What’s so hard for “we the people” to understand? Donald Trump, simply put, acts like a wannabee Mob boss – full stop! Doesn’t use email. Doesn’t write stuff down. Tears up evidence and/or throws it in the fireplace. Even tears up evidence and attempts to flush it down the toilet. (I’ve got some advice for Trump if he ever ends up in the “White House” again. We just replaced a toilet with one which will “flush a dozen golf balls.” He should have those installed despite the fact they aren’t made of gold.) Trump talks almost in “riddles” as he “orders” his sycophants to do bad stuff without himself being held accountable for what they did. (Have you noticed it’s those around him who end up hiring lawyers?) He even is often referenced to have lamented “Where is my Roy Cohn?” – the Mob lawyer who helped Joe McCarthy back in the 50’s intimidate those he viewed as his “enemies.”

Trump has been BULLYING his way through life since his days being mentored by Mr. Cohn. By some accounts he’s been involved in over 3500 court cases. He’s famous for stiffing his lawyers, his workers, banks, and virtually anyone doing business with him – at some point. (Do you wonder why his attorneys are referred to by many as the “B” squad or the “JV’s?”) Trump’s gone through BANKRUPTCY six times – usually coming out on the other side far better than his creditors – only to go back to “business as usual.” He’s been credibly accused of fraud numerous times, he’s been fined for “laundering” Russian (and other foreign interests’) money and, apparently, those fines didn’t stop him from the procedure. Russian’s are famous for “laundering” money via real estate purchases in the U.S. – many times via Trump.

Of course, anyone who’s been paying attention is aware of Trump’s boasting of his sexual exploits of women – most notably on the “Access Hollywood” tape where he boasted he could grab women by their “pussies” – because “when you’re famous they allow you to do it.” (That boast has now cost him $5 MILLION – plus interest until he pays – and, likely the cost is going to go WAY UP after his next court appearance with E. Jean Carroll – with the plaintiff asking for an additional $10 MILLION plus punitive damages for Trump’s continued verbal abuses. And, keep in mind, Ms. Carroll’s complaint against Trump is far from the only one.

So now, with Trump’s base of rabid “conservative Christians” seemingly solidly behind him – despite ALL the heresy listed above (plus much more) – Trump continues to “double down” on his ILLEGAL conduct leading to January 6th, 2021 (conspiring with many members of the republican Congress) claiming he “didn’t do anything wrong.” FIVE people DIED during the insurrection – plus members of the Capitol Police took their own lives in the days following – over 140 members of the Capitol and Metropolitan Police forces were injured – some of them permanently – and Trump continues to complain he is innocent of any wrongdoing. That’s the “Roy Cohn” in him. Never admit you made a mistake.

Well, today is the day Trump’s NEXT indictment may “come down the pike.” It appears Jack Smith is not intimidated by Trump and will not be thrown off course by anything Trump might do. Trump is promising to be the “retribution” for his right wing “sycophants” – presumably he’s talking about all those who’ve been charged and convicted for their actions of January 6th, 2021 plus those who haven’t been tried yet PLUS the many who haven’t even been indicted. Reports are that online “sleuths” have identified a total of 3000 of those who stormed the Capitol of which about 1/2 have been indicted already.

THIS indictment is going to be for a (former) president of the United States attempting to pull off a coup d’etat – an attempt which is continuing as he is, astonishingly, trying for attempt number two. Here’s what voters MUST keep in mind when they go to the polls for the next (MANY) elections: Trump would NOT be still a “thing” except for the cowardly republican members of Congress who KNOW how WRONG Trump is, but don’t have the guts to say so publicly. They had TWO opportunities to end this American NIGHTMARE and FAILED miserably both times. In the first IMPEACHMENT Adam Schiff predicted, accurately, that Trump would “do it again.” Schiff challenged republicans to put the Trump “experiment” to rest by voting to convict him in the Senate and, save for Mitt Romney, the whole bunch of them ended up “shaking in their boots.”

I point this out because it won’t be sufficient for America’s voters to simply vote Trump into the History books (right next to Benedict Arnold), they need to vote a BUNCH of his republican sycophants right next to him in these pages (which, undoubtedly, republicans will want those pages removed to make it all “well.” These History books will be unavailable in places like Florida. Attention: Breaking News:

Well, it has FINALLY happened. Trump has been INDICTED for his attempted coup d’etat of January 6th, 2021. There are FOUR counts in the INDICTMENT and there are six “unindicted co-conspirators” – apparently including Rudolph Giuliani, John Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, Sydney Powell, a couple more who I’m not too familiar with (I think one of them’s last name is Chesebro). It appears Trump has been indicted by himself (presumably to get the case to trial “sooner rather than later”) with the others likely expecting to be indicted at some point down the road. Will this make Trump’s “base” continue to believe he’s “innocent” (even though they know/should know better). I can’t remember where I read this but recently I was reading about the “base” of the Nazi’s back in the 1930’s and the author of the article was talking about “wilfull stupidity.” That appears to be what is happening among “we the people” as Trump continues to act like a Mafioso.

“Conservatives” have embedded themselves in the mis/disinformation of right wing media – at this point, much more than simple “you watch Fox ‘news’ don’t you?” This all falls into the category of willful stupidity. Republicans have traditionally based their “schtick” on “law and order” and strong national defense. Trump has turned that MO upside down. Now, I’ve been suggesting a streak of racism amonst republicans since the days of Richard Nixon (especially Ronald Reagan) with Trump taking the “Tea Party” which was founded in reaction to “we the people” voting in an African American as our president to full out white nationalism. They’ve been saying “we want our country back” since the day Obama was elected. (I always say, “back from what?”)

From the days following the attempted coup d’etat of January 6th, 2021 I’ve been saying the TRUTH will come out “drip by drip.” Well, the drips have turned into a stream of the TRUTH of what happened in the days following Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election. (By over 7 MILLION votes) Actually, Trump was setting the “stage” for the coup months before the actual election. He had a plan to declare victory well before the votes had been counted because his advisors told him (accurately) the election day votes would be counted first and they were likely to skew in his favor in early returns. The “Stop the Steal” scam was planned well before the actual election. (In reality, the idea for “Stop the Steal” was devised back in 2016 by Roger Stone – who, by the way, along with Steve Bannon should be sleeping a bit uneasy these days because this CONSPIRACY went well beyond the six listed co-conspirators. (See the “Willard War room”) Trust me, Jack Smith will assure us all, “The investigation is continuing.”

Right wing politicians are going to be claiming there’s a “two tiered” justice system. And, I’m going to totally AGREE with them. For example, Trump will be arraigned on August 3, 2023 where he will likely enter a plea of “not guilty” on all charges. By rights he’ll be fingerprinted (again) with nary a “mug shot” – which hasn’t happened yet (do you think you’d get that “perk?” He’s being charged with FOUR counts (felonies) that range in potential punishment ranging from 5 years to 20 years in the sentencing “guidelines.” He’ll likely be allowed to walk out of court on his own recognizance. Who else would get that perk? Many of his suckers er minions who stormed the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 were held without bail because of the danger they posed to “we the people.” Now, seriously, do you believe they caused a greater danger than Trump? Who else can be facing around 80 FELONY charges and still be walking around free – shouldn’t Trump (at least) have to wear an ankle bracelet? Shouldn’t he have to turn in his passport? Shouldn’t there be an appropriate BAIL for the CRIMES alleged? (Remember, he’s got his own jet and it would be easy for him to “split” seeking asylum in, like, Russia – OK, I can hope, can’t I?)

The reality is Trump is the poster child for how we have a two tiered justice system. He’s being prosecuted with “kid gloves..” I know people who’ve been stopped for a DUI who’ve faced tougher responses from the “government” than what Trump has faced – to this date. Maybe the judge in Washington D.C, will make an attempt to hold Trump to account as if he’s being treated like any other citizen. To me, the fact he’s running for president once again is irrelevent. His CRIMINAL conduct shouldn’t be excused because he’s trying to regain the “White House.” I do have to add, if “we the people” are “wilfully STUPID” enough to put Trump – or, for that matter, another republican in the “White House” well, we deserve what we get – which, likely will be the end of our democratic republic as it’s evolved over the previous 240+ years.

Final Thought: If it’s not HOT enough for you this summer (the HOTTEST July on record) to get your attention regarding the NECESSITY to act regarding the Climate Crisis I don’t know if there’s hope for you. For people like me (soon to be 76) and Trump and Biden – it’s potentially not at the critical stage – depending on where you live (I hope it’s not Florida or along the Gulf of Mexico Coast or the Atlantic Coast or the Midwest Tornado zone or………… OK, I hope you get the idea) – it’s what we’re leaving for our children and grandchildren which causes me grief. If it wasn’t for republicans (and democrats like Manchin and Sinema) we’d be much farther along in an attempt to mitigate the effects of fossil fuels on the atmosphere.

If you’re a woman, well, why would you vote for a republican? Unless of course you believe it’s your role to tell OTHER women how to control their own bodies. I was talking to my granddaugher today and some of these issues came up. I told her I was never in favor of abortions, but in the first pregnancy of her grandma (my first wife) when she sufffered a miscarriage, at the time, I had no idea the procedure the doctors used to treat her as she was bleeding profusely as her body was attempting to pass the fetus was, in effect, an abortion. Had this happened today, in Texas, her life would clearly be in danger – with doctors refusing to act until such time as her life “on the line.” Not only would that be STUPID, but it would also likely (in our case) have made the ensuing pregnancies which resulted in my two daughters unlikely. Over the years I’ve come to the conclusion that if you don’t believe in abortion, don’t have one. It’s not your business regarding other women.

All circumstances are different. To me, these two issues – Climate Crisis and abortion SHOULD be enough to guarantee republicans don’t win an election again until the (CORRUPT) Supreme Court becomes “balanced” – it’s been a right wing court for at least the past 25 years and it’s going to be, likely, worse for the next 25 years. Vote in another right wing republican and it will likely get worse – Ron DEESantis has already said he’ll put in more extreme judges than Trump. And, we’re talking about many more judges than just the NINE on the SCOTUS.

Yes, as always with republicans, there’s a lot more. There are issues with VOTING Rights, Civil Rights, Gun violence, Public Education, Higher Education, Environmental issues, challenges with rebuilding the infrastructure of America – our infrastructure needing at least twice as much “rebuilding” as we’ll get from the “bipartisan infrastructure Act,” and much more. The issues with income inequality are real and serious and it will take resolve for our politicians to actually vote to increast taxes on the BILLIONAIRE class. It will take resolve for our Congress to actually place restrictions on our social media “apps” – like “TWITTER,” and “Facebook,” “Instagram,” “What’s App,” etc. etc.

The bottom line is if America’s young people (35 and younger) choose to vote, there is only one way for people like Trump to “win” – and, that is to….. OK, you’re one step ahead of me, to CHEAT! I can hear my granddaughter as I’m writing those words – “uh dough” – (try to picture Homer Simpson as you read those words). As sure as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West Trump is busy planning how to best CHEAT as he’s facing the THIRD criminal indictment relating to his lawbreaking with IMPUNITY – obviously believing he’s “above the law.” His followers who claim there’s a two tiered justice system actually believe Trump should get SPECIAL treatment because he’s running for president once again. Apparently, they haven’t endured enough LOSING as of yet – but, the reality is they think there SHOULD be a two tiered justice system and Trump’s “tier” should be one step ABOVE the rest of us. We will soon know if America really is a “nation of laws and not men.” Stay tuned………………

I’ll publish this rant a couple days after Trump’s LATEST indictment – hopefully, by the time of his arraignment – but, I’m going to actually re-read this one and try to fix as many of my mistakes as possible. I’m sure my brother-in-law in Pittsburgh will double check me. (And, by the way, Pittsburgh is one of my favorite places in the U.S.A. – I hope to visit there sooner rather than later. I met so many awesome people a few years back when I spent a couple months in Pittsburgh – and, I’m talking Pennsylvania) and Pennsylvanians will likely be KEY in making sure Trump never gets near the “White House” ever again.