Someone noticed some of the dead birds

America is Regressing into a Developing Nation for Most People

Some interesting overall information

Data, trends and social change

I wonder if anyone had considered this

With all the talk of Trump, the GOP, Congress and the whole Russian thing, people are forgetting one possibility. I know this is far a field but I have not even heard someone even consider this, but let me lay it out for you.


1. - There are strong signs that there is some truth to the whole Trump-Russia thing.

2. - The GOP has shown an ability to ignore some pretty damn questionable stuff from Trump just so they have control. Some people say the GOP is so OK with Trump that even if the FBI and the CIA find proof of treason, the GOP might refuse to consider impeachment.

3. - The GOP has already used the nuclear option on the filibuster for the Supreme Court. Who can say how far McConnell and the GOP will go to protect Trump?

4. - Historically the members of the Supreme Court who are Republicans have shown a willingness to fore go normally court procedures and history to get what they want. Go look @ Bush V Gore. In the decision the court states that that decision can not be used as a basis of precedence. Far as I know that is not something that happens too often.

5. - Not all the American military are happy with Trump, we have heard rumblings already.

6. - Say the FBI and the CIA present really strong and compelling evidence in their investigation. The Democrats try to start the process to draw up the Articles of Impeachment. Per procedure the process starts in the House of Representatives, home of some of the most bug-fuck members of the GOP and I can easily see the House GOP refusing to consider it.

7. - Say the Democrats sue due to GOP tactics to keep the issue from coming to a vote. Case goes to the Supreme Court, with Trump's new boy. Care to wager on which way the vote goes?

8. - Once the connection is revealed and the GOP in the House and in the Supreme Court refuse to do anything to remove Trump and Pence. Say they keep up with their shit, how long will the military put up with it? Remember, this is the president that launched a long planned raid they were waiting for the perfect time to do it. But all it took was telling Trump that Obama did not want to do it right way and bang, one dead SEAL and a bunch of dead civilians and nothing of value recovered.

All full of crap right?

Commander Who Caught Bin Laden: Drumpf Is “Greatest Threat to Democracy in My Lifetime”


Who Was in the Room? These Advisers Joined Drumpf for the Syria Strike

CNN analyzes the photograph of Trump's Mar-a-Lago war room.


Compare and contrast the 2 photos, Trump has 1 military official in the room, and he is at the door. Trump has a pointed many people with zero experience in their roles trying order around people who do know what they are doing. Oh then add in that at this time over 80% of the roles in the executive branch lack staffing.

I really hope I am totally wrong.

Killing the trickle down lie

Since the late 70's until today we have been told, all we need do is cut taxes on the rich and then via magic, everyone makes more money. Not sure how or why anyone ever thought that was reasonable. But finally we are seeing in depth studies looking into the question: Does cutting taxes for the rich spur general economic growth.

Tax Cuts Don't Lead to Economic Growth, a New 65-Year Study Finds

It just takes a little common sense, if you give $10 million to a billionaire, they will just tuck it away. If you instead broke that up and gave $1000 to 10,000 people on public assistance, you can be sure as shit that money is getting spent ASAP. Hell, look at what happens every time they increase the minimum wage, you would think, wow owners losing money right?

So far, the Seattle minimum-wage increase is doing what it’s supposed to do

I mean, if raising the minimum wage cost jobs, why is Washington and California doing so well? Add to that, if the GOP policies worked, why are Kansas and Wisconsin in the shitter? Hell both KA and WI were able to check off their right wing dream list, and yet

Newly Revamped Coincident Indices Indicate … Wisconsin Still Lags

Fact check: Brownback on the Kansas economy

Kansas is still bleeding, thanks to tea party economics


The whole concept is flawed, fuck even George Bush when he ran against Reagan in 1980 called trickle down "voodoo economics", but people bought the lie. Remember -

Something to consider

Dying canaries

I know it seems a bit self-indulgent to reference your own work, but darn it, I already laid out part of my argument before, what we are starting to see is the American public waking to the fact that now the cover of easy credit is gone people are starting to see how fucked they are. The question is, will the people in charge and their owners realize what is coming and respond soon enough.


FYI - If you disagree, that's fine, provide me with proof, prove it to me.

Can some good come from a boiling pot of stupid?

It seems like all the random bits of ignorance and hubris have come together for the GOP to perhaps create their own destruction? All of this from the Syrian chemical attack, said to be sarin gas. Now through the week the GOP echo chamber was saying this might not have been Assad, that it was a false flag, it was ISIS, it was really Al Qaeda, or the "Deep State". But then they fucked up, they allowed video of the attack to get on FOX NEWS and forgot who one of their biggest and more impressionable fans were. Little Donnie sees the images from the attack from Syria and responds.

Now, why did he respond, it's not like the strikes will change anything. Russia is helping Assad and Tillerson said on Monday the the USA has no interest is removing Assad, remember this from last Thursday?


In Ankara on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Assad's longer-term status "will be decided by the Syrian people."

And yet one week later

Tillerson on Assad: "Clearly with the acts that he has taken it would seem there would be no role for him to govern the Syrian people."

This is world leadership?

But then we get some more fun, seems the whole thing was staged, well the USA wasted millions on cruse missiles. Seems the Trump admin called Russia BEFORE THE strike, so Russia and Syria could make sure nothing get hit and get out early.

The US warned the Russians ahead of Syria missile strikes

So the whole thing was a play fight right? No harm no foul?

Wrong, seems the Trumpers bought fully into the GOP position that any attempts at "regime change" were wrong. Just seems like always they never bothered to learn that the GOP has the longest history of invading other countries. I mean if we don't, why pump billions more into the military if you are not going to use it? But with this action last night, Trump showing the real GOP hand, his Trumpers are not making the same turn.




‘I’m officially off the Drumpf Train’: Drumpf’s online base is furious about the Syria strikes

Seems they really don't want the USA in more wars, which I think is great, but they forgot who they voted in. This is only the first time Trump has responded, we got almost 4 more years of this shit, if you think this is it, you have not been paying attention.



EDIT:

More information - ABC Breaks Syria Exclusive – Assad Knew Of Attack – Bombs Were For Show

A fun bit of information

The story of how they found a insect they thought dead on a Bond villain base.

Sticky

Reality is the problem?

With the Trump tweets and the many times we have been told so and so did not mean that, they meant ------. Maybe we just need to come to terms with what we all will accept as reality. Which facts and which sources do you accept? Which dictionary do you agree has the definitions of words you will accept? I mean who would think someone would try to claim someone did not mean wiretap when they used the word wiretap?

Dying canaries

I have said before, one idea I have is that we are finally starting to see the real effects of 37 years of GOP control. In the 80's there was the oil glut with pumped huge amounts into the economy so soon after the OPEC embargos of the 70's. Along with the long delayed recovery people coasted through the 80's on easy credit while the middle class and lower's pay began to stagnate. Then with NAFTA and other "free" trade deals in the 90's and we really began to see the gutting of decent paying jobs. Almost every job created was at lower pay, lower benefits, less stability, the loss of the idea of pensions. When we get to 00's we see the monetization of home loans and suddenly everyone can get a home and tons of easy credit. All through this time we keep seeing the off shoring of jobs begin to creep further up into the economy beyond just manufacturing. Once the 08 meltdown hits, bills become due. Suddenly there is no more credit and since 2009 we have not seen it relax much at all for most consumers.

All sound like crap right, all made up?

Let me make my case

The troubles at the American mall are coming to a boil

Why 2016 Has Been a Lousy Year For Restaurants

Applebee's, TGIF Fridays, and Chili's are trying to claw their way out of a restaurant death trap


What do all of these have in common? They all depend on the middle class and lower for their sales. The malls that cater to the rich are doing just fine. Hear of any high end retailers in trouble? The band-aids are gone folks. The fact that the middle class has actually lost ground economically over the last 37 years can no longer be hidden. And given the inept way Trump and company are bumbling around their fuck ups could kick the GOP poor into action and see who is really screwing them. They already got a taste with Trumpcare v1.

ADDENDUM

Looks like I might not be so wrong?

America’s Retailers Are Closing Stores Faster Than Ever

Always room for some Flipper

The rats begin to turn on each other

Earlier this afternoon the following story broke

Roger Stone: Kushner Is Leaking Intel to Scarborough


It seemed odd at the time, given the insane list of items on Kushner's plate.


Daily Show bit on Kushner's roles

- Middle East Peace

   AND

- Reform the entire federal government.

Among many many other items on a 32 yr old guy who has worked real estate. Really, does any sane person think he can do any of these, let alone do more than 1? I guess this is a sign of how trusted Kushner is by Trump. So with those given and that Roger Stone is a long time Bannon guy, the story makes sense. But why now, why start to claim Kushner was a leaker? This has all the finger prints of Bannon and allows them to start to lay on a bit of that good ole "you can't trust joooz" chestnut.


But then about 2 hours ago the following came out

Bannon out of NSC

So, what the Bannon story line what prompted the removal of Bannon, or was Bannon removal due to what Kushner along with Trump's only daughter Ivanka were tell him?

Something to consider

https://twitter.com/matthewstoller/status/849617916442152960

People more and more are waking to the fact that our current economic system in the USA is not going to be tenable for much longer. Far too much capital has been acquired by far too few people. Along with Citizens United and Corporate Personhood and now we have a oligarchy. With the ability to openly buy elections and now we have basically thrown the idea of democracy out the window.

Think it's bull shit? Let me lay it out a bit for you



Gupta and Swenson (2003) studied the contributions made by the executives and PACs of 473 companies who stood to profit from a change in tax legislation related to export profits.  They found that the amount a firm’s PAC and executives contributed to the tax-writing members of Congress was positively related to the anticipated financial gains to the firm.



The Influence of Campaign Contributions on Legislative Policy



Studies have shown, buying, oops, I mean "donating" to politicians does work. How do we decide that one would wonder, well let's look at how elected officials react to the concerns of people. One would assume if all things were equal, all people would have around the same level of response from the government as everyone else right, *wink*?

I believe the tipping point to all of this is when people wake up, and I think it might be getting close. At moment the most fervent supporters of Trump are those most hurting, those who feel abandoned and in reality they have been. But they don't yet know, they are starting to face the same shit those stuck living in the ghettos of Detroit and Chicago, Gerry Indiana, Flint, etc have known for decades, once you no longer provide any value, you disappear. Those in rural America, who have had such a vastly oversized influence for so long due to their assured support of the GOP and their gerrymandering are seeing, jobs are not coming back for them. The area is not going to be improved, the roads will be allowed to go to shit. Drinking water, clean water is for closers, not moochers, right?

As for the waking up, look at what happened with Trumpcare, the reaction to Trump's budget as of late. You are seeing more and more rural Trump supporters start to realize they were once again sold a bill of goods. But see unlike times in the past, like in 2012, there are not democrats to blame for the GOP's failure to deliver on any promises to the people at large. See like always, the only way to reach the GOP voter is to impact them directly, like say take their health insurance, or eliminating support for job training, or medicaid for the most sick in poor families. Once Mr and Mrs Smith, loyal GOP supporters, who are glad they are getting rid of those pesky brown people and glad they are kicking the moochers off the goberment's teat, but once their aunt can no longer afford her care and they get to watch her die slowly from cancer, they seem to change their take on things a bit.

Here is the thing, once people realize they have a common foe, they often let old divisions drop. You should keep your ears open for more and more tea party folk start to renounce the GOP and start to support Bernie. I think we have a bit of time still, but once enough people start really seeing what is going on the issue of income inequality better be in process of being addressed. Just remember the French Revolution, it was not over baked goods.


Economic Inequality: It's Far Worse Than You Think - Scientific American

Brain food

Tree Lobsters

The above is a really interesting story about a fascinating creature - Lord Howe Island stick insect, one of the largest in the world and thought extinct until they found a few living on a rock in the ocean that looks like something out of a Bond movie for a villain's lair.

Things to worry about Pt 1

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-growing-divide-between-the-haves-and-the-have-nots-in-one-stunning-chart-2017-03-30?mod=mw_share_facebook

This article should scare the shit out of you.

"And it’s not due to the aging population. Rather, income has actually dropped for the working class. In fact, none of the growth from 1980 to 2014 went to the bottom 50%, the study pointed out. Only 32% went to the middle class, while the top 10% reaped 68% of the growth. A full 36% went to the 1% alone. Troubling?"

Wow, no shit, go back and look at history, now long can a tiny fraction fuck over vast swaths of the population before violence begins? We are more than 1 generation into a period of contractions for a large portion of the American public. The only reason people have not responded sooner is due to a couple of bandaids - Easy credit and weak home loans.

The first, the easy credit and the oil slump in the 80's helped drop up Reagan and Bush most of their term. It was the slight attempts of Bill Clinton in the 90's that helped keep things afloat. Remember the dip of 00 and the bursting of the Dotcom bubble? Not long after we had the explosion of easy loans due to the monetization of loans and the higher returns seen from higher risk instruments. And I am not talking about all loans, people with lower credit do need chances to prove they can handle a loan, IF they can prove they earn enough to pay it back. The big problem was the no-proof of income loans and no proof of anything loans. Almost all of the ARM with huge balloon payments that the majority of consumers could not cover. The whole thing was built on the false assumption that home values will never drop.

So now, we have 2 of the big bandaids removed and more and more of the American public is starting to wake up to how far behind they really are. Along with Cheeolini shitting on everything like a puppy which is starting to wake more people up. Don't take my word for it

- Trumpcare
- Trump budget cuts
- All the vacations
   etc

You are starting to see growing signs of discontent among all people who have been left behind. Some are starting to see through the GOP lies. And here is another thing, the DNC better wake the fuck up, their only hope is the message of Sen Warren and Sen Sanders, legit progressive action to help all people. We have allowed drift to the right for far too long. Fuck, Nixon would be considered almost a liberal to the GOP now.

Too much bull shit - big bad Bernie

I read the following today - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2017/apr/03/the-destruction-of-hillary-clinton-sexism-sanders-and-the-millennial-feminists?CMP=share_btn_fb

Honestly this is just another in a long line of pieces that have come out since the 2017 election try to exonerate Hillary Clinton for her loss. Beyond the Russian hacking leaks, no, it was the unfair way Sen. Bernie Sanders acted also. Well let me respond to this "article".

--------------------------------------------------------------------

 “If Sanders is the standard by which you’re going to decide whether a politician is a progressive, then almost nobody from the Democratic party would qualify. Take Sanders out of the equation, and suddenly Clinton looks an awful lot like a mainstream progressive.”   - I agree totally, like how if you removed the Tea Partiers and Trump, then suddenly the GOP is almost reasonable.

Sanders was right to deny Clinton the badge of being progressive, since she was not, she did not support reform of the student loan program, I never heard her support allowing students renegotiate their loans. I never heard her look at trying to find answers to the 2008 crash, I never heard Hillary suggest the financial institutions were mostly responsible for their own problems. I never heard her speak to the need to regulate the Wall Street/financial "grey" markets where the credit defaults swaps and such exist with no oversight. Also would it be unfair for me to bring up some of Hillary's earliest activism for Barry Goldwater?

As for past good acts, yes she tried to work on healthcare in the past. But where was she on single payer, something to cut the parasitic insurance industry out of the picture? I did not hear a lot of push back from Hillary about fighting for reproductive rights, which honestly surprised me. Maybe that might help explain the 53% support from woman Trump got?

The following is a bullshit comment - "As I watched Sanders enchant the crowds, it was something of a deja vu experience to see a charismatic male politician on stage telling women which issues are and aren’t progressive." So would it have been OK if the huge crowds had been at Hillary's rallies? Would you make the same observation of perhaps a condescending "parental" tone to her speech? Also how did Bernie tell people what was or was not progressive? The people decided that, not him.

Nonetheless, Sanders gave Clinton no credit for her longstanding progressivism in these areas, while identifying her with the corruption he was dedicated to cleaning up. - Well once you stop supporting progressive causes and fight for regressive action - repeal Glass-Stegal, you lose your right to the title. Hillary her self never spoke out about holding those who profited from the collapse of 08 to account. Bernie never abandoned his ideals, no matter the circumstance.


"Sanders was the perfect vehicle to revive political passion both among the older left, revitalised by being on the side of “the revolution” again, and a younger generation who had yet to experience the sense of rightness, community, and belief in the possibility of radical change that nourished us in the 60s." - Yes in no way could it be Sen Sander addressed their concerns? Could it be due to the DNC abandoning so many of the middle and lower class?

He was fierce, he was uncompromising, and he wasn’t afraid to call out clear enemies, which revolutions always need to rally around. Wall Street. Greed. Big Money. Super PACS. The establishment. - Yes what a horrid thing to address issues to those who are causing them, much better to never get to specifics right?

It's was not Senator Sander's job to remind people of everything Hillary had done in the past, he was at fault for calling her out for her current positions? Please tell me, what did Sanders lie about, when he "branded" her as establishment?

Appearances to the contrary, Sanders was not a union organizer - Nope he has a long history of working for people at different levels of government, but since that did not fit your narrative, why leave in facts?

" I listened to 19-year-olds and media pundits alike lavish praise on Bernie Sanders for his bold, revolutionary message, and scorn Hillary for being a part of the establishment." - Who's fault was that, Hillary has how much more money than Bernie, why not spend some of it to get a message out, instead of I'm with her?

The entire thing is a very slanted and dishonest screed to force the view that Hillary Clinton was mistreated by Bernie Sanders and his supporters, how it seems there is some horrible thing that people preferred Sen. Sanders due to his ongoing efforts and not what Hillary did 15 or so year ago?