Out of My Own Damn Mind
I briefly saw a news bit of him accepting the award. He was utterly smarmy and disgusting the entire time.
For better or worse, Person of the Year 2023.
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I don't have to tell you how inappropriate Trump's cabinet picks are.
Felons, alcoholics, sexual abuse criminals, simply ill-prepared for federal service.
And I'm noticing that the outrage is slowing down and the politicians on The Hill are losing their fight. Be it because of the continual boot licking or the ongoing pressure phone calls from Trump to the representatives and senators, I'm noticing a sliding down of shock and outrage. People are simply giving in to the inevitable.
These men and women nominees are walking around the Hill from office to office plying their reputations and asking for the support of the House and Senate members...it's just a circus. Senator Earnst of Iowa is a particular disappointment.
Hegseth is no longer feeling the pinch. Instead he's feeling an increase of hope and "fineness" from the Republicans on the Hill. We're not even hearing how reprehensible RKF Jr is for Health and Human Services lead. How about the WWF lady who is in for Department of Education. What a despicable nomination. Doug Burgum, governer of North Dakota nominated for Interior Secretary, has ties to fossil fuel companies. The list goes on and I don't have the energy to do all of the reading at the moment. But certainly there is a comprehensive list of Trump's nominees and their egregious lack of experience or appropriateness for the roles for which they are nominated.
If you know of a page like this, please share it!
The NYT offers this page.
The list is endless and I'm feeling no hope whatsoever that this cabinet will bring anything to The Hill except for their "yes Man" attitudes.
What in the world do you think?
I will Keep Going
to the best of my ability!
What do you think??
He wants to get rid of all of the Biden-era environmental protections, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which boosts clean energy initiatives in our country. In case you don't know about the IRA, it gives generous tax incentive for renewable energy and cleaner energy sources which would incentivize industry to produce cleaner and more efficiently, hoping to drive down greenhouse gas emissions, and to help remain cost-effective with regards to renewables. I found numbers and funding specifics at this link; go check it out. And this page is about Project 2025's standing on climate change.
If you want to do your homework on Donald Trump's plans for the environment, you might start here at PBS. This piece from early November laments his plans to decimate emissions regulations. He plans on abolishing energy efficiency standards. Keep in mind, environmental care is a long-term issue that requires long-term solutions. NOT abusive fracking, not tax cuts for massive corporations that dirty up our air and water, Not threaten global climate change advocacy policies, and not removing fledgling plans for fossil fuel improvements. Not to mention "Drill, Baby, Drill." ðŸ˜
Trump also plans, once again withdraw from the Paris Agreement, as well as withdrawing the United States from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a move that would remove the United States from participation in global climate negotiations and make it more difficult for a future administration to rejoin the Paris Agreement. I find this terrifying and abhorrent.
And remember Lee Zeldin? Trump's boot-licking loyalist who an enemy of the environment who is nominated for the EPA! Contact your representatives TODAY!
I can't possibly write it all here! Use this post to do your homework!
We are living in one of the most crucial moments for the environment in our lifetimes. It's insane that our own president elect is an enemy of the environment. He approaches problems like they are a business issue, a money issue, rather than a LIVING issue.
The ocean cannot keep pace with the changes caused by the climate crisis.
Read HERE for Climate Information 101. This is a link to The Climate Reality Project.
Check them out and see what activism you are willing to do to help.
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We're never going to know what is going on.
The right wing propaganda machine and conspiracy theories will continue on and we'll constantly be wondering what is true and what to "believe", as opposed to what to know.
Can we expect more "love fests" like January 6th?
What do you think?
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I know you've heard about
Patel's books. He wrote four books. Three are supposed children's books about RUSSIAGATE
with Donald Trump as KING and the fourth book, for adults, is where he published his list
of people who he plans to target, somehow, with unknown crimes for being
anti-Trump or for being enemies of Trump.
Absolute Servitude.
As the absolute-least qualified person to run the FBI, many people are referring to the Kash Patel nomination as a kakistocracy, a government run by the least qualified people, according to a Salon article
that I read today. I've been hearing that word often used these
days...is it a new word or are we being Trumped...er...punked. He is a
man who believes in the Deep State and other conspiracy story mythologies...including the belief that that 2020 election was rigged. Still. The overall rule of law is at risk with this nominee.
Not only is Patel unqualified, but a greater issue is this, according to the above-mentioned Salon article. The framers of our Constitution and nation envisioned the FBI law inforcement as independent of politics and of the executive branch of our government, in particular. This nomination would cut that division down to nothing by installing this brown-nosing fawner.
Additionally,
people who know Patel well and who have worked with him in the past say
that his appointment would be "extremely dangerous" and will lead to a
"massive amount of damage"...again, a "yes man" who will try to
dismantle an important agency in law enforcement, the fricking FBI. This
doesn't even mention removing Christopher Wray, current leader of the
FBI, a man who has three or four more years to serve...
Patel and other Trump loyalists in these top-ranking positions will mean danger and utter chaos for our nation.
Your Thoughts?
You must watch the show and you must inform yourself about the many reasons why Pete Hegseth is 100% unqualified for the major role of Secretary of Defense of our nation. There is so much to know and Rachel lays it out for you chronologically. Sexual escapades, financial mismanagement, and drunken routs while serving in professional capacity. Many, many stories to corroborate these allegations.
Please watch and then get ahold of your federal representatives and tell them that this man and his past are all reasons why he should not be seriously considered for such an important role of leading the Pentagon.
I got ahold of my rep tonight! Will you?
What do you think?
Lee Zeldin has no environmental history or experience, no qualifications whatsoever, ZERO experience with the environment in any way, shape, or form, and he is simply a "yes man" for Donald Trump, the GD President-elect. Zeldin will YES everything that Donald Trump wants to do, including cutting back on Biden's climate- and air-pollution rulings of the past few years.
Trump and Musk have made it clear that they plan on radically rescinding environmental protections all over the nation, including the extended environmental protections in place in California. Why? Why would someone care so little about the environment? He is a climate change denier of the first order.
It's about money. SURPRISE.
It's about industries that don't want to take expensive efforts to protect our air and water. Trump is siding with the money over the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Zeldin, himself, vowed in 2020 to rescind a fracking ban that the Dems put into place.
According to an article on the NPR website, Trump is quoted to have said that "(Zeldin) will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will enact in a way to unleash the power of American business." But we can't breathe the power of American business. ðŸ˜
According to Politico.com, Trump actually campaigned and won on his plans to decimate the climate rulings of the Biden-era. For this, I will not forgive his supporters. My own children worry about their futures, about the actual livability of our planet. Their entire generation fears this administration and what they will do to the planet.
"Drill, Baby, Drill."
The press is NOT the FBI. We need the Congressional FBI background checks and vetting for Lee Zeldin. His complete inappropriateness for the role of EPA leader is this side of criminal!
In response to this Zeldin appointment, I have been looking at EarthJustice, a nonprofit public interest organization based in the United States
dedicated to litigating environmental issues.
JOIN ME in supporting them! They, EarthJustice, have won 85% of the cases that they've brought against the past Trump administration.
I made my donation to EarthJustice. Will you?
Furthermore I contacted my government official and asked him to encourage all vetting activities for all of the nominees and to vote NO for Lee Zeldin and Kash Patel.
What are your thoughts as you read this?
HOMEWORK: Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth
Does he really think his threats will go unheeded by those in Gaza,
Hamas, and the Middle East? These aren't scared Democrats.
These are extremists with their own religious and political agendas.
It is not clear by his general blustering whether or not he's planning on
bringing in the US military, but I for one don't care what his plans are.
His Big Man approach to dealing with Hamas scared the crap out of me.
He terrifies me for many reasons, this one near the top of the list.
Hamas is unscrupulous and will not hesitate to bring violence to our own country.
I'm sure of it.
Our nation has been so fortunate to not have wars and war-like behavior
on our own soil so far, with one major exception of course. But I have no doubt
that we have been lucky so far because we haven't threatened these Islamist
militants directly. We've played from a distance so far.
According to Trump's website Truth Social, Trump announced this threat to Hamas:
Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long
and storied History of the United States of America.
What about you?
What do you think?
I know that you appreciate that I am learning and am trying to put together all of the pieces with my limited knowledge...I appreciate you reading and commenting!
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Say THIS IS NOT OK and Oppose their efforts every day!
And, I'm going to share this CNN article about how to be politically active in today's world. Pick and choose your battles. The best way to fight what is to come is to stay informed.
And this information on Don't Obey in Advance.
You've been probably wondering about this phrase being used quite a bit these days.
Look, there will be days or weeks when you have to take a break from it all. I have been doing that myself. But when you can stick with the fight, your efforts make a difference.
Please, below in the comments, share links to your favorite ways to stay involved.
Your thoughts?
I am a neophyte political poster, I know that I have alot to learn about so many things... As I've been reading and watching and such, I have been reading and reading* about Mike Johnson's political career. I've GOT to inform myself.
What struck me the most about him was not his remarkable leadership skills, but, rather his increase in political power after he was the architect of the 2020 effort to overturn the presidential election and after he pressured some state legislatures to decertify the election. His ties with the election denying has connection to the Evangelical right. And, thusly, a favorite of Donald Trump, who LOVES those who pander to the base.
As a powerful Republican in Congress, Johnson is a part of the movement that we are all watching. A movement that is willing to subvert democracy. Allies of Donald Trump whose sole aim is to gain as much executive power as necessary, including to do away with our nation's governmental system of democracy.
I've been reading and watching videos for months now and I'm always seeing Johnson's face in the background, quietly, slimely, denying climate change, being an extreme and Evangelical pro-life proponent, loudly opposing LGBTQ+ rights, including supporting only male/female marriage, being an enemy of Social Security and Medicare, and continuing to deny the results of the 2020 election. And I am alarmed.
He has the gavel of the House, though he doesn't have total support of the house. Many Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene dislike him intensely. His extreme Christian values are always his agenda, not the desires of his constituents, but his values. And that is always a bright red waving flag to me.
Your thoughts on Mike Johnson?
* including reading on the Fox News websites as well as real news.
And Donald Trump has promised to fire Jack Smith when he takes office. Against all governmental norms and practices, according to multiple news sources this evening. Further, Judge Chutkan formally ended the case Monday afternoon, a case that has been going on for over two years. Seems all you have to do in our country to be completely free to break laws and to behave in any unlawful way you like is to be enshrined in the Republican party's upcoming administration. Because they have all of the authority. Not to mention the historic and unprecedented presidential immunity decision set down by the SCOTUS, also in the pocket of the far right.
Donald Trump has been delaying the delaying involvement in this case and it seems he was successful in doing so. Now the prosecution of him is delayed until he is out of the White House. Yes, you read that right. Another scandalous SCOTUS decision in Trump's favor.
You can read about this situation in about twenty major new sources today, yet I can't believe it. I can't believe that this man has gotten away with such corruption and law breaking. And his supporters voted for him and bought his bullshit stories hook, line, and sinker. His MAGA supporters and other supporters continue to believe his stories, always the misunderstood victim, in spite of the multiple court cases and in spite of the public evidence available for all to see.
Our nation is in a shambles of corruption and the man is not even in office yet.
According to the New York Times, Jack Smith had two courts on Monday to shut down cases...bowing to a Justice Department policy that says it is unconstitutional to pursue prosecutions against sitting presidents. Trump will enter the White House completely unburdened by the federal suits against him in the aforementioned and in other cases...
Has Jack Smith forsaken us in this unprecedented moment? He promised us that nobody was above the law. Today, Special Counsel Smith is paraphrased to have said that the merits of these cases have not changed.
Go out and read all about it as I have been doing all evening because there is more to the story... and then tell me what you think about all of this? I need your brains...
What do you think?
We are seeing him prepare for this already. Since this article is behind a pay wall, allow me to share some of it with you.
The Washington Post article is written by Ruth Marcus, associate editor and columnist for the Post. Her credentials are better and more substantial than all of the Trump cabinet nominees combined. Anyway.
First, taking back the power of the purse from the Senate. He has placed a Project 2025 architect, Russell Vought, as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Purse. Constitutionally the Congress and lawmakers have the power to decide how to spend money, how much and where it should go. The executive branches job is to OK that decision and to make it so. This has been so for over two hundred years.
Donald Trump has said that on his first day he will challenge this procedure as a "usurpation" of presidential power and he will decide for himself where huge cuts and savings are possible in order to "crush inflation" and to, in his words, stop the "deep state", according to his website called DonaldTrump.com. In other words, the power of Congress to make these decisions is being taken by the president-elect on Day One, delivering MAGA their big dream. While we watch it happen.
A second audacious Day One plan Donald Trump is planning is, in effect, to push the Senate to take a recess so that he can push his nominations for his cabinet through without vetting, interviews, or FBI background checks. For this plan he is, again, going back to a horse-and-buggy era pronouncement making it possible for these nominees to serve for two years before the Senate can confirm or deny the nomination. Two full years. While we watch it happen.
Would the Senate do this? Would they recess as his behest? What do you think?
The Republican-held Senate has not shown a single time that they will do what is right rather than what he asks them to do.
The third plan that Donald Trump is talking about relates to our media. He wants the president to take back the power of the Fourth Estate, our media. According to the Post article and a quote by Donald Trump, “I will bring the independent regulatory agencies, such as the FCC and the FTC, back under presidential authority, as the Constitution demands,” he said in an April 2023 video, referring to the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission. “ These agencies do not get to become a fourth branch of government, issuing rules and edicts all by themselves.”
What would this mean for such agencies, which also include the Federal Reserve, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, National Labor Relations Board and Consumer Product Safety Commission? Simply put, Russell Vought states “What we’re trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them." These independent entities will be under the power and authority of the executive branch. As we watch it happening.
And finally, a fourth Day One agenda item, the president-elect wants to eliminate tens of thousands of civil servants who are not already in his pocket. Currently these employees have job security, but Trump plans on increasing his power over these workers in order to, you guessed it, "root out the deep state." His cattle call of choice whenever he's looking for unfettered power and control, use this scary word tactic. All while we watch it happen.
He hasn't touched the Supreme Court yet, but watch for it.
Our Constitution architects and writers took pains to create a document and a nation that shares power and authority with three entities: the Judicial Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Legislative Branch, the Senate. The Judicial Branch interprets the law, the Legislative Branch makes the law, and the Executive Branch enforces the law. Trump's power hungry grab will ensure that he is not only enforcing laws, but making the laws as well...All as we watch from the side lines...
Just because that is his intention, to expand the powers of the Executive branch,
Do Not Obey in Advance!
What Do You Think?
Homework: Look up Impoundment Power and Schedule F
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But the list against him is LONG and egregious.
I KNOW you can think of more reasons why he should not be in office.
Please add to the list in the comments.
My point here is that when Republicans tell me that it won't be so bad, really, they are in for a rude awakening when his incompetencies and his corruption affects them directly.
Your thoughts on this?
Just a quick post this afternoon as I'm thinking about how easy it is to upset or control Donald Trump's ego. We see it every single day. What does Vladimir Putin and the KGB have in mind after he is inaugurated? I can't help but imagine that they have a game plan in mind for getting information and support out of him. I would have a plan if I were them...
I have no doubt that Putin has plans to schmooze Donald Trump into believing that they are bros; what will happen then? Who knows how much information, shared power, and dollars he will get out of the US of A.
Not to mention my 100% expectation that the dynamics of the war with Ukraine will change dramatically. We're already seeing an increase in violence and aggression from Putin in the war, forcing our hand to up the aggression from our side, Biden's side. This conflict will change dramatically soon...
Listen, I don't have more information than your general news viewer, but I have no doubts that Donald Trump will throw his, OUR, considerable military might behind Putin in 58 days, Inauguration Day. Things will change. And he will put our country into jeopardy with this alliance.
And it is THIS DYNAMIC that scares me more than just about anything else to do with him.
I'm fully disgusted with his ego and with the way he is easy to manipulate...
Donald Trump, Fool in Charge.
Your thoughts?
She surprised me by saying that she would reach across the aisle for an issue that is near and dear to my heart, women's health care rights! And she is my second Trumper friend who has said this to me. I find it particularly interesting because this is such a foundational
conservative issue that the "moral majority" bases its legs on.
She then said something that I knew I had to post here.
"I'm not against voting for a female president..as long as she was someone like FDR's wife."
I replied, "Your bar is so high for a female candidate that she has to be
equivalent to Eleanor Roosevelt but you will go ground low for a male candidate?"
I know that he means Nancy Polosi and other high-level Liberals, but I want to be included in the sweep! I would be proud.
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Let's look at what the Department of Education brings to the table...and all of these ideas and thoughts are from the top of my head after a conversation with my sister, a public school teacher in a state with lots of poverty. Lots of poverty, just like the entire southeastern part of our country: Trump Country.
The Department of Education provides for breakfasts and lunches for some ridiculously large number of children, many of whom get the majority of their caloric intake at school. What will those children eat? What will they eat?
The Department of Education provides for schools, school buses, and staff in rural parts of the country. Often the only schools around for miles. Where will these children go to school after the schools have to close down due to an inability to fiscally keep them open? Who can afford private/parochial schools or who can homeschool?
MANY SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO CLOSE.
The Department of Education provides for Pre-K programs. Will children have to wait until they are 5 or 6 before getting services? What about reading and writing and colors and numbers? If the students even live in counties that can afford to keep their schools open.
The Department of Education provides for after school programs. What about those children whose parents work and need this after school care? People will literally be unable to work if they have children of school age. Unemployment and underemployment will become a national problem again. Increasing poverty. A vicious circle.
The Department of Education provides for extra curricular programming that meets after school hours. None will exist.
The Department of Education provides for 405 plans and for Individual Education Programs, IEPs, for students who need a little extra so that they can thrive in schools. Children WILL be left behind!
The Department of Education provides for special programming during the day. Where will children get the extra services and care that they need? How many children will be left behind? What about the social workers, psychologists, speech and hearing coaches, nurses, mental health, wellness services, and other specialists providing care to our children? What will happen to these kids when they are even further left behind?
The Department of Education provides FAFSA services so that students with financial need can access grants and loans for college. That would be GONE.
The Department of Education ensures equal access to education for homeless children under the McKinney-Vento Act. Yes, children with no home can get services at school without barriers. And some economically disadvantaged students can find funds through this act.
"Taking it to the states" indeed.
Most states will never be able to provide needed services to all of their students.
The Department of Education is ESSENTIAL.
Your Thoughts?
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He's not the first conservative to claim this. It has been a rallying call for decades. Universities are anathema to black and white thinking as well as to the right's projects. And the universities are blamed for instilling critical thought into their students, like that is a bad thing.
Here is a quote I found on MSNBC:
During the campaign, Trump released a video laying out his plan to “reclaim our once-great educational institutions from the radical left.” He promised to use the “secret weapon” of accreditation, punishing schools that don’t follow his instructions by stripping them of the certification without which they might not survive. “I will fire the radical left accreditors that have allowed our colleges to become dominated by Marxist maniacs and lunatics,” he said, and replace them with Trump-approved accreditors who will bring a more MAGA-friendly approach to higher education.
What could he POSSIBLY mean by MAGA-friendly approach to higher education? I honestly don't know, but it will definitely not mean higher standards and critical thinking.
What does he mean by Trump-approved accreditors? I don't know, but it will not mean higher qualifications, higher standards, or well-educated staff. And hasn't he already dabbled in unsuccessful higher education?
What do YOU think?
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Now In Dangerous Territory:
PBS, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, News Outfits, Universities, reproductive health, Amnesty International, OxFam America, LGBTQ+ organizations, environmental groups, immigrant rights, educational organizations...over 300 organizations.
HR 9495 effing passed in the House. Now on to the Senate.
Donald Trump has gone on record as being against "left leaning, liberal" organizations like civil rights groups, environmental groups, and human rights groups among many others. Because OF COURSE he would be against these things. He's a criminal and a con man and he benefits from uninformed human beings.
This newest authoritarian gift to Donald Trump may allow him to strip tax-exempt status of nonprofits from anyone he considers foes or "terrorist supporting organizations". And his range is broad. And the bill is wide and easy to abuse. And Trump and his cronies are CRIMINAL at using loopholes. He WILL use it to create havoc indiscriminately in all of these lofty places and we can only sit and watch.
CONTACT YOUR SENATORS!!!
Your Thoughts on this?
