States, Health And Business Industry Groups: Don't Implode Obamacare!

The following joint statement was issued by America’s Health Insurance Plans, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Benefits Council, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Federation of American Hospitals, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

“Cost-sharing reductions are used to help those who need it most—low- and moderate-income consumers. These funds, which are built into their benefits, reduce their out-of-pocket costs such as copayments and deductibles when they receive care. Without these funds, consumers’ access to care is jeopardized, their premiums will increase dramatically, and they will be left with even fewer coverage options. 

“These benefits are essential to making coverage and care affordable for American families who receive them. Clarity and commitment to this funding is needed to eliminate confusion and anxiety for consumers. 

“As medical professionals, insurers providing health care services and coverage to hundreds of millions of Americans, and business leaders concerned with maintaining a stable health insurance marketplace for consumers, we believe it is imperative that the Administration fund the cost-sharing reduction program."

As petulant Man Baby Donald "Rump" Trump "ponders" his next ignorant move on how best to trash his predecessor's legacy and the health care of tens of millions of Americans, it's worth noting that similar appeals by these groups to the extremist Republican thugs in the House and Senate apparently made exactly zero difference in their rush to crash the health care system.

Complicating matters more for Rump, the powerful U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently issued a decision (with an assist from the Twit- in- Chief himself) that put the brakes on his potential sabotaging of the Obamacare cost- sharing subsidies:

The procedural decision late Tuesday by a federal appeals panel in Washington has implications for millions of consumers. The judges said that a group of states can defend the legality of government "cost-sharing" subsidies for copays and deductibles under the Affordable Care Act if the Trump administration decides to stop paying the money. 

Trump has been threatening to do just that for months, and he amped up his warnings after the GOP's drive to repeal and replace "Obamacare" fell apart in the Senate last week. The subsidies help keep premiums in check, but they are under a legal cloud because of a dispute over the wording of the ACA. Trump has speculated that he could force Democrats to make a deal on health care by stopping the payments. 

The court's decision is "a check on the ability of the president to sabotage the Affordable Care Act in one very important way," said Tim Jost, professor emeritus at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, a supporter of the ACA who has followed the issue closely.  (our emphasis)

A bipartisan group of governors is also calling on the shitgibbon to keep up the subsidy payments.

While it's important to have stakeholders like these weighing in, they may be more than counterbalanced by Rump's unbalanced, malignant narcissism and his desire to cause an "implosion" just because he can. We may know the answer soon enough. In the meantime, more proof, if any more were needed, that this is a long- term war with these knuckle- draggers, and that we need to be prepared to fight back whenever necessary.

Twitter Twit-In-Chief: Blame America First!

The ink is barely dry on the new Russian sanctions law before Putin's agent in charge of U.S. operations Donald "Rump" Trump is blaming Congress for worsening U.S. - Moscow relations:

Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low. You can thank Congress, the same people that can't even give us HCare!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2017

Has he ever said a critical word about Russia's intervention in our elections, or their murderous role in propping up Assad in Syria, or their annexation of Crimea, or their paramilitary infiltration of Ukraine?

Moscow has something very serious on him, most likely of a financial debt / criminal money laundering sort, and Rump shows it more and more every day. Robert Mueller and his superb team are getting closer to the truth every day, and Rump is sweating.

Medicaid: Republican Governors Punching Down

True to form, what they can't achieve on a national level (yet), Republican Social Darwinists are trying to achieve in their right- wing dystopias:

Republican governors are working with the Trump administration to do something Congress couldn’t accomplish — fundamentally alter their state Medicaid programs. 

At least six states with GOP governors— Arkansas, Kentucky, Arizona, Maine, Wisconsin and Indiana — have already drafted plans meant to introduce new rules people would have to meet to be eligible for Medicaid, which provides healthcare to the poor. 

Some want to add work requirements or introduce drug testing for recipients. Others want to raise premium prices. 

President Trump’s administration has to approve the plans. Some approvals could come in weeks.

The Trump regime won't waste a precious hot second approving these plans, of course, since they've already told the governors they'd allow just such changes. Some states (Kochland Wisconsin) are also proposing a time limit for receiving Medicaid, and lowering eligibility levels (Marrycousinland Arkansas). Whereas the Obama Administration let states use flexibility to expand Medicaid coverage, these plutocrat- supported slugs want to do just the opposite. So, more proof of what "populism" means to them.

(Image: "C'mon Grandma, you're got to work for your health benefits!")

Trump And The Pharisees

The natural affinity of immoral evangelical con artists with immoral con artist Donald "Rump" Trump is explored by Seth Meyers:

Today's Cartoon Threefer

(click on images to enlarge)


(Chris Britt, Illinois Times)


(Jim Morin, Miami Herald)


(Tom Toles, Washington Post)

This Is How It's Done, And Who We Need

Great message, great candidate.



WOW.

Contribute to her campaign here, and thank her for her service.

BONUS:  While McGrath went to the USNA and chose to serve in the military for 20 years, her opponent, Republican Rep. Andy "Candy" Barr, comes from a Kentucky "blue blood" family and enjoyed the comforts of frat life at the University of Kentucky -- where he criticized Bill Clinton for evading the draft, though he himself never volunteered or served. While at UK, the privileged scamp also was charged with possession of a fake I.D. and, on a separate occasion, with public intoxication. As the ad notes, he's a protege of the inexcusable Mitch McConnell. Character! Principles!

Trump Reluctantly Signs Sanctions Bill

Putin suck-up and unindicted co-conspirator Donald "Rump" Trump finally signed the Russia sanctions bill after five days of sitting on it. Realizing a veto would be overwhelmingly rejected by a Congress that passed the bill 98 - 2 in the Senate, and 419 - 3 in the House, Rump signed it, but had to take some parting shots in his signing statement, while praising himself:

"...The bill remains seriously flawed – particularly because it encroaches on the executive branch’s authority to negotiate.  Congress could not even negotiate a healthcare bill after seven years of talking.  By limiting the Executive’s flexibility, this bill makes it harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American people, and will drive China, Russia, and North Korea much closer together.... Yet despite its problems, I am signing this bill for the sake of national unity.  It represents the will of the American people to see Russia take steps to improve relations with the United States.  We hope there will be cooperation between our two countries on major global issues so that these sanctions will no longer be necessary....I built a truly great company worth many billions of dollars.  That is a big part of the reason I was elected.  As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress." (emphasis added)

So the bill "encroaches on the executive branch's authority to negotiate," does it? Read that as "I didn't want to anger my handler Vladimir, who helped me get elected." The "deals" he thinks he can make wouldn't be for the benefit of the country, unless he's talking about Russia and his own corrupt businesses that rely on Russian cash. Note the expressed hope that "there will be cooperation between our two countries on major global issues," ignoring the reason these and earlier sanctions were imposed were Moscow's undermining of our elections to elect Rump, and their takeover of Crimea and military interference in Ukraine, global issues in their own right.

Mid-Week Summer Nights Song

Sitting atop the contemporary jazz charts is the latest single from The Jazz Holdouts, "Summer Nights," which puts us in the right mood on this mid-summer day. While many of the Holdouts are products of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, they developed their individual styles working with many jazz and contemporary music artists across the country. What makes them unique is that they record their performances in their own studios, and send the recordings into the Holdouts' producers to mix into a final work. It's time consuming, but worthwhile, as you'll hear on this track while you enjoy your summer nights.

Not Normal

Self- aggrandizing malignant narcissist Donald "Rump" Trump is having a harder time than ever distinguishing Reality from the "reality" show playing in his empty head.  Two examples from recent days pop out:

Estas loco, Senor Trump!

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto is calling into question President Trump's most recent claims that the leader called him to praise his administration's work on the U.S.-Mexico border.   

As Mr. Trump welcomed his new Chief of Staff John Kelly to the Cabinet table on Monday, Mr. Trump took time to applaud the work Kelly had done during his time leading the Department of Homeland Security. 

"At Homeland, what he has done has been nothing short of miraculous," Mr. Trump said of Kelly. 

He went on, saying, "As you know, the border was a tremendous problem and they're close to 80 percent stoppage. And even the president of Mexico called me -- they said their southern border, very few people are coming because they know they're not going to get through our border, which is the ultimate compliment." 

But Nieto denies that ever happened. 

In a statement released by the Mexican Foreign Ministry, Nieto "has not recently spoken to President Donald Trump over the telephone." (our emphasis)

"Scout's honor!"

President Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal that after his controversial speech at the Boy Scouts National Jamboree in West Virginia, the head of the Boy Scouts called him and told him it was the greatest speech that was ever made to them. But the organization told TIME they are unaware of any call from national leadership placed to the White House. (our emphasis)

Steve Benen points to the multiple times when Rump has given himself plaudits for "great" or "historical" feats, none of which seem to pan out in, you know, Reality.

We have a disaster here that all too many in the media and politics are still not taking steps to abate. The longer this goes on, the harder it will be to recover from the destruction being wrought both here and abroad.

Where It's Always Good News For Trump

There are many places in the right- wing swamp where it's always good news for the regime of the dangerously unhinged Donald "Rump" Trump. "The Federalist" is just one non- Fox "News" example -- they're not easily visible here, but the date/ time stamp on the left post is 7/31/17 at  9:20 a.m., and the one for the right post is 7/31/17 at 6:27 p.m. (click on tweet to enlarge):

🎵Always look on the bright side of life 🎵 pic.twitter.com/jrIZc0G31U

— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) August 1, 2017

Are we sick of all this good news and winning yet?

Today's Cartoons

(click on images to enlarge)


(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)


(Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)


(Nick Anderson, Washington Post Writers Group)


(Steve Benson, Arizona Republic)

Lyin' Ryan And The Wonderwall

After their humiliating defeat on the toxic TrumpCare crap sandwich, Rethuglicans are searching for a "win" to sell to their angry and xenophobic base. Enter Trump-enabling Squeaker of the House and social Darwinist Paul "Lyin'" Ryan, who promised full funding for the wall along the Mexican border on his website this morning. With a rousing "let's get it done," Lyin' also provided a short video of him touring the Texas-Mexican border, complete with an awkward ride on a horsey. No word from Lyin' on a few key points: is the wall going to be clear, will it be a solar wall, and how do you suppose Mexico will pay for the wall (costing tens of billions of dollars) that's built on our soil? Maybe import taxes that hurt American consumers? Wait until gullible Trumpers figure out that they're on the hook for the cost, and Mexico won't pay a peso according to Rethuglican leaders like this one, and this one. They'll find a way of excusing lying demagogue Donald "Rump" Trump, but Lyin' may not be so lucky.

(photo: wink wink suckers!)

Trump Bootlicker Calls For Special Counsel Mueller To Resign (UPDATED)

See if you notice a "tell" here:

House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) is calling on Robert Mueller, special counsel for the Department of Justice’s Russia investigation, to resign. 

Franks claims Mueller is violating a law governing the special counsel that prohibits him from serving if he has a “conflict of interest,” which includes “a personal relationship with any person substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation or prosecution.” 

Franks cited a Fox News report from May that cast Mueller and former FBI Director James Comey as “longtime allies.” Mueller served as the FBI Director when Comey was the Deputy Attorney General in 2003. The Russia investigation has expanded to include possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia and the president’s decision to fire the FBI director. 

“Bob Mueller is in clear violation of federal code and must resign to maintain the integrity of the investigation into alleged Russian ties,” Franks said in a statement.

Did you catch the Fox "News" reference, that fount from which all evil political mischief flows -- "a Fox News report from May..."?  That particular stupidity has been out there since May, so why the sudden elevation of it into a demand that Mueller resign? Was it perhaps this bat- shit signal from the shitgbbon just a few days ago:

It's very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2017

=Pant=pant= arf arf!= Good guard doggy, Trent!

Sensing the closing prosecutorial noose around Rump's fat neck, a wall of  treasonous, dead- ender co- conspirators is beginning to form around the shitgibbon in the House and Senate. Not surprisingly, it includes Rep. Trent "Beans And" Franks (Teabag - AZ). Franks is one of the most dangerous loons in the House (and, that's a statement right there), having opined that African Americans were better off under slavery, proposing bills that foster Islamophobia, and being a virulent opponent of a woman's right to choose. Now he's part of an emerging cabal of ultra- rightists determined to "protect" the un-indicted co-conspirator and risk obstructing justice rather than uphold the rule of law. Party before country!

UPDATE:  We are also now hearing that (allegedly!) the shitgibbon wanted to push Fox's malicious, fabricated conspiracy story about Democratic staffer Seth Rich's murder last summer. They needed a distraction and a diversion from the emerging Trump-Russia scandal, of course. So, working hand in hand, they created this hurtful, monstrous conspiracy tale, because no road is ever too low for this sociopathic shitheel or his enablers.

Colbert Bids Farewell To The Mooch, And Hello To The North Korea Missile Crisis

Trump Dictated Dishonest Statement on Russian Meeting

Putin loyalist and unindicted co-conspirator Donald "Rump" Trump dictated the initial, dishonest statement concerning his son's infamous meeting last summer with Russian individuals tied to the Kremlin, according to a bombshell report in the WaPo. The well-sourced report (Spicer? Priebus? Both?) contradicts claims by the White (Supremacist) House that Rump wasn't involved in preparing the statement, which was subsequently modified as Donald "Uday" Trump, Jr. released e-mails related to the meeting after learning that the New York Times was about to release them. From the Post:

"Flying home from Germany on July 8 aboard Air Force One, Trump personally dictated a statement in which Trump Jr. said that he and the Russian lawyer had 'primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children' when they met in June 2016, according to multiple people with knowledge of the deliberations....Over the next three days, multiple accounts of the meeting were provided to the news media as public pressure mounted, with Trump Jr. ultimately acknowledging that he had accepted the meeting after receiving an email promising damaging information about Hillary Clinton as part of a Russian government effort to help his father's campaign. The extent of the president's personal intervention in his son's response, the details of which have not previously been reported, adds to a series of actions that Trump has taken that some advisers fear could place him and some members of his inner circle in legal jeopardy." (emphasis added)

This development brings Rump closer to obstruction of justice if it can be proven that he knew what he was writing was false (and when has Rump ever lied?). So many questions. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has access to the e-mails that the principals in the Rump campaign produced, and will certainly be looking at whether Rump was informed of the purpose of the meeting (dirt on Hillary in exchange for a promise to lift sanctions). It's extremely hard to imagine that he wasn't told either before or after the meeting by at least one of the high-level attendees (Uday, Jared "Mr. Ivanka Trump" Kushner, and Paul Manafort) that Russians with ties to the Kremlin had negative information on Clinton. It's too important a situation for Rump not to have been told, and one that Robert Mueller is sure to focus on.