The American public has been brainwashed into a ridiculously false “argument” (discussion, dialogue – however you would have it) regarding issues at home and world issues – with, what appears to me, a dangerously false assumption that the rest of the world looks up to us and is just hanging on the edges of their “seats” while the United States tries to get its “house in order.”  For example, I listened to the radio today as I was riding around (I forget which “news” outlet it was), and there was evidently a rally in New York City led by former governor Pataki (a member of what is being referred to in many circles as the republican “clown car” of candidates seeking the presidential nomination of the republican party for 2016) calling for the rejection of the agreement negotiated by the Obama administration with Iran.  The snipit I heard called for the rejection of the agreement (which is designed to – peacefully – prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon) because it’s so important for Iran to be stopped from obtaining, you guessed it, a nuclear weapon.

The alternative?  Of course, the only conclusion one who’s thinking rationally can draw from that position is that we have another republican running for president who is in favor of BOMB, BOMB, BOMBing Iran – in the words of John McCain back in the days when he was running for president.  These (now I’m talking about virtually every member of “the clown car”) are the same people who constantly criticize President Obama’s foreign policy (remember, they’re the ones who started all the wars in the Middle East during the rein of Bush/Cheney) yet are constantly coming out with “positions” that indicate what appears to me an IGNORANCE to the reality of world politics.  Which gets me to the main point of my thought tonight.  I’ve been writing for years about my belief that the present day version of the republican party needs to be DEFEATED and placed into the history books.  The damage they’ve caused is IMMENSE, but, if “we the people” don’t stop them, as the saying goes “you aint seen nothin yet!”

For some reason republicans act as if they’re “above” everyone else – including the leaders of the other countries around the world.  Keep in mind that the agreement with Iran was “hammered out” by a group of (I believe) six nations – and, of course, the United States is just one of them.  Apparently, the republicans feel they can “scuttle” this agreement and the other five countries (who are “dying” to again do business with Iran) will simply “fall in line.”  These people (the republicans) are beyond ARROGANT and our “liberal media” is so out of touch with reality that the American public stands a good chance to be “the last to know.”  For those Americans who are busy simply trying to raise their family, make ends meet, and “just get by” – who still actually trust that we have a “fourth estate” watching over our government (the media) – the eventual reality could be devastating.  I can picture in my mind leaders from around the globe losing patience with “we the people” – for a few years you could justify what is happening here by thinking we’ve been “hoodwinked” – and, assuming that “we the people” will come to our senses and elect leaders who actually believe in the fundamental values that made America great in the first place.  However, it wouldn’t surprise me if leaders around the globe were making contingency plans for when they decide “enough is enough.”  There’s no longer any reasonable excuse as to why our voting populace would continue to vote these people into office.

Keep in mind, the “crash of 2008” – which was largely the result of republican deregulation and Wall Street greed – in their continual assault on the remnants of the “New Deal” and the “Great Society” (OK, yes there was democratic complicity involved) affected the entire world – not just the U.S. economy.  Countries like Greece, Spain, and others are still trying to recover.  These countries were already upset with American foreign policy under Bush/Cheney when their incompetent management of the economy sent a direct “blow” to economies around the globe.  Now, several of these nations want to bring Iran into the picture by removing the sanctions (which, actually were increased and actually enforced by President Obama in an attempt to bring Iran to the negotiating table – trying to stop them from building a bomb peacefully) and gaining access to Iranian oil.  Do you really think they want America’s republican party to scuttle a deal that took almost two years to negotiate?

I believe the “leaders” of the republican party just keep on pushing their agenda (which is motivated by an insatiable greed) – you know, tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation, welfare for Wall Street but not for Main Street, and perpetual war as if there’s “no end in sight.”  And, unfortunately, they have a base – which, doubly unfortunately is largely “conservative” Christians who will continue to blindly vote republican as long as the republicans  call themselves the “pro life” party – all the while the number of lives lost due to republican policy decisions is almost beyond comprehension!  At some point in time this “base” is going to realize they’ve been used to further an agenda that is anything but Christian!  (If you get a chance, read Frank Shaeffer’s Crazy for God)

So, while the republicans proceed as if there’s no end in site, either “we the people” will put an end to their “antics” or, in my view, leaders from other nations will begin to isolate the United States and the process of, for example, replacing the dollar as the leading world currency.  I believe that if our Congress attempts to “scuttle” the agreement with Iran, the other nations involved will proceed on their own, and we will be left to lick our internal political wounds – as a first sign that nations around the world have grown totally impatient with us acting like we’re the “boss of everything.”  What do you think the result would be if China and Russia started getting “chummy” because they’re thinking they can put the United States “in its place?”

When you look at the last five years of President Obama’s administration, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand the republican party has put their almost obsession with destroying Obama’s presidency over the needs of “we the people.”  Yes, it’s become obvious that there’s a significant percentage of America’s population who continue to have views that are, at the very minimum, racially intolerant.  However, I continue to believe that it’s only a small percentage of them who agree with the republican agenda as transcribed by the Koch led faction – which includes:  repealing “Obamacare” (the Affordable Care Act – which is actually working), dismantling Medicare and Medicaid (I heard tonight that the reason Governor John Kasich was not invited to the latest “Koch-fest” – where right wing politicians pander for as much Koch money as they can get – was because he accepted Medicaid funds – which helps low income people – for his state as a benefit of “Obamacare”), “privatizing Social Security,” (yes, the same plan that was soundly rejected during GW Bush’s tenure – they won’t quit, they just keep pushing their agenda – and they will – until they get their way OR until “we the people” put an end to their madness at the polls), and, of course, BOMBING Iran – this list could be much longer, but I hope you get the idea!

So, my question is:  When is America going to wake up?  Are we so calloused to the political realm and ALL the politicians who have sold their souls to the monied interests (yes, the problem is “bipartisan” – it’s just that the republican “agenda” is much more dangerous than their counterparts) that we’ve thrown up our collective hands and concluded it doesn’t matter who we vote for, they’re all the same.  That’s EXACTLY what Charles and David Koch want us to think.  They are masters (along with others, many more successful at staying out of the “limelight”) at manipulating the system, they’ve been “at it” for MANY MANY years, and I’ve become convinced they will not stop until either they succeed or “we the people” MAKE them stop.  The Koch’s and their associates have UNLIMITED financial resources.  For example, I find it almost laughable that the present “leader” of the “clown car” implies that he can succeed without the Koch’s money.  Just as Mr. Trump apparently overestimated his own self worth, he apparently has underestimated that of the Koch’s.  They could “bury” Donald Trump with as much financial impact as me going to the local store and buying a Diet Pepsi.  Their threat to our system is REAL – but, the rest of the world is a different “story.”  We’ve allowed our nation to be part of the international economy.  We’ve allowed our manufacturing interests to largely abandon our nation.  We’ve allowed our economy to become more and more dependent on the “whims” of the international markets.  I truly believe that if our republican congress succeeds in scuttling the “Iran deal” – the international backlash towards America could be dire.  This would be an action that would tell the international community that America has truly evolved into a “war mongering” nation – and, that the Bush/Cheney regime has succeeded in ushering in a policy that seeks “perpetual war.”  We will truly have displaced the Soviet Union in the eyes of many!

I was reading the lead lines of the NY Times (as I do every day :o) and the first article today referenced the psychologists who enabled the torture program that was instituted by the Bush/Cheney regime during the invasion (and destabilization) of Iraq after 2003.  Today is over half way through 2015!  I knew about this close to 10 years ago.  The first thought that came to my mind was the effect of the Fox “news” propaganda scheme (and, of course, that of the present day republican party – since the so-called “Contract for America” – which I’ve always referred to as the “Contract ON America”) labeling our media as “liberal.”  If our media is so “liberal” where have they been all these years?  If you look back through the archives of this site (and, I’m just a retired teacher who decided to read a lot of books about what is REALLY happening once Bush/Cheney decided to do Viet Nam deja vu – ie Iraq) you’ll see repeated references to the issue of torture and how it was enabled – really, by more than the psychologists – but, the reality is that somehow Bush/Cheney got medical professionals to WATCH our CIA (and others) TORTURING Iraqi’s (and others) as a way to justify their ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR!  I’ve said many times, that history will not miss what REALLY happened – and, many in America’s hierarchy are going to be painted with a horrible “brush” when all is said and done.

First, let me start with President Obama – because I’ve voted for him AND I’m one of those Americans who wants him (and all presidents) to SUCCEED.  I’ve limited my criticism of President Obama as much as I can because of the BARRAGE of attacks he’s had to endure coming from the “right” since the day he was elected.  I even heard an interview the other day featuring the “new” republican “frontrunner” for 2016 Donald Trump (are you kidding me, I can’t even believe I just wrote that!) where Trump – while “doubling down” on his racist Mexican remarks (all the while saying “I love Mexico”) – “doubled down” on his position that President Obama is not an American.  They just can’t help themselves and they just won’t stop.

However, President Obama – as much as I would want him to succeed – will never be able to escape the reality that he let George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and many others escape the accountability that SHOULD have been earned when they chose to VIOLATE American and International law by authorizing TORTURE!  Essentially, as I’ve written many times before, Obama “undid” all the work done during the regime of Richard Nixon to prove to the world that just because a president “does it” doesn’t mean it’s LEGAL.  Essentially, by claiming he wanted to “look forward instead of back” President Obama sent a very bad message to the entire nation (I should probably say world).  The reality: if you are going to have a FAIR and JUST legal system – you MUST LOOK BACK!   When someone commits a crime those who are entrusted with enforcing the laws cannot do their job without looking back.  I said at the time, and I still believe, that President Obama’s decision to, essentially, enable TORTURE was a disastrous and regrettable decision – for numerous reasons.

First, do you think people around the world don’t know that America’s leaders (the supposed “beacons” of human rights) authorized TORTURE?  In fact, there was a court in Spain that attempted to prosecute the Bush/Cheney group, but was presumably stopped by President Obama.  (I would recommend to Dick Cheney not to visit Spain)  The investigations were stopped, but I’m not sure about the torture.  For heaven’s sake – we still have men imprisoned at Guantanamo Cuba who have not been charged with any crime and they’ve been there for, in some instances, over 10 years!  Three men at Guantanamo “tied their feet together,” “tied their hands behind their own backs,” “stuffed rags down their throats to the point that it would be impossible to breathe,” and “HANGED THEMSELVES!” (Now, if you really believe that’s the truth – I’ve got a bridge………. – you know the rest)  That incident was not even investigated.  A prisoner subjected to “enhanced interrogation” at Abu Ghraib was found DEAD in the “interrogation room” by the grunts at Abu Ghraib who ended up taking the punishment for the treatment there that made its way to the “liberal” news (no one EVER investigated where the orders came from making these soldiers think they were doing what they were told to do – well, no one who’s work made it to the “liberal media” – I’ve read a few books about Abu Ghraib and those who authorized the “enhanced interrogation”).  Is it hard for you to understand why so many in the Middle East HATE America?

So, our image was (possibly irreparably) damaged abroad – but, what about at home.  The decision to allow the Bush/Cheney crowd to go free sent the wrong message to “those at the top” in America.  When Bush/Cheney’s disaster was finally removed from Washington DC what they left behind was an impossible MESS.  Let’s start with Wall Street.  The nation’s financial system was collapsing as George W Bush (along with republican candidate for president John McCain) announced “The fundamentals of our economy are sound.”  Within weeks of making that claim Bush along with Hank Paulsen, the Treasury Secretary, were lobbying congress for what eventually became known as the TARP bailout – a multi-TRILLION dollar commitment to the very culprits whose reckless behavior put the nation’s economic health at MAJOR risk.  There was $700 BILLION dollars committed “up front” which made the news headlines, but “we the people” will never know how much the government guaranteed the banks of Wall Street going forward.  And, of course, true to their nature, many of the “culprits” took the bailout money and issued BONUSES to their employees – I’ve read multiple reasons justifying the payments; I’ll leave that to your own research – my point here is that The Obama administration, to my knowledge, failed to hold a single banker accountable for gambling away the savings of millions of Americans (and, others around the globe).  Honestly, that didn’t send the right message to those of us on Main Street.

I believe this timid approach to accountability for those at the “top” has filtered all the way down to our police departments around the nation.  Anyone paying the slightest bit of attention to the inordinate number of police shootings (that is, the police shooting unarmed civilians) knows that, in almost every instance, the police personnel involved face no serious accountability.  The arguments I’ve heard – that made the “liberal media” – have tilted heavily toward giving the police officers the “benefit of the doubt” in situations which clearly to me should be considered homicides.  As the saying goes in the African American community, young unarmed Black men are being shot for being Black.  With the explosion of cell phones with the capability to take video “we the people” are getting a much clearer picture of the reality in some of these cases.  Virtually every time a video shows up “after the fact” – the police reports prove to be incredible fabrications of the truth.  The reason – at least in my mind – is they can “get away with it.”  Similar to George Zimmerman shooting Trayvon Martin and escaping accountability, from what I could tell, because Mr. Martin was Black, and similarly the incident where Michael Brown was killed in Missouri.  My point, sending the message that those “at the top” are above the law – which is what President Obama did when he allowed Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and the others to “walk” has done immense damage to our legal system internally AND externally.

Recently, President Obama has changed his tactics, politically, in a way that I believe is invigorating many of the people who originally voted for him.  I don’t think I’m the only American who voted for Obama because of the terrible position the republicans put us in during the Bush/Cheney regime.  It wasn’t just the TORTURE they should have been held accountable for – the list is long.  I mean, shouldn’t there be some kind of “blow-back” when leaders lie to the public to justify INVADING a sovereign nation??  Isn’t “outing” a CIA agent tantamount to treason?  Shouldn’t those who profited off of the war they instigated be exposed as war profiteers?  Isn’t spying on American citizens without “probable cause” a violation of their 4th amendment rights?  (I’m often confused by “conservatives” who will support the 2nd amendment at any cost but seem to have no concern for the 4th amendment).  The reality is that the republican party will willingly repeat ALL of the above INFRACTIONS because they believe, simply, that they can!  And, they are going to spend BILLIONS in an attempt to gain control of the White House along with both houses of Congress, the courts, and our “liberal media.”  If they succeed in their goal (can you even imagine Donald Trump, or Ted Cruz, or another Bush, or Chris Christie, or Scott Walker, or Rick Perry – and, I could go on, the list is long – in the White House???) Obama’s failure to ENFORCE existing laws regarding the Bush/Cheney crew will be even more devastating.  However, his recent behavior suggests to me that he’d better take up the FIGHT (for the heart and soul of this nation) while he still can.  As I’ve said many times on this site, I believe the republican party – under it’s present leadership – needs to be SOUNDLY defeated.  In my mind, it’s up to President Obama to lead the way – and, somehow get those in the democratic party who’ve demonstrated a “lack of spine” to join the “fray.”

While I believe, from a practical standpoint, it’s probably too late for any legal accountability, I continue to hope that the investigation which should have happened in President Obama’s first year in office will still happen.  Despite the FACT this “news” regarding the psychologists enabling the torture program is really “old news,” maybe it’s a sign that someone has decided to do “the right thing.”  I don’t feel confident in this, but I can hope.  I mean, take the illegal surveillance of American citizens – which just kept on happening once Obama took the oath of office – despite the FACT that “we the people” should have been totally aware of this (I can’t find the book I read about the NSA, but this was all exposed well before Bush/Cheney left office) it took Edward Snowden to be the “whistle-blower” to get America’s secret spying campaign on the “news.”   Snowden’s info, telling us the NSA went (or should I say is going) beyond what was in the book I read – which, in itself, was disgustingly bad – should, if you believe in the 4th amendment and the rule of law, at the very least, be unnerving.  (and, of course, Snowden’s “reward” for exposing this illegal activity – presumably because it’s government illegal activity – is that he had to go into exile.  He’s in Russia!  Kind of reminds me of the 70’s in reverse!)

President Obama justified his decision to essentially “pardon” Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al by saying investigations would be a distraction!  The reality is that by allowing republicans to believe there are no limits on their behavior, “we the people” have had to endure CONSTANT distractions as republicans continue their assault on the fabric of our nation.  And, make no mistake, the republicans (despite what is being referred to as the “clown car” regarding their presidential “hopefuls”) might win.  If you’re old enough to remember, America elected Ronald Reagan (thanks to some expertly handled shenanigans) and he was considered a fringe candidate up until he got the nomination.  (Of course, he was a law breaker as well who “got away with it” as did his “cronies” thanks to pardons from George HW Bush)  The people who are funding the “right wing” in America are smart and they have UNLIMITED funds.  And, despite my friend Lars Larsen calling me an elitist when I refer to America’s “low information voters,” the reality is that America is teeming with “low information voters.”  These people are susceptible to sophisticated advertising, sound bites, and “wedge issues.”  Often times they vote against their own best interests.  So, assuming that just because President Obama said, America does NOT torture – well, BOTH former President GW Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney have publicly stated “I’d do it again.”  And, many in their party are right there with them.

So, I’ll keep hoping that someone in President Obama’s administration does the “right thing” and the TORTURE that was authorized by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and the others will be subject to an OPEN investigation.  And, someone in our government would make it clear to those who did this that there is a “price to pay” for being, essentially, WAR CRIMINALS.  Knowing that our leaders are NOT above the law, I believe, would be a great first step in the process of internal healing that this nation needs to go through.  Everyone KNOWS that TORTURE is wrong and that we were WRONG to condone it – and, by allowing the perpetrators to “walk” that is exactly what we’ve been doing – condoning TORTURE!  Just like the psychologists Bush/Cheney hired to give their program “cover.”

A footnote: Usually on Saturday mornings I have breakfast with a good friend who I would call a Libertarian – someone who views the democratic party somewhat as I view the republicans.  After our latest discussion, I just want to add that I didn’t mention Congress here (I think the two of us agree that members of Congress have been enabled to disregard the laws as well – mostly in regard to their accumulation of great wealth while “serving” in office – and beyond).  As far as both of us are concerned, the level of corruption in Congress is depressing – and, it’s bipartisan – that, the two of us can agree on.  The interesting thing to me regarding this relationship is that we can dialogue with on another, despite our divergent viewpoints, and both of us usually come out of a discussion in a better place.  We’ve often wondered if our leaders – no matter what their party affiliation – will ever get to that place in our lifetime.  I believe we’ve actually had many times in our history when members of Congress were able to put the interests of the nation ahead of their own agendas.  We (my friend and I) usually share our frustration of living in a nation where LARGE majorities of people agree on certain issues (ie – “the public option,” “ending the wars,” “the minimum wage,” etc., etc.) yet our “leaders routinely fail to act on the wishes of “we the people.”  We differ on who is mostly to blame.

I was working on a post which was, essentially, a refresher on the mistake President Obama made when he chose to “look forward instead of back” – allowing Bush/Cheney to leave Washington DC with no consequences for their illegal activity while in office.  To me, that set the stage for a lot of what is SO wrong in America these days – where those at the “top” feel NO fear of any prosecution for thumbing their collective noses at our criminal justice system.  I believe this attitude has filtered all the way down to many in America’s police force and we’ve all witnessed the arrogance and lack of integrity of police departments all over the nation as many unarmed civilians (mostly Black) have been gunned down.  I will finish that post soon – but just yesterday the tentative agreement with Iran, aimed at stopping their pursuit of a nuclear weapon was announced and those on the “right” showed why so many of us are embarrassed that they even have a voice in the national dialogue with their knee jerk reactions – in most instances by men who haven’t even read the agreement!

So, I decided this was not the time for me to pile on to the anti Obama campaign – mainly because I’m one who wishes for him to succeed and, basically feel that, despite the incredible effort of the republican party to derail his presidency, he is succeeding.  Heck, President Obama can’t even count on many in his own party to defend him – which is one of the reasons democrats are in the minority in Congress.  I have to say that I’m extremely happy that President Obama ignored the “liberal press” as they apparently want the U.S. to, as John McCain put it a few years ago, “Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran.”  I believe the Iranian people are not that different from “we the people” in America – they want peace.  It’s true there is an incredible hatred in Iran of the Israeli government, but the idea that we can just bomb them into submission is ludicrous to me.  I don’t know who the speaker was (I was listening to MSNBC on my car radio as they played sound bites of various republican responses to the agreement) who claimed that “this will be the cause of “World War III.”  That’s the kind of thinking (and rhetoric) that will guarantee no republican sits in the White House for the near future.  (I mean, for heaven’s sake – their present “front runner” is Donald Trump – you’ve got to be kidding)

I recognized some of the voices as I listened to this chorus of doomsayers chime in on what a terrible agreement this is.  Of course, these are the same people who have been panning the Affordable Care Act (AKA “Obamacare”) for the past 5 and 1/2 years – including something like 50 votes in the House of Representatives to “repeal it” – without even a scent of something different to replace it with.  It’s almost exactly the “same song” on this Iran agreement (which has been in the “works” for almost 2 years and was the “force” behind the traitorous letter from 47 republican senators to the right wing leaders of Iran encouraging them not to negotiate with President Obama’s representatives – because, essentially, those very same republicans could not be trusted to honor any agreement – one of the more incredible, and disgusting, acts by any group of congressional “leaders” in my lifetime) – the republican war mongers have offered NOTHING as an alternative – while, with the help of George W Bush/Dick Cheney who actually softened the sanctions initiated by Bill Clinton, they enabled Iran to amass a huge stockpile of centrifuges and fuel necessary to build a bomb – all while our republicans presumably are waiting for the opportunity to try their “shock and awe” treatment that they used on Iraq on the Iranians.  (I wonder if they even think about how that strategy worked in Iraq?)  Actually, it was President Obama who strengthened the sanctions imposed by President Clinton and ENFORCED them, that brought the Iranians to the negotiating “table” the republicans apparently want to avoid.

This republican policy toward Iran has been curious to me for many years.  (I know for certain they’d like to get their “hands” on Iran’s oil reserves)  If you’re as old as me – actually, you don’t even have to be that old – I was around (graduated high school) as LBJ used a lie to escalate our involvement in Viet Nam – so, my only surprise when Bush/Cheney did essentially the same thing in Iraq was that they, and our other “leaders,” had apparently missed the “lesson” of Viet Nam.  To me, Iraq was a “deja vu all over again” fiasco.  But, I digress – back to Iran – during the administration of Ronald Reagan – the “patron saint” of present day republicans, the American executive was ILLEGALLY trading arms to Iran (our “sworn enemy” – in defiance of our Congress) and laundering the money so they could support the “Contras” who Reagan et al wanted to undermine the elected government of Nicaragua.  Reagan should have been impeached over this scandal (well over 1000 missiles were shipped to Iran – who, at the time, was at war with Iraq – and Saddam Hussein – who we were publicly supporting with American weapons) but my point is that, just like today, the republican public position was that Iran was our “mortal enemy” while – at the same time – we were arming them to the “teeth.”  (Our next republican president – “Poppy” Bush, who was involved in the Iran/Contra dealings pardoned every member of Reagan’s administration who were prosecuted for this illegal behavior with nary a whimper from our “liberal media”)

One of the voices I heard (and recognized tonight as I drove home) was Dick Cheney’s.  Now, I’ve stated many times on this site that it is beyond me why this man gets to say ANYTHING on a national (or local) “news” broadcast.  (I put the word “news” in quotes because – if you missed it – I’m not sure if we really have national “news” broadcasts anymore.  To me it’s becoming “entertainment” with a slant toward news (that seems always “slanted”)  Why anyone would even care what Dick Cheney thinks anymore is beyond me.  He was the driving force behind America’s DISASTROUS invasion of Iraq in 2003 and he’s been busy trying to defend that HORRIBLE mistake ever since – including his repeated admissions that he authorized TORTURE and that he would “do it again” if given the chance.  The man should be BEHIND BARS!  So, I have no idea why he gets a voice on TV (and, usually with no rebuttal!)  People actually believe him – I know this because I know some older white guys (like me) who still watch Fox “news” and actually believe they are informed.  Of course, Dick Cheney would call this (agreement with Iran) a “bad deal” – I’m sure without the benefit of actually reading it – because he’s one of the war mongers who’ve been PROFITING off of America’s “war machine” since the day George W Bush took office (check out the “no-bid” contract history of Halliburton, Cheney’s company before he took the oath of office and how much he has profited off of the war he instigated – yuk!)

One thing most people don’t know is when Dick Cheney was the CEO of Halliburton, the company managed to find a way to bypass the rules that prohibited doing business with Iran and signed contracts for drilling for oil and gas during the Clinton years.  Bill Clinton had “cut off ALL trade and investment in Iran.”  These are the sanctions I mentioned above that the Bush/Cheney administration virtually ignored during their administration and left the “cleanup” of Iran’s push toward a nuclear weapon to President Obama.  Then, when the Obama administration negotiates a deal which virtually guarantees Iran will not get a nuclear bomb for at least the next 10 to 15 years, Cheney is on the “front lines” of those trying to undermine the process.  But, why would anyone think this would be different.  After all, the republicans have focused their efforts since the day Obama was elected to ensuring that he would – in the words of Rush Limbaugh – FAIL!  They blast anything President Obama does before any ink used in whatever the agreement might be, is dry!  As stated above – they are constantly responding to events with “knee jerk” reactions.

Here’s the rub for them.  Yes, they’ve got a stranglehold on most of our “liberal media.”  And, yes, Fox “news” still has a significant audience (of minions).  But, the reality is that republicans are falling on the WRONG SIDE of virtually EVERY issue that stands before the American people and the world.  From health care, to immigration reform, to Cuba, to the Middle East, and I could go on and on – republicans represent what is wrong in America.  People are shaking their heads because one issue after another have the support of HUGE majorities of the American public – yet our government fails to get ANYTHING done in response to just about every situation.  President Obama is taking matters into his own hands where he can – which, I might add, is invigorating the very “base” that elected him and has been so disappointed in his efforts to “bargain” with these right wing thugs who won’t rest until Obama has been destroyed – they’re too stupid (now, in many ways they’re smart – like in how to manipulate the “system”) to realize that “history” will get this all “right” – and, they are going to end up being a “blight” on America history.  From the Bush/Cheney crew who instigated the fiasco’s in Iraq and Afghanistan to these congressional leaders who’ve been spewing the racial “code words” for the past (almost) 7 years in their attempt to ensure President Obama’s failure.  In the end, they will make him look even BETTER!

This agreement with Iran really brings out the republican’s “true colors.”  They have no concern for the success of this nation.  Their only goal is controlling POWER and making sure that our first president of African American descent FAILS.  Everything else, to them, is secondary.  And, more and more people, every day, are realizing what the reality is.  And, each one who comes to the understanding they’ve been duped for all these years will be part of a significant “backlash” that (I hope) will either destroy the republican party or force it to reform itself and rejoin the “melting pot” we call America with policies that benefit the middle class of this great nation.  A large portion of the American people support President Obama’s attempt to solve the Iranian problem diplomatically (as they do with health care, immigration reform, Cuba, the minimum wage, etc.) and the Iranian people have responded to this agreement joyously.  I can’t help but think of how the so-called “neo-cons” will respond if we (America) actually establish a diplomatic relationship with Iran.  (One of my ironic thoughts was that the leadership of Iran probably views America’s “liberal” move toward “marriage equality” in the same vein as these republicans who are panning this deal – right wing zealots have more in common than they’d like to admit)

I’m going to end this by reminding anyone who’s interested.  The Iranians volunteered to help the U.S. defeat Al Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks and were refused by Bush/Cheney.  Now, we are dealing with the aftermath of that disastrous decision which is the spread of ISIS (or, as some call them ISIL or “The Islamic State”).  I remember John McCain as he ran for president not knowing the difference between Shia and Sunni Arabs – and, for that matter, President Bush blundering the same subject, yet the reality is these two sects have been mortal enemies for centuries and NOTHING we do will change that.  The Iranians (Persians) are Shia Muslims and the Iraqi Arabs are Sunni.  Saddam Hussein and his supporters (the Baathist’s) were Sunni and had been at war with Iran (Shia) for as long as I can remember (while I was paying attention).  ISIS is made up largely of the Sunni remnants of Saddam Hussein’s army that was “dismissed” by Paul Bremer soon after the American invasion of Iraq and is a major threat to Iran. From all I can tell, virtually every one of the republicans I heard tonight panning the President’s decision to make this agreement with Iran (keep in mind there were several other countries involved in the decision, so America could have been left on the “outside” had President Obama listened to these republican detractors) have also been condemning President Obama for the very existence of ISIS (of course, as I just stated, their existence is a direct result of decisions made by Bush/Cheney et al).  I can’t help but think of how will they react if the United States joins with Iran in an effort to defeat ISIS and succeeds?  My biggest concern is that, while this deal has great potential to initiate a true change in the Middle East, will republicans, in their effort to ensure President Obama’s “failure,”  attempt to scuttle the deal with Iran?

As I see it, in facing the worst “DO NOTHING” Congress in the nation’s history (they’ve been upfront with their obstructionism) President Obama has FINALLY gone on the offensive.  I hope the members of his own party “jump on board,” because I believe this could be the beginning of the end of the present day republican party.  They are looking more like the sixth graders I spent my career teaching than national leaders.  President Obama is “on a roll” and I believe he’s of the mindset that “what have I got to loose?”  He’s going to push for progress and members of Congress can either decide to jump on board or, in the end, face the wrath of the American people who – in my mind – are getting sicker and sicker of the gridlock that defines Washington D.C.

So, I have my disagreements with our president, but I’ll leave them for later.  At this point, I applaud him for taking aggressive action in areas where his executive authority allows him to bypass the obstructionist congress.  And, my hope is that these republican minions who carry the water for whomever is “pulling the strings” would listen to Chris Christie and “just shut up.”  To my friends who still admire GW Bush and claim that President Obama is “the worst president ever” – all I can say is maybe you should re-think your position.  Certainly, make sure you’re around other Fox “news” propaganda victims before you openly broach the subject.