Former Secretary of Homeland Security summed up this week's conversation topics best, "leaders have to lead." Whether it be on Russian interference in the 2016 election, the rise of white nationalism and its violent inclinations or climate change, the president walls himself off with regard to all three.
As Chuck Todd stated, part of the purview of the Mueller investigation is to find out the extent to which Russia interfered in U.S. elections, but the president doesn't seem concerned about this attack on our democracy for the fact that those attacks worked to his advantage in the form of his winning of the presidency. On the question of whether the president's campaign colluded with the Russian government and the countless questions it has raised, you can allow yourself to be a political cynic such as Lonhee Chen, however the aspect that is beyond dispute is the unprecedented number of contacts individuals linked to the Trump campaign had with Russian officials, and the subsequent attempts to cover up those contacts (i.e. lying about them). And as Solomon Wisenberg posited, that's the real mystery - why so many people lied.
Last week there were reports that Robert Mueller would file a report in the coming days, which seemed surprising given the recent indictment of Trump confidant and political operative Roger Stone and the apparent unresolved issues of campaign individuals who may have lied to Congress still outstanding. Turns out that Mr. Mueller is not issuing his report this week, which makes sense. So far there have been 34 indictments and 6 guilty pleas due to the investigation so as former Solicitor General Neal Katyal stated, if this is a witch hunt, Mr. Mueller has found a coven. Mr. Wisenberg also said that there will probably be more indictments returned, but no revealed, but even if the individuals' names are not revealed, the indictments themselves will become public.
In the meantime, the White House is sweating it out, waiting for the other shoe to drop and certainly preparing for the worst, as they should be. When asked this week about the coming Mueller report the president seemed unusually reserved in his answer because he realizes two things. One, Mr. Wisenberg said that the president can not dictate what the attorney general is to do with the report and two, he can not fire another attorney general so quickly if the president's instructions are not followed. This leaves Mr. Trump to continue his floundering PR campaign that Mr. Mueller's investigation is illegitimate and Russian collusion is all a hoax.
Also, the story of the Coast Guard lieutenant who had professed white nationalist rhetoric, accumulated a cache of weapons and had a list of targets comprised of Democratic politicians and media personalities is, to say the least, disturbing. Mr. Johnson said that this form of extremism is relatively new as compared to racist and religious extremism though anti-Semitism is on the rise in the U.S. In light of the arrest of this individual, it's disappointing (understating it) that the President of the United States only responded to it when he was asked by a reporter, especially in Mr. Trump's case - a man who comments on everything via Twitter. On this, he went silent. That searing comment about Charlottesville always comes to mind in instances like this, "There were very fine people on both sides."
Lastly, despite Senator Diane Feinstein's less than stellar interaction with second-graders featured in a video that went viral, the debate on the left about climate change and action plan are stuck in neutral. Lonhee Chen said that there are many lanes of thought on the subject, meaning many different political agendas at work. The 'many lanes' that he is actually referring to consist of Republicans writ large denying climate change (the global catastrophe, as Heather McGhee phrased it), and a president who considers it a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, hence he continued promotion of the coal industry. It's one thing to dispute climate change, but the president has gone off to the purposely stupid.
If he doesn't like it or it doesn't comport with his views and prejudices that would jeopardize his winning of a news cycle, Mr. Trump wants a wall - physical or metaphorical - high enough so that he'll never have to peer over it.
Panel: Andrea Mitchell, NBC News; Heather McGhee, president of DEMOS; Alex Cardenas, Republican Strategist; Lonhee Chen, Republican Strategist
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Sunday, February 17, 2019
2.17.19: A Political Emergency for Conservatives
Before we get to the conversation about the wall and the president's declaration of a national emergency, let's briefly tackle what's going on with the Democrats and specifically the Amazon deal with New York City. Part of what Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) said was true that Amazon executives made an arbitrary decision to pull out of their plans to build in Long Island City, and it is not acceptable that corporations can push around and dictate terms to municipalities like they do. However, it's also accurate to say that some New York City politicians created a difficult political atmosphere that Amazon didn't want to contend with.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal proposal, as this column has stated, is a good idea in its aspiration, however it is not ready for prime time to become a bill. The greenest part of this 'New Deal' is the congressperson who introduced it and her advocating for and celebrating Amazon's pull-out is misguided. Not to mention what Politico's Eliana Johnson explained inasmuch as a majority of Ms. Ocasio Cortez's constituents wanted Amazon in Long Island City in Queens. The National Review's Jonah Goldberg was absolutely correct when he said that Ms. Ocasio Cortez didn't do her homework. And if the figures that Mr. de Blasio outlined are correct and that $27 billion in revenue would have been brought to the city and state along with 27,000 jobs for $3 billion in tax incentives once the revenue and jobs are there then that's a deal you take. That $3 billion is NOT residing else where; it only exists with the revenue that the Amazon deal would have brought. The only point that New York City should have insisted on was that Amazon contribute to the renovation of the subway through Queens. But now none of it is happening and it's a loss for New York and it's created conflict among Democrats.
That aside, the conflict within the Democratic party is largely created by the media nitpicking the differences of candidates' positions and proposals very early in the election cycle. For perspective, DNC Chair Tom Perez framed it more reasonably that despite these differences, all the candidates believe in a set of core principles such as climate change being real, Americans should have more affordable healthcare and more access to it, and that capitalism should work better for the vast majorities of the people.
The other commonality among Democrats is their desire to stop a president that is becoming increasingly autocratic. This is their political emergency but it's also a political emergency for conservatives. The question is will they rise to the challenge or will they fold abdicating their Constitutional power and obligations? If the rest of the Republican caucus follows Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-KY) then they've already bent over and we've received our answer.
By his own admission, President Trump's declaration of a national emergency is not in fact an emergency as he stated on Friday in the White House Rose Garden that he didn't have to do it.
When questioned by Mr. Todd, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) said that the president does have the Constitutional authority to declare a national emergency but that he also has concerns about this type of extension of presidential power. In other words, Senator Johnson doesn't agree with the action taken by the president, but he's also unwilling to stand up to him. He also said that Congress needs to assert its Constitutional power but in fact Republicans have been abdicating it since Mr. Trump took office. Mr. Todd explained that since the emergency declaration act came to be in 1976 no president has used it in the fashion where Congress has reached a funding compromise and then the president circumvents it, taking control of funds through the National Emergency Declaration Act, to satisfy a political goal.
And that is what this is, a politically manufactured crisis on the part of President Trump, who is not a conservative, certainly when it comes to limited governmental power, deficits and Constitutional norms and laws. This declaration will go through the courts but to answer Eliana Johnson's question as to whether the courts will become involved in the question of what is and what is not an emergency, the answer is 'no, they will not.' And as Amy Walter explained, this declaration is all about the 2020 election and Mr. Trump maintaining his base. He's certainly not trying to expand it.
What was extraordinary was that you saw the most liberal member of the panel (Eddie Glaude, Jr.) and the most conservative member (Jonah Goldberg) using similar terminology to describe the president's action. Mr. Glaude said that this was the imperial presidency run amok and Mr. Goldberg described the action as monarchical. Mr. Goldberg also said that this end around Congress was next level abuse of presidential power.
Mr. Glaude explained that this emergency declaration is built on a lie that there is a crisis on the southern border, which in terms of illegal crossings there is not. Government statistics indicate that illegal crossings are down 76% since 2000. In terms of a humanitarian crisis, there is one manufactured by the Administration with its separation of families zero-tolerance policy.
The emergency is one for Republicans in Congress, a test at a tipping point for our Constitutional democracy.
Panel: Amy Walter, the Cook Political Report; Eliana Johnson, Politico; Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton University; Jonah Goldberg, The National Review
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal proposal, as this column has stated, is a good idea in its aspiration, however it is not ready for prime time to become a bill. The greenest part of this 'New Deal' is the congressperson who introduced it and her advocating for and celebrating Amazon's pull-out is misguided. Not to mention what Politico's Eliana Johnson explained inasmuch as a majority of Ms. Ocasio Cortez's constituents wanted Amazon in Long Island City in Queens. The National Review's Jonah Goldberg was absolutely correct when he said that Ms. Ocasio Cortez didn't do her homework. And if the figures that Mr. de Blasio outlined are correct and that $27 billion in revenue would have been brought to the city and state along with 27,000 jobs for $3 billion in tax incentives once the revenue and jobs are there then that's a deal you take. That $3 billion is NOT residing else where; it only exists with the revenue that the Amazon deal would have brought. The only point that New York City should have insisted on was that Amazon contribute to the renovation of the subway through Queens. But now none of it is happening and it's a loss for New York and it's created conflict among Democrats.
That aside, the conflict within the Democratic party is largely created by the media nitpicking the differences of candidates' positions and proposals very early in the election cycle. For perspective, DNC Chair Tom Perez framed it more reasonably that despite these differences, all the candidates believe in a set of core principles such as climate change being real, Americans should have more affordable healthcare and more access to it, and that capitalism should work better for the vast majorities of the people.
The other commonality among Democrats is their desire to stop a president that is becoming increasingly autocratic. This is their political emergency but it's also a political emergency for conservatives. The question is will they rise to the challenge or will they fold abdicating their Constitutional power and obligations? If the rest of the Republican caucus follows Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-KY) then they've already bent over and we've received our answer.
By his own admission, President Trump's declaration of a national emergency is not in fact an emergency as he stated on Friday in the White House Rose Garden that he didn't have to do it.
When questioned by Mr. Todd, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) said that the president does have the Constitutional authority to declare a national emergency but that he also has concerns about this type of extension of presidential power. In other words, Senator Johnson doesn't agree with the action taken by the president, but he's also unwilling to stand up to him. He also said that Congress needs to assert its Constitutional power but in fact Republicans have been abdicating it since Mr. Trump took office. Mr. Todd explained that since the emergency declaration act came to be in 1976 no president has used it in the fashion where Congress has reached a funding compromise and then the president circumvents it, taking control of funds through the National Emergency Declaration Act, to satisfy a political goal.
And that is what this is, a politically manufactured crisis on the part of President Trump, who is not a conservative, certainly when it comes to limited governmental power, deficits and Constitutional norms and laws. This declaration will go through the courts but to answer Eliana Johnson's question as to whether the courts will become involved in the question of what is and what is not an emergency, the answer is 'no, they will not.' And as Amy Walter explained, this declaration is all about the 2020 election and Mr. Trump maintaining his base. He's certainly not trying to expand it.
What was extraordinary was that you saw the most liberal member of the panel (Eddie Glaude, Jr.) and the most conservative member (Jonah Goldberg) using similar terminology to describe the president's action. Mr. Glaude said that this was the imperial presidency run amok and Mr. Goldberg described the action as monarchical. Mr. Goldberg also said that this end around Congress was next level abuse of presidential power.
Mr. Glaude explained that this emergency declaration is built on a lie that there is a crisis on the southern border, which in terms of illegal crossings there is not. Government statistics indicate that illegal crossings are down 76% since 2000. In terms of a humanitarian crisis, there is one manufactured by the Administration with its separation of families zero-tolerance policy.
The emergency is one for Republicans in Congress, a test at a tipping point for our Constitutional democracy.
Panel: Amy Walter, the Cook Political Report; Eliana Johnson, Politico; Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton University; Jonah Goldberg, The National Review
Sunday, February 10, 2019
2.10.19: Fiscal Hypocrisy Has Made Progress Prohibitive
Much was made of the Democratic party divide on today's program about which the direction the party should go as more Democrats declare their candidacies for the presidency in 2020. However, Senator Michael Bennett (D-CO) put it in the proper perspective explaining that the country is as nearly divided as the parties are in Washington. Debates on the Democratic side regarding whether or to move more toward the left base versus the center is naturally politically predictable at this point in time. Two issues in particular set the conversation today: Democratic positions on healthcare and the environment respectively.
On the Democratic side, some are saying that we should have Medicare for all while others are saying that it's unrealistic while facing down the backdrop of Republican criticism that Medicare for all is a move toward socialism. (On the last point, don't believe the hype as the scare tactics of moving toward socialism in America are completely overblown. Plus, Americans happen to like the two biggest socialist programs we have - Medicare and Social Security.) With that said, we have to acknowledge particular truths that Senator Bennett outlined. One, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't cover all its citizens and that we pay the most for healthcare.
On the environment, the Green New Deal introduced by Congresspersons Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ed Markey (D-MA) is an aspirational proposal to address climate change as today's panel accurately described it, however which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called a 'green dream,' playing the pragmatic realist understanding that Republicans will never go for it.
In both cases there has to be the acknowledgement by both parties that one, everyone needs to be covered with healthcare and two, that climate change is real and needs to be seriously addressed. So far, only Democrats have come to embrace these realities. As much as Republicans hate the Affordable Care Act, they are still yet to offer a serious proposal that would be better. To Senator Bennett's credit (as he mentioned today), he has authored a bill with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that puts in place a public option (i.e. Medicare) for who ever wants it. It would be the first move in a gradual process of potentially providing Medicare for all. The problem for Republicans, and why they blocked it in the original ACA proposal, is their fear that it will in fact become the most popular option for healthcare.
Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas explained, the American system of democracy and legislating was designed to be slow. Extrapolating that out a bit, change is meant to be gradual and providing a public option is provides for a gradually directed process of getting more people covered.
As for the environment, the first step is getting Republican politicians to simply acknowledge that climate change is real. In 2019, it's inexplicable that Republican politicians writ large still deny the overwhelming science that climate change presents a clear and present danger. As NBC's Katy Tur mentioned, the eventual economic damage and loss of human life is becoming ever more prevalent and can no longer be ignored especially here in the United States where we're having to allocate more and more billions of dollars in emergency relief funds for areas of the country hit by catastrophic storms, floods and fires.
Speaking of emergency funds, according to the acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney the president is thinking of taking some of those funds as part of a declaration of a national emergency to build a border wall at the southern border, where there is no security crisis. Mr. Mulvaney said he was not optimistic about a border security deal given on his experience in Washington. More clearly, he's not pessimistic about a deal, just one that the president will be willing to sign into law, hence why another government shutdown is not being taken off the table. However, if Republicans and Democrats do strike a deal and the president doesn't sign it, the responsibility of another government shutdown will fall squarely on his shoulders and will further tank his approval ratings.
All this speaks to what Senator Bennett called the fiscal hypocrisy on the part of the Republicans, running up the biggest budget deficit in American history during the last Congress, completely controlled by the GOP. With the tax cuts passed by the Republican-controlled Congress, preparing for emergency contingencies including rebuilding infrastructure and providing affordable healthcare have become completely prohibitive.
Lastly, Congress Adam Schiff (D-CA) explained that the Intelligence Committee will expand its scope beyond Russian meddling in the 2016 election to include President Trump's potential financial ties to the Kremlin and to Saudi Arabia to find out whether or not the president is financially compromised in anyway which would hence put his personal financial interests ahead of his duties as president. Despite the president's protests, this type of oversight is to be expected and is necessary. Congressman Schiff explained that the committee needs to present the facts to the American people no matter which way they cut, and this should be the case.
Panel: Katy Tur, NBC News; Kimberly Atkins, WBUR in Boston; David Brody, Christian Broadcast Network; Markos Moulitsas, the Daily Kos
One more thing...
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) should have never claimed Native American status and though she has since apologized for this it was disingenuous of her to use a 1/64th heritage (or whatever ultra-slim margin it was) to claim minority status. This problem doesn't bode well for her chances to become the Democratic nominee for president in 2020, despite her populace economic message.
However as equally distasteful perhaps more so is the president's utterly callous reference to the 'Trail of Tears' in a tweet. It's pathetic that the President of the United States doesn't realize how offensive this is. Four thousand Cherokee Native Americans died from disease, cold and starvation by being forcibly relocated west while white Americans looted their homes because they weren't allowed to take any of their possessions with them.
On the Democratic side, some are saying that we should have Medicare for all while others are saying that it's unrealistic while facing down the backdrop of Republican criticism that Medicare for all is a move toward socialism. (On the last point, don't believe the hype as the scare tactics of moving toward socialism in America are completely overblown. Plus, Americans happen to like the two biggest socialist programs we have - Medicare and Social Security.) With that said, we have to acknowledge particular truths that Senator Bennett outlined. One, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't cover all its citizens and that we pay the most for healthcare.
On the environment, the Green New Deal introduced by Congresspersons Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ed Markey (D-MA) is an aspirational proposal to address climate change as today's panel accurately described it, however which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called a 'green dream,' playing the pragmatic realist understanding that Republicans will never go for it.
In both cases there has to be the acknowledgement by both parties that one, everyone needs to be covered with healthcare and two, that climate change is real and needs to be seriously addressed. So far, only Democrats have come to embrace these realities. As much as Republicans hate the Affordable Care Act, they are still yet to offer a serious proposal that would be better. To Senator Bennett's credit (as he mentioned today), he has authored a bill with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that puts in place a public option (i.e. Medicare) for who ever wants it. It would be the first move in a gradual process of potentially providing Medicare for all. The problem for Republicans, and why they blocked it in the original ACA proposal, is their fear that it will in fact become the most popular option for healthcare.
Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas explained, the American system of democracy and legislating was designed to be slow. Extrapolating that out a bit, change is meant to be gradual and providing a public option is provides for a gradually directed process of getting more people covered.
As for the environment, the first step is getting Republican politicians to simply acknowledge that climate change is real. In 2019, it's inexplicable that Republican politicians writ large still deny the overwhelming science that climate change presents a clear and present danger. As NBC's Katy Tur mentioned, the eventual economic damage and loss of human life is becoming ever more prevalent and can no longer be ignored especially here in the United States where we're having to allocate more and more billions of dollars in emergency relief funds for areas of the country hit by catastrophic storms, floods and fires.
Speaking of emergency funds, according to the acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney the president is thinking of taking some of those funds as part of a declaration of a national emergency to build a border wall at the southern border, where there is no security crisis. Mr. Mulvaney said he was not optimistic about a border security deal given on his experience in Washington. More clearly, he's not pessimistic about a deal, just one that the president will be willing to sign into law, hence why another government shutdown is not being taken off the table. However, if Republicans and Democrats do strike a deal and the president doesn't sign it, the responsibility of another government shutdown will fall squarely on his shoulders and will further tank his approval ratings.
All this speaks to what Senator Bennett called the fiscal hypocrisy on the part of the Republicans, running up the biggest budget deficit in American history during the last Congress, completely controlled by the GOP. With the tax cuts passed by the Republican-controlled Congress, preparing for emergency contingencies including rebuilding infrastructure and providing affordable healthcare have become completely prohibitive.
Lastly, Congress Adam Schiff (D-CA) explained that the Intelligence Committee will expand its scope beyond Russian meddling in the 2016 election to include President Trump's potential financial ties to the Kremlin and to Saudi Arabia to find out whether or not the president is financially compromised in anyway which would hence put his personal financial interests ahead of his duties as president. Despite the president's protests, this type of oversight is to be expected and is necessary. Congressman Schiff explained that the committee needs to present the facts to the American people no matter which way they cut, and this should be the case.
Panel: Katy Tur, NBC News; Kimberly Atkins, WBUR in Boston; David Brody, Christian Broadcast Network; Markos Moulitsas, the Daily Kos
One more thing...
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) should have never claimed Native American status and though she has since apologized for this it was disingenuous of her to use a 1/64th heritage (or whatever ultra-slim margin it was) to claim minority status. This problem doesn't bode well for her chances to become the Democratic nominee for president in 2020, despite her populace economic message.
However as equally distasteful perhaps more so is the president's utterly callous reference to the 'Trail of Tears' in a tweet. It's pathetic that the President of the United States doesn't realize how offensive this is. Four thousand Cherokee Native Americans died from disease, cold and starvation by being forcibly relocated west while white Americans looted their homes because they weren't allowed to take any of their possessions with them.
Tuesday, February 05, 2019
2.5.19: Notes from President Trump's State of the Union Address
Here are my notes from President Donald Trump's second State of the Union address. Make of them what you will...
President enters the House chamber at 9:03pm EST.
POTUS to the rostrum at 9:05pm EST.
This is a moment of unlimited potential.
Hoping to govern not as two parties but as one nation.
The agenda of the American people.
Victory is winning for out country...
Platitudes platitudes platitudes...
75 years in June of the Allied liberation of Europe in WWII.
Salute to the WWII veterans in attendance.
50 years Apollo 11 moon landing...
In the 20th century there was nothing to compete with America.
Now, create a new standard of living in the 21st century.
More platitudes.... and empty applause lines...
Embrace compromise and the common good.
Pointless destruction.. Tonight I ask you to choose greatness.
In just over two years - unleashed an economic boom...
600,000 new manufacturing jobs...
5 million Americans lifted off food stamps.
The hottest economy in the world. Pence is such a sycophant...
Tax cut for working families and double the child tax credit.
Nearly ended the death tax - small businesses and family farms? Really?
Cut the mandate on Obamacare, and cut regulations...
Number 1 producer of oil and natural gas in the world.
A net exporter of energy - first time in 65 years.
Thankfully, I'm drinking during this...
The state of our union is strong.
An economic miracle is happening...
Ridiculous partisan investigations can stop this miracle... There can't be war and investigations... That's just weird... He needs to be investigated...
Nearly 300 individuals waiting to be confirmed by the Senate.
Criminal justice reform, which he seems to be taking credit for...
Story of Alice Johnson....
The First Step Act - gives non-violent offenders redemption.
The urgent national crisis - 10 days left to negotiate a deal to secure our very dangerous southern border.
Large organized caravans are on the way to the United States. I have ordered another 3,750 troops to the border. Defend our very dangerous southern border.
Tolerance for illegal immigration is cruel...
MS13 operates in 20 states...
Instilling fear with regard to the southern border.
A common sense proposal to Congress - physical barrier or wall... A proper wall, I will get it built.
A steel see-through barrier. - Where a wall goes up, illegal crossings go way way down.
With a powerful barrier in place, El Paso is now one of the safest cities... So not true.
"Walls work and walls save lives."
I need another drink...
More women in the workforce than ever before, and thanks to Democrats there are more women serving in Congress than anytime before.... who all dislike Donald Trump.
Calamitous trade policies... $250 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods. A new trade deal with China.
and the catastrophe known as NAFTA.
America's crumbling infrastructure... investments in the cutting edge industries of the future... doesn't mention what they are and then moved right to healthcare - prescription drugs and preexisting conditions.
Mitch McConnell looks sad... I guess his pharmaceutical donors won't be happy.
We will defeat AIDS in America and beyond...
The fight against childhood cancer...
$500 million for childhood cancer research and now it's time for school choice... non sequitur
I'm asking Congress to pass legislation on late-term abortions. Cherishes innocent life, but not the separated children at the southern border... Hmmm.
$700 billion last year and $716 billion this year for the military. Allies need to pay their fair share - NATO...
Missile defense treaty with Russia - IMF Treaty. Not to mention that this is what Putin wants...
The Korean peninsula - If I had not been elected we would be in a war with North Korea. He's meeting with Kim Jung Un again... twice! Reckless foreign policy...
Calls for socialism in this country - we were born free and we will stay free. Of course the camera cuts to Bernie Sanders.
"America will never be a socialist country..." Ridiculous...
Principled realism in the Middle East... Opened the American Embassy in Jerusalem...
"Great nations do not fight endless wars."
Removing the troops from Syria... Even if you don't like that, we'd be leaving our allies out to dry and giving the Putin regime exactly what they want there by ceding influence.
18 years ago - the USS Cole attack... Happened in October 2000 FYI.
Defense against anti-semitism - honoring holocaust survivors and a SWAT team member from the Tree of Life synagogue tragedy... He's making up for his Charlottesville fine people on both sides comments... my cynical commentary aside it is genuinely a good thing to honor such individuals...
Look at the opportunities before us...
We do the incredible...
Re-ignite the American imagination...
I am asking you to choose greatness. We must go forward together...
If only he'd stop tweeting...
President enters the House chamber at 9:03pm EST.
POTUS to the rostrum at 9:05pm EST.
This is a moment of unlimited potential.
Hoping to govern not as two parties but as one nation.
The agenda of the American people.
Victory is winning for out country...
Platitudes platitudes platitudes...
75 years in June of the Allied liberation of Europe in WWII.
Salute to the WWII veterans in attendance.
50 years Apollo 11 moon landing...
In the 20th century there was nothing to compete with America.
Now, create a new standard of living in the 21st century.
More platitudes.... and empty applause lines...
Embrace compromise and the common good.
Pointless destruction.. Tonight I ask you to choose greatness.
In just over two years - unleashed an economic boom...
600,000 new manufacturing jobs...
5 million Americans lifted off food stamps.
The hottest economy in the world. Pence is such a sycophant...
Tax cut for working families and double the child tax credit.
Nearly ended the death tax - small businesses and family farms? Really?
Cut the mandate on Obamacare, and cut regulations...
Number 1 producer of oil and natural gas in the world.
A net exporter of energy - first time in 65 years.
Thankfully, I'm drinking during this...
The state of our union is strong.
An economic miracle is happening...
Ridiculous partisan investigations can stop this miracle... There can't be war and investigations... That's just weird... He needs to be investigated...
Nearly 300 individuals waiting to be confirmed by the Senate.
Criminal justice reform, which he seems to be taking credit for...
Story of Alice Johnson....
The First Step Act - gives non-violent offenders redemption.
The urgent national crisis - 10 days left to negotiate a deal to secure our very dangerous southern border.
Large organized caravans are on the way to the United States. I have ordered another 3,750 troops to the border. Defend our very dangerous southern border.
Tolerance for illegal immigration is cruel...
MS13 operates in 20 states...
Instilling fear with regard to the southern border.
A common sense proposal to Congress - physical barrier or wall... A proper wall, I will get it built.
A steel see-through barrier. - Where a wall goes up, illegal crossings go way way down.
With a powerful barrier in place, El Paso is now one of the safest cities... So not true.
"Walls work and walls save lives."
I need another drink...
More women in the workforce than ever before, and thanks to Democrats there are more women serving in Congress than anytime before.... who all dislike Donald Trump.
Calamitous trade policies... $250 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods. A new trade deal with China.
and the catastrophe known as NAFTA.
America's crumbling infrastructure... investments in the cutting edge industries of the future... doesn't mention what they are and then moved right to healthcare - prescription drugs and preexisting conditions.
Mitch McConnell looks sad... I guess his pharmaceutical donors won't be happy.
We will defeat AIDS in America and beyond...
The fight against childhood cancer...
$500 million for childhood cancer research and now it's time for school choice... non sequitur
I'm asking Congress to pass legislation on late-term abortions. Cherishes innocent life, but not the separated children at the southern border... Hmmm.
$700 billion last year and $716 billion this year for the military. Allies need to pay their fair share - NATO...
Missile defense treaty with Russia - IMF Treaty. Not to mention that this is what Putin wants...
The Korean peninsula - If I had not been elected we would be in a war with North Korea. He's meeting with Kim Jung Un again... twice! Reckless foreign policy...
Calls for socialism in this country - we were born free and we will stay free. Of course the camera cuts to Bernie Sanders.
"America will never be a socialist country..." Ridiculous...
Principled realism in the Middle East... Opened the American Embassy in Jerusalem...
"Great nations do not fight endless wars."
Removing the troops from Syria... Even if you don't like that, we'd be leaving our allies out to dry and giving the Putin regime exactly what they want there by ceding influence.
18 years ago - the USS Cole attack... Happened in October 2000 FYI.
Defense against anti-semitism - honoring holocaust survivors and a SWAT team member from the Tree of Life synagogue tragedy... He's making up for his Charlottesville fine people on both sides comments... my cynical commentary aside it is genuinely a good thing to honor such individuals...
Look at the opportunities before us...
We do the incredible...
Re-ignite the American imagination...
I am asking you to choose greatness. We must go forward together...
If only he'd stop tweeting...
Sunday, February 03, 2019
2.3.19: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Is a Lonely Pariah
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's explanation for his past behavior from photos that have surfaced this week was unacceptable. As it is now, dawning black face in 1984 was offensive. As The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson clearly explained, everyone didn't do that at that time. It was offensive in 1984, and Rich Lowry's explanation that people's entire lives shouldn't be judged for moments of stupidity or offensiveness doesn't hold up. Mr. Northam's statements in which he first apologized and then denied that it was not him in the photograph show that he is not truly contrite. Also in his press conference yesterday he explained that he was in a dance contest in San Antonio that same year wearing black face to imitate Michael Jackson and his moonwalk dance step. This admission damaged his credibility even further essentially making things even worse. Chuck Todd touched on the fact that Mr. Northam was familiar with the difficulty of removing shoe polish from one's face, which illustrates that he has some experience with this.
As the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Karen Bass (D-CA) stated, Mr. Northam hasn't been honest. This is very clear. Mr. Northam explained that remaining in office would be best so that the conversation on race can progress. However, Ms. Bass disagreed and that if he wants to continue the conversation, he should do so while not in office, to which Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) agreed. As Donald McEachin (D-VA) said flatly, there is nothing that Mr. Northam can do at this point to correct this and that he should step down, especially in the 400th year anniversary of Africans being brought to Jamestown, Virginia and enslaved. If Mr. Northam wants to be a leader, he should do what a real leader would and resign his office, or he will be the 'lonely pariah' as Hallie Jackson described.
This brings us to Senator Brown's statement about Mr. Trump that he is a racist president, to which Chuck Todd interrupted him to explain such a strong charge. However, Senator Brown made the case citing Mr. Trump's questioning of Barack Obama's citizenship and his actions during his business life and housing discrimination in New York City, of which Mr. Trump was found guilty. Not to mention that Mr. Trump's Charlottesville statements and less us not forget the Central Park Five rape case and how he called for the death penalty even after the men were exonerated. And to cap it off, there is the wall he wants on the southern border, which is rooted in his bigoted views.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) were not negotiating in good faith with the president inasmuch as they will not concede any money for a border wall. However, as much as Senator Scott said he wants a fix for TPS (citizens with temporary protective status) and the 'Dreamers,' these two issues are none starters for the president who will be accused by his base of granting amnesty to these groups.
As Chuck Todd pointed out, the president had these deals on his desk and he walked away from them so how can the Democrats be sure that he is negotiating in good faith and won't just blow up any made deal on a whim? Or the president can do what he usually does and falsely claim that 'we're building wall.' Hallie Jackson explained that it's a matter of semantics, but if you listen to the president speak, it makes you wonder about whatever happened to grammar. If the negotiations fall apart, the president will possibly declare a national emergency, which as Mr. Lowry described as just another way to lose, to which this column agrees but it would be a matter of all of us losing, not just the president.
Panel: Maria Teresa Kumar, CEO Voto Latino, Hallie Jackson, NBC News; Eugene Robinson, The Washington Post; Rich Lowry, The National Review; Mark Leibovich, The New York Times Magazine
A couple more things...
Senator Rick Scott said that with regard to Venezuela, no options should be taken off the table. However, U.S. military intervention is NOT the right course of action for the Administration to take. However, with the Trump Administration under such pressure from all of the its questionably ethical conduct (understating it), there remains the concern for a wag-the-dog decision. Not good.
Senator Brown mentioned Medicare for citizens at age 50. That's a great proposal.
As the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Karen Bass (D-CA) stated, Mr. Northam hasn't been honest. This is very clear. Mr. Northam explained that remaining in office would be best so that the conversation on race can progress. However, Ms. Bass disagreed and that if he wants to continue the conversation, he should do so while not in office, to which Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) agreed. As Donald McEachin (D-VA) said flatly, there is nothing that Mr. Northam can do at this point to correct this and that he should step down, especially in the 400th year anniversary of Africans being brought to Jamestown, Virginia and enslaved. If Mr. Northam wants to be a leader, he should do what a real leader would and resign his office, or he will be the 'lonely pariah' as Hallie Jackson described.
This brings us to Senator Brown's statement about Mr. Trump that he is a racist president, to which Chuck Todd interrupted him to explain such a strong charge. However, Senator Brown made the case citing Mr. Trump's questioning of Barack Obama's citizenship and his actions during his business life and housing discrimination in New York City, of which Mr. Trump was found guilty. Not to mention that Mr. Trump's Charlottesville statements and less us not forget the Central Park Five rape case and how he called for the death penalty even after the men were exonerated. And to cap it off, there is the wall he wants on the southern border, which is rooted in his bigoted views.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) were not negotiating in good faith with the president inasmuch as they will not concede any money for a border wall. However, as much as Senator Scott said he wants a fix for TPS (citizens with temporary protective status) and the 'Dreamers,' these two issues are none starters for the president who will be accused by his base of granting amnesty to these groups.
As Chuck Todd pointed out, the president had these deals on his desk and he walked away from them so how can the Democrats be sure that he is negotiating in good faith and won't just blow up any made deal on a whim? Or the president can do what he usually does and falsely claim that 'we're building wall.' Hallie Jackson explained that it's a matter of semantics, but if you listen to the president speak, it makes you wonder about whatever happened to grammar. If the negotiations fall apart, the president will possibly declare a national emergency, which as Mr. Lowry described as just another way to lose, to which this column agrees but it would be a matter of all of us losing, not just the president.
Panel: Maria Teresa Kumar, CEO Voto Latino, Hallie Jackson, NBC News; Eugene Robinson, The Washington Post; Rich Lowry, The National Review; Mark Leibovich, The New York Times Magazine
A couple more things...
Senator Rick Scott said that with regard to Venezuela, no options should be taken off the table. However, U.S. military intervention is NOT the right course of action for the Administration to take. However, with the Trump Administration under such pressure from all of the its questionably ethical conduct (understating it), there remains the concern for a wag-the-dog decision. Not good.
Senator Brown mentioned Medicare for citizens at age 50. That's a great proposal.
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