The “stuff” is never ending coming from Trump and the “Russia thing.”  Originally, virtually every American – republican, democrat, and independent – stood together in wanting to know what really happened during the 2016 election.  At the time this information was originally publicized, people wanted to know if Russia could have actually had a material affect on our election.  Over the course of the next twelve months many republicans have changed their “tune.”  It appears they are willing to destroy the FBI, the CIA, the Justice Department, and, in the process, the confidence of Americans in our traditional institutions to protect a man who is, in so many ways, destroying this nation.

I’ve talked about what I’ve referred to as the “damage” Trump might do before republicans in Congress come to their senses and IMPEACH him.  I believed, once they realized their own jobs were in jeopardy, they would “do the right thing.”  Evidently, those “puppet masters” (like Charles and David Koch) who are funding the republican party and are the beneficiaries of the recent tax scam, are the ones with all the power.  They like what Trump is providing for them and they’ll keep this attack on our fundamental institutions going as long as they can.  As Trump recently explained to the Koch’s and their allies, “you all just got a lot richer.”  Evidently, there’s never enough for these people.  (Each of the Koch’s are worth upwards of $50 BILLION – apparently, not enough)  I’m sure they’re telling republicans they have enough money to thwart the “wave of resistance” that’s coming in November.

Not only is Trump “Making America worse” he’s having an impact around the globe.  For example, by pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord and the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) he might as well have given China the “gift of gifts” on a “silver platter.”  China, for example, after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris agreement – likely because it was the work of Barack Obama – one of the main targets of our so-called president – is taking the lead in the technology of alternative energy – like solar and wind power.  By the time “we the people” are able to correct the Trump (and republican) problem affecting our government, China will have, most likely, an insurmountable lead in this technology.  I guess that just means more stuff coming from China.  “We the people” can rest knowing we’ll be bathing in coal and oil thanks to the “genius” Trump.

Then there’s the TPP.  This was also negotiated by President Obama, with the idea of protecting America from China’s future domination of the economies of countries in South East Asia.  Well, Trump served up this part of the world to the Chinese – again, on a “silver platter.”  While Trump is “crowing” about how smart he is and what a great negotiator he is, the Chinese are “laughing all the way to the bank.”  Reports are the Chinese already have their own trade agreement in the works that will supersede the TPP and guarantee their dominance in this part of the world where a HUGE percentage of the world’s economy is going to be centered in the near future.  This is what can only be described as lasting “damage.”  Damage that very well may not be recoverable from in any form close to what President Obama was trying to insulate us from. Sad!

Leaders around the world have figured out how to “play” Trump – and, he will likely never understand what “hit him.”  While it reinforces his self image as a “genius,” unfortunately, “we the people” are going to be the real losers going forward.  While Trump is strutting around pointing out his “genius” they are laughing to themselves and finding new ways to turn America into a “paper tiger.”  Roll out the red carpet and tell Trump how wonderful he is and you’ll get whatever you want.  In the case of the Chinese, it may be years before we fully understand to what level they are benefiting from Trump’s narcissism.

I mentioned the issues with the TPP and the Paris Climate Agreement, but what about the recent tax scam where Trump successfully pilfered $1.5 TRILLION tax dollars from “we the people” funneling it to himself and the “puppet masters” mentioned above.  Well, where is that money coming from.  If you listen to Trump and his now buddy Paul Ryan they’ll say, “we’re giving the American people their money back.”  More than once, I’ve explained the fallacy of that claim – but, I’ll briefly do so again.  If it was “our” money, it wouldn’t need to be BORROWED.  However, the addition to the national debt will likely exceed the amount of the tax cut so, in effect it’s ALL borrowed money.  Do you really believe they’re borrowing it from “we the people?”  Most likely, at least in the short term it will come from the Chinese, the Saudi’s, some other adversary, or they’ll just have it printed.

The only way you could possibly say they’re giving us our money back would be because, ultimately, you’d think it has to be repaid and we’ll get it then.  Maybe the more accurate way to express the TRUTH about what they did is to say, “we’re taking a huge haul from your children and grandchildren and they can give you your money back if you live long enough.”  So, I guess you could say our children and grandchildren might be “giving us our money back.”  But, there’s another “hitch” to that as well.  “We the people” aren’t getting the money – well, by that I mean 83% of the money’s going to the “top 1%” which really isn’t “we the people.”  So, in TRUTH what they did is ROB $1.5 TRILLION from our children and grandchildren.  And, apparently, our “conservative” right wing Christians are willing to let them get away with this.

That gets me back to China.  Apparently, the United States economy is still considered the safest place for people around the world to invest their excess money.  Like in America’s treasury bonds.  (Well, unless you’re one of the “top 1%” who needed that tax cut in order to bring the TRILLIONS stashed in the Cayman Islands and other places where they can avoid paying taxes – that’s right, our “top 1%” essentially bribe our “leaders” into cutting their taxes so they’ll bring their profits home – “you can’t make this stuff up”)  There was a time in recent American history when people who espoused the present day republican philosophy of making sure the “rich get richer” would have been considered unpatriotic.  For me, that time is still now!

Let me go over this again.  Well, some of what I’m going to go over comes from my most recent posts.  While Trump is enabling the Chinese (and other nations around the world) he is also destroying the fundamental fabric of America.  The conspiracy to attack the FBI, CIA, Justice Department, and other traditional American institutions is threatening to turn the U.S. into third world status.  Now, I “get” it will take much more than what’s happened to this point – but, Trump is attacking his political opponents by directing the Justice Department to investigate them as a way to block the investigations into his own wrongdoing – classic authoritarian policy.  If he somehow succeeds, it could be the end of America as we know it.

I trust there will be enough people in the streets before “we the people” let him get away with it to make the “Women’s march” look tame.  But, keep in mind, the Justice Department is run by Jeff Sessions who has already soiled his reputation (what there was of it) as he’s allowed himself to become a “lapdog” of the president.  So, now “we the people” are depending on the “rank and file” of the FBI and the Justice Department to honor their oaths to the constitution – and, either refuse or resign when asked to carry out illegal activities.  Right now, it appears Sessions has relinquished to Trump’s demand to open an investigation into the so-called “Uranium 1” transaction that took place in 2010.

That entire transaction has been the part of partisan “investigations” already with the reality being it was an inconsequential transaction that had no connection to those Trump wants to attack.  But, his plan to do character assassination via innuendo through “Fox and Friends” will have the “ditto heads” who follow this stuff and actually believe it in an uproar.  Trump’s plan is to DEFLECT attention from whatever is coming from Mueller, which he apparently is aware.  I learned a long time ago – when someone CONTINUALLY proclaims their innocence – when nothing’s been alleged – well, they’re likely GUILTY.  I remain willing to allow Robert Mueller the “last word” on this, but the intensity of the “blow-back” coming from Trump and his minions suggests there’s something “there.” (here’s my guess, when “Uranium 1” proves another waste of taxpayer dollars “investigating” Mrs. Clinton, republicans will re-open Benghazi)

What’s the most discouraging about all this to me, is the silence coming from the republican party – or, worse yet, the republicans who’ve chosen to participate in the OBSTRUCTION of Mueller’s investigation coming from the “White House.”  I’ve mentioned this lately, I believe there’s members of Congress who could be opening themselves up to charges of OBSTRUCTION of justice in their poorly concealed attempts to undermine Mueller’s probe.  To me, if the president can’t OBSTRUCT justice, neither can the members of Congress.  Trump’s frantic attempts to find a way to “get away” with whatever it is he so fears is further dividing America.  There’s going to be a HUGE response to this investigation one way or the other.

Most Americans just want to know if Trump and his campaign were working in concert with the Russians during the campaign.  The more Trump attacks the “messenger” the more likely, it seems, the “message” will be unfavorable for him.  But, he’s making sure to “gin up” his “base” by attacking Mueller, calling anything coming from the media (with the exception of Fox “news”) “fake news” (and, remember, that term comes right out of the Russian “playbook”) so that his supporters will not believe any charges that might be brought against him.  He’s perfectly willing to see MILLIONS of Americans in the streets instead of trusting the American Justice system to be “fair and balanced” to steal a phrase from Fox.  This is unpatriotic and that will be Trump’s place in the history books – no matter how this all plays out.

Which gets me back to my main point.  Instead of “leading” America to a better place, Trump is taking this nation into, quite possibly, the darkest place it’s been since the removal of slavery regarding our nation’s “black marks.”  Yes, there’s been a lot of challenges over the years, a lot of fights among various groups for their rights – including people of color, women, and many others, but for an America president to purposely encourage DIVISION is, to me, unthinkable.  Until Trump, every American president in my lifetime – and, those I’ve read about – have always put the nation before themselves (my mind is causing me to pause as I think about Dick Cheney, but his was only thought to be “kind of” the president during the term of GW Bush) but, Trump is clearly all about Trump.  And, without a second thought, I believe he would ruin this country to save himself.  He’s relied on a slogan that was first espoused in the 1930’s (Make Germany Great Again) by Adolf Hitler, but, I believe, in reality you could claim that what Trump is really doing is “Making China Great Again.”  And, there’s not much “we the people” can do about it unless the republican party finds their moral compass – if any of those presently in power ever had one!  (I’m giving John McCain a “pass” – he must be deteriorating fast.  I can’t imagine him participating in what Trump is doing – “we the people” need some LOUD voices coming from the “right”)