Carlos Slim is Trump's latest conspiracy fetish. The name Carlos Slim, conjures a possible finalist in a poker world championship in Las Vegas. In actuality, he is a Mexican business man so wealthy, that by comparison, Trump is one of the striking housekeepers at the Trump International Las Vegas Hotel.
Carlos Slim has given more to charity than Trump's total net worth. He has opened a stunning museum, with free admission, that I visited in the Polanco section of Mexico City. He has given over 4 billion dollars to the Gates foundation, and yes, he has contributed to the Clinton Foundation.
The lynchpin for Donald, is that one of Slim's thinner investments is in the New York Times. Therefore, using Trumptilian logic, Carlos Slim is the spearhead of an international conspiracy to slander The Donald with accusations of sexual assault.
Donald, don't flatter yourself. Carlos has less concern for you than you have for the well being of the housekeepers in your hotels.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Wasted Days and Wasted Nights
Trump is behind with 26 days to go before the election. He needs each news cycle to be lead by either his signature issues, trade and immigration, or a reverberating attack on Hillary. Each day devoted to his feud with Ryan or his groping of women, is at best a wasted day. Even if those stories do not hurt his chances, and they should, they suck away his time.
While Trump fumes and dithers, Hillary is employing her strong ground game to bank ballots in early voting swing states. If she still has a significant lead at the end of this month, we can begin popping corks.
While Trump fumes and dithers, Hillary is employing her strong ground game to bank ballots in early voting swing states. If she still has a significant lead at the end of this month, we can begin popping corks.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Raising Arizona
Trump has again dumped on the character of the senior Senator from Arizona. He deserves a McCaining. Barring that, Arizonians should rise up to put Trump down. He cannot win without Arizona. Early voting starts today.
Vote!
Early voting starts today in Indiana, Ohio, and Arizona. Voting started yesterday in New Mexico. If you live in one of those states please vote. If you have friends in any of the early voting states, urge them to vote. Thanks.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Lining Out
When clueless on how to cut costs, politicians fall back on certain buzz words. Listen for them. The most common is fraud and waste. No one favors fraud and waste. The low lying fruit has already been picked. The rest is usually insignificant or intractable.
Trump uses buzz words to hide his lack of a plan to replace Obamacare. The first is block grants, which he would give to the states to help those unable to afford medical insurance. That is just kicking the can to the states, without a solution or accountability. The hidden subtext is always that the block grants will be less than the amount currently allocated. This only lowers costs by reducing benefits.
The trickier buzz word is competition. Some proposals actually lower costs. Trump's does not. His plan to eliminate state lines for medical plans lines out. The product is local. The networks of doctors and hospitals do not change. Because the product is the same the costs will not alter significantly. The insurance companies still have to contract with the same hospitals and physicians. The only possible impact would be in towns like Kansas City that straddle two states.
If we are paying attention, we won't swing at Trump's pitch.
Trump uses buzz words to hide his lack of a plan to replace Obamacare. The first is block grants, which he would give to the states to help those unable to afford medical insurance. That is just kicking the can to the states, without a solution or accountability. The hidden subtext is always that the block grants will be less than the amount currently allocated. This only lowers costs by reducing benefits.
The trickier buzz word is competition. Some proposals actually lower costs. Trump's does not. His plan to eliminate state lines for medical plans lines out. The product is local. The networks of doctors and hospitals do not change. Because the product is the same the costs will not alter significantly. The insurance companies still have to contract with the same hospitals and physicians. The only possible impact would be in towns like Kansas City that straddle two states.
If we are paying attention, we won't swing at Trump's pitch.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Ptomaine Trump
Tonight Trump threw tainted red meat to his ravenous base. He will put Hillary in jail, Bill does the terrible sexual things that Trump only talks about, Benghazi, and e-mails. He was much better than in the first debate, which is like saying there were only a few cases of food poisoning.
He aggressively stalked Hillary all over the stage, but had little to show for it. While his base was busily devouring his every word, undecided voters were looking to see what else was on the menu.
Nothing he said reassured suburban women. Conservatives nibbling on the Pence fantasy, put down their forks when the VP nominee became roadkill. Pence was not only wrong on Syria, Trump did not consider him worth consulting.
Hillary was calmer, more presidential. She won on substance and on style. Trump was unappetizing to a majority of the electorate before and after the debate.
He aggressively stalked Hillary all over the stage, but had little to show for it. While his base was busily devouring his every word, undecided voters were looking to see what else was on the menu.
Nothing he said reassured suburban women. Conservatives nibbling on the Pence fantasy, put down their forks when the VP nominee became roadkill. Pence was not only wrong on Syria, Trump did not consider him worth consulting.
Hillary was calmer, more presidential. She won on substance and on style. Trump was unappetizing to a majority of the electorate before and after the debate.
Friends and Neighbors
Here is the ultimate test for undecided voters, or soft supporters. Make a list of 5 friends and 5 neighbors. Of those 10 people how many would be a better, safer choice for president than Donald Trump?
Unless you live in a think tank, policy depth will not be a strong suit for your list. But policy is not a strong suit for Trump. You expect your friends and neighbors would surround themselves with talented advisors, as you would hope the same for Trump. But temperament is the deciding factor. Everyone on my list has greater impulse control than Trump.
Now compare Hillary to your list. You may find her too liberal, or conversely too tied to Wall Street. But she knows more about policy than anyone on your list. She is steady. She should be our next president.
Unless you live in a think tank, policy depth will not be a strong suit for your list. But policy is not a strong suit for Trump. You expect your friends and neighbors would surround themselves with talented advisors, as you would hope the same for Trump. But temperament is the deciding factor. Everyone on my list has greater impulse control than Trump.
Now compare Hillary to your list. You may find her too liberal, or conversely too tied to Wall Street. But she knows more about policy than anyone on your list. She is steady. She should be our next president.
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