Thursday, December 05, 2024
Gaetz Is Gone - Hegseth Is Almost Gone - Is Gabbard Next?
Some of Donald Trump's cabinet choices were OK. They were right-wingers (who I believe will help the rich and hurt everyone else), but they are somewhat qualified - and a president deserves to nominate qualified individuals of his choice.
But some of Trump's picks were ridiculous (and unqualified). I'm talking about Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, Pete Hegseth for Department of Defense, Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, and Robert Kennedy, Jr. for Health and Human Services. These nominees were shocking even to Republicans in Congress.
Why did Trump choose these four? I believe he was trying to demonstrate his absolute power over Congress and the Republican Party. He was daring the GOP senators to oppose him.
Well, it's not going as well as he thought it would. Gaetz is already gone and replaced by Pam Bondi (former Florida AG). Now it looks like Hegseth is in trouble. He has an alcohol and womanizing problem, and has failed at leadership of much smaller organizations. Word is that Trump will soon replace him with Florida Governor DeSantis.
That leaves only Gabbard and Kennedy -- and two months before a vote could be taken on their confirmation. That's plenty of time for senators to get cold feet about both. There is already concern about putting Gabbard in charge of all the nation's intelligence services, with her Russian leanings. I believe she will be the next to go.
We'll have to wait and see about Kennedy. I think he may survive, even though he's a conspiracy nut and vaccine denier. He's dangerous and incompetent, but after killing the other three nominations, GOP senators may be afraid to deny another Trump nominee.
I expected the GOP senators to give Trump any crazy thing he wanted, but maybe there is a limit to what they'll do.
Wednesday, December 04, 2024
China Bans Shipping Critical Minerals To The United States
China is going to react to the tariffs and proposed tariffs levied against them. Last time they stopped purchasing agricultural products from the U.S., and that is likely to happen again. And they aren't waiting for Trump to take office. They have banned the export of key minerals to this country.
China has banned exports to the United States of items related to the minerals gallium, germanium and antimony that have potential military applications, it said on Tuesday.
A commerce ministry directive on dual-use items with both military and civilian applications cited national security concerns. The order, which takes immediate effect, also requires stricter review of end-usage for graphite items shipped to the U.S..
"In principle, the export of gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials to the United States shall not be permitted," the commerce ministry said. . . .
Gallium and germanium are used in semiconductors, while germanium is also used in infrared technology, fibre optic cables and solar cells.
Similarly, China's overall October shipments of antimony products plunged by 97% from September after Beijing's move to limit its exports took effect.
China accounted last year for 48% of globally mined antimony, which is used in ammunition, infrared missiles, nuclear weapons and night-vision goggles, as well as in batteries and photovoltaic equipment.
This year, China has accounted for 59.2% of refined germanium output and 98.8% of refined gallium production, according to consultancy Project Blue.
"The move is a considerable escalation of tensions in supply chains where access to raw material units is already tight in the West," said Project Blue co-founder Jack Bedder.
Texas (And Georgia) Won't Investigate Deaths Due To Their Abortion Ban
The following is part of an article by Susan Rinkunas at MSNBC.com:
Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision two and a half years ago, state abortion bans have restricted pregnant women’s access to emergency medical care. And as the predictable harms — up to and including death — come to light, some states are acting as if they want to hide them from the public.
Last week, ProPublica reported on Porsha Ngumezi, the third known Texas woman to have died under that state’s abortion ban. In June 2023, Ngumezi lost so much blood from miscarrying at 11 weeks that she needed two transfusions. The hospital delayed providing a procedure called dilation and curettage to clear the uterus, with doctors instead giving her a drug to stop the bleeding. She died of hemorrhaging three hours later. More than a dozen doctors who reviewed a summary of her case told ProPublica that Ngumezi’s death could have been averted with a D&C.
The very next day, The Washington Post reported that Texas’ Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) wouldn’t examine any pregnancy-related deaths from 2022 and 2023, citing a backlog of cases on top of the two-year delay that is typical of such committees. That means Texas won’t investigate any deaths from the past two years that are potentially linked to abortion bans, like Ngumezi’s. . . .
Maternal mortality committees review women’s deaths not to publicize individual cases but to make recommendations to prevent future harm. This refusal to review pregnancy-related deaths from the first post-Dobbs years means we may never have a full picture of the harm caused by an abortion ban in the second-most-populous state — one that has a long-standing crisis of women dying from pregnancy. An analysis published in September by the Gender Equity Policy Institute found that, from 2019 to 2022, the rate of maternal deaths in Texas increased by 56%, compared with 11% nationwide. But rather than investigate, the state is essentially admitting that the bodies are piling up faster than the state can address them. Its solution is not to dedicate more time and effort — like, perhaps, increasing the size of the 23-member committee — but to simply brush these women’s lives under the rug and skip ahead to 2024.
Texas isn’t the only state engaging in this sordid interference. ProPublica has found at least five women who’ve died under abortion bans: three in Texas and two in Georgia. After the outlet reported that Georgia’s MMRC had determined the two deaths were preventable, state officials responded by firing all of its 32 members. The commissioner of Georgia’s Public Health Department wrote in a letter to members that because the department wasn’t able to figure out who shared confidential information with ProPublica, it was dismissing the whole committee and would seek applications for replacements. This ruthless move will undoubtedly delay the work of the committee, but it seems leaks to the media are more important than urgent investigations of these women’s deaths. . . .
Unfortunately, things could get worse before they get better. Lawmakers in Texas and other states are threatening to copy a Louisiana controlled substances law that makes it harder to dispense medications used to treat postpartum hemorrhaging because the drugs are also used for abortions. The law targets the medication the hospital gave to Ngumezi instead of a D&C, and experts warn it could kill even more women in childbirth.
Tuesday, December 03, 2024
The Public's View Of Trump Is Generally Unfavorable
The chart above is from a survey by the Pew Research Center -- done between November 12th and 17th of a nationwide sample of 9,609 adults, with a 1.5 point margin of error.
President Biden Pardoned His Son (And It Was Appropriate)
President Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for the crimes he committed.
And it has caused a storm of criticism from both those on the right, and some on the left. Some on the left are saying it makes it look like some are above the law, and right-wingers are saying it justifies their belief that the Justice Department is using the law to do political attacks.
Both are wrong!
Hunter Biden was found guilty of lying on a government form to buy a gun - a gun that he owned for only 11 days back in 2018.
He also confessed to not paying federal taxes. Those taxes have now been paid.
Would an ordinary citizen have been charged with either of these crimes? NO! The government wants its tax money - not to punish those who have finally confessed and paid up. And they very likely would not charge a citizen who lied on a form 7 years ago and then gave up the gun after only 11 days.
Biden was charged by a Trump-appointed attorney in an effort to smear the president, and Attorney General Garland didn't want to dismiss the charges because he was afraid it would look like political favoritism.
The charges were brought because Hunter Biden was the president's son - and no other reason. The pardon was appropriate.
The only sad part is the pardon might give Trump some cover when he pardons the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol on January 6th. But he was going to do that anyway.
Monday, December 02, 2024
U.S. Public Doesn't Agree With Presidential Immunity
The chart above reflects the results of the Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between November 23rd and 26th of a nationwide sample of 1,590 adults (including 1,412 registered voters). The margin of error is 3.2 points for adults and 3.3 points for registered voters.
Trump Decisions Will Be What's Best For His Businesses - Not The Country
The charts above reflects the results of the Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between November 23rd and 26th of a nationwide sample of 1,590 adults, with a 3.2 point margin of error.
Five Things To Know About Kash Patel
The New York Times gives us 5 things we should know about Kash Patel - Trump's pick to head the FBI.
Here are five takeaways from a recent New York Times profile of Mr. Patel.
Former colleagues question his qualifications.
Mr. Trump said in his social media post announcing his choice for the F.B.I. that Mr. Patel had “tried over 60 jury trials.” Colleagues from Mr. Patel’s time as an entry-level public defender in Florida recall him as a middling performer with a deep animosity toward the Justice Department prosecutors he found himself up against. His former supervisor, Michael Caruso, a federal public defender who led the Southern District of Florida office at the time, said that Mr. Patel shied away from filing motions that he was likely to lose.
Mr. Patel spent about three years as a terrorism prosecutor at the Justice Department. He has repeatedly claimed he was the “lead prosecutor” in the government’s pursuit of the perpetrators of the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans. In fact, Mr. Patel was a junior Justice Department staff member at the time, and he was not part of the trial team.
He is the author of the ‘Nunes Memo.’
Mr. Trump ordered that Mr. Patel be given a job on the National Security Council staff after Mr. Patel, then a House Intelligence Committee staffer, impressed Mr. Trump as the primary author of what has come to be called the secret “Nunes memo.” The document was a key element in the effort of House Republicans to undermine the Justice Department’s investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Mr. Patel’s memo, which Mr. Trump declassified over the objections of the intelligence agencies and Democrats, fueled bogus claims by Mr. Trump, Republicans and conservative media that politics drove the Russia investigation and that the government had spied on the Trump campaign itself.
He was a would-be ‘political executioner.’
In 2019, as President Trump battled public outrage and a looming impeachment over his effort to enlist Ukraine in digging up dirt on former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., he proposed to a group of top advisers that Mr. Patel, a backbench staffer on the National Security Council, begin vetting White House aides for loyalty. He would have served as a “political executioner,” in the words of Charles Kupperman, the deputy national security adviser at the time. Mr. Kupperman and White House legal advisers talked the president out of it, saying it would create legal and morale problems.
He says his nonprofit helps Jan. 6 defendants.
The Kash Foundation is a nonprofit that Mr. Patel has said offers financial help to a range of recipients, including the families of people charged for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Tax filings for 2023 show the foundation’s revenue surged from $182,000 in 2022 to $1.3 million last year. Its expenses rose fivefold over 2022 to $674,000. Almost half of that was spent on promotion and advertising, an expense that totaled more than the foundation gave away in contributions and grants last year.
He sells pro-Trump merchandise under the logo K$H.
Since the end of the Trump administration, Mr. Patel has parlayed his association with the former president into enterprises he promotes under the logo “K$H.” He sells pro-Trump T-shirts and other items as well as a series of his children’s books that pay homage to “King Donald.” Mr. Patel also collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees from the 2024 Trump campaign and from Friends of Matt Gaetz, the campaign committee for the former House Republican from Florida, who withdrew from consideration as Mr. Trump’s attorney general after criticism over allegations of sex trafficking and drug use.
Sunday, December 01, 2024
U.S. Public Sees Little Hope For Lasting Peace Between Israelis/ Palestinians
Only 16% think there is a chance for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, while a whopping 66% don't think that is likely.
Biden Was Reducing Inflation - Trump Will Increase It
The policies of President Biden was working to reduce inflation. And it was not just gas prices, but inflation reduction for most other items, too.
Unfortunately, the MAGA cult (who refused to accept the truth) and low-information voters (who don't watch the news) combined to re-elect Donald Trump.
Trump's stated agenda (huge tariffs on imported goods and mass deportations) will cause inflation to again start rising - probably by a huge margin.
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Friday, November 29, 2024
These Products Will Be Affected By Trump's Tariffs On Mexico/Canada
The following is from Newsweek:
If the tariffs are imposed, they could cost Americans an estimated $78 billion annually, NBC News reported, with everyday goods costing more.
Below are the seven major product categories that would be most affected.
Automobiles and Automotive Parts
Canada and Mexico are major suppliers of vehicles and parts, and many cars sold in the U.S. are assembled in those countries or use components sourced from them. Analysts have estimated that a tariff could add $1,000 to $5,000 to the price of a new car, with parts such as engines, transmissions and tires becoming more expensive. Replacement parts would also become more expensive because of the tariffs.
Agricultural Products
Canada and Mexico are also significant exporters of agricultural goods to the U.S., including fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy. A 25 percent tariff would make everyday staples such as avocados, tomatoes, beef and cheese more expensive for U.S. consumers.
Canadian beef exports across all markets are projected to total 595,000 tons this year, with about 80 percent destined for U.S. customers. Last year, the U.S. imported $2.7 billion worth of avocados from Mexico, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported.
Electronics
Many electronics—including smartphones—are assembled in Mexico or rely on components manufactured there. Tariffs on electronics could lead to higher prices for consumer goods, especially devices such as TVs, laptops and home appliances that rely on Mexican manufacturing.
Mineral Fuels and Oils
Canada is the largest exporter of crude oil and refined petroleum to the U.S. A 25 percent tariff would increase fuel costs, affecting gas prices and heating oil. This means consumers would likely see higher prices at the pump, with several cents per gallon being added to gasoline and diesel prices.
Plastics and Plastic Products
Canada and Mexico supply a significant amount of plastic materials and products used in packaging, construction and consumer goods. Tariffs would raise costs for businesses and consumers across industries that rely on plastic.
Machinery and Industrial Equipment
Canada and Mexico also export heavy machinery, engines and industrial tools used in manufacturing and construction.
If Trump's tariffs are imposed, U.S. industries will face higher costs for equipment, such as industrial machinery, boilers and electrical equipment. The higher costs could slow down construction and manufacturing projects, which in turn could hit companies in those industries.
"If you voted for Trump because you thought he was going to bring down the cost of housing, a lot of our lumber, cement and other materials comes from Canada, which means that construction costs are going to go up," commentator Catherine Rampell said on CNN on Monday.
Aluminum and Steel Products
Canada is a top supplier of aluminum and steel, which are essential for construction, automotive manufacturing and packaging. Tariffs would raise the cost of raw materials, affecting industries that use these metals and even products such as soda cans.
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Happy Thanksgiving
I wish all my readers a very happy Thanksgiving holiday. I hope it is filled with food and fun - and I hope you get to spend it with people you love.
I Am Thankful For These Things
Like many other Americans, I was shocked at the outcome of the election. And I am convinced that Donald Trump will cause serious damage to the economy, and possibly our democracy. It will be a dark period in our history.
But there are things I am thankful for on this holiday.
I am thankful for the 74,368,622 voters who cast their ballot for Kamala Harris. And I hope they will all turn out again in 2024.
I am thankful for the Democratic Party. Although outnumbered in Congress, they will do their best to minimize the damage Trump tries to do.
I am thankful for the millions of federal government workers. They will continue to do their jobs well, and most will oppose any unconstitutional demands fro Trump and his cabinet picks.
I am thankful for the ACLU, the NAACP, LULAC, Planned Parenthood, and dozens of other organizations that will continue to fight for the rights of all Americans.
I am thankful for the mainstream media (both print and broadcast). They are necessary for the survival of our democracy.
I am thankful for the honest pollsters. They will keep the politicians somewhat in check by revealing what the people really want.
I am thankful for the undocumented immigrant workers who do the jobs that citizens don't want to do - keeping our economy strong. And I hope most survive Trump's deportation plans.
And I am thankful for the organizations that will protect our environment from the ravages of a Trump presidency.
The next two-four years will be tough, but all is not lost. There are still things to be thankful for.
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