Trump's troll presidency takes another pointlessly cruel action

[dajoki]

Trump’s troll presidency takes another pointlessly cruel action
https://www.alternet.org/2020/01/trumps-troll-presidency-takes-another-pointlessly-cruel-action/

There is so much news happening in the last 24 hours that it feels like drinking from a fire hose. Others like our own Martin Longman can analyze the situation around Lev Parnas better than I can—and it’s a very busy weekend for me, so apologies in advance. But I would be remiss not to highlight one of the more minor stories of the day that might otherwise escape attention, if only because it puts in sharp focus the pointless, petty cruelty of this administration.

The Trump Administration decided to roll back the amount of fruits and vegetables given to school children. This is obviously terrible, so why do it? Well, because it was a Michelle Obama initiative, that’s why. Why do it now? It was Michelle Obama’s birthday.

<<snip>>

The administration says, of course, that it was just a coincidence and not intentional:

A spokeswoman for the department said that it had not intended to roll out the proposed rule on Mrs. Obama’s birthday, although some Democratic aides on Capitol Hill had their doubts. Food companies applauded the proposal, while nutritionists condemned it, predicting that starchy foods like potatoes would replace green vegetables and that fattening foods like hamburgers would be served daily as “snacks.”

Sure. The folks at Red State are certainly celebrating it as an act of aggressive trolling. So even in the unlikely event it wasn’t intentional, Trump’s base is reveling in the meanness of it nonetheless. Which is further astonishing since…don’t some of these people also have kids who go to public schools? Certainly they must. Do they not care about their own children’s health? Apparently not as much as scoring a point against their hated political opponents.

It’s just another reminder that we don’t actually have a government. We have a cult of grievance orchestrated by a cable news network for bitter, angry bigots with a cruelty streak.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I work in public schools and these are my observations of lunchtime in the cafeteria:

1. For the most part, the kitchens of public schools are closed. Food is not prepared on premises and lunches are provided essentially by outside caterers.
2. The fruits and vegetables come down to about 1/4 cup of sliced cucumbers or grape tomatoes; small salads with dressing; a representation on the hot food plate of corn, beans, cooked carrots, maybe broccoli; a small bag of sliced apples. IOW, in the big scheme of things, a smattering but necessary offering of healthy food.
3. Some kids will eat the fruits and vegetables; some will not eat any of it, go right for the cookies, and throw out the healthy stuff.

By "rolling back" Michelle Obama's recommendations, that doesn't leave a whole lot of fruits and vegetables for public school children. BTW, the tax dollars of their parents and non-parents are paying for the healthy food whose wishes are being subverted by the Feds. Not to mention, if you don't "feed the brains and the bodies" of the children at this stage, how can teachers be expected to teach them due to lethargy and/or physical inability to absorb information?

[Duppers]

9. Thank you!

[Farmer-Rick]

2. Trump is the biggest turd in a toilet bowl filled with crap.

[mucifer]

3. I remember watching an interview with Michelle Obama during the first year of trump

She was pretty clear that Laura Bush was very gracious during the transition from Bush to Obama. When she talked about the transition from Obama to trump she did not say much and her non verbal cues were very clear that melania is as ass. I wish I could find that video.

But, taking Michelle Obama's work on nutrition off on her birthday sends a clear message about hate and racism IMO. I know the deplorables are loving it and it will be the kids who suffer.

[B Stieg]

7. Like her husband, "Melanie" just doesn't care.

Found lots of newspaper articles on Michelle Obama's friendship with Laura Bush and on the awkward transition to the tRump White House, but I couldn't find the video!

[Harker]

8. Next thing you know, they'll be calling ketchup a vegetable...

Oh... oh, yeah.

[OMGWTF]

15. I made that comment yesterday and someone reminded me that tomatoes are a fruit...

which makes St. Ronnie Raygun's definition of ketchup as a "vegetable" even more ridiculous.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

33. As far as the debate on WHAT tomatoes are . . .

it depends on WHO you ask. A biologist will tell you that a tomato is a fruit, a botanist will say it's a vegetable.

[Ligyron]

34. and when geneticists produce a GMO'd vine that grows bacon alongside the 'maters

Why life in America will be just a perfect sandwich of possibilities.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

36. Now that's funny.

[58Sunliner]

4. "we don't actually have a government. We have a cult of grievance", and greed by and for sociopaths.

[OMGWTF]

16. THIS! THIS! THIS!

That line would make a great meme.

[lark]

5. Horrors - their children would not go to school with the hoi poloi, might contaminate them.

They must remain in the pure white halls of total privilege where they only see or deal with other white rich privileged kids - never having to soil themselves with the common folks.

[usaf-vet]

6. The administration says, of course, that it was just a coincidence and not intentional. Rightttt!

This administration never lies.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. The cruelty is the point. Oppress the people. Prevent poor people from getting nutrition for brains.

[Mike 03]

11. "The cruelty is the point."

This administration will be remembered--and unique--for its sadism.

[Pepsidog]

12. I sure hope when Dems get back in power there is no true Ning the other cheek. No let's move forward

these rat bastards must pay. Red states must pay.

[gab13by13]

13. It's just about winning,

more pizza should raise our country higher on the obesity scale. Someone who worked in a restaurant told me that pizza was one of the worst foods to eat, especially frozen pizzas.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Cancer wave later in life

due to Trump's actions on health and environment. This will bankrupt the health care system to say nothing of human suffering. This is not an unforced error.

[hay rick]

17. 366 days in this year. Only one is Michelle Obama's birthday. nt

[Evolve Dammit]

18. I don't think it was an accident it was on her birthday. He is obsessed with the Obamas.

I also find it totally plausible that he paid Russian hookers to piss on the bed where the Obama's stayed. It's very much in keeping with his vengeful, sociopathic, arrested development, sexual deviant profile. And yeah, there is something wrong with that, not just because he is a very damaged human being, but because he is President and his followers simply don't care about any of his mental illnesses. Even to the point of excusing and embracing criminal conduct.

[dlk]

19. This was a petty and spiteful move that only hurts our children

When someone is willing to intentionally hurt children for spite...

[Kaiserguy]

30. That would be the Republican party in general

they don't care about kids or women. If they did care about kid they have worked with us to address the gun problem a long time ago and they would respect the rights of women. Hell they don't even care about there own kids or grandkids look at the living Hell they are willing to leave them as our world burns.

[PatrickforO]

20. The Trump administration IS white nationalism

Everything they've done is straight from Storm Front.

I've just read Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist about how Derek Black, son of Don Black, the founder of Storm Front, and godson of David Duke woke up to how hateful and hurtful the white nationalist movement is, and how many people it has hurt and is hurting.

Everything, and I mean everything the right wing media says, almost ALL of the Republican talking points, are white nationalist.

It's fucking disgusting, and we absolutely must take our republic back from these louses.

[mopinko]

21. i have a friend whose job it was to implement this stuff. the blowback. omg.

and this was in CHICAGO!! and illinois. those red collar counties were.absurd.

i started really worrying about this country right about them. not the first time, but a new order of magnitude.

part of it is, as stated above, that they dont cook in school kitchens. but just as this stuff was starting to change things, and obesity rates were actually falling, and we started having a wider discussions, and things like free lunches for all kids, then kaboom.
quite the case study in wtf is going on around here.

and no, this is in no way an accident that they did this on her bday. they dropped the dog whistle for a bullhorn 4 years ago.

[greatauntoftriplets]

22. Before too long, they'll probably decide to hand kids the sugar bowl for lunch.

[WyattKansas]

23. tRUMP probably thinks...

That it is too generous if he cut a deal to just turn over school lunches to McDonald's. After all, he doesn't want anyone to think that he is letting all those poor kids have premium restaurant food.

[riversedge]

24. Cruelty is the point for trump. yes. it. is.

[AwakeAtLast]

25. I'm a teacher, here is what I have noticed.

Remember, I live in the REDDEST county in Southern Illinois.

School food is contracted out, so already kids are getting shafted because of the money going to the administration of the contractor.

To remain under budget while offering more expensive fruits and vegetables, all of the other food has become the lowest grade available.

Cooks are not hired, food warmers are. Food is prepackaged, taken out of boxes and warmed.

Fruit juice packed with sugar counts as a serving of fruit. Guess what is served almost daily?

Parents do not want to purchase more than one lunch for older (MS/HS) students who require more calories, nor do they want to pack their students lunch.

I could write more, but I think you get the idea.

Incidentally, before Michelle Obama, I rarely saw fresh fruits and vegetables barring a banana or apple slices.

[chwaliszewski]

26. Exactly right.

It’s just another reminder that we don’t actually have a government. We have a cult of grievance orchestrated by a cable news network for bitter, angry bigots with a cruelty streak.

All they care about is "owning the Dems".

[cstanleytech]

27. It's not a cruel streak it's a psychopathic streak.

[Demovictory9]

28. I saw the article yesterday. Didn't post it because I thought. '"what's the point" anymore

he and his minions work overtime to drag the country down. lots to repair

[Nature Man]

29. That will help grow a fresh crop

of future Big Pharma/Medical Industrial Complex customers/patients.

The same people bring you shit food are the same people who sell you the "medicine" to "fix" it.

[JudyM]

31. Same psychological dynamic is why I believe he was trying to get dirt on Biden.

[Grokenstein]

32. Hurting kids to pwn the libs! Kay Ay Gee!

[spanone]

35. I call bullshit, bet trump ORDERED it on Michelle Obama's Birthday....

A spokeswoman for the department said that it had not intended to roll out the proposed rule on Mrs. Obama’s birthday

[3catwoman3]

37. "Cult of grievance" is a most apropos...

...term, which I shall be adding to my lexicon.

[alfredo]

38. That move will hurt the farmers.

[Grins]

39. From the same people who classified catsup as a vegetable for school lunch programs.

From the same people who classified catsup as a vegetable for school lunch programs; and by "people" I mean "Republicans".

Nine months into the Ronald Reagan administration in 1981, proving they wasted no time in knuckling the hungry. Again.