The more I read, the more I realize this right wing “cabal” that is threatening the very foundation America was built upon, is no recent phenomenon.  Of course, when reading about FDR, the Great Depression, and the New Deal, you can’t help but be exposed to the greedy, mean spirited, right wing corporate “leaders” who fought long and hard to prevent unions from collectively bargaining working conditions and wages, they fought to prevent the government from taking action to put Americans to work during the New Deal and beyond, they did everything they could to prevent equality for women, blacks, etc., they’ve tried to – for many years – undermine public education, and I could go on.  The re-emergence of this group – I guess you could equate the modern version with the so-called robber barons of the early 20th century – has turned me from being an independent voter to an ANTI republican voter – because, there is nary a whimper coming from the leadership of the republican party to all the hate mongering, the divisiveness, and the greed that seems to be at the forefront of republican policy as we proceed in the second decade of the 21st century.  It’s almost as if they want to take us back to the second decade of the 20th century.

Presently, I’m reading Jean Edward Smith’s biography of Dwight D Eisenhower “In War and Peace” and it is a great reminder to me that in my youth there were many republicans who people like me – generational “middle class” – could admire and support.  In fact, the more I read about Eisenhower, the more I appreciate what a decisive, brilliant president he was.  And, as I’m being reminded as I read this book, Eisenhower faced the same right wing thugs in his day – in his own republican party – as President Obama is facing today (with today’s republican party).  In fact, it was Eisenhower’s insistence on standing on principle that led him to form a coalition with the democrats, led by Lyndon Johnson in the Senate, that placed him in rarefied air as far as American presidents are concerned.  Just two of his accomplishments which were made without the support of many in his own party (mainly the right wing obstructionists) and which have been paying immeasurable benefits to all Americans ever since were the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Interstate Highway System across America.

Eisenhower laid the “seeds” that “sprouted” into the Civil Rights movement in the 60’s and he had the courage to stand firm against the anti communists headed by Joseph McCarthy.  The American middle class has been benefiting from Eisenhower’s courage ever since, and now we find ourselves almost being overwhelmed by the same people he managed to marginalize.  The reality seems to be that these right wing extremists JUST WONT GO AWAY!  And, they are very smart and over the years they’ve discovered how to manipulate public opinion to the point where they are now expert at this and, compared to the democrats, it’s like “men against boys.”  A good example of what I’m talking about is how the people behind this movement fully understand what the framers of the constitution intended and they’ve figured out how to “get around” their (the framer’s) intentions.  Take as an example the Supreme Court.  I’ve always considered the court to be an honorable place for people who might have “conservative” or “liberal” leanings, but ultimately they have the best interests or the general public in mind as they have interpreted the constitution over the years.  Not many people understood what was accomplished by the “right” when they got John Roberts and Sam Alito confirmed to the court.  That led the way to “Citizens United”- a boondoggle of a decision I’ve been writing about since the day it came down (I have to give credit to Thom Hartman – he was the only member of the media who understood the significance of this decision before it happened – and, sadly, ALL of his predictions are coming true).  In Mitt Romney’s famous words the court, in “Citizens United,”  determined that “corporations are people, my friend.”  (those were Romney’s exact words)  The decision stated that money is “free speech.”  Essentially, there are no limits on how much money a corporation may spend to influence the outcome of an election.  OUCHEE!!!!!

We’ve now had one complete election cycle (the 2010 midterms) and half another (the 2012 national election cycle) to see the effect of “Citizens United” on the very foundation on which our government was based.  It’s not hard to understand why republicans will not vote to challenge this decision and why democrats are FINALLY scurrying around trying to figure out how to counteract it.  The money is POURING in to those who would advocate for the large monied interests in America and beyond.  Yes, I said beyond – it’s beyond my imagination how anyone could fail to see that foreign interests how have a HUGE say in who is going to govern in this country that I love.  To me, it’s stupid to fail to see this as most large corporations in America are what you’d have to call “multinational” corporations.  They have HUGE interests overseas AND they have many shareholders from overseas and, in some cases, even though they’re “American corporations” they are OWNED by people from overseas.  Hopefully, you get my point.  And, even if that wasn’t the reality, to me it’s just as bad to be under the control of people like Charles and David Koch, Sheldon Adleson,  and other multi billionaires who have the ability to “invest” hundreds of MILLIONS into the election – overtly – in order to get the policy decisions they desire.

Let’s just briefly look at what that might mean.  Charles and David Koch are worth collectively something north of $50 BILLION and they run a corporate conglomerate that has a revenue stream above $100 BILLION annually.  Additionally, they come from the farthest reaches of the right wing.  Their father was a founding member of the John Birch Society – a group that I had hoped had gone away after all the Civil Rights battles of the 60’s.  However, having a black president seems to have a lot of people coming out from under their hiding places in a way this country hasn’t seen for a long long time – if ever.  The John Birch Society was among a group that accused Eisenhower of being a “communist sympathizer.”  They were overt racists and were opposed to every good measure that became part of American society as a result of the New Deal of FDR and the administrations which followed – all, reaffirming the value and importance of a strong middle class.  They were able to come out from under their rocks once Ronald Reagan won the “White House” and they’ve been building momentum ever since for the so-called “permanent republican majority.”  They figured out the way to do this is to get a stranglehold on one party in our two party system, figure out how to gain power, and then DESTROY the system!

So far, it’s been hard to keep up with these people because it’s been easy to think they are still in the “margins.”  However, in my view, they’re one election away from possibly having the American public “where the hair’s short” for a generation.  If they are able to turn the money advantage into a return to the “White House” (I put that in quotes because I’m sure you can understand that, to them, it’s a literal term – and having President Obama living there is almost more than they can handle) and more control of congress, it’s going to be hard to get them out.  They will then control ALL three branches of government (the framer’s wanted to make this virtually impossible – but they didn’t envision political hacks like Roberts, Alito, and Scalia who are unashamed republicans who are willing to “fall in line” as the saying goes) plus, what most people fail to realize, they have control of the “liberal media.”  In fact, that Americans mostly believe we have a liberal media is a testament to the propaganda ability of this group that is behind the scenes orchestrating Romney’s campaign, the “tea party,” and the information “we the people” are privy to.

To me, the most significant reason to vote for President Obama in November is the Supreme Court.  These are appointments for life, and the “Citizens United” decision made it clear as a blue sky that more political right wing hacks on that court means a tougher battle in restoring the middle class as the driving force in this nation.  Scott Walker put the strategy well that republicans are using to pull this “heist” of our nation’s government off:  he was quoted as saying “divide and conquer”  in Wisconsin would allow his right wing agenda to trump those who favor worker’s rights, etc.  I still remember in 2008 how Obama was vilified for pointing out how republicans were using “wedge issues” to get middle class people to vote against their own self interests.  I see it all the time as a Christian who regularly attends church services.  The republicans have convinced America’s conservative Christian community that they’re the “pro life” party and they’ve used the abortion issue for years to cause people to vote for politicians who they should despise.  I’m not interested in getting into that discussion here, only to point out that the republicans, far more than the democrats, are willing to say anything that gets them into power – the end justifies the means.  And, they walk in “lockstep” which, to me, is the clearest sign that the party has degenerated to the point where they’re all simply mouthpieces (paid mouthpieces) for this invisible cabal that I feel is so close to achieving their goal of having  and iron tight grip on America’s political system and government.

Why is the Supreme Court so important?  Well, just the other day they decided that a law in Montana (which had been law for somewhere around 100 years) which forbid corporations from participating in their local and state elections  was unconstitutional.  The court evidently was saying that “Citizens United” is the law of the land and no state may challenge it.  The most interesting part of this decision to me is the FACT that the members of the court have had almost four years to see the effect “Citizens United” is having on our electoral process and they decided to take it one step further.  Evidently, the members of the court are buying into the idea of a corporate/government partnership.  I’ve written several times about how this is fundamental definition of fascism.  I’ve been writing since Obama’s election that we’re in a WAR for the heart and soul of America and the only defense “we the people” have at this time to fight back is the democratic party and President Obama.  I believe the gravity of the situation is FINALLY setting in with America’s “progressive” leaders – I just hope it’s not too late.  “Citizens United” has given the people who’ve been railing against the New Deal since the first day FDR was elected a “light at the end of the tunnel.”  The first step in reversing “Citizens United” is refusing to vote for another republican until that decision has been overturned. If Mitt Romney is somehow elected president (remember, with all the money and the voter suppression which is going on as I write this, it’s a distinct possibility) the Supreme Court will anti working class for at least a generation!  Despite all the wishy washy statements we’ve heard over the years, seemingly in conflict with himself, one thing is clear about Romney:  He’ll do whatever he’s told to do by this “invisible” cabal.

Recently a couple court trials reminded me of why I’m so disenchanted with my government.  Yes, I’m definitely going to vote for President Obama in November, but it will be mostly a vote against the republicans and Mitt Romney.  There are some clear reasons why I believe “The change we can believe in” isn’t quite here yet.  The first case I want to mention is the recent trial of John Edwards that ended in a not guilty verdict on one of the six counts he was charged with and a mistrial on the other five.  To be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Obama Justice Department went after a new trial, but that would just further make the point I’m trying to get across with this post.  As a person who would have supported Edwards, I too was shocked and appalled that he would carry on the affair and still think he might win the Democratic nomination for president or, short of that, get the call for vice president.  In my mind, Edwards deserves the disgrace he’s brought upon himself.  But, to have our Justice Department – in their evidently curious way – include him in their choice of selective prosecutions – well, it’s just as shocking to me.  To be right up front here, I expected an entirely different approach from the Justice Department once Obama took office.  That was one of the main reasons I voted for him.  He’s a constitutional lawyer and I expected him to restore the Justice Department to it’s rightful place as a “beacon” of our nation’s integrity.  When people question the fairness of our legal system, the entire nation is at peril.

The other case that has really bothered me is the trial of Roger Clemons, former ace baseball pitcher (whom, by the way, I was never a fan), for lying in front of congress as to whether or not he took steroids when playing baseball.  My original thought: of course he took steroids – during the period in question steroid use in baseball was rampant.  So, let’s just assume that Clemons lied.  My response:  Is that worth the time of a reported 100 Justice Department lawyers to prove it in a court of law?  Are you kidding me?  Here’s the real rub with this, because I agree you shouldn’t lie anywhere, let alone after you’ve taken an oath to tell the truth and your sitting before a committee of our national congress.  This, again, is an ugly case of selective prosecution.  Clemons is a BASEBALL player, Alberto Gonzales was the Attorney General of the United States and I watched him lie through his teeth REPEATEDLY in front of Congress regarding the political purging of State Attorney Generals by the Bush administration with nary a whimper from our Justice Department.  Why did Gonzales get a “free pass?”  And, there’s plenty more reasons to wonder why our governing legal entity chose Edwards and Clemons to make their stand.

Let’s start with George W Bush, himself.  Evidently, he learned from his father how to violate America’s laws (that he swore to uphold) without accountability.  Honestly, based on what I’ve seen in my lifetime, there must be an unwritten rule among people who assume the role of president to leave “well enough alone.”  I’ve watched President Ford pardon President Nixon (who I now believe was a victim of the right wing of his own party), I watched Ronald Reagan CLEARLY violate laws in the Iran/Contra “affair” and not have to do anything more than say “I can’t remember,” I watched George HW Bush violate laws in the same scandal as Reagan with no accountability – he’s got questions that should be answered that go back to the days of JFK, and then there was GW Bush and Dick Cheney who BOTH on national TV admitted to authorizing TORTURE – waterboarding –  (among other crimes) and, again, not the slightest amount of accountability.  Now all these cases were pre-Obama except for Bush/Cheney and I expected nothing less than detailed investigations of what went on during their “reign.”  However, Barrack Obama was not in office for long before he declared we were going to “look forward instead of back.”  What that evidently meant was there would be no investigations or, where warranted, prosecutions of the Bush administration – much to my dismay (and to the dismay and disgust of millions of Americans and people around the world that want to believe the United States really does believe in the protection of basic human rights – and a legal system which applies EQUALLY to all).  I’ve stated more than once on this site, if you took Obama’s position (looking forward and not back) to all crimes – well, there would be no more prosecutions.  YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACK to hold people accountable for their behavior!  Evidently with Edwards and Clemons (and, make no mistake – with you and me) “looking back” is OK – just not with Bush/Cheney and America’s “elite” class.

I repeatedly pointed out on this blog what the result would be of the above choices of President Obama.  For some reason, he must have thought (or been advised) that investigating the Bush/Cheney administration would be too much of a distraction and would cause a “backlash” of some degree interfering with his planned agenda.  Looking back, it should be easy to see the folly of that kind of thinking.  First of all, the republicans NEVER had any intention of allowing Obama’s agenda to get through congress.  The “backlash” was already “etched in stone.”  (In fact, I’ve said the only way he could have mitigated the “backlash” would have been through the investigations which would have exposed the “real” republicans)  All they (republicans) needed was 41 votes in the Senate – which they had right from day one.  And, for those who think Obama had at one point the 60 votes he needed, they weren’t being realistic about who Joe Lieberman or Ben Nelson or Blanche Lincoln really are.  (Once Teddy Kennedy died, that all became a moot point anyway) The time to go after the REAL republican agenda was the first day President Obama took office.  What we’re seeing now is that President Obama is finding himself in the position of having to do now what he should have done then.  The problem with that is it’s too late to hold Bush/Cheney accountable for the torture, the violations of FISA, the outing of a covert CIA agent, the TARP bailouts, the lying America into the Iraq fiasco, the blunderous policy in Afghanistan, the purging of the Justice department (where new hires had to take the equivalent of a GOP loyalty oath), the deregulation of our financial system, the Housing crisis, and I could go on and on.  What Obama accomplished by “looking forward instead of back” was allowing the republican spin machine to convince a significant portion of America’s voting public that he actually created this MESS – and for the perpetrators to “get away with their crimes!”

It didn’t help the president when he selected Rahm Emmanuel as his chief of staff – the consummate Washington “insider” – and then filled his “inner circle” with Wall Street cronies like Tim Geithner, Larry Summers, and as Attorney General Eric Holder.  For me, Holder has turned out to be the ultimate disappointment.  This particular post obviously is aimed at him along with the president.  I have often wondered what was the real motivation behind their timidity toward republican accountability.  Were they thinking that by being “nice” the republicans would return the “favor” and cooperate legislatively?  Is that what led to the constant “caving” as Obama sought “bipartisanship?”  I have to say that if that was the thinking, they are more naive than me (and, I’m right up their in the “clueless” category).  I predicted within a couple months (the posts are still on the site if you want to check) of Obama’s inauguration that he was risking being a “one term” president by taking this course of action.  Unfortunately, one of my other predictions has already come through, and that was the 2010 disaster at the polls for the democrats.  The American people just don’t want presidents who are indecisive – even if it’s just in appearance.  The progressives didn’t vote for republicans or tea partiers in 2010, it’s just that many didn’t vote at all.  I voted (I always vote :o), but it was easy to predict what was going to happen.  I just don’t understand why President Obama and his advisers couldn’t see this coming.

Now, I have to say that President Obama has proven himself anything but indecisive in many instances – ie  saving the auto industry in America (and, make no mistake about this – his 2012 opponent and the rest of the republican party was willing to throw GM, Chrysler, and what would have been Ford “UNDER THE BUS” in 2009 – that was a bailout that worked and was necessary to save MILLIONS of American blue collar [and white collar] jobs – and, it was orchestrated solely by the Obama administration) –  the decision to FINALLY get Osama bin Laden took more courage than the republicans showed for the 7 years following 9/11 that Bush/Cheney ruled – think of the outcry if the raid that killed bin Laden had failed – that was a decisive decision! (I’m predicting republicans won’t want to talk about this – remember, when Bush/Cheney were in office the famous Bush quote “I don’t know where he is, I really don’t spend that much time on him” regarding the perpetrator of 9/11 said it all to me.  9/11 gave Bush/Cheney and their supporters from the “Project for a New American Century” the reason to invade Iraq and push our defense spending [these people are mostly executives from the defense oriented industries] into the stratosphere)  I believe the president has come to “grips” with this “perception problem” and lately  has been attempting to “reconnect” with his “base” (people like me) with some very populist rhetoric.  The problem he has for 2012 (which I’ve also predicted) is that many of his original supporters don’t trust his rhetoric anymore.

What I’m trying to point out here is how misguided some of the decisions of the Obama administration have been and how they have done nothing positive for Obama or America, but how they are threatening at this point to allow republicans to regain control of our government – and, with the help of Citizens United – this time it could be a stranglehold.  I have to say that those behind the scenes who are controlling the republican agenda are having a clear struggle finding their mouthpieces – GW Bush had difficulty putting a complete sentence together most of the time and I’m not sure if Mitt Romney might not be a step down in that regard.  I can only hope that should Romney prevail in November (the thought makes my stomach queezy) that his incompetence as a political thinker and his clear lack of leadership ability will be so obvious that it will derail the “next” attempt of Karl Rove and people like Grover Norquist to impose their “permanent republican majority” on America.  I’m worried that Citizens United could allow enough money into our political process to actually destroy the foundation of our republic according to the “whims” of America’s corporate elite.  (remember, they count their money in the BILLIONS and they still want MORE)

The problem progressives have with a situation that should be a walkover (ie  1% vs 99%) – is the amount of money that’s going to come down in 2012 (we’re already seeing signs of this – Scott Walker was able to spend close to $100 MILLION to defend himself against the recent recall – think about that, $100 MILLION for a $200 THOUSAND/year job).  How much do you think the so-called Super PACs will spend to defeat Obama?  And, remember; there is virtually NO accountability for these PACs.  We’ll never know who’s infusing the money and there is no requirement for truth to be any part of their message.  I don’t expect Eric Holder to step in and attempt to insure there is NO foreign money involved, that NONE of the PACs are affiliated with a candidate (let’s face it, Obama will have his own “Super PAC”), and that people follow the intent (whatever that is) of the law.  Holder is continuing the Bush/Cheney/Gonzales tradition that the Justice Department is there to hold us “little people” accountable.  (I’ve often wondered, who in our government did Roger Clemons piss off? Why did they choose him? Why is lying about steroids worse than authorizing multiple tortures – some resulting in death? or outing a covert CIA agent? or sending troops to war based on lies?)  Clearly, the Obama/Holder tie to Wall Street has been a detriment to President Obama’s administration politically (it’s turned off massive numbers of “progressives”) and it hasn’t resulted in much positive from Wall Street itself in return – the reports are that Wall Street is SOLIDLY backing (financially) Romney.  Mr. President, do you see what “nice” is getting you?

Here’s where I stand.  Despite my disappointment with President Obama in many ways, as I’ve had to do for the 40+ years I’ve been voting, I’m picking the better of two imperfect options – and, Barrack Obama is such a HUGE upgrade from Mitt Romney that my inner self is telling me the American people are, despite my discussion of “low information voters,” not STUPID enough to go back to the “republican way” four short years after what they did to this nation.  Honestly, if that happens, I think I will go into a state of depression.  It was all I could do to stomach 8 long years of GW Bush, knowing that him and his cronies were ROBBING the American taxpayers of TRILLIONS of dollars that could go to education, infrastructure, good will to the many hungry people around the globe, and a list of things that is too long for this post.  The entire world was upbeat when Obama took office, and it’s like the air has been slowly leaving the balloon since those first erroneous decisions.  And, for some reason, presidents can’t admit mistakes – evidently we’ve convinced ourselves that OUR presidents MUST be perfect – but, based on the recent rhetoric of Obama, I believe his mistakes have finally set in.  I believe he’s FINALLY realizing this political battle is a WAR for the heart and soul of America.  Are we a nation whose strength emanates from the bottom? Or, are we going to continue the fantasy of “Trickle Down” imposed upon us 30+ years ago by Mr. Reagan (who, by the way, would be a liberal by today’s republican standards)?  Mitt Romney is proposing TRILLIONS in additional tax cuts for him and his buddies at the top – are “we the people” stupid enough to say “yes?”  (remember, not only is the health of our economy at stake in 2012, but if we get a couple more Supreme Court justices like John Roberts and Sam Alito, the damage of Obama’s missteps could last for more than a generation!)

The bottom line:  People like me, who consider themselves liberal (progressive) – honestly, it was only about 20 years ago that I would have called myself a “moderate conservative” – had better become active in trying to help President Obama get reelected – plus get a majority in the House and a larger majority in the Senate – or the future for our children and grandchildren will take a huge move in the wrong direction.  I’m sending what little money I have to people like Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, Allan Grayson in Florida,  and, in my case, the democratic candidate for governor in my state (Washington).  The republican opponent is a Scott Walker clone – and, the reality is there seems to be no shortage of candidates willing to do the bidding of the Kochs and people like them – “we the people” had better get educated so at the very least we know what we’re voting for (or against).  The Walker types are coming at us in droves and there is a national “plan” the right wing of the republican party has to pull off this “takeover” of our government right down to the state levels – state by state.

I’ll end by saying, as a teacher, EVERY person I work with has a college degree (most have Masters degrees), and based on my informal polling, the number of people who don’t even know what Citizens United is makes me very nervous.  Many of the teachers in my school are watching Fox “news” and believing it’s really news.  To me that is really scary!