The The Three Stooges Of Wisconsin

By Jeff Simpson

H/T James Rowen @Political Environment:

The House approved a bill helping fellow Americans out in dire times of need:

 The House, dismissing concern for the rising cost, approved a $36.5 billion aid package on Thursday that would provide hurricane and wildfire relief funding while bailing out the financially troubled National Flood Insurance Program.

The aid package would also help Puerto Rico’s financially beleaguered government avoid running out of cash in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Conditions there remain dire, with most of the island still without power three weeks after the storm hit.

The House approved the bill 353 to 69, with all of the no votes coming from Republicans.

69 No Votes and we personally know 3 of them.

The first is NO  Vote is Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who tweeted this out not that long ago. 

Sensenbrenner Press‏Verified account @JimPressOffice  Aug 31

Thanks to the @JJWFoundation, the volunteers & #WI05 for the amazing outpouring of support for those impacted by #HurricaneHarvey

The second No Vote from WI is Congressman Sean Duffy , fresh off a win by the SCOTUS allowing Congress to pray before their session starts, proudly voted no on natural disaster relief.

Sean Duffy‏Verified account @RepSeanDuffy  Oct 11More.@PRicoReport: "Congressman Sean Duffy Supports Assistance and Accountability for #PuertoRico"

Told @CNN's @NewDay that I stand with Governor @ricardorossello & the people of #PuertoRico to rebuild and revitalize the Island. pic.twitter.com/fH5greMuZH

— Sean Duffy (@RepSeanDuffy) October 9, 2017

The third Wisconsin NO Vote was Rep. Mike Gallagher.  I have no "Thoughts and prayers" tweet to link to because apparently he didn't send anyone thoughts or prayers.   

Is someone who is not scared to spend money on anything but helping fellow Americans the people we want representing us in Congress? 

We can make up for our mistakes next November! 

Hemp: Its Time Has Come

By Kathleen Vinehout

Farmers in diverse states like Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine and Minnesota are researching a new crop: industrial hemp. Many states are changing laws to allow growing of hemp.

Wisconsin is slow to get in the game. Hopefully, this is about to change.

Lawmakers on the Senate Agriculture, Small Business and Tourism Committee are considering a hemp legalization bill. If Senate Bill 119 becomes law, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection (DATCP) would create an active industrial hemp program and license growers.

Hemp is not a new crop to Wisconsin. We once had flourishing fields of hemp. But, as the saying goes, you are sometimes known by your relatives. Even for a plant. Hemp suffered from an association with its cousin, marijuana. By the 1950s, farmers stopped growing hemp. Federal and state drug laws swept up hemp in an effort to eradicate marijuana.

According to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) publication, industrial hemp and marijuana are separate varieties or cultivars of the same species of plant cannabis sativa.

Generally, hemp is defined by having less than 0.3% of THC, an active ingredient in marijuana. However, the plant differs in other genetic aspects, in cultivation practices, and in its use.

Thirty countries around the world grow hemp as an agricultural commodity. Hemp can be used to create plastics, mixed with lime to create concrete, as a fiberglass alternative for use by aviation or automobiles or as a potential biodiesel fuel. The CRS reports more than 25,000 hemp products fall into nine markets: agriculture, textiles, recycling, automotive, furniture, food and beverages, paper, construction materials and personal care.

According to the CRS, growth in the sale of hemp products averaged over 15% annually between 2010 and 2015. The biggest demand for hemp related products are hemp-based body products, food or supplements. These products account for more than 60% of the value of U.S. sales.

Until recently, U.S. farmers were forbidden to grow hemp. This policy forced industries to import hemp raw materials or use finished hemp products for further processing. China now leads the world as a grower and supplier of hemp. United States processors also rely heavily on Canadian growers.

A provision in the 2014 federal Farm Bill allowed universities and state agriculture departments to begin supervising hemp in pilot programs. This caused a flurry of activity within state legislatures to create new hemp laws.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as of July 2017, 33 states passed some legislation related to industrial hemp including all our Midwestern neighboring states except Iowa. Twenty-six states created laws that began research on hemp, or a grower pilot-program.

Many states passed laws encouraging the development of hemp for certain purposes. For example, Colorado is researching the use of hemp for animal feed. Kentucky funded research on the use of hemp for biofuels. North Carolina is studying hemp for soil conservation and reforestation. The CRS cites research showing hemp may be less environmentally degrading than some other crops. Hemp can play a role in crop rotation, breaking the cycle of disease and pests.

Wisconsin farmers are eager once again to get in on hemp production. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau and the Wisconsin Farmers Union are advocating for the passage of SB 119. Farmers from both organizations and local agriculture agents contacted me asking for quick passage of the SB 119.

Like many agricultural issues, hemp legislation this year has strong bipartisan support. Forty cosponsors of both parties signed up to help pass SB 119. This is a significant improvement from when I introduced the first Senate bill in 2016. Several earlier bills died in the Assembly.

This year, Senators Testin and Harsdorf took the bill I authored and added some important provisions. They gave the UW a role in supervising a seed certification program. The new bill allows any university or tribe to establish agricultural hemp plots. Additionally, it encourages our State Tribal Relations Committee to investigate hemp as an economic development tool for our tribes.

Hemp in Wisconsin is a crop whose time has come. Passage of SB 119 will begin the work of bringing back Wisconsin’s hemp industry. Let’s make 2017 the year of hemp.

Eminem's FreeStyle Takedown

By Jeff Simpson

From the BET Awards Last night:

Scott Walker Has Hand On Heart And Fingers Crossed

By Jeff Simpson

The flag debate is one that seems to be ramping up instead of losing steam.   

We have covered, and everyone has covered, the professional athletes protests during the national anthem. 

The Donald has done what he does best - ramp up the hatred to try and win.    He sent one of his many errand boys - Mike Pence - to an NFL game to make a big show of walking out when the players took a knee.   

The planned out "protest" cost the taxpayers over $250,000, but a lesson needed to be taught to African Americans for thinking they had a voice in our country.   

Vice President Pence‏Verified account @VP  Oct 8

I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.

98,305 replies47,606 retweets155,877 likes

Thank Goodness you would never disrespect our soldiers! 

Scott Walker, still with his crazed Presidential ambitions, after all he still thinks God told him He wants him to be President(although I think it may have actually been Amy that told him that) . 

Scott Walker felt the need to weigh in on the flag debate. to let us know how Patriotic he is. 

Asked if he would walk out of a Packers game if he saw players kneeling during the Anthem, the governor replied: 

"Well, thankfully I've seen them stand. I was at the games a couple weeks ago. You know, the bottom line is I expect my family to stand. It's how my parents raised me, that when the flag goes by in a parade or the national anthem is sung, no matter where you are, you stand and put your had over your heart."

While he did not directly answer whether he would walk out, Walker did call on players and fans to do what he does.

"The appropriate response for me is to do what I expect others to do," he said. "That is stand, put my hand over my heart, and call on others to do the same."

"There are other ways to make their message be heard out there," Walker said. "I'd love for them to find better ways that don't offend service members and veterans in this country."

Well Scott is well known for his short term memory loss, only rivaling the amount of hypocrisy he has. 

Scott Walker seems to have forgotten that he once made a production of showing how well he can take care of the flag, while actually doing it wrong!

Then Scott Walker showed his unwavering support for veterans by passing a voter ID bill, that made Veterans ID's ineligible.  

Also during the Capitol Protests, he had one of the Solidarity Singers arrested.  This particular Solidarity Singer is a vietnam war veteran and American Hero, who was treated so poorly, he was actually thrown down the stairs.   

But Wait!!  There is more----- 

According to US Flag Code: §176. Respect for flag:

• (d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

Of course we have come to expect the Wisconsin Media to take dictation and not ask for follow up of any of these blatant issues of hypocrisy.     

As long as Scott Walker knows he will not ever have to answer for his ever changing positions, I guess he will continue playing us for the sucker!

PS;  Extra Credit:  Scott Walker, always the politician, and one of 17 people who vied to be the GOP nominee for President (of which The Donald emerged), felt the need to weigh in on the Democratic Primary for Governor(and of course was unchallenged):

He also took a swipe at the size of the Democratic field."One after another's running because they look at the field and aren't satisfied that that person's good enough, so they keep moving to the next and the next and the next," he said.

Scott Walker - AMATEUR

By Jeff Simpson

Christmas has arrived early for the good people of WI.  Scott Walker is giving us the opportunity, for a small price of $150.00 to buy a copy of his book and a cheesehead, and both are personally signed!

To quote the old credit card commercials:

The cost of a hardcover ghostwritten book about who Scott Walker wishes he was - $.10 Cents

A genuine cheesehead hat - $21.95

Cost for a public official to autograph his ghostwritten book:  $122.00

The fact that a Governor of the great State of WI, one who sent this advertisement out, the same guy who told us that God personally told him to run for President of the United States, who thinks he can run a budget as big as Wisconsin, actually filled social media with this today:

He actually spelled the title of HIS BOOK wrong!   You can not make this stuff up. 

If that does not show us the importance of education and not dropping out of school early what does?
The next thing we know,  Scott Walker will be trying to give away 3 billion dollars of Wisconsin taxpayer money, using a post it note as a contract.

Nah!  Even he is not that much of an amateur!  

Is Eric O'Keefe Russian?

By Jeff Simpson 

Information has come out that Russian linked Facebook ads, targeting Michigan and Wisconsin were used to help the GOP win last November. 

A number of Russian-linked Facebook ads specifically targeted Michigan and Wisconsin, two states crucial to Donald Trump's victory last November, according to four sources with direct knowledge of the situation.
Some of the Russian ads appeared highly sophisticated in their targeting of key demographic groups in areas of the states that turned out to be pivotal, two of the sources said. The ads employed a series of divisive messages aimed at breaking through the clutter of campaign ads online, including promoting anti-Muslim messages, sources said.

Dark money, originated in Russia, was used to make sure that in Wisconsin, The Donald, RoJo, Paul Ryan, Sean Duffy, Mike Gallagher, etc...were elected to populate the swamp. 

We in WI had no idea that the Russians were trying to get our friends on the right elected.

How could we not know? 

The Answer is simple really, because Freedom.

See the right wing has amazingly turned money into free speech and have millions of dollars of free speech to blow. 

It was hard to distinguish between Russian backed propaganda and Eric O'Keefe or Bradley Foundation backed propaganda.   Between the Putins flunkies, Wisconsin Club for Growth, Americas PAC , Maciver Institute,  Right Wisconsin, Media Trackkkers, Bradley Foundation, etc..

It is hard to distinguish, because they all have the same agenda and want the same ending.

Republican control of our country. 

Maybe when you have the same exact agenda as Vladimir Putin, It sure is not to Make America Great Again!

What If Jesus Hired A Publicist?

By Jeff Simpson

We all know that there was a horrific massacre in Las Vegas recently.   Our friends on the right,did what they do best - they offered up thoughts and prayers.  No solutions of course but lots of thoughts and prayers.

The Wisconsin GOP Assembly, took it to a new level.  They came up with a cool graphic that they branded.

Speaker Robin Vos‏ @SpeakerVos  Oct 2

I join my fellow Wisconsinites in praying for #LasVegas and everyone affected by the horrific shooting.

We all know prayers mean more when everyone knows who is doing it. No need to let a moment like this pass by without letting everyone know how much you care. There is an election coming up after all. The Prayers also get magnified because of the cute little logo on the bottom of the meme for sure. If Jesus understood one thing, it was the importance of branding and advertising and winning elections by any means possible!

Speaking of not letting this moment pass by without letting everyone know how serious you are - exhibit A would be Paul Ryan. Paul Ryan and the GOP led House, used this opportunity to do something very important (no not make sure the Children's Health Insurance Program get renewed. It is only 9 million American children they kicked off of having healthcare (none of whom were fathered by Paul Ryan of course)).

The small government House Republicans, led by Paul Ryan (R-Wall St.) used this opportunity of a national disaster, to pass an abortion ban after 20 weeks!

The House passed a bill Tuesday that would ban abortions after 20 weeks.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), would make it a crime to perform or attempt an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with the possibility of a fine, up to five years in prison or both.
The measure passed heavily along party lines, 237-189.

While we look forward to incarcerating needed doctors and desperate women, Paul Ryan was making sure you do know that the Vegas Massacre would NOT deter him from passing tax cuts for the wealthy. 

We cannot let the evil actions of a single person define us as a country. What defines us is the heroism we saw during and after the attack. pic.twitter.com/phEhjfiBqB

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) October 3, 2017

What Paul Ryan has wrong is what will define us as a country is our answer to this horrible massacre.  What will we do to try and stop this from happening again?  How will we take care of the victims who through no fault of their own, have had their life changed forever?   

We already see that too many of them are using GoFundMe to survive and be treated. 

The coffee can healthcare system that we currently have in place will define us as a nation much more than even more tax cuts for the owners of Mr. Ryan. 

Maybe we should crack open the Bible again and actually read it this time instead of campaign on it! 

Lyin' Ryan: Tax Cuts For The Rich Before Saving Lives!

Sometimes, Lyin' Paul Ryan is just way too predictable.

On Monday, as the nation was reeling from the horrible news coming out of Las Vegas, where a gunman killed 59 people and injured more than 500 more, I knew exactly what Ryan was going to do, and I said it:

Just waiting for @SpeakerRyan to say the best way to stop gun violence is tax cuts for the rich.

— Chris Liebenthal (@Cog_Dis) October 2, 2017

Think Progress proved that I was, of course, correcy. During a press conference on Tuesday, the day after the news broke, Ryan was asked about whether Congress would still vote on the gun silencer law. Ryan's dodged the question with his favorite battle cry - TAX CUTS!

Pushed about the so-called Sportsmen Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act (SHARE Act), Ryan said he’s not sure when that bill will be scheduled, but “right now, we’re focused on passing our budget.”

With a chuckle, Ryan told reporters, “by the way, we’re bringing up our budget this week — I don’t know if you knew that.”

“The reason we’re bringing our budget up this week is because we want to pass tax reform, because we think that’s one of the most important things we can do to improve people’s lives,” he added. “That is our present focus and the Sportsmen’s Bill is not scheduled.”

I'm sure that it will be a great comfort to those hurt or killed and their families, to know that Ryan has such a laser sharp focus on giving even bigger tax cuts to the filthy rich. After all, who would want to waste time preventing further tragedies when the wealth are suffering so?!

As if we needed yet another reason to repeal and replace Ryan. Please help make it so by supporting Randy Bryce.  It could save countless lives.

The Twisted World of RoJo

By Jeff Simpson

Capper recently brought us the story of US Senator Ron Johnson (R-Class Rings) telling a high school class, that he believes that health care is a privilege for those who can actually afford it.

Wisconsin's junior senator did not hesitate: "I think it's probably more of a privilege."
He continued:
"Do you consider food a right? Do you consider clothing a right? Do you consider shelter a right? What we have as rights is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Past that point, we have the right to freedom. Past that point is a limited resource that we have to use our opportunities given to us to afford those things."
Johnson then referred to comments made by Sen. Rand Paul more than six years ago when Paul compared the "right to health care" to slavery.
He said the task of public officials is to create an environment that grows the economy so that more people can enjoy the "privilege" of food, shelter and health care.

Ron Johnson, the guy whose business success was based strictly on marrying money, has some other perverted ideas of freedom.

In the wake of the Las Vegas massacre, this old quote from Ron is quite interesting:

“Does something that would limit magazines that could carry 100 rounds, would that infringe on the constitutional right?” host Chris Wallace asked Johnson on “Fox News Sunday.”
“I believe so,” Johnson replied

Yes you have a right to carry an automatic weapon and unlimited bullets as per the Constitution but the same document says that healthcare, food and shelter are just for the privileged few. 

Who would buy a class ring from this guy?  Much less actually vote for him to represent us in Congress?

American Fascination with Guns – Did it start with Harley Davidson?

American Fascination with Guns – Did it start with Harley Davidson?

In the wake of yet another preventable tragedy on American soil, Americans today are waking up to the news that more than fifty people have lost their lives and another four hundred injured in Las Vegas, NV. The social media sphere has been lighting up with thoughts and prayers to families of those injured or killed by an American who obtained a highly lethal automatic weapon to use against fellow Americans.

The debates will rage on about whether or not this is the time to talk about gun legislation as well as if this will cause a knee jerk reaction that will only make the situation worse. The question we should be asking ourselves is how exactly did we arrived at this place in time to begin with? If we find the answer to this question, then perhaps lives can be saved.

A lesson in history could possibly shed some light as to how America has become so heavily armed to begin with - why the fascination? In 1901, William S. Harley drew up plans for a small engine which was designed for use in a regular pedal-bicycle frame. Over the course of a few years, Harley and his friend Arthur Davidson worked on their motorized Bike in a Milwaukee machine shop. After finishing their invention, they found it unable to climb the hills around Milwaukee without pedal assistance.  

Of course, years later they perfected the engine, so much so that during WWI the US military purchased over 20,000 motorcycles from Harley-Davidson. It was the years between World War I and the Great Depression the company attempted to recruit more customers by advertising their brand to a younger audience by building plain bicycles. Besides the traditional diamond frame men's bicycle, models included a step-through frame 3-18 "Ladies Standard" and a 5-17 "Boy Scout" for youth.

Though the bicycle venture eventually fizzled, a marketing concept was born in America and that was to introduce a brand or product to the youth of the country in hopes that in later years the ROI in terms of bigger ticket items will pay off. The thought was “Hey I remember that as a kid, this is the adult version”, as such, we have witnessed kid gamers become adult gamers playing video games with more violence and gruesome graphics only seen on battlefields. Keeping this is mind, if you look around your home and you have kids of any age, do you see any toy guns (water, nerf, cap, or pretend)?  When you went Christmas shopping last year, do you remember how many guns lined the aisles? Probably not, but the next time you go to Walmart, Toys-R-Us, Family Dollar, Dollar General look around the toy aisle and you will be amazed.  On a recent trip to one of the above mentioned stores, I found in the two aisles of toys they offered, there were 31 different versions of guns, most of which, where non pistol, but semi-automatic in nature. (Boxes indicated for ages 3+) The guns represented approximately more than 1/3 of the toys offered.

Obviously, toy guns are not the root of all evil related to guns, but they are the seed planted in young minds and how those seeds grow are dependent on how they are cultivated throughout their environment. Taking guns out of the hands of toddlers would not be a violation of their rights but it may help change the culture in America. Legislators around the country should look at what is being marketed to young minds and how this sometimes has adverse effects in their adult lives. As parents, be mindful of what you buy your children, just because the neighbor kid has one, doesn’t mean your child has to have one as well.

RoJo: Healthcare, Food, Shelter Are Privileges, Not Rights

RoJo, Wisconsin's Dumb Senator, went to New Berlin West High School in Southeastern Wisconsin, to terrorize some students.

In a rare town hall type of meeting, a student asked RoJo if he thought healthcare was a right. His reply was jaw dropping in it's cruelty, ignorance and hypocrisy:

Wisconsin's junior senator did not hesitate: "I think it's probably more of a privilege."

He continued:

"Do you consider food a right? Do you consider clothing a right? Do you consider shelter a right? What we have as rights is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Past that point, we have the right to freedom. Past that point is a limited resource that we have to use our opportunities given to us to afford those things."

Johnson then referred to comments made by Sen. Rand Paul more than six years ago when Paul compared the "right to health care" to slavery.

He said the task of public officials is to create an environment that grows the economy so that more people can enjoy the "privilege" of food, shelter and health care.

The obvious follow up question would be how can someone live, much less be happy, without food, clothing, shelter or while very sick?

What RoJo omitted is the next couple of lines of the Declaration of Independence, which is where the "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" were named to be "inalienable rights":

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

What RoJo ignores is the very same document put the onus on the government to secure these rights, meaning to make sure that people do have food, shelter and healthcare.

Furthermore, if the government fails to provide or prevents people from having those rights, it is our right to abolish or change things to get a government that will do this job.

That would mean that RoJo, in his repeated votes to abolish Obamacare and his continued desire to do so, is actually violating our rights.

Is it any wonder he's such a full-blown Trumpkin? Any more, he'd be dyeing his skin orange and wearing a crappy looking toupee.

Cross posted from Crooks and Liars

Tammy You Can Do Better!

By Jeff Simpson

I received this email from Tammy Baldwin recently:

Tammy has emailed you. The team has emailed you. I've emailed you.
 Jeff— when we ran the numbers, we saw we needed to raise $50,000 through our email program to stay on track for our FEC goal. And we’re just not there. I really need you to understand just how important this is.
 If you know how important Tammy’s grassroots fundraising is, then please give $5 or more to help us get there!
 We've tried everything, and we're still about $38,700 behind. If we don't speed up our fundraising soon, we will not hit this goal.
 And we absolutely CANNOT afford to miss this. Tammy's under attack. Another opponent jumped into this race. We need this money.
 At the end of the month, the FEC will publish our fundraising numbers and if the corporate special interests and Mitch McConnell’s cronies think we’re weak, we’ll see even more outside spending pour in. And they’ll know we don’t have the money to push back.
 If begging will work, that's what I'll do. That's how important it is to get to $50,000 before the FEC deadline in 5 days. Please, please, please — contribute today.
 Thanks,
 Emily

The Senate is voting on repealing all provisions and protections of  Obamacare, the President is threatening to kill 25 million North Koreans and start a war, the Russian invasion of our election is becoming clearer, Texas and Florida are still recovering from Mother Natures wraith and Puerto Rico may never recover, a group of Trump administration officials were caught using private emails, racism, Misogyny and sexism are boiling over in America and The Donald keeps tweeting like he is a drunk at bar time trying to get even with all the people who bullied him.

Despite all of that, Senator Baldwin emails us an email asking, no begging for money because of some deadline that means nothing at all to anyone but politicians.  Lets remember the election is still over a year away.

Apparently, Ms. Baldwin is falling short of a measly $50,000 and needs you to send your hard earned money ASAP to her for who knows what exactly? 

I get that politicians need money to run and we are a long way from changing that.  I also get that her opponent whoever it is, will be incredibly well funded, so well funded that $50,000 will be peanuts towards competing with the money they will have.

The one thing Tammy always wins at is her message. 

So why is she spending valuable contact time between herself and her Constituents.  on a desperate begging email, that is beneath her?

It is my turn, Tammy, Please, please, please - Stop this ridiculous begging for money.  You are going to be underfunded compared to your opponent, so when you get a chance to connect with voters in the state, BRING US A MESSAGE. 

I know you can do it, I have heard you talk and talked with you personally!  You are one of the bright spots in an otherwise dark Senate.  Instead of sending these ridiculous emails, lets try something new.

Send us positive emails with a message with what the Republican controlled Senate is doing and how things will be different when we switch the control in 2018.   

We found out in the last election, that electioneering is no longer the same.  When America elected The Donald, and Wisconsin re-elected Ron Johnson, all old rules and tricks on how to win elections were thrown out the window. 

I am sure you get a decent response of people who you scared with your email sending you money, but the one question I have for you is -  How many new voters did you convince to vote for you because of that email? 

It is time to be positive, unconventional and informative so you can be re-elected to the Senate again next year!   

President Trump - Modern Day PT Barnum

Donald Trump has been in the White House less than a year and his repeated tweets, rallies and quotes have become a malignant cancer to a news cycle that feeds off the Presidents need for self-promotion. Many reporters, bloggers, analysts, and activists have weighed in on whether the President is mentally ill, egomaniac or a self-absorbed dotard. While some, if not all may be true, it is by no coincidence the president has modeled himself after a gifted self-promoter named PT Barnum.

The similarities are astonishing in the methodology used by both men.  P.T Barnum made many famous quotes over his life, however, “there is a sucker born every minute” is not one of them and we will come back to that a bit further in the article. However, this one, is probably one Donald Trump has written down and reads daily - Without promotion, something terrible happens... nothing! The quote does not indicate good or bad promotion, just promotion itself. Another quote that seems relevant today is this quote often associated with P.T Barnum – “There’s no such thing as bad publicity”.

Now keeping in mind the events of today and those of yesteryear are different, the strategy remains the same. In essence, Donald Trump made P.T Barnum’s biography into his own “Art of the deal” Let’s look back and compare the two.  

P.T. Barnum became a successful promoter after moving to New York City. Barnum opened Barnum American Museum and displayed the "Feejee Mermaid" and introduced audiences to "General Tom Thumb". Both exhibits garnered the attention of both the media and citizens around the county, however dubious they were people couldn’t help but to look. “Feejee Mermaid” was a supposed half mammal and half fish creature, however, it was really a torso and head of a juvenile monkey sewn to the back half of a fish. “Tom Thumb” another attraction Barnum promoted was a supposed eleven year old boy who only stood only twenty-five  inches tall and weighed a mere sixteen pounds. The hoax was the boy was only two years old and failed to grow an inch over the next year.

“There’s a sucker born every minute”  was said by a man named David Hannum , but P.T Barnum was the catalyst. A man named Hull created a plan in which he would have a giant statue carved and then buried, then subsequently, had it dug up and claimed it was some sort of ancient relic.  A group of investors, including Hannum, bought the statue for approximately $37,500 and put it on display for people to pay to come see it. Barnum could smell a hoax a mile away so he in turn had a bigger statue made and then trumpeted his as the original and Hannum’s was a fake! 

Incidentally, Barnum was also a politician, Barnum served two terms in the Connecticut legislature in 1865 as a Republican for Fairfield. Now putting this into today’s context with Donald Trump and his ascension to becoming the President of the United States, it would be safe to say he promoted himself successfully too many Americans (Not the majority) as well as Vladimir Putin in order to be the ultimate showman.

Trump learned early on that one way to win a deal is to promote himself as a business genius, someone investors would be willing to take a chance on in hopes of being like him (supposedly rich). He learned how to tap into divisive areas that would stoke fear into competitors either through hoaxes or legal annihilation. Trump built a brand and reputation around this, however, it didn’t always work out. (Trump University, as well as many bankruptcies) Donald Trump expanded his audience when he began appearing on National Television via his show “The apprentice”. The notoriety of the persona of the man saying “Your fired” to another celebrity, titillated audiences as there always seemed to be a villain within the context of each episode.  It also solidified his brand among viewers of the show and investors on Wall Street.  Let’s also not forget the “Birther” movement Trump inspired across American Politics. By all appearances, Donald Trump was a student of PT Barnum as he knows all too well that without promotion nothing happens, so when he wants something to happen, all he needs to do is hit upon a divisive topic such as Racism, Healthcare, NFL, wiretapping, fake missile launches, North Korea and Puerto Rico etc.

He will deliver hoaxes to the American people, Congress and anyone else willing to give him a platform to do so, without regard for the justice system or respect of the highest office in the land so long as the “Showman” is on the front page – good or bad. One last similarity between the two is Barnum also wrote a book “The art of money-getting” (Sound Familiar?) and his biography in which he allowed people to tweak/change so long as he accrued royalties. For Donald Trump, he wrote the book “the art of the deal” and allows his name to be rented on a spectrum of products, so long as he accrues royalties. The reality is that America and the world has witnessed a con-man elected to the highest office in the land – aided by Russia and the only one benefiting is the Trump family, while the fate of others are marginalized or left to fend for themselves. (America isn’t the only country with egg on is face). Let’s all say it together “there is a voter suckered every minute.”