September 2017 - Page 2 of 2

That Love Stinks

September 6, 2017 Buck Banks

Trump rescinds executive orders ’cause Obama done ’em.
He rescinded DACA because it was another Obama one.
But when it came to rescinding DACA,
Trump smeared the dreamers with caca,
By trying to make us believe that he really, truly loved ’em.

Most Say Immigration is Good for the Country

September 6, 2017 Buck Banks

64%

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds 55% of respondents say they’re comfortable with the United States becoming more diverse and tolerant of different lifestyles, gender roles, languages, cultures and experiences. In addition, 64% believe immigration strengthens the country.

Americans About America: ‘Meh’

September 6, 2017 Buck Banks

28%

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that just 28% of adults called America the “single best place to live in the world,” with another 17% calling it “among the very few best places.” More respondents put United States closer to the middle of the pack, with 37% calling America merely “above average” and 14% rating the country as “average.” An additional four percent called the U.S. “below average” on the global scale.

Huge Majority Oppose Deporting DACA Dreamers

September 6, 2017 Buck Banks

85%

A new Politico/Morning Consult poll finds voters overwhelmingly support allowing undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to stay in the country: “A majority of voters, 58%, think these undocumented immigrants, also known as Dreamers, should be allowed to stay and become citizens if they meet certain requirements — a sentiment that goes well beyond the existing DACA program. Another 18% think they should be allowed to stay and become legal residents, but not citizens. Only 15% think they should be removed or deported from the country.”

Obama Bashes Trump Over DACA Decision

September 6, 2017 Buck Banks

“To target these young people is wrong — because they have done nothing wrong. It is self-defeating — because they want to start new businesses, staff our labs, serve in our military, and otherwise contribute to the country we love. And it is cruel.”

— Barack Obama, bashing President Trump’s decision to rescind an immigration order shielding some children of undocumented immigrants from deportation, calling the move “cruel” and “self-defeating,” CNN reports.

Perfesser Trump’s Ineffective President Course

September 6, 2017September 21, 2017 Buck Banks

Charlie Cook points out that Donald Trump is not just President of the Electoral College, he’s also qualified to teach a course in presidential ineffectiveness:

“If you wanted to offer a graduate-school class in how not to be an effective president of the United States, Donald Trump could write the textbook and teach the course.”

“The first lesson would be to cater myopically to your base, alienating those in your party who are not in your core constituency—particularly the congressional leadership and power players who would be the ones instrumental to actually getting anything done. The second lesson would be to offend independent voters, those not married to either party who are at least theoretically open to the arguments from both sides. Finally, the third lesson would be to do everything possible to eliminate any chance of getting defections from the ranks of the other party while riling up the other party’s base, giving them an intensity that they may have lacked when they lost last year’s election.”

“That’s pretty much how you would do it—and it’s what Trump has done.”

Putin: North Korea Will ‘Eat Grass’ Before Abandoning Nuclear Program

September 5, 2017 Buck Banks

“They’ll eat grass, but they won’t abandon their program unless they feel secure.”

Bloomberg, arguing that sanctions against North Korea are “useless and ineffective.”

The Trump Legislative Effort in a ‘Shambles’

September 5, 2017 Buck Banks

“Donald Trump last week suffered enormous setbacks on his three highest legislative priorities and Congress wasn’t even in session. … Each of these losses took away most or all of the leverage Trump is going to need to get Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, fund his wall and do something on taxes. As a result, Trump’s legislative agenda, which was already in deep trouble before last week, is now in a complete shambles.”

— Stan Collender

Most See Trump as a Bully

September 5, 2017 Buck Banks

53%

A new Fox News poll finds that 53% of those surveyed think President Trump is a “bully” while 43% say he’s “unstable.” Fewer voters, about one-third, assign the clearly positive terms “competent” (35%), “strong leader” (35%), and “problem solver” (32%).

Trump Approval Hits New New Low

September 5, 2017 Buck Banks

64%

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds 55% of respondents say they’re comfortable with the United States becoming more diverse and tolerant of different lifestyles, gender roles, languages, cultures and experiences. In addition, 64% believe immigration strengthens the country.

28%

85%

“To target these young people is wrong — because they have done nothing wrong. It is self-defeating — because they want to start new businesses, staff our labs, serve in our military, and otherwise contribute to the country we love. And it is cruel.”

— Barack Obama, bashing President Trump’s decision to rescind an immigration order shielding some children of undocumented immigrants from deportation, calling the move “cruel” and “self-defeating,” CNN reports.

“They’ll eat grass, but they won’t abandon their program unless they feel secure.”

— Stan Collender

53%

A new Fox News poll finds that 53% of those surveyed think President Trump is a “bully” while 43% say he’s “unstable.” Fewer voters, about one-third, assign the clearly positive terms “competent” (35%), “strong leader” (35%), and “problem solver” (32%).

34%

The Gallup daily tracking poll finds President Trump’s approval rate at 34% to 61%, for a new low net approval rate of -27 points.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.