I still clearly remember back in 1980 (and before) when I started noticing republican politicians, at that time it was Ronald Reagan, making up the “facts” as they “went.”  Since then, most people I know have concluded that “all politicians are liars,” although, in my mind, there is a difference between “spinning” information to your point of view and out and out lying.  If you’ve never read “The Family” by Jeff Sharlett, I would highly recommend it.  Sharlett infiltrated what, at the time, was called the “C Street House” which was the home of a group of “conservative” politicians who were, and I’m sure still are, connected in a very secretive network of “leaders” who believe in authoritarian principles of government.  In order to succeed, lie if it’s necessary.

This group formed back in the thirties as opponents of FDR, the “New Deal,” and the labor movement which brought many of the privileges those of us in the working class have been taking for granted ever since.  They believe in “the end justifies the means” philosophy, and they were the ones who associated themselves with people from the Third Reich who managed to avoid the war criminal prosecutions post WW II.  Some of the world leaders they’ve invited into their “cells” include people like Suharto of Indonesia, who was one of the most brutal and corrupt leaders in the world – but, he was celebrated by this group (known internally as “The Family”) because of his authoritarian personality.  Some of the others they admired: Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, and in today’s world Putin.  I’m sure you’re beginning to see where I’m going with this.  While I don’t know for sure that Donald Trump is part of this group, based on his clear admiration of Vladimir Putin and his own Fascist, authoritarian tendencies, I’m guessing he’s somehow part of their cabal.

I’ve pointed this out many times on this website, but one of their main “strategies” – and, now I’m talking about those in the “Family” and by connection, those members of the republican party that have pushed that party over the right wing edge – is the “Big Lie Theory” of Joseph Goebbels, the head of propaganda for the Third Reich.  This is the philosophy Fox (so called) “news” has been built on and over the past few years it’s the general philosophy of the right wing pundits, “talkers,” and politicians.  It’s as if they’re all programmed from the same computer and they spew the LIES over and over until people begin to believe their LIES are actually true.  Reagan was good at this – it was as if he believed his own fairy tales as they spewed from his lips.  (The past three republican presidents – and many of their surrogates, should all have been prosecuted for illegal activity)  GW Bush was very good at this and Dick Cheney was near the master.  However, I believe they all have to take a back seat to Donald Trump.  The other day I “googled” to see if anyone was comparing the “lies” of Hillary Clinton to those of Donald Trump. One site which had done so compared them like this:  Clinton’s lies are like “misdemeanors” Trumps are like “Felonies.”  I thought that was pretty prescient.  I believe it was “Politico” which had compared over 200 claims by both Clinton and Trump and it wasn’t even close.  In fact, Trump had more “whoppers” (4 “Pinocchios”) than all the other 20 presidential candidates combined.

I bring this up because most people I talk to who don’t want to vote for Hillary Clinton say it’s because she’s such a liar.  Yet, they’re going to vote for Donald Trump.  Now, that doesn’t make any sense, but when you check out our “liberal media” it becomes more clear.  As I’ve said many times, when I can stomach to listen/watch “news” I tune in MSNBC.  They are supposed to – at least that’s the impression I’ve been given – be the “liberal” counterweight to Fox (supposed) “news.”  Well, MSNBC has given Trump an unbelievable amount of FREE airtime – broadcasting many of his “speeches” in their entirety.  Yes, some of the commentators on MSNBC attempt to call out Trump on the absurdity of some of his comments, but, they also allow him to “get away” with one LIE after another regarding Mrs. Clinton, Barack Obama, the government in general, the military, and I could go on, without any sign (that I’ve seen) of FACT CHECKING.  This is exactly what Ronald Reagan was allowed to do back in 1980 – so, it makes me wonder “what’s up?”  Are they simply trying to keep this election close – to improve their ratings?  Or is there more to it?

Keep in mind that republicans have passed voter suppression laws in several states that are designed to prevent something in the neighborhood of 10 MILLION people, mostly those in areas that tend to vote democratic, from voting.  They own the companies that produce the electronic voting machines that are easily hacked, and people all around the world are already wondering how this election can even be close with the republicans putting up a candidate that is clearly not QUALIFIED for the office, and has the potential for MAJOR disaster should he succeed in November.  (I haven’t heard ANYONE in the “liberal” media talking about this.)  Also, if you remember 1980, there was a 3rd party candidate that allowed Reagan to win (John Anderson), in 2000 there was Ralph Nader – who’s ego couldn’t allow him to see the damage another Bush presidency would bring, and this year there’s libertarians who clearly have NO CHANCE and are taking more votes from Clinton than Trump – it’s like Deja Vu all over again. (I’m guessing republican insiders are funneling money to the libertarian candidates)

Hillary Clinton has been bludgeoned by the “liberal media” (with the help of a right wing in the republican party that is creating “scandal” after “scandal” – none of which EVER proves to be worthy of the effort and expense they go through. (ie “Benghazi”) It’s as if they are constantly “beating the dead horse” as the saying goes.  One of their leaders actually admitted that the Benghazi hearings were designed to damage Mrs. Clinton’s “poll numbers.”  And, of course, when you listen to Trump’s surrogates, their answer to EVERY question regarding their (incompetent) candidate is “But, Hillary Clinton……..”  Their entire campaign is predicated on attacking Mrs. Clinton – and, mostly with LIES!  They are good at this, and the “liberal media” is allowing them to get away with it – rarely challenging the veracity of anything that comes from the mouth of Trump or his minions.

I managed to listen to a bit of MSNBC today and (apparently) the latest “scandal” has to do with Clinton referring to Trump’s supporters (or, I think it was half of them???) as a “box of deplorables.”  Of course, she was referring to the racists, the misogynists, the xenophobes, homophobes, etc.  I found it interesting that the person MSNBC was interviewing, who claimed Trump and him (Mike Pense) would never encourage someone like David Duke (presumably one of the “deplorables” although I didn’t hear him say that) to support their campaign was the Vice Presidential candidate himself, Mr. Pense.  And, of course, he’s the governor of Indiana who implemented an anti-gay law that caused people like the governor of my home state (Washington) to ban state funded travel to Indiana.  And, while no one on MSNBC brought that up, in response to Mr. Pense claiming they did not want the support of Duke, the former head of the KKK (I’m sure it was a “wink, wink” comment) the “reporter” for MSNBC failed to question Pense on the FACT that Trump’s CEO, Steve Bannon, is a White Supremacist and Trump has a myriad of connections with White Supremacists – who support him en masse – in FACT, Trump led this group (of what Mrs. Clinton called “deplorables”) in the so-called “birther” movement – which was the “thing” that catapulted him to prominence among this group of “conservatives” in the first place.  This is not a hard connection to make! (Now, Trump’s campaign is claiming Trump “believes Obama was born in America” – but, he will NEVER say this – he’s having it BOTH WAYS!

Honestly, I feel a bit awkward defending Mrs. Clinton because I’ve never been a strong supporter of her, but I have to say – no matter how this election turns out – I’m TOTALLY discouraged by the FACT there are so many Americans who are willing to support someone like Trump.  The worst part of this, for me (as a Christian) is that the so-called “Christian right” may end up being the “base” that puts Trump into the White House (should the unthinkable happen).  Are we looking at a recreation of 1930’s Germany – right here in the United States of America?  Dear God, I truly hope not.

Yes, I wish the democrats had come up with a better candidate than Mrs. Clinton (I believe Bernie Sanders would have won this election easily), or the republicans could have found someone palatable to run – remember, Trump defeated a group of candidates commonly referred to as the “clown car.”  Recently, Trump has been gaining in polls which was predictable when he hired Kellyanne Conway (an expert paid “fabricator of the truth”), Steve Bannon (White Supremacist from Breitbart “news,” and the “alt right”), and David Bossie a longtime Clinton antagonist and the force behind the “Citizens United” Supreme Court decision that could conceivable ruin this nation.  (The sad reality is that the Supreme Court is at stake in this election and if “we the people” want any hope of overturning “Citizens United” Trump CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO WIN!)  From my perspective, “the liberal media” is not doing its job in informing “we the people” about who’s behind Trump’s campaign.  Apparently, Mrs. Clinton was attempting to do this in a very awkward (and foolish) way by making the “basket of deplorables” comment – which diverted the dialogue away from, well, “the deplorables” – like Bannon, Bossie, and Conway – among others (including the hedge fund guy who’s financing all of them and I’ve only heard his name mentioned once – Robert Mercer.)

I recently sent FACTS from a website called “Politico” that had studied over 200 statements (claims) made by both Trump and Clinton.  (In fact, they FACT checked the claims made be EVERY candidate running for president in this election)  As stated above, Donald Trump is the LIAR “in chief” – NO ONE of the other candidates, including Mrs. Clinton even comes close.  In fact, what was surprising to me, during the primaries I checked their data base on “lies” from all the candidates and both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were about even and well “ahead” of ALL the other candidates.  Of course, my friend (a conservative who I think has been watching Fox again – yikes!) replied without discussing the “data” – he simply pointed out that Politic is a “liberal” outfit and, apparently, not believable.  (there was plenty of other evidence supporting the REALITY that Trump is a (maybe even pathological) liar.  I point that out because my (good) friend is voting for Trump because Mrs. Clinton “is such a liar.”  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that same thing.  “We the people” have been getting BRAINWASHED for as long as I can remember and this right wing assault on our nation has been growing like dry rot on a wood structure since the day Ronald Reagan was elected.  Should “they” (whoever “they” are) succeed in getting someone like Trump into the White House, I grieve for my children and grandchildren and feel it may be a generation before the damage can be “fixed.”  (God help us if Trump’s voters actually know they’re voting for a fascist)