Enjoy this open!
Pre-Christmas Open 2017
by coldwarrior ( 43 Comments › )Filed under Open thread at December 23rd, 2017 - 9:34 am
Accomplishments versus CONservative ™ (r) Talk
by coldwarrior ( 65 Comments › )Filed under Donald Trump, Economy, Energy, Open thread, Regulation, taxation at December 21st, 2017 - 3:05 pm
Well, CONservatives ™ (r) ? You guys have been all talk for a generation now…
Well, Nevertrumpers? any answers for this:
Jobs and the economy
- Passage of the tax reform bill providing $5.5 billion in cuts and repealing the Obamacare mandate.
- Increase of the GDP above 3 percent.
- Creation of 1.7 million new jobs, cutting unemployment to 4.1 percent.
- Saw the Dow Jones reach record highs.
- A rebound in economic confidence to a 17-year high.
- A new executive order to boost apprenticeships.
- A move to boost computer sciences in Education Department programs.
- Prioritizing women-owned businesses for some $500 million in SBA loans.
Killing job-stifling regulations
- Signed an Executive Order demanding that two regulations be killed for every new one creates. He beat that big and cut 16 rules and regulations for every one created, saving $8.1 billion.
- Signed 15 congressional regulatory cuts.
- Withdrew from the Obama-era Paris Climate Agreement, ending the threat of environmental regulations.
- Signed an Executive Order cutting the time for infrastructure permit approvals.
- Eliminated an Obama rule on streams that Trump felt unfairly targeted the coal industry.
Fair trade
- Made good on his campaign promise to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
- Opened up the North American Free Trade Agreement for talks to better the deal for the U.S.
- Worked to bring companies back to the U.S., and companies like Toyota, Mazda, Broadcom Limited, and Foxconn announced plans to open U.S. plants.
- Worked to promote the sale of U.S products abroad.
- Made enforcement of U.S. trade laws, especially those that involve national security, a priority.
- Ended Obama’s deal with Cuba.
Boosting U.S. energy dominance
- The Department of Interior, which has led the way in cutting regulations, opened plans to lease 77 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas drilling.
- Trump traveled the world to promote the sale and use of U.S. energy.
- Expanded energy infrastructure projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline snubbed by Obama.
- Ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to kill Obama’s Clean Power Plan.
- EPA is reconsidering Obama rules on methane emissions.
Protecting the U.S. homeland
- Laid out new principles for reforming immigration and put hardliners in charge of his program.
- Made progress to build the border wall with Mexico.
- Ended the Obama-era “catch and release” of illegal immigrants.
- Boosted the arrests of illegals inside the U.S.
- Doubled the number of counties participating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement charged with deporting illegals.
- Removed 36 percent more criminal gang members than in fiscal 2016.
- Started the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program.
- Ditto for other amnesty programs like Deferred Action for Parents of Americans.
- Cracking down on some 300 sanctuary cities that defy ICE but still get federal dollars.
- Added some 100 new immigration judges.
Accountability
- Trump has nominated 73 federal judges and won his nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
- Ordered ethical standards including a lobbying ban.
- Called for a comprehensive plan to reorganize the executive branch.
- Ordered an overhaul to modernize the digital government.
- Called for a full audit of the Pentagon and its spending.
Protecting life
- In his first week, Trump reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy that blocks some $9 billion in foreign aid being used for abortions.
- Worked with Congress on a bill overturning an Obama regulation that blocked states from defunding abortion providers.
- Published guidance to block Obamacare money from supporting abortion.
Helping veterans
- Signed the Veterans Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act to allow senior officials in the Department of Veterans Affairs to fire failing employees and establish safeguards to protect whistleblowers.
- Signed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act.
- Signed the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, to provide support.
- Signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program.
- Created a VA hotline.
- Had the VA launch an online “Access and Quality Tool,” providing veterans with a way to access wait time and quality of care data.
- With VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin, announced three initiatives to expand access to healthcare for veterans using telehealth technology.
Promoting peace through strength
- Directed the rebuilding of the military and ordered a new national strategy and nuclear posture review.
- Worked to increase defense spending.
- Empowered military leaders to “seize the initiative and win,” reducing the need for a White House sign off on every mission.
- Directed the revival of the National Space Council to develop space war strategies.
- Elevated U.S. Cyber Command into a major warfighting command.
- Withdrew from the U.N. Global Compact on Migration, which Trump saw as a threat to borders.
- Imposed a travel ban on nations that lack border and anti-terrorism security.
- Saw ISIS lose virtually all of its territory.
- Pushed for strong action against global outlaw North Korea and its development of nuclear weapons.
- Announced a new Afghanistan strategy that strengthens support for U.S. forces at war with terrorism.
- NATO increased support for the war in Afghanistan.
- Approved a new Iran strategy plan focused on neutralizing the country’s influence in the region.
- Ordered missile strikes against a Syrian airbase used in a chemical weapons attack.
- Prevented subsequent chemical attacks by announcing a plan to detect them better and warned of future strikes if they were used.
- Ordered new sanctions on the dictatorship in Venezuela.
Restoring confidence in and respect for America
- Trump won the release of Americans held abroad, often using his personal relationships with world leaders.
- Made good on a campaign promise to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
- Conducted a historic 12-day trip through Asia, winning new cooperative deals. On the trip, he attended three regional summits to promote American interests.
- He traveled to the Middle East and Europe to build new relationships with leaders.
- Traveled to Poland for the annual. G-20 meeting where he pushed again for funding of women entrepreneurs.
This isn’t even the end of the first year. The accounting that I promised our Nevertrumpers continues.
Racist Trees Open
by coldwarrior ( 69 Comments › )Filed under Open thread at December 20th, 2017 - 12:01 am
yep, Racist Trees.
I’ll be on the lookout for raaaaacissss trees at my Country Club as well. Will report back in the spring!
Sunday Sports Spectacular! T’was the Week Before Christmas Edition
by Crackerbox Palace ( 161 Comments › )Filed under Uncategorized at December 17th, 2017 - 12:45 pm

This is a rushed and hurried column for me, as Friday was our annual Christmas Party. Since I normally put this puppy to bed Friday evening before leaving the office, imagine my shock, dismay and horror when I woke up this morning and remembered Friday was a mess of red wine and prime rib. Both of which were slightly on the cheap end, if you ask me.
So t’was the week before Christmas and everyone who has stopped watching the NFL can now experience first-hand the delights of mall shopping on the weekend before Christmas. I get there when it opens and dash out before everyone gets out of church. Thank you, Catholic Church for authorizing Saturday Mass all those many decades ago.
There was never a greater indication of my divorce from football as yesterday. Normally I can’t wait for the NFL Saturday schedule to start. This year, the only reason I know two games were played yesterday was because they were advertised on a DVR’d episode of “Bull” that I didn’t get a chance to watch until this morning. Heh.
But keep paying those millions to Goodell, you idiot owners.
Today’s Games
Dolphins @ Bills
Packers @ Panthers
Ravens @ Browns
Texans @ Jaguars
Bengals @ Vikings
Jets @ Saints
Eagles @ Giants
Cardinals @ Redskins
Rams @ Seahawks
Patriots @ Steelers
Titans @ 40-Whiners
Cowboys @ Raiders
Monday’s Game
Falcons @ Bucanneers
In the NHL,
Blues @ Jets
Wild @ Blackhawks
Flames @ Canucks
Panthers @ Golden Knights (this is FLORIDA v VEGAS….okay, still having a problem with this)
As always, this is your Sunday Open Thread. Have some fun. Personally, I plan to make a big batch of hot-buttered rum and not planning to share. I will of course make an exception if anyone from this blog shows up at my front door. And we are a fruitcake-free zone here if that’s an incentive….



