Sunday, January 7, 2018
Trump tells Mar-a-Lago friends ‘You all just got a lot richer’ after he signs GOP tax bill
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-tells-mar-a-lago-friends-you-all-just-got-a-lot-richer-after-he-signs-gop-tax-bill-0a0c4c0edd5a/
"President Donald Trump began the holiday break by telling friends he invited to Mar-a-Lago for dinner that “You all just got a lot richer,” referring to the Republican tax bill — which largely benefits the wealthy."
"President Donald Trump began the holiday break by telling friends he invited to Mar-a-Lago for dinner that “You all just got a lot richer,” referring to the Republican tax bill — which largely benefits the wealthy."
'You All Just Got A Lot Richer' Trump Tells Rich Guests @alternet
'You All Just Got A Lot Richer' Trump Tells Rich Guests @alternet: Mar-a-lago's exclusive dinner guests would have paid a $200,000 initiation fee and $14,000 in annual dues. President Donald Trump joined his family at their 'Winter White House' for the holidays Friday night after signing the GOP Tax Bill into Law, and reportedly told wealthy friends dining at Mar-a-Lago 'you all just got a lot richer.' Days before heading away for the holidays, Trump told White House reporters that the tax bill would…
Mike Pence gets trolled by Dictionary.com as a 'sycophant'
http://www.newsweek.com/mike-pence-donald-trump-prayer-twitter-dictionary-756401
"On Thursday, the official Twitter account for Dictionary.com tweeted a jab at Pence for fawning over President Donald Trump for three straight minutes, dishing out a compliment every 12 seconds on average, during a prayer session at Trump's last cabinet meeting of the year Wednesday. "There's a word for a person who would praise someone every 12 seconds," tweeted the 22-year-old online dictionary, which is based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Below the text was a link to the noun "sycophant," defined as "a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite"."
"On Thursday, the official Twitter account for Dictionary.com tweeted a jab at Pence for fawning over President Donald Trump for three straight minutes, dishing out a compliment every 12 seconds on average, during a prayer session at Trump's last cabinet meeting of the year Wednesday. "There's a word for a person who would praise someone every 12 seconds," tweeted the 22-year-old online dictionary, which is based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Below the text was a link to the noun "sycophant," defined as "a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite"."
The Republican Party Has Bowed, Completely, to the Mad King
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a14478536/republican-party-trump-russia/
"there’s more to it than the revolting spectacle to which we were treated after the Loot the Joint Act of 2017 was passed. Over the past week, there has been a staggering welter of reporting about back-channels, hidden agendas, and covert shenanigans that makes the opaque creation of the tax bill look like a town meeting in Vermont. The phrase, “a small group of influential Republicans” has come to mean something very dark and crooked. The inevitable assault on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is hardly a secret anymore. It’s the second stage of Paul Ryan’s grand plan, and everybody knows it. But there is a general effort now to prop up the administration*, especially as Robert Mueller and his hounds get to baying more audibly outside the wrought-iron fence."
"there’s more to it than the revolting spectacle to which we were treated after the Loot the Joint Act of 2017 was passed. Over the past week, there has been a staggering welter of reporting about back-channels, hidden agendas, and covert shenanigans that makes the opaque creation of the tax bill look like a town meeting in Vermont. The phrase, “a small group of influential Republicans” has come to mean something very dark and crooked. The inevitable assault on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is hardly a secret anymore. It’s the second stage of Paul Ryan’s grand plan, and everybody knows it. But there is a general effort now to prop up the administration*, especially as Robert Mueller and his hounds get to baying more audibly outside the wrought-iron fence."
Welcome to The Trump Family Swamp
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/12/19/welcome-trump-family-swamp
"The presidency was never meant to be a profit center for a nepotistic, money-grubbing family. But that was before the Trumps moved in."
"The presidency was never meant to be a profit center for a nepotistic, money-grubbing family. But that was before the Trumps moved in."
Trump has the lowest approval of any modern president at the end of his first year
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/21/16798432/trump-low-approval-december-first-year
"A majority of Americans don’t think too highly of the job Donald Trump is doing as president. It has propelled him to a singular accomplishment: the lowest approval rating of any modern president in December of his first year in office."
"A majority of Americans don’t think too highly of the job Donald Trump is doing as president. It has propelled him to a singular accomplishment: the lowest approval rating of any modern president in December of his first year in office."
America hates the GOP’s tax bill, and the Koch Brothers are spending millions to change that
https://thinkprogress.org/koch-brothers-tax-bill-education-b01c066da024/
"Not satisfied with Republicans passing a tax bill that is hugely beneficial to them, the billionaire Koch brothers are planning to invest millions in an advertising campaign designed to sell the hugely unpopular bill to the American people."
"Not satisfied with Republicans passing a tax bill that is hugely beneficial to them, the billionaire Koch brothers are planning to invest millions in an advertising campaign designed to sell the hugely unpopular bill to the American people."
Trump administration is trying to hide the $5.8 billion its tip-stealing plan would cost workers
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/21/1726581/-Trump-administration-is-trying-to-hide-the-5-8-billion-its-tip-stealing-plan-would-cost-workers
"That’s the Trump administration three-step for you: decide to do a bad thing, lie about what its effects will be, and skirt the law to avoid transparency. At potentially huge cost to workers, in this case."
"That’s the Trump administration three-step for you: decide to do a bad thing, lie about what its effects will be, and skirt the law to avoid transparency. At potentially huge cost to workers, in this case."
This TV interview with Trump’s Ambassador to the Netherlands is the ultimate self-own
https://thinkprogress.org/trumps-ambassador-to-the-netherlands-caught-lying-about-his-own-conspiracy-claims-dc493bb385d7/
"During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan Republican Pete Hoekstra earned a reputation for xenophobia and racism, for attempting to capitalize on terrorist attacks to advance his political career, and for spreading false information. Nearly seven years since he vacated his House seat, little has changed. A month ago, Hoekstra was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, on a voice vote, to be Donald Trump’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, his birthplace. Already, he has been caught in multiple lies by a Dutch journalist."
"During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan Republican Pete Hoekstra earned a reputation for xenophobia and racism, for attempting to capitalize on terrorist attacks to advance his political career, and for spreading false information. Nearly seven years since he vacated his House seat, little has changed. A month ago, Hoekstra was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, on a voice vote, to be Donald Trump’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, his birthplace. Already, he has been caught in multiple lies by a Dutch journalist."
Trump's New Year's gift to the steelworkers who supported him: More layoffs!
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/22/1726876/-Trump-s-New-Year-s-gift-to-the-steelworkers-who-supported-him-more-layoffs
"The New York Times has a depressing article about the fait accompli of steel jobs in America under Trump. The realities of the evolving economy have meant that steel jobs and coal jobs, are disappearing as we become more and more of a service industry country. Of course, white supremacist in chief Donald Trump promised that he would turn back the clocks to a time that never really existed, with benefits for people he had no interest in. Since taking office, Trump has done nothing."
"The New York Times has a depressing article about the fait accompli of steel jobs in America under Trump. The realities of the evolving economy have meant that steel jobs and coal jobs, are disappearing as we become more and more of a service industry country. Of course, white supremacist in chief Donald Trump promised that he would turn back the clocks to a time that never really existed, with benefits for people he had no interest in. Since taking office, Trump has done nothing."
Forget Christmas, Republicans Have Taken Christ Out of Christianity
https://forwardprogressives.com/forget-christmas-republicans-have-taken-christ-out-of-christianity/
"Currently, Donald Trump, a man who couldn’t be further from a real Christian, sits atop the GOP. I’m sorry, but you can’t be a party that supports a greedy, petty, self-admitted sexual predator who likes to bully those he feels are weaker than he is, mocks people with disabilities, and conducts himself in a disgraceful manner nearly every day of his life — then claim you care about “Christian values.” Then there’s that “little thing” recently where the vast majority of Republican voters tried to get a credibly accused child molester elected in Alabama. To any Republican reading this, please, tell me, what’s “Christian” about your party or anything it supports? Do you really believe Jesus Christ would support someone like Donald Trump? I’m not saying if Christ were alive he’d be a Democrat, but I can promise you that he damn sure wouldn’t be a Republican. Considering the GOP just celebrated passing a tax bill that’s going to give the rich a massive tax break, add trillions to our debt, and ultimately raise taxes on many middle class Americans — oh, all while continuing to try to strip health care away from millions — let’s look at a few passages from the Bible about greed"
"Currently, Donald Trump, a man who couldn’t be further from a real Christian, sits atop the GOP. I’m sorry, but you can’t be a party that supports a greedy, petty, self-admitted sexual predator who likes to bully those he feels are weaker than he is, mocks people with disabilities, and conducts himself in a disgraceful manner nearly every day of his life — then claim you care about “Christian values.” Then there’s that “little thing” recently where the vast majority of Republican voters tried to get a credibly accused child molester elected in Alabama. To any Republican reading this, please, tell me, what’s “Christian” about your party or anything it supports? Do you really believe Jesus Christ would support someone like Donald Trump? I’m not saying if Christ were alive he’d be a Democrat, but I can promise you that he damn sure wouldn’t be a Republican. Considering the GOP just celebrated passing a tax bill that’s going to give the rich a massive tax break, add trillions to our debt, and ultimately raise taxes on many middle class Americans — oh, all while continuing to try to strip health care away from millions — let’s look at a few passages from the Bible about greed"
Intolerable cruelty: Kansas Medicaid leaves elderly to die without care
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/22/1726888/-Intolerable-cruelty-Kansas-Medicaid-leaves-elderly-to-die-without-care
"Governor Brownback, a man who considers himself someone of significant faith, working to transition to the position of Ambassador to Religious Freedom, may need to learn a few things from the book he professes. The Kansas City Star revealed that the policy in Kansas has left many families struggling to figure out care for their loved ones."
"Governor Brownback, a man who considers himself someone of significant faith, working to transition to the position of Ambassador to Religious Freedom, may need to learn a few things from the book he professes. The Kansas City Star revealed that the policy in Kansas has left many families struggling to figure out care for their loved ones."
Good ol’ lyin’ Pete Hoekstra perfect addition to Trump diplomatic corps
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/23/1727111/-Good-ol-Pete-Hoekstra-perfect-addition-to-Trump-diplomatic-corps
"Watch the video from the BBC featuring Pete Hoekstra, former Republican congressman from Michigan and newly-named ambassador to the Netherlands. Pete Hoekstra lies. Then lies about his lies. He’s a natural fit for this administration."
"Watch the video from the BBC featuring Pete Hoekstra, former Republican congressman from Michigan and newly-named ambassador to the Netherlands. Pete Hoekstra lies. Then lies about his lies. He’s a natural fit for this administration."
WATCH: Trump ambassador shouts ‘fake news’ at reporter — and gets immediately busted with damning video
WATCH: Trump ambassador shouts ‘fake news’ at reporter — and gets immediately busted with damning video
"Pete Hoekstra, the man chosen by President Donald Trump to be America’s ambassador to the Netherlands, was busted blatantly lying about his past statements by a Dutch journalist this week."
"Pete Hoekstra, the man chosen by President Donald Trump to be America’s ambassador to the Netherlands, was busted blatantly lying about his past statements by a Dutch journalist this week."
What did Trump know? That Flynn lied. When did he know it? January.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/21/1726601/-What-did-Trump-know-That-Flynn-lied-When-did-he-know-it-January
"When it comes to Michael Flynn, Trump knew he was lying from the beginning. And so did a lot of other people in the White House—people who have since gotten a fresh chance to lie in interviews with Robert Mueller’s team."
"When it comes to Michael Flynn, Trump knew he was lying from the beginning. And so did a lot of other people in the White House—people who have since gotten a fresh chance to lie in interviews with Robert Mueller’s team."
Nicolle Wallace: ‘I can’t get my brain around’ GOP attacks on ‘Republican-led law enforcement agencies’
Nicolle Wallace: ‘I can’t get my brain around’ GOP attacks on ‘Republican-led law enforcement agencies’
"Former communications director to President George W. Bush’s White House Nicolle Wallace expressed her incredulity on Thursday that Republicans are now attacking “Republican-led law enforcement agencies” in their zeal to protect President Donald Trump from the Russia probe by discrediting the FBI and special counsel Robert Mueller."
"Former communications director to President George W. Bush’s White House Nicolle Wallace expressed her incredulity on Thursday that Republicans are now attacking “Republican-led law enforcement agencies” in their zeal to protect President Donald Trump from the Russia probe by discrediting the FBI and special counsel Robert Mueller."
Taking a page from Trump's book, U.S. ambassador lies, gets caught, and lies about having lied.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/22/1726823/-Taking-a-page-from-Trump-s-book-U-S-ambassador-lies-gets-caught-and-lies-about-having-lied
"Donald Trump is apparently assembling an entire government of pathological liars. Check out this clip of Pete Hoekstra, a former member of Congress and now ambassador to Netherlands, lying about something he said and then, when confronted with the truth, lying about how he denied it in the first place. It’s an ouroboros of lying."
"Donald Trump is apparently assembling an entire government of pathological liars. Check out this clip of Pete Hoekstra, a former member of Congress and now ambassador to Netherlands, lying about something he said and then, when confronted with the truth, lying about how he denied it in the first place. It’s an ouroboros of lying."
Ivanka Trump tries to boost tax scam, shows off her privileged ignorance instead
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/21/1726535/-Ivanka-Trump-tries-to-boost-tax-scam-shows-off-her-privileged-ignorance-instead
"Ivanka Trump is on the TV talking about taxes, but that does not mean she knows about taxes. Certainly not how they work for people without armies of accountants."
"Ivanka Trump is on the TV talking about taxes, but that does not mean she knows about taxes. Certainly not how they work for people without armies of accountants."
8.8 million people signed up for Obamacare coverage despite Trump’s sabotage
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/21/16807348/obamacare-enrollment-2018
"About 8.8 million Americans enrolled in health coverage through Healthcare.gov, the Trump administration announced Thursday, a slight dip from last year after the Trump administration cut spending and outreach but far from a dramatic drop. Last year, about 9.2 million people signed up through Healthcare.gov, which serves more than 30 states. A dozen states run their own marketplaces and several of those states have not yet closed their open enrollment."
"About 8.8 million Americans enrolled in health coverage through Healthcare.gov, the Trump administration announced Thursday, a slight dip from last year after the Trump administration cut spending and outreach but far from a dramatic drop. Last year, about 9.2 million people signed up through Healthcare.gov, which serves more than 30 states. A dozen states run their own marketplaces and several of those states have not yet closed their open enrollment."
Samantha Bee Has the Perfect Description for Trump's Evangelical Base @alternet
Samantha Bee Has the Perfect Description for Trump's Evangelical Base @alternet:
"The president is actively fueling the religious right's apocalyptic fantasies."
"The president is actively fueling the religious right's apocalyptic fantasies."
Bob Corker Files Dozens Of Financial Statement 'Corrections' Before Tax Scam Vote
Bob Corker Files Dozens Of Financial Statement 'Corrections' Before Tax Scam Vote:
"The #CorkerKickback will continue to haunt Bob Corker, despite his mewling that he is innocent. Take it away, Fortune: Tennessee Senator Bob Corker has reportedly failed to disclose millions of dollars in income from various investments since taking office in 2007. While Senators often amend financial-disclosure forms, Corker filed dozens of corrections on Friday, according to the Wall Street Journal following an inquiry by the paper over regarding irregularities in his original forms. And what are these various investments? The Republican Senator had failed to disclose $2 million in income from three hedge fund investments and additional millions from real-estate investments as well as other assets and financial transactions, the Journal reports. The fully amended filings show at least $3.8 million in additional income between 2007 and 2014 from commercial real-estate holdings. Why, what a coinkydink! Those are exactly the things that the #CorkerKickback will give tax breaks to! And what makes it even more coinkydinky is that those amended financial disclosures were on the same day he flipped from a Nay to a Yay vote, without reading the legislation."
"The #CorkerKickback will continue to haunt Bob Corker, despite his mewling that he is innocent. Take it away, Fortune: Tennessee Senator Bob Corker has reportedly failed to disclose millions of dollars in income from various investments since taking office in 2007. While Senators often amend financial-disclosure forms, Corker filed dozens of corrections on Friday, according to the Wall Street Journal following an inquiry by the paper over regarding irregularities in his original forms. And what are these various investments? The Republican Senator had failed to disclose $2 million in income from three hedge fund investments and additional millions from real-estate investments as well as other assets and financial transactions, the Journal reports. The fully amended filings show at least $3.8 million in additional income between 2007 and 2014 from commercial real-estate holdings. Why, what a coinkydink! Those are exactly the things that the #CorkerKickback will give tax breaks to! And what makes it even more coinkydinky is that those amended financial disclosures were on the same day he flipped from a Nay to a Yay vote, without reading the legislation."
Republican Attacks on Robert Mueller Are Absurd. But the GOP Has Been Lawless for Decades.
https://theintercept.com/2017/12/20/republican-attacks-on-robert-mueller-are-absurd-but-the-gop-has-been-lawless-for-decades/
"It’s simply the logical endpoint of decades of effort by the Republican Party and its media penumbra to shield the GOP from the rule of law or any small-D democratic norms. Today’s GOP sees any and all rules just as billionaire New York real estate developer Leona Helmsley saw taxes – they’re only for “the little people.” There’s always been a significant faction of the U.S. right, rooted mostly in large corporations, that’s similar to the right in Latin America, in that it genuinely sees democracy as illegitimate. The success of Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1930s was a gigantic shock to their system, and there were two small scale efforts by Wall Street and big business to overthrow Roosevelt via military coup. Meanwhile, John Foster Dulles, a powerful corporate lawyer who later became secretary of state during the Eisenhower administration, told his clients facings new government restrictions: “Do not comply. Resist the law with all your might, and soon everything will be all right.” Dulles was wrong. From the viewpoint of conservatives, things did not get “all right” anytime soon. The New Deal was such a stunning political success that, starting with Roosevelt’s election in 1932, Democrats held the majority in the House of Representatives for 58 of the next 62 years until 1994. Democrats controlled the more-aristocratic Senate almost as firmly during the same period, for 52 years, and even managed to gain the presidency for a majority of that time. They provided an imperfect but real check on the right’s dream of rolling back the 20th century and returning the U.S. to the late 1800s. But Dulles and company handed their commitment to massive resistance down to their ideological descendants. And soon enough it erupted spectacularly during the presidency of Richard Nixon."
"It’s simply the logical endpoint of decades of effort by the Republican Party and its media penumbra to shield the GOP from the rule of law or any small-D democratic norms. Today’s GOP sees any and all rules just as billionaire New York real estate developer Leona Helmsley saw taxes – they’re only for “the little people.” There’s always been a significant faction of the U.S. right, rooted mostly in large corporations, that’s similar to the right in Latin America, in that it genuinely sees democracy as illegitimate. The success of Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1930s was a gigantic shock to their system, and there were two small scale efforts by Wall Street and big business to overthrow Roosevelt via military coup. Meanwhile, John Foster Dulles, a powerful corporate lawyer who later became secretary of state during the Eisenhower administration, told his clients facings new government restrictions: “Do not comply. Resist the law with all your might, and soon everything will be all right.” Dulles was wrong. From the viewpoint of conservatives, things did not get “all right” anytime soon. The New Deal was such a stunning political success that, starting with Roosevelt’s election in 1932, Democrats held the majority in the House of Representatives for 58 of the next 62 years until 1994. Democrats controlled the more-aristocratic Senate almost as firmly during the same period, for 52 years, and even managed to gain the presidency for a majority of that time. They provided an imperfect but real check on the right’s dream of rolling back the 20th century and returning the U.S. to the late 1800s. But Dulles and company handed their commitment to massive resistance down to their ideological descendants. And soon enough it erupted spectacularly during the presidency of Richard Nixon."
Dear Trump Supporters: When You Keep Denying Reality, Of Course Everything Seems ‘Liberally Biased’
https://forwardprogressives.com/dear-trump-supporters-when-you-keep-denying-reality-of-course-everything-seems-liberally-biased/
"That’s essentially where we’re at with Trump supporters. To talk to most of them, practically anything they hear negative about him is part of a “conspiracy against him,” not because that’s actually true, but because they don’t want to believe in facts and reality. It’s common sense. The more truth someone denies is real, the more “biased” those telling it are going to seem. Since Trump’s rise among the GOP, we’ve gone from “the media is liberally biased” to “there’s a deep state conspiracy involving the media, the FBI, U.S. intelligence agencies, the Department of Justice, Congress, our allies, and election officials in all 50 states to bring down Trump — but Russia is totally trustworthy.” Most of Trump’s supporters trust a serial-killing Russian tyrant like Vladimir Putin more than they do the the FBI, DOJ, U.S. intelligence, Congress, or our allies. Why? Well, simply because he says things that they want to hear. They don’t want to believe Trump colluded with Russia, or that the Russians were behind a cyber attack that helped him “win.” To believe that would force them to admit that he probably wouldn’t have “won” without the help of a foreign enemy who launched an attack aimed at undermining our democracy. They would have to admit that Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Democrats, and the “liberal media” that they hate were right — while the sources they trust to give them “information” such as Sean Hannity, Breitbart, Rush Limbaugh, and Alex Jones were wrong. And they’re damn sure not going to do that. The thing is, the truth doesn’t become “biased” simply because they don’t want to believe in it. This is not rocket science. The more the people backing Donald Trump continue to deny facts and reality are true, the more those telling the truth are going to appear to have some sort of nefarious bias or agenda to those people."
"That’s essentially where we’re at with Trump supporters. To talk to most of them, practically anything they hear negative about him is part of a “conspiracy against him,” not because that’s actually true, but because they don’t want to believe in facts and reality. It’s common sense. The more truth someone denies is real, the more “biased” those telling it are going to seem. Since Trump’s rise among the GOP, we’ve gone from “the media is liberally biased” to “there’s a deep state conspiracy involving the media, the FBI, U.S. intelligence agencies, the Department of Justice, Congress, our allies, and election officials in all 50 states to bring down Trump — but Russia is totally trustworthy.” Most of Trump’s supporters trust a serial-killing Russian tyrant like Vladimir Putin more than they do the the FBI, DOJ, U.S. intelligence, Congress, or our allies. Why? Well, simply because he says things that they want to hear. They don’t want to believe Trump colluded with Russia, or that the Russians were behind a cyber attack that helped him “win.” To believe that would force them to admit that he probably wouldn’t have “won” without the help of a foreign enemy who launched an attack aimed at undermining our democracy. They would have to admit that Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Democrats, and the “liberal media” that they hate were right — while the sources they trust to give them “information” such as Sean Hannity, Breitbart, Rush Limbaugh, and Alex Jones were wrong. And they’re damn sure not going to do that. The thing is, the truth doesn’t become “biased” simply because they don’t want to believe in it. This is not rocket science. The more the people backing Donald Trump continue to deny facts and reality are true, the more those telling the truth are going to appear to have some sort of nefarious bias or agenda to those people."
Here Are The 3 Biggest Myths That Republicans Want You To Believe About Their Tax Cuts For The Rich
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/12/20/3-biggest-myths-republicans-tax-cuts-rich.html
"It is all a web of lies designed to fool people who are getting nothing into thinking that they are getting something, while those who already have the most will get 83% of the benefits from this tax cut."
"It is all a web of lies designed to fool people who are getting nothing into thinking that they are getting something, while those who already have the most will get 83% of the benefits from this tax cut."
William Rivers Pitt | They Cheered When This Tax Bill Passed: Always Remember That
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/42973-they-cheered-when-this-tax-bill-passed-always-remember-that
"When the president of the United States of America signs this bill into law, he will, among many other things, be signing a check to himself and men like Bob Corker. That check has a great many zeroes to the left of the decimal. These are the people the Evangelicals embrace as "theirs," though their pockets will be picked and their futures plundered, once again. They cheered. It would be bad enough if they did this with their heads hung low in shame, knowing as we all know that this is only happening because the big GOP donors demanded the key to the Treasury and refused to donate again until they got it. We're sorry, they could (but would never) say, but they made us do it. We had to, we're sorry. Instead, they cheered. They actually cheered. For the record: The people who will take this tax bill in the teeth reject and repudiate it out of hand. Only 33 percent of those polled by CNN think the tax bill is anything other than a smash-and-grab looting of the Treasury, and that number correlates exactly with the ever-dwindling number of people who think Donald J. Trump is himself the golden calf, beyond reproach, a shining orange beacon on a hill. If Trump threw out the first pitch at a ballgame and hit a grandmother behind third base with the ball, that 33 percent would call it a strike and denounce videotape footage to the contrary as "fake news." I remember the quaint days of summer and fall, when the Republican Party could be counted on to be its worst enemy. Remember those attempts at repealing the Affordable Care Act, when GOP "heroes" like John McCain, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins thwarted the president and majority leader McConnell? That was only a few hundred billion dollars going to other people. This thing is a trillion dollars and more, all going directly to the wealthy and the corporations they control."
"When the president of the United States of America signs this bill into law, he will, among many other things, be signing a check to himself and men like Bob Corker. That check has a great many zeroes to the left of the decimal. These are the people the Evangelicals embrace as "theirs," though their pockets will be picked and their futures plundered, once again. They cheered. It would be bad enough if they did this with their heads hung low in shame, knowing as we all know that this is only happening because the big GOP donors demanded the key to the Treasury and refused to donate again until they got it. We're sorry, they could (but would never) say, but they made us do it. We had to, we're sorry. Instead, they cheered. They actually cheered. For the record: The people who will take this tax bill in the teeth reject and repudiate it out of hand. Only 33 percent of those polled by CNN think the tax bill is anything other than a smash-and-grab looting of the Treasury, and that number correlates exactly with the ever-dwindling number of people who think Donald J. Trump is himself the golden calf, beyond reproach, a shining orange beacon on a hill. If Trump threw out the first pitch at a ballgame and hit a grandmother behind third base with the ball, that 33 percent would call it a strike and denounce videotape footage to the contrary as "fake news." I remember the quaint days of summer and fall, when the Republican Party could be counted on to be its worst enemy. Remember those attempts at repealing the Affordable Care Act, when GOP "heroes" like John McCain, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins thwarted the president and majority leader McConnell? That was only a few hundred billion dollars going to other people. This thing is a trillion dollars and more, all going directly to the wealthy and the corporations they control."
Why Republicans Love Debt
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/12/20/why-republicans-love-debt
"One of the most successful deceits of modern times is that Republicans oppose government debt. In fact, Republicans love government debt and expand it whenever they can. It’s important to understand this fact. It’s even more important to understand why it is so and why Trump’s tax cut is a classic case of self-interested Republican budget busting. The last Republican president to produce a balanced budget was Richard Nixon, in 1969, almost 50 years ago. Since then, not a single Republican administration has produced a balanced budget. Not one. All have produced debt. Mountains of it. Ronald Reagan was the King of Debt. When he came into office, in 1981, the national debt stood at $1 trillion. Twelve years later, when his Vice President, George H. W. Bush, left office, the national debt stood at $4 trillion. Think about that for a moment. Over the span of 204 years, from 1776 to 1980, the nation fought the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, built out the continent, fought World War I, survived the Great Depression, fought and won World War II and the better part of the Cold War. And through all of that it only created $1 trillion of debt. Then, in a single 12-year period of relative peace and prosperity, Reagan and Bush I quadrupled it. Bill Clinton raised taxes on the wealthy. The result was not only the longest peacetime economic expansion in American history, but the first budget surpluses in 30 years. He handed George W. Bush a $128 billion surplus. Bush immediately enacted Reagan-esque tax cuts where 50% of the gains went to the top 1% of income earners. He turned the Clinton surplus into a $158 billion deficit in his first year, a staggering swing of $286 billion in only two years. Bush more than doubled the national debt in only eight years, fom $5.8 trillion to $11.9 trillion. So, the FACT of Republicans producing debt is indisputable. It is even more important to understand why they do so with such relentless intensity."
"One of the most successful deceits of modern times is that Republicans oppose government debt. In fact, Republicans love government debt and expand it whenever they can. It’s important to understand this fact. It’s even more important to understand why it is so and why Trump’s tax cut is a classic case of self-interested Republican budget busting. The last Republican president to produce a balanced budget was Richard Nixon, in 1969, almost 50 years ago. Since then, not a single Republican administration has produced a balanced budget. Not one. All have produced debt. Mountains of it. Ronald Reagan was the King of Debt. When he came into office, in 1981, the national debt stood at $1 trillion. Twelve years later, when his Vice President, George H. W. Bush, left office, the national debt stood at $4 trillion. Think about that for a moment. Over the span of 204 years, from 1776 to 1980, the nation fought the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, built out the continent, fought World War I, survived the Great Depression, fought and won World War II and the better part of the Cold War. And through all of that it only created $1 trillion of debt. Then, in a single 12-year period of relative peace and prosperity, Reagan and Bush I quadrupled it. Bill Clinton raised taxes on the wealthy. The result was not only the longest peacetime economic expansion in American history, but the first budget surpluses in 30 years. He handed George W. Bush a $128 billion surplus. Bush immediately enacted Reagan-esque tax cuts where 50% of the gains went to the top 1% of income earners. He turned the Clinton surplus into a $158 billion deficit in his first year, a staggering swing of $286 billion in only two years. Bush more than doubled the national debt in only eight years, fom $5.8 trillion to $11.9 trillion. So, the FACT of Republicans producing debt is indisputable. It is even more important to understand why they do so with such relentless intensity."
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