New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons

New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons

Posted on by Jack

Mitch McConnell has devised a new legislative process. We’ll have to see how well it works but teachers of civics may want to think about updating their lesson plans. This could be the new normal or perhaps a political disaster which is never tried again. It’s a bit early to tell.

In the secret Republican plan to change our healthcare system which is currently being developed in the Senate, we may have a new model for legislation. We don’t know yet what the plan is or if this method will be successful. Continue reading “New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons”

Heathcare secret plan from Republican Senators

Heathcare secret plan from Republican Senators

Posted on by Jack

Do you want to know a secret? A big healthcare secret. Our Senate has one. Neither you, nor I, nor most Senators know the plan. As far as I know, no healthcare experts have seen it. I think the only people in the loop are Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell and 12 other Republican Senators.

The plan could have large economic effects. After all, health care is a big piece of our economy. As far as I know, no economists have seen it. Have the possible economic effects been considered?

If this works out well for the Republican party, will secrecy be the new model for legislating?

The secret plan for your healthcare

The secret plan for your healthcare

Posted on by Jack

It’s a secret plan. I don’t know anything about the Senate healthcare plan except that it is a closely held secret among Senator Mitch McConnell and and handful of other Republican Senators. I suspect a few other Republicans may know part of the plan, at least in broad outline. But I don’t think the majority of Republican Senators know much about it. It seem fairly certain that Democrats are not in on the big secret.

I suppose at some point the public may know about it but probably not until after (or maybe just before) the vote. Senators will probably be informed of the contents before voting. I think that is a rule but I could be wrong. The Senate under Mitch McConnell had surprised me before.

Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Posted on by Jack

I wrote about the Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland several times but the last time was late last year.

At that time I identified 4 children including my great grandmother. I think now I have information indicating 8 children and I expect there may be more that I have not yet found. In most cases the evidence is pretty good; in others it is not quite enough. So I’ll have to do another post to bring you up-to date on this.

The secret healthcare plan in the Senate

The secret healthcare plan in the Senate

Posted on by Jack

There is a secret healthcare plan somewhere in the Senate. I don’t know what is in it. You don’t know. In fact, most senators don’t know. Only a small group of Republican senators are drafting the bill. But the plan is to have a vote before the July 4 recess.

So it is coming soon with no hearings and no amendments.

Since the bill is unlikely to be made public much before the vote, there will be little (if any) time for comment and debate, even among the senators.

Distractions and the important stuff

Distractions and the important stuff

Posted on by Jack

Distractions keep our attention off the important stuff. The problem many of us have is we can’t tell which are the distractions in President Trump’s administration and what is important.

Certainly the Russian interference in our election is important. We do not know yet if the president or perhaps part of his administration or campaign helped the Russians in some way. But it is clearly important to learn this. The apparent cover-up and attempts to interfere with this investigation are suggestive but not proof. Continue reading “Distractions and the important stuff”

The Death of Expertise: …and Why it Matters

The Death of Expertise: …and Why it Matters

Posted on by Jack

I liked The Death of Expertise but I was a bit concerned. The full title is The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters and it is by Thomas M. Nichols, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College .
Continue reading “The Death of Expertise: …and Why it Matters”

Trump Tapes. Watergate redux

Trump Tapes. Watergate redux

Posted on by Jack

The Trump tapes. This sounds familiar but perhaps slightly different.

I was much younger when we wanted to hear the Nixon tapes. But is history repeating itself ?

President Trump tweeted

James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!

Are there tapes? Do we get to hear the unedited version? How much of what goes on in the Whitehouse is taped? President Nixon had tapes but I would have thought the following Presidents would have learned.

Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann

Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann

Posted on by Jack

The full title is Letters to a Young Writer: Some Practical and Philosophical Advice. And it is by Colum McCann one of the best writers around in my opinion.

I like Colum McCann’s writing and that is why I decided to read this book. My guess is it is not so much aimed at the young but at the new writer or anyone interested in improving their writing.
Continue reading “Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann”

Non-recusal recusal of Jeff Sessions

Non-recusal recusal of Jeff Sessions

Posted on by Jack

The non-recusal recusal of Jeff Sessions makes one wonder what recusal means. I thought it meant not participating in an official action. But that is apparently not what it means in the Trump administration.

About 2 months ago Jeff Sessions said
Continue reading “Non-recusal recusal of Jeff Sessions”

The Tuesday afternoon ambush

The Tuesday afternoon ambush

Posted on by Jack

The Tuesday afternoon ambush was the firing of FBI Director James Comey who was conducting an investigation into the Russian interference in the 2016 elections and possible collusion by the Trump administration and campaign.

Why Watergate

Continue reading “The Tuesday afternoon ambush”

Why fire FBI Director Comey now (Russian investigation)

Why fire FBI Director Comey now (Russian investigation)

Posted on by Jack

Why fire FBI Director Comey now? Is this another Trump administration attempt to misdirect, mislead and cause such confusion that all probes into the Russian interference in the 2016 elections and possible collusion by the Trump administration and campaign are delayed and hindered.
Continue reading “Why fire FBI Director Comey now (Russian investigation)”

Party discipline wins and Americans lose

Party discipline wins and Americans lose

Posted on by Jack

Party discipline wins, President Trump wins, Speaker Ryan wins, Republicans win, most rich people win, millions of Americans lose. In a remarkable display of party unity, House Republicans singlehandedly passed a Heath Care Bill with no democratic support.

Thus it would seem the Democrats are the losers. But in the bigger analysis, it was the American people who lost. Well, most Americans and American ideals. A few people at the top of the economic ladder do get big tax cuts if this becomes law.

Exciting week in Washington to avert the government shutdown

Exciting week in Washington to avert the government shutdown

Posted on by Jack

It looks like we are going to have an exciting week in Washington. The looming government shutdown is the main issue. Or at least the one where the clock is ticking. Congress needs to pass (and the President needs to sign) a bill which funds the government this week. This is the only way to avoid a shutdown.

The President always likes to add a bit of drama. Chaos seems to be rampant these days. I think he hopes it will distract us from investigating his campaign’s and administration’s links to Russia. So far he has been successful.
Continue reading “Exciting week in Washington to avert the government shutdown”

Trumpcare 2.0, it’s even worse

Trumpcare 2.0, it’s even worse

Posted on by Jack

Trumpcare 2.0 is in the works. The first attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare with Trumpcare was so bad and so opposed that it failed before even coming to a vote.

For a short while it seemed the President had learn and would work with Democrats and moderate Republicans to find a good replacement. Then he decided to skip healthcare and move on to tax reform.
Continue reading “Trumpcare 2.0, it’s even worse”