A report card on the Biden administration

[Jay59]

Seriously, are you really that stupid?

Facts are not stupid. It was not an insurrection, sedition, or a coup. Deal with reality and not your personal animosity.

You two want me to waste my time explaining it all. I am not going to do that.

Not in the least. You do not appear to understand what is happening.

Review the last 20 pages of my reports. They will address the [foolish] issues you both have raised at this juncture.

I say again that you have no understanding of reality.

It is self-evident neither one of you have been following the televised hearings.

I follow them, though not live. Show trials are for show and not for justice.

The Biden administration has nothing affirmative to promote so they feed the hatred of the cult.

You both are speaking from ignorance.

If that were true it would still put us on a moral high ground compared to that gutter.

 

[less right]

I follow them, though not live. Show trials are for show and not for justice.

The Biden administration has nothing affirmative to promote so they feed the hatred of the cult.

I think if you were following them (rather than taking someone else's opinion as your own) even with the "show trial" presentation style the committee has made a compelling and convincing narrative of forethought, planning, actions and inactions, most presented by his own staff, that paints a picture of someone who was not true to their oath. People that followed them that think otherwise could provide examples and rebuttals rather than bumper sticker memes.

Blaming the administration for a congressional event indicates a talking point mentality poorly disguised as critical thinking.

 

[Jay59]

I think if you were following them (rather than taking someone else's opinion as your own) even with the "show trial" presentation style the committee has made a compelling and convincing narrative of forethought, planning, actions and inactions, most presented by his own staff, that paints a picture of someone who was not true to their oath. People that followed them that think otherwise could provide examples and rebuttals rather than bumper sticker memes.

Blaming the administration for a congressional event indicates a talking point mentality poorly disguised as critical thinking.

Your opinion is noted and you are welcome to it.

The Democrats are trying to stretch the facts to fit the insurrection/coup narrative but that story will not hold water. The intruders were clearly focused on one official event and not on lasting control. The sound you heard was the legal definition failing.

 

[less right]

Your opinion is noted and you are welcome to it.

The Democrats are trying to stretch the facts to fit the insurrection/coup narrative but that story will not hold water. The intruders were clearly focused on one official event and not on lasting control. The sound you heard was the legal definition failing.

The intruders were just doing what they were told.

Had they been successful at stopping the count do you think the next step was peaceful transition?

Legal definitions aside, if you can't see Trump's hand in trying to steal an election it's because you haven't followed the hearings yourself.

 

[Jay59]

The intruders were just doing what they were told.

That is unproven, but it only means that they were told to disrupt one event.

Had they been successful at stopping the count do you think the next step was peaceful transition?

Naturally.

Legal definitions aside, if you can't see Trump's hand in trying to steal an election it's because you haven't followed the hearings yourself.

I agree that the hearings are trying to make that link.

I don't believe that they are close to succeeding. What you have is a lot of people who want it to be true and are willing to ignore the facts to fulfill their wish.

 

[less right]

That is unproven, but it only means that they were told to disrupt one event.


Naturally.


I agree that the hearings are trying to make that link.

I don't believe that they are close to succeeding. What you have is a lot of people who want it to be true and are willing to ignore the facts to fulfill their wish.

That's because you haven't really been following them yourself but getting your impressions from someone's Cliff Notes.

What are the facts they are willingly ignoring?

 

[Jay59]

That's because you haven't really been following them yourself but getting your impressions from someone's Cliff Notes.

You say that like it's a bad thing. As long as you get both sides then you are generally covered.

What are the facts they are willingly ignoring?

The big one is the definition of insurrection.

 

[less right]

You say that like it's a bad thing. As long as you get both sides then you are generally covered.


The big one is the definition of insurrection.

You're not getting both sides though. You should've followed the hearings yourself.

It's a hearing. Draw your own conclusions about what the witnesses are describing. Whether it's an insurrection, a protest turned violent, or a planned single event, Trump and his 'stop the steal' cadre's fingerprints are all over this. Or does he skate because they mistakenly called it an insurrection? What about when Trump mistakenly told us the election was rigged?

 

[Jay59]

You're not getting both sides though. You should've followed the hearings yourself.

It's a hearing. Draw your own conclusions about what the witnesses are describing. Whether it's an insurrection, a protest turned violent, or a planned single event, Trump and his 'stop the steal' cadre's fingerprints are all over this. Or does he skate because they mistakenly called it an insurrection? What about when Trump mistakenly told us the election was rigged?

I have seen enough directly to understand that it is purely for show.

Trump doesn't skate. He's genuinely innocent of criminal behavior.

 

[less right]

I have seen enough directly to understand that it is purely for show.

Trump doesn't skate. He's genuinely innocent of criminal behavior.

You mean you've seen enough cherry-picked clips.

So's Hillary.

 

[Jay59]

You mean you've seen enough cherry-picked clips.

So's Hillary.

The cases are not parallel. Hillary isn't innocent of criminal behavior.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Recessions are inevitable, they’re a part of every business cycle. Recessions will happen, and no amount of predicting and prognosticating can prevent them, CNN Business.

The media is continuing its scare tactics, trying to convince Americans that we are in the midst of a recession.

CNN reports, "The US economy shrank again in the second quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said Thursday.

"Gross domestic product, a wide-ranging measure of economic activity, fell by 0.9% on an annualized basis from April through June. That decline marks a key symbolic threshold for the most commonly used — albeit unofficial — definition of a recession as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth."

That statement requires analysis. CNN made the GDP figure look as bad as possible by annualizing it. The Times reports, "Gross domestic product fell by 0.2 percent in the second quarter, after a 0.4 percent decline in the first." The actual figure of two-tenths of one percent is insignificant in our huge economy, the largest in the world.

Far more significant is unemployment, or lack thereof. Unemployment has been at or around 3.6%, or full employment, for several months.

Another significant factor is job growth. ABC reports, "The nation's June jobs report showed that hiring has remained healthy, with employers adding 372,000 jobs last month."

Most important of all, because the American economy is based on consumer spending, consumer spending is solid. Consumer spending is healthy. although consumers are being more discretionary due to inflation.

“The general takeaway is the economy is slowing, and that’s what the [Federal Reserve] wants,” said Ryan Sweet, who leads real-time economics at Moody’s Analytics. “We’re not in a recession.”

Although Thursday’s initial estimate marked a sharp drop from the 6.7% expansion the economy underwent in the second quarter of 2021, the world’s largest economy, despite being buffeted by high inflation and a cascade of supply shocks, remains fundamentally sound.

Our President explained it best.

“There are going to be a lot of chatter today on Wall Street and among pundits about whether we are in a recession,” Biden said. “But if you look at our job market, consumer spending, business investment, we see signs of economic progress in the second quarter as well.”

“Coming off of last year’s historic economic growth – and regaining all the private sector jobs lost during the pandemic crisis – it’s no surprise that the economy is slowing down as the Federal Reserve acts to bring down inflation,” Biden said.

Thank you, Mr. President, no one could have explained it any better.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The Jan. 6 committee is closing in on Trump. They are talking to Trump's former chief advisors.

CNN reports, "The House select committee investigating January 6 is zeroing in on former officials from Trump’s Cabinet for testimony and is particularly interested in learning more about conversations among officials about possibly invoking the 25th Amendment after the US Capitol attack.

"The panel has interviewed former President Donald Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, sources tell CNN.

"The committee will also interview former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as soon as this week and is speaking with former acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Thursday.

"Several former Cabinet officials are known to have met with the committee already, including Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller and Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen.

"The committee also met with former Attorney General Bill Barr, but he had left the administration prior to the events of January 6th.

"The interest in the 25th Amendment and activities following the Capitol attack comes after former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified last month about a “large concern” that the Cabinet and then-Vice President Mike Pence could attempt to remove the President from office.

"But Marc Short, former chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence, said on CNN Thursday that he doesn’t “recall there being any serious conversation” about invoking the 25th Amendment, saying that using it would have been impractical.

“That wasn’t happening in 10 days in the administration … This was really just a political ploy by Nancy Pelosi and Democrats in Congress to try to put pressure to exert this and it was never going anywhere in our White House,” Short added.

In the meantime, the separate Justice Department criminal investigation into the plots to subvert the 2020 election is also heating up. The details are voluminous. They will be addressed at a later time. Suffice to say, Trump is not happy.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Wow! Double wow! This is a major achievement by the Democratic Party and the Biden administration. Taking into consideration climate change, this is legislation that will help millions of people across the globe.

Republicans, of course, are expected to oppose the package.

The WSJ reports, "Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said they had agreed to a deal to support a legislative package that would spend hundreds of billions of dollars and affect a swath of climate, healthcare, prescription-drug and tax policies.

"The announcement came after months of on-and-off negotiations between the two Democrats over a crucial piece of President Biden’s agenda, and is much narrower than the original package proposed by the president.

"The measure, according to numbers released by Senate Democrats, would raise a total of $739 billion in revenue, and spend a total of $433 billion. It would reduce the budget deficit by roughly $300 billion over a decade.

"The package would spend roughly $369 billion on climate and energy programs, including tax credits for buying electric and hydrogen vehicles. The deal would dedicate $64 billion to extending for three years the Affordable Care Act subsidies that first kicked in under the 2021 American Rescue Plan. The measure would also allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies, a longtime goal of many Democrats that has been opposed by the drug industry.

"The proposal would implement a 15% corporate minimum tax, aimed at large companies that report significant profits but pay little or nothing in income taxes.

Here's hoping the Democrats don't screw this up.

For more on this huge piece of legislation, please see https://www.wsj.com/articles/whats-...-on-climate-health-and-tax-policy-11658973323

 

[less right]

The cases are not parallel. Hillary isn't innocent of criminal behavior.

As innocent as Trump.

 

[Jay59]

As innocent as Trump.

Innocent means that the person did nothing illegal. Trump did nothing illegal.

Hillary did something illegal every day she had the server, she did something illegal when she wiped the drive.

Hillary is not as innocent as Trump. She's as guilty as Oliver North.

 

[less right]

Innocent means that the person did nothing illegal. Trump did nothing illegal.

Hillary did something illegal every day she had the server, she did something illegal when she wiped the drive.

Hillary is not as innocent as Trump. She's as guilty as Oliver North.

Need a refresher? Fraud isn't legal. Neither is stealing from charities.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

There is very little doubt. Donald J. Trump is working hard at being the biggest jerk on the planet!

With billions of dollars inherited from his fathers along with profitable properties and being a former President, Trump is well equipped to be a most extraordinary jerk.

As President, he destroyed an agreement that permanently barred Iran from making a nuke. He severely weakened NATO to the point that, in the end, NATO leaders refused to talk to him. Trump was impeached twice, exonerated by his own party by overlooking the evidence. He lost his reelection bid by seven million votes to a 78 year-old Democrat, then launched a coup attempt to overthrow the elected government.

Details of the coup attempt and Trump's involvement have been circulating over the past eighteen months, and the House committee has been conducting its hearing on live television for the past three weeks with more to come, including their final report just in time for the November mid-terms.

Anyone with half a brain and Trump's past history would logically think it is time to lie low. Besides, incredible as it may seem, Trump is serious about announcing his candidacy for President of the United States. Even more reason to be cool and keep your mouth shut.

But that is not Trump. He is ambitious He wants everyone to know he is the world's biggest asshole.

Fifteen of the 19 attackers on 9/11 were citizens of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman or MBS for short, ordered the killing and dismemberment of the US-based Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. Trump supported and defended the Saudi leader even though American intelligence was convinced MBS ordered the hit.

The golfing world has been dominated by talk of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, the Saudi-backed venture fronted by Greg Norman and LIV Golf Investments.

So, what does Trump do? He agrees to hold the third LIV tournament at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey. In your face, world, Bedminster is 50 miles from the hallowed ground in New York.

The season-closing Team Championship will be held at Trump National Doral.

“Well, nobody’s gotten to the bottom of 9/11, unfortunately, and they should have as to the maniacs that did that horrible thing to our city, to our country, to our world. So nobody’s really been there. There are a lot of really great people that are out here today, and we’re gonna have a lot of fun,” Trump said.

The 9/11 Commission Report​

Is a huge volume that was three years in the making. It is sitting on one of my bookshelves.

So, in addition to everything else, Trump is just downright stupid and has no idea what he is talking about.

So, the only question is, what does that say about Trump's followers, recalling he did attempt to overthrow our government. Simply denying the reality of that while ignoring the factors involved says a lot about Trump's followers, particularly from an intelligence standpoint.

Recalling that Vladimir Putin wanted this man to be our President, how can Americans support such a man? As can be seen, Trump works hard at being a complete idiot and a total jerk, and there are some who want him to run for President?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

So, the only question is, what does that say about Trump's followers, recalling he did attempt to overthrow our government. Simply denying the reality of that while ignoring the factors involved says a lot about Trump's followers, particularly from an intelligence standpoint.

Recalling that Vladimir Putin wanted this man to be our President, how can Americans support such a man? As can be seen, Trump works hard at being a complete idiot and a total jerk, and there are some who want him to run for President?

As expected, no response from Republicans. After all, what can they say?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

As expected during a media frenzy concerning Pelosi and Taiwan, the Biden administration insisted that the Chinese government cannot dictate to Americans where they cannot go.

CNN reports, "US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan as part of her tour of Asia, according to a senior Taiwanese government official and a US official.

"The stop – the first for a US House speaker in 25 years – is not currently on Pelosi’s public itinerary and comes at a time when US-China relations are already at a low point.

"She is expected to stay in Taiwan overnight. It is unclear when exactly Pelosi will land in Taipei."

The Chinese reaction to this is almost comical. Apparently, the Chinese government views Nancy as a military threat and a threat to their sovereignty. China said that its military “won’t sit by idly” if Beijing feels its “sovereignty and territorial integrity” is being threatened, CNN reported.

“We would like to tell the US once again that China is standing by, and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will never sit idly by. China will take resolute responses and strong countermeasures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.

No doubt all of this is for the local audience. As a diplomatic position meant for foreign ears, the Chinese message is quite humorous.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Jennifer Rubin writes, "Defying cynical critics who said no one would learn anything from its Jan. 6 hearings, the House select committee has made sure Americans learned plenty — presenting testimony that Donald Trump knew the crowd was armed when he invited them to march to the Capitol, for instance, and that he desperately wanted to join them. (Trump has disputed these claims.) But in addition to exploring the depths of Trump and the GOP’s depravity, the committee has taught House and Senate members how to run an effective, interesting and newsworthy hearing.

"Let’s hope members of Congress were paying attention.

"The Jan. 6 committee had many challenges. It had hundreds of witnesses and tens of thousands of documents; a complicated, multipart conspiracy to explain; and a press corps determined not to be impressed. The committee figured out that the normal style of hearings — five minutes of questioning per member, hours of rambling testimony, the presentation of impenetrable documents — would not accomplish its aims. It had to educate the public, lay out a compelling set of facts that might be the basis of criminal charges and make the case for reforms to prevent the next coup attempt.

"You might be thinking: “The reason the hearings were so helpful was that loony Republicans weren’t making a mockery of the whole thing.” Well, yes, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the House minority leader, did pull his members out in a fit of pique, leaving Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to appoint the two responsible Republicans."

Please note Senate Republicans made a huge mistake. The Democrats wanted a bipartisan commission to investigate Jan. 6, and the Democratic-controlled House passed such a measure. Members of Congress would not be on the commission. Senate Republicans killed the bipartisan commission, and a partisan commission led by Democrats landed on Pelosi's desk.

How do we know the House select committee on the Presidential-led coup attempt is successful? Republican members of Congress and grassroots Republicans avoid the sedition attempt like the plaque. For proof, scan this thread.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Wow! Double wow! This is a major achievement by the Democratic Party and the Biden administration. This is legislation that will help millions of people across the globe.

CNN reports, "Democrats this week have the chance to validate their monopoly on political power in Washington, create a legacy of true significance for President Joe Biden and even boost their hopes in daunting midterm elections in three months.

"But first they must push a back-from-the-dead climate and health care initiative through the Senate using their tiny majority, notably by locking in the crucial vote of moderate Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who has yet to sign off on a bill that may not save Democrats in November but may at least give them a big new win to run on.

"Tensions are, meanwhile, soaring between the parties, especially over a Republican blockade of a bill that would fund health care for veterans sickened by exposure to burn pits during service in America’s foreign wars. The move opened up the GOP to accusations of cruelty – and, for once, Republican leader Mitch McConnell has looked outmaneuvered.

"But there remains at least one huge question mark – the vote of Sinema, whose support is just as critical as Manchin’s in the 50-50 Senate. Like Manchin, she has opposed dismantling the Senate filibuster to pass other Democratic priority bills. She did help remodel Biden’s larger Build Back Better bill before Manchin blocked it last year. But now there are questions over whether she will back tax changes affecting private equity investors in the Manchin-Schumer compromise. As the 50th Democrat needed to pass the measure with Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote, Sinema has huge leverage to seek changes that threaten the bill’s fragile foundation, and she has so far avoided giving her verdict on the deal."

Many are hopeful that Sinema will not destroy the Democrat's only chance in November. That she will do the right thing for the planet and the American people.

Republicans will oppose the measure, saying it is inflationary, screw what is right for the planet and Americans.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The AP reports, "President Joe Biden on Monday confirmed that a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan this weekend killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri, declaring “justice has been delivered.”

“This terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said in an evening speech from the White House.

"Biden said U.S. intelligence officials tracked al-Zawahri to a home in downtown Kabul where he was hiding out with his family. The president approved the operation last week and it was carried out on Sunday.

"A U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan this weekend killed Ayman al-Zawahri, who took over as al-Qaida leader after Osama bin Laden’s death in a U.S. raid. President Joe Biden was set to announce the killing Monday, delivering a significant counterterrorism win just 11 months after American troops left the country after a two-decade war.

"Al-Zawahri’s loss eliminates the figure who more than anyone shaped al-Qaida, first as Osama bin Laden’s deputy since 1998, then as his successor. Together, he and bin Laden turned the jihadi movement’s guns to target the United States, carrying out the deadliest attack ever on American soil — the Sept. 11, 2001, suicide hijackings."

 

[Sandy Shanks]

As expected during a media frenzy concerning Pelosi and Taiwan, the Biden administration insisted that the Chinese government cannot dictate to Americans where they cannot go.

Reuters reports, "Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday on a trip she said shows an unwavering American commitment to the Chinese-claimed self-ruled island, but China condemned the highest-level U.S. visit in 25 years as a threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

"Her arrival prompted a furious response from China at a time when international tensions already are elevated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced using force to bring it under its control. The United States warned China against using the visit as a pretext for military action against Taiwan.

"China's foreign ministry said it lodged a strong protest with the United States, saying Pelosi's visit seriously damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, "has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"Chinese warplanes buzzed the line dividing the Taiwan Strait before her arrival, and the Chinese military announced joint air and sea drills near Taiwan starting on Tuesday night.

If China wasn't a major world power, this would be comical. The only reaction from China will be rhetoric.

Chinese leaders are businessmen now, and China is major economic power. War is bad for business.

China will do nothing. Why should she do otherwise?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Arizona voters are going to the polls today to begin the process of selecting their next governor. Kari Lake is expected to win the Republican nomination.

Lake told a far-right group in Anthem that she was “already detecting some stealing going on” in the election. Then she repeated it on the radio.

“I’m telling you right now, anybody trying to steal this, first of all, we’re already detecting some stealing going on, but you guys know I’m a fighter, right?” she told the North Valley Constitutional Republicans. “You haven’t seen me when they try to steal something. I’m gonna go supernova radioactive. We’re not gonna let them steal an election.” https://www.azcentral.com/story/opi...back-up-her-claim-election-fraud/10215658002/

It is very strange that Americans would support such a candidate. Worse, she has the endorsement of a former President of the United States.

It would appear that Republicans are begging for an autocracy. Only an autocrat would say her loss would be the result of cheating.

Republicans should be aware. They just might get what they wish for ... an autocratic government that is totally unconcerned about the rights and freedoms of its citizens.

The problem is, many Trump Republicans would think that would be funny.