I’ve pointed out here MANY times I’m a Christian (a believer in Jesus Christ) and many times I’ve pointed out how it’s been difficult for me to watch the so-called “evangelical Christian” community as the base for the most disgusting “politician” I’ve witnessed in the MANY years I’ve been following politics – and, of course, I’m talking about Donald Trump. (I’ve been following politics since the days of Dwight Eisenhower v Adlai Stevenson back in the 1950’s – listening to my Mom and Dad arguing over the two people nominated to the presidency TWICE in those days) Well, today, Trump took his pathological LYING to a place I didn’t even expect from him.

I turned on the TV this morning as I was planning to check Yahoo Finance, the page I’ve been frequenting since the 1990’s – despite the fact I’m not much of a stock investor. There was Trump hawking the “God Bless America Bible.” I’m not kidding. And, I actually forced myself to listen to his pitch. It was beyond disgusting. First of all, he’s holding a bible in his hands as he continues his PATHOLOGICAL lying to – apparently- those he’s bee grifting for money over the past 8 years. But, that’s not all.

It was the nature of the LYING which really got to me. Now, I’m going on my feeble memory – about the best I can do these days is “Person, man, woman, camera, TV” but I’ll do the best I can as I try to share the jaw dropping response I had to Trump LYING about God. And, keep in mind, I’ve done a bit of “Google” research in an attempt – over the past eight years – to find how often Trump goes to church. Well, the answer is almost NEVER. Plus, there are reports he belittles the “Christians” who have ventured into the “White House” (while his reign continued) or Mar-a-Lago to place hands on him and pray – You can read about it HERE.

Today Trump actually said he has “many bibles” in his house – “It’s my favorite book.” Well, if you’ve been paying attention you know that Trump doesn’t read and, if there are “many bibles” at Mar-a-Lago (I seriously doubt this – unless he’s got copies of the one he’s hawking) it would be Gideion Bibles in the various rooms – because it’s kind of like a hotel. I can virtually guarantee you if there are ANY bibles in Trump’s actual residence it’s because Melania has decided to read one. Trump can’t name a “favorite verse” and the thinks 2nd Corinthians is “Two Corinthians.”

The second most DISGUSTING thing Trump has done with a bible in his hands was when he stood in front of the church across from the “White House” holding a bible upside down for a photo shoot. The man has NO shame when it comes to what he’ll do in order to “get what he wants.” If success requires LYING to a bunch of “Christians” then he’s willing to do it. And, sadly, the “Christians” are willfully STUPID (sorry – as I’ve said before, I can’t think of a better term) as they somehow “marry” their “Christian” beliefs with a man who comes across as an organized crime boss. To me, there’s no plausible excuse for this.

Trump has threatened the foundation of our government – via the coup d’etat attempt on January 6th, 2021 and the “slow moving coup” that has transpired over the following 3 plus years. It shouldn’t take someone “educated” to understand when a presidential candidate is threatening to end our constitution (the initial coup was live on TV) – which has governed this nation for nearly 250 years (granted it’s got it’s faults, but until we got Trump’s right wing Supreme Court, the document was clearly a “living document” which has evolved “forward” over time), he’s threatening to undermine one department of our government after another, he’s threatening to “defund our police” (IE, the FBI and Justice Department), he’s threatening (for about the fiftieth time) to throw out the Affordable Care Act, he’s threatening to pull the U.S. out of NATO and he’s been lobbying his “sheep” in the House to block additional aid to Ukraine. He idolizes Vladimir Putin – a murderous thug.

It is Trump who brags about being responsible for the overturning of Roe v Wade – although, now that he fully understands the backlash to that ruling he’s trying to figure a way to make “both sides” happy. I can guarantee you, he will be unable to make the women in America who believe they should have control over their own bodies happy. Does he really believe proposing a 15 week abortion ban will make women in America happy? They will continue to vote AGAINST him and the republicans who support him in record numbers. Does this mean he can’t possibly win? No, because, one thing we can be guaranteed is he will CHEAT. (And, his republican sycophants will cheat as well)

Another thing I’ve pointed out on this site many times is how republicans have ways of “winning” the “White House” despite LOSING the “popular vote” – meaning with MORE people voting for the democratic opponent than, well, voting for the “winner.” Our TWICE IMPEACHED two time popular vote LOSING four times indicted Civil Trial LOSING, alleged sexual abusing (ex) president is a prime example of that. He “lost” to Hillary Clinton by THREE MILLION votes and to Joe Biden by SEVEN MILLION votes. George W Bush lost to Al Gore by about 500 THOUSAND votes and needed the Supreme Court to install him and Dick Cheney into the “White House.”

The “trick” is always third party candidates. In 2000 Ralph Nader led to GW Bush, and, ultimately, the invasion of Iraq (possibly even 9/11 as Bush/Cheney IGNORED the warning signs). Jill Stein led to the first term of Trump (of course, along with the Russians, the Saudi’s, the Emerati’s, the Egyptions, and, of course, Bibi Netanyahu (via a couple Israeli intelligence operatives – working in concert with Cambridge Analytica). Now, we’ve got RFK Jr. bound and determined to help Trump gain a second term. And Trump’s major donors are also, get this, RFK’s major donors. Surprise, surprise. This really grieves me for sentimental reasons.

The first year I voted was in 1968 (you had to be 21 back then) and the candidate who got me really involved in the election was Robert F Kenedy – RFK’s father who very well may be “turning in his grave.” I was devastated when RFK Senior was murdered! His son has his sights set on the young Americans who Biden will be depending on if he is to win again this November. Talk about your “fool’s errand.” I hope America’s young voters have a clear enough view of recent American history to remember how we got to this place with the Supreme Court, the environment, the gun violence, the assault on health care, Climate denialism, attacks on voting rights, attacks on public education, and much more. Kennedy should be looked upon as the pariah he really has become.

As much as I was supporting his father back in 1968, you could say I’m much more focused in wanting RFK Jr.’s campaign to fizzle. Our republic may depend on it. There is NO chance for him to do anything but become the most egregious “spoiler” in this nation’s 250 year history. He has chosen a “former” democratic supporter from the Silicon Valley who was once married to one of the founders of Google (and has plenty of money to fund their campaign along with social media knowledge) as his “running mate” and, to me, they are the most significant “hurdle” which could “derail” Biden’s campaign. (She gave RFK Jr. $4 MILLION to help fund his Super Bowl ad – along with $7 MILLION from Timothy Mellon a prominent financial supporter of Trump)

I’ve been saying for a couple years now – since Biden convinced me he understands what legislation is required to move this nation “forward” – it’s America’s young people who SHOULD be supporting the OLDEST president in our history because he’s the one who – despite a Congress which has been virtually 50/50 – has managed to get historic legislation passed over his first few years in office – legislation no other president in recent American history has managed to get passed. The list of reasons young Americans SHOULD be supporting Biden is a long one. I’m just not convinced they fully understand what he’s accomplished. (Apparently they get their “news” on Tiktok)

I’ve become convinced there’s not much room to “convince” the MAGA faithful they’re being LIED to (today, another example of Trump with a bible in his hand – more on that later) over and over again – classic Nazi propaganda strategy and they willingly go along with it. I know people (I go to church almost every weekend and, when I don’t, I watch it on the computer) who actually refer to Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson as “Sean” and “Tucker” as if they are their long lost buddies. These are people who actually DO read the bible. You can’t talk to them about politics – I’ve tried. (Not even trying to convince them of my beliefs just wanting to understand theirs) They get angry and defensive – at least the ones I’ve tried to talk to. Stuff they say to me I’ve been unable to find in the bible.

That said, I believe young Americans can be reached – at least I hope they can. I’m also, as are they, upset about the “war” on GAZA and the suffering of the Palestinians. I wish President Biden could simply tell Bibi Netanyahu to stop and he would listen. But, that’s totally naive. Netanyahu and Trump are like a couple bullies at school who align with each other for “strategic” reasons. They’re BOTH under indictment and BOTH attempting to solve their legal issues via political power. I’ve been saying this since before Israel entered GAZA – “Netanyahu will keep this war going indefinitely because his survival depends on it.

I believe the Israeli’s will remove Netanyahu from his perch at the head of their country soon after this invasion ends. And, Netanyahu is, while most people have their attention elsewhere, further “cementing” his strategy to BLOCK any attempt at the so-called “two state solution” by encouraging MORE (illegal) settlements on the “West Bank” and arming the settlers there which encourages more violence against Palestinians. I hope the people of Israel understand what Netanyahu is doing to their image around the world with people who are Israeli supporters (like myself). This can’t be the reason why America’s young people allow Trump to return to the “Oval Office” and I hope the Biden administration is able to put “conditions” on any more aid to Israel. The U.S. can’t abide the further slaughter of Palestinians! Stay tuned……

Final Thought: In case you don’t know how to use Google (or you’re just tired from reading all of this – congrats, by the way, you read more than Trump) you can click HERE and HERE to get a couple quick views of what a great “Christian” Trump really is. As someone who golfs – but, not on Sundays – I thought the second article was very interesting. (Most of my close acquaintances – ie golfing buddies – ridicule my Christian beliefs because of “Christians” like Trump. I tell them, “I believe in Jesus, NOT Trump” – so far that hasn’t seemed like much of a witness)

I have to add: For those who study the history of the previous 100, or so, years in America – the parallels between Trump’s MAGA movement and that of the Third Reich in 1930’s Germany is, well, sobering. Read the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer if you want an interesting read which clearly memorializes the dangers of right wing movements like that of Hitler’s Nazi’s. The book I’m reading right now, “Prequel” by Rachel Maddow, really brings the 1930’s Nazi movement in America into a bright light. History “swept under the rug.”

For those who believe “It can’t happen here” – I would respectfully disagree. That would be true if our voting public was not so susceptible to a Con artist like Trump. But, the reality is there is a significant portion of America’s public who’ve “inherited” the racist, bigoted views of their parents and grand parents – who participated in the Jim Crow era of American history – and who are genuinely susceptible to Trump’s schtick. It’s almost as if America’s Southern states are hell bent on reliving the so-called “lost cause.” Yikes!

Today, while watching the “liberal” (?) MSNBC I saw/heard a plethora of LIES coming from Donald Trump AND his right wing minions on segments from Fox “news” and “Newsmax” regarding all the “crime” (including “MURDER, rape, and other violent crimes”) committed by “illegal immigrants.” This has been going on since Trump came down the escalator back in 2015. And, to this day, I keep watching TV hosts/pundits acting puzzled by all the LYING. Not once, yet, have I heard one host/pundit point out the reason they keep doing it and the reason it keeps working which is because this scheme comes straight out of Mein Kampf by none other than Hitler himself – and it does work. As the saying goes, the ONLY way to stop it is with “sunlight.”

What’s it going to take for these TV anchors who are speaking to MILLIONS of Americans each day to actually tell “we the people” what’s happening. The INSURRECTION is continuing and, as we’ve witnessed in the previous couple of weeks, the accomplices are deeply embedded in the republican party as it exists today. Of course, it’s Trump in the spotlight, but, the depth of the depravity, when you look at defending our constitution comes from the “puppet masters” who are funding Trump and his sycophants. I’ve been following Charles Koch for YEARS (Read: “Sons of Witchita”) and he’s been funneling MILLIONS (likely BILLIONS) from his fortune to build his vision of a right wing “libertarian” society since the days back in the 80’s when his brother was the VP candidate on the libertarian “ticket.”

It’s not just the “Koch brothers” (David Koch has died so it’s just Charles now), but also a bevy of American Oligarchs who feel their right to unlimited fortunes at the expense of our tax system and the rights of “we the people” continues to, well, amaze me. I honestly NEVER thought this nation would devolve to this level, but as I Iisten to the Trump supporters, for example, saying they’re fine with Russia annexing Ukraine or saying they believe what Trump, or Tuckre Carlson, or Fox “news,” or “Newsmax,” or ???? (in the right wing “blogosphere”) is telling them is the truth just boggles my mind. I taught my sixth graders to be smarter than that.

18 MILLION migrants “coming from places with languages no one knows” flowing into America because of Joe Biden is so ludicrous it bothers me so many people take it “hook, line, and sinker.” Do they understand President Biden actually agreed to immigration legislation fashioned by one of the MOST conservative members of the Senate with “Moscow” Mitch participating in the negotiations – legislation which DIDN’T include key “progressive” objectives (ie Dreamers, etc.) and Trump torpedoed it because he wanted to have the “issue” for November and “red meat” for his cult followers? Of course not. That would require a bit of critical thinking.

I’ve repeatedly of late referred to these MAGA faithful as “willfully STUPID” and I really do wish I could come up with a better term, but they are the result of the misinformation campaign launched by Vladimir Putin (and others) along with our right wing media and Trump’s willingness to embrace all of it because – at present – Trump’s focus is staying out of jail due to his serial CRIMINAL conduct FINALLY catching up with him. Apparently, his minions don’t care. Where they go on the internet makes me shudder.

The rest of the world is watching as this incredible scene plays out where MILLIONS of so-called “conservative Christians” are backing someone who, if he hasn’t violated all of the “Ten Commandments” (they all want in our schools) it’s fewer than the ones he has violated – with impunity. Here’s the easy ones for me, Don’t LIE, Don’t CHEAT, Don’t commit ADULTERY, Don’t “covet” (covers several things Trumps seems to covet), and I’ll leave it at that. Personally, it was Jesus who convinced me to believe in Christianity and the best I can say is these (from my view, of course) “conservative Christians” have made a “deal with the devil.” (I won’t repeat Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew, but, go ahead, look it up) (OK, I know I’m not supposed to “judge” and I struggle with that one and “loving my neighbor” when my “neighbor” makes my skin crawl – I’m trying to work on it)

I’m not suggesting America is a “Christian nation,” because nothing could be further from the truth. America was designed to be a secular nation right from the start. It was clearly the wish of our “founders” that there would be “separation of Church and State.” Freedom of Religion is what this nation was founded on – the other way to look at that is “freedom from Religion” if that’s your choice. Sadly, there’s a group of “Christian nationalists” who think they can force their beliefs on “we the people.” To me, this is the opposite of the Christianity I believe in – where “we the people” actually have “free will” to determine our own beliefs on our own. And, it doesn’t take much imagination to understand their view is, well, un-American. (Is it any wonder the number of Americans who are turned off to Christianity continues to rise because of this?)

I’ve predicted this several other times on this site, but when Trump loses in November (how many LOSSES would that make?) and the indictments he’s facing become more real to him, I expect him to fire up his plane and head for somewhere which doesn’t have an extradiction treaty with the U.S. (The first thought which comes to mind is, of course, Russia – maybe in the same building as Edward Snowden.) I did read today that it would be New York law he be remanded into custody – as a “flight risk” should he be found guilty of the election interference case there – sometimes referred to as the “hush money” case. (He’s accused of paying more than just “Stormy Daniels” hush money)

Here’s my number one hope at this point in time (although, it does make me a bit sad Trump’s coup d’etat trial isn’t starting today) and that is, somehow, the House of Representatives manages to overcome the OBSTRUCTION of “Moscow Mike” (is it fair to give that moniker to two republicans?) and PASS the legislation giving military AID to Ukraine. The bill also includes aid to Israel which I hope can be extended with conditions requiring the Israeli’s to agree to a CEASE FIRE allowing humanitarian aid into GAZA for the Palestinians who are facing FAMINE – with children facing long lasting/permanent damage from their lack of food and water. It’s time for President Biden to internalize Bibi Netanyahu could give a s@#t what he thinks. Netanyahu is going to be working for Trump’s return to the “White House” period – full stop! Just like in 2016 and 2020. (Allowing Putin to take Ukraine will put Mike Johnson in the history books next to Neville Chamberlain.)

America has one foot in the “pool” of autocracy already. Our corporations have too much power – many have “lost their way” (they really do/should have responsibility to the “commons” – after all, that’s where they get their “charter”) For example, just recently Elon Musk was “stripped” of his $56 BILLION dollar “payday” by a Delaware Court (where Tesla is “chartered”) because, well, the judge agreed with a shareholder finding $56 BILLION as a bit excessive. America’s oligarchs like Musk can’t seem to have enough money. (President Biden favors taxing BILLIONAIRES “fairly” prompting Musk – and others – to meet with Trump, presumably seeking even MORE tax breaks should “we the people” be STUPID enough vote Trump back into the Oval Office once again.)

We criticize Russia for all their “oligarchs” while America is littered with them – something like 4000 BILLIONAIRES – and, they funnel BILLIONS into politics (thanks to the SCOTUS) via the Citizens United decision of 2010 which is the epitome (or was) of legislating from the bench. I say “was” because the Roberts Court – full of judges who, in their confirmation hearings railed against “legislating from the bench” – have turned it into common practice. They claim to be “textualists” and/or “originalists” EXCEPT in cases where that doesn’t meet their pre-ordained beliefs or those of the BILLIONAIRES who are responsible for their place on the court. (Or, in the case of Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, their “sugar daddies” paying for their “summer vacations.”)

It’s no wonder so many Americans are turned off by the realities of our political system – and, I include the SCOTUS in that – especially younger Americans. Here’s the reality, if there’s going to be a CHANGE it will be up to these younger Americans to VOTE in record numbers to make it happen. And, the cruel IRONY in all this is if they want to VOTE for a candidate who stands for what SHOULD be important to them, they’ll have to VOTE for the oldest candidate for president in our history. Additionally, they’ll VOTE for democrats up and down the ticket even if they don’t particularly feel compelled to do so – because they’ll be voting AGAINST republicans. Biden needs a Congress with MORE democrats – both in the Senate AND in the House to be able to accomplish “stuff” that’s in the interest of these young Americans.

As I usually do, I’m going to “tick off” (off the top of my memory deficient head) a few of the reasons Biden SHOULD appeal to these young Americans. The first one, to me, would be the CLIMATE crisis. Trump and republicans believe that is a “hoax.” (kind of like all of Trump’s criminal conduct) The major Hurricanes, the earthquakes, the flooding, the tornadoes, the wildfires – all of which keep getting more severe – don’t register with republicans. One of Trumps’ first actions – as “Day 1 dictator” – according to his claims, will be to eliminate the clean energy incentives in the “Inflation Reduction Act.” I need to get my next electric car before next November – just in case.

If you’re a woman I find it hard to believe you’ll vote for a republican – where (mostly) republican MEN are threatening FURTHER attacks on women’s health care. A national abortion ban, a ban on birth control, a ban on IVF (In vitro fertilization) and who knows what else. I’ve always said, “if you don’t believe in abortion, don’t have one.” (I paid for an “abortion” about 50 years ago because my wife was having a miscarriage – devastating at the time – but it allowed her to have two healthy daughters later on. In Texas she would have had to go into Sepsis to get medical healthcare today – and, very possibly at the cost of future pregnancies – assuming she survived)

I taught Middle School for 25 years and never had an occasion to experience a shooting in my school – although our students were constantly trained what to do if there was an “intruder alert” in the school. There were a few instances where we were “locked down” because of issues in the neighborhood, but never a shooting in the school. That said, today’s children are fully aware of the dangers of gun violence and many of them suffer from anxiety preventing them from even go to school – wondering if “today will be the day.” I say all this because Joe Biden is lobbying Congress for an assault weapons ban (He was involved in passing one years ago which was allowed to expire by GW Bush) and I have to believe a large majority of young people would agree with him on that PLUS other sensible “gun safety” laws. It’s true, you can’t put “toothpaste back in the tube” but you have to start somewhere.

President Biden is attempting to “forgive” BILLIONS in student loan debt, but republicans are doing everything they can to block his efforts. A good example of the republican hypocrisy would be Marjorie Taylor Greene objecting to ANY forgiveness of student loan debt while she ACCEPTED a couple hundred thousand dollars in PPP loans during the pandemic – loans which were not required to be paid back. The amounts President Biden wants to “forgive” in student loan debt is between $10,000 and $20,000 depending on the student’s circumstances. The Biden administration wants to make “higher education” more affordable and fully support K-12 education. In addition, they understand the importance of “early education.” It’s painfully clear a large segment of our electorate is uneducated.

I believe I wrote enough above (or hope I did) to convince ANY young person who reads this to understand the importance of the Supreme Court. If – God help us – Trump would somehow find a way to CHEAT his way back into the “White House” he will replace Thomas and Alito on the Court with younger more radical Justices who will have lifetime appointments. That would be a national disaster more devastating than the one we’re presently experiencing. Just picture, for example, Aileen Cannon as a Supreme Court justice. Yikes!!! Hillary Clinton “lost” (with 3 MILLION more votes than Trump) back in 2016 because of “progressives” who either didn’t vote or who voted for a third party candidate. (The same “trick” republicans used to get GW Bush elected back in 2000) Trump financiers are also financing the candidacy of RFK Jr. and, once again, Jill Stein. Please don’t fall for it. A vote for either of them is like a vote for Trump. This election is President Biden or Trump. That’s it – full stop!

Final Thought: I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s and clearly remember the attempts to desegregate schools in America. (The schools I went to had NO persons of color until I was in eighth grade and I remember only one African American student at that school and my High School was “lilly white.” I say this because I remember the fight by African Americans – led by MLK – for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act back in the 1960’s. The Voting Rights Act was approved when I was a senior in High School (1965). I remember seeing “Bloody Sunday” on the CBS news and not really understanding why it was happening – just that it was “shocking.” And, I wasn’t attuned to politics enough to understand the fight for Voting Rights. (It never dawned on me there were people who were denied the right to vote – back then the voting age was 21)

I was never around a “person of color” until I began playing basketball in college. I was embarrassed at my first reaction to having “Black” teammates. I’m thankful to say over the years I’ve had MANY African American friends – one of whom I consider the BEST friend I ever had (he’s now in heaven). I say all this because, to me, the issues of CIVIL RIGHTS and VOTING RIGHTS are paramount reasons why “we the people” SHOULD be voting against republicans. They clearly believe in “white supremacy” – beliefs which make my skin crawl thinking they could succeed unless young people VOTE against them in massive numbers. For heaven’s sake, the republican nominee for governor in North Carolina is a Holocaust denier AND believes women shouldn’t have the right to vote! I’m not kidding!

Obviously, the corruption goes way beyond Trump – I almost believe his sycophants are worse – but, it’s CRITICAL Trump gets to face juries of his peers in the four INDICTMENTS he’s facing with the 91 FELONY “counts.” It’s looking like he will have to LOSE in November to have that “opportunity.” Just imagine the message we would be sending to the rest of the world if “we the people” fall for his schtick once again. The world will become unrecognizable. Republicans fear him. It appears to me Merrick Garland fears him. He uses our “open society” against us as he’s consolidating POWER. (Just as Putin uses it against us as he spreads mis/disinformation – i.e. “active measures”)

If you’re reading this far, make sure you’re registered to VOTE (remember republicans are purging voters in every state – especially “swing states”) and talk to your friends and family. If Americans want to keep their republic it will require them to participate in the VOTING process – Benjamin Franklin famously said, we “have a republic, if we can keep it.” America’s young people have the POWER to change this country for the better! I’m praying they choose to do so! Stay tuned……