It likely does! I was reading writings by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) today and came across the following ARTICLE. It lists all the corporations who are supporting the seditionists in Washington D.C. (ie republicans) We’re talking about corporations who are donating money by the MILLIONS to republicans who participated in the 2021 coup attempt and/or republicans who continue to spew the so-called “Big Lie” (to me, just one LIE among MANY) One way to hold these companies accountable is by NOT giving them any of your business.

As one might guess, the WORST offender is Koch Industries (Charles Koch) and it might be difficult to figure out what products to avoid in this instance although, I believe, it’s not impossible. A quick search of the internet reveals, for example, the following are Koch companies: Flint Hill Industries, Georgia Pacific, Guardian Industries (not the publication from the UK), Invista (A spinoff of DuPont), Molex, Koch Ag and Energy Solutions, and Koch Pipeline. You (and me) probably spend money supporting Mr. Koch without knowing you’re doing it. In my case I’m going to be more selective. For example, instead of using UPS or Fed Ex – everything’s going via the USPS (when possible).

The list of these companies is long and some of the CEO’s seem to have no shame in prostrating themselves over Trump, apparently wanting to be in his “good graces” should he manage to CHEAT his way back into the “White House.” Apparently, they’re playing “both sides” and, instead of attempting to make sure he DOESN’T cheat his way back into the “White House” by, say, working to prevent that from happening, they’re kissing his ass er ring – it really is all embarrassing/pathetic.

So, the other day, on the eve of Trump’s 78th birthday (he’s 3 years younger than Biden with decades less wisdom) Trump was invited to a republican hangout on Capitol Hill in D.C. – he STILL couldn’t go to the Capitol, but for different reasons this time – and, I’m not kidding, the Congressional republicans were fawning all over him as they sang “happy birthday” (one day early) and, it appeared to get close to getting on their knees to worship him. It was as if they were trying to crowd in front of each other to be the next one to get a hug (or kiss) from him. It reminded me of when he was in the Oval Office for a meeting and one by one his cabinet officials went around the room exclaiming how thankful he/she was for him to allow them to prostrate themselves over him. Disgusting!

At this point I kind of expect this type of behavior from Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andy Biggs, Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell, Matt Gaetz, Ron Johnson, “liddle” Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, Elise Stefanic, Louie Ghomert, Scott Perry, Byron Donalds, and a whole bunch more republicans (many “applying” for the job of VP) but, the 80 members of the business “round table” participating was a bit much for me. For example, there was Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan who all actually allowed their spokespeople to announce they were present. Is there no shame? Apparently, they can’t remember back more than a month or two from 1/6/2021 – as republicans are busy working to “revise” recent American history.

These are all executives who claimed, after January 6th, 2021 they wouldn’t support any politician who was complicit in the INSURRECTION. They’re now apparently willing to throw their support to Trump, (as if he wasn’t involved) but also to the 150 or so republicans who participated in the scheme to overthrow the 2020 election. It’s no wonder the American public is so cynical – which absolutely works in Trump’s favor – let’s call it American amnesia. The worst attendee, in my view, was Tim Cook of Apple – who, was clear as a bell (?) after January 6th neither he nor Apple would be caught kissing up to Trump or anyone else involved in the storming of the Capitol. Surprise, Surprise.

What was Trump “offering” these American oligarchs? That was a rhetorical question if there ever was one. OF COURSE, he was telling them if they help him get re-elected he will “cut their taxes” and he’ll block regulations that do things like make the air and water you and I breathe and drink clean, but cost many of these businesses money and headaches. In Short: He was telling the business people if they put their profits ahead of the good of the country and the people in it, he’s their man. Cook, apparently, attempted to shake hands with Trump and “get out of town” without being noticed. Didn’t work! Maybe that’s Cook trying out the new Apple AI?

While, to me, this is all disgusting and embarrassing, none of it is surprising. It reminds me of the SCOTUS where one decision after another has been coming from the Court favoring corporate interests for the past 30 or more years, with the “pace” picking up once we were “in” the Roberts Court. And, trust me, “we the people” are about to see a barrage of “unfriendly” Court decisions in the next two weeks that will cement the idea the Court is CORRUPT to the core and there’s nothing those of us worried about issues like Climate Change, Voting Rights, Civil Rights, education, Women’s rights, the environment in general, government institutions’ decisions being made by experts as opposed to the Court, personal rights (ie LGBTQ, etc.) gun rights, and on and on, can do about it.

For those of us who are NOT CEO’s of America’s international corporations it might “behoove” us to think of those issues I just mentioned before deciding to sit out the 2024 election because Joe Biden is too old, or – just as bad – voting for RFK Jr. or another third party candidate – none of who have a “snow ball’s chance in…….” (you know the rest) of winning. In Robert Kennedy’s case – and, I’m saddened to have to say this – one of his surrogates, in New York recently, said, “Our purpose is to make sure Biden doesn’t win.” Yikes!!!

I listed above a BUNCH of reasons why corporate CEO’s might be throwing their support to Trump which are VERY MUCH reasons, if you’re a normal person (not in Trump’s CULT) why you SHOULD be voting for President Biden (who actually – in his first two years, accomplished more than any other modern president since FDR). However, as you watch the number of “ugly” decisions coming down from the Court in the final two weeks of this year’s session, keep in mind, THREE of those judges – the ones who overturned Roe v Wade – are on the court because progressives allowed themselves to be manipulated into either voting against Hillary Clinton or for Trump, or stayed home, in 2016 – much to the delight of V Putin, MBS, Netanyahu, and other dictators around the globe who consider America’s “democracy” (actually a “democratic republic”) a threat to their own fascist states.

Remember, fascism’s foundation is a corporate/government partnership. We the people have immense POWER when we exercise our right to vote – but, taking that privilege for granted could be a fatal mistake to the nearly 250 year experiment we call the “United States of America.” Yes, we’ve got MANY failings – including “electing” Trump (with the help of the Russians, other right wing despots, and, of course James Comey) but, America has slowly been working through the dark spots and including more and more of “us” in the process – to the point where those in the so-called “business round table” along with a base of political support led by white nationalists and right wing media outlets – are desperately attempting to “turn back the clock” one hundred, or so, years. In both cases they fear a diverse, progressive population.

There’s even a Black GOP member of Congress (I think his name is Byron Donalds) suggesting “Black Families had it much better during Jim Crow.” (I’m not kidding) In fact, I find Mr. Donalds, along with Tim Scott – the Junior GOP Senator from South Carolina (who is also Black) – to be two of the most pathetic of the republicans fawning all over Trump. Apparently, each one would love to be the VP – promising if they were in Mike Pense’s shoes they would have chosen the alternative slates of electors. (Apparently, the “hang Mike Pense” shouts failed to “jar” their memories to the days when their ancestors were actually getting hanged – for, the crime of being Black. Who knew?)

Final Thought(s): I’ve pointed this out here MANY times: The republicans have adopted the “strategies” of the Nazi’s of the Third Reich (back in the 1930’s) via the use of the “Big Lie Theory” (concocted by Hitler, himself, and put into practice by Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s minister of propaganda) and the use of projection. The Big Lie Theory is simple. You concoct a LIE and you tell it over and over again – meaning all surrogates telling the same LIE – and, eventually, it will be considered true. Take for example the so-called “Big Lie” of Trump – that he actually “won” the 2020 election. Not only is he still spewing this nonsense, but so are all those left in the republican party. The RNC actually used it as a “litmus test” for anyone to be hired there. (I often wonder if, in the case of Trump – who I considered a pathological LIAR prior to the “Big Lie” – if he hasn’t convinced himself his LIE is “true.”) Well over half of the republican base actually believes the “Big Lie.” (In other-words the tactic works!)

They LIE about virtually everything. They haven’t the least bit of SHAME which would/should prevent them from looking straight into a camera which is broadcasting, in some cases, to MILLIONS of their fellow Americans and purposefully LYING through their teeth. This is classic Nazi propaganda style garbage. I actually think it started with Rush Limbaugh in America with Trump taking it to new “heights.”

Then there’s the projection. “Accuse the other side of that which you are guilty” or words to that affect. We see this ALL the time with Trump and the republicans. It’s as if Trump is teaching the republican party how to CHEAT in order to win. I’ve said for years republicans are all about “winning at all cost” or, put another way, they believe “the end justifies the means.” i.e. win by CHEATING!

Trump is the master of projection. For example, “The Biden Crime Family” – he’s even got the republicans in Congress repeating that one, it seems, endlessly – again, with NO shame. Trump and his sons and his business have amassed an impressive “display” of CRIMINAL conduct being called out in court settings of late. In the New York Fraud case they LOST to the tune of close to half a BILLION dollars for Trump, his sons, and a couple of his executives for FRAUDulent business practices. Of course, as the head of the enterprise, Trump is racking up an impressive number of additional FELONY accusations, and NOW convictions. 34 CONVICTIONS along with another 54 alleged FELONIES. And, in our “two tiered” system of justice, Trump will likely avoid jail time via the 34 FELONY convictions and the rest. (Thanks to SCOTUS) Sad!

Trump also claims, under Biden, “crime is way up.” In reality crime has been dropping steadily since Trump left office (when it was “way up”). He’s claiming President Biden has ruined the economy, we’re now a “third world” economy. Well, when Trump left office he had a NEGATIVE number of jobs created – that is, there were MORE jobs LOST than created in his four years. Also, 4000 people PER DAY, were dying of COVID. Since Biden took office people got vaccinated for COVID (me included) and he’s overseen the creation of more than 15 MILLION jobs – the most in ANY American administration in, well, HISTORY for the first 3 1/2 years in office.

Under Biden, the U.S. has led the world in the recovery from the pandemic and our economy is the strongest economy in the world. Trump says Biden “ruined your 401K because of the stock market tanking. Of course, anyone paying attention KNOWS the stock market has been on a continuous upswing since Biden took office where new record highs seem to be routine. Virtually EVERY economic “indicator” is UP since Biden took the oath of office.

Now, I don’t give any president credit – nor do I judge any president – based on whether the stock market is going up or down during their time in office. But, the reality is, there are many people who do judge a president based on the Stock Market. For example, Herbert Hoover = bad. George W Bush = bad. In fact, when you look back over the previous 50+ years, it seems as if virtually every democratic president has come into office with the “job” of cleaning up the mess left behind by his predecessor. George HW Bush (along with Reagan) left Bill Clinton record deficits. Of course, Clinton left Bush/Cheney an annual surplus of $250 BILLION (which would have paid off the national debt in 10 tears had Bush/Cheney followed the plan)

George W Bush and Dick Cheney (I mention both because, at least in the first term, it seemed as if Cheney was the president) left Obama/Biden, what seemed to me at the time, the worst MESS since the depression. I didn’t think it could get much worse. President Obama oversaw an administration which – with NO help from republicans, in fact, with Mitch McConnell BLOCKING everything he could for the entire eight years Obama was in office – headed off what COULD have been another “great depression,” pulled us OUT of the “great recession” and, by the time he handed the “reins” to Trump, the annual deficit he inherited from Bush/Cheney was cut more than in half. When Obama took office he inherited an annual deficit far exceeding one TRILLION dollars per year (which didn’t include two WARS being funded “off the books”) – plus, Bush and Cheney had just finished a multi BILLION dollar bailout of Wall Street.

Just as Reagan and Bush/Cheney had done, Trump’s signature piece of legislation was ANOTHER “Tax cut for the top 1%.” While Trump was president his administration amassed approximately 1/4 of the ENTIRE national debt in just four years. It’s true the pandemic was partly at fault, but his tax cuts for BILLIONAIRES added TRILLIONS to the national debt and once Biden took office, the republicans, of course, started fretting about the deficit and the national debt while threatening to take the country into default despite the fact they refused to help pass legislation which would significantly cut the deficit – while that national debt was largely the result of the republican administrations following Nixon.

During Nixon’s years Lewis Powell, who Nixon would put on the SCOTUS wrote a memo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce laying out the plan republicans have used to create our OLIGARCH society. That ‘plan” has been followed surreptitiously by CEO’s ever since. In my view, it was actually Reagan who put the “Powell Memo” fully into practice. You can read it HERE. Powell was appointed to the Court toward the end of his term in office (that is, pre resignation) by Nixon and, as they say, the direction of the Court since then is “history.” Lewis Powell was the epitome of the Americans who HATED the New Deal. That’s the “glaring” impression I got while reading his memo myself.

The organizing of big business to attack “leftists” in our universities and liberals among “we the people” and, during the Reagan years, converting America from a “we” society to a “me” society could be laid at the feet of Lewis Powell. Like Trump on January 6th it was “Powell,” who, to me, lit the fuse ultimately resulting in republicans using the tactics of the fascists of the WW II era to turn America into a land of “oligarchs.” Most Americans I know have no idea of the “benefits” they have due to the “New Deal” and it’s obvious, to me, today’s republicans (along with the SCOTUS) are hell bent on taking away many of these “rights” “we the people” take for granted. (They’ve already started) Trust me, this November’s election is of paramount importance simply based on the SCOTUS – Trump MUST be defeated!

But, the reality is that the republican fascists are not going to go away even if “we the people” send them a message this November. I keep thinking: “The majority of Americans are women and they SHOULD be motivated to vote for democrats in record numbers in this year’s election. However, until it actually happens, Trump will be lurking as the fox in the bushes next to the hen-house. Young people will deeply regret their future if they don’t turn out in record numbers to vote for democrats. (The Climate Crisis and the court SHOULD be enough to motivate them) Here’s the truth: The message will be the same in 2028, 2032, and so on, until this SCOTUS is balanced and until these fascists running the republican party are looking for new jobs plus Trump’s “uneducated voters” are either purged from the CULT or pushed back under the rocks where they were hiding until Obama became president. Stay tuned……..

Lately I’ve been consuming “politics” from various sources with most of it coming from online publications along with the constant drum beat of “Trump, Trump, Trump,” coming from MSNBC. From what I’ve been able to surmise, there’s nary a whisper about what Joe Biden’s been up to lately – with one exception: Hunter Biden. Today in the Washington Post I read a couple articles regarding the FACT today (June 3, 2024) was the beginning of the trial of Hunter Biden on FELONY charges he purchased a gun while suffering from drug addiction back in (I think) 2018. My inference was his intention was to commit suicide with this gun and his “girl friend” (?) (the ex of his deceased brother Beau) threw the gun away.

OMG This could lead to some seedy details which somehow could reinvigorate the so far FAILED attempts by republicans in the House – who are soon to go into the history books as leading the LEAST PRODUCTIVE session of Congress in, well, EVER – to once again “open an impeachment” inquiry into President Biden. (Or, would that be “reopen?”) The speculation coming from several of the articles I’ve read of late has to do with “how will President Biden react to his son’s prosecution?” Will he pardon Hunter? etc. etc.

Many of these questions are coming from republicans who have claimed – without evidence, as usual – that President Biden has targeted Trump with ALL of these “outrageous” CRIMINAL charges (a total remaining number of FELONY counts against Trump at 54 – if my math is correct – after the 34 GUILTY verdicts against him last week). President Biden has “weaponized” the Justice Department against Trump – including, somehow getting Alvin Bragg to lead the prosecution in New York (state charges) which led to the 34 FELONY convictions. Trust me, republicans will find a way to convince their minions President Biden is using the trial of his son as a smokescreen. Can you imagine what they’ll all say when Hunter gets a “not guilty” verdict in his trial?

Whatever they say will have NOTHING to do with the merits of either – Trump’s election interference case in Manhattan or Hunter’s gun case in Delaware – of the two case’s. They’ll find a way to make outrageous allegations against the President with, AS USUAL, no evidence. (Have I already said that?) Will President Biden have secretly paneled the jury? Will President Biden have influenced the judge illegally? (That one falls into the “likely” category for me) And, the list goes on well beyond my ability to imagine stuff.

Remember, as I’ve pointed out here for years. Republicans – especially Trump (the rest of them seem to be learning from him) – are all about PROJECTION. That’s one of the key tenets of the Nazi’s back in Hitler’s days. “If you’re guilty of something accuse your opponent of the same thing – muddies the water.” If you think Trump’s rhetoric mirroring Hitler’s is some mistake, well, to me, you’re not paying attention or are unfamiliar with Hitler or totally naive. The “They’re poisoning the blood,” comment about “immigrants” or “my enemy is like vermin” plus the “Big Lie Theory” and the Projection all comes right out of Mein Kampf. (Remember, Trump is a second generation immigrant [Germany] and his wife is a FIRST generation immigrant – Eastern Europe.)

Now, where was I? Of course, the New York State charges against Trump are the same charges which sent Michael Cohen to jail on a sentence of three years. Yes, Trump’s Justice Department managed to squeeze in some additional charges – which, according to Cohen, he pled guilty to because they were threatening to include his wife – causing Cohen to lose his law license and several business interests (taxi tokens?) – a prosecution which seems to fall perfectly into the category of “weaponizing the government” – albeit coming from the Trump Justice Department. (Which later attempted to whitewash the entire process after Cohen FINALLY got out of prison to the benefit of “individual 1”) If you’ve been around here, that “process” led me to refer to Trump as “individual 1” until I came to the conclusion Merrick Garland had no stomach for Trump to the same charges as had Cohen.

I believe Mr. Garland’s reticence led to, eventually, the charges coming from the DA’s office in Manhattan because, in essence, Trump had paid off “Stormy Daniels” in order to “win” the 2016 election – knowing if his sordid affairs came out right after the “Access Hollywood” tape became public his candidacy was doomed. After all, maybe in Trump’s thinking, he ONLY had two sordid affairs while his THIRD wife was nursing his final son. As his lawyers explained in court about the nondisclosure agreements reached with Ms. Daniels and Karen McDougal, “everyone does this.”

Of course, as I think back on all the STUPID things I’ve done over the years I never once tried to cover up anything with a nondisclosure agreement. So, maybe Trump and his lawyers should have found a different adjective than “everyone” when justifying his ILLEGAL behavior. (Of course, neither does “everyone” charge the [hush money] payments [in Trump’s instance a campaign charge] to business expenses leading to a tax deduction)

I read a couple opinion pieces in the Washington Post – one by Ruth Marcus, who I’ve become less and less a fan of, which talked about Trump’s CONVICTION and, hypothetically, Ms. Marcus’ take on why Trump should be sentenced to (I believe) 60 days in prison along with 6 months of community service. What she failed to mention in her faux sentencing recommendation was that Trump’s CRIMINAL conduct very well led to the FOUR years of his reign on “we the people” – which, of course, included his half-assed, narcissistic, response to the COVID crisis where, on the day he left office 4000 Americans, PER DAY, were DYING of COVID-19. This is one of the ways his “policies” were leading the world.

Comparing what Trump (has now been found GUILTY of – 34 times) did and what Hunter did is almost an adventure into the world of the ABSURD. In Hunter’s case, MOST people who committed the same CRIME were NEVER prosecuted for it. When people are suffering from drug ADDICTION what they need is medical/emotional/mental health help NOT criminal prosecution. It’s hard to find ANYONE who’s done the same thing as Trump because, well, there’s no evidence anyone else has falsified business records to hide payments to a PORN star in order to “win” an election to the presidency. In that regard Donald Trump is completely unique.

Here’s where he’s NOT unique: In his response to facing prosecution for his many CRIMES. (I put it that way because, of course, there’s three more INDICTMENTS he’s trying desperately to avoid by somehow CHEATING his way back into the “White House”) I’ve been calling Trump a “wannabee” Mob Boss since way back during his reign on “we the people.” I read the Mueller report twice and concluded a couple of things from reading it. First, Trump and his campaign did willingly COLLUDE with the Russians and he SHOULD have been charged with OBSTRUCTION of Justice (there were 10 listed occasions in the report) but, as a sitting president Mueller couldn’t charge him. (Of course, this is another example of a timid Merrick Garland, because Mueller “memorialized” the evidence for when Trump left office.) Secondly, after reading the report the “mob boss” moniker was, to me, appropriate. – so, that’s how I referred to him.

During his CRIMINAL prosecutions he’s only proven me correct. (Of course, NOW you’re hearing the same “charges” from many different political ‘pundits’) He lashes out at anyone who “rats” on him, he finds creative ways to influence witnesses – he even gave Allen Weiselberg a $2 MILLION severance package with the predicate he can NOT testify against Trump in any legal proceeding – apparently why Weiselberg is serving his SECOND five month term in Rikers Island. In Trump’s sordid mind, if you tell the truth to the government about him, you’re a “rat.”

When testifying before Congress, Michael Cohen famously said Trump “speaks in code.” That has become apparent as Trump has continuously used his public platform to “sick” his followers on prosecutors (and their families), judges (and their families), court personnel, witnesses, lawyers, and virtually anyone who blurts out a critical word regarding himself. (OMG, what if Trump would read this blog – oh yes, thankfully, rumors have it he doesn’t read anything) Who else acts like this? Trump has even compared his prosecutions to that of Al Capone. I’m not kidding. (That answers the question) “You can’t make this stuff up.” Of course, he’s also compared himself to Mother Theresa, Elvis, and Nelson Mandela. (That last one, curious as it was, actually pissed me off! – how dare he?)

Here’s the bottom line to all this. Trump is a convicted FELON (times 34) despite all the odds being against him EVER facing accountability for his corrupt CRIMINAL conduct. For example, it’s become more and more apparent Trump’s STACKING of the courts during his reign is totally working in his favor. The Judge in what should be an “open and shut case” in Florida regarding his STEALING, then CONCEALING, and then OBSTRUCTING the investigation into his ILLEGAL possession of HUNDREDS of Classified documents – some of the MOST sensitive in nature which he may have shared with – well, who knows who – is “slow walking” the case and, it appears setting herself up with a plan to actually dismiss the case before it ever goes in front of a jury.

But, as usual, there’s more. In the so-called “January 6th”case – another case which SHOULD be a “slam dunk” – based on the information which has become public since his FAILED coup d’etat attempt on January 6th, 2021 – it appears the SCOTUS is/has come to his rescue. His absurd claim of “absolute immunity” was, in a legal sense, “laughed out of court” until, you guessed right, the SCOTUS got their “hands” on it. Why did they even accept the appeal? It appears in order to ensure Trump doesn’t face a “jury of his peers” until after the November election – making it possible for him to get the case thrown out. (Yep, that would include the Florida case as well) Trump’s CORRUPTION is exposing the CORRUPTION on the SCOTUS as well.

We now KNOW Clarence Thomas’ wife was involved in the coup d’etat attempt leading up to January 6th, 2021 and NOW we KNOW Sam Alito was, at a minimum, a supporter of Trump’s attempt to remain in power despite LOSING the 2020 election “by a lot.” The Alito residence was seen flying the upside down American Flag – a symbol of the “Stop the Steal” movement – at his D.C. residence while flying the “Appeal to Heaven” flag at his vacation home in New Jersey – symbolic of the “christian nationalist” (ie white nationalist) movement – a flag which was carried into the Capitol by MANY of the INSURRECTIONISTS on January 6th, 2021. Of course, Alito courageously blamed his wife for flying BOTH flags. Yikes!

Regardless, the SCOTUS (along with Judge Cannon in Florida) seem to be scheming to prevent Trump’s FEDERAL indictments from ever going to trial – or, in Judge Cannon’s case, allowing the charges to ever reach a jury. This makes it apparent how Trump’s rot has permeated FAR into the functioning of our democratic republic. I’ve always said, “dry rot starts in a small place and if ignored it spreads to the point of destroying the entire structure.” Trump and his minions are attempting to destroy the foundation of our nearly 250 year experiment in self rule. The diminishing MINORITY of Americans who support Trump’s fascist pursuits are finding creative ways to destroy our republic via the use of techniques mastered in the 30’s by the Third Reich. (See above)

That our highest Court is apparently sympathetic in helping to spread the “rot” is alarming to people like me. The FACT there’s nothing we can do about it is even more alarming. Will “we the people” turn out to VOTE while we still can? I mean, it’s hard for me to imagine Americans would vote in a convicted FELON to the office of the president. That’s not what I, personally, would call a smart decision. But, as Trump has famously said, “I love the uneducated voters.” OBTW when you look at what’s been accomplished by the Biden administration with razor thin margins in Congress (during his first two years) it’s rather absurd/stupid to think the answer to America’s problems is another go around for Trump. Stay tuned……..

Final Thought: In the past I’ve referred to some Trump voters as “Stupid” – which is a word I really don’t like – there’s just been some occasions where I couldn’t think of another word which might be appropriate. Well, as fate would have it, I recently ran into a video from a couple years ago (I think) where Jordan Klepper (from the “Daily Show”) visits Trump rallies and interviews Trump voters. To me, the video says it much better than I. You can view it HERE if you haven’t already seen it. Enough said!

OK, I’m tired of writing about Trump, but now that he’s our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING four times indicted 34 times found GUILTY of a FELONY owing $90 Million for sexual assault (ex) president, I have to put my “two cents” in. I was actually driving around running errands all day today and called a friend who immediately said, “I know you’re going to gloat.” Well, the first thought that crossed my mind was my fantasy baseball team must have somehow gained a bunch of points today. (Actually, it had LOST 5 points – which is, well, a LOT) Then he broke the news to me.

TRUMP GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS! I was like, are you kidding? The jury’s only been meeting for about 10 or 11 hours. I was thinking it would take a couple more days to convince the juror who got his “news” on Trump’s fake social media outlet not to blow up the entire case and cause a mistrial. So, I was kind of blindsided with the news because one of the last two things on my “bucket list” is to live long enough to see Trump put behind bars. I’m tempted to write a letter to Judge Merchan encouraging him to give Trump AT LEAST the equivalent sentence which Michael Cohen served for, in essence, the same CRIME. I mean, when you think about it, Trump CHEATED even more than we knew at the time to “win” the election in 2016.

I have no idea how many MAGA faithful show up on this site, but I’d love to hear from one of them as to whether it bothers them TRUMP has been found guilty of, basically, CHEATING to “win” in 2016 – and, I’m not talking about conspiring with the Russians and other foreign entities. It seems the dictator class around the world (along with their oligarchs) they just don’t care much for democrats – or more specifically democracy. (Pretty much like America’s oligarchs) Trump is the PERFECT foil in their years long attempt to undermine America’s democratic republic. Putin, Xi, Netanyahu, MBS, Kim Jung Un etc. are all bound and determined to use “we the people’s” open society against us. And, they’ve been – to me, unbelievably – successful.

The most important thing these conspirators count on is the large number of – as Trump called them – America’s “uneducated voters.” All you have to do is listen to the rationale of some of the MAGA faithful – if you happen to be someone who seeks out actual FACTS when you make your opinions – to realize how – I want to say STUPID – but, I hate that word and I think a better term is radicalized, er brainwashed these people really are. (They would say the same thing about me – but, the MAGAts are all about projection) Think I’m speaking in hyperbole? Just take a few minutes to listen to/watch Fox “news,” or “Newsmax,” Steve Bannon’s podcast, or other right wing “news” outlets. Whenever I attempt to give Fox a bit of my time I don’t last even five minutes – it’s just pure propaganda bulls@#$t!

I’m not going to watch Fox right now, because I don’t have to. I logged into MSNBC for about an hour once I got home and they did all the work for me – showing segments from multiple Fox shows, shows on “Newsmax” and likely all across the MAGA grifting network. Their message to the minions: It’s outrageous Trump is bound to the same laws as you and me! America’s going to hell! We’ve become a “Banana Republic!” I’ve even (somehow) received emails and “snail mail” from Trump recently asking for money. The one I got in mail box made me an offer where if I would send money to Trump I’d get a “free” Trump $2 bill worth “$39.99 plus $6.99 for shipping.” I’m not kidding. My first thought as I was throwing the letter in the garbage was, “Are people really STUPID enough to fall for this?” My guess is the answer is yes.

Here’s the deal. Republicans – especially the Evangelical Christian variety – like Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell Jr., etc. – long ago proved the “Access Hollywood” video meant nothing to them. The FACT Trump paid off TWO women he had affairs with while Melania was nursing Barron means nothing to them. The fact 25 different women have accused Trump of sexually assaulting them – he, of course, says they’re ALL liars – although, the first one to take him to court won a multi million $ judgement against him where the jury found he had sexually assaulted her (the judge said, “In New York” the verdict was the equivalent ( or words to that affect) of rape, means NOTHING to them. Trump bragged about being able to just grab women by the “pussy” – “When you’re famous they’ll just let you do it.” (Talk about seeing women as “sex objects”)

None of the above means “Jack Squat” to Graham, Falwell, and MILLIONS of America’s so-called “Evangelical Christian” class, because, well, Trump supports white supremacy. It’s pretty much as simple as that. If you’d take the time to read “Rising out of Hatred” by Eli Saslow you’d get a good inside look at the heart of the white nationalist/supremacy movement in this country. Don Black and David Duke (both former “Grand Wizards of the KKK) were quoted in an article I read, right after I finished the book, as saying Trump is their “vehicle” to penetrate “mainstream politics” in America. Black’s son Derek (who the book is about) has said his Mom and Dad record(ed) Tucker Carlson when he was still on Fox so they could play it back over and over again. Apparently, America’s “Evangelical Christians” are OK with this! Yikes!

In the case of THIS trial, the issue was Trump’s adulterous affairs with “Stormy Daniels” and Karen McDougal at the approximate time when his youngest son was born – maybe a few months later, and then paying each over $100,000 to “catch and kill” their stories. And, naturally Trump – via his lawyers – never had sex with either of them – in the trial, especially Stormy Daniels. As usual he was claiming Ms. Daniels testimony was all a lie. Of course, he also claimed Michael Cohen’s (his former “fixer” who was sentenced to 3 years in prison for the same crime done “at the direction of and for the benefit of “individual 1” I’ll let you figure out who that might be) testimony was all a lie. Guess what? The jury believed BOTH of them!

I can’t help but feel a bit bad for Trump because he’s forking out MILLIONS to attorneys who don’t seem capable of defending him without succumbing to his demands. By all accounts his attorneys in this case were pretty awful. They kept tripping all over themselves as they tried to defend the indefensible. And, here’s my prediction: If they haven’t been fired already they will be soon and we’ll be hearing about Trump’s refusal to pay them. He keeps asking, “where is my Roy Cohn?” (A mob lawyer who represented Joseph McCarthy back in the day) The New York “bar” stripped Cohn of his law license, but that’s immaterial to Trump.

After watching the commentary of this trial and reading about the Civil Trial were Trump was “slapped” with a nearly $500 MILLION judgement (for serial fraudulent activity in his business – including Tax fraud – surprise surprise) it appears Trump’s lawyers made gross mistakes regarding his chances of success on appeal – which, with Trump, is a given. And, keep in mind, all this recent court activity for our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING four times INDICTED, and, now, 32 times CONVICTED of FELONIES (ex) president (phew) took place in New York – where it’s highly unlikely has compatriots on the SCOTUS (Alito and Thomas) will be able to, ultimately, come to his rescue. Right now, he’s at the mercy of Judge Merchan who will be doling out the sentence. If he escapes this without jail time he will have proven we DO have a two tiered Justice system.

Think of all the people who are sitting in jail for the outrageous crime of being African American (with a family history dating back MANY MANY generations more than Trump (a second generation immigrant from, you guessed it, Germany). Maybe they got caught driving with the smell of marijuana in their car while a taillight was out, or maybe they simply flipped off a cop, or maybe, like the “Central Park Five” they were just a convenient way to “solve” a case and had to rely on a public defender for their defense of “trumped up” charges. (Pun intended) Our jails are chock full of non-violent “offenders” who just happen NOT to be “white.” (And, I know “white” people without the means to hire lawyers who have spent time in jail for “stuff” someone like Trump would NEVER end up in court over.)

Final Thought: Trump has “friends in high places” – ie judges, who may be able to pull off “saving” him regarding the 54 FELONY charges he’s still facing. The case in Georgia will be a miracle to ever end up in trial because the Georgia republican party really doesn’t like a Black FEMALE prosecutor indicting him – they’re pulling out all the “stops” in order to undermine that case – it’s now in the hands of Georgia’s Supreme Court. And, of course, unless you’ve had your head in the sand you know Sam Alito has now officially confirmed he’s a Trump loyalist along with Clarence Thomas on the SCOTUS. In that instance it will only take THREE of the remaining judges (the exact number put on the Court by Trump) to grant him authority the Constitution CLEARLY doesn’t give him – “absolute immunity!” – would be an absurd joke if it wasn’t so serious.

I’ve predicted since the court mysteriously accepted to hear Trump’s absurd claim on appeal after the D.C. Circuit appeals court made, by all accounts, an airtight ruling AGAINST Trump’s claim of “absolute immunity.” It was curious to many why the SCOTUS would even grant “cert” on the appeal – but, people like me were predicting, at the time, it was to make sure the case didn’t go to trial prior to the November election. Therefore both Alito and Thomas could be helping to facilitate “the steal.” The next big firestorm re: Trump will be when the SCOTUS remands the “January 6th” case back to the District Court (meaning the entire appeal process will happen once again. Plus, the Court will rule – with an opinion by Alito – that charging defendants with “interfering with an official proceeding” in the January 6th case, is “unconstitutional.” This will wipe out TWO of the FOUR felony charges against Trump in the January 6th case. Stay tuned……..

OMG, I keep telling myself “things can’t get worse” when it comes to the Supreme Court, well, I keep getting proven wrong. During the past week Justice Samuel Alito has been found to have been flying flags at both his DC home and at his “beach house” which imply he’s part of the MAGA movement – if there was any doubt before these things were made public. At his home he was flying an American flag upside down which is the “stop the steal” public statement of those Trump supporters (flying it between Jan. 6th and Jan. 20th in solidarity with the INSURRECTIONISTS) who firmly believe the 2020 election was “stolen.” The flag flying at his beach house was the symbol of “Christian nationalism” seen (usually) by Trump’s white nationalist base. There were probably a dozen or so of these flags in the assault on the Capitol.

Worse, Alito was apparently flying that “Appeal to Heaven” flag for a period of months – apparently his neighbors were worried about the blow-back if they reported it. There are photos of the flag flying during three separate months. Of course, we (those of us paying attention) already knew Alito – along with Clarence Thomas (whose wife was involved in the INSURRECTION) – was neck deep in Trump’s attempt to overturn our constitutional system of laws. They’ve been busy, right out in the open, in an attempt to “turn back the clock” on RIGHTS “we the people” have come to take for granted. We’re going to find out between now and November how many Americans take their rights for granted to the point of losing them.

Hyperbole? I think not. All you have to do is listen to Trump’s actual words and watch those who are his sycophants and you should be on HIGH alert. Of course, if you’re a member of Trump’s CULT (like, apparently, Alito and Thomas) you might be “giddy” at this point because there’s no way in any “normal” time in American history (save for the pre Civil War days) where our republic has been so under assault. And, speaking of the “Civil War” – trust me on this one – there’s a significant number of those “citizens among us” who are chomping on the bit for the second Civil War. It’s just that some are more subtle than others. Marjorie Taylor Greene just comes out and says it (wanting “red states” to succeed from the “Union”) while the neo-Nazi’s are much more covert – but, if a non “social media” person like me can find these discussions on the internet, well…..

The “right” in America has been working toward this end for the last (at least) 50 years and they are “playing chess” while the rest of us are playing “checkers.” Controlling the courts is a KEY to their strategy because these Judicial appointments are for the lifetime of the Judge. That’s why Thomas has been there over 30 years and will remain there for at least another 4 years unless Trump somehow CHEATS his way back into the “White House.” Alito hasn’t been there that long (around 20 years) but, if Trump “wins” they’ll both retire so YOUNGER judges can be appointed to replace them. It’s all part of the scheme.

Personally, I was devastated back in the 2000 election when the SCOTUS chose to decide the election – of course – in the favor of George W Bush and Dick Cheney. The history of that choice SHOULD still be clear in the minds of the American voters – but, as some have suggested, MANY of America’s voters have amnesia. (The reality is a bunch of them are, well, not too smart – sorry, that’s just the reality) Republicans are expert at appealing to these – what some people call – “low information voters.” Trump famously was quoted as saying “I love my uneducated voters.” Full stop!

Since Bush v Gore we’ve been saddled with “Citizen’s United v Federal Election Commission” which unleashed a TORRENT of dark money into our elections – from the grass roots all the way to the top. I’ve pointed out here numerous times the “foundation” of fascism is a government/corporate partnership. In America, we are often fed the “Russian Oligarch” “thing” – but, when you think about it, America has so many MORE “Oligarchs” than the Russians that it’s not even a contest. Here’s the definition of “Oligarch:” “A member of a small governing faction.” There are more detailed definitions, but that is it “in a nut shell.”

Think of all the Wall Street Billionaires who are funneling money to politicians – mostly republicans – by the MILLIONS. Do you really believe they want nothing for that money. For heaven’s sake, Trump is just coming out and OFFERING “quo” in “quid pro quo” to the oil barons in our nation. Here’s what he ACTUALLY said to them “Give $1 BILLION to my campaign to help me get re-elected and I’ll reverse ALL of Joe Biden’s “green” initiatives.” They’ll be able to, as Trump puts it, “drill baby drill.”

And, of course, these Billionaires aren’t just sitting in the background now that they have a 6 – 3 majority on the SCOTUS. Harlan Crowe has allegedly lavished HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of gifts upon Clarence Thomas – none of it reported. That doesn’t even include the value of him purchasing Thomas’s Mom’s home and then allowing her to live in it rent free OR the $250 THOUSAND motor home which was, for all intents and purposes GIVEN to Thomas by a different BILLIONAIRE. According to the records I’ve found Alito has ONLY taken one ($100,000) freebie trip sponsored by none other than Leonard Leo – the man MOSTLY responsible for the right wingers on the SCOTUS as I’m writing this. Seriously, TWO certain votes for, say, calling the INSURRECTION a “normal tourist visit” is difficult to overcome.

So, we’re depending on Alito and Thomas to be “non-partisan” as they decide whether or not Donald Trump has “absolute immunity” and, I don’t know about you, but my confidence level on that one is, well, ZERO. Neither SHOULD be able to even sit on the cases let alone participate in the deciding vote. If you listened to the arguments of the (absurd) case, you heard both Alito and Thomas asking questions about any thing BUT the case which was brought before them. (I have to say Kavanaugh and Roberts weren’t much better, if at all)

My prediction has been the Court will “throw” this case back to the district court on some kind of “imagined” technicality for Judge Chutkin to decide and then the appeal process will start all over again. Think this court isn’t in Trump’s “back pocket?” Well, Jack Smith attempted to get them to take the case in December of 2023 and they refused. The DC Circuit made what most people called a “bullet proof” opinion denying Trump’s ludicrous claim. THEN, the court decided to take the case and they set oral arguments for the LAST day of this year’s term – something like 90 days after it was put on the docket. This isn’t subtle.

To: “We the people” – and, I’m talking especially to all the young impressionable Americans who are justifiably upset with what Netanyahu is doing in GAZA. First, there’s not much President Biden can do to force Netanyahu to “back off.” He’s just as corrupt as Trump and, as I’ve said from the start of Israel’s response to October 7th, he’ll drag this out indefinitely because once the “war” is over, Netanyahu will likely be voted OUT and he’ll be facing the corruption charges he’s been avoiding for the last few years. Secondly, there’s a PLETHORA of issues which will affect America’s young people (and America’s women) on this year’s ballot. Getting tricked into voting for a third party is a “fool’s errand.” It’s going to be EITHER President Biden or corrupt (sleepy) Donald Trump.

The COURT is an issue which will HAUNT “we the people” if Trump is allowed to put more (younger) right wing hacks on it – that’s a paramount issue which would be at the top of the heap in any other year. But, how about the Climate crisis? Trump doesn’t believe in it (or he’s too STUPID to understand) Women’s health issues? Republicans are even going after contraception. I listened to Trump being questioned about laws affecting contraception and it seemed clear he didn’t understand the question. Just the same he dithered in a way suggesting he had some kind of plan to limit it. How about Voting Rights. The Roberts Court (with Alito at the forefront) has effectively GUTTED Section Five of the 1965 Voting Rights Act which people like MLK Jr. and John Lewis (and many others) risked their lives to get passed during the administration of LBJ. How about affordable education.

President Biden is attempting to find ways to “forgive” student loan debt for MILLIONS of Americans and republicans are trying to BLOCK him at every turn. Marjorie Taylor Greene said something like “they borrowed the money they should be forced to pay it all back.” Of course, Ms. Greene took out approximately $200,000 of PPP loans during the pandemic – loans which were COMPLETELY forgiven. I’ll let you decide: Is that a classic example of republican hypocrisy? Help with Childcare? Biden and the democrats are pushing for re-upping the “Child Care Tax Credit” which was significant for around HALF of America’s children living in poverty. Republicans have been blocking that! The list goes on and on – but America’s young people have a real stake in voting for democrats – this year and for as long as it takes to purge the right wing bent of this SCOTUS. Once that’s been accomplished, maybe we’ll have political parties which can work together for the benefit of the American people.

I know people who – when I criticize Trump – say, I’d rather have that than Biden’s “socialism.” I immediately think – “too much Fox ‘news'” Biden and the democrats, in his first two years were INCREDIBLY successful in making significant INVESTMENTS in the American people. That, of course, included the Child Tax Credit mentioned above, until republicans refused to extend the pandemic relief bill democrats passed shortly after Biden took office. But, there’s lot’s more. Trump had “infrastructure week” (over and over ) while Biden got a BIPARTISAN infrastructure bill passed – freeing up something like $1TRILLION for needed repairs of existing infrastructure and expansion of utilities (like high speed internet) into rural areas, etc. etc.

I read yesterday how Ted Cruz (of Texas) is now touting the infrastructure bill as if he had ANYTHING to do with it. (Texas is apparently getting $30 BILLION for their state’s projects) Of course, what Cruz won’t talk about as he’s cutting the ribbon for an important project is that he voted AGAINST the bill. About two thirds of republicans in the Senate voted AGAINST it and a higher percentage in the House. Biden got this through with a Senate split 50/50 democrats/republicans and Nancy Pelosi had the SAME margin of a majority in the House as the republicans did at the beginning of this term – where the ONLY way they’ve accomplished ANYTHING is by seeking democrats to vote with them (actually, like it should be)

Kevin McCarthy was voted out as speaker because he worked with democrats to prevent the nation from defaulting on its debt. The new speaker – Mike Johnson – would have suffered the same fate except the democrats came to his rescue in order to hold out hope something MIGHT get done which benefits the American people before this House term comes to an end. Apparently, right wing members in the House don’t understand that by working with democrats to actually pass useful legislation they would likely remain in control of the House. To me, kind of fundamental. (But along with many others I feel people like MT Greene, Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, and many more are simply “mental.” (The Senate has a few “doozies” as well)

Final Thought: As usual, once I start writing about this “stuff” I can’t seem to stop and I’m too lazy to play out what I want to say ahead of time. I guess I’m comfortable with “off the cuff.” The main point here tonight is that even considering ALL the issues which are paramount in this upcoming election – and, there are MANY – in my opinion, when you think of the “long term” there’s nothing MORE important than preventing republicans from putting more wack jobs on the SCOTUS.

As we observe the CORRUPTION of Sam Alito and Clarence Thomas we SHOULD be seriously ALARMED. If they are replaced by younger right wing judges “we the people” will be facing YEARS of “turning back the clock” issues coming out of the court. Just the FACT they are even considering the ABSURD claim a president has “absolute immunity” should say it all. And, KNOWING that two out of nine judges are apparently willing to subjugate their own authority to a POTUS is astonishing and alarming. Just by taking Trump’s appeal, they are saying a president “might” (in certain circumstances) be “above the law.” Nonsense!

I have to add: Trump’s lawyer claimed a president COULD have “Seal Team 6” assassinate a political opponent and without being IMPEACHED and CONVICTED (by the Senate) he/she would be “above the law.” They would have “absolute immunity.” Here’s the irony. When Trump found out that the Search Warrant for Mar a Lago included a standard form of the “rules” of using lethal force by FBI agents he made the OUTRAGEOUS claim President Biden wanted him to be murdered – by the FBI. (Of course the same “rules” were part of the search of Biden’s home when he discovered he had classified documents from when he was VP) I thought, maybe the court will OK this while there’s still time in Biden’s term. Just sayin…. (Or should I say “Just thinkin….) Stay tuned………..

Well, we’re several weeks into Trump’s FIRST criminal trial and it should be interesting how it ends up. Trump seems to always find a way to escape CRIMINAL accountability and this case may be no different – although as one witnesses it a GUILTY verdict seems appropriate. However, there’s some technicalities which could interfere in such a verdict not the least of which is if Trump’s lawyers managed to “sneak” a MAGA faithful onto the jury. His other cases seem to be running headlong into Judges who want to make sure those trials don’t happen until after the November election.

I have to wonder what these judges are thinking? Do they really believe their own “power” won’t be compromised should Trump somehow cheat his way into the “White House” a second time? Whether he’s found GUILTY or not in the Manhattan “election interference” trial, what is clear is he CHEATED to get elected the first time so why would it be any different this time. Clearly he’ll never get more than around 47% of the vote (if that) so his, and his republican sycophants, objective is to whittle down the number of people who will vote for Joe Biden – in any way they can.

The rhetoric coming out of Trump’s mouth is so reminiscent of 1930’s propaganda coming from the German Third Reich (OK, I’m talking about Hitler, Goebbels, and all the rest) and the mis/disinformation apparently flooding America’s Social Media networks (I say “apparently” because I don’t personally frequent those networks) from Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and (maybe) Egypt – countries with authoritarian leaders who fear the spread of “democracy” – is reminiscent of the flood of propaganda which was spreading across America during the 1930’s directly from Berlin. Fascism is a form of “government” which is not restricted by norms and things like a constitution.

Here are some of the “things” coming out of Trump’s mouth which should grab the attention of democrats, republicans, and independents alike. Here’s a comparison between Trump’s rhetoric and Hitlers:

“In honor of our great veterans on Veterans Day, we pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country—that lie and steal and cheat on elections, and will do anything possible; they’ll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America, and to destroy the American Dream.” Here’s Hitler justifying the MURDER of six MILLION Jews: “If I can send the flower of the German nation into the hell of war without the smallest pity, then surely I have the right to remove millions of an inferior race that breeds like vermin!”

Here’s a “blurb” from “The New Yorker:” Just as the Fascists’ hateful rhetoric during the interwar period (between WW I and WW II) was intended to dehumanize, delegitimize, and intimidate its targets, Trump is trying to do the same thing to the individuals and institutions on his enemies list, (emphasis mine) which seems to include anybody who won’t forgive his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results or who supports the subsequent efforts to hold him to account. The foes he is targeting appear to include President Joe Biden, congressional Democrats, Never Trump Republicans, the Justice Department, the courts, senior military officers, and the media—i.e., many of the central institutions (pillars) of American democracy.

Trump claimed that President Biden “together with a band of his closest thugs, misfits, and Marxists, tried to destroy American democracy.” He added, “If the communists get away with this, it won’t stop with me.”

Trump has claimed with words parroted from fascists before him, that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country,” He (and his sycophants) have been pushing the “Great Replacement theory” which is the result of fear mongering about immigrants aimed at the republican base to the point where a significant portion believe it. (After all, we ARE a nation of immigrants. The reality is Trump is a second generation immigrant married to a first generation immigrant – what he objects to is immigrants who aren’t “white.”) He has threatened massive round ups of “illegal aliens,” putting them in what amount to concentration camps before, presumably, sending them back to their – as he calls them – “shit hole” countries.

Trump has PROMISED (I thought of writing “threatened” but decided promised would be more accurate) to suspend our constitution, he’s promised to go after the media which isn’t friendly to him (probably anything not friendly to him), he’s promised to weaponize the Justice Department to “arrest” his enemies – apparently in retribution for his own misdeeds. He’s planning to have, for example, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, the Clinton’s, Jack Smith (of course), probably the state prosecutors holding him accountable for all his CHEATING, MSNBC, CNN, The Washington Post, etc. etc. all arrested and charged with crimes he will apparently invent.

Just the other day, in a “meeting” at Mar a Lago, it was reported he made the following proposal to a group of oil executives: They would supply his campaign with ONE BILLION dollars and, in return, he would promise to end “Joe Biden’s ‘green’ policies” in favor of increased leases of government land for oil and gas exploration. What would you call that? Yep, that’s the classic “quid pro quo.” Got him IMPEACHED the first time – what do you think will happen if “we the people” vote in a House controlled by democrats? Just sayin…. (Getting IMPEACHED a third time would break his record!)

I started this post (rant) a few weeks ago and have since become lazier than usual. I’m going to attempt to bring it to some kind of a conclusion. I’ve been (sort of) paying attention to Trump’s Manhattan trial and have to say, from my layman’s point of view, it doesn’t look that good for Trump. That said, as the lawyer’s I’ve listened to have said it only takes putting a bit of doubt in one juror to cause a mistrial – which would likely leave Trump to be “off the hook.” It appears it’s likely this will be the only trial happening before the election because of a series of “Trump friendly” judges.

Aileen Cannon is not even subtle in her rulings (constantly) in Trump’s favor and her apparent disdain for Jack Smith. I’m convinced if Mr. Smith is unable to get a different judge Trump will get away with what may be significant espionage crimes. I mean, who knows how many people he shared the classified info with and, as I’ve said before, there were a number of classified folders which were empty when the FBI executed the Search Warrant on Mar a Lago. I know I’ve often wondered where the files which were in those folders actually ended up. Does Trump still have them? Or, did he work something out with a foreign government to get them.

And, the Supreme Court even taking the ABSURD “absolute immunity” case just shows how low this court is willing to go despite their increasingly “ugly” standing with the American people. (OK, I should say with a significant MAJORITY of the American people) We’ve got TWO judges who have NO business even participating on ANY case which has ANY thing to do with the January 6th INSURRECTION. (Which at least two cases do) As most people know Ginni Thomas was right in the middle of the attempt by Trump to overthrow the 2020 election. As far as I’m concerned she – along with SEVERAL members of Congress – SHOULD have been indicted as being part of the conspiracy to overthrow the election.

Then there’s Sam Alito. He’s been at the center of several pro business (corporations are “people”) decisions since the early days of President Obama’s administration along with the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, the blocking of Affirmative Action at top U.S. Universities, the overturning of Roe, and lots more to come. Recently, evidence came to light showing Alito flying an America Flag upside down – in concert with the so-called “Stop the Steal” movement – right in the front yard of his home. As most cowards would do, he blamed his wife. (Similarly to Justice Thomas claiming he didn’t talk to his wife about her allegedly ILLEGAL activities) The issues with the Supreme Court is bordering on the absurd.

A quick refresher: Judge Gorsuch is there because Mitch McConnell refused to allow Barack Obama’s choice (after the death of Antonin Scalia) to be even considered – for over one year – because “it was an election year.” Judge Kavanaugh was confirmed despite credible reports he had committed sexual assault on more than one occasion – allegations which were stifled by Trump’s FBI. And, of course, Judge Barrett had her confirmation rushed through by McConnell even while voting was taking place in 2020 because, well, he didn’t have to follow his own example set when Obama’s choice (Merrick Garland) was blocked for over one year. Give the republicans credit – they are unable to govern – but, they are really good at CHEATING and the SCOTUS is a great example of their success.

Will the Court decide Trump has “absolute immunity” both while in office and after leaving office? My guess is likely not. However, they can “remand” the case back to the District Court to force Judge Chutkin to differentiate between official duties and no official duties – as if overthrowing a free and fair election might be considered an “official duty.” Just by accepting this ABSURD claim by Trump and then putting off arguments until the LAST day of their term, they did for Trump what he needed. And, that’s to stall this case until after the election so that if somehow he CHEATS his way back into office he can have the two federal cases against him thrown out. Why? Because he says so!

The reason I don’t think the Court will simply rule on the case which was brought before it is because there still might be time for Judge Chutkin to get the case tried if, for example, the Court renders their decision at the end of June (putting it off as long as they can) That would not fit into the time schedule of Alito and Thomas as both, by rights, should be resigning in disgrace as I’m writing this. They’ve (the Court) acted in the space of a couple weeks in the past when the case is pressing (see Bush v Gore) but this court seems to be in the opposite of a hurry. I’ve said before I have NO confidence at all in this Court and I don’t expect that to change. I will say, this decision will NOT be unanimous. Judge Jackson put it best when she wondered why the discussion (in the arguments) seemed to go anywhere but to the case which had been presented to the Court. The fact they accepted the case, in the first place, told me “somethin’s up.”

Final Thought: Watching Trump’s Manhattan Trial confirms to me, even more, that Trump is nothing but a two bit mob boss. Michael Cohen was the perfect lawyer for him, until he wasn’t. Apparently, Trump expected Cohen to “take the fall” for him regarding the “Stormy Daniels” payoff and, as he’s done before, he’s said “I hate flippers.” (And, we’re not talking about people in a swimming pool) The evidence of Trump’s guilt is overwhelming, but the defense appears to be basing their chances on pointing out Mr. Cohen is a LIAR. Well, of course, Trump is a (allegedly) pathological LIAR and, if you’re working for him in the capacity of Mr. Cohen, well, you MUST be willing to LIE. Apparently, Trump has an ability to suck people into his “cult of personality” as he’s done with MILLIONS of Americans (plus what’s left of the republican party) – let’s hope a guilty verdict in this case might wake a few of the MAGA faithful up – and, really, clarify things for those independents and young people who don’t especially care for President Biden to cast a vote for the preservation of our democratic republic. In the words of Ben Franklin: “We’ll have this republic as long as we can keep it.”

I personally know so-called “upstanding Americans” who would rather have an authoritarian rule by Trump than “keeping the republic” under Biden. Almost every one of them watches/listens to Fox “news” or worse. Just about every one of them who’s said to me “I don’t watch Fox ‘news'” has, without thinking – later- confirmed to me they actually do and that they know how bad it is because they’re willing to LIE about the fact they DO watch it. Stay tuned………..

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Trump is Willing to Trade Our Children’s Future for a Billion Dollars

The willingness to destroy our collective home in exchange for riches is one of the most extreme examples of greed run amok…

Thom Hartmann May 10

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Image by Cristian Ibarra from Pixabay

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“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed…” – Jesus (Luke 12:15)

“My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I could get. I’m so greedy.” – Donald Trump

The Washington Post revealed yesterday that Donald Trump told a group of fossil fuel executives that if they’d give him a billion-dollar bribe, he’d use it to become president and then eliminate all of President Biden’s environmental regulations and prevent any new ones from coming into law.

The industry barons had been grumbling that they’d already spent more than $400 million lobbying the Biden administration over the past year to little effect. They really shouldn’t have a basis to complain: just the three largest oil companies operating in America made $85.65 billion dollars in profits last year, which they could split up among shareholders and senior executives.

Nonetheless, Trump’s brazen appeal for them to grease his palm seemed to shock even these hardened planet-killers.

This comes the same week that The Guardian broke the story that most of the world’s top climate scientists surveyed — all of them among the 843 authors of the IPCC’s most recent report — believe the planet is going to crash through the 1.5° Celsius threshold they’d previously defined as a disaster scenario. Most are now expecting us to hit 2.5° or even 3° Celsius, levels that could make much of the planet uninhabitable for humans. And it’s going to happen a hell of a lot sooner than anybody had anticipated just a decade ago.

It’s gotten so bad that some climate scientist’s are questioning the wisdom of their own families having children.

In other words, Donald Trump and his Republican friends are explicitly willing to trade our and our children’s future for a billion dollars. And they couldn’t have offered this deal to the industry if five corrupt Republicans on the Supreme Court hadn’t legalized political bribery of both politicians and judges (like themselves and Aileen Cannon) when they overturned the good government laws Congress passed in the wake of the Nixon bribery scandals in the 1970s.

It may have been an unnecessary effort on Trump’s part.

The Saudis and Russians — who both desperately want Trump back in the White House — cut oil production over the past two months by 1.4 million barrels a day with the apparent goal of driving US gasoline prices up past $6 a gallon in time for the election this fall.

Remember the GOP hysteria around gas prices hitting $5 a gallon in October and November of 2022 just in time for the midterm elections, with Fox “News” hosts hyping stickers being put on gas pumps across the country bearing a picture of Biden pointing to the price with an “I did that” slogan?  It almost singlehandedly gave us GOP control of the House of Representatives and was the result of a similar Saudi and Russian production cut.

Now, it looks like we ain’t seen nothing yet.

When he was president, Trump allowed the Saudis to buy the largest gasoline refinery in America (at Port Arthur, Texas); between their oil supply cuts and the possibility they could reduce that refinery’s output this fall (no doubt because of “maintenance issues”) gas could easily puncture the $7 a gallon ceiling by November.

Analysts found that throughout the midterm election year 2022, there was a nearly one-to-one inverse correlation between the price of gasoline, Americans’ perception of the state of the economy, and approval ratings for the Biden administration. As The Washington Post pointed out that year, there was an estimated 91 percent inverse correlation between the price of gas and the popularity of Democrats when they’re in power: as gas prices go up, Democrats’ approval ratings (and electability) measurably and predictably go down.

The willingness to destroy our collective home in exchange for riches is one of the most tragic and extreme examples of greed run amok. Which shouldn’t surprise us: for the past century, the unofficial slogan of the GOP has been “Greed is Good!” as memorialized in the 1987 movie Wall Street.

Will Rogers used to tell the story that when he was a kid the way he learned which visitors to his parents ranch were Republicans was that they were the ones his dad told him to keep an eye on so they didn’t steal anything. Decades may have passed, but the GOP hasn’t changed a bit.

Their standard-bearer this year is the living incarnation of that slogan. As Trump told a cheering audience when he was first running for president:

“I like money. I’m very greedy. I’m a greedy person. I shouldn’t tell you that, I’m a greedy — I’ve always been greedy. I love money, right?”

The good news is that there is, increasingly, pushback from the Biden administration and Democrats in the states.

Five Blue states are now looking at ways to hold fossil fuel moguls and their companies accountable for the damage climate change-fueled extreme weather has inflicted on their people. Vermont is leading the way, with legislation that passed their House this week and is now headed to the Vermont Senate, almost certainly carrying a large enough majority to overcome a veto by the state’s Republican governor.

The bill would set up a $2 billion fund to pay for weather damage, funded by a tax of sorts on the fossil fuel industry. New York, California, Massachusetts, and Maryland are all looking at similar legislation this year.

But as long as the Supreme Court’s corrupt 5-4 Citizens United decision stands and Republican politicians and judges are eager to take bribes from the industry, these efforts will be purely remedial, the equivalent of putting Band-Aids on cancerous lesions.

These tragic realities highlight the extraordinary stakes of this year’s election, which will not only determine the future survival of American democracy but also the destiny of most all life on Earth. The GOP’s embrace of greed isn’t just a moral issue any more: it’s now threatening us all.

Double-check your voter registration and reach out to wake up everybody you know. Given how rapidly extreme weather is amplifying, causing death and destruction across America (and the world), your own family’s survival may depend on it.

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I live on the “left coast” and was up early today (4/25) so I managed to listen to many of the arguments involved in the appeal of Trump’s claim he has “absolute immunity.” Now, as someone who has little to NO faith in this SCOTUS I was not surprised with what I heard based on my interpretation of the questions posed by the various judges. Here’s what will surprise me: If the judges simply decide the case in front of them. Basically, to me, the judges who claim to be “textualists” or “originalists” seemed to be looking for ways to expand the issue to areas which were NOT part of the case in front of them. I believe at least three justices (Alito, Kavanaugh, and Thomas) were looking for possible ways to DELAY the January 6th D.C. case to allow Trump to throw this out if he manages to somehow CHEAT his way back into the “White House.”

I mean, it’s been obvious for quite some time this court is on the side of our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING four times indicted (ex) president simply by their willingness to, at a minimum, help him stall this procedure. What also seemed obvious to me was several of the justices searching for ways to decide MORE than what is included in this indictment/appeal. There will be no “yes or no” decision by this court – just as they did in the Citizens United v FEC case they will go well beyond the issues of this appeal in order to appease their own political bent. Yes, I’m predicting this and I certainly hope I’m wrong, but they seemed to be searching for a way to strip Jack Smith of his ability to proceed with this case.

If they do what I fear I hope Mr. Smith then decides to prosecute the “unindicted co-conspirators” along with all the others involved in the conspiracy to overthrow our elected government on January 6th, 2021. That, of course, would include the wife of Clarence Thomas – who very possibly could be the deciding vote on this case in favor of the judges looking for an off ramp for Trump in his CLEARLY illegal attempt to pull off a coup d’etat. To me, there is NO WAY judge Thomas should have been sitting on the bench for this case. He should have been recused due to the actions of his wife.

I’m getting similar feelings I had during the Colorado case where Trump had been purged from their ballot based on Section three of the 14th Amendment which prevents anyone who took an oath to the constitution and participated in or gave support to anyone who participated in an INSURRECTION from holding ANY office in the federal government (or any state). The Colorado Supreme Court found that Trump participated in an INSURRECTION and was, therefore, ineligible to be on the Colorado ballot as a candidate for president. The SCOTUS, as myself and many others imagined they would, found a way to “stray” from their “textualist/originalist” bent because it didn’t fit their ideological view. They made a POLITICAL decision. They appear to be leaning to do the same in Trump’s January 6th indictment.

This Court is creating a serious image problem for themselves. We all saw on TV the INSURRECTION. We watched and listened to Trump urging his supporters to “go to the Capitol and fight like hell or you won’t have a country anymore.” Those of us who pay attention to all this have heard Trump PUBLICLY reiterate that “VP Pense did have the right to overthrow the election” (or words to that affect) when Congress decided to amend the statute defining the VP’s role in counting the Electoral College votes – a purely ceremonial role. It could not be more obvious that Trump was pressuring Pense to turn away legitimate Electoral College votes in order to count the so-called “alternate electors” from several of the “battleground” states.

At a bare minimum I believe the SCOTUS will send this case back to the District Court for a determination regarding “official acts v personal acts” – a decision which will be subject to appeal and then the appeal process starts all over again – which would mean the Supreme Court’s part in that would be decided sometime NEXT YEAR. I believe the court is going to expose itself as benefactors of Trump and they could care less about the “blow back” they will receive. I’m sure they believe all the negative publicity will blow over by the time their next term begins. And, who knows? It might.

I’ve written before about Lewis Powell’s “memo” to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce back in (I think – I could look it up but I’m too lazy) 1973. He was arguing that us “peons” – ie “working class Americans” had gained to much power and America’s corporations should “turn the tables” in favor or America’s “Oligarchs.” Soon after Powell was appointed to the SCOTUS by Richard Nixon and by 1980 “conservatives” had received the message and it was fully implemented by Ronald Reagan and his right wing/racist administration. Challenge #1: Destroy the union movement in America. See: The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) which Reagan, in essence, had destroyed when Air Traffic Controllers went on strike back in 1981. By my calculation, that was when unions took a “nosedive” and so did the wages of working class Americans.

One of the central tenets of the “conservative” movement has been preventing as many people as possible from voting – especially people who might vote for democrats. As time has evolved since Reagan became president the Court has tilted strongly to the right – in 2000 it actually chose GW Bush to be president when, by all accounts, the rightful “winner” was Al Gore. In fact, in that situation the Court acted with “all haste” – like, as I remember it, in a manner of days (not months/years) to “crown” GW Bush and Dick Cheney to reign on “we the people.” I’m sure republicans were more than pleased when Mr. Gore simply accepted the decision in order to prevent a rebellion.

That court decision led to the invasion of Iraq (and, very possibly 9/11 due to Bush’s willingness to ignore the warning signs), the 20 LONG years of incompetence in Afghanistan, and, of course, the financial meltdown of 2007 – 2008. When the Obama/Biden administration took office the “mess” they inherited was of historic proportions. However, Donald Trump left the “messiest” mess for the incoming Biden Administration I can remember in my lifetime. To me, the burgeoning of the national debt began under Reagan via the so-called “Trickle down” (I’ve always said “trickle up”) tax policy which has led to “tax cuts for the rich” in every republican administration since (except, I believe, George HW Bush).

When you look up articles about the budget deficit and the national debt it becomes clear what you’re reading is tilted one way or the other depending on who’s writing it. By my observation Clinton and Obama both left office with an annual deficit considerably less than the one they inherited and, it appears, so will President Biden, whenever it becomes time for him to finally (and actually) retire. What Biden inherited was catastrophic due to Trump’s selfish incompetence in managing a “once in a century” pandemic. (Although, it seems the possibility of future pandemics looms large)

My point is this: Decisions by the SCOTUS are of immense importance. The decision to crown Bush/Cheney, for example, not only let to a financial meltdown, it led to the loss of THOUSANDS of American lives via the ILLEGAL invasion of Iraq – where something like one half of the Iraqi population was displaced and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi’s died due to the Bush/Cheney invasion. This would NOT have happened had the Court simply allowed the recount of votes in Florida to be completed. I will go to my grave believing Al Gore was the rightful winner of the 2000 American presidential election.

And, since then the Court has continued its drift rightward to the point where what we witnessed during the arguments regarding Trump’s ABSURD claim of “absolute immunity” seemed to gain a sympathetic (and pathetic) audience with – by my count – at least four of the justices. When these justices – who claimed in their confirmation hearings that “hypothetical” situations are irrelevant when it comes to deciding issues regarding the constitution – began throwing around hypothetical possibilities of retribution by sitting presidents toward their predecessor I wanted to vomit. The discussion seemed to be focused on many imagined possibilities of mischief, but not on the actual appeal before the court.

As I’ve said, this should have been obvious when the court decided to take this appeal in the first place and then schedule the arguments for the LAST day of the term – something like 9 weeks later. This was the court participating in Trump’s strategy of “delay, delay, delay.” Will they make a decision based on the merits of the appeal? Well, I surely hope so – granting this appeal will render them as being insignificant going forward – they would be approving America as a dictatorship (and “we the people” would have one more election to stop this attack on our constitution). I don’t think there’s any way they can simply overrule the District Court’s determination this claim (absolute immunity for the president) is preposterous – “we don’t have a king” – and the DC Circuit court’s agreement with the District Court.

However, as stated above, my gut instincts tell me they’re going to throw it back to the District Court based on some creative imagination of what our constitution SHOULD say, which is all Trump needs to put this off until sometime in 2025 – unless he’s re-elected. Trust me, there are more right wing decisions which are anti-democratic coming from this court, likely at the end of June. I don’t follow everything they decide to take up, but their track record is horrible to someone like me, but, likely to someone who agrees with Lewis Powell, this court is “right on.” Yikes!!!

Final Thought: I have to add, the fundamental source of fascism would be when corporations and government are acting in “partnership.” The following is a quote attributed to Benito Mussolini: “Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power.”  There are questions as to whether or not he actually said that, but, as you can see – in today’s America the “oligarchs” (corporate “power brokers”) are pretty much aligned to Trump’s “slow moving coup.” And REALLY wealthy Americans, like Peter Thiel and Mark Zuckerberg are building fortresses in remote areas for when the “you know what hits the fan.”

I’m not arguing against corporations, I’m just pointing out when they get to the point where their self interest causes them to “partner” with government for the purpose of implementing policy which is detrimental to “we the people” then we are a de-facto fascist state. There’s a reason why “big business” is realigning itself with Trump despite his CLEAR intentions to, in essence “tear up the constitution.” The corporate interests are simply “creating shareholder value” the “commons” be damned. They seem to believe the promise to “cut taxes” is the true political “selling point.” The idea of democrats actually instituting a “wealth tax” is considered, by the corporatists, as “socialism.” Government investing in its people, to them, is “socialism.”

That all being said, the next several elections, well beyond my remaining lifetime, will be critical in turning back this right wing attempt to undermine our democratic republic. The “checks and balances” imbedded into our constitution are under severe threat by a right wing segment of our population which has railed against “progress” since, well, the beginning of this nation – especially since the “New Deal” of FDR. The Court has been “rigged” and, thus, it’s possible Trump will succeed in making sure our elections are “rigged.” And, of course, they’ll be “rigged” in his favor. Stay tuned.,,,,

Is SCOTUS in on the Coup and Trying to End American Democracy?

by thomhartmann

I was working on my own response to the SCOTUS apparently planning to, at a minimum, send Trump’s “absolute immunity” claim back to the District Court in order to add an additional YEAR of delay. As usual, Mr. Hartman says it much better!

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Many Americans are confused by the spectacle they heard (we couldn’t “witness” it because Republicans on the Supreme Court won’t allow their proceedings to be televised) yesterday as an attorney for Donald Trump, at least three different times in different ways, argued that Trump was above the law and should be treated as such.

Even more baffling was the apparent agreement with that position by at least four of the six Republicans on the Court.

Every time the government’s attorney or the Democratic appointees on the Court tried to bring the discussion back to “calling balls and strikes in the case before us” (as Roberts said is all he’d ever do) the Republican appointees changed the subject, claiming they’re more concerned about “future presidents” than Trump. Right…

Associate Justice Sam Alito — who famously loves 16th century witch-burning judges and “unborn children” — went so far as to create a hypothetical in defense of Trump that turned reality on its head. Keep in mind, it is Trump, not Biden, who’s spent nearly four years trying to destabilize both our political and judicial systems.

Nonetheless, Alito asked:

“If an incumbent who loses a very close, hotly contested election knows that a real possibility after leaving office is not that the president is going to be able to go off into a peaceful retirement, but that the president may be criminally prosecuted by a bitter political opponent, will that not lead us into a cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy?”

Say what? Jack Smith is a greater threat to democracy than Donald Trump?

Throughout the entire two-plus hours, Republican justices (with the possible exceptions of Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts) implicitly supported Trump’s attempted coup (that Justice Thomas’ wife was in the middle of).

Trump’s attorney argued — with the apparent agreement of four of the six Republican appointees — that if Trump were reelected he could assassinate people, stage a military coup, and sell America’s military secrets to Putin with no consequences whatsoever.

Which raises the vital question: why would they be so cavalier about Trump’s threat to our democracy? Is it just that Thomas and Alito want to retire and want their replacements selected by Trump instead of Biden?

The simple reality is that conservatives throughout modern history have viewed democracy with a jaundiced eye, and the Supreme Court’s Republican appointees are no exception. To their minds democracy is fine when it puts them and their patrons in power, but when it fails at that it’s an impediment to wealth and power that must be circumnavigated.

As one of history’s most famous conservatives, England’s Edmund Burke, noted in the late 18th century, when people engaged in “servile” occupations like hairdresser or candle-maker are allowed to participate in democracy by voting, the state suffers “oppression” and is “at war with nature”:

“The occupation of a hairdresser or of a working tallow-chandler cannot be a matter of honour to any person — to say nothing of a number of other more servile employments. Such descriptions of men ought not to suffer oppression from the state; but the state suffers oppression if such as they, either individually or collectively, are permitted to rule. In this you think you are combating prejudice, but you are at war with nature.”

At the CPAC convention this past February, a well-known rightwing influencer, Jack Posobiec, went off on a rant about how important it is for conservatives to band together to end democracy in America and, presumably, replace it with Christofascism just like in Russia and Hungary.

“Welcome to the end of democracy!” he declared. “We’re here to overthrow it completely. We didn’t get all the way there on January 6th, but we will endeavor to get rid of it and replace it with this right here,” he added as he held up a cross.

This, frankly, should not be surprising. It was 1951 when Russell Kirk, the godfather of the modern conservative movement, published his book The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot in which he laid out the importance of “classes and orders” in society. (I detailed Kirk extensively in The Hidden History of American Oligarchy.)

The middle class was growing like a weed back then — this was before Reagan kneecapped the labor movement — and Kirk warned that if too many people got into the middle class and were no longer “the fearful poor” that there would be chaos in America.

He warned that too much middle class wealth would mean that women would no longer fear and respect their husbands, racial minorities would forget their “rightful place” in the social order, young people would defy their parents, and society would generally go to hell.

Kirk’s solution, dictated back in the late 1700s by Burke himself, was to gut the middle class and return to the “normal” social form of a small number of really rich people at the top, a tiny middle class of doctors, lawyers, and professionals who served the rich, and a massive class of the working poor.

This was the Victorian world Charles Dickens wrote about in almost all of his novels, and, when the 1960s happened and women, students, and minorities rose up in protest, became the world that Reaganomics was established to return us to.

“‘My little child!’ cried Bob [Cratchit in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol]. ‘My little child.’ He broke down all at once. ‘He couldn’t help it.’” … “‘It’s only once a year, sir,’ pleaded Bob.”

Re-impoverishing America’s working class families to avoid the dire consequences Burke and Kirk identified, Reagan declared war on unions, gave the rich massive tax cuts, gutted federal support for education (creating today’s student debt crisis), and started the GATT/NAFTA negotiations that led to over 50,000 factories and over 15 million good union jobs being shipped overseas.

Every Republican president since has doubled down on Reagan’s campaign to devastate both the American middle class and the democracy that once supported them: Bush and Trump added tens of trillions to our debt with their tax breaks for billionaires, all three Republican presidents since Reagan packed the courts with democracy-skeptical ideologues, and each has worked to enrich the wealthy while cutting aid and support to working class and poor Americans.

Gutting the middle class, eliminating the social safety net, and “restoring order” to society is still the conservative mantra, now heavily overlaid with racist tropes and rightwing Christian ideology.

So Posobiec’s proclamation that it’s time to replace democracy with strongman authoritarianism, and the endorsement of that worldview by Republicans on the Court with yesterday’s dog-and-pony show, is just another variation on Kirk’s and Burke’s distrust of what John Adams famously and angrily called “the rabble.”

This is not a new debate. 

Thomas Hobbes’ 1651 book Leviathan, often seen as a seminal origin document for the Enlightenment, argued that people should ultimately be able to govern themselves (thus establishing what Americans today call the “liberal” school of political science).

Leviathan also, however, articulated the foundation of the modern-day “conservative” worldview when Hobbes wrote that, lacking the iron fist of church and state, human societies and nations would invariably revert to their “natural” state:

“In such condition, … the life of man [is], solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

One-hundred-three years after Hobbes published those words, Jean Jacques Rousseau rebutted him and established the intellectual basis used by the Founders of our American republic, arguing that the “natural state” of humankind is not violent and hierarchical but, rather, compassionate, egalitarian, and democratic.

The Founders and Framers of the Constitution agreed with Rousseau, and explicitly wanted to limit potentially monarchical powers of the presidency. At the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention in September of 1787, James Madison, noting that the Virginia constitution gave “some executive immunities related to the criminal process” to that state’s governor, asked the assembled delegates to “consider what privileges ought to be allowed to the Executive.”

Not a single delegate rose to defend the position; instead, Charles Pinckney called for an adjournment for the day. During an 1800 debate in the US Senate, Pinckney explained to his colleagues that “it was the design of the Constitution, and . . . not only its spirit, but letter . . . that it never was intended to give Congress, or either branch, any but specified, and those very limited, privileges indeed.”

As Jack Smith noted in his written pleadings before the Supreme Court, “James Wilson told the Pennsylvania ratifying convention, the president was ‘far from being above the laws,’ and ‘not a single privilege [wa]s annexed to his character.’”

Tench Coxe, who I quoted extensively in The Hidden History of American Democracy, noted in a 1787 essay that it was the intention of the Founders that a president could be “proceeded against like any other man in the ordinary course of law.” And, indeed, when Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel, two different states brought murder indictments against him and not a single court objected or argued that the executive branch should have immunity from prosecution under criminal law.  

But don’t tell any of that to the Republicans on the Supreme Court.

From gutting both civil and voting rights, to kneecapping union rights, to helping George W. Bush steal the 2000 election that Al Gore won in Florida by more than 40,000 votes, the Court’s conservative majority has steadfastly held to the Burkean belief that too much democracy is a danger that can only be balanced by handing as much wealth and political power as possible to the morbidly rich.

Which is why expanding the Supreme Court and establishing a code of conduct for its members via a new Judiciary Act must become one of the first jobs of a second Biden administration.

The fear of that happening, in fact, may well be one of the reasons why Republicans on the Court went so far out of their way to help Trump return to the White House via the delays they’ve inflicted on Jack Smith’s efforts to hold him to justice.

Trump’s attempted coup is nowhere near done: both the Republican Party and the Republicans on the Supreme Court are working as hard as they can to complete it and replace American democracy with naked oligarchy.

To paraphrase Burke, when men and women who don’t trust democracy are given the power to regulate it to the benefit of themselves and their billionaire patrons, the nation itself suffers oppression and is at war with nature.

Pass it along.

I’m being FORCED to use a word I refused to allow in my sixth grade classroom but there’s an area in the state of Georgia where the people keep electing a representative who seems intent on passing Louie Gohmert as the STUPIDEST member of Congress. I’m writing, of course, about Marjorie Taylor Greene. OK, I got that off my chest – but, the problem is Ms. Greene seems capable of causing serious DAMAGE to America as state run TV in Russia is talking almost as if she’s a knowing “useful idiot” while they basically cheer her anti Ukraine BS.

I’ve been writing that if these republicans allow Ukraine to fall to the Russians because of blocking the desperately needed assistance which has been sitting at the foot of the Speaker’s desk for several months now they will have made Benedict Arnold look like a patriot. This is a bill which would get, likely, well north of 300 bipartisan votes in the House if Speaker Johnson would just bring it up for a vote. Of course, with all things GOP in the House, if the Speaker pisses anyone off they can call for a “motion to vacate.” And, without democratic support, Mr. Johnson would just be going the way of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. As everyone knows the GOP majority has the slimmest margin for error EVER. They’ve got ONE vote to spare. (Chuck Schumer has been dealing with the same margin in the Senate for the past four years.

If Ms. Greene calls for the removal of Johnson it will just be MORE chaos and, hopefully, the Ukraine aid will be passed before then. Of course, instead of simply allowing the House to vote on the bill the Senate sent over which would allow this aid to be on its way very quickly Speaker Johnson has proposed splitting up the aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, plus aid for the Palestinians in GAZA. Whatever they produce would then be subject to getting 60 votes in the Senate and, likely, then a conference to work out the differences. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are DYING unnecessarily and Russia is managing to make gains they couldn’t make if Ukraine has the U.S. aid.

I keep writing about how History is repeating itself with this version of the republican party and those republicans keep making me look as if I’m – well – smart. I mean when you consider what Hitler was doing to keep the U.S. from entering WW II, supporting American Nazi’s who were hell bent on overthrowing our democratic republic, and, in order to pull this off, spending HUGE sums of money to spread Nazi propaganda in all parts of America it mirrors Putin’s Russia (The Russians seem to be copycats). Hitler also had appeasers (up to actual supporters) in Congress and, you guessed it, these were all republicans. Some of them actually taking BRIBES from people with direct connections to the Nazi’s.

Trump’s tendencies which seem to clearly be fundamentally fascist are well documented. He’s even using Nazi “talking points” in some of his rallies and, sure enough, his crowds seem to cheer this. I recently pointed out how those who were pro-Nazi back in the years leading up to WW II had children in indoctrination camps and those children very likely are the grandparents of many of these right wing Americans who are pushing this “road to fascism” today on what could be (although I certainly hope it isn’t) the rest of us.

And, make no mistake, if Trump somehow manages to CHEAT his way back into the “White House” once again, it will be with the help of Vladimir Putin (just like in 2016) and he WON’T have a majority of Americans voting for him. One of the ways republicans CHEAT to “win” is to secretly support third party candidates in order to siphon votes from, in this case, Biden. There are some disturbing polls showing, for example, what RFK Jr.’s candidacy COULD do to the election.

I’ve been pointing out RFK Jr.’s main donor is also one of Trump’s main donor’s (Timothy Mellon) and one of RFK Jr.’s spokespersons, the other day, said their objective was to make sure Joe Biden doesn’t win the election in November. It grieves me to say that may be true. It bothers me mainly because my most enthusiastic support of a candidate was back in my first year of voting (you had to be 21 back then to vote – you only had to be 17 or 18 to go die in Vietnam) in 1968 when I was a supporter of RFK as he was running for president (as a democrat). I’m struggling to imagine why RFK’s son wants to topple our republic while his father gave his life trying to defend it.

Today, the ENTIRE Kennedy clan came out publicly in support of President Biden. However, the use of third party candidates to allow republicans to “win” election is nothing knew. I even remember John Anderson running as a “liberal republican” back in 1980 to pull votes from Jimmy Carter because, mainly, Americans were upset Iran was holding a bunch of Americans hostages. What the voters didn’t know was Ronald Reagan had made a secret deal with the Iranians so they would not release the hostages until he was sworn in as president. And, the Iranians agreed by actually releasing the hostages on that very day. Another republican president who CHEATED.

Of course, Reagan also was eye deep in the Iran/Contra “affair” along with his VP – the future president George HW Bush – who had been a part of the CIA off and on over the course of his career leading up to Reagan’s candidacy. However, “today’s” republican party is hardly noticeable compared to “back in the day.” Someone like, for example, Ms. Greene would NEVER have been put in front of a microphone at any point in time until Trump unleashed the energy of the pent up white nationalists in America in 2015. (You can check out the “strategy” of people like Don Black and David Duke of the KKK regarding their fealty toward Trump – who they believed would bring the white nationalist movement “into the mainstream.” (They weren’t all that wrong)

While I’m personally convinced the Russians have something on Trump – the “pee tape??” – it’s hard to figure out how all these other republicans have matriculated to Putin’s “position” on America’s foreign policy. Apparently Tucker Carlson is simply just a believer in fascism, but all these republicans who’ve been attempting to block the desperately needed assistance for Ukraine? They apparently are just fine with Putin marching right through Ukraine into Eastern Europe. Their understanding of history seems a bit lacking, from my perspective.

News Flash! : Last Friday Speaker Johnson FINALLY put the aid for Ukraine (and Israel, Taiwan, GAZA and more) up for a vote and, just as I had projected, it passed overwhelmingly with a bipartisan majority with MORE than 300 “yeahs.” Fortunately, it supposedly will only take the Senate one day to pass all of this and as soon as President Biden signs the bill the aide to Ukraine will be on its way. As the saying goes, “better late than never,” but the reality is there are MANY Ukrainians who have been KILLED because the House republicans were dithering on this vote.

I’m happy Speaker Johnson came to his senses and it will be interesting to see if Ms. Greene follows through on her threats to move to “vacate the chair.” It will be just as interesting to see if the democrats will swoop in and save Johnson from the same fate that befell Kevin McCarthy. I’m not even sure if Mr. Johnson wants democrats to save him because that will further drive him away the MAGAt’s in his party. Maybe what these republicans deserve is the spectacle of attempting to find another speaker with a one vote margin for error.

Final Thought: I don’t know if it’s simply ironic or if it’s funny, that the man who could end up being the “star witness” in Trump’s Manhattan election interference case (ie “hush money case”) has the last name of PECKER! (No pun necessary) From my observation of the first couple days of Trump’s first trial is that our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING four times indicted (ex) president’s infidelity goes well beyond his “dalliance” with Stephanie Clifford (ie “Stormy Daniels”). Apparently the Trump Tower doorman was paid $30,000 for his “story” that Trump produced an “illegitimate” child with a former maid. Mr. PECKER said that he didn’t believe the “story” but the co-conspirators – Trump, Michael Cohen, and Mr. PECKER wanted to prevent it from becoming public right before the end of the 2016 campaign.

So, there were THREE different “stories” which were part of the “catch and Kill” scheme of Trump, Cohen, and PECKER. And, they all had to do with Trump being unfaithful to his wife – take note of that all you evangelical Christians who have decided to put your faith in Donald Trump – and, that would include Franklin Graham. Just sayin……. It’s that Trump’s base is largely made up of people who profess to be “believers” which really has motivated most of my rants on this site. Sadly, this right wing bent toward fascism is nothing new for a large section of the “Christian community” in America. I’ll be 77 this fall and the results of the upcoming elections – for the next 20 years (if we’re still having them) – won’t affect me like it will to those who comprise our younger generations.

America, in my view, needs to embrace the progressive movement in this nation sooner rather than later. America is the land of HUGE wealth, but, sadly, that wealth is becoming more and more concentrated at the top. America has become the land of “oligarchs” and President Biden wants to cause them to pay more in taxes so that investments can be made in our people, our infrastructure, and our future. The list of “needs” is too long for me to list here, but if somehow you’ve ended up on this site and you agree with what I’m saying make sure you VOTE – not only in November, but in every election going forward.

Keep in mind, there is presently a ROGUE SCOTUS and it will take YEARS to remedy that issue. ANY time a republican president gets into the “Oval Office” the threat to make matters worse will be there for at least the next four presidential elections. It has become apparent that if Trump somehow CHEATS his way back into the “White House” both Clarence Thomas and Sam Alito will step down so a couple more YOUNG right wing justices can be placed on the court – making EVERYTHING more difficult going forward. To me, just that issue alone is worth young people voting for President Biden, full stop. The reality is it will be either Biden of Trump winning the election. So, a “protest vote” for any third party candidate by a young progressive person will be like a vote for Trump! Yikes!!! Stay tuned……

What we’re all witnessing is a former president being tried in a setting which resembles the trial of a MOB boss. My instincts want me to write “Only in America” – but, I know that’s not true. There have been many CORRUPT “leaders” from other countries who have been prosecuted for their CORRUPTION. My first thought, in this regard, is Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. He’s prosecuting a “war” which, to me, appears to be full of “war crimes” in order to put off himself being forced to face up to his own CORRUPTION. So, it’s not “only in America” – but, it’s still the FIRST time in our nearly 250 year history when a president or former president has been held accountable for pure CORRUPTION. Yikes!!! Stay tuned……

I’m no fan of “Sleepy” Donald Trump as anyone who’s been on this site would be well aware. I’ve been pointing out about the DANGER he poses to this nation since the day he took office back in 2017. My biggest mistake was thinking republicans would tire of his schtick and root him out of office – as a means of self survival. Boy was I wrong. One by one they FLIP 180 degrees from their more sane moments and do whatever they can to kiss Trump’s Butt so he won’t fire off an unflattering “tweet/untruth” their way. (I have to say, I’ve always hoped to receive one of those, but I fully understand a peon like myself spends a lot of time writing with only a few members of the cyberworld [somehow] landing on these pages.)

Trump, as anyone without their heads in the sand knows, is spending his time these days in the first of the FOUR trials he may or may not have to face – depending on factors like “we the people” and our vote, the SCOTUS who seems to be doing whatever they can to help him stall off the inevitable, and the judges in the “Espionage case” and the Georgia RICO case. I do have to say, if these judges prove to be his path to avoiding accountability this nation will be brought to her knees. (For anyone objecting to referring to America in the “feminine” I refer you to “God Bless America” – “stand beside her and guide her”) Trump is busy proving to his followers that if you have MILLIONS you can buy yourself out of being held to account. Yes, we do have a “two tier” justice system – the “foot soldiers” of the INSURRECTION are in jail, the “architect” of the INSURRECTION is still free and possibly will totally avoid accountability.

That all being said, I found it interesting Trump, according to numerous witnesses who were in the courtroom, seemed to “nod off” on several occasions during today’s proceeding. Yes, he who refers to “Sleepy” Joe Biden had his head droop to his chest in court today as he seems to slobber all over himself – something I’m good at during my 76th year on this planet – and “jerk his head up” after a bit of prodding from his attorneys. So, is Trump going to continue referring to President Biden as “sleepy?” What’s the old saying? “Don’t throw rocks out of a glass house.” And calling him “Crooked Joe” is even more of a projection!

As always, there’s more. Trump, the expert at projection is constantly suggesting President Biden “can’t put a complete sentence together” when, in reality, it’s Trump who has difficulty putting anything resembling a sentence together on the frequent occasions where he strays from the teleprompter. From whales being killed by windmills, to mistaking Biden by referring to former president Obama, to mistakenly referring to Nikki Haley as Nancy Pelosi (regarding January 6th, 2021), to suggesting President Obama was going to cause the beginning of WW II. Yes, Joe Biden has been a “stutterer” since he was a child and it creates “gaffes” when he’s speaking, but, compared to Trump, well, Biden is like a skilled linguist.

These realities, to me, highlight why our “liberal media” is so inept – or, in many cases, committed to helping Trump regain the “White House” – the level of his CORRUPT conduct be damned. I recognize I’m part of the problem. I watch MSNBC (when I watch anything) and I seem to respond with more attention when the topic, these days, is Trump in the courthouse. I would like them to spend more time on “Biden on the campaign trail” as one person I know has said, but I always end up wanting to know if today’s the day my number one issue on my bucket list – seeing Trump in jail – might be able to be checked off.

For example, today Trump – once again – appears to have violated Judge Merchan’s gag order when he posted a “conspiracy theory” which was born on – surprise, surprise – Fox “news” about the jurors. He was STRICTLY forbidden from making any public comments, in any form, regarding jurors. He has been alleged to have violated the gag order four times now, including today’s post on his social platform. My understanding is any fines the judge imposes for “contempt” of the court are limited to $1000 which Trump can pay by snatching just a few small donor donations out of his MAGA “piggy bank.” In other words, no biggee!

However, should the judge decide to set a real limit which would cause Trump to stop violating the order, like “next time you do this be prepared to be held in custody.” They wouldn’t have to put him in Rikers – I’m sure they have a cell with it’s own “commode” in the Manhattan County Jail where Trump could spend (at least) a couple weeks for stepping over the CLEAR boundary set by Judge Merchan. When I was teaching (6th graders) I discovered early on when you have a student challenge your authority you need to deal with it RIGHT NOW – or the conduct will spiral out of control.

To me, Trump is already at the point where he’s in that “spiraling out of control” phase that BULLIES go through. He’s gotten away with his reprehensible behavior since he was a child. It took a jury award of OVER $83 MILLION to get Trump to (with maybe one exception) stop defaming E Jean Carroll. Should he choose to continue, her lawyers will simply take him to court again. It appears the jury awarded enough to shut him up, however. What will it take for Judge Merchan to “shut him up?” Despite all the pundits who say you can’t put him in jail because of his Secret Service detail, to that I say “hogwash.”

I totally believe the solution to Trumps repeated challenges to these judges with his violations of the gag orders is for a judge to put him in jail. And, of course, the most important people to be protected from his wrath are the witnesses and the jury. Trump had already stepped “over the line” at least a couple times before he posted the nonsense about the selection of the jury. The judge SHOULD give him the (non consequential) fine for starters and the NEXT time he does it – and there WILL be a next time – give him a week or two in the “slammer” to think about whether or not he wants more time there – where he can nod off to sleep and it won’t be a headline.

The post in question originated from a Fox “news” host – you know, the cable network that specializes in LYING. They’ve already paid out close to 800 MILLION dollars for defaming the company which made SOME of the voting machines used in the 2020 election – claiming they were the result of – AND I’M NOT KIDDING – Hugo Chavez of Venezuela who’s been dead for years. They’re also facing a 2+ BILLION defamation lawsuit from the company which makes software for voting machines that I believe will be getting close to court time toward the end of this year. Apparently, Fox hasn’t gotten the message – but, I would recommend Trump not “repost” their conspiracy theories while he’s facing these trials.

The reason Fox (I believe it was Jesse Waters who made the original post – he’s the guy who took over for the shamed Tucker Carlson of “I love Russia” fame) is making up stuff about the jury selection is because they KNOW Trump is guilty of the charges against him. His only hope is to somehow get a MAGA faithful on the jury – with Trump’s defense counsel doing exactly what Mr. Waters was claiming the prosecution was doing (along with the judge) – pure projection which would bring a smile to Joseph Goebbels face – In an attempt to pull off what is referred to as “Jury Nullification.” It will only take one juror who refuses to consider the evidence to spoil the prosecution’s case.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Trump is “innocent until proven guilty.” Everyone deserves that “right” – even those in the MAGA world who are busy stripping as many “rights” from “we the people” as they can. Maybe the jury will listen to the evidence and conclude they don’t believe the TWO TIME impeached four time indicted so-called popular vote LOSING ex president is guilty. Who knows? But if Trump continues to violate the gag order – designed to protect the average citizens who will be on the jury from the “wrath of MAGA” (and, we all know what that means) – I believe he needs a “time out” in a jail cell. A couple weeks of using that stainless steel toilet in the corner of his cell might just get his attention. As with ALL bullies – you have to make them STOP or they will just get worse. That’s how you do it will sixth graders and apparently, Trump has never had anyone give him a firm NO in his life. That, to me, is what it will take to get him to “shut his mouth.” (And, leave his fingers off his phone)

Final Thought: I’ve pointed out here I’m almost finished reading “Prequel” by Rachel Maddow which, to me, is almost a must read. It SHOULD be part of the High School Curriculum for emerging adults – just so they know how precious our republic is and how vulnerable it is from bad actors within. The parallels between what is happening with the MAGA faithful and their relationship with Vladimir Putin and his desire for world domination to the Nazi’s of 1930’s Germany and the American Nazi’s who were appeasers (or supporters) of Hitler is sobering. As has happened many times over with world HISTORY we are seeing an example of the republican party attempting to make HISTORY repeat itself. Just stop and consider how almost unbelievable it is to have someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene being the major influencer in ANY American political party having a chance for electoral success in this nation! Yikes!!!

I kind of hope the MAGA car signs will read “Trump/Greene 2024.” Wouldn’t that explain America’s dilemma in a “nutshell?” (Pun intended!)