The Story of a Refugee Family

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:

Copied from a post in Politics: Flying Spaghetti Monster Edition. (I assume this is a Facebook page.):  This is the reality of these refugees! It sickens me to hear people claiming to be Christian 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. 

Thoughts on refugees
by Faz Ali, written September 8, 2015

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. 

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. 

One shot. That’s it. 

The White House is Using a Doctored Video of Acosta's Confrontation with Trump

Trump Kicks Out a Top White House Reporter

As most of you know, CNN reporter Jim Acosta (also one of Trump's strongest in-person critics) had his press credentials pulled after a confrontation with President Donald Trump at the White House press conference yesterday, Wednesday, November 7, 2018.

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 DOCTORED video that showed something that didn't happen.  

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.

And now Part II.. (after the photo):

Photo found at Politico HERE

I found the following on Twitter; it makes a good and very scary point: 

Republican Dogma in a Sentence: Movies, Booze, Women

American people, working people, people struggling to keep a roof over their head or to send their kids to school, are a tough bunch.

Workers, students waiting for a bus in January

A resilient bunch.  A ridiculously hard-working bunch.  No matter what Republicans try to tell you.  No matter how badly Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) tries to disparage them for spending too much money on "movies, booze, and women." (See the link.)

The Young...

My Favorite 2017 Election Memes:

Yes, the Democrats did very well last night, especially in Virginia and in New Jersey.  

Yes, people of color, LGBTQ people, women all did great yesterday.  

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 had written that Republicans needed to be running scared 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.)

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 Trump Watch Today and Molly Middle's America. (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.

And maybe I will treat myself to something chocolate-y later today!  Why not?

Stolen from a Facebook friend

Is there a Clinton Uranium One Scandal? Links and more links

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. 

So why are the Republicans starting this investigation now, just as Mueller is starting to get indictments?  My comment about this whole mess:

"Uranium One will be the big shiny object. It's confusing and complicated enough to fool people into thinking it is a big thing."

From Politifact updated a few days ago: What you need to know about Hillary Clinton, Russia, and uranium

From Forbes this week: Claims of Clinton-Russia Uranium Collusion Are A Real Empty Barrel

From Newsweek this week: The Hillary Clinton/ Russian Uranium One conspiracy theory doesn't make any sense.

From Snopes updated last week: Hillary Clinton Gave 20 Percent of United States' Uranium to Russia in Exchange for Clinton Foundation Donations?

Senator Dianne Feinstein Isn't Giving Up

Senator Dianne Feinstein sent Russia inquiries to White House, Facebook, Twitter, Politico reported earlier today.

Senator Dianne Feinstein found at Politico

Here's Feinstein's letter to Facebook (click to read)

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.

The Twitter Thread:

Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut welcomed her overture with this Twitter thread found HERE and reproduced below:

"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. 

The White House should turn over documents related to Trump/Comey interactions as well as docs related to Kushner contacts with foreign nationals.

We call on Facebook and Twitter to provide additional information on ads connected to Russian entities with Kremlin ties.

The American people deserve the truth about any collusion, obstruction of justice, and related wrongdoing that may have taken place - now."

How the GOP Will Manage "Synthetic Repeal" of ObamaCare, ACA

"Synthetic Repeal" of the ACA?  They will try anything.

A Tweet thread about the GOP plans for health care posted by Andy Slavitt* 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.

Who is Andy Slavitt?  Info and links at the bottom.

From Andy's Twitter feed

Andy writes: 

"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.

3:37 PM - Thursday 5 Oct 2017

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.