Medicynic

“Tapper also reports that Trump wants families separated even if they appear at ports of entry requesting asylum. This is illegal andwould be a PR disaster, but Trump doesn’t care. “He just wants to separate families,” said an unnamed senior administration official.”

Medicynical note: Just what we wanted, a president running the government like his own business, which he bankrupted 5 times. Or like his university, which broke the law and was forced to pay 25 million in restitution. Or like his foundation, which also was found to have broken the law and is now defunct.

“Sniped at for decades by health advocates, Russia’s doggedly defiant producer of asbestos — a substance banned as a killer by more than 60 countries — thinks it has perhaps finally found the perfect figure for a campaign to rehabilitate the product’s deeply stained image: President Trump.”

“”Trump is on our side,” said Vladimir V. Kochelayev, chairman of the board of Uralasbest, one of the world’s few remaining producers of asbestos, citing what he said were reports that the Trump administration was easing restrictions on asbestos use.”

Medicynical note: That a US president could be possibly advocating for asbestos is astonishingly stupid. But he is! (Both astonishingly stupid and advocating for asbestos). And the Republican Party……?

“SAUDI CROWN Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sent an unmistakable signal to all who hoped he would be moved by the international backlash against his brutal treatment of human rights activists, journalists and other perceived opponents. With the trial of 11 women’s rights advocates still in progress, his security forces rounded up 12 of their supporters , most of whom were detained Thursday. That included two U.S. citizens, in what can only be interpreted as a deliberate provocation.”

“The crown prince is telling the world — and in particular, the U.S. Congress — that objections to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and to the torture of women seeking the right to drive, have fallen on deaf ears. Maybe that’s because the response has lacked both a practical punch and the support of President”

Medicynical note: blowhards behave this way.

Looking back Trump and Nixon were very much alike.

• “In a tape-recorded 1972 Oval Office conversation between President Richard Nixonand Rev. Billy Graham, the nation’s best-known preacher agreed with a stream of bigoted comments Nixon made about Jews and their perceived influence in American life.
  Graham: “This stranglehold (of Jews in the media) has got to be broken or the country’s going down the drain.”
  Nixon: “You believe that?”
  Graham: “Yes, sir.”
  Nixon: “Oh, boy. So do I. I can’t ever say that but I believe it.”Graham: “No, but if you get elected a second time, then we might be able to do something.””
• Medicynical note: Why is it that republicans with their free market “anti-socialism” screeds are always small minded cheaters. Does this say something about an unregulated marketplace?

From Kevin Drum of Mother Jones

“Some of Robert S. Mueller III’s investigators have told associates that Attorney General William P. Barr failed to adequately portray the findings of their inquiry and that they were more troubling for President Trump than Mr. Barr indicated, according to government officials and others familiar with their simmering frustrations.”

Medicynical Note: It was inevitable. Lies and half truths are not a surprise when you are dealing with the most corrupt presidency ever.

My candidate for president must:

1. Be electable, no cringeworthy moments in the past. No apologies.

2. Remember McGovern. No over-reach.

3. Be a Democrat liberal/progressive and pledge to support eventual Democratic nominee.

4. Not be an “independent.” Their run assures a Trump election.

5. Under age 65, see post on candidate age.  Some room on age.  (I’m 77 and know that over 70 years at election is too old)

6. Support funding for and the concept of a safety net for citizens, i.e. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, support for disabled

7. Propose achievable short term goals along with longer term aspirations.

8. Have a long term goal of national health scheme for all citizens that includes right of access to contraception and access to abortion services

9. Support the civil rights of all citizens.

10. Be committed to the reimposition of environmental regulations

11. Recognize the risk of global warming and commit to joining other nations in solving the problem

12.  Support the separation of church and state.

13. Release tax returns so effect of any future policies on candidates wealth can be discerned.

13. Not be named Trump

It’s sadly true and may explain her attitude towards rape on campuses.

“Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is making life a lot easier for campus rapists across the country, and back at home in Michigan, the private Christian high school she attended is way ahead of her. Holland Christian High School faces a lawsuit over its handling of the rape of a 15-year-old girl by her 17-year-old boyfriend, both students at the school at the time of the rape.”

“The rapist has since referred in a text message to “the way that I’ve raped you” and has pleaded guilty to a “