YES, I remember, do YOU?

     I remember being activated as a member of American Airlines Initial Response Group on September 11, 2001.  I remember having thousands of conversations over the next few weeks with family members, friends, and co-workers of the victims of these attacks.  I remember our country going to war in Afghanistan, now the longest military conflict in our history.
     I remember where the terrorists originated.  There were 19 of them.  15 were from Saudi Arabia.  2 were from United Arab Emirates (UAE), and 1 each from Egypt and Lebanon.
     Evidently the President of the United States has forgotten, or quite possibly has never been aware.  He is declaring an "emergency" in order to provide Saudi Arabia and the UAE with about $8 billion dollars in offensive weapons.  You may recall these countries were mentioned in the previous paragraph.
     He has attacked a freely elected member of the House of Representatives, Ilhan Omar as an enemy of the U.S. and Israel.  He used memes which attempted to connect her to the 9/11 attacks.  This has generated substantial hate and death threats toward her.  Omar was born in Somalia.  You may notice Somalia was not a country of origin for any of the 9/11 terrorists.
     The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), has been directly implicated in the death of Jamal Khashoggi.  Khashoggi was a permanent U.S. resident.  U.S. intelligence says MBS was responsible.  Like anything else the President finds does not agree with his world view, he has denied its validity.
     MBS has a relationship cultivated with Jared Kushner.  POTUS and his Trump Organization have extensive business ties with the Saudis.  In 2015 he even said "I love the Saudis. 
     We have provided the Saudis with myriad weapons with which to kill Yemeni civilians, including children.  Now, in order to maintain ties with and ensure he may personally enrich himself he has moved to arm and assist a nation which should be considered adversarial at best and a mortal enemy at worst. 
     I'll never forget.  Will you? 
     Apparently the President of the United States has.

Whaduyathink?

CAN they tell the truth?

     Does this administration possess the ability to tell the truth?

     May 11, 2019 the President of the United States tweeted "....The only problem is that they know I am going to win (best economy & employment numbers in U.S. history, & much more), and the deal will become far worse for them if it has to be negotiated in my second term. Would be wise for them to act now, but love collecting BIG TARIFFS!" 

     This tweet was in regard to negotiations with China concerning tariffs.

     Let's talk about unemployment numbers.  These stats have been kept since 1929.  The 3.7% unemployment rate is the 10th best since the inception of the relevant data.  

     If you're in the top 10, that is great.  Own it, be proud of this during your tenure in the Oval office.  There is no need to exaggerate or to make it other than what it is. 

     With regard to the economy since 1930, it is not even close to being the best.  This covers 88 years 1930-2018.  There are better GDP numbers in 44 of those years based on BEA(Bureau of Economic Analysis) numbers available at bea.gov.  You're not even in the top 50%.  Of course, one can also go to Whitehouse.gov for periodic claims regarding economic growth.  Quite frequently the data provided disagrees with that provided by the BEA, the folks whose job it is to actually make such calculations for the country.  However, even using the numbers from Whitehouse.gov, economic growth in 2018 does not even make the top 20 since 1930. 

     Making claims that either of these indicators, growth or unemployment, is the best in U.S, history is just not true.

     Big tariffs will be collected under this administration but they are not paid by China although this is how it is represented.  

     Those who will pay the tariffs are the companies and consumers in the U.S. who purchase the goods and products upon which the tariffs are levied.  

     POTUS has proposed then using such funds as aid for farmers who have suffered from China's retaliatory tariffs.  This is effectively a tax levied upon U.S. consumers to provide social welfare to U.S. farmers.

     If everything this administration says was true, I would be thrilled.  According to them nothing has happened that is not the biggest, best, or greatest of all time.  This just is  not true.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, what a sad, inadequate effort at well wishing this is.  
On Friday, Jesus, the Son of God, Prince of Peace, the Alpha and Omega was crucified.  A ubiquitous precept of Christianity is, Jesus was crucified as a sacrifice to appease God for the sins of humanity. 
Jesus was crucified because of fear.  Fear of the Romans at the hint of any threat to their occupation and tyranny.  Fear of the Sanhedrin of a loss of authority and status.  Fear killed Jesus.  His death was an attempt to sustain the hierarchy of power, occupiers and collaborators.  
On Saturday, Jesus was presumed to be entombed, secured by guards of the Prefect of Rome, Pontius Pilate.  For 2 days there was cause for only grief.
On Sunday, the 3rd day, it was the women who discovered an empty tomb from which the stone had been rolled away.  The women, enlightened by angel, returned Jesus' disciples and followers and were not believed.
Jesus HAD risen from the dead and in that lies out salvation.  
All the seasons of Christianity are without merit unless the resurrection occurs.  Jesus died so that we may believe in the truth and power of his words. "My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them. And you are my friends if you do what I command you."   
Jesus' death is a call to love.  His love for us as a call for us to love each other even unto death.  This is a love that counts no cost. "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ". 
In the living Christ I celebrate each day.  I do not condemn my fellows regardless of their race, sex, national origin, religion nor any other designation that can be applied to separate of us from each other. " “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel.”  The kingdom of God cannot be any more at hand than being here, now.
Christ is risen!
Rejoice and live as Jesus called you to do.
Christ is risen!

First, kill all the judges

Yesterday, April 2, 2019 the President of the United States said "...we have to get rid of judges." 
Which of you is down with eliminating a co-equal branch of government? 
Oh, this is not something I got from some conspiratorial website or heard from my 3rd cousin who got it from their second grade teacher's veterinarian. It's not from some unconfirmed source. It is not a derivative of some hate/fear mongering meme created to fan the flames of irrational thought. I watched and heard him say this in a meeting with the NATO Secretary General.
If you need a conspiracy basis, here's one for you. 
This quote is not included in "Remarks by President Trump and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Before Expanded Bilateral Meeting" at WHITEHOUSE.GOV 
So, the President of the United States advocates eliminating judges, and the official informational organ of the U.S. deletes it from the record. WTFF? Over.

ALL Nazis are BAD

·     

 I am an old retired middle class white guy. I work part time delivering pizzas for play money.

 A young white guy came to work recently at the same place I work. I was familiarizing him with his duties. I encouraged him and advised him on how to most effectively perform his assigned tasks.

 He felt we had developed a more intimate relationship than I presumed to exist. Hence, he asked for my views on certain recent public events. His manner was such he apparently assumed I would share his views. He felt the removal of statues of leaders of the Confederacy was an act of disrespect towards heroic men and a promotion of revisionist history.

 Since he asked how I felt, I told him. I made it clear I was familiar with the history of the Civil War posited by both the North and the South. Without regard to either, it being a slavery issue or a state's rights issue there are some facts which are not subject to spin. 

I said personally, my view is a bunch of rich white guys were upset their labor force was threatened. Consequently, their revenue stream was at risk. Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson all chose to swear allegiance to a state other than the United States of America. They then chose to take up arms against their native land and engage in war. They lost.

 I advised I considered them to be traitors and guilty of treason. The statues he referred to were erected to celebrate ideals and individuals I find to be abhorrent to a patriotic American. 

I do not equate patriotism with nationalism. These were men who volunteered to participate in a lost cause for reasons which have been repudiated.

 I volunteered that I also would never support any individual or group which identifies with the ideology of Hitler nor WWII's National Socialist party.

 I told him ALL Nazis are bad. 

Apparently he no longer felt working with me would be appropriate.

Whaduyathink?

Promise Hope/Deliver Betrayal. Business as Usual/WAD

Here are some comments from Donald J Trump as both candidate and President. 

‘I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid. Huckabee copied me.’

“I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.” 

 "Save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security without cuts. Have to do it," 

“Republicans will protect Medicare for our great seniors who have earned it.”

A few days before Election Day, he suggested that Hillary Clinton wanted to “destroy” Medicare, the public health-care system for the elderly, which she had vowed to expand, and claimed that he alone would “protect” it.

Major Savings and Reforms, Fiscal Year 2020,

Even with a booming economy, excluding Social Security and Medicare spending and revenues, the Federal Government is still running a net deficit of $608 billion.

National debt as % of GDP

2016 105%

2017 104%

2018 107%

At Whitehouse.gov as part of the Trump administration budget proposal it shows the % of debt to GDP to be 106.1%.  If you actually do the calculation from the real numbers, it is 107.1%.  For 2019 and 2020 it is projected to be 107.0% and 107.4% respectively.

He, DJT/POTUS, has repeatedly said he would not make cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  He has been believed because people want to believe things that comfort them, validate their cultural biases. or bring them hope.  Mexico will pay for the wall., Everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.  Save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security without cuts. Have to do it. 

Here’s the deal; the President of the United States will tell you whatever he thinks you want to hear while acting in any manner he perceives to be most advantageous to himself and the United States’ other oligarchs.  He will lie and mislead while seeking to enrich himself.  Your lack of access to health care, a life of dignity, or a social safety net is of no consequence to him.  If you still think POTUS is anything other than a lying narcissistic coward there is a technical term for you that I can only provide upon request.

Following is a summary of the proposed budget from the Trump Administration just for Medicare and Medicaid.  The numbers presented are representations of millions.  The minuses are cuts.  Do not be misled by their characterization as “savings” and “efficiencies”.  They are projections for the next 10 years. 339,180,000,000, that’s 339 billion 180 million to be cut just from Medicare.  That figure is not even comprehensive.  It is discernible just from glancing at a few charts available via Whitehouse.gov.  Some of them are provided below.  I know, it’s hard to believe but I didn’t just find a meme that supported my views or an MSM source that conformed to them.  You too can actually get your information from principals rather that talking heads or pundits who make you feel validated and comfortable.  There are many hundreds of billions more that are being eliminated from America’s primary social nets.  This includes the big 3, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.   When the proposed budget talks about any increases it is based on the rate of inflation.  Trump and his cronies are speaking of the national rate of inflation, not the increase in health costs.  There is a huge difference.  Over the past decade the rate of inflation for the U.S. has ranged from 0.7% to 3.0% Since 2007, health care prices have increased by 21.6%.  The faster you run, the farther behind you get   Although the majority of Americans rely on these to some extent, those who possess most of the wealth, thereby access to and influence of policy/budget makers, do not.  However, these non-users will spend a lot of money to cut your benefits derived from a social contract to help offset the deleterious effect of THEIR substantial benefit from the most recently implemented tax cut.

The Budget proposes to reduce wasteful spending and incentivize efficiency and quality of healthcare in Medicare, extending the solvency of the program for America’s seniors consistent with the President’s promise to protect Medicare.  Tying future growth to inflation growth; the Budget also reduces Medicare’s spending on beneficiaries’ unpaid cost sharing obligations, consistent with private sector business practices.  The Budget proposes to expand seniors’ personal control and introduce more consumer power into the healthcare market by allowing Medicare beneficiaries to make tax-deductible contributions to HSAs associated with high deductible health plans offered by their employers or Medicare Advantage plan.  The numbers below represent millions.

Medicare: Eliminate cost-sharing on generics–70 –90 –100 –90 –90 –110 –110 –130 –140 –350 –930

Exclude manufacturer discounts from the calculation of beneficiary out-of-pocket costs in the Medicare Part D coverage gap–3,120 –5,260 –6,830 –8,230 –9,860 –9,170 –9,910 –11,590 –10,760 –23,440 –74,730

Establish a beneficiary out-of-pocket maximum in the Medicare Part D catastrophic phase 780 1,860 1,930 1,740 1,620 1,220 1,450 2,210 1,220 6,310 14,030 Give the Secretary authority to contract with pharmaceutical manufacturers entering into new coverage gap discount program agreements on a quarterly basis 3 ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... Permanently authorize a successful pilot on retroactive Medicare Part D coverage for low-income beneficiaries–20 –20 –20 –30 –30 –30 –30 –40 –40 –40 –120 –300

Eliminate pass-through payments for drugs, biologicals, and biosimilars–150 –280 –320 –350 –400 –440 –490 –550 –610 –680 –1,500 –4,270

Summary Tables Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Medicare–170 –2,710 –3,830 –5,380 –7,010 –8,800 –8,580 –9,160 –10,160 –10,400 –19,100 –66,200 Medicaid: Clarify authorized generic sales under the Medicaid Drug Rebate program–15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –75 –150

Test allowing State Medicaid programs to negotiate prices directly with drug manufacturers and set formulary for coverage–5 –15 –25 –35 –40 –45 –50 –60 –65 –70 –120 –410

Exclude brand name and authorized generic drug prices from Medicaid Federal upper limit–90 –90 –100 –100 –100 –100 –100 –100 –100 –100 –480 –980 C

Clarify definitions under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to prevent inappropriately low manufacturer rebates–26 –26 –27 –32 –32 –37 –38 –38 –43 –48 –143 –347

 Allow rebates on drugs that exceed 100 percent of the Average Manufacturer Price

Total, Medicaid ............................... ......... –136 –146 –167 –182 –187 –197 –203 –213 –223 –233 –818 –1,887

Total, drug pricing and payment improvements ................................. ......... –381 –2,941 –4,092 –5,662 –7,297 –9,117 –8,913 –9,518 –10,548 –10,778 –20,373 –69,247

Allow States to extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant women with substance use disorder to one year postpartum 25 20 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 120 245

 Total, address opioids 25 20 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 120 245

Medicare Appeals: Improve the Medicare appeals system

Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—

Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029

Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029 Address wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse in Medicare: Improve and tailor the way Medicare educates beneficiaries about the program 40 60 70 70 70 70 70 70 80 80 310 680 Eliminate arbitrary thresholds and other burdens to encourage participation in advanced Alternative Payment Models 3–350 –350 –240 100 220 60 20 50 90 120 –620

Consolidate and block grant graduate medical education payments–790 –1,240 –2,110 –3,090 –4,030 –5,110 –6,120 –7,220 –8,440 –9,710 –11,260 –47,860

Modify payments to hospitals for uncompensated care–6,030 –7,540 –8,620 –9,670 –10,780 –11,940 –13,180 –14,460 –15,790 –31,860 –98,010

Reduce Medicare coverage of bad debts–410 –1,390 –2,940 –3,920 –4,250 –4,520 –4,810 –5,100 –5,420 –5,750 –12,910 –38,510 120

Summary Tables Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—

Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Address excessive payment for postacute care providers by establishing a unified payment system based on patients’ clinical needs rather than the site of care–1,210 –2,880 –5,000 –7,670 –10,470 –12,280 –13,440 –14,700 –16,570 –16,930 –27,230 –101,150

Authorize long-term care hospital site neutral exceptions criteria–530 –820 –890 –950 –1,000 –1,060 –1,120 –1,150 –1,210 –1,270 –4,190 –10,000

Pay all hospital-owned physician offices located off-campus at the physician office rate–1,100 –2,010 –2,220 –2,460 –2,720 –2,990 –3,280 –3,600 –3,940 –4,340 –10,510 –28,660

Pay on-campus hospital outpatient departments at the physician office rate for certain services–4,670 –8,600 –9,670 –10,870 –12,170 –13,580 –15,170 –16,940 –18,840 –20,890 –45,980 –131,400 Redesign Expand basis for beneficiary assignment for Accountable Care–10 –10 –10 –10 –10 –10 –10 –10 –30 –80 Reform and expand durable medical equipment competitive bidding–390 –690 –740 –795 –855 –910 –985 –1,045 –1,110 –2,615 –7,520 Support coverage for innovative alternatives to durable medical

Clarify the Part D special enrollment period for dually eligible beneficiaries–20 –20 –10 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –30 –30 –90 –210

BUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 121 Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Give Medicare beneficiaries with high deductible health plans the option to make tax deductible contributions to Health Savings Accounts or Medical Savings Accounts 601 1,066 1,287 1,492 1,597 1,682 1,764 1,825 1,283 4,446 12,597

Expand prior authorization to additional Medicare fee-for-service items at high risk of fraud, waste, and abuse–430 –510 –540 –570 –610 –640 –680 –720 –760 –800 –2,660 –6,260

Prevent fraud by applying penalties on providers and suppliers who fail to update enrollment records–2 –2 –3 –3 –3 –3 –4 –4 –4 –4 –13 –32

Pass Treasury collection fees for CMS overpayment collections onto debtor  –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –100 –200 37,486 –43,986 –50,141 –55,752 –61,765 –68,754 –75,171 –145,312 –456,895

122 Summary Tables Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Address wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid: Strengthen CMS’s ability to recoup Medicaid improper payments–100 –430 –460 –490 –520 –550 –590 –620 –660 –1,480 –4,420

Continue Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) allotment reductions–6,510 –6,490 –6,470 –6,450 ......... –25,920

Provide flexibility for enrolling out-ofState providers in Medicaid 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 9 Streamline the Implement pre-payment controls to prevent inappropriate personal care services payments–700 –730 –760 –800 –840 –880 –920 –970 –1,010 –1,060 –3,830 –8,670

Rescind remaining balances from the Medicaid Improvement Fund ........... ......... ......... –6 ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... –6 –6

Total, address wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid–700 –835 –1,189 –1,259 –1,329 –1,399 –7,979 –8,049 –8,099 –8,169 –5,312 –39,007

Other Medicaid reforms: Implement Medicaid community engagement requirement–8,300 –10,900 –11,500 –12,100 –12,800 –13,500 –14,200 –14,900 –15,700 –16,500 –55,600 –130,400

Allow States to apply asset tests to Modified Adjusted Gross Income standard populations–50 –100 –200 –210 –230 –240 –250 –260 –280 –290 –790 –2,110

Reduce maximum allowable home equity for Medicaid eligibility–570 –610 –650 –690 –730 –780 –820 –870 –930 –2,520 –6,650

Require documentation of satisfactory immigration status before receipt of Medicaid benefits–190 –190 –200 –210 –220 –230 –250 –260 –270 –290 –1,010 –2,310

Increase limit on Medicaid copayments for non-emergency use of emergency department–60 –120 –120 –130 –140 –140 –150 –160 –170 –360 –570 –1,550

BUD GET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 123

Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Total, other Medicaid reforms ........... ......... –8,600 –11,880 –12,630 –13,300 –14,080 –14,840 –15,630 –16,400 –17,290 –18,370 –60,490 –143,020.

Whaduyathink?

Birds of a feather. Real tyrants and a wannabe.

    The following is a compilation of quotes which reflect the position of the President of the United States with respect to other heads of state.   Unfortunately, it illustrates a propensity of the President to most closely affiliate with and support tyrants and dictators.                 

                                                   Duterte

Trump-"I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem," Trump said, in a transcript of the call, according to the Times report. "Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that."

Duterte has waged a war the drug trade in his country, killing thousands, and alarming human rights groups around the world.

Trump-The New York Times reporting is false. They are a true ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!

 Duterte-"Just because you're a journalist," he said, "you are not exempted from assassination, if you're a son of a bitch."

Trump-There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news. The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out the flame...

Duterte then referred to the traveling pool of reporters as "spies," garnering a hearty laugh from Trump.

     One can only hope they don't injure each other patting themselves on the back in mutual acclaim and support.

                                            Erdogan

Erdogan-"You cannot put women and men on an equal footing.

Trump-"I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn't get there, and she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she's now got the big phony tits and everything." "I'm automatically attracted to beautiful [women] "I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything ... Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."

Like minds sharing a common theme.

Trump-"Frankly, he's getting very high marks. He's also been working with the United States. We have a great friendship and the countries, I think we're right now as close as we've ever been, a lot of that has to do with a personal relationship."

     The president's remarks came shortly after Erdogan cracked down on Turkish civil society, the media, and his opponents.

                                                  

                                                  Putin

Trump-"If he says great things about me, I'm going to say great things about him. I've already said, he is really very much of a leader.

 Trump-"He said he absolutely did not meddle in our election. He did not do what they are saying he did.

Trump-"Every time he sees me, he said: 'I didn't do that.' And I believe - I really believe - that when he tells me that, he means it."

It's not like the President of the United States access to information from people or agencies who are sworn to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States as opposed to receiving his information from out greatest foe.  Oh wait, breaking news, "This report includes an analytic assessment drafted and coordinated among The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and The National Security Agency (NSA), "We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election""We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump… these activities demonstrated a significant escalation in directness, level of activity, and scope of effort.

                                       Xi Jinping

Trump- “President for life. No, he’s great. And look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot some day.”

                                       Kim

Trump-“He’s the head of a country, and I mean he’s the strong head. Don’t let anyone think anything different. He speaks, and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.”

     While extolling the virtues of and his admiration for the above, the President is castigating and belittling the historic allies of the United States.

                                     T May

Trump disparaged May's Brexit plan:"I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn't listen to me."

                                   J Trudeau

Trump-PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, "US Tariffs were kind of insulting, and he "will not be pushed around." Very dishonest & weak.

"We're very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don't like their representative very much," Trump said

Trump told reporters he had rebuffed a Trudeau request for a meeting "because his tariffs are too high and he doesn't seem to want to move and I told him "forget about it". "And frankly we're thinking about just taxing cars coming in from Canada."

                                            Merkel

"You, Angela," Trump chided Merkel. "totally controlled by Russia,"

"I think it's something that NATO has to look at," Trump said. "Germany is totally controlled by Russia."

Trump-"The German people are going to riot. The German people are going to end up overthrowing this woman [Angela Merkel]. I don't know what the hell she is thinking."

     The preceding is not derived from any right or left-wing pundits.  Rather, these are the utterances of our current President and those whom he apparently considers to be his cronies. 

     If you cannot recognize this threat to our union for what it is then we are doomed as a country.

Whaduyathink?