DramatistDreamer

Maybe when we're all paying $5 for a head of cabbage, people will begin to pay attention to these issues.

There was a Bloomberg article stating that there was already a shortage of workers leaving some crops to literally rot in the fields. I posted the article a few days ago.

Anyone who doesn't think this administration is a total mess is just beyond all sense of reason. It's anyone's guess what we'll all wake up to, at this point. I can't say who will replace Flynn but I can definitely say that uncertainty and instability appear to reign above all else in the Trump administration.

Journalist April D. Ryan has stated that Omarosa Manigault threatened her. Journalist says Omarosa Manigault bullied her and mentioned a ‘dossier’ on her If anyone saw how Omarosa acted on that PBS documentary called The Choice, this seems exactly like something she would do- she seems utterly consumed with being aligned with power, especially the power to humiliate and threaten people. (she mentioned people having to "bow down to president Trump" with her lips curled into a snarl)

Who took this picture? It looks like the homepage of Ashley Madison!

Right now, there are at least 12 states with bills pending in their state legislatures to restrict voter registration access and/or restrict or eliminate early voting and it's mostly based on the lie of 'massive' voter fraud that the Trump administration continues to propogate. You can check to see if your state is listed in this article. The title is a bit misleading because clearly voter suppression efforts were already underway during the 2016 Presidential election. The Trump Administration’s Lies About Voter Fraud Will Lead to Massive Voter Suppression

Is it just me, or does Ivanka look really happy to see the Canadian PM? I sort of anticipated it would be like this when I heard of some of the overtures she was making to Trudeau. Still, very odd that someone who does not have a cabinet post would be so involved! This is not as disturbing as the lack of transparency about Flynn and Russia (or the fact that the press seems so timid on asking the Trump administration for answers) but it's still disturbing nonetheless.

These clips and photos from Trudeau's meeting with Trump are something else! Someone mentioned that Trump seemed startled when Trudeau started speaking in French-apparently, this time (unlike with Abe), Donny couldn't get to his earpiece fast enough! I guess he wasn't aware that Canadia is a bilingual country. @dragonflies I understand. I'll refrain from using it. Trump allowed a paid guest to photograph and identify the U.S. official who carries the "nuclear football" for the president (it's all over social media). Is this the first time that this has ever happened? I don't remember ever seeing the actual person responsible for this!

Was this posted before? Obamacare Repeal Is Failing Because It Was Based on a Lie On CBS This Morning, they discussed how Ivanka Trump was making overtures to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. The gist of what I saw was that Ivanka was trying to appeal to Trudeau, who has stated that he is a feminist. So funny that Ivanka (who has no official role, from what I've read) is basically willing to breach protocol to make overtures to Trudeau when no one could be bothered to even give a tour to Mrs. Abe upon her visit. Of course, Ivanka would bend over backwards for Trudeau, she has eyes to see-- those Trumps are all about looks-ism, it seems. Things we've been discussing on this board. Interesting twist in this case, that this woman voted for Mitt "self deport" Romney. Also, seemingly all of the voter fraud cases uncovered recently have been Republicans and right-wingers. Hm. Republican green-card holder who voted illegally in Texas gets 8 years in prison The effects of Trump's immigration platform have taken 'root' (or is that rot?), so to speak. Crops Rot While Trump-Led Immigration Backlash Idles Farm Work Trump casts himself as the 'Law and Order' president, but not all law enforcement officials agree with him. Police Chiefs Say Trump’s Law Enforcement Priorities Are Out of Step

Haha, feel free! It's not of my invention, I heard it during A Tribe Called Quest's performance last night at the Grammys when rapper Busta Rhymes coined the moniker, LOL. It was trending all over social media last night.

Similarly, the way he bowed to the Chinese, it would appear that Trump's tough talk on North Korea has already evaporated. I guess even Agent Orange realized that tough talk has its limits. Trump Responds to North Korean Missile Launch With Uncharacteristic Restraint I agree. His record of public service is beyond measure.

President Jimmy Carter continues to do the most for his hometown of Plains, Georgia and he's got the solar panels back! Jimmy Carter Makes a Stand for Solar, Decades After the Cardigan Sweater

Can anyone in Trump's cabal, er, I mean cabinet spell? Or read, for that matter?

In case we're still into polls around here. "Acts like a Politician". Huh?! If it's 'acts like a crooked politician', I think it may be too late for that.

^^J.K. Rowling is doing a pretty great job of putting Morgan in his place lately. This is great that Ashley Biden, the daughter of former VP Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, has created a company that unlike the Trumps, actually produces clothes made in the U.S.A. and for some very worthy causes. What a refreshing change from what we've been hearing about lately! Ashley Biden Partners with Gilt on “Livelihood” Clothing Line and ICYMI, Trump U.K. Visit Delayed to Avoid Parliament Talk, Guardian Says

The concept on its face can sound Darwinian but if people are going to take a hard-line with individual homeowners, they ought to look at the corporate welfare that goes on, which dwarfs any and all perceived benefits that individuals currently get from the government. Sadly, when arbitrary decisions are made, there is always the possibility that innocent strivers on all sides will get squeezed in the middle. The article that I read in the NYT, many of the farmers said they had no intention of raising wages even if Americans were filling those jobs, so I'm not sure what is their plan B if they lose most of their farmworkers (*shrugs*). Speaking of the NYT, this is an interesting article on how the center of chip makers (a big business) may be shifting away from the U.S. Plan for $10 Billion Chip Plant Shows China’s Growing Pull

It's really ironic that during the mortgage foreclosure crisis, people ranted that irresponsible homeowners bought too much house and deserved what they got (they conveniently forgot that mortgage brokers and banks redlined certain groups and deliberately gave Black, Latino and single women worse rates than their White counterparts, despite the fact that they had the exact same credit ratings). Many business owners scream that they cannot afford to pay workers a living wage because they'd be driven out of business. Well, if it's fair that those homeowners who bought 'too much house' be put out of their homes, then isn't it just as fair that those who can't afford to pay workers a living wage, not be allowed to stay in business? IJS.

Hey, is anyone watching Fed Cup this weekend? @ChitHappens @Soapsuds I just read that the USTA accidentally played the Nazi national anthem at the USA-GER Fed Cup tie!! That. is. Insane!!! Yet so apropos of Trump's America and where we are right now in the U.S.

The Cubans in parts of Northern Florida, basically. Many decried all those Mexicans who they claimed were expecting special treatment ahead of those who did it "the right way", then completely lost their sh*t when President Obama revoked the "Wet Foot Dry Foot" policy. Go figure. The same people who are arguing that Melania couldn't be expected to drop everything to host Ms. Abe would've endlessly moaned had Michelle not been there to entertain the wife of a PM. The hypocrisy speaks volumes. And this...but, but economic anxiety, right?

I don't think people realize just how many Irish immigrants are among the undocumented but somehow I don't imagine ICE raiding any pubs or other places where undocumented Irish immigrants are known to work or live.

Wow. @Khan We'll personally be fine. Like I said, my Mother's a naturalized citizen and I was born here. My entire family are either naturalized, born citizens or permanent residents. So my concern is not really with us but those in our community. If Trump gets more crazy though, I used to live in Canada and I have family that live there (they're all Canadian citizens, some born and some naturalized) and they often invite us to visit. One cousin of mine, in particular, lives in Toronto and sometimes travels and has extended offers for me to stay for a few months. Since I freelance now, that may well be a very attractive offer. And Canada has that cute Prime Minister now.

Thank you for your words @Juliajms and @marceline. I've already spoken to my Mom this morning and she told me she had an anxiety dream. It appears that there are quite a few undocumented people (some of them have worshipped with her for 20 years) who attend her Church and she asked me if I thought that they would raid the Churches. I told her that I don't think that even Trump would go that far as some religious groups are some of the only people who aren't currently fleeing his base. If his administration allowed something like this, the blowback would be something that he would not be able to handle. I also urged her to talk to her Pastor about her concerns, not only can he counsel her and alleviate her anxiety over the issue but perhaps it might be a reminder that their church needs to have an action plan in place to help feel the congregation/members feel safe. I told her that perhaps her Pastor ought to talk to the Mayor and find out where he stands. My Mother has always emphasized that she would never come to the U.S. illegally as she feels it would not be worth it to have to live in the shadows, with the threat of expulsion hanging over her head but she feels an enormous sense of compassion for those who do have this threat hanging over their head, especially the ones who have been here for decades, working, paying taxes, supporting families in their household and in their countries of origin. When she's needed someone to do some landscaping, fix a leaky pipe, install a lock or flooring on a budget, it has been these people at her church who were first to answer the call, some even agreeing to payment in installments or deferred payment. I have met many of them over the years and it does feel sad, now that I really think about them. I'm sure this is what Trump voters want but like the travel ban, I think the consequences could be disastrous. On the positive side, tourism to the U.S. is already down and other countries (like those in the Caribbean) are beginning to see benefit. Hello economy!

Ibtihaj Muhammad Reveals She Was Detained By U.S. Customs Without Explanation @Juliajms I can honestly say that in my family, some of us are naturalized citizens, some of us were born here and one or two are permanent residents- for the first time no one feels secure. My mother, who is a naturalized citizen, told me she heard that some people's green cards are being withheld from them upon entry back into the U.S. I assured her this wasn't happening but honestly, I thought about it and deep down, feel that I cannot be sure that it already hasn't. My mother, as a naturalized citizen who arrived in the U.S. legally (and went through the process to permanent residency to citizenship legally), now wonders whether she could somehow be deported and if we all could. Even though I was born in the U.S., honestly, I feel that depending on how one looks, the origin of one's name, even destinations stamped on a passport could all lead to detainment or worse. I know what it's like to be that "random" person whose bags are searched for no given reason, who gets asked stupid, irrelevant questions about my passport upon entry back into the U.S. after international travel and even to have people look twice at my passport, hold onto it, go check the computer, etc, so this is no abstract theory for me. I feel that this is a real possibility that citizens can/will get caught up in this, if they are are 'wrong color' or have the 'wrong name' or fit some unsaid 'profile'. Obama had deported people convicted of serious crimes and there were a few times that there were raids were otherwise law abiding people (except for being undocumented) and their kids (who were usually U.S. citizens) got caught up in it and his administration was criticized and put a stop to it. Somehow it has now become acceptable to separate families and randomly search people on the road to see if they have their papers. Well, I look 'exotic'. Am I going to have to walk around with my birth certificate now too? For years I've thought about dual citizenship and I am seriously going to look into that possibility because sometimes being in this country seems like too much of a burden to bear.

Then there's their leader, who can't be trusted with a set of housekeys, let alone classified documents.

This administration is full of liars and crooks.