The Proof is in the Tapes

There is an old saying: where there is smoke, there is fire.

Since January 2017, there has been smoke coming out of the White House. Now there is fire.

In what can only be described as a pathetic attempt to steal the election, you know who called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over the weekend. To make a long story short, he both threatened and cajoled Mr. Raffensperger to find just enough votes that would swing the results to his favor.

In addition, in a move that is typical of the brownnosers around him, several Republicans defended the conversation. Once more they have put their careers and the priorities of their political party over the needs and the wants of the country.

While all of this is happening, there is a tiny little bug called Covid-19 going around. It has killed over 300,000 Americans and is predicted to take more than 400,000 lives by March. It is also not a surprise that you know who lashed out and blamed advisor/son-in-law Jared Kushner for both the election loss and the mess that is testing for the virus. This man would throw his own mother under the bus if it helped him in some way.

Thank G-d January 20th is in 16 days. It can’t get here soon enough.

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We Need to Talk About Jared Kushner’s “Black Americans” Comment

Looking back on my childhood, I can appreciate the things that my parents did for me. Without their love and support, I would not have the achievements I have today. But, there was one caveat: they were not going to do everything for me. At a certain point, I had to put on my big girl boots and become self- sufficient.

Yesterday, Jared Kushner made the following statement about Black Americans:

“President Trump’s policies are the policies that can help people break out of the problems that they’re complaining about but he can’t help them be successful more than they want to be successful,”

Within Jewish culture, we have a joke: Is something or someone good or bad for the Jews? Kushner is definitely bad for the Jews.

Anti-Semites have never needed a reason to hate us. They will find any excuse to blame us for whatever is going wrong in the world. The problem is that his statement legitimizes their lies and gives an air of truth.

He is also bad for his father-in-law’s Presidential election. The administration claims that they understand the needs of the working man and woman. If they did, this kind of statement would never have left his lips.

This is a privileged family who has never had to worry about where the next paycheck is going to come from or if they will be able to keep a roof over their heads. Their children have been and will be gifted jobs within the family business. They will never know the agony and stress that comes with looking for a job while making due on unemployment checks.

The truth is that we all want success. But success only comes hard work, which comes from opportunities. Kushner’s remark is disparaging, hurtful, elitist and racist. If you know who truly wants another term, they had better start living up to the claims they are making.

#BidenHarris2020

The NBA Strike is More Than a Night Off

Whether we know it or not, we often look to celebrities as examples of how to behave or not behave.

Since May, when George Floyd was murdered, protests have exploded all over the country. Across Hollywood and the sports world, celebrities have stepped up in the name of justice and equality.

With the shooting of Jacob Blake last weekend, America was again reminded that police still single out Americans of color. In response, several NBA teams have chosen to strike. Jared Kusher, sticking his nose in where it did not belong, claimed that they were “taking the night off“.

The full quote is as follows:

“The NBA players are very fortunate that they have the financial position where they’re able to take a night off from work without having to have the consequences to themselves financially.”

While it is true that they will still earn their salaries, this strike is not about money. It is about racial inequity and violence that still exists in the United States. These players are using their platform to take a stand and send a message.

Not that Kushner or anyone around him would be able to understand that message.

Kushner, Inc.: Greed. Ambition. Corruption. The Extraordinary Story of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Book Review

We all want to achieve the American dream in one form or another. The question is, how far does one go to achieve the American dream without crossing moral and/or legal boundaries?

Journalist Vicky Ward’s new book, Kushner, Inc.: Greed. Ambition. Corruption. The Extraordinary Story of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, tells the dangerous story of how Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are on their way to unchecked power and wealth.

She starts with her subject’s early years. We all know about Ivanka’s childhood, but the story of Jared’s early years and his family history may be unknown to some readers. His paternal grandparents, Joseph and Rae Kushner survived the Holocaust with a zeal that few survivors had then or have now. Their youngest son (Jared’s father), Charles Kushner, was found guilty in the early 2000’s of financial crimes and witness tampering.

Both Jared and Ivanka grew up in very comfortable surroundings. When you know who was unfortunately elected President in 2016, they followed him to Washington D.C. Instead of being the “adults in the room”, they are using their access to the corridors of power and to the powerful for their own needs.

This book is well done and a must read. What scares me is that if these allegations are true, there is no one to stop Jared and Ivanka throwing away everything this country stands for so they will head of the pack. The other thing that scares me is that someone with antisemitic beliefs would easily be able paint any member of the Jewish faith with a broad brush because of Jared’s image, history and access to the wealthy and powerful.

I recommend it.

Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire: Michael Flynn

There is an old saying: Where there is smoke, there is fire.

Today, former Trump official Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his interactions with the Russian government. The sources report that a senior official within the administration gave the green light to start secret talks with the Russians. While the name of the senior official has not been formally made public, some believe that it was Jared Kushner.

This directive did not come out of thin air. Somebody, whether it was Kushner, Trump himself or someone else who has yet to be named made the decision to have this communication with the Russians. I find it completely ironic that during the election, the chants of “lock her up” were heard throughout the country.

I have not read the emails, so I cannot comment on the contents of said emails. While I believe that using a private email server for business purposes was a lapse in judgement on Clinton’s part, as far as I know, it’s not illegal. What is illegal (again within my very limited legal knowledge) is secretly colluding with Russia to swing the election toward Trump and not just that, but openly lying about those interactions.

Only time will tell if Trump (G-d forbid) lasts until 2020 or someone finds the smoking gun that leads to impeachment before then.  But where there is smoke, there is fire (and Trump).

 

What President Trump Should Have Said

A President, regardless of his or her party or beliefs is the moral authority and should be leading the nation, especially during a crisis.

President Trump has failed in both areas (no surprise there). His remarks after last weekend’s rally in Charlottesville proved that he is neither the moral authority nor is he far from qualified to lead the nation, especially during this crisis.

What President Trump should have said is in the video above. Thank you Arnold Schwarzenegger for standing up for what is right and speaking truth to power.

It’s not uncommon knowledge that Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism when she married Jared Kushner. It is also common knowledge Jared’s grandparents survived the Holocaust. Their children are being raised Jewish. I would think (and hope) that Trump’s reaction, not a President, but as a father and grandfather would be of outrage and anger.

I know this has been said many times since last weekend, but my grandfathers, like millions of their brothers in arms, fought against fascism in World War II. The sons of Jewish immigrants, they put their lives on the line to protect America and her values. The fact that Trump has subtly given the alt-right the go ahead to slither out of the rocks they came from speak to his incompetence and how ill prepared he is to lead this country.

P.S. Did anyone else do a happy dance when Steve Bannon was fired?

New Randy Rainbow Video-The Room Where It Happened

Randy Rainbow’s new video, The Room Where It Happened is out. Based on the lyrics from the song of the same name from the Broadway score of Hamilton, it speaks to the lies and the secrecy that is not only poisoning the office of the President Of The United States, but also our reputation of living under a true democracy.

It is also the perfect way to end the work week.

Where Are You, Jared Kushner?

Jared Kushner is our President’s close aide and son-in-law. I wonder, does he compartmentalize like crazy so as to not go crazy with the chaotic roll-out? Does he worry about how he’ll explain it to his children? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/31/jared-kushner-grandmother-refugee-holocaust

via Grandmother to Jared Kushner (Donald Trump’s son-in-law and close aide) anguished that the world’s doors were closed in regard to America’s refusal to accept refugees during the Holocaust. This is getting weird; they’re closing again and Kushner’s helping them slam. — Words We Women Write