I’m not very book smart when it comes to economics.  I believe I had one economics class back in the 60’s during my first attempt to finish college (it took a while) and I’ve read several books in the last few years.  However, I’ve had a lifetime of observing “economics” from the standpoint of my interest in politics and observing how different administrations – from Eisenhower to now our so-called president Trump – have chosen to effect our economic “ship of state.”  Certain things have appeared over and over that, in my view, provide a bit of insight for anyone who’s been paying attention.  In fact, what I’ve observed over the years leads to frustration when I get into conversations with people who I believe are old enough to know better.

What I’m leading up to is my prediction the “you know what” is about to hit the “fan.”  I’ll elaborate in a bit.  But first, getting back to those I know who should “know better.”  Let’s talk about the deficit.  Now, I have to admit I didn’t pay much attention to the deficit until Richard Nixon was president.  I still remember him “explaining” why it was good for the government to be borrowing money – he said it was like having a mortgage on your home.  The federal government had so much “real estate” that, to him, it made no sense for the government not to borrow against that real estate.  Many Libertarians still lament Nixon taking America off the “gold standard,” which I’m not capable of debating one way or the other.  I just remember him doing it.  However, what I’ve observed since then is when republicans (who are essentially the libertarians of yore) are in the “White House” the annual deficit goes WAY up, and when democrats are in the White House, the deficit goes down.  The statistics are undeniable.

And, of course, if you know a republican they’ll claim exactly the opposite – they’ll blame, ALWAYS, the rising, out of control deficits on democrats in Congress or democratic presidents.  Yet, just this year the CBO has again projected TRILLION plus deficits as far “as the eye  can see.”  President Obama brought the $1.5 TRILLION annual deficits he INHERITED from Bush/Cheney – who, by the way, themselves, had INHERITED a $250 BILLION annual SURPLUS from Clinton/Gore – just sayin……  and, of course, Dick Cheney, as he was manipulating the second tax cut of the Bush/Cheney regime, famously said, “Ronald Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”  So, Obama got the Bush/Cheney $1.5 TRILLION deficits down to about $400 BILLION – a reduction of about 70%.  Then came Trump.

True to form, Trump and his republican sycophants, passed ANOTHER “tax cut for the wealthy” – kind of makes you wonder how many of these tax cuts do they need.  This one was passed when the “wealthy” were “rolling in the dough” and when corporations had TRILLIONS “in the bank.”  Kind of like throwing gas on a burning fire – but, more on that in a bit.  Interesting, at least to me, is the FACT that all the republicans who were complaining about the deficits during the Obama administration (which Obama inherited from Bush/Cheney, as I pointed out) are not making even a “peep” about the FACT they’ve now reversed virtually ALL the gains made during the Obama/Biden years.  Even republicans like Jeff Flake and Bob Corker – not even up for re-election – who claimed they wouldn’t vote for a budget that raised the deficit by “one penny” voted with Trump on the tax “scam.”  Suddenly, as usual, “deficits don’t matter.”  This has happened OVER and OVER again during my short (71 years) lifetime.  When will “we the people” wake up?

This most recent tax “scam” (which is how I usually refer to it) was the most egregious of them all.  When the economy is “booming,” from what I’ve learned, a tax cut is not only inappropriate, it can be downright destructive.  What could be the result?  Well, I’ve predicted it’s likely (I’m saying that so if I’m wrong anyone who chooses can point that out) – and, that’s a boost to INFLATION that will lead to a “downturn” of who knows what proportions.  And, from my vantage point, the “deal-maker in chief” has no idea what he’s doing and I, for one, don’t trust republicans to know how to pull America out of another “Great Recession.”  They, famously, didn’t help at all when President Obama was faced with the challenge of preventing the “Great Recession” of 2008 from turning into a DEPRESSION – which, to many, must be how they viewed it.

And, sadly, from my perspective, if the downturn I’m about to predict, actually happens, it’s likely going to be Trump’s “uneducated voters” – who he “loves” so dearly (they actually believe what he says to them is the truth – I could go on about that for “days”) – are going to be the ones hurt the worst when, and if, this actually happens.  Many places in the so-called “rust belt” still have not fully recovered from the Bush/Cheney fiasco and, from what I can tell, they’ll be “in the line of fire” the next time the economy contracts.

So, what is my point?  Well, lately the stock market – which, to me, sadly controls too much of America’s wealth – has been on kind of a roller coaster ride.  Huge swings going up and down – lately more down than up.  Well, the results of Trump’s tariffs are going to begin showing up on corporate balance sheets and, while I have long since decided against participating in the stock market, I can see a CRASH of some proportion coming.  Again, I don’t trust republicans to know how to deal with an economy in recession, so it could be “the big one.”  Let’s all hope not.  But, it appears to me that something significant is “on the horizon.”  From my experience the huge swings are a pre-cursor to a significant downturn.  The combination of the tax “scam” and the tariffs could be a prime example of the devil’s bargain.

Am I predicting a recession on the horizon?  Well, the answer is yes.  Of course, it could take a while – but, again, if these huge swings in the market continue that would tell me “something’s up.”  And, here’s the worst part of it all.  If INFLATION is rearing its ugly head I don’t think dropping interest rates to funnel money into the economy is an acceptable solution. Trump is already complaining about the Fed raising interest rates.   I can imagine what he’ll be saying if the economy tanks while inflation rises – that’s the “double edged sword” that will really cause Trump to have some bad “tweets” – as he’ll likely be grasping for (even more) straws.  From my vantage point, that’s how Trump operates – “grasping for straws.”

This is exactly why the recent tax “scam” – essentially the result of “demands” from the republican “donor class” was such a bad idea.  If the economy tanks and inflation expands, i believe the only way to deal with it responsibly would be a tax INCREASE – and, of course, if we get to that point, you and I both know who republicans would target – and, in case you don’t know, it won’t be corporations or the wealthy.  With Trump at the “helm” this could get even uglier than it is.  (Actually, they’ll likely never resort to a tax increase under any circumstance)

How ugly is it?  Well, in the past few days some guy from Florida, an avid Trump supporter, has been mailing pipe bombs around the country to people like President Obama, President Clinton, CNN, and other democratic supporters Trump has singled out at his rallies.  Fortunately, none of the bombs made their targets or exploded while a mail carrier was in possession of it – or one of the authorities once they were identified.  Incredibly, the FBI found the perpetrator within a matter of a few short days demonstrating they really are a super effective investigative body.  Can you see why Trump has been attacking them?  If a person had something to hide, it appears having the FBI checking into it would make one very uncomfortable!

And, true to form, Trump was “tweeting” stupid stuff this morning, lamenting how this bomb situation has taken the focus of the news media off the upcoming election.  This tells us a lot.  For example, I’ve been pointing out since the campaign of 2016 how masterfully Trump is using the media to save himself advertising money and how he “plays” them like a “fiddle.”  Well, why would anyone think he’d stop doing so as long as they’re not figuring it out and they keep broadcasting his “every word.”  (Well, of course, not “every” word, but he definitely knows how to get them to broadcast the words he wants them to “report”)  Even one of his supporters committing “home grown” terrorism isn’t enough to stop Trump’s insidious “tweeting.”

And, what about the rest of his administration?  Well, allegedly, while the FBI was frantically trying to find the pipe bomber Kirstjen Nielsen, Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security, was busy trying to push the narrative that a caravan of desperate Latino’s about 1000 miles south of our Southern border are an “imminent” threat to the security of the United States.  Pushing the LIE that this group is full of MS 13 gang members, Middle Eastern terrorists, and who knows who else?  Maybe some Mexican murderers and rapists – that’s an effective Trump LIE. 

Trump was actually bemoaning that the pipe bomber was taking the voters’ focus off of all the recent LIES he’s been spewing at the rallies he’s attending daily – apparently, in lieu of doing his actual job.  His hope is that the “media” will get their focus off the “MAGA bomber” “sooner rather than later” (my quotes) and back onto the MAGA BullS@#*ter in order for his propaganda campaign to be more effective.  This is the very “media” Trump refers to as “the enemy of the people.”  Oh, by the way, the “MAGA Bomber” made the identical reference about the “media!”

Can you imagine what Trump is thinking (if he’s capable of that) regarding the possibility voters might vote against him as the result of his divisive rhetoric becomes more apparent to any voters “sitting on the fence.”  Trust me, he’ll be trying to find ways to get the “media’s attention” back onto his scandalous behavior as soon as possible – who knows to what extreme he’ll go in order to accomplish this – but, the bottom line is, as long as Trump is in the “White House” this recurring theme will continue to be a recurring theme.

Of course, then today some whack job – this one, another “white Nationalist” but, apparently one of the “Charlottesville ilk” who weren’t the “very fine people” – shot up a Jewish Synagogue in Pittsburgh killing 11 worshipers, wounding 4 police officers and a few others,  all the while spewing out anti-Semitic slogans in the attack.  The guy is part of the “alt-Right” movement which was/is the work of Steve Bannon and which looks at Trump as their “savior” – but, he, apparently, has been quoted as saying Trump doesn’t go “far enough.”  (Whatever that might mean?)  The bottom line is Trump is largely responsible for emboldening the neo-Nazi movement in America and it’s unlikely he’ll repent anytime soon.  The right wing violence in America is likely to get much worse before it gets better.

Here’s what quite possibly is the worst part of all this in my view – and, I’ve pointed this out numerous times prior to this week’s right wing violence.  (And, apparently, there’s much right wing violence that goes unreported by our “main stream” “liberal” media.)  Trump has fully prepared these nut jobs for the possibility he’s going to be impeached.  (It’s almost as if he knows something “we the people” don’t – if you know what I mean)  The MAGA bomber had a cache of weapons (and, maybe more bombs) and the Pittsburgh MURDERER apparently had a stash of 21 weapons at his apartment.

I know there are right wing zealots all across America who are armed to the hilt and I’ve had people I know who are Trump supporters tell me “there’s going to be civil war” – in anticipation of Trump’s impeachment.  (And, yes, I understand there very well could be “left wing zealots” out there as well, “armed and dangerous”)  Just look at the thugs at right wing rallies and this shouldn’t surprise you.  That being said, let’s hope enough democrats win on November 6th so that Trump will face accountability if Mueller’s report is as scathing as some (including myself) think it might be.  Whatever happens after that will likely be ugly and dangerous – but, at some point, it’s going to have to happen.  Period!

I’ve been pointing out since the origins of the “Tea Party” that “we the people” are in a WAR for the “heart and soul” of America.  (In my mind, to be resolved at the voting booth) Well, it’s gotten to the critical stage and in a week and a half we’ll see if all the “progressives” complaining about Trump will actually go to the polls.  That is the first step in stopping this disaster.

The next step?  Well, DEMANDING democrats FIGHT for the principles that caused them to be the party of “we the people” from the days of FDR until the 1970’s would be a good start.  As I’ve said many times, today’s version of the republican party needs to be voted into the history books – and, their place in the history books is NOT going to be one of prominence.   Once that happens, if democrats don’t fight for their traditional values it won’t be long and the republicans will reappear just like the cockroach you don’t use strong enough “stuff” to make sure they don’t come back.   Are democrats capable of doing this?  Well, I believe there are some younger ones who are capable of being strong leaders.  Let’s hope the “old guard” will step aside should the dems retake the Congress this year.

Final Thought:  I was watching some Trump supporters being interviewed at a rally the other night right after the MAGA Bomber had been identified – along with his political dogma.  I’m not sure how to describe what I saw and heard.  One person after another showed an embarrassing – well, I hate to say this – but, the word coming to mind is “stupidity,” regarding the MAGA Bomber and Trump.  Trump, himself, has claimed he “loves uneducated voters” – and, one by one the people at his rally showed why.  These people were actually suggesting President Obama sent the bomb to himself (and, likewise with the other 13 bombs).  The right wing brainwashing that’s been going on for years has been (and is) effective – based on what you hear from Trump’s supporters at these rallies.  Trump’s audience came across to me as pathetic – I keep telling myself they must have been “programmed” for years to have such a disregard for – well, in this instance – common sense.  It helped me to understand how they could force themselves to believe, for example, all 19 women claiming Trump sexually assaulted them were the LIARS.  Incredibly, they believe the LIAR in chief  is the “truth teller.”  (Despite FACT checkers identifying OVER 8000 LIES since he took office.  Yikes!!!

Bringing this nation “together” is going to be a monumental task and will require a leader of the “ages.”  Let’s hope there’s a democrat who will emerge who’s got what it takes to overcome the right wing MACHINE (Koch brother, etc) that’s been robbing the people at that Trump rally “blind” for years, along with all of us who can’t stand Trump.  It’s time “we the people” were educated as to what’s really been happening in America since Lewis Powell’s memo to the Chamber of Commerce back in 1972 started this move toward a corporatocracy.  Read Hedrick Smith’s “Who Stole the American Dream” and “The Family” by Jeff Sharlet.

Like everyone else, when it takes me multiple days to finish a rant, I end up “chasing my tail.”  My original point was that the economy, from my perspective, is teetering on the brink of a significant downturn.  All the wild Stock Market swings are the “sign” which gets my attention.  I believe the “scandal per day” approach by Trump and his sycophants will exacerbate the downturn once it hits – and, I don’t believe republicans (especially Trump) have the where-with-all to pull “we the people” out of a recession.  It’s almost as if Trump has been attempting to take “we the people” back to the days of Herbert Hoover.  Well, what’s the old saying?  “Be careful what you wish for.”  Let’s hope I’m wrong!

I ended my last rant by pointing out Trump, on purpose, claimed to be a “nationalist” in front of an audience apparently full of his favorite “uneducated voters” because they cheered what was essentially Trump putting himself in the company of – well, Adolf Hitler.  Of course, this should not surprise those who have been following this catastrophe from the start because the “hints” have been there since the early days of the campaign.  I started out pointing to the clear authoritarian tendencies Trump was exhibiting early on along with the reality that Trump’s campaign slogan mirrors that of Hitler’s.  (Make Germany Great Again)  The target “audience” is almost identical – the “conservative Christians” who feel a sense of loss as to how they view “their” country.

Of course, you couldn’t miss Trump’s “reality” after the march on Charlottesville by the neo-Nazi’s carrying tiki torches and chanting “Jews will not replace us” while brandishing Nazi flags and wearing Nazi armbands.  Trump, famously, claimed there were “very fine people” in that heinous group of, what should be, outcasts.  On top of all this there’s Trump’s apparent admiration for virtually every dictator on the planet and his “bromance” with Vladimir Putin.  Every indication is that Putin has some kind of “kompromat” on Trump – and, if you take the time to read books like Trump/Russia by Seth Hettena – it’s not hard to come to that conclusion.  The mystery is, what is it?  Hopefully, at some point, Robert Mueller will clue us all in.  (Which, by the way, makes the election on November 6th all the more important – because, I guarantee you if the “blue wave” doesn’t materialize Trump will be emboldened to fire Mueller and MUCH more – somehow he’s managed to get republicans cowering to him)

If you’re not sure, look up the term “nationalist” and, if you’re a republican, spend your time trying to rationalize how that’s not what Trump meant.  Then, think back to Steve Bannon and his “alt right” movement and think again.  When they talk about “deconstructing the administrative state” what they mean is TOTALLY revamping our system of government.  When they talk about people who protest against them as “angry mobs,” all while ginning up their “uneducated voters” to a fever pitch, thus turning them into an “angry mob,” maybe you’ll get the idea.  Kind of encouraging them to send dangerous stuff in the mail to the supposed “enemy of the people” – which would include the press and virtually ALL democrats!

The most difficult issue Trump has had to deal with in the past month is the death of Jamaal Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident journalist who was a legal resident of the United States and MURDERED in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey by Mohammad bin Salman’s (MBS) henchmen.  Of course, it was necessary for the Saudi’s, Trump, Jared Kushner (one of MBS’s best friends), and MBS himself to find an alternative explanation to the MURDER because of all the MONEY involved.  And, to be sure, we’re not just talking about the MONEY which would be jeopardized coming to America through arms sales and such (not to mention the oil issue), but, as I pointed out in my previous rant, the money Trump, himself, is getting via Saudi’s staying at his various hotels and “investing” in Trump properties around the world.  As Trump, himself, has said, “They’ve got a lot of MONEY.”

So, I believe the story they’ve ended up on is there was a “fist fight” between Khashoggi and one of the “henchmen” and Khashoggi was strangled (“accidentally”) when put in a choke hold by one of the “henchmen” allegedly trying to break up the fight.  Apparently all 18 “henchmen” that flew into Turkey, pre arranged, (Or, were there only 15 with others beamed in by satellite?) by the way, to confront Khashoggi after he’d been “lured” there by whom I’m not sure – but, lured just the same, from someone connected to MBS – have been arrested and one of the “leaders” has been “fired.”  (Personally, I thought they’d draw straws and the loser would face a public execution)  And, this concocted story works for Trump (and Kushner) because it allows them to (continue LYING as they(the Saudi’s) keep funneling the barrels of MONEY into their (Trump and Kushner) pockets and those of their benefactors.  (meaning the arms dealers selling BILLIONS worth of weaponry to Saudi Arabia)

Oh yes, MBS would qualify as a “nationalist” as well.  This is where I think Trump is the most envious of these dictators, er “nationalists,” who don’t have anything like checks and balances – which, by the way, Trump is trying to bypass by rigging this coming election in any way possible.  (We’re seeing voter suppression in multiple places around the country – not to mention, we have no idea how involved the Russians are at this point in time – we just know they’re “here”)  The true “nationalists” like MBS, Putin, Duterte (The Philippines), Erdogan (Turkey), etc. just kill journalists who they don’t like.  Journalists who are reporting the TRUTH about their despotic regimes.  Keep in mind, the above mentioned “henchmen” who “accidentally” killed Khashoggi brought a BONE SAW with them – I guess, “just in case.”

Seriously, that’s not what I thought was the traditional way to dispose of a body, even in Saudi Arabia.  If you remember, after Osama bin Laden was killed by America’s special forces they took special care to dispose of the body in a way that would not disrespect Muslim law.  According to multiple reports:  “The deceased’s body was washed (ablution) then placed in a white sheet. The body was placed in a weighted bag. A military officer read prepared religious remarks, which were translated into Arabic by a native speaker.  After the words were complete, the body was placed on a prepared flat board, tipped up, whereupon the deceased’s body slid into the sea.”  They weren’t creative enough to bring a BONE SAW!?

As usual, I started this post (rant) yesterday which, in Trumpian time, is almost a life cycle, and, sure enough, Khashoggi’s MURDER is no longer “the most difficult issue” on Trump’s “plate,” as an entire day has passed.  Since then, (apparently) one of Trump’s deranged followers in one of the MOB’S he’s created in his “speaking tour” has decided to eliminate as many of the “enemies of the people” as he or she could by sending pipe bombs in the mail to President Obama, President Clinton and Secretary Clinton, CNN, Erick Holder, John Brennan via CNN (with Brennan’s name misspelled), Maxine Waters, and maybe Joe Biden (still to be determined as I’m writing this).  Fortunately, none of the bombs went off – which may be why people like Rush Limbaugh are suggesting it was a “liberal conspiracy” to fool people into thinking there’s a right wing fanatic out there.

And, of course, at this point in time “we the people” don’t know who the culprit is, but I’d say the odds are very strong, well, that there’s a right wing fanatic out there.  Actually, I believe there are an untold number of them “out there” – but, hopefully, most not interested in sending bombs through the mail.  Trump spent this evening attempting to avoid taking any responsibility for this happening while sounding as if he’s determined to find the perpetrator and suggesting “we the people” need to “come together.”  Here’s a suggestion:  As long as Trump is our so-called president  “we the people” aint coming together.  There’s too many of us who see right through all the LIES!

Let me give you a good example of how LYING has totally permeated the republican party – it’s TOTALLY acceptable to LIE to republican audiences because they just soak it up with no questions asked.  Tonight, Trump was making a last ditch effort to save Scott Walker’s job as governor of Wisconsin.  I actually heard Walker during his turn to speak claim that anyone who would suggest he’s not totally in favor of saving “pre-existing” conditions in regards to medical insurance would be LYING.  Well, here’s the TRUTH – Walker is one of the LEAD plaintiffs in a republican lawsuit intended to END The Affordable Care Act and the protections, in it, for people with pre-existing conditions – which would include MILLIONS of Americans.  Something like 75% (or more) of Americans oppose allowing insurance companies to discriminate based on your pre-existing conditions – but, that’s clearly no barrier to this republican lawsuit – and, with Kavanaugh on the Court, they have a decent chance of “winning.”

Republicans all over the country are LYING about this – the lawsuit has been brought by something like OVER 20 republican governors.  It’s almost as if they want the people in their states having NO health insurance and being forced into bankruptcy the first time a family member gets seriously ill.  I’ve had a hard time for years understanding how any of “we the people” would be able to support republicans who want to take their health care away.  Worse than that, republicans who willingly want to put MILLIONS of families one sickness away from losing everything they have.  This is really one of the shameful aspects of our “democracy” – especially when you realize well over HALF of Americans support health care for ALL!

Yet, we’ve got one MOB after another getting ginned up by Trump yelling things like “lock her up” for the latest democratic WOMAN Trump wants to demonize and actually believing Trump’s LIES without taking the one moment it would take to fact check each and every  one of them.  At some point the angst has to shift from Trump to the “uneducated voters” who seem to support every word that comes from his mouth.  They seem to think ALL of the “negative” stories floating around our news media about Trump are “fake news.”  This all is the very height (and purpose) of political projection.  Trump, over and over again, is able to place his shortcomings on those who oppose him.  He’s definitely a “nationalist” in line with many of his infamous predecessors.  He even practices the propaganda scheme of the Third Reich.  (Don’t know what I’m talking about? check out the archives and look for the “Big Lie Theory”)

As mentioned above, people in the “mold” of Hitler are/were “nationalists” and it’s very surreal to have a sitting so-called president of the United States claim to be in that camp – MOST, well, until Trump, ALL previous presidents wouldn’t get within driving distance of that label.  Trump brought it on himself.  One has to wonder if he’s so STUPID that he doesn’t know what he was talking about – who he aligned himself with?  Come on man, he’s the (so-called) president of the United States.  That would be even MORE embarrassing!  After all, he thought Fredrick Douglass was still alive early on, so …………………

The pipe bombs will likely push the Khashoggi scandal right into the same place as the Russia thing, the tax scam, the health care crisis, the abuse of NATO and the U.N., the fiasco in Helsinki where he threw our intelligence community under Putin’s “bus,” the North Korea “thing” where he got an agreement on a table napkin that ended the North Korea “problem,” and ALL the children separated from the parents at the border (brings tears to my eyes when I think about it) – not to mention the 19 women accusing him of sexual assault and the TWO women he paid off ILLEGALLY right before his “election” – all of this “onto the back burner.”  And, the one thing we can count on with Trump!  There’ll be another scandal tomorrow!!!

“He said he didn’t do it.”  How many times have we heard those words coming from the mouth of our so-called president as he attempts to deflect whatever the most recent absurd situation he’s trying to “get through” without getting to the truth.  As we’ve all learned by now, our so-called president lives in a world of LIES – referred to by his surrogates as “alternative facts.”  In this most recent case we’re talking about the MURDER of Jamaal Khashoggi, journalist from the Washington Post, who was killed and then, apparently, had his body cut into pieces with the BONE SAW the 15 man assassination “team” brought with them from Saudi Arabia.  Khashoggi’s “crime” was to write opinions in the Post not favorable to MBS (Muhammad bin Salman).  With Trump calling, in America, the press as the “enemy of the people” it’s no wonder an American “ally” would feel at ease in MURDERING a journalist who was a dissident.

There’s little doubt this MURDER was ordered by MBS, but as Trump says “MBS says he didn’t do it.”  If you remember, recently Judge Kavanaugh “said he didn’t do it.”  Roy Moore said “he didn’t do it.”  Rob Porter said “he didn’t do it.”  For Trump that appears to be all it takes.  In this case the MURDER seems to be the work of Jared Kushner’s “good buddy” MBS who is also the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and, therefore, in charge of BARRELS of money.  What is it that appears to be the motivating factor in just about any decision emanating from our present occupant of the “White House?”  I would contend it’s “barrels of money.”

And, the evidence is becoming clearer that the Saudi’s are “into” the Trump organization far deeper than “we the people” have been led to believe as our “dissident” journalists have been attempting to keep up with ALL the scandals coming from this “White House.”  Seemingly, a scandal (or more) per day.  The issue with Khashoggi should be of extreme interest to those Americans who are recognizing Trump is a threat to the very foundation of our republic.  His attacks on our “free press” have been incessant and they make me wonder to what lengths will he go to get rid of those in the press investigating him and his businesses.  To me, that’s one reason Trump seems to admire dictators like Vladimir Putin, Erdogan of Turkey, Duterte of the Philippines, MBS, and others around the world.  These dictators just pull out the “bone saws” and “eliminate” their “problem.”  (Of course, Putin uses poison)  Journalists are killed in ways “we the people” have a hard time imagining to discourage others from reporting! (Sadly, it appears to work)

In Khashoggi’s case the evidence is overwhelming as to what happened – it happened in the Saudi Embassy in Turkey and the Turks have video and audio recordings of the MURDER (and, dismemberment).  There, obviously, are many reasons why Trump wants to believe the ridiculous denials of MBS and they can be summed up in those “barrels of money.”  The Saudi’s will choose a “fall guy,” arrest him, and likely have a public execution and Trump will be satisfied “justice was done.”  Clearly, Trump’s number one priority is keeping those “barrels of money” coming.  Of course, recent presidents have saddled up close to the Saudi’s because they wanted to keep the “barrels of oil” coming – but, Trump has more complicated interests.

Trump has hotels all around the world which are frequented by members of the Saudi royal family to the tune of MILLIONS of dollars and he doesn’t want to do anything to cause that “flow” to slow down.  It’s been reported Trump’s hotels which were experiencing financial stress have become profitable again because of the YUGE (In Bernie’s words) amounts of money the Saudi’s “drop” on the Trump organization every time they “come to town.”  Additionally, Trump himself has pointed out the Saudi’s have spent “MILLIONS” (“They’ve got a lot of money”) investing in Trump properties in New York and other places around the globe.  Kind of like the members of the Russian Mafiya, who’ve purchased numerous properties in Trump projects as a way to “launder” their “ill gotten” gains.

Before he was “elected” (with 3 MILLION less votes that the first WOMAN to run for president) many “republicans” were part of the “never Trump” movement.  Now, the money changers are throwing money his way in an attempt to keep the money flowing their way.  The tax “scam” has proved to be HIGHLY beneficial to the bottom lines of the republican donor class and, on top of the money Trump is getting from them, he continues to “play” the media as if it was his personal harmonica.  I, personally, choose to watch MSNBC when I watch anything and they’re continuing to report virtually every word Trump says.  He’s got their reporters (and the others in the “White House” press corp) falling all over each other as they try to get the latest “scoop.”  In the process scandals which would have been the topic of conversation for weeks are now long forgotten in days.

As we go into this coming election (in about two weeks) there’s still HUNDREDS of children who’ve been RIPPED from their families – many likely to be permanently torn away.  There’s the looming TRILLION plus deficits for as far as the CBO can see which NO ONE is talking about.  There’s the Supreme Court which now has TWO “conservatives” credibly accused of sexual misconduct – the recent addition accused of attempted RAPE.  There’s a foreign policy which is headed “who knows where” – with traditional allies scratching their heads and wondering whether “we the people” are going to put a stop to this or not???  There’s the CONTINUED “meddling” in our election process and, in reality, our very nation’s “business” by Vladimir Putin, who’s number one goal is to destroy America’s standing in the world from the inside out – and, in Trump, he’s got the perfect “idiot” (their – meaning the Russians – characterization) to get the job done.  Trump continues to do Putin’s bidding as either a “witting” or “unwitting” agent of the Kremlin.  Any way you look at it, it’s BAD for “we the people.”  (In essence, the Russian “meddling” is an act of war)

I’ve referred to Trump as a “sixth grade bully” on many occasions.  I was a sixth grade teacher for the last 20+ years of my working life and Trump really reminds me of sixth graders I had in the classroom.  Today, as I had just turned on MSNBC – like clockwork – there was Trump with a gaggle of reporters climbing over each other trying to get today’s “scoop.”  It would be laughable if it weren’t all so serious.  (In my view, the media should follow him, but not give him access to live mikes and not report every word that comes from his mouth – they need to understand how they’re being played)  So, here’s Trump talking about “lying Ted” Cruz – who he was getting ready to head to Texas, at tax payers expense in “Air Force one,” in an attempt to prevent LYING Ted from losing to Beto O’Rourke.  It’s Texas, so even Ted Cruz is likely to win simply because he’s a republican – but, apparently Trump and Cruz have “kissed and made up.”

Today Trump said, “he’s no longer LYING Ted Cruz” because he’s been great on my agenda – or words to that affect.  So, the disrespect to Cruz’s wife is no longer an issue, nor what Trump said about his Dad – it’s just politics as usual in America.  Cruz and Trump are the perfect example of the republican party.  Neither one could give a rip about anything which would fall in the category of “moral values” – despite being leaders in the “party of moral values.”  Roy Moore was OK – because he’s a republican.  Kavanaugh’s OK because he’s a republican.  Trump’s OK because (he says) he’s a republican.  Of course, in Trump’s case, if it suited him better, he’d be a democrat or “whatever.”  And, of course, with Cruz, Trump’s OK because he’s going to help me keep my job.  (To me, it ALL stinks!)

As Trump was explaining why “LYING Ted” is no longer “LYING Ted” I just got this picture in my mind of a couple sixth graders on the playground having an argument and then making up.  And, the second boy (in this instance it would be Cruz) would be following the first around like a little puppy dog – bullying, therefore, successful.  Of course, the one thing bullies don’t like is when someone fights back – which is what, I hope, “we the people” will do on November 6th.  As I’m watching Trump, who was energized by his “win” with Kavanaugh’s confirmation (by the slimmest majority in Supreme Court history – I believe), I see someone who’s scared stiff about the upcoming election – he’s working “overtime” to prevent the “blue wave” – which likely would expose all kinds of stuff Trump doesn’t want “we the people” to know.

What those who might be thinking about NOT voting should consider is that republicans have multiple “strategies” they can use to stop the “blue wave” – and, most of them either are, or should be, illegal.  (In other words, EVERY  vote is important) There’s the voter suppression which is no secret to anyone who’s been paying attention to American politics for the past – well – MANY years.  This has always been an issue, but our right wing Supreme Court made it doubly so when they GUTTED the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  “Conservatives” have been implementing all kinds of DIRTY strategies ever since with the idea of making it either harder, or impossible, for “left” leaning voters to have their word count.

Then there are the Russians, who, believe me, are still busy turning “we the people” against each other in very sophisticated ways that will undoubtedly help Trump and the republicans.  And, of course, there are the unlimited funds (the “Koch brothers,” for example – it might now be “brother” – have “ponied” up something in the neighborhood of half a BILLION dollars – a big “thank you” to republicans for the tax “scam”) which is flowing freely as republican donors realize their “ill gotten” gains from the republican tax giveaway.  I could go on, but you get the point.  (at least I hope you do)

Most of all, should “we the people” do our usual and not show up at the polls, the “Russia thing” will soon be ended and we’ll likely NEVER know what Robert Mueller had discovered.  Mueller has stayed quiet during all of this, but we mostly know what he’s considering – at least on the “obstruction of justice” front.  He’s been trying for months now to interview Trump in order to figure out if he had “corrupt intent” when he was CLEARLY obstructing Mueller’s investigation.  It seems to me, based on the June 9, 2016 meeting with the Russians, “collusion” is a no-brainer.  But, of course, I’m no lawyer.  However, if we want to find out exactly what happened, the Democrats had better AT LEAST take back control of the House of Representatives.  I’ve said from the start, taking back the Senate would need a minor miracle.  (although, I am praying)

So we have a so-called president who’s in his fifth version of “He said he didn’t do it” as he tries to protect his “cash cow” coming from the Saudi’s.  Apparently president is a job with no requirements because Trump is doing nothing but giving campaign speeches in places that are “bright red.”  As long as he’s our so-called president America will be headed toward third world status.  I could go on and on about the DAMAGE, as I’ve referred to it, he’s caused this great nation – but, you can check out the archives.  The point here is that Trump is doing “double duty” these days – first, trying to prevent democrats from having any control of our government so he can continue doing as he pleases and secondly, trying to LIE for the Saudi’s so that they continue to unload massive amounts of their MONEY into HIS bank account.  You have to give Trump credit – no one has been able to figure out how to PILFER more of America’s wealth in our history – and, he’s doing right out in plain sight.  (And, of course, no one’s talking about all the children pulled from their families with no end of their trauma in sight.)

Final Thought:  Maybe that’s why so many around the world are thinking “we the people” are not that bright.  I guess we have an opportunity to regain our “status” world wide (with those people who believe in democracy) on November 6th.  Count me as one who will believe it when I see it – regarding whether or not progressives show up at the ballot box.  Let’s hope so, because the alternative is a disaster of epic proportions!  I have a friend who’s a Trump supporter and he truly believes there’s going to be a “red wave.”  Yikes!!!

OMG:  I wanted to re-read this before publishing it and, while I was doing so I happened to be listening to MSNBC and they showed a clip where, last night, Trump actually claimed he’s a NATIONALIST!  I’m not sure what was more shocking to me – Trump making such an incredible statement OR the audience breaking out in applause.  Do they know what that means? I thought to myself.  If you’re not sure, let me clue you in – HITLER was a NATIONALIST!  I’ve been pointing out the parallels between Trump and Hitler since he was running for president.  Do people really not care?  Or are America’s voters as “uneducated” as Trump claimed when he was a candidate.  He said it: “I love uneducated voters.”  What did he actually mean?  I’ll have more on this later, but, again, OMG!

Just a quick reminder:  We are a nation of IMMIGRANTS!

No matter the corroborating evidence the FBI finds or doesn’t find on Brett Kavanaugh he, in his testimony in front of the Senate and a world wide audience the other day, proved himself to not only be unqualified for the Supreme Court, but, additionally, in my view, he shouldn’t be sitting on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  This man appears to be a bit unstable.  I haven’t been able to get my mind off what it’s likely “like” living in his home.  I really truly hope the guy has stopped drinking – because with a “fuse” that short, well, to me he was scary.

I don’t know anyone – with the exception of Lindsay Graham (the biggest disappointment in all of this to me), Chuck Grassley, Orin Hatch, and most of the other WHITE males sitting on the republican side of the Senate Judiciary committee – who found Kavanaugh more credible than Ms. Ford.  And, I’m not one to be giving advice to republicans, but my suggestion is to “cut and run.”  Pull this guy’s nomination and move on.  Yes, you have a two vote advantage in the Senate, but if you confirm this guy the damage done to America will be extreme and the damage done to the republican party will last maybe a generation.

Yes, republicans are the masters at manipulating the media, they’re the masters at manipulating the voting districts, they’re the masters at voter suppression tactics, they’re the masters at funneling MONEY to the greedy people who are funding them, and they’re the masters at looking into the camera (or people’s faces) and LYING!  Their entire propaganda scheme is based on LYING – they’ve adopted “The Big Lie Theory” as I’ve said over and over again on this site.  (I really wish members of the “liberal media” would point out the “Big Lie Theory” as the work of the Germans of the Third Reich and adopted by the republican party of present day America.  Sad!)  As much as republicans are committed to what they call the “permanent republican ‘majority,'”  they always screw it up – despite their commitment to “the end justifies the means” or “win at all costs.”

This is why they’ve jumped on the Trump “band wagon” – because they believe it’s a “winning strategy” – where MANY of them were “never Trumpers” just a year or two ago.  The aforementioned Graham is a great example.  Two years ago I actually believed he’d be one of the principled republicans (I’m beginning to think that doesn’t exist) who would stand up to Trump.  Well, fast forward to today and Graham might as well be wearing the MAGA hat to work each day.  His outburst at the Kavanaugh hearing – where he apparently “fired” the lady republicans hired to “grill” Ms Ford and put on a show nearly comparable to the embarrassment which was Kavanaugh’s opening remarks – shows he’s more than just one of Trump’s “golfing buddies.”  Not only did Graham disrespect Ms Ford with his remarks, he TOTALLY disrespected the lady they flew out from Arizona.  Yikes!

These republicans – and, by the way, make no mistake – Kavanaugh IS a republican and will act as a REPUBLICAN if he’s somehow confirmed – not only appear to disrespect women it looks to me as if many of them despise women.  These are your classic “good ole boys” acting as if you challenge their authority and they’ll start throwing things.  Honestly, how you could expect 51 of them to band together and support what EVERYONE in the world who was watching yesterday saw is beyond me.  That shows how arrogant they are and how they believe they’ll be able to use all the money their wealthy benefactors are SHOVELING to them to keep control of Congress.  And, sadly, they might be right – at least in the Senate.

I wrote the other day about a couple who stopped by our house to visit – friends of my wife from 39+ years ago – who are Trump supporters.  These were two really nice GOOD people.  They are inundated by “conservative” media – mostly Fox “news” AND they HATE politics.  They pay attention to only what they feel they have to and they believe what they see and hear on Fox.  There are MILLIONS of good Americans just like them.  These two people were certain of beliefs that were simply factually incorrect.  For example, someone has convinced them that the crash of 2008 was caused by things which happened during LBJ’s time in office.  Both appeared to believe the ballooning deficits (and, those over the years) were/have been caused by democrats.  When I pointed out this was wrong, they questioned whether the Congressional Budget Office (or any other government agency keeping track of these things) could be trusted.  There’s Fox and other “conservative” websites where they get whatever information they end up with.  And, that’s what they believe.  They believe Trump tells them the truth!

So, the debacle which happened this past week with Kavanaugh giving what I can only describe as an odd, bizarre, and partisan opening speech to the Judiciary Committee and then following that up with a bizarre performance when being asked questions by the democrats on the Committee likely won’t “move the needle” on the two people I mentioned above or millions of other Americans who rely on Fox for their “news.”  Yes, in about 5 weeks there’s going to be an election, but the damage of Kavanaugh on the highest court in the land will be ongoing for the lives of my children.  My prayers are that the FBI does a thorough investigation and checks into ALL of the allegations against Kavanaugh.  My feelings have evolved to – “if he doesn’t withdraw, then he deserves to lose his seat on the court of appeals as well.”

When I heard him BLAME the Clinton’s for what he called the “smear campaign” against him, it almost caused me to fall over.  I was sitting watching TV by my self and all of a sudden I felt a “What the …….” moment just come barreling out of my mouth.  I couldn’t believe what I had just heard – except that he was already into an angry diatribe suggesting some “liberal” conspiracy to block his nomination.  He quickly made it clear to me why democrats were opposing him from the start – aside from the FACT his previous decisions would suggest the reason Trump selected him was out of “self-preservation.”  Kavanaugh has extreme views on executive power.  For example, the president can NOT be subpoenaed, he/she can’t even be investigated while in office.  According to Kavanaugh’s previous writings and decisions, even if a president, for example, CONSPIRED with the Russians to get elected, he couldn’t be investigated.

That should be enough to get his nomination defeated.  For heaven’s sake, republicans should NOT want a president to have dictatorial powers.  That is an extreme view of the constitution which I can’t even understand how anyone could “go there.”  (Republicans BLOCKED any “evidence” of Kavanaugh’s participation in the TORTURE “memos” during his years in GW Bush’s Office of Legal Counsel)  On top of Kavanaugh’s known views, he demonstrated he DOESN’T have the temperament to have a seat on the highest court in this nation.  We’ve seen with Clarence Thomas that once on the court, no matter what you do that shows you’re a republican hack, it’s almost impossible to get you removed.  Thomas, for example, goes to the Koch Brother’s retreats which couldn’t get more “partisan.”  Kavanaugh will be in the same mold only worse, in my view.

If Kavanaugh is confirmed, the damage to the court could ring right to the foundation of our republic.  Women all across the country are already outraged that he’s made it this far – if republicans “hold their noses” and move on with this the backlash will be even more severe.  And, trust me, it’s not just women who are angry at what they’re seeing.  I’m 71, I’m white, and I’m disgusted beyond my usual anti-republican feelings watching all of this.  I now see Kavanaugh as someone who’s dangerous.  His opening remarks will never leave him and I’m certain that people like Michael Avenatti will pursue the charges alleged by his client and those who are corroborating them.  Republicans will NOT be able to “sweep this under the rug.”

And, what about Jeff Flake.  Every once in a while he gives a speech on the Senate floor which makes people like me think maybe there’s a positive move afloat.  Then, he votes with TRUMP on every occasion.  Yes, he somewhat “intervened” in the committee vote on Kavanaugh and I’m happy he did so – however, I’m not convinced he’s a “no” on the nomination – even after the “investigation.”  To me, he shouldn’t need an investigation.  Kavanaugh has LIED on several occasions during this process, according to many observers, not including any LIES regarding his drinking habits and the allegations made against him.  His face got so red when he was accusing the democrats of a “smear campaign” and BLAMING the Clinton’s it actually looked to me like the face of a heavy drinker.  I guess Flake didn’t notice that – because, reportedly, he was a “yes” vote until just prior to the time of the actual vote to send Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the full Senate.

FOUR women have brought forth allegations of sexual misconduct – some of it very extreme – against Kavanaugh – and, I’ve seen NO evidence these people were recruited by democrats – at least, democrats in the Senate.  Clearly, Ms Ford was not “recruited” as Kavanaugh would suggest.  And, the ladies and those who corroborate their stories coming from Kavanaugh’s days at Yale, appear to me people acting in support of Ms Ford – that is, not coming forward to “smear” him without proof and urged on by democrats.  It appears the democrats simply believe the people should be “heard” – and, republicans, in their HASTE to get this to a final vote, consider anything which slows the process “stalling tactics.”  In other words, they believe Kavanaugh will be confirmed no matter what the evidence.

Final Thought:  I wrote this several weeks ago and all the “stuff” caused me to “lose my focus” – which, I believe, is Trump’s “plan” – so far as he plans anything.  That being said, I’m publishing it regardless i the hopes that anyone who reads this will be reminded of how important it is to VOTE in the November’s election – just a couple weeks away.  If I had the time to write today, I’d be writing about the danger – which is building the longer he’s allowed to remain in office – of Trump’s ATTACKS on our free press.  There will be more to come in the next few days.  Again, please VOTE on November 6 and REMEMBER the Russians are STILL ATTACKING our system of government and don’t believe what you read on Facebook or other social media outlets (which, I must admit, I don’t participate in).

I’ve been pointing out for years “we the people” are in a WAR for the heart and soul of America.  it appears many democrats are figuring this out, but the question is – is it too late?  Also, do they have the will to put an end to the present day version of the republican party.  We all heard John McCain (God rest his soul) lamenting the return of “regular order” – which simply referred to the time when republicans and democrats were able to “work across party lines” to “get things done.”  Beginning with Newt Gingrich and, of late, with the so-called “Tea Party” and Mitch McConnell, “regular order” has become a thing of the past.

Republicans have adopted “whatever works” with no compunction to “morality” – all the while claiming to be the “party of moral values.”  The Reagan years were when I started seeing the “adoption” of the “Big Lie Theory” – although I didn’t recognize it until a few years ago.  (I listened to a pundit lamenting how republicans were repeating the same LIE over and over again and pointing out it appears to be an effective strategy for them – WITHOUT referring to where they got the idea!)  They have believed “the end justifies the means” for as long as I can remember.  (I go back to the days of Nixon)  And, they’re pulling out all the stops for this upcoming mid-term election which, if they hold off the so-called “blue wave,” America will likely become unrecognizable to progressive thinking people.

Some of the stuff they’re doing is so WRONG yet they’re doing it in plain sight.  It’s like the bully saying “what are you going to do about it?”  And, sadly, despite the importance of this upcoming election, it’s likely that well more than HALF of America’s voters will fail to cast their ballot.  Of course, part of that stems from the voter suppression tactics republicans have put on steroids since our right wing Supreme Court, curiously, struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Do you see the coordination here between the politicians and the members of the judiciary?  Do you see why judges are their #1 priority?  Do you see why republicans feel they’re so close to their “permanent republican ‘majority?”  Which only requires about 40% of the public to support them in order to succeed.  It’s disgusting to realize they figure there are enough “uneducated voters” – as Trump put it in the campaign of 2016 – for them to continue their plundering of America’s wealth.  I don’t believe “we the people” can endure much more of their “plundering” before we’ve reached the so-called (like in another VERY important area) “tipping point.”

Take for example what has been exposed in Georgia during this 2018 election.  If you’ve been anywhere besides under a rock you know Georgia has a long history of voter suppression aimed at people of color.  Well, in this year’s governor’s race we could be seeing “deja vu all over again” AND arrogance at its “finest.”  (that was sarcasm if you don’t “get it”)  Georgia’s Secretary of State is running for Governor against a Black woman who is a very credible candidate with a good chance to be the first woman of color to reach a governor’s mansion in U.S. history.  Her name is Stacy Abrams, I’ve listened to her, and she is a VERY impressive candidate.  Presently, polling shows the “race” within the margin of error – meaning Ms. Abrams very well might win.  Her opponent, the state’s Secretary of State is in charge of the election in which he’s a principle.  What’s the saying? “Put that in your pipe and smoke it!”  What’s more, he’s “freezing” 54 THOUSAND voter registration applications – of which – naturally – 70% represent Black voters, not to mention how many might be Latino.  I think you can see what’s going on here!  “Win at all costs”

Honestly, it sickens me to be constantly writing about this stuff – especially what’s going on in Georgia right now as I’m typing these thoughts.  I think back to the 2016 election and in the key states that swung the electoral college to Trump (despite LOSING the election by 3 MILLION votes) voter suppression was “alive and well.”  Take Wisconsin, for example.  Trump “won” by something less than 25 thousand votes.  I saw reports that 350 THOUSAND people were blocked from voting via the voter suppression law Wisconsin’s republicans passed prior to the election.  Remember, Wisconsin was originally the home of the John Birch Society – which has evolved into their republican party.  (“Google” the Birch society if you don’t know what that means) The same could be said for North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.  Here’s what we know – in EVERY district in America where republicans can get away with dirty tricks to win elections, that’s what they’re doing.  “Win at all costs”

None of this even takes into account the “Russian invasion” which accelerated once Trump became a possibility to win the nomination.  And, to think there was “no collusion” – well, “Come on man!”  We KNOW there was collusion – we just don’t know to what degree.  We don’t know how much “kompromat” the Russians have on Trump.  And, “we the people” don’t know how much he’s intertwined with organized crime, not only involving Russians, but the other major “crime families” which were “stationed” in New York over the years – and, for many of them, likely still “stationed” there.

If you saw, the other day, where the Justice department seized and froze assets of Russian Oligarch Oleg Deripaska, you got a “bird’s eye” view of how they “launder” their “ill gotten gains” – robbed from the Russian people.  They plunder Russia’s natural resources and then “invest” the money with people like Trump in real estate and other ventures outside of Russia.  Before Trump bankrupted his casino’s he allowed MILLIONS of Russian mafiya money to be laundered through their “turnstiles.”

Deripaska, of course, is the Russian Oligarch “connected” to Paul Manafort and already sanctioned by the U.S. government.  One of the “homes” in question is in New York and was purchased in 2008 (yes, during the “Great Recession” when home prices were tumbling) for $42 MILLION.  I believe he’s got property in Trump Tower (along with a plethora of other Russians involved in the Russian “mafiya” – read, “Trump/Russia” by Seth Hettena) which also was “seized.”  Additionally, he’s got very expensive real estate holdings elsewhere.  Deripaska ,and the other Russians “laundering” their money via Trump’s real estate, is/are “attached” to Vladimir Putin and seem to have unlimited funds to use buying assets in America and Europe.

I could go on and on about all the stuff I consider “wrong,” but I try to limit my rants as much as I can.  Aside from all the “stuff” mentioned above, there was another announcement this past week by the CBO that confirms what I’ve been saying ALL year and contradicts what Trump’s economic advisers have been saying ALL year.  Not only will the tax “scam” of 21017 NOT create the necessary revenue to pay for itself, but, just as I predicted it was like pouring GAS onto the annual budget deficit – the one Trump promised to get rid of (as he claimed his businesses weren’t submerged with debt – another of his long line of LIES his supporters willingly believe) AND, as I predicted, the CBO just announced this year’s deficit will top $1 TRILLION with the amounts BALLOONING into the foreseeable future.  This is BAD!

It took President Obama 8 years to reduce the $1.5 TRILLION deficits he inherited down to $400 BILLION when he left office – and, true to form for republicans, it took Trump less than a year to essentially TRIPLE the deficit.  And, when Trump’s impending recession – and, trust me, the other thing you can count on from the tax “scam” is the recession will arrive sooner rather than later and it will be more intense.  When the inflation picks up, which is also inevitable based on Trump’s policies, the cost of managing this debt will skyrocket – and, if “we the people” don’t elect a democratic Congress and get Trump out of office “sooner rather than later” – republicans will attack things like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid like never before.   They’ll claim, “we just don’t have the money!”  They won’t say why and they’ll NEVER consider cutting the defense spending.

None of this should surprise anyone – it’s just that, as I mentioned above, the “tipping point” is on the horizon – in more areas than one.  The plundering of America MUST stop!  I guess it’s kind of like what the “oligarchs” are doing in Russia – I’ve just been too naive to figure it out sooner – at least to the degree it’s happening.  The “oligarchs” in America are what are referred to as the “top 1%” and, what has become apparent, is they “can’t get enough.”  If you remember, prior to Congress cramming this “tax scam” through, even people like Lindsay Graham were pointing out the republican “donors” were demanding this get done.  These “donors” were “cashing in” to the tune of, in some instances (the Koch brothers) possibly the BILLIONS.  In many instances, including Trump – who famously said, to a crowd in Phoenix as I forced myself to watch, “Trust me, I won’t benefit from this tax plan.  My wealthy friends are not happy with me, but they’ll be OK.”

That was just another of the pathological (or calculated) LIES Trump pushed out of his mouth during his first year in office.  According to the fact checkers he had spewed out over 4000 LIES by the end of his first year in office and, by now, it’s over 8000!  Of course, Trump cashed in by the tens of MILLIONS, at least – (Many people dispute Trump’s claims to how much he’s “worth” – he’s got a documented history of exaggeration) – yet his audiences suck it all in.

One example of why they did the tax “scam” would be Sheldon Adelson – the owner of gambling casinos in Las Vegas and Singapore –  who reportedly gained $670 MILLION in the FIRST QUARTER of 2018 because of the tax “scam.”  You read that correctly – $670 MILLION.  Well, shortly thereafter, it was reported Paul Ryan was “feeding at the trough” and got Adelson to “donate” $30 MILLION to the republican PAC, which, by the way, wouldn’t exist except for the Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court – led by two activist judges (Roberts and Alito) appointed by GW Bush.  As you can see, the DAMAGE caused by these republicans will be ongoing for a generation because they’re packing the courts with judges who will encourage this type of corruption.  Republicans believe the wealthy elite should “rule.”

I hope you can see why I’ve been calling this a WAR for the heart and soul of America.  To me, Trump is the perfect “stooge” for the money changers who are behind this purge of America’s traditional values.  The Russians refer to him as a “useful idiot.”  While he’s willingly doing his narcissistic best to, in the words of Steve Bannon, “deconstruct the administrative state,” America’s “oligarchs” continue to plunder our nation’s wealth and put it in their bank accounts – “laughing all the way to the bank!”

I didn’t see the 2016 election as “the most important” of my lifetime – for one thing, I certainly miscalculated the degree Congressional republicans would accede to Trump – I can only imagine what it would be like for Hillary Clinton to be dealing with this Congress.  Two years of watching Trump and how he fits into the republican strategy of their “permanent republican ‘majority,'” has convinced me this upcoming election is the most important of my lifetime.  Republicans will do whatever they can to stop the “Blue Wave.” Voter suppression is one tactic and who knows what else?  I’ve said this many times, “we the people” have the privilege of voting – if we choose not to exercise it, or we choose not to take it seriously enough to research the issues, we deserve what we get.

Right now the “system” is tilted strongly to the “right.”  If you’re not familiar, that’s the “territory” which produced the likes of Putin, Duterte, and Erdogan in today’s world and the Third Reich in 1930’s Germany.  It’s hard for me to imagine we’ve evolved to this point, but the combination of a sophisticated propaganda scheme, a “busy” society, and a group of “leaders” who are willingly corrupted by whatever money comes around have put us in the position where our nation could be undermined from WITHIN!  In the 1950’s President Eisenhower warned us about the potential damage caused by the “Military Industrial Complex.”  I’m sure he couldn’t even imagine someone like Trump could EVER make it to the “White House” – to be used to exacerbate the issue.  It’s up to “we the people” to CORRECT what is presently threatening our nation.  If we don’t show up at the polls, God help us all!

I’ve been writing about how the republican party has adopted Joseph Goebbels’ “Big Lie Theory” for years now – and, lamenting how our “liberal media” continues to “look the other way” – often times wondering about how Trump and republicans keep repeating the same “untruths.”  I’ve also been pointing out we’re in a WAR for the heart and soul of this nation since well before Trump arrived on the scene AND that republicans have a plan “affectionately” called “the permanent republican ‘majority'” – the first time I heard it was coming from the mouth of Karl Rove – where they gain a stranglehold on our nation’s government – the “White House,” the Congress, the Courts, and the media – the very government they so much seem to despise – a stranglehold which will be difficult to “unwind” once they have intimidated the “liberal media” to “shut up.”  It’s all in plain sight!

For example – right now, earlier this evening, our so-called president – who evidently doesn’t have a job to do other than fly around the country and give campaign style speeches to – well – MOBS – was pushing the new narrative which is that democrats are in favor of “mob rule.”  Last week I had breakfast with a friend of mine who is a die hard Trump supporter and he kept using the word “mob” in talking about democrats.  Well, obviously, I haven’t been listening to the right wing media outlets of late – I wondered what the heck is he talking about?  Are demonstrators now being referred to as “mobs?”  Well, not only are demonstrators being referred to as “mobs” – apparently, referring to the THOUSANDS of women who descended on the Capital in PROTEST to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh – CREDIBLY accused of sexual assault when he was in high school and college – but, apparently, the crowds chanting “lock her up” are considered, like Kavanaugh, choir boys and girls.  Does anyone remember Richard Nixon?

So, now “we the people” are hearing the word “Mob” or the phrase “Mob rule” repeated OVER and OVER again by not only Trump, but his surrogates and his sycophants.  Apparently, this is in reference to Mitch McConnell using the term in reference to American citizens expressing their right to address THEIR government during the Kavanaugh “proceeding.”  Lest you’ve forgot, the allegations against Kavanaugh were severe, there were MORE than one, AND they were not fully investigated.  McConnell was clear from the start – Kavanaugh was going to be on the court.  The result is Kavanaugh will be forever working with a “cloud” over his head AND the court has LOST more of its credibility with a large segment of the American public. Is it any wonder MILLIONS of Americans are beyond frustration?

I can only imagine the other justices on the court are going to be uneasy sitting next to a man who has pulled them down via his unbridled ambition – while bringing charges of sexual assault and visual examples of his partisanship to the court.  Has ANY other judge in American history  promised “what goes around comes around” prior to his/her assention to the court?  I’m sure the judges now all rue the day when democrats control the Congress – both houses – with this year a good chance democrats will take control of the House.  They will NOT forget Kavanaugh’s divisive rhetoric anytime soon!

Reports were that Trump’s “base” is all fired up now that the Kavanaugh hearings became so contentious – apparently caring less as to the allegations against him – as opposed to “winning.”  Clearly, the court, Kavanaugh, and even Trump would have benefited from a full FBI investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh – but, it’s clear the republicans didn’t want to take a chance that the democrats would take control of the Senate – highly unlikely, based on the “map” this year – so they were willing to put a STAIN on the Supreme Court that could be difficult to remove.  (It’s HIGHLY unlikely Kavanaugh, for example, will EVER be impeached – although, it wouldn’t surprise me if further investigations were ordered should the dems control one of the Houses of Congress)

Getting back to my first point, this repeated use of the word “Mob” and the phrase “Mob rule” is just the latest attempt by the republican propagandists to stoke even more FEAR into those Americans (sorry) STUPID enough to be falling for their shtick.  This has been going on now for years and it just irks me listening to Americans in “mobs” (closer to the true definition of a “mob” – here’s Webster’s definition:  “a large and disorderly crowd of people; especially : one bent on riotous or destructive action.”) at Trump “rallies” chanting “Lock her up” to a bunch of people who, themselves, are in danger of being locked up and attacking ANYONE who “demonstrates” against Trump.

I likely won’t forget (and, at 71 I forget much) Michael Flynn leading the chant – lock her up – at the republican convention in 2016 in reference to Hillary Clinton and her emails.  Well, who’s going to be locked up now?  And, Trump leading a crowd in Mississippi to “lock her up” referring to Christine Blasey Ford was beneath contempt.  Tonight, he had them chanting this somewhere in Iowa to Diane Feinstein.  Does anyone wonder why there’s a 30 point gap in favor of democrats with women?  And, keep in mind, it’s Trump, his son and son in law, and others associated with his “crime family” who very well could end up being the ones, like Flynn, locked up.

If you haven’t studied the Nazi’s in Germany of the 1930’s Goebbels was the head of propaganda and he developed “the Big Lie Theory” – which goes like this:  “you repeat a LIE often enough and people start believing it’s true.”  I’ve been observing this for years.  You often hear of how republicans are using this theory as “talking points” – where you hear the same LIE from one pundit to another in orchestration with political “leaders” and those controlling the airwaves – ie Rush Limbaugh and the other right wing “water carriers” on the radio airwaves – which, by the way, are CONTROLLED by right wing corporate interests – AND, those on our TV’s like Fox “news” and ALL the local TV stations across America controlled by Sinclair Broadcasting.  Last year, a good example went viral, of Sinclair’s execs DICTATING to all their local stations what would be the “evening news” in unison.

The problem republicans, and Trump – the perfect buffoon for the “money changers” behind the scene who are “pulling the strings” – are having is with the small percentage of the “media” they don’t control.  Like (what Trump calls the “failing”) New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, and outlets like Free Speech TV where you find some of the few remaining “liberal talkers” who get broadcast on the radio – if you can find a station not owned by Clear Channel that’s willing to put them on the air.  These outlets are still doing “investigative reporting” – and, reports are that they cause Trump to throw things when he’s eating his cheeseburgers and drinking his diet coke right before bedtime – you know, when he torches the “Twitter” universe.

Reports are coming out almost daily through the above named outlets – due to the almost unbelievable amount of leaking coming from Trump’s “White House” AND due to the relentless investigating by some reporters who are going to end up in the upper echelon of American history – looking WAY down on Trump and his sycophants place next to Benedict Arnold – when all is said and done with this NEW chapter in America’s dark history.  Those who’ve benefited from “white privilege” will not easily give up what they appear to believe is their “birthright.”  Considering almost all of us (meaning “we the people”) are “immigrants,” it’s rather astonishing to me listening to the right wing supporters of Trump give their reasons for supporting him.

However, the proceeding with Kavanaugh clearly showed why Trump’s supporters are supporting him.  It’s all about the Supreme Court and Roe v wade.  That makes the argument simplistically, but, in reality, it’s a simplistic argument.  Today, for example, I listened, on MSNBC, to a college student who was the head of the campus republicans at the University of Nevada being asked what those he represented supported?  As usual, with republican, he couldn’t come up with a coherent answer to the question.  My first thought was a college “republican” should be able to give a good answer, although he said something like “we’re in favor of reducing health care costs.”  Well, he – like the republican “leaders” he apparently supports – has no idea how to do that, although he did say they weren’t in favor of repealing “Obamacare” without an alternative – which, of course, leaves republicans with no answer – because, they’re only about winning elections and NOT governing.

Just as it was in the 1930’s in Germany, the “Big Lie Theory” is all about winning “elections” and CONTROLLING how “we the people” think – obviously, back then “we the people” were Germans.  Interestingly, the people who “fell” for the shtick back then were the “conservative Christians.”  Do you see the parallel?  And, there’s other parallels I’ve pointed out several times you’ll find in the archives if you’re interested.  Republicans have proven over and over again they are inept at governing but obsessed with “winning” – AT ALL COSTS.

It only took Bush/Cheney less than two years to turn a $250 BILLION surplus into a $250 BILLION deficit and less than three years to LIE “we the people” into what appears to be ENDLESS warfare in Afghanistan and Iraq – warfare that has spread across the Middle East and into Africa and will be “out of control” as long as “we the people” allow our “leaders” to pursue “winning.”  It could be the disaster that ultimately destroys America’s standing as “leader of the free world” as if our “leaders” learned NOTHING from Viet Nam.  What’s the old saying?  “Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.”  President Obama inherited an economy in “free fall” with annual deficits of $1.5 TRILLION as the “parting gifts” of Bush/Cheney.  Remember, Bush/Cheney were the result of a “conservative” Supreme Court.

President Obama’s administration orchestrated what policies they could, in the face of Mitch McConnell attempting to ensure their failure with 700 FILIBUSTERS, policies which reduced the deficit (republicans screaming all the way) by 70% “down” to $400 BILLION as their administration left office.  Of course, Trump (and his republican enablers) have the deficit OVER $1 TRILLION already – and, that’s going to skyrocket when the predictable result of the “tax scam” AND all the deregulating via executive orders (remember, republicans hate them) causes the next “Great recession” – which, I believe, will be in the next two years – it may be on the horizon already as signs of inflation are emerging – with Trump already complaining about the Fed raising interest rates – he appears to have NO clue.

Trump is BRAGGING about the economy – which appears to be flourishing – but, it’s already showing the signs of “over heating” one would expect from the short sighted republican greed.  Remember, the “tax scam” is taking OVER a TRILLION dollars from “we the people” and funneling it to corporations and wealthy individuals who were already “swimming” in money.  Trump inherited a healthy economy and does nothing other than to “pump” money to those who didn’t need it and encouraging the same kind of financial recklessness which caused the crash in 2007.  Hang on!  (And, what if there’s a real trade war with China????)

Interest rates are on the rise and will need to be increased enough to halt inflation which will put a halt to the housing “boom” which is the engine driving the present economy and, likely, housing prices are going to hit another “roadblock” in the next couple of years.  (take a breath – I know a run on sentence when I see one ;o)  Where I live that will leave many people “under water” – similar to what happened in 2007 and 2008.  Around here builders are building new homes as fast as they can to, what we used to say when I was farming, “make hay while the sun shines.”  The “bubble” is expanding and I have NO confidence the republicans will know what to do when it bursts.

Occasionally, I listen to Trump’s head of the Office of Economic Development – he speaks with a constant s@#t eating grin on his face – and, I have to personally question his bonafides.  Part of me wants to hope he’s correct – but, I don’t trust ANYONE connected to Trump in any way – and, my instincts from observing the economy since in my teens tells me danger is on the horizon.  For example, the last time I listened to him he was still predicting rising revenue from all the jobs created will offset the deficits caused by the tax scam.  Reports I’ve read elsewhere say deficits NORTH of a TRILLION for the foreseeable future.

To me, everything Trump does is short sighted and poorly thought out.  Yet his followers will believe anything he says.  I never watched the “Apprentice,” but, apparently, Millions of Americans did – and, the other day, I heard a report that is where Trump got his popularity.  Well, evidently, those who got to know him there don’t realize he’s been bankrupt 7 times and it’s been the Russians (and his daddy) who continually bailed him out.  At some point Mueller will point out how connected Trump is to Russian money and how much those around him are connected to the Russian “mafiya.”  And, that would include Kellyanne Conway and Don McGahn – the “White House” counsel.

Russian money is heavily invested in America’s republican party – it’s not just Trump.  Read “The House of Trump/House of Putin” by Craig Unger and “Trump/Russia” by Seth Hettena.  (McConnell, Graham, to name a couple have received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Russian oligarchs living in America – and, virtually all of these “oligarchs” are connected to Putin and part of the Russian mafiya)  There is no doubt in my mind the Russians are the reason Trump is in the “White House” and things will get dicey when the 60% of Americans who realize this is “bad” understand “how bad is it?”  When it becomes clear Trump’s so-called presidency is illegitimate – what will that mean regarding Kavanaugh?  And, what will the MOBS yelling “lock her up” be doing when they realize they’ve been duped?

So, we have a so-called president in office with the help of the Russians and attempting to stay in office using propaganda techniques developed by the Nazi’s in 1930’s Germany.  Is it any wonder we have HUGE throngs of protestors converging on our nation’s Capitol?  With the so-called president having been accused of the sexual misconduct he bragged about on video tape by at least 19 women and whose legitimacy is in question having nominated a man CREDIBLY accused of attempted rape among other sexual misconduct to the Supreme Court and then pushing the nominee through without a thorough investigation is it any wonder women are turned off and protesting en masse?  And, calling that “mob rule” while leading a mob in chants of “lock her up” regarding the accuser – well, we’ll see how that plays out in November.  As I’ve said many times, this is a WAR for the heart and soul of America.  It appears democrats are FINALLY beginning to realize this.

If those Americans who see what’s happening with Trump don’t vote in November, this country will be facing disasters I couldn’t imagine just a few years ago.  (My next post should be about climate change deniers)  My biggest disappointment with President Obama was that he didn’t appear to understand the gravity of what was happening.  He didn’t understand what the result would be when he (in trying to do the honorable and traditional thing) “looked the other way” to the ILLEGAL behavior of GW Bush and Dick Cheney – both credibly WAR CRIMINALS.  When “we the people” are unwilling to “police ourselves” – that is, hold ALL Americans to the rule of law, our republic deteriorates.  We’re seeing that in “spades” as we now have a so-called president with TWO allegations of committing felonies and likely much more legal jeopardy to follow – a man with a history of bullying and pushing legal boundaries – and 35 to 40% of America OK with that.

I can’t remember an election I’ve anticipated with more concern.  And, keep in mind, I’m not sure democrats have the “stones” (I apologize for a sexist analogy – I can’t think of anything more appropriate.  I’ll add, there are hundreds of WOMEN running for office as democrats and I believe they will be much stronger than their male predecessors)  necessary to carry the fight should they gain control of the House.  If they don’t understand this is a WAR – democrats will continue to find themselves in the minority!  I hope they look back to 2006, digest what happened, and DON’T do a repeat performance.  Republicans will NOT lose graciously!

Like MILLIONS of other Americans (and, many around the world) I’ve been closely watching the confirmation process which is likely to put Brett Kavanaugh, an accused sexual predator, onto the highest court in our nation.  He ALREADY sits on the 2nd highest court in the land, which, to me, seems to be a travesty in itself.  There’s been much that has come out in these hearings, but very possibly MORE that won’t be allowed to come out because the MALE dominated GOP doesn’t want it to come out – they want Kavanaugh on the court ASAP!  Even this “so-called” investigation, which has a limit of one week and a seriously flawed (in my view) limit on who will be questioned, appears to be all for “show.”  As Mitch McConnell said, “Brett Kavanaugh will be confirmed to the SCOTUS!

That means both Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski will vote for a man who has been credibly accused of sexual assault – they should know better.  That likely means there are democrats who will “go along to get along” by voting for Kavanaugh in an attempt to save their seat because they live in a state which voted for Trump.  That means Jeff Flake and any other senator who votes for Kavanaugh will have ignored the MANY instances where he appeared to be LYING in his testimony, let alone the evidence of sexual abuse.  That would mean ANY one who votes for Kavanaugh will have ignored his blasphemous response to Dr. Ford’s COMPELLING testimony.  That will mean they’ve ignored his arrogant answers to questions from democrats where he was openly dismissive of their questioning.  He came across as a PARTISAN hack!  Evidently, in the eyes of Trump and his sycophants in the GOP, “just what the doctor ordered.”

Seriously, behavior that turned my stomach came across as exciting to Trump.  Even Jeff Flake – who’s trying to portray himself as some kind of “progressive” champion – he appeared on stage with Chris Coons at the MSNBC sponsored “Global Initiative” this past weekend – will vote for Kavanaugh and he said, “It’s understandable to me how he (meaning Kavanaugh) could react that way (meaning his combative testimony).  I might do the same had I been accused of these things.”  Here’s the rub for me – there’s too many accusations and too many people corroborating Kavanaugh’s aggressive, divisive, obnoxious, partisan behavior.  Evidently, in the eyes of the GOP this is judicial prudence.  Yikes!!!!

From what I’ve read, the FBI has been severely limited in the “scope” of who they can question – kind of like the hearings where there were NO “follow up” questions allowed.  From the standpoint of the republicans it’s JAM this through as quickly as possible and hope Ruth Bader Ginsberg has health problems so we can go through this again.  The ONE thing they’re hoping to get from Trump’s fiasco of a presidency is CONTROL of the courts for at least a generation – and, in this, they are succeeding.  Anthony Kennedy, who retired to open up this seat for Kavanaugh, and, who has been proclaimed by “liberals” as some kind of great jurist (please, spare me!), stepped aside so that Trump could put Kavanaugh on the court.  I could go on and on why I consider Kennedy to be nothing more than a right wing supporter of a corporate takeover of America – but, I’ll save that for another day – just, every day when you think of what a hack Kavanaugh is – remember it was Kennedy who wanted him on the court!  (And, remember, the likely reason Trump chose Kavanaugh in the first place was his views on the “unitary executive” – Trump sees him as his “Roy Cohn”)

Of course, republicans are making it a sticking point in this “investigation” to make sure the FBI gets nowhere near Michael Avenatti who has a client with the most salacious of all the allegations against Kavanaugh – and, likely (knowing Avenatti) the MOST corroborated.  Therefore, Trump and his sycophants want NOTHING to do with him or the woman who came forward seeking him to represent her.  Did Avenatti find her hiding under a “rock?”  Likely NOT.  Very likely, she sought him out because she felt he would protect her should her accusations become public – because, the sad reality is that sexual assault victims routinely receive the responses we saw from Kavanaugh, Lindsay Graham, Chuck Grassley, Orin Hatch, and the other republicans.  Is it any wonder why women victims of sexual assault remain silent?

And, make no mistake, being the victim of a sexual assault can create a “life sentence” for the victim.  I personally KNOW several victims of sexual assault and it really made me angry listening to Kavanaugh and the other republicans (and, unquestionably, Kavanaugh IS a partisan republican hack) attempt to act like they really care about this issue.  I personally know people who couldn’t bear to even listen to this testimony because it brought up so many bad memories.  I’ve known women who have PTSD (several, at the time, I didn’t understand or recognize the symptoms) and suffer panic attacks due to sexual assault – and, it doesn’t go away.  Yes, counseling can help, but the fear and other repercussions don’t go away.

Even if you would suggest that maybe ALL these women are LYING – as Trump did to the 19 accusers who came forward after he admitted on tape that he’s a sexual predator – Kavanaugh LIED repeatedly in his testimony, according to MANY sources I’ve read.  (I have to wonder if Flake and the other “undecided” voters in the Senate are “checking this out?)  Apparently, Kavanaugh was LYING about much more than his alleged sexual deviancy.  So, wouldn’t you think LYING before a congressional committee (about anything) and exhibiting EXTREMELY boorish behavior in public – admitting to being a partisan hack – would disqualify you for the federal bench?  Apparently, in the eyes of republicans, it does just the opposite!

Of course, outlets like Fox “news” and the right wing bloviators who dominate the radio airwaves – like Rush Limbaugh – are “ginning” up the right wing “low information voters” who suck up whatever “red meat” they’re “thrown” and your typical Trump supporter is going to be “angry as hell” if Kavanaugh gets his “just rewards” – which would be accountability for his previous actions and his LYING to Congress.  I guess if you’re a Trump supporter you’ve come to accept LYING as routine and “no problemo.”  I can GUARANTEE anyone who happens upon this site that should Kavanaugh be confirmed the DAMAGE to the court will be ENORMOUS and he will NEVER be considered “legit” for as long as his tenure lasts.  He will have a “cloud” exponentially larger than Clarence Thomas and should he render opinions such as many fear (and, I’m not talking about Roe) I predict, at some point – after democrats have taken firm control of Congress – which will be one of the results of his confirmation – there will be a move to impeach him from the bench entirely.

I believe Kavanaugh’s most prudent action would be to remove himself from consideration citing the damage all this is doing to his family and return to his place on the Court of Appeals.  That’s highly unlikely because he comes across as a VERY ambitious member of the judiciary.  And, it may be “the Supreme Court or nothing” – because, if two republican Senators decide to vote against him it’s possible the allegations of his LYING to Congress will be considered more seriously – and, his position on the bench AT ALL will be in jeopardy.  As I’ve said, to me, it was EMBARRASSING watching his testimony following that of Dr. Ford.  When he referred to the Clinton’s as part of the “smear campaign” against him I thought EVEN republicans would see how that alone should disqualify him from the Supreme Court (or any court, for that matter).  But, apparently, in their eyes any anti-Clinton comment is received with aplomb!

I just finished reading “The House of Trump and the House of Putin” by Craig Unger – and, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in contemporary American politics – with the clear inference being that without the Russians Trump would NOT be our so-called president – and several fronts – which I’ll explain in more detail at another time.  (You SHOULD read this book)  The bottom line appears that what we, in America, have is an illegitimate (so-called) president, accused by (at least) 19 women of sexual impropriety and a man who’s LIED over 8000 times since taking office nominating a man accused of sexual ASSAULT by at least 4 women (as in most of these instances, there are likely more who don’t want to come forward) and, based on accusations from multiple sources, has LIED in his Congressional testimony over and over – for the highest COURT in our land.  When “they” say elections have consequences, well here’s the proof!

When I keep asking myself why don’t they just withdraw this nomination and start over?  I keep coming back to what appears to be the Kavanaugh reality.  He’s the MOST likely jurist who Trump could nominate (and, not really piss off his right wing base) who will defend our so-called president against whatever might come from the Mueller investigation.  I believe Trump and the republicans are anticipating that the House is very LIKELY to swing back to Democratic control starting next January.  Trump surely expects to be impeached AND, there ALREADY  are two FELONIES where he’s been named as an “unindicted co-conspirator” ie – by Michael Cohen – and, there’s very likely MORE “stuff” coming down the “pike.”  Not only from Cohen’s cooperating agreement of Manafort’s cooperating agreement or the other cooperating agreements – but, when you read Unger’s book mentioned above and “Trump/Russia” by Seth Hettena – it’s clear Trump’s connection to Russians (and, mainly the Russian “mafiya”) goes way back in time and is VERY deep!”  I believe one reason Mueller is taking more time than most of us would want is because he’s turning up a plethora of illegal activity committed by Trump and his (small) circle of associates over the past 30 or so years.

I’ve said many times I believe Trump to be acting like the head of an organized crime family.  Well, after reading the two aforementioned books it’s clear to me I’ve been “right on.”  And, this is going to pull in Trump’s sons, possibly his daughter, and very likely, in my mind, Jared Kushner.  The connections to Russia with Trump and those surrounding him is stark – when you actually learn the details.  The more I learn the more frustrated I become with our so-called “liberal media” – the media that “gave” Trump $2 BILLION worth of FREE advertising in the 2016 election (he is the master at media manipulation) – for failing to “educate” we the people on Trump’s actual inter-connection with the Russian mafiya – I’m guessing Mueller is not missing this!  This is why Trump’s been BRAINWASHING his “low information” base (he called them “uneducated voters”) since the election to prepare them to NOT believe Mueller’s findings.  Calling the investigation into the “Russia thing” a “witch hunt” because he knows where the investigation is likely to go.

Like you would expect in any “crime family” Trump has an “obligation” to protect his “brethren” – who, in this instance, happen to be Vladimir Putin and the Russian “oligarchs” who depend on people like Trump to “launder” their ill-gotten gains as they’ve been plundering Russia’s natural wealth since Putin took control at the turn of the century.  And, Trump is the prefect “stooge” for Putin in his attempt to recreate Russia’s “imperial destiny” – requiring the undermining of Western democracies which have lured the former Soviet satellite states into NATO –  apparently why Trump is trying to do Putin’s bidding as he, also, attacks NATO.  Our 24 hour “news” cycle has long ago forgotten Trump’s dreadful performance next to Putin in Helsinki, but, to me, it was (and is) confirmation the Russians have “kompromat” on Trump.  At the time, I agreed with those who claimed Trump’s words were “treasonous” – and, his actions during the election and after may very well be proved to corroborate that characterization once Mueller’s investigation is complete.  Witch hunt?  I don’t think so!

Final thought:  I’ve talked ad nauseum about the “DAMAGE” Trump will have done by the time republicans FINALLY decide “enough is enough” and impeach him.  Obviously, I miscalculated the republican party – they are even worse than I thought.  Even Jeff Flake, who occasionally says something that gets my attention, votes with Trump EVERY time – to me, almost worst than those who just go along with their crowd.  Flake knows better!  Putting Kavanaugh on the court – and, keep in mind, early on in this process I suggested to democrats to “choose their battles wisely” – my thinking being that Trump is going to be able to make this choice regardless – will be DAMAGE that could do more to destroy our country than anything else Trump does – Kavanaugh could be on the court for 30+ years.  So, we’ve got an alleged sexual predator and LIAR (and, likely “winning” a “rigged election”) appointing an alleged sexual predator and LIAR to the Supreme Court!  That’s America in 2018!!!

One more thing:  The Russian money and influence goes much deeper in today’s “Citizens United” America than just Trump.  The Supreme Court in “Citizens United” – just as President Obama predicted – opened up the “doors” to foreign money coming into our elections and BUYING off our politicians – in “The House of Trump and House of Putin” Unger lists the members of Congress who have benefited from, what to me seems like massive amounts of, Russian money “donated” into their campaign coffers.  Hopefully, I’ll write more on that later – but, buy the book and read it (along with “Trump/Russia” – they point out similar scenarios).  I also recommend Clint Watt’s book “Messing with the Enemy” which clarifies in great detail what is referred to as “active measures” regarding Putin’s attack on America and Europe.

As usual: my apologies for the lack of editing – I’m just going to post this.