Just this morning Trump spoke about his new executive order that will give us the best Healthcare because Obamacare is so bad. He was so excited about how good this new care is that he almost forgot to sign the Exec. Order and started to walk away. V.P. Pence had to stop him.
From Vox:
With the failure by Republicans in Congress to repeal Obamacare this year, President Trump is taking matters into his own hands, signing an executive order Thursday that targets the health care law.
Trump is asking federal agencies to look for ways to expand the use of association health plans, groups of small businesses that pool together to buy health insurance, and to broaden the definition of short-term insurance, which is exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s rules, administration officials said.
The ultimate impact will depend on any new regulations written as a result of the order, but overall, the Trump administration could make cheaper plans with skimpier benefits more available — and experts worry that will damage the ACA’s marketplaces.
“The president still firmly believes that Congress must act to repeal and replace Obamacare, but before that can be done, this administration must act to provide relief,” Andrew Bremberg, who oversees domestic policy at the White House, told reporters Thursday morning. “We expect these policy changes to potentially benefit tens of millions of Americans over time.”
Policy experts warn that together, these changes could represent a serious threat to Obamacare: Trump wants to open more loopholes for more people to buy insurance outside the health care law’s markets, which experts anticipate would destabilize the market for customers who are left behind with higher premiums and fewer insurers. [Read more here: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/12/16458184/trump-obamacare-executive-order-association-health-plans-short-term-insurance ]
Trump is bound and determined to undo Obamacare and everything good Obama did for us.
Parkland students cover March for Our Lives for Guardian site
8:19
AM JOY Mar.24.2018 10:30 am edt
Former ATF Special Agent: The NRA made my job harder
4:39
3:46 pm PDT = 6:46 EDT
The Beat With Ari Melber
3/24/18
Parkland student to Congress:
If you don’t make change, we’ll vote you out
0:01:50
John Nichols @NicholsUprising · Mar 5
California Gov. Jerry Brown took office in 2011 with a $27 billion deficit. He won
voter support for huge tax hikes on the rich in 2012, and voters reauthorized
them in 2016. Brown leaves office w/a $6.1 billion surplus.
Take a note: Taxing the rich works.
Rob Reiner @robreiner · Mar 24
If you’re not moved by what these kids are doing, you’re dead inside. I’ve said it
before but whenever a ship is going down, you always hear “women and children
first. If ever we’re going to keep this ship of state afloat, we’re gonna have to look
to the women and children.
12:15 PM – 24 Mar 2018
Tomi Lahren @TomiLahren
Simply being anti-NRA is not a solution. March FOR something,
not just against everything.
9:42 AM – 24 Mar 2018
March For Our Lives @AMarch4OurLives

8:27 AM – 25 Mar 2018
Stephanie Miller @StephMillerShow
I believe children are the future! #MarchForOurLives

3:20 PM – 24 Mar 2018
Stephanie Miller @StephMillerShow

Thanks @KarlFrisch the best dc tour guide ever! #MarchForOurLives
3:24 PM – 24 Mar 2018
@Jmach1P: Thinking about what these kids are doing and how good, and maybe just a little bit lucky, they are to keep the intensity up and not hogging all the empathy. One thing for certain is they are going to make a stumble sooner or later especially with all the fake news the NRA supporters are throwing at them.
I believe they will overcome all that. I also believe there’s a wall they are going to definitely hit if they can keep the drive alive and that’s the filibuster. For sure many friends of the cause can get elected this year but it’s very doubtful they will get super majorities in both houses. The filibuster demon will keep legislation from making it to the floor and it will thanks to all those bright red little states with a combined population of squat. Minority rule will rule.
There is no easy path, but a constitutional amendment is more likely than legislation in D.C.. Change will come from the bottom if it comes at all. Given the vast majority of voters favoring sensible gun control, well fought battles in the states have a better chance of succeeding imho.
I don’t know how you promote a repeal, or repeal and replace of the 2A but there has to be a way to do it. Greater minds can prevail.
Don’t ask me, I’m just a blogger with free time on his hands.
@johnson:
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a19608687/congress-gun-control-second-amendment-stevens/
Just Elect a Better Congress
There’s no need to repeal the Second Amendment, because it permits regulation
————————————————————–
Much more at the link.
@Crank Bait: It’s a valid argument but in a country so divided as this one it’s 1) Not all that likely B) Subject to the next swing election and 〶) amending the Constitution has longer legs.
I love Charlie, he always makes sense, but no one is right all the time. His plan certainly would work if all the hayseeds got voted out.
For me it’s the most practical solution given the state of politics and social movements today.
@johnson:
Remember the Equal Rights Amendment?
Never happened.
6:18
Face The Nation
============================================
@Crank Bait: Don’t mix apples and oranges.
..and now this
We All Have the Distinct ‘Privilege’ of Ignoring David Brooks
The New York Times’ star white conservative guy weighs in on the March for Our Lives—badly.
Once again, the editors at The New York Times opinion section got sockless drunk and passed out at their desks before noon.
Go ahead. Find a more plausible reason for why some smart editor didn’t laugh like a hyena, tear this David Brooks opus on Saturday’s March For Our Lives into tiny bits, and throw them up in front of a giant electric fan. I mean, there is missing the point and there is missing the point, and then there is ending up in an alternative universe full of talking trees and lizards playing Texas Hold’em.
The march passed what I have come to think of as The Privilege Test. One of the great privileges of life is to be born an American citizen. We are the lucky inheritors of the American Creed, built around freedom, equality, opportunity and democracy. There’s no such thing as the French Creed or the Italian Creed but there is an American creed. As Richard Hofstadter famously put it, “It has been our fate as a nation not to have ideologies, but to be one.”
There is no evidence in this column that Brooks listened to a single word that was said from the stage on Saturday. Yes, the march was a demonstration of the essential historical fact that this country is not, say, Pakistan. But the column is little more than an attempt to recapture the word “privilege” from its current usage as a pejorative that should be checked at the door.
A column on Saturday’s events that quotes Richard Hofstadter, Phoebe Maltz Bovy, and Samuel Huntington, but not Emma Gonzalez or Naomi Wadler, and that uses those events to make the author feel better about himself, is fairly solid evidence as to why the word “privilege” fell into disfavor in the first place. Brooks certainly didn’t hear Trevon Bosley talk about the life Bosley lives as a teenager in Chicago.
“I’m here to speak for those youth who fear they may be shot while going to the gas station, the movies, the bus stop, to church or even to and from school. I’m here to speak for those Chicago youth who feel their voices have been silenced for far too long. And I’m here to speak on behalf of everyone who believes a child getting shot and killed in Chicago or any other city is still a not-acceptable norm.”
That’s not “creedal passion.” It’s a plea to be allowed to grow up.
Source
Never shared what Seattle looked like yesterday. Here’s a short clip of beauty. 💙👊 #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/BEwHNP08ly
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) March 25, 2018
@johnson:
I do not expect perfection, or even reasonable gun regulation in my limited remaining lifetime, however, these Parkland FLA. kids, and others of the same gen
have decades ahead of them, and throughout their lives I think they may have a positive impact on the country in a manner that makes progress moving forward.
As they see Miami Fla. become submerged under the Atlantic Ocean
gradually throughout the coming decades, they will say: “See, we told you Climate change was and is real decades ago, way back in the twenty teens”.
Unfortunately it’s too late to reverse that, the best that can be done is to slow
it’s damage to the planet.
@johnson:
If the 2ed amendment was correctly understood, in its original context, and intent,
there would not be automatic machine-gun-type weapons in the hands of regular people.
. . . a well regulated ma….
that = guns that are well regulated.
= Regulated ( Rules and regulations) = Laws.
Rules & regs for Automobile/ cars are passed in the states, and are
to be enforced by our police.
Therefore I will be satisfied only when Guns are regulated like cars:
License requirements, Single Shot guns only. Insurance Requirements.
Not allowed in public space ( malls, movie theatres,ect ) .
Indoor Shooting Ranges, or Rural outdoor hunting areas only.
NOT to be Concealed (hidden ) & Carried among the general public.
@johnson:
Yes, It will come from the states first.
Legalizing “weed” in the whole country, was not going to become federal law.
However many states have moved forward / made progress in this area, as well as Marriage Equality. When an Assault Weapons ban is restored in 1 state, another state, many states. . . someday a similar ban may become the Law of the Land.
Money ≠ Speech
Repeal, or Move to Amend.
All these problems:
( earthquakes [fracking]),
( mass shootings [ gun makers])
(wars [ military industrial status quo])
( global warming & climate change [fossil fuel industry])
are caused by the greedy rich top 1%.
The millionaires became billionaires because of the
Reagan tax cuts in the ’80’s.
Moving the top tax rate from above 50% down to below 28%
gave these already way too rich people money to take control of the broadcast
media, the way Hitler did with Newspapers and Radio in the ’30’s.
The Fox network was launched after those tax cuts.
Thirty years of propaganda by the Fascists / extreme right has poisoned
the hearts and minds of most Americans, and I think it is too late to quickly reverse that.
If we were to somehow attempt to shutdown the Fox network, they will claim
we are not allowing them their 1st amendment rights.
The Republicans have Tied the hands of the F.C.C.
Normally stations that broadcast propaganda would have their License revoked. Not broadcasting in the public interest.
Well It has continued and has not ended.
The current potus continues to lie, these lies are still being broadcast.
And still large numbers of people continue to think these lies are fact. !
The bottom line:
We can not save ourselves.
America will have to be bombed into submission and somehow putdown from the outside, like Germany was.
The American Empire must end. We have destroyed our self, and much of the world. If we don’t control ourselves on the world stage, the world may rise up against us an put us down.
Trump / Bolton / former members of P.N.A.C. represent a threat to the rest of the world.
A Weapons buildup by N. Korea was is justified because of the threat to them by the US
Trump’s big idea to unravel 2 existing regulations for each new one has already proven to be extremely hard to do and it didn’t take long for it to happen.
It’s just another example of trump’s “plain-talking-get-the-job-done-fast” mentality may have worked in his private business life but can’t work in government, despite the fact his business life is a string of failures and coverups.
Read all about it
@Jmach1P: Don’t share your pessimism at all, you just have to look at recent American history.
The country swings like pendulum, sometimes gently and other times wildly. For example The swing from Reagan to HW Bush was gentle. The swing from HW to Clinton was a little less so. The swing from Clinton to W was wildass crazy which led to a correction to Obama which was a wild swing back but not nearly as much as most of us liked. The swing to trump was even greater than W, at least on the surface. The swing from Trump will be of FDR/Lincoln proportion if history is consistent. Despite all the hoopla, we’re a binary nation.
Don’t get stuck in the weeds, the radical’s days are coming, the degrees of violence can’t be predicted because great changes brew slowly and then burst unexpectedly.
@johnson:
yes your positive outlook is greater than mine.
The old rich white guys are slowly passing away and,
their control on the masses may be minimal in the future,
and that will be good for our grandkids.
Maybe another progressive congress, with a progressive president holding office for 3 & 1/2 terms, like FDR will help. Is that even possible ?
AHAHAHAHAHA….

…remember her…?
@cent: Here’s another switcheroo: Zuckerberg in 2009 on BBC There’s a 37 second video at the link.
Then barely a year later: Facebook’s Zuckerberg Says The Age of Privacy Is Over
@Jmach1P: Everything is possible but don’t count on a super progressive surge. The most expedient solution is the kind of melding we’ve seen in the successful special elections this year. (tho I’m still scratching my head over Doug Jones). Candidates now have to play to the lowest common denominator, the first two levels of Maslow’s hierarchy, take care of your physical needs and feel safe.
What works is truly focusing on wages and healthcare. You can have a majority of centrists and pass a shitload of progressive policies if all the folks back home have disposable income in their pockets and access to affordable healthcare. That’s how so much got done in the 60’s. Wages were sustainable and healthcare was affordable. (Things might have been a little too good because it make it really easy to raise hell with all the stupid shit the government was doing at the same time it was passing Civil Rights laws and creating Medicare.)
Attitude is half the battle. If you walk around with a cloud over your head you’ll only get wet. You have to make the other side feel inferior, that’s what the MFOL kids are so good at, putting down the adults. It works because they are keeping it respectful.
4:04
Published on Mar 26, 2018
In this Majority Report clip, no nation is actually going to attack the US.
@Jmach1P: I just wanted to clarify a bit JP, I’m not supposing my ideas are better than yours or more likely to come true. I sometimes write checks my brilliant political analyzing can’t cash. ;-). You’ve done more homework than I have for sure.
@johnson:
My pessimism remains, even in the face of some very positive signs coming from these students, because those students who were shot in mass shootings since 1999 are STILL DEAD.
All those people in Iraq & Vietnam are still dead.
Those 100,000 people in Japan are still dead.
Even if we as a country were to
close all of hundreds of Offensive military bases on dozens of countries all over the earth, the damage has been done, and the world has the right to get even,
at some unknown time in the future.
We still occupy Hawaii, all the land west of the Mississippi, ect.
All the original americans, Native indian tribes have been forced into reservations .
ect.
I always try to balance my optimism and happiness with the grim history of US
aggression by the powerful against the regular people.
I spoke with my mother a week ago and the media down in Tuscon has
brainwashed her. She is now in support of the NRA, simply because her
long dead husband, my father, once owned some hunting rifles 40 years ago.
My list says that Today may be the Birthdate of:
our former blogmate” bibimimi ”
archive.org/web/20080905174219/http://www.samsedershow.com/blog/166
-later
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
The Great American Puerto Rico
…can be seen at the link on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woHaFKaM1D8&list=PLur87nTwD0BuyFVDlxiz6slTwj4Q886yS
@Crank Bait: Thanks for sharing. I’ve been buying the seasons on Apple TV because I love watching TV without any commercials. Haven’t had a chance to watch this new episode yet.
@Jmach1P: Some really Good Ol’ Days for sure. Seems like the Stone Ages now.
The Soul of The Democratic Party…
…captured perfectly in a single headline…
Obama will appear at McCaskill fundraiser in Beverly Hills
By DAVID SIDERS
03/27/2018 06:35 PM EDT
We. Are. Doomed.
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a19645597/laura-ingraham-david-hogg/
Laura Ingraham Getting Outplayed and Outclassed by a High School Kid? Yes, Please.
Out on the weekend, where the kids are showing us how it’s done.
BY CHARLES P. PIERCE
MAR 30, 2018
@cent: More like she’s going to be after her opponents make that there banner on every campaign ad from flyers to billboards to mass mailings to FB and beyond. Personally I’d be glad to see her go, she’s about 80% DINO imho.
@Crank Bait: It’s almost too perfect the way this is playing out. She needs to pick on people her own size….I’m thinking Jeff Sessions.
The Parkland kids seem to be able to punk anyone in either party when then don’t get behind them.
I think they are maybe already more successful than the youth movement of the 60’s.
@johnson:
what I’d like to know is just how much is McCaskill and the DNC paying him to campaign for her sorry ass…
4:16
Published on Mar 29, 2018
Inequality Media Civic Action
Newsweek @Newsweek 9h9 hours ago
Robert Reich: Trump is using Fox News to prepare for battle | Opinion
bit.ly/2If3ER3
11:00 AM – 30 Mar 2018
Robert Reich @RBReich · 7h7 hours ago
A president’s most fundamental legal and moral responsibility is to uphold and
protect our system of government. Donald Trump has degraded that system.
12:24 PM – 30 Mar 2018
Live from Here ( Formerly A Prairie Home Companion)
Here’s our schedule for upcoming live shows, including radio broadcasts and other performances.
Shows happen on Saturdays unless otherwise indicated.
April 14, 2018
Hosted by Chris Thile, with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Janeane Garofalo and duet partner Gaby Moreno
The Town Hall — New York City, NY
May 19, 2018
Hosted by Chris Thile, with Father John Misty, and Neko Case
The Fox Theatre — Atlanta, GA
June 9, 2018
Hosted by Chris Thile, with Rhea Butcher
Ravinia Festival — Highland Park, IL
livefromhere.org/events
Thru JUNE 30
Happy Birthday:
@CatChew
samsedershow.com/blog/5
Women’s March @womensmarch · Mar 30
It’s time to take our #PowerToThePolls ! @OhioWomensMarch we are hitting the
ground running next week on Friday, April 6th! First stop – CLEVELAND RSVP at
buff.ly/2Gqax1x
______________________
Date and Time
Sat, April 7, 2018
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM EDT
Location
Columbus State Community College
Conference Center
550 E. Spring St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
@cent: Agree. It reeks of some nasty corporate undertow.
@Jmach1P: Jennifer Rubin cranked out a doozy today.
Posted @BRR
A chorus of local news reporters reading, word-for-word, from the same Sinclair script to attack the media and defend the President. This is not what an independent media looks like. pic.twitter.com/7QEEE9ltUK
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) March 31, 2018
Find out if any of your local stations are owned @WeAreSinclair (Sinclair Broadcast Group). If so, make sure to boycott watching them so advertisers drop. This is what corporate authoritarian propaganda looks like. #BoycottSinclair https://t.co/tZDQWBkm5v
— Beau Willimon(@BeauWillimon) April 1, 2018
Harriet Dickerson @HarrietD428 · 4h4 hours ago
sbgi.net/tv-channels/ alphabetical by city name. Find yours & boycott!
9:04 AM – 1 Apr 2018
Adam Schiff @RepAdamSchiff
Adam Schiff Retweeted Deadspin
Local news stations now required by Sinclair Broadcasting to parrot the talking
points of the President, moving America one step closer to its own version of
state run media. And another freedom is assailed under this Administration.
7:10 AM – 2 Apr 2018
Norman Goldman @normangoldman
Norman Goldman Retweeted Adam Schiff
Didn’t happen overnight. They’ve had a plan. Assiduously put it into place. Now
we see it, as it’s gotten so big. What have we done with OUR time? Handed
George W. Bush and #BenedictDonald the presidency because of #PurityTests.
Will WE learn? I’ve seen scant evidence of it.
7:26 AM – 2 Apr 2018
Mark Hamill @HamillHimself
Retweeted Deadspin
Remember when state-run television only happened in foreign countries ruled by
dictators?
#Resist
9:44 AM – 2 Apr 2018
@Jmach1P: