This might sound like arrogance (it probably is) but when I listen to the republicans who (FINALLY) are realizing how – my characterization – putrid the republican party has become is welcome to me – BUT – they don’t seem to want to take their responsibility for where things are at in today’s political world. (I haven’t read Stuart Steven’s book, but he’s one republican who’s admitted their shtick was all wrong – and they deserve the condemnation they have earned) I was listening to Liz Cheney today (an excerpt) of an interview she did at Duke University where she announced she will vote for Kamala Harris – just like me, voting AGAINST Donald Trump.
Ms. Cheney is a great ambassador of those who are pointing out the danger Trump (and his Project 2025 cohort) presents to America. And, I have to say, I’m glad she came out and said this as an encouragement to other disenchanted republicans – but, the reality is Ms. Cheney voted for Trump TWICE and went along with his un-American “policy” for the entirety of his four years denigrating the United States of America. And, the ROT in the republican party didn’t just show up the day Trump was inaugurated. I have to add, Liz Cheney’s father was the republican who motivated me to start putting my frustration with the republican party to this “blog” (if that is what this is). For me, it’s venting my frustration with the direction of the country I love. (NEWS FLASH – I wrote this last night and DICK CHENEY is voting for Ms. Harris! I’m going to have to forgive him – now, I want to see him and Bernie Sanders in the SAME ad for Ms. Harris!)
You can check the archives if you choose, but since 2008 I’ve been writing about the IMPORTANCE of voting the republican party (of today) into the history books. The first thoughts I had were centered on the authorization of TORTURE by GW Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld (plus others) which Barack Obama decided wasn’t worth pursuing legally when he said “we’re going to look forward instead of back.” I’ve written NUMEROUS times about how that philosophy goes against the most fundamental requirements of emphasizing we are a “nation of laws” and not men.
We are seeing what President Obama wanted to keep from happening as he was trying to get critical legislation through – the Affordable Care Act – and he didn’t want the division which would result from holding Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al accountable. At the time I pointed out how “looking the other way” would simply create larger problems of presidential lawbreaking in the future. Of course, Trump made Bush/Cheney seem like juvenile lawbreakers. (Of course, to me, the admitting on national TV they authorized TORTURE and said, “we’d do it again,’ just didn’t sit well – and still doesn’t)
So, while I’m happy people like Liz Cheney are coming out and fighting to make sure Trump gets nowhere near the White House EVER again, I personally won’t forget their part in creating this monstrosity. I was amazed when “we the people” voted Barack Obama as our 44th president, and I’ve been a strong supporter of him since he came upon the “scene” – even though I will go to my grave believing his decision to “look forward instead of back” was a major blunder. (Now, I have to forgive Obama)
Soon after Obama took the oath of office some of the racist “cells” which existed all across the country – with an emphasis in the South and the “Rust belt” – started to emerge publicly. By the 2010 the so-called “Tea Party” was “born” with the help of financing from the Koch network of billionaires. Anyone who watched the rallies of the “Tea Party” and didn’t realize this “party” was founded on anti Black racism, wasn’t paying attention. The signs those involved were publicly carrying were disgusting to anyone who opposes the white nationalist movement.
This movement (the Tea Party) was the evolution of how the republican party was tilted to the extreme “right” – an evolution which I believe became part of their MO when future Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell penned his now infamous “memo” to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce back in 1971. Of course, it was Ronald Reagan who put Powell’s “memo” into America’s mainstream. Since Reagan took office corporations in America have become more and more integrated into the decision making of our government – largely the reason why the public agrees on so many issues – like with 70% approval on one issue after another – and Congress usually ignores their wishes. As I’ve said many times here, the foundation of fascism is a corporate/government partnership. We are dangerously close to that reality – and a Trump victory in November would be the “final straw.”
Trump has taken the republican MO of “the end justifies the means” to the extreme. We all saw in 2016 his willingness to accept “help” from the Russians – “Russia if you’re listening, I hope you can find the 30,000 emails that are missing……” and, once again the Russian help for Trump is becoming publicly exposed. The Russians are simply proving how many Americans have a “price.” They have identified numerous “useful idiots” who they support by funneling ILLEGAL funding into the American political system. Exactly what President Obama predicted when the Citizens’ United decision was handed down by the Roberts Court. This all is just further proof Trump (and his republican “idiots”) is willing to defy our Constitution if it helps him get more votes.
If you’ve had any concern about whether or not Trump is the MAJOR problem or if it’s the republican party – which I suggested above was “polluted” (OK, I didn’t use that word) a couple things happened today which simply prove my point. For example, Trump continues to act STUPID (well, I have to agree that’s true) about Project 2025. “I have no idea what ’25’ is.” (He purposely misnames it to make his “uneducated voters” believe he’s telling the truth – his LYING, by the way, works) Well, today, while speaking to a bunch of Wall Street “rich” people in New York Trump, as usual, was NOT answering questions by pretending if he was answering them. Didn’t matter what he said, these “rich” people were applauding his nonsense – which didn’t even resemble the questions asked. (Is it them who are STUPID? Even though they’re “rich?”) As I’ve said, the problem goes much deeper than Trump.
So, how does this relate to Project 2025? I’ve tried to explain this here before, but I’ll try once again – it doesn’t seem to be sinking in – out in the “real world.” Trump is the PUPPET! Those behind Project 2025 are the PUPPETEERS. They’ve set the agenda and, sadly, most people I know don’t have the will to actually read it. And, I’m not talking only about “conservatives.” When you read it, you clearly understand there’s a LARGE group of people who are going to “guide” Trump into “not making the mistakes of his first administration.” Simply put, Project 2025 is a roadmap to fascism – the fever dream of those wealthy Americans who have no use for our constitution. (That’s why they’re trying to sneak a “constitutional convention” through behind the backs of MOST Americans.
Trump will only be superficially “in charge.” His PUPPETEERS have already planned out the agenda of the “next conservative government.” Their plan, of course, is that the “next” conservative government would be Trump’s. Naturally, he’s nothing more than the person who’s proficient enough at LYING to give them an actual chance to “take over.” Remember, we’re talking about a coalition of people like David Duke with Charles Koch. Each group has their own agenda and could care less about how it affects anyone else – famous last words when you take into account the reality of Nazi Germany back in the 1930’s.
This is also why I’ve been saying the next election is the most important election in my lifetime – for the past three elections. I was also one who was in a state of disbelief when “we the people” allowed Trump to “win” back in 2016. But, just think how things would have turned out had the democrats not won the midterms in the House, back in 2018 – or the presidency in 2020 – or the Senate and nearly the House – stopping the so-called “red wave” of 2022. Well, it keeps getting more important because those behind “Project 2025” are not easily going to be turned away.
When you think of the DAMAGE being done by the SCOTUS the next four elections will fall into the same category – I won’t be around for all of them (undetermined at this point ;o) – but I can guarantee you the right wingers pushing for fascism have been at this since the days of the New Deal and they won’t be easily denied. To me, they remind me of dry rot – if you don’t get it completely removed it just keeps spreading until the entire structure is destroyed – and, the American people must somehow understand how serious these Project 2025 fascists are. The Koch’s, for example, were part of the John Birch Society (look it up if you’re not familiar) at it’s inception.
Some of the richest of all American families are willing to give up what actually made them rich in the first place – very much RICHER since the Biden/Harris administration first took office – because they don’t like things like “we the people” gaining more and more FREEDOM – from the bottom up and they use their faux “Christianity” to cause so many Christians to believe they are “genuine.” Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth and their cynicism couldn’t be more evident by the fact they’ve chosen Trump as their leader. Talk about your “deal with the devil” for America’s evangelical Christians.
But, I don’t give these Christians a “pass” either (I’m saying that as an [apparent\ liberal Christian. When you take a look at the history of Christianity in America you get a different picture than many would themselves portray it. For example, those parts of the country where you find the “Tea Party” popular you don’t have to go too far back in the history books to be reminded of the horrific racism which existed just a hundred years ago in these places.
And, keep in mind, 100 years puts many of those who are the result of the “greatest generation” (baby boomers – many who support Trump) as children and grandchildren of those responsible for the lynchings of the Jim Crow era. I know this because I was raised by man who was himself raised as an avowed racist – my father went to High School in Wheeling West Virginia (where I was conceived after WW II) – who, thankfully, learned his viewpoints of African Americans was WRONG before he died. That’s a story for another day.
My bottom line here is many people beside myself have been lamenting the DANGERS posed by “today’s” republican party which I’ve stated many times here belongs in the History books right next to Benedict Arnold. it’s Trump and his supporters who attempted the coup d’etat of January 6th, 2021 (Just the other day on Fox “news,” Trump said, regarding the attempt to overthrow our government, “I had every right to do it” (to whoever was interviewing him) while in another interview he admitted he “lost (the 2020 election) by just a little.” Do you think Jack Smith had the record button pushed? I’ve seen this since the days of Reagan, but it got so bad I started writing here in 2008. I know I’m not a professional writer – I just use this space to relieve my frustration levels as I watch our country teetering on becoming a fascist state. I always think, if I can figure this stuff out, why are so many pundits struggling with what seems so obvious? Stay tuned…….
Final Thought: I’m just turning 77 and I’ve always loved playing golf. In the process of doing so MOST of the golfers I’ve met – and, in the league I’m in now I’m one of the youngest – are really fortunate and most don’t give it much thought – they just accept that they deserve this because they’re American. So, I like to ask questions of them about their government without starting political arguments. I’m always amazed at the outcome. Many can’t name ANY of the people who are tasked as their leaders in local, state, or national government. In the years since Citizens’ United v Federal Election Commission I think I could count on one set of fingers (one hand) the number of people I’ve asked if they’ve heard of it who said anything besides “no.” This would include teachers before I retired (in 2014).
So, now, I’ve changed the question because I spend time periodically around a bunch of old “geezers” who can’t play golf any better than myself and many who consider themselves “conservatives.” (Of course, they can’t explain what conservative means) My new question is, “Have you heard of Project 2025?” And, so far, ALL of them have said “no” or “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” When I suggest to them they SHOULD read at least the first part of it, they look at me as if to say, “I quit reading stuff years ago.” When they tell me the only thing interesting them is “the border, inflation, and wars.” To which I say, “You’re obviously watching Fox ‘news.'” Most reply by simply denying it although one guy (who I consider honest) said, “no, I watch Newsmax.” When people say this election is for the soul of our nation, in my view, they “aint” wrong. Yikes!
Just Maybe – the result of the Cheney’s giving republicans the “permission” to vote for a democrat – Ms. Harris. My wish, for years, (since the days of Newt Gingrich) has been for the day when our politics isn’t “us against them.” The reality is we’re all on the same “team.”