THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE U.S.A.

 The recent announcement, by the Koch Brothers, that they were going to withhold funding, to the Republicans, unless they passed legislation reforming both health care and taxes, favorable to them, demonstrates the difference between Russia and the U.S.A.

In the U.S.A. the oligarchs determine the make-up of the Government, and in Russia, the Government, embodied in Putin, determines who the oligarchs are.

Either way, it is the public that gets screwed.

TRUMP EXPERTISE TRUMPS OBAMACARE

Trump has reacted calmly to what should be a debacle, for him, the blocking of the latest Republican health care bill.  If the public doesn't like Trumpcare, they're going to have to lump it as he slowly strangles Obamacare.  All he has to do is delay reimbursements to the insurance companies and they will, one by one, pull out of the market.  And there is nobody in the U.S. who has more expertise in delaying payment, or even non-payment, to suppliers, for work performed, than Donald J. Trump.

Oh, and all you Trump voters, in those states that put him in office, relying on his promise to keep you insured, you'll find the Donald is pretty adept on breaking campaign promises, as well, so just keep voting Republican, and praying that one day you and your family will once again have health care.  Pray to  Him to suffer fools more kindly.

HOW TO GET REPUGS TO ACT ON RUSSIAN HACKING

Republicans are doing nothing to prevent the Russians from hacking our elections again.  To change their lack of concern, Democrats might send a message, to the Russians, that they have a better chance of lifting sanctions if they rectify their transgressions by helping the Democrats, in the forthcoming elections.  Then you will see action on the part of the Republicans. 

UNFAIRNESS

Trump, once again, is complaining about the unfairness of his potential adversaries.  Just he complained about Judge Curiel being unfair because of his Mexican ancestry, in the Trump U. case, he his complaining of the fact that because the Special Counsel, in the Trump Russian case, was acquainted with James Comey, the former FBI director, was therefore a good friend and prejudiced against Trump.

The whole problem, Trump indicates, can readily be resolved, by just replacing Mueller with a Trump supporter; he is sure that there are many out there with sufficient qualifications to serve.

INCREASED INVESTMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

Want to get increased investment in the private sector?  Giveaways and tax cuts won't do it; they only lead to 2nd and 3d homes for executives of big corporations.  The way to get more investments in the private sector is the old fashioned way:  increase marginal tax rates to 92% as we did in the 1950s and watch the corporations pour the money into investing in their own companies rather than give it to their government.

CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSIONS

In the first two decades of this century, I have seen massive trillion dollar transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthiest Americans.  The transfers ranged from bailouts for gambling debts of  our banking industry, to unnecessary wars which benefitted only our military industrial complex, to giveaways to Big Pharma.

Now that the beginning of the third decade of the century is almost on us, the question is "What have you done for me lately?"  

To begin the third decade of the century, there will be a massive transfer of wealth from the poorest to the richest via a large tax cut compensated by a large cut in medical services, but with the added advantage that with tax cuts, that great body of self-made millionaires, the U.S. Congress, get their commissions, in the form of campaign donations.

PUTIN MAY HAVE ESTABLISHED A NO-RESPONSE ZONE FOR TRUMP

Prior to the election, the British intelligence services commissioned a study of , then Presidential candidate Donald Trump, and his dealings with the Russians.  The study claimed that Trump had been compromised by the Russian government who held damaging material which they could use to manipulate him.

It is hard to discredit that report when one looks at the present situation in Syria.  The Russians have just established a "No-Fly" Zone west of the Euphrates River, in Syria, where our aircraft become targets, if they intrude.  What has been the response of our government?  Nothing.  It's as if Putin has also established a "No-Response" Zone where his asset, Trump, cannot cross without peril of exposure.

2ND AMENDMENT REMEDIES

From time to time, in the recent past, Republicans have referred to "2nd Amendment Remedies", that their supporters, gun lovers, all, might resort to if liberals got too far out of line.

 Now that, it would appear, much of the proposed Republican legislation will adversely affect those same supporters, are those same remedies no longer available to that heavily armed segment of the population? 

TAKING ON THE BURDEN

Senate Majority Leader McConnell is said to have voiced his unhappiness with the Democratic response to his changing of the tone, in the Senate, for greater civility.  The Democrats are not at all appreciative of the fact that Republicans have spared the Democrats from having to deal with the arduous task of working on or even having to review a health care bill that will come to the floor, of the Senate, at an appropriate time, possibly at 2:00 am on at some future weekend.  

Instead of being appreciative of Republican efforts of collegiality, Democrats just keep bitching, proving yet again that it is impossible to work with Democrats.

NOT TOO GOOD AT CONNECTING DOTS

It must be a frightening time to be a Republican member of Congress.  At the same time that their diligence has made owning a firearm as common as taking an aspirin tablet for a headache, their party  is working, in secret, to take away health care from millions of Americans.

Fortunately, for those who will become beneficiaries of the large tax cuts which will be provided as the result of elimination of health care, Republican members of Congress aren't too good at connecting dots. 

SCANT CONSOLATION

Investigators, of Donald Trump, have probably encountered the most unusual subject, in all their experience.  Normally, they painstakingly move up a chain of associates before they can corner the main subject.  

With the Donald, however, through his own actions, during the investigation, itself, he has incriminated himself, and investigators will be moving down the chain to mop up.  

Trump associates can take scant consolation, in the fact,  that Donald is quick to throw colleagues under the bus for his personal advantage.

THE INFALLIBLE TRUMP

Trump tweets that he is under investigation, for firing Comey, by the man who told him to fire Comey.  Of course, Trump leaves out a few facts, which is that man, Trump refers to, was never told:

• Trump would never have even faced obstruction charges if he had never asked Comey to not investigate the Russian matter as it related to Flynn.
• Trump might never have faced obstruction charges if he did not admit, on television that Comey's firing had was because of the investigation into the "Russian matter"
• Trump might never have faced obstruction charges if he had never asked at least 2 other officials to also lean on Comey, which tended to corroborate Comey's story.

But, of course, since Trump is infallible, the fault must lie not with him but with an employee who was asked to provide a reason to fire Comey without knowing the other things going on.

FORWARD TO THE PAST

Donald Trump has just announced that he is scrapping a 2 year old program, instituted by Obama, thawing relations with Cuba, because it has not accomplished its goals.  He is substituting it with a 52 year old policy which didn't work either.

DEAR DONALD

Donald J. Trump 

✔@realDonaldTrump

After 7 months of investigations & committee hearings about my "collusion with the Russians," nobody has been able to show any proof. Sad!

Dear Donald:

Have patience.  If they show you proof now, it would be a leak which you hate so much, The final report which will include little forensic forays into things like money laundering, tax evasion and other petty crimes,  will, I am sure, please you, no end.

Sincerely,

A MORE PRUDENT PATH

It would appear to me that it would be wiser, for Republicans, to cease trying to cut expenditures on health care in order to provide a tax cut to the wealthy, and concentrate on providing more funds for mental health, especially considering the availability of firearms and increasing numbers of marginalized citizens.

"KILL THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO SAVE THE SECOND"

When children and Democrats are routinely massacred by crazies, Republican's reject doing anything about access, to weapons, by people who shouldn't have them, saying they are defending the 2nd Amendment.  When the rare case, of a left-wing crazy, shooting a Republican occurs, the blame falls upon the critical language used by Democrats.  Republicans would rather give up freedom of speech than the money they receive from the N.R.A.

TARGETING REPUBLICANS

Donald Trump has ordered his famous Private Detectives back, from  Hawaii, where they have been investigating Obama's birth certificate many years now, to concentrate on proving that the Scalise shooter is of Arab ancestry and from an illegal immigrant family.  Donald is sure that white people of Anglo-Saxon ancestry are too thrilled with the Trump Administration to be targeting Republicans.   

KIM JON TRUMP

Borrowing from ancient traditions of Eurasian monarchies, Trump may not be draining the swamp, but he will put his imperial mark on the U.S. Presidency, as evidenced by his first cabinet meeting.

DIFFERENT GENERATIONS. DIFFERENT ELECTORATE?

In the 1970s, a single recording of the President's Chief of Staff, Haldeman suggesting that the President could order the C.I.A., to order the Justice Department, to halt the Watergate investigations  to which, Nixon said "Uh Huh", was enough for Republicans to tell Nixon to either resign or face impeachment in the House.  Nixon resigned rather than face impeachment. Nixon did not need to specifically say "Yes" to acquiesce.

In the 1990s, a legalism, offered by Bill Clinton in a deposition, as to the legal meaning of sexual relations, in a private matter not involving the office of the Presidency, was not sufficient for a Republican majority to not impeach the President. He was impeached. 

In 2017, the President informed the Director of the F.B.I. that "hoped the Director would let the Flynn investigation go".  Although his intent was clear and has, since, been bolstered by claims that Trump tried to get other agencies of the intelligence service to also bring pressure to bear to stop the investigation, Republicans now are parsing the word "hope" claiming that the Unitary Executive, Trump, would need to to use another word to merit impeachment.

GUEST POST

New post on The Octogenarians Clashing Personality Types by daedal2207 The Trumpeter(POTUS),has engaged James Comey,the fired former FBI Director in Mano a Mano combat.Considering the difference in status and power he has nothing to gain and a lot to lose.Comey's style (simultaneously strength and weakness)is a grinding obsessive analyzing and rehashing of facts with a reluctance to cut and slash.He could have,as infuriatingly as the original,commanded Lincoln's army of the Potomac.(fired for dilatory over caution).However this attribute serves well " the duty to correct",which " nauseatingly" l helped destroy Hillary.He has turned over the classified portfolio to another Bulldog Drummond type and his notes to a Columbia Law Professor. Trump burdened by his inability to learn from experience,his inability to display or evoke empathy,and his flashpoint engaging of anyone or anything that does not bend the knee is at constant risk.I dread his attempt to convey empathic understanding of the deaths of three servicemen in Afghanistan.(The death toll is climbing!) His undermining of Tillerson in the Qatar insult is also noteworthy.Trump's era may signal opportunity to friend( frenemies ) and foe alike to exploit and embarass the U.S.A. daedal2207 | 10 Jun 2017 at 8:41 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.m

A SERIOUS IMPEDIMENT TO THE TRUMP AGENDA

Donald and I have found one thing on which we can both agree and that is that ongoing investigations are interfering with his agenda. Having a Special Counsel, with broad powers. mucking about, is no time for  anyone to be engaged in illegal activities, which puts up a serious impediment to the Trump agenda.    

BELLING THE CAT

Nothing seems to be so soul-stirringly patriotic as watching members of Congress asking Comey why he didn't do more to confront Trump, when, at that very moment, Congress has remained completely inert as Trump dismantles century old security alliances, and debases our standing in the world.

SERVICES BLOCKED BY AN IRRATIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

A possible unintended consequence of Trump's withdrawal, from the Paris Accord, is the fact that several of the wealthier States are going to join, on their own, and pursue action against climate change, in spite of action by the Federal Government.

It is not unreasonable to go from such a step, to forming a pool of several of those States, to draw on to set-up a single payer health care system for the citizens of those States.  

If a Federation of States blocks activities, which will benefit the residents of those States, there is no constitutional reason that prevents a group of States, exercising their State's Rights, from forming ad hoc confederations, to protect their citizens  

To prevent the citizens of what we now call the Red States from taking advantage of medical facilities in the more liberal States, a residency period, at least a year could be established.

Who knows what other services can be provided to our citizens by rational pooling of resources blocked by an irrational Federal Government.



  

SHOW US THE BENEIT

The Trump family, after doing its due diligence, was unable to find even one solitary benefit, for its clan over any others, in the Paris Accords,  and because it is hard to renegotiate non-binding agreements, they have pulled the U.S. out of the pact.
It is rumored that the Trump clan can be coaxed to return with the proper inducement, say a Trump Hotel in Paris, or similar award for having saved the planet.

GUEST POST

Respond to this post by replying above this line

New post on The Octogenarians ’twas Brilig’… by daedal2207 Jabberwocke was in iambic pentameter and pleasing to the ears.'coffveve 'or whatever Trump tweeted was just a jumble of an overtaxed mind.That it was made meaningful and mysterious by his press secretary tells us just how rapidly the wheels are coming off.I confess that the whole mess is daunting and tempting to dismiss as a persisting bad dream.The speculation about narcissistic personality disorder vs.antisocial personality could benefit from professional enlightenment sans diagnosing by the simple explanation that personally disorders have a great deal in common and specific expression is related to the social context in which they emerge.The one thing that makes them intolerable is loss of reality testing which often shows up first as inability to learn from experience.Sometimes I wish that DS' big tent or magic carpet or clown car/ power racer,could contain some good things for the nation and the world,but the numbers don't add up,the loss of health care for all of us is real and the loss of world leadership has been replaced by shabby real estate deal making thinking and petty rages against former intimates.I suspect that the Comey testimony( no hero,he)will lead to deal making for pardons and the revolt of the GOP against the bully boy.Unfortunately we may have given up environmental leadership to China as well as having given over Liberal Democracy / Globalism to Germany and France by then. daedal2207 | 1 Jun 2017 at 4:11 am | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p4Gt4f-B8 Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from The Octogenarians. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://theoctogenarians.com/2017/06/01/twas-brilig/

UNSOUND AS A DOLLAR

The reason that the U.S. can keep functioning despite being trillions in deficit is that other countries think of our nation as a safe investment.  It is the only global reserve currency which enables us to actually print money without causing runaway inflation.  We enjoy this status not only because of our military strength but because of how the world sees us.  

When Trump erodes our hegemony in the world, by ceding leadership to other countries, he erodes acceptance of the U.S. Dollar as a reserve currency.  The day that happens and our currency becomes devalued, we lose any claims of exceptionalism.

JUSTIFIABLY ANGRY

Putin is most displeased with Trump; he expected much more, of him, in the first 100 days of his presidency and here it is, entering into the 5th month, and little to show for it.  At the least, he expects the return of those Russian estates, post haste.  After all, a bargain is a bargain and Putin kept up his part of the deal and now it's time for Trump to pony up.

Trump, who is accustomed to delay payments, is troubled by those anonymous collection letters that Putin sends to the Washington Post.