Friday, August 4, 2017
There's always more to the story: West Virginia
First, and foremost, Jim justice (what a terrific name for a guy like this - eyes roll) comes off quite a bit like el trompo. He inherited his money and invested it in a business familiar to him, in this case coal mining, and built an empire. His business tactics are often questioned by those around him, and he has a string of unpaid bills, just like the cheeto
And not only that, he's friends with the trumps. He apparently hunts with eric and junior, so there's a connection that way too.
Somewhere along the way, he got involved with some Russian business types, selling them a mine. Now the story is that he sold it for $600 million, and bought it back a few years later for $5 million, but I can't verify that specific claim. There is also a piece about him owing these Russian investors something, again without any specific proof.
Nevertheless, there was a business deal regarding a mine.
Meanwhile, the coal industry struggles in this country and he takes a loss from a business perspective. In order to try and help himself, he decides it's time to run for office. Prior to 2015, he was a republican. He sees the gov race in WV as an opportunity and decides to run. But the state senate president is the GOP darling and announces his candidacy.
What option does justice have? He switches his party affiliation and runs against bill Cole (the republican), of course! And he wins in 2016.
But again, he's friends with the trumps. Do you suppose it's a remarkable coincidence that trump talks about coal incessantly - when a friend is simply trying to "save his business"? If you do, I have some swamp land to sell you...
So at a staged event (when trump needs a little distraction), he announces he's switching parties and endorsing trump! Remarkable. And the media eats it up.
There's no real news here, per se. The news is in another Russian connection, and the likely backdoor deal that happened to help alleviate some tax burdens or something.
No this was about two inherited-wealth-from-their-fathers men colluding to further enrich themselves at our expense. That's the story. Not some contrived nonsense about dems being abandoned.
Sigh. When will the media stop with the sensationalism and get to the real reasons for the "change of heart" ????
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Trump “$12 a year” health insurance comment perplexes nation.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/07/20/trump_12_a_year_health_insurance_comment_perplexes_nation.html
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Friday, June 30, 2017
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Sometimes I forget there are two parallel universes here in the US: fact based and rational and alternate facts.
Recently, I encountered such a person who then proceeded to tell me he'd debate all day. Except apparently he doesn't understand what debate means. A debate is where both of you present your thesis and defend it. I did. He didn't. Looking back I can see I was mildly baited into a discussion just so he could "win." So much winning!!!
Look here are some basic facts about the election:
The Russians sought to influence our elections, and did so.
Though "we" don't know the details, the intelligence community has told us it was more than influence.
The election machines in 21 states were hackable. Whether they were during the election is still unknown, but a post Morton in the election data and information that was leaked from the NSA certainly would suggest that at least some of them were.
In those and a few other states, election databases were hacked. The DNC was hacked, by Russia. There was - a few days ago - the inadverted posting of all voter information.
Many members of the trump campaign are under investigation for topics ranging from collusion, obstruction of justice, lying under oath, and/or money laundering to name a few. I will tell you that it is unknown whether trump himself is actually under investigation for any of these. But as the top of the ticket and the most ties to Russia himself, it's at least possible that he is, particularly where it comes to money laundering.
That's reality.
But there's an alternate reality where all of this is contrived, and trump is doing great things. The problem is that he has yet to sign a single piece of meaningful legislation. To actually have a real accomplishment.
Because his game is to distract and deflect while he gets rich, while violating the principle of the emolument clause, which congress refuses to consider in reality.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Monday, June 12, 2017
Stop trumpcare! Contact these States to help people with disabilities.
If you know anyone in these states below please ask them to contact their senator to help people with disabilities of any age from 0 – 100+ years old.
Alaska -Lisa Murkowski (202) 224-6665 AND David Sullivan (202) 224-3004
Arizona -Jeff Flake (202) 224-4521
Arkansas- Tom Cotton (202) 224-2353
Colorado - Cory Gardner (202) 224-5941
Louisiana- Bill Cassidy (202) 224-5824
Ohio- Rob Portman (202) 224-3353
Maine -Susan Collins (202) 224-2523
Nevada -Dean Heller (202) 224-6244
Pennsylvania- Pat Toomey (202) 224-4254
West Virginia - Shelley Moore Capito (202) 224-6472
The US Senate is now drafting a revision to the American Health Care Act (AHCA) that would hurt Medicaid--and hurt people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid.
Please contact your Senator with the following message:
Under existing law, people on Medicaid--including thousands children and adults with disabilities--have a RIGHT to certain services that Medicaid funds. The Senate is considering imposing "per capita caps" or "block grants" on Medicaid. These would ELIMINATE THE RIGHT to certain services that people with disabilities on Medicaid currently have, because it would limit the funds available for such services. Please OPPOSE PER CAPITA CAPS and OPPOSE BLOCK GRANTS.
You can find contact info for all senators at https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
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