OK, I often write about my tendency to YELL at my radio as I’m driving from one place to another. As I listen to MSNBC on the XM air waves it’s often either Chuck Todd or Chris Matthews who are the “brunt” of my yelling. Well, true to form, yesterday it was, again, Mr, Matthews who was spewing nonsense as he often does. The major frustration, for me, is that Todd and Matthews seem to be regarded as the political “experts” on the one channel which is somewhat of a counter “force” to Fox “news.” Honestly, I try to listen to these two “experts,” but all too often I’m asking myself “whose side are you on?” Not that they should be on ANY side – it’s just that they shouldn’t, in my view, be any more than reporting with facts.

So yesterday, in an interview with someone who I don’t remember (it was a democrat involved in the IMPEACHMENT situation in some kind of manner) Matthews seemed to be suggesting it would be “relevant” to call Joe Biden as a witness in individual 1’s impeachment “trial.” Now, if Biden had ANYTHING to do with what individual 1 was doing in Ukraine, I’d say – yes. But, it’s absurd to suggest he’s a relevant “witness.” (Actually, I kind of hope both Joe Biden and his son are called to testify – that will provide the American people – most who pay no attention to all of this – with the reality that anything the Biden’s may have done is IRRELEVANT to the FACT our so-called president broke the law when he solicited “help” from the Ukrainians in order to “out” Mr. Biden.

For heavens sake, individual 1 has the most biased, unethical Attorney General in my lifetime and all he had to do was “sick” William Barr on the conspiracy theories coming from Vladimir Putin and other right wing hacks in America suggesting the Biden’s had some sort of illegal “nepotism” going on in Ukraine (Just take a moment to think of individual 1 complaining about “nepotism”) and, it “wasn’t the Russians” who interfered in the 2016 election (in individual 1’s favor) but, instead, “it was Ukraine” and they were working to benefit Hillary Clinton. Of course, individual 1 couldn’t even do that – he had to demonstrate those people who were suggesting soliciting help from foreigners in American elections is ILLEGAL are “full of it.” Apparently, Mr. Barr has convinced our so-called president “Article II” of the constitution says he can do whatever he wants. (Actually, it appears he did “sick” Mr. Barr on this absurd adventure)

Well, clearly, as this Ukraine SHAKE DOWN continues to uncover itself, our dear president has VIOLATED at least two more laws. (There’s a reason I – and the Southern District of New York’s US Attorney’s office – call him “individual 1”) First, it IS against the Federal Election Laws to solicit ANYTHING of value from a foreign nation or person to benefit any candidate for office in the United States of America (Just as it’s ILLEGAL to pay off porn stars to hide illicit affairs right before an election without reporting the payments). Simply put, asking the Ukrainians to investigate his (feared) political opponent was ILLEGAL.

Secondly, the Congressional Impoundment Control Act prohibits the president or anyone else from blocking aid which has been authorized by Congress (without reporting the reason why back to Congress). Of course, there is now documentation in the public sphere which PROVES the aid to Ukraine was blocked by individual 1 – as they say, FULL STOP! That’s two MORE felonies on individual 1’s “plate.” (And, I’m not getting into the approximately 10 cases of OBSTRUCTION of Justice in the Mueller report, the Russian “collusion,” the multiple violations of the foreign and “national” emoluments clauses in the constitution – I say “national” because I’m not sure what the clause which prohibits public servants from taking anything of value above their salaries from – basically – anyone is called. The idea was to help prevent CORRUPTION)

Republicans are planning to acquit individual 1 as quickly as possible and many of them are hoping to do so without calling ANY witnesses or subpoenaing ANY of the documents individual 1 has blocked from the investigation so far. Obviously, if the republicans succeed in preventing both witnesses and documents from the procedure they will have succeeded in the “mother of all cover-ups.” However, I can guarantee you the EVIDENCE will continue to filter out into the public domain and then “we the people” will be on the spot to “fix” this problem in November.

I’ve been pointing out the significance of “we the people” taking control of our privilege of VOTING since it became clear individual 1 gained the “White House” via CHEATING. I keep thinking where we would be had democrats not swept to a resounding victory in the 2018 election? Well, put that thought on steroids should individual 1 and his republican sycophants manage to suppress enough voters to “win” again next November. I’ve been saying this for years; “We’re in a WAR for the heart and soul of America.” And, trust me, the republicans have been working for years to “fix” the system knowing they represent a minority of America’s voting public.

The “fix” includes, off the top of my head, a couple somewhat recent Supreme Court decisions – “Citizens United” along with the “gutting” of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Citizens United has unleashed the flow of MONEY into our political process – including the money coming from foreign sources – and has helped turn the SWAMP into a LAKE! Additionally, as I’ve pointed out numerous times, within days of the Courts “gutting” of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act we saw VOTER SUPPRESSION laws springing up in one state after another where the governor was republican and the state controlled by a republican legislature. A (unnamed, at least by me) representative of Pennsylvania’s legislature simply said, “This bill will guarantee we will control this state for the foreseeable future” …… or words to that effect.

Just the other day I was listening to a conversation with someone explaining what happened in Wisconsin in the 2016 election where individual 1 “won” the state’s election in 2016 by a razor thin margin of less than half of one percent. There were something in the neighborhood of 200,000 fewer democratic voters in 2016 than in the previous presidential election and not too many people are connecting this FACT with the reality Wisconsin was one of the states SUPPRESSING democratic leaning voter groups. To top it all off, it was reported recently, another 200,000 Wisconsin voters have been disenfranchised prior to 2020’s election (I hope they’ll all re-register). Now, it’s true these people can re-register, but I can guarantee you, the “plan” is based on the likelihood it’s people who would likely vote democratic (African Americans, elderly, students) who won’t “fix” their registration. This is exactly why I’ve been saying democrats MUST vote in massive numbers in 2020 to overcome all the B.S.

If we don’t choose to VOTE en masse it’s likely the individual 1 induced NIGHTMARE will continue for at least another four years. Anyone who chooses to watch the impending IMPEACHMENT “trial” will get a good look at where we are as a nation – one way or the other – as we either get a full look at the evidence democrats believe warrant IMPEACHMENT or, on the other hand, if republicans succeed in doing what individual 1 wants them to do – and that is to simply vote to acquit without hearing any of the evidence (Other than what was in the “impeachment inquiry” in the House). Sadly, many Americans get their “news” from sources like Fox “news,” Breitbart.com, or now Facebook.

And, I’m starting to believe Facebook is the MOST dangerous of the outlets of information which is obliterated with misinformation because it’s done so surreptitiously. I’m one of the only people I know who are not on Facebook, but the evidence of the misinformation spewing all over Facebook just keeps showing up. Today, I was listening to an interview with a young man protesting against “gun control” legislation being proposed in Virginia saying, “It’s my duty to protest when the government is threatening to confiscate your weapons by breaking your doors down” – which, of course, in not a proposal ANYWHERE.

Most people are sophisticated enough to understand that’s not “real news” they’re getting, but, sadly, there’s a large segment of the population which has been virtually BRAINWASHED by Fox and the other right wing outlets seemingly working together to “gin up” vulnerable Americans. Anyone paying attention knows individual 1 has been FLOODING Facebook, already, with mountains of misinformation (OK, you’re correct, LIES) as he’s attempting to turn the attention away from IMPEACHMENT. What LIES he’s pushing, at this moment in time, I have no idea. (Although, I suppose, a good start in figuring out might be what came from the young man’s mouth who sincerely believes the “government” is planning to break doors down to “confiscate our guns.” Yikes!!!

Back to IMPEACHMENT, I do know individual 1 is trying to push the (new) narrative the IMPEACHMENT “trial” should be finished ASAP with our so-called president’s acquittal. Alan Dershowitz is claiming a president can’t be impeached for “ABUSE of power” or for “OBSTRUCTION of Congress.” Dershowitz never stops amazing me (and causing my stomach to “growl”), I always think of him as someone who will make the most absurd argument to defend, well, ANYONE. Think, OJ Simpson and Dershowitz’ willingness to get an alleged double murderer “off.” To me, his argument here for individual 1 is as ridiculous as what he did in Simpson’s “defense.”

There are many republicans claiming a president can’t be impeached without committing a crime – and, they’re claiming individual 1 hasn’t been accused of committing a criminal act. Well, when you think about Mueller’s report, the reason he wasn’t indicted was because of the OLC “memo” which states a “sitting president can’t be indicted for a crime while in office.” According to the logic of Dershowitz and individual 1’s republican sycophants it would be impossible, then, for a president to be impeached. (Of course, in almost every instance, if you turn the clock back to the days of Bill Clinton virtually everyone of individual 1’s defenders were speaking in 180 degree terms as to how they’re speaking today)

Here’s the bottom line in what will transpire over the next (hopefully) three weeks and that will be how many republicans will vote to enable a president (remember, this is a precedent setting moment in time) to enlist the help of foreign nations in his/her campaign for office in an American election. (We already KNOW our so-called president is enriching himself from foreigners via his business interests – in violation of the emoluments clause of the constitution, which those I know who support individual 1 either don’t know about or could care less about) We know, ultimately, individual 1 will be acquitted because it would take 20 republicans to vote to convict in order to remove individual 1 from office. What we don’t know is if the republicans will succeed in turning the “trial” into a part of individual 1’s “cover-up.”

However, we must keep in mind that over 20 republicans in the Senate are facing the voters this coming November and I, the optimist in me, believe there are Americans all around the country who don’t want our president (even so-called presidents) shaking down foreign governments in order to weaken their political opponents. Additionally, I would say to Dershowitz and any others who claim impeachment requires a crime (which, clearly, it doesn’t) the list of lawbreaking by our so-called president is eye dropping. Robert Mueller made it clear, in his report on the Russian investigation, OBSTRUCTION of Justice goes against the very fabric of our Constitutional system of government. It’s a very serious CRIME. Individual 1 allegedly committed multiple (many legal scholars have estimated 10 instances) OBSTRUCTION offenses.

When I was studying the legal information Mueller included as he was “teaching” me about why OBSTRUCTION of “Justice” is such a serious CRIME that explanation of OBSTRUCTION included “Congress” in what it described as possible “victims” of this CRIME. The bottom line is the CRIME of OBSTRUCTION fundamentally goes against “we the people” because it prevents our justice system from functioning as intended. For example, by blocking both witnesses and documents from the investigation of the Ukraine SHAKEDOWN, individual 1 is attempting to prevent “we the people” from understanding what ACTUALLY happened. (ie “cover-up”)

Here’s the reality republicans in the Senate SHOULD be thinking about as they go through this procedure, the EVIDENCE is going to come out into the public sphere whether the Senate calls witnesses or not. John Bolton will “tell all” at some point in time – and, let me add, if he waits until after the “trial” to do so, it won’t do much for his claim to be a patriot – ultimately and it will place a “stain” on the book from which he’s gaining MILLIONS. All the information, for example, coming from Lev Parnos will become part of public discourse – whether he’s called to testify or not. Of course, Mick Mulvaney has already “testified” when he admitted in public the aid to Ukraine was withheld in order to get the Ukrainians to announce an investigation into Joe Biden – a “quid pro quo” of which “we the people” are supposed to “get over.”

And, those who’ve been listed as potential witnesses who work at OMB will, eventually, have their emails and other documentation made public. If “we the people” are paying attention, the results will effect not only individual 1’s re-election bid, but also the republicans in the Senate. Let me add to that thought – there’s a bunch of republicans in the House of Representatives who SHOULD get their “walking papers” based on their actions in the “impeachment inquiry.” Take for example, Devin Nunez. He was part of the “scheme” being put forth by Rudy Giuliani, Lev Parnos, Igor Fruman, Mike Pense, William Barr, and the rest of the “team” (in the words of Parnos).

Nunez SHOULD be facing an ethics investigation in the House along with the wrath of the voters in his district and, potentially, criminal liability. Of course, I have no idea about his voters, but it’s hard for me to understand how any Americans can vote for people who perpetrate Vladimir Putin’s conspiracy theories while sitting in the highest seats of our government. I still cringe as I remember watching Nunez repeating those theories from his perch atop the House Intelligence Committee and accusing Adam Schiff of lying as he, himself, was LYING to the entire nation as he glared into the cameras. To me, Nunez is as “low as you can go” as a politician – and, that’s saying something, isn’t it?!

Nunez’ actions in the IMPEACHMENT inquiry, to me, parallels what Mike Pompeo did when questioned about individual 1’s call to Ukraine president Zelensky in a public interview on Cable “news” and acted like he had no idea what the person asking the question was talking about. Soon we learned Pompeo was actually ON THE CALL!! I keep wondering, “Is LYING a requirement for being part of individual 1’s cabinet?” And, then you’ve got Nunez making these accusations to Schiff (which he knew were LIES) all why he was LYING about the Ukraine SHAKEDOWN of which he was a participant. OMG, it’s actually hard for me to believe this country could have deteriorated to this point. (I have to wonder if all of this is the result of the MONEY funneled into our political process due to the Citizens United decision?)

I’ll finish by sharing I’m reading another book about Vladimir Putin (“From Russia with Blood” by Heidi Blake) and it’s sobering, to say the least, when you see what Putin is doing around the world and knowing he’s got someone in the “White House” who is supporting him. Not only does individual 1 seem to be supporting Putin, but it appears to me he would love to follow in Putin’s “footprints” as Putin turned the fledgling democracy in Russia – which was undermined by American greedy right wing economic (free market) vultures who attempted to apply their “shock therapy” to Russia’s Communist economy that had “folded” under Gorbachev and Yeltsin – into a fascist dictatorship. I see Putin as individual 1’s idol. “We the people” are obligated to stop this assault on our nation no later than November of 2020! As I’ve said, individual 1 has turned the “swamp” into a LAKE! Sadly, I’m not optimistic our so-called “liberal media” will be up to the task of fully exposing all of this CORRUPTION! (I hope I’m wrong)

Final Thought: Today, as I’m attempting to finish the thought above, it’s the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday – a great American who is honored on this day by virtually EVERY public official. Of course, presidents have usually made a significant speech or something else honoring Dr. King on this day. When I was still teaching (Middle School) our school would encourage both students and teachers to do some kind of public service activity in honor of Dr. King (even though, of course, there was no school on this holiday) Well, as I’m writing this it’s approaching 5 PM in Washington DC and there’s at least one of America’s “leaders” “missing in action” from honoring Dr. King. It should not surprise you this person is our so-called president.

I’m finally ready to “publish” this “rant” (largely to myself :o) and, it turns out, individual 1 must have heard the criticism he was ignoring “MLK day” because he made a visit to the site honoring Dr. King late in the afternoon, apparently with Mike Pense. I’ll leave it to anyone who might happen this way to figure out the significance of the visit.