Yes We (Still) Can: Politics in the Age of Obama, Twitter, and Trump by Dan Pfeiffer

Yes We (Still) Can: Politics in the Age of Obama, Twitter, and Trump by Dan Pfeiffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As an avid listener of Pod Save America I was immediately drawn to this when I saw it on the book store shelf(along with the colorful graphics). The book is roughly drawn into different segments. First is a personal memoir of how Dan's political life grew and how he ended up in the Obama administration. Secondly is a look into the inner workings of the Obama Administration. The third is his personal insight into how we ended up going from Obama to Trump and the chaos we have in today's politics. Also thrown in is his directness(curse words and all), workaholicism, neuroticism, and how he met his wife. It isn't your typical droning preachy political book meaning as seriously as subject matter there are lighthearted moments and a bit of self-deprecating humor to let us know he's human and not just another faceless Presidential advisor. For those looking for some insight on what it was like inside the Obama years, this is a good place to start.

View all my reviews

SAD!: Doonesbury in the time of Trump by G.B. Trudeau

#SAD!: Doonesbury in the Time of Trump by G.B. Trudeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is only fitting that a cartoon who got it's start during the Nixon years is still around to give it's take of the Trump years so far. This is a follow up to previous Trump era book "Yuge!" that came out a couple years ago(seems like a couple of decades in the Donald era). I find that Doonesbury style humor sort of like a thinking person's type of political and society humor. Sort of the NPR or C-Span of cartoons.

The book isn't long and is separated into four parts without any particular obvious theme. They are not in chronological order although they generally start from 2015 and go to 2018. It does focus on the Trump years may of the cartoons are not just about Trump but it also comments on society in general during this era. The previous book on Trump, "Yuge!", covered him back to his early days.

Although the book was funny the humor seem to miss the mark sometimes, at least to me it did. The previous Trump themed book seemed to be a bit more coherent as this one seemed a bit all over the place. It's still a good read if you're trying desperately to find some humor about politics these days. As the author Gary Trudeau noted in his introduction "At this benighted moment, it's all we have.".



View all my reviews

Noam Chomsky: Third party(or not voting) protest vote against Clinton a mistake

This New Yorker cartoon is pretty much how I feel at this moment. This election can't be over soon enough.

 Emails? You can't be serious. In Donald Trump we have a person who is perhaps the least qualified temperamentally and intellectually we have ever nominated for President. Brags about sexually assaulting and harassing women. Makes fun of disabled people. Bankrupted 4 casino's. Is being sued for a fraudulent "University". Has had at least twelve women come forward and say they were sexually harassed by him. Feuded with a Gold Star family. Withheld donations to Veteran's charities and only paid(partially) when called out on it. Used his own foundation to pay off lawyers fees and reward a Florida Attorney General to look the other way in one of his lawsuits. Wondered why we don't use nukes. Had the honor of winning Politifact's "Lie of the year" 2015, not just for any one lie but his whole campaign. Let's not forget the wall he wants build to keep the Mexican rapists out. Let's keep out those Muslim's too. Had to think about disavowing David Duke, a former KKK leader. Thought women should be punished having an abortion. Thought a Federal Judge, born in Indiana, should be disqualified because of his Mexican heritage. Accused rival's father of being involved in President John Kennedy's assassination.

Yet we worry about emails sent from a wrong type of server. November 9th can't get here fast enough.

Fareed's Zakaria: Trump is a B.S. artist

         

I've seen many people try and figure out Donald Trump. Many are right because Donald is many things but I think Fareed is pretty damn close to the mark. Donald is a world class bullshit artist that has nearly destroyed the Republican Party and has made a mockery of American politics. 

If you look at Donald's life it's all been about bullshitting. The money, women, power, business deals,  TV shows, tabloid headlines and Presidential campaign have all contained Donald's bullshit. Just look at all the lies and stories that he'd make up at the spur of the moment. So along with being a narcasistic sociopathic bigoted bully he is perhaps the worlds most successful bullshit artist that is trying to be  President.  , 

You might think that this bullshit part is harmless. A quote from the book Fareed mentions, On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt, is very interesting:

"However studiously and conscientiously the bullshitter proceeds, it remains true that he is also trying to get away with something" 

This explains Trump lack depth in understanding of most subjects, aside from himself. He has already admitted he hasn't read a book in ages as he claims he's too busy. It has been noted by those that have been in his office that he has no books just papers and magazines(usually about him).Besides building a wall and banning Muslims he has put forth very few details of what his actual ideas or policy's are. 

It's scary that someone so thin skinned and lacking basic knowledge of the job he's seeking would be trusted to lead our country. I thought we were better than that. .

Look, Crooked Donald

Elizabeth Warren as VP?

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has grown on me in leaps and bounds lately. Her Tweet wars wars with Donald Drumpf are incredible she has no fear and actually seems to enjoy it very much. Like George Patton she seems to thrive with each salvo without a blink of an eye. Anytime she speaks there is usually one shot fired across the bow of the USS Drumpf. 

 Even though she hasn't officially endorsed anyone as of yet but her Twitter war with Drumpf show's she's paying attention to whats going on. I've wondered if she's actually trying to deflect Donald's attention away from Hillary in an indirect way of helping her. With Hillary deflecting attacks from Drumpf and Sanders she could use all the help she can.

Talk of her being Vice President has heated up again which isn't surprising. She would help bridge the gap with disappointed Bernie fan's. She would also bring a passion and fire to the campaign that Hillary kind of needs at this point with constant attacks from sdanders, Trump and also about those pesky emails. 

The biggest problem is that Warren comes from Massachusetts which has a a Republican Governor, Charlie Baker, who isn't bad per say but would certainly appoint a Republican replacement. Democrats are already in the minority and would be hard pressed to lose more ground. One has to wonder if the stakes are high enough to take that risk and go for the win. For one thing you're already behind so what is to lose? What's in the balance? A Senate seat or Trump as President? Go for it!

Drumpf builds a wall

Donald #Trump and Pink Floyd's The Wall is everything you dreamed it could be.

Posted by IRBF on Sunday, March 6, 2016

Drumpf loves the poorly educated

Posted by Conservative Clown Car on Sunday, March 13, 2016

VIDEO: #SNL goes all in with "Racists for Drumpf"

How would Ted Koppel cover Donald Drumpth?

The retired news man Ted Koppel rips Bill O'Reilly(and Fox) a new one. The subject of course is Donald Drumpf and his unlikely rise to the top of the Republican candidates. I think a key item that is pointed out is the lack of investigation or insight into Drumpf's policy's or ideas. In short no one is doing any real investigating or digging into Drumpf's policy's and holding him accountable. His answers he gives are vague, evasive and he gets irate if you question him. I wonder if anyone will actually take up the challenge and dig into this more.

The Donald

(Dan via Occupy Democrats)
Posted by Sick of the Slant - A Fair Look at the News of the Day on Sunday, January 17, 2016

 One good thing about Trump running for President is that it got me to pay more close attention. Of course things are heating up with the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire primary coming up in a few weeks.  It surprises me how many are actually taking Trump seriously. Here is a man who has never held a public office and who's claim to fame as a successful real estate mogul and reality television star.

I think his latest bid for the highest office of the land is just a bid further enhance his brand name and perhaps he's bored too. He's managed to insult Mexican's, Muslim's and his closest rival Ted Cruz. Their early truce seems to be over since their tirade in the debate over Cruz being born in Canada. Of course Ted Cruz is riding the wave of popularity due to an endorsement from Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson so Trump should watch his back.

Trump is not without his entertainment value. His knack of saying what he wants to without a care seems to attract a lot of people. They don't seem to realize that just because someone speaks their mind doesn't mean it's right or smartest thing to say.

Ali

Bloom County Returns!

Posted by Berkeley Breathed on Friday, August 28, 2015