WELCOME to my second ALL-POLITICS blog covering the November 2024 Election. (If you missed the first edition, check out my Aug. 10 blog.) Don’t worry, the regular non-politics blog will post next weekend, with the 2 blogs alternating until November. Luckily, I have no life….
Election Basics.
REGISTRATION
Are you registered to vote in Travis County? Things can change, so go here to BE SURE you are eligible to vote: https://elections.traviscountytx.gov/voter-lookup/#VoterEligibilitySearch
This site checks voter registration within the entire state of Texas: https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do
Last day to register to vote in Travis County is Oct. 7. Go here to fill out an application form, but it must be PRINTED and MAILED: https://vrapp.sos.state.tx.us/index.asp
BALLOT BY MAIL
Application deadline is Oct. 25: https://elections.traviscountytx.gov/voter-information/ballot-by-mail/#AbsenteeBallotSearch
VOTING (in person)
Early Voting is Oct. 21-Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5
SAMPLE BALLOT
There is MUCH more being decided than the Presidential race. Be sure to vote in ALL races, top to bottom of the ballot (preferably for DEMOCRATS.) Go here and enter your address to see the elections and candidates: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Sample_Ballot
GREAT ARTICLE
This has everything you need to know about voting in Texas: Here’s how to vote in the Texas 2024 election 8/21/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/texas-voter-guide-2024-election/
Things YOU can do.
Volunteer for the Harris/Walz campaign. https://go.kamalaharris.com/?utm_source=hfp_w_kh_menu
Get campaign signs for your yard locally. Sign up here to have yard signs delivered to you: https://forms.gle/Vr9ET6A8LMsXympD8
Volunteer here in Lakeway area. LT Dems are working with Western Travis Democrats (a group of local Dem Precinct Chairs) to organize activities including mailings, block walks/lit drops, phone banks, campaign signs, and more for this fall. Go here (at the link, scroll down to GOTV and click on More Info) to sign up and help GET OUT THE VOTE this fall: https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/copy-of-club-activities
Donate here in Lakeway area for local impact. The activities listed above that local Dem groups are spearheading take MONEY. Printing, postage, signs—it adds up. Donations are needed. ACT BLUE makes donating easy and secure. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/western-travis-democrats-1
Donate to Travis County Democratic Party. TCDP is working hard to reach Democrats across Travis County and make sure they know when, how, and where to vote. To get Harris/Walz and Colin Allred elected we need to turn out every Democrat in Travis County —and postcards are key in making that happen. $20 = 30 postcards. $50 = 76 postcards. Pitch in to mobilize Democrats across Travis County. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/fund-our-postcards?fbclid=IwY2xjawEh8LpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHby1WqRlAg3PPiBFqmxnSOXA8pyevSZAiZMFqqM0nRquYthuhh3oAyyB9A_aem_IIfdpz23omO4H9aIbCDxoA
Mail postcards to SWING STATES. Turning Texas blue is a big lift, BUT we can help the DEMS win the swing states, by mailing postcards. Progressive Turnout Project has a goal of 26 million cards and makes it easy, sending you the cards, addresses and messages you can use. You just provide the stamps. Here is how it works: “Sign up now to write postcards to rally Democrats to vote in 11 key states on November 5! Writing postcards is the most effective action you can take from home to help re-elect President Biden and ensure that Democrats maintain a Senate majority. You can pick the state when you sign up, and we’ll mail you free postcards along with voter lists and instructions with proven message options. You’ll provide the postcard stamps and mail the postcards in October on the instructed date.” Go here to sign up: https://turnoutpac.org/postcards/
DNC Convention (Preserving Democracy But Still Having FUN).
I collected BEST BITS, day by day.
SUNDAY
Here is how the DNC got ready for the Big Show starting Monday. They projected choice comments (Joy and Hope, Weird as Hell, Project 2025 HQ) on Trump Tower in Chicago. (Image credits: Jeff Schear/Getty Images for DNC.) Democratic National Committee projects ‘weird’ message on Chicago’s Trump Tower ahead of DNC 8/19/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4834738-democratic-national-committee-projects-anti-trump-messages-on-trump-tower-ahead-of-dnc/
MONDAY
–‘Law & Order’ Montage 2-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUTH_lOp834
–The Democratic Platform: “History has shown that nothing about democracy is guaranteed. Every generation has to protect it, preserve it, choose it. We must stand together to choose what we want America to be.”
—Pres. Joe Biden’s speech-ender: “Each of us has a part in the American story. For me and my family there’s a song that means a lot to us that captures the best of who we are as a nation. The song is called ‘American Anthem.’ There’s one verse that stands out…. ‘The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall our legacy be? What will our children say? Let me know in my heart when my days are through America. America, I gave my best to you.’” (That, he did.)
—Representative Jasmine Crockett from Texas: “Kamala Harris has a résumé. Donald Trump has a rap sheet. Harris became a career prosecutor, while Trump became a career criminal–with 34 felonies, 2 impeachments and 1 porn star to prove it.”
—Representative Jamie Raskin from Maryland: “Trump’s VP Mike Pence is the first vice president in more than 200 years NOT to support the president he served. Someone should’ve told Donald Trump that the president’s job under Article 2 of the Constitution is to take care that the laws are faithfully executed, not that the vice president is executed. JD Vance, do you understand why there was a sudden job opening for running mate on the [Republican] ticket? They tried to kill your predecessor!”
—Senator Laphonza Butler from California: “We deserve a president who shatters the boundaries of what’s possible, not the boundaries of what’s legal.”
TUESDAY
Michelle Obama: “America, hope is making a comeback.” ALSO: “Who’s going to tell Trump that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?”
Pres. Barack Obama: “He’s a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator 9 years ago. It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually been getting worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois: “It’s time we stop expecting women to clean up messes without the authority and the title to match the job. Vice President was a good title for Kamala Harris. You know an even better one? President.”
My favorite part was Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff being introduced by his son with a video that explained the Emhoff/Harris blended family dynamic. Cole Emhoff DNC video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaHUsIsCejI (Doug Emhoff’s ex-wife produced the video and attended the DNC in the Harris family box.) Emhoff’s speech was also excellent. A woman who is part of a “3-headed parenting machine” with her hubby and his ex PLUS is beloved by both 20-something step-kids—she’s a keeper. Doug Emhoff’s ex-wife helped produce the video bio of him that played at the DNC 8/21/24 https://www.npr.org/2024/08/21/g-s1-18527/democratic-national-convention-doug-cole-kerstin-emhoff
WEDNESDAY
Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (to Trump): “Bro, we broke up with you for a reason.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: “I just don’t believe that America today is in the market for darkness.” AND “I believe in a better politics—one that finds us at our most decent, and open, and brave—the kind of politics that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are offering. As you’ve felt in the last couple of days, that kind of politics just feels good to be a part of. There is joy in it, as well as power. This November we get to choose. We get to choose our President, we get to choose our policies, but most of all, we can choose a better politics.” Actually, EVERY WORD HE SAID was pitch perfect. Listen here: https://time.com/7013796/pete-buttigieg-dnc-speech-2024/
Representative Andy Kim of New Jersey: “There is a hunger right now in the country for a new generation of leadership to step up.”
Oprah Winfrey: “We won’t be sent back, pushed back, kicked back, we are not going back.” AND “When a house is on fire, we don’t ask whose house it is. And, if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady, well, we try to get that cat out too.”
Pres. Bill Clinton: “We need Kamala Harris, the President of Joy, to lead us.”
Gov. Tim Walz: “Growing up in a small town, you learn how to take care of each other. That family down the road, they may not think like you do, they may not pray like you do. They may not love like you do. But they’re your neighbors. And you look out for them. And they look out for you. Everybody belongs. And everybody has a responsibility to contribute.” AND “When Republicans use the word freedom, they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor’s office. Corporations — free to pollute your air and water. And banks — free to take advantage of customers. But when Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love. Freedom to make your own health care decisions. And your kids’ freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot dead in the hall.” AND “No matter who you are, Kamala Harris is going to stand up and fight for your freedom to live the life that you want to lead, because that’s what we want for ourselves, and it’s what we want for our neighbors.” (Image credit above: Getty Images.)
THURSDAY
DL Hughley: “I guarantee you that Kamala has been black a lot longer than Trump has been a Republican.”
US Congressman Colin Allred from Texas: “We will restore reproductive freedom. We will secure the border. We will protect Medicare and Social Security. And we will turn the page and write a new chapter for this country and elect Kamala Harris to be the next president and beat Ted Cruz.”
Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger: “I want to let my fellow Republicans in on a secret: The Democrats are as patriotic as us.”
Former CIA Director, Secretary of Defense, White House Chief of Staff and Congressman Leon Panetta: When Harris is elected, “our allies will cheer and our enemies will fear, and we will have a commander in chief that we can trust.”
VP Kamala Harris: “Fellow Americans, this election is not only the most important of our lives, it is one of the most important in the life of our nation. In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.” AND “On behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks. On behalf of my mother, and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey. On behalf of Americans like the people I grew up with — people who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another. On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America. AND With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past, a chance to chart a new way forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans. I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations. A president who leads and listens; who is realistic, practical and has common sense; and always fights for the American people. From the courthouse to the White House, that has been my life’s work.” AND “It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done, guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love, to fight for the ideals we cherish and to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth: the privilege and pride of being an American. So, let’s get out there, let’s fight for it. Let’s get out there, let’s vote for it, and together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told.” (Image credit above: NY Times.)
SHINY NEW POLLS
Polling as of Aug. 15 shows that the highly popular Harris/Walz ticket has brought 4 crucial Sun Belt states into play. Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina are in the DEM column or within reach, despite being solidly red in recent months. Harris is now leading Trump among likely voters in Arizona by 5%, and has also edged ahead in North Carolina. Trump’s lead in Georgia and Nevada has shrunk significantly in recent weeks, with the overall trend clearly running against him. This means that the DEMS now have multiple paths to victory—by winning contested states from the Sun Belt list and/or from the Rust Belt list (Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin), where Harris/Walz are now leading in the polls. Harris Puts Four Sun Belt States Back in Play 8/16/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/16/kamala-harris-polls-key-states
Among all adults — relevant since there’s plenty of time to register — Harris and Walz lead Trump and Vance by 50%-45%. Among those now registered to vote, it’s 49%-45%. Harris has a 6-point lead among likely voters, 51%-45%. IPSOS Aug. 16 poll shows Harris leading Trump overall, nationally. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harris-trump-poll-election-issues/story?id=112865487
FiveThirtyEight/NYT polling as of Aug. 21 shows Harris leading Trump nationally as well as in swing states Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. They are tied in Arizona, with Trump leading in Georgia. Election 2024 Polls: Harris vs. Trump 8/21/24 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/us/elections/polls-president.html
In TEXAS, polling by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs released Aug. 22 showed Harris trailing Trump by only 5%, half the gap between Biden and Trump earlier in 2024. Plus, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz is only 2% ahead of Dem. challenger US Representative Colin Allred. Harris shrinks Trump’s lead in Texas, Allred within striking distance of Cruz, poll finds 8/22/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/22/trump-harris-cruz-allred-texas-poll/
DEBATES
Harris dared Trump: “Say it to my face.” So, in early August Trump agreed to the previously arranged Sept. 10 debate. It will be on ABC, with David Muir and Linsey Davis as moderators, and without a live audience. ABC Says Trump and Harris Have Agreed to Debate on Sept. 10 https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-abc-debate-814786cc3ad7c11498c71f09f0172db3
The VP nominees will debate on Oct. 1. Their meeting will be hosted by CBS News in NYC, with moderators Margaret Brennan (Face the Nation) and Norah O’Donnell (CBS Evening News). (Image credit: Getty Images.) VP debate hosted by CBS News set for Oct. 1 between Vance and Walz 8/15/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vp-debate-tim-walz-jd-vance/
HARRIS/WALZ
Joyful Warriors
Love, love, love Dan Rather’s Aug. 13 Substack—Joyful Warriors. He captures a big reason the Harris/Walz ticket is resonating now in America, upending 9 years of angry politics dominated by Trump’s nasty negativity that has become rancid and exhausting. (Image credit: Getty Images.) https://steady.substack.com/p/joyful-warriors
Republicans for Harris
The endorsements are streaming in–from Democrats, obviously. But, respected and high-level Republicans are also done with Trump, endorsing Kamala Harris for 2024. This, amazingly, includes Retired Federal Appeals Court Judge Michael Luttig, who was appointed to the bench by Pres. George H.W. Bush and on the short list for SCOTUS nominee more than once. Currently a prominent conservative legal scholar, Luttig will vote DEM for the first time, because he understands Trump is an existential threat to American democracy. “In the presidential election of 2024 there is only one political party and one candidate for the presidency that can claim the mantle of defender and protector of America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law,” Luttig wrote. “As a result, I will unhesitatingly vote for the Democratic Party’s candidate for the Presidency of the United States, Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris.” Other GOP members who have endorsed Kamala Harris include former Congress Members Joe Walsh, Barbara Comstock and Adam Kinzinger, as well as former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and former Mike Pence staffer Olivia Troye. Exclusive: Conservative Republican endorses Harris, calls Trump a threat to democracy 8/19/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/19/politics/conservative-republican-endorses-harris-calls-trump-a-threat-to-democracy/index.html
Plus, Stephanie Grisham, former Trump White House press secretary until resigning on Jan. 6, 2021, has not only endorsed Harris, she spoke at the DNC. “Trump used to tell me, ‘It doesn’t matter what you say, Stephanie — say it enough and people will believe you.’” Also: “Trump mocks his supporters. He calls them ‘basement dwellers.’” Grisham said that she doesn’t agree with Vice President Harris on everything but is “proud to support her” because she knows she will “defend our freedoms and represent our nation with honesty and integrity.” Why is former Trump official Stephanie Grisham speaking at DNC? 8/20/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4836833-stephanie-grisham-dnc-convention-chicago-trump-harris-2024/
Evangelicals for Harris
This may seem surprising, but over 200,000 people joined a ZOOM call hosted by Evangelicals for Harris, with a robust fundraising result. They even have a website https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/ As it states: In this election, the choice is clear: Kamala Harris. I don’t care what, if any, religion you support, watching the 3-minute video on the site’s front page will be a balm to your soul.
POLICY—how Harris and Trump differ.
–On changing policy to allow the American President to interfere with the Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates:
TRUMP said on Aug. 8: The president should “have at least [a] say” in Fed policy.
HARRIS said on Aug 10: “I couldn’t … disagree more strongly. The Fed is an independent entity, and as president, I would never interfere in the decisions that the Fed makes.” https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/10/harris-trump-federal-reserve-independence-election.html
–On the ECONOMY:
HARRIS: “As president, I will be laser-focused on creating opportunities for the middle class that advance their economic security, stability and dignity.” She proposed giving first-time home buyers up to $25,000 in down payment assistance and called for the construction of three million housing units that would be affordable for the middle class. Tax credits for parents will increase. She will fight to increase the minimum wage. Plus, she vowed that price negotiations with drug companies will expand, saving consumers millions and leveling the healthcare playing field. HARRIS will create a federal ban on price gouging at the grocery store: “Companies are seeing their highest profits in two decades. And while many grocery chains pass along these savings, others don’t. We need to take action when that is the case.” (BTW, don’t be fooled–Harris did NOT call for price controls; her price-gouging ban has already been proposed in Congress and now exists in several states, including Texas.)
TRUMP*: TARIFFS, so many TARIFFS, even more beautiful TARIFFS than I did last time! But, why am I standing here being filmed with fake groceries? I’m taking the Cheerios back to Mar-a-Lago and hiding them from Melania. WHERE IS MY LUNCH?!
–On landlords contributing to the housing crisis:
HARRIS: “Some corporate landlords collude with each other to set artificially high rental prices, often using algorithms in price-fixing software to do it.”
TRUMP*: I’ll deport MILLIONS and MILLIONS of immigrants, all the nasty ones. Just an endless tide of mass deportations, like no one has ever seen. You can have THEIR houses!
–On how a presidential administration should treat business:
HARRIS: The focus will be “creating a stable business environment with consistent and transparent rules of the road.”
TRUMP*: Contribute big time to my campaign, and I’ll make sure you never pay taxes again. Cross me—and you’re screwed. Drill, baby, drill!
*If Trump had said anything coherent on the economy, ever, I’d have quoted him.
Read more details here:
—Kamala Harris Rolled Out An Ambitious Economic Plan. Here’s What’s In It 8/16/24 https://time.com/7011865/kamala-harris-economic-plan-groceries-child/
–Harris and Trump Offer a Clear Contrast on the Economy 8/16/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/16/business/economy/harris-trump-economy-inflation.html
Kamala Harris, for the people.
Here is transcript of her DNC speech on Aug. 22 (above image credits: REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/NY Times): Read Kamala Harris’ full speech at the Democratic National Convention 8/23/24 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-kamala-harris-full-speech-at-the-democratic-national-convention-2
Watch her speech here: FULL SPEECH: Kamala Harris takes Donald Trump head-on in DNC address 8/22/24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9SoXA5Ogo8
Meet Governor Tim Walz.
Per the Harris/Walz site:
Governor Walz is a champion for America’s working families. He enlisted in the Army National Guard when he turned 17 and served for 24 years, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major. After attending college thanks to the GI Bill, Tim Walz served his community as a high school teacher and football coach – taking his team to the state championship for the first time in the school’s history. He became a member of Congress in a Republican district by representing the needs of farmers and rural America. As Governor, Tim Walz cut taxes for working families, lowered the cost of insulin and eliminated junk fees, and protected women’s right to choose. That experience makes him the ideal running mate for Kamala Harris, who has taken on the big banks, led the fight for reproductive freedom, and stood with our allies against Putin’s aggression during her time as a prosecutor, Attorney General, Senator, and Vice President.
Their shared commitment to working families draws a complete contrast to Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. Instead of making life better for working families or focusing on our future, Trump and Vance are committed to their extreme and dangerous Project 2025 agenda that will roll back Americans’ rights and freedoms, hurt the middle class, and threaten our democracy.
As Governor, Walz has done more to help middle class families get ahead than any other statewide leader in recent memory. He lowered the cost of insulin to $35 per month for many Minnesotans. He eliminated junk fees. And, he signed paid leave into law so that parents can take care of sick families without losing their job. Governor Walz stood up for fundamental freedoms and made Minnesota the first state to pass a law codifying abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. He funded Minnesota police departments, putting more cops on the street and investing in body cameras, and established universal background checks for gun purchases. And, he worked across the aisle to pass a bipartisan infrastructure package.
A lifelong Midwesterner, Governor Walz grew up working on his family farm. He enlisted in the Army National Guard when he turned 17, following in his father’s – a veteran – footsteps. During his 24 years of National Guard service, he specialized in heavy artillery and retired as the highest-ranking enlisted National Guard soldier in southern Minnesota. Governor Walz went to college on the GI Bill.
Governor Walz is a gun owner, avid pheasant hunter, and supporter of the Second Amendment – and he, like millions of gun owners, believes that Congress must do more to tackle gun violence in our communities. As Governor, he established universal background checks for gun purchases.
For six terms, Governor Walz represented Minnesota’s First Congressional District – a conservative-leaning district where he was only the second Democrat elected since 1890. The son of an Army veteran who served as a command sergeant major, Walz was the ranking member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where he passed legislation to help stem veterans’ suicides.
Governor Walz met his wife Gwen teaching high school in Nebraska before moving to Gwen’s home state of Minnesota. A former union member, Tim taught high school for two decades, including helping lead the Mankato West football team to their first state championship.
Governor Walz and Mrs. Walz have two children, Hope and Gus. Governor Walz and Mrs. Walz struggled with years of fertility challenges and had their daughter, Hope, through reproductive health care like IVF – further cementing his commitment to ensuring all Americans have access to this care. (Image credit: campaign website.) https://kamalaharris.com/meet-governor-tim-walz/
24 years serving his country.
Look, I have no military experience, so all I can do is evaluate this as an outsider. Walz volunteered at age 17 and served his country for 24 years. During his military career, he lost his hearing due to long-term exposure to high-decibel munitions, requiring surgery. Still, instead of retiring at the 20-year mark, he stayed on 4 more years, before leaving to run for US Congress, where he served another 12 years. I just cannot see anything objectionable there. (Image credit: campaign website.) Here is a soldier’s take on things: JD Vance Criticized Tim Walz’s Retirement. But There’s Something He Doesn’t Understand 8/15/24 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/08/15/tim-walz-national-guard-retirement-jd-vance-00173893
Walz’ Full DNC Speech (Image credits:Getty Images and NYT.)
READ the full transcript of Walz’ speech at the DNC. Tim Walz’s full speech at the 2024 DNC https://www.axios.com/2024/08/22/tim-walz-dnc-speech-full-transcript
WATCH Walz’ speech at the DNC. Tim Walz headlines third night of DNC with help from Clinton, Oprah and Stevie Wonder 8/22/24 https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/g-s1-18756/tim-walz-democratic-national-convention-speech
TRUMP/VANCE
The perfect shot of those two clowns…. (Image credit: NY Times.)
TRUMP
Still old and addled. Still lying. Still a racist and a misogynist. (Lefthand image credit: AP.)
George Conway’s PsychoPAC ad
This ad diagnoses Old 45 in 1 perfect minute: Donald Trump’s Empty Seats Meltdown 8/9/24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFec-4__m_I&t=57s
Actually, the entire website is a hoot, funny AND rings SO true. (Image credit— PsychoPAC site.) https://www.psychopac.org/
Lincoln Project’s FAILURES ad
Yikes, Trump is twisting in the wind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY8uRLSMjrg
Still weird (and worse).
Kinda odd that “weird” bothers Trump (and Vance) so very much. (Image credit: MadDogPAC.com.) That term is relatively mild, as far as insults go. Strongman scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat explains things well, noting that strongmen cannot take a joke. They are insecure, so being ridiculed is worse than being called evil. That’s why they surround themselves with sycophants, who humor them along; being hit with the truth is shocking to them. Calling Trump weird knocks him off balance and reminds everyone that he isn’t quite right. Plus, humor brings us together, the last thing a strongman wants. Trump can’t take a joke 8/7/24 https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-jd-vance-tim-walz-weird-maga-authoritarians-rcna164669
No one likes a deadbeat.
The Trump campaign was required to pay $82K IN ADVANCE, before his August 14 rally in Asheville, covering the cost of the auditorium, personnel and equipment rentals. As the reason, city authorities cited over $850,000 in unpaid bills nationwide that Trump has left along the campaign trail. Trump Campaign Forced To Pay North Carolina City $82K in Advance for Rally 8/14/24 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-campaign-forced-pay-north-carolina-city-82k-advance-rally-1938769 A few towns in Montana weren’t as careful and got stuck with $60K in bills for rally-related expenses that Trump has ignored since 2018. Trump’s Bozeman rally highlights unpaid costs from past Montana visits 8/16/24 https://www.nbcmontana.com/news/local/trumps-bozeman-rally-highlights-unpaid-costs-from-past-montana-visits
Soft on crime, for his friends/for a price.
Trump in early 2021 set free Jonathan Braun, a convicted drug dealer and predatory lender. Now, he is under arrest again, this time for assaulting his wife in both July and August, as well as attacking her 75-year old father. Back in 2021, Trump was on his way out the White House door when Braun’s family used connections it had to Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to score commutation and get him out of jail. (Image credit: AP.) New York drug dealer whose prison sentence Trump commuted arrested on assault charges 8/22/24 https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/22/trump-clemency-recipient-jonathan-braun-arrest-assault.html
It’s a soft landing.
Trump needs to get a new shtick. The latest inflation data shows record LOW levels since the pandemic. Prices fell for things like for cars, clothes and plane tickets. Gas is cheaper than last year, and getting more so. Plus—for over a year now, wages have grown faster than inflation. Unemployment remains extremely low. All this shows the US nailed the coveted “soft landing” and avoided recession, unlike most other countries. Also, it paves the way for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in September. The Biden/Harris economic plan WORKED. Inflation Cools to 2.9%, Shoring Up Case for a Fed Rate Cut 8/14/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/14/business/cpi-inflation-july.html
The abortion issue is just going away…. Really?
Remember back all through 2020 when Trump said over and over that Covid-19 was going away on its own, nothing to worry about, it was just going to disappear? And, then MILLIONS of Americans died. https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2020/10/politics/covid-disappearing-trump-comment-tracker/
Now, he’s trying the same thing with abortion. WRONG AGAIN. Trump at his Aug. 8 press conference: “I think that abortion has become much less of an issue. I think it’s actually going to be very small issue.” He added, “I think the abortion issue has been taken down many notches. don’t think it’s a big factor anymore, really.” Trump says abortion not ‘big factor’ in elections anymore 8/8/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/4819080-trump-downplays-abortion-issue/
Trump’s odd and illegal obsession with the Titanic theme song.
Everyone knows the Titanic rammed an iceberg and sank, killing over a thousand people, right? It is one of the iconic tragedies of recent history. Really BAD. Even Trump must know that. And yet, at his rallies Trump routinely plays the movie’s theme song, Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On.” WITHOUT her permission. This has really pissed her off. (Not easy to do, as she is Canadian.) ‘Really, THAT song?’ Celine Dion slams Trump campaign for using ‘Titanic’ recording 8/11/24 https://www.politico.eu/article/really-that-song-celine-dion-slams-trump-campaign-for-unauthorized-use-of-titanic-recording/
Apologies to Celine, but my favorite Titanic-referencing song is Harry Chapin’s “Dance Band on the Titanic.” Enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lB7l9okunY
Turns out that Trump has stolen music for his events since at least 2015. Wikipedia has a whole page on performers whose work was used without permission. Leonard Cohen had the best response; he refused to allow Trump to use “Hallelujah” but suggested “You want it Darker?” Considering the lyrics, that song really works for Trump. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicians_who_oppose_Donald_Trump%27s_use_of_their_music
Money, money, money.
Trump has made over $300K to date selling Bibles (his “favorite book”). At $60 each, there are extras– gold-edged pages, large print, the U.S. Constitution, and the lyrics to Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA. (Sadly, the rumor that a nude photo of Melania was included seems to be false.) Trump Makes $$$ Hawking Tacky Celeb-Endorsed Bibles 8/16/24 https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-made-dollar300k-endorsing-bible-holds-dollar1-million-in-cryptocurrency
NOT Taylor Swift.
Trump posted images faked by AI on his social media on Aug. 18, trying to convince people that Taylor Swift had endorsed him and her fans love him. Swifties won’t forget that …. (Actually, Trump may have just alienated the last group of females left standing by his misogynist VP, JD Vance.) Trump shares AI-generated images of Taylor Swift and her fans supporting him 8/19/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/trump-shares-ai-generated-images-taylor-swift-fans-supporting-rcna167126
Trump disses American vets, yet again.
At a recent event at his Bedminster golf club, Trump was introduced by Miriam Adelson, a profligate donor to Republican politicians and the widow of GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson. Together, over the years, the Adelsons have donated over $100MIL to Trump and PACs that support him. He recalled awarding her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, when he was criticized for handing out such a high honor in exchange for campaign donations. He stepped in it even worse currently, obviously angling for another big donation and saying this: “That’s the highest award you can get as a civilian. It’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, but civilian version. It’s actually much better because everyone [who] gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets, or they’re dead. She [Adelson] gets it, and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman.” Thus, Trump celebrated a megadonor as better (somehow) than Medal of Honor recipients wounded or killed to save others. Trump says Medal of Freedom “equivalent” to and “much better” than Medal of Honor, sparking backlash from veterans 8/16/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-medal-of-freedom-medal-of-honor/
Also, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs fighting in the Iraq War, had something to say about this. Tammy Duckworth rips Trump over remarks about medal-winning soldiers 8/18/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/18/tammy-duckworth-trump-soldiers-00174507
FACT-CHECKING TRUMP
Tampon Tim
Per CNN: Trump attacked VP nominee Gov. Tim Walz at an August 9 campaign rally in Montana: “He ordered tampons to be put into boys’ bathrooms.”
FALSE. Walz didn’t order Minnesota schools to put tampons in boys’ bathrooms or sign a bill requiring tampons to be put in all boys’ bathrooms. That’s not what the bill signed by Walz in 2023 actually says — and it’s not how the 15 Minnesota school districts say they have implemented the law. Debunking Trump attack on Walz, Minnesota schools say they don’t provide tampons in boys’ bathrooms 8/16/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/16/politics/fact-check-trump-walz-minnesota-schools-tampons/index.html
Black men all seem to look alike to Trump.
Trump’s story about being in a helicopter hard landing with former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown (who Trump insisted was also saying nasty things about Kamala Harris) started at his August 8 presser, but he repeated it several times.
FALSE. Willie Brown says it never happened, as does Jerry Brown (so it wasn’t Trump just getting a west coast politician’s name wrong). But, Nate Holden, a former Los Angeles city councilman and state senator, remembers that helicopter fiasco with Trump well. (And—still—Kamala Harris was NOT discussed.) “Willie is the short Black guy living in San Francisco. I’m a tall Black guy living in Los Angeles,” said Holden, 95. “I guess we all look alike.” One of Trump’s employees, Barbara Res, was on board and substantiates that this is what happened. Res wrote about the incident in her memoir, and she told Politico that Trump liked to tell a joke about Holden on the helicopter — “you turned white,” Trump said. But Res said it was Trump’s face that was white. “He was white as snow,” Holden added. “And he was scared shitless.” Yep–all black men look alike to Trump. Also, Trump has really lost it, mentally. Former Trump executive disputes his claim that Willie Brown was on board during helicopter incident 8/10/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/former-trump-executive-disputes-claim-willie-brown-helicopter-rcna166083 AND: The other Black politician who says he was with Trump in that near-fatal chopper crash 8/9/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/09/trump-plane-crash-california-00173487
Crowd size matters.
Trump claimed in a series of social media posts on Aug. 11 that “nobody” attended Harris’ Michigan rally, demanding his Democratic rival should be “disqualified” over a “fake crowd picture” fabricated by AI.
FALSE. Photos and videos of the event show that Harris’ Detroit crowd filled a large hangar and spilled onto the sprawling tarmac where Air Force Two had stopped. Hany Farid, a digital forensics expert, analyzed images with models designed to detect patterns associated with AI-generated images. He found no evidence of AI generation. Trump spreads false conspiracy theory about Harris’ Detroit crowd size 8/11/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/11/politics/trump-harris-crowd-size-conspiracy-theory/index.html
Claimed Harris voted to cut Medicare.
Trump stated at a July 24 rally in NC: “Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to cut, as you know, Medicare by $273 billion. She cast a vote to cut Medicare.”
FALSE. Harris, in her role as Senate President, in 2022 cast the tie-breaking vote to pass Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, a sweeping climate and health care measure. That bill did not cut Medicare funding or eligibility in any way. In fact, it contained provisions that lowered spending by Medicare by reducing the cost of insulin and other prescription drugs. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/aug/15/donald-trump/haris-did-not-vote-to-cut-medicare-despite-trump-c/
Lying at the rate of twice per minute.
Trump may have set a new record at his Aug. 8 Florida presser—162 lies in 64 minutes, according to NPR. (The last blog included about a dozen of the biggest lies, as chronicled by NYT.) Fact checking is great, but the problem is that millions hear his lies but just a tiny fraction of that number will ever read the truth. Still, this is worth reading, just as a reminder of what must NEVER AGAIN spew from the Oval Office. 162 lies and distortions in a news conference. NPR fact-checks former President Trump 8/11/24 https://www.npr.org/2024/08/11/nx-s1-5070566/trump-news-conference
Musk “interview” on X (AKA: So, 2 scabs sat in separate basements and had an online chat, eventually.)
Tech issues delayed things for an hour. The audience for the highly-promoted livestream didn’t bother to wait. (Ron DeSantis must have enjoyed THAT.) When things FINALLY got started, Musk soft-balled the questions, Trump bloviated with zero regard for veracity, and those still listening were distracted by Trump’s heavy slurring of his words.
A few Late Night hosts listened, but that’s their job. Stephen Colbert: “A big night for weird old rich guys with no friends.” Jimmy Fallon: “It’s nice to know the guy who builds self-driving cars and spaceships hasn’t quite figured out how to broadcast a phone call.” Seth Meyers: “Also, what’s going on with Trump’s voice? He sounds like a sugared-up kid on Halloween who won’t take out his plastic vampire teeth.”
And, they got sued. For comments Musk and Trump made during the event, the United Auto Workers union promptly filed federal labor charges against both men, for threatening to intimidate workers who go on strike. The UAW posted on X: “He’s for the billionaires. Not for you. Donald Trump is a scab.” UAW files federal labor charges against Donald Trump and Elon Musk after threatening workers on X interview 8/13/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/13/business/uaw-trump-musk-charges/index.html
CNN found over 20 false statements by Trump. Here are a few of them:
Trump: “Our crime rate’s going through the roof.”
FALSE–Both violent crime and property crime dropped significantly in 2023 and in the first quarter of 2024.
Trump: “Over 60 million people are listening to this.”
FALSE—Just over 1 million heard the event.
Trump: “I think we have the worst inflation we’ve had in 100 years.”
FALSE—Inflation peaked in Biden’s term at 9.1% in June of 2022, a level last reached in 1981. Also, inflation dropped to 3.2% in July of 2024.
Trump: “The biggest threat? It’s not global warming, where the ocean’s gonna rise one eighth of an inch over the next 400 years … and you’ll have more oceanfront property, right?”
FALSE—The global average sea level is currently rising more per year than Trump claimed that it will rise in 400 years. (And, the “more oceanfront property” part is just plain stupid.)
Trump: “Harris wants to release all the prisoners that are in detention, and some of these guys are really bad.”
FALSE—Harris never said that, past or present.
Trump (on illegal immigration during the Biden administration): “You have millions of people coming in a month.”
FALSE—No month during the Biden-Harris administration had close to “millions” of people entered the country illegally. During the peak month, there were 372K crossings nationwide. Numbers have dropped lately; there were 205K crossings in June of 2024. Trump’s lies never cease…. Fact check: Trump made at least 20 false claims in his conversation with Elon Musk 8/13/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/13/politics/fact-check-trump-musk-20-false-claims/index.html
JD VANCE (at the moment–see below).
He’s a little bit creepier every day….
Who is JD Vance, really?
Snopes verified this. (Image credit: screen capture.) https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/jd-vance-born-james-donald-bowman/?cb_rec=djRfMl8xXzJfMTgwXzBfMF8wXw
Vance’s very rigid “family values” have come a long way, baby.
Snopes verified this. (Image courtesy of X user @mattxiv.) https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/jd-vance-drag-photo/
It was just a Thought Experiment.
Vance, a US Senator, is desperately trying to explain away his many bizarre and very RECENT proposals. (Image credit: Detroit Free Press.) He has said marriage should be permanent even in the face of misery and violence. Also–people with children should have more voting power than childless citizens. On and on. Now, Vance explains that he wasn’t making policy proposals. No—he was merely engaging in thought experiments. A “thought experiment” is defined by Wikipedia as: a hypothetical situation in which a hypothesis, theory, or principle is laid out for the purpose of thinking through its consequences. Einstein solved complex problems via thought experiments. Vance just makes a fool of himself.
Attacking Walz’ military service of 24 years.
Wait a minute. Vance saw no combat and spent 6 months in Iraq on administrative duty writing press releases. (Wonder how his “thought experiments” went over with the military….) As for the rest of the GOP ticket, Trump famously dodged the Vietnam-era draft by claiming bone spurs. Funny that Vance is OK with that….
Stop BULLYING me!
Vance claims the recent and very resonant take on the GOP as “weird” amounts to bullying. Hmmm…. Has Vance NEVER MET his own running mate, Trump?
Komrade Kamala. Sleepy Joe Biden. Crooked Hillary. Low Energy Jeb Bush. Lyin’ Ted Cruz. Little Marco Rubio. Pocohontas Elizabeth Warren. Ron DeSanctus. Coco Chow Elaine Chau. Birdbrain Nikki Haley. Crazy Nancy Pelosi. Shifty Adam Schiff. Horseface Stormy Daniels. There are ENTIRE WEBSITES chronicling Trump’s insulting language. Grow up.
“Whole purpose of postmenopausal female is to help raise kids.”
Oh good–Vance has the lives of American females all planned out, all the way to the grave. Sooooo helpful! Seriously, is there ANY group of women Vance has NOT insulted, denigrated or besmirched? Not only did Vance go along in 2020 with the above statement by podcast host Eric Weinstein, he backed it up saying that yeah–his postmenopausal mother-in-law helped with his own young kids and it was great…. https://x.com/HeartlandSignal/status/1823811043375907296?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Got his immigration policy from the movies.
Specifically, the movie Gangs of New York, a 2002 film depicting the city in 1863. In 2021, Vance said on a podcast that immigration was a bad thing for America even in the previous century, resulting in crime waves and ethnic conflict. Last week, Vance defended those remarks this way: “Has anybody seen the movie Gangs of New York? That’s what I’m talking about. You know that when you have these massive ethnic enclaves in our country, it can lead to higher crime rates.” Well, Vance must have popped out for popcorn a few times, because the major villain of that film was an anti-immigrant crime boss. Watch: J.D. Vance Makes Wildly Racist Claim About Causes of Crime https://www.yahoo.com/news/watch-j-d-vance-makes-185245528.html
Project 2025 coverage, PART 2
PART 1 was included in my Aug. 10 blog. Drop down to read that, if interested. Here, I add a couple updates and list the specific policies that caught my attention. (Image credit above: Project 2025. Image credit below of Trump with Heritage Foundation Board: Politico.)
Project 2025–Presidential Transition Project
Up to reading Project 2025 word for word (free)? Go to the source: https://archive.org/details/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL
Download the complete Project 2025 as a PDF, free: https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf
UPDATE on the Trump connection. As I noted last time, don’t buy Trump’s panicked denials of the policy/people involved in Project 2025. Trump is in bed with The Heritage Foundation, and Project 2025 was created by and for his own people. Last time, I detailed many undeniable Trump connections. Now, I’ll add this: Russell Vought, one of the key authors of Project 2025 and a former Trump cabinet member, was recently recorded talking about the right-wing blueprint for a second Trump term. He waved away Trump’s recent denials and distancing as “politics,” insisting that Project 2025 was written for Trump and with his support, reflecting his policies and plans for a second term. He claimed that Trump has “blessed” his organization and “he’s very supportive of what we do.” Hidden-camera video captures Project 2025 co-author talking about plans for second Trump term 8/15/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/15/politics/russ-vought-project-2025-trump-secret-recording-invs/index.html
As I concluded last time, Project 2025 is a serious threat to how our federal government works and whether it will remain democratic. In reading through the 900 pages, I put together a list of specifics that caught my attention. Some are agencies, departments or services to be shut down. Others are jarringly odd statements about basic things like family and religion, betraying the attitudes that guide Project 2025’s philosophy. (Page numbers refer to the document’s PDF version, which is what I downloaded and read.)
–Abortion will be ENDED nationally, no exceptions. Of course, that is not stated flat out, but it is the inescapable result of repeated calls for fetal personhood and protecting the unborn in every jurisdiction (6). FDA must reverse its approval of chemical abortion drugs (mifepristone and others, 284 AND 458). HHS should pursue a robust agenda to protect the fundamental right to life (284). “Abortion and euthanasia are not health care.” (449.) HHS must track all abortions in extreme detail, nationwide (455.) All fetal tissue research must end (461). Keep anti-life “benefits” out of benefit plans, and provide robust protections for religious employers (585).
–Marriage and children are repeatedly touted as the highest good, to be protected at any cost (page 13 and throughout the document.) The end of divorce is not declared, but it would be required to reach the goal presented of family preservation no matter what. Page 259: “Families are the basic unit of and foundation for a thriving society.” (BUT–straight families, only.) Page 13: “Our Constitution grants each of us the liberty to do not what we want, but what we ought.” Scholars contend the “ought” used there betrays how the far right would use the Constitution to force conservative values (like doing away with divorce and forcing women to stay in violent marriages) on everyone. Page 450 continues the emphasis on married parents, with fathers prioritized: “Families comprised of a married mother, father, and their children are the foundation of a well-ordered nation and healthy society. Unfortunately, family policies and programs under President Biden’s HHS are fraught with agenda items focusing on “LGBTQ+ equity,” subsidizing single-motherhood, disincentivizing work, and penalizing marriage. These policies should be repealed and replaced by policies that support the formation of stable, married, nuclear families. Working fathers are essential to the well-being and development of their children, but the United States is experiencing a crisis of fatherlessness that is ruining our children’s futures. In the overwhelming number of cases, fathers insulate children from physical and sexual abuse, financial difficulty or poverty, incarceration, teen pregnancy, poor educational outcomes, high school failure, and a host of behavioral and psychological problems. By contrast, homes with non-related “boyfriends” present are among the most dangerous place for a child to be. HHS should prioritize married father engagement in its messaging, health, and welfare policies.”
–HUD: Forget about those precious families living in affordable housing. Localities and not the federal government must have final say in zoning laws and regulations, and a conservative Administration should oppose any efforts to weaken single-family zoning (511).
–Sexual orientation is discussed many times. Allowing parents or physicians to “reassign” the sex of a minor is child abuse and must end (5). Transgender individuals cannot serve in the military, and those with gender dysphoria would be expelled (103). “Sex” is properly understood as a fixed biological fact (334). Top priority is passage of a federal Parents’ Bill of Rights that restores parental rights to a “top-tier” right (344). No use of new names or pronouns different from a student’s biological sex. (346). Rescind regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, and sex characteristics (584).
–Religion is also discussed in many chapters. Here are a couple samples from page 581: “The Judeo-Christian tradition, stretching back to Genesis, has always recognized fruitful work as integral to human dignity, as service to God, neighbor, and family.” And: “God ordained the Sabbath as a day of rest.”
–Immigration is a popular topic. All “illegal aliens” (including unaccompanied minors) would be expelled immediately with mandatory appropriation for a border wall system (147). Stop asylum grants and end funding to NGOs for immigrant care (148). Everyone crossing the border is detained until expulsion (150). End the H-2A visa (which allows temporary agricultural workers into the US), as the low cost of H-2A workers undercuts American workers in agricultural employment (611). Dept. of Homeland Security would be dismantled, in favor of a stand-alone border and immigration agency at Cabinet level (133).
— Department of Justice and the FBI are attacked over and over. The former is said to be “a threat to democracy,” while the latter is “a bloated, arrogant, increasingly lawless organization” (285). Not to worry–Trump will fix everything in his second term.
–The Department of Education will be ended (to save money, per page 445), with control of education returned to the states (285). SNAP, WIC and school meals are all ended. (299-302). All families can take their children’s taxpayer-funded education dollars to the education providers of their choosing—whether it be a public school or a private school (347). In higher education, end student loan forgiveness and DEI policies (347-352).
—The Department of Energy (286) must “restore America’s energy independence, oppose eyesore windmills built at taxpayer expense, and respect the right of Americans to buy and drive cars of their own choosing, rather than trying to force them into electric vehicles and eventually out of the driver’s seat altogether in favor of self-driving robots.” Limit decision-making on natural gas pipeline certificates to whether there is a need for the natural gas (407.) Reinstate quarterly onshore lease sales in all producing states (523). Conduct offshore oil and natural gas lease sales to the maximum extent; restart the coal leasing program (523). Reinstate President Trump’s plan for opening the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska to leasing and development (524). Return immediately to full exploitation of all resources in Alaska—oil, gas, minerals, etc. (530).
–Wildlife populations would be gutted. Rescind the Endangered Species Act, The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, etc. (524). As to wild horses and burros, BLM should dispose of over 95,000 animals (528). Repeal all federal rules on Alaska’s wildlife and waters (531). Remove all protections for grizzly bears, grey wolves and sage grouse (534).
–Medicare must end all negotiated pricing, returning to (far more expensive for the consumer) market pricing (463). Medicare Advantage becomes the default enrollment choice (464).
–NOAA is broken up, due to its big budget being used to decry climate change. The National Weather Service and Hurricane Center are not needed, either. (See page 675.)
—The Department of Agriculture would be severely limited. All farm subsidies would be ended (295). MANY assistance and loan programs are discontinued (296-301). Easements are discontinued (305).
—Internal Revenue Service is supposedly simplified. Reduce the corporate income tax rate to 18%, with capital gains and dividends taxed at 15% (696). Business losses are expanded, while worker benefits are restricted (697).
–The CDC is gutted, with remnants allowed only some data gathering and policy recommending functions (453). Those recommendations must include the “unsurpassed effectiveness of modern fertility awareness–based methods (FABMs) of family planning” (AKA natural family planning), per page 455.
–As to China, expand tariffs to all Chinese products and increase tariff rates. Also, ban all Chinese social media apps such as TikTok and WeChat. (See page 789.)
–Here are several stand-alone items of interest:
The president may “exert leverage” on the Senate to push through approval of his appointees (173).
All political ambassadors worldwide would be recalled/fired at the start of the administration (174).
College degrees will not be required for federal jobs (357). Prohibit the use of a BA requirement in job descriptions (589).
Uphold the federal death penalty (554).
USDA federal labeling mandate is repealed. (307).
USDA’s dietary guidelines would be repealed (309).
USDA is directed to promote genetically engineered foods and bioengineering practices (307).
The TSA/Transportation Safety Agency would be privatized (158).
Census: Add Trump’s citizenship question (680).
The Export–Import Bank would be abolished (723).
The Federal Reserve would have its powers limited or removed (732).
The Small Business Administration is severely cut (720).
FEC Board appointments—the President must have direct control (962).
Want more info about Project 2025?
–Summary of Project 2025 from the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c977njnvq2do
–CBS News’ summary of Project 2025: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-project-2025-trump-conservative-blueprint-heritage-foundation/
–The Man Behind Project 2025’s Most Radical Plans 8/1/24 https://www.propublica.org/article/project-2025-trump-campaign-heritage-foundation-paul-dans
Just for grins.
So, Josh Hawley, far-right US Senator from Missouri and all-around supercilious jerk, is up for re-election. Progressive Dem Lucas Kunce, a 13-year Marine combat vet, is running against him. Here is Kunce’s new 2-minute campaign ad, narrated by actor John Goodman, also a Kunce supporter and born and raised in Missouri. The venerable Goodman reminds us what “family values” really means and that the rest is just political noise. No matter what state you live in, this will give you chills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg6phTl6M8Q
NEXT TIME
–Allred vs. Cruz
–District 19’s Dwain Handley
Until then—have fun!