The insanity coming from the Trump administration seems to be never ending. So, we’ve just finished dealing with (hopefully, it’s over) the worst hurricane season anyone I know can remember and the climate change “deniers” in Trump’s administration continue marching along as if nothing ever happened. (As I write this I’m reminded to pray for those affected by the Hurricanes – especially, right now in the Caribbean although the FACT Texas and Florida are not in the headlines doesn’t mean they don’t need our support) I read today where Rick Perry, who somehow was considered competent enough to run the Department of Energy is proposing 3.7 BILLION dollars in loan guarantees to Georgia Power Company in order to finish TWO nuclear reactors that were scheduled to be “online” ALREADY and now are being proposed to be finished by 2022! That’s loan guarantees from “we the people” which will likely go into the pockets of the power executives who planned this abominable project years ago and will likely never be completed. (Do you remember the saying “Don’t send good money after bad?”)
And, even if our government gives them enough money to complete this project, just try to imagine what “could have been” had “we the people” invested the OVER ten BILLION dollars that will be wasted on this futile attempt to recreate the idea that nuclear power is “the way to go” in America. The likely result of all this is the executives who’ve backed Trump will get “theirs” and “we the people” will be the ones “footing the bill” for an ill advised adventure. It has been no secret for YEARS that nuclear power is a BAD idea and Georgia’s fiasco won’t be the first example of this. To me, this is just another example of Trump’s stupidity and the astonishment (for me) that he can get something like a third of American voters to go along with his schemes.
This is almost a carbon copy of the “White Nationalists” futile attempt to “keep America White.” The reality is that just as we can’t determine the color of the skin of America’s citizens, like it or not, we can’t resurrect BAD ideas. The many nuclear “meltdowns” already on record are the reason it’s NOT economically feasible for the construction of ANY MORE nuclear power plants. Insurance companies don’t want anything to do with them and actual banks don’t want anything to do with them – unless, as in the case of the Trump administration, a power company can get government GUARANTEES for the loans.
Do you find it as interesting as myself to see who always ends up supporting government largess? These bailouts always seem to be coming from the “fiscal conservatives.” Bush/Cheney left “we the people” with an obligation that conceivably could have gone into the TRILLIONS with the TARP bailout and now we have the Trump administration – they’re trying to cut school lunches (and just about anything else aimed at “the least of these”) in their attempt at “austerity” – then BAILING out Georgia Power Company on a project that is likely NEVER to reach completion – and, if it does will be out dated and more dangerous (over the long haul) than it’s worth. I’m just trying to imagine what $10 BILLION infused into solar power would have accomplished, for example. I’m guessing much more for much longer than this nuclear fiasco.
As I’m writing this I can’t help but think the news would sound so much better if our Energy Department was guaranteeing loans that would rebuild the power grid in Puerto Rico – with Rick Perry urging “all hands on deck” without delay so the people of that Island could survive the terrible disaster of Hurricane Maria. And, what about the Virgin Islands? We’re not hearing about them – or the people of Florida and the people of Texas who were hit hard by Hurricanes a few weeks ago. For those in the Caribbean it sounds to me, from what I’ve heard, that we’re talking about life and death issues – and, the response is needed NOW! Trump will complain about Puerto Rico’s debt but not Georgia Power Company’s debt without this bailout.
I’m not one to feel the need to give Trump advice, but I’m pretty sure the Bush/Cheney administration never recovered from a poor response to Hurricane Katrina. You might have personnel working their butts off to help, but if those at the “top” seem to be preoccupied with other “stuff” that, in the long run, will be considered inconsequential the damage, politically, can be devastating. Even a LIAR like Trump won’t be able to LIE his way out of an insensitive response to a crisis where many lives are on the line.
Today, I again heard Trump (with my own ears – this is not “second hand”) reference Puerto Rico’s debt and the question of how they’re going to pay for the American assistance that’s needed. The country will virtually need to be rebuilt. Is Trump suggesting that if Puerto Rico can’t afford it………….? I hate to speculate on something as basic as this. Maybe he’s going to need a couple Trump Towers in Puerto Rico in order to “make a deal.” Don’t get me wrong – I’m certain there’s MANY who are working hard to help the Puerto Ricans (and, those in the Virgin Islands) – our country is FULL of hard working GOOD people – it’s just the people at the “top” need to define the agenda. If people are suffering we don’t want it to be because a FULL effort is NOT being made to minimize it. Right now, the topic shouldn’t be the NFL or Puerto Rico’s debt!
While driving around today I tuned in to MSNBC and there was a guest (I believe from the NY Times) who was lamenting the reality that “we the people” are seemingly unable to talk to each other in a way that respects our differences – which has led to this terrible division in our country. I couldn’t agree with him more – but, as they (the guest and Chuck Todd) were trying to figure out what has happened to cause this I felt a bit of frustration because they were “tip toeing” around the problem. It should be obvious to them – because it’s part of what is driving the republican party into the “loony bin.”
From the early days of Newt Gingrich, the “strategy” of OBSTRUCTION has ruled the day in republican circles. That “strategy” has evolved into causing words like “liberal,” “progressive,” and “compromise” to be almost like “dirty words.” I’ve listened to this “mantra” since the 80’s and the emergence of Rush Limbaugh and his fellow right wing “talkers” to Fox “news” and their commitment to the “Big Lie Theory” of Joseph Goebbels. (Fox SHOULD be called “GOP TV”) This shouldn’t be so hard to figure out. The challenge is that in identifying the problem one realizes the depth of the problem and the gravity of Americans being BRAINWASHED for years. Once you “get” this, it’s easier to understand what I’ve been writing about for the past 10 years or so on this site. Republicans, for years, have threatened anyone who strays from the sheep mentality a well funded PRIMARY opponent. They encourage division with their “my way or the highway” philosophy. It’s no secret!
For some reason media “pundits” don’t want to point out what is obvious. Trump is the classic case. For example, Trump’s LIES are not subtle – media personalities SHOULD call him a LIAR because whether he’s president or not, that’s what he is. Trump’s racist behavior is only debatable by those who live in his world of “alternative facts.” His actions define him – and, he’s a racist. (in association with those White Supremacists he tried to support after Charlottesville) Trump’s “birtherism” and his history of racist behavior prior to running for president is well defined. When people like Chuck Todd and the guest I referred to above are lamenting the lack of dialogue in our nation – it’s because, for many of us, we’re “not going there” in regard to Trump and his white nationalist supporters. There did use to be a “center” where most political successes were found – although, almost ALL true monumental ADVANCES in American history have come from the so-called “left.” That’s what the corporate interests who’ve been hijacking the republican party over the past 40 years are afraid of.
As it presently exists, the republican party has got to go! Their own divisiveness has now permeated their own party – which is why they are TOTALLY unable to govern. People like John McCain, Bob Corker, and others are sick of all this themselves. McCain has pleaded for a return to “regular order” – which simply means working through issues with both political parties participating and solving issues via compromise. The truth is there are MILLIONS of Americans on “both sides of the isle” and both sides deserve to be heard and honored. “Gotcha” politics needs to come to an end – and, people like Trump (and, his former “adviser” Steve Bannon) are busing STILL fanning the flames of discontent. (that’s the ONLY way they can remain relevant) And, most of America’s voters aren’t sophisticated enough to understand what’s going on so we have what seems almost like two countries – while MOST of the people on both sides are good hard working Americans.
I don’t for a minute believe the White Nationalists that Trump is ginning up represent more than the fringe they’ve always represented. It’s just that – with the advent of the “Tea party” the republican party sold themselves to the ultra right in an attempt to recover from the disaster that was Bush/Cheney. (They believe “the end justifies the means”) The election of our first African American president was used as the spring board to catapult those who would use the “race card” to scare older white Americans into believing they needed to “take our country back.” I mean, just that “saying” was always, to me, absurd on its face. Take it back from what? Right wing republicans played to the darker sides of many susceptible Americans who were willing to believe a constant barrage of LIES.
Now, I’m not the one to suggest that – at least in my view – President Obama was perfect. But, seriously, compared to Trump? Are you kidding me? President Obama was like “the adult in the room.” And, compared to Bush/Cheney who LIED us into Iraq and essentially LIED to us about Afghanistan so that we’re still there and left us with an impending financial meltdown? The damage caused by Bush/Cheney could take years to overcome – and, the scary thing is they’re looking good to me compared to Trump. Obama turned things around economically from Bush/Cheney, but evidently the color of his skin led to Trump. The damage caused by Trump is mounting fast – and, could become catastrophic if he’s allowed to continue ginning up North Korea. It’s true, Trump is causing a mounting “resistance” that could lead to the political engagement of MILLIONS of previously complacent (progressive) voters – which would be a good thing. But, a war with North Korea would threaten the world’s stability and, to me is unthinkable, it’s unwinnable, and even threatening the use of nuclear weapons is heretical.
As I’ve said many times here – “we the people” have no choice but to depend on republicans to end this NIGHTMARE of Trump’s presidency. There are already a plethora of reasons to IMPEACH Trump – but, I’ve accepted that republicans are going to wait out Robert Mueller. He can’t work fast enough for me – but, then we’re all depending on republicans having the courage to act. Yes, if Trump is impeached it will be messy. All those people who marched with the Tiki Torches in Charlottesville are likely to create a HUGE “scene.” Trump has been busy BRAINWASHING his supporters into believing the “Russia thing” (which he’s obsessed with) is a “hoax” and the media is “Fake.” He’s a cagey manipulator – but, he’s also likely going to be accused of criminal activity. Trump is ruining the republican “brand” which is why it’s so interesting that most republicans fear him. The question will soon be, has he intimidated them to the point they won’t impeach him?
Final thought: Do you find it interesting that Trump and his white nationalist followers are busy attacking Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan – the leaders of the republican party in Congress? This should also be interesting as it plays out. McConnell and Ryan hold Trump’s future in their hands. They will likely be unable to pass Trump’s huge TAX CUT (for himself and his Billionaire buddies) because their LIES (that is, those pushing this tax giveaway to the rich) are already being exposed – and Trump will blame McConnell and Ryan. Trump is a HUGE reason why they can’t get THEIR agenda through their own Congress. Are they really so TIMID they will be unable to impeach Trump? That decision, of course, falls into Ryan’s “lap.” It’s clear Ryan can’t stand Trump – what’s not clear is why he’s so afraid of Trump. Theoretically, both Trump and Pense SHOULD be impeached for obstruction of justice. That would make Ryan president. Maybe that’s what he’s afraid of!
Oops! – one more thought: Possibly, in the long run, among the most damage done by Trump will be in the area of the blatant denial of “climate change.” From the support of the coal industry (which is dying no matter what Trump might do), to the funding of ill-advised nuclear plants, to the push to “Drill, baby Drill” – Trump is sending the message to the rest of the world they can have a free run at developing the new clean energy technologies that will undoubtedly be the “future.” The damage caused by Trump’s encouragement to businesses living in the past will be measured in the years to come. China, as they encourage the development of solar and wind power technology, will be laughing all the way to the bank. As we’re “deconstructing our administrative state” they’ll be developing theirs.