If anyone is questioning my 20 year “plan” of lobbying for “we the people” to vote “today’s” republican party (it is continually getting worse – while that almost seems impossible) into the History books all you have to do is make sure you’ve paid attention to House republicans over the previous 3 or 4 weeks. Between listening to Matt Gaetz (him of the alleged “sex trafficking of a minor” – that the Justice Dept. didn’t have the “stones” to prosecute) making daily threats to pull the rug out from under Kevin McCarthy’s “speakership” and listening to McCarthy, himself, the speaker with NO moral compass (some suggest he’s without a spine) accentuate the “stink” of this republican party America is looking at some dark difficult days moving forward.

Gaetz has made it clear there IS going to be a “government shutdown” which we can all argue over whether it’s Gaetz (and his “freedom caucus” – what a misnomer) fault or the fault of McCarthy who “sold his soul” to the right wing extremists in the House back in January in order to get his hands on the Speaker’s gavel he’s been yearning for over the past decade? Keep in mind, the “framework” for the economy going forward was established back when there was a bipartisan debt ceiling agreement earlier this year. Was there ever any question Gaetz and his “cohort” would renege on that agreement? Of course not, they were incensed that the agreement required bipartisanship – that without democrats voting for it, well, they would have been able to cause a U.S. default. I guess a “government shutdown” is the next best way to damage our economy for these right wing wack jobs.

McCarthy recently, unilaterally, “opened an impeachment inquiry” into President Biden – I’m certain with the hope it would mollify the so-called “freedom caucus,” but, of course, that was wishful thinking on McCarthy’s part. Keeping in mind, ALL of the so-called “evidence” linking Joe Biden to alleged nefarious activities of his son Hunter in Ukraine has been debunked over and over again. But, with republicans, that’s not the point. Their focus is to convince their “uneducated voters” that Biden was taking MILLIONS in coordination with his son. Evidence is beside the point – their goal is to somehow get politics “greatest LOSER” – our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called four times INDICTED two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president – back into office. Here’s what might be the end result of this fiasco – Trump’s son-in-law may end up being investigated. (OK I can hope) I’m predicting Hunter Biden will be acquitted of the “gun charge” – a charge which should never have been filed.

After all, Kushner’s $2 BILLION from the Saudi’s and close to another BILLION from the Emerati’s, the Qatari’s, and others makes Hunter Biden’s alleged $3.5 MILLION from his time on the board of Ukrainian Energy Company Burisma look like chicken scratch. But, again, the “investigations” of the Biden’s are not aimed at anything representing the “truth,” but simply to bring down Joe Biden’s (and VP Harris’s) approval ratings. Unfortunately, the so-called “liberal media” in America could often be referred to as TV for STUPID people. One of the things about America I cherish is the freedom to think for oneself – if we choose – but, with the emergence of “Social Media” along with outlets like Fox, Newsmax, etc. we’re seeing a “master class” in brainwashing coming from the “right” in America with help from foreign entities who would benefit for America’s “democracy” (it’s a democratic republic) to fail.

Trumpo is openly saying the “bad” part out loud. He’s going to attack our free press if he’s re-elected, he’s going after the Justice Department, the Military, the intelligence community, and the many institutions which have turned America into the wealthiest nation in the history of the world. He’s going after “Black and Brown” people, Jewish people who vote for democrats (most of them in America), young people who are demanding action on climate change and gun violence, and, of course, the largest voting block in America, women. If he’s re-elected the Supreme Court could easily become even more tilted toward the corrupt right wingers who already sit there. And, the list goes on. Of course, his most pressing “plan” if re-elected is to stay out of JAIL. His base is largely composed of the “STUPID” voters who watch Fox “news” – as referred to by Bannon – and, of course, he’s openly praised his “uneducated voters” on more than one occasion

Speaking of “uneducated voters:” Steve Bannon finally said something I could easily agree with. He said, “Fox ‘news’ (my quotation marks) is “TV for STUPID people.” If you’ve listened to or had conversations with ANYONE who’s a Fox viewer you know Bannon is correct. Of course, Bannon has turned on Fox for only one reason – his fuhrer (Trump) has turned on Fox. Maybe all of this will help bring Fox down – where it belongs – right next to Trump in the History books!

Now, don’t get me completely wrong here. I know MANY people in my peer group (I’m 76 and white) who watch Fox “news” who, other than talking about politics, I consider to be good hard working Americans. I know one YOUNG person, in particular, (OK, not really in my “peer group”) who I consider myself very close to who won’t watch Fox anymore because “they’re not ‘conservative’ enough.” (They said bad stuff about Trump) He now gets his “news” from Newsmax. Some of the stuff he’s said to me has been so outlandish that, at one point, I responded (without thinking) “you can’t possibly be stupid enough to believe that, it’s an anti-semitic trope.” Well, it took just one look into his eyes to realize, “yes he was.” He was making comments about how America is really two countries and other “details” I can’t remember, but his rant included the typical anti-semitic reference to the “Rothchild’s.” Him, along with every other right wing Fox viewer – or, in this case, a former Fox viewer – are almost impossible to dialogue with. That said, I would stand in front of a bus for this young man.

Getting back to Gaetz. Save for the timidity of AG Garland and the Justice Department, Gaetz would have his own serious legal problems. For whatever reason, in a situation where the Department had the “receipts,” they chose not to prosecute Gaetz for the alleged “sex trafficking of a minor” – among other alleged offenses related to the crimes of his former acquaintance Joel Greenberg. This made Gaetz attacks on Merrick Garland in the Judiciary Committee the other day seem somewhat ironic (at least from Garland’s perspective). Gaetz, after the Garland hearing – and on Fox speaking to Marie Bartiromo, said of Garland, ” Merrick Garland will sit there and he’ll answer my tough questions and he’ll smirk at me or he’ll obfuscate and then, guess what? He goes back to the Justice Department, and the coffers are full with money from the American taxpayer that gets turned against the brave patriots in this country.” (Apparently referring to the “J-6” defendants) That “charge” against the man (Garland) likely responsible for Gaetz still sitting in Congress and walking the streets a free man.

Here’s some more of the nonsense coming from Fox “news” as the looming “shutdown” will be a time for even larger “tales” being spun: Sean Hannity on the “border,” ” You know you talk about the self-induced problem at the border. It’s never been this bad. At the end of three years, I believe the number will be somewhere probably north of 8 million illegal immigrants that he has facilitated into the country, and now we have a new policy of just flying them in directly from the countries they come from, so it doesn’t look so bad.” First of all, Hannity’s numbers are absurd (surprise surprise) and suggesting Biden’s “facilitating” the migrants is more than absurd – I couldn’t figure out how many “illegal immigrants” have entered the country during Biden’s first 2 1/2 years in office, but what I did find was that approximately twice as many are expelled as manage to remain. And, as I’m writing this all I could think of is what is causing all these people to risk their lives to come to this country? – where nearly half the population will despise them – and, obviously, the circumstances from where they came are horrific. The source of the problem lies in their home countries and, at some point, maybe we will help find a solution there.

Coming from the mouth of Will Cain: (I have no idea who he is but he’s apparently a “host” on Fox) ” This is not a policy failure, this is a policy success for the Biden administration. This is the execution of a policy. And, Lee, there’s no nation. There’s no nation-state without a border. We’re watching the destruction, on purpose, successfully, of the nation-state of the United States.” And, as Bannon suggests, their (Fox’s) audience buys this crap.

And Jenine Pirro: ” The people who want us to be petrified that the world is coming to an end — and I think according to some it should already have come to an end — they just want to make sure that we live a minimalist life while they prosper based upon all the money they make from the green energy bill that was touted as the Inflation Reduction Act. And, you know, while we suffer, they don’t want us to have gas stoves, they don’t want us to have fans, they don’t want us to have gas cars and they are just interested in making sure that we’re as miserable as possible. You shouldn’t be eating meat. You shouldn’t be doing anything that we’re doing.” Holy Brainwashing – How did this woman get on TV? OK, Bannon’s correct – as I said above! I could go on and on – to Rupert Murdoch I say “good riddance.” Your place in History will also be right next to Trump and Benedict Arnold.

These are stalwarts of the republican party saying – well, whatever might gouge the darkest places of their audience the deepest. I pointed out to someone (who I love – she’s in my extended family) that Fox “news” is full of LIES. She said she didn’t believe that. I asked her whey she thought they paid Dominion Voting Systems $787,500,000 to settle their defamation lawsuit. She didn’t believe that either. (Of course, Fox was not FORCED to correct the issue on the air so that people like her would understand what LIARS they really are.) She doesn’t believe Trump is a LIAR and she believes he actually “won” the 2020 election. This is why I KEEP saying “The republican party’s got to go!” And, there is a difference from “spinning” an issue toward your point of view and out and out LYING. It’s almost as if LYING is a requirement of being in leadership of the republican party!

Final Thought: It was announced today that Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of the board of Fox “news” and “News Corp.” My first thought was how many ways can I say “GOOD RIDDANCE?” (OK, I said that already) I know one of the ways would be with a single finger salute should I get the opportunity to face up to him in person. It’s been reported the nearly $800 MILLION he paid out to Dominion was in order to avoid testifying in their defamation lawsuit. (His deposition was FULL of provable LIES) All of the Fox “news” LYING will likely reemerge in 2024 as the defamation case of “Smartmatic” software comes into the headlines. Will Fox “news” survive? Well, I hope not – but, something will fill the void if they don’t. Murdoch set the stage for how to make lots of money be creating division in America – keeping in mind he’s an Australian – and LYING as routine. My succinct message to Mr. Murdoch: “Eff You!”

Finally bipartisanship: Today the Justice Department indicted New Jersey Senate Democrat Bob Menendez on charges of corruption. Corruption? Are you kidding me – based on the evidence included in the indictment Mr. Menendez apparently doesn’t feel as if he’s sufficiently compensated for his job in the Senate. The Justice Department executed a search warrant last year where they found over $500,000 in CASH over $100.000 in GOLD BARS and a Mercedez Benz convertible which was apparently a “gift” to his wife. The indictment seems as “cut and dry” as some of the indictments of Trump. Here’s a large difference: Democrats in New Jersey are demanding Menendez resign and he’s been removed from his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Of course, Menendez is “innocent till proven guilty” and a trial, if it gets that far, won’t happen until next year. Stay tuned…..

Undoubtedly, Melendez will be another example of the “two tiered” Justice system republicans continue to complain about. I suspect Melendez will be walking the streets “free” while awaiting his trial date while someone at the lower “tier” (like where I reside) whether White or – well, certainly Black or Hispanic – would be sitting behind bars waiting for their “day in court.” Are Melendez or Trump any less dangerous to our republic than the “J-6” defendants? Go Figure!!!