Trump vs Lewis 1/16/2017

16, January 2017                       Trump vs Lewis

Last Friday, Georgia congressman, civil rights icon, John Lewis, echoed what millions of Americans are thinking, namely that “president-elect is not a legitimate president”. Trump can hardly cry foul when he was the architect of the “birther” movement which falsely accused Obama of being a non-citizen.

If the Russians actively participated in hacking Clinton’s emails to tilt the election in Trump’s favor, then his legitimacy comes into question. FBI Director, Comey failed to explain why he chose to remain silent on the ongoing investigation of Russian hacking but felt no hesitation commenting on Clinton’s emails investigation which turned out to be inconsequential.  Perhaps of even greater significance is whether the Trump campaign team colluded with the Russians.  An investigation by Salon found 50 Republican electors in the Electoral College were illegally appointed which casts further doubt on the legitimacy of Trump’s election.

Predictably, Trump’s criticism of John Lewis has created a firestorm. Contrast Lewis’s incredible heroism in non-violent civil disobedient actions fighting for justice leaving him close to death, with Trump’s highly pampered life.

During the height of the Vietnam War, Trump used his wealth and family connections to escape the draft. During this period, Trump and his father were sued by the Department of Justice for violating the Fair Housing Act of 1968 for discriminating against people of color at his rental units.

Trump’s accusation that “Lewis is all talk” underscores his appalling ignorance. Under Lewis’s leadership Atlanta has become a thriving metropolis.

Trump’s press conference 1/14/2017

14, January 2017                 Trump’s press conference

Well, it finally happened! President-elect Trump held his first press conference which he used to bash the media for their fake news and inaccurate reporting. The late night comedians must be ecstatic for the material handed to them on a platter. The ‘made for movie Russian connection’ reveals salacious details of Trump’s cavorting with call girls at a Russian hotel. A former MI6 agent, Christopher Steel claims the details in his report have been corroborated from several different Russian sources.

Steel claims that Putin operatives captured the sordid episodes which could be used to blackmail the new president. This might explain Trump’s infatuation with Putin and his dismissal of US intelligence agencies insistence that Russia was the hacking source of Clinton’s emails. 

It is laughable that Trump should express such outrage when he finds himself engulfed in perhaps the most serious crime in US history. Remember, he encouraged Russia to hack into Clinton’s emails, and goaded his supporters to physically attack his opponents. As the source of the bogus ‘birther’ movement and insinuations that Obama is a Muslim, Trump is the architect of false news.

He insisted that as president he is above the law and exempt from burdensome conflict of interests laws arising from his business empire.  But then he made an audacious claim that he had reluctantly withdrawn from a $2 billion lucrative business deal with a Dubai tycoon. Readers strap on your seat belts, the next four years (maybe) will be a rough ride.

India’s populist leader 1/11/2017

11, January 2017                        India’s populist leader

Following a world-wide trend, India elected a populist politician, Narendra Modi, in May 2014. Since his election, India has shifted dangerously to the right.

Modi’s latest action was the demonetization of India’s currency.

On Nov. 8, he announced, with much fanfare, that all 500 and 1,000 rupee notes would soon cease as legal tender. Over 23 billion notes would soon be rendered worthless. Following the bombshell announcement, Modi declared the old notes would be replaced by new 500 rupee and 2,000 notes. Unfortunately, he provided a very short window to make the exchanges. The alleged reasons for the announcement were to withdraw counterfeit and black money from circulation. Surprisingly, only 2% of the population pays any taxes.  

Modi’s decision to withdraw 86% of the cash in circulation plunged the country into complete chaos. The impact has been extremely painful for businesses that pay their workers or suppliers with cash.

Long lines soon formed outside banks and ATMs. Millions waited for hours to exchange their old notes. Many fainted and a few died. More frustration was experienced when they reached the front of the lines only to be told there was a limited supply on hand. Few working ATM’s had been set up. Most ATMs were rapidly depleted of low demonization 100 ($1.50) rupee notes. People who were lucky enough to get their hands on the new coveted notes found few traders had enough change to execute transactions.

Many of the poor, who don’t have bank accounts, were disproportionately affected unable to store their new cash in safe places. Tens of thousands of laborers, artisans and weavers have lost jobs in many cities such as Agra, Varanasi, Kanpur, Moradabad, Allahabad, Ferozabad and Aligarh. Farmers have been baldly impacted unable to sell their perishable fruit and vegetables. 

There are lingering suspicions that demonization had more self-serving interests by the ruling BJP party whose members have got a ‘heads up’ on the currency plan and were able to exchange their old bank notes before the announcement. This would give them considerable clout over opposition Congress Party members who traditionally use crores of black money when fighting elections.

Although the currency crisis is the daily topic in much of the country it barely got discussed in India’s parliament. Narendra Modi seems to have been given a free pass from opposition members in the 545-member Lok Sabha and in the 245-seat upper house, the Rajya Sabha. Instead both party leaders and their surrogates took to the streets leaking stories of massive corruption.

Meanwhile, India’s parliament has come into withering criticism for its poor performance. It only meets 60 days to conduct the people’s business compared to 140 days which is more typical in countries like Britain or Canada. India’s state legislatures have an even worse meeting record - fewer than 30 days. Conversely, Haryana lead the productivity pack passing as many as 14 bills in 90 minutes.

M.R. Madhavan, the president of PRS Legislative Research, a privately funded watchdog in Delhi, exposed some of the more troubling aspects of India’s democracy.  He revealed that India’s anachronistic Constitution permits a far more dangerous concentration of power in the executive and judicial branches than other democracies. Inheriting some of the worst aspects of the Raj where the viceroy was king, the government can pass laws which can sideline the legislative branch.  These powers have been grossly abused.  For example, Modi has renewed laws that confiscate property belonging to opposition party members. As a further threat to democracy, the government can sign foreign treaties without parliamentary approval.  These parliamentary rules and perhaps India’s Constitution scream for much needed reform.

Julian Assange, hero or villain? 1/7/2017

7, January 2017       Julian Assange, hero or villain?

Assange has been hailed as a hero or villain depending on prevailing circumstances.

Remember when Republicans excoriated WikiLeaks for exposing war crimes that were being committed in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Bush administration? At that time Democrats were praising WikiLeaks for bringing much need transparency. But that all changed when WikiLeaks published unflattering emails from the 2016 Clinton campaign. Sarah Palin, who formerly called for Assange’s execution, recently lauded him as a hero, saying "I want to apologize to Julian Assange. He’s doing a really important service.”

In 2010, Trump thundered "Assange should be given the death penalty." But he now seems to be cozying up to his old nemesis.

In a recent Fox interview Assange agreed with Trump’s belief that Russia was not responsible for hacking DNC’s emails. It is clear that both Assange and Trump have their own hidden agendas.

Furious with Clinton’s demands that he be extradited and charged for high crimes, there is little that Assange orchestrated a selective release of emails favorable to Trump in the hope that he might get a reprieve from his self-imposed exile in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Trump eagerly accepted Assange’s exoneration of Russian involvement hoping to deflect public attention away from his huge Russian business interests. It is time the public demands that Trump quit stalling and release his tax returns which might shed light on his BFF with Vladimir Putin.  

Nixon’s Treachery 1-5-2017

5, January 2017                       Nixon’s Treachery

The recent release of archives from the Nixon library reveal a man obsessed with power who would willingly allow thousands of Americans and Vietnamese to die in the pursuit of the US presidency.

Historians and President Johnson had long suspected Nixon of treachery but had never found the “smoking gun.”

Here are the historical facts. In 1968 Johnson was advancing a peace initiative with South and North Vietnam.

Henry Kissinger, an outside Republican advisor, advised Nixon that a peace agreement was in the offing, if Johnson would halt bombing raids on North Vietnam, the Soviets pledged to urge North Vietnam to engage in peace talks.     

Fearful that the successful conclusion of Johnson’s efforts would jeopardize his presidential ambitions, Nixon ordered his aide H.R. Haldeman to scuttle the peace talks to give him an advantage over his rival, Vice President Hubert Humphrey in the 1968 election.  

Release of Haldeman’s notes confirms long held suspicions that Nixon prolonged the war unconcerned of the human carnage that would ensue.

As Haldeman’s notes reveal, Nixon was able to persuade the South Vietnamese president, Nguyen Van Thieu, to stall the talks. CIA director, Richard Helms, was ‘persuaded’ to remain silent while this coup d’état was taking place.

Haldeman’s notes yield other shocking items - Nixon’s promise to Southern Republicans that he would soft-pedal on civil rights and “lay of pro-Negro crap,” if elected.

In the 1962 gubernatorial campaign, he and his aides conspired to wiretap political opponents.

Crony Capitalism under Trump 1-3-2017

3, January 2017            Crony Capitalism under Trump

A number of US corporations have adjusted their strategies hoping to gain more favorable treatment under a Trump administration by nourishing his enormous ego.

For example, companies like Sprint seem content allowing Trump to take credit for their decision to hire more workers. Predictably, he tweeted with great gusto boasting that the Sprint CEO would hire 5,000 more workers in the US. Largely ignored is the fact that SoftBank, Sprint’s parent company, made a commitment to invest $50 billion and create 50,000 new jobs in the US in October - before the election. The insecure Trump thanked himself profusely for an increase in a consumer confidence index last month. More grist for ‘Saturday Night Live’.   

What is behind Sprint’s announcement? Softbank is anxious to overcome the Department of Justice and the Federal Communication’s earlier ruling blocking a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile.  Such a merger would cut the wireless companies to three increasing consumer costs but enhancing the profits of Sprint. Thousands of jobs would be shed if the merger were to take place.  This would be crony capitalism with enormous negative impact on the economy and a serious betrayal of many Trump supporters.

Israeli Settlements 12-30-2016

30, December 2016                Israeli Settlements

Secretary of State John Kerry was right in excoriating Israel for its settlement policy - its ongoing theft of more and more Palestinian land to house Jewish only citizens.  But what is puzzling is why Kerry/Obama waited so long in voicing their criticism.  Even more puzzling is why prior US administrations rewarded Israel with billions of dollars of aid for its bad behavior – allowing its settlement expansion and denying Palestinians basic human rights. It is apparent that Netanyahu, the most reviled head of state for decades, will never advance a two-state solution which risks his leadership of Israel’s right-wing coalition or leads him on a collision course with Jewish settlers who continue to penetrate deeper and deeper into the West Bank.

Kerry was right when he stated that the settlers’ goal is very clear, “strategically place settlements in locations that make two states impossible, so that Israel will eventually annex all of the West Bank”.

A single state, under current conditions, would also condemn millions of Palestinians to live permanently in segregated enclaves in the middle of the West Bank, under a permanent military occupation, much like apartheid South Africa.

Unconditional US support has emboldened Israel to continue its suffocating military occupation. This support is an act of monumental betrayal. As Tom Friedman wrote in The New York Times, “you don’t supply a driver with more alcohol, you don’t let him drive drunk. And Obama let Israel drive drunk”.