tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57874561634082648082024-03-05T08:14:37.733-06:00Both Parties Are NOT The Same!When family, friends, or Internet acquaintances tell you that "Both parties are the same", this is the place to come!Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-55256652576911213332018-11-18T12:18:00.000-06:002018-11-18T12:18:21.387-06:00The Story of a Refugee Family<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was browsing through my Facebook memories and I found the following, a fictionalized story about Syrian refugees, which I shared from another FB page back in 2015:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: white;">Copied from a post in Politics: Flying Spaghetti Monster Edition. (I assume this is a Facebook page.): </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the reality of these refugees! It sickens me to hear people claiming to be Christian<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> that would deny children, women, families shelter from the very evil we are trying to eradicate. Very few of the regular people are radicalized. With proper screening and care, the chances that any one of them is a terrorist is about the same as having someone on your own street that is radicalized. HomeGrown! What the Republicans are saying is just plain cruel and inhumane.</span></span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Thoughts on refugees<br />by Faz Ali, written September 8, 2015<br /><br />You’re 29 years old with a wife, two children and a job. You have enough money, and can afford a few nice things, and you live in a small house in the city.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">Suddenly the political situation in your country changes and a few months later soldiers are gathered in front of your house. And in front of your neighbours’ houses. They say that if you don’t fight for them, they will shoot you. Your neighbour refuses.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">One shot. That’s it.</span> <a name='more'></a></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">You overhear one of the soldiers telling your wife to spread her legs.<br />Somehow you get rid of the soldiers and spend the night deep in thought. Suddenly you hear an explosion. Your house no longer has a living room.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">You run outside and see that the whole street is destroyed; nothing is left standing.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">You take your family back into the house, and then you run to your parents' house.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">It is no longer there. Nor are your parents. You look around and find an arm with your Mother’s ring on its finger. You can’t find any other sign of your parents.<br />~~~~~</span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>"But asylum seekers have so many luxury goods! Smartphones, and designer clothes!"</b></i></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #351c75;">~~~~~<br />You immediately forget it. You rush home, and tell your wife to get the children dressed. You grab a small bag, because anything bigger will be impossible to carry for a long time, and in it you pack essentials. Only 2 pieces of clothing each can fit in the bag.<br />What do you take?<br />You will probably never see your home country again.<br />Not your family, not your neighbours, your workmates…<br />But how can you stay in contact?<br />You hastily throw your smartphone and the charger in the bag.<br />Along with the few clothes, some bread and your small daughters favourite teddy.<br />~~~~~</span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>"They can easily afford to get away. They aren’t poor!"</i></b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #351c75;">~~~~~<br />Because you could see the emergency coming, you have already scraped all your money together.<br />You managed to save some money because of your well paid job.<br />The kind people smuggler in the neighbourhood charges 5,000 euros per person.<br />You have 15,000 euros. With a bit of luck, you’ll all be able to go. If not, you will have to let your wife go.<br />You love her and pray that you the smugglers will take you all.<br />By now you are totally wiped out and have nothing else. Just your family and the bag.<br />The journey to the border takes two weeks on foot.<br />You are hungry and for the last week have barely eaten. You are weak, as is your wife. But at least the children have enough.<br />They have cried for the whole 2 weeks.<br />Half the time you have to carry your younger daughter. She is only 21 months old.<br />A further 2 weeks and you arrive at the sea.<br />In the middle of the night you’re loaded onto a ship with other refugees.<br />You are lucky: your whole family can travel.<br />The ship is so full that it threatens to capsize. You pray that you don’t drown.<br />The people around you are crying and screaming.<br />A few small children have died of thirst.<br />The smugglers throw them overboard.<br />Your wife sits, vacantly, in a corner. She hasn’t had anything to drink for 2 days.<br />When the coast is in sight, you are loaded onto small boats.<br />Your wife and the younger child are on one, you and your older child are on another.<br />You are warned to stay silent so that nobody knows you’re there.<br />Your older daughter understands.<br />But your younger one in the other boat doesn’t. She doesn’t stop crying.<br />The other refugees are getting nervous. They demand that your wife keeps the child quiet.<br />She doesn’t manage it.<br />One of the men grabs your daughter, rips her away from your wife and throws her overboard.<br />You jump in after her, but you can’t find her again.<br />Never again.<br />In 3 months she would have turned 2 years old.<br />Isn’t that enough for you? They still have it too good here and have everything handed to them on a plate?<br />You don’t know how you, your wife and your older daughter manage to get to the country that takes you in.<br />It’s as though everything is all foggy. Your wife hasn’t spoken a word since your daughter died.<br />Your older daughter hasn’t let go of her sister’s teddy and is totally apathetic.<br />But you have to keep going. You are just about to arrive at the emergency accommodation.<br />It is 10pm. A man whose language you don’t understand takes you to a hall with camp beds. There are 500 beds all very close together.<br />In the hall it’s stuffy and loud.<br />You try to get your bearings. To understand what the people there want from you.<br />But in reality you can barely stand up. You nearly wish that they had shot you.<br />Instead you unpack your meagre possessions:<br />Two items of clothing each and your smartphone.<br />Then you spend your first night in a safe country.<br />The next morning you’re given some clothes.<br />Among the donated clothes are even branded ‘label’ clothes. And a toy for your daughter.<br />You are given 140 euros. For the whole month.<br />~~~~~</span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>"They’re safe here. Therefore they should be happy!"</i></b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #351c75;">~~~~~<br />Outside in the yard, dressed in your new clothes, you hold your smartphone high in the air and hope to have some reception.<br />You need to know if anyone from your city is still alive.<br />Then a 'concerned citizen‘ comes by and abuses you.<br />You don’t know why. You don’t understand “Go back to your own country!"<br />You understand some things like “smartphone” and “handed everything on a plate.”<br />Somebody translates it for you.<br />~~~~~</span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i><span style="color: #351c75;">And now tell me how you feel and what you own?</span><span style="color: #351c75;">The answer to both parts of that is “Nothing.”</span></i></b></blockquote>
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</span>Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-83005312379034963422018-11-08T10:51:00.000-06:002018-11-08T10:51:31.292-06:00The White House is Using a Doctored Video of Acosta's Confrontation with Trump<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Trump Kicks Out a Top White House Reporter</i></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />As most of you know, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CNN reporter Jim Acosta (also one of Trump's strongest in-person critics) had his press credentials pulled a</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fter a confrontation with President Donald Trump at the White House press conference yesterday, Wednesday, November 7, 2018.<br /><br />The White House claimed that he had "grabbed" a White House intern whose job it was to pass around the microphone that the various correspondents were using to ask questions of the President. They then doubled down on this travesty by using a <i>DOCTORED</i> video that showed something that didn't happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's remember why this type of intimidation can be very successful: The White House only has to pull the credentials of one strong critic, in this case, Acosta, to affect everyone in that room. We know these are tough reporters, but they don't want to lose access. They may well dampen their questions, even subconsciously, just to stay a member of the White House Press Corps. Press oversight will be lessened, even if none of us, including the reporters, realizes it.<br /><br /></span><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And now Part II.. (after the photo):<br /><br /></i></b></div>
<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/AVvXsEjBTjuYufkq9vzsMkQp26QPR031ScfjZfX2jMk1HdU0JxFPixYc_FFe65L31rCiOMFYe6g278NMP__yzWZ4oQ5rC0LMvQemDrJmFQceUraGXWCz5bi5Puwq4TdQ-JEj9BPGBSRd3LbK2Xg/s1600/CNN+Acosta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1160" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTjuYufkq9vzsMkQp26QPR031ScfjZfX2jMk1HdU0JxFPixYc_FFe65L31rCiOMFYe6g278NMP__yzWZ4oQ5rC0LMvQemDrJmFQceUraGXWCz5bi5Puwq4TdQ-JEj9BPGBSRd3LbK2Xg/s640/CNN+Acosta.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo found a<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/08/cnn-white-house-altered-video-975080" target="_blank">t Politico HERE</a></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found the following on Twitter; it makes a good and very scary point: <a name='more'></a>Trump has shown a willingness to use fake edited video footage to lie. This is extremely dangerous. Posted by </span><a href="https://twitter.com/JYSexton" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jared Yates Sexton</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on Twitter; italics mine:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something of extreme importance we need to talk about regarding the Jim Acosta situation: this White House has shown a continued desire to not just lie but a willingness to use manufactured evidence, and that's something, with advances in technology, we should be terrified of.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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We've been dealing with Trump and his crew's shamelessness to lie, but they've also used manufactured media to promote their distortions. Technology is improving in this area, and if it's used like this we're in big, big trouble. </div>
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For those who haven't heard of it yet, look up "Deep Fake Technology." It's used to doctor footage and voices. With it, people can make almost anyone say anything they want on video or create any circumstance they wish. It's almost undetectable. </div>
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This thing today, with the doctored Acosta footage, is a crude artifact that can be dissected by editors and keen eyes. But Deep Fake technology is a whole different ballgame, and you can believe bad actors are currently honing their skills with it. </div>
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The far right is a hit squad determined to derail liberal critics and individuals. I can tell you, personally, that they try literally anything, no matter how absurd or laughable, to bring people down. The lies and campaigns are never-ending. They grasp for straws. </div>
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We've seen this with people mining old posts, histories, all of these things, but listen: If they have the ability to warp reality in any way they choose? That's a major, major, major issue and it's going to crack this country like an egg. </div>
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We've seen that nefarious actors are willing to doctor footage for purposes, but we also know this White House is willing to use it without even a moment of hesitation. The administration is currently using a doctored clip as a weapon and it's such an obvious fraud.</div>
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<b><i>So. If Trump is willing to use an obvious fraud as a means of attacking his opponents, what happens when the fringe right starts producing immaculately constructed frauds? We're talking things at a level that would ASTOUND you. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>This technology can be used to smear and discredit every major critic of Trump, or whoever comes after him, or construct any crisis or evidence necessary to de-legitimize any argument against them. It can create a crisis, it can lead us into some very deep and very dark waters</i></b></div>
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<b><i>People can say this Acosta situation is a distraction, I disagree and think it's a major issue of free press: the underlying message here is that this administration is more than fine and more than happy to use artificial propaganda created by bad actors </i></b></div>
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The Acosta footage was created by a group that regularly distorts the truth, scapegoats victims, and spins antisemitic narratives that have inspired assassination attempts. Listen: They're the more mainstream of these actors. There's so many people out there we don't know. </div>
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The other people doctoring videos? They're the ones scheming to create a fascist regime in this country, the ones who have designs on some truly, truly heinous stuff. They're going to create this, and Trump will use it. Think of the memes he's already coopted. </div>
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Remember how Fake News was obviously a problem but wasn't taken seriously enough. Technology lurks until it changes the world. <b><i>We're watching the beginnings of something here that could be incredibly insidious and dangerous in a way we don't even understand. </i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is even more dangerous are the millions out there who believe that Acosta should have been kicked out; that he "deserved" it. How did we ever get so divided as a country? <br /><br />Oh yes, I know.. and we shouldn't we all know by now?</span></div>
Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-49307669669813399912017-12-06T17:00:00.000-06:002018-01-05T17:04:32.809-06:00Republican Dogma in a Sentence: Movies, Booze, Women<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">American people, working people, people struggling to keep a roof over their head or to send their kids to school, are a tough bunch.<br /></span></i></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DV_rSPr6BBzP_FYAW3OSyPfFnL15DlCbfyFEGjQZF5UbPKkO61y4I63x0cxrQAGnh1FpxTiwrs-ksm3Vu276dTAHuCiJ7VdXxqH8PlpzEo3sLeGtzkwm4GkdPt2ggXkPUXeTUidDT2c/s1600/People+waiting+for+a+bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="847" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DV_rSPr6BBzP_FYAW3OSyPfFnL15DlCbfyFEGjQZF5UbPKkO61y4I63x0cxrQAGnh1FpxTiwrs-ksm3Vu276dTAHuCiJ7VdXxqH8PlpzEo3sLeGtzkwm4GkdPt2ggXkPUXeTUidDT2c/s1600/People+waiting+for+a+bus.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Workers, students waiting for a bus in January</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br />A resilient bunch. A ridiculously hard-working bunch. No matter what Republicans try to tell you. No matter how badly <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/04/568249242/grassley-ending-estate-tax-recognizes-investors-over-spenders" target="_blank"><i>Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) tries to disparage them</i></a> for spending too much money on "movies, booze, and women." (See the link.)<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Young...</span></i></b></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If they are young, Americans may work until 1 or 2 in the morning at jobs that pay minimum wage, or maybe, if they are lucky, a buck above minimum wage; then they take public transportation (or perhaps grab an uber if the buses don't run) home and get up at 6:30 a.m. to get to a class that starts at 8 a.m. They don't want to be stocking shelves, waiting tables, or washing dishes when they are 30 or 40. They want a diploma and a decent job by that time. That's their hope and their dream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Middle-Aged...</span></i></b>.<br /><br />They may be middle-aged. Maybe <b><i>they</i></b> are the people driving for uber at one in the morning to pay for college costs for their kids.. so their kids don't have to drive an uber at one in the morning. (If they have to rent that car, they may be paying up to $600/month for the privilege of driving for uber.) Or maybe they are driving just to buy an extra: A movie or two, a bottle of wine, or a decent gift for Mom. If they didn't buy those movies, that bottle of wine, that gift, Senator Grassley thinks they'd have 11 million bucks and would be thrilled not to have to pay the estate tax! Yep, that's what Grassley thinks: The repeal of the estate tax is a "gift" for those who don't spend their money on movies, booze, or women.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Older people...</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe they are even older. Maybe they <b><i>DID </i></b>spend any would-be savings getting those kids through college, paying for extra courses, for sports, for all of the costs of raising a kid, for whatever the kid needed so that he or she does now have a decent job and a decent future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But Mom or Dad or both are driving for uber, working those retail jobs, dealing with bad backs, bad hips, bad feet, because they didn't save enough (Remember that Grassley thinks they watched too many movies and drank too many bottles of wine.) because they lost their decent jobs in their 50's or because they lost their savings or their homes in the Recession of 2008. Or because a small family business went belly up taking the family savings with it. Or because Social Security doesn't pay enough or because they know that Social Security <b><i>WON'T</i></b> pay enough. Or because their husband or wife died young and they are trying to live on <b><i>ONE</i></b> Social Security check. Or all of the above. Or some combination thereof. </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Immigrants, minorities, workers..</span></i></b><br />
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These people are immigrants, sons and daughter of immigrants, perhaps grandchildren of immigrants. Maybe they don't have any immigrants in their family tree in the last few generations. They may be members of the (formerly) middle class, the formerly working class, perhaps they have farmers, family farmers, in their family tree. They may be children of members of the (formerly) middle class. They may have parents who worked odd jobs, waited tables, delivered packages on a UPS truck, babysat, did lawn work. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe they are minorities; maybe they are not. If they are minorities, they may be bilingual, something that any of us who grew up as English-only speakers should admire. I don't resent coworkers speaking Spanish as they effortlessly flip between Spanish and English. I'm amazed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Republicans need to take the bus..</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grassley and others who insist that if you work hard you will be rewarded (and those of us without millions just need to stop buying movies) need to spend some time taking the bus or an El train. They need to stand on the street corner when the temperature is below freezing with people who take 3 buses or 3 buses and a train to get to their jobs at Walmart, Target, the local grocery store, etc. They need to actually talk to uber drivers, cab drivers, bus drivers. Especially the older ones; the ones who should be retired already. The hard workers are not the exception; they are the rule out there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Republicans? The party of privilege</span></i></b><br /><br />I don't understand anyone who works for a living, who has ever worked for a living, voting for Republicans. I grew up during a time when <b><i>almost</i></b> anyone who wanted a decent job, a job on which you could support a family, could get one. People who didn't have those decent jobs just <b><i>might</i></b> have been lazy. (Or they might have been people of color.. Things have never been easy for them.) But now? When, even during the last few years of recovery from the Recession of 2008, you can apply to a dozen low-wage job and not get even one interview? When people who can barely move due to bad feet or bad backs or bad hips still drag themselves off to work </span>just to afford food and electricity? <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Republican Dogma..</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grassley's ignorant comments about movies, booze, and women are not just the random musings of a guy who is out of touch with the country and the world; many, many people who lean Republican believe this. Over and over, when people write anonymously, you hear it: People who struggle did not "work hard enough", they "made bad choices", they didn't "plan ahead". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The answer? Confront anyone who believes that the government shouldn't help people who need help. Refuse to allow comments about "lazy people" go unanswered. Tell them to ride the bus every so often. <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Grassley Says His Comments Were Misinterpreted</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://www.snopes.com/2017/12/04/sen-chuck-grassley-estate-tax-booze-women-movies/" target="_blank">Grassley says his comments on estate tax were misinterpreted.</a> </i></b> My comments? You don't amass 11 million bucks through "hard work" while the guy who can barely leave a modest home to his kids didn't "work hard". </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>(Note: I started writing this in December 2017 after Grassley made his "misinterpreted" comments. I stand by my comments above. People can work for decades in this country and still not have enough money for a decent home or a decent retirement. Anybody who thinks otherwise is totally out of touch with real Americans.)</b></span></blockquote>
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</span>Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-73629687299303160942017-11-08T12:11:00.000-06:002017-11-08T12:11:10.876-06:00My Favorite 2017 Election Memes:<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Yes, the Democrats did very well last night, especially in Virginia and in New Jersey. </i></b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Yes, people of color, LGBTQ people, women all did great yesterday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, I do believe that these races are a harbinger of things to come in 2018 and perhaps even in deep red Alabama next month. (I <a href="http://bothpartiesarenotthesame.blogspot.com/2017/06/add-it-up-and-weep-trump-and-republicans.html" target="_blank"><b><i>had written that Republicans needed to be running scared</i></b></a> after they WON several Congressional races earlier this year because they won those races by surprisingly small margins. My prediction was right, at least last night. And let's remember that things have only gotten worse for the Republicans under Trump since.)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />So I will celebrate today with a few memes that have come across my timeline in the last few hours. Feel free to share, as I am cross-posting all of these on my Facebook pages </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TrumpWatchToday/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank"><b><i>Trump Watch Today</i></b></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mollysameria/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank"><b><i>Molly Middle's America.</i></b></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> (And please like one or both of my pages when you stop by!) To share from this blog, just click on the pic, download to your computer or phone, and share from there.<br /><br />And maybe I will treat myself to something chocolate-y later today! Why not?<br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSxpmmf4aBc2mutc6oPjl0nVRHEqApJUNg0B5Y0GZOkHueB_u-3lKHbEP9c_MhmCYD5xsxq8_YOpdlVcS_nGo2CdSwjN0F2KhTiBLFRFqpnm_IGHDlYgMxqyzO8PGkT14WKnaz1Mnwg/s1600/Screenshot+2017-11-08+at+9.11.51+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1005" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSxpmmf4aBc2mutc6oPjl0nVRHEqApJUNg0B5Y0GZOkHueB_u-3lKHbEP9c_MhmCYD5xsxq8_YOpdlVcS_nGo2CdSwjN0F2KhTiBLFRFqpnm_IGHDlYgMxqyzO8PGkT14WKnaz1Mnwg/s640/Screenshot+2017-11-08+at+9.11.51+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stolen from a Facebook friend</span></b></td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>....<br /><br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpwXJoi7ThELvqGWYsCs7jUoY4oNr7OOkrrFfTHenI_DadyFe_gVsWROQTbZUIiCP1mfNBtJOkHjv8tASF0gMjcaosVlV0FsNQZfAr_Su3goad5Q_IXGEYSFMMg2DRoS4tF5ayPuhyw/s1600/Thoughts+and+prayers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="960" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpwXJoi7ThELvqGWYsCs7jUoY4oNr7OOkrrFfTHenI_DadyFe_gVsWROQTbZUIiCP1mfNBtJOkHjv8tASF0gMjcaosVlV0FsNQZfAr_Su3goad5Q_IXGEYSFMMg2DRoS4tF5ayPuhyw/s640/Thoughts+and+prayers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Found on Twitter. </b></span></td></tr>
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....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsXapaWvz4fd-X0pQO-Ly-ZpTtjZHcT239ZEKcy0bieZ2IF82BgPR96e1K7BLZflCJHQyrSmOlgK-giQSNwfsx4qbyEaFe69XMhZ2FztznNtpsLtlKUJh4ue-y2A9GAYt56YIEyuUAQ/s1600/Im+a+Democrat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsXapaWvz4fd-X0pQO-Ly-ZpTtjZHcT239ZEKcy0bieZ2IF82BgPR96e1K7BLZflCJHQyrSmOlgK-giQSNwfsx4qbyEaFe69XMhZ2FztznNtpsLtlKUJh4ue-y2A9GAYt56YIEyuUAQ/s640/Im+a+Democrat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Basic Democratic platform. Also found on Twitter.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>I so hope this is true! Found on Twitter.. I think. I'm losing track.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />I will post a few more later!</span></div>
Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-71268013057690450362017-10-28T13:00:00.000-05:002017-10-28T13:00:17.654-05:00Is there a Clinton Uranium One Scandal? Links and more links<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Four solid sources with links about the new, improved right-wing scandal. (Yes, I'm engaging in sarcasm.) Though I haven't included any links from right-leaning sites, some of the sites I have linked to do include links to places like Sean Hannity and the National Review.</span> </span></i></b></h3>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />So why are the Republicans starting this investigation now, just as Mueller is starting to get indictments? My comment about this whole mess:</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59Y9pXcuXu8CX1N9xFqaBmMlVV_SSocqruArDV8LPqfbEP8R-VCSX7Hrm2GwYVbJLav_CUbsquGMioEiOav9QFl_g5SdvR8vTAqb8js1EbwODfFegFtE5r5uguCHLZuxysmMPAPHhLa0/s1600/Screenshot+2017-10-28+at+12.51.21+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="797" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59Y9pXcuXu8CX1N9xFqaBmMlVV_SSocqruArDV8LPqfbEP8R-VCSX7Hrm2GwYVbJLav_CUbsquGMioEiOav9QFl_g5SdvR8vTAqb8js1EbwODfFegFtE5r5uguCHLZuxysmMPAPHhLa0/s1600/Screenshot+2017-10-28+at+12.51.21+PM.png" /></a></div>
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<b style="letter-spacing: 0.01em; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Uranium One will be the big shiny object. It's confusing and complicated enough to fool people into thinking it is a big thing."</span></b></blockquote>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/oct/24/what-you-need-know-about-hillary-clinton-and-urani/" target="_blank">From Politifact updated a few days ago: What you need to know about Hillary Clinton, Russia, and uranium</a></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2017/10/27/claims-of-clinton-russia-uranium-scandal-are-a-real-empty-barrel/#2038fc7b7b55" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From Forbes this week: Claims of Clinton-Russia Uranium Collusion Are A Real Empty Barrel</span></i></b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/hillary-clinton-uranium-conspiracy-theory-distraction-trump-russia-694525" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From Newsweek this week: The Hillary Clinton/ Russian Uranium One conspiracy theory doesn't make any sense.</span></i></b></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.snopes.com/hillary-clinton-uranium-russia-deal/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.snopes.com/hillary-clinton-uranium-russia-deal/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From Snopes updated last week: Hillary Clinton Gave 20 Percent of United States' Uranium to Russia in Exchange for Clinton Foundation Donations?</span></i></b></a></div>
Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-2001031412184864342017-10-27T18:48:00.000-05:002017-10-27T19:08:58.907-05:00Senator Dianne Feinstein Isn't Giving Up<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Senator Dianne </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Feinstein sent Russia inquiries to White House, Facebook, Twitter, </span><a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/27/feinstein-russia-inquiries-facebook-twitter-244247" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Politico reported earlier today.</a></span></i></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Senator Dianne Feinstein found <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/27/feinstein-russia-inquiries-facebook-twitter-244247" target="_blank">at Politico</a></span></i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Here's Feinstein's letter to Facebook (click to read)</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Politico stated, "Feinstein sent five letters to key players, including one asking Facebook and Twitter for copies of advertising that Russian buyers aimed at the U.S." Please click the above link to Politico for more information about this; please click the photo right above this read a copy of Feinstein's letter.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Twitter Thread:</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut welcomed her overture with this Twitter thread <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/924054853386633216" target="_blank">found HERE</a> </b>and reproduced below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I welcome Sen. Feinstein's letters - A vital step in investigation of obstruction of justice and Russian interference. The Judiciary Committee has a unique oversight role concerning the Department of Justice & FBI - potential targets of obstruction and interference by the President and others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The White House should turn over documents related to Trump/Comey interactions as well as docs related to Kushner contacts with foreign nationals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We call on Facebook and Twitter to provide additional information on ads connected to Russian entities with Kremlin ties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The American people deserve the truth about any collusion, obstruction of justice, and related wrongdoing that may have taken place - now."</span></span></div>
Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-24391469553505330882017-10-06T15:04:00.000-05:002017-10-06T15:04:12.122-05:00How the GOP Will Manage "Synthetic Repeal" of ObamaCare, ACA<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">"Synthetic Repeal" of the ACA? They will try anything.</span></i></b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />A <a href="https://twitter.com/ASlavitt/status/916069859066286081" target="_blank"><b><i>Tweet thread about the GOP plans for health care posted by Andy Slavitt*</i></b></a> Thursday afternoon, October 5. He talks about "synthetic repeal" of the ACA since all of the other attempts to repeal it have not passed. I did correct some of Andy's tweets for "regular" non-140 character limits, but there were a few things that I couldn't quite understand. <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Who is Andy Slavitt? Info and links at the bottom.</span></i></b><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>From Andy's Twitter feed</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Andy writes: </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I am leaving four intense days in DC and I now have a very different theory of what's going on in Health care. I will tweet soon. Follow if interested.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">3:37 PM - Thursday 5 Oct 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2/ The GOP is now trying to create what I call "synthetic repeal." Before I explain what that means let me tell you why this is happening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">3/ The GOP has 7 years of promises and a lot of fundraising to pay back. Moore's win in Alabama punctuates the point that the Republican base is very unhappy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">4/ The GOP needs to compete in primaries & fundraise. Make no mistake that is a 2018 reality weighing on them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5/ Three strategic choices: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A- Say repeal failed & move on. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B- Promise to try again next year. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">C- "Synthetic repeal" </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First step is "C".
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">6/ "Synthetic repeal" allows the GOP to say, "Sure, we didn't repeal the ACA because of RINO holdouts, but before long it will be effectively done".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">7/ "Synthetic repeal" goes after ALL the big Kahunas: Huge Medicaid cuts, elimination of protections for pre-existing conditions, & the ObamaCare health insurance mandates. All WITHOUT REPLACEMENTS.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">8/ CBO would score the synthetic repeal an absolute disaster. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">9/ The tools for Synthetic Repeal are: </span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- An Executive Order coming next week </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- The budget/tax plan </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- Sabotage of the ACA (not even denied)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">10/ The Executive Order will allow "association health plans"-- ability for plans to be offered with no pre-existing protections-- It will turn ACA into a high risk pool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">11/ In states that have done things like this, such as Tennessee, premiums have skyrocketed and competitors have left the market.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">12/ The Executive Order next week is a massive undermining of the states, the insurance markets, and American families.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">13/ Anyone will be able to create a plan that usurps state authority. And across state lines. Graham Cassidy "state's rights". <img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f602.png" /><img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f602.png" /><img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f602.png" /><img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f602.png" /><img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f602.png" /><img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f602.png" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">14/ The Medicaid cuts in the tax cut bill is the other side of the nickel. Republicans will need Medicaid cuts to deal with a $1 trillion+ shortfall towards a balanced budget.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">15/ From their standpoint, either vehicle could work.<img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f447.png" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One Senator said to me tonight: "The health care bill was about hidden tax cuts. Now the tax bill is about hidden health care cuts."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">16/ In fact, I've heard some say the tax vehicle will be easier for Republicans because opposition won't recognize it as a health care fight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">17/ Sabotage includes the effort to drive up prices with no CSR payments, to limit enrollment, and to deny or ignore state waivers, all designed to beat the ACA by making it unworkable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">18/ Someone in a position to know (insurer thinking) told me Association plans & sabotage will leave markets bare in '19 so people have no options.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">19/ Many states will have exclusionary plans for the healthy (like pre-ACA days, big MCD cuts.) Budget also allows mandate to be cut, <img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/2b06.png" /> premiums.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">20/ Synthetic repeal would butcher ACA beyond recognition. GOP could go back for a draconian full repeal with Yes votes coming out of necessity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">21/ The troubling part (yeah, there's a troubling part) is that this can be done with much less public recognition of it, like the boiling frog analogy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">22/ This is "Synthetic Repeal" as I see it. No one is calling it that but that's the plan as I see it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">23/ Synthetic Repeal is the most underhanded perversion of the law I can think of with little thought for how it would impact people. But it doesn't mean it will work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">24/ So response to Synthetic Repeal? I'm working on it now. I won't be alone. Right now let's <b><i><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GetUSCovered?src=hash">#GetUSCovered</a>.</i></b> One win at a time. End.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*Andy Slavitt was the </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Acting Administrator of the Centers for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States)" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Medicare (United States)">Medicare and Medicaid</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> Services (CMS), a position he held from March 2015 to January 2017. How did he become one of the most vocal defenders of the ACA? Check out <a href="https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/politico50/andy-slavitt/" target="_blank">this article at Politico.</a></span></span></b></blockquote>
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Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-88222610412098494232017-08-14T17:33:00.000-05:002017-08-17T09:15:07.838-05:00The Alt-Right's War Against Women; RIP Heather Heyer<div style="font-size: medium;">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Liberals, progressives, and Democrats do NOT have any war against Christmas, no matter what the Republicans and fundamentalists say. </i></b></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc6fNsHFd_YRNeAq7y-krbm56mRyhQZVUlR_5245pGYrek7Nq2oNDGyTfXfrEQAbYrH99_cLisZ0HE1KNIgcz_HTyosGjPFUPVvKvjginA_UGT4a5UZLihEnQ79sQAdKRvMJLUDGxYHE/s1600/heather-heyer-charlottesville-virginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="670" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc6fNsHFd_YRNeAq7y-krbm56mRyhQZVUlR_5245pGYrek7Nq2oNDGyTfXfrEQAbYrH99_cLisZ0HE1KNIgcz_HTyosGjPFUPVvKvjginA_UGT4a5UZLihEnQ79sQAdKRvMJLUDGxYHE/s640/heather-heyer-charlottesville-virginia.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Image Found at Variety </b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the Alt-Right, the white supremacists who marched with torchlights to protest the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend of August 11-13, are definitely engaging in a <i style="font-weight: bold;">disgusting, disturbing War Against Women </i>that is just as vile, just as repulsive, as the racism and antisemitism that these people espouse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Are there more White Supremacists? Or are they just crawling out of the woodwork now?</span></i></b></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Where did these young male white supremacists come from? Are they increasing in number or just crawling out of the woodwork since the election of Donald Trump? I honestly don't know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the past, I'd dismiss these white supremacists/Alt- Right characters with their Pepe the frog emblem as annoying. I have told myself that this is just a tiny minority of people, mostly young white men, in this country, and their prejudice and hate doesn't affect me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I think that too many of us have been too cavalier in dismissing all of the rhetoric and propaganda from the Alt-Right. I'm still not sure how we counter this rhetoric, but I don't think we should ignore it. Not any more. Not after this weekend; actually, not since the election of Donald Trump and the appointment of people such as Steven Bannon, Stephen Miller, and Sebastian Gorka to Trump's inner circle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Death of a Young Woman </span></i></b><br /><br />It was bad enough, tragic enough, that a young, lovely woman, Heather Heyer, 32 years old, was killed Saturday, August 12, as the direct result of the hate and insanity of the Alt-Right White Supremacists in Charlottesville, but the treatment, the portrayal of her by these Alt-Right goons is terrifying and heart-breaking. If they can go after a dead woman with such venom, what would they do to the living?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's back up. Ms. Heyer lost her life on Saturday, August 12, when one of the Alt-Right marchers rammed his car into a group of peaceful "counter" marchers; that is, people marching to protest the Alt-Right/White Supremacist contingent. That wasn't the only episode of violence over the weekend, but it was the worst. 19 other people were hurt, 4 or 5 of them critically, when the guy rammed his car into that line of marchers and then backed out, all at a relatively high rate of speed. The videos of this attack are widely available online and they are horrifying. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>But to make bad things worse, much worse..</i></b></span><br />
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Some time in the evening of August 13th, one of the gems of the Alt-Right movement, an editor for a website that seems to portray itself as the nexus of the Alt-Right Neo-Nazi movement, the Daily Stormer, a man named (or using the pen name of) Andrew Anglin penned an "article" about the young lady that died. </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">An aside..</span></i></b></div>
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The website had been hosted by GoDaddy, but in the wee hours of August 14th, GoDaddy gave the site 24 hours to find another hosting service or they were going to pull down the site for violating its terms of service. I do not know whether or not the site is still operational as I write this, around noon CDT, August 14th.<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Did Anonymous hack the Stormer? Or did Stormer pretend Anonymous hacked the Stormer?</span></i></b></div>
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Someone took down the incredibly offensive article that I am about to recount and instead posted a short message that the Daily Stormer had been hacked by Anonymous; however, Anonymous was going to leave the site up for about 24 more hours.. Strangely enough, the 24 hours was the exact length of time that GoDaddy had given the Stormer to find another host. <br />
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There is much speculation that the Stormer itself took down the incredibly offensive article and claimed that it had been taken over by Anonymous, but I don't think we know. In any event, many thousands of people saw the repulsive spiel to which this young woman was subjected.<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Too Vile to Post</span></i></b></div>
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I'm going to post some of this horrible article here so that, even if the Stormer does survive, you don't have to give that site any unnecessary clicks. I do have the full rant copied in its complete original form, but, in my opinion, it is too vile to post without some annotation. Even with annotation, it is really too vile to post.</div>
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I am more sickened over this article from the Stormer than I am about most of which I read over the weekend.</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So why am I posting about this hateful piece of dog doo?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Because we need to know how horrible these people really are. <b><i>We need to know what we are up against.</i></b> I can't imagine anything more odious than their "take" on Ms. Heyer, and their discussions of women. I've heard some of these hateful things before, but to actually see them in writing; to see them attached to a young woman who is <b><i>DEAD</i></b> is beyond appalling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Because, even if the Stormer finds a home at which to land, <b><i>nobody should be giving that disgusting, despicable, vile rag any clicks.</i></b> I thought for an hour before I clicked over to that miserable site.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shaming a beautiful young woman who is <b><i>DEAD??</i></b> Dead due to a white separatist Nazi running her down in a <b><i>CAR</i></b> is the lowest of the low. Trashing women in general?? Don't these Stormer people have mothers, sisters, even a few wives and daughters? Is this what they think of their own flesh and blood? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How did we get to this point in this country?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So it starts... </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(If you are easily nauseated, you do not have to read any further. You already have the idea.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Above a photo of the lovely young woman, Heather Heyer, who died on Saturday, is this headline, abbreviations mine:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Heather Heyer: Woman Killed in Road Rage Incident was a F*t, Childless 32-Year-Old Sl*t</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The author then makes a point that the dead woman had no children. He goes on to list 5 "fat facts" about this young woman, about women in general, and about this incident. I believe that if you asked the author about this insulting, demeaning rant, he would claim that he is just "joking" and it was "satire". (Remind you of a certain individual occupying the White House who claims that offensive and iditoic tweets are just "jokes"?) </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of the five points are more offensive than others, but I will list them all in an abbreviated manner. The words and phrases in blue are direct quotes from the article. You will get the point.<br /><br />1. Useless childless women:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">1) She was (obese) and a Drain on Society</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He claims that <span style="color: #0b5394;">"most people are glad she is dead as she is the definition of uselessness."</span> He claims that a 32 year old woman without children is <span style="color: #0b5394;">"a burden on society and has no value."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He takes off against women in general:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He says that women live an average of 5 years longer than men <span style="color: #0b5394;">"due to female privilege, and the fact that they do virtually nothing their entire lives."</span> He claims that, had Heather not been killed, she would have lived for 49 more years <span style="color: #0b5394;">"leeching off of men's work."</span> He also claims that <span style="color: #0b5394;">"Childless women are black hole vortexes of public money and energy." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(As she was not married, did not have children, and she worked to support herself, this makes no sense, but none of it does. But neither did the rants of the Nazis in Germany against the Jews, the Slavs, against gay people, against the disabled. And they also thought that women should not be working outside the home and should only be reproducing.)</span></div>
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He claims that <span style="color: #0b5394;">"hundreds of thousands of dollars would have been spent propping-up (Heather) who had failed to do her most basic duty - her only real duty, in fact - and reproduce."</span></div>
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He makes the absurd conclusion that <span style="color: #0b5394;">"it can be assumed"</span> that women who attain the age of 32 without children have had multiple abortions and are therefore child murderers.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Anglin implies that it was her fault that she was hit by this horrible man because she appears to be heavy:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2) Too F*t to Dodge a Dodge</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He claims that a <span style="color: #0b5394;">"Dodge Challenger is a fast car."</span> Because Heather appears to be overweight she was too <span style="color: #0b5394;">"slow, slow, slow"</span> to get out of the way of the car. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He attributes the following to "one observer":</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the video, you can clearly see that most people dodge the charging Dodge. Heather was unable to dodge the Dodge, because she was “just too f#cking (large) to really move much at all.” </span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He then claims that the driver saved <span style="color: #0b5394;">"us"</span> a lot of money because the costs to feed a woman <span style="color: #0b5394;">"of this size"</span> for another 49 years would be <span style="color: #0b5394;">"astronomical".</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. More nonsensical and unsubstantiated garbage:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3) Protesting White Men</b></span></blockquote>
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<b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She was attending the rally to protest white men.</b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Her social media history shows that she sought the complete abolition of the white race.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><b>Ironically, she hated the cops who attended this rally to support her anti-White agenda.</b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anglin continues his litany of hate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He claims that she was still trying to get into relationships with men: </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She would then no doubt try to guilt trip those men who got caught up in that situation (probably while drunk) into giving her their personal energies. </span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He goes into a diatribe that all older women (32 is old?) are <span style="color: #0b5394;">"psychic vampires"</span> and <span style="color: #0b5394;">"it is clear that Heather Heyer was playing this game hard." </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He mentions she was a Bernie Sanders supporter; I have no idea how that ties into an <span style="color: #0b5394;">"older"</span> woman trying to find men.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />4. Number 4 keys on the driver and, quite frankly, I didn't understand most of it, though he does excuse the driver Field's terrorist assault as <span style="color: #0b5394;">"road rage"</span>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">4) Driver was a Straight Player</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The driver of the of the car, James Fields, was a hardcore player, and sources claim that he didn’t give a f#ck.</span></b></span> </blockquote>
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Despite the cool demeanor he shows in his social media profile pictures, it appears that road rage got the best of him.</span></b> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Though many people are expressing outrage after the crash, there are also many wondering if the outrage is not simply player hatred, rather than actually concern over the death of some useless (insulting word for woman; much worse than bitch; synonym for pig). </span></b></span> </blockquote>
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Elizabeth Warren, for instance, has repeatedly been accused of player hate. </span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">In 2015, Warren co-sponsored the “Game Prevention Act” which sought to “shut down the game, to prevent players from playing women like fiddles.” </span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Despite the fact that she claims not to hate the player but simply “oppose the game,” she has been dogged for years over allegations of straight-up player hate.</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have no idea what "player hate" is nor what it means to be a "straight player". There is no piece of legislation listed that Warren sponsored that would in any way be considered Game Prevention Act. "Hardcore" does have a meaning in terms of gaming; probably a derivation. Again, the author is probably engaging in something that, to him, seems like satire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">5. Publicity stunt by Dodge? Could this get any weirder or more offensive?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>5) Publicity Stunt by Dodge?</b></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The same day of the crash, Dodge was promoting a “Roadkill Nights” event.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anglin included a photo from an event at <a href="http://www.roadkill.com/events/roadkill-nights-powered-by-dodge-returns-to-woodward-avenue-for-a-second-year/">roadkill.com</a>. He continues:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>It is extremely coincidental that Dodge would be promoting “Roadkill Nights” the same day as a driver of their vehicle roadkilled a ... woman.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This incident is extremely good viral advertising for Dodge, and I have no doubt that they will start advertising the Challenger as a “f*tty smasher.” They may also use the slogan “Dodge this!”</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>However, it is unlikely that James Fields would agree to be involved in a publicity stunt like this, as he is likely facing life in prison.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So it is more likely that it was just meme magic.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Fascinating. This Andrew Anglin creep may be merely engaging in satire as he trashes a young woman who was murdered by an Alt Right White Supremacist. As I wrote above, perhaps the whole disgusting piece was satire. Anglin ends with the understatement of the year; that it is unlikely that Fields would be involved in a publicity stunt like this as he is now likely facing life in prison.</span></span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><br /><br />I ask again: <br /><br />How did this happen? How did we get to this point in this country?<br /><br />And, more important, what do we do now?</i></b></span></div>
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<br />Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-39053418595990301142017-08-12T20:35:00.000-05:002017-08-14T18:22:48.642-05:00Here's Page 1 of the Crazy Memo Written by Former NSC Staffer Rich Higgins<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">The Crazy Memo Written on the Government's Dime</span></i></b></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3e0Qa9eOHUIxM5_mHtKPEbyguOuPW53EWlBrOhaSsA1KXLC4SARn0yJBT-ZeiiN4YCAKU116rTk4rbPSzmEJc_yvY9nHeE_9puIGz8X8UPiJUbxAxZa0XUdIoVEd4iscSYwravSzoJ8/s1600/National+Security+Agency+Seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3e0Qa9eOHUIxM5_mHtKPEbyguOuPW53EWlBrOhaSsA1KXLC4SARn0yJBT-ZeiiN4YCAKU116rTk4rbPSzmEJc_yvY9nHeE_9puIGz8X8UPiJUbxAxZa0XUdIoVEd4iscSYwravSzoJ8/s320/National+Security+Agency+Seal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/08/10/heres-the-memo-that-blew-up-the-nsc/amp/" target="_blank"><i>article at Foreign Policy magazine about this crazy memo</i>,</a> the crazy far right memo which was written by a National Security Council staffer named Rich Higgins (on your and my dime as American taxpayers), was published by Foreign Policy magazine on Thursday, August 10th. It rolled down my Facebook newsfeed yesterday; that is, Friday morning. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Though Foreign Policy magazine <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/08/10/heres-the-memo-that-blew-up-the-nsc/amp/" target="_blank"><i>published the whole memo</i></a> Thursday, I found the format they used difficult to follow. So I copied the 7 page memo to my blog one page at a time starting here, and I added a few paragraph breaks for readability.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>(I will be adding pages 2 through 7 during the week. This has become more important after this weekend's Nazi march in Virginia.) </b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I've also listed links to other information and articles about this whole insanity and some of the people involved. Those links are found below the copy of Page 1.<br /><br /><b><i>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Why is this important? </span></i></b></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I don't know what kind of play this memo was getting at other venues, but every commentator at MSNBC that I watched yesterday mentioned this memo. It's pretty wild right wing stuff, but the big problem is that it was written by a guy who was a staffer at the National Security Council. It is rumored to have come to the attention of Donald Trump Jr and it is further rumored to have made it to the desk of the president. I've also heard reports that President Trump was disturbed to find out that the author of this piece of insanity was fired after the memo surfaced. <br /><br />Folks, we have to realize that many of the people now in influential or decision-making positions in the "swamp" of Washington, DC, are right-wing extremists who are clinging desperately to a white male view of power that is passing on due to both demographics and increasing open-mindedness and tolerance. <br /><br />Here's <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/a-national-security-council-staffer-is-forced-out-over-a-controversial-memo/535725/" target="_blank"><i>Atlantic Magazine's description</i></a> of the author and the article:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Rich Higgins, a former Pentagon official who served in the NSC’s strategic-planning office as a director for strategic planning, was let go on July 21. Higgins’s memo describes supposed domestic and international threats to Trump’s presidency, including globalists, bankers, the “deep state,” and Islamists. The memo characterizes the Russia story as a plot to sabotage Trump’s nationalist agenda. It asserts that globalists and Islamists are seeking to destroy America. The memo also includes a set of recommendations, arguing that the problem constitutes a national-security priority.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">H R McMaster, current National Security Advisor, is apparently trying to take a slightly more moderate tone than his predecessor Mike Flynn who was fired after 24 days on the job. But those 24 days provided enough time for Flynn to staff a number of positions at the NSA, and many of those people were fairly extreme right-wingers and (as demonstrated by this memo) conspiracy nuts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />It's dangerous to think that this level of insanity was supported by someone on the government payroll. Yes, friends, your tax dollars at work. <br /><br />Foreign Policy magazine introduces this memo with these words:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The full memo, dated May 2017, is titled “POTUS & Political Warfare.” It provides a sweeping, if at times conspiratorial, view of what it describes as a multi-pronged attack on the Trump White House.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump is being attacked, the memo says, because he represents “an existential threat to cultural Marxist memes that dominate the prevailing cultural narrative.” Those threatened by Trump include “‘deep state’ actors, globalists, bankers, Islamists, and establishment Republicans.”</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Page 1 (of 7) of the Memo:</b><br /><br />(I've added some paragraph breaks for readability; the italics are also mine. I've left most of the grammatical errors of the author.) </span><br /><br />"May 2017 <br />BACKGROUND.<br /><br />The Trump administration is suffering under withering information campaigns designed to first undermine, then delegitimize and ultimately remove the President. <br /><br />Possibly confusing these attacks with an elevated interplay of otherwise normal D.C. partisan infighting and adversarial media relations, the White House response to these campaigns reflects a political advocacy mindset that it is intensely reactive, severely under-inclusive and dangerously inadequate to the threat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If action is not taken to re-scope and respond to these hostile campaigns very soon, the administration risks implosion and subsequent early departure from the White House.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This is not politics as usual but <b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">rather political warfare at an unprecedented level that is openly engaged in the direct targeting of a seated president through manipulation of the news cycle.</span></i></b> It must be recognized on its own terms so that immediate action can be taken. <br /><br />At its core, these campaigns run on multiple lines of effort, serve as the non-violent line of effort of a wider movement, and execute political warfare agendas that reflect cultural Marxist outcomes. The campaigns operate through narratives. <br /><br />Because the hard left is aligned with lslamist organizations at local (ANTI FA <i><span style="color: #0b5394;">(antifascist) </span></i>working with Muslim Brotherhood doing business as MSA and CAIR (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Council on American-Islamic Relations</span></i>)), national (ACLU (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">American Civil Liberties Union</span></i>) and BLM (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Black Lives Matter</span></i>) working with CAIR and MPAC (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Muslim Public Affairs Council</span></i>)) and international levels (OIC (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Organization of Islamic Cooperation</span></i>) working with OSCE (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe</span></i>) and the UN (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">United Nations</span></i>)), recognition must given to the fact that they seamlessly interoperate at the narrative level as well. In candidate Trump, <b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">the opposition saw a threat to the "politically correct" enforcement narratives they've meticulously laid in over the past few decades.</span></i></b> In President Trump, they see a latent threat to continue that effort to ruinous effect and their retaliatory response reflects this fear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />INTRODUCTION.<br /><br />Responding to relentless personal assaults on his character, candidate Trump identified the players and the strategy:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> • "The establishment and their media enablers will control over this nation through means that are very well known. Anyone who challenges their control is deemed a sexist, a racist, a xenophobe, and morally deformed." - President (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Candidate</span></i>) Trump, Oct 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Culturally conditioned to limit responses to such attacks as yet another round in the on-going drone from diversity and multicultural malcontents, these broadsides are discounted as political correctness run amuck. However, <i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>political correctness is a weapon against reason and critical thinking. This weapon functions as the enforcement mechanism of diversity narratives that seek to implement cultural Marxism.</b> </span></i>Candidate Trump's rhetoric in the campaign not only cut through the Marxist narrative, he did so in ways that were viscerally comprehensible to a voting bloc that then made candidate Trump the president; making that bloc self-aware in the process. <i><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">President Trump is either the candidate he ran as, or he is nothing.</span></b></i></span></div>
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Recognizing in candidate Trump an existential threat to cultural Marxist memes that dominate the prevailing cultural narrative, those that benefit recognize the threat he poses and seek his destruction. For this cabal, Trump must be destroyed. Far from politics as usual, this is a political warfare effort that seeks the destruction of a sitting president. Since Trump took office, the situation has intensified to crisis level proportions. For those engaged in the effort, especially those from within the "deep state" or permanent government apparatus, this raises clear Title 18 (legal) concerns. "</span></div>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">My comments on Page 1</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">That Trump is destroying his Presidency <b><i>himself</i></b> by tweeting, by making absurd pronouncements, by ignoring the will of the majority of the people, by ignoring the simple fact that he governs as a minority president without the American people behind him, by taking us to the brink of some kind of nuclear conflagration, completely eludes the guy who wrote this memo. The opposition, whoever that may be, doesn't have to attack and destroy someone when that person destroys himself or herself. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I have no idea what "Title 18 (legal) concerns" refers to at this time. </span></span></div>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Links</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(I will add to this list of links as more articles and information become available.)</span></div>
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<i><a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/08/10/heres-the-memo-that-blew-up-the-nsc/amp/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">"Here's the Memo" at Foreign Policy magazine</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/a-national-security-council-staffer-is-forced-out-over-a-controversial-memo/535725/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">An NSC Staffer is forced out over a controversial memo (Atlantic Magazine)</a></i><br />
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<i><a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/memo-by-former-aide-warns-of-leftist-conspiracy-against-trump/ar-AApTSBW" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><i style="letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At MSN from the New York Times: </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> "Memo by Former Aide Warns of Leftist Conspiracy Against Trump"</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Cohen-Watnick" target="_blank">Ezra Cohen Watnick</a> (Interesting tidbit: Cohen's wife worked or works for a company called </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchum_Inc.">Ketchum Inc.</a>, where she did public relations work for the Russian government.)</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/ezra-cohen-watnick-donald-trump-devin-nunes-russia-barack-obama-wiretap-susan-583904" target="_blank">From Newsweek: The quick rise of Ezra Cohen Watnick</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/ezra-cohen-watnick/534615/" target="_blank">From the Atlantic: Ezra Cohen Watnick: The Man McMaster Couldn't Fire</a><br /><br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Gaffney" target="_blank">Frank Gaffney</a><br /><br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Harvey" target="_blank">Derek Harvey</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/11/nsc_conspiracist_rich_higgins_interview_with_ginni_thomas_great_stuff.html" target="_blank">About Rich Higgins, the man who wrote the memo</a><br /><br /><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2016/07/02/former-dod-official-warns-america-is-on-the-wrong-track-to-fighting-war-on-terror-video/" target="_blank">The Salon article about Higgins was taken from this article at the conservative Daily Caller</a></span></i></div>
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Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-31094065577716696932017-06-21T14:23:00.000-05:002017-11-08T10:34:54.715-06:00Add It Up and Weep, Trump and Republicans!<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Enjoy your fun, Trumpsters!</i></b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Trump and his Republican allies are gloating about how well the Republicans did in the recent special elections. They are busy trashing the Democrats and the Democratic candidates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But here's the reality, which those who live in the alternate facts universe conveniently ignore:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Democratic candidates in the four Congressional special elections this spring swung those 4 solid red districts an average of 18% in only five to seven months.</span></i></b><span style="color: #14171a;">
Any Republican with an ounce of sense should be very concerned about 2018.</span></span></span>
<span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's what happened:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><b><i>Montana at large: </i></b> The Republican Zimke won this seat by 15% in November. Gianforte (R) won this seat by only 6% last month. That's a</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><b> 9%</b></i></span><span style="color: #14171a;"> swing to the left.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><b><i>Kansas 4th:</i></b> The Republican Mike Pompeo won this seat by 32% in November. Estes (R) won this seat by only 7% in April 2017. That's a swing of </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i>25%</i></b></span><span style="color: #14171a;"> in 5 months.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><b><i>South Carolina 5th: </i></b> The Republican Mulvaney won this seat by 20% in November. Norman (R) won this seat by only 3% last night. That's a swing of </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i>17%.</i></b></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><b><i>Georgia 6th: </i></b> The Republican Price won this seat by 24% in November. Handel (R) won this seat by only 4% last night. That's a swing of </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i>20%.
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCzBH9oCUDus7cChuTQChHKNRY3nByIYyzYkLq1O3s-GovZHWslbIOJ4mfBMNtIeLqrUxyDERAYQjE7yQySwAAvLAAVRgHa289Krx2Qy2rpQAivEXwH9UwMe41l8K50zplU_J2BRRCmQ/s1600/Democrats+Swing+Left+in+Congressional+races.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCzBH9oCUDus7cChuTQChHKNRY3nByIYyzYkLq1O3s-GovZHWslbIOJ4mfBMNtIeLqrUxyDERAYQjE7yQySwAAvLAAVRgHa289Krx2Qy2rpQAivEXwH9UwMe41l8K50zplU_J2BRRCmQ/s640/Democrats+Swing+Left+in+Congressional+races.jpg" width="558" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i></i></b></span></span></span><br /></span></span>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>
Add it up and weep, Republicans. </i></b></span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
That's an average swing towards the Democrats of 18% in just 5 to 7 months in those very solid, reliable RED district. Additionally, the Republicans were too <b><i>afraid and ashamed</i></b> to release the draft of the #TrumpDontCare health care bill because they feared it would tip the election even more because it is truly horrible and "mean".
I take that back... They may have been afraid, but I can't imagine a Republican being </span><b style="color: #14171a; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>ashamed</i></b><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of throwing millions off of health insurance. Because if you can't afford extreme health insurance premiums or you don't have a job that provides health insurance, you really don't deserve to live, right, Republicans? (Snark)
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</span></span>Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-63974517913719298112017-06-21T13:36:00.001-05:002017-06-21T13:37:15.265-05:00Lawyers, Guns, and Money: Apologies to Warren Zevon <h3>
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Shit has Hit the Fan!</span></i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Thanks to my friend Kathleen for the inspiration. Just a few words changed here and there:</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8YUjkZ5_u2OmnKwUFyBPlu09mG_1VXy8nJZLF8boW85h5l5EEQ4o3YfSmaNCC7me4yhqPQGznbXKoivOeDZKyQGC15-8sl37h6NzREAGV9rYdPIaE8qXK74_u-APr86e2Nfq9NGHU6g/s1600/Shit+has+hit+the+fan+revised.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="976" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8YUjkZ5_u2OmnKwUFyBPlu09mG_1VXy8nJZLF8boW85h5l5EEQ4o3YfSmaNCC7me4yhqPQGznbXKoivOeDZKyQGC15-8sl37h6NzREAGV9rYdPIaE8qXK74_u-APr86e2Nfq9NGHU6g/s640/Shit+has+hit+the+fan+revised.jpg" width="592" /></a></div>
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The text:</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I went to deal with a banker the way I always do.<br />How was I to know he was with the Russians too?</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I was gambling with campaign funds, I took a little risk<br />Send lawyers, guns, and money<br />Dad, get me out of this, hiyah!</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I'm an innocent bystander!<br />Somehow I got stuck between a rock and a hard place<br />And I'm down on my luck<br />Yes, I'm down on my luck<br />Well, I'm down on my luck</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I'm hiding in the White House, I'm a desperate man<br />Send lawyers, guns, and money<br />The shit has hit the fan</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Send lawyers, guns, and money<br />Send lawyers, guns, and money<br />Send lawyers, guns, and money, hiyah!<br />Send lawyers, guns, and money, ow!"</b></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The sh!t definitely is hitting the fan! <br /><br />Here's the original by Warren Zevon for your listening pleasure:</i></span></span></b></div>
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Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-83359367881819122192017-06-17T23:43:00.000-05:002017-06-17T23:43:49.450-05:00Don't Politicize Tragedy! (Yes or No?)<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="m8rc" data-offset-key="dg264-0-0">
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<span data-offset-key="dg264-0-0"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>In <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-echo-chamber-of-extremism" target="_blank">"The Echo Chamber of Extremism" at the Daily Beast, </a>John Avlon writes: </i></span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>We’ve been playing a dangerous game in America. The more the rhetoric is ratcheted up, the more we increase the risk of an unhinged soul being darkly inspired to take action.</b></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEh2VD6zs4WeDllLSwgMKp0up76n9o5oIFKlfUo-_RKm19aoqk2r5-N_GalBbK3Ps4ODfu_sVlvkN2J5Br9dUjSQJiAPDQWai4PjL0XHmP1eP8tFVXF5NMDyScLa4nhbOyNcWCeJD1G7QF4/s1600/Baseball+shooter+victim+via+tribunist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="864" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VD6zs4WeDllLSwgMKp0up76n9o5oIFKlfUo-_RKm19aoqk2r5-N_GalBbK3Ps4ODfu_sVlvkN2J5Br9dUjSQJiAPDQWai4PjL0XHmP1eP8tFVXF5NMDyScLa4nhbOyNcWCeJD1G7QF4/s640/Baseball+shooter+victim+via+tribunist.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Picture of a victim of the Alexandria, VA, baseball shooter. </span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Farther down in the article, Avlon writes:</span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="dg264-0-0"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"In the wake of a mass shooting—take the 2015 attack on a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs that killed three people and injured nine, for example—we’ve often been told not to politicize the tragedy by conservative groups.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nonetheless, there were predictable attempts to politicize this attack from conservatives like Newt Gingrich and from the alt-right crowd, casting the shooter as somehow representative of Bernie Sanders or Democrats in an attempt to muddy the record of hate-fueled rhetoric in the past and claim moral equivalence if not moral superiority. Guilt by association is the glue of politics in 2017."</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: bold;">It's not that I really disagree with Avlon--</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />This was a horrible tragedy and my heart is with Representative Steve Scalise and the others who were hurt in this attack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">BUT Republicans favor policies that keep people without health insurance, take away their health insurance, and, therefore, they are policies that result in many more people, millions of people, with no healthcare. How many people have died and will die due to Republican policies?</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="59h6v-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">BUT Republicans are against laws that may help stem the flow of gun violence. How many people have died and will die due to that Republican opposition?</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1leho-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">BUT, over the last 40 years, Republicans have tended to favor war and warlike foreign policies resulting in military incursions into many foreign countries. The Dems have also led military incursions, but how many people have died far away from home under the Repubs vs. under the Dems? The numbers are out there.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7cn2r-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">BUT Republicans do favor economic policies that result in working, middle, and poor classes having less, therefore, dying earlier than wealthier people. And how many wound up dead from stress, suicide, or drug/alcohol use during the Republican-led Great Recession? </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="cn1ok-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />No, Both Parties Are NOT The Same!
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<span data-offset-key="bbtr0-0-0" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this is not really a "Both parties are at fault because of partisanship" kind of thing. The baseball shooter was a left-wing nut, apparently a long-time loon, but perhaps we should politicize some of the insanity going on these days (even if we try not to policitize the baseball shooter rampage). And, first, I blame much of this insanity on Trumpsters, the alt-right, the right wing blogosphere.. and I blame Republicans who won't stand up to this bunch second. </span>
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Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-26751298797919900302017-05-24T23:20:00.000-05:002017-05-25T03:19:12.193-05:00Republicans Now Body Slamming Reporters?<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>I'm sure by now everybody has heard the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/24/greg-gianforte-bodyslams-reporter-ben-jacobs-montana" target="_blank">audio of Montana Republican Congressional candidate Greg Gianforte body-slamming Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs</a> in Bozeman, Montana, a few hours ago.</i></b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The special election for Montana's Representative-at-large seat is tomorrow, Thursday, May 25. Ben Jacobs wanted to ask Gianforte what he thought of the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) scoring of the Republican health care bill, also known as #TrumpDontCare. Gianforte rewarded him for his professional persistence by grabbing "Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slam(ming) him into the ground behind him."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The Fox report continues:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the reporter. As Gianforte moved on top of Jacobs, he began yelling something to the effect of, "I'm sick and tired of this!"</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, you read that right! <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/24/greg-gianforte-fox-news-team-witnesses-gop-house-candidate-body-slam-reporter.html" target="_blank"><b><i>A FOX News crew apparently confirmed Jacob's account of the event.</i></b></a> (A few at Fox are getting religion?) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ben Jacobs did call the cops and he did go to the Emergency Room for x-rays of his elbow. His glasses were allegedly broken in the incident.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So... Will Greg Gianforte be arrested for assault and spend election day in the pokey, a place in which increasing numbers of Republicans may soon be spending time? He should be arrested, but the sheriff of the county, a man named Brian Gootkin, <b><i><a href="http://www.politicususa.com/2017/05/24/greg-gianforte-jail-assaulting-reporter-sheriff-donated-campaign.html" target="_blank">is a donor to Gianforte's campaign.</a></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Update: Gianforte received a citation for misdemeanor assault. </i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">“Following multiple interviews and an investigation by the Gallatin county sheriff’s office it was determined there was probable cause to issue a citation to Greg Gianforte for misdemeanor assault,” </span><a class="u-underline" data-link-name="in body link" draggable="true" href="https://www.gallatinmedia.org/?p=4732" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.0625rem; cursor: pointer; line-height: 24px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none !important; touch-action: manipulation;">sheriff Brian Gootkin said in a statement</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">. “The nature of the injuries did not meet the statutory elements of felony assault. Greg Gianforte received a citation on Wednesday night and is scheduled to appear in Gallatin county justice court between now and June 7, 2017.”</span></span></b></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgVY0JWNCmlxUyJ_YlMx_p0aKZy4tcdm8FBLXqh0Gt8puldkrlxlqHIb-p0xUyjlqtcaVcdo3Qi_pKggyBpc5JJD8VHN1pwYO2wx7vR_V2vHCMrESKcQmiJ7pdzNoQQXf78BbaS5ANn4/s1600/Montana+assault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="876" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgVY0JWNCmlxUyJ_YlMx_p0aKZy4tcdm8FBLXqh0Gt8puldkrlxlqHIb-p0xUyjlqtcaVcdo3Qi_pKggyBpc5JJD8VHN1pwYO2wx7vR_V2vHCMrESKcQmiJ7pdzNoQQXf78BbaS5ANn4/s640/Montana+assault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">There is even a Russian tie-in:</span></i></b></div>
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<br />
Ben Jacobs apparently busted Gianforte a few weeks back on his connections to Russia in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/28/greg-gianforte-republican-candidate-congress-russia-companies" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">this article at the Guardian: </span></i></b></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> A Republican congressional candidate has financial ties to a number of Russian companies that have been sanctioned by the US, the Guardian has learned. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Greg Gianforte, who is the GOP standard bearer in the upcoming special election in Montana, owns just under $250,000 in shares in two index funds that are invested in the Russian economy to match its overall performance.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did Gianforte know who Jacobs was? Was this payback for Jacobs' article? <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Meanwhile...</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have heard that volunteers for the Democratic candidate Rob Quist are using the audio of Gianforte body-slamming Jacobs as they contact voters. I have also heard that either Move On or the DCCC was using the story about Jacobs in a last- minute 5-digit ad buy for Quist. </span></div>
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Unfortunately, Montana is a western state, so the polls will close late. Also, unfortunately, about two-thirds of votes in this election have already been cast. But I'll stay up and watch those numbers come in anyway.</div>
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A physical attack against a member of the press is disgusting and clearly a violation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of this country... as well as a violation of Montana's laws against assault.<br />
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Let's see if Bozeman, Montana's sheriff, the man who donated to Gianforte's campaign will actually do the right thing and lock up the guy. (See the update above: No, they didn't lock up the guy, but he was issued a citation.)<br />
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<br />Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-77738670645071692042017-05-18T18:07:00.000-05:002017-06-07T02:08:01.778-05:00My "Eulogy" for Roger Alies<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My "eulogy" to Roger Ailes, who died this morning, May 18, 2017:</i></span></span></h3>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpI2lVv0t21GOksYp74jNAJmSlE2iBVa47eWIxX6D9aiZSD_wMIMwtrYghyphenhyphenHVYpPSGHtKB3whMIBc4Re-5v4mRa3_C6VMlGm0daeu2lHvxXyjtbr4q0KtTS3Y1BTZ5PhcfufL2iQpgvA/s1600/Roger+Ailes+via+New+York+Mag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpI2lVv0t21GOksYp74jNAJmSlE2iBVa47eWIxX6D9aiZSD_wMIMwtrYghyphenhyphenHVYpPSGHtKB3whMIBc4Re-5v4mRa3_C6VMlGm0daeu2lHvxXyjtbr4q0KtTS3Y1BTZ5PhcfufL2iQpgvA/s320/Roger+Ailes+via+New+York+Mag.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Roger Ailes from New York Magazine</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"He created Fox News based on lies and hate. He was a filthy, disgusting pig of a man. He turned people, hurting people, people who have been harmed by the anti-union, anti-labor, anti-working class policies of Republicans INTO Republicans themselves! <br /><br /><br />These people who really needed politicians who would take their side were instead deceived into thinking that uber-rich Republicans, Ailes, Lee Atwater and all of their friends, were on THEIR side. These uber-rich Republicans used the pain, the ignorance, the racism of a large number of Americans, particularly blue-collar and displaced workers, for their own benefit. They made a mockery of our democratic institutions and they brought us (ultimately) Donald Trump.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Without Ailes and his Fox News, we might actually have universal health insurance, good public schools, a lower national debt, more income and wealth equality, and a generally better quality of life in this country.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;">I generally don't think we should speak ill of the dead, but I make an exception for the pig Ailes.<br /><br />I spit on his grave, wherever it may be."</span></span></div>
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</span></span>Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-30755338867345330152017-05-07T23:47:00.002-05:002017-05-07T23:47:40.387-05:00It is NOT TrumpCare!<h3>
<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Don't Call the Monstrous Bill Passed by Republicans "TrumpCare"!</i></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVJ1XPWU6jpmTSXmU682oWwdZtnQArDv4smAXQlwZ6yaaA92QyVO2JNTSvOPPEpqyh501OcWfCE6VsMg9D7kzD2x9bkDBzKDVpGBrRLLbxRlthJ_RorUGlceWVLzTXw4z8dsqWpK5rxo/s1600/Trump+No+Care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVJ1XPWU6jpmTSXmU682oWwdZtnQArDv4smAXQlwZ6yaaA92QyVO2JNTSvOPPEpqyh501OcWfCE6VsMg9D7kzD2x9bkDBzKDVpGBrRLLbxRlthJ_RorUGlceWVLzTXw4z8dsqWpK5rxo/s640/Trump+No+Care.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: white;">is</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">It is NOT "TrumpCare." </span></i></b></span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That infers that Trump cares... and we know that he doesn't! <br />He only cares about lining his pockets.</span>Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-82813808477450869952017-05-04T15:04:00.000-05:002017-05-04T15:05:16.541-05:00The TrumpKillBill Passed the House<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Republicans in the House just passed the TrumpKillBill:</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Republican #shame .</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4lO6wIai5q9sUS3eCKVqFwW3K7JmGA0vzCZDwWIaG1HPO9JWvR63PYVbllYzjlAMtTQYblPF80QWdzAJr2JuNPDrEHLlGcS0XI5YUN8rKXrZwQj3fU80xN-kn_UJB2-EsnVyI21SLSc/s1600/Resist+Molly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4lO6wIai5q9sUS3eCKVqFwW3K7JmGA0vzCZDwWIaG1HPO9JWvR63PYVbllYzjlAMtTQYblPF80QWdzAJr2JuNPDrEHLlGcS0XI5YUN8rKXrZwQj3fU80xN-kn_UJB2-EsnVyI21SLSc/s640/Resist+Molly.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mollysameria/" target="_blank"><i>Facebook at Molly Middle's America</i></a></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">W</span><br /><br />Whatever you want to call it, the TrumpNoCare Bill, the American No Health Bill, etc., it now moves on to the Senate. <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Dry your tears, get strong, get tough, and move on!</span></i></b><br /><br />Time to beat this piece of sh!t bill in the Senate and time to start working against those Republicans, especially those Republicans in moderate or purple districts, who supported this mess. (I can't wait to see how the Congressional Budget Office scores this thing.) <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Time to take back the House in 2018!</span></i></b></span></div>
Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-59225318352805251792017-05-03T18:15:00.000-05:002017-05-04T15:07:39.102-05:00Comey Was "Mildly Nauseous"? That's it??<h3>
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<i><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">James Comey, the head of the FBI, was questioned today by California Senator Dianne Feinstein at a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing. </span></span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">The topic was his decision to tell the world that new emails </span><i>might</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> have been found on former Representative Anthony Weiner's laptop computer... just ten days before the crucial 2016 Presidential election<span style="color: #0b5394;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;">As the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/03/us/politics/james-comey-fbi-senate-hearing.html" target="_blank"><i><b>New York Times describes it:</b></i></a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">(Comey) </span> <span style="background-color: white;">sharply defended his rationale for notifying Congress about new emails related to the </span><a class="meta-per" href="http://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/hillary-rodham-clinton?inline=nyt-per" style="background-color: white;" title="More articles about Hillary Clinton.">Hillary Clinton</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;"> investigation less than two weeks before Election Day, saying Wednesday that any suggestion he affected the vote’s outcome made him “mildly nauseous.”</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>"Mildly" nauseous? Just "mildly"? Is this a joke? </i></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKVGYzVE3-JjtvZAbQtMuU8RBQBEovophkUf_EfusTl6307FdsfJYFDrCtxqJr8gU6zNNZPDPP17LO_9nKaLA54BiOR_iSJIbYtLlWYUBVuNtJd5V1vsbvDJiBY5FdlDgBiZ258_8tMU/s1600/Comey+nauseous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKVGYzVE3-JjtvZAbQtMuU8RBQBEovophkUf_EfusTl6307FdsfJYFDrCtxqJr8gU6zNNZPDPP17LO_9nKaLA54BiOR_iSJIbYtLlWYUBVuNtJd5V1vsbvDJiBY5FdlDgBiZ258_8tMU/s640/Comey+nauseous.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="color: white;">T</span><br />The image isn't very pretty, but then what is happening to our country under Trump and the Republicans is not very pretty either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More articles on Comey's testimony today:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/03/fbis-comey-it-makes-me-mildly-nauseous-to-think-i-may-have-affected-election.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>FBI's Comey: It makes me 'mildly nauseous' to think I may have affected election</b></i></span></a></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/331735-comey-nauseous-to-think-fbi-impacted-election" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Comey 'nauseous to think' FBI influenced presidential election</b></i></span></a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/05/comey-feels-nauseous-1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Comey Feels "Mildly Nauseous" About Possibly Affecting the Presidential Election</b></i></span></a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/james-comey-causes-searches-for-nauseous-to-spike-on-merriam-webster_us_590a0966e4b0bb2d087448d4" target="_blank">James Comey Causes Searches For ‘Nauseous’ To Spike On Merriam-Webster</a></i></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This last one is interesting. Do people really not know what "nauseous" means? Does the image of Comey with his head over a toilet for the next four years clear things up, people?</span></div>
Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-25857750149210726682017-05-03T11:20:00.000-05:002017-05-03T17:46:56.791-05:00CNN's Collinson Doesn't Get It: Hillary Was Not "Vanquished!"<h3>
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: -0.16px; line-height: 64px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Clinton, Trump can't stop airing their 2016 grievances"</span></i></b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/02/politics/hillary-clinton-2016-election/index.html" target="_blank"><b><i>above-headlined article</i></b></a> by CNN's Stephen Collinson was published yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, May 2nd.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe0_BFZL8yFdtf78aHulpDaKouopF6e6Bn2xZux00iNpxHBtV3FkCtigxhn_vX5HJtXf1dYzXZigTqmA6OuJ0vb9dimN8eouimNqtZo3ugzLbZIyljRNz3gjNfIQNO8pYadQfBCVUEDE/s1600/Clinton+part+of+resistance+vice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe0_BFZL8yFdtf78aHulpDaKouopF6e6Bn2xZux00iNpxHBtV3FkCtigxhn_vX5HJtXf1dYzXZigTqmA6OuJ0vb9dimN8eouimNqtZo3ugzLbZIyljRNz3gjNfIQNO8pYadQfBCVUEDE/s640/Clinton+part+of+resistance+vice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">T</span><br />That headline was annoying enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it's the kind of article in which you can pick apart <b><i>ALMOST</i></b> every last line. I'm not going to pick apart <b><i>EVERY</i></b> last line, but <b><i>MANY</i></b> of Collinson's lines invite retort, and that is what he is going to get.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Victorious and the Vanquished?</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Collinson started:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 24px;">America has two ex-candidates, the <i>victorious</i> Donald Trump and the <i>vanquished</i> Hillary Clinton who just can't let it lie.</span></span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I felt my blood pressure rise. Come on, Collinson, "vanquished"? She beat Trump by three million votes, for heaven's sake! She lost the anachronistic and gerrymandered Electoral College! </span></div>
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(Let's remember that the Electoral College is automatically gerrymandered. Each Electoral College vote in California represented 260,000 Presidential voters in 2016. Meanwhile, in Wyoming, each Electoral College vote represented a mere 85,000 Presidential voters in 2016. That means that, if you live in Wyoming, you have three times the clout of the average California voter. Doesn't seem that fair to me.) <br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Bitter": Wow, what a loaded, sexist word.</span></i></b></div>
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Collinson talks about Clinton's "bitterness". Women are often depicted as "bitter" when they are (rightfully) really angry! "Bitter" is not an adjective used as commonly to describe men's anger as it is used to describe women's anger. And older women are more often described as "bitter" than younger women. Hillary Clinton <b><i>SHOULD</i></b> be angry! Isn't Collinson angry looking at what Trump is doing to this country? If not, he should be, even if that makes him "bitter". <br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Russians! The Comey letter!</span></i></b><br />
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A phrase: Collingon talks about Clinton "<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; line-height: 30px;">pointing to Russia and FBI Chief James Comey as the key drivers of her loss." Well, <b><i>YES!</i></b> While many people out there are still dissecting the election, many are completely overlooking the point that Clinton would have <b><i>WON</i></b> the Electoral College as well as the popular vote had the election been held two or three weeks earlier. Clinton knows this. </span></div>
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Did Collinson ever think that Hillary might just be as concerned as the rest of us about what is happening under Trump's Presidency? That it is scary, repulsive, disturbing, and that Trump's ignorance is just plain dangerous.. not just to "bitter" Clinton but to any of us who have an ounce of sense? Perhaps Collinson is one of those without that "ounce of sense"? </div>
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<span style="color: #262626;">Is she "bitter" or just plain angry and scared about the future of this country that she loves.. that she obviously loves more than Trump does? Collinson, have you spent any of the last 102 days looking at what is going on in this country? The kinds of people that Trump has appointed; the kinds of policies that he has pushed? Thank heavens that he is not getting his way in most court cases and with the Congress. He is an ignorant, despicable fool who has no business in the White House. Clinton bitter? She knows how incompetent Trump is, just as the rest of us should, including you, Stephen Collinson. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Deep in his Soul...</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-size: large;">Collinson continues:</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Trump, for his part, rarely lets more than a few days go by without boasting about his outsider win. </span></b></blockquote>
<span style="color: #262626; font-size: large;">Perhaps because Trump actually <b><i>DOES</i></b> realize that he didn't win the popular vote.. and it bothers the hell out of him. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-size: large;">Come on, Collinson:</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The President is extraordinarily touchy about the merest suggestion that his victory is not totally authentic. </span></b></blockquote>
<span style="color: #262626; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #262626;">Perhaps Trump </span><b style="color: #262626;"><i>KNOWS</i></b><span style="color: #262626;"> that his victory is not authentic and we should know that as well.. even you, Collinson. What's going to happen when the connections to the Russians actually start to come out, when we find a few smoking guns? You don't think that Trump fears that? </span><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">We're Not Clinton Fanbots</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-size: large;">Collinson writes: </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Clinton has now given her supporters, many of whom believe she was cheated out of breaking the highest, hardest glass ceiling in politics, even more reasons to view Trump as illegitimate.</span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #262626; line-height: 30px;">Clinton voters are not stupid. The more educated the voter, the more likely the person voted for Clinton. We're not little fanbots; we don't need Clinton to tell us what is glaringly obvious: Trump <b><i>IS</i></b> illegitimate and she <b><i>WAS</i></b> cheated and it is going to become more obvious as time goes by.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.66667;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">And the President is unlikely to take a pass at Clinton's unflattering description of his performance, including her renewal of her claim that he was unprepared for office.</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.66667;">Clinton's unflattering description? We don't need Hillary Clinton to tell us that Trump was unprepared for office; that should be clear to anyone who breathes these days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.66667;"><span style="line-height: 1.66667;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />Clinton is right.</span></i></b><br /><br /><span style="color: #262626;">Then Collinson quotes Clinton in yesterday's interview with CNN's </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); line-height: 36px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christiane Amanpour</span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 40.0001px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 1.66667;"><span style="color: #0b5394; line-height: 1.66667;"><b>I was on the way to winning until a combination of (FBI Director) Jim Comey's letter on October 28 and Russian WikiLeaks raised doubts in the minds of people who were inclined to vote for me and got scared off. </b></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.66667;"><b>The evidence for that intervening event is, I think, compelling, persuasive, and so we overcame a lot in the campaign...</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.66667;">Clinton also added that believed misogyny played a role in her defeat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.66667;"><span style="color: #262626;">OKay, Collinson, what's wrong with that? She's exactly right. And I've been saying that for months now; I didn't need Clinton to tell me that, in fact, I'm glad it is becoming apparent to Clinton and a big chunk of the 65 million Americans who voted for her.</span><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Is Clinton "goading" Trump? </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>In fact, she seemed positively to be goading the President:</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"If he wants to tweet about me, then I am happy to be the diversion because we have a lot of things to worry about," Clinton told Amanpour.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.66667;"><b>He should worry less about the election and my winning the popular vote than doing some other things that would be important for the country.</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.66667;"><span style="color: #262626;">What else can I say to this but "Good for her!" Go Hillary! She's completely right. Hillary, refuse to let yourself be pigeonholed as "bitter" or a "sore loser". </span><br /><br /><b style="color: #0b5394; font-style: italic;">A feud with Clinton could help Trump?</b><br />Collinson continues:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">A knock-down, drag-out feud with Clinton -- a political figure as polarizing as himself -- could cheer his base and rally Republicans who are still cool to him who also deplore the former secretary of state.</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #262626; line-height: 30px;">Deplore the former Secretary of State? The most popular woman in the world for years? The woman who led all of the polls for President in 2015.. before the Russians, the uber-lefties started to pile on along with the misogynists and the alt-right? If people "deplore" her, it is in part due to the decades of propaganda and brainwashing that have been thrown against her... and then the Russians and the uber-lefties piling on. Collinson's been writing about the White House and American politics for a few years now; he should know that. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">But blaming Comey for the loss appears to absolve Clinton of her campaign's failure to effectively counter Trump's electorally appealing message in industrialized Midwestern states that went red instead of their usual blue.</span></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 30px;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Stop with the crap about the "industrialized Midwest"</span></i></b><br /><br /><span style="color: #262626;">Collinson, this is bullshit, and I personally am tired of it. She would have won if the election had been held 2-3 weeks earlier, "industrialized Midwest" or not. She was leading in all of those states 2-3-4 weeks earlier. The crap that she lost due to these poor, disaffected old white men is just that... crap. Why were these people going to vote for her 2-3 weeks earlier? She lost 3-4% in polling in the last three weeks before the election. </span><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">If you want to talk about "character and honesty", Collinson, let's talk about Trump... </span></i></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">But on the other hand, Comey's comments were related to the investigation into the private email server that Clinton set up as secretary of state, in apparent infringement of government guidelines. It was that issue and her handling of it throughout the campaign that helped revive questions about the character and honesty of the Clintons that had remained largely dormant since former President Bill Clinton left office in 2001.</span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 30px;"><span style="color: #262626;">Gimme a break, Collinson. Comey talked about the private email server and never bothered to mention the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling on behalf of the Trump people. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #262626;">And "character and honesty": What about the character and honesty of Trump? Did you bother to look at Politifact and their Truth-o-meter, Collinson? Hillary may have made "mistakes", but Trump was the least honest candidate in modern history. 68% of his statements have been rated as mostly false, false, or Pant-a-fire. And, as the weeks go on, we also have seen that he is the least prepared, least knowledgeable, most corrupt President to take the oath of office. <br /><br />And let's remember that a majority of the American people knew it. They did </span><b style="color: #262626;"><i>NOT</i></b><span style="color: #262626;"> vote for him. He did </span><b style="color: #262626;"><i>NOT</i></b><span style="color: #262626;"> win the popular vote, and that is still important as he tries to get some kind of "agenda" enacted.</span><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Impressing her critics?</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 30px;"><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Her performance did not impress some critics: </span></b></blockquote>
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So Collinson quotes that conservative chick S.E. Cupp. Well, duh, no, her performance will <b><i>NOT</i></b> impress conservatives, but then nothing any "liberal" or "Democrat" will do will impress conservatives.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 30px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">About 2020?</span></i></b></div>
</span>
<div style="line-height: 30px; text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Yet its familiar faces -- Barack Obama, Sanders and now Clinton -- who appear to be attracting the most attention so far -- underlining its weak bench of up-and-comers ready for the big time."</span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #262626; line-height: 30px;">Weak bench? Was Bill Clinton on that "weak bench" in 1989? Was Barack Obama on the "weak bench" in 2005? And look at who the "weak bench" is up against: Trump, the most idiotic, the most unpopular President in a long, long time. So let's just wait and see. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-size: large; line-height: 30px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
And Collinson, maybe it is time for you to pack your bags and go back to Britain. </div>
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Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-59933455856262682282017-04-29T16:19:00.002-05:002017-04-29T16:19:59.401-05:00100 Days of Trump<h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thoughts on 100 Days of Trump... Inspired by a friend:<br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0lFD5sY757pSDWIZpOl0_LDP2IS1lL6HWPGJuARyeJl37jw6vQVvfwKxCXMPA9XOvI2-sYUl34DlCPsEU0eed149Ne_5hM4Q7GLNMIVBo73O2hHfdnn_ssaLmQnh-lgM9-qMuGWGyjU/s1600/Grifter+via+Joanne+Hicks+Scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0lFD5sY757pSDWIZpOl0_LDP2IS1lL6HWPGJuARyeJl37jw6vQVvfwKxCXMPA9XOvI2-sYUl34DlCPsEU0eed149Ne_5hM4Q7GLNMIVBo73O2hHfdnn_ssaLmQnh-lgM9-qMuGWGyjU/s640/Grifter+via+Joanne+Hicks+Scott.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>More thoughts on <a href="http://bothpartiesarenotthesame.blogspot.com/2017/04/trumps-first-100-days.html" target="_blank">100 days of Trump HERE.</a></i></b></span>Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-57825068989479534932017-04-29T09:04:00.001-05:002017-04-29T09:04:29.792-05:00Trump's First 100 Days--<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Yes, this is Trump's Day 100, and we aren't in a war yet and the economy hasn't collapsed. But don't bet your last dollar on what might happen in the next 100 days.<br /><br /></i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQGJdBgLUsMdjyBDfl19afqKgunymrdvSzeC5fVYmAG6nm1GoxQICjwaRZDmXLNDq59bCvEK-ctyBusEIGhZLV2kVmcnNbzt27qvq2biTPavAX8IhYAUmGdIwhzLlq7uF0o16H7iz0ts/s1600/Swear+words+on+Facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQGJdBgLUsMdjyBDfl19afqKgunymrdvSzeC5fVYmAG6nm1GoxQICjwaRZDmXLNDq59bCvEK-ctyBusEIGhZLV2kVmcnNbzt27qvq2biTPavAX8IhYAUmGdIwhzLlq7uF0o16H7iz0ts/s640/Swear+words+on+Facebook.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-50972229223969297582017-03-31T16:12:00.000-05:002017-04-02T18:53:48.810-05:00Democratic Senators Need to Filibuster and Vote NO on Gorsuch! (Updated Sunday, April 2)<h3>
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<b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"><i>It's one week before the Senate votes for or against a new life long Supreme Court Justice. Do you know where your Senator is? (Updated Sunday, April 2nd) </i></b></h3>
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<b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><br />Neil Gorsuch is too conservative, too right-wing to be confirmed to a lifelong appointment to the Supreme Court.</i></b></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Even though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Republicans have threatened to change the rules and require only a majority to confirm Gorsuch (the so-called "nuclear" option) if the Democrats filibuster Gorsuch, the Democrats must stick to the filibuster and not let themselves be subject to Republican extortion. (This article is not about why I believe that Gorsuch is not the right man for the Supreme Court; it is about the logistics needed to keep him from attaining that seat as a </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">lifelong</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> associate justice.)</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Action items are listed at the bottom of this article.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Sixty votes in the Senate are needed to break the filibuster.<br /></i></b> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>As of Sunday afternoon, the Democrats need 5 more Senators to commit to the filibuster. </b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">T</span><br />The Republicans have a firm 52 votes for Gorsuch: therefore, they need 8 of the 48 Democratic/Independent Senators to vote with them for cloture (to end the filibuster).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Democrats voting for Gorsuch? Why?</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, why would any self-respecting Democratic Senator vote for the conservative right-wing Gorsuch? Unfortunately, some Democratic Senators from some very red Republican states fear for their jobs and a few of them are up for reelection in 2018. They may be hearing from their constituents in those very red states and they may believe they need to vote for cloture.. which is the same as voting <b><i>FOR</i></b> Gorsuch. So far three Senators from very red states... Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana .. have announced they will break with the Democrats/Independents and vote for Gorsuch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">The Color-Coded List:</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Based on <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/27/politics/neil-gorsuch-whip-list/index.html" target="_blank"><i><b>this article at CNN</b></i></a>, here's the color-coded list of the 48 Democrats/Independents and their status on the filibuster and nomination of Gorsuch. The list is alphabetical in order by state. The color key is based on information that was last updated by <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/27/politics/neil-gorsuch-whip-list/index.html" target="_blank"><b><i>CNN on Sunday afternoon, April 2nd.</i></b></a> CNN plans on updating this list as information becomes available, and we will do our best to keep this color-coded list up to date.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Key</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><i>Bright Blue:</i></b></span> A solid "no" on both cloture and the Gorsuch nomination itself.</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Purple/Pink:</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></i></b> Unclear as to whether or not the Senator will vote no on both cloture and the Gorsuch nomination. (See the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/27/politics/neil-gorsuch-whip-list/index.html" target="_blank"><i><b>CNN article</b></i></a> for specifics about each Senator.) </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red;">Red: </span></i></b> Senator has announced that he/she WILL vote for cloture and vote for Gorsuch.</div>
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<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">California: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Kamala Harris</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Dianne Feinstein</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Colorado: <b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Michael Bennet</span></i></b></span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Connecticut: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Chris Murphy</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><i>Richard Blumenthal</i></b></span></div>
</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Delaware: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Tom Carper</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Chris Coons</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Florida: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Bill Nelson</span></i></b></span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hawaii: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Mazie Hirono</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Brian Schatz </span></i></b> </div>
</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Illinois: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Dick Durbin</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Tammy Duckworth</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Indiana: <b><i><span style="color: red;">Joe Donnelly</span></i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maine: <b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Angus King</span></i></b> (Independent)</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maryland: <span style="color: magenta;"><b><i>Ben Cardin</i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Chris Van Hollen</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Massachusetts: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Elizabeth Warren</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Ed Markey</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Gary Peters</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Debbie Stabenow </span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Minnesota: <b><i><span style="color: blue;"> Al Franken</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;"> Tammy Klobuchar</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Missouri: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Claire McCaskill</span></i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Montana: <b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Jon Tester</span></i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nevada: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Catherine Cortez Masto</span></i></b></span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New Hampshire: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Jeanne Shaheen</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Maggie Hassan</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New Jersey: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Corey Booker</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Bob Menendez </span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New Mexico: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Martin Heinrich</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Tom Udall</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New York: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Chuck Shumer</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Kirsten Gillibrand</span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">North Dakota: <b><i><span style="color: red;">Heidi Heitkamp</span></i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ohio: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Sherrod Brown</span></i></b></span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oregon: <b><i><span style="color: blue;"> Jeff Merkley</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;"> Ron Wyden </span></i></b></div>
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pennsylvania: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Bob Casey Jr.</span></i></b></span></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rhode Island: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Sheldon Whitehouse</span></i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Jack Reed</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vermont: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Bernie Sanders </span></i></b>(Independent)</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: magenta;"> Pat Leahy </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Virginia: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Tim Kaine</span></i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Mark Warner</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Washington: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Patty Murray</span></i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Maria Cantwell</span></i></b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">West Virginia: <b><i><span style="color: red;">Joe Manchin</span></i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wisconsin: <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Tammy Baldwin </span></i></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="color: #0b5394; font-style: italic;">Action Items</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />If your Senator is <b><i><span style="color: blue;">bright blue</span></i></b> in the list above, <b><i>thank them</i></b>. Our Democratic Senators (and Representatives) look pretty tired to me lately. They need a thank you either via email, phone, or on their Facebook page. Especially thank <b><i>Tammy Baldwin</i></b> of Wisconsin, <b><i>Debbie Stabenow</i></b> of Michigan, and <b><i>Bob Casey</i></b> of Pennsylvania. Apparently these three Senators, all up for reelection in 2018, were targeted by the Republicans to vote against the filibuster as they represent states that (narrowly) voted for Donald Trump in November. But those three held firm! We should <b><i>ALL</i></b> thank them, no matter what state we are from.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If your Senator is <span style="color: magenta;"><b><i>purple/pink</i></b> </span>in the list above, you may want to link over to the <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/27/politics/neil-gorsuch-whip-list/index.html" target="_blank">CNN article</a> </i>to see exactly what comment he or she made about the Gorsuch nomination. Then you may wish to contact them via email or phone and ask for a <b><i>clear comment about a clear vote</i></b> in <b><i>favor</i></b> of the filibuster and <b><i>against </i></b>Gorsuch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If your Senator is <b><i><span style="color: red;">red</span></i></b> in the list above (or if you have Republican Senators), it is unclear that you should do anything other than work to turn your state more blue! However, I really do believe that writing or calling your Senator about your opposition to Gorsuch <b><i>IS </i></b>important, even in a red state like West Virginia or North Dakota.</span></div>
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<br />Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-36482249077669083642017-03-24T17:24:00.000-05:002017-03-24T17:24:15.590-05:00Paul Ryan: "A Disappointing Day" Because They Couldn't Throw 26 Million off of Health Insurance?<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ryan then tried to sound happy because they came SO CLOSE to getting rid of health insurance (and thus health care) for tens of millions of people?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGmecrMDwCZGxsZmiSxWHmKdOqr6Bo0LPCEOD4aWnOM859yv2c-LP_iv5dsKIB-Q5fIgWcU5kVH1fxjx_LZMwX9kkn5FY2RLRAiu79P45DSvETp4rbH4W2xGq5ni4wVX2LmfrQR2ou4U/s1600/TrumpCare+Paul+Ryan+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGmecrMDwCZGxsZmiSxWHmKdOqr6Bo0LPCEOD4aWnOM859yv2c-LP_iv5dsKIB-Q5fIgWcU5kVH1fxjx_LZMwX9kkn5FY2RLRAiu79P45DSvETp4rbH4W2xGq5ni4wVX2LmfrQR2ou4U/s640/TrumpCare+Paul+Ryan+quote.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Let's keep fighting, people! These Republicans are scum and they have to go!<br /></span></div>
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</span></span></span>Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-35893701672549754922017-03-13T16:36:00.000-05:002017-03-13T17:34:01.100-05:00TrumpCare Equals NoCare for 24 Million Americans?!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The long-awaited report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office on the impact of the Republican TrumpCare bill was released this afternoon, Monday, March 13th, just about an hour ago. </span></i></b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over a decade, 24 million people will lose health insurance, and therefore, access to health care. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp9Abb79U7py9M-_dn-T4Z1et9DWXbaA5aIVeShA7R6C47Yk5JW_rCfRfNgYOkxmbhlcNji7LyiXGm5w3lz8bm8b_PBesyLlG7qIiEIa1XobTmqUa5O_0b7FzVwLAoddz3FtueNQco8g/s1600/GOP+plan+for+health+insurance+updated+for+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp9Abb79U7py9M-_dn-T4Z1et9DWXbaA5aIVeShA7R6C47Yk5JW_rCfRfNgYOkxmbhlcNji7LyiXGm5w3lz8bm8b_PBesyLlG7qIiEIa1XobTmqUa5O_0b7FzVwLAoddz3FtueNQco8g/s640/GOP+plan+for+health+insurance+updated+for+2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>I saved this cartoon from 2009... I just updated it based on CBO scoring.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">T</span><br />The long-awaited report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office on the impact of the Republican TrumpCare bill was released this afternoon, Monday, March 13th, just about an hour ago. The CBO estimates that, over a decade 24 million people will lose health insurance, and therefore, access to health care. Let's see how Trump, Fox, and Republicans as a whole spin this report. <br /><br />From an <a href="http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/323652-cbo-millions-would-lose-coverage-under-gop-healthcare-plan" target="_blank"><b><i>article at the Hill:</i></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Congressional Budget Office on Monday projected that the number of uninsured people would grow by 14 million in 2018 under the Republican ObamaCare replacement bill, with that number rising to 24 million a decade.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The long-awaited analysis from the nonpartisan congressional scorekeeper is likely to shake up the debate in Congress over the measure, which could come up for a vote in the House next week.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The estimate of the drop in coverage is larger than even many analysts had predicted.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>The link to the full report can be found below, in this article from The Hill:<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/323652-cbo-millions-would-lose-coverage-under-gop-healthcare-plan" target="_blank"><i>The CBO estimates that 24 million people will lose medical insurance coverage under TrumpCare. Details at this story from The Hill.</i></a></span></div>
Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-54400233778020827442017-03-12T16:28:00.002-05:002017-03-12T16:28:50.122-05:00Republican Thinking: The Poor are "Lazy Turds"!<h3>
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<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"Republican Thinking" is often so wrong.. and often terribly sad as well, especially when the poor among us are dismissed as "Lazy Turds". "Republican Thinking" impacts millions of people in this country and is one of the reasons why we have Trump in the White House and Republicans in Congress... and one of the reasons why we are falling behind so many other developed countries.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As an example, take the following quote, posted in a comment by "Steve" to </span><a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/is-it-better-to-be-poor-in-bangladesh-or-the-mississippi-delta/ar-AAo1Tj6?li=BBnbcA1" target="_blank"><i>an article about issues of poverty and economics:</i></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKUtUOOrQAS8LGepPFIUAeN4V6d6rJ7_pTKxV4KHfM4px8ibYYKI_akY4Wduq2yDbOREFjczHXVFSUmhgoi9HRSwcthq5Kp-lTgJY7reJh99J40iw4yRL2qKn4aMwTGtqLNYJ9YsYREM/s1600/Republican+thinking+the+poor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKUtUOOrQAS8LGepPFIUAeN4V6d6rJ7_pTKxV4KHfM4px8ibYYKI_akY4Wduq2yDbOREFjczHXVFSUmhgoi9HRSwcthq5Kp-lTgJY7reJh99J40iw4yRL2qKn4aMwTGtqLNYJ9YsYREM/s640/Republican+thinking+the+poor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me repeat the essence of this quote:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The truth is that, in the U.S., if you are unhappy being poor you can simply get a job and problem over. Able bodied person (sic) in the U.S. do not have to be poor. <i>It's a choice.</i></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i> </i></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Plenty of jobs here in the U.S. if the <i>lazy turds would go to work. </i></span></span></blockquote>
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<i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Lazy Turds"</span></i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">I've heard this over and over, that anybody can get out of poverty.. but most people don't go as far as to call the poor, mostly children, older people, people who are disabled, and people working minimum wage jobs "lazy turds". </span><br /><i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />I don't know whether or not it is worth arguing with people who think this way. Being poor is a choice? </span></i></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Is being born into a poor family a choice?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Is having some kind of disability a choice?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Is having a child or a spouse who gets injured or sick and becomes disabled a choice?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Can people always move for a better job? Is that really a choice for many people?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Is losing your job and being too old to get another decent job a choice?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Is merely </span><i>GETTING</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> old a choice? Is that anything we can do something about?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What about having an accident, an injury, an illness and not having family members or friends who are able to help: Is that a choice?</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">At what age does getting a degree or an advanced degree no longer make any difference in terms of getting a better job? </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><i>Job hunting may be better now than it was 6 or 8 years ago, but many people are still struggling. </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">People who were older, in their 50's or 60's when the recession hit, may still be struggling; they may not have been able to get a job anywhere close to the level or the pay of the job they had before the recession.<br /><br />I have a acquaintance, now in her mid 50's, who lost her job in the recession, who has still only had a procession of temporary jobs, who lost her car in an accident and was not able to get another one, who lost her husband to cancer a few years ago, who has had to move several times because she could not pay the rent. She would like to move to a different area of the country, but it's not as easy as "Steve" seems to think it is. She doesn't even have the money for that kind of move right now. And she's bright and articulate. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Poor people, people who really can't get a decent job for any of a dozen reasons, may not be "lazy turds"; they may actually work much harder than people with cushy 6 figure desk jobs. I know that's hard for people who indulge in "Republican thinking" to even consider. I've known people who sold stuff on eBay, collected cans, did odd jobs for pay, drove people around for uber, wrote for blogs, tried dozens of work-at-home schemes, got certificates or degrees... And they still were making no more than minimum wage and/or couldn't find a "regular" job that kept them above the poverty level.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/03/angus-deaton-qa/518880/" target="_blank"><i>The article linked to above</i></a><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> was originally published at the Atlantic and written by Annie Lowrey. It's based on an interview with Nobel Laureate Angus Deaton. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br />From the article:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.0001px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">...in a speech at a conference held by the National Association for Business Economics, Deaton, the Nobel laureate and emeritus Princeton economist, pointed out that inequality among countries is decreasing, while inequality within countries is increasing. China and India are making dramatic economic improvements, while parts of sub-Saharan Africa are seeing much more modest gains. In developed countries, the rich have gotten much richer while the middle class has shriveled.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">The final question of this article is actually the title: </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Is it better to be poor in Bangladesh or the Mississippi Delta?<br /><br />Good question... What do you think? </span></i></span><br />
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Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5787456163408264808.post-71310654106231750422017-03-05T22:49:00.000-06:002017-03-06T07:18:13.142-06:00Trump's Seventh Weekend<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Donald Trump has now been President of the United States for six weeks, and we are in the seventh weekend with Trump as President. Most people reading this consider these past six weeks a scary disaster.</b></i></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>United States of America: The upside down flag signals distress.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So much has happened, most of it not very good, during these past 7 weeks. We've seen huge protests all over the country; we've seen Democrats in Congress staging all-night filibusters; we've seen people who are here without documentation (often people who have been here for decades) pulled away from their families, sometimes in front of those families, we've seen incredible messes at airports as the DHS tried to enforce Trump's "Muslim ban"; we've seen and heard Trump apologists, people both inside and outside the administration, say that Trump and his agenda is "good".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've heard of or seen proposals to make defense contractors even richer while we "rebuild" the military. We've heard of or seen proposals to take money out of the State Department, to get rid of ObamaCare (and pull health care from tens of millions of people); we've heard of or seen of proposals to cut food stamps, Social Security, Medicare, you name it; anything that helps people (vs. anything that gives more and more money to the richest among us) should be cut according to the epistle of Trump and the Republcians.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Jobs? But he's going to bring back jobs! </span></i></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jobs? Coal? Infrastructure? Any of us who have followed these issues over the last few years know that these issues are not easy to resolve and the idea that Trump will wave a magic wand and suddenly we will have tens of thousands of coal mining and road building jobs is just plain malarkey. I would like to think that many of the Trump supporters were well-meaning people who believed in the propaganda of the Trump "miracle" of jobs (despite the 15 million jobs added under Obama) and they weren't just stone-cold racists. In case you don't know, Trump is inheriting one of the strongest economics of any incoming president in modern times. <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Russians!</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the Russians... We <b><i>KNOW</i></b> the Russians were meddling in the 2016 elections; we don't know what the role (if any) Trump et al played in the meddling as we don't have any smoking guns yet. But we have plenty of blame, consternation, and confusion to go around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday and today, we've heard allegations from the Trump administration that Obama wire "tapped" Trump during the campaign! Now Trump wants to investigate Obama! What's that about? <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Best Defense is a Strong Offense.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now the best defense is a strong offense, and that is what Trump is doing here... He is pulling the focus away from him and his band of Russian-influenced flunkies and he is trying to put the focus back on Obama and the Democrats. Unfortunately we have many stupid people in this country that will believe him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>So what happens to all of us now? </i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">How do we make any sense out of this absolute and terrifying chaos? </span></i></b></span></span></span></div>
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First of all, if you are as disturbed about the Trump/Republican administration as I am, don't assume that you represent an overwhelming majority of the people of this country. The threat is real, and it isn't just coming from Trump; <b><i>it's coming from people who actually believe the guy and voted for him.</i></b> As we look on in horror, we have to remember that somewhere between 38 and 44% of the voters of this country <b><i>STILL</i></b> approve of the guy! I find that number more disturbing than anything that Trump is doing. (We ignore or dismiss polls at our own peril.)</div>
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Secondly, we have to remember that people vote with their pocketbooks. Right now the stock market is on a tear and jobs numbers keep increasing. (Thanks Obama!) If these trends continue under Trump, the Republicans may well hold on to Congress in 2018, no matter what horrors the right manages to inflict on our liberties, our Constituion, our voting rights, our democratic institutions. (Most of the economic "improvement" under Republicans, however, will probably be a bubble, as we really have an economy that Trickles UP vs. Trickles down. More about that later.) But we still have to be aware of this.. Many people value jobs and money in their pockets more than they value freedom of speech or voting rights.. especially freedoms and rights of "others". </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">So how do we fight back?</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i>1. Keep informed.</i></b> Watch/read at more liberal sites/stations, but also give a cursory look to see what the righties are talking about. Don't allow yourself to be blind-sided by people spouting Republican or Trump talking points. Watch for "fake news" from the right or the left --meaning don't get taken in by headlines or clickbait sites. And if a headline is too good to be true (something like "Republicans turning on Trump. Impeachment hearings to begin soon."), it probably is <b><i>not</i></b> true. </div>
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<b><i>2. Indivisible. </i></b> There are many, many movements and meetings out there. Join one. Find and like a Facebook page for one or more. Petitioning and letter-writing and calling are great and important, but showing up in person for a march or at a CongressCritter's office really makes an impression.</div>
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<b><i><br />3. Choose one or two issues that are most important to you. </i></b> If you spread yourself too thin, you may find yourself depressed, overwhelmed, and unable to do anything.</div>
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<b><i>4. Keep a dialogue. </i></b> Posting and sharing memes that show Donald Trump as Hitler or Trump at his ugliest may make you feel good (and therefore some of that might be necessary), but they don't help in rebuilding this country .. and that's what we need to do: We need to rebuild this country from the ground up, neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend, family member to family member. Some people may be too far gone, but many are not. Trump did not win with a majority, and the Republicans as a whole are not a majority party in terms of the people of this country. </div>
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<b><i>5. Be strong in your convictions and your beliefs.</i></b> No, shipping out millions of undocumented immigrants is NOT good for the country; it's horrific to see parents being pulled away from their children.... Keeping people out of the country just because they are refugees, students, visitors, or immigrants from certain Muslim-majority countries is NOT good for the country. Be careful about getting into arguments with people who try to convince you of things such as "they are criminals; they shouldn't be here". It's much more complex than that and you may not be able to argue with someone who tries such oversimplification.</div>
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<b style="color: #1d2129;"><i>5. Take some time for yourself. </i></b><span style="color: #1d2129;">Preserving and protecting the ideals and the values of the United States of America in these troubled times is energy-sapping. There is so much against us. It's OK to take a few days off from politics, a few days off from even reading about politics. Especially as we greet Spring.</span><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">So far, this has been the most significant (and depressing) year that I can remember. Work hard, fight hard, keep the faith! We can win this, for ourselves, our families, the world! But it won't be easy!</span></i></b></div>
</span></span>Middle Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11441441493867436577noreply@blogger.com0