Trump Sucker Punches His Voters

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Trump Sucker Punches His Voters

D. S. Mitchell

It’s freaking Cold

It seems to have been a colder than usual winter. I’m not talking about climate change at the moment, more a comment on how a string of seventy days of freaking’ cold days, ran both my electric, and my gas bills to unimaginable heights. Natural gas prices are low, but my consumption went through the roof. I wore sweaters and sweats continuously and haven’t gone to bed in the buff, since last December. So, I’m out of bed, fireplace is going and the chill is slowly being driven off. I’m about to check out the morning political shows and plan on getting to Calamity News and Politics after I brew a cup of coffee.

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Another 25 Things to Smile About

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Another 25 Things To Smile About

D. S. Mitchell

Calamity Politics, my favorite political blog by the way, is getting off to a slow start this morning. I have been enveloped by a fog of ‘do nothingness’. Honest to God, some days I wake up ready to take on the world, and by 0800 I’ve convinced myself I need a day off, or at least a very long break.

It has been another bad week for Trump and his associates. Allegations, scandals, lies, and political calamities of all magnitude. There is so much crap flying I can’t write fast enough, or research deep enough, to address each of them to the degree they deserve.  So, here’s something for the weekend to remind us all that it is easier to smile than frown.

1.) Emeralds and diamonds
2.) Fresh donuts
3.) Saturday matinees
4.) Clean socks
5.) Puppies
6.) Kittens
7.) My birthday
8.) Dancing
9.) Fly fishing

10.) Sunny days
11.) BBQ’s
12.) The Beatles
13.) Yoga
14.) Baseball
15.) Lightening
16.) Teddy bears
17.) Portland, Oregon
18.) Mom’s Apple Cake
19.) Whale watching
20.) People watching
21.) Pool walking
22.) First in line
23.) Reclaim something old
24.) Shooting stars

25.) Funny T shirts

Join me tomorrow when I will return to the insanity of the United States government in the era of Donald J. Trump.

Join the Resistance

Dar

X-FILES AND TWILIGHT ZONE AT THE WHITE HOUSE

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X-Files, Twilight Zone At The White House

D. S. Mitchell

World Stage

I just watched Donald Trump and Angela Merkel at their joint press conference.  Merkel is  now the recognized leader of the West, according to the headlines.  While Trump, is now the recognized leader of weirdo, conspiracy theorists, and bizarro “de-construction” of the U.S. government schemes. Trump has turned the United States into a global joke. He cannot control himself.  The perennial gadfly took time to attack Obama. I saw it as an effort to elevate his phony charges of wire tapping by Obama to international levels. Trump accused UK counter intelligence of being the hands and feet of Obama’s alleged illegal tap.

Get More Sleep

Trump needs to get more sleep, and some psychiatric help.  He needs to stop watching re-runs of X-Files and Twilight Zone all night long.  If he got a decent nights sleep we might have less chaotic tweet nonsense at 6:00 am.  This is life and he needs to focus on the real, not the imagined. A conspiracy theory is the explanation of an event, or situation that suggests other motives and perpetrators, without warrant or evidence.  Generally, the event involves an illegal, or harmful act carried out by government, or other sinister men behind the curtain.  This thinking, dovetails beautifully, with Trump’s “deep state” accusations.

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ENDANGERED

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ENDANGERED

By D. S. Mitchell

“When the environment is destroyed, plundered or mismanaged, we undermine our quality of life and that of future generations. (Wangari Maathai/Nobel lecture)

It was 63.5 F in Antarctica on 3/1/2017.

Working For Lobbyists

The new director of the EPA was carefully chosen for this job.  He’s the former Oklahoma Attorney General that sued the EPA fourteen times. Scott Pruitt copied letters written by oil lobbyists on to Oklahoma State stationary and then sent that paperwork to the EPA as support data.  Pruitt is the guy that’s under court order to surrender thousands of emails from his time as Oklahoma AG. Another slow brewing scandal. Trump knows how to pick them.

21st Century Robber Barons

Not satisfied to remain a small state corrupt official, Pruitt wants to get to the big time. He thinks he will go far under Master Trump’s tutelage.  Pruitt and his fossil fuel cronies plan to eat the agency from within.  The Robber Barons of 19th century America have risen. These 21st century zombies are holding powerful positions in this corrupt, pay-to-play administration. Pruitt is an outspoken supporter of dirty energy, calling it “representative government.”

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10 Trump Tidbits

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10 Trump Tidbits

D. S. Mitchell

Real Life

Mick is painting a cabinet.  I’m reading Forbes magazine. The crows are chattering in the trees, and the frogs are chorusing in the pond. Lily is laying in front of the fireplace, and yes, it’s still raining.  Everything feels normal, in Surf Pines, Oregon. Although, I’m not writing a blog article at the moment, I am thinking about the one I wrote last night and am about to post, titled  “10 Trump Tidbits”.

Trump Tidbits :

1.) Trump’s new Muslim Travel Ban was blocked today by a 9th Circuit Court judge, in Hawaii.  Causing a breathless Tweet storm from the president Trump.  2.) A surprisingly brave Department of Justice declared, “There’s no evidence, that former President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower”.  3.)  Russian government hackers were charged by the DOJ with cyber attacks on 500,000,000 Yahoo account holders in a 2014 intrusion.  4.) The first two pages of Trump’s 2005 tax return was leaked to the press.  He made $203,000,000 that year placing him in a 25% tax bracket at the time.  5.)  The government estimates that 24-26 million U.S. citizens will lose health care under the proposed “repeal and replace” Republican plan.

And On It Goes:

6.) Trump continues to crisscross the country holding rallies. I wonder how much his ‘campaign’ rallies are costing all of us who didn’t vote for him?  7.) Breitbart furiously attacked the American Health Care Plan, calling on President Trump to scuttle Ryan’s proposed health care plan. Trump meanwhile is still trying to drum up support for the dying plan  8.) Rex Tillerson, the introverted U.S. Secretary of State, is traveling without the American press corp for the first time in modern times.  9.)  A belligerent North Korea shot another missile into the Sea of Japan. 10.)  The shamed former NSA Trump appointee, General Michael Flynn belatedly registered himself as “a foreign agent”.

Lily Time

So, now that we have had another glimpse into Trump World I am ready to get back to my world. Anyone owned by a dog, understands my life. Lily  just dropped her leash at my feet. She has never been subtle. She must have noticed a break in the rain. As my mother would say, “take the dog out”.

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Absurdity

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Absurdity

D. S. Mitchell

No, Not Today

It’s another rainy day at the beach. I know it sounds like a long season of re-runs. So I’ve got time to play a game. All I need to do, to get a break at Calamity Politics, is shut off the work switch. Silly, but I’m not in the mood to be serious today. I was going to write an in-depth, thought-provoking, political post on Kim Jung Un and the burgeoning North Korean threat. However, I’ve changed my mind.

Rules Of The Game

Here are the rules of today’s game. I will open a dictionary. From the two open pages, keeping the words in sequential order I will write a story. The story of course will center on a well-known politician and his family.  I challenge you to do it. It is harder than it sounds.

So, here we go. The dictionary I will be using is, Everyday America English Dictionary, Edited by Ricard A. Spears, et al.  NTC (National Textbook Company) 1987.  Pages 130-131.

Daddy Knows Best

Donald Trump dropped his  fountain pen on the desk, and asked, “What’s for dinner tonight?”

“Some form of fowl that Donald Jr, bagged when he was on safari in Texas,” Ivanka answered.

“You are a fox,” Big Daddy Trump gushed, leering suggestively.

“Stop it, Daddy.”

Do you know what fraction of the federal budget is being spent on Jr.’s security detail?  Some woman reporter asked me today, and I had no idea.  Do you know?”

“Oh, Daddy, don’t worry about such stuff.  Just stamp it TOP SECRET,  and if that ‘fake news’ lady asks again, you just tell her it’s, classified.”

“Of course, of course. You’re right, sweetie.  I have more power in my twitter finger than ANYONE else in the world!  Especially some ‘fake news’ reporter.”

“We should have that finger insured.  What if there’s a fracture?  It would be a disaster,” she said, bobbing her head in confirmation.

“Careful, Daddy, that bowl is very old and very fragile.  Michelle Obama called it historic. She said something about Dolley Madison.

“Historic?” Trump repeated, simultaneously tossing the object skyward and catching it with his left hand.

“Daddy, please, stop juggling it. Stop it.”

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Come On, Conway

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Come On, Conway

D. S. Mitchell

A Headache Coming On

I was flipping TV channels, as part of my job at Calamity Politics, looking for a tip, or a hot lead for today’s political blog post. Lo and behold. Here she comes, anorexic and demented. Kellyanne Conway, you are a real hard one to watch.  Talk about a dog chasing her tail.  Round and round, you go, never answering a question, always tagging back to the same tired, old worn rhetoric. Campaign rhetoric. Talk about political spin. You’re giving me a headache.

The Republicans, keep telling us Democrats to move on, “You lost.  Get out of our way, we have damage to do.”

But, no one apparently, has told Conway, or the White House.  The campaign is done, so let us start responding to questions about Now, Not your fabricated yesterdays. It is boring and unseemly to have you folks all using the same script, the same words, the same outrage, banging the same drum.

Please, go back into the White House, Alice, because I think you have a lunch date with the Mad Hatter.

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Jason Chaffetz, Get Real

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Jason Chaffetz, Get Real

D. S. Mitchell

You’ve Seen Him

I know you’ve seen this guy. He was especially loud and intimidating during the Benghazi, hearings. It seemed his primary goal was to try to embarrass and de-legitimize Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Jason Chaffetz said he would continue the Hillary Clinton Benghazi investigation “even if she wins the White House.” Really? How long did he plan on holding hearings, another 8 years? Sick and twisted ideology.

Seven

Calamity Politics is a progressive political blog. I want you to know that I believe most of the Representatives and the Senators are hard-working folks. There are a handful that are just plain objectionable. Those few that I find really irritating are Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Jim Jordan, and Jason Chaffetz. Not in any particular order. Amazing, they are all Republicans. And quite honestly, I think the American political landscape would improve greatly if this seven guy team would find jobs outside the government. I know I would not mind clearing all seven of them off of the U.S. political news scene.

Lacks Understanding

Jason Chaffetz, Republican Congressman from Utah was making the political morning shows on 3/7/2017 when he showed, not only his lack of understanding of ‘living poor,’ but any basic human compassion.

Trump Care Plan

At first perusal, the new Trump Care Plan will give huge tax cuts to the richest Americans, while delivering a brutal blow to health care for lower-income Americans.  The Republicans are rushing this terrible bill through Congress.  Besides helping the wealthy, it reduces access for low-income and rural Americans to health care. It weakens Medicare, and guts Medicaid.  Furthermore, this bill is a direct attack on women’s access to reproductive health. The bill would de-fund Planned Parenthood, where over 50% of low-income women in the United States receive health care.

Feeling The Hate

Chaffetz told the CNN viewing audience that, “Americans have choices, and they’ve got to make a choice.  So, rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care.” Wow! Utah’s Congressman seems to have no understanding of the cost of health care insurance and the equipment people need to get by in a modern society. Studies show that cell phones are the primary means of internet access for many lower-income citizens.  In a 2015 Pew study, at least 13% of Americans rely on their phone to connect to wi-fi.  Furthermore, the cell phone is a necessity for finding a job, and maintaining one.

Significant Expenses

According to Obama administration reports, only 77% of people currently enrolled in the ACA will be able to find a plan for less than $100 per month this year.  Nearly 30% of cell phone users have had financial issues significant enough that their phone service was either suspended or cancelled. On Fox, Chaffetz, rephrased his CNN remarks. “Maybe I didn’t say it as smoothly as I could, but people need to make a conscious choice and I believe in self-reliance.  And they’re going to have to make those decisions.”

Healthy And Wealthy

I get so mad when I hear mostly wealthy, healthy able-bodied men say such bull shit.  Your life changes with chronic illness, disease or disability. Life changes when you are paralyzed and can’t get out of bed without help, your life changes when you lose your job, your life changes when your mother is diagnosed with dementia, your life changes when you have a special needs child, your life changes when you are diagnosed with cancer.  Sadly, not everyone is young, able-bodied or wealthy.

A Slap To The Head Might Help

Would somebody please slap these people upside their heads.  This country has had the largest transfer of wealth in human history since the 1980’s.  Four hundred families control 90% of this country’s wealth. And inexplicably the Congress and the White House are falling all over themselves to give the wealthy an even bigger share of the pie. It seems the lawmakers can’t wait to cut up the 10% of the remaining wealth among their big donors.

Conclusion

Some people should keep their mouths shut. Jason Chaffetz you have no compassion or understanding of the plight of the poor. Please retire, and let the people of Utah find a man with heart to fill your vacated position.

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Really Dumb Sport Quotes

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Really Dumb Sport Quotes

D. S. Mitchell

“Layed Back Tuesday”

It’s another play-day at Calamity Politics. No surprise, says the reader. I am officially declaring, ‘Layed Back Tuesday’. It’s great sometimes, being the boss, even if it’s only me, and Rocky. Rocky, my stalwart partner in crime is a blue and white Budgie. I have been trying to teach him to say, “Hello, Mama,” but to no avail.  Thinking about political theory, political science, political reality, political bullshit, is about as frustrating as trying to teach the bird to talk. So I have decided there will be no political discussion, today. There will be no analysis, there will be no relevant comment, other than what a few athletes have had to say over the years about some weird shit. So, here goes. . .

Just for laughs.

Mike Tyson:  Responding to a question about his retirement plans:  “Fade into Bolivian, I guess.”

Joe Theismann: “The term genius is inapplicable to anyone in this game.  A genius is Norman Einstein.”

Pedro Guerrero:  About his relationship with the press, “Sometimes they write what I say, not what I mean.”

Chuck Nevitt:  On why he appeared nervous:  “My sister is having a baby, and I don’t know if I’m going to be an aunt or an uncle.”

Yogi Berra:  “It gets late early out here.”

George Foreman:  “There’s more to boxing than hitting.  There’s not getting hit, for instance.”

George Roberts:  “I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.”

Tug McGraw:  “Always root for the winner.  That way you won’t be disappointed.”

Don King:  He (Chavez) speaks English, Spanish, and he’s bilingual.”

Dizzy Dean:  The doctor X-rayed my head and found nothing.

Bill Cowher:  On whether the Steelers bent NFL regulations: “We’re not attempting to circumcise the rules.”

David Thompson: “Ball handling and dribbling are my strongest weaknesses.”

Dizzy Dean: after a 1-0 game, “The game was closer than the score indicated.”

Michael Jordan: “I never lost a game, I just ran out of time.”

Thanks again,

Rod L. Evans, Ph.D. taken from his book, Tyrannosaurus Lex.

ASSAULT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

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Assault On The Environment

D. S. Mitchell

Iron Eyes Cody

The first time I can remember, actually thinking about pollution, I was watching a ‘Keep America Beautiful’ campaign, in which Iron Eyes Cody, had a bag of garbage thrown from a car, land at his feet. Iron Eyes, in full American Indian regalia, looks into the camera, and I watched as a tear rolled down his cheek. That was probably 1968 or 1970. Very powerful.

A Drawer Of Bags

The Iron Eyes Cody series of commercials made a big impact on me, and I made sure I never threw garbage out the window of my car, again. I also, discovered recycling, something my Mother had done for years. My Mom lived thru two World Wars, and a near country collapsing economic Great Depression. She had a drawer for the perfectly folded paper bags. There was a another drawer where she stored a ball of rubber bands, a giant ball of string, and sheets of aluminum foil layed flat. She had learned to recycle out of necessity, rather than as an environmentally beneficial behavior. Although her purpose was different from mine, the results of her actions were good. The thought of garbage on the roadside, toxic waste in rivers, polluted air, brings a tear to my eye.

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