A beating in Alabama.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to never get comfortable with stories like the one I am posting tonight.

This can never become the new normal in America. Even if it is trump's America. (At least for now.)

"TROY, Alabama (KTRK) --

 

An Alabama prosecutor says police body cameras recorded the arrest of a teenager whose family says he was severely beaten by officers.

District Attorney Tom Anderson did not tell The Troy Messenger what the video and audio shows. He is waiting for the State Bureau of Investigation to finish its probe before commenting further.

The mother of 17-year-old Ulysses Wilkerson, Angela Williams, posted an image of her son's swollen face on Facebook. The family says Wilkerson was startled by police in Troy on Dec. 23 and ran from officers who caught up with him and beat him while he was handcuffed.

"I just want to know. I don't know till this day, I don't know what happened," Williams told CNN. "Police told me nothing. I hear what they telling the reporters but they hadn't told me nothing."

Police Chief Randall Barr has said the teen struggled with officers and reached toward his waistband as if he was trying to grab a weapon.

"We will not settle until we know the truth behind the brutal beating of my dear son and until these police officers are held accountable for their crimes," Williams added." [Source]

Don't hold your breath Ms. Williams, but rest assured that those of us who have a voice and who can expose these types of atrocities to the world will continue to do just that.

Pic from abcnews.go.com

A courageous 17 year old speaks out against racism.

The following interview is from a 17 year old soccer star in Europe.

"In different circumstances there would be so much else to discuss when Rhian Brewster pulls up his seat for the first major interview of what promises to be a thrilling career. The young man – or boy, really – sitting here is not short of highlights when he looks back on 2017. He is a World Cup winner with England’s Under-17s, as well as being the owner of the golden boot trophy from the same tournament, and there will be plenty of other opportunities, almost certainly, in the future to talk about the star qualities that have established him as one of the rising young hopes of English football.

Yet we are here, on his request, because he wants to talk about his other experiences over the past year and go through a story, at the age of 17, that can make you despair. He is speaking with a courage that goes beyond his years and he hopes, in the process, that what he says can go all the way to the top of the sport – if, that is, the relevant people are willing to listen. And, frankly, he could probably be forgiven for having a few doubts.

Uefa, in particular, needs to pay attention because this is a cry for help and it all feels so desperately wrong that over the course of an hour a teenage footballer, still to make his professional debut, can recall seven occasions when he says he has been racially abused or witnessed the same happening to a team-mate. Five of the alleged incidents are from the past seven months. Two have been while playing for England and one occurred in the World Cup final when, amid all the golden memories of beating Spain’s Under-17s, Brewster says he can vividly remember one of his team-mates being called a “monkey” by an opposition player.

To speak out takes courage because it cannot be easy for any player, especially one of his age, to go through the more excruciating details. Yet it is also clear that Brewster has been thinking about going public for some time and, importantly, that he has a strong support network in place. Mike Gordon, Liverpool’s co-owner, has been personally involved, ringing Brewster several times to let him know he has the backing of the people at the top of the club. Jürgen Klopp, the manager, is aware of this interview and full of admiration for what the teenager is trying to do. Steven Gerrard, one of Brewster’s mentors at the club’s academy, is the same. Troy Townsend, Kick it Out’s education manager, is in regular contact and Alex Inglethorpe, Liverpool’s academy director, is here to offer his support, sitting in the next seat as Brewster explains why he feels compelled to speak out. Liverpool, very understandably, are proud of what their player is doing.

“I said to them that I wanted to do it,” Brewster explains. “They said I should speak to my parents before doing anything and see what my mum and dad think. My mum and dad are unnerved because this is not the first time. They’re angry and they don’t want it to keep happening. And they’re angry because nothing has been done about it.”

Behind his polite smile and quietly spoken demeanour, he is angry, too, and the reasons quickly become clear when he explains, in uncensored form, what prompted Liverpool to submit an official complaint after playing Spartak Moscowin a Uefa Youth League tie at Prenton Park, home of Tranmere Rovers, three weeks ago.

“I got fouled,” Brewster says. “I was on the floor and I had the ball in my hands. One of their players started saying stuff in Russian to the ref. I said: ‘It’s a foul, man, what you playing at?’ I was still sitting down at this stage. Then their player leaned over me, right down to my face and said: ‘Suck my dick, you nigger, you negro.’

I didn’t even want to put in a complaint [after the Spartak game]. I was walking down the tunnel swearing: ‘Fuck the system, it’s not going to do anything.' Obviously you have to [make a complaint]. But if something is ever done about it, that’s another story

“I jumped to my feet and the ref came running over because obviously he realised something had been said. He [the referee] said to me he couldn’t do anything because he hadn’t heard it and ‘the only thing I can do is report it’. I said: ‘Come on, then – let’s go and report it.’ He started doing something else and I said: ‘No, now.’ We went over to the fourth official and told him. I told Steven [Gerrard] what had happened and we made a complaint there.”

It is jarring, to say the least, to hear the words that were allegedly used. But this, Brewster says, is only the latest in a long line of incidents where he has been targeted this year, starting with England’s encounter against Ukraine during the European Under-17 Championship in Croatia in May.

England won that game 4-0, with Brewster scoring the second goal. Yet the striker also angered one of the Ukraine players after chasing a ball into the penalty area and colliding with the goalkeeper. “I didn’t mean to hurt the goalkeeper and I said sorry – just left it there. But then there was an incident [with the same outfield player] later in the match. It was a bad challenge and I pushed him. We got into an argument and he called me a nigger.”[More]

I know I know, it's almost 2018 and there is no more racism in the world. 

Try telling that to Rhian Brewster.     

OPEN THREAD WEDNESDAY.

 It's open thread Wednesday, folks, and I have a couple of questions. My questions have nothing to do with trump. This time they are actually about a couple of his family members.

First, his daughter. Is it a big deal that a confederate flag was in the background of a photo shared by Ivanka and Jared over the holiday?

Was it a dog whistle to trump supporters, or was it merely a coincidence?

Next, his wife. Did Melanie's selfie go too far down tacky road, or are you totally cool with it?

Thoughts?  

The manufactured right-wing war on Christmas, and a president who took advantage of it.

Nothing is crazier coming out of wingnut- world than this phony "war on Christmas".  I mean what does this even mean? I am quite sure that the children of liberals were just as happy with their toys this year as the children of all those FOX viewers out there. I know that my nieces were.

Trust me all you people on the crazy train, there is no one out here trying to undermine the Christmas holiday or declaring a war on Christmas by doing away with those two silly words: Merry Christmas. It just makes more sense to say Happy Holidays because Christmas is actually one day. The holidays, on the other hand, run all the way through to the new year. Besides, there are people in America who are not down with the whole Christmas thing.

Still, if you want to say Merry Christmas to whoever is listening, knock yourself out.

trump is taking credit for bringing Merry Christmas back (it never left), and like he does with damn near everything else; he is lying to the American people.

"On Sunday, President Donald Trump said he was “proud to have led the charge against the assault” on the phrase “Merry Christmas.” The 45th president also posted two tweets using the phrase.

 

However, just a few years before he started spewing claims about America’s lack of “Merry Christmas” greetings, Trump was actually telling people “Happy Holidays” instead.

Related SearchesObama Saying Merry ChristmasDonald Trump Merry ChristmasObama ChristmasObama Christmas 2017

 

Back in December 2010 when Trump’s predecessor President Barack Obama was in office, the former reality TV star spread some Yuletide cheer with his Twitter followers and failed to use the very phrase he recently alleged was under attack.

 

Trump has often accused Obama of not saying “Merry Christmas” during the holiday season. But, as he did during every year of his presidency, Obama wished all of his followers a “Merry Christmas” on Twitter on Monday.

Don't miss: JetBlue Plane Slides Off Icy Runway at Boston Airport After Flying in for Christmas

“On behalf of the Obama family, Merry Christmas. We wish you joy and peace this holiday season,” he wrote.

In addition to his presidential social media handles, Obama wished Americans “Merry Christmas” in his yearly holiday video while he was in office. He was also caught on film using the phrase while addressing citizens and giving speeches during his tenure." {Source}

 

The greatest hustle in the history of America continues. 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY HOLIDAY.

From my family to yours.

Peace.

CAPTION SATURDAY.

I need a caption for this pic.

The art of the ass kiss.

 In light of that grotesque display we witnessed of ass kissing by republicans to Donald trump, I thought that I would share a few tidbits from an article I read today about some of the great ass kissers and sycophants throughout history. That repugnant piece of theater we witnessed yesterday is not unprecedented, the history of the world is littered with this stuff, and it never turns out well.

"You’ve mention some historic sycophants, such as, “Henry Ass-Kissinger.” Who, throughout history, has sucked-up the most?

There are lots of contenders for this title. Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, deserves some consideration for gold medalist for sycophancy. He initiated the “Heil Hitler” salute and insisted on the use of “Der Führer” as title. His letters are full of groveling praise—that Hitler transformed his way of viewing the world—and imagined scenes of glorious triumphs against various adversaries in which the Führer stands firm and unshakeable.

There are also instances of sycophancy that are painful to contemplate, as when Johann Sebastian Bach presents his Brandenburg Concertos to a minor scion of the nobility. Bach grovels, happy to recall that Christian Ludwig had noticed his “little pieces,” pleased that he has fulfilled his “humble duty” by offering him these compositions, and hopeful that His Royal Highness would not judge his “imperfections” by his “discriminating and sensitive taste.”

An incident from the Roman Emperor Caligula’s notorious rule might well be winner here. During an illness early in his reign, a commoner vowed to give his own life if the emperor recovered. Once back on his feet, Caligula chose to take him at his word and ordered his execution. Death by sycophancy is hard to top.

Well, let’s address the topic everybody’s thinking about: the sycophants President Trump insists he have surrounding him. Do leaders tend to surround themselves only with flatterers?

Power attracts sycophants. And again, here’s a situation in which flattery imitates some of the behaviors that we cherish in friendship. Any real leader will tell you how daunting the task is, and how much support is necessary for success—especially in any bold undertaking. One needs friends and trusted associates. But not all leaders require flunkeys and yes-men.

Trump is a world-class enabler of sycophants. The exchange he reportedly had with Comey, which we have no reason to doubt, makes that clear. By this time in the Trump administration, “loyalty” had been degraded into absolute conformity of opinion and a willingness to distort reality when cued by the President. We’d seen fantastic acts of bootlicking from his staff. When Trump demanded Comey’s loyalty, he was asking him to kiss the ring. Comey’s response was astute. His offer of “honest loyalty,” which Trump found insufficient, clarified the situation. What Trump required of Comey was neither loyal nor honest.

So, what about solutions? I mean, it’s nice to have your ego stroked now and then, isn’t it? How can we recognize when it crosses over into unhealthy ass-kissing?

This is often difficult. Plutarch has a wonderful essay on topic, “How to tell a friend from a flatterer.” He suggests a few tests. One might vary one’s opinions or contradict oneself: a flatterer will shift as one turns. A flatterer will support ignoble, mean-spirited, or vicious actions. A flatterer will undermine one’s other friends. But ultimately, the best defense against sycophancy is to eradicate the flatterer within—our own self-conceit. Plutarch reminds us that we often flatter ourselves, which makes us less resistant to the flattery of others. We meet sycophancy halfway.
{Source}

Call them what you will, those people will look at clips of what they did in years to come, and hopefully they will be embarrassed.

They have disgraced themselves, their families, and their country.

History will not be kind.

The great American tax heist.

"The wondrous joy of children and our responsibility to them. We remember our duty to live justly. And for those of us blessed to serve in this Congress, we must remember our special responsibility to govern fairly, to meet the needs of all of God’s children. In this holy time, the moral obscenity and unrepentant greed of the GOP tax scam stands out even more clearly.”

Sorry Nancy, the getaway car is long gone.

The GOP tax scam is almost complete.

I watched Paul Ryan and his fellow bandits chirping today, and I must say that P.T. Barnum would have been proud.

This was a bill written by lobbyist and the people who will be benefiting from it. (I see you Bob Corker) And they will get away with it. Why? Because poor white people will always believe powerful white men in  bespoke dark suits. They have to. They can't believe that their station in life will not improve because they lack the necessary tools to make things better for themselves. It's those other people's fault. The ones we have to give all our tax dollars to. They forget, of course, that all those tax dollars actually benefits them more than anyone else.

Donald trump will benefit from this bill as well, and he will line his pockets (along with his family) with millions of dollars at our expense. He can prove me wrong by showing us his  tax returns, but we know that he will never do that. The lie about them being audited has been turned into facts for the trumpbots; not to mention the rest of Americans who have just been too beaten down by all the lies to care at this point.

I have to give the GOP credit, though, they were relentless, and they stuck together. I am pretty sure that it was more about their political survival than anything else. Their donor class would not have been happy if they didn't pass this bill. I mean it's why they sent them to Washington in the first place.

They have to be thinking today that it was money will spent.   
  




 

 

Coup d'état?

  The folks at FOX VIEWS are now suggesting that we have a "coup on our hands" ,and  that the president's enemies have a shadow government within Washington working furiously to bring him down.

They have gone as far to suggest that Special Counsel Mueller's team should be disbanded because of bias against trump. Go figure.

We all know, of course, that this is not true, and it is sadly a lame attempt by trump and his minions to sway public opinion against a man and his team that is getting closer to the truth. Of course there is no bias, career legal professionals such as Mr. Mueller will not have their life work tarnished by showing bias in an investigation that cost millions. 

I still can't figure out why trump and his people are so afraid of. They swear up and down that there is nothing to see and that trump did not commit a crime. If that's the case why aren't they encouraging Mr. Mueller and giving him everything he needs to complete the investigation? Unless of course there is something to be afraid of, and the people who are yelling from the FOX VIEWS cheap seats sense that there might be something that the trump crime family is hiding.   

"On Fox News last night, Jesse Watters suggested that there may be an anti-Trump “coup” going on.
Watters brought up the anti-Trump texts from Peter Strzok and another FBI agent, including the “insurance policy” wording, and concluded this is “smoking gun evidence” that agents investigating Trump believed it was their duty to protect the country from him:

“The investigation into Donald Trump’s campaign has been crooked from the jump. But the scary part is we may now have proof the investigation was weaponized to destroy his presidency for partisan political purposes and to disenfranchise millions of American voters. Now, if that’s true, we have a coup on our hands in America.”

And in case there was any ambiguity about whether this word choice was deliberate, this chyron appeared on screen during Watters’ interview with Kellyanne Conway:"

Wait, what? These people have lost their minds.

First of all, Mr. Strzok was let go by the Mueller team months ago. And they let him go as soon as they found out about his e-mail exchange with some woman he was trying to impress. Besides, he called trump an "idiot", I am  pretty sure that most people would agree with that assessment.

But FOX has to do what FOX. They pride themselves on being the president's own state run network, and they are giddy that he takes his daily cues from them.

They better be careful, because if there is a coup, the FOX VIEWS studios will be ground zero.

*Pic from thehill.com


  

CAPTION SATURDAY.

I need a caption for this pic.

Example: "The gate is this way, Omarosa. We will send you your things later." 

*Pic from abcnews.go.com. 

Dead children can't praise him, so he ignores them.

Those of us with a heart understand how important it is to remember the poor innocent victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy.

With a heart. 

"Not only did Donald Trump not tweet out messages of condolences for families who lost loved ones five years ago on Thursday at the Sandy Hook gun massacre in Connecticut, and not only did White House press secretary Sarah Sanders on that day insist there’s simply nothing that can be done to battle American epidemic of gun violence, but Trump himself managed to insult the Sandy Hook families in another appalling way.

In a craven display of collective indifference, Trump hosted Wayne LaPierre, the controversial head of the NRA, at the White House on Thursday night, as families and friends of the elementary school gun massacre were remembering the victims of the horrific killing spree.

The shooting rampage claimed 26 lives, including 20 young children. In the wake of the attack, LaPierre’s NRA spread lies about the emergency response to the attack, lashed out at critics, and urged that every school in America have armed guards in order to fend off possible gunmen wielding AK-47s.

And soon after that, LaPierre led the fight to obstruct President Barack Obama’s bipartisan effort to pass a wildly popular background check bill.

LaPierre represents everything that’s wrong and immoral with radical, far-right voices of the gun-obsessed GOP culture. And that’s who Trump invited to the White House on the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre.

Gun safety advocate Shannon Watts, who founded the group Moms Demand Action, noted on Twitter the contrast between how Trump and Obama deal with families of Sandy Hook, as well as the memories of the slain:

Trump’s do-nothing strategy regarding gun violence was on display on Thursday at the White House, when Sanders was asked by a reporter at the daily briefing to explain “what President Trump has done to try to protect the American people against a similar type” of Sandy Hook massacre. Sanders at first started touting Trump’s tighter border security measures.

After she was reminded that the Sandy Hook shooter didn’t enter the U.S. from another country, nor did the shooters who killed nearly 100 people during the massacres in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, this year, Sanders conceded that the White House hasn’t done a thing to try to stop the bloodshed, because the White House, echoing NRA spin, doesn’t think there is anything to be done to stop the bloodshed.

The White House now views gun massacres the same way it views the weather: It’s out of their hands. And it views the Sandy Hook victims as inconvenient reminders of the past." [Source]

Mr. Mueller, please end this nightmare. 

*Pic from heavy.com