I Know I’m always writing about republicans in negative terms so I want to start this by attempting to point out what they’re good at.  So, here goes…….. (this could be hard) One thing they (at least in the past, while democrats were “sleeping”) have been very good at is gerrymandering.  That is, creating legislative districts where they are likely to win elections no matter how absurd their policies – where they have what are called “safe seats.”  This follows another example of their expertise which is voter suppression that works to accomplish the same end – which is win elections even when in the minority.  Paul Weyrich put it famously, “The fewer people vote the more we win.”  With “good” gerrymandering republicans have set up districts nation wide so that despite gaining close to 2 MILLION less votes than democrats, again, this is nationwide – in the last two elections – they retain a strong majority in the House.

Another thing republicans are really good at – which may explain the reason Trump is now our so-called president – is LYING.  We all now know that Trump has been documented to have LIED over 2000 times (that can be publicly proven) in his FIRST year in office.  Not only do the American people understand he’s a pathological LIAR, but – sadly – people around the world know as well.  Mike Pense and virtually everyone else in the administration has shown a willingness to LIE.  Paul Ryan LIED about the tax cut, Mitch McConnell……….  hopefully, you get the point.  They’re good at this.  Additionally, until Trump came along, MANY republicans (not all) were very good at shielding the FACT they’re racist.  He’s helping to get this more out into the open.

Now, for those of you who are sensitive to bringing up the so-called “race card,”  I’ve written recently how I believe we all have issues in this area to a certain degree.  But, I’m talking here about people who are set on believing America is a “White” nation, and who are coming along side Trump as he attempts to send people “back to Africa.”  (and Haiti, and El Salvador, and virtually all other places predominantly inhabited by non-whites who have immigrants in America.  The ones he can “send back” are the ones with TPS standing – the TPS – Temporary Protected Status – also currently protects people from Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – people from these places are being protected from some sort of serious danger – and, by  now, you must know how Trump referred to their countries)  I’ve digressed………. Trump is making it easier for all to know how good many republicans have been at hiding their racism.

Of course, while many people are criticizing republicans as I’m writing this for being unable to govern as ANOTHER government “shutdown” looms it seems they have “short term memory loss.”  Just last month they passed a bill!  This was republicans at their best – some call it “the reverse Robin Hood” theory of governing – but I believe the best way to describe it is STEALING.  Republicans call it “tax overhauls.”  This is where the wealthy in America HAUL huge amounts of taxpayer dollars to their banks on Wall Street or who knows where while “we the people” fight for the “scraps.”  Actually, republicans call these pilferings “middle class tax cuts.” And, they are really good at convincing unsuspecting working class Americans the rich people who benefit from the tax cuts will “trickle” a bit down to the minions.  I’m not kidding, republicans are really good at this.

I guess you’d have to say the STEALING and LYING goes hand in hand.  As I said, this most recent example of the “tax cut” being called a “middle class tax cut” was an incredibly creative LIE.  It appears “we the people” are getting suspicious.  Apparently, every day Americans have heard the saying “fool me once, shame on you – fool me twice shame on…….. I guess we’re still at “you” – fool me three times, shame on me.”  (Did this saying come from GW Bush?)  This “tax cut” was one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation in recent memory because apparently Americans are beginning to understand their tax dollars going to the top 1% isn’t such a great idea and the FACT it’s almost always borrowed money is beginning to get “we the people’s” attention.  So, what “we the people” get out of these tax cuts (tax scams) is a nation that’s much more deeper in debt (for our children and grand children) and an increase in the problem of income inequality.  I have to wonder at what point right wing, working class Americans are going to wonder whether being used over the abortion issue is worth bankrupting our nation.  Many of us in the category “we the people” actually are tired of allowing ourselves to be pilfered.

Now let’s just take a quick look at how arrogant this last tax cut was – to me, meaning the LYING and STEALING is so commonplace with republicans that they feel they can do it in “broad daylight” and, they can actually pull it off.  Which, they did.  (They’re good at ARROGANCE as well, but my fingers are getting tired)  So, while there’s little known about the details of the tax scam and all the “loopholes” republicans put into if for themselves and their donors, we do know a bit.  For example, there was a provision designed to benefit real estate developers (conveniently, like Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, Trump’s sons, AND Bob Corker) that funnels MILLIONS to people like, well, the so-called president.  Conveniently, there was ONE no vote on the first “round” of the legislation in the Senate by a republican and that came from Senator Corker.

After a provision was inserted into the bill that HUGELY benefits people with large real estate holdings – like Trump and Corker – Corker’s vote mysteriously changed to a yes.  This is from someone who portrayed himself as a “deficit hawk” that would not support any bill that increased the deficit by even a penny.  Someone who was “courageously” standing up to Trump – Trump was calling him “liddle Bob Corker” – until the tax scam and NOW someone who’s flying in “Air Force one” with Trump.  So much for honor and principle!  Also, while the tax cut has provisions for the really rich and their real estate holdings, it punishes the upper middle class who have property tax and state and local taxes that exceed $10,000 by reducing what they can deduct.  Apparently, this brings up something else republicans are good at.

The tax cut (tax scam) is apparently aimed at the so-called “blue states” to punish them for being “high tax states.” (and, for having “liberal” voters)  If you’ve been under a rock, the “blue states” are the states that didn’t vote for Trump.  This is called RETRIBUTION – these are states that have people commonly referred to by republicans as “liberals” living in large segments of their populations.  From the days of Nixon, republicans have always been good at retribution – Nixon had his “enemies list” and now republicans have evolved to where Trump is leading the “dishonest media awards.”  This would be for the journalists and media outlets that tell the TRUTH about him. Kind of how “leaders” in the Philippines and Russia do it.

Of course, Fox “news” was disqualified from any consideration for this award, but, they’ll survive.  (As long as Trump manages to remain president.  At some point, their un-patriotic “reporting” will, as I’ve said many times, put them in the American history books right next to Benedict Arnold – and, of course, Trump)  I’ve digressed, AGAIN. :o)

I certainly can’t remember a time in recent American history – I’ve been paying attention since the days of Eisenhower – when an American political party passed legislation that was so clearly aimed as punishment for particular states.  What’s interesting here, to me, is that states like the one I live in, Washington – which is a “high tax state” – send considerably MORE revenue via federal taxes to Washington DC than what comes back.  I suspect that many of the other “high tax states – as referred to by a republican congressman whose name I can’t remember – do the same thing and that is pay considerably MORE than they get in return.  I find it interesting republicans would so clearly single out those states for “punishment” for having a “liberal” population.  I don’t know, maybe there’s something to being a bit “liberal.”

Obviously, I don’t know all the details and my opinions are simply based on reading as much as I can and paying attention to current events as much as I can – but, when I hear republican congress members stating the tax scam is designed to target so-called “high tax states” and those states didn’t vote for Trump, it feels to me as RETRIBUTION and STUPID politics.  Take for example, the states of California and New York.  I know there’s republican members of the House in those states – I have a feeling after the 2018 election there will be far fewer of them from those two states and other states they targeted with their tax scam.  It just dawned on me that republicans are, evidently, good at being STUPID?

How stupid are they? you might ask.  Well, apparently, several of them are cozying up to Trump in ways that may cause Robert Mueller to wonder whether they are trying to impede a federal investigation.  Like, for example, it’s no secret that Devin Nunes – who somehow became the head of the House Intelligence Committee and since has shown a considerable lack of intelligence – is working overtime to discredit Mueller and the FBI agents who are investigating Trump’s involvement with the Russians and who knows what else.  It’s appearing to me Trump has a LOT to hide and he’s doing everything he can to keep “we the people” from knowing the TRUTH about him and his dealings prior to taking the oath of office.  I’m not sure if Nunes knows all of what Trump is attempting to HIDE, but, it appears to me he’s auditioning for a job he’ll need after his constituents vote him out of office next November.  He seems to have a self interest in making sure Trump is still president next year and, apparently, he feels undermining Mueller is necessary for that to happen.  Something is being hidden from “we the people.”

Did you ever wonder why Trump is the only president – or candidate for president (since Nixon) – to refuse releasing his tax returns?  Well, I’m guessing when Mueller is finished with his investigation, we’re all going to understand why.  I just have to wonder if people like Nunes know why and that’s why they’re working so hard to cause “we the people” to deflect our focus onto Clinton stuff that happened almost 10 years ago.  As time goes by, it’s going to be harder and harder for republicans to DEFLECT people’s attention to the Clinton’s or to President Obama, or to Huma Abedin, or to James Comey, or to anyone else.  OMG – I just thought of another thing republicans are good at!  (My fingers really are tired, but…….)

And, they’re really good at this!  I can’t believe I almost forgot.  it’s DEFLECTING!  OMG, they do this ALL the time.  Trump is REALLY good at this.  It’s how he’s been manipulating the media – probably for years – but, certainly since he started his run to the “White House.”  Think back a bit.  The Russians STOLE a bunch of emails from Hillary Clinton and the democrats (the Russians are good at much of what republicans have mastered) and coordinated the release with strategic moments in the campaign.  They’re REALLY good at this – and, I almost forgot. Yikes!  OK, I know, I’m digressing….  So, here’s the prime example of how they do this.

If you remember, when the Access Hollywood tapes came out, the “whole universe” was a buzz with Trump’s admission he was a sexual predator.  He said, “When I see beautiful women, I just start kissing them, they let me do it because I’m famous” – you know the rest.  Well, less than two hours after that tape was released – which, by the way, got the guy Trump was talking to n the bus FIRED apparently because he laughed at Trump’s comments – further enabling him – two hours later Wiki Leaks (If you remember, Trump was not subtle – he said more than once “I love Wiki leaks”) published many of the STOLEN emails – DEFLECTING much of the attention from the Access Hollywood tape and giving Trump time to figure out his LYING strategy that would further DEFLECT attention from what should have been a disqualifying moment.

The Access Hollywood fiasco showed us what republicans are all about.  Virtually EVERY member of Congress who disavowed Trump at that moment found it in themselves to “forget” he ever said those despicable words: “I just grab them by the “p@#*y and they let me do it.”  Well, around 20 women came forward and said they didn’t “let him do it” but he either did or tried to do it anyway – AND they were ultimately ignored by Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, and all the other republicans who later, self-righteously, said Roy Moore was “unfit to serve in the Senate” for the same reason Trump should have been unfit to serve as president.  Apparently, there’s a different standard for presidents if they’re republicans.  (As I wrote the other day, can you imagine the republicans’ response had 20 women accused Barack Obama of sexual assault prior to his election?)  Look, I know we’re all guilty of hypocrisy to a certain degree and I want to say here’s another thing republicans are good at – hypocrisy – but, I’m tired of writing and it’s time to end this.  I hope I’ve made my point.  I’m always being critical of republicans so I wanted to write a post focused on what they’re “good at.”