Do you actually know what people are talking about when they use the term “banana republic?” Well, here it is – according to “Forbes” – “In banana republics, high government officials ….. pressure other officials to carry out vendettas against political enemies and to defend their friends against harsh treatment by judicial institutions.” The ….. was the reference to Lt. Colonel Vindman and Roger Stone in reference to their (Forbes”) “definition” of a banana republic. This article, in “Forbes” of all places (certainly a surprise to me) came across as a “heads up” to what individual 1 is doing to this nation MOST of us love. The article went on, in great detail, to point out how individual 1’s attacks on his opponents with a weaponized Justice Department led by a sycophantic Attorney General and a supportive group of cowardly republicans in Congress are the recipe for America descending into “banana republic” territory.
Yes, there’s a significant segment of America (I believe they’ve been sucked into a CULT) who don’t care about what is being done and are not concerned about the weaponizing of the Justice Department. Apparently because “They’re not coming after me.” (And, they’re likely certain democrats would never do this) That was what many said in Germany in 1929! However, just the FACT the article I referred to above was in “Forbes” tells me the resistance is WIDE and it’s growing. I feel “we the people” are being challenged as to whether we are willing to FIGHT for what our country has stood for over the previous 230+ years. This is getting more “uncomfortable” by the day, and “we the people” are relying on people who are “inside” the government to stand up for what is right.
Individual 1 is doing what tyrants do – and, after his “acquittal” by the COWARDS in the republican caucus in the Senate – he feels emboldened and now he’s further making it clear anyone who comes across as criticizing him is going to face his wrath – which very well may include an “investigation” by William Barr. His (Their) actions are designed to leave a “chill” over those in the government who could possibly be the next whistle blower. For the career public servants it’s keep your head down and your mouth shut or you’re looking for a new job. And, these people are not highly paid and likely NEED to keep their jobs – plus, they’re important to “we the people” because what they do is valuable – they’re public “servants” – if you don’t know what that means, look it up! I’m guessing even Susan Collins understands our so-called president hasn’t “learned his lesson.” But, you won’t hear her say that, because she’s AFRAID!
Personally, with all this talk about America “bending” toward becoming a “banana republic,” I would respectfully disagree (although, I do see how the “definition” of “banana republic” mentioned above “fits”). To me, what individual 1 is attempting to do in America is very similar to what Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pulled off in Turkey – and, that would be turning a democratic republic into a dictatorship. Of course, to pull that off, individual 1 will have to go one step further than weaponizing the Justice Department – he’ll have to increase his WAR on the “free press.” It should be interesting to watch how individual 1 goes about that process. Intimidation is his routine manner of achieving his “ends.” Well, is individual 1, through Mr. Barr, going to start arresting members of the media – like, for example, some of the “hosts” of shows on MSNBC or CNN? (I, personally, don’t watch CNN, but you don’t have to in order to understand individual 1 would like to shut CNN down)
Our so-called president operates by sending a “chill” over his intended “target” by going after a vulnerable, “weak” link. (Traditional BULLY 101) For example, he may identify a journalist who doesn’t have a strong following and go after him/her – maybe causing him/her to be arrested for some “trumped” (It’s really hard for me to write that word, even in that context) up charge. The purpose having nothing to do with that particular journalist, but to send a “message” to all the other “investigative” journalists who might be “digging up dirt” on him. This will be a “test” of the solidarity of our “free press” – not only testing those who are part of it, but testing those of us who rely on it from the outside.
That’s how “tin pot” dictators work. That’s how Erdogan managed to put his “iron grip” on Turkey, that’s how Putin has reversed Russia’s attempt to join the “Western World,” and the list goes on. Will individual 1 be able to pull this off in America? Well, as I’ve said, there’s a significant section of the population who, I believe, would support it. I believe individual 1 thinks he’s already prepared the courts for any challenges “we the people” might make toward his power grab. Which brings up another interesting point – how “we the people” are going to respond at another critical point in America’s “time.”
Part of what led the term “banana republic” to become in the discussion of late has been individual 1’s assault on the Justice Department via the sentencing of Roger Stone. Well, later this week the judge in that case will have to make a decision. If she gives Stone the “recommended” sentence, the one which William Barr had rescinded, things should get interesting really fast. Will this cause individual 1 to simply do what you know he wants to do and that’s pardon Mr. Stone? Will he “go after” the judge in some kind of way? (Remember, the judge has a lifetime appointment) What will Mr. Barr do? Will he appeal a decision his prosecutors actually won? Wouldn’t that be interesting?
William Barr has turned the Justice Department, essentially, upside down. In the last day or so there have been THOUSANDS of former Justice Department employees who have called for Barr to resign, along with several members of Congress. I’ve heard members of the House using the “I” word on Barr – which seems appropriate to me – he seemed to LIE in his confirmation hearing and he LIED about the Mueller report and he it appears he continues LYING for our so-called president (of course, he’s really good at it, so you would never be able to “prove it”) as he helps with the “revenge tour.” How much is enough with these people? (OK, if you don’t know what the “I” word is, it’s, of course, “IMPEACHMENT”) I’ve felt for years, the one thing which holds this republic together is the people’s belief the Justice Department is at least, to a large degree, fair. I get that if you’re a Black person, that would be a “loaded subject.”
I’m taking an online “class” from Paul Krugman, I’m trying to better educate myself regarding economics, and, in the section on “writing,” (Krugman is a very distinguished economics professor) he says his main criticism of much of the writing he reads on the internet is the frequency (my phrasing) where there’s no “argument.” I believe I probably fall in that category more often than not, because – for starters, this “blog” is my place to vent, kind of like a diary – and, secondly, I just (too often) don’t think in terms of the singular piece I’m writing. My ARGUMENT, by and large, is the importance of “we the people” voting republicans (and, of course, individual 1) out of office.
Often times, when I think about it, a “rant” of mine will consist mostly of the reasons I believe they should be “gone.” I used to teach my 6th graders, “You can’t assume your audience understands what you’re thinking – you’ve got to write it down.” Well, I know what I’m thinking, but if you’re reading this and wondering what my point is, well, that’s it. I believe you should vote AGAINST individual 1 and any other republican on the ballot. (With the exception of Justin Amosh – who’s now an independent, because he read Mueller’s report and he’s HONEST – two disqualifiers for republicans!
My reasons seem to be my attempt at trying to keep up with the scandals, which leaves me feeling as if, sometimes, I’m “chasing my tail.” But, tonight, the (latest) “reason” I believe individual 1 MUST “go” and there SHOULD be another IMPEACHMENT has to do with William Barr. I’ll say it once more, when the Justice Department is undermined by a “Roy Cohn” as the Attorney General, America is in trouble! And, my argument isn’t that America is in trouble, it’s that “we the people” MUST vote individual 1 and his republican sycophants (at least as many as we can) out of office in November. We need to use the privilege our “Founders” gave us to save this republic. That’s the RIGHT to VOTE!
Final Thought: I’ve been pointing out for several weeks now I believe republicans, surreptitiously, will be “interfering” in the democratic nominating process. The republicans, seemingly, would love it if Bernie Sanders was the nominee with a divided democratic party “staggering” out of a “brokered” convention. Trust me, the republicans are much more sophisticated than democrats when it comes to technology – like, for example, the misinformation campaigns on social media – plus, republicans don’t think twice about LYING and/or CHEATING. I realized their propensity to believe “the end justifies the means” back during the Romney/Obama campaign. (I wonder why it took me so long to figure this out)
Just the idea there were something like 30 democrats who believed they were the person best to take on our so-called president has set up the possibility of a “brokered convention.” The “writing has been on the wall” from the start of this campaign and we’ll pretty much know if that’s the likely outcome in a couple weeks – remember, “Super Tuesday” is the first week in March, just three days after the South Carolina primary – this all seems like, almost, a setup for Michael Bloomberg who’s been throwing money at the Super Tuesday states while the rest of the democrats have been fighting over 2% of the delegates in Iowa and New Hampshire – two states which do NOT represent the demographics of this country. Apparently, democrats like to make things difficult on themselves.
The only good news, to me, is the large segment of the population who are committed to “anything but individual 1.” Our so-called president is the least popular president in history and, I believe, he’s going to keep “losing” support as his “revenge tour” expands. I think there are even republicans who don’t like it when a president attacks purple heart recipients for showing even more courage than they did in battle – ie Lt. Colonel Vindman. I also believe, individual 1’s budget proposal with BILLIONS in cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid might not even go over well with some of his supporters in key “rust belt” states. Should he succeed in overturning “Obamacare” – which he’s trying to do in court as I’m writing this – he could lose even more support.
His supporters might not abandon him if he “shoots someone on Fifth Avenue” but I’m not sure how they’ll respond when he takes their or their children’s or their parent’s health care away. I believe even many republicans want “universal healthcare” and, when they see the numbers going the wrong way, well, it should be interesting! Stay tuned……………..
Please forgive me – I”m publishing this “rant” without re-reading it – sorry for the “foopahs”