http://www.salon.com/2017/08/21/tucker-carlson-and-the-daily-caller-taking-white-nationalism-mainstream/
"But none of this should come as a huge surprise, since Carlson has been busy promoting white supremacist ideas to the more mainstream audience at Fox News."
News And Opinion About The Republican War On Women And Issues Important To Women
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Merriam-Webster Steps In After Trump Tells America To ‘Heel’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/merrian-webster-trump-heel-heal_us_5998aeeee4b01f6e801ef6f9?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
"Trump ― a man with the greatest vocabulary, everyone loves his vocabulary ― eventually made his point after deleting his first two attempts. After all of Twitter witnessed the president’s struggle with the four-letter word, the dictionary’s social media account sent him a gentle reminder."
"Trump ― a man with the greatest vocabulary, everyone loves his vocabulary ― eventually made his point after deleting his first two attempts. After all of Twitter witnessed the president’s struggle with the four-letter word, the dictionary’s social media account sent him a gentle reminder."
Darrell Issa called for hearings on white supremacists after appearing at conference for hate group
https://thinkprogress.org/issa-letter-fair-82c935ac46f8/
"Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) called on the House Judiciary Committee last week to hold hearings on white supremacists and other hate groups, but in June, Issa gave an interview at a conference put on by a group the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled a hate group and white supremacist organization."
"Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) called on the House Judiciary Committee last week to hold hearings on white supremacists and other hate groups, but in June, Issa gave an interview at a conference put on by a group the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled a hate group and white supremacist organization."
John Oliver Urges Fox News' Weeping Trump Defender to Cry Him a River @alternet
John Oliver Urges Fox News' Weeping Trump Defender to Cry Him a River @alternet: 'No one is making you do it.' On Sunday’s edition of “Last Week Tonight,” host John Oliver recounted President Donald Trump’s disastrous week, which culminated with the firing of White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon.“We begin tonight with the White House,” Oliver said, “still a beautiful building in spite of what’s happening inside it.”The mention of Bannon’s firing brought a huge roar of approval from the audience.
Historians of Christian nationalism are alarmed by its appearance in American pulpits
https://thinkprogress.org/history-christian-nationalism-e3303b46c3bc/
"When President Donald Trump defended white nationalists last week, it seemed like much of the country couldn’t condemn him fast enough. In addition to a wave of opprobrium from progressives, Republican lawmakers, conservative pundits, and CEOs all rushed to distance themselves from the scandal-prone president. But as the condemnations pile up, one group has yet to abandon the commander-in-chief: his evangelical Christian advisers."
"When President Donald Trump defended white nationalists last week, it seemed like much of the country couldn’t condemn him fast enough. In addition to a wave of opprobrium from progressives, Republican lawmakers, conservative pundits, and CEOs all rushed to distance themselves from the scandal-prone president. But as the condemnations pile up, one group has yet to abandon the commander-in-chief: his evangelical Christian advisers."
I Have a Few Words for the Fake Republican Outrage Over Trump’s Racism
https://forwardprogressives.com/i-have-a-few-words-for-the-fake-republican-outrage-over-trumps-racism/
"Words cannot express how sick and tired I am of Republicans claiming that their party isn’t driven by racism. The modern day GOP was built upon a foundation of racism ignited in the 50’s and 60’s in large part by the racist political maneuver commonly known as the “southern strategy.” Since then, Republicans all over the country have been pandering to white resentment and racism, constantly pushing the idea that people “not like them” were “ruining their country.” As I’ve mentioned numerous times before, it’s not a coincidence that nearly every state that comprised the Confederacy is, today, “strongly Republican.” The ideologies of the parties switched during the civil rights era, but the ignorance of conservatives in the areas that opposed ending slavery, women’s suffrage, desegregation, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act remained the same. When it was discovered a couple of years ago that Rep. Steve Scalise had attended a white nationalist event, not only did he keep his spot as House Majority Whip, but the party backed him. When Trump spent years pushing the blatantly racist birther conspiracy against our country’s first African American president, most Republicans said nothing. When Trump appointed then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, a man Republicans denied a spot as a federal judge in the 80’s over accusations that he was a racist, he was easily confirmed by the very same GOP as our current attorney general. What we’ve seen over the last few decades, and especially over the last several years, is Republicans only offer lip service when condemning racism. That’s how a blatant racist and bigot like Trump managed to not only win their party’s nomination, but the “presidency,” too. This is someone who launched his campaign by pandering to bigotry by calling most Mexican immigrants “rapists and criminals.” He then proceeded build one of the most hate-driven campaigns in modern political history."
"Words cannot express how sick and tired I am of Republicans claiming that their party isn’t driven by racism. The modern day GOP was built upon a foundation of racism ignited in the 50’s and 60’s in large part by the racist political maneuver commonly known as the “southern strategy.” Since then, Republicans all over the country have been pandering to white resentment and racism, constantly pushing the idea that people “not like them” were “ruining their country.” As I’ve mentioned numerous times before, it’s not a coincidence that nearly every state that comprised the Confederacy is, today, “strongly Republican.” The ideologies of the parties switched during the civil rights era, but the ignorance of conservatives in the areas that opposed ending slavery, women’s suffrage, desegregation, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act remained the same. When it was discovered a couple of years ago that Rep. Steve Scalise had attended a white nationalist event, not only did he keep his spot as House Majority Whip, but the party backed him. When Trump spent years pushing the blatantly racist birther conspiracy against our country’s first African American president, most Republicans said nothing. When Trump appointed then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, a man Republicans denied a spot as a federal judge in the 80’s over accusations that he was a racist, he was easily confirmed by the very same GOP as our current attorney general. What we’ve seen over the last few decades, and especially over the last several years, is Republicans only offer lip service when condemning racism. That’s how a blatant racist and bigot like Trump managed to not only win their party’s nomination, but the “presidency,” too. This is someone who launched his campaign by pandering to bigotry by calling most Mexican immigrants “rapists and criminals.” He then proceeded build one of the most hate-driven campaigns in modern political history."
Tens of Thousands of People Just Showed Nazis (and Donald Trump) What Really Makes America Great
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/08/tens-of-thousands-of-people-just-showed-nazis-and-donald-trump-what-really-makes-america-great/
"The largest protest by far was in Boston, where an estimated 30,000-40,000 counter-protesters showed up, according to the Boston Globe."
"The largest protest by far was in Boston, where an estimated 30,000-40,000 counter-protesters showed up, according to the Boston Globe."
No one likes Trump’s new infrastructure order
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-rescinds-obama-era-flood-standards-c526704e98f5/
"On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed a new order that rescinded an Obama-era rule requiring federally-funded infrastructure to follow stricter building standards aimed at reducing flood-related damages. The Obama order also required that federally-funded infrastructure built along the coastline take into account future projections for sea-level rise. Trump’s order has already prompted swift backlash from across the political spectrum, with everyone from environmental groups to free market think-tanks arguing that there was little upside to rescinding a rule aimed at saving taxpayer money and preventing loss of life in flood-prone areas."
"On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed a new order that rescinded an Obama-era rule requiring federally-funded infrastructure to follow stricter building standards aimed at reducing flood-related damages. The Obama order also required that federally-funded infrastructure built along the coastline take into account future projections for sea-level rise. Trump’s order has already prompted swift backlash from across the political spectrum, with everyone from environmental groups to free market think-tanks arguing that there was little upside to rescinding a rule aimed at saving taxpayer money and preventing loss of life in flood-prone areas."
Anti-racism protesters totally eclipsed Boston's right-wing Free Speech rally
https://www.vox.com/2017/8/19/16173486/protesters-eclipsed-boston-free-speech-rally
"The dueling demonstrations on Boston Common showed a shocking disparity in size."
"The dueling demonstrations on Boston Common showed a shocking disparity in size."
EPA Welcomed Industry Feedback Before Reversing Pesticide Ban, Ignoring Health Concerns
https://theintercept.com/2017/08/18/epa-welcomed-industry-feedback-before-reversing-chlorpyrifos-pesticide-ban-ignoring-health-concerns/
"The story that emerges from the documents is a simple one of agricultural industry lobbying and, after its success, celebration. Before the presidential election, the EPA had proposed banning chlorpyrifos based in part on evidence that the chemical causes lasting harm to children’s brains, including attention problems, memory loss, tremors, and autism. In reports issued in 2014 and 2015, the agency acknowledged research showing that children exposed to chlorpyrifos were more likely to have certain developmental problems. In November the EPA issued a report recommending a ban. A 90-day waiting period pushed the finalization of the ban into March, after Trump’s inauguration."
"The story that emerges from the documents is a simple one of agricultural industry lobbying and, after its success, celebration. Before the presidential election, the EPA had proposed banning chlorpyrifos based in part on evidence that the chemical causes lasting harm to children’s brains, including attention problems, memory loss, tremors, and autism. In reports issued in 2014 and 2015, the agency acknowledged research showing that children exposed to chlorpyrifos were more likely to have certain developmental problems. In November the EPA issued a report recommending a ban. A 90-day waiting period pushed the finalization of the ban into March, after Trump’s inauguration."
Beer is the greenest beverage
https://thinkprogress.org/craft-beer-goes-green-d4d6a70cb742/
"And craft brewers are speaking out against the Trump administration's anti-environment agenda."
"And craft brewers are speaking out against the Trump administration's anti-environment agenda."
'Swamp's Doing Fine': Amid White House Turmoil, Trump Cozies Up to Right-Wing Donors
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/08/19/swamps-doing-fine-amid-white-house-turmoil-trump-cozies-right-wing-donors
"Trump's tax proposals would overwhelmingly favor the wealthiest—and the president himself—while potentially raising taxes on low-income and middle class Americans."
"Trump's tax proposals would overwhelmingly favor the wealthiest—and the president himself—while potentially raising taxes on low-income and middle class Americans."
173 TV Network Stations Are Defending Trump’s Indefensible Statements on Race and Nazism: Are They in Your City? @alternet
173 TV Network Stations Are Defending Trump’s Indefensible Statements on Race and Nazism: Are They in Your City? @alternet: The Sinclair Broadcasting Group is pushing unabashed propaganda across its 173 stations. Former aide to President Donald Trump and current administration media shill Boris Epshteyn is now using local television news spots across the country to back Trump in his disgraceful “both sides” treatment of violent neo-Nazism and white supremacy in Charlottesville, VA.
Robert Mueller adds Donald Trump Jr. to those in the focus of his investigation
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/18/1691242/-Robert-Mueller-adds-Donald-Trump-Jr-to-those-in-the-focus-of-his-investigation
"Previous reports indicated that Donald Trump’s campaign chair Paul Manafort was under close examination from the Special Counsel’s office both for his magical, no-collateral loans and his flow of funds from overseas. The pairing of Manafort and Trump Jr. as central to the investigation, may suggest that Mueller considers that Trump Tower meeting—which also included Jared Kushner, a Russian attorney with ties to the Kremlin, representatives for a Russian real-estate firm, and a man who had started over 2,000 shell companies for money laundering—as a critical moment. It was a meeting that combined an offer of interference by the Russian government on the behalf of Donald Trump, and one that included many different firms involved in Trump’s emergence as a conduit for moving money out of Russia. While some reports have suggested that Mueller is looking deeply into Trump’s financial activities, including some that are many years in the past, this report seems heavily aimed at the central question of the Trump campaign’s relationship with the Russian government. That prosecutorial muscle is reportedly bearing down on a variety of people in Trump’s campaign for possible collusion with Russian efforts to sway the election and other issues. Mueller is said to be looking at whether Trump obstructed justice in any way in his conversations with and eventual firing of FBI director James Comey. We may now be focused on Trump’s response to white supremacist terrorism, and before that we spent a week watching Trump raise the security temperature over North Korea. But even if the rest of the nation was momentarily diverted, that doesn’t mean Mueller looked away."
"Previous reports indicated that Donald Trump’s campaign chair Paul Manafort was under close examination from the Special Counsel’s office both for his magical, no-collateral loans and his flow of funds from overseas. The pairing of Manafort and Trump Jr. as central to the investigation, may suggest that Mueller considers that Trump Tower meeting—which also included Jared Kushner, a Russian attorney with ties to the Kremlin, representatives for a Russian real-estate firm, and a man who had started over 2,000 shell companies for money laundering—as a critical moment. It was a meeting that combined an offer of interference by the Russian government on the behalf of Donald Trump, and one that included many different firms involved in Trump’s emergence as a conduit for moving money out of Russia. While some reports have suggested that Mueller is looking deeply into Trump’s financial activities, including some that are many years in the past, this report seems heavily aimed at the central question of the Trump campaign’s relationship with the Russian government. That prosecutorial muscle is reportedly bearing down on a variety of people in Trump’s campaign for possible collusion with Russian efforts to sway the election and other issues. Mueller is said to be looking at whether Trump obstructed justice in any way in his conversations with and eventual firing of FBI director James Comey. We may now be focused on Trump’s response to white supremacist terrorism, and before that we spent a week watching Trump raise the security temperature over North Korea. But even if the rest of the nation was momentarily diverted, that doesn’t mean Mueller looked away."
Florida provides sickening blueprint for what Republicans want to do to sick kids on Medicaid
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/18/1691380/-Florida-provides-sickening-blue-print-for-what-Republicans-want-to-do-to-sick-kids-on-Medicaid
"The entire story is a must-read, because it demonstrates just how low Republicans are willing to go to undermine public health care, to inject every bit of public policy-making with pure partisanship. They didn't even try that hard to pretend they were doing otherwise, all but telling the physicians who are supposed to be advising on these decisions that they were irrelevant. In fact, they literally did so, including kicking Dr. Louis St. Petery, former executive vice president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a former CMS director out of a Department of Health meeting with the regional medical directors of CMS, the group of pediatricians who help run the program. He was a critic, so he was barred from attending. Since the state implemented its process for kicking kids out of the program, physicians say they have been completely ignored. The long story is very much worth the time it takes to read. But there's a take-away that isn't in the story that has to be highlighted—this is what congressional Republicans—with House Speaker Paul Ryan leading the charge—want to do to Medicaid across the country. Should their plans for decimating it come to fruition, Florida will provide the blueprint for every Republican governor and legislature for how to kick kids out of health care."
"The entire story is a must-read, because it demonstrates just how low Republicans are willing to go to undermine public health care, to inject every bit of public policy-making with pure partisanship. They didn't even try that hard to pretend they were doing otherwise, all but telling the physicians who are supposed to be advising on these decisions that they were irrelevant. In fact, they literally did so, including kicking Dr. Louis St. Petery, former executive vice president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a former CMS director out of a Department of Health meeting with the regional medical directors of CMS, the group of pediatricians who help run the program. He was a critic, so he was barred from attending. Since the state implemented its process for kicking kids out of the program, physicians say they have been completely ignored. The long story is very much worth the time it takes to read. But there's a take-away that isn't in the story that has to be highlighted—this is what congressional Republicans—with House Speaker Paul Ryan leading the charge—want to do to Medicaid across the country. Should their plans for decimating it come to fruition, Florida will provide the blueprint for every Republican governor and legislature for how to kick kids out of health care."
GOP senator questions Donald Trump’s stability, competence
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-senator-questions-donald-trumps-stability-competence
"So far this year, Corker has voted with Trump roughly 90% of the time. For Tim Scott and Jeff Flake, it’s close to 94%. Each of these senators appear to have sincere concerns about the president’s fitness for office, but we don’t yet know what, if anything, they intend to do about it – and to date, they haven’t done much."
"So far this year, Corker has voted with Trump roughly 90% of the time. For Tim Scott and Jeff Flake, it’s close to 94%. Each of these senators appear to have sincere concerns about the president’s fitness for office, but we don’t yet know what, if anything, they intend to do about it – and to date, they haven’t done much."
Sean Hannity has been dumpster diving with conspiracy theorists again
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/08/17/sean-hannity-has-been-dumpster-diving-conspiracy-theorists-again/217686
"Earlier today, the claim made the jump to ZeroHedge, a regular clearinghouse for conspiracy theories."
"Earlier today, the claim made the jump to ZeroHedge, a regular clearinghouse for conspiracy theories."
Weeping Nazi started off as a “men’s rights activist,” which is no huge surprise
http://www.salon.com/2017/08/18/weeping-nazi-started-off-as-a-mens-rights-activist-which-is-no-huge-surprise/
"Christopher Cantwell's trajectory from "men's rights" to white supremacy is sadly typical of the alt-right"
"Christopher Cantwell's trajectory from "men's rights" to white supremacy is sadly typical of the alt-right"
Friday, August 18, 2017
‘You should fire your press person’: MSNBC’s Velshi and Ruhle obliterate Trump backer in insane interview
‘You should fire your press person’: MSNBC’s Velshi and Ruhle obliterate Trump backer in insane interview:
"Thomas replied that the economy is “doing very very well,” and he looks at the economy “long term.” “The number one catalyst that nobody is going to talk about—especially your show, and others like this—is the number one catalyst is the corporate tax,” Thomas said. “This is the market mover.” “You’re talking to two financial journalists,” Velshi replied, informing Thomas that the market “started going up on March 9, 2009.” “There is nothing Donald Trump has done to cause the market to be where it is,” Velshi said. “You guys keep peddling this myth that Donald Trump is responsible for this market,” Velshi later pressed. “Do you give Barack Obama credit?” “Right now, the commander in chief is Donald J. Trump,” Thomas replied. “And what we’re seeing now is job creation. Donald Trump has created over one million jobs” “Brad stop it, for heaven’s sake!” Velshi shot back, pointing out that Trump is “not even close to being the largest job creator in the first six months of his presidency.” “Why do you continue to say these things?” he asked. Thomas then went on a tangent about Trump being the “number on catalyst,” circling back to the debunked claim that Trump is creating jobs. “I’ve given you evidence that the job creation is not as good under President Trump as it was under President Obama, President Bush, President Clinton in the first six months of their office,” Velshi shot back. “But you just deny it and go on to say other things,” he continued. “Let’s talk about infrastructure, I can go down this road with you as well.” Velshi asked what about Trump’s executive order on permitting will help U.S. infrastructure, prompting Thomas to claim, “it’s just very complicated, and I know this is not your background.” “What are you talking about?” Velshi asked. “It’s far more our background than it is yours.” “You can’t just lie on TV, Brad,” he continued. “I don’t know if your people told you who you were coming on TV with but, you can’t lie about the economy to us"."
"Thomas replied that the economy is “doing very very well,” and he looks at the economy “long term.” “The number one catalyst that nobody is going to talk about—especially your show, and others like this—is the number one catalyst is the corporate tax,” Thomas said. “This is the market mover.” “You’re talking to two financial journalists,” Velshi replied, informing Thomas that the market “started going up on March 9, 2009.” “There is nothing Donald Trump has done to cause the market to be where it is,” Velshi said. “You guys keep peddling this myth that Donald Trump is responsible for this market,” Velshi later pressed. “Do you give Barack Obama credit?” “Right now, the commander in chief is Donald J. Trump,” Thomas replied. “And what we’re seeing now is job creation. Donald Trump has created over one million jobs” “Brad stop it, for heaven’s sake!” Velshi shot back, pointing out that Trump is “not even close to being the largest job creator in the first six months of his presidency.” “Why do you continue to say these things?” he asked. Thomas then went on a tangent about Trump being the “number on catalyst,” circling back to the debunked claim that Trump is creating jobs. “I’ve given you evidence that the job creation is not as good under President Trump as it was under President Obama, President Bush, President Clinton in the first six months of their office,” Velshi shot back. “But you just deny it and go on to say other things,” he continued. “Let’s talk about infrastructure, I can go down this road with you as well.” Velshi asked what about Trump’s executive order on permitting will help U.S. infrastructure, prompting Thomas to claim, “it’s just very complicated, and I know this is not your background.” “What are you talking about?” Velshi asked. “It’s far more our background than it is yours.” “You can’t just lie on TV, Brad,” he continued. “I don’t know if your people told you who you were coming on TV with but, you can’t lie about the economy to us"."
Donald Trump’s long history of racism, from the 1970s to 2017
https://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12270880/donald-trump-racism-history
"In fact, the very first time Trump appeared in the pages of the New York Times, back in the 1970s, was when the US Department of Justice sued him for racial discrimination. Since then, he has repeatedly appeared in newspaper pages across the world as he inspired more similar controversies. This long history is important. It would be one thing if Trump simply misspoke one or two times. But when you take all of Trump’s actions and comments together, a clear pattern emerges — one that suggests that bigotry is not just political opportunism on Trump’s part but a real element of Trump’s personality, character, and career."
"In fact, the very first time Trump appeared in the pages of the New York Times, back in the 1970s, was when the US Department of Justice sued him for racial discrimination. Since then, he has repeatedly appeared in newspaper pages across the world as he inspired more similar controversies. This long history is important. It would be one thing if Trump simply misspoke one or two times. But when you take all of Trump’s actions and comments together, a clear pattern emerges — one that suggests that bigotry is not just political opportunism on Trump’s part but a real element of Trump’s personality, character, and career."
It’s Time to Tell the Truth: Conservatives Have Lost Their Damn Minds
https://forwardprogressives.com/its-time-to-tell-the-truth-conservatives-have-lost-their-damn-minds/
"What were once fairly calm, productive debates over political differences have become battles between reality vs. whatever preposterous nonsense Donald Trump, Fox News, or the rest of the conservative media has told them is true. Indisputable facts have become a “matter of opinion” or “liberal lies.” When reality proves too much for conservatives to ignore, many on the right have turned to conspiracies based on utter nonsense, pushed by sociopaths and con artists making themselves very rich by regurgitating fear, hate, and paranoia. Trump’s ascent to the top of the GOP has fully exposed the true nature of today’s conservatives and the party they support. Time after time he’d say or do something that most people would say, “Okay, that’s going to be what turns conservatives against him” — but it never did. In fact, the more deplorable Trump became, the more his support seemed to grow. He belittled POWs, attacked Gold Star parents, and was caught on video bragging about being a sexual predator, but it never deterred the vast majority of his supporters. Even as Trump’s said and done things that we all know conservatives and members of his own party would be having an absolute meltdown over had a Democrat done them, still, they made excuses for him. That’s all Trump supporters really do is make excuses for him. When the KKK, white nationalists, and Nazis descended upon Charlottesville, Virginia in a “unite the right rally,” a gathering which infamous white supremacist David Duke said was “fulfilling promises of Donald Trump,” his defenders made excuses. Then when Trump made his short, vague statement where he didn’t, specifically, call out the KKK, white nationalists, or Nazis — instead choosing to insinuate that all “sides” were at fault — his supporters made excuses."
"What were once fairly calm, productive debates over political differences have become battles between reality vs. whatever preposterous nonsense Donald Trump, Fox News, or the rest of the conservative media has told them is true. Indisputable facts have become a “matter of opinion” or “liberal lies.” When reality proves too much for conservatives to ignore, many on the right have turned to conspiracies based on utter nonsense, pushed by sociopaths and con artists making themselves very rich by regurgitating fear, hate, and paranoia. Trump’s ascent to the top of the GOP has fully exposed the true nature of today’s conservatives and the party they support. Time after time he’d say or do something that most people would say, “Okay, that’s going to be what turns conservatives against him” — but it never did. In fact, the more deplorable Trump became, the more his support seemed to grow. He belittled POWs, attacked Gold Star parents, and was caught on video bragging about being a sexual predator, but it never deterred the vast majority of his supporters. Even as Trump’s said and done things that we all know conservatives and members of his own party would be having an absolute meltdown over had a Democrat done them, still, they made excuses for him. That’s all Trump supporters really do is make excuses for him. When the KKK, white nationalists, and Nazis descended upon Charlottesville, Virginia in a “unite the right rally,” a gathering which infamous white supremacist David Duke said was “fulfilling promises of Donald Trump,” his defenders made excuses. Then when Trump made his short, vague statement where he didn’t, specifically, call out the KKK, white nationalists, or Nazis — instead choosing to insinuate that all “sides” were at fault — his supporters made excuses."
John Oliver Excoriates Trump for Flunking the Most Basic Test of Political Leadership and Human Decency @alternet
John Oliver Excoriates Trump for Flunking the Most Basic Test of Political Leadership and Human Decency @alternet:
"At times like this, Oliver said, the U.S. calls for “true leadership from whoever is in the Oval Office. Unfortunately, the current occupant is [President Donald Trump] and even after a few hours to think about it,” the best he could do was a tepid response that blamed “many sides” for the violence and tiptoed around the feelings of the hateful right-wingers who invaded the normally quiet college town. “This was a white nationalist rally, you have to call that out by name,” Oliver said. “There honestly aren’t many instances in modern American politics where you can honestly think: That guy really should have mentioned the Nazis.” He said the situation amounts to a kind of reverse Godwin’s Law: “If you fail to mention Naziism, you lose the argument.” “What kind of f***ing idiot wouldn’t immediately distance himself from them?” Oliver said. “It simply doesn’t get easier than disavowing Nazis. It’s as much of a presidential gimme as pardoning a f*cking turkey. It is almost impossible to screw it up, but that’s exactly what happened"."
"At times like this, Oliver said, the U.S. calls for “true leadership from whoever is in the Oval Office. Unfortunately, the current occupant is [President Donald Trump] and even after a few hours to think about it,” the best he could do was a tepid response that blamed “many sides” for the violence and tiptoed around the feelings of the hateful right-wingers who invaded the normally quiet college town. “This was a white nationalist rally, you have to call that out by name,” Oliver said. “There honestly aren’t many instances in modern American politics where you can honestly think: That guy really should have mentioned the Nazis.” He said the situation amounts to a kind of reverse Godwin’s Law: “If you fail to mention Naziism, you lose the argument.” “What kind of f***ing idiot wouldn’t immediately distance himself from them?” Oliver said. “It simply doesn’t get easier than disavowing Nazis. It’s as much of a presidential gimme as pardoning a f*cking turkey. It is almost impossible to screw it up, but that’s exactly what happened"."
Scott Pruitt is dismantling EPA in secret for the same reason the GOP health care bill was secret
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/8/14/16142150/scott-pruitt-epa-secrecy-republican
"Pruitt is keeping his agenda as hidden as possible for the very same reasons Republicans in Congress tried to keep their recent health care bill a secret: virtually no one likes it and there’s not a coherent policy case to be made for it."
"Pruitt is keeping his agenda as hidden as possible for the very same reasons Republicans in Congress tried to keep their recent health care bill a secret: virtually no one likes it and there’s not a coherent policy case to be made for it."
Despite White House Chaos, Trump Delivers Favors for Corporate America
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/08/12/despite-white-house-chaos-trump-delivers-favors-corporate-america
"The Trump administration may be dazed and confused about many things, but not about its corporate agenda. From Scaramucci to Spicer, from Kelly to Kushner, one thing doesn’t change at Donald Trump’s chaotic White House: Its devotion to delivering for giant corporations at the public’s expense. During the campaign, Trump directed nearly as much venom toward major U.S. corporations as toward his opponents. He savaged Wall Street, badgered companies for manufacturing products outside of the U.S. and threatened them with onerous penalties. Trump singled out lobbyists who do the bidding of corporations by promising to “drain the swamp.” It was plain enough that Candidate Trump’s anti-industry shtick was bluster. But it wasn’t obvious that he would hand control of the government over to Corporate America. His billionaire cabinet is the most corporate in modern history and his sub-cabinet officials are worse. Trump immediately backtracked on his promise to crack down on lobbyists, choosing to staff his administration with them. Three dozen lobbyists are working for the administration in apparent violation of Trump’s vaunted ethics executive order on conflicts of interest; an additional 100 lobbyists have posts in the administration. While Trump has yet to deliver on Corporate America’s dream for a massive tax cut, he is rushing forward on their other top priority: slashing health, safety, environmental, consumer and other regulatory protections. Likewise, Trump turned to Goldman Sachs, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, OneWest Bank and numerous corporate law firms to fill key posts. The same pattern appears in agency after agency."
"The Trump administration may be dazed and confused about many things, but not about its corporate agenda. From Scaramucci to Spicer, from Kelly to Kushner, one thing doesn’t change at Donald Trump’s chaotic White House: Its devotion to delivering for giant corporations at the public’s expense. During the campaign, Trump directed nearly as much venom toward major U.S. corporations as toward his opponents. He savaged Wall Street, badgered companies for manufacturing products outside of the U.S. and threatened them with onerous penalties. Trump singled out lobbyists who do the bidding of corporations by promising to “drain the swamp.” It was plain enough that Candidate Trump’s anti-industry shtick was bluster. But it wasn’t obvious that he would hand control of the government over to Corporate America. His billionaire cabinet is the most corporate in modern history and his sub-cabinet officials are worse. Trump immediately backtracked on his promise to crack down on lobbyists, choosing to staff his administration with them. Three dozen lobbyists are working for the administration in apparent violation of Trump’s vaunted ethics executive order on conflicts of interest; an additional 100 lobbyists have posts in the administration. While Trump has yet to deliver on Corporate America’s dream for a massive tax cut, he is rushing forward on their other top priority: slashing health, safety, environmental, consumer and other regulatory protections. Likewise, Trump turned to Goldman Sachs, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, OneWest Bank and numerous corporate law firms to fill key posts. The same pattern appears in agency after agency."
White Supremacists Don't Think They Have Power? Look at the Voting Laws in the States They Come From! @alternet
White Supremacists Don't Think They Have Power? Look at the Voting Laws in the States They Come From! @alternet:
"One of the first four people arrested was from Virginia. The others were from Ohio, Florida and Tennessee. Each of these states has been dominated by white Republicans this decade, who have methodically implemented racist election laws that gave them majority rule in state legislatures and their U.S. House delegations."
"One of the first four people arrested was from Virginia. The others were from Ohio, Florida and Tennessee. Each of these states has been dominated by white Republicans this decade, who have methodically implemented racist election laws that gave them majority rule in state legislatures and their U.S. House delegations."
Captain Sully to Trump: You're Grounded @alternet
Captain Sully to Trump: You're Grounded @alternet:
"America's most famous airline pilot has shot down President Trump's proposal to privatize the nation's air traffic control system. “Our air traffic control system is the best and safest in the world," declares Captain Chesley Sullenberger in a new video produced by the Alliance for Aviation Across America. Sullenberger famously guided a crippled passenger jet to a safe water landing on the Hudson River in January 2009, a display of calm heroism that saved 155 lives and inspired a Hollywood movie. “Why would we give such an important and valuable national asset to the largest airlines, the same people who continue to make your airline seats smaller and closer together, who often put expedience and cost reduction ahead of the safety and the welfare of others in the long term?” Sullenberger asks. In early June, President Trump called for privatization of the air traffic control system as part of his so-called “infrastructure week.” Previous Republican proposals for privatization have stalled in Congress due to bipartisan opposition, and Trump’s endorsement did not improve its prospects."
"America's most famous airline pilot has shot down President Trump's proposal to privatize the nation's air traffic control system. “Our air traffic control system is the best and safest in the world," declares Captain Chesley Sullenberger in a new video produced by the Alliance for Aviation Across America. Sullenberger famously guided a crippled passenger jet to a safe water landing on the Hudson River in January 2009, a display of calm heroism that saved 155 lives and inspired a Hollywood movie. “Why would we give such an important and valuable national asset to the largest airlines, the same people who continue to make your airline seats smaller and closer together, who often put expedience and cost reduction ahead of the safety and the welfare of others in the long term?” Sullenberger asks. In early June, President Trump called for privatization of the air traffic control system as part of his so-called “infrastructure week.” Previous Republican proposals for privatization have stalled in Congress due to bipartisan opposition, and Trump’s endorsement did not improve its prospects."
There Was Another Right-Wing Terrorist Incident This Weekend
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/08/there-was-another-right-wing-terrorist-incident-this-weekend/
"Early this Saturday, a day most of the country spent watching the violence spilling over from white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, a 23-year-old claiming to be a member of the Three Percenters militia named Jerry Drake Varnell was arrested as he tried to set off a truck bomb outside a bank in Oklahoma City. The bomb was supposed to be constructed of anhydrous ammonia, a chemical homage to Timothy McVeigh and the weapon he used to kill 168 people inside the Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1995. Varnell had prepared a bunker to be used after his bomb kicked off a war with Federal agents. “I’m out for blood,” he allegedly told an FBI informant. “When militias start forming I’m going after government officials"."
"Early this Saturday, a day most of the country spent watching the violence spilling over from white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, a 23-year-old claiming to be a member of the Three Percenters militia named Jerry Drake Varnell was arrested as he tried to set off a truck bomb outside a bank in Oklahoma City. The bomb was supposed to be constructed of anhydrous ammonia, a chemical homage to Timothy McVeigh and the weapon he used to kill 168 people inside the Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1995. Varnell had prepared a bunker to be used after his bomb kicked off a war with Federal agents. “I’m out for blood,” he allegedly told an FBI informant. “When militias start forming I’m going after government officials"."
White Supremacist In Charlottesville Wearing 82nd Airborne Hat Gets Called Out... By 82nd Airborne
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/82nd-airborne-nazi-salute-charlottesville_us_5992ad61e4b08a247276f35e
"The 82nd Airborne Division fought several campaigns against Nazi Germany during World War II. So after a man in a hat bearing the elite Army paratrooper unit’s insignia was pictured throwing a Ku Klux Klan salute (which resembles and is sometimes mistaken for a Nazi salute) during the weekend’s Charlottesville protests, the division delivered a pointed message."
"The 82nd Airborne Division fought several campaigns against Nazi Germany during World War II. So after a man in a hat bearing the elite Army paratrooper unit’s insignia was pictured throwing a Ku Klux Klan salute (which resembles and is sometimes mistaken for a Nazi salute) during the weekend’s Charlottesville protests, the division delivered a pointed message."
Stephen Colbert Attempts To List Everything Trump Has Attacked Harder Than Nazis
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stephen-colbert-donald-trump-nazis_us_59925c13e4b09071f69c1ab1
"Colbert then launched into a full takedown of Trump’s tepid response to the violence... and then attempted to name many of the things the president has verbally attacked with more gusto than Nazis."
"Colbert then launched into a full takedown of Trump’s tepid response to the violence... and then attempted to name many of the things the president has verbally attacked with more gusto than Nazis."
Say His Name When You Denounce His Bigotry
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a57052/trump-detractors/
"The racial gunpowder that the Republicans have been storing up since Harry Dent wrote a memo to Richard Nixon has finally found a bright orange fuse. It's not enough to deplore white supremacy from within the safety of your gerrymandered districts. It's time to distance yourselves from the president* who refuses to distance his presidency* from it, and from the policies that made that president* not merely possible, but inevitable."
"The racial gunpowder that the Republicans have been storing up since Harry Dent wrote a memo to Richard Nixon has finally found a bright orange fuse. It's not enough to deplore white supremacy from within the safety of your gerrymandered districts. It's time to distance yourselves from the president* who refuses to distance his presidency* from it, and from the policies that made that president* not merely possible, but inevitable."
Donald Trump Has Been a Racist All His Life — And He Isn’t Going to Change After Charlottesville
https://theintercept.com/2017/08/15/donald-trump-has-been-a-racist-all-his-life-and-he-isnt-going-to-change-after-charlottesville/
"Consider the first time the president’s name appeared on the front page of the New York Times, more than 40 years ago. “Major Landlord Accused of Antiblack Bias in City,” read the headline of the A1 piece on Oct. 16, 1973, which pointed out how Richard Nixon’s Department of Justice had sued the Trump family’s real estate company in federal court over alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act. “The government contended that Trump Management had refused to rent or negotiate rentals ‘because of race and color,’” the Times revealed. “It also charged that the company had required different rental terms and conditions because of race and that it had misrepresented to blacks that apartments were not available.” (Trump later settled with the government without accepting responsibility.) Over the next four decades, Trump burnished his reputation as a bigot: he was accused of ordering “all the black [employees] off the floor” of his Atlantic City casinos during his visits; claimed “laziness is a trait in blacks” and “not anything they can control”; requested Jews “in yarmulkes” replace his black accountants; told Bryan Gumbel that “a well-educated black has a tremendous advantage over a well-educated white in terms of the job market”; demanded the death penalty for a group of black and Latino teenagers accused of raping a jogger in Central Park (and, despite their later exoneration with the use of DNA evidence, has continued to insist they are guilty); suggested a Native American tribe “don’t look like Indians to me”; mocked Chinese and Japanese trade negotiators by doing an impression of them in broken English; described undocumented Mexican immigrants as “rapists”; compared Syrian refugees to “snakes”; defended two supporters who assaulted a homeless Latino man as “very passionate” people “who love this country”; pledged to ban a quarter of humanity from entering the United States; proposed a database to track American Muslims that he himself refused to distinguish from the Nazi registration of German Jews;"
"Consider the first time the president’s name appeared on the front page of the New York Times, more than 40 years ago. “Major Landlord Accused of Antiblack Bias in City,” read the headline of the A1 piece on Oct. 16, 1973, which pointed out how Richard Nixon’s Department of Justice had sued the Trump family’s real estate company in federal court over alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act. “The government contended that Trump Management had refused to rent or negotiate rentals ‘because of race and color,’” the Times revealed. “It also charged that the company had required different rental terms and conditions because of race and that it had misrepresented to blacks that apartments were not available.” (Trump later settled with the government without accepting responsibility.) Over the next four decades, Trump burnished his reputation as a bigot: he was accused of ordering “all the black [employees] off the floor” of his Atlantic City casinos during his visits; claimed “laziness is a trait in blacks” and “not anything they can control”; requested Jews “in yarmulkes” replace his black accountants; told Bryan Gumbel that “a well-educated black has a tremendous advantage over a well-educated white in terms of the job market”; demanded the death penalty for a group of black and Latino teenagers accused of raping a jogger in Central Park (and, despite their later exoneration with the use of DNA evidence, has continued to insist they are guilty); suggested a Native American tribe “don’t look like Indians to me”; mocked Chinese and Japanese trade negotiators by doing an impression of them in broken English; described undocumented Mexican immigrants as “rapists”; compared Syrian refugees to “snakes”; defended two supporters who assaulted a homeless Latino man as “very passionate” people “who love this country”; pledged to ban a quarter of humanity from entering the United States; proposed a database to track American Muslims that he himself refused to distinguish from the Nazi registration of German Jews;"
Ex-CIA director Brennan pens emotional apology to Wolf Blitzer: ‘Trump put our collective futures at grave risk’
Ex-CIA director Brennan pens emotional apology to Wolf Blitzer: ‘Trump put our collective futures at grave risk’:
"Brennan saw the exchange and wrote a personal note on the, “unspeakable evil of Nazism,” which CNN has shared. “I just want to extend my sympathies not only for their deaths but also to you and your family–and countless others–for the pain inflicted today by the despicable words of Donald Trump. Mr. Trump’s words, and the beliefs they reflect, are a national disgrace, and all Americans of conscience need to repudiate his ugly and dangerous comments,” Brennan wrote. “If allowed to continue along this senseless path, Mr. Trump will do lasting harm to American society and to our standing in the world,” Brennan predicted. “By his words and his actions, Mr. Trump is putting our national security and our collective futures at grave risk"."
"Brennan saw the exchange and wrote a personal note on the, “unspeakable evil of Nazism,” which CNN has shared. “I just want to extend my sympathies not only for their deaths but also to you and your family–and countless others–for the pain inflicted today by the despicable words of Donald Trump. Mr. Trump’s words, and the beliefs they reflect, are a national disgrace, and all Americans of conscience need to repudiate his ugly and dangerous comments,” Brennan wrote. “If allowed to continue along this senseless path, Mr. Trump will do lasting harm to American society and to our standing in the world,” Brennan predicted. “By his words and his actions, Mr. Trump is putting our national security and our collective futures at grave risk"."
‘Patently false’: Newspaper rips Idaho GOPer for defending white nationalists as ‘people who love the Constitution’
‘Patently false’: Newspaper rips Idaho GOPer for defending white nationalists as ‘people who love the Constitution’:
"Controversial Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott defended white nationalists by claiming that racism is not part of the movement."
"Controversial Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott defended white nationalists by claiming that racism is not part of the movement."
Why Trump’s Charlottesville crisis is shocking but not surprising
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/8/16/16155668/trump-history-racism-charlottesville
"Trump has a ridiculously long history of public racism"
"Trump has a ridiculously long history of public racism"
7 Things to Know About the Mindset of the Neo-Nazis @alternet
7 Things to Know About the Mindset of the Neo-Nazis @alternet:
"2. It’s not the economy, stupid. Producing articles about the economic anxiety that plagues Trump’s base has become a virtual cottage industry at certain media outlets. (I see you, New York Times.) That’s a good way of ginning up sympathy for Trump’s most fervent supporters—including the alt-right—but a bad way of getting to the truth of what truly motivates them. The short answer to that question is, racism and bigotry."
"2. It’s not the economy, stupid. Producing articles about the economic anxiety that plagues Trump’s base has become a virtual cottage industry at certain media outlets. (I see you, New York Times.) That’s a good way of ginning up sympathy for Trump’s most fervent supporters—including the alt-right—but a bad way of getting to the truth of what truly motivates them. The short answer to that question is, racism and bigotry."
Seth Meyers Takes Trump Apart in Emotional, Must-Watch Monologue @alternet
Seth Meyers Takes Trump Apart in Emotional, Must-Watch Monologue @alternet: 'He showed us again who he really is: a lying racist who’s desperate for praise.'
Trump campaign chair Carl Paladino finally ousted from school board for racist tirade against the Michelle Obama
Trump campaign chair Carl Paladino finally ousted from school board for racist tirade against the Michelle Obama:
"The decision came Thursday from State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, who approved the request from the board that Paladino be removed from the system"
"The decision came Thursday from State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, who approved the request from the board that Paladino be removed from the system"
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Why the GOP Sides With the Klan and the Nazis @alternet
Why the GOP Sides With the Klan and the Nazis @alternet:
"That the GOP would put America through all this racial and civil strife just to protect the interests of the few hundred billionaires and multi-millionaires who own them is mind-boggling."
"That the GOP would put America through all this racial and civil strife just to protect the interests of the few hundred billionaires and multi-millionaires who own them is mind-boggling."
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