This is amusing

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There's always more to the story: West Virginia

While the media looks at the story and marvels at the West Virginia governor who switched his party affiliation as something that "means" something, let me remind you that there's often more to a story like this than meets the eye.

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" ????

Trump “$12 a year” health insurance comment perplexes nation.

What a maroon. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/07/20/trump_12_a_year_health_insurance_comment_perplexes_nation.html

So awesome 👏

Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.

I love typos

Sometimes I forget there are two parallel universes here in the US: fact based and rational and alternate facts.

Most of the time, I encounter rational people who understand how things work. But once in a while, I encounter someone who appears moderately normal and engages in conversation....only to suddenly feel superior, and tell me I'm a sheep and spouting nonsense or worse, "liberal talking points."

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.

Spies, espionage, and trump (oh my!)

Good story. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/01/russia-spies-espionage-trump-239003

Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.