tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874764897607098042024-08-29T04:25:09.637-07:00News, Views, and ToolsU.S. Political News and Commentary with a Progressive SpinAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-25287264054994436342017-05-26T21:51:00.000-07:002017-05-26T21:51:42.764-07:00Trump Voter Silence Only Eclipsed By The Democrats Silence, But Why? By: D. DiFrancesco As contentious as our nation’s pre-election rhetoric was between liberals and conservatives, there has been an equal amount of silence from those once so vocal on the conservative side of the isle.  Discussions of the virtues of Donald Trump and the evils of Hillary Clinton have all but ceased except from those of the pundit class such as Jeffrey Lord and commentators Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-76082794198731330102016-05-05T09:14:00.001-07:002016-05-05T09:14:35.601-07:00Multiculturalism In America (Part 2) By: D. DiFrancesco I read a blog post recently that stated that the ideas of multiculturalism and diversity were insanities propagated by “leftist” elites to the detriment of America, I’m paraphrasing of course though my statement accurately represents what was written. I came away from the post a bit taken back for I thought that it was completely off the mark.. I propose that the statementAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-6734496189424379712016-05-04T16:35:00.001-07:002016-05-04T16:43:25.241-07:00Multiculturalism In America By: D. DiFrancesco “Definition Multiculturalism: is the coexistence of diverse cultures, where culture includes racial, religious, or cultural groups and is manifested in customary behaviors, cultural assumptions and values, patterns of thinking, and communicative styles.” I think it is disingenuous of Americans to decry multiculturalism when this nation is and always has been the poster Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-20205807526339806812015-12-16T16:10:00.000-07:002015-12-16T16:38:58.632-07:00Thoughts On The December 15, 2015 Republican Debate By D. DiFrancesco Although I could only bare to listen to about an hour of the debates last night I came away with a very clear picture of what the republican candidates are offering the American people and that is continued war and ramped up hate and racism. Wow, these sound like promises that just call me to vote for them...not!  Each one of the candidate is a meaner and nastier warAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-9491165262966404592015-12-15T16:10:00.000-07:002015-12-15T16:10:29.709-07:00To Allow Refugees Or Not To Allow Refugees...That Is The Question By D. DiFrancesco Just like most of you, I too have been pondering the refugee crisis occurring in the Middle East, specifically Syria in light of the “terrorist” attack in San Bernadino as well as the statement by Republican front-runner Donald Trump, that he will stop all immigration of Muslims into the U.S….”temporarily”. I have come to the conclusion that just as I believe with all of myAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-5848456422010248322015-12-15T11:09:00.000-07:002015-12-15T11:10:36.261-07:00Dangerous Times Call For Cooler Heads And The Top 3 Republicans Aren't It By D. DiFrancesco As we encroach on a new year which will bring us a short eleven months until the 2016 Presidential election, I have to admit I am dismayed by what I am seeing out of the candidates on the right and by what I am seeing in the behaviors and attitudes of my fellow Americans. In full disclosure, I am a liberal, progressive, lefty or any of a dozen other names that you may Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-68254967509458303342015-08-17T16:13:00.000-07:002015-08-17T16:13:05.801-07:00Donald Trump Outlines Plan To Combat Illegal ImmigrationView image | gettyimages.com By D. DiFrancesco Well today is the day that Donald Trump outlined his first policy plan to combat illegal immigration...well sort of. So here are just a few of its highlights: He will build a wall along our southern border with Mexico and somehow he is going to make them pay for it.  How that will happen is unclear.  Strong-arming another country doesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-15161131408790833842015-08-16T14:46:00.000-07:002015-08-16T14:50:38.240-07:00Republican Presidential Candidates Continue to Disparage Obamacare, But They Are Wrong By D. DiFrancesco Republicans have been relentless in their attempts over the past couple of years to repeal the Affordable Care Act a.k.a. Obamacare. A countless number of votes in Congress along with numerous court challenges to have Obamacare repealed have essentially been fruitless resulting in the act becoming the law of the land.  Those most vocal about the law are those who areAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-35689135683814588022015-08-16T12:03:00.000-07:002015-08-16T13:11:34.009-07:00The Trump PhenomenonView image | gettyimages.com By: D. DiFrancesco I find the political climate today quite fascinating, just look at “The Donald Trump Phenomenon” that we are all living through. It is the first campaign of its type for the office of President and  provides, if nothing else, a unique look into the psyche of at least a portion of the Republican Party. Mr. Trump, a self-proclaimed Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-60788728981426784682015-07-18T12:51:00.001-07:002015-07-18T12:51:35.644-07:00Dinner With Conservatives....Well Sort Of By: D. DiFrancesco In an odd twist, I am traveling for work in southeastern Arizona and while sitting down to dinner I had the pleasure, or should I say pain, of listening to the conversation of other diner. Unfortunately this almost always tends to make my blood boil.  What amazes me is that these individuals were throwbacks to the Reagan era even though two of the four individuals were Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-54712645279607664122015-07-18T10:40:00.000-07:002015-07-18T12:48:21.980-07:00Taking Pause to Ponder the State of our Nation This post unfortunately is not a terribly upbeat, but I promise to write more positive posts in the months to come as we approach, what I deem as probably the most important election of my lifetime. I am taking pause as I have been prone to do quite frequently these days.  I am pondering the direction our country is taking and it is quite troubling to me indeed.   This world we Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-63586752603672797272015-04-24T16:26:00.000-07:002015-04-24T16:26:47.200-07:00Republican Delusion in the Workplace By: D. DiFrancesco - April 24, 2015 Although this was not the post that I had initially intended, I felt that some venting was in order on my part to maintain my sanity.   The divide in United States politics is as deep and as wide as I have ever seen it in my lifetime.  This has been primarily fueled by the partisan media in this country over the last number of years.  The Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-47409763138468176542015-04-22T12:44:00.003-07:002015-04-22T12:45:33.086-07:00Relaunch of News, Views and Tools - April 22, 2015 Today April 22, 2015, News, Views and Tools will be relaunched posting news and opinions on the state of U.S. and world politics. In addition, in an effort to be transparent, as my tagline mentions, I tend to view things with a progressive eye though this does not mean that anyone gets a free pass.  There are too many issues confronting the United States and its place in this ever more Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-74837414184043056072014-10-31T16:43:00.002-07:002014-10-31T16:44:25.883-07:00Officer Darren Wilson Unlikely To Face Civil Rights Charges in Brown Case#457694940 / gettyimages.com According to The Washington Post, it appears highly unlikely that civil rights charges will be levied against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown. Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014 resulting in protests and riots by residents.  “The evidence at this point does not supportAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-42416953377029140012012-05-07T12:05:00.000-07:002012-05-07T12:05:34.020-07:00Can We Put The Same Sex Marriage Issue To Rest Already! Enough Is Enough! Vice President Joe Biden May 7, 2012 By: D.DiFrancesco Blog Site: http://www.newsviewsandtools.com/blog Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday he was "absolutely comfortable" with the idea of same-gender marriage. "I just think that the good news is that as more and more Americans come to understand what this is all about, it is a simple proposition: Who do you love? Who do you Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-38727392927484608592012-04-27T20:09:00.000-07:002012-04-27T20:09:46.475-07:00Education, The Political Pawn That Could Lead To The Downfall Of America Education, The Political Pawn That Could Lead To The Downfall Of America April 27, 2012  By D. DiFrancesco "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."  Thomas Jefferson President Thomas Jefferson For all of his faults, Thomas Jefferson was a huge proponent of free public education up through and Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-13534952207691437682012-04-25T19:24:00.000-07:002012-04-25T19:24:39.572-07:00Has President Obama Overstepped His Constitutional Authority As Republicans Claim? President Barack Obama Read the complete article at my new blog site! April 25, 2012 By: D. DiFrancesco We Can’t Wait - President Obama's slogan signifying the administrations unwillingness to wait for Congress to decide on domestic policy issues. President Obama is not letting congressional gridlock slow our economic growth. "Without a doubt, the most urgent challenge Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-70418106352186562282012-04-23T15:48:00.000-07:002012-04-23T15:48:03.107-07:00Hatred Has No Place In American Politics Unless You Are A Republican April 23, 2012 Hatred Has No Place In American Politics Unless You Are A Republican Like anything else, when you repeat something often enough, there will be an element in society that starts to believe it.  This is the case with the repeated statements that try to portray President Barack Obama as anti-American. Rocker and Republican Mouthpiece Ted Nugent Symptomatic of the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-70976787075756691112012-04-18T15:49:00.000-07:002012-04-18T15:49:20.155-07:00Do Higher Income Tax Rates Produce Lower Unemployment? History Says They Do! April 18, 2012 By: D. DiFrancesco Out of my own curiosity, I decided to look at the relationship between the top income tax rates by year and the annual unemployment rate.  My conclusions are based on the years 1950 through 2011.  I would also like to state that I am neither an accountant nor an economist so the statements I am making are my personal opinion based on Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-65373826020171439702012-04-16T15:49:00.002-07:002012-04-16T15:49:22.006-07:00Mitt Romney, Wayne LaPierre, and the NRA Perfect Together...None Of Them Can Tell The Truth National Rifle Association President Wayne LaPierre Back in November of 2011, then executive vice president of the National Rifle Association Wayne LaPierre said, "It's bad politics to be on the wrong side of the Second Amendment at election time.  They're [Democrats] trying to fog the issue through the 2012 election and deceive gun owners into thinking he's [President ObamaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-45055039108114211542012-04-13T20:51:00.000-07:002012-04-13T20:51:27.104-07:00Vermont Passes Landmark Resolution Calling for Constitutional Amendment to End Corporate Personhood A demonstration calling for the overturn of Citizens United in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on February 23. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) In what I hope is the first of many, the Vermont State Senate voted 26-3 to call for a constitutional amendment to make it clear that corporations are not people. The measure, spearheaded by State Senator Virgina Lyons (D) in conjuctionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-60529127595490123962012-04-13T08:57:00.000-07:002012-04-13T08:57:40.933-07:00Rep. Allen West's Ignorant Comments Show Why the Republican Party Is Not The Party of the American People With all of the negative and horribly unhelpful comments made by representatives of both the Republican and Democratic party's this election season, Rep. Allen West's (R-FL) has to be some of the most inflammatory I have heard. We have had Republican talking head, Rush Limbaugh's insulting remarks to Sandra Fluke, calling her a slut and a prostitute after her testimonyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-6523247506650653062012-04-11T14:55:00.000-07:002012-04-11T14:55:20.402-07:00Mitt Romney is Unelectable and I think the Republicans Know It Rick Santorum - (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) Its fun to hypothesize about where the Republican party goes from here with the sudden departure of Rick Santorum from the race. Clearly, short of some stunning revelation completely disparaging Mitt Romney, he is certain to be the Republican presidential nominee running against Barack Obama. That being said, there is a theory Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-20649649666101937032012-04-10T20:31:00.000-07:002012-04-10T20:31:27.357-07:00Santorum Out, Mitt Romney...Last Man Standing, Almost You just have to love the Republicans and the absolute disfunction they operate under and the disdain the candidates have for each other. Rick Santorum at Exit Speech Rick Santorum decided to suspend his campaign today culminating with a 14 minute speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Ironically...or maybe not so ironically, Santorum did not endorse Mitt Romney. RNC Chairman Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1487476489760709804.post-32953131811535132332012-04-09T21:09:00.000-07:002012-04-09T21:09:27.658-07:00Republicans Hope for Economy to Fail...More Suffering for the Middle Class It should come as no surprise that the Republican party and its candidates are hoping for the failure of President Barack Obama's economic policies going into November's election. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said criticism from Republicans on Friday’s worse-than-expected jobs report was reflective of their Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10987219065449812845noreply@blogger.com0