American Politics the 2016 edition

As someone who feeds off the souls of his underlings he now has 300+ million to use!

On a serious, and somber, note Trump continues his....unorthodox ways with intel. He has now said, when confronted with news he didn't like, he is looking to reform the CIA. 

This is scary times. We're about to have a President that has not only cast aside and publicly blasted one of the core government agencies, a major intelligence gatherer, but now wants to mold it to fit his views if he doesnt like it? 

Im sure this happens...but it's so damn blatant. And since much of this involves Russia: I heard on NPR today some more intel people say Trump's behavior reminds them of someone who's been compromised. Zero proof, just speculation, but McMullin said this as have others in the know. Scary that some people actually believe this, should be a clue how abnormal his behavior with Russia has been.

He's either blackmailed, or simply in bed with them through business ties (hell maybe both!?) but we have to watch him carefully. If he quickly looks to lift the sanctions, and be especially warm with Russia, his motives have to be in question. 

Im not sure he goes that far even. I think his reasoning is very simple and goes to one single source: Russia

Whether he has $ interests there and was willing to let Russia help him since they're oligarch buddies, Russia has him over a barrel, OR he just has the mental capacity of a 4th grader so he'll do whatever Putin wants long as he compliments Trump..it doesn't matter. It's clear to me, and many others, even righties, Trump has SOME type of deeper involvement with Russia. 

It's funny, Trump has actually helped me understand Berlusconi. 

For years I tried to get what he was about, and couldn't. I struggled to find anything of substance about him, at all. A lot of his totally stupid comments, a lot of his more actually appalling comments, some personal scandals, but no real substance. Hell I didnt even know what he was supportive of. He seemed to just be a showman with no real firm ideology just loved being in power. A vague bashing of liberals but what were his policies?

 Even read liberal and etc op ed pieces and it was all about what  a terrible person he was but nothing real why they disliked him. The most I could get was he had a negative impact on the media, and was generally pro corporate. He bashed on women and immigrants. 

But now...now I get it. He was a proto Trump. Dont get me wrong, Im sure there's plenty of differences, but I really see alot of similarity. They are both billionaire strongmen that have basically won (and in Silvio's case stayed in power) based on personality cult, generic comments that appeal to conservative/baser instincts, and hammed up the anti establishment thing. 

Sadly, here in the states we have a limited gov party, one that is being increasingly consumed by 19th century thinking AND currently dominates the country. So unlike Silvio, I fear what may happen to many of our welfare institutions and etc

THIS is why it's a big deal. We're not just being angsty at rich people, or falling for populism. This is why it matters perhaps more than anything. 

Cory Booker, rising star and progressive darling, voted against allowing cheaper drugs from Canada, along with 12 other democrats, joining with Republicans to kill the bill. A large majority of Americans supported this, as did, obviously, the majority of Democrats. 

"Booker has received more pharmaceutical manufacturing cash over the past six years than any other Democratic senator: $267,338. In addition, significant numbers of pharmaceutical and biotech firms reside in Booker’s home state of New Jersey. Other Democrats receiving six-figure donationsfrom the industry, like Casey, Patty Murray, and Michael Bennet, opposed the amendment."