by Lowell
Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, May 2.
- How Trump Could Get Fired (“But select members of Congress who oversee the intelligence agencies have access to the findings. Recently, one of them, Senator Mark Warner, of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, privately told friends that he puts the odds at two to one against Trump completing a full term. (Warner’s spokesperson said that the Senator was ‘not referring specifically to the Russia investigation, but rather the totality of challenges the President is currently facing.’)”)
- Democrats confident they can block Trump’s agenda after spending-bill win (I sure hope they’re right!)
- Donald Trump Embraces Another Despot (“His invitation to Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines erodes America’s reputation.”)
- Trump embraces yet another strongman (“He invites Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to the White House.” Seriously, that meeting – if it occurs – should take place in a jail cell in The Hague.)
- 5 winners and 3 losers from the $1.1 trillion deal to avoid a government shutdown (“Loser: President Trump”)
- Trump and Duterte, brothers from another mother (Both authoritarian thugs.)
- Trump’s 100th-day speech may have been the most hate-filled in modern history
- 100 days of Trump, two lonely accomplishments (“Everything else was sound and fury, signifying nothing.”)
- Why There Was a Civil War (“Some issues aren’t amenable to deal-making; some principles don’t lend themselves to compromise.”)
- GOP Congressman supports covering pre-existing conditions, but only for people who “lead good lives” (“Republicans are still failing to grasp the concept of insurance.”)
- Trump’s nifty plan to spend more and hurt poor people more — at the same time! (“Yanking Obamacare subsidies would have a domino effect.” Hopefully, none of Trump’s idiotic “plans” make it through Congress. Ever.)
- The bipartisan budget plan is a temporary victory for common sense (“It will keep the federal government open for now, but it doesn’t offer a long-term solution on the balance of revenue and spending.”)
- Spicer says Trump didn’t say what Trump literally said (“More gaslighting from the White House.”)
- This is not a normal president (“During the first 100 days the Republic has survived, but the GOP, permanently we think, has been morally compromised and intellectually corrupted, just as many of us warned.”)
- Sean Hannity Eyes Fox News Exit, Insiders Say (“The conservative star lost a key ally after the network’s co-president Bill Shine resigned Monday. Will he follow him out?”)
- Syrian missile attack was ‘after-dinner entertainment,’ Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says (If this were an Obama or Clinton administration official, Republicans would be demanding he or she be fired immediately.)
- Historians see a dark underside to Trump’s Civil War riff
- GOP suffers surprise defection on Obamacare repeal
- Dawdling Congress tests Trump’s patience (“The prolonged GOP effort to upend Obamacare could push tax reform and other high-profile issues into 2018, an election year.”)
- Trump on Obama surveillance claims: ‘I don’t stand by anything’ (That about sums up Trump – he doesn’t “stand by anything.”)
- Congress claws back power from Trump (“The budget agreement includes several provisions designed to rein in the president.”)
- “Betrayal beyond belief”: Conservatives cry foul after Republicans reach budget deal “to jettison all of Trump’s priorities” (“Trump’s new budget fails to fund a border wall — but fully funds Planned Parenthood and sanctuary cities”)
- Historian Timothy Snyder: “It’s pretty much inevitable” that Trump will try to stage a coup and overthrow democracy (“Yale historian and author of the new book “On Tyranny” says we may have one year left to save American democracy”)
- Rex Tillerson Wants to Trim the State Department Like It’s Exxon in a Bad Year. That’s a Terrible Idea.
- Kaine: budget compromise looks familia
- Absentee voting underway for Virginia primary election (The election is on June 13, little over a month away!)
- Virginia lawmakers split over offshore drilling (“Democrats generally oppose drilling with the exception of Gov. McAuliffe, Sen. Warner” Which is one reason why I will not be supporting either of these guys for president in 2020.)
- Embracing the Confederacy in modern-day Virginia? That’s a lost cause, for sure. (“Gubernatorial candidate Corey Stewart needs to end his weird love affair with the Rebel flag.”)
- Dominion touts bigger commitment to solar in long-term power plan (A much better article on this, one that doesn’t just take the corporate propaganda for granted, is Liars, Damn Liars and Dominion Power by Glen Besa)
- Editorial: Commonsense solutions (“House Bill 2064, which passed the General Assembly unanimously, closes a legal loophole that classified someone convicted of domestic violence as a first offender, even if that person had a previous conviction for a violent felony.”)
- Wagner: Gillespie Tax Plan Based on Phony Math
- Wagner calls Gillespie’s tax cut promises ‘dishonest, phony math’ (Wagner is absolutely correct – Gillespie’s “plan” is godawful.)
- Editorial: Offshore drilling is worth exploring (As always, take what the Republican Times-Disgrace editorial board says and DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE!)
- Complaints over potentially illegal political ads in limbo as Virginia elections agency stops issuing guidance
- Loudoun School Board agrees on reduced budget for 2018
- Alexandria council set to raise tax rate by 5.7 cents, and fees to go up as well
- Williams: School Board’s Cosby is latest second act in Richmond politics
- Richmond School Board approves nearly $300,000 for outgoing Superintendent Bedden
- Cooler and breezy today, showers possible Thursday and Friday
