it’s been a week or two since I’ve sat down to vent my frustration regarding the country I’ve grown up loving. Donald Trump is making that more difficult. And, every day there’s another disgusting “chapter” in the book of dark chapters he is “writing.” Today, I decided to jot down SOME things that crossed the media that I consume and it likely precludes this from being a shorter piece of writing. I’ve been pointing out for years – going back into Trump 1.0 that Trump is a fascist/mob boss and expressing my disappointment “we the people” could choose such a buffoon as our so-called president. A 34 times FELON who has been credibly adjudicated by a jury as a sexual predator and by a court as a serial FRAUDSTER. It should surprise no one as to what we are now facing for (at least) the next three years.
Of course, Trump isn’t smart enough to actually figure out the details of turning the 250 year “experiment” of our democratic republic into a fascist state. Project 2025 laid the groundwork of what has been happening over the past nine months. I won’t go over those details but it’s easy to get the manifesto to read for yourself. I was calling it a “roadmap to fascism” from the day I got to about page 100 in the manifesto. It’s over 900 pages but you shouldn’t have to read the entire document to understand the authors are the ones who “hate America” – repeating the projection of Trump himself in referring to people like me who oppose what he’s doing to this republic.
So, I’m going to – as briefly as I can – go over the things I’ve periodically jotted down over the previous week or so. (After all, I am almost as old as Trump and we start losing our ability to remember things when we get near 80 years old.) The first thing I’d like to start with is witnessing the video of Trump’s demolition crew destroying the East Wing of the White House. The PEOPLE’S house. The “White House” is kind of like a rental property which the president and his family are allowed to live in for the term of their administrations.
Watching the East Wing of the “White House” being destroyed – as I just said – by Trump as a de facto “renter” is hard to accept – other than within the next couple of days that part of our history will be no more. In effect, it’s no more as of now because the bulldozers are, from what I’ve seen, about half way done with their project. It’s starting to look like one of the many buildings in GAZA.
The first thought I had when I saw what was happening to the East Wing is Trump looks upon the “White House” just as he looked upon the documents he stole from the country after he was roundly defeated at the end of Trump 1.0 – shorty following his attempted coup. In both cases it comes across as if he thinks he owns this stuff. Regarding the Espionage charges against him it was Top Secret documents which belong to “We the people” and, of course he’s acting the same way in regard to the “White House.” What on earth gives him the right to destroy a significant part of our history – so he can build a Mar a Lago style “ballroom?”
One more thing about what’s totally wrong – but further cements my claim we’ve already crossed the line into fascism. This ballroom – if you’ve seen the photos of it – 90,000 square feet (it will dwarf the actual “White House”) will cost around a quarter BILLION dollars. Supposedly it’s been financed by money coming from OLIGARCHS who have chosen to “kiss the ring” of Trump putting their business interests above the love of our country. (They love MONEY) I’ve long pointed out the foundation of fascism is a corporate/government partnership. We can only ponder who they are and what they’re getting in return. Time will tell if there are repercussions to the destruction of this historical American building.
Last weekend I was happy I was able (I’m definitely in the “handicapped” category at 78 years old) to participate, once again, in the “No Kings” rally/protest. Due to my fragile spine I was able to find a place to sit on the route of the protesters. (I found out later it was on one of the two routes they covered) For 2 1/2 hours there was a steady stream of people with really creative signs (I haven’t laughed like that for a long time) that must have totaled something like five thousand protesters. Supposedly, a like amount went in the other direction from the original meeting place. And, I live in a small Washington State town of a bit less than 200,000 population.
People I talked to estimated that around 10,000 participated in the protest AND while I was in a stationary spot there was also a steady stream of cars going by laying on their horns and displaying their signs as well. A couple of the signs I can remember were: “For the Epsteinth time, release the files.” The other was a shirt an elderly woman was wearing with “Aunt tifa” on the front. There was also a young lady with a sign with words on both sides – on one side were words in a foreign language (I assumed was Spanish) – after a while I got up and approached her to ask “What does that sign mean” – and, she responded that (in whatever language) it said “F**k Trump.” There were MANY other signs that had me laughing almost the entire time I sat there. (The only “violence” came when a drunk driver plowed into the rear end of a car pushing that car onto the sidewalk hitting one protester – who ended up with minor injuries.)
While (at least) 8 MILLION Americans protested this past weekend Trump, of course, was golfing. (full disclosure: If I could walk for more than a few minutes I would be playing golf as well) Of course, that was also while “we the people” are experiencing the first government shutdown since Trump 1.0. Based on his golfing schedule this shutdown will likely break the record of the number of days the government is idle – the record which Trump set in version 1.0. Trump’s (apparently) official response to the No Kings protest was to publish (on his failing social media outlet) a video of him, wearing a crown, flying a fighter jet and s**ting on the American people in the protest. Further proof this president is the most CLASSLESS in our history.
Another obscene “picture” coming out of the “eye” of our government is, while Trump builds an absurd ballroom where the East Wing once stood the so-called president is about to give himself a $230 MILLION pile of MONEY because he was charged with CRIMES that never made it to court because of our voting public – which actually voted a FELON who when his lips are moving is LYING back into (what’s left of) the “White House” causing something like 50 FELONY charges to be dropped. So now, while the economy is tanking he’s planning to grift $230 MILLION straight from the pockets of the American taxpayer. Kind of a mob boss like shakedown!
Trump has already pulled a reported $3 BILLION out of this version of his administration with reports that he didn’t get nearly enough out of his first term and he’s making up for it this time. As we all know the SCOTUS ruled that there’s, in essence, absolute immunity regarding anything he claims is an “official act.” Apparently, Trump has used his sharpie to blot out the emoluments clause in our Constitution. This is just one other reason to make sure Democrats win the 2026 mid-term election (if there is one).
Finally, like I mentioned above, there was a protester with a sign reading “For the Epsteinth time, release the files.” That, at the time, was funny. However, the lengths to which Trump and his minions (like Speaker Johnson) are going to block the release of the files makes it clear Trump will do anything to prevent those files from becoming public. That’s not so funny. Of course, there’s so much “evidence” of Trump’s relationship to Epstein that it’s hard not to have “thoughts” as to what Trump did back in his days as Epstein’s “best friend.” I mean the letter he wrote to Epstein for his 50th birthday and mentioned their “secrets” should be enough for people to understand what Trump was (allegedly) doing with those young girls.
I agree the files should be released but I have no doubt AG Bondi has made sure Trump’s name won’t show up anywhere in them once they are released. And, at this point there’s no doubt they will be released. Former Prince Andrew recently gave up his Royal position as the “Duke of York” in anticipation of what is in the files regarding his actions during the “Epstein years.” I believe Prince Andrew is mentioned as one of the men “trafficked” by Epstein to Virginia Giuffre on at least three occasions and it’s in her book – released in the past day or so. (I’m going to buy it and read it) Does anyone actually believe Trump wasn’t partaking in what was going on with Epstein. If so, I’ve got a bridge to…… (you know the rest).
Finally, was not the treatment of Ghislaine Maxwell enough to make you sick – if you’re not a supporter of pedophiles. The highly inappropriate meeting between Trump’s former lawyer (who lost most of the cases) Todd Blanche (#2 at the DOJ) and Maxwell at the Prison she was, at the time, held in Florida (sentence of 20 years) where Blanche got Maxwell (a purported pathological LIAR) to claim she never saw Trump be anything but a “gentleman.” (They did release the files of this interview) This got Ms Maxwell a move to a “cushy” low risk “prison” in Texas where she was ineligible as a sex offender based on “something” from “someone.” We’re left to wonder – while Trump is already claiming he could pardon her if he wanted to. Yikes!!!
Final Thought: If it seems as if I’m obsessed with “ringing the bell” that FASCISM is already here, in America, it’s because, well, if there was a bell I could ring that’s what I’d be doing. Back when I thought it was possible I pointed out one of the final two things on my “bucket list” was to live long enough to see Trump behind bars. I’m still in disbelief the American people gave him a “get out of jail free card” – knowing he’d attempted a coup four years before.
This version of the coup has been “slow moving” – beginning with the authors of Project 2025 laying out their “manifesto” for the “next conservative” president. So far, I’ve yet to find ONE person who can convince me what is happening is conservative. And, I hope there’s someone in a position to know who is “memorializing” what Trump’s puppet masters are doing so there can be some accountability once this national nightmare is over. Since Trump’s first day in office in version 1.0 I’ve been lamenting the DAMAGE he’s doing to this nation and how difficult, and how long it’s going to take, to “repair it.”
My hope is those who are involved with repairing the Damage – we’ll NEVER get back the East Wing of the “White House” – kind of like someone renting your house and tearing down the garage – are able to hold those responsible to account. And, of course, I hope one of them will be Trump himself – despite the ridiculous SCOTUS ruling he has “absolute immunity” from prosecution. Only time will tell, but this hope is what keeps me from hunkering down in the shadows. I’ve read enough history and have witnessed enough of what is going on here and in other places around the world to understand, for the sake of my children and grandchildren (and those of every one else my age) in the words of Joyce Vance “Giving Up is Unforgivable.” Stay tuned….