January 1, Trump Revives 2016 Playbook to Battle Biden

This Day in History | 1980

Mount St. Helens, a volcanic peak in southwestern Washington, suffers a massive eruption, killing 57 people and devastating some 210 square miles of wilderness.

Good morning Middle Americans. 

It’s Monday May 18th 2020 – just thought we’d start there because sometimes it’s hard to keep track of what day it… these days. By the time the sunsets on Hawaii today, all 50 states will have some sort of the federal government’s phase one reopening plan in place. This, while the White House continues to fight with the CDC, the WHO, Democrats, and especially former President Barack Obama. 

What’s weird is that we are talking about President Trump reusing the 2016 play book for 2020. He’s talking about another  “rigged” “deep state” – trying to take away the election and the (his) power away from the American people who support him. What’ll be different about 2020 vis a vis 2016, is the lack of Hillary Clinton. The worst presidential candidate in modern history in our humble opinion.  Say what you will about former Vice President Joe Biden, his lack of mental capacity, his hands-on approach to politics, these Tara Reade allegations… his campaign, while a disaster, could be much worse. And we have to wonder if President Trump is doing Biden a favor by taking on President Obama. It gives President Obama cover to attack the current commander-in-chief in ways we’ve likely never seen before. It’s going to get ugly, as if things weren’t already ugly enough. 

If you’re curious about Stacey Abrams, and you should be, because she could become the Democrat’s VP nominee, we have a link to a glowing profile done by the Washington Post. 

The profile is being called a fluff piece by conservatives, we’ll let you read and decide for yourselves. (Hint: use a google chrome incognito window to read without a subscription ; – but you should pay and subscribe to at least one news source. We get the news we deserve) Mostly the article is being mocked for the picture which you can find in our link below. 

Keep an eye on the firings of these Inspectors General.  There are all kinds of petty allegations that make you think this is either a disgruntled deep stater, or there’s something really stinky going on at the State Department. Both can be true at the same time. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi thinks the whole situation could be “illegal.”

Finally – how about some cool stuff to start off your week. We have an update on the Major League Baseball season, some crazy footage of a drone pilot who almost clipped the wings of the Blue Angels, and it was a big weeknd for the Space Force down in Florida. 

Read all about it. 

-Fraser Dixon

2016 Repeat? Trump Revives Clinton Playbook to Battle Biden

(AP) – Accusations of a “deep state” conspiracy. Allegations of personal and family corruption. Painting an opponent as a Washington insider not to be trusted.

It’s 2016 again. Or at least that’s President Donald Trump’s hope.

Trump and his allies are dusting off the playbook that helped defeat Hillary Clinton, reviving it in recent days as they try to frame 2020 as an election between a dishonest establishment politician and a political outsider being targeted for taking on the system. This time, however, the so-called outsider is the sitting president of the United States.

Read more here

The Power of Stacey Abrams (Who?)

(Washington Post) – Despite losing the Georgia governor’s race in 2018, she has moved quickly to political prominence. Will she be the vice presidential pick for Democrats?

There is a big buzz at the Loudermilk Conference Center in downtown Atlanta as a gathering called Paradigm Shift 2.0: Black Women Confronting HIV, Health and Social Justice gets underway. Three hundred registered participants have journeyed from across the country to discuss the many challenges and possibilities facing black women and girls. The second day’s morning keynote was delivered by radical activist and professor Angela Davis. The hype has been building exponentially for lunchtime guest speaker Stacey Abrams.

When she is finally introduced the women shout and leap to their feet. Young women stand on chairs, camera phones flash. Abrams, who appears both amused and slightly disturbed by the fuss over her, takes control of the chaotic scene. I’ve witnessed this level of affection for very few political leaders in the Democratic circles I’ve been in since the 1980s. They have the last names Clinton (both Hillary and Bill), Sanders, Warren, Jackson and Obama (both Michelle and Barack).

“I’m going to make sure there is peace in this room,” Abrams says. “Y’all are about to annoy each other with these cameras, so I’m going to stand up and I’m going to stand in front of each group of you. Take pictures so you can put your camera down.”

Learn more about Stacey Abrams here

Fired State Department Watchdog was Looking into Whether Pompeo Made Staffer Walk his Dog, Pick up Laundry

(NBC News) – The State Department inspector general who was removed from his job Friday was looking into whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a staffer walk his dog, pick up his dry cleaning and make dinner reservations for Pompeo and his wife, among other personal errands, according to two congressional officials assigned to different committees.

The officials said they are working to learn whether former Inspector General Steve Linick may have had other ongoing investigations into Pompeo.

Find out more here

Related: Pelosi – Trump Firing of Steve Linick could be ‘Unlawful if it’s Retaliation’

“The president has the right to fire any federal employee, but the fact is if it looks like it’s in retaliation for something that the IG, the inspector general, is doing, that could be unlawful,” said Pelosi.

Read more here

Showers and Spitting off Limits as MLB Eyes Safe Return to Games

(AFP) – Major League Baseball players will be prohibited from taking showers after games and there will be no fist-bump celebrations or spitting sunflower seeds in the dugout, according to a return-to-play guidelines drafted by league officials.

The new restrictions, which have to be approved by the players’ union, would also enforce social distancing, meaning no hugs or high fives after a home run, and a ban on chewing tobacco, the US media reported on Saturday.

Players would go through daily temperature screenings and have to sanitize their hands each half-inning. MLB plans to perform thousands of tests on players, coaches, management and stadium personnel for Covid-19 on a weekly basis.

Get the latest here

Hobbyist Almost Hits Navy Blue Angels with a Drone During Detroit Flyover

(Warisboring.com) – Do you want more drone restrictions? Because this is how how you get more drone restrictions.

A recent flyover by the US Navy Blue Angels in the Detroit area drew controversy after a rogue drone operator used his device to get some sweet footage- but endangered the world’s most prolific aerobatic team in the process.

The drone footage surfaced earlier this month via a social media account named “”@GIOLUCIA,” complete with a cliche backing of Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone.”

See the video here

Rocket Carrying Secret Space Force Space Plane Launches from Cape Canaveral

(WFTV 9) – The United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sunday morning.

The launch was originally planned for Saturday morning but was scrubbed because of poor weather conditions.

The rocket blasted off from Space Launch Complex 41 at 9:14 a.m.

The U.S. Space Force launched its secretive X-37B orbital test vehicle atop the rocket as well as a small satellite developed by the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The classified mission was dedicated to health care workers, first responders and anyone else who has been affected by COVID-19.

Learn more here