Jared Kushner is in Charge of Bringing Peace to the Middle East.

Here's the Latest


It was going to be easy to solve the Middle East conundrum. Put a sniveling son-in-law in charge and the problems would be solved. Here's what happening right now.

Israeli Military Kills 15 Palestinians in 
Confrontations on Gaza Border

JERUSALEM — What was billed as a six-week campaign of peaceful protests in Gaza descended almost immediately into chaos and bloodshed on Friday, with health officials in the Palestinian territory saying Israeli soldiers killed 15 Palestinians in confrontations along the border fence.

Soon after the campaign began Friday morning, the Israeli military said Palestinian protesters were rioting in six places along the border, rolling burning tires and hurling stones at the fence and at Israeli soldiers beyond it.

Later, the military said Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails at soldiers and that it had also thwarted a shooting attack in northern Gaza and an attempt to infiltrate the border. Israeli forces fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas.

Yep, doing a heckuva job Jared. Try not to overdo the celebrations of peace this Passover.

Trump to Appoint Family Dog as Secretary of the Interior

Real Fake News

Donnie the Trump has told friends he will be appointing the family dog, Spot to head the Interior Department.  The reason for this, Trump has said, is that he knows the dog very well, the dog obeys most of the time and the dog is clearly qualified to be the head of a cabinet department.

Trump apparently is following up on the success of his appointment of his personal physician to head the Veterans Department.  In that situation a person with no administrative experience will head one of the largest parts of the federal government.  Trump has commented on this appointment by saying that anyone who can stick his finger up my ass is someone I want near me in government service.

New Vegas Betting Game

Guess How Many Women Trumpie Has Paid Off

It is now clear that a standard operating practice that Donnie adopted was to

1. Have affairs

2. Pay the women not to tell

3. Repeat and repeat

So in the latest fake news this Forum is happy to report that odds makes in Vegas are now taking bets on just how many of these paid off women will come forward. The most popular bet is on more than can be counted with fingers and toes.

Blatant Obstruction of Justice by Trump Lawyer

Told Michael Flynn's Lawyer Trump was Prepared to Pardon Flynn

It Does Not Get Any Worse Than This

John Dowd just quit as Trump's lawyer, and like everyone else associated with Trumpie he is in a world of trouble. He is reported to have discussed a pardon with the lawyer for Michael Flynn, the former National Security Adviser to Trump who has pleaded guilty and is co-operating with the Special Counsel.

Mr. Dowd has said privately that he did not know why Mr. Flynn had accepted a plea, according to one of the people. He said he had told Mr. Kelner (Flynn's lawyer) that the president had long believed that the case against Mr. Flynn was flimsy and was prepared to pardon him, the person said.

Holy Crap!

And that's not all.

The pardon discussion with Mr. Manafort’s attorney, Reginald J. Brown, came before his client was indicted in October on charges of money laundering and other financial crimes. Mr. Manafort, the former chairman of Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign, has pleaded not guilty and has told others he is not interested in a pardon because he believes he has done nothing wrong and the government overstepped its authority. Mr. Brown is no longer his lawyer.

Offering the possibility of a Presidential pardon has got to be one of the more egregious offenses relating to obstructing justice and a whole bunch of other no-no's. But hey, just another day in Trumpworld, where everything goes south, the rule of law included.

To be fair, Dowd is denying the story, but then he would, wouldn't he.  But if the Times' story is correct, well, those lies are just another black mark against an administration covered in them.

House Defeats Bill to Gut FDA Drug Protections

Like By a Big Margin

One of the myths of conservatism is that the FDA approval process keeps good drugs off the market. The FDA is charged with protecting the public against drug companies that want to hurry their untested drugs to the market to get back some of their development costs and to beat the competition. So conservatives wanted to let drug companies get into the market even if the drugs had not been fully tested. Surprisingly the Republican House shut it down.

Republican backers brought up the measure under a suspension of the rules, which does not allow for amendments and requires approval from two-thirds of those present to pass. The legislation failed on a vote of 259 to 140.

The key here is that the people who know what is best came out against the bill.

On Monday, more than 75 patient groups, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Lung Association and the Cystic Fibrosis Association, had sent a letter to House leaders saying the bill “would not increase access to promising therapies” because it didn't deal with the main barriers to experimental drugs  — the cost of drugs and company restrictions on making therapies available outside of clinical trials.

So at least for a while the ideologues who vote on fantasy have lost.

Could Bringing On John Bolton Be a Smart Move?

Nah, A Smart Move Can Only Come From a Smart Person

A case can be made that strategically the elevation of Mike Pompeo to head the State Department and the hiring of crazy John Bolton to be National Security Adviser were good moves to make prior to Trumpie meeting with the North Korean leader.  See both of these people are hard liners, and that could send the message to the North Koreans that Donnie is seriously considering military action of the North Koreans do not stand down their nuclear progam.

Unfortunately, the fact that such thinking would be smart is the very thing that dooms it in the case of Trump.  Instead one has to think he is really considering military action against North Korea and tearing up the Iran deal.  So be afraid America, be very afraid.

Stormy Not a Storm, Just a Few Drops of Rain

Stormy's Attorney Just Spews Hot Air

There was a 'Geraldo Rivera/Al Capone' momment on TV with the 60 Minutes Interview with porn star Stormy Daniels.  All talk, all hype, no evidence that Ms. Daniels was telling the truth.  And the next morning here attorney went on Morning Joe and just said little or nothing.

If Ms. Daniels has something, let's see it.  If Trump is a liar on this subject, let's see it.  If Ms. Daniels wants us to take seriously her report that she was physically threatened she needs to convince us by something other than an accusation, that's the way it works in America.

A plaintiff, an accuser has the burden of proof, or at least the burden of producing something other than just words.  So far, her attorney, the much praised Michael Avenatti is just another blowhard attorney.  Hey Mike, when you got something let us know, otherwise go back to the office.

No Idaho You Cannot Sell Junk Health Insurance

Real News - Administration to Uphold Law

One purpose of health care insurance reform was to get rid of zombie policies, health insurance policies that provided very little benefits other than for policy holders to say they had health insurance.

Idaho decided the law prohibiting these policies did not apply to them.  Well guess what potato heads, it does.

 Medicare Administrator Seema Verma flatly rejected Idaho's plan to allow insurers in the state to scrap the ACA's consumer protection rules.

The ACA, Verma said in a letter to Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, "remains the law and we have a duty to enforce and uphold the law." That put the kibosh on a plan by Blue Cross of Idaho to sell five "state-based" insurance policies that flouted the ACA.

Wow, the rule of law rules in the Trumpet administration. What next, Trumpie will actually meet with the North Koreans!

Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, spoke at a 2017 meeting of health officials. On Thursday she ruled Idaho's attempt to circumvent Obamacare out of order. (Alex Brandon / AP)

Yeah, we are just as astonished as she is that the law is the law.

How Many Women Does Trumper Have to Abuse or Exploit

Before the Religious Hypocrites Leave him?

We don't know, but the correct answer is more than 20.

Craving Attention, Donnie Threatens to Veto Spending Bill

Needs Congressional Republicans to Beg Him

The spending bill that will fund government for the rest of its year (its year ends September 30, don't know why) has bloated military spending and then mostly does business as usual.  Trumpet already threatened to veto it, causing Speaker Paul Ryan to rush to the White House to grovel and beg him to sign it and be done with it.  Donnie agreed.

But now he wants another taste of Ryan cowering in front of him, so the veto threat is out there again.

I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,000 plus DACA recipients have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in Bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded.

Don't worry Paulie, just go up there, get down on your knees and beg some more. That's all he wants.

Andrew Cuomo Gets A Primary Challenge in New York

And It's Both an Opportunity and a Problem

It is not clear if New York Governor Andy Cuomo is Presidential material. A great pedigree, long term government service and a not too bad governor of New York should mean he is a front runner for the Democratic nomination. But the whiff of corruption surrounds him, and he is not the progressive nor the speaker his father was.

Now he has a primary challenge from actress Cynthia Nixon. Yes he leads by 40 points at this point in time, but New York has a very late primary and September is a long ways away. And a Cuomo surrogate did not help things with this comment.

“Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City,” Ms. Quinn told The New York Post, referring to her own candidacy. “Now she wants to be an unqualified lesbian to be the governor of New York. You have to be qualified and have experience.”

Yeah, pretty offensive and it puts Andy is a difficult position. If Ms. Nixon proves to be a credible candidate, watch out Andrew.  But if Cuomo can show himself to be an articulare campaigner who supports the people Dems must appeal to in order to win elections, then he catapults to the top.

Ball is in your court Mr. Cuomo.

Remember Those Steel Tariffs? Gone

With great fanfare Trumpie announced big taxes on steel imports.  Yes, taxes, let's call em like we see em.  Now, in the middle of news about his extra marital affairs and firing of foreign advisers like the Secretary of State and the National Security Adviser he has dropped tariffs on 'allies'.  Since the tariffs only hit allies, this is the equivalent of dropping them. 

Trumper has a perfect record on keeping his word.  Zero.

Leading Cause of Polarization – Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse ( R) - Writing on Polarization

Rigid, Un-compromising, Ideologue Wants Everyone to Agree with Him

There is no greater hard line vicious conservative than Senator Sasse. A holier-than-thou so called religious man he would drive the nation in a hard right direction in which government would impose value, Ben Sasse values on everyone. Now he wants to write about polarization.

It's going to be titled "Them," with a subtitle of "Why We Hate Each Other and How to Heal," Sasse said Wednesday during a telephone interview from Washington.

Of course, how to heal according to Sasse's votes would be to take health care away from tens of millions. In his world of deep faith we guess faith healing along with massive tax cuts for the wealthy will cure cancer, heart disease and fix the opiod crisis.

Trump's Porn Star Paramour Apparently on Double Secret Probation

Who Knew Life Imitates Animal House

The news is that the Trump people sought an arbitration order to silence a porn star who says she had a long term relationship with Donnie.

"A top Trump Organization attorney filed a secret legal document to keep Stormy Daniels from talking about her alleged affair with President Trump, deepening links between Trump’s company and the effort to silence the porn star.

The Trump Organization quickly distanced itself from the document, filed as part of confidential arbitration proceedings in Los Angeles on Feb. 22. The document was made public Wednesday evening by CNN and the Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post confirmed its authenticity with Michael Avenatti, a lawyer for Daniels."

This places the Trump people in a difficult position, because in order to lie about this, which is what they usually do they would have to deny the existence of a document which exists in physical form. So they make stuff up like this.

In a statement, the Trump Organization emphasized that the company is not representing anyone in the Daniels dispute and “has no involvement in the matter.”

Apparently they forgot to look up what 'representation' means for a lawyer. Among other things it means filing a document in a legal proceeding.

As Sen. John McCain Fades His Wisdom Trumps His Partisan Past

The Senator Continues to Show What He Could Have Been

John McCain is an American hero. As a politician he has had great moments, none greater than when he defended Obama against an attack by a bigoted person at one of his campaign rallies. He has also had moments that did not serve him well. But he still has what it takes, as witnessed by this quote on Trumpie siding with Putin.

"An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections," John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in a statement and on his Twitter account.

We could not have said it as well, which is why we repeat what Mr. McCain has said.

Florida's Pro Discrimination, Anti-African American, Pro Republican Voting Restoration Process for Felons is Struck Down

About Time

It is a generally accepted idea that once a criminal has completed their sentence he or she returns to society with full voting rights. Many states do this automatically. But not Florida. And now its process has been condemned by a federal judge.

Why, here's how the process works.

In Florida, a clemency board including the governor ultimately decides whether to restore voting rights to people with felony records. To get there, applicants must wait five to seven years after completing all terms of their sentences before applying for rights restoration. Then it takes another nine years on average for their petitions to be heard, according to the state office that oversees the process.

And Florida, controlled by Republicans wants to keep it that way. Why? Because some felons are African Americans and Republicans don't really consider them real Americans and besides they tend to vote for Democrats. And the process is corrupt.

The judge referenced one case where a man told Mr. Scott during a 2013 clemency board meeting that he had voted illegally for the governor. Mr. Scott restored the man’s rights. Meantime, plaintiffs identified five other cases where the clemency board denied voting rights to people questioned about illegal ballots.

“It is not lost on this Court that four of the five rejected applicants are African-American,” the judge said.

We will see how this plays, and if it goes to an appeals court with Donnie appointees the prospects for ending Florida's anti-American program will not be good. But this is just another episode showing how conservatives hate the concept of democracy.

Unfair Criticism of Actor Jim Carrey's Portrait of Sarah Huckabee Sanders

But There is Some Criticism Justified

Actor Jim Carrey has painted this picture and



said this about it.

"This is the portrait of a so-called Christian whose only purpose in life is to lie for the wicked. Monstrous!"

No, that is not her only purpose in life. Part of her purpose is to drive the rest of us nuts.

Congressman to Stick It to Trump and Sessions on McCabe Firing

A One Day Hire Would Undo Petty Actions of Donnie and Beau

The White House orchestrated the firing of the number two person at the FBI a day before he was to retire. Why. To punish him for adding legitimacy to the Mueller probe. Mr. McCabe may (or may not) have had a minor violation, but from all reports it was not serious enough to fire him in order to deny him his pension. It was simply a mean, vindictive act by a mean and vindictive administration wanting to punish someone who thought potential crimes should be investigated even if they involved the President and to scare others.

Now a neat solution has arrived that would allow McCabe to keep his full pension.

At least one Democratic congressman has offered McCabe a temporary job so he can get full retirement benefits — and McCabe appears to be considering.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) announced Saturday afternoon that he has offered McCabe a job to work on election security in his office, “so that he can reach the needed length of service” to retire.

And it may work!

McCabe's team is confident that he had at least 20 years of law enforcement work under his belt — defined as carrying a weapon or supervising people who do — which made him eligible to retire on his 50th birthday on Sunday, with full retirement benefits.

With those 20 years, he would need to just go to work with the federal government for another day or so in any job he pleases, whether that's as a election security analyst for a Wisconsin congressman or a typist for a day, to get full benefits, said the former official who spoke to The Fix. The job doesn't matter so much as the fact that he's working within the federal government with the same retirement benefits until or after his 50th birthday.

Let's hope this pans out, if for no other reason than to see the look on Trumpie face when he hears about it. This assume everyone's TV will show that shade of bright red.

Retarded!!!!!

As great a report you will ever find, from Taegan Goddard,  Bless Him

From the New York Times on November 21, 2006:

“I’m at this fashion show,” Vanessa Trump said, recalling their meeting in 2003. “Donald Trump comes up to me with his son: ‘Hi, I’m Donald Trump. I wanted to introduce you to my son Donald Trump Jr.’”

The three engaged in a brief, awkward conversation.

At intermission, the elder Trump again noticed a gorgeous girl nearby.

“Donald comes back up to me again, ‘I don’t think you’ve met my son Donald Trump Jr.,’” Vanessa Trump recalled. She remembers responding, “Yeah, we just met, five minutes ago.”

Six weeks later, at a birthday party at a New York restaurant, they were introduced a third time, this time by a mutual friend. Neither remembered the other. “We talked for an hour,” she recalled.

Then suddenly, something clicked: Wait, you were at that fashion show. Wait, you’re “the one with the retarded dad!” Vanessa blurted out.

Trumpie Cheated on Wife with Porn Star - Maybe, But

How is that News?



60 Minutes is going to have an interview with a porn star who says she had a long affair with Donnie right after his wife gave birth. 60 Minutes is a news program. A story about Donnie cheating is not news, it is business as usual.

Huh.

And despite the hype it may be that this is another Geraldo Rivera story on opening Al Capone's vault. Don't expect to learn to much.

Betsy DeVos is a Billionaire and an Idiot

Two Reasons Why She is in the Trump Cabinet

Appearing on 60 Minutes the current Secretary of Mis-Education showed the nation why should not even be a part time crossing guard.

These are just some of the things that DeVos said — or couldn’t answer — during the interview:

• She couldn’t say whether the number of false accusations of sexual assault on school campuses is lower than the number of actual rapes or assaults.
• Arming teachers “should be an option” for states and communities, she said, even though she couldn’t “ever imagine” her first-grade teacher, Mrs. Zorhoff, having had a gun.
• “We have invested billions and billions and billions of dollars from the federal level, and we have seen zero results,” DeVos said — a statement Stahl challenged.
• “I hesitate to talk about all schools in general because schools are made up of individual students attending them.”

Ms. DeVos does not go to poor performing schools because she has no interest in solving their problems, just taking away their funding. At the end of her term in government it will be realized that she made the problems in education worse, not better. See, you go to poorly performing schools to learn what is causing the problem. But if you don't care, then you don't go.

Question From the Washington Post

• 
  Perspective
  Police are still killing black people. Why isn’t it news anymore?

Because it ain't news..News means smething new

French National Front Party Reaches Back to Connect with Nazi Past

They Just Want Everyone to Know Where They Are Coming From

Don't Worry French Nazi Lovers, We Do

The far right party in France known as the National Front is changing its name. The party has been losing favor recently despite the fact that it has tried to rid itself of its anti-Semitic pro Nazi past policies and pronouncements. Since that did not work, it is now changing its name to remind voters what it really is.

The new name, “Rassemblement National,” which translates roughly to National Gathering or National Rally, immediately prompted critics to draw parallels to a World War II-era faction that collaborated with France's pro-Nazi Vichy government. . . .

In 1941, the “Rassemblement National Populaire,” or Popular National Rally, became a major collaborationist party in support of the Vichy government, a regime that controlled France’s “unoccupied zone” but was allied with Nazi Germany, which occupied northern France. . .

Like other Nazi-allied parties during World War II, the “Rassemblement National Populaire” saw the war — and the experience of occupation — as a chance to cleanse and purify France from within. It was no stranger to overt anti-Semitism and open admiration for Nazi Germany.

The party used a logo featuring elements of the Nazi swastika, displayed on a similar red backdrop. One of the earliest members of the “Populaire,” Roland Gaucher, went on to co-found the National Front with Jean-Marie Le Pen.

And further proof of the evil this represents,

Le Pen's announcement Sunday came a day after a visit to a National Front conference in Lille by former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, who encouraged the party to stick to its nationalistic roots.

“Let them call you racists. Let them call you xenophobes. Let them call you nativists,” he told an audience Saturday as Le Pen stood alongside. “Wear it as a badge of honor. Because every day, we get stronger and they get weaker.”

Heil Bannon!

Democrats, Not Republicans Need to Be Warned by Pa. Election

Will They Learn?  Probably Not


The special election in western Pennsylvania may (or may not, but probably) will go to the Democrat.  Everybody says this is a message to the Republicans, because the district was heavily Republican.  Everybody is wrong.  The message here is for Democrats.

First of all, switch a couple of hundred votes and the story is how the Dems still could not win even with a great candidate and a Repubican hack on the other side.  But most importantly, if the polls were even close to being correct the Dem was ahead by four or five points until Trumpie came into the district and made it a tie.  The point, Trump can motivate his base and the House is not going to be Democratic after the fall elections unless Dems get out and vote.

Are you listening Nancy Pelosi?  If so, are you packing your bags?  You should be.

A Greedy Drug Company Illustrates All That is Wrong with America

Pricing a Critical Drug So High That People Suffer

Capitalism, private enterprise is a great system, but sometimes it doesn't work. A company that has a monopoly on a life saving drug can exploit the market to make huge profits while allowing those who cannot afford the medicine to suffer and die. Such is the case in this nation today.

Since 2013, the price of a 40-year-old, off-patent cancer drug in the U.S. has risen 1,400%, putting the life-extending medicine out of reach for some patients.

Introduced in 1976 to treat brain tumors and Hodgkin lymphoma, lomustine has no generic competition, giving seller NextSource Biotechnology LLC significant pricing power.

Health care workers, you know, the kind of people that actually try and help ailing patients recover are horrified.

Some cancer doctors are taking notice of the price hike. “This is simply price gouging, period,” said Henry S. Friedman, a neuro-oncologist and professor of neurosurgery at Duke University School of Medicine. “People are not going to be able to afford it, or they’re going to pay a lot of money and have financial liability.” He co-wrote an editorial criticizing lomustine’s pricing in The Cancer Letter newsletter in September.

Mallika Weant, a clinical pharmacist in Duke’s brain-tumor clinic, said some of the clinic’s patients have opted for less-costly medications because they can’t afford lomustine. The doses are based on body weight, and some patients must take multiple capsules, adding to the cost. Even insured patients often have to pay for a portion of their medicines out of pocket.

What basically has happened here, as is happening elsewhere, is a greedy uncaring bastard buys the rights to the drug, then raises the price to astronomical levels. If people can't afford, well they should not have gotten a cancer they could not afford to treat.

A nation that allows this is not one that lives up to American ideals. But it is America in 2018.

Fantastic Quote from Dana Milbank

It doesn't get any better than this

"Whenever DeVos speaks, it feels as though the sum total of human knowledge is somehow diminished."

Dear Kim

A Memo to the Great and Powerful Oz Leader of the North

You may be meeting with our President in May (or may not, the man's word is about as good as a Confederate War Bond), so here is some unasked for but valuable advice.

1. Do not run your fingers through his hair, as much as you might want to. We cannot guarantee the safety of any fingers that touch that hair and come into contact with whatever substance is in it.

2. If your wife or daughters if you have them are at all attractive do not let them alone with him. He is prone to grabbing their female parts, and we would be more specific if we knew what the terms for vagina and breasts were in your culture. Be forewarned, if he starts talking about pussy he is not talking about your cats.

3. Don't bother to get any agreements you might make in writing. He does not live up to agreements and putting them in writing does not make a difference to him.

4. If he invites you to his Mar-a-Lago hotel prepare to have the guests think you are a waiter. If so, do not serve alcohol to anyone under 21.

5. That person groveling behind him is our Vice President. Pay no attention to him, he is not important and does not ever do anything.

6. If a person named Jared is with him try not to laugh and do not ask him if this is 'Take your youngster to work day'. Jared may ask you for a loan to bail out his real estate deals, if you do be sure and get pretty good collateral.

7. Time is of the essence here. No one thinks Donnie will be in jail by summer, but you never know.

8. That double hamburger he is offering you is made from beef and beef like products. No, he does not know the recipe for the secret sauce. No one would give it to him because no one would trust him to keep it secret.

9. He will need to get Vladamir Putin's agreement on any arrangement he makes with you.

10. Don't worry about any nickname he may have for you. You would be amazed at what we call him here in the U. S. of A.

Illinois Gov. Drinks Chocolate Milk . . .

Weird Story of the Day

From Taegan Goddard, and we have no comment because we are speechless

Rauner Drinks Chocolate Milk for Diversity

February 22, 2018 at 3:10 pm ESTBy Taegan Goddard86 Comments

“In an awkward onstage appearance this week, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) drank a glass of chocolate milk to demonstrate his belief in diversity,” the Chicago Tribune reports.

Said Rauner: “It’s really, really good. Diversity!”

Trumpie to Make Things Worse

Today in Contrdictions - A Plan That Makes Schools More Risky to Death by Gun


From the WSJ

Trump’s Gun Plan to Include Encouraging States to Allow Armed School Staff

The White House is preparing to release a plan on guns on Sunday that would incorporate several proposals aimed at school safety. 

A Religious Fanatic in the WSJ Wants to Force Her Beliefs Onto Others

And Be the Arbiter of What is Moral

The problem that some, not all but some religious people have with freedom of religion is that it lets people who do not share their religion the freedom to follow their own religion. Case in point, an opinion piece in the WSJ by a devout Catholic who bemoans the decision of the University of Notre Dame to allow is health insurance program to cover contraception.

The University of Notre Dame caved in. It will partly obey the Obama Care mandate requiring employer health-care plans to cover the cost of contraceptives and abortifacient drugs. Rejecting the Trump administration’s religious exemption, Notre Dame announced last month that it will provide “simple contraceptives” to students and employees through its insurance program.

So what's the problem. No one has to use contraception. See, that is what freedom is about. But for this author that is not enough. Because she is unable to persuade fellow Catholics to follow her personal beliefs, she wants to force them to do so by denying them access to contraception.

See using contraception makes one immoral.

Notre Dame’s leadership has embarked on a campaign to put the university on ​the same footing as the nation’s other elite schools. In so doing, it often has renounced its obligation to shape the moral landscape of the society it inhabits, and, more importantly, to form its own community properly.

The Catholic Church is never more effective than when it when it acts as a countercultural force. It offers the modern world a radically different vision of human sexuality from the one most young people are taught. With the decision to provide birth control, Notre Dame has forfeited its chance to stand in moral opposition to a utilitarian sexual culture. It has chosen to stop speaking to the kind of life that makes people whole.

Now we are not sure what any of this has to do with “moral opposition to a utilitarian sexual culture” as in almost everyone's view using contraception is not some moral failing. Well it is to the author who apparently does not understand the some couples wish to engage in sexual relations but do not wish to bring a child into the world. That such a view is morally offensive to the author says more about her character than it does about people engage in family planning.

There is a place for people who believe like the writer. No, it's not hell, it's Iran.

Trumpie and Korea - Much Ado About Nothing

Trump's Contribution?  - Keeping His Mouth Shut and His Twitter Account Silent on the Subject

So Donnie is going to meet the leader of North Korea.  No big deal.  Donnie couldn't negotiate his way out of a K-Mart at closing.  But he did make things better by staying away and letting other people, that is competent people, do the hard work of setting up a meeting.  And maybe he could learn that if he would just stay in Florida and play golf the nation might be better off.

Why Didn't Economic Adviser Gary Cohn Quit Over Charlottesville and Now Quits Over Tariffs?

Millions and millions of reasons.

Presidential adviser Gary Cohn reportedly was so upset over the administration getting close with American Nazi's and White Supremecists that he thought seriously about resigning.  But he didn't.

But now that the Taxer in Chief will raise taxes on imports, the guy quits.  See, he stayed on to get a massive tax cut for the wealthy enacted, and Gary ole buddy is wealthy.  So once he got his millions he could now leave a satisfied person.  Some people will say he left his integrity at the White House, but that is not true.  He had no integrity to leave.

West Virginia Teachers Win - Big Time

Bout Time

In West Virginia the teacher salaries for beginning teachers is close to minimum wage levels in other places, and the salaries of experienced teachers is pretty low.  So it is with great pleasure we report that teachers who went out on strike have won big raises.

A teachers’ strike that ground public schools to a halt across West Virginia is set to end on Thursday, a week after it began, Gov. James C. Justice and teachers’ union representatives said Tuesday night.

Mr. Justice, a Republican, said that he had promised the state’s teachers a 5 percent raise, and that he would create a task force to address the problem of rising insurance costs for public employees, a key issue in the strike.

“We need our kids back in school, and we need our teachers back in school,” said Mr. Justice, who said he was “hopeful” that state lawmakers would go along with his proposals, which would also give all state employees a 3 percent raise.

So what changed? Well here was the earlier situation.

Teachers crying “We’ll get louder,” and carrying signs with slogans like “WV teachers deserve better” flooded the State Capitol, their voices echoing through the halls. The teachers frequently cited data showing that they are among the lowest-paid public educators in the United States.

Ok, they are still going to be among the lowest paid. But at least they are getting some of the pay progress they deserve.

Ted Cruz on Morning Joe

The junior senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, oozed his way onto the 8 o'clock hour of Morning Joe.  He was treated respectfully and allow to present his views.

Imagine if, say Bernie Sanders were invited onto Fox News and was treated the same way.  Nope, can't imagine that can you.

Trump Sending Jared to Mexico

Donnie just cannot help making a bad relationship that he created worse.

Delta Airlines - They Have Values - Good for them and Good for the Nation

And Good for Kids Who May Not Be Shot

The airline industry is heavily criticized, and rightly so.  But Delta has stood up to the NRA and good for them.  And this is not just theatrics.  Georgia Republicans have voted to deny Delta a big tax break on jet fuel because they cut their ties to the NRA.  Delta's reaction, well right here.

"For Delta, the decision was “not made for economic gain and our values are not for sale,” Delta chief executive Ed Bastian said in the statement Friday, released the day after the lawmakers followed through with their promise by overwhelmingly voting to rescind the tax breaks. Bastian said the company will further review other discounts offered to groups with a “politically divisive nature” and end those agreements, as well."

Yeah, Delta. And if this means cutting ties to groups that we support, well that's okay too. Just fly us safely and on time Delta, that's all we ask.

Tariffs are Taxes - Imposing Tariffs is a Tax Increase

Did somebody forget to tell the Republicans that they are against raising taxes on businesses?

See a tariff is a tax on imports.  Steel and aluminum are products purchased by manufacturing companies.  Imposing tariffs is increasing taxes on businesses.  Paul Ryan is not against this.  Does he just want to cement his nomination for hypocrite of the month?

It's Crooks Day at the White House – Trump and Netanyahu Compare Crimes

And Other Snarky Comments on the News

1. Donnie and Bibi met to talk about the middle east, well not the issues causing wars and terrorism, but whether or not they could plead distractions from that area were the cause of their total lack of ethics. Trump did not tell Bibi “Hey, all you got was a couple hundred k in bribes, I got the Presidency'.

2. A British soccer exec equated the Star of David with the Swastika. He apparently got confused because he forgot to wear his and accidentally left it at home on his honorary KKK robe.

3. Paul Ryan is reportedly upset with the new tariffs and wants them gone. When asked if he would lead legislative action to get rid of them he reportedly told friends he would have to get written permission from Trumpie. He then shifted his attention to taking health care away from low income families.

4. Some courts are ruling that gay men and women have protecton under the civil rights laws. Conservatives are aghast, and don't understand how laws meant to promote equality could possibly protect people other than old white males.

5. The Oscars reached a new high as they managed a three plus hour show without embarrassing anyone.

6. Republicans are pouring millions in a special election in Pennsylvania in a district that Trump carried by a huge margin. The party has said it doesn't want to be embarrassed in an election, but then took a look back at the 2016 Presidential race and realized it was too late for that

7. Contrary to reports that Jared Kushner could not get a high level security clearance because of his questionable business and government actions it turns out he was denied the clearance because his mommy would not let him say up past 9:30 on school nights.

8. Ivanka Trump has not told friends “What's the point of being in public service if you can't make a buck?”.

9. Does anyone know how a somnolent like Wilbur Ross ever made any money? With some of his answers on Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd could not help himself and burst into laughter.

For Florida GOP It's Back to Regular Business on Gun

Republicans Refuse to Do Anything

If anyone thought that the Republicans who control Florida would do anything about guns, here's the sober truth. The legislature turned down these common sense proposals along with any action on assault rifles.

The Republican-led Senate also rejected amendments to: 

• Allow family members to take out risk-protection orders, which prevent people who could harm themselves or others, from purchasing guns.
• Create a statewide gun registry to track gun ownership. 
• Reverse a state law that bans local governments from enacting stricter gun control measures.

Yeah, the Tree of Liberty must be watered with the blood of teenagers so that Bubba can have his AR 15 and pretend that he is a real man instead of a . . .

W. Va. Republicans Renege on Deal to Raise Teacher's Pay

Renege, That's What Republicans Do

Starting West Virginia teachers make about what those who will be getting the $15 an hour minimum wage will get.  Yep, pretty disgraceful.  So there was joy all around when the Republican Governor agreed to a 5% raise and that was passed in the lower house in the state.  But then the mean spirited Republicans in the state senate got into the act.

"The Republican-controlled Senate voted Saturday evening to approve the lower pay raise, bucking teachers, Republican Gov. Jim Justice and the Republican-controlled House, which approved the 5 percent raise on Wednesday."



Why, well teachers are represented by unions and Republicans hate unions. So they stuck it to the teachers, just for the fun of it. The good news, the teachers are not backing down.

Good for them!

Sen. Orrin Hatch Reveals His True Nature – A Mean, Vicious Ultra Conservative

Not the Person You Think He Was

For a long while the media was tolerant of Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. He was described as a thoughtful intelligent conservative, as opposed to the mean spirited ugly conservatives like, well you know who.

But now that he is retiring the true Orrin Hatch is coming out.

Speaking about the massive GOP tax overhaul at the American Enterprise Institute on Thursday, the Utah Republican took some time to blast the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

"(We) finally did away with the individual mandate tax that was established under that wonderful bill called Obamacare," Hatch said. "Now, if you didn't catch on, I was being very sarcastic. That was the stupidest, dumbass bill that I've ever seen."

"Some of you may have loved it. If you do, you are one of the stupidest, dumbass people I've ever met," Hatch added. "There are a lot of them up there on Capitol Hill from time to time."

He also described Obamacare as one of the most "regressive taxes" in the tax code, especially because lower-income families were "paying most of the freight." He said it was one of the "great ironies" of Obamacare.

The strange thing though is that none of these stupid, dumbass people who are now getting health care because of the Obama plan seem to be speaking about how terrible it is. And of course as a long term government employee Hatch has been getting taxpayer subsidized health care for decades. But like many conservatives, what is good for him is denied those who need it the most. So when it comes to dumbass's , well Hatch knows what he is talking about. He caucuses with them.

As for Hatch himself, well this is a man that will be replaced in the Senate by Mitt Romney.  And incredible as it may sound, that will be an improvement.

Kroger Sells Guns?

Who Knew?

The Kroger company is being lauded for reducing the availability of guns in its stores  Well that is good news but doesn't the fact that Kroger is selling guns tell us just how bad the problem is?

I'll take a pound of baloney, a case of PBR, and that automatic pistol over there.  Gonna get liquiored up and kill me a couple of possums and some commmies.

Why People Pay $20 for an $8 Prescription

The Unbridled Greed of the the Drug Industry

The NYT has uncovered an ugly situation with prescription drugs, where people are paying far more than they have to to get medicines that will literally keep them from dying.

It turns out that pharmacy benefits managers in many case have agreements that forbid pharmacists from telling customer they could save money by paying for their prescription rather than going through their insurance co-payment system.

WASHINGTON — As consumers face rapidly rising drug costs, states across the country are moving to block “gag clauses” that prohibit pharmacists from telling customers that they could save money by paying cash for prescription drugs rather than using their health insurance.

Many pharmacists have expressed frustration about such provisions in their contracts with the powerful companies that manage drug benefits for insurers and employers. The clauses force the pharmacists to remain silent as, for example, a consumer pays $125 under her insurance plan for an influenza drug that would have cost $100 if purchased with cash.

Much of the difference often goes to the drug benefit managers.

Of course the drug benefit managers are only doing this to protect people, not to gauge them.

In North Dakota, a new law explicitly bans gag orders. It says that a pharmacy or pharmacist may provide information that “may include the cost and clinical efficacy of a more affordable alternative drug if one is available.”

The North Dakota law also says that a pharmacy benefit manager or insurer may not charge a co-payment that exceeds the actual cost of a medication.

The lobby for drug benefit companies, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, has filed suit in federal court to block the North Dakota law, saying it imposes “onerous new restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers.”

Some states are taking action, but no one expects a few governments or even the federal government to be able to turn the tide in favor of decency. The money the lobbyists have is just too much.

U. S. Oil Production to Reach Record Levels

So Why Does Trumpie and the GOP Want to Do Off Shore And Protected Lands Drilling?

If one is not cognizant of current events, that is, if one does not read or listen or even both to educate himself one lives in a world of ignorance. Such would seem to be the case with Donnie. He decided to open up the coast line to oil drilling. Well not in Florida because it is unpopular and he wants to help Republicans, but elsewhere. And the GOP tax bill opens up an Arctic Wildlife refuge for drilling.

But what about this? From the WSJ.

U.S. Oil Output Expected to Surpass Saudi Arabia, Rivaling Russia for Top Spot

IEA in its monthly report says U.S. output will likely top an all-time high

So why expand drilling to areas that are environmentally sensitive? Well, it is probably fake news but the answer would seem to be that Republicans just cannot pass up a chance to destroy part of the environment in order to make a buck. After all, let future generations clean up the mess.