Just a few thoughts. Just about every “pundit” I’ve listened to over the previous couple of weeks as the stock market is “tanking” have lamented “we may be going into a recession.” Apparently, they don’t get what is happening. Recessions are like “gold mines” to BILLIONAIRES. While everyone else is selling their stocks Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg and the rest of their “class” will be getting even RICHER. Add to that the nearly $5 TRILLION tax cut Trump and the republicans are planning to cram down the throats or working Americans and you can see what’s going on here. Shouldn’t surprise anyone. Here’s some more things which shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Several of Trump’s nominations to varying roles in his administration have “checkered” pasts when it comes to their relationships with women. Of course, I’m talking about people like Pete Hegseth or Robert Kennedy Jr. who have been accused of sexual assault. And, I believe there’s others. But, why would anyone believe that’s a “demerit” in the eyes of Trump? To me, it’s a “plus” to him because it takes a bit of the focus away from his own history of being a sexual predator.
Trump is busy pulling in MILLIONS from his various business/grifting schemes while he’s been in office for the second time. I haven’t heard ONE person refer to the emoluments clause in our constitution – but, for their to be any consequence for this “grifting” you would need an independent Justice Department – which is a lost cause at this point. In fact, having a Justice Department which is like Trump’s “legal eagles” is as disturbing to me as anything which is going down in these first few weeks of the administration of our 34 times FELON of a president.
An, at least to this point, unknown number of children and other people who have depended on the foreign aid of the USAID have already DIED. Do you think Trump and his co-president Musk give a sh*t? Obviously, many of these people are in Africa which Trump refers to as sh*t hole countries. Of course, he’s got a “sweet spot” for White South Africans who he’s invited to immigrate to America with a accelerated path to American citizenship. Does this strike anyone besides me as strange? Who do you think might have encouraged him to take this stand?
When you pay close attention to when Trump is speaking (without a teleprompter) it’s hard not to question whether or not he’s still in control of his faculties. There have been numerous articles written about the Trump/Musk “ambush” of Volodymyr Zelenskyy – not to mention one of my favorite all time Saturday Night Live skits – but, when I think about what he said there, then what he said when sitting next to the leader of Ireland, and what he says about tariffs I can’t help but wonder: “Is Trump playing with a ‘full deck?'” The guy seems a bit off to me. And, that’s notwithstanding I vehemently DISAGREE with virtually every decision he’s making. (I guess it really is all about revenge)
Are you one of the people who believe the Climate Crisis is a “hoax?” If so, you might be thrilled with all the anti-climate executive orders coming from the “White House.” It’s as if Trump realizes the kind of people who oppose him would be people who believe in FIGHTING the Climate Crisis and he’s going to do the opposite. Four years of this just might be enough to push “we the people” (and the world) over the “Global Warming” edge. Trust me, the Climate Crisis doesn’t/didn’t care who the American people choose for their leaders. And, there’s going to be four hurricane and wildfire seasons before “we the people” might be able to fix this (Trump’s administration) problem. I’m still at a loss thinking about all the young people – who SHOULD have been concerned about the Climate Crisis (and the courts) in the last election. The DAMAGE Trump can do over this four year timeframe (And, Vance would be worse) just might be impossible to overcome. (I can’t help but thinking, “Is Trump the Anti-Christ?”)
So, speaking of all the “grifting” coming from Trump 2.0 – the BILLIONAIRES are busy – and, they’re no longer even subtle about funneling MILLIONS to Trump. (f)Elon is putting $100 MILLION into two Trump “Super PACs.” Here’s the rules for “Super PACs:” A Super PAC may not be used, however, to make contributions to federal candidates, political party committees, or to PACs that contribute to candidates and party committees. A Super PAC’s activities must also not be coordinated with a candidate, a candidate’s authorized committee, a political party committee, or their respective agents. Do you think there’s any republican who’s going to have oversight over this grift? Anyone in TRUMP’s “Justice” Department?
Not to be outdone there’s Jeff Bezos who (like I believe will soon be Fetterman) has become a republican and, long ago, caused me to cancel my WA Post subscription. He’s not only bringing down the “hammer” on any of his WA Post columnists to stop any anti-Trump opinions he’s using Amazon to funnel a FEW million directly into Trump family pockets. He’s bringing back the “Apprentice” on Amazon Prime and, if that wasn’t enough (Trump would be hauling in “residuals”) he committed $40 MILLION to do a documentary on Melania Trump of which she will receive $28 MILLION. That SHOULD get Bezos’ companies some lavish contracts – like, for example, his rocket company. Bezos moved from Seattle to Miami because Washington, which doesn’t have an income tax, enacted a Capital gains tax – which was going to cause him to start paying up for all the privilege he’s pilfered from the state.
These BILLIONAIRES don’t want to pay ANY taxes. And, of course, Trump’s in that same “boat” with his eyes set on ANOTHER (well, mostly an extension of his previous) tax cut for those at the “top.” For people like Musk and Bezos we’re talking about large amounts of money in the tax cut which is proposed. And, for all those republicans who’ve been complaining about the deficit and the national debt – well, Trump is actually the “winner” of raising the country’s debt MORE than any other president in our history. All you MAGAs who were complaining about raising the debt ceiling when President Biden was in office, well, as the saying goes, “you haven’t seen nothing yet!”)
The “richest man in the world” is chopping off “arms and legs” of our government which benefits some of the poorest people in the world. None of what he’s chopping away at affects him – other than some of those pesky regulations aimed at keeping the air and water cleaner and his employees safer. It’s been reported Musk is slipping his “Starlink” satellite system into the FAA while pulling a contract which was already given to Verizon. I have no affection for Verizon – nor for flying – but this contract for a couple BILLION is apparently part of the “gifting” Musk gets for all his “grifting.”
This will eventually all come back at Trump/Musk and they’ll get their “just reward” – it’s just that the rest of us are kind of stuck watching this from the sidelines. Well, maybe that’s making a dramatic “turn.” There’s one Tesla dealership in the town where I live and the last couple times I’ve driven by there have been maybe a hundred people carrying varying degrees of “Fire Musk” signs. One sign read “Tuck Frump” – and one said “Deport Musk” with the “s” replaced with a swastika. I’ve been driving an EV for over 10 years – as has my wife (we don’t buy gas anymore) and I presently drive a Polestar – which I call a Tesla without the Musk.
EV’s are great cars. The Polestar is far and away the best car I’ve driven or been in – I do have a friend who has a Tesla (he wants to get rid of it) and I rode in it once – and, I prefer the Polestar (it’s about 75% Volvo). My wife has a Nissan Leaf which gets around 250 miles with a charge and is a fantastic car. If I live long enough (at my age – 77 – I’ve decided to lease whatever I’m driving – when my lease is up with Polestar I’m going to look to lease one of the really NICE Chevrolet EV’s (If Musk hasn’t ruined Social Security) – but NEVER will I get a Tesla! If you’ve never driven an EV I recommend trying a Polestar. No Musk involved!
The sh*t which is coming from Trump/Musk is exactly what I predicted (along with many others) – a flood of “stuff” almost impossible to keep up with. I could go on and on here, but, I’ll put in just a few highlights of what MOST people are missing: Trump gave a speech at the Justice Department calling himself the head law enforcement “officer” (So much for having an Attorney General) and listing his “targets.” (Meaning his “enemies list” – if you were around during Watergate this is history rhyming). He’s ordered a student to be sent to a detention center in Louisiana (from New York City) and he’s harassing universities around the country for their “DEI” policies. And, of course, he’s – for all intents and purposes – thrown Ukraine under the bus. Oh yes, he’s destroying the U.S.’s alliances around the globe – by siding with Putin. What Trump is “giving” America is full throated fascism! Yikes!!!
Final Thought: It shouldn’t surprise anyone that I WASN’T surprised when Senate Democrats CAVED to the republican “fake CR.” (Continuing Resolution) I’ve been lamenting the democrats doing this for, well, MANY years. I’ve pointed out those of us who consider ourselves “independents” have been left with ONLY the democrats as the possible “solution” to “Trumpism.” Of course, republican sycophancy has now evolved to supporting outright NAZI bullsh*t as our co-president (f)Elon Musk is spewing outright Nazi propaganda on his internet platform which has become a “home” (apparently, full disclosure, I’m not a social media aficionado) to right wing Nazi BS. And, Musk wonders why advertisers have abandoned Xwitter.
My guess is in the next few months we’ll see the evidence of Chuck Schumer’s decision to vote with the republicans – along with John Fetterman who has become hard for me to recognize. Of course, I’ve been pointing out how many democrats figure out which way the “wind is blowing” before making “difficult” decisions. Fetterman has the distinction of visiting Trump in Florida – as the lone democratic representative – and subsequently voted for almost all of Trumps crazy cabinet picks. Yuck, but, really, to me, it’s Schumer who will bear the brunt of this latest democratic “cave.” Clearly, it’s time for new leadership in the democratic caucus in the Senate.
I guess I can confidently refer to myself as a liberal as I (STILL) have a strong appreciation for Bernie Sanders in the Senate AND AOC (Alexandria Ocasio Cortez) in the House. Schumer got another 8 (I’m not counting Fetterman) democrats to vote with him to prevent the “government shutdown” and give the republicans “free range” to attack America’s premiere institutions. We’re already seeing the result as Trump/Musk continue SHUTTING down the government departments they don’t like. What were those democrats thinking? That things would be worse in a shutdown? I have to say, I’m bewildered! Stay tuned…..