I watched and read the transcript of the press conference yesterday with Putin and Trump. While I am happy that there has been such a negative reaction from so many sides, and countries, I want to add my own observations.
First of all, I was surprised that Putin talked first, and for a long time, while Trump stood silently. Usually Trump has a lot of swagger and aggression. But yesterday he was meek and quiet.
When Trump did speak he really said nothing at all. Lots of self praise, but as usual, no plans, no specifics, and no truth.
A lot of people have said that Putin was in control of the press conference. I was impressed by how beaten down, trashed, really, Trump was during the meeting!
Author Archives: retirelazyandhappy
Trump is mad at the G7
Trump decided to fire off his usual tweets after leaving the G7 meeting where he spread around his ire and fire.
I guess he thinks that calling other heads of state “weak” and “dishonest” makes him look strong as he goes to hug another dictator.
Hmmm. Remarkable!
Trump’s Surging (Down) Stock Market
Have you checked out the stock market lately? Trump loves to take credit for how well the country is doing since he has been Pres. Gee, sometimes stocks go down.
I am sure we will hear the usual silly stuff about the fear that (oh my gosh!!) we might have a tiny little increase in interest rates. Or that (gasp) working people might get a tiny little increase in wages. Never fear, it won’t be enough to give the workers a living wage, but still! Raises!!
Have people been checking out what T is doing lately? Like inquiring about the ease or difficulty of evacuating Americans from South Korea? Of the fun of building up the atomic arsenal? Of developing “low” power atomic bombs? Of drilling along our coastlines? Of allowing crap to be dumped into the streams and rivers?
When your life is in danger, you just may avoid the stock market. You might get your money where it is safe. Denmark is looking good right now. (China, anyone?)
Do We Need A Tax Cut?
I admit. I am puzzled. Why are we getting a tax cut at a time when corporations have a lot of cash? Okay, I said “we” but it is the corporations who are getting the tax cut.
But why?
Doesn’t the country need the money?
Where is the expected infrastructure improvement? Better roads, needed bridge repair, tunnels, airports, public transportation?
We have seen one disaster after another in the country this year. Flooding, fires, Puerto Rico has been devastated. How do we improve the electric grid, how do we reestablish wetlands, how do we rebuild the devastated areas of the country and its territories without extra money?
Climate change? I know that the President and the Republican party have denied it. But that denial does not make it less real. Where will the money come from to pay for the damage caused by climate change? How do we deal with a world where revolution, poverty, and refugees are all increased because of drought, flooding, and fire?
In order to pay for the tax cuts, our country will allow the deficit to swell, and services to be cut. Health care, job training, immigration services: are all of these to be cut? Will we stand for this?
Really? Do we need a tax cut?
Duty to warn? Unfit to serve is not a diagnosis!
Psychologists and psychiatrists are getting themselves caught in a trap called diagnosing without direct contact or a doctor-patient relationship. This is keeping many of them from stating the obvious. Trump cannot serve the United States as President.
Why is this a trap? Why is the mental health industry so reluctant to call out this obvious fact?
“Unfit to serve” is not a mental health diagnosis. The unfit behavior is right there in front of us all. Just check it out on any tv or newspaper. The mental health community should get out of the trap. Psychologists and Psychiatrists are not diagnosing Trump when his behavior and character all cry out that he is unfit to serve.
Trump’s Press Conference
Today Trump declared his administration is like a “smooth functioning machine.”
Yes, like a Merry-Go-Round!
He does not seem capable of being honest or civil.
Trump Wants to Abolish the Johnson Amendment
The news today is that Trump attended the prayer breakfast this morning. He, of course, praised his performance on the TV show “The Apprentice” and bragged about his ratings. I don’t know how any of the participants were able to choke down their breakfast after Trump asked them to “pray” for Arnold so that his ratings, much lower than Trumps, will go up!
Then he “promised” that he would repeal the Johnson Amendment which prevents Churches from actively endorsing and working for a political candidate.
Does Trump know that he doesn’t have the power to repeal the rule? (I know, the Republicans will probably come to heel, and do what he wants them to do.)
I wonder if it has occurred to Trump that when Churches can support specific candidates so can the Synagogues and the Mosques. That might be interesting.
What kind of a country have we become?
Please use the comment section to share your thoughts.
The Importance of the Free Press
I am appalled by Donald Trump’s behavior toward the press. While his comments about them are so negative they fit into his usual mode of conversation.
“Totally dishonest” “disgusting” “horrible people”. This is how Trump talks about the press.
We could say that this is how he talks about most of the people, especially those who don’t fawn and grovel to him. He described the intelligence community as the “intelligence” community until he decided to say how much he loved and admired them. Then he continued to talk about himself and how great he was for the rest of the time at the CIA.
His behavior is totally dishonest, and disgusting.
We need a free and conscientious press now more than ever. Trump must be held to account. His lies and put downs of important people must be illuminated. Don’t worry about him keeping his promises: that would be the most dangerous thing he could do.
See this link from the New Yorker for a good example of good free journalism: http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/trumps-attack-on-the-press-shows-why-protests-are-necessary?mbid=nl_012217%20Cassidy%20Post%20Newsletter%20(1)&CNDID=6938895&spMailingID=10277890&spUserID=MTMzMTg1NTYxNjQ5S0&spJobID=1081823397&spReportId=MTA4MTgyMzM5NwS2.
More to come. Congratulations to everyone who went on a woman’s march on Saturday. Great work.
Resist Trumpism, Part 2
There was a lot of reaction to Buzzfeed’s release of the dossier of the possible connections between Trump’s people and Putin’s operatives. Evidently, the information had not been confirmed by the United States Intelligence agencies so far.
But if we look at the information that we already know about Trump from his own behavior and performance we know:
We know that Trump is salacious.
We know that Trump encouraged Russian interference in our election.
We know that Trump likes his roughneck image.
Why do we cover or dispute what we already know? Why do we even pay much attention to the validity of the dossier?
We know that Trump will favor billionaires, especially himself and his businesses.
We know that Trump will reduce environmental protection.
We know that Trump will reduce safety regulations.
We know that Trump will pretend to be religious.
We know that Trump will reduce voter rights.
We know that Trump will restrict women’s rights.
We know that Trump will be demeaning to anyone who is not like him.
Soooo
Why do we cover this performance?
Suppose after his next press conference only the dry facts (there wouldn’t be very many of them) were reported? Suppose his tweets were given no coverage? Suppose the press reported that as usual Trump said nothing remarkable?
Suppose instead the press did the real work of finding out and reporting on the real problems in the United States? The real difficulties with climate change? The real dangers of poor enforcement of safety regulations because the agencies that enforce these regulations are seriously underfunded? Suppose instead of fussing about who is at fault for the Russian interference in our election the press focussed on the serious underfunding of the technology in the United States government?
We might have change. We might be able to hold Trump to account.
Resist Trumpism
It is time to make some changes to this site. I want to concentrate on the importance of standing up for a liberal, progressive point of view. I want to make some honest statements about the importance of telling Congressmen and women that they need to pay attention to the real needs of the American people, not just the corporations.
We all like tax breaks, but they go with reduced services and reduced regulation of out environment and our safety.
I want to concentrate my effort on the topics of health care and the environment. There are many other areas of concern and I invite you to identify how you want to spend your energy.
Let me know. I will be back with more. Right now I am babysitting my little grandson so this will be short. More to follow.
Meanwhile tell me what you think needs to be addressed to improve the lives of our American people.
retirelazyandhappy 