The Trump Disaster Continues

Former  FBI Director Mueller puts nation first.  Leaves his cushy private practice to ensure the truth is found about Trump, Russia and other things that will or have been turned up by the investigation

The GOP leadership suspected Trump of being a Russian paid prostitute for quite awhile.  When the House Majority Leader denied making this statement he was told that The Washington Post heard the tape of his statement.  And, then silence from him and his office. 

The Republicans know Trump is a crook, they know he is a liar, they know is not qualified, they know he is not mentally fit for the job, they know he and his extended family are benefiting from his being in this office, they know he acts like a child, they know is delusional, they know he is shallow, they know he is not engaged, they are embarrassed him.

And, they think that the 38% of the voters who still believe in him may be enough to get them re-elected since Democratic turnout in mid-terms is very low.

Each week there is a new scandal caused by the Trump himself and yet the leadership of the Republican party stands by their little handed, orange man child.

Thinking About Trump

Some thoughts about Donald J. Trump

1. His campaign is a disorganized mess - being run by a guy who worked on campaigns of some of the worst despots around the world and his children (who know nothing about political campaigns)
2. Clearly the truth does not matter to Donald J. Trump because he says shit and then when caught in a lie his reaction is deny deny deny and expect the story to go away - The lies are getting harder to deny and their story arcs are lasting longer
3. That was probably the worst party convention of all time and his speech was so dark and negative - something most voters are not used to
4. Donald J Trump is so thinned skinned he is almost transparent - he views any criticisms as a "vicious" attack.  You see in Trump's world he is never questioned, never challenged and never doubted.  If Donald J. Trump says it - it is the truth and you do it
5. He says he is raising a lot money - We will see at the end of the next reporting period
6. Why won't he release his tax returns - He is not nearly as wealthy as he says he is - he does not want voters to know how little he has paid in taxes
7. My guess is both
8. His campaign is tanking - I wonder when the party leaders are going to pull the plug, ignore him and just focus on the Senate and House.  They will be subtle but by October they will no longer be commenting on him or his campaign - They will be in PA to campaign for Toomey and Trump will not be mentioned.  It will be like he does not even exist.
9. He did not know that Russia invaded the Ukraine
10. He asked for Putin to interfere in the election
11. He denied knowing Putin after telling everyone who would listen that he and Putin were buds
12. His admiration of dictators leads me to believe the he would try to become one himself

More later

Sheriff Star My Ass

Only someone really stupid and or a Trump supporter would believe Donald Trump when he said the star on his Hillary tweet was a sheriff's badge.

Here are some other examples of people walking around with a sheriff's badge.







I am not saying Trump is a Nazi I would never say that.  In fact I have been very critical of people who throw Nazi around too freely in American politics.

The fact that the Hillary picture was retweeted from a right wing, extremist, racist, anti-Semitic site does make one wonder.

Trump is either clueless, really stupid or a racist anti-Semite.

Please don't say he can't be anti-Semitic because his daughter is married to a Jew. 

"I have a lot of Jewish friends"  "Some of my best friends are black" "My cousin is gay"

Sound familiar? 

Trump - Faith - Oh Please!

Donald Trump questions Hillary Clinton's faith.

This is a guy who is accused of not paying thousands of workers.
This is a guy who is on his third wife
This is a guy who managed to send four companies into bankruptcy and still make money
This is a guy who cheated on his wives
This is a guy who has made really creepy sexual innuendos about his daughter
This is a guy who has been accused of rape by an ex wife and a 13 year old child

When you think of Donald J Trump is the first thing you think "He is such an awesome Christian"?
NO
When you think of Donald J Trump is the first thing you think "He is a man of great faith"?
NO

I think of a vulgar TV Reality Star.

Donald J Trump has probably been to church as often as Ronald Reagan........ Almost never (only when it is politically expedient).

His chief evangelical advisor once said Ted Cruz was G-d's choice for this country.  So what does that make Trump?

Hillary Clinton is a faithful Methodist.

Donald J Trump is a faithful...... Well really he is not faithful to anyone but Donald J Trump.

I Have A Question For Sen. Toomey

Can you name one city in this country that was destroyed by riots since you have been a Senator from Pennsylvania?

In your most recent TV ad you claim you stood up for the police as U.S. Cities were being destroyed by riots.

The standard definition of destroy is "put an end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it

I am pretty attentive to the news and I can't recall any city in this country that was destroyed by riots.

Please tell us all Senator what cities were destroyed?

And, please tell us Senator Toomey who destroyed these cities because I want to organize a retaliation against them.

Presidential Campaign Review (And Trump)

This presidential campaign has been painful to watch.  Let's review the candidates.

Ben Carson was/is weird
Carly Fiorina was in over her head and a pathological liar
Lindsey Graham was Lindsey Graham
Little Ricky Santorum reminded everyone why they hated him
Mike Huckabee just seemed too desperate - I actually thought he was going to resort to self immolation to get attention
Jeb Bush seemed like he really didn't want to be there
Marco Rubio bless his heart has no idea about anything and thinks that if he is just a blank slate he can win
John Kasich pretends to be from the sensible center, he really is not but he will govern from the extremes
Ted Cruz believes that G-D has chosen him to lead this country and he actually believes in his talking points
Martin O'Malley (who was my first choice) just could not get any oxygen in the Sanders/Clinton world. He tried to run from the right of Sanders and from the left of Hillary - a place that does not exist
Bernie Sanders is a great guy - I don't think he is running on issues that can be achieved - I wish they could be but he is not in the real world
Hillary Clinton who has the best resume of all the candidates but people just can't warm to her

And, then there is Donald J Trump - the MSM darling (they continue to give him a free pass)
I initially thought with Trump in the race it would be hilarious, I thought he was going to be a few months of bluster and drama and he would announce his latest reality show.
But no; it is Trump who has made this race painful.
In his speeches he says nothing, he rambles from topic to odd topic and insult to insult.
He is thin skinned
He is self absorbed
He really believes in nothing other than Donald J Trump
His opinions on the great issues of the day are not based on research or taking the time to think about them He is all impulse and says what he thinks is going to get the best reaction.
He is for traditional marriage and yet he has been married three times
He is all about using the military at every instance but when this country called him to serve, which it did 5 times he applied for and received 5 deferments (rich kid)
He said he learned more about the military from attending a military styled boarding high school than men who actually served in the military.  Remember the 5 deferments
He claims to be self made but  his father was a millionaire and he took over the company
He says he is a great and successful businessman but the companies that are called Trump have filed for bankruptcy 4 times.
He talks about the working class in very racist terms
At what point in is climb to celebrity status has he ever tried to relate to working people?
How is going to make Mexico pay for that wall?  Go to war? (see 5 deferments)
He is fomenting violence by Islamic extremists
I am convinced that he won't release his tax information because we will find out he is not as rich as he tells us he is. Think about - he earned a large pay check from NBC and convinced them to pay his children as well.
He and his children needed that those paychecks
And, then there are his events.
They started out as raucous and he encouraged it and now they have become violent and he has clearly encouraged it.
Very soon a supporter will shoot off her gun at one of his events but that won't stop him.
A week later a white man will shoot and kill a person of color at a Trump event and then and only then will Trump's campaign come to an end

NJ Results, Weiner Knows Nothing, Town Halls, Polling, Voter Suppression & A Moron

Tracking  results in real time for the NJ Senate primary

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According to Team Hillary disgraced former Congressman, penis shower and current NYC mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner knows nothing  about Hillary Clinton's plans for the future.

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It appears town hall meetings aren't what they used to be. Many members of congress are skipping them altogether and liberal groups are ensuring they have a voice at them.  But there have been some wild ones.

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Lloyd Grove takes on the disgusting and not very clever or bright Donald Trump.  When is NBC going to say enough?  When is Macy's going say enough?  He has no clue about real world politics.  He just talks for the sake of talking and the MSM just eats it up.

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Bill De Blasio takes the lead in the New York mayors race  Quinninpiac poll.  If you never read an entire polling report now is your time.  This is the stuff political nerds like your humble blogger can spend hours of enjoyment with.

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This didn't take long - The NC vote suppression law  is being challenged in court.

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Is Steve King The Biggest Idiot in Congress?

Iowa GOP Congressman Steve King gets more and more bizarre  by the hour.  Now, he defends dog fighting - but claims he was misquoted and his brilliant logic was taken out of context.

He really is the gift that keeps on giving.

He makes Sarah Palin seem sane...............................................


Well not really

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Congressman Farenthold is a Silly & He's From Texas

Not very bright birther  Congressman Blake Farenthold of Texas (of course) claims there are enough GOP votes to impeach President Obama.

Bring it on you stupid man....

The American people take the impeachment of their elected President very seriously!

Bring the charges and see how the American people react - the last time the GOP impeached a President they lost seats in the next election and Newt Gringrich lost his job.

So, go ahead impeach him - try it!

What a horses ass, I mean really on what issue would they impeach this President?

And yet, the thought of impeaching Dick Cheney never crossed their mind?

What's even worse is that this moron will no doubt be re-elected.

Why do I still have hope for this great nation?

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Bethlehem No Longer has a Race For Mayor

And, then there was one.

Bethlehem now has a one person race for Mayor.  Independent Bob Sigmon has withdrawn from the race citing health concerns.  It is now too late for someone to get ballot access as an independent.  I can't imagine a scenario where Councilman Donchez is not elected Mayor.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2013/08/bethlehem_independent_candidat.html

Hopefully Mayor Callahan will work extra hard over the next few months to set things in motion that will keep the city moving forward for the next 4 years.

Jim Gregory is apparently still planning to launch a write in campaign.  I am not going to comment on Jim's attempt out of respect for almost 30 years of friendship.

I Hardly Ever Think about Weiner

I was going to blog something about Anthony Weiner and then I realized I just don't care and I have not given it much thought.  He is yesterday's news.

The Republicans who are trying to link Weiner to something that is corrupt about the entire Democratic party are just coming off as desperate and weak minded.

The pathetic Republican who are hoping the Affair Weiner will somehow negatively impact the Clinton Foundation and Hillary's political future because Weiner's wife is Mrs. Clinton's top aide forget that the Clinton's are covered and teflon and it is really just a silly argument to begin with.

The weak minded Liberals who are gnashing their teeth and wrenching their clothes because they fear the same thing are professional cry babies who specialize is gnashing their teeth and wrench their clothes over the most ridiculous issues.

I mean really, if somebody does not vote for Hillary Clinton because of Anthony Weiner's inability to keep his dick off of Twitter may be a good argument to bring back the literacy tests for voting.

But, like I said earlier I have hardly thought about this at all.

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In VA. Birth Defects are Caused by Sin

At least according to E. W. Jackson is the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  They don't have primaries in Virginia if a candidate gets enough votes at a convention.  He was chosen by party leaders, they looked at this man and said he is the best choice to hold the office.  That says a great deal about the leadership of the Virginia Republican Party.

“It is the principle of sin, rebellion against God and His truth which has brought about birth defects and other destructive natural occurrences.


I don't even know how to respond / react to this lunacy.

How can anyone actually believe this?

What message does this send to parents who have / had a child born with a birth defect?  They sinned?  It is their fault?  G-d is punishing them through their child?

I wonder if these type of statements will cost him any votes?

How many Republican parents will overlook this nonsense and vote for him because he is not a Democrat?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/va-republican-lt-governor-candidate-said-birth-defects-were

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If I Get Married Free Speech Dies & The Nation Fails

Are these people insane?  Are they stupid?  Are they drunk when they speak? or are they just fucking nuts?

I mean really - If I am allowed to get married this great republic with come crashing down around us.  Not an underfunded education system, not bankrupt cities, not corporate welfare, not dysfunctional government, nope.... marriage equality will bring this nation to it's knees.

Ponder this... People who love each other getting married will destroy free speech.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/ted-cruz-warns-gay-marriage-will-lead-hate-speech-laws-america-brink-collapse

And it is not the first time they people who hate this nation have used this argument.

http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/right-sounds-false-alarm-hate-crimes-legislation

"I'm In" Despicable Liz

Well!  She's in... Despicable Liz Cheney is in the race. She is going to challenge an incumbent Republican Senator in the primary.

Typical Cheney only loyal to Cheney.

It will be interesting to see if the voters of Wyoming are willing to turn a Senate seat over to a resident of Virginia.  If she does win she won't have to spend any time house hunting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/16/liz-cheney-mike-enzi_n_3606837.html

The incumbent Senator in an interview today was joined by the State's other Senator.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/07/16/transcript-mike-enzi-on-liz-cheneys-move/

The Verdict - Is It Possible to Still Have Hope?

I don't know what to say - the words are just not coming.

I am saddened

I am stunned but not surprised, I am disappointed but I sort of expected it.

Often on this blog I refer to this country as "This Great Republic" because in spite of all it's imperfections I believe(d) that this nation is still the place where justice lived.

At this moment after this verdict I am not sure I can or will ever say that again.

Bill Clinton used to say "I still believe in a place called hope."  I cannot at this moment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/us/george-zimmerman-verdict-trayvon-martin.html?smid=pl-share

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/13/george-zimmerman-not-guilty_n_3588743.html?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/13/jury-finds-george-zimmerman-not-guilty.html

My Congressional District & The Job Fair

My Congressman Charles Dent (R Pa 15) is hosting 2 job fairs.  That in itself is not such big or important news.

But, what caught me off guard was where one of them will be held.

Saturday, August 3rd, 10 am to 2 pm

Penn State Harrisburg

Capital Union Building Gymnasium

777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA

http://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=2013-job-fairs

This is where I went to college and it is pretty far away from here.  Because of reapportionment the 15th Congressional District now snakes its way across five counties.  It goes from the Delaware River  to the Susquehanna River and 10 minutes from the Pennsylvania Capitol.

A two to three hour ride from one end of the the district is expected in Montana or Wyoming but it makes no sense in a state as dense as Pennsylvania.  A district like this is a disservice to the constituents and pretty unfair to the congressman to cover a district of such a size.  Though I suspect Mr. Dent is not really complaining since the district was created to ensure he or the next Republican is safe.

Here is the district 

http://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=15thDistrict

And, go to the job fair, if you have the inclination.

Is That A Tampon? Not in this capitol

You can carry your gun into the Texas State Capitol Building.

Women could not bring their Tampons or Maxi Pads into the Texas State Capitol Building today.

Tell me again that the Republican Party has not declared war on women.  Why are Republicans so afraid of women?  Why are Republican women so afraid of women?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/tampons-confiscated-texas_n_3588177.html

This really is one of the most ridiculous stories I have read in a very long time.

Sarah Palin Might Want to be a Senator

Sarah Palin, the gift that keeps on giving is making rumblings or are they mumblings about running for the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Mark Begich.

Some quick thoughts

• She was just re-hired by Fox so she wanted to make a splashy return
• Hannity was masturbating under the desk and she wanted to help him out
• She needs to have people on all parts of the political spectrum talking about her - Will she or won't she?
• She is a fame / publicity whore
• She has a new book / reality show coming out
• Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are attracting to much of the crazy tea bagger lime light and she will have NONE of that.
• There is no way in hell she is going to let that born with a silver spoon in her mouth, daddy's girl little bitch Liz Cheney take all the headlines that she should be getting
• She is delusional 

I mean really can you imagine Sarah Palin in the United States Senate.  It is too small for her ego and too thoughtful for her capacity to think. 

If she does run she will become the face of the Republican Party through out the 2014 campaign and she and  the Despicable Liz will suck up so much money there will not be as much to share with GOP candidates in states where a Democrat can win.

I doubt Sarah Big & Tall Palin will run for the Senate because she is a bully, she is full of bluster and drama but in the end she does not have the courage to face the voters again.

But, then what do I know? 

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/09/palin-im-considering-a-senate-run/

NYT Editorial Board Spitting Mad About Spitzer

As we all know now a disgraced former New York Governor is attempting a comeback.  He announced a last minute entry into the Democratic primary for New York City Comptroller.  On it's face his announcement is a little hard to understand.  Elliot Spitzer could spend the rest of his life writing books, giving lectures, commenting on TV, writing Op Eds, sitting on corporate boards, fundraising for charities and candidates and being a rain maker for a law firm.

So why run for an office that is clearly a step down from his previous offices and something he does not have to do in order to pay the bills? He believes in public service?  He has some good ideas?  He needs it in order to feel forgiven and or whole?  I don't know.  What I do know is that if I were a New Yorker I would seriously consider voting for him.

There have been three up and coming politicians who I looked forward to supporting for President some day who have broken my heart - Jim McGreevey, Elliot Spitzer and Anthony Wiener.  Maybe not Wiener for President but he was/is someone who I thought could really make a difference.  They held such promise, they are some of the smartest people around, they had great ideas, they stood for the things that mattered to me, they were passionate and they wanted to make a difference.  Elliot Spitzer and Anthony Wiener were brought down by their own hubris. I wonder if it ever occurred to them that what they were doing could destroy their careers.

McGreevey on the other hand was blinded by his ambition and shame and the combination destroyed his career.  He believed that he could not achieve political high office if he was true to himself and he is right.

President Clinton more than survived his sex scandal but it is a part of his legacy.

Mark Sandford's comeback leads me to believe that sex scandals are so last century.  If a conservative, holier than thou hypocrite like Mark Sanford can get elected to Congress by very conservative, holier than thou voters then some guy who showed his "member of Congress" to a woman on Twitter and a guy who hired a hooker to do whatever can surely get elected to office in New York City.

I am the king of second chances so far be it for me to not wish Mr. Wiener and Mr. Spitzer well.  If nothing else the months leading up the their respective primaries will certainly not be dull.  In fact, how bad would it be if they won?  New York could do a lot worse.  They are smart guys.

This editorial by the New York Times objecting to Mr. Spitzer's return to politics is so over the top with it's outrage that I had to double check to make sure I was not reading The Onion
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/opinion/spitzer-redux.html?smid=pl-share


 This is what the comptroller does
The comptroller is responsible for auditing the performance and finances of city agencies, making recommendations regarding proposed contracts, issuing reports on the state of the city economy, marketing and selling municipal bonds, managing city debt, and serving as managing trustee of the public employees pensions funds. As managing trustee, the comptroller presides over the boards of the funds, along with managing assets. Overall fund governance is with boards of the individual funds.