I think Trump is winning...the battle to lose the election
Greetings, fellow Dot Calm Readers, Freedom Fighters, and Truth Crusaders!
In trying to keep you, Dot Calm's beloved Readers, up to date with what matters most, I feel like a salmon swimming upstream...there is just too much going on for me to cover it all. I wish I could do more, but between job and family, all I can say in my own defense is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
So here goes with what I gots for today...
I have to remind you once again to read "The Silenced Majority" by Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan. The stories of how this government has skrooed people over--and killed them outright through sins of both commission and omission--just for the sake of a lousy, stinkin' buck will make you sick to your stomach. Although Republicans are somewhat more guilty than Democrats, there's plenty of blame to go around: as Secular Talk's Kyle Kulinski says, the Republicans are 100% corrupt, and the Democrats are 80% corrupt. Any way you slice it, there's a whole lotta corruption to go around. Yuck.
And here's a double yuck: 50--yep, fifty, as a five followed by a zero--Republican national security experts denounced Donald Trump, if elected, as "the most reckless president in American history." This situation is frankly terrifying. Trump's brash disregard for the opinion and experience of the experts is the natural outcome of FOX News's anti-science, anti-expert, anti-knowledge, anti-evidence mantra: someone has to stand up to the experts. That's right, dear ones: Trump's unmerited confidence is simply the logical outcome of the culture created by FOX and the right-wing, in which not only "I'm not a scientist" Republican politicians but also the most ignorant high school dropouts in the Republican voter base have all smugly deluded themselves that they understand physics as well as Einstein, Hawking, or Krauss and biology as well as Dawkins or PZ Myers. To them, it's not concerning at all that Trump's cadre of "advisors" is no more qualified than he is to shape and execute public policy. And that concerns me...AND THEY VOTE.
And the triple yuck? "If she gets to pick her judges, [there's] nothing you can do, folks. Although, the Second Amendment people, maybe there is. I don’t know." Didja catch it? That's the sound of Donald J. Trump inciting his ignorant, bigoted minions to exercise their "gun rights" against Hillary Clinton by assassinating either her or, if she's elected, one or more SCOTUS judges she should manage to have confirmed--that is, if you can imagine the Republicans in Congress or the Senate actually confirming anyone she should nominate (they stand to dismantle the entire SCOTUS just by attrition at this rate--and don't tell me I'm the only one who noticed). Friends, it doesn't matter what Trump pretends now that he meant then. What matters is what some unhinged ammosexual somewhere in his voter base heard. Trump blew his dog whistle through a foghorn in a clear example of what the Vox article below calls "stochastic terrorism" (you can loosely define "stochastic" as "math-speak for how to compute outcomes in the face of uncertain data and circumstances"). What the article means is that you can't predict who--which individual--will try or succeed in the attempt Trump is recklessly fomenting, but you can predict the likelihood that someone will. Don't believe me? Well, then, I have a few words for you: Robert, Lewis, Dear, Carly, Fiorina. Just as Mrs.
Sadly, those yucks don't add up to no yuk-yuk-yuk.
At least, I gno I ain't laughin'.
On top of that, Trump has announced "information" he claimed to have received during classified security briefings. He didn't...yet...but his flippant attitude toward classified information alarms me more than Hillary's e-mail scandal--for which I'd have thrown the book at her if I'd been gawd. Srsly, Trump has No. Freakin'. Clue. He is completely and utterly devoid of gorm...but he makes up for ignorance in spades with vindictiveness. Remember when Rove (whom a friend of mine calls "the great white grape") outted Valerie Plame? Trump would unflinchingly weaponize our own classified information against our own people twenty times before breakfast if he were pissed off...and he's always pissed off. He has no business being anywhere near the White House except as a common visitor. And even then...someone would have to disinfect after him.
Has the Secret Service investigated this lunatic yet?
Don't forget to read Dot Calm's shadow's favorite independent sources of news and information:
Daily Kos
AlterNet
Conservative Clown Car--today, extra pithy!
Peas, friends. Thanks for reading. Hopefully, the news will get better over time...yeah, right.
- Dot Calm's shadow
Consider the preemptive Blogger phuqued-up phormatting disclaimer to be in effect. Grrr.
-- Dot Calm's shadow
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FOX News is what Ailes you
-- Mr. Calm
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Vox: The diving pool at the Rio Olympics has turned bright green. Here are some theories.
Vox: Simone Biles is unlike any gymnast we've ever seen...comparable to Nadia Comaneci in her breadth but oh-so-much more powerful in those massive tumbling passes...her "easy" (third) passes are more demanding than the other gymnasts' most difficult first passes...wow!!
Vox: Why Hillary Clinton wouldn't be a foreign policy hawk as president
FiveThirtyEight: The Polls Aren't Skewed: Trump Really Is Losing Badly
WaPo: Hillary Clinton's short-circuited apology--she hides and obscures shit even when she doesn't need to...an honest apology would have gone a lot farther with the public than her nopology
Vox: How Trump's poll decline could lead to a self-perpetuating death spiral for his campaign
Vox: The fake controversy about Clinton's emails getting an Iranian scientist killed, explained
Spoiler: the timeline Trump claims is completely wrong, like all his "facts"...like the rest of his addled brain. Not that facts matter to his adoring, addle-pated Trumpkins
Vox: Donald Trump's worst-of-both-worlds campaign
Spoiler: Trump could have run as a populist, but he's decided he'd rather be the worst possible outsider: the one selling Washington insider "Republican elite" policies but who is so out of touch that it's crystal clear that he can't even begin solve the least of America's problems with even a veneer of competence. Trump's tax plan is now Paul Ryan's wildly unpopular, austerity-for-the-poor-with-more-handouts-for-the-rich tax plan. Trump's plans would throw millions of Americans off health care insurance and cost the economy TRILLIONS of dollars. I guess chimpie's great recession wasn't big enough for Trump: he won't be happy until he creates a depression so yuuuge that it makes the Great Depression look like a minor recession.
Vox: Donald Trump's "new" tax plan: a giveaway to the rich he pretends helps the middle class
Vox: Trump has said many outrageous things. But there's one that bothers people the most
Spoiler: it's when he mocked the disabled reporter, but you'll be shocked at what shit he's said that doesn't piss off his base
Vox: Donald Trump: Maybe "Second Amendment people" have a way to stop Hillary Clinton's judges
Sick, sick, sick, sick. A presidential nominee is inciting violence against his opponent and her potential nominations for SCOTUS. Is that even legal?!??
Vox: The Trump campaign's absurdity, in one nonsensical statement...his statement that Hillary wants to abolish the second amendment is sheer fantasy, but he can't even make that point coherently. Someone tell me what the phuque he's smokin' cuz dat be some bad shit...and that ain't good.
Vox: Anyone who thinks Trump was "just joking" about shooting Clinton is missing the point
Spoiler: he is not being humorous--he is normalizing what should remain outrageous
Slate: Trump's "Second Amendment people" line wasn't just a veiled threat at Hillary. It was an attack on gun owners
As promised in the intro.
If you read nothing else today,
READ THIS!
Vox: Trump's 2nd Amendment comment wasn't a joke. It was "stochastic terrorism."
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Sorry, guys 'n' gals...just hadta see it again!
I know!
Let's tell all the
Trumpkins and ammosexuals
Hillary
is coming for their guns
November 8, 2016
so Republicans
better not leave their houses
that day for any reason!
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Let's tell all the
Trumpkins and ammosexuals
Hillary
is coming for their guns
November 8, 2016
so Republicans
better not leave their houses
that day for any reason!
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Mailbag
From the Courage Campaign Super PAC--investigate Trump's financial ties to Russia
You've probably heard about Donald Trump’s atrocious request that the Russian government spy on the United States.(1) This was after widespread reports that Russian secret intelligence may have been behind the recent cyber attacks on Democratic political organizations, as well as leaks that seemed uniquely timed to help Trump’s campaign.(2) Now there are credible reports about financial ties between Trump and Russian oligarchs with close connections to Vladimir Putin, and longstanding relationships between high-ranking Trump advisors and pro-Russian politicians.(3) It doesn't take a degree in international relations to know this is a real problem and we need answers. For years, Republicans in Congress have been relentless in using their power to set up sham committee hearings. They’ve squandered millions of taxpayer dollars and run special investigations to pursue their extreme right-wing agenda against Planned Parenthood and Hillary Clinton, among others. Now, it’s time for them to investigate an actual controversy. Given the growing concern of the intelligence community and the American public about Trump’s ties to Russia, there is no excuse for Congress to not launch an investigation now. Tell Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan: Launch an immediate investigation into the relationship between Donald Trump and the Russian government. The mounting evidence of ties between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a dangerous dictator, is concerning, to say the least. If true, Trump’s connections and financial obligations to Russian political and financial players would present a direct conflict of interest in a Trump presidency. And American voters deserve to be informed about any conflicts of interest presidential candidates may have before they vote in November. Republican Congressional leaders constantly try to designate themselves as the guardians of our national security, even when their political gamesmanship demonizes and endangers Americans at home and abroad. It would be the height of hypocrisy for them to refuse to investigate evidence that a presidential candidate might have competing loyalties between the United States and a hostile foreign government. We need to speak out now to pressure Congress to step in and investigate these risks to our national security and the integrity of the presidency and the electoral process. Join Courage Campaign and our friends at CREDO to tell Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan: Launch an immediate investigation into the relationship between Donald Trump and the Russian government. We are asking that GOP leadership investigate the following issues:
SIGN THE PETITION to demand Republican leaders launch an immediate investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia. Thank you for having the courage to speak out, Eddie, along with Annie, Caitlin, Emma, Ernesto, Katie, Kelsey, Laura, Lindsay, Moonyoung, Scottie, and Tim (the Courage team) 1. https://couragecampaign. 2. http://act.couragecampaign. 3. https://couragecampaign. 4. http://act.couragecampaign. 5. http://act.couragecampaign. 6. https://couragecampaign. 7. http://act.couragecampaign. 8. https://couragecampaign. 
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| Tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: Reject all pending natural gas pipeline permits | |
| The petition to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reads:
"Nineteen newly proposed natural gas pipelines in the Appalachian Basin would unlock massive amounts of carbon from the earth and threaten the country’s obligations under the Paris climate treaty. Reject all pending natural gas pipeline permits."
Add your name:
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From ColorOfChange.org--first, they shut down her FB page; then, they killed her
Facebook just took away one of the most important tools we have to help hold police accountable – social media.
Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook, at the request of
police, deactivated the social media accounts of Korryn Gaines, a
23-year-old Black woman shot to death by Baltimore County police last
Monday. She was broadcasting the standoff on Facebook that led to police shooting her 5-year-old son and killing her.1Social media and shareable videos have been crucial not just for raising awareness about the injustices Black folks like Korryn and her son face every day from police, but in allowing us to control our own stories and narratives. Without access to social media, the police control the narrative. And when police control that narrative we’re always portrayed as people who deserved to die. This a dangerous precedent. To keep our message from getting out, police are going to keep taking our social media out.
Demand Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg stop censoring users at the request of the police.
With the introduction of Facebook live video last April, the
social media giant will increasingly be put in the position of
controlling one of the most powerful tools used to make police violence
against Black folks visible. Just last month, the Facebook
livestream of Philando Castile’s death at the hands of police sparked
nationwide protests. But this latest incident makes us wonder, what
if police had asked Facebook to shut down Diamond Reynolds' Facebook as
she streamed the police killing of her boyfriend, Philando Castile?
Had police done that, we might only have seen
police fed news headlines about a Black man with a gun being killed by
police. We never would have known the true story that Philando Castile
was a licensed gun owner who was complying with police orders. And
we would never have witnessed their brutality against him nor felt the
grief and bravery of Diamond Reynolds and her daughter.This is why Facebook’s decision to censor Korryn Gaines’ social media accounts at the request of the police is so dangerous for our communities. If Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook continue to comply with police requests to suspend social media broadcasts and accounts, it will rob us of our voices and our narratives and it will shield police violence from the public.
Demand Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg stop censoring users at the request of the police.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has gone to great lengths to declare his and his company's support for the Movement for Black Lives. He’s made public statements about the need to address systemic racism in the US and last month, and even hung a massive sign of support outside Facebook headquarters. But so far he and Facebook have been slow to take actions in support of Black folks.
Last year, Zuckerberg dragged his feet when it came to addressing the racist bullying occurring on his site. But when Republicans complained about censorship of right-wing content on his site earlier this year, Zuckerberg immediately hosted a meeting with top-GOP operatives to reassure them of his site's neutrality. To date, Facebook has not acted to address Black movement leaders concerns with Facebook's censorship of Black users like Korryn Gaines.
Not only that, but Zuckerberg was all too happy to let Facebook help sponsor Trump's coronation at the RNC. But if we pile on the pressure while this issue is making front page news, we could force Mark Zuckerberg to go beyond words to action – and make Facebook change its policy.
Until Justice is Real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Anika, Bernard, Corina, Jade and the rest of the ColorOfChange team.
References:
1. “Facebook deactivated Korryn Gaines' account during standoff, police say,” The Guardian, 08-03-2016
https://act.colorofchange.org/
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Three pieces from Daily Kos
Trump's behavior gets worse daily, so a constituent wrote to his or her Republican congressman
An American president paid a ransom to Iran, but it wasn't Obama
Breakthrough MS treatment shows great promise--Dot Calm, this one's for you!
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This summer, thousands of activists across the country mobilized for a national day of action against police brutality. Many of the actions and demonstrations organized for the Movement for Black Lives collective action day targeted police unions.
Police union contracts and police bill of rights laws intentionally block law enforcement officers from accountability. Some of the unfair advantages these laws and contracts give to police officers include officers reviewing evidence before they are interrogated, limits on how long they can be interrogated, and even erasing misconduct from their records.
Sign if you agree: Police should adhere to the same laws as the rest of us. It's time to end unfair police union contracts now.
Police officers are supposed to uphold the law, but that shouldn't make them exempt from obeying the law themselves. However, it is nearly impossible to indict, let alone convict, a cop of wrongdoing. Unions like the Fraternal Order of Police and the Patrolmen Benevolent Associations have proven to be such powerful political entities that most politicians think twice before crossing them.
The concentration of power in police unions means they answer to no one but themselves. Those entrusted with authority over people's safety, those often asked to make life or death decisions, simply cannot continue to escape real, enforceable scrutiny of their actions.
Sign if you agree: Police uphold the law, but they are not exempt from the law. It's time to end unfair police union contracts now.
Keep fighting,
Irna Landrum, Daily Kos
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Please, friends, if you sign nothing else today, please sign this one in Dot Calm's honor. Dot followed what that asshole Rove did to this poor man. She even wrote to Governor Siegelman in prison--the bastards had him mopping floors. Phuquers.
-- Dot Calm's shadow
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CORPORATE HALL OF SHAME:
Ballot now open
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| Vote now, then give |
Earth’s temperature is rising steadily. One in four people don’t have enough clean water to drink. And our democracy is being bought and sold to the highest bidder.
Right now, there is so much on the line. Global corporations are driving environmental destruction, threatening people’s health and rights, and corrupting the democratic process.
We’re adding to our list of the world’s worst corporations—and the power is in your hands to pick which one joins the Corporate Hall of Shame. Which one will you choose? I hope you’ll vote today—and then make a gift to support our work to hold these abusive corporations accountable.
Your vote informs which abusive corporation Corporate Accountability International will take on this year in the Hall of Shame. We expose corporate abuse in the media, confront executives at shareholders’ meetings, and run campaigns to accelerate pressure for tangible policy changes.
Vote now. Your voice will help determine which corporation will be named as this year’s worst of the worst.
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| No new offshore oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico | |
| The petition to the Obama administration reads:
"The pending lease sale of nearly 24 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas drilling will put Gulf residents, the environment, and the fight to battle climate change at serious risk. Stop the sale of offshore oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico immediately."
Add your name:
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From Bernie--help Tim Canova defeat Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Many of you already know that I've endorsed a candidate, Tim Canova, who
is challenging the former head of the Democratic Party Debbie Wasserman
Schultz in Florida.
This race is very important for Our Revolution because if we can win
this tough fight in Florida, it will send a clear message about the
power of our grassroots movement that will send shockwaves through the
political and media establishments. The latest poll shows us within
reach.
July 31 Poll
Debbie Wasserman Schultz: 46%
Tim Canova: 38%
Undecided: 16%
Debbie Wasserman Schultz: 46%
Tim Canova: 38%
Undecided: 16%
This is going to be close. Please chip in to Tim Canova's campaign so that we can get as many voters to the polls as possible before the August 30th primary:
If you've saved payment info with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through to Tim Canova immediately:
Much like in our campaign for president, Tim started off as a major
underdog in this race, battling a well-known and well-established person
who was the chairwoman of the Democratic Party.
He is running a tough campaign on the kind of progressive platform we
need to see in this country: opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership,
backing free tuition at public colleges and universities, reforming a
corrupt campaign finance system and raising the minimum wage to $15 an
hour. Tim is on the side of working people and that's why we need to
help him win.
The recent emails leaked from Democratic Party staff showed that under
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DNC staff were not exactly fair and
even-minded during the presidential primary. What was revealed wasn't
much of a shock to us, because we knew all along that the establishment
wasn't on our side.
But now that Debbie Wasserman Schultz has resigned we have the
opportunity to transform the Democratic Party and open up its doors to
working people and young people — people who want real change.
Democrats must make it crystal clear that their party is prepared to
take on Wall Street and the powerful corporate interests whose greed is
doing so much harm to our country. We must stand with Americans who are
working longer hours for lower wages, the uninsured, students leaving
school deeply in debt and all those worried about climate change.
I believe Tim Canova is the kind of candidate whose policies will move
the Democratic Party and our country in that direction. Electing Tim
will send a strong message to the Democratic establishment about what
this party should stand for. That's why I'm asking you today to help
send him to Congress:
This race has been an uphill battle from the very beginning, but the
latest poll has us very close. I am confident we can win this fight with
your support.
Thank you for being a part of Our Revolution.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders
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From ColorOfChange.org--DON'T let Obama re-militarize the police!
The White House is about to undo one of its biggest reforms to stop police militarization since Ferguson--and we need to come together to stop it.
Last year, after the horror of armed tanks rolling down residential streets and officers using grenade launchers to tear gas protesters, President Obama signed an executive order limiting the 1033 Program--which transferred combat gear from the military to local police departments.1 The order banned the federal government from giving away armored tanks, weaponized aircraft, military-grade weapons, grenade launchers and other military equipment to local police departments. And now, police unions and departments are trying to force President Obama to unravel this victory and lift the ban. Unfortunately, they’re making headway: last week, White House administration officials announced they would be reconsidering the 1033 Program ban.2
Lifting the 1033 Program ban would be devastating for Black communities. The proliferation of military equipment and tactics in police departments creates the mentality that the people police are meant to serve are enemy combatants--and it’s claimed the lives of too many. But if we show President Obama that more people want to maintain the ban on police militarization than want to lift it, we can make sure he keeps military-grade weaponry out of our communities. Will you sign the petition?
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Democracy Now!
The interview with David Cay Johnston on the making of Donald Trump is outstanding--not to be missed.
-- Dot Calm's shadow
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WTF is up with our phuquen cops?!?? They shoot Black people (don't they?) and then handcuff them, guilty or not...pretended mistake or not...and let them lay there, bleeding, without rendering aid...sometimes, letting them die in the process. Maybe we should institute a new entrance test for police: if you want to be one, you're not allowed.
-- Dot Calm's shadow
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Daily Kos
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AlterNet
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...except that they are with stoopit
because they created him!
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Movies!
Last time, you may recall, I waxed poetic on the Olympix opening ceremony. Here is a somewhat less reverent look from John Oliver.
Mr. Deity and the wrong number
Damn, son...these Mr. Deity videos are like potato chips--I can't have just one! My thigh is bruised from all the slapping. PSA: do NOT drink anything while watching!
'Til next time, check out these great channels:
...or, if you just want something mindless and fun, try Tested
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posted by Dot Calm @ 5:59 PM
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