I’m getting really old and really tired. I keep thinking I’ll stop writing and, then, I allow the realization of republicans to sink in and, of course, the fact I have 3 children and grandchildren and my fingers start to twitch. I’ve been paying fairly close attention to politics since the mid 1960’s. The first campaign I got somewhat involved in (fringely) was that of Robert Kennedy, only to watch him get MURDERED while celebrating a major primary victory in California. His brother was MURDERED (by the CIA ?) when I was a junior in High School – we were all sent home from school, most of us with tears in our eyes. And, of course, Martin Luther King Jr. was MURDERED during this same time period.

I went to college (the first time) from 1965 to 1969. During this period I went from someone who attempted to join the Marines to someone who participated in PROTESTS against the Viet Nam “war.” I joined the Marines after quitting the basketball team my Junior year in college because I didn’t want to get drafted into the Army. Despite being a basketball player in College for three years, the Marines gave me an honorable discharge based on a knee which was injured in High School and was “already full of arthritis” (I was 20 at the time) During my last two years in College my awareness of the LIES “we the people” had been subjected to since my early childhood became clearer and clearer – LIES ultimately getting the U.S. mired in Viet Nam for more than a decade.

I was raised in a household by a racist father and I went to High School in a school with nary a single African American student. One of the most significant memories I have from those college years was the first year i joined a college basketball team. OMG – there were Black members on the team. When I initially realized my first reaction was FEAR it quickly became apparent the brainwashing began in my own household and I felt a rush of embarrassment. Thankfully, a couple of the older players on the team, both Black, became mentors to me. This was my introduction to realizing how serious the issue of racism was/is in America. I’ve been learning more and more ever since – usually ending up disappointed with the direction of our country every step of the way.

During that junior year in College when I volunteered to join the Marines I remember being introduced to the “Black Panther party.” Essentially, the first group of African Americans I was exposed to who were demanding a “place at the table” when It came to politics. I had watched the battle over the Civil Rights movement while in High School and, ultimately, the passing of the Voting Rights Act. The brutal beating of Black Activists on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, including John Lewis, was shown on the evening news. For a 17 year old High School student who was more interested in sports than school, that was hard to process – until much later.

During my years as a Middle School teacher I spent 10 of those years with a teaching partner who was African American and had been raised in Youngstown, Ohio – close to where my father was raised. He was the best friend I ever had and I will go to my grave remembering his response to the election of Barack Obama as our 44th President. We both thought we wouldn’t live long enough to witness such a thing, but he was quick to caution me about what would be the likely backlash. And, sure enough, almost before Obama took the oath of office the Koch brothers, Fox “news” personalities, and, well – you know who I’m talking about (TFG) – had created the so-called “Tea Party.” You didn’t have to be very bright to understand the crux of their messages – they were clearly depicted on the signs at the rallies. Pure RACISM!

Conveniently for the “Tea Party” along came Trump, until MAYBE George Santos, the most prolific LIAR to “hit” politics in American history (certainly modern American History – Santos probably won’t be around long enough to challenge Trump’s record), and we got 5 years of “Birtherism” – followed by Trump ushering in the white nationalists who’d been somewhat in “hiding” since the 60’s – at least overtly – I’m talking about people like David Duke, Don Black, etc. – to the “mainstream” of American politics. Of course, it helps to have people like Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and others at Fox falling all over themselves to push things like “the great replacement theory” – a bunch of bunk! But it took Trump to make it “politically correct” (on the “right”) to express RACIST views.

Now we’ve got republicans from various places trying to “out Trump Trump” as they set their sights on the 2024 election. Of course, Trump sees the 2024 nomination as his “road” to overcoming all of the CORRUPTION issues he’s facing from one legal investigation after another – seeking the protection of the OLC “memo” which says a sitting president can’t be indicted (while in office). With Merrick Garland as our Attorney General Trump very well may not need that “memo” to keep him out of jail – because, Mr. Garland has shown himself to be someone who’s a bit lacking when it comes to political courage.

OK, I know politics isn’t supposed to be a “thing” at the Justice Department, but that’s the ONLY explanation as to why Trump is still walking the streets of Florida a “free man.” The list of his ILLEGAL conduct is long enough to win a “long drive contest” in the game of golf. I said, OVER a year ago, i believed myself, a non- lawyer – could get a conviction on Trump’s role in the INSURRECTION with publicly available information – and, this was BEFORE the January 6th Select Committee published their reports (I FINALLY got the book today – it’s going to be a LOT of reading). Mr. Garland is going to wait so long that he’ll be able to claim Trump can’t be indicted because the 2024 campaign is underway – obviously, Trump’s plan.

Trump is already blasting the “Special Counsel” with public comments, once again, suggesting obstructive behavior. I mean, he’s gotten away with it so many times, why would he think Garland’s going to FINALLY say “enough already.” Garland’s “timid” behavior runs much deeper than just with Trump. For starters, it’s been reported the Justice Department is declining to prosecute Matt Gaetz – he who pleaded for a pardon – in the child sex trafficking case – a case where the witnesses might be a bit questionable – but, apparently, the prosecutors have the receipts! We’re talking about the receipts for the payments to the girl/s.

Then there’s Jim Jordan – he was scheming with Trump, reportedly, beginning shortly after the election was called for Biden, there’s Scott Perry who’s right in the middle of the “Fake elector” scheme, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Bannon, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Ginni Thomas, Sydney Powell, Jeffrey Clarke, Mark Meadows, Mo Brooks, Roger Stone, Genna Ellis, etc. etc. (about 100 FAKE electors in various states).

While Mr. Garland is actling as if he’s afraid to take on this cabal, here’s the undeniable reality. Let these people off the hook and this behavior will just keep getting worse. I’ve been saying this since Reagan and HW Bush escaped accountability for Iran/Contra. Sadly, to me, that means the next time these election denying thugs will succeed. Just try to imagine who Trump would have at his side the next time around. The first time it took him 2 – 3 years to figure out how to get “his people” in the key government positions guaranteeing him his “wet dream” of overturning out constitutional form of government. Hell, I’m convinced Trump knows as much about our constitution as he knows about “two corinthians.” To him, the constitution is nothing more than an inconvenience which, the next time, he’ll be able to “brush away.”

Hopefully, the American public understands the gravity of the situation so that Trump will be unable to actually prevail in another election – with the same going for DeSantis (a sorry attempt at out “Trumping” Trump) or any of the other right wing wannabees lining up for the republican nomination in 2024. Of course, the simplest way to resolve the Trump issue is for the Justice Department to do its job – sooner rather than later. And, OBTW, me thinks both DeSantis and Texas governor Abbott SHOULD be facing their own legal challenges for the way they’ve been carting unsuspecting immigrants around the country – but, based on what we’ve seen from Merrick Garland so far, don’t hold your breath! Stay tuned…………………..

Final Thought: Well, how can I not write a bit about George Santos (if that’s actually his name). The republicans have finally discovered someone who’s a bigger LIAR than our disgraced former TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSER (ex) president and that has caused me to really “think.” Honestly, I have to wonder whether maybe Mr. Santos could become the “front runner” for the republican nomination for president in 2024. This guy LIES about EVERYTHING. He LIES about the LIES. He could potentially break Trump’s record of telling over 30,000 LIES in one term in the “White House.” There’s such a “storm” over Santos’ stream of LIES in our “liberal media” so why was there nothing more than a “whimper” in regard to Trump’s LYING. Go figure!!!

OK, take a look at the republican response to Mr. Santos sitting in their midst. They could care less. Of course, he’s LIED about his education, he’s LIED about his financial accumen, he’s LIED about his family, he’s LIED about his relationships, he’s LIED about being Jewish, he’s LIED about his participation in drag shows, he’s LIED about everything – kind of like, well, “you know who” – so, why would anyone expect the republicans to act to restrict anything he wants to do in D.C. – This is “par for the course” with republicans. Here’s another similarity, he’s likely to be facing legal issues and he doesn’t have an OLC “memo” to protect him. Apparently, there’s enough of a “ruckus” about his LYING that the Justice Department just might act.

Speaker Kevin (I have no more clothes to give) McCarthy, today, explained his rationale for kicking Adam Schiff and Eric Swallwell off the intelligence committee while putting Mr. Santos on two committees that, to him, “integrity matters.” For heaven’s sake, I actually know republicans who will fall for this – which is why I’ve been using the word “stupid” on this site to describe these republican voters – who, otherwise, are fine people. This reminds me of Jesus’ words as he was being crucified: “Forgive them Father for they know not what they are doing.” Yikes!!!

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Not sure why that phrase came to mind as I’m contemplating another rant. Of course, anyone paying close attention to American politics in the past week or two has to be aware of the fiasco in the House this past week when Kevin (I have no clothes left to give) McCarthy made a series of SECRET agreements with the right wing members of the republican caucus in the House of Representatives allowing him to achieve his fever dream of becoming the Speaker of the House. He’ll likely be the WEAKEST speaker in American History and the next two years should be – I’ll say it – interesting. Personally, I believe – OK, I should say “I hope” – the next two years will be enough for the American public (ie voters) to say “enough” and FINALLY, get these thugs out of our government.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve spent MANY years being one who questions our government – although, I’ve NEVER believed the solution lies anywhere than the ballot box – but, these right wing thugs – in and out of government – show all the classic signs of the authoritarian. Undermine the “free” press, investigate the intelligence services and the – in America – FBI. And, again, I’m in no way opposed to investigating the FBI or the intelligence services – but, not in a way designed to tear them down no matter the results of the investigation. In other words, when the “investigation” has alterior motives, then, well, count me out. (disclosure, I grew up in the days of J. Edgar Hoover – if you know anything about American History, that should give you a better idea of what I’m try ing to say here.)

Here’s where I have a problem with the FIRST announcement of an investigation in the new House – it appears both Jim Jordan and Scott Perry will be part of the committee charged with investigating the Justice Department’s INVESTIGATION of the January 6th, 2021 INSURRECTION. Both Jordan and Perry were integral in Trump’s plan to OVERTHROW the results of a “free and fair” election. (NO evidence was EVER produced suggesting it wasn’t a FREE and FAIR election) From my standpoint, both Jordan and Perry are very likely targets of the Justice Department’s investigation of the CONSPIRACY involved up to and including that fateful day. Both were advising Trump on the scheme to use FAKE electors to STEAL the election from Joe Biden.

This new House is threatening to cut off funding for any government institution which they think may be less than friendly to their ridiculous claims pushing their agenda of grievance. These people continue to push the LIE to their STUPID (sorry, as I’ve said, I hate that word, but can’t think of something more appropriate) constituents who believe the MOUNTAIN of LIES coming from their LYING lips. A good example of how these people work is George Santos, the newly elected GOP member from New York who LIED about, well, just about EVERYTHING regarding who he is, how he got where he is, where his money came from, etc. etc. – EVERYTHING. As Kevin McCarthy was announcing that Ilhan Ohmar, Adam Schiff, and Eric Swallwell would be removed from committee assignments – in retribution for democrats (and SOME republicans) voting to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) and Paul Gosar from committees due to violent THREATS against members “across the isle” – again, why? RETRIBUTION. And, only retribution!

Not only are MTG and Gosar being re-instated to the committees of their choosing, but Mr. Santos, who had no idea what committee he wanted to be on – will be placed on a committee assignment which is more important than it should be. To me, none of these three SHOULD be in Congress, but MTG and Gosar did “win” elections (surprisingly, Gosar unopposed in Arizona), but Santos SHOULDN’T be in Congress regardless. They’re all LIARS, but Santos is in a world of his own. Think about it, though, McCarthy absolutely NEEDED Santos vote for Speaker to “win” the gavel. He “won” without a vote to spare. Many have suggested what “we the people” are facing over the next two years would be a “sh#t show.” It is unlikely any legislating will happen until, at least, 2025 coming from the House. Then the American voters will once again face the choice of having a government which works from the bottom up or a government focused on more tax breaks for the rich.

McCarthy can only afford to lose 4 votes in order to pass ANYTHING, or, for that matter, to remain in the Speaker’s chair – because ANY member of the House can cause a vote of no-confidence at ANY time. There are 18 members of the House who were voted in from districts which voted for Biden for president and any five of them can turn this entire scenario upside down for, shall I suggest, ANY reason. Do you actually believe these 18 members want to endure two years of Matt Gaetz controlling the House’s agenda? Do you believe these 18 members want to go to their districts and support a vote to impeach Biden? Nothing republicans do surprises me anymore, but, as I’ve said, the next two years should be “interesting.”

What do you think Matt Gaetz will do when 5 of these republicans decide maybe they’d like to get re-elected in 2024? When House republicans decide to “work across the isle” what is Kevin McCarthy going to do? Will he be able to stop them? Personally, I don’t think he can. Will Gaetz resort to turning the House back upside down by calling for a vote of no-confidence on McCarthy? Clearly, McCarthy is putting up with Santos – tonight I saw him being interviewed in the “Halls of Congress” where he was asked if he was going to ask Santos to resign. His response was not surprising – he used the word “due process” to deflect from the actual issue and, then, astonishingly asked the reporters “what has he done wrong?” Not a good journalism look considering NONE of the journalists could muster a response. That brought me to my question of the day: Who will be ousted from the 118th Congress first, George Santos or Speaker Kevin McCarthy?

Final Thought: As I’ve pointed out here, ad nauseum, Trump and the republicans one consistency is they are all about PROJECTION. I’ve been pointing this out for YEARS. If you don’t understand what PROJECTION is – think of it this way: If Trump, or virtually anyone in the republican party are accusing someone of some nefarious act, you can rest ASSURED they, themselves, are GUILTY of that “act.” I say this because today it was reported Trump accused Biden of sharing the documents found in an office he used as Vice President which SHOULD have been in the possession of the National Archives – classified at some level – with the Chinese. Of course, Trump, as usual, found a backhanded way of making this accusation only to suggest “I would never do that.” I’m sure you know where I’m going with this – we now have a good idea what Trump did with the HIGHLY sensitive documents found at Mar a Lago. Stay tuned………………….

I just haven’t seemed to be able to muster the motivation to write lately. Tonight won’t be much different although I wanted to get a thought or two down as possibly the “slimiest” politician I’ve ever witnessed (and, trust me, in my lifetime there have been MANY from BOTH political parties) FINALLY gained the job he’s sacrificed his soul for – I call him Kevin (with no clothes left to give) McCarthy – who won the job of Speaker of the House of Representatives on the FIFTEENTH ballot. Somehow he managed to convince the FINAL six – what had been termed “renegades” – to vote “present” on the FIFTEENTH ballot allowing him to “win” with a total of 216 votes. Now, don’t get me wrong, that’s the same number Nancy Pelosi got two years ago with the exact same “thin” majority, it’s just that she managed to do it on the FIRST ballot.

For starters, that would be the difference between Ms. Pelosi and Mr. McCarthy – she never brought something to a vote unless she knew she had “the votes.” The next challenge for McCarthy was going to be getting the “rules” passed – rules which apparently took a severe “beating” as he negotiated his way down from (who knows how) many of his caucus. We know the arm twisting started at least two months ago and there were about 20 holdouts on the first few ballots. What did he have to give up, beside his dignity, to get 14 of that twenty to vote FOR him and the other SIX to vote “present?” (Apparently, it’s a secret) That combination allowed the last six to “give in” without voting for McCarthy and McCarthy to “win” with 216 instead of 218.

This had to end at some point and McCarthy clearly outlasted his detractors, BUT it appears his detractors took much of his “hide” in the process and the next two years look like they may be very interesting – if not productive. I lasted till McCarthy had spoken for about two minutes and it became clear, he has no shame. Maybe that’s a plus in politics – we’ll see. However, the part of the “ending” of all this, to me, was when Hakeem Jeffries handed over the Speaker’s gavel to Mr. McCarthy. He gave a “concession” speech which had the democratic side of the chamber, I’m sure, a bit surprised – well, I can say I was surprised. It was a rousing speech and a challenge to McCarthy to lead his conference to ACCOMPLISH things which actually benefit working class Americans. Jeffries wasn’t shy about listing the accomplishments of the 117th Congress, which, by the way, were historic. He finished by respectully handing McCarthy the gavel and like I said above, I managed to listen to McCarthy for about 2 or 3 minutes and then it was “time for bed.”

Being an optimist at heart, my hope is McCarthy will lead the House to do great things, that he’ll attempt to “work across the isle” in order to “get things done.” My hope is the fears of many that the republicans in the House are going to threaten to DEFAULT on our nation’s economy over the debt ceiling, that their threat to cut Social Security and Medicare (instead of strengthening them) are nothing more than threats and, in general, the idea that many in McCarthy’s conference want to “deconstruct the American state” (in the words of convicted Felon Steve Bannon) are idle words.

Here’s the reality, as I see it: The next couple of years could be anywhere from bad to devastating regarding the American economy – although, enough historic legislation made it through the previous Congress to keep things going in a positive direction until these republicans in the House who believe in “hostage taking” go after the foundation of our government. Causing a shutdown will be bad, if it happens, but defaulting on the national debt could fall into the devastating category. I’m not an economist, but listening to those who ARE causes me to have great concern should these republicans manage to cause our nation to default. (Trust me, that will make Vladimir Putin celebrate)

Will that also cause the American people to finally say they’ve had “enough” of these republicans and begin the process of purging them from our politics in 2024? Obviously, people like Matt Gaetz (alleged child sex trafficker) along with Marjorie Taylor Greene, Scott Perry, Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, Louie Gohmert, Jim Jordan (and maybe others under investigation for their role in the INSURRECTION) I don’t think so. It appears they view their job to be “tearing the “House” down,” and we’ll find out in 2024 if voters agree with them. They, along with several others, caused McCarthy to squirm – he even appeared to almost be “begging” Gaetz to change his vote after the FOURTEENTH ballot – as if he had no concern for the “optics.” Gaetz eventually conceded, but it remains to be seen: Who will REALLY be “in charge.”

Oh, by the way, it’s been reported that one of the concessions McCarthy agreed to was the creation of a sub-committee (remember Ben Ghazi?) to investigate the “investigators.” Get this, Scott Perry, who is reportedly under investigation in the January 6th investigation will be on the committee – investigating those who are investigating him. Who else, on that committee? Of course, as anyone paying attention would expect – Jim Jordan. If he’s NOT being investigated by the January 6th investigators at the Justice Department, he SHOULD be. Reports are he was involved in “hatching” the scheme using FAKE “electors” right from the “get go.” Why on earth would both Jordan and Perry (along with Gaetz) have been seeking PARDONS from Trump prior to January 20, 2021? Seems obvious, doesn’t it?

Somehow I’m getting the feeling that with Kevin (I’ve got no clothes left to give) McCarthy running the House, as the Speaker, my motivation to write may be coming back. In addition, it appears several of the legal issues facing Trump are “coming to a head.” Today was the last day for the “Special Grand Jury” in Fulton County Georgia and a “charging decision” should be coming in the next month or so. Also, One has to believe Jack Smith is nearing a decision on whether or not to charge Trump for the THEFT of documents from the “White House” upon leaving in 2021. (If you’ve heard about the classified documents found in Joe Biden’s former office (somewhere) by his lawyers when they were moving things from his former office (when he was VP) and you’re a “Trump supporter” don’t get your “jollies” up – because Biden’s representatives handled the situation EXACTLY as it should be handled – so these situations are NOT the same). And, furthermore, it’s CLEAR Trump SHOULD be CHARGED in the January 6th fiasco, it’s just a MUCH more complicated case because of the conspiracy with so MANY leading members of the republican establishment: ie Perry, Jordan, Gohmert, Biggs, Gosar, Ginni Thomas, Giuliani, Sydney Powell, Jenna Ellis, about 100 “FAKE electors” in several states, etc. etc. That will be a HUGE challenge for the Justice Department – probably prosecuted in various groupings.

Final Thought: Why am I not surprised? Yesterday in Brazil there was a Brazilian “rerun” of January 6th, 2021 – with the exception that Brazilian police didn’t allow the INSURRECTIONIISTS to walk away only to be hunted down by the video evidence. No, they ARRESTED around 1200 of the INSURRECTIONISTS right on the spot. There were BUSLOADS of those who violated the Capitol building headed to “detention” and other Brazilian authorities quickly intervened to facilitate the arrests of others who continued the “protests” the next day. Where was former Brazilian president Bolsonaro? You guessed it – after visiting Mar a Lago he took his family to “Disneyland.” Stay tuned…………… This could get real interesting!!! (I don’t think he was watching it on TV, just sayin………..)