Alekzander
Alekzander's JournalAmericas liberal cities are readying to battle Donald Trump on almost every front
?quality=80&strip=all&w=1600As a candidate and now as US president, Donald Trump has seemed hellbent on alienating urban voters.
During the campaign, the New Yorker repeatedly and, some would argue, offensively spoke of Americas inner cities as war zones where life was hell for African-Americans. City voters returned the slightTrump lost badly in urban areas on Nov. 8. Showing little interest in making amends with this slice of the electorate, he then nominated Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon with zero experience in either government or urban policy, as secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
So it was somewhat surprising when Trumps running mate, Mike Pence, dropped in on the US Conference of Mayors winter meeting on Jan. 17, three days before taking the oath of office as US vice president, and told the 300 assembled city leaders that this administration is going to be a friend to Americas mayors.
When guessing at Pences motives for reaching out to urban leaders, one fact stands out: Cities are the only major layer of US government where Democrats are in controland massively so. While Republicans hold the presidency, both houses of Congress, and 31 of 50 state governorships, Democrats are in charge of all but three of the countrys 20 biggest cities. And the political leanings of the 32 million residents they represent tend to align very closely. Trump garnered just 10% of votes (paywall) cast in Manhattan, his longtime home, and 4% in his new stomping grounds of Washington DC.
With the blessing of their base, liberal big-city mayors have been among the only elected US politicians to openly and meaningfully defy Trump. Right after his election, the heads of over a dozen major cities said that, even at the risk of losing federal funding, they would refuse to cooperate with any Trump-ordered immigrant deportation force. On Jan. 25, the new president signed an executive order officially declaring he would defund themand theyre still refusing to acquiesce, with Boston mayor Marty Walsh noting Trumps inability to reroute funding without authorization from Congress and New Yorks Bill de Blasio threatening a lawsuit.
Entire Article @ Link: https://qz.com/862380/americas-liberal-cities-are-readying-to-battle-trump-on-every-front/
This is really, really great news for all of us. Crowd typically measured by dozens balloons to
hundreds at KC political groups monthly meeting because it shows we are ready for the fight.
This is just KC. This shows you that we are mobilized (especially women) because if this is what is happening in KC or one place, think about what is going on all over the US. I think all of us should report these good happenings whenever because it helps, great moral support, gives us what we know "that we can do this" and "that we must do this for our children, our grandchildren".
Video of Meeting at link.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- More than 600 women, men and children pledged to get politically active Thursday night by showing up in droves to support the Greater Kansas City Womens Political Caucus.
GKCWPC describes itself as a multipartisan, multicultural, grass roots organization dedicated to increasing women's participation in politics and creating a power base designed to achieve equality for all women.
Thursdays crowd size was a big uptick from the groups usual 50 participants at monthly meetings, which usually take place in the sanctuary at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church off Walnut Street in Kansas City.
It quickly became clear the usual meeting space wasnt going to be big enough, so organizers streamed the event on Facebook Live, set up an overflow room, and allowed some people sat on the floor.
Organizers said theyre excited about the turnout, with many first-timers telling FOX 4 it is President Trumps policies that inspired them to get politically active.
There are a lot of people who are really scared right now with the policies that are coming out, not only state-wide in Missouri and Kansas, but across our country, said Cara Hoffart. So I think this is a great time for women to come together.
Were all human, said Michelle Branson. We all bleed. We all love. We all have family. We all want to work. We want to have a good life and I feel that the current administration, they are only for the people at the top and they dont care about any of the people at the bottom, and thats why Im here.
GKCWPCs President Rebecca Richardson agreed the current political climate spurred people who usually shy away from politics to show up for the first time.
Our current political situation is bad enough that people are motivated to come out, Richardson said. I think people are very concerned, very worried, and they think its worth it to come and try to make a difference.
Missouri State Rep. Greg Razer (D), who represents areas near the Plaza, Brookside, Waldo and South Kansas City, also spoke at the meeting.
Since this November election, he said, we have over 600 Progressives here that are fired up and ready to take everything back and its exciting.
Rep. Razer said his big message to the crowd was to get motivated and inspired not discouraged.
Theres very little we can do to stop them at the moment, he said of the majority party. But we can stop at them at the ballot box in two years and thats what were fired up and ready to do.
Much of the meetings message was focused on the next election cycle and telling women how to get involved in their communities. For more information, go to this link. Also video of the meeting.
http://fox4kc.com/2017/01/26/crowd-typically-measured-by-dozens-balloons-to-hundreds-at-kc-political-groups-monthly-meeting/
42% Of Trump Voters Think He Should Be Allowed To Use a Private Email Server
Here is a fun tidbit from a recent PPP poll.
42% of Trump voters think he should be allowed to have a private email server to just 39% who think he shouldnt be allowed to.
As the author who summed up the results of the poll said, Maybe cyber security wasnt such a big issue in last years election after all.
Meanwhile, the FBIs decision to reopen an investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private server mere days before the election has been credited as a large part of why she didnt win the election against Trump.
Finally, the poll cited above also found that American voters believe Trump will be the worst president since Richard Nixon. They also believe that the intelligence community, CNN, and Today Show are all more credible than the president.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/42-of-trump-voters-think-he-should-be-allowed-to-use-a-private-email-server/
The Netherlands welcomes Trump in his own words
As Trump Rails Against Voter Fraud, His Own Daughter And Top Adviser Are Registered In Two States
Donald Trump Is Concerned About Voters Being Registered In Two States Like Steve Bannon And Tiffany Trump Are
So, according to Donald Trumps tweet, he is concerned about people are registered to vote in two states.
Well, it turns out that two people very close to him just happen to be registered in two states: His controversial senior adviser Steve Bannon and his daughter Tiffany Trump.
The address he is registered with in Florida isnt even his. It is the home of a friend who did some work for Bannon during his Breitbart days named Andy Badolato, according to The Guardian.
Now, according to Heat Street, Tiffany Trump just happens to be registered to vote in both New York and Pennsylvania. She recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and that is why she was registered there.
Deputy Election Commissioner for Philadelphia explains that, technically, this isnt a problem.
There is nothing illegal about that. The illegality only occurs if one votes in two places, not if youre registered in both.
Indeed, neither parties have done anything illegal, apparently, but the optics isnt great and shows once again the hypocrisy surrounding the President who seems upset that people are registered to vote in two states, while being closely associated with people registered to vote in two states.
Ooops.
New York Magazine reports that, apparently, Steve Bannon is registered to vote in Florida as confirmed by the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office. And, the New York State Board of Elections also says that he is registered at an address in New York City. That is where he voted in the presidential election, via absentee ballot.
Trump Announces Major Investigation Plans Into Voter Fraud Including by Those Who Are Dead
This is real life.
Moments ago, the President of the United States Tweeted that he will be asking to launch a major investigation using actual government resources, I can only assume, unless he plans on personally bankrolling that himself, too
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and....
6:10 AM - 25 Jan 2017
9,555 9,555 Retweets 38,439 38,439 likes
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Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!
6:13 AM - 25 Jan 2017
Mediaite Article: http://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-announces-major-investigation-plans-into-voter-fraud-including-by-those-who-are-dead/
Democrats Want To Pick Their Battles With Trump. Their Base Wants All-Out War.
Senators get that progressives want a fight, but they want to be pragmatic.
WASHINGTON ― Shortly after the November election, a close associate of Dr. Ben Carson conceded the famed pediatric neurosurgeon turned Republican presidential candidate wasnt right for a position in Donald Trumps Cabinet since he had no experience running a federal agency.
Weeks later, Trump nominated Carson to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Carson accepted.
Democrats were both befuddled and appalled at what seemed to be a cavalier decision to hand the keys of an agency with 8,300 employees and a $47 billion budget to someone with no apparent qualifications. And, for a while, the Carson nomination appeared to be fairly solid turf for them to put up a fight. But as the confirmation proceedings played out, something remarkable happened Tuesday. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), two of the most liberal members of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee ― which has primary jurisdiction over HUD ― supported Carsons nomination.
In explaining his decision, Brown, who pointedly drilled into Carsons views on public housing and the minimum wage during his confirmation hearing last week, said that he warmed to the nominee after finding areas of housing policy they both care about during a private meeting.
Article @: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/senate-democrats-trump_us_588817f3e4b0b481c76be1e5?eqee2wt97p7nly2e29&
Chicago is not even in the top 25 of cities for crime:
We are puzzled why you do not care about Little Rock, Arkansas Chicago is not even in the top 25 cities.
These are America's most dangerous cities.
Little Rock, Ark. ...
Baltimore. ...
Rockford, Ill. ...
Milwaukee. > Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,596.1. ...
Memphis. > Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,740.1. ...
Birmingham, Ala. > Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,746.2. ...
Detroit. > Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,759.6. ...
St. Louis.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/10/01/most-dangerous-cities-america/91227778/
http://247wallst.com/special-report/2016/09/27/25-most-dangerous-cities-in-america/6/
Trumps Tweet About Chicago Carnage Apparently Came in Reaction to OReilly Segment
President Trumps tweet tonight about carnage in Chicago appears to have been in reaction to a segment on The OReilly Factor tonight.
This is the tweet in question, in which the president warned he would send in the feds:
Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
If Chicago doesn't fix the horrible "carnage" going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!
8:25 PM - 24 Jan 2017
22,448 22,448 Retweets 71,161 71,161 likes
The OReilly segment (video above) tonight on Chicago featured two important things that may explain the presidents tweet:
Screen Shot 2017-01-24 at 10.03.27 PM
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
✔
201 Retweets710 likes
[image via screengrab]
http://www.mediaite.com/online/tucker-carlson-battles-guest-why-would-you-want-media-to-shun-kellyanne-conway/
Climate Change Activists Barefoot Walk Across America Ends in Tragedy
Sometimes because of my bare feet and the lack of daily contact, I feel like a ghost.
That was one of the final entries of a blog diary by Mark Baumer, a Rhode Island man who was walking barefoot across the United States to call attention to climate change.
It was written on Day 90 of his trek, but his stream of photographs and anecdotes stopped on Jan. 21, Day 100. At 1:15 p.m. on that day, Mr. Baumer, 33, was walkingon the shoulder of U.S. 90 in northern Florida when an S.U.V. left its lane and hit him, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. He was pronounced dead at the site.
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Mark Baumer @markbaumer
If you're enjoying my journey across America barefoot and want to contribute the best way is to donate to this https://www.youcaring.com/fang-fighting-against-natural-gas-670303
9:25 PM - 15 Oct 2016 · Groton, CT
Photo published for Crossing America Barefoot to Save Earth from Climate Change
Crossing America Barefoot to Save Earth from Climate Change
Climate change is humanity's greatest threat. Every day corporations continue to profit from earth's destruction. I decided cross America barefoot to see if I could save earth. I know this is a lofty...
youcaring.com
26 26 Retweets 52 52 likes
The vast expanse of the United States has long been alluring to the men and women who set out on long-distance hikes from coast to coast. Many have added to the tradition of travel literature, describing in their diaries the bouts of loneliness and moments of beauty, chronicling sleeping rough and under the stars, and writing of strangers who became friends.
Mark Phillips was a graphics designer in New York City when he set off from Staten Island in March 2009, ending 4,100 miles later in Los Angeles.
Entire Article @: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/24/us/mark-baumer-killed-climate-change-activist.html?module=WatchingPortal®ion=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=1&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F01%2F24%2Fus%2Fmark-baumer-killed-climate-change-activist.html%3F_r%3D0&eventName=Watching-article-click&_r=0
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