Trump Cries About Wiretaps

In case there is someone out there in Internetland who has not heard, Donald Trump has dominated Twitter, yet again, with yet another petty complaint. This time, it is an accusation against Barack Obama; specifically, that he had the phones at Trump Tower wiretapped during the election. Here's what he said, among other things:

While it is tempting to simply write this off as another stupid sounding complaint by an unqualified and ill-elected president, it is important to note the reaction of Kevin Lewis, Obama's spokesman, prior to passing judgement.  "A cardinal rule of the Obama administration was that no White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice. As part of that practice, neither President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any U.S. citizen. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false, " Lewis stated.

This is interesting. A president cannot order the wiretapping of any American citizen's phone, or any unconstitutional invasion of privacy. If Donald Trump does not know this, and must reach out to his Twitter audience for an answer, he is too stupid for the oval office. Another very telling aspect of Lewis's remark is what he said about DOJ investigations. As it happens, there actually WAS a warrant, which was not obtained by the White House, but by the FBI, to investigate communications at Trump Tower. It centered on a server which was found to be communicating with Russia's Alfa Bank, which has strong ties to Vladimir Putin. It seems that Mr. Trump just found out about the FBI investigation yesterday.

As long as an investigation is ongoing, the FBI is usually not inclined to comment or speak publicly about it. Had Donald Trump just resisted the urge to tweet, many, many Americans would not be aware, today, that the FBI has been investigating his computer and email activities, in connection to his relationship with entities in Russia. It seems plausible that we will hear more about this in the future.

Lying Politicians

 

Above is the Politifact graph depicting the number of lies and truths told by various politicians, in proportion to all of their statements. After fact checking, President Obama is the most honest one to have recently run for president, followed by Hillary Clinton. Like it or not, Democrats have the market cornered on the truth in 2016. Remember the aversion Donald Trump had to fact checking for his first debate with Hillary Clinton?

Will Pat Roberts Please Shut Up?

An open letter from Pat Roberts, (R-Ks) Jerry Moran, (R-Ks) and et els, to another country, concerning matters of state, in defiance of the White House......yet another reason Kansas republicans do NOT deserve respect! President Obama does not need the likes of Pat Retard and Jerry Moron to undermine his efforts at diplomatic conversations with Iran about war! It seems that Republicans think that keeping the Middle East in as much military conflict as possible, rather than solutions that involve peace, or at least holding back, on war, is better for the world, and for the United States, than peace. The more bloodshed, the happier Roberts will be. Hopefully, his former Kansas page, who supports him ad nauseam, will pick up arms and join in! Or are Republicans only supportive of military actions and bloodshed that do not involve their own?

This may or may not be a direct and clear example of treason, per se. There are arguments circulating the web, at this moment, suggesting that the United States indict the morons who drafted this letter. While most of the supporters of the Kansas representatives who signed this letter only support the First Amendment in cases involving their own protected speech, setting a precedent for prosecutions of treason is a serious matter. This country is seriously divided over some very petty things, and the supporters of Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran voted according to petty feelings surrounding the race of one of President Obama's parents, rather than any agenda, even of treason. Perhaps the more intellectual, thinking citizens in Kansas, if not outnumbered by insane racists, could lead an effort to recall Roberts and Moran and install more intelligent fair minded types.

The real problem with gestures such as this is that it shows America's potential enemies, worldwide, the weaknesses that can be exploited at home. The fact that Americans are actually stupid enough to be divided for racist reasons has become not only an embarrassment, but an actual defense problem. While citizens are bickering, attempting to dress up ugly, racist opinions about their president in the most politically correct garb they can find for their nonsensical horror and make themselves appear "christian", a`la the new testament, any enemy the nation has can clearly see that the division extends all the way to Congress, the Senate, and challenges the White House. Is this helpful in terms of defense, or does this put those who volunteer to defend our country in unnecessary danger? Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, by signing that stupid letter, have inched, or maybe lurched, our country closer to another war. Do we need this? Think about it, Kansas, and stfu.

Can Kansas Find Someone Better Than Kris Kobach?

A couple of days ago, the Department of Justice published it's findings that police in the St. Louis, Missouri area do, indeed, have a tendency to ignore the constitutional rights of African Americans. This, naturally, did not brighten Kris Kobach's day. What it has to do with immigration is beyond the imagination of yours truly, but somehow, a gentle listener of some silly-assed conservative radio show has manufactured a connection and called in to share it with Kobach, and he packaged it, without proving it. He put it all together, verbally, in a way that promotes racism and misinformation as usual. Is there anyone who can serve as secretary of state in Kansas without ignoring the constitution and telling not only bold faced lies, but presenting fantasy as truth? This notion that African Americans will cease to face prosecution for any crime may actually serve as proof that Kobach is certifiable and in need of treatment for delusions.

Happy Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July, everyone. This is a good video. If you have time, watch it. When you get to the part about Obama not needing new permissions from Congress concerning Iraq, ponder this: Obama has tried to work with Congress since he was elected. He has had more patience with them than most people would have had. Out of all of the presidents this country has elected, Obama is probably the most gifted statesman. But the question about what is actually going on deserves an answer: who is actually pulling his strings, and ours? Happy Fourth, everyone.

In Case You Slept Through Church On Sunday

Blah...blah...blah. Ralph Reed, of Faith and Freedom Coalition, thinks that President Obama does not defend christian values enough. Where's the eye-rolley when I need it? And which christian values does Ralph want the president to defend? Marriage, a'la the bible, reflecting cultures in which parents barter their children in marriage? Or is he suggesting that the Christian Church control the government? Thomas Jefferson does not agree! Perhaps Ralph is homesick for the the values "upon which America was built"; slavery and human trafficking! Yes, slavery was a big business in this country before the Civil War, and yes, it's human trafficking. Cultures from which the christian churches grew engaged in it freely. It's a Christian value.

President Obama does defend Christian values. Yoshe, or Yeshua, the legendary icon of christianity, reportedly healed the sick free of charge on a regular basis. He also violated open container laws by turning water into wine. He also raised the dead, despite census and social security hassles, and he handed out free food on at least a couple of occasions. For an encore, he vandalized a for-profit market in his synagogue and took coins out of the mouths of fish at tax time. Obama might not agree with Yeshua's answer to the tax man, but he has certainly done more to make medicine available to everyone than the Faith and Freedom Coalition has. Something that is not a Christian value, but a Pagan value, is the ancient Semitic and Mediterranean practice of sending criminals to the lions den for retribution. That's what Good Christian Ralph Reed wants to do to Hillary Clinton. Such a double standard! Must be a Christian value.

So there's the word, in case you slept through church this Sunday.

Cry Me A River, Afghanistan

Obama just can't catch a break! Not only are American Republicans angry at him because he got a Taliban hostage, Bowe Bergdahl, back into the United States, the Afghan president has his panties in a bunch, as well, over all this. Hamid Karzai was very upset that the Taliban went behind his back and released an hostage to the United States with asking him first!

Ya know, malcontent, anti-government, terrorist organizations have a tendency to act without the consent of their government, or any government. It's one of the things that makes these groups so very terrorist. That said, it was rather unrealistic for the president of a country dominated by such an organization to expect the Taliban to ask permission and patiently wait, while the chain of lawful command makes a decision. Here's an idea: perhaps Afghanistan should work harder to eliminate uncooperative bunches like the Taliban. (eye-rolley here)

In other news, Bergdahl seems to be picking up flack for desertion. It seems unlikely that he deserted in favor of becoming the prisoner of a terrorist organization; but bringing him home, rather than leaving him in the hands of the enemy, was still the right thing for Obama to do. If Bergdahl actually became a prisoner by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and being unaccounted for, at the same time, we can certainly address that situation. Leaving an American soldier with the Taliban when there are obviously other choices should not be an option.

Republicans Have Panties Bunched Over Prisoner Exchange

Whenever I think I've heard it all, I always find myself sadly surprised. And this time is no different. We just had an American prisoner by the name of Bowe Bergdahl returned to us by the Taliban, in exchange for five prisoners from Guantanamo Bay. I think this is wonderful. I hope we can do this again, and soon. But guess who doesn't think it is wonderful.....If you are guessing the Republican Party, you would be correct. Republicans think that this prisoner exchange violated some goofy, inapplicable law in some imaginary, unthinkable way because Congress was not given thirty days notice prior to the release of terrorists. (mocking, whiny voice here, coupled with eye-rolley)

Thirty days. Obviously, no Republican serving in Congress has served in any branch of our military and been held hostage by a country that is not a party to the Hague Convention. The first and most important order of business for President Obama, as soon as prisoner exchange was brokered, was to get Bowe Bergdahl back into America. Thirty days could have killed the whole deal, and gotton Bergdahl killed, as well. Not that most Republicans nowadays would care; Bergdahl and all other American prisoners of war and hostages are just collateral damage to them.

In addition to the thirty day whine from Republicans, there is also the matter of America's lack of progress in closing down Guantanamo Bay. Obama spoke of wanting to do this eight years ago, and has been blocked every turn of the way. If he can kill two birds with one stone, and empty out Gitmo and keep his promise of shutting it down by exchanging prisoners, I do not see how this can possibly be a violation of any law. Unless Republicans in Congress are really not on the side of American people.

The Mandela Proclamation And Respect

 

This was on the profile of a Facebook friend yesterday, and I liked it enough to snag it and use it here. How is it that so many young people in America do not know about South Africa, Apartheid, or Nelson Mandela? Why have the employees in some federal government buildings ignored the recent Mandela Proclamation by failing to lower the flag to half staff, in honor of Nelson Mandela?

 

National Government Shutdown Day

There is a group of Kansas citizens who have been protesting sporadically outside of Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins's Pittsburg Kansas office since the Government Shutdown began on October 1. They have decided to make the most of the situation, and use it as an opportunity to remind Jenkins that even though the rivers tend to flow Republican in Kansas, (no pun intended, there actually IS a Republican River in Kansas) there are still many voters affiliated with the Democrat Party and the Republican Party who are not happy with Jenkins's tendency to bow to the Tea Party, and sell out to the Koch Brothers whenever the pressure is on. So they have put together signs and banners with various messages; "Tea Time Is Over" has been a popular one, and peacefully protested this past week.

This is a great idea, and it is heartwarming to see that Kansans care enough about the misdeeds of those in authority to speak up about it. It could be taken to a higher level, though. Instead of being afraid when the media puppetry suggests doom and gloom, and makes the recommendation of being afraid, we could make a celebration out of it. Now that operations that have been shut down are slowly but surely getting re-opened, one by one, as the need and public outcry dictates, we can all see that a lot of this "shutdown" business is really an outlet for congressional and senatorial drama. It's a shame our representatives apparently never excelled in drama or forensics when they were in high school, and are acting out now, using the rest of us as a "forced audience" of sorts, but it seems this is the sad result of failing to learn cooperation and communication skills and failing to grow up. Boehner, we are all looking at you, here. When we want  drama queens, we will look to the Kardashians, not to Congress.

Suppose, every year, the government shut down on October 1 in order to remember and celebrate October 1, 2013? It could be a day that we close everything except "essential" services and gather outside of city halls and government buildings everywhere in the nation. We could barbecue, sell hotdogs, and create a carnival atmosphere, encouraging the drama espoused by Congress right now. Anyone with a gripe about a flaw within local or national politics would have the opportunity to picket, and draw attention to his chosen cause. We could also stage Revolutionary War reenactments. Schools, of course, would be closed on National Government Shutdown Day. Instead of furloughing government employees, we could give anyone who wanted to work on that day an option of taking the day off, or participating in a drive to register potential voters. Not only would National Government Shutdown Day be a celebration and an outlet for repressed angst, it could be educational and constructive.

The only guideline that should be strictly enforced is possibly that there should be no violence, just constructive fun, as the Fourth of July is celebrated. No one can be hanged in effigy, and no destruction of property can be tolerated. Instead, we can write petitions requesting that officials go back to school, switch to more suitable careers, or resign. In more serious cases, National Government Shutdown Day can be a day when we write petitions and complaints to initiate recalls and investigations of those officials and elected servants whose performance is truly unacceptable. Violence, however; is never a constructive direction for change.

As an added bonus, the weather is usually very nice in the beginning of October, and conducive to nonviolent gatherings. Mild weather is great for picnics. When school re-opens the following day, classroom discussions could take place nationwide for the purpose of teaching children how their government works, and about what happens when it does not work.

 

Update Shared On Facebook

An update to the situation concerning Edward Snowden and his brand new ability to exist in Russia has been shared on Facebook! The most effective thing Obama can do right now, in the interest of peace, and in the interest foreign relations, is to just pardon Snowden and move on.

 

 

In Case You Skipped Out On Church This Sunday

 

This is a largely misunderstood concept here in the midwest.

 

 

Favorite Commercial Of 2012

What totally weird and crazy stuff we have seen on TV in 2012! When I was young, people were usually too repressed and concerned with maintenance of their facades to say the things on national television that come across the airwaves now! From all of 2012's entertaining and amusing offerings, I'm gonna have to say that Obama's campaign advertisement after the first presidential debate with Romney, calling out Romney on his silly comments about cutting the funding for public television and Big Bird is my favorite commercial of 2012!

 

Do All Republicans Cry?

"i personally think your article is worthless fecal matter. maybe you should fact check obamas terrible record and how he will bankrupt this country completely. republicans just dont want to give the money they make away to worthless unemployed welfare recipients.maybe you should move to a communist country if you really believe the liberal garbage you just spewed!"

This comment was sent to me, not only on this blog, but in a couple of different places on the internet. Apparently, we have a sore loser on our hands. Obama's record does not bother me. Obama reformed healthcare and dealt with Bin Laden. Obama also didn't let the auto industry disappear, and has refused to sell out to the Koch Brothers. He also stopped campaigning after Hurricane Sandy and did his job, while Romney collected goods that the Red Cross told him they could not transport or use, and threw them away after posing beside them for the camaras. By the way, the people who were affected by Hurricane Sandy are some of the people who will benefit from the money you don't want to give. They are from all walks of life, not just stereotypical "welfare recipients".

Programs for relief for those living in poverty do not take more than five to six percent of taxes paid by everyone, and if you are bellyaching about "food stamps" in particular, that's between three and four percent. Most of the beneficiaries of those programs are children, and I would certainly never vote for a lawmaker who wanted children to quit school and go to work. So the single digit percent you do not want to pay is probably going to stay in place. By and large, the rest of those "unemployed welfare recipients" are pretty much employed, since there are time limits to what they can receive in benefits. As long as they can work, they are required to work. If it's healthcare you are running your sillyassed yap about to me, I think everyone is entitled to medical care, whether they can afford insurance or not. Once again, most of the people whose insurance is bought with your tax dollars and mine are children, so shut up! And when adults become ill and cannot work, they shouldn't be bankrupted or turned away by doctors and hospitals. Other than that, schools, libraries, and city infrastructures are also things that are paid for by Republicans and Democrats alike, and we should be budgeting MORE money for schools, not LESS.

As for "giving away the money you make", my self righteous complainer, there was once a day in my past, when I was at work, assisting my employer in his quest to make money, when the hospital emergency room telephoned me to let me know that my infant son had been taken there by ambulance with a fever of one hundred and six. My employer complained that without me, he could not make as much money, and threatened me with disciplinary action if I left early to care for my son. The truth here is, the money made by that company was made, not only by the company owners, but by all the employees, as well. Thereby, the money made was not only the company's, but mine, as well. My employer attempted to step on me, but I took care of my family anyway. Since he was unable to replace me at the drop of a hat, he was stuck with a mom who loves her children on his payroll. You see, there are too many people in this country, and on this planet, for things to run in as uncomplicated of a fashion as you seem to think they should run. The person who fought in the wars in which your country engaged, but is unemployed now, still made money along with you. The person with a disability is also not "worthless", as you stated. As long as you travel on OUR roads to reach your place of employment and make YOUR money, and as long as you send your children to OUR schools, and use the services of OUR police force, and a myriad of other commonly shared ammenities, you cannot really claim that you are "giving the money you make away". Obama is not bankrupting this country....businesses like Walmart are, if you really think that welfare is the biggest problem. Many of Walmart's employees are not paid a wage that enables them to live without using some of those services you decry. Yet you do want someone to ring up your purchases promptly when you shop at Walmart, don't you? Why is your money more special than that person's money? Why is your time at work more special than that person's time at work?

The "fecal matter" here was written by you......with little to no punctuation and absolutely no fact checks. And you are pathetic enough to withhold your signature or your name. I do not have to move to a Communist country. I am American, and I get to stay here. Obama won the election, you are just going to have to get used to it.

The Face Behind

"Oh Miss Juli! Once again you just crack me up :) If Mitt doesn't win this election you can pretty much kiss the USA goodbye, but then, you would really like that, wouldn't you? You are the type that doesn't really give two shits about the flag, thinks God doesn't belong....ANYWHERE, and is in love with those wonderful goverment handouts! Of course you love Obama!"

As promised, here is the face behind the IP number from which the above comment was sent to me. The person whose computer electronically contacts veterans to tell them that they do not give "two shits" about the flag! The person who preaches Christianity and the evils of reproductive freedom for women to sixth graders out of one side of her mouth and uses the other for......well.....never mind. Lets just say the Christianity I read about in the story books favors less sexaully active lifestyles prior to marriage. As for God belonging anywhere, he, she, or it only belongs in your home, church, and possibly your car. Not in a public school. And if you don't like the fact that Kansas allows children with disabilities to get medical care, and allows people such as yours truly to care for such children when their parents are not present or able to do so, go suck Romney's balls. Seriously. In this country, we may vote for whichever candidate we happen to like. No one is obligated to vote for your personal favorite. Show more respect for the Constitution, and show more respect for veterans.

For Sad Republicans

 

The morning after. The sigh of relief. The encouragement of watching Americans vote, even while in labor, dying, (he was revived) waiting in long lines until the wee hours of morning, and even after being displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Most of those votors voted for President Obama, too. For the people in a certain Northeast Kansas town who harrassed my children and me because Obama's heritage is African as well as Caucasion, I share this!

 

Message From Obama

To everyone on the East Coast, this is very important. Please pay attention to this and be safe.

 

Obama Does His Job While Romney Runs For Cover

 
A big storm threatens the East Coast. Obama headed straight for Washington D.C. Romney, on the other hand, ran away, getting as far inland as he could without running into another storm. If Mitt Romney cannot stand up to a storm, how on earth would he stand up to an enemy? He'd be the first in retreat. Every time.

 

But then, Mitt does not keep his money in America, either.

 

Update: "And while both Republicans and Democrats were tiptoeing around politicizing the storm, some progressive news sites pointed out Sunday that Romney called federal disaster relief funding "immoral" in a primary season debate last year.".....Yahoo News

Facts About Obama

 

One update to this: at this point, there have been thirty-two straight months of job increases, not twenty-seven.

Ann Coulter, Another Reason To Vote Democrat

 

This is Ann Coulter, conservative political commentator and professional bigot, posed with a recent tweet she made after the third presidential debate between Romney and Obama. Obama called Romney out on at least half a dozen lies, gave Romney a lesson on military strategy, and kept Romney on the defense most of the evening. In short, Obama won the debate. This was to be expected, since Obama had clearly done his homework before the debate, and has clearly done his job for the past four years. Mitt Vote-For-Me- Because-I'm-White Romney neither had answers or honesty in any of the debates, and he was unprepared for a discussion with Obama. Having learned his lesson after being told to sit down and be quiet during the second debate, Romney decided to behave this time. And so......we got to hear the nasty comment from Ann Coulter. Here's a letter she got from a man with Downs Syndrome.

John Franklin Stephens

Dear Ann Coulter,
Come on Ms. Coulter, you aren’t dumb and you aren’t shallow. So why are you continually using a word like the R-word as an insult?
I’m a 30 year old man with Down syndrome who has struggled with the public’s perception that an intellectual disability means that I am dumb and shallow. I am not either of those things, but I do process information more slowly than the rest of you. In fact it has taken me all day to figure out how to respond to your use of the R-word last night.
I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life as many of my fellow Special Olympians have.
Then I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarkey sound bite to the next.
Finally, I wondered if you meant to degrade him as someone who is likely to receive bad health care, live in low grade housing with very little income and still manages to see life as a wonderful gift.
Because, Ms. Coulter, that is who we are – and much, much more.
After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. You assumed that people would understand and accept that being linked to someone like me is an insult and you assumed you could get away with it and still appear on TV.
I have to wonder if you considered other hateful words but recoiled from the backlash.
Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.
No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.
Come join us someday at Special Olympics. See if you can walk away with your heart unchanged.
A friend you haven’t made yet,
John Franklin Stephens
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