As I’ve said here, I’m old, my hands are in bad shape, and I really want to stop writing so much. I guess I keep writing because I’ve been a loyal “fan” of America since the 1950’s when I first became aware of our government in the days of Dwight Eisenhower – due to the arguments between my Mom (a democrat) and Dad (a republican). I learned as a child when I grew into adulthood and became eligible to VOTE it was my responsibility to do so. When I was in High School John F Kennedy was assassinated and during my college years both Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated – my first vote for president was going to be RFK and I was watching his speech following his victory in the California primary back in 1968 when he was killed by Sirhan Sirhan. I’ve been paying close attention ever since.
So, yesterday, when individual 1 gathered a bunch of his country club members as an audience for another barrage of LIES shrouded in what was promoted as a “press briefing” but was, in reality, another of individual 1’s campaign rallies where he suckers the so-called “liberal media” into giving him free air time where I could only stomach “so much.” He continues doing this and the media continues falling for it. Thankfully, most Americans can understand our IMPEACHED so-called president is a pathological LIAR! In this most recent “LIE fest” individual 1, of course, BRAGGED about his executive order (the executive orders which are OK with republicans unless there’s a democrat in the “White House”) to “defer the payroll tax until the end of the year.” First, he can’t do that – only Congress can – we’ll see if he gets called on this by democrats. Secondly, ALL Americans who support Social Security and Medicare SHOULD be “up in arms” over individual 1’s brazen attempt to undermine these two traditional American programs. (Which right wing republicans hate)
The payroll tax is the source of funds going into the Social Security and Medicare trust funds – which, according to republicans, are “in trouble.” So, instead of supporting plans to “fix” their shortfalls, individual 1 is attempting to begin their demise. Republicans have long wanted to get their grubby hands on the $2.9+ TRILLION which is in the Social Security trust fund (Yes, our government has “borrowed” the money via government bonds, but the program is collecting interest on the securities and the program is in good shape) so they can “privatize” the program by GAMBLING the “trust fund” on Wall Street. I believe individual 1 is treading on “sacred” ground when he goes after these two programs and, if his actions are explained to “we the people,” he’s risking losing even more votes from the old “white” people who seem to be the “base” of the republican party.
Our IMPEACHED so-called president also claimed he was extending unemployment benefits until the end of the year – which he also CAN’T do, and which was even MORE of a scam distraction than his payroll tax scam. First, he’s NOT trying to extend the $600 per week bonus to workers and state unemployment offices would have to reconfigure EVERYTHING to make this work and, from what I’ve read – if he could pull this off – workers would get an added benefit of around $200 to $400 per week. By the time the states could work this out MILLIONS of these workers who’ve lost their jobs due to his incompetence will already by homeless. And, one more thing, his “proposal” to supplement unemployment benefits includes a requirement for states to “kick in” 25% of the supplement – money states clearly DON’T have.
Personally, I hope democrats show some spine and hold out for what they know is necessary under the present circumstances. While I don’t want to see the economy take a “dive,” it appears that is what is necessary to get the attention of republicans in the Senate. As I’ve said many times here, the $600 supplement democrats forced into the so-called “CARES Act” has been critical in keeping the economy from totally “tanking” since the HUGE numbers of Americans losing their jobs back in March and April. Sadly, there are now MILLIONS of Americans who are now missing this critical money – to them – which they (mostly) have put right back into the economy because they have to spend the money for their monthly fixed expenses. Individual 1’s executive order is nothing more than a “stunt” and, apparently, until the stock market goes down there will be no “deal” for the neediest Americans.
Keep in mind, the Fed has already pumped over $5 TRILLION into Wall Street so that what I call the “house built on sand” doesn’t sink into the “river.” This present stock market, in my view, is the epitome of individual 1’s “new” America. There is no concern for the “long term” and the deficit hawks have been silent – until it’s time to spend money for the “least of these.” Republicans didn’t hesitate to provide $2 TRILLION in tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy so there could be massive stock buy backs AND there has been unlimited funds for the Fed to prevent what would have been massive corporate failures without the TRILLIONS which have been funneled into the market.
Of course, there’s much more in the HEROES Act which is of paramount importance beyond the money which is critical for those on unemployment. State and Local governments are in desperate need of money from the federal government due to the lack of tax revenue and the additional expenses of fighting Covid-19 – the HEROES Act includes $1 TRILLION to address those shortfalls. Additionally, the HEROES Act includes money for the Postal Service AND for the states to be able to set up voting from home for the November election. Obviously, most Americans would prefer to avoid the lines at the polls during this pandemic. There are also funds for small businesses which continue to teeter on bankruptcy as the pandemic continues to “strangle” this nation.
Despite all of the bumbling by individual 1 it is imperative for democrats to continue to understand this really is the FIGHT for the heart and soul of this nation. Individual 1 is CHEATING every moment he possibly can – in ways which only the most sophisticated observers will even notice. For example, he’s undermining the Postal Service as I’m writing this – it’s apparent Congressional democrats will NOT allow him to destroy the Postal Service, so he’ll go about it in a more subtle manner – with the same goal in mind which is undermining the confidence of the American people in the outcome of an election it appears, at least today, he’s going to lose. This is why democrats MUST be working to get voters to vote as soon as they possibly can, because individual 1 is looking for ways to have the Postal Service intervene on his behalf by slowing down the mail. He’ll claim absentee ballots which are not counted until after the election are “fraudulent” – guaranteed.
Individual 1 and his republican sycophants will be doing everything they possibly can to suppress the votes in segments of the population where it’s likely democrats will be doing the voting. It’s really “deplorable” but, clearly, his supporters don’t care. What they don’t seem to understand is the word “precedent.” Especially the republicans in Congress seem to be saying in the future it will be OK for a democratic president to EXTORT a foreign government, LIE to the American people about just about anything, write executive orders for, well, just about anything, to place incompetent lackeys in positions of importance, to include their families as their closest advisors
Two days later: OK, now it’s no secret – one of the ways individual 1 is planning to CHEAT in order to “win” another election is to actually, if he could, bankrupt the Postal Service. He’s planning to block the HEROES Act in order to prevent the money going to the Postal Service needed to help it during it’s financial need. Our IMPEACHED so-called president is doing everything he can to prevent Americans from VOTING! Apparently, those planning to vote for him want to stand in long lines with the chance to get this Covid-19 virus. And, the older white Americans he’s counting on can now go to the pharmacy for their drugs? Maybe? Like if they live in rural areas they can drive to the big cities to find an outlet where they can get their specialized drugs? Individual 1 is, in the words of someone I can’t remember who, DEPLORABLE!
Here’s the deal – democrats MUST not cave into this attempt to turn America into a totally fascist state – no matter what! The HEROES Act is critical to keeping this nation from cratering into the DEPRESSION we would be feeling right now except for the CARES Act – which provided the money unemployed workers have used to keep them from economic disaster – a disaster once again sitting on the horizon – and, of course, individual 1 could care less about these people. That’s his bargaining chip – he believes there’s no way democrats will stand strong in his attempt to further suppress the vote via weakening the Postal Service.
Wall Street is “strong” based on – and get this picture in your mind – Jerome Powell of the Fed with a hand pump pumping wildly to keep this market, which is like the proverbial house built on sand, from sinking into the “lowlands.” EVERY one of “we the people” who want to keep this nation as a democratic republic MUST be making plans to do WHATEVER it takes to get to the polls and VOTE. Republicans did the same thing a few months back during the Wisconsin primary – forcing people to risk their lives to vote – and, it backfired then as democrats turned out in much higher numbers than republicans and the right wing judge they thought they were helping ended up losing. The same outcome needs to happen for individual 1. He CHEATS at everything (including golf) and it’s time to give him the opportunity to defend his CHEATING in court – as “individual 1.”
If “individual 1’s economy” doesn’t clue “we the people” in to the disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street it will never happen. The ONLY thing preventing OUR economy from being in a DEPRESSION is the $600 per week going to America’s unemployed workers AND the $5 TRILLION which Powell has used to buy ugly debt from various corporations which would otherwise be in bankruptcy court. Moscow Mitch is comfortable with our “state and local governments” going bankrupt but big corporations? Not so much! These republicans really need to go! It’s up to “we the people” to change this and if we fail to do so it’s on us. The rest of the world is watching and expecting the American people to fix this problem! “We the people” MUST not fail in this task!
Stay tuned……. If you’ve been visiting here and actually reading my thoughts I’ll be back soon (sadly) because the selfishness, cruelty, and incompetence of individual 1 and his sycophants is getting worse and causing MORE damage – I don’t believe I’ll be able to witness this and keep quiet. I keep telling my son, pay attention, these are truly historic times. This is a WAR for the heart and soul of our nation – I’ve been saying that since the days of Bush/Cheney. I just never imagined America would “elect” (with the help of the Russians and James Comey and with less than 3 MILLION votes than his opponent) a mafia like boss to be our (IMPEACHED so-called) president. I failed to understand “Christians” would become the “base” of someone such as individual 1 – I thought they learned this terrible lesson in Germany back in the 1930’s. But, we often get honest views of America’s most famous “Christian” leaders like Jerry Falwell Jr. recently – and, I would just say, as a Christian I don’t see the teachings of Jesus Christ in their actions! Certainly, not individual 1 or anyone supporting what he’s actually doing!
Final Thought: I’m really losing patience with our so-called “liberal media.” Tonight I was listening to MSNBC’s program titled “The 11th Hour” and the host, Brian Williams, and Mr. Williams suggested “everyone will be looking for Biden’s gaffes” – or words to that effect – and I just about came out of my chair. How could that be ANY part of the media focus when individual 1 – who provides “gaffes” at a rate Joe Biden will NEVER be able to keep up with – will be spewing LIES and dog whistles virtually every time he faces the media. Apparently, individual 1’s dog whistles aren’t considered “gaffes.” Apparently, the FACT he can’t seem to spell at a level consistent with a sixth grader as he “Tweets” incessantly, aren’t gaffes. The number of individual 1’s OBSCENE “gaffes” are too numerous to list here. It’s just annoying to listen to Mr. Williams “setting the stage” as if any time Biden misspeaks will be another “gaffe.”
Individual 1 has made over a dozen “gaffes” in just the past week. For heaven’s sake, suggesting Biden is “against the Bible, he’s against God, Biden hates God.” Is that not a “gaffe?” Williams talks about “unforced errors” in regard to Biden and Kamala Harris who he’s chosen as his running mate which is puzzling to me. These political pundits like Williams need to stop suggesting like there’s some kind of “purity test” for democrats while allowing individual 1 to denigrate this nation almost EVERY TIME he opens his mouth.
I was very happy when Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate and anticipated the sexist tropes will begin to flow like the Columbia River. It has already started – the words like “meanest, the most horrible, the most disrespectful, nasty” began to flow from his mouth almost from the moment Biden announced his choice. There are MILLIONS of women who’ve been listening to these types of sexist commentary from powerful men for as long as I can remember. And, count on this: Individual 1 will be unable to stop his BULLYING behavior as he attacks Ms Harris – although, I do not doubt she is well able to throw it right back in his face.
I’ve said here over and over the republicans believe “the end justifies the means” and, to them, the “end” is to remain in POWER no matter what. Individual 1 will be trying to give “we the people” another infusion of cash – likely another $1200 payment plus money for dependent children – which will be followed by a letter with his OBSCENE signature in a futile attempt to convince “we the people” he just gave us a bunch of money – so we’ll vote for him. The list of what he’s likely to do between now and November is going to be interesting. That’s likely the topic of my next post – which will include the possibility individual 1 will DUMP Mike Pense in another FUTILE attempt to outdo Biden. Brian Williams was suggesting there are rumors individual 1 will pick Nikki Haley as his new running mate. I’ll write more about that possibility soon, but I believe Ms Haley is too smart to get sucked in to that possibility. She would have to defend our IMPEACHED so-called president in a debate with Ms Harris. That would be an impossible position to walk in to. Stay tuned…………….
I have to add: The proposed payroll tax “holiday” is now totally “under the radar.” Individual 1 keeps the absurd “garbage” coming so fast “we the people” are talking about so much other “stuff” that attack on Social Security and Medicare is almost out of the memory banks. This is how individual 1 works – and the DAMAGE is mounting. Make no mistake though – with his republican sycophants – there is an attack on Social Security and Medicare and republicans will continue the attack hoping “we the people” lose track of this in the midst of all the other garbage going on!
Please forgive the “foopahs” I’m too lazy to edit this post!