Putin’s Bet on a Trump Presidency Backfires Spectacularly by David Sanger -- MY COMMENT TO THE NYT

Please see the link below to view Mr. Sanger's opinion entitled "Putin's Bet on a Trump Presidency Backfires Spectacularly" in the NYT. It is an excellent opinion.

MY COMMENT: Let me clarify my political stance. Trump is an anathema to me as I believe domestically and in foreign policy he has sown not unification but extremist right wing division. Worse he is woefully ignorant of the historicity of his foreign policy by tweet.

He initially made some progressives at first think that perhaps his dabble as a Democrat years ago would ensure his policies might not be that bad. I was consummately wrong. Truly, his "policies" are much worse than I ever thought they would be.

Having said that the one thing I had hoped for was his softening of this nation's long held anti-Communist irrational fear of Russia during the cold war era. I thought reaching out to Russia, perhaps, would be a good thing until Russia's hacking of the US 2016 election allegedly with Trump's support if not help obviated even my remote hope that Trump would change US/Russian policy for the better.

As is true of Trump's entire campaign to secure the presidency Trump said what he did not to help mute the danger of US/Russian hostility but to help the number one person Trump cares about helping and that is Trump.

In the ensuing days we shall, I hope, see as Mueller unfolds the essence of the horrific Trump/Putin love affair. We will know the price we all have paid electing a true Manchurian candidate. Trump and we the American electorate have been Putinesque had and Putin, too, may rue the day he shook hands with the US liar in chief!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/30/us/politics/putins-bet-on-a-trump-presidency-backfires-spectacularly.html?action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&module=Trending&version=Full&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

Sinclair Broadcasting Requires TV Stations to Air Segments That Tilt to the Right--Your Mind and Your Money

As if anyone had any doubts the Donald Trump presidency with all its explosive entanglements is really a manifestation of what the late great comedian George Carlin had to say in his famous soliloquy in, "The American Dream" so applicable today. I will post the link below but warn you there is language in it that may be objectionable to some. Ordinarily that would prohibit me from posting it but he says so much so well in so little time and better than I ever could.

The wealth gap Bernie Sanders had talked about during the 2016 campaign is reality. The conservative extremist right wing is attempting to take it all. They want your health care, they want the destruction of Medicaid help for the poor, ultimately they will go after Medicare and their golden goose, Social Security. If one is old, disabled most especially poor and sick, in truth, they want you to die. Most do not care about most of you.

Republican extremists now represent the majority of the Republican Party. The Republican so called "moderates" are an endangered species. Right wing extremist Republicans do not want to help those who cannot help themselves and it is why, in my opinion, the Republicans in the legislature could not come up with a Republican health care plan. They could not come up with one because they do not believe in one. They could not with over 37 attempts at repeal of Obamacare for over 7 years come up with what the Trump empty promises promised -- a plan to cover everyone with better and less expensive health care plans. In reality Trump did not know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid and we know he lies all the time to get a vote. Republicans in our era do not believe in government sponsored anything for anyone except the money the top 2% can make from government contracts to stuff their pockets.

Yes, their hearts are stone cold hardened because they want it all. Business Insider says "The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Cliché, sure, but it's also more true than at any time since the Gilded Age. The poor are getting poorer, wages are falling behind inflation, and social mobility is at an all-time low. If you're in that top 1%, life is grand" and now they want to flood especially local media with right wingnut extremist propaganda on television and radio news to even control what people think.

The best short segment of the reality of right wing Sinclair extremist media saturation was shown today on MSNBC's AM Joy explaining this monstrous media phenomenon. I post that segment below as well.

What can be done? It was said on AM Joy that (1) Do not turn the channel to Sinclair Broadcasting or to any of its affiliates for local news; (2) Ask corporations not to advertise on Sinclair networks and boycott products of those who do and (3) urge those employed by Sinclair Broadcasting to quit, seriously!

If one does not want to click on each link below, I suggest you watch AM Joy for a precise questioning of media experts as to how Sinclair extremist right wing Broadcasting propaganda is going for control of your mind as the Republican legislature goes for control of your money. RESIST!


AM Joy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21GXzE8iYQs

George Carlin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLW1vFO-2Q

NYT article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/business/media/sinclair-broadcast-komo-conservative-media.html?_r=0

OMG -- Thank you!

Thank you god, thank you. I keep saying that. I could not look at the computer so my partner did for me and told me the unbelievable news as I awakened to think the worst. Obamacare LIVES, we live. That evil man is going down. Ultimately the White House is in shambles....Mueller is going to get that piece of tripe..... I am so happy my hands are shaking. I just keep walking around thanking god and I am an agnostic.....OMG I cannot tell you how happy I am! I called ALL three senators yesterday pleading -- even talking about my preexisting polio condition making it personal. I emailed McCain at one point. People in DC must be going nuts they were there outside chanting and demonstrating.....forgive the stream of thought. I am just too happy and can't think yet of a well put together opinion. This nation is a republic and Mr. Franklin YES, it will stay (I HOPE) a republic.


We HOPE they do not bring another...but I'm rejoicing now. Our nation lives. Thank you President Obama for all you did for your 8 years. He worked SO hard on Obmacare to help millions and ultimately it will be improved like Social Security was in the FDR era. In Yiddish it's called a MENCH ... Obama is a GOOD human being and so are the three Republican senators Murkowski, Collins and McCain!!!!!! I called all three. Went to Maine on vacation last week and went up to people to contact Senator Collins. One said she already had done that. Thank you John McCain...he leaves the hero he is despite the evil Trump insulting him in the worst way possible but the insult did NOT stick and does not now.


Scaramucci, the "Communications" yet to be secretary was VILE...his language was insulting, rude, crude and filthy besmirching the office. A child could not be allowed to hear that excuse for a person utter his horrible profanities from the White House. What a that beast Trump has I hope has NOT done irreparable damage to this nation but we will fix it.

Thank you to my Murder's Row of commentators Rachel Maddow (who is getting the top ratings and will continue she is SO bright.) Thank you Chris Hayes another brilliant man. Thank you to Larry O'Donnell an astute political expert of mammoth proportions and thank you to the rest of the MSNBC saviors of sanity through stupendous intellect and rational thought. I am in love with those who broadcast on MSNBC -- yes even the conservatives like Nicole Wallace and Steve Schmidt.

Let's hope they do not bring another beast of a healthcare bill back. I THINK this is the end but who knows with those who care about Party first and country last.

Thank you in the most important way to the people who came out in droves, came out sick, came out in wheelchairs occupying Republican offices. They risked arrest and some in wheelchairs were arrested. Thank you big time to them and to all those who fought for what is good and right in this nation.

Yes, Mr. Franklin, we have a Republic still!!

Justice Dept. Weighs In AGAINST Protections for Gays in the Workplace/HYPOCRITE OF HYPOCRITES

HYPOCRITE of HYPOCRITE--Drumpf a serial philanderer and abuser of women has the nerve to deny law abiding human beings and taxpayers the rights that everyone else takes for granted!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/nyregion/justice-department-gays-workplace.html?emc=edit_na_20170727&nl=breaking-news&nlid=75028030&ref=headline

Taking back human rights

It is not enough for these inhuman Cretans under Trump to prohibit transgender people from serving in the military, thousands of whom are already serving and spilling blood for us. Under Jeff Sessions
they are trying to dismember legal antidiscrimination law protecting ALL gay people as the "Justice Department argues landmark civil rights law doesn’t protect gay people."

Thankfully, this will be decided by the courts unless, of course, the Beast puts in right wing extremists judges who may side with the now insanely intolerant Justice Department. Take this to the extreme and soon gay people could be arrested, jailed, rounded up or worse providing a glimpse into what Fascism looks like.

Pastor Niemoller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Moral of the story: Elections matter. RESIST!!!

http://adlaction.purpose.com/transgender-military-discrimi…/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/justice-gay-civil-rights-ac

We Can't

It seems to be Trump's plan to bad mouth the first senator, Jeff Sessions, who supported Trump and offered him his undying loyalty by now throwing Sessions under the bus. The word is Trump ultimately wants to perfect the plan to get those to occupy positions in the Justice Department who are Trump friendly and ultimately fire Mueller over what else -- the Trump/Russia collusion investigation. It may be difficult to find someone who wants that Justice Department position or any position of power in Trumpland as Trumpet could kick them to the curb in Hitlerian Night of the Long Knives (Google it) fashion when the mood strikes him to do so.

Some give Scaramucci, Trump's new "Communications" Director whose communiques sound like he came right out of the central casting of "Goodfellas." Wray with nearly unanimous support for FBI Director has as one of his illustrious clients defendant, Chris Christie. He helped him escape prison of the political Bridgegate while Christie's unter menchen lackeys got jail time. Sad.

All things, most especially Republican are supremely corrupt because this is the Party of money in a pay-to-play universe. Yes, I know Democrats play too but I aver not in such epic proportions. I do not know how moral philosophically adhering Republicans can feel good about themselves, sleep at night or look themselves in the mirror the next day when the Party to which they belong lies and most monumentally has as its commander-in-chief a man with no heart who lies all the time. This Party does not care about most of you!

Maybe I'm just a fool who thinks that in their hearts people are basically good at least they are in this nation. Right now it seems that a significant portion of this nation contains corrupt monsters and the naive many who place them in positions of death wielding power. Like 12 year old boy scouts to whom Trump spoke they do not know what developing an intellect and thoughtful reasoning is. In some sectors of this nation I suggest being stupid is something to which one should aspire. Remember Trump said he loves stupid people. Well, he got their vote.

Perhaps, the thought to Benjamin Franklin's famous response after the Constitution's creation "It's a Republic IF you can keep it" should be, unfortunately, we can't.

What changed?

Gay people were not automatically protected against discrimination for years. Then gay people were and are protected. What changed? Power changed but more importantly the flexibility and knowledge of human sexuality changed. Expert opinion change. The American Psychiatric Association changed. AIDS emerged and exposed many many of our beloved entertainers as gay. Most never knew that but some did and thought change in the law was impossible until it wasn't. We rejoiced but NOW we know the fight is NEVER over. Human rights like rights for persons of color are always threatened by many others who do not want it so...Answer: FIGHT FOR YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS. Society changes, knowledge increases. RESIST those who want to turn back the clock. It was NOT a happy place!!

BIGLY

A post from one of my fellow Facebook friends feel free to  pass it on:

"So you wanted to WIN WIN WIN eh, HERE YOU GO, here's YOU'RE Winning Bigly!

1) His proposed “great” healthcare plan (which did NOT exist when he promised it) to replace Obamacare would now leave 22 million without coverage, cost more, and cover less
2) Posturing with other psychotic world leaders and placing us on the brink of WWIII
3) Allowing oil and coal companies to dump their waste in public waterways
4) Removing protections for endangered species
5) Removing climate change protections
6) Banning innocent men, women, and children trying to escape death at the hands of terrorists
7) Violating the emoluments clause and other laws of the constitution EVERY DAY due to his conflicts of interest
8) Giving Internet Service Providers the right to sell ALL of our personal information to anyone (including the government) without our consent or
knowledge
9) Taking away at-risk, low-income access to cancer screenings
10) Separating parents from their children thru deportation
11) Taking school funding away from disabled children
12) Threatening to take away Meals on Wheels from disabled vets and low-income seniors
13) Lied about saving Carrier jobs that are STILL being sent out of the country
14) Increased the net worth of his entire family by using his position as POTUS to secure foreign trademarks
15) Increased the net worth of his entire family by using his position as POTUS to garner favors from other world leaders
16) Increased his net worth by using his properties to host foreign leaders visiting on official business
17) Increased his net worth by allowing foreign world leaders to stay at his properties in an obvious attempt to garner favor with the POTUS
18) Embarrassed the United States and insulted our allies
19) Removed all animal welfare data from the government site giving..animal abusers free reign
20) Removed all scientific data from the government site to keep citizens in the dark about how corporations are polluting our air and causing climate change
21) Promised to repeal and replace Obamacare with much better insurance-and actually had NOTHING ready to take it’s place, and when he finally did, it
would mean 23 million would be without insurance
22) Increased his net worth by approving the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines which will be built by companies in which he is a stockholder
23) Removed protections for the LGBTQ community
24) Lined the pockets of his 1% billionaire buddy donors by appointing corporate shills and bankers to head every "consumer watchdog" division
within the US government
25) Going ahead with his plans to build a wall along the Mexican border, but now WE have to pay for it instead of Mexico, which he promised
26) Removed protections on educational loans allowing predatory lenders free reign
27) Being continually investigated for collusion with a foreign government to undermine our elections
28) Trump’s budget lists a $610 billion reduction in Medicaid funding. That would be on top of the $880 billion in Medicaid that is already set to be
slashed in the GOP’s health care replacement bill. That means Trump, with the budget and health care bill combined, is fine with overseeing a
reduction of nearly $1.5 trillion for low income Americans’ health care.
29) The budget also asks for a $72 billion cut to Social Security Disability Insurance, a program in Social Security that benefit people with
disabilities.
30) trump said he wouldn’t bomb Syria. Then he bombed Syria.
31) trump said he’d clean up the Washington swamp. Then he brought into his administration more billionaires, CEOs and Wall Street moguls than in any administration in history, to make laws that will enrich their businesses.
32) trump said he’d use his business experience to whip the White House
into shape. Then he created the most chaotic, dysfunctional, backstabbing White House in modern history.
33) And promised to release his taxes if elected, now won’t and lies about the reason.
34) Trump said Hillary Clinton was in the pockets of Goldman Sachs and would do whatever they said. Then he put half a dozen Goldman Sachs
executives in positions of power in his administration.
35) Trump said his predecessor, Barack Obama, spied on him, without any evidence of Obama ever doing so, in order to divert attention from the
FBI’s investigation into collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives to win the election.
36) Wasting nearly $30,000,000.00 (that's MILLION) in taxpayer money on golf vacations. He called Obama “the vacationer-in-chief” and accused him of playing more rounds of golf than Tiger Woods. He promised to never be the kind of president who took cushy vacations on the taxpayer’s dime, not
when there was so much important work to be done.
37) Let taxpayers pay for transition offices in Washington that were barely used, and had all the main activities take place at trump towers so could
charge us for the use
38) Diverts money from his “charity” for his personal use
39) Lied about the “millions” he has donated to various charities
40) Lied a number of times about his relationship with Putin and Russia
41) Lied about not knowing of Flynn’s Russia contacts
42) said he was "too honest" to be in politics
43) Trump is being investigated for collusion with Russia to win the election
44) Trump is probably under criminal investigation for money laundering
45) Trumps "charity" ordered to stop taking donations due to fraudulent activities
46) Trump has claims by 10 or more women accusing him of sexual harassment
47) Trump has been sued for raping a 13 year old girl, who dropped the suit due to death threats
48) Trump is under criminal investigation for obstruction of justice
49) Trump is has over 3000 lawsuits against him for being a deadbeat and cheating small businesses
50) Trump has illegally used campaign funds for personal use
51) Trump lied about asking for a loyalty pledge
52) Trump lies about ted cruz father being involved in Kennedy's assassination
53) Trump lied when he said he was originally against the Iraq War
54) Trump lied when he said 3 million illegal votes were cast
55) Trump knows the Russians did try to affect the elections, and are STILL trying to affect future elections, and is doing NOTHING to stop them
56) Trump pushes terrorist fears and immigrant fears, when people are more likely to die by trump's actions on the EPA and healthcare cuts.
57) After 155 days in office, Trump has spent 43 days at his own properties, and 30 days at golf properties. Trump has visited more golf courses at a faster clip than his three most recent predecessors.
58) Trump is a deadbeat, who has cheated banks out of hundreds of millions by defaulting on loans
And STILL counting....75 + million Americans are paying attention!"

We Can't

It seems to be Trump's plan to bad mouth the first senator, Jeff Sessions, who supported Trump and offered him his undying loyalty by now throwing Sessions under the bus. The word is Trump ultimately wants to perfect the plan to get those to occupy positions in the Justice Department who are Trump friendly and ultimately fire Mueller over what else -- the Trump/Russia collusion investigation. It may be difficult to find someone who wants that Justice Department position or any position of power in Trumpland as Trumpet could kick them to the curb in Hitlerian Night of the Long Knives (Google it) fashion when the mood strikes him to do so.

Some give Scaramucci, Trump's new "Communications" Director whose communiques sound like he came right out of the central casting of "Goodfellas." Wray with nearly unanimous support for FBI Director has as one of his illustrious clients defendant, Chris Christie. He helped him escape prison of the political Bridgegate while Christie's unter menchen lackeys got jail time. Sad.

All things, most especially Republican are supremely corrupt because this is the Party of money in a pay-to-play universe. Yes, I know Democrats play too but I aver not in such epic proportions. I do not know how moral philosophically adhering Republicans can feel good about themselves, sleep at night or look themselves in the mirror the next day when the Party to which they belong lies and most monumentally has as its commander-in-chief a man with no heart who lies all the time. This Party does not care about most of you!

Maybe I'm just a fool who thinks that in their hearts people are basically good at least they are in this nation. Right now it seems that a significant portion of this nation contains corrupt monsters and the naive many who place them in positions of death wielding power. Like 12 year old boy scouts to whom Trump spoke they do not know what developing an intellect and thoughtful reasoning is. In some sectors of this nation I suggest being stupid is something to which one should aspire. Remember Trump said he loves stupid people. Well, he got their vote.

Perhaps, the thought to Benjamin Franklin's famous response after the Constitution's creation "It's a Republic IF you can keep it" should be, unfortunately, we can't.

Correction for Nat Lavine

I re-read this and found an error. Correction for Nat Lavine. Emoluments clause is Article I, Section 9 Clause 8: "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State." 

It is not Amendment 25 which refers to Presidential Disability and Succession. Here is a link to Amendment 25: 

https://usconstitution.net/xconst_Am25.html

May I remind you

A post from Nat Lavine says it all. Moral of this story DO NOT GIVE UP, DO NOT FALTER and DO NOT FAIL or our nation fails: ​"​

"I've been to Russia 25 times, I've worked for Trump's partners Alex Schnaider and Sam Kislin. I've met Trump 6 times at his charity events and have known him for 30 years. He lost the primaries in New York by 30% percentage points where we know his cons best, he's absolutely clueless. He fails at everything he does and then he quits with many bankruptcies and frauds. Personally, I would not let him manage a shoe shine stand. Who borrows money at 18% borrowing junk bonds and expects to make a profit ??? Only a thief and an imbecile.

Putting people of color in the back of the casinos and screwing his contractors and employees was the last straw for me. If you don't think that this administration is the most corrupt in the History of U.S. politics, you are a special kind of Stupid. Remember, crocodiles have no friends and they will all go down!!!!! Russiagate will make Watergate seem like a tea party. Remember, Trump ran as a ruse and not a serious candidate initially as his closet was filled with skeletons. He truly is a Narcissist, a Sociopath and a Pathological liar. The time to Impeach is now. Put pressure on your representatives!!!!! The TRUMPTANIC is sinking and the Rats all want a deal. Things are pretty bad when your lawyers need lawyers.

The thing I'm most familiar with is the money laundering by taking dirty Russian blood money and buying Trump properties as Trump knew all along. Not only will no contractor do any business with him as he doesn't pay his bills, he also stiffs his attorneys and no bank in the Western hemisphere will loan him even one dollar. He also stiffs hotels, bankrupts families and tips poorly at restaurants. He is the lowest form of human life. He's even charging the Republican party 3 times the actual rent and stealing from his cancer charities. Think about that as pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered. That's only Russia, what about his shady partners in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and many more countries​?

We need to see those taxes or him to resign. He has accomplished absolutely nothing during his time in office and his approval rating will continue to fall. Putting a well known scam artist in the oval office was unfathomable to us New Yorkers who know him well. If a candidate loses his own state by 30% percentage points, why would anyone vote for such a con artist filled with empty promises and more baggage than United Airlines. Not only does Bob Mueller have access to Donald Trump Jr.'s incriminating emails, he also has intercepted text messages from Paul Manafort's daughters implicating their ​father for taking $10 million USD in blood money where Russians are always winding up dead whenever he's there. I'm not saying I know how this will unfold, but with bank accounts being subpoenaed plus all texts, emails and taxes, more than 70-80 FISA warrants went out.

Trump can be impeached on Amendment 25 which is the Emoluments clause, but with Mueller hiring special prosecutors to go after Trump personally, it's going to be a s​**​t storm of epic proportions. Keep in mind that Putin is worth $85 Billion Dollars and has a piece of everything of value in Russia and nothing goes on without his approval or you wind up dead. Trump owes the Russian owned Blackstone group an awful lot of money and if he can't deliver by lifting the sanctions, it's not going to be a pretty picture for he and his evil spawn. We have an illegitimate President who was proven to collude with the Russians to steal the election and in my opinion, the blatant skullduggery and complicity should nullify the election making Hillary Clinton our legitimate President. The lies will end up doing them all in like Flynn but the widespread cover up will bring the whole house of cards down as Mueller is gathering enough data for an airtight case that will tie them all together. It's not if they are going down, it's only a matter of when. Trump's own family will eventually lead to his demise.​"​
-Nat Lavine

Deep Kiss

Scaramucci leveled intense criticism on Trump until Trump became president now he took the "Communications" Director job. His introduction to the American public sounded like public deep kissing to the el presidente. Scaramucci now knows if you just say I love the president, I love the president 52 billion times you will get the job and if you say you are LOYAL LOYAL LOYAL to the Fuhrer you may keep your job. I heard not ONE member of the press ask now that you love the president so much and are loyal to him do you love the Constitution and are loyal to it as much?? No one asked that. Why?

32 Million More Would Be Uninsured Under The Latest Senate Health Care Bill And insurance premiums would double over the next decade -- McConnell and my saga with polio

Republicans minus the smart ones that helped sink this latest sickening (pardon the pun) Republican health care bill are malevolent monsters.

In Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's autobiographical book he says his main goal was to do the Party's business and make it successful​;​ not to do America's business mind you but the business of the 2% wealthiest in the nation. He is a brutal beast second only to Trump. I cannot believe McConnell had polio as a kid ​​the ​same as I did. He supposedly had painful long hours of remaining still which gave him the allegedly patient temperament to become the evil monstrosity that he is.

As one who had the dreaded disease polio and suffers to this day from post-polio symptoms one would think one would have a heart for children, at least, and adults, ​too, ​who get other crushing cost ​diseases ​through no fault of their own.

Polio made Franklin Roosevelt and me more empathetic persons as we both suffered total limb paralysis. My father could not afford the costs of that disease at that time which, even then, were astronomical and insurance, of course​,​ ​did​ not cover it as polio was a preexisting condition.

Thank you FDR and Basil O'Connor who began the March of Dimes. We had to rely on that charity to pay the years' long costs of treatment until age 16 including continual hospital visits, casts, braces, corsets, x-rays, crutches, skin temperature tests, special shoes, rehab, two painful surgeries when young as well as multiple falls with femur fractures ​and surgery from those falls when older.

I surely know what can befall a family that did not think a dastardly disease could happen to their child. But it did to mine and if not for the March of Dimes my father would have had to have filed bankruptcy, -- you know -- the legal business status our not-fit-to-be-president president knows so well.  My father worked hard to obtain the best treatment to afford me a life free from the difficulties of deformities that polio bestows over decades if ​not given proper treatment and supervision.

No wonder FDR is my hero and the Democratic Party is my home. If it were not for both I may have ended up in the street as so many will if Republicans work their evil magic denying healthcare to all.

RESIST! -- CONSTANTLY

Death Knell

The entire story is at the link below. Taken from the link below I indention quote in pertinent part:

"The president of the United States and members of the party that controls Congress are saying that they see problems in the health care system, and their plan is to stand by and do nothing while people suffer.

This is breathtakingly cynical, and reveals the Republican Party’s priorities. Getting rid of the dreaded Obamacare at any cost is more important to Trump and his party than acting to improve the health care system for the people they represent.

Barack Obama is no longer president, but thumbing him in the eye and destroying his biggest accomplishment still outweighs taking even the most basic steps to provide relief to health insurance consumers whose plight Republicans have so often and so vividly bemoaned.

What Trump is proposing is the opposite. He’s threatening to bite off your nose to spite Obama’s face. Indeed, the Trump administration instead has taken steps to suppress health insurance enrollment and make the ACA function worse. Trump repeatedly has threatened to cut off payments the federal government owes health insurance companies that cover low-income customers, which would send the insurance market into a tailspin."

To be clear, the Affordable Care Act is not functioning as well as Obama and the Democrats who it wrote hoped.

The uninsured rate is way down, thanks to the law’s Medicaid expansion and subsidies for private health insurance. Twenty million people who didn’t have coverage before do now, and everyone has guaranteed access to health insurance regardless of their preexisting conditions.

Despite what Trump and other Republicans keep saying, the exchange markets are not in a “death spiral.” Analysts at the Congressional Budget Office, Standard & Poor’s and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, for example, have concluded that these markets are stable or stabilizing, if imperfect, in most states."

Yes, yet again the intrinsically mean, cruel, mendacious Republican President Trump with ZERO morality and Mitch Unethical McConnell, Republican Senate Leader, will screw the American public by other means by starving the states of funding.

Therefore, those of us who do have a kind heart MUST STILL SCREAM AND SCREAM LOUDLY SO REPUBLICANS CAN HEAR YOU. Scream this potential inaction by Trump is unacceptable even potentially treasonous. A PRICE WILL be paid if the federal money to the states for it is not delivered. He thinks Democrats will suffer. In fact, REPUBLICANS will carry the load of blame and the elections of 2018 Democrats will sweep to prove it. YOU AND ALL OF US MUST CONTINUE TO RESIST AND NEVER LET UP NO MATTER HOW WEARY WE GET. WE MUST SCREAM OUR OPPOSITION CONTINUOUSLY EVERY TIME THEY ATTEMPT TO PUT A STAKE IN THE HEART OF HEALTHCARE AND BY EXTENSION US. WE MUST DO SO BY ANY MEANS LEGALLY NECESSARY.

AGAIN AS I SAID IN MY LAST OPINION: CALL CONGRESS, EMAIL, MARCH, OCCUPY, SMOKE SIGNAL REPUBLICAN OFFICES EVERYWHERE. TELL THEM YOU WON'T STAND FOR ANNIHILATING HEALTH CARE BY NEFARIOUS MEANS. NOTHING SHORT OF YOUR LIFE, YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES, YOUR PARENTS' LIVES AND ALL WHOM YOU KNOW AND CARE ABOUT LIVES ARE AT STAKE. THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH MOMENT WITH A PRESIDENT WHO LIES EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE AND CARES ABOUT NO LIFE BUT HIS OWN. 

HE LIVES FOR CONFLICT. TRUST NOTHING THAT HE SAYS. HE HAS NO IDEA ABOUT HEALTHCARE, IS BORED BY IT AND WANTS TO LEARN NOTHING ABOUT IT. TRUMP CARES ABOUT ONE PERSON -- HIMSELF. HE AND THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS DO NOT (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THREE BRAVE AND MORAL REPUBLICAN SENATORS: SUSAN COLLINS OF MAINE, LISA MURKOWSKI OF ALASKA AND SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO OF WEST VIRGINIA--KUDOS TO THEM) care about most of you.

RESIST AND DO NOT STOP UNTIL THEY LEAVE THE ACA ALONE, FUND THE EXPANSION IN THE STATES AND ULTIMATELY REFORM IT.
THIS IS A WAR FOR OUR LIVES!!!!! PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOU KNOW.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-obamacare-fail_us_596e8073e4b0000eb196a4c4

Scream NO

Yes, the intrinsically mean, cruel, mendacious Republican Party with Mitch Unethical McConnell as its no conscience
​Senate ​leader actually has the raw nerve to want to bring, as our unfit-for-the-presidency president​ ​wants, the repeal of the ACA aka Obamacare WITHOUT replacing​ ​it to the floor of the Senate for a vote. Then in the next two years of its implementation delay it and actually cobble together another bill. What are the odds that this Republican Party that controls it all will enact a healthcare bill that is sound, will cover everyone, not hurt the poor blowing a hole in Medicaid which we all need within that time? Answer: The odds are NIL. Nursing home elderly without Medicaid will die and many without affordable health care will die too.

It will ultimately return us to a nation within 10 years of 5​6​ million without healthcare. Trumpcare is Deathcare. This is your Republican Party with the greatest con
president in American history.

I will not take the time to craft an opinion ready for the New York ​T​imes because THE TIME IS LATE and the Republicans will do all they can as fast as they are able to kill all but the 2% wealthiest who can afford their own healthcare and who, of course, contribute to Republican coffers in, yes, a corrupted-by-money and Citizens United SCOTUS decision which allows these Cretans to do just that.

This is what you in our democracy need to do: SCREAM AND SCREAM LOUDLY SO REPUBLICANS CAN HEAR YOU. Scream this Trumpcare bill is unacceptable and they will pay for it in the election of 2018. This is ​​Republican vile, Republican cruel, the Republican meanest of the mean and YOU AND ALL OF US MUST RESIST BY ANY MEANS LEGALLY NECESSARY.

CALL CONGRESS, EMAIL, MARCH, OCCUPY, SMOKE SIGNAL REPUBLICAN OFFICES EVERYWHERE. TELL THEM YOU ARE MAD AS HELL AND ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. NOTHING SHORT OF YOUR LIFE, YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES, YOUR PARENT'S LIVES AND ALL WHOM YOU KNOW AND CARE ABOUT LIVES ARE AT STAKE.

THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH MOMENT WITH A PRESIDENT WHO LIES EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE AND CARES ABOUT NO LIFE BUT HIS OWN. TRUST NOTHING THAT HE SAYS. HE HAS NO IDEA ABOUT WHICH HEALTHCARE IS AND,​ FINALLY​,​ JUST RECENTLY SAID IT WAS COMPLICATED! REALLY, MR. PRESIDENT, REALLY? YOU JUST FOUND OUT HEALTHCARE IS COMPLICATED?

TRUMP IS AN UNFEELING, NARCISSISTIC AND SOME ALLEGE TREASONOUS EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING. HE CARES ABOUT ONE PERSON -- HIMSELF. DO NOT LET HIM DO WHAT HE WANTS AND THINK HE CAN GET AWAY WITH HIS LIES. HE AND THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS DOES NOT ... LET ME REPEAT THAT .. DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU UNLESS YOU ARE AMONG THE 2% WEALTHIEST IN THE NATION!

RESIST AND DO NOT STOP UNTIL THEY UNCONDITIONALLY SURRENDER THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE AND LEAVE THE ACA ALONE FOR ULTIMATELY REFORM. YES, THIS IS A WAR FOR OUR LIVES!!!!! PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOU KNOW.

Decades before ‘The L Word,’ she risked jail to create a magazine for lesbians--By Julia Carpenter

Edythe Eyde wrote in an era when the subject of her writing could get her jailed!

"With the advancement of psychiatry and related subjects, the world is becoming more and more aware that there are those in our midst who feel no attraction for the opposite sex. It is not an uncommon sight to observe mannishly attired women or even those dressed in more feminine garb strolling along the street hand-in-hand or even arm-in-arm, in an attitude which certainly would seem to indicate far more than mere friendliness."

"Homosexuality," she wrote, "is becoming a less and less taboo subject, and although still considered by the general public as contemptible, or treated with derision, I venture to predict that there will be a time in the future when gay folk will be accepted as part of regular society."

AGAIN IN 1948? VERY PROPHETIC. Lets make sure Drumpf and his merry men do NOT take us back to that ugly time!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/07/10/a-magazine-for-lesbians-was-illegal-70-years-ago-she-created-one-anyway/?utm_term=.cadbe890a1ae

A Billionaire Pair’s Ultimate Betrayal Of Jewish Values -- By Susie Davidson

This is a picture perfect well written opinion.  My thoughts as I got to the end of it were: WOW!  It is so  good I email it for you to read and share it if you like. 
 

 Susie Davidson is not only a wonderful writer but a woman of impeccable ethics and humanitarian belief who writes so well from the depths of her heart!! Kudos on this one!!

Good job, Susie, I could not have expressed it better!!  :)

http://forward.com/scribe/377178/adelson-and-wynn-betray-the-poor-and-judaism/

Deathcare

Keep fighting to defeat Trumpcare, A DASTARDLY POLICY RUSHED THROUGH WITH NO OVERSIGHT AND AN ATTEMPT TO NOT LET ANYONE LOOK AT THE CBO SCORING. WELL, NOW WE HAVE TO AS THE VOTE WILL BE DELAYED BECAUSE OF MCCAIN'S SURGERY.

DO WHAT YOU MUST BY ANY LEGAL MEANS NECESSARY TO DEFEAT THIS CRUEL AND UGLY BILL FROM A NOW UGLY PARTY!! It is not even Trumpcare it's Deathcare. It will knock about 22 million off healthcare and maybe more. And by the way, tell them their jobs are at stake if they do not vote NO.
DEMOCRACY IN ACTION!

Sen. McCain Staying in AZ Next Week After Blood Clot Surgery, UPDATE: Health Care Vote Postponed!

Here’s hoping Senator John McCain gets well soon. McCain had surgery to remove a blood clot located above his left eye. He’s resting comfortably at home. Most…

dailykos.com

Parlez vous Francais?

Is it possible that the same clap trap about Russia's hack of the 2016 election was said by Mr. Trump in the Paris press conference held with President Macron and that Mr. Macron delivered a kiss-up response that mirrored what Trump said in one of his "eloquent" tweets? President Macron reiterated what Trump wanted to hear that it is desirable to be on good terms with the Russians because we must deal with them.

Mr. Macron and Mr. Trump, how does colluding with an adversarial power to rig a presidential election against Clinton in favor of Trump comport with what either of these two "leaders" had to say at the press conference? I am not shocked by Mr. Trump's iteration but am completely shocked and surprised at President Macron's response that echoed the lies and excuses that the American president has told so many times.

No, Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron, most people would have if an adversarial power wanted to throw dirt on one's electoral opponent to try and throw an election to favor one candidate over the other dialed 911-FBI!

Memory

The election of Donald Trump may turn out to be a transitory blip on a historical screen. It may, however, not be. When you watch this 1985 documentary IF you watch it THINK on what, in 1938, Nationalism wrought in Germany because this kind of hatred is what Donald Trump has brought to an America I no longer at times recognize. He MUST be stopped. Watch this and know why you must RESIST!!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/memory-of-the-camps/

Lindsey Graham Slams ‘Disastrous Meeting’ With Putin, Calls Russia Trump’s ‘Blind Spot’

Lindsey Graham Slams ‘Disastrous Meeting’ With Putin, Calls Russia Trump’s ‘Blind Spot’ http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/graham-slams-disastrous-meeting-putin-calls-russia-trump-s-blind-n781096

Comments: A fellow blogger said "That's right Lindsey! He's a traitor. He couldn't care less about this country. Not to lose fact that he's afraid of Putin. He owes a lot of money to Russia. We are paying that tab"

My Comment: 

That is 100% correct. It ​i​s exactly why he did not press Putin on the hacking issue. It is ​so​ obvious and yet I think the media is not making it ​abundantly ​clear. When ​all ​of your ​nation's ​reliable intelligence agencies say unequivocally that Russia and Russia alone hacked the election, ​the ​Democratic Committee and, perhaps​,​ others to get something dirty on ​Hillary ​Clinton ​and​ throw the election to Trump ​then ​it is solid fact​​. ​T​here is ​no ​question why ​Trump​ laid off Putin ​on that issue at the G-20​ meeting with him. ​He knows Putin could crush him, has the goods on him, owes Russia​,​ their oligarchs and Russian mafia-types big money​.​​ Putin​ could and would blow ​Trump's ​con wide open if he does not do what Putin wants. It is blackmail of a president of the United States by an adversarial power. To put it more plainly it​ is high crimes and misdemeanor​​s​ treason.

Putin wants the sanctions lifted because oil makes Russia run and ​Russia is ​not running so well if the US sanctions are i​n place​. It is as clear as glass. The mind blowing incredulity for me is how on god's earth did this utterly corrupt imbecile Trump ever dare with all his conflicts and financial ethical compromises if not ​alleged ​criminal illegalities think that he would run for president much less win and no one would find ​anything ​out.​ This is not a corporation of which he is the CEO head. It is a three branch balance of power Republic with a 4th estate press which will hold him accountable for every sneeze. ​It is obvious why he would not release his taxes because they would tell the story of ​the​ Everest-sized debt he owes.

Perhaps he never thought he would win. By ​the ​time the tea leaves were beginning to be read he should have pulled out of the election or once he won he should have resigned and still should resign but his rancid ego will not let him. Special Investigator Mueller is experienced, brilliant and meticulous. He has assembled a team of methodical experts the most capable ​legal minds ​in the nation. This is NOT going to end well. If Trump dares fire Muller there will be an outcry in this land he and his corrupt conflict of interest Mafia-like family will not know what hit them. One cannot pull off the gargantuan con ​of ​all ​modern history and not have it show a weak link or many weak links. The attorney of the Trump team resigned head of the NSA, Michael Flynn, said if Flynn is granted immunity "He has a story to tell" and we the taxpayer paying the freight want to hear it!

No Time to Write BUT

What transpired between Putin and Trump is so obvious and what news broadcasts have said little about from the Hamburg G-20 is the Mueller investigation hanging over Drumpf's head. I hope Mueller is not fired. Nothing makes sense that comes out of Trump or his minion's mouths unless it is thought of in light of the Trump's campaign alleged collusion with Russia in hacking the 2016 election against Hillary and for Trump.

OF COURSE Drumpf is going to say our intelligence is flawed because it probably involves the investigation of him and/or his campaign's alleged association not against Russia but complicit WITH Russia. As one of my blogers said there is something diabolical and I say it is spelled oligarchic money, money laundering, megga conflicts of interest and many other alleged illegal and unethical acts. Follow the money.

I urge you if you have not seen Richard Engel's special report MSNBC showed instead of Rachel Maddow last evening to do so. Probably you can get it online. She introduced it but he reported on it from Hamburg. It is mind blowing BRILLIANT! YOU MUST SEE IT. THE DIABOLICAL IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ONE'S NOSE. Putin has murdered many journalists and political opposition including swept up besides those famous in Russia for opposing him were, said Engel, a general and a banker that allegedly got too close to the TRUMP alleged collusion. Many reporters and others who got too close to Putin's controlled Russian oligarchic Mafia end up dead. This is the worst scandal in US history and yes, MUCH worse than Watergate and downright diabolical is the correct word. Follow the money and you will find the nest of maggots. Trump is allegedly an appendage of that. WATCH RICHARD ENGEL'S REPORT FROM HAMBURG!!!

The Nature of Nationalism

I am increasingly dismayed to read various opinions in the "Jewish Advocate" that say to me Jews, who read your newspaper, are increasingly supportive of Donald Trump even though Jews like I and, I believe, the majority of Jews remain decidedly left of center Democrat. In every modern election the Jewish people have voted emphatically so. Further, the Jewish people in general and this Jewess in particular, are firm adherents to civil rights laws and more than strongly resist Republican voter suppression techniques. Trump and his cronies under the guise of voter fraud, when there is no evidence of any, want to collect personal data of your voting history, including social security numbers and place that within the purview of Vice-President Pence. One will pardon me if I do not want my personal voting history along with other personal information including a social security number under the aegis of Vice-President Pence whose politics are an anathema to me. This authoritarian tactic is typical of the extremist right nationalist mantra to have government -- their government -- know and control the national vote.

It is typical of nationalist states like Turkey with its strongman Erdogan who has jailed thousands of opposition, silenced an oppositional press and whom Trump has praised. It is true also of nationalist Poland, a state in which Donald Trump just spoke on his way to the G-20 and was adored by its bused-in crowd. Trump effusively praised Poland’s new government. Poland's Foreign Minister showed his Law and Justice Party's (PiS) stripes when he stated on Polish Public television that his new government "has shed the country’s “negro mentality” when it comes to relations with the United States." Donald Trump has supported nationalist right wing candidates like extremist right French candidate Marine Le Pen who thankfully lost. Le Pen's Party tried mightily to shed its heretofore anti-Semitic past by expelling her Holocaust denying father. Still, she had time to say that France was not responsible for its roundup of Jews in the famous Vél d'Hiv roundup in July, 1942

Other European Nationalists are out there for all the world to see with their amalgam of Jew haters in their ranks. Make no mistake one need only look at the composition of the Republican Party during gatherings. It is almost exclusively white and is so for a reason. Trump shares the spotlight with other noxious Nationalist advocates having a proud history that names "America Firsters" like Charles Lindbergh in its ranks who seventy years ago urged the nation to support Adolph Hitler. Adding to this vile sentiment were his speeches that blamed -- who else -- but the Jews for the outbreak of war in Europe"

Watch out, my Jewish brethren, this is the modern Nationalism to which Trump adheres with his philosophical anti-Semitic Bannon base. It has an extremist right immigrant hating agenda welcoming, if not vociferously then by a head-nod, into its ranks those who raised their outstretched arms to him in Nazi-like style salute as well as presenting a silent home to those who brandish the fiery cross. The Republican Party of Trump is an authoritarian outgrowth of history. We have seen it many times before. Jews said no to it then and the six million Jewish souls of Europe, metaphorically, say no to it now.

Thank you

The media keeps blowing the Putin/Trump meeting up today like it's Yalta. It isn't. Only four will be in the meeting and two translators. The US side features the real estate bankruptcy king and now unfit-for-the-presidency Trump and
​Exxon ​oil magnet Tillerson. The Russian side features the 20 year KGB and politically experienced Vladimir Putin and 20 year experienced Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. It would be like the Tennessee
​​
Tennessee ​Titans ​little league playing the big league New York Yankees.
 
​W​hat is the public going to know? It will know nothing unless the translators bring a bug into the room or they spill the beans afterward. Come on translators, if you can hack something anything please do. Does anyone think Trump will challenge Putin the bestower of elections? Putin knows plenty and Trump knows he does. He is Putin's puppet just like Hillary said he was.

​W​hat can ​Trump ​demand from Putin given Trump's allegedly knee deep association with the smarmy side of Russian money laundering, oligarchy, bank loans galore and, oh yes, an alleged possible pee tape? Would you press someone you knew could sink you in a nanosecond?

Putin has our dear leader in a box, signed, sealed and waiting for delivery if Drumpf doesn't lift the sanctions and return two spy compounds! Besides Donald wants the Russians to keep hacking Democratic elections. 

As S. V. Date says on Huffington: "If President Donald Trump wants to make a good first impression with Russian leader Vladimir Putin when they meet Friday, two words he might consider starting with are “thank” and “you.”" I say, Donald, have a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate cake and call it a day or else Putin will.

Punting on Putin

One wonders why the media does not link on Trump's European tour our unfit-for-the-presidency president directly to the gargantuan investigation of Trump's alleged collusion with the Russian hack of the 2016 election in favor of Trump. Reductio ad absurdium Trump makes the false statement again that it could have been anybody who committed the hack even, as he said during the debates, that 400 pound man lying on a bed somewhere. He says "It could have been anybody" lying once again since Trump's own intelligence agencies that Trump impugns all say it was Russia that hacked the 2016 election and no one else. Further, Trump lies about President Obama whom he said did nothing about the Russian hack of the 2016 election when President Obama did. According to CNN:

"President Barack Obama took unprecedented steps to retaliate against alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, prompting vows from Russian authorities that Moscow will respond in kind. The administration described Russia's involvement as "Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities" and sanctioned four Russian individuals and five Russian entities for what it said was election interference. The administration also ordered 35 Russian diplomats to leave the country and two Russian compounds closed."

We know well Trump lies and he does so ALL the time. Could not slamming Putin have anything to do with the in depth investigation against Trump, et al for conflicts of business interests with Russian oligarchs, money laundering, business loans and other unethical even treasonous ties to Russia? This is an important appendage in Trump's meeting with Putin. It is, pardon the pun, the "elephant in the room." Trump would be hard pressed to issue any indictment of Putin lest he risk blackmail for any of these alleged high crimes, misdemeanors, unconstitutional behaviors and potential treason. Trump would rather play it safe and besmirch western European nations, whose culture he says he wants to protect so much, for not paying into NATO enough thereby threatening NATO's existence than admit that Santa's helper, Putin, be blamed for anything much less that Putin helped Trump win his own election.

Who is Trump fooling? Obviously, the media as not one yet has mentioned the Republican elephant -- a gargantuan investigation of Trump and his cronies for

alleged collusion with Russia and ultimately alleged treason. If you were Trump and knew Putin had damming information on you how quickly would you be to offend him? I aver there is method to Trump's madness. He is in love with Putin because he has to be. He will punt on Putin. As usual Trump would rather throw his nation under the bus then besmirch himself and threaten his presidency. The love of Trump's life is Trump and the only life he cares about saving is his own! RESIST!

NYT: Charles Blow -- the most profound

"Every now and then we are going to have to do this: Step back from the daily onslaughts of insanity emanating from Donald Trump’s parasitic presidency and remind ourselves of the obscenity of it all, registering its magnitude in its full, devastating truth.

There is something insidious and corrosive about trying to evaluate the severity of every offense, trying to give each an individual grade on the scale of absurdity. Trump himself is the offense. Everything that springs from him, every person who supports him, every staffer who shields him, every legislator who defends him, is an offense. Every partisan who uses him — against all he or she has ever claimed to champion — to advance a political agenda and, in so doing, places party over country, is an offense.

We must remind ourselves that Trump’s very presence in the White House defiles it and the institution of the presidency. Rather than rising to the honor of the office, Trump has lowered the office with his whiny, fragile, vindictive pettiness.

The presidency has been hijacked.

But his words shouldn’t have shocked. His tweet was just another pebble on a mountain of vulgarities. This act of coarseness was in fact an act of continuity. Trump was being Trump: the grossest of the gross, a profanity against propriety.

There are no new words to express it; there is no new and novel way to catalog it. It is what it is and has been from day one: The most extraordinary and profound electoral mistake America has made in our lifetimes and possibly ever.

Donald Trump is depending on people’s fatigue. He is banking on your becoming overwhelmed by his never-ending antics. He is counting on his capacity to wear down the resistance by sheer force.

We must be adamant that that will never come to pass. Trump is an abomination, and a cancer on the country, and none of us can rest until he is no longer holding the reins of power."RESIST!

Rachel Maddow

The link below is an in depth interview of Rachel Maddow appearing in Rolling Stone Magazine and written by Janet Reitman. It is worth a read especially if you are a fan of Rachel Maddow as I am.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/rachel-maddow-the-rolling-stone-interview-w487750

My Comment:

I consider Rachel Maddow on MSNBC to be one of the greatest if not the greatest news commentator of all time. She is brilliant like none other. I never miss a show, indeed, I would have to be on death's door to miss it.

I call Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow and Larry O'Donnell the "Murder's Row" of news reporting and commentary. Murders' Row, for those who may not know, was, some say, the 1927 Yankees's greatest hitting lineup of all time including in it Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Tony Lazzeri.
 
To me, Rachel is as the preacher Elmer Gantry in the film of the same name might say "the morning and the evening star." Indeed, there is something emotionally, near spiritually, moving as I watch and listen to her genius. Her set up and delivery of a news story is like a master tennis player's graceful serve as he reaches back, tosses the ball up, seemingly in slow motion, and smashes it over the net to score against his opponent. I am mesmerized by her delivery. Rachel rates herself much lower than I believe those who watch her show do even those who do not necessarily agree with all she says. I, though, do agree with if not all most of what she reports. She gives herself, incredulous to me, a grade of "C." I rate her a solid A and more probably an A+.

I email her show often usually expressing praise. I believe she saves lives -- witness Flint, Michigan lead-in-the-water story on which she tenaciously reported and revealed. It was Republican governor Rick Synder's pathetic idea to fill mostly minority populated Flint with Republican crony "emergency managers", taking the governing power away from the people of Flint. The water system on Snyder's watch was altered with a cheaper system that corroded and pumped lead into the water of those who drank or used it. If not for Rachel who would have cared or known about minorities whose children were growing up drinking the poisonous lead and ruining their lives? She is, in my opinion, the most important interviewer since Edward R. Murrow.

The life she saves, too, is my own. She saves my sanity or what's left of it after the 2016 Trumpian madness. She exposes corrupt electoral Republican policy geared to at best render powerless or at worst kill off 98% of our nation so that the 2% wealthiest, who can never have enough, take it all. I love and thank MSNBC's fine gem for being on the humanitarian progressive side of the political spectrum and hope she broadcasts for many years to come!