It seems like there must have been an episode of The Office that paralleled the last two weeks in the White House. If there isn't, that's too bad as this kind of dramedy would play great on a sitcom. Press Secretary Sean Spicer, mad about his new boss, quit in a huff. That new boss, the Mooch (perfect douchebag character name), drunk dialed Ryan Lizza, a reporter for The New Yorker, and unloaded an f-bomb laced assessment of his peers in the White House. Trump's Chief of Staff Reince Priebus "resigned" after that phone call in apparent confirmation of Anthony Scaramucci's take on his effectiveness and was left sitting alone on the tarmac after following his dismissal. To wrap things up, Trump took a few more pot shots at his own Attorney General. Cut to commercial and it's a hilarious episode so far. Of course, it's way less funny since this episode takes place in the real White House where a real, more malevolent version of Michael Scott sits maniacally tweeting within reach of the nuclear football.
The disarray in the administration was the subplot to the main storyline this week which was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's attempt to cheat the American public out of healthcare. Fortunately, those efforts failed in the eleventh hour when the pure evil being peddled in the so called skinny repeal bill was cut down by three of the Republican's own who simply could not pallate legislative murder.
Arizona Senator John McCain received praise for the "courage" of his no vote. McCain has much to atone for over the last twenty years, most notably inflicting Sarah Palin on the world, but McCain deserves respect for his vote, one of two actions in recent memory on which he's earned it (the other is here). Courage, however, is a word that best applies to Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, the other two Republicans that broke ranks with evil. Collins had the courage to stand against the ACHA from the get go. She wasn't moved by threats or pork barrel bribes. Murkowski's courage to vote no could prove more costly for the Senator and her constituents. Trump has already made it known he may punish Murkowski and the residents of her home state of Alaska for the vote by pulling federal support of energy related projects. In typical misogynistic fashion, Trump has yet to level such threats against McCain.
The angry man baby President will likely do anything in his power to exact a toll for the Trumpcare failure and turn a blind eye to the collateral damage. The low brow mouth, breathing level at which Trump operates doesn't allow him to understand compromise or consider opposing points of view. Retaliation is the strategy he uses to get his way. Trump is driven by a binary definition of win/lose. This drive is so misguided it manifests itself at all levels of his life. Trump is so petty that he has to have one more scoop of ice cream than those around him in order to chalk up a win. Deliberately collapsing the insurance exchanges in an effort to sabotage Obamacare is a decision no different, and no less important to him, than a scoop of ice cream.
After a loss, Trump typically retreats to his comfort zone where he seeks adoration in front of a friendly crowd. Friday was no different when he appeared in front of a gathering of law enforcement officers on Long Island. Trump swaggered around like a frat boy senior holding court over the underclassmen. During his remarks he encouraged police not to worry about injuring suspects during arrests. The fact any President would make these remarks is astonishing, let alone at a time when police shootings of suspects and bystanders is at a critical level.
Trump is a disgrace and a deplorable by any measure. Sadly, the fight against the economic disparity and the intolerance he embraces will continue. The healthcare outcome was either a bright spot or bullet dodged depending on one's optimism but the moment will be short lived as Donald Trump stumbles into the next episode of his sad metaphorical sitcom. Unfortunately, we cannot change the channel and have to wait three more years for the show to be cancelled.
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Trump Loyalty Is A One Way Street
Loyalty is a big deal to Donald Trump. He has often spoke of the importance he places on loyalty over the years with comments from a 1992 interview with Charlie Rose sounding very much like something he could have tweeted today. Former FBI Director James Comey's decision not to pledge loyalty to the President during a private dinner in January is largely seen as the moment Trump began thinking about cutting him loose. Yet for all the President's talk, loyalty is a one way street with Donald Trump; his subordinates are finding that out first hand and it's only a matter of time before those that voted for him will too.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions learned that lesson the hard way this past week when the President publicly disparaged him during an interview with the New York Times. Trump indicated he never would have selected Sessions for the job had he known the former Alabama Senator would have recused himself from the investigation of Trump campaign ties to Russia. Sessions will likely find little sympathy over this public rebuke given he's shattered his own credibility with contradictory statements about his involvement in the situation before Congress. That said, Trump's remarks signaled to anyone watching Sessions status is little more than lame duck.
Speaking of lame ducks, Sean Spicer resigned this past week as White House Press Secretary after Trump announced Anthony Scaramucci to be the administration's new Communications Director. Spicer checked all remnants of personal credibility at the door the day of the inauguration and stalwartly defended even Trump's most indefensible moves at all turns since. Spicer had even taken over day to day Communications Director duties when Mike Dubke resigned in May. Yet for all that loyalty, Spicer was passed over and is now out.
Make no mistake. The only person Donald Trump is loyal to is Donald Trump. Thus, the enduring support Trump voters show for the President is sadly misguided. They seem oblivious to the fact they themselves will someday be abandoned by the narcissist in chief.
Even Trump supporters must wonder about a guy that's publicly throwing the people who work for him under the bus. But then again, they've certainly turned a blind eye to far worse things the President has said and done, yet, this one somehow seems more relatable to the average person.
Perhaps not, but it still shouldn't come as a surprise to Trump supporters when the door hits them in the ass.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions learned that lesson the hard way this past week when the President publicly disparaged him during an interview with the New York Times. Trump indicated he never would have selected Sessions for the job had he known the former Alabama Senator would have recused himself from the investigation of Trump campaign ties to Russia. Sessions will likely find little sympathy over this public rebuke given he's shattered his own credibility with contradictory statements about his involvement in the situation before Congress. That said, Trump's remarks signaled to anyone watching Sessions status is little more than lame duck.
Speaking of lame ducks, Sean Spicer resigned this past week as White House Press Secretary after Trump announced Anthony Scaramucci to be the administration's new Communications Director. Spicer checked all remnants of personal credibility at the door the day of the inauguration and stalwartly defended even Trump's most indefensible moves at all turns since. Spicer had even taken over day to day Communications Director duties when Mike Dubke resigned in May. Yet for all that loyalty, Spicer was passed over and is now out.
Make no mistake. The only person Donald Trump is loyal to is Donald Trump. Thus, the enduring support Trump voters show for the President is sadly misguided. They seem oblivious to the fact they themselves will someday be abandoned by the narcissist in chief.
Even Trump supporters must wonder about a guy that's publicly throwing the people who work for him under the bus. But then again, they've certainly turned a blind eye to far worse things the President has said and done, yet, this one somehow seems more relatable to the average person.
Perhaps not, but it still shouldn't come as a surprise to Trump supporters when the door hits them in the ass.
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Healthcare Game Day
It's nearly game day for Trumpcare vs Obamacare. Fifty, mostly white, male, and rich, Senators will take to the chamber floor and vote on what the future of healthcare will be like for the rest of us. Bear in mind, the rest of us largely enjoy a lifestyle with economic realities vastly different from those of the privileged members of the Senate. Also bear in mind that there isn't a single poll showing majority support for the the AHCA; some show the bill the least popular of any in the last three decades. None the less, the GOP majority in the Senate is pushing forward with any and all tactics necessary to line up the votes necessary to strip healthcare from 22 million Americans and deliver their promised tax cut to the rich.
Credit Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell for bowling sized cojones when it comes to driving this legislation forward regardless of the negative impact to the people that voted to put Trump and a Republican congress in office. It might be hard to come up with an example of elected officials giving the middle finger to such a vast constituency since the Confederate Congress existed. Although current Republican rhetoric on class, race and gender from the President on down would play well in 1860 Atlanta but that's a different story.
It's unfathomable the country is having a conversation about taking healthcare away from its own people but Republicans are now trying to reap what they've sown after pushing eight years of fake news about Obamacare. During the entire Obama presidency, Republicans rallied against Obamacare as a menace that strips people of money, freedoms and, most famously, creates death panels. Their baseless partisan rhetoric took on a life of its own comically (and sadly) confusing some GOP supporters to publicly decry Obamacare while at the same time expressing support for the Affordable Care Act.
Fortunately, many were eventually able to see past the lies and now some GOP congressional members seem genuinely taken aback their constituents figured out the truth. Those representatives are now stuck in a position where they may need to vote against the populous in order to satisfy their rich donors expecting a tax cut as part of the AHCA deal. To close the deal, McConnell and company are wheeling and dealing special interest amendments that make the bill vastly worse than it started which is no small feat.
The most inhumane add-on to the ACHA is the Cruz amendment named after Texas Republican and anti-Robin Hood supervillan Ted Cruz. He's managed to concoct a take from the poor and give to the rich scenario where individuals can hand over their cash to insurance companies for junk insurance plans. It's a GOP idealogical (and pathological) masterpiece. When people on those plans get sick and realize their coverage is worthless, they cannot switch to a full coverage plan for six months, assuming they live that long.
The ACHA is now so bad Senators have exempted themselves from having to live by the draconian rules they've setup for everyone else. The law mandates that members of Congress have access to essential health benefits which is exactly what Obamacare mandates for everyone else today.
For his part, the President has contributed nothing but noise. Donald Trump has demonstrated zero knowledge of the details around either Obamacare or the bill nicknamed after him that is designated to replace it. He is merely a buffoon with a bullhorn squandering an opportunity to actually set a cornerstone that would make America great.
Cue the announcer, "Yes folks, it's game day: Obamacare vs Trumpcare. This game is very much do or die for the home team - your home. And now taking the field on your behalf, the Republican Party."
Credit Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell for bowling sized cojones when it comes to driving this legislation forward regardless of the negative impact to the people that voted to put Trump and a Republican congress in office. It might be hard to come up with an example of elected officials giving the middle finger to such a vast constituency since the Confederate Congress existed. Although current Republican rhetoric on class, race and gender from the President on down would play well in 1860 Atlanta but that's a different story.
It's unfathomable the country is having a conversation about taking healthcare away from its own people but Republicans are now trying to reap what they've sown after pushing eight years of fake news about Obamacare. During the entire Obama presidency, Republicans rallied against Obamacare as a menace that strips people of money, freedoms and, most famously, creates death panels. Their baseless partisan rhetoric took on a life of its own comically (and sadly) confusing some GOP supporters to publicly decry Obamacare while at the same time expressing support for the Affordable Care Act.
Fortunately, many were eventually able to see past the lies and now some GOP congressional members seem genuinely taken aback their constituents figured out the truth. Those representatives are now stuck in a position where they may need to vote against the populous in order to satisfy their rich donors expecting a tax cut as part of the AHCA deal. To close the deal, McConnell and company are wheeling and dealing special interest amendments that make the bill vastly worse than it started which is no small feat.
The most inhumane add-on to the ACHA is the Cruz amendment named after Texas Republican and anti-Robin Hood supervillan Ted Cruz. He's managed to concoct a take from the poor and give to the rich scenario where individuals can hand over their cash to insurance companies for junk insurance plans. It's a GOP idealogical (and pathological) masterpiece. When people on those plans get sick and realize their coverage is worthless, they cannot switch to a full coverage plan for six months, assuming they live that long.
The ACHA is now so bad Senators have exempted themselves from having to live by the draconian rules they've setup for everyone else. The law mandates that members of Congress have access to essential health benefits which is exactly what Obamacare mandates for everyone else today.
For his part, the President has contributed nothing but noise. Donald Trump has demonstrated zero knowledge of the details around either Obamacare or the bill nicknamed after him that is designated to replace it. He is merely a buffoon with a bullhorn squandering an opportunity to actually set a cornerstone that would make America great.
Cue the announcer, "Yes folks, it's game day: Obamacare vs Trumpcare. This game is very much do or die for the home team - your home. And now taking the field on your behalf, the Republican Party."
Sunday, July 9, 2017
A Tale of Two Videos
The 4th of July was vacation for me and only the second week that I've not written original content since the 2016 election. However, I was struck by a tale of two videos at the conclusion of the G20 summit and was compelled to note the contrast.
The President celebrated the end of the G20 by releasing a video montage of his adventures in Hamburg to the tune of Make America Great Again. The video doesn't really have a clear message other than Trump vanity and is either the worst entry ever for an MTV Music Video Award or a Dear Leader-esq propaganda video produced by Kim Jong-un's production company:
The President celebrated the end of the G20 by releasing a video montage of his adventures in Hamburg to the tune of Make America Great Again. The video doesn't really have a clear message other than Trump vanity and is either the worst entry ever for an MTV Music Video Award or a Dear Leader-esq propaganda video produced by Kim Jong-un's production company:
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/NVDVRrWLs4— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017
In contrast, another video went viral this week with a sobering reminder of exactly how "great" America is perceived by the rest of the world under a Trump presidency:
Trump backers will ultimately dismiss the assessment with insults and name calling yet it will not change the perception in the eyes of the world.
To quote Donald Trump - Sad.
To quote Donald Trump - Sad.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
The Choices We Make
It's hard to believe that the most incredible statement out of Washington this week didn't come in the torrent of offensive and misogynistic tweets fired off by the Embarrassment in Chief. While Donald Trump was busy further demeaning the Office of the President in a flame war over something trivial, the Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, put forth an incredible assertion around the most important legislative debate in the country.
When asked about the estimated 22 million people who would become uninsured under the AHCA Senate bill, Ryan told Fox News the following, "What they're basically saying at the Congressional Budget Office is, if you're not going to force people to buy Obamacare, if you're not going to force people to buy something they don't want, then they won't buy it. So it's not that people are getting pushed off a plan. It's that people will choose not to buy something they don't like or want."
At face value Ryan is saying that there's no forced takeaway of healthcare under the AHCA, rather people will choose not to have coverage without the Obamacare mandate. There is likely some truth to that statement as there's certainly a percentage of stupid in the country that will choose not buy health insurance even if it is within their means. However, it's unfathomable to assert that the majority of the 22 million potentially impacted by the AHCA would choose not to buy insurance if it were affordable. The reality is that many would "choose" not to buy healthcare because the AHCA pushes premiums out of the range of affordability much in the same way a poor single mom may "choose" to skip a meal for her kids because the family cannot afford it. That's hardly a choice, and therein lies the lie Speaker Ryan is peddling.
In reality the AHCA force millions to make the "choice" between health insurance and food, rent, and other necessities. That point alone clearly doesn't trouble GOP lawmakers who cannot take their eye off the ball when it comes to tax cuts for the wealthy which is the other impact the AHCA is designed to deliver. GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson's tax bill will drop by $40 million alone if the AHCA becomes law.
The economic impact of the AHCA is even bigger than just the toll on individuals. Let's look at the state of Texas which is no stranger to giving the middle finger to common sense. Under Obamacare, healthcare enrollment did increase thanks to the individual mandate, however, Texas "chose" not to expand Medicaid leaving many in the insurance gap, one of the problems areas that needs to be addressed with the current Affordable Care Act, if congress and the GOP in particular were actually serious about improving coverage. Furthermore, private hospitals in wealthy Texas counties "chose" not to take patients that were uninsured leaving people no alternative but to swamp emergency rooms of public hospitals in urban areas such as Parkland Memorial which has seen a 72% increase of out of county poor patients over the last five years. Parkland lost $6 million last year alone and the out of county patient increase has cost $27.4 million since 2012. The burden is unsustainable and threatens the entire community should a resource like Parkland fail.
The "choice" Republicans are offering on healthcare is no choice at all. The intent of their healthcare fix is strictly to fix what they believe to be unnecessary spend on people that don't matter - aka the poor - and put that money back into their own pockets where they believe it rightfully belongs - the rich. The working middle class that will also be hurt along the way are apparently acceptable casualties toward this end.
The real choice in the healthcare debate isn't one where the American people choose between buying coverage or not. The choice is whether GOP leaders act to deliver affordable healthcare to all Americans or act to deliver a tax cut to the top one percent.
Paul Ryan knows that. Hopefully, enough of his constituents do too.
When asked about the estimated 22 million people who would become uninsured under the AHCA Senate bill, Ryan told Fox News the following, "What they're basically saying at the Congressional Budget Office is, if you're not going to force people to buy Obamacare, if you're not going to force people to buy something they don't want, then they won't buy it. So it's not that people are getting pushed off a plan. It's that people will choose not to buy something they don't like or want."
At face value Ryan is saying that there's no forced takeaway of healthcare under the AHCA, rather people will choose not to have coverage without the Obamacare mandate. There is likely some truth to that statement as there's certainly a percentage of stupid in the country that will choose not buy health insurance even if it is within their means. However, it's unfathomable to assert that the majority of the 22 million potentially impacted by the AHCA would choose not to buy insurance if it were affordable. The reality is that many would "choose" not to buy healthcare because the AHCA pushes premiums out of the range of affordability much in the same way a poor single mom may "choose" to skip a meal for her kids because the family cannot afford it. That's hardly a choice, and therein lies the lie Speaker Ryan is peddling.
In reality the AHCA force millions to make the "choice" between health insurance and food, rent, and other necessities. That point alone clearly doesn't trouble GOP lawmakers who cannot take their eye off the ball when it comes to tax cuts for the wealthy which is the other impact the AHCA is designed to deliver. GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson's tax bill will drop by $40 million alone if the AHCA becomes law.
The economic impact of the AHCA is even bigger than just the toll on individuals. Let's look at the state of Texas which is no stranger to giving the middle finger to common sense. Under Obamacare, healthcare enrollment did increase thanks to the individual mandate, however, Texas "chose" not to expand Medicaid leaving many in the insurance gap, one of the problems areas that needs to be addressed with the current Affordable Care Act, if congress and the GOP in particular were actually serious about improving coverage. Furthermore, private hospitals in wealthy Texas counties "chose" not to take patients that were uninsured leaving people no alternative but to swamp emergency rooms of public hospitals in urban areas such as Parkland Memorial which has seen a 72% increase of out of county poor patients over the last five years. Parkland lost $6 million last year alone and the out of county patient increase has cost $27.4 million since 2012. The burden is unsustainable and threatens the entire community should a resource like Parkland fail.
The "choice" Republicans are offering on healthcare is no choice at all. The intent of their healthcare fix is strictly to fix what they believe to be unnecessary spend on people that don't matter - aka the poor - and put that money back into their own pockets where they believe it rightfully belongs - the rich. The working middle class that will also be hurt along the way are apparently acceptable casualties toward this end.
The real choice in the healthcare debate isn't one where the American people choose between buying coverage or not. The choice is whether GOP leaders act to deliver affordable healthcare to all Americans or act to deliver a tax cut to the top one percent.
Paul Ryan knows that. Hopefully, enough of his constituents do too.
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