[StrikezOne]

People out of nowhere suddenly care about online privacy invasion? What was the precedent that could have allowed such a thing? Democrats again desperately trying to fight Trump and failing miserably.

Lets keep blaming those damn Russians....

[rtpoe]

Obamacare replaced with Trumpscare.

As long his name stands in front of it he will be happy - he would even lend an execution program his name as long his name is in front of it. This makes this man happy.

Speaking of "execution programs".....

Studies have been done looking at the effect of having health insurance or Medicaid has on death rates.

"Mortality and Access to Care among Adults after State Medicaid Expansions" - Benjamin D. Sommers, M.D., Ph.D., Katherine Baicker, Ph.D., and Arnold M. Epstein, M.D.
N Engl J Med, 2012; 367:1025-1034 September 13, 2012 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa1202099

"Changes in Mortality After Massachusetts Health Care Reform: A Quasi-experimental Study" - Benjamin D. Sommers, MD, PhD; Sharon K. Long, PhD; Katherine Baicker, PhD.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 2014;160(9):585-593. DOI: 10.7326/M13-2275

Apply those findings in reverse, to estimate how the death rate goes up when you take away coverage, and....

Roughly 24,000 people will die EACH YEAR under "Trumpcare".

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/14/14921962/ahca-mortality-gun-homicides

[TheZookie007]

Apply those findings in reverse, to estimate how the death rate goes up when you take away coverage, and....

Roughly 24,000 people will die EACH YEAR under "Trumpcare".

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/14/14921962/ahca-mortality-gun-homicides

Isn't that counterproductive? After all, once they're dead, those 24,000 people will only end up voting for Democrats!

[StrikezOne]

Well, good thing they are just proposed bills at this point. And hopefully none of this bullshit:

Nancy Pelosi - "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out whats in it."

Barack Obama - "If you like your plan, you can keep your plan. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor."

[andrat2000]

Well, good thing they are just proposed bills at this point. And hopefully none of this bullshit:

Nancy Pelosi - "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out whats in it."

Barack Obama - "If you like your plan, you can keep your plan. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor."

Excuse me this is ridiculous.
You come up with these quotes while with monster Trumpel millions become without insurance and ten thousands dead. Ridiculous.

How dumb must be a nation like Germany (and others) that has health insurance for all people and still run that well? Maybe Trumpel and GOP should start to learn from other nations how they run much better.

And yes. Also we need to adjust this model over the time, but it works.

[StrikezOne]

Well, good thing they are just proposed bills at this point. And hopefully none of this bullshit:

Nancy Pelosi - "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out whats in it."

Barack Obama - "If you like your plan, you can keep your plan. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor."

Excuse me this is ridiculous.
You come up with these quotes while with monster Trumpel millions become without insurance and ten thousands dead. Ridiculous.

How dumb must be a nation like Germany (and others) that has health insurance for all people and still run that well? Maybe Trumpel and GOP should start to learn from other nations how they run much better.

And yes. Also we need to adjust this model over the time, but it works.

There u go again, crying already. Theyre real quotes, I didn't "come up with them." it is hard to defend those quotes aint it? I get it, the better option is to attack trump.

But I guess u didn't understand the part where I said, good thing it's just a proposed bill. Did people NOT lose health coverage with obamacare? Not a single one?

And unlike some people, I can attack my "political side" when I don't agree with it. If this trump care is just as bad or worse than obamacare, I won't defend it.

The bill is not passed yet. Stop talking as if it is.

[rtpoe]

Two Days in Trumpland

The White House releases its proposed budget. Defense spending increases, and a large number of science, arts, and miscellaneous services get their budgets slashed. As one commenter put it, it's like buying a state-of-the-art home security system, and paying for it by selling off everything of value that you own. (This bit of Congressional testimony from 1969 is worth reading)

Among the programs Trump wants to cut are the Appalachian Regional Commission, which has paid for highways, water and sewer lines; technology centers; teacher training; housing; health centers, and business park infrastructure in so-called distressed counties with high unemployment, low incomes and high poverty in the Appalachian region. Then there's the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which has been helping to clean up those vital waters for years. Needless to say, all the affected states are outraged.

But Trump's biggest "optics" problem is his proposed cuts to community block grants. That's wads of money given to states for use in various social support programs. It is fair to say that those programs are riddled with waste and inefficiency and need to tighten up their budgets, but the way it came out in the press briefings is that Trump wants to kill the "Meals on Wheels" programs (which are funded primarily through such block grants). Try getting support for your budget when people see you want to kill one of the best and most cost-effective social welfare programs....

Foreign Affairs took the spotlight the next day, and it didn't get better.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in South Korea, where he didn't bring any members of the press along with him. To put it bluntly, he threatened North Korea with war. If there's a country you do NOT want to saber-rattle at, it's North Korea.... Then, feeling tired, he cancelled his next meeting.....

Trump met with Angela Merkel, the Leader of the Free World.

Observe the body language here. Notice how Trump NEVER looks towards her.

One must give Merkel credit for playing nice here; this was AFTER El Presidente pretty much accused a reporter from Germany for basically spouting fake news.

On to our other major ally; Great Britain. Not willing to drop the story about Obama snooping on him, Trump mouthpiece Sean Spicer doubled down on it and repeated a FOX News story that said Obama had British Intelligence do the dirty work. Great Britain demanded - and got - a formal apology for the accusation.

It gets stupider for St. Patrick's Day.

Paul Ryan: "Americans, especially American Irish, are always try to endear ourselves to the Irish. Think about it. We went from a president who plays a lot of golf to a president who owns a lot of golf courses," Ryan said. "That is about the closest thing you can get to royalty in Ireland." WTF???

Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny stopped by the White House for the usual ceremonies. Trump referred to what he said was an Irish proverb, but astute observers noted was most likely a paraphrasing of a work by a Nigerian poet.

With Trump looking on in boredom, Kenny gave a short speech:

"It’s fitting that we gather here each year to celebrate St. Patrick and his legacy. He too of course was an immigrant. And though he is, of course, the patron saint of Ireland, for many people around the globe he’s also a symbol of — indeed the patron of — immigrants.

"Here in America, in your great country, 35 million people claim Irish heritage, and the Irish have contributed to the economic, social, political, and cultural life of this great country over the last 200 years. Ireland came to America because, deprived of liberty, deprived of opportunity, of safety, of even food itself, the Irish believed.

"And four decades before Lady Liberty lifted her lamp, we were the wretched refuse on the teeming shore. We believed in the shelter of America, in the compassion of America, in the opportunity of America. We came and we became Americans. We lived the words of John F. Kennedy long before he uttered them: We asked not what America can do for us, but what we could do for America. And we still do.

It would be laughable to watch the Trump administration crash and burn like this - if it weren't so painful.

[andrat2000]

Trump met with Angela Merkel, the Leader of the Free World.

Observe the body language here. Notice how Trump NEVER looks towards her.

That's how quick it can go. Merkel the leader of the free world.
Well if I look into Turkey Erdogan was 10 years ago the biggest hope to get Turkey quickly into democracy and the European Union, now it is a totalitary dictatorship.

Probably Mrs. Merkel told him beforehand what she expects him not todo during the appointment, but he still failed with the reporter, because he is so full of hate, which needs to get out of him every time the pressure becomes too big and the anger carried him away again:

One must give Merkel credit for playing nice here; this was AFTER El Presidente pretty much accused a reporter from Germany for basically spouting fake news.

[TheZookie007]

To be fair, reports are that the "Irish proverb" that he "quoted" isn't actually from a Nigerian poet either. Which is ironic since St. Patrick is the patron saint of both Ireland and Nigeria (among other countries and cities worldwide).

So let's see, thus far of the four main components of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the only one he's yet to insult is Wales. What doesn't he have against them?

Meanwhile, this analysis of the body language between Angela Merkel and her host is interesting (even if, as I do, you believe that "body language" is always a little bit iffy). Another irony, given how misogynistic he is, is that a woman is now for all practical purposes the true "leader of the free world".:

The thrice-elected, soft-spoken former scientist from East Germany, armed with a doctorate in quantum chemistry, doesn’t just carry the weight of Germany and Europe on her shoulders, but that of defending freedom and liberalism across the world.

This is not an attempt to be provocative or exaggerate for effect. Donald Trump cannot claim the mantle of “leading” the free world by default. America’s military might is not the only criteria necessary.

The title also requires the President to be committed to the values of liberal democracy. But unlike his predecessors since the Second World War, it is already clear that Trump has no such inclinations. He is heading, at terrifying speed, in the opposite direction...

Regardless of its bias, a thriving democracy needs a media willing to challenge the government. Trump isn’t just hostile to criticism, in his warped world it must be driven by lies and vindictiveness. He is wracked by deep insecurity. When his chief aide Steve Bannon says the media should “keep its mouth shut” – they mean it. They don’t want a free media criticising them at all. These are words that dictators use, not democrats.

The US President isn’t motivated by protecting liberal democracy or freedom, his sole ideology is Trumpism: corporate autocracy with a populist facade. And he surrounds himself with white nationalists even more hostile to liberal democracy than he is...

This is why she has stood up to Trump’s bullying and bigotry, saying on Monday that the “necessary battle against terrorism” did not justify putting “groups of certain people under general suspicion”. The British government in sharp contrast has been slavish and spineless.

It’s now abundantly clear that the free world needs a new leader. With respect to Justin Trudeau, Canada simply isn’t powerful enough. It has to be Angela Merkel.

Her opponents know this, which is why the pro-Trump, pro-Putin, far-right forces are lining up against her. We know this. And she knows it. It’s time the most powerful woman in the world embraced her new role. The world needs her.

[TheZookie007]

Meanwhile, today on Capitol Hill, James Comey, the FBI director that everyone loves to hate (and then love again, and then hate again...) confirmed what anyone who isn't hopped up on Faux News/Infowars/Breitbart BS already knew:

• no, Pres. Obama didn't "wiretap" the New York tower where his successor lives since "no president could order this type of surveillance: 'No individual in the United States can direct electronic surveillance of anyone.' There’s an 'application process, ask a judge, the judge can then make the order.'";
• no, neither Pres. Obama nor the British intelligence services "wiretapped" the building either; and
• yes, the FBI is investigating links between the Russian government and the Republican candidate's campaign

Any normal person should realize that, if a foreign power tried to meddle in our elections, whoever won shouldn't matter; we should get to the bottom of it so that it doesn't happen again. Simple as that.


Also:

BuzzFeed News: "Trump’s Critics Are Letting The Bigger Russia Story Slide"
When meeting an ambassador is a problem, we’re in trouble.

The Russian cyberattack of 2016 was widely documented, but what’s happening now is that some of Trump’s critics are turning the fabric of diplomacy into conspiracy. They’re trying to find evidence that it was his camp that directed those hacks, rather than investigating how they originated in Russia. Of course, it’s also important to examine potential ties between Trump, his advisers, and Russia — if for no other reason than no one has yet found a good explanation for Trump’s worship of Putin and Russia. But, at the end of the day, it’s Russia that hacked the US, in its drive to sow chaos in a country it sees as its rival, and to elect a friendly leader who would both pass amenable policies (like the potential lifting of sanctions) while feeding that very chaos.

Russia pulled off one of the greatest coups in history — and it’s getting away with it.

And finally, if you are wondering why he seems to be so obsessed with spouting lies about "wiretapping" and such, always remember, that is what narcissists do. They project, and they deflect. It's a classic conservative Republican move: accuse the other side of the crimes you've committed (preferably before they find out you're doing it too) so that they can say "oh well, everybody's doing it, why can't we? and since everyone's doing it, you can't arrest me for doing it unless you arrest yourselves too."

We shall see.

[rtpoe]

And right at the end of his opening statement at the beginning of the hearing, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, laid it out for everyone to hear why the investigation is important - regardless of your political party or what you think of the president:

"Only by understanding what the Russians did can we inoculate ourselves from the further Russian interference we know is coming. Only then can we help protect our European allies who are, as we speak, enduring similar Russian interference in their own elections."

[StrikezOne]

Lets put that "regardless of your political party" or "what you think of the president" or "..any normal person should realize..." coming from the left to the test with a series of questions:

1. Does anyone believe Russia helped Trump win the primaries?

2. Did Hillary Clinton win the primaries FAIR and SQUARE?

3. What is the difference between what is being alleged Russia did in the elections to what CNN actually did? (do not even bring up breitbart or infowars in comparison, they are independent and not multimillion dollar corporation on mainstream tv)

4. How many countries's elections has the United States meddled in?

5. Has there been any evidence proving Russia "hacked" the elections?

6. Why does the Russia allegations hold ground but nothing that goes against Democrats hold any ground? Is the simple rule to follow: conspiracies against Trump, good... conspiracies against democrats, bad? If it was claimed that Hillarys campaign met with Russian ambassador, would people call for investigation or simply dismiss the claim because, you know.... CONSPIRACY!

7. Why is Wikileaks completely ignored when they release material proving the CIA/NSA has capabilities of being able to hack and leave a trail back to Russia?

8. How many foreign donors did Hillary Clinton and her campaign/foundation have?

Let us not forget:

("self reflect" my ass)

[TheZookie007]

I think it is apparent by now that you just don't care about what is happening to your country, and are willing to justify whatever this man does to an absurd degree, simply because "your guy" has "won", and because you irrationally hate Hillary Clinton, liberal Democrats, and perhaps even the idea of democracy itself. 

Good luck to you, and I hope you get exactly what you wish.

* * * * * * *

Meanwhile, in France:

"French minister resigns over probe into daughters' jobs"

PARIS (AP) — French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux resigned Tuesday a few hours after prosecutors opened an investigation into a report that he hired his two daughters for a series of temporary parliamentary jobs, starting when they were [under the age of twenty].

President Francois Hollande said he had accepted Le Roux's resignation after a meeting with Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve at the Elysee Palace. He named the country's low-profile trade and tourism minister, Matthias Fekl, as the new interior minister.

France's national financial prosecutor's office opened a preliminary investigation Tuesday after TMC television reported Monday night that Le Roux employed his daughters as parliamentary assistants for a total salary amount of 55,000 euros ($59,000) over 24 short contracts.

The office said the preliminary investigation into the facts disclosed in the TV program is being led by the French police agency charged with fighting corruption and financial and tax wrongdoing.

While it is legal in France for politicians to hire family members, the TMC report suggests that Le Roux's daughters did not perform all of the work. During some of their contracts as parliamentary aides, one of the daughters was doing a full-time internship in Belgium while the other was studying in an intensive class.

Meanwhile, in South Korea:
"South Korean President Park Geun-hye's advisers offer to resign after her ouster, reports say"

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The senior advisers to ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye offered to resign on Monday, news reports said, three days after the country's Constitutional Court formally ended her rule over a corruption scandal.

Park, whose power had been suspended in a parliamentary impeachment vote in December, was formally removed from office Friday after the court dismissed her from the top post. Park vacated the presidential office on Sunday.

Nine senior presidential advisers tendered their resignations to acting leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, Yonhap news agency reported, citing unidentified government officials. Other South Korean media carried a similar report.

Hwang's office could not immediately confirm the report, and calls to the presidential Blue House weren't answered.

Park's Blue House had 10 main presidential advisers on foreign policy, economy and other issues, but one position has been vacant since the arrest of one adviser over the scandal.

After being removed from office, Park has lost her presidential immunity and will likely face a direct investigation over allegations she colluded with a longtime confidante, Choi Soon-sil, to extort money from businesses and allow Choi to meddle in state affairs though she has never held an official post.

Dozens of high-profile figures, including Choi, Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong and top government officials are already facing criminal trials.

Park has expressed defiance about the corruption allegations, raising worries about a further deepening of the national divide over her fate. Three people died and dozens were injured in violent clashes between Park's supporters and police following the court's ruling.

"Although it will take time, I believe the truth will certainly come out," Park said in a statement read by her former presidential spokesman, as hundreds of her supporters chanted her name and waved national flags.

Meanwhile, in the United States of America:
"Ivanka Trump To Get Security Clearance, West Wing Office—But No 'Official' Role"

Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, is to receive a West Wing office next to a National Security Council advisor. She'll receive a security clearance, allowing her to access classified information. And she'll be given government-issued communication devices.

However, Ivanka won't be on the White House payroll, will not be sworn into office, and will not be subject public scrutiny. In short, she will have no official position. The president's daughter promised in a statement to "voluntarily" follow the White House ethics code, according to Politico.

"People close to Ivanka Trump said that she sees nothing unusual about the arrangement," reports Politico, "it's simply how she has worked with her father for years, as a senior official at the Trump Organization and as Donald Trump's partner on 'The Apprentice.'"

Ivanka also raised eyebrows last week for taking part in an official meeting between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel...

While her involvement in the White House deepens, Ivanka continues to run her multi-million dollar fashion brands—which have close ties to Trump's international empire. (In fact, her business was sued for profiting unfairly from her family's link to the presidency.) Trump has also not divested himself of his businesses.

The brazen flouting of ethics concerns has provoked critics to compare the Trump administration to a kleptocracy...

As former labor secretary Robert Reich wrote on Faceb__k:

"Let me get this straight: Ivanka Trump—who has myriad business interests that overlap with her father's—is now moving into the West Wing as a top White House advisor, getting a security clearance and government-issued communications devices. But she's not being sworn in, will hold no official position, and so will not be a government employee who must by law adhere to official ethics rules.

Doesn't the Trump administration have enough ethics problems? Aren't there already enough conflicts of interest to sink a ship?"

"It's as if a coup has occurred, and the dictator's family has now moved into the palace—and are about to the loot the country," Reich added. "The utter disdain of the Trumps for ethics is jaw-dropping."

Of course, a few hours before this happened, her father went on to Twitter, lied about it, and then deleted the tweet in question.

This is not normal.

[StrikezOne]

I think it is apparent by now that you just don't care about what is happening to your country, and are willing to justify whatever this man does to an absurd degree, simply because "your guy" has "won", and because you irrationally hate Hillary Clinton, liberal Democrats, and perhaps even the idea of democracy itself. 

Give me a break man. I am willing to have constructive dialogue about it but all I ever get in response are fallacies.

Back when Obama was president or if Hillary would've won I could EASILY say what u said back to you and place the opposites and it would hold truth:

you just don't care about what is happening to your country, and are willing to justify whatever this man or woman does to an absurd degree, simply because "your guy or gal" has "won", and because you irrationally hate Ron Paul or whoever, conservative republicans, and perhaps even the idea of democracy itself. 

That is why you sidestepped the questions and used ad hominem.

[Bramlet]

LONDON

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39359158

What shall we do with the **93** western? 

Aircraftcarrier sent to the Middle East and carpet-bombing?

Or negotiations?