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bostonangler

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Everything posted by bostonangler

  1. That is a very interesting perspective you have. I like it. Of course this is Iraq and if you have been here very long you know they say things about increasing the value of their currency al the time and nothing ever happens.... Dang there I go being jaded again... LOL B/A
  2. Fake news... Deflection.... Distraction... I'm sure it's not his fault he chooses Chinese workers over Americans, it was simply a business decision. And a good one at that, just ask him. B/A
  3. With health-care legislation dead, House Republicans kick off effort on tax reform 7:37 a.m. ET Win McNamee/Getty Images On Monday, the Republican hopes to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act this year essentially died, but by Tuesday morning the GOP was already moving on to the next big battle, a tax overhaul. On Tuesday morning, the House Budget Committee released its 2018 budget blueprint, which calls for significant increases in defense spending matched by $203 billion in cuts to domestic social programs like Medicare, Social Security, federal employee benefits, and welfare over the next decade. Crucially, it also sets up a procedural mechanism that could allow Senate Republicans to overhaul the tax code with no support from Democrats. "In past years, our proposals had little chance of becoming a reality because we faced a Democratic White House," House Budget Committee Chairwoman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) said Tuesday, calling the blueprint "not just a vision for our country, but a plan for action" and "a governing document with real solutions to address our biggest challenges." The first challenge will be getting the budget plan approved in the House, starting with a committee markup on Wednesday and an expected committee vote on Thursday. The GOP's far-right Freedom Caucus and more centrist Tuesday Group are already attacking the budget as too little in cuts and too harsh, respectively. The increases in defense spending would also require approval from Senate Democrats, as they would exceed the caps in the 2011 Budget Control Act. Peter Weber Okay boys, let's see what you got after healthcare... B/A
  4. I think we can all agree, the Left and Right are guilty. I'm just not sure why you folks insist on giving The Donald a pass.... He has a horrific track record and it's only been six months. Remember the old kid's rhyme, Liar, Liar Pants on Fire? People voted for what they believed would be different. Ahhh, not so much. B/A
  5. I posted a direct link to the law... Just because you don't like it, doesn't make it not so... And I know you are kind of new at this Christian stuff, so I'll give you a pass on your use of derogatory name calling above. Being born again is great. Washing away the old sins is awesome. Using religion as a convenience kind of defeats the purpose. B/A
  6. The Secret Service pushed back on a suggestion Sunday from President Trump’s outside attorney that the now-infamous 2016 meeting the president's eldest son took with Russian representatives would not have happened if the Secret Service considered it a problem. Jay Sekulow had questioned why the Secret Service allowed Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and others into Trump Tower for the meeting with Donald Trump Jr. in June 2016. “If this was nefarious, why’d the Secret Service allow these people in?” Sekulow said on ABC’s “This Week.” “The president had Secret Service protection at that point. That raised a question with me.” But according to the Secret Service, their protection did not extend to the president’s son at that point in the campaign. “Donald Trump Jr. was not a protectee of the USSS in June 2016,” a USSS official said. “Thus we would not have screened anyone he was meeting with at that time.” The Secret Service has authorization to protect family members of the president, vice president, president-elect and vice president-elect, along with other individuals in the presidential line of succession. They also are authorized to protect major presidential and vice presidential candidates and their spouses within 120 days of a general election. Donald Trump Jr. would not have fallen into those categories at that time. Sekulow, in multiple interviews on Sunday, tried to downplay the controversy over the 2016 meeting, apparently held after an intermediary said a Russian lawyer could have damaging information on Democratic candidate Hillarious Clinton. The meeting details have revived allegations of collusion with Russia which the Trump team denies. Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Wes Barrett contributed to this report. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/17/secret-service-contradicts-trump-lawyer-on-russia-meeting.html Lawyers... Don't just love their lack of conscience? B/A
  7. Hey we're not supposed to remember things like that here in The United States of Amnesia.... Like you know, Trump lying, ripping off people with his fake school, Clinton using her private server, Mitch McConnell's family importing Heroin, Bush going AWOL or being a Coke addict. How dare you remember such things!!! B/A
  8. This coming from a guy who uses terms like "Libtard", and "Snowflake". Double standards, the typical "Do as I say, not as I do" crap. B/A
  9. Dude I took the words directly from the law as it is written.... If you feel deceived, call your Congressman... I'm sorry if you don't like, but it is what it is. The real issue is the Trumps are lying non-stop... If they would just be truthful, and had nothing to hide, the media would move on. Sadly, Trump supporters believed their guy was different from the Clintons, but we now see he is just as bad. B/A
  10. Title 11 in the Code of Federal Regulations, section 110.20 (g). A contribution can be "anything of value," including negative information about a political opponent. Reading and comprehension is a wonderful thing.... B/A
  11. I did my part. I voted third party.. You voted corrupt party. I did my part. I voted third party.. You voted corrupt party. I did my part. I voted third party.. You voted corrupt party. I have spent most of my time explaining to people or as you so eloquently put it "sending them letters, going to town halls, organizing our neighbors, working phone banks, and DEMANDING change, in their face" to get out of the two party system and make a stand... But of course they continue down the same path and whine about it. What will we hear from Trump supporters next year or the year after? "I can't believed he lied" "I can't believe he was just another broken promise" "I can't believe that I believed him" You can continue to insult me with your little quips, you can continue to push your rightwing agenda, you can continue to believe republicans will deliver, or you can make a stand and send them a message you are not going to take it anymore... The right to choose is yours.... B/A
  12. It is coming right through town... Last time it hit my area was something like 1503... I did experience one when I was in 5th grade in Massachusetts... Something I never forgot and now I get to see one again.... B/A
  13. RV I have to agree... These people have all become fools... The most amazing thing is they are so stupid they don't realize their emails are never private and will always bring them down, and yet, they continue... You know I'm no Clinton fan and could have never supported her. And you know I'm not a Trump fan. I know people thought he would be a change and they hoped he would be different, but he is proving to be just another politician. He needs to let go of his ego, stop replying to stupid tweets like he did with Chelsea (honestly who cares what she thinks) and focus on his job. That is the problem, he can't let go and just do his job. Did, Bush, Obama, Clinton or "W" respond minute by minute to criticism by the public or media? Nope, they had a plan and they worked. Good or bad, they did their thing. As for the Trump Jr. story, it is more of the same. The Trumps are lying, they were asked many times about having contact and denied it. Now we know there was contact and they lied. Why? Just tell the truth and the story will blow over by the next news cycle, but Trump's ego won't allow him to be honest. And that's what will bring him down. He is feeding the frenzy by not manning up. This "family" is acting like "the families" in New York. In business you can be a bully, make threats, and play by your own rules. In government, the "mob" way will not work. Accountability is a new concept for the Trumps and they better learn how to deal with it quickly or they will be gone. B/A
  14. As always DV great information and perspective. Of course I voted, but not for either party. No I don't want to murder everyone in government, I simply wish voters would step back, take a break from the routine and vote outside the box. One election with no votes for democrats or republicans would do more to change the future than 100 wars ever could. Even with your vast understanding of the corruption, you still follow the herd and vote for the same party expecting a different result. Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity. Change will only come when voters actually change their vote. B/A
  15. Wow... It's bad when your own party is tired of your lies. B/A
  16. Top 10 Wins And Failures Of President Trump’s First 5 Months Many are still seeking to understand this unpredictable president—what he’s accomplished, how he’s failed, and the hard truths both sides refuse to admit. By Josh Shepherd <img src="http://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/JoshShepherd-headshot.jpg" alt="Josh Shepherd" height="110" width="110" /> By Josh Shepherd June 20, 2017 It seems no American is neutral on Donald Trump. The chasm dividing liberals and conservatives grows wider with every tweet and new investigation, only reinforced by partisan media. The public square has been reduced to a shouting match. From music artists to business leaders, many on the Left mandate strict resistance to the Trump presidency. Meanwhile, some on the Right use war imagery to encourage firm loyalty over any criticism of the administration. Yet many are still seeking to understand this unpredictable president—what he’s accomplished, how he’s failed, and the hard truths both sides refuse to admit. As facts become harder to determine and issues more complex, citizens’ interest in holding our leaders accountable will wane with summer pursuits. There is no better time to assess the most significant wins and failures—including a couple toss-ups—of the Trump presidency so far. 1. Win: Instituting Several Strong Pro-Life Policies President Trump has taken decisive action to protect vulnerable lives in the womb. On his first Monday in office, he signed the Mexico City policy, halting $600 million in taxpayer funds from groups overseas that provide and promote abortion. Weeks later, the State and Defense Departments defined the policy to exclude U.S. taxpayers from funding family planning programs that export abortion practices globally. Melanie Israel of The Heritage Foundation explains: “Importantly, the policy does not reduce funding for global health assistance. Rather, it ensures that [over $8 billion in U.S. tax dollars] are not entangled with the abortion industry.” Of the 37 bills signed into law this year, Congress passed one major pro-life bill: the Title X Congressional Review Act. It enables states to halt funding for health care providers that also provide abortion services (i.e., Planned Parenthood) and redirect it to comprehensive women’s health clinics. Underlining how divided our nation is on abortion, the Senate’s tie on the bill was broken only when Vice President Mike Pence cast a rare deciding vote. 2. Failure: Overly Broad Executive Order on Immigration Knowing that making good on their immigration platform plank would be controversial, the Trump administration followed a path taken often during the Obama presidency: releasing news late on a Friday to avoid public scrutiny. It backfired. With key officials apparently left out of the loop on the January 27 executive order, chaos resulted at airports in America and abroad. According to State Department figures, approximately 90,000 people were affected by this poorly conceived and executed policy change, including refugee children detained, scholars denied entry, and Iraqi pilots stranded while training with U.S. military units. Human rights advocates note the U.S. refugee program has provided entry to essentially zero terrorists. Federal courts have also blocked a revised travel ban issued on March 6, though even critics acknowledge the new order adheres to the Constitution. Perhaps as a concession to immigration rights activists, last week the Department of Homeland Security announced that so-called “dreamers” would not be deported. 3. Toss-Up: Can the Capable National Security Team Execute? For all the focus on domestic issues, the U.S. Constitution gives greatest leeway to the president on foreign policy. Even fierce critics of President Trump, such as military historian Max Boot, acknowledge he has assembled an A-list foreign policy team. As he’s listened to advisors, Trump’s positions have changed: supporting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), rejecting waterboarding as a just strategy, and finding common ground with Mexico, just to name a few. After he traveled to the front lines of the ongoing battle against ISIS, Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis altered strategy to finally conquer a terrorist stronghold. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke out strongly against illegal Russian aggression. President Trump has successfully lobbied Italy and other European nations to contribute their fair share towards funding NATO. Yet leaning on expert advice is rarely President Trump’s first move. He appointed controversial advisor Steve Bannon to the National Security Council, until outcry caused him to reverse course. And his petty response to London’s mayor facing crisis is the latest of many self-inflicted international incidents. Will President Trump task a wise staff member with vetting his Twitter posts? 4. Win: Taking a Strong Stand Against Anti-Semitism Confirmed by a Senate vote of 96-4 on January 24, United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has made standing against anti-Semitism a core issue as America’s voice at the UN. “Israel exists in a region where others call for its complete destruction and in a world where anti-Semitism is on the rise; these are threats that we should discuss at the United Nations,” she stated boldly before the UN Security Council on February 16. She’s been getting results. After Haley challenged a report one UN commission issued as “anti-Israel,” the responsible UN official was forced to resign. In tandem with senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE), Haley coordinated a letter delivered to UN Secretary General António Guterres expressing views co-signed by all 100 U.S. senators. “Although, as Republicans and Democrats, we disagree on many issues, we are united in our desire to see the United Nations improve its treatment of Israel and to eliminate anti-Semitism in all its forms,” the letter stated. President Trump echoed this message during his April 25 speech at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, saying, “Those who deny the Holocaust are an accomplice to this horrible evil. And we’ll never be silent—we just won’t—we will never, ever be silent in the face of evil again.” 5. Failure: Lack of Transparency Fuels Distrust In a stark reversal from the Obama administration, the Trump White House announced on April 14 that it will not release records of all visitors. In fact, such logs will be kept confidential until five years after President Trump leaves office. While Politico has released a crowdsourced database of known White House visitors, journalists can only know so much without transparency. Furthermore, President Trump’s failure to open his tax returns to public scrutiny—breaking with over 40 years of presidents providing these documents—only fuels speculation that his administration has something to hide. 6. Win: Reversing Abusive Executive Actions Many criticisms lobbed at President Donald Trump would apply to any Republican administration because they come down to differing assumptions about government and the economy, on which our nation is divided 50/50. A significant number of President Trump’s executive orders thus far simply reverse unilateral actions from President Obama. Politico enumerates dozens of regulations the Trump administration has reversed, while Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) offers particular praise for the policy changes on energy and the environment. Among the president’s first executive orders was a novel approach: for every new regulation issued, two prior regulations must be eliminated. Professor Rena Steinzor, an expert on federal deregulation, states in Politico: “I’ve been watching through six presidents, and all that pales in comparison to this.” That sounds like the platform Trump voters elected. But as the Obama administration has found, policy changes may be short-lived unless enacted through Congress. 7. Failure: Running the West Wing like a Family Business As one who rewards loyalists and keeps family close, it is natural for President Trump to want his daughter and son-in-law working in the White House. The only problem? Many experts consider it unethical if not illegal, although longtime Trump lawyer (now White House counsel) Don McGahn has found a loophole. Young Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, as new as the president to crafting policy, now head up a wide range of policy issues including the Middle East peace process, criminal justice reform, relations with China, and reversing the opioid crisis—without being elected by the public, or confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Last week, reports emerged that Kushner’s business dealings would be part of the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Chinese officials, preferring a family dynasty over State Department contacts, have exploited the relationship despite the questions it has raised. Meanwhile, some in the U.S. military are not keen on the young businessman calling the shots. 8. Toss-Up: It Was the Best of Staff, It Was the Worst of Staff One must forego one-line partisan summaries (either “basket of deplorables” or “conservative all-stars”) to consider Trump administration appointments. Some early choices were unfit for their roles. Gen. Michael Flynn, whom many pegged in November as a lobbyist for Turkey, was soon under FBI investigation for allegedly inappropriate contacts with Russian officials, even before he resigned on February 13. When Republican senators refused to back Andrew Puzder as Labor secretary over moral and ethical concerns, the Trump administration offered a more palatable pick in Alexander Acosta. Controversy continues to surround some figures serving in the administration, notably Bannon and the aforementioned Trump family members. Underlining how new this team is to government policies, two members of the Trump White House have been publicly reprimanded by the Office of Special Counsel for careless statements. Many positions have also been filled with respected conservative leaders. In addition to his confirmed cabinet, President Trump brought on House Freedom Caucus co-founder Mick Mulvaney to head his budget team, which now includes Paul Winfree (of The Heritage Foundation) and Russ Vought (of Heritage Action for America). Conservative stalwart Paul Teller also made the leap from Capitol Hill to the White House, serving in legislative affairs. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price named several pro-life leaders to his team including Charmaine Yoest (formerly of Americans United for Life), Valerie Huber (co-founder of Ascend), and Teresa Manning (formerly of National Right to Life Committee). The longtime disability advocate and a strong voice against euthanasia Melissa Ortiz was also recently appointed to the Administration for Community Living within HHS. In short, the Trump administration has assembled many of the sharpest minds in conservative policy circles, along with a few initial picks that leave lingering questions. 9. Win: Justice Neil Gorsuch Confirmed to the Supreme Court On April 7, by a 54-45 vote, the Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch of Colorado as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. This vote brought to a close a process that began 14 months before, when Justice Antonin Scalia passed away unexpectedly on February 13, 2016. Not since 1970 had a Supreme Court seat remained open for over a year. The victory was a testament to a persistent “let the voters decide” strategy of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), advocacy groups like Judicial Crisis Network, and the pro-life movement that has elevated the court to a paramount election issue. Already Gorsuch’s voice on the bench has echoes of Scalia. Significantly, Senate Democrats’ opposition to Gorsuch led Republicans to pass a bill ending the filibuster for judicial nominees, making it simpler for the majority to confirm future justices. As rumors continue to swirl of future Supreme Court vacancies, the judiciary may yet prove to be President Trump’s most lasting legacy. 10. Failure: Often Choosing to Be a Showman Rather than Statesman “The most effective opponent of the Trump Presidency is Donald J. Trump himself,” stated the Wall Street Journal in a recent op-ed. The president’s own tweets have created the biggest headlines of his administration—accusing President Obama of wiretapping, arguing over inauguration crowd size, responding to the former FBI director like a mafia boss, and other posts that stretch the bounds of believability. While still learning public policy, President Trump understands mass media. He’s lived in Trump Tower for decades, two blocks from Times Square—the center of 24/7 entertainment in New York City. As media personalities often get higher ratings from taking cheap shots, surely he sees how politicians gain short-term benefits (read: winning the next election) from blatant partisanship. President Trump has worked political incorrectness into his brand, and he was loved for it on the campaign trail. Yet governing a divided nation is a new ballgame with different rules. Perhaps there was a reason most of his predecessors took cues from the first president. As a boy, George Washington memorized 110 maxims that later became a book entitled “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior.” “Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none although they give occasion,” states rule 65—a good guide for Twitter posts. It’s a far cry from “Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life,” written by our current president. It’s accurate to say the Left has been unreasonable about Trump; it’s also true citizens should be aware that real conflicts of interest exist in this administration. Rather than staying insulated from tough criticism, President Trump should reach beyond his small circle of advisors to consider the road ahead. Good governance requires leaders of integrity working together with mutual respect to solve real problems. Five months into the Trump administration, an investigation seeking to find those qualities in either party would shut down for lack of evidence. Josh M. Shepherd has served on staff at The Heritage Foundation, Focus on the Family, Bound4LIFE International, and two congressional offices. His articles have appeared in media outlets including The Daily Signal, Boundless, Charisma Magazine, and Christian Headlines, where he serves as a contributor. Josh and his wife live in the Washington DC area. Follow Josh on Twitter Photo White House / Public Domain You win some, you lose some... That's politics... B/A
  17. DV I read your posts with great interest. You are well versed and it was you that opened the illegal government we live by, to me. It surprises me that you of all people do not see that Trump is a con man, liar and a leader without a plan or direction. If he was leading he wouldn't be worried by what is behind him. His daily rants about negative news stories only shows that his ego is in the way of getting anything done. His thin skin is going to cost him the support of his base. He is a One Term Wonder if he lasts that long. I didn't intend to mean Bush was the beginning, only a giant fraud that most do not realize. People worship that family which blows me away. I am for the people, not the government. I do think of the good for the many over the good for the few. As for selling out America you go back to 1933, I would go back to 1913. The year of the16th Amendment and the formation of The Fed. That was the end of the American Dream. Created by The Democrats and expanded by The Republicans. Two sides working against the middle... That would be us, the citizens. And yet here we are pawns in their game of division... That's why I refuse to vote for either party, and would suggest the citizens do the same... The two parties are one giant cluster... Time for them all to be booted. B/A
  18. I actually said our government as a whole is run by the greedy... War mongers and profiteers. Our country's leaders have a proven track record throughout our country's short history of making money from the suffering of others. Oh we do good things to clear the conscience, but in the end many of our people and innocent people around the world have died so a few could cash in. Here's a quick joke for you; What's the difference between a Catholic and a Baptist? The Catholic will say hi to you at the liquor store. My point? Being evil all week cannot be washed away by going to church on Sunday morning. The power brokers in America have a history that is not going to be washed away by a couple of good deeds... The rest of the world has a memory and do not forget history, like many Americans do... B/A
  19. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/11/110.20 Quite interesting and yes the left and right are guilty as defined by law... Let's lock them all up. B/A
  20. Do a little research and realize who created ISIS, The Mujahedeen, and Al-Qaida. See who is again selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and other supporters of terror. Sadly this isn't a left of right thing, it's an American thing... We sell weapons to anyone and then they use them against us.... Go figure. Heck the Bush family even sold weapons to the Nazis.... B/A
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