I live in the bible belt, Texas, and in fact I live in a county that has been dubbed, Big Red. They call it Big Red because it is the most conservative large urban county in America. Throughout my whole life, I have had plenty of cashiers or people in stores say to me, "Merry Christmas," cheerfully with a smile and a wave as I finished my business with them and walked away. It never bothered me. I would usually smile and wave back and go on about my business.

However, last year it was different.

Last year, there were multiple cashiers, as I was checking out with them and nearing the end of our business transaction, they would look me dead in the eyes, and without a smile, sternly tell me, "and you have a merry Christmas." It was weird. Like the look in their eyes was not happy not a true warm wish of seasons greeting, it was like they gained some type of power now that Trump told them it was ok to say "Merry Christmas" again. And for the first time in my liberal life I was actually angry that they said it, more so that they said it like that, because I felt like it came from a place of hate. They were smug and angry all in one.

One cashier, was doing that to everyone in her line, there was about 5 or 6 people. Except there was a man in front of me that was of middle eastern dissent. When he got to her, she didn't say it to him. She told everyone in the line "Merry Christmas," except for him. I remember feeling furious about it. So when it was my turn, and she said it to me, I told her to stick it up her ass.

Anyway, this was just my observation from last year. Ironically, also, it was only cashiers at stores, like the grocery store or department store, that were doing this. Has anyone else noticed this, as well?

The Universe just gave me a great gift. Flippin Flynn Friday is the best thing that's happened in a while!

To commemorate Black History Month, Trump administration decrees that white supremacists can’t be terrorists.

http://www.salon.com/2017/02/03/to-commemorate-black-history-month-trump-administration-decrees-that-white-supremacists-cant-be-terrorists/

I do. That's why none of this surprises me. Angers me, but doesn't surprise me.

Douche-nozzle alert.

https://twitter.com/frankthorp/status/888474387912851461

https://twitter.com/pdacosta/status/888467504514859013

Source: Axios

Top coal industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler is likely to be tapped as the No. 2. official at the Environmental Protection Agency, according to two people familiar with the decision-making process.

The expected appointment for deputy EPA administrator is a turnaround from last month when the White House was poised to tap Jeff Holmstead, a former top EPA official under President George W. Bush. Holmstead is considered to be a more moderate conservative compared to Wheeler and other officials inside the Trump administration.



Read more: https://www.axios.com/top-coal-lobbyist-expected-to-be-no-2-at-epa-2463196099.html

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I give up.

Source: Washington Post

The White House has tapped David J. Apol, general counsel of the Office of Government Ethics, to serve as the agency's acting director and temporarily succeed Walter M. Shaub Jr., who in the last six months of his tenure emerged as an outspoken critic of Trump administration.

Apol, who has been OGE's general counsel since 2014, previously served as a counsel at the U.S. Trade Representative and in the Clinton White House. He will run the agency until President Trump nominates a permanent director, who will have to be confirmed by the Senate.

In selecting Apol, the White House elevated him over Shaub's chief of staff and designated successor, Shelley K. Finlayson, who had been serving in that role since Shaub stepped down Tuesday.

The move was viewed with concern by some government watchdog groups, who questioned why the administration did not leave Finlayson in place while it searched for a permanent director.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/07/21/white-house-taps-new-acting-ethics-chief-elevating-general-counsel-over-chief-of-staff/?utm_term=.330e587b0f51

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Where does this end??

Can someone clarify for me?

When Mueller was hired? Or last year with Comey and Mueller just took over?

An entertaining read.

https://cohen.house.gov/sites/cohen.house.gov/files/documents/Resolution%20of%20No%20Confidence%20in%20Donald%20J.%20Trump.pdf

Inside Trump Family's Turmoil Amid Russia Scandal: Don Jr. Is 'Miserable' and Wants 'These Four Years to Be Over'

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/inside-trump-familys-turmoil-amid-russia-scandal-don-jr-is-miserable-and-wants-these-four-years-to-be-over/ar-AAoq1xR?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

Really, does anyone actually feel sorry for him?