Trump: Whatever It Takes

President Donald Trump turned 73 recently.  To celebrate, his staff rented an Orlando basketball arena to announce to some of his adoring fan base that he's running for re-election in 2020.  Isn't that what he's been doing since taking office in 2017?

As is his wont, the President entertained his audience by slamming Democrats, the news media, Hillary Clinton (who's not running this time), and anyone else he could think of.  Trump even promised cures for cancer and AIDS, as well as a manned landing on Mars--all in his second term.  To this crowd, he could walk on water if he wanted to.

Miracles aside, Trump did some things in the name of America that caused Americans to wonder why they are still Americans.

1) The Mueller Report was supposed to be a call to arms to get Congress to get off their tails and start impeachment hearings.  Robert Mueller, who spent years of his life interviewing and investigating whether or not Trump and/or the Russian government meddled in the 2016 presidential election, came to the conclusion that he could not indict the President even if he wanted to.  Trump took this to mean he was exonerated, which he really wasn't.  Mueller has said he wouldn't be much help to Congress beyond releasing the report, even if he were compelled to testify.  All the evidence you'll ever need is in that report--if anyone bothers to read it.

If Trump had this kind of investigation outside the White House, chances are real good he wouldn't be President.  He'd be in prison.

The Democrats are still in a dither over how to proceed with impeachment, given that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would rather use the go-slow approach.  But as the evidence against Trump mounts, the pressure is growing to hold hearings.

Congressional hearings are going on, but the White House is making things difficult for the committees doing the investigating.  Apparently, their idea of blunting the effectiveness of the hearings include (A) refusing to let witnesses testify, (B) going behind closed doors if they do, and (C) declare even the most trivial evidence (such as Trump's tax returns) as executive privilege. 

2)  Patrick Shanahan, who was acting Secretary of Defense, declined a chance to take the job full time because he's under investigation for alleged domestic abuse.  Which makes you wonder about other members of Trump's Cabinet, whose titles begin with the word "acting".  Doesn't anyone want to work for this man?  Besides Kellyanne Conway, that is?

3)  Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the woman who did more to strain relations between the White House and the media while sucking up to the boss, is resigning effective at the end of the month.  She will not be missed.

4)  Being butt hurt about China allegedly ripping off the U.S. economy, Trump declared a trade war.  He almost did the same with Mexico unless they improved their border security.  Doesn't the President realize that the American economy would take the biggest hit, with higher prices and loss of jobs?

5)  Meanwhile, a real war might be brewing with Iran.  Reportedly, they are working on nuclear materials that were prohibited by a previous deal with the U.S. and other countries.  The deal that Trump turned his back on.

6)  The President, who when traveling abroad is supposed to represent the best and brightest of America.  Not this President.  During his recent trip to England and France, Trump took to Twitter and Fox News to talk about his dislike of John McCain (who's been dead for several months), the mayor of London, Democrats, Bette Midler and Meghen Markle (aka the Duchess of Sussex).  There was a sigh of relief on both sides of the Atlantic when he returned home.

7)  Some of Trump's own pollsters showed he was trailing former vice-president Joe Biden and other Democrats in the key states he won in 2016.  So what did the President do?  He fired the pollsters.  No sense being the bearer of bad news.

8)  In an ABC interview with George Stephenopolous, Trump said he wouldn't mind receiving  political intelligence about his opponents from foreign governments.  After what happened in 2016, Trump tried to backtrack that comment, but the damage is done.  This President has shown that he'll do whatever it takes--even if it means breaking the law--to win another four years.

On July 4th, thousands of people usually crowd Washington to celebrate the country's birthday and to watch the fireworks.  This year, President Trump plans to insert himself into the festivities by making a speech which might compel the networks to televise, whether they really want to or not.  Some fear this could turn a feel-good event into a partisan political rally.  Just like the one that happened in Orlando.  Does the President care?  Where have you been the last four years?

Whatever it takes, right?

"Jeopardy!": The Reign of James Is Over

If you have been recently watching "Jeopardy!", the game show whose syndicated version with host Alex Trebek is now in its 35th season, it's likely for two reasons:

(1) James Holzhauer, a pro sports bettor from Las Vegas, became the second contestant ever to earn more than two million dollars on the show.  His reign spanned 32 episodes between April and June (with a two-week break for a previously scheduled teachers tournament), ending his run with more than $2.4 million added to his bank account (before taxes, of course).  Only Ken Jennings, with winnings of over $2.5 million in 75 appearances, has won more.

Holzhauer rewrote the "Jeopardy!" record book as often as Wayne Gretzky did during his hockey career, which included winning the most money on a single program 15 times,  He usually started the round at the bottom of the board (where the high-value clues are), then bet big when the "Daily Double" appeared, usually leaving his opponents in the dust by the time the "Final Jeopardy" category appeared.

On the telecast of June 3, the person who finally beat Holzhauer at his own game was a librarian from Chicago named Emma Boettcher.  But you'll still see James Holzhauer in special tournaments in the near future.  He won't soon be forgotten.

(2)  Holzhauer's success was a welcome distraction for the show and its fans, with the announcement a few weeks earlier that Trebek had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Trebek is 78, and has said he plans to keep working through the treatments.  He's done more than 7000 episodes of "Jeopardy!", and is signed up through 2022.

In recent media interviews, Trebek has said his cancer is currently in remission.  Though it wouldn't hurt for the show's producers to have a Plan B in case Trebek can no longer continue, longtime viewers are wondering if their favorite show really is in jeopardy.