I’m not sure which is more discouraging to me;  The “liberal media” getting sucked in to Donald Trump’s masterful manipulation of them OR the numbers of American citizens who’ve decided that it’s OK to vote for a fascist, racist, etc.  And, the saddest part is that Trump’s message is so dishonest and, from my standpoint, the “liberal media” refuses to “tell it like it is.”  We (in America) have evolved to the point where “both sides” must be represented in any political dialogue with no reference to factual material.

Now, I’m not a defender of Hillary Clinton and I don’t have the urge or the energy to “vet” all the “scandals” the right wing of American politics “create” for her – certainly, Mrs. Clinton has earned some of the vitriol – I just don’t know how much is true, and I don’t hear ANYONE that might be considered an investigative reporter doing anything more than spewing the allegations.  However, when Donald Trump stands before a crowd (as he did tonight in my home state of Washington – which, by the way, I believe he has NO CHANCE to carry) and makes the same disingenuous plea he’s been making lately to the “African American community” – spewing statistics that he’s somehow attempting to “pin” on Hillary Clinton (and Barack Obama) about the plight of America’s minority populations, and claiming they should vote for “Donald Trump” because “what do you have to lose?” It irks me that he’s allowed to get away with this.  There should be an ENDLESS discussion right now about the people Trump has decided to call his close associates – first and foremost, Steven Bannon, his “CEO” who’s a White Supremacist and has made disparaging remarks about African Americans that can at the very best be classified as DISGUSTING.

In addition, Trump is being “advised” by Kellyanne Conway who will say whatever she’s paid to say – and, say it in a way that if you don’t know better you would think she’s being genuine (that’s what I call an EXPERT liar).  He’s also hired Roger Ailes to be one of his advisors, so if you think the Trump campaign has been overly NEGATIVE, well, you haven’t seen anything yet.  And, then there’s the guy who was the “force” behind the Citizens United Supreme Court decision – I believe his last name is Bossie (or something like that – you can tell I’m being lazy because all I have to do is “google” Citizens United to find out).  Bossie has been CREATING “scandals” about Mrs. Clinton for years.  So, America’s “low information voters” – hold on to your hats!  Ailes and Bossie have been republican “hacks” for years – in Bossie’s case, those republicans remaining who could be considered even close to “moderate” don’t want anything to do with him.  Ailes, of course, was the brains behind the Fox “news” propaganda arm of the republican party based on Joseph Goebbels “Big Lie theory” and his “dirty tricks” go all the way back to Richard Nixon.

In the past couple of days I forced myself to either listen to or watch MSNBC, just to get an idea of what they’re “reporting.”  I would say I’ve been a listener for maybe three to four hours in those two days (and, I have to admit, it was all I could do to keep listening/watching).  In that time there was maybe five minutes (at the most) where Hillary Clinton was discussed and that was ONLY because the FBI had released the notes of her meeting regarding her email “scandal.”  (I put that in quotes because, first, I haven’t heard anything “awful” when actual facts are presented, and secondly, I can’t imagine being asked to divulge all my emails of the past so many years to the public – who else has ever been put in that situation?)  All I heard from the MSNBC “reporter” – I don’t remember her name – was her saying that there was no “proof” Mrs. Clinton’s emails were “hacked” – but, that wasn’t conclusive. ???????  The rest of the FOUR, or so, HOURS I forced myself to listen to/watch MSNBC went exactly the same as what turned me off to them prior – and that was TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP.  (and, when I say there was NOTHING else, I mean NOTHING – it’s as if the ONLY thing in today’s world that is “news worthy” is Donald Trump”)  They, again, in prime time, played the entirety of Trump’s disgusting speech in Arizona where he was sending “coded” messages to various groups that might be tricked into voting for him.  (how could he ask for more? a FREE national “stage”)

Of course, after they either show his speech or part of what he’s saying, then you get the “parsing” of the words by pundits who are either pro Trump or part of the “dump Trump” movement.  But, to me, what MSNBC (and, probably others) is/are doing is providing Trump with EXACTLY what he wants, and that is FREE ADVERTISING.  He’s getting unlimited national advertising without spending a dime.  And, I can guarantee you that his “advisors” are going to be extremely busy turning this campaign deeper into the MUD!  Additionally, these “advisors” are the experts at manipulating this FREE advertising.  And, apparently, MSNBC is a willing participant to being used for this purpose.  (after all, it’s all about the ratings!)

One more thing (and, if you’ve read my previous couple of posts you are aware of what political projection is – the Trump campaign advisors are masters of this “strategy” – if you don’t know, look it up) one of Trump’s rants, when he blasts Hillary Clinton, is aimed at her connections to Wall Street.  As of yet, I’ve only heard a brief comment about the FACT that a Wall Street Hedge fund manager that hardly anyone’s ever heard of is seriously funding (and “guiding”) Trump’s campaign.  His name is Robert Mercer and he’s not only connected to Trump, but he’s directly connected to Steven Bannon (and Brietbart “news”), Conway, AND Bossie.  If that doesn’t give you “pause,” well, I don’t know what will.  He’s also behind the “Citizens United” Supreme Court ruling that allows RICH people to buy politicians in SECRET.  Just as Trump ADMITS that when he “donates” money to a politician, he expects something in return – well, I think you can see where I’m going with this.  Mercer is far more wealthy than Trump and who knows how much he’s “donating????”  Or what he wants in return?  I have to wonder, is Mercer secretly who people are voting for in November if they’re foolish enough to vote for Trump?

Trump has shown himself to be a fascist, Bannon a white supremacist, Conway a liar, and Bossie – well, possibly “all of the above.”  If you remember back in the day when Newt Gingrich was first leading the “Contract for (on) America” – where the republican obstructionist plan was put on steroids, Bossie was hired by Gingrich to help with the anti-Clinton “investigations” that were never ending.  Both Bossie and Gingrich were forced to resign their positions due to “unethical” whatever.  I believe Bossie was “resigned” for inappropriately leaking sensitive material to the press (it has to be really bad for republicans to balk at this) and Gingrich, along with a couple other “top” republicans were forced to resign after it was discovered they were doing essentially the same thing as the President they impeached.  That’s the epitome of “projection” and they’re all good at it.  Put the BLAME on your opponent for what you, yourself, are doing!

I get the impression that Hillary Clinton is attempting to allow Trump to self destruct, but my thinking is that she needs to become more available to the press and put some of this “stuff” to rest.  I listened to Colin Kaepernick the other day and, I have to say, I’m sympathetic to his cause – which I interpreted as the issue of inequality in America for people of “color” highlighted by the number of Black youth having been shot and killed by police in the past along with a lack of accountability for the shootings.  What caught my ear as I listened to him was his frustration regarding the upcoming election and the way he described Hillary Clinton.  He essentially regurgitated the right wing talking points about Mrs. Clinton that she should be in jail.  To me, he sounded thoughtful up to that point, and then I had to think – where is his information coming from?  You don’t need to do anything but listen to Trump to realize he’s a racist, but it’s a republican fabricated LIE that Mrs. Clinton should be in jail.  Agree or disagree with her – and, I can see people disagreeing with her, I’m often one of them – that she should be in jail is ridiculous.  Mrs. Clinton, in my view, needs to very publicly address all this vitriol – because, otherwise, our “liberal media” will keep “feeding” it to “we the people.”

These attacks on the Clintons have been ongoing since Bill Clinton took office.  I’m not one to defend Bill Clinton (and, I supported Both Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders in the previous election cycles) but I’m past giving our “liberal media” a pass for allowing this stuff to permeate the “news” without proper investigative reporting.  And, the hypocrisy of the republicans is beyond the pail to me – this all just PROVES “it’s all about the power.”  They’re all worked up about some emails, but they said NOTHING when George W Bush/Dick Cheney were lying America into two WARS that are ongoing as I write this.  They said NOTHING when Bush/Cheney ADMITTED on national TV that they were WAR CRIMINALS by authorizing TORTURE (and, of course, Barack Obama and the democrats allowed them to “get away” with this).  They said NOTHING when it became public that Bush/Cheney were illegally surveilling their own citizens in direct violation of the FISA law (and, again, President Obama and the democrats allowed them to get away with this – I’m not sure which was worst).  And, they were deadly silent when the result of their policy of deregulating EVERYTHING and privatizing EVERYTHING (they could) led to a financial collapse that nearly brought us into a depression – AND, they said NOTHING when their “conservative” “free market” president and treasury secretary BAILED OUT Wall Street to the tune of TRILLIONS! (They did criticize President Obama for using some of the TARP “bailout” funds  to save GM and Chrysler – along with at least a MILLION blue collar jobs in America’s “rust belt” – but, of course, you wouldn’t expect them to say ANYTHING positive about President Obama OR Hillary Clinton) But, what they lead us to believe is that Mrs. Clinton should be in jail for using a private server for her email while Secretary of State.  Really!!!!  (and, obviously, people – like Kaepernick – are believing them – hence, the effect of the “Big Lie Theory” – right out of the annals of the Third Reich)

Obviously, having a nation that is ideologically divided is good for ratings for corporations like NBC (and the others) but, it is not healthy for our nation.  The press is SUPPOSED to be the “fourth estate” – meaning, it is supposed to be one of the checks on government over reach, etc.  However, in my view, the “press” has become more interested in managing or creating “news” in a way that drives up their viewership.  My guess is that MSNBC, for example, is doing the TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP agenda for no other reason than trying to increase their ratings.  There are investigative reporters out there, but I believe “we the people” have to look beyond the “sound bites” or the headlines to find them which might allow us to find out what is “really” happening with our government.  We are at a cross roads in American history – you read it here :o) – and, this election will be historic, no matter the outcome.  Even though I would much prefer someone other than Hillary Clinton to be the Democratic nominee, she will be the first woman (OK, that wasn’t a “tell me something I don’t know) president and, should Donald Trump (God help us) win in November, America will be led by a true fascist.  Either way, historic and trans-formative.  Should Trump succeed, I fear for my children and grandchildren as to the country those of us in the “Baby Boom” generation are leaving to them!