I’ve been pointing out for years how the (today’s) republican party has embraced the far right white nationalist/supremacist base which includes people like David Duke and Don Black – both former “imperial Wizards” of the KKK and, of course Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Michael Flynn, etc. etc. We saw Trump begin bringing this group into the “mainstream” of American politics when he led the so-called “Birther” movement beginning in 2011 winning over the “Tea Party” movement which, in today’s House, is represented by Gaetz, Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, Greene, Jim Jordan, and the ironically named “Freedom Caucus.”
If you watched the CNN “Town Hall” put on by a network desperate for ratings this past week you saw Trump, in essence, doubling down on virtually ALL of his darkest instincts – including encouraging the House republicans to take our nation over the “cliff” by forcing a default. Their “negotiating” position is well beyond the border of the ABSURD and Joe Biden is going to be put to the test as to whether or not he’ll call their bluff and simply invoke the provision of the 14th Amendment which states “The validity of the public debt of the United States shall NOT be questioned.” Professor Lawrence Tribe of Harvard Law School said, not only SHOULD Biden invoke the amendment, he HAS a duty to do so if republicans continue to hold the nation’s economy hostage. According to Mr. Tribe the main “job” of the president is to assure the laws of the land are faithfully executed – and, the money already appropriated MUST be spent as appropriated. Full stop!
Trump, to the surprise of – well, not me, once again made sure he defamed E. Jean Carroll approximately 30 hours after he’d been “slapped” with a nearly $5 MILLION dollar judgement for “sexual assault and defamation” of Ms. Carroll. I have to wonder what the next judgement will be if she sues him again. I mean “punitive damages” are designed to get the “attention” of the perpetrator and, apparently $5 MILLION wasn’t sufficient to get Trump’s attention. I’m trying to picture in my mind what the judgement might be in the case being brought by the New York Attorney General suing Trump (and his three most adult children – Ivanka, Don Jr. and Eric) for $250 MILLION which could include punitive damages thre up to four times that amount if Trump loses that case. And, keep in mind, he’s sat for a deposition in that case – I’m thinking of his deposition in the E. Jean Carroll case – stupidity and LYING!
Trump “taught” republicans they need to CHEAT in order to remain in POWER and, of course, they’ve been busy doing just that since January 6th, 2021 which led to IMPEACHMENT #2. And, every time Trump faces reality he, instinctively, lashes our at his adversaries and his “base” sucks it up. This reality has led to the republicans attacking every aspect of American society which they believe will rile up their “base” – based almost exclusively on FEAR mongering. For example, who cares about Trans children (other than their friend and family) – who are they threatening? While I was still teaching I had a Trans student in my classroom and, sadly, she was constantly bullied as she went through the public school system with little support from her teachers – this was nearly 10 years ago and it honestly makes me ANGRY every time I listen to republicans bashing Trans people. We’re talking about PEOPLE!
I point this out because it’s just one example of what republicans are doing in order to maintain/gain POWER in our political system. We began seeing the voter suppression legislation almost immediately after Trump LOST (in a landslide) to Joe Biden in 2020 and it’s continued virtually unabated in the so-called “red states” since that time. Republicans are basing thier chances in 2024 almost exclusively on culture issues (attacks). I will only mention briefly here that the Supreme Court is the body which has enabled the republican plague on our nation which will require a massive response from young voters in the next maybe 10 – 15 elections to mitigate. Remember, just one time voting for a republican as president risks extending the Supreme Court’s radical agenda even LONGER than what “we the people” are facing right now. My children may NEVER experience a progressive/moderate Court which actually follows through on the promises they make during their confirmation hearings.
For a year now I’ve been lamenting the timidity of Merrick Garland regarding his unwillingness to hold a “former president” accountable to OBVIOUS criminal conduct. We keep hearing about “Jack Smith” but that’s it – he’s “investigating.” OK, if he’s going after the entire bunch of conspirators who attempted to OVERTURN our nation’s government on January 6th, 2021 then, I guess, it would justify taking this much time – there’s virtually NO chance Trump will face a jury for his ILLEGAL conduct before the 2024 election – which causes me to think it will make AG Garland even MORE timid. Now, let me suggest who SHOULD be part of the indictment handed down by Mr. Smith.
Of course, we have to start with Trump and him facing a “Seditious Conspiracy” charge just like his buddies the “Proud Boys.” The conspiracy should, in my view, include the following people – among others: Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, Peter Navarro, Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, Ginni Thomas, John Eastman, Mo Brooks, Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ted Cruz, Roger Stone, Alex Jones, Mark Meadows, and anyone else who was part of the planning of the January 6th INSURRECTION. Remember, it doesn’t take much “agreement” to become part of a conspiracy. A conspiracy is simply “an agreement among conspirators.” So, for example, when Ginni Thomas was texting Mark Meadows urging him to “keep up the fight” and then urging on fake electors in at least a couple states, she became part of the conspiracy. Will she get indicted? Not likely, but, …………. Just sayin!!
I wrote the above about a week ago – and, I’ll try to wrap it up. Since that time Ive been to two memorial services for friends who have passed away (when you get to 75 – that’s me – the memorial services seem to come regularly) and both my wife and I got sick. (fortunately, a “non covid” virus) Things have been moving very quickly since – for example, according to reports, Trump will soon be indicted for OBSTRUCTION of Justice regarding the THOUSANDS of documents he STOLE from the National Archives – apparently, Jack Smith is focused on the Clasified documents. Once again, during the CNN Town Hall Trump admitted he “did it.” He admitted that he “took the documents” and that “I had a right do do it because of the Presidential Records Act.” Can anyone become president who’s that STUPID? Well, obviously, it’s not only possible – the republican party is “doubling down.”
I believe Trump will have been CONVICTED of at least ONE of his (alleged) CRIMES by the time the 2024 election rolls around. Will the state of New York allow him to serve his “time” in the “White House” (with an ankle bracelet?) should Americans decide they want a fascist government and vote in a republican in this election? Will Merrick Garland intervene in criminal prosecutions should they push up around the 2024 election? It seems likely Trump will be facing charges from BOTH Jack Smith investigations in the next few months. And, Fulton County Georgia? Mark your calendars for early August when we’ll find out how many of Trump’s sycophants will be charged along with him in his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. And, there’s very likely charges for CRIMES which aren’t in the public domain just yet. For example, the soliciting (grifting) of MILLIONS of dollars from his unsuspecting CULT which have been used for “who knows what?” – other than what was promised. That very well could be ANOTHER serious felony. Of course, Trump has been operating for years believing he can simply BULLY the criminal justice system into “looking the other way.”
The bottom line is, there will be NO “healing” in America until Trump and those who CONSPIRED with him to turn this nation into an unrecognizable American version of what took place in Germany back in the 1930’s. If you’ve been paying attention, at all, you’ve seen the rise of neo-Nazi’s who’ve become more emboldened with the rise of Trump. The right wing propaganda “machine” continues to belch out mis/disinformation which is at the core of the THREAT to this nation. Fox may have agreed to pay $787,5 MILLION for LYING about Dominion’s voting machines, but their LYING has hardly slowed down. And, as usual, there’s always more. Today Ron DeSactimonious is starting his presidential campaign with, apparently, a “Twitter” conversation with Elon Musk. Yikes!!! Talk about your spewing LIES to Millions!?
Final Thought: If young Americans don’t vote in the upcoming elections – en masse – the future of this nation may very well be in the “hands” of the racist, homphobic, xenophobic, and misogynistic segment of our population. We’re talking about people like DeSantis (er Sanctimonious) Trump, or maybe someone like Kristi Noem. That is, people who’ve based their chances on “winning” by cozying up to right wing Christian Nationalists. (Again, do a little reading about the Nazi’s back in the 1930’s) Speaking of DeSan(ctimonious)tis If you’re starting your presidential campaign next to Elon Musk on Twitter, you’re desperate to “out Trump” Trump!
Speaking of Musk – he’s the perfect example of why the RICHEST Americans need to pay MORE taxes. Musk simply used $44 BILLION of his fortune – much of it made via sponging off of the American taxpayers (remember, originally, every Tesla sold included a $7500 tax credit AND his “Space X” company survives off of government contracts. Since taking over “Twitter” Musk has proven that having “boatloads” of money does NOT prevent STUPIDITY. Musk claims he wants “Twitter” to be the home of “free speech.” Well, it appears what he was talking about was giving racists a platform to spew their neo-Nazi garbage. If you listened to any of Musk’s rationales for some of the vile stuff he’s “retweeted” you fully understand what I mean! Stay tuned….