Tag Archives: Donald Trump

national news, political news

FLOTUS lights up Trump

Here is Michelle Obama’s full speech delivered today in Manchester, N.H.

I’ve already offered a brief comment on it.

I just thought it would be worth showing it in this venue to give you an idea of just how powerful it is. She speaks about the conduct of Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee for president of the United States.

The first lady has made no public mention of continuing her public service career in elective office.

My very strong sense is that she ought to consider seeking such an office to continue to speaking out as she has done with this speech.

Take a few minutes and listen to what she said today. Michelle Obama’s husband, the president of the United States, said today at a rally later in Ohio that he married this woman to “improve the gene pool.” He got a lot of laughs when he said it.

This speech tells me the president spoke the absolute truth.

national news, political news

Where have the issues gone?

hillary-clinton-and-donald-trump

Is it just me or has anyone else out there noticed something about the presidential campaign’s home stretch?

It’s the absence of issues debate.

Republican nominee Donald J. Trump opened his campaign more than a year ago declaring his intention to “build a beautiful wall” across our southern border; he said he would make Mexico “pay for it,” to which Mexico said, in effect, “over our dead body.”

Then came the ban on Muslims entering the United States; Trump then pledged to “knock the hell” out of the Islamic State. Then came the pledge to invalidate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

We aren’t hearing anything about those or other issues from Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Clinton opened her campaign vowing to work on behalf of women and children. She vowed to continue building international alliances. Clinton pledged to put her husband, Bill Clinton, in charge of crafting economic policy and to improve economic growth to “benefit all Americans.”

We’re talking now about temperament and fitness, about sexual behavior or misbehavior, a candidate’s “stamina.”

It’s personal, boys and girls — and it’s damn ugly.

It is so ugly I want it to end right now.

national news, political news

Michelle Obama emerges as potent political weapon

michelle-obama

The political world is buzzing this evening over a speech delivered earlier in the day by a woman who hasn’t been elected to a public office, nor is she seeking one.

The speech came from first lady Michelle Obama, who took up the cudgel for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton.

She stood before a crowd in Manchester, N. H., and blistered Republican nominee Donald J. Trump over his behavior toward women.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/300918-michelle-obama-becomes-clintons-most-powerful-weapon

“This is not normal. This is not politics as usual,” Obama said at one point. “This is disgraceful. It is intolerable.”

There was a whole lot more.

She peeled the bark off of Trump without naming him specifically. Everyone knew of whom she spoke.

I am reminded of something I said to members of my family … and perhaps to a few friends back in 2009 when Barack Obama took office as the 44th president of the United States.

My thought then was that the first lady would emerge as the president’s secret weapon. She would become his most potent political ally. Indeed, her public approval ratings have loomed far greater than the president’s have during his entire eight years in the White House.

Well, now she has emerged as Hillary Clinton’s most effective surrogate.

The first lady was taking aim at that infamous video recording of Trump talking with Billy Bush about what he does, or would like to do, to women.

“This was not just a lewd conversation, that wasn’t just locker room banter,” the first lady said. “This was a powerful individual speaking freely and openly about sexually predatory behavior and actually bragging about kissing and groping women — using language so obscene that many of us were worried about children hearing it when we turn on the TV.”

Michelle Obama has taken this stuff personally. As she should.

As for Trump and how he might respond to this blistering barrage, he needs to take great care.

“I can’t think of a bolder way for Donald Trump to lose even more standing than he already has,” said deputy White House press flack Eric Schultz,  “than by engaging the first lady of the United States.”

national news, political news

Time to give Trump a bit of a break

I’m not usually prone to cut any slack for the incompetent, unqualified and unfit Republican nominee for president of the United States, Donald J. Trump.

I’ll do so here, although I’m not going to give him a complete pass.

donaldtrumpgetty

He was blabbing at a rally this week and urged his supporters to be sure to vote “on Nov. 28.”

The media are having a blast. They’re laughing out loud that Trump would make such a mistake. The election occurs on the Eighth of November.

Is this a big deal? Is it h-u-u-u-g-e?

It’s no bigger of a mistake, I suppose, than Sen. Barack Obama declaring during his first run for the presidency in 2008 that the U. S. of A. comprised 57 states.

D’oh! Sen. Obama knew better than that. He must have been tired.

I’m guessing Trump has grown a bit weary, too, having to fend off all the criticism of his behavior, his insults, his statements about women … all those kinds of things.

So, he goofs on date of the election. B … F … D, man.

I’m quite certain there’ll be plenty more grist to toss at Trump over the next four weeks.

national news, political news

This image burns deeply

trump-mocks-reporter

Of all the images we’ve seen during this wild, wacky and weird presidential election, perhaps none resonates with more people than the one of Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump mocking a reporter.

You see the picture here. Trump is gesturing in a way that mimics Serge Kovaleski’s disability. Kovaleski is a reporter with the New York Times; he suffers from arthrogryposis, which inhibits movement of his joints.

Trump and Kovaleski got into a beef over an article the reporter wrote in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Trump used the article to contend falsely that “thousands of Muslims” cheered the collapse of the World Trade Center.

But here’s the thing: While criticizing Kovaleski’s response to Trump’s false assertion of what he reported initially, the candidate decided to flail his arms around to mimic the reporter’s disability.

It was an unconscionable and profoundly stupid demonstration of insensitivity.

Concern over this act by the candidate was tossed aside by his supporters during the GOP primary campaign as being overblown and overhyped.

Well, here’s a video showing Trump doing what his primary supporters said was, well, no big deal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxd76wco5lQ

You can be the judge of what you see here.

I’ve made mine already. What I see is someone who purports to want to become the leader of the greatest nation on Earth.

To my eyes and ears, this individual — Trump — isn’t qualified to clean the White House toilets.

national news, political news

When will speaker really walk away from Trump?

694940094001_5164431143001_examining-speaker-ryan-s-history-of-support-for-donald-trump

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan’s endorsement of fellow Republican Donald J. Trump had the look of a shotgun marriage when he announced it some weeks ago.

Then the bad news began pouring forth.

The continued ignorance on all policy matters; the terrible debate performance with Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton, followed by a second less-than-stellar performance; the report of a huge business loss and the notion that it allowed Trump to avoid paying federal taxes for 18 years … and then the release of those video recordings of Trump suggesting he had had committed sexual assault on women.

Republican members of Congress began unendorsing Trump almost overnight.

Ryan disinvited Trump to a campaign invite in Wisconsin. Then he said he cannot “defend” the nominee and said he won’t campaign for or with him. He said he would concentrate fully on protecting the GOP majority in the House of Representatives.

But the speaker hasn’t yet pulled his endorsement of Trump.

Let’s remember that Ryan’s initial statements about Trump had to do with whether the nominee adhered to “true conservative principles,” to which Ryan said he is most faithful. The speaker called Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the country a “classic” form of bigotry.

He waffled and wavered over an endorsement. Then he delivered it.

Now, though, his colleagues in the GOP House caucus are running like frightened rabbits from Trump.

The speaker doesn’t strike me as someone who frightens easily, but seriously … it’s fair and logical to wonder when he’s going to end a political relationship he never seemed comfortable consummating in the first place.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/s-e-cupp-paul-ryan-smart-article-1.2827124

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It’s come to this: sexual conduct will decide this election?

trump-rampage-continues-republic

It’s down to the wire between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

With all the issues that separate the parties’ presidential nominees — trade, climate change, jobs, war and peace, terrorism — we’re left now to decide this election on … sexual misconduct.

The allegations are pouring in now.

The New York Times has published more stories about women alleging that Trump groped them. Trump is vowing to sue the newspaper. The Washington Post released that hideous video recording of Trump talking to “Access Hollywood” about his attempts to seduce a married woman and what he can get away with because of his “star” status.

Trump is now threatening to stay away next week from the final debate with Clinton because, he says, the debate format is “rigged.”

The GOP nominee’s poll numbers are plummeting. Meanwhile, Clinton’s team is airing feel-good TV ads extolling her work with children and women’s issues.

Trump’s own words — heard on the video recording — have caused many of his congressional supporters to revoke their endorsements, resulting in a virtual declaration of war against the Republican Party by its own presidential nominee!

Who in this world ever would have thought that could happen? Even in this utterly nonsensical election year?

I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to watching this circus act come to an end on the Eighth of November.

national news, political news

ISIS set to take over U.S.?

aais07c

Donald J. Trump is sounding like a desperate man.

The Republican presidential nominee, apparently recognizing the lengthening odds of him winning the election next month, now says that the Islamic State could “take over” the United States if Hillary Rodham Clinton is elected president.

Seriously? Well, that’s what he said.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-islamic-state-may-take-over-us-if-clinton-wins/ar-AAiS2AB?li=BBnb7Kz

According to USA Today: “They are hoping and praying that Hillary Clinton becomes president of the United States, because they’ll take over not only that part of the world, they’ll take over this country,” Trump told backers in Ocala, Fla.

So. There you have it.

The candidate on whose watch as secretary of state U.S. commandos killed Osama bin Laden is going to run up the white flag as ISIS steamrolls into this country. That’s the Trump view.

Allow me to make this brief observation.

Donald Trump may think he knows “more about the terrorists than the generals,” but Hillary Clinton actually does know more about every aspect of government — and that includes national security — than her political opponent for the presidency.

Trump’s rants are sounding more desperate by the day — if not the hour — as he looks for ways to torpedo his foe.

As for Trump’s assertion that the country has “never been so low,” then perhaps he can explain why we remain the preferred destination for immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

national news, political news

Trump is committing political suicide

694940094001_5164431143001_examining-speaker-ryan-s-history-of-support-for-donald-trump

I have reached the incontrovertible conclusion that Donald J. Trump has just taken flight on a political kamikaze mission.

The Republican presidential nominee has determined two things:

* He cannot defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton in the race for president.

* He is going to take as many of the Republican establishment hierarchy with him as he goes down in flames.

That can be the only conclusion to draw from his declaration of war against House Speaker Paul Ryan, arguably the nation’s most powerful Republican, the second in line in presidential succession, the guy who runs the legislative chamber where all fiscal matters are given birth.

I don’t have personal knowledge, of course, that Trump has surrendered the contest to Clinton. I merely am able to see and hear with my own eyes and ears what is happening.

He has been heard saying some hideous things about women. His poll numbers are plummeting. He didn’t deliver the goods in that second debate with Clinton. The polls are accelerating in Clinton’s favor.

Trump cannot win.

Moreover, I read today an item that suggests that independent candidate Evan McMullen, the Republican/Mormon challenger to both Clinton and Trump, has pulled even with them both, putting reliably Republican Utah of all places — where McMullen lives — into play.

They’re calling it a “scorched Earth” retreat. Trump says he is “unshackled” now by Ryan’s declaration that he won’t defend Trump or campaign on his behalf. Trump’s going to take the gloves off — not just with Clinton but with Republicans.

His tweet machine is being revved up for the final month of this miserable campaign. Trump is indicating a desire to let ‘er rip with snark-filled comments about Ryan, Clinton, Sen. John McCain — and anyone else who speaks critically of the nominee’s lack of credentials, qualifications, temperament or moral fitness to hold the job he is seeking.

It’s just amazing in the extreme that Trump would seek to take on the speaker of the House in this manner. All it tells me at this point is that he knows he hasn’t a chance of winning. So, he’s locked and loaded and is going out with guns blazing.

 

national news, political news

Two essays illustrate GOP civil war

aptopix-gop-2016-deba_horo

A once-great political party is at war with itself.

It is engaging in rhetorical combat over the fate of its presidential  nominee, Donald J. Trump.

I found two essays that illustrate the point. They come from longtime Republican-friendly columnists.

One of them is Michael Gerson, a former George W. Bush speechwriter who now writes essays for the Washington Post.

Gerson calls Trump a contemptible politician who is leading a party toward destruction.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/10/10/a_politician_–_and_a_party_–_deserving_of_contempt_132023.html

The other of them is Byron York, who writes for the Washington Examiner, one of two conservative alternative newspapers serving the nation’s capital.

York takes a far different view of Trump and his possible future as a political candidate.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2604117

The party is tearing itself into tiny pieces over Trump’s candidacy. It’s been a long time coming, starting about the time Trump began winning primary contests at the start of the year.

The Republican establishment — to which Gerson once belonged — began wringing its hands over the prospect of a Trump nomination. Trump began targeting another Bush, the former president’s brother, Jeb, who once ran for president in the GOP primary.

York sees it differently. He said Trump “weathered the sex portion” of the second debate with Hillary Clinton and may have righted his listing campaign ship.

I happen to agree with Gerson. Trump’s contemptible campaign reflects directly on a contemptible candidate.

I’m seeing the polling data that’s come out since the release of that nasty video recording of Trump talking about how he treats women and since the second debate with the Democratic nominee. It looks bad for Trump.

What’s more, with the speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, saying he no longer can “defend” Trump or campaign with him — and dozens of other GOP lawmakers deserting him — the party finally has turned its back on its presidential nominee. It has surrendered the election to the Democrats, to Hillary Clinton and, yes, to President Barack Obama.

The polls? Trump bellowed loudly about them when they were trending toward him. He’s now dissing them. He’s dredging up the nutty idea that he’s going to lose a “rigged” election.

The civil war within this once-great political party rages on.