Juliajms

When I think about how these nominations will affect us for generations, I'm just sickened.

I'm sorry you are struggling Khan. I completely understand. We just have to outlast this SOB. If he doesn't send us all to glory, I really do think his days are numbered. This level of chaos isn't sustainable, imo. Now that the Republicans have their tax cuts I think they might cut Trump loose.

We are in a very dangerous period. Yes, these despicable people are imploding, but when a powerful nation is unstable terrible things can happen. TLDR: I'm still drinking. :-)

It's not as simple as that, imo. Think of how awful the people in this administration (past and present) are as a whole. Anything they say is bound to be some sick mix of lies, exaggeration, mendacity and a sprinkling of truth. So while I certainly don't take any of what was said as gospel, I do think there is enough truth in it to show us an administration in chaos, led by self-serving imbeciles who hate each other. And sure, there is a little part of me that is gleeful at their misery and incompetence. The rest of me is terrified both for America and the rest of the world. He has already screwed up a lot of lives with his terrible policies. There are people who will never be made whole even after he's led off in a straight jacket or handcuffs and his policies are reversed. As for Omarosa, now that is going to be some spilled tea and confirmation of some of what we learned today. I hope she is typing with a quickness.

These people are so out of touch with reality that I completely agree. I imagine that book is full of lies, but I would be hard pressed to figure out what is true and what isn't.

I believe that he thought he was going to lose because all of the polling showed that. I also believe he saw losing as something he could profit from. However, If he didn't want the job he's had nearly a year to resign. I wonder if there are 50 people in all of D.C. who wouldn't let out a huge sigh of relief, if he did just that. Meanwhile, I think he loves the attention that comes with being POTUS. This stuff with North Korea is really disturbing. It's like some dystopian novel where the real threat is always in the background, but overshadowed by what seems like more imminent disasters. https://twitter.com/Max_Fisher/status/948609958882496512

^ Well, a hell of a lot is going on today. Never a break from the madness. It would take someone of Mueller's caliber and with his resources to figure out the truth in those articles. Some of it is obviously true, but given who the sources are I'd say there is a lot of self servings lies in there too. My take away is that no one worthy or capable of being in charge is at the helm of our nation. It's terrifying. While I want to believe Bannon, I don't. Not to say I am sure he's lying. I'm just saying he doesn't have much credibility with me. If this were a jury I would need a lot corroboration.

Radicalized in Kansas. This is really the stuff of nightmares to me. It's almost like these guys choose to be brainwashed with hate. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/a-militias-plot-to-bomb-somali-refugees-in-garden-city-ks.html?src=longreads

^ Not surprised. He's ruined the safe havens a benign, but incompetent President could hide in. You can tell that even Justin Trudeau can't stomach him. The French and Brit's even want no part. They aren't going to try to protect him or prop him up like they might have done for W. Netanyahu will tolerate the useful idiot, but makes Trump look even more extreme when they are seen together.

^ Good. They shouldn't be allowed to prepay. I also don't root for them to find ways around it. Let them suffer. They can afford it, unlike the poor children who are being denied healthcare.

We'll know in the fall of 2018. If there is a crack down and even higher levels of voter suppression we'll know that our democracy is really screwed. If there is a relatively free and fair election we might be at the beginning of the end of this nightmare. Assuming 45 doesn't get us into WWIII, of course. I see that a lot of people smarter than myself seem to think that Mueller will come up with evidence of money laundering and that Kushner was involved. We'll see. It takes some hubris to go down that road after you've seen your own father do time.

Which we did.

^ Since they won't, I'm sort of enjoying the civil war. Not entirely though, because whatever problems they have they still have two branches of government under their control. God save us if another Justice dies or retires.

All I really knew about Vice was seeing some of its episodes on HBO, so I didn't suspect them. I also wasn't surprised. At this point, the only thing that would surprise me is President Obama or Pope Francis being hit with credible allegations. In the case of Pope Francis it would only be mild surprise.

Why did you think that?

I guess Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell were on Fox saying that SNAP needs to come to an end. There really is no bottom here. I just hope they can't make it happen before they lose power.

^ Seems more likely a coincidence. The tax bill itself didn't even change the rules on who receives benefits as far as I know. No doubt they are coming for those benefits in the new year, but there isn't a direct relationship between that and the bill that wasn't even signed into law until Friday.

^ Is it really possible that people would be kicked off SSI so quickly after the tax bill? That doesn't quite pass the smell test since 45 only signed it into law yesterday. Also the things he said about immigrants is nothing but further proof he is not morally fit to lead us. A reporter on CNN challenged the reporter who wrote the piece asking why we should believe it, when the WH denies it? It's basically a he said/ he said piece. Honestly though, how do you give this guy the benefit of the doubt when the words ring so true? It seems exactly like the kind of thing he would say.

I agree it's an uncomfortable topic, but it has to be the woman's choice and we deserve all of the screening info available. Down's can come with very serious heart complications. It's crazy to force someone to bring a special needs child (or any child) into the world when they aren't up to the task. I do thing the rates of abortion in these cases would go down with generous social programs designed to help. That's true with abortion overall. The Republicans seem pretty determined not to see that connection though. On a similar note I'm enraged that the Trump administration tried to force a teen refugee that was raped to carry to term. They have her in a detention center and yet they want to force her to bring a newborn into those conditions.

In the largest sense I agree, but at this moment in history we could take some of these children and their parents. It's pretty awful that we are in the midst of a terrible refugee crisis just when we have a greying society, but we are led by people too racist/stupid to see the opportunity. I guess immigration is just one more area where Trump has made me move further left. Also, I agree nothing good will come from separating these little ones from their mothers. It's inhumane. Ohio passes a bill that makes aborting a fetus with genetic abnormalities illegal. Just when I start to think Kasich isn't a wingnut. http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/366201-kasich-signs-law-banning-abortions-over-down-syndrome-diagnosis

^ Enough to make them vote? The student lone crisis is looming over that generation. I hope the Dems running have some good ideas about how to handle it.

^ I guess that could be the case with Rubio. Keeping his options open. Ana tweeted about him too and thought now that he's a fading star of the GOP he might want to go to the private sector. If you follow her, sorry for repeating. On that note it's really annoying that these people can screw everything up and then go make wads of cash lobbying and such.

Here's some good news. 5 million + Puerto Ricans on the mainland and they are organizing. Plus Ana Narvarro's recent tweet saying Republicans in Florida better watch out as more people come over from PR and look to vote for the D's. https://www.yahoo.com/news/5-3-million-puerto-ricans-235757485.html

I really need to believe that.