Ideas, Opinions, Genealogy, and Book Reviews
I’d like to point out an interesting article on why we should censure the President now. I believe President Trump’s behavior in office certainly make him worthy of impeachment. But for several reasons that may not happen as soon as many of us would like.
Karen Tumulty of the The Washington Post suggests censure is something that should be done immediately. It is worth reading and thinking about.
Yesterday, I read 2 opposing views on the Obamacare/health care controversy. I am more a repair Obamacare person but I think both are well worth reading. So continuing the trend started yesterday on this blog, I will write about things I read in the Sunday paper.
We get 2 Sunday papers, the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer. I discussed an article about retirement plans in the Times yesterday. Today it will be a pair of articles in the Inquirer about Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) .
Continue reading “Should we repair Obamacare or repeal and replace ?”
Earlier this month my wife and I decided to visit Washington, DC. We thought of several places we could easily see in one day but our first stop was the Newseum and it was so interesting that we ended up spending most of our day there.
We had started off in Alexandria on Friday and enjoyed walking around and seeing the sights and thought we could spend Saturday in D.C. and then head home on Sunday. We had stayed in the Embassy Suites which was just across the street from
the Metro stop. It was a great place to stay as it was convenient to both Alexandria Old Town and DC. The hotel was just a couple blocks from King Street with its many shops and restaurants. If you want to go to older part of King nearer to the river, it is a good walk. We enjoyed the walk but some might opt for the free trolley.
Continue reading “Visit to the Newseum in Washington DC”
We need a nonpartisan investigation on Russian influence on the presidential election of 2016, the Trump campaign, and President Trump’s administration. There are so many unknowns but there is highly suggestive evidence for at least the election and campaign. I think it also reasonable to look into the possibility that this Russian influence may extend into the administration as many of the same individuals are involved.
There is little doubt that Russia intervened in our election in favor of candidate Donald Trump. There are reports that Trump campaign aides had contacts with Russian intelligence but this is disputed by President Trump’s administration. For a good review of the situation see the PBS story which is now a few days old.
Continue reading “Nonpartisan investigation on Russian influence”
Trump supporter? Think about it.
USA TODAY is an interesting newspaper. I’ve read a several articles that were thought provoking. Some I agreed with and others I’ve disagreed with, but usually I thought they were well worth reading. Here is the beginning of Today’s editorial:
In the 34-year history of USA TODAY, the Editorial Board has never taken sides in the presidential race. Instead, we’ve expressed opinions about the major issues and haven’t presumed to tell our readers, who have a variety of priorities and values, which choice is best for them. Because every presidential race is different, we revisit our no-endorsement policy every four years. We’ve never seen reason to alter our approach. Until now.
This year, the choice isn’t between two capable major party nominees who happen to have significant ideological differences. This year, one of the candidates — Republican nominee Donald Trump — is, by unanimous consensus of the Editorial Board, unfit for the presidency.
And then it goes on to give their reasons for breaking their tradition of never taking sides in the presidential race. It is well worth reading. If you are a Trump supporter, think about it.
Donald Trump refuses to release his tax returns with an excuse that he is being audited. But as far as I know, none of Trump’s tax returns for many years have been released.
The IRS indicates tax returns under audit can be released. So the excuse does not seem to be valid.
The IRS FAQ below suggest audit usually done within 3 years of filing but they can go back 6 years even if there are substantial errors.
Thomas Allingham (c1798-1883) was a farmer in Sracreeghan, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland. This part of the parish was called Glencar or Glenlough.
He had 4 children that we know of but I think there must have been more. Elizabeth Allingham was born about 1826 and married John McBrien. Ruth Allingham was probably born in the 1830s and her marriage to Matthew Greer is Continue reading “Thomas Allingham (1798-1883) of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland.”
During the recent debate Donald bizarrely said to Hillary, “No wonder you’ve been fighting ISIS your entire adult life.”
I am at a loss as to his meaning, but that does not seem unusual Continue reading “Donald bizarrely said to Hillary”
David and Donald, a fine pair, are part of the new GOP.
David Duke, former Ku Klux Klan (KKK) leader, has thrown his hat in the ring for the GOP nomination for Louisiana US Senator because Americans are “embracing the core issues I have fought for my entire life.”
I suppose in this belief he is thinking about the drift of the national Republican party since there is widespread support with the victories and now nomination of Donald Trump.
Is this the new GOP?
Zika is a public health emergency. Yet Congress sees it as Zika, politics as usual. It is a chance to get what you want in return for the other side being able to provide funds to address a public heath emergency.
I get a weekly newsletter from Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA). In this week’s newsletter he was talking about how the Republicans are trying to pass a bill to fund the research and the fight against the Zika virus. The bill also includes provisions relating to military construction and veterans affairs. The Democrats are filibustering this commonsense bill. In Senator Toomey’s words: Continue reading “Zika, politics as usual”
I liked Shadows of the Stone Benders by K. Patrick Donoghue much more than expected. I occasionally enjoy science fiction and rarely like fantasy. Yet the write-up I saw on Netgalley was interesting.
The publisher compared it to the books of James Rollins and Steve Berry. I’ve never tried James Rollins but I have read and liked several books by Steve Berry. So I thought I would give it a try. Continue reading “Shadows of the Stone Benders”
This is an important book. This is also a shocking book. The full title is “The Poverty Industry: The Exploitation of America’s Most Vulnerable Citizens”. The author Daniel L. Hatcher is Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore. Continue reading “Poverty Industry Problem”
The Lewis Man by Peter May is the second novel of The Lewis Trilogy. I had read the first after a friend had suggested I might enjoy it. I liked it very much as is apparent in my review of The Blackhouse.
In The Lewis Man several of the main characters are back but not necessarily in the way expected. Detective Fin Macleod is back. Detective Macleod grew-up on the remote Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. But in this story he is no longer with the police but has moved back to Lewis. Continue reading “The Lewis Man by Peter May”
I liked The Punishments by J.B. Winsor but thought it could have been better. Given the current political climate I think this dystopian thriller is very timely.
Author J.B. Winsor writes about a United States where the government is taken over by Christian fundamentalists. The situation in the county is not unlike that today.
I thought I had it. Not real convincing but plausible. A few weak spots but still the best I had. Seemed like the best I could do a few years ago. Now my Gows are in disarray.
Why the Gows? My great grandmother is Emma Cash McKenzie. I’ve made good progress on my McKenzies but gotten nowhere with Emma until very recently. And then very quickly things went downhill. Continue reading “My Gows are in disarray”