It's 2017 and while I do wish everyone a happy and healthy new year, anyone with a lick of sense knows we are in for a rough one. Hence (it's not often I get to use that word!), I am forgoing any happy pictures of fireworks or champagne-popping gifs. In fact, I am forgoing any pictures at all. Because we will soon face some serious, consequential moments.
So I'll just say this: May we all stay strong, focused and effective.
With a little luck, things will work out better than we fear.
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Richard Santalone commented
2017-01-04 06:52:01 -0500
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From truman’s comment:
“War with North Korea and Iran seem almost inevitable.”
And so is REINSTATEMENT OF THE DRAFT!
’Nuff said.
“War with North Korea and Iran seem almost inevitable.”
And so is REINSTATEMENT OF THE DRAFT!
’Nuff said.
Bemused commented
2017-01-03 05:09:56 -0500
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Antoinette: I fear that some RW crazy will get angry enough to try to kill him. That’s the most heavily armed category in the country and many assassins have been disgruntled followers.
Bemused commented
2017-01-03 05:07:32 -0500
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As usual, Kevin says it a lot better than I ever could.
Antoinette commented
2017-01-03 01:39:39 -0500
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Trumpster will be either impeached, or resign from office. Mike Pence will take over as president of the U.S. which pains me to type this prediction. Look on the bright side. All the corruption, wars, and the decline of the U.S. will fall on the GOP’s lap.
Kevin Koster commented
2017-01-01 23:15:20 -0500
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I’m willing to wait and see if the Pence White House can actually make government more efficient and stimulate the economy and get more people back to work, particularly in the Rust Belt. If Pence can accomplish that, then he’ll have done a service for everyone. And perhaps it’s healthy in the long run to have something completely shake up the government as we know it, as a way of getting rid of deadwood and getting people to pay attention rather than living on autopilot. So I stand apart from the way the Right Wing behaved in 2009 with the impending Obama inauguration – what with Rush Limbaugh and others screaming “I HOPE HE FAILS!” and then trying to retroactively declare that failure to be the case. I don’t hope for these guys to fail – I hope for them to do right by the country, including the majority of the population that did not vote for them but is now stuck with them for the next four years. It doesn’t mean that I trust them by any means, but I’m willing to see if they can actually get something productive accomplished, and if it’s a good thing, why would anyone object to that?
That being said, we’re hearing more and more about what the true objectives are of this bunch. Just this morning, I read an article confirming exactly what I’ve understood to be the focus of January 20th past the inauguration – the signing by Trump of a series of Executive Orders to effectively erase the Obama presidency in every way possible. There’s also a strong push to have the ACA Repeal on Trump’s desk for signing on the 20th as well, although the GOP is now facing some pressure to think about what it will mean to throw away the insurance policies for 20 million people. (Of course, that assumes that the Far Right really cares about those insurance policies. As Rush Limbaugh has demonstrated – they don’t. For example, Congressman Bill Huizenga of Michigan made a point of forcing his son to wait overnight in a splint before going to seek medical attention for an injured arm, a wild choice that could have cost his son’s life.)
We do have some cause for hope, however. There are plenty of people with their eyes and ears open who can see what the Pence White House is planning, and if it creates major problems around the country, all the Fox News spin in the world won’t be able to make people in the real world forget what is actually happening to them. The Obama Presidency may have ended without a legacy, and we will almost certainly be subject to 2-4 years worth of gloating and bullying about that, but history doesn’t end when these things happen. If anything, the vicious behavior of the Right has a good chance to inspire more Dems and liberals to show up to vote next time.
That being said, we’re hearing more and more about what the true objectives are of this bunch. Just this morning, I read an article confirming exactly what I’ve understood to be the focus of January 20th past the inauguration – the signing by Trump of a series of Executive Orders to effectively erase the Obama presidency in every way possible. There’s also a strong push to have the ACA Repeal on Trump’s desk for signing on the 20th as well, although the GOP is now facing some pressure to think about what it will mean to throw away the insurance policies for 20 million people. (Of course, that assumes that the Far Right really cares about those insurance policies. As Rush Limbaugh has demonstrated – they don’t. For example, Congressman Bill Huizenga of Michigan made a point of forcing his son to wait overnight in a splint before going to seek medical attention for an injured arm, a wild choice that could have cost his son’s life.)
We do have some cause for hope, however. There are plenty of people with their eyes and ears open who can see what the Pence White House is planning, and if it creates major problems around the country, all the Fox News spin in the world won’t be able to make people in the real world forget what is actually happening to them. The Obama Presidency may have ended without a legacy, and we will almost certainly be subject to 2-4 years worth of gloating and bullying about that, but history doesn’t end when these things happen. If anything, the vicious behavior of the Right has a good chance to inspire more Dems and liberals to show up to vote next time.
John McKee commented
2017-01-01 18:38:13 -0500
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Best wishes to all for what will absolutely positive-ly be a momentous year. It’s time to straighten up and fly right, America!
David Lindsay commented
2017-01-01 11:44:06 -0500
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Happy New Year!!!
Going into what may be a tumultuous new year, I’m glad to see 2016 sink beneath the waves. For what it’s worth, I don’t think Trump is a fascist. Why? Because fascists are sharp dressers. Trump ain’t a sharp dresser especially with that comb over/toupee/small furry animal on top of his head. Now Paul Ryan on the other hand, now there’s a fascist!
Going into what may be a tumultuous new year, I’m glad to see 2016 sink beneath the waves. For what it’s worth, I don’t think Trump is a fascist. Why? Because fascists are sharp dressers. Trump ain’t a sharp dresser especially with that comb over/toupee/small furry animal on top of his head. Now Paul Ryan on the other hand, now there’s a fascist!
truman commented
2017-01-01 09:11:56 -0500
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Happy New Year. Welcome to the Year of the Bully, Trumpnardo, Trumpalooma, Trumpocalypse. I also hope and pray that things will work out better than we fear. But I won’t bet on it.
Now that the GOPiggies control our Government, we can watch as they gut Obamacare, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
As bad as that will be, Orange Donald will be far worse as he dips his stubby fingers into world affairs. War with North Korea and Iran seem almost inevitable.
Let’s get back together in a year and see what we have become as a nation.
Now that the GOPiggies control our Government, we can watch as they gut Obamacare, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
As bad as that will be, Orange Donald will be far worse as he dips his stubby fingers into world affairs. War with North Korea and Iran seem almost inevitable.
Let’s get back together in a year and see what we have become as a nation.
Jan Hall commented
2017-01-01 08:55:26 -0500
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Well said Bemused. Happy, and Healthy New Year to NEWSHOUNDS, and all those who post on here. You bring me much enjoyment every day. :)
Bemused commented
2017-01-01 03:34:28 -0500
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While I fear we may be in a similar place to the one that republicans in general and racists in particular found themselves in 2008, I remain hopeful that a firm grip on fact-based reason will eventually overcome the blind rage and emotion that characterise the inhabitants of a post-truth world where ignorance and incompetence are given equal weight to knowledge and expertise. Somewhat perversely, I’m waiting to see the fur fly between Flynn (representing the former) and Mattis (representing the latter). It’s a strange world, indeed, where my hopes are linked to the expertise of a military man nicknamed “Mad Dog”.
As many have written in previous threads, the struggle against irrationality and unpredictability must be waged with as much calm and fact-based reason as we can collectively muster. It won’t be easy when the other person lives in a fact-free world. It’s important to keep noting that governing a country is a tad more complex than all those other tasks for which they would not even think of hiring an amateur (e.g. repairs to equipment or the home, health care, protecting one’s computer against hackers, etc.).
PS: Saw a really weird thing on CNN a couple of days ago: a professor of political science at a California University (sic) opined that Russia didn’t expel some Americans because they’re following Christ’s teachings about turning the other cheek. You see, they’re Christians nowadays unlike what prevailed during Soviet times. I still can’t believe he said that with a straight face. We have our work cut out for us, folks.
That said, may all of you and all of yours have the best possible year and don’t give up. Silence is the worst thing that we could possibly do. But, … do keep safe, eh?
As many have written in previous threads, the struggle against irrationality and unpredictability must be waged with as much calm and fact-based reason as we can collectively muster. It won’t be easy when the other person lives in a fact-free world. It’s important to keep noting that governing a country is a tad more complex than all those other tasks for which they would not even think of hiring an amateur (e.g. repairs to equipment or the home, health care, protecting one’s computer against hackers, etc.).
PS: Saw a really weird thing on CNN a couple of days ago: a professor of political science at a California University (sic) opined that Russia didn’t expel some Americans because they’re following Christ’s teachings about turning the other cheek. You see, they’re Christians nowadays unlike what prevailed during Soviet times. I still can’t believe he said that with a straight face. We have our work cut out for us, folks.
That said, may all of you and all of yours have the best possible year and don’t give up. Silence is the worst thing that we could possibly do. But, … do keep safe, eh?