Here’s reality – when you find yourself constantly claiming, “I’m not a white supremacist” – well, you’re a white supremacist. When you find yourself constantly being forced to claim, “I’m not a racist,” well – you’re a racist. When you choose to claim “I’ve got the military, the police, and the ‘bikers for individual 1,’ and if something happens to me it will be very bad” as a way to gin up the right wing whack jobs and then one of them shoots up a couple mosques, well, you shouldn’t be surprised at the white supremacist questions – especially if you’re the so-called president of the United States. And, if you’ve been paying attention to individual 1 for any length of time you shouldn’t be surprised as he downplays the effect of the rise in domestic terrorists – including the whack job in Christchurch New Zealand who recently MURDERED 50 Muslims – while they were at Friday prayers – and who claimed allegiance to individual 1’s persona.

The question MILLIONS of Americans keep asking themselves (well, I keep asking myself this and I assume there are MILLIONS more asking themselves the same question) is when will the republican party decide enough already. Nancy Pelosi couldn’t have made it any clearer. Until the republicans “grow a pair” getting rid of individual 1 is “off the table.” And, sadly, she’s absolutely correct – despite the fact individual 1 SHOULD be impeached. There’s MORE than enough evidence in the public realm for the House of Representatives to impeach individual 1. Impeachment comes because of the so-called president committing “high crimes and misdemeanors.” But, sadly, we all know the republicans in the Senate don’t have the courage to follow through and convict him of what SHOULD be considered “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Let’s face it, there’s at least TWO felonies on the “books” already – which, apparently, for republicans aren’t “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Can you imagine if President Obama had been credibly accused of two felonies while he was in office? (Especially hiding an affair with a porn star?) Would republicans have been guilty of “lock jaw?” I seriously doubt it. And, it appears the first two FELONIES may be minor compared to what’s on the “horizon.” Let’s face it, individual 1 has been claiming the Mueller investigation is a “witch hunt” for a very particular reason. He certainly KNOWS what is going to be found. The investigation has now morphed into investigations by the Southern District of New York (where the first two felonies originated) and who knows where else. It appears the Mueller investigation may end up being the least of individual 1’s problems.

And, it seems likely his problems very well could morph into issues for his family. For starters, we KNOW both individual 1 Jr. and Jared Kushner were willing to “collude” with the Russians to get what many have referred to as “dirt” on Hillary Clinton AND, based on what I’ve read, many believe Junior LIED to Congress during testimony. Of course, that shouldn’t be surprising because the “first family” appear to have no compunction to LYING! On top of that, now we’re hearing about both Kushner and his wife, the so-called president’s daughter, have been using – brace yourself (and think “lock her up”) private email servers to transmit government “business.” Kushner, apparently, has been communicating with Mohammad bin Salmon (MBS) via something called “What’s App.” From what I’ve heard is this “App” is used by people who want to encrypt their communication, and, in Kushner’s case, HIDE his communications from “we the people.” Of course, Kushner and his wife, along with everyone else who works for the “White House” are “duty bound” to “commemorate” EVERY communication they have with ANYONE – for the government record.

I just finished reading “Threat” by Andrew McCabe (highly recommended) which, for the most part is a memoir of his career as an FBI agent. However, as might be expected, there was no way McCabe was not going to mention some of what individual 1 “aimed” at him (and his wife) and what the consequence of having a pathological LIAR as the “leader” of our nation is. McCabe explains how the Special Counsel investigation began – and, for the most part – it appears he was responsible for the “Mueller probe.” I suppose, in McCabe’s mind, that would be a fair response, coming from him, to the so-called president’s incredible attacks on him and many other career members of the FBI. As I’ve intimated before, the destruction of the intelligence community seems to be one of the main objectives of individual 1.

For me, reading books like McCabe’s, (and Comey’s) gets me beyond the frustration of witnessing an incompetent, boorish, narcissistic so-called president to being progressively more angry. I’ve written OVER and OVER again about the DAMAGE being done to America by individual 1 and I’ve predicted his place in history will be right next to Benedict Arnold. But, sadly, there’s a large swath of America who are OK with a criminal “running” our country. (or should I say “ruining?”) Of course, there’s a LARGER swath of Americans who have committed to NOT EVER voting for individual 1. The question, for me, is will the democrats find a way to “snatch defeat from the arms of victory?”

This is the challenge of my (our) lifetime when it comes to OUR government. The republicans are facing extinction if they continue to enable this mafia boss so-called president who is doing everything he can to upend the fundamental values of America. People who call themselves “conservatives” are supporting a man who is anything but a “conservative. I just started reading “One Nation After Trump” by E.J. Dionne Jr., Norman J. Ornstein, and Thomas E. Mann and they remind us of how the original “conservative” Edmund Burke defined “conservatism” as: “A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve.” As someone who believes in traditional American “values” – while understanding “the need to improve” – I’ve often considered myself a “conservative” – although, by most people, I’m a “flaming liberal.” However, it’s individual 1’s destruction of our traditional institutions and our relationship with our traditional allies which bothers (angers) me more than anything else. Individual 1 is NO conservative and he’s NO “Christian” and republicans are committed to going “down with the ship.”

Then there’s the democrats. I’ve been pointing out for years that the issue I have with democrats is they don’t have the “spine” to defend their own basic values. For example, even though I understand why Nancy Pelosi, at least for the time being, took impeachment “off the table,” I also understand I’m not the only American looking for “leaders” who aren’t afraid to do “the right thing” without regard to the political “winds.” From a pragmatic point of view, Ms. Pelosi is “right on.” But, just as George W Bush and Dick Cheney essentially got away with being WAR CRIMINALS because the authorized TORTURE, it appears individual 1 will, at least temporarily, get away with “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Individual 1 has been busy preparing the republican “base” not to believe a word in the Mueller report (unless, of course, if it vindicates him – prediction, if that happens, Mueller will again be a hero) and, clearly, no matter what is in Mueller’s report, if republicans haven’t had enough, the democrats will not move to impeach our so-called president. Politically pragmatic, honorably disgusting!

Unfortunately, America is full of people who seem almost illiterate when it comes to the United States government. It’s almost as if something like 40% of Americans are willing to accept pathological LYING and behavior that is embarrassing when you look at how it’s viewed internationally. It’s as if there’s a large swath of Americans who believe “we the people” are invulnerable and don’t understand what the potential consequences of our European allies deciding we’ve gone off the “deep end” causing them to unite in ways that end up isolating the U.S. Of course, it’s very likely that is exactly what individual 1 would want. I believe he sees an alliance of the U.S. with Russia as “the way to go.” In my mind, a person would have to have their head “in the sand” to fail to see individual 1’s bromance with Vladimir Putin. And, of course, it’s likely because of Putin that individual 1 is in the “White House.”

I know several people who are supporters, still, of individual 1 – despite KNOWING he’s an unindicted co-conspirator to TWO felonies – and they are “Christians.” When I talk to them I always come away thinking two things which cause them to blindly follow him – first, they ALWAYS watch Fox “news.” Secondly, while they don’t like to believe this themselves, I believe the abortion issue causes them to be republicans. They believe democrats willingly support ANY abortion, even when the fetus is already alive. I have to admit I don’t know what they’re talking about, but I always question how they can support a myriad of republican policies because of a single issue – with much of their argument based on, it appears to me, maybe comments by some individual or some conspiracy theory. And, trust me, there are many “liberals” like myself, who understand what an abortion is. As I tell my friends, I would NEVER be a part of that (except for the life of the mother, rape, incest, and the usual exceptions) personally, but I don’t feel I have the right to impose my beliefs on someone else. That actually feels a bit libertarian to me, but my libertarian friends have no problem imposing their beliefs on others when it comes to this issue.

And, when I bring up the FACT republicans are constantly fighting “tooth and nail” to take federal support away from single Moms, child health care, early childhood education, food stamps, and on and on these supporters of individual 1 have no cogent response. This is bad, but, obviously, it gets worse. They support people stockpiling weapons and huge piles of ammo – the weapons used in one mass shooting after another – often causing tragic consequences to children in our schools (most recently, the tragedies are happening in places of worship). Much of this behavior is OK with the people, for example, carrying the tiki torches at Charlottesville. I don’t consider them “very fine people,” and the reality is Hillary Clinton was correct when she (foolishly – from a political standpoint) referred to them as the “deplorables.” Many of them are threatening violence if anything happens to individual 1.

I could go on for page upon page about the hypocrisy of the republicans who support this so-called president, but you get the idea. As far as I’m concerned, no matter what comes out on the “Mueller report,” individual 1 is NOT fit to be the president of the United States. Personally, again – no matter what Mueller finds – I believe the issue with the Russian interference in our system is ongoing. Vladimir Putin is quietly attempting to undermine EVERY Western “democracy” in order to re-constitute the “former Soviet Union.” Putin is using America’s open society against us in a way that is attempting to tear this nation apart. Putin not only recognizes the cultural divide in America but he’s expertly, very surreptitiously, exposing it. And, of course, at the very least, our so-called president is doing NOTHING to prevent this. In fact, it appears to me, the continuation of the Russian assault on our republic is part of the re-election plans of individual 1.

Final Thought: Keep in mind, it is his re-election that would possibly keep individual 1 out of jail. The issue at the Southern District of New York will be waiting for “individual 1” when he returns to Manhattan if it is within the time limits of the CRIMES he’s the unindicted co-conspirator on regarding to paying off women in order to influence the 2016 election. There will always be an asterisk next to individual 1’s name as the 45th president of the United States. As I’ve been finishing this post the Mueller report was finished and “handed off” to the Attorney General. The next week should be interesting.

As usual, my apologies for publishing without editing. Remember, I was a sixth grade teacher :o). Like many others, I’m anxious to hear what Mueller found in his investigation.

I just happened to be watching MSNBC when Judge Ellis in the Eastern District of Virginia gave Paul Mannafort an extremely light sentence in regard to ALL the charges he was convicted of by the prosecutors representing the Special Counsel. In the process, this judge actually said about Mannafort that other than these crimes (almost as if they are minor crimes) he has led a “blameless life.” Of course, many beside myself have already pointed out how absurd that comment by the judge was. This is the judge who, essentially, berated the prosecutors for even bringing charges against Mannafort suggesting the ONLY reason they did so was to get to individual 1. Of course, neither Mannafort nor individual 1 are “blameless” and their “crimes” may end up being among the WORST in the history of the United States of America.

Mannafort’s sentence is a prime example of why republicans like individual 1. He’s packing the courts with judges comporting the same mindset of Judge Ellis – apparently seeing SERIOUS white collar crime as minor crimes and feeling comfortable attacking prosecutors who go “by the book.” Mannafort’s lawyers, after the verdict, made the comment “there’s no ‘collusion’ from Mr. Mannafort” – of course, that despite Mannafort’s participation in the June 9, 2016 meeting in “individual 1” Tower where, along with Donald individual 1 Jr. and Jared Kushner Mannafort “colluded” with Russians in an attempt to get “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. Obviously, the comment from Mannafort’s lawyer was a plea for a pardon which seemed to be their “strategy” from the start.

If “we the people” had not already recognized the threat to the very foundation of America’s representative democracy coming from individual 1 this should be an eye opener. For example, as several former prosecutors pointed out, had Mannafort been brown or black and been convicted of selling some drugs he very likely would have received the recommended sentencing guidelines from this judge. And, really, for the judge to suggest Mannafort – who’s a THUG at best – when you learn what he was doing in places around the world, including Ukraine, along with the gravity of his STEALING from the American people (tax fraud) – is, other than these charges blameless, you have to wonder what’s going on behind the scenes with this judge. $$$??? Clearly, the swamp is not being drained!

And, for the judge to suggest “their was no collusion” – if, in fact he did, is absurd on it’s face as I pointed out above. Clearly, the individual 1 campaign had no compunction about getting help from the Russians. The question, really, is how much help did they get? At some point in time, “we the people” will find the answer to that question. I just hope I’m still breathing and able to comprehend information at that point. Sadly, our government has a tendency to “bury” some “stuff” into the archives for years after a president leaves office. (Subsequent to my starting this post I’ve learned it was in individual 1’s imagination that the judge said there was “no collusion” with Russia. Despite individual 1 claiming the judge exonerated him, it’s just another LIE to put on the pile of LIES he’s spoken since taking office.)

Some of individual 1’s “stuff” is going to be eye opening if it makes it to the public. Robert Mueller’s investigation may or may not conclude individual 1 conspired with the Russians in order to get himself “elected” (albeit with 3 MILLION less votes than Mrs. Clinton) but there’s likely to be a large pile of provable illegal activity by individual 1 and the organization he heads (and, I’m not talking about “running” America). The new Attorney General is likely to attempt keeping Mueller’s findings “under wrap” which, I believe, democrats in the House will find a way to get the findings out to the public. Additionally, the investigations in New York are likely, by most accounts from the “experts,” where the greatest danger lies for individual 1 (he’s already an unindicted co-conspirator to TWO felonies in the SDNY – Southern District of New York).

Regardless, most people who think as I do believe we’re already way past the point where our so-called president has committed a plethora of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” However, just as I had predicted (check the archives if you don’t believe me) the democrats are going to look the other way – unless IMPEACHMENT becomes a “no brainer.” Today, Nancy Pelosi, who I believe is a good Speaker (I never agree on everything with anyone), said, essentially, “impeachment is off the table” unless it’s so obvious that “it’s bipartisan.” She, as I have referred to in my previous posts even equated what’s happening right now to 2006 when people like myself wanted Bush/Cheney impeached for authorizing TORTURE. Most pundits don’t remember the level of outcry from those of us who aren’t’ afraid to call ourselves “liberals” in 2006. But, essentially, the democrats said the same thing, “if there’s not enough republicans to ‘convict’ in the Senate, they ‘why impeach?'”

Of course, the way I see it, if a so-called president has committed “high crimes and misdemeanors” the House of Representatives SHOULD, at a minimum, have a public investigation in regards to ALL the evidence of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” If the president has committed impeachable offenses, in my view, EVERY member of the House has taken an OATH to investigate and IMPEACH him/her – regardless of what will happen in the Senate. Clearly, Ms. Pelosi is concerned that impeaching individual 1 will inflame his “base” and make it more difficult to defeat him in 2020. I believe she is badly miscalculating “we the people” just as democrats did in 2006. I’ve said MANY times on this site – the challenge for democrats is to demonstrate they actually believe in the fundamental values they claim as their basic beliefs. If individual 1’s actions don’t violate their beliefs to the point of considering them “high crimes and misdemeanors” then “we the people” are truly in a bad way.

What Ms. Pelosi fully understands is the nature of individual 1’s “base.” If you watched those “very fine people” carrying tiki torches, wearing Nazi arm bands, holding both Nazi and Confederate flags and chanting things like “Jews will not replace us” at Charlottesville you then have a good idea of individual 1’s “base.” If you remember, none other than David Duke, after the Charlottesville incident, making it clear they were very appreciative of individual 1’s “very kind words,” you clearly know why the Speaker may be hesitant. Ms. Pelosi knows these people are very quietly, for those of us who don’t frequent their alt right websites, threatening “civil war” if individual 1 is impeached and they’re armed to the “hilt.” On that front, I certainly feel much better having Bob Barr in charge of the Justice Department instead of Jeff Sessions, but, the reality is there will likely be a violent reaction should individual 1 find his term in the “White House” shortened. And, many are suggesting this would include if he’s voted out in 2020.

Michael Cohen isn’t the only person I’ve heard suggesting individual 1 won’t willingly “move out” once he’s voted out. Of course, that very well may be because he’s likely to be facing, at a minimum TWO indictments for FELONIES relating to campaign finance violations – although, it appears to me the list of infractions is likely to grow like a chia pet grows hair between now and then. Of course, the likelihood his children will be facing legal issues as well grows by the day. For example, individual 1 Jr., by most accounts, is facing perjury charges based on his testimony to a couple Congressional committees. Plus if the individual 1organization is going to face “RICO” charges, as many contend, the “children” are in deep “doo doo.”

Of course, Pelosi isn’t alone in suggesting individual 1 “isn’t worth it” – in regard to the divisiveness impeachment would create. If you read James Comey’s book he almost suggests impeachment would be a “cop out” – that “we the people” put him in office (of course, that’s debatable – especially coming from Comey and his now infamous announcement about the Clinton emails 11 days prior to the election) and it’s up to us to VOTE him out of office. I have no doubt we will VOTE him out of office if he’s still in office two years from now, but it’s also important to re-establish that NO ONE is above the law.

I thought that was established during Watergate, but Reagan was let off the “hook” after Iran/Contra (as was George HW Bush) AND George W Bush AND Dick Cheney authorized WAR CRIMES (torture) and were allowed to walk away with NO consequences. (That’s without even mentioning LYING “we the people” into an ILLEGAL war, or TANKING our economy, among other issues) I always faulted President Obama for blocking ALL the investigations into the illegal activity of Bush/Cheney. (although, as I do with Pelosi, I like President Obama)

Nancy Pelosi is the necessary LEADER of the democratic party in the House of Representatives because she is a wily, experienced politician at a time when that is desperately needed – to offset the republican party that has no moral compass. That being said, there’s something very exciting happening. The “freshman” class of legislatures in the House democratic caucus are looking more and more to me to be an amazing group – despite all the right wing venom aimed at Rep. Ilhan Omar and the others not afraid to speak their minds – this group of young democrats are not afraid to actually sound like, well, democrats.

Yes, some of them will be facing issues (like Ms. Omar) because of the right wing’s ability to twist words in ways that continue the fear mongering which has been the republican “calling card” since the day Newt Gingrich decided the way for republicans to succeed was to OBSTRUCT, LIE, and cause the government to flounder – then blame the resulting quagmire on democrats. They’ve been doing this for over 30 years. However, several of these young democrats have shown me they aren’t afraid of the right wing fear mongering and they believe in their fundamental values enough to actually FIGHT for them. For example, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is more than willing to “throw” the right wing “fear” right back in their faces! These young democrats, in my view, are not going to back down when it comes to what I’ve referred to as the struggle for the heart and soul of America!

Final Thought: The more I see of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez the more I believe she’s going to be a “force” in the Congress for the foreseeable future. There’s another young lady who’s impressed me and her name is Katy Porter. Here’s the way I see it – and, keep in mind I’m 71 and have been following politics since the days of Dwight Eisenhower – I was a supporter of Robert Kennedy back in 1968 – the “men” have proven themselves to be unworthy of the honor of leading this nation in more situations than not – keep in mind, since Jimmy Carter Barack Obama is the ONLY president not facing a major scandal. (individual 1 is a scandal a day) 2018 has been described as the “year of the woman” and, if Ocasio-Cortez and Porter are examples of what is to come, I’m all for it. These women are impressive and it appears to me they’re not in Washington DC to “salt their own wagon” or are susceptible to the corruption which has permeated our Nation’s capital since the 1970’s – exacerbated by the Citizen’s United SCOTUS decision in 2010. I truly hope I’m correct!

“Liar, Liar, pants on fire,” that’s how Michael Cohen was described by one of the republicans on the House Oversight Committee while virtually every one of the rest of them found various ways to point out Mr. Cohen lied to Congress and, therefore, is a convicted LIAR. (Reminded me of the story in the Bible where Jesus says “let the man with no sin throw the first stone” when confronted with the woman accused of adultery) Not withstanding the integrity of these self serving republicans who stained themselves incredibly in their barrage of attacks on Mr. Cohen, presumably because there was no defense of what he was alleging in regards to individual 1. What stood out to me was, apparently, there is no defense. Otherwise, at least one of them would have said at least one sentence to defend individual 1, but, instead, it was all “liar, liar, pants on fire.” I found it somewhat similar to how they soiled themselves over Benghazi.

So, today, our “scandal of the day” (and, I’m not kidding) is how individual 1, Jared Kushner, Kushner’s wife Ivanka Trump, and Kushner’s lawyer Abbe Lowell ALL lied about how Mr. Kushner got his security clearance. Individual 1 apparently over-ruled those who determine if someone is “fit” to receive America’s top secrets – you know, the “secrets” republicans were so concerned about when Hillary Clinton had an email server in her basement – because Kushner was determined to be a security risk – for some reason. Curiously, all those mentioned above, felt the need to LIE about this, even though individual 1 clearly has the “power” to do this. In fact, individual 1 even LIED about whether or not he knew he had this authority, even after he had already exercised it, according to all the reports I’ve read. I have to wonder if this is worse than Cohen LYING to Congress on behalf of individual 1 over a hotel project in Russia?

Should be interesting to listen to how Jim Jordan and all his minions respond to this. When someone like Kushner was recommended to be denied a security clearance by, even, the CIA, there’s got to be a serious problem. I’ve had a bad feeling about Mr. Kushner from day one of this so-called administration simply because this is classic nepotism. And, Ivanka a “senior advisor?” Are you kidding me? No one should be surprised at the incredible incompetence emanating from the “White House.”

Why is this a serious issue? Well, there’s much “out there” suggesting Kushner’s relationship with MBS (Mohammad bin Salman), for example, that suggests many ugly possibilities of how these two conspire in very ugly ways with significant tragic outcomes being the result. Of course, there’s Jamal Khashoggi meeting up with MBS’s bone saw and there’s the issue with Qatar (which, by the way, I believe at some point will be another “scandal of the day” when the truth about how the Qatari sovereign investment fund bailed out the Kushners at 666 Fifth Avenue) There are many other questions regarding Kushner family interests, financially, with foreign entities.

My point is there apparently are very good reasons Kushner was denied his security clearance and NO good reasons why individual 1, Kushner himself, Ivanka, and Abbe Lowell – Kushner’s attorney – are all LYING about it. But, of course, individual 1 LIES routinely about virtually EVERYTHING. That’s why it was so interesting watching all the republicans in the House Oversight Committee, and I mean EVERY one of them, attacking Cohen as a LIAR as their defense of individual 1. Not ONCE, did I hear one of them actually defend individual 1’s actions. What’s that phrase I used to hear on ESPN? COME ON MAN! Have they not seen the “running stats” that individual 1 has, up to this point in time, LIED something approaching 10,000 times – and piles on LIES at the rate of multiples of 10 each day!

As I’ve said many times, “we the people” are dealing with an “individual” who acts just like a mob boss as our so-called president. Every day there’s another layer to the PILE of scandals which SHOULD have put Mike Pense into the “White House” long ago. And, trust me, I’m not longing for the days where Pense has become our so-called president. Pense, from how I understand conspiracy, should be lawyered up as we all wait for Robert Mueller’s report. Pense has shown himself to be a willing stooge for individual 1 in a way that shows himself to have NO moral compass. I don’t believe, for example, that Michael Flynn “lied to the vice president.” To me, it’s absurd to think Flynn was offering sanction relief to the Russians without the knowledge of individual 1 and his so-called vice president. Additionally, as one example, Pense clearly participated in the cover-up of the reason why James Comey was fired. By my understanding of the law, each person who was read into the real reason and then helped cover it up is susceptible to being part of the conspiracy.

Pense is just one of many who, it seems, find themselves in a mess they likely didn’t anticipate when thinking about working at the “White House.” Democrats, on Monday of this week, sent letters to 81 individuals or groups seeking documents in a very focused plan to find out whether or not individual 1 should be impeached. Republicans chose to work to HIDE any wrongdoing by the administration during individual 1’s first two years in office and the democrats have a lot of ground to make up. Clearly, individual 1 will be shouting to the rooftops to cause his “base” to continue to believe this is a “witch hunt.” When he was making his first comments in reaction to these requests (which he’s likely to fight) we heard again, “there was no collusion, this is a witch hunt, it’s a disgrace.” Well, from my position, the DISGRACE is that “we the people” have a purported mob boss as our so-called president.

The sad reality is that one area where individual 1 was likely correct was when he said, “I could be walking down Fifth Avenue in New York and shoot someone and my supporters wouldn’t care.” Despite all that is clear (although if you allow yourself to watch Fox “news” you have no idea what’s really happened) many of individual 1’s supporters continue to support him. Many are filling out their tax forms, as I’m writing this, and discovering he LIED to them about the tax scam – and, they don’t care. Many have seen his promises about the trade deficit were foolhardy – and they don’t care. He’s an unindicted co-conspirator in two felonies – and, they don’t care. He’s LIED over 9000 times, often right to their faces – and, they don’t care. He’s shamed himself in the presence of both Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong un (just picture how republicans would have responded had President Obama done that) – and, they don’t care. I”m still wondering if they’ll care should it be proven he did conspire with the Russians to get elected. That will tell us a lot about America. Remember, many of those “very fine people” carrying tiki torches at Charlottesville were wearing Nazi armbands and chanting “Jews will not replace us.” NOTHING will cause them to “bail” from supporting individual 1.

I could go on and on, but the reality is that republicans care only about maintaining power and they actually like a “leader” who brazenly LIES in order to keep the “minions” in place. The incompetence doesn’t matter, the DAMAGE, both domestically and abroad, doesn’t matter – it’s all about maintaining power and appointing as many right wing judges as he can before he’s voted out of office in 2020. I have a good friend who’s a die hard individual 1 supporter and he’s already predicting individual 1 will pick one more Supreme Court Justice because he, and, apparently, those on the “right,” are hoping for Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death (or retirement). Mr friend, for what it’s worth, is very confident Judge Ginsburg’s seat on the bench is going to be “available” while individual 1 is still in office. Here’s going to be the irony which will really cause the “left” to go bonkers. Picture, if my friend is correct, Mitch McConnell, in individual 1’s final year in office, if a Supreme Court seat comes open – do you really believe he’ll keep that seat open as he did in Barack Obama’s final year? The court would be much different had Merrick Garland been confirmed, wouldn’t it? And, republicans wouldn’t like it.

Here’s the bottom line. Individual 1 is NOT going to stop LYING – I don’t think he’s capable of telling the truth. Michael Cohen’s testimony opened up several new areas where even more investigations will likely be opened – investigations into individual 1’s financial impropriety. Some reports suggest Mueller’s report is imminent, but, regardless, the investigations in the House are just beginning. One thing you can count on is that the democrats in the House of Representatives are going to get individual 1’s transgressions into the open. People like republican Devin Nunes, when he controlled the House Intelligence Committee, chose to actually be our so-called president’s “moat,” (using a term I learned reading Steven Brill’s book “Tailspin” – highly recommended, by the way) leaving a lot of “catch up” now that democrats control the committee.

The leaders of the democratic party are showing signs which point back to 2006 when America was openly TORTURING “enemy combatants” and the democrats chose NOT to consider impeachment to either GW Bush or Dick Cheney, both of whom had openly admitted to authorizing TORTURE (waterboarding) and BOTH said they’d do it again – leaving the impression that those at the “top” are NOT subject to the laws. According to my (democratic, at the time) representative the reason they didn’t consider impeachment was due to the reality there would be no conviction in the Senate. Well, circumstances appear to be the same, except that there are MANY first year representatives who are anxious to do what their oath calls for them to do – and, that’s to impeach a so-called president who’s committed, openly, “high crimes and misdemeanors.” In the case of individual 1, it’s simply CRIMES that have been committed. I guess what many of us are wondering is do actual CRIMES equate to “high crimes and misdemeanors?” If not, what does qualify?

Final Thought: This all makes me wonder if a MOB BOSS finds a way to LIE his/her way into the office of President of the United States does that matter to that person’s party? Apparently, in the present day republican party it’s irrelevant – as we saw in the Cohen hearings, where republicans showed NO interest in finding out the truth about individual 1’s organization – which, by the way, more and more people are now referring to as a potentially organized crime organization, which I’ve been doing for over a year. We’re hearing, more and more, people suggesting the Trump organization (should I say the individual 1 organization?) very well may be facing a RICO charge – and, that would suggest it’s a crime syndicate.

Of course, republicans impeached Bill Clinton because he LIED about his affair with Monica Lewinsky and, despite the efforts of Lindsay Graham to get the Senate to remove him from office, Clinton remained in office and, actually, was very popular when he left office. Apparently, today’s democratic leaders are apprehensive to do anything which would make individual 1 more popular, but, it seems to me, individual 1’s “high crimes” are much more significant to Clinton’s. And, the reality is that Clinton was actually managing the American economy and government – something, clearly, individual 1 is proving to be incompetent. And, the “beat goes on” ………………………………

There’s an old saying, “The more things change the more they stay the same.” I really have trouble stomaching anything coming from the republican party, but, if you’re paying attention to what’s going on with our government it can’t be helped. So, this week is the annual disgusting CPAC conference where conservatives get together and convince each other that all their LIES are not really lies at all, because if they continue repeating them, well, they’ll magically become true. Of course, for the past quarter of a century (yes, that’s correct) these republicans have been able to focus their “venom” on Hillary Clinton, as the most obvious example – showing their success is the result of negativity and creating targets for their strategy of fear mongering, a prime example of how they focus on character assassination as a routine strategy. And, of course, with Mrs. Clinton it worked because, with the help of the Russians and James Comey, we’ve got individual 1 as our so-called president.

Well, Hillary Clinton is no longer a viable target because she’s pretty much pulled herself out of the spotlight – of course, this doesn’t include individual 1’s venomous attacks when he’s doing his “no collusion” routine, (And, by the way, there may not have been collusion on individual 1’s part – we KNOW his son and son-in-law and his campaign manager “COLLUDED” because that’s part of the official record – if he’s innocent, all I can say is individual 1 is not acting like an innocent man) grouping her together with James Comey, Andrew McCabe (I’m reading his book), Barack Obama, and others he HATES on. So, those at CPAC now have to find a new “bogeyman” in order to keep their “uneducated voter” base in a state of constant fear and anger. I’m sure you’ve already figured out where I’m going with this.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will nicely fit into the republicans’ plan to keep their base living in fear of a socialist revolution that puts them all in gulags. (Maybe like the ones individual 1 says Kim Jong un doesn’t know much about in North Korea) These people who support individual 1, despite the mounting evidence he’s very possibly nothing more than a mob boss, will believe ANYTHING they are told to believe, and there’s a reason they are coveted as “uneducated voters.” First of all, they vote. Secondly, at least in the instances of the ones I know, they read very little or not at all – and, the ones who read, focus on the “fake books” that come from the world of Fox “news” and their “fake” journalists. So, republicans are in the process of proclaiming Ms. Ocasio-Cortez as the “face” of the democratic party and our so-called “liberal media” – this is my prediction – will fall for it. They’ll report it as it is so.

It’s true Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, at least in my view, is coming across as a potentially brilliant legislator, but the reality is she’s 29 years old and she’s got a lot to learn. I love her intensity and enthusiasm, but my concern is she’s putting herself in the position to be the leader of the democratic version of the republican’s so-called “freedom caucus” – the “tea party” republicans. The right wing “tea party” republicans are what brought us individual 1 and, personally, I’m not anxious for the “liberal” version. President Obama, despite how he was characterized by these CPAC LIARS is no flaming “liberal.” In fact, his “pragmatism” – while I understood why he made decisions he did (see the movie “42”), was one of the reasons I made predictions which actually came true during his two terms – predictions about people failing to vote and democrats losing ground in legislatures around the country and why. (see the archives if you want details)

While I love the diversity and enthusiasm in the new “class” of democrats in the House of representatives, the “real world” focus of democrats, long term, MUST be to make sure individual 1 gets the opportunity to defend himself in court after the 2020 election because he will no longer be protected from legal accountability by some outdated and ridiculous Justice Department Legal Counsel memo written 50 years ago which implies the president is above the law. To me, that’s absurd, and violates any common sense interpretation of our constitution. To me, President Obama’s most egregious mistake came shortly after he assumed office when he BLOCKED all investigations into the ILLEGAL activities authorized by GW Bush and his cohort Dick Cheney – both who admitted to being WAR CRIMINALS. If anyone in America should be held to account for violating our laws it SHOULD begin with the president. He/she takes an oath to defend the constitution and that oath should be a sacred one.

I’m one who is very likely to be in agreement with most of what Ms Ocasio-Cortez is espousing, and I hope she continues to be enthusiastic and intense in how she handles her job – I just hope those with more experience can help make sure she understands she’s one of 435 members of the House of Representatives and, while it’s clear the “conservatives” are targeting her and are going to be vilifying her that just means she MUST be diligent in how she portrays herself. For example, I was driving home today from taking my grandson to school and heard a report that Ms Ocasio-Cortez was “threatening” democrats who “vote with republicans” ? (I didn’t get many details) with a primary opponent. That, if it’s true, of course, is a classic “tea party” tactic. Over the years I’ve watched many times where democrats have proven to me one thing they’re really good at is “snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory.” That CAN’T happen in 2020!

The reality of American politics is that the 2020 election, like any American election, will ultimately be decided by how those in the “center” vote – mainly those who portray themselves like me as “independents.” Now, there’s a significant majority of Americans, something like 54% who have said they will NEVER vote for individual 1 – which should make it impossible for him to win another term (if he’s even running in 2020). However, I’ve watched over the years as republicans will do ANYTHING to win an election (except base their campaigns on the merits of their agenda – truthfully) and, they will find a way to make individual 1 competitive – in 2016 it was the Russians interfering on individual 1’s behalf and James Comey, incredibly, intervening on individual 1’s behalf 11 days before the election. It was like pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

In 2020 there’s already the possibility that billionaire Howard Schultz will attempt to peal off enough centrist voters from the democrats to make the 40% of America which doesn’t care that individual 1 might have conspired with the Russians to win, who don’t care how many women he’s had affairs with while his wife was pregnant with his latest son – and, that he paid ILLEGAL hush money to so his “uneducated voters” wouldn’t know about it prior to the election – or how many women are accusing him of sexual assault, they don’t care about how much money he’s laundered for the Russians or Saudi’s or who knows who else, they don’t care about how many LIES he’s said, many right to their faces, they don’t care that he’s a racist – in fact, for a large segment of his “base” that’s why they’ll be in the streets if he’s impeached, to them,it’s his number one asset, they could care less about his bankruptcies and all the people he’s “stiffed” over the years, and, sadly, they don’t care about all the DAMAGE he’s doing to America both short and long term both domestically and abroad – reams upon reams will be written about the DAMAGE once he’s gone, but, in the mean time………………………

Even people like Schultz appear to be afraid of Ms Ocasio-Cortez, and I really don’t understand why. It’s “we the people” who have the power to determine who our leaders are and, obviously, in New York, the people chose this young lady who appears to be quite brilliant. But, should anyone really be quaking in fear of her? I heard a “conservative” this morning, I don’t remember his name, using the name Joseph Stalin in characterizing Ms. Ocasio-Cortez. I can’t remember all the things he said she wants to take away – but, two of them were “pickup trucks and hamburgers.” Honestly, I had to laugh when I listened to it, but then I reminded myself that these right wing “talkers” are focused on continuing the BRAINWASHING they’ve been “applying” to their “uneducated voters” for the past 50 years and they convince themselves to believe their own LIES. It may not be “death panels” this time, but I guarantee you the fear mongering is just beginning.

And, the likelihood our “liberal media” exposes it for what it is – well, to me – is quite low. The last thing they want to see is a non competitive presidential election – there’s BILLIONS at stake in all the advertising revenue – on which they depend. Even MSNBC, in 2016 went out of their way to “normalize” individual 1 and they created so many false equivalencies it caused me to get indigestion – which doesn’t happen to me often. Like we’re all watching individual 1 being “played” on the international stage by people who shouldn’t even be on that stage – like Kim Jong un – we have to watch our “liberal media” being played by individual 1 – manipulating the media is one thing he’s actually good at. And, when one time I heard him say in a speech that the media wants him in office because they’re making a “haul” (my characterization of what he said, but you should get the point) it was a point in time where I had to agree with him.

So, republicans are going to push Ms. Ocasio-Cortez right to the forefront and, while seasoned democrats likely won’t be so quick to do so, I believe the media will easily get sucked in and she’ll be on the cover of magazines and the topic of many news stories. Republicans will use her to scare the “hell” out of their “uneducated voters” – because it works. It’s going to be “socialism this, socialism that” for the next two years. And, when you think of it, the bottom line is republicans don’t want EVERY American to have access to quality health care, they want the minimum wage to remain – inflation adjusted – to be lower than it was in the late 1960’s, they don’t want our infrastructure brought up to code unless we can do it without the wealthy paying more taxes, they don’t believe climate change is “real” despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and, the only way they will care one iota about the national debt or the annual deficit is if there’s a democrat in the “White House.”

And, that’s the thing individual 1 fears the MOST! A democrat in the “White House.” Of course, that would mean he would no longer be in the “White House” and, therefore, no longer protected from that ridiculous “memo” of 50 years ago which seems to be protecting him from indictment. I woke today thinking maybe today there wouldn’t be another individual 1 SCANDAL. Of course, that was hopeful thinking. We’re all numb to the scandal a day which has been ongoing for over two years. Individual 1 is brazenly arrogant, seemingly daring the democrats to impeach him. Of course, he knows the republicans fear him enough to guarantee he won’t be removed from office. Yes, there was another “scandal” today, right on cue, that individual 1 allegedly interfered with the proposed merger between AT&T (I’m not a fan) and Time Warner (which includes CNN) leading Kellyanne Conway’s husband to say it was an “impeachable offense.” Just another day in the neighborhood, and when individual 1 returns to Manhattan there very well could be a plethora of indictments waiting for him. He’ll no longer be able to hide behind that stupid memo!

Final Thought: As I said above, I’m reading Andrew McCabe’s book “Threat” which is very interesting and a good read. I’ve only read about a fourth of the book and he hasn’t gotten much into individual 1 at this point, but combining what he’s explaining with much of the other “stuff” I’m learning, I believe individual 1 very well could be looking at what’s called a RICO charge once out of office. This would validate my suggestions he comes across as a mob boss – which became apparent to me over a year ago. So, not only are we quite possibly going to be referring to republicans as the party which elected a mafia boss to be our so-called president, but worst yet, as the evidence continued to mount, they kept supporting him. As if having the power is more important than the integrity of our democratic republic. More important than our constitution. This is clearly why I’ve been lobbying for republicans to become a part of American history – in the section presently occupied by Benedict Arnold!