Month: April 2018

Sinclair’s pro-Trump propaganda

Sinclair is forcing their local stations to air promos which are pro-Trump propanganda.  Here’s a good overview of the situation. 

This is a good overview of Sinclair’s network of stations in red states, their campaign agreement with Trump in 2016, and Trump’s endorsement of Sinclair.

Deadspin put together a video showing how identical the promos are.

“Trump tweets away what’s left of Sinclair’s credibility” according to the Baltimore Sun TV critic David Zurawick.

The right wing now has a vast propaganda machine starting with the White House.

 

 

Another ethics question for the Trump administration

Democrats raised concerns about a defense fund set up to help Trump campaign and White House officials affected by the Russia investigations.

“Because of the way it’s set up, the fund could receive donations from lobbyists or others with interests before the Trump administration — and also could be used to influence witnesses…”

This administration has a big problem with ethics starting at the top.  Sad!

DACA: Is Trump lying or ignorant?

Trump claims that people are sneaking into America because of DACA but you had to be here by 2007 to qualify for DACA.  He blames Democrats but he’s the one that terminated DACA and turned down reasonable deals that would not have been acceptable to the bigots that are a large part of his base.  He could have a DACA deal if he wanted one.

Is he lying or is he that ignorant on the facts?  I think he’s lying to get his base worked up his most reliable issue – immigration.  He says nonsense like “Our country is being stolen.” 

He says the Democrats want no borders – that’s just an outrageous lie with no basis in fact.

As this column states about Trump’s underlying message: “The just-below-the-surface message is this: White people made this country great. Brown people are flooding in. They pose an existential threat to your daily life and what the future holds for your children.”

I reject the lies and bigotry!  Sad!

 

An atheist’s take on religion on records

Easter/Passover/April Fools’ Day seems like the right time to post about religion on records.

I prefer the humorous songs:

“He Calls That Religion”: The Mississippi Sheiks 1930s take on an evil preacher

“Everybody”: John Prine’s 1972 take on meeting Jesus with Steve Goodman on acoustic guitar and David Bromberg on electric guitar

“God’s Song”:  Randy Newman (1972)

“O Holy Night Cha Cha Cha” by Brave Combo if you really want to get blasphemous

Even though I don’t believe in any of it, I do respect some serious gospel music

The small label Dust to Digital issued a terrific 6 CD set called Goodbye Babylon in 2004.  It includes gospel recordings from the 1920s-1950s including African-American sermons. Here’s an example: “Sow Good Seeds” by Lil McClintock.

The Holmes Brothers released Jubilation in 1993.  It has gospel music as R&B flavored by a steel guitar.  I don’t think we needed another version of “Amazing Grace” or “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” but “I Had My Chance” and “I’ll Fly Away” are terrific.

What happens if Trump gets Mueller fired?

What happens if Mueller is fired?

I don’t think that a Mueller firing would have any consequences for Trump.  Republicans do nothing to hold him accountable and will never impeach him.  Trump is much more popular among Republicans that congressional Republicans.  Since they care more about re-election than doing the right thing, they’ll let Trump do whatever he wants.  You can tell this by their refusal to pass laws to protect the special counsel.  Sad!