September 24-26, 2017: Trump Wants to End Right to Protest (Against Him), Can Console Himself with Huge Tax Break

 

9/24/17: Trump insists kneeling NFL players are disrespecting veterans, the nation, the flag, and spitting on apple pie. 

He thinks they should be punished for exercising their right to protest, which is just what we’ve come to expect from President Thin Skin. On this Sunday, players from 28 of 32 NFL teams join in protest, not against veterans or the flag, but against a man in the White House they believe has racist inclinations. 

Rico Lavell, an African American, sings the National Anthem at the Detroit Lions game. When he finishes he takes a knee.

 

Both teams at the Seattle-Tennessee game remain in the locker room during playing of the National Anthem. Seahawks players release the following statement: 

As a team, we have decided we will not participate in the national anthem. We will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country. Out of love for our country and in honor of the sacrifices made on our behalf [emphasis added], we unite to oppose those who would deny our most basic freedoms. We remain committed in continuing to work towards equality and justice for all.

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9/25/17: Put away the “repeal and replace” champagne. Republican Senator Susan Collins says she’ll vote no on Graham-Cassidy too. 

The last-gasp GOP healthcare plan is dead.

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9/26/17: Trump travels to Indiana to tout tax reform. He swears he has the biggest, baddest plan ever. He promises the rich won’t get richer. Not under his plan. 

Sadly, his “plan” is still only half-baked, like the “replace” part of the Republican healthcare plan. 

We do know the Koch brothers, Charles and David, are excited by the thought of fresh tax cuts for themselves. Why? Apparently, taxing the rich reduces their incentive to work! Each Koch brother is currently worth $42,000,000,000. So, you can understand why they have trouble getting motivated and climbing out of bed every Monday morning. What do they have to work for, with all those taxes? 

One exciting facet of the GOP plan: Eliminating the estate tax entirely, paid by any individual with assets of $5.5 million and up and any couple with assets of $11 million or more at his or her, or their decease. 

One estimate puts the cumulative savings for members of Trump’s cabinet at $1.5 billion if this tax is wiped from the books. As for Mr. Trump, the day he passes on to heavenly glory, his children would be well-repaid for their time working in government and gabbing with every Russian they meet. (And they meet a lot.) Depending on how much Trump is worth he might save as “little” as $554 million or as much as $1.9 billion if he can get the estate tax repealed.