BUCKNACKT'S SORDID TAWDRY BLOG
We should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive & well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate, bier or wein in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO-HOO, WHAT A RIDE!!!!!!"
TOM PERRIELLO, Democratic candidate for Governor of Virginia, is a strong advocate for the people of Virginia and believes access to health care is a right for all not a privilege for those who can afford it. His position on health care for all Virginians is here, and he speaks out strongly against the health care bill passed by the US House and calls on us to take action against it by contacting our Senators and Representative in D.C. If you prefer to send an e mail instead of calling you can send an e mail to Virginia's Senators Warner and Kaine here and to your US Representative for your district in Virginia here. This from Tom Perriello, and I hope you will check out his campaign website and decide he is the best candidate for Governor and support his campaign by donating and / or volunteering for him. REMEMBER, the primary is Tuesday, 13 JUNE 17, we need you to vote! Democracy is not a spectator sport!!!
The Congressional Budget Office just released the latest report on the devastating impacts of the Republican’s health care bill and I wanted to share them with you. It shows what’s at stake in this election and what we have to fight for.
Under this bill:
As many as 23 million Americans will be uninsured.
Premiums for many will jump 20% next year.
If governors and states accept the waiver, insurers in those states will drop people with pre-existing conditions, and premiums for low-income seniors could go up 800%.
Our likely Republican opponent Ed Gillespie has already gone on the record saying he is open to these waivers, endangering the health care of hundreds of thousands of Virginians. We can’t sit back for a second.
Call your member of Congress tomorrow, call your Senators, visit their local offices, and write a letter if you can. Do everything in your power to fight this bill and make sure they hear from you.
(NOT MY) president drumpf/trump is a looser and a liar, a buffoon to the rest of the world. Nobody takes him, pence, their cabinet and their repiglican allies controlling congress seriously as politicians, as leaders. Yes, they have power, and someone like drumpf/trump with access to WMD, the nuclear codes, scares a lot of people in this country and around the world, still, they are not respected or taken seriously as the leaders of the richest and most powerful nation on Earth. This from the Washington Post exposes drumpf's/trump's lies about the first days of his administration and how little has been accomplished. No doubt he will have a spasm about this article 😀 Trump’s claim that ‘no administration has accomplished more in the first 90 days’
“No administration has accomplished more in the first 90 days.”
The first 100 days of a presidency mark a rather artificial milestone, but one by which all presidents have been measured since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s whirlwind of action when he took office in the midst of the Great Depression. President Trump appears especially conscious of this marker. During the presidential campaign, he even issued a list of 60 promises that he said he would fulfill in his first 100 days.
We’ve been tracking Trump’s promises, and so far he has not even taken action on 60 percent of the promises — and he’s broken five of them, such as his promise to label China as a currency manipulator.
Yet here’s the president declaring that he has accomplished more in his first 90 days than any previous president. So how does he stack up?
The Facts
There are various ways to measure presidential performance, such as number of laws passed. But of course not every law is created equally, so you have to parse the data. The same goes for executive orders and memorandums.
We sought an explanation from the White House for Trump’s claim but did not get an answer. However, White House press secretary Sean Spicer on April 19 was asked what single piece of legislation the president was most proud of in his first 100 days.
Spicer did not really answer the question but instead responded with a laundry list that he said demonstrated a “very robust agenda of activity,” such as reversing a dozen regulations set by President Barack Obama and the Senate confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch. He also noted a drop in illegal immigration at the southern border and “a lot of activity that we’ve been very proud to see in America manufacturing and job creation” — claims we have fact-checked in the past.
Frankly, this is rather thin gruel if you are going to compare yourself to Roosevelt or other notable presidents. So let’s go through the data.
There were 76 bills signed into law under Roosevelt in the first 100 days, compared with 28 (with a week to go) under Trump. “This is higher than any first-term 100 days since 1949 (55 bills signed), but less than all first terms from 1901-1949 except for 1909,” said John Frendreis, a political science professor at Loyola University in Chicago who co-wrote a well-regarded study of legislative output in the first 100 days from 1897 to 1995.
Thirteen of the Trump bills disapprove of major regulations put in place by Obama, which signifies a reversal of action, not new action — though the agency is barred from ever repromulgating the rule in question or anything similar without congressional approval. Other bills include such actions — what Frendreis called “minor or housekeeping bills” — as naming a Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Pago Pago in American Samoa or creating a waiver to allow Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to be appointed even though he had recently served in the military.
Moreover, none of Trump’s bills can be considered “major” legislation according to political science standards, whereas at least nine of Roosevelt’s bills met that standard. Historians H.W. Brands of the University of Texas at Austin and David M. Kennedy of Stanford University count 15 major bills in FDR’s first 100 days, including some that remain in place.
“In this regard, Trump’s tenure has been less impressive, with no major pieces of legislation passed,” Frendreis said. “By contrast, the stimulus package was passed during Obama’s first 100 days” — actually, within Obama’s first 30 days.
Frendreis noted that the 73rd Congress was highly unusual because of the crisis atmosphere and the huge Democratic majorities, giving Roosevelt an opportunity to make a quick impact.
“Some of FDR’s initiatives were submitted to Congress in the morning and back on his desk that very same day for signatures,” said Max J. Skidmore, a political science professor at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. “Hardly anything other than the most extreme of emergencies could bring that about.”
“FDR’s first session of Congress was a special session he himself had called,” Brands said. “He also had the advantage of preparation, having been governor of New York for four years, three of them Depression years. So he knew what he wanted, what was popular and what might work. Trump is a novice.”
As for executive actions, as of April 19 Trump had issued 24 executive orders, 22 presidential memorandums and 20 proclamations. One of his executive orders, imposing a travel ban from certain Muslim-majority countries, was a redo of an earlier executive order that had been blocked in the courts. But the new one has also been stymied by court challenges and thus has not been implemented.
To some extent, it’s difficult to compare executive orders and memorandums among presidents, because only executive orders are numbered, but it’s somewhat arbitrary how something is labeled. (We explored this at length in 2014.) In any case, Trump’s first 90 days of executive actions do not stand out as especially unusual.
In contrast to many other presidents, Trump has also not led on legislation but mostly taken his cue from Congress.
At this point, President George W. Bush was well ahead in ensuring passage of a major tax cut that he had pressed for in the election campaign. He proposed comprehensive tax legislation on Feb. 9, about three weeks after taking office, and a $1.35 trillion tax cut was passed by both houses of Congress by May 26, less than a month after Bush’s first 100 days was completed. Trump has yet to release a tax plan — and his bid to repeal and replace Obama’s signature health-care law was blocked in the House.
“Trump’s ‘skinny’ budget is not a strong start on the budget issue, even for a first-term president,” Frendreis said, adding that “my own professional judgment is that he is off to a slower-than-normal start.”
Few presidents achieve much on foreign policy in their first 100 days, and Trump is no exception. Trump has signaled a tougher posture toward North Korea and Iran and launched a volley of cruise missiles to punish Syria for a chemical-weapons attack. But it’s too early to tell whether his policies will result in positive outcomes.
“Trump actually is unusual for his first 100 days, but for a reason opposite of what he said,” said Skidmore, author of “Presidential Performance: A Comprehensive Review.” “Not only has he accomplished almost nothing, but rather his initiatives (executive orders stayed by courts, a major legislative proposal failing even to come to a vote when his party controls both houses, etc.) have notoriously been unsuccessful.”
“FDR definitely outclasses Trump,” Brands said. “Fifteen major bills through Congress, to zero for Trump.”
The Pinocchio Test
It’s rather silly for any president to suggest that his first 100 days somehow topped Roosevelt’s achievement. Lyndon B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan and Obama are credited with significant legislative achievements early in their first terms, but much of their success generally came after the first 100 days. Trump would be well advised to not make such a big deal about this because the available evidence shows that he in no way comes close to matching FDR’s record.
It’s day 91 of the Trump administration with 1,370 days left in his term. We’re tracking the progress of 60 pledges he made during his campaign — and whether he achieved his goals.
Trump promise status totals
Promises kept5
Promises broken5
Launched11
Stuck2
Compromise1
Not yet rated36
What do these ratings mean?
During the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump made more than 280 promises, though many were contradictory or just uttered in a single campaign event. But on Oct. 22, Trump issued what he called his “Contract with the American Voter.” This was a specific plan of action that would guide his administration, starting from the first day, and listed 60 promises. He even signed it with his distinctive signature. During Trump’s term, The Washington Post Fact Checker will track the progress of each pledge – and whether Trump has achieved his stated goal. Sign up for the weekly Fact Checker newsletter here.
Filter promises
PROMISES BY STATUS
PROMISES BY CATEGORY
SORT BY
List of promises
ECONOMY
Create at least 10 million jobs in the first term
One-month net change in jobs
Net change in jobs since Jan. 2017: +317,000
Status:
Launched
Updated Mar. 10, 2017
See more
TRADE
Direct the secretary of the treasury to label China a currency manipulator
Status:
Promise broken
Updated Apr. 12, 2017
See more
GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Impose a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce the federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety and public health)
Status:
Compromise
Updated Apr. 12, 2017
See more
IMMIGRATION
Cancel visas to foreign countries that won’t take back criminal illegal immigrants
Status:
Promise broken
Updated Apr. 10, 2017
See more
ENERGY
Lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal
Status:
Launched
Updated Mar. 29, 2017
See more
HEALTH CARE
Fully repeal and replace Obamacare
Status:
Promise broken
Updated Mar. 24, 2017
See more
NATIONAL SECURITY
Expand military investment
Status:
Launched
Updated Mar. 16, 2017
See more
NATIONAL SECURITY
Eliminate the defense sequester
Status:
Launched
Updated Mar. 16, 2017
See more
EDUCATION
Make two- and four-year college more affordable
Status:
Promise broken
Updated Mar. 16, 2017
See more
EDUCATION
Expand vocational and technical education
Status:
Stuck
Updated Mar. 16, 2017
See more
EDUCATION
Redirect education money to give parents the right to send their kid to the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school of their choice
Status:
Launched
Updated Mar. 16, 2017
See more
HEALTH CARE
Let states manage Medicaid funds
Status:
Launched
Updated Mar. 8, 2017
See more
IMMIGRATION
Suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur
Status:
Stuck
Updated Mar. 8, 2017
See more
IMMIGRATION
Begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country
Status:
Launched
Updated Feb. 21, 2017
See more
CRIME
Create a task force on violent crime
Status:
Launched
Updated Feb. 9, 2017
See more
GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia (from list of 20 issued during campaign)
Status:
Promise kept
Updated Jan. 31, 2017
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GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Require that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated
Status:
Promise kept
Updated Jan. 30, 2017
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GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Impose a five-year ban on White House and congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service
Status:
Promise broken
Updated Jan. 29, 2017
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GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Impose a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government
Status:
Promise kept
Updated Jan. 28, 2017
See more
IMMIGRATION
Fund the construction of a wall on our southern border
Status:
Launched
Updated Jan. 25, 2017
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IMMIGRATION
Cancel all federal funding to sanctuary cities
Status:
Launched
Updated Jan. 25, 2017
See more
ENERGY
Lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward
Status:
Promise kept
Updated Jan. 24, 2017
See more
TRADE
Announce the U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Status:
Promise kept
Updated Jan. 23, 2017
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TRADE
Announce the U.S. intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
Status:
Launched
Updated Jan. 22, 2017
See more
GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Enact new ethics reforms to reduce the corrupting influence of special interests
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
IMMIGRATION
Establish new screening procedures for immigration to ensure those who are admitted to our country support our people and our values
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
See more
NATIONAL SECURITY
Pass a law to protect our vital infrastructure from cyberattack
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
HEALTH CARE
Provide veterans with the ability to receive public VA treatment or attend the private doctor of their choice
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
CRIME
Increase resources for federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
See more
CRIME
Increase funding for programs that train and assist local police
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
CRIME
Reduce surging crime, drugs and violence
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
IMMIGRATION
Reform visa rules to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
IMMIGRATION
Reform visa rules to enhance penalties for overstaying
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
IMMIGRATION
Establish a five-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering for those with felony convictions, multiple misdemeanor convictions or two or more prior deportations
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
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IMMIGRATION
Establish a two-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a previous deportation
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
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IMMIGRATION
Make Mexico reimburse the United States for the full cost of the wall
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Provide matching contributions for low-income families to the dependent care savings accounts
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Create tax-free dependent care savings accounts for young and elderly dependents
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Incentivize employers to provide on-site child-care services
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Allow Americans to deduct child care and elder care from their taxes
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Cut red tape at the FDA to speed approval of new drugs
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
HEALTH CARE
Allow the purchase of health insurance across state lines
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
HEALTH CARE
Replace Obamacare with health savings accounts
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
EDUCATION
End Common Core
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Make sure the $1 trillion infrastructure plan will be revenue neutral
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Leverage public-private partnerships and private investments through tax incentives to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over 10 years
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
See more
TRADE
Establish tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
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ECONOMY
Allow trillions of dollars of American corporate money overseas to be brought back at a 10 percent tax rate
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Grow the economy 4 percent a year
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Lower the business tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Reduce the number of tax brackets from seven to three, and likewise greatly simplify tax forms
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Give a middle-class family with two children a 35 percent tax cut
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ECONOMY
Propose and pass tax simplification bill in which the largest tax reductions are for the middle class
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
IMMIGRATION
Impose “extreme vetting” on all people coming into our country
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
ENVIRONMENT
Cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America’s water and environmental infrastructure
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
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TRADE
Direct the secretary of commerce and U.S. trade representative to use every tool under American and international law to end foreign trading abuses immediately
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
See more
TRADE
Direct the secretary of commerce and U.S. trade representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
See more
GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Impose a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for U.S. elections
Status:
Not yet rated
Updated Dec. 13, 2016
GOVERNMENT PROCESS
Propose a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress
