Instead of Building a Wall, Build a Mirror
The Republican Party has been passing legislation for years that falls in line with what its nominee Donald Trump says. It’s anti-Muslim, homophobic, misogynistic, racist and rejects science. He’s actually the embodiment of Republican policy.
Now Trump has mocked the pain of the parents of Capt. Humayun Kahn, a Muslim soldier who was killed in the Iraq War. He taunted Mrs. Kahn for not speaking from the stage of the Democratic National Convention. She didn’t speak because of her grief, not her religion, as he had not-too-subtlely suggested.
Trump wants to ban Muslims from coming to America. He blamed President Obama and Hillary Clinton for Kahn’s death because they changed the rules of engagement. Just one small problem with that. Capt. Kahn was killed in 2004, under President George W. Bush.
Being anti-Muslim isn’t new for the party. More than two dozen states “considered measures to restrict judges from consulting Shariah” in 2010 and 2011. All but 16 states had considered such a law by 2013. Some states have run referendums and voted on it. Newt Gingrich, while running for his party ticket in 2012, called Sharia law a “mortal threat” and said America should ban it. Sarah Palin warned us all that if Sharia were adopted it would be the “downfall of America.” Hating on Muslims isn’t a new thing for this crowd; the fact the fallen soldier is Muslim matters not a whit.
This brings me to the soldier part. Trump was thrilled when a veteran gave him his own Purple Heart this week. See, he always wanted one and getting this one handed to him was “much easier” than getting wounded in combat. The only person I knew who had a Purple Heart when I was a kid was my Great Uncle Harry and he only had one arm when he came home from the Korean War.
Oh, the outrage from, well, everyone. No kidding. If you vote for Republicans, your outrage is fake. Just stop. I didn’t hear you screaming when the House Appropriations Subcommittee removed more than $1.4 billion from Obama’s proposed 2016 budget. The estimate was 70,000 veterans would be hindered in receiving needed medical services.
What about when Republican senators blocked a bill to give fertility counseling and treatment to veterans who had been severely wounded? Oops. No baby for you! Planned Parenthood might be involved. Good grief. Oh, and when Sen. Bernie Sanders’ bill to expand health care and education for veterans got hijacked by Sen. Mitch McConnell, who attached sanctions on Iran? Crickets. Save your thoughts and prayers and do something meaningful for our service members.
Trump made fun of a fire marshal who was doing his job. Make America A Fire Hazard Again! The shock! Considering Trump is on the top of a ticket for a party that for years blocked funding health care for 9/11 first responders — it makes his mockery look like the least of their offenses.
As much as climate change should be in the conversation for who will run the country, it’s not. When their candidate asked a foreign policy advisor repeatedly, “Why can’t we use nuclear weapons?” you have to wonder if that’s just a quicker scorched Earth than the ones pushed for the last few decades.
The rampant sexism of Trump is backed up with years of political maneuvering by his party. In 2011, of nearly 40,000 laws in 50 states, 1,100 of them were to restrict a woman’s right to choose. Why? Because women are so stupid they don’t know how their own bodies work, or their finances, so the big brother party decided they’d be great moms if it were just forced upon them. Stop being surprised. This is their normal.
I wonder who is going to get Trump in the breakup of the GOP. It’s remarkable to see the Alaska delegation, who say they will “vote for the Republican candidate” no matter what — and then put out press releases on how outraged they are by the latest steaming pile of hate Trump is spewing.
How about this, Dan Sullivan, Don Young and Lisa Murkowski. You don’t get it both ways. This is politics, but you don’t get to pull a “Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner” position on Trump. I guess it’s too important to court the votes of those mouth-breathing troglodytes who cheer for Trump.
Trump is just saying out loud what you and your party have been introducing and voting yea on for years. You don’t need to build a wall, you need to build a mirror.
Being “qualified” is not a requirement of being elected. You think Peggy Wilson was “qualified” to be a state legislator, elected over and over again? You think Sarah Palin was “qualified” to be a governor or a vice president? Whatever has possessed you?
Nice piece, Zach.
Alan Grayson is running against a DINO, Pat Murphy, in the Florida Senate primary on 8/30. If he beats Murphy, who unfortunately has been supported by the Democratic party establishment, he’s up against Rubio, who needs to find a new line of work. I sent Alan a few bucks.
In FL-23, Tim Canova has taken on Debbie Doberman Schultz in the Democratic primary. When she was in Alaska in May, her Communications Director, Luis Miranda, was staying at the Historic Anchorage Hotel, two nights for $270+ per night. She flew First Class all the way, while her aide, Deputy Director Garrett Bonosky, was sitting two dozen rows back in coach. Miranda flew First also, unless there were no such seats
available. Schultz and Miranda resigned, joined by Executive Director Amy Dacey and Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach all They needed to go, but not a single person of the scores under them at the DNC had the integrity or courage to call them out. I’m sending Canova, who has been endorsed by Bernie, contributions.
What qualifies Drumpf to be elected Potus? He is a far worse businessman than he claims. He isn’t as rich as he claims. Everything about him appears to based on lies and even his trophy wife is a scandal a minute. Then he and the right consistently lie about HRC. I hope this election finally destroys the wingnut party so they never get a seat in government anywhere.