5DNvM41iWxH8LLnZEfiUQDA9/s200/Trump+seal.png" width="150" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">07/28 - Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats, resigns.</span></div>
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<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">07/30 - <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-07-30/trump-tax-returns-california-ballot-gavin-newsom-law" target="_blank">California passes a law</a> requiring disclosure of tax returns to run in presidential primaries. </span></div>
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</ul>
<b style="color: orange; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i>wjh</i></b></div>
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Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-32162524090296270222019-07-26T03:54:00.000-05:002019-07-26T03:54:23.771-05:00Mueller Time - After the Report<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccFKVM_yZL3s5i-Br7QQiIUNxWCduueg-46FASs7xF_bdWXHDp7SNc0ykLYk5m8w2RX4R7dyVODldJJjAp8DyKGAr4tMFG2K-LqKyGLxU26TCVi6e6ZYznAa7O5hsT4c9AIBT6lcMFsO0/s1600/Mueller+Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccFKVM_yZL3s5i-Br7QQiIUNxWCduueg-46FASs7xF_bdWXHDp7SNc0ykLYk5m8w2RX4R7dyVODldJJjAp8DyKGAr4tMFG2K-LqKyGLxU26TCVi6e6ZYznAa7O5hsT4c9AIBT6lcMFsO0/s400/Mueller+Time.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>On 05/17/2017, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert S. Mueller III as Special Counsel. Mueller was to investigate any possible collusion between the Trump presidential campaign or other Americans and the Russian government regarding the 2016 elections. The investigation was not limited to that issue and any crimes discovered while investigating were also subject to prosecution and/or being turned over to the Justice Department or state prosecutors.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><i><br /></i></span> <i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">On 03/22/2019 Mueller essentially completed his job with the submission of his report to Attorney General William Barr. Now we dissect that report and see what the fallout is.</i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">03/24 - Attorney General William Barr submits a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/read-attorney-general-barr-s-principal-conclusions-of-the-mueller-report/?noteId=9048a12b-2332-4645-a1be-d645db216eb5&questionId=218b8095-c5e3-4eab-9135-4170f5b3e87f&utm_term=.c6f6738e301e" target="_blank">four-page summary letter</a> of the Mueller report to Congress outlining the principal conclusions. The findings are no chargeable collusion (conspiracy) between the Trump campaign and Russia. On obstruction, neither guilt or exoneration. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/12 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> In a Mueller investigation spinoff case, W. Samuel Patten, 47, a GOP political consultant, in August admitted steering $50,000<span style="color: #111111;"> from a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician to Trump’s inaugural </span>committee, is sentenced to probation.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/18 - The redacted Mueller report is released to Congress and the public. It is 448 pages. </span></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The report concluded that there was Russian interference in the 2016 election. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Russian interference was meant to benefit Trump. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was no provable coordinate cooperation between Russian and the Trump campaign. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were many links and contacts between Russia and the campaign, none prosecutable. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was evidence of obstruction.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The DOJ will not indict or prosecute a sitting president. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/us/politics/mueller-barr.html?emc=edit_NN_p_20190501&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=82194735tion%3DtopNews&section=topNews&te=1" target="_blank">Mueller wrote a letter to AG Barr</a> objecting to Barr's description and conclusions of the Mueller Report.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Barr appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Softball questions from GOP members. Barr is evasive and combative with Democrat's questioning. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Barr refuses to testify about the Mueller Report before the House Judiciary Committee.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/06 - Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, reports to prison for a three-year sentence. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/08 - Trump invokes Executive Privilege to block the release of full Mueller Report to Congress. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/08 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/who-signed-the-letter-asserting-trump-would-have-been-charged-with-obstruction-if-he-werent-president-and-what-they-hope-happens-next/2019/05/07/66744532-710b-11e9-8be0-ca575670e91c_story.html?utm_term=.a703bba4da15&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1" target="_blank">Over 700 former federal prosecutors</a> say there is enough evidence in the Mueller Report to charge and prosecute Trump for obstruction. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/20 - Trump blocks Don McGahn from testifying before Congress.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/23 - Manafort's banker</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="font-size: large;">chairman Stephen M. Calk of Federal Savings Bank, is indicted in Manhatten for pushing through $16 million in high-risk loans.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">05/29 - Mueller reiterates that his team cannot clear Trump of obstruction but DOJ cannot charge a sitting president. It is up to Congress. He also stated that he will not provide testimony to Congress beyond his report.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">06/25 - Mueller agrees to testify before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees in open hearings on July 17th. </span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">07/12 - Hearings are delayed one week until July 24th.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">07/24 - Mueller testifies before the House Judiciary Committee and House Intelligence Committee for about six hours. He was succinct with his answers and passed on answering many questions. While not a stellar or exciting appearance, Mueller did say, among other things, the following statements:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">The president was not exonerated.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">No chargeable conspiracy with Russia but certainly cooperation during the campaign.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Russian interference was to benefit Trump</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Russia did and is interfering with our elections. Others too.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did not subpoena Trump because the White House would fight the subpoena and prolong/distract the investigation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">DOJ policy stopped Muller from indicting Trump.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump and others in the administration and campaign lied to investigators.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump could be prosecuted for obstruction once out of office.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">The investigation was not a witch hunt and Russian interference is not a hoax.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This may be the last we see or hear from Robert Mueller. He seems to want to fade into retirement out of the limelight. It is now up to Congress and the voters to act on the findings of the report.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-65926012228138840532019-07-15T05:47:00.000-05:002019-07-15T05:47:32.655-05:00Trump Speak II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UcCkBYEOoR9Sqr7RgJX3VSZCKE6X9xmyB0vjnEN-YA69BiS_4RvLXFkNMQ4339ph7xYkv1ZCCpJ96GGllpTuJ7U46eAHEZAtO1Hw1Pk32t6ixBEtsug0T5V3Dk8fno83g2x-LryXXzMn/s1600/trump+speak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UcCkBYEOoR9Sqr7RgJX3VSZCKE6X9xmyB0vjnEN-YA69BiS_4RvLXFkNMQ4339ph7xYkv1ZCCpJ96GGllpTuJ7U46eAHEZAtO1Hw1Pk32t6ixBEtsug0T5V3Dk8fno83g2x-LryXXzMn/s400/trump+speak.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Donald J. Trump and his minions have introduced a whole new set of words and phra</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">ses. They have also brought some older words to the forefront</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> as well as changing their meaning. Here is the second list of some of the new Trump lexicon.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Take the mantle</b> - Usually means t</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">o <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">take</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> on a specific role or position, along with any associated responsibilities. To Trump in regards to the Christmas 2018 government shutdown, it meant blame the Democrats.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>The Pesident</b> - the title Trump used in a tweet to describe himself. No R needed</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>The United States looses soooo much money on Trade with Mexico under NAFTA</b> - Is all that money loose change? Maybe loose pesos.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>It turns out to be true now</b> - Here comes a whopper.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Make no mistake...</b> - One of Pence's favorite expressions. Whatever follows is probably a Trump lie or threat that Pence is repeating.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Very strongly</b> - usually used when Trump is trying to convey that a foreign leader is denying some terrible action that everyone knows they did or authorized. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Even greater than anyone would know!</b> - Used by Trump to falsely describe his support on an issue.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>A far worse situation than almost anyone would understand </b>- The implication being that only a (J)enius like Trump could figure this out. First, it ain't that bad. Second, almost everyone understands except Trump.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Some say</b> - get ready, a whopper will be following. Either a wild boast, misused statistic, or another outright lie. The "some" is either none or maybe two. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>You all know it</b> - The words that just came out of my mouth was complete bullshit.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Most people don't know...</b> - followed by an outright lie or something almost everyone knows. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Total exoneration</b> - only total in Trump's mind and his stooges. Nevermind that his Attorney General specifically said the Mueller findings do not mean exoneration. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>No Obstruction</b> - The DOJ decided not to prosecute the obstruction they found.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>People are beginning to realize...</b> - Trump just found out. The world has realized for years. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>A little squabble</b> - His term for a major and serious trade war with China.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Only in America</b> - What was once a positive phrase, Trump uses as a negative, particularly when complaining about laws or policies he disagrees with. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Not my type</b> - Trump's first response when confronted with a sexual assault charge. This indicates that there is a "type" that he would assault. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>A very stupid guy</b> - Anyone who disagrees with or points out Trump's shortcomings. Actual IQ or ability does not matter.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-27081376443219619522019-07-01T03:52:00.000-05:002019-07-01T03:52:06.886-05:00Winning - June 2019<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/06/10/president-trump-has-made-false-or-misleading-claims-over-days/?utm_term=.47b169455cb0" target="_blank">The Trump lie count</a> as of June 7th was 10,796. An average of 12/day. A truly stellar achievement.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/owners-of-former-trump-hotel-in-panama-say-presidents-firm-evaded-taxes/2019/06/03/fe70d344-866b-11e9-a870-b9c411dc4312_story.html?utm_term=.60de7761f5c0&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1" target="_blank">The owners</a> of the former Trump Ocean Club building in Panama filed suit in federal court over tax evasion.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Trump's top economist, Kevin Hassett, resigns.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/homeland-security-watchdog-retires-early-after-his-office-was-forced-to-retract-feel-good-audits-of-disaster-response/2019/06/10/a370f488-8b9d-11e9-b08e-cfd89bd36d4e_story.html?utm_term=.efa355444a2b" target="_blank">The Homeland Security Department acting inspector general</a>, John V. Kelly, "retires" after revelations that he directed staff to whitewash audits of disaster response. The swamp creatures continue to rule.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">06/11 - The House votes to seek court enforcement of subpoenas for Barr and Gahn. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">06/13 - The Office of Special Counsel recommends that Trump fire Kellyanne Conway for Hatch Act violations.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Trump says he won't fire her. Laws don't matter.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">06/13 - Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders resigns.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">06/18 - Trump withdraws the nomination of Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan for the permanent position. A background check turned up domestic abuse allegations. Maybe try vetting before nominating. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">06/18 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ann Marie Buerkle, Acting Consumer Protection Chairwoman, will step down in October. Another <i>ACTING</i> agency head.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the bluffing continues. A promised immigrant roundup by ICE is delayed. A military strike against Iran is called off. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">06/25 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Customs and Border Protection agency’s acting commissioner, John Sanders, resigns. Another one bites the dust.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">06/25 - A federal judge ruled that the emoluments case against Trump by 200 Democrats in Congress can proceed. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">06/27 - The Supreme Court returns the 2020 census <i>citizenship</i> question to a lower court. Considered a setback to the Trump administration. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-83919411223987727822019-06-01T14:48:00.000-05:002019-06-01T14:48:06.901-05:00Winning - May 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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</div>
<ul style="color: #222222;">
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/02 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/stephen-moore-trumps-choice-for-federal-reserve-seat-bows-out-amid-scrutiny-of-past-remarks-about-women-other-topics/2019/05/02/0eb33cba-6c45-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html?utm_term=.ea15ac0e5186" target="_blank">Stephen Moore withdraws</a> from consideration as Federal Reserve Board nominee. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/03 - North Korea launches a short-range missile. Another chink in the Kim-Trump bromance. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/03 - A three-judge panel declared Ohio's Republican-drawn congressional map unconstitutional. Extreme gerrymandering. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/07 - <i><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/07/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html?emc=edit_na_20190507&nl=breaking-news&nlid=82194735ing-news&ref=cta" target="_blank">The New York Times</a></i> publishes a story using obtained tax information showing that Trump lost over $1 billion between 1985 and 1994. A master deal maker.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/08 - Donald Trump, Jr. is subpoenaed by the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/10 - Trade talks with China breakdown. No agreement reached. New tariffs by both sides. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Doral and Mar-a-Lago revenue drop in a booming economy. I wonder why? Maybe it's the landlord.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/20 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>A federal judge denied President Trump’s bid to quash <span style="color: #111111;">a House subpoena for years of his financial records from his accounting firm.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #111111;">05/22 - </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New York passes a bill giving Congress a way to get Trump’s NY state tax returns.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">05/22 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A federal judge denied President Trump’s request to halt <span style="color: #111111;">a House subpoena for his banking records from Deuts</span></span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">che Bank.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/24 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so,” Mr. Mueller said. Somewhat short of complete exoneration.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05/24 - A federal judge issues a temporary restraining order to block part of the border wall construction plan.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
</div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-32965275272218441712019-05-01T03:55:00.000-05:002019-05-01T03:55:28.736-05:00Winning - April 2019<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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</div>
<ul style="color: #222222;">
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/02 - Trump abandons plans to push for repealing and replacing the ACA (ObamaCare) until after the 2020 elections. So much for the GOP becoming the healthcare party. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/02 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The House Oversight and Reform Committee voted Tuesday to subpoena Carl Kline, who served as personnel security director at the White House during the first two years of the administration.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/02 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The House Oversight and Reform Committee voted Tuesday to compel the Trump administration to provide more information on its decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/03 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee asked the IRS on Wednesday for six years of President Trump’s personal and business tax returns. Should be interesting. I wonder if the tax returns are works of fiction. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/05 - A third federal judge has ruled that the census citizenship question violates administrative law.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/07 - Homeland Security Secretary</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Kirstjen Nielsen is fired. A very stable administration for a very stable genius.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">04/08 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">U.S. Secret Service Director Randolph D. “Tex” Alles will be stepping down. He was fired. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/us/politics/randolph-alles-secret-service.html" target="_blank">A full-blown Trump purge at Homeland Security</a> in progress.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/08 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/federal-judge-blocks-trump-administration-program-forcing-asylum-seekers-to-remain-in-mexico-while-awaiting-court-hearings/2019/04/08/68e96048-5a42-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?utm_term=.7c4f1a5d9932" target="_blank">A federal judge blocks Trump's program that forces asylum seekers to wait in Mexico</a> for their court hearings. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/12 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> W. Samuel Patten, 47, a GOP political consultant, in August admitted steering $50,000<span style="color: #111111;"> from a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician to Trump’s inaugural </span>committee, is sentenced to probation.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/16 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-vetoes-resolution-to-end-us-participation-in-yemens-civil-war/2019/04/16/0fabc312-60a1-11e9-bfad-36a7eb36cb60_story.html?utm_term=.dd32fc6f6cc0" target="_blank">Trump vetoes</a> the resolution to stop US involvement in the Yemen civil war. He doesn't want to upset his Saudi buddies. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/17 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/north-korea-announces-test-oftactical-guided-weapon/2019/04/17/1f27d682-615f-11e9-9412-daf3d2e67c6d_story.html?utm_term=.a67ad54a1d5a&wpisrc=al_news__alert-world--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">North Korea tests a new "tactical guided weapon"</a>. Is there trouble in the Kim-Trump bromance?</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/18 - The redacted Mueller Report is released to the public. No <i>coordinated</i> cooperation between Russia and Trump's campaign. There was significant contact. Despite Trump's claims of complete vindication, there is significant evidence of obstruction but none that will be prosecuted by the DOJ. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/22 - Herman Cain withdraws from consideration for the Federal Reserve Board.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/22 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena Monday ordering former White House counsel Donald McGahn to testify before the panel next month and hand over documents and records pertaining to federal investigations of President Trump, his finances, his campaign, and charges that he sought to obstruct justice.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump instructs current and past members of the administration not to honor Congressional subpoenas. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/23 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/04/23/six-trump-interior-appointees-are-being-investigated-possible-ethical-misconduct/?utm_term=.d05345799af5&wpisrc=al_politics__alert-politics&wpmk=1" target="_blank">Six Trump appointees</a> at the Interior Department are under investigation for ethics violations. What a surprise.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">04/25 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>A federal judge issued a nationwide injunction temporarily blocking a Trump administration rule<span style="color: #333333;"> that would bar organizations that provide abortion referrals from receiving federal family planning money.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333;">04/30 - <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congressional-democrats-emoluments-lawsuit-targeting-president-trumps-private-business-can-proceed-judge-says/2019/04/30/ae2ae6be-5b9f-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?utm_term=.19e07e656da9&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank">The Congressional Democrats' emoluments lawsuit</a> against Trump can continue according to a federal judge. </span></span></li>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>wjh</i></span></div>
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Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-38567048432526078862019-04-01T11:38:00.000-05:002019-04-01T11:38:25.566-05:00Winning - March 2019<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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<ul style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: center;">
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Trump golf count - 165 visits to golf clubs in 114 weeks, 128 rounds of golf. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/04/president-trump-has-made-false-or-misleading-claims-over-days/?utm_term=.1ee4bab9a42e" target="_blank">The Trump lie count</a> - As of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/?utm_term=.933d36d5b2f7" target="_blank">03/31/19</a>, it is 9,451 in 801 days in office. That's 5.9/day the first year, 16.5/day the second year. So far this year the average is almost 22/day. He will easily break 10,000 sometime this year and probably 15,000. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-47400641?wpisrc=nl_daily202&wpmm=1" target="_blank">The UK courts rule</a> that Trump's Aberdeen golf club must pay the Scottish government's legal costs over a failed wind turbine lawsuit. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">FDA Commissioner Scott Gotlieb is resigning.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The federal budget deficit is $310 billion, up 77%, in the first four months of the fiscal year. Mostly because of the GOP tax cut that was supposed to pay for itself.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The US trade deficit rose to a record $891.2 billion, $419 billion with China. This in spite of Trump's tariffs and promises to shrink the trade deficit. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">According to US military analysts, North Korea has started rebuilding their missile test facilities. So much for a successful summit by the master dealmaker.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The House Judiciary Committee has requested information and/or documents from 81 people, agencies, and entities tied to Trump. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/07 - Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen sues the Trump Organization for nonpayment of $1.9 million in legal costs. He also sued for an additional $1.9 million in reimbursements for fines, forfeitures, and restitution. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/07 - Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort is sentenced to 47 months in federal prison for bank and tax fraud. Too little time for his crimes.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/08 - Job growth for February was 20,000. Expected growth was 175,000. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/08 - Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson resigns.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/08 - White House communications director Bill Shine resigns. He was the fifth person to hold that position. Shine lasted eight months. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/13 - Paul Manafort is sentenced to 73 months in prison in his DC conspiracy case, 30 months concurrent with his 47 month Virginia sentence. He is now on the hook for 7½ years in federal prison.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/13 - New York indicts Manafort on 16 charges including mortgage fraud. If convicted, Trump can not pardon him on these state charges. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/13 - The Senate rebukes Trump with a 54-46 vote ordering the US military to end support of the Saudi's war in Yemen. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/14 - The New York appellate court allows the Summer Zervos defamation suit against Trump to proceed.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">03/14 - The Senate votes against Trump's border emergency declaration 59-41. It passed the House last month.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/19 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A federal judge ruled that the Interior Department violated federal law by failing to take into account the climate impact of its oil and gas leasing in the West. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The judge temporarily blocked drilling on about 300,000 acres of land in Wyoming. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a public outcry over Betsy DeVos's plan to cut the Special Olympics funding for 2020. Trump reacts to the outcry and reverses the plan. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/27 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A US district judge blocks the Kentucky and Arkansas Medicaid work requirements.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/29 - A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administrations plan to allow health insurance plans outside the Affordable Care Act is illegal.</span></li>
</ul>
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<b style="color: orange; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></b> <b style="color: orange; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>wjh</i></b></div>
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Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-68649356841951864212019-03-25T15:54:00.000-05:002019-03-25T15:54:11.172-05:00Mueller Time - First Quarter 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccFKVM_yZL3s5i-Br7QQiIUNxWCduueg-46FASs7xF_bdWXHDp7SNc0ykLYk5m8w2RX4R7dyVODldJJjAp8DyKGAr4tMFG2K-LqKyGLxU26TCVi6e6ZYznAa7O5hsT4c9AIBT6lcMFsO0/s1600/Mueller+Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccFKVM_yZL3s5i-Br7QQiIUNxWCduueg-46FASs7xF_bdWXHDp7SNc0ykLYk5m8w2RX4R7dyVODldJJjAp8DyKGAr4tMFG2K-LqKyGLxU26TCVi6e6ZYznAa7O5hsT4c9AIBT6lcMFsO0/s400/Mueller+Time.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>On 05/17/2017, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert S. Mueller III as Special Council. Mueller was to investigate any possible collusion between the Trump presidential campaign or other Americans and the Russian government regarding the 2016 elections. The investigation was not limited to that issue and any crimes discovered while investigating were also subject to prosecution and/or being turned over to the Justice Department or state prosecutors.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A partial list of first quarter 2019</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> news about the investigation. The Mueller team remained remarkably tight-lipped about their activities. Most information comes from public court filings and hearings. </span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/08 - Court filings allege that Paul Manafort shared 2016 presidential campaign polling data with Konstantin Kilimnik who has been tied to Russian intelligence.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/08 - Supreme Court rules against mystery corporation from ‘Country A’ fighting subpoena in Mueller investigation. The corporation is a foreign financial institution. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">01/17 - In court filings, Mueller indicates that </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Manafort</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> in February 2018 — four months after Manafort was first charged with crimes related to his work as a political consultant in Ukraine — still appears to have been working on a peace initiative for Ukraine, a topic of intense interest to Russia. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/25 - Trump cronie and self-admitted dirty trickster, <a href="http://another%20trump%20cronie%20is%20indicted.%20looks%20like%20mueller%20has%20caught%20another%20witch./" target="_blank">Roger Stone, is indicted on seven counts</a>, including witness tampering, by Mueller. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/13 - A federal judge has found that Paul Manafort lied to prosecutors on Mueller's team after he had made a plea deal and agreed to cooperate. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/07 - Manafort is sentenced to 47 months in prison in the financial fraud case in Virginia. An extremely light sentence based on a 19-year minimum guideline.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/13 - Manafort is sentenced to 73 months in prison in his Washington DC case. Although the judge ruled that 30 of those months will be concurrent with the 47 month Virginia sentence, the other 43 months will be tacked on. That gives Manafort a total sentence of 7½ years. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/13 - Manafort is indicted on 16 felony counts in the state of New York. Charges include mortgage fraud and falsifying business records. Trump can not pardon people guilty of state charges. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/22 - Robert Mueller submits his final report to AG William Barr.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/23 - William Barr states that there will be no additional indictments by the Mueller team.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">03/24 - AG William Barr submits a four-page summary of the Mueller report to Congress. It states there was no provable collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. It also states that the report does not exonerate or accuse Trump of obstruction of justice.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Mueller's job is essentially completed with the submission of his report to AG Barr. There are still some prosecutorial issues to wrap up such as the Roger Stone case. There may be some Congressional hearings that request or demand Mueller's testimony. I'm sure this issue will continue to be debated and written about for years to come. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>The next steps, for the most part, will be up to Congress, some US Attorneys, and several state and local attorneys general and prosecutors. One thing for sure, this ain't over yet.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I'll do at least one more Mueller Time post on this blog to go into the meat of the report. Stay tuned. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-35227071267067156632019-03-01T04:00:00.000-06:002019-03-01T04:00:45.307-06:00Winning - February 2019<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyT4ys322dFYDYDzZj7Sbezln9DScjEcCmbNK_s6Twu0kulYr-4M11Etfg4XjfPhnQZfBsq4zXB1X50yxa068XoOkuj7WM3oeXuId1wvNpKxVN111cd6IUCZ2APUL-EFz0ukxDVmYA7A6/s1600/Trump+Winning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="750" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyT4ys322dFYDYDzZj7Sbezln9DScjEcCmbNK_s6Twu0kulYr-4M11Etfg4XjfPhnQZfBsq4zXB1X50yxa068XoOkuj7WM3oeXuId1wvNpKxVN111cd6IUCZ2APUL-EFz0ukxDVmYA7A6/s400/Trump+Winning.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Trump golf count - 159 visits to golf clubs in 110 weeks, 124 rounds of golf. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/04 - Trump's inaugural committee is ordered to turn over documents about donors, finances, and activities to federal prosecutors in Manhattan. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/04/there-are-two-types-trump-executive-time-one-each-side-political-debate/?utm_term=.0b47292e2019" target="_blank">Leaked copies of Tump's "work" schedule</a> show that about 60% of his time is unstructured ("executive time") spent watching TV, tweeting, and making phone calls. An exhausting regime.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/07 - The Supreme Court votes 5-4 to block Louisiana's abortion law. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/11 - Former White House staffer and author, Cliff Sims, sues Trump.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/13 - FEMA administrator William "Brock" Long resigns.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/13 - The House votes 248-177 to end US military aid to Saudi Arabia in Yemen. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/13 - A federal judge has found that Paul Manafort lied to prosecutors after he had made a plea deal. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Trump Organization had abandoned plans to start two new hotel lines, Scion and American Idea. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to his 2019 physical, Trump is officially obese and his cholesterol is high.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/15 - Trump caves and signs a government funding bill that includes $1.4 billion in border fence money, far less than was on the table before the shutdown or in 2017. The art of the deal by the great dealmaker.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump's nominee for UN Ambassador, Heather Nauert, withdraws from consideration. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">16 states file suit to stop Trump from using emergency powers to build his wall.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another condo in New York City plans to remove the name <i>Trump Place</i> from the building.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then another <i>Trump Place</i> condo votes to remove the name. There were once six buildings in a row on Riverside Blvd. bearing the name. Soon there will be none. </span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Manhattan prosecutors are preparing state charges against Paul Manafort. Trump pardon proofing.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/26 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The House voted 245-182 to block Trump's border emergency declaration.</span> </li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/27 - Trump's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified before the House Oversight Committee. <a href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenthelper/636-michael-cohens-congressional-t/3a1530b333230e775df5/optimized/full.pdf#page=1?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20190227&section=topNews" target="_blank">Cohen calls Trump a racist and conman</a>. Not exactly new news.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">02/28 - Kim Jong-un and Trump abruptly cut short their summit with no agreement. The great dealmaker. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It looks like Trump Organization CFO </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Allen Weisselberg and others will be interviewed and/or testifying in Congress. Fallout from the Michael Cohen testimony.</span></li>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
</div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-30038031742875755382019-02-01T06:00:00.000-06:002019-02-01T06:00:36.024-06:00Winning - January 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyT4ys322dFYDYDzZj7Sbezln9DScjEcCmbNK_s6Twu0kulYr-4M11Etfg4XjfPhnQZfBsq4zXB1X50yxa068XoOkuj7WM3oeXuId1wvNpKxVN111cd6IUCZ2APUL-EFz0ukxDVmYA7A6/s1600/Trump+Winning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="750" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyT4ys322dFYDYDzZj7Sbezln9DScjEcCmbNK_s6Twu0kulYr-4M11Etfg4XjfPhnQZfBsq4zXB1X50yxa068XoOkuj7WM3oeXuId1wvNpKxVN111cd6IUCZ2APUL-EFz0ukxDVmYA7A6/s400/Trump+Winning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i><br />
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The new year starts with the #TrumpShutdown. About 800K federal employees not being paid.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/21/president-trump-made-false-or-misleading-claims-his-first-two-years/?utm_term=.36c69cf158e8" target="_blank">According to Fact Check</a>, after a relatively "slow" start, Trump easily tops 8,000 lies in his first two years in office. A whopping 75% in the second year. A 5.9/day average overall but 16.5/day in the last year. He truly is the greatest at something. Trumpers should be proud.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/01 - Mitt Romney writes a scathing <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mitt-romney-the-president-shapes-the-public-character-of-the-nation-trumps-character-falls-short/2019/01/01/37a3c8c2-0d1a-11e9-8938-5898adc28fa2_story.html?utm_term=.bf423bfd1aa8&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1" target="_blank"><i>Washington Post</i> op-ed</a> of Trump's leadership and morality.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/03 - The new Democratic-controlled House is sworn in. Nancy Pelosi is elected Speaker. No more free ride for Trump in Congress.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/03 - The Justice Department is investigating whether former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke lied to Interior Department inspector general investigators. More Trump administration swampiness. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/03 - The House passes the same temporary appropriations bill that the Senate passed last month and that Trump had originally agreed to sign. #TrumpShutdown.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/04 - Kevin Sweeney, a retired Navy rear admiral, the Pentagon chief of staff has been forced to step down. His unflinching loyalty to Trump was in question. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What started out as Trump's slogan "America First" has devolved to now be "America Only". Unhealthy nationalism.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/07 - It now appears that Trump is walking back his "immediate" troop withdrawal from Syria. Another example of his tweet first, ask questions later policy. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/08 - Court filings allege that Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign manager, shared 2016 presidential campaign polling data with Konstantin Kilimnik who has been tied to Russian intelligence. No collusion?</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/10 - Former Trump lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, agrees to testify publicly before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on February 7th. Not great news for Trump.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/14 - Two federal judges rule that the Trump administration can not roll back the birth control mandate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare). </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/15 - A federal judge has blocked the Commerce Department from asking a citizenship question on the 2020 census. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;">The No. 2 at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Deputy Secretary Pam Patenaude, has resigned over disagreements with Trump about disaster funding for Puerto Rico. She is </span>wi</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">dely regarded as HUD’s most capable political leader. Apparently, Secretary Ben Carson is not the most capable. Surprise.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/17 - The House votes 362-53 to oppose the lifting of the Treasury sanctions against Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska controlled companies. A rebuke of the Trump Administration. Eleven GOP senators also voted against lifting the sanctions. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/19 - Trump proposes a government shutdown "compromise". Give me all I want and I'll temporarily give you a little of what you want. The Democrats did not bite.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/21 - Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, tries to walk back his statements that the Moscow Trump Tower deal negotiations continued well into 2016. Surprise, Giuliani put his foot in his mouth again. Why do they let this guy make public statements?</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/22 - The Supreme Court takes no action on Trump's request to take up the DACA issue now.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another scathing look at Trump's White House in a new book <i>Team of Vipers</i>. This time by Trump supporter and former staffer Cliff Sims. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/23 - Speaker Pelosi rescinds the invitation to Trump to give the SOTU in the House chambers. After threatening to give his speech at a different venue, he capitulates. The SOTU is officially postponed until after the #TrumpShutdown. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/25 - Trump's approval rating is at 37%, disapproval rating at 58%. That's a 21 point delta. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/25 - The government shutdown, a yoooouge win for Trump. His approval ratings tank, still no wall money. No SOTU, economic pain, travel interruptions, and much more. Overwhelming winning. </span> </li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump loves to make history and his shutdown is the longest in US history. Congratulations!</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a 35 day shutdown, Trump caves and agrees to the exact same deal that was on the table before the shutdown.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The far right media criticizes Trump for caving. Ann Coulter calls him a wimp. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">01/31 - The Senate rebukes (68-23) Trump's Syria and Afghanistan troop withdrawal plans. Trump's buddy Mitch McConnell spearheaded the amendment.</span></li>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
</div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-75445619238406555142019-01-19T20:44:00.000-06:002019-01-19T20:44:57.990-06:00The Art of the No Deal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjnFovFFE0XJFSCUpShHwWOX0NLKYT6v3w1WWAUhtPGl1RxMfuLgnkY7euO8o-6LOBikyUeCnwiuLzpixKL0Ff25e9nqK7P0B-PZjN4wJ3SRQ06kdwVSAkzHRSWs7akdgeBAP7ttRaAqz/s1600/no-deal-stamp-text-inside-illustration-108503171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="344" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjnFovFFE0XJFSCUpShHwWOX0NLKYT6v3w1WWAUhtPGl1RxMfuLgnkY7euO8o-6LOBikyUeCnwiuLzpixKL0Ff25e9nqK7P0B-PZjN4wJ3SRQ06kdwVSAkzHRSWs7akdgeBAP7ttRaAqz/s400/no-deal-stamp-text-inside-illustration-108503171.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On January 19, 2019, President Trump addressed the nation to propose his new offer to end the border wall stalemate that has closed parts of our government. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here was the essence of Trump's new deal. Give me all the $5.7 billion that I want for my beautiful permanent wall and I will give you three years of temporary protections for the Dreamers (DACA - </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118);">) </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and those in temporary protected status (TPS). </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is a my permanent for your temporary </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">kind of deal. No future guarantees to ever resolve or make permanent your temporary perks. Does that seem fair? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A fair counterproposal by the Democrats would be to give permanent legal status to the Dreamers for a temporary wall that must be torn down in three years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were no new ideas in Trump's proposal. Several variations have been offered before by Democrats, Republicans, and bipartisan groups in Congress. Trump has turned them all down, often after initially agreeing to them. The man can't be trusted. There is no reason to believe he would negotiate in good faith about DACA or TPS once he gets permanent wall funding. By the way, it was Trump himself who took away the protections of DACA and TPS. Offering to undo what he did is not bipartisan negotiations, it is closer to demanding a ransom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has also been reported that the preparation for this latest Trump proposal was cobbled together by VP Mike Pence, acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and boy wonder Jarod Kushner. All members of his administration. Maybe a little input from some other Republicans. Absolutely no input from Democrats. That's Trump's definition of bipartisan. No word yet whether Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and/or Sean Hannity helped with the plan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's also note that the Dreamers are currently protected while the courts decide their fate. There is no telling how long those court cases will take to be resolved. The latest indication is that the Supreme Court may not take up the case. Those in the TPS program are in a slightly more precarious position although their fate is tied up in the courts too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now let's do some fact checking on Trump's address. He stated that "some say" his border wall could cut crime and drugs in the US by up to half. That is ludicrous. First, that assumes that the vast majority of crime in this country is committed by illegal immigrants. Second, it assumes that most of the drugs coming into our country come across the border in places that currently do not have a wall. Most of the illegal drugs come into the country through legal ports of entry, land, sea, and air. Many come in trucks and cars through government staffed checkpoints at the Mexican border. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump stated that there are over 70,000 drug deaths a year in this country. That is accurate and it is tragic. Of course, that number includes OD deaths from all drugs, legal and illegal. He also stated that illegal drugs use cost society $700 billion. I have been unable to find any confirmation for that number. Any drug costs again, include both legal and illegal drugs and they are lower than $700 billion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Trump mentioned the "radical" left or the "extreme" left and his perception that they have not been willing to compromise. Not any mention of the extreme right or Republican's unwillingness to compromise. It's never a good idea to call your opponents names when trying to strike a deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, our always empathetic president failed to mention the 800,000 government employees who are not getting paid.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span>Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-41501166671918539032019-01-02T06:07:00.000-06:002019-01-02T06:07:57.695-06:00Mueller Time - Fourth Quarter 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccFKVM_yZL3s5i-Br7QQiIUNxWCduueg-46FASs7xF_bdWXHDp7SNc0ykLYk5m8w2RX4R7dyVODldJJjAp8DyKGAr4tMFG2K-LqKyGLxU26TCVi6e6ZYznAa7O5hsT4c9AIBT6lcMFsO0/s1600/Mueller+Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccFKVM_yZL3s5i-Br7QQiIUNxWCduueg-46FASs7xF_bdWXHDp7SNc0ykLYk5m8w2RX4R7dyVODldJJjAp8DyKGAr4tMFG2K-LqKyGLxU26TCVi6e6ZYznAa7O5hsT4c9AIBT6lcMFsO0/s400/Mueller+Time.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>On 05/17/2017, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as Special Council. Mueller was to investigate any possible collusion between the Trump presidential campaign or other Americans and the Russian government regarding the 2016 elections. The investigation was not limited to that issue and any crimes discovered while investigating were also subject to prosecution and/or being turned over to the Justice Department or state prosecutors.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A partial list of fourth quarter 2018</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> news about the investigation. The Mueller team remained remarkably tight-lipped about their activities. Most information comes from public court filings and hearings. There was a flurry of activity after the midterm elections. </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As expected, Mueller and his team were very quiet in October during the run-up to the midterm elections.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">AG Jeff Sessions is fired by Trump right after the midterm elections and replaced by Matthew Whitaker who says he will now oversee the Mueller investigation. Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein's role is unclear.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/20 - Trump submits his answers to Mueller's questions about Russian interference in the 2016 elections.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/26 - Mueller's team says that Paul Manafort has violated his plea deal by repeatedly lying to the FBI. Both sides have asked that sentencing proceeds on the charges he has already been found guilty of. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/29 - Michael Cohen pleads guilty to additional charges of lying to Congress. He also details Trump's involvement in financial dealings with Russia in 2016.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/04 - Mueller recommends no jail time for Michael Flynn because of his substantial cooperation with the special counsel office. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/07 - Federal prosecutors recommend "substantial" prison time for Michael Cohen, former Trump lawyer and "fixer. They indicate that although he did cooperate with prosecutors, he didn't disclose everything he knew. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/07 - New York Federal prosecutors and Mueller's team filed court papers</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>directly implicating President Trump in plans to buy women’s silence as far back as 2014 and offering new evidence of Russian efforts to forge a political alliance with Trump before he became president.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/07 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a document filed in federal court, Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III said that Paul Manafort told “multiple discernible lies” during interviews with prosecutors, including about his contacts with an employee who is alleged to have ties to Russian intelligence. Mueller also said Manafort lied about his contacts with Trump administration officials after Trump took office.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/17 - Bijan Kian and Ekim Alptekin, two former business associates of Michael Flynn, are indicted as part of a Turkish conspiracy to violate federal lobbying rules. Alptekin was also charged with lying to the FBI.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New Senate report says Russian disinformation teams targetted Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Of course they did. Putin is trying to help his buddy, Trump. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/18 - A federal judge delays the sentencing of Michael Flynn. Mueller had recommended no jail time due to Flynn's cooperation. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/19 - Mueller seeks a transcript of Trump associate Roger Stone's testimony to the House Intelligence Committee.</span></li>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-36342405991861651792019-01-02T05:47:00.000-06:002019-01-02T05:47:34.487-06:00Winning - December 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The one thing Trump is truly good at, world-class, lying. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/?utm_term=.3f722fe3fa4f" target="_blank">The latest count is 7,546 in 700 days</a>. Almost 11/day, 15/day in 2018. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the major market exchanges are down for the year. The Dow started 2018 at 24,824, peaked in October at 26,828 and ended the year at 23,327. The biggest yearly decline, 5.6%, in 10 years. Trump took most of the credit for the gains in 2017, now he's silent and looking for someone to blame. Can't have it both ways Donny. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump says Cohen is lying about the Russian real estate deal. Then adds, even if it was true, Trump did nothing illegal. A typical Trump script when he is caught. Wrong isn't always illegal.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a closed-door briefing, Senators are convinced by CIA Director Gina Haspel that Saudi Crown Prince </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the killing of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jamal Khashoggi. Trump continues to support MBS.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/04 - Attorneys General from Maryland and DC subpoena financial records and other documents from 13 Trump entities as part of the emoluments lawsuits. Several federal agencies also received subpoenas that have contact with Trump businesses.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In an interview, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson calls Trump undisciplined, doesn't like to read, and tries to do illegal things. No surprises here.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump goes off the rails and sends a tantrum tweet calling Rex Tillerson "dumb as a rock" and lazy. Trump again shows his maturity. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Individual 1", aka Trump, is implicated in court documents in the Michael Cohen cases.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/08 - Trump announces that chief of staff John Kelly will be leaving the White House by the end of the year. Quit or fired? Another adult leaves the administration. Kelly was too disciplined for chaotic Trump. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/09 - Nick Ayers, Trump's top candidate to replace John Kelly as chief of staff, will not take the job. He will also be leaving the White House by the end of the year. It's tough to find good help when you are a bad boss.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ongoing Trump/Russia investigation has determined that at least 14 Trump associates interacted with Russians during the presidential campaign and transition.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Fact Checker creates a new category, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/10/meet-bottomless-pinocchio-new-rating-false-claim-repeated-over-over-again/?utm_term=.717e72951080&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1" target="_blank">Bottomless Pinocchio</a>, to describe the level and number of Trumps lies. He has already been awarded <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/fact-checker-most-repeated-disinformation/?utm_term=.00bfb9bf8138" target="_blank">14 Bottomless Pinocchio awards</a>. Our Liar-in-Chief.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/12 - Former Trump lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, is sentenced to three years in prison for lying to Congress, tax fraud, and election finance violations. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/12 - Federal prosecutors reveal a plea deal with <i>The National Enquirer</i>'s parent company and CEO, David Pecker, in the Trump hush money cases. No prosecution for cooperation. More damning evidence revealed and corroborated. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12/12 - Lobbyist Sam Patten pleads guilty of failure to register as a foreign agent and to steering foreign funds to the Trump inauguration fun. The foreigner w</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as </span>a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch. Very swampy. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Federal employee morale and job satisfaction decline at 60% of federal offices. Public criticism and new work policies by the head guy don't help. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12/13 - The US Senate votes to end US participation in the Yemen War. They also unanimously passed a</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>measure blaming the Saudi crown prince for the ghastly murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Both votes are a rebuke of Trump's Saudi and MBS support.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/politics/political-knowledge-poll-trump-falsehoods/?utm_term=.f6860e47059b&wpisrc=nl_fact&wpmm=1" target="_blank">poll</a> shows that fewer than three in ten Americans believe Trump. Even fewer than 50% of ardent Trump supporters believe him. That can't be a good thing.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12/15 - Trump announces that Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke will be leaving his post. Good riddance to a corrupt enemy of the environment. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12/15 - A new report to the Senate Intelligence Committee indicates Russian interference in the 2016 election was even wider and more pro-Trump than previously thought. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New Senate report says Russian disinformation teams targetted Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Of course, they did. Putin is trying to help his buddy, Trump. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roger Stone admits spreading lies on InfoWars. As settlement in a defamation lawsuit, he must apologize and publicly retract the statements. What a surprise that Stone would lie. One of the swampiest creatures in Trump's swamp. What a surprise that InfoWars would help spread false information. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/18 - Trump backs down on his threat to shut down the government over his border (or is it, boarder) wall funding. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/18 - The Trump Foundation charity will close down. The New York state lawsuit against the charity, Donald, Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka Trump will continue. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump orders the immediate withdrawal of all US troops from Syria. The decision is almost universally disagreed with. The exceptions, Syria, Iran, Turkey, and good buddy Vladamir Putin praise Trump. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In more good news for Putin, Trump plans to lift sanctions against Russian oligarc</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">h </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oleg V. Deripaska and his businesses. Merry Christmas Vlad. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's bad news for the US and the military. Secretary of Defense James Mattis resigns over differences with Trump. The Syria withdrawal seems to be the final straw. Mattis was one of the few in the administration who would challenge Trump. The last of "Trump's generals" to leave. </span></span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a temper tantrum after actually reading Mattis's resignation letter, Trump pushes him out effective 1/1/2019 rather than the scheduled February departure. Another mature adult move by our baby president. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-size: large;">Patrick Shanahan, Deputy Secretary of Defense, is named acting Secretary replacing Mattis immediately. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brett H. McGurk, the special presidential envoy to the coalition fighting the Islamic State, is also stepping down over Mr. Trump’s decision to pull troops from Syria.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-size: large;">Trump says he'll withdraw about 7,000 troops from Afghanistan. That is approximately half of our forces. Again, it comes as a surprise to almost everyone including the Afghan government. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-size: large;">12/21 - The Supreme Court refuses to allow Trump to bar illegal immigrants from seeking asylum. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan should be named as our next Secretary of Defense. He seems to have more influence over Trump than former Marine general Mattis did.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After publicly saying that he would "take the mantle" of responsibility for a government shutdown over the border wall, “I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it.” Trump now blames the Democrats. I was taught that a man's word meant something. Not with this grifter. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As 2018 comes to a close, about ¼ of our federal employees are not getting paid and vital government services are not getting done. #Trumpshutdown</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>wjh</b></i></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-75634880997888515142018-12-19T05:37:00.001-06:002018-12-19T05:37:53.869-06:00Trump Speak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Donald J. Trump and his minions have introduced a whole new set of words and phrases. They have also brought some older words to the forefront as well as changing their meaning. Here is a list of some of the new Trump lexicon. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b class="">Bigly</b> - While technically not a new word, it never saw much use until Trump began using it. The word <i>big</i> is perfectly adequate as an adjective or adverb. No "<i>ly</i>" required. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Bing, bing, bong, bong...</b> - I have no idea.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Covfefe</b> - another mystery.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Youuuuuge</b> - huge.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Alternate or alternative facts</b> - This is a Kellyanne Conway invention. The phrase is used in place of the word <i>lies</i>. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fake</b> - The real definition refers to something fraudulent or deceptive, In Trump's world, it describes anything he doesn't agree with or like, particularly news. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rigged</b> - One official definition is to<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">manipulate</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">fraudulently. Similar to <i>fake</i>, Trump uses this word to describe any process or results he disagrees with. He believes all voting is rigged despite the fact he won the presidential election. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Hoax</b> - what you call a situation when 90+% of the experts in the field have facts and analysis that contradict your beliefs. As in climate change is a hoax.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Witch Hunt</b> - any investigation or inquiry into Trump or those associated with him. So far, Mueller has indicted more <i>witches</i> than they ever did in Salem.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Believe me</b> - prefix or suffix which means everything I just said or am about to say is a lie.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Everybody is talking about it</b> - means the issue is barely a blip on anybody's radar.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Everybody thinks so or everybody knows</b> - means almost nobody thinks so and nobody knows. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Lots of people are talking about it</b> - someone in his administration or on Fox news mentioned it.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>More and more people are saying (suggesting)</b> - see above.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Fantastic, tremendous, incredible, beautiful, unbelievable, awesome, fabulous, terrific, best or best ever, etc</b>. - None of these words have any meaning. They are tossed around without any regard to what they are describing.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Almost any superlative adjective or adverb</b> - see above.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>First, last, never, worst, only, etc.</b> - same deal with almost any definitive declarative statement. First means the first Trump can remember or someone told him. No need to check or take any responsibility for incorrect statements.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Very, very, very</b> - same as one very for normal people.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Really, really, really</b> - same as one really for normal people.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>I was just joking or it was a joke</b> - When something Trump says turns out to be objectionable to the majority of people. As in, I was just joking about encouraging police brutality.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><b>Priming the pump</b> - apparently an economic term that Trump invented. Or maybe not. Seems the term has been in general use since at least the Great Depression. That occurred several years before Trump was born. This mistake by a man who graduated from the Warton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Guess he slept through the classes about the Depression or economics.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><b>Who knew or nobody knew</b> - as in </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Nobody knew health care could be so complicated." It actually means everybody knew except Trump. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Poorly-rated or rating challenged </b>- as in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"</span>poorly rated @Morning_Joe..." actually describes a show or network with very good ratings. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The likes of which the world has never seen</b> - bluster that is inconsequential and/or an outright lie.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Never in the history of our Country...</b> - more bluster. Always inaccurate. As if Trump actually knows our country's history. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>That I can/will tell you</b> - The preceding statement was a complete lie.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>People should look into it</b> - Trump just made a ridiculous statement and he wants others to talk it up.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>... and lots of other things</b> - Said after he names one specific thing because he can't think of any others. As in, "We're going to build the wall and lots of other things." Also, ...many, many other things.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Diversary </b>- unsure, but we think Trump meant diversity but then again, we never know what Trump meant. I have not had any luck finding information on "diversary". Probably fake news or at least a fake word. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>modern-day presidential </b>- how Trump describes his tweets or boorish behavior.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rocket Man</b> - Trump's nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. And you thought it was an Elton John song. This nickname has fallen by the wayside now that Trump loves Kim Jong Un. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>By all accounts</b> - actually means by my account or by only my supporters' account.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Not in a braggadocious way </b>or<b> non-braggadocious</b> -Trump is bragging so much that even he realizes it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Treasonous</b> - anyone who doesn't applaud and stand during Trump's SOTU.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Unrelated but still related</b> - this one is a mystery.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Great reviews by everyone</b> - that's everyone who agrees with Trump. Not even close to everyone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Everyone knows it</b> - Actually, hardly anyone knows it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Like never before</b> - Actually done many times before.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I could name (many, 15 or 20, several) of something</b> - usually means the one or no example of his point is the only one he can think of. He never names any other, even when pressed to provide examples.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It's very popular</b> - Actually means very controversial and almost universally unpopular.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Great Energy</b> - Trump's definition of chaos.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Not much political support</b> - Means the NRA and their controlled GOP members in Congress are against it. That's despite overwhelming public support.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Tremendous pressure is building, like never before, for... </b>- Means Trump wants the issue done and assumes everyone else does too. Not substantiated by any polls, demonstrations, or groundswell.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Like nothing else we’ve seen in our history </b>- Some normal minor event or a completely made up or overblown issue. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Truth is not truth</b> - A Rudy Giuliani gem in reference to Trump being interviewed by Mueller.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>No one understands</b> - Everybody understands the issue but Trump is trying to foster a different, false interpretation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Almost everyone agrees</b> - Probably not even close to everyone or even a majority.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>People have no idea...</b> - Almost everybody knows it, but Trump just figured it out.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>They say</b> - The infamous THEY. We never do find out who THEY are because even when pushed, Trump can't name any THEYs. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I know it and so do you</b> - Not so fast Donny. Assuming that we agree with what you "know" is bogus. What you "know" is usually just an opinion or wish, not fact. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>National Emergy</b> - may have meant national emergency although there really wasn't one.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Just so you understand</b> - Here comes a whopper.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Totally out of control</b> - Any person, organization, or institution not in full agreement with Trump.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Smocking gun</b> - Who knows what the J for jenius president meant. Maybe smoking gun, maybe a gun wearing a smock. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Boarder Security</b> - Was Trump trying to refer to our southern border with Mexico or the guy who rents your spare bedroom? </span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words, like the truth or facts or science, have little or no meaning to Trump. I'm sure I missed a few and surely there will be more new words and phrases introduced into our language. There will also be the bastardization of established words and phrases to have completely new meanings, usually the exact opposite. My guess is that there will be a Trump Speak II post in the future. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlyguu8SID9KY8z10WL9qHlL6nRJ84DrJTied4HgF5SDWzkX42eLsRzE6PiTmU2qbcCRAisH7ZIRDxtm3O9T0OUlkkz8SYFBLWqkofdEXSupobR-1OegVPZEeViICN9AY4Xq1BGIAltEb/s1600/Bullshit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlyguu8SID9KY8z10WL9qHlL6nRJ84DrJTied4HgF5SDWzkX42eLsRzE6PiTmU2qbcCRAisH7ZIRDxtm3O9T0OUlkkz8SYFBLWqkofdEXSupobR-1OegVPZEeViICN9AY4Xq1BGIAltEb/s1600/Bullshit.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been said that we should take what Trump says seriously, but not literally. I have no idea what that BS means. How would you even go about doing that? This president and his administration is an affront to our nation, the world, and the English language. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wjh</span></i></b></div>
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Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-73888709042490780062018-11-20T14:17:00.000-06:002018-12-03T15:58:03.733-06:00Winning - November 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Je4woO-zvBszlVoeOWGg35loS7jWDSp0LTdt3fyVLtcHkuprdWlyLjw4AIY6LM7w7rdRVhLWuP2Hg_O8ikyQHFDGH-wOMXu6XS3hX6-DRk6fvZhoORXTvsI35UatoCil-cqFvytyB-0h/s1600/Trump+Winning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="750" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Je4woO-zvBszlVoeOWGg35loS7jWDSp0LTdt3fyVLtcHkuprdWlyLjw4AIY6LM7w7rdRVhLWuP2Hg_O8ikyQHFDGH-wOMXu6XS3hX6-DRk6fvZhoORXTvsI35UatoCil-cqFvytyB-0h/s400/Trump+Winning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keeping track of the GOP and Trump Administration:</i></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The hits just keep on coming. Through10/31/2018, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/02/president-trump-has-made-false-or-misleading-claims-over-days/?utm_term=.33eb7a529b4f">Trump has made 6,420 false or misleading claims over 649 days.</a> Over the seven weeks leading up to the midterms, he averaged 30/day. An amazing rate. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/2 - A federal judge denies a stay in the Trump emoluments case. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Supreme Court refuses to delay a case challenging citizenship questions on the 2020 census. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A federal judge rules against Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R) over voting restrictions. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-refuses-to-block-kids-climate-lawsuit-against-us-government/2018/11/02/34bd7ee6-d7af-11e8-83a2-d1c3da28d6b6_story.html?utm_term=.4b31979b0118&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1">The </a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-refuses-to-block-kids-climate-lawsuit-against-us-government/2018/11/02/34bd7ee6-d7af-11e8-83a2-d1c3da28d6b6_story.html?utm_term=.4b31979b0118&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1">Supreme Court refuses to block young people’s climate lawsuit against the U.S. government</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Attorney General Jeff Sessions forced to resign. Future of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in question. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/8 - US Court of Appeals ruled that the Trump administration can not end DACA.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The White House uses doctored video to justify the revoking of CNN's Jim Acosta's press pass. Talk about fake news.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Federal judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, ruled that CNN's Jim Acosta's White House press credentials must be temporarily restored. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The White House decides to permanently restore Acosta's press pass. CNN drops the lawsuit. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/9 - A federal judge blocks construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The CIA concludes that Saudi crown prince </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Awkward for the White House.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First Lady Milania Trump gets </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel fired. A blow to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">national security adviser John Bolton's standing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ivanka Trump used a personal email account to conduct government business. LOCK HER UP!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/20 - A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to resume accepting migrant asylum claims.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump contradicts the CIA findings in the Khashoggi case. Fails to denounce Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Money talks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/22 - A New York judge denied a request by Trump's lawyers to dismiss a</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>lawsuit alleging that Trump and his family violated charity laws with the management of their personal charity foundation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/23 - National Climate Assessment Report in direct conflict with the Trump Administration deregulation policies. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, has violated his plea agreement and will be sentenced. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/29 - Michael Cohen, former Trump lawyer and "fixer", pleads guilty to lying to Congress. Details Trump's involvement in financial dealings with Russia in 2016.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span></div>
Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227208352063454414.post-55069691396668739322018-11-14T04:43:00.000-06:002018-11-14T04:43:03.253-06:00He Knows the Best People<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgec53V9sDj6m-ZcT1Sp2zq1-PSozt3sVGHrm9VDenVWfN9lg_Ry123xi5hvQLhiBLbaz3r5GMboRpW0upTiABy05Ju_tVwCAA5lZli995VpIzJIBX7lU9ZAw5x1B-de7-IG0wGYdKgy1/s1600/best+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgec53V9sDj6m-ZcT1Sp2zq1-PSozt3sVGHrm9VDenVWfN9lg_Ry123xi5hvQLhiBLbaz3r5GMboRpW0upTiABy05Ju_tVwCAA5lZli995VpIzJIBX7lU9ZAw5x1B-de7-IG0wGYdKgy1/s1600/best+people.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When President Trump was campaigning, he bragged about knowing the best and smartest people. He would populate his administration with those people, not the stupid people who had been running our government. How is that going?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His latest "best people" is Matthew Whitaker, appointed as acting Attorney General. An appointment made necessary because he fired "best people" Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Although to be fair, Trump now says that he didn't know Whitaker before the appointment but he says Whitaker is a smart guy. Yet, last month he did claim to know Whitaker. Typical Trump dancing around the actual truth. Was Trump's denial of knowing Whitaker to distance himself from a terrible choice or because the optics look like an attempt to handcuff Mueller? A day or two later spokesperson Kellyanne Conway admitted that Trump did know Whitaker prior to the appointment. Does he or doesn't he? Let's bet he knew Whitaker and why he appointed him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As it turns out, Whitaker doesn't look so smart. He is now the acting chief law enforcement officer of the country yet he is not a fan of the Judicial Branch. It is the judicial system that actually finds lawbreakers guilty or not guilty. It is the judicial system that determines whether laws are constitutional. It is the judiciary that determines whether Whitaker's Justice Department actions, policies, and rules are legal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the past, he has stated that the Judicial Branch is not equal, that the courts should be the "inferior branch". </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He thinks only Christians should serve on the bench. No Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, agnostics, atheists, etc. Judges should be biblical, specifically new testament biblical. What an inclusive and Christian viewpoint. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was on the board of World Patent Marketing. A company that the Federal Trade Commission labeled a "scam". He is accused of using his prior position as a US Attorney to intimidate customers of that company. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr. Whitaker has previously made statements that show he is fully in support of Trump. He thinks the Mueller investigation is a witch hunt among other things. He has prejudged the investigation and some of the people involved. That should disqualify him from overseeing Mueller. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All in all, Matthew Whitaker does not come across as a "best people". It also appears that once again the White House has not vetted an appointee. Was the appointment run by the lawyers? Did anybody even Google the guy? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On top of all that, there is a question about whether this appointment is even constitutional. Whitaker has not been confirmed by the Senate. In the normal succession, Rod Rosenstein, the Deputy Attorney General, would take over the Justice Department. We'll have to wait to see how that is resolved. It will be the inferior Judicial Branch that will decide that. I hope they are all Christian judges involved in that decision.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just another inept step by an inept administration. No surprises here, it is what we have come to expect from Trump and his minions. Within 24 hours of Whitaker's appointment, the media was able to unearth skeletons in his past. Is it too much to expect the White House to spend an hour or two vetting their appointments? </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>wjh</i></b></span>Bill Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17159747182102348615noreply@blogger.com0