Trump is corrupt

This is an excellent column on how Trump is a corrupt businessman and attracts similar figures.  It includes:

He may well be the single most corrupt major business figure in the United States of America. He ran scams like Trump University to con struggling people out of their money. He lent his name to pyramid schemes. He bankrupted casinos and still somehow made millions while others were left holding the bag. He refused to pay vendors. He exploited foreign workers. He used illegal labor. He discriminated against African American renters. He violated Federal Trade Commission rules on stock purchases. He did business with the mob and with Eastern European kleptocrats. His properties became the go-to vehicle for Russian oligarchs and mobsters to launder their money.

So it was no accident that when he ran for president, the people who joined him in his quest were also a collection of grifters, liars, and crooks — people such as Paul Manafort. Those were the kind of operators Trump has attracted all his life. Honest, upright people with a deep respect for the law don’t go to work for Donald Trump.”

Sad!

Covers: Railroad Bill

Railroad Bill was an African-American desperado in the late 1800s who is buried in Florida.

An African-American folk ballad about him has been recorded numerous times by both black and white artists and with different lyrics.  I don’t know the recording dates for many of the versions so I just estimated where they belonged chronologically.

Frank Hutchison (1920s)

Will Bennett (1929)

Walt Robertson (unknown)

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott with Woody Guthrie 1953?)

John Jackson (unknown)

Lonnie Donegan (1950s)

Hobart Smith (1959-1960?)

Etta Baker &Cora Phillips (unknown)

Taj Mahal (1973)

Etta Baker with Taj Mahal (2004)

Dave Alvin (2000)

Cephas and Wiggins (2002)

Blind Boy Paxton (2014)

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry (2016)

The Trump administration is not taking enforcement actions on businesses that deal with consumers

Under Obama las appointee, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took an average of two to four actions a month to stop companies from hurting consumers.

Under Trump (since the Obama director resigned), the CFPB has taken 0 actions.  That’s zero!  Trump is pro-business and will let them cheat consumers. Sad!

Isn’t this a conflict of interest?

A new article states “Lawyers representing President Trump’s company last month wrote directly to the president of Panama, asking him to intervene in a legal fight over the Trump International Hotel in the capital — and warning that the case could have “repercussions” for Panama’s reputation.”

The article later states: “The request was extraordinary: The U.S. president’s company was asking the leader of a U.S. ally to intercede on its behalf, disregarding Panama’s separation of powers.”

This sure sounds like a conflict of interest and abuse of presidential power.  Trump should have divested himself of all of his business interests.  Sad!

Republicans will do nothing if Trump gets Mueller fired

This column agrees with what I have been saying – Republicans in Congress won’t stop Trump from getting Mueller fired.

Update:  Chuck Grassley spoke up but nothing from McConnell and Ryan.

Update: Republicans say Mueller doesn’t need more protection but shouldn’t be fired

Update: Trump thinks he can fire Mueller

I don’t think they will do anything if Mueller gets fired.  Sad!

Update:  I still think there’s a good chance Trump will get Mueller fired.  This tweet points out Republicans haven’t said there would be consequences.  Trump is angry and I assume he is hiding something.  All Republicans who enabled Trump will be guilty too if it turns out Trump is guilty of collusion, obstruction, money laundering or something else.

Update:  The White House has sought guidance on whether or not they can fire Mueller.

What would Trump have done?

I watched the CNN series on the Kennedys yesterday which included the 1963 incident where Alabama governor Wallace tried to prevent the University of Alabama from admitting their first black students. President Kennedy ordered the national guard to be federalized and they ordered Wallace to step aside.

It is terrible that 55 years later we have a president who 57% of the country (including me) think is a racist.

What would Trump have done about Wallace?  He reminds me a lot more of the racist Wallace than he does of Kennedy.   He probably would have done nothing except defend states rights.  He would have said the people in Alabama opposed to integration included “very fine people”.

Sad!

Trump’s “best people”

Here’s a roundup of articles on current and potential Trump appointees.  Some have disturbing views while others have character issues.

An opponent of the Endangered Species Act is picked to oversee the Department of Interior’s wildlife policy.

A Defense Department appointee resigned after it was shown he was a birther.

Trump’s pick to head an organization that coordinates assistance to migrants made anti-Muslim tweets.

A Fox News commentator who had considered to head the VA had infidelity and nepotism issues.

“The Trump administration’s abrupt cancellation of a federal program to prevent teen pregnancy last year was directed by political appointees over the objections of career experts in the Department of Health and Human Services.”

 

 

 

Trump’s personal aide lost his job over his gambling habit which was considered a security risk.

Sad!