Vox Populi – 9-1-2017

A rare event….I am early!!!!!

MurphTheSurf3

Hey Ad and Murph. How are you all this evening?

glenn

Ad–yum. Just had some leftover crab and shrimp dip for dinner. What’s on your appetizer menu?

glenn

Ad–doing well. SOS.

glenn

Hey Glenn….hey ad….just watching Lawrence O’Donnell Panel….it looks like the draft of trump letter giving reasons for firing comey stated that the russian investigation was key to the decision. That draft was set aside but it shows the mindset of all involved with it which includes Pence. He is now in legal and political jeopardy.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–Who is in legal and political jeopardy? Pence or trump? Either one, what a shame (she said tongue in cheek).

glenn

Ad–I love digital spinach dip. Far fewer calories than anything else!

glenn

Glenn. Trump clearly was from the start but Pence has pretended he knew nothing (like Sgt. Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes) and he knew everything.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad. Smoking gun….bellowing smoke!

MurphTheSurf3

Ad….President Ryan.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph and Ad–I’m coming to the conclusion that I don’t want to see trump impeached. I want to see him charged criminally and locked up. He will still be a martyr to his cult followers, but I believe that if he were to be impeached, he wouldn’t go quietly. The better way to get rid of him is to charge him with a crime, IMO.

glenn

Ad–good one on the computer chips! Can we follow it up with “cookies”?

glenn

Ad–yeah, I like Mueller working with Schneiderman. The man who sits in the oval office isn’t quite as smart as he thinks he is.

glenn

Ad–ryan shouldn’t win re-election, should he become president. He is a wolf wrapped in what he thinks is a “pretty face”.

glenn

Ad…I agree…Ryan will try to do the job which will make him malleable but he will still fail (as he is doing as Speaker)

MurphTheSurf3

Smoking Bazooka!

MurphTheSurf3

Ad–but the criminal charges have to be there for him to be impeached, right?

glenn

Hey PPO–how goes it?

glenn

Hi all~!

pinkpantheroz

Ad–do you think there’s going to be a fight in the House regarding ryan’s speakership?

glenn

hey ad, glenn. Just catching up

pinkpantheroz

Ad, glenn, I’m hearing very little down here aboout how Dems are going in leadups

pinkpantheroz

Ad–IMO, trump abused his office when he pardoned arapaio. However, the repubs in Congress have to grow a spine to impeach trump over that. They may be saving their “ammo” for what Mueller comes up with. Then they can just add the abuse of power. Speaking of arapaio’s pardon, can the federal judge “vacate” the pardon?

glenn

Ad–Not sure the Dems can take back the House. I think they have more of a chance to take the Senate. But my question pertained to what happens when Congress reconvenes next week. If ryan can’t get tax reform passed in the House, do you think his speakership will be in jeopardy before the 2018 elections?

glenn

Ad

pinkpantheroz

Ad–I just hope the Dems don’t blow this election by making it all about trump. It’s the same thing I’ve been saying for over a year now. Dems need to come up with some new ideas; some ideas as to how to fix Obamacare (other than single payer, because I don’t think the American public is ready for that yet), plus some progressive, comprehensive ideas on immigration, not just piecemeal “fixes”. I am encouraged by the number of Dems who are running for office in key states.

glenn

Ad, the Pres can pardon anyone without explanation, so I don’t think he can be impeached just because he pardoned a racist prick

pinkpantheroz

Ad–ahh–the “Peter Principle” at its finest. “Rise to the level of your incompetence.”

glenn

good precis, glenn. Dems need to be seen to be proactive, no only negative about trump

pinkpantheroz

Glenn….the trick is that a sitting president really cannot be charged with a crime….he has to be out of office first.

MurphTheSurf3

Hi PPO

MurphTheSurf3

Hey Murph!

pinkpantheroz

BTW were any Planeteers affected by Harvey?

pinkpantheroz

Ad…who is Speaker if the Dems win (or even want to win)…I think that Pelosi is an anchor around their necks.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–so it’s a “catch-22” then. If trump is not impeached, then he can’t be charged with a crime. So, even if Mueller comes up with evidence that trump is guilty of a crime, what happens if he refuses to leave office, even if he is impeached?

glenn

Glenn…agreed there MUST be a clear, direct, widely applicable Democratic Platform…a Promise for Americans.

MurphTheSurf3

Glenn…if he is impeached and convicted…he is out and exposed to the law…

MurphTheSurf3

Ad–to piggyback on PPO’s question about Planeteers being affected by Harvey, I can’t remember her name, but we used to have a feisty Texas lady who joined us at VOX often. Do you know anything about her?

glenn

Ad…my worry about the midterms is that the uber-gerrymandering plus external interference in polling processes make the climb steeper.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad–I hope you’re right about the midterms, but the trump “effect” seems to throw all of the usual maxims out the window.

glenn

Glenn..agreed.

MurphTheSurf3

Good to hear, Ad. Some storm, eh?

pinkpantheroz

Murph–I know I should be more knowledgeable about this, but if I recall Bill Clinton was impeached, yet stayed in office. Was it because he wasn’t convicted in the Senate that he was able to stay in office? Hopefully, trump will have burned all of his bridges in the Senate by the time he is impeached, but you never know with these damn repubs.

glenn

I was at a meeting today of area Navigators for ACA…..Trump Admin has announced that it is only spending 10 percent of the budgeted monies for outreach during the open enrollment period; that the open enrollment period has been cut in half; and that navigators compensation group rates have been cut…now add in the uncertainty his admin has created leading to insurers bailing out…..it is looking very tough.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–I agree. It is a steep climb, and we can’t be complacent. That’s how trump got into office!

glenn

Glenn….Impeachment is the process in which charges are made (by the House) and then there is the trial in the Senate. Clinton was not convicted in the Senate.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–trump is doing everything he can to sabotage Obamacare. He’s such an asshole!

glenn

Ad…and she needs to take herself out of the running prior to the election. I agree with your thinking as to choice.

MurphTheSurf3

good idea about pelosi, murph, to show that the Old Guard are making way for new blood

pinkpantheroz

Ad, Please send AB our regards if you can

pinkpantheroz

Ad–I agree about Pelosi. She needs to go. I’d like to see Tammy Duckworth as one choice.

glenn

Ad–Yes, that’s her name. Thanks. It’s hell to get old.

glenn

glenn. YES! Tammy for Speaker!

pinkpantheroz

Murph–I thought that was the process of impeachment. Do you think the Senate will actually convict trump?

glenn

Ad–and add my regards to PPO’s if you hear from AB.

glenn

Glenn and PPO…I luv your enthusiasm for Tammy….I worked for here Senate campaign…she would have to run for the House, a step down.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad….the wave election will have to breach the levees erected by the GOP in its control of 2/3 of state governments.

MurphTheSurf3

Glenn……Ad’s explanation is mine. Impeachment/conviction.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad–It’s amazing the amount of rainfall Harvey has dumped. I really hope that the people in TX can get some help, and get through this. I am so pleased to see that many people are volunteering and sending donations. It’s encouraging to see Americans working together (mostly) for a change.

glenn

Murph–oops. I told you it’s hell to get old, and not remember if someone is a Senator or a Representative.

glenn

My sister is in Houston. She works with the M.D. Anderson Health System as a specialist in closed head injury…she has been very busy…her neighborhood was on high ground.

MurphTheSurf3

I was very impressed by the 100 lifeguards from 9 colleges who answered the call to join teams of rescuers….they did a lot of good very quickly.

MurphTheSurf3

BRB Fergie calls!

pinkpantheroz

Ad–maybe Castro or Lieu. At least they’re Congressmen, and not Senators.

glenn

Murph–So your sister came through the storm all right? That’s good news if she did.

glenn

Ad…MSM will not reach those who need to enroll….they are, as a group, not tied into the info-web- personal contact, direct point to point outreach are pivotal.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad…Tammy is in the Senate.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad–I love Schiff, too. He’s very outspoken, but well spoken.

glenn

Ad….I tend to agree….indictments of his posse and the impeachment of him and his VP.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad….like Adam a lot.

MurphTheSurf3

Glenn…she did….lots and lots of water but here subdivision is separately incorporated and the infrastructure worked for them.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad…there are so many things that good/solid/innovative infrastructure could do.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad–I was thinking the other day, that as a nation committed to something, there’s nothing we can’t do. Problem is that we can’t even agree that health care is a necessity, and that the government should be involved in providing it. So I doubt that we could have the kind of infrastructure put into place, like you suggest. Also could you imagine, TX “helping” CA? Ha!

glenn

Ad….I meant to ask you to cross post that article at Yabberz. If you do, tell me and I will share it and sponsor it.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–This is not meant to sound “snarky”, but it is amazing what money can do, isn’t it? And, once again, we could afford to provide that infrastructure if we just set our minds to it. I certainly would rather my tax dollars go for infrastructure than war.

glenn

Ad…..Congress is going to have govern without the President and with cooperating departments in the Executive Branch.

MurphTheSurf3

Glenn…and a piece of that is to have a fairer tax system overall.

MurphTheSurf3

glenn…. or a wall

pinkpantheroz

Murph, aren’t they already trying to do that?

pinkpantheroz

Murph–well, therein lies the problem. Congress, at least the majority of Congress as it stands right now, isn’t used to governing, only obstructing. In addition, right now, they’re actually trying to obstruct their own president!

glenn

PPO…they are but to be fully effective a bridge must be built between the parties.

MurphTheSurf3

Glenn….let me amend my reply to PPO….they will have to build bridges within the GOP and then to the Dems.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–speaking of a fairer tax system, I’m beginning to believe that churches should no longer be tax exempt. We could probably wipe out our deficit right there.

glenn

hmm. well, if it gets the country going, then the Dems should put on the white hats and gallop into the fray

pinkpantheroz

Murph–your amendment is understood.

glenn

Ad–It’s a great idea! You should consider running for office to propose it.

glenn

Glenn…church tax exemption is based on the nation that taxation could interfere with freedom to practice AND that churches were by their nature largely charitable…both presumptions no longer hold.

MurphTheSurf3

PPO…I like the white hat posse idea.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–exactly. So, if those presumptions no longer hold, then the tax exemption should no longer hold, either.

glenn

Ad…the dutch do as you suggest…including mounting water turbines in their flood control sluices.

MurphTheSurf3

Make Osteen pay. He gives even Creflo A Dollar a bad name!

pinkpantheroz

AD for WHATEVER! I would donate! And work for his candidacy!

MurphTheSurf3

And, at this point, I don’t see where paying taxes will prevent churches from doing what they’re already doing. I truly don’t see how churches paying taxes will change anything about the way they currently operate.

glenn

Glenn….churches, like individuals, could get credit for charitable work…..and that would open the door to shared funding for projects churches cannot do on their own.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–ME TOO!

glenn

I agree glenn. Especially as many churches are Incorporated. Therefore they are businesses

pinkpantheroz

PPO…Have you seen Joel’s house…the parsonage.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–there you go. Perhaps we should add that to Ad’s platform when he runs for office.

glenn

BRB

glenn

My pad is half the size of the ‘little’ 4-bed house to the right f the Pool.

pinkpantheroz

Ad….my brother in law worked for Shell in land acquisition for new wells for many years and then Shell began to close down his division. Why? They were shifting resources to alternative energy initiatives.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad…form a committee…..to explore your options.

MurphTheSurf3

PPO – the house is obscene

MurphTheSurf3

Have they found out if Trump has actually donated the million, or just pledged it?

pinkpantheroz

Agree Murph, and all funded by the gullible. Rather like Trump getting the Presidency, isn’t it?

pinkpantheroz

Os-tentayshus

pinkpantheroz

Joking Ostench

MurphTheSurf3

Os-tentayshus..! Good one.

MurphTheSurf3

PPO–that’s a good one!

glenn

PPO….that donation promise is being tracked by many…we will know soon.

MurphTheSurf3

#JokingOstench works for me!

pinkpantheroz

That is my first hashtag! I am so out of date!

MurphTheSurf3

Let ‘er rip, Murph!

pinkpantheroz

Smirking Ostentayshus works for me. Can’t stand that man’s smirk!

glenn

Murph–I’m not even on Twitter, so you are ahead of me with your first hashtag.

glenn

glenn, he studued at the Paul Ryan Institute for SMirks

pinkpantheroz

Ad…completely agree…..real global leadership.

MurphTheSurf3

PPO–Yup. It’s an outreach program of trump university!

glenn

pinkpantheroz

Murph–oh my! We can’t have global leadership. We have to have America first. What is wrong with you?

glenn

brb

pinkpantheroz

Ad–I know Murph is an historian. Are you an engineer by trade, by any chance?

glenn

One last thing from me…..Trump was in Mo. a couple of days back. He was in Springfield at the Loren Cook Ventilation Company at a closed, employee only meeting. I have friends in Springfield who knew people at the speech….a few months ago the event would have been a “hail the conquering here” moment, but in the here and now the response was largely “wait and see” bordering on skeptical.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad–seriously. You should discuss your idea with someone who can do something about it. It truly is an example of American ingenuity.

glenn

Ad Lib …. global economy to match the global leadership. Yes.

MurphTheSurf3

Glenn…clearly Trump wants to lead us straight in the 19th century.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–yup. MAGA!

glenn

Ad…Obama is spending a lot of time attending world class programs, building up alliances, and laying the groundwork for a significant contribution in the future….including in 2018. I know this from an Obama insider.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–from what I’ve been reading, although many of trump’s supporters are becoming disenchanted with him, it wouldn’t change their votes. That’s why it’s imperative for Dems to get someone with fresh, progressive ideas on the ballot both in 2018 and 2020.

glenn

Glenn…MAGAAA…Making Americans Gag Again and Again

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–

glenn

Glenn….the shift away from Trump has begun as the softening numbers show.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad….visionary thinking!

MurphTheSurf3

Great platform for someone to build a policial career on. Go for it, guys!

pinkpantheroz

Well, my friends…this was grand….but this guy needs to call it a day….the morn comes early. I am having a very good year with my gardens. But that means that the harvest keeps coming and coming and that means lots of work. The restaurant supply house I sell to and the pantry that my surplus goes to say that it has been a good year overall here. We are fortunate.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad–you don’t have to sell your idea to me. I agree with it wholeheartedly. If we began taxing churches, we could pay for the initial cost of it, and then, as you say, it would pay for itself. I believe “water wars” are going to be the next “big” thing. Already, I know that CA and other western states are fighting against each other for water “rights”. Here in GA, there is an ongoing fight with FL over water rights on the border, also. We just have to have the will to do it. And someone in government has to propose it and sell it.

glenn

MAGGATS for Trump. Proud to be Pests.

MurphTheSurf3

Ad….I have neighbors who have scraped Trump/Pence stickers off bumpers and taken signs out of windows.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–glad to hear your harvest is bountiful. Good night and good picking!

glenn

Glenn…most churches are not like Joel’s…..most are truly charitable outfits..our net would catch the Godly Grifters.

MurphTheSurf3

Congrats on a good harvest, Murph. You’ve worked hard enough for it.

pinkpantheroz

Ad–don’t know if PPO is coming back, but I’m calling it a night, also. Have to get up early for my kitchen contractor.

glenn

Thanks to Ad and Glenn for your good wishes…….I have several college guys who help out and they are heading back to school…..

MurphTheSurf3

Thanks PPO

MurphTheSurf3

‘night glenn!

pinkpantheroz

Looks like a good time to say G’Night and Sweet Dreams of a Trumpless White House….bye Y’All.

MurphTheSurf3

Well, better call it a day/night Cheers everyone

pinkpantheroz

Ad….my “guys” are female and male, average age is 21. I pay well.

MurphTheSurf3

Murph–I understand what you’re saying about not all churches being rich. However, if taxes were based on income, then those without much income wouldn’t be paying much in taxes. I don’t like paying taxes any more than anyone else, but I consider it my duty as an American to support my government, and my fellow Americans. Churches, no matter how poor or rich, should do no less.

glenn

Corn tassels….I don’t do corn but I have been to detasseling contests.

MurphTheSurf3

Glenn…yes, your plan is reasonable…

MurphTheSurf3

Okay, I’m going now. G’night gents!

glenn

Me too. Night one and all.

MurphTheSurf3