The republicans just keep getting more absurd as they are attempting to defend the ILLEGAL behavior of their so-called president. They continue to use the same “playbook.” During the Mueller investigation it was “There was no collusion,” followed by “collusion is not illegal” then followed by “Who gives a s@#t?” Of course, the ILLEGAL behavior of individual 1 didn’t stop with his “vindication” (by William Barr) following the Mueller report when almost immediately he was “at it again” when he called the newly elected president of Ukraine and attempted to extort “dirt” on Joe Biden in exchange for the duly authorized military assistance which had been authorized on a bi-partisan vote in Congress.

The democrats, mainly Nancy Pelosi and a bunch of “rookies” who had won in districts carried by individual 1 in 2016, had finally had enough. They began the formal (informal?) IMPEACHMENT process which has now evolved to kind of the same “shenanigans” republicans were relying on during the Mueller investigation. Have we gotten to the point where they are claiming EXTORTION is OK? Do you think they are thinking ahead to when there’s a democrat in the “White House” and, it now seems improbable, that they might have the majority in Congress again? (I’m not sure they are able to “think ahead”) I’m starting to think the republicans could be facing the same kind of era of being the minority they experienced in the 60’s and 70’s. I’ve been lamenting where this republican party has evolved for years. It’s time for “we the people” to put this to “bed.”

Yesterday Bill Taylor, an unimpeachable (no pun intended) diplomat who has a history which is almost the opposite of individual 1, gave testimony which is devastating to our so-called president. Adam Schiff is running the hearings of the intelligence community in a way to prevent each witness from hearing the others ahead of time – the depositions are happening in private. (By the way, similar to how republicans carried out the “Benghazi hearings”) The republicans don’t like getting the same treatment they gave the democrats when they were in control. Taylor is an honored Viet Nam veteran AND he’s been a respected foreign service “lifer” AND no one questions his integrity. Can you say that about individual 1? Today, the republicans actually “stormed” the secure room (SKIF) where the depositions are taking place stopping today’s activity – apparently objecting to the “process” for about 5 embarrassing hours. My first thought was: “Be careful what you wish for.”

I believe, at some point, these witnesses who are now giving depositions will be testifying in public. Just a reminder, a deposition simply lets the investigators know what to expect when someone is testifying in public. I think these republicans who are objecting to this process will be rolling their eyes when Bill Taylor testifies in public. Taylor, by all accounts, is the last in a line of former (or present) public servants who have confirmed individual 1 was EXTORTING the Ukrainians for an investigation which WOULD be ILLEGAL, this investigation would be coming from the Ukrainians, in exchange for military aid which was desperately needed to fight off, who else, the Russians. And, keep in mind, Taylor was pulled out of retirement by Mike Pompeo (and individual 1) to replace Marie Yovanovich who had been “railroaded” out of Ukraine (as our ambassador) because she was not cooperating with this EXTORTION scheme. Did they really think Taylor would succumb to their corruption? Yikes!!!

Matt Gaetz continues to cause me to wonder what is going on in the minds of the people who vote people like him into office. I have to wonder if his “moral compass” is as blank as individual 1’s? Gaetz is the one who was leading the group of republicans who “stormed” the SKIF where today’s deposition is taking place – brandishing their cell phones in an apparent attempt to make sure their disregard of any “norm” was part of their “message” and challenging the democrats to enforce ethics protocols. In fact, I’m now hearing these right wing thugs suggesting “quid pro quo’s” are not illegal. Just as a little further back they were saying “collusion” is not illegal. Here’s the part they will not have an answer for: it IS illegal to solicit “anything of value” from a foreign person or country in regard to an American election!

I’ve heard Gaetz in Congressional hearings and not once, in his attempts to defend individual 1, has he EVER (at least while I’ve been listening/watching) defended our so-called president’s behavior. When I was watching the hearings involving Michael Cohen, Gaetz (along with the other republicans in the Judiciary [Oversight? Intel?] Committee) did NOT use one word to defend individual 1, virtually EVERY word that came from their mouths were aimed at attacking Cohen. Just as with the “stunt” today, there’s NOTHING suggesting a defense of the (so-called) president’s actions – only an attempt to “muddy the waters” – which seems to be the “new normal.” Sadly, there’s NEVER any republicans objecting to ANYTHING being done by individual 1. Is anyone watching?

Not only is our so-called president putting our constitution at jeopardy, but what is happening to the Ukrainians AND the Kurds is devastating to them and, not so coincidentally, beneficial to the Russians! Today there were videos on TV of the Russians, already, moving into Northern Syrian and occupying the land the Kurds were envisioning as their homeland – resulting from their battle against ISIS, arm in arm with American special forces – with the Russians warning the Kurds to get the h-e- double toothpick out of Syria if they want to continue breathing. And Ukraine? Well, the Ukrainians are understandably worried about whether or not the Americans are going to abandon them in the face of the Russian incursion.

If the Russians end up taking over Ukraine this will be an even greater disaster. Putin is active around the world and, it appears, individual 1 is working as a Russian asset. It’s hard to imagine an American president abandoning American allies as he’s done with the Kurds and possibly the Ukrainians and the republican party virtually in lockstep saying, well…… NOTHING! The republicans were beside themselves when Putin took Crimea and, as I remember it, they criticized President Obama’ sanctions (which have proven to be effective) as not enough. In fact, I believe Bill Taylor was one of those suggesting the Obama administration had not done enough in Ukraine. Now, individual 1 is attempting to get the sanctions removed – much to the delight of his idol Putin. Will republicans continue to look away.

Here’s the reality of the situation, that gets more serious by the day. Individual 1 seems to be working for the benefit of Vladimir Putin and Putin is gleefully filling ALL the voids our so-called president is creating. (Well, I should add, the Chinese are very quietly also filling some of the voids, and there’s more) The Russians and Chinese have become much closer since individual 1’s “election” (with 3 MILLION less votes than his opponent) and, based on what I read in “Putin’s World” by Angela Stent, Putin is making “deals” with the Saudi’s, the Iranians, the Turks, of course the Syrians, the Egyptians, and even the Israelis. When all is said and done regarding Putin’s “intrusion” into America’s 2016 election, I believe the final “verdict” will be: individual 1 has “Made Russia Great Again!” (And, the “green light” individual 1 is giving Putin around the world may be irreversible once this national nightmare has ended – plus, we may never know what Putin “has” on our so-called president???)

Final Thought: In the never ending quest of individual 1 to PROVE the Russians had nothing to do with his “victory” in the 2016 election (with 3 MILLION fewer votes than Hillary Clinton not to mention the James Comey blunder) it was reported today that William Barr has opened the possibility of a CRIMINAL investigation of the “investigators” – as he’s been flying around the world making an ASS of himself in front of our allied intelligence officers. Not only has Barr, from all reports, been up to his ears in the Ukraine scandal, but he’s pursuing, seemingly, every Alex Jones conspiracy theory you can find on the right wing blogosphere.

Today, I reminded myself of the time when Keith Olberman had a show on MSNBC and, on a nightly basis, he had a segment called “The Worst Person in the World.” It’s hard to imagine anyone taking that “honor” from individual 1 at ANY time, but tonight I came up with a new “winner” – at least for this one day. Today’s “Worst Person in the World” is William Barr. I’ve stated before that, for some reason, he seems to be “volunteering” for a place in the History books right next to individual 1 and Benedict Arnold!