American politics in the “age of Trump” just continues to become more and more BIZARRE.  Two days ago Michael Cohen entered a plea in a New York courtroom to 8 FELONIES which included two “counts” which implicate our so-called president with his own two FELONIES.  I listened to the questioning from the judge and the response from the prosecuting attorney and this isn’t a “he said, he said” situation.  The court has overwhelming evidence to support both Cohen’s conviction AND that of an unnamed politician who is unmistakably Donald Trump.  (Plus a couple more individuals which includes David Pecker of the “Enquirer” who has since been granted immunity to tell all he knows about payments made in Trump’s name to [apparently] several women in order to hide their stories from Trump’s supporters.)

What this means is our so-called president was not only seeking help from the Russians to RIG the 2016 election, but he was paying off women who he had illicit affairs with to BUY their silence in an attempt to “influence the outcome of the election.”  Whether or not these payments were responsible for Trump’s “election” (with nearly 3 MILLION fewer votes than his opponent) will NEVER be known – but, what is CLEAR is the payments were violations of election law – although, Trump’s “squirming” has already begun – which includes even MORE LIES – and, of course, Congressional republicans either coming to his aid or continuing their “affair” with “lock jaw.”  It seems every day one thing which is made clear in all of this is republicans haven’t taken their oath of office very seriously – almost as if the ATTACK by the Russians never happened and the only thing important is protecting Trump at all costs.

Essentially, Trump is now an un-indicted “co-conspirator” in the FELONY to which Cohen has plead guilty.  A day after PECKER (am I the only one who sees the irony in this man’s last name) gained immunity for his testimony in this matter Trump’s long time accountant (the guy who writes the checks) Allen Weisselberg was also granted immunity.  So, while our “liberal media” is struggling to point out the reality which exists in America – our so-called president is a criminal, very possibly a TRAITOR – presumably because they FEAR Trump’s “base” as much as the republicans in Congress, there’s a growing number of Americans getting angrier there’s an illegitimate person in the “White House” who’s changing the “face” of our court system for the next generation.  Appointing judges that will be “there” long after he’s gone from office (and, possibly facing these criminal charges in a court of law).

Trump confirms his “la Cosa Nostra” image on a daily basis.  And, I’m sure like many others, I’ve been pointing out Trump appears to be a “mob boss” for over a year.  Originally, I saw him as a fascist authoritarian, but lately it’s becoming even more clear he’s operating as if he’s still running a mob organization while “running” our government.  Trump is so ingrained in his persona that (it appears to me) every LIE that comes from his lips, to him, is actually the truth – a clear confirmation that he’s a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR – as I (and many others) have claimed since the campaign).  Michael Cohen has long been referred to as Trump’s “fixer” which, in itself, indicates an organized crime organization.  I mean, who needs a “fixer?”

All of this Michael Cohen stuff is the direct result of the courage of Stephanie Clifford (AKA Stormy Daniels) with the expert help of her attorney Michael Avenatti.  I, for one, find it very ironic that Trump’s demise will likely be focused on his relationship with a so-called “porn star.”  And, to put “icing on the cake,” Karen McDougal was a playboy model who also was paid by Mr. Pecker for her story, which he “killed,” without that being her intention.  (The Trump people – and others – call this “catch and kill” as ways to prevent information from becoming public)  In Cohen’s plea he stated the payments were for the purpose of “influencing the outcome of the election.”  Whether or not these payments succeeded (in influencing the outcome of the election) they were ILLEGAL.  And, Trump doesn’t get a “pass” because his “fixer” made the payments – the payments were made “at the direction of ‘candidate 1’.”  (Of course, “candidate 1” is Donald Trump)

So, within minutes of Cohen’s plea agreement ALONG with all the damning evidence, Trump and his sycophants started the fight to continue the “defense of Trump” at all costs.  And, of course, this included amped up attacks on Jeff Sessions and his (appropriate) decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.  Clearly, in Trump’s mind, Sessions is the problem in ALL of his present difficulties because he viewed the Attorney General as his, like Michael Cohen, “fixer.”  He expected Sessions to protect him from any illegalities – like the “Russia thing.”  Had Sessions blocked the Russia Investigation, Trump likely feels as if the Cohen situation would never have become public knowledge if Sessions had his “back.”  (Although, I believe that underestimates one Michael Avenatti)

Yesterday, in a Fox interview, Trump stuck his “foot in his mouth” a couple more times – which has likely been noticed by media pundits, I just haven’t seen evidence of this.  Trump claimed that “flipping” should be illegal.  That should say it all as far as anyone questioning Trump’s struggle with the TRUTH.  (last week Trump’s TV lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, of course, claimed “truth isn’t truth” – I’m not kidding, this all just becomes more BIZARRE every day)  In the same interview where Trump claimed “flipping should be illegal” (he calls people who tell the TRUTH to authorities “rats”) Trump admitted that HE made the payments to “hush” Stormy Daniels AND Karen McDougal – that the payments did not come from campaign funds!  They came from his personal funds Trump should consult with REAL lawyers before he talks to Fox “news” (AKA Trump TV) or anyone else in the media.  He just admitted to a federal election law violation because he LIKELY didn’t REPORT these funds prior to the election.  (Can you picture $280,000 in hush money on his campaign expense form?)

True to form, republicans in Congress continue “circling the wagons” around Trump as they show their disregard for our national security and our democratic process.  Some of them seem to NOT understand there’s a treasure trove of political comments on video tape in the libraries of places like NBC, CBS, and a plethora of other media outlets which is ready to show the hypocritical comments coming from Trump’s defenders like, for example, Lindsay Graham.  Graham, who I actually thought would be one of the “courageous” republicans to stand against Trump after the inauguration, was on TV the other day in essence supporting Trump’s intention to get rid of Sessions.  Now, I’m not a defender of Jeff Sessions, but I certainly don’t support removing him so that Trump can block the Russia investigation.  Republicans who think this investigation has gone on too long have a poor view of history.  For example, Watergate took over three years.

For heavens sake, republicans are STILL “investigating” Hillary Clinton’s emails.  It wouldn’t surprise me if Benghazi came up again.  Clearly, republicans in Congress are ripping off the American taxpayers by the TRILLIONS (check out who actually benefits from the tax scam) so, if it weren’t so serious, it would be comical listening to Trump like when he was interviewed in the aforementioned Fox piece.  He was asked directly if he thought democrats would impeach him should they retake the House in November.  His response was, again, BIZARRE.  He said, in his own defense – as if the FELONIES he’s committed should not matter – “If I was impeached the markets would crash and everyone would be poor” (I certainly was not clear who he pictures in his mind as “everyone?”).  Then he added something like (I’m going by my old person’s memory) “Without this thinking” – he was pointing to his temple – “the economy would crash” – as if he’s responsible, personally, for the present economic condition.

This was all said, as I pointed out, on Fox “news” – which means it should not be surprising there was no push-back from the interviewer.  I continue to be surprised that TV commentators – including the so-called “liberal” ones – fail repeatedly to point out that our economic situation is simply a continuation of the economic recovery instigated during President Obama’s two terms in office.  If you look at the graphs of economic growth – in just about every area – the rise is a straight line that began in around 2010.  In reality, the growth was greater under Obama than since Trump’s inauguration and, in my mind, it’s just a matter of time until the line in the graphs start going “south” as the result of the tax scam.  For example, there’s been little discussion that the deficit is heading “north” of a TRILLION dollars per year – which could “balloon” into record territory (that means worse than what Bush/Cheney left for Obama’s first day in office) if the economy heads into recession – which, to me, is likely on the “horizon” as I’m observing all the worker unrest in America – despite the so-called “rosy” numbers.

When the tax scam was approved I pointed out my belief that one result of the “scam” (OK, republicans refer to it as a tax cut or tax “reform”) would be an uptick in inflation.  In my (un-educated) study of economic history, a tax “stimulus” (which is what results from cutting taxes) should be enacted when the economy is in a “downturn” – not when it’s “booming.”  Inflation will result in higher interest rates which is likely to lead to a recession – which will take the already obscene deficit to, as I said, record territory.  Is this the “thinking” Trump was referring to when he tapped his temple suggesting he’s so brilliant he shouldn’t be impeached under any circumstances.

This would be the thinking which would support those who believe Trump to be an aspiring dictator – meaning that he believes he should be able to do ANYTHING he wants and he’s the ONLY person “smart” enough to make decisions.  He’s exposed the absurdity of his “thinking” repeatedly AND it’s doing untold DAMAGE to America every day he remains in office.  (I’m having a hard time getting my mind off the likely scenario that an illegitimate so-called “president” is setting up the court and courts for the lives of my children and MOST of the lives of my grandchildren – to me, this is ALARMING)  The HARM he’s doing is enormous!

Trump, soon after taking the “oath” of office, pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord, pulled America out of the TPP, he’s pulled America from the Iran nuclear agreement, he’s threatened our relationship with NATO and the U,N., he’s attacked our closest allies and their leaders, he’s encouraged his associates in places like the EPA to undermine, in this case, the environment and in other agencies, the very purpose of their institution, he’s ripped children from their parents who are seeking asylum, he’s allowed FEMA to ignore the desperation in Puerto Rico, and who knows what other “DAMAGE?”  I’ve talked about what I call the “DAMAGE” since the first days of Trump’s so-called presidency and I’m now wondering how much additional DAMAGE is Trump willing to inflict on our nation in his futile attempt to remain in office.  In fact, I can envision that Trump views remaining in office as protecting himself from legal jeopardy – citing what many have stated; “the president can not be indicted.”

While Trump continues to show that he’s NOT a “stable genius,” Robert Mueller continues to demonstrate he’s a brilliant prosecutor.  “Shifting” the investigation into Michael Cohen to the Southern District of New York (SDNY) was a brilliant move by Mueller – in all likelihood preventing Trump from blocking the investigation.  In fact, it now appears Trump is – at a minimum – legally liable as much from the Cohen investigation as in the “Russia thing.”  I, for one, will not be surprised if the Cohen investigation “spills over” into the “Russia thing.”  All of this has exposed our so-called president as someone who refers to people who tell the TRUTH in court as “rats” – he believes “flipping” (which is, in essence, someone who’s committed crimes telling the TRUTH) should be ILLEGAL as I mentioned above.

I’ve given what seems to me as endless examples of how Trump is DAMAGING our nation AND how he’s violating our most basic laws.  This is the man who got five deferments to avoid service during Viet Nam AND who calls football players who protest police brutality to Black Americans by taking a knee during the national anthem at football games “sons of bitches” and unpatriotic.  So, in essence, our so-called president believes these football players are unpatriotic along with people like Michael Cohan who’s telling the TRUTH in court BUT, to him, a patriot would be someone willing to take an oath on the Bible in court to tell the truth and then LIE to protect the criminal activity of the “boss.”  Yikes!

Final Thought:   A few things I’ve said repeatedly here (on this site) come to mind again.  First, I’ve viewed Trump as a “mob boss” for at least a year – which really helps explain his connection to another “mob boss” – Vladimir Putin.  Another thing is I believe Trump will end up in America’s history books right next to Benedict Arnold.  Finally, I’ve said many times Trump would “rue the day” he decided to walk down those stairs in Trump Tower and accuse Mexicans of being “rapists and murderers.”  His criminal organization would likely NEVER have been unearthed had he not “won” the election.  In addition, I believe it’s likely his son and son-in-law are in legal jeopardy and will also be exposed in the near future.  Trump has railed against “rats” – and, I believe there will be a bunch of “rats” attempting to save their own “skins” by exposing the total reality of the Trump organization in the coming days and months.  Here’s the major question:  Will Trump’s base care.  Remember, his base are  the “evangelical Christians” who seem OK with a “pact with the devil” in order to get right wing judges.  At the minimum, it will be interesting how this plays out.

One more thing:  Since I originally started this post Senator John McCain has passed away.  While I was no supporter of McCain I certainly respected him.  His “thumbs down” which blocked the republicans CHEAP attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act will likely be one of the main things he’s remembered by – with people “on both sides of the aisle.”  McCain’s death has given Trump one more opportunity to show what a small person he is.  I won’t get into the details, but I found it encouraging that Barack Obama and GW Bush will be delivering the eulogies for McCain and neither Trump nor Pense will be in attendance.  My respect for McCain was enhanced by his public rejection of Trump’s worst qualities.  Yes, McCain voted for the tax “scam” – but, I didn’t expect less.  He’s a republican, for heaven’s sake.  I mentioned Lindsay Graham above, and, he’s one of my biggest disappointments in this Trump saga.  Evidently, a few rounds of golf were enough to cause Graham to lose his mind – in regard to the harm Trump is doing to this nation.  He gave an impassioned speech this morning in the Senate regarding all he learned from McCain.  His support for Trump, of late, shows there’s one important thing he failed to learn from Senator McCain!