For starters, I just heard of the latest poll which, again pointed out that 54% of Americans say they DEFINITELY will NOT vote for individual 1 in the 2020 election. So, how does individual 1 go about trying to change that “narrative?” He doubles down on RACIST tropes apparently designed to gin up his so-called “base.” Most pundits claim individual 1 is appealing to the White, older Americans who, he believes, long for the days of Jim Crow and before. Well, I’m White and I’m old (almost 72) and, without a DOUBT, I”m part of the 54% of American who will DEFINITELY NOT vote for individual 1 in 2020. In fact, the DAMAGE is so complete, at this point, I believe there are WAY MORE of the 12% who claim they “might” vote for individual 1 who will change their minds than of the 54% who are DEFINITELY no’s.

As an aside: I started this post a few days ago and the mass shootings just go on and on. I will have more on that at the end of this post, but suffice it to say, individual 1 has “ginned up” the White Nationalists in America and they are, essentially, on the attack. And, we’re left to depend on Bill Barr to lead the Justice Department. These days are getting “darker and darker.” Clearly it’s not just us “old White men” who individual 1 is counting on as his base, but the younger white “soldiers” who are willing to carry out the job of “cleansing” our nation of “immigrants.” (More later)

So, how does individual 1 deal with this reality? He picks another fight! In this instance his attacks are aimed at one of the most respected members of the House of Representatives, Elijah Cummings – the chair of the House Oversight Committee – and his district in Baltimore – which individual 1 referred to as “rat infested” – as he assured his White Nationalist base he’s not going to even slow down on these RACIST tropes – apparently the key to his re-election bid for 2020. And, the members of the republican party who live in FEAR of a “tweet” from individual 1, are ushering in the eventual demise of the republican party – whether it picks up “steam” in 2020 or if we have to wait, God forbid, for another DESTRUCTIVE 4 years. Oh, by the way, if your head’s been in the “sand” Elijah Cummings is African American – that’s the apparent requirement. of late, in individual 1’s attacks – they’re aimed at people of “color.”

I’ve said this for over three years now – and, this has been aimed at people I know who support individual 1 (and, I have to add, in fairness, they strongly disagree) – you can’t support individual 1 without willingly being an enabler of this RACISM. His RACISM, misogyny, xenophobic, narcissistic, pathological LYING character is undeniable. Yet, republicans act as if they all have “lock jaw.” Or, if you’re like Senator Kennedy from Louisiana you just give a pathetic rationalization which will be stored on the video archives of the media outlets for future “times.” Maybe Senator Kennedy has no fear of being associated with a RACISTS because he comes from Louisiana – and, honestly, I really WISH I didn’t feel as if our Southern States are still dominated by Racists. But, I have to believe MOST of the country is getting more and more tired of what individual 1 represents.

Sadly, much of what individual 1 has failed to address SHOULD be a reason for many of his so-called “base” to re-think their loyalty. The reality of his administration is, other than a tax scam that was aimed at the “top 1%,” that NONE of the basic issues facing rural America have been met under this so-called president. (Well, besides a bunch of right wing judges) Additionally, the economy he brags about is nothing more than a continuation of what he inherited. As of this writing he hasn’t done to this inheritance what he did over and over again to the inheritance he got from his father. In this instance, if the economy “tanks,” I don’t believe he has any idea as to what to do (other than blame Obama) and his republican sycophants certainly have never shown an ability to deal with an economic crisis. The last time they faced one, the first thing they did was to create a BAILOUT for the very people who caused the crisis in the first place.

Do you, as I, find it beyond ironic that individual 1’s tariffs have caused a devastating loss of business for farmers in the Midwest (and, by the way, they may NEVER get their business with China back – as China is finding new sources of, for example, soy beans) and then, turning around and showing what great “free market” republicans do – they “bail out” the very businesses they’ve, essentially, destroyed. And, by the way, I believe their bailouts to the farmers (with most of the money going to the big agra businesses), may be in violation of international monetary rules. (I’m just guessing – going on my diminishing memory) This is no problem for our “free market” republicans – they’ll just keep borrowing more and more money – adding it to the exploding deficit and national debt! (This has happened, in some form, EVERY time there’s been a republican in the “White House” in my lifetime – excepting Eisenhower.)

In fact, one of the issues on the horizon will be the so-called “debt ceiling” which is going to be teetering on the “brink” around the time Congress returns from their present August recess. The tax scam, as I pointed out at the time, was the “trigger” for ANOTHER jump in the annual deficit – which is heading NORTH of a TRILLION dollars per year THIS YEAR with no end in sight. Individual 1 is already, another “norm” busted, berating the “Fed” to drop interest rates while the economy is supposedly “booming.” (Theoretically, I believe that’s a bad idea – the Fed is supposed to be independent, isn’t it? Dropping interest rates now could put inflation on the horizon?) I’m sure what individual 1 is seeing is what higher interest rates will do to the national debt. A very significant part of the annual deficit is the interest on the total debt. A serious downturn which is spurred on by inflation could put individual 1 (and, sadly, “we the people” – and also, maybe, the world) in a “corner” as far as the economy is concerned. It won’t take much to push the deficit above TWO TRILLION per year.

President Obama labored with a recalcitrant republican controlled Congress for much of his presidency and still he got the deficit down from the $1.5 TRILLION per year, which he inherited, to about $400 BILLION – a DROP of around 70% in the annual deficit. Of course, EVERY year of his administration, all we heard from republicans was complaints about how the deficit was the result of Obama’s “liberal” policies. Bush/Cheney weren’t even out of Washington DC before republicans began BLAMING then President elect Obama for all their (Bush/Cheney’s) failures. We’re seeing the same absurdities playing out again – although, on top of that we have the above referenced RACISM, SEXISM, NARCISSISM, and pathological LYING coming from the mouth of our so-called president. Yikes!!!

So, I have to question, why are all these “White working class” (does that mean “uneducated?”) Americans, many who I consider to be hard working honorable Americans, still supporting him? Are the right wing judges enough? Is the abortion issue enough to get these people to support someone who has clear autocratic neo-Nazi tendencies? Are they unaware of the consequences of this RACIST so-called president or do they not care? If the latter is true, then these people can no longer claim “innocence” when it’s pointed out their support of individual 1 is an indictment of their own beliefs. Many are suggesting individual 1 believes there are enough RACISTS in America to get him re-elected as he gins up the “race card” over and over again. If you’re supporting him, well, …………………………………..

I have to believe individual 1, himself, believes with his 40+% “base,” along with the Russians (who are already busy), he can pull off another “victory” with, by some accounts I’ve heard recently, 5 MILLION fewer votes than his “liberal” opponent – whoever that may end up being. He believes he’s got a “grip” on the Electoral College – although, I don’t believe the democrats will ignore the “rust belt” this time and I hope the third party candidates take a break. Just yesterday he was questioned about Mueller’s testimony where he (Mueller) pointed out the Russian’s attacks are “ongoing” and “will be part of the next campaign.” Individual 1 responded to the reporter who asked the question: “You don’t really believe that, do you?” It’s as if our nation has been under ATTACK for the past 3+ years and, with an awareness provided by our intelligence agencies since 2016, the SHOCKING reality our so-called president is “missing in action” in defending our nation. It’s beyond frustrating! (It’s as if he – individual 1 – was able to breath a sigh of relief when Mueller couldn’t PROVE a conspiracy – although the “colluding” was clearly documented in Mueller’s report – so, he feels emboldened to essentially laugh off “the Russia thing”)

With reports swirling around that the Russians are still on the attack, how was individual 1 planning to deal with it? He fired Dan Coats as the Director of National Intelligence, who was arguably doing a good job of being as non-partisan as you can in today’s “climate” – but, was not “cow-towing” to our so-called president and, individual 1 then chose to nominate a devoted partisan to take Coats place based on, well, who knows what? Clearly, individual 1 was attempting to put a devotee, similar to William Barr, in charge of our intelligence community. Seriously, this, again, is right out of dictatorship 101. Individual 1’s choice, John Radcliffe, was recklessly chosen to this important post – nothing new in this administration – where the holder of a very important position is nothing more than another sycophant of the so-called president. Fortunately, in the days since I first started writing, Radcliffe was forced to withdraw because his “credentials” bordered on the absurd when comparing them to the requirements of the job.

While reporters were asking individual 1 to respond to Radcliffe’s pulling out of this nomination he actually suggested he uses the media – which he, earlier in the day, referred to it as the “Lamestream media” – to “vet” his nominees. My first thought was, you’ve got to be kidding me – but, as you look back on his 2+ years in office that’s not as unbelievable as you’d expect it to be. The list of totally UNQUALIFIED people he’s put forward for important government posts is almost unimaginable. It’s like, the top executive of the country should be able to put in place a plan to recruit top talent for these prestigious positions. However, with individual 1 at the helm, it has become apparent working in the administration is no longer a prestigious position. Rick Wilson, a republican operative (who, by the way, in his book, gives his “conservative” bona fides way too much credit), wrote a book titled “Everything Trump touches dies.” Qualified people are getting as far away from this administration as they can.

So, while individual 1 and his RACIST, narcissistic, pathological LYING, xenophobic, anti immigrant, and divisive beyond (at least mine) comprehension is basing his re-election campaign on lIES, and, well, RACISM, this should surprise NO ONE. If you’re like me and don’t want America to build a useless “wall” on our Southern border, don’t want a RACIST sitting in the “White House,” and desperately want someone to lead this nation in a direction which actually helps MOST of individual 1’s supporters (at least those who are suffering economically in the so-called “rust belt) as well as those of us who believe in the “bottom up” philosophy of governing, then, I believe, it’s VOTE for whoever the democrats nominate for president. And, depending on where you live, VOTE these republicans out of the Senate and as many more from the House as possible. Pray that “Moscow Mitch” is voted out of office in 2020!

Final Thought: While I was driving to and from a place which required me to be in the car almost all day, I forced myself to listen to the reporting of the most recent MASS shooting. I heard about the shooting shortly after it took place and my immediate thought was “this is another “White Nationalist” – ginned up by individual 1 – trying to kill as many “immigrants” (ie people of “color”) as he could. I kept telling myself “You are jumping to conclusions – wait to hear the motive.” Sadly, my initial thought was proved accurate and, by the time I was on my way home, the authorities were talking about a “White Nationalist” manifesto published by the shooter only minutes before he KILLED 20 people and WOUNDED another 26 – with an AK47 ASSAULT weapon – that SHOULD be illegal to own.

I was listening to MSNBC and they were “dancing around” the reality that we have a so-called president who is spewing out RACIST tropes by the bunches and these shootings are directly connected to his “Go back from where you came” rallies. We all know there are cells of heavily armed “White Supremacist” hate groups all over the country just “itching” to “purify” our nation. I heard, on one occasion, individual 1 suggesting if he’s impeached these (he referred to them as “his”) people will be in the streets. (These are NOT “very fine people”) During my trip, today, I saw another (I’ve seen many) individual 1 supporter driving in his truck with individual 1’s name (Trump, I hate to even say the word) painted on the truck, a HUGE American flag flying in the truck bed and some kind of weapon hanging across the back window of the truck (it was an older Ford pickup). I’ve seen numerous vehicles with the same setup over the past couple of years. And, interestingly, these people – at least the ones I’ve either listened to or I’ve read their “stuff” – usually refer to themselves as “patriots.”

Here’s the reality “we the people” are facing. The next two years are going to be toxic – as one of the WORST chapters of American history is being written. “We the people” have the power and the NUMBERS to vote individual 1 and the republicans who support him into the history books. In fact, should we do the “right thing” and massively VOTE our so-called president and his sycophants out of office, individual 1 will likely be facing serious charges from several investigations – including Mueller’s. Mueller clearly said “Yes” when asked if individual 1 could be charged with OBSTRUCTION of Justice after he’s out of office. I’m certain, based on his arrogant disdain for the law, individual 1 will have more legal issues in 2021 than those which exist today.

However, there are two realities. Should “we the people” fail to VOTE individual 1 out of office, this dark period in our history could conceivably push this nation irreversibly toward becoming a fascist state. (Technically, we are closer than most people understand as I’m writing this) We have an unapologetic THUG as our so-called president whose ties to Vladimir Putin will likely be unknown for a long time after he’s out of office. In fact, there are serious rumors that he won’t leave office should he be VOTED out in November of 2020. He’s become even more brazen since he managed to get William Barr as his “Roy Cohn.”

Just prepare yourself that instances like today’s mass shooting – and the one which happened in California last week at the Garlic Festival – will be more frequent as long as our nation is led by someone telling people of “color” to “go back from where you came.” Individual 1 will find a way to “cloak” his outrage in double speak as he makes sure his “base” knows he’s with them. I’m expecting more attacks on places frequented by people of color (Today’s attack was on a Walmart filled with MOSTLY Latino’s) AND on our so-called “liberal media” which, as everyone knows, individual 1 has labeled as “The enemy of the people.” In a “tweet” I saw yesterday he referred to the “LameStream” media.

Of course, individual 1 and his sycophants in Washington DC will DEFLECT blame – as they do with virtually everything – in regard to the mass shootings by their supporters – “individual 1 didn’t pull the trigger.” When a journalist gets killed, they’ll DEFLECT blame – “They (individual 1 and his sycophants) didn’t pull the trigger.” And, in listening to MSNBC, at least today, the commentators were being careful NOT to connect the shooter’s manifesto to individual 1’s outrageous comments (when the connection was OBVIOUS) – comments either at rallies or via his “tweets.” There are a lot of “patriots” out there ready to do their part in “purifying” America. I’ve been saying this since day one, individual 1’s goal is to “Make America White Again!” And, when I realized the reality of Bill Barr as Attorney General my confidence the Justice Department will be actively and aggressively “weeding” these groups out is now what you’d call – high. I truly hope I’m wrong!