If you’ve been on this site you would know I’m not one to be handing out compliments to republicans, except if “extenuating” circumstances. For example, the other day I wrote about how I admire Steve Schmidt and Nicole Wallace, two (former?) republicans who appear occasionally on MSNBC. Well, actually, Wallace has her own “show” and I like to watch it because it’s refreshing (to me) watching a republican who doesn’t “mince” words when describing the words and actions of our “so-called” president. Others I’ve seen on MSNBC who I would love to be able to have a DIALOGUE with – knowing I see the world differently – are Jennifer Rubin, who is a “conservative” columnist for the Washington Post, David Jolley, a former republican member of Congress from Florida, and David Frum – author of a great book (I believe it was called “Trumpocracy” – I loaned it out) – on what Trump is doing to America – I think Frum was a republican speechwriter, maybe for GW Bush.
While I’m TOTALLY committed to supporting the demise of “today’s” republican party, my point is there are many sensible republicans who have the courage to make a stand against the Trump vendetta on their party – which, clearly, is now the “party of Trump.” Maybe these are the people who will be around to pick up the scraps when Trump is finally FULLY exposed and they will try to put something resembling a true “conservative” option for America’s voters. (The other day, after listening to Schmidt I thought to myself, “I think I’d vote for him for president”) Maybe one which NOW will hold people to account for BLATANT LYING. We saw LYING at an accelerated “clip” with the Bush/Cheney regime (which, I believe both Wallace and Frum were a part of) and it’s been put on “steroids” with the Trump takeover of the party. And, everyday I’m watching republicans like the aforementioned scratching their heads wondering what to do – how to stop this current American NIGHTMARE?
Well, the other day I was listening to another republican – and, unfortunately, I can’t remember his name (I heard him again and I think his name is Mike Murphy, a republican “strategist”) – but, the question was posed (AGAIN) as to how to deal with Trump? Despite ALL the scandals – like at least ONE a day – AND all the LIES, supposedly, in the past two months the average has been SIXTEEN per day (many are suggesting when Trump is backed into a corner he comes out “swinging” with even LESS regard for the truth) and, at least on MSNBC, there seems to be a lot of “head scratching” on how they should deal with a so-called president who’s LYING to his supporters, to the American people, and to those around the world who are parsing his every word. This (unnamed, Murphy?) republican, who has managed campaigns for several prominent republicans, pointed out to the MSNBC host what I would agree is a potential solution!
A little context: The discussion was centered on the danger Trump is putting journalists into with his divisive, threatening rhetoric at the campaign style rallies he seems to be holding in lieu of doing his actual job. This (unnamed) republican (OK, Murphy – I think) suggested the way to stop Trump is for the media to stop covering his speeches to his base. i believe he used the term – “suck the air out of the room” – meaning, take away the spectacle from Trump and deprive him of what he feeds off of – the “liberal media” he’s railing against. Trump has to be against stuff – because he doesn’t understand how to get anything done in relation to the government. I think Murphy’s (?) idea is “spot on” and “we the people” should simply turn Trump over to Fox “news.” He wouldn’t know what to do!
Trump clearly is a DISASTER at governing, but what he’s really good at is MANIPULATING the media. He’s been doing this for his entire life and it’s worked to keep him in business – despite something like SEVEN bankruptcies – and, it’s worked to keep him out of jail. As I’ve said here several times (at least) I believe Trump is acting like the head of an organized crime family. (Maybe that’s why he’s got such an affinity to Vladimir Putin – kind of like the eighteen wheel truckers “honking” at each other as they pass on the freeway) Eventually, all the “stuff” Trump is desperately trying to prevent “we the people” from finding out – the “stuff” which may or may not show up on his tax returns – it’s all going to become public knowledge. Where he’s obtained the HUGE amount of debt his organization owes, how he managed to find the “cash” to purchase several high end golf courses, and – among many other “question marks” – how he planned to finance his “Trump Tower” in Moscow which was in the works in the 1990’s and AGAIN in the works during the 2016 campaign. As the saying goes, all the signs point to “this guy being dirty.”
Full disclosure: I started this post a week or so ago, and have since already posted another rant. Since I started this “rant” I also started reading “Trump/Russia” by Seth Hettena and, well, to say the least, this book is an “eye opener.” My first thought as I’m reading is there’s a “plethora” of information connecting Trump to the mafia that is sitting right in front of our eyes. I have to question why he was able to make it through a year of primaries and then the general election without his connection to the RUSSIAN “mafiya” being exposed. I’m just in the beginning chapters of Hettena’s book (highly recommended! by the way if you’re a reader) and there’s enough direct connection with Trump and Russian gangsters – when Trump was operating (at least) two casino’s in Atlantic City, New Jersey and, over the years, in his prized “Trump Tower.” Known Russian gangsters were laundering MILLIONS through Trump’s Taj Mahal casino plus some of his other hotels and Trump simply ended up paying fines for enabling it.
However, as you read the book you see Trump willingly working with Russians connected to their “underworld” (which, could include any Russian who was financially successful, by the way) in an attempt to build (actually remodel) a couple Hotels in Moscow near the Kremlin. At the time, the Russians referred to Trump as “a millionaire without a dollar.” His casino’s in New Jersey were going through bankruptcy – we all know bankruptcy is embedded in Trump’s personal history – and, apparently, this was the time Trump was discovering Russian sources of money for his real estate business in New York. At this time there was at least one significant member of the Russian “mafiya” living in Trump Tower while evading other mobsters and the police (FBI).
I’m in the section of the book that goes into the history of Vladimir Putin and his ties to organized crime – which, it appears, is “run of the mill” in Russia. So, Trump’s “connection” to Russia goes well beyond his proclamation that he has (and has had) no relationship, no loans, no projects in Russia. Kind of reminds me of Bill Clinton saying, “I did NOT have sex with that woman” as he’s wagging his finger toward the camera. Ironically, with people I know who support Trump, that is the signature point they use to vilify Clinton, saying things like, “He’s such a liar.” And, of course, then telling me “Trump doesn’t LIE.” (Which is irrefutable evidence to the power of “The Big Lie Theory” Trump and the republicans have “adopted.”)
With the exception of the republicans mentioned above I have to wonder “where are the rest of the republicans.” We know Mitch McConnell will accept anything from Trump as he’s “plugging” judges into the judiciary at breakneck speed – the FACT it is entirely possible those judges were nominated by someone who, himself, was “appointed” by Vladimir Putin doesn’t bother McConnell and republicans who think like him. I’ve long pointed out republicans have embraced the “end justifies the means” theory of politics decades ago. If it takes the Russians to maintain power, then so be it – in the eyes of republicans like McConnell and, obviously, a whole bunch more. I can only hope the wrath of the American people falls directly on their heads at the polling booths once this is all public knowledge.
You’re correct, I don’t expect the majority of Americans to seek books to read that aren’t ghost written for members of the Fox BRAINWASHING team. The last time I was purchasing books from Barnes and Noble online I noticed the number of books by members of the Fox “team” was a bit alarming. I’m certain those books will simply reinforce the BRAINWASHING being done every night on Fox “news” (AKA Trump TV) and I’m certain many people are falling for it. I’m glad they’re reading, I just have to hope they verify the information with alternative sources and actual facts. I once agreed to read one of those books for a friend who wanted me to “see the truth” and it was so full of LIES and misinformation (that were easily disproved) it was all I could do to make it all the way through. Of course, the book I gave my friend to read never was even opened. I called this “par for the course.” (One of my hobbies in old age is golf)
So, as John Brennan recently pointed out, the COLLUSION (Treason) and OBSTRUCTION of Trump and his sycophants is pretty much undeniable at this point in time. I’ve heard enough legal experts explain “conspiracy” to me (actually, I’ve also looked it up – AND, I studied a bit of law when I was first in college back in the 60’s) that it’s CLEAR Don Jr., Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner CONSPIRED to “collude” with representatives of the RUSSIAN government – which is totally ILLEGAL – when they met in Trump Tower on June 9, 2016 to gain “incriminating evidence” on Hillary Clinton. You’re simply not supposed to do that – even if you’re affiliated with Donald Trump – who clearly believes the LAW was written for someone beside him.
After reading the first part of “Trump/Russia” it’s clear to me Trump’s pushing the boundaries of what is legal goes WAY back before he ever ran to be our so-called president. I will be surprised if Mueller’s findings don’t suggest Trump to be WAY more involved with shady characters, money laundering, bank fraud, intimidation, and who knows what else than Manafort – who Trump continues to refer to as a “very fine person.” When you read about Manafort’s connection to the Russian “mafiya” and his funneling of MILLIONS of dollars through secret “tax havens” in places like the Cayman Islands (which, by the way, are the result of some of Tom Delay’s “greatest hits” as far as greedy republican donors would be concerned), along with his fraudulently gained bank loans, it’s hard – at least for me – to call him “a very fine person.”
Manafort may escape this first part of his two trials over his mafia like enterprise – Trump is busy making enough headlines that if even ONE of the jurors is a Trump supporter and reads what Trump is publicly saying there easily could be a mistrial – where one juror prevents the prosecution from succeeding. This is one of the most egregious examples of how I’ve pointed out many times Trump reminds me of the sixth grade bully – he’s going to push the boundaries of what is “acceptable” until he’s forced to STOP! Sadly, I don’t believe republicans in Congress will stop him because while all this “noise” is going on, they’re getting what they want “behind the scenes” – like in the case of all the judges. To republicans in Congress the Russian assault on our basic fundamentals is secondary to their grip on power! It’s sad, it’s deplorable, it’s disgusting, it’s shameful, it’s un-patriotic, it’s dishonest (surprise, surprise), and it’s breaking our nation in two. Vladimir Putin has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams – I’m sure he’s got that s@#t eating grin on his face every time he thinks of Trump as our so-called president!
Final Thought: I’m just happy there are republicans like the ones I mentioned above – like Wallace, Schmidt, Frum, etc. – because, in my mind, when all is said and done I believe they will be at the forefront of ultimately putting an end to this nightmare. (Another name just came to mind and I can’t believe I’m going to write it – but, George Will, who I’ve never agreed with politically, has spoken out about the importance of republicans actually voting for democrats in the upcoming election to STOP Trump.) I’ve said this since Trump was “elected” (with THREE MILLION less votes than Mrs. Clinton) it will be up to republicans to “fix” this problem. I’ve just come to realize it will apparently be republicans who are not presently in office.
I’ve always accused democrats of being “spineless” (and, I’m anxious to be proven wrong) – but, this Trump fiasco will put a SPINELESS tag on republicans that will be hard to shed for many years to come!
I apologize for any “foopahs” – but, I’m too lazy to re-read this and edit it – so, it is what it is and I’m going to hit “publish.”