I'm not surprised with the report by The New York Times which indicates the Trump White House plans to push out Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State and replace him with current CIA Director Mike Pompeo with Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton.
Tillerson sealed his fate the moment he wouldn't deny calling President Trump a moron. At the time, I predicted he would depart the Trump Administration by the end of this year. It is entirely possible that this is nothing more than a trial balloon designed to fake out the mainstream media, but Tillerson is living on borrowed time and every minute he has to spend working for that moron is going to be miserable.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Not All Sexual Misconduct is Created Equal: Matt Lauer vs. Garrison Keillor
When I awoke this morning, I learned that NBC had fired Matt Lauer following allegations of sexual misconduct.
By this afternoon, Minnesota Public Radio had dismissed former Prairie Home Companion host Garrison Keillor following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Both men have now joined the list of men who have become persona non grata due to their alleged misbehavior. Yet their alleged misbehavior is far from the same. There is a hell of a difference between indecent exposure by multiple women and inadvertently touching a woman's back. Why is Keillor subject to the same punishment as Lauer? Is it because Keillor had the temerity to defend his fellow Minnesotan Al Franken in op-ed? Would this allegation have come to light had Keillor not commented on Franken's situation? If Keillor warrants discipline it should be because of his own behavior during the incident in question, not his views of the allegations against Franken or anyone else.
It will be interesting to see if there are further allegations against Keillor in the coming days. If none are forthcoming then I think a case can be made that Minnesota Public Radio has overreacted in a political environment of borderline hysteria. Putting a hand's on a woman's bare back simply doesn't rise to the level of forcible sexual assault.
By this afternoon, Minnesota Public Radio had dismissed former Prairie Home Companion host Garrison Keillor following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Both men have now joined the list of men who have become persona non grata due to their alleged misbehavior. Yet their alleged misbehavior is far from the same. There is a hell of a difference between indecent exposure by multiple women and inadvertently touching a woman's back. Why is Keillor subject to the same punishment as Lauer? Is it because Keillor had the temerity to defend his fellow Minnesotan Al Franken in op-ed? Would this allegation have come to light had Keillor not commented on Franken's situation? If Keillor warrants discipline it should be because of his own behavior during the incident in question, not his views of the allegations against Franken or anyone else.
It will be interesting to see if there are further allegations against Keillor in the coming days. If none are forthcoming then I think a case can be made that Minnesota Public Radio has overreacted in a political environment of borderline hysteria. Putting a hand's on a woman's bare back simply doesn't rise to the level of forcible sexual assault.
Monday, November 27, 2017
Why Did Trump Have To Bring Up Elizabeth Warren When Honoring Native American WWII Veterans?
Let me begin by saying that I don't think President Trump was making a racial slur when he used the term Pochahontas to describe Elizabeth Warren while honoring Navajo Code Talkers from the Second World War. In it of itself Pochahontas isn't derogatory. Warren's claim to being a Native American is dubious and it led to the nickname "Fauxchahontas" which is still a sore point for her.
But why is Trump bringing up Warren at all? Why can't Trump give people their due without making it about himself? This was their moment in the sun and Trump, true to form, ruined it.
But why is Trump bringing up Warren at all? Why can't Trump give people their due without making it about himself? This was their moment in the sun and Trump, true to form, ruined it.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Is Trump Planning To Extend The Muslim Travel Ban to Egypt?
While President Trump did condemn the terrorist attack at the Sufi mosque in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula which claimed over 300 lives, he used the attack as an opportunity to promote both the Wall along the Mexican border and the Muslim travel ban:
Will be calling the President of Egypt in a short while to discuss the tragic terrorist attack, with so much loss of life. We have to get TOUGHER AND SMARTER than ever before, and we will. Need the WALL, need the BAN! God bless the people of Egypt.
What a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has to do with a terrorist attack in Egypt isn't exactly clear. But at present the Muslim travel ban doesn't apply to Egypt. In light of this attack, is Trump planning to include Egypt in the ban? If this is the case then would this ban extend to the families of the 300 plus people who were murdered for praying?
Chances are Trump is tweeting out of his ass. Hopefully this is the case. Yet one can never discount the possibility that his tweets represent U.S. foreign policy in all its all case letter glory.
Will be calling the President of Egypt in a short while to discuss the tragic terrorist attack, with so much loss of life. We have to get TOUGHER AND SMARTER than ever before, and we will. Need the WALL, need the BAN! God bless the people of Egypt.
What a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has to do with a terrorist attack in Egypt isn't exactly clear. But at present the Muslim travel ban doesn't apply to Egypt. In light of this attack, is Trump planning to include Egypt in the ban? If this is the case then would this ban extend to the families of the 300 plus people who were murdered for praying?
Chances are Trump is tweeting out of his ass. Hopefully this is the case. Yet one can never discount the possibility that his tweets represent U.S. foreign policy in all its all case letter glory.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Trump Comes To Roy Moore's Defense - What a Surprise
Following President Trump's condemnation of Senator Al Franken's inappropriate sexual conduct with LeeAnn Tweeden without comment on the more severe allegations against Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore of inappropriate sexual relations with minors, I wrote the following:
If Trump was going to condemn Moore he would have done so by now. The only reason I can see Trump condemning Moore is if he loses the special election on December 12th.
At this point, Trump will do one of two things. He will a) maintain his radio silence or b) Trump will come to Moore's defense and call his accusers liars. Both options speak volumes. By condemning Franken but not condemning Moore, Trump is telling us that sexual misconduct is acceptable behavior if you want to Make America Great Again. It is also an indication that Trump is unwilling to risk the possibility of his supporters turning on him.
At this point, Trump will do one of two things. He will a) maintain his radio silence or b) Trump will come to Moore's defense and call his accusers liars. Both options speak volumes. By condemning Franken but not condemning Moore, Trump is telling us that sexual misconduct is acceptable behavior if you want to Make America Great Again. It is also an indication that Trump is unwilling to risk the possibility of his supporters turning on him.
Today, Trump went with option b albeit somewhat tempered by his standards. Trump defended Moore by saying "he totally denies it." Well, longtime Detroit area Congressman John Conyers totally denies it too. I don't see Trump giving him the benefit of the doubt.
While it's true that Trump didn't direct any remarks to Moore's accusers let's not be surprised if that changes between now and December 12th. But Trump made his position clear stating, "We don’t need a liberal person in there, a Democrat, Jones. I’ve looked at his record. It’s terrible on crime. It’s terrible on the border. It’s terrible on the military.” Yes, how terrible of Jones to prosecute Klan members who bombed a church killing four African-American girls.
Or put another way, Trump is essentially saying that Moore may be a SOB, but he's our SOB. Of course, Democrats are doing much the same with Franken and Conyers. It's the kind of thing which makes people disgusted at politicians of all stripes. Or at least I would like to think it would. Because if it did we wouldn't have elected Trump to the White House.
David Cassidy, R.I.P.
Singer and actor David Cassidy passed away tonight at the age of 67. He was hospitalized on Saturday with multiple organ failure. Earlier this year, Cassidy announced he had been diagnosed with dementia and would retire as a performer.
The son of actors Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Ward, the younger Cassidy became an iconic figure in the early 1970's for his portrayal of Keith Partridge in The Partridge Family which ran on ABC from 1970-1974. He co-starred with his stepmother Shirley Jones and the two of them would have a monster hit "I Think I Love You". Cassidy would record several albums and become a popular concert attraction though this success was marred by the death of a fan at one of his concerts in London in 1974.
Cassidy would never return to this level of stardom though not for lack of trying. He did star in the original Broadway production of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1982, enjoyed a modest comeback in 1990 with the Top 40 hit "Lyin' to Myself" and starred in the short-lived ABC Family TV series Ruby & The Rockits in 2009.
On a personal note, I actually saw Cassidy perform in 2008 at a free summer concert in Boston sponsored by the now defunct Oldies 103.3. I'm sorry to say it was one of the worst concerts I ever attended. Most of the audience walked out on en masse due to the poor quality of the music and Cassidy's excessive banter between songs. I recall one concert goer say aloud, "I can't believe I liked this s*#t."
Cassidy's last few years have been rough ones. His alcoholism resulted in several DUI arrests prior to his dementia diagnosis earlier this year.
Under the circumstances, I'm sure most would prefer to remember David Cassidy at the height of his powers in 1970 when he sang "I Think I Love You". R.I.P.
The son of actors Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Ward, the younger Cassidy became an iconic figure in the early 1970's for his portrayal of Keith Partridge in The Partridge Family which ran on ABC from 1970-1974. He co-starred with his stepmother Shirley Jones and the two of them would have a monster hit "I Think I Love You". Cassidy would record several albums and become a popular concert attraction though this success was marred by the death of a fan at one of his concerts in London in 1974.
Cassidy would never return to this level of stardom though not for lack of trying. He did star in the original Broadway production of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1982, enjoyed a modest comeback in 1990 with the Top 40 hit "Lyin' to Myself" and starred in the short-lived ABC Family TV series Ruby & The Rockits in 2009.
On a personal note, I actually saw Cassidy perform in 2008 at a free summer concert in Boston sponsored by the now defunct Oldies 103.3. I'm sorry to say it was one of the worst concerts I ever attended. Most of the audience walked out on en masse due to the poor quality of the music and Cassidy's excessive banter between songs. I recall one concert goer say aloud, "I can't believe I liked this s*#t."
Cassidy's last few years have been rough ones. His alcoholism resulted in several DUI arrests prior to his dementia diagnosis earlier this year.
Under the circumstances, I'm sure most would prefer to remember David Cassidy at the height of his powers in 1970 when he sang "I Think I Love You". R.I.P.
The Euphoria in Zimbabwe Over Mugabe's Resignation Will Be Short-Lived
So Robert Mugabe has resigned after all.
And there is dancing in the streets of Harare.
But the euphoria will be short-lived.
Money is worthless, jobs are scarce and life is short. If bullets don't kill you then HIV will.
It's doubtful that Mugabe's probable successor Emmerson Mnangagwa will be any better. After all, Mnangagwa is responsible for many of the human rights atrocities carried out in Mugabe's name.
And there is dancing in the streets of Harare.
But the euphoria will be short-lived.
Money is worthless, jobs are scarce and life is short. If bullets don't kill you then HIV will.
It's doubtful that Mugabe's probable successor Emmerson Mnangagwa will be any better. After all, Mnangagwa is responsible for many of the human rights atrocities carried out in Mugabe's name.
Even if Mnangagwa was a benevolent sort Zimbabwe is so overwhelmed with poverty and misery it may take a century to get the country back where it was prior to the revolution. And that is an optimistic assessment.
I don't begrudge Zimbabweans celebrating in the streets. But the joy will not last for long.
I don't begrudge Zimbabweans celebrating in the streets. But the joy will not last for long.
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