If you haven’t read the so-called “dossier” on the Russian interference into the 2016 election you might want to do so before reading this post.  I read the “dossier” shortly after it was published by “Buzzfeed” which is an internet site I’ve visited only that one time.  Based on what I had learned from public information at the time, the “dossier” made a lot of sense to me as a credible document.  It was a document that makes Trump look really bad and should lead to his impeachment.  Many people wonder why Trump, to this day, NEVER says anything negative about Vladimir Putin and/or Russia.  Well, I believe it’s because the “dossier” is true and the Russians are holding the real evidence over Trump’s head as per his potential to be blackmailed.

To MOST Americans the Russians attempting (and possibly succeeding) in determining the outcome of an American election is fundamentally SERIOUS.  To Trump it’s apparently an issue of no interest and, therefore, we’re NOT seeing any effort on behalf of “we the people” by Trump’s administration to protect us from this happening again.  So, now we have investigations in various parts of Congress with MOST members of Congress realizing the serious nature of a foreign government attempting (and possibly succeeding) in determining the outcome of an American election and a president referring to the investigations as a “hoax.”

Additionally, there’s a very detailed investigation of all this by the FBI led by Robert Mueller – a “special counsel” appointed after the firing of James Comey in Trump’s attempt to BLOCK the investigation he refers to as a “hoax.”  Obviously, this “Russia thing” is not a “hoax” and the only thing left to discover is how bad is what happened.  I mean, what we’re really talking about here is TREASON – and, Trump, despite being called a MORON by his own Secretary of State, is smart enough to know what being accused of TREASON will mean to his administration – which would include him, his son, his son in law, and possibly his daughter – yikes!

Well, last night it was reported that Mueller has met with the author of the “dossier,” Christopher Steele, on more than one occasion.  While much in the “dossier” has proven true in the days since “Buzzfeed” published it, the members of the Congressional investigations continue to seem skeptical of its contents without actually meeting with Steele.  What I find interesting about their claims is the committee members claiming they’re unable to “connect” with Mr. Steele while his lawyer says he’s willing to meet with them.  Congress is less popular than the dog catcher and it’s not going to help their public image if it turns out they’re trying to protect Trump and blocking “we the people” from the TRUTH.

We all know Trump has a serious (pathological) issue with the Truth and we know that members of Congress are essentially “bought” by moneyed interests – BUT if it turns out those in Congress FAIL to protect us from Russia ATTACKING our most fundamental value (privilege) there had better be “hell to pay” for them the next time they face  an election.  Yes, there’s HUGE divisions in this nation – much of it provoked by the ACTUAL “fake news” that the Russians are strategically placing in places where many people are susceptible to their LIES.  But there should be NO disagreement among “we the people” that our elections SHOULD be free from foreign intervention.

I’ve listened to Chuck Grassley, the republican head of the Senate Finance Committee, on several occasions attempt to block parts of the investigation into the “Russia thing” and  try to block use of the “dossier” as part of the investigations.  Well, here’s the TRUTH.  If the members of Congress LIE to “we the people” about the availability of Mr. Steele we will know that the republicans in Congress are attempting to do the same thing Trump was trying to do when he fired Comey – and, that’s to block the investigation. (ie, “obstruct justice” – a serious felony)

Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if the section of the “dossier” describing the “golden showers” (you’ll have to read the dossier to know what that means – if you want to read it click here) is true and the rumors there’s a video of this would have to scare Trump into just about anything the Russians would want from him.  (It would also prove the severity of Trump’s racist nature)  Apparently, they’ve been collecting “compromising” material on Trump for a period of years.  This is how the Russians work as far as creating “patsies” they can use for their own purposes.  I have to believe Trump as president has exceeded their wildest dreams (other than we now understand what Russia did – which makes Trump a compromised “tool”).

Unfortunately, many republicans continue to delude themselves into thinking Trump can be a reliable leader of their party.  It’s apparently going to take confirmation of the most egregious allegations to bring the republicans to their senses so that they do what they should – which is IMPEACH him.  In the MEAN TIME it’s likely NOTHING will get done in Congress (at least we can hope) but, Trump will continue to cause “DAMAGE” in ways where he can bypass Congress via executive orders.  In the process the rights of people he targets, the environment, and potentially the nation’s health care system – and, who knows what else he might target – could suffer very consequential damage.

I’ve written MANY TIMES the outcomes resulting from the Trump administration are completely on republicans.  However, the bottom line is it’s up to “we the people,” ultimately, to fix this problem.  If progressive Americans continue to be complacent when it’s time to vote, when it’s time to take the effort to educate themselves on the issues, and when it’s time to stand up for their fundamental beliefs in conversations with those around them we could continue to be subjected to this right wing assault on our nation’s government.  There was a HUGE “protest” to Trump’s election on the day following his taking the “oath” – republicans in Congress are going to make us wait until the elections of 2018 to find out if that “resistance” is real.  We can hope!

From what I can tell, here’s the dilemma of those republicans in Congress that have no moral compass aside from their own reelection.  They have to decide if they’re going to continue holding their noses and attempting to push through Trump’s (and, in the case of HUGE tax cuts for their donors their) agenda in the face of OVERWHELMING public OPPOSITION or actually STOP all the LYING and attempt to actually do what a large majority of Americans would like to see them accomplish.  If you even have a short term memory (I say that because, at 70, I’m wondering about my own) you know the one week where Trump’s approval ratings rose was after the agreement with “Chuck and Nancy” which kicked the debt crisis “down the road” for three months.

Now, I fully understand that the LYING will NOT stop and the push for the draconian legislation will continue – and, most likely (I can hope) will continue to FAIL – unless Mitch McConnell, in an act of desperation, actually does end the filibuster in the Senate – because of one important reason.  The republican members of Congress DEPEND on huge checks coming in regularly from their so-called “donor class.”  These are the people who have so much money they don’t know what to do with it all, so they’ve developed the habit of giving it to republicans in return for constant attempts to LOWER their taxes.  Right now, they’re not happy.  With Trump as president and republicans in control of Congress virtually NOTHING of consequence has been accomplished.

I’ve read reports from multiple sources that the “donors” are starting to refuse to “donate.”  They don’t like what they’re seeing in Washington DC for an entirely different reason people like me don’t like what we’re seeing.  And, the battle goes on.  If the people in the “rust belt” actually understood where the corruption in Congress was coming from and who the major benefactors are I believe they’d be more inclined to “get” that republicans are not their friends.  The reality, however, is those with the money are PUSHING their “puppets” to get them a return on their “investment.”  At some point, the ACTUAL battle in America will be PUBLICLY defined.  It almost seems to me it’s simply the wealthy “class” against the rest of us – they believe those with the MONEY should rule.  It’s a form of fascism!  As I’ve said many times on this site – the saddest part in all this is their “base” is the “Christian right.”

So, if you’re at all like-minded with me, get ready for another in the “never ending” fight to save the ideals put forth in the “New Deal” and “Great Society” – the ideals that actually did MAKE AMERICA GREAT.  Reports of the republican budget proposal (I believe it was actually passed in the House) call for cuts of $500 BILLION to Medicare – including increasing the eligibility date to a person’s 67th birthday – AND $1.5 TRILLION in cuts to Medicaid.  These are the cuts they couldn’t get through in their “health care” proposal – so, it’s in their budget.  And, the cuts are necessary to offset the HUGE tax cuts they have aimed directly at people like our president.  Like I’ve said, they NEVER take “no” for an answer.  The ONLY solution to this attack on the ideals that made America great is to vote out republicans FOREVER!

While republicans SHOULD be impeaching Trump for his many transgressions – including obstructing the investigation into Russia’s ATTACK on our prized fundamental right – voting – they’re, instead, continuing to use the FACT Trump will sign anything they can manage to put in front of him as a way to achieve cuts to social services that will be life threatening to many Americans.  It’s actually hard for me to believe we’ve fallen to this point.  Just as, as a Christian, I have a sense of obligation to share the “good news” of Christ, as an American I feel an obligation to share the BAD NEWS of Trump and the republicans.

Final Thought:  Republicans have been “laughing all the way to the bank” since the days of Ronald Reagan.  They’ve evolved to the point where their agenda can simply be defined as “greed run amok.”  There’s no end to how much money they feel they can STEAL from “we the people” and they’ve adopted “the Big Lie Theory” of the Nazi’s to pull this off.  If you’re a republican reading this – look closely at Trump and his surrogates.  You’ll see many many similarities to Nazi behavior. (Trump actually had supporters giving the “heil” salute at one of his campaign rallies just as his campaign “motto” was a copy of Hitler’s “Make Germany Great Again” motto)  If Trump and the republicans are not STOPPED America may never recover.

To the democratic leaders – It’s time to get your “butts” into middle America – like the rust belt – and educate voters there why they’re getting “jobbed” by republicans and give them a reason to “come home” to the democratic party.  (disclaimer: I’m not a democrat or republican – I just “get” we have a two party system, so we’ve got to do the best with it that we can)  Your message can’t always be “anti Trump” or “anti republican” – DEFEND what you’re for!  And, while people like Roy Moore are winning elections in the South – I believe “progressives” should be actively convincing those people why republicans are screwing them over.  This would require the democratic party to accept – willingly – people who oppose abortions.