{"id":28737,"date":"2017-08-01T02:22:28","date_gmt":"2017-08-01T09:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=28737"},"modified":"2017-08-01T12:10:31","modified_gmt":"2017-08-01T19:10:31","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-31-july-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2017\/08\/01\/squatchs-open-thread-31-july-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch’s Open Thread 31 July 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you believe it? We’re almost half way through summer! The days are shorter.\u00a0 Kids are talking about returning to school.\u00a0 I for one can hardly wait for the cooler weather of fall!\u00a0 But until then, I’ll enjoy fresh fruit sorbets to cool me off, and perhaps a “run” through my neighbour’s sprinkler which he only turns on at dusk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Alternet<\/a><\/strong> — People are wondering out loud about the parallels between today\u2019s Republican Party and organized crime, and whether \u201cTeflon Don\u201d Trump will remain unscathed through his many scandals, ranging from interactions with foreign oligarchs to killing tens of thousands of Americans by denying them healthcare to stepping up the destruction of our environment and public lands.<\/p>\n

History suggests \u2013 even if treason can be demonstrated \u2013 that, as long as he holds onto the Republican Party (and Fox News), he\u2019ll survive it intact. And he won\u2019t be the first Republican president to commit high crimes to get and stay in office.<\/p>\n

In fact, Eisenhower was the last legitimately elected Republican president we\u2019ve had in this country.
\nSince Dwight Eisenhower left the presidency in 1961, six different Republicans have occupied the Oval Office.
\nAnd every single one of them – from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump – have been illegitimate – ascending to the highest office in the land not through small-D democratic elections – but instead through fraud and treason.<\/p>\n

(And today\u2019s GOP-controlled Congress is arguably just as corrupt and illegitimate, acting almost entirely within the boundaries set by an organized group of billionaires.)<\/p>\n

What a storied history for the Grand Old Party, and certainly nothing of which to be proud. Yet Republicans continue in their errant ways as if nobody is watching. Perhaps voters are not watching, or perhaps they just don\u2019t care. This is a sad commentary on American democracy, such that it is.<\/span><\/p>\n

YouTube<\/strong><\/span> — Of course, for the past week we have been hearing how Anthony Scaramucci was going to clean things up by plugging leaks at the White House.\u00a0 He provided plenty of fodder for comedians in his short White House stay. According to news today, he was fired from his position as communications director by the Orange Ogre with the inappropriateness of his profanity laced tirade about Reince Priebus given as the reason. Hmmmm . . . I wonder how that squares with Trump being called the Pussy Grabber.\u00a0 More over, Scaramucci was fired before he officially started.\u00a0 Damn, and I had just finally remembered how to spell his name!<\/span><\/p>\n

John Oliver — Anthony Scaramucci<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n