February 2018

In Congress

In the wake of the shooting in Parkland, some folks in Congress are hoping for quick action on gun violence. Don’t count on it. The NRA is entrenched and the dysfunction in Washington will likely prevent anything from happening anytime soon. More reasons we need new people in Congress.

In the White House

The Mueller investigation keeps rolling out indictments. Last week, it was against Russian companies and people in the US. This past week, it was more indictments against Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates. Every time new indictments come down, Trump’s Twitter feed goes nuts. I wonder why? Continue reading »

On the shooting in Parkland, Florida

The school shooting in Florida this week should remind us that we are failing our children. Politicians who say there’s nothing we can do should get out of the way of those of us want to try. The student who are speaking out are far more eloquent the adults who have let them down. There’s one thing we should all be able to agree on: We need research into how to prevent more carnage. Unfortunately, the NRA has blocked any government funding for research into gun violence. That must change. That’s just a first step, but it’s one that should be enacted immediately.

In Congress

Congress again showed its dysfunction. This time, they couldn’t come together to pass a fix for the DREAMERs despite overwhelming support from the American public. This failure is another sign that we need a new Congress to get anything done.

In the White House

Donald Trump released his budget busting budget to huge criticism. The proposed budget would add billions to the deficit and more than a trillion dollars to the national debt. It would also cut Medicare by more than $500 million. It’s largely considered dead-on-arrival, illustrating more dysfunction at the highest reaches of government. Continue reading »

In Congress

Well, Congress passed a spending deal that will fund government for the next six weeks and sets spending priorities for the next two years. The deal also increases the deficit substantially. So much for anybody being the party of fiscal responsibility.

In the White House

The #MeToo movement reached into the upper echelon of the White House staff this week when White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter resigned because of charges of domestic violence from two of his ex-wives. Donald Trump wished Porter well and reminded reporters that Porter denied the allegations. The whole affair had shades of Trump’s defense of Roy Moore in Alabama. When it comes to abusers and abuse victims, we can count on the president to side with the abusers. Continue reading »