I’m losing the energy necessary to continue writing when the focus of my thoughts seems to be overwhelmed by the FACT my country is submitting to FASCISM. Today, is the day when the SCOTUS gives their final decisions of the previous term and, with this court, the expectations of disastrous decisions is once again met. From my vantage point, this court has been busy relinquishing their own part in the constitution’s separation of powers designed to “check” the overreach of the other branches of our government. It’s as if six members of the SCOTUS feels a need to be part of the Trump administration.

Not only did this court give Trump his “absolute immunity” a year ago which he has decided himself to be ABSOLUTELY the singular RULER of this nation. He’s attempting to “govern” via executive orders (EO) which are composed by his Project 2025 puppet masters and, like his “birthright citizenship” EO, where Trump is attempting to rewrite our constitution with the stroke of a pen, this SCOTUS is allowing Trump to create even MORE chaos in America. This is deplorable. This is not ending well!

Let me do a little thinking off the top of my head. First, I keep telling myself America is a “nation of laws and not men” – meaning we are obligated to live by our constitution and the laws which have emerged from it over the previous 250 years. This constitution is predicated on a system of “checks and balances” preventing one branch from dominating the others. So, for us optimists we want to rest on that last sentence. However, reality says otherwise.

For example, the Justice Department has been totally absconded by Trump by filling the key positions with not only sycophants, but SUPER sycophants. Attorney General Pam Bondi is working under the direct supervision of Trump – in VIOLATION of virtually every “norm” I can remember since the days of Watergate. This is so much worse than Watergate I can’t find the words. His deputy AG was his personal attorney as he fought something like 90 alleged FELONY charges prior to the American voters somehow deciding to give Trump a “get out of jail free” card – along with his other top Justice Department official. That one, Emil Bove, Trump nominated for the Federal Bench – he doesn’t believe Trump’s DOJ is obligated to honor the decisions of the courts. Go figure! The Justice Department has truly been weaponized.

I can’t help but think back to the previous Attorney General, Merrick Garland – who was very timid in investigating Trump’s OBVIOUS criminal conduct following the January 6th, 2021 attempted coup at our nation’s Capitol. The democratic establishment continues to find ways to blame President Biden for Trump’s 2024 “victory,” – which I’ve pointed out my disagreement with their thesis many times on this site – but, I don’t hear many of them mentioning the 18 months of Garland’s refusal to act on what was CLEARLY the lawbreaking of a former president as the key to what we’re dealing with now. (Obviously, it’s much deeper than that)

It was James Comey’s interference with the election just days before the 2016 election and Garland’s timid behavior after the 2020 election, from my view, which are key to “we the people” putting a thug who acts like a mob boss into the Oval Office. In the first case Trump was able to stack the SCOTUS with right wing ideologues, and in the second case they allowed him to establish what, to me, is not only a strange view of our constitution but a court willing to accede to his control of their CHECK on the power of the administration. Like I said above, it’s almost as if they consider themselves to be part of Trump’s administration. For me, this all has resulted in nearly 10 years of political depression. (which is apparent in the archives, I’m sure)

The courts have now been neutered as to fulfilling their role in the scheme of “checks and balances” masterfully put into our constitution by the “founding fathers” 250 years ago. I mean you have to give credit to the republicans for figuring out how to, over the course of the last 50+ years, get around the original intentions of that document. This all started, from my recollection, back in the days of the so-called “Powell memo” penned by future Supreme Court Justice (thanks to Nixon) Lewis Powell laying out the plan (for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) to empower corporations allowing them to achieve the goal of essentially a “merger” of sorts with our government. THAT is the foundation of FASCISM.

Along comes Trump, a pathological LIAR, to be the PERFECT carnival barker candidate to push the agenda of the white nationalists behind the Project 2025 movement. That is to say those behind this MAGA movement have been around since well before Trump. Trump and his “invisible partners” learned their lesson in Trump 1.0 to make sure EVERY appointment to his administration would be based on unfettered loyalty – to HIM and not tho their oaths to the constitution. We’re more than six months in and now the SCOTUS has assured all of us there won’t be much of America left, as we’ve known it, after Trump 2.0.

Trump is convenient to those who authored Project 2025 and the White Nationalists like, for example, Don Black and David Duke and their KKK followers, because Trump is a marvelously proficient pathological LIAR. He’s willing to say ANYTHING he thinks his present audience wants to hear. For example, last week he told a group of people interested in Medicaid that his “Big Beautiful Bill” has no Medicaid cuts. (He knows there’s about $1 TRILLION in cuts to Medicaid in the Senate version of the bill) He’s told those worried about deficits and the national debt the bill will actually stimulate the economy with NO debt or deficits. And, on and on. Here’s the greatest danger to all this LYING. My experience with pathological LIARS is that they actually begin to believe their LIES as the words roll of their tongues. It’s like a train rolling downhill toward the train yard with NO brakes. My summary: NOT good!

We’re already seeing lots of infighting amongst republicans as they charge ahead attempting to pass this 900 + page bill before anyone can actually read it. The Senate leaders are loading it up with “pork” aimed at gaining votes from Senators who are demanding “something” they can take back to their voters. The problem is that the “pork” which makes Josh Hawley happy is likely to make another Senator unhappy. While it appears republicans are having a bit of difficulty getting the 50 votes they need to pass the bill I have NO doubt they’ll find the votes, likely before I get this rant posted. (I did notice (f)Elon Musk has said he’ll finance a primary challenger to anyone who votes FOR the bill.

Apparently, (f)Elon doesn’t appreciate the republicans not only repealing the Biden era clean energy legislation including the EV Credits – full disclosure, I’ve personally benefited from EV tax credits more than once – not only are they repealing the EV tax credits but they’re putting a tax on SOLAR and WIND generation. Plus, they’re attempting to resurrect COAL! I’m not kidding! It’s as if the republicans not only don’t accept there’s a climate crisis – but, they want to further piss off those of us who are able to see the obvious. (This year’s Hurricanes and Wildfires are predicted to be even worse than last year’s) And, in the name of helping your neighbor – they are dissolving FEMA. Yikes!!! (Is that what they call “owning the libs?”)

Here’s a fun fact. MOST Hurricanes are going to affect Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, etc. etc. Not your everyday “blue state.” MOST of those who are likely to be affected by HUGE Medicaid cuts live in rural areas – LARGELY “Trump Country.” MOST of the rural hospitals likely to shut down due to the Medicaid cuts are serving predominantly Trump’s base voters. What’s the old saying about “cutting off your nose to spite yourself?”

Here’s the reality though. Not all of the Medicaid cuts will hit Trump voters. I know people (I’ll soon be 78) in nursing homes and, as a former teacher, I still know young people in low income families – in both cases the predominant form of medical insurance is Medicaid. When I was still teaching (Middle School) something like 90% of our students relied on SNAP (food stamp and school lunches) benefits in order to eat. Here’s where I remind all those Christian supporters of Trump’s that in the words of Jesus Christ “What you do for the least of these you do for Me.” And, “what you do TO the least of these you do TO Me.”

Lately Trump has been making some awkward attempts to reference “God” and make people believe he’s sincere – actually trying to mimic Joe Biden’s “God Bless you and God Bless our troops.” First, you don’t need to be a believer to know Trump isn’t one and Second, if you’ve paid much attention to Trump you understand his “Sunday goes to meetin..” means a “meetin..” on a golf course. Full disclosure – there was a time in my life (many years ago) when I played golf on Sundays. It’s just that I wasn’t pretending to be a Christian when doing so. I also understand it’s possible Trump could, at this late date, “give his life to Jesus” – but, I feel safe in saying “it hasn’t happened yet.”

Final Thought: I’m not trying to get all licentiousness because every time I go to church I’m reminded of the FACT I’m a flawed person – but, at least I realize this. Here’s the thing about Trump (and, MANY republicans) regarding “religion.” We’re now seeing legislation aimed at FORCING every school in some states to have a display of the “Ten Commandments.” I tried to think of one of the Commandments Trump HASN’T violated (full disclosure – I’ve violated more than one) and I couldn’t think of one (probably because I can’t remember all of them off the top of my head – actually, I don’t remember a lot of stuff – and I’m a year younger than Trump – just sayin…) My point is, do you want republicans – especially Trump – teaching “religion to your child. (What if you’re Jewish, Mormon, or Muslim?) From my vantage point this is just one example of how republicans (and, of course, Trump) are attempting to eviscerate our constitution.

I even read today how the Trump administration is planning to “denaturalize” the guy who won the democratic primary for Mayor in New York – a “naturalized” Muslim. That means the guy is a CITIZEN. Is the Trump administration going to start “denaturalizing” people they don’t like and sending them to El Salvador? Well, what about (f)Elon Musk who is once again objecting to Trump’s so-called beautiful bill? Do you think Trump will take that one on – even though some have suggested Musk LIED on the paperwork when he applied for his citizenship. Once again, check out the parallels between Trump and Project 2025 and the Third Reich in 1930’s Germany. It will take a minimal amount of research online. OK, I’ll help you a bit – click HERE. That’s all! Stay tuned….