For the past 40+ years the republican party has been treating “we the people” as if we’re, well, STUPID. Apparently, this has been a long range plan which was predicated on snagging one unsuspecting, uneducated, American after another – people susceptible to believing headlines and sound bites with little to NO “crosschecking.” I still remember Ronald Reagan claiming he was going to “cut your taxes and balance the budget.” Complete NONSENSE! Yet, it’s been working for them ever since. (All the way up to Donald Trump who famously said, “I love America’s uneducated voters” after losing to Ted Cruz in the Iowa caucuses back in 2016) Reagan pushed across the first deficit which added a TRILLION to the national debt. But, of course, more was to come.

Bill Clinton managed to lead an administration which passed on a $250 BILLION annual budget surplus to his successors (GW Bush/Dick Cheney) who turned it into another TRILLION dollar deficit in less than two years – with VP Cheney even saying: “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.” Bush/Cheney, by the time they left town had increased the deficit by about $7 TRILLION (which, did not include TRILLIONS of the expense incurred from the Iraq and Afghanistan fiascos which they paid for “off the books. ” Interested? click HERE. Obama put the cost back on the books making his record look worse if you don’t dig a bit deeper – but, the reality is that deficits have occurred during every administration since, I believe, Calvin Coolidge. Yes, Clinton left an annual surplus, but he had inherited the HUGE deficits of HW Bush, so, overall, during his 8 years the national debt increased)

The reason I’m bringing this up is because, once again, republicans are using the increase of the debt ceiling as the “hostage” to – well, at this point in time, I’m not sure what. I don’t think they will actually say “cut Social Security and Medicare” out loud, but that appears to be the target. (I can assure you, they won’t succeed at that without creating a ruckus which will make the overturning of roe look like “child’s play.”) Remember, Social Security has NEVER caused an increase of ONE CENT toward the national debt. It has been funded by the Social Security payroll tax and, of course, the trust fund was “spent” (BORROWED) by Congress long ago – a “trust fund” which, if repayed would amount to close to $3 TRILLION. Does this fund need to be modified? (ie increase the threshold of the payroll tax), yes – and, it won’t take much of a difference to make the fund solvent indefinitely.

Republicans are so out of touch with the MAJORITY of Americans that they’ll likely make some kind of STUPID attempt to go after what they refer to as “entitlement” programs (programs which are funded via payroll taxes and are EARNED benefits – NOT entitlements. I, for example, started paying into Medicare at its inception – Reagan predicted it would destroy our country – the reality is Medicare has prevented MILLIONS of elder Americans from living in poverty). Social Security and Medicare are the two most popular government programs in American History – by most accounts – and, it’s not close. For those of you a bit older, GW Bush made a sureptitious attempt at “privatizing” Social Security which landed with a HUGE “thud” back in the early part of this century. (Sadly, he did succeed in “privatizing Medicare” with the “Medicare Advantage” program) As usual, republicans never take NO for an answer – they just keep coming back like a bad dream. Just like the other attempts, this one should be interesting, but…………………….

Will they really take the economy off the “cliff” in their attempt to go after Social Security and Medicare? Joe Biden has assured “we the people” not on his “watch.” However, it’s true if the House republicans refuse to raise the debt limit – this means paying for “stuff” that’s already been allocated PLUS the interest on the debt which, you guessed it, will push the debt MUCH higher. Republicans voted to increase the limit THREE times during Trump’s miserable four years in the “white House” – the last time they pulled this “stunt” was during Obama’s presidency back in, I believe, 2011. That led to the austerity program which slowed the growth of our economy and, despite the FACT the annual deficit was reduced SIGNIFICANTLY each year during Obama’s term in office, I believe a more robust recovery – without the restrictions agreed to in order to get a debt ceiling increase would have reduced it even more.

Republicans are complaining about the “Biden economy” despite record job gains and record low unemployment plus a reduction in the annual deficit by something over a TRILLION dollars in his first two years in office. The complain reflexively, without having a rational reason to do so. Remember, just like Obama in 2009, Biden inherited an economy which was, simply put, a MESS. The job gains from Trump’s first two years were completely wiped out by the time he left town, like Bush/Cheney, “with his tail between his legs.” And, Trump would be “ancient history” by now (other than his CRIMINAL woes – more on that later) had the republicans simply voted to convict him during his SECOND impeachment trial. Based on the 14th amendment to the Constitution Trump SHOULD be ineligible to hold ANY office in the government due to his attempted coup d’etat – ie, insurrection.

The man continues to express more loyalty to Vladimir Putin and Russia than to our own government – in fact, I’ve had this thought over and over again during this past year – that Trump will head for Russia in his 747 before he’ll ever stand trial for the CRIMES he committed while in office. Heck, he’s looking at serious CRIMINAL exposure for the “alleged” CRIMES he committed before he ran for office. Several years ago – about after his first year as our (so-called) president (prior to the TWO IMPEACHMENTS) I predicted Trump would “rue the day” he decided to run for president – him thinking he would never win but also thinking it would radically increase his “brand” – and, that day appears to be near. (In fact, it may have long ago passed – he’s not living in Florida because that was his first choice – he’s a living porriah in New York state)

I’ve read just about every book which has documented the final year of Trump’s term in office, leading up to the INSURRECTION. In addition I read Meuller’s report on the “Russia thing” TWICE and am still frustrated that Merrick Garland chose to ignore the evidence which Robert Mueller said was “memorialized” until after Trump left office regarding the MULTIPLE cases of OBSTRUCTION of justice as he impeded the investigation from the start. My latest “read” has been the report of the House Select Committee on the January 6th, 2021 attack on our Capitol complex – a similar “dry” read to Mueller’s report. I just finished the “Executive Summary” which is about 130 pages and includes about 60 pages of endnotes which I’ll leave for others to read.

The committee – if you watched their hearings you won’t be surprised – lays out a detailed step by step examination of the evidence they gathered from HUNDREDS of witnesses – almost ALL of them either republicans or, in a few instances, apolitical. The evidence that Trump committed SEVERAL CRIMES is overwhelming. As I was reading the evidence of each CRIME they were referring him to the Justice Department (which, they admitted will be able to gather much more testimony than they could) I tried to remember what I “heard” during their FINAL public session and there was a bit more, it seemed to me, in the Executive Summary. The last part of that section of the report suggested the Committee believed they had sufficient evidence to believe Trump commtted SEDITION – which would only be fitting as several of his most ardurous supporters have been found GUILTY of Sedition and a group of “Proud Boys” are facing that charge as I’m writing this.

It’s as clear as a bell to me that Trump committed SEDITION and he did so in a CONSPIRACY which involced some “people in high places.” Which causes me to think AG Garland just doesn’t have the stomach to “throw the book” at those who attempted to overthrow our government with Trump. I mean Garland chose NOT to pursue the allegations of sex-trafficking of a minor against Matt Gaetz so, is he going to include people like Gaetz in the conspiracy that Trump was the head of? Gaetz, Jim Jordan, Scott Perry, Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks, Louie Gohmert, Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ginni Thomas, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Bannon, Jeffrey Clark, Roger Stone, Mark Meadows, Peter Navarro, Sydney Powell, Michael Flynn – these are the names which come off the top of my head – there’s many more when you consider there were about 100 FAKE electors who ALL signed FRAUDULENT documents which were submitted to the Archives and the Senate plus that my memory is very OLD. Does Garland have the GUTS to take all of this on? I’m certainly not convinced!

Here’s the deal – if he doesn’t – then he’s simply given them the “green light” to do this again, only the next time with an even better plan. About half of the republican party still believes Trump’s “Big Lie” (OMG – how many “big lies” has he foisted on his “base?”) I have no idea how Garland feels about the position he finds himself in – he’s going to be a SIGNIFICANT part of American history – one way or the other. He SHOULD put Trump and the rest of these arrogant people who believe the laws don’t apply to them right where THEY belong in the history books, right next to Benedict Arnold – but, I’m obviously less than confident he has the stomach to do so. It makes me feel bad thinking about where Garland will end up in those history books should he choose to “look the other way” from some horrendous LAWBREAKING.

And, I find it a bit ridiculous he may leave the “dirty work” in holding Trump accountable to Fani Willis, the DA in Fulton County Georgia. I believe virtually EVERYTHING she’s investigating would be a FEDERAL CRIME and Mr. Garland could take a lot of the danger Ms. Willis will face should she be the one to initially indict Trump and his co-conspirators (in this instance, it appears we may have another member of Congress on the “hot seat” and that would be Lindsey Graham) I’ve heard it suggested Ms Willis may present a RICO charge against Trump and his band of arrogant lawbreakers. If you’ve listened to Trump’s infamous phone call with Brad Raffensperger – the Sec. of State in Georgia – it was like classic Mob boss speak coming out of Trump’s mouth. It was a shining example of Trump’s belief the laws don’t apply to him.

So, we suffered through the four years of Trump in the “White House” and, somehow, with Joe Biden demonstrating what governing looks like, republicans gained a narrow majority in the House – and, here we go again. They’re once again threatening to lead America off the economic “cliff” by refusing to increase the debt ceiling – they’re, as they are want to do, complaining about the deficits when it was Trump who “lorded” over about 25% of the national debt as it stands right now (in just four years) and Biden has already brought the annual deficit down significantly, but the debt continues to rise – there’s no alternative short of destroying our present economy. Honestly, makes me wonder if republicans know the difference between the annual deficit and the debt. Biden will attempt to make this work and I have to believe there are at least five republicans who don’t want to face their voters if they choose to crash the economy – so, hopefully, this is just more drama. However, stay tuned………………….

Final Thought: Well, I’m almost finished with the report of the Select Committee on the January 6th INSURRECTION and it does include some information I was not aware of – although there have been few surprises. I think my surprises have been disappointments. For example, I was reading well before the INSURRECTION itself about Jim Jordan participating in “strategy sessions” with Trump and the others as they tried to figure out how to do what they claimed the democrats had done, and that would be to STEAL the election. There (so far) has been very little regarding Jordan’s participation in what I’ve read. Additionally, so far, there hasn’t been one reference to Ginni Thomas as the Committee is referring to those who “may have committed a crime.

On several occasions on this site I’ve explained what it takes to be part of a CONSPIRACY and, to me, there can be NO DOUBT that Ginni Thomas participated in the CONSPIRACY to overturn the 2020 presidential election – especially regarding the “FAKE elector” scheme which happened in severn separate states. My hope has always been Ms. Thomas’ participation in the coup d’etat would be the pathway to getting Clarence Thomas off the Supreme Court. And, trust me, EVERY time Ms. Thomas claims she doesn’t share her political activism with her husband (only her “best friend”) – if you believe her, I’ve got a bridge………………….. (You know the rest) Oh yes, I’ve got to add one more thing here as you’re trying to figure out whether or not the wife of one of our Supreme Court Justices would LIE in public – remember this – she has mentioned several times (while forgetting other things she’s said – that’s how LIARS are exposed) – her husband is her “best friend.” I’ll let you put two plus two together.

I keep, periodically during one day or the other, get ideas of what I should write my next post on – and, then, I watch/listen to one of the “leading” republicans speak and, well, I get all confused and have to write about whatever it is that annoys me on the latest day. I’ve been writing for YEARS about the projectionism coming from republicans, and it NEVER seems to end. Today, it was Mike Pense – he of the chant coming from Trump’s base “Hand Mike Pense” – trying to make his case as to why republicans should consider him as the future of the republican party. (Apparently, instead of “hanging” him) He used the catch words, “the left,” “woke,” accusations about LGBTQ+ stuff appealing to homophobes, suggesting republicans are being forced to tolerate “the left’s obsession with race and sex and gender” as he was joining the list of right wing “book banners” on the horizon.

Kind of reminds me of all the republican “anti-gay/anti drug” politician/religious leaders of previous years who were secretly meeting with their gay “lovers” and doing cocaine with them during their………………… (You can fill in your own blank). Pense, along with DeSantis and, now, Nikki Haley are all recommending purging BOOKS from our schools which might actually teach, for example, ACTUAL history – or books with any reference about – ugh! – sex, or you name the latest thing “liberals are forcing” on conservatives and their children. (Have these people not heard of the internet – I’m old, but I’ve heard students could very well access “porn” on the internet while they’re trying to figure out what the “fuss” is all about!

These people think “liberals” are forcing – who knows what – upon them and their children and they apparently fail to understand their BOOK burning is forcing their “anti woke” (ie racist) agenda upon everyone else. For example, let’s look at the word “woke.” I was a 6th grade teacher for almost 25 years at the end of my working life – and, I didn’t know what “woke” meant. So, having learned how to use a search engine in my later years, I “Googled” it. And, sure enough, now I have, at least, an idea. According to Miriam Webster: “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”

The term “woke” was first used in the late 1930’s, supposedly by the Black musician Huddie Leadbetter, ie “Leadbelly,” when he warned Black people “Best stay woke, keep their eyes open” as they progressed through Alabama – the reasons SHOULD be obvious to you. Then, the term re-emerged during the George Floyd protests in 2020 as a word of “action” where activists were encouraged to “stay woke.” I hope you get my drift – the use of this term by DeSantis, Pense, Haley, and who knows how many other “conservatives” (ie Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, etc., etc.) is outrageously RACIST. What these people are attempting to do, as they lead the “charge” to BAN BOOKS our students in K-8 schools might actually read – is to prevent their children from learning about America’s RACIST history.

Again, as if their children don’t know about the internet. My wife is still teaching and she teaches FIRST graders – and, these kids are likely more proficient using the internet than I am – and, if not, they soon will be. Here was one of my favorite “tricks” when I was still teaching sixth graders: On the white board to the students left as they took their seats I would write the directions for the day – and, if I really wanted them to ALL read them, on the white board in the front of the room I would write: “Whatever you do, DON’T look at the other white board! 100% of the time, EVERY student would look to their left and carefully read what I told them NOT to read. Do you get my drift???

I like to read about History – actually, ALL of it – to the level my 75 year old mind can consume and one of the books I read a year or two ago was about the American History following the Civil War. We’re talking about “reconstruction” and, thanks to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln our 17th president was Andrew Johnson. I’m going to share my memory off the top of my head, so I’ll do my best, but my point was Johnson was, in essence a “traitor” to the cause of reconstruction leading to the brevity of that period of time. What ensued was the period called “The Lost Cause” – where those in the South led a push to “sweep under the rug” the TRUTH about the Civil War leading to extreme repression of the new “freemen.”

During the “Lost Cause” there was a push which dangerously resembles what is happening in several states around our nation. The best example which comes to my mind is what Ron DeSantis is doing in Florida as he pushes for BOOKS to be banned, teaching to be “white washed,” and other parts of his “anit woke” agenda. That is his RACIST agenda – sadly, an agenda which is not being clearly identified by oiur so-called “liberal media.”

While these republican “leaders” are PROJECTING their own insecurities/failures on the rest of us their all, also, attempting to convince us they’re worthy to be our leaders – in the case of DeSantis, Pense, and Haley – they would have us believe it’s them who should win the republican nomination for president come 2024. Now, I TRULY hope “we the people” don’t forget the “stakes” in this next election and ALL the elections for the immediate future, but each one of DeSantis, Pense, Haley, (and, likely Cruz, Hawley, and a bunch more) will say whatever they think will convince us otherwise. I’ve been pointing this out for YEARS – if it’s a republican speaking to their suppporters these days, they’re LYING. Count on it!

I’m going to write, today, about Pense, because he was making some outrageous LIES today while attempting to convince his audience he’s standing up for the constitution as he’s attempting to avoid testifying in the DOJ investigation into January 6th, 2021. What on earth could he possibly be HIDING? Where in the constitution is it written politicians should refuse to tell the TRUTH about CRIMINAL behavior? For some reason, it appears republicans don’t want to tell the TRUTH about what led up to and what happened on January 6th. What the……………? Why would someone think they were qualified to be president if they’re afraid to tell the TRUTH about an attempt to overthrow our – brace yoursel – constitution? I have no idea why Pense thinks “we the people” will find his COWARDICE to be anything but? No wonder he’s sitting at less than 1% in the latest polling.

I’ve got to end this “rant” by referencing something I read today while updating myself on what’s going on in Ukraine. As I was browsing through a long list of the various battles going on TODAY I ran across one caption titled: INTELLIGENCE UPDATE. Well, of course, the first thing I thought of was Donald Trump. He REALLY needs an “intelligence update.” I’ll explain (OK, the latest reason) : Today parts of the report from the “Special Grand Jury” in Fulton County, Georgia, were made public. Essentially, the first part (page) of a nine page report and the last part (page) were made public – with any personal identifying parts redacted.

There were two things of general interest in what was published. First, the Grand Jury concluded (via a “majority opinion”) that “one or more people LIED while giving their testimony.” Well, there were 75 people who testified and most were republicans – does that surprise ANYONE there was “alleged” LYING? Secondly, a Grand Jury (23 citizens) unanimously agreed there was no FRAUD in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia which could have changed the result of the election. Now, here’s where the words “intelligence update” struck me regarding the meaning of all of this – Trump actually wrote on his failing Twitter knock off this “completely exonerated” him. Yikes! He needs an “intelligence update.”

While there were NO indictments (YET) in Fani Willis’ investigation – virtually EVERY legal espert I listened to today suggested what was published today suggests Trump is going to be indicted – and, likely, soon. For what? Well, that’s not as clear – but, based on what I listened to today, there are a plethora of options for Ms. Willis. One interesting fact regarding Georgia law – if a person LIES while speaking to elected Georgia officials – for example, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger – that COULD be considered perjury. Now, if you’re reading this post and you’ve gotten this far you NO DOUBT have heard Trump’s infamous phone call to Raffensperger where he “just wants Raffensperger to ‘find’ 11,780 votes” – which would give Trump “one more” than Joe Biden. In this phone call Trump LIED over and over – plus, there were OTHER phone calls to other officials (which were recorded).

I’ve been pointing out for several years now Trump’s STUPID decision making prowess which caused him to get slaughtered in the 2020 election (by “Sleepy Joe Biden”) – most notably his absolutely (what should be) CRIMINAL handling of the Covid pandemic – not to mention 30 THOUSAND plus vefifiable LIES in just four years, the Russia “hoax” and on and on. Topping it all off by, today, claiming this Grand Jury report “completely exonerated” him. Seriously, he needs an “intelligence update.”

Final Thought: The reticence of Merrick Garland regarding Trump’s OBVIOUS involvement in the INSURRECTION of January 6th, 2021 is becoming more and more of an issue as the investigation into Trump and his co-conspirators while the key witnesses like Pense and Mark Meadows, to name two of them, attempt to use the courts to drag things out until, obviously, the 2024 election is into high “swing.” Will Mr. Garland, then, suggest Trump can’t be indicted during the middle of a presidential election? OMG – if that happens, it will be Garland, instead of Trump, in the very depths of the American History books. I wrote close to a year ago that I believed, from public knowledge, I could have gotten a conviction of Trump for defrauding the American people and obstructing an official proceeding as a retired 6th grade teacher. Yes, he’s likely guilty of SEDITION, but I’d be happy for him to have to spend even 5 years in prison.

And, why is it that Fani Willis, in Fulton County Georgia, appears to be the FIRST who’s going to indict Trump? Why is Mr. Garland leaving it to a DA in a small county in Georgia to do his “dirty work?’ (Letting her face the violent MOB both Trump and Lindsey Graham have predicted should he be indicted) I listened, today, to Mike Pense, refer to the “Democrat Justice Department” and, aside from my frustration with Mr. Garland, it just shows how disingenuous virtually EVERY republican is – so, what does Garland have to gain by acting as if he fears taking on Trump? I don’t know. Today, Matt Gaetz, who prosecutors allegedly had the RECEIPTS of his participating in a “sex-trafficking” ring in Florida – I mean the investigation started under Bill Barr 3 years ago – got the news he would NOT face prosecution. What???? Yes, all these types of prosecutions would have to get Mr. Garland’s OK and, well, is this a sign of what’s to come? OMG!!! Stay tuned………………

Once again, my apologies for publishing this withoug re-reading and editing it. It’s late and I’m feeling a bit lazy. Just sayin……………….