Blog: If I understand this

From Robert Reich:  Its (ICE) recruitment is targeting gun and military enthusiasts, people who listen to right-wing radio, who have gone to Ultimate Fighting Championship fights or shopped for guns and tactical gear, live near military bases, and attend NASCAR races. It’s calling for recruits willing to perform their “sacred duty” and “defend the homeland” by repelling “foreign invaders.” – I assume this gleaned from the recruitment ads and where they are placed.

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Republicans, more and more, are against the first amendment rights:  like this:  Republican Rep. Roger Williams of Texas, for example, appeared on NewsNation just two days after Good’s death and told viewers, “People need to quit demonstrating, quit yelling at law enforcement, challenging law enforcement, and begin to get civil.  But not civil disobedient.

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There were multiple headlines out of President Donald Trump’s marathon — more than two hours — interview to The New York Times last week.  Most notably, despite laws to the contrary, he said his own morality is the only thing to curb his use of the US military abroad.

Gee, Don-Don, what does the Constitution say?  Wait, he has no “morality,” so did he mean “mortality?”  We know his English “ain’t so good.”

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What do you mean, you get rainy days off?

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Remember Trump’s quote on having a health care plan to replace Obamacare, first suggested in 2016?  “We have the concepts of a plan.”  After ten years.

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The global population was around 2 billion people in 1926, compared to more than 8 billion now. – Somehow this really bothers me.  How many can the earth support, considering our energy and land use?

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Also a hundred years ago:  In the United States, where Calvin Coolidge was serving as the 30th U.S. president, workers earned an average of 93.7 cents an hour. Those who saved up could buy a new car for under $1,000, while many could easily part with the 20 cents for a ticket to watch one of the new sound films of the day, featuring stars such as John Barrymore.

For some reason, I can remember that when I graduated from college, in 1968, the Dow was under 1,000 and you could buy an ounce of gold for about $20.

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Just saw this 1/13:  Two sources, including one inside Iran, told CBS News on Tuesday that at least 12,000 people have been killed.  Other say it is about 2,400 – there is no reliable number, but that is scary.  Can’t remember last time that many protesters were killed.  Trump to the rescue?  What could go wrong?  Wait, they have a lot of oil, like Venezuela . . . and Trump, in his first term, asked his military if they could just shoot protestors.

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Repeat Oldie but Goodie Bumper Sticker:

My wife says I only have two faults:  I don’t listen and something else.

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Didja Know Dept.:  The capital city of Greenland is NUUK. Dunno if that rhymes with “Nyuk,” like the three stooges, or with “Nuke,” as in what Trump would like to drop.

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Robert Reich, an economist, says this: “Trump has deregulated big banks and allowed them to charge up to 30 percent interest on credit cards. (The banks love it because credit cards provide them with four times the return of any other line of business.)”

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Post I saw today: “Denmark renames Greenland ‘Epstein Island,’ so Trump will not talk about it again!”

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Trump’s current “respect” for female journalists:  In November, the president called New York Times reporter Katie Rogers “ugly,” and he called Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey “piggy” that same month. Last month, he attacked CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins in a rant on his Truth Social platform, calling her “stupid and nasty.” He also called ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott “the most obnoxious reporter.”

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President Donald Trump’s administration is cancelling as much as $2 billion worth of grants to nonprofits combating mental illness and drug addiction, according to news reports.

The grants came from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.-led Department of Health and Human Services.

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To further my beef with college sports, particularly football and basketball, the quarterback from Ole Miss wants to play another year at the college, which the NCAA says he is not eligible for . . .  out of loyalty to his school?  Or this:  Chambliss, the QB, has already signed to play for the Rebels in 2026. His deal, including incentives, might be worth as much as $6 million, according to sources.

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As you know, the Department of Justice is supposed to operate independently from the White House, etc.  It no longer does. Trump has transformed into an aggressive, legal, retribution machine to do his bidding.  In his first term he had Bill Barr as AJ, who, among other things, told him that his claim of being cheated in the 2020 election was “bullshit.”

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And more from Trump’s choice to lead the nation’s health care: Kennedy Jr. went on to encourage new parents to “do their own research,” then quickly added, “This idea that you should trust the experts — a good mother doesn’t do that.” – Yes, damn those experts!  Better to trust the Google!  Or, as George W. Bush said, “the Internets.”

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Trump keeps doing things to weaken or threaten NATO.  Claiming Greenland and threatening tariffs on anyone who disagrees with that.  Remember the Putin hates NATO, its most effective adversary since WWII.  Also recall that this goes back before Trump – George W. Bush said he “looked into Putin’s eyes, could see his soul, and he was a good man.”  Yes, a president of the United States said that.   About Russia’s Putin.

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I accidentally saw a closeup of an ICE badge.  No name, no badge number!  It says “ICE” on the top and “OFFICER” on the bottom, with the Homeland Security logo in the middle.  No ID.  Add the scarf and glasses and you have Trump’s secret police uniform!  How nice!

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Well, God help us, Saul.

All take care,

Kevin