The worst thing Trump could do

Over the past year I have posted any number of criticisms of Donald Trump.  Some of his actions have been truly appalling.  Evil is not too strong a word.

However, to ignore global warming, to ignore the human effects on the world’s climate, to pull out of the Paris Agreement is the worst thing Trump could do.  Most of the other actions or proposals affect the U.S.  Gutting our policies to reduce greenhouse gases will affect not only the U.S. and the present generation, but the entire globe and all generations to come.  This is insanity.

Twenty-two Republican Senators, including Orrin Hatch, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and Ted Cruz, have signed a letter urging Trump to pull out of the agreement.  How did we ever reach this level of ignorance?

Trump owes legal fees

In Louisville, Kentucky, approximately eight months before the election, Trump was interrupted by protestors.  Trump yelled, “Get ‘em out of here.”  A white supremacist named Matthew Heimbach shoved Kashiya Nwanguma, a black college student who was holding a sign showing Trump’s face on the body of a pig.

Fast forward.  Ms. Nwanguma filed suit against Mr. Heimbach, accusing him of assault and battery.  

Now Mr. Heimbach is demanding indemnity from Trump, saying that Trump directed him to take action.  Tapes are available showing Mr. Trump promising to pay the legal fees of anyone who removed or attacked protestors.  Mr. Heimbach has a point.  Words have meaning.  Trump did promise to pay legal fees. 

Trump’s campaign coarsened American politics.  It is time we hold his feet to the fire and make him responsible for things he said.  He is a bully and a loser, and he must be held accountable.

(Once again I owe the Times.  The article containing the info–though not my editorializing–was by David Zucchino, “A Trump Campaign Rally Led to Shoving, and Legal Wrangling, Too,” (May 26, 2017), p. 16.)

Donald Trump dumps integrity

Trump stole his coat of arms.  Seriously.  An emblem that Trump uses at the Trump National Golf Club, the host of the P.G.A. Championship this past weekend, has a coat of arms featuring three lions and two chevrons on a shield below a gloved hand holding an arrow.  

The coat of arms was granted by British authorities in 1939 to Joseph Edward Davies, not Donald Trump.  Trump did make one change.  He replaced the Latin word “integritas,” which means Integrity, with the word Trump.  

(Info from this post, along with a picture of the coat of arms with the Trump logo where “integritas” should be, can be found in an article by Danny Hakim in the business section of today’s Times.)

Tomorrow:  White racist sues Trump for failing to pay his legal bill, breaking a promise Trump made.

The Times screws up

To say I am a fan of the New York Times would be an understatement.  Every day I drive four miles to get my copy; I’ve been buying it daily since I was a student at Penn State.  I’m aware of the paper’s involvement in major free press cases like New York Times v. Sullivan and the Pentagon Papers litigation.  I love the crossword puzzles.  As any reader of this blog knows, probably half of the posts are inspired or owe their genesis to articles in the Times.  I even own stock in the paper.  I’m not kidding.

Nonetheless, publishing details about the investigation of the Manchester bomber was inexcusable.  The front page article included a picture of remnants of the backpack and the bomber’s name while investigators were still trying to determine if others were involved.  To then run a self-serving justification about how traditions in America are different than in Europe when printing leaks doesn’t cut it.  

There was no good reason to run those details other than sensationalism.  I expect stuff like this from the National Enquirer or Fox.  I’m saddened to see it in the Times.

Philadelphia drops behind Phoenix

According to the latest population statistics recently reported in the Morning Call, Philadelphia has dropped below Phoenix to the number six spot.  The top five are New York, L.A., Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix.

Unfortunately for Phoenix, while it may be #5 in population, it is not a real city.  It is a bunch of suburbs stuck together with shopping malls and cul-de-sacs.  I’ve been to both cities.  Philadelphia has restaurants, world class museums, Fairmont Park, South Street, Chinatown, Independence Mall, Penn’s Landing, the University of Pennsylvania and Temple, the Phillies, the Flyers, the Eagles, the zoo, boathouse row, and so much more.

I can’t remember anything in Phoenix except I couldn't wait to get to Tucson.  

Euthanize Palmerton's feral cats

I have been posting comments on this blog for years.  I have learned some lessons.  I know that I can make fun of religion, mock elected officials, use bad language, attack the Confederate flag, say just about anything political,  and no one bats an eye.  What I can’t do without bringing down the wrath of the ages is attack feral cats.

I will anyway.  Millions of songbirds are killed every year by feral cats and house cats.  I actually like cats.  I used to own one named Charlie.  (He was kept indoors.)  Cats are not part of the natural environment.  They have an instinct to hunt; it’s what they do.  In addition to birds, they kill lizards, voles, mice, snakes, baby rabbits–just about any small animal, bird, or reptile they can get their teeth into.

Feeding stations for feral cats are the completely wrong answer to an environmental problem.  A Humane Society officer was quoted that Palmerton’s restrictions on feeding stations for feral cats could be considered cruelty to animals.  When I feed rose-breasted grosbeaks, indigo buntings, and nuthatches, and a feral cat that someone dropped off at our farm lies in wait and kills the birds, am I supposed to pull the feeding station for the birds?

People, we are talking about cats.  They are animals not nearly as intelligent by any measure as pigs that people routinely kill and eat.  Let’s get real.

Display your Trump signs proudly

I understand that many Trump supporters are urging each other to get out their Trump campaign signs and display them to show support for their man.

They should, so we can be reminded of who they are.  I’m not sure which aspect of the Administration they are so proud of, but I’m guessing it might be:

•  the proposal to slash drug control funds by 95% in the middle of an opioid epidemic.

•  an EPA head who removes pollution restrictions on an industry with which he has ties.

•  support for a health care bill that will remove coverage for about 23 million people.

•  the love affair with Putin.

•  the Keystone XL pipeline approval.

•  the fact that Harley-Davidson announced it will be building a plant in Thailand.

•  lead shot again allowed on federal lands.

•  the mentally ill allowed to buy weaponry.

•  deportation of parents who have committed no misdemeanors or felonies.

•  ending funding for Planned Parenthood, which means no prenatal care for millions of women.

Oh heck, Trump could shoot someone dead on 5th Avenue, and the die-hards would find an excuse.  Probably a liberal, or a reporter, or a woman.