Beneath the capital’s radar looms a vexing problem – a catchall spending package that’s likely to top $1 trillion and could get embroiled in the politics of building Trump’s wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and a budget-busting Pentagon request. While a shutdown deadline has a few weeks to go, the huge measure looms as an unpleasant reality check for Trump and Republicans controlling Congress.
Category: Barack Obama
Trump and the crisis of the meritocracy
“Donald Trump has been president for a month now, and it’s been months more since he was elected. But the division over him, and his presidency, hasn’t settled down.
A familiar shutdown threat is looming in Trump’s future
Beneath the capital’s radar looms a vexing problem – a catchall spending package that’s likely to top $1 trillion and could get embroiled in the politics of building Trump’s wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and a budget-busting Pentagon request. While a shutdown deadline has a few weeks to go, the huge measure looms as an unpleasant reality check for Trump and Republicans controlling Congress.
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe turns 93; confirms 2018 election run
One of Africa’s longest-serving heads of state turns 93 today — but is showing no signs of slowing down. In an interview to state media to celebrate the occasion, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe confirmed that he intends to run for president in the 2018 general election, Reuters reported.
Thomas Friedman: Israeli-Palestinian conflict isn’t improving
First you were tested by a rival – Russia – and utterly failed to appreciate the corrosive impact on our democracy of your indulgence of Russia’s hacking our election. And on Wednesday you’re going to be tested by a friend – Israel – and its prime minister, Bibi Netanyahu.
Morehouse Flips Presidents’ Day To ‘Obama Day’
Another opportunity to shed light and love on former President Barack Obama happened Monday when Morehouse College helped led a celebratory movement with the replacement of President’s Day for “Obama Day.” Presented by NewsOne, conversations on Obama’s legacy, as well as the influence of former first lady Michelle Obama, were highlighted at the historic institution by author and academic Michael Eric Dyson, activist Michaela Angela Davis, New York Magazine’s Rembert Browne, Jamilah Lemieux of Interactive One and more.
Donald Trump Is Mentally Ill According to Petition From Health Professionals
Some mental health professionals deemed that President Donald Trump is mentally ill. John Gartner Ph.D practices psychology in Maryland.
You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It Too: Why Trump Copying…
Did President Donald Trump goof when he copied Barack Obama’s inauguration cake for his inauguration? Pastry Chef Duff Goldman made a stunning, nine-tiered cake for Obama’s second inauguration in 2013 complete with stars, stripes, five U.S. Military seals , and of course, the presidential seal. For his inauguration, President Trump commissioned another pastry chef, Tiffany MacIsaac, to create an exact copy of this cake without permission from the previous baker.
Amid protests, UK lawmakers debate downgrading Trump visit
A severe storm system spawned a possible tornado that caused minor injuries and damaged more than 150 homes in the San Antonia area late Sunday night and early Monday. Officials say a California police officer was killed and another wounded in a shooting while they were trying to help a man who had been in a traffic accident in Whittier.
Happy Presidents Day
The American experiment has endured somehow for more than 240 years. That’s almost a quarter of a millennium, people – although whether the country is able to survive another quarter millennium is anybody’s guess.
Galloway on Film: Brad Grey’s Paramount Exit and Studios in Turmoil
It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in journalism that most public figures play a role in creating their obituaries. They don’t decide the wording of the stories, or even the angles such final assessments take; but prominent people usually grant major newspapers interviews about their lives and careers, often multiple times over the years, and in doing so subtly shape how they’ll be perceived.
Native Americans hoping Trump’s ‘America first’ helps first Americans
Native Americans hope President Donald Trump doesn’t forget America’s first inhabitants as he promises to put “America first.” Tribes have been reaching out to the Republican administration since it took office last month, saying they’re ready to help it meet its campaign promises of improving the economy and creating more jobs for Americans.
Trump’s first month augurs stormy trans-Atlantic relations
Europeans have reacted to President Donald Trump’s first month in office with demonstrations, counter-barbs and sheer angst that a century of trans-Atlantic friendship may be sinking. The governments of some traditional allies have gone a step further, uniting with fundraising plans and a special conference to balance the new U.S. administration’s reverse tack from Barack Obama’s presidency on abortion policies.
Obama pollster Cornell Belcher on the failures that led to President…
The Democratic Party is continuing its postmortem after Hillary Clinton’s unexpected defeat. Many challenges and puzzles will need to be resolved.
Donald Trump changing nature of nation’s highest office
It’s a Presidents Day like no other as Donald Trump – having redefined campaigning as a brash, tweeting populist – redefines the Oval Office and its relationship to the media, trade partners and foreign governments. But politicos say it’s an open question whether this approach will end when Trump’s term does, or if he is fundamentally transforming the White House, and the march to it, for future candidates and presidents.
How to build an autocracy? Obama showed us how
An Atlantic magazine article by Washington journalist David Frum frets about a coming autocracy engineered by President Donald Trump, and the amazing thing is that the author did not notice the past eight years. It’s as if Noah’s Ark had finally landed and the understood message was that a flood was only now on its way.
Trump steps up security aide search, focuses on health care
President Donald Trump on Sunday was stepping up his search for a national security adviser, with several interviews on tap, and focusing on health care in talks with his health and budget chiefs, while his team pushed back against depictions of a young administration in disarray. His chief of staff used appearances on the Sunday news shows to echo his boss’ complaints about media coverage of the White House and cited what he said were multiple accomplishments in the first few weeks of the Trump presidency.
Trump steps up security aide search, focuses on health care
President Donald Trump on Sunday was stepping up his search for a national security adviser, with several interviews on tap, and focusing on health care in talks with his health and budget chiefs, while his team pushed back against depictions of a young administration in disarray. His chief of staff used appearances on the Sunday news shows to echo his boss’ complaints about media coverage of the White House and cited what he said were multiple accomplishments in the first few weeks of the Trump presidency.
February 20, 2017: Seeking a solution
Seeking a solution With regard to “Did Trump nix the 2-state solution?” , the assertion that then-president Bill Clinton “wed the Israelis and Palestinians to the notion that the only resolution to the conflict is a two-state solution” flies in the face of historical factuality. The 1993 Oslo Accords did not require a sovereign Palestinian-Arab entity.
Trump steps up security aide search, focuses on health care
President Donald Trump on Sunday was stepping up his search for a national security adviser, with several interviews on tap, and focusing on health care in talks with his health and budget chiefs, while his team pushed back against depictions of a young administration in disarray. His chief of staff used appearances on the Sunday news shows to echo his boss’ complaints about media coverage of the White House and cited what he said were multiple accomplishments in the first few weeks of the Trump presidency.
London mayor opposes Trump state visit
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says Donald Trump’s “cruel and shameful” policies mean he should not be granted a state visit. Khan said on Sunday that Trump’s travel ban aimed at people from seven Muslim-majority countries, which has run into trouble in the US courts, and the suspension of refugee admissions were reasons not to be “rolling out the red carpet”.
London mayor opposes Trump state visit
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says Donald Trump’s “cruel and shameful” policies mean he should not be granted a state visit. Khan said on Sunday that Trump’s travel ban aimed at people from seven Muslim-majority countries, which has run into trouble in the US courts, and the suspension of refugee admissions were reasons not to be “rolling out the red carpet”.
Israeli leader lauds ‘new day’ in relations with Trump’s US
Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet Sunday that last week’s meeting with Trump in Washington was “historic” and strengthened the two countries’ longtime alliance. After eight years of testy ties with Barack Obama, Netanyahu seems to be relishing Trump’s warm embrace.
Keeping African American culture vibrant in Mount Pleasant
Betty Mullen fixes a bowl of gumbo Feb. 11 at the Second Baptist Ministries’ 22nd annual Black History Month celebration in Mount Pleasant. Mullen has been a member of the church for more than 40 years and helps coordinate the celebration.
Trump rallies supporters by renewing old promises, insults
Just four weeks into his administration, President Donald Trump appeared at a campaign rally that mirrored the months leading up to Election Day, complete with promises to repeal the health care law, insults for the news media and a playlist highlighted by the Rolling Stones. “I want to be among my friends and among the people,” Trump told a cheering crowd packed into an airport hangar in central Florida, praising his “truly great movement.”
Did Donald Trump just hold the first rally on the 2020 election campaign?
Donald Trump has held his first rally as US President, telling the crowd he wanted to be “among my friends and among the people” and speak to them “without the filter of fake news”. “When the media lies to people, I will never ever let them get away with it,” he told thousands of his supporters who had gathered in an airport hanger in Melbourne, Florida.
Bay Area Members of Congress Stand up for Obamacare
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Eric Swalwell speak during forums aimed at defending the Affordable Care Act. Two Bay Area-based members of Congress on Saturday spoke in defense of the Affordable Care Act as President Donald Trump and Republican leadership strive to repeal one of Barack Obama’s signature pieces of legislation.
Ap Fact Check: The audacity of hype
In the Washington week that wasn’t, President Donald Trump’s new administration whirred like a “fine-tuned machine,” piling on big-league accomplishments at a pace never before seen. Immigration agents newly empowered by Trump’s call to secure borders sent hordes of bad foreigners back home, validating a president who won the most lopsided Electoral College victory since Ronald Reagan.
Former U.S. general Jones: not considered as Trump’s security adviser
James Jones, a former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, Saturday said on Saturday he is not under consideration to be U.S. President Donald Trump’s new national security adviser. “My policy is that I never turn down a job that hasn’t been offered,” Jones, who was attending the Munich Security Conference, told Reuters.
Former N.J. man who made Obama death threats sought mental help before
MEDFORD LAKES — The ex- South Jersey resident accused of posting an online death threat against former President Barack Obama is not competent to stand trial — a fact his family has argued all along given the man’s decade-long mental health struggle. According to a Feb. 6 order in U.S. District Court, in Pennsylvania, 33-year-old William Peterman’s evaluation required by Magistrate Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells found that he “at the current time he is not competent to stand trial.”
Charles Krauthammer: The case of the cover-up in search of a crime
It’s a Watergate-era cliche that the cover-up is always worse than the crime. In the Mike Flynn affair, we have the first recorded instance of a cover-up in the absence of a crime.
Eight Years Ago, on Instapundit: Politico: a Revolving Door?…
POLITICO: A REVOLVING DOOR? “In three months since Election Day, at least a half-dozen prominent journalists have taken jobs working for the federal government. Journalists, including some of those who’ve jumped ship, say it’s better to have a solid job in government than a shaky job – or none at all – in an industry that’s fading fast.
You’re not going to believe where historians ranked Obama in presidents survey
Span conducted a survey of 91 presidential historians to determine the ranking of the nation’s 44 chief executives. It’s the third such survey conducted by the public affairs network, the previous two being taken in 2000 and 2009.
The Latest: Speakers blast Trumpa s immigration orders
The archbishop of Los Angeles said at a Vatican-sponsored conference Friday that the new White House administration is cruelly playing with people’s lives. Archbishop Jose Gomez said fears surrounding deportation are not new, but that the administration under President Donald Trump has set a harsh tone and shows a cruelty he does not like.
Why should we trust you? Donald ducks
Washington, Feb. 17: An extraordinary exchange unfolded in the White House yesterday when President Donald Trump’s command of facts was openly challenged by a reporter who asked: “Why should Americans trust you?” The issue was the margin of victory in the US electoral college, which Trump asserted early in a rowdy and free-for-all news conference was the “biggest” since fellow Republican Ronald Reagan, who was elected in 1980 and 1984. Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by a 304-227 tally of state-by-state electors, who represent votes cast in the election.
Bitter Dems Turning On Each Other
We recently addressed a looming internal battle within the Democratic party – specifically the prospect of a liberal version of the Tea Party emerging to take out “moderate” Democratic lawmakers. Will it happen? Who knows but in the meantime there’s growing evidence of additional dissension within the Democratic ranks as the party struggles to adjust to life under the reign of Republican president Donald Trump .
Trump’s strange coziness with the Kremlin
Donald Trump assured Americans Thursday that he is not acting in covert concert with Russian President Vladimir Putin . “I have nothing to do with Russia,” he said during his news conference, insisting, “The whole Russian thing, that’s a ruse.”
Trump stumped by reporter on election figures10 min ago
Washington, Feb 17 Donald Trump was stumped by a reporter when he bragged that he won by a record margin in his epic electoral battle against his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, forcing the US President to admit that “I was given that information; I don’t know.” Trump, a Republican, told reporters yesterday at a White House press conference that he had won the largest Electoral College victory since Ronald Reagan.
Late night comics react to Trump’s ‘crazy’ Thursday press conference
For all the talk of division in the land, Donald Trump, it turns out, is bringing the country together, or at least the portion of it that is employed in hosting late-night talk shows. They all agreed Thursday night that the 45th president’s first solo press conference that day was a spectacle worthy of much comment.
Joe Scarborough unloads on Trump’s ‘rambling, chaotic’ press…
Scarborough and other commentators have posited that Trump was likely “playing” to his base of supporters by using much of the 77-minute press conference to criticize the media and complain about how “unfairly” his first month in office has been covered by the press. “He may be at only 39% in the polls, but his hardcore supporters were in front of the TV set and they were laughing – and they weren’t laughing at Donald Trump, they were laughing at the media,” Scarborough said, referencing a Pew Research survey.