Da Snippets, Dey Be Snarky

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Law and justice, Political commentary, Social commentary

Puff … puff … I don’t know about you guys … puff … pant … but I’m tired.  Tired of the non-stop ‘breaking news’ updates, about half of which are “pbth … who cares?”, but the other half of which are foot-stomping, growling, jaw-dropping episodes in the ongoing saga of “Fool on the Hill”.  Please … somebody … anybody … rescue me and carry me off to a desert island where nobody has ever heard the name “Trump”!  I’m tired of all the time being snarky!  I’m tired of having my blood pressure go through the ceiling before I’m even out of bed in the morning!  I’m tired of … I’m just tired.  Sigh.  Meanwhile, though, there are more things you guys need to know about, so … Filosofa will now pick herself up from the floor, dry her eyes, and … snark on.snarky-4

Nothing to see here, folks …

You all remember when Mike Pence visited Ireland earlier this month, right?  And, he could have stayed in Dublin, the city where his meetings were to be held, but instead, he traveled (at our expense, lest anyone forget) to Doonbeg, some 180 miles away (one way), in order to stay at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel.  Why?  Because Trump had ‘suggested’ it and because Mike Pence has not the cojones to stand up to Trump.  The price?

Doonbeg is in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland, nearly a four-hour drive from most of Pence’s scheduled meetings in Dublin. According to an analysis by the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Pence’s stay cost taxpayers $599,454.36 in limousine service alone.  I have no idea, and cannot find information about how much the hotel bill for Pence, his wife, and his Secret Service entourage was, but the starting rate there for a single room is $228, so … he and Karen no doubt slept and ate well there.

Ol’ Mikey justified it all, though …

Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution says the president receives a salary while in office but “shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.”  Before taking office, Trump promised he would step away from his business while in office. Instead, however, he has kept his stake in his companies. So expenditures of public funds like Pence’s stay at Doonbeg directly line Trump’s pockets.

Not only that, but Pence has made more than 20 such visits to Trump properties since taking office. So has Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, while Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has made 16 visits to Trump properties.  According to Senator Gary Peters, the ranking member of the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee …

“Reports now claim that at least 24 of the 32 individuals who have served in the President’s Cabinet have patronized Trump properties, including the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. — another property owned by the President.”

But guess what?  Trump’s republican “guardian angels” are trying to block the investigation by the House Oversight Committee, calling it a “partisan attack”.  According to a letter sent to committee chairman Elijah Cummings by Representatives Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows, both members of the ignoble House “Freedom” Caucus …

“Although you coordinated your attack with Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, you failed to consult with any Republican Members before demanding voluminous information from four separate entities – none of which bore responsibility for the lodging and accommodations in Ireland. We can only assume that these letters were the result of a rushed process to capitalize on news reporting about the Ireland travel, rather than responsible and deliberative oversight.”

Yep … nothing to see here, folks … only millions, perhaps billions of your taxpayer dollars being filtered directly into Trump’s coffers … move along now.

But there is some good news …

Somebody in the Pentagon has some sense …

Last month, the Pentagon authorized about 20 miles of fencing, lighting and other border infrastructure along the southern border that would have used $2.5 billion in funds redirected from a counter-drug fund.  But on Monday, the Department of Defense announced that it would not be able to cover the costs of the project after all.  Initially, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined that it would likely be able to afford the projects using the counter-drug funds, but the Army Corps ultimately advised the department that the funds would not cover the project, prompting its withdrawal on September 13th.

The projects were a part of Trump’s plan to divert Pentagon funds to build the wall he so needs to appease his base, even though said wall would do absolutely nothing to resolve the problem of immigration, would cause irreparable damage to the land and wildlife, and deprive people of their land.  It is merely an ego trip for Trump.  No word, that I can find, of Trump’s reaction to this news.

No more AR-15s?  Er … not quite

U.S. firearms manufacturer Colt announced yesterday that it will stop production of rifles for the civilian market — including the AR-15, a weapon infamous for its popularity among the country’s mass shooters.  Their stated reason?  That the market is saturated, that there are already more of their rifles on the market than people can buy.

Why is Filosofa such an untrusting soul?  Why do I not for a single minute believe them?  Because it is Colt, because they are the makers of firearms, their livelihood is dependent on people wanting to kill other people, and that hasn’t slowed down one whit in recent years.  So, what do I think (just in case anybody cares)?

I think that in light of the fact that the AR-15s have been receiving much publicity, having been used in several mass shootings recently, including Newtown, Orlando, Parkland, Aurora, Las Vegas, and Dayton, they are getting out before they get hit with lawsuits.

A bit of background here. In 2005, Congress passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which provides immunity in both state and federal court from civil liability for licensed manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of firearms, as well as their trade associations, in most negligence and product liability actions.  So, gun manufacturers and sellers have had free reign with no possibility of being held accountable for damage caused by their product.  But this year, democrats in both the House and Senate have introduced the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, which would allow civil cases to go forward against irresponsible actors in state and federal courts, just as they would if they involved any other product.

Now, we all know that the bill might pass in the House, but not likely in the Senate, and even if by some rare alignment of the stars it passes in the Senate, the Idiot-in-Chief would veto it.  However, there is a good possibility that in 16 months, there will be a democratic majority in the Senate, and a democrat sitting in the Oval Office, under which circumstances, it is probable that this bill, or a similar one will pass into law.  It is my belief that Colt sees the handwriting on the wall and is getting out while they can.  I could be wrong, and likely we will never know for sure if that is their reason.

So, is this good news?  Meh … yes and no.  Other arms manufacturers continue to produce the AR-15 and other assault rifles, including Palmetto State Armory and Smith and Wesson.  The better news is that companies like Wal-Mart and Dick’s Sporting Goods have discontinued sales of these killing machines and their ammunition.  The even better news will be when and if the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act passes into law.  And the best news yet would be a total and permanent ban on all assault-style weapons outside the military and law enforcement.  Some say it’ll never happen … I think it might, but it will take time.

And now, I return you to seek cheerier blogs than mine!

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28 thoughts on “Da Snippets, Dey Be Snarky”

  2. Great snark Jill!
    Perhaps if there is some chance of a reverse to all this corruption, Congress can claw back all the moneys paid to Trump companies by American Taxpayers… One can live in hope that corruption is proved at the Orange puppet hangs himself with his own strings!

    Liked by 2 people

    • This latest, his attempt to bribe the Ukraine into digging up non-existent dirt to help him cheat to win next year, may be the thing that hangs him, BUT … I somehow doubt it. It should, for he blatantly broke the law, but it’s not the first time, and every other time, his sycophants protected and defended him, and it all got swept under the rug. I won’t be much surprised if the same happens with this.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Oh how I hear ya, Jill! Brandon brought me the controllers from his video came a couple weeks ago and challenged me to give up reading the news for a week. He wanted me to hide his controllers so he could give up his game for a week. I gotta say, that was one of the most peaceful weeks I’ve had in a long time! I guess sometimes a “news vacation” is a good thing? LOL

    Liked by 2 people

    • What an awesome thing for both of you! Did he miss his video games very much, or did he enjoy time to read and do other things? Yes, a ‘news vacation’ is probably the most healthy thing any of us could do right now, but I find I simply cannot. I think I am obsessed or something, for even when I’m asleep, if I wake up in the night, I check my phone for breaking news. Sigh. I’m an addict … a news addict. 😥

      Liked by 2 people

      • Actually he was surprised that he didn’t miss his games that much. I, on the other hand, had a hard time staying off CNN. I wondered if it counted as a transgression if I were to watch CNN on TV instead of my phone. But I hung in there! LOL

        Liked by 2 people

        • Ha ha … always looking for a loophole! Yes, it would have been a transgression and then you would have had to start all over! I’m so proud that you hung in there! We should all take at least one “news-free” day a week, I think!

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  4. Love the little sign! The Queen of Snark could reign forever, Long Live the Queen!! That said, there is little doubt that your nonpaying job of snarcasm will continue for the foreseeable future though hopefully not beyond 2020. It would seem that Colt will not lose much business as I just read that a modest deployment of U.S. Troops and defense equipment to protect Saudi Arabia has been ordered. Mayhaps, a recipe for impending disaster in the Middle East?! I also read something about Trump will continue trying, as expected, to finance his fence…most likely through whatever devious ways he can come up with in his minuscule brain. Which also leads me to ask if you read Lenore Taylor’s column in The Guardian dated Sept. 20, 2019 and titled “As a foreign reporter visiting the US I was stunned by Trump’s press conference.” Interesting, to say the least. Which leads me to Pence and on that the least said by me the better as I can not find any nice words to use! Thank-you!

    Liked by 2 people

    • I do love it when you call me the “Queen of Snark” … I have a purpose in life now — to live up to the title. I must sharpen my snarking skills! I strongly suspect that November 3, 2020, will not end the need for snark, and frankly may up the ante, if anything. Sigh. Yeah, I got breaking news of the troop deployment to Saudi Arabia … and I was, as you might imagine, livid. We are … involving ourselves in something that our “leader” does not understand, and that will lead to further tensions, to say the least. Besides which, he did not receive proper approval from Congress for such a move, and is thus operating outside his authority. But, what’s new, right? Sigh. Yep, the business of snarky isn’t going away anytime soon. Now, if only WaPo would pay me for my work! No, I didn’t see that article, but will go in search of as soon as I finish my music post … which, by the way, I think you will approve of, for it is 9/21 now. 😉

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  5. Great snark, if overwhelmed at times practice that old 60s Timothy Leary mantra: Turn on, tune in, drop out.
    What’s old is new again, lol.
    Regarding Trump, two words: emolument clause, more than enough evidence to impeach. What are you waiting for Democrats… for Trump to win a 2nd term, perhaps 3 or 4?! This self anointed “overlord” has got to go. Sheesh

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Jill, something that should be clearly said to the American people and elected officials in Congress are the following truisms:

    At the very minimum, the US president,
    – is making money off the presidency,
    – has obstructed justice and ordered others to do so per the Mueller report,
    – continues to obstruct justice in multiple ways,
    – held (via campaign staff) a significant number of meetings with Russian officials, and
    – has numerous, verifiable lies of import.

    Let me add something that is lost on too many people. Trump may be correct on occasion, when he says he did not do certain things. But. He has created an environment, where staff (and others) do things to appease him. So, staying in a Trump resort appeases him (or avoids his displeasure if they did not). This is true with staff and visiting dignataries.

    This is a regal model of governance. So, acquiescence to the King is paramount. By the way, with his attack on states’ rights, which runs counter to the GOP stance, coupled with othet such moves, I think it is past time to refer to the GOP as what it is, the Trump Party. Keith

    Liked by 2 people

    • As re the fact that he may occasionally be correct when he says he didn’t do something or another (though I have my doubts), it is reminiscent of the story of the little boy who cried wolf, don’t you think? If I tell you a lie every time I talk to you, why should you believe anything I say? He and he alone have created this, so he has only himself to blame if the wolf is knocking at his door, and nobody comes to help. Awwww … pobrecito!

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      • Jill, using a non-Trump example, Former NJ Governor Chris Christie swears he did not order the bridge closing to punish someone. He did not have to. Organizations take on the personality of its leader. Since Christie bullied people, his people felt they had license to bully.

        When the leader lies, cheats, bullies and name calls like the US president, so do people around him, including his sycophants like Stuart Varney, Sean Hannity, Mitch McConnell, eg. Keith

        Liked by 2 people

  8. Colt, WalMart, and Dick’s are a start at least, but $600,000 just for travelling 180 miles a few times. That should have taken him around the world a few times. The price seems SLIGHTLY inflated. A bullet-proof car with a gold toilet included at the very least. Or was that the cost of the booze to drown his spirit for not being his own man anymore. Surely he never intended to be Trump’s boytoy when he started out in politics! Oh, he intended to be somebody’s boytoy, so why not Trump’s? Cuz Trump is a terrible boss, that’s why. He has no loyalty to anyone but himself, and after recent fiascos he probably wishes he could fire himself!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Yeah, the cost of a limo back and forth for a few days blew my mind! And these fools don’t even bat an eye over the cost … oh wait … I guess that’s because WE are paying for it, so why should they care? As for Pence … I think he is thrilled to be in a position where he can attempt to form policies that support his religious, bigoted, homophobic ideology. I have always thought that he was just biding his time, hoping that something would happen to Trump — death or impeachment — and he could ascend to the throne. Sigh. Rumour has it that Trump is considering picking a different running mate for next year.

      Liked by 1 person

      • He still has to get nominated by his own party, which is no longer a given. Trying to prevent primaries in certain states cannot be sitting well with everyone. It will surprise me if he is not nominated, given his godhood, but nothing is ever sure in a horserace, and politics is like a horserace. Anything can happen, and often does.

        Liked by 2 people

        • Two days ago, I would have said it is a given that the GOP will nominate him, but this latest thing with him trying to get the president of the Ukraine to dig up dirt on his opponents to sway the election seems to be snowballing, so it may well be the thing that brings him down! Then again, it may get swept under the rug just like his collusion with Russia in 2016 did. We shall see.

          Liked by 1 person

  9. Naw, I’ll stay with you, Jill. I am weary of ‘cheery’ blogs – they lie and blow smoke up my ass. USA ( the one you and I love) is a sinking ship and most of America doesn’t care.😢 Sorry for the pessimism, but it is 3:18 in the morning, I have been awake feeling very insecure and irrelevant, and right now ‘cheery’ really sucks.

    Liked by 3 people

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