The “damage” I keep talking about with Trump is building fast. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that is “deconstructing the administrative state” as Steve Bannon put it, AND is “making America less great.” Trump is busy repealing regulations that “make America safer” so that people like the Koch brothers can “make Americans poorer and dirtier.” It really is disgusting, but much of this is being done “behind closed doors.” From my standpoint, I’m feeling as if Trump is going to take us all over a steep cliff and there’s a MAJOR economic disaster in the offing among other impending DISASTERS.
Worse than that, to me, is the message Trump is sending around the globe as to America’s values and what our traditional allies can expect going forward. He’s kissing up to people like Putin, Erdogan, Duterte, and other dictators around the world and pissing off the Brits, the French, the Germans, and other traditional allies. The way I see it, “we the people” MUST take action in 2018 to SHOW the world this is NOT the real America. We’ve got to vote republicans from office en masse, and end the Trump administration if the republicans don’t do so once Mueller’s investigation is complete. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon (with apologies to Dr. Carson) to figure out Mike Flynn would not have gotten such a “sweet heart” deal had he not had information to implicate Trump.
Of course, as I’ve written in the past, “we the people” have to rely on republicans to “do the right thing” in regard to Mueller’s findings, and there’s too many republicans, for my liking, acting as if the problem is Mueller and not the FACT we were ATTACKED by the Russians and they are likely STILL here helping Trump. “We the people” have an obligation to prove to the world that we can govern ourselves and we won’t stand for anyone being “above the law” – which, apparently, is where some republicans want to put Trump. His own actions continue to suggest his level of GUILT is going to go way beyond the “Russia thing.”
America used to act to at least protest against nations who’s leaders would act against their political opponents by throwing them in jail, and now we have a (so-called) president who’s attempting to BULLY “his” Justice Department into doing just that. Trump started the new year with a “tweet” suggesting not just (the ordinary) Hillary Clinton should be jailed, but a list of others including James Comey. This is really getting out of control. Trump apparently spends his time reading posts on the most disgusting right wing web sites that are the home of the white nationalists and he gloms onto their conspiracy theories willingly. Whether he actually believes them, or not, they at least foster ideas in his head on how to fight back against the so-called “deep state.”
I’ve talked about projection a lot on this site – but, the “deep state” references made by Trump and his right wing supporters, to me, is a way to block anyone from understanding how there’s a bunch of rich people in America calling the “shots” for the republican party – the “donors” who were the beneficiaries of the recent tax scam. If there’s a deep state, that’s where it lies. People like Charles and David Koch – who are willing to spend as much as needed to reduce our government to a level where they can pollute or anything else they may desire without the government “watching.” They’ve long since bought the republican party – and, they are calling the “shots” from behind the “curtain” (picture the wizard of Oz) To me, that’s the “deep state.”
It was reported over the Christmas break that David Koch held a gathering of rich Trump supporters in Flagler, Florida – close to Trumps Mar a Lago – where Trump BRAGGED to those attending, regarding the tax scam: “You all just got a lot richer.” This coming from the mouth of the “rust belt’s” so-called “populist” president who was going to “drain the swamp.” The next year will determine just how STUPID those people are. Will they recognize the scam they’ve bought into. Trump’s betting that $50 a month will be enough for his “base” to continue with the “love.” The truth is, “We the people” just watched Trump and the republicans pour $1.5 TRILLION of our tax dollars into the swamp. (and, added it to our national debt) The world is watching!
The last thing these people (meaning Trump and those in the Koch “world”) want, for example, is a Justice Department that would hold them accountable for breaking any laws. Apparently, this explains why Trump is on the attack against the FBI, CIA, the Justice Department, and Robert Mueller. The American people MUST make it clear this investigation must be completed AND those who conspired against our nation AND/or broke the law should be held accountable. Trust me, if Trump is working with the Russians and we let him get away with it, we’ll all bemoan the day that happened. (Recently, Trump claimed he has the right to COMPLETE control of the Justice Department. – Just like Putin in Russia)
People like Devin Nunes in the House need to face accountability in the 2018 election. Nunes appear to me to be a traitor. I believe there’s two people running against Nunes and they both seem to be viable alternatives. Hopefully, the people in Central California are watching his embarrassing actions in D.C. These actions are likely why he refuses to hold Town halls in his district. Nunes support of Trump and REFUSAL to lead a reputable investigation into the Russian ATTACK on our nation during the election is DEPLORABLE. He SHOULD be removed from office by his constituents – although, his own republicans could remove him from his position in the Intelligence Committee if they, themselves, were concerned about this Russian ATTACK. This attack is no secret. Why are republicans acting as if it never happened?
In my mind, democrats SHOULD be attempting to get viable candidates in EVERY district across this nation. There are good Americans in every district that are not happy with what’s going on in Washington DC. Exposing the connection republicans have with the Russians should just be part of their message. People want health care, they want a balanced budget, but they don’t want the budget balanced on the backs of working people. They don’t want endless wars and the list could go on. The election of Doug Jones in Alabama should have shown them there’s progressive minded people everywhere. The other thing democrats need to do, as I’ve stated before, is welcome single issue abortion voters into their party. Inform them of the “other” they’re voting for when they vote in republicans and then have the dialogue about abortion.
I’ve stated this many times here – prior to Roe v Wade I knew of several people who had abortions when I was in college back in the 60’s. It will continue to happen after Roe v Wade is reversed if that happens. It’s true Trump is packing the courts with right wing judges – this is damage that will last well beyond whatever term he has in office – and the abortion activists love this. What they won’t love is the corporate tilted decisions coming from those courts for years to come. Decisions that favor the wealthy over the working people. Regarding abortion, my personal hope is that somehow we can reduce the “demand” for abortions. It’s such a complex subject, it shouldn’t be looked at as a “black and white” issue in my mind. Like other so-called “wedge issues” we’d all be better off if there was a dialogue between diverse opinions and we quit arguing with each other. There will always be the “fringe,” but most of “we the people” are somewhere in the middle and we need to, this year, stand up and show the rest of the world we’re not putting up with Trump and the Russians are not welcome in our politics.
I’ve said for years it’s the present form of the republican party that needs to be voted into the history books. People like the Koch brothers have pushed republicans so far to the right that they’ve gone over the “cliff.” And, Trump and the “tea party” are the results. They are ruining this nation and doing it while MOST Americans have no idea what’s going on. I’m trusting that much of what Trump is doing stealthily with his executive orders can be easily “fixed” in 2020 if Americans vote a progressive as the next president – but, 2018 is the year that may be the most important election since FDR became president in 1932. “We the people” MUST make it clear we want the Russians out of our country’s politics. PERIOD, end of story! (or as one republican I admire, Steve Schmidt would say, “full stop.”)
One thing the Trump’s so-called presidency has accomplished is to identify some republicans with high character and I put Steve Schmidt right at the top of the list. MSNBC has had many republicans on their shows and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some. I’m sure, they think much differently than myself, but I would love to sit down and have a conversation with them. Besides Schmidt, I’ve been impressed by David Jolly, a former representative from Florida, David Frum who worked for GW Bush, and others. Joe Scarborough and Nicolle Wallace are either republicans or former republicans (thanks to Trump) and I enjoy listening to them, although, again, I’m sure I think differently. My point is, there used to be a lot of people of high character in BOTH political parties and, in today’s “climate” the republican party appears devoid of people of character. The “signing ceremony” after the tax scam was embarrassing. I’ll say it again, the 2018 election can’t come soon enough for me – and, I hope the “resistance” continues to mount until then! It’s a fight for the heart and soul of America.
The republicans, in concert with Vladimir Putin, are attempting to turn one American against another. “We the people” need to be aware of this and start talking to each other. We are a diverse country – the so-called “melting pot” – and, like anything else we’re stronger together than divided. That doesn’t mean we agree on everything, it means we talk to each other and we come to solutions via compromise – a word republicans consider a “four letter word.” Young Americans don’t remember the days when the U.S. Senate operated with “regular order” as in the words of John McCain. It was a much better time – although, as I’ve said – there were, and there always will be, disagreements. What we’ve evolved to, thanks to the republicans (led by Gingrich) in concert with the media outlets who’ve sold their souls to the “Big Lie Theory” is a corporatocracy (the foundation of fascism) and a so-called president who’s a pathological LIAR, an almost unbelievable NARCISSIST, and wants to turn America into autocratic dictatorship.
America’s election in 2018 will be the most watched election in many years, and it will be watched around the world. If republicans succeed in turning off enough voters that the turnout is low – as historical mid terms would suggest – America could be in deep trouble. People in the nation’s who’ve been our traditional allies will be on the edge of their seats waiting to see if “we the people” have “had enough” or if we’re willing to allow Trump to continue destroying our traditional values. I’ve talked a lot here about the “damage” Trump is doing – well, we’ve GOT the POWER to stop it in November of 2018. I believe “we the people” will speak loud and clear!
Final thought: I believe Trump is in Mueller’s “headlights,” but, before he gets to Trump, I believe there’s a good chance Mike Pense will face accountability for “conspiring” to obstruct justice. Pense has come across almost like a “puppy dog” following Trump around and being obedient to every command – including NUMEROUS LIES, intended to cover up what happened during the campaign AND in the “White House” since Trump’s inauguration. Sadly, that puts Paul Ryan in line to “take over” if republicans impeach both Trump and Pense. (I believe Pense can actually be charged with crimes) Honestly, I can picture NONE of these as a competent president of the United States. Yikes! (If democrats retake the House, then it would be the Speaker who’d be “third in line.” That might cause them to choose someone other than Nancy Pelosi. Just a thought!