Tag Archives: Donald Trump

If Nikki Haley needs a double, Kathy’s a contender

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When Kathy’s dental hygienist told her she looked like Nikki Haley, I knew things were about to get interesting. The former theater major in Kathy gleefully rose to the challenge, and yeah, she pulls off a pretty decent Haley, don’t ya think?

On more serious matters, here’s what Charles and I have in store for you this week:

(00:41) Iowa Caucuses: What the losers have to gain;
(20:23) Here’s where climate denialism comes from;
(38:27) Reynolds refuses food for poor kids;
(52:55) The poverty-obesity paradox, with Kathy Byrnes.

Regarding the Iowa Caucuses’ winners and losers: Continue Reading →

Eminent domain could hurt Trump in Iowa

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There’s no doubt Donald Trump will win the Iowa Caucuses. With Ron DeSantis in free fall, I’ll go out on a short limb and predict Nikki Haley finishes second.

It could be a strong second if Haley capitalizes on Trump’s support for eminent domain.

Here’s what Trump said a few years back: “Eminent domain is something that has to be used, usually you would say for anything that’s long, like a road, like a pipeline, or like a wall, or a fence.” (Washington Post)

Here’s Trump’s more recent, completely nonsensical response to an Iowa voter concerned about the threat of eminent domain to build CO2 pipelines: “Well you know we’re working on that, and you know we had a plan to totally … uh … it’s such a ridiculous situation, isn’t it. But we had a plan and we would have instituted that plan, and it was all ready. But if we win, that’s going to be taken care of. That will be one of the easy things we do.” (Forbes Breaking News, July 7, 2023, 2-minute mark)

Huh?? If Haley doesn’t jump all over that and Trump’s previous pro-eminent domain comments she’s missing a huge opportunity. Continue Reading →

Grandkids, monarchs, and gratitude

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My guests and I discuss COP27 and foreign policy; Ebenezer Scrooge’s relevance in 2022 America (and Richard Maynard’s final performance in A Christmas Carol; Jean Hackel’s novel, Theresa et al., about a woman prevented from having an abortion; and the sheer unappetizingness of lab-raised meat.

Apologies for running late this week. I blame the turkey. And family. Well, mostly family.

But seriously, Kathy and I are so grateful for our families, friends, and neighbors, and to our fellow travelers on this rocky road to justice. Not a day goes by when we aren’t reminded how important all of you are to us. Toady, we say THANK YOU — in italicized bold caps, to drive the point home.

Regarding family, Kathy and just returned from a lovely visit with my son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids in Florida. I was delighted to see the young’uns growing interest in food, plants, and nature. Continue Reading →

I won’t do what Biden told me to do

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You might recall that, in a video captured by Kathy Byrnes at a campaign rally last January, Joe Biden told me, “Go vote for someone else.” Well, I’m not going to do that. I’m voting for Joe Biden because, even though climate leaders may disagree with Biden on specifics, we can work with him. The best I can hope from climate denier Donald Trump is to get thrown out of his rallies. Continue Reading →

Joe Biden and the Oligarchy

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It’s not that hard to understand why Biden will lose. In 21st century presidential elections, perceived outsider beats perceived insider. Every. Single. Time. The principle’s results are consistent. Al Gore. John Kerry. John McCain. Mitt Romney. Hillary Clinton. Perceived (or actual) insider has lost every presidential election since 2000. Continue Reading →

How Dare We!

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Greta Thunberg spoke at the United Nations Climate Action Summit yesterday. “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood!” roared Thunberg to the world leaders gathered for the Summit. “People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”

Indeed, how dare they. The Summit, was convened to garner commitments for more aggressive action against climate change, and it did not go well. While some smaller nations stepped up to the plate with deeper, though still inadequate, commitments, the three biggest greenhouse gas emitters — the United States, China, and India — failed miserably. Continue Reading →

Join the BIRDS!

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Dear Friends, WANTED: Climate patriots to join BIRDS. Yup, BIRDS. That stands for Bold Iowa Relentless Dog Squad. We’re assembling a squad of supporters to persistently “bird-dog” presidential candidates about Bold Iowa’s Continue Reading →

Politics: Steyer sinks as Iowa women rise

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Dear Friends, I caught the tail end of Tom Steyer’s bait-and-switch press conference yesterday. With great flair and grandiosity, Steyer announced he wasn’t running for President. Instead, he’ll invest his Continue Reading →