Mr. Trump Goes to Washington

Well - here we are.

Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States.

That shocking reality came crashing into view yesterday when he met first with President Obama at the White House and then Republican leadership on Capitol Hill.

The President - for his part - said he was "encouraged" by the hour-and-a-half- conversation he had with Trump - and urged the nation to "come together to fix the challenges we face".

I have been very encouraged by the, I think, interest in President-elect Trump's wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces. And I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together to deal with the many challenges that we face.

That is going to be a lot easier said than done.

Many Americans are absolutely terrified at what the next four years could bring - and rightfully so.

Maybe it was all a joke - maybe it was all some big ploy - but Donald Trump just ran one of the most divisive - fear-driven - and downright bigoted campaigns in American history.

He's also swept Republicans back into control of both the executive and legislative branches of our government for the first time in a decade-plus- and will probably get the chance to fill multiple Supreme Court seats.

This country is about to swing so far to the right Ronald Reagan wouldn't even recognize it.

But the resistance is growing.

Last night - tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities all across the country to protest Donald Trump's and the right-wing policies he'll bring with him to the White House.

Their rallying cry was "Not My President".

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are also gearing up for a fight - and Bernie Sanders looks like he'll lead the way.

On Wednesday - Bernie said in a statement that he and other progressives would work with Donald Trump "if he's serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families" but also warned that "To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him." The next four years are going to be dark - but if the protest movement we saw last night joins up with a progressive front led by Bernie Sanders and others like him - we might just survive President Trump.

Comments

TomDorr's picture
TomDorr 6 years 20 weeks ago
#1

One can just imagine the outcry if tens of thousands of Americans took to the streets after Obama was elected and they chanted "not my president".

The fact is, like it or not, Donald Trump will be the President of the United States.

This Chicken Little hysteria is unwarranted. I think it is just a tantrum over the fact that the Hillary coronation was derailed.

There will be immediate good to come from Trumps victory, if we can hold him to the fire. Rather than building a wall to keep out illegals, the use of a comprehensive and mandatory e-Verify program, combined with draconian penalties on employers who hire illegals in the construction and manufacturing trades, to start, would be of great benefit to the American worker and taxpayer.

Also, revamping the ACA to make it economically sustainable and less burdensome on middle class taxpayers would also be of great benefit to the mainstream.

Third, reversing the efforts to establish the economic ties with Cuba that would enable the murderous Castro regime to stay in power, and keeping the effective embargo in place, would hasten Castro's demise and protect American workers from having a cheap labor "China" 90 miles off shore.

If nothing else, this election should clearly show that mainstream, middle class Americans have grown tired of the Democrats ignoring their needs in favor of smaller, but louder special interest groups that have become the favorites of Democratic Elites more interesting in social engineering than beneficial change for the mainstream.

If the above changes can take place in terms of illegal immigration, the ACA, and Cuba, and the Democrats learn who actually butters their bread, than the country will benefit greatly.

Also, I believe strongly that the demise of Hillary Clinton and the end of her lifelong quest for self-aggrandizement, is one that should be applauded, not mourned.

Buckle up, we're in for an exciting, unpredictable ride. But one that should not frighten or "terrify" the majority of Americans.

stecoop01's picture
stecoop01 6 years 20 weeks ago
#2

I'm going to take the lighter side and hope that Trump proves to be as big a disappointment for the conservatives as Obama proved to be for the liberals.

And to anyone contemplating a presidential assassination take this advice: Shoot Pence first!

Take it from a Hoosier, you do not want Pence to become president.

Old Kel's picture
Old Kel 6 years 20 weeks ago
#3

My wonder is why only half of us voted...almost guarantees another half-assed four years. I pray for peace for us all.

cccccttttt 6 years 20 weeks ago
#4

Well said, TomDorr.

ct

ikeberltersen's picture
ikeberltersen 6 years 20 weeks ago
#5

After Donald Trump became the Republican candidate I took it upon myself to learn about this person, his business history, his personality, his character. I found that he was not the business empire builder that he promoted himself to be, but a duplicitous con artist whose real talent was in baffling others with BS, as he walked away from the wreckage of his business ventures with a large chunk of change while leaving investors out of their money, pleading bankruptcy and gaming the tax system . Most of his businesses have been abject failures, a result of his hubris and incompetence. This is a man who stiffed his contractors, working people who trusted him to live up to his end of a bargain, then pitched himself to the working class as a savior who will bring back jobs to America. The clothing that he sold was made in China. His university was an outright fraud, scamming people out of their savings. Not only is their no bottom to his dishonesty and unethical business dealings, I simply can't find any evidence that he has any redeeming qualities. What has he ever done that contributes to a better world? What little charitable giving Trump has done has always had strings attached. There is absolutely nothing in this man's past that gives any indication that he will serve the public as president.

Trump has said a number of things that I agree with - bad trade policies, Wall Street greed, the carried interest loophole. There is absolutely nothing in his past that would lead me to believe that Mr. Trump will do anything to fix the problems he brought up. He does not have the interest, the focus, the will, the competence, or the empathy to fix any of this. He is a total fraud with a talent for pressing people's buttons. He will not accomplish any of the things he said he would do. He won the election by lying constantly, degrading others, ginning up hate, all with a pass from the media. Expect buyer's remorse within a short time. He may be the president, but he's not my president.

ikeberltersen's picture
ikeberltersen 6 years 20 weeks ago
#6

TomDorr - thousands did take to the streets after Obama was inaugurated. They called him a monkey, they carried guns to their rallies, they disrupted town hall meetings of their representatives. It was called the Tea Party. Remember? Then there was the Republican coalition that met on the day of his inauguration and agreed to obstruct him on everything, because party was more important than country. It's been eight years of Obama Derangement Syndrome, promoted by the RNC's chief mouthpiece, Fox News, during which time Obama has been vilified and blamed for just about everything. Did that slip down the memory hole also? As for the outcry over eight years of obstruction, shutdowns, and demonization - it certainly didn't stop the Republicans.

Old_Curmudgeon 6 years 20 weeks ago
#7

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica}

Merely Wistful?

{a rhyme}

May Bernie-ite thinking be more than just wistful

that we might succeed in our efforts resistful, -

- that Trumpism’s thrusts can be constrained

before these errors become engrained.

May resistance be Real, and not merely wishful.

=====================================

Janet Cruz 6 years 20 weeks ago
#8

The most dangerous thing (besides possible nuclear war) that Trump probably can do is stop any efforts to mitigate climate change, making a global catastrophe even more likely. So, we progressives must carry on. We must be the change we want. There are many things we can do, things that the government cannot bring about but which are necessary if we are to ever bring an end to global warming. These things are hard, and we will have to make sacrifices, but we can show the world that it is possible.

A. Stop driving gasmobiles except when absolutely necessary. Walk and bicycle to local events, take public transportation.

B. Install solar or wind power and buy an electric vehicle. Get off the grid if it comes from coal or oil energy.

C. Stop using plastic. Try to find items not enclased in plastic, shop at stores where you can buy in bulk and bring your own container.

D. Buy food produced locally, not food that has been trucked for hundreds or thousands of miles. Grow more of your own food, buy organic (agribusiness is the biggest producer of greenhouse gases, even more than automobiles.)

E. Form cooperatives to make and sell products; avoid buying from large corporations whenever possible.

F. Take part in and support local entertainment and sports leagues, instead of traveling great distances to see the big ticket entertainers. Poetry readings, local drama groups, dances, all were once popular ways to enjoy life.

TomDorr's picture
TomDorr 6 years 20 weeks ago
#9

ikebertlersen: Thousands did not come out right after Obama's election. They did not claim he was not "their" president. Thousands did not take to the streets after he was inaugurated. ( Where did you get that information?).

Political factions that oppose presidents are not thousands of people screaming "he's not our president".

Sorry, but I feel this contrived hysteria is more about those throwing fits that they did not get the coronation of Hillary and the far left, than any legitimate fear or concern about the future of this country.

It seems that the strange fringe elements of this country are simply upset that the mainstream backbone finally got their say.

c-gull's picture
c-gull 6 years 20 weeks ago
#10

The U.S. has become a great refuge for hypocrisy. The people that voted for Trump have just flushed the last little bit of democracy we had left down the toilet and seemed to enjoy it.

Now we are supposed to support this fascist for a better America? If you ever wondered how Nazi Germany got started-wonder no more.

Suze O's picture
Suze O 6 years 20 weeks ago
#11

Wait a minute, Thom. There may be a reason why this is such a shock. We saw how the Repbulicans stole the election for W. - both against Al Gore and John Kerry. This time they have control of the Presidency, the House, AND the Senate. Funny, just what they always wanted. And voter suppression and countless other GOP tricks were rampant. They're getting much better at ways to subvert democracy and we can't ignore the real possibility that this time is another one of their coups. As much as they disliked Trump, they would do anything to avoid Hillary.

Kend's picture
Kend 6 years 20 weeks ago
#12

I don't know why you guys are so worried. Eight years ago the Republicans where scared poopless that the community organizer and new president would put the country in debt a trillion of dollars a year and with all that money spent would accomplish nothing. Oh poop. Ya you should be worried. They where right and you probably are to.

Copycat 6 years 20 weeks ago
#13

Amen on that last suggestion

Dave Jamieson's picture
Dave Jamieson 6 years 20 weeks ago
#14

This is what I witnessed as a pol worker (inspector) in Torrance, California. I personaly saw eight and heard from roughly eighty of my over 500 voters that they had been put on the "Vote by Mail" list without requesting it. The disturbing thing about this is that they recieved their envelopes at their address with someone elses name on it. This means that when it is counted at the county clerk, it will be rejected because the signature will not jive with the name on the envelope. I have reported this to the registrar recorder, who replied that I would hear from some executive. I also reported it to the local newspaper, which responded by saying they will alert an editor to look into the issue. This anomalie looks to me like an intentional thing rather than a simple mistake.

Suze O's picture
Suze O 6 years 20 weeks ago
#15

Janet Cruz - I've been doing such things for years. As a single person, I have even moved to apartments near where I work so I can commute by foot.

Another couple of things: Look into meet-ups (usually in more urban areas) and find groups that are into earthen buildings - cob, strawbale, adobe, earth-bermed, earth-ship etc. The use of thermal mass makes these buildings hold a very stable temperature of about 55 to 60 degrees. When thermal mass is warmed, it holds that heat for a long time, and often these buildings can be warmed by a south-facing window. The incoming sunlight warms the interior which is then radiated back during the night. Such buildings often need no air-conditioning. They are made of earth and need little wood in their construction, and there is no off-gassing.

There are often local clubs or meet-ups around permaculture, which should be the way we raise all our food - getting rid of the factory farming that uses so much petroleum. For inspiration, I recommend finding the YouTube documentary "How Cuba Survived Peak Oil", which is how the Cuban people completely revolutionized their agriculture into a permaculture system after the Soviet Union fell and US embargos closed in. I don't know how much the Communist government in Cuba helped with this, but it looks like it was primarily a people-instigated change.

Suze O's picture
Suze O 6 years 20 weeks ago
#16

stecoop01 - Did you read Thom's comment earlier that since Trump has no experience whatsoever, and isn't inclined to "work with others", a Trump administration actually WOULD be a Pence administration? That's why Pence is on the ticket - because he's actually been in Congress and knows something about the process. Donald will be the "Great and Terrible Oz" head on a screen that appears to make all decisions. But Pence will the one working all the levers.

BMetcalfe's picture
BMetcalfe 6 years 20 weeks ago
#17

I think it's WRONG to take Cuba out of the mix. I've always wanted to visit Cuba, and many people are now getting to go. WHY stop this transition now? The Castro Brothers aren't going to live forever, and the people there can benefit from our Americans visiting Cuba before the culture changes forever. If I EVER fly again, it would be to see Cuba before our American dollars change it forever. I may not get to go now, but I'm hoping in the Spring, now that I finally have access to portable oxygen and a wheel chair, I really CAN go there for a few days. My mother was there before we placed the embargo, and she absolutely loved it! I've only got her memories now to remind me of how it used to be; I'd love to be well enough to make my own trip before Americans ruin it. Please don't stop all the good progress we've been able to make in just a few months. After all, we welcome them here without the same discrimination we give to people who are a lot closer to our culture than Cuba is. Can't we extend common courtesy to them after all these years? Harboring grudges that hurt so many people are ridiculous, and Vietnam is now our friend; why not Cuba? Think about that, please, before you ruin what has already begun to be a better world of relations.

dnd's picture
dnd 6 years 20 weeks ago
#18

If you think the election was rigged or you are concerned about our future sign this petition for the electors to vote for the candidate who won the popular vote:

https://www.change.org/p/electoral-college-electors-electoral-college-ma...

dnd's picture
dnd 6 years 20 weeks ago
#19

Hey Thom, did you buy Louise 11 roses for your anniversary?

Legend 6 years 20 weeks ago
#20

Tomdorr, The Tea Party was formed as a protest to the Obama administration. Fox News then grew it into a national organization. Look it up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement#Early_local_protest_events

At the same time the Birther movement started. A rascist movement whose goal was to remove him from office.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_citizenship_conspiracy_theories

Cuba? Did you not learn your lessons from Vietnam? The horrible communist regime that was the stepping stone for communism to spread into America, is now a trading partner.

http://www.voanews.com/a/more-us-brands-heading-to-communitst-vietnam/17...

I do not understand how you can predict what Trump will do. 91% of what he says is lies.

http://www.politicususa.com/2016/03/31/ninety-one-percent-donald-trump-f...

Kend's picture
Kend 6 years 20 weeks ago
#21

A sobering thought. What if Trump does "make America great again". If he does bring back mfg. jobs, improves. health care, stops the out of control spending spree and government corruption. Etc. It could be the end of the lefts socialists movement. I think the world is extremely worried that America is going to look after it self for a change As a Canadian I am. 75% of our exports go to the US and it looks like an additional 800,000 barrels a day of oil once keystone is approved. Interesting times to come

2950-10K's picture
2950-10K 6 years 20 weeks ago
#22

I'm still wondering if Clinton's delay in her concession speech was related to a decision on whether or not to contest the massive swing state election fraud? It appears she decided to honor the history of presidential election fraud with Dem candidates handing the country over to the Fascists without even a whimper?

Thom is right about interstate cross check fraud, but in addition the Fascists facilitated a huge amount of digital flipping too. This is normally a 5% flip every election, but if went much higher this time, and guess what, Obama and his administration have been briefed on this, and they accept it.

The Obama's and Clinton's have plenty of wealth so the possibility of civil war breaking out if they were to do the right thing is far less desirable than just relaxing at the country club. So, "We the People," have to do the right thing and fight back against a Pence presidency....yes, Cheney has come back to rule!

Refuse to file taxes, and if you know your employer voted for Trump, sabotage his business by slowing down productivity, hassle Fox News reporters any chance you get, anytime Trump does the opposite of what he promised the Reds, post it online. Constantly repeat Comey, Comey, Comey, Giuliani, Giuliani, Giuliani, the same way the Reds repeated Bengazi, Bengazi, Bengazi, emails , emails, emails. Constantly talk about Trumps rape charges and his two fraud trials. Follow Portland's example and get in the streets and recognize Bernie as our rightful leader.

The thing that gauls me the most about this election is that in terms of economic reality, the Reds would have won if the Dems took power, but we all get fffed now because the Reds bought into the lies once again and voted against not only themselves, but 99.9 percent of us.

ajackson23's picture
ajackson23 6 years 20 weeks ago
#23

Reference exiting polling results:

http://tdmsresearch.com/2016/11/10/2016-presidential-election-table/#comment-1070

The science of statistical analysis led the revolution into modern agriculture in the study of seed test plots and the revolution into modern manufacturing in the development of machine capability. If the statistical results were ignored then as they are in today’s polling results, modern agriculture and manufacturing would not exist. To ignore the science of these results is equivalent to ignoring climate change and its science. As we honor the Veterans who gave their lives for our democracy, we dishonor them with our apathy. Our nation has suffered a coup d’état of third world proportions. Yet we as a nation cower to those who too readily speak of the Constitution and the right to vote while actualizing fraud and contempt for these instruments of democracy. Has our nation become so blind, deaf, and dumb that it will just acquiesce to today’s demigods of power and corruption? Have we become a nation so ignorant of truth and reason that we placidly subjugate ourselves and our nation to people who have no interest in democracy but for how it can be manipulated to serve as a means to their own ends? The science and truth of these exit polls have brought no uproar, no outrage, no calling for a re-election with paper only ballets. The science and truth of these exit polls shout of fraud, insurgency and treason. Our nation now stands on the gallows and the perpetrators of our demise are pulling the lever. Millions of people have suffered horrible deaths over the centuries to bring the ideals of democracy and freedom to birth within our mass consciousnesses and actualized in the formation of The United States of America. We have put great energies and effort to develop a vast military to protect our very existence. But we are now being devoured from within by parasites who perceive our great nation as nothing but fodder for their own feast. We do nothing about the enemy within; within our borders and within ourselves. We have been very cleverly wooed to sleep by people who speak of service and concern yet act to dominate and control. Will we wake up? Will we come to our senses? Will we perceive the deceptions woven around us? I fear I may have only lived to see us die.

warrior0713's picture
warrior0713 6 years 20 weeks ago
#24

DNC to blame for fixing the primarfies and homHatman for not taTlking about ele/hant in the room controtlpled demolition at \world trade center and a cruise missile strike allo\wed by mega \war /profiteer Dick Cheney so sad and so predictabCle as HRC a neocon warhawk ought never beeen permitted to steal primary.

DHBranski's picture
DHBranski 6 years 20 weeks ago
#25

Not much left to say. Masses of the poor, and those who get why it matters, voted for President Obama on the chance that he could launch a legitimate discussion about our poverty crisis, and begin reversing the anti-poor agenda implemented by the Clinton administration. It was worth a try. Many are keenly aware of the role Hillary Clinton played in formulating that agenda. Others were aware of Clinton's long record of support for military aggression, and for corporate empowerment. In 2016, the only choice for these people was to vote third party or withhold their votes.

ajackson23's picture
ajackson23 6 years 20 weeks ago
#26

Bring the voting machine to court. Case: voting machines are incapable of doing their job. Bring in expert witnesses in statistics s to attest to the scientific and mathematical validity of statistical analyses and expert witnesses in industrial engineering to demonstrate how a statistical analysis is used in machinery design and capability studies. Prof. Douglas Montgomery of Arizona State would be a good place to start.

Arrgy's picture
Arrgy 6 years 20 weeks ago
#27

I have to scream, WHY IN HELL ARE WE IGNORING THE FACT THAT KARL ROVE IS STILL THE ARCHETECT AND HE'S BEEN PERFORMING ELECTION FRAUD EVERY 2 YEARS? WHEN DO WE DEMAND THEY ALL BE SCRAPPED?

THOM,WHEN ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION? HRC won!

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/can-we-count-election-results-exit...

Arrgy's picture
Arrgy 6 years 20 weeks ago
#28

Thanks ajackson!!! People spend way too much time talking about symptons and not the cause.

KateCooperWA's picture
KateCooperWA 6 years 20 weeks ago
#29

I don't understand why Thom and a few others want Keith Ellison to be the new DNC chair. While Mr. Ellison may be a great Guy and a fine legislator, is it really a good stategic idea to have a muslim represent the party? I can see that as a protest against Islamophobia, but it really paints a target on the DNC's back as the true secret Muslim party. Howard Dean has proven he can get the job done. Protesting is fine but is it really working?

kemalbenyounes's picture
kemalbenyounes 6 years 20 weeks ago
#31

The hypocracy of the Republicofascists knows no bounds. Instead of protesting he is not my president, they should be protesting a stolen election. All of the the States that engaged in blatant voter suppression should be shutdown by protest until either people's votes are counted or the electors annull this farcal election.

2950-10K's picture
2950-10K 6 years 20 weeks ago
#32

ajackson23...info on the exit polls is getting scrubbed...dem underground got hacked etc. Thom found some info on it and mentioned it...that's about it. The corpse media of course isn't saying a word....they know this info will turn the country inside out. I suspect our own government is active in much of the suppression. The dem underground hacker was a Trump nut. The link you provided should be front page news!

chuckle8's picture
chuckle8 6 years 20 weeks ago
#33

Ajackson23 -- Thanks for the reference. What makes it even worse is that the exit polls cannot include the voters who gave up trying because of the long lines in North Carolina at the polls, the long lines at the DMV in WI, etc.

chuckle8's picture
chuckle8 6 years 20 weeks ago
#34

kend - It would be interesting for you to understand the "two Santa Claus" policy proposed by Jude Wanniski. If T-Rump and the repugs, would apply the policy it would improve the economy, but would increase out of control spending. It is what Raygun used. People liked the economy and ignored tripling the debt. As a consequence there is an analysis that shows the repugs are responsible for 93% of our current debt (as of Nov 12, 2016). You can find the analysis at reaganbushdebt.org.

Jude's policy is discussed at the following link.

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2009/01/26/two-santa-clauses-or-how-re...

Kend's picture
Kend 6 years 20 weeks ago
#35

Chuck thanks for the read. I think the left is way off on Trump. Trump is not coming out of a recession like "Raygun". He is not going to spend he is going to cut and cut big. The economy is going to explode because poeple with money will feel comfortable investing with a business man in power. Old rich white guys are opening their wallets right now. Look at the stock market right now. The best thing I heard Trump say is "I am running for President of the United States not President of the world" great news for America not so good for the rest of the world. Trump is a long way from Reagan

Kend's picture
Kend 6 years 20 weeks ago
#36

Chuck thanks for the read. I think the left is way off on Trump. Trump is not coming out of a recession like "Raygun". He is not going to spend he is going to cut and cut big. The economy is going to explode because poeple with money will feel comfortable investing with a business man in power. Old rich white guys are opening their wallets right now. Look at the stock market right now. The best thing I heard Trump say is "I am running for President of the United States not President of the world" great news for America not so good for the rest of the world. Trump is a long way from Reagan

deepspace's picture
deepspace 6 years 20 weeks ago
#37

TomDorr's analysis is no doubt correct that this election was largely a referendum on the fact that the Democratic establishment elite abandoned the middle class for the donor class. However,his -- and certain others' -- hope that somehow any good will come out of it, in regards to the really important issues like anthropogenic climate disruption, war, healthcare, and the myriad of issues important to workers and their families, seems a little too Pollyannaish considering the track records of the reprobates just handed all the key levers of power.

Reading through the rest of the thread, the points expressed by ikeberltersen, ajackson23, 2950-10k, Janet Cruz, Suze O, Legend, and so many others, implying that we must resist, each in our own way, should better light the way forward out of this dark place. Being half Irish (the angry half), and knowing their long, sad history resisting the English occupiers, my first thought was, godamnit, armed rebellion! But the peacenik side of my schizophrenia realizes peaceful resistance is far more powerful and lasting.

I can't bear all the hand wringing on the inter-tubes by Democratic bloggers, pundits, and failed strategists, so the following is my own postmortem liberal lament. Anyway, the energy of anger and disgust is better directed into words than sticks and stones, or punching out the windows of my petrol-mobile with arthritic knuckles.

As a likely tail-end-charlie on a long thread, I don't really expect to get any eyeballs -- and this post will probably end up being impossibly long. But for the sake of whatever (or for the typing practice), here goes anyway:

I'm getting too old and lazy to hassle with all the paperwork of seeking asylum in an actual democracy -- one envisioned by the Founders; not the bastardized hellscape cobbled together by the Constitutional untruths and misquotes of goofball "intellectuals" to the right of Jefferson Davis. So I've decided to stay put and hurl politically incorrect insults at the brain-dead zombie hordes of "conservative" (What a misnomer!), grab-em-by-the-p---y, mostly white, religious hypocrites.

Or, as I prefer, "radical Christianist terrorists." A label so well deserved shouldn't offend sham followers of the "Prince of Peace," considering that their last great savior instigated an unlawful, immoral religious war of choice in the wrong countries. FYI for dummies: The bulk of 9/11 conspirators came from and were funded largely, albeit indirectly, by our staunch (ha ha) ally, Saudi Arabia, harboring Wahhabi "princes of war" squandering their oil wealth derived from American rednecks driving gas hogs. Radical Salafist killers are still supporting asymmetric terrorism (as opposed to our variety of state-sponsored terrorism), and clueless American taxpayers are still funding the more mainstream Sunni wars engulfing the Middle East, ensuring an ever increasing supply of new terrorists.

Why? Because of oil -- the same oil destroying Earth's climate. Why? Because of the for-profit, mega-corps defense industry -- a "defense" destroying Earth's civilization. Why? So that billionaires can suck up all the good times for themselves. As Smedley Butler said, "War is a racket."

Neither do I cut any slack for Obama's and Hillary's culpability for following suit; still, George Choke-on-a-pretzel Bush's signature achievement and lasting ... and lasting ... legacy is a senseless, futile conflagration that has slaughtered far more Muslims than Christians -- a Nuremburg-worthy war crime of the highest order. That's the chickens--t (not sure if I can cuss on this blog) reason the village idiot pulled America out of the World Court. Does anyone seriously think the latest, greatest Republican messiah, sporting his phony head of hair and 330-word vocabulary, can bluster his way out of this neocon, self-induced quagmire? No, I didn't think so!

Trump. My God! Duh, let's toss the nuclear football to a total narcissistic, reality-show media creation/sensation -- a small-minded, loudmouthed, schoolyard bully who made his political bones disseminating a rightwing, fever-swamp lie about Obama's damn birth certificate and then fanned the flames of Hillary's damn emails. The compliant corporate media gifted this fool two-plus billion dollars of free exposure (Bernie almost none), never mentioning the fact that the "Dubya" Bush Administration deleted over twenty-two million emails -- and, yes, from a private server! The double standard and selective outrage is breathtaking! Sure, Trump had a lot of bad press; but then, remember what P.T. Barnum said about publicity, "I don't care what they say about me, just make sure they spell my name right!"

He also famously said, "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." Stupid people vote for, well, stupid people. Ignorance is not necessarily stupidity, but willful ignorance certainly is. Being the shameless, self-centered showman he is, Trump correctly identified the mood of the populace, filched Bernie's truth, and out-maneuvered Hillary's poorly run campaign. If you think this greedy huckster will go to bat for us, watch the Scottish documentary by Anthony Baxter, "You've Been Trumped Too."

"Dumbocrats" used to be the party of the average working stiff, but over decades of compromising with the "Republi-cons" and lusting after wealthy donors, they abandoned their base for corporate-minded ideology and so-called "free" market principles. Nothing is free! The horrible cost of this titanic shift was a rapid transplantation of America's manufacturing base -- the true wealth of a nation -- to low-wage countries mostly free of laws regulating pollution, and an irresponsible down-scaling of our lunch-bucket citizens without college degrees and without any realistic fix. It's no wonder they hate the party that sold them out. (TomDorr is absolutely right about this!)

However, going for Trump was just plain stupid. He and his minions of orcs are a basket of unwitting fascist chumps. The historically accurate definition of fascism is the melding of corporate interests with the militaristic and police state powers of government, a concept first introduced by Mussolini and later adopted by Hitler (as Thom so often reminds us). The road to ruin is a distinct sequence of events, and America is nearing the end of Naomi Wolf's ten steps to fascism. (Think Standing Rock, Dakota Access Pipeline, and broken treaties.)

Instead of holding hands and singing Kum bay ya with Herr Drumpf to "Make America Great Again," as Hillary and Obama suggested in their spineless, defeatist concession speeches, I'm rooting for this sick version of "Ameerkkka" to fail utterly. The world needs it to fail! Otherwise, we'll be the generation that allowed rapacious scavengers to feed on the rotting corpse of our once great Republic. I hope they choke!

A paraphrased quote, oft misattributed to Sinclair Lewis but nevertheless reflecting one of his salient points, shouts out to us, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." Indeed.

Okay...that's enough; back to running guns south and drugs north. Hey, Homeland Security snoops, I'm kidding!

Carl Lee's picture
Carl Lee 6 years 20 weeks ago
#38

Their rallying cry was "Not My President".

Remember when we laughed at the Tea Party and Beck's 9/12 types who shouted the same thing after the Obama inaguration?

Shoe's on the other foot, now.

I guess it didn't sink in deep enough at the end of the primaries, but it's going to sink in sometime before spring: Bernie Sanders just doesn't matter anymore.

ajackson23's picture
ajackson23 6 years 20 weeks ago
#39

"Is that all there is?" Peegy Lee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCRZZC-DH7M

Is there, in truth, an election when the election is fraudulent? Do we have, in truth, a democracy if there is no election? Is there a democracy if it exists only as a mass delusion in the minds of our citizenship? Every 4yrs we have a string of 'chat' and accept for a few tweets now and then the board goes silent. I have been listening to this thread for 16yrs. Is that all there is? Is that all there will be; a sound of discontentment followed by silence?

Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence [Official Music Video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4

(Apologies to my Simon and Garfunkel generation, but I find that there are less of us every year)

NormMc's picture
NormMc 6 years 20 weeks ago
#40

Shy Trump supporters not wanting to admit to voting for him, given adverse coverage can be counterbalanced by shy Hillary supporters not wanting to admit to voting for her because of pressure from spouse or church or community, etc. advocating strongly for Trump.

There was also plenty of negative comment about Clinton, so there should be very little discrepancy to the accuracy of exit polls, as found elsewhere in the world.

Main news agencies are ignoring this argument.

ErinRose's picture
ErinRose 6 years 20 weeks ago
#41

I think there is enough opposition to the Trump presidency from all sides to make him a flashpoint for discontent. We will have to see what he does in fact since he has talked from both sides of the table in his stump speeches such that no one is exactly sure what his policies are, and since becoming the president-elect, he has begun walking back from some of his campaign promises. But I will say this: I think this country has been so polarized and so radicalized that I believe DJT will be assassinated within the first six months after his inauguration, especially if he proceeds to a Clinton incarceration. The Clintons belong to a Beltway Insider elite club that has staffed the judiciary and the government with crony pals. If DJT doesn't fall in line with their corruption, then they will kill him just as easily as they killed JFK. Jesus was a sacrificial lamb for our sins as was JFK, RFK, MLK, M-X, and now comes DJT who has said that he wants to do good things for We, the People. But there exists too many people who oppose this who have been in the government for decades. These people are not just going to give up their power and walk away because some temporarily elected president says so. Murder is just part of their landscape of "doing business" and "the ends justifies the means." I believe DJT will die for our sins which will launch a total civil war. Hopefully, after the dust settles, we will have our democratic constitutional republic back again. But no matter what, the next several years promise to be bumpy ones full of chaos, lies, disinformation, and the unexpected.

2950-10K's picture
2950-10K 6 years 19 weeks ago
#42

On Meet the Press this AM, why didn't Keith Ellison or Cory Booker mention that theTeapublican Party is the party of free trade and thus the export of jobs.....not the Democrats? Why didn't they mention voter suppression via over 800 polling places closed in areas that vote democratic? Why didn't they mention interstate cross check, exit polls....god dammit...Trump did not win the fnnn election! Until Dems learn how to fight back and communicate truth to power we'll all continue to be at the mercy of dweebs like Ryan and Turtleman!

The Reds bought into the lies of the Teabag party ...the party that only cares about 100 billionaires...so now the rest of us have to suffer because the Dems can't get control of the message of truth.

Marilyn Adair's picture
Marilyn Adair 6 years 19 weeks ago
#43

Thank you Thom for all you do. You were a voice of reason last week and helped me gain some perspecctive on last weeks events. I have resolved to focus on those issues I am passionate about including affordable health care, the environment and global warming, women's rights, voting rights and legislation, civil rights, equal opportunity, ending Citizens United.

I have added a new passion to end the electoral college. On you program this past week, you discussed an organization that is working towards this end. Will you please post that group?

I have been a loyal following for years and a recent subscriber to you pod-cast.

Thank you again.

Marilyn Adair

WakeUpAmerica 6 years 19 weeks ago
#44

Where are the high power corporate executives in the Trump Cabinet? The best and brighest, Warren Buffet, Carl Ichan, instead we are getting the usual Republican "hacks" who promoted Trump, but no one with substance and change, as promised.

SBK

WakeUpAmerica 6 years 19 weeks ago
#45

We have embarked upon a dystopian and corrupt future for the United States. This reversal of tide from Obama's hope and change that was happening, but was consistently sabatogued by the people now taking office, will shift the benefits of our economy to the bathist/republican party members, and rape our economy, the poor, the environment and the middle to upper middle classes, not to mention the world.

Dianereynolds's picture
Dianereynolds 6 years 19 weeks ago
#46

Wow! So far president elect Trump has announced TWO names. Take a breath.

Jayemal's picture
Jayemal 6 years 19 weeks ago
#47

If Trump wants an infrastructure bill here are things Democrats must insist on:

---U.S. manufactured materials used in the construction

---union labor used in all infrastructure projects

---sustainable construction plans and practices

deepspace's picture
deepspace 6 years 19 weeks ago
#48

ErinRose (#41) Holy cow -- you're comparing Trump to Christ and calling the Clintons killers?!
I'm sure in real life you're a very nice person; but seriously, you need to find your way out of the swamp. That just sounds crazy as hell! And I'm not trying to be a troll. I'm sincerely concerned for our democracy when such delusions become so commonplace. That's one of the main reasons this clown was "elected."
Myself, from now on, I absolutely refuse to accept the results of any presidential election unless they can win the popular vote. Period! I don't care about the history of the Electoral College, the stupid tradition, the legal malarkey, or any other phoney justification; it's a completely ridiculous, undemocratic throwback to the horse and buggy era and only works in favor of mostly Republicans, a minority party clearly out of step with most of the electorate. One person; one vote; 51% wins! Otherwise, we can't brag about being a shining example to other democracies around the world.
Perhaps if more people take a stand on a personal level, someday it might get through the fog of brainwash and legislative process. Yeah right!
...And someday the rivers will run red with wine instead of blood. But not for at least four more years. That's for damn sure!

Mark Joseph Saulys's picture
Mark Joseph Saulys 6 years 19 weeks ago
#49

Clinton lost because she, unlike Trump, was the establishment candidate of her party.
If the Democrats are ever to be a worthy party again they must not be rewarded for the bad behavior of corruption and corporatism and must lose lections when they deserve to.
Any "resistance" to Trump had better not be like recent lefty resistances. They'd better try to build a movement of workers and not appoint themselves a wine and cheese vanguard presuming to speak for workers while having too much contempt for them to even ask them what they think.
They need to LISTEN, not just talk all the time.

WakeUpAmerica 6 years 19 weeks ago
#50

The network media reporters have re-defined anti-semitism and racism, where the reporters have to see the soul of the person, Bannon, Trump, et. al., and under their new definition Hitler was not a racist nor an anti-semite, because no reporter could look into his soul. He merely spewed the siren call of hate for political advancement.

Apparently rascism and anti-semitism, according to CNN and NBC and Mike Pence and many Republicans, when used to promote a political cause or win is not rascism nor anti-semitism, as only God can see their soul, and of course they can be forgiven if they repent. The media is attempting to normalize this white wash horrific hatred and coup that has taken over our country. they all must be called out, boycotted and themselves called rascists and anti-semites, even if they use these sirens to get them votes or viewers. Mike Pence and the Christian Right are both racists, anti-semites and now hypocrites, as they advance the Trump/Pence/Bannon point of view at the side of the KKK.

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