The more I hear about the stuff republicans, and now I’m talking about the “rank and file” republicans, believe I keep thinking of that word I hate; STUPID. The last report I read says 29% of registered republicans still believe, come August, individual 1 will be “reinstated as president.” Brainwashed? or just plain STUPID? I’ll let you decide, but it doesn’t take someone much time to “fact check” the GARBAGE which is being foisted by those on the “right” with the “megaphone” with which they continue to spout what is still called the “Big Lie.” And, before I get into more details of my thoughts today (and likely, the days to come) I MUST remind you the “Big Lie Theory” was the “brainchild” of Adolph Hitler. Just sayin…………..

Why do they use a strategy which was devised by Hitler and used by his “head of propaganda” Joseph Goebbels to turn the German republic into the fascist state which attempted to overrun Europe, Russia, and likely the U.S. during WW II? Well, obviously, it works! As I just pointed out, 29% of registered republicans in America believe their “fuhrer” will be reinstated come August! What will be the next SCAM propagated on them once August has come and gone and individual 1 remains nothing more than the TARGET of numerous CRIMINAL investigations. That’s right, the republican party has allowed itself to become a cult following of someone who is CORRUPT up to his eyeballs – and, while he’s been able to get away with bullying law enforcement for years – the days of ACCOUNTABILITY could well be on the near horizon.

Here’s the biggest rub for me, the republican party stands for NOTHING – that’s right, other than tax cuts for the “rich” there’s NOTHING else – so, what is their purpose? You guessed it, NOTHING! but attempting to prevent the democrats from doing ANYTHING. Recently, there was a big announcement of a “bipartisan infrastructure deal.” I listened to Joe Biden say “They gave me their word and I gave them mine. In my day your word was your bond.” (or words to that effect) Newsflash!

He was standing next to something like 10 republicans who had “given him their word.” What do you think the odds of them following through on that “word?” I’d say MUCH closer to zero than one hundred percent. Will democrats be able to incorporate that “agreement” into their proposed reconciliation plan for the rest of Biden’s infrastructure proposal? Will Joe Manchin, who is reveling in being the most “visible” Senator after a career in invisibility, “let” the democrats plan go forward?

Here’s the deal, the republicans feel they MUST continue the so-called “Big Lie” out of necessity because the democrats are doing stuff which affects, not only their constituents, but, also, the constituents of those republicans who ALL voted against their legislation and who, LIKELY, will ALL vote against the next democratic proposal, the infrastructure proposal. The FIRST of the Biden “agenda” legislation, the “Covid Recovery Bill,” is now putting $$$ in the pockets of families with children all across America. That’s probably noticeable, even to republicans.

So, that’s why I believe the republican party will NOT provide the 10 votes necessary to get the so-called “bipartisan infrastructure bill” over the “finish line” in the face of Moscow Mitch’s “filibuster” (which, in today’s senate, aren’t even filibusters – just a convenient way to block the majority’s agenda) – the ONLY thing you can count on coming from the republican party. I just don’t see where McConnell will be unable to change at least some of the “minds” of the 10 republicans who gave Joe Biden their “word.” Does anyone actually believe with republicans “their word is their bond?” (I actually hope I’m wrong, but my level of cynicism is quite high)

So, what are republicans doing – i.e., what is their “agenda?” It appears to me, there are two fronts. One is getting their “donors” to keep the heat on democrats like Manchin and Krysten Sinema in order to prevent them from agreeing to do anything to the filibuster (remember, McConnell and the republicans voted in a “carve out” allowing them to put three right wing judges on the Supreme Court with 51 votes) which would allow, for example, a bill nationalizing voting suppression, gerrymandering, and “dark money” restrictions. Democrats could also, then, restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The OTHER objective of republicans is to continue the “Big Lie” keeping their constituents in individual 1’s cult – because that’s the ONLY way they see as their way to return to POWER.

But, with republicans, there’s ALWAYS more! For starters, they’ve been leading an “anti-vax” campaign which appears to be leading to a lot of their “base” coming down with Covid-19, or, worse yet, the children of their “base” getting the disease caused by the virus. Sadly, many of these young people are getting what is called the “long haul” version of Covid, or DYING, and the “numbers” of Americans infected by the disease is going up, almost exponentially – mainly in the so-called “red states.”

I did some checking yesterday in regard to the issue with hospital capacity around the country and it was a bit startling. I kept finding hospitals with ZERO capacity in their ICU units – with listings of how many Covid patients they had – and, there were large numbers of Covid patients in hospital mainly all across the South. Missouri was REALLY bad, as was Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi – are you getting the idea here? According to the CDC approximately 99.5% of those DYING from Covid-19 are people who are unvaccinated. What that tells me, is 0.5% of those dying with Covid HAVE been vaccinated. Do I need to put on my mask again?

There are MANY examples of people who’ve been vaccinated contracting Covid, but the reality is ALMOST all of them DON’T die from it. It’s true “only” around 2% of those who contract Covid actually DIE from it (And, by the way, it’s a brutal way to “go”) but, as I just said, 99% of those who DIE haven’t chosen to get the vaccine. Today, despite 7 states which haven’t recorded their results, there are around 40,000 NEW cases of Americans infected with, in MOST cases, the so-called “Delta” variant which is much more serious than previous “variants.” Republicans who are urging their supporters to refuse the vaccine are, in effect, causing their followers to get sick and, in many cases, DIE! What’s that word I hate? Yep, STUPID! Sorry, but that’s how I see it.

I’ve been wondering for over four years why anyone would listen to a common CRIMINAL like individual 1. Before they voted for him they new he was a serial sexual predator – he admitted as much on the now infamous Access Hollywood tape. It didn’t take much reading for me to get a “view” of his FAILURES as a businessman and his cruelty to anyone outside his “circle” – including the children of his older (deceased) brother – which he CHEATED out of their inheritance. (He also CHEATS at golf!) The “stories” of his CORRUPTION, both before he got to the “White House” and while he was there are too many to keep up with.

However, as I’ve said here MANY times, the TRUTH will come out, drip by drip. Individual 1 is facing possible CRIMINAL charges in at least two different investigations – his “organization” has already been INDICTED by the Manhattan DA – both from the investigation in New York which has, so far, resulted in the INDICTMENT of his “Chief Financial Officer,” AND from the investigation in Atlanta resulting from his calls to Georgia political executives while trying to get them to “find 11,780 votes, one more than we need.” That’s election FRAUD in plain site. Will the Fulton County DA have the guts to INDICT our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president which will further stir up his CULT – in Georgia, no less.

Again, there’s more! Is the Southern District of NY going to follow up on the case where individual 1 got his name (for me, anyway). The case where his former “fixer” was INDICTED for the ILLEGAL payments to two women who “allegedly” had affairs with individual 1 – payments made at the “direction of” and “for the benefit of” individual 1. Cohen went to prison over that FELONY (along with other charges he plead ‘guilty’ to) and, don’t you think our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (EX) president should answer for that same FELONY which he was the “unindicted co-conspirator?” (he was, then, protected by the so-called OLC memo, but NOT now!)

And, what about January 6th, 2021? If you were paying attention, not only to what happened on that date, but also all the “schooling” which took place leading up to that date and causing individual 1’s sycophants to believe he actually had won the election. Along with a few others on that now infamous date, there can be NO doubt he INCITED his supporters to go to the Capitol Building and “Fight like hell, or you won’t have a country anymore.” Over 500 of them are now facing serious CRIMINAL charges and, of course, in true American tradition, individual 1 is still going around the nation saying he “won in a landslide.” It was all planned and he’s doing exactly what he would have done four years earlier, except that the Electoral College, gave him a “win.” Does anyone actually believe he had no responsibility for what happened on January 6th, 2021? Plllllease!

I can guarantee you, there’s even more! We’re going to see all of it as time goes by. Today, another member of individual 1’s inner circle, Tom Barrack, was indicted on a plethora of alleged FELONIES emanating from him working as a foreign lobbyist for the UAE and the Saudi’s without registering. The list of individual 1’s associates who’ve been INDICTED on serious FELONIES (naturally, he pardoned many of them on the “way out the door”) is a long one, and it’s likely to get longer – including him. As I’ve said, it will all keep coming out. We’re going to find out if our nation really is a “nation of laws and not men.” Merrick Garland “are you listening!”

Here’s why it’s likely to get really “sticky.” From what I’ve read, it appears individual 1’s three adult children who are “executives” of his “organization” are on shaky legal ground in the New York case – in the same “vein” as his CFO Allen Weisselberg. And, his daughter Ivanka’s husband, Jared Kushner, very well could have been up to his ears in some of the CORRUPTION which seemed to be the “daily routine” of the previous administration – not the least of which was how he went about securing the financing for his property at, get this, 666 Fifth Avenue. (OK, if you don’t know, 666 is, Biblically, the mark of the devil) I believe Kushner qualifies for the saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” – even though he’s “only” individual 1’s son-in-law. With individual 1 CORRUPTION seems to be never ending!

Final Thought: I mentioned above individual 1 would have unleashed the same “scheme” after LOSING had it happened in 2016. What most people don’t know is that the phrase “Stop the Steal” is the work of, none other than, Roger Stone, and he came up with it prior to the 2016 election. Obviously, it wasn’t “needed” back then, but Stone and individual 1 stored it away for “later” if the “need” might arise. YOU need to understand, out TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president KNEW he was bound to LOSE the 2020 election well before November 3rd, 2020. The attempt to OVERTHROW the “will of the people” was put in motion for the immediate months leading up to his LOSS as the American people rejected him in RECORD numbers. (That is EXACTLY why Americans are facing voter suppression legislation in states all across America. Republicans want LESS people to be eligible to vote.)

I wrote this over a week ago – I’m publishing it late because, well, those were my thoughts then – and, maybe even more today. Today was the first day of the “Select Committee’s” hearings regarding the assault on our Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021.

Progressive: Here’s the definition

• Moving forward; advancing.
• Proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments.
• Open to or favoring new ideas, policies, or methods.

As the Northeast part of America is suffering from the SMOKE generated from the wild fires in the West, maybe more republicans will begin to realize the so-called “Green New Deal” is “past due” instead of “dead on arrival” in Moscow Mitch’s U.S. Senate. McConnell rules the Senate even when he’s in the minority – it’s been this way since the day he committed to “making Barack Obama a one term president.” (Of course, on that he failed – but, in damaging this nation he succeeded) Now, he’s committed to doing everything he can to prevent the progressive agenda of the democrats and Joe Biden. Here’s the question I have for republicans: “How bad does it have to get before the reality of the circumstances sinks in to you?”

I’ve been pointing out for years that republicans won’t react to emergencies until it’s usually too late. Meaning “reactive” instead of “proactive.” Well, the climate crisis is HERE and, still, republicans (and democrats like Joe Manchin) continue to take MILLIONS from the fossil fuel industry and continue to vote against the PROGRESSIVE legislation PROGRESSIVES have been pushing for years now. Here’s the deal: For those of us who have children (and, in my case, grandchildren) this is the existential CRISIS of our times.

Then there’s the coronavirus! During the term of individual 1 the crisis was, for all intents and purposes, with the exception of a month or so, our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president was MIA from his duties to “protect the American people – i.e. keep them safe” – better put, it was a dereliction of duty from individual 1which exceeds anything which has ever occurred in America by a president. I listened to an interview when individual 1 referred to the “herd mentality” he was “pushing” – which, of course, in his tortured use of the English language really meant he had “adopted” the “strategy” pushed by NON epidemiologist Scott Atlas. That “plan,” which called for our solution to be NO solution at all was convenient for individual 1 because he could IGNORE the pandemic. After all, who was doing MOST of the DYING from the disease caused by the virus?

OK, I know that was a dumb question! It was MOSTLY African Americans, members of the Latinx community, Native Americans, older Americans and poor Americans. That “plan” would have accepted a death toll of as high as 6 MILLION of our people as “worth it” in order to “save” Wall Street. I actually listened to the Lieutenant Governor of Texas pointing out it would be “worth it” for us OLD people and the others sacrificing out lives for the good of the economy. Talk about your typical republican short sightedness. Well, that should be obvious as I just mentioned the republican BLOCKADE of an attempt to mitigate the climate crisis.

I just (once again) checked the website “Worldometer.info” where every reported case of Covid-19 (I’m reading a book which refers to it as SARS-Cov-2) is recorded. The number of reported DEATHS are being reported, and the data is broken down into state by state categories. As we all (SHOULD) know, the problem of the recent spike in infections is coming, largely, in the areas where people have refused to get vaccinated. Many talk in terms of “red states” v “blue states” – but, I believe it should be referred to as vaccinated v unvaccinated.

For example, I live in a “blue state” (Washington) but there are increasing numbers of infections here, despite the FACT our state reached the 70% threshold of people who’ve been vaccinated. I live in a “red county in a blue state” and the numbers are going UP – regarding people who are testing positive with Covid. By and large, the increases are caused by those who REFUSE to get vaccinated – because the vaccines are WIDELY available – and FREE. However, the real issue is with the actual “red” states, where the issues are SEVERE. Today, Florida reported OVER 12,000 NEW infections (and, keep in mind, Florida’s governor prevents the FULL story from coming out of that state), Missouri reported 3346 new cases, Louisiana 2834 new cases, Georgia 2144 new cases, Arkansas 1860 new cases, Arizona 1174 new cases, Texas almost 5000 new cases, Mississippi 1199 new cases, North Carolina 1800 new cases, Oklahoma 1581 new cases, Utah 815 new cases, Tennessee 1412 new cases, and on and on. Do you get the idea? These are ALL “red” states OR governed by republicans!

Many of these states have less than half the population of the state I live in, so that makes the numbers even more startling/worrying. The national numbers which just a few weeks ago were down to close to 10,000 new cases per day are now more than 50,000 – in just about a three week period. Scientists have been warning us about the so-called “Delta variant” for months now and, of course, it’s now here – in full force. The reports I heard earlier today said 83% of ALL the new cases across America are of that “variant.” I personally know several “anti vaccers” who either have Covid as I’m typing this, or who have recently recovered from it. I know these people from my affiliation with my Christian beliefs. (And, I have to add, I refuse to allow other Christians who are, in my view, acting in ways which very well could be called heresy when it comes to “politics” to cause me to give up my beliefs – but, I digress)

One example of one of my Christian acquaintances who contracted Covid – both he and his wife are “leaders” in our church – which causes the “hair on my back to stand on end,” I’ll elaborate. I had heard the husband had the disease one week and the next week I was at a local hardware store where the sign on the entrance was “If you’re fully vaccinated you may enter our store without a mask” – the honor system – and, there he was WITHOUT a mask. I KNOW he’s NOT vaccinated, what I didn’t know at the time was how long it had been since he was diagnosed with the disease. I could tell by the look on his face when he saw my wife and me he was uncomfortable because he KNEW we KNEW he SHOULD have been “masked up.” He hurried out the door. This is the kind of dishonesty coming from Christians which makes my – well, I just said it above.

Republicans have been virtually encouraging their “sheep” to refuse to get vaccinated, they’ve been arguing against wearing masks for the past year, and now we’re seeing more and more of them in the hospitals – with doctors and nurses who had actually thought the worst was over and NOW they’re back “in the trenches.” Many of them complaining about “burnout” and wanting to be “done with all of this.” The reality is they’re dealing with serious Covid patients who DIDN’T have to be in the hospital – simply by getting the “shots in their arms.” And, these doctors and nurses are STILL doing everything they can to save as many lives as they can! Some leading republicans are now actually recommending people get vaccinated. Why? Well, it appears a large segment of those going into the hospital these days are part of the republican base.

Kind of encompassing “all of the above” in “how do we deal with all of this,” is the democratic proposal for the so-called “infrastructure” plan – around $4+ BILLION in INVESTMENT into the critical infrastructure of our nation both structural and investment in our people – an investment which is far overdue. We KNOW republicans will BLOCK this badly needed INVESTMENT into our nation and our nation’s people for as long as they can get away with it and, as the climate crisis intensifies, their obstinance will be making it more dire for the rest of us. And, they’ll respond to its passage just as they did after attempting to BLOCK the “Covid Relief Bill” and, then, taking credit for its passage after the fact. These people are DEPLORABLE! (And, there’s too many of them to fit into a “basket.”

PROGRESSIVES have been pushing for various INVESTMENTS into the American people for as long as I can remember – more often than not to be BLOCKED by republicans. (OK, when I was young, it was the democrats – they’ve, essentially, changed sides since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – speaking of which, republicans on the Supreme Court have succeeded in “gutting”) Harry Truman was pushing the idea of a national health care bill, which has seen various other iterations since, and, ALWAYS, it’s the republicans/”conservatives” who BLOCK the proposal. We’ve got the Affordable Care Act but that’s still a far cry from “national health care,” and, yet, republicans have been attempting to repeal it since the day it was passed.

Republicans attempted to stop Clinton’s budget proposal which led to one of the greatest economic expansions in American history without a single republican vote, they voted en masse to Block Barack Obama’s attempt to turn around the Financial Crisis of 2008 which could have resulted in another “Great Depression,” making the recovery far slower than need be. And, now they’re voting in “lock step” to BLOCK virtually EVERYTHING which is proposed via Joe Biden and the democrats in Congress – despite the FACT most of their proposals are supported by OVER 70% of the American public.

Republicans are willing to sacrifice the fundamental values of this nation in a BRAZEN attempt to regain POWER without giving the MAJORITY of America’s voters a reason to support their agenda. As it stands, there is NO agenda and republicans are SHAMELESS in their willingness to find a way to gain POWER without creating any kind of agenda. This is why their actual agenda (OK, I know I just said they don’t have one, but…..) is simply to BLOCK enough voters from being able or willing to cast a ballot (for a democrat) in order to create an even greater threat of minority rule than what currently exists. (I’m talking about things like the Senate and the Electoral College which are two things which allow for republicans to “win” with less than a majority) The reason republicans spend so much energy to castigate “liberals” is because they have no defense against a “progressive agenda.” (Other than “what about abortion” – which is the issue republicans have LIED about (and dodged a true dialogue seeking a solution) since the early 80’s – again, a story for another day).

Final Thought: Next week the beginning of the House Select Committee investigating January 6th, 2021 will start with a group of Capitol and Metropolitan Police Officers who were BEATEN and injured as individual 1’s MOB, with their Confederate flags as weapons (Other flags as well) attacked our nation’s Capitol building. I’ve listed an endless barrage of republican “stupid” over the past 18 months or so and Kevin McCarthy’s attempt to pollute the committee with the likes of Jim Jordan and Jim Burns was pure stupidity. Did he really believe Nancy Pelosi would allow him to get away with this? Or, was he planning this to be the way he could boycott the committee – AFTER, he torpedoed his own plan for a BIPARTISAN “9/11 type” Commission?

Who knows, but, in both instances, we’re talking more republican “stupid.” Kind of like individual 1 and Moscow Mitch refusing the democrats “offer” to help our now TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president gain a victory last November. I’ll go to my grave believing if republicans in the Senate had passed the so-called “HEROES Act” – which was sent to the Senate in May of 2020 individual 1 would have won re-election. That bill had MOST of what was in Biden’s “Covid Relief Bill” supported by OVER 70% of Americans. So, now, McCarthy has given the democrats a free run – as they will be getting HUGE audiences as they “investigate” what we all saw with our own eyes – and those of us paying attention saw clearly in the days leading up to January 6th, 2021 as individual 1 was GROOMING his foolish cult members to believe they could actually overturn the results of the election by telling them “Fight like hell or you won’t have a country anymore.” This all is going to be “front and center,” likely right up until the 2022 midterms – democrats reminding America’s voters what’s at stake as they replay all those videos which are becoming more prevalent. (Also, this will remind progressives that Merrick Garland SHOULD be doing his own – well the Justice Department, that is – into the January 6th INSURRECTION)

I have to add: I pointed out above; yesterday Florida had OVER 12,000 NEW cases of people INFECTED with the “Delta variant” of Covid-19 – the MOST contagious and dangerous variant of the disease, by far, in just that ONE day! Well, what do you know? Suddenly, Ron DeSantis, one of the WORST governors in the nation when it’s come to addressing the pandemic, was front and center espousing the “virtues” of the Covid vaccines. The only news I had heard about DeSantis and the vaccines, earlier, was him getting his own, early on, and giving preference to his political supporters for the “shots” when they weren’t readily available. This recent SURGE stands to not only make DeSantis look incredibly bad (or should I say, “worse than he already looked”) but is also threatening the rest of America because Florida is like the American “petri dish” of the Delta variant. I had surmised this before the data became public. (In fact, Florida and several other “red states” don’t submit their data on many days – apparently, another attempt at hiding the TRUTH.)

Today, as of 9:00 PM Eastern time none of Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Idaho, South Dakota, and Alaska had reported. Do you see the parallels here?

Here’s one of the definitions of “pollution:” “defilement; uncleanness; impurity.” This is EXACTLY what individual 1 has done to the republican party. His so-called “big lie” has spurred republicans all across the nation to attempt passing voter SUPPRESSION laws aimed at SUPRRESSING the votes of “persons of color” among others. (also, young people and poor people – ie, people who might vote for democrats) It’s the SLEAZIEST time in American politics in my lifetime and, sadly, the “Christian right” is right at the forefront of this heresy. And, they’re (republicans) doing this with MORE than their voter SUPPRESSION tactics in the various legislatures. They have no SHAME and they’re doing it wherever there seems to be a possibility to cause “people of color” to stay away from the voting booth.

Here’s the latest example: There’s an African American in Texas, Hervis Rogers, who was registered to vote, but was about two months from the end of his parole on charges of over a decade ago. This guy was working TWO jobs, got to the polling place right BEFORE the polls closed, stood in line for OVER six hours to cast his vote in the Texas PRIMARY in 2020, and IMMEDIATELY had to return to one of those TWO jobs after casting his vote. As it turns out, you CAN’T vote in Texas if you’ve been convicted of a felony until after your parole period ends. We’re talking two months away from OVER ten years of parole. Mr. Rogers, who now has a family and has been a model citizen for years, becomes a “pawn” in the Texas “push” to encourage people of color in that state to NOT vote. Their Attorney General would be Keith Olberman’s “worst person in the world” if he was still on the airwaves! (The “dude’s” – AG Paxton – been under indictment for securities FRAUD for OVER six years!)

So, Mr. Roger’s vote (in the PRIMARY) was about one year ago and fast forward to the “Special Session” of the Texas legislature where republicans are attempting to make the most difficult state in America in which to vote even more difficult with another “Georgia like” voter SUPPRESSION bill – which Texas democrats are fighting “tooth and nail,” and, sure enough the Texas authorities ARRESTED this HARD WORKING man – who had no idea he was ineligible to vote – he was registered – they’re holding him in jail for a $100,000 bond – I kid you not, AND they’re threatening him with ANOTHER 20 years in prison – for what? To SCARE other “people of color” away from the polls in their state?

This is the POLLUTION which now almost completely PERMEATES the republican party as a result of their fealty to our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president. The LYING and the CHEATING have become the NORMAL for “today’s” republican party (OK, it’s been going on for years – and, I know what you’re thinking! What about the democrats? That’s a TOTALLY false dichotomy! The democrats are FAR from perfect – as are we all – but they don’t hold a candle to republicans when it comes to LYING, CHEATING, and SHAMELESSNESS! The republican party has become almost pure EVIL!) This makes me want to start the “Go Fund me” page for this Mr. Parker! (Although, someone helped him post bail and he’s out of jail for now) It’s no wonder African Americans in America are so angry! Simply put, this AINT Justice! (There’s another example of almost the identical situation in Texas with an African American woman – facing “only” five years – for not even actually voting – people who’ve “done their time” trying to do their “civic duty” and not understanding the law in that “deplorable” state) SHAME on Texas!

And, of course, MORE SHAME on individual 1! This guy is a career CRIMINAL – fraternizing with various members of the MOB for years and, because he’s a white nationalist the republican party has embraced him “hook, line, and sinker.” He’s willing to do what previous republican presidents wouldn’t do – OK, I’m actually talking about GW Bush – and that is pathological LYING in order to “feed” the white nationalist base what it wants to hear. And, for those of you republicans who react to that “charge” by saying, “I’m not a white nationalist” I say, you can’t have it both ways – either you’re “with them or against them” – republicans have been putting it in those words for years – “either you’re with us or against us.” Well, obviously, I’m against them!

Today I read an opinion column in the Washington Post regarding the words “Nazi” and “Fascism.” The author of the article was suggesting “both sides” throw these terms around “loosely.” And, to a degree, I “get” where he’s coming from. Certainly, while I disagreed strongly with much of the Bush/Cheney regime’s decisions I don’t believe I ever equated them with “Nazi’s.” I may have equated the republican party with neo-fascism due to my belief they were embedded with corporate America at the expense of “Main Street” America and, using the Mussolini definition of fascism, I may have felt Bush/Cheney were leading America toward becoming a fascist state. After all, it WAS Karl Rove who introduced (at least by what I heard) the “concept” of the “permanent republican ‘majority'” – in essence an attempt at minority rule which has metastasized since the “election” of individual 1.

Keep in mind, there’s only been ONE election in the past 30 years where a republican has “garnered” a majority of the votes in a presidential election – and, it could be MANY years before that happens again based on where the party has gone under the “leadership” of our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president. This is EXACTLY why republican state legislatures are busy all across the land attempting to “FIX” the voting system so FEWER people (democratic leaning) will participate – plus, in some states, they’ve even adopted provisions where if they don’t like the results (meaning the legislature) they can simply overrule the “will of the people.” If that’s not neo-fascism it’s dangerously close.

And Mitch Daniels, the author of the above referenced article SHOULD read “Alt America” by David Neiwert to get a better idea of what makes up a significant portion of the republican “base.” We’re talking about the “Oathkeepers,” the “Three Percenters,” the “Proud Boys,” the people at White Nationalist portal “Stormfront,” sites like the “Daily Stormer,” and many other White Nationalist/Supremacist websites along with “deplorables” like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity on “right wing” TV – and, from what I’ve seen it gets worse on the more radical TV stations like “Newsmax,” and “OANN.” These are places where you find MANY people with Nazi tattoos, Nazi paraphernalia, confederate flags, and people who consider individual 1 their “fuhrer.” I’ve said it before, individual 1 is a greater threat to America’s republic than was Hitler back in the days of WW II.

This is where we’ll discover if this is a “nation of laws and not men.” “We the people” age going to find out what Merrick Garland is “made of.” We all saw January 6th, 2021 on National TV – LIVE! and, as we’re witnessing republicans attempt to do their latest History “whitewash” – individual 1 called it somewhat of a “love-fest.” He actually said, “There was so much love there” and he said, “The doors (To the Capitol Building) were open” – apparently, he missed watching the bashing in of the doors and windows with their individual 1 flag poles – although, by several reports, our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president was watching the ENTIRE thing unfold on his “White House” TV’s and was enjoying it. Reportedly telling Kevin McCarthy (OMG a sad soul) when McCarthy was begging individual 1 to call off the INSURRECTIONISTS: “Well, Kevin, apparently they’re more upset about the election than you are.” (I’m not kidding!)

Clearly, as individual 1 is spreading his most RECENT LYING about January 6th, 2021 he’s laying the “groundwork” for his defense SHOULD Mr. Garland do what is “called for” and INDICT our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president for, you guessed it, INCITING the January 6th, 2021 INSURRECTION! When talking about all the “LOVE” present with the INSURRECTIONISTS who put over 140 Capitol/Metro Police Officers in the hospital with three of them dead within days of the INSURRECTION, individual 1 goes out of his way to suggest he said NOTHING to motivate them all to be there – breaking the windows and doors, doing $1.5 MILLION in damages to the building, defecating in the hallways and SMEARING IT (yuck!) on the Walls, urinating on the Walls and some of the historical treasures, trashing various offices, chanting “Hang Mike Pense,” and looking for Nancy Pelosi with “twist ties.”

If these people came with “LOVE” on their minds and if individual 1 telling them to “fight like hell or you won’t have a country anymore” is NOT something which should be in the “crosshairs” of the Justice Department, then why should we continue to FOOL ourselves that “In America no one is above the law?” We saw this with Bush/Cheney and the WAR CRIMES committed and people like me said if you “look forward instead of back” it will simply be worse the next time. Well, we’re at the critical stage at this point because if it gets worse than what was done by individual 1 then we “won’t have a country anymore.” (I’ve, for years, pointed out when his mouth is moving he’s LYING and he’s all about “projection” – if he accuses YOU “of it” that means he’s GUILTY “of it.”

Individual 1 claimed he was going to “drain the swamp,” but what he’s done is further POLLUTED it. The saddest part to me is the number of Americans who’ve fallen for his shtick. Not only was he attempting to encourage his “rabid” followers to, in essence, overthrow our government and the “peaceful transition of power” but, he, in all his incredible INCOMPETENCE and dangerous narcissism, he will be responsible, in our history books, for the DEATHS of, by all accounts, 400,000 Americans (maybe much more) because of his (lazy) refusal to do ANYTHING to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. NOW, despite the FACT he got vaccinated, he’s overseeing his cult followers refusing the vaccines apparently for political reasons. We hear him regurgitating ridiculous “conspiracy theories” coming from QAnon and other whacked out sourcing – because all those “LOVERS” buy into them without a second thought and it, apparently, makes him feel “LOVED.”

I know my focus here seems to always be on republicans, and, justifiably so – but, here’s the rub: If democrats don’t realize this is a WAR for the “heart and soul of this nation” (I’ve been saying that for over 10 years) these “deplorable” republicans will prevail. I’ve pointed out they won’t “go away” until “we the people” have voted them into the history books – and, trust me, they seem to understand this more than the democrats. Which is why republicans are busy attempting to do “Jim Crow 2.0” all across the nation while, at the same time, “grooming” democrats like Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin so that democrats can’t get Senate Bill-1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act passed through the Senate.

All I can say here is I hope the democrats succeed in passing their “TWO” infrastructure bills through Congress, but if they don’t get the Voting Rights bills passed the consequences could be devastating, unless you’d be OK with people like David Duke representing you in Congress, or your local government. This is NOT hyperbole! We’ve got a large number of people who appear to be devoid of the ability to think critically (No, I’m not talking about the infamous “critical race theory”) and, it’s showing up in many ways – more than just the fealty to individual 1. Take for example, the “red states'” refusals to encourage their people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Today, I looked on “Worldometer.info” (Where every case of Covid-19 is documented) and the results for the new cases of Covid-19 in America today – and, keep in mind we’re talking about the so-called “Delta variant” which is reportedly TWICE as dangerous as the original “variant” – the numbers are startling. There were over 35,000 new cases reported today AND neither Michigan nor Alabama were reporting – and, some of the states aren’t reporting daily deaths – these are “red states.” However, Florida, which hasn’t been reporting ANYTHING Covid related of late, there were almost 7000 new cases just today. The other states with startling high numbers of new cases were Missouri, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nevada, Kansas, and Mississippi – are you getting the idea. And, keep in mind, in many of these states you can’t trust their health departments to be telling the truth. Here’s where you find the “truth” – in the hospitals where an increasing number of YOUNG Americans are finding themselves on ventilators. These republicans would rather die or have their family members die than participate in a vaccination program which they think would make Joe Biden look good.

In Tennessee the legislature has BLOCKED any encouragement for ANYONE to get a vaccine – and, not of just the Covid-19 vaccine, but ANY vaccine. They’ve even canceled the flu vaccine program planned for schools in the fall and discouraging vaccinations of young children – you know, like for measles etc. They FIRED a top doctor who simply shared the state’s law regarding the vaccinations of young Tennesseans. People, many of them younger, are going to die or be “saddled” with “long haul” Covid because of these right wing politicians in Tennessee. This is NUTS! (About as NUTS as believing individual 1 will be re-instated as our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president in August.)

Final Thought: As you can see the POLLUTION which has permeated the republican party is dense and deep. If you’re a member of the party and you are unwilling to demonstrate absolute fealty to one of the two or three WORST presidents in American history (via a poll by America’s leading historians) you become an instant outsider and it’s time for a deluge of death threats from all those “LOVING” people who ransacked the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021. (Remember that date!) If it wasn’t for the “big LIE” regarding the election, well, then calling the insurgents “LOVING” would be considered the “Big Lie.” Remember, as I’ve said here many times, the “Big Lie theory” was the “brainchild” of none other than Adolf Hitler and was the main work of his chief of propaganda Joseph Goebbels. Remind you of anyone? Maybe Tucker Carlson? Sean Hannity? Sean Spicer? (Mitch Daniels, referenced above, should think about that before he criticizes people like me for using terms like “Nazi” and “Fascism” when referencing individual 1 and his sycophants)

I used to focus on Rush Limbaugh (he’s gone but not forgotten) and the other right wing talkers (which include the aforementioned Carlson, Hannity, and Sean Spicer) who are willing to LIE to their listeners/viewers for MONEY. Well, it’s become an organized propaganda brainwashing of the “republican base” over the past four years. Individual 1 took the LYING to new levels which may be why he’s dear leader of the republican party. To me, all of this is the very definition of POLLUTION! God help us if “we the people” don’t get busy on our job of voting these “deplorables” into the history books right next to Benedict Arnold! Stay tuned…………..

One More Thing: I just wanted to add that the “Stop the Steal” meme started prior to the 2016 election as individual 1 was planning on LOSING, not after individual 1 LOST to Joe Biden. It was Roger Stone who came up with the “idea” as our now TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president had refused to promise he would accept the results of even THAT election. I’m just pointing out individual 1 has been an incredibly POOR LOSER for, in essence, his entire life and he never cared about this country right from the start – he cares about his own brand – which, of course, he’s now ruined by his DISASTROUS four years in office, so he’s willing to “burn the entire house down” as retribution to the American people for voting him out of office. And, by the way, he’s willing to destroy the republican party in the process. The republican party began embracing “white grievance” after the election of Barack Obama and the emergence of the “Tea Party” to a degree which had been missing for years – at least from my vantage point. The “white nationalists” were at the fringes of our politics. Individual 1 was the perfect “stooge” for those who believe in white nationalism – not hyperbole, there’s a plethora of factual information if you’re willing to do a bit of READING! I read where Don Black, the owner of the “Stormfront” web portal said, “Individual 1 is out ticket into the mainstream of politics.” (Which is why they refer to him as their “fuhrer.”)

In my last post I wrote that my brother-in-law, who lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has “challenged” (I used this word because it’s going to be a real “challenge”) me to write a post which is “optimistic” i.e., positive. Well, I’m going to give it my best shot, although I feel like “Flo” on the Progressive Insurance commercials when they try to get her to go a certain (short) amount of time without talking about insurance – me, not writing about politics. I’ve given this a lot of thought and I think I can be “optimistic” and still not TOTALLY ignore politics. Well, here goes!

My first thought when I want to be “optimistic” is to think of my wife who is still teaching (1st graders). And, of course, I STILL know many teachers even though I’ve been retired for about 6 years. TEACHERS are a group of people who SHOULD be honored and when you think of what they’ve been doing the past year and a half SHOULD make people feel OPTIMISTIC knowing there are so many Americans willing to commit their lives to teaching our youth. And, when you look at the young Americans who are the recent results of our PUBLIC education system – MANY of these young adults are simply BRILLIANT. I have confidence these young people are smart enough to make decisions which will benefit all of us as the “clock keeps ticking.”

My niece is an Occupational Therapist in one of the University of Washington hospitals in Seattle, Washington and she, and the people she works with, to me, are among the heroes of America. She got put into the Covid-19 ICU “team” out of necessity and did so willingly – as so many other people in our public health system have done since the beginning of the pandemic. My niece ended up getting a “healthy” dose of Covid, as did almost every one of her co-workers, and, yet, EACH one of them was right back on the job once they were cleared of the virus. These people have put in an incredible amount of INTENSE hours as they’ve been trying to save as many lives as they can from those who contract the disease caused by Covid-19 and need the ICU in an attempt to save their life. Happily, many of those lives have been saved. There are people all over this nation who’ve been helping to combat Covid-19 for the past year and a half and everytime I think of them, I feel positive.

My youngest daughter is a hospice nurse for the Kaiser health system in the greater Portland, Oregon area. She works with people who are near the end of their lives and she is committed to making each patient as comfortable and positive as she possibly can. They are “short staffed” because, based on my inference, not too many nurses want to work in this area. Before becoming a hospice nurse, my daughter was an oncology (cancer) nurse and she has “body bagged” people who have died and, honestly, I can’t believe my “little girl” is doing such things. However, I feel the rest of us should be very thankful for NURSES (and doctors, and, well, all the other people providing us our health care) – they certainly make me feel “optimistic.”

Another thing I’m really thankful for is the FACT I was able to get a vaccination for the Covid-19 virus – and, it’s working. I live in a rural setting, but the reality is I don’t have to wear my mask in almost every place I go. Life seems to be returning to “normal.” I know there are many people refusing to get the vaccines available to them for FREE – but, I prefer to think “positive” and I’m really thankful I was able to get the Pfizer set of two shots in my arm. My twelve year old grandson got his “shot” right on his 12th birthday – the first day he was “eligible.” That people this young are eligible for the shots makes me feel very optimistic.

Speaking of my grandson, for the past couple of weeks I’ve been able to watch his Little League team and, eventually, the “All Star” team to which he was selected. They just finished (won) the district tournament and it was great to see a bunch of energetic 10 to 12 year olds (one girl I’m aware of) having a great time playing baseball and exhibiting incredible sportsmanship. I watched several very competitive games and not one player showed any kind of “unsportsmanlike” behavior. For me, who played Little League back in the day when the parents were the main problem, when it came to sportsmanship, I didn’t see one adult doing anything “untoward.” In fact, the adults close to where I was sitting applauded the good plays of the players on the OTHER team. I found that very positive!

My oldest daughter has done much better than “dear old dad” and has become very financially secure. (I think she’s “rich,” but I don’t talk to her about money) She not only was volunteering to help in a plethora of ways with the Little League program – more than just my grandson’s team, but she volunteers in numerous other ways. One way I know of for sure is she’s on the “board” of one of the “homeless shelters” in our community and does more than I understand to help out there. (I’m guessing time and financial) You’d never know she’s “rich” when around her – although it’s obvious she’s a successful woman. When I think of all the ways she’s “giving back” I feel very proud of her and, with her and her sister, it’s a lot of my motivation for writing. They are the next generation and they’re far more progressive than – sadly – my generation. However, it’s these young people who are the reason I feel such optimism!

I said at the beginning of this post I think I can reference “politics” in a way that is “optimistic” and let me start by talking about Joe Biden’s “Covid Relief Bill.” By now most of us have already SPENT the $1400 which was part of that “Bill.” There were many aspects of that legislation which SHOULD give us a sense of optimism, aside from the $1400 which many of us could have done without. However, I know many people whose economic security was actually SAVED by that “Bill.” Furthermore, now these people are getting $300 per month for each child and it’s helping several I know to “get back on their feet.” I’ve told anyone who would listen that this bill was the FIRST time in my lifetime I witnessed such an INVESTMENT in the future of our people. To me, that helps makes me feel optimistic.

And, speaking of Joe Biden, he makes me feel OPTIMISTIC! I wasn’t one of his supporters and didn’t vote for him in the Washington primary. However, I’ve come to feel he’s the perfect person for the CHALLENGE he inherited. One reason there are so many people like my brother-in-law who are depressed by the ongoing partisan divide in this great nation is because of the previous four years of individual 1’s reign in Washington DC. Biden is just a likeable “fellow” and he truly does believe he’s going to bring back “bipartisanship” to our nation’s Capital. I’m a bit skeptical (I’ve already begun another post about republicans) but I’m very thankful Biden is our PRESIDENT and I believe he’s trying to do what’s right for “we the people.” I won’t get into the “roadblocks” because my focus here is on optimism – and Joe Biden “reeks” of “optimism.”

I could go on – those examples are thoughts off the top of my head – but I’ll leave it at that. I believe feeling a sense of optimism is merely a question of seeing the “glass half full” instead of “half empty.” In other words, it’s a choice. I “get” it’s much more difficult for some people to see things from an optimistic perspective and I have to add that, despite my posts which mostly are “aimed” at my disagreement with the republican party as it exists presently in America, the reality is that I really am an optimistic person. I suppose that could change, but I’m thankful, despite what I consider the “deplorable” republicans, to have spent my life living in this great nation.

Nothing’s guaranteed in life and I fully understand our nation is facing an assault on her fundamental institutions she hasn’t faced since WW II. I’m OPTIMISTIC “we the people” – enough of us – will FIGHT to save our republic from what “ails” us – and, ultimately, the young progressives among us will prevail. The right leader has always come along at the right time in our nation’s history and I believe we may be witnessing another example of that in Mr. Biden. And, as this all shakes out, I’m CHOOSING to be optimistic!

Final Thought: As usual, I’m too lazy to re-read this before posting it, so I apologize for the “foopahs.” The bottom line is I’m thankful to still be breathing, let alone writing – so, hopefully, I’ll get around to doing what I always insisted my 6th graders do before ever turning in their writing. The good news for me, I’m not doing this for a grade! ☺

I’ve been writing for well over 10 years about the necessity of “we the people” voting the, as I’ve called it, “present day republican party” into the “history books.” Well, it hasn’t quite happened yet, but the necessity is getting more serious. Over the years of this “blog” (to me, it’s my “diary” in cyberspace – where I vent my frustration with American politics) the republican party has become more extreme, it has LURCHED to the “right,” and the underpinnings of its RACIST foundation has become more overt – seemingly, by the day. And, of course, you can lay much of the BLAME for this at the feet of individual 1 (“co-conspirator 1”?), but the reality is our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president is simply a symptom of the problem. The republican party was filled with the likes of Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Paul Gosar, Devin Nunes, Kevin McCarthy, Louie Gohmert, Andy Biggs, Jim Jordan, etc. etc. well before individual 1 ever set foot in the “White House.” It was individual 1 who “invited in” the likes of the KKK and other white supremacists who now make up a large “block” of the republican “base.” Yikes!!!

I’ve used the analogy of an INFECTION – which if it’s allowed to go untreated – simply spreads and gets more serious over the course of time – until it leads to death. Well, while I’m not “wishing” death on any individual, including “individual 1,” but, I’m so looking forward to the day when this version of the republican party is situated next to Benedict Arnold in the history books. I’m getting very old – it can’t happen fast enough for me. It’s up to “we the people” to make this happen, NO matter how difficult republicans manage to make voting.

Not only have these republicans been OBSTRUCTING any kind of “progressive” legislation for as long as I can remember – certainly back to the days of Gingrich – it’s as if they relish the idea of preventing America from becoming a “more perfect union” because that would mean inclusion for all the groups republicans appear to HATE – which, of course, would include “liberals” to which I take personal offense. The “cost” of their actions (actually, inaction) is mounting fast and, I have to wonder, what would cause them to change? The answer which continues to crop up in my head is for the VOTERS to take charge of this problem.

However, as usual, the republicans are trying to stay one step ahead of people like me, and, as I’m writing this, they’re busy making sure the voters CAN’T put them into the history books because, in accordance with their “leader” individual 1, they are busy “cooking the books” – OK, that was maybe the wrong idiom – but, the reality is republicans are busy in almost EVERY state attempting to make it more difficult for as many democratic leaning voting blocks to participate in our elections as possible, therefore allowing “minority rule.” Will they succeed? Time (and, the willingness of democrats to realize this really is a WAR for the heart and soul of America) will tell.

Personally, I’m counting on the young Americans to do whatever it takes to register to vote and to send ANOTHER resounding “message” to republicans in 2022. Is it likely? Well, according to most experts, the answer is no. But, call me an optimist! I just hope enough people are actually paying attention to what a “deplorable” mess the republican party has become and I have to hope Americans by the tens of MILLIONS say NO to what they’re offering.

Think about it: republicans want FEWER Americans to be able to participate in our elections. They ALL voted against the Covid Relief Bill passed by a pure party line vote in the early days of Joe Biden’s presidency – but, hopefully, even republicans are looking at the “numbers” of Americans contracting “Sars-Cov-2” and can see the HUGE difference from what was happening during individual 1’s time in office. The day of the inauguration (a bit over 6 months ago, 3000 Americans DIED of Covid – that DAY! It was happening at that rate EACH day! And, still, individual 1 was only concerned with his so-called “Big LIE.” Today, the number of Americans who died from the disease caused by the virus was just over 300. Still too many, but, as the saying goes, “Come on man!” Reports suggest at least 400,000 of the DEATHS (and, likely more) resulting from Covid-19 are clearly the result of individual 1’s incompetence (ie: inaction). And, yet, despite constant reminders of what a “LOSER” he was/is – the republicans continue to support him.

I understand this with the hard core white nationalists/supremacists because without individual 1 they will have to crawl right back under the “rocks” where they were hiding until Barack Obama was elected president and the Koch Brothers, in concert with Fox “news,” orchestrated the “Tea Party” movement. But, when it comes to policy, republicans have virtually NONE – and, that’s NOT hyperbole. Their “policy” is to be AGAINST anything democrats are for – in lock (freaking) step! Of course, after the passage of the Covid Relief bill with nary a republican vote of support, many of them were taking credit in their communities for the benefits of the bill – typical republican hypocrisy! – for example, the Covid bill FUNDS police all across America, republicans ALL voted against it – they’re the ones who want to “defund” the police!

So, now, republicans are against any kind of investment in the American people – which is a large part of the democratic plans to get this nation successfully into the 21st century in a way where we can compete with the likes of the Europeans and the Chinese going forward. Here’s the real “rub” for me – because I have children and grandchildren who actually “get it” in regard to what lies ahead for them if this OBSTRUCTION continues – and, of course, I’m talking about the “Climate Crisis” and republican efforts IN UNISON to block the democratic proposal – which is (sadly) much less than the so-called “Green New Deal” – legislation BADLY needed. Just today I read about the community of Lytton, British Columbia which was “consumed” by a wildfire after three record breaking days of HEAT – with the “pinnacle” being a day where they endured temperatures of 121 degrees Fahrenheit! The entire town is gone! in British Columbia no less! When will republicans stop calling the “climate crisis” a “democrat hoax?”

I live about 400 miles South of Lytton (OK, what was “once” Lytton) near Portland, Oregon and we had three days of intense HEAT with the “peak” being a day where the high temperature was 118 degrees. It was REALLY hot! A record for where I live and, God willing, the small community where I live will avoid the fires – but, the danger is HUGE – in fact, not only are the Fourth of July celebrations – with the fireworks show – canceled, it’s not even legal to sell ANY fireworks in the county where I live – at least that’s what the road signs I’ve seen say. And, the “pop up” tents where the fireworks sellers were planning to do their business are empty. My point is, the Climate Crisis is REAL, it’s a HUGE danger to those coming behind us old people, and it’s our patriotic DUTY to do something about it! Of course, that last sentence will fall on deaf ears to virtually ALL republicans!

It wasn’t that long ago when John McCain was the republican nominee for president. I never thought I would view him in such “lights” – but, to me, with all his “warts” he’s the kind of republican I thought would stand up against individual 1 and cause the republican party to reject our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president – voting to convict him after what SHOULD have been his FIRST impeachment following ALL of the allegations of OBSTRUCTION of Justice in the Mueller report. Of course, despite being in a fight against Cancer, McCain managed to be the object of individual 1’s ire even before he saved the Affordable Care Act with the now infamous “thumbs down.” The reality of the republican party can be shown no clearer than a quick look at McCain’s “buddy” Lindsey Graham – who went from calling individual 1 a “kook” (and more) to kissing up to him on the golf course. To me, there’s not much which could be viewed as more PATHETIC!

And, by the way, in volume one of Mueller’s report there was PLENTY of evidence of “collusion” – Mueller made it clear they weren’t investigating that “charge” because there’s no law on the books against “collusion.” Mueller said they didn’t believe they could support a charge of “conspiracy” connecting individual 1’s campaign and the Russians “beyond a reasonable doubt.” (In essence, Mueller said individual 1 Jr. and Jared Kushner were too dumb to know the June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians promising “dirt” on Hillary Clinton was an ILLEGAL act. It wasn’t even a month after William Barr finished LYING to “we the people” about Mueller’s report, causing individual 1 to claim “full exoneration,” (NOTHING could be further from the TRUTH) that individual 1 was seeking “foreign aid” for his next campaign causing IMPEACHMENT number one. At that point I understood the republicans in the Senate would NEVER get rid of our (now) TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president. They live in FEAR of him.

My point is republicans had ample opportunity to rid themselves of the “plague of individual 1” TWICE and they chose FEAR of losing their jobs over the PATRIOTISM called for, over and over, as individual 1 trampled on the “norms” of American politics. During IMPEACHMENT #2 republicans had their best opportunity to put individual 1 and his rabid white nationalist base to “bed” for good by simply voting to CONVICT him of what was OBVIOUS – his INCITEMENT of the INSURRECTION. He’d be nothing more than an afterthought at this point with the exception of the most fervent of America’s racist’s and they could be participating in an INVESTIGATION of January 6th, 2021 instead of OBSTRUCTING it. Individual 1 would be barred from even the thought of holding office again, and republicans could be concentrating on “resurrecting” their party from the MESS he (would have) left it in. Instead, they all still are putting up with his volatile “wrath” and many are going to get “primaried” anyway – their biggest FEAR.

I suppose I’ll feel the necessity to keep writing about the need for “we the people” to give Benedict Arnold the company he deserves (as mentioned above) for a few more years – if I last that long. I simply hope, for the sake of my children and grandchildren and yours that “we the people” come to our senses and do our duty to our country and this world. I can think of a whole bunch of things democrats want to accomplish in the face of this republican OBSTRUCTION, but, to me, none of it compares to the determination of the republican party as they attempt to force us to IGNORE the Climate issue because of their intransigence.

And, make no mistake, there are a few democrats in the Senate who conceivably could be right there in the history books next to the republicans if they continue to follow the same “playbook.” Republicans have pushed these issues to the “brink” – Voting rights, human infrastructure, and, of course the Climate Crisis – they’re BLOCKING progress in each of those areas and MORE. I’ve always called democrats spineless, but republicans are giving new meaning to that derogatory claim – let’s hope, finally, ALL the democrats will grow a spine and FIGHT for Biden’s progressive agenda! Don’t lose sight of the republican agenda: CHEATING (in virtually everything if it accomplishes the goal), LYING, and using the tools of the Third Reich to BRAINWASH their base into believing their LIES!

It’s been a couple days since I wrote the above and since then the individual 1 organization has been indicted on 15 counts of fraud and, of course, CHEATING (on taxes). Do you remember individual 1 claiming the fact he didn’t pay taxes made in “smart” in one of his debates with Hillary Clinton? (the one, I think, where he was stalking her) And, a quick reminder I’ve been referring to our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president as a “wannabe mob boss” for the past three years. Well just the other day, I was proven correct – as his “enterprise” along with his “Chief Financial Officer” were indicted on “A 15 year tax fraud scheme.” I’ve also predicted individual 1 and his children will be caught up in a “RICO” charge which will expose their “organization” as a totally CRIMINAL entity. I’m not sure who I would like to see held to account more, individual 1 or individual 1 Jr.?

Which reminds me, it is up to Merrick Garland to follow through on his promise to fully investigated the January 6th, 2021 INSURRECTION – including the events leading up to the storming of the Capitol Building – which would include the role of individual 1, Rudy Giuliani, individual 1 Jr., and Mo Brooks (and, maybe, others) in instigating the rioters who invaded the Capitol, injured upwards of 150 police officers, ransacked to Capitol Building to the “tune” of a couple MILLION dollars – including some really DEPLORABLE Acts – and came dangerously close to achieving their goal of disrupting “the peaceful transfer of power.” Republicans were really bad 10 years ago, when I started writing about the need to vote them into the history books, but they are a WHOLE lot worse today – and, apparently, determined to get even more worse by the day.

Final Thought; Individual 1 is beginning to sound like Paul Gosar as he’s gone into full “deflection” mode regarding the indictment of his business. That might work on his CULT following, but not on the rest of us. He has now joined the right wing chorus attempting to use Ashli Babbit and the INSURRECTIONISTS arrested by the FBI as his deflection “tools” as he’s trying to cause the rest of us to forget what we saw on January 6th, 2021. His latest grievance is that the INSURRECTIONISTS are getting arrested but not the protesters in the BLM movement. Even suggesting the two are the same is so absurd I have to, once again, say that anyone who believes a word coming from individual 1’s mouth is ……………. STUPID! (sorry, I don’t like that word either – but, well, “it is what it is”)

My brother-in-law lives in Pittsburgh and he would like me to write a posting which is positive. Well, I’m going to attempt to write on focusing on things which are positive with limited references to pure politics. Stay tuned……………………

Ever since individual 1 lost in a LANDSLIDE (by his own definition) we’ve been listening to republicans SHOUTING “Stop the Steal” regarding their fantasy our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president actually was “robbed” of his rightful place as America’s fuhrer. Well, I’ve talked about republican “projection” ad nauseum and this is just another prime example of just that. Talk about attempting to “steal” elections? What was individual 1 doing when he called Brad Raffensperger? Also, take a look at some of the VOTER SUPPRESSION bills running through republican led legislatures all across this great land. If this “Grand Theft” is not stopped by our nation’s Congress we very well could see much worse than people being arrested on felony charges for giving someone standing for hours in the HOT sun in Georgia waiting to vote a drink of water. Say enough of those voters endure that sun and actually vote for an outcome which doesn’t satisfy that state’s legislature, well, the members of the legislature can simply overturn the “will of the people.”

Should that happen I believe the prediction of my acquaintance who suggested “individual 1 would win in a landslide” and subsequent to that there will be MILLIONS of “liberals” in the streets could very well come true. We all know which side is a proponent of this un-American “plan” to “win” elections and, quite possibly, this is going to bring the American “divide” to a head. For example, republicans across the country will not be happy if Joe Manchin gets his version of S-1 passed and they’re spending every waking hour trying to prevent that outcome. Just yesterday I read parts of an Op-Ed by Kyrsten Sinema suggesting she’s more entrenched in defense of the filibuster than even Joe Manchin. I believe the republicans are “working” Ms. Sinema and it wouldn’t surprise me to find out they’re funneling “campaign funds” her way, in order to “keep her in line.” I hope I’m wrong, but……………. (Let’s just say, it wouldn’t surprise me)

Before individual 1 I thought: “Not much surprises me in American politics” – but, now? Well, put that last thought on steroids. I’ve mentioned I’m presently reading “Alt America” by David Neiwert and, it seems, every page is an eye opener. He lays out in detail the rise of the “Alt Right” from the days of its earliest (white supremacist) proponents to, at the point in the book I’m at right now, the present day extremists who have been pushing for another “civil war” in America for the past 10+ years. It should be no surprise to anyone paying attention to American politics that the election of Barack Obama to the “White House” put these people on even more of an “edge” than they’d been prior to that. Of course, as I’ve written here numerous times, I was aware of the former KKK “heads” David Duke and Don Black being strong endorsers of individual 1 and I became aware of some of the websites at the “heart” of the “white supremacist” movement – like “Stormfront” or “The Daily Stormer” and I’d heard of “4Chan” and “8Chan” – although I’ve never logged into ANY of them as of this writing.

Neiwert gives detailed information about all of them and how they’ve been key in “radicalizing” young WHITE Americans – using the SAME techniques as Al Qaeda or ISIL in their recruitment and radicalizing of the young targets for their “causes.” I’ve also learned about a group calling themselves Atomwaffen who are described HERE by the Southern Poverty Law Center. When you read the description of this group it SHOULD get your attention. These are pure Nazi’s and many of the other right wing groups in America, groups intensely supporting individual 1 and referring to him as “fuhrer,” are either overtly or covertly supporting the “ideals” of the Third Reich. Members of the so-called “liberal media” have picked up on the “repeated LIE” strategy of those considered “mainstream republicans” by the “mainstream media” BUT you NEVER hear them pointing out this “strategy” comes STRAIGHT from HITLER and the Third Reich. Many, if not MOST, of these groups are calling for, as one of the more egregious examples of their depravity, the “extermination of all Jews.”

In fact, I’ve read on more than one occasion, the ONE thing about our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president which they HATE is that his daughter married a Jew and has converted to Judaism. Apparently, individual 1 is the ONLY chance for these “deplorables” to further “infect” the “mainstream” of American politics so they make an exception. Isn’t that just how American politics works? Which has led me to another thought.

Have you wondered why an EX (so-called) president who has an EXTENDED streak of LOSING could keep such a “stranglehold” on the republican party? I mean Mitt Romney simply lost one election to the MOST popular politician in America (Unless Joe Biden has surpassed him), Barack Obama, and you saw republicans running away from him as if in a stampede. But with individual 1, who very well will totally DESTROY the republican party, are they “running away?” Of course not, it’s like a bunch of SHEEP who are going to go in whatever direction their delusional leader takes them. And, keep in mind, he’ll likely be spending MORE time in Court over the next three years than on the campaign trail. Who knows how many investigations of his MAFIA like behavior are going on as I’m typing this. We KNOW the Manhattan DA’s investigation is nearing the point of indictments and, as I suggested two years ago, the individual 1 ORGANIZATION should be a candidate for a “RICO” charge. You can read the definition of a RICO charge HERE. (I’m making this easy for you)

Speaking of RICO charges, I have a strong suspicion some of the groups mentioned in Neiwert’s book could very well be facing the same charges as the Justice Department and the FBI get more serious about investigating them. Take the group “Atomwaffen” for example. When you read their “manifesto” on their website there’s no “grey area.” These people are “wacko” and, hopefully, they’ll get STOPPED by our government before they are able to follow through on their stated goals. One of the things which really stood out to me was that there are ACTIVE members of our military in this – and others of these – group(s). These white nationalist/supremacists MUST be purged from our military ranks AND the ranks of our police departments as swiftly as possible.

We’re seeing many members of Police Departments purging themselves as they are quitting because there feelings seem to be hurt by the idea they be held to account for using behavior which is too aggressive and aimed at “persons of color” on an inappropriate level. For heaven’s sake, we saw Derek Chauvin staring into the camera as he MURDERED George Floyd with no apparent concern he would face ANY accountability for what he was doing. Sadly, there have been too many “Derek Chauvin’s” putting their knee on too many George Floyd’s – but, at least, now we have a sense there will be accountability for police brutality.

Disclosure: Today is the day the first indictments of individual 1’s “organization” and the CFO Allen Weisselberg was charged with “Grand Larceny.” More on that in a bit, but in writing about the issue with Police brutality and George Floyd I couldn’t help but think of all the republicans who say they believe in “law and order.” That, of course, would include the “Proud Boys,” the “Oathkeepers,” the “Three Percenters,” and other right wing members of the “militia” movement in America. These people believe in their “image” of what is “law and order.” I almost gag at times when I listen to their interpretation of the “constitution” they’re “defending.” We saw how much they believe in “law and order” on January 6th, 2021. Individual 1 claims to be a “stalwart” of “law and order” and, yet, he’s a small time mafia boss. That is a “small time mafia boss” with a BIG mouth – and MILLIONS of republicans are STUPID enough to fall for his LIES. Many STILL believe the LIE he “won” the 2020 election.

However, the bottom line is the republican strategy to “pack” the courts while individual 1 was turning the rest of our nation into a “hot mess” will be paying dividends to them for years to come – UNLESS the democrats can take advantage of the two years (actually, much less than that because of our system of almost perpetual elections) where they have the opportunity to pass some truly progressive legislation – “we the people” will be facing mounting obstacles to protecting our democratic republic due to the right wing extremism of the Supreme Court. Today the court put the finishing touches on their assault on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by, now, essentially “gutting” section two after doing the same to sections four and five about 8 or 9 years ago. This is the work of Sam Alito and John Roberts with, now, the concurrence of the appointees of individual 1. Today’s decision by the court (you can look it up) will simply encourage those states who are passing laws intended to diminish the ability of people of color, poorer Americans, young Americans and older Americans to vote. It’s disgraceful, but it will also put the “onus” on the democrats to “fix” the problem with Senate bill one.

I’ll end this by getting back to the CHARGES filed against the company of our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president and I believe not only him, but his children, could end up caught up in this investigation. And, of course, he no longer has the protection of the so-called “OLC memo” which prevented, for example, Robert Mueller from INDICTING him for his OBSTRUCTION of justice during the “Mueller probe.” I wrote early in his term as our (so-called) president he would come to loathe the day he decided to CHEAT his way into the “White House.” I’ll say this again, he’s nothing more than a cheap mob boss, and the republican party has chosen to “hitch their wagon” to his CORRUPTION.

I’ve read many books about individual 1, his connection to the Russians, his connection to various MOB organizations, and about when I learned he actually was willing to CHEAT his brother’s children from their inheritance and, by all accounts, he’s a “serial” CHEATER at GOLF – for heaven’s sake. And, he was willing to CHEAT to win elections – leading to TWO IMPEACHMENTS – but, maybe his greatest strength, is he’s been able to intimidate people into being “loyal” to him. If you remember, back when he was debating Hillary Clinton, when she pointed out he hadn’t paid taxes for over a decade he didn’t deny it he simply said; “That makes me smart.” Therefore, NONE of this SHOULD be a surprise to anyone!

There’s little doubt that the leaders of the republican party will continue to stand by our TWICE IMPEAHCED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president because they know his “base” (Proud boys, Oathkeepers, etc. etc.) won’t abandon him and they fear them. The issue of “White grievance” overrides virtually all rational issues for republicans. My hope and prayer is that those republicans who are republicans because they’ve always been republicans and they aren’t “critical thinkers” – but, are not part of the right wing white supremacists who are INFECTING this nation – would decide to demand their “party” return to it’s principles which seemed to be “normal” prior to the days of Newt Gingrich when there actually was “bipartisanship” and when many of today’s right wing “leaders” were part of the “fringe” of the political spectrum. The FACT republican leaders are afraid of the TRUTH about January 6th, 2021 says it all. Republicans not only operate via FEAR mongering, they seem to live in FEAR of the TRUTH. God help us all if that doesn’t change!

Final Thought: Every day I can’t help but think of those in Florida dealing with the collapse of the building which seems to be where around 150 Americans are buried in a pile of concrete and rubble. My “instincts” suggest to me the rising level of the ocean (this apartment building was right on the coast) very well could have been significant in the cause of this tragedy. As these thoughts go through my mind I keep witnessing where republicans CONTINUE to block attempts by democrats to pass their “Climate” agenda. I live in Washington state and just the other day it was 118 degrees at my home – the third of three days where the temperature was OVER 108 degrees. This caused me to check the weather forecast and I was a bit shocked to see the next rain is predicted around the time of my birthday in September – today is July 1st. While we have less rain during the summer months, this is further evidence of the extreme weather around the globe. The DROUGHT which covers MUCH of the farmland in the Western United States SHOULD be a concern, even to republicans. I have to wonder, how bad will it have to get before they “get it?” Stay tuned………………….

me.)