Conservatives Pursue A Conservative Agenda

The NY Times really breaks news with this one:

Where Trump’s Hands-Off Approach to Governing Does Not Apply

The Trump administration opened the door to allowing more firearms on federal lands. It scrubbed references to “L.G.B.T.Q. youth” from the description of a federal program for victims of sex trafficking. And, on the advice of religious leaders, it eliminated funding to international groups that provide abortion.

While these initiatives lacked the fanfare of some of President Trump’s high-profile proclamations — like his ban on transgender people in the military — they point to a fundamental repurposing of the federal bureaucracy to promote conservative social priorities.

The aggressive regulatory effort, which runs counter to the Trump administration’s less-is-more credo about government meddling, has led to policy changes related to gun ownership, gay rights, reproductive choices, immigration and other divisive political issues, according to a New York Times review of government documents and court records, as well as interviews with more than four dozen people involved in or briefed on the efforts.

This is a long story about nothing but their basic grievance is that the progressive ratchet isn't working the way they would like. Per the Times it is fine for progressives to pursue a progressive agenda, as under Obama, but conservatives are betraying their principles by dabbling in Federal rules and regulations. Uh huh.

They do buttress their case with a classic quote from the only government official willing to go on the record:

“All of the things you count on the Justice Department’s institutional bureaucracy for — thoughtful, deliberate attention to process, including all stakeholders — it seems to have been thrown out,” said Sharon McGowan, a former senior career official who joined the Justice Department in 2010 and worked in the civil rights division until departing a few weeks into the Trump administration.

Ms. McGowan, the only former career official who agreed to comment for this article, noted that some of her former colleagues are staying despite concerns.

“Some are absolutely staying because they feel like they’re afraid of who’d get put in their seat if they left,” said Ms. McGowan, who now works at Lambda Legal, an advocacy organization focused on L.G.B.T. rights.

Wow, an Obama holdover left because Team Trump was insufficiently progressive. Breakthrough stuff. I blame Putin and hope Mueller is investigating this carefully.

Comments

[daddy]

The Horde has a number of God squadders, ranging to the cool Janet types like grammie winger to an irritating scold who shall remain anonymous, and there was a recent short debate on whether or not Unitarians are Christians. I'm pretty sure the answer was "no".

Charles Darwin wrote a short biography of his Grandfather Erasmus Darwin, who was a quirky but very intelligent guy, friend of Joseph Priestly and Franklin and a number of other smart boys of that generation, and u=in addition to writing a Poem suggesting Evolution, Erasmus said this about Unitarianism:

Charles Darwin: “He [Erasmus Darwin] used to say that 'unitarianism was a feather-bed to catch a falling Christian.”

[daddy]

Anybody have an update on the Senator Menendez Corruption Trial?

[Gentlejim]

Surprise, new thread.

[maryrose]

Article today in New Jersey Ledger says his attorney Lowell putting up a good fight and trying to set up an appeal. I think he stays even if convicted until appeals run out .
They have 10 counts against him surely one will stick.

[daddy]

NEW THREAD!!!

[JimNorCal]

So in terms of beer I'm hearing sentiments that can be paraphrased "I love it anyway" and "other foods have those phytoestrogens too, so there" and "small price to pay".

Ran across this comment on another blog, fits this topic:

Vivian Stanshall, playing a character named Sir Henry Rawlinson
"If I had all the money I'd spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink."

[daddy]

Thanks, Maryrose. Much obliged!

[Clarice Feldman]

Wait a week--they'll be giving the out free with every dozen hot dog buns you buy:http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/amazon-walmart-slash-hillary-clintons-what-happened-40-before-tuesday-release/article/2634030

[-peter]

Was anyone actually rescued by helicopter from the towers on 9/11? I seem to recall that wasn't doable due to the heavy smoke and heat.